The Dutch | Christen Joy Interior Design
Story by Tracy Nicholson
Photography by Jill Ockhardt Blaufuss
For Christen Anderson of Christen Joy Interior Design, The Dutch is more than a new build rooted in 100-year-old style — it's a Midwest meets East Coast state of mind. Built in 2022 with Century Builders, Christen's home reflects creative collaboration with architect Jackson Strom to introduce Dutch colonial character in Moorhead's Tessa Terrace neighborhood, complete with an 18th-century gambrel roof, classic shutters, a traditional porte-cochère, and a bullmastiff named George.
Now celebrating Christen Joy Interior Design's 10th anniversary, she welcomed North & Nest inside her personal home and studio, sharing the thoughtfully layered design of a well-traveled life.
DEFINING DUTCH COLONIAL
The Dutch showcases architectural elements rarely seen in new construction — features typically reserved for character homes in Fargo’s historic neighborhoods and throughout the Northeast. Christen and her architect, Jackson Strom of Strom Architecture, ensured every detail of the home was thoughtfully executed, from the barn-style gambrel roofline to the porte-cochère. Together, they explored the nuances of Dutch colonial architecture, blending European tradition with colonial practicality to create a design that maximizes living space while artfully concealing function. “Part of the design that I challenged Jackson with was that I didn’t want the garages to be the focal point of the home,” said Anderson. To address this, Jackson positioned all three garage stalls and her studio at the back of the home, resulting in a cross-shaped layout when viewed from above. "I've always loved character homes," explained Anderson. "I lived in Seattle for five years and traveled quite a bit during that time, which included a trip to Cape Cod. That's where I really fell in love with the gambrel roof line and the Dutch colonial style."
A NEW OLD HOME
Before building with Century Homes, Christen had been considering the purchase and renovation of a historic home, until a friend suggested forgoing her costly plans and refocusing on building a 'new old home.' "The idea was to build a home that looked like it could be 100 years old but didn't feel like a 100-year-old home," explained Anderson. "I was also really inspired by Patrick Ahearn, an East Coast architect well-known for his work on Dutch colonial-style homes in Martha's Vineyard." "Jackson and I both fell in love with Ahearn's work to the extent that he took his course to learn about the scale, which was one of the challenges. I originally wanted 10- foot ceilings on the main floor, but to do that, Jackson explained that we would have to drop down the floor because we're supposed to do nine feet and then eight in terms of that scale for this style of home," added Anderson. "I really appreciated his attention to detail because, just like in interior design, when things are done intentionally, people don't necessarily grasp why it looks so perfect from a scale perspective; it just does. But it's that attention to detail that changed everything in terms of the look and feel."
INVITING DESIGN
Inside, Christen's many passions inspire the home's fresh traditional design, showcasing timeless finishes, textural layers, unexpected pops of color, bold floral patterns, and exquisite 'jewelry' through lighting, accents, and art. Christen is an avid world traveler, art collector, and entertainer, so her home was designed to share the experience with others, creating a pristine setting for her own custom floral arrangements and stylized place settings. She also shares her home with George, her beloved year-and-a-half-old bullmastiff. To clients and friends, her home doesn't just depict a unique colonial style; The Dutch is a destination with a personality all its own.
LA CORNUE BLUES
In Christen's entertainer's kitchen, it's all about the French La Cornue CornuFé range and double oven, a handcrafted piece that embodies The Dutch's colonial design. "I wanted to do something a little more daring," said Anderson. "To me, blue is more of a neutral; I call this La Cornue Blue." The kitchen's Ahearn White cabinetry was designed by Christen and Kaeli Wendt Bernier, designer and owner of Moorhead's Wendt Custom Cabinets. The Patrick Ahearn paint is a creamy off-white hue that strikes the perfect balance of cool and warm undertones. As the kitchen’s focal point, the two replicated the range's La Cornue Blue on the range hood, adding brass banding to highlight the fixtures and unfinished, unlacquered brass hardware. The hardware was chosen for its ability to patina, creating another layer of old-world charm. Adding a layer of local charm, Christen displays the work of Fargo artists Dan Jones and Warren Kessler. "Kaeli is my go-to for cabinetry, and I wanted to be able to show my clients the work of Wendt Custom Cabinets, with elevated hardware, cabinetry, and countertops that make a statement," said Anderson. "I absolutely love being in the kitchen, and this was a complete blend of functionality and design."
One of the kitchen's many remarkable design features is its double- stacked edge marble countertops and full-height marble backsplash fabricated by Spaulding Stone. "Marble is a high-maintenance product, but it's also very traditional, tried, and true," added Anderson. "And so, yes, you need to be thoughtful when you're in the kitchen, but also, there's something beautiful about it in terms of the patina that comes with it, and it can always be refinished." To highlight the island, Christen chose two clear glass pendants to balance the larger size. "I love doing specialty lighting; I think these pieces are truly the jewelry of the spaces," explained Anderson. "I also like doing different levels of lighting throughout the day. I'll use the back sconces in the morning for low light, and as the day goes on, I'll switch on more lights; I love being able to have those layers of lighting."
PANTRY PERFECT
Color-drenched in La Cornue Blue, Christen's butler's pantry is more showpiece than discreetly designed storage, including concealed outlets and space for wine storage, baking essentials, larger appliances, and vases. "I love fresh flowers and gardening, so I store vases here and use this as a creative space for crafting arrangements," said Anderson. Illuminating floor-to-ceiling cabinetry and marble counters is a beloved chain pendant named Milton, displaying a more traditional fluted and etched star design. "He's one of my favorites, so I bring him into a lot of different projects.” Another refined touch is the pantry's custom-crafted circular window, an element authentic to Dutch colonial design.
