Parade of Homes

January 2012 Hot Sheet

2012-02-02T18:11:18Z

Builders Association of the Twin Cities January 2012 Hot Sheet leads with stories on the NAHB: Latest Remodeling Market Index Numbers and the UST: Residential Real Estate Price Report Index - Dec. 2011.

HS_January_2012.pdf

Any questions, please contact James Vagle, james@batc.org.

Twin Cities Residential Construction Makes a Strong Start to 2012

2012-01-30T15:12:15Z

Residential housing began the new year strong, with more than twice the number of permited units issued in January 2012 than in January 2011. Several larger multi-family projects boosted this months numbers, including 44-unit projects in both St. Paul and Hudson, Wisconsin, plus three projects (45, 60 and 75 units) in Minneapolis.

According to statistics compiled by the Keystone Report for the Builders Association of the Twin Cities (BATC), there were 185 permits for a total of 465 units during four weeks in the month of January, 2012.

“There are plenty of indicators trending in the right direction for Twin Cities housing.” said Builders Association of the Twin Cities 2012 President and owner of Lee Lyn Construction, Curt Christensen. “According to Metrostudy, a national housing research firm, the Twin Cities ranks as one of the healthier markets in the country.

“Our members are gaining more confidence as the economy improves, and agree that a 10 to 15 percent increase for 2012 could be realistic,” Christensen said.

Minneapolis led the metro in building activity for the month with 178 units permitted. St. Paul followed with 46 units. Hudson, WI, trailed by just one, at 45 units, followed by Eagan with 18 and Maple Grove issued 16 for the month.

Jan._2012_Permits_Chart.pdf

Builders Association of the Twin Cities Inducts 2012 Board

2012-01-09T19:57:40Z

ROSEVILLE, MINN (January 6, 2012) — The Builders Association of the Twin Cities (BATC) has announced the election of its 2012 President and Board of Directors. Curt Christensen, owner of Lee Lyn Construction, was elected to serve as the Association’s president for 2012. Curt will lead a 17 member board during his year long term as President.

Christensen will oversee the activities of the over 1,000-member trade association that provides a meeting place for the industry, education for its members, interaction with cities and regional governments, and annually sponsors the Parade of Homes® , with its two new-home tours, two remodeling tours, and a year-round on-line housing resource, www.paradeofhomes.org.

Under the leadership of Christensen, the Association will focus on three major goals in 2012: growing membership and involvement, increasing awareness of BATC government affairs efforts, and the redesign of a consumer focused Parade of Homes website and mobile site.

Christensen’s hands-on leadership style will contribute to an unofficial fourth goal, governing BATC with an emphasis on the personal touch. “There is great value in a face-to-face meeting with one of my homebuyers and there is great value in eye-to-eye contact with one my subcontractors,” explains Christensen. “Sometimes, email is a weak substitute to a simple phone conversation. And there is equally great value in getting together personally at BATC. This is my goal for 2012. That we bring back the face-to-face, the phone conversation and the breaking bread together over dinner.”

Christensen has been actively involved in the BATC Board for more than five years, serving as the chair of Parade of Homes, Board Treasurer, and 2011 Vice President. He spent 21 years as a volunteer fireman, holding nearly every position (he retired as assistant chief), and has owned and operated Lee Lyn Construction for over 31 years. His firm, based in Watertown, builds mostly single-family homes in the western suburbs. Christensen is an avid outdoorsman and enjoys fishing, hunting, golf, and spending time with his wife Debbie and their two daughters, Dana and Jessica, at the family’s cabin near McGregor.

“Thank you for your confidence in me as your leader. It is a humbling capstone to my career in this industry to serve this great Association and you know I’ll give it 100 percent.”

2012 BATC Officers and Board Members

As a member-run organization, the BATC President and Board of Directors provide critical oversight to the day-to-day operations of the association. These volunteer members elected to the 2012 Board of Directors include:

Executive Board:

President CURT CHRISTENSEN - Lee Lyn Construction, Inc., Watertown, MN

Builder Vice President PAMELA BELZ - Senior Housing Partners, Roseville, MN

Associate Vice President JOHN ZIRBES - Lyman Lumber Co., Chanhassen, MN

Treasurer SHAWN NELSON - New Spaces, Burnsville, MN

Secretary KERRY MULCRONE - Kerry & Co., Hudson, WI

Past President RICH RIEMERSMA - Imperial Homes, Inc., Shoreview, MN

Past Associate Vice President JON COTY - Fullerton Lumber; The Builder’s Choice, Plymouth, MN

Past President’s Advisory Council RICK KOT - R.A. Kot Homes, Inc., Apple Valley, MN

Board of Directors:

BOB MICHELS - Bob Michels Construction, Inc., St. Paul, MN

CHRIS CONTRERAS - Ryland Homes, Eden Prairie, MN

JASON McCARTHY - Westwood Professional Services, Inc., Eden Prairie, MN

KATHE OSTROM - C.N. Ostrom & Son, Excelsior, MN

LARRY CRAMER - L. Cramer Designers & Builders, Edina, MN

MARV McDARIS - Pulte Homes of Minnesota, Eden Prairie, MN

PAUL DONNAY - Donnay Homes, Inc., Maple Grove, MN

PATTIE MARTIN - Glowing Hearth & Home, Burnsville, MN

TODD POLIFKA - Brush Masters Co., Plymouth, MN

December 2011 Hot Sheet

2012-01-04T17:48:54Z

Builders Association of the Twin Cities December 2011 Hot Sheet leads with stories on the NAHB Builder Confidence Issue and the UST: Residential Real Estate Price Report Index - Nov. 2011.

HS_December_2011.pdf

Any questions, please contact James Vagle, james@batc.org.

Year End Twin Cities Residential Construction Remains Solid

2012-01-04T21:24:05Z

Roseville, MN (January 4, 2012) – After a slow start in 2011, residential construction in the region ended the year relatively well. With the help of two large multi-family projects, December’s permit and planned unit numbers were higher than any December since 2006. Year-to-date, permits came in higher than any year since 2007. While planned units lagged behind 2010 by almost 20 percent, this can be almost entirely attributed to the 50 percent drop in multi-family units (in buildings of 17 units or larger), with single family homes coming in two percent higher in 2011 than in 2010.

According to statistics compiled by the Keystone Report for the Builders Association of the Twin Cities (BATC), there were 293 permits for a total of 568 units during four weeks in the month of December, 2011. Year-to-date, there were 2,978 permits issued for a total of 4,529 units.

“While our builders have been seeing small signs of recovery all year, it was pretty clear that any sustained growth would remain elusive.” said Builders Association of the Twin Cities 2011 President and co-owner of Imperial Homes, Rich Riemersma. “Both our spring and fall Parade of Homes® events drew more visitors than we’ve seen in awhile, but many of those folks remain hesitant to buy.

“Cautious optimism continues to be the guiding principal for our industry,” Riemersma said.

Burnsville led the metro in building activity for the month with 141 units permitted. Lakeville followed with 102 units. Chanhassen and Woodbury both had 31 units permitted, with Blaine rounding out the top five with 25 units. For the year, Minneapolis led the way with 416 units permitted, followed by Blaine with 336, Woodbury with 292, Plymouth with 286 and Maple Grove with 265.

Dec._2011_Permits_Chart_only.pdf

Lighten Your Laundry Load, When You're 50+

2011-12-22T18:39:50Z

No matter what age, lightening your laundry load has universal appeal. I can say this as someone who has done a lot of laundry in my young life, including a brief career as a laundress for my university’s football team. I’ve since fared well with a profession that’s far less foul, but the laundry loads in my life still pile up every week (I’m sure you can relate).

For the 50+ Housing market however, laundry can lead to more trouble than simply being inconvenient. Easy access to the laundry room and space optimization are important discussion points for 50+ demographics, especially since this market is choosing to stay in their homes longer. According to Whirlpool’s senior design manager Terri Connett, the 50+ housing market is at a face-off with “The Great Laundry Migration.”

“No longer a staple fixture in the corner of the basement, laundry rooms are moving closer to bedrooms or living quarters,” says Connett. “For seniors seeking single-story, open-floor plans, positioning the laundry room on the main floor close to the master bedroom is an excellent selling point.”

Find out how Connett addresses noise concerns, limited storage and functionality issues that can occur when the laundry room moves from the basement to the main room.

*Photo Credit

Holiday House-Warming Gifts

2011-12-14T18:50:23Z

Even if you’re not moving to a new home, when the ground is white and the fireplace is your go-to spot, a housewarming gift is relevant to everyone. Here are ten unique Holiday gift ideas (under $40) that will warm your heart and your home.

1) 12-Volt Heated Car Blanket: $26.99, sears.com

Why wait until home to cozy-up in a warm blanket when you can stay toasty on the trip to get there? It takes only 15 seconds to heat! Perfect timing on frigid nights when the car is slow to warm-up.

2) Monogram Mug: $6, Anthropologie.com

You’ll always know which cup is yours when you sip hot coco, coffee, or whatever your cup of tea.

3) Battery Wax Candle (3 piece): $39.99, mrlight.com

A candlelit look can keep a dorm room feeling homey when flames aren’t allowed.

4) Scrabble Flash: $19.89, target.com

Flash forward and try a new twist on an old classic. With multiple game options, you can play with friends or scrabble solo.

5) Blueprint Placemat: $22, cakevintage.com

Where prim and property meet down-home dining.

6) Popover Pan: $19.95, william-Sonoma.com

Served straight from the oven this light and airy dish tastes delicious.

7) Table Topics Box: $24.95, generalstoreofminnetonka.com

Get the conversations flowing and discover something new about a family member, co-worker, or loved one.

8) Mini Cook & Serve Dish: $24.95, patinastores.com

Say goodbye to the TV dinner tray and hello to this cute single serve dish for a quiet evening at home.

9) Rubber Address Stamp: $19.95, etsy.com

Personalize the home-front with fonts that are handcrafted from Etsy.

10) Design Sponge at Home: $35, Barnesandnoble.com

Cuddle up with a book all about rejuvinating your home. We guarantee you’ll be inspired!

Is Your Home Ready for Tangerine Tango?

2011-12-09T17:22:17Z

Every season, Pantone spins their magic color wheel to reveal the latest in color trends. Trying to stay current and keeping your home up to date with an ever evolving palette is enough to leave a homeowner’s head spinning! Here’s how you can keep your home looking fresh, without falling out of style and (dare I say it) having to repaint the walls:

Tangerine Tango is the 2012 color of the year according to Pantone, the leading worldwide authority on color trends. The hue is a vibrant red orange that is energizing and uplifting. With a color this lively, a touch of paint doesn’t sound that bad and Apartment Therapy (featured in the picture above) seems to agree.

However, while Tangerine Tango makes a fun statement, the color could overpower a room if used in excess. So, if you can’t pull off Tangerine Tango walls, check out HGTV for ideas (and pictures) on how to utilize Pantone shades in your home this season.

Parade of Homes' Builder's Mixer Leads to Weight Gain

2011-12-08T22:56:23Z

BATC Holiday Mixer Leads to Weight Gain

THE HOLIDAY MONTHS DON’T ALWAYS SIT WELL WITH OUR STOMACHS. We have an appetite for shopping, but our spending can feel like a punch in the gut. The stress of hosting dinner can leave us spread thin and why is it that Uncle Dave’s jokes always hit below the belt? And then there’s the food. We’ve indulged in Turkey, loosened our drawstrings and OD’ed on tryptophan, and that’s just the warm up. Bring on the cookies – gingerbread, shortbread, candied fruit bread (did I mention plain old bread?) – all in an effort to carb load before the inevitable resolution to lose all the weight we’ve pounded on!

While this list may sound familiar to some, it’s especially true for the attendees at our very own BATC Holiday Mixer. For Mixer goers, however, it only took one night to really pack on the pounds – 372 of them to be exact!

That’s right, this year’s Holiday Member Mixer has led to an incredible weight gain of 372 pounds, but not all was gained in lb’s. That’s because members truly tipped the scales by donating over 220 canned goods and 346 boxed goods to Second Harvest Heartland, weighing in just under 400 lbs.

Donations were delivered on Tuesday to Second Harvest Heartland, the upper-midwest's largest hunger relief organization and member of nationwide food distributer Feeding America, which encompasses more than 200 food banks nationwide. According to Feeding America’s website, approximately one in six Americans does not have access to enough food.

In the land of plenty, and during a season of indulgence, the simple act of donating canned goods to someone in need can make all the difference between celebrating the Holiday season with a spirit of mirth and celebrating with a belly full of girth.

Thank you again to every member who donated at our Holiday Mixer. You really stepped up to the scale!

To learn more about hunger in North America take this survey from Feeding America.

While this list may sound familiar to some, it’s especially true for the attendees at the Parade of Homes' Builder's Holiday Mixer. For Mixer goers, however, it only took one night to really pack on the pounds – 372 of them to be exact!

Thank you again to every member who donated at our Holiday Mixer. You really stepped up to the scale!

To learn more about hunger in North America take this survey from Feeding America.

November 2011 Hot Sheet

2011-12-01T21:10:54Z

Builders Association of the Twin Cities November 2011 Hot Sheet leads with stories on the NAHB Housing Affordability Index and the UST: Residential Real Estate Price Report Index.

HS_November_2011.pdf

Any questions, please contact James Vagle, james@batc.org.

Twin Cities Residential Construction Continues Apace

2011-11-29T18:41:42Z

November marked another month of relative stability in residential housing permits. Single family permits remain in positive territory, up a little more than eight percent over November 2010. Even with three large multi-family projects (two in Minneapolis at 104 and 47 units each and one in Forest Lake at 30 units), this month lagged behind November 2011 in total planned units by 35 percent.

According to statistics compiled by the Keystone Report for the Builders Association of the Twin Cities (BATC), there were 235 permits for a total of 442 units during four weeks in the month of November, 2011. Year-to-date, there were 2,685 permits issued for a total of 3,961 units.

