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Cottage Redux

Photo by Alex Steinberg

This cottage, built at turn of the twentieth century, is tucked into a wooded lot near the Greenway and the hustle of Uptown. The current homeowners, a family with two young children, loved its convenience, but were fed up with its college-furniture décor. They decided that either the house had to grow up or it was time for a move. “I needed a place to bring business colleagues and not be embarrassed,” the homeowner explains. “At the same time, we needed a comfortable home for family and friends.” They called on Martha Dayton, a friend whose design tastes they admire and who is also principal of Martha Dayton Design, to discuss their options. The house had been updated over the years, including a 1989 great room addition by the previous owner that added levels, skylights, and a forward-looking concrete floor to the living space. Dayton and associate Kelly Perry were confident that the right layout and furniture would transform the tired space. “Stay put,” they advised.

1 High-Low

Everyone agreed this project should not break the bank. It would include a few special (read higher priced) pieces mixed with finds from Minnesota’s darlings of moderately priced furniture, Room & Board and Blu Dot. The homeowners already owned the “Barcelona” chair and splurged on the Frank Gehry “Hat Trick” chair of bent plywood, investing in it as they would a piece of art. (The couple is very active in the local art and design community.) Dayton suggested the more affordable “Jasper” sectional (customized in creamy leather) and “Otto” chairs from Room & Board, and Blu Dot coffee tables. The Ligne Roset oversized lamp keeps the whole thing from being too serious. Adding a special piece, some cozy throws, and your own art to a room saves it from that furniture-showroom look.
 

Photo by Alex Steinberg

2 Go Graphic

We like the use of graphic shapes and pattern here. The basic neutral (black, white, gray, cream) color palette is thoughtfully broken by only the green Blu Dot coffee table and the red throw pillows. But colors aren’t enough. Don’t be wimpy with shapes. The strong organic shapes in the rug, the chairs, and the undulating Gehry chair contrast with the crisp lines of the black leather “Barcelona” chair and dark shade of the lamp. Even the wood-burning stove lends its form to the graphic composition.
 

3 Multi-task

A long room with two levels can be a layout challenge, but Dayton and Perry wisely divided this space into two seating areas, one for intimate conversation or for an overnight guest (Pietro Arosio’s gray flannel “Sliding Sofa” from Design Within Reach does double duty) and the second for enjoying the fire, watching a movie, and entertaining a larger group. Hmmm…. There is still a little something college apartment about a sleeper sofa in the living room—and it’s something you might never want to outgrow.
 

Alecia Stevens is a Minneapolis writer and interior designer.

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