Rambler Redeaux | Craftwell Architecture + Construction
Story by Tracy Nicholson
Photography by Scott Amundson
When good bones and a great country club neighborhood trump the lure of new construction, reinventing the rambler is par for the course. In South Fargo, Craftwell Architecture + Construction took on the reuse and remodel of a late-1960s rambler, creating a design that transformed its cramped quarters into spacious, modern-day living. Inside and out, Craftwell's Chris Hawley and Tyler Gefroh show us how it's done, delivering a redesign that reflects the homeowner's love of European luxury, from high-style entertaining to high-end finishes and fine craftsmanship.
Left: Chris Hawley, Principal Architect, Craftwell Architecture + Construction
Right: Tyler Gefroh, Craftwell Architecture + Construction
crafted with character
The "Rambler Redeaux" could have been just another ordinary remodel, but with Craftwell Architecture + Construction's Tyler Gefroh and Chris Hawley, Principal Architect, at the helm, every part of the design was elevated. "This is the result of a deep conversation between client and architect on how they wanted to live. It's also a project of restraint," explained Hawley. "It centered around hitting budgets, managing expectations, and ultimately preserving and breathing new life into a tired house in a nice neighborhood."
settling into the 60s
After falling in love with the well-established Fargo Country Club neighborhood in 2016, the homeowners settled into the untouched 1960s rambler. It wasn't exactly their dream home, but its potential was a worthy investment. "It felt established and the neighborhood had real character — not every home here looks the same, and each one has its own personality," said the homeowner. "The location was great, and when we found this house, which had hardly changed since it was built, it took some vision, but we saw the potential and knew we wanted to transform it."
After three years of dreaming, the homeowners enlisted Craftwell to design two phases of architectural plans focused on sustainable reuse of the existing structure. The first phase was executed by Eric Berg Construction with custom finishes by Materia Hardwood Flooring, and the second phase was completed by Dakota Construction. The renovation's overarching goal was a timeless yet distinctive aesthetic rooted in classic European design, with each space curating personal and unexpected touches.
bienvenue à la maison
Carefully managing the project to preserve its good bones, Craftwell started by reinventing the outdated brick exterior and entry experience. For modern curb appeal, the confusing garage entrance was removed, and the original brick was painted over, breaking the monotony with a plaster finish and limestone lintels for a touch of traditional elegance. The homeowners requested to keep the kitchen's bay window intact, so Craftwell worked backwards with its design, adding a planter along the front. The homeowners also worked with Opp Construction to ensure a natural and cohesive landscape flow from indoor to outdoor spaces.
The design was further elevated with a new entrance gable, Italian marble foyer tile, new operable fiberglass windows and doors, and a custom front door with a center knob the homeowner had crafted in London.
This renovation marks the homeowners' third project with Craftwell. "We chose to work with Craftwell because of the relationship and trust we’ve built with Chris over the years," said the homeowner. "My husband has known and worked with him for over 15 years, so there’s a familiarity and understanding there that really shapes how we work together."
Phase one of the interior renovation began with Craftwell’s redesign of the existing kitchen, dining, and living areas. To create a more functional and connected layout, Craftwell carved out space for a small mudroom behind a barn door and relocated the dining room from the patio doors to the pathway near the stairs. The staircase was also redesigned, with the removal of the original wall and the addition of a custom railing fabricated by Materia and P2 Industries.
With the kitchen and dining room positioned directly off the main entry, a small entry addition and reconfiguration of the existing compartmentalized space expanded the living area to a main floor of 1,600 square feet, creating a comfortable, connected, and luxurious experience. This design punctuates the homeowners' love of cooking and entertaining — one a local craftsman and business owner, the other an advertising executive who works remotely.
From the former chopped-up kitchen and dining spaces came the addition of a built-in island wrapped in antique mirrored glass. Rather than the typical freestanding, furniture-style island, theirs meets the floor for a seamless transition from cooking and entertaining to dining and conversation. Throughout the space, savvy selections pair luxury stone and butcher-block with more cost-effective, prefabricated box cabinets and casework. Adding high-style drama is a full- height Italian marble backsplash with deep violet veining, Sputnik globe lighting, and a custom brass range hood commissioned by the homeowner. The homeowners also worked closely with Craftwell to prioritize unique lighting and map out placement, which was key to defining new space configurations.
art de vivre
Now free-flowing from the kitchen to the living room, Craftwell's design showcases the homeowners' passion for refined craftsmanship, working with Materia to install sustainably harvested chevron white oak floors. "Materia specializes in custom site-finished floors, and it’s truly one of the most defining features of our home. We used European white oak throughout, and each room has its own pattern and style.
Because we used the same material everywhere, it all feels incredibly cohesive," the homeowner explained. "There’s no carpet anywhere in the house — it’s all hardwood. Materia has a remarkable eye for both design and craft."
