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SPACES LIVING WELL IN THE TWIN CITIES
June/July 2009
Home networks made easy
Outdoor Living Issue POOLS, PATIOS, PLAYHOUSES AND MORE
+ Plus JUNE/JULY 2009
LAKESIDE DESIGN: KEEP IT SIMPLE MAKE THE MOST OF SUMMER — NEW PRODUCTS PATIO DINING TIPS FROM A TOP CHEF
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JUNE/JULY 2009
TABLE OF CONTENTS 43
Features 43 | All about the lake For owners of waterfront homes, landscaping must enhance the view, never compete with it.
52 | Nothing little about it A luxurious 70-square-foot playhouse built for a charitable auction is a perfect complement to the auction winners’ home that shares its Asian influence.
17
62 | Plugged in Just a few high-tech upgrades can turn your home into a digital playground for music, movies and photos. 20
Departments 10 | Editor’s Letter 17 | Noon to Three 36
That shimmer is heat rising from Selby and Snelling
20 | Outdoor Living Cool Products
30 | Accents 62
Fun Finds
36 | Hi-tech Home Products with Byte
74 | Bright Ideas Alex Roberts: Grow your own goodness 8 | JUNE/JULY 2009 SPACES
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To Our Readers
Vol. 5, No. 5 June/July 2009
T
Publisher Martha Severson his is supposed to be the summer of the deck at my house. My
husband and I have fallen into a rhythm of doing one big project a year. But I don’t know if we’ll go through with it. Like most everybody, we’re feeling a little jittery about the economy and we could certainly survive one more year without a deck. On the other hand, Minnesota summers are so short — and that deck would help us make the most of it. So while we procrastinate on making the big deck decision, we’re looking for other ways to maximize the outdoor living season this year. We started our vegetable garden early by sprouting seedlings indoors. We built and painted birdhouses with the kids, installed them in our magnolia trees and watched a pair of chickadees move in. We planted Annabelle hydrangeas by our front walkway. And we have been grilling for several weeks now (with a little help from the free Pioneer Press Cooking Out e-mail newsletter — you can sign up for it, too, at twincities.com/food). Deck or not, we intend to spend as much time in the yard as possible. In this issue of Spaces, you’ll find lots of products and ideas to help you make the most
Editor Heidi Raschke Art Director Ellen Thomson Creative Consultant Barbara Pederson Copy Editors Judy Brunswick, Cheryl Burch-Schoff, Dana Davis, Kathy Derong National Editor Denise Gee 214-334-3124 Contributing Writers Holly Berecz, Allison Kaplan, Molly Millett, Nancy Ngo, Julio Ojeda-Zapata Photographers Jill Greer, Karl Herber, Sherry LaRose-Chiglo, Chris Polydoroff, Steve Silverman Marketing Manager Carolyn Robertson 651-228-5309
of the spaces beyond your door, too — from a landscape designer who offers insight on what’s important in lakeside design to a chef who shares patio-dining tips. And then there’s the delightful tale of the deluxe playhouse (Page 52) — a project that seems to capture the imagination of everyone who encounters it. Is it because it was built for a good cause? Is it because it’s made with such fine materials? Is it because it’s a bona fide work of art? Whatever the reason, I can’t get that little playhouse out of my mind. When we do finally decided to build our
Advertising Sales Martha Severson 651-225-1217 Ad Design Annie Maus Publisher’s Assistant Ann Ettel 651-225-1175 Twin Cities Spaces is a Northwest Publication. Editorial, Sales, and Back Issues Offices
deck, I hope to take a little inspiration from the playhouse — and think big about something that could otherwise be a prefab afterthought. Sincerely,
Heidi Raschke
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Spaces 345 Cedar St. St. Paul, MN 55101 spacesmag.com Questions 651-225-1175 Information in this publication is carefully compiled to ensure accuracy. No recommendation regarding the quality of goods and services is expressed or implied. Contents of this magazine are copyrighted by Northwest Publications in their entirety. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without the prior consent of the publisher, SPACES, 345 Cedar St., St. Paul, MN 55102
On the cover: Outdoor living in Wayzata. Photo by Jill Greer.
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SHOP AND LUNCH BY ALLISON KAPLAN
That shimmer is heat rising from Selby and Snelling
PHOTOS BY CHRIS POLYDOROFF
THE RECENT ARRIVAL OF SUCCESSFUL GIFT STORE mini-
chain Patina at Selby and Snelling avenues in St. Paul says it all: This corner is hot. Patina, with five locations in Minneapolis and St. Paul, gravitates to urban neighborhoods that are still a little rough around the edges. So, don’t expect Selby and Snelling to be 50th & France. Parking can be a challenge. There isn’t a destination restaurant within easy walking distance. Situated just south of Interestate 94, traffic whips past in every direction.A sign in the window of Cosmic’s Coffee snaps: “Don’t park here and go to Starbucks!” Call it character. With the exception of Starbucks, this intersection is made up entirely of local, independent businesses including a couple of institutions: O’Gara’s Bar & Grill and the Sweatshop Health Club. They march to their own beat, which adds to the charm. Don’t arrive too early — the neighborhood is slow to wake, with many stores opening at 11 a.m. or noon. Selby and Snelling owes its retail personality to veteran vintage boutique Lula, arguably the best in town. Once the only store worth stopping for, Lula now counts several other vintage boutiques as neighbors. Lula is the place to find serious women’s fashions from the ’40s through ’70s. You won’t have to dig through junk to find the gems in this expertly edited
Veteran vintage boutique Lula has made Selby and Snelling a destination for retro fashion and furnishings. SPACESMAG.COM | 17
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NOON TO THREE
PHOTOS BY CHRIS POLYDOROFF
Super gift boutique Patina now anchors Selby and Snelling.
