Of the many transitions that accompany Minnesota’s gradual yet euphoric unfurling into summer, some of the most transformative happen at home. Once-cozy dens of hibernation transform into veritable chasms of light: Windows fly open, farmers market blooms spill onto tables, fresh linens replace heavy wools, and outdoor entertaining settles back into an effortless, golden-hour rhythm. Ahead of the season’s full bloom, we sat down with three local experts to discuss their best tips, trends, and products for shaping a summer-ready home—distilling an air of optimism, whimsy, and gratitude into our daily lives.
Photo by Profeshie
Set the Scene
Golden Rule Gallery
If your walls could speak, what would that first breath of fresh summer air elicit? Erin Parrish Duininck, owner of Excelsior’s Golden Rule Gallery, believes that answer is ours to shape. As the creative force behind Golden Rule’s museum-worthy walls, Duininck sees art as one of the most immediate ways to shift a home’s mood.
“My knee-jerk reaction each spring is floral—both literally, bringing in seasonal blooms, and figuratively, through floral and fruit still-life paintings,” she says. “I also tend to favor imagery and poetry that offer a promise of new life.”
Whether you’re looking to swap in fresh frames and seasonal prints or just beginning the daunting task of filling a blank wall, Duininck encourages exploring work by local artists—including atmospheric and playful prints by Isabelle Skoog and Ashley Mary or large-scale oil canvases by Donna Bruni, all staples at Golden Rule.
“I believe a home and everything in it should feel collected and storied,” says Duininck. “Even the smallest touches—a bowl of colorful fruits or clipped budding branches—offer a sense of vitality and newness.” shopgoldenrule.com
Reclaim Entertaining
Madge Home + Market
There are few better ways to enter a summer mentality than inviting music and conversation back into your home. Madeline Warshaw, owner of North Loop’s Madge Home + Market, is dedicated to reviving this lost art, curating her intimate, entertaining-driven shop to be a “living love letter to gathering.” Her first tip for staging an elevated summer soirée? Don’t be afraid to go bold.
“I love block-print textiles for spring entertaining,” she says. “I like to mix floral napkins with a checkered tablecloth to keep it fresh and multidimensional.”
Madge Home + Market
Warshaw also recommends picking up a few of Madge’s cookbooks focused on seasonal produce and low-stress entertaining—including “Chez Panisse Café,” which favors combing local farmers markets and vintage/antique stores ahead of splurging at mass retailers. The result is a rooted, personal gathering that invites guests to fully exhale—and linger long past sunset.
As for drinks? “Pretty glasses and nonalcoholic cocktails are my go-to,” says Warshaw. Her favorite is Ghia, a bittersweet aperitif she describes as “Lambrusco meets Negroni,” best served in Sophie Lou Jacobsen’s mismatched Totem glasses. madgehome.com
Madge Home + Market
Petals With Purpose
Sip N Bloom
Often, sophistication comes down to the details—a truth that David Kisan, third-generation florist and owner of floral experience company Sip N Bloom, knows well. “Flowers are an opportunity to bring bold color and energy into your home. And because they’re temporary, they’re the perfect place to experiment,” he says. “Try new combinations, be playful, let yourself explore.”
Photo by Profeshie
For Kisan, this experimentation takes many forms. When curating dinner parties, he often aims for an air of cohesion, incorporating subtle nods to the dinner menu into his arrangements—like bright pops of yellow and orange to complement a citrus-focused main course. For a more dynamic effect, he recommends sourcing smaller vessels and scattering them throughout the home—on the bar, beside the sink, even in the bathroom—to dissolve the imaginary boundary between home and garden. “These small moments tell your guests that you’ve thought about their entire experience,” he says.
For hands-on floral inspiration, stay tuned for a series of creative activations by Sip N Bloom this season. sip-n-bloom.com
