Why are Minneapolis area mansions so bland? (Isle, Hills: sale, houses)

[Synopsis]

Originally Posted by jasper1372

One comment I've always made that I think has bearing on this subject is that homes in Minnesota lack adequate landscaping.

Looking around Minnesota, the nicest landscaping you're likely to see is below the average of most other places. We just don't seem to feel the need, or the pride to make sure our homes have curb appeal. You're about as likely to see a wood pile in the front yard or a fuel oil tank leaning against the side of the house as any real attempt at landscapping. A couple shurbs and cutting the weeds just doesn't add anything to the beauty of the home.

I know the OP mentioned specifically Scottsdale. I've been there and he is correct in his observation. We drive around and just marvel at the beauty of the landscaping. Even the center islands of the roads are landscapped. Like you'll ever see that here. Here in Minnesota you're luckey if they even mow the weeds growing in the median once a year or so.

My wife and I have had endless conversations as to why our friends and neighbors in Minnesota have such little regard for adding curb appeal to their homes. We're really the odd people in our neighborhood I guess...but we enjoy it and others always make positive comments so that keeps us going.

My kind of people.

[MNNative]

Originally Posted by Clifford63

Dictionary def is more about size. If you look at wikipedia, it seems both size and style are both factors. Interestingly, price is not mentioned, but safe to assume it is implicit

Mansion - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The pictures on Wikipedia are generally what come to mind when I hear mansion. I think most homes in the suburbs of larger than average size would be McMansions....ya think?

[Clifford63]

Originally Posted by MNNative

The pictures on Wikipedia are generally what come to mind when I hear mansion. I think most homes in the suburbs of larger than average size would be McMansions....ya think?

Had to see if that was also listed. Sure enough.

McMansion is a pejorative term coined by New York environmentalist Jay Westervelt[1][unreliable source?] to describe a particular type of housing that is constructed in an assembly line fashion reminiscent of food production at McDonald's fast food restaurants. The term is one of many McWords. A McMansion often denotes a home with a larger footprint than a median home, an indistinct architectural style similar to others nearby, and is often located in a newer, larger subdivision or replaces an existing, smaller structure in an older neighborhood.
A McMansion is a house with a floor area of between 3,000 to 5,000 square feet (280–460 m2) in size, often on small lots (the house itself often covering a larger portion of the land than the yard in a more conventional design), in homogeneous communities that are often produced by a developer. Although they are generally large homes, they are mass produced and are not of the caliber of a mansion. Their cost places them in the purchasing range of the upper middle class segment of the population.

[MNNative]

Originally Posted by Clifford63

Had to see if that was also listed. Sure enough.

McMansion is a pejorative term coined by New York environmentalist Jay Westervelt[1][unreliable source?] to describe a particular type of housing that is constructed in an assembly line fashion reminiscent of food production at McDonald's fast food restaurants. The term is one of many McWords. A McMansion often denotes a home with a larger footprint than a median home, an indistinct architectural style similar to others nearby, and is often located in a newer, larger subdivision or replaces an existing, smaller structure in an older neighborhood.
A McMansion is a house with a floor area of between 3,000 to 5,000 square feet (280–460 m2) in size, often on small lots (the house itself often covering a larger portion of the land than the yard in a more conventional design), in homogeneous communities that are often produced by a developer. Although they are generally large homes, they are mass produced and are not of the caliber of a mansion. Their cost places them in the purchasing range of the upper middle class segment of the population.

Exactly. This is what I tend to see all over lately. This is almost the norm now-a-days it seems, with all the new developments.

[jessez]

It really has to do with two factors - one is that unless you have something built to your own specs, most contractors have little to no imagination. Plus things tend to be very very very vanilla in the burbs. Two the nordic attitude shuns anything "showy" you'll find wonderful craftsmanship but nothing upscale unless requested.

[Camden Northsider]

Originally Posted by sfw1979

nice pics, but the second one clearly has the ocean behind it. Not sure that is in Minnesota

Yeah, that was my poor attempt at playing a joke on acstr - in a previous thread I recommended that he find a time machine to transport himself back to the 80s, so on this thread I racked my brain to think of iconic homes that would truly exemplify tasteless 80s decadence, and then it hit me - homes currently or previously owned by Donald Trump, as I was sure this would be appealing to acstr. So you are correct sfw, both pictures/homes actually feature the ocean (I believe they're both in Fla somewhere), and I would have thought that at least one of them was 'famous' enough for someone on here to recognize it as a trump home (guess not).

Acstr (or whatever your screen name is now) - my apologies as admittedly some of my comments haven't been too MN nice. I decided that I owed it to you to try and at least be somewhat helpful on this thread, so I have linked to some virtual tours of great places that are currently on the market that I think I think might be to your liking. Good luck with your search:


MLS#26300 - Spanish Mediterranean Estate - Great Views (Virtual Tour)


MLS#13938 - Beautiful Mansion/ Acreage - Close to Downtown (Virtual Tour)


MLS#22093 - Marine on St. Croix Victorian - Mature Vineyards (Virtual Tour) - property includes seller's vintage Mercedes


MLS#83723 - Prime Lake Minnetonka Beachfront (Virtual Tour)

[Slig]

I don't care what you say, I still think that place is on Lake Minnetonka somewhere.

[Camden Northsider]

Originally Posted by Slig

I don't care what you say, I still think that place is on Lake Minnetonka somewhere.

I suppose theoretically it is possible that someone found one of the wavier parts of Lake Mntka, trucked in a beautiful sand beach, built a replica of a famous trump home, and then brought in mature palm trees from a moderate climate in the springtime.

I do think I hit the nail on the head with some of the homes I recommended acstr look at in my last post, however.

[Thegonagle]

I thought Orono was up near Brooklyn Park and Maple Grove. That's Osseo, LOL. I had the west part right, anyway. I'll probably make that mistake again though. I still have to think about the difference between Maple Grove and Maplewood when I hear one of them mentioned, and they're not even on the same side of the Metro.

[Jim Phelps]

Its great to see people are still seeking great Architecture! Find a tear down or a clear lot and lets change that trend up there! I would be delighted to help.
Best,