Albertsson Hansen Architecture, Ltd

We can’t speak highly enough about our experience with Albertsson Hansen Archictecture. From start to finish we were a collaborative team. We knew we selected the right firm when their goal was the same as ours—to discover and then design the very best of what we wanted. When you are building a house you don’t always know what you want but you usually know what you don’t want. AH made sure to understand both. Thanks to their guidance, attention to detail and high standards we are now living in the home of our dreams. Our contractor promised an 8 month completion date. It ended up taking 12 months. We could not have navigated this contractor delay without the oversight and guidance we received from our AH Team. Their attention to detail in making sure the design our team created was the house the contractor built was the sole reason for the success of our project. AH listened, created, guided, and made our experience enjoyable. We would only do this again with Albertsson Hansen Architecture!

Very disappointed in the A&H experience and product. Initially very hopeful. Innovative ideas and design, we were so excited to update our home. But our day to day interactions became unbearable by the end. They were always shifting the blame and not owning up or solving problems. To make matters worse, I was disappointed in final design and ultimately the space created was attractive, but not livable. There were multiple instances of oversight (fixtures, heating details, design details) and it took effort for a&h to take responsibility. I wish we would have gone with a different architect. I put so much money into this project and feel very disappointed.

We hired Albertsson Hansen Architecture, Ltd. after purchasing a home that is over 100 years old. We wanted to give it much-needed updating, develop a plan that would maximize current square footage and eventually do an addition that would blend with the existing house. Christine, Todd, and Tammy helped us come up with a plan we could do in phases, targeting our most immediate needs first. During the planning and development portion of the project, they presented a variety of solutions to spatial and budgetary challenges. The details and ideas they came up with were beyond what we could have imagined and as they came into being during the building process, we were thrilled at the results- they thought of everything! Tammy and Christine were actively involved throughout the construction process. Not only did they advise us on color and schematic decisions, they insured the plans were being executed correctly and aided and supported the builders when old-home challenges arose. We would highly recommend A & H Architecture, Ltd. and can't wait to begin phase 2.

With a growing family we needed to expand our existing home to accommodate. We asked various friends if they had experience with a residential architect. Albertsson Hansen was a reference we received. Little did we know at that time, Albertsson Hansen had designed a home that we often admired on the lake that we live. We contacted the firm via email and shortly thereafter met with Christine and Todd for a consult at our home. We were sold on their firm at the first meeting. Both were very clear on what to expect during the process of design and build. They also assisted us with finding a builder, and we are very happy with that experience as well. The architects and builders worked seamlessly to create our beautiful home. We also worked extensively with Tammy with Albertsson Hansen. Tammy was always quick to respond to inquiries and her sensibility for design is incredible. The entire staff works together to create your home so regardless of who you work with directly...everyone at the firm is involved. Lots of minds working creatively together! We often wonder what our home would have been like without the talent of Albertsson Hansen. They were very professional to work with and always kept our goals in mind. We are so happy we hired them to help us with our dream home. We are now another home on our lake to be admired.

As a general contractor/builder, I am always looking for creative people and firms to partner with in designing unique spaces. Albertsson Hansen is one of those firms that has an eye for creativity and detail. Whether you are remodeling or designing a new home, the attention and professionalism given by the entire staff will exceed your expectations. The partnership between our firm and theirs allowed the project to finish on time and with a high level of craftsmanship. I can highly recommend AH Architecture for your project.

Six years ago, we purchased our 1925 Mediterranean home knowing we would remodel the kitchen in the future. The home has beautiful period detailing like hardwood floors, framed archways, and built in bookcases flanking the fireplace. The kitchen was small, dark, and nonfunctional. The refrigerator was in a hallway leading to the basement. We started our search for an architect and loved the designs of Albertsson Hansen Architecture. After meeting with partner Christine Albertsson and lead architect Tammy Angaran, we knew we found the perfect architects. We were stumped as to how we could get an island, a powder room, and more storage into the current small space. They listened to our concerns and asked in-depth questions. At the end of our first meeting, Tammy suggested we move the kitchen into our existing dining room. We couldn’t picture it. At our next meeting, Christine and Tammy brought three designs for us to look over. The third design was the kitchen moved to the current dining space and included a pantry and powder room in the old kitchen space. The one wall of the dining room would be bumped out three feet and would contain six small windows, the range, and both upper and lower cabinets. There would be a nine foot island and the wall to the sunroom would be opened up. The design blew us away. It still seemed out there, but it also was like no other kitchen that I had seen in a 1920’s home. It was an open concept design that retained the original charm of the home’s era. During the entire process, Tammy and Christine responded quickly and resolved any design issues that arose. Their knowledge and attention to detail was exceptional. We had a limited budget and they helped us decide where to spend a little more and where we could conserve. The first item we wanted to splurge a bit was on the countertop. We knew we wanted marble and Carrara was in short supply in Minneapolis, so Christine suggested Vermont Danby which is quarried in the United States. I think it is more beautiful than the Carrara slabs that were in stock at the time. It was the perfect choice for our home. We wanted to keep an original light fixture globe that was original to the house, but replace the brass metal part. We thought it should be dark but both Tammy and Christine suggested we go with polished nickel and they were right. It is a focal point of the dining room. Plus it plays well off the stainless appliances and pulls in the kitchen. We originally wanted a marble tile wainscot in the bathroom, but to save on the budget we decided to not do it. Christine helped us see that in a small space, this type of detail has a huge payoff. She was right and we are so glad she pushed us to keep it in scope. Since we have arched door frames, we debated doing more archwork, but Christine and Tammy suggested we keep the same wood detail, but square cut the new spaces. Again they were right on. The spaces seem so open and still look like they were designed that way when originally built. From the wood trim detailing to the smallest of details, Tammy and Christine were a tremendous help in shaping our new kitchen. Tammy and Christine are wonderful to work with and are highly professional. They are very low-key and worked will with the contractor and subcontractors. They responded quickly with our concerns and questions, and we felt like we were their only clients (although I know that is not the case). Christine even stopped over a few times on the weekends to look at some details we thought might need addressing. Part of their process includes weekly meetings with the contractors (Choice Wood, another great company that I would recommend highly), which we found to be a great way to stay on top of what was happening and what needed to happen to keep the project on time and on budget. Their attention to detail, quick response, and level of knowledge is exceptional. Their help with finishes, paint choices, and little details throughout the space gave us a kitchen we could not have imagined without their help. Their vision gave us not only a gorgeous kitchen, but what many consider to be a brand new house. We highly recommend this team of forward thinking architects. All of the after photographs are from Pete Sieger Photography in Minneapolis, MN.

The firm visited my home and spent a few hours reviewing the addition design submitted by another firm. She was amazing. She measured everything and then sat down to draw. In only a few short hours she had corrected all of the problems in the design and made so many improvements to it that I could not keep track. We were able to incorporate most of the changes without significantly increasing the cost of the project and we ended up with a house that is on a whole different scale than the one the original addition plan would have provided. If we had more time and they had more availability, we would have hired this firm to design and supervise construction of the entire project.