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Houzz Tour: Scandinavian Modern Meets Horse Country in Minnesota
A designer blends her clients’ love of simplicity and sophistication with practicality in a new home
For this new build on a Minnesota horse farm, the design was all about balance between Scandinavian modern and sophisticated country styles. The homeowners are a retired couple who had been inspired by a recent trip to Europe when they met interior designer Emily Pueringer.
“They came back really into Scandinavian modern style,” Pueringer says. “Because this is a horse farm, they were also into an equestrian Ralph Lauren look, meaning plaid patterns and colors like deep green, burgundy and brown. They also told me they loved the feel of Scottish country farmhouses. They wanted sophisticated style, but because this is a farm and they have a large dog, it needed to be practical and durable. At first I thought, ‘How in the world am I going to make all of that work?’”
“They came back really into Scandinavian modern style,” Pueringer says. “Because this is a horse farm, they were also into an equestrian Ralph Lauren look, meaning plaid patterns and colors like deep green, burgundy and brown. They also told me they loved the feel of Scottish country farmhouses. They wanted sophisticated style, but because this is a farm and they have a large dog, it needed to be practical and durable. At first I thought, ‘How in the world am I going to make all of that work?’”
The front entry sets the tone for the home. Creamy walls, wood beams and birch millwork make up the warm base. “I used vintage Turkish rugs throughout the house,” Pueringer says. “They are very durable and can stand up to my clients’ dog.”
Upon entering the home, the floor plan opens up to the kitchen, family room and dining room. “My clients knew they wanted a vaulted ceiling, and it makes the house feel a lot bigger,” the designer says. Behind the railing are steps that lead to a fully finished basement. It contains two bedrooms, a bathroom and a den.
Wall color: Blondie, Portola Paints
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Upon entering the home, the floor plan opens up to the kitchen, family room and dining room. “My clients knew they wanted a vaulted ceiling, and it makes the house feel a lot bigger,” the designer says. Behind the railing are steps that lead to a fully finished basement. It contains two bedrooms, a bathroom and a den.
Wall color: Blondie, Portola Paints
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A two-sided fireplace faces both the kitchen and the family room. “The goal for this house was to keep it clean and simple while adding just the right amount of character,” Pueringer says.
A large dose of character comes from the custom stair railings, which are one of the most striking elements in the house. “I was desperate to do something fun for a handrail and I thought it was an opportunity to bring in a Scandinavian folk vibe,” Pueringer says. “At the time, I was reading a German book by a man who was fascinated with balustrades, and I also drew inspiration from the historic town of Stillwater, Minnesota, where you see similar railings on many front porches.” She designed the pattern, put it into CAD and the cabinetmakers fabricated it.
Cabinetmakers: Commercial Fixtures
A large dose of character comes from the custom stair railings, which are one of the most striking elements in the house. “I was desperate to do something fun for a handrail and I thought it was an opportunity to bring in a Scandinavian folk vibe,” Pueringer says. “At the time, I was reading a German book by a man who was fascinated with balustrades, and I also drew inspiration from the historic town of Stillwater, Minnesota, where you see similar railings on many front porches.” She designed the pattern, put it into CAD and the cabinetmakers fabricated it.
Cabinetmakers: Commercial Fixtures
Three large windows over the sink bring lots of natural light into the kitchen. Pueringer custom-designed the island to stand out. “I knew I wanted it to have chunky legs,” she says. All the cabinetry, like the woodwork, is rotary-sawn birch. “This means it shows off the beautiful grain in the wood,” Pueringer says.
Browse counter stools in the Houzz Shop
Browse counter stools in the Houzz Shop
Another vintage Turkish rug adds pattern and one of the clients’ favorite colors, burgundy, to the floor in the kitchen.
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Find a cabinetmaker
The perimeter countertops, backsplash and sink apron are Verde Vivo quartzite, which brings in another homeowner favorite, deep green. “Anytime I have an opportunity to bring in another natural material, I go for it,” Pueringer says. “The island countertop is a lighter quartzite, which lightens up the room.”
The designer used polished nickel on plumbing fixtures throughout the house. This finish has warmth to it that allowed her to mix metals, such as brushed brass on light fixtures and oil-rubbed bronze cabinet hardware.
The designer used polished nickel on plumbing fixtures throughout the house. This finish has warmth to it that allowed her to mix metals, such as brushed brass on light fixtures and oil-rubbed bronze cabinet hardware.
On the other side of the fireplace is the family room. “My clients requested bookshelves for displaying books and things they love,” Pueringer says. The birch shelves flank a window seat with a deep red cushion.
The flooring throughout the house is engineered hardwood. “They work the horse farm themselves, and they have a big dog, so we needed the flooring to be durable and low-maintenance,” Pueringer says.
The flooring throughout the house is engineered hardwood. “They work the horse farm themselves, and they have a big dog, so we needed the flooring to be durable and low-maintenance,” Pueringer says.
The family room is open to the dining room, which has a casual Scandinavian country vibe.
The dining table has clean Scandinavian modern style with a carved detail underneath the top. Pueringer designed the built-in buffet under the windows and included a beverage fridge within it. A trio of sconces over the windows provides light for the buffet.
