Artful Living Magazine | Autumn 2024 by Artful Living Magazine

RISE TO EVERY OCCASION

The definition of sporting luxury, the 3rd generation Range Rover Sport is now redesigned to make a dramatic entrance everywhere you go. Legendary performance and refinement are presented with an elevated sense of modern design, making every drive feel powerful, distinctive and breathtaking.

NEW 2025 RANGE ROVER SPORT / Starting at $83,700* 24-month lease for $988/mo*.

#1 Land Rover Dealer in the 5-state area**

ADVENTURE, REIMAGINED

Explore with the New Land Rover Defender 130. With a third row of full-size seating, offering best-in-class space for up to eight passengers. Individually customize your off-road system preferences with Configurable Terrain Response® and stay connected with the intuitive Pivi Pro infotainment system. So, whether you’re rock crawling in Moab or tearing through snow in Alaska, the Land Rover Defender is ready for just about anything.

NEW 2025 DEFENDER 130 / Starting at $69,700* Finance at 3.9% APR for 60 months.

Land Rover Minneapolis

8905 Wayzata Blvd, Golden Valley, MN 55426

763.222.2200

LandRoverMinneapolis.com

BLAZE MILANO

RAG & BONE

BERNHARDT

OUTDOOR LUXURY

THE LUXURY OF LAND

Architectural Wonders Brought

THREE WEEKENDS ONLY

October 4-20, 2024

Fridays-Sundays | 12-6 p.m.

SUMMER #2 | SWANSON HOMES

SUMMER #6 | GORDON JAMES

SUMMER #5 | WOODDALE BUILDERS

SUMMER #17 | CUSTOM ONE HOMES

PHOTOGRAPHY PARTNER

Photography by Alyssa Lee Photography Interior Design by Brown Cow Design

Introducing NorthStar Home Technologies Design Studio

Experience

Dumba Remodel Project

HENRI

INTERIORS

Photographed by Taylor Hall O’Brien

www.bellekitchen.com

Laundry that won’t clean you out

Appliances that simplify your life are a thing of beauty, but brilliant doesn’t have to look boring. Our Appliance Specialists match you with appliances that ref resh your home’s look as well as your everyday routine. And our unbeatable low prices and professional delivery crews make the process easier.

Laundry at

THE STYLE ISSUE

PHOTOGRAPHY

life. at your summit.

At the core of our care lies the profound understanding that you are on a journey to reach your full potential, to realize your goals and dreams, to reach your summit——no matter what that summit may be. It is this understanding that drives us to provide the highest standard of excellence through every injury or aching joint and muscle that may stand in your way.

IMMEDIATE CARE AT OUR ORTHOPEDIC URGENT CARE LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE METRO

CULTURE

58 FASHION

An ode to a longunderserved style muse: the older woman.

65 AT AUCTION

The rise of high-end fashion auctions.

68 JEWELRY

Inside the dazzling world of jewelry designer Silvia Furmanovich.

STYLE

75 TRENDS

How to wear this fall’s top runway fashions.

82 MEN’S FASHION

David Coggins offers his take on the best new looks in menswear.

87 GUIDE

Add a touch of drama with nature-inspired statement pieces.

COMPASS

98 SAFARI

Gisela Williams explores the glamorous African Bush Camp Atzaro.

105 TOUR

The Artful Living guide to Milan.

111 FIJI

An underwater adventure in search of Fiji’s kaleidoscopic pearls.

HOME

134 PROPERTY GALLERY

Coldwell Banker Realty presents the finest homes for sale.

166 BUILD

David and Jodie Bieker of Denali Custom Homes craft their forever home.

174 RESTORATION

The 1903 Pillsbury Castle is restored and ready for a new era.

182 DESIGN

Engler Studio, Welch Forsman and Charlie & Co. turn a Cedar Lake house into a very personal home.

ADVENTURE

195 PHOTOGRAPHY

An exclusive look at fashion photographer Guy Bourdin’s lasting influence.

200 BUILD

Kyle Hunt & Partners builds a modern home for an active, fun-loving couple.

206 ARCHITECTURE

David Heide Design Studio transforms a lakeside cabin escape into a modern retreat.

INTEL

216 BEAUTY

Amy Synnott stops to smell the roses at Lancôme’s Domaine de la Rose in Grasse.

227 AESTHETICS

The evolution of the modern facelift.

232 NORTH NOTABLES

The region’s best and brightest.

EDITOR'S LETTER

“NO SOONER HAD THE WARM LIQUID mixed with the crumbs touched my palate than a shudder ran through me, and I stopped, intent upon the extraordinary thing happening to me,” Marcel Proust famously wrote in Remembrance of Things Past

I was powerfully reminded of this passage — and the transportive nature of scent — when I visited Lancôme’s organic rose farm on the French Riviera this past May (“La Vie en Rose,” page 216). The famous centifolia rose that will be used in Absolue Les Parfums, a new collection of rose-based perfumes the brand is launching this month, blooms for only three weeks each year. The scent is most intense in the early morning hours when the flower is in full bloom, which is precisely when I visited the farm. On my first day, as I crouched down to smell the organically grown centifolia, I felt my entire body relax as I took in the heady scent.

Domaine de la Rose employs many of the same eco-friendly, time-honored farming techniques used in Grasse in the 16th century when tanners first discovered they could camouflage the putrid smell of their leather with perfume. Countless species of birds help pollinate the flowers; goats keep invasive plants at bay. The sunbathed terraces of the Domaine are a temple of biodiversity. Visiting this pristine farm — and learning how they harvest and distill the centifolia rose without using any chemicals — gave me a newfound appreciation for the art of sustainable fragrance making and the importance of preserving the history and culture of the world’s perfume capital. Cultivating roses without chemicals is more costly and time-consuming, but it fundamentally changes the scent, yielding something far more powerful and true.

Slowing down and being intentional is something famed jewelry designer Silvia Furmonovich excels at (“Rare Gem,” page 68). At a time when machines are rapidly replacing artisanal craftsmanship, the award-winning designer is known for creating one-of-a-kind pieces that support generations of local artisans worldwide. “How many carats, how many grams of gold — this is not so important for me,” she says. “For me, it’s all the process and the history.” The Loupe — the largest stockist in the Midwest — shares Furmonovich’s deep commitment to exquisite craftsmanship. “Each piece is a testament to Silvia’s artistic journey and her dedication to pushing the boundaries of jewelry design,” says owner Kiki McMillan. “In this way, the store acts a bit like a hybrid of a traditional gallery — a space at the convergence of design, art and fashion.”

Elsewhere in our autumn issue, exemplary design takes center stage at Atzaro, a glamorous new safari camp in Botswana (“Out of Africa,” page 98). A collaboration between African Bush Camps Zimbabwean founder and CEO Beks Ndlovu (a former safari guide) and Philip Gonda, co-owner of the small, design-forward hospitality company Atzaro, based in Ibiza, this gorgeous camp offers cheetah and baby lion cub viewings alongside a stylish mashup of vintage midcentury furniture and African antiques. “We didn’t want that cliched, old-fashioned colonial look,” says Ndlovu. “Here, we are celebrating Africa.”

Enjoy the issue!

Amy Synnott Editor-in-Chief @amysynnott

EXCEPTIONAL DESIGN EXCEPTIONAL EXPERIENCE

USE THE QR CODE FOR MORE INFO AND A CHANCE TO TOUR THIS PROJECT

Amy Synnott

Editor-in-Chief

Emma Cutler Velez Publisher

Hayley Saunders Associate Publisher

Lexi Sunberg Managing Editor

Margaret Cooper Senior Art Director

Rosie Kelly Digital Editor

AJ Longabaugh Contributing Digital Editor

Genevieve Cossette Coleman Vice President of Sales

Meg Kelly

Marketing + Events Manager

Mitchell Lambert Director of Operations

Tyra Ericson Project Manager

Jolie Tanner

Editorial Intern

Frank Roffers Founder + Editor-at-Large

Pete Burgeson President

Editorial Advisory Board

Kate Nelson Editor-at-Large

Heidi Libera, Chris Plantan, Dana Swindler

Contributors

Writers: Merritt Bamrick, Tatiana Boncompagni, David Coggins, Katie Dohman, Allison Duncan, Christina Fortier, Fiona Golfar, Laurie Junker, Faran Krentcil, Wendy Lubovich, Melinda Nelson, Alexandra Owens, Gisela Williams

Photographer: Spacecrafting

Illustrators: Hilbrand Bos, Agata Rek

Advertising Sales

Contact Emma Cutler Velez at 612-803-1910 or evelez@artfulliving.com.

Subscriber Services

1125 Buchanan St. NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413

CONTRIBUTORS

Tatiana Boncampagni

“It’s an exciting time in plastic surgery because so much innovation is happening. I credit that to doctors sharing their techniques and work in a way they haven’t before,” says Boncampagni, an author and a writer whose work has appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Vogue and Elle (among other publications). In “The Facelift of the Future” (page 227), she interviews some of the top plastic surgeons in the country who offered her an exclusive look at the pioneering surgical techniques they are using to help patients look decades younger in record time. “Dr. Kim showed me a video of him performing a deep plane facelift while a patient is fully awake and able to talk to him — that blew me away,” she says.

David Coggins

“I’ve always been interested in what I wear, probably too interested,” says Coggins, a four-time author, men’s style columnist and writer of “The Contender,” a weekly newsletter covering travel, design and style. As someone who has always understood the power of clothes, or at least the power clothes have over him, Coggins enjoyed teasing out the season’s most wearable new trends in “Legends of the Fall” (page 82). As for his style, Coggins says he finds inspiration in the style of Englishmen who are obsessed with Italian tailoring. “I often say I dress like an old Italian uncle. But Italian men look good eating gelato in public. The rest of us do not!”

Fiona Golfar

The former editor-at-large of British Vogue, Fiona Golfar, has had years of experience witnessing the fashion world overlook older women. Tasked with dressing Dame Maggie Smith, a family friend, for the 2002 Academy Awards, Golfar was shocked to see how many designers refused to help. In “Gray is the New Black” (page 58), she explores how this long legacy of ageism is finally ending as the fashion world wakes up to women’s buying power and enduring relevance in their fifties and beyond. “The way we look at everything — color, gender, age and body image — has changed, and that has given us a new perspective,” she says. When she is not writing for magazines, the former editor and mother of two is working on a TV drama about life as part of a fashion magazine in the nineties.

Wendy Lubovich

“Buying and selling haute couture is the rarest of the rare, and I loved interviewing a seasoned fashion collector,” says author and journalist Wendy Lubovich. The longtime Artful Living contributor pulls from her passion for art, design and travel to provide a precious peek into the international auction space in “Bidding War” (page 65). This fall, the focus is on a John Galliano gown that would make a one-of-a-kind addition to any couture collection. “It was thrilling to go inside a haute couture auction in Paris and get an insider’s view of this rarified world,” Lubovich says of the June 2024 Maurice Auction.

ON THE COVER

Our Cover Shot

Spanish fashion photographer Xavi Gordo shot the striking image of model Britt Oosten for our autumn cover. Gordo, who began studying photography as a teenager, trained under some of the most legendary photographers in the industry before setting off on his own in 2010. Now widely regarded as one of Europe’s most sought-after fashion photographers, Gordo’s work has appeared in Vogue, Elle, Harper’s Bazaar, and Esquire (among other publications). Gordo snapped this photo in 2023 for a personal series titled “The Color of Beauty” that nods to the timeless glamour of red. As you’ll see in “The Realist’s Guide to Fall Fashion” (page 75), red is as relevant as ever this season, so it’s only fitting that the vibrant shade graces the cover of our autumn style issue.

About Us

Artful Living is one of the top independent boutique lifestyle magazines across the United States with international reach. Founded in 2008, this award-winning magazine features engaging original content and beautiful design, bringing the best of the North and beyond to an affluent audience with impeccable taste. This elegant, intelligent publication aims to inspire and entertain, highlighting culture, home, style, travel, food, profiles and more. The Artful Living lifestyle brand is headquartered in Minneapolis.

Simple. Sophisticated. Modern. Historical.

They’re not contradictions, they’re a palette.

At TEA2, we’ve never designed the same house twice. There’s no cookie cutter in our drawer, no single style in our portfolio. What we’re truly best at? Blending different styles and schools of architecture into a home that looks and feels exactly right. A home that creatively solves your and your partner’s needs and wants, as disparate as they may be, in a breathtaking way. A home that continues to give you joy, decades after you move in.

We partner with homeowners in many different ways—often, from concept to completion. Other times, we come in after a builder has already been selected. But the result is always beautiful: a home that embraces the landscape, the views, the light, and the people who live in it. Every day. Visit TEA2architects.com to learn more

General contractor: Ryan Companies

CULTURE

GRAY

NEW BLACK NEW BLACK NEW BLACK NEW BLACK

From runways to luxury advertising campaigns, the fashion industry is finally embracing a long-underserved muse: the older woman.

BY FIONA GOLFAR

CULTURE FASHION

IN 2002, DAME MAGGIE SMITH — A family friend — requested that I help her find something to wear to the Oscars. She had been nominated for her performance in Gosford Park playing Constance, the spiky, sharp-tongued Countess of Trentham. At the time, I was the editor-at-large for British Vogue, so the request seemed like a no-brainer.

“No!” “No!” and more “No!” was the shocking response from the top fashion houses I asked to dress her. “She’s a bit old for us,” they said. She was 67, with two Oscars and a clutch of other prestigious awards under her belt. “Not really our demographic,” they added. Finally, after much persuasion, Armani graciously “allowed” the actress to borrow something off the shelf.

How times have changed. Nowadays, many designers who historically have targeted very young women are also embracing an audience that has hit its sixties — and beyond. At 88, Dame Maggie Smith is one of the new faces of Loewe, posed against a brick wall wearing an oversized, shaggy brown faux fur coat and clutching the house’s best-selling Puzzle bag for its spring/summer 2024 campaign. In the photo, shot by Juergen Teller, the lines on her face and bony fingers remain unretouched.

And it’s happening everywhere. Dame Vanessa Redgrave, 86, was chosen by Daniel Lee to join Burberry’s 2023 campaign and made a front-row appearance at the show in one of its classic trench coats, her silver shoulderlength bob tucked inside the collar, sporting her favorite comfy Ugg boots (she wears them all the time). Following in the footsteps of the iconic Catherine Deneuve, longtime Saint Laurent ami de la maison, who reemerged in a campaign in 2021 — aged 77 — we now have Diana Ross, 79, fronting its spring/summer 2024 campaign.

We also just saw 63-year-old Kristin Scott Thomas, her gray hair swept back, face almost free of makeup, walking at Miu Miu. And, at 67, Jerry Hall — who walked Karl Lagerfeld’s shows in the seventies — starred in a series of portraits released ahead of Chloe’s first show by Chemena Kamali, its new creative director.

Embracing the beauty of older women first became a “thing” in 2015, when Phoebe Philo used then-80-year-old writer Joan Didion as a model in her sunglasses campaign during her tenure at the helm of Celine. Rarely seen without her oversized glasses, Didion was widely regarded in her time not only as a writer but also as an extremely stylish woman, so there was logic — and relevance — to the choice. Nowadays, it’s no longer about the shock factor of using older models — it’s about celebrating them. And the trend seems to be eliciting a positive response from consumers.

“Today,” says The Telegraph’s Fashion Director Lisa Armstrong, “you see 50-yearold Victoria Beckham running around in a miniskirt or wearing a slip dress as the mother of the groom, and no one is saying, ‘Oh, my God, look at her!’ They are saying, ‘Oh! Where can I get that dress?’”

Of course, appealing to an older audience also makes good business sense. In 2020, consumers aged 50-plus contributed

$45 trillion to the global GDP, or 34% of the total, according to AARP’s “Global Longevity Economy Outlook Report.” Millennials and Gen Xers have substantially less spending power.

I am 62. I have loved fashion since I was a young teenager, longing to walk in platform heels and find the courage to set foot inside the uber-cool Biba store. I still love it. I look after myself, am fit and have regular tweakments; I am not about to stop now. When I think of how my mother was dressing at my age, it amazes me how defined “dressing your age” was back then. There was so much talk about being “age appropriate” and not looking like “mutton dressed as lamb.” My mother had morphed into a fusty, middle-aged woman by her mid-thirties and by 60 wore a uniform of elastic-waisted trousers, “comfy” shirts and sensible shoes. She dressed like her peers. Now, when I can’t find something in my wardrobe, I know that my 25-year-old daughter has been helping herself. Our styles are similar. I wear track pants and hoodies, and I’m obsessed with On sneakers, as is she. But I also indulge in classic designer investment pieces. The market has me at both ends of the age spectrum. As Donatella Versace — a spring chicken at 68 — told me, “If I think back to how my mother dressed and compare it to the way I dress — she would have been shocked at what I wear! Today, we see huge benefits in representing all the generations.” Instagram is now flooded with silver-haired style. My current favorite is former Fordham Graduate School of Social Service Professor Lyn Slater, Ph.D., aka the Accidental Icon. As she writes in her style blog, “I was having trouble finding blogs about women living interesting but ordinary lives in cities. Women who are not famous or celebrities but are smart, creative, fashion-forward, fit, thoughtful, engaged and comfortable with who they are.” Her refreshingly exuberant blog has earned her brand partnerships and, most recently, a book deal.

Like Slater, the fashion houses have realized that women of all ages crave the confidence to be themselves. Earlier this year, when I had tea with a makeup-free Pamela Anderson, the 56-year-old bombshell told me how her career was reignited after she couldn’t face the rigmarole of a “glam squad” at Paris Fashion Week, so she went barefaced instead. The result? Mass hysteria. The public was so obsessed, she was soon gracing the cover of at least four major fashion magazines, fronting Proenza Schouler’s spring/summer 2024 campaign, turning heads at the Met Ball and serving as the face of her own clean skincare brand, Sonsie. “We need to embrace age,” makeup maven Bobbi Brown told me on a recent visit to London. (At 67, she has learned to use TikTok to host beauty tutorials for women of all ages.) “We have character lines on our faces and that’s OK.”

This March, 74-year-old Miuccia Prada graced the cover of British Vogue. The message couldn’t be more clear: Older women are here to stay and chic as ever. I intend to live to 100; I just wonder what I’ll be wearing to my party?

BIDDING WAR

BY WENDY LUBOVICH

CULTURE AT AUCTION

WOULD YOU PAY CLOSE TO $20,000 FOR A HAUTE COUTURE

John Galliano gown that was worn only once? With the rise of high-end fashion auctions, a new breed of collector is more than willing to pay that price to snap up a rare piece like this. In fact, in certain well-heeled international circles, winning a bidding war on a historically significant ensemble or one-of-a-kind museum-worthy piece has become a kind of high-stakes sartorial sport.

Case in point: On June 27, fashion lovers from around the world descended on the venerable Hôtel Drouot on the Rive Droite in Paris. The occasion? Maurice Auction was holding a swoon-worthy sale in the middle of fashion week. Produced in collaboration with Kerry Taylor Auctions in London, the highly anticipated sale included a treasure trove of covetable items culled from the private closets of some of the globe’s top fashion collectors, including Chanel couture dresses, Yves Saint Laurent coats and Hermès crocodile bags. Roughly 1,000 people registered to bid in person, online or on the phone. They saved the star lot for last: an iconic Galliano gown that sold for €19,500, close to early estimates.

It was purchased over the phone by an important international collector, not to be worn but to be exhibited someday.