The homeowners preserved and improved the living room's exposed brick fireplace surround, complementing the eclectic jewel-toned furnishings while aligning with a distinctly European aesthetic. With a clear vision for their desired brick color, the homeowners sourced a stain- limestone wash from London and completed the process themselves. "A big part of my design inspiration came from Parisian-French culture, as well as designers like Kelly Wearstler, Jenna Lyons, and Athena Calderone," said the homeowner. "I love a mix of edgy, eclectic, and classic — I wanted our home to have real personality but also stand the test of time."
To embody timeworn character, the homeowners had many of the home's finishes sourced directly from Europe, including a paint color from Ireland, marble from Italy, and custom light switches from London. "Every detail was very intentional — each room had a lot of thought and personality put into it," said the homeowner. "Through this process, I really found a love for interior design, and I spent a great deal of time thinking through the textiles and how everything came together — it was a labor of love."
Phase two, completed in 2024, reimagined the remainder of the home to better suit their lifestyle, including a bedroom turned office and a new primary wing with a custom-built closet. Here, Craftwell's design forged a luxurious ‘hotel-like suite' for two, enabling the homeowners to get ready at different times and in different zones.
From the primary bedroom's warm oak and deep color-drenched spaces to the daylit bath's marble and glass, the design creates an all-at-once moody and bright interior, with arched openings that soften clear separation and define public from private spaces.
"This project is kind of like a high-end condo in a house in the middle of Fargo," explained Hawley. "It isn't very big, but the finishes and selections are really dialed in."
“We did a lot with the limited space that we had, which is kind of East Coast condo, downtown loft — you can’t add on, so you make the most of what you have. There’s this whole part of the culture that thinks we need more than this, and I just don’t think so. With a well-planned remodel, you can get what you want and probably have a little more character and soul to the project.”
At the end of the arched hallway, Craftwell included pocket doors to visually isolate the primary suite from the rest of the house. A transition space at the end of the hallway allows some circulation, and the office is just down the hall through the white arched opening. "It's a clever, circular way of getting all the things they need without carving out hallways or adding on to the house," explained Hawley.
In the primary bath, Italian marble sets a stunning stage, from the floor-height windows to the floating vanity and glassed-in shower room. Here, interior glazing and steel details are portrayed through a metal and glass feature fabricated by Larry Larson of P2 Industries. The mirrors are custom-designed to tilt off the mullions of a large clerestory window above the vanity, a room divider that transfers daylight from bath to bedroom. "I shared with Larry my vision and wanted it to feel as though it came from an old factory or building in Paris — he brought the idea I had in my head to life. He's truly an artist," said the homeowner.
Alongside Craftwell’s plans, the homeowners worked with Materia and Dakota Construction to bring a number of highly detailed custom elements to life throughout the home. “Dakota Construction did exceptional work on several of the custom features, including the wall molding in my office and the primary bedroom, a custom- designed shelving installation, and the sauna,” the homeowner explained. “The molding is a true stand-out feature, with each piece thoughtfully cut and installed to create a tailored architectural look. The sauna, built with hemlock wood, was finished with incredible precision, with perfectly interlocked boards and no visible nail holes — a detail that really speaks to their craftsmanship and attention to detail."
The high-style craftsmanship is also on display in the half-bath, with custom inlaid flooring, curved walls, European-style plumbing, and dramatic color-drenched walls.
"I like that this project was about quality over quantity, not just adding something on that's bigger but not necessarily better," added Hawley. "They wanted to make what they had amazing, without adding on — it's just a different attitude towards space."
This attitude has inspired the transformation of an entire neighborhood, starting with Chris's own home just down the block. Since he finished his home in 2015, Craftwell has taken on nine other neighboring remodels — unique designs that would have never existed from scratch but were necessitated by pre-existing structures born in the 60s and 70s. "With remodels, you don't always get to do whatever you want; you have to work backwards from what you have before you can go forward," explained Hawley. "There was real value to this house before we started; it's a really well-built, nice house in a nice neighborhood."
from heart to home
"What we love most about working with Chris is that he listens. I came into this renovation with a PowerPoint full of inspiration and specific ideas, and he embraced all of it," said the homeowner. "He heard me, took my ideas to heart, and genuinely understood where we were trying to go. That kind of openness and appreciation for design is something I really value. But beyond just listening, Chris pushed us in the best way. He brought ideas to the table that helped expand and elevate what we were already envisioning rather than talking us out of something unconventional.
One of my favorite things to hear at the end of a project is ‘I’ve never seen this before’ — that’s really the goal for us. We never want our home to look like everyone else’s, and Chris shares that sensibility. He has a distinctive aesthetic, and when you find someone who thinks similarly and is willing to step outside the box with you and actually help bring the work to life, it just makes the whole process that much better."
For more information, visit: chaarch.com.