A New Chapter | Novel Design + Build
Story by Tracy Nicholson
Photography by Dan Francis Photography
Fargo Home Company has officially turned the page, starting a new chapter as Novel Design + Build.
Today, they're not just building homes; they're rebuilding the design experience. With a highly personalized, human-centered process, their team is designing 'Decade Homes' that individualize style and amplify value. To learn more about their process, we toured their latest model home in North Moorhead's Preserve on Broadway and sat down with Novel's General Manager and Principal Designer, Melanie Rudd. Forget cookie-cutter construction, the lead characters of this next chapter are rewriting the rules — honoring the rhythms, relationships, and realities of a well-designed life.
Designing the Decade Home
When Fargo Home Company was founded three years ago by Lucas Paper and Brandon Raboin, the team focused on building bi-levels, two-story, and ramblers, primarily for first-time homebuyers throughout North Dakota and Minnesota. When Melanie Rudd was recruited to manage processes and interior design this year, the team's direction changed, and so did the name. With the belief that every person has a story to tell, Novel Design + Build was born, turning the page to a bold new direction that redefines how a well-designed life is lived.
"We came up with the name Novel because designing homes feels like telling someone's story," said Rudd. "It was the perfect word for people who are turning the page of their life; honoring it, loving it with the good and bad, but also stepping over that threshold into a new season and new chapter. Every single person's story matters. So, when I'm approaching interior design with clients, I see them as the hero of the story, and Novel is the guide. It's my job to help them find what they want, to make sure it's personalized based on their life."
Today, Novel is focused on building what they refer to as the "Decade Home," curated for those who are designing a life, not just a house. Melanie noticed that many of their clients were planning long-term homes, not entry-level — envisioning a space where they can host years of holidays or where their kids will graduate. "A Decade Home is for making memories — turning the page into the next season of their life," explained Rudd. "Sometimes we're even helping them discover who they are and what they want out of their next house."
The Design Process
At Novel, Melanie guides a thorough and analytical process to identify areas of interest that will help define the client's unique needs and style. "In the Midwest, many people are more conservative—limiting the way they design because they're afraid it will affect resale—but they do want quality," said Rudd. "With our model of taking a personality quiz, identifying feelings, and defining what's really important to them, it streamlines the design process and helps us move forward with their specific style or fusion of styles, which could be anything from Scandinavian with a hint of Bohemian to Modern- Traditional. It also helps us stay on budget and define whether a two-story, three-story, or slab-on- grade rambler is the best fit for their next decade of life. To make sure they're confident in their decisions, we give our clients interior design renderings and elevations — that's just another thing that really sets us apart."
“When I’m approaching interior design
with clients, I see them as the hero of the
story, and Novel is the guide. It’s my job
to help them find what they want, to make
sure it’s personalized based on their life.”
Meet Melanie
General Manager + Principal Designer Melanie Rudd is a Hawley, ND, native and accomplished entrepreneur, often recognized for her title as Ms. North Dakota 2020, her founding of Mosaic Interior Design, and her compassionate work in nonprofits and women's professional development at She Overcomes.
Today, Melanie owns the Mosaic District, a collection of female-founded businesses, and proudly pursues her first love of home design. She contributes to Novel's vision with over 15 years of experience in commercial and residential real estate, interior design, and construction management. Melanie leads with empathy, curating environments that tell a compelling story of a purposeful life.
Take A Tour: 6914 3rd St. North, Moorhead
The best way to explore Novel's design process is to explore their latest model home, the Emma, located on nearly one acre of countryside in Moorhead's newest rural neighborhood, the Preserve on Broadway. This two-story, 3,467-square-foot home has just recently hit the market, including four beds, three-and-a-half baths, and a fully finished basement. While the home itself is a blank canvas with neutral, calming tones throughout, Melanie staged it with a West Coast vibe of vibrant colors and tones for an airy springtime feel.
With the renaming of the company, Novel is also in the process of renaming its builds.
“We chose Emma for this model because this home is the perfect place for family life and entertaining guests," explained Rudd. "My great-grandma Emma Jourdan hosted our huge family for years at Bad Medicine Lake, Minnesota, and so many memories were made together. On my mother’s side, the Jourdan’s were the glue that held us together. I wanted to honor the beauty of family and cherish those moments that often pass by so quickly. This home will be someone else’s legacy one day, just like my Grandma Emma.”
The Art of Entry
In this Emma model, Novel creates a space of contemporary and eclectic comfort, inviting guests to experience a more global approach to family-forward design, from its spacious foyer and art studio to its open-concept main-floor, lower-level family room, and upstairs catwalk. Every space is thoughtfully designed for flow, function, and an infusion of human-centered design.
Across from the main foyer, the large office is staged as an art studio to showcase its expansive windows. "This room was designed to be what you want it to be: an office, a creative studio, or a children's playroom," added Rudd. "This room wasn't actually part of the original floor plan for this model, but it was added on to create space for the lower level's workout room."
Living Well
This home's true living experience is wide open, with 20-foot ceilings and six massive windows that frame countryside views. The space is designed to carry natural light, artfully flowing from the living room to the kitchen and upstairs catwalk. To ensure the open concept feels cohesive throughout, Melanie chose a Sherwin-Williams Agreeable Gray for the walls, an LVP wood-plank throughout, and a brick fireplace surround with a custom mantel that repeats the lighter tone of the kitchen cabinet stain. Adding vibrant color in the expanse above the mantel is a stunning abstract piece created by Melanie.