Welcome to the rarified world of elite fashion auctions. Sotheby’s in London turned heads in September 2023 with their inaugural Fashion Icons sale. Here, Princess Diana’s ‘sheep’ sweater by Warm & Wonderful sold for a record $1.1 million. Following that success, a second Fashion Icons sale is slated for 2024 with haute couture pieces by Christian Dior and Elsa Schiaparelli. Not to be outdone, Christie’s in Paris scored a coup in January 2023 by offering a once-in-a-lifetime sale with the private collection of legendary French vintage fashion dealer Didier Ludot. That same month, they also held a global auction entitled “The V.W.S. Collection - From Beijing to Versailles,” in which a staggering 115 haute couture pieces went up for sale. Then, in June 2024, Christie’s auctioned off the private collection of British fashion designer Vivienne Westwood — taking in £754,000 and selling out every single lot.

“Fashion is becoming a genuine field of collection with very wealthy clients buying to collect, possibly resell one day, and wear,” explains Salomé Pirson, cofounder of Maurice Auction in Paris, one of the go-to houses for vintage style lovers. “Auctions have become more accessible and frequent, with a broader range of items on offer, from classic couture gowns to rare vintage accessories.”

Pirson and Marie-Laurence Tixier started Maurice Auction in 2022 after both women left their jobs at larger auction houses. They could see burgeoning interest in the category and wanted to cater to these savvy clients. According to Pirson, social media has helped feed the trend, as have live auctions. Now, with the push of a button, buyers can bid online worldwide. “Haute couture has the advantage of being rare. If an owner has carefully preserved a haute couture garment, it can resell very well,” Pirson points out. “This audience can include institutions and luxury fashion houses that repurchase vintage pieces for heritage purposes.”

Perhaps even more interesting than the buyers of these extraordinary pieces are the sellers. After all, what motivates a collector to buy an expensive designer dress, wear it only once, hold onto it for 24 years and then finally decide to sell it at auction? In an exclusive interview with Artful Living, the seller of the Galliano gown, who prefers to remain anonymous, explains why she wore it only once. “I couldn’t recreate the happiness I experienced that day, so I wanted to leave it intact.”

At one point, in the nearly two-and-a half decades she held onto the dress, she harbored the hope of bequeathing the prized possession to a daughter or granddaughter. But she eventually realized the time had come to part with the dress. “[In the end], I don’t have a daughter or a granddaughter — I have a son who is still unmarried!” And while she admits it was a difficult decision to sell it, she believes “this unique piece deserves to live again under the lights.”

the dazzling world of

BY KATIE DOHMAN

Inside

globe-trotting jewelry designer Silvia Furmanovich.

ARTIST AND JEWELRY DESIGNER SILVIA Furmanovich is fresh off a trip to Los Andes, Chile. There, she worked with a group of fourth-generation expert weavers who create vibrant, intricate designs using horse mane and agave plants. She first encountered their work at a Colombian trade show and knew immediately that these talented craftswomen would make great partners for her brand, which is known for using ancestral craft techniques to create opulent, handmade pieces of wearable art.

Born in Sao Paulo, Brazil, to a line of Italian goldsmiths who once provided pieces to the Vatican, Furmanovich knows firsthand what it feels like to carry on hard-earned family skills to the next generation. She opened her jewelry business in 1998 and regularly traverses the globe looking for new materials and techniques. At each place she visits, she fills scrapbooks with patterns, fabrics, drawings and various ephemera that will inspire the pieces in her namesake collection.

At the time of this writing, the Horse Mane Collection has passed from the talented hands of these Chilean artisans to Furmanovich. After she adds her signature 18-karat gold and precious stones, the jewelry will be transported to The Loupe, where it is one of the marquee brands sold at the high-end, Minneapolis-based jeweler. Owner Kiki McMillan carries Furmanovich’s work partly because of how meaningful she finds the process and provenance. Of course, her work is stunning, she says, but “Silvia’s pieces are not just jewelry; they are narratives of culture, history and artistry.”

The desire to preserve ancient cultural techniques has always been at the forefront of Furmanovich’s designs. Forgoing machine-made pieces, which would speed the process but take the soul out, the designer prioritizes building relationships with artisans — like the aforementioned Chilean weavers — whose skills have been passed down for generations. This ethos has informed collections she created from Chile to Uzbekistan, Egypt to Japan. Next up for the globe-trotting designer? Kashmir, India, where she will learn about the area’s namesake material, papier-mâché.

Furmanovich’s unique and thoughtful approach to design and collaboration has earned her countless awards and accolades. Today, the same Chilean women who once worried that their ancient techniques would die out in a modern world that often prioritizes speed over craftsmanship feel a renewed sense of accomplishment and self-worth, having collected many of their own awards from global tastemakers.

Last year, Assouline published a gorgeous coffee table book celebrating Furmanovich’s pioneering work, cementing her status as one of this generation’s most inspiring and legendary jewelry designers. Furmanovich is currently working on a second book that will help illuminate the design and collaboration process, offering insight into every step of how her jewelry and accessories are created.

“How many carats, how many grams of gold — this is not so important,” she says. “For me, it’s all about the process and the history.”

When Furmanovich began her life’s work, she thought perhaps she could learn techniques around the world and bring them back to Brazil. “I don’t do it anymore because [I learned] that this is the work of generations. We don’t have the skill. Even if you try, the materials are different, the quality is different. I believe it is important to give local artisans as much work as I can, like we do in marquetry.” Here, she is referring to her popular collection of one-of-a-kind clutches and jewels that marry intricately carved, indigenous salvaged wood with precious gems, gold and diamonds. She says the demand is so strong for these exquisitely designed pieces that she could easily sell much more marquetry than she actually does — if only they had more supply. It takes so much time to make the pieces, she says. It requires daily training for at least a year or two to master the technique. “It’s not easy to learn or copy this technique,” she notes.

Of course, the generational training and enormous amount of expertise that goes into crafting each piece contributes to its value, making it more precious both aesthetically and culturally. “At a time when machines are replacing local artisans, our process involves a lot of energy from people and families,” says Furmanovich. "It’s a very small circle of people engaged in this work. They are real people with feelings and dreams. It’s amazing to see what they can create with just their hands, like old times.”

The Loupe is the largest stockist in the Midwest; Furmanovich says it’s also among the top three in the world — a testament to the brand’s deep commitment to the designer, whose work transcends traditional boundaries of art and commerce. “Each piece is a testament to Silvia’s artistic journey and her dedication to pushing the boundaries of jewelry design,” says McMillan. “In this way, the store acts like a hybrid of a traditional gallery — a space at the convergence of design, art and fashion.”

The time, the patience, the effort: Things that many modern companies see as liabilities, Furmanovich has championed as a new creative model — call it the slow jewelry movement. “I try to emphasize that this is not just my idea and my work,” she says. “It is the collective creativity of many people coming together. When a person buys a piece of my jewelry, it carries the story of all the people involved in its creation.”

STYLE

THE REALIST’S GUIDE TO

FALL FASHION

Say yes to red, leopard and an artfully tossed, outfit-making scarf. And don’t worry: No one is going to make you wear a babushka.

BY FARAN KRENTCIL

SOMEWHERE AROUND THE FOURTH BABUSHKA, I GOT ANGRY.

It was the height of Fall/Winter 2024 London Fashion Week, and the Burberry show was, as the kids say, popping off. Catwalk legends like Naomi Campbell and Karen Elson were storming the grass-covered runway. Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour chatted with Oscar-winner Olivia Colman in the front row. The clicks of the paparazzi’s cameras thrummed like cicadas from the photo pit. But despite the fabulous surroundings and the dyedin-the-plaid-wool knowledge that Burberry is one of the best brands in the fashion game, something was askew. These looks were … well … weird.

Take the babushkas. I come from a family of Soviet immigrants. My grandma may have worn one in the rain — or to pretend her hair didn’t smell like stale Marlboro smoke when we visited — but why were they cinched tightly over models’ heads as if they were being shrink-wrapped? Even Elson’s envious mass of flame-colored hair was enveloped in a dowdy olive shroud. Then there were the scarves and skirts, which dragged a good three inches on the soddy ground, even though the runway crew was uniformly 5-foot-9 and up. For short people like me, it would have been a mud bath in the making. Don’t get me started on the zippered trousers, which let bare knees escape from the fabric while threatening to scrape them with metal teeth. And the way some nightgown-y evening dresses were tossed over giant cardigans — with no bra underneath? My nipples froze in sympathy.

The funny thing is, Burberry is known as a “wearable” label, the kind of brand that could invite shoppers to directly translate its coveted coats and sweaters from “runway to real way.” Victoria Beckham used the brand to help transition from spray tan Y2K goddess to legitimate fashion player. Emma Watson wore its trench coats to demonstrate that she was no longer a child star but instead a sophisticated urbanite. Runways and ad campaigns beckoned “real” women to do the same with leather pencil skirts and shearling car coats that were at once both timeless and modern.

But fashion executives are smart. They know “going viral” is cheaper than going global with a costly ad campaign. TikTok’s spectacle-rewarding algorithm is more excited about showmanship than simple, great clothes. And so Burberry runways — once showcases for a grab-and-go dream wardrobe — became performances for bored kids instead of real suggestions for busy women. Fun? Sure. Captivating? Sometimes. But still, if you’re a realist instead of a fantasy gamer, you’re likely staring at the runways going, “Cool. What does this have to do with me?”

I was so frustrated trying to answer that question, I even asked ChatGPT. The AI assistant was a bit of a sphinx. “The journey from runway to real life begins with understanding the essence of a trend,” it said. “Fashion is a form of selfexpression, and the most stylish people are those who wear their clothes with confidence and poise.”

Oh. Okay.

Maybe I was still angry about the babushkas. Maybe I was just annoyed that even a data-ingesting computer bot believes the hackneyed lie that “attitude” is all it takes to be stylish. Either way, I told the bot to go f*** itself.

Then I called the most stylish humans I know and asked them how, exactly, to wear this season’s top runway trends in the real world, as real people who are neither mannequins nor machines.

Here’s what they said.

THE GIANT SCARF

“Do not let your scarf drag on the floor!” exclaimed Zanna Roberts Rassi on a recent night out. Being both British and tasked with reporting the biggest red carpets for E!, she knows about winter accessories and impossibly cool ways to wear things. But though Burberry, Balenciaga and Stella McCartney all featured Lenny Kravitz-level scarves on their models, Rassi insists that the correct way to wear one is as her London-based friends at ME + EM, the womenswear label beloved by Kate Middleton, do: “Gently thrown around the neck, like a hug.” Giving the scarf a looser drape lets its pattern and color be fully seen, a boon for styles like Acne Studios’ rainbow-check scarf and ME + EM’s cashmere shawls, which both turn otherwise ordinary navy or black pea coats into canvases for an easy shock of color. Plus, by softly looping a long scarf from shoulder to shoulder, you can quickly pull it over your ears in case of an icy blast of wind. Love the look of a scarf but can’t bear the idea of fabric origami? Designers like Brandon Maxwell offer scarf dresses that transform an accessory into a full look that’s equal parts windswept and practical. “Throw it on with some tall boots,” said Maxwell backstage, “and you’re good to go.”

THE SKINNY JEAN

Much like tales of Snapchat’s decline and Shia LaBeouf’s cancellation, reports of the skinny jean’s death have been greatly exaggerated. Despite TikTok rants about the tapered pant being “over,” trusted denim labels like Polo Ralph Lauren, Levi’s and Good American have never stopped making the staple. Meanwhile, the empress of all trends — Miuccia Prada, the creative director of Prada and Miu Miu — put skinny jeans front and center on her fall 2024 runways. Skinnies were also spotted at Gucci, Proenza Schouler, Louis Vuitton, Helmut Lang and (in the pre-fall collections of) Balmain and Alberta Ferrerti. Like many style pros, fashion writer and vintage collector Liana Satenstein has “never stopped” wearing her black skinny Calvin Klein jeans with heels and oversize pea coats. But Samantha Tousey, the director of women’s buying at MartinPatrick 3 in Minneapolis, understands that not everyone wants to go back to their super-skinnies, especially if they’ve embraced a wide-leg jean for their daily uniform. To try the skinny silhouette without the denim, she recommends Toteme’s “buckled slouch” trousers, which look slim but not as if they’ve been shot up with Ozempic.

POP OF RED

The pop-of-red trend seen on fall catwalks for Prabal Gurung, Sportmax and Valentino is likely the simplest one to pull off without shopping at all. “I think the easiest way to incorporate pops of red is by layering on red accessories,” says Tousey. Consider shoes or a handbag, like those from Wandler, the independent Dutch brand that often makes its bold shapes in cherry leather. A scarlet turtleneck or a pair of ruby-red kitten heels from Toteme can accent an otherwise “normal” outfit for work. Or, says Tousey, “if you’re feeling really bold, you can wear a statement red dress.” She recommends La DoubleJ, the Milan-based and female-led independent brand, for maximum color saturation; all its textiles are made in historic European fabric mills. But not everything has to be maximum: Keep the makeup minimal and the hair pulled back to channel a powerful vibe that’s also quite practical. (No blowout needed? Amazing.)

PLATFORM LOAFERS

The Sex and the City continuation And Just Like That may be famous, in part, for its sumptuous street shots of bejeweled Manolo Blahnik stilettos, but in real life, one of the show’s stars, Sarita Choudhury, admires a different shoe altogether. “I love a slip-on loafer,” she said at New York City’s Fotografiska gallery opening for photographer Vivian Maier. Stella McCartney and Saint Laurent have recently offered up chunky options with two- to three-inch platform soles. Blumarine and Ferragamo made Fall 2024 runway versions, too, but this go-with-everything style can be procured from fast-fashion chains as well. Fashion photographer Sophie Elgort got hers at Zara; at a recent dinner party, she paired them with a black pouf-sleeve dress from the Tokyo-based brand Adeam. “If you’re on your feet all day, like I am, they add some height without the discomfort of a heel,” she explained. “Plus, if you wear them with regular jeans, they make it look like you’re actually trying.”

THE MAROON LIP

If you grew up worshiping the backstage makeup tutorials in glossy magazines, you already know about Romy Soleimani. The cosmetic artist has created iconic fashion looks for Linda Evangelista and Reese Witherspoon, along with campaigns for Kate Spade and David Yurman. But it was her master class for Glossier’s G Suit cream lipstick that brought a runway staple — the deep-maroon lip — into real-life focus. “The secret to a lip like this is blending,” Soleimani explained, noting that instead of letting pigment rest on top of the mouth, gently pressing it into the lip with a clean brush gives a wornin effect that also helps the color last longer. As seen at Balenciaga and Louis Vuitton, a dark lip can make formal party clothes look cooler and dress up sweaters or even hoodies for a casual brunch where you still want to look put-together. And since the lipstick has already been blotted, it won’t show up on your mimosa glass, either.

PHOTOGRAPHY

LEOPARD-PRINT EVERYTHING

“Leopard print is a neutral,” deadpanned the celebrity stylist J. Errico at a fashion shoot in London. He was swathing the actress Sienna Miller in it for an upcoming cover story in Grazia, the British fashion bible and — thanks to a runway bounty of animal-print everything this season — his options were boundless. Michael Kors put jungle spots on an evening jacket, Alexander McQueen wove them into sweaters and knit dresses, and Alaia put the feline motif on skirts, dresses and silk burnout blouses. Even Jennifer Lawrence, a reliable devotee of super-normal straight-leg jeans and crewneck sweaters, wore a fuzzy leopard-print coat to a Dior fashion show in June. To follow her lead, Errico said, start casual: An animal-print jacket over jeans and a T-shirt is “a statement on its own.” Want to bring some cat power — but not too much — to an evening look? Instead of head-to-toe spots, stick with a leopard-print purse from Ferragamo or Jacquemus, which helps liven up a little black dress … and doesn’t show stains if you spill wine across the front during a girls’ night out.

legends of the fall

How to wear five easy, autumn trends.

BY DAVID COGGINS

ILLUSTRATION BY HILBRAND BOS

WHEN MEN DRESS, WE TEND TO ADHERE TO ENDURING PRINCIPLES OF PROPORTION and custom. We’re lucky that way: What worked for Fred Astaire still looks great today. Women famously monitor the ups and downs of the hemline, but men can wear what their stylish father (and even grandfather) wore, safe in the knowledge that they still look good. But we shouldn’t be too set in our ways. Even men’s style evolves subtly over time. For example, tailoring is softer and lighter now; pick up a vintage jacket and it can feel like a heavy blanket. While “trend” can be a dangerous word — what is in right now may be out in a season or two — there’s nothing wrong with taking a small sartorial step in a new direction from time to time. To that end, here are some of my favorite new menswear trends for your consideration.

Minnesota Chic

Are you living in a style mecca without even knowing it? It’s quite possible. Embracing the rugged outdoor look is always a good idea. And living in the Land of 10,000 Lakes means you’ve earned it! What about a waxed-cotton Hudson jacket from Flint and Tinder? It just gets better with age. Or a subtle flannel shirt — no reason you can’t wear it with a tweed sport coat. If it’s the weekend, then some worn-in Red Wing boots — another great Minnesota tradition. A tartan scarf from Campbell’s of Beauly — yes, that’s made in Scotland, but the principle still applies. Lean into it!

Return of the Tie

Now, this is something I can get behind, since for me the tie never left. But after the casual disconnection of the last few years, people want to feel more pulled together. And not just for a business meeting but also for a special night on the town. I believe a knit tie is an under-appreciated (and very easy) addition to every man’s wardrobe. It’s textured, it’s tonal, it’s terrific. You may love your knit tie so much you’ll want to wear it with a practical chore coat, and you’d look great in that. I like textured ties in general — tweed, wool or anything woven. But if you’re going even more formal, then a striped repp tie remains a classic answer.

The Western Look

Embrace the wide-open spaces of Montana even if there’s not a horse in sight. Start with the Western shirt — usually denim or chambray, with its pearl snaps and distinctive pockets — which has now entered the mainstream. Double RL is a good place to start, and then you can go from there. These shirts are also being made in slightly dressier fabrics by tailors like J. Mueser in New York City and Drake’s in London. They style them with sport coats, and they look excellent. You don’t have to go that far (though I certainly do!). A simple Western shirt is a winning, durable look. Add jeans, depending on your commitment to the style, but corduroys with a jeans cut (Sid Mashburn has some great sports trousers) are a smart addition. Add some Chelsea boots with a wider toe (not too narrow) and you’re in the game.

Grandpa Style

This one is close to my heart, as I channel the spirit of the older gentleman for much of my style inspiration. He has a shawl-collared cardigan that he wears while reading the paper and drinking tea before taking his nap. What’s not to like? The key here is a strong devotion to a few beloved pieces. They can be a pair of loafers (suede Aldens are a good move), a dear cardigan or even some house slippers that you can wear outside your home if you like.

The Long Overcoat

An overcoat is a statement of intent. You walk into a restaurant and say, “Good evening. I am an adult who prefers a proper coat to a parka.” That sounds good to me, and a good overcoat is indeed a wonderful thing. For full effect, it should go down at least to your knees. This might be the time to dip your toe into the world of double-breasted jackets: Men are reluctant to wear them with suits, but an overcoat, with its military associations, is a good starting point. If you really want to step into the deep end, then you can have one made by a tailor; stop by Anderson & Sheppard the next time you’re in London. Otherwise, look for Italian companies that use great fabrics, like Brunello Cucinelli or Massimo Alba. Rubinacci, in Naples, Italy, also makes incredible coats. An overcoat is a simple thing that makes a strong impression — pretty soon you won’t leave home without it.

A Minnesotan turned New Yorker, David Coggins is the author of the New York Times bestseller Men and Style and writes a column for Artful Living

photo by Spacecrafting

THE GUIDE

Add a touch of drama with bold statement pieces that draw inspiration from nature.

