There’s a version of homebuilding that goes like this: you pick a floor plan, choose from three countertop options, and move in. It’s fine. It works. But it was never really yours.
Then there’s the McDonald Construction Partners version.
We build custom and semi-custom homes across the Twin Cities — and the difference shows up in the details. The ones that make you walk into a room and think, this was made for me.
Here’s what that actually looks like.
Semi-Custom Doesn’t Mean Standard
One of the biggest misconceptions in homebuilding is that choosing a floor plan means giving up flexibility. At McDonald, that’s not how it works.
Take our Milan plan — a design our clients consistently love for its open main level, clean lines, and livable flow. One recent buyer came to us with the Milan as their starting point, but had a clear vision for what they wanted upstairs.
The bones of the plan stayed intact. The upstairs became entirely their own.
“Given the size of our city lot, the Milan was a great starting place for us,” the homeowner shared. “We love being outside as a family, including grilling and enjoying meals together, so we knew that we wanted to add a screen porch to enjoy for most of the year, as well as a covered patio for grilling. We also wanted to have plenty of space for our kids to play in the basement and create a whole family space down there, so we rearranged the floorplan to expand the great room in the basement to a larger entertaining and game room area.”
That’s the semi-custom process working the way it’s supposed to. You’re not starting from scratch, and you’re not settling. You’re building smart.
Storage That Actually Works for Your Life
Custom storage is one of the most underrated decisions you can make when building a new home — and one of the easiest to get wrong if you don’t plan for it early.
We’ve designed everything from expansive walk-in pantries and hidden mudroom built-ins to dedicated hobby rooms and custom closet systems that make organization feel effortless. But every once in a while, a client comes to us with a request that makes our designer’s eyes light up.
Case in point: a homeowner with a serious Nike sneaker collection — we’re talking more than 100 pairs — who wanted a dedicated display space that felt more like a gallery than a closet. “Functionality is key, so with so many shoes that he keeps in the original boxes,” they shared.
That’s what custom storage can be when you build it in from day one rather than retrofit it later.
Built for How You Actually Spend Your Time
The best homes aren’t just beautiful — they’re designed around the way you live. And increasingly, that means carving out dedicated space for health, recreation, and the things you’re genuinely passionate about.
We’ve incorporated home gyms, yoga studios, and exercise rooms into builds across the Twin Cities. But on our most ambitious projects, we’ve gone further. Our 10,000+ sq. ft. custom home currently underway in Afton includes a pickleball court and full gym — a dedicated space for training and recreation that most people would never think to ask for, until they see it and realize they can’t imagine the home without it.
Outdoor living spaces can also be tailored to exactly how you want to live, and in the Midwest, you’re considering all four seasons when building.
“Minnesota’s wet and cold seasons prove tricky for grilling, but we enjoy preparing food on the grill or smoker year-round, so this covered patio area gave us a chance to do just that,” our homeowner explained.
The Garage as a Statement
For a lot of homeowners, the garage is an afterthought. For others, it’s the whole point.
We recently designed a garage for a client that included individual lift spaces, turning what could have been a standard three-stall into a purpose-built space for someone who takes their vehicles as seriously as they take their home.
It’s the same philosophy applied to a completely different passion. And it’s exactly the kind of detail that makes a home feel like it was built just for you — because it was.
So What Does Your Home Look Like?
We ask every client that question early in our process — not what floor plan they want, but how they actually live. What they love, what frustrates them about every other house they’ve ever been in, and what they’ve always wished they had.
Those answers are where the best homes come from.