Twin Cities Remodeling Resources | MA Peterson

Making a House a Home: Interior Selections for Your Twin Cities Remodel

Written by MAPeterson | Jun. 03, 2025

Designing a luxury home—whether through new construction or a high-end renovation—is a rare opportunity to bring your personal vision to life. It’s also a process filled with countless decisions, especially when it comes to the materials and finishes that define your space. Interior Selections are the fixed design elements that remain even if you remove all the furnishings. Picture turning your house upside down and giving it a good shake. Your Interior Selections are the things that wouldn’t fall out: cabinetry, countertops, flooring, lighting, tile, appliances, plumbing fixtures, and hardware. These choices collectively establish the style, function, and feel of your home.

Interior selections are far more than just a checklist. They are the building blocks of your home’s personality. The right selections bring cohesion, comfort, and luxury to everyday living. And while choosing these details can be thrilling, it can also feel daunting. A well-organized approach will help you make confident, timely decisions, keeping your project on track and your stress levels in check.

 

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions…

The number of selections you’ll make depends on your project’s scope, but one thing is certain: there will be many. From paint sheens and flooring transitions to light fixtures and tile grout colors, the options are seemingly endless. That’s why it’s not uncommon for homeowners to experience “decision fatigue” at various points in the process.

This sense of overwhelm is normal and expected, especially for first-time custom home clients. Reliable custom home builders recognize this and work proactively to minimize its impact. Most have developed tried-and-true processes that simplify complex decisions and reduce uncertainty. With the right system and support in place, navigating your selections becomes far less intimidating and significantly more enjoyable.

 

The Key Role of an Interior Designer

One of the most valuable assets in this journey is your interior designer. Whether you bring your own designer or are paired with one through your design build firm, the right fit makes all the difference. A seasoned designer serves as your advocate, creative guide, and organizational anchor throughout the project. They help define your vision and bring it to life through expertly curated selections that reflect your taste and lifestyle and align with your project’s budget.

Here are a few things to consider when choosing or meeting with an interior designer:

  • Portfolio: Review examples of both completed and in-progress projects. This will give you insight into their design sensibilities as well as how they work during active construction.
  • Process: Ask how they structure their meetings, how they document selections, how costs are communicated, and how they stay on top of deadlines.
  • Communication: Pay attention to how responsive and clear they are in your early interactions. This often reflects their long-term approach.
  • References: Don’t hesitate to ask for a client reference. Hearing firsthand about someone else’s experience can help you feel more confident in your choice.

Ultimately, your interior designer should provide clarity, confidence, and creative direction. When you trust their process and expertise, the design experience becomes not just manageable, but deeply rewarding.

 

A Key Resource: The Interior Selections Guide

In addition to expert guidance, many luxury home builders provide a comprehensive Interior Selections Guide. This document outlines all the important details of your selection process: deadlines, budget allowances, preferred vendors, and product categories. Think of it as your personal roadmap to making decisions on time and within scope.

Some builders take it a step further and produce visual selection guides categorized by product type or cost. These enhanced resources allow you to see real examples of products and finishes that fit your budget and aesthetic goals. By aligning all stakeholders - homeowner, designer, and builder - these tools help eliminate confusion and miscommunication, setting your project up for success.

 

Bringing It All Together

From lighting and plumbing fixtures to flooring and cabinetry, your interior selections shape the entire look and feel of your finished home. While the process may seem overwhelming at first, the right team and tools make all the difference. With a thoughtful approach, professional support, and well-designed systems in place, you’ll find that the process becomes both exciting and empowering.

In the end, every choice you make contributes to a cohesive, comfortable, and truly luxurious environment—one that feels uniquely yours. With care, collaboration, and creativity, your vision becomes a reality—and your house becomes a home.

Read more about Interior Design with MA Peterson!