TreHus Architects + Interior Designers + Builders

Wood has long been valued for its strength, beauty, and ability to preserve traditional craftsmanship. Whether through intricate details like corbels or bold architectural elements like ceiling structures, wood serves as a bridge between past and present, seamlessly integrating history into contemporary design.

Wooden Corbels

The wooden corbel— a structural and/or decorative bracket— has adorned arches and beams for centuries, an elegant symbol of structural support. Handcrafted wooden corbels are deeply rooted in architectural history and add an artistic touch to any space.

 

Two charming wooden corbels accent the Tangier Kitchen Transformation remodel, a spectacular blend of historic preservation and more contemporary design elements. Gina Vozka, AIA Architect + ASID Interior Designer, explains the process of preserving the unique history of this space, “the wooden corbels existed in other places throughout the home, so incorporating them in the remodeled kitchen was a thoughtful transition to respect the existing historical elements of the home while adding a transition to the new. Adding these corbels was a way to bring an elegance into the space in a more cost-effective way, compared to homes nearby with full paneling and wood detailing.” The outcome of such a thoughtful approach to integrating a home’s history into a renovation is a seamless integration of past and present.

White Oak Cloud Structure

While corbels honor history through intricate detailing, the North Oaks Cloud Retreat remodel showcases wood’s versatility in modern applications with a bold ceiling feature. A striking white oak cloud structure spans the kitchen ceiling, supporting three pendant lights suspended over the island. This unique feature not only provides functional lighting but also enhances the room with a soft, inviting warmth and effortless luxury.

John Enloe, AIA Architect, explains the inspiration behind the structure, affectionately called ‘the cloud’. “As we first walked into the residence we thought ‘wow, what a beautiful space and view.’ The space was big, open, and vaulted, however, we realized that it was missing something to relate to the human scale. The clients wanted a central island as a place to gather and entertain, and we thought this would be the perfect place to lower something from the ceiling that could relate to the human scale.”

“We wanted this structure to be softer in material and appearance to contrast the existing hard-edged space and create a more cozy, intimate feel. This led to the first discussion of the cloud, and it took off from there.”
The choice of white oak for the cloud was intentional, as the lighter colored wood “provides a warmth and a softer feel than a painted structure” while still complimenting the other design elements throughout the space. This unique wooden focal point brings a refined, cozy atmosphere to the heart of the home.

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Designing and building a custom home is no small feat, and we couldn’t be prouder of our team for making this new build on Lake of the Isles a reality. For the Isles Custom Home, the process began with the art of timber framing, a historic technique that creates a foundation of unparalleled quality. The natural texture and strength of the timber ensure structural integrity while adding a unique beauty to the exterior of the home.

Jon Colliander, AIA Architect, reflects on the Isles Custom Home’s creation, “when we were first introduced to the client, she mentioned appreciation for medieval homes in the British Isles, specifically being drawn to the rough timber frames of these homes. We developed every element of the design with her preferences in mind, incorporating a modified hammer truss into the roof structure of the living room, which sits above a timber framed gallery overlooking the main space. We were able to incorporate timber into the majority of spaces, and use it as the structure in the library, the living room, the entry porch, as well as the roof structure in the primary suite. The rear porches also utilized structural timber posts and beams.”

 

One of our master carpenters, Ben Spidahl, and one of our designers, Joe Dean, had experience working with timber, and through their experience, we partnered with Blue Ox, a company that specializes in designing and fabricating timber structures. Through this partnership we were able to refine the designs, creating a home that matched our client’s vision. Blue Ox fabricated the timber and then our skilled carpenters assembled the trusses on site using dowels to replicate traditional mortise and tenon joints.

The use of wood became a theme throughout the interior. Our designer, Gina Vozka, drew inspiration from this by incorporating whimsical wooden details like ‘tree’ columns at the lower level bar, and an ironwork tree framed by a circular bookcase. These forms and materials were picked up in the iron railing and the paneling on the main stair to create a cohesive whole. The home’s wooden theme made complete sense to Gina, as she reflects on the client “wanting to bring the feeling of age and natural elements in as much as possible.”

