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July 30, 2025

How to Hire a Professional Remodeler (and Why It Matters)

When it comes to remodeling your home, who you choose to work with matters just as much as what you plan to change. A great remodeler will guide you through a complex process with expertise, transparency, and professionalism. And in a world of DIY shows and social media inspiration, it can be tempting to cut corners or rush the hiring process. But a remodel is a major investment in your home — and your peace of mind depends on getting it right from the start.

So, what does hiring a professional remodeler actually look like?

More blog posts

October 30, 2018

Building the Perfect Home for One-Level Living

Why buy new? With a new home, you pick the floor plan and finishes that fit your lifestyle. You choose the community and neighborhood that speak to you. And you can even select just the right energy-saving features that balance your personal philosophy with your budget. We asked this family to share what drove them to new construction.

October 10, 2018

Building a New Home for a Growing Family

Why buy new? With a new home, you pick the floor plan and finishes that fit your lifestyle. You choose the community and neighborhood that speak to you. And you can even select just the right energy-saving features that balance your personal philosophy with your budget. We asked this family to share what drove them to new construction.

October 3, 2018

Wayzata Dreams Times Two | Real Family Homebuilding Story

Brandis and Paris had found a great new homesite in Wayzata, a place they have long loved. They showed their best pals Amy and Bo their chosen site and plans for their soon-to-be new home with Pillar Homes and couldn’t be more excited. That is until Bo and Amy fell in love with the location and decided to build right next door. Now these two besties and their families are thrilled to be next-door neighbors building homes together.

October 3, 2018

Remodelers Showcase Features Two Dream Remodeled Homes

These two stunning whole-house remodels from Black Dog Homes and Frontier Structures are this fall's Dream Remodeled Homes. Your $5 tax-deductible admission to each remodeled home will go to the BATC-Housing First Minnesota Foundation to support their mission of building and remodeling homes and facilities for veterans and the homeless.

They're open for one weekend only, so grab your guidebook and head out to tour Sept. 28-30, 2018!

August 10, 2018

Four Dream Homes Featured on the Fall Parade of Homes

There’s no shortage of incredible residences on the Parade of Homes, but these four amazing homes have been selected by our BATC-Housing First Minnesota Foundation as this fall’s Dream Homes. These four beauties from Homes By Tradition, Highmark Builders, Carl M. Hansen Companies and Trestle Homes will leave you in awe. Plus, a $5 tax-deductible entry fee to each of these four homes will go to the BATC-Housing First Minnesota Foundation to support their mission of building and remodeling homes and facilities for veterans and the homeless.

And stay tuned for more details on our two Dream Remodeled Homes, open the final weekend of the tour during the Remodelers Showcase!

Color Revival

For years, the formula was simple: whitewalls, gray cabinetry, and just enough contrast to keep things interesting. But after more than a decade of cool tones dominating interior design, homeowners are beginning to crave something different.

Color, after all, is in constant evolution. Trends come and go. Homeowner preferences ebb and flow. What may have been the defining color of one era can quickly be labeled outdated, drab, or overdone in the next.

Take a trip back to the ’50s, when pastel hues adorned everything from bathroom tile to kitchen appliances. Then came the earthy golds and oranges of the ’70s, followed by the jewel tones and dramatic prints of the ’80s and ’90s. Fast-forward to the last decade, when a more pared-back approach to color dominated interiors. But now, color is making a comeback—not as a passing trend but as a reflection of homeowners’ desire for spaces that feel personal and lived in.

Here, designers and color experts weigh in on the shades, palettes, and applications defining today’s homes—and how to balance boldness with timeless appeal.

Your Guide to Layered Lighting

Fixtures are often the first thing that come to mind when envisioning the lighting in your new build, but a thoughtful lighting plan goes deeper than picking lamps and bulbs. In fact, lighting plays an important role in setting the overall tone of your home. When lighting is too bright, spaces feel harsh and uncomfortable. Dimly lit rooms are no better, often appearing small and uninviting.

Striking that perfect balance of illumination from natural and artificial light is known as layered lighting, an interior design concept that relies on multiple light sources to foster warmth, add visual interest, and make spaces functional for everyday living. As Kyndra Flowers of Robinson Lighting says, “When in doubt, layer your lighting.”

As you start planning your new build, use this as your guide to design an effective, thoughtful lighting plan that makes every space in your home glow.      

Kitchen Couture

The kitchen has long been considered the heart of the home—the place where people come to eat, connect, and enjoy the everyday moments that make a house feel lived in. Whether hosting a holiday soiree or savoring the quiet ritual of making your morning latte, the kitchen is where routines unfold and memories are made. With that in mind, it’s only natural the kitchen’s design should reflect both how we live and how we want to feel at home.

