f
rom the white clap-
board siding and
wraparound porch to
the snowball bush and
freckle-faced boys in
the yard, everything
about Kelly Welsh’s
home says “classic Minnesota farm-
house.” The only thing missing, it
seems, are dairy cows grazing on the
lush green grass.
But while Kelly was raised on a real
working farm, she prefers the modern
conveniences of suburban life for
herself and her two young sons, Erik
and Ryan. When she found this home in
a new neighborhood near St. Paul, she
was immediately drawn to its simple,
vernacular exterior. “It goes back to
the roots of who I am,” says Kelly, an
interior designer. “There’s nothing
pretentious about it.”
Inside was a different story. Finishes
such as spray texture on the ceiling
didn’t fit with Kelly’s idea of classic
farmhouse style. She enlisted her
brother, a relatively inexperienced
carpenter, to install lx6-inch pine planks
painted white to camouflage the popcorn
ceilings. “I went with cheap labor,” she
says with a laugh. “The boards aren’t
perfectly installed and I love it!”
To contrast with the dark-stained
floors, Kelly painted the walls creamy
white then added texture with nubby
woven fabrics and seagrass rugs.
HOME BASE
In the living room, which doubles as the
family/TV room, natural fabrics, woven
blinds, and a colorful wool rug take the
edge off formal furniture.
BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS APRIL2009
35
