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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BLEND AWARDS CEREMONY - TONIGHT!!
We are thrilled to have Katherine Solomonson as our featured speaker for the 2019 BLEND Awards Grand Ceremony. Come see all the submitted project and hear the winners announced live! Due to the combined ceremony, we will have a BEST OF MINNEAPOLIS and a BEST OF ST. PAUL, rather than just a BEST IN SHOW this year, making for 2 big winners! Click here to RSVP for ceremony. Monday, September 23, 2019 - TONIGHT!!!! 7-9 pm Fulton Brewery & Taproom (414 N 6th Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55401) FEATURED SPEAKER: Katherine Solomonson, Architectural Historian & Author, Univ of MN, Dept of Architecture Ceremony is free to attend. Food and cash bar will be available. All are welcome to attend! You needn't have a submission to come celebrate great projects. Please note that only winning projects with a representative at the ceremony will be announced at the ceremony, although all winning projects will be included online and press releases. SUBMISSIONS FOR BLEND/EcoBLEND ARE NOW CLOSED FOR 2019! Thank you to all our submitters! We look forward to seeing you at the BLEND Awards Ceremony on Sept 23 at Fulton Brewery. Click here to RSVP for ceremony. 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. Mark your calendars:
We are excited to announce that Katherine Solomonson, professor of architecture and urban history at University of Minnesota will be our guest speaker for the 2019 BLEND Awards Ceremony! Congratulations to 2018 BLEND Award Winners - MINNEAPOLIS & ST PAUL!!
Click here for a full list of Minneapolis winners and please visit the 2018 Gallery for more project photos! Click here for a full list of St Paul winners! Check out pictures from the 2018 Celebration, including all the winners! 
BEST IN SHOW
Upton Revived [BEST IN SHOW - MINNEAPOLIS] Linden Hills N'hood, Southwest Architect: Mark Larson and Will Spencer, Rehkamp Larson Architects Builder: Welch Forsman 
BEST IN SHOW
Elevated Craftsman [BEST IN SHOW - ST. PAUL] Architect: Jackie Millea, Shelter Architecture Builder: Palladian 
RENOVATION/ADDITION
MINNEAPOLIS Arts & Crafts Revival East Harriet N'hood, Southwest Architect: Dan Nepp, Petra Schwartze. TEA2 Architects Builder: Trestle Custom Homes East Calhoun Residence East Calhoun N'hood, Calhoun-Isles Architect: Gabriel Keller Assoc. AIA, Carl Olson AIA, Peterssen/Keller Architecture Builder: G3 Development East Harriet Revival East Harriet N'hood, Southwest Architect: Dan Nepp, Tyler Hillger, TEA2 Architects Builder: Anderson Reda Fulton Fulton N'hood, Southwest Architect: Julie & Ted MacLeod Builder: w.b.builders Homeowner: Julie & Ted MacLeod Minneapolis Fire Restoration Lynhurst N'hood, Southwest Architect/Builder: TreHus Architects + Interior Designers + Builders Homeowner: Rebecca Arons & Tom Bastings Net Zero Victorian Whittier N'hood, Powderhorn Architect: Marc Sloot, SALA Architects Builder: Morrissey Builds / Sean Morrissey Homeowner: Linda and Stewart Herman Parkway Home East Harriet N'hood, Southwest Architect: Paul Neseth, LOCUS Architecture Builder: Matt Davis; Shaw Design Associates (Landscape) Upton Renovation/Addition Fulton N'hood, Southwest Architect: Rachel Wagner, Elden Lindamood, Wagner Zaun Architecture Builder: Ben Quie and Sons Building and Remodeling Homeowner: Gary and Claire Nelson Upton Revived [BEST IN SHOW] Linden Hills N'hood, Southwest Architect: Mark Larson and Will Spencer, Rehkamp Larson Architects Builder: Welch Forsman Uptown Uplift East Calhoun N'hood, Calhoun-Isles Architect: David Heide and Chris Chirstofferson, David Heide Design Studio Builder: Next Level Renovation ----- ST PAUL Crocus Hill Renovation Architect: Kristine Anderson, Lars Peterssen, Peterssen/Keller Architecture Builder: Anderson Reda Elevated Craftsman [BEST IN SHOW] Architect:Jackie Millea Shelter Architecture Builder: Palladian Out On the Porch *small project (<$150,000) Architect: David Heide and Brad Belka, David Heide Design Studio Builder: Golliker Construction Inc. Summit Hill Addition Architect: Jean Rehkamp Larson, AIA and Angela Taffe Wingate, Rehkamp Larson Architects Builder: Full Circle Construction |
Thank you to our 2019 Sponsors!