PRODUCED BY CHRISTINA FORTIER

PHOTOGRAPHY BY SPACECRAFTING

FLORALS BY ASHLEY FOX DESIGNS ON LOCATION AT MOTHER CO. PLANTS

PREVIOUS Lazar Diamonds 18 Karat Rose Gold Natural Diamond Earrings, JB Hudson, $18,000 • Alo Yoga Mesh Sheer Illusion Cropped Long Sleeve in Ivory, $68 • LEFT Suzanne Kalan Sparkling Moonstone Ring, Sundance, $1,440 • Jes MaHarry Higher Altitude Ring, Sundance, $890 • Madewell

Mother-of-Pearl Flower Stacking Ring Set, $32 • Spartina 449 Stone Ring Pink Rhodonite, Sweet Ivy, $52 • RIGHT Julie Vos JV Honeybee Statement Necklace in Iridescent Aquamarine Blue, Melly, $395 • Julie Voss JV Astor Demi Cuff in Iridescent Clear Crystal, Melly, $275 • Janis Savitt Gold Triple Cobra Bracelet, Pumpz, $140

LEFT Jes MaHarry Fool For Love Ring, Sundance, $1,290 • Nakamol Freshwater Pearl Necklace, H.O.B.O., $88 • RIGHT Dragon Diffusion Japan Weaved Tote in Forest, Pumpz, $495 • Sundance Acampo Bag in Sunshine, $188 • Shinola Mini Bixby Basket Bag in Tan, $595

Shop featured Galleria stores: Alo Yoga • David Yurman • H.O.B.O. • JB Hudson • Madewell • Melly • Pumpz • Shinola • Sundance • Sweet Ivy | Visit galleriaedina.com to view the full collection of stores and learn more.

David Yurman Marbella Pendant 18 Karat Yellow Gold 22 millimeters in Citrine, $4,500 • David Yurman Box Chain Necklace 18 Karat Yellow Gold, 2.7 millimeters, $2,750

For over 60 years, Peters has been dedicated to uniting families through top-quality game room and home products, delivered with utmost care and professionalism.

COMPASS

OUT OF AFRICA

At this glamorous new safari camp in Botswana, you can work out in an open-air gym while watching elephants casually cool off in a nearby lagoon.

BY GISELA WILLIAMS

IT’S JUST PAST DAWN, THE SEEMINGLY INFINITE DARK BLUE SKY TURNING PINK AT the horizon as the sun slowly rises, and I’m bumping along a dirt track in an open-sided Toyota Land Cruiser in the heart of Botswana’s Okavango Delta. I’m on a game drive with three companions — all of us guests at the just-opened African Bush Camp Atzaro. Our vehicle is the only one in sight in this wild landscape; Atzaro’s private concession is, at 425 square miles, almost four times the size of the island of Malta.

As we excitedly chat about yesterday afternoon’s up-close-and-personal viewing of a large group of lion cubs drowsily piled on top of one another, suddenly our guide, Gosegonna Gontshamang, nicknamed Luckym, makes a hard turn toward a massive acacia tree and some fallen branches. In front of us stand five beautiful young cheetahs. That alone is enough to make us squeal with amazement, but just minutes after Luckym shuts off the engine, one of the cheetahs is off in a blur of movement, chasing what we quickly see is a baby warthog. Our excitement turns to alarm. Just as I’m about to cover my eyes, the baby’s parents come out of nowhere, bravely charging the cheetah head on. The cheetah, spooked, quickly changes direction, suddenly becoming the prey. All of us cheer. “Thank you, Luckym,” says Sarah, half of a couple from Zambia who have been on hundreds of safaris. She turns to the rest of us and says, “Just so you all know, this is not your normal game drive experience.”

I was beginning to understand that African Bush Camp Atzaro is not a standard safari camp either. It began as an unlikely collaboration between African Bush Camps’ Zimbabwean founder and CEO, Beks Ndlovu, formerly a safari guide, and Philip Gonda, co-owner of the small, design-forward hospitality company Atzaro, based in Ibiza. Two years ago, through a mutual friend, Gonda approached Ndlovu about teaming up, Ndlovu tells me as we talk later in the camp’s sprawling bar, lounge and living room, fronted by a long terrace. Over the past 18 years, Ndlovu has successfully built up an awardwinning, sustainable company with 18 camps in three countries and a reputation as one of the most respected and ambitious environmentally-minded entrepreneurs in Africa.

As we talk, Ndlovu, a youthful-looking 40-something, weaves among wooden tables covered in beaded sculptures, bowls of ostrich eggs, coffee table books and an impressive collection of African art and collectible objects, from masks to textiles — an incredibly stylish mashup of vintage midcentury furniture and African antiques. Large woven pendant lights, like upside-down baskets, cast dramatic shadows on the walls. “We didn’t want to have that cliched, oldfashioned colonial look,” he says. “Here, we are celebrating Africa.”

Ndlovu beckons me to follow him along a wooden walkway, past the terrace, where a fire pit overlooks a dry, grass-edged lagoon. In the summer flooding season, the lagoon fills with water — which is why the camp is raised about 20 feet above the ground. (It’s also designed to leave a lighter footprint on the land.) We pass the openair gym, yoga school, and lap pool with views of the lagoon, then continue on past the family tent — at over 4,000 square feet, bigger than most luxury apartments — to what is dubbed the Boma (a Swahili word that means “safe enclosure”). A large, modern-looking thatched structure, it looks as if it has been built by a giant weaverbird colony — impressive and welcoming. Ndlovu explains that it is the true heart of the camp, a space for gatherings that represents Africa’s past and future.

Later that afternoon, I relax in my 1,800-square-foot tented suite, lavishly outfitted with a private terrace, an elegant four-poster bed, parquet floors, midcentury antiques and, in the generous bath and dressing area, a deep copper bathtub. So content was I in this extravagant nest that I almost missed the early evening mokoro outing, an adventure along one of the delta’s canals. (A mokoro is a canoe-like boat traditionally crafted in the Okavango Delta from tree trunks — now sustainably made from molded fiberglass — helmed by a local who stands while using a long pole called a ngashi to propel the boat.) On our way to the launch point, I sit just behind Luckym, asking him about his childhood and the decisions that led him to be a guide. He explains that he is from Mababe, the nearest village to the camp, and that his mother had been one of the first female mokoro guides in the area. He learned to navigate the channels at an early age, often working for adventure travel companies and later qualifying as a safari guide. A few weeks before the camp opened, ABC asked him to train the guiding team. “They are already helping our village build water pumps and supporting the school,” he says of ABC. Equally inspiring to Luckym was the fact that Ndlovu had also been born in a small African settlement and had started as a guide. “He looks like me and speaks like me and has had a career as a guide like me,” says Luckym. “Working for African Bush Camp feels like a life of possibilities.”

TOUR

The Artful Living city guide to Milan.

BY ALLISON DUNCAN

MORE WELCOMING THAN PARIS AND LESS OVERWHELMING THAN LONDON, MILAN IS THE FAVORITE FASHION CAPITAL of those in the know. Among the many reasons: its “drool-worthy interiors, a borderline-religious devotion to fashion, nice restaurants staffed by nice people and good-looking Uber drivers in suits,” according to Brooklyn, New York–based fashion writer Emilia Petrarca, a former fashion editor at The Cut and current author of the Shop Rat newsletter. “I love that its inhabitants are unabashedly fancy.”

Home to no shortage of famed fashion houses (Prada, Giorgio Armani, Missoni and Gucci to name just a few), the European metropolis boasts a fall fashion week in September that has the stylish set shuttling from the runways to duomo-adjacent cafes in droves. And they don't skip the Prada outlet, a not-so-secret spot on the outskirts of the city (roughly an hour by bus) which offers upward of 70% off on fashion and accessories. “Every time I’m in Milan, I secretly dream of living there one day,” says Los Angeles–based fashion designer Anine Bing. “Everything — from the food to the people — feels so magical.”

We asked tastemakers to share their favorite hotels, can’t-miss restaurants and bars and the best shops for scoring a fashionable find.

STAY

PORTRAIT MILANO

New on the scene is Portrait Milano, a former seminary turned five-star hotel by the Ferragamo family, under their Lungarno Collection hospitality portfolio. The property — recently restored by architects Michele De Lucchi and Michele Bönan — sits just a few steps from Via Monte Napoleone, a shopping street second in luxury only to Fifth Avenue in New York City. But for a dose of retail therapy even closer to home, the hotel offers the sister location of the Milan boutique Antonia, where fashion’s elite prey on Jacquemus Le Bambino bags and cult-favorite knits from Toteme — a favorite haunt of part-time city resident Mariella Avino, owner of the Palazzo Avino hotel in Ravello, Italy, and curator of its retail shop, The Pink Closet. The hotel is also home to the flagship of So-Le Studio, a sustainable jewelry brand founded by Maria Sole Ferragamo (great-granddaughter of the famous shoemaker) who has made it her mission to reimagine discarded materials.

DINE

LANGOSTERIA

Milan restaurateur Enrico Buonocore found inspiration for his quartet of Michelin-starred Langosteria eateries in his childhood on the Amalfi Coast. Seafood standout Langosteria Bistrot — the most playful of the four, with specials handwritten on mirrors and miniature hot-air balloons suspended from the ceiling — is hidden in the Navigli neighborhood, where some of fashion’s biggest brands are headquartered. “It’s a fun spot — Rihanna sometimes goes,” says New York City–based fashion writer Andrea Bossi. “Don’t miss the ice cream–stuffed fruit for dessert.” There’s also homemade smoked spaghetti with clams; a drool-worthy raw bar, the Plateau Langosteria, with everything from sea scallops and langoustines to sea truffles and Saint-Vaast oysters; and Mariella Avino’s go-to, the King Crab “alla catalana.” Avino, who starts each meal with a selection of cocktails, also recommends saying hi to Gennaro, the restaurant’s barman. “He’s the best,” she says. Executive Chef Donato Di Giuseppe runs the kitchen.

BOTTEGA VENETA

This spring, Bottega Veneta debuted its newest boutique in Milan’s Galleria Vittoria Emanuele II shopping center. Designed by the luxury Italian fashion house’s creative director, Matthieu Blazy, the two-story store features a sumptuous mix of textures, like green Verde Saint Denis marble paired with Italian walnut and leather seating atop wool carpeting. While the retail concept will offer apparel and home goods, the real draw is the fashion accessories. The fashion set have adopted Bottega’s Jodie as 2024’s It carryall, thanks to its minimal blend of the brand’s famed intrecciato construction (woven leather strips) and signature knot — available in 57 unique interpretations. A newish launch is the Andiamo, a boxy bag with knot hardware that’s been spotted on supermodel Hailey Bieber, Academy Award–nominated actress Michelle Yeoh and actor Jacob Elordi (of Saltburn and Euphoria).

SHOP

FONDAZIONE PRADA

Rumored to be a favorite of supermodel Kendall Jenner, Fondazione Prada also makes Petrarca’s list when she’s seeking “something other than fashion” — even though the cultural institution, designed by renowned Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas, was founded by none other than Miuccia Prada and Patrizio Bertelli. From now until October 14, catch Miranda July: New Society, the first solo museum exhibition dedicated to the American film director and screenwriter’s work. Curated by Mia Locks, the show explores July’s works starting from the nineties (think 1998’s Love Diamond) up to 2015’s New Society And don’t miss Fondazione Prada’s Haunted House, a building within the arts and culture center, gilded in 24-karat gold leaf. Be forewarned: You’ll have to climb a few sets of steep stairs for access to a permanent installation by American sculptor Robert Gober in conversation with French-American artist Louise Bourgeois. The ascent is worth the cardio.

MUDEC

A self-described foodie, Avino says one of her “absolute favorite” restaurants is Mudec, the three-Michelin-starred spot on the third floor of the Museum of Cultures in the Tortona design district. “The museum setting is one of a kind,” she says. Led by Enrico Bartolini, who has been awarded more Michelin stars for his restaurants in Italy than any other chef, Mudec is a “pure gastronomic experience,” says Avino. Choose from two nine-course tasting menus crafted by Executive Chef Davide Boglioli: the “best of” or the “Mudec experience.” In the latter, enjoy white asparagus with orange blossoms and Parmesan cheese; seaweed-crusted turbot with beets and sea snails; and veal sweetbreads with curry, mastiha (a liqueur made from a piney resin) and carrots. Pro tip: The supplementary wine pairing, supported by sommelier Edoardo Jobet Monett, is a can’t-miss.

DINE

FOUR SEASONS HOTEL MILANO

The Four Seasons Hotel Milano recently underwent a six-month renovation featuring interiors conceptualized by designer and architect Patricia Urquiola. Housed in a 15th-century convent, the property sits just steps from the Duomo in Milan’s fashion district. Shopaholics will love the hotel’s shopping concierge service, which includes breakfast in bed, personal shopping services, custom shopping itineraries with insider recommendations, purchases delivered directly to your room and in-room spa treatments for weary buyers. “We spent afternoons in the courtyard enjoying Aperol spritzes and snacks,” says Bing, who stayed at the property last summer with her husband and two kids. The garden, reimagined by landscape architect and agronomist Flavio Pollano, boasts a noteworthy raw bar and outdoor DJ sets during the warmer months.

DIVING FOR PEARLS

Enjoy an unforgettable fashion adventure at Fiji’s famous pearl farms.

BY ALEXANDRA OWENS

ON THE WINDWARD SIDE OF Taveuni — Fiji’s “Garden Isle,” known for its lush, waterfall-laced jungles — an aqua-blue shack rises unexpectedly out of the calm, clear water of Wailoa Lagoon. The structure’s modesty belies the treasure stowed inside: precious Fijian pearls. This remote, otherworldly destination serves as both a working farm and a showroom for Civa Fiji Pearls, producers of these organic gems, each more stunning than the last.

In Fiji, a country celebrated for adrenaline-fueled surfing on barreling waves and mouth-numbing kava ceremonies, everything — somehow — turns into an adventure. So it makes sense that travelers in search of pearls wouldn’t simply purchase jewelry in their hotel’s boutique when they can get in on the action, instead choosing to discover firsthand how these “teardrops of the moon” are cultivated and then indulging in an oyster tasting after a day at sea.

That's why I’ve boated over to Civa from Matangi, a neighboring private island resort, my scuba gear in tow.

Claude Michel Prevost, Civa’s director, and I suit up and check our pressure gauges before slipping beneath the surface. We swim over to the longlines, which are left in place for 12 months. This is where the oysters are initially gathered — and plucked like fruit off an algaecovered tree — before they’re placed in cages and nursed until they reach an impressive size of 5.9 inches.

As Prevost works, we attract the curiosity of his “guard dogs,” a small school of scalloped hammerhead sharks, which are considered critically endangered. Shy animals, they’re wary of our presence, and when we swivel our heads away from the lines to watch them, they dash away. Soon a pair of spotted eagle rays and a barracuda, all so large they rival the sharks, join us down below.

While Japanese pearls are traditionally pure white, those from Fiji are prized by connoisseurs for their array of brilliant colors, from pistachio green and peacock blue to champagne and copper. They embody the painterly shades of the nation’s famous soft corals and mesmerizing tropical fish — a fitting tribute to the magical underwater universe in which they were born. They’re also among the world’s rarest pearls due to the scarcity of their black-lip oyster host, with harvests limited to around 25,000 per year. Civa is one of only two producers in the entire country.

We reluctantly return to the surface, clambering from our tiny boat up to Civa’s workplace and showroom. Prying open an oyster, Prevost demonstrates how his expert Japanese technicians embed a small bead between the shell and mantle (the soft outer wall) and

can push for special colors. After 15 to 18 months, the bead will be covered in precious mother-of-pearl. This, in short, is how a cultured pearl is made. When the procedure is performed carefully, the oyster isn’t harmed and can produce three or four pearls within its lifespan, one at a time. It’s a painstaking process reserved for those with patience and skill.

Some of the pearls’ beauty comes from nature itself. While Fijian pearls use a similar type of oyster as Tahitian pearls, the color spread is vast. “There is a slight genetic variation between the Fijian oyster and the Tahitian oyster, and the underwater environment is completely different,” says Prevost. “The oyster’s diet has a great impact on the colors. We farm very close to high volcanic islands, so the dissolved mineral content in the water is different from what you would find in Tahiti.”

For this reason, both Prevost and Justin Hunter, founder of Savusavu’s J. Hunter Pearls, Fiji’s other pearl producer, passionately believe that pearl farming should remain sustainable to benefit the entire community. A thriving ocean produces healthier oysters and, in turn, more valuable gems. Without good environmental stewardship, the system crumbles. In 2008, Civa signed an agreement with the fishing rights owners of the Wainikeli-Bouma District to secure water rights for the production of pearls. As part of the terms, Civa was charged with creating a protected marine park in and around its farm for generations to come. Guests taking the farm tour can now snorkel there, among rare species like guitar sharks, humphead wrasse and giant clams.

“I feel very strongly that pearls are the gem of the future,” says Hunter. “Pearling combines two goals, environmental and economic, that are inherently merged and can thus play a role in developing a circular blue economy.”

Before I leave, Prevost shows me what many travelers are most excited to see: the showroom. The colors of the gems on display are rich yet subtle. A fantastical string of iridescent gold, cranberry, silver-pink, blue and bronze pearls shimmers when I hold it up to my neck. I settle on a pair of greenish-gray earrings that are more within my budget. Everything else will soon be gone: Much of the production of this small farm sells out immediately following each harvest.

“I don’t pay attention to what is popular,” says Prevost. “I put all my effort into producing quality oysters. If I have good oysters, then the pearls will be fine. Clients always ask what is the best color to buy, and I invariably answer, ‘Follow your heart. Buy the color and shape you like, and wear it. This way, you will never be disappointed.’”

The Artful Dinner Party

How to throw an epic get-together that you and your friends will never forget — without ending up with a migraine.

BY AMY SYNNOTT

WHEN IT COMES TO THROWING A GREAT DINNER PARTY, THE INIMITABLE NORA Ephron famously remarked, “You’ve got to get people hungry, sit them down informally, make them serve themselves, get them telling anecdotes, gossiping and staying late!”

In Heartburn, the high priestess of the bon mot wove her thoughtful reflections on food and entertaining throughout the narrative, like footnotes in a juicy diary written by someone obsessed with food — and the many ways in which it can bring people together. No hors d’oeuvres before dinner (guests can’t help but love the food if they’re starving); no fish (it’s eaten too quickly); husbands can’t be seated next to wives (boring! They already know all their stories). And perhaps the most important rule: Never use rectangular tables. Round tables keep people talking. Ephron, the unofficial sherpa of the modern-day dinner party, would have loved the advice we’ve compiled here. The tips from tastemaker Kate Arends of the lifestyle blog Wit & Delight, actress/comedian/frequent partygoer Liz Carey and Man Repeller founder Leandra Medine Cohen (among others) offer familiar Ephronesque messaging: Keep it easy, and the fun will follow!

The Guest List

Don’t worry about everyone knowing everyone. Half the fun of a dinner party is the social alchemy created when friends meet friends (there is a special place in entertaining heaven for hosts who bring two single people together and sparks fly). Of course, you don’t want it to be a completely random group of total strangers. A good rule of thumb: Make sure everyone knows at least one other person. This way, all of your guests have at least one person to talk to – and you won’t end up having to babysit anyone when you should be in the kitchen caramelizing mushrooms (Seriously though, do you really need to do that? No one will notice if there are stewed mushrooms swirling around in your beef bourguignon).

When it comes to assembling the perfect guest list, size matters. Just because you own 12 Tiffany place settings doesn’t mean you should use all of them at the same time. “I think the ideal number of guests is between four and six,” says Arends. “Most recipes are made for four to six people. Once you get past eight people, it’s hard to manage logistically, and the group becomes less cohesive. The conversation can easily get broken up, and people can feel left out.”