The windows and French doors look over the meadows, woods and wetlands on the property.
The windows and French doors look over the meadows, woods and wetlands on the property.
Details like the classic chairs and the deep colors in the plaid seat cushions add country touches.
This cozy three-season porch is off the family room. It has EZ-Screen vinyl windows that protect it from the elements. These slide down and stack when it’s screen season.
This photo provides one of the best glimpses of the beautiful countryside surrounding the house.
“My clients are incredibly hardworking and active, and they spend a lot of time outdoors,” Pueringer says. This casual side entry is the entrance they use when coming in from farm work.
The space can be entered off the side of the house and through the garage. In addition to the mudroom, seen here, there’s a laundry room and a full bathroom back here. Pueringer connected these spaces through color, wallpaper and flooring, elements that lend a British boot-room type vibe. After all, this is where the homeowners will be coming in and taking off their boots after working and riding.
The space can be entered off the side of the house and through the garage. In addition to the mudroom, seen here, there’s a laundry room and a full bathroom back here. Pueringer connected these spaces through color, wallpaper and flooring, elements that lend a British boot-room type vibe. After all, this is where the homeowners will be coming in and taking off their boots after working and riding.
Pueringer used Arto Brick flooring throughout the back spaces. “This flooring is very durable,” she says.
She had the cabinetmakers cut horseshoe shapes into the coat cabinets. Wallpaper adds a deep color and a botanical pattern to the space. “My client said she absolutely did not want wallpaper in the house, but I promised her if she let me show her five wallpapers and still didn’t want to, I’d never bring it up again,” Pueringer says. “When I showed her William Morris wallpapers, she was speechless. I think when a lot of people think of wallpaper, they think of 1980s wallpaper. There are such incredible, beautifully hand-printed options out there today.”
Wallpaper: Bird & Pomegranate, Morris & Co.
She had the cabinetmakers cut horseshoe shapes into the coat cabinets. Wallpaper adds a deep color and a botanical pattern to the space. “My client said she absolutely did not want wallpaper in the house, but I promised her if she let me show her five wallpapers and still didn’t want to, I’d never bring it up again,” Pueringer says. “When I showed her William Morris wallpapers, she was speechless. I think when a lot of people think of wallpaper, they think of 1980s wallpaper. There are such incredible, beautifully hand-printed options out there today.”
Wallpaper: Bird & Pomegranate, Morris & Co.
This laundry room is where the couple wash clothing and linens. They have a second laundry area in the basement for things like horse blankets.
Pueringer topped the V-groove wainscoting with a carved rope-like molding detail. “This was a little nod to equestrian style,” she says.
Pueringer topped the V-groove wainscoting with a carved rope-like molding detail. “This was a little nod to equestrian style,” she says.
Rather than opting for just a powder room back here, the homeowners added a shower to their wish list. They can come in after doing the horse work, take off their boots and head straight to the shower. The apron-front sink is brown Emperador marble and the tiles are zellige.
The primary bedroom also has a vaulted ceiling and a vintage Turkish rug. “The windows are southwest-facing, which is so lovely,” Pueringer says.
The designer layered the room with soft sage green, burgundy and aubergine. Each homeowner has a comfy armchair in the room.
The designer layered the room with soft sage green, burgundy and aubergine. Each homeowner has a comfy armchair in the room.
Simple country nightstands, a plaid blanket and wallpaper with soft sage leaves make the room feel welcoming and cozy.
Wallpaper: Willow Boughs, Morris & Co.
Wallpaper: Willow Boughs, Morris & Co.
“The primary bedroom and bathroom complement each other so well,” Pueringer says. Through the birch door is a view of a birch vanity. A diamond pattern composed of 12-by-12-inch Carrara marble and limestone adds an elegant yet playful touch on the floor.
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
The quartz countertops are 2½ inches thick. “I really like the way this thickness works with the proportions in the room,” Pueringer says.
The backsplash, baseboards and shower tile are a zellige called Burnt Sugar. Look in the mirror’s reflection to see how they’re arranged in a herringbone pattern in the shower.
The backsplash, baseboards and shower tile are a zellige called Burnt Sugar. Look in the mirror’s reflection to see how they’re arranged in a herringbone pattern in the shower.
Another William Morris wallpaper pops up in the guest bathroom. The botanical patterns bring a bit of Scottish country farmhouse flavor. Pueringer is thrilled that her clients were open to ideas like wallpaper and the Scandinavian folk handrail. “The most important part of this story is client trust,” she says. “Because they put their trust in me, we were able to truly make this the sophisticated, cozy and practical home they wanted.”
Wallpaper: Pimpernel, Morris & Co.
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Wallpaper: Pimpernel, Morris & Co.
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House at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple
Location: Delano, Minnesota
Size: 2,500 square feet (232 square meters); three bedrooms plus office, three bathrooms
Designer: Emily Pueringer Design Studio
Contractor: Black Dog Homes
The answer was to mix clean-lined architectural bones and light wood tones with layers of soft and sophisticated finishes. Pueringer emphasized straight lines on elements like cabinetry and kept paint colors consistent in the main spaces. Then she cozied things up with textiles, wallpapers and a mix of metal finishes. The result is a durable home with sophisticated style and cozy vibes.