Events Around Town: Edina & the Surrounding Area | Local Family Events Nov-Dec 2015

Now that fall is upon us in full-force, seasonal activities abound!

From the beautiful leaves to upcoming holiday shopping, we’ve got a few events (in and around the Edina area) that you and your family may want to look into:

Live Animal Tour by Richardson Nature Center
When: Thursday, November 5th, 12pm & Thursday, December 3rd, 12pm (monthly)
What: Preschoolers and toddlers can enjoy animals that Richardson Nature Center staff brings to exhibit and talk about
Cost: Free or un-listed
Where: Edinborough Park, 7700 York Ave. S., Edina, MN 55424More info here.

Nokomis Urban Craft Fair
When: November 8th, 9am to 3pm
What: A hip assortment of gifts, jewelry, art, baked goods and more from nearly 30 vendors.
Cost: Free to attend
Where: Lake Nokomis Community Center, 2401 E. Minnehaha Blvd., Mpls.More info here.

Edina Tree-Lighting Ceremony
When: November 28th, 3-5pm
What: Gather together as we light the 50th & France Christmas Tree
Cost: Free or un-listed
Where: 50th & FranceMore info here.

Braemer Arena Celebrates 50 Years
When: December 5th, 12pm start time
What: A travel down memory lane celebrating 50 years of the beloved arena, including on-ice experiences, vendor tables, and Edina-area youth hockey games.
Cost: Free or un-listed
Where: Braemar Arena, 7501 Ikola Way, EdinaMore info here.

Linden Hills Winter Market & Craft Revival
When: Every Sunday through December 21; Times vary: 9am-1pm, Nov 2nd-16th and 9am-4pm, Nov 23rd -Dec 21st
What: Weekly farmer's market and craft bazaar with handmade goods, chef talks and demos, food trucks, and local foods.
Where: Linden Hills Area, 3723 W 44th St., Mpls.More info here.

REFINED is a home building and remodeling company located in Edina, MN.  We love our community!  To learn more about our projects, please visit our website here.

Come One Come All: Fall Parade of Homes 2015 Info

We are on the brink of Fall 2015 Parade of Homes!  As always, this is an exciting time of year for us, and we are thrilled that you’ll have the chance to see what we’ve been up to.  (We think you’ll leave inspired too).

Here’s what you need to know:
Parade runs Sept 12th – Oct 4th, 2015
Thursdays - Sundays
12-6pm each day

The Parade of Homes website can answer any further questions, and you can find details on our entry (#31) here, which is at 5921 Fairfax Avenue, Edina MN 55424.

What you have to look forward to:

This charming "modern farmhouse" is a blend of contemporary Scandinavian and Midwestern design.  Highlights include a spacious layout, open mudroom, and picturesque wood-burning fireplace!  You can take a peek at more photos of the home here, but there’s no doubt you’ll want to stop by and see the real-deal for yourselves.

Can’t wait to see you soon!

Real Home Feature: Classic Traditional Home

We’re excited to show you this beautiful REFINED home, designed with the client’s traditional style in mind, but accented with sleek contemporary touches.

This new Edina home includes 5 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms. In addition to the light and bright living area on the main level, it features a finished basement with a slightly more rugged feel and plenty of space for entertaining.

Filled with classic architectural features as well as a few modern ones, this entire home is spacious and serene. With styling and design work done by the talented interior design team at Blend, the homeowner’s personality and style was captured perfectly.

Check out the images below, and click here to see more!

REFINED Custom Homes builds and remodels beautiful homes in established neighborhoods, particularly in the Edina MN area. Interested in a custom home of your own? Take a peek at our Available Homes page and follow us on Facebook to see more!

Inspiring Kids Study Areas: Be Ready for Back to School Season

With back-to-school season fast approaching, transition for many families is just around the corner.  A new schedule for fall, new morning hours, new dinner routines, and a renewed sense of structure around the home.  Along with all of this comes… homework!  Yep, homework.

Once the homework comes flowing in, do you have a space in your home set aside for the kids’ studying?  A space with minimal distraction and comfy seating is ideal of course, but an attractive and motivating space is welcoming too.

Here are a few ideas from REFINED homes that might just inspire you to create a kids study area of your own!

Double Duty — Attaching study space to the bed means you’re making great use out of something you already have.  This loft bed has room for storage as well as a desk surface, and the lamp is a practical touch.

Simple Inspiration — This no-frills desk is the only thing a child needs to get things done and will fit just about anywhere.  The calming artwork above makes the space cozy and gets the creative juices flowing.

Kitchen Central — The kitchen is the hub of the home for many families, so why not set aside some seating that’s especially good for homework time.  This wall bench with comfy pillows makes a great spot for homework, with mom or dad nearby when questions abound.

Family Space — If you have the room, a craft room/project room/game room is a great way to use those extra square feet.  This space says fun, but has lots of practical storage and surfaces for getting down to business too!

Bedside Built-In — A cozy nook in the bedroom (or any room) is a great way to fit in a desk or shelf that might not fit elsewhere.  This tuck-under mini office is a calming and quiet place for a student to focus and keep organized before tucking in for the night.

Pantry Bonus — There’s no reason a pantry off the kitchen can’t do double-duty.  In addition to being a great place for parents to organize their mail or home office needs, this space is perfect for kids big and small to sit down and get something done — from coloring pages to calculus.

Mixed Mudroom — Mudrooms are also spaces that can often squeeze in a little something extra, like a desk and some storage.  Backpacks are already being dropped in the space, so why not make the homework to table run a short one?

We know that families with organized spaces are happy ones, so setting aside a place in your own home for homework time is worth the effort.  Take some ideas from these tips, or create something of your own!

REFINED creates stunning and spacious homes that combine luxury and practicality.  Check out our available homes page to see what we’ve got in the works, or get in touch with us today!