There are few things greater than the mark a talented interior designer can leave on a home. So imagine how lucky homeowners John Larsen and Mike Stewart feel to have had 30 designers work on their 100-year-old home on the Lakes of the Isles in Minneapolis, Minn.

As owners of the 2012 American Society of Interior Designers Showcase Home, Larsen and Stewart agreed to work with Minneapolis-St. Paul Magazine and a large team of designers and contractors months before moving in. In fact, a total of 30 ASID designers worked on the project, which includes an underground tunnel linking the house to an office, an artist’s studio, a meditation room, a gift-wrapping room and a full vegetable garden. Marvin Windows and Doors is one of the project’s sponsors.

Before Larsen and Stewart, the home was owned by Stanley and Martha Platte and was the grounds for many fund-raisers and events hosted by the civic-minded and politically active family. Its new owners are also known for their civic engagement and charitable efforts.

“We were really searching for a home that would appeal to local design aficionados and people with an appreciation for historic homes,” said ASID Showcase Home Committee Co-Chair Holly Bayer. “Not only is the home a perfect example of great design and beauty in the Twin Cities, but John and Mike’s passion for design mixed with their philanthropic commitments make them ideal candidates for this incredible transformation.”

The ASID Showcase Home at 2002 Lake of the Isles Parkway in Minneapolis will be open to the public from 10 a.m., Wednesday through Sunday, May 19-June 10. Tickets are available online at www.mspmag.com/hometour.

It’s almost New Year’s Eve! Although it’s a great night to go out and see all that your city has to offer, New Year’s Eve is also expensive and crowded. And who needs the hassle of getting a cab home? Sometimes it’s nice to just relax and enjoy your house on the last night of the year. Here are a few suggestions for what to do:

• Have a chili party: Chili is easy and versatile and pretty hard to mess up. You could assign someone to bring white bean chicken chili, another to bring classic chili con carne, another to bring black bean vegetarian chili, another to bring pork chili with salsa verde…you get the idea. For guests that aren’t big on cooking, it’s easy to bring chili accouterments like grated cheese, onions, cilantro, etc.
• Dessert and champagne party: Whether you are a master baker or just pick sweets up at the bakery, a dessert party will satisfy everyone’s sweet tooth on NYE! Don’t forget lots of champagne.
• Book club: If you have a literary bent, how about arranging a book club meeting for New Year’s? Bonus points if you design the menu around the book’s theme.
• Slumber party: Stay safe and stay off the roads! Invite your friends and their sleeping bags for a night of old-fashioned fun. Board games, movies, etc…the sky is the limit!

Have a safe and happy New Year’s Eve!

Image courtesy of EricMagnuson on Flickr.

We hope that all our MLuxe readers had a very merry Christmas and enjoyed a (possibly) long weekend full of family, food and fun.

Marvin is off today, so we’ll be back Tuesday to tell you all about the latest in the world of fine home living.

Happy holidays!

Image courtesy of aMacHan on Flickr.

With all the coming and going in life, it seems no area of the home experiences more tumult than the entryway. Piles of shoes, mussed rugs, various scattered debris — it doesn’t take long for a clean entryway to go awry.

Think about the importance of an organized entryway, how it can be both inviting and functional at once. How can you find calm and refuge when the first few feet inside your home looks like windblown yard sale?

Over at Houzz, Erin Lang Norris offers some tips to bring order to your entryway and — just maybe — your fast-moving life. Here’s some highlights:

• Add a mirror. “Zinging back and forth through the house before leaving for the day will only be increased if there’s not a mirror next to the doorway. I’d suggest keeping it small and above the shoulders, as a larger one may contribute to second guesses and outfit changes.”
• Consider a cubby storage system. “When you think about how many things you lug to and from work, school and extracurricular activities, it only makes sense to have a place to drop everything when you get home for the evening. Bag, shoes, hat, umbrella, water bottle — the list goes on. And if there are sports involved, you’re probably well aware of the difficulties behind keeping everything together. Improve organization by giving everybody his own cubby.”
• Catchall — a space for everything. “A place to ditch things such as your keys, bag and mail can be a huge help. Not only do you have a place to set things when you’re toting an armful of groceries, but you’ll also save time in the morning when everything is in one place.”

What’s your secret to combatting a cluttered entryway?