“While we have continued to see scattered improvements, we are also regularly reminded about how fragile the housing industry truly is,” said Builders Association of the Twin Cities 2011 President and co-owner of Imperial Homes, Rich Riemersma. “We were truly sad to see the demise of Rottlund Homes, the last of our local large-volume production builders.

“Rottlund Homes has been a leader in our association, in our industry and a huge supporter of our Foundation. We will miss them tremendously,” Riemersma said.

Minneapolis led the metro in building activity for the month with 153 units permitted. Forest Lake followed with 34 units. Woodbury saw 27 units permitted, Maple Grove followed with 23 units and Plymouth rounded out the top five with 20 units.

Nov._2011_Permits_Release_chart.pdf

New Homes of the Future

2011-11-22T22:33:59Z

Good bye McMansions, hello performance and function! The economic downturn has changed the way Americans look at a lot of things, including what they are looking for in their next home. A study by the National Association of Home Builders suggests that prospective home buyers have shifted their perspective on the housing they want and need, and that the new home of the future will focus more on efficiency than indulgence.

Here's what NAHB reports about the survey and it's results:
The survey asked builders, designers, architects, manufacturers, and marketing specialists about what they thought the likely characteristics of the average, new single-family detached home would be in 2015.

First, the typical size of new homes will continue to shrink, with respondents saying they expect homes to average 2,152 square feet. That is 10 percent smaller than the average size of single-family homes started in 2010. Census Bureau data shows that the average size peaked in 2007, at 2,521 square feet.

This decrease is likely influenced by economic hardship, with consumers focusing on lowering the cost of heating and cooling their homes as well as no longer having a lot of equity in their current homes to finance purchasing a much larger one. An aging population — 29 percent of the U.S. population will be 55 and older in the year 2020 — will also increase demand for smaller homes as empty-nesters downsize into easier-to-manage properties.

A smaller home means the space must be better suited to modern lifestyles. Fifty-two percent of builders expect the living room to be merged with other spaces in the home by 2015 and 30 percent said it will vanish entirely. Respondents also expect the entry foyer and dining rooms to become smaller, or merge with other spaces. A great room comprised of the kitchen, foyer and living room is the most likely room to be included in the average new home. Some of the rooms least likely to be present include two master bedroom suites, a sunroom, a hobbies room, and a media room.

Kitchens are also expected to become more functional. Double sinks, recessed lighting, table space for eating, a breakfast bar and pull-out drawers are the features most likely to be in the new home kitchen in 2015.
In addition to floor plan changes, it is expected that new homes in 2015 will include more green features and technology, including low-E windows; engineered wood beams, joists or tresses; water-efficient features such as dual-flush toilets or low-flow faucets; and an ENERGY STAR rating for the whole house. (Stay tuned for the Spring 2012 Parade of Homes where you'll get to see 19 homes certified under the new Minnesota's Green Path, each boasting of a Home Performance Report that shows you exactly what energy and green features are included.)

Surprisingly, some new home features that have been popular in recent years are expected to lose favor with home buyers in the future. Less than a third of survey respondents said they thought more technology features, more universal features and more outdoor living features would be the first or second most probable trend.

OSHA Fall Protection Training Course Scheduled

2011-11-18T14:48:08Z

The Builders Association of the Twin Cities is offering a comprehensive OSHA training course on Fall Protection.

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

9:00 am to 12:00 noon

at the Builders Group, 2919 Eagandale Blvd., Eagan, MN

$75.00 for Association members, $125 for non-members.

Reservations online at www.batc.org, or call 651-697-1954 to reserve a space.

OSHA_training_press_release.pdf

Give to the Max Today

2011-11-16T17:23:17Z

While the Christmas Holidays lend to a spirit of giving, in the month of November, we garner a heart of thanksgiving. Today, you have the special opportunity to incorporate both aspects of this holiday season.

You have the chance to show your thanks and support to a special charity or nonprofit by making a simple contribution for Give to the Max Day, a special 24 hour day where Minnesotans come together to support local nonprofits and help them win big. For every donation made, the BATC Foundation has a chance to win an additional $1,000 prize grant. These grants are awarded every hour until midnight tonight so don’t delay.

We appreciate your donations and support! Here are the folks who your donations helped this fall:

The BATC Foundation renovated the home of Wesley Cureton, a wounded Veteran who served his country with seven active duty tours. His remodeled home will be safer and more comfortable for this American hero.

We also just finished a new home in partnership with Habitat for Humanity for the Ahmed family of seven.

Your donation today will help us do more!.

Garage sale on TV

2011-11-14T21:28:43Z

This could be yours, and so could an assortment of furniture, cabinets, lighting, appliances and accessories! With items donated by Parade of Homes builders, this weekend’s BATC Foundation Garage Sale is the perfect excuse to pamper your pad after a favorite Parade Home.

Items will be on sale November 18-20 at the Midwest Home Show at the Minneapolis Convention Center. Be sure to come early for great finds, or stop by before the show wraps for great deals (Sunday discounts!).

Can’t wait for this weekend’s garage sale? Tune in to KARE 11 today and tomorrow for a preview of select sale items. Watch at 4 p.m. today and 11:30 a.m. tomorrow for a special sneak peak.

BATC Foundation garage Sale

2011-11-03T21:05:38Z

We know a lot of you visit all those gorgeous Parade of Homes models to get decorating ideas and see whats new in furnishings. Now you can get some of those furnishings for yourself! Our charitable arm, the BATC Foundation, is holding their 3rd annual Midwest Home Show Garage Sale. A number of our Parade builders have donated tons of cool furniture, accessories, and building materials (lighting, cabinets, we even are selling the kitchen sink).

Come on down to the Mpls. Convention Center to the Midwest Home Show on November 18-20 and pick up some cool deals for your home.

Here's how our warehouse looked several weeks ago -- we've got plenty more items that have come in since.

BATC Foundation 3rd Annual Garage Sale at the Midwest Home Show

2011-11-03T17:40:27Z

EVENT: The charitable arm of the Builders Association of the Twin Cities (BATC), the BATC Foundation (formerly the Builders Outreach Foundation) has been collecting donated items from its members to sell at their 3rd annual Garage Sale. Prices will be low, and items are new or nearly new.

WHEN/WHERE

Friday, Saturday and Sunday, November 18-20, 2011

Show hours: Friday 1 - 6 pm; Saturday 10 am - 6 pm; Sunday 11 am - 5 pm

At the Midwest Home Show Minneapolis Convention Center

ABOUT THE SALE Items have been donated by builders, remodelers and suppliers and include a wide variety of model home furnishings (couches, dining sets, side tables, dressers and much more); model home accessories (paintings and prints, vases); building materials and products (light fixtures, wall switches, cabinetry, plumbing fixtures, including the kitchen sink).

ABOUT THE BATC FOUNDATION The BATC Foundation is a nonprofit organization that partners with local building professionals to rehabilitate old homes and build new homes in the Twin Cities Community. They help make the dream of home ownership come true for low income families. It is the charitable arm of the Builders Association of the Twin Cities, presenters of the Parade of Homes® and Remodelers Showcase®, and represents more than 1,000 member firms involved in all phases of the home building and remodeling industries and is dedicated to providing a diverse selection of quality and affordable housing to the Twin Cities area. BATC is among the top 10 local Home Builders Associations in the United States.

October 2011 Hot Sheet

2011-11-01T20:42:08Z

Builders Association of the Twin Cities October 2011 Hot Sheet leads with stories on the NAHB Remodeling Market Index and Bloomberg: Case-Shiller Report.

HS_October_2011.pdf

Any questions, please contact James Vagle, james@batc.org.

Charles Cudd DeNovo wins top Reggie Award

2011-10-28T12:50:40Z

The Reggie Awards gala a couple weeks ago was a lot of fun for all who attended, but a real treat for the winner of the million-dollar homes category, Charles Cudd DeNovo. We thought you'd like to see a few photos, and don't forget to check out the video here.

Twin Cities Residential Construction Continues Stable in October 2011

2011-10-28T12:42:14Z

October continued the recent trend in residential construction for stronger single family activity and fewer large multi-family projects. The Twin Cities saw another rise in permits in October, with with 264 single family homes and 25 permits for multi-family buildings of 16 units or less. There were no large buildings permitted in October.

According to statistics compiled by the Keystone Report for the Builders Association of the Twin Cities (BATC), there were 289 permits for a total of 378 units during four weeks in the month of October, 2011. Year-to-date, there were 2,450 permits issued for a total of 3,519 units.

“Without a doubt, the housing market remains well below where we would like it to be,” said Builders Association of the Twin Cities 2011 President and co-owner of Imperial Homes, Rich Riemersma. “But we’re very pleased to see a few positive signs, like the monthly gains in single-family permits and lower housing inventory across the region, according to the Minneapolis Area Association of REALTORS.

“Another positive sign is that even with distressed and foreclosed home sales prices included, Case Shiller reports the Twin Cities metro has been showing some strength since May,” Riemersma said.

Blaine led the metro in building activity for the month with 37 units permitted. Woobury followed with 35 units. Farmington saw 32 units permitted, Plymouth and Savage rounded out the top five with 24 and 21 units respectively.

Oct._2011_Permits_Release_chart_only.pdf

14 Parade Homes earn Reggie Award

2011-10-17T19:16:08Z

Last Saturday was an exciting night for Parade of Homes builders! 14 of the gorgeous Parade Homes earned the coveted Reggie Award! These homes were judged by builders, industry professionals and regular folks in the community. The gala red-carpet event was a night to remember, especially for these 12 builders (two won two awards!). (The price category is listed in parentheses.)

BlueStar Homes, LLC #243 for their home in Andover ($129,900 to $179,999)

Stone Cottage Construction, Inc. #88 for their home in Farmington ($180,000 - $203,999)

Hans Hagen Homes, Inc. #157 for their home in Cologne ($204,000 - $244,999)

K.A. Witt Construction, Inc. #91 for their home in New Prague ($245,000 - $269,999)

Knoblauch Builders, LLC #117 for their home in Shakopee ($270,000 - $284,999)

TJB Homes, Inc. #256 for their home in Blaine ($285,000 - #304,999)

Lee Lyn Construction, LLC #173 for their home in Delano ($305,000 - $354,999)

Homes by Tradition, LLC #72 for their home in Lakeville ($355,000 - $384,999)

Hartman Homes, Inc. #32 for their home in Hudson ($385,000 - $419,999)

Hartman Homes, Inc. #18 for their home in Lake Elmo ($420,000 - $474,999)

D.T. Carlson Co. #55 for their home in Cottage Grove ($475,000 - $574,999)

Homes by Tradition, LLC #73 for their home in Lakeville ($575,000 - $749,999)

J.B. Woodfitter & Associates, LLC #93 for their home in Credit River Township ($750,000 - $999,999)

Charles Cudd DeNovo, LLC #128 for their home in Edina ($1,000,000 and above)

Congratulations also to these suppliers and vendors that earned Trillium Awards for their part in the creation of these fabulous homes. Glowing Hearth & Home won four Trillium Awards, Granite-Tops, LLC won three, and six firms won two Trillium Awards each (Aspen Electric, Inc., Bayer Interior Woods, Designed Cabinets, Inc., Minnesota Exteriors, Inc., Southern Lights, and Warners’ Stellian Co., Inc.) Here are all 17 companies:

Trillium Award Winners:
Aspen Electric Inc., Savage MN
Brock White Company, St. Paul MN
Brush Masters, Plymouth MN
Designed Cabinets, Inc., Lakeville MN
Ferguson Kitchen, Bath & Lighting Gallery, Golden Valley MN
Gallus Painting, Inc., Delano MN
Glowing Hearth & Home, Jordan MN
Granite-Tops, L.L.C., Cold Spring MN
Mayer Lumber Co., Inc., Mayer MN
MCI Paint & Drywall, Farmington MN
Minnesota Exteriors, Inc., Osseo MN
Martha O'Hara Interiors, Minneapolis MN
Scherer Bros. Lumber Co., Brooklyn Park MN
Southern Lights, Burnsville MN
J.J. Vanderson & Co., Blaine MN
Village Floor & Wall, Inc., Blaine MN
Warners' Stellian Co., Inc., St. Paul MN

Builders and Suppliers Honored at the 2011 Awards of Excellence

2011-10-17T18:45:38Z

At a red carpet gala on Saturday, October 15th, the Builders Association of the Twin Cities (BATC) honored the best of the best for excellence in home building. Held at the DoubleTree Park Place in St. Louis Park, the evening showcased the 44th annual Reggie Award(SM) winners and honored their partners (suppliers and sub-contractors) with the 22nd annual Trillium Awards(SM). Additionally, the association presented the Robert Hanson Service Awards plus the coveted Builder of the Year and Associate of the Year awards.

“BATC’s annual award gala is a truly special night for members of the home building community,” said Rich Riemersma, 2011 President and co-owner of Imperial Homes. “While the industry has faced some tough times over the past several years, our members have continued working hard to create innovative designs, exceptional craftsmanship and real value for home buyers across the region. This is the night we recognize the very best of those talents.”

Since 1968, BATC has presented the Reggie Award to builders for outstanding achievement in the design, quality and value of their homes as judged by their harshest critics, builders and professionals within the industry. This year we added a little twist, including one consumer judge in each category. All of the homes judged were on display to the public during the 2011 Parade of Homes Fall Showcase(SM), and then the judges in each category met to compare notes and select the winner. A total of 144 homes were entered in the competition, divided into 14 price categories, with one winner awarded in each category.

The Trillium Awards were designed over two decades ago to recognize the partnership between builder and their suppliers and sub-contractors in creating excellence. This year, the program was revamped to allow companies that worked with the builder in the design and construction of each Reggie-entered home to participate at their choice. The Trillium Awards were then presented to all participating companies for their work on homes winning a Reggie.

In addition to the Reggie and Trillium Awards, BATC recognized two members with the Robert L. Hanson Service Award for their contributions to the home building industry. The evening culminated with the presentation of BATC’s most coveted honors, the annual Builder of the Year and Associate of the Year Awards. These companies are selected by the companies with which they do business for their excellence in the areas of trust, communications, and business ethics.

