The Home You Have Always Imagined, Built From the Ground Up
Custom Home Building in Minnesota & Western Wisconsin | Designed for the Way You Want to Live
This Is What You Have Been Building Toward
Some homes are found. The best ones are built from the ground up around the life you have always imagined.
When you build with Knollwood, you start from a conversation about how your family actually lives, what your land makes possible, and what this next chapter should feel like. Every room, every detail, and every finish is built around those answers.
That is where every custom home begins: a conversation about your life, your dreams, and the home that has been taking shape in your mind. We take everything we learn and turn it into something real.
Custom Homes We Are Proud Of
What a custom home build looks like at Knollwood Builders.
A custom home with Knollwood starts on your land and your terms. We walk your property with you before a single line is drawn, taking in the orientation, the natural light, the views, and the site conditions that will shape what is possible. Design expertise and nearly three decades of construction knowledge come into the same conversation from the very beginning, ensuring what gets designed can actually be built, and built beautifully.
We design everything: the floor plan, the structural layout, the exterior character, and every interior detail, down to where your cabinets will open and where the light will fall in the morning. If you are still searching for the right property, we can help you think through what to look for before you buy.
Whether it is a lake house where your whole extended family can gather, or a homestead designed to grow alongside your family for decades to come, the goal is always the same: a home that feels unmistakably yours.
Why Families Choose Us for Their Custom Homes
Promises from Our Family to Yours
Every custom home we build is one of a kind, because every family is. Here is what stays the same on every project:
One Team From the First Sketch to Moving Day
At Knollwood, your designer and your builder are the same team. From the first sketch to moving day, we are invested in every decision together, ensuring what we create on paper is executed exactly as envisioned. The vision stays intact from start to finish because the same people who built it never left the project.
We Start With Your Land, Not a Floor Plan
Every custom home we build starts with a walk on your land. Before a single line is drawn, we want to understand your property: the orientation, the natural light, the views, the elevations, and what the site makes possible. If you have not yet found the right property, we can help you think through what to look for before you buy. The land shapes everything, and we treat it that way from day one.
Design Guidance That Makes Hundreds of Decisions Feel Simple
We break the selection process into manageable segments, so you are never facing too many decisions at once, guiding you through every choice at our design studio in White Bear Lake, where you can see real materials installed and in use before anything is committed to your home. Building a custom home involves hundreds of decisions. With the right guidance, it does not have to feel that way. Clients tell us consistently: this was easier than I thought it was going to be.
Built to Stand Apart
Every custom home we build has a character all its own. From the millwork to the built-ins to the details most builders never think about, every element is an opportunity to personalize your home and make it feel unmistakably yours.
Built for the Life Still Ahead of You
The families who build with us are thinking beyond today. They are imagining how the home will feel in five years, ten years, when the kids come home for the holidays, or when the next generation starts gathering around the table. We build with that future in mind, designing spaces that are as ready for what comes next as they are for right now. Timeless design, quality materials, and a home that grows more meaningful over time.
A Relationship That Does Not End at Handover
We stay in contact with our custom home clients long after moving day. This is not a transaction for us. It is a relationship. The families we build for become part of the Knollwood story, and our door stays open long after you move in. We stand behind everything we build with a warranty on craftsmanship, and we are always just a call away.
Trusted Brands & Associations
How Your Custom Home Comes Together
Our Proven Design-Build Process
Building a custom home is one of the most personal things you will ever do. Our process is designed to make it feel that way from start to finish, with clear communication, thoughtful design, and construction management that keeps everything on track from the ground up.
Discovery Call
Our custom home process begins with a conversation. We want to understand your family, what you are hoping to create, and what this home needs to do for your life. We talk through your vision, your timeline, and your property situation. Everything we build together starts right here.
Property Walk and On-Site Meeting
Custom homes start with the land. We walk your property with you to understand the site: orientation, elevation, drainage, access points, sun exposure, and how the home should relate to the lot. We talk through what is feasible and where the best opportunities are.
If you have not yet purchased land, we can help you think through what to look for before you commit.
Preliminary Budget
Once we understand your vision and your property, we put together a preliminary budget based on your goals and what the site requires. These are real numbers drawn from real project experience, delivered before any design retainer is in place. You have time to sit with it, ask questions, and decide if you are ready to move forward. No pressure from us, ever.
Design
This is where the design work begins. Working from everything we have learned about your family, your property, and your lifestyle, we develop floor plans, structural drawings, and a full set of material selections tailored to your vision. We guide you through every choice at our design studio, breaking the selection process into segments so it never feels like too much at once.
Project Schedule and Procurement
With design complete and selections finalized, we lock in a final contract price based on actual materials and confirmed labor. Every material is ordered before we break ground, and a detailed construction schedule is placed in your hands. From this point forward, you will always know exactly what is happening on your property and what comes next.
Production and Construction
This is where everything we have planned together starts rising from the ground. We are on site regularly from the first day of construction through completion, managing our long-standing team of trusted subcontractors who handle specialty trades. You receive regular updates throughout the build, so you always know where things stand. If something unexpected comes up, you hear it from us directly, right away, along with our plan to handle it.
