LSM LATE SUMMER 2023

Benson Martini 5 oz $85

Shoreham Double Old Fashioned 9 oz $75

Shoreham Whiskey 7 oz $75

Hartland Flute Pair 6 oz $170

Ascutney Highball 12 oz $75

Ascutney Double Old Fashioned 10 oz $75

Ascutney Whiskey 8 oz $75

Shoreham Whiskey Decanter $210 50 oz

Ascutney Pilsner 16 oz $80

Vintner Windsor Tankard 16 oz $85

Vintner Wine Decanter 80 oz $220

Marble Wine Chiller $150

Engraved Fern Pitcher 60 oz $250

Engraved Fern Bowl 6¼″ x 8⅜″ $235

Vintner White Wine 12 oz $85

Vintner Red Wine 18 oz $85

GALLERIA

companionship or association with one’s fellows: a group of people involved in persistent social interaction, or a large social group sharing the same geographical or social territory

Styling by Emily Hjelm INTERIORS

Styling by Emily Hjelm INTERIORS & WARDROBE

In collaboration with Sala Architects

Every home has a story.

Designer: Lisa Pope, CKBD | Photography: Spacecrafting

From the Publisher

Welcome to the 2023 Late Summer Issue! There is still lots of summer left to enjoy, and we at LSM are savoring every moment of it, from backyard entertaining to a cooling dip in the pool.

We would like to introduce and welcome Richard Merchán as our newest LSM contributing editor. His editorial series “Imagination Style” will explore the mind and art of an artist, with an immersion into his take on color, composition, and artistic style.

Meet Emily Hjelm from Weft & Warp in “Emily in Minneapolis.” She invites you into a lively East Isles renovation combining the vibrant colors of Miami and the glamour of the Los Angeles fashion scene.

In “Andrew on Design,” Andrew Flesher explains how to select and maintain outdoor furniture. Quality pieces can last years with proper maintenance. Each material can be restored and protected with the right know-how.

A neighborhood Kenilworth home is on display in “Summer Breeze.” See how Purcell Remodeling and Renovation helped one family reimagine their home adding drama and sophistication.

In this edition of “The Tastemaker Diaries,” Andrea Dixon and Jen Ziemer of Fiddlehead Design Group present a curated collection of summer essentials. Complete your casual summer look with a pair of LOEWE sneakers and a KILOMETRE PARIS bucket bag.

Walk inside a restored Tudor home in “Family Friend.” What started with constructing a historic garage turned into a friendship with architect Peter Crain of Trestle Homes as he helped these expats lovingly restore their new home.

In “Design Chronicles,” Sandy LaMendola, ASID, shares her formula for interior design, reminding us to surround ourselves with things we love and to experiment and repurpose what we already have.

“Nature Dance” explores a Saint Croix retreat that perfectly espouses the inside with the outside with Christine Frisk of InUnison Design. A careful selection of natural woods, stone, glass, and colors found in the landscape brings the outdoors in.

Carter Averbeck offers some exciting ideas for an earthfriendly backyard in “Sustainability Chic.” Even professional designers turn to a team of experts when working on their own homes. Jen Ziemer opens up about her backyard makeover in “Design at Home.”

With a heavy heart and great sadness, the LSM family says goodbye to our long-time friend and colleague, Bruce Birkeland. His love for Minneapolis real estate, passion for the community, and loyalty to family and friends will be greatly missed.

We hope you enjoy the Late Summer Issue of LSM. Thank you for your continuing readership.

LATE SUMMER 2023

ON THE COVER A

Lakesocietymagazine.com Lakesocietymagazine@gmail.com

@lsm_magazine

PUBLISHER

KAREN T. STOECKEL

GRAPHIC DESIGN

SHEBA CONCEPT & DESIGN, INC.

ART DIRECTION

KAREN T. STOECKEL

SOCIAL MEDIA

PATTY BURLEY

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

RICHARD MERCHÁN

ELLEN OLSON

ANDREW FLESHER

NANCY MONROE

CARTER AVERBECK

ANDRÉA DIXON

JEN ZIEMER

SANDY LAMENDOLA

ANDREW J. RAMIREZ

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

SPACECRAFTING

MIKE MCCAW

JOHN BEDELL PHOTOGRAPHY

SCOTT AMUNDSON

Builder: Dovetail Interiors: Brooke Voss Landscape: Savanna Designs

Photo: Scott Amundson

24 A LETTER FROM the publisher.

30 IMAGINATION STYLE

In the artist’s studio: behind the scenes with Richard Merchán.

