Rivers Edge Reveal | Dabbert Custom Homes
Story by Tracy Nicholson
Photography by SIIRO GRAVITY MEDIA & Chase Evert
In this neighborhood, the story quite literally begins and ends with a trip down Memory Lane. Touring Rivers Edge in Horace, ND, we doubled down with Dabbert Custom Homes’ newest model homes. From front door to next door, Dabbert’s interior designer, Sarah Philipp, architectural designer William Ortmeier, and project manager Cole Kringstad led the way — showing us two new homes built to kick off a beautiful new year.
Design by Dabbert
Located just three miles south Rivers Edge is a master-planned community offering a rural small- town feel just minutes from the metro. This new community neighbors Rivers Edge 1st Addition, centered around a pond and walking paths, with an HOA that maintains amenities and landscaping. Overlooking the water on Memory Lane is where our Dabbert Custom Homes tour begins, first with The Ashbury, then next door to The Valhalla.
Tour #1
THE ASHBURY
8147 Memory Lane, Horace
Inside The Ashbury, a contemporary farmhouse aesthetic blends clean lines with warm textural accents and soft, modern curves, from archways to furnishings. “Layered materials, organic-style finishes, and thoughtfully placed details create a look that is both refined and charming,” said Dabbert Custom Homes’ interior designer Sarah Philipp. “This is a home that balances exceptional livability with timeless elegance.”
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The Ashbury’s two-story floor plan features six bedrooms, including a main-floor primary suite and a flexible main-floor office that can be easily converted into a bedroom. According to the home’s architectural designer, William Ortmeier, the design intent was to “create a home that merges transparency and solidity, allowing natural light and views to become integral design elements,” adding to its comfort and dramatic presence. To reduce the home’s environmental impact, William optimized site orientation for natural daylighting, integrating sustainable design strategies and energy-efficient systems that work together to enhance the home’s performance.
#GREATROOMGOALS
The centerpiece of The Ashbury is the double-volume great room, where floor-to-19-foot- ceiling floods the interior with natural light, framing pond and prairie views. Here, clean-lined architecture is softened by carefully orchestrated details and layered depth, including arched alcoves, floating shelves, and art lighting.
The fireplace was designed with custom arches, a full seated bench, and a beautiful concrete- coated accent finish by Fargo’s Mothership Workshop. “The contrast between the soft curves and refined concrete gives the space a modern yet warm character,” added Philipp.
Custom Culinary
In The Ashbury’s chef’s kitchen, Dabbert’s team designed custom arches on the range hood to repeat the gentle curves used in the passageways and great room. The design reinforces the home’s soft, modern aesthetic — paired with stone from Brockmeyer Tile & Stone and Gray Cashmere- stained and Swiss Coffee-painted cabinets by SWI Interiors. Here, the real design endeavors are in the details, from the paneled fridge and polished nickel hardware to the range’s spice and oil nooks and the pantry’s embrasure doorway.
“Guided by the philosophy of The Thoughtful Home™ by BSB Design, The Ashbury’s design celebrates the connection between physical well- being, emotional balance, and everyday living.”
“The embrasure doors celebrate craftsmanship,” explained Ortmeier. “They go all the way into the wall, so you get a flush and fully finished opening that matches the rest of the home’s trim work and detailing. We also used harmon hinges, so the doors can go both ways, saving space while allowing seamless integration between the kitchen and pantry. This is proof of what can be achieved when design ambition meets rigorous execution.”
Suite Dreams
Just beyond the kitchen is a main- floor primary suite that oversees expansive water views. Here, the details start with the bedroom’s tongue-and-groove ceilings and soft cove lighting, then transition to a spa-style bath, complete with arched front-lit vanity mirrors, a custom rain shower, a soaker tub, heated tile floors, a separate toilet room, and a walk-in closet with laundry.
Elevated Elegance
The Ashbury’s upper level offers three bedrooms, a large bath with separate shower and toilet rooms, a flexible den space, custom homework nooks, and a full laundry room. On all levels, William and Sarah ensured each space was intentionally crafted to support wellness, with a restrained color and material palette that helps conceal storage and maintain elegance while reinforcing durability, calm, and order.