With timber framing as the foundation, this custom home will stand as a testament to craftsmanship and thoughtful design for generations to come. This technique creates a sense of connection to nature and tradition while remaining a mark of quality and attention to detail.

The video above showcases the construction process of the Isles Custom Home through a time-lapse.

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The Specialty + Small Jobs department is one of the key elements that makes TreHus unique, with roots in the company’s carpentry heritage. It all started with Doug Dimond, who joined TreHus as a carpenter in 2004 and quickly became a lead carpenter within a year. Doug’s passion for handyman work stood out, and Dave Amundson, the founder and owner at the time, recognized his talent for detail. Dave asked Doug to take on “quality control,” addressing punch list items and ensuring projects were finished to the highest standard.

As TreHus grew, past clients began reaching out for help with minor repairs and projects around their homes. With project managers focused on larger jobs, they didn’t have the capacity to handle these requests. Recognizing an opportunity to enhance client service, TreHus officially launched the Specialty + Small Jobs division, with Doug as the leader. From 2006 to 2014, Doug managed everything—from writing estimates and performing carpentry to handling billing and project oversight. As demand increased, an additional carpenter was hired, allowing Doug to transition to a full-time Specialty + Small Jobs project manager. Today, the department has grown to include four project managers, a dedicated master carpenter, and a painter.

The Specialty + Small Jobs department requires a broad skill set and deep knowledge across multiple trades, handling projects ranging from exterior restoration, deck and porch repairs, and window replacements to kitchen and bathroom refreshes. Quick decision-making, adaptability, and strong communication are crucial, as these jobs often present unique challenges despite their smaller scale. Every project manager in this department began their journey in the field, gaining hands-on carpentry experience before transitioning to office roles, just as Doug did.

Now, the Specialty + Small Jobs department serves both past and new clients, thriving as an integral part of TreHus. While many design-build firms shy away from smaller projects, this division has flourished, consistently delivering exceptional service to all clients and treating every job as the most important, regardless of size.

When you begin a project with TreHus, you’re not just hiring a service—you’re gaining an entire team dedicated to bringing your vision to life. Each project pairs you with a project manager and one to two architects or designers who guide you from start to finish. Once the design is finalized, the master carpenter and the carpentry crew join in to turn the ideas into reality.

Beyond the visible team, a network of support staff is working behind the scenes to ensure the project’s success. This includes operations staff who help meticulously plan and coordinate every project, accounting professionals who handle billing, and specialized subcontractors who ensure every detail is executed to the highest standard. This teamwork ensures that every aspect is managed by the right experts.

A prime example of this teamwork is the remodel of the Stillwater Sanctuary. This project was a comprehensive whole-house remodel, with this phase focusing on the main level, including the kitchen, great room, primary suite, mudroom, powder room, and entryway.

Inspired by the European French countryside and Scandinavian influences, the design embraced natural light while creating a seamless connection to the outdoors. The original layout of the home lacked defined spaces and featured outdated finishes. Instead of further opening the space, the team opted to create a cozier, more intimate atmosphere using reclaimed beams from centuries-old structures, adding both character and history to the home.

Here’s a glimpse into just how many people contributed to this transformation:

• TreHus office employees: 10
• TreHus carpenters: 18
• Subcontractors involved: 35
• TreHus carpentry hours: 1,325
• TreHus design hours: 768
• TreHus project management hours: 544

Over 60 skilled professionals contributed to this project. Every individual, from designers and carpenters to support staff and subcontractors, was integral in transforming this vision into reality. The result is a beautifully remodeled space that showcases how the collective skills, creativity, and dedication of the TreHus team bring even the most ambitious projects to life.

TreHus recently collaborated with Dian Mullis, owner of Pro Concrete Countertops, on remodeling two kitchens in the Isles Artisan Duplex project. TreHus ASID Designer Morgan Froemming said, “Dian offers a distinctive product that allows us to deliver custom finishes to our clients affordably. She comes up with creative design solutions, and her product is multifaceted.” Dian’s journey with concrete countertops began in 2014, sparked by a project in her own home. Despite a bustling career as a director of engineering, she decided in 2019 to turn her passion into a business and enrolled in a class to learn more about the trade.

