Gonyea Custom Homes is a custom home builder founded in 1987, serving the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area from its Golden Valley office. The firm uses a fully integrated design-build approach in which the architect, designer, and builder are aligned from day one, following a process its site says has been refined over 30+ years, and it offers build-on-your-lot options alongside its available homes.
Custom Home Builders in Orono, MN
17 vetted custom builders serving Orono · how we vet & rank
Why Custom in Orono
A custom home is designed from scratch around your lot, your program, and your budget — you control the floor plan, materials, and every finish. It is the longest and most involved path to a new home, and the only one that delivers exactly the house you have in mind.
Custom Builders Serving Orono
Gordon James is a custom home builder founded by John Quinlivan and based in Maple Plain, with a second location in Pequot Lakes. Since 2005 the firm has helped Minnesotans design, remodel, and construct custom homes, and its site notes Quinlivan served as Housing First Minnesota's 2023 board chair.
Mark D. Williams Custom Homes is a third-generation high-end residential builder in the Twin Cities, handling both ground-up custom builds and whole-home remodeling from its Excelsior office. Founder Mark D. Williams has 20+ years of home-building experience, and the company builds wellness into its work as a certified Green Path builder, using organic materials and technologies aimed at air quality, water, and lighting. Its site notes the company was named Minnesota Builder of the Year in 2021.
Stonewood is a Wayzata-based custom home builder whose site traces four generations of handcrafted homes, with the family building since 1947 and the company focused on building and remodeling homes in the west metro suburbs - Edina, Lake Minnetonka, Wayzata, and the city lakes area. Clients choose their own architect, with Sven Gustafson participating in the interviews and design meetings, and projects are priced on a cost-plus-fee basis fully disclosed to clients. The company launched its home renovation arm, Revision, in 2013.
Denali Custom Homes builds one-of-a-kind custom homes throughout the Twin Cities from its Wayzata office near Lake Minnetonka, led by husband-and-wife team David and Jodie Bieker. The firm provides professional guidance throughout the entire building process and takes on projects of all sizes, from a 2,200 sq ft cottage to a 12,000 sq ft estate home. For clients interested in green construction, it works through the LEED for Homes certification process.
Hartman Homes is a custom home builder established in 1985 by Michael Hartman and now based in Hudson, Wisconsin, building in the Twin Cities metro area, western Wisconsin, and Big Sky, Montana. Its work ranges from single-family mid-level homes up to luxury homes and waterfront teardown properties. The company describes itself as a smaller builder that works one-on-one with clients, offering complimentary interior design services and an in-house showroom for selections.
John Kraemer & Sons has been building luxury homes and remodeling fine residences since 1978, when Gary Kraemer founded the firm with his late father John; with Gary's sons John and Jeff in the business, it is now a third-generation company with offices in Edina and Wayzata. Projects span large estate home construction, empty-nest homes, lake cabins, and major renovations, with the firm employing all of its own job superintendents — each client gets one on-site daily — and managing every project on a 100% open-book basis. Per its site, Gary earned his fifth Builder of the Year award from Housing First MN in 2023.
Pratt Homes has been building and remodeling homes in the Twin Cities since 1973, when brothers Len and Lowell Pratt launched the family business, and holds the very first builder license ever issued in the state of Minnesota (#BC000001). Based in Vadnais Heights, the company builds single-family homes, offers build-on-your-land construction, and develops custom luxury villa communities such as Bayhaven in Bayport and Spring Farm Villas in North Oaks. Its history page notes the company has helped more than 1,000 families build their dream homes.
Boyer Building Corporation is a four-generation family firm — started in 1949 as Joe Boyer Building and renamed Boyer Building Corporation in 1983 — building and remodeling from Minnetonka for over 70 years. The company keeps design and construction under one roof, with full-time carpenters (many with the firm for decades), field supervisors, and project managers on staff. It builds new homes, handles design-build remodels from kitchens and baths to multi-space renovations, and takes on light commercial work from its Minnetonka headquarters.
Dingman Custom Homes is a family-run custom builder based in the western Twin Cities, founded in 1997 by Dale Dingman, whose son Kyle grew up learning the trade at his side. The team serves homeowners throughout the greater Minneapolis western suburbs, working hands-on from lot selection to final walkthrough. Clients can build on their own lot or one the company helps them find, collaborating directly with its draftsman and designer, and model homes are open to tour.
Erotas Custom Building has specialized since 1992 in building architecturally designed residences and completing complex renovations of finely crafted custom homes. The Minnetonka-based firm works as the builder on a collaborative team, prioritizing transparent, reliable, and consistent communication among the client, architect, engineer, and designer throughout all phases of a project. Owner and president Tom Hendrickson has been involved with Erotas since 1995, having experienced the process first as a client, then as a craftsman, and now as a builder.
