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Houzz Tour: Scandi and Country Style Meet in a Modern Farmhouse
A warm neutral palette, natural materials and a relaxed feel characterise this new-build home on a working farm
For this new build on a Minnesota horse farm, the design was all about balance between Scandinavian modern and sophisticated country styles. The homeowners are a retired couple who had been inspired by a recent trip to Europe when they met interior designer Emily Pueringer.
“They came back really into Scandinavian modern style,” Emily says. “Because this is a horse farm, they were also into an equestrian Ralph Lauren look, meaning plaid patterns and colours such as deep green, burgundy and brown. They also told me they loved the feel of Scottish country farmhouses. They wanted sophisticated style, but because this is a farm and they have a large dog, it needed to be practical and durable. At first I thought, ‘How in the world am I going to make all of that work?’”
“They came back really into Scandinavian modern style,” Emily says. “Because this is a horse farm, they were also into an equestrian Ralph Lauren look, meaning plaid patterns and colours such as deep green, burgundy and brown. They also told me they loved the feel of Scottish country farmhouses. They wanted sophisticated style, but because this is a farm and they have a large dog, it needed to be practical and durable. At first I thought, ‘How in the world am I going to make all of that work?’”
The front entrance sets the tone for the home. Creamy walls, wood beams and birch woodwork make up the warm base. “I used vintage Turkish rugs throughout the house,” Emily says. “They’re very durable and can stand up to my clients’ dog.”
Upon entering the home, the space opens up to the kitchen, living room and dining room. “My clients knew they wanted a vaulted ceiling, and it makes the house feel a lot bigger,” Emily says.
Behind the railing are steps that lead to a fully finished basement. It contains two bedrooms, a bathroom and a den.
Walls painted in Blondie, Portola Paints.
Upon entering the home, the space opens up to the kitchen, living room and dining room. “My clients knew they wanted a vaulted ceiling, and it makes the house feel a lot bigger,” Emily says.
Behind the railing are steps that lead to a fully finished basement. It contains two bedrooms, a bathroom and a den.
Walls painted in Blondie, Portola Paints.
A two-sided fireplace faces both the kitchen and the family room. “The goal for this house was to keep it clean and simple while adding just the right amount of character,” Emily says.
A large dose of character comes from the bespoke banisters, which are one of the most striking elements in the house. “I was desperate to do something fun for a handrail and I thought it was an opportunity to bring in a Scandinavian folk vibe,” Emily says. “At the time, I was reading a German book by a man who was fascinated with balustrades, and I also drew inspiration from the historic town of Stillwater, Minnesota, where you see similar railings on many front porches.”
She designed the pattern, put it into CAD and the cabinet-makers fabricated it.
A large dose of character comes from the bespoke banisters, which are one of the most striking elements in the house. “I was desperate to do something fun for a handrail and I thought it was an opportunity to bring in a Scandinavian folk vibe,” Emily says. “At the time, I was reading a German book by a man who was fascinated with balustrades, and I also drew inspiration from the historic town of Stillwater, Minnesota, where you see similar railings on many front porches.”
She designed the pattern, put it into CAD and the cabinet-makers fabricated it.
Three large windows over the sink bring lots of natural light into the kitchen. Emily custom-designed the island to stand out. “I knew I wanted it to have chunky legs,” she says.
All the cabinetry, like the woodwork, is rotary-sawn birch. “This means it shows off the beautiful grain in the wood,” she says.
All the cabinetry, like the woodwork, is rotary-sawn birch. “This means it shows off the beautiful grain in the wood,” she says.
Another vintage Turkish rug adds pattern and one of the clients’ favourite colours, burgundy, to the floor in the kitchen.
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The perimeter worktops, splashback and sink apron are Verde Vivo quartzite, which brings in another homeowner favourite, deep green. “Anytime I have an opportunity to bring in another natural material, I go for it,” Emily says. “The island [worktop] is a paler quartzite, which lightens up the room.”
She used polished nickel on plumbing fixtures throughout the house. This finish has warmth to it that allowed her to mix metals, such as brushed brass on light fixtures and oil-rubbed bronze cabinet hardware.
She used polished nickel on plumbing fixtures throughout the house. This finish has warmth to it that allowed her to mix metals, such as brushed brass on light fixtures and oil-rubbed bronze cabinet hardware.
On the other side of the fireplace is the living room. “My clients requested bookshelves for displaying books and things they love,” Emily says. The birch shelves flank a window seat with a deep red cushion.
The flooring throughout the house is engineered hardwood. “They work the horse farm themselves and have a big dog, so we needed the flooring to be durable and low-maintenance,” Emily says.
The flooring throughout the house is engineered hardwood. “They work the horse farm themselves and have a big dog, so we needed the flooring to be durable and low-maintenance,” Emily says.
The living room is open to the dining room, which has a casual Scandinavian country vibe.
The dining table has clean Scandinavian modern style with a carved detail underneath the top. Emily designed the built-in sideboard under the windows and included a beverage fridge within it. A trio of sconces over the windows provides light for the unit.
The windows and French doors look over the meadows, woods and wetlands on the property.
The windows and French doors look over the meadows, woods and wetlands on the property.
Details like the classic chairs and the deep colours in the plaid seat cushions add country touches.
