OUR STORY
A NEW NEST. A NEW CHAPTER. A NEW WAY TO FLY.
Northern Nest Design was born from a very personal place.
When my children left home and flew off to build lives of their own, I found myself asking a question many people eventually ask: What comes next?
I had always dreamed of becoming an architect or designer. So, rather than simply settling into retirement, a friend and I decided to go back to school and pursue degrees in Kitchen & Bath Design. We learned design, space planning, Chief Architect, and the many tools that brought our creative ideas to life.
And along the way, we discovered something unexpected. We weren't alone.
Our classrooms were filled with talented, passionate people who had reached a similar point in life. Some were beginning a second career. Others were finally pursuing something they had always wanted to do. Many had retired from successful careers but weren't ready to retire from being useful, creative, engaged, and connected.
Then came the frustrating part. After earning a design degree and developing valuable skills, we discovered that finding meaningful work on a flexible, part-time basis was incredibly difficult. The design industry often wants full-time employees, but that isn't necessarily what people in this stage of life want.
They want purpose without giving up their freedom.
They want to work, but they also want to travel. Visit grandchildren. Spend winters somewhere warm. Volunteer. Garden. Golf. Be with family. Take a Tuesday afternoon off simply because they can. They don't want to stop contributing. They just want to contribute on their own terms.
That's where the idea for Northern Nest Design began. We envisioned a company that could become a nest for talented designers-a place where experienced and passionate people could fly in, contribute their talents to a project, and fly back out again when life calls.
OUR PHILOSOPHY
At Northern Nest Design, we believe your home doesn't have to be brand new to become your dream home.
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Many homes in Edina, Minnetonka, and the surrounding communities were built in the 1960s and 1970s. They have character, mature neighborhoods, and decades of memories—but their kitchens, bathrooms, and floor plans often need to catch up with the way we live today.
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That's where we come in.
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We help homeowners thoughtfully reimagine the homes they already love — improving function, updating finishes, and creating spaces that feel beautiful and personal without unnecessary over-design or expense.
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Our approach is collaborative and practical. We listen to how you live, understand your goals and budget, and create a plan that makes the most of what you already have.
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But Northern Nest is about more than homes.
We are creating a nest for talented independent designers — bringing together experience, creativity, technical knowledge, and life perspective in a flexible environment. We believe people should have opportunities to continue creating, contributing, and doing meaningful work on their own terms.
Because sometimes your second act can be your most rewarding one.
THOUGHTFULLY DESIGNED.
BEAUTIFULLY LIVED.
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We believe that philosophy applies not only to the homes we design, but to the lives we're creating along the way.
