To encourage and reward builders, architects, and home owners to blend newly remodeled or constructed homes and businesses into the fabric of Minneapolis and St. Paul neighborhoods.
There is no project too small nor too big to BLEND! Whether it’s an addition, new construction, new/redone outbuilding, landscape project, exterior facelift, or something else – residential or commercial – any project (regardless of cost) can BLEND!
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Congratulations to 2019 BLEND Award Winners - MINNEAPOLIS & ST PAUL!!
Click here for a full list of 2019 BLEND Award winners, from both Minneapolis and St. Paul, and please visit the 2019 Gallery for more project photos! And for photos of the fun at the 2019 Celebration, click here! 
Tangletown Bungalow Rejuvenated [BEST IN SHOW - Minneapolis]
Tangletown N’hood, Southwest Designer: Jeff Nicholson, Quartersawn Design Build Builder: Quartersawn Design Build 
Saint Paul Revisited [BEST IN SHOW - St. Paul]
Lexington-Hamline N’hood Designers: David Heide and Chris Christofferson, David Heide Design Studio Builder: Dovetail Renovation 
SMALL PROJECT (<$150,000) Complimentary Carriage Minneapolis: Fulton N’hood, Southwest designer: Brad Schulz, homeowner builder: Minneapolis St. Paul Garage Construction homeowners: Brad Schulz and Lisa Clark Milwaukee Avenue Side Porch Minneapolis: Seward N’hood, Longfellow designer: Charles Levin, Charles Levin Architects builder: Charles Levin Architects homeowners: Charles Levin and Lynn Brofman EXTERIOR/FAÇADE Craftsman Entry Enhancements Minneapolis: Kingfield N’hood, Southwest designer: Scott J. Newland, Newland Architecture, Inc. builder: Metropolis Construction Kings-Maplewood Restoration St. Paul: Macalester-Groveland N’hood designer: Charlie Simmons, Charlie & Co Design builder: John Kraemer & Sons Tangletown Bungalow Rejuvenated – BEST IN SHOW (Minneapolis) Minneapolis: Tangletown N’hood, Southwest designer: Jeff Nicholson, Quartersawn Design Build builder: Quartersawn Design Build RENOVATION/ADDITION Chowen Charmer Minneapolis: Fulton N’hood, Southwest designer: Brad Schulz, homeowner builder: Al Theisen Homes homeowners: Brad Schulz and Lisa Clark Rethinking Newton Minneapolis: Armatage N’hood, Southwest designer: Jim Scott and Bill Nagel, Locale Design Build builder: Locale Design Build St. Paul Residence St. Paul: Macalester-Groveland N’hood designer: Petra Schwartze, TEA2 Architects builder: Martin Keller Builders Saint Paul Revisited – BEST IN SHOW (St Paul) St. Paul: Lexington-Hamline N’hood designer: David Heide and Chris Christofferson, David Heide Design Studio builder: Dovetail Renovation Tudor Redux Minneapolis: West Calhoun N’hood, Calhoun-Isles designer: Tammy Angaran, Peterssen/Keller Architecture builder: Terra Firma Building and Remodeling 2019 BLEND AWARDS CEREMONY
We were thrilled to have Katherine Solomonson as our featured speaker for the 2019 BLEND Awards Grand Ceremony and a fabulous night at Fulton Brewery, celebrating great work in both our great cities! Thanks to all who submitted and came to the event. And a special thanks to our sponsors and partners! Click here for pics from the ceremony! SUBMISSIONS FOR BLEND/EcoBLEND ARE NOW CLOSED FOR 2019! Submissions for 2020 will open in June 2020. Click here to be added to our email list and be sure to get a notification when submissions are open. |
Are you interested in joining the BLEND Awards Planning Committee?!? We are seeking new volunteers to join our fun team! Commitment is 2-5 hours/month, consisting of 1 meeting per month with tasks & actions to execute between meetings.
Click here for additional information or to express interest! Click here to join our email list!
Thank you to our 2019 Sponsors!
   Thank you to our 2019 Partners!
    Click here to join our email list!