Below Ground Gathering
In The Ashbury’s lower level, the team designed a family room and full kitchen with custom-painted cabinetry and wine storage in Sherwin-Williams Retreat, a warm tone that lends itself to a fusion of black and polished nickel hardware. “The island is a 10- foot centerpiece, complete with overhang seating on both sides,” explained Philipp. “Intentionally designed for entertaining, it allows guests to gather comfortably no matter where they sit.” The lower level also features a full, double-vanity bath and toilet room, expansive storage, entertainment wall arches, and two large bedrooms.
THE ASHBURY DESIGN DETAILS:
Homebuilder: Dabbert Custom Homes
Architectural Design: William Ortmeier, Dabbert Custom Homes
Interior Design: Sarah Philipp, Dabbert Custom Homes
Project Manager: Cole Kringstad, Dabbert Custom Homes
Custom Glass Doors: Frontier Glass
Fireplace: Hebron Brick
Fireplace Finish: Surecrete, Natural White, by Mothership Workshop
Appliances: Thermador Kitchen Appliances, Rigels
Countertops: MSI Calacatta Valentin by Brockmeyer Tile & Stone
Stained Cabinets: Gray Cashmere on Alder by SWI Interiors
Painted Cabinets: Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee by SWI Interiors
Lighting: Valley Lights Flooring, Tile & Install: Floor to Ceiling Carpet One Floor & Home Fargo
Plumbing: Home Heating & Plumbing
Electrical: JDP Electric
Exterior Siding: Smoked Birch, MAC Metal Architectural, Hebron Brick Stucco Façade: Glacier White, OTXterior Horizontal Siding & Shingles: MacArthur Co.
Doors: D&M Industries
Windows: Vector Envision Series, Fergus Falls
Landscaping: Paramount Landscaping and Lighting
Grading & Sod: Installed by Dirt Dynamics
Tour #2
THE VALHALLA
8153 Memory Lane, Horace
Next door at The Valhalla, Dabbert designed the ultimate family home and entertaining haven, including five bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, and an impressive lower-level game room accommodating a sauna, wet bar, pool table, movie theatre, home gym, and built-in golf simulator. The Valhalla’s style is defined by soft, moody colors and textures, infused with deeper wood tones in the flooring and cabinetry, and accented with floral elements, limestone wash accents, champagne bronze finishes, artisan glass, and warm layered lighting.
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While many homes celebrate volume, The Valhalla balances openness with refuge. “Private zones were carefully tuned through wall assemblies and material selection, creating restorative spaces that support an expression of the first principle of The Thoughtful Home™: restful sleep,” explained Ortmeier. “Flooring transitions, pet- friendly surfaces, and concealed storage reinforce the ideal of effortless living, ensuring beauty never comes at the expense of practicality.”
Chef’s Kitchen
In The Valhalla’s chef’s kitchen, Sarah designed a custom range hood and detailed ogee quartz countertop edges, paired with champagne bronze hardware and darker Antique Slate-stained and Magnolia-painted cabinetry by SWI Interiors. One of the most function-forward design features is the pocket-door pantry that leads to a mudroom/drop zone and a second pantry, or “morning kitchen,” which houses and hides daily-use appliances.
One of the home’s most distinctive technical feats is its millwork alignment — continuous cabinetry lines that extend across multiple functional zones. William and Sarah chose this style of millwork to create uninterrupted horizontality that visually expands the interior while unifying the architecture.
Hearth & Home
In the great room, perfect window placement alters the perspective and directs the eye to the water. Beyond the view, the focal point is a custom-designed Rivera Beige Limestone fireplace that was hand- carved in Guadalajara. “This fireplace was custom-designed specifically for this home. From a 3D rendering to a hand-built centerpiece, its warmth and character make the living area feel inviting,” said Philipp.
“This home stands out for its intentional spaces, each offering a serene oasis filled with warmth, personality, and thoughtful details,” she added. “Each area of this home is designed to feel inviting and purposeful, offering both comfort and charm.”
Primary Perfection
In The Valhalla’s pristine primary suite, picture-perfect pond and prairie views stay in focus, with the added elegance of a tray ceiling and limewash finish. The primary extends to a large walk-in closet and spa-style bath, including a custom glass and large-format tiled shower, a soaker tub, ogee-edge stone tops, toe-kick vanity lighting, and custom brass mirrors.
