LSM WINTER ISSUE 2023

JULISKA & VERONICA BEARD

Come see our extensive collection of Juliska, including the new Veronica Beard collaboration.

Jardins Du Monde Pitcher $115.

Jardins Du Monde Miniature Vase Trio $175.

Jardins Du Monde 3 Piece Cream & Sugar Set $150.

BohemianVine Dinner Plate $58 & Salad Plate $48.

Bohemian Vine Party Plates Set of 4 $165.

Jardins Du Monde Party Plates Set of 4 $225.

Bamboo Natural Flatware 5 Piece Place Setting $215.

BohemianVine Napkins Set of 4 $135.

Jardins Du Monde 7” Planter $88.

“Love coming home again.”

–Bridget Chorigos

Your idea to create a grand getaway in a remote location?

It’s not crazy. Well, not completely crazy.

Perhaps you’ve dreamed of it: that place where family and friends gather year after year, where the stories told for generations are written.

At TEA2, we’ve created many such retreats. Our experience can make your experience better and the result, absolutely breathtaking.

From landscape and siting to managing local builders, there’s an enormous list of considerations, and we consider each one. Carefully. Like, how to integrate the outdoors in every season, or how to create entire compounds—boathouses, bunkhouses, remote offices, etc. that inspire connection and create private escapes, too. We’re here through the construction process, ensuring build quality, ensuring that every specification is met, right down to the nails used.

Most of all, we understand that a retreat is not just a high-end, custom home in a rural setting: it’s a place designed for relaxation, rich experiences and lasting memories. Let’s talk about your dream retreat. Visit us at TEA2architects.com

General contractor: Pinnacle Mountain Homes

Every home has a story.

Thinking about buying or selling in 2023?

This Stone Arch Lofts Townhome went into contract 2 days after I listed for sale on January 13th, 2023. Together, we can achieve a great result for you too!

R.F. MOELLER Jeweler

The Byes

Photo

Family

From the Publisher

Even by Minnesota standards, this winter has been exceptionally cold and snowy! We have curated a stunning selection of homes for LSM’s first ‘Destination & Getaway’ Issue. We hope that as you curl up under a warm blanket near a fireplace and read about the exquisite homes featured in this issue and that you are transported to a warm location.

Our home feature California Dreamin’ depicts a renovated Spanish Mediterranean villa where interior designer Andrew Flesher perfectly captures the essence of Old Hollywood Glamour. Read about the renovation of a Minnesota family’s Casey Key, Florida home by Hagstrom Builder and Talla Skogomo Interior in Seaside Casual.

Fiddlehead Design Group share their travel-inspired pieces they are loving this season. We welcome Sandy LaMendola from Twist Interiors to the LSM Editorial Team. In Design Chronicles she features a project for a couple who is downsizing from a larger home and coping with memory loss.

In his column Andrew on Design, Andrew Flesher explains the benefits of working with a designer that already knows you well. Carter Averbeck talks about what makes for good design while explaining the environmental benefits

planet earth. Check out the Coco Chanel inspired “little black suit” chair.

Take a step inside two vacation properties presented by Mike McGaw, owner of SpaceCrafting Photography. He invites readers into these fantastically retrofitted boutique rental homes in Naples, Florida. Anyone would enjoy these pleasant homes appointed with mid-century furniture and soothing tropical shades

High on a bluff in Pepin, Wisconsin TEA2 Architects work with their clients to design and build a contemporary farmhouse retreat with an old-world feel. They loved the property so much that they relocated permanently from Linden Hills.

In our lifestyle feature, ceramist Martha Rehkamp shares her handbuilt clay sculptures fused with natural dried flowers and foliage. Lastly in our Chef’s Kitchen column, we feature Paulette Mitchell a traveling luxury chef who has found culinary inspiration in the 128 countries that she has visited. She shares he Moroccan Chicken Tangine.

Bon Voyage!

ON THE COVER

MINNEAPOLIS PHOTOGRAPHER MIKE MCCAW IS EQUALLY AT HOME IN NAPLES. PHOTOGRAPHY BY SPACECRAFTING

PUBLISHER

KAREN T. STOECKEL

GRAPHIC DESIGN

SHEBA CONCEPT & DESIGN, INC.

