Houzz Tour: Warm, Woodsy and Welcoming Family Home
A kitchen designed for gatherings is the centerpiece of this new Minnesota house with European farmhouse vibes
When interior designer Emily Pueringer’s cousin Margaux Christianson first asked her to design her new home in Independence, Minnesota, the designer firmly said no three times before giving in. “We’ve all heard those stories about working with family. Margaux is like a sister to me, she’d just moved back to this area, and I didn’t want to jeopardize our relationship,” Pueringer says. “Also, I knew she’d have really high expectations and I’d never done a new-construction project on my own before.”
Eventually, Christianson wore her dear cousin down and the designer accepted the challenge. She dubbed the home Chateau Margaux and gave it a warm European farmhouse feel, full of thoughtful and memorable details. The project was a labor of love — and the cousins couldn’t be more thrilled with the results.
Eventually, Christianson wore her dear cousin down and the designer accepted the challenge. She dubbed the home Chateau Margaux and gave it a warm European farmhouse feel, full of thoughtful and memorable details. The project was a labor of love — and the cousins couldn’t be more thrilled with the results.
The first must-have on Christianson’s list was a lucky rooster in the kitchen. Pueringer worked a pleasantly plump crower into the hand-painted terra-cotta backsplash tile by Tabarka Studio. His personality was also a tone-setter in terms of style. “The style is definitely eclectic,” Pueringer says.
The overall style of the home nods to European farmhouses in a fresh way. The wood ceiling beams, unlacquered brass finishes, hand-painted tile and terra-cotta-colored Lacanche range bring in the look. The cabinetry finishes are a mix of white oak and Benjamin Moore’s Creamy White paint.
The color of the range provided a jumping-off point for the room, as well as in other areas in the house. It also serves as a focal point.
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The color of the range provided a jumping-off point for the room, as well as in other areas in the house. It also serves as a focal point.
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Pueringer laid out the kitchen in a way that allowed for expansive windows along the room’s two exterior walls. To make up for the lack of upper cabinet storage on those walls, she provided extensive storage in the island, along the interior walls and in a butler’s pantry.
Countertops: Cambria
Countertops: Cambria
A banquette surrounded by windows on two sides provides a cozy eat-in spot in the light-filled room.
Countertop cabinets with glass panes maintain a light look on either side of the range. The designer also added two open boxes next to the range for keeping ingredients handy.
This arched opening off the kitchen leads to the foyer. “I have to admit, the house plans were just about done when I came across a photo with arched doorways,” Pueringer says. “I told Margaux, ‘We should add arches!’ ” Her cousin was all for it. The curves add architectural interest, softness and an old-world feel to the home.
On the other side of the range, another arched opening connects the kitchen and the great room. This makes for an easy flow, especially during parties.
The designer tucked the large Sub-Zero fridge along another interior wall and camouflaged it with panel fronts. Its placement is within a convenient work triangle comprising the range, island and island prep sink. The opening to the right leads to the butler’s pantry.
A large butler’s pantry was an absolute must for the way Christianson likes to set up her kitchen and entertain. The arched entry, beautiful cabinetry, quartz countertops and showstopping Orange Grove wallpaper by Mitchell Black make for a beautiful view into the space. Christianson’s family traditions of gardening and canning inspired the choice of the botanical print.
The butler’s pantry includes counter space for prep work, a large sink, ample storage and glass cabinets to display favorite glassware. One thing the kitchen doesn’t have is a microwave. “Margaux didn’t grow up with one, never uses one and didn’t want one,” Pueringer says.
The space is so inviting that during parties, guests can be found hanging out in here sipping bourbon.
The space is so inviting that during parties, guests can be found hanging out in here sipping bourbon.
Another arched opening off the walk-in pantry leads to the mudroom.
Flooring: Ceramic Tileworks
Flooring: Ceramic Tileworks
With its wood trim, wide-plank flooring, woven pendant lights and its ambassador, family dog Blue, the front entry is as welcoming as the kitchen. Alder doors with large glass panes and sidelights fill the space with natural light.
“My cousin and I grew up in the deep woods, and nature has always been a big part of our lives,” Pueringer says. “And with our weather, we like to bring in the outdoors as much as possible.” This meant bringing in lots of natural elements.
The foyer makes a first impression that’s a sophisticated take on woodsy. Pueringer papered the staircase wall and this alcove across from it in log-patterned wallpaper by Sanderson. The flooring is 11-inch-wide planks of engineered hardwood. The wide planks lend a comfortable feeling of age.