shop, which draws customers from across the country. Up Six specializes in midcentury furniture and clothing at accessible prices. You might find an end table, old Levis or a Halloween costume (the owner prides herself on pulling together party pleasers). GoVintage deals in apparel and accessories as recent as the ’80s and as far back as the turn of the century. You’ll find serious designer pieces sprinkled in with the everyday items. The Drawbridge is more antique than vintage, offering goods with history, from furniture and tableware to accessories. The newest arrival is Everyday People (also in Dinkytown and Uptown), a youthful resale shop aimed at those who create their own trends. But Selby and Snelling is not stuck in the past. Newcomer A. Michele is drawing trend seekers with its contemporary mix of women’s clothing and accessories, from cool tees and premium denim to playful sundresses. Of course, Patina offers a modern spin on gifts, stationery, garden, home accents and bath and body — and that’s just on the main floor. Be sure to venture downstairs, where you’ll find chic and affordable handbags and jewelry, plus toys and more for children. Furthering Selby and Snelling’s momentum: Grand Avenue lingerie boutique Flirt is scheduled in June to relocate to a cozy space around the corner from Patina on Snelling. Don’t overlook Rebel Ink Baby — Selby Avenue is company headquarters for the brand, which is sold at boutiques nationwide. The front of the space is a store, featuring Rebel Ink’s signature baby and toddler shirts
UpSix sells this furniture from the ’50s and ’60s.
A. Michele is drawing trend seekers with its contemporary mix of women’s clothing and accessories.
with snarky sayings and hipster appeal. Time for a snack. Two Smart Cookies serves up homemade treats. In addition to Cosmic’s Coffee, there’s Cahoots Coffee, decorated like a cozy old living room. Neighborhood Cafe is a family-friendly spot for big breakfasts. If it’s a beer you crave, look no further than O’Gara’s. And there is that Starbucks. Don’t shoot the messenger, but on a sunny day, the outdoor tables are not a bad place to take in all the action on this busy corner.
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Selby and Snelling: Where to find it
La Grolla, 452 Selby Ave., 651-221-1061, Lagrollastpaul.com
Cosmic’s Coffee, 189 N. Snelling Ave., 651-645-0106
Happy Gnome, 498 Selby Ave., 651-287-2018, Thehappygnome.com
Two Smart Cookies, 181 N. Snelling Ave., 612-384-1069 Flirt, 177 N. Snelling Ave., St. Paul, 651-698-3692 Starbucks, 171 N. Snelling Ave., 651-659-9033
Cheeky Monkey Deli, 525 Selby Ave., 651-224-6066, Cheekymonkeydeli.com Pizza Luce, 1183 Selby Ave., 651-288-0186, Pizzaluce.com
O’Gara’s Bar & Grill, 164 N. Snelling Ave., 651-644-3333
Blue Door Pub, 1811 Selby Ave. 651-493-1865, Thebluedoorpubmn.com
Sweatshop Health Club, 167 N. Snelling Ave., 651-646-8418
See more of Selby
Up Six, 157 N. Snelling Ave., 651-917-0470 GoVintage, 1560 Selby Ave., 651-646-4455 Cahoots Coffee, 1562 Selby Ave., 651-644-6778 Neighborhood Cafe, 1570 Selby Ave., 651-644-8887 Patina, 1581 Selby Ave., 651-644-5444 Lula, 1587 Selby Ave., 651-644-4110 The Drawbridge, 1589 Selby Ave., 651-644-1701 A. Michele, 1591 Selby Ave., St. Paul, 651-917-6966 Rebel Ink Baby, 1593 Selby Ave., 651-647-0655 Everyday People, 1599 Selby Ave., 651-644-4410
Drive for lunch You won’t go hungry on Selby Avenue. Here are some great lunch spots not far from the stores. W.A. Frost & Company, 374 Selby Ave., 651-224-5715, Wafrost.com
As long as you’re in the car, more Selby Avenue highlights FiveTwoSix Gallery, 526 Selby Ave., 651-222-3839: Hidden behind the salon, this spacious gallery with contemporary appeal highlights the best of local and regional artists, including jewelry, hand-blown glass, sculpture and paintings. Fleur de Lis, 516 Selby Ave., 651-292-9562: Charming flower shop plus home accents and gifts. L’Atelier Couture Bridal Boutique, 493 Selby Ave., 651-602-9492: One of the most exclusive bridal boutiques in town, featuring high-end designers like Carolina Herrera and Karl Lagerfeld. Common Good Books, 165 N. Western Ave., 651-225-8989: Garrison Keillor’s bookstore is tucked beneath Nina’s Coffee Cafe. Paper Patisserie, 366 Selby Ave., 651-227-1398: Romantic space filled with stationery, journals, card sets and more to enhance your correspondences.