32 EMILY IN PARIS

Inspired by her client’s fearless style, Emily Hjelm infuses a 1909 home with a vibe that’s equal parts L.A. and Miami with a frisson of Paris

38 ANDREW ON DESIGN

Protect your investment in outdoor furniture by taking time to clean and store it properly before winter rolls around.

40 SUMMER BREEZE

A Kenilworth home was refreshed for ease of living by Purcell Remodeling & Renovation and Martin Patrick3.

48 THE TASTEMAKER DIARIES

Andrea Dixon and Jen Ziemer share their picks for savoring summer in style.

50 FAMILY FRIEND

When an expat couple hired Peter Crain of Trestle Homes to build a garage for their historic home, it was the start of a fruitful collaboration.

ENTS

LATE SUMMER 2023

60 DESIGN CHRONICLES

Sandy Mendola gives a life lesson on her formula for design.

62 NATURE DANCE

When every detail is carefully considered, the result is a home at one with its setting and its family.

70 DESIGN AT HOME

Even stellar designers collaborate with experts when it comes to their own home.

74 SUSTAINABLY CHIC

Carter Averbeck inspires us to continue to design our outdoor spaces during the ‘Dog Days of Summer.’

IMAGINATION

Style

In the artist’s studio behind the scenes.

“A lazy summer afternoon presents the perfect stage for a colorful canvas. Marisol, my friend from Bilbao, Spain, reclines in a boldly designed linen dress surrounded by fabrics, a fruit bowl, and the neighborhood cat. A gentle breeze comforts her sunburn as it blows through the open shutters of her room.”

That’s pretty much how most of my compositions begin. My imagination launches into a fictional narrative that plays for several hours before I make my way back to reality, and where I stay from the first canvas stroke to the last. I always encourage viewers to write their own plot: Was Marisol at the beach? Is she in that room alone? Is she upset?

In this painting, I used cerulean blue shadows to define Marisol’s space on the bed...or maybe that’s a chaise lounge? The olive green on the wall contaminates the blue. My habit is to add unusual colors across the canvas even if it’s not expected, because it makes the composition more dynamic. This also invites the viewer’s eyes to wander all around the painting, trying to figure out why I used a bold color to represent something unexpected. And practically speaking, once the brush is loaded with paint, it’s impossible for me to put it down without adding a dab here or a dab there. Perhaps I am influenced by the Fauvist movement and the turn of the century European artists characterized for using bold colors, textured brushwork, and the non-naturalistic depictions.

The summer themes I love to paint always call out for coastal vistas, bathers, reclining poses, gardens, and dramatic sunsets. As summer in Minnesota winds down, people scramble to soak up every last bit of it – the sun, outdoor dining, boating, and drives to the country. As for Marisol, I don’t know her. I imagined and then found her image when searching for “reclining woman wearing a colorful dress” — and viola! The rest is history.

Richard Merchán is a painter and sculptor creating in Minnesota and California. Learn more @ richardmerchan.com

Merchán is represented by Hollie Blanchard hollie@artgirlsmpls.com 612.834.6565

Emily MINNEAPOLIS in

written by melinda nelson,

photography by spacecrafting

LIFESTYLE

Inspired by her client’s fearless style, Emily Hjelm infuses a 1909 home with a vibe that’s equal parts L.A. and Miami with a frisson of Paris.

IIn a world of fast fashion, same-day delivery and instant gratification, Anne Rucker, owner of Bogarts Doughnut Co., prefers to take her time. Instead of buying off-the-shelf doughnut mixes, Anne makes her own bespoke brioche dough, letting it rise for 18 hours until the texture is perfectly tender. She slowly browns the butter for her ethereal brown butter-glazed doughnuts, stirring gently until it turns fragrant and nutty. One-by-one, she dips her vanilla bean cake doughnuts into a bowl of sprinkles, a riot of happy colors adorning the homemade frosting.

So, when Anne and her husband bought a 1909 home in the East Isles neighborhood, their first task was to hire a crew of experts to carefully lift the four-story house and re-settle it on its foundation. While the process was challenging, it re-aligned the wonky wooden floors and set the stage for Anne’s friend, interior designer Emily Hjelm, to work her signature magic.

