Design Challenge Reveal 2020Story by Tracy Nicholson Photography by Dan Francis Photography  How do you plan a Design Challenge in the midst of a pandemic? You think outside the box, then recruit some of the area's most talented designers to get creative inside the box. For our third annual Design Challenge, sponsored by SCHEELS Home & Hardware / Design Studio, we set up shop at the socially-distanced space of West Acres. The challenge kicked off with six 8x8 wooden boxes and 12 local designers in teams of two. We gave them one week to create a unique design, find a local charity to support, then showcase the work of a local artist. At the end of the challenge, each team gifted half of the boxes' contents to their chosen charities. After three weeks of online voting and tours, one winning team and runner-up were announced on September 14. This is giving back, by design. Behind the Box This year's Design Challenge: Boxed-In! was sponsored by SCHEELS Home & Hardware / Design Studio, and could not have been possible without our community and designers donating their time and working together. Our sincere thanks to Ben Anderson and his team at Benjamin Custom Homes for painstakingly building the six boxes, with donations of lumber from HDS (Home Design & Supply) and paint from Weyer-for-Hire of Fargo. Each sturdy box was built with walls weighing in at 120 pounds and ceilings at 240 pounds, perfectly notched to fit together like a puzzle. With six floors, six ceilings, and 18 wall panels, it was no easy feat getting them in place. West Acres provided the jacks, while Anderson and his daughter Lilly, along with Mike Nicholson, hauled in and assembled the boxes in just a few short hours. When it came time to take them down, we recruited help from Labor Masters, making our move-out much less challenging. Our sincere thanks to this year's event host, West Acres, for allowing us to display the boxes in a centralized, socially distanced environment for the community to safely visit and tour. Alissa Adams, Niki DeConcini, and the entire West Acres' maintenance team were pivotal in ensuring the Design Challenge was a success! Design Challenge: Boxed-In! This year, Midwest Nest gave each of the six teams an 8x8 wooden box, $100 for their design, and $100 for their chosen charity. Each team was also given access to a $150 rental credit compliments of The White House Co. Outside of the provided budget, designers were asked to coordinate the rest, including finding a local artist's work to feature and making sure to secure 50 percent of their box as donations. To complete the challenge, each team hit the streets to drum up design donations, sponsors, and monetary donations on behalf of their team's design and charity. With only one week to design, August 17-23, the teams had to work fast to create a small space that would make a massive impact. Online voting began on August 24, going through September 13, with official polling monitored by Tellwell's marketing agency. Our sincere gratitude to all 12 of the talented designers who made this year the most impactful Design Challenge to date! 2020 Design Challenge Winner! Box #1: Refined Cottage Escape Sydney Fritz of McNeal & Friends + Trever Hill of Trever Hill Design/Curated by THD "Our space represents what is needed right now, an escape. The moment you step into this space, the world around you dissipates. Through the detailed textures and tones of this room, you'll want nothing more than to sit down, relax, and enjoy the laughter of loved ones around you. Our hope is not only to curate an aesthetically pleasing space, but also to show those peering in, that a space can be pure, cozy and refined. Our focus was to capture the essence of natural materials and pair them with quality crafted items. We hope the collaboration inspires you to lean into using raw textiles in your escape." Featured Artist:Daniel Bruckbauer, Danny Bruckbauer Pottery Charity: Presentation Partners in Housing
In the Details!
2020 Design Challenge Runner-Up!BOX #4: Boho-Surf Chic Room  Brandi Youngmark of Brandi Youngmark Interior Design + Maria Bosak of Eco Chic Home "This Boho-surf chic room was inspired by the Midwestern girl that loves warm summer lake days and dreams of the ocean sands between her feet. The custom beach wave canvas and hand-crafted surfboard created by local artists are a stunning accent for any beach lover. A whitewashed shiplap ceiling and light oak wood floors are complemented by a hickory slat wall and wood sconces. The eclectic mix of natural elements and many colors, patterns, and textures create a perfect blend to amplify your inner bohemian beach vibe." Featured Artists: Painting - Morgan Niemiller, Niemiller Art Custom wood surfboard - Josh Humble, Finnu Designs Charities: Wake the World MN/ND Wake the World (WTW) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. As a group of boat owners, their mission is to provide watersport opportunities to abandoned, abused, and neglected children, as well as for the handicapped and our wounded warriors. Last year, a local chapter for Minnesota and North Dakota was started to provide this unique experience for children in our area. Down Home Down Home serves families in Cass County, North Dakota, and Clay County, Minnesota, who are transitioning from homelessness into housing. Down Home works with community agencies to refer families who qualify for Down Home's service. Their team works closely with the referral agency, and the client in preparation and anticipation of the move-in date; gathering all the necessary items to transform an empty space into a home to embrace. [Thank you to Brandi Youngmark and Maria Bosak who raised $725 for Wake the World MN/ND and $500 for Down Home! ] In the Details!