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COOL PRODUCTS BY DENISE GEE
Outside ‘In’ From lighting to flooring and everything in between, kick back with our picks for the coolest goods in outdoor living. Flower power Sure, the bold colors and modern floral prints are fun, but the true power of these Flower Plates is rooted in their construction — of lightweight, practically indestructible melamine. Another plus: They’re 11 inches wide, the ideal size for presenting whatever you’re serving, with all the sides. In a variety of patterns; $6.95; crateandbarrel.com or 800-9676696.
Nights in white canvas The Loxley Bed, designed by Phillipe Starck for Sutherland Furniture’s RobinWood Deluxe Collection, is the picture of medieval romance — and elegant outdoor style. The soft landing pad (84 inches wide by 105 inches tall by 87 inches deep) is made of natural teak, with polished aluminum detailing and washable outdoor fabric choices. Available to the design trade; sutherlandfurniture.com or 800-717-8325.
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Smart pavers Belgard’s Subterra permeable pavers are the newest thinking in environmental stewardship and style. They allow surface water to drain through each paver (made of concrete with polymeric sand), letting water get directly absorbed into the soil beneath. That keeps it from making its way into the streets, only to be mixed with motor oil and other toxins before hitting storm drains leading to recycling stations. Other pluses: The pavers’ interlocking design allows them to stay stable in shifting soils; they’re sustainable (lasting for up to 30 years) and slip-resistant. About $4 per square foot (uninstalled); belgard.biz or 800-899-8455.
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OUTDOOR LIVING
Warm feelings For a built-in look of a fireplace without the built-in price, consider one you can have without a lot of masonry fuss. This wood-burning Stone Grey Large Fireplace, in a sandy texture that ages well over time, is made from a patented concrete blend that’s lighter and stronger than concrete. It features a spark arrester (to keep hazardous sparks from leaving the hood), as well as a firebox and a grate. The three-piece interlocking unit (42 inches wide by 72 inches tall by 28 inches deep) is touted as easy to assemble; $2,199; smithandhawken.com or 800-940-1170.
Hot topic
Green light How fitting that this light fixture looks like it belongs outdoors. This custom-crafted, six-light Twig Chandelier (38 inches wide by 36 inches tall), developed by Adirondack Mountain artisans for Meyda, can be used within covered patios (it’s rated for damp locations) or customized for wet locations. (And a flush-mount version is also available.) About $3,300; meyda.com or 800-222-4009.
Red is the hot new appliance color this year, and that goes for outdoor ones, too. Here’s a great-looking, great-cooking grill from CharBroil that uses evenly distributed infrared heat to get its job done. Because of that, it uses one-third less gas and won’t catch fire from dripping food juices (there’s no open flame, which also helps keep food moist). The grill, with rotisserie and 13,000 BTU side burner, offers a wide temperature range for everything from slow-cooking to intense searing. With storage underneath; $599; charbroil.com or 866-239-6777.
Bathing beauty One of the sleekest, deepest whirlpool tubs to be had is the new Blue Moon by Duravit. At 55 inches wide by 21 inches deep, it’s nearly twice the standard depth of other contenders and is likened to a minipool. The relaxation unit can be adjacent to a wall or left freestanding (perfect for an indoor-outdoor bathroom). It features inspection-friendly acrylic or teak inserts and 10 LED spotlights inside (with colored LED lighting options available). From $8,500; duravit.com or 770-931-3575. 24 | JUNE/JULY 2009 SPACES
At your feet Outdoor rugs can look as good as indoor ones, as is the case with the Persimmon Area Rug from Home Decorators Collection, available in terra cotta or sage green with a natural leaf pattern. (Yes, friends, that’s the shape of a persimmon leaf.) It offers not only the look and feel of natural fibers but also the durability of synthetic fiber, which makes it easy to clean as well as stain- and mildew-resistant. Eleven sizes are available; prices range from $17 to $269; homedecorators.com or 877-537-8539.
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OUTDOOR LIVING
Grow up This cedar Living Wall (22 inches wide by 59 inches tall by 6 inches deep) is beautiful in so many ways: It can be combined with others to form a partition around an outdoor living area or hung on a wall to bring natural beauty to a small space, outdoors or in (thanks to water being collected within a removable tray at the bottom). Two planting panels allow both sides to come alive. Just add soil, small plants, water and sunlight; $399; smithandhawken.com or 800-940-1170.
Sail worthy Keep your cool with this nautical-style 54-inch Sanibel ceiling fan from the Hunter Fan Co. It’s rated for damp environments like covered porches and features washable off-white sailcloth. It also promises a quiet motor and wobblefree performance. In both bronze and white finishes; about $200; hunterfan.com or 888-830-1326.
Star power The portable Celstron NexStar 8 SE telescope features 8-inch SchmidtCassegrain optics and has all the bells and whistles you’d want in a deep-space viewer, including an F10 focal length, the ability to find a specific star or planet (there are 40,000 objects in its database), a digital hand controller, plus PCoperation and GPS compatibility; $1,400; telescopes.com or 800-303-5873.
