Living With Meaning

This home is magical - in the heart of south Minneapolis and still a thousand miles from anything. This homeowner truly understands how to live with meaning - while others try to understand the meaning of life. The primary living space of this home is on the second floor. The feeling is like living in a tree house - three walls of windows in the dining room (third photo) provide views of the century old lilac bushes below. The feeling is warm, familiar, carefree - as if the house is telling you you've been here before. The conversations between the generations are welcomed here with old architecture mingling with newer artwork and estate sale finds.

The second photo is of the sitting room between the dining room and kitchen. The homeowner had the olive sofa along the same wall as the long wooden table (left in picture). The white book case wall houses a television in the cabinets below. The sofa moved to the window wall creating a focal point at the end of the room and giving the long (primitive) table more elbow room. The two largest pieces of furniture appear more comfortable on separate walls - sizing up each other's apparent strengths. The pair of vintage wicker chairs pull up close for intimacy and extra tv viewing. The space is warm and inviting like a room full of characters from a great novel.

The furniture in the first picture stayed in the same place with the exception of the small wooden chair under the window. The collection of art pieces on the mantle were carefully rearranged and the small oil painting to the left of the fireplace was lowered - now the painting embraces the vintage side table and is warmed by the glow from the antique brass lamp. Picture books were added to the cocktail table and lastly the cushion inserts of the sofa were taken out of their casings and reversed to create a refreshed look (this is a great way to revive tired looking upholstery).

This house is a living, breathing entity thanks to the homeowner's willingness to allow the home to tell her "why architecture matters" (Paul Goldberger). For her this house has been a "guardian of identity" "A house that has grown into a knowledgeable witness" - The Architecture of Happiness - Alain de Botton. Loving What You Have sometimes means a deeper appreciation of old houses. (Photographs by Landmark Photography - Minneapolis).  Jay Nuhring