The Invitations

When the group is small, emailing a casual invite a week or two before the event is fine, says etiquette expert Jacqueline Whitmore, founder of The Protocol School of Palm Beach. Of course, certain milestone events like birthdays may call for a bigger party — and a slightly more buttoned-up approach. “If it’s a large, more formal gathering, you should send printed invitations, and they should go out at least six weeks before the event,” says Whitmore. “And make sure all the necessary info is included on the invitation,” adds Carey. “Will dinner be served? What is the dress code? Are plus-ones welcome? Also, please consider this an alert to everyone who will be issuing the ‘shoes off’ statement upon arrival. Let people know so they can get a pedicure or not come!”

Carey also has a funny strategy for making sure that the party conversation will be copacetic before anyone even steps inside the door: “Everyone wants to talk politics, especially now. Nip it in the bud on your invite! In a small font at the bottom, write, ‘Anyone who wants to chat politics or religion is encouraged not to come.’ If that feels too aggressive, make a fun announcement at the outset of the party that anyone mentioning these topics will not be served.”

As for the actual invitations, Paperless Post works well for a casual dinner (check out its adorable collaboration with Liberty Fabrics). For a more milestone event, you can't go wrong with Mrs. John L. Strong. Or consider commissioning a bespoke design. Illustrator Anna Schwartz hand-painted the invitation seen here.

The Scene

While most hosts put a fair amount of effort into setting the scene before a dinner party, it’s important not to get your knickers in a twist over nonessential matters. “People spend a lot of time worrying about things no one will notice,” says Arends. “The house doesn’t need to be perfect. A dinner party is about bringing people together and creating shared memories. You can serve a big pot of soup and some great bread, and it can still be wonderful.”

In some cases, it’s more important what you don’t have at a party than what you do. Carey, who is a mom to humans and animals alike, advises locking up your daughters and sons and pets. “No one loves them like you do,” she says. “No one wants fur on their new black dress, and no one wants your kid’s cough. ‘Oh, don’t worry, she’s had that forever!’ Great — now your guests will, too!” What does matter? By all accounts, good music, good lighting and a steady flow of drinks. Before she hosts a party, Arends always makes a playlist on Spotify that’s around six hours long (108 songs). “It’s mostly jazz, because that tends to appeal to everyone. I find it also kind of sets the tone that we should all be on our best behavior.” To create a relaxed vibe, turn off overhead lights (or use dimmers) and use lamps and scattered candles for a softer effect (just don’t put scented candles anywhere near the food).

The Tablescape

If you are pressed for time, you can skip the large, fussy floral centerpiece. (Of course, you can also outsource this task to some local talent like Apricot Floral or Lilia Flower Boutique.) If you have a long table, a series of micro arrangements looks chic — and may require fewer flowers. For an even more laissez-faire approach, look around your home, suggests Merkatz. Jewelry and other random objects can be repurposed as table decor. And don’t overlook natural elements. Pretty branches or pinecones foraged from your backyard can be artfully arranged. Another clever idea: “One of my friends recently carved out purple cabbages and filled them with votive candles,” says Arends.

For groups larger than four, homemade place cards can be fashioned out of smooth black or white quartz rocks (use a gold paint pen to write the names). If the event is very special, consider investing in some beautiful hand-painted watercolor place cards from artist Lexie Armstrong. Or, take a cue from a party Carey recently attended where she was charmed to discover that her name had been embroidered on her dinner napkin. Monograms by Margaret does gorgeous bespoke work.

Can’t find six plates or glasses that perfectly match? Both Arends and Merkatz say they love an eclectic table set with a mix of nonmatching but complementary items. Simply choose a color as your theme. At the moment, Arends loves the simplicity of a crisp white, tailored tablecloth, tall burgundy candles and shiny silver accents, like the silver napkin rings she has collected from vintage stores. Another easy way to add a festive finish to your tablescape is to tie velvet ribbons around the napkins or candlesticks.

TheBoardCheese

To create a showstopping cheese and charcuterie board, think like a chef: “Your tray should be a feast for the eyes and the tastebuds, featuring only the freshest seasonal ingredients you can find with a variety of textures, colors and flavors,” says Marcy Braselton, founder of Community Kitchen. A few large bricks of stinky cheese take an artisanal turn when drizzled with honey and served with freshcut figs. If you are feeling more ambitious, Braselton suggests filling your board with cheese, charcuterie, something savory, something sweet and something to deliver the food graciously into your guests’ mouths. “I like my boards to overflow with all things delicious in an organized yet chaotic way. I aim to create a masterpiece that is almost too pretty to eat!”

A thoughtful selection keeps your board looking and tasting interesting. “I usually include a variety of cow, sheep and goat milk cheeses in different types and textures,” says Braselton. If the cheese is soft like Tomme de Savoie or everything spiced goat cheese, place them on a board in larger pieces as they are easily spreadable and served with a cheese knife. If the cheese is hard or semi-firm like aged cheddar, manchego or Merlot BellaVitano, slice or cut it into bite-size pieces to make serving easy. “The last thing I want to see are my guests standing over my cheese board sawing at a large hunk of hard cheese.”

Braselton’s top go-tos for charcuterie? Capicola, Italian dry salami, prosciutto, bresaola and Calabrese salami. “I typically include two to three options on my board: mild, salty and slightly spicy. If you buy pre-sliced charcuterie, I recommend folding the pieces in half or thirds to display them on your board in a ‘fan’ or ‘river’ of charcuterie.”

According to Braselton, no board is complete without a selection of salty and/or tangy items. A few of her favorites include tiny, tart cornichons and creamy, mild Castelvetrano olives. “I never include fresh vegetables on my cheese board — they belong on a crudités platter with dips. Instead, I like to feature a variety of pickled vegetables like asparagus, okra, peppers, tomatoes, etc.” A savory chutney or onion jam and spiced nuts make wonderful additions as well. And don’t forget to add something sweet. A high-quality preserve or local honey serves as a nice foil for the savory cheese selection. “This gives your guests creative license to try a drizzle or dollop and create their own flavor combinations.” Adding seasonal fresh fruit and high-quality dried fruit is another great way to balance the savory, salty items featured on your board.

In addition to bread, crackers or fruit/nut crisps, make sure you have some pretty bamboo knot picks or cocktail forks as part of your “delivery device” selection. “Personally, I love a fresh, crusty, rustic baguette as the texture and flavor of golden brown baguettes is unmatched,” says Braselton, noting that they pair beautifully with all of the ingredients on your board. “As a final touch to my beautiful cheese and charcuterie board, I garnish it with fresh, seasonal herbs and edible flowers.”

The Pour

Consider greeting guests at the door with a signature drink. “I always serve very cold pitchers of martinis,” says Arends. When it comes to wine, she often delegates the task to someone in the group. “People in the Midwest like to feel that they’re contributing something, so I’ll tell a friend what we’re having for the main, and she’ll take care of the wine; another friend will bring a side dish and another one does dessert.” As for how much to serve? Experts advise one drink per person per hour. Of course, it’s important to know your audience — and adjust accordingly.

“I like to start with a bubbly when kicking off a dinner party,” says Leslee Miller, a dual-certified sommelier and founder of Amusee Wine, a wine consultancy firm based in Minneapolis. “Folks come thirsty — it is their first sip of the day. So I account for the first wine and the main course wine to be poured the most. For six people, I would plan on two bottles for your first wine of the evening, two bottles for your main course and one bottle for dessert.”

Miller says you don’t need to spend a fortune on wine. “I love supporting local growers. There are lots of great wines under $20.” For the first drink, she recommends a dry, sparkling Prosecco rosé because “it goes with every appetizer.” One of her favorites: Poggio Costa Prosecco Brut Rosé. When it comes to the main course, she suggests choosing a mediumbodied white as they are more accessible to food pairings than their light-bodied (i.e., Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio) or full-bodied cousins (Chardonnay). Her go-to white: Mary Taylor Gaillac Perlé. For a red, she likes a light-bodied pour. Think Pinot Noir or Gamay. “They work well with fish, pork, vegan, vegetarian and lean beef, poultry or game for a main course.” Madone ‘Perreon’ Beaujolais-Villages Le Perreon is one of her favorites. You can find all of these wines, along with more of Miller’s top picks, at Sipbetter.com.

PHOTOGRAPHY

The Meal The Outfit

To get advice on the perfect dinner party look, we turned to fashion blogger Leandra Medine. “From a practical standpoint, you want to wear something relatively comfortable — no jackets or garments that are too structured because you’re probably going to be moving a lot,” she says. Think flat shoes, fancy slippers, or socks with flair. But she also believes entertaining at home is an excellent time to take a style risk. After all, you are presumably among close friends and will have minimal exposure to the elements. “If all else fails, wear an apron as a dress!” she suggests. For a playful option, Samantha Tousey of Minneapolisbased boutique MartinPatrick 3 recommends checking out the whimsical prints from La DoubleJ (they actually have an “Apron Dress” that Medine loves). You also can't go wrong with a simple black dress in an interesting silhouette, like the one blogger Kate Arends is wearing here (add a bold red lip or nails for a punch of color). Tousey suggests looking at options from Toteme. Whatever you do, don’t wait until the last minute to get dressed or pick out an outfit. There’s nothing worse than hearing the doorbell ring when you're standing in front of a bed strewn with clothes and your hair is in rollers.

“For God’s sake, do not attempt to make something new,” says Carey. Arends agrees. She suggests choosing dishes you’ve made before and know exactly how long they will take. “Braised meat — and anything you can cook in the oven for a long time — is usually a safe bet,” she says. For Friendsgiving, Arends made tiny poussins: “It was so easy. I just popped them in the oven, and everyone had their own little birds, which was a fun, elegant surprise.”

Keep in mind that there’s no shame in outsourcing the food. Carey suggests, “Order some stuff, put it in nice bowls and then cook one thing so the house smells nice. People came for a good time, not to watch you have a nervous breakdown in the kitchen trying to figure out how to deglaze!” Or don’t hesitate to have your event catered or hire a personal chef. “I’ve been to many events where they hired local Minnesota chef Brooke Faudree,” says Arends, “and they were always amazing!”

The Exit Strategy

You may want to start clearing the table at the end of a long night to send a message that the evening is winding down. But resist the urge to turn your guests into dishwashers. “If anyone says they want to help in the kitchen, please know they are lying,” says Carey. “You can accept help from a blood relative.” After all, why spoil a delightful evening for your guests by ending it with an hour of manual labor?

But what if you’ve cleared the table, and no one is moving? How do you tactfully tell your friends it’s time to go home? One surefire trick for coaxing them toward the door is cutting off the liquor, according to Whitmore. Put away the wine or tell them it’s all gone (only you know how determined your guests are when imbibing). But as a universal, all of our experts agreed: When the alcohol is gone, the party’s over. Yes, it’s that easy.

After you’ve cut off the booze, sweeten their exit with some parting carbs. Merkatz likes to send her guests home with a homemade cookie or some leftover dessert so they will have something to remember the evening by the next day. Another fun idea: At the end of one memorable dinner party in which Arends and her guests shared a magnum of wine, they all signed the bottle. It now sits on a shelf in her kitchen alongside a photo from the evening, a happy reminder of time well spent with friends. And as for Carey? She still has her embroidered napkin.

JACKSON STROM

ERIC BERG CONSTRUCTION / AGL LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS / BELLE KITCHEN / SPACECRAFTING

Photo by Chris Emeott

the Gallery

by coldwell banker Realty

Cover Represented by JEFFREY DEWING

Photo Courtesy of 360-VIP

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

118 Years of Guiding You Home

On August 27th Coldwell Banker celebrated 118 years of guiding people home. It’s been quite some time since our humble begins in San Francisco, but we continue the legacy of providing unparalleled service to buyers and sellers in our own community and around the world today.

Coldwell Banker Realty affiliated agents have an unsurpassed track record in luxury real estate sales. In 2023 alone, 1 in 4 luxury homes sold in the 13-County Twin Cities Metro were represented by a Coldwell Banker Realty affiliated agent. Coldwell Banker Realty continues to be the #1 brand in luxury home sales in the Twin Cities area.

In addition, the Coldwell Banker brand is the #1 most-visited real estate brand online, meaning more buyers are interacting with us online than any other real estate company. With a network of over 100,000 agents across 40 countries, we offer high-caliber marketing tools, technology, and connections that enable agents to give your home maximum exposure to potential buyers.

Our agents are known for their extensive training and access to a vast network of resources, ensuring that you get the best possible advice and support throughout the process. For sellers, we offer a 360° property marketing approach that includes national brand advertising, digital and print marketing, and access to our entire network of agents. For buyers, we offer expert guidance and local market knowledge, providing insights into trends, pricing, and availability to give you a competitive edge and peace of mind by navigating unexpected challenges calmly and efficiently. By leveraging our expertise and resources, Coldwell Banker agents help you navigate the complexities of the real estate market with confidence and ease.

Whether you’ve long called Minnesota or Western Wisconsin home or are embarking on a new chapter in this corner of the Midwest, we are grateful for the opportunity to serve your real estate needs, now and in the future. If you plan to list your home for sale or are ready to purchase your dream home, stop by any of our Coldwell Banker Realty offices and connect with one of our amazing, affiliated agents. You can also visit ColdwellBankerHomes.com to get started anytime.

Brian Bolier Regional Vice President

1655 BOHNS POINT ROAD | ORONO

4 BR 6 BA | $9,995,000

Landmark Lake Minnetonka estate offering 2.8 acres with 350' of southwest facing shoreline. Timeless East Coast architecture, breathtaking panoramic water views at every turn. Newly remodeled carriage house.

19955 COTTAGEWOOD AVENUE | DEEPHAVEN

4 BR 6 BA | $7,995,000

Stunning Andrea Swan + Streeter collaboration! This custom-built home offers main-level living with elevator, golf simulator, UV pool, hot tub and outdoor shower. 140' of southfacing rip-rap shoreline with private beach and permanent dock.

4603 MERILANE | EDINA

6 BR 5 BA | PRICE UPON REQUEST

Impeccable redesign by Hage Homes! Open floorplan, large great room with floor-toceiling windows, spacious terrace overlooking the golf course! Main-level living, 4-car garage. Sought-after Rolling Green.

20200 LAKEVIEW AVENUE | DEEPHAVEN

4 BR 5 BA | PRICE UPON REQUEST

Designed by PKA Architecture and masterfully crafted by Streeter, this home features expansive water views and high-end finishes + details at every turn. Rip-rap shoreline with waterside deck. Enjoy all Cottagewood has to offer!

6 BR 7 BA | $7,799,000 Lake Minnetonka masterpiece! This custom-built home offers an open floorplan, theater, pool house and unmatched views of Smithtown Bay. 1.7 private acres with 210' of lakeshore with sandy beach. Minnetonka School District!

2119

4 BR 5 BA | $3,895,000

Impeccably remodeled home showcasing sunset views over Lake of the Isles! Enjoy the gourmet kitchen with doors opening to the gorgeous patio with water views. Four bedrooms + office on the upper-level. Attached 2-car garage with private driveway.

4280 NORTHERN ROAD | DEEPHAVEN

5 BR 6 BA | $3,195,000

Gorgeous East Coast influenced home in sought-after Cottagewood! Enjoy the open floorplan with shiplap detail and great room with folding glass doors opening to the picturesque porch with phantom screens - the perfect blend of indoor/outdoor living!

159 BIRCH LANE W. | WAYZATA

Premier

19561

Custom-built

2847 E. LAKE OF THE ISLES PARKWAY | MINNEAPOLIS

4 BR 4 BA | $2,899,000

Thoughtfully designed by PKA Architecture and built by Hage Homes, this modern European masterpiece offers unparalleled finishes and details at every turn. Ideally sited to maximize privacy while showcasing west-facing views over the lake!

721 SHAWNEE WOODS ROAD | MEDINA

5 BR 5 BA | PRICE UPON REQUEST

Completed new construction in Wayzata schools! Four bedrooms + bonus room on the upper-level. Sunroom with fireplace and access to the large deck overlooking the private backyard. Sport court alternative.

550 HILLSIDE DRIVE | WAYZATA

5 BR 5 BA | $1,549,999

Gorgeous home privately sited on 2.9 acres offering long nature views! Beautifully updated open floorplan, four bedrooms on the upper-level including the spacious primary suite. Outdoor sport court. Within 5 minutes of downtown Wayzata amenities!

JEFFREY MARTINEAU

952.210.2626

jmartineau@cbburnet.com jeffmartineau.com

612.735.2345

josh@jz-co.com

joshzuehlkeco.com

Unique opportunity to own this essentially new and stunning residence on Huntington Point in Minnetonka Beach. Meticulously designed home combines modern timelessness, natural materials, highend construction and finishes, subtle geometries and privacy. Elements of single floor living, along with opportunities for separation among formal and informal rooms. Floor-to-ceiling glass showcase lake views and dramatic sunsets. Clerestory and skylights yield extensive natural light. Three in-home offices, sport court, exercise, massage, and watersport gear rooms, oversized three-bay attached garage, detached building with bedroom suite and two garage bays, and Creston home automation system. Solar arrays and Tesla Powerwalls meaningfully reduce carbon footprint. Gracious outdoor spaces expand the panorama of daily living and entertaining. Perfectly flat lakeside yard and wide/gradual bluestone steps amidst native bluff plants lead to 147’ of southwest facing lakeshore on A-rated and quiet Lafayette Bay. Charming boathouse with retractable windows and phantom screens, boulder rip rap, and large dock complex.

GEORGE W. STICKNEY

952.476.3694

gstickney@cbrealty.com

DAVID STICKNEY

952.250.0122

djstickney@cbrealty.com

495 OXFORD ROAD | ORONO

5 BR 6 BA | $6,395,000

Nestled on a quiet cul-de-sac in the heart of Orono, this stunning Stonewood-built, cottage-inspired Lake Minnetonka home is set upon 2.25 acres with breathtaking views across its 218 feet of west-facing shoreline on Stubbs Bay. The open concept greets you with timeless design, flawless craftsmanship, and lake views from almost every room.

3375 GRAHAM HILL ROAD | ORONO

5 BR 6 BA | $3,995,000

Incredible custom-built home on one of the finest sites in Orono’s high-demand estate neighborhood, Graham Hill Preserve. Thoughtfully designed floor plan with beautiful prairie-style architectural details, including floor-to-ceiling windows throughout the home, showcasing the stunning natural retreat-like setting with panoramic treetop views.

952.250.2015

kwstickney@cbrealty.com

JACOB STICKNEY

952.250.1267

jmstickney@cbrealty.com KEVIN STICKNEY

370 FERNDALE ROAD W. | WAYZATA

4 BR 5 BA | $5,795,000

Experience the epitome of upscale living in this stunning prairie-style home designed by SKD Architects, exquisitely set along Wayzata’s Gold Coast in the coveted Highcroft neighborhood. Relish the recently remodeled main level, boasting a state-of-the-art gourmet kitchen and owner’s suite that is a true sanctuary.

535 & 555 BUSHAWAY ROAD | WAYZATA LOT/LAND | $9,750,000 & $8,250,000

Two of the finest estate sites on Lake Minnetonka. 535 Bushaway Rd with 3.62 acres encompassing 300 feet of prime west facing lakeshore and 555 Bushaway Rd with 2.7 acres encompassing 240 feet of level west facing lakeshore on prestigious Wayzata Bay. Stunning sunset views and ideal close-in location with walking paths to Wayzata village.

952.476.3694

gstickney@cbrealty.com DAVID STICKNEY

952.250.0122

djstickney@cbrealty.com

2142 SHADYWOOD ROAD | ORONO

3 BR 4 BA | $2,100,000

Build your dream home or enjoy as-is on this superb Lake Minnetonka setting on soughtafter Crystal Bay with 87 feet of level, rip-rapped shoreline with sandy bottom. Perfectly located, this walk-out one-story home enjoys incredible walkability to Dakota Regional Trail, Lafayette Country Club, restaurants, retail, grocery store and more.

