St. Louis Park condo's redesign was inspired by Lake Superior nature photography

Like many sellers, the owners of a suburban condo decided to invest in some sprucing up before they put their home on the market. Fresh paint, new carpet — the usual things. Plus one unusual thing: a theme, Lake Superior, as captured by nature photographer Craig Blacklock.

The condo's redesign and staging was inspired by Blacklock's distinctive art photos, a dozen of which are now displayed throughout the condo.

The texture in the new carpet echoes the ripples in a Blacklock waterscape. New wall and trim colors complement the hues of clouds and rocks. There's even a sunrise-pink accent wall, its color drawn from one of Blacklock's photos.

"The whole place tells a story," said Mark Kozlak, the designer and real estate agent who developed the theme and recruited Blacklock himself to journey from Moose Lake, Minn., to the Twin Cities to collaborate on choosing images and coordinating hues.

Kozlak's redesign borrows not just from the North Shore but also from the condo's own environment in St. Louis Park. Many of the Blacklock photos were chosen because they contained colors and shapes visible through the condo's windows. The brick tones of the building across the street are repeated in the rock cliffs of Superior, and again in the soffit and fascia paint in the master bedroom. A view of a neighboring condo includes a turret reminiscent of Split Rock Lighthouse, which is captured in a photograph on the wall.

Integrating indoor and outdoor views creates visual harmony and expands the perceived space inside the 1,950-square-foot condo, Kozlak said. "It's an old Renaissance idea."

Nature for sale

Why put so much thought and effort into redesigning a home whose current owners have already moved overseas? Broker Mike Peterson of Drive Results Realty believes the nature-focused redesign will resonate with prospective buyers.

"The buyer we had in mind is probably selling a home or cabin, wanting to simplify and enjoy a maintenance-free lifestyle," Peterson said. "We're guessing that whatever they owned before had a strong connection to nature."

And designing a home around artwork — rather than choosing artwork to enhance existing decor — is a growing trend, according to Peterson. "A lot of people buying condos begin the design with a specific image," he said. Even buyers of modest studio condos want artwork they love, that boosts their spirits. "They don't want to spend a lot on furniture, but they want butterflies in their tummy when they walk through the door."

Kozlak recently redid another condo, also for resale, around the owner's Matisse print. "This is definitely a new trend," he agreed. "This is creating an environment."

Before the Lake Superior-inspired makeover, the St. Louis Park condo already had a lot going for it. It boasted a prime location at Excelsior & Grand and expansive views of its urban setting and a nearby park. The unit comes with two heated underground parking stalls and four coveted storage units, while the kitchen has the requisite granite countertops and stainless-steel appliances. But the condo's all-white walls lacked warmth and personality. "It was a vanilla ice-cream cone," Kozlak said. And the open floor plan needed better-defined spaces.

As a starting point, Kozlak queried the condo's owners and their three children about their favorite natural environment in Minnesota. All agreed it was Lake Superior, which led Kozlak to Blacklock. "He is Mr. Lake Superior."

At Kozlak's suggestion, the owners chose a 5-by-4-foot Blacklock image of open waters, taken from a high elevation similar to the elevation of their fourth-floor condo. That image, mounted on an accent wall in the condo's living-room rotunda, established the theme for the condo.

Kozlak then approached Blacklock about designing an entire home around his photographs. Blacklock (who could not be reached for comment) was intrigued with the idea, according to Peterson. The photographer collaborated on the redesign and lent his images for the space, creating essentially a pop-up gallery. (The signed prints are for sale.)

The new owners of the condo may not want the full Lake Superior/Blacklock experience, Kozlak acknowledged. "We don't want to force taste on somebody."

And while the palette was chosen to complement Blacklock's photos, it stands on its own, Kozlak said. "You feel the colors, but it's not a crayon box gone wild. It's sophisticated. … The colors work without the art, but when you add the art, they just pop."

Mike Peterson of Drive Results Realty has the listing, 612-226-7467, www.blacklockcondo.com. An open house is scheduled 1 to 4 p.m. Oct. 26.

Kim Palmer • 612-673-4784