Fortunately, luxury, comfort, and practicality are no longer mutually exclusive. With the kitchen playing such a central role in daily life, thoughtful, personalized upgrades are sure to be worth the investment to transform it into a true sanctuary. So, if you’re ready to dream up your ideal kitchen, industry experts share fresh, inspiring—and most importantly, achievable—ideas for creating a space as beautiful as it is functional.

April 6, 2021

Organization Overhaul

Whether you’re going through a remodel or just trying to clear the clutter, these seven organization tips from the pros will help you create a home that is more efficient and functional.

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March 11, 2021

A Room of Possibilities

Homeowners are getting creative with their “bonus” or “flex” rooms. Here’s how to make the most of your own multipurpose space.

Design
Home Tips & Tricks
March 9, 2021

2021 Spring Parade of Homes Press Coverage

Catch up on all the places the 2021 Spring Parade of Homes Twin Cities has been covered in the news.

Home Tours
February 23, 2021

The Movement to Grow Homeownership Opportunities

Homeownership is all of it. Home is a headquarters. Home is healing. Home is love.

Housing News
February 18, 2021

Location, Location, Location

For many, buying a home is one of the most important decisions a person can make. Finding the right home is not just a matter of falling in love with a floor plan. A homebuyer also is buying into a neighborhood, which might have a vibrant location—and correspondingly vibrant residents. Perhaps you’re looking for a neighborhood that is home to one of the best school districts in the state or features some key amenities that make many neighborhoods truly shine.

Home Tips & Tricks
February 17, 2021

Your Wireless. Your Rules. Only with Xfinity Mobile.

Brought to you by our 2021 Parade of Homes category sponsor, Xfinity.

Home Tours
Technology
February 11, 2021

Five Dream Homes Featured on the Spring Parade of Homes & Remodelers Showcase

These five stunning homes on the 2021 Spring Parade of Homes and Remodelers Showcase have been hand-selected by our Housing First Minnesota Foundation as this spring’s Dream Homes.

Four breathtaking new homes from JKath Design Build + Reinvent, Black Dog Homes Co., Stonewood, LLC, and Denali Custom Homes, Inc. will leave you in awe. And the final weekend of the tour, don’t miss the stunning Remodeled Dream Homes from Sustainable 9 Design + Build.

Your $5 tax-deductible entry fee to each of these five homes will go to support the work of the Housing First Minnesota Foundation building and renovating transitional housing facilities for Minnesota’s homeless, veterans, and others in need. Learn more about the Foundation and purchase your tickets in advance here. >>

Home Tours
February 1, 2021

Spring 2021 | Calendar of Events

Don’t miss these Parade of Homes and Remodelers Showcase special events put on by select builders and remodelers during the 2021 spring tour! These free events will introduce you to the people behind the homes on the tour, the latest design trends, and much more. Join us to learn how to find your dream home or remodel your current house.

Home Tours
January 12, 2021

Why Buy a Newly Built Home

Searching for a new home is an exciting process, and when you’re exploring new construction, the possibilities are endless. Whether you’re looking to buy your first home or your dream home, don’t make a move without checking out how a new home can make your life better. So, what does buying new really get you?

Home Tips & Tricks
January 5, 2021

Homeownership is all of it.

A house has become so much more this year. It is a sanctuary, a safe place, a salon, a school, a chef's domain, and more. Owning a home builds self-esteem, wealth, and even communities. A house is a place where life happens with all the messy beauty and real love that goes with it. We need to build more houses so more people can benefit, because homeownership is all of it, but it is not attainable for everyone.

Housing News
December 15, 2020

Make Your Home Your Haven

With more time being spent at home this year, sheltering in place has made us think about the concept of home through a new lens. Home is a retreat to learn, grow, and make lasting memories. It’s a space to learn, work, and accomplish goals. We’ve rounded up five ways priorities and must-haves may shift during the home search.

Design
Home Tips & Tricks
December 11, 2020

3 Ways to Create a Well-Functioning Home

While life continues to manifest in its never-ending chaotic manner, it is important to have a place in your life that is always structured and balanced. For many people, their home is this place. How we feel about our home, as well as how we function and maneuver throughout it, plays a huge part in our productivity and mental health. Especially with the large amount of time we have spent inside our houses this past year, being able to transform your home into an efficient machine is crucial. Below are 3 ways to give your home a well-functioning makeover and ascend to an envious level of productivity.

Home Tips & Tricks
December 3, 2020

Inside Out | Now Trending in Outdoor Living

Builders and designers share tips on incorporating outdoor living trends into your new home.

Design
Home Tips & Tricks