Houzz Tour: 1929 Mansion Revival in Minnesota
The renovation of this classic home pays tribute to its origins but provides thoughtful design updates for modern life
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."
I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia. I've been writing about design online for quite a few years over at Hatch: The Design Public Blog.
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta... More »
The renovation of this stunning 1929 home near Minneapolis paid tribute to its original features while updating it to serve a large family with modern needs. Interior designer Renée Hallberg of RLH Studio worked closely with the architects and contractors to make sure the spacious home was beautiful and functional. Most important, she worked closely with the clients, who already had pieces they wanted to use.
After working on the project for two years, Hallberg had all the interior decor installed in just two weeks while the family was away on vacation. They came home to a major reveal.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple, their four children and two dogs
Location: Orono, Minnesota
That's interesting: A wall mural in the dining room matches one that Jackie Kennedy chose for the White House.
After working on the project for two years, Hallberg had all the interior decor installed in just two weeks while the family was away on vacation. They came home to a major reveal.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple, their four children and two dogs
Location: Orono, Minnesota
That's interesting: A wall mural in the dining room matches one that Jackie Kennedy chose for the White House.
by RLH Studio
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The original entry was so spectacular that very few changes were made. "We preserved and reused millwork, doors, hardware and light fixtures wherever we could," says Hallberg.
The existing oak floors were stained a dark chocolate tone, and Hallberg brought in the antique chandelier. The molding, staircase, banister and other architectural fixtures are all original to the home.
The checkboard marble floor by the front door, popular in the 1920s, inspired many of the choices made throughout the home.
The existing oak floors were stained a dark chocolate tone, and Hallberg brought in the antique chandelier. The molding, staircase, banister and other architectural fixtures are all original to the home.
The checkboard marble floor by the front door, popular in the 1920s, inspired many of the choices made throughout the home.
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| The original large kitchen was gutted and cut up into a series of small utilitarian rooms. The clients love to cook and entertain, and the family gathers for meals as much as possible. The floor tiles are porcelain, a practical material for a busy kitchen. Backsplash: Grammercy Park in Heirloom White, Walker Zanger; hood: custom; stools: Ballard Designs in custom fabric |
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| Custom cabinetry includes glass fronts that show off favorite items. The large island is sized for the scale of the kitchen and the large family. Cabinet color: Cloud White, Benjamin Moore; countertops: Mystery White marble; pendants: Vaughan |
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| Two other important members of the family spend a lot of time in the kitchen, Charity and B.B. The cushion on their bed nook is covered in indoor-outdoor fabric for durability. |
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Lots of time is also spent in the breakfast area, where the children do their homework. Hallberg had the clients' existing chairs reupholstered and had a custom table top made for the pedestal base. The banquette on the right was covered in ultrasuede, which stands up well to wear and tear. The chandelier combines old-world iron, beads and some fun deco waves appropriate to a 1929 home.
Chandelier: Mason by Lamplight Designs; curtain fabric: Scalamandre
Chandelier: Mason by Lamplight Designs; curtain fabric: Scalamandre
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| The star of this pantry area is the long German silver sink, which is original to the house but was previously placed elsewhere. The entire team worked hard to make it fit into this area. Valance: custom, with fabric by Schumacher |
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| Original features, the clients' own furnishings and Hallberg's additions create a beautiful dining room. "Between the dining table, buffet and walls, the room was dominated by wood and white," says Hallberg. She added a customized Stark rug and chairs upholstered in a striped fabric. She also freshened up the corner cabinets by painting the backgrounds blue and installing lighting inside. Chandeliers: Dennis and Leen via Holly Hunt; Hepplewhite chairs: 1stdibs; wall sconces: original to the home; buffet: clients' own |
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| The dining room mural, Vues d'Amérique du Nord, is original to the house and has quite a pedigree. It is hand-blocked on canvas and was made by French company Zuber et Cie. Jackie Kennedy used the same mural in the White House, where it still hangs today. While the mural was a valuable piece, the sky was an orange-peach color, and there were dingy grays. Hallberg brought in Otto Painting Design to switch the sky to blue and amp up some of the faded colors, so the piece could recall the home's history while fitting with its updated look. |
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| "The family room was built around a lot of pieces my clients already had, including the chest, cocktail table, mirror and more," says Hallberg. She brought in gray and ivory hues from the other rooms, this time paired with light sofas and rich raspberry and sunny yellow accents. "The woman of the house loves these bright and happy colors," says Hallberg. The rug's pattern is a blowup from the ultrasuede Calvin Klein fabric on the back of the breakfast room banquette. The clients already owned the sofa in the foreground; Hallberg had it reupholstered in a charcoal herringbone with a contrasting welt. The clients also already owned the painting. Painting: Ira Yeager; wall paint: Abalescent, Benjamin Moore |
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| "The living room is like candy!" Hallberg exclaims. She combined the client's favorite happy colors and pieces they already owned, like the camelback sofa, cocktail table and table lamp, with new fabrics on the French chairs and the bench. Soft, buttery yellows on the walls and rug keep things sophisticated. Wall paint: Roycroft Vellum, Sherwin-Williams; bench fabric: Schumacher; striped chair fabric: Etamine |
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Small details like buttons atop the custom linen drapes and fringe on the bottom of this chair are always on a professional designer's mind. The button detail is also present in the dining room.
