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Chris Lee

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Chris Lee, a longtime magazine writer and editor, has been a keen observer of the Twin Cities thriving design scene for more than a decade. As editor of Midwest Home, she combines her passion for all things home with her love of good story telling.

Net-Zero Style

Photos by Corey GafferMark and Kate Hanson believe in practicing sustainability. Their commitment guides every facet of their lives—where they live, what they drive,...

A Labor of Love

Photos by Tracy Walsh From the street, there’s just a hint of what’s to come. Lush plantings beneath the river birch and massed containers in...

Casa de Cason

Photos by Wing Ta If you’ve browsed @carouselandfolk or the Carousel + Folk storefront in South Minneapolis’s Longfellow neighborhood, you have a good sense of...

Save or Scrap

When grand old homes fall to the wrecking ball, we’re often saddened. Especially when one as distinguished as Southways, the former Pillsbury estate on...

Collected Chic

When a young couple, both doctors, purchased a 1920s Spanish-style house on Lake Minnetonka, they knew this was a special property. Its lovely bone...

Darril Otto: Master in Our Midst

Artist. Master illusionist. Miracle worker. Darril Otto, a decorative painter, plasterer, and founder of Otto Painting Design in Chanhassen, earns these sobriquets and more...

Currently Trending: The Return of Brutalism

Brutalism, a midcentury-style characterized by simple forms and raw concrete construction, is having a moment.Originally applied to the work of modern architect Le Corbusier,...

Pantone’s Pick for 2019 Color of the Year: Living Coral

The annual trend-watching rite known as “Color of the Year” finished up this month with Pantone’s announcement of its 2019 pick, Living Coral. Characterizing...

The Ice Wrangler’s Guide to Making Luminaries

https://vimeo.com/304511496Call her the ice wrangler, the iceologist, the ice conjurer. All describe Jennifer Shea Hedberg’s art and craft: She creates luminaries, lanterns, flowers, towers,...

Books for Design Lovers

If you’ve got architecture and design lovers on your gift list, think books. Several recent releases celebrating Minnesota’s profusion of talent would be good...
A portrait of Christine Hoffman, founder of Twin Cities Flower Exchange, holding green plants.

Accidental Advocate

A sit down with Christine Hoffman, founder of Twin Cities Flower Exchange
Fresh evergreens, citrus, and faux fur stockings decorate the period fireplace, capturing the spirit of the season and the expert blend of old and new in the stately 1920s Georgian.

Holiday Tradition with an Edge

At the O’Hara home, holiday décor is by design, tempered with plenty of nostalgia

Day of the Dead Celebrates the Dearly Departed

 As the Mexican celebration of El Dia de Los Muertos (the Day of the Dead) approaches, you’ll see the distinctive skeletons and skulls everywhere....

2018 BLEND Award Winners Celebrated

The jury is in: The 2018 winners of BLEND Awards in Minneapolis and St. Paul have been announced at gatherings in both cities in...
A dog next to a built-in faucet allows for quick and easy refills.

Dog-Friendly Design Trends

Life with dogs is messy. Our four-footed buddies may be part of the family—they're our furry kids—but they can also be wet, muddy, and,...
A dog next to a built-in faucet allows for quick and easy refills.

Lucky Dogs

Even pooches need custom amenities
Ryan and Suzanne Huggett, owners of The Makers Studio, outside its storefront in Excelsior, Minnesota.

Makers on the Lake

Finely crafted furniture and more await you in this charming Excelsior store
Clean white panels and a glossy dark wood floor provide the perfect backdrop for this elegant, blue-accented space designed by Martha O’Hara Interiors.

Life in Color

Midwest Home and ASID MN present the winners of a colorful design competition

Historic Studio Opens in Wayzata

Alert visitors on Lake Street in downtown Wayzata kept watch on a prominent corner this summer. At one time it was a beloved bookshop...

Carousel + Folk: Artfully Curated Vintage Wares in South Minneapolis

Carousel + Folk, a vintage goods store in South Minneapolis, opened its doors June 1. Locals who love its earthy, boho aesthetic have been...

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