Like Anne, Emily is a mom of three kids. She and her family also live in the neighborhood, so she understands the joys and challenges of renovating historic homes. Before Emily started Weft and Warp, her interior design business, she was the director of development at the Basilica of Saint Mary in Minneapolis, which was built around the same time as the Ruckers’ home.

“The Basilica provided me a deep appreciation for grand art and architecture, and what it takes to restore them and keep them in good care,” Emily says. “It also ignited my passion for renovating older houses. Working with my clients over time to reimagine these interesting spaces brings me so much joy and gratitude.”

“For me, interior design is so much more than picking out furniture or wallpaper,” Emily continues. “It’s about bringing together a look which translates to a feeling.” Taking inspiration from Anne’s love of fashion and favorite destinations, Emily designed a look that’s equal parts L.A. and Miami with a frisson of Paris. When she presented her plans for the living room to Anne, which included a vintage chandelier, a kicky pink-and-ivory geometric rug, a pair of vintage Lucite coffee tables, a vintage Picasso exhibition poster and a glamorous green banana leaf fabric inspired by the iconic Beverly Hills Hotel in L.A., Anne cried tears of joy. “Anne and I have a symbiotic connection when it comes to selecting fabrics, furnishings, and vintage pieces,” Emily says. “She’s fearless and confident in what she likes, so she doesn’t overthink her design decisions.”

“Anne approaches design in the same way she created Bogarts Doughnuts. She’s passionate about quality, so she doesn’t chase sugary trends. In similar fashion, our plans for the house center around what speaks to her and her family, not what anybody else might think. A vintage sofa upholstered in bright green banana leaves with bright pink pillows isn’t going to speak to everyone, but that’s the point!”

ANDREW DESIGN on

Protect your investment in outdoor furniture by taking time to clean and store it properly before winter rolls around.

photography by john bedell photography

DESIGN

OOutdoor furniture can be a significant investment, but when cared for properly, it can last for many years. The following materials do best in Minnesota’s harsh climate: teak, synthetic wicker or mesh, and wrought iron.

Teak is a dense and durable wood with a very tight grain. Even after it’s weathered and turned grey, light sanding and a coat of tung or linseed oil can bring it back to its original look. Before you put it away for the winter, it should be cleaned with vinegar and water, which kills any mold that may have taken root during the summer.

Synthetic, all-weather wickers are a popular choice because they are very durable and come in a wide variety of colors. They’re best removed from the winter elements as the material can become brittle and crack under the weight of heavy snow or ice. I often use all-weather wicker furniture in more protected areas like a porch or pool house.

Contemporary outdoor furniture designs feature pliable, but strong, mesh fabrics over a metal frame. They’re comfortable and cool, and water goes right through them. They are easy to wipe down and keep clean, even when pollen and dust are present. Plus, you don’t have to run around and gather cushions at the first sign of rain!

Wrought iron is a classic choice that’ll last for years. Get out your wire brush and sandpaper at the first sign of rust. Rust spreads quickly and can cause more significant problems down the road. Once the surface is prepared properly, paint it. Spray paint is an excellent way to easily get into all the cracks and crevices. It’s best to apply several light coats for excellent coverage. Use beeswax as the final finish to add protection after the paint is completely dry.

If your outdoor furniture requires cushions, ensure the fabric is outdoor-rated, fade-resistant, and solution-dyed. Covers made from acrylic, polyester, or polypropylene provide superior performance at a great value. Stains can be cleaned with a solution of bleach and water, but always test first to ensure that the fabric is colorfast. Some fabrics can go right into the washer and come out like brand new. Air dry the slipcovers, as putting them in the dryer will cause them to shrink. I like to stick with neutral colors and use pillows as accents, which can be changed each season. Before putting your furniture away for the winter, ensure it’s clean and dry. I recommend that clients purchase the covers when they purchase their outdoor furniture, which avoids the inevitable “out of stock” at the end of the season. Yes, they are expensive, but they’re a worthwhile investment. I’ve also had my local upholstery workrooms make covers for odd-shaped or unique pieces. For a consistent and clean look, have the covers made from the same material and incorporate tie-downs so they won’t lift off and blow away.

Getting your furniture out of the elements is the best option for long life. Consider renting a small storage locker for six months if your garage or backyard shed is full. Store your furniture properly to protect your investment for many years to come.