Floor planks in Saint Moritz color: Urban Floor
The foyer makes a first impression that’s a sophisticated take on woodsy. Pueringer papered the staircase wall and this alcove across from it in log-patterned wallpaper by Sanderson. The flooring is 11-inch-wide planks of engineered hardwood. The wide planks lend a comfortable feeling of age.
Floor planks in Saint Moritz color: Urban Floor
The foyer leads to the great room, and Blue is happy to take us there. Baskets underneath the console table provide a spot to stash outerwear upon entering.
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Find the right console table for your home
A fireplace serves as the focal point in the room. Large windows provide views out to the trees. The French pocket door on the left leads to a screened-in porch. Pueringer added hefty shelves on the left side of the fireplace that play off the mantel, and a seating alcove to the right of it. The large scale of the chandelier fits the space beautifully.
Nottaway chandelier: Currey & Co.
Nottaway chandelier: Currey & Co.
The painting over the fireplace belonged to Christianson’s mother. “This was always my favorite painting in their house growing up. It always spoke to me,” Pueringer says. She recommended giving it a place of prominence.
The mantel and shelves are white oak. The finish on all the white oak millwork in the house is clear matte catalyzed lacquer.
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The mantel and shelves are white oak. The finish on all the white oak millwork in the house is clear matte catalyzed lacquer.
Find a local fireplace contractor
In the powder room, the sink, arched mirror, tile and niche lend a vintage feel to the new home. Note the way Pueringer repeated the tile she used around the bottom of the room inside the niche. These little touches make the home feel extra special. Along with the finishes she chose, they enhance the old-world European farmhouse feel.
In the primary bedroom, nightstands styled after campaign chests provide extra storage, while an upholstered headboard adds softness to the space.
Pueringer repeated the arch detail in this primary bedroom alcove. The house has a separate computer room, so this space doesn’t have to serve as a full-time office. The map of Lake of the Woods, Minnesota, belonged to Christianson’s father.
Just as it does in the kitchen, terra cotta plays a major role in the primary bathroom. The hexagonal floor tiles are terra-cotta-colored, the hand-painted backsplash tiles are terra cotta, and even the color of the grout in the shower is terra cotta. A pair of mirrors continue the arch theme.
Pueringer gave the nursery an accent wallpaper in a feather print.
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Check out our beginner’s guide to get started on your home project
In the bedroom the two older boys share, Pueringer wanted to give them a wallpaper that would grow with them. “The map is fun but not too babyish,” she says.
Because all three kids share this bathroom, Pueringer put together a smart layout. At one end is a private toilet room and at the other is the shower, both separated from the vanity area by pocket doors. “It’s possible for all three of them to use the bathroom at once and still have privacy,” she says.
“Margaux wanted a house that would have special things about it that her children would always remember,” Pueringer says. “We thought about them saying, ‘Hey, remember that crazy blowfish wallpaper we had in our bathroom when we were growing up?’ when we chose this.”
Faucets: Moen; wallpaper: Acquario, Cole & Son; countertops: Cambria; hardware: Armac Martin
“Margaux wanted a house that would have special things about it that her children would always remember,” Pueringer says. “We thought about them saying, ‘Hey, remember that crazy blowfish wallpaper we had in our bathroom when we were growing up?’ when we chose this.”
Faucets: Moen; wallpaper: Acquario, Cole & Son; countertops: Cambria; hardware: Armac Martin
Christianson, left, and Pueringer enjoy a toast to Chateau Margaux here. “This project pushed me to new limits, and Margaux even pushed me to start my own business,” Pueringer says. She’s very glad her beloved cousin kept after her to design the home.
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House at a Glance
Who lives here: Margaux and Paul Christianson, their three boys and their dog
Location: Independence, Minnesota
Size: 5,400 square feet (502 square meters); five bedrooms, four bathrooms (including basement)
Designer: Emily Pueringer
“When I asked Margaux how she wanted the new house to feel, she said, ‘I want every single day to feel like Christmas,’ ” Pueringer says. “She loves family and gathering for a party, making lots of food and hosting it all. We made the house really warm and welcoming, and it holds lots of company very well.”
This love of gathering in the kitchen drove the design. “Cooking and hosting is my cousin’s love language,” Pueringer says. The designer firmly established the kitchen as the heart of the home and everything else fell into place around it. As for style, the homeowner needed a crash course from her designer cousin. “Margaux was all over the place and it was clear she had no idea what kinds of finishes were available today,” Pueringer says. “I gave her a crash course and her whole world exploded.”
Wall and trim paint (throughout the house): Swiss Coffee, Benjamin Moore
Browse schoolhouse-style pendant lights in the Houzz Shop