Close to home: AIA event, Design Week, Junk Bonanza, Design Boot Camp

Is your home showing its age? Or do you need a new home that fits your new lifestyle or circumstances? Mark your calendar for "Smart Investing in Your Home," an evening of architecture and design presented by AIA Minnesota and Star Tribune on April 21.

A panel of architects will share remodeling and design strategies for creating a home that fits the way you live and that makes the most of your budget. You'll see other homeowners' makeovers and new homes, and have the opportunity to chat with architects and ask them questions.

You'll also have a seat — and first peek — at the annual Home of the Month awards program, where this year's winning residential projects will be revealed.

Admission includes a buffet of hors d'oeuvres, catered by D'Amico, plus a cash bar, so you can bring a friend and make an evening of it.

This is a great opportunity to see some of the Twin Cities' best recent home projects, and to ask leading local architects about your own home.

What: A panel discussion about home design and remodeling, and presentation of this year's Home of the Month contest winners.

When: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., April 21.

Tickets: $18 in advance, $20 at the door, includes hors d'oeuvres buffet. Register online at www.aia-mn.org/event/homeofthemonth or in person at AIA Minnesota, 275 Market St., Mpls.

KIM PALMER

Looking for ways to create a visually appealing, well-designed room? Midwest Home magazine's Design Week kicks off with a Design Boutique, a half-day of seminars and a marketplace presented by interior design pros, including author Alexa Hampton, 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 12 at Minneapolis Central Library, 300 Nicollet Mall. Cost is $45 and includes lunch and happy hour. There's a roster of free and ticketed events all week long offering design inspiration such as "From Desire to Inspire" April 13, "Trend Chasers vs. Stylemakers" April 14, "Women in Design" April 15 and "Design for an Organized Life" April 17. Gawk at or gather remodeling tips at 10 metro-area kitchens on the ASID Kitchen Tour, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 18 and noon to 5 p.m. April 19. Kitchen tour cost is $15 in advance; $20 at the door; $10 per home. For information on all events, go to www.midwesthomemag.com/events.

The Junk Bonanza isn't just about repurposed home decor goods displayed and sold by more than 160 juried vendors April 16-18. At how-to programs and hands-on workshops, you can gather ideas on mixing vintage elements in your spring tabletop, applying DIY specialty finishes and designing indoor and outdoor planters using vintage containers. A fan of romantic prairie style? Fifi O'Neill, editor of "Prairie Style" magazine, will be there signing her books. The bonanza's three days of vintage and antique treasure hunting is at Canterbury Park, 1100 Canterbury Rd., Shakopee. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 16, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 17-18. Admission: $10 a day; $25 for Early-bird admission two hours before doors open on April 16 also covers April 17-18 admission. Go to www.junkbonanza.com.

Bring your photos of rooms, Pinterest boards and magazine tearsheets to Gabberts Design Boot Camp workshops, 10:30 a.m. to noon April 23 and 30, and May 7 and 14 at Gabberts in the Galleria, 69th St. and France Av.S., Edina. In a casual, round-table setting, Gabberts designers will talk about trends, help solve design challenges and create practical design schemes. The workshops are free, but registration is required. Call 952-927-1500 or go to www.gabberts.com.