Earl's Kitchen
| By Barbara Knox |
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(Photo by John Abernathy)
“When I seek comfort, celebrate the good times, solve a problem or enjoy conversations with friends, I settle in at my kitchen table and tend to not move into other spaces in my home,” says Earl Gutnik, one of METRO’s four style enforcers. Gutnik, whose day job as an art director at the Minnesota History Center has honed his curatorial eye, is a tireless shopper at local auction houses, flea markets, home furnishings stores and antiques shops, always on the prowl for a bargain with a provenance. (Gutnik is pictured here sorting through some just-purchased albums to add to his large collection.) So join him for a tour as he details how he designed the best-loved room in his house.
KEY ELEMENTS:
Glass-tile back splash. “These glass mosaic tiles were accidentally installed wrong. I came home from work and the contractor had peeled each three-quarter-inch tile off the mesh sheets and installed them one by one! He also installed them backwards. I wasn’t very happy at the time, but now I love it—it has a very hand-made quality.”
Dinnerware. “American Modern” by Russel Wright. “This gray and coral dishware, manufactured by Steubenville Pottery in Ohio, was introduced in 1939, but it still looks modern today. This dinnerware sold extremely well and was carried in department stores well into the 1950s. In 1939 a 33-piece starter set, which served six, sold for $14.50. I’ve collected these dishes for 10 years, purchasing them at garage sales and antiques stores, paying as little as $2 for a cup and saucer and up to $100 for a water pitcher.”
Kitchen cabinets. Designed and built (out of maple with fir interiors) by local designer/color expert Neil Hiedeman. “When I moved into my home, Neil worked with me on the design of the cabinets so they would feel cozy and cabin-like. Fourteen years later, the wood has taken on a beautiful golden patina. Neil tragically died in a bike accident a couple of years ago but his contributions to my home and others in the Twin Cities are legendary.”
Chairs. Gutnik spotted the upholstered arm chairs at the Tracy Luther Auction House, snapped them up for $25 apiece and then had them re-upholstered in Ralph Lauren tooled leather. The 1950s desk chair (at the head of the table) was designed by Paul McCobb, a noted mid-century furniture designer. Gutnik bought it for $45 at Classic Retro@Pete’s. “Check that store out for great deals on mid-century furniture.”
Table. “This table was a gift to me, although it is still available at Room & Board; it’s the ‘Portica’ design. Try finding it at the outlet store, which is open only on weekends.”
Floor. “Regular vinyl tiles were cut down into quarters to compose this floor. You need to purchase or rent a tile cutter to do this job. It’s not easy to do straight and even cuts, so unless you’re a master DIYer, I suggest hiring a professional.”
COOKING IMPLEMENTS / ACCESSORIES BY THE SINK:
Pitcher filled with cooking utensils is mid-century Scandinavian and can be found for about $3 to $10 at local stores such as Succotash.
Cooking pots were designed by Cathrine Holm of Norway. “I found these classic mid-century pots at Succotash and paid about $14 to $50 for each.”
Coffee maker by Cuisinart was purchased at Kitchen Window in Calhoun Square for about $90. “Loved finding it in red!”
Painting above sink by John Pearson is entitled “Isle, Minnesota.” “Visit John’s Web site to find other great paintings and prints for sale: jpearsonstudio.com.”
FAVORITE OBJECTS ON THE TABLE:
Small rooster is a hand- painted Swedish folk-art carving from around 1940; purchased at Missouri Mouse for $30.
Chop sticks in Danish vase (by rooster) were purchased from Asian grocery stores and at T.J Maxx and Marshalls.
Two metal enamel painted trays, unsigned, were made around 1980 and purchased at Succotash for $35 (for the pair).
Carved wooden mouse on tray was made in Denmark about 1970 and purchased at Spinario for $60.
Pair of wooden trivets designed by Jani Majamoo were inspired by Alvar Aalto designs. Produced in 1998 and still available for $48 (for the pair).
GETCONNECTED
Earl Gutnik
earlgutnik@comcast.net
Classic Retro@Pete’s
2145 W. University Ave.
St. Paul; 651.224.5235
Tracy Luther
Auction House
2556 7th Ave. E.
