Mudrooms

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We spoke to Anna Berglin of Anna Berglin Design to get an Interior Designers perspective on mudrooms.

“Mudrooms change lives… Truly”
Hear me out, now. Historically, the purpose of a mudroom was to shed the outside, as farmers (and dirty children) cleaned off before entering the home.
Today, mudrooms do the same, and more…. we have a place to remove outerwear and keep the dirt and snow out of the living spaces. But, as our lives have become increasingly complicated, mudroom design has evolved to accommodate our ever growing collection of gadgets, paperwork, sports equipment, etc. Freeing up the living areas of our homes, thus creates a more peaceful and beautiful place to reside.
How to create your life changing mudroom…..
Customizing your mudroom to meet your family’s needs is time well spent. List your needs and think beyond coats and shoes. Where are the problem spots in your house?
Here are a few ideas to get you started…

Issue:Is your refrigerator crammed to maximum capacity?
Solution:put an extra fridge in the mudroom for the juice boxes and sports drinks. Drawer style refrigerators work excellent and blend seamlessly into a cabinet design. Mudroom refridgerators also serve as a great place to store kids lunches, so they can grab and go.


Issue: Are the kid’s school papers and activity schedules taking over the dining room table?
Solution: Create a “family center” with a slot for each kid’s activity schedules and permission slips. Design a place for a cork board and/or chalk board.


Issue: Where are the golf clubs and the skis? Are they in the garage?
Solution: Customize your shelving and cabinetry to accommodate whatever your sports equipment needs are… deep wide shelves for hockey equipment, slats for the skies or right-sized cubbies for the golf bags.

Issue: Are you a gardener without a proper shed?
Solution: Maybe a potting bench and small sink would be more convenient for you than running out to the garage and back for tools and supplies?

Issue: Where are you bathing Sparky?
Solution: Maybe it makes more sense to bathe the dog right where he enters the house.  Install a deep single bowl sink and a faucet with a good sprayer. If Sparky is a Newfoundland, a dog shower station might be the way to go.

Solution to almost everything: You can never have too many hooks… the more the better.

Now, make it beautiful…..
Now, because your wonderful mudroom is a conditioned part of your home, not a lean-to loosely attached to the side of the house make it stylish and beautiful. You’ll love it all the more!
      Make it a room, not a glorified storage closet. Work from a color palette coordinating the flooring, wall and cabinet surfaces.
  • Color Color Color…  paint your cabinets and don’t be afraid to use some colorful flooring.
  • Art. Incorporate wallpaper and get some art on the walls.
  • Mix in an antique or furniture piece somewhere.
Other considerations….
Flooring:
Flooring should be durable and hide dirt so that you don’t feel inclined to constantly clean it.
My rule of thumb is medium value. Dark flooring will show all the salt and  water spots. Lighter floors will show dirt. Find a medium value material with texture and variance to distract the dirt.
Porcelain is very durable and is available with textured surfaces for a non slip surface
Natural stone will patina over time and will always be relevant

Linoleum in tiles or sheet goods are another wonderful option, as there is no need for grout. Linoleum is a timeless look and will last a century!

Seating:
I like benches that are open underneath to store shoes out of the way and typically have them custom made and built in to maximize every inch of space.

A painted picnic bench or old church pew adds giant style. 

Similar to online banking, the modern day mudroom helps us have more efficient ways of living, so that you can get to the good stuff…. Making holiday cookies and enjoying the movie with the kids.

Mudrooms = better life

Wall Covering – 101

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For many, wall coverings may seem like a thing of the past, however it has come a long way in the past few years. There are many styles and materials to choose from, so here is a simple round up to get rid of any misconceptions you may have about wall coverings.

Printed Wallpaper
Printed wallpaper can be traditional to contemporary in style. There are various methods to create printed papers. They can be screen printed, hand painted, ink-jet printed, hand block printed, and machine printed.

Natural wall coverings

Natural wall coverings can be constructed of grass cloths, corks, woods, jute, hemp, and various other natural products. Some of these products can even be painted or printed on.

Natural wall covering
Natural stone wall covering
Cork wall covering
Grass cloth paper
Vinyl wall coverings
Typically thought of for its use in commercial spaces, vinyl wall covering has made its self known in residential design lately. This is due in large part to its durability, versatility and cost conscious nature.

Specialty Papers
This includes a range of papers such as; hand painted murals, specialty painting, glass, recycled products and various other types.