Andrew Flesher Interiors is an award-winning design firm with offices in Minneapolis and New York. A portfolio of his work is available at andrewflesher.com.

A Kenilworth home was refreshed for ease of living.

written by andrew j. ramirez, photography by spacecrafting

BreezeSUMMER

“ The sun porch is a quiet retreat off the main living spaces.”

–TIM PURCELL, PURCELL | REMODELING & RENOVATION

project credits:

· construction/builder: purcell | remodeling & renovation

· interior design: martinpatrick3

AAnyone who has lived in a home for a considerable length of time can relate to the desire to want to change things up. These homeowners wanted to re-style their home to better suit their tastes and how they lived in the home. They turned to the trendy North Loop interior design firm MartinPatrick3, who is known for edgy design that bring sophistication and drama to spaces.

Purcell | Remodeling & Renovation was selected for its ability to manage complicated renovation projects with many facets. “We work well with interior designers and architects,” Tim Purcell explained.

The kitchen was well-designed and had good cabinetry that was in great shape. A fresh coat of enamel paint and new hardware made the cabinets look new. The island was enameled the same color as the family room entertainment center for cohesiveness. A new butcher block countertop completes the space.

The family room just opposite the kitchen features handsome traditional enameled crown moldings and paneled doors. A new custom entertainment center was designed to artfully frame the television. A splash of green that matches the island in the kitchen adds rich complexity to the space.

“The sun porch is a quiet retreat off the main living spaces,” Tim said. Its commanding views of Kenilworth make it a tranquil retreat from the busyness of the main house. A jungle print daybed and a pink moose head add to the playfulness of the space. This room was freshened with new paint, furniture, and rugs. The fireplace makes this a cozy space in the winter.

With the basement, new spaces were what the client really wanted. Creative repurposing of existing space was necessary since no additional square footage was added during the renovation.

Fabulous natural dyed carpets in a rainbow herringbone pattern lead into the reimagined basement living space. Any interior designer knows how challenging it can be to work with basements. They are often dark spaces with low ceilings. This project was no exception.

The client wanted a family-centric space. The basement was washed in crisp white paint to lighten and brighten the room. Chic bright pops of colors were added for visual interest. Durable fabrics and carpeting that look great after day-in and day-out use were selected. Sleek high-gloss enamel bookcases and cabinetry wrapped the new family room.

Versatile and practical LVT flooring in a white oak pattern was selected for the basement. Its moisture resistance, low maintenance, and excellent wearability make it an ideal flooring choice for a basement where children play.

The project had its challenges. Many of the plumbing and light fixtures had long lead times. Anything not fabricated by hand had lead times of up to thirteen weeks. Good renovation takes time. Patience was one of the most essential skills for this project.

Distinct yet cohesive living spaces were achieved through thoughtful and intentional design. They were brought to life through well-organized project management with skilled craftsmen.

Whether you are planning an end of summer vacation or enjoying a staycation right here in MN, Andrea Dixon and Jen Ziemer share their picks for savoring summer in style.

VINTAGE GLASS PENDANTS guildmanor.com

PALMITAS WALLCOVERING schumacher.com

RAFFIA PAGODA LANTERN AND VASE mrsalice.com

RATTAN BAR CART Maisonette.com

LAYLINE EXCELSIOR laylinerestaurant.com

FamilyFRIEND

When an expat couple hired Peter Crain to build a garage for their historic home, it was the start of a fruitful collaboration.

written by melinda nelson, photography by spacecrafting

“... as soon as we saw the dining room, with its gorgeous oak cabinetry and paneling, we said, ‘ This is it.’”

AAfter living in Antwerp for a dozen years, a couple decided to return to Minnesota to be close to family. Bidding adieu to Belgium was bittersweet, since they knew they’d never live in a charming European house again. But they were looking forward to having a spacious home with an attached garage, an eat-in kitchen, bedrooms with walk-in closets for themselves and their two young adult children, a fitness room and other American-style conveniences.

Their Realtor told them about a foreclosed home in Lowry Hill, and even though it had been built in 1906 and the price was beyond their budget, they decided to pay a visit. “It was an imposing, three-story brick house, but it looked very grumpy, with dozens of broken diamond-paned windows and a decrepit shed for a garage,” the homeowner says. “We walked through the wooden gate, which was falling off the hinges, into a long, narrow, barren yard. The kitchen was little more than a hole, but as soon as we saw the dining room, with its gorgeous oak cabinetry and paneling, we said, ‘This is it.’”