St Paul
651.770.6175
Succotash
781 Raymond Ave.
St. Paul
651.603.8787
Spinario
1300 2nd St. N.E.
Minneapolis
612.396.1860
Missouri Mouse
1750 Selby Ave.
St. Paul
651.642.1938
Room & Board Outlet
4680 Olson Memorial Hwy Minneapolis
763.529.6089
KEY ELEMENTS:
Glass-tile back splash. “These glass mosaic tiles were accidentally installed wrong. I came home from work and the contractor had peeled each three-quarter-inch tile off the mesh sheets and installed them one by one! He also installed them backwards. I wasn’t very happy at the time, but now I love it—it has a very hand-made quality.”
Dinnerware. “American Modern” by Russel Wright. “This gray and coral dishware, manufactured by Steubenville Pottery in Ohio, was introduced in 1939, but it still looks modern today. This dinnerware sold extremely well and was carried in department stores well into the 1950s. In 1939 a 33-piece starter set, which served six, sold for $14.50. I’ve collected these dishes for 10 years, purchasing them at garage sales and antiques stores, paying as little as $2 for a cup and saucer and up to $100 for a water pitcher.”
Kitchen cabinets. Designed and built (out of maple with fir interiors) by local designer/color expert Neil Hiedeman. “When I moved into my home, Neil worked with me on the design of the cabinets so they would feel cozy and cabin-like. Fourteen years later, the wood has taken on a beautiful golden patina. Neil tragically died in a bike accident a couple of years ago but his contributions to my home and others in the Twin Cities are legendary.”
Chairs. Gutnik spotted the upholstered arm chairs at the Tracy Luther Auction House, snapped them up for $25 apiece and then had them re-upholstered in Ralph Lauren tooled leather. The 1950s desk chair (at the head of the table) was designed by Paul McCobb, a noted mid-century furniture designer. Gutnik bought it for $45 at Classic Retro@Pete’s. “Check that store out for great deals on mid-century furniture.”
Table. “This table was a gift to me, although it is still available at Room & Board; it’s the ‘Portica’ design. Try finding it at the outlet store, which is open only on weekends.”
Floor. “Regular vinyl tiles were cut down into quarters to compose this floor. You need to purchase or rent a tile cutter to do this job. It’s not easy to do straight and even cuts, so unless you’re a master DIYer, I suggest hiring a professional.”
COOKING IMPLEMENTS / ACCESSORIES BY THE SINK:
Pitcher filled with cooking utensils is mid-century Scandinavian and can be found for about $3 to $10 at local stores such as Succotash.
Cooking pots were designed by Cathrine Holm of Norway. “I found these classic mid-century pots at Succotash and paid about $14 to $50 for each.”
Coffee maker by Cuisinart was purchased at Kitchen Window in Calhoun Square for about $90. “Loved finding it in red!”
Painting above sink by John Pearson is entitled “Isle, Minnesota.” “Visit John’s Web site to find other great paintings and prints for sale: jpearsonstudio.com.”
FAVORITE OBJECTS ON THE TABLE:
Small rooster is a hand- painted Swedish folk-art carving from around 1940; purchased at Missouri Mouse for $30.
Chop sticks in Danish vase (by rooster) were purchased from Asian grocery stores and at T.J Maxx and Marshalls.
Two metal enamel painted trays, unsigned, were made around 1980 and purchased at Succotash for $35 (for the pair).
Carved wooden mouse on tray was made in Denmark about 1970 and purchased at Spinario for $60.
Pair of wooden trivets designed by Jani Majamoo were inspired by Alvar Aalto designs. Produced in 1998 and still available for $48 (for the pair).
GETCONNECTED
Earl Gutnik
earlgutnik@comcast.net
Classic Retro@Pete’s
2145 W. University Ave.
St. Paul; 651.224.5235
Tracy Luther
Auction House
2556 7th Ave. E.
St Paul
651.770.6175
Succotash
781 Raymond Ave.
St. Paul
651.603.8787
Spinario
1300 2nd St. N.E.
Minneapolis
612.396.1860
Missouri Mouse
1750 Selby Ave.
St. Paul
651.642.1938
Room & Board Outlet
4680 Olson Memorial Hwy Minneapolis
763.529.6089
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