More good Cabin Porn.  Hope you enjoy.

Continue reading “Baby Brown” »

n. pl. Gran-a-ries

1. a building for storing grain

2. a region yielding much grain.

Over the past several months I’ve been incredibly fortunate to be involved with the design of a cabin in Fergus Falls, Minnnesota, created by one of my favorite Architects, Dale Mulfinger. Dale was raised on a dairy farm in Minnesota and is a master of design for rural landscape and vernacular architecture.

This little cottage began its life as a farm granary on the other side of the lake. The owner’s great-grandfather bought it from the farmer in the 1890s and had a team of horses drag it across the ice in the winter to its current lakeside property, then built rooms around it for living. During the course of this project, it has been picked up and repositioned, attaching it to the new cottage via an open breezeway.  The new home will be used for the homeowners—the attached granary, for guests.

Dale’s design (below) shows the old granary on the left and the new construction on the right.

Original granaries had suspended floors that protected the grain from rodents and provided air circulation.  I love that the homeowners had the vision and have taken the time and effort to keep this historic structure in their family.  Is there something beautiful your could do with these?

Continue reading “The Granary” »

No favorites here. I really do love every season equally.  It’s just that, I’m pretty sure I’m ready for the ice to melt and for this one to wrap up.  Here’s to open water and spring.

Continue reading “Spring” »

Got old growth wood?

Don’t know what to do with it?

It’s okay, you’ve come to the right place.

In Duluth, Minnesota a gigantic grain elevator, dating back to 1887, is slowly being dismantled by Wisconsin Woodchuck.  Approximately 6 million board feet of Eastern White Pine, along with the iron hardware that holds it together, is coming down, board-by-board, in hopes that this beautiful material will stay in circulation.  The story aired Sunday night on the History Channel’s Ax Men.

Continue reading “Big Trees” »

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Continue reading “Winter Greens” »

Aside from the ecological benefits of having a green roof (cooling and humidifying surrounding air, creating natural habitat for plants and animals, and reducing smog and dust), they just look cool.

Continue reading “The Green Roof” »

BeDe is grateful for the sweet spread in this month’s Mpls St Paul Magazine.  If you don’t subscribe, take a look here and we think you will.  Can’t handle commitments?  It’s okay.  You can pick up a single copy or order a back issue by contacting the MSP folks here.

I’m very excited to see a BeDe home featured in Lake Country Journal!  The magazine is regional, so if you live outside of the Brainerd Lakes Area, order it here.  You’ll be inspired by all of the beautiful photos in this sweet read.  My Coastal Charmer on Crosslake  is on page 38.