Mpls.St.Paul Magazine - Home & Design Summer '24

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HOME AND DESIGN MAGAZINE

Jayne Haugen Olson EDITOR IN CHIEF

Shelly Crowley PUBLISHER

Kelly Ryan Kegans EDITOR, HOME & DESIGN

Michael Norseng CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Rebecca Rowland EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Kelsey Head DESIGN DIRECTOR

EDITORIAL

EDITOR AT LARGE, HOME & DESIGN

Nicole Crowder

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Madison Bloomquist

CONTRIBUTINGEDITOR

Madeline Nachbar

DIGITAL EDITOR

Peter Diamond

Irene Peterson VICE PRESIDENT STRATEGIC GROWTH

SALES & MARKETING

SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Kim Birkland, Jill Erickson, Amy Koliner, Amy Lindmark

DIRECTOR OF EVENTS & PARTNERSHIPS Holly Dyson

EXPERIENTIAL MARKETING MANAGER Media Tafreshi

CLIENT RELATIONS SPECIALIST John Lyberg

DIGITAL STRATEGIST Danielle Smith

DIGITAL CAMPAIGN SPECIALIST Teague May

INTERNS Ella Anderson, Joey Erickson, Saija Maki-Waller

COPY EDITOR Ruthie Nelson

DESIGN

ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR Laurie Hawton

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER | SOCIAL MEDIA

VISUALS EDITOR Caitlin Abrams

CONTRIBUTING DESIGNER Jill Adler

SALES AND MARKETINGINTERN Grace Smerage

CREATIVE SERVICES

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Katie Shaw

AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT

AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR Bea Jaeger

ADVERTISING SECTIONS/ BRANDED CONTENT

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Lisa Rounds

ASSOCIATE EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Jamie Korf

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Natalie Larsen

ASSISTANT EDITOR Lindsey Scharold

ADMINISTRATION

SENIOR ACCOUNTANT Anne McPhillips

CREDIT MANAGER Dave Gschlecht

MARKETING DIRECTOR Colleen Puent

DELIVERY SYSTEMS

SENIOR PRODUCTION MANAGER Josh Allen

PRE-MEDIA SUPERVISOR Bill Sympson

PRINT PRODUCTION SPECIALIST Paul Marihart

PRE-MEDIA ASSOCIATE Aries King

DIGITAL & WEB DEVELOPMENT

SENIOR SPECIALIST, DIGITAL SYSTEMS

CHIEF

NETWORK ADMINISTRATOR Joey Mele

HELPDESK Jon Magadance

Lauri Loveridge

SENIOR WEB DEVELOPER Ricky Hannigan

Travel to Thomas Søndergård’s Copenhagen, page 30

CONTENTS Departments

18 EDITOR’S NOTE

21 INSIDER Handcrafted goods for your summer, from a statement handbag and garden planters to fine art and craft for your tabletops and walls.

30 DESIGN DESTINATIONS Travel to Copenhagen to explore its incredible design scene, with a must-see-and-do list from Thomas Søndergård, the Minnesota Orchestra’s music director.

36 LOOKBOOK Savor a stylish outdoor spread with summer entertaining musthaves, plus local eateries that do the cooking for you.

38 KNOW-HOW A family’s tricked-out Airstream amps up both road trip adventures and movie nights parked in the driveway.

44 CREATIVES IN CONVERSATION

Luciana Bongiovanni talks with editor-atlarge Nicole Crowder about drawing from her Argentinian family’s influence in creating her woven tapestries.

48 DESIGN CLOSE-UP An outdoor oasis features a plunge pool and cabana made for multiseason use along Minnehaha Creek.

96 CONNOISSEUR Former ad exec Nina Hale shares her prized binoculars for focusing in on her birding hobby.

Features

62 THE LAKE LIFE ALL YEAR LONG

An Orono family soaks in waterside living year-round in a home inspired by a vacation.

72 DESERT BLOOM

Cabin life wasn’t for this Minneapolis designer who created her getaway poolside in Palm Springs.

80 INSIDE HER COMFORT ZONE

Channeling English country style, this homeowner layers on storied objects to personalize her 1890s Victorian in Red Wing.

88 WAVELAND ESCAPE

Nestled on Lake Minnetonka’s Big Island, a home and garden get a renewed life.

Field Notes

ABOUT THE TIME THIS MAGAZINE ARRIVES, many of us with regular office hours look forward to setting our OOO automatic replies. It’s a sure sign of summer, which holds special meaning for weatherhardy Twin Citians, whether the getaway entails jetting off to a long-distance destination or, perhaps even sweeter, simply whiling away a lazy afternoon at a nearby lake.

Planning for the summer edition, our annual ode to outdoor living, begins at least a year in advance to capture the homes and gardens in their seasonal prime. But this issue garnered even more editorial attention because it signals an evolution in our coverage, which begins with the new H&D logo on the cover. While we’ve always focused on telling in-depth stories about where locals live, we’re broadening the scope to include how we live in the Cities and beyond.

Encompassing more lifestyle coverage—from travel and entertaining to culture, fine art, and fashion—means we showcase Twin Citians more holistically, including their pastimes and passions. Specifically, this issue debuts two new departments you’ll now see in every issue. Design Destinations travels to places near and far to discover the rich sense of place that informs art, architecture, and culture. The destinations will be anchored by a local perspective: This issue, Minnesota Orchestra music director Thomas Søndergård recommends his must-see-and-do spots in Copenhagen.

In Connoisseur, which concludes the magazine as the last page, you’ll get a firsthand look into a local’s creative passion by way of a treasured object. Former ad exec Nina Hale is our subject this issue, with her well-traveled binoculars that bring her birding hobby into focus.

But even with these and other new lifestyle stories to come, rest assured that home remains at our core. We’ll continue to bring you exclusive house tours; interviews with top-tier architects, interior designers, builders, and craftspeople; and the latest goods and services to inspire and help create your dream home. But it’s not enough to showcase aspiration without functionality and the depth that defines our local scene. With additional pages to accommodate our expanded coverage, we maintain what’s essential to every story—style and substance.

CONTRIBUTORS

NICOLE CROWDER

Which brings me to highlighting a few of our regular editorial contributors (right). Their bylines on H&D pages aren’t new, but our coverage expansion solidifies the inclusion of their work in each of our quarterly editions.

Now in her third year as editor-at-large, Nicole Crowder shares her insights about the people, places, and things on our radar, and she writes Creatives in Conversation with an up-close look into a local style maker’s story. Shawn Gilliam, a 30-year shelter and travel editor, broadens his contributing writer role to travel editor in Design Destinations. And Shayla Owodunni, who was featured on the cover of H&D ’s Winter 2023 issue, is continuing her role as contributing market editor, curating the stylish fresh finds in Lookbook, which will appear in each issue.

Until next time, here’s to savoring summer!

KELLY RYAN KEGANS

kkegans@mspmag.com Instagram @mspmaghome

Crowder, H&D’s editor-atlarge, is a St. Paul–based furniture designer, writer, and curator. Crowder designs custom and imaginative chairs, and her furniture has been featured in museums and at major retailers. Her editorial work has appeared in The Washington Post, Aspire magazine, and Apartment Therapy, among others.

SHAWN GILLIAM

Gilliam is a Minneapolisbased writer and creative director whose work has been featured in Better Homes & Gardens, Delta Sky, Dwell, and Architect magazines, as well as in corporate communications for companies like Target and FedEx. An avid traveler, he’s also a longtime volunteer guide at Mia.

P.S. While subscribing to Mpls.St.Paul Magazine is the only way to make sure you don’t miss an issue of Home & Design, beginning with this issue, you can also find us on newsstands at Barnes and Noble stores around the Twin Cities.

SHAYLA OWODUNNI

Founder of The Plant Penthouse, Owodunni specializes in interior biophilic design. She also is founder of Social Heirlooms, which offers etiquette education and workshops. Through style inspiration and tastemaker tidbits, Owodunni shares her belief that there’s luxury within life’s everyday moments.

A Legacy of Handcrafted Homes

At the heart of Stonewood’s esteemed reputation lies a deep-rooted passion for handcrafted excellence, a legacy carried forward through four generations of masterful homebuilding.

Insider

latest creations for Waiwai is the “Uxuá” bag, which we recently spotted at MartinPatrick3. Taking cues from the traditional houses of Quadrado de Trancoso in Bahia, Brazil, Neves’s design weaves together rattan and hand-painted acrylic panels in the head-

turning handbag, which looks just as stylish off the shoulder, sitting on a shelf—a closet collector’s item t for a beach bash or patio party. Waiwai “Uxuá” handbag ($995) from MartinPatrick3, 212 3rd Ave. N., Mpls., 612-746-5329; Pierre Frey “Cancale” jute wallpaper, available to the trade at Holly Hunt Ltd., International Market Square, 275 Market St., Ste. 234, Mpls., 612-332-1900. —Madeline Nachbar

SUMMER ARTISAN HOME TOUR

Six lakeside homes are among the 22 luxury new homes and renovations on this summer’s Housing First Minnesota Artisan Home Tour, which begins June 7. Check out how local home builders and remodelers are creating dream homes with features such as a two-story library, a wellness spa, and a rooftop patio overlooking Bde Maka Ska. Architectural styles range from clean and contemporary to traditional Tudor and coastal-inspired retreats. The self-guided tour runs June 7–23, with all-access tickets available for $30 online and $35 at the door, or single-home tour tickets for $5 online or at the door. artisanhometour.org —Madeline Nachbar

Now on its seventh life, the annual Wedge LIVE! Cat Tour, this year dubbed the Uptown Cat Festival, begins at 6 pm on June 26 at Mueller Park in Minneapolis. Join hundreds of feline fans on the 2-mile walk of the park’s neighboring historic homes and see furry friends (and a few curmudgeons) perched on porches and walking on window ledges.

Housing First Minnesota’s Summer Artisan Home Tour features 22 new homes and renovations spanning the Twin Cities. Among them are a classic contemporary in Orono by Gordon James (top), Swanson Homes’ modern Scandinavian in Medina (left), and an Orono coastal cottage built by NIH Homes (below).

ON THE PROWL

For nearly a decade, Jeanne Bleu channeled the imaginings of childhood in her role as creative director at The Manhattan Toy Company. With insights and inspiration from trend research and global travels, she designed hundreds of products for the Minneapolis-based toy maker.

But after a career that largely meant creating for the market and managing the talents of others, Bleu had lost sight of her own childhood passion: painting. The realization set in after she left Manhattan Toy and began the search for her next creative director role. “I was unsure

Scenes with animals amid nature—set in favorite places like Paris and Copenhagen— serve as the subject matter for most of Jeanne Bleu’s pieces, which she paints in her Lowry Hill condo. Gallery 360 and Isles Studio, both in Minneapolis, sell her work.

