Minnesota

Heritage Craftsmanship: Red Wing Shoes Video Series

Filed under: Apparel, Shoes, Men's Style, Video

For over 100 years, the Minnesota-based Red Wing Shoe Company has been carefully crafting premium quality footwear made for specific work environments. Designed for duty on factory floors, construction sites, refineries and railroads, their rugged style has also been adopted by many who do nothing more perilous than cross a Brooklyn subway platform at rush hour. These days you can even find them at J. Crew.

The Red Wing Heritage collection pays homage to the company's history of hardcore work boots with some styles designed for the Range Rover set as well. We are, admittedly, in the latter camp. Regardless of which style suits you, the boots and shoes are still crafted with skill and treated like fine tools for the wearer. Premium Red Wing Shoes leather, tanned at the company's own S.B Foot Tanning Company, is triple stitched with waxed thread for quality. The video above shows the process in action.

Charles Beckman, a Red Wing, Minnesota merchant who saw a need for durable and comfortable work boots, founded the firm in 1905. Today, a third generation of employees, located just down the road from the original factory, continues the tradition he established by using the same craftsmanship and attention to detail. The tannery video is one in a series showing all facets of Red Wing's time-honored operation. You can check them all out here.

Tags: American clothing, boots, heritage clothing, leather, mens clothing, mens shoes, mens style, Minnesota, Range Rover, Red Wing, Red Wing boots, Red Wing Shoe Company, Red Wing shoes, shoes, video

Pillsbury Estate To Be Sold At Auction

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

When this estate first went up for sale for an astronomical $53.5 million in 2007 many wondered if it would sell. Two years have passed and now Southways, a Minnesota mansion on Lake Minnetonka will be sold at auction. The 32,400-square-foot-main house was designed in 1916-1918 by Harrie T. Lindberg and was used by the Pillsbury family until the early 1990s. On December 9, Sheldon Good & Company will offer the home for sale in a sealed bid auction. The 13 acre estate can be purchased in its entirety or as separate waterfront sites (five different parcels). The estate includes seven structures including a caretaker's cottage/greenhouse, garage, pool complex, smoke room and tea house. How much it will sells for is anyone's guess but I'd speculate it will be under half of the original asking price.

[Thanks, Spectacular Bid!]

Gallery: Southways Estate

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Tags: estate of the day, EstateOfTheDay, lake minnetonka, LakeMinnetonka, minnesota, pillsbury, sheldon good, SheldonGood, southways

Martha O'Hara Interiors

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor

A NYC Penthouse by Martha O'Hara Interiors

Martha O'Hara interiors is a Minnesota-based interior design company which provides uniquely comfortable luxury nationally and internationally. Above you see a New York city penthouse designed by Martha O'Hara Interiors.

Martha O'Hara, founder and owner, has been designing for eighteen years now, and has built strong relationships with builders and manufacturers, as well as her clients. She tailors each project to her client's "personal expression," and the results, whether classical or contemporary, are always alluring and lovely -- Martha O'Hara Interiors is now recognized as a premier design studio in the United States.

The designers know how to pair exquisite elegance with down-home Midwestern sense.

"We hate the idea of being trendy-nobody wants to invest in a design that will look outdated by the time it reaches their home."

See the gallery below for some of Martha O'Hara Interiors' fabulous Traditional, Transitional, and Comtemporary designs, as well as items from their brand new showroom -- "luxury furnishings at sample sale prices" -- in St. Louis Park, MN (just outside of Minneapolis).

Gallery: Martha O'Hara Interiors

Tags: design, interior design, interior designers, InteriorDesign, InteriorDesigners, martha ohara, martha ohara interiors, MarthaOhara, minnesota

Lake of the Isles, Estate of the Day

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

Today's home on Minneapolis's Lake of the Isles Parkway was built in 1911. The four-bedroom home was built in 1911 but has been completely renovated into a modern home. It was last sold in 2004 for $4 million. The decor is a bit fanciful, the kitchen has the word "eat" stenciled against the countertop and a ceiling decorated like a checked tablecloth and murals that mimic curtain draperies decorate other walls. The most overdone room is the colorful children's playroom which includes a giant beach umbrella. Furnishings aside, the home's natural lines are classically graceful with a large skylight adding plenty of natural light. This home is listed at $5.495 million.

Experience more lush living in luxury homes and mansions or see the stars living large with celebrity homes galleries at AOL Real Estate.

Gallery: Lake of the Isles

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Tags: estate of the day, EstateOfTheDay, lake of the isles, LakeOfTheIsles, minneapolis, minnesota

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Deephaven, Minnesota, Estate of the Day

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

Luxist reader Dan led me to this story of a fortune falling in Minnesota. Redstone American Grill founder Dean Vlahos had plans to expand his restaurant chain when he fell victim to a Ponzi scheme run by Tom Petters. According to the Star-Tribune article, Petters bilked his investors of more than $3 billion. It's tough luck for Vlahos who dreamed of having a restaurant empire and a $100 million fortune. Now he and his estranged wife, Michelle are seeking combined $33.6 million for their mansion in Deephaven, Minnesota and two others in Palm Beach, Florida. The Minnesota mansion is on Lake Minnetonka with 180+ feet of west-facing sandy lakeshore and a protected boat slip. The property includes a tennis court and an indoor pool. The home has seven bedrooms, a billiard room, wood-paneled office and a dining room with a mural scene. It is listed at $10.9 million.

