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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

A Personal Retreat

If the kitchen is known as the heart of the home, the primary suite should be the mind of the home, serving as a space you can truly unwind and recharge. Read on to learn local home professionals’ advice for designing a primary suite sanctuary that supports your body and mind.

Hue Got This: Home Color Guide

When it comes to designing a home that fosters health, happiness, and wellbeing, color is one of the most powerful tools at your disposal. The colors we choose for our walls influence how we feel, think, and interact in our spaces. By tapping into the principles of color psychology, you can curate a home that nurtures calmness, sparks energy, or inspires joy.

“Choose colors based on the mood you want to evoke,” says Jean Haukaas, Hirshfield’s Design Resource showroom manager. “Calm, neutral tones like soft blues and grays work well in bedrooms, while brighter, more energetic hues can suit kitchens or playrooms.”

A Space of Their Own

Newlyweds Gina Wolleat-Zorn and Darrell Zorn built their dream home in Ham Lake to accommodate her interior design business, his love for cooking, and their blended family of adult children.

Induction Cooking: Pros & Cons

Induction cooking combines the speed and precision of gas with the easy cleanup and eco-friendly benefits of electric appliances. These stoves heat water more quickly, activate only when cookware is present, and consistently outperform other cooktops according to consumer evaluations. Moreover, you may be eligible for financial incentives when you purchase an induction range under the Inflation Reduction Act.

Connected Living: How Technology is Redefining Healthy Living at Home

In today’s fast-paced world, creating a home centered around your health and well-being is more important than ever. Homebuyers are increasingly seeking ways to integrate wellness into their living spaces, and smart home technology is stepping up to meet the challenge. From air purification systems to circadian lighting and advanced water monitoring, experts share how health-focused smart tech is reshaping how we think about our homes.

Discover Minnesota’s Home Tour Events: The Parade of Homes, Remodelers Showcase, and Artisan Home Tour

Minnesota home tours are the can't-miss events of the year for home design enthusiasts, with not just one but three styles of tours to explore, dream, and gather inspiration. The Parade of Homes, Remodelers Showcase, and Artisan Home Tour each provide a unique glimpse into the world of home buying, design, and renovating. Whether you’re building, remodeling, or just curious, these events have something special to offer. Save the dates for the 2025 events!

Staff Picks: The Best Twin Cities Pizza Joints

From gooey classics to gourmet creations, pizza is a universal love language. We've scoured the Twin Cities and beyond for the best pizza spots, handpicked by our staff. Whether you’re craving wood-fired wonders or bold, inventive toppings, these spots deliver the perfect slice every time.

Staff Picks: The Best Twin Cities Coffee Shops

Explore the best local coffee spots recommended by the Parade of Homes staff. From cozy neighborhood cafes to trendy urban roasters, these are the places we keep coming back to for a perfect cup of coffee (or tea!).

August 6, 2021

Fall 2021 | Calendar of Events

Don’t miss these special events put on by select builders and remodelers during the 2021 fall tour! These free events will introduce you to the teams behind the homes on the tour, the latest design trends, and much more.

Home Tours
August 5, 2021

Xfinity Flex

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

Technology
August 3, 2021

Worth the Wait

A remodel 18 years in the making turns an outdated two-story into a modern, open-concept home in Minnetonka.

Home Tours
Real Stories
April 14, 2021

21 Parade Homes Win Spring Reggie Awards

Since 1968, Housing First Minnesota has presented the Reggie Award℠, which recognizes excellence in design and construction of homes in the Parade of Homes. The Trillium Awards honor the associates and trade partners for their collaboration with these award-winning builders.

Home Tours
April 13, 2021

Mediterranean Meets Modern

When Dave Corkum and Julie Tauer bought their 1929 Mediterranean-style three-story in the Macalester-Groveland area of St. Paul in 2016, they acquired a home whose history preceded them. Affectionately referred to as the Donovan house in honor of the well-known owners who lived there for decades, Dave and Julie fell in love with the neighborhood and the 4,750-square-foot home’s early-20th-century charm.

Home Tours
Real Stories
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