JEANNE BLEU

what I really wanted to do next, and I struggled to engage in my search,” she says. A friend and mentor of Bleu’s provided much-needed advice. “He said, ‘Well, why don’t you do what you wanted to do when you were 17 years old?’”

So she did. One aspect of it kicked off quickly, with adorable illustrations of animals she’s made into prints to sell at her Etsy shop, JeanneBleuStudio. The other, taking shape in oil paintings on canvas, is more ongoing, and the imagery didn’t immediately come to mind. “But as I started painting, I thought about how

I was an imaginative kid who made up my own adventures—dressing up in costumes, having a pretend horse, all kinds of things,” Bleu says. She believes the angle, now the subject matter for most of her artwork, relates to most people. “When you’re a kid, you’re imaginative and creative, and I think a lot of times we lose that as we get older,” she says. “But in reality, everybody is creative—it just might come out in a different way.” Bleu should know. Finally, creativity is coming out in her own kind of way.

—Shawn Gilliam

PHOTOS

IN THE STUDIO

Step Aside, Bows...

Bejeweled baubles and vintage brooches are fashion’s latest accessory on coats, blouses, and blazers, as seen on runways and the red carpet (we’re looking at you, Robert Downey Jr.). Find them locally, clockwise from top left: Karl Lagerfeld gold-and-pearl pin ($500), Lanvin blue-and-black flower tuxedo pin ($65), Karl Lagerfeld “Été” pin ($375), all from June Resale, 5027 France Ave. S., Edina, 612-354-3970; and vintage gemstone clip ($120), from Victory Vintage, 3505 W. 44th St., Mpls., 612-926-8200. —M.N.

The June House

Fresh off a move from California to Minnesota last year, Ariel Gravelle is opening her doors on June 17 to The June House in Edina’s Centennial Lakes Plaza. Sourcing vintage and handmade items from her travels, Gravelle says the shop will offer design services and act as a manufacturer and importer. “We find vintage pieces from around the world and restore or remake them,” she says, adding that the pieces “offer a rustic elegance that pairs nicely with the lake life we enjoy in Minnesota.” 7575 France Ave. S., Edina, 805-215-6246,thejunehouse.com —Kelly Ryan Kegans

STORE FRONT

GIFTS FROM A DAKOTA GARDEN

Dig into the personal journey author Teresa Peterson takes through her garden and family history in her new book, Perennial Ceremony: Lessons and Gifts from a Dakota Garden ($25.95, U of M Press). The collection of essays, poems, and recipes is reflective of the author’s garden cycles in rural Belview and her spiritual reconciliation. Organized into four seasonal sections, the book also features striking blackand-white nature photography and images from the author’s childhood and her Sisseton Wahpeton Dakota family and anscestors. A book launch is scheduled for 7 pm on June 26 at Birchbark Books’ downtown event space, Birchbark Bizhiw. 1629 Hennepin Ave., Mpls., upress.umn.edu—K.R.K.

Fest

The American Craft Council is launching a free family-friendly festival in June showcasing 30 emerging local artists. The weekend craft show at St. Paul’s Union Depot will also have hands-on educational activities, craft beer, and other food and drinks. Among the featured artists are potter Bri Larson (who lives in Connecticut but is from Minnesota), Minneapolis-based glassblower and designer Emily McBride, and ceramist Andrew Rivera, based in Hutchinson. The June 8–9 American Craft Fest is free, but registration is required. craftcouncil.org/craftfest —K.R.K.

Among the artists selling their handmade creations at the American Craft Council’s American Craft Fest are Bri Larson (top) and Emily McBride (above).

Interior design, fine home furnishing, and beautiful men’s and women’s apparel. Experience the classic and contemporary, brought artfully together.

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Cast Planters

Looks can be deceiving, as evidenced by True North Hypertufa planters, which resemble heavy stone containers but are actually lightweight and weather hardy. Made locally by Edina neighbors Tricia Rubenstein and Sara Anderson, the troughs are fabricated from a mix containing Portland cement, peat moss, and perlite. They’re ideal for planting dwarf conifers, alpine plants, hardy succulents, and sempervivums, says Rubenstein, who studied landscape architecture while living on the East Coast before moving to Minnesota seven years ago. Rubenstein introduced Anderson to hypertufa containers. “We became friends by both being out in our yards and tending to our plants, and I just loved her mini landscape containers,” Anderson says. “I asked if she could make me one.” The planters come in a variety of sizes and shapes, which range from $25 to $375, available directly on their website, tnhypertufa.com, and at Ūmei, 903 N. 5th St., Mpls., 612-239-0056 —K.R.K.

True North Hypertufa cast planters are handmade and take up to four months to produce. Because the containers are porous, they are winter hardy for zone 4 and can be outdoors year-round.

CRAFTED BY HAND

CHOP SHOP

As an outlet during the pandemic, local entrepreneur Joseph Rueter turned to cooking. But his quarantine hobby made him tire of his dull knives. “The majority of us suffer at home in silence with knives we hate,” says Rueter, who took matters into his own hands and started sharpening for his friends out of his garage and ultimately created a one-tap mail-order business, Vivront. Word traveled fast, and in 2022, he opened his first brick-and-mortar in Wayzata. Last fall, he relocated to new digs in his hometown of Edina. Now at 50th & France, Vivront 2.0 serves as a sharpening center, workshop offering knife skills classes, and retail store. “The center of the kitchen—the cutting board and knife set—can and should be nothing but a pleasant experience,” says Rueter. The owner also partners with local school districts and nutrition programs and donates 5 percent of Vivront’s sales to help pay school lunch debts. 4948 France Ave. S., Edina, 952-222-5336—M.N.

Edina specialty store Vivront carries knives from all over the world, offered exclusively in the Twin Cities. A few examples include (from left): Musashi Santoku with recycled ocean plastic handle ($275), Meglio MagnaCut with maple handle ($475), and Makoto Kurosaki Kodama Gyuto with cherrywood and green ferrule ($330).

Design Destinations Copenhagen

Explore treasures of the Danish capital’s sensational design scene, including picks from Minnesota Orchestra’s new music director, Thomas Søndergård.

BY SHAWN GILLIAM

ew cities combine classical and cutting-edge design dently as Copenhagen. And while daring new developments may generate the majority of the city’s global design buzz, the appeal of historic Copenhagen holds strong. One building with character from a bygone era, the 1874 Royal Danish Theatre (also known as the Old Stage or old opera house), is a favorite of Thomas Søndergård, music director for the Minnesota Orchestra and longtime Copenhagen resident. “I started as a musician in the orchestra in that house, so I love the old building,” he says.

Copenhagen’s accessibility, sustainability, and other quality-of-life measures serve as a template for cities around the world. But here and now, they bode particularly well

SIGHTS: THE CLASSICS

In a city with no shortage of palaces and castles—including Amalienborg Palace, which serves as the royal residence, and Rosenborg Castle, where you can see Denmark’s crown jewels—Christiansborg Palace stands out. Because it’s where most official state functions take place, the palace was built to impress. See the tapestry-filled Great Hall, the gilded Queen’s Library, and, of course, the stately Throne Room, all opulent by generally understated Danish standards.

On the same canal-encircled island as Christiansborg, the Greco-Roman-style Thorvaldsens Museum, built in 1848,

Clockwise from far left: The curved Lille Langebro cycle and pedestrian bridge crosses Copenhagen Harbor. Thomas Søndergård, the Minnesota Orchestra’s music director, has an apartment in Copenhagen and a summer home an hour away. The 1942 Finn Juhl House is one of the best examples of functionalist singlefamily home design in Denmark.

Design Destinations

honors Danish sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen, who gained international acclaim as a sculptor in Rome. The building, including its exquisitely tiled gallery floors, looks much as it did 175 years ago. Also largely unchanged by time is the 17th-century Round Tower, where visitors ascend a spiral ramp to Europe’s oldest functioning observatory and a sweeping view of the city. “Denmark is famous for its midcentury furniture designers,” Søndergård says. “If you are interested in furniture, don’t miss the Designmuseum Danmark. The collection is great, and the café [called Format] is a favorite for lunch.” The museum’s main goal ever since its 1890 founding has been to celebrate the idea of quality in design. The major exhibition Danish Modern (June 14, 2024–May 3, 2026) examines examples of how Danish design became known and loved around the world.

SIGHTS: THE NEW GENERATION

It’s impossible to miss the dramatic modern landmarks standing sentinel on the harbor: The Royal Danish Opera House, where Søndergård has conducted countless times, plus The Royal Danish Playhouse and The

Royal Danish Library’s Black Diamond. All made architectural headlines when they opened over the last two decades. More recently, they’ve been joined on the waterfront by BLOX, a multiuse building that’s home to the Danish Architecture Center and its permanent and temporary exhibitions. Historically industrial Refshaleøen, just beyond the opera house, is home

Clockwise from top left: The Queen’s Library at Christiansborg Palace, wrapped with three kilometers of bookshelves. Bike traffic moving through Superkilen, a half-mile-long park with low hills and surfaces that are fun for children. Alexander Calder’s standing mobile Little Janey Waney at the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art Sculpture Park. Colorful Greco-Romanstyle galleries at the Thorvaldsens Museum, the country’s oldest public museum. Designmuseum Danmark’s Danish Modern exhibition of design from the 1920s to the 1970s. The Length of the Horizon , by Franco-Canadian artist Kapwani Kiwanga, is on exhibit at Copenhagen Contemporary until August 25. The flagship Hay House, expanded in 2021 to occupy four floors of an art nouveau building and filled with new Danish design. The 17th-century Round Tower’s wide spiral ramp, designed to accommodate horses.

to Copenhagen’s most dynamic art space, Copenhagen Contemporary. Housed in a former shipyard welding hall, it’s perfectly suited to largescale art installations.

PUBLIC SPACES

Outdoor spaces throughout the city are being reimagined to better serve residents—and visitors. They include Israels Plads (Israel’s Square) near the historic center, where “flying carpet” granite pavement rises and falls to create intimate, interesting spaces. Also notable is the half-mile-long Superkilen park, which incorporates design elements from 60 nationalities of people living in the surrounding neighborhood, and The Opera Park, unveiled last October, where winding paths and a winter garden replaced an underused lawn on the waterfront.

The city’s newest bridges, most for bicycles and pedestrians, provide perhaps the most fascinating juxtaposition with the old city. The Bicycle Snake (built to relieve cyclists of using stairs) and The Circle Bridge (designed by Danish Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson to resemble a series of ship masts)

Thomas Søndergård’s Copenhagen

Danis h D ig n Danish D ign

From furniture to fashion, go deep on iconic design at the Designmuseum Danmark, which reopened in 2022 following a two-year renovation. If you’re interested in shopping for original vintage furnishings, Søndergård recommends Klassik down the street. For the best in furniture and accessories from today, many manageable enough to pack in your bag to take home (like pillows, blankets, and vases), hit up the flagship Hay House overlooking Strøget, one of the longest pedestrian shopping streets in Europe.

