Yearly Archives: 2009

Window Dilemma…

In every new construction or remodeling project, there are many building codes which need to be met. One of those codes involves egress windows and it dictates the minimum size of a window in a bedroom area. The code in Minnesota states, among other things, that an egress window provides a minimum net clear opening […]

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Attic – the Framing Stage

The attic conversion of this 1930’s St. Paul home was prompted by the forthcoming addition to the family that lives there. They simply needed a bit more space for their growing family, and the blank slate of the unfinished attic space provided a perfect opportunity for expansion. When a project is in its first stage, […]

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A Biedermeier Comeback?

I read somewhere recently that Biedermeier furniture is making a comeback. Well, I have the opinion that something that classic is never out of style, so how can it make a comeback? In any case, I thought it would be interesting to write a little about the Biedermeier style which I absolutely adore for its […]

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Color, Part Four, and (sigh) the end of the series…

For the last of the four-part series on the Sherwin-Williams 2010 color trends, we’re going to take a bit of a departure from the previous three! “Refreshed” is fresh, youthful, optimistic… a return to pretty things and romance and sunny days… it’s the 1960’s spirit with 1980’s jewel tones. (Have you noticed the 80’s comeback?) […]

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Color, Part Three!

We’ve covered two trends so far, “Rooted” and “Simplicity”, and today’s category in the 2010 color trend preview is “Treasured”. This style embraces the growing “use what we have” mentality of re-purposing and takes inspiration from flea-market finds, artisan-made objects, and heirloom pieces. Imperfections can lend richness to our environment in the forms of natural […]

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"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication", or Color, Part Two!

Last week I started a four-part series on the color forecast for 2010. I’m sure you would agree that it’s a very exciting topic! Today we’ll look at a very sophisticated, elegant palette, which Sherwin-Williams calls “Simplified”. There is nothing simple about colors called “Enigma” or “Magnetic Gray”! However, this palette embraces the concept of […]

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The New Colors are Here!

There are many things I love about this time of year, but one of the most exciting is that the next year’s color trends are announced! As designers, we see colors come and go, and come back again, sometimes in slightly different shades. Based on a wide variety of factors, color trends are largely influenced […]

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Coastal Living in Minnesota?

I don’t know exactly how, but I’ve ended up on the mailing list for Coastal Living magazine. As a designer, it’s important to keep up on design trends from around the country, but much of it doesn’t pertain to our particular climate and the suburban or city homes that most of our clients live in. […]

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Mother Nature’s Perfect Design

My husband and I spent this past weekend on the north shore, camping and hiking and generally renewing our spirits. As avid birdwatchers, we spent the better part of an hour watching an osprey preening itself atop a tree trunk high above the Cascade River. Although I’m no Thoreau, the experience gave me the idea […]

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