As the couple learned, the home was designed by Harry Wild Jones, an MIT-trained architect who came from Boston to Minneapolis in 1883. Jones, who was known for his “artist’s eye and engineer’s intellect,” designed homes for many notable Minnesotans including T.B. Walker, founder of the Walker Art Center, as well as the enchanting Byzantine chapel at Lakewood Cemetery, the whimsical picnic pavilion at Beard’s Plaisance overlooking Lake Harriet, and other charming buildings.

The first order of business was a new garage. The couple met with TEA2 Architects at their Linden Hills studio and requested a garage that looked like a sister to the house.

“The way TEA2 approaches a project is amazing,” the homeowner recalls. “The architects spent several hours at the house, taking photos and studying the way the eave joists pop out of the roof and other details, and their initial drawing was perfect.” The TEA2 team recommended several builders for the project, including Peter Crain of Trestle Homes.

The couple was immediately impressed with Peter, since he was the only builder who brought his artisans to the house. “Peter is very thoughtful and a great listener,” the homeowner says. “We felt really good about him, so we hired him on the spot.” As the couple quickly discovered, construction is only one of Peter’s many talents. He’s a sculptor and a former art and theater teacher. He studied education and architecture at the University of Minnesota, where Harry Wild Jones was the first formally trained architecture professor. And, like Jones, Peter brings artistry and engineering expertise to every project.

“No sooner had Peter finished the garage, we said, “Let’s talk about the basement,” the homeowner recalls. A master gardener and former New York photo stylist and location scout, she’d created a book of magazine tear sheets for every room in the house and the garden. She showed Peter her ideas and over the next several months, Peter transformed the damp, dungeon-like space into an atelier for the couple’s many interests, including woodworking, upholstery, growing seedlings, arranging flowers and beekeeping. He carefully removed the collection of old boilers and replaced them with a new, high efficiency system and lined the porous walls with an innovative vapor barrier. In one of many Herculean tasks, Peter wrestled the original, 200-pound soapstone sink from the laundry room and repurposed it as a flower sink in the plant room.

The homeowner had studied upholstery in Cornwall, England, so her kitchen book was filled with images of classic English kitchens and sculleries. She chose a gentle Farrow & Ball color for the walls and cabinetry and Peter brought in Greg Koivisto of GK Cabinetry, interior designer Christine Frisk of InUnison Design and Mark Gunderson of Gunderson Tile and Stone to help create a jewel box of a kitchen with a center island for casual meals.

While Peter and his team were renovating the interiors, the couple and their dog Ingo were hard at work outside, turning the drab yard into a London-style walled garden with flowers, vegetables, blackcurrants, raspberries, a cherry tree and a carpet of bee-friendly grass. When they ordered a greenhouse from England, Peter swung into action. He designed and engineered the foundation and called Jim Motzco and Bruce Husby of Stone Creek Masonry to help build it. Late last winter, when the garden was still covered in drifts of snow, the homeowner was in the warm, sunny greenhouse, nurturing fruit and vegetable seedlings to share with a northside community garden.

“We love this house with all our hearts,” the homeowner says. “We feel like it chose us to be its stewards and caretakers, and then brought Peter to our doorstep to be our creative collaborator, technical consultant and lifelong friend of our family.”

HOME project credits:

· builder: trestle homes

· architect (garage): tea2

· interior designer: inunison design

REPURPOSED OTTOMAN

The table layered over an ottoman enhances the utility of the furnishing while lending continuity to the space.

UNABASHED COLOR

“Color makes life worth living,” said the client. Its energy also makes a room that much more inviting.

CURATED ART

The clients are serious collectors and the room honors the passion that drives them.

CUSTOM DAYBED

Turning the idea of a “formal living room” on its ear, the daybed both anchors the room and gives license to relax in it.

MID-TONE TEXTILE

The restraint evident in this upholstery choice balances the deeper colors of the screen porch furnishings and the new custom daybed.

REAL PLANTS

Their natural color, aroma, and texture bring a room to life.