A rchitecture and th e P erf o rming

A rts Architecture and the Performing Arts

The Royal Danish Theatre (also known as the Old Stage or old opera house) and The Royal Danish Opera House, the best of Copenhagen old and new, both offer excellent guided tours. The Royal Danish Playhouse restaurant, Aamanns Replik, is a favorite for before a show or for taking in the harbor scene outside. Søndergård recommends traditional open-face sandwiches, called smørrebrød. Popular choices include herring, salmon, and prawns.

Fo o d and Drink Food and

“If you’re into fine dining, Copenhagen has some of the best restaurants in the world,” Søndergård says. ThreeMichelin-starred Geranium, one of his favorites, is worth the fanfare for a special meal. “It’s legendary,” he says. The tasting menu, which changes seasonally, is meat-free and served over the course of three hours. Søndergård’s other recommendations are easier for everyday bites. “If you’re into cake, don’t miss Conditori La Glace,” he says of the city’s oldest patisserie, which has been delighting Danes since 1870. “The hot chocolate is epic. And a hidden gem, if you visit Copenhagen in the summer, is the open food market at Reffen. Great, simple food and happy people.”

Day T ri p Trip

The Louisiana Museum of Modern Art (usually just called Louisiana), a 40-minute train ride from Copenhagen in Humlebæk, includes breezy galleries and a sculpture park overlooking the sea. Established in 1958, it’s the most visited art museum in Denmark.

Design Destinations

are stunning examples that cement Copenhagen’s place atop most lists of bicycle-friendly cities.

HIDDEN GEMS

Given all the city’s luxurious palaces and large museums, small gems like The David Collection— just across the street from Rosenborg Castle— tend to get missed. Pay it a visit and reward yourself with a 19th-century townhouse full of 18th-century European ceramics and furniture, plus a standout collection of Islamic art, including Persian ceramics.

For Danish ceramics you can carefully pack to bring home, visit the small studio and shop of potter Erik Bendtsen across the canal from Christiansborg. He makes his wares, including delightful owl pitchers, with historical Danish styles and techniques. Nearby, between the Danish Parliament at Christiansborg and the Royal Danish Library, the often overlooked Royal Library Garden provides residents respite from the teeming city surrounds. Join them with a takeout lunch or treat from a nearby food stall.

SHOPPING

Copenhagen gave rise to some of the world’s foremost furniture designs—by greats such as Arne Jacobsen, Hans Wegner, Børge Mogensen, and Nanna Ditzel—so it’s no surprise that stores selling those designs abound. Søndergård’s favorite is Klassik, near Designmuseum Danmark, which sells original classics. Others include Carl Hansen & Søn, the world’s largest manufacturer of furniture designed by Hans Wegner, and the House of Finn Juhl, which is celebrating the 75th anniversary of Juhl’s Chieftain Chair.

“If you’re tired of traditional design, then go to Hay,” Søndergård says. “Their big flagship store in the middle of the city features great new Danish design.”

LODGING

One of the most beloved icons of Danish modern architecture, the Radisson Collection Royal

Potter Erik Bendtsen crafts his owl pitchers by hand in his studio/shop near Gammel Strand, a canal-lined square.

The 90-minute guided tours of The Royal Danish Theatre include the opulent Grand Hall and reception galleries as well as spaces behind the scenes where sets and costumes are made.

Hotel, Copenhagen, built in 1960 as the SAS Royal Hotel, still dominates the city skyline. The only hotel by designer and architect Arne Jacobsen, its spaces are filled with his furniture, including the famous Egg chair originally designed for the hotel. Jacobsen’s and other Danish furniture designers’ pieces also fill rooms at the cozy Hotel Alexandra.

AFIELD

A 30-minute train ride to Charlottenlund takes you to the 1942 Finn Juhl House (part of Ordrupgaard, a museum complex that includes a stunning addition by architect Zaha Hadid), an example of furniture designer and architect Juhl’s vision for how architecture, design, and art can come together in harmony. Another home worth touring, the Karen Blixen Museum in seaside Rungsted beautifully preserves the interiors of the home where the Out of Africa author lived and wrote, including two art-filled offices. Elaborate arrangements of fresh flowers fill every room and are changed weekly, creating a lived-in feel.

Continuing up the coast to Humlebæk, find the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, where a sculpture park gives our own Minneapolis Sculpture Garden a run for its money, with Alexander Calder, Henry Moore, Nobuo Sekine, and other heavy hitters. “I love to go there,” Søndergård says. “Bring your swimsuit and have a swim in the Baltic Sea after you’ve seen the museum.”

Splendor in the Grass

We’ve got the goods to make summer entertaining a breeze, from picnics at the park to day-tripping on the boat.

BY SHAYLA OWODUNNI

COURT COVERAGE

Sport your style score from break point to brunch. “Bee Active” polo tennis dress in Wild Bloom ($235), from Johnny Was, Galleria, 612-421-7174, johnnywas.com

WALK THIS WAY

Take a sustainable step in summer shoes knitted with and hemp. “The Espadrille” in Limeade ($139), Galleria, 952-6007371, rothys.com

SOFT SERVE

Scoop up good times and sweet victory. Pickleball paddle in Ice Cream ($80), by Joola × Britto, and Gamma training balls ($10 for six-pack), both from Michael Lynne’s Tennis Shop, 5011 Excelsior Blvd., St. Louis Park, 952-926-1520, mltennis.com

SUMPTUOUS SPREADS

CARRY AWAY

No muss, no fuss with a washable flat-bottom carryall meant for the elements. “Original Bogg”

Blowing Pink Bubbles ($90), by Bogg, from Sweet Ivy, 6598, shopsweetivy.com

COMFORT ZONE

Opulence that’s made for the park or porch. “Verge” outdoor velvet square pillows in green and citron (small, $49; large, $59), from Room and Board, 7010 France Ave. S., Edina, 866-401-7785, roomandboard.com

Swing by these locally owned shops for grab-and-go bites sure to perk up your picnic.

The Grocer’s Table Check out the family-style takeaways. “Grab a bottle of the house bootleg mix; it’s legit,” says Stephanie March, food and dining editor. thegrocerstablemn.com

POSH PROVISIONS

Pack this chic handwoven willow basket to the brim for all-inone alfresco dining at its finest. “Honeycomb” from Williams Sonoma, 952-285-1338, williams-sonoma.com

IN THE CARDS

Play your cards right with a deck of 50 meal platters with visual references stacked in your favor. “The Cheese Board Deck” by Meg Quinn, from Foxwell Shoppe, 4400 France Ave. S., Edina, 612-999-8443, thefoxwell.com

PITCHER PERFECT

Pour into your next gathering with this durable acrylic tableware. “Sister Rosetta” pitcher in orange ($130) and “Lente” tumbler in fuchsia ($22), both by Mario Luca Giusti, also from Julia Moss Designs

Secure prime picnic luxurious handmade outdoor from Bellaserra Outdoor, International Market Square, 275 Market St., Stes. 54, 189, and C9, Mpls., 612-356-2721, bellaserra outdoor.com

London, both also from Heimie’s Haberdashery.

Salute a sumptuous summer with this light-weight ($125), by Bailey, from Heimie’s 400 St. Peter St., St. Paul,

Nelson Cheese and Deli “Huge sandwiches, leafy salads, all the chips and pop, too,” March says of this 30-plus-year St. Paul staple specializing in handmade cheeses. nelsoncheese.net

brighter with a compact, cordless

both by Zaff Julia Moss Designs,

Alma Provisions griddled sandwiches, the chickpea and the farro salad, pimento cheese spreads, and snacks. almaprovisions.com

Em Que Viet A must for takeout, March says. She suggests the banh mi and egg rolls. “There’s also a great rice noodle salad and steamed banana cake!” emqueviet.com

Day (and Night) Tripper

See how a Beatles-obsessed family turned their camper into a mobile vacation spot that wheels them around long and winding roads with all the comforts of home.

BY MADISON BLOOMQUIST

Tiff and Nate Mueller will be the first to say they aren’t exactly the type of campers who love to rough it. “We’re pretty glampy people,” says Tiff, owner of the fiber art line Hello Refuge. But they’d always wanted to own a classic silver Airstream, and after a family air-travel trip in 2020 didn’t materialize due to pandemic restrictions, they started to explore other modes of transportation.

The Muellers found a gutted 1975 Airstream Sovereign on Facebook Marketplace, and with the help of local camperredesign experts they found through friends, they spent two years building it out to mimic the style of the family’s Edina home.

Now, Martha (named after the Beatles song “Martha My Dear”) is decked out in jewel tones, textures like linen and velvet, warm woods, and midcentury modern touches—along with local art and, of course, amenities like a record player for those Beatles vinyls— and has become a second home on wheels for Tiff, Nate, and their 10- and 13-year-old daughters.

“Last summer was the first year we could take it out, and the girls loved it,” Tiff says of their trips to Taylors Falls, Mount Rushmore, and beyond. “It was a bit of a gamble, but it paid off. It’s been such a blast.”

1 personalize it

All of the Muellers’ kids (human and pup) have Beatles-centric names, so, of course, the Airstream needed one, too. “Our daughters are named after ‘Penny Lane’ and ‘Eleanor Rigby,’ and our Cavapoo dog [left] is Jude, after ‘Hey Jude,’” Tiff says. “So we named the camper Martha—for ‘Martha My Dear’—and we play the song every time we drive out on a trip.”

The goal?

A home you fall helplessly in love with, a little more every day.

We believe the real beauty of a home reveals itself over time—in the way the

entertaining style. In the view from every window, through every season. At TEA2, these are the things we consider in designing a home. It comes from asking many questions and listening carefully, well before pencil meets paper.

It’s not how every architect or builder approaches a project. But it works, as evidenced by the number of clients who ask us to design a second or third home. No matter what stage of the process you’re in, or what style of home you’re considering, we invite you to work with us.

You’ll be glad you did—months, years, even decades from now.

Visit TEA2architects.com to learn more

General contractor: The Crown Construction Company

pack the priorities

Airstream build-out process recommended All Campers near St. Cloud for layout and logistical help, and the Muellers hired The Woodshop of Avon for cabinetry (above)— complete with magnetic child locks on the doors and drawers to keep items in place while driving—built-in furniture, and new interior walls. “We wanted it to feel open and airy but also fit everything we needed, so we went back and forth a lot on what was realistic,” Tiff says.

