design it as if I want to live in it.

— MATT ORNER, Platinum Homes president and co-owner

or shower nook. (The Moorhead home boasts a soaker tub perfect for a relaxing evening in.) An archway also adds a touch of old world elegance into a newly constructed home and introduces a few much-needed curves as a counterpoint to a modern home’s plethora of crisp right angles. This is a simple add-on that really increases a home’s visual appeal for an affordable price.

The richly textured countertops in the bathroom and in the message center use a similar sleight of hand. What at first glance looks like a stunning coffee and cream granite countertop is revealed to be high-definition laminate, a material that Orner says is evolving into a versatile product. “They’re really durable and it doesn’t scratch the easiest,” he says. “And nowadays they’re making it to look just like granite.”

The Horizon Shores home in Moorhead is proof that a home doesn’t need to jump through design hoops to be architecturally interesting. And it doesn’t need to reinvent the wheel to create a soothing, welcoming space to change and grow with the homeowners who call it home. The staff at Platinum Homes takes the lessons learned from living in a space, and evolving with it over the years, and weaves them into their new creations, creating a newly constructed house that offers all the practical conveniences and comforts of home.