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Parade of Homes^SM Features Dream Lifestyles Mini Tour
2/10/2009

Now you can customize your Parade of Homes Spring Preview^SM tour with a Lifestyle Mini-Tour that will bring inspiration and help you develop your new home style. We’ve created 15 Lifestyle categories that you can mix and match to fit your unique needs, and tour ten great homes and neighborhoods, from Earth Friendly to Adults Only to Pools, patios and lakes.

All of the Lifestyle Category Mini-Tour homes are open regular Parade of Homes^SM hours: Fridays through Sundays from noon to 6:00 pm.

Wooded Retreat Lifestyle Dappled sunlight dancing on the lawn, wind whispering through leafy passages, the scent of autumn crunching underfoot, the enchanting silence that only snow blanketed branches can create. This is the essence of the wooded retreat lifestyle.

#25, Parent Builders, Inc.
Quail Creek, 12985 Vermillion Court, Blaine
Amid the Oaks and Birches

Whether relaxing in your backyard after a long day at work or entertaining friends on the weekend — the peaceful, wooded surroundings of Quail Creek are sure to calm your soul and rejuvenate your spirit.

At Quail Creek, winding tree-lined streets, private cul-de-sac lots, scenic lakes and nature trails are only the beginning. Neighborhoods are designed around nature so that it becomes an integral part of your lifestyle. Much effort is made to preserve the mature oak and birch trees to create privacy, provide a scenic surrounding, and enhance the enjoyment of your home.

This home by Parent Builders, Inc. perfectly captures the wooded retreat lifestyle. Designed for comfort and function, this is a home you'll love as much inside as out. Situated on a pond, and surrounded by tall majestic oaks, this home brings nature inside thanks to the large oversized windows in the kitchen and family room. The open floor plan and gourmet kitchen — complete with granite countertops — is perfect for entertaining, and with four bedrooms you will always have enough room for guests, a home office, or that special addition.

Vacation Living Lifestyle Why wait for vacation to enjoy the lifestyle? Homes and neighborhoods designated Vacation Living offer the very things you leave home for, without leaving home! There’s the park-like terrain and of course, a wide variety of recreational opportunities, no matter what your activity pace.

#397, Troy Development Corporation
Hills of Troy, 479 Prominence Way, Hudson, WI
A Vacation Home Run

Just across the Wisconsin border is the perfect example of the Vacation Living lifestyle. The award-winning Hills of Troy is an incredible neighborhood woven into the rolling hills of the St. Croix River Valley. Over three miles of nature trails wind past gracious homes and more than 70 conservation acres of truly beautiful terrain. Stroll along verdant overlooks with breathtaking views, meander through groves and grasslands or take a brisk walk to Promontory Park.

And what a park it is. Its eight acres are perched elegantly at the neighborhood’s apex, crowned by a charming community pavilion, which is the ultimate destination for the entire trail system. Here you can celebrate Girl Scout graduation with s’mores and ghost stories around the fire pit or polish your short game at the putting green. The tennis court is a great way to stay fit. And the baseball diamond will become a home-away-from-home on many a summer evening. There’s play equipment for the toddlers and a large recreation field for flying a kite, a little soccer practice or the perfect place to get a bocce ball league together.

Your Vacation Living lifestyle at the Hills of Troy also means you get to choose from a portfolio of custom builders with their own unique style to create the home of your dreams — whatever that may be. Why wait months for an annual vacation when you can make vacation memories every day at the Hills of Troy.

Family Friendly Living Lifestyle Raising a family does take a village...plus a home and neighborhood designed to make life easier and more fun. Great schools, romping room outside, and interior layouts that bring families together while offering just enough privacy. This is what makes a family-friendly lifestyle home.

#254, Swanson Homes
The Woods at Riley Creek, 9607 Sky Lane, Eden Prairie
A Parent’s Dream

This Family-Friendly home starts with its location in the City of Eden Prairie, recently recognized as a great place to work and raise a family by MONEY Magazine in their “Best Places to Live in America.” Its excellent schools regularly rank among the top districts in statewide assessment tests.