ART DIRECTION

KAREN T. STOECKEL

MANAGING EDITOR

ELLEN OLSON

SOCIAL MEDIA

JACOB PIERRE LOUIS III

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

CARTER AVERBECK

ANDRÉA DIXON

JEN ZIEMER

ANDREW FLESHER

SANDY LAMENDOLA

NANCY MONROE

ANDREW J. RAMIREZ

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

ALYSSA LEE PHOTOGRAPHY

COREY GAFFER PHOTOGRAPHY

JOHN BEDELL PHOTOGRAPHY

LAUREN HULL PHOTOGRAPHY

Lakesocietymagazine.com

Lakesocietymagazine@gmail.com

@lsm_magazine

20 A LETTER FROM the publisher.

30 THE TASTEMAKER

DIARIES

The Fiddlehead ladies are at it again with their favorite picks for a stylish resort getaway.

32 HOME

A recently renovated 1926 Spanish Mediterranean villa evokes the essence of Old Hollywood glamour.

42 DESIGN CHRONICLES

We welcome our newest contributing editor, Sandy LaMendola of Twist Interior Design.

44 HOME Photographer Mike McCaw

re-imagines a matching pair of mid-century-style apartments for family, friends and like-minded renters, and his stylish Florida country house.

ENTS

56 ANDREW ON DESIGN

Accelerate the timeline for designing or remodeling a second home by working with a designer who knows you well.

58 HOME

A Florida beach home was reimagined for this family’s next chapter.

WINTER 2023

66 SUSTAINABLY CHIC

New Year, new goals, new chapter, new stories to be told. Ultimately we write the pages; make it good content.

68 HOME

High on a bluff in Pepin, Wisconsin, a getaway transforms to an every day home.

76 CHEF’S KITCHEN

Cookbook author Paulette Mitchell’s 15-minutes of culinary fame.

80 LIFESTYLE

Martha Rehkamp is a ceramicist who fuses clay with inspiration from nature.

THE TASTEMAKER Diaries

Andrea Dixon and Jen Ziemer, interior designers and co-owners of the award-winning Fiddlehead Design Group share the travel-inspired pieces they are loving this season. Bon Voyage!

Andy Warhol Suitcase | bricstore.com

Turquoise and Coral earrings Coral Ring filigreejewelers.com

Visual Comfort Chandelier rabbitcreekmn.com

Loewe Elephant Bag nordstrom.com

Johanna Ortiz Kimono johannaortiz.com

Hazzard Swimsuit ladoublej.com

Etro Woven silk and Raffia Panama Hat nordstrom.com

Shiseido Sunscreen Stick sephora.com

California DREAMIN’

A recently renovated 1926 Spanish Mediterranean villa evokes the essence of Old Hollywood glamour.

written by ellen olson, photography by lauren hull

HOME

project credits:

· architect: paul brant williger

· interior design: andrew flesher interiors

–ANDREW FLESHER, INTERIOR DESIGN

“We created a luxurious oasis just steps from the creative energy of Sunset Boulevard.”

TThe meticulous renovation of a 1926 Spanish Mediterranean villa located in West Hollywood restored the home to its Old Hollywood glamour. She’s now the star of her own show. The home felt a little tired and shabby at the onset, but the house’s bones were excellent. The homeowners wanted to respect the home’s historic architecture but create interior spaces more conducive to their modern lifestyle and passion for style and entertaining.

L.A. architect Paul Brandt Williger guided the renovations and mapped out the vision for the home’s transformation. The main floor of the house was gutted, rooms opened up, and a crawl space on the lower floor was excavated to create room for an exercise room, wine cellar, and guest suite. The back veranda was extended the entire length of the home. Interior designer Andrew Flesher had worked with the homeowners on other projects, so he was brought in to furnish and finish the interior spaces. He also consulted on the home’s exterior, patio, pool, awnings, and other distinctive elements that pulled everything together.

The home is awash in shades of white with black accents—the perfect backdrop for the homeowner’s extensive collection of art and found objects. The house reflects a mix of modern/contemporary with historical elements. Sunlight streams through windows left unadorned and uncovered, where privacy is not a concern. The home exudes a casual elegance with a laid-back L.A. vibe with a wisp of edginess. Nothing screams “look at me,”—but the house is filled with interesting and unique details.

Upon entering the home, a visitor is greeted by a sweeping curved, wrought-iron stairway and a silkscreen of Marilyn Monroe. Lighting in the foyer consists of glass orbs suspended from the ceiling above. Andrew designed the custom black-and-white carpet. “We had to template the staircase,” said Andrew. “Each piece of carpet was custom-made for each tread, as no two treads are the same. It was a tricky process.”