Music is a Mueller family must-have, so they always bring a record player (top left) and Bluetooth speaker on the road. And Tiff and Nate love their teapot and espresso maker (respectively) so much that they bring them from home on the road (bottom left). Terrazzo-style Solid Surface countertops from The Woodshop of Avon throughout the kitchen and bathroom areas are lowmaintenance and easy to clean.

4 try diy

Tiff couldn’t find the right-size table, so she made one herself (right). “Don’t look too closely!” she warns. She nailed wood strips to a cement form tube and attached a round top. When the Airstream is in motion, they flip the table upside down and store it in the hallway.

5 make it multifunctional

The living space’s funky curved couch doubles as an extra sleeping area for the Muellers’ daughters: The longer left-hand side includes a freestanding element that fits into the center like a puzzle piece to make a queen-size bed—and even opens to store bedding. Local upholsterer Anna F. Lohse designed velvet pillows and cushions that fit the space (and Tiff’s design dreams) perfectly. “She was so knowledgeable—like, ‘Here’s how I would add in a backrest; here’s how I would set the pillows; here’s how thick I would make the foam for sleeping on it,’” Tiff says.

6 get comfortable

The Muellers knew they’d want all the conveniences of home at their fingertips while on the road, so All Campers added running water (for kitchen and bathroom sinks, a toilet, and a shower), electricity, a stovetop, a water heater, heat, and airconditioning. “We wanted it to feel like home for our kids, and we knew we wouldn’t be offthe-grid camping,” Tiff says.

7 max your usage

“Our dream this summer is to do a trip to the Black Hills and head to Colorado and Utah,” Tiff says—but the Airstream also gets extra mileage parked right at home for extended patio nights and sleepovers for the girls and their friends. A projector can play movies right on the bedroom wall (next page, left) for maximum coziness.

“So much of the design echoes things we already had in our house. It’s very intentionally similar so that it felt like our little home on wheels.”

—tiff mueller, owner

“A lot of times, campers feel really claustrophobic, but I had seen people redoing Airstreams on Instagram that made them feel so open and airy, and we knew that was the direction we wanted to go in.”

—tiff mueller, owner

8 go big in small spaces

The bathroom (top) may be tiny, but it’s full of modern amenities. Details like colorful towels from Quiet Town and a handcrafted Concretti concrete sink from Wayfair don’t skimp on style.

9 brighten up

Who says campers need to feel rustic? Jewel tones; clear alder wood cabinetry; cool linen bedding; and art by local artists, including Bekah Worley and Daughters and Suns, as well as from Tiff’s own Hello Refuge line, bring the family’s own style aboard.

Luciana Bongiovanni

A weaver and designer’s move from Argentina to Minnesota inspires a new beginning that’s tethered to family through a shared passion for fiber art.

BY NICOLE CROWDER

Often, slight pivots in our behavior or environment can yield great change and turn us toward the next version of ourselves that has been waiting to emerge. For art weaver and interior designer Luciana Bongiovanni, that transformation meant a giant leap across continents in the middle of 2020, from her hometown in Argentina to the lakes of Minneapolis, to follow her heart and weave a new tapestry for her life.

During the pandemic, most people were moving closer to their hometowns and families. You did the opposite and traveled away from your hometown. What propelled the move to Minnesota? When I moved to the U.S., it was in the middle of COVID in 2020 to be with my partner at the time. The immigration process was long, and there was no work, so I had the opportunity to focus my attention on all my weaving. I found my voice doing something I had grown up seeing around me my whole life. My family works in the wool business, so I grew up watching my mom, my grandmother, and my aunt knitting and my dad doing needlepoint. Yarn has always been in my life, and when I moved here, I realized that wool meant home to me. As an immigrant, while I was building my new home, in a way I was wondering what it meant to be “home,” because it’s a concept so tied to family, to culture, to a territory, and that was completely changing for me. I feel like I’m answering these questions now by belonging to this community.

My art is mostly abstract. I like playing with contrast, using natural materials and massproduced ones and recycled materials, then playing with shapes. Some are more organic and some are more geometric, but they’re always in dialogue with one another. One of the characteristics in my work is I make loops with felted yarn that are like sculptures, in a way. Lately, I’ve been working in new ways, and I just got a commission to create 25-footlong woven pieces for a new building in St. Paul. It’s for a new complex called Farwell on Water on the West Side, which will be a creative community of apartments and artists’ studios.

Left: Editor-at-large Nicole Crowder visits with Luciana Bongiovanni at the weaver’s south Minneapolis bungalow. The artist’s piece Moving hangs on the wall above the sofa. Above: In her home studio, Bongiovanni works on a commissioned piece inspired by the Mississippi River that will hang in the Farwell on Water building in St. Paul.

It sounds incredible, especially amid the vibrant arts community of St. Paul. Is there an aspect of this piece you’re creating that draws from Minnesota’s landscape? Rivers are a timeless passageway—a confl uence of nature and people, an artery of commerce and culture. The Mississippi River, the most storied of passageways, has shaped this nation’s landscape, from its trickling origins at Itasca to its resting place in New Orleans, connecting cultures by trade and business and nature

with people. What I’m representing in the weaving is an homage to this mighty river by mimicking its curvature through the piece, and all cultures and diversity surrounding it through textures.

I imagine it’s a feat of engineering to build something that’s 25 feet long at your home and make it cohesive. Absolutely. I’m working in [sections] of 5 feet, which is the size of my loom, so I can attach a few pieces of yarn at a time to the loom to make sure the loom has tension. Then I continue to construct [the pieces] in stages as I go along so it looks cohesive. I’m using a roving yarn made with merino and recycled sari silk from Get Bentz Farm, which is based in Northfield.

I latched on to that word you used, tension it relates to the relationship between the loom and yarn, because it makes me think of the tension between art-making for self and artmaking for others, not unlike your commission. I’m curious how tension, if at all, plays into your art practice for you. For me, when I weave, it means that I completely get lost there, and in my mind, it’s like the rest of the world disappears. When it’s a commission, I know I am doing this for someone, so that tension for me builds sometimes with tight conditions and the pressure of time. But the weaving process helps me navigate it.

that’s the main goal of IKEA—to make good quality design and create a better everyday life for many people.

With all your many talents and mediums, is weaving the practice you want to make your livelihood, or are there other areas of your art that you want to be in the forefront? I’m a multifaceted artist in general. I would love for weaving to be my main focus, absolutely. I love doing video, and I want to find a way to make bold expressions through that. It’s been on my mind, but I haven’t really figured it out yet. But also, I’m an interior designer and have always been passionate about design. When I moved to Minneapolis, I had an opportunity at the time to start studying it, and then I started working in a high-end design showroom and with design clients where we had access to custom furniture made by well-known designers and international brands across Asia and Europe. That experience was a great opportunity, and I learned a lot.

And then you started working for IKEA last year, is that right? I started working at IKEA as an interior designer recreating their showrooms.

And IKEA is a Scandinavian brand with stores all around the world, but it fits very well in Minnesota, which has a large Scandinavian population and heritage. I’m curious, as an interior designer, how you view Minnesota’s landscape and culture influencing home interior design choices. Something that is super interesting and nuanced that I’ve observed is the focus on and good solutions in an entryway. Entryways are not super common all over the world, but thinking of it as a place where you can contain the salt that is tracked inside because of all the snow, and the unique weather means outside elements impact room layouts inside a home. It’s also in the community. Minnesotans are very sports-oriented and are active yearround; it doesn’t matter that it’s cold or if it’s super warm. People like to be outside, and there’s a connection with nature that shows up as larger windows in homes and apartments to let more light in.

As we’re gearing up for summer and opening our windows to let that fresh air and light back into our homes, how can folks freshen up their

for me,

home spaces to welcome in the warmth and clear out the cold? I highly recommend changing the colors in your home furnishing, like adding colorful printed cushions or vases. Of course, refresh the types of flowers you have and put those throughout your space. Add in woven textures like throw blankets, pillows, or vibrant rugs.

What are some places around the Twin Cities that have become your go-to staples to eat, shop, or relax? I love going for walks by the lakes with my dog. I love having nature all around and being able to connect with nature every day. I used to live in Uptown, for three years, and one of my favorite places to eat is Lake and Irving. They have one of the best burgers ever! And now in my new neighborhood in south Minneapolis, I love going to Standish Cafe. It’s so amazing if you love brunch. Also, I love Italian Eatery and Gai Noi. And then for going out, I love to watch soccer games at Allianz Field in St. Paul. Of course, being from Argentina, where soccer is huge, it’s so much fun with all the fans dancing and everybody singing. I love it all.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity

“Wool,

represents home,” says Bongiovanni, who comes from a family of fiber artists. Her yarn collection is housed in her home studio.

Pool Party

A pool house area designed for an Edina family craving connection with their Minnehaha Creek–lined yard proves you don’t have to go big to live large.

BY MADISON BLOOMQUIST PHOTOGRAPHS BY SPACECRAFTING

“I like to view spring and early summer as the top of a slide,” architect Mark Larson says. “You climb up that ladder all winter, and then, whoosh, it’s all easy from there.”

But to really enjoy the ride, you need to set yourself up for success—which is just what Larson, a partner at Rehkamp Larson Architects, did for long-term clients in Edina. He, along with interior designer Martha Dayton, had worked with the homeowners on a decade-long multiphase renovation that had, until recently, primarily tackled the home’s interior.

The next step? Maximizing outdoor living potential for a young, active family with a passion for entertaining. “Initially, our conversations revolved around ways to get outside, and evolved into having more of a destination in the backyard,” Larson says.

The team added a pool house and small plunge pool to a corner of the yard that had previously felt disconnected. “There was a large portion of the property that almost didn’t feel like it was theirs because of the house’s orientation,” Larson says. “In a strange way, it felt like this house had a smallish backyard next to somebody with a really big backyard.” The pool area reorients the view of the expansive backyard and the creek while also providing privacy and adding entertaining space fit for the homeowners and their three young kids.

The new pool house acts like a three-season porch, with motorized screens that descend with the press of a button and ceiling fans and heaters to maintain optimal temperatures. Indoor-outdoor furniture that feels cohesive with the main house’s “transitional-with-playful-flair style,” as Dayton calls it; storage and dry bar space; a gas fireplace; and a TV provide comfort from day into evening.

“They have the most amazing views and loveliest spot on the creek, so it was really about creating multiseason outdoor living for them,” Dayton says. “They really take advantage.”

UNBUGGED

Motorized retractable screens, used on two sides of the pool house, provide the best of both worlds. “You roll them up or down anytime you like,” Mark Larson of Rehkamp Larson Architects says. “If it starts to get buggy, in just a minute you can roll them down. When you don’t need them, you roll them up and have a much better view.”