Hendel Homes is a Minnesota custom home builder and remodeler working on highly detailed residences and renovations, guided by a philosophy of stewardship that Rick and Amy Hendel describe as the foundation of the company. The firm facilitates communication among owners, architects, designers, engineers, and its construction team, and states it has completed more than one hundred highly detailed projects over the last twenty years. Its site lists Builder of the Year, Reggie, and Trillium awards from Housing First Minnesota among its recognition.
Kyle Hunt & Partners is an artisan home builder located in Deephaven near Lake Minnetonka, founded in 1990 by Kyle and Laurie Hunt and specializing in highly crafted, architecturally designed custom homes and renovations. The firm takes a collaborative approach to design, working with architects and interior designers in the field and hand-selecting the core team of craftspeople for each project. It also offers real estate services through Rooted, where Kyle Hunt and Madison Ludowese are licensed real estate agents.
Lecy Bros. Homes & Remodeling is a family company that has built custom homes in Minnesota for nearly four decades, working from its Minnetonka office on new homes, remodeling projects - additions, major renovations, and room remodels - and lake homes. The firm employs over 30 craftsmen and construction professionals and maintains an in-house architectural design team, interior design, and warranty services. Owners Mark Lecy, who coordinates all construction operations, and Roy Lecy, who handles home sales and finance, lead the company, which has been part of BATC since 1983.
Nor-Son Custom Builders is a luxury home builder and whole-house remodeler with its Minnesota headquarters in Baxter and a Twin Cities office in Eden Prairie. The firm helps clients assemble a project team from architects and interior designers across the Midwest, Twin Cities, and lakes area, provides cost projections throughout design, and competitively bids each portion of the work before building begins. Each home undergoes a quality inspection, and the company is led by CEO Andy Anderson and president Matt Holmstrom.
Oak & Arrow Homes is a women-owned and operated firm handling whole-home remodels and custom new builds in the Twin Cities and beyond. Founder Samantha holds a degree in architecture with 18 years of experience, and the team follows a signature 3-step process that works out every design detail before construction starts. The company emphasizes clean construction and intentionally designed, healthy homes — selecting products that minimize off-gassing and taking steps to control dust during the build phase.
Pillar Homes has designed and crafted custom homes throughout the Twin Cities since 1995, working from the western suburbs near Lake Minnetonka and serving homeowners in Wayzata, Orono, Minnetonka, Edina, and Plymouth. The firm specializes in new custom homes, luxury lake homes, renovations, and project and real estate consultation. Owner and president K.C. Chermak served as president of the Builders Association of the Twin Cities in 2008 and of the Builders Association of Minnesota in 2016, and the company's site lists honors including BAM Builder of the Year and the Parade of Homes Reggie Award.
What a Custom Home Costs in Orono
In the Twin Cities metro, true custom construction generally runs $300–$450 per square foot before land, with luxury and estate work running well beyond that.
Full local numbers live in the cost to build in Orono guide.
Choosing a Custom Builder
- See work in or near Orono. Local lots, local inspectors, local subcontractors: recent nearby projects are the best predictor of a smooth build.
- Verify the license. Minnesota residential builders must hold a DLI-issued BC license. We surface verified license numbers on profiles as we confirm them.
- Understand the contract. Fixed-price and cost-plus contracts split risk differently. Make the builder walk you through allowances and change-order pricing.
- Talk to 2–3 finalists. Process and communication fit matter as much as the portfolio. Our free matching shortlists them for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a custom home cost in Orono?
In the Twin Cities metro, true custom construction generally runs $300–$450 per square foot before land, with luxury and estate work running well beyond that. In Orono specifically, land and site conditions shift the total: lot pricing varies by community and phase. The builders listed below can give you a real number against your specific site and program.
How many custom builders serve Orono?
We currently list 17 builders offering custom construction in Orono. Coverage grows as we verify more builders, and our free matching service can shortlist the best fits for your budget and timeline.
How do I choose between the custom builders in Orono?
Compare three things: completed work in or near Orono (ask to see it), a verifiable MN builder license and insurance, and a contract style you understand (fixed-price versus cost-plus changes how risk is shared). Our profiles surface specialties, awards, and licensing as we verify them; the final step is always conversations with two or three finalists.
How long does a custom build take?
Plan on 10–16 months from first design meeting to move-in for a full custom project: roughly 3–5 months of design and pre-construction, then 7–11 months of construction, longer for large or complex builds.
Get matched with custom builders in Orono
Tell us about your project and we’ll shortlist up to 3 vetted local builders that fit your city, budget, and timeline.
Custom Builders in Nearby Cities
Browse all builders on the Orono home builders page.