Behind the foyer is a bar and lounge area, a favorite gathering spot for guests. It connects to the outside terrace and is designed for entertaining. Spare, sculptural furniture invites guests to take a moment to relax. Two dishwashers, two refrigerator drawers, wine storage, and a sink round out the modern conveniences mostly hidden behind white cabinets and black marble countertops.

On the main floor, to the right of the staircase, is a living room dedicated to the homeowners’ passion: music. The furniture is modular, and custom storage was built for a continued on page 41

voluminous collection of vinyl. The cabinets are reinforced with steel, and the finest turntables and sound systems were installed to perfect the listening experience. The room is long and narrow so three seating areas were created: one for listening to music; one for enjoying the fireplace; and one for napping. Two Deco-inspired, two-tiered chandeliers from Arteriors add a soft glow to the room in the evening hours.

The walls of the rooms to the left of the staircase were removed to create an open plan for the family room, dining room, and kitchen. The homeowner’s passion for cooking required that the kitchen be of the finest quality—and that it worked for entertaining. The island was designed and manufactured by the Italian company Boffi. The material is marble, and the cooktop is built right into the island, with the burners set into the stone. The oven, refrigerator, and small appliances, along with storage, live on the back wall but can be entirely hidden by the large doors that enclose the space. “When the doors are closed, it doesn’t even look like a kitchen,” remarked Andrew.

Andrew designed the dining table, which is made of back-painted glass. The chairs are upholstered in buttery black leather. The dining space has a mid-century vibe, with the acrylic chandelier that almost disappears. “The dining chairs seem to change form as you walk around them,” said Andrew. “They’re like sculpture.” It was Andrew’s idea to place the dining room fireplace up high. “I wanted the guests to enjoy the fire while seated at the table,” he said. “It also removes the chill from the evening air during those late-night dinner parties.”

The family room and sitting area were designed with comfort in mind. The space is tight, so ottomans from Italian manufacturer Moroso replace a traditional coffee table. They are different sizes and organically shaped. They can be easily moved. A classic Eames chair and ottoman round out the area.

At the top of the stairs on the second floor is a cozy sitting area that features a Knoll Womb chair upholstered in shearling. The windows allow sunlight to stream in and bask the space in golden hues. “It’s like sitting in a Teddy Bear,” said Andrew. “It’s one big hug.”

The owner’s bedroom features two Juliette balconies that face Sunset Boulevard. The large glass doors open to let in the cool night breezes. Linen draperies add texture; their chevron pattern echoes the herringbone pattern in the wood floors. A Jean De Merry light fixture is made from wood, covered with gesso and lacquer, and then finished with gold leaf. It glows in the evening hours and, once again, adds a little Deco inspiration to the home.

The home’s exterior is awash with creamy white stucco and a terra cotta tile roof. A grand staircase was added to allow access to the back veranda from the pool and patio areas. Bold black-andwhite awnings are a classic historical touch. The pool shimmers in the golden California light and features a separate guesthouse. The lush landscape makes the home feel private and serene.

The remarkable thing about this project is that it was done during the early COVID lockdowns. “It was challenging,” said Andrew. “We literally completed the installation of the home’s furnishings via Skype and Zoom. In the end, we got it done, and my clients were ecstatic. They love their home. We created a luxurious oasis just steps from the creative energy of Sunset Boulevard.”

andrewflesher.com

Naples by Design

Photographer Mike McCaw reimagines a matching pair of mid-century-style apartments for family, friends and like-minded renters.

written by melinda nelson, photography by spacecrafting

FFor anyone who’s spent the day photographing a home or floating on a pontoon with Mike McCaw, the experience is always elevated. The gregarious and generous founder of Spacecrafting Photography, Mike brings a special brand of joie de vivre to everything he creates. If he’s shooting a home on a cloudy day, he and his team will happily come back again the next day when the light is just right. If it’s windy, they’ll pull out their leaf blowers and make sure the lawn is pristine. But, if the client wants the images to reflect the beauty of autumn in Minnesota, they’ll carefully rake the leaves until the grass is covered in a rich tapestry of burnished hues.

On a sunny summer day, a boat ride with Mike on Lake Minnetonka is as thoughtfully planned as a photo shoot. Plush striped towels match the pontoon’s all-American palette while color-coordinated Yeti coolers are stocked with California wines, craft beer, French cheeses and other delicacies from Kowalski’s in Excelsior. Even Mike’s ‘80s playlist reflects the mood, starting with Janet Jackson and Terence Trent D’Arby and ending with Sade and George Michael as the moon rises over the water.