16680 47TH AVENUE N. | PLYMOUTH

3 BR 3 BA | $1,349,000

Beautiful new executive home in the Hollydale neighborhood on a premium private lot abutting mature tree preserve. Loaded with luxury upgraded features, this home boasts a spacious open great room, gourmet kitchen with a gracious center island, and main floor owner’s suite. Close proximity to the neighborhood pool, clubhouse, park, and more.

952.250.2015

kwstickney@cbrealty.com

952.250.1267

jmstickney@cbrealty.com

1950 SOUTH RIDGE DRIVE | MEDINA

5 BR 4 BA | $2,349,000

Nestled amongst Medina’s rolling hill countryside, this property is set upon a picturesque 9.2 acres of mature woods and wetlands. Completely remodeled in 2022 by Narr Construction, this Scandinavian influenced farmhouse showcases one-story living at its finest. Enjoy a peaceful setting with easy access to Downtown Wayzata. Orono Schools!

18844 BEARPATH TRAIL | EDEN PRAIRIE

6 BR 7 BA | $1,795,000

Executive custom-built Lecy home on one of the finest lots in the exclusive Bearpath Golf & Country Club gated community. Loaded with architectural details and amenities, this residence offers a dramatic two-story vaulted living room with a floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace and huge windows showcasing the creek setting with golf course views.

614.256.8500

shane.spencer@cbrealty.com shanespencer.com

2025 THOMAS AVENUE S. | MINNEPOLIS

5 BR 4 BA | $1,799,000

Custom-built in 2018 by AvA Architecture, this Kenwood modern home offers highend finishes and expansive living spaces. Located minutes from all Minneapolis has to offer, it features an incredible backyard perfect for entertaining. For more details, visit ShaneSpencer.com. Co-listed with Ana Vogler, Coldwell Banker Realty.

45 UNIVERSITY AVENUE SE, #807 | MINNEAPOLIS

3 BR 2 BA | SOLD FOR $1,100,000

This exquisite three-bedroom, two-bath condo offers breathtaking downtown skyline views. The open-concept living space is flooded with natural light, enhancing its luxurious feel. Enjoy 1 of only 7 private rooftop cabanas, two parking spaces, and private storage. More details at ShaneSpencer.com.

5325 KELLOGG AVENUE | EDINA

3 BR 3 BA | $1,195,000

This enchanting Cape Cod-style home in Edina’s coveted South Harriet Park is just steps from the Edina Country Club and 50th & France. Meticulously maintained and thoughtfully updated, it features solid red oak floors, new LP Smartside, and an expansive family room leading to a new deck and private fenced yard. More details at ShaneSpencer.com.

19319 380TH STREET | ERHARD

5 BR 5 BA | $895,000

Set on over 86 acres of picturesque land, this remarkable property includes a private lake, protected wetlands, an attached two-car garage, a detached two-car garage, a workshop or in-law suite, a 40x60 Morton building, and a horse barn for 5 horses with a paddock and maintenance-free fencing. More details at ShaneSpencer.com.

5000 OAK BEND LANE | EDINA

4 BR 6 BA | $2,995,000

This expertly crafted home in coveted Mirror Oaks features exquisite, hand-selected finishes throughout. Backyard is a true oasis and features outdoor kitchen, saltwater pool and spa, firepit and mature landscaping.

2070 SHORELINE DRIVE | ORONO

5 BR 6 BA | $3,995,000

This stunning Lake Minnetonka home sits on one of the best lots on lower lake. Enjoy panoramic views of Smith Bay on over 2 private acres and 410 feet of shoreline. Home has been gorgeously updated inside and out.

1482 HUNTER DRIVE | MEDINA

7 BR 10 BA | $5,450,000

Seated on over 10 pristine acres on Mooney Lake, this storied estate exudes quiet elegance. Impeccable, French-inspired design and finishes throughout. Grounds include outdoor pool, tennis court, horse stable and more. Less than 10 minutes to downtown Wayzata.

10538 PARKER DRIVE | EDEN PRAIRIE

4 BR 5 BA | $1,795,000

Seated on a beautiful lot, this exquisitely crafted home embodies the spirit of Minnesota. Impeccable, custom finishes throughout - stunning wood beams, alder trim, and impressive stonework.

1202 LA SALLE STREET | WAYZATA

4 BR 4 BA | $3,495,000

One-level living expertly built by Black Dog Homes and designed by David Charlez Designs. Interior design by O'Hara Interiors. Incredible location with impressive wetland views. Just down the street from all of Wayzata’s premier amenities.

4450 TYROL CREST | GOLDEN VALLEY

4 BR 4 BA | $1,295,000

Located in sought-after Tyrol Hills, this stunning mid-century modern home has been recently refreshed. Beautiful lot offers rare, wooded privacy in the heart of the metro. Unbeatable location – minutes to West End and downtown Minneapolis.

612.925.8404 getinfo@berglarsengroup.com berglarsengroup.com

5805 MAIT LANE | EDINA

5 BR 10 BA | $4,995,000

One-owner Rolling Green home built by Steiner & Koppelman, remodeled by TEA2 Design, takes advantage of its gorgeous pond site and includes a beautiful pool with expansive terracing and a cabana. Tremendous amenities throughout.

2124

3 BR 6 BA | $3,795,000

Reimagined in

3520 W. FRANKLIN AVENUE | MINNEAPOLIS

4 BR 4 BA | $1,995,000

Architect-designed award-winning "tree house" takes advantage of light and Cedar Lake views. Vertical in design, it features walls of glass, white oak hardwood floors and trim, and a modern exterior of cedar planking and white corrugated metal.

2812

3 BR 4 BA | $1,589,000

Modern gem situated at the confluence of lakes–Cedar, Isles and Bde Maka Ska. Designed to command the light and provide privacy, the home has an expansive feel with 11-foot ceilings and walls of windows. Includes a 3rd stall detached garage.

2617 DEAN PARKWAY | MINNEAPOLIS

4 BR 5 BA | $2,395,000

Admired Tudor overlooking Kenilworth Channel. Superb water views from large front terrace and decking. Exceptional character and generous public rooms. Four bedrooms, three baths on second floor. Outstanding private rear yard.

35 GROVELAND TERRACE, #102 | MINNEAPOLIS

3 BR 3 BA | $2,295,000

Three condos sold, this is last remaining unit in this boutique building overlooking the Sculpture Garden and city Skyline. Modern layout of 2,530 Square Feet designed by PKA, with stunning finishes by Martha Dayton, plus a private 2-car garage.

MATTHEW S. BAKER

612.860.4222

mbaker@cbrealty.com

matthewsbaker.com ELLYN WOLFENSON

2388 W. LAKE OF THE ISLES PARKWAY | MINNEAPOLIS

4 BR 5 BA | $4,599,000

Iconic Lake of the Isles Cotswold Cottage home. Beautiful light-infused interiors, refined sophistication, panoramic vistas, and an extensive 2020 renovation. This home represents the highest level of design & detail, a work of art!

332 MISSISSIPPI RIVER BOULEVARD S. | SAINT PAUL

6 BR 4 BA | $1,750,000

An Iconic and classic residence featuring a main floor primary and beautiful views throughout. It is a true storybook, riverfront setting, in the highly sought-after Kings Maplewood neighborhood. Cherished for decades, it can now be yours.

735 KENWOOD PARKWAY | MINNEAPOLIS

5 BR 5 BA | $995,000

Back and Better! This iconic “Cottage in the City” architectural gem has been reimagined and enhanced. The stunning finished product is now a 5-bedroom home, including multiple suites. Make this property your legacy for the next century!

612.644.3033

ejwolfenson@cbrealty.com ellynwolfenson.com

2201 ISENGARD STREET | MINNETONKA

5 BR 8 BA | $4,395,000

This commanding and distinctive home is on a lot that offers complete privacy. A five-bedroom, eight-bathroom masterpiece infused with irreplaceable style and relaxed warmth. A sanctuary 15 minutes from downtown, the airport, and Lake Minnetonka!

2837 SUNSET BOULEVARD | MINNEAPOLIS

5 BR 4 BA | $999,000

A stately Sunset Gables Tudor situated between the City Lakes, bike & walking paths, restaurants, and retail. All bedrooms are on one level. Beautiful flower gardens and a commanding presence in a sought-after Lakes neighborhood.

5110 QUANTICO LANE N. | PLYMOUTH

6 BR 5 BA | $899,000

An amazing home and gorgeous surrounding property. The ultimate in casual warmth and design-forward style. Steps away from Providence Academy in an impeccable neighborhood with ultimate convenience. A treasured sanctuary to call your own.

ELLEN DEHAVEN

612.817.5555

edehaven@cbburnet.com ellendehaven.com

275 LAKE STREET E., #301 | WAYZATA

3 BR 3 BA | $4,785,000

Stunning opportunity to own one of Wayzata finest condominiums! "BLU" Penthouse overlooking the heart of Wayzata with sweeping views to Lake Minnetonka. Exquisitely designed with huge terrace stretching across the front.

535 APPLE GARDEN ROAD | MINNETRISTA

4 BR 4 BA | $1,398,000

Privacy galore and conveniently located. Walkout rambler with wonderful entertaining spaces, resort style inground pool. Fabulous and inviting experience. Main floor offers all the amenities for easy living and a wonderful lifestyle!

JENNIFER PETERSON

312.282.2221 jennifer.peterson@cbburnet.com ellendehaven.com

450 PEAVEY LANE | WAYZATA

5 BR 5 BA | $2,995,000

Rare opportunity in walking distance of downtown Wayzata. Nestled on 4+ acres with marvelous privacy. Superior craftsmanship and design. Generous yard, outdoor sport court, sunrooms, and porch. Theater room and elevator for easy living.

4520 LINWOOD LANE | DEEPHAVEN

3 BR 3 BA | $5,495,000 | PENDING

Rare Deephaven Lakeshore Property ! Located on a coveted stretch of lakeshore on Lake Minnetonka. West facing, level, and sandy bottom with a real beach. This custom home is exquisitely built and designed by the renowned Landschute builders. 27940

3 BR 3 BA | $3,295,000 | SOLD

Spectacular building site on Lake Minnetonka! West-facing, 174 feet of hard sand bottom, a charming boat house at water’s edge, privacy, mature trees, approximately 1.15 Acres. Bring your imagination and enjoy this magnificent opportunity! 18316

4 BR 3 BA | $875,000 | SOLD

A fabulous traditional home in award winning Minnetonka schools. This charming home has a wonderful family room, kitchen, 4 beds up, finished lower level and gorgeous yard, gardens, and landscaping. Authentically charming home in a great area!

ERIC AND SHARLA STAFFORD

612.282.6895

info@staffordfamilyrealtors.com staffordfamilyrealtors.com

4205 NORTH SHORE DRIVE | LAKE MINNETONKA

4 BR 5 BA | PRICE UPON REQUEST

Enjoy all that Lake Minnetonka has to offer in this beautiful, custom home built by Highmark Builders. Classic cottage-style detailing, high-end amenities and a relaxed floor plan offer elevated lakefront living.

7051 HIGHLAND COURT | EDEN PRAIRIE

4 BR 4 BA | $1,835,000

A former Artisan model home that rivals new construction. Perfectly sited on a private lot with tree-top views, this luxurious home delivers masterful craftsmanship and exquisite finishes. Enjoy main-level, maintenance-free living at its finest.

LAKE MINNEWASHTA | CHANHASSEN

4 BR 5 BA | PRICE UPON REQUEST

Wooddale Builders offers the opportunity to build an exquisite, luxury home on the shores of Lake Minnewashta. Presenting custom build packages designed for your lifestyle with two lakefront lots and three off lake lots. Build packages from $1,800,000 - $3,000,000+.

460 INDIAN HILL ROAD | CHANHASSEN

4 BR 5 BA | $2,483,357

Sited on a tranquil pond and offering uninterrupted views of wetlands and nature, this private .9 acre building site is a pristine location for you to build the home of your dreams with Wooddale Builders. Located in Minnetonka Schools.

1632 BISHOP AVENUE NW | BUFFALO

4 BR 5 BA | $1,499,000

An extraordinary property nestled on 5+ acres of open greenspace with a saltwater swimming pool, fishing pond and fully finished outbuilding. This high quality home offers refined country living with craftsman style design.

CREEKSIDE

AT HUNTERSBROOK | VICTORIA

5 BR 6 BA | PRICE UPON REQUEST

Introducing Creekside at Huntersbrook from Gonyea Homes. Offering private, executive acreage-homesites surrounded by tranquil woods and wetlands combined with the expertise of master craftsmen, your ideal home awaits. Packages start at $1,800,000.

27640 ISLAND VIEW DRIVE | SHOREWOOD

4 BR 5 BA | $5,695,000

Signature Lake Minnetonka home sited on over an acre of park-like lawn with 155' of level lakeshore. Completely renovated and turn-key condition inside and out, this home offers endless amenities with large spaces perfect for entertaining.

4 BR 4 BA | $3,995,000

2335 HOLLYBUSH

Custom built two-story sited on over 5 private acres. Open concept main floor with hardwood floors, custom millwork and huge three-season porch overlooking the rolling lawn and pool. Award-winning Orono Schools.

3XXX COUNTY ROAD 44 | MINNETRISTA

4 BR 5 BA | $4,995,000

Stonewood new construction on premier Lake Minnetonka build site with 106' of southeast-facing, A-rated, sandy lakeshore. This stunning 1-acre property features gently rolling lawn, towering hardwood trees and miles of lake views.

2903 WESTWOOD ROAD | MINNETONKA BEACH

4 BR 5 BA | $3,795,000

Thoughtfully crafted shingle-style beauty in the heart of Minnetonka Beach! Open concept main-floor living with wall of glass overlooking Lafayette Bay. High level of detail throughout and southerly views of the lake from nearly every room.

365 LAKE STREET W. | WAYZATA

3 BR 3 BA | $1,295,000

Rare townhome in the heart of Wayzata. Main floor living with open floor plan, hardwood floors and enameled millwork. Step out to the deck from the sunroom or primary suite and enjoy the private wooded backyard. Award-winning Wayzata Schools.

WAYZATA ESTATE SETTING | PRICE UPON REQUEST

One of Lake Minnetonka’s most admired properties set on 2.1ac. Gently sloping lawns and 429 ft of prime Wayzata Bay and channel lakeshore that allows for the

permanent docks. Meticulously maintained

Ellen Phelps 612.750.7555 ephelps@cbburnet.com

1733 KNOX AVENUE S. | MINNEAPOLIS

5 BR 5 BA | $1,395,000 Stately Lowry Hill Brick Colonial. Recent improvements include the James Dayton Design Architects

Stephane Cattelin 612.703.8229 stephane@cbrealty.com

3510 BASSWOOD ROAD | MINNEAPOLIS

3 BR 3 BA | $1,195,000 Elegant Timeless ONE LEVEL LIVING Rambler,

Jacqueline Nguyen-Shulstad 612.418.0395 jacquie@cbburnet.com

651.755.6669 tj@cbrealty.com

L u x u r y L e a d e r s

S e r v i n g t h e T w i n C i t i e s & B e y o n d

6 1 2 9 6 5 9 7 2 5

J M c G r a t h @ C B B u r n e t c o m

R e a l t y c

L i

1 2 9 8 7 1 1 7 9

M i k e D i s t a d 6 1 2 2 7 5 1 3 4 3 M i k e @ M i k e D i s t a d c o m

E l l i o t t H a g s t r o m 6 5 1 3 2 4 4 1 3 7 E l l i o t t @ K r i s t a W o l t e r c o m

C l a i r e B i s a n z D i s t a d 6 5 1 3 0 7 7 2 6 0 C l a i r e D

C B R e

H e n r y E d e l s t e i n 6 5 1 2 7 0 1 6 6 7 H e n r y @ T e a m E d e l s t e i n c o m

S a l l y E n g l i s h 6 5 1 8 1 5 3 7 5 6

S a l l y E n g l i s h @ C B B u r n e t c o m

i c o l e H o v e r s o n 7 6 3 7 7 2 4 9 3 9

N i c o l e H o v e r s o n @ C B B u r n e t c o m

P a t r i c k M c G r a t h

6 5 1 4 8 5 4 8 5 0

P M c G r a t h @ C B B u r n e t c o m

M a r k P o t t e r

6 1 2 4 1 4 6 6 8 9

M C P o t t e r @ C B B u r n e t c o m

S c o t t R e h o v s k y 6 5 1 3 0 3 7 7 3 6

S c o t t R e h o v s k y @ C B B u r n e t c o m J i m S e a b o l d 6 5 1 2 7 6 8 5 5 5 J i m @ B O L D m a r k e t i n g c o m

L o l l y S a l m e n 6 1 2 8 1 0 4 1 3 8 L S a

Cindy Redmond 612 850 7015

Cindy@CindyRedmond.com

Kathy Sawicki 612 270 1001 KSawicki@CBRealty.com

Catherine Wersal, MBA 612 597 6661 CRWersal@CBBurnet.com

Eric Stafford 952 221 7751 | Eric Stafford@CBRealty com

Sharla Stafford 612.282.6895 | Sharla.Stafford@CBRealty.com

Greg Winegarden 952 484 1027

Greg.Winegarden@CBBurnet.com

Bonnie & Decker Velie 612 964 7865 BJVelie@CBBurnet.com

Jennifer Wolff 952 484 1027 Jennifer@JenWolff.com

Patty Yorks

Peggy Watson 612 720 7511

PWatson@CBBurnet.com

952 334 3333 | PYorks@cbrealty com Angela Truelsen 312.513.3397 | Angela.Truelsen@cbrealty.com

Zinn Family Realtors 952 474 4444 ZinnFamily@CBRealty.com

L u x u r y L e a d e r s

S e r v i n g t h e N o r t h w e s t M e t r o & b e y o n d

Executive Health Care concierge practice invites you to experience the most efficient, comprehensive, and convenient physical examination program available.

We understand the demands of your career, your schedule, and your life. We know how your health affects the well-being of your family and the vitality of your company.

Call to schedule your comprehensive executive physical at 612-871-6268.

Diplomates American Board of Internal Medicine

Jason J. Reed, M.D.

Scott M. Flaata, D.O.

Laura A. Praeger, M.D.

Dudley M. McLinn, M.D., Founder/Emeritus

2800 Campus Drive, #44, Plymouth, MN 55441 | www.ehc.bz (Across from West Health at the Intersection of Highway 55 & Interstate 494)

A STRONG

FOUNDATION

The building and design industry brought them together more than 10 years ago. Now, newlyweds David and Jodie Bieker of Denali Custom Homes build their forever home.

BY MERRITT BAMRICK

DAVID BIEKER WILL TELL YOU THAT TIMING IS EVERYTHING.

The founder and president of Denali Custom Homes has designed and built across Minnesota’s lakes for over 25 years, but just this year, one lakeside home became his — and hers. “It was important to both of us that we created a new space together,” chimes in Bieker’s wife, Jodie. David’s creative penchant for architecture and details and Jodie’s background as an interior designer and luxury realtor with Coldwell Banker Realty make them the perfect match. Jodie also works closely with David as Denali’s director of sales and marketing.

The couple radiates a just-married glow, but there’s a well-worn comfort and understanding that comes from having worked alongside each other for so many years. As their relationship grew from working together to friendship and finally forever, it quickly became clear just how much their shared expertise would come into play when designing their dream home.

