Tod Drescher Architecture

We hired Tod Drescher to design a major remodel/addition to our 1950 4 bedroom, 1 bath 1-½ story lake home. We wanted more bathrooms, more year-round living space, a master suite, and lake views from as much of the house as possible. We also wanted to retain some of the character of the original home. Tod's vision for accomplishing all of this was inspiring; his recommendations thoughtful; his drawings and specs meticulous; and his fees reasonable. He worked closely with us throughout the process, from first sketches, elevations and blueprints to interviewing prospective builders and working all the way through construction with our contractor and his subs to ensure the project was executed as well as it was designed. The result? A beautiful, unpretentious 5 bedroom, 2-¾ bath 2 story home with great lake views from 65% of the house. In addition to being an excellent architect, Tod is a genuinely nice guy. We couldn't be happier with the work he did for us, nor could we recommend him more wholeheartedly.

We hired Tod to remodel our kitchen initially and later used Tod to remodel our master bathroom. Tod was professional, was there to facilitate the projects, provide design guidance, and gave us a great space to live . We love our new kitchen and master bath!

Tod put together a really nice design and floor plan for us. He listened to our desires for our new home and was able to utilize his skills to create a home that incorporated what we were looking for and then make it better. By applying his knowledge of spacial relationships, we got a highly functioning house with less square footage than many "McMansions" yet with way more style and "wow" appeal. The efficient use of space, with many built-ins, has allowed us to not buy much in the way of furniture. HIs insights into the space were a delight to watch as we worked together to draw up the design. There were so many little details that were thoughtfully applied that are still a delight to see each day. Some examples are the way Tod utilized passive solar orientation, configuring the rooms to take advantage of the arc of the sun through the day and through the seasons. Building a wood burning fireplace with no outside wall involvement and incorporating a thermal mass and passive air circulation system that can heat almost the entire house when used. He also carefully oriented things like doorways to avoid any clear lines of sight from the public spaces to the private spaces. When choosing contractors, and working with contractors, Tod was instrumental in making the process and the project go smoothly. He has plenty of construction know how to answer any questions I had. Over the years, we did a couple of add-ons and utilized Tod's services for those as well. My one criticism was that he really tries to get you to shrink the footprint almost to the breaking point, then eases up a bit. It may be helpful to push a little harder for some extra space at the outset.

Tod Drescher led the transformation of our 1970's cookie-cutter lake home into a showpiece. Tod's process was to design at the kitchen table with my wife and I; drawing and brainstorming. Tod has a deep appreciation for proper flow of a home and what traditional features to toss and what non-traditional nuances to add. Fourteen years later, we still have new guests come into our home and say, "Wow." Yep, that's always their first word. Tod was green before green was cool. He integrated natural wood, stone and colors to create an aesthetic that serves well in informal and formal settings. He also appreciates and executes the "quality over quantity" concept popularized by the "Not So Big House" coffee book. My wife and I were so happy with Tod's work that we have engaged him on three follow up projects to extend and add to our home. Highly recommended!

We highly recommend Tod Drescher Architecture. He is a master architect! He helped us realize we only needed to go out 6 feet for our kitchen remodel instead of 10 or 12, saving us $$. He is highly skilled at making things fit and function effectively. He understands all of the plumbing and electrical and structural intricacies of building and remodeling and is able to foresee potential problems. He meticulously planned every inch of our kitchen, floors, walls, cabinets, and ceilings, inside and out. He also designed a deck for us .Tod has excellent taste and a wonderful sense of design, balance, style and humor! he even helped us pick out appliances, lighting, hardware, everything , to keep us on schedule .He communicated well with our contractor Jim Marty, of J-Mar Builders , and his crew of experts. We had a very positive experience! Thanks, Tod! We love our kitchen!

Tod was our architect for remodeling a bathroom that needed updating; and a porch that needed a big structural improvement. He also designed a comprehensive improvement of the surrounding landscape/yard in harmony with the home and the natural setting. This change greatly improved the appearance of the property while mitigating some challenges with water. We constantly receive compliments on the yard. Throughout the process of planning to execution, Tod wanted to make sure he understood us and how we used our space including preferences, habits and goals. We are very happy with our improved home and landscape, it's more than we dreamed!

Tod worked with us on an addition for a 100 plus year old home. He was extremely respectful of our aesthetic, and worked hard to undersatnd our lifestyle and ways in which the house was to be used. He is one of the most creative people I have ever worked with. The addition is a smashing success. We love the house, as did everyone who comes through the door. He is very respectful of budget and time and works well with contractors - not something every architect does.

Tod Drescher is a creative designer who pays heed to light as one of the key elements in the experience of joy in a home. As a real estate agent who has collaborated with him on a number of purchases and projects, I have found him to be a tireless advocate for his/our clients. He goes the extra mile to do the background work and secure the optimal site and design plan on their behalf. He has many contacts and connections in the business that he utilizes to the great advantage of his projects and his clients. His designs are environmentally sensitive, using locally sourced hardwoods and stone and energy-saving geothermal systems. Clean lines, and open layouts with creative definition of space, his homes are scaled not to be colossal, but warm, inviting and comfortable. I highly recommend Tod Drescher; you will find him a good listener in the planning process, a kind and enjoyable man to work with, and a great source of creative and sound design ideas for both remodel and new build. JuliHagstrom@EdinaRealty.com JuliHagstrom.EdinaRealty.com

We have known Tod for many years and are aware of his fine projects in the area. Personally we have used him for remodeling in our house and we are very happy with his work which is admired by all.

I hired Tod Drescher on two occasions to design a master bathroom and to design a lower level space when we decided to complete the unfinished space. On both occasions, Tod listened carefully to what we wanted and produced a design that was exactly what we wanted…but more. He seemed to have a knack at perceiving our desires, respecting them, but giving us embellishments that we hadn't thought of but that delighted us. As the projects were continuing and the inevitable changes needed to happen, Tod was available and quite good at the problem-solving necessary to keep the projects on track. I would not hesitate to hire him again. He is an excellent architect.

Our Tod Drescher designed home on Madeline Island brings the natural beauty of Lake Superior right into all of the rooms. His creative use of windows, woods, lighting and stone is magnificent. His environmentally sound design and construction result in less cost for heat and power than our former San Francisco Bay Area home! Working with Tod was a real pleasure. We gave him our desires and he surpassed every one of our expectations. He also met each of our spatial and financial constraints. Burke & Marcia Henry

Working with Tod on the design of our new home was a true joy from start to finish. He was there as our trusted advisor and advocate all the way through the construction process as well. His guidance and personal commitment to our project made our dream home a reality. We would recommend him to anyone needing architectural services. Thank You Tod!