TAKE A DIP

With three kids who love to host playdates, the homeowners knew they wanted a pool, but watershed and elevation restrictions on their property meant they couldn’t fit one that was full size. Plunge pools (also called cocktail pools) have increased in popularity in recent years since they are lower-maintenance, are easier to cover and clean, and often better fit urban lots, Larson says. Bonus: You can crank up the heat and use the 3.5-foot-deep, 6-by-14-foot pool as a hot tub in the winter.

Design Close-Up

It’s a little bit like owning a convertible in Minnesota. People might say, ‘Well, why would you do that?’ But it’s because when it’s good, it’s the greatest.

–mark larson, architect

EASY BREEZY

All of the pool house furniture (including blue swivel chairs by Century from AJ Maison, sofas from RH, and a coffee table from Made Goods) is low-maintenance and made for indoor-outdoor use yet still comfortable and elegant, Dayton says. “Outdoor fabric has gotten so much better,” she says. “We use outdoor fabric indoors regularly now because it wears well, it’s durable, and has innate sun protection.”

VACATION DESTINATION

The pool house makes hosting and entertaining easy: A dry bar stores snacks and drinkware and hides a paneled mini fridge, while a gas fireplace and radiant heaters in the ceiling turn the tiny building into a cozy cabin. Limestone around the fireplace mimics the stonework on the bottom of the house and retaining walls (bottom).

Mark Larson and Ryan Bicek, Rehkamp Larson Architects, 2732 W. 43rd St., Mpls., 612-285-7275, Martha Dayton, Martha Dayton Design, 811 Glenwood Ave., Mpls., 612-850-9493, // Todd Irvine, Keenan and Sveiven, 15119 Minnetonka Blvd., Minnetonka, 952-475-1229, kslandarch.com

ROOTED IN PLACE

Todd Irvine, landscape architect at Keenan and Sveiven, added a mix of perennials and annuals, including begonias, Lemon Coral sedum, and creeping jenny, to built-in flower beds around the retaining wall “so something’s always blooming,” he says. A dwarf variety of arborvitae planted along the retaining wall breaks up the stonework and adds visual interest. Excavated space in the side of the house holds pool toys, life jackets, and kayaks to use on the creek.

2024 SUMMER 2 0 2 4 S U M M E R ARTISAN HOME TOUR A R T I S A N H O M E T O U R

BUILDER PREVIEW

Builder Photography by MEGHAN DOLL PHOTOGRAPHY + K.E.A. PHOTOGRAPHY

Ever wonder what’s behind the doors of the most exceptional homes in the Twin Cities? The Artisan Home Tour by Parade of Homes is your chance to step inside 23 homes designed and constructed by the region’s most exceptional builders and remodelers. These artisans create incredible residences that blend artistic vision with unmatched craftsmanship. Doors open June 7.

Black Dog Homes Co.

NICK, DAN, & BEN

VANDERHEYDEN

BLACKDOGHOMES.COM

Based in Wayzata, Black Dog Homes is a two-generation family-operated business and full-service design-build firm.

Adriatic Construction, LLC

DARIO JEVTIC & RAYMOND DENIS HOMESBYADRIATIC.COM

As a small and focused team, we prioritize integrity, innovation, and customer satisfaction, ensuring every project reflects our commitment to excellence. With a close-knit, dynamic team, we achieve remarkable results, setting us apart in the industry with our personalized, high-quality service.

ALYSSA LEE PHOTOGRAPHY

CHELSIE LOPEZ

C&E Wurzer Builders, LLC

JEREMY BORNSTEIN, SHELBY KUPHAL, JUSTIN WURZER, KYLE BRANDVIK, SAM THOMPSON, & TONY GUSE

CEWURZERBUILDERS.COM

When you decide to build and invest in a brand-new home, you want that home to be unique to you and your family. C&E Wurzer Builders understands the importance of this, which is why we’re great at what we do. When you choose C&E Wurzer Builders, you’re working with a builder who has a reputation for designing the perfect home to match your lifestyle.

College City Design/Build, Inc.

JEREMY HUSSEY, DALE PAVEK, & DAVID PAVEK

COLLEGECITYDESIGNBUILD.COM

At College City, our design services are elite. Our designers excel at transforming a client’s vision into outstanding outcomes, catering to every style from minimalist to maximalist, traditional to contemporary, or any specific style. We are continually researching the most current trends, materials, and technology to stay ahead of the fast-paced changing remodeling world. We also understand today’s customer wants instant communication, and we pride ourselves on clear communication, reliability, and responsiveness to questions.

CITYHOMESLLC.COM

At City Homes, we are passionate about creating custom homes that stand the test of time. Our team is dedicated to providing superior craftsmanship and blending green building practices with sustainable aging-inplace solutions tailored to fit your lifestyle and budget. Whether you’re looking for a new home or remodeling an existing one, let us guide you through this exciting journey – because at City Homes, luxury, sustainability, and comfort are designed around you!

LANDMARK PHOTOGRAPHY

Custom One Homes

TODD POLIFKA

CUSTOMONEMN.COM

At Custom One Homes, what sets us apart is simple, we aren’t afraid to take on a challenge. Our staff is passionate about solving design issues for our clients. From initial conception to pivoting along the way, we shoulder the stresses of building a home, shielding you and your investment.

JOHN QUINLIVAN & JEREMY THOMPSON

GORDON-JAMES.COM

Driven by an elevated standard of work, we have established ourselves as one of the area’s most sought-after custom homebuilders. Your home should be a reflection of your personality. That is why we will sit down with you to learn about you, your goals, and what the perfect home for you entails. We have established an elevated standard for our craft, making sure only the finest quality of work is done for each project.

LAUREN WYNIA, MIKE GLEASON, & JON CONNOLLY

GONYEAHOMES.COM

At Gonyea, our exceptional team of architects, designers, and builders have a shared philosophy with each home we craft: to provide distinctive design, quality construction, uncompromising service, and stunning results. For over 30 years, our sophisticated and intricate designs - which include a diverse range of styles - have been known and respected throughout the Twin Cities.

SPACECRAFTING

LANDMARK

LANDMARK PHOTOGRAPHY

Kyle Hunt & Partners, Incorporated

KYLE & LAURIE HUNT

KYLEHUNTPARTNERS.COM

Our shared appreciation of architecture and finely crafted homes is what brought us together, and 30 years later, this same passion continues to be woven into every facet of our work today. At the heart of our work is building one-of-a-kind homes that foster a legacy of memories for each client. This purpose drives our dedication to every project’s success. Your home serves as a restorative retreat and a welcoming, joyful gathering place. It provides seamless comfort for your everyday living. Our team will guide you through every step of the process ensuring exceptional results.

Moderno Construction Management, LLC

ASHLEE, JAKE, & ALEXANDRA TUPY

HOMESBYMODERNO.COM

Approachable and optimistic, you will find that Moderno’s greatest privilege is being a resource to take you from where you are to where you want to be while offering tremendous customization and value along the way. Here yesterday. Here today. Here to stay.

Lecy Bros. Homes & Remodeling

ROY LECY, ANDY JOHNSRUD, MARK LECY, & KEVIN JOHNSON

LECYBROS.COM

Lecy Bros. Homes & Remodeling has been a premier custom homebuilder in Minnesota for over four decades. In addition to our custom homebuilding services, we also offer custom remodeling services. A family company, Lecy Bros. Homes employs over 30 gifted craftsmen and construction professionals.

NIH Homes, LLC

CHAD SKOGQUIST, COLT SKOGQUIST, & JEREMY SKOGQUIST

NIHHOMES.COM

Often imitated. Never duplicated. At NIH Homes, our clients are at the heart of the process, while we provide the framework. We are driven to craft you a custom home that feels welcoming, looks beautiful, reflects your individuality, and enhances your life.

K.C. CHERMAK

PILLARHOMES.COM

Pillar Homes is proud to be celebrating our passion for building and designing for nearly three decades. Every home involves a refined design process that blends online inspiration, personal desires, and lifestyle needs. We’re focused on the future — wishing to create a legacy of custom homes and the prized memories that are created within them!

JON MOREEN, ANDY ANDERSON, & MATT HOLMSTROM

NOR-SONCUSTOMBUILDERS.COM

Nor-Son Custom Builders crafts custom homes that afford you the space, comfort, and quality in which you can create lifelong memories. Our superior craftsmen combine building science with skilled artistry to transform every design detail into a stunning, one-of-akind, meticulously built home — the kind of home you can hand down for generations.

LANDMARK PHOTOGRAPHY

LANDMARK PHOTOGRAPHY

Pinnacle Family Homes, LLC

CHARRISSE JUST, SARAH REVAK, BRIAN RADEMACHER, & ROD JUST

PINNACLEFAMILYHOMES.COM

At Pinnacle Family Homes, we’re not just builders, we’re active members of the community, and we understand the value of building lasting relationships — both on a personal and professional level. Our commitment to upholding the highest standards remains steadfast, and we continually refine our building processes, adhering exclusively to best practices to ensure the delivery of exceptional homes. This commitment goes beyond constructing houses; it’s about fostering connections within our community.

STONEWOOD.COM

Since 1947, Stonewood has been a custom-home innovator that combines honest craftsmanship, time-tested processes, and innovative technologies. We built our processes around simplicity, transparency, and common sense, and we strive to make each stage of the building experience rewarding and enjoyable. By limiting the number of projects we take on each year, we ensure ample attention from our construction managers and fulfill our brand promise of exceptional quality and high standards.

Revision, LLC

JOHN DALY & SVEN GUSTAFSON REVISIONMN.COM

Revision is the premier boutique remodeler in the Twin Cities area specializing in design and renovation. Our team’s unmatched vision and experience reawaken existing spaces to complement your home. At Revision, our craftsmen bring your dreams to reality.

GUNNERSON ARCHITECTURAL ART

Style & Structure

JOE BRAUN & DANIELLE YEGGE

STYLE-STRUCTURE.COM

Our passion for building your dream home runs deep. From interior design to home renovations and remodels to new home builds, it all begins with Style & Structure. We have the experience and expertise you need to customize your home. We promise to treat you like more than a homeowner. In our eyes, you are part of the S&S family. We will work together, as partners, every step of the way to make your dream a reality.

Swanson Homes

LINDSEY & BLAKE SWANSON

SWANSONHOMES.COM

Swanson Homes has been a luxury homebuilding expert for more than 50 years. Our talented team provides clients with a unique and personal hands-on experience that creates relationships to last a lifetime. We prioritize architectural details, superior design, and a unique homeowner story.

Sustainable 9 Design + Build

CHAD HANSON, RYAN HANSON & VINCE BIRDSLEY

SUSTAINABLE9.COM

It’s not just a vision for tomorrow: Sustainable 9 crafts homes for tomorrow, today. Our enduring commitment to our clients is to create sustainably focused, highperformance homes without compromising on beautiful design.