Morgan, the lead designer on the project, worked closely with Dian to design the countertops. Morgan shared, “We drew inspiration from a terrazzo tile whose color and texture didn’t quite match our vision. Dian then presented us with various aggregates – varying in size, color, and material – offering endless possibilities. Together, we crafted a blend that complimented the space and surrounding finishes.” This particular design requires intensive labor, going through multiple phases of wet grinding to expose the aggregates and refine the product (watch the behind-the-scenes of this process here).

There are several benefits of using concrete over other materials – chief among them being its customizability. Dian explained, “You can choose exactly what you want because everything is made to order. Since concrete is a liquid stone that cures solid, endless shapes can be created.” The color is also fully customizable, so the options for design and pattern are endless. Virtually anything can be created out of concrete, including fireplace surrounds, bathroom vanities, and seamless, integrated products such as a continuous sink and counter piece. Its sustainability is also notable, as each product is poured to exact dimensions and there is no wasted material. Additionally, when concrete is created it uses an exothermic chemical reaction, generating its own heat without external energy.

Despite the challenges of running her own business, Dian finds the journey gratifying. Dian said, “It is never complete; there is always more to do. It can be exhausting yet very rewarding. We often wonder if we are ‘good enough’ or ‘smart enough,’ but when I look back on all the things I’ve made and look forward to my goals and plans, I feel grateful to be where I am right now.”

This collaboration between TreHus and Pro Concrete Countertops not only highlights the beauty and functionality of customized concrete countertops but also celebrates the innovative spirit and dedication of small business owners like Dian Mullis.

Check out the Pro Concrete Countertops website for more examples of Dian’s stunning work!

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Last year, TreHus had the privilege of completing a second-story addition to a historic colonial home in St. Paul, addressing the family’s need for more space while maintaining the home’s historic integrity. The project, Timeless Tranquility, focused on creating a primary suite above an existing one-story family room addition, ensuring that the new space would harmonize seamlessly with the existing architecture and enhance the home’s curb appeal.

The original home boasted a gambrel roof with a symmetrical shed dormer, lending it a balanced and attractive front facade. However, the previous addition of the first-floor family room had disrupted this composition, making the home feel somewhat incomplete. To restore harmony, we decided to step the roof of the new second story addition slightly back from the main house, creating a major and minor mass. This approach not only provided the necessary interior space but also preserved the scale and rhythm of the original structure.

To further enhance this composition, we designed a similar shed dormer as the original on the front of the addition, featuring a pair of double-hung windows. The dormer was carefully reduced in width to match the proportions of the new gambrel roof and was centered above the existing family room window below. This thoughtful design ensured that the addition felt like a natural extension of the home.

Inside, we organized the utility spaces within the footprint of the original child’s bedroom, preserving the original door and hallway while creating a gallery space at the entrance to the suite. This design choice maintained the home’s original layout and flow. From the gallery space, one steps up into the new bedroom, which features a vaulted ceiling reminiscent of the lofty volumes of gambrel-roofed barns, enhancing the sense of space and elegance. The primary suite includes a bedroom, bathroom, generous closet space, and a second-floor laundry, perfectly meeting the family’s needs. The new addition blends beautifully with the historic neighborhood, making it seem as though it has always been a part of the home.

At TreHus, we are committed to creating spaces that seamlessly blend with their surroundings. This project is a testament to our dedication to thoughtful, innovative, and harmonious design.

To get a better sense of how this space flows together, watch this reel on our Instagram!

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When Dave Amundson founded TreHus Architects + Interior Designers + Builders in 1982, he created a list of twenty-five “Principles to Work By,” establishing a company set in the values of work guided by meaning and order. These principles, centered around the love of beauty, a desire to share, and an appreciation for those who labor, continue to shape our business today. As the company grows, incorporating new people and technologies, we have steadfastly upheld our core values, allowing us to remain an exceptional company for years to come.

