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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.

March 10, 2020

2020 Spring Parade of Homes Press Coverage

Catch up on all the places the 2020 Spring Parade of Homes Twin Cities has been covered in the news.

Home Tours
February 17, 2020

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

There’s no shortage of incredible residences on the Parade of Homes and Remodelers Showcase, but these seven amazing homes have been selected by our Housing First Minnesota Foundation as this spring's Dream Homes and Remodeled Dream Homes. These four incredible new homes from Pebble Creek Custom Homes, Landmark Building Contractors, Gordon James Construction, and Swanson Homes will leave you in awe. And the final weekend of the tour you won't want to miss the three stunning Remodeled Dream Homes from JKath Design Build + Reinvent, Sustainable 9 Design + Build, and Showcase Renovations. Plus, a $5 tax-deductible entry fee to each of these seven homes will go to the Housing First Minnesota Foundation to support their work building and renovating transitional housing facilities for Minnesota’s homeless, veterans, and others in need.

Home Tours
February 14, 2020

Spring 2020 Calendar of Events

Don't miss these Parade of Homes and Remodelers Showcase special events put on by select builders and remodelers during the 2020 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
February 5, 2020

3 Ways You Get More With Xfinity

Brought to you by our 2020 Parade of Homes category sponsor, Xfinity.

Technology
January 27, 2020

Designer Secrets for an Instagram-Worthy Home

Thousands of people have built a following on Instagram for their curated spaces that look like they were ripped from the pages of a home magazine. With eclectic-yet-cohesive accessories, statement pieces of furniture, and ideal lighting conditions, it’s hard to believe these rooms weren’t styled and shot by a professional, but the truth is, many of these #homestagramers aren’t interior designers or photographers—and you don’t have to be either. Here, Kari Michael of Kariel Staging & Decor reveals that getting the perfect picture for the ’gram comes down to a couple of simple tips.

Design
Home Tips & Tricks
December 16, 2019

Now Trending: Flooring

Of all the design decisions you have to make, it’s easy to—literally—overlook your floors, but choosing the best color and material for your spaces can have a big impact on your home’s overall aesthetic. Whether you favor carpet or hardwood, tile or vinyl, consider giving your hardest-working surfaces a refresh with one of these five trends.

Design
November 8, 2019

Best New Homes in the Twin Cities Win 2019 Reggie Awards

Housing First Minnesota hosted the annual Building Industry Gala (BIG Night) on Oct. 25, 2019. More than 800 attendees joined together to celebrate the homebuilding and remodeling industry and to find out which homes from the Fall Parade of Homes were judged the very best — the best design, construction quality, and value.

Home Tours
October 29, 2019

Blueprint for Energy Testing a New Home

Saving energy is on our minds these days, and is one of the best reasons to choose a new home when you’re ready to move. New homes are intrinsically more energy efficient than most dwellings you’ll find on the resale market.

Technology
October 4, 2019

6 Easy Ways to Make Your Home Cozy for Fall

When the air turns crisp, the leaves crunch beneath our feet, and the colors change, it’s only natural to want to cozy up your home for fall, when time spent at swimming pools and outdoor barbecues is replaced with reading by the fireplace, snuggling up on the couch for movies, and preparing for holiday entertaining.

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October 2, 2019

8 Maintenance Tips for Your New Construction Home

New builds certainly come with some perks—modern floor plans, energy-efficient appliances, and “smart” features, to name a few—but just because you’re the first to call the house “home” doesn’t mean you can neglect routine maintenance duties. Once the boxes are unpacked and the family photos are hung, add these eight important tasks to your to-do list to maintain that new home feeling for years to come.

Home Tips & Tricks
September 18, 2019

Smart & Stylish Mudroom Design

Stay organized and efficient with a well-designed transitional space.

Design
Home Tips & Tricks
September 11, 2019

Your Home, Your Way: Specialty Spaces

Building new gives you the ability to design specialty spaces in your home that help you enjoy the things you love. Whether that be a pet-friendly space to show your fur babies how much you love them, a thoughtfully placed home office to keep you productive, the ultimate recreation room for entertaining, or something else entirely, the options are limitless.

Design
Home Tips & Tricks
September 10, 2019

2019 Fall Parade of Homes Press Coverage

Catch up on all the places the 2019 Fall Parade of Homes Twin Cities has been covered in the press.

Home Tours