2011 Reggie and Trillium Award Winners:

Two firms each won two Reggie Awards, Hartman Homes, Inc. and Homes by Tradition LLC. Glowing Hearth & Home won four Trillium Awards, Granite-Tops, LLC won three, and six firms won two Trillium Awards each (Aspen Electric, Inc., Bayer Interior Woods, Designed Cabinets, Inc., Minnesota Exteriors, Inc., Southern Lights, and Warners’ Stellian Co., Inc.

$129,900 - $179,999: BlueStar Homes, LLC #243 for their home in Andover

$180,000 - $203,999: Stone Cottage Construction, Inc. #88 for their home in Farmington

$204,000 - $244,999: Hans Hagen Homes, Inc. #157 for their home in Cologne

$245,000 - $269,999: K.A. Witt Construction, Inc. #91 for their home in New Prague; Trillium Winner: Minnesota Exteriors, Inc.

$270,000 - $284,999: Knoblauch Builders, LLC #117 for their home in Shakopee; Trillium Winner: Glowing Hearth & Home

$285,000 - #304,999: TJB Homes, Inc. #256 for their home in Blaine; Trillium Winners: Minnesota Exteriors, Inc., and Village Floor & Wall, Inc.

$305,000 - $354,999: Lee Lynn Construction, LLC #173 for their home in Delano; Trillium Winners: Brock White Company, Brush Masters, Gallus Painting, Inc., Glowing Hearth & Home, Granite-Tops, L.L.C., Mayer Lumber Co., Inc., and Southern Lights

$355,000 - $384,999: Homes by Tradition, LLC #72 for their home in Lakeville; Trillium Winners: Aspen Electric Inc., Glowing Hearth & Home, and Southern Lights

$385,000 - $419,999: Hartman Homes, Inc. #32 for their home in Hudson; Trillium Winner: Warners’ Stellian Co., Inc.

$420,000 - $474,999: Hartman Homes, Inc. #18 for their home in Lake Elmo; Trillium Winner: Warners’ Stellian Co., Inc.

$475,000 - $574,999: D.T. Carlson Co. #55 for their home in Cottage Grove; Trillium Winners: Ferguson Kitchen, Bath & Lighting Gallery, Granite-Tops, L.L.C., and MCI Paint & Drywall

$575,000 - $749,999: Homes by Tradition, LLC #73 for their home in Lakeville; Trillium Winners: Aspen Electric Inc., Glowing Hearth & Home, and J.J. Vanderson & Co.

$750,000 - $999,999: J.B. Woodfitter & Associates, LLC #93 for their home in Credit River Township; Trillium Winners: Designed Cabinets, Inc., and Granite-Tops, L.L.C.

$1,000,000 and above: Charles Cudd DeNovo, LLC #128 for their home in Edina; Trillium Winners: Designed Cabinets, Inc., Martha O’Hara Interiors, and Scherer Bros. Lumber Co.

Robert L. Hanson Industry Service Award

“So many of our members are active in our association,” said Riemersma. “They spend time away from their families to make sure our association and our industry remain strong. Our Robert L. Hanson Award is named for BATC’s long-time Executive Vice President, Bob Hanson, and let’s thank them for their dedication and commitment in a big way.”

The 2011 Robert L. Hanson Industry Service Award Winners are:

Tim Liester, Lyman Lumber Company, Chanhassen

Kathleen (Kathe) Ostrom, C.N.Ostrom & Sons, Inc., Excelsior

Builder of the Year and Associate of the Year

These awards are truly BATC’s most coveted honors. The winners are selected based upon evaluations of trust, communications, loyalty and ethics. Nominees sent surveys to 20 of the firms with which they do business, asking them to rate the firm on a variety of questions. The companies earning the most points won.

2011 BATC Builder of the Year: JMS Custom Homes, Edina

2011 BATC Associate of the Year: Builders Choice/A Fullerton Company, Plymouth

The Builders Association of the Twin Cities, presenters of the Spring and Fall Parade of Homes®, the Spring and Fall Parade of Homes Remodelers Showcase®, and the online open house directory, Parade of Homes OnTourSM represents over 1,000 member firms involved in all phases of the home building and remodeling industries and is dedicated to providing a diverse selection of quality and affordable housing to the Twin Cities area.

# # # #

Photos available on request. Contact: Wendy Danks, wendy@batc.org, 651/697-7565.

Winning firms are listed below including the city in which their home office is headquartered:

Reggie Award Winners:

BlueStar Homes, LLC, Cedar MN

D.T. Carlson Co., Minneapolis MN

Charles Cudd DeNovo, LLC, Plymouth MN

Hans Hagen Homes, Inc., Fridley MN

Hartman Homes, Inc., Hudson WI

Homes by Tradition LLC, Lakeville MN

Knoblauch Builders, L.L.C., Excelsior MN

Lee Lyn Construction, L.L.C., Watertown MN

Stone Cottage Construction, Inc., Apple Valley MN

TJB Homes, Inc., Blaine MN

K.A. Witt Construction, Inc., New Prague MN

J.B. Woodfitter & Associates, LLC, Prior Lake MN

Trillium Award Winners:

Aspen Electric Inc., Savage MN

Brock White Company, St. Paul MN

Brush Masters, Plymouth MN

Designed Cabinets, Inc., Lakeville MN

Ferguson Kitchen, Bath & Lighting Gallery, Golden Valley MN

Gallus Painting, Inc., Delano MN

Glowing Hearth & Home, Jordan MN

Granite-Tops, L.L.C., Cold Spring MN

Mayer Lumber Co., Inc., Mayer MN

MCI Paint & Drywall, Farmington MN

Minnesota Exteriors, Inc., Osseo MN

Martha O'Hara Interiors, Minneapolis MN

Scherer Bros. Lumber Co., Brooklyn Park MN

Southern Lights, Burnsville MN

J.J. Vanderson & Co., Blaine MN

Village Floor & Wall, Inc., Blaine MN

Warners' Stellian Co., Inc., St. Paul MN

Congratulations Mary Young- Dream Home Limo Tour Winner!

2011-10-05T02:06:09Z

The Parade of Homes® and Remodelers Showcase® concluded in style this past weekend with a VIP event. Mary Young of Minneapolis and her entourage toured the five Dream HomesSM Sunday afternoon.

Awaiting Mary and her group was a white stretch limo by Renee’s Royal Valet stocked with delicacy’s from Keys Café. There was much to celebrate toasting champaign to a beautiful day, good company and luck of the draw.

Mary was the one winner chosen this fall for the limo tour of the Dream Homes out of over 1,000 entrants that stopped by the Parade of Homes® booth at the Minnesota State Fair.

The Spring PreviewSM dates are March 3- April 1st and the Remodelers Showcase is March 30th- April 1st. This is no fools day joke, save the date of April 1st if you’ll be chosen as the winner for our next Dream Home Limo Tour Giveaway. Stop by our booth at the Home and Garden Show, Feb. 29 - Mar. 4, 2012.

What Does It Mean to Go "Zero-Energy?"

2011-10-01T00:19:27Z

Parade visitors learned what it means to go "zero energy" during a tour of home #199 last weekend. Builder Rocky DiGiacomo discussed how a combination of technologies, such as geothermal heating/cooling, photovoltaics, spray foam insulation, LED lighting, and Energy Star appliances, can reduce a home's initial and on-going energy footprints so that, over the course of 12 months, it can operate with almost no net energy.

DiGiacomo shared eight-months worth of Xcel Energy and Centerpoint Energy utility bills from the 4,200 square foot parade home in Golden Valley. He projects, at current energy prices, that it will cost no more than $650/year to heat, cool, and operate the home.

Check it out for yourself at Parade Home #199 this weekend! DiGiacomo will be available to answer questions or contact DiGiacomo Homes & Renovation directly: www.designbuildmn.com.

September 2011 Hot Sheet

2011-09-30T19:10:45Z

Builders Association of the Twin Cities September 2011 Hot Sheet leads with stories on the UST Residential Real Estate Market Index and NAHB Builder Confidence.

HS_September_2011.pdf

Any questions, please contact James Vagle, james@batc.org.

Single Family Home Construction Continues to Lead Twin Cities Residential Construction

2011-09-29T12:46:05Z

New residential construction in the Twin Cities remains relatively stable, with single family construction leading the way. The region had more permits pulled in September than in any other month during the past year, and more than any September since 2007. Multi-family construction has dropped, however, with September units down over 40 percent from September 2010, and making up less than 35 percent of total units year to date.

According to statistics compiled by the Keystone Report for the Builders Association of the Twin Cities (BATC), there were 272 permits for a total of 352 units during four weeks in the month of September, 2011. Year-to-date, there were 2,161 permits issued for a total of 3,141 units.

“Builders participating in our Fall Parade of Homes have reported a real interest on the part of consumers,” said Builders Association of the Twin Cities 2011 President and co-owner of Imperial Homes, Rich Riemersma. “Yet, most agree that many prospective buyers continue to be skittish about making a decision right now.

“While foreclosures and distressed and sales continued to drive down resale prices in the region, we were pleased to see BuilderOnline.com, the online Builder Magazine by Hanley Woods, name the Twin Cities as the healthiest housing market in the United States.” Riemersma said.

Maple Grove led the metro in building activity for the month with 44 units permitted. Plymouth followed with 43 units, Forest Lake came in with 37 units, Woodbury with 31, followed by Blaine and Chanhassen with 22 each.

Sept_2011_Permits_Chart_only.pdf

Sept_2011_Permits_Release.pdf

Parade of Homes® Event Recap

2011-09-21T19:49:49Z

During the Tear Down and Rebuild Process Simplified event attendees learned that when considering a tear-down/rebuild project, it all starts with a land survey and the parameters of the lot. Determining if what they want to build will fit within the limitations the lot may present.

Bjorn Freudenthal and Bonnie Trowbridge with College City Design/Build, Inc. discussed features of the current home that may impact the scope of the new build. Some features include the existing foundation (could this be re-used?) as well as the locations of the existing building systems, such as plumbing and HVAC.

Participants left with an understanding of the steps that move the project from start to finish working with both the city and builder, as well as a rough idea of what to expect with timeframes and general costs.

The September 17^th event was held at Parade of Homes® entry #130 and model by College City Design/Build, Inc.

New! 2011 Fall Dream Home Videos

2011-09-14T22:14:09Z

Wow, our two new BATC Foundation Dream Homes on display during this fall's Parade of Homes are fabulous! Check them out on our hot new videos.

Charles Cudd DeNovo, #128 in Edina

and

Smuckler Custom Homes, #167 in Orono

Real Families Remodeling Stories

2011-09-13T21:07:52Z

We asked four families on this fall’s Parade of Homes Remodelers Showcase how they got through the remodeling process while still loving their homes, and even each other!

Four Generations Strong

Jon and Candace, a young retired couple, had lived in this 1950’s two-story home for almost a quarter century. They put a lot of love and sweat into it over the years. Jon’s DIY (Do it Yourself) projects kept the home maintained nicely. And Candace’s green thumb created an outdoor wonderland of cozy gathering spaces set amid a riot of colorful blooms, waving grasses, even a trio of fruiting artichoke plants she’d fooled into thinking they were still rooted in California.

They’ve been happy in their St. Paul neighborhood. It’s close to so much, and has been a great place to raise their daughters, Samantha, Paige (both out on their own) and Zoe (just graduated), and now their teenaged grandson, Iain. “We love this neighborhood,” Jon explained. “It’s like a small town, where neighbors stop to visit when we’re outside.”

Their remodeling project began when they decided they needed to bring Candace’s parents home. For the past several years, Candace had been traveling to Kenosha, Wisconsin, for one week out of every month providing long-distance care to her parents, Daniel and Elaine. “It was last Labor Day when I realized I just couldn’t do this anymore,” Candace explained. Her parents needed full-time caregiving and she and Jon decided they should be the ones giving it.

Their original plan was to add an accessible bathroom to the existing family room on the main level of their home, and create a bedroom out of the space. “That’s when we called Tom,” Candace said.

They found Tom Schiebout, owner of Tomco Company, via internet searches. Candace had also spent some time on caregiving websites and found a consistent theme — that in-home care worked best when living spaces were adapted to suit. So when Tom came out to examine their home and discuss their needs, he helped them see how to best build upon what they had.

“It made so much more sense to rebuild the east side of the house,” Tom said. “They needed space that was safe and accessible for Daniel and Elaine, and by adding a small addition, reconfiguring the existing porch and digging out a full basement, they would be able to provide their parents with a suite that opened directly to the accessible patio with its own front entry, while enlarging their living space for this four-generation family.”

With the plans in place and construction barely started, they couldn’t wait any longer and moved Daniel and Elaine into temporary sleeping quarters with the rest of the family upstairs. “We have four bedrooms but just one bathroom up there,” Candace said with a smile. “It was a little rough.”-≠

Construction took about three months and despite the cramped quarters. “It was fun, I really enjoyed it,” Candace recalls. “I think the reason it was so fun was because of the relationships we had with Tom and all of his guys.”

Part of her enjoyment was in choosing the materials and colors. The new space is filled with light, a little contemporary with an Asian influence. The accessible bath has a window overlooking the back gardens, and closes off through Shoji doors that are usually slid back. A sliding glass door opens directly to the back patio from the bedroom space, and the sitting room is just right for relaxing in front of the flat-screen TV.

Even better, “It’s really solid and quiet in there,” said Candace. “Tom had us put in materials we’d never have used if we were doing it ourselves. It’s a whole different quality that makes a real difference.”

Serendipitous Next Stage

Planning for a modern retirement lifestyle, Marybeth and Dennis found the perfect palette right around the corner. This soon to be retired couple was transitioning from more than 30 years of small town life in Redwood Falls to condo living in Centennial Lakes of Edina.

