Look for the Idea Farm in next month's Midwest Home.

Sotheby's

The 200 year old auction house and international real estate company came to view a client of Gary and Shelley's at their home along the St. Croix River.

Projects Abroad: Mfangano, Kenya

We have extended our design services to Africa! Although we are rooted in the midwest, if you know us well enough, you know we are actually international folk. Jenna took a month leave to travel to an island in Lake Victoria to assist with a project she has been helping to develop since August of 2008 when she travelled to Kenya to visit her sister and work on organic farms. She fell in love with a community and seeing their stuggle with everything from HIV/AIDS to deforestation she and friends decided they needed to help. Functioning as a small group of American and Kenyan volunteers they deemed the project The Organic Health Response. This past winter she helped work out sustainable designs for the community center, The Ekialo Kiona Center, that is to open its doors December 1st in celebration of World's AIDS Day. The building incorporates solar power, ferro-cement building techniques, and water catchment systems. She recently returned after spending July with the project team on Mfangano assessing program and building needs as well as working with farmers to set up a more secure food system. We are trekking the globe!

Blueprint for Green

The Idea Farm - Afton, Minnesota

From geothermal and solar energy systems to invasive species removal, the Idea Farm is rooted in its name - ideas. Lifetime stewards of the land, Peter Vujovich, of Vujovich Design Build, and his wife, Jill Lucas, have built their new farmhouse upon the idea of living in harmony with their surroundings. As avid travelers and outdoorspeople, they understand the global importance of taking care of the environment. While taking into account the environmental impact of their new farmhouse they also understand the importance of finding comfort, beauty, and function in their home, so they called upon Gary and Shelley for help. Two creative pairs at work resulted in amazing spaces that caught the attention of the Fox 9 TV Series, Blueprint for Green. Airing every Saturday morning at 6:30am, this TV series focuses on the challenges and rewards of building "green" homes. The episode following the Idea Farm can be viewed at www.blueprintforgreen.com as episode 22. Or follow this link: http://www.blueprintforgreen.com/ep22.html

Next stop .... Argentina

Our experienced horse-rider Shelley is going to Argentina to ride horses through the Andes of Argentina stopping along the way to pick up some cultural accessories to add to Jill and Peter Vujovich's new farmhouse (see the Idea Farm below). If you want to share in the adventure and have Shelley go treasure hunting for you let us know! She will be leaving February 6th and returning on February 16th.

We went to Turkey!

Straddling the European and Asian continental divide, Istanbul is a city of unique diversity. As the gateway to Asia, Turkey has embraced this key trading post since the beginning of time bringing to it craftsmen and craftswomen with years and years of knowledge and experience creating exceptional goods with extraordinary character and quality. In search of the ancient art of hand crafted carpets, we spent hours with family-owned businesses hand selecting rugs that we felt would fit our clients perfectly. Of course, we had a blast. Gary, Shelley, Lori and each of our spouses came along for the ride adding to the excitement and comfort. Our love for travel, high-quality furnishings, cultures, beauty, and fair-trade made this experience one of the best adventures yet.