Iowa Home Crafters

05/31/2026

We were very proud to be part of this project that helps continue to make Ames the great place that it is to live and work and play!

05/23/2026

We were honored to welcome artist Caroline, Caroline Freese Designs, to the celebration gathering for our Passive House, CyBear Lair, completion on May 12th. She was able to see her custom-designed and handcrafted backsplash tile installed in the home for Steve for the very first time.

There is something especially meaningful about seeing handcrafted artistry fully come to life inside a finished home. And even more special when the artist gets to experience the space alongside the homeowner it was created for.

The 30” x 30” prairie-inspired ceramic backsplash became a truly unique focal point within the home and reflects the collaborative spirit behind this project, blending craftsmanship, artistry, architecture, and storytelling together into one space.

We love opportunities to collaborate with talented local artists and makers to create homes filled with personal meaning and one-of-a-kind details that simply cannot be replicated.

Thank you, Caroline, for sharing your talent, creativity, and process with this project. We are so grateful to have your work as part of the CyBear Lair story.

Please check out Caroline Freese’s original post and process photos - they are incredible to see!

05/22/2026

05/22/2026

May is National Home Remodeling Month and National Home Improvement Month a time led by the National Association of Home Builders to celebrate quality craftsmanship, thoughtful design, and the value of working with experienced remodeling professionals. May marks the start of one of the busiest and most exciting times for home transformation projects.

This featured farmhouse addition outside of Ames, Iowa, is a beautiful example of honoring the past while creating new functionality for modern living. Rather than simply remodeling the existing kitchen, the homeowners chose to create an entirely new vaulted gathering space centered around cooking, entertaining, and connection to the surrounding rural landscape.

The addition features custom cabinetry, exposed wood trusses, terracotta-inspired tile, soapstone countertops, handcrafted wood details, and carefully preserved vintage elements from the property, including a historic barn sink and walnut wood with family significance. The result is a warm, timeless kitchen addition that blends seamlessly with the original farmhouse while dramatically improving comfort, functionality, and gathering space for generations to come.

For more than 35 years, has been helping Central Iowa homeowners reimagine their homes through custom kitchens, lower levels, additions, whole-home remodels, and thoughtfully crafted spaces designed to fit the way families truly live.

05/15/2026

As you head into the weekend, imagine what a little more room to gather, relax, and celebrate could mean for your home.

What if this was the year you finally added:

An enclosed porch where you can enjoy every season
A warm and welcoming family room centered around a fireplace
A kitchen addition designed for cooking, hosting, and holiday memories
A brighter, more functional space that simply fits your life better

The best additions don’t just add square footage, they add comfort, connection, and new ways to enjoy your home for years to come.

Now is the perfect time to begin planning and designing so your addition can be under construction this summer and ready to enjoy by the holidays. Spend the weekend dreaming about the possibilities… then book your consultation Monday.

Your future favorite space could already be taking shape.

05/11/2026

Sorry our Mother’s Day message did not post yesterday! But we still wanted to take a moment to celebrate all the incredible women who help shape our homes, families, and communities with care, wisdom, patience, and love. Whether you’re a mom, grandma, aunt, sister, teacher, mentor, caregiver, or someone who has simply shown up for others in a meaningful way — we celebrate you every day! 🌷

Homes are more than walls and rooms. They’re the places where traditions are passed down, meals are shared, milestones are celebrated, and memories are made across generations. We’re grateful for the women who make those moments possible every day.

We hope you had a beautiful Mother’s Day filled with joy, rest, and the people you love most. 💚

— All of us at Iowa Home Crafters

04/27/2026

How cool is this》National Preservation Atlas (NPA), announced it will launch the first-ever interactive map of the country's historic places and preservation protections, during a an educational webinar on May 1st. https://www.preservationatlas.org/atlas?

Register to attend the National Preservation Atlas webinar, 11:00am (Central), Friday, May 1st, to learn more about the methodology behind the project, how to get the most out of the map, and how to use the NPA to improve preservation policies in your community. https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register

The National Preservation Atlas is documenting, illuminating, and accelerating historic preservation activity across the United States.

04/23/2026

At the BEC-Iowa Symposium, architect Steven Baczek shared a powerful reminder:
“Eighty percent of building litigation is because of water.”

Our team loves the talks today at BEC-IA Symposium because great construction isn’t just about how it looks - it’s about how it performs for decades to come.

Baczek addressed the 'graphic language of construction drawings.' This is where design, building science, and craftsmanship all come together.

Clearly communicating details, such as the control layers that make a home perform, is critical:

✔ Water management
✔ Air sealing
✔ V***r control
✔ Thermal continuity

When details are drawn clearly, they can be built correctly. And when they’re built correctly, you get homes that are durable, energy-efficient, and built to last.