   Thank you to our 2019 Partners!
    Click here to join our email list!
Past BLEND Awards Winners: click here to request a FREE yard sign! 2019 Submission Forms For details on the 2019 submission process, including guidelines & forms to assist in preparing for electronic submission, click here. Past Award Recipients
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NEW CONSTRUCTION
MINNEAPOLIS
Home for a Lifetime
Linden Hills N'hood, Southwest
Architect/Builder: Lake Country Builders
Lake Place Prairie
East-Isles N'hood, Southwest
Architect: Leffert Tigelaar, Tom Henningsen and Jonathan Mason, TEA2 Architects
Builder: L. Cramer Designers & Builders
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ST. PAUL
Crocus Hill Shingle Style
Architect: Dan Nepp, Petra Schwartze, TEA2 Architects
Builder: John Kratz Builder, LLC
St. Paul New Craftsman
Architect: Colby Mattson, Charlie & Co Design
Builder: Kroiss Development Inc
Tuck under Tudor
Architect: Charlie Simmons, Maria J. Larenas, Charlie & Co Design
Builder: Detail Homes
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COMMERCIAL
ST. PAUL
Cookie Cart St. Paul
Architect: Edie Sebesta, Mark Burgess, U+B Architecture and Design
Builder: Watson-Forsberg
Owner: Cookie Cart
MINNEAPOLIS
Home for a Lifetime
Linden Hills N'hood, Southwest
Architect/Builder: Lake Country Builders
Lake Place Prairie
East-Isles N'hood, Southwest
Architect: Leffert Tigelaar, Tom Henningsen and Jonathan Mason, TEA2 Architects
Builder: L. Cramer Designers & Builders
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ST. PAUL
Crocus Hill Shingle Style
Architect: Dan Nepp, Petra Schwartze, TEA2 Architects
Builder: John Kratz Builder, LLC
St. Paul New Craftsman
Architect: Colby Mattson, Charlie & Co Design
Builder: Kroiss Development Inc
Tuck under Tudor
Architect: Charlie Simmons, Maria J. Larenas, Charlie & Co Design
Builder: Detail Homes
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COMMERCIAL
ST. PAUL
Cookie Cart St. Paul
Architect: Edie Sebesta, Mark Burgess, U+B Architecture and Design
Builder: Watson-Forsberg
Owner: Cookie Cart
EcoBLEND AWARD
MINNEAPOLIS
Net Zero Victorian
Whittier N'hood, Powderhorn
Architect: Marc Sloot, SALA Architects
Builder: Morrissey Builds / Sean Morrissey
Homeowners: Linda and Stewart Herman
Upton Renovation/Addition
Fulton N'hood, Southwest
Architect: Rachel Wagner, Elden Lindamood, Wagner Zaun Architecture
Builder: Ben Quie and Sons Building and Remodeling
Homeowner: Gary and Claire Nelson
MINNEAPOLIS
Net Zero Victorian
Whittier N'hood, Powderhorn
Architect: Marc Sloot, SALA Architects
Builder: Morrissey Builds / Sean Morrissey
Homeowners: Linda and Stewart Herman
Upton Renovation/Addition
Fulton N'hood, Southwest
Architect: Rachel Wagner, Elden Lindamood, Wagner Zaun Architecture
Builder: Ben Quie and Sons Building and Remodeling
Homeowner: Gary and Claire Nelson
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 2018 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 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 2018 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 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.