Project Completion
This is the moment you have been building toward. We walk through your completed home together, celebrating what we created as a team. Every project includes a thorough professional cleaning, so your home is move-in ready from day one. We stand behind everything we build with a warranty on craftsmanship, and our door stays open long after you move in.
Preferred Installer Partnerships
Frequently Asked Questions About Custom Home Building
How do I know if I am ready to start the custom home process?
If you have been thinking about building a custom home, you are probably more ready than you think. You do not need to have every detail figured out before you reach out. You do not need to have land. You do not even need a clear vision yet. What you need is a sense of how you want to live and the desire to build something around that. We will help you find the rest. The first conversation costs you nothing, and it has a way of making everything feel more possible.
Do I need to have land before I contact you?
Not at all. We work with families at every stage of the process. If you already have a property, we will walk it with you and begin thinking through how the home should relate to the land. If you are still searching, we can help you think through what to look for, including lot size, orientation, site access, and zoning considerations, so you feel confident before you buy.
How long does it take to build a custom home with Knollwood Builders?
Every custom home is different, and timelines vary based on the scope of your project, the complexity of your property, and how the design phase unfolds. What we can promise is that you will always have a clear, detailed schedule in your hands before construction begins, and we will keep you updated every step of the way. You will never be left wondering what comes next.
How does the design process work, and will I be overwhelmed by choices?
We hear this concern often, and it is exactly why we structure the design process the way we do. Selections are broken into manageable segments, so you are never making too many decisions at once. We guide you through every choice at our design studio in White Bear Lake, where you can see real materials installed and in context before committing to anything. Clients consistently tell us the process was easier than they expected.
What does a custom home from Knollwood Builders typically cost?
Every custom home is different, and cost varies based on size, site conditions, structural complexity, and material selections. What we can tell you is that you will have clear, honest numbers before you make any commitment. After our initial conversations and property walk, we put together a transparent preliminary budget built from real project knowledge. No guesswork, no ranges so broad they tell you nothing.
Will we work directly with the owners throughout the entire process?
Yes, always. Sara and Josh are present from the first conversation through the final walkthrough, with design and construction expertise working together on your project every step of the way. When you reach out, you reach us.
Do you build custom homes in both Minnesota and Western Wisconsin?
Yes. We build custom homes across our full-service area, including Hugo, Scandia, White Bear Lake, Dellwood, Stillwater, the St. Croix Valley, and into Western Wisconsin. Each area has its own character, local requirements, and community feel, and we bring that knowledge to every project. We handle all permitting, zoning review, and coordination with local municipalities so you do not have to.
How do you handle unexpected issues that come up during construction?
Every construction project encounters the unexpected at some point, and new custom home are no exception. When something comes up, you hear from us directly and right away, along with a clear explanation of what we found and how we plan to address it. Transparent communication is one of the most important commitments we make to every family we work with.
What Our Clients Say
We couldn’t be happier with our experience working with Knollwood Builders! They recently completed a porch build-out and deck for our home, and the results exceeded our expectations in every way.
From the start, their communication was outstanding—they took the time to walk us through the plan, timeline, and what to expect throughout the project. Once things got underway, we were kept informed every step of the way, which gave us great peace of mind.
The craftsmanship is top-notch. Every detail, from the structure to the finishing touches, reflects a level of care and quality that’s hard to find. It’s clear they take great pride in their work.
Pricing was also more than fair for the level of professionalism and quality delivered. There were no surprises, and we truly feel we received excellent value.
Highly recommend to anyone looking for reliable, skilled, and communicative builders. We’re thrilled with the finished product! We will reach out to them when we have our next project (master bathroom).
We cannot say enough great things about Knollwood Builders! From the very first consultation to the final touches, they transformed our outdated kitchen into an absolute dream space. The design process was smooth and collaborative, with Sara and Josh taking the time to listen to our needs and preferences. The attention to detail and quality of craftsmanship is unmatched. Every part of the project was handled with professionalism, meticulous details, and they kept us informed every step of the way.
What really stood out was their commitment to delivering exactly what we wanted while staying within our budget and timeline. Our kitchen (main living area) is stunning – it’s stylish, functional, and now the heart of our home. The whole team worked efficiently, and they left the space spotless once everything was finished (and during the process). If you're looking for the best remodeler and designer around, we highly recommend Knollwood Builders!
Knollwood Builders constructed a new garage for us a year ago. We highly recommend them!! Do yourself a favor and reach out to Josh and Sara for your next project. We contacted a couple of other construction companies on the project, those companies were medium-sized. There is an obvious advantage to working with a small, family-owned business like Knollwood Builders. The planning, communication, and execution aspects were absolutely seamless. Pride in a job well done, as promised and on time is obviously very important to them.
Thank you for the great experience!!
Knollwood Builders just completed a master bath remodel for us. We could not be more impressed with Sarah and Josh. From the introductory meeting through the design, planning, and work stages the project was as stress-free as could be. Their professionalism, knowledge, experience, quality work and attention to detail, care for and cleanliness to our home, responsiveness to questions, and the daily progress updates by Sarah, Josh and/or their excellent subcontractors created an atmosphere of total confidence in our decision to contract with them. As important, Sarah and Josh were personally courteous, genuine friendly people, as were their subs, which created a comfortable atmosphere of familiarity for a first-time partnership. All of this was seamless even when we had to be out of town for two and a half weeks in the middle of the project. We are very pleased with our beautiful new bathroom and highly recommend Sarah and Josh for your design/build dreams.
Knollwood Builders was nothing short of amazing from the first telephone call to the final inspection. They were professional, timely and did an amazing job. Not only did Josh listen to my ideas, but he gave me a couple of ideas that we brought into the final project and I couldn't be happier. The only downside is we are coming up on cold weather and I won't be able to use it again until spring!
I highly recommend Knollwood Builders and suggest that if you have a project in mind to reach out to them and get on their schedule. You won't be disappointed!
We connected with Knollwood Builders, LLC (Josh Chouinard) last October to provide us with a quote for a remodeling project. From the start my wife and I were impressed. Josh provided us with an initial timely estimate. He mentioned that his wife Sara and he partner on certain projects- he handles construction and she works on providing decorative design choices... paint color/tile, solid-surface style/fixtures. For us, their combination was very effective. We also liked the communication we received. Josh and Sara were both very responsive to our questions returning emails and voice mails. Once we had our selections made Knollwood provided us with a project plan and milestone/payment schedule that was easy to understand. House cleanliness during the project was important. Also we had previous plans to be away during part of the project. Both concerns were shared with Josh and he assured us that they spend time prepping the house before his team goes on site. They also cleaned up daily after project work before they left and did a full detailed cleanup at end of project. We had a very positive experience with Knollwood Builders, LLC. In fact, we already have started to discuss further projects in our home.
We would highly recommend giving them a call if you are considering projects in your home.
From the first meeting, we knew we had the contractor dream team with Josh and Sara. They did an amazing job of taking our basement finishing vision and marrying it with their own experience and creativity. Here are some of things we appreciated most.
📱 Excellent communication and updates throughout the project.
🕐 The construction process ran like clock-work and stayed on time.
🧹 A well organized and clean job-site.
💡 Josh & Sara had brilliant ideas on how we could make the space feel unique while also working towards our goals.
🌌 Sara understood our desired design aesthetic and offered amazing suggestions.
😌 When there was problem-solving required, Josh brought a sense of calm and understanding to those situations.
To sum up working with Knollwood, the process and the product were both top notch. We are planning on working with them again and highly recommend them to others.
We had Knollwood put in a new bay window and replace our old oak railing into updated, beautiful railings! We couldn’t be happier with the work. There was a bit of a delay with the leadtime on the windows, but we are extremely happy with the finished product! You can’t see a nail hole and everything was impeccably done!
We’ve had projects done by other contractors, and although we were also happy with them, Knollwood Builders went above and beyond, and The completed project was better than we ever expected! Josh and Sara clearly pay attention to every detail and it was great working with them!
Sara and Josh were great to work with. Great communication before and during the project. Our deck looks amazing! Great quality materials and craftsmanship. Thank you!
The bathroom remodel, replacement of outdated interior doors and replacement of the deck flooring and railings for my home turned out beautifully. Josh and Sarah were wonderful to work with. They provided helpful guidance with the details of the projects, stayed on schedule, and got everything completed to my satisfaction. I appreciated their attention to detail and care taken while working in my home.
Wow! It is extremely rare to find a company like Knollwood Builders who treat their clients like family.
Over the last 20 years, many of my clients come to me and ask for referrals to builders. I am so glad to have met Josh and Sara and to have a builder whom I can recommend with confidence.
When I think of Josh, Sara, and the team at Knollwood Builders, I see a team who can turn home dreams into reality. If you are looking for a company who treats their clients like family and who values integrity and hard work, feel confident that you will find that in Knollwood Builders.
Sara and Josh have creative ideas and provide lots of options for making a project work well for the needs of the clients. They both have easy to understand processes that complement one another when planning and implementing the project. Style, enthusiasm and commitment are the words that come to mind when I reflect on my experience with Knollwood Builders.
Unbelievable service and quality of work. Always extremely responsive with calls or texts, extremely professional, kind and very reasonable on all prices. Will trust them for all my home improvement needs and projects. Josh and his crew are so good. Have had several home improvement contractors and they are far and away the best. Very glad we found them!
Knollwood Builder is an amazing company. They work and help you design an amazing space. They listen to your ideas and what you want and give wonderful suggestions to make your project your vision. They are always on time and very honest! They are wonderful people and it shows in their dedication to your project. We highly recommend them to anyone that needs a contractor. We will be using them again for other project.
Let’s Start Your Custom Home Together
You have been imagining this home for a long time. Let us help you build it.