“We were looking for an easy-maintenance home that was big enough for out-of-town guests and to gather our large extended family together.” Another requirement, “location!” says Marybeth. They wanted to be close to their daughter in the cities, and to the airport for quick trips to Los Angeles to visit their second daughter.

Edinborough condominiums in Edina fit the bill. They loved the location, and purchased a unit there when their daughter was in graduate school and they were caring for their ailing parents. It had views of Centennial Lake and great neighbors, but it was simply too small. Then fate stepped in. An unusual unit in the same building complex went up for sale. “It was literally two mirror-image units with the separating wall removed. The space still had double everything including two kitchens and an odd rambling layout,” recalls Marybeth.

Once they decided to purchase the unit they started interviewing remodeling contractors. They were most comfortable with College City Design/Build. “What a great team,” says Dennis. “They listened and worked with us on all the details. We always felt very well taken care of.”

With over 2,100 square feet to redesign, they had a lot to take into account. Given that all major plumbing had to stay in place, you can imagine the complexity of the design phase. Marybeth also really appreciated how the company took care of presenting the plans and engineer's reports to their condo association and city inspectors for approval.

“We got new everything: flooring, appliances, fixtures, a walk-in shower, widened corridors, plus a really open kitchen and great room. The remodelers also utilized Universal Design to help us plan for living in this home for a long time to come,” explains Marybeth. Tying it all together was another member of the College City team, designer Bonnie Anderson.

During the demolition phase, one of the workers accidentally hit a sprinkler and set off the water system. “This turned out to be proof positive of how well College City works as a team. I was there about six hours later. The water was gone and they had dryers and fans going everywhere. They were really aggressive in tearing out, and removing sheet rock and repairing any possible damage as well,” remembers Marybeth.

“We've already had our neighbors over for an open house to thank them for their patience and putting up with the construction process, plus hosted a family gathering. It's been great to see the planning being put to use. We entertained 30 people comfortably,” says Marybeth. “It really feels like home with so many loved ones in the same spot.”

“The entire space will be lived in,” says Dennis. “We're really pleased with the results and looking forward to the next stage together.”

From One Generation to the Next

Jen and Todd were already looking for a house to buy in the popular Highland Park neighborhood of St. Paul when Todd’s parents approached them. Todd’s paternal grandparents had recently passed away, and the house that they had built new for the family in 1946 would soon be up for sale. “When we were given the opportunity to buy the house, we decided we wanted to keep it in the family,” says Todd. He and Jen, who were living in Brooklyn Park at the time, loved the idea of taking over the family house with its memories and ideal location. The house was on a scenic block, close to parks and shops and centrally located for their daughter’s schooling.

While the home provided a perfect location for Todd and Jen, it offered little else to meet their modern family needs. The 960-square-foot rambler with its green carpeting, dark paneled walls, and 1950’s finishes was long overdue for an update. Except for one room in the basement that housed memorabilia and an impressive toy train set, everything else was available to be changed. Remodeling a house was a new experience for Todd and Jen, who first needed to find the best remodeler to suit their needs and one who could completely transform the home.

Chad and Andy, owners of Bluejack Builders, stood out with their skill and ability, as well as their willingness to work with Todd and Jen from the beginning. Bluejack Builders was able to take control and guide the busy parents and career professionals through every part of the design process, from the ideas stage to making the final selections. “We started with a basic design, but the plan changed several times,” says Jen. “The amount of time Bluejack Builders put into the project blows us away. Due to our busy work schedule, Bluejack Builders helped us with every design element selection to create the home of our dreams.”

Bluejack completely gutted the existing main level and raised the roof to add a second level, enlarging the house to about 2,200 square feet of living space, which does not include the unfinished basement. Bluejack also designed the home’s exterior to blend beautifully with existing homes in the neighborhood, offering a timeless yet modern appearance with traditional materials and craftsmanship.

The main level now has an open floor plan that includes a grand two-story entryway, an office with two custom-built workstations, a dining room with beautifully enameled paneling, and a large kitchen with a granite-topped island and oil-bronzed appliances. “We wanted something different than stainless steel,” says Jen. The powder room is also a standout with its wall-mounted faucet and clear-glass sink bowl that sits on top of a distinctive marble countertop. The new second-level addition has three bedrooms, one custom painted for three-year-old Taylor, a laundry, a full bathroom, plus a fabulous owners’ suite with a large bath.

Throughout the transformation, Bluejack took extra care to protect and preserve the train set that had great sentimental value for Todd and Jen. “The train was part of the house, and we wanted to keep some mementos of the grandparents,” says Jen. “It makes us feel as if they are still with us and that they are okay with our decision to redo the house.”

The remodeled house gives the family plenty of room to grow in comfort and style, preserving Todd and Jen's wish to transform and maintain their family treasure for long into the future, while still retaining some of the fun family history.

Changing Course Midstream

With three kids under the age of five and her husband away on a business trip, Karel, an emergency room physician, signed a purchase agreement for a house that was, well, not exactly her dream home. “We thought in this market buying would be easy and selling would be hard,” Karel says. But that’s not how the couple’s experience played out.

Karel and Doug’s previous home had two flaws. First, it wasn’t located in a school district that met the couple’s standards; Everett and Stella would soon be heading to kindergarten and Karel and Doug wanted the twins to begin their education careers in Edina. And second, it wasn’t handicapped accessible for Karel and Doug’s brother-in-law Dave, whose multiple sclerosis had progressed to the point where he now depends on a wheelchair.

Shortly after beginning their home search, Doug and Karel signed a purchase agreement on a house in Edina that had just about everything they wanted, or so they thought. “There were unexpected problems with the inspection, and we couldn’t come to an agreement with the owners,” Karel explains. By the time the purchase fell through, Doug, an international grain trader, was already in China on business, and the family’s previous home was sold. Karel, the twins, and three-year-old Lucy would have to shop for a new home without him.

Having exhausted the Edina listings within the couple’s price range, Karel and Doug’s realtor suggested they buy a home to remodel and recommended J & J Remodelers, based in White Bear Lake. The team zeroed in on two houses, then chose the one offering the most potential.

Still in China, Doug relied on his wife’s recommendation, agreed to buy the home, signed the paperwork remotely, and returned it by fax. When he returned to the states and saw the home for the first time, however, he wasn’t sure he had made the right decision. “It was a classic 1950’s rambler. The bedrooms were cut off from the living areas. There were lots of rectangles in the house,” says Karel. “It took Doug a minute to come around; he had to see the potential.”

After five months in the home, the couple and their three young children moved out for the remodel, splitting their time between their cabin in Rice Lake, Wisconsin, Karel’s parents’ house near Madison, Wisconsin, Doug’s sister’s place in Woodbury, and their new home whenever possible. “We had to brace for some hassles,” says Karel. “There was some concern when we were at the cabin that the snow removal people would get the snow plow to our driveway in time for me to get to the hospital.”

But everything worked out fine. Instead of tearing down the house and replacing it with a “McMansion,” Doug and Karel opted to retain the mid-century style and architecture of the home, while modernizing it. J & J Remodelers finished the job ahead of schedule in less than 14 weeks, transforming the five-bedroom, three-bath, compartmentalized home into a five-bedroom, four-bath home with a modern floor plan, and constructed a powder room large enough for Dave’s wheelchair.

“J & J Remodelers’ focus on quality and on customizing the job to meet our needs converted our house into our home,” says Karel. “We recommend them without reservation.”

Throughout the transformation, Bluejack took extra care to protect and preserve the train set that had great sentimental value for Todd and Jen. “The train was part of the hourse, and we wanted to keep some mementos of the grandparetns,” says Jen. “It makes us feel as if they are still with us and that they are okay with our decision to redo the house.”

The remodeled house gives the family plenty of room to grow in comfort and style, preserving Todd and Jen’s wish to transform and maintain their family treasure for long into the future, while still retaining some of the fun family history.

Fall Remodelers ShowcaseSM Event Overview

2011-09-13T20:37:15Z

ROSEVILLE, MINN. (September 12, 2011) —The 2011 Fall Parade of Homes Remodelers ShowcaseSM is set to run September 30 through October 2. The 24-year-old tour opens with 86 beautiful remodeled homes from 67 remodeling firms, in 28 communities across the extended Twin Cities metropolitan area. Homeowners will find inspiration and ideas to remodel their own homes, while getting a chance to interview professional remodelers about their capabilities, all without obligation.

All of the remodeled homes on the tour are open from 1-7pm on Friday September 30, and 12:00 noon to 6:00 pm Saturday and Sunday October 1-2. Remodeling representatives will be on hand at each home to answer questions and tell visitors about the project. Admission is free to all with the exception of three Dream Remodeled Homes where visitors will be asked for a $5.00 donation to help fund the Builders Association of the Twin Cities (BATC) Foundation, the charitable arm of BATC.

The accompanying Guidebook includes feature editorial about four real families who recently remodeled their homes. Read about their experiences, then visit their homes on display during the tour. The guidebook also includes a calendar of events where consumers can enjoy everything from wine tasting to learning about kitchen design.

Searching for Parade of Homes Remodelers Showcase projects is easy at www.ParadeofHomes.org. The interactive map pinpoints projects by location, and searches can be fine-tuned by region, remodeler and/or project type. The handy Tour Planner saves favorites for later reference, and a notes area ensures visitors can record what they liked most. Many of the projects link to virtual tours, and all link to a personal page about each of the remodelers on the tour, and on to their own web sites. New this fall, smart phones will automatically get to access all 86 homes on the mobile site, m.paradeofhomes.org. A brand new iPhone app. also complements the tour.

Virtually every type of remodeling is showcased on the tour, including 20 whole-house remodels, 53 kitchen renovations, 21 additions, 23 main level renovations, 20 baths, and 19 lower-level finishes. Other projects include decks, porches and exteriors, owners’ suites, mud rooms, home offices, laundry rooms, and garages. The Parade of Homes Remodelers Showcase really allows homeowners to consider the benefits of remodeling their home, no matter how much they want to change. And, it showcases the capabilities of a wide range of professional remodelers, all without any pressure or obligation.

Dream Home Inspires

The 2011 Fall Remodelers Showcase will showcase three fantastic BATC Foundation Dream Remodeled Homes. These whole house remodels each showcase creative design and exceptional craftsmanship. Summit Design Build, LLC has A Truly Modern Remodel home in Roseville, while Edina is even more En Vogue with M l A l Peterson Designbuild’s residence. The Victorian Historic Renovation by John Kraemer & Sons, Inc. in St. Paul is Rich in History. Visitors to the Dream Remodeled Homes are asked to make a $5.00 donation to the BATC Foundation, the charitable arm of the Builders Association of the Twin Cities. All proceeds will go directly to the Foundation’s work of helping house families i need.

See Homes All Across the Region

You’ll find Remodelers Showcase homes in 28 communities across the metro area. St. Paul features 14 homes and there are 22 in Edina. Other homes are located all around the region from Watertown to Stillwater.

All the homes on display during the Parade of Homes Remodelers Showcase will feature a bright yellow and red site sign displaying each entry’s distinct Remodelers Showcase number. These numbers correspond to the mapped sections of the Guidebook and Web site, and make locating the remodeling projects easy.

2011 FALL Remodelers ShowcaseSM Fact Sheet

2011-09-13T20:31:25Z

• This is the 24rd annual Fall Parade of Homes Remodelers Showcase presented by the Builders Association of the Twin Cities RemodelersSM Council. A total of 86 remodeled homes from 67 professional remodeling firms are showcased on the tour. All remodelers are members of the Council.

• The event will run September 30, October 1 and 2, 2011. This is a unique opportunity to tour 86 actual remodeled homes in 28 communities across the extended Twin Cities metropolitan area.

• Parade of Homes Remodelers Showcase homes will be open Friday September 30 from 1-7pm, and Saturday and Sunday October 1-2 12:00 noon to 6:00 pm. Admission is free (except for the Dream Remodeled Homes) to the general public and remodeling representatives will be on hand to answer questions.

• The Remodelers Showcase Guidebooks are available free at all metropolitan area Holiday StationStores. Also available online in an E-Magazine format at paradeofhomes.org.

• The accompanying web site, www.paradeofhomes.org, includes interactive maps, easy to use searches, social media links and resources to help consumers make smart housing decisions.

• All remodeled homes are featured on the mobile site at m.paradeofhomes.org, as well as available to iPhone users via an iPhone app available at the app store.

• Three fabulous Dream Homes were selected as this fall’s Builders Association of the Twin Cities (BATC) Foundation Dream Remodeled Homes. Two of the homes are whole-house remodels; one in Roseville by Summit Design Build, LLC and one in Edina by M l A l Peterson Designbuild. The third home is a Historic Renovation in St. Paul by John Kraemer & Sons, Inc. Visitors will be asked for a $5.00 donation to the Foundation, the charitable arm of BATC, with all proceeds used to help house families in need.

• Virtually every type of remodeling is showcased on the tour, including 20 whole-house remodels, 53 kitchen renovations, 21 additions, 20 baths, and 19 lower-level finishes. Other projects include decks, porches and exteriors, owners’ suites, mud rooms, home offices, laundry rooms, and garages.

• Homes are open in 28 communities across the Twin Cities area. St. Paul features 14 homes and there are 22 in Edina. Other homes are located all around the region from Watertown to Stillwater.

• The Remodelers Showcase has a Calendar of Events, from educational to inspirational these events are held at Remodelers Showcase homes, offices and showrooms. Find out more online at www.paradeofhomes.org.

Dream Home Dollars Support the BATC Foundation

2011-09-13T19:47:03Z

As the charitable arm of the Builders Association of the Twin Cities, the BATC Foundation taps the talents and resources of our member builders, remodelers, suppliers and others to support our communities. Formerly called the Builders Outreach Foundation, the group began as a community service committee in the early 1990s. We will continue to build homes, provide remodeling and repair, as well as offer scholarships for young people entering the construction industry.