Linear thinking
Two-timer Target calls this the Orbit Lounger, perhaps for its circular Atomic Age styling. This all-inone set features two chaise lounges; a retractable umbrella; comfy, reclining cushions; two toss pillows; and a tabletop made of tempered glass — a nice spot to place a refreshing sipper while you chat face-to-face with a fellow lounger; $400; target.com or 800-440-0680. 26 | JUNE/JULY 2009 SPACES
Richard Schultz’s Wing Collection of openminded aluminum chairs and tables aims to allow cool breezes, refreshing pool water or the warmth from fire pits to reach you. Plus, they’re really good-looking, in powdercoated finishes of pearl, blue, yellow, red, green, light bronze and dark bronze (with tabletops available in porcelain, teak or bamboo). Chairs, available with or without pads, start at $3,150; richardschultz.com or 215-679-2222.
Denise Gee is the national Spaces editor.
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Accents
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FUN FINDSS
[PHOTOGRAPHS BY KARL HERBER] [ART DIRECTION AND STYLING BY B A R B A R A S C H M I D T, BSTYLE, INC.]
Breathing > GLOSTER “ELAN” RECLINING CHAIR: > 1950s ANTIQUE
BUFFALO HIDE URN: Inner Gardens, 6050 W. Jefferson Blvd., Los Angeles, Calif., 310-838-8378, $975.
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Hoigaards, 5425 Excelsior Blvd., St. Louis Park, 952-929-1351, $1,429.
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> BURL WOOD CANDELABRA:
> LAVA ROCK PLANTER:
Zachary at International Market Square, 275 Market St., Suite 461, Minneapolis, 612-305-1201, $595, available through your interior designer.
Uncommon Gardens, 5750 Lyndale Ave. S., Minneapolis, 612-866-3033, $50 (more than 35 varieties of succulents available, $5-$11).
Room > 6-FOOT CHARCOAL AND BLACK UMBRELLA:
Hoigaards, $129.
> VINTAGE GLASS FLOATS AND BUOYS:
> ERIC BRAND LOG CARRIER available in
various leathers: Rita Haberlach at International Market Square, 275 Market St., Suite 411, Minneapolis, 612-332-7482, $477, available through your interior designer.
bstyle inc., 4832 Garfield Ave., Minneapolis, 612-270-7502, $20-$90. > Special thank you to Patrice and Dan Perkins for tractoring in featured products to our remote locations — and to Manor Delivery, 7077 Shady Oak Road, Eden Prairie, 952-942-3313.
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FUN FINDS
> REEF POINT TEXTURED PLANTER
($275) and acanthus oak leaf plant ($70): Otten Brothers, 2350 W. Wayzata Blvd., Long Lake, 952-473-5425.
> JUTE WITH BRAID TRIM PILLOW ($53),
paper crochet pillow ($63) and throw ($64): Pottery Barn at Arbor Lakes, 12225 Elm Creek Blvd., Maple Grove, 763-425-4002.
> DANAO OUTDOOR CHAISE IN SONOKELING WOOD: Rita Haberlach at
International Market Square, $1,566, available through your interior designer.
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> TEAK ROOTED STUMP: Zachary at
International Market Square, $625, available through your interior designer.
> VINTAGE STRING LIGHT: Swank
Interiors, 1910 W. University Ave., St. Paul, 651-646-5777, $119.
> GEOMETRIC LOUNGE CHAIR ($3,100) and Crescent Lounge Chair $2,700: Baker, Knapp & Tubbs at International Market Square, 275 Market St., Suite 335, Minneapolis, 612-341-2906, available through your interior designer.
> AGED TERRACOTTA POTS: bstyle
inc., $10-$18.
> LIPSTICK PLANT:
Otten Brothers, $30.
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P R O D U C T S W I T H B Y T E B Y H O L LY B E R E C Z
Get-it-done gadgets “EFFICIENCY IS DOING BETTER what is already being done,” mused American educator and writer Peter F. Drucker. That’s the thinking here. From an improved slow cooker to wine that tastes better to energy-saving electronics and waste busters, these products for the home can help make better
Just chill
use of your time and energy.
Live the wine bar experience right in your own home. The Skybar wine storage system chills, pours and maintains up to three bottles of wine at a time. The individual compartments feature nine pre-set temperature settings but also can be manually adjusted. The vacuum-like system removes all oxygen, preserving an open bottle for up to 10 days. Retails for $1,000; skybarhome.com.
●
Smart sound Bringing new meaning to “listen and learn,” Bang & Olufsen’s BeoLab 5 is the first speaker system that listens to you as much as you listen to it. If you move or change seating arrangements, it adjusts to match the exact acoustic properties of your room. With a commanding presence and unique design, it delivers an out-of-this-world experience. Listed at $21,950; bang-olufsen.com.
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Waste not Did you know landfills contain more food waste than diapers and Styrofoam and tires combined? Help reduce landfill trash and greenhouse gas emissions with the NatureMill electric composter. Just lift the lid and add the scraps. Then, every two weeks, empty compost fertilizer into your garden. Using less energy than a nightlight and priced at $399, the Pro Edition is available in cool designer colors; naturemill.com.
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HIGH-TECH HOME
Plug in It’s free, and it’s green. Solio is the world’s most advanced hybrid charger, letting you plug straight into the sun. The most powerful and versatile universal charger of its kind, it combines efficient solar panels and a high-capacity battery to collect and store power for iPods, digital cameras and more. The Magnesium edition features a strong alloy shell and lists for $169.95; solio.com/charger.
