Inspired Spaces by NDSU Interior Design
If you missed the 2024 Red River Valley Home & Garden Show, now is your chance to tour one of its brightest highlights – the Inspired Spaces Showcase by NDSU’s third-year Interior Design students. With six teams competing, six professional mentors, big scholarship prizes, and 3,400 votes cast, we’re thrilled to share the students’ vignettes and reveal the winning design!
BY Tracy Nicholson
PHOTOGRAPHY BY Krista Mund, Rose Marcellus, and Micah J. Zimmerman
TEAM PORTRAITS BY Dan Francis Photography
RRV HOME & GARDEN SHOW + NDSU INTERIOR DESIGN
Hosted by the Building Industry Association (BIA) of the RRV, formerly HBA of F-M, this year’s Home & Garden Show was a must-see, including live entertainment, local makers, shopping, food carts, and stage demonstrations.
On the south end of the Fargodome lived six picture-perfect vignettes, carefully curated by BIA’s partnership with third-year students in NDSU’s Interior Design program. These 8’x10’ spaces were vying for votes and a generous scholarship prize, demonstrating “flex room” design concepts for home offices, playrooms, libraries, and more!
SHOWCASE COORDINATORS
Janna Koble, the BIA’s Events & Marketing Manager, created the Inspired Spaces Showcase with the help of NDSU Professor and Interior Design Program Coordinator, Susan Ray-Degges and Aletha M. Lippay, Assistant Professor of Practice in Interior Design for the School of Design, Architecture + Art.
Koble has been working alongside the Home & Garden Show Committee to elevate the event with exciting new and immersive experiences. She expressed a desire for attendees to not only admire exhibitors’ displays and photos of their work but also to experience creativity firsthand. “The concept of Inspired Spaces originated from a vision to emulate the atmosphere of browsing through showrooms or exploring stores like IKEA, where visitors can experience various styled setups for inspiration,” Koble explained.
THEME: MULTI-FUNCTIONAL FLEX SPACES
To kick off the showcase, third-year interior design students teamed up with experienced lead designers to create a theme for a flex or ancillary space for a residential environment. “Their space needed to showcase options to homeowners on how best to utilize multi-functional or extra spaces in their homes,” explained Lippay.” After completing design concept documents reflecting their chosen theme, the teams met with vendors in the F-M-WF area. Students then selected and specified products for their space, including flooring, wallcovering, furniture, and accessories.”
“The amazing BIA vendors who sponsored the spaces covered it all, including lighting, flooring, painters, structural materials, interior decor, and furniture,” said Koble. “With the help of Minnesota State Community & Technical College’s Construction Management program, our Home Builders Care President Trevor Odden, and some incredible students and volunteers, it all came together. When our Home Builders Care Foundation offered to give the winning team a scholarship, it really pushed me to see it through. Everyone involved worked so hard, and the outcome was better than we could have ever expected.”
With local design leaders, contractors, and subcontractors at their side, the students’ Inspired Spaces stole the show.
MEET THE TEAMS + SEE THE SPACES
TEAM 1
STUDENT TEAM:
Emma Buysse | Erin Tschetter | Anna Robinette
LEAD DESIGNER: Jessica Holen – Accent Kitchen & Bath
DESCRIPTION: This home library mixes industrial and modern design with a touch of minimalism and a natural feel.
Decor: Eco Chic Home | InterOffice | The Mix Picks Décor, Prairie Rose Modern Art
Flooring: Accent Kitchen & Bath
Lighting: Valley Lights
Paint: Fargo Glass & Paint Co.
Paint Details: Benjamin Moore Trout Gray
Materials, Construction, & Trades: Forest Products Direct | Minnesota State Community & Technical College | Red River Drywall & Decorating Services | Stone Ridge Builders, Inc.
TEAM 2
STUDENT TEAM:
Sara Laliberte | Olivia Elfman | Emma Dahl
LEAD DESIGNER: Libby Martin – Remix Design Studio
DESCRIPTION: This moody, modern boho home office emanates peace, personality, and productivity.
Decor: Eco Chic Home | InterOffice | Remix Design Studio | The Mix Picks Décor
Flooring: Floor to Ceiling Carpet One
Lighting: Valley Lights
Paint: Fargo Glass & Paint Co.
Paint Details: Benjamin Moore Sea Reflections
Materials, Construction, & Trades: Forest Products Direct | Minnesota State Community & Technical College | Red River Drywall & Decorating Services | Stone Ridge Builders, Inc.
TEAM 3
STUDENT TEAM:
Autumn Lord | Maran Ahneman | Ella Kneeland
LEAD DESIGNER: Aubree Leiser – InterOffice
DESCRIPTION: This moody-chic home office/living room space features a harmonious color palette that is a mixture of warm and cool tones.
Decor: InterOffice
Flooring: Floor to Ceiling Carpet One
Lighting: InterOffice
Paint: Fargo Glass & Paint Co.
Paint Details: Benjamin Moore Polo Blue
Materials, Construction, & Trades: Forest Products Direct | Minnesota State Community & Technical College | Red River Drywall & Decorating Services | Stone Ridge Builders, Inc.
TEAM 4
STUDENT TEAM:
Kristen Brotherson | Madeline Smith | Madeline Nelsen
LEAD DESIGNER: Kristen Carlson – Studio Rogue Interior Design
DESCRIPTION: This whimsical children’s playroom offers a unique combination of Scandinavian and Bohemian design trends.