Long before Mike started Spacecrafting, he was in the restaurant industry, an experience that honed his natural talent for hospitality. He worked for Patti Soskin, founder of Yum! Kitchen & Bakery, at Patti’s, her eponymous restaurant in Minneapolis. Mike also spent four years in New York City, working at Circa and Cafeteria before returning home and working for chef Tim McKee at Solera, a modern Spanish restaurant in the Hennepin Theatre District.

“I’m so grateful to have worked for Patti and Tim,” Mike says. “They’re amazing humans and gifted restaurateurs and they taught me so much about crafting an experience from the moment a guest walks through the door, with carefully curated sights, sounds, smells, flavors and textures. I also learned how important it is to take care of employees, vendors and clients and treat them like family.”

Spacecrafting’s family of clients includes many Twin Cities Realtors, architects, interior designers and builders who work all over the west and east coast of Florida, from Tampa, Fort Myers, Naples and Marco Island to Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Miami and the Florida Keys. When several clients mentioned that they wished Spacecrafting had a Florida outpost, Mike made it happen. Two summers ago, he and his colleagues photographed their first project near Naples. As word spread, Mike got a call from “Avatar” producer Jon Landau’s real estate agent, who hired him to shoot photos and video of Landau’s luxe, Balinese-inspired, waterfront property in Islamorada in the upper Keys. continued on page 55

“Mike gave the apartments a Palm-Springs-meets-Palm Beach -inspired facelift.”

Crafting the Good Life

continued from page 49

HOME

As demand for Spacecrafting’s services continued to grow, Mike discovered how much he loved the winter sunshine—but missed his family, which includes two dogs, Jersey, a Boxer mix, and Stevie, an English Mastiff. Last spring, Mike became an official snowbird and Naples homeowner. Jersey and Stevie love being outdoors, so he bought a freshly renovated home on three acres in central Naples, which he nicknamed the “country house” for its lush tropical surroundings.

To give his family, friends and like-minded renters a quintessential Naples beach experience, Mike also bought a matching pair of mid-century-style apartments on Vanderbilt Beach, not far from the RitzCarlton. Mike gave the interiors a Palm Springs-meets-Palm Beach-inspired facelift with new appliances, kicky furnishings and framed photos by legendary celebrity photographer Slim Aarons. Outside, Mike reimagined the swimming pool and courtyard with new landscaping, pinkand-white striped umbrellas and mint green lounge chairs—with matching beach towels, natch— for relaxing and enjoying the good life in Spacecrafting style.

Follow @ blufinonvanderbilt on Instagram.

ANDREW DESIGN on

Accelerate the timeline for designing or remodeling a second home by working with a designer who knows you well. photography by john bedell photography

DESIGN

BBuying a second home is an exciting milestone for anyone. Escaping the Minnesota winters is often a key motivator in choosing a location. When it’s time to make a vacation home your own, it is tempting to begin that process with a new, local designer near your new home. More often than not, that approach ends poorly. Working with someone who knows you and understands you can save a lot of time, money, and frustration.

Good design is about respecting the architecture of a home and creating beautiful living spaces. But the key to a successful collaboration? Understanding the people involved.

I spend a lot of time getting to know my clients. I want to know what they like, their hobbies, work, families, where they have lived, and their aspirations for their new home. It takes time, but it’s an investment that always pays off. You create shared experiences and knowledge that inform and hasten decisions.

I have been called into several situations where a local designer was selected because my client thought it would save time and money, but they didn’t “get” the client. Sometimes we can salvage what’s been done. Often we have to start over. Valuable time and money are wasted, not to mention the incredible frustration everyone involved experiences.

Working with a designer who knows you well can accelerate the process of remodeling a second home. That results in lower fees, as you do less work upfront. You avoid “false starts.” Clients worry that travel will create an unnecessary expense. Once I understand the project’s scope and we have measurements, I require limited time on site until the installation. We can use FaceTime or Zoom to facilitate many discussions.

Understanding the local culture and style ensures that a client’s home integrates into the community. And, because the light is so different in various regions of the country, my paint choices and palettes need to be tweaked. For example, the standard white paint I use in Minnesota won’t work in California.