Touch and go The folks at Crock-Pot kick up the convenience of slow cooking a few notches with the eLume Touch Screen. With the same touch-screen interface as today’s handheld electronic devices, it offers the convenience of preparing meals with a single touch. Priced at $129.99, it has a 6.5-quart capacity and programmable cooking times from 30 minutes to 20 hours; crock-pot.com.
Skinny mini Sony’s Organic Light-Emitting Diode (OLED) television is the world’s skinniest TV set. Measuring only 3 millimeters deep (that’s 0.12 inch for the metrically challenged), the ultra-slim 11-inch screen is about the thickness of this magazine. The first to feature OLED technology, it uses 40 percent less power than a conventional 20-inch LCD TV. Its tiltscreen design accommodates any viewing position. It sells for $2,500; sonystyle.com.
Flame on Enjoy the cozy atmosphere of a fire anywhere you’d like with Conmoto Travelmate. Looking like a fire in a suitcase, this traveling smokeless fireplace uses bio-alcohol fuel. The clean-burning flame and weather-resistant, powder-coated steel frame means you can easily set the mood inside or out. Measuring 20 inches high, 28 inches wide, 8 inches deep, it sells for $3,300; ameico.com.
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All About
the Lake
B Y M O L LY M I L L E T T > P H O T O S B Y S T E V E S I LV E R M A N
w
hen it comes to landscaping the grounds of a lake home, don’t compete with Mother Nature. “The lake is the lake — you can’t battle it, you can only go along with it,” says Jeff Gaffney, a landscape designer who tried to go with the flow of a project on Lake Minnetonka. “The client is there for the lake, so you take a back seat to the lake and let the lake guide you through,” says Gaffney, of M.A.Peterson. “The one thing you never want to do is obstruct any view.” The view was important to his client, Gregg Larsen, who grew up on Lake Minnetonka and now works as a Coldwell Banker Burnet real-estate agent out of Wayzata. Larsen, a third-generation Lake Minnetonka lakeshore resident, bought a property in Minnetonka Beach on Crystal Bay with his wife, Stephanie, so their two children, ages 5 and 7,
For owners of waterfront homes,
landscaping
must enhance the view, never
compete with it.
Ceasar’s Brothers Blue Iris
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New Growth on Morel Pine
could also experience lake life. Gaffney’s task involved making the irregular lot more usable for the couple, who would also use the property to entertain friends and clients. “It’s a unique lot, like most lake homes are,” Gaffney says. “It’s a long rectangle on a corner lot.” As is commonly done with lake properA fire pit with ties, the couple tore down the existing plenty of seating space is a natural home and built a new one. That’s why they landscaping design wanted to bring in a landscape designer. choice for a home “We wanted to soften the impact of a on the shores of new house,” says Larsen. “We needed a lot Lake Minnetonka. of creativity to figure out how to make the house blend into the landscape.” Larsen hired Gaffney after seeing how he handled another project. “He had done a house of a friend of mine’s, using random stone plantings instead of retaining walls, which can be too linear and abrupt,” he says. “You didn’t even realize this landscape was being retained.” Gaffney took a similar approach with the Larsen home. SPACESMAG.COM | 45
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Firewitch Dianthus
“There was a slope that needed to be retained, and it’s held together by random large stones and plantings,” Larsen says. “I didn’t want a large retaining wall, which can look too sterile and industrial, like something you’d see at an office building.” Gaffney had the same challenge most lake-home owners face: The front yard is really the back yard. When it comes to “The front is not really the front, it’s lakeshore landscape just the access point,” says Gaffney. design, one of the “It’s not the main focus, and yet rules is keeping it because of the narrowness of the simple, so the water remains the focus. shape of this particular lot, it gave us an opportunity for a longer walking path — a long foundation to plant and have fun with.” Gaffney had his fun with a meandering concrete pavestone walkway and a palette of colorful perennials mixed up with evergreens. It’s one of Larsen’s favorite spots. “It’s really nicely landscaped, it’s low maintenance and it looks good all season long,” he says. On the lakeside, the family has a yard that is a perfect place for kids to play or for the couple to hang out.
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“It’s a big flat area, our patio is level and we have a nice stretch of grass,” says Larsen. The patio also features a fire pit, which is a nice gathering place after a long summer’s day spent on the water. “We hand selected three natural boulders that would be comfortable to sit on and help make that setting look more natural, like they were always part of the landscape,” Gaffney says. “But then, also, between the boulders, there’s plenty of room for “You want to enjoy living five or six Adirondack chairs. You could also put a blanket down in front of the fire. ” in outdoor spaces, not The plantings, too, were selected with relaxation in taking care of them,” mind. Gaffney says. “The main “You want to enjoy living in outdoor spaces, not be driving force here was taking care of them,” Gaffney says. “The main driving finding a really great force here was finding a really great balance of blooming colors with perennials and well-placed, unique balance of blooming evergreens.” colors with perennials Specifically, that meant everything from irises and and well-placed, unique coral bells to Acrocona Norway spruce. evergreens.” “There were a few mature trees on the lot, but he put in a lot of nice evergreens and plantings that look good all year round,” says Larsen. “They change and come to bloom at different times, there’s always something going on, and it also looks really good in the winter.” But even if there were nothing there but two Adirondack chairs, really, that would be enough. “Lakeshore living is all about putting the lake and the sunset on display,” Gaffney says. “Because that’s what people want — to be near it, to experience it.” ● Molly Millett, a reporter at the Pioneer Press, is a frequent contributor to Spaces.
