Modern Butler Pantries

Floor plans evolve, technology grows, tastes change, and lifestyles adapt. While some trends and advances stand the test of time, others often fizzle out. What interests us the most, though? When forgotten styles, such as butler's pantries, return in a new iteration.

Originally used to house serving ware and stage meals, butler's pantries were once considered a necessity for proper entertaining. Even if elaborate five-course meals aren't your forte, we still think you'd adore this customizable, handy hosting space!

A well-stocked, organized butler's pantry is a host's secret weapon! It's the perfect spot to display special occasion dishes, put the finishing touches on dinner, and stock with supplies for cocktails and coffee. Butler's pantries also make fantastic bars or snack stations for bigger, sprawling parties.

Whatever your hosting style may be, you can't go wrong with adding this beautiful and practical space to your home. Want to see more modern takes on the butler's pantry? Feast your eyes on more from our clients' homes below!

Favorite 2016 Design Trends

2016 is nearly in the books! Before we sing Auld Lang Syne and toast with a glass of bubbly, we wanted to pause and reflect on this past year's biggest style moments once more. Trends have always shaped design, but they seemed to explode in 2016! Thanks to the internet's treasure trove of information and ideas, elevated taste is more accessible than ever. Wondering which interior design styles set our hearts aflutter the most this year? Read on below for a recap of our top 6 favorites!

1. Floating Shelves
Open, airy, and elegant, the popularity of floating shelves continued to rise in 2016. We love how open shelves pair form with function. They're the best of both worlds, offering greater accessibility and a spot to showcase your personal style!

2. White Spaces
Minimal design has made a major comeback in recent years; as a result, white rooms have drastically increased in prominence. While not for everyone, white spaces provide a clean and crisp environment, they also showcase pops of color and texture beautifully.

3. Gallery Walls
The methods for displaying artwork in homes have undergone a massive transformation. Much like a playful and provocative art gallery, there simply aren't rules anymore. Scavenged pieces to maps to fine art adorn walls. The stuffy hallway of family portraits has also gone by the wayside for flowing and asymmetrical gallery walls - we love the character this trend brings!

4. Industrial Design Accents
Certainly, industrial design accents have been making their way into everyday interiors for quite some time. However, these clean and modern finishes seemed to reach peak popularity in 2016. Any room in the home could be punctuated with sharp industrial accents. From mirrors to lights, railings to fixtures; industrial elements are popping up everywhere!

5. Bold wallpaper
Perhaps the most fun trend of the year, bold wallpaper patterns sustained their comeback in 2016. While most people wouldn't cover their entire home with it anymore, wallpaper has become a fun way to add bright bursts of pattern and color. We love using wallpaper to spice up forgotten places like laundry rooms and bathrooms - it's the perfect shot of energy in these more practical spaces.

6. Subway Tile
Last, but certainly not least, we couldn't write about 2016 interior trends without mentioning subway tile. This clean, classic look enjoyed a major style moment this year, and it doesn't seem to be disappearing anytime soon. Undeniably timeless and sophisticated, subway tile comes in endless colors and varieties. It's the perfect trend that can be personalized to your individual taste!

Design Tip: Combining Styles Through Pops of Color

No aspect of design seems to be as fun or as fraught as color. While some are energized by bright accents and bold patterns, others find themselves overstimulated by even small amounts of strong color. Although choosing a color scheme can be frustratingly polarizing, don't despair just yet, there are more options than Team Neutral vs. Team Rainbow! There are endless ways to incorporate different approaches to color throughout your home's design.

If part of your family loves a quick jolt of color, while the other half prefers more calming tones, subtle pops of color are a fantastic way to compromise. The rooms below all have decidedly cool color palettes, but the small bursts of mustard, indigo, coral, and teal help to brighten the spaces. Bold colors draw your eye, giving your gaze a natural place to rest and then explore from; they provide an easy visual entry point.

On the other hand, if strong colors make your heart sing, then you might want to play with multiple bright pops of color in one room. The images below feature mixed patterns, contrasting colors, or multiple statement colors that draw your eye throughout each space. Rooms that follow this more playful approach to color are filled with contagious energy; they're fun, warm, and bursting with design personality!

In the end, there's no one way to create compelling design. Whether you're drawn to peaceful neutrals or bold primary colors, selecting your home's style all comes down to one thing: your taste. Go ahead, mix patterns and paint accent walls - above all decorating your home should be fun! If you do run into the occasional design disagreement, don't fret, our experienced designers can help you navigate the tricky waters of blending together different styles with ease. That's what we're here for!

Artisan Home Sneak Peek: Modern and Bright

We are still eagerly anticipating showing off our 2016 Artisan Home! Modern and clean, this home feels spacious, bright, and open throughout. The airy white kitchen is a blank canvas for future culinary creations. The room features Jenn-Air commercial appliances, custom cabinets, and natural wood floating shelves. While the floor plan is open and flowing, the design includes fun nooks and semi-private office spaces throughout. Each new space embodies its own original style, while still fitting into the greater vision of the design as a whole.

6028 Oaklawn Avenue, Edina Minnesota
Located directly across from Pamela Park
Artisan Tour Dates: June 10-12, 17-19, 24-25, 2016