Decor: Eco Chic Home | InterOffice | The Mix Picks Décor
Flooring: Floor to Ceiling Carpet One
Lighting: Valley Lights
Paint: Fargo Glass & Paint Co.
Paint Details: Benjamin Moore Misted Fern
Materials, Construction, & Trades: Forest Products Direct | Minnesota State Community & Technical College | Red River Drywall & Decorating Services | Stone Ridge Builders, Inc.
TEAM 5
STUDENT TEAM:
Kendra Ovsak | Makayla Thiel | Tiffany Holder | Ainsley Vinaja
LEAD DESIGNER: Jessica Sholl – Floor to Ceiling Carpet One
DESCRIPTION: This at-home office and play space is the ultimate flex space that allows families to grow closer together while getting work done.
Decor: InterOffice | The Mix Picks Décor
Flooring: Floor to Ceiling Carpet One
Lighting: InterOffice and Valley Lights
Paint: Fargo Glass & Paint Co.
Paint Details: Sherwin Williams Evergreen Fog
Materials, Construction, & Trades: Forest Products Direct | Minnesota State Community & Technical College | Red River Drywall
TEAM 6
STUDENT TEAM:
Joslyn Swenson | Olivia Peterson | Kenna Smith | Kylie Dew
LEAD DESIGNER: Monica Hart – Monica Hart Interior Design
DESCRIPTION: This space can be described as multi-functional, equipped for relaxation and all the essentials for a serene space to get ready for the day. With a warm and feminine color palette and a bohemian-inspired aesthetic, this space will leave you feeling refreshed and ready to take on the day.
Decor: Eco Chic Home | InterOffice | The Mix Picks Décor
Flooring: Floor to Ceiling Carpet One
Lighting: Valley Lights
Paint: Fargo Glass & Paint Co.
Paint Details: Sherwin Williams Quaint Peche
Materials, Construction, & Trades: Forest Products Direct | Minnesota State Community & Technical College | Red River Drywall & Decorating Services | Stone Ridge Builders, Inc.
The 2024 Inspired Spaces Showcase Winner is Team #3, with lead designer Aubree Leiser of InterOffice. The winning team, including NDSU students, from left, Autumn Lord, Maran Ahneman and Ella Kneeland, was announced on March 20 at the BIA awards event, led by BIA Chief Executive Officer Bryce Johnson.
Home Builders Care Foundation President Trevor Odden, of Stone Ridge Builders, Inc., presented the winning student team with a grand prize scholarship of $2,025. As the charitable arm of the Building Industry Association, the Foundation has continually supported students with $387,900 in scholarships, additionally gifting over $551,500 to community projects and non-profit organizations.
NDSU Interior Design: Third-Year Students
REAL-WORLD INSPIRATION
The BIA's Inspired Spaces Showcase unites all facets of the industry, providing students with real-world experience inside the process of building or remodeling a home.
"The hardest part was fitting a lot of things into a smaller space, but also making it come together in a cohesive way. It was really fun working with Monica Hart," said Olivia Peterson of Team #6. "She kind of gave us the inspiration of the Pantone color of the year, which was Peach Fuzz. So, we took off from there, developing the concept, color board, and floorplan. Then, we were able to go to each vendor and work on networking, which was an amazing opportunity to work with other people and designers, and then see this space come to life."
"It was wonderful to see professionals giving their time and expertise to students and helping raise awareness of the lucrative careers available in the building and remodeling industry," said BIA CEO Bryce Johnson, who also serves as Home Builders Care Foundation Administrator. "The professionals and students contributed all different areas of skills – design, art, color, carpentry, framing, electrical, floor covering and installation. Inspired Spaces brought a different dynamic of fun, color, and imagination to the Show, but also introduced the public to the world of opportunities available to our children, not only through four-year degrees but also two-year degrees."
"Experiential learning opportunities allow interior design students to apply their knowledge and insight within real-world contexts outside the interior design studio, letting each student share their unique skills and talents," added NDSU Professor and Interior Design Program Coordinator Susan Ray-Degges. "The collaboration with local vendors and interior designers in the F-M community was an outstanding experience for each interior design student."
"I enjoyed watching the students put their skills and talents to the test in designing, specifying, and staging their own real-time industry-based project," said NDSU Assistant Professor of Practice, Aletha Lippay. "The Inspired Spaces event truly was a team effort spearheaded by the third-year interior design students in the NDSU Interior Design program – a project that would not have been possible without the support of the BIA and local interior designers, vendors, contractors, and subcontractors. I'm so proud of the students for what they've accomplished!"
For more information, contact:
Building Industry Association of the RRV
BIA-RRV, formerly HBA of F-M, is a volunteer-driven nonprofit trade organization established in 1956. It consists of over 700 Builder, Associate, and Affiliate members who advocate for attainable housing and a strong building industry.
1802 32nd Ave. S., Fargo
701.232.5846
nfo@hbafm.com
Join the BIA: buildrrv.org
RRV Home & Garden Show: homeandgardenshowfm.com
Support Home Builders Care of F-M Foundation: hbcfm.com
North Dakota State University
NDSU Interior Design School of Design, Architecture + Art
Susan Ray-Degges, Interior Design Program Coordinator
701.231.7218
Learn More: ndsu.edu/sodaa/interior_design/