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This cosy three-season porch is off the living room. It has EZ-Screen vinyl windows that protect it from the elements. These slide down and stack when it’s screen season.
This photo provides one of the best glimpses of the beautiful countryside surrounding the house.
“My clients are incredibly hardworking and active, and they spend a lot of time outdoors,” Emily says. This casual side entry is the entrance they use when coming in from farm work.
The space can be entered off the side of the house and through the garage. In addition to the boot room, seen here, there’s a laundry room and a full bathroom back here.
Emily connected these spaces through colour, wallpaper and flooring, elements that lend a British boot-room type vibe. After all, this is where the homeowners will be coming in and taking off their boots after working and riding.
The space can be entered off the side of the house and through the garage. In addition to the boot room, seen here, there’s a laundry room and a full bathroom back here.
Emily connected these spaces through colour, wallpaper and flooring, elements that lend a British boot-room type vibe. After all, this is where the homeowners will be coming in and taking off their boots after working and riding.
Emily used Arto Brick flooring throughout the back spaces. “This flooring is very durable,” she says.
She had the cabinet-makers cut horseshoe shapes into the coat cabinets. Wallpaper adds deep colour and a botanical pattern to the space.
“My client said she absolutely did not want wallpaper in the house, but I promised her if she let me show her five wallpapers and still didn’t want to, I’d never bring it up again,” Emily says. “When I showed her William Morris wallpapers, she was speechless. I think when a lot of people think of wallpaper, they think of 1980s wallpaper. There are such incredible, beautifully hand-printed options out there today.”
Bird & Pomegranate wallpaper, Morris & Co.
She had the cabinet-makers cut horseshoe shapes into the coat cabinets. Wallpaper adds deep colour and a botanical pattern to the space.
“My client said she absolutely did not want wallpaper in the house, but I promised her if she let me show her five wallpapers and still didn’t want to, I’d never bring it up again,” Emily says. “When I showed her William Morris wallpapers, she was speechless. I think when a lot of people think of wallpaper, they think of 1980s wallpaper. There are such incredible, beautifully hand-printed options out there today.”
Bird & Pomegranate wallpaper, Morris & Co.
This laundry room is where the couple wash clothing and linens. They have a second laundry area in the basement for things such as horse blankets.
Emily topped the V-groove wainscoting with a carved rope-like moulding detail. “This was a little nod to equestrian style,” she says.
Emily topped the V-groove wainscoting with a carved rope-like moulding detail. “This was a little nod to equestrian style,” she says.
Rather than opting for just a cloakroom back here, the homeowners added a shower to their wish list. They can come in after doing the horse work, take off their boots and head straight to the shower.
The basin is brown Emperador marble and the tiles are zellige.
The basin is brown Emperador marble and the tiles are zellige.
The couple’s bedroom also has a vaulted ceiling and a vintage Turkish rug. “The windows are south-west-facing, which is so lovely,” Emily says.
She layered the room with soft sage green, burgundy and aubergine. Each homeowner has a comfy armchair in here.
She layered the room with soft sage green, burgundy and aubergine. Each homeowner has a comfy armchair in here.
Simple country bedside tables, a plaid blanket and wallpaper with soft sage leaves make the room feel welcoming and cosy.
Willow Boughs wallpaper, Morris & Co.
Willow Boughs wallpaper, Morris & Co.
“The primary bedroom and bathroom complement each other so well,” Emily says. Through the birch door is a view of a birch vanity unit. A diamond pattern composed of 30cm sq Carrara marble and limestone adds an elegant yet playful touch on the floor.
The quartz vanity unit top is more than 6cm thick. “I really like the way this thickness works with the proportions in the room,” Emily says.
The splashback, baseboards and shower tiles are a zellige called Burnt Sugar. Look in the mirror’s reflection to see how they’re arranged in a herringbone pattern in the shower.
The splashback, baseboards and shower tiles are a zellige called Burnt Sugar. Look in the mirror’s reflection to see how they’re arranged in a herringbone pattern in the shower.
Another William Morris wallpaper pops up in the guest bathroom. The botanical patterns bring a bit of Scottish country farmhouse flavour. Emily is thrilled that her clients were open to ideas such as wallpaper and the Scandinavian folk handrail.
“The most important part of this story is client trust,” she says. “Because they put their trust in me, we were able to truly make this the sophisticated, cosy and practical home they wanted.”
Pimpernel wallpaper, Morris & Co.
Tell us…
What do you like best about the style of this home? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
“The most important part of this story is client trust,” she says. “Because they put their trust in me, we were able to truly make this the sophisticated, cosy and practical home they wanted.”
Pimpernel wallpaper, Morris & Co.
Tell us…
What do you like best about the style of this home? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
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Who lives here? A retired couple
Location Delano, Minnesota, USA
Size Three bedrooms (plus office) and three bathrooms; 232 sq m
Designer Emily Pueringer Design Studio
Contractor Black Dog Homes
Photos by Paige Kendall
The answer was to mix clean-lined architectural bones and pale wood tones with layers of soft and sophisticated finishes.
Emily emphasised straight lines on elements such as the cabinetry and kept paint colours consistent in the main spaces. Then she cosied things up with textiles, wallpapers and a mix of metal finishes. The result is a durable home with sophisticated style and cosy vibes.
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