2026 Spring Parade of Homes Remodelers Showcase

Parade of Homes Spring Remodelers Showcase
One Weekend Only - April 10-12, from 12-6 PM
R12 - 5224 Oaklawn Avenue, Edina

Spring is just around the corner! To mark this changing of seasons, the Twin Cities Parade of Homes is hosting its annual spring home tour and remodelers showcase.

As frequent tour participants, we’re looking forward to sharing another lovely home the weekend of April 10-12th. Located in Edina’s coveted South Harriet Park neighborhood, this stunning 5,636 sq. ft. new build blends timeless architecture, traditional style, and modern luxury.

Featuring five bedrooms, five bathrooms, and an indoor sports court, the home is designed for both everyday living and unforgettable entertaining. Enjoy views of Arden Park, and walk to the shops and restaurants at 50th & France and Edina Country Club.

We look forward to showing you this sophisticated home and hope you’ll stop by during the tour. Want a little preview of what you’ll see during the Remodelers Showcase? Scroll below to explore the photo gallery!

2026 Design Trend: Wellness Takes Center Stage

In November, our team predicted the design trends that would rise to the top in 2026. As the year unfolds, we thought it would be fun to spotlight each trend on the blog! To kick this series off today, we’re talking about how homeowners cultivate wellness through design.

Good health is wealth; this truth resonates more than ever post-pandemic. Our physical health touches every other part of our lives - its impact is undeniable. For example, you’re never as aware of how essential back muscles are until they go out on you. So, how do our clients foster wellness in their homes? We’ve seen and built everything!

Current wellness trends revolve around spaces to recharge, find peace, and ground oneself through self-care. As owners incorporate these routines into their lifestyles, their homes follow suit. We’ve designed state-of-the-art home gyms, yoga rooms, and Pilates studios. Another popular approach to wellness is biohacking practices, such as red light therapy, saunas, and cold plunges.

Lastly, our clients also crave everyday spaces that promote overall well-being and self-care. We’ve built countless pools, hot tubs, meditative corners, and serene escapes. Want to see more of these gorgeous wellness-inspired spaces? Scroll through the gallery below to get a taste of it all!

Saunas, Hot Tubs, and Pools

State-of-the-Art Home Gyms

Meditative Corners

Serene Self-Care Spaces

Modern Kitchen Design: Spaces Driven by Character

Are you making plans for a new kitchen this year? As the process begins, you’re probably asking yourself: What trends are defining kitchen style in 2026? As custom home builders and remodelers, we’d say modern kitchen design is driven by character. Our clients want to create homes that reflect their unique interests, lifestyles, and design sensibilities. Below is a brief list of features owners are choosing to increase their kitchen’s functionality and express their style.

• Statement Appliances
  Hiding and blending appliances still have a place in kitchen design. But more homeowners are also adding statement appliances with bold colors, metallic accents, and other bespoke finishes.

• Banquettes
  There is nothing cozier than a built-in booth or corner seating! We love how these built-ins elevate a kitchen or dining nook, making it feel special.

• Sculptural Islands
  Kitchen islands have always been functional, but an emphasis on detailing and beauty is making them more ornate, like a piece of fine furniture.

• Prep Kitchens
  Whether you call it a larder, butler’s pantry, or prep kitchen, these tucked-away spaces keep cooking messes and kitchen clutter out of sight, making hosting a breeze!

• Integrated Bars
  Custom bars remain a massive kitchen trend that isn’t losing steam! From coffee to beverages to cocktails to smoothies, these integrated stations allow artful entertaining and extend the kitchen gracefully into other living areas.

• Full-Height Backsplashes
  Practical and pretty, full-height backsplashes bring a splash of design drama and provide a visual backdrop to any kitchen. They’re also easier to clean than tile and can provide an extra ledge for storage and display.

• Separated Spaces
  While open floor plans were all the rage for years, homeowners are craving separate spaces in the post-pandemic era. Separated spaces allow more privacy, contain messes, lower noise levels, and complement traditional/formal gatherings.

Ready to be inspired by character-driven kitchen design? Scroll below to see our clients’ expressive kitchens - they are all absolutely stunning!

Remodeling vs. Custom Build: How REFINED's Dual Expertise Helps You Decide What's Best for Your Family

The Foundation of Your Dream Home

Family life is full of countless decisions, both big and small. What should we eat for dinner tonight? Should the kids play soccer or basketball? Where should we go on vacation this summer? When it comes to home ownership, the decisions can be even more endless, the greatest being: should we remodel our home or build a new custom one? How do you know which option is best for your family? What does that conversation even look like?

Where you live feels consequential because it is - it touches every part of family life. Remodeling or building a new home impacts your finances, community, and lifestyle. Not to mention the emotional stakes when kids are involved; their house, school, and neighborhood are the center of a kid’s universe. Change can be good, but it’s still challenging.

If your family is weighing whether or not to remodel or build, REFINED Custom Homes is uniquely qualified to lead the process. Our team has built and renovated over 100 homes in Edina and the surrounding area. We know the ins and outs of high-end remodeling, custom building, and real estate. This dual expertise is the single most valuable resource for determining the ideal path for your family and future.

Keep reading to explore the pros and cons of remodeling versus building and how our team can help you navigate the process.

The Case for Remodeling: Enhancing What You Have

So, what’s the case for staying put and remodeling? Above all else, you get to avoid the logistical headache of moving, but here are a few more pros:

• Preserve Your Location
  You can replace a house and things, but you can’t replace people. Staying in your current neighborhood means maintaining ties to school, community, family, and friends. Those connections are irreplaceable.

• Targeted Improvement
  Remodeling is an ideal solution for focusing on specific problem areas in your home (for example, the kitchen, master suite, or basement) without having to start over again from scratch.

• Understanding the Process
  At REFINED, our team understands that remodeling is about equally balancing the need to maximize and maintain an existing structure. We take great care to respect every home’s history while fulfilling its design potential. Scroll through our Remodeling gallery for a glimpse of our work!

• When to Remodel
  To summarize, here are a few key indicators that may indicate remodeling is a better fit for your home/family: a desirable location, a good mortgage rate, increased equity, strong school/community connections, a smaller project scope, and a tight housing market/low inventory.

The Appeal of Custom Building: Starting with a Blank Slate

We’ve covered the benefits of remodeling, so what are the advantages of starting over with a custom build? Namely, the biggest win is designing exactly what you want, but here are some more pros:

• Total Personalization
  Have you been dreaming of a fully customized space? Building from scratch ensures near total design freedom - every detail and choice can reflect your vision and lifestyle.

• Modern Performance
  A new home means the latest in technology, performance materials, smart home features, and energy efficiency upgrades. No need to worry about replacing decades-old water heaters or inefficient windows; it’s smooth sailing with brand-new warranties.

• Understanding the Process
  When it comes to building custom homes in the Twin Cities Metro, the REFINED team has done it all. We’ve built over 100 custom homes in Edina and the surrounding area, and our experienced professionals guide you seamlessly through the entire process, from lot selection to architectural design to materials selection to construction to the final move-in.

• When to Custom Build

  To summarize, here are a few key indicators that may indicate building a custom home is a better fit for your home/family: an unappealing location, limited space for expansion, too many updates needed, or potential repairs outpace the home’s value.

REFINED's Dual Expertise: Your Trusted Advisor
After you’ve weighed out all of the pros and cons of remodeling or building, the next crucial step is finding a team you can trust. The people you invite into your home aren’t just tradespeople for hire; they’re your trusted advisors. At REFINED Custom Homes, our dual expertise in building and remodeling is exactly the skillset you want in your corner. Here are a few of the standout elements of our design process:

• The Crucial Consultation
  Before any new project, our team begins with an in-depth consultation. We assess your home, your current and future lifestyle needs, your budget, and long-term family goals before making recommendations.

• Unbiased Guidance
  We are committed to providing our clients with unbiased guidance. Our priority above all else is helping you find the best option for your family and home with our experience and expertise as a guide.

• Pivoting with Confidence
  We all know surprises happen, and plans change, especially when it comes to home projects. A huge advantage of a builder like REFINED is that we can seamlessly transition from a complex remodel to a custom build if the existing structure proves too limiting or costly.

Making the Right Decision for Your Family

Being at a decision-making crossroads with your home can be paralyzing. With so many factors to consider, it can feel impossible to decipher the right path. However, what’s most important in the end is finding the right decision for your specific family.

Whether you stay put and remodel your current home or start over with a new build, each process has its benefits and drawbacks. At REFINED, you don't have to choose a builder who only specializes in one area. As your plans evolve, you’ll have a design partner who can lead you down the best path for you. Contact REFINED today to schedule a no-obligation consultation and start planning your project!