Hand painted mural
Hand painted mural
Silk paper
Metallic leaf paper
Recycled newspaper wall paper
We hope to have gotten rid of any ugly wallpaper misconceptions you may have previously had and opened your eyes to the beautiful world of wall coverings!
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Early American Architectural Styles

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In honor of Thanksgiving, we  complied a list of Early American Colonial House Styles. Pilgrims did not come from one place but rather multiple backgrounds settled in North America between 1600 and 1800. Men, women and children traveled from various parts of the world, including France, Spain, Latin American and Germany. This mesh of different backgrounds created various cultures  and architectural styles throughout North America. 
We are focusing on the earlier part of  the 1600-1700, as the mid 1700’s rolled in, many additional architectural styles were created. This was due in large part from the blending of different styles, progression in construction methods and new building materials. 
New England Colonial
  • Chimney placed at the center
  • Second story protrudes over first story
  • Saltbox roof shape that slopes down in the rear
  • Diamond-paned windows
Georgian Colonial
  • Symmetrical shape
  • Paneled front door at center
  • Decorative crown over front door
  • Flattened columns on each side of door
  • Five windows across front
  • Medium pitched roof
Spanish Colonial
  • Located in the American South, Southwest, and California
  • Flat roof, or roof with a low pitch
  • Earth, thatch, or clay tile roof covering
  • Thick walls made with rocks, coquina, or adobe brick coated with stucco
  • Small windows
  • Wooden or wrought iron bars across the windows
  • Interior shutters
German Colonial
  • Most often found in New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Maryland
  • Two-feet thick walls made with sandstone
  • Reinforced stone arches above the first floor windows and doors
  • Exposed half-timbering
  • Flared eaves
Cape Cod 
  • Steep pitched roof 
  • 1 or 1½ stories
  • Constructed of wood and sided in wide clapboard or shingles
  • Exterior siding originally left unpainted
  • Large central chimney linked to a fireplace in each room
  • Rectangular shape
  • Center-hall floor plan
French Colonial 
  • Found along Mississippi river valley, mainly in the south
  • wide hipped roof extends over porches
  • living quarters raised above ground level
  • wide porches, called “galleries”
  • no interior hallways
  • french doors 
Dutch Colonial
  • Located in New York State and nearby areas in Delaware, New Jersey, and western Connecticut
  • Stone or brick construction
  • Dutch doors 
  • Matching chimneys on each side, or a massive wishbone-shaped chimney at the front
  • Gambrel roof with flared eaves

We wish you and your family a happy, safe Thanksgiving from all of us at Purcell!

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Eating your way through the Twin Cities

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We sat down with interior designer, Krista Schwartz, principle of Indicia Interior Design. To get her opinion on the best eats in the Twin Cities. Looking forward to trying out some new great local restaurants, and so glad we have a recommendation or two of what to eat!

Mango Thai

The restaurant is very small, but it’s a hidden gem, so you can usually expect to wait for a table. Krista recommends eating off the appetizer menu.

Sonora Grill

Krista recommends the shrimp caramelos… they are her favorite!


Fuji Ya
Best sushi

Joans in the Park
Great dinner, they offer full service in the bar which is casual. Great roasted turnips, get them as a side!

Rusty Taco

Rusty’s has a great quick lunch- fabulous tacos on corn tortillas and great chips! Best part, it’s right down the street from our office!

Resturante Luci

Meritage
Meritage is my favorite dinner spot downtown St. Paul. It’s simple and homey. Krista’s favorite is the crispy all natural half chicken.

Maria’s Cafe

Punch Pizza

Hands down the best pizza in the Twin Cities, try the Rugula pizza!

Taste of Thailand
Great takeout, Recommended is number 38 with chicken. It appears Krista is not the only to favorite the Pra Ram Long Song, it’s a best seller!

Shish Cafe
Great gyros, perfect for lunch or take out!

Of Course we can’t forget about dessert… Sweets Bakeshop has great salted carmel macaroons!

For more information on these great restaurants, click on the restaurants name. Do you have any additional recommendations for us?

Holiday Entertaining

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Holiday entertaining can be extremely rewarding, as well as extremely stressful. We sat down again with our friends at Kitchen Comfort to get the Interior Designers tips and tricks on creating the perfect holiday gathering. 
  • Eat with your eyes first. The table setting is going to be seen prior to the food.
  • Presentation is VERY important! Especially when serving food, you need balance, symmetry and color. “This all leads back to one of the first things I learned in school,” says Gina. It’s all about the elements and principles of design .
  • Centerpieces

    • Adding a centerpiece to your holiday gathering does not have to be expensive, but going the extra mile to incorporate a centerpiece shows them you care. 
      • A easy, inexpensive centerpiece can be made with dollar store vases and carnations. Carving out the center of the pumpkin and filling it with inexpensive flowers gives a very luxe- presentation but only costs a few dollars.
    • Do not block guests eye sight with tall floral arrangements, this will make conversation less comfortable for your guests. If the guests have direct eye sight to each other, it makes conversation easier. 
      • If you do have a centerpiece over 12″, remove it prior to serving the first course.
  • Table setting
    • Don’t be fussy
    • Keep drink ware simple, place a water glass and wine glass on the table. If the guest wants additional glasses, you can get them one from the kitchen. 
    • Be sure your cutlery is set up appropriately (see below)
  • Dining
    • Of course the food is important, I hope we didn’t give you that impression!
    • Serve platted dinners, not buffet style. People love being served, even if they don’t make it known.
    • Brenda says ” I always wait at least ten minutes between courses, this gives people time to chat and sip wine.”
    • Serve in Courses
      • 1st- Soup
      • 2nd- Salad- Sprinkle salad with pomegranate seeds if possible. It adds great color and they are readily available throughout the fall and winter seasons.
      • 3rd- Bakery fresh rolls with homemade herb butter. Fresh bakery rolls are so much tastier then take and bake rolls. I go to my favorite local bakery to pick up fresh rolls the day of my dinner party.
        • Serve butter in individual ramekins
        • Herb butter is so simple and impressive- easy recipe here!
      • 4th- Entree and side dishes
        • Winter Squash with Spiced Butter
        Winter Squash with Spiced Butter- Bon Appetit
        • Winter squash recipe is simple and adds beautiful color to the plate, recipe here!
      • 5th- Dessert- wait 30-45 minutes, offer coffee in the meantime
  • Another important thing to remember when preparing for any dinner party, give yourself a few days to prepare. This way you won’t feel overwhelmed and don’t enjoy the company and food. 
    • 3 days prior- Make menu and shop
    • Day before- Prepare what you can. Brenda calls this “chopping, dicing and peeling day.”
    • Day of party- Set table, cook and enjoy!
Now that you know the best tips on holiday entertaining, incorporate them into your next dinner party! Thank you again to the ladies of Kitchen Comfort!

