A Perfect Match

Americken Home Builders, Inc.
15940 Austin St., Ham Lake
$949,900
Home #801

Thanks to a promotion and sizeable pay increase, the homeowners and their son upgraded to this Americken home, which they consider their dream home nestled on a quiet piece of paradise overlooking nearly two acres of wilderness. With a mentality of “the bigger, the better,” they are enjoying the luxuries of fine living.

He enjoys having a large house with a big yard away from the hustle of his hectic career downtown. A sports fanatic, he’s excited to have an entire floor in his new home devoted to watching the game and entertaining his equally enthusiastic friends and colleagues. Starting with a state-of-the-art home entertainment center with a big-screen TV, this area features a polished granite bar, room for his pool table where he and his son play billiards regularly, and a built-in surround-sound audio system that makes him feel like he’s at the stadium.

She loves having a professional grade kitchen with all of the newest features, including custom-made cabinets and top-of-the-line appliances. Appreciative of the finer things in life, she is excited to experience the luxuries that many owner’s suites now feature, including the oversized windows in the master sitting area. She takes time to relax in the whirlpool tub, where she can watch her favorite movies on the LCD television or delve into a romantic novel.

These homeowners wanted the outside of their new home to be as impressive as the inside. He is famous for his barbeque skills, so an outdoor cooking area with a built-in grill was on the top of his list. For their sports-loving son, there’s room for a pool/tennis court/basketball court. In the winter, the whole family is grateful for the radiant-heated four-car garage.
Pratt Homes
1001 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis
From $280,000s–$3,000,000+
Home #264

It all came down to location for this active couple in their late thirties. The two professionals enjoy everything about an urban lifestyle: sampling food from the newest restaurants, catching the latest concert at Orchestra Hall, running along the Mississippi River, and shopping at the Mill City Farmers Market. They are very active in the community and want to be in the center of it all, so The Nicollet on Nicollet Mall is an ideal location. When looking out the floor-to-ceiling windows of their new condo, they have an incredible view of the city they love.

This couple has upscale tastes and values quality, and they chose the highest grade appliances and amenities available for their kitchen. They do a lot of entertaining, and the kitchen island with polished stone countertops provides extra space for their guests to mingle. A state-of-the-art media center in the living room allows them to play music for their guests throughout the home or watch the latest video release on the flat-screen television. The master bathroom has a spa bath for her to relax in after a long day at the office. The couple also travels frequently, and they take comfort in knowing their home is safe with the latest in security technology.

Brandl Anderson Homes
14987 Pinto Lane, Savage
$194,900
Home #184

Tired of renting, this young homeowner is excited to be getting the most for her money in this Brandl Anderson townhome. She enjoys the surrounding woods and quiet, private location, and she feels good about making a wise investment in a growing area. She is in her mid-twenties and loves to go out, so the area’s great shopping, restaurants, and nightlife were important factors in her decision-making process. Also important was the fact that she is very busy with work and social activities and therefore doesn’t have a lot of time for yard maintenance. She loves the idea of a townhome with an association that takes care of shoveling and mowing.

Because she will be living in the home alone, she doesn’t need a lot of space, but at the same time doesn’t want to feel cramped. The open floor plan with a kitchen, dining area, and living room is ideal so she can easily entertain her friends and host family holiday meals.

She always has the radio on, since the open floor plan also allows her to walk throughout the house and still hear every song. She likes the option of adding hardwood floors and maybe a fireplace without breaking her budget. A large master bedroom with a walk-in closet to house her vast shoe collection was a priority. She is tired of roommates and ready for some privacy, so a separate bathroom for her and another for her guests is a dream come true. The study and second bedroom also give her just the right amount of extra space.

McWilliams & Associates
18222 Justice Way, Lakeville
$657,751
Home #173

As empty-nesters nearing retirement age, this couple saw a perfect opportunity to downsize in this twinhome by McWilliams & Associates. They recently moved their youngest child into her college dorm room, and they now relish having the home to themselves. But, they are also comforted knowing their daughter still has a bedroom in their lower level to come home to for visits home, not to mention the recreation, game, and exercise rooms—plus a nice laundry room. The couple also has grandchildren, so they still needed a home with enough bedrooms to accommodate overnight guests.

Once retirement is in full swing, she is looking forward to spending more time volunteering and is relieved there is an association that maintains their landscaping for them. He, on the other hand, has his eye on a boat and wanted at least a three-stall garage with enough room to store it in the winter. Both enjoy cooking and love the granite snack bar and modern conveniences in the kitchen.

The private, spacious owner’s suite is a perfect place to relax and features a luxurious bathroom with spectacular views. The sunroom is another room the couple enjoys, especially for curling up in front of the fireplace reading mystery novels.

Town & Country Homes
6760 67th St. NE, Albertville
$419,304
Home #580

Looking to upgrade from their smaller single family home to accommodate their growing family, this couple found the amenities and space they needed in this Town & Country home in Albertville’s Hunters Pass Estates.

With two small children, the couple wanted a four-bedroom home in a good school district and away from high traffic areas. The kids have lots of play space and love running around their big back yard with their black lab. There’s also a deck at the back of the house that’s perfect for family gatherings and summertime birthday parties.

One of the major selling points of the home was its loft, where the family spends most evenings playing games before the kids go to bed. The space can also be used as a gathering area.

She, in particular, fell in love with this location at first sight. The Albertville Outlet Mall is on the way to the kids’ day care, which means she can have her shopping fix anytime. She also likes the small-town atmosphere, and she volunteers at the church.

The house itself has everything she wanted, including a large kitchen she adores with maple cabinets, beautiful quartz countertops, and plenty of counter space for cooking together and doing crafts. Having a busy family means there is a constant pile of dirty laundry, so having the laundry room on the main level is a must. She also wanted all of the bedrooms on the same level so she and her husband could be close to their children. The two full bathrooms are especially convenient, and will be even more so when the kids are teenagers.

For Dad, the home has a lower-level recreation room, which is great for watching TV, especially sports with his buddies. The three-car garage offers plenty of space for their two vehicles, the kids’ bikes, and his easy chair. He’s even thinking about installing a TV out there for his personal getaway. With such a nice garage, he even finds himself looking forward to changing the oil in his wife’s car.

A large family room on the lower level is ideal for keeping the children’s play area and all of the toys away from main living area, where the couple likes to relax and listen to music. One of the most important things for this family is storage. With toys, boxes of outgrown clothing, and his collection of racing memorabilia, this family is grateful for having lots of storage space, large closets, and the oversized garage.