BOX #3: The Lion Sleeps Tonight  Monica Hart of Monica Hart Interior Design + Linda Birmingham of Designingwomen2 "Welcome to the jungle! We designed this room to create a whimsical rainforest of animal friends to dream with. The deep green walls provide a calm backdrop to the spirited wallpapered ceiling and walls. The natural, wooden bed and cozy bedding give a sense of sleeping under the stars. Books will feel even more adventurous being read in the hanging chair. While the original artwork was commissioned to be just right for the space, the multi-wood furniture will provide storage and beauty. Soon, a special little boy will be roaring with his new friends. Designing to Donate - the best way to be creative!" Featured Artist: Linda Hilbrands, Heavenly Chic Designs Charity: Lend a Hand Up for Kids! Hart and Birmingham chose a well-deserving child, creating their box design around Jay Fischer who was born to John and Missy Fischer in January of 2019. At his two-month checkup, Jay had dangerously low hemoglobin levels and was admitted to the NICU where he was diagnosed with Diamond Blackfan Anemia (DBA); an extremely rare bone marrow disorder that prevents red blood cells from maturing. In his first 15 months of life, Jay has endured over 20 blood transfusions and multiple hospital stays. The only way to cure DBA is to undergo a complete stem cell transplant, so Jay will need to temporarily move to Minneapolis for the transplant. This requires a lengthy leave of absence from Missy's job and added expenses for the family to be together as much as they can. [Thank you Linda Birmingham and Monica Hart who ended the challenge raising nearly $5,000 for Lend a Hand Up and donating much of the boxes' contents to little Jay Fischer!] In the Details!
BOX #2: Mid-Mod Eclectic  Amanda Rydell of Handpicked Goods + Melanie Anderson of Benjamin Custom Homes "We wanted to share a positive, light-hearted message with our design that would bring joy to viewers. The artwork has a light-hearted vibe with a message to spread kindness and peace with the “helping hands”. There are many trim-work details that are softly highlighted with an all-white canvas which adds a touch of class and simplicity. The light fixtures and rainbow-armed chair give a mid-century flare which we both love." Featured Artist: Pam Killerlain, Pam Killerlain Art Charity: Down Home Down Home serves families in Cass County, North Dakota, and Clay County, Minnesota, who are transitioning from homelessness into housing. Down Home works with community agencies to refer families who qualify for Down Home's service. Their team works closely with the referral agency and the client in preparation and anticipation of the move-in date, gathering all the necessary items to transform an empty space into a home to embrace. In the Details!
BOX #6: Modern Cottage Breakfast Nook  Lindsey Christie of Lindsey Grace Interiors + Katie Sullivan of Pretty Domesticated "The dining space is truly the heart of any home! In our Modern Cottage Breakfast Nook, our partners were gracious enough to donate the majority of the items in our box. We both agreed that with the 8x8x8 perimeters, a dining nook would be the perfect scale. Katie and her husband Daren took the lead on the construction, as they're the DIY experts! We were grateful for Tollefson's flooring sending their team in to install a beautiful LVP floor. Katie and I had fun styling the space with donated items from Brooke & Lou, Lindye Galloway, Lulu & Georgia and others. The last piece to our design was hanging the custom commissioned art piece by Amanda Elly Art - which truly made the Modern Cottage Breakfast Nook shine. We are so excited that the majority of the items will be going to our charity!" Featured Artist: Amanda Kreidlkamp, Amanda Elly Art Charity:
In the Details!
BOX #5: Boho Lounge  Morgan Diehl May of SCHEELS Home & Hardware / Design Studio + Melanie & James Iverson of Mosaic Design + Build "This whimsical loft has a coffee bar vibe that inspires one to create, dream and linger. The floating reclaimed wood bar and coordinating shelf, separated by an eclectic blanca tile with organic geometry, offers a workspace for the artist, the author or musician. Melanie Iverson, the featured artist and designer from Mosaic Design + Build, painted the mural on the back wall, along with the four coordinating black and white pieces in acrylic and mixed media. The pink and tangerine Mid-century modern sofa complements the colorful composition and is tied together by the textures from the assortment of pillows, one-of-a-kind rattan furniture and decor." Featured Artist:Melanie Iverson, Mosaic Design + Build Charities: She Overcomes She Overcomes invests capital, training, and business mentorship to accelerate the work of female founders and entrepreneurs. We are passionate about cultivating a community of strong women leaders and increasing the growth of female ran organizations.  Down Home Down Home serves families in Cass County, North Dakota, and Clay County, Minnesota, who are transitioning from homelessness into housing. Down Home works with community agencies to refer families who qualify for Down Home's service. Their team works closely with the referral agency and the client in preparation and anticipation of the move-in date, gathering all the necessary items to transform an empty space into a home to embrace. In the Details!
Giving Back, by Design! Whether you toured the box designs at West Acres or surfed them online, all will agree it was a multi-faceted experience, unlike anything our community has seen. This was 12 local designers donating their time and talent to conquer a small space with a bigger purpose; highlight their unique skillsets, showcase the work of local artists, and give back to the community. Not one bit of this year's Design Challenge was easy, and it certainly wasn't for the faint of heart. With only one week to design, each team put in the hard work, searched the city for donations, sponsors, and artists, then connected with local charities in need; ultimately using their passion to make an impact. Spanning three Design Challenges since 2018, the guidelines and locations have been vastly different, but it's always remained a chance for professional designers to showcase their unique skills and create a styled experience only they could have envisioned. Given a raw wooden box and minimal means, each team finished with spectacular results. With Midwest Nest's third anniversary upon us, we may not be able to throw a party, but we can celebrate the support of local charities and showcase the designers we treasure. Our sincere thanks to all of the participating designers, and congratulations to this year's Design Challenge Winners, Sydney Fritz and Trever Hill, along with the Runner-Up design by Maria Bosak and Brandi Youngmark.
 
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