FINER DINING
In the dining room, Christen repeated the kitchen's double- stacked edge countertop on the built-in hostess buffet, accented by beaded chandeliers and a commissioned floral piece by North Carolina artist Laura Park. Christen designed the buffet to be 41 inches in height, so it's more easily utilized as a serving space, with deep drawers for dishware, linens, and candles. The dining room table was crafted by Kaeli's husband, Jordan Bernier. "I jokingly tell people it's by 'Bennie & Co.,' the name of their firstborn. Jordan's actually been my go-to local for making custom furnishings, and he never disappoints," said Anderson. "For the tabletop, I bought a slab of the same marble and sized it to make sure it fits up to 12 people around it."
ELEVATED TRADITION
In the formal living room, Christen chose an elevated, yet approachable design, including coffered ceilings, a marble fireplace surround, a fresh green and white checked pattern, pinched pleat drapery, and a more traditional, dark-stained wood. Here, subtle textures and tones create the backdrop for vibrant pops of violet, with floral artwork by Netherlands artist Lilly Marneffe. Christen found these pieces on a trip to St. Martin, a Caribbean island with a primarily Dutch and French heritage.
"I think color is coming back in a big way," said Anderson. "People have been afraid of color, but the clients who are reaching out are really excited to integrate color throughout their space; that's something I haven't seen in the past. The big trend of whites, white oak, and neutral palettes is beautiful and organic, but I'm excited to see people ready for color and pattern."
DAYLIT DISPOSITION
Although the sunroom was not part of the original plan, Christen believes the best was saved for last, with French doors, a cozy fireplace, an art TV, floral sconces, and two full walls of windows overlooking a treed backyard. Surrounding the fireplace is a handcrafted tile installed in a pale blue pattern that Christen sourced from the UK. "To me, the sunroom is where you kick up your feet, whereas the formal living room is where you visit or host book club," explained Anderson. "I wanted this space to feel light, airy, and a little bit more fun, because this is where my niece and nephews hang out.” The floral and butterfly art was a gift from Grand Forks artist Katie Lee, one of Christen's best friends. The piece was inspired by the famous 1947 Schumacher's Citrus Garden pattern, originally hand-drawn by architect Josef Frank. This pattern also inspired the coordinating throw pillows by artist Laura Park.
PRISTINE PRIMARY
In Christen's primary suite, she's created a spa-inspired sanctuary swathed in a 19th- century botanical pattern of monochromatic greens, with a hint of lavender. A timeless coordination of classic wainscoting, marble vanity tops, polished nickel, shaded wall sconces, and penny tile set the stage, opening to an artfully crafted marble shower and tub room. Take a moment to soak it all in, from the elegant wainscoting, wallcovering, and penny tile to the floor-mounted House of Rohl tub filler in shimmering polished nickel. What's almost unseen from this angle is the circular window beyond the room's exquisite petal chandelier. The matte-white floral stems capture the light, with subtle detail that echoes the wallcovering’s petal forms. At the foot of the tub is London, Christen's beloved companion, who sadly passed nearly two years ago when the bathroom was first completed.
For the walk-in shower, Christen punctuates the entry with a frame of opulent marble, which is repeated inside with floor-to- ceiling marble tile. "The heavier frame and glass door at the shower entrance are visually beautiful, but they're also really functional in helping to protect the wallcovering. This is also why I chose to do wainscoting around the tub," explained Anderson.
BE OUR GUEST
In the guest bath, Christen chose another bold wallcovering in warm floral, paired with a darker marble countertop and high ogee-edge backsplash, stained cabinetry, and a traditional flooring pattern in marble. "Marble is a material that can be combined with other patterns," said Anderson. "While the floor might seem kind of wild to some, to me, it's very neutral and timeless, allowing me to do something a little more exciting on the walls, which creates balance. Then, in the shower, I went with a warm white tile to truly let the floor and walls be the focal point. Also, wallpaper is something that you can have for a few years, then switch it out if you tire of it or if it feels like too much."
POWDER PLAY
Christen believes the smaller space of a powder bath is the perfect place to go big, playing with color, texture, and pattern. "To me, a powder bath is something that you can flip out every three to five years because it's a smaller space, so it's less of an investment," explained Anderson. In this main-floor bath, Christen chose a bold, colorful pattern paired with polished nickel and a floating marble apron sink and backsplash fabricated by Spaulding. Here, the finite detail on the mirror mimics the classic curves of the backsplash and the low apron hides plumbing elements.
From the porte-cochère, the arrival is chic and cheeky, greeted with a traditional black and white marble, a small built-in bench, and two sheep benches. The statement pieces were originally curated by an artist in the 80s. The foyer's finale is a commissioned 6x4-foot champagne art piece by Katie Lee.
PAWLISHED & PRESSED
Just off the garage entrance is the main-floor laundry and a pocket door to George's very own mudroom, adorned with custom cabinetry, white subway tile, and a sky-blue floral-patterned wallcovering. As the final touch, Christen accented the space with art from two Grand Forks artists, Kelly Thompson and Katie Lee, including a tribute portrait of London by New England artist Sara Fitz.
CHRISTEN JOY INTERIOR DESIGN STUDIO
Above the three-stall garage is the studio space of Christen Joy Interior Design, her design firm that specializes in boutique commercial and residential property, both new and existing projects. The studio's vaulted ceilings feature a v-groove panel