Designers rely heavily on workrooms to execute the design, so I take time to develop local resources. Workrooms handle draperies, window coverings, custom furniture and upholstery, carpets, and wall coverings. Precise measurements are needed for these design elements so local is the only way to go. Minneapolis workrooms and showrooms help me identify potential candidates near the job site. I interview each of them until I’m satisfied they will uphold the standards I have for each installation.

A local receiver where product can be inspected and staged is another critical success factor. I need to know immediately if furniture or materials are damaged in shipping, so those things can be fixed or replaced. I can’t afford to have an inferior or damaged item show up on the day of the installation.

If you are fortunate enough to have a second home that needs some love, please consider sticking with the tried and true. It will be more efficient and will save you time and money in the long run.

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.

Casual SEASIDE

written by andrew j ramirez, photography by alyssa lee photography and troy thies

A Florida beach home was reimagined for this family’s next chapter.

“The crown jewel of the grand foyer is the nautilus seashell

stone floor medallion. This piece was custom fabricated by a local artisan and installed with surgical precision.”

HOME

JJust off the Gulf Coast of the Sunshine State lies Casey Key, a tranquil enclave known for its miles of white sand beaches, loggerhead turtles, and seashells. Minnesota natives Marica Page and John Huepenbecker have been vacationing at their oceanfront home there for nearly 10 years before embarking on a major renovation.

The stately Italianate villa featured gleaming polished marble floors, dark mahogany wood tones and gold gilded fixtures. The formality of the interiors no longer matched how the family lived in the home today. They wanted to renovate their home to suit their family’s changing needs. The children were teenaged when Marcia and John initially acquired the house. Now graduating college, they were starting families of their own.

The couple enlisted the help of Talla Skogmo, an interior designer they knew well from their work together on their family home in Minnesota. Aspirations were coastal casual spaces that were comfortable for the family that also showcased their treasured art collection.

Early in the project, Twin Cities-based Hagstrom Builder was selected as the renovation contractor for the project. The firm has been building and renovating homes of distinction in Minnesota and Wisconsin for over sixty years. In the last decade, several clients requested their services for properties in Southwest Florida. Becoming licensed in the state was key to serve as a trusted advocate, delivering projects with the same craftsmanship and attention to detail that clients appreciate.

Soaring twenty-foot double height ceilings in the living room were traded to make room for a second level family room. The new upstairs space provides a cozy venue for family to watch movies and play board games. A wraparound balcony was also added to take advantage of the picturesque sunsets.

The home’s original architect, George Merlin served as a trusted advisor on the project. He provided original architectural drawings and helped the team navigate deconstructing property. Hagstrom Builder was able to use the original project specifications to match new exterior stone masonry and ornate architectural metal railings perfectly and seamlessly throughout the property.

Well-designed and durable American made furniture was selected. These pieces will withstand years of use by the family. “Having worked on projects with the client in the past, I knew what types of furniture, colors and patterns she loved,” remarked Talla. Additional versions of her favorite Baker Furniture wingback chair were incorporated into the new furniture selections. The iconic classic was refreshed for this project with bright tropical floral fabrics that mirrored the island locale.

Well-lit gallery spaces were designed throughout the home to display the family’s art collection. Renowned artist Susan Goldsmith from Henoch Gallery in New York City was commissioned to paint a six-panel centerpiece for the living room. The coastal mangrove scene features native Great Egrets flying over the shallow waters.

The crown jewel of the grand foyer is the nautilus seashell stone floor medallion. This piece was custom fabricated by a local artisan and installed with surgical precision. All the polished limestone floors were honed to a soft matte finish emblematic of beach sands.

Pete Hagstrom explained that prioritizing collaborative communication with the client, architect and interior designer was key to the success of the project. “The spaces were now more intimate and livable,” explained Talla Skogmo. What once was an overly formal house has been transformed into a very relaxed retreat. Watching the sunset each evening into the Gulf of Mexico from the second-floor balconies as waves crash on the beach is perfect conclusion to the day. hagstrombuilder.com • tallaskogmo.com

project credits:

· interior design by talla skogmo interior design

· renovation by hagstrom builder

SUSTAINABLY Chic

“New Year, new goals, new chapter, new stories to be told. Ultimately we write the pages; make it good content.”

–Carter Averbeck

TTime to shake things up, to create a twist in the content of Sustainably Chic. Writing about sustainable goods has been great fun, but it’s time to dig a little deeper, get to the heart of what makes for good design while protecting planet earth.

Let’s start off with one of the easiest ways to bring in the good stuff while keeping your carbon footprint low: Transforming Furniture. Nowhere else will the perceived value elevate than with a furniture item that gets some love. It could be new paint, stain or upholstery, as in the case of these chairs from Grosfeld House circa 1925.

