logo

Ideal House APP

Your Go-To Interior Design Hub
LogoIDEAL HOUSE
Home
Home
Board
Board
Explore
Explore
Log in
pricingPricingAPI
HomeHome
BoardBoard
ExploreExplore
Logo
T
The Rainbow Times
1/8
T
The Rainbow Times

Ten Times Better

The article details the design and implementation of Quarry Garden, a residential landscape project by Minneapolis-based firm TEN x TEN Landscape Architecture and Urbanism. This project, located in the Lowry Hill neighborhood of Southwest Minneapolis, has received significant recognition, including an ASLA Honor Award in Residential Design and a Landezine International Landscape Award in Private Gardens. The design reintroduces a sense of ruggedness into a residential backyard, a concept that contrasts with the historical evolution of American backyards, which, according to cultural landscape historian Paul Groth, became 'free' and less rugged due to technological advancements in the 1930s and 1940s. The clients, University of Minnesota professors, sought both architectural and landscape renovations for their new home, aiming to recreate a 'woolly' environment reminiscent of their previous backyard and integrate elements of 'Japanese meditative spaces.' Maura Rockcastle, a principal and cofounder of TEN x TEN, and John Rasmussen, the lead designer and project manager for Quarry Garden, utilized collage techniques in the early design phase to explore various 'wild and rugged' possibilities. A particularly influential collage depicted a snow-capped quarry wall with white birches, which resonated strongly with the clients and guided the design vision. The design process at TEN x TEN emphasizes experimentation and hands-on engagement with materials. Rasmussen describes collecting various materials and conducting 'weird experiments' to inform their designs, such as mixing soot and soil to replicate ground planes from disused foundries. Rockcastle encourages these experiments as a way to intensely focus on a place's sensory details. For Quarry Garden, the design team opted for a productive tension, making key elements like the quarry and deck 'orthogonal and tight' while allowing plantings to provide a wilder, more natural feel, inspired by the Minnesota North Woods. Construction was completed in 2020. The project features a thicket of Whitespire birch and Pennsylvania sedge, with ongoing considerations for the succession of the birch and the visual impact of their growth. Maintenance challenges, such as the mowing of no-mow fescue and the accidental uprooting of sweet woodruff by a previous crew, highlight the importance of consistent and knowledgeable care. Landscape Renovations, the original contractor, will now oversee future maintenance. The core design concept involves treating the yard as a series of outdoor rooms, blurring the boundary between the house and the landscape. A single contractor, Terra Firma, managed both the home renovations and the landscape construction. A prominent feature is a six-foot-wide elevated walkway made of black locust planks, serving as the central 'spine' of the design. This walkway leads to a sculptural granite wedge, weighing 12,000 pounds, which acts as a focal point. Rockcastle and Rasmussen envision adding water features or lighting to this stone to enhance sensory experiences. The most distinctive 'room' is the sunken quarry, partially obscured by planting to create a sense of mystery. Access is via three granite steps, leading to a bed of Dresser traprock. The quarry walls are composed of 'roughbacks'—slabs of granite with distinctive grooves, sourced from a local Coldspring quarry's 'graveyard' of unused materials. The use of these reclaimed roughbacks reflects TEN x TEN's commitment to material reuse, a practice also seen in their award-winning Mill 19 project. The design team meticulously modeled and arranged these stones to create a rich textural composition. A live-edge white oak bench, featuring butterfly joints inspired by George Nakashima, is nestled within the quarry, providing a seating area. Minimalism guided several design choices, particularly for the firepit, which is a gas coil buried beneath gravel, with flames emerging through a void in a roughback stone. This approach avoided over-designing and maintained a natural aesthetic. The gravel used is igneous, chosen for its ability to withstand flame. The article also mentions the deliberate creation of a 'decision-making moment' by stepping down into the quarry, elevating the subconscious experience of the yard. Another secluded feature is a hammock, contributing to the woodland feel created by triple-shredded mulch. The article concludes with the author's reflection on a visit to another TEN x TEN project, the Historic Fort Snelling revitalization, emphasizing the firm's consistent approach to material use and thoughtful design across different scales. #LandscapeArchitecture #ResidentialDesign #GardenDesign #QuarryGarden #TENxTEN #MinneapolisDesign #SustainableDesign #MaterialReuse #OutdoorRooms #LandscapeArchitecture #ResidentialDesign #GardenDesign #QuarryGarden #TENxTEN #MinneapolisDesign #SustainableDesign #MaterialReuse #OutdoorRooms