The Foundation has been busy in 2011 with a variety of projects including finishing the lower level of a home with two additional bedrooms and a bathroom for the Vang family of seven, with our partner, Showcase Renovations, Inc. With a build partner, James Barton Design Build we completed Phase 1, the finishing of an owner’s suite for wounded veteran, Wesley Cureton. Phase 2 is in process which includes an addition, kitchen renovation and some much needed details for safety and comfort. One of the larger projects this year was the build of a new home with Habitat for Humanity for a Somalian family of seven. Hussein and Ruquiya emigrated to the Twin Cities via Virginia, with their five children. We also would like to thank Thompson Plumbing for helping us with a project last spring to replace an air conditioner for a single mother whose daughter has severe asthma.

Our efforts in Haiti continue after an initial trip last December and a second on in March. Two more trips are planned this December and next February with our ongoing partner, World Wide Village (WWV). We are working to help them achieve their goal of 200 homes constructed for displaced Haitian families.

The Foundation could not continue without our dedicated volunteers offering their time and talents. The Foundation’s funding comes from donations, an annual garage sale of items donated by members, and support from the public during the Parade of Homes tours when they donate $5 to tour the spectacular Dream Homes and Dream Remodeled Homes. The next garage sale will feature a wide selection of building materials, model home furniture and accessories, and is scheduled this fall at the Midwest Home Fall Home Show, November 18-20th.

2011 Fall Remodelers ShowcaseSM Dream Remodeled Homes

2011-09-13T19:14:35Z

R11 by Summit Design Build, LLC

3130 W. Owasso Boulevard, Roseville

A Truly Modern Dream Home

Blending contemporary and craftsman styling, Summit Design Build, touched every detail of this home, inside and out, to transform a contemporary two-story into a warm, comfortable residence that has all the features the homeowners wanted. With 900 square feet added, the space has been reconfigured to function just perfectly.

From the outside, guests and family are welcomed via a flagstone porch, through stone columns, to a dramatic barrel-vault entryway. Step through the front door to wide-plank walnut flooring, enameled wainscot walls, and pillars defining the dining area and den entry. Throughout the house huge Marvin picture windows showcase the picturesque Lake Owasso views.

The kitchen boasts two full refrigerators, two microwaves, two dishwashers, and a hot new cooling/freezer drawer. LED lighting is accented throughout the kitchen, under and in cabinets, and sparkles through the glass-front cabinets which flank the huge island.

The upstairs is definitely dream home material, from the owners’ suite with floor-to-ceiling windows framing serene lake views, to the delightful girl’s dream bath that daughters everywhere will covet. Downstairs beckons with a movie theater with drop-down screen, a wet bar, and second office. You simply must see the guest bathroom, showcasing a rain showerhead hanging from the 10-foot ceiling and a meandering river of tile that flows from the shower through the bath and out to the service door greeting guests as they return from a stroll down to the lake.

Fully automated, even the most tech-savvy will be impressed. A touch of the IPad will access the thermostat, alarm system, cameras, sound, televisions, lighting, even the Lutron shades.

You won’t want to miss this exceptional Dream Remodeled Home. And your tax deductible $5 donation will help families in need.

R28 by John Kraemer & Sons, Inc.

743 Goodrich Avenue, St. Paul

Rich in History

Built in 1905 for MN Supreme Court Justice Oscar Hallam, this brick Victorian home is situated in the heart of St. Paul’s Crocus Hill. It was designed by Minnesota’s premier residential architect, Clarence H. Johnston and still bears many of his signature details within its restrained elegance. You’ll adore the hand-carved stone capitals on the front porch columns, the iridescent tan brick veneer, and large detailed roof rafters. But that’s just a start to whet your architectural appetite.

Mindful of the original architect’s design, the current owners, (only the fourth in the home’s existence), wished to be good stewards and maintain the integrity of this historic landmark. They started by collaborating with architect Charlie Simmons of Charlie & Co. Design, Ltd. and builder/remodeler John Kraemer & Sons. The primary objective was to assure the remodeled home caters to a modern family’s lifestyle while retaining all the charm, elegance and beauty for which it had been known.

With a subtle addition that doubled the existing kitchen area, the team was able to re-create portions of the original layout that had been stripped out by previous owners. The delightful new Butler’s Pantry brings back old-fashioned function, while the new mudroom meets today’s need for convenience.

The new exterior spaces are truly charming and designed to flow organically from the traditional architecture. From the graceful stone terrace and outdoor spa to the roof-top sun deck, this dream remodeled home is as welcoming outside as it is in.

There’s so much more to see, make sure you add it to your Remodelers Showcase tour this fall.

R59 by M l A l Peterson Designbuild

4611 Morrland Avenue, Edina

En Vogue

At first approach, this beautifully detailed home appears much as it did originally back in 1934. The French architectural style is preserved by the brick detailing above the windows and stone arch wrapping of the front door and veranda. Step past the arched mahogany front door and you immediately notice the herringbone marble floor and shimmering crystal light fixtures. The living room is graced by a hand carved limestone fireplace flanked by French doors. Your anticipation builds as you step into the formal dining room that is papered in French toile.

The kitchen is the breathtaking centerpiece of French formal design. You find yourself surrounded by exquisitely detailed cabinetry complete with Fleur de Lis and a Bombay inspired center Island. Your eyes wander from the fluted leg posts to the hand painted Delft backsplash tiles to the tableau above the range and a handsome carved limestone hood. Beyond the kitchen you are drawn into the sunroom with tall windows on three walls, enameled paneling and a Calcutta marble fireplace.

Ascend the Damask covered staircase to the bedroom level and continue to appreciate the exquisite design and attention to detail that this home offers at every turn.

Every architectural decision, every cabinet, every fixture and every fabric has been carefully chosen to leave you with an experience that you will long remember.

This home invites life to flourish while remaining elegant.

Parade Goers Learn to Decorate with the New Neutral: Gray!

2011-09-12T00:08:00Z

Parade goers toured the $1.34 million home in Golden Valley Saturday with designer Gigi DiGiacomo to get a first-hand look at decorating with the all neutral palette of grays and taupes.

"An all-neutral palette can look flat unless elements of contrast, texture, and pattern are introduced," DiGiacomo says. "During the tour we talked about how these elements were incorporated into the home's palette through the use of wall coverings, stone countertops, bamboo flooring, handmade tiles, raw linen furniture and other soft accessories."

See it for yourself at Parade Home #199 by DiGiacomo Homes & Renovation.

Thanks to our guest blogger: Gigi DiGiacomo
DiGiacomo Homes & Renovation
www.designbuildmn.com

Fall ShowcaseSM Starts Tomorrow

2011-09-09T13:47:27Z

Plan your tour this weekend to coincide with some of the great events. Additional events online at www.ParadeofHomes.org

Meet the Architect

Get your new home plan questions answered!

Berger Built Construction Co. Inc.

#7 20054 Fern Glen Lane N., Forest Lake

2:00 to 3:00 pm

Decorating with Color, Texture, and Pattern

Join Finish Selection Specialist, Gigi DiGiacomo, for a tour of this Dream Home. You'll learn where and when to incorporate color, texture and pattern in the neutral palette with budget friendly finish ideas.

DiGiacomo Homes, Inc.

#199 237 Janalyn Circle, Golden Valley

2:15 to 3:00 pm

Eat & Greet Grand Opening

Join us for a BBQ and see our newest model in Hampton Hills. Meet Bob McDonald, President of McDonald Construction and Architectural Designer, Teresa St. Amant of St. Amant Design LLC. Contact Kim Vetter for information at 763-228-0110.

McDonald Construction, Inc. at Hampton Hills

#188 5525 Polaris Lane N., Plymouth

12:00 noon to 2:00 pm

The Old-World Style of New Romanticism

2011-09-09T19:15:37Z

Bringing Europe’s Top Design Trends to Your Home- by Lori Anderson

Europe has long been at the head of the class when it comes to setting fashion and design trends, and currently, they’re showing a strong draw to times of yore. The recent economic downturn seems to have affected us all, and we’re clinging to nostalgia more than ever. We think fondly of making more with less, of recycling, reworking and finding new life in old items. And if we can do so with panache, then all the better, as Europe is triumphantly proving with their wildly popular quirky designs.

If we know one thing about interior design in uncertain times it’s this: fashion reflects life, and likewise, life reflects fashion. Returning to good, old-fashioned design ideals is a reflection of the state we’re in, and it is termed New Romanticism.

What is New Romanticism?

New Romanticism is a reflection of leaner times, and how people have been forced to get creative because of them. One of the best ways to embrace this trend is to create a personal statement in your home by incorporating beautiful, Old World or heirloom furniture, which instantly adds warmth to your surroundings.

Of course, not all of us are so lucky to have an arsenal of heirlooms to choose from, and so we may decide to invest in antique furniture pieces. Beware, however, that the term “invest” should be accepted in its fullest sense. When purchasing an antique item, you are buying quality for longevity. Gone is the trend of immediate gratification and “disposable” furniture—we don’t want to clutter our homes with mass-produced items that will last only a few years. Rather, look to buy items today that will continue to yield pleasure tomorrow.

Nesting: It’s Not Just For the Birds

The insecurity that the recession brought with it is also manifesting itself in a call to nest. We are clinging to images of our past that bring us comfort, which is exactly where antique—oftentimes European—influences come in. That massive, mahogany buffet your mother owned that you so vividly recall deep in your childhood memories now offers you a sense of safety. The reassurance is found not only in the memory conjured, but in the strong craftsmanship of the item. The perfect dovetail joints, the sturdy pulls and the finely finished woodwork all give off a feeling of stability that we won’t find with disposable furniture. Now, more than ever, we want to rely on lasting pieces of timeless design to furnish our homes.

Incorporating European Influences into Your Home

Many European designers reflect New Romanticism by incorporating eccentricity into standard items. Think: the fanciful unexpectedness of Alice in Wonderland. Designers like Philip Treacy (the master behind dozens of winsome fascinators worn to the Royal Wedding earlier this year) have embraced fanciful fun, and now others, such as the UK’s Timorous Beasties, are finding creative ways to add flair to existing objects in an almost theatrical way. It is often a marriage of the Victorian and Punk periods—a link that in itself is quite unexpected.

For you, though, the most likely place from which to draw when incorporating New Romanticism into your home is your past. Reminisce and pull from your heritage to bring new life to old objects. Perhaps this means bringing an heirloom item to the forefront of your home. Maybe your grandmother’s maiden hope chest has been sitting quietly at the foot of your bed, or perhaps nimble family fingers have crafted an intricate quilt now folded safely away in a closet. Now is the perfect time to display these treasures. But if you don’t have a fully stocked attic to rummage, find pleasure in shopping antique stores and drawing from another’s rich past.

To ensure your home envelops the perfect balance of new and old and celebrates this recent trend, a safe bet is to heed advice from an interior designer. They will be able to assess the items you already have, and bring key pieces or heirlooms to new life. Trust a designer’s knowledge of New Romanticism and watch as your home transforms into a safe haven of comfort in these tumultuous times.

About the Author: Lori Anderson scours Paris flea markets and searches the Cotsworth countryside for the elegance of fine European treasures and brings them to her destination home furnishings and interior design store, EuroNest (www.euro-nest.com) in Minneapolis, which also offers reproduction furniture, unique home accessories and interior design services.

Lori & Julia from myTalk Visit a Parade Home!

2011-09-02T14:52:13Z

We had a blast hanging out with Lori and Julia from MyTalk 107 this week. We met them at Parade Home #13 in St. Paul to talk about the tour. Listen during the next five weeks as they talk about the Parade of Homes.

Here they are touring the home (we all loved the rooftop deck)!

Stable Trend Continues Twin Cities Residential Construction

2011-09-02T12:56:25Z

While August 2011 construction activity showed an 18 percent spike in units over last month (primarily due to the inclusion of a 120-unit project in Minneapolis), overall the industry remains quite stable. Total permits were four percent higher than in August of 2010 while units were down five percent.

According to statistics compiled by the Keystone Report for the Builders Association of the Twin Cities (BATC), there were 256 permits (just one less than in July 2011) for a total of 437 units during four weeks in the month of August, 2011. Year-to-date, there were 1,837 permits issued for a total of 2,731 units.

“The regional residential housing industry has remained in a holding pattern for almost three years, but we continue to see promising signs,” said Builders Association of the Twin Cities 2011 President and co-owner of Imperial Homes, Rich Riemersma. “And we have a new tool to help us understand the realities of the local housing market with the University of St. Thomas’ new Real Estate Market Index.

“The UST index divides out traditional sales data from distressed properties, allowing builders and new home buyers the opportunity to compare the real market value of homes that have not been sold below market rate due to foreclosure or short-sale, often properties in disrepair.” Riemersma said.

Minneapolis led the metro in building activity for the month with 125 units. Woodbury followed with 30 units, Maple Grove with 22 units, and Blaine, Chanhassen and Vadnais Heights rounded out the top five with 18 units each.

Aug_2011_permits_chart.pdf

August 2011 Hot Sheet

2011-09-02T13:32:56Z

Builders Association of the Twin Cities August 2011 Hot Sheet leads with stories on the UST Residential Real Estate Market Index and 55+ Housing Market Index.

HS_August_2011.pdf

Any questions, please contact James Vagle, james@batc.org.

New Parade of Homes TV Spot

2011-08-26T16:49:07Z

Check out our new TV commercial!

Look for it in the morning news shows on Channel 4, 5, 9 and 11!

Tell us what you think.

BATC Foundation Sponsors Parade of Homes Dream Homes

2011-08-19T21:00:21Z

Working Together to Make a Difference

As the charitable arm of the Builders Association of the Twin Cities (BATC), The BATC Foundation has been serving the region since 1994. Their mission is to promote homeownership through affordable housing and to contribute to the revitalization of communities. With the talents and energy of many, many BATC members, the Foundation has made a difference in the lives of a number of area families as well as a few as far away as Haiti.

Over the years They’ve worked alone and in partnership on a variety of projects. They’ve partnered with the Greater Frogtown Community Development Corp., Habitat for Humanity, Interfaith Outreach, Project for Pride in Living as well as several other like-minded organizations. They’ve completed 23 projects, bringing affordable housing to families who otherwise couldn’t have owned their own home.