Sited along the sandy shoreline of Lake Minnetonka’s West Arm Bay, the 5,000-square-foot abode is set back upon a sloping site. It’s floor-to-ceiling glass, blackened steel exterior and flat roof give it an ultra-modern edge. Combining David’s industrial style with Jodie’s passion for a little glam was a design challenge the couple was eager to explore, finding creative ways to complement versus compromise.

At the base of the floating staircase, just past the foyer, a glance upward reveals a floor-to-ceiling glass curtain wall supported by exposed steel I-beams. The beams provide structural reinforcement and an industrial aesthetic accented by character-grade white oak stair treads for a touch of softness — just one example of how the couple married masculine and feminine styles throughout the interiors.

The entire home exudes warmth. When they’re not working, the couple loves to entertain, so they designed a floor plan that’s a hosting haven. The open kitchen boasts floor-to-ceiling white oak cabinetry, Signature Kitchen Suite appliances and a stunning 10-foot-long island. A swath of honed Calacatta Raffaelo marble spills over the island edges, revealing organic veining with a rust undertone. The earthy hue set the palette for the entire space, which is filled with warm wood tones and natural bonecolored stone and washed in south-facing natural light.

When Jodie steps into her chef-grade kitchen, the expansive 5-by-10-foot Marvin windows across the entire main floor draw Lake Minnetonka right into the heart of the home. The serene view creates a picturesque backdrop for cooking, while the open layout transforms the space into a lively area for entertaining friends and family, something the couple thoroughly enjoys.

Above the island hang two sleek, artisancrafted gold leaf pendants that cast a moody glow across the stone countertops. Jodie, who meticulously chose each decorative fixture, considers them the “jewelry” of the home. “We wanted everything to be unique and special to us,” says the interior designer with a smile as the light from the pendants bounces playfully off her bracelets. The home also features a fully automated system that controls lighting, as well as sound and shades, ensuring an unparalleled living experience.

The couple, their two cats and guests can quickly move from the kitchen to the main-level bar, which features oversized industrial patterned wall

coverings, custom black-and-white cowhide barstools and a glam steer horn mount covered in broken black mirror. This is no cowboy bar — in keeping with the theme, it is Aspen-inspired and glitzy. Flowing from the bar through a multi-slide glass door, a semi-cantilevered covered outdoor living space bridges the bar and kitchen. Nestled among the lot’s existing lodge pole pine trees, the elevated screen porch is the couple’s favorite spot to relax, take in the views and enjoy the warmth of an outdoor fireplace by Heat & Glo. “It feels like a cozy treehouse,” says Jodie, who can easily spot guests arriving by boat on the lakeshore below.

Upstairs is a more private space dedicated entirely to the (nearly) empty nesters. Steps from the primary suite, the couple’s shared office and coffee bar overlook the lake. While the newlyweds are intentional about drawing a line between work and home time, they don’t mind a bit of overlap since they both “love what [they] do.”

In the bedroom, Jodie designed a custom leather headboard and integrated backlighting for a look that rivals any luxury hotel. Under-cabinet and toe-kick lighting illuminate the ensuite bath containing walls of stone and a large steam shower. The primary bedroom and bath also feature a private balcony that stretches the entire length of the upper level, connecting the two spaces. Natural stone wraps from the exterior balcony wing walls into the bedroom, where it meets a black, alligator-textured wall treatment. “The elements are interesting but trend-proof,” says Jodie. Working in the design and build industry for so long allowed the duo to make informed and budget-oriented decisions quickly, an efficiency they bring to all of their projects, not just their own home. “Our goal is to be seasoned professional guides throughout the process. We collaborate in all architectural design meetings, participate with the interior design teams and are there each step of the way during the construction phase as the project comes to life,” says David.

Every room in the carefully thought-out home has a view of the lake and pool. Even the fitness studio, which David expertly optimized in the space underneath the garage, features a glass door that perfectly lines up the Peloton with a view of the water. The lower level also features an additional bar. (The couple fondly refers to each as “his and her” bars.) Jodie’s vibe in the lower level bar is less après ski and more Palm Springs, with a charactergrade white oak bar, woven bar stools in a chunky, neutral fabric and rattan-wrapped pendants. Its proximity to the pool makes it a highly sought after destination. The bar transitions seamlessly to the terrace, where a lanai complete with lounge area, Wolf outdoor kitchen, fire table and hot tub make even rainy days enjoyable.

“This house sets us up for ‘the moments,’” muses the builder and designer, whose goal was to create something that would work as beautifully for them today as it will in the next phase of life. Guest rooms are meant to flex, providing a landing pad for out-of-town guests while doubling as an art studio for Jodie as elusive free time becomes more realistic after a year of wedding planning, home building and becoming grandparents. “As builders and parents of five, we understand how those layers of life impact a project,” says David.

Move-in day just so happened to coincide with Valentine’s Day — a sweet reminder that the intangibles of life can’t always be planned, but the Biekers are doing their best to preserve them. In this case, within the safeguard of a home and a partner that neither of them saw coming, but intuitively spent life preparing for. “It’s a ‘pinch-me’ moment every time we pull the boat up,” concludes the builder duo.

Head to ArtfulLiving.com for a closer look at this lakeside home.

THE MANOR REBORN

The 1903 Pillsbury Castle is revived and ready for a new era — and a new family.

BY LAURIE JUNKER

AT THE TURN OF THE 20TH CENTURY, FLOUR milling was king in Minneapolis, and the wealthy millers built extravagant homes on the fringe of downtown, a prestigious suburb back in the day. Designed by noted architects and upwards of 10,000 square feet, the Washburn, Crosby and Pillsbury mansions overflowed with the finest Italian marble and exotic wood painstakingly installed and hand-finished by skilled craftspeople. Not many remain — either torn down as they became too expensive to maintain or converted to institutional use. A precious few are private homes.

One of these gems, the Alfred F. Pillsbury House, recently underwent a massive renovation with the help of the Minnesota chapters of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) and scores of local design professionals and artisans who took part in Design Home 2024. In March 2023, entrepreneurs Matthew Trettel and Ryan Hanson purchased the property (which they call “the castle”) with dreams of restoring it and making it their family home. “Too many of these [historic old] homes have been torn down, and we wanted to show how they can be relevant for modern life,” Trettel says.

Located in the Washburn-Fair Oaks Historic District, the 12,000-square-foot English Tudor Revival has lived many lives since Alfred and his wife Eleanor passed away in 1946 and 1950, including housing seminary students as a dorm and office space. Although the previous owner did a significant amount of work to begin the restoration process and convert the house back to a single-family home, there was still much to do — update all the mechanical systems (plumbing, electrical and HVAC) and remodel or refresh every room in the house, including the kitchen, six bedrooms and nine bathrooms.

Design partner PKA Architecture helped Trettel and Hanson reevaluate the home’s layout, which included servants’ quarters, back staircases, coal rooms and other remnants of a bygone era. Their goal was to minimize structural interventions by moving a door here and there or changing the function of a room instead of tearing down walls. “Matt and Ryan wanted to add to the legacy of this home, not hide it, and were willing to set boundaries to do what’s right for the house,” says PKA Associate Principal and architect Andrew Edwins. Taking this sensitive approach, the architectural team converted awkward back-of-the-house areas into 21st-century amenities — a second-floor laundry room near the family bedrooms, a charming third-floor nanny suite for caregivers or an aging parent, a home office for Trettel on the main floor, one for Hanson on the second, and space for a future home gym and spa in the basement. PKA also suggested adding an elevator, a common feature in a house of this size. Trettel and Hanson agreed, knowing it would make aging in place and shuttling heavy items between levels easier. Finding a place for the elevator shaft that worked for each floor, where the door wouldn’t open in the middle of a room, required finesse (the sweet spot was the juncture between the back and the front of the house). Challenges like this and restoring or recreating intricate wood and stone details were invigorating for general contractor OA Design+Build+Architecture, along with the seven additional contractors who worked on specific rooms throughout the home. “It was amazing to think about what it took to create this 100 years ago with hand tools,” says Chris McGuire, production director with Vujovich Design Build. “Our guys live for this stuff.”

Thirty-plus interior designers revamped 34 rooms, volunteering their talents to create a sophisticated and cohesive look from top to bottom. Their shared philosophy was to avoid period looks in favor of a mix of contemporary and traditional furnishings — an

approach encouraged by Trettel and Hanson. “Think of a 17th-century Paris apartment with abstract art,” Hanson explains. “It’s more dynamic.” One example hangs just inside the front door — a light installation by Hennepin Made that cascades down the curved oak staircase. Unquestionably contemporary, the handblown glass cylinders have a pleasing rapport with the heavy, ornate woodwork. Hennepin Made founder Jackson Schwartz posits that the reason lies with the maker. “Like the masons and carpenters who finished this house 120 years ago, we also make these by hand and are experts at our craft. We share a feeling of heritage you don’t get with a mass-produced thing.” Another nod to the era: lots of saturated color and bold wallcoverings, including several scenic wallpapers and a custom hand-painted design by local studio She She celebrating Trettel and Hanson’s past, present and future. “We referenced old paintings, especially Matisse and Cézanne, for the figures that represent Matt, Ryan, their cats and future family,” says She She co-owner and lead designer Kate Worum.

As the name suggests, the grand salon is the most enormous room in the house. Designed to impress, it features mahogany paneling, a trio of ornately carved walnut archways and a beamed ceiling. Niosi Interior Design’s Kimberly Niosi didn’t shy away from incorporating distinctive pieces into the space, such as a bentwood and glass Piegatto Ghost Table, green velvet leopard sofas and a wall of smoked mirror tiles. But she was careful to complement what was original by choosing sofas with a curved back that mimics the archways. She payed close attention to scale. “Too many divas in the room creates chaos,” she explains. “But a room with this quantity of dark woodwork needs furnishings with personality to bring elation much like a symphony.”

The adjacent kitchen and scullery had designer Kate Roos and Partners 4, Design literally between a rock and a hard place. “The space used to be an outside porch, and the walls are made of the same rock-faced Platteville limestone as the rest of the home’s exterior,” says Roos. This made running plumbing to the new scullery and installing custom cabinetry tricky. The limestone walls also posed a design challenge. “It’s a very aesthetically opinionated material,” Roos points out. “So, our strategy was to complement, not compete.” Rich colors — greengray, gold, brass, deep red and dark stained oak — play off the stone while inset cabinets, marble countertops, shimmery wallpaper and sparkling pendants add warmth and freshness. For appliances, Trettel and Hanson worked with partner Warners’ Stellian and chose Gaggenau for its integrated look and performance. “Matt swears that these appliances will teach him how to cook!” Appliance Specialist DeAnne Bennett says.

Throughout the house, which includes a family room, kids’ playroom, media room, music room, mudroom, speakeasy, billiards room and many delightful nooks and crannies, the ASID designers and NARI remodelers created imaginative spaces to entertain, work, play, rest and retreat, providing the backdrop for the magic of everyday life. The results are sumptuous and spirited. “Our designers reimagined this entire house in a historically respectful way with incredible results,” says Design Home 2024 co-chair Christine Happel. For Trettel and Hanson, this project has given them the home of their dreams — and the satisfaction of knowing they helped preserve an essential part of Minnesota’s history. “We think we’ve honored Alfred and Eleanor and are hopeful that the house will inspire others,” Trettel says. “They don’t make them like they used to and there’s no need. The houses are here. They just need a champion.”

Learn more about this home and take a virtual tour at PillsburyCastle.com

PROJECT PARTNERS

Designers

Abitare Design Studio

Albertsson Hansen Architecture and Design

April Star Interiors

Bruit de la Mode, Inc

Daybreak Interiors

Designer Lindy Haglund

Edmanhill Interior Design

Ethan Allen

Fine House Interiors + Design

Gabberts Design Studio

Jennifer Ball Interiors

Julie Tuerk Interior Design

Kate Roos Design

Katie Brandt Interiors

Laura Engen Interior Design

Lucy Interiors

Mike Rataczak Studios

Niosi Design

Partners 4, Design

SKC Designs LLC

Spencer Design Associates

TDM Designs

Terry Gustafson Interior Design LLC

University of Minnesota Design Students led by lecturer Anne Farniok

Vela Interior Design

Contractors

EdgeWork Design Build

Holly Home Renovations

J3 Renovation & Design

Ohana Home & Design

Otogawa-Anschel

Design+Build+Architecture

Partners 4, Design

Quality Cut Design | Remodel

Vujovich Design Build, Inc.

four seasons private residencies

timeless beautiful luxurious

photos by taylor hall o’brien

GOOD KARMA

Inspired by a California couple’s appreciation for design, the teams at Engler Studio, Charlie & Co. Design, Watercourse Design and Welch Forsman Associates transform a house on Cedar Lake into a deeply personal home.

BY MELINDA NELSON

FOR NEARLY TWO YEARS, NEIGHBORS WATCHED WITH INTEREST as a couple renovated a home on Cedar Lake in Minneapolis. The homeowners invited their new neighbors for dinner when the house was finished. As the guests walked up the path, they were welcomed by an enchanting front door carved with hummingbirds, a loon, a lady’s slipper, a canoe and other symbols of the North Shore, along with the irresistible aroma of savory Indian food.

As the neighbors soon discovered, the couple had grown up on opposite sides of the world, so their door offers a portal into the fascinating, multifaceted life they’ve created together. She is from Two Harbors on Lake Superior, and he is from Mumbai, India, where elaborately carved doors offer a blessing to all who enter a home. The couple met at Cornell University and then moved to the San Francisco Bay Area, where they raised their two daughters.

Even though they all spent every Fourth of July and Christmas with family in Two Harbors and Minneapolis — earning the husband the title of “honorary Minnesotan” — the couple hadn’t originally planned to buy a home here. But then one of their daughters chose to live in Minneapolis after completing her doctorate in chemical engineering at the University of Minnesota, and the area started to make more sense.

Several years earlier, the couple had traveled to Minneapolis to see their daughter, who was pregnant at the time. During their visit, their son-in-law, who’d grown up with his grandmother, suggested they look at a house for sale nearby. Says the wife: “Kim Pease, our realtor, opened the door, and we looked out the front window and saw people walking their dogs and crosscountry skiing on Cedar Lake. We walked through the house and saw our kids’ house and the park from the back window. It was magical. And so, with the kids’ encouragement, we bought the house.”

The couple had initially planned just to paint the walls and change the cabinet knobs. But after Pease invited them to meet a longtime friend, interior designer Linda Engler, they began to entertain more ambitious design possibilities. “Linda felt very familiar to me,” the wife says. “Minnesotans have a very low-key way of interacting, and her style and competence immediately resonated with me.”

Engler suggested several key design changes to bring more light into the interiors, create better flow and provide unobstructed views of the lake, the park and the kids’ house. The couple loved her ideas, so Engler gathered an experienced team of friends she knew would bring exceptional creativity, problem-solving skills and good karma to the project, including Engler Studio colleagues Jenn Taft, studio director, and Alison Haugen, designer;

Charlie & Co. Design’s Colby Mattson, principal/designer, and Jonathan Mason, project manager/designer; Welch Forsman Associates’ Don Forsman, principal, and Jim Kalb, project lead; and Ian Lamers, landscape architect, of Watercourse Design.

“Our clients are down-to-earth, generous and respectful of each other’s preferences and aversions, which set a wonderful tone for our collaboration,” says Engler. “They challenged us to brainstorm and look beyond the obvious.” Propelled by the couple’s enthusiasm and keen eye for design, the project quickly evolved from a simple renovation to a wholehouse transformation.

Most of the meetings took place over Zoom. “Even though we weren’t all in the same place, our connection and chemistry were so strong, the meetings didn’t feel remote or distant,” says Engler. “There was an easy, natural camaraderie from the start, and while it may sound Minnesota-corny, we all looked forward to our meetings.”

It might have been easier and more cost-effective to start from scratch and build a new home, but the couple didn’t want to tear down the house. “We love homes of all types, from modest to the most beautiful,” muses the wife. “The previous owner loved her home, and we would never demolish a place that someone else had loved. We care about the neighbors, their feelings and the context of the neighborhood.”

Guided by form following function, the couple wanted their home to elevate their relationships with their kids and grandchildren. They also wanted the spaces to be easily accessible and aging-friendly so they could stay connected with their family. The design team responded by reimagining the house with 5,245 square feet of effortless flow and functionality. They opened up the main level and added a skylight over a glass-walled staircase with two railings, one for grown-ups and another for children. The living room offers views of Cedar Lake and flows easily into the dining area and the kitchen, which looks out over the lap pool to the park and the kids’ house.

The couple’s suite and two offices also offer views of the lake. A covered porch on the second level feels like a treehouse, while the lower-level playroom provides plenty of space for reading, playing games and dancing with grandkids.

“We loved collaborating with the entire team to create a variety of new spaces within a very limited footprint,” says Mattson. “Our clients’ trust and ability to convey their goals, motivations and inspiration made the process very enjoyable and rewarding.”

Inspired by the wife’s love of calming, watery hues and natural elements, Engler and her team curated a mix of comfortable furnishings, handmade rugs and artisanal textiles to complement organic paper sculptures by the couple’s other daughter, an artist. Whenever the couple was in town for a design meeting at Engler Studio, Valerie Tracy, controller, gave them a Minnesota-style welcome with two loaves of homemade pumpkin bread, one to enjoy with their kids and one to take back to California.

When the couple shared stories about visiting the wife’s family in Lapporten, a valley north of the Arctic Circle in Swedish Lapland, their memories gave Engler an idea. She called a Swedish client and, serendipitously, his father was a good friend of Claes Grundsten, a world-renowned photographer. Sure enough, Grundsten had photographed Lapporten, so Engler ordered a stunning panoramic image and had it framed as a surprise.

While the Welch Forsman team was taking the walls down to the studs, digging deep into the basement and raising the ceilings to create more light, the design team continued creating their magic. To honor the couple’s request for a special front door, the designers came up with a door with inset panels and hand-carved emblems of Minnesota on both sides. The Engler Studio team designed the panels and images and commissioned woodcarver Erik Wyckoff to bring them to life. Mattson designed the structure, and the Welch Forsman team fabricated and installed the door.

“The door is the perfect symbol of this amazing project,” says Forsman. “Our clients understand beauty, craft and design, and we all had so much fun collaborating with them to create a jewel box of a home filled with unique elements and beautiful vignettes.”

When installation day finally arrived, the Crown Warehouse trucks pulled up to the house. As the movers carefully carried the furnishings over the threshold, the door bestowed a blessing on each person. Engler and her team layered each room with beauty and meaning, hanging the Lapporten image in the dining room and placing one of the daughter’s sculptures over the fireplace, making the house feel like home.

Builder: Welch Forsman Associates

Architectural Design: Charlie & Co. Design

Interior Design: Engler Studio

Landscape Design: Watercourse Design

The Secret to Living in Heels Footwear created by a foot & ankle surgeon with an eye for design.

ADVENTURE

THE PROVOCATEUR

In this exclusive excerpt from Guy Bourdin for Charles Jourdan, Sylvie Lécaillie explores how the surrealist French artist revolutionized the world of modern fashion photography.

HIRED BY EDMONDE CHARLES-ROUX IN 1955 AT VOGUE PARIS, Guy Bourdin made his debut for the magazine with a series of hats photographed in front of a butcher’s stall in Les Halles. The calves’ heads hanging above the model were cropped to avoid shocking readers.

Bourdin was shortly entrusted with many pages per issue, the beginning of an exceptional collaboration of over 30 years with the magazine.