Experience more lush living in luxury homes and mansions or see the stars living large with celebrity homes galleries at AOL Real Estate.

[Thanks, Dan]

Gallery: Deephaven, Minnesota

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Tags: dean vlahos, DeanVlahos, deephaven, estate of the day, EstateOfTheDay, lake minnetonka, LakeMinnetonka, minnesota

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Great Lake Art Lamps

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor

Minnesota artist Gary Lundstrom has created a new line of art lamps that celebrate Minnesota style and history. Great Lake Design. The lantern-style lamps are based on the white pnes that line the north shore of Lake Superior, and have stained glass interior lights and solid oak bases. The lamps cost $1200 a piece and part of the money from each sale will go to the Saint Louis County Historical Society in the Duluth Depot.

[via MSNBC]

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Tags: art lamps, ArtLamps, decor, gary lundstrom, GaryLundstrom, lamps, minnesota, stained glass, StainedGlass

Lake Minnewaksa, Estate of the Day

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

Homes in Minnesota over $10 million always attract my attention. This one, an expansive home of over 14,500 square feet on Lake Minnewaska was designed by architect Rehkamp Larson. The home and carriage house is set on 1400 feet of sandy beach lakeshore on Lake Minnewaska and includes 242 acres which can be developed. The home offers both indoor and outdoor spaces including a huge outdoor fireplace. The interior is bright and breezy and full of natural wood and stone details. The home is listed for $7.9 million separately without the acreage or an even $16 million with.
Experience more lush living in luxury homes and mansions or see the stars living large with celebrity homes galleries at AOL Real Estate.

Gallery: Lake Minnewaksa Home

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Tags: estate of the day, lake minnewaksa, minnesota, rehkamp larson, RehkampLarson

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Jessica Lange and Sam Shepard in Stillwater, Estate of the Day

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates, Celebrity Shopping

Today's home is a fantastic real estate value provided you are willing to make your way to Stillwater, Minnesota. The Real Estalker reports that Jessica Lange and Sam Shepard first put this home on the market in 2004 for $3.3 million. It seems that the couple became disenchanted with their sleepy little town when it became a bit yuppified. The home in question is a five-bedroom Victorian on 2.5 acres. It dates back to 1892 but has been given a very nice renovation in fact you might have seen it in the pages of Architectural Digest. The woodwork is in top shape and although the style isn't wildly exciting there are cute touches like the dragonfly-tiled shower. The property includes a detached garage and a guest house that is located adjacent to the heated swimming pool. The land also is home to a small fruit orchard and ponds. The home is listed at $1.95 million.

For more prime properties and lush locations, see Luxury Homes and Mansions.

Gallery: Jessica Lange and Sam Shepard in Stillwater

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Tags: celebrity real estate, CelebrityRealEstate, estate of the day, EstateOfTheDay, jessica lange, JessicaLange, minnesota, sam shepard, SamShepard, stillwater

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No No Nicollet in Minneapolis?

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Real Estate Developments

Even in 2006, when we first wrote about the Nicollet, a dramatic condo project planned for Minneapolis, we were a little skeptical. Now given the the current state of the housing market it's not such a big surprise to hear that the NIcollet might never come to pass. The Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune reports that another development partner has bowed out of the Nicollet. Opus Northwest parted ways with Twin Cities developers Pratt Ordway Properties and Hunt Associates. The project has had a complicated history. The project was originally proposed in 2004. In 2005, Pratt and Hunt bought out the the 50 percent interest of Twin Cities architect Jeff McDonell and home builder Ron Johnson. in @006, they recruited HInes Interests to build the project, Hines then dropped out and was replaced by Opus. The condo units are no longer being marketed by Pratt says he is still hopeful that firm plans for the project will materialize within the next year.

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Tags: condo, condominium, minneapolis, minnesota, nicollet

Popular Preacher Puts Private Jet On The Market

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wings, Celebrity Shopping

A few months ago, I mentioned televangelist Creflo Dollar and his Rolls-Royce. Dollar is far from the only minister who preaches a "prosperity gospel." Another popular pastor, Mac Hammond of Living Word Christian Center in Minnesota is having to give up one of his pricey toys, his own private jet. Hammond is reportedly marketing the Cessna 650 business jet aggressively and plans to reinvest the money in the ministry. The Minnesota Star-Tribune also reports that the Living Word has also cut its hourlong TV show on Sunday mornings in half to save money.The jet has gotten Hammond in trouble before. Last year, the group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington filed complaints with the IRS saying that Hammond finagled a $2 million loan deal with Living Word and got money from a lease-back deal on the plane. Hammond is also the owner of a stunt plane, a 1995 Flugzeugbau EA-300L. He has used the private plane both to minister in other places and to travel to his homes in Florida. The jet has room for nine passengers and is listed at $3.9 million.

