Tag Archive for: minnesota

With the holidays fast approaching, here are our

favorite gifts for everyone on your nice list.

Minnesota Gift Guide

  • 1. “Dogs by Tim Flach” – The perfect coffee table book for the dog lover on your list!
  • 2. “Protea Faux Flower” – This realistic arrangement will brighten up any room during the dark winter months. Bonus: You don’t have to have a green thumb to keep it around!
  • 3. Llama Artwork – A statement piece to show off your whimsical side, sure to make anyone smile!
  • 4. Alicia Adams Alpaca Throw – the softest and most luxurious throw. It will be the coveted gift and talk of your holiday party.
  • 5. White Stag Head – A little whimsy goes a long way, but we won’t stop you if you want to get 9 and paint one nose red!
  • 6. Skeem Designs Apothecary Bottle Matches – For the host/hostess, pair with a beautiful scented candle and you will surely be invited back!

Florida Gift Guide

  • 1. Mini Boxwood Tree – Especially great for Snowbirds, this forever green (and forever loved) faux foliage brings a bit of the beautiful outdoors in!
  • 2. Alicia Adams Alpaca Throw – Nothing says paradise like the tropical and vibrant hues of this throw! Perfect for those chilly January nights in Florida!
  • 3. Vintage Swimsuit Artwork – A cheeky nod to our beautiful locale, this black and white print is sure to inspire a little nostalgia!
  • 4. Felt Christmas Trees – Beachy holiday decor makes a great host/hostess gift, or pair with live green garland for the starting of a beautiful tablescape!
  • 5. Skeem Designs Apothecary Bottle Matches – Nothing says holidays like a dim, romantic setting. Pair with a scented candle for your personal oasis, or gift as a lovely “thank you” to your kind host/hostess!
  • 6. The Essential Oyster – Stack it, read it, gift it…unique coffee table books are great for so many things!

We hope you have a happy, family filled holiday season!

  Tommy Bahama

Making Life One Long Weekend at a Time

Tommy Bahama, the iconic menswear known for loose-fitting silks and island-inspired graphics, and Traditions have a few commonalities, and can add one more to the list—our partnership with the Tommy Bahama store in the Mall of America!

Believe it or not, the brand of Tommy Bahama was conceptualized by Minnesota clothing executive Bob Emfield. He took out his yellow legal pad with a colleague, and together created a fictional grey-haired character, discerning everything this type of man would do, wear, eat, shop, etc. Tommy Bahama, the fictitious island guy who never had to go back to work, quickly turned into a $500 million business. With the help of two additional founders, Tommy Bahama opened its first store and restaurant in Naples, Florida! (Hey—we know a thing or two about Minnesota and Naples!)

Next to Ralph Lauren, Tommy Bahama became one of the first modern brands to enter the lifestyle market and be successful at it! Part of the lifestyle collection, which ranges from indoor and outdoor furniture, to rum and bedding can be found at the Mall of America store! While you’re shopping for your island-inspired gear, look no further for some outdoor digs, too! We are thrilled to announce our partnership with the Tommy Bahama clothing store in the Mall of America—any furniture you see in the store or in their catalog can be purchased directly through either of our Minnesota stores!

The Tommy Bahama collections feature unique indoor and outdoor designs, whose casual elegance evokes the essence of what founder Bob Emfield originally set out to do—demonstrate how one would live a comfortable and relaxed life. Tommy Bahama has become widely known for its casual elegance portrayed in a relaxed manner. The Tommy Bahama furniture lines offer custom finishes and unique fabric options, like weather tolerant, Sunbrella! Choose from contemporary, West Indies, modern or classic traditional in durable outdoor materials to complement any space.

Visit tbfurniture.com for more information, or stop in to any of our three location to browse the catalog! We’re happy to help!

701 Summit Avenue

Influenced by the romanticism of classical European architecture, well-known Minnesota architect Clarence Johnston left his mark on St. Paul in the late 1800s. This house, built in 1898, was a true masterpiece and was recently restored by Robert Glynn of Spara Realty. With the help of Stacey Johnson, a local real estate investor, interior designer and Spara Realty agent, the house now shines again!

701 Summit Avenue has become an anchor on such a historic street for more than one reason. Johnston’s passion for his career came from good friend Class Gilbert and their time spent living together in New York. The two were so inspired by one another they built similar houses right next door to each other on Summit. Johnston was the Minnesota State Architect from 1901-1931 and is known for quite a few buildings around town. Most noteworthy – The St. Paul Curling Club, Williams Arena & Northrup Auditorium on the University of Minnesota campus. Also, in 1904, Johnston designed the Glensheen mansion in Duluth. We are thrilled that we could do our part to help restore a historic masterpiece on Summit Ave!

701 Summit Ave encompasses nearly 7,000 sq feet. The 6-bedrooms and 6-bathrooms have been redone and outfitted for a modern family. Johnston clearly spared no expense in designing the Renaissance Revival beauty years ago, and the recent renovation further highlighted the unique details!

The team hired a local artisan to restore all the home’s woodwork with a specially mixed shellac, true to the original coating. Glynn and Johnston worked with other local businesses to refinish the hardwood floors that he found were in great shape, repair the windows and the clay-tiled roof, install new and to-code electrical, plumbing, lighting, and heating and air-conditioning, and pour a new driveway. The renovation saw an expansion in the original servants’ kitchen to create a fully equipped space for modern cooks and upgraded the master bedroom to include an en-suite master bath.  On the exterior, Spara oversaw a bit of a facelift at 701 Summit Ave, including new tuckpointing, painting and the addition of a two-car garage.

The addition of traditional and transitional furniture completed the modern meets classic revival. Along with Spara Realty, we welcomed nearly 500 guests to an open house this week to see all the hard work and beautiful end project. After nearly a year-long labor of love, 701 Summit Ave is back in action as one of the Summit Ave’s grand mansions!

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St. Genevieve

“A Parisian-inspired buvette in the heart of the Lynnhurst neighborhood. Champagne: all day, everyday.” – St.Genevieve website description.

It’s always fun to get together and try a new restaurant. We have started our very own Dinner of the Month Club with all the members of Traditions staff. Each month we will all get together to try a new restaurant, a favorite restaurant or even a hidden hole in the wall. Our first choice was St. Genevieve in the Lynnhurst neighborhood of Minneapolis. France, especially Paris, is always on our minds so we thought a new, groovy French restaurant was the perfect choice. St. Genevieve, a buvette – pub or tavern with champagne any time of the day, was a fantastic find! The table favorite was tartine madame and pommes frites with béarnaise mayonnaise. The simple pleasure of a croque with french fries and a good glass of wine is not lost on the ladies of Traditions.

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Others at the table ordered the pan seared whole trout and the chicken and shrimp. Of course, dessert was a must.

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The chocolate mousse and the peaches and cream were both devoured in a matter of a few spoonfuls.
Needless to say, we will be going to this restaurant again soon. Stay tuned to see where we go next!

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