Iowa Home Crafters

06/16/2026

Installation progress highlights of custom cabinetry, handcrafted in our woodshop specifically for this farmhome remodel.

06/10/2026

Looking back from final results to original rendering! Thanks to all who helped!!

06/10/2026

This weekend marked an exciting milestone for Downtown Ames as the two pilot Sidewalk Outdoor Cafés were installed at Della Viti - Ames and SAM’S PLACE .

We were proud to contribute project management, construction coordination, and labor alongside the Ames Home Builders Association, the City of Ames, local suppliers, and project partners to bring this vision to life.

What makes this project special is that it isn't just about outdoor seating. These sidewalk outdoor cafés create gathering spaces, support local businesses, encourage foot traffic, and demonstrate how thoughtful placemaking can transform underutilized public space into vibrant community destinations.

The response from residents and visitors during the Ames Main Street Farmers' Market was overwhelmingly positive for how these community spaces will enhance Downtown Ames.

This pilot program establishes an important precedent for future sidewalk cafés and parklets throughout Ames and creates a roadmap for businesses that may want to participate in future phases.

Thank you to 10Fold Architecture + Engineering for design services, ABC Supply for decking materials, Munn Lumber for framing support, the Ames Home Builders Association, the City of Ames - City Government, and the business owners who embraced the opportunity.

We're excited to see these spaces come to life with flowers, tables, conversation, and community.

06/06/2026

Stay tuned for more pictures of the final results! As a member of the City of Ames - City Government community for over 35 years, it is always special to be a part of a project like this that continues to add to the amenities that makes Ames a special place to live, work, go to school, and RELAX!

06/04/2026

The countdown to installation day has begun!! We are excited to see the final product in place soon!

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.