31 months ago
Read Full Article  
No comments yet
You may also like
When More Is More
When More Is More
C
Chicago Magazine
New—And Instantly Improved
New—And Instantly Improved
D
Delaware Today
When More Is More
This article details the design and features of a 10,000-square-foot contemporary home in Naperville, owned by Dave and Gauri Patel, which skillfully blends expansive entertainment areas with private family spaces. The architectural design, led by Orren Pickell, was conceived to accommodate the Patels' serious entertaining lifestyle while also providing intimate daily living spaces for their family. The residence distinguishes between public and private zones through its layout and even its dual entrances, featuring a porte-cochère for the owners' garages and a visible circular driveway for guests leading to the main entrance. The interior organization of the home reflects this binary approach. Primary family spaces, including bedrooms, are situated on the upstairs level, intentionally kept private from guests. In contrast, the entry and lower levels are dedicated to entertainment, with the lower level offering direct access to the pool and deck. A central architectural element, a two-story rain curtain and a statement chandelier, serves to visually and functionally connect all three floors, ensuring a cohesive flow between the distinct areas. The home's design was a collaborative effort, incorporating specific requests from the owners such as a shark tank, a golf simulator, a dedicated kids’ play area, and a worship room. The architect, Orren Pickell, emphasized that this careful balance prevents the creation of cold, unused grand spaces, making the entire home functional and comfortable for the family's daily life. Interior designer Michelle Rohrer-Lauer contributed to the home's sophisticated ambiance, employing a palette of blacks and whites with geometric shapes, complemented by splashes of silver, fuchsia, and teal to add flair and visual interest. Upon entering, guests are greeted by a statue of the Hindu god Ganesh, illuminated by the dramatic central lighting and water feature. The grand room features 22-foot-high ceilings with mood lighting and a fireplace, while the kitchen is meticulously organized. The lower level stands out as a prime entertainment zone, boasting a bar with seven leather chairs, four televisions, and a 1,500-gallon shark tank housing three sand sharks, which creates a striking visual effect when illuminated. Conversely, the upstairs serves as a tranquil retreat. It houses the children's bedrooms and the primary suite, which includes a bathroom with a central freestanding glass shower, a mosaic marble wall, and skylights for natural light. The primary bedroom itself features his-and-her closets, one of which includes a small refrigerator, and another specifically designed for Indian clothing. A fireplace in the primary bedroom is flanked by two oversized chaise longues, creating a cozy spot for the family. The overall design achieves a modern aesthetic with a warm, inviting feel, described as a sophisticated Miami style transposed to suburban Chicago. The homeowner, Gauri Patel, expresses satisfaction with the design, noting that despite its size, the house feels cozy and every room serves a purpose, fostering a sense of warmth and utility throughout. #LuxuryHome #HomeDesign #InteriorDesign #EntertainmentSpaces #NapervilleRealEstate #ModernArchitecture #CustomHome #FamilyLiving #ResidentialDesign
C
Chicago Magazine
New—And Instantly Improved
This blog post details the transformation of a new, five-bedroom, 5,200-square-foot Toll Brothers colonial home in the North Star Chase subdivision, showcasing how a plain vanilla property was elevated to a sumptuous space through strategic design choices. The owner, Linda Mulvihill, a mother of three, took on the formidable task of personalizing the new construction. Her first significant decision was to halt the builders from installing standard wooden spindles on her two-story staircase, insisting on wrought iron instead. This preference for wrought iron not only redefined the interior staircase but was also extended to the exterior, distinguishing the home from others in the neighborhood. Wrought-iron gates now encircle a garden of roses and wildflowers, leading a curved path to the columned portico entrance. The integration of this element from the garden into the foyer’s staircase creates a cohesive visual flow upon entering the home. Mulvihill's design aspiration was to blend Asian and Italian influences to achieve a casually elegant atmosphere. To realize this vision, she enlisted Joyce Keeney, senior designer and founder of Interior Concepts in Hockessin. Together, they meticulously integrated these diverse cultural aesthetics through thoughtful selections of color and texture. Mulvihill's fondness for red was incorporated by Keeney, who harmonized strong hues with more subdued colors found in carpets, throw pillows, and drapes. The majority of the furniture was sourced from EJ Victor Upholstery in North Carolina, while lighting fixtures predominantly came from Fine Art Lamps in Florida, ensuring a consistent design language throughout the home. Mulvihill noted her tendency to create formal spaces, and Keeney's expertise helped her strike a balance between formality and comfort. The living room immediately captures attention with a jeweled chandelier suspended above a black Yamaha grand player piano, establishing a formal yet inviting space suitable for both entertaining and casual family moments. An all-wool, custom-colored Oriental carpet anchors the room, reflecting the hues of Oriental tables, hutches, and an olive silk sofa. Rich embroidered silk draperies from Kravet Couture, in green, gracefully puddle on the floor, while family photos and paintings are encased in antique gold frames. A notable piece is a 24-karat gold leaf coffee table, representing chinoiserie—an 18th-century Western European and English decorative fashion that incorporates Chinese ornamentation and structural elements. Keeney highlighted the versatility of chinoiserie, explaining its compatibility with various furniture styles, making it ideal for Mulvihill's desired blend of Italian and Asian influences. The formal dining room features a mahogany table with a burled piano finish and a china cabinet from EJ Victor’s Newport Mansion collection, filled with Lenox dishes. An Italian crystal chandelier with antique gold accents serves as a central focal point, complemented by custom-finished antique gold sconces. The room is distinctively wallpapered with Scalamandre silk paper, a sophisticated choice that, despite its challenging installation process, provides a luxurious, textured paint-like appearance. Dark wood floors and Oriental runners guide the transition from the dining room to the family room, where columns similar to those at the portico entrance mark the space. A striking 11-foot Maitland Smith console table with a stone top, weighing 1,000 pounds, dominates the family room, above which hangs a large painting of Venice framed in antique bronze. The walls, faux-finished by local artist Gary Paiement to resemble Tuscan plaster, feature a soft neutral sage with copper undertones, creating a serene yet invigorating ambiance. In the family room, black-and-white family photos offer a visual contrast to the rich greens, reds, golds, and rusts of the oversized sofas, throw pillows, and heavy velour drapes. Thick walnut curtain rods frame a floor-to-ceiling fireplace and walnut mantel. French doors open to an expansive double deck, leading to a pool and fire pit, offering breathtaking views of the Pike Creek Valley. The gourmet kitchen, which adjoins the family room, includes builder upgrades and is further enhanced by furnishings such as a Guy Chaddock table and chairs beside a second fireplace, creating a cozy area for family meals and homework. The kitchen is illuminated by chandeliers: a large crystal and gold fixture above the table and several smaller, dark bronze chandeliers above the granite island. An original landscape oil painting and embroidered drapery panels by Beacon Hill incorporate Tuscan colors. The office, however, diverges from the main Italian and Oriental motif, dedicated instead to Dr. Mulvihill’s golf hobby. Delaware artist Tracy Berger created a wall-length mural of Pebble Beach, the doctor’s favorite golf course, as a birthday gift from Linda. The room is sparingly furnished with a mahogany desk, a black wall unit, and chairs, allowing the large bay window with its valley view to take prominence. Linda Mulvihill acknowledges that decorating is an ongoing process, continually adding pieces and relying on Keeney's guidance to refine her home's aesthetic, a testament to her keen taste and clear vision for her living space. #HomeDesign #InteriorDecorating #WroughtIron #AsianItalianFusion #LuxuryInteriors #CustomDesign #HomeRenovation #DesignConsultant #DecorativeElements
D
Delaware Today