When Francine Crescent [Vogue Paris fashion editor, then editor-inchief] introduced Bourdin to Roland Jourdan in 1964, the creative director of Charles Jourdan was already sensitive to the visual provocations that [Bourdin] was deploying on the pages of the magazine. A few images had tickled [Roland’s] interest in how the photographer staged shoes: the March 1966 cover with a pair of Charles Jourdan heels for Pierre Cardin, long legs in red tights coming out of a miniskirt; in February 1967, [eight pairs of] a Karl Lagerfeld pump for Charles Jourdan stacked in the arms of a naked model. [Bourdin’s photos would expand from the fashion pages until they “took over the magazine.”] In 1966, Vogue Paris stated: “It is perhaps because of his love for detail that Guy Bourdin is among the great fashion photographers. Because he always goes one step further, he never takes the same photo twice, he surpasses himself. He doesn’t imitate himself: We imitate him.”

By hiring Bourdin, the famous shoe brand dared to move away from stereotypical images of accessories, [then] characterized by the banality of the staging and uniformity of the layout. The years after the Second World War were indeed marked by standardized communication. In brand catalogs, accessories were cropped on a neutral background; photography was simply descriptive, its function being only to show the product. A pioneer in communication, Charles Jourdan deliberately took the risk of engaging in a policy of visual expression by which the product was no longer at the center of the image. The Charles Jourdan campaigns, which were entrusted exclusively to Bourdin from 1967 to 1979, were also in line with the company’s commercial and marketing audacity and testified to its modernity.

For Charles Jourdan and Vogue Paris, Bourdin demanded control over the final selection as well as the layout of his images. While the very first campaigns were in square format, he quickly adopted the horizontal format, which corresponded to the magazine’s double-page spread and

directly evoked the cinema screen. When not working horizontally, he created small sequences that developed a narrative.

With Bourdin, the frame of the photograph is almost always closed; there are few or no skies, and we’re at ground level. Whether indoors or outdoors, the spaces define a closed world, with no off-screen. In very graphic images, he invented wacky scenes and unusual, sometimes absurd, situations. He juxtaposed bright colors with the almost systematic presence of the sophisticated red emblematic of his photographs.

The 1979 campaign, made with only a pair of half-legs of window mannequins that he would take from place to place was the culmination of the cutting and fragmentation of the models’ bodies seen in the previous campaigns. This fragmentation of reality is a sign of his taste for surrealism. In his images, the isolation of objects from any human context gave them a reality of their own.

The reception of the Charles Jourdan campaigns exceeded the expectations of [his] patron but sometimes provoked extreme reactions. They intrigued and sparked debate; some readers did not hesitate to send inflammatory letters to the company to express their disgust, especially in front of the advertisement published in Jours de France dated 10-16 March 1975: a pair of pink shoes spilled on the sidewalk in front of a black car, the body of a woman drawn in chalk on the asphalt and alleged traces of blood surrounding it. [Nevertheless, Bourdin’s photos were eagerly awaited in fashion magazines each month.] “It was as if we were publishing not advertisements but a paperback novel or a comic strip. People were hungry to see what was next,” according to Gerard Tavenas, director of marketing. The reception of his work in the magazine Photo was also unambiguous. Each year, portfolios were dedicated to his latest campaigns with titles such as “Bourdin or Unfettered Advertising” and “Advertising Photography as an Art Form.”

Pushing boundaries, Bourdin’s campaigns for Charles Jourdan had a decisive influence on several generations of designers. Even more than the history of advertising, they revolutionized the history of photography.

HOME COURT

ADVANTAGE

Kyle Hunt & Partners builds a warm, modern home for an active, fun-loving couple.

BY LAURIE JUNKER

ADVENTURE BUILD

IF THIS LAKE MINNETONKA HOUSE WAS A WINE, IT MIGHT BE described as earthy with subtle notes of fresh tennis balls, a hint of Wisconsin supper club and a clean, elegant finish. Except here, a visitor is more likely to be offered a cocktail than a glass of vino. “My specialty is old fashioneds, and I make a pretty good spicy marg, too,” says homeowner Larry Vorpahl. He and his wife, Debbie, relocated from southern Minnesota in 2020 after Larry retired to be closer to their adult daughters and grandchildren. They decided to build on the lake where they could enjoy all the perks of a vacation home with year-round convenience.

Since Debbie is an avid tennis player who’s always wanted a home court — and Debbie and Larry are pickleball fans who play socially, especially in the cooler months — an outdoor tennis court and indoor pickleball court were at the top of their wish list. They found this plum Kyle Hunt & Partners (KH&P) site through their realtor. At over 1.5 acres, the lot was big enough for the active couples’ list of amenities. “The site needed to have enough surface area to accommodate the home, pool, terrace, tennis court and tennis building, and it needed to be elevated above the lake enough to allow for the 20-foot ceiling height in the pickleball court at the lowest level of the home,” KH&P co-owner Kyle Hunt explains.

The Vorpahls also wanted a clean, contemporary design with earth tones, natural materials and a layout that was conducive to casual entertaining. “This house is an extension of Debbie and Larry’s lifestyle and personality,” KH&P co-owner Laurie Hunt says. “They’re so warm and welcoming.”

The vibe might be easygoing, but the architectural design by Mike Sharratt is crisp and intentional. It’s lake-friendly, too. The home is part of a larger water management system devised by Sharratt, KH&P, and a civil engineer that directs stormwater and snow melt for the entire site to an underground filtration system, allowing the water to percolate into the ground without causing runoff and erosion into the lake. “This wasn’t easy or inexpensive, but Debbie and Larry wanted to do the right thing for the environment and fully support the lake’s water quality,” Sharratt says.

At the center of the 11,781-square-foot house is a soaring great room with a handsome Montana stone and plaster fireplace punctuated by a 16-foot linear firebox. Seventeen-foot-wide Marvin Modern doors slide open to the poolside patio — open or screened to block bugs or the sun’s glare. The screens are integrated with the home automation system so they can be controlled by phone. Continuous porcelain tile flooring makes the two rooms feel like one. The hub of the home is a circular walnut bar at

Interior Designer: Darsi Floersch Interior Design

Builder: Kyle Hunt & Partners

Architect: Sharratt Design & Company

Landscape Designer: Yardscapes

the intersection between the kitchen, great room and dining room where Larry holds court as the resident mixologist. “The bar is kind of like a traffic roundabout,” the homeowner jokes, adding that the couple often enjoy casual meals after pickleball and tennis, sometimes lingering for games like Mexican Train Dominoes or dice. “The shape is more sociable because it goes all the way around so that people can engage with each other,” he adds. Topped with Brazilian Cristallo Quartzite, it sparkles and glows in the evening, thanks to LED backlighting.

Just off the kitchen lies an informal built-in banquette for cozy meals and TV watching, where Larry and Debbie often eat with their grandchildren. The sleek and modern kitchen has flush espresso-stained rift-sawn oak cabinetry, a catering kitchen and a pantry behind a closed door to conceal meal prep activity.

On the opposite end of the main floor is the Vorpahls’ private wing, a light-filled bedroom with a lakeside patio and his-and-her bathrooms and closets. Designer Darsi Floersch created a retreat-like feeling with quiet tones and textured fabrics. She worked closely with Debbie throughout the two-year design and build process. “We became such good friends that I set her up with Larry’s high school friend,” Debbie says. “They got married last December!”

The house has three other levels, each equipped for comfort and fun. Upstairs are three bedrooms and bathrooms, a lakeside balcony with panoramic water views and a fire pit. There is also a bunk room and bath for the grandkids. On the lower walkout level, it’s all about friendly competition and entertainment with a game room, media room and home gym with a floor-to-ceiling glass wall overlooking the pickleball court (featuring a few Green Bay Packer jerseys, the Vorpahls’ favorite team), which is one level lower.

The court is the site of many rousing games — and occasionally rousing grandchildren burning off steam before bedtime. There’s even a staircase tucked away in a mechanical room that goes up to a “secret” kids’ playroom with another viewing window overlooking the pickleball court. Outside, the expansive grounds are put to good use with a pool, outdoor shower, tennis court and tennis house — an irresistible miniature version of the main house with a patio, lounge, kitchen and full bathroom. It all suits the Vorpahls to a T. “We’re homebodies who would rather have everyone come over here instead of going out to a restaurant,” Debbie says. “Sometimes we come home, and our kids and grandkids are already here hanging out by the pool. That’s just what we wanted. It makes us so happy, and Kyle Hunt & Partners made it all possible.”

PHOTOGRAPHY BY RICH MICHELL

CABIN FEVER

David Heide Design Studio creates a modern retreat.

BY WENDY LUBOVICH

ADVENTURE

IT’S THE CLASSIC CABIN CONUNDRUM. WHAT SHOULD YOU prioritize – the cozy embrace of the fireplace or the captivating water views? That’s a tricky question that’s been confounding homeowners for generations. “In a lakeside living room, the draw is always to enjoy views of the water, but when a fireplace fills an opposite wall, it feels “wrong” not to face furniture toward it,” says David Heide Design Studio Architect Chris Christofferson.

So, the brilliant solution here? Prioritize them both. Step into the light-filled living room, and you’re greeted by a wall of windows overlooking the lake. Then, cleverly tucked into a low-slung bookcase right below the glass, you’ll see the opening for a petite fireplace, its sleek chimney rising up like a modern sculpture. That’s right, in one fell swoop, they’ve combined both fire and water. “The finished result looks simple, but the architectural detail was complicated. Careful attention was paid to orchestrating venting and mechanicals without compromising the glazing,” Christofferson explains.

And while the big windows offer sweeping landscape views, an adjacent wall holds a playful surprise: a collection of little peek-aboo windows arranged into an organic vignette. One by one, the glass openings frame colorful branches or snippets of sky — living works of art. “A miniature window provides a view of nature that is often just as beautiful [as that afforded by the larger windows],” Christofferson points out. “Each leaf and tree limb is filled with detail that is easier to notice through a smaller lens.” These unique windows are repeated in the family room and even a bathroom, becoming a beloved part of the design.

The cabin was built in 2021 for a St. Paul–based family of three who wanted a place for group gatherings and weekend getaways. They love fishing and four-wheeling, so this 3,400-square-foot home in

Architect: David Heide Design

Builder: Keenan Companies

Interior Designer: David Heide Design

northwestern Wisconsin is designed for easy living. Constructed by Keenan Companies in Hayward, Wisconsin, the idea was to update the existing space, which felt a bit dated and dark. “It was really something,” company principal David Heide recalls. “It looked like ‘The Flintstones go camping’ with all the log posts, railings and logs everywhere.” So, gradually, Heide’s team brought in a more modern Nordic aesthetic mixed with a nature-inspired sensibility.

They accomplished this with a savvy selection of materials. The ceiling is clad in vertical-grain white oak, while wood wainscotting covers the walls. You’ll also find touches of Japanese tile, matte stone and rich leather — all adding up to a tactile sense of tranquility. Then, for the furnishings, Heide interior designers Michael Crull and Elizabeth Mueller brought in clean, custom-made pieces and a smattering of well-loved Danish antiques. “This blend contributes to the warm feeling of ‘family cabin’ where it is common to have pieces handed down over the years or repurposed from other residences,” Christofferson notes. “The unexpected pairing of an Eames chair with an antler chandelier overhead creates a characterfilled and whimsical space where no one needs to take themselves too seriously.”

This kind of spirited yet highly detailed work is a hallmark of David Heide Design Studio in St. Paul. A full-service architecture, interior design and historic restoration company, they tackle a variety of projects from contemporary cabins to period estates. Driven by a commitment to quality and craftsmanship, the 27-year-old firm is known for creating spaces with timeless appeal.

We see this approach in the kitchen, which feels like a hidden escape. A distinct shift from the white hues in the great room, the color palette here morphs into more earthy tones of gray and red. “At a cabin, where much of the day is defined by brilliant sunlight glinting off the lake, a darker kitchen makes sense for cozy mornings sipping coffee or relaxing evenings preparing a homecooked meal,” says Design Associate Leanna Kemp Kristoff. One of the most beloved features here is the open shelving lining the perimeter of the center island. Its mission? To discretely tuck away all those food containers and party snacks guests typically bring out for the weekend.

Finally, if fun is what you are looking for, head to the lower level where you’ll find a bar that’s inspired by vintage supper clubs in the area. It certainly looks the part with swank leather panels, complete with studded detail. Ditto for the zinc countertops and classic foot rail at the bar. Sip a gin and tonic while looking out the grand picture window framing the lake. All that’s missing is a relish tray and the prime rib special. “It was the perfect addition to this cabin,” Heide sums up. “The owner’s family once owned a Northwoods supper club, so it’s in his DNA — a full circle moment for sure.”

masonlaneart.com |

Photo Credit: Chelsie Lopez Productions

Art and Dining

Enjoy Mia in an entirely different way, with exhibition-themed food and wine experiences held after hours in the museum’s galleries.

Art & Dining After Dark

Wednesday, October 16

Guest chef Erik Anderson, featuring wine from Knudsen Vineyards

Wednesday, December 11

1,000 Years of Spain

Art & Wine After Dark

Tuesday, October 22

Paris After Dark: 1890s Moulin Rouge

Tuesday, November 12

Highlights from Latin America

Tuesday, December 3

Paris After Dark: 1890s Moulin Rouge

L R enV a eos i e

At Domaine de la Rose, Lancôme’s sustainable, organic farm in Grasse, Amy Synnott stops to smell the roses and never wants to leave.

MY APRON IS FULL, AND IT SMELLS better than any other garment I have ever worn. It is 9:30 on a balmy Wednesday morning in May, and I have just spent the better part of an hour learning how to pluck the perfect Rosa centifolia or rose of May. The elusive flower blooms once a year for a three-week period, typically starting in early to mid-May. Dusted in jet lag, I’ve arrived at Domaine de la Rose, Lancôme’s dreamy organic farm in Grasse, on the French Riviera, just in time for the annual harvest.

“Ah, this one is good,” says Antoine Leclef, Domaine’s chief horticulturist. He holds a tiny but beautiful blossom in his hand. The flowers are freshest when they are in full bloom, between 9 and 10 in the morning, he explains in a soft French accent slightly more gentle than what you encounter in Paris. “You see the yellow heart of this rose?” he says. “That’s how you know it’s ready to be plucked. Put two fingers underneath the blossom and your thumb on top,” he instructs. “Then press a little on top and gently rotate as you pull up.” A perfectly intact bloom pops into his outstretched hand, and he slides it into his apron. “Now you try it.”

It’s 87 degrees today, and I can feel the Mediterranean sun beating down on my bare shoulders. Distracted by thoughts of the sunscreen I’m not wearing, I mangle the first few roses. “You have to roll with your hand,” Leclef says. “When you do it well, it makes the right sound.”

Moments later, I hear a tiny snapping sound and am rewarded with what can only be described as the most intoxicating scent I have ever encountered. “Oh my god,” I whisper, reluctant to put the bloom down. Inhaling deeply, I close my eyes and have an almost outof-body experience. Like Proust’s madeleines, this perfectly cultivated rose of May — grown without a trace of chemicals and picked at its peak of aromatic development — has triggered a sensory memory so strong and visceral that I feel my entire body relax. Suddenly, the years fall away, and I am back on Marginal Way in Ogunquit, Maine, my feet covered in sand and my nose nestled in its happy place: deep in the fragrant heart of the wild roses that grow along the craggy shoreline.

The intense emotional response I experienced when first smelling the Rosa centifolia at Domaine can be explained by basic neuroscience: The olfactory bulb — the structure in the brain that receives and relays the scents we breathe in — is directly connected to both the memory-focused hippocampus and the amygdala, which regulates emotions. But I prefer Proust’s more poetic explanation of the transportive nature of smell: “A single sound, a single scent, already heard or breathed long ago, may once again, both in the present and the past, be real without being present, ideal without being abstract, as

soon as the permanent and habitually hidden essence of things is liberated, and our true self, which may sometimes have seemed to be long dead, but never was entirely, is re-awoken and re-animated when it receives the heavenly food that is brought to it.”

While I knew it wasn’t the same scent — like wine, each rose’s fragrance is affected by countless variables of the unique terroir, like water, temperature and elevation — I couldn’t help but wonder if the intensity of the scent memory had something to do with the clarity of the rose molecule in the absence of chemicals. After all, the roses at Domaine, like those of my childhood — and me at the time — were wild and free.

When Françoise Lehmann, Lancôme’s global brand president, first set eyes on Domaine in November 2019, her dream was to create a place that would honor Lancôme’s heritage while moving the brand in a more sustainable direction. Currently, 93% of the ingredients used in Lancôme fragrances are biodegradable, and 73% are bio-sourced. By 2030, the brand is working toward a goal of using 100% sustainably sourced, bio-based ingredients. Today, 100% of what is cultivated at Domaine is organic.

“The people who originally owned the property started farming organically in the sixties, and the people at the other farms thought they were crazy,” says Lehmann. “They said, ‘Why would you grow two roses when you could grow 10 with chemicals?’”

Turns out, the decision to choose only organic growing methods was prescient. “One of the reasons the soil is getting so poor in many other places is because of intensive monoculture farming with lots of pesticides,” says Lehmann. “This is why so many species of birds and animals have disappeared.”

By contrast, the creatures are alive and very

present at Domaine. As I continue my tour with Leclef, we are serenaded by 33 species of birds. “The biodiversity really helps the flowers thrive,” he explains, noting that Domaine is also host to 31 species of butterflies, eight species of dragonflies, 12 species of bats and a whole bunch of snakes, mice and other critters. I watch for snakes as we step through the long grass and arrive at a very pregnant mulberry tree, one of 163 species of plants on the property. “You can eat it, go ahead,” Leclef encourages as a rooster crows loudly from the terraced fields behind us. I pluck one of the swollen fruits from a branch and take a bite. It explodes in my mouth. Like the scent of the rose, the flavor of the berry is unlike anything I have ever experienced. Fresher, sweeter, juicier. “Is this what you put in the Lancôme jams?” I ask, making a mental note to stock up before I head home. “No,” says Leclef. “We grow the berries for the birds. They love them!”

“Birds are not crazy,” Lehmann jokes. “They probably all called each other, saying, ‘Come on over here. There should be fewer pesticides at this place!’” While the birds help pollinate the roses, local sheep help prune them. “They are very good workers,” Leclef notes with a mischievous smile. Even the snakes are helpful, he adds. “They eat the mice that can damage crops and spread diseases.”

As we walk, Leclef points out dozens of fresh herbs and wildflowers. “Here is the rosemary,” he says, plucking an exquisitely aromatic stem. “Oh, and this is one of my favorite smells because it reminds me of my grandmother,” he continues, snapping off two green leaves from a bitter-orange tree. “She used a Roger & Gallet soap that smelled just like this. Crush the leaves together and then smell your hands.” I do as I’m told and can’t believe the scent that wafts up to my nose. Woody and hesperidic with a faint hint of floral neroli, it smells shockingly similar to a scented soap my boyfriend in college used that came from Mallorca. He gifted it to me before

“Inhaling deeply, I close my eyes and have an almost out-of-body experience. Like Proust’s madeleines, this perfectly cultivated rose of May — grown without a trace of chemicals and picked at its peak of aromatic development — has triggered a sensory memory so strong and visceral

that I feel my entire body relax.”

he went abroad for his junior year in Italy. I pocket my leaves and briefly contemplate picking a few more.

As we reach the end of our tour, we transfer our fresh rose petals into a large burlap sack. (I get permission to sneak a handful into my backpack as a souvenir.) Next, we will transport the petals for processing to dsm-firmenich, a global company with a local perfume distillery. The flowers need to be transported to the factory as quickly as possible; even a delay of just one hour can compromise the integrity of the scent. Today, I have filled half my apron with fresh petals. Leclef says seasoned harvesters like Madame Lafleur (yes, that’s her real name; she has been working here for 50 years) can sometimes fill up to 20 times this amount in just one day using a swift, two-handed method (apparently she can bank four to five kilos in an hour, which makes her something like the Simone Biles of rose picking). This is important because, as Leclef notes, “it takes 800 kilograms of fresh rose petals to make just one kilogram of rose absolute (the intensely scented and highly concentrated oil that perfumers use in fragrances).”