When working with clients, I search out unique or perennially stylish pieces that have the ability to transform into new look suitable for the client’s lifestyle. These chairs were built to last a century+, oozed style and could transform with accessible resources. Compare that to much of today’s fast furniture where the quality has a shelf life of 3-5 years before breaking down.

Next is creating a style profile tailored to the individual. The client loved Coco Chanel, so we came up with a chair version of the “little black suit.” Fabrics were pulled from the remnant market that worked for our profile— thus furthering the sustainable aspect by electing to not let good materials go to waste. The wood frame received a lacquered finish, perfectly coordinated with the fabrics and in no time, a new set of chairs were reborn.

The benefits are simple:

– No new trees were used in the transformation of these chairs.

– Excess fabrics end up enhancing the style of the chairs rather than going into a landfill.

– A local craftsperson is supported through their services be it painting or upholstery. This is how we keep the local economy alive—by supporting each other.

– A fully customized piece of furniture from a local market took a fraction of the time to transform as opposed to ordering new furniture—which can take weeks or months to arrive.

– Older pieces have already proven the quality build is there.

– Individual style triumphs trend ladened interiors. You don’t have to look like your neighbor anymore.

These days, more people are leaning towards an eclectic look in their interiors, something that tells a story of who you are without having to say a word. Sustainability is here to stay. The resale market for furniture was $24 billion in 2022 and is set to double in 2023. That’s a seismic shift in consciousness. That’s a lot of trees saved. Let’s keep a good thing going.

For More Information:

Info@omformedesign.com.

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

RETREAT

TO HOME

High on a bluff in Pepin, Wisconsin, a getaway transforms to an every day home.

written by nancy monroe,

photography

by corey gaffer architectural photography

“We wanted the roofscape so the house felt interesting

dynamic...

and

with a sculptural quality.”

–DAN NEPP, TEA2 PRINCIPAL

project credits:

· architect: tea2 architects

· dan nepp, aia, cid, ncarb, principal

· matthew erickson, assoc. aia, senior project manager

· builder: über built, inc.

· interior design: owner/tea2 architects

· landscape design: tea2 architects/owner

“The house is a vessel for light. The engage

question became how do you want to that light.”

–DAN NEPP, TEA2 PRINCIPAL

IIt took two-plus years and a lot of thoughtful back-and-forth between the client and architects, but once the Pepin, Wisconsin, getaway provided everything the homeowners wanted, it was no longer a retreat. It had been promoted to their every day home.

David Benrud and Greg Foster were already familiar with the assiduous work of TEA2, who had built their Linden Hills home some 20 years ago. This time around, they wanted something completely different — a contemporary farmhouse with an oldworld feel, and they knew Architects Dan Nepp and Matthew Erickson had the skills and sensitivity to deliver.

The spectacular site was a hike up the hill from the farm they owned, overlooking Lake Pepin. It was their picnic spot, where they could take in the breathtaking view, a view they will now see daily. The process started with a wish list, Nepp said, including the types of rooms, the feel, and the character being sought. Both homeowners have big-city careers, but are also woodworkers and nature lovers. Benrud weighed in heavily on the interior design, while Foster, who is also a beekeeper, made the furniture from trees on the property.

As visitors drive up the long driveway through tree cover, the view of the house is gradually revealed, as if unwrapping an anticipated present. The home consists of two iconic forms connected by a central, flat-roofed structure. White-washed stucco, combined with massive limestone columns, gives a heftiness and old-world feeling, Erickson said. The varied rooflines, provide function as well as interest. The guest wing and main suite are separated (and then brought together again) by the flat-roofed common area. Alternating the steep gables with a flat roof gives the overall form a sculptural quality, Nepp added.

The remoteness of the site allowed for “framed views” from floor-to-ceiling windows, expertly placed to capture the light’s different moods as it moves through the day. Windows are framed with both a thin oak trim and a slice of white wall for a clean, modern look. The laborious process of applying a “mud-coat” to the walls added texture, which also facilitates the light play, Nepp said. The deep walls add to the interconnectedness of “light, open, fat, heavy,” Erickson adds.

“The house is a vessel for light,” Nepp reiterates. Trellises on the south side also produce patterns of dappled light play, which assists in bringing the outdoors indoors.