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A luxurious 70-square-foot playhouse built for a charitable auction is a perfect complement to the auction winners’ home that shares its Asian influence.
nothing little about it
I [ B Y M O L LY M I L L E T T ] [PHOTOS BY JILL GREER]
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t could be Minnesota’s most extravagant playhouse. “If you add up everything, there’s probably $50,000 that was put into this little house,” said Steve Kleineman, the architect who designed the miniature Japanese teahouse. This dollop of architecture is not an indulgence for some pampered child, though. Instead, it was part of a group effort to help those in need of real shelter. The 70-square-foot house was designed and constructed by trades people and companies who donated time and materials to create the “Mia” playhouse for a charitable auction benefiting CommonBond, a provider of affordable housing. The Mia, filled with such luxurious finishes as mahogany and handscraped white oak, got a lot of buzz while it was on display at the Mall of America with five other one-of-a-kind playhouses last year. “It won the ‘Wish I Could Live There’ category in an online contest, and it won the Builder’s Best Award, given by a selection committee made up of architects and builders and other people in the building community,” says Jennifer Sutch, director of special events for CommonBond. It also fetched the highest bid — $17,000 — while the others brought in
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Would you spend $17,000 on a piece of art? That’s how much these Wayzata homeowners bid on this Japanese teahouse playhouse that now is a major landscape feature in their back yard (proceeds benefited a nonprofit provider of affordable housing).
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IN A WAY, the teahouse already belonged to the couple: They had hired Kleineman and Dan Mulrennan of MS&I Building Co. to design and build a new home for themselves and their two children (who are way past the playhouse stage, by the way). While their home was still under construction, Mulrennan asked the couple if his crew could use the garage to build the playhouse.
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The architect and the builder of the tiny Japanese teahouse also designed and built the main house of the homeowner who successfully bid on the playhouse at a charity auction. The teahouse was built in the couple’s garage while the main house was under construction. “It represents what this house and yard is about,” said the homeowner. “They fit together so naturally. It will always be out there.”
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between $3,000 to $6,000. “There was actually a bidding war over it,” Sutch says. The Wayzata woman who won that face-off wasn’t about to be outbid. “I was pretty determined,” says the woman, who asked to remain anonymous. “It got down to me and another guy at this auction, which was held at the Mall of America. My husband was getting nervous, but he said, ‘If you want it, it’s yours.’ ” In a way, the teahouse already belonged to the couple: They had hired Kleineman and Dan Mulrennan of MS&I Building Co. to design and build a new
home for themselves and their two children (who are way past the playhouse stage, by the way). While their home was still under construction, Mulrennan asked the couple if his crew could use the garage to build the playhouse. “The playhouse was built in the winter, and since we weren’t living in our home yet, the garage was a big, open space where they could work,” the homeowner said. “I’d go to our house often to check on the progress and I’d see the playhouse and I just thought it was soooo cute. I’d go home and tell my husband, ‘My God, you’ve got to see what they’ve done with the playhouse now!’ and he’d SPACESMAG.COM | 55
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THE COUPLE, who have spent time in Japan, appreciate the Eastern aesthetic and wanted it reflected through the grounds as well as their house. “I wanted to use stone and evergreens because it’s a natural look that also stays green year-round,” says the homeowner. “I was going for a kind of private oasis, something with a spa-like feeling, but very natural.”
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The home’s family room — which looks out onto the back yard — can melt into the back porch/terrace with the unfurling of a glass wall. To keep away bugs, a push of a button brings down motorized screens.
say, ‘But, what’s going on with our house?’ ” A NATURAL PAIRING In a way, the teahouse mimics the main house. “There’s an Asian influence to elements of the house, such as how the windows and the roof are sized and detailed, and so the main house and the playhouse look like they go together,” Kleineman says. The couple, who have spent time in Japan, appreciate the Eastern aesthetic and wanted it reflected through the grounds as well as their house. “I wanted to use stone and evergreens because it’s a natural look that also stays green year-round,” says the
homeowner. “I was going for a kind of private oasis, something with a spa-like feeling, but very natural.” The house continues that theme of nature. “The look of the home has been influenced by Frank Lloyd Wright, with large overhangs, dark wood siding and a very organic, brownish color stone that makes it look like the house has erupted out of the earth,” Kleineman says. The family’s oasis also has a pool and a waterfall feature that reinforce the Asian feel. The little teahouse, then, is the perfect piece of garden art for this particular setting. “They wound up buying it as a piece of sculpture,” Kleineman says. SPACESMAG.COM | 57
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A MINIATURE MASTERPIECE
“IT WAS VERY challenging, particularly for the carpenters, who are big men and did not fit inside the teahouse very easily,” Mulrennan says. “But all of them took tremendous pride in it — it was fun to see them enjoy the process so much. They just glowed when it was all done.”