Past Award-Winning Projects
Want to see a list of all the BLEND Award-winner architecture firms and builders over the years?? Past BLEND Awards Winners: click here to request a FREE yard sign for next year's submission window! 2019 Submission Forms For details on the 2019 submission process, including guidelines & forms to assist in preparing for electronic submission, click here. |
Homeowners - Don't be *that* house!
Are you a homeowner considering an additional or remodel? Or undertaking a new construction project? For a project of which you can be proud, and your neighbors and neighborhood will love, check out the BLEND Awards' Resources for Homeowners, including
Thanks to all who visited BLEND Awards booth at the 2018 Southwest Home Improvement Fair for tips & resources!
Nominate your neighbor! Do you know of a project or property that is BLEND-worthy? Let us know about it! We will send them a postcard and encourage them to submit the project for consideration of a BLEND Award! See more details here!
Are you a homeowner considering an additional or remodel? Or undertaking a new construction project? For a project of which you can be proud, and your neighbors and neighborhood will love, check out the BLEND Awards' Resources for Homeowners, including
- BLEND Guidelines
- list of BLEND Award-winning architecture & design firms
- list of BLEND Awards-winning builders
- gallery of BLEND Award winning projects
Thanks to all who visited BLEND Awards booth at the 2018 Southwest Home Improvement Fair for tips & resources!
Nominate your neighbor! Do you know of a project or property that is BLEND-worthy? Let us know about it! We will send them a postcard and encourage them to submit the project for consideration of a BLEND Award! See more details here!
2019 BLEND & EcoBLEND Award Sponsors
Interested in sponsorship? Contact dan@blendaward.org for sponsorship information.
BLEND/EcoBLEND Sponsors
Special thanks to our GOLD SPONSOR: Pella Windows!
Special thanks to our GOLD SPONSOR: Pella Windows!
Thanks to our silver sponsors: Varsity Painters & Southview Design!
Thanks to our program partners: Minneapolis Climate Action, Minneapolis-St. Paul Home Tour, Fulton Brewery, and Coldwell Banker-Burnet (Lakes Office)
NEW for 2019!
ONE GRAND AWARDS CEREMONY! We are excited to combine the BLEND Awards Ceremony for Minneapolis and St. Paul into one grand ceremony...celebrating great work in both of our great cities together.
ONE GRAND AWARDS CEREMONY! We are excited to combine the BLEND Awards Ceremony for Minneapolis and St. Paul into one grand ceremony...celebrating great work in both of our great cities together.
NEW IN 2018!
BLEND Awards is expanding to St. Paul! In partnership with the Macalester-Groveland Community Council, building projects in St. Paul are now eligible to submit for a BLEND Award. There will be a separate judging panel and separate Awards ceremony, but the online submission process & timeline will be the same as BLEND-Minneapolis. Information and online submission will be centralized through the BLEND Awards website, www.blendaward.org. Be sure to sign up for our email list to receive updates & the latest news!
Homeowner Outreach. The BLEND Awards is implementing a homeowner outreach effort, including a booth at the SW Home Improvement Fair, a year-long series of ads & features in the Southwest Journal, a new section on our website, and increased social media action. Our goal is help homeowners enhance our neighborhoods with BLEND-worthy projects by providing resources to them. In addition to disseminating BLEND guidelines, our outreach highlights BLEND Award-winning architects & builders!
BLEND Awards is expanding to St. Paul! In partnership with the Macalester-Groveland Community Council, building projects in St. Paul are now eligible to submit for a BLEND Award. There will be a separate judging panel and separate Awards ceremony, but the online submission process & timeline will be the same as BLEND-Minneapolis. Information and online submission will be centralized through the BLEND Awards website, www.blendaward.org. Be sure to sign up for our email list to receive updates & the latest news!
Homeowner Outreach. The BLEND Awards is implementing a homeowner outreach effort, including a booth at the SW Home Improvement Fair, a year-long series of ads & features in the Southwest Journal, a new section on our website, and increased social media action. Our goal is help homeowners enhance our neighborhoods with BLEND-worthy projects by providing resources to them. In addition to disseminating BLEND guidelines, our outreach highlights BLEND Award-winning architects & builders!
New in 2017!
Nominate your Neighbor!
Do you know of a project or property that is BLEND-worthy? Let us know about it! We will send them a postcard and encourage them to submit the project for consideration of a 2017 BLEND Award! See more details here!
