Un-melt-able Igloo in Minnesota 🥶

What’s up, friends?

Finally, it’s June ⛱️ and that means the weather is getting warmer, our heavy jackets are moving to the back of the closet, and the sunscreen has begun being lathered. But, for some people, they crave the whimsy of snow, even when they live in warm climates -and Summer is steadily approaching. That’s why today’s home looks like a paper-mache igloo with an interior that’ll keep you lookin’ cool as a cucumber…

Welcome to Duluth, Minnesota!!

Built in 1970, this single family residence has 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 2.8k sqft. of space, and a $369k price tag. The unique look of the home came from the collaboration of developer (and Duluth-native) George Hovland and design architect Stan Nord Connolly. Many renovations over recent years have kept this house in present-day shape, while maintaining the design work of yesteryear.

To create the natural curvature of the home’s shape, Connolly used “an innovative foam-shell construction method”. And, given its age, the structure has held up very well!

Those circles are located in a neighborhood of ordinary homes. The acreage of this property allows for ample space between your neighbors, but close enough to invite them over for dinner.

Walking up to the front door, I’ll point out how the top of the door is curved… like we’re in a cartoon. We sure this isn’t the Flintstones Midwest property?

Once inside, this rotund living room greens us with bumpy white walls and vivid purple carpeting. Yes, this is… unique, but I honestly don’t hate it. Would I want to live here? God no. But it’s giving “Airbnb for a quaint weekend trip”.

The circular structure makes everything feel connected: a living room flows into a fireplace, which flows into a dining space, which flows into the kitchen!

Could this kitchen be bigger? Absolutely. With the curved walls, it makes the space claustrophobic and tight. It’s got a nice pastel blue to complement the saturated purple… but standing in here makes me feel trapped like the walls are closing in.

Before we explore the many bedrooms and bathrooms of this home, let’s check out the office:

While there’s not much in here, it works. I think some tall cabinetry or bookshelf could bring this place together. The reflective floors feel fancy and corporate. But the caving-in wall reminds us of the whimsy of this not-igloo. 

Again, that shiny flooring appears, but this time in the primary bedroom. If you ignore the plant life in the corner, this place really does resemble a “boring igloo hotel”. It’s just very lackluster, given the eccentricity-styled walls that engulf the space. 

These negative thoughts of mine do not extend to the bathroom. The whites are pristine. The lines are clean. And that red sink! It’s gorgeous.

If anything, that sink is an omen for the color that’s to come downstairs…

This lower level is stunning. Upstairs might be stuck in the 70s, but this is modern. This is chic.

In love with the wood, the beige and greys, and the vines overall. The couches are curvy like the building. And it’s tying everything together nicely.   

Speaking of great adaptations to the theme of this home… the secondary bathrooms are FULL of COLOR:

Oh, and don’t forget about the other bedrooms:

The colors are so vibrant… that tbh, they almost look fake. Regardless, they’re on theme. And it’s nice to be in a room where the primary colors are purple and white… finally. 

As this home presents many twists and turns outside… the same chaos is found around its exterior: 

Wrapping around the home is a large patio that extends over the hill -that the structure was built into. With the slopes of the home, the exterior wall gives a naturalistic feeling amongst nature. But also… it’s like an igloo. And igloos don’t belong in the Midwest unless it’s December through March. 

Underneath the patio… it feels like they forgot about this place. The grass is dead. The patio is unfinished. And that rock pathway feels incomplete. But, hey, this whole house has been a bit weird. No kidding the exterior has its quirks!

I need to know how someone conceptualized this wacky place. This is an absurd home. And it’s got its good moments. And it’s got even more questionable moments. 

And exactly what this newsletter is all about. See y’all next week ☺️

Sarah @Hometastrophes