DESIGN CHRONICLES

By Sandy LaMendola, ASID

Life Lessons

The mission of an interior designer is to create environments that facilitate, celebrate and enrich our clients’ life journeys. To do that, we embark on a voyage of our own – one of discovery, understanding and creation. Design Chronicles invites you along for the ride.

OOccasionally I’m asked if I have anything akin to a formula for design. The answer is no. That’s because the uniqueness of each client – not to mention the unique requirements of their spaces –demands a blank-slate approach to every project.

But over the course of a career, I have learned certain lessons that not only lay the foundation for great results, they speed our way there.

– Engage in the whole home. Make each space a unique destination for activity, relaxation, or simply making memories. You’ll find that the distinctiveness of one environment lends character to all the others.

– Surround yourself with things you love. Forget about what matches or clashes. Be guided by your passions and your room will come alive.

– Experiment! This opens the door to discovery and fuels a sense of exhilaration at having gone beyond the tired or easy.

– Carefully edit. Give prominence to what you love most. I promise you won’t miss those second-tier items. And if you have more treasures than space, consider rotating seasonally.

– Use what you have. Recycle, refinish, reupholster. Giving older pieces new life provides is a pleasure in and of itself.

And one final lesson: Have fun! The freer your spirit, the further this journey of discovery will take you.

Twist Interior Design | Minneapolis | twistinterior.com

Residential Design: Charlie&Co Design. Contractor: L.Cramer Designers & Builders

Photographer: Gaffer Photography. Stylist: Heather Neurer

DanceNATURE

When every detail is carefully considered, the result is a home at one with its setting and its family.

written by nancy monroe,

photography

by Scott Amundson

“We were methodical in how we put everything together, but the result is rich and warm, evoking a peaceful ambiance.”

–CHRISTINE FRISK, ASID PRINCIPAL AND FOUNDER OF INUNISON DESIGN

OOnce you’re inside, it’s no stretch of the imagination to believe you actually might still be outside. The house is that much in tune with its setting. Sitting high above the St. Croix River, the long, low-slung house was designed to feel like it’s one with the landscape. When the homeowners open their eyes in the morning and look out the window, “it’s like you’re in a tree house,” said Christine Frisk, ASID principal and founder of InUnison Design.

For the project, Christine and Bryan Anderson, principal with SALA Architects, formed a collaborative partnership. “One of our goals is to continue to build on the architect’s story,” she said of the design process which plays to both parties’ strengths. Christine and designer Jessica Tschida worked closely on the finishes, as well as the furniture, from lighting to stain colors for floors and cabinets to the countertops.

The homeowners purchased the property years before breaking ground. Rather than rushing to build, they wanted to get everything just right. “There are thousands of decisions to be made when building a house,” Christine said, adding her clients were dialed in on material choices from the hardware on cabinets to the custom, handmade tile in the kitchen.

“It was a constant dance between wood, stone and glass,” she said.

And the dance deserves an ovation. The lines are clean and crisp; the color palette is neutral. White oak trims the floor-to-ceiling windows; and the elevated ceiling in the living room allows for clerestory windows. The natural stone wall in the dining room serves as the lower level fireplace chase. “We were methodical in how we put everything together, but the result is rich and warm, evoking a peaceful ambiance,” she said.

Modern oak cabinets and natural oak floors provide harmony in the kitchen, with a black countertop and black metal stools delivering a pop of drama. In the dining room, a custom walnut table adds contrast, while the natural stone brings in texture and a hint of the great outdoors just beyond the windows.

The dwelling is a family home first, one that can adapt as family members depart and come back together. The second floor houses a primary suite with a bird’s eye view of the trees, a library and deck for star gazing. The lower-level has three bedrooms, a workout space and a music room where the talented family can jam. On the main floor, a polished ebony piano sits grandly between two large paintings by one of the couple’s favorite artists, Teo Nguyen.

An equally compelling space is the entry which features unique cabinetry designed by Anderson. Along with storage and a bench for removing shoes, the design artfully breaks up the home’s length while still preserving the site lines between kitchen and living room.

Just as there’s harmony in nature, the collaboration between architect, interior designer and client ensures a home is in sync with the family’s lifestyle and aesthetics now and into the future.

“One of our goals is to continue to build on the architect’s story; which becomes a process playing to both parties’ strengths.”