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Tags: cessna, living workd christian center, mac hammond, minnesota, pastor, televangelist

Ivy Hotel and Residence

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

In these days of real estate peril here's a tale on pretty smart investment. The Ivy Tower in Minneapolis was once to be destroyed, now it is part of luxury hotel and condo project. John Laux and his business partner Gary Benson bought the Ivy Tower for $400,000 in 2000 with an eye toward creating boutique-style offices. Later they changed plans, getting financing for the $100 million project in 2005. The original tower is now incorporated into two larger structures the Ivy Hotel +Residence, a 26-story tower for condo units and a 19-story building that along with the original 10-story tower, make up the hotel. The condo units were originally priced from around $250,000 to $2 million. The Ivy is now ready for completion and just five of the original 92 condominiums remain unsold. Some purchasers even bought two units to turn them into one larger space. The first condos will be ready next year and the hotel is to open late next month. The Ivy is part of Starwood Hotel and Resort's Luxury Collection and residents will have access to all hotel amenities.

[via Minneapolis Star Tribune]

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Tags: condo, condominium, ivy hotel, IvyHotel, minneapolis, minnesota

Southways Estate, Estate of the Day

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

Another famous blockbuster estate has hit the market and it will most likely be the most expensive sale in Minnesota history. Southways is a huge mansion in the elite area of Brackett's Point in Orono, Minnesota which has served as the summer home for the Pillsbury family. The estate includes seven structures including a caretaker's cottage/greenhouse, garage, pool complex, smoke room and tea house on nearly 13 acres. It sits on Lake Minnetonka and has lovely views but the magic is on the inside on this one, the finishes and details are absolutely flawless. There are nine bedrooms in the 32,400-square-foot-main house. It was designed in 1916-1918 by Harrie T. Lindberg and was used by the Pillsbury family until the early 1990s. It has been lovingly restored by the Jundt family and played host to President Bush last summer. The Pioneer Press reports that according to real estate agent Bruce Birkeland, the family is downsizing. Can the Jundts get their price of $53.5 million? It sounds a bit optimistic but this lovely home will almost certainly be a record breaker.

Larger pictures are in the gallery and definitely worth checking out, especially for the mural in the exercise room/spa and the amazing details on the fireplace.

[Thanks, Jeffrey!]

Gallery: Southways Estate

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Tags: brackett's point, Brackett'sPoint, estate of the day, jundt, minnesota, orono, southways

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Lovness Estate, Estate of the Day

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

Today's estate is one for the Frank Lloyd Wright fans. The Don and Virginia Lovness estate in Stillwater, Minnesota sits on 20 acres of lakefront property located 15 minutes east of St. Paul. The home has two bedroom wings separated by the living spaces that include an immense fireplace built of hand-cut Wisconsin stone. A glass window wall faces views of the lake. The property includes both the main house, known as the studio, and a smaller home, the cottage, which is also made of Wisconsin stone. The homes have been maintained by the family since the mid 1950s and the built-in furnishings, designed by Wright for the homes, go with the property. There are also Wright designs for three additional cottages. It is listed at $3.75 million.

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Tags: estate of the day, frank lloyd wright, lovness estate, minnesota, stillwater

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Westin Opens In Minneapolis

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Minneapolis is becoming one hot city with a variety of new condo developments planned. Minneapolis takes another big step toward big city land with the opening of their very own Westin. The Westin Minneapolis has opened in the historic Farmers & Mechanics Bank Building in the heart of downtown Minneapolis. The building has a distinctive 34-foot vaulted entryway and lobby and a restored marble staircase. There are 214 guestrooms including a penthouse suite with an outdoor patio and a Bankers Boardroom with floor to ceiling windows. The Bank restaurant has a vaulted ceiling and serves contemporary cuisine. Rates start around $220.

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Tags: hotel, minneapolis, minnesota, travel, vacation, westin

Dunrovin, Estate of the Day

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

A while back I mentioned Thistledor in Orono, Minnesota as the most expensive property in the area but there is a newer and more lavish property available. This is Dunrovin, an Old-World-styled estate with views of Maxwell Bay, and over 500 feet of lakeshore bordered by 75 acres of protected preserve. The estate has a private marina,a pool with a waterfall, and a golf hole with traps and a water hazard.

Inside the 14,000-square-foot main house there are two elevators, a theater, wine cellar, tasting room, four bedroom suites, a gourmet catering kitchen, plenty of fireplaces and large rooms. The estate was originally for sale for $19.5 million but has been discounted to $16.9 million. After the jump, nothing mini about this place.

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Tags: dunrovin, estate, estate of the day, minnesota, real estate

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