SPACECRAFTING

LANDMARK PHOTOGRAPHY

JULIE GREER PHOTOGRAPHY

Urban Edge Homes, LLC

JON METZ, ROXANNE SODERQUIST, & DAN SODERQUIST

URBANEDGEHOMESMN.COM

Whether you are building or renovating, design is the part of the project that makes a house your home. At Urban Edge, great design means comfort. Comfort in knowing that we listen to you and your needs every step of the way. When you work with Urban Edge, it’s our team’s mission to bring transparency to the process of building or remodeling a home and hand over the keys to more than just a house. Because we build homes for life.

Wooddale Builders

STEVE SCHWIETERS

WOODDALEBUILDERS.COM

For nearly 50 years, Wooddale Builders has remained a trusted choice in the custom homebuilding experience for Minnesotans. Our hands-on approach provides clients with a high level of care, attention to detail, and unique craftsmanship. Our mission is to make each client feel like family and their new custom build feel like home.

VUJOVICH Design Build, Inc.

ED ROSKOWINSKI, LORI BALESTRI, & CHRIS MCGUIRE

VUJOVICH.COM

Vujovich has been creating unique Twin Cities homes for more than 40 years. Focusing on homeowners who require expert guidance when investing in the transformation of their home, we offer concierge design and construction services that achieve their personalized property aspirations.

Artisan Home Tour Sponsors

Like our exceptional builders and remodelers, these companies provide the highest caliber home products and services. We thank them for their commitment to excellence and support of the Artisan Home Tour.

ARTISANHOMETOUR.ORG

NOBODY EXPECTS MORE FROM US THAN WE DO

Whether you’re starting a renovation or building your dream home, Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery is here to help every step of the way. From traditional to contemporary and every style in between, Ferguson offers a vast selection of plumbing, lighting, and appliances from today’s top manufacturers, beautifully showcased in state-of-the-art showrooms.

In addition to unmatched product selection, Ferguson’s product experts have years of industry experience and are knowledgeable about the latest product trends and the building and remodeling process. Ferguson works with both trade professionals and homeowners to ensure product selections are perfect for every project. Our passion for customer service is easy to see after just one visit to your local showroom.

LOVE THE LIFE YOU SEE

We’ll help bring your dream home to life by connecting you with the ideas, products, and people that make it a reality — a home that inspires you, that reflects who you are, and that supports you living your best life.

ANDERSENWINDOWS.COM

OUR

HUGE SELECTION SETS US APART

Granite-Tops is the Midwest’s leading fabricator and installer of custom natural stone and quartz countertops. With thousands of slabs and hundreds of colors to choose from, Granite-Tops’ Stone Countertop Outlet is by far the easiest, most convenient way to select and purchase your countertops.

We have enjoyed nearly 30 years of continued growth and success, expanding to five locations across Minnesota and Wisconsin. We are a full-service company providing field measurements, complete fabrication, and installation — all in one location. No other fabricator offers so much in just one stop.

CRAFTED FOR YOUR WORLD

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THE LAKE LIFE ALL YEAR LONG

BY SHAWN GILLIAM + PHOTOGRAPHS BY B2B PHOTOGRAPHY & SPACECRAFTING

From shutters on the exterior (opposite) to walls of ceramic tile in the kitchen (this page), blue connects the home to its lakeside setting. But the kitchen’s statement piece is its custom polished brass hood, which has a substantial quality befitting a year-round home. “It’s this huge wow factor,” the wife says.

CASUAL WEEKEND CHARACTER COMBINES WITH A FEELING OF LUXURY AND LONGEVITY IN A NEW FULL-TIME HOME ON LAKE MINNETONKA.

sSharing project pics on Instagram is part of the routine for interior designers Krysta Gibbons and Marita Simmons. And while their Kipling House Interiors posts may get likes from farflung followers, they also catch the eyes of local fans—in some cases, former clients about to embark on a new project. “These clients fell in love with a home we had just finished in

Florida,” Gibbons says. “The goal and challenge was to create something inspired by that project and make it more specific to a Minnesota location—versus an ocean house on a lake.”

The style directive also connected to the homeowners’ love of Sea Island, Georgia, where they’d vacationed over the years and spent time during the pandemic. “We like that casual southern elegance—the blue shutters, the lanterns, the carriage-style garage doors,” the wife says. But she and her husband knew they wanted Gibbons and Simmons—along with architect Andrea Swan of Swan Architecture

and Nate Wissink of Streeter Custom Builder— to translate those types of features to their primary home site here, on Lake Minnetonka’s Crystal Bay in Orono.

In the kitchen, that means “water notes” and complementary finishes and fixtures used in a more substantial and fashion-forward way, Gibbons says, pointing to walls covered with matte-finish blue ceramic tile from Ceramic Tileworks, a dramatic custom brass hood, and brass-and-nickel pendants from Urban Electric. “We added a bit more wood to this project, too,” Simmons says, via white oak cabinets and floors.

The open kitchen, dining, and living space makes the most of views to the lake. “A large room like this is a challenge because you have to consider how it’s experienced from every angle within the house and also from outside,” designer Krysta Gibbons says.

The design team also adjusted their use of blue. “We saturated the colors more, so we had more navies and rich blues in this project,” Gibbons says. You see it in the butler’s pantry, where shiplap walls are painted a mid-tone blue gray from Benjamin Moore called Englewood Cliffs. “It’s a lake blue versus an ocean blue,” she says.

Bistro shelves built of polished brass and marble outfit the space. “We wanted it to feel classic, but with an airiness to it,” Gibbons says. “It’s appropriate for a home where we’re trying to tell the story that it has a little bit of antiquity to it.”

Barely two years in, the inviting atmosphere is already gaining traction, from a family tradition of Christmas-cookie baking—with up to 15 able to work comfortably in the kitchen—to summertime fun with family and friends, including the homeowners’ grown son, who now lives in Dallas. “We wanted a place where he wants to come back and bring his friends,” the husband says. “He’s already got Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, and Labor Day reserved.”

BISTRO STYLE

In the butler’s pantry (above), just behind the kitchen, the design team specified brass-and-marble bistro shelves rather than upper cabinets—a beautiful balance of elegance, airiness, and practicality. Shiplap walls painted Benjamin Moore Englewood Cliffs underscore that the space is more casual than the kitchen.

CLASSIC YET FRESH

Cabinetry painted Benjamin Moore Cloud White pairs warmly with the blue ceramic tile walls in the kitchen (above), where the sink window looks out to the lake. Light fixtures here in the kitchen, as well as in the butler’s pantry and dining area, are from Visual Comfort.

SUBTLE CHARACTER

Dark blue grass cloth backs the built-in bookshelves on either side of the living area fireplace (below). “It adds a little punctuation and depth to the otherwise all-white space,” Gibbons says. The chairs, from the owners’ previous house, were reupholstered with a warm beige fabric in a windowpane design.

THOUGHTFUL TRANSITIONS

The upper-level hallway (right), with trim and ceiling painted Benjamin Moore Midnight Blue and Thibaut “Teramo” wallcovering, continues the home’s blue theme, while Benjamin Moore Cloud White, the primary white used throughout the house, covers the shiplapwrapped stairwell (below). The collection of small furniture on the landing includes two reupholstered ottomans from the owners’ previous home.

SMALL WONDERS

The floral Schumacher “Brighton Pavilion” wallcovering in the powder room (above) departs from the rest of the home’s finishes. “The powder room needed to feel like a jewel box—it needed to be substantial,” Gibbons says. On the flip side, the mudroom (below), like many other public spaces, is paneled in shiplap.

In the husband’s office, cabinetry painted Benjamin Moore Shaker Gray, which has a blue cast, joins a ceiling reminiscent of the hull of a boat. “It feels really special in that it’s in this small, contained space on the second floor—it’s a surprise,” Gibbons says.

“THE BEAUTY OF THIS HOUSE IS THAT IT FEELS CALM AND COLLECTED AND FITTING FOR THEM AS A COUPLE AND HOW THEY WANT TO LIVE AND ENTERTAIN.”

–NATE WISSINK, BUILDER

“We intentionally left it quite airy because it has beautiful light coming in,” Gibbons says. “Obviously, it’s a prominent view to the lake, so the walls are white and simple, and the bed and furniture are quiet.”

ALL DRESSED UP

Patterned grasscloth on the ceiling and a Visual Comfort chandelier add pretty touches to the wife’s closet (left). Benjamin Moore Adagio, a gray with a blue undertone, keeps the cabinetry light and bright.

ATTENTION TO DETAIL

Although the Signature Hardware tub and Visual Comfort light fixture add luxurious touches to the primary bath (below), a ceramic tile “rug detail” is the design team’s favorite feature. Cabinetry is painted Benjamin Moore Tapestry Beige.

CABANA TIME

The poolside porch (above) can be completely open or closed off with retractable screens (to mitigate mosquitos) or a vinyl enclosure (to keep the space warm on chilly spring and fall days)—both from Phantom Screens. “More and more people want to use their outdoor spaces in the shoulder season,” builder Nate Wissink says.

COZY AND CLUBBY

The couple’s collection of lighthouses from years of travels fills cupboards and a shelf across the window in the lower-level entertaining space (right). “This space— and really the entire house—was designed around letting everyone come home but having everyone feel like they’re on vacation,” designer Marita Simmons says.

18312 Minnetonka Blvd., Wayzata, 952-449-9448, streeterhomes.com

“EVEN THOUGH IT’S A LAKE HOME, IT’S A PRIMARY HOME. SO, WE WALKED A FINE LINE—IT COULD’VE BECOME TOO MUCH CABIN OR TOO MUCH BEACH.”

–KRYSTA GIBBONS, INTERIOR DESIGNER

NESTLED INTO NATURE

“The challenge of the topography was that you had a major discrepancy from one side of the site to the other side of the site,” Wissink says. The home’s design takes advantage of the difference, with easy main-level access to the pool as well as a “walkout condition that allows you to get really good light into the lower-level space,” he says. The landscape off the lower level includes a putting green and a post clock made by Verdin, a clockmaker known for its golf course installations.

DESERT

A Minneapolis designer’s Palm Springs getaway offers rooms made for relaxing both indoors and out.

BY LAURIE JUNKER PHOTOGRAPHS BY COREY GAFFER

Barely visible rooftop solar panels tap into one of Palm Springs’ most abundant natural resources—sunshine. The entire house runs on it. “It’s the right thing to do,” homeowner Betsy Vohs says. “Also, Palm Springs has an old grid and occasionally loses power, so that was another incentive.” Poolside, “Idle” white sun loungers from CB2— along with a Loll side table, a dining table by Blu Dot, and side chairs by KnollStudio—are an invitation to relax.

