Today we’d like to introduce you to Kirsten Erickson.
Hi Kirsten, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m a bit of a rare breed because I actually knew what I wanted to be when I grew up when I was only in 8th grade. I loved math and loved art, and one summer, my dad bought me a computer program where you could draw houses, and I absolutely fell in love right then and there. From that moment on, I was on the fast track to becoming an architect. However, there was one problem in that I knew nothing about it, and I had no exposure to the design or construction industry growing up or in my family. I knew I had a lot to learn, so I became a sponge and tried to learn as much as fast as possible.
When college came around, I enrolled in the Architecture program at the University of Minnesota, and graduated with a degree in architecture and minors in Construction Management and Housing Studies. After undergrad, I moved out to Denver to attend the University of Colorado, where I received my Master of Architecture and my MBA. Like I said, I wanted to be a sponge!
Throughout college and grad school, I knew my passion lied in residential design, but unfortunately, I graduated right after the housing market completely collapsed. When I started job hunting, a friend from undergrad who was working for a home builder, said his company was hiring, but it was an interior design role as opposed to an architecture role. Being that the job prospects were slim due to the state of the housing market, I decided to go for it and give it a try.
I’m so glad I did because not only did that role grow my love for the interior design component of design, but I also fell in love with the construction process. I always had ambitions to one day own my own firm, but had I not worked there, it probably would have been more of a traditional architecture firm.
I ended up working for that company for a few years until I felt like I had learned all I could learn there. I took a job with another builder for a year, and after that year, I just knew in my gut it was time to branch out and start Alma Homes.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
There were definitely challenges along the way – starting a business is never easy haha! But thankfully, I was aware enough to know what I didn’t know, and I worked really hard to learn as much as possible while I was working for other companies. This gave me not only a lot of great experience, but it also helped me analyze what worked well and not so well at each of the companies I worked for, which allowed me to really structure Alma Homes in what I believe is the best possible way.
The construction industry in general is full of challenges (especially these last two years with material shortages, delays, price increases, etc.), so we are very thankful we implemented successful processes right when we started because they have served us well during challenging times.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I founded Alma Homes in 2017, and we are a boutique design-build firm based out of Orono, MN. We do a combination of new builds and remodels, with about 10-15 projects each year. We do all design and construction in house, and have gotten to work with some of the most wonderful clients.
I am a big believer that your home should be designed around the way you live, so every home we build is completely custom and designed around that family. We specialize in “unique” homes, and we really thrive in challenging situations (whether that be lot challenges, city challenges, etc.). We do a fair amount of tear downs, and do a lot of “off site” builds (where the home isn’t in a development). Lake properties really seem to be our sweet spot.
We have 5 core values we hold above everything else, and they are cutting edge design, high quality craftsmanship, efficient timelines, clear communication, and working with clients that feel like family.
I think what I am most proud of brand wise is that people tell us it feels relatable. We want your home to be absolutely beautiful, but we also want you to feel like you can actually live in your home. The last thing we want is to create homes that are ostentatious that you don’t feel comfortable in.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
Time after time I’ve learned how important it is to trust your gut and trust your process. Every time I’ve gone against my gut instincts or we gave a little wiggle room in our process, it has never turned out well.
Contact Info:
- Email: info@almahomesmn.com
- Website: www.almahomes.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/almahomes/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/almahomesmn
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChNLxDxL4BSgJ5pAljjXjTA
- Tiktok: @almahomes
Image Credits
Chelsie Lopez
