It is said that “A man’s home is his castle”. Whether there
is a moat around it or not, when it comes to your home, you want the best; the
best craftsmanship, the best view, the best workspace, the best, the best, the
best. But who defines the best? Simply put, you do. Keith Waters and Associates has been designing and building
homes for well over twenty years, and they couldn’t agree more. There is only
one way to achieve a home that truly fits its owner, and that is by having a
complete custom design-build.
Keith began his company in 1985 out of frustration. As an architect, he would design a home and then slowly watch the design change shape as it changed hands. The people involved in constructing the home were misinterpreting his design and his clients dream. The only way to get around the loss of detail during the course of the communication game was to eliminate some of the players. As it is now, when working with Keith and his team, you build your dream with one designer who is communicating your desires from paper to structure, start to finish. Not only does Keith Waters and Associates design the building, but nearly all other aspects as well, including cabinets, fireplaces and landscaping. Then Keith’s wife, Cindy, can step in with her interior design degree and add those essential finishing touches.
I was blessed with a tour that included a number of
projects, some complete and some in the construction phase. I was impressed by
the diversity as I went from one project to the next. There were a few
consistencies, the most noticeable being the attention to detail. My favorites included taking away hard
lines and replacing them with curves, for example, a stair case that flares at
the bottom or a spiral vs. the standard staircase. Although many of the rooms were large each space was well
thought out and had a very usable purpose. As I walked through each room I
found a relaxed, comfortable atmosphere. I never felt as if I had entered “the
family room” or “the library”, built only to collect dust. The woodwork was
incredible, from the wood floors to the custom cabinets. One home held a
masterpiece of inlaid wood above the mantle of the lower level fireplace. Every
home had a drop of the floor in the utility room to help eliminate water damage
to the surrounding basement interior in the event of an equipment malfunction.
Finally, and the most impressive, were the windows that extended all the way to
the floor, giving way to Gods 
handiwork. Keith would say they are his company’s
signature. “It’s our goal to connect the inside of the house to the outside. We
try not to build anything, even decks or patios, in place of the best view.”
Because of this, you can be certain that the character of the land will not be
diminished during the building process. That beautiful old willow tree will
stay put, perfectly framed from the inside, even if it requires building a
bridge as a walkway from the driveway to the front porch. With years of experience working with
landscape architecture, Keith can easily extend your design and desires
throughout your entire property.
At times, obtaining a lot with an unspeakable view can be a challenge all in itself. This is just another reason to have Keith Waters and Associates as a resource. They continuously keep watch over the twin cities market, and have used their experience and knowledge to help clients discover the perfect property for their custom-build. When it comes to finding a suitable lot, they love a challenge and will often see potential where others would not. Just imagine all of the lakeshore and views that have passed others by!
Keith and his team are not limited to working within developments. They also design and construct commercial buildings, twin homes, condos and duplexes. They have designed and built homes on single lots in older, well-established neighborhoods as well. Once the construction is complete and the landscaping has had a year or two to grow and develop, the best compliment they can receive is a passerby not realizing that the new addition to the neighborhood was not there all along. This is just another indication of how Keith Waters and Associates can appreciate the finer details. I was most impressed with the renovation work that was done in the Locust Hills community. The historic 1940’s Norman-style stable building was elevated above the flood plain by a couple feet, and although the inside is now part of the clubhouse and sales office, the exterior boasts of the charm and distinction associated to the history of the building and that piece of land. Pieces of the structure that couldn’t be restored were saved and showcased in the clubhouse. What once was a window frame, Cindy used to make shadowboxes that now display ribbons and awards won by the horses that once called that same stable home.
Responsibility is another quality you can add to Keith
Waters and Associates collection. They are the first builder in the state that
received Silver Certification through the MN GreenStar Pilot Program with their
home on Portico Green in Minnetonka. This same home was chosen as Midwest
Living magazine’s 2008 Idea Home and was featured in their Sept/Oct issue.
Although they go unnoticed, solar panels placed on the roof provide the energy
for the hot water. The “slate” roof is made of recycled products and the
driveway pavers are locally made from recycled milk jugs. On the inside, you’ll
find counter tops made with recycled glass. These are obvious green practices,
but some of the less than obvious practices are things that Keith Waters and
Associates was doing all along. Things like having front porches, shared
driveways, garages that don’t face the street and shared yard space. “Getting
the Silver Certification was an interesting process to go through,” stated
Carter Siverson, a partner in the company. “We found that a lot of what we were
doing was green already. We just had to do a few minor changes.” Currently, Keith Waters &
Associates is constructing a home in Locust Hills that will be certified in
both the MN GreenStar and LEED for Homes programs. The checklists for each
programs certification are quite extensive, but the objectives are basically
the same. It all boils down to
achieving four basic goals during the process of designing and building your
home, each of which can be accomplished in many different ways and can be
investigated further on their website.
When it comes to building luxury homes, or remodeling a home to meet luxurious standards, the homeowners themselves are changing in that they are no longer thinking of sheer size. This is why Keith Waters and Associates is such a great choice. They are diverse, unique in their process, knowledgeable and dedicated to quality craftsmanship. In addition, they are committed to accomplishing your dream based on your individual needs and desires. Carter spoke of a design and build that he did for a client who happened to be a bird watcher. “The best part for me was walking in the home after they had moved in. I found his chair by the fireplace, facing the window and his binoculars within reach, just as we had designed it to be on paper.” What a perfect example of an exclusive, one-of-a-kind home. It’s no wonder that a client who built their home through Keith Waters and Associates called them back when they wanted to build their lake home in Alexandria. Once you experience that custom fit, you’ll never want to go back.
Keith Waters and Associates is located off Baker Road in Eden Prairie. You can view some of their amazing craftsmanship, and garnish more information through their website www.keithwaters.com. They would love to hear your vision, no matter the challenge, and strive to leave you perfectly content with the results.