BLOOM

etsy Vohs found her getaway “cabin” not in Wisconsin or the Brainerd Lakes Area but in Palm Springs, California, a few blocks from a house Frank Sinatra built. “I like pools, and I don’t like traffic, so this is perfect for me,” Vohs says.

Her 1,295-square-foot rambler is a quick five minutes from the airport, in the storied Movie Colony neighborhood near downtown Palm Springs—an area developed in the 1930s and 1940s that was home to many Hollywood actors, especially those under studio contracts.

“Legend has it, they had to stay within a 150-mile radius from L.A. at all times,” Vohs says.

Although the movie stars have moved on, the neighborhood still boasts a few architectural gems, including several homes by modernist architect (and University of Minnesota graduate) Donald Wexler. Another appealing feature is the tall, thick hedges that separate properties, providing privacy and dampening sound.

Vohs, founder of the Minneapolis-based architecture and design firm Studio BV, fulfilled a longtime dream by purchasing this home last year as a vacation getaway for herself and her tight-knit family and friends. The outdoor space, as much as the house itself, sealed the deal, along

with the clear view of Mount San Jacinto. “What really clinched it was the 100-year-old olive tree in the front and giant Bismarck palm in the back,” Vohs says. “I knew I could work with everything else.”

Making the most of the landscape was a priority because Palm Springs’ weather is relatively mild from October until June and the house is small. Vohs thought about the front and back yards in terms of activity zones—cooking, dining, socializing, and working. For example, the new outdoor kitchen has a grill and refrigerator for poolside meal prep, the covered patio shades a dining table, and a variety of seating arrangements offer places to socialize and cozy niches for solitary laptop work.

Vohs was fortunate that the previous owners had done a fair amount of landscaping, but she wanted to bring in a wider variety of cactus species and flowers. She says a local landscape designer and gardener helped her learn more about desert gardening (zone 10a). They also installed artificial turf in the backyard to provide soft footing for swimmers and an environmentally friendly potty area for Fred and Sal (Vohs’s two Bernedoodles). All the plants are on drip irrigation so that no drop of water is wasted—a key consideration, especially in the desert. Conservation was also top

of mind when Vohs invested in rooftop solar panels to power the home off the grid.

And while the house embodies vibrant Palm Springs energy inside and out, Minnesota lurks everywhere, from the art by Merick Reed, Shelly Mosman, and Tiffany Lange; furnishings by Blu Dot; and tile by Mercury Mosaics to the friends and family who frequently visit, including her dad and his brother, who enjoyed the house this past winter for three weeks.

“That’s what life should be about,” she says. “You create a space, and you share it with other people. It’s the greatest thing.”

SCENE SETTER An aluminum sculpture Vohs commissioned from Minneapolis artist Merick Reed (left) is a crisp focal point poolside between two large agave plants and echoes the modern style of the house without detracting from the view of the San Jacinto Mountains in the distance.

COOKING ALFRESCO An outdoor kitchen featuring Clé tile as a backsplash (above) adds function and keeps swimmers from tracking water into the house to grab a snack or beverage. Three new dwarf cypress trees next to the poolside seating area remind Vohs of Italy, another of her happy places. CLEAN LINES Although Palm Springs is associated with bright pops of color, like coral, turquoise, and orange, Vohs wanted this house to reflect her more restrained modern style. In the kitchen (below), she paired white cabinetry and countertops with Mercury Mosaic tile in shades of green. The black vessel is by Minneapolis artist Cym Warkov.

MODERN MOMENTS A Maxalto Febo chair and ottoman (left) from B&B Italia anchor a reading nook with a Stilt floor lamp from Blu Dot and Platner table by Knoll. VINTAGE MIX The vintage appeal of a Saarinen tulip table and chairs under a George Nelson pendant light (below) evokes a sophisticated 1960s groove. White walls provide a gallery for Vohs’s art collection. RHAPSODY IN GREENS A Bismarck palm tree with giant silver-sage leaves and a pair of chartreuse cacti (right) offer shade and a tranquil study in green.

PALM SPRINGS IS A VACATION LAND. THE WHOLE VIBE HERE IS GOOD MOOD .”

–BETSY VOHS, HOMEOWNER

I LIKE POOLS , AND I DON’T LIKE TRAFFIC, SO THIS IS PERFECT FOR ME.”

–BETSY VOHS, HOMEOWNER

LOW PROFILE Mount San Jacinto is the striking backdrop of Vohs’s ranch-style house, as seen from the front street-side view (opposite page, top). COLOR PLAY Although Vohs steered clear of a typical Palm Springs palette, she introduced color through some of her favorite artists. In the entryway (above left) are paintings by Jenny Keyser and Samuel Johnson. The rug is from a Joshua Tree boutique, and the red stool is from Hightower. OUTDOOR ROOMS The front yard is made private with tall plantings and a garden door that opens to a massive olive tree as the focal point (left). Lush desert plants in sculptural shapes and comfortable seating invite lounging here as much as in the backyard. The green Palissade lounge chairs and ottomans (above right) are by Hay, and the Montavilla “C-Side” tables are from Rejuvenation.

design: Betsy Vohs, Studio BV, 701 Washington Ave. N., Mpls., 651-335-3455, studio-b-v.com

Inside HER comfort ZONE

A Victorian cottage in Red Wing becomes a refuge for its owner, who surrounds her family with the storied objects of her affection. By

KELLY RYAN KEGANS

Photographs by TAYLOR HALL O’BRIEN

A warm welcome Homeowner Sapphire Anderson painted the front door of her 1890s Victorian in Red Wing a sunny yellow custom mix that pops with the original stained glass (left). Secondhand finds (above)—from the gold mirror and church pew to the vintage scooter—are among the treasures Sapphire sleuths out. Sapphire and her husband, Tyler, spend summer afternoons on their porch and in the garden with their twin toddlers, Oakes and River.

The metal and crystal chandelier came from a mansion in Minneapolis. Sapphire bought it and two smaller fixtures for $75. She painted the Windsor chairs matte black (Lamp Black by Olde Century Colors) to break up the various natural wood finishes in the room. “The brown surfaces are beautiful, but black really packs a punch,” she says. To age the table, Sapphire “dinged it up with a hammer and a drill with a wire brush attachment,” then sealed it with Fiddes and Sons wax, a polish she swears by for resisting water rings and spills.

Just about anywhere your eyes land in Sapphire and Tyler Anderson’s Victorian cottage, there’s a story to be told. From the statement-making crystal chandelier in the dining room right down to the smallest details, including the brass knobs on the cabinets in the kitchen, Sapphire’s face lights up as she retells how and where she found the objects. For example, she picked up an $8 bag full of brass knobs at a Habitat for Humanity ReStore in the Twin Cities, not knowing at the time how she would use them. “I had them sitting around for so long, and then when we painted the cabinets gray, I thought, Those round knobs would look perfect,” she says. Details matter, Sapphire says, to ground her 1890s home. Originally from Trinidad, Sapphire moved to the States when she was 7. She developed a taste for décor while rearranging her childhood bedroom in Idaho and later outfitting her Chicago apartment on a budget. After she and Tyler moved to Red Wing during the pandemic, the couple had twin sons, who are now busy toddlers and occupy much of their free

Cabinet of treasures

Sapphire showcases her collection of white serveware and clear glasses in an antique Swedish cupboard, which she found on Facebook Marketplace. It was missing the bottom drawer, so she sewed a toile skirt to conceal storage under the hutch. “I like to say, ‘If you’ve got to hide something, just put a café curtain on it!’”

Point of entry

The carved staircase in the front entry frames a still life vignette that holds meaningful objects, including a family typewriter alongside a framed photo of writer James Baldwin. “He needed to be front and center,” Sapphire says. “My children are named after him. It’s very important he’s the first thing people see in my house.”

Pretty and practical

To create a coffee bar opposite the sink wall, Sapphire repurposed an IKEA cabinet and concealed the microwave and pantry storage inside by sewing café curtains to skirt the counter (above). She mimicked deVOL Kitchens’ pricey brass pot rail with a copper rod that she found at Menards and hangs her favorite coffee cups and part of her copper collection on it.

A study in contrasts

In the living room (right), white cotton window coverings and the slipcovered sofa are an ethereal juxtaposition with the rustic weathered wood floors and furniture. The Lulu and Georgia sofa was a splurge, Sapphire says. “That was the biggest investment in this house, but it’s an incredible sofa, and the slipcover is performance fabric, so I can remove it to wash it,” she says.

time. “I’m here all day,” Sapphire says. “I have a lot of anxiety being in other places, and I just feel safer here. I feel at peace and am comforted.”

Through design books, Sapphire discovered a kinship with British decorators, especially ones whose English country style leans toward layers of collected objects with history. “I like that they appreciate where things have come from,” she says.

The furnishings that Sapphire is drawn to are a mix of some new pieces—like the Lulu and Georgia slipcovered sofa in the living room— with vintage and antique items that she largely sources from Facebook Marketplace. Her collections include

Cottage kitchen

“The kitchen was our first project,” Sapphire says of the couple’s DIY remodel (right). Channeling her favorite English country vibe, Sapphire painted the existing lower cabinets gray (Jitney by Farrow and Ball), and the couple removed the upper cabinets for wood shelves “to open up and brighten the space,” she says. The checkerboard floors are peel-and-stick vinyl tile by FloorPops. Sapphire found the $30 kitchen island at a Salvation Army store and added casters so it can easily move around the space.

white serveware displayed in an antique Swedish cupboard, and she’s always on the lookout for weathered wooden furniture and wrought-iron lamps.

The Andersons’ historic home is also a source of inspiration, with its original wood floors, stained glass windows, plaster walls, and ornate millwork. “Tyler and I didn’t want a cookie-cutter house,” she says. Structurally, the house was in good shape when they bought it, so they concentrated their efforts on renovating the kitchen (with the help of local contractor Bjorn Bang) and continue making upgrades as they have time.

Their front garden is now a focal point with a white picket fence that Tyler and a neighbor restored last year. Sheer curtains on the front porch provide privacy for afternoons with a book. “I’m always out there in the summer,” she says. “That’s my space.”

“I WANT TO MAKE SURE THE THINGS I’M BRINGING HOME ARE WELL THOUGHT OUT AND WILL LAST.”

–SAPPHIRE ANDERSON, HOMEOWNER

A breezy respite

The antique iron daybed, which Sapphire found for $75 on Facebook Marketplace, sets the romantic scene on the front porch, where Sapphire hung sheer curtains for privacy. “The bed used to be a child’s crib, and it was a little more than I wanted to spend, but it was the perfect size for the porch,” she says. “Tyler and I both have fallen asleep on the daybed. Just because it’s an outdoor space doesn’t mean it can’t be cozy.”

