Gardner Residence
Studio BV designed this residence as a Minnesota version of a midcentury modern Palm Springs home, inspired by the homeowners’ vacation travels to the Southern California dessert.
Gardner Residence incorporates characteristics such as abundant big windows, a wide-open floor plan, clean, sleek lines and splashes of bold color. Visitors are greeted by a vibrant sunflower yellow front door, a nod to Palm Springs.
Inside the front entry, a grand see-through walnut staircase wrapped in a steel railing is the centerpiece of the open floor plan. The home’s interior design is fresh and fun and not too serious with lots of play with color and texture.
The galley-style kitchen is similar to those in the Palm Springs rentals, but the couple’s boasts a super-sized quartz-topped island painted cobalt blue on all sides, which anchors and sets the space apart. A minimalist industrial-style light fixture mixes brass and polished nickel above the island.
The built-in breakfast nook’s cantilevered table doesn’t have legs — making it easier for the kids to slide in and out. The adjacent dining area emits a cool retro vibe with its flashy Sputnik-style chandelier suspended above a Saarinen oval tulip table. An unexpected element is a vibrant yellow Dutch door.
As in traditional floor plans, the living room is centered around the fireplace — only this version has a floating bluestone hearth with a streamlined black steel linear box. When not in use, the TV is hidden behind a sliding door so it doesn’t compete with the view of the fireplace.
The family can sit on a long built-in walnut bench and take in sweeping views of the wooded landscape through corner windows. The walnut flooring and built in storage cabinets, along with the West Elm navy velvet sofa, add warmth to the gallery-white minimalist spaces.
The owners’ bedroom’s unique closet is wrapped in dark green felt to contrast with the white walls and exotic wood floors. Finally, the bathroom feels like you’ve stepped into a Palm Springs spa, with heated floors, egg-shaped tub and midcentury-inspired teak double-sink floating vanity.
Interior Design: Studio BV
Architect: Peterssen/Keller Architecture
Photography: Jessica Stoe
