A Personal Museum
An art piece or two to grace your living room walls is always a safe way to add life and color to your spaces, but a full art gallery—featuring a collection or multiple pieces by one or more artists—shows off your sophisticated side like none other. Even better? Go above and beyond, and source from a local artist like this MA Peterson client did in their contemporary lakeside home. These works, handcrafted by collage artist Kristi Abbott, feature thousands of hand-cut paper pieces sourced from magazines, album covers, photographs, and online to create portraits of pop culture icons.
Biophilic Design
“Biophilic design creates a strong relationship between nature and human-made environments,” Fusion Designed’s Sheree Vincent explains. “Introducing biophilic designs into your home improves your physical and mental health, your productivity, and reduces stress.” Vincent has been ahead of this trend for years, and has five tips on how to infuse more biophilic design elements into our safe havens and sanctuaries:
- Introduce more live plants and cut flowers
- Purchase artwork that immerses you in nature
- Open curtains and windows to bring in daylight
- Incorporate fabrics and furnishings made from natural fibers
- Introduce patterns, textures, and accessories that reflect or replicate nature
Floral, Chic, and Oh, So Unique
“Grandmillenial style,” wildly popular among those in their late 20s and 30s, is defined by trends and design elements deemed “outdated” by mainstream sources. From ruffles and embroidery to Laura Ashley prints, trim, chinoiserie, and slipcovers, it’s a style you either love or could live without—and it all might depend on your age. Prospect Refuge Studio, though, has the style on lock in this Lowry Hill townhome. Love it or leave it? Email your thoughts to our editor at kbloomquist@midwesthome.com.
On Display
The peak of open shelves’ popularity is arguably a thing of years’ past, but the way in which we style these surfaces transforms over time. In 2022, mixing new pieces with antique, vintage items (even better if they are passed down or inherited from loved ones) is the go-to strategy for sourcing what earns a place on display. Styling them, however, is an art: “I am a proponent of mixing function with beauty and not the other way around,” says interior designer Victoria Amegno. “My base for creating a beautiful open shelf is rooted in function. When the right balance is achieved, an open shelf display is a great way to show off your personality.” Here’s her how-to:
- Start with the practical items. In kitchens, this should be some dishware, and for bookshelves, books—and lots of them. Sort them by size, and stack them neatly while keeping scale in mind. Toppled books aren’t a great look, so use bookends.
- Consider the existing colors of the space, and choose a complementary color. Stay consistent with the selected color palette to create a cohesive and pleasant look.
- Be intentional, and limit what you display. You do not need to go for a complete minimal look, but keep in mind that less is more. (Bonus: There will be less to dust, too!) Use trays, lidded baskets, and storage boxes of varying sizes to house smaller objects. The goal is to avoid a cluttered look.
- Once the practical items have been placed, now the fun can start. Select your favorite unique objects, artifacts, and/or art to add into the arrangement. Go for a mix of medium sized pieces or one large item as they make a stronger statement than a grouping of smaller ones.
10 Local Places We Love
Looking for the perfect pieces to make your house a home? These Twin Cities destinations are worth the stop.
- Brick + Linen, bricklinen.com
- The Foundry Home Goods, thefoundryhomegoods.com
- Foxwell, thefoxwell.com
- Golden Age Design, goldenagedesign.com
- Golden Rule Collective, shopgoldenrule.com
- Gray Home + Collective, grayhomeandlifestyle.com
- Henri Home, henriinteriors.com
- Rose & Loon, roseandloon.com
- Stranger & Co., strangerandco.com
- Victory Vintage, shopvictory.com