We spoke to designers, architects, builders and others in the home and fashion industries. As we had those conversations, some topics kept cropping up.

So, here’s what the experts are talking about: the top trends for 2011 in home building and design.

Trend #1: New Life for Old Materials

It’s more than merely recycling. It’s finding ways to turn substance into style — by taking raw material from one source and repurposing it in a completely unexpected way.

From metal tiles made of reclaimed airplane parts to countertops and wall panels made of recycled glass bottles, these innovative reworkings are adding creative flair – and sustainable substance — to homes across America.

Trend #2: Designing For Yourself
Americans are staying longer in their homes. With that comes a desire to make their homes fit their lifestyle. People aren’t designing a home to be as bland as possible for the next buyer – they’re designing it for themselves, to be lived in to the fullest.

In keeping with this, architects and designers say there’s a new definition of value. It’s not about the lowest price.

It’s about quality, durability and getting the style and the performance you want from the products in your home, whether that’s a sofa or a picture window.

Trend #3: Natural Materials
If it sprouted from the earth, designers are finding a way to use it in homes.

Flooring is one area where you might find a surprising substance under your feet – like palm, for example. How about wallcoverings made of banana trees? Ceiling tiles of jute? And while not as exotic as these other materials, sustainably grown pine can be found in window frames and other structural elements.

These products deliver beauty and durability along with their eco-friendly origins. The use of natural materials is still in its infancy in mainstream housing – but expect to see them more and more in the future.

Trend #4: Trad-Mod
As the name suggests, these are traditional elements with a modern twist – a little sleeker, a little surprising. Examples include streamlined living and dining room sets, silk chandeliers and casement windows that simulate the look of a classic double hung.

Trend #5: Relaxed Outdoor Living
Forget the elaborate outdoor kitchens of a few years ago. Outdoor living is still important to American homeowners, but they’re going for a more relaxed, low-key version. Think fireplaces and fire pits, comfortable outdoor seating and dining areas, interesting lighting and simple counter space.

And to connect indoors and out, energy-efficient patio doors – either sliding or swinging — are a must.

Trend #6: Energy Efficiency and Sustainability
No list of home trends would be complete without these topics – and they only get more important every year. The largest annual study of American homebuying preferences, by AVID Ratings, found that four of the top 10 desired home features involve energy efficiency. So, alongside such features as walk-in closets and kitchen islands, American homebuyers want:

• Energy-efficient windows
• Energy-efficient appliances
• High-efficiency insulation

Sustainability includes conserving water, maximizing natural heat and light, and using low-VOC materials (volatile organic compounds). Quality and durability are also part of the sustainability picture. Well-built, high quality home products last longer — and don’t end up in landfills.

Many thanks to the experts who shared their 2011 predictions. Special thanks to

Christine L. Albertsson AIA, CID, NCARB, Albertsson Hansen Architecture, Ltd.

Kurt Gough, A-AIA, Shelter Architecture

Susan Nackers Ludwig, Residential Architect

On of the Web’s largest resources of helpful how-to information — on anything from computer repair to gardening to résumé writing and more — is eHow.com. The site has a wealth of home and garden advice, including a series of interior decorating videos with tips from decorator Ann Myrick.

On eHow’s YouTube channel, you’ll find videos like this one, with some basic tips on nicely hanging groups of framed photos or art:

Myrick also offers tips on accessorizing a living room, arranging bedroom furniture and more. And while you’re watching great YouTube content, be sure to check out Marvin’s own channel for all sorts of tips on energy efficiency, preparing your home for winter, tips for shopping for windows and doors, and more.

King County, Washington, has developed a great tool for homeowners looking to add some more energy efficiency into their home lives. Whether it’s just a few new things to add during a little remodeling project or digging deeper during a big renovation, Eco-Cool Remodel Tool has plenty of ideas for you.

Take a tour through our virtual house and find ways to green up your next home remodeling project. You’ll find tips and resources ranging from selecting healthy paint products, to what you should consider when replacing your furnace, upgrading your kitchen or landscaping your yard. Green home remodeling creates healthy, comfortable spaces that can save you money, increase your home’s value and help protect the environment.

The county also offers a larger collection of “green tools” for homeowners and builders, including case studies, green remodeling guides and more — as well as a GreenTools blog for more information for efficiency-minded homeowners. Check out all King County has to offer here.

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Hello fellow Minnesotans! If you are coming to the fair (or making a trip from out of state to attend the Great Minnesota Get Together), make sure to stop by the Marvin booth. We’re located in the Grandstand, on the upper level southwest quadrant.

Come see us! We have lots of great products from Marvin Windows and Doors, Integrity Windows and Doors and Infinity Replacement Windows. It’s a chance to check out some of our most popular offerings and chat with our retailers about window replacement and the soon-ending energy tax credit.

And in the spirit of the Fair, here are a couple other things we love to do while there:

• Anything on a stick: Pronto Pups, mac and cheese, alligator, cotton candy and deep fried Snickers.
• All you can drink Minnesota milk: just $1!
• The Mighty Midway: go on these wild rides BEFORE consuming deep fried Snickers.
• CHS Miracle of Birth Center: baby animals, what could be cuter?
• Concerts: not to be missed! This year’s lineup includes A Prairie Home Companion, Tim McGraw and KISS.

So grab your family and friends and head down to the Fair for some food, fun and Marvin! The Minnesota State Fair runs through Labor Day and more info can be found at www.mnstatefair.org.

Photo courtesy of the Minnesota State Fair.

Just as January often tests the quality of a home’s insulation and heating, August tends to be the month of truth for a home’s cooling systems.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Americans spend on average 7 percent of their annual income on utilities. It’s no wonder we’re always looking for ways to save a few dollars, especially in the warmest summer month where the utility bill — and the heat — can keep you up late at night.

Tom Kraeutler, host of The Money Pit, recently shared a list of economical tips and tricks to help you keep your utility bill low as the temperatures rise. Here are a few items often overlooked:

• If your air conditioning equipment is getting old (and therefore less efficient), you might actually make money by trading up to Energy Star-qualified AC units and systems. Installing a new system now can compound your summer energy savings with valuable tax credits and local utility rebates that are available until the end of this year.
• Seal all duct seams to keep that hard-earned cool air from escaping into dead ends. As much as 20 percent of circulating air is lost to leaks and faulty connections, but a bit of your time and some mastic sealant or metal (UL 181) tape is all it takes to seal ducts in attics, basements and crawlspaces.
• Strategic landscaping will have your home made in the shade, so add and maintain trees on the south and west sides to help shelter and shield the sunniest sides of the structure.

If you haven’t the time for a landscaping job or AC replacement before the next heat wave, think smaller.

Check out the latest product from Dyson – the Air Multiplier. These bladeless fans draw in air from the base and amplify it 15 to 18 times. This product has drawn a lot of buzz at tradeshows with its sleek design and unique function. Dan Neil of the Los Angeles Times wrote, “It functions beautifully and looks great too. This thing is flat-out brilliant.”

To show how the product works, the team at Dyson created this video which shows the device drawing and amplifying air. Check it out:



If you live in a climate where the seasons really change, you know that the warmth of summer really means something. Now, I am sure for those of you in San Diego, Miami and Austin, summer means something to you, too.  No matter where you live, being comfortable during the summer can sometimes be challenging.

I give the advice all the time to have your heating and cooling system checked each year, but did you know spring and early summer are actually the best time to have this done? You see, if your central air conditioner needs some TLC, it needs to be above 70 degrees to properly add the right amount of refrigerant.   And just as you would control drafts in the winter, you want to make sure that your windows and doors are tightly sealed in the summer, as well. If you need new ones then all you need to do is visit www.marvin.com.

At my house, the use of the A/C is sporadic at best.  One issue for us and many others is that closed-in, stale feeling the air can have when the system is running for days on end. One way to help the indoor air quality is to install and outside air exchange system. Many manufacturers offer these. The unit brings in fresh outdoor air, filters it and then circulates it through your system to keep the air fresh inside your home. This can be especially helpful to those who suffer from allergies or Asthma. In fact, the EPA estimates that the indoor air inside your home can be 10 times more polluted than the outside air. The cost of installation is around $1,500-$2,000. You can talk to your HVAC contractor about this.

Another way to stay comfortable is to move the air. Keep those ceiling fans turning to keep the air temperature consistent at all levels of your home. By doing this, your HVAC system will actually run less and you could even save a little on your energy bills this season.

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