For many Minnesota families, summers are spent between a city home and an Up North getaway where children, friends and grandparents gather on the weekends for boating and bonfires. Five years ago, one such family, an active couple with young children, approached O’Hara Interiors to design their summer getaway on Sugar Lake in central Minnesota. They envisioned a “fun house” with bold, playful colors and indoor/outdoor spaces that kept their family connected to the lake. O’Hara Interiors, no stranger to such projects, welcomed the opportunity to put a twist on traditional lake home design for this vibrant family.
Photography by Spacecrafting
Fast forward a few years, and the same family found themselves remodeling their primary home in the Interlachen neighborhood. Restless in their current space and anticipating their kids moving out in a few years, the couple sought a way to make the home feel special again as they entered a new phase of life. They knew exactly who to call to take on this design challenge: O’Hara Interiors.
This time, the O’Hara team went with a more practical design, including custom storage solutions in shared spaces and a designated office and craft area for work and leisure. The design of their remodeled primary home has an urban sophistication to it, as opposed to the bright, coastal-inspired elements of their lake house an hour away.
Photography by Spacecrafting
“They came to us with different projects with quite different purposes,” says O’Hara Interiors CEO Kate O’Hara. “It’s always fun to work with a client again, especially when we already have a strong understanding of their communication style and design preferences. There’s trust there, and a sense of comfort that makes the work extra enjoyable.”
O’Hara Interiors has been designing homes for over 30 years, and one of the most important and rewarding aspects of the work is the relationships built between a family and its designer. A designer may initially work on a couple’s starter home in the greater Twin Cities and then 10 years later, find themselves designing the same family’s lakeside retreat in the Brainerd Lakes area or a home on a golf course in Arizona. In a creative, people-focused industry, you truly never know where a project may lead.
Photography by Spacecrafting
Working with the same designer on multiple homes has plenty of benefits. Firstly, it ensures a cohesive design aesthetic that carries through all properties, maintaining a sense of familiarity and comfort. But it also allows for a deeper understanding of the homeowner’s style and lifestyle needs. This saves time for everyone involved and allows for more personalized service and design for a home that reflects what makes the family special.
“We have a few designers who have worked with the same couple on several homes and now design for their adult children, siblings and in-laws. It can become quite the family affair when you find a designer that really gets you,” says O’Hara.
While an OHI designer may work with the same family for years, they always ensure that each project is consistent with the homeowner’s style and that each design feels unique. Here are a few things the OHI team considers when designing a second home for the same family.
Photography by Brian Cole
Location is Everything
These decades-long relationships take OHI designers to the far reaches of the country as their clients return to favorite vacation spots, find exciting career opportunities, move closer to grandchildren or retire in a different state.
“Our designers are amazing at creating designs that reflect a family’s unique style and lifestyle across their different properties, but it’s so fun to see how they tailor their work to a project’s location, too,” says O’Hara.
In Austin, Texas, OHI recently furnished and styled a condo inspired by the city’s glittering skyline. The owners, a retired couple, had worked with OHI on their primary home, and recently bought a new condo for the convenience of city living and fell in love with the view. To brighten up the modern style of the home and maximize enjoyment of the downtown views, OHI crafted a color palette of soft blues and dreamy whites that mirror the expansive Texas skies.
Photography by Spacecrafting
Curate Custom Interiors
Whether OHI designers are working from their studios in Minneapolis, Austin, or on a site visit in another state, they reach out to local artisans and project partners to make sure the design truly shines. One of the best ways to differentiate a second home’s style and pay homage to location is by finding local artwork or custom furniture, rugs or fabric to incorporate in the space.
“Every OHI design is special,” says O’Hara. “We don’t really have a ‘signature style’ beyond making sure the home feels classic, timeless and appropriate for the needs of modern life. Instead, our designers focus on listening to the client and being open to inspiration from unexpected places.”
Photography by Andrea Cole
The Only Constant is Change
A family’s needs and preferences evolve over time, and OHI designers are adept at anticipating and responding to these changes. They often stay in touch with clients long after the first home is finished, so they’re well-abridged on how the family’s lifestyle may be shifting, whether that be because of a move to a new location or the addition of a new baby.
Shifting entertaining styles, aging in place, new hobbies and wellness needs are all examples of common considerations in designing for a second home. For instance, as a family grows, they may need larger, more versatile hosting spaces. OHI designers might include a bunk room for children’s sleepovers, a secluded guest suite for visiting family or an outdoor patio for summer barbecues. New hobbies and wellness trends might inspire dedicated spaces like a virtual golf simulator, meditation room or sauna.
If aging in place becomes a priority, OHI incorporates features that are mindful of accessibility and safety without compromising on style. A discrete elevator, a clutter-free open floor plan or even a simple bathroom remodel can make all the difference in creating a home that feels comfortable for all stages of life.