To learn more about our values check out this video:

1. Two or more people working together as a team can achieve far more than anyone person can achieve alone.
2. There is no such thing as a simple job.
3. Pursue excellence and the money will follow.
4. Patience and perseverance will pay off.
5. Buy the best tools and hire the finest craftsmen.
6. Systems are meant to serve us so that we can serve others better.
7. We are all entrepreneurs. We are all businessmen. We are all craftsmen.
8. If we fail or disappoint our clients we have first failed or disappointed ourselves because we serve our clients by being true to our ideals.
9. We must teach our skills and our values to others.
10. We will create a working environment that is pleasant, professional, peaceful, safe, conducive to learning, and rigorous. What we do is a byproduct of who we are.
11. We will not neglect our families and our personal lives. Yes, we will work hard and sometimes we will work long hours, but on the whole, we will live balanced lives.
12. We will serve our community. We want our business to contribute to our culture as well as provide a living for each of us.
13. Each person in the company will plan for the future. If you are only providing for immediate needs, you are not making a living.
14. We will be organized, efficient, honest, and respectful of others.
15. We will always ‘look for a better way’ to do the things we do.
16. Education is an investment, not an expense.
17. Control of each worksite is of paramount importance. Understand the project. Know the customer. Manage the tradesmen.
18. We cannot prevent every problem, but we will respond quickly and professionally.
19. What we are paid hourly or as a salary is our minimum wage. As the market rewards us for excellence we will earn more. From the owner on down, all will be rewarded for achievement.
20. We will show our appreciation to each customer in tangible ways. We will be their ‘contractor for life.’
21. Craftsmanship is a learned art, but the desire to be a craftsman is birthed by the ideals within us and is sustained by our love of beauty.
22. Craftsmanship was not birthed by our current business model that emphasizes efficiency, mass production, and the holy grail of profit margins.
23. Therefore we must align ourselves with artisans, designers, and customers who share these values.
24. Everyone is valuable. No one is indispensable.
25. We are ‘culture bearers’. We are the last remnant in our culture to provide for the average person something that is custom-made for them as individuals. We start by understanding who they are and how they live and then create a home for their unique needs. No other industry does this for the common person.

We have been featured in a recent Houzz Article “Bathroom of the Week: Traditional Style in a Historic Home”, interviewing design and project manager Joe Dean, about our recent project Uptown Historical Remodel. The article dives into the details of the primary suite on a two-story addition to a 1901 Colonial Revival home. It describes the careful thought and design details that went into honoring the home’s original architecture.

The article states:

“Because respecting the home’s original architecture was important to the homeowners, Dean and his team first removed a poorly done addition off the back of the house. Then they designed and built a new addition that expanded the home in a seamless and cohesive way. In this new primary bathroom, traditional elements and classic finishes honor the home’s style and period.”

Check out the full story here: Bathroom of the Week: Traditional Style in a Historic Home

In a feature article on Houzz, Designer Morgan Froemming was interviewed for our ‘Interiors on Harbor’ project to share her insight on how she used the countertops to create a dynamic kitchen look.

Morgan Froemming stated:

“The Homeowners wanted to maintain the existing footprint of the space while getting a more functional and timeless kitchen. We reconfigured their kitchen to have a more centrally located sink and relocated their existing windows to allow for more natural light in the space. We used rich wood stains throughout the main level while still keeping the kitchen light and airy. We used the same stain color on the floor as we did on the island, but the island intentionally appears to be darker since it is a vertical plane.”

Read the full article to gain some more designer tips at 8 New Kitchens With Stylish Countertops (houzz.com)

Our project ‘Hilcrest Addition Bathroom’ has been featured again in Houzz, this time as one of the top 10 bathrooms of 2019! Ranked as number 5, the article highlights the bathrooms ‘crisp nautical style’ and highlights our designers’ close attention to every detail.

Read more about our bathroom and the other top 10 bathrooms at: The Top 10 Bathrooms of 2019