This year, The BATC Foundation and Showcase Renovations with their partners were able to build two bedrooms and a bathroom in the unfinished basement to give the Vang family much-needed, additional living space. They provided funds to support BATC’s Professional Women in Building Council as they spent a day with Habitat for Humanity on a women-build project. They granted a scholarship to Dunwoody College of Technology students to travel to the International Builders’ Show in Orlando to compete in the Residential Construction Management Competition. They're also in the midst of completing a home renovation for a wounded veteran and a home for an immigrant family in partnership with Habitat for Humanity.

The Foundation’s fundraising efforts include sponsorhing the Parade of Homes Dream Homes, two spectacular multi-million dollar homes where you're asked to give a $5 donation during the tour. They’ve also been able to raise funds at an annual garage sale by selling variety of home products donated by the Builders Association of the Twin Cities members. The garage sale has been held at the Midwest Home Fall Home Show for the past two years and is scheduled this fall for November 18-20th.

Two Spectacular Parade of Homes Dream Homes

This Fall the Parade of Homes® offers up two truly unparalleled Dream Homes to tour. All dream homes are open regular tour hours, Thursdays - Sundays noon - 6pm. And your $5.00 donation at the door helps the BATC Foundation to continue their mission of promoting homeownership through affordable housing and to contribute to the revitalization of communities.

#128
Charles Cudd De Novo LLC
6228 Parkwood Road, Edina

Coming Home to Edina
This stately home is located in the heart of Edina and echoes the charm and character of the past in every rich architectural detail. The composition of exquisite stonework, authentic shutters, cedar roof shingles, and column and cap details are all designed and crafted to make this home a true American classic.

Created for a growing family, the interior flow offers generous spaces throughout for today’s busy lifestyle.

You enter the home into a wainscoted grand entry hall bordered by a formal dining room with built-in buffet on the right and a beautiful walnut stained study-library on the left. Down the hall is a great room featuring enameled beamed ceilings and a row of elegant French doors that open to the covered loggia. Just off the great room is a music alcove surrounded by windows that leads to a rustic stone and wood screen porch which overlooks the expansive one-acre wooded rear yard.

A spectacular kitchen with a solid walnut butcher-block center island is the cornerstone of the home. A cozy hearth room off the kitchen allows for relaxed informal family gathering time.

The dramatic staircase is wrapped with windows and filled with light. The upper level is designed with four bedrooms and three baths. The owners’ suite is truly a must-see with a luxurious free-standing soaking tub and walk-in shower, and a dressing room closet that is amazing. A center hallway gives privacy between the owners’ suite and the kids and guests bedrooms. There is also a back stairway from the kitchen/mud room area that is convenient to the upper-floor laundry and to a bonus room over the garage.

The lower level is designed for recreation, entertainment and relaxation. Impressive walk-behind, pub-style bar and wine cellar open to a home theater area and game room. There is a fifth bedroom and bath on this level for guests or older children.

This is truly a Dream Home, with architectural design and construction by Charles Cudd De Novo, and furnishings by Martha O’Hara Interiors. And your $5.00 donation will help the BATC Foundation continue their
good work.

#167
Smuckler Custom Builders, Inc.
4415 North Shore Drive, Orono

Lake-side Wonderful

When you’re situated adjacent to the region’s most delightful lake, a true dream home will make sure you know it–and this soft-contemporary does just that. Sited and designed so that the 6,715 square feet of exquisitely finished space showcases the lake at every turn. Considerable architectural detail inside and out further defines this grand dream home.

You’ll receive a handsome welcome as you walk up on the graceful brick paver driveway. Step onto the stamped colored concrete steps with cantilevered treads, and into the clear, tongue-and-groove cedar barrel vaulted entry.
Natural stone and stucco wrap the exterior, a delightful canvas for your first glimpse of the lake through the covered stone terrace.

The interior spaces are defined by horizontal soffits to humanize the spaces and provide indirect lighting. Ceiling heights vary, and feature vaulted, hipped and barrel vaults to create individual room definition. Top-quality finish materials are used throughout, showcasing walnut wood in all its glory. Premium black walnut floors, custom walnut and enameled cabinets, and incredible walnut and rift-cut oak doors inset with leather add depth and elegance.

The gourmet kitchen with walk-in pantry overlooks the great room. Adjacent, is a large covered stone terrace with a tongue-and-groove clear cedar ceiling, natural stone fireplace and piers, a cedar lattice detail to mimic the clerestory windows on the exterior, and phantom remote controlled screens.

Key features downstairs include three guest bedrooms for visiting family, a Tiger wood bar with a walk-in stone pier wine cellar, and a home theater adjacent to the recreation areas.

We could go on, but you’ll really want to see it for yourself. And your $5.00 donation will help our Foundation continue its efforts to aid families in need.

Fall 2011 Parade of Homes Energy Efficient Home Tour Featuring Minnesota's Green Path

2011-08-19T21:07:37Z

This fall, the Parade of Homes is again presenting the Energy Efficient Home Tour in partnership with Xcel Energy. This tour-within-a-tour, calls out 93 Parade Homes(sm) as proven energy savers.

All Minnesota new homes are constructed to some of the strictest energy standards in the nation. But these go a step beyond. In each of the homes, the builder has taken an added measure to ensure that they perform to even tighter energy standards and have been rated by an independent firm to verify that they are, indeed, energy-efficient homes. Ten of the homes open on the tour are also certified under the brand new Minnesota’s Green Path program. Read the information below for more information about this exciting new green building program, and visit their website at www.mngreenpath.org.

Find all 93 Energy Tour homes in the Parade of Homes Guidebook and online. They can be found in the Guidebook’s numbered geographic sections, set apart by their green design. They can be searched easily from the Energy Efficient Home Tour link on the home page at www.paradeofhomes.org. And, once out touring, Energy Tour homes can be spotted by the rider on their yellow yard signs.

The NEW Minnesota’s Green Path A Green Building Certification That Works

Consumers are focused on green efforts that begin with energy efficiency and indoor environmental quality, according to research by a wide range of leading organizations and companies. This is the entry point for most home buyers in their path toward green housing knowledge.

As they move along that path, interest grows in areas such as water management, resource management and site development. As the Builders Association of the Twin Cities took stock of the desire of consumers and the needs of their home builders, the need for a new kind of green building certification program became clear. We proudly launched Minnesota’s Green Path to our builders this summer and this fall’s Parade of Homes features several Green Path homes.

Of course, green building certification isn’t new. There are a number of local, regional and national programs in the marketplace designed to showcase and reward homeowners for choosing to go “green” when they built their new home. In fact, BATC was one of the founders of an earlier green initiative.

Our builder members told us that their consumers wanted to go green, but most would only go so far when weighing green techniques against home cost. Available green certification programs required them to go all in or not at all — most chose the latter. Our builders also found the processes and procedures for holistic green programs were both difficult and time-consuming.

While all of the green programs in the market have a niche providing a wide array of green features across the spectrum from energy efficiency to a whole-house design, too often they also have complex, time-consuming procedures to follow during construction. This adds considerable costs to the buyers’ bottom line. Housing affordability is one of the key focuses of efforts by BATC, and the melding of a green initiative that would be affordable for homeowners led to Minnesota’s Green Path.

BATC leadership felt that in the end, even the most stringent green programs aren’t green when no one uses them. That’s why Minnesota’s Green Path was born. This brand new program has been designed to offer homebuyers and builders a better way. Key to the program is a web-based interface that allows builders, third-party raters and homeowners access to upload and manage the data, like receipts to show that the lumber used was FSA certified or listing a HERS (Home Energy Rating Score) score as determined by the rater.

Another key feature is that MN Green Path certification starts with energy efficiency and environmental quality, allowing homebuyers to begin on the green “path” with the two features that are most in demand. For those that want more, advanced and master MN Green Path certification levels let the buyer choose exactly the level of green that fits their philosophy and their budget.

To make it all work, a MN Green Path certified home will receive a Home Performance Report® (HPR). The HPR includes the home’s HERS score and shows graphically how it compares to other homes in the marketplace in regard to energy and green. It lists all of the green features included in the construction of the home.

These three facets of MN Green Path are unique in the world of green certification programs. With a more convenient and streamlined verification process, a base level that appeals to a broad cross-section of home buyers, and an easy-to-understand certification document that precisely presents all of the home’s green features, MN Green Path may just be the right Path for you.

We’re very proud to be able to feature the first ten certified MN Green Path homes on this fall’s Parade of Homes. These builders were excited to be the first to take their homes down the path to a greener Minnesota. Look for more about MN Green Path in our Spring Parade of Homes.

Choosing A New Home Makes Sense

2011-08-19T21:12:36Z

New homes are a better investment than ever before. A new home built in Minnesota today has better components, better materials, and they’re constructed in a way that is, quite simply, better. They’re more durable, safer, healthier, and more environmentally friendly.

With a new home you pick the floor plan and finishes that you want. You choose the neighborhood and the homesite that speak to you. And you can even select just the right “Green” features that balance your personal philosophy with your budget. What’s more, new homes truly shine when you consider how much more they can do for you — often just by running your fingers over your iPad.

Safety First
Certainly older houses can become hazardous if wiring becomes frayed behind the walls or plumbing pipes leach chemicals into your water. But there’s a lot more to the safety benefits of today's new homes.

All homes are built to meet exacting building codes designed to promote safety and health, and every new home is carefully inspected by government building officials to ensure they comply. New homes feature hardwired, interconnected smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.

Staircases and railings are designed to meet numerous safety standards. Appliances, from your furnace and water heater to your range and microwave, offer the latest safety features, including closed combustion design which avoid backdrafts.

Healthy Atmosphere
New homes are not only safer, but they’re also healthier! The earliest examples of improved indoor air quality in new homes were the American Lung Association “health houses,” first built in the 1990’s. We’ve learned a lot since then and with the stringent Minnesota Energy Code, today’s homes ensure clean, safe indoor air.

Older homes, at best, offer air quality that compares with the outdoors with all the allergens, smog and other by products of our modern lifestyle. At worst, the indoor air in older homes can contain with dust, mold, outgasses, and even backdrafts or negative air pressure if a fireplace or furnace isn’t functioning at its peak. Today’s homes are tightly air sealed with controlled air flow to and from all appliances. The home’s Heating/Ventilation/Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems actually clean the air instead of potentially polluting it. And, new homes are sealed better to reduce the chance of carbon monoxide seeping inside.

New radon resistant construction helps lower radon levels, as well as reducing moisture issues. Air tight seals in the foundation and vertical vent pipes keep air circulating. New home buyers can even choose active Radon Mitigation systems. Additionally, the new MN Green Path certification requires standards that will create a safer, more comfortable home, even for those with allergies and asthma.

Energy Efficiency is Key
Nothing is more noticeable between an older home and a new home than the check you write for utilities every month. This is where building science has helped new homes truly outperform old homes.

Minnesota’s basic energy code is one of the most stringent in the United States. That means every home in the state is built to incredibly high standards of energy efficiency. And one look at our Energy Efficient Home Tour, and you’ll see that fully one-third of the homes on this fall’s Parade of Homes has taken the extra step of proving their efficiency through testing by third-party raters.

Better Built
While builders have long understood the benefits of careful siting and landscaping of a home to aid in energy efficiency, it’s now becoming the norm rather than the exception as energy costs rise. Passive solar at its best places big windows along the home’s southern exposure and shades them with deep eaves, awnings or strategically placed deciduous trees. This serves to bring heat into the home during the winter when the sun is low in the sky, but shading the sunlight in summer to reduce heat load and aid in cooling.

New homes also benefit from continuing advances in the construction and science of building homes. Today, structural hangers and fasteners are used to frame new homes, ensuring floor joists won’t sag after a few years. Windows and doors are installed differently today, with careful flashing and sealing to ensure they remain water tight. A better understanding of how water vapor can move from inside to outside and vice versa has changed the way homes are sealed and how to best use vapor barriers like Tyvek. And today’s builders understand how the proper exchange of indoor and outdoor air can aid energy efficiency and air quality.

Better Materials and Products
Another key factor in making better homes today is the materials from which they are made. As technology advances, so does the ability to make lighter yet stronger materials. From engineered floor joists that make stronger, less expensive and squeakless floors, to engineered roof trusses that assure even the most complex roof is constructed from the least amount of material, these products make new homes more durable than ever before.

Windows have come a long way, too. Efficiency is increased with both high-tech glazing and better insulated frames which decreases energy costs and makes your home more comfortable. You can even choose windows that have special coatings that almost clean themselves!

State of the Art
If your game is technology, then a new home is truly where it’s at. With a new home you can interconnect phones, internet, video, audio, lighting, and household controls so that you are truly the master of your domain. Today’s security can include video cameras at doors and windows, motion and sound detectors, and practically hack-proof controls. With fully networked data lines you can monitor your kids’ computer use while playing that latest release of Grand Theft Auto yourself. And you can turn up the heat from your iPad or office computer.

Warranty Anyone?
Only a new home comes with a New Home Warranty. If something does go wrong with your dream home, it’s covered, and that offers enormous peace of mind. You’ll also get manufacturers’ warranties with a new home for your furnace, appliances, roofing and many other products.

Neighborhood News
When you buy a new home today, you will most often be joining a fabulous new home neighborhood.
Developers and cities are working together to create new home communities that carefully balance outdoor private and public spaces. From urban condos to exurban acreages, developers are looking at neighborhoods in a whole new way.

Water management requirements mean new neighborhoods are usually chock full of ponds, a delightful result of the need to purify run-off before it leaves the development. Amenities in today’s neighborhoods range from sanctuaries where woods, wildlife, wetlands and privacy rule the day, to communities with pools, beaches, golf courses, community centers and theaters to entice families to play together.

In the End, There’s Nothing Like that New Home Smell
And, of course, a new home is just that, new. No one else has ever cooked in your new kitchen, slept in your new bedroom, or showered in your new shower. Everything is shiny bright and clean. You got to choose the style, the layout, the colors, and the finishes that make you feel perfectly at home. It’s truly your home, where you’ll nurture your family and make memories that you’ll cherish forever.

