MN Builder to Know: Highmark Builders Modern Rustic Luxury

Every home has a story to tell, and some stories are written in stone and timber, in light-filled rooms and reclaimed textures. For Highmark Builders, one of Minnesota’s premier custom home builders, design is never just about square footage or finishes. It’s about creating places where families live their lives and spaces that carry both elegance and authenticity.

At Manomin Resawn Timbers, we’re proud to partner with builders who share our passion for bringing warmth and history into new construction. Highmark has long been a trusted collaborator, and we’re thrilled to feature them in our MN Builder to Know series. Their approach to modern rustic design shows just how powerful reclaimed wood can be when paired with visionary architecture and luxury home design.

The Highmark Difference

What sets Highmark apart is their fully integrated approach. With Ruby + Suede leading interior design and Christian Brothers providing custom cabinetry, their team can shape every detail from blueprint to final walkthrough. This collaboration ensures that every home tells a consistent and deeply personal story, infused with craftsmanship and artistry.

For us at Manomin, it’s been rewarding to see our reclaimed timbers, paneling, and flooring used in so many of these designs. Highmark treats reclaimed wood not as an afterthought, but as a central design element that anchors their homes in authenticity and enhances their luxury interior design with layers of character.

Roots in Community and Craftsmanship

Based in Savage, Minnesota, Highmark has built a reputation that stretches across the Twin Cities, Lake Minnetonka, and beyond. With multiple Artisan Home Tour features and an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, their work speaks for itself.

But what we admire most at Manomin is how closely their values align with ours. Honesty, creativity, and a commitment to building homes that last for generations are at the heart of their mission. Highmark sees reclaimed wood the same way we do: not only as a beautiful material, but as a way to connect each home to history, sustainability, and timeless design.

Our Favorite Projects with Highmark

Balsam Lake Cabin Retreat

Perched on the edge of Balsam Lake, this retreat is a masterclass in modern rustic design. Antique skip planed oak flooring and stair treads lay the foundation, their timeworn texture giving each step a sense of continuity with nature. The floors set a tone of authenticity that feels lived-in, grounding the entire space in a history that can be felt underfoot.

The interiors are wrapped in weathered antique paneling and timbers, adding visual depth to each room. Box beams give structure to the room as supports and newels, creating a rhythmic pattern that draws the eye upward while reinforcing the cabin’s structural charm. These elements bring a warmth and permanence that connect the indoors to the wooded landscape just outside.

At the heart of it all is a commanding stone fireplace, framed by a reclaimed wood mantel rich with patina, knots, and scars of use. It becomes the central gathering place of the home, where the texture of stone and the character of reclaimed wood reflect the rustic lakeside setting. Together, these details make the cabin retreat not only a place to stay, but a place to savor.

Minnesota Modern Lodge

The Minnesota Modern Lodge takes its inspiration from classic lodges but updates the look for today. Its soaring ceilings and walls of glass are grounded by rough sawn white oak flooring, which adds warmth and durability. Every plank carries a subtle variation in grain, underscoring the artistry of reclaimed material and making the expansive rooms feel more intimate.

Above, antique skip planed oak paneling layers texture onto ceilings and walls. These boards, with their varied tones and traces of history, break up large surfaces and keep the architecture from feeling too pristine. The weathered antique timbers and headers give transitions a sense of weight, framing views in a way that feels both structural and artistic.

At the center of the lodge is a dramatic fireplace crowned with a reclaimed mantel. The mantel’s weathered patina pairs with stone and steel, reminding visitors that even in a home filled with modern amenities, history has a central place. The project demonstrates how luxury interior design can embrace rustic character without losing sophistication.

Modern Tuscan Mediterranean

This Hastings home, featured in the 2023 Artisan Home Tour, reimagines Mediterranean architecture with a Minnesota sensibility. Designed by Ruby + Suede, the project is a study in balance: smooth stone against rustic grain, bold patterns against soft natural light. Weathered antique flooring and stair treads anchor the home, their deep tones bringing weight and gravitas to the design.

The reclaimed wood elements extend upward, with antique elm paneling and box beams lending dimension to ceilings in both gathering and private spaces. Their earthy tones and irregular textures soften the clean lines of the home’s Mediterranean influence, infusing a lived-in quality that makes the home feel both elegant and inviting.

One of the most memorable spaces is the custom wine room, where walls clad in reclaimed mushroom board paneling create a space that feels tucked away, atmospheric, and timeless. Paired with a fireplace featuring a weathered antique mantel and hearth, the design captures the essence of Tuscan charm while firmly rooting the home in Minnesota. It’s a testament to how reclaimed materials can be key players in luxury home design.

Luxury Farmhouse

The Luxury Farmhouse demonstrates how rustic charm and modern comfort can coexist beautifully. Its bright, open living spaces are enriched by weathered antique paneling, which brings in subtle texture and natural variation. These reclaimed details prevent the farmhouse aesthetic from feeling overly polished, giving each room a touch of authenticity.

Weathered antique timbers stretch across ceilings and frame passageways, their rough textures standing in contrast to smooth cabinetry and clean paint finishes. The timbers act as quiet reminders of the home’s connection to tradition, tying new construction to the enduring history of Midwest farmsteads.

The focal point of the main gathering space is a fireplace with a weathered antique mantel. Its natural patina adds character and creates a visual anchor, grounding the airy interior. The project shows how custom home remodeling and new builds alike can benefit from reclaimed wood, proving that farmhouse warmth doesn’t have to be sacrificed in pursuit of luxury.

Craftsman Cottage

On the shores of Prior Lake, the Craftsman Cottage is both grand and grounded, a home that marries soaring architecture with tactile detail. Rough sawn antique oak flooring runs throughout, offering a warm and durable base that welcomes daily life while carrying the echoes of the past. The varied grains and hues make every step unique, turning the flooring into a living surface that evolves with light and use.

The eye is naturally drawn upward to the skip planed antique oak paneling used on ceilings in the great room and bedrooms. The panels, with their tonal shifts and textured finish, transform expansive ceilings into works of art. They bring movement, depth, and a handcrafted quality that elevates the entire architecture.

At the heart of the home, a towering stone fireplace commands attention. A weathered antique timber mantel crowns the design, rich with patina and imperfections that tell of decades of use. It bridges the gap between modern refinement and rustic authenticity, making the great room a space where light, texture, and history all converge. The Craftsman Cottage is a striking reminder of how modern rustic design feels both timeless and personal.

Bring Modern Rustic to Your Home

From lake cabins to Mediterranean villas, farmhouses to cottages, Highmark Builders demonstrates that the modern rustic style is not a trend, but a timeless way of living. Their work is as much about storytelling as it is about structure, weaving reclaimed wood and natural textures into the language of luxury interior design.

At Manomin Resawn Timbers, we’re proud to see our reclaimed materials featured in so many of Highmark’s projects. Together, we share a commitment to authenticity, artistry, and creating homes with soul.

If you’re ready to explore the possibilities of custom home remodeling or embark on your own new build, connect with Highmark Builders to see their inspiring portfolio. And when the time comes to bring warmth, history, and texture into your space, reach out to Manomin Resawn Timbers where every board carries a story.