“When I’m not working directly with a client for selections, I will often choose neutral tones, as I did in the more permanent fixtures here, and then decorate and stage the home based on the season. This home is a perfect example of timeless design, where whoever purchases can continue to write their own story in how they decorate for themselves,” said Rudd.
"In this area, we tend to play it safe with color. I think it's finally time that we bring a little more color and flair into our homes, without being afraid to show our personalities."
Greta Rehder
Marketing Director
Novel Design + Build
Curated Cuisine
Melanie has curated a kitchen that fuses everyday and entertaining functions, all flowing from an oversized quartz island to a butler's pantry, breakfast nook, and powder room. For cabinetry, she worked with Clearwater Custom Cabinets and chose a clear Alder Norria stain with their signature squared-off molding around the base and uppers. On the backsplash is a neutral, organic textured subway tile with champagne bronze trim to coordinate with the kitchen's bronze pendants and the dining room's Mid-century modern swoop chandelier.
"A lot of people are fine with a smaller dining room or breakfast nook because they would rather have an oversized island," said Rudd. "They really like the entertaining and cooking prep space that large islands offer."
Elevated Living
Upstairs, follow the catwalk to the primary suite, or head to the opposite family wing, where Novel has included two large guest bedrooms, a full bath, and upper-level laundry.
Suite Sanctuary
This picturesque three-window primary is designed to face its southwest window, capturing both sunset and countryside views. Its fully-customized walk-in closet leads to a large linen closet and primary bath with LVP wood- plank flooring.
Here, Melanie designed a stunning marble tile shower with a double vanity and quartz countertops. She also worked with Clearwater Custom Cabinets to design soft-close Alder cabinetry in an Aged Barrel stain, complementing champagne bronze fixtures and hardware.
Lower-Level Living
The home's finished lower level is awaiting personalization, offering an expansive family room/theater and wet bar, one guest bedroom with full bath, and a large room staged to show its capabilities as a workout room. "I'm excited for people to see this house, as well as our Sasha model, which is on the Spring Parade of Homes," added Rehder. "The Sasha is a modification from this plan but has a second-floor 17’x13’ gym and office, a basement sauna, and cold plunge room — it's the concept of bringing amenities in-house that you would normally pay memberships for."
Meet the Founders
Brandon Raboin and Lucas Paper founded Fargo Home Company, now Novel Design + Build, in 2023. Brandon has over 13 years of experience in real estate, spanning both residential and commercial spaces. He has led more than 2,000 transactions, bringing a deep understanding of how people live and pairing market insight with a thoughtful, design-conscious approach. Lucas has over 10 years of experience in private equity, fundraising, and startups. He focuses on shaping a seamless and intentional building experience, ensuring each home reflects not just a process but a story — designed with purpose and built for the way people live.
Left: Lucas Paper, Founder
Right: Brandon Raboin, Founder
A Novel Approach
Novel Design + Build's homes range from $500 to $800k, and according to Lucas, affordability starts with the design process. "Since we have this new process locked in, the iterations and the timeline on the build go much quicker, which ultimately saves money without cutting corners. We also save money by working with vendors to secure best pricing and partnering with lenders like Valley Mortgage, who have programs that help the homeowner buy down their rate. It's been fun to have Mel on board and workshop a new story. We think a lot about the design perspective, and we don't believe you have to have a million-dollar house to have excellent design."
Melanie brings a lot of life to Novel," added Rehder. "Before, we were building houses; now, we're building homes that people are really excited to live in."
With every design decision, Melanie is helping reclaim the heart of homebuilding, encouraging homeowners to bring their feelings and budget to the table. "It's not just about finding the right floor plan, it's about personalizing the experience, asking clients what they want to feel in their home," explained Rudd. "We're really focused on more of a human- centered design around the experience the person is going to have there. How do they want to feel when they're cozying up to the fireplace? What memories do they want to make, and how do they want family to experience each other?"
Novel is streamlining the process by defining the client's design profile and personality — a direction that Melanie says is hyperintuitive and individualized, not cookie-cutter. "We're not reinventing anything, we're refocusing on what's important; telling the stories of people and places that invite us to put down our phones, look our families in the eye, play games around the table, and gather with friends and family."
Spring Parade of Homes
Novel Design + Build will be showcasing three model homes on the 2026 BIA Spring Parade of Homes, which is held on the first two weekends in May + Mondays. Check out the guide for Novel's Sasha, Audrey, and Emma designs.
May 2-4 & 9-12
Noon - 5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday | 3 - 7 p.m. Monday Event Details: paradefm.com
Save the Date: Grand Opening!
Novel Design + Build will be celebrating its official grand opening on the first day of the Parade of Homes, partnered with Turtle Mountain Animal Rescue and several other local businesses. The event will be held at their 4,100-square-foot "Sasha" model on Saturday, May 2nd, featuring a puppy petting zoo and puppy adoptions!
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Novel Design + Build 3262 Oak Ridge Loop E., West Fargo, ND melanie@buildwithnovel.com 701.306.9995 buildwithnovel.com FB: Fargo Home Company Insta: noveldesignandbuild