An architect’s life and work harmonize in the historic Maison Bodega

Perched on a hill in a leafy neighborhood near downtown Minneapolis is Maison Bodega, a hybrid live-work space conceived by Liz Gardener, the co-founder of local multidisciplinary creative studio Bodega Ltd. and the home’s proud owner. Housed within a 100-year-old building, it is a place where life and work coexist, and where a sense of creative community is central to both. 

“Minneapolis has a lot of very handsome, heritage Arts-and-Crafts buildings, but this is very different,” Gardener said. “It’s square, stucco, has archways, and it’s a little softer, so I was immediately interested when it came on the market.” 

Since purchasing the home in 2017, she and partner Josef Harris have gradually worked on restoring and renovating the historic building with the help of architect Tony Rapson. 

The first year involved “uncovering the fingerprints of time,” said Gardener, and the years since have been devoted to sourcing original antiques, working with local artisans and craftspeople to create custom fixtures and finishes, and imbuing the home with a series of renewed yet sympathetic gestures. 

While the project is structurally complete, Gardener prefers to think of Maison Bodega as being in an ongoing state of flux that echoes her studio’s creative practice.  

Some details remain intentionally unfinished, such as visible flecks of original seafoam-colored paint, the faded imprint from a previously installed drop ceiling in the kitchen, or the exposed brickwork where a fireplace once stood. “For now, we’re keeping it that way,” she said. “It plays into the idea that the house is a sketchbook—it’s living and breathing.” 

While the couple live in a private apartment upstairs, the downstairs of the house contains various spaces that function as a backdrop for people and ideas to collide, Gardener said. 

For example, the large communal space downstairs—which is named “the ballroom,” as marked on the home’s original plans— hosts dinner parties, workshops, and live performances, as well as functioning as Bodega Ltd.’s workspace. The entry foyer (nicknamed “Bar Agnes” after the couple’s Siberian husky) doubles as an area for entertaining; its terrazzo floors and zinc-topped 1930s-era bar sourced from Paris are the perfect backdrop for late-night soirees. 

Reimagined kitchen blends old and new

A house designed for this level of hosting demands a kitchen just as capable, and, unlike the original kitchen—a modest workhorse hidden from sight—the new Maison Bodega space is a gravitational hub in soft and buttery hues. 

Relocated within the plan so that it overlooks the back garden while maintaining its proximity to the ballroom, this is a space that brims with creativity, generosity, and joy. Defined by a blend of aesthetics both old and new, the tapestry of materials and textures is layered and rich, and original masonry and decorative trims sit comfortably alongside natural stone benchtops, contemporary light fittings, and patinated brass cabinetry. 

Bodega often works on commercial hospitality projects and has brought the same approach to its domestic setting. “We wanted the island bench to be where we make coffee for ourselves in the morning—but also to be able to facilitate mise en place and plating for a 30-person dinner party,” Gardener said. 

Selecting appliances to support this was crucial, and Bodega looked to Fisher & Paykel for several reasons. Gardener cited the Double DishDrawer dishwasher as essential in “keeping the pace with the coursing of dinners,” describing it as “petite and powerful.” 

She also spoke to a shared set of values between Maison Bodega and Fisher & Paykel. “The ethos of the social kitchen resonated with us, not only due to the layout with the ballroom being so close but, when we’re hosting, we often have lots of people in the kitchen so that felt very aligned and supported by the space.” 

To minimize its structural impact on the 100-year-old building, the kitchen cabinetry sits gently within the room’s shell, and all the plumbing and electrical services are cleverly concealed by a newly framed-out wall with shelves across its front. 

These open shelves now house Gardener’s collection of ceramics, utensils, and books, while disguising the wall’s more mundane functions. “From a material standpoint, the kitchen is very unique—it’s clay tile and stone—so there were some creative constraints, and we had to be really thoughtful around services and cabinets,” she said.  

The limitations of the building’s materials also required a more innovative approach to installing appliances. While the eight-burner gas stove is aesthetically aligned with the home’s heritage character, it can also service large dinner parties with ease. 

Quieter additions such as the DishDrawer dishwasher and CoolDrawer module are integrated behind striking brass cabinetry. “We were able to use the lacquered brass as a container for the products,” said Gardener. “Now, the dishwasher looks like a beautiful brass drawer. Having that freedom to choose was compelling to us.” 

Connecting the kitchen and the ballroom is a narrow space that now functions as a larder. A Fisher & Paykel French Door Refrigerator Freezer is concealed behind brass doors, giving it the appearance of a piece of antique pantry, and an ornate sink has been added beside it, transforming a simple corridor into a space with purpose. 

“These two pieces have proven to be so useful when we’re entertaining,” explained Gardener. “The sink acts like a counter; you can prepare flowers there or fill it with ice for food or wine—it’s a multi-purpose piece.” 

While the new additions are of a different time than the building itself, there is the sense that this space will age harmoniously from this point on, especially with Gardener as its thoughtful custodian.

For more information on Fisher & Paykel as well as more case studies, visit https://www.fisherpaykel.com/us/. 

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