Sapphire’s GEMS

“If it doesn’t tell a story or add any character, I’m not going to have it,” Sapphire Anderson says. “I love a good maximalist home and feel that’s where ours is headed, but I want to make sure the things I’m bringing home are well thought out and will last.” Here, she shares some objects that define her style.

STACKS OF BOOKS “Specifically, I love interior design books, and especially the ones that have a little backstory of the designers featured—where they’re from, how they got started, who and what inspires and motivates them, what rules they don’t follow! It’s like you’re having morning coffee convos with them.”

MADE BY HAND

“I adore pottery— large terra-cotta vases and primitivestyle vessels, like this confit bowl. My dream is to have my own small pottery business and fire all my pieces in a primitive style with wood fire instead of a kiln. It’s a process that seems so rewarding, with all the trials and errors.”

TEXTURED AND AGED “I really love antique Aubusson verdure tapestries, but those cost as much as a car, so I decided to look for something with similar vibes and scored this one on eBay. It’s a French tapestry that I’ll probably move around. It could be great as a small side table cover or over the back of a sofa. There are a lot of dupes of these that are modern, but I really wanted something old and not a dupe for the exact look, and this one is from France.”

REFLECTIVE SURFACES “Some people might find it vain when they see homes with a lot of mirrors or ones in a larger scale, but that’s not why I love them. I love them because they can really open a space up, whether it’s dark or if the room is on a smaller scale with low ceilings. It’s such a good design trick.”

MEANINGFUL MOMENTS “My goal is to create a ‘Black Girl Magic’ corner in our front room library—a small space that holds books by Black authors, books about Black people and culture and design. I don’t like the idea of our guests being bored, so having something pretty to browse through or something they can learn from is key.” Our Kindred Home, by Wisconsin-based author Alyson Morgan, is a recent favorite.

Homeowners Leslie and Chris Neugent transformed their 3,000-square-foot Victorian cabin—and the surrounding landscape—on the shores of Big Island on Lake Minnetonka to take advantage of the 360-degree views it affords.

A wooded home onBigIsland gets a modern-day makeover and garden restoration that celebrate its historic character alongthe shores of Lake Minnetonka.

Waveland Escape

During the summer months, Leslie Neugent’s primary mode of travel is the ski boat she pilots, shuttling visiting guests to and from her family getaway on Lake Minnetonka’s Big Island. As she throttles down the motor, waves usher the boat closer to the dock along the rocky shores. At about the same time, the leafy canopy of trees gives way to a clearer view of her home’s white-painted wraparound porch. Originally built in the late 1800s, the sprawling

BY JAMES AUGUSTUS BAGGETT PHOTOGRAPHS BY TRACY WALSH AND SPACECRAFTING

Victorian and surrounding landscape are a welcome step back to an earlier time. “The privacy, serenity, and unplugged atmosphere of island living has been so good for our souls,” says Leslie, who shares the home with her

husband, Chris. The empty nesters treasure the time spent here.

“The short boat ride from the marina to our dock gives us time to decompress as we enter ‘the land that time forgot.’”

The minor inconveniences of being accessible only by boat are offset by being so close and yet so far away from civilization. “It’s a little piece of heaven,” Leslie says.

The house that originally stood on the 2.5-acre property

(including 750 feet of shoreline) was built by architect Charles F. Haglin but was destroyed by fire in the 1940s, leaving only the stone foundation. With the aid of old photographs of the original house—complete with a wraparound porch and a widow’s walk—the house was rebuilt about 20 years ago. “We bought it in 2015 and updated and remodeled the house,” Leslie says, “but we kept the Victorian architectural style.” The remodeled house is now 3,000 total square feet with sunrise and sunset views and pinewood floors and fir wood walls to replicate the original interior.

For the remodel, the Neugents hired Minnesota architect and renowned “cabinologist” Dale Mulfinger to help configure the spaces to better suit their needs, including those of their son with disabilities. “We designed the remodel with our son in mind,” says Leslie, “including a first-floor bedroom, a bathroom that allows for wheelchair access, and a wheelchair ramp into the house.” He suggested the addition of a sunroom and to relocate the kitchen to the front of the house in order to take advantage of the lake views. Contractor Brian Dahl further suggested the addition of a mudroom and a library, and he enlarged the upstairs bedroom to make it more inviting.

Interior designer Renée LeJeune Hallberg came up with the nautical navy-and-white palette and theme that feels fresh yet cozy. “The only input we gave her was that we wanted more of a lake house feel versus an Up North cabin feel, and she took it from there,” Leslie says. “It’s important

Zen pathways

The Asian-inspired woodland walk was installed over the course of three years and completed in 2023. The cement pond is watched over by a statue of a praying nun and is filled with Mexican beach pebbles and anchored with a lily pad fountain. Clumps of Pennsylvania sedge soften the shady setting.

True blue

Leslie’s love for navy and white inspired the color palette throughout the interiors. It’s celebrated by the 16-by-11-foot kitchen, which features paddle cutouts in the cabinetry and a custom rope light fixture suspended from a rustic beam above the kitchen table, which seats up to 10.

Contractor Brian Dahl suggested the addition of the 7-by-10-foot mudroom off the back door with built-in storage and a bench for removing muddy boots.

“When we saw the Japanesemoon gate design, we were smitten. It...offered a symbolicmovement across the threshold from the outside world into a serene,contemplative space. ” – L E S L I E N EUGENT, HOMEOWNER

that the furniture and fabrics be comfortable and relaxed. We wanted a place that felt like a warm hug when you walked in.”

The original property was much larger and featured extensive landscaping, complete with ornate garden gates that still stand and a runnel that was constructed for water management and now becomes a babbling brook when it rains. In 2018, the Neugents turned to garden designer Tina Nillissen of Landscape Dimensions to reconstruct the runnel and to create a garden in homage to the original Haglin gardens that had been swallowed up by the forest over the past century. Nillissen proposed designing a woodland walk throughout

the property to make use of the dense wooded area in the back.

“We wanted a gate to walk through to enter the garden near where the original garden gates still stand,” Leslie says. “When we saw the Japanese moon gate design, we were smitten. It was rustic enough to blend in but offered a symbolic movement across the threshold from the outside world into a serene, contemplative space. Chris and I had a dream but couldn’t

quite see it. Tina envisioned it immediately and in five years made that dream come true.”

Leslie’s favorite spot in the garden, completed just last year, is in the middle of the woodland walk, where a small bench with 360-degree views of the property beckons. “The space envelops you in peace,” she says. “We use it as an invitation to connect with nature and to become more centered. We find such peace when we can actively commune with the trees, the birds,

Waterside welcome

The homeowners enjoy entertaining smaller groups during the summer in the 10-by-21-foot, shiplappaneled four-season porch with sweeping lake views and an inviting porch swing (from La Lune Collection).

Serene path

A generous 5-footwide cedar-mulched meandering pathway leads through a 9-by-14foot Japanese moon gate that was suggested by landscape designer Tony Siebenaler-Ransom and constructed from Amish barnwood by Black Bear Builders. The piece was transported to the island by a barge.

The screened 16-by-8-foot cedar gazebo allows for alfresco entertaining without the nuisance of mosquitoes.

• A standing statue of an Asian female figure placed along the woodland walk provides a sense of tranquility.

• A blue ribbed ceramic planter becomes a focal point in the garden with the addition of decorative lily pads that catch rainwater and are used to display floating flowers.

• The dry riverbed, filled with river stones that mimic running water, replaced what had been an overgrown runnel.

and the water in a contemplative way.”

When they purchased the cabin, the Neugents received a special gift from the previous owners—a notebook filled with old photographs of the property, the house, and of the Haglin family from the late 1800s and early 1900s. “Miraculously, some of the trees in the photos are still standing today,” Leslie says. “I love that these memories stay with the house each time it sells. It’s a reminder to us that we never truly own a property. We just care for it for the next generation. We feel so thankful to be its stewards right now.”

Sweet retreat Leslie requested a pair of built-in bunk beds for each of the two upstairs guest bedrooms— that’s four beds for each room—to maximize sleeping spaces. The rooms accommodate guests when Leslie, a retired minister at Wayzata Community Church, hosts one of her frequent weekend retreats for mothers with special-needs children.

interior design: Renée LeJeune Hallberg, RLH Studio, IMS, 275 Market St., Ste. 567, Mpls., 612-367-8215, rlhstudio.com // architecture: Dale Mulfinger, SALA Architects, 326 Hennepin Ave. E., Mpls., 612-379-3037, salaarc.com // contractor: Brian Dahl, Gates General Contractors, 3500 Vicksburg Ln., Plymouth, 763-550-0043, gatesgeneralcontractors.com // landscape design: Tina Nillissen, Landscape Dimensions, 612-363-2888 (with installation assistance by Lee Ehresman, Vision Landscape, 952-829-9508)

Just steps from the kitchen and dining area, a fir-paneled sitting room affords panoramic views of Lake Minnetonka. The wooden console is by Palecek, and a pair of vintage snowshoes mounted above one window reminds summer visitors that winters are never far away.

“Nikon has a great line of binoculars called Monarch,” birder Nina Hale says of the primary pair she owned before the Zeiss Victory model (left). “I had them for years until they fell off my harness and into the ocean.”

Bringing Nature into Focus

A treasured pair of binoculars gives a local birder a window into an incredible world, even if it’s right in her own backyard.

BY SHAWN GILLIAM | PHOTOGRAPH BY TAYLOR HALL O’BRIEN

n a recent birding trip to Colombia, retired Minneapolis ad agency exec Nina Hale saw just under 200 species of birds.

“That’s actually not a lot, because we were very focused on photography,” the avid birder says. “I spent hours taking photos of the same hummingbirds at the same flowers.” And while she has seen nearly 2,000 species, many in the tropics of South America and Southeast Asia, Hale doesn’t consider herself a “lister”—the word for birders who strive to see as many

species as possible. (The record, set recently, is 10,000.)

Numbers notwithstanding, her Victory SF 8x42 binoculars by German manufacturer Zeiss (shown) or a more compact pair by Swarovski accompanies her on every serious outing. “The biggest difference between the two is their performance in low light,” Hale says. “The Zeiss one at dawn and dusk is extraordinary. And they have a much wider field of view because they’re so much larger.”

One afternoon this spring, binoculars in tow, she checked out a family of great horned owls near Cedar Lake in Minneapolis, observed from a considerable distance. “My God, they’re so cute,” she said of three fuzzy-headed owlets peeking out from a nest built inside the tall trunk of a dead tree—virtually indistinguishable to the naked eye.

More than anything, though, Hale’s binoculars connect her to a feeling of calm. “I don’t do yoga. I don’t do meditation. Birds create that for me.”

Patio seating is always available.