Cheers!

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Basilica of Saint Mary and Saint Paul Cathedral

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Comparing two great historic buildings in the Twin Cities….  Basilica of Saint Mary and The Saint Paul Cathedral. Both of which have similar architectural features and share the same architect, it’s no wonder they are both such show stopping buildings.

Basilica of Saint Mary

Basilica of Saint Mary

Interior of  Basilica of Saint Mary

Saint Paul Cathedral

Saint Paul Cathedral

Interior of Saint Paul Cathedral

Have you had a chance to tour these stunning architectural treats?

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All the Craze – Chickens!

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For this post, we thought we would talk about the unique and rapidly growing trend of backyard chickens, since some of us at Purcell have them! Backyard chickens are not allowed in all cities, you will need to check your local ordinances.

Interesting Facts:

  • Shell color is only “skin deep” the eggs color on the inside are the same, no matter what the shell color is
  • Egg production varies on the chicken, some lay eggs everyday while others may only lay eggs twice per week
  • Hens don’t typically lay eggs in the dark, they will wait until the next sunrise
  • Hens will lay eggs, weather or not they have ever seen a rooster. The rooster is only necessary for the fertilization of eggs
  • A chicken eggs yolk color will vary from  pale yellow to orange, depending on what the chicken has been eating
  • Each chicken requires about 4 square feet of space in a coop
  • There are hundreds of varieties of backyard chickens, here you can see which chickens would be acceptable in your climate
There are many different online sources to get your started, this is an excellent site that goes over everything from coops, breed and feed.
Plymouth Barred Rock (Dixie)- lays brown eggs
Ameraucana ( Libby)- lays blue eggs
Rhode Island Reds (foreground- Poppy and Lucy)- Brown eggs
Ameraucana ( Hazel) – lays blue and green eggs
Light Brahma Hen
Chuckoo Maran Hen- Chocolate Brown Eggs

 
Buff Orpington Hen- Light Brown Eggs
Tullip , The Friendly Buff
Ameraucana Rooster
Ameraucana Rooster
A friends lavish chicken coop
Converted from a backyard shed to a coop
The Roost
Nesting Boxes

Well that’s all about the backyard chicken craze for now! We hope we sparked a little interest in this quickly growing trend. 

Featured Designer- Talla Skogmo

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Talla Skogmo designs interiors that live as beautifully as they look.

Talla believes projects are created and measured by teams — client, designer, architect and builder. She has been an Interior Designer for three decades and has kept the same philosophy;  creating spaces that fulfill her client’s needs in a timeless and tasteful style.

Share your background
I have a degree in interior design from The University of Minnesota, and have been an interior designer for 35 years. 27 years at Gunkelmans Interior Design and 8 years with my own firm, Talla Skogmo Interior Design.
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why
I am very happy where I am, I love traveling but the best part is always coming home. We have enjoyed having a second home in the mountains and perhaps someday could see myself living in Colorado, getting lots of exercise and fresh air!
Describe your dream home in five words
Comfortable, unique, full of family
What are your hobbies
Watching my children excel at their dreams, snow skiing and traveling
Five things you can’t live without
Family, nature, antiques, good food, and beautiful architecture
What are your favorite local shops and restaurants
I love Ciao Bella and Mill Valley Kitchen. When I spend my days shopping for clients, shopping is not the onl ything on my agenda.
Describe your favorite project
Working for a client on probably our fourth home for them in Naples, Florida. We were very involved in every aspect of the project, from the architecture to the last vase in the home. A formal yet comfortable home, designed for day to day living but also welcoming guests, and entertaining. It was a unique and wonderful opportunity to have such involvement with the project.
 

Who is your favorite artist/furniture designer
I love Rose Tarlow- Melrose House
What is your favorite room in your home and why
Our living room, it’s the original great room, complete with  an inglenook fireplace, butternut beam ceilings and plenty of group seating groups for entertaining small and large. ( My home has never been photographed)

Fill in the blank, no home would be complete without…
Great lighting
Do you have “go to” paint colors
You can always count on Benjamin Moore 967, for a perfect white in both contemporary and traditional interiors.
Thank you Talla, check out more of Talla’s work here!