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The teahouse consists of one beautiful interior room that is rich with mahogany and oak and lit with recessed lighting. A kitchenette has Cambria countertops and even a sink with running water for teatime. The sitting area is outfitted with kid-sized utlrasuede furniture, but its vertical design stretches up to about eight feet, with windows providing more natural light than a typical playhouse, as well as a comfortable spot for grown-ups to stand in. Besides playing tea, children can also — get this — watch a flat-screen television that has cable service. Outside, the luxury continues from top to bottom, from the copper roof to an Ipe deck, decorated with planters and working carriage lights (a nice landscape touch for the yard at night). An exterior ship’s ladder leads to a second, rooftop deck. Kleineman’s vision came together with the help of a building crew headed up by Mulrennan. “It was very challenging, particularly for the carpenters, who are big men and did not fit inside the teahouse very easily,” Mulrennan says. “But all of them took tremendous pride in it — it was fun to see them enjoy the process so much. They just glowed when it was all done.” The construction was indeed a labor of love for Mulrennan — the playhouse was named Mia after his new bride, who is part Japanese. While the teahouse was designed over a period of 2½ months, Mulrennan and his crew worked nights and weekends to build it in just 10 days. And it was not an uncomplicated project. “‘You’ve got to keep things small but still make them look right,” Kleineman says. “You don’t want the normal thickness of materials — the framing is thinner and the walls are thinner, so you can make it bigger and taller inside.” The Mia’s materials were also chosen with consideration for the intended clients: kids. “The inside flooring is hand-scraped oak, and the reason we did that is it would be forgiving for kids,” Kleineman says. “You don’t want them to have to be careful, and that floor can handle more imperfections. The windows
are framed in mahogany, but the windows themselves are not actually glass but polycarbonate plastic, so you don’t have to worry about kids banging them. I mean, nothing is going to break. Even the walls are built out of smooth plywood material painted to look like drywall — it’s more durable; a kid could swing a bat and not damage the wall beyond maybe just a little nick.” A BACK YARD FOR ALL Since the grown-ups can’t exactly hang out in the Mia, the main house also has a unique room that overlooks the back yard. “A folding glass wall can expand the family room into the porch,” Kleineman says. “And if the bugs are out or it’s hot, you can push a button and screens come down from the ceiling and it becomes a screened-in porch.” The homeowner finds the retractable wall is sometimes more efficient than air-conditioning in the summer. “It helps cool down the entire house at night,” she says. The porch has a stone floor and a masonrybuilt fireplace with a gas insert — and it uses rocks instead of logs for yet more of that Asian influence. “We have teak furniture out there, and it’s a good place to read the Sunday paper,” says the homeowner. “It overlooks the pool and the waterfall and the playhouse.” The homeowners’ teenage daughter and her friends like to hang out poolside (their son is away at college), but just because their playhouse days are over does not mean the Mia sits empty. “We had our children earlier than our friends,” says the homeowner,“and so when our friends bring their kids over to swim and play, the children will also use the playhouse. We bought some toy dishes for them and they’ll play with the dishes and the stuffed animals, and we’ll turn on the Disney channel for them. Grown-ups always want to know about the history of the house, and so it also gives us a chance to talk about CommonBond.” ● Molly Millett, a reporter at the Pioneer Press, is a frequent contributor to Spaces.
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One reason the homeowners wanted a pool was that it would be a natural gathering spot for their teenage daughter and her friends.
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Plugged In Just a few high-tech upgrades can turn your home into a digital playground for music, movies and photos. BY JULIO OJEDAZ A PATA
It’s a digital age — but is your home set up to make the most of your digital music, movies and photos? If not, a few high-tech upgrades can transform your house into a pulsing multimedia network. We’re talking effortless access throughout your home, with the push of a button or the press of a touch screen. All you need is the right gear and a little time to set it up. 1. YOUR PIPES. Your first goal is to set up conduits that will pump your entertainment from place to place. Think of these as multimedia pipes running throughout your home. You have two options: wireless or wired. If you want wireless, you need to set up a Wi-Fi network. Cisco’s latest Linksys-branded wireless routers are the most stylish around and incorporate the latest Wi-Fi technology for faster speeds throughout the house. Head to linksys.com for details. Or set up a wired network. One good option involves harnessing electrical wiring in your home to move multimedia from room to room.
