Here are some highlights from two homes on the tour — a sprawling French Country family home and traditional empty-nester condo.
RUSTIC ELEGANCE
No. 2 on Luxury Tour
The look: Old World European style with modern must-haves.
Get sporty: This 6,600-square-foot home in Edina's Highland neighborhood was built for a family with young children — and an eye to the future. There's a 16-foot-tall basketball sport court (painted in Edina High School's colors, of course). "Many high-end homes now have customized sport courts — everything from golf simulators to batting cages," said Dan Schaefer, owner of Landmark Build Co.
Kitchen classic: A refreshing alternative to the ubiquitous gray-and-white palette, this home boasts earthtones with an eye-catching fleur-de-lis tile backsplash, quartzite on top of the island and dark-stained walnut island cabinets. Burnished gold hardware adds warmth, said Andrea Darcy, a designer for Landmark. There's also a very modern, 60-inch-wide refrigerator/freezer, which is concealed behind classic paneled cabinetry.
For drama: The staircase in the foyer, with its French-inspired wrought iron railing, climbs to an interior Juliet balcony. Wherefore art thou?
Grown-ups only: On the second floor, the owners have a vaulted private suite, which includes a bathroom with heated floors, soaking tub and oversized shower with multiple body sprays.
All in the family: The second floor also has a "family lounge" for reading, games and movie night. "It's the little man's cave," said Schaefer, who pointed out the secret playroom tucked behind a wall. There's also a guest suite that can double as a nanny's quarters nearby.
Entertainment central: The lower level media room wall is clad in distressed barn wood "to bring a little history and texture into a new home," said Schaefer. Seating areas, a bar and mini wine cellar make the space perfect for parties.
TV time: The house has eight TVs, including one in the exercise room. But you may not see all of them: The living room's TV is hidden inside a cabinet with retractable doors.
TONY AND TIMELESS
No. 9 on Artisan Tour
The look: A 2,080-square-foot condo in Garrison Landing, a luxury nine-unit building in downtown Wayzata. Just two blocks from Lake Minnetonka, the unit is on the market for $1.395 million.
Timeless design: Crown moldings and coffered ceilings fit with the building's traditional brick exterior, which "looks like it's always been in that spot," said Gary Kraemer, president of builder John Kraemer & Sons.
Soft palette: Rebecca Van't Hull, senior designer for Martha O'Hara Interiors, selected a palette of silvery blues and grays against a backdrop of white oak floors. "It's feels soft and sophisticated," she said, adding, "We're moving away from dark-stained floors." She also used art and accessories to provide splashes of color.
Sweet suite: The balcony off the master bedroom offers a view of Lake Minnetonka. The suite also includes a spa-style bathroom with a steam shower and heated marble floors.
Stylish storage: With its numerous shoe shelves and lighted clothing rods, the master closet is reminiscent of Carrie Bradshaw's closet from "Sex and the City," Kraemer said.
A kitchen that cooks: The Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances are surrounded by abundant cabinets. "Buyers are usually downsizing from a big home and need lots of storage," Kraemer said.
Posh powder room. The guest bathroom is designed to impress, with bold geometric-patterned wallpaper and a shiny metal basin under swirling marble backsplash.
Jewelry of the home: Lighting is the finishing touch in a space, Van't Hull said. "People can see how we mixed materials — the metal fixture over the dining room table and fabric shades over the island."
Lynn Underwood
