Home + Design

Make Your House Work for You

Get accurate estimates to remodel your home and stay where you love Article by Sue Baldani | Photography by PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED BY OA People have many reasons for renovating a home. It may be that they just purchased a fixer-upper, need more square footage due to the birth of children, or desire a downstairs primary bedroom later in life. Renovations may range from redoing a small bathroom or remodeling a kitchen to adding an entire floor or wing. Whatever the reason, homeowners want the job...

Travel

OPA!

Santorini, A Gem of Greece Article by Courtney Reed | Photography by Alexandra Patty There is something quite indescribable and magical about Santorini. First off, upon arrival and the first view out over the water will take your breath away. The vista and caldera alone…it’s like the universe has handed you the best of the Mediterranean on a platter. And, it has. Greece boasts between 1,200 and 6,000 islands and islets dependent upon size and only a fraction of these are inhabitable, making...

Life + Culture

Celebrating Homes, History, and Community

The 2026 MSP Home Tour Returns Article by Sarah Knieff This spring, homeowners, design enthusiasts, and curious neighbors will once again step inside some of the Twin Cities’ most inspiring renovations as the MSP Home Tour returns May 2–3, 2026. The free, self-guided event invites visitors to explore remodeled homes across Minneapolis, Saint Paul, and surrounding suburbs, offering a rare look at how residents are reimagining spaces of every age, size, and budget. Now in its 37th year, the...

Finance + Legal Services

Elizabeth Cox Elected Partner at Best & Flanagan

We are pleased to announce that Elizabeth R. Cox has been elected as a partner at Best & Flanagan, effective January 1, 2026. A valued member of our Litigation practice group, Elizabeth focuses her expertise on construction and business litigation, as well as representing clients in contract disputes.In a statement, Board Chair Dan Grimsrud remarked, “Elizabeth exemplifies the qualities we value at Best & Flanagan: a deep commitment to client service, an ability to navigate complex legal...

Home + Design

Remodeling Without the Guesswork

How Mixson Home Services Is Redefining Trust in Home Renovation Article by Sarah Knieff Home remodeling doesn’t have to feel like a leap of faith. At least, that’s the belief driving Mixson Home Services. Within an industry where homeowners often expect unclear pricing, constant delays, and limited communication, the company has taken a deliberately different approach. Founded by longtime friends EJ Johnson and Grant Mixdorf, Mixson Home Services blends skilled craftsmanship with radical...

Home Services

From Chaos to Calm

The Real Cleaners Approach to Home and Heart Article by Sarah Knieff | Photography by Andrew Vick When life feels overwhelming, sometimes the smallest acts can restore a sense of control. For many families across the cities, that act comes in the form of a freshly cleaned home, delivered with care, compassion, and intention by the team at Real Cleaners. Founded in 2024 by entrepreneur and mother Talia Bartley, Real Cleaners has quickly grown from a residential cleaning service into a trusted...

Life + Culture

Rightsizing with Style

An Empty Nester Designer's Journey to a Lighter, More Intentional Home Photography by Ashley Sullivan In her book “Love It or Leave It: Your Guide to Thriving in Your Next Chapter,” Cari Ann Carter, a top-producing Twin Cities realtor and owner of Cari Ann Carter Group, offers empty nesters a compassionate framework for deciding whether to transform their current home or embrace a lighter, more aligned lifestyle.    Drawing from 28 years of guiding families through this pivotal transition...

Real Estate

Winter Magic at the Loppet

Discovering Beauty in the Season We’re GivenThere’s a moment each winter when the Twin Cities transforms into something extraordinary. When frozen lakes become canvases for imagination, and the cold night is a magical fairytale. This is the Loppet—what I’ve come to call the Winter Light and Artistry.A Storybook Setting on Lake of the IslesPicture this: You’re standing on a frozen Lake of the Isles, one of Minneapolis’s crown jewels, surrounded by ice sculptures that catch and refract the glow of...

Finance + Legal Services

Rooted in a Century of Trust

Best & Flanagan is incredibly excited to celebrate its centennial year in 2026.Founding partners Jim Best and Bob Flanagan established their partnership on the corner of 5th Street & 2nd Avenue South in Minneapolis in the New York Life Building in the summer of 1926. The stock market crash of 1929 predictably spawned a high volume of litigation amongst banks and trust companies. Many larger law firms would not handle these claims because of their industry connections, but B&F was too...

Health + Wellness

Smiles Rooted in Community

At Linden Hills Dentistry, four doctors share how heartfelt connections—both in the chair and around town—make caring for Minneapolis smiles feel like coming home Article by Sarah Knieff Dr. Matt Hawn What inspired you to become a dentist — what do you love most about your work?   For me, dentistry was a perfect blend of art, science, and working with people.  We have so many great patients and it's fun to see them transition from being fearful of the dentist to actually enjoying the...