Custom Remodeling in Highland Park
Highland Park is Saint Paul's most livable neighborhood on paper — and in practice. Mississippi River bluffs to the south, Ford Parkway running through the middle, and block after block of well-maintained cape cods, colonials, and ramblers from the 1940s and 1950s. Families move here and stay for decades. The houses are sound and the lots are good, but the kitchens and bathrooms that came with them were built for a postwar budget that has not aged as well as the framing has. That gap between good bones and outdated finishes is exactly where Knutson has been working since 1983.
Family
inspired
USA
build
Scroll to explore
Our Services
Forty Years of Work in Highland Park
We help make dream homes
From a single bathroom on Edgcumbe Road to a full attic-and-kitchen combination on Ford Parkway, we handle every scope in-house from first visit to final inspection. Fixed price, one project manager, one crew that does not hand off the job halfway through.
Our experienced team is ready to satisfy your remodelling needs. We are professional in HVAC, Roofing, Siding and Window services. Contact us to get home improvement services now!
Cape cods in Highland Park are some of the most remodel-friendly houses in Saint Paul — good ridge height, solid floor framing, and plumbing stacks that run in useful directions. They are also specific enough that experience matters. The difference between an attic conversion that feels like a finished room and one that feels like an afterthought comes down to how the insulation, stair, and dormer decisions get made. We have made those calls hundreds of times in houses exactly like yours.
Our experienced team is ready to satisfy your remodelling needs. We are professional in HVAC, Roofing, Siding and Window services. Contact us to get home improvement services now!
Why Choose Us
Built Right From Start
We help make dream home
-
Licensed Insured Reliable Efficient Trusted Durable Detailed Licensed Insured Reliable Efficient Trusted Durable DetailedEfficient Trusted Durable Detailed Licensed Insured Reliable Efficient Trusted Durable Detailed Licensed Insured Reliable
100%
Client Satisfaction
-
Every project is shaped around your space, goals, and the way you actually live.
Tailored Approach
-
Client Satisfaction
100%
Our Goal is simple: %100 client satisfaction on every project, every time
-
Full estimates with itemized scope, allowances, and selection budgets up front.
Transparent Pricing
Measured twice. Priced once. Built to stay.
See All StepsOur Process
Easy Steps Clear Plan
We help make dream homes
Measured twice. Priced once. Built to stay.
-
We visit your home at no charge, assess existing conditions, and produce a written scope with a fixed price. Highland Park cape cods often have attic potential we can identify on the first visit — we tell you what is realistic before anything else.
-
Dedicated project manager on site from demo through trim. All permits handled with the City of Saint Paul. Clear schedule, regular updates, one person to call.
-
Thorough punch walkthrough, workmanship warranty, and a team you can still reach after move-in. Highland Park is one of our longest-running neighborhoods — most new clients here come from a referral.
Seamless Process
From planning to final details, every stage is coordinated for a smooth construction experience.
Built To Last
We focus on durable solutions, quality materials, and workmanship that stands the test of time.
Remodeling Tips
Smart Ideas For Home
We help make dream home
Practical guides on planning a remodel, budgeting realistically, choosing the right materials, and avoiding the mistakes that turn a good project into a hard one. Written by our designers and project managers from forty-two years of Twin Cities project experience.
Our experienced team is ready to satisfy your remodelling needs. We are professional in HVAC, Roofing, Siding and Window services. Contact us to get home improvement services now!
-
-
5 min read May 14, 2026What's actually changing in bathroom design right now — and what's quietly on its way out before you commit to it.
-
6 min read May 14, 2026Design principles for a master bathroom that works the way you actually live in it — showers, vanities, lighting, and layout done right.
-
6 min read May 14, 2026Layout, islands, backsplash, cabinets — the decisions that determine how your kitchen functions and how long it looks good.
-
6 min read May 14, 2026Your kitchen is the heart of your home—the place where meals are made, memories are shared, and your family gathers. If your kitchen feels outdated, cramped, or just uninspired, a remodel can transform it into a space you love.
Our Edge
More Care Less Stress
We help make dream homes
Most homeowners compare three or four remodeling firms before choosing one. The structural differences between firms are not always obvious in a sales meeting, but they show up in the schedule, the budget, and the day-to-day experience of the project. Here is how Knutson compares to a typical contractor on the points that matter most.
Our experienced team is ready to satisfy your remodelling needs. We are professional in HVAC, Roofing, Siding and Window services. Contact us to get home improvement services now!
Comparison Points
Random Contractor
- PlanningHand-sketched plans on a clipboard, light on detail, finalized verbally
- CabinetryCatalog cabinets ordered from a supplier, with visible filler strips against out-of-plumb walls
- CrewDifferent subcontractors rotating through, no continuity, no accountability for the project
- ScheduleFrequent delays, no clear milestone tracking, hard to plan around
- BudgetLow initial bid that grows through change orders and surprise allowance overruns
- Full 3D design with elevations, lighting plan
- Custom-built in our city, scribed to the actual wall, sprayed in our finishing booth
- In-house team and project manager
- Written schedule with defined milestones and updates
- Transparent estimate up front with itemized allowance
We help make dream homes
Service Areas
We Work Near You
Highland Park stretches from the river bluffs north to Ford Parkway and west toward Edgcumbe — a geography we know house by house. The neighboring streets of Macalester-Groveland and Merriam Park are equally familiar territory for our crew.
Client Love
Real Words Real Trust
Real clients share why they trusted us with their homes, from first consultation to final reveal.
-
Thomas Lauria
Minneapolis, MN
We hired Mike for an extensive remodel and addition to our house. What could have been a painful process was made enjoyable by Mike and his team. On time, in budget, and a pleasure to have around our house and family. I would recommend Knutson Custom Remodelers to anyone.
-
Joy Martin
Minneapolis, MN
Mike is a wonderful General Contractor to work with. As a custom residential architect, communication and flexibility are key for our clients' home building experience and Mike excels at both. Knutson Custom Remodelers also builds a great product! I highly recommend Mike and his team.
-
Sally Rabban
St Paul, MN
I've worked with Knutson Custom Remodelers for over 10 years now. Everything from a big job like adding a second story dormer to the small ones like new windows they have never let me down! Mike and Evan's work is execellent and they are patient, kind and trustworthy people.
-
Dawn Chapman
Armatage, MN
I have done several projects with Knutson Remodelers over the past 15 years. Mike and Evan always approached our projects with professionalism and positivity. They've been a joy to work with and we've always been extremely happy with the results!!
Common Questions
Fast Answers For You
Get quick answers about pricing, timelines, permits, and what to expect before your remodeling project begins.
100%
client satisfaction
- On-time communication
- 97%
- Project approval rate
- 96%
- Repeat referrals
- 91%
-
They are among the best in Saint Paul. The roof pitch and ridge height on most Highland Park cape cods supports a real primary suite or two bedrooms without a major dormer addition. We assess the specific conditions at the first visit.
-
Most Highland Park kitchens run $60,000 to $150,000 depending on layout changes and finish level. The postwar kitchens in these homes are functional but small — opening them up to the dining room is usually the single best investment.
-
Always — attic conversions touch framing, insulation, electrical, and often plumbing. We manage all permit applications and inspections with the City of Saint Paul from start to finish.
-
A basic attic finish without a dormer runs eight to twelve weeks on site. Add a shed or gable dormer and plan for twelve to sixteen weeks. We give you a specific timeline before you sign the contract.
We help make dream homes
