The Design Studio of Gabberts Honored with Trillium Award™

Furniture World Magazine

Gabberts interior designers Karen Soojian, ASID, Kevin Koch, Karlene Hunter Baum and Karen Bums received the Best Interior Design award in the $335,000 - $377,000 category for their work on Gabberts' 2001 "Design and Idea Home." Located at the Liberty on the Lake development in historic Stillwater, the home was part of the Twin Cities' 2001 Parade of Homes Spring Preview that ran through May. Gabberts completed the project in conjunction with builder McDonald Homes, Inc. The Trillium Award. recognizes quality achievement by builders and related professionals in new residential construction. The Builders Association of the Twin Cities annually judges about 20 categories ranging from best interior design to best architecture, lighting and masonry. Gabberts based its award-winning interior design on the theme "A Touch of Williamsburg" and provided Twin Cities consumers with their first look at furniture manufacturer Stickley's much-anticipated Williamsburg Reserve Collection. "We were very fortunate to be able to incorporate Stickley's newest collection as the cornerstone of our design in the main living area. These were the first pieces of the collection to arrive in the Twin Cities," said Gabberts interior designer Karen Soojian. "Our goal was to demonstrate how formal 18th century furniture can be comfortably incorporated into our more casual, 21st century lifestyles." The Gabberts team created the interior design for all the primary living spaces throughout the home, including the main floor living room and study. On the upper level, the team designed three bedrooms, including an upscale nursery, as well as all the baths. "The purpose of Gabberts' Design and Idea Home was to give the thousands of guests who toured it a glimpse of the best and freshest ideas in interior design - furnishings, wall finishes, window and floor treatments and lighting," Soojian said. "This home really did that. People were fascinated by the faux finishes and murals we created throughout the house and the variety of furnishing styles we showcased, ranging from Stickley's Williamsburg collection to classic arts and crafts and traditional styles." The Design Studio of Gabberts is headquartered in Gabberts' 150,000 square foot, two-level home furnishings store in the Galleria shopping center, Minneapolis. Founded in 1946, Gabberts Furniture and Design Studio offers the ultimate in choice and convenience. Selected by House Beautiful as the "Best Home Furnishings Retailer in America," the company offers the largest selection of name-brand home furnishings in its three retail locations - Minneapolis, Dallas and Forth Worth. For more information about the award-winning Design Studio of Gabberts, call 952 927 1515.