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September 24, 2024

Your Guide to Woodbury, MN

Located just a short drive from Saint Paul, Woodbury, MN, offers a blend of suburban charm and urban convenience. This vibrant city has grown into one of the most desirable places to live in the Twin Cities metro area, known for its excellent schools, lush parks, and a strong sense of community. Whether you're visiting for a day or considering making Woodbury your home, this guide will help you explore the best of what the city has to offer. Discover all the things that make Woodbury a standout destination below!

More blog posts

August 19, 2020

Six Dream Homes Featured on the Fall Parade of Homes & Remodelers Showcase

There’s no shortage of incredible residences on the Parade of Homes and Remodelers Showcase, but these six stunning homes have been hand-selected by our Housing First Minnesota Foundation as this fall’s Dream Homes and Remodeled Dream Homes.

Four incredible new homes from Sustainable 9 Design + Build, Swanson Homes, Mark D. Williams Custom Homes, and Highmark Builders will leave you in awe. And the final weekend of the tour, don’t miss the two stunning Remodeled Dream Homes from Awad & Koontz Architects Builders and Sustainable 9 Design + Build. Your $5 tax-deductible entry fee to each of these six 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.

August 5, 2020

Fall 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 fall 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.

May 28, 2020

22 Outstanding 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.

May 15, 2020

Virtual Event Calendar

Don’t miss these virtual special events put on by select builders during the 2020 spring tour! These free events will introduce you to the builders behind the homes on the tour, the latest in home design, and much more. Check back often for updated events!

May 7, 2020

A Taste of Nantucket

Eric and Katharine Nelson have loved living in the Highlands neighborhood of Edina ever since they first moved to the area in 2015. So when they had the opportunity to sell their home, they didn’t have to go far to find the perfect location for their new build—down the block, to be exact.

April 17, 2020

Home Gyms That Will Inspire You to Work Up a Sweat

Whether you’re a yogi, a weight-lifting enthusiast, or just want a space for the kids to shoot some hoops, a home gym or athletic court might be just what you need. If you don’t have a room for a larger dedicated gym space right now, there are many ways to create your own yoga corner or fitness nook in your home. And if you are thinking about adding a home gym to your next home, you’re in luck. Parade of Homes builders are pros at making sure your home fits your lifestyle just right. Here are home fitness room ideas to help you work up a sweat.

April 9, 2020

7 Ways to Create Curb Appeal

You’ve likely spent months pouring over every detail of your new construction home, but between cabinet choices, tile selections, and hardware hangups, have you thought about its curb appeal—a.k.a. the aesthetic your home presents to the outside world?

“The opportunity to make your home really unique is out front,” says Mallory Busacker, a real estate agent and director of marketing for BohLand Homes. “When someone asks you about a house in the neighborhood, the first thing you say—even if you’ve been in the house numerous times—is, ‘It’s the one with the gabled roof.’ It’s not only their first impression; it’s what they remember the home by.”

Here, builders, architects, realtors, and landscapers share their top tips for creating that “wow” factor from the outside in.

August 5, 2019

Nine Dream Homes Featured on the Fall Parade of Homes & Remodelers Showcase

The selections are in, and you won’t want to miss the Fall 2019 Dream Homes! These are the homes that are ready to WOW you. The ones you’re pinning on Pinterest and ogling over in magazines. And they’re the perfect place to grab inspiration for your home. This year, there are five new homes and four remodeled homes hand-selected as Dream Homes. Plus, each time you visit a Dream Home, your $5 admission supports the BATC-Housing First Minnesota Foundation’s work as it builds and renovates transitional housing facilities for Minnesota’s homeless, veterans, and others in need.

Home Tours
July 29, 2019

Now Trending: Paint and Wallcoverings

Painting or papering the walls of your home is one of the simplest, most cost-effective changes to make when you’re craving a refresh of your spaces. And thanks to new techniques, materials, and designs, you are only limited by your imagination—or the height of your walls. “Now is the time to express yourself,” says Kathy Basil of Hirshfield’s. “There has never been a better variety.” Here, the manager of the Minneapolis family-owned design shop talks top trends that will add “wow” to your walls.

Design
June 27, 2019

Now Trending: Kitchen Gadgets and Appliances

From nightly dinners to annual holiday parties, you and your family spend a lot of time in the kitchen. Make it a space you’re excited to step into every day with gadgets and appliances that help you work smarter, not harder, and infuse the heart of your home with a dose of personality.

Design
June 17, 2019

Artisan Home Décor and Design Trends From Galleria

The 32 homes on the Artisan Home Tour are overflowing with design inspiration, so we know that after you finish touring, you'll be itching to incorporate some of the trends and styles into your home. That's why Galleria put together this decor guide to help you transform your home and bring the artisan styles you see on the tour into your own space! Find your favorite styles here, then shop the 11 home furnishing and decor options all under one roof at Galleria.

Design
June 5, 2019

Inspiring the Art of Shopping

Galleria is the place for home furnishings & decor. Shop 11 home furnishing and decor options all under one roof.

Design
June 2, 2019

2019 Artisan Home Tour Opens June 7

Ready to be wowed? The sixth annual Artisan Home Tour starts June 7! This year you have the chance to tour 21 spectacular new homes and 11 incredible remodeled homes on the Artisan Home Tour by Parade of Homes. You’ll see innovative technology, high-end finishes, and the latest home inspiration from the region’s most exclusive builders and remodelers.

Home Tours
May 31, 2019

How to Design a Productive Home Office

Imagine the beginning of your workday starts like this: You wake up, shower, brew a cup of coffee, and walk to your office—less than 10 feet away from your bedroom (yoga pants optional but encouraged). It sounds too good to be true, but this scenario isn’t far from reality for the increasing number of people who choose to freelance or telecommute, meaning home offices are becoming a “must have” rather than a “nice to have” on the checklists of today’s homeowners. “If it’s designed well and if it’s designed in a way that’s going to make you productive, you are probably working less and getting more done,” says Maggie Tarr, owner of Margaret Jane Design Group. Here, the interior designer and architect shares her tips for creating a space that makes you feel inspired and excited to get down to business.

Design
Home Tips & Tricks
May 21, 2019

Top Spring Home Maintenance Tips

With the snow melted, now is the time to plan your spring home maintenance chores. It’s especially important in Minnesota where our dry winters bring plenty of snow, ice, and cold followed by hot and humid summers. If you took care of your home last fall, then your springtime efforts will be primarily looking for problems brought on by winter weather. Here’s a handy checklist to get you started.

Home Tips & Tricks
April 24, 2019

Debunked: Myths About Building New Construction

Myths and misconceptions are as commonplace as mosquitos in Minnesota. You’ve probably heard a few about buying a newly built home, too. But don’t let those scare you away, building a new home is one of the most exciting and rewarding things you can do. Here are five of the most common myths that we’re ready to debunk.

Home Tips & Tricks
April 22, 2019

A Place for Everything in this Remodeled Kitchen

Amanda and Craig have moved around a bit with their careers, but with two young boys, Drennen and Garrett (now 12 and 8), they decided it was time to settle down in one place. They knew their current home in Alabama wasn’t quite where they wanted to be. They discussed the West Coast, where they had lived for a while, and Craig was pushing for Chicago. But Amanda wasn’t convinced until she discovered Minnesota. “I visited Minneapolis for a work convention and fell in love,” she exclaims.

Builders & Remodelers
Real Stories
April 7, 2019

Now Trending in Tile

Tile is essential to many a bathroom, kitchen, or mudroom project, and with so many options on the market today, there’s no reason to settle for bland designs. Whether you’re pining for a new backsplash, ready to cozy up in front of a reimagined fireplace, or dreaming of a laundry room that’s both functional and stylish, these seven trends will elevate your indoor and outdoor spaces.

Design
March 28, 2019

A New Look

When Jason and Courtney found their 1930s home in 2013, they moved quickly.

Home Tours
Real Stories
March 27, 2019

Style Refresh

Rob and Tamara found the “up north” feeling they were looking for on their wooded lot in Bloomington. Remodeling their home made it fit their family's lifestyle perfectly.

Home Tours
Real Stories