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ANOTHER family-
Yes, that’s right: You are pushing your digital goodies through the wall sockets. Wacky! Cisco has Linksys gear for this, too. Plug its Powerline Network adapter into your broadband modem and into an outlet. Next, set up a Powerline 4-Port Network Adapter in your entertainment center, near your TV and other gear. Presto! You have fast data to the entertainment center via your electrical wiring. If you have TVs in more than one room, set up multiple powerline adapters to extend the wired network to all your big screens and related gizmos. 2. SHARING. Once your network is set up, you need a device that will let you enjoy flicks, tunes and pics in the family room. Whether you’re wireless or wired, the Apple TV set-top box is one of our favorite devices for this. The Apple TV plugs into a TV via an HDMI cable and into your wired network via an Ethernet cable going into one of the ports on the Powerline 4Port Network Adapter. (Obviously, no need to plug it in if you’re wireless.) With the Apple 66 | JUNE/JULY 2009 SPACES
TV installed, you can send all your home movies, family photographs and MP3s from your computer to it for family-room consumption. You can also buy TV shows and Hollywood movies from Apple’s iTunes Store via the Apple TV. See apple.com/appletv for more info. Another family-room gizmo worth checking out is the Netflix Player by Roku. If you use the Netflix DVD-by-mail rental service, you have access to Internet movies and TV shows that you can “stream” on your computer. With the Roku box, you can watch those videos on your TV, too. To do this, plug the Roku into another port on your Powerline 4-Port Network Adapter or use your Wi-Fi network. This gets the Roku on the Internet. Then, simply use your computer to queue up videos you want to watch. A bonus: The Roku also offers access to online movies and TV shows from the Amazon Video On Demand service. 3. AUDIO. Music lovers can use
Sonos gear (sonos.com) to create an audio-only network that allows you to dip into your MP3s — as well as Internet and satel-
lite radio — anywhere. Sonos pieces include an iPodlike handheld controller with a color screen, a stationary gadget called a ZonePlayer that jacks into your main computer and additional ZonePlayers deployed around the house. This creates a home-wide Sonos wireless network. Sonos even offers speakers if you need them. And the gear is a snap to set up. A cheaper option is the Eos wireless system (eoswireless. com). Dock your iPod into the EOS base unit, which has speakers. Put up to four satellite speakers around the house. Then, when you play your iPod, you’ll hear it anywhere. 4. IPOD APPS. If you use Apple’s
mobile phone or iPod Touch, there’s a good chance you can use it as a remote for your homeentertainment gear. Just install the right iPhone app via Apple’s App Store. Sonos has an iPhone app for controlling ZonePlayers. Apple has its own Remote app for manipulating its Apple TV. ● Julio Ojeda-Zapata writes about technology for the Pioneer Press.
room gizmo worth checking out is the Netflix Player by Roku. If you use the Netflix DVD-bymail rental service, you have access to Internet movies and TV shows that you can “stream” on your computer. With the Roku box, you can watch those videos on your TV, too.
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Bright Ideas *
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FROM NAMES YOU KNOW BY NANCY NGO
Alex Roberts: Grow your own goodness chard — it has fewer pest problems than most greens, it’s easy to grow and there’s a lot of it. For keeping your garden healthy, I recommend composting vegetable waste. It provides excellent mulch in your garden or flower beds, and you’re not putting unnecessary waste into a landfill.
HAVING A GREEN THUMB SPANS
generations in chef Alex Roberts’ family. As a gift, his great-grandfather gave his father a dried bean, and then they planted it and watched it grow. His father, a Wisconsin farmer, did the same for Roberts and his brother when they were young. Now, Roberts is getting ready to pass on the tradition to his kids. Roberts’ love for fresh ingredients is apparent at his Restaurant Alma and Brasa Rotisserie in Minneapolis (a second branch of Brasa is slated to open in June), where he regularly takes herbs and vegetables straight from the garden and incorporates them into his dishes. Here, chef Roberts talks about his love for gardening, offers tips on how to make the best of a Minnesota growing season and even throws in a recipe:
What are some unique things that you’ve grown? In addition to things that typically grow in this climate, I also plant vegetables and herbs that are difficult to find wholesale. It has helped SHERRI LAROSE-CHIGLO me make dishes like an Alex Roberts authentic Caribbeanstyle sofrito sauce. In order to make the dish, I have to use at both of my restaurants. A Minnesota gardening grow a particular mild chile pepseason can be harsh. Are per called aji dulce and the herb there some things you’ll never culantro (not cilantro).
grow again? How has your love for growing been integrated into dishes at your restaurants? I have plum trees at home that I use to make desserts, such as sorbet. I would like to grow more at home, but my restaurants have been keeping me busy. Luckily, I have the option of going to my father’s farm in Wisconsin for organic vegetables I 74 | JUNE/JULY 2009 SPACES
I thought it was a great idea to grow fava beans one year. They were off to a strong start, but then produced only a small handful of beans. They didn’t really taste that great, either.
Can you offer tips on what does work well? I have always had good luck with root vegetables, and I especially would recommend Swiss
Mind sharing your sofrito recipe with us? I like adding a heaping spoonful of this sauce when stewing meats or cooking beans to add flavor, and it’s best served over rice. If you can’t find the chiles or culantro, the sauce can still be made. It will just be less traditional. Store unused sofrito in refrigerator for up to a week or freeze in ice-cube trays. ●
Caribbean-Inspired Sofrito Sauce Makes 1 quart. 1 green pepper, cut into quarters and seeds removed 5 aji dulce chiles, cut in half and seeds removed (optional) 1 medium onion, peeled 6 cloves garlic, peeled 1 small tomato, cut into quarters 1/2 bunch cilantro (a little stem is OK) 5 or 6 leaves cilantro (optional) 1/2 teaspoon dry or fresh oregano To make sauce: In food processor, blend all ingredients with just enough water to liquefy. To make sofrito with beans: In large pot, gently saute 1/4 cup sofrito sauce with a splash of olive oil and 2 teaspoons chopped bacon or smoked ham (optional) for 5 minutes. Add 2 cups cooked red or pinto beans and 2 cups water. Bring to a slow rolling boil and cook for 1-1/2 hours or until soft and soupy, adding more water as needed. Season with salt and a few drops of vinegar (white, cider, sherry, red wine or balsamic). Serve over cooked rice.
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