Cake Walk

By Alecia Stevens

Photo by Susan Gilmore

Frustrated by dim lighting and a stagnant layout that trapped guests in either the living room or the kitchen, Falcon Heights homeowner Pam Harris wanted to bring her 1941 Cape Cod out of the “dark” ages and into the twenty-first century. Harris is busy—she’s an attorney, city council member, parent, frequent entertainer, and award-winning cake decorator. She asked Laurel Ulland, principal of the eponymous Minneapolis architecture firm, to design a space that would meet a laundry list of needs: a gathering place for large groups; easy-to clean, modern surfaces; a way for the petite Harris to reach and use upper storage; and an ergonomically designed counter for her cake baking and decorating. “I think a project is more interesting when the client has a long set of programmatic needs,” says Ulland. “Layers begin to emerge.”

1 Keep the Bones

To bring in light, Ulland removed the wall between the kitchen and dining room, and added walls of windows to the east and west sides. The traditional panes and transoms of the new windows maintain the home’s Cape Cod style. “Because we are working with the original architecture, I like to treat the ‘envelope’ in a complementary way,” says Ulland. “Then I insert the modern language or aesthetic into this envelope. Again, it makes for interesting layering.” In the same space, an all-modern remodel could seem jarring and trite.

2 Throw out the Rules

Rather than following a template for the latest designer kitchen, Ulland worked with Harris to tailor the space. Ulland established the height of one counter after determining the exact height Harris needed to use her rolling pin comfortably and ice her cakes while sitting on a stool. Other counters are slightly higher, suiting Harris’ petite frame while allowing for a full-size dishwasher. The library-style ladder isn’t just good-looking, it was designed to provide access to upper storage. The cooktop is electric and sleek—suiting both the aesthetic and the homeowner’s request for easy cleaning.

3 Mix and Match

Although the artificially disheveled, mix and match “English Country” kitchen is thankfully no longer en vogue, Ulland applied the principles in a modern way, massing materials and producing a tranquil result. She paired a dramatic wall of reclaimed teak—Harris’ favorite wood and an inspiration from her Scandinavian furniture collection—with practical green and gray laminates on the lower cabinets. Countertops on the center island are honed soapstone—a sensual, Old World material—and stainless steel on the hard-working areas where water is used. The lower island, surrounded by Danish modern chairs by Hans Wegner, is green glass to celebrate Harris’ collection of Scandinavian glass.

Alecia Stevens is a Minneapolis writer and interior designer.

For more information on featured products and suppliers, please see our Buyer's Guide.

11 ISSUES (1 YEAR)

Only $9.95!

Less than $1 an issue.
77% off newsstand price.
Includes annual HomeBook.

Everything Home. Everything Local.

You can also add Minnesota Monthly
(12 issues a year) for just $13 more.

Here you will find the premier businesses and service providers in Minnesota. These businesses have been carefully selected to represent the very best Minnesota has to offer, along with topical articles, reviews and events.