Photographs by Eliesa Johnson
Homeowners Dario and Jeanne Anselmo’s love of classic European style and modern luxury combine in this year’s Mpls.St.Paul Magazine ASID MN Showcase Home People’s Choice awards. See the rooms that won attention and be inspired by how local designers brought the Anselmos’ vision of a greige home to life through texture and flair.
Kitchen and Kitchen Nook/Hearth
A neutral color palette can sometimes look bland, but Allied ASID designer Diane Lumpkin, of Diane Lumpkin Design, and ASID designer Bonnie Birnbaum, of Bonnie Birnbaum Interiors, added interest by playing up greige fixtures with varying textures. It turned out to be the tour-goers’ favorite part of the spaces. “People really liked the color palette of whites, taupes, and grays that had textural changes from the marble tile, gleaming stainless steel appliances, soft taupe wood of the island, and sparkling Murano glass light fixtures,” Lumpkin says. Another admired element was the open floor plan. Since the homeowners decided to forego a traditional eat-in kitchen, the design team used the kitchen nook as an area for Jeanne and Dario to unwind in front of the fire at the end of the day. “You could envision yourself sitting in front of the fireplace with a glass of wine from the wine fridge after dinner,” Lumpkin says.
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In the kitchen, a dual-level island by Cambria allows room for the kids to do homework and for Jeanne toroll out her famous homemade caramels.
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In lieu of a traditional eat-in kitchen, casual barstool seating around the island freed up space for a kitchen nook, complete with a fireplace and wine cooler.
Master Suite
“Peaceful” was often repeated as tour-goers walked through the master suite, designed by Allied ASID designer Keri Olson of KOR Interior Design and ASID designer Kimberly Herrick of Herrick Design Group. Since the room mainly consists of neutral shades, texture-rich fabrics brought the space to life. Statement pieces such as the bed frame and crystal chandelier add luxurious touches, but the small details were important, too. “When we put the bedding together and surveyed the room, we realized we would need some punch on the bed,” Olson says. “We dropped charcoal gray in with the throw pillows and the end of the bed coverlet, and it was just the ticket. It goes to show that it often comes down to the smallest details that bring the whole look together.”
“The smallest details bring the whole look together.”
—Keri Olson, Kor Interior Design
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A painting by local artist Gee Gee Collins from Art Resources Gallery at IMS adds a pop of color to the neutral-toned master suite.
Lower Level
The goal for the Gabberts Design Studio team—Allied ASID designers Heidi Dockter, Cindy Abramovitz, and Lauradeen Potretzke—was to transform the long, narrow basement with low ceilings into a dual-purpose space: a family room for playing games and watching movies, and an office for Dario. Against a color scheme of taupe, ivory, tan, warm gray, and black, elements such as a pizza oven, wine cooler, and a niche for Dario’s autographed guitar collection made this a tour favorite. Visitors were most impressed by the custom maple wall paneling, black fireplace surround, carefully selected artwork, and designated gaming area. “The lower level was transformed into an open, inviting, and embracing gathering area,” Abramovitz says. “People wanted to linger there.”
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The design of the lower level appeals to the family’s love of hunting and gaming.
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The design of the lower level appeals to the family’s love of hunting and gaming.
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Boys’ Suite
The design team of David Heide, Michael Crull, and Elizabeth Mueller, all Allied ASID designers from David Heide Design Studio, may have had the biggest challenge of all: transforming a dark basement into a suite for the Anselmos’ two teenage sons. To achieve cohesiveness across two bedrooms and a bathroom, clean lines and a fresh, warm color palette provided the foundation of the design, but when it came to the bedrooms, two distinct personalities were expressed. One bedroom features a mix of tribal and industrial elements—such as an eye-catching steampunk lamp—while the other reflects a love for skiing, complete with miniature skier figurines adhered to a wall. “There were many comments about how the spaces felt really lived-in and not staged,” Heide says. “We also heard comments about how the rooms were different from the rest of the house—more playful and colorful.”
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Mudroom
Allied ASID designers Peggy Augustine and Teresa Antonneau of Augustine Interiors realized the importance of a functional, but beautiful, mudroom from the beginning, filling the space with sparkling countertops, industrial light fixtures, a herringbone-patterned floor, and wood grain storage cabinets. Tour-goers appreciated the attention to detail and versatility of the space, but the biggest compliment came from the homeowners. “They said the mudroom was so beautiful, they didn’t want to call it a ‘mudroom,’” Augustine says. “‘Lifestyle room’ and ‘Grand Central Station’ were mentioned!”
“The mudroom was so beautiful, they didn’t want to call it a ‘mudroom.’”
—Peggy Augustine, Augustine Interiors
Mudroom
Foyer, Living Room, and Stairs
Working with an asymmetrical floor plan, Allied ASID designer Jennifer Austin-McGrath, of Fine House Interiors + Design, LLC, and ASID designer Angela Parker, of Interior Places and Spaces, LLC, created unity and balance in the foyer, living room, and stairs. They craved individual personalities for each of the three spaces, but also wanted the main living areas to feel cohesive. Through the lens of “tradition with a twist,” they mixed classic and modern furnishings and architectural details. “I particularly love the two English sitting chairs that are covered in a Schumacher embroidered Italian wool,” Austin-McGrath says. “They reflect an upscale style, but still have a homey, comfortable look.” But the element that won over tour-goers was the vaulted ceiling with rustic beams, which added a hint of casual in an otherwise formal setting and completely transformed the room. “Everyone loved the dramatic and classic transformation of each space,” Parker says. “The basic 1950s rambler was completely refurbished inside and out with an elegant yet livable environment.”
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Wooden beams from Afton, Minnesota, add a rustic twist to the formal living area.
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Wooden beams from Afton, Minnesota, add a rustic twist to the formal living area.
