An Artist’s Cozy Apartment Features a Cute, Hand-Painted Wall Mural
Name: Abbey Holden
Location: St. Anthony Main Neighborhood — Minneapolis, Minnesota
Size: 750 square feet
Years lived in: 2.5 years, renting
I live in the now-restored Pillsbury Flour factory on the banks of the Mississippi River in Minneapolis. This is an “Artist Loft” building, built for creatives to live and work in one space. With an array of paint, dance, music, pottery, and theater studios, this building is built to be filled by creative minds. Finding a LEED certified home was important to me, and my building holds a LEED Gold standard. The building uses 100 percent hydropower energy from the Mississippi River, which always amazes me.
As a full-time painter and textile designer, I get to work from home. As result, I’ve created a space that is both life- and work-friendly. Creating a space that embraced both my need for a serene haven-like space as well as a motivating work environment was a fun challenge. My home is the truest reflection of me—both my work and life intertwined into one space. Everything inside is intentional and holds significance and maybe a sweet story to go along with it.
Describe your home’s style in 5 words or less: Serene, Scandinavian, artist, organic modern
What is your favorite room and why? My living room! The historical brick wall is so beautiful—I’ll never tire of it. The ceilings are lined with historical white-painted wood and parts of old grain silos left from the original building. I love my linen couch, bought from a friend, as well as my paintings hanging above it.
If you could magically change something about your home, what would it be? The bright track lighting that came with the apartment and can not be removed… although I begged it to be.
What’s the last thing you bought (or found!) for your home? An array of Clovis Glass Vessels from The Foundry Home Goods, a local shop I could live in. Something I’m obsessed with, although it isn’t a decorating item, is my Berkey Water Filter.
Any advice for creating a home you love? Fill it with things you care about, things that have meaning, things that carry memories. Frame and hang items important to you. Think of what feelings you want when you come home (calm, excited, relaxed, or maybe ready for fun) and then work to create that feeling through what you use.