Historic Foursquare Photos

By Susan Gilmore

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Although they purchased their Foursquare in St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1990, homeowners Bill and Muriel Anderson didn't make any interior-design changes until their son's wedding was approaching in 2006. With the wedding date looming, Muriel held the restoration crew firm to the timeline: "I kept telling them they had to be out by the first of May, or I was changing the locks!"

The screen between the staircase and the parlor had been ripped out, and the space filled in with a painted plywood box; once that was gone and some of the paint was removed from the woodwork, the nailing pattern for the screen was visible, allowing the team from DHD Studio to reimagine an intricate replacement.

After stripping paint off of the woodwork in the dining room, it became apparent that the oak paneling on one wall had been replaced with birch. Installing new oak paneling would have added thousands of dollars to the project's bottom line, so Bob Chickey of RCP Fine Finish suggested painting a faux wood grain on the birch paneling to make it match the oak. "You can't tell the faux-grained wood from the natural oak, even if you're only standing a foot away," says Bill. "People don't believe that it's not the same wood."

The absence of the pocket doors between the living and dining rooms was another detail that was discovered and replaced during the restoration process.

To abide with the home's wheelchair-friendly setup, David chose rugs with a low nap that can be rolled over easily. The muted colors of the rugs and furniture mix seamlessly with the rich woodwork and warm, golden walls. Antique fixtures fitted with new art-glass shades pay homage to the transitional style of the house.

Having discovered the ghost of the original overmantel, David borrowed details from the staircase and millwork to design a new fireplace surround. The two light fixtures that sit on top of the mantel—highlighting the Swedish quote—match the chandeliers that hang in the foyer.

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