Emphasis on small projects!
You don't have to have do a whole house re-model, or a new house or spend loads of money to be a BLEND winner! A porch addition, a new entry, and even a garage have received BLEND Awards in the past. In 2017, there will be special emphasis on small projects that improve a property and BLEND with the existing fabric of the neighborhood. Be sure to submit projects of all sizes!!
New in 2016...and continuing for 2017
A significant portion of BLEND/EcoBLEND submission is ONLINE! In an effort to streamline the submission process, all materials except the display board & submission fee, will be submitted ONLINE this year. (Please bear with us...there are bound to be hiccups in our first year, and we are eager for your feedback.) For details on the updated submission process, click here.
Recognizing that the BLEND Awards is primarily focused on how a project blends with the existing fabric of the neighborhood, we have made several updates in the display board guidelines/requirements to ensure focus is on the exterior of a project and neighborhood context. Additionally, interior designers are not to be part of a BLEND Award submission.
New in 2015...and continuing for 2016!
The BLEND Award committee is excited to announce two new components to the BLEND Awards!
Best in Show - For the first time, one project will be selected by the judges as "Best in Show" of all BLEND Award recipients! The Best in Show winner will be highlighted on the BLEND webpage and in our outreach and press releases.
EcoBLEND Badge - The EcoBLEND Badge recognizes projects that incorporate eco-friendly design and sustainable building practices - but at a lower threshold than the full-blown EcoBLEND Award. The EcoBLEND Badge is intended to honor projects that not only represent good neighborhood design, but also go above & beyond building code and general expectations regarding the overall environmental 'footprint' of the project. Click here for more on EcoBLEND badge.
Updated BLEND Guidelines - The BLEND Guidelines have been updated and simplified to be more widely applicable city-wide. Check out the updated Guidelines here.
Nominate your Neighbor!
Do you know of a project or property that is BLEND-worthy? Let us know about it! We will send them a postcard and encourage them to submit the project for consideration of a 2017 BLEND Award! See more details here!
Emphasis on small projects!
You don't have to have do a whole house re-model, or a new house or spend loads of money to be a BLEND winner! A porch addition, a new entry, and even a garage have received BLEND Awards in the past. In 2017, there will be special emphasis on small projects that improve a property and BLEND with the existing fabric of the neighborhood. Be sure to submit projects of all sizes!!
New in 2016...and continuing for 2017
A significant portion of BLEND/EcoBLEND submission is ONLINE! In an effort to streamline the submission process, all materials except the display board & submission fee, will be submitted ONLINE this year. (Please bear with us...there are bound to be hiccups in our first year, and we are eager for your feedback.) For details on the updated submission process, click here.
Recognizing that the BLEND Awards is primarily focused on how a project blends with the existing fabric of the neighborhood, we have made several updates in the display board guidelines/requirements to ensure focus is on the exterior of a project and neighborhood context. Additionally, interior designers are not to be part of a BLEND Award submission.
New in 2015...and continuing for 2016!
The BLEND Award committee is excited to announce two new components to the BLEND Awards!
Best in Show - For the first time, one project will be selected by the judges as "Best in Show" of all BLEND Award recipients! The Best in Show winner will be highlighted on the BLEND webpage and in our outreach and press releases.
EcoBLEND Badge - The EcoBLEND Badge recognizes projects that incorporate eco-friendly design and sustainable building practices - but at a lower threshold than the full-blown EcoBLEND Award. The EcoBLEND Badge is intended to honor projects that not only represent good neighborhood design, but also go above & beyond building code and general expectations regarding the overall environmental 'footprint' of the project. Click here for more on EcoBLEND badge.
Updated BLEND Guidelines - The BLEND Guidelines have been updated and simplified to be more widely applicable city-wide. Check out the updated Guidelines here.
The BLEND Award organization recognizes that redevelopment of the residential parts of the neighborhood is both a given and a positive indicator for the neighborhood. Our goals are to 1) ensure that the redevelopment builds upon the qualities that have made Minneapolis a place where people have chosen to live for so many years, 2) ensure redevelopments respect the privacy, light access, private views of neighboring properties and maintain a human scale, and 3) encourage redevelopment and construction of homes that are diverse and innovative in design but still compatible with the neighborhood.
