From seaside to suburbs, countryside to city limits, Cape Cod homes are instantly recognizable just about anywhere. Its popular structure and established identity resonate across the country through variations on those iconic features.

 Cape Cod homes are one-and-a-half stories, simple in shape and surrounded by a nostalgic aura. My listing located at 1317 Tyrol Trail is a classic, all-brick move-in ready home. Steeply gabled roofs with sloping eaves, a central chimney, and windows and dormers framing the front door – these are the unmistakable style features of a Cape Cod home. It is timeless, both classic and contemporary, and bestirs those “home sweet home” memories.

Exterior shot of the classic, all-brick Cape Cod home at 1317 Tyrol Trail.

Says Lisa Hassler of Historic Homes Cape Cod in Massachusetts, “Over the…

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Another year has come and gone, but what a year it was!  From ramblers to lake lodges, custom woodwork to open kitchens, and stunning views to a private pub, 2017 was a year to remember.

Much like the previous year, 2017 saw quick movement of homes under $350,000, and, to our delight, an increase from 2016 in closings of homes over $1,000,000.  From the transactions I closed in 2017 (below), it appears that buyers, more and more, are looking for homes that are new-construction or recently updated.  As is always true, the location of a home makes a huge impact on price and time on market.  I expect that trend will continue into 2018 and my market knowledge will help to price a home so that it sells as quickly as possible.  I also suspect there will be…

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Autumn is the time of year that brings those beautiful blends of colors, crisp fresh air, hot apple cider, warm woolen socks, and a well-tended fire for pure comfort. The fireplace is an architectural feature that has morphed from a practical necessity into the focal point of any living room, a social necessity for every season.

At 4400 Golden Valley Road, the fireplace is the perfect accent to the clean white interior of the living room. Its central position invites everyone to gather around. Off the kitchen is a private library with warm tones and dark wood trim that enriches a second lively fire, creating an intensely comfortable private retreat.

                       

                       

Organic stone and custom woodwork emphasize the…

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Throughout September and October, the Berg Larsen Group will be donating $100 to the MacPhail Center for Music with each new listing we put on the Twin Cities market. The MacPhail Center uses music education to build connections, engage communities, and spread joy and beauty.

Art takes many shapes and forms, and offers a window to other ways of life, societies, and cultures. Literature is a great record of social history and architectural styles. Often, an author’s inspiration for characters and setting comes directly through their own experiences with such. Through her research into the houses of British literature, Phyllis Richardson found “literature is filled with thinking, writing, and imagining houses in ways that betray a particular…

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In its July issue, Midwest Home Magazine featured author and longtime gardener Lynn Steiner on working with native plants. “Once I discovered how wonderful and beneficial they are,” she says, “I’ve focused on helping people incorporate more natives into traditional landscapes.”

Thriving entry garden at 3955 Walden Shores.

3955 Walden Shores exhibits a perfect example of a thriving entry garden. Native and non-native trees, shrubs, and perennials work together to create an exceptionally scenic environment that encourages diverse insects and pollinators. Part of this landscape’s charm are the picturesque destinations: a winding walkway opens upon a lush arcade that connects to a hidden patio. These features surround guests in nature. At each knee wall, it is tangible and within reach. On each…

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Welcome to the intersection of industrial and contemporary design. The interplay between the stark, metallic stainless steel countertops and other natural, muted materials forms a special connection between the two styles. Truly modern in its application, stainless steel countertops provide the perfect worktop for the gourmet chef in all of us.

Ready-made for entertaining and everyday living, the spacious kitchen at 4400 Golden Valley Road has both limestone and stainless steel countertops accompanied by professional grade Viking appliances. The unique pairing of the warm wood flooring, natural limestone, and stunning stainless steel softens the industrial feel into a comfortably modern kitchen. Intentional lighting accents intensify these exceptional…

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Two of my recent listings share the common feature of wood paneling, illustrating its traditional and contemporary design. An excellent accent with the power to expand small spaces, effect intimacy and comfort in large spaces- wood paneling is a dynamic asset to interior design.

Traditionally, wood paneling is associated with classic New England cottages. At 660 Brockton Lane, warm wood touches are included throughout the home and are concentrated in the generously sized family room with a stunning exposed wood beam ceiling. The combination of the vaulted ceiling and broad shiplap paneling draws the eye upward, emphasizing the ceiling height and seemingly increasing the size of the room. This waterfront rambler is complete with the character of a lake…

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As the days grow longer and the sun lingers well into the evening hours, what better place to be than in the warm embrace of a familiar setting on a summer night? With the perfect outdoor lighting, your summer evening can begin even as the sun sets.

Dwell published “9 Ways to Create the Perfect Outdoor Lighting,” which inspired a closer look at one of my current listings and its potential for outdoor lighting schemes.Multiple levels include the balcony, back porch, and pool deck.

4400 Golden Valley Road reveals a dramatic interior ready-made for entertaining and everyday living. Its exterior, complete with an in-ground pool, can transform that daytime luncheon into an evening soiree. The multiple levels, from the balcony to the back porch and pool deck, can serve several different purposes, and create several…

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