Just West of the Twin Cities, nestled in the small town of Delano, Minnesota, lies the home of ScandiCountry. This project was a special one for EPDS—a complete transformation of a property that once housed an aging, unsalvageable farmhouse. In partnership with Black Dog Homes, we bulldozed the old structure and set out to create a 2,500-square-foot, four-bedroom, 2.75-bath dream home that balances Scandinavian simplicity with the rich, layered warmth of English country design.

Our clients, deeply involved in the equestrian world, needed a home to withstand the realities of farm life while still exuding timeless elegance. The homeowners undertake all of their horse work themselves, meaning durability was crucial. Performance fabrics, natural stone, and Turkish rugs—renowned for their longevity—became essential elements throughout the home.

Inspired by their European travels, the homeowners gravitated toward the minimalism of Scandinavian design but longed for the cozy, layered feel of an English country home. We struck a perfect balance by incorporating clean lines and light birch cabinetry alongside rich jewel tones, plaids, and textured materials. Every detail was carefully considered to ensure the new build avoided the dreaded “cookie-cutter” feel, instead embracing authenticity and charm.

Initially, our clients were adamant that they would not be installing wallpaper in their new home. But to achieve the English country look, Emily insisted that they keep an open mind. Adding wallpaper could be incredibly sophisticated, so we showed them some options that challenged their preconceived notions of all things wallpaper.

We decided to go bold and durable in the mudroom, laundry room, and ¾ bath area at the side entrance of the house, the walls adorned with avian inspired wallpaper and butter cream wainscotting. Under foot, we placed tiles reminiscent of outdoor cobblestone that will wear with grace, bringing in our clients love for the outdoors.

The property accommodates a thriving hobby farm with a garden, many horses, and sweet dog. With a farm to manage, we understood that the entry would see days of muddy boots and gardening gloves, so it was essential that we created proper storage for their gear. We placed rich red lockers for maximum organization with custom cut horseshoe vents, giving a nod to our clients equestrian lifestyle.

We maintained the cobblestone floors and pops of red into the ¾ bathroom as well. Red zellige tiles were delicately placed as the base trim, floor to ceiling in the stand up shower, and a single but impactful row was applied as the vanity backsplash. Overall, the stone, zellige, and floor tile elevated the entryway with an organic and natural appearance.

We maintained the cobblestone floors and pops of red into the ¾ bathroom as well. Red zellige tiles were delicately placed as the base trim, floor to ceiling in the stand up shower, and a single but impactful row was applied as the vanity backsplash. Overall, the stone, zellige, and floor tile elevated the entryway with an organic and natural appearance.

The island became the real eye-catcher, though. We lifted the island by adding chunky, rounded legs, mimicking the rounded newel posts on the staircase. A scalloped fluting lies just beneath the soft ogee edged creamy quartzite with green veining, creating a beautiful contrast to the darker green straight edge perimeter countertops.

The staircase was custom designed to be a focal point and bring a Scandi-folk feeling to the home. We hand drew the flat sawn balusters out of birch, creating flow with the other birch touches throughout the rest of the house. Chunky, rounded newel posts were placed for a traditional and ornate touch to the open and airy flight.

There are so many ways in which Scandi Country was a special project for our team, but one of the most exciting parts was adding the finishing touches. We had our clients’ full trust to style and furnish the entire home, where we balanced durable fabrics with delicate family heirlooms. To ensure the new build felt like an extension of the homeowners’ lives, we prioritized showing personal pieces in the styling. Commissioned pieces from artists at horse shows, Japanese art collections, and a hundred year old family rocking chair added sentimentality and individuality to the living room and dining room.

In the primary suite, we selected a variety of textures and materials for the walls and ceiling. Walking in, you notice the oak beams and high, vaulted ceiling. One of our favorite colors, Baby Fawn by Benjamin Moore, was the darker trim color that contrasted the Portola painted walls. To achieve the desired cozy, layered look, we knew it would be incomplete without a patterned wallpaper. This time, we kept it to one wall to create a statement behind the soft bedframe. To style this bedroom, every detail was carefully selected. From the cabernet and leather-wrapped table lamps, to the plaid textiles and custom furniture, we created a warm, comfortable atmosphere that emulated the English countryside.

Peeking through the vignette of the primary bedroom into the bathroom delivers a world of serenity to the eye. The double vanity has custom rectangle trim detailing on the drawer faces that mimics ‘shaker style’ in an elevated way. Additionally, we added feet to the vanity to create a piece of furniture look. When it comes to tile, rich chocolate brown zellige tiles are laid in a herringbone pattern in the shower, while another row laces around the room. Our favorite detail was the unexpected pop of contrast to the windows and window trim, using a Sherwin Williams color beloved by EPDS, Rojo Marron. This gave a nod to the chocolate glazed brown tiles, with a touch of spicy red.

ScandiCountry is more than just a house; it’s a reflection of our clients’ journey, lifestyle, and love for both simplicity and heritage. From the hand-drawn stair balusters to the curated mix of materials, every detail was chosen with intention. The result was a warm, welcoming, and incredibly functional home that defies the standard new-build mold and stands as a testament to thoughtful design.

This was a dream project in every sense—one where we were able to handle the entire process, from demolition to styling. The trust our clients put in us provided an opportunity to explore any creative direction or detail that came to our minds. Seeing the homeowners delighted by the craftsmanship that was packed into their “small but mighty” home made every design decision worthwhile.

Welcome to ScandiCountry, a place where past and present, tradition and modernity, all come together to create something truly special.