“Smell inside the bag,” Leclef suggests with a broad smile. I gently poke my head into the sack and swoon at the heady aroma. “This must be what heaven smells like,” I think out loud as we jump into a waiting car and head to the distillery.

By comparison to the idyllic horticultural wonderland that is Domaine, the dsm-firmenich fragranceprocessing building is where romance meets reality. It is a large, white, uncharming box surrounded by lots of security. Reprimanded about taking a photo, I am reminded of what Leclef said about the perfume industry: “It’s very secretive!”

However, it isn’t long before I am allowed access to the inner sanctum of this inauspicious factory. We don special sterilized boots before entering the lab, where we meet Cyril Mestre, a dsm-firmenich perfumer. We hand him our bag of petals, which he deposits into a machine that can best be described as a flower microwave. After 17 minutes, this process has created a small vial of extremely fragrant rose water. “We call this the watery phase,” says Mestre. “We collect the most interesting aromatic molecules in the flowers by using only water and no petrochemicals. When you

use chemicals, you destroy a lot. This new water-based technology allows us to preserve as much of the original scent as possible.”

The next stop on our adventure is the Barbiepink main building of Domaine, where Audrey Dangy-Caye, one of Lancôme’s olfactive experts, shows us how perfumers combine different ingredients to make a fragrance. Glass bottles filled with 2,000 raw materials (200 natural and

rose-centric collection from Lancôme that is launching in September. There will be 11 fragrances in the line, and nine are brandnew. “The idea for this collection is to discover the rose as you’ve never smelled it before,” says Dangy-Caye. By combining the Rosa centifolia from Domaine de la Rose with different ingredients, you can experience the many complex facets of the rose. We thought, why not create a fresh rose, a woody rose, a green rose. …”

The first fragrance, 6 AM Rose, was created by perfumer Fanny Bal at IFF (International Flavors & Fragrances).

1,800 synthetic) line four curvilinear shelves of a large workstation known as the fragrance organ. Here I finally smell the much-discussed iris root, which has a sweet, soft, powdery, suede-like scent. We also smell various Rosa centifolia extracts, all differing slightly based on the extraction technology used to capture their olfactive molecules.

After taking our noses on a dizzying journey through dozens of interesting raw fragrance extracts, Dangy-Caye introduces the pièce de résistance: Absolue Les Parfums, a new,

“This one combines the neo- Absolue centifiola extract with juicy green fruit, lily of the valley, cassis and ambrette seeds,” says DangyCaye. We smell five more scents, each more complex than the last. The final scent, Hell of a Rose, was formulated by dsm-firmenich perfumer Nathalie Lorson. “It is meant to evoke a rose coming from ashes,” says DangyCaye. Here, the rose extract from Domaine de la Rose is combined with vetiver and ambrette seeds for a more edgy, unisex scent. “It’s amazing that from the same flower, you can create so many different fragrances.”

•

After leaving Domaine, I spend several days in the South of France, taking time to smell the roses everywhere I go. I have a newfound appreciation for the magic of fragrance, and I find myself spending hours exploring perfume shops. But nothing compares to the still-mesmerizing scent of the organic Rosa centifolia petals I have smuggled out of Domaine in my backpack. How long can this scent possibly last? I wonder. It has been four days, and my bag still smells like heaven.

As I pass through customs at JFK back in the States, I am asked if I have any food or farm products in my bag. Looking down, I mumble, “No, I don’t think so,” as they grab my bag and start rummaging.

“Aha! I found it,” the security guard booms triumphantly. With great flourish, he produces a bruised green apple I had stashed there several days ago from my welcome basket at Château de Théoule. “You are not allowed to take this into the U.S.!” he says with clear satisfaction and authority. I smile impishly and apologize. Heaven is still in my bag.

Photographer

THE FACELIFT OF THE FUTURE

Better surgical techniques, improved post-operative care and other high-tech advances are giving plastic surgery a makeover of its own.

BY TATIANA BONCOMPAGNI

LAST YEAR, ON DECEMBER 21, STACY SIMONS was expecting 150 people at her Colorado home for a Christmas party. It was an ambitious affair, given that a mere eight weeks earlier, she had traveled to San Diego to undergo a full face and neck lift, including blepharoplasty (eyelid lift), a lip lift and fat grafting. By the time she was decking the halls and dusting off her eggnog cups, she was more than ready to celebrate — the holidays and her newly lifted face. “My husband said, ‘It’s crazy. There’s no way anyone would know you just had surgery,’” she says.

Simons, 55, a former pharmacist, decided to go under the knife when she realized that the fillers and Botox injections she had started getting in her forties were no longer working for her as well as they once did. After consulting with several doctors across the country, she decided on Amir Karam, MD, a San Diego–based facelift specialist with a massive social media following. Simons’ surgery didn’t come cheap — she paid over $100,000 for it — but now she doesn’t have “dimples and wrinkles” and feels like she looks 10 years younger. “People think I look better, and they don’t know why. That’s the best compliment,” she says. Forget what you think you know about facelifts. Today’s nip and tuck is a vastly different venture than it once was. Now, it involves a lot less bruising, pain and downtime. And — in the hands of a skilled surgeon — it can yield longer-lasting, hypernatural results that make you look like yourself, just much younger. Think Demi Moore and Brad Pitt, neither of whom have copped to having had “work” done but whose youthful appearance defies the laws of time and gravity. In a way, their rumored surgeries make them just like the rest of us: Celebrities age, and they don’t like it, either.

“The desire to look as young as you feel is the whole motivation for every single patient,” says Karam. “What they don’t want is … to look like somebody else. They’re not saying, ‘Hey, I want to exchange my jowls and come out looking like a different person.’ [They’re saying,] ‘I want to look like I used to, and that’s it.’ As a surgeon, that’s been a difficult thing to achieve for a long time.” Karam is known for his trademarked Vertical Restore facelift — a variation on the so-called deep-plane facelift — which lifts the face at a particular angle or, in doctorspeak, “vector” that Karam says provides superior results.

It’s thanks in part to modern advances — such as the extended deep-plane technique, which allows surgeons to leave the skin attached to the underlying layers while working on the ligaments of the midface — that facelifts are quickly rising in popularity. The American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery reported a 60% increase in facelift procedures between 2017 and 2023, attributing the growth to a significant jump in younger patients between the ages of 35 and 55. Patrick Byrne, MD, president-elect of AAFPRS and chief of Cleveland Clinic’s Integrated Surgical Institute, linked this jump to improved results (thanks to the “leap forward” of the extended deep-plane lift) and the rise of social media. “Despite the gamesmanship of the before and afters a lot of practitioners do, social media, which skews younger, obviously helps with exposure,” says Byrne, a facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon in the Washington, D.C., and Baltimore area. Besides the new deep-plane technique, there have been plenty of other innovations. For example, Kenneth Kim, MD, a plastic surgeon who is an assistant clinical professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, performs

“awake” and “bloodless” facelifts in his operating suite. The benefits of forgoing general anesthesia include less potential for brain injury and faster recovery; his “precision surgery” method, which bypasses (and thus avoids hitting) blood vessels, allows him better visibility during surgery. “It’s like driving,” says Kim. “If you’re driving in fog or through an area in which there’s a blizzard, it’s dangerous to drive because you can’t see, so your coordination is off. Surgery is the same when there’s a lot of bleeding.”

Nathan Newman, MD, a dermatologist, cosmetic surgeon and regenerative medicine pioneer in Beverly Hills, California, emphasizes the importance of maintaining skin and tissue integrity but takes it one step further: He doesn’t cut into patients at all. Newman says he used to perform traditional facelifts but realized that one of the major problems was that cutting into the face ultimately, in the long term, caused trauma by damaging nerves and blood vessels. Five years later, he says, patients “look older, not better; tighter, but older.” His Stem Cell Lift procedure, which costs $35,000 to $65,000, involves zero cutting, only the transfer of stem cell-rich adipose cells to areas of the face. “Stem cell [facelifts] are great for anyone who has lost volume if they’ve got jowling or loss of fullness around their eyes.” He adds that he sometimes will do a little liposuction under the neck if warranted.

Chia Chi Kao, MD, a plastic surgeon in Santa Monica, California, is pioneering a scarless facelift technique. His patients fly in from all over the world — often on their private jets — and pay more than $200,000 for the procedure. He recently published a peer-reviewed paper in The Aesthetic Surgery Journal on his endoscopic “Ponytail Facelift,” a deep-plane procedure that includes a cheek lift as well as brow “fashioning” (versus simply lifting, a subtle but key difference), nano fat transfers and his signature “Neck Corset,” a procedure that involves individually sculpting each layer of the neck to give patients more natural and longer-lasting results. “It’s an art project,” he says.

For Oren Tepper, MD, a plastic surgeon in New York City, facelifts are a photography project. He uses 3D imaging to show his patients how they’ve aged more than five or 10 years. Unlike 2D photos, these photos will indicate that “you have lost volume by this much, your skin has descended in this vector,” says Tepper, who also uses artificial intelligence to predict the number of years he can take off a patient’s face by, say, performing a lip lift.

Finally, facelifts are notorious for their difficult recovery periods. David Shafer, MD, a plastic surgeon and founder of Shafer Clinic Fifth Avenue in New York City, has added vitamin and NAD (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) intravenous therapies to his pre- and post-op facelift protocols to help speed recovery. The two-hour NAD IV drips are given two days before surgery to promote cellular activity and energy, and the vitamin drip is given right after the procedure and sometimes again seven days later (at $300 a pop). “Our patients come back in a week, and we’ve noticed that their incisions look much better,” says Shafer.

He adds: “The pandemic was terrible for plastic surgery. It closed us down for six months, but then there was the whole Zoom phenomenon. Now, people can work remotely, get procedures done and recovery is faster. Two days later they’re working from home.”

And maybe eight weeks later, they’ll throw a holiday party.

heidi-libera-artful-living-fall-2024.pdf 1 8/9/24 11:10 AM

With luscious colors and bold brushstrokes, Heidi’s paintings are an invitation to the world’s most beautiful places –Lake Minnetonka, the Gulf Coast, the Caribbean, and the Côte d’Azur.

.COM

North

Notables

The region’s best and brightest.

BY KATIE DOHMAN

Cristen Incitti

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY

They say there is a silver lining to every storm cloud. And for Cristen Incitti, president and CEO of Habitat for Humanity Minnesota, Hurricane Katrina was no exception.

In 2005, Incitti was working in student affairs at Ohio State University when the Category 5 hurricane ripped through New Orleans and the surrounding area, killing almost 1,400 people and causing $186 billion in damages. Partnering with Habitat for Humanity to quickly coordinate a trip to Slidell, Louisiana, Incitti played an instrumental role in the cleanup efforts — and, perhaps more importantly, found her life’s calling in the midst of this calamity.

“I learned a lot about the impact of housing on communities,” she says. Afterward, she moved to Minnesota and began working with families through the Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity homeownership program. “I got to know the process and what folks were experiencing in attempting to secure affordable housing and achieve the American Dream.”

In early 2020, Incitti became CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Minnesota. The organization supports the 24 local Habitat affiliate offices with training, lending and grant programs. Its efforts focus on closing the racial homeownership gap in Minnesota — one of the largest such gaps nationwide — with innovative public policy and advocacy work, affordable mortgage programs, low-cost construction, financing and down payment assistance resources.

So, what led them to Bridgewater Bank? “We were looking for a local banking partner that understood affordable housing and was really in tune with the dynamics of our community,” Incitti says. “Bridgewater’s mission, goals and values were directly aligned with ours.”

Another bonus: Admittance into Bridgewater’s robust women’s network, which provided Incitti with an immediate, built-in community of female leaders. Through its programming, she is able to share crucial information about organizational leadership and help close funding gaps for women leaders. It also affords her insight into closing the poverty gap for Habitat clients. “Homeownership can help break the cycle of generational poverty,” she says.

Incitti’s journey underscores the transformative power of housing. “This work is about more than building homes; it’s about building communities and empowering individuals to achieve lasting stability and success. We must continue working together to create a world where every family has a safe, stable and affordable place to call home,” she says.

Kate Sidoti BRIM

Brim is the sort of neighborhood cafe that feels like visiting an old friend’s front porch. That’s not by accident, but rather by design of head chef and owner Kate Sidoti. A comfortable, fast-casual dining concept, her 7-year-old “intentional health cafe” right off Bde Maka Ska serves up lemonade and coffee alongside sandwiches and bowls packed full of nutrient-dense, locally sourced and gluten-free ingredients. “The name Brim is meant to evoke a feeling of fullness and abundance. It's like being filled to the brim with all the good things,” she says.

Sidoti earned her healthy cooking stripes at a young age: As a teen with a gluten allergy, she developed a brownie recipe she and her friends could enjoy. Later, she trained at the Natural Gourmet Institute for Health and Culinary Arts in New York. When a call came from Park City, Utah, to be the private chef for a family healing from health issues, Sidoti leaped at the opportunity. There, she developed a robust recipe Rolodex — and as an added accolade, found herself cooking eggs for Elon Musk and cookies for Robert Redford during the Sundance Film Festival.

When she fell in love with her husband, Patrick, she decided to move to Minnesota to widen her influence. Her community-driven cafe prioritizes a healthy work environment and deeply vetted sourcing. “Brim is a landing zone for communities to meet and showcase what they grow,” she says, citing Larry Schultz’s vaunted Owatonna chicken farm. The eighty-something Schultz takes orders via the phone, and his brother delivers them to Brim’s doorstep. Summer veggies come from Strongheart Farms of the St. Croix River Valley, where Brim has a half-acre earmarked. The eatery’s booth at the Minnesota State Fair uses 125 gallons of locally made blueberry jam using blueberries from Little Hill Berry Farm in Northfield.

Though the concept is fast casual, Sidoti says nothing about the prep is: For example, beef is braised for 18 hours before being delivered tableside in the popular pulled-beef sandwiches and chimichurri bowls. “We pride ourselves on being incredibly fresh from source to bowl,” she says.

• We have established long-term relationships with Minnesota growers to bring you the freshest, bestquality produce in every season.

• Whenever we can, we choose Minnesota Grown in order to bring you foods that are fresher by miles.

• Since 1983, we’ve partnered with hundreds of local producers to give their products a chance.

• Many of the Twin Cities’ best food success stories started in Kowalski’s Markets.

PUBLISHER'S TAKE

I’M PREPARING FOR MY BABY BOY’S ARRIVAL THIS FALL, PRIORITIZING comfort. As a second-time mom well versed in the postpartum realities, I’m stocking my nest with plenty of creature comforts to cover every eventuality during newborn snuggles.

Feeling pulled together in late pregnancy and early postpartum is no easy feat. I love Le Bon Shoppe’s basics for effortless comfort and style. Their French terry Balloon Pants, cashmere socks and perfectly tailored tees will be my cozy uniform. Every piece I own by Le Bon Shoppe is simple, versatile and chic.

Blacksaw is my new favorite blanket brand. Its heirloom quality, sustainably crafted blankets are made from premium, responsibly sourced alpaca wool, undyed Peruvian cotton, and recycled factory off-cuts. The Kimura collection, which translates to “tree village,” is inspired by the peacefulness of Canadian forests. Founders Stephanie and Kyle Taylor instill a sense of calm with gorgeous earth tones throughout the collection — elegant, timeless and soft to snuggle up with, baby in arms.

Undo Hairware has changed how I think about hair accessories. These highquality recyclable resin claw clips, u-pins and elegant barrettes are ethically handmade in Italy and unmatched in quality. Sisters and co-founders Ryan and Alex created a line that blends minimalist and maximalist aesthetics and is made to last. I can’t recommend these more highly for long hair and a carefree hair routine. I always keep my No. 4 clips in my purse to twist my hair up and out of the way. Locally available at Parc Boutique.

Margaret de Heinrich de Omorovicza, co-founder of Omorovicza and mother of four, knows a thing or two about self-care during pregnancy and postpartum. Her husband, Stephan, formulated their Firming Body Oil while she was pregnant with their first child. “The oil is incredible, rich in vitamin E, sweet almond oil, sage, rose and geranium,” says de Heinrich de Omorovicza. “The scent is divine, and the results speak for themselves.” I’ve used it throughout my pregnancy for a luxurious body care ritual I plan to continue. Omorovicza also recommends the Queen of Hungary Mist. “I always give it to friends who are pregnant (or even just had a child). It is incredibly innovative — delivering a patented, clinically proven elixir of 26 minerals that restore skin’s health. It is also a joy to help refresh and rejuvenate — with distillates of orange blossom, rose and sage.” A little luxury for refreshing after sleepless nights.

My very best,

Emma Cutler Velez Publisher

LAST CALL

Take a trip down memory lane with style icon Diane Keaton as she revisits some of her most unforgettable fashion moments in her new book, Fashion First (Rizzoli). “We shared a sensibility, but she had a style that was all her own,” says her friend and frequent style collaborator Ralph Lauren in the foreword. The book, which is organized like a photo album with charming handwritten captions, includes photos of Keaton as a young actress sporting her mother’s homemade outfits, iconic 1970s looks from her Annie Hall era, red carpet moments, glossy editorials, street-style shots and candid selfies from the 1980s on. In her signature self-deprecating voice, Keaton hilariously recounts everything from her greatest hits to her most memorable fashion faux pas. “I think all firstborn children can relate to the idea that because you are your parent’s first child you are essentially your parent’s first doll,” she writes in a caption accompanying photos of her as a young child. “There is no better proof than when my mom gave me a perm at three.” As Keaton proves throughout the book, there is nothing more stylish than a great sense of humor.

Artful Living Magazine | Autumn 2024

RISE TO EVERY OCCASION

ADVENTURE, REIMAGINED

OUTDOOR LUXURY

THE LUXURY OF LAND

Architectural Wonders Brought

Introducing NorthStar Home Technologies Design Studio

HENRI

INTERIORS

Laundry that won’t clean you out

THE STYLE ISSUE

life. at your summit.

CONTENTS

CULTURE

STYLE

COMPASS

CONTENTS

HOME

ADVENTURE

INTEL

EDITOR'S LETTER

EXCEPTIONAL DESIGN EXCEPTIONAL EXPERIENCE

CONTRIBUTORS

Tatiana Boncampagni

David Coggins

Fiona Golfar

Wendy Lubovich

ON THE COVER

Our Cover Shot

About Us

Simple. Sophisticated. Modern. Historical.

CULTURE

GRAY

NEW BLACK NEW BLACK NEW BLACK NEW BLACK

CULTURE FASHION

BIDDING WAR

CULTURE AT AUCTION

STYLE

THE REALIST’S GUIDE TO

FALL FASHION

THE GIANT SCARF

THE SKINNY JEAN

POP OF RED

PLATFORM LOAFERS

THE MAROON LIP

LEOPARD-PRINT EVERYTHING

legends of the fall

How to wear five easy, autumn trends.

Minnesota Chic

Return of the Tie

Grandpa Style

The Long Overcoat

THE GUIDE

COMPASS

OUT OF AFRICA

TOUR

The Artful Living city guide to Milan.

STAY

PORTRAIT MILANO

DINE

LANGOSTERIA

BOTTEGA VENETA

SHOP

FONDAZIONE PRADA

MUDEC

DINE

FOUR SEASONS HOTEL MILANO

DIVING FOR PEARLS

The Artful Dinner Party

The Guest List

The Invitations

The Scene

The Tablescape

TheBoardCheese

The Pour

The Meal The Outfit

The Exit Strategy

JACKSON STROM

the Gallery

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE