The Home You Love Has Room To Grow
Home Additions in Minnesota & Western Wisconsin | Designed to Feel Like They Were Always There
Space for This Chapter and the Ones Ahead
Maybe your family is growing. Or a parent is moving in. Or maybe you're working remotely and need a private space to close the door. And you find yourself asking the question so many families reach at some point: should we move, or should we expand the space we already have?
There is a lot worth staying for. The neighborhood you love. The memories built into every room. And the home you have made your own over the years. The right addition does more than make your home bigger. It makes your home fit the life ahead of you, so the place you already love becomes the place that carries you into your next chapter.
Home Additions We Are Proud Of
What a home addition looks like at Knollwood Builders:
Our goal with every addition is for the new space to feel like it was part of the home from the beginning, matching the character, the flow, and the details so nothing reads as an afterthought.
That might look like a four-season sun room with big windows and a fireplace that blurs the line between inside and out. It might be a main-floor master suite that lets you stay in your home for the long haul, a private home office away from the noise, or a bedroom added specifically so the grandkids have somewhere to stay when they visit. Whatever the reason you need more space, we design it around how your family actually lives, and we build it to belong.
Why Families Choose Us for Their Home Addition
Promises from Our Family to Yours
Every addition is different because every home and every family is different. Here is what stays the same on every project:
Structural Expertise That Opens Up What Is Possible
An addition often asks more of a builder than almost any other project. Opening an exterior wall means working with the structure that carries the load of your roof, and doing that well takes real engineering and hands-on experience. With nearly three decades across virtually every trade, we welcome these structural challenges and can often assess early on what is achievable, giving you confident, honest answers from the very beginning. That means more possibilities for your home and fewer unknowns as your project moves forward.
Honest Answers From the Very First Conversation
You deserve a clear picture before you get attached to a plan, and giving you one is something we take seriously. We do our homework upfront, assessing the existing structure, the setbacks, and the city requirements before anything is promised. When we tell you something can be done, it is because we already know how we will do it. That confidence, grounded in a real assessment of your home, is what lets you dream freely from the very start.
Design and Construction Under One Roof
An addition has to succeed as design and as structure at the same time, and those two things work best when considered together. Because your designer and your builder are the same team at Knollwood, those conversations happen side by side from day one. What we plan together, we build together, so the finished addition matches the vision you helped create, with nothing lost between two companies interpreting the same plan.
An Addition That Blends Seamlessly Into Your Home
The compliment we love most is when people cannot tell where the original home ends and the new space begins. We study the existing rooflines, materials, trim, and proportions so the addition reads as though it were always there. Inside and out, every detail is chosen to blend beautifully, giving you more room while preserving the character that makes your home yours.
Year-Round Progress You Can Count On
Minnesota winters do not put your project on hold. We work year-round and sequence the weather-sensitive phases thoughtfully, so the build keeps moving steadily toward completion no matter the season we start in. We walk through that timing with you honestly during planning, so you always know what is happening and what comes next.
Family at the Core of Every Project
Knollwood Builders is a family business, and that shapes everything about how we work. You will always reach us directly, always know who is making decisions about your home, and always feel like a priority rather than a project. We care about the families we work with as much as the work itself, and that is something you will feel from the very first conversation.
Trusted Brands & Associations
How Your Home Addition Comes Together
Our Proven Design-Build Process
A great addition begins with truly understanding the home you already have, which is why our process gives the discovery phase extra care. From the first call to the final walkthrough, we guide you with honest communication, thorough assessment, and hands-on attention every step of the way.
Discovery Call
Everything starts with a conversation. Before getting started, we want to understand your family, how you use your space today, and what this addition will make possible for the way you live. We discuss your vision, your goals, and the challenges you face with your current layout. It is also a chance for both of us to make sure we are the right fit for each other.
On-Site Meeting
Additions call for a closer look than most projects, so this step often happens in two parts. First, we meet at your home to talk through your vision and how you want the new space to work. Then we return for a deeper structural assessment, taking in what is feasible given your existing home, the setbacks, and the city requirements. Design and construction expertise are in the same conversation from the start, so we leave with everything we need to put honest numbers together.
Preliminary Budget
After the assessment, we put together a preliminary budget built around your vision and the information we gathered about your home. Real numbers, drawn from real project experience, are delivered before any commitment is made. We give you time to sit with them and ask all of the questions you have. We only move forward when you are confident and ready.
Design
Once you decide to move forward, the design work begins. We develop floor plans, structural drawings, and a full set of material selections tailored to your home and the way you live, designing the new space to blend with what is already there. We guide 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.
Project Schedule and Procurement
Additions often come with more involved permitting than most projects, and we handle all of it. We represent you at city planning meetings and manage zoning, setback, and covenant review so you never have to. With design complete and selections finalized, we lock in a final contract price based on actual materials and confirmed labor, order everything before we break ground, and place a detailed construction schedule in your hands.
Production and Construction
This is where your addition rises and connects to your home. We are on site regularly throughout the build, managing our long-standing team of trusted subcontractors who handle specialty trades. From day one, we set up protection and containment to minimize disruption to your family while we work. We stay in close contact with regular updates, and if something unexpected comes up, you hear about it from us directly and right away.
Project Completion
We finish your project the same way we started it, with care and attention to every detail. The final step is a walkthrough of your completed addition together, a chance to see how the new space became part of your home. Every project ends with a professional construction cleaning, so your space is ready to enjoy from day one. We stand behind our work with a warranty on craftsmanship, and our door stays open long after the project is done.
Preferred Installer Partnerships
Frequently Asked Questions About Home Additions
Can my home actually support an addition?
Almost always, yes. "Do you think we can do this?" is the question we hear most, and the answer is usually that it can be done. What makes the difference is knowing how before we start. With deep structural experience, we can often assess early on what is achievable, sometimes before outside engineers need to get involved, and we review your existing structure, the setbacks, and the city requirements before anything is promised. You get an honest answer from the very beginning.
What kinds of home additions do you build?
We build a wide range of home additions, all designed to feel like they were part of the home from the start. Some of the most popular are four-season sun rooms with big windows, natural materials, and often a fireplace, made to enjoy all year long. We also build master suites for main-floor living, home offices that close off from the rest of the house, and extra sleeping space for visiting family and grandchildren. Whatever the need, the goal is a space that supports your life and feels like it was always there.
Can you build in the winter?
Yes. We work year-round and keep projects moving through every season. Certain phases are sequenced around the weather, but an addition can begin at any time of year. We walk you through the timing during planning so you always know what to expect.
Will an addition look like it was added on later?
Our goal is for it to feel like it was always part of your home. We study the existing rooflines, materials, trim, and proportions so the new space blends inside and out. When it’s done right, no one should be able to point to where the original house ends and the addition begins.
Do you handle the permitting and city approvals?
Yes, all of it. Additions involve more permitting than most projects, including zoning, setback, and covenant review, and we manage the entire process. We represent you at city planning meetings so you never have to attend or navigate any of it. Handling this complexity is one of the most valuable things we do for the families we work with.
Will we work directly with the owners throughout the 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.
How do you handle unexpected issues during construction?
Tying new space into an existing home can sometimes reveal surprises once work begins, and we always aim to stay ahead of them. If something comes up, you will 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 on every project.
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 Home Addition Together
If your life has grown, let us help your home grow right along with it. Together, we'll create space for the life you're living now and the years ahead.