Next, its Family-Friendly neighborhood, The Woods at Riley Creek’s quiet cul-de-sac streets mean a lively game of catch in the front yard won’t be off limits. The large, two-thirds acre home site boasts a backyard of 100 by 200 feet for kids, pets, even mom and dad to romp, and perfect for that future pool or sport court.

Inside, a Living Triangle is designed with family in mind. The spacious island kitchen opens to a cozy TV/Sitting area and Great Room. This heart of the home ensures togetherness even with dad cooking, big brother working on homework, mom online paying bills and little sister engrossed in the latest Shrek movie on TV. The upstairs laundry is not only convenient but includes space for scrapbooking or gift wrapping (no way the kids will ever discover their presents early here). Five bedrooms and baths ensure everyone has their private spaces. And there’s more Family Friendly spaces in the walk-out lower level with its media/game and exercise rooms. Yes, mom and dad will get a good night’s rest even during the birthday sleepover.

Earth Friendly Lifestyle The earth-friendly lifestyle isn’t just for vegans (though they love it too). These homes appeal to the frugal (energy-savings anyone?), the nostalgic (love those recycled drawer pulls circa 1949), and the altruistic (really, you can save the earth if you try).

#182, J.L. Wageman Homes, Inc.
Edenvale Estates, 4460 Edenvale Court, Elko New Market
A Green Dream

This Green home from J.L. Wageman demonstrates the Earth Friendly lifestyle designed for the more traditional at heart. (No, Green doesn’t have to mean industrial or contemporary!) It does mean that thoughtful and thorough planning went into every single aspect of this Prairie-influenced home before breaking ground.

Like all MN GreenStar homes, this one has a distinct connection to the earth. Its rain garden and native plantings look fabulous while being water conscious and chemical-free, all complimented by attractive retaining walls constructed from boulders found on site. At almost four acres, there’s plenty of room for a vegetable garden or orchard.

Inside, Green choices never looked so good. Salvaged granite in Labrador Green sets off the mission-styled Alderwood cabinetry designed to save steps and effort. More Alderwood sets off the built-ins and floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace in the family/great room. Energy use is minimized and comfort maximized with radiant in-floor heat with a geothermal system and EnergyStar® appliances that perform as beautifully as they look. There’s even plenty of room to grow in the unfinished lower level which already boasts a beautiful heated floor of stamped and colored concrete.

Pools, Patios and Lakes Lifestyle If water is your element, these are the homes for you. Kids of all ages find a lot to love about water in the landscape, for swimming, skipping stones, a neighborhood hockey game, or even just the perfect place for tranquil reflection. Add in some fabulous outdoor living spaces, and ahhh, even in Minnesota.

#316, Hanson Builders, Inc.
Wood Crest, 15842 57th Place North, Plymouth
Wet and Wonderful

Imagine the perfect summer vacation, and the best part...it doesn’t have to end. That’s exactly what you’ll enjoy when you come home to the Wood Crest neighborhood in Plymouth. The private pool will turn summer into kid-splashing fun or the perfect unwinding dip after a hard day at the office. Even better, there’s no packing everyone (and everything) into the car for the drive to a public pool only to find there isn’t even an open patio chair. You won’t be responsible for checking the water quality or maintaining the facilities, either. It’s as simple as a stroll down your block.

And there’s more than water to whet your appetite for Wood Crest. Here you can barbecue to your heart’s content at your neighborhood picnic pavilion. Create a romantic picnic for two when the kids are off to camp, or plan a block-busting block party for the fourth of July. This is truly the ultimate “staycation.”

Wood Crest knows you have less free time and need more value for your hard-earned dollars, here you get both. The low-maintenance new homes include floor plans designed to free up time with upper-level laundry facilities (near the bedrooms) and thoughtfully placed storage throughout. And value? Get more than 3,000 finished square feet of comfortable living, located in Money Magazine’s #1 livable community in the top ranked #284 Wayzata school district, all priced in the $500,000’s.

