PROJECT REVEAL: VICTORIAN SANDS
Kitchen, Pantry, Laundry & Bathroom Renovation in a Historic Lake Superior Home:: Renovating older homes always comes with a balance: honoring the original character while making the space function for modern living. In this late-1800s home overlooking Lake Superior, our clients were ready to transform a series of underutilized and outdated rooms into a layout […]
DON’T FORGET THE CEILING
Need a refresh? Look up. We obsess over paint colors, agonize over furniture placement, and spend hours perfecting our gallery walls. But there’s one surface in every room that most people completely overlook: the ceiling. Here are four ways to transform that forgotten surface into something special to make a room feel *completely* finished: 1. […]
OUR FAVORITE BROWN PAINT COLORS
Brown is Back: Why This Cozy Neutral Deserves a Second Look For years, brown paint got a bad reputation—dismissed as dated or too heavy for modern spaces. But we are on a mission to reintroduce this hue and remind our clients what it so special: it’s warm, grounding, and surprisingly versatile. Unlike the stark grays […]
PROJECT REVEAL: MIDNIGHT LIBRARY
Before & After: Transforming an Underutilized Condo Space into a Moody Library The Before: An Unused, In-Between Space Every home has that one space that never quite finds its purpose. In this condo, it was an odd, windowless room tucked away from the main living areas. With no natural light and no clear function, it […]
YEAR IN REVIEW: 2025 PROJECTS
This is our favorite moment of the year—when we finally pause long enough to look back. The projects we designed and built. The countless meetings. The laughs, the late days, the problem-solving, the hard work alongside our clients. In the day-to-day, it’s easy to lose sight of it all. When you’re in it, it can […]
Trend Predictions 2026
Every year, we look ahead at where design is headed—and every year, the predictions get a little more accurate. In 2024, we called for the return to craftsmanship. In 2025, we leaned into warmth and making bold and confident decisions. Now, looking toward 2026, the direction is clear: homeowners are demanding more intention, more function, […]
The Secret to Finishing Construction Sooner? Slowing Down at the Start
Here’s something that surprises a lot of clients: the best way to finish your renovation quickly is to slow (way) down at the beginning. I know, I know, it sounds backward. You’re excited to see progress. You want to see walls coming down and tile going up. But something the Curio team knows after years […]
HOW TO BALANCE BOLD AND TIMELESS DESIGN
Want a home that feels fresh but won’t make you cringe in three years? You’re not alone. The trick is knowing when to go big and when to play it safe and…you can absolutely do both. Here’s how to strike that perfect balance between “wow” and “whew, glad I didn’t commit to that.” Save the […]
PROJECT REVEAL: GREENWOOD MIDMOD
BEFORE The original dining area lacked definition and atmosphere. With neutral walls, builder-grade lighting, and no architectural detail, it felt more like an empty passageway than a destination. Our goal was to give it purpose and presence—a space that could feel cozy and grounded while still belonging to the home’s open flow. THE PLAN We […]
WHY WE LOVE INTEGRATED DESIGN + BUILD
Here’s the thing about traditional construction: by the time your beautiful design makes it from the architect’s desk to the job site, something’s usually been lost in translation. A detail gets simplified. A finish gets swapped. That carefully considered lighting plan? The electrician might have had other ideas. Design-build aims to make everything go more […]
