A Mid-Century Masterpiece, Honored.
Mar 24, 2026
Architect: Abenstein Architecture
Builder: Robert Gill Builders
Photography: Spacecrafting | Nicole Cullinan
When designer Lisa Pope specifies a product, it earns its place. Every material, every finish, every modern aluminum vent cover must justify itself against the whole. That standard is exactly why she chose kül grilles.
This award-winning design/build firm, located in the celebrated International Market Square showroom in Minneapolis, offers a seamless experience. They guide each project from initial concept through construction, with clear communication and expert coordination. Their commitment to excellence is evident in every detail, including floor registers, to ensure beautiful, high-quality results that stand the test of time.
Mid-Century Architecture
Mid-Century architecture holds a special place for Lisa. The clean lines, the honesty of materials, the sense that a home hasn't just aged but earned its character. These are spaces that don't get renovated, they are honored.
This stunning Mid-Century home delivered on every count: flat rooflines, walls of black-framed glass, warm cedar cladding, and an outdoor pool. Inside, the home opens into a light-drenched kitchen and dining space: Poggenpohl cabinetry in warm wood tones, a showstopping quartzite island, brass globe pendants, and skylights. Exposed brick columns anchor the open plan, connecting kitchen to dining room while preserving the home's original Mid-Century soul.
"Because the home has so beautifully stood the test of time, each decision needed to feel purposeful and appropriate to its Mid-Century roots. In a home like this, restraint and intention are what ultimately create cohesion and longevity" — Lisa Pope, Principal Designer, Partners 4 Design
Beyond the Kitchen
The kitchen was only the beginning.
The mudroom and laundry room: soft grey cabinetry, full-height storage, a generous folding island, and a wall of windows overlooking lush greenery. Functional and refined in equal measure.
The bar area is anchored by a glass-enclosed wine cellar, its warm wood racking visible through the enclosure like a curated installation. Nearby, the pool bath reframes what a utilitarian space can be. A concrete sink and light grey tile ground the room, while bold orange fixtures and an Eames hang-it-all bring playfulness without sacrificing intent.
The spa-like primary bathroom, with its freestanding tub, floor-to-ceiling tile, and garden views through generous windows, brings the outside in completely. 
"Each room tells its own story, yet flows effortlessly into the next."
Jewelry of a Project
Lisa has a word for the finishing details that most people overlook: “jewelry”.
Just as the right accessories complete an outfit, the right hardware, grilles, and finishing touches elevate a space from beautiful to exceptional. They reinforce the architectural language, refine the proportions, and ensure the final result feels cohesive.
For this project, that meant kül grilles in Glacier Frost for the bathrooms and Brushed Chrome in the kitchen. Two finishes, complementary in their placement. The clean, precise tones are a natural counterpart to the Poggenpohl cabinetry and stainless appliances in the kitchen. A modern aluminum vent cover that recedes into the cabinetry rather than competing with it. Seamless, refined and impossible to second-guess.
“The quality and detail of these grilles were a perfect match for the Poggenpohl cabinetry. kül was the only choice.” — Lisa Pope
It's a decision she's made more than once. Lisa has specified kül grilles across multiple client projects and in her own home. The kind of detail you don't notice until you do. Then you want it everywhere.
Designed for Warmth & Gathering
The clients came to Partners 4 Design with a clear brief: a home made for family and friends. Warmth and hospitality at the center of everything.
For Lisa, designing for that feeling begins long before material selections. It starts with understanding how people actually live: how they gather, move, entertain, linger.
With natural light flooding every room through skylights, floor-to-ceiling glass, and sliding doors that open directly to the pool, the kül grilles held their own beautifully. The clean lines and minimal profile allow them to recede into the architecture rather than interrupt it.
“Warm woods, natural textures, and layered finishes bring an emotional quality that you can't always articulate, but you immediately sense.” — Lisa Pope
A True Partnership
P4D has long operated on the belief that the best projects are genuine collaborations: client, designer, architect, and trade partners all working toward a shared vision.
This project was a true example of that, with Abenstein Architecture drawing the plans for the addition, Robert Gill Builders handling construction, and Partners 4 Design leading interior plans, elevations, cabinet design, and finish selection.
“The most rewarding part of a project like this is the collaboration itself. When a client is deeply engaged and open to thoughtfully integrating modern elements, the design becomes a true partnership rather than simply a service.” — Lisa Pope
That's the standard Partners 4 Design holds themselves to on every project. And it's why, when the last grille drops into place, everything feels complete.
“I’ve used kül in many of my client projects and at my own personal home. It’s an easy detail to overlook, but makes such a difference in the end result. I’m a fan.” — Lisa Pope
To learn more about kül grilles and find the perfect floor or wall vent covers for your dream home, visit kulgrilles.com.
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