2011 Twin Cities Fall Parade of Homes Fact Sheet

2011-08-19T20:29:12Z

The Parade of Homes Fall Showcase is presented by Builders Association of the Twin Cities’ (BATC) members. The Fall tour runs September 10th through October 2nd, 2011. All Parade Homes(sm) are open Thursdays - Sundays 12-6pm.

The Parade of Homes Fall Showcase(sm) features 278 model homes and neighborhoods located in 74 cities across the extended Twin Cities metropolitan area. There are 114 builders and developers participating in the event.

The 2011 Parade of Homes Fall Showcase includes two BATC Foundation Dream Homes (#128 and 167). Visitors to those homes will be asked for a $5.00 donation to benefit the The BATC Foundation, the charitable arm of the Builders Association of the Twin Cities.

Dream Home donations to the BATC Foundation help build and remodel homes for families in need. This year’s funds are helping a wounded Veteran, a local immigrant family and others. We’re also once again supporting the ReBuild Haiti project, sending local housing industry professionals to help build needed homes with and for displaced Haitians. This is the third trip for BATC members.

This Fall’s Guidebook features the personal stories of five local families who’ve recently bought new homes from Parade of Homes builders. One of the homes (#73 in Lakeville) will be open on the tour.

This Fall’s Tour again features an Energy Efficient Home Tour in partnership with Xcel Energy. These 93 verified homes give people a chance to tour a wide variety of energy efficient homes during the tour. Ten of the Energy Tour homes are certified under the new Minnesota’s Green Path green build program. Read more about MN Green Path in the Guidebook and in a separate Release.

The Parade of Homes online presence continues to be a hub for housing information in the Twin Cities. Last spring we launched a mobile website, and a Parade of Homes iPhone App. The website, paradeofhomes.org, still has all the search criteria you‘ve come to expect, like location, home style, school district and price. From our “Home Sense” links, Parade of Homes Blog and our neighborhood of social media sites, regional residents can find answers for all their housing questions.

All homes and their builders are featured in the Guidebook available free at metro Holiday StationStores on August 29th. All content is also available online at paradeofhomes.org, both in a searchable database and an e-magazine.

The most expensive Parade Home, and one of the Dream Homes, is priced at $2,575,500 and built by Smuckler Custom Builders, Inc. in Edina. The least expensive Parade Home is a association-maintained attached home priced at $129,900 built by Ashford Construction Co., Inc. in Andover.

The homes are scattered across a broad spectrum of prices. Four are priced below $150,000 (down one from last spring) and 19 below $200,000 (down eleven from last spring). A total of 190 homes are priced below $500,000, which represents 70 percent of the entries. There are 34 homes priced from $500,000 to $599,999 (up 3 from last spring); 22 from $600,000 to $699,999 (down four from last spring). A total of 12 homes are priced over $1,000,000, with two of those priced over $2,000,000.

With a total value of $129,901,124 in housing stock on tour, there are 747,068 finished square feet with 983 bedrooms and 879 bathrooms open to tour in the 2011 Parade of Homes Fall Showcase.

A total of seven of the 74 cities represented within the region have 10 or more homes open for viewing this fall, they are: Blaine: 26, Maple Grove: 19, Woodbury: 18, Chanhassen: 14, Plymouth: 21, Lakeville: 12, Savage 14.

New Home Trend Watch

2011-08-19T20:39:58Z

Eclectic, energetic, unique. The emerging trend in home design is universal because it celebrates individuality. Unlike most trends, this design impulse is not about any prescribed style, status or rules. It’s about personal expression and home design that functions best for you. Explore fresh design inspirations, sometimes in unexpected places.

Dip into color palettes that are rejuvenating to happy. Create your own retreat within a larger space. Indulge in luxurious details where they matter most. Here are some trends to tune into now, from refreshing colors and new interpretations of the classic to the nostalgic.

The global village: Worldwide cultures and global awareness influence design and color to energy saving and eco-friendly living. Find intriguing and tribal fabric patterns from Morocco to China to Africa. Recycled “distressed” furniture makes a statement in sustainability and historical interest.

A space of your own: “Reduced square footage does not equal the boxed-in look,” says Jim Kuiken, Jim Kuiken Design and Accent Homes. Kuiken favors design that is simultaneously welcoming and stylish, with simplicity and clean lines. Windows capture natural light and bring the outside in. In fact, don’t forget the outside as a living space extension. The dining room, says Jim, has evolved from a separate formal room into an extension of the kitchen/living areas that is essentially accessible.

Storage space is not only essential but also even decorative, with artful baskets, creative bins, vertical cabinetry, and built-in cabinets under seating.

Be nostalgic: Showcase your treasures from favorite travel destinations, or frame cherished photos or posters that reflect a decade. Nostalgia is a personal tonic in design that is showing up in mod patterns to soft powder colors that bring to mind vintage Bonneville or Thunderbird cars.

More than a kitchen: Experts agree. The kitchen is a magnet for activity, so let it sing as a top design priority. Even when other spaces shrink in size, kitchens don’t, and cooks favor multiple sinks. Because the kitchen ideally opens to other living spaces, furniture-like built-ins and appliances present seamless design. Wood flooring no longer has to match cabinetry, as finishes and materials are artfully paired.

Marcia Wenzel, Design Center Manager for Mattamy Homes, is also seeing some interesting contrast in kitchen finishes. “Look for Shaker style cabinetry with rich, dark finishes. Clean lines are really more versatile,” she said. “Lighter kitchen colors tend toward a gray-taupe with dark cabinets. You may see an espresso, dark hardwood kitchen floor with a butterscotch island. Also look for the hand scraped natural wood floors paired with gleaming white trim, crown molding and casings.”

Wenzel and JoLynn Johnson, President of Crystal Kitchen Center, point out a practical twist on the pantry. “Pantries become a vertical cabinet instead of another room, like that forgotten pantry at the bottom of the basement stairs,” said Johnson. Wenzel describes a floor to ceiling pantry with non-transparent glass fronts. Johnson is seeing a preference for solid quartz countertops because of their uniformity of color and no-maintenance surface. She also reports more intricate and larger expanses of tile back splashes.

Lisa Keller, Interior Designer at Ispiri, LLC, says the old kitchen table is now a ”power island.” “It’s really a multi-functional space with lots of storage and a main work station for cooking or homework, she said. “The more drawers the better.” Both Keller and Ispiri designer, Becca Hall, say that larger light fixtures over islands are preferred rather than pendant lighting. They report cozy, informal banquet kitchen seating, and a trend towards large plank wood flooring in dark stains.

Punctuate with wallpaper: Look for texture and a renewed popularity of wallpaper. The trend is especially popular in smaller accent rooms such as half baths that show off large patterns that look like faux painting, says Marcia Wenzel.

Spa luxuries: Functional vessel sinks in bathrooms are great accent pieces, says JoLynn Johnson. “The spa-like bath often includes a larger shower area, with fixed showerheads combined with a hand held shower head.” For bath luxury add deeper cabinets for storage and expand his/her vanity areas. Framed mirrors are artful elements.

Color revolution: Now is the time to have fun with color.

“Color infuses living spaces with fresh energy,” said Jackie Jordan, Director of Color Marketing for Sherwin Williams. “Reds and blues are the top new complementary color families,” she said. Enjoy vibrant hues from Exuberant Pink and Gypsy Red, and accents like Chivalry Copper. Fabulous blues range from soft powder to power blues like Tempo Teal. Natural neutrals offer a backdrop to punchy accent colors.

Pantone’s 2011 Color of the Year is Honeysuckle, a festive reddish pink to lift the spirit, described by the Pantone Color Institute as “confident and courageous with a bold spirit.”
Jolynn Johnson confirms that powder blue hues reflect the bathroom/spa spirit, and Lisa Keller reports top 2011 hues are grays and whites with pops of blue/gray, orange and peacock blue.

Try sultry, primal and exotic color combinations, suggested Jackie Jordan. The Sherwin Williams “Restless Nomad” palette, is as whimsical and eclectic as 60’s Carnaby Street, while “Purely Refined” hues celebrate unique art, hombre-dyed fabrics, textured linen and smooth pebble floors. “Gentle Medley” creates a modern, airy nature retreat. Find prints recalling vintage florals and maps, flea market finds, and birds, dragonfly and butterfly motifs.

For vitality and splash, Sherwin Williams’ “Bold Invention” hues vibrate with high energy. Express your artful side with eclectic global influences and 3-D luminosity. Find pixilated images on art and textiles, modular furniture and sculptural ceramic.

Artful simplicity: Jim Kuiken describes a new interpretation of traditional home design, offering a clean, classic backdrop for interior accents and expressions. The new living spaces are underscored by architectural details in casings, soffits and crown moldings. Lisa Keller and Becca Hall see an eclectic play on modern and traditional elements.

Make a statement in color. Be adventurous in mixing surfaces and hues. Personalize flexible spaces. Design counts: the most used and favorite rooms are designed from floor plans that optimize space and really function for you and your family.

2011 Fall Parade of Homes® Event Overview

2011-08-19T20:45:39Z

The Parade of Homes® is the Twin Cities home tour with the largest variety, widest range of prices, and most inventory, including 747,068 finished square feet with 983 bedrooms to tour. You can explore 278 top quality new homes to help you get your fill of the latest and greatest in home trends, all across the 13-county metro area.

All of the 278 new homes and neighborhoods on the Parade of Homes will be open Thursdays through Sundays from 12:00 noon to 6:00 pm. Admission is always free except for The BATC Foundation Dream Homes, Parade Homes(sm) #128 and #167 where a charitable donation of $5.00 will be requested at the door. This year Dream Home proceeds are helping fund a third ReBuild Haiti trip as well as a remodeling project for a wounded Veteran and a new home in partnership with Habitat for Humanity Twin Cities.

Visitors can choose to tour new homes, remodeled homes, or both during the final weekend of the event with the Parade of Homes Remodelers Showcase® on from September 30th to October 2nd. Each of the events have their own Guidebook, tailored to readers interested in new or remodeled homes.

This fall the tour offers variety in price and location. The homes are scattered across a broad spectrum of prices. Four are priced below $150,000. A total of 190 homes are priced below $500,000, which represents 70 percent of the entries. A total of 12 homes are priced over $1,000,000, with two of those priced over $2,000,000. There are 74 cities within the metro with homes to tour. The top three cities are Blaine with 26 homes, Plymouth with 21 homes, and Maple Grove with 19 homes to tour.

Parade of Homes Guidebook and website work together
As always, the Parade of Homes is easy to navigate with the comprehensive Guidebook and interactive web site. Free Guidebooks are available at any regional Holiday StationStore. The Guidebook includes a number of directories that list homes by builder, price, location, wheelchair visitable homes, and school district. The Lifestyle Categories allow visitors to choose homes based on the way their family lives.

The Parade of Homes online makes touring even easier. Advanced search options at www.ParadeofHomes.org let visitors choose exactly the features they want in homes to tour. They can get driving directions for each home, even map the quickest route using their own personal TourPlanner. And, the Parade of Homes social media neighborhood is always available to check for the latest information on the tour and the latest in housing trends. The social sites include: The Parade of Homes page on Facebook, the Parade of Homes blog, #pohtc on Twitter and the Parade of Homes YouTube channel. With the new Parade of Homes mobile website, smart-phone users can search easily for both new homes and remodeled homes, and iPhone users can find the app under MyHomeFound Twin Cities.

Fall 2011 Parade of Homes Real Family Experiences

2011-08-19T20:54:55Z

Five home buyer families relate their experiences.

Triple Play

Kevin and Tammy began their home building saga even before they got married. The young engaged couple from Parkers Prairie were planning their wedding when they began looking for their first home 12 years ago. They wanted something in the northwest edge of the metro but hadn’t thought specifically about building.

Their introduction to the home building world was a little serendipitous. “Out of the blue, we went to a first time homebuyers seminar put on by a mortgage lender and realtor,” explained Kevin. The realtor from the seminar took them to see existing homes in the area.

“Then we looked at some model homes,” Kevin said. “We got to thinking that instead of buying someone else’s version of a home, maybe we should build and get exactly what we’re looking for.”

That began a three-home relationship with Christian Builders. The couple found a lot in a neighborhood in Rogers and worked with Christian to personalize a modified two-story home plan that appealed to them. That was also when Tammy discovered she liked the whole process and had a knack for choosing colors and finishes and making design tweaks.

They moved in, got settled, and before they knew it, along came Abigail (Abby). They learned fast that the housing needs of a couple were a bit different than those of a family. “We found out that a step-down living area wasn’t the best option for a toddler,” Tammy pointed out. “Whenever she got anywhere near that step we’d dash over to stop a tumble.”

“One time I actually fell down the step,” Abby declared.

Planning more children, the couple wondered ‘why wait?’ and began to look for a more family-friendly home. They were really happy with their home building experience the first time, but still widened their search to existing homes as well as other builders. But in the end, they came back to Christian Builders which built their second home in the Highlands neighborhood in St. Michael.

Theirs was the fourth home in the Highlands, a two-story set on a cul-de-sac, which they loved. “When we moved in we had one kid, but six-and-a-half years later we had three,” said Tammy. “By then I knew I wanted to do a few different things in our house. We also wanted to have a little more privacy.”

“Tammy talked me into selling,” Kevin admitted, “which I was pretty neutral about. Everybody was telling us how bad the housing market was. But we put it on the market and it sold in just two months.”

Thus began a new round of house-hunting, this time keeping their search within the Albertville/St. Michael School district. They did their due diligence, looking at a whole host of homes and lots, but once again, they came back to Christian Builders, and back to the Highlands. Their new home is just a few blocks from their second house, set on a quiet cul-de-sac with a natural woodsy wetland in the back yard.

“This time I sat down with the designer and said ‘I want the bedrooms this size, the toy room back there’,” Tammy laughs. “I just knew exactly what I wanted and what would work for us.”