Be Our Guest
Positioned discreetly behind the kitchen are two guest bedrooms with water views, a linen closet, and a full bath with separate toilet room. “For windows, we planned for the light coming into hallways, trying to capture the positive feel,” added Dabbert’s Project Manager, Cole Kringstad. “It’s not just about the windows, but also the placement.”
As William explained, “The Valhalla embodies The Thoughtful Home™ philosophy—precision- built for serenity, wellness, and connection—showcasing Dabbert’s commitment to craftsmanship, innovation, and energy efficiency that elevates everyday living into enduring architectural harmony.”
Restore & Retreat
The home’s front office/flex room highlights another limewash wall finish and the meticulous craftsmanship of loft-style glass partition doors. “We try to keep everything local, but for these, we worked with Crystalia Glass, a manufacturer in the Bronx,” explained Ortmeier. “The nine-foot, floor-to-ceiling doors demanded rigorous structural coordination to merge transparency with security — maintaining clean sightlines without visible transitions.”
Lower-Level Luxe
In The Valhalla’s lower level, Dabbert partnered with SCHEELS All-Sports and HotSpring Spas & Pools Table 2 to create the ultimate underground getaway. Here, SCHEELS contributed their expertise to help the team install and design for a luxury golf simulator, in addition to a beautiful pool table and sauna from HotSpring. The golf simulator— with projector, computer, bar, and launch monitor—is installed to stay, but the sauna and pool table are optional amenities that can be purchased upon sale of the home.
Further into the lower level is a home gym, a full bath, and two large guest rooms. As its final act, The Valhalla offers a custom, color-drenched movie theater with a back bar snack station and pantry — all in a Sherwin- Williams Slate Tile wall and trim color, Magnolia cabinet paint, and Antique Slate stain countertop.
“The lower level was conceived as a modern haven for connection and restoration, where design innovation serves life itself,” explained Ortmeier. “It balances open communal entertainment zones with intimate retreats for rest and reflection — a home that feels both elevated and grounded.”
New Year, New Styles
Both of these models are available for tours until the homes are officially listed on the market in the spring. Moving into a new year, Sarah believes the biggest shift in design will be the thoughtful integration of character that reflects the personalities and lifestyles of those who live in the home. “By carefully layering details and finishes, designers can create spaces that feel warm, inviting, and authentically lived in,” she explained. “The era of white and gray boxes is giving way to homes with depth, color, texture, and a sense of personal connection.”
THE VALHALLA DESIGN DETAILS:
Homebuilder: Dabbert Custom Homes
Architectural Design: William Ortmeier, Dabbert Custom Homes
Interior Design: Sarah Philipp, Dabbert Custom Homes
Project Manager: Cole Kringstad, Dabbert Custom Homes
Golf Simulator: SCHEELS All-Sports Sauna & Pool Table: HotSpring Spas & Pool Tables 2
Stained Cabinetry: Alder with an Antique Slate Stain by SWI Interiors
Painted Cabinetry: Magnolia by SWI Interiors
Countertops: Brockmeyer Tile & Stone Wallpaper Accent in Laundry &
Powder Bath: Olaf Sandstone, Sandberg Wallpaper
Lighting: Valley Lights Flooring, Tile & Install: Floor to Ceiling Carpet One Floor & Home Fargo
Kitchen Appliances: KitchenAid, Rigels
Glass Office Doors: Crystalia Glass
Masonry: Winter Masonry
Electrical: JDP Electric
Fireplace: Kozy Heat SP41, Hebron Brick Supply
Custom Glass Shower Door: Frontier Glass
Doors: D&M Industries
Windows: Vector Envision Series
Plumbing: Home Heating & Plumbing
Exterior Siding/Roofing: MacArthur Co.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Dabbert Custom Homes
5522 36th St S, Fargo, ND
701.205.4979
dabberthomes.com
FB: Dabbert Custom Homes
Insta: dabbert_custom_homes
Take a Tour:
Mike Gillund | Beyond Realty
4725 Amber Valley Pkwy S STE
A. | Fargo, ND
C: 701.371.9163 | O: 701.540.5161