The finishings are simple, “flat materials,” but never boring. The lack of shiny objects enhances the serene mandate, where the accents don’t compete with the larger canvas provided by nature. The floors in the gathering areas are white oak for warmth, while a muted concrete covers the floors in the working spaces.

The sleek wall-to-wall fireplace, made of sandblasted limestone slabs, provides a solid focal point among all those windows.

Off a spacious master suite, an elegant master bath takes advantage of the location’s privacy with full-length sliding-glass doors for star-gazing while soaking in the oversized tub.

Through thoughtful design, the kitchen sports sparse, open-shelf cabinetry, yet still has the necessary storage, since an adjacent multipurpose workspace/laundry conveniently tucks cooking paraphernalia out of sight. A rectangular, dark-wood table stands in for a kitchen island. Appliances are stainless steel, and hanging black bucket lights are a stylish nod to the farmhouse vibe.

It’s the perfect house for entertaining and for solitude. So it’s no wonder that the couple’s Linden Hills house was placed on the market and they retreated to this restorative dwelling that’s no longer a getaway, but a lifestyle.

KITCHEN

written by nancy monroe,

Cookbook author Paulette Mitchell’s 15-minutes of culinary fame.

photography

PPaulette Mitchell’s small but orderly kitchen in Edina has all the bells and whistles any culinary professional worth her salt would need, and yet for much of the year it’s missing one key ingredient…the cook.

That’s because for the past 25 years Paulette has spent a good amount of time in Paris and on the high seas giving culinary demonstrations and country-specific lectures on luxury cruises. If there’s a downside to a job traveling around the world, Paulette hasn’t found it in the 128 countries she’s visited.

Nailing the details is her strong suit, as evidenced from her carefully curated surroundings where nothing is out of place or off theme. Most of the work for the cruises is completed months before she sets foot on board: Recipes featuring the local cuisine for the ports are perfected; shopping lists are sent to the on-board chef; slide shows are fine-tuned; and lecture notes fleshed out. When the ship is in port, she’s free to explore the sights. She usually hires a guide so she can traverse the off-the-beaten paths. An accomplished travel photographer, Paulette’s exploring gives her ample fodder for future slide shows on the area’s culture, plus the candid portraits she loves to take of compelling faces.

The precursor to her life as a guest chef and lecturer was equally remarkable. A marketing major in college, Paulette has modeled, traveled, snapped photos and taken cooking lessons. During a class on French cooking, Paulette confessed to the instructor that she was reducing the amount of butter in the recipes to make them healthier. Rather than being insulted, the instructor encouraged her to teach cooking classes featuring healthy recipes, which later led to her first cookbook proposal to a publisher.

Since that first book, she’s become an award-winning author, with 14 titles to her name, five of which include “15-Minute Gourmet” in the title, along with several with vegetarian themes. It was her cookbooks that paved the way for the cruise opportunities, she says.

Although she’s known for her 15-minute gourmet recipes, the Moroccan Chicken Tagine recipe she shares here “is not one of them, but so worth it,” she says. The dish, she cooked on the stove top in a vibrant red tagine, can be made ahead. “It tastes better the second day,” she says.

Paulette has appeared on the Food Network, including a show featuring foodcentric news; was a media spokesperson for various products; and created a video series on the food markets of Italy, Spain, France and China, in which she was the on-camera talent. They were in the same genre as Anthony Bourdain’s travel series, she says, but since her target market was high schoolers, “there was no alcohol or swearing.”

Her long absences from home are the reason she decided to downsize. And even though she’s collected enough art and artifacts to fill a much larger home, she stores most of it. What remains, however, tells the story of her travels beautifully. What’s crucial for her kitchen, however, includes a good espresso machine and coffee grinder, a rice cooker, toast tongs (bought in England), organizers and reliable timers for when she’s testing recipes.

But equally important is the list on her computer of things to pack for a cruise. If you forget something vital, she points out, you’ll have a long wait until you can replace it.

MOROCCAN CHICKEN TAGINE

Makes 6 servings

For the spice mixture:

• 1 t paprika

• 1 t ground cumin

• 1/2 t ground ginger

• 1/2 t ground coriander

• 1/2 t turmeric

• 1/4 t cayenne pepper

• 1/4 t ground cinnamon

• 1 lemon, zested

• 5 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger

• 1/4 cup olive oil, divided

• 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs or drumsticks, cut into 1-inch strips

• Salt & pepper

• 1 large red onion, halved and cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices

• 1 3/4 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth

• 2 large carrots, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices

• 1 cup coarsely chopped dried fruits, such as figs, prunes, or dates

• 1 apple, cored, peeled, and cut into 1-inch chunks

• 1/2 cup pitted Kalamata olives, halved

• Coarsely chopped fresh cilantro for garnish

Combine the spices in a small bowl and set aside. Combine the lemon zest with the garlic and fresh ginger in a small bowl; set aside.

Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a tagine or a large, heavy-bottomed sauté pan over medium- high heat. Brown the chicken strips on both sides until golden. Transfer to a large plate and sprinkle with salt.

Add the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil to the pan. Reduce heat to medium. Add onion and stir until lightly browned, about 5 minutes.

Add the spice mixture and the reserved ginger/garlic mixture. Stir about 30 seconds. Then stir in chicken broth, scraping the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon to loosen browned bits.

Add the chicken, and reduce the heat to medium-low. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes.

Add the carrots and dried fruit. Cover and simmer until the carrots are crisp-tender, and the dried fruits have softened, about 10 min. Stir in the apple during the last 5 minutes, add olives.

Squeeze the lemon and add 1 tablespoon of the juice. Season with salt, pepper, and lemon juice, if desired. Garnish servings with cilantro.

Organic BEAUTY

Martha

written by andrew j ramirez, photography by spacecrafting

Rehkamp is a ceramicist who fuses clay with inspiration from nature.

NNestled into an enclave of homes just past the western shores of Cedar Lake sits Martha Rehkamp’s mid-century limestone rambler. Many afternoons, you can find her in the sunlit ceramic studio, tucked off a back hallway behind the kitchen. It is a joyous place where she can see her gardens from the large windows. Buckets of clay-forming tools sit atop chalky work surfaces. On the day we spoke, her gardens were asleep under a deep blanket of snow.

Martha grew up in Marshall, Minnesota, at the time, a small farming community in southwest Minnesota. “I was always the artist in the family,” Martha recollected. Her adoration for the subject led her to pursue undergraduate studies in fine arts at College of Saint Benedict. After college, she moved to Minneapolis and found herself at the University of Minnesota in a post-graduate program for art education. Her early artistic expressions were watercolor paintings of landscape scenes, inspired by her love of nature and gardening.

Having raised her daughter, Martha was in a new season of life. It was a time of self-discovery and reinvention that led her to Northern Clay Center in the Seward neighborhood. “Fresh wet clay is slippery, delightfully malleable and squishy between your fingers,” explained Martha. She learned the basics of wheel-thrown pottery, glazing and firing.

She came into her style by combining her lifelong love of gardening with clay handbuilding. Her sculptures in the Garden Still Life Series meld natural dried flowers and foliage with clay stems and botanical adornments, set in clay vessels. Inspiration comes through careful observation of the world around her. Always on the lookout for interesting environmental specimens, she particularly enjoys meandering around the trails at Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden in Theodore Wirth Park.

Ceramics is an ancient craft with the first-known examples of pottery art objects, stoneware vases and pots originating over ten thousand years in Indo-Europe. Clay is the basic material for ceramics, and it is derived from a soil type that is pliable when wet. Glazing can be applied to seal the porous clay, providing color and water resistance. The clay becomes hardened when kiln fired. The earliest examples of written word were also inscribed on clay tablets.

The process of shaping a lump of clay is an exercise in creativity. Rolling, flattening, and forming clay into organic shapes, components and parts takes time. Hours turn into weeks. Pieces are assembled into the sculpture and fired once. Glazing is applied then fired again. Her clay of choice has been white stoneware, but she has recently been experimenting with paper clay for its superior strength. Dried flowers and foliage are added at the end for the final statement.

“Clay is a great mimic of natural form,” remarked Martha. There is deep meaning and significance in her work. She incorporates wilted flowers into her pieces as a reminder of the ephemeral nature of life. In a metaphorical sense, Martha sees clay as a representation of “the process of continual rebirth and reinventing of oneself throughout life.” Her pieces embody the juxtaposition between aging while maintaining beauty and grace.

She continues to further her study of ceramics in the prestigious MN NICE (New Institute for Ceramic Education) cohort program that offers a rigorous study and mentorship for emerging artists. “Working with clay is about experimentation,” explained Martha, “you find out what works and what doesn’t work, and you make adjustments accordingly. Such is life.”

martharehkamp.com

“Clay is a great mimic of natural form.”

–MARTHA REHKAMP

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

so • ci• e •ty: