It's the most wonderful time of the year...

...no, it's not Christmas season - it's Parade of Homes season!!  The Parade of Homes isn't just for people who are looking to buy a new house - it's a great way to spend the afternoon seeing the latest trends in residential design.  You may even find some inspiration for ways to decorate your own home.  And besides, it's not everyday you get the opportunity to walk through luxurious, multi-million dollar homes. 

I have been attending the Parade of Homes in Minneapolis, MN for the past 8 or 9 years, and believe me when I say that it is one of the highlights of my year.  It is currently running Thursdays-Sundays, 12-6pm until April 3rd.  More information about the Twin Cities' Parade of Homes can be found here: http://www.paradeofhomes.org/

Here is a sneak peek of some of the homes I am looking forward to visiting:

 This 6,000 square foot home located in Hugo, MN is currently listed for $1.5 million.  This home is listed as part of the "Energy Efficient Home Tour" because it implements a geothermal heating and cooling system, as well as several other energy saving technologies.

To say this 4,200 square foot home in Golden Valley is energy conscious would be an understatement.  It has nearly no utility bills each month!  And the coolest feature of the house?  The security system, media system as well as several other appliances are all monitored by...drum roll please...YOUR IPHONE!  Talk about cutting edge...

The influence of the Frank Lloyd Wright "Arts and Crafts" style is evident in the design of the exterior of this enormous home.  This Orono mansion is a whopping 8,786 square feet and is currently listed for $3.48 million!!

So that's all for our sneak peek.  I encourage you all to check out the homes listed on the Parade of Homes website, and I'm sure I will have quite the update after I visit the homes next week.