Adults Only Lifestyle The same amenities but designed with your 50-plus lifestyle in mind, that’s what sets these “adults only” neighborhoods apart. Homeowners at these age-qualified communities are able to enjoy all the things they’ve worked for, minus the upkeep and plus the fun.

#340, K. Hovnanian Homes of MN, LLC
Four Seasons at Rush Creek, 7530 Shadyview Lane North, Maple Grove
Fun Doesn’t Stop at 50

They do say 50 is the new 40, and reaching this stage in life is a lot more fun that it once was. It’s the time for more play and less work. A time to discover new friends, new hobbies and new adventures, all in your own community. If this is you, then the Twin Cities has your perfect home at K. Hovnanian’s Four Seasons at Rush Creek.

K. Hovnanian’s Four Seasons takes the Adults Only lifestyle to a new level with a plethora of amenities that you’d find in the finest of resorts — and the surrounding area is only the beginning. There’s the pristine setting of lakes, big and small, plus acres of natural parkland. Nearby you’ll find world-class dining and shopping in downtown Maple Grove. Then, at Four Seasons at Rush Creek, add private indoor and outdoor pools and spas, a tennis court, and a spectacular 13,500-plus square foot Clubhouse and Recreation Center complete with state-of-the-art fitness center, yoga room, crafts/activities room, cards room, billiards area and grand event/ballroom.

Here, you’ll discover the joys of having community activities, clubs and events galore (try out the book club, cookie exchanges, and poker tournaments, or maybe the educational events and fairs featuring local experts). Then a short stroll brings you home to your magnificent residence featuring main-level living and dynamic spaces with an abundance of options, all at a great value. ?This truly is a one-of-a-kind community.

Luxury Living Lifestyle These are the homes we’d all love to live in...and look at. Always popular stops on the Parade of Homes^SM, Luxury Living homes are where you’ll find elegant designs, gorgeous materials, and top-of-the-line features. And, even if you can’t afford one, you may find that perfect feature you can build into your home to make you feel like a million.

#297, Kyle Hunt & Partners, Incorporated
Palmer Pointe, 5380 Yellowstone Trail, Minnetrista
Perfection!

When you can have it all, this is the home you’d want. From its lakeside neighborhood (Lake Minnetonka, of course) to the classic New England styling, and only truly exquisite craftsmanship, this home is the epitome of the Luxury Living lifestyle.

Sip something cool on your deck and take in the long, bluff top views overlooking the sparkling waters of Lake Minnetonka. Invite friends and family to enjoy an afternoon at the neighborhood's private beach or pool, and then relax together over a delicious barbecued meal at the clubhouse. It's all about being together.

Real perfection can be found in every inch of the open floor plan. Arched openings, barrel ceiling, gleaming wood floors, and enameled woodwork, and many more fabulous features combine to create a casually elegant home. With over 6,100 square feet, there’s room for everyone and plenty to do — whether enjoying a lively game of pool, trading stories at the bar, watching the latest movie release, or curling up with a good book in front of the fire. This is the life!

Urban Retreats Lifestyle From the dramatic skyline glittering with high rises to the proximity of everything cultural, downtown living is a lifestyle that is increasingly accessible, even in our traditional corner of the midwest. These homes allow you to live in the heart of the energy and excitement that mark our beautiful Twin Cities.

#79, David Bernard Builders and Developers
Mississippi Flats, 240 Spring Street, #310, St. Paul
Downtown Dream Living

With two urban cores, the Twin Cities has some very exceptional Urban Retreat homes to offer, and we’ve selected one that demonstrates this lifestyle perfectly. It’s Mississippi Flats by David Bernard Builders and Developers (a division of Rottlund Homes). Here, along the Mississippi River in St. Paul, is a site which melds its historic past and incredible natural setting with the hip beat of today’s urban center.