–CHRISTINE FRISK, ASID PRINCIPAL AND FOUNDER OF INUNISON DESIGN

project credits:

· architect: bryan anderson, aia principal, sala architects

· interior design: christine frisk, asid principal and founder, inunison design

Designat HOME

project credits:

· designer: jen ziemer, principal and co-owner, fiddlehead design group

· landscape designer: heather sweeney, mom’s design build

JJen Ziemer of Fiddlehead Design Group is a devotee of the more-is-more motif when it comes to design. Inside her stately brick home on Summit Avenue in St. Paul carefully layered patterns and color provide interest and vibrancy to each artfully constructed room. But outside in her surprisingly large city lot, she wanted a calm setting with expanses of green grass and lush landscaping, sectioned off into “rooms,” each with its own purpose.

But that doesn’t mean she didn’t get her holy trinity of “texture, pattern and layers.”

Jen collaborated with Heather Sweeney of Mom’s Design Build when she and her husband, Tim Ziemer, decided it was time for the landscaping to grow with the family. About to become empty-nesters, the Ziemers decided to sell their weekend cabin and invest in making their backyard both a park-like retreat for the family and an elegant, welcoming spot for entertaining neighbors and friends.

Jen was introduced to Heather’s work at the American Society of Interior Designers’ showcase home. While both are notable designers, their expertise is in different wheelhouses. As an interior designer, Jen chose the furniture and textiles, while Heather took on the task of designing a private park with a gently curving retaining wall around a mammoth tree, oversized pots with a variety of plants, such as Bird of Paradise, and fledging trees and shrubs, all while blending the new with the old. Plus, she created those separate spaces or “rooms” for activities ranging from lawn games to dining to intimate conversations. “Gardening isn’t a passion of mine,” Jen admits, so everything is low maintenance, such as self-watering pots.

Designing your own home is different than working for a client, Jen said. “It’s important to have a team of experts to collaborate with. That’s when the magic happens.”

The yard is on two levels. The upper terrace’s anchor is a free-standing brick fireplace, which is double sided: One side faces the perfect spot for the couple’s morning coffee, with the opposite side ideal for sipping wine after a busy day.

Below is a sparkling azure “sports pool” which in this setting is more of a “cocktail pool,” providing the perfect backdrop for summer parties. A weathered pergola, mirroring an original structure on the terrace, supports a hanging basket chair large enough for an arrangement of multiple pillows and a grown man to take a nap in.

The lack of a deep end is a plus for Jen who is looking ahead to the day future grandbabies will be visiting. She readily admits she likes gazing at the pool more than being in it. Having a pool in the city is unique, Heather said, but pools are back as desired amenities by homebuyers.

Not that the Ziemers are planning to sell. They have 10 years invested in the home with a new lease on backyard memories.

“It’s important to have a team of experts to collaborate with. That’s when the magic happens.”

–JEN ZIEMER, FIDDLEHEAD DESIGN GROUP

SUSTAINABLY Chic

YYes, the perennial “Dog Days Of Summer” are here and if you’re a true Minnesotan, you know soon enough, a chill will invade our days, settling in like an old friend you only want to stay for a short while yet knowing they’re gonna be around for months. So enjoy the last bits of languid repose outdoors with a few sustainable projects that can make the most of our warm days left, and add to your aesthetic surroundings.

Cement planters are an easy thing to transform with simple house paint. Any graphic pattern can dress up a simple pot into a designer one in about 2 hours or less. This modern fire-pit is made from recycled metal with clean lines and an array of unusual colours rather than the typical black iron tone. Add friends, family, marshmallows and chocolate and you’ve got the makings of a smores extravaganza for the early eves.

The unconventional use of a shipping container as an in ground pool with a glass wall has been getting lots of attention from modernists who crave form and function, plus you can order one and have it delivered and set in place in one day!

These rubber coated chairs from Omforme solves the problem of finding truly unique outdoor furniture that isn’t square or made of faux wicker. Made of weather resistant coating, these chairs not only help save furniture from landfills, they become the statement piece for your patio for years to come.

So come on, enjoy the Dog Days of Summer…soak up every drop of sun that you can because winter is already making plans!

More Information: Info@omformedesign.com.

Carter Averbeck is an interior designer specializing in stylish, sustainable design. For

“In the heat of an August afternoon, Summer’s pomposity still shows her splendid greenery; of which autumn and winter are jealous! ”

–CARTER AVERBECK

The Byes Photo