Just seeing this active family in their environs and you know Tammy had it figured out perfectly. The toy room, which will become a den or office down the road, is tucked off the mudroom, adjacent to the kitchen. It was neat as a pin when we visited, but with three active kids (Abby who is now eight, Preston at five and Jayden two), it likely won’t stay that way for long.

They love to gather in the cozy family room, and the kitchen includes the pantry they so missed in their second home. The three kids each have a bedroom upstairs which shows off their unique personalities, and located just down the hall from mom and dad’s elegant owners’ suite and the convenient laundry room. The big, walkout basement hasn’t been finished yet, but has plenty of possibilities that actually might keep them in this house for awhile.

Building three homes may be considered a challenge for some, but this couple makes it look easy and fun! They also had plenty of praise for Christian Builders. “I will say I have a trust for those guys,” said Tammy. “They’re fantastic, and it’s not like we didn’t look at other options.”

“The best thing about building new is getting what you want, exactly how you want it,” both Tammy and Kevin agreed. The worst? Moving with three kids. But the enthusiasm and joy that this family gets from a home that works perfectly for them is truly fun to see.

Country Luxe -- Visit this home #73 during the Fall Parade of Homes

“What started out as a great new home turned into our ultimate dream home,” say Matt and Mike with satisfied smiles. The path to this dream destination started with a chance click from a Star Tribune advertisement to the Parade of Homes website. Mike's eye was caught by a home constructed by Homes by Tradition, and suggested to Matt that they go take a drive to visit during the tour. You know how it goes, 'just to look,' Mike remembers, “it felt relaxing to walk in the front door and feel the openness of the home.” One look was really all it took for this couple to start planning their next chapter.

“When we picked out the lot in the middle of winter, there were two feet of snow on the ground. We decided on the lot across from the lake and walking path for the views and shape,” says Matt. That choice influenced the home's design from the beginning. Starting with a Homes by Tradition standard model, they worked with Tom Rauscher & Associates to design to their desires. “We were able to add a wrap-around porch to take full advantage of the lake views, and re-designed the upper level to accommodate three bedroom suites rather than four bedrooms, moved windows to face the lake. We even got a larger laundry room,” recalls Mike.

Both were very involved in the entire process and came to the drawing board with previous experience. They had always lived in older homes remodeling and adding on as they went. They'd never contemplated building a new home because of the perceived cost. Both were pleasantly surprised at the affordability compared to existing housing, especially knowing first-hand how much a remodel can cost.

Living in a small Cape Cod home near Lake Nokomis for six years, these urbanites had even toyed with the idea of building a Minneapolis loft. “If we're leaving Lake Nokomis, you know it is for another great spot, and Spirit of Brandtjen Farms really has it all,” says Matt, “Plus, we've already promised our regular lunch stops that we'll be back often, it’s simply a quick jaunt up the freeway.”

The pair run their own graphic design company out of their home, so being able to design the lower-level to meet their business needs was a huge bonus. It also gave them a chance to put into practice the energy efficiency options that their builder offered. “We never planned on building green, but because the builder already incorporated so many of the practices, we ended up seeing the long-term benefits and going with it.” Mike enjoys telling. “We've been told we have one of the best HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) systems south of the river.”

Now their dream home is completed for you to tour, and they can hardly wait to move in and make it their home... and office. As Mike and Matt said, “it’s our vacation place that we get to live in every day, and we wouldn't want to be anywhere else.”

When downsizing becomes a priority

Michon and David decided to move closer to the Twin Cities once their youngest son left for college. David, who had spent 18 years as a Lutheran minister at a parish in Marshall, was ready for a new challenge. Michon, a painter, was excited to move closer to the Twin Cities so she could more easily connect with other artists. For years, she had been making the six-hour, round-trip commute to Minneapolis every month to attend a visual arts critique group.

Once David’s transfer went through, the couple began looking at both new and existing single-family homes in Watertown near David’s new parish. After looking at about 10 homes, they chose a new, two-bedroom, two-bath rambler that had been built by Plymouth-based D.J. Dalbec. Located in the Forest Hills development, the home’s backyard borders a pond where wildlife is plentiful.

In a perfect world, Michon says she might have opted for a few different surfaces, but the couple didn’t want to move into temporary housing while building a custom home when this brand new home suited them so well. And, the unfinished basement left room for them to personalize the lower level. Besides the natural light that floods both levels of the home, Michon and David love the home’s open floor plan. “There’s no wasted space,” says Michon. “The layout is very efficient.”

At 1,500 square feet, the home is about half the size of the 2,600-square-foot Marshall home where they raised their three sons, Isaac, Peter, and Christian. Their new home is much more energy efficient due both to its smaller size, newer construction, and the builders’ interest in building only Energy Star qualified homes. “We are very interested in conserving energy,” Michon says.

For David, conserving energy also means commuting to work by bicycle. The owner of two road bikes, a commuter bike, and a mountain bike, David took up winter biking about six years ago. “I bike year-round because I can. It’s fun,” says David, who logs 2,000 miles a year. The home’s three-car garage provides ample space for David to tinker with his bikes, and he has no regrets about downsizing. “We didn’t need all that space,” David says, referring to the couple’s previous home.

Neither David nor Michon are concerned their boys will suddenly return home looking for a place to live. “Isaac is married, in medical school, living in Milwaukee,” says Michon. “Peter is moving to Japan to teach English.” If Christian, a third-year student studying physics at Saint Olaf College, returns home during school breaks, he can always crash in the second bedroom, now a combination guest room and office.

At this stage of their life, Michon and David are pleased with the energy savings they enjoy in their smaller, newer home, and instead of a game room or indoor theater, they have their bikes and backyard pond to help them expand their living spaces.

Family Foundations

Just two weeks after moving in, Jim and Jan had a surprise visitor ring their doorbell. “Our granddaughter had come over to share her first batch of still-warm cookies,” Jan tells, “we instantly knew we made the right decision to move closer to family.”

The couple had moved to Savage nine years ago after their children had moved away. Now these happy grandparents have the entire family gathered back in Edina — all less than a mile from each other. “By the time our grandchildren are teenagers they won't have much time for us, so we started planning our move as soon as they were back in Edina,” says Jim.

“We knew we wanted our new home to be in Edina’s Country Side neighborhood. We looked at the options of buying a vacant lot and remodeling existing homes,” says Jan. The couple had been thrilled with the home McDonald Construction had built for them nine years ago in Savage and knew they wanted to work with them again. So when they found their dream locale, they asked Bob McDonald to came out and discuss the site's possibilities. After thoughtful consideration they decided to tear down the existing home and build from scratch.

Architectural designer, Teresa St. Amant, took care to design the exterior to sync with the existing 50-year old neighborhood while making the interior feel open and airy. They also designed the lower-level with intentions of Jan's almost 94-year-old mother moving in. Although she didn't see the construction process through to the end, she enjoyed the demolition and early phases immensely.

“Even though we are in our 60’s, we consciously chose a 3-level home because we watched our parents stay active late in life with stairs in their homes. But we're realistic too, so we have a low-rise wide-tread stairway that will accommodate a chair lift and included a dedicated space for an elevator shaft if needed.” explains Jim. “The entire home-building process is so streamlined, it can be quite amazing to watch it all come together so quickly,” recalls Jim.

“We were involved in the details by choice. My 'home planning binder' went everywhere with us,” says Jan, “we enjoyed spending time looking at finishes in other models and local showrooms to see [our options] in action.”

The couple also got to know many of the craftsman involved in creating their home. Jim remembers, “Jan made treats for them often. We even had someone thank us, saying they were employed because we decided to build and that really stuck with us. Many of the same craftsman that built our Savage home nine years earlier are still with McDonald Construction, that made it special and more intimate.”

“This is going to be party central, so it was made to handle large groups and designed to be fun and casual. The grandchildren are already planning to perform plays in the lower-level family room, where an elevated step will serve as their stage,” explains Jan.

Both Jim and Jan agree, “we'll remember the day the fireplace was installed, the tile completed, and all those details – our home means more to us having seen it take shape.”

Swapping the basement for a loft

Green cards in hand, Julie and Joseph decided it was time to set down permanent roots in the United States by buying their first house. “But I was pregnant at the time with our second child, so instead we extended the lease on our apartment and put buying a house on hold.”

Nine months later, Julie and Joseph, both natives of India, began their home search—a full three months before their renewed lease expired. And, they knew exactly what they wanted: a newly constructed single-family home, preferably in one of the five Minnesota cities on Money magazine’s list of the best places to live in 2010.

After looking in Eagan, Eden Prairie, and Woodbury, Julie and Joseph thought they had found their single-family home in Apple Valley, but the purchase fell through, so they quickly shifted gears and started scrolling through online listings in Plymouth. They hadn’t even considered buying a townhouse until a photo of one popped up on their computer screen.

“My husband wasn’t enthusiastic because it was not a single-family home,” says Julie. “But the single-family homes in Plymouth were very expensive and beyond our budget.”

With time running out, Julie persuaded Joseph to at least look at the townhouse. The following day, they signed a purchase agreement. “My husband needed some convincing because he really wanted a home with a basement for his entertainment room,” Julie says. “But the only thing missing was the basement, and we decided we could compromise on that.”

The home had nearly everything else the couple wanted, including being located in one of Minnesota’s top school districts. “We wanted a school district that would provide a good foundation for our son who started kindergarten this year, and the townhouse had good yard space where the boys could play,” Julie notes. “It also had all the upgrades we wanted—stainless steal appliances, a fireplace, and wood trim.” In addition, the corner-unit townhouse had an open floor plan and a loft that Joseph could use as an entertainment room.

The townhouse, located in the Legacy Park development and built by Lennar, was move-in-ready, and Lennar agreed to pay closing costs because the townhouse was a model on the Parade of Homes. The extra savings was yet one more consideration that helped sway the young couple.

The 1,900-square-foot, three-bedroom, three-bath home is perfect for now. All three bedrooms are on the same floor, which makes it easy for Julie and Joseph to keep close tabs on their young sons, Juan and Jayden, who share a bedroom. The home’s other bedroom gives the family ample space to entertain overnight guests.

The association takes care of the lawn work, snow shoveling, and outdoor maintenance, which makes the townhouse even more attractive. “It would be difficult for us to manage a single-family home until the boys grow up a little bit,” says Julie. They plan to stay in the home for the next couple of years at least, and when they do eventually buy a single-family home, Julie and Joseph hope to keep the townhouse as a rental property.

Lucas From KDWB Tours Two Parade Homes

2011-08-10T20:20:45Z

The Parade of Homes® is almost here. September 10^th will be the first day to tour over 270 homes. Start making your tour plans to avoid missing what these beautiful homes have to offer. In the last week the Parade of Homes® had four personalities from Clear Channel tour the homes. Soon you will see Amy James, Dan the Common Man, Lucas Phelan, and Lee Valsvick tour homes part of the Parade of Homes®.

Today we toured with Lucas from KDWB. We met him in New Brighten at Main Street Village Condominiums and later went to Blaine to visit a Shaper Homes’ detached townhome. Lucas seemed to really enjoy the homes and their amenities. Here are some pictures from the shoot today and the final videos with each radio personality will be available soon on www.paradeofhomes.org.

Parade of Homes (R) at the Minnesota State Fair

2011-08-05T14:14:00Z

The event on everyone’s calendar this summer is coming up, the Minnesota State Fair. Parade of Homes(R) will be there too, pick up your guidebook just days before they hit Holiday Station stores. Come find us behind the giant slide, right next door to Dino’s. Now, see how much you really know about the Minnesota State Fair below.

1.     What year was the first Minnesota State Fair held?
2.     The 330-foot Space Tower was built in Germany, and shipped to what Minnesota city before being loaded onto 20 trucks to finally arrive at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds?
3.     What year was the first Minnesota State Fair held on the current fairgrounds?
4.     What were the fairgrounds before they were the Minnesota State Fairgrounds?
5.     What special event took place at the fairgrounds on June 20, 1910?
6.     When did the State Fair attendance first top the one million mark?
7.     What is the Minnesota State Fair’s all-time attendance record and when was it?
8.     Who broke the all-time record for the most tickets sold to a single Grandstand show?
9.     Which United States President gave one of his most famous speeches at the State Fair?
10.    During a typical year, how many gallons of milk are served at the American Dairy Association’s all-you-can-drink concession?

Come join us at the fair and enter to win a limo tour of our fall Dream Homes. The tour starts on September 10th with over 270 new homes to check out. Trivia questions and answers can be found on the Minnesota State Fair.

Vang Celebration

2011-08-03T22:05:57Z

The Vang Celebration (the most recent project completed by the BATC Foundation) this morning only occurred because of a conversation between Kristine and Steve Heckler and friend Jerry Peterson who sits on the BATC Foundation Advisory Board. Last fall Kristine, a social worker with Hennepin County shared how deserving the Vang family was for some assistance.

The Vang family had been working through a variety of hardships -- physical injury, illness, unemployment and homelessness. A glimmer of hope shone when Kia’s sister gave them a rental property, which she then quit-claimed to Kia. The Vangs were thrilled to have this small home, and squeezed in their family of seven.

Jan Berg, BATC Foundation Executive Director, after meeting with Kristine and the Vangs, put a proposal together regarding the project for the Board’s review. The BATC Foundation and Showcase Renovations with their partners were able to build two bedrooms and a bathroom in the unfinished basement to give the family much-needed, additional living space.  The celebration was heart-warming, filled with plenty of thank you’s and more than a few tears.

See for yourself on the first of our two videos. Second video can be viewed here.

Thank you to all of the individuals and companies who participated in the project, with a special thanks to Cookie Cart for donating cookies for the ceremony celebrating the completion of the project and this wonderful family.

Showcase Renovations

Showcase Carpentry

Allied Electric

Scherer Bros.

B&D Plumbing

Zahler Heating & Air Conditioning

Biffs

Carl Hanson Drywall

Pro Coat LLC.