Mississippi Flats is part of the exceptional river front, Upper Landing neighborhood, one of the most desirable locations in St. Paul. You’ll stroll to world-class shopping, restaurants and entertainment in the heart of the city. And, directly across the river, Harriet Island will become a favorite destination to enjoy exciting regional events year-round. Then, when you’re tired of the crowds, gather with your neighbors on the community rooftop terrace to catch the spectacular Taste of Minnesota fireworks without leaving home.

Loft-style living, the epitome of the Urban Retreat lifestyle, is interpreted beautifully at Mississippi Flats, too. No matter what your style, from cutting edge contemporary to warm retro-traditional or anything in between, you’ll find it here. Spaces are designed to define a romantic evening for two or an after theater buffet for 20 equally well. And, features and finishes will assure you feel truly pampered.

Life is Sweet on EasyStreet Lifestyle Home ownership usually comes with a lot of responsibility. Roofs wear out, windows need caulking, hoses need draining every fall and air conditioning units need to be inspected every spring. Then of course there’s the never-ending mowing and shoveling. Join the EasyStreet set and your calendar is wide open for another round of golf or a few extra days in Naples.

#162, Opus Northwest Construction, LLC
The Summit of Mendota Heights, 1358 Riverside Lane, Mendota Heights
The Sweet Life Resides in Mendota Heights

Life is Sweet on EasyStreet is a lifestyle more and more families are choosing. Some seek it to accommodate the demands of a busy career. Baby boomers are choosing it after years of working hard to earn their leisure time. And then there are those who want to forget what a lawn mower is. Whatever the reason, if EasyStreet is your lifestyle, then the Summit of Mendota Heights is your perfect home.

The Summit is located just minutes from the conveniences of the city, the International airport, and several suburban centers, making for a quick and easy commute to work or play. Then get set for relaxation in your quiet suburban setting replete with ponds, walking paths and plenty of natural beauty along the protected Minnesota River Valley just across Sibley?Memorial Parkway.

Here you can choose a luxury twin home or a delightful and elegant villa, with just the right amount of space for every family (homes range from 840 to 3,600 square feet). Every home provides the convenience of single-level living with open, comfortable design plus gracious gathering and dining spaces that make entertaining fun. Need even more room? The twin homes provide both lookout and walkout basements perfect for visiting children, overflow recreation, and plenty of storage for all the toys you’ll have time to enjoy with your new, EasyStreet lifestyle.

Universal Design Lifestyle Universal Design is a concept that spans a wide range of disciplines, growing out of the desire to provide products and features with easier access, function and usability for everyone without compromising on style. From the floor plan to the doorknobs and everything in between, Universal Design is making a real statement in today’s homes.

#44, TJB Homes, Inc.
St. Andrews Village, 4428 St. Andrews Drive, Blaine
Aging In Place for all Ages

TJB Homes’ Universal Design Homes are perfect examples of how really good Universal Design can make a home more livable and usable. The beautifully designed spaces provide ease of use and exceptional function at every turn, no matter what the age or physical limitations of those living there. By successfully integrating function with true style and grace, TJB ensures their Universal Design homes offer the same beauty and elegance that all of their clients have come to expect.

In this gorgeous home you’ll find plenty of Universal Design features that serve every family member exceptionally well. The wider doorways, showers, sinks and toilet areas look great plus allow roll-in (wheelchair) access. Hand-held shower fixtures and toilet grab bars add even more comfort, while the owners’ bath includes a walk-in jetted tub with a door for the ultimate in luxury without needing to step up and over a typical tub side. The drawer microwave is at the perfect height for safe operation by adults and youngsters alike, and has a great look. There’s a ramp from the garage and oversized doors to accommodate a van. All of the thresholds are low rise, plus electrical switches and outlets are set at special heights. This Parade Home^SM even is designed for a future elevator.

Whether recuperating from illness or injury, living with a disability, or simply aging in place comfortably, TJB has succeeded in creating Universal Design homes that fit the bill perfectly. TJB Homes supports Courage Center in the promotion of Universal Design Homes.

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