Parade Picks

Be eco-friendly in comfort and style with this new 2,350-square-foot home from Cates Fine Homes. Premier appliances and amenities intertwine with reclaimed materials in a prairie landscape to exude a naturally elegant quality.

Conservation takes center stage in this home, perhaps most evidently with the spectacular Douglas fir hardwood floors, which are reclaimed from Montgomery Ward shelving. The laundry room countertop, made of a compressed paper-based composite material, is also environmentally friendly. In-floor heating, powered by a high-efficiency boiler that uses less energy, offers a more cost-effective way to heat the house.

The three-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bathroom home carries high-end, high-efficiency appliances. The open kitchen contains a Sub-Zero refrigerator, Wolf range, and Asko dishwasher, as well as Corian countertops. The sleekness of these design elements is echoed throughout the home in the silk-fabric lighting fixtures, oil-rubbed bronze hardware, slate tile, and the plumbing fixtures in the master bathroom with hand-held body spray capabilities.

The entire Inspiration development, in which this home is located, focuses on creating “right-sized” homes that use space efficiently and cause minimal impact on the environment. The open floor plan allows the dining room, living room, and kitchen to flow together around a custom- designed breakfast nook. The heated garage holds enough space for two cars, a workshop area, and upstairs storage. Meanwhile, windows and doors from KML by Andersen blend energy efficiency and style.

Minutes from downtown Stillwater and the St. Croix River, this house steeps itself in nature. With dedicated open spaces surrounding it, this home’s current view of nature will never be filled with a new building. As part of a conservation development, the surrounding area is being restored to native prairies and grasses, which will have a series of walking trails and a nature education center where families can learn more about their environment.