Name: Anne Ingman, photographer and blogger, and Jake Ingman, along with dog Judy
Location: Saint Paul, Minnesota
Size: 842 square feet
Years lived in: Owned 4 years

The Minnesota home of married couple Anne and Jake Ingman absolutely exudes friendliness, warmth and style. Simply decorated to maximize space, the result is a bright and airy home that fits the personalities of two young, stay-at-home, creative people. Dog Judy also makes an excellent visual accessory for any room!

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Anne's knack for finding vintage treasures, both large and small, is obvious from every angle, but she doesn't fill the space to the brim. Her and Jake's home is a nicely curated collection of things they love, and because it's a small space, they carefully choose what those things are. Interesting and original wood built-ins give a lot of character to the rooms, as does the lovely original wood flooring. Organization and keeping the place free of clutter are important, as they both work from home. Wall paint colors are soft and calming. Vintage charms abound in the bathroom and the kitchen and bold colors pop from great art and accessory choices. With all this bright light and clean, uncluttered style, you can hardly tell this is a small house!

Apartment Therapy Survey:

My Style: Clean, simple, and balanced, with a bit of a mid-century modern twist.

Inspiration: Art that's humorous or tells a story. Old photographs. Small treasures. Color. I love seeing how other people live. I get tons of inspiration from neighborhood house tours, blogs, and from my creative friends and family.

Favorite Elements: I love our porch, especially with all the windows open. We sit out there all the time, with either a coffee or a cocktail -- talking, reading, or just watching the neighborhood. It always feels so comfortable and relaxed out there.

Biggest Challenge: We live in a small house and are here all day, every day! Both my husband and I work from home, and we share the second bedroom as our office. I would really love an additional bedroom for guests. Keeping small spaces clutter-free is always a challenge, so I try to keep our layout simple and clean.

What Friends Say: It's so organized! I totally own a label maker -- you should see my basement bins!

Biggest Embarrassment: The brick fireplace. I don't know what to do -- paint it or leave it? Also, our kitchen might have a "vintage-retro charm" but there's certainly room for improvement. It lacks counter space, and the work flow can be awkward. A new design is already planned, and a renovation is scheduled for late this summer. We can't wait to update and upgrade.

Proudest DIY: I've painted every room in our house (at least once) but haven't done any major DIY projects yet. We work really hard on the vegetable garden in our backyard. I don't mean to brag, but we do have the biggest tallest tomato plants on the block, and they are delicious!

Biggest Indulgence: Local art and Danish teak furniture. I love being able to support local artists! Almost all of the art on our walls was made here in Minnesota. I'm also addicted to finding great furniture deals on Craigslist. I have a whole family of Danish teak hiding in my basement: a cushion-less sofa, a dresser, and eight chairs -- each was a deal I just couldn't pass up. My most expensive pieces were the highboy dresser and my Arne Vodder desk.

Biggest Advice: Surround yourself with things that make you happy -- for me, that's usually a little trinket, a painting, some old photography, or a pretty vase. When I fall in love with something, I spend a lot of time finding a place for it in my home. Also, invite friends over more often. Sharing your space always makes for a happier home, and at the very least, it's a good excuse to clean up!

Dream Source Danish Teak Classics in Northeast Minneapolis. I would buy everything in that store if I could.

Resources of Note:

PORCH:

    • Aksel Kjersgaard Danish teak commode from a friend
    • Loveseat found on Craigslist
    • Vintage Paul McCobb wicker chairs found at church rummage sale
    • Antique glass bottles found at various antique stores
    • Pillows from IKEA

LIVING ROOM:

DINING ROOM:

    • Teak dining table (hidden leaves expand to 11 feet!) found on Craigslist
    • Danish teak dining chairs, Timelines Antiques
    • Vintage aqua velvet lounge chair from a friend
    • Curtains from IKEA
    • Paintings by Brian Frink & Barbara Gilhooly & Jesikah Orman

OFFICE:

BEDROOM:

    • Danish teak platform bed found on Craigslist
    • Danish teak highboy dresser found on Ebay
    • Side table, bedding & curtains from IKEA
    • Painting by Brian Frink
    • Prints by Heart Fish Press & Threadless

KITCHEN:

BATHROOM:

ACCESSORIES:

PAINT:

    • Living room: White Whisp by Benjamin Moore
    • Dining room: Glacier White by Benjamin Moore
    • Office: Silvery Moon by Benjamin Moore
    • Bedroom: Misty Gray by Benjamin Moore
    • Bathroom: Brewster Gray by Benjamin Moore

FLOORING:

    • Original woodwork & wood floors

Thanks, Anne!

Images: Anne Ingman

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