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” »

Ranking No. 1 on my Tivo box is Bravo’s Million Dollar Decorators.  (Sorry Honey Boo Boo.)  You don’t have to love interior design to get hooked on this show.   It’s high drama amongst creative personalities with dreamy budgets.  And it’s full of fabulousness.

 Kathryn M. Ireland brings it every time.  She’s sweet, funny, and kinda crazy and uses fabric and color to reflect her clients’ travels and appreciation of art and textiles.  In all of her projects, beauty and function hold equal importance, making the spaces comforting and livable.

Continue reading “Kathryn M. Ireland” »

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.

At the beginning of summer I decided to take advantage of a home improvement project at my cabin.  I conducted a little experiment to see how closely the look of a finished room resembles what is in my head when I start the process.  The photo below is the starting point on the build-out of this basement bedroom.

Never underestimate the power of visuals in the design process.  Whether photos, sketches, or computer software drawings, images are the best way to communicate the desired look and feel of a space.  I worked up this layout on my computer to show my builder friends what I was hoping to see in the room.  I show stained wood ceilings, horizontal boards on the walls (high gloss white, nickel spaced), and ivory patterned carpet.  I also added sconces at the head of the bed and a ceiling fan.  Below is Phase I.

Continue reading “Drum Roll…” »

Want to see what’s on my floor today?  I’m trying to make a room work around these wallpapers and I’m digging deep for fabric.  Something for the windows, chairs, window seats and maybe some pillows.  I won’t use them all at the same time, but at some point each of these will resurface in one of my projects.  It always happens that way and it’s almost never intentional.  What do you think?

Room #1

Room #2

I’m struggling a little here.  Back to it.  Thanks for coming by.

-Michelle

P.S.  For more of these wallpapers and fabrics go to:

Greenhouse Fabrics

Thibaut Design

Clarke & Clarke

I love all stages of building homes, but I have to say the reward to the “pretty” part (fabrics, wallpaper, furniture, etc.) is especially great.  If you walk into my office at any given time, you will find small piles of swatches and samples all over the floor.  I like to call them mini-shrines to my projects.  It makes me feel better than just calling it a mess.

There is purpose behind the chaos though, as I try to make patterns work together and find ways to pull new color in to a room.  Give it a try below.  In the left column,  I’ve set up some wallpaper prints,  in the right, coordinating fabrics.  You can do this.  Who goes with whom?

Click here to see what I would do.   Continue reading “Paper & Fabric” »

I’m writing a series for Houzz on how to marry modern and rustic styles.  So far, I’ve covered Cabins and Farmhouses. Here is the latest, titled 10 Ways to Get the Modern Cottage Look.  If you’d like to have a little peek, click on through.

I’m happy to see you here today, so thanks.  I wish you all a wonderful Memorial Day weekend!

This is where I’ll be if you’re looking for me.

-Michelle