Insights from the 2024 Artisan Home Tour and current market preferences shaping Minnesota's premium real estate landscape
The 2025 Artisan Home Tour recently wrapped up, showcasing exceptional craftsmanship and design throughout the Twin Cities. As real estate professionals serving high-end buyers and sellers, we're privileged to witness how thoughtful design choices create homes where families truly thrive.
White Oak: The Return to Quality
White oak has become the defining material in luxury homes. This represents more than a trend—it's a return to quality craftsmanship and materials that stand the test of time. Wide-plank white oak flooring creates warmth and character that synthetic materials simply cannot replicate. Custom white oak cabinetry, islands, and built-ins add natural beauty that ages gracefully.
The Artisan Home Tour demonstrated this beautifully, with nearly every featured home incorporating white oak in meaningful ways. Discerning buyers recognize authentic quality, and white oak represents an investment in materials that serve families for generations.
What Today's Buyers Seek
Luxury buyers look for homes reflecting both quality and intentionality:
Natural Materials & True Craftsmanship Buyers value authentic materials—natural stone, real wood, quality construction. These choices create homes built to last. When we show properties with genuine craftsmanship, the difference is immediately apparent.
Open Concept with Purposeful Spaces Modern families need spaces that flow together while maintaining distinct purposes. Open kitchens connecting to living areas for family time, plus dedicated home offices, mudrooms, and flex spaces serving real needs.
Indoor-Outdoor Connection Minnesota summers deserve celebration. Homes seamlessly connecting interior spaces to outdoor living—covered porches, patios, decks—allow families to enjoy our beautiful surroundings fully.
Energy Efficiency & Quality Systems Responsible building means efficiency. Quality windows (Andersen remains the standard), proper insulation, efficient HVAC systems—these choices benefit families long-term through comfort and lower operating costs.
Clean, Timeless Aesthetics Trends fade, but timeless design endures. Neutral palettes, natural materials, and classic lines create homes that won't feel dated in five years. This wisdom in design serves families well.
Strategic Guidance for Sellers
If you're preparing to sell a luxury home, the right approach makes all the difference:
Invest in Quality Updates Focus on authentic materials. White oak refinishing or replacement pays dividends. Quality quartz or natural stone countertops. These investments honor your home and attract discerning buyers.
Showcase Craftsmanship If your home features quality construction or custom work, ensure it's presented properly. Professional photography, detailed descriptions, and strategic marketing help buyers recognize value.
Create Connection Stage spaces showing how they flow and function. Help buyers envision their family thriving in your home.
Work with Purpose Partner with agents who understand luxury marketing and will represent your home with excellence. Selling a home is significant—approach it with wisdom and good guidance.
Building Your Vision
At The Ornell Group, we help families find and create homes that truly fit their lives. We work with exceptional luxury builders and have identified premium opportunities:
- 3 lakefront lots on Minnesota's most desirable waters
- 13 lots offering privacy and natural surroundings
Finding the right property—whether existing or land to build—requires dedication. We invest significant time and energy helping clients discover properties matching their vision and values. This goes beyond transactions; it's about serving families well.
Building on the right lot with the right builder creates something lasting. We've established relationships with craftsmen who share our commitment to quality, integrity, and excellence. These partnerships allow us to guide clients through every phase—from land selection to design to construction to final delivery.
The Bigger Picture
The Artisan Home Tour reminds us that homes are where life happens. Where families gather, children grow, memories are created, and hospitality is extended. Approaching real estate with this perspective changes everything.
Whether selling a home that's served your family well, searching for a place where your family can flourish, or dreaming of building something lasting, we're here to serve with integrity, knowledge, and dedication.
Quality craftsmanship, authentic materials like white oak, thoughtful design—these represent investments in places where life is truly lived. Today's discerning buyers understand this, and it's what we're honored to help create.
Looking Ahead
The luxury market continues evolving, but core principles remain: quality materials, excellent craftsmanship, timeless design, and homes built for how families actually live. These fundamentals never go out of style.
As we work with buyers and sellers in Minnesota's luxury market, these insights from the Artisan Home Tour and current market trends guide our approach. Understanding what buyers value helps sellers position properties effectively. Knowing what makes homes truly special helps buyers recognize quality when they find it.
Ready to explore luxury real estate opportunities?
Contact Tim Ornell at The Ornell Group 651-263-9480 [email protected] ornellgroup.com
Learn more about the Artisan Home Tour at artisanhometour.org
Ornell Group
Brokered by Real Broker | Real Luxury
Northern Suburbs Lake Real Estate Specialist
Ready to see how strategic luxury marketing maximizes your property's exposure and value? Let's discuss a customized approach for your lakefront or luxury estate.
Content and insights provided by Ornell Group. Real estate services brokered by Real Broker. Luxury lake properties marketed through Ornell Group | Real Luxury. Content enhanced and transformed with AI assistance by our team. All market data, pricing, and property information subject to change.