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The client loved this tile border, so Hallberg worked the rest of this jewel box powder room around it. The floor is covered in a coordinating herringbone tile, and the wallpaper just seemed to fall into place. The ceiling is covered in silver leaf and picks up on the metallic elements of the faucets, mirror and wallpaper.
Backsplash: Statuary White, Cosa Marble; pedestal sink: Hapstead, Kallista; wallpaper: Colefax and Fowler
Backsplash: Statuary White, Cosa Marble; pedestal sink: Hapstead, Kallista; wallpaper: Colefax and Fowler
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| This den is the ultimate man cave. It was gutted, but the paneling, built-ins and ceiling recall a masculine study from 1929. The onyx fireplace surround adds a modern touch. The monkey chandelier is one of the client's favorites; he has hung it in three homes. I can't imagine it fitting in another room as perfectly as it does in here. |
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| The clients' vintage Louis Vuitton trunk serves as the coffee table. "We took the same Osbourne and Little fabric we used on the sofa, had it paperbacked and covered the coffered ceiling with it," says Hallberg. |
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The original home had a regular door from the den into this bar, but now it's a secret. The panel on the right side of the photo opens like a door, but when closed it's camouflaged as part of the den's wall.
Hallberg tied this wallpaper back to the den by using the same Schumacher print on the sofa's throw pillows. The leaded glass design on the upper cabinets is based on that of other glass doors original to the home.
Hallberg tied this wallpaper back to the den by using the same Schumacher print on the sofa's throw pillows. The leaded glass design on the upper cabinets is based on that of other glass doors original to the home.
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| Here is the opposite of the man cave: the woman's getaway spot, a sunroom bathed in light. "This room is a sanctuary room, full of sunlight," says Hallberg. Designer tip: While these window treatments are custom, Hallberg recommends adding a colored tape border to get a custom look using premade retail window treatments. Wingback: Hickory Chair; chandelier: Currey and Company; ottoman fabric: Cowtan & Tout |
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This feminine powder room is off the wife's downstairs office. The walls are covered in a ballet-slipper-pink grass cloth. The French vanity was found on 1stdibs; Hallberg had a sink dropped in and a custom marble top fitted around it.
The clients bought back the Murano glass sconces from a trip to Italy and have hung them in all of their homes. They also already owned the mirror; its curves play off the curves of the vanity perfectly.
The clients bought back the Murano glass sconces from a trip to Italy and have hung them in all of their homes. They also already owned the mirror; its curves play off the curves of the vanity perfectly.
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| The gray tones seen in the more public areas of the home soften to soothing slate blue and gray in the master bedroom. The clients already owned most of the furniture and accessories. Hallberg had the bench reupholstered in soft blue mohair, had bedding custom made with fabrics from Kravet and reassigned the clients' prints to a place over the headboard. The nightstands were custom built. Not only do they hide shelves for books and other bedside necessities, but they also hide radiators while letting the heat through. Wall covering: Tirreno Blue Amalfi Silk grass cloth, Phillip Jefferies; bench fabric: silk mohair, Glant |
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The master bathroom was completely gutted. The architects, Cook Architectural Design Studio, designed a stunning barrel ceiling in the master bath. "We used a Venetian plaster on the ceiling to get that glow," says Hallberg.
Also Venetian: the stunning mirror over the vanity, which the clients already owned. Continuing with the mirrored theme, Hallberg had the top of the vanity covered in an inlaid antique mirror. She also added unique hardware from Anthropologie.
Wallpaper: Alberto Floreale; polished nickel faucets: Kallista; vanity stool: Holly Hunt
Also Venetian: the stunning mirror over the vanity, which the clients already owned. Continuing with the mirrored theme, Hallberg had the top of the vanity covered in an inlaid antique mirror. She also added unique hardware from Anthropologie.
Wallpaper: Alberto Floreale; polished nickel faucets: Kallista; vanity stool: Holly Hunt
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The elegant chandeliers in the master bath were found at Vintage Pine in Chicago. The wall sconces are original to the house, but it's amazing how well they work with the new decor.
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| Off an upstairs kids' hangout, this space was gutted and turned into a cozy study for the kids. "I made an extra-large windowseat so that more than one child could lounge at once," says Hallberg. Designer tip: Use an indoor-outdoor fabric in children's rooms to stand up to wear and tear. |
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A young daughter's room brings in happy colors as well, with more custom painting done by Otto Painting and a special fiber-optic ceiling in which light pokes through tiny holes.
Duvet: Garnet Hill
Tour more traditional homes
More:
Houzz Tour: Traditional Splendor in Minnesota
Houzz Tour: A Home Full of Mystery and Surprises
Duvet: Garnet Hill
Tour more traditional homes
More:
Houzz Tour: Traditional Splendor in Minnesota
Houzz Tour: A Home Full of Mystery and Surprises
Ideabook published on March 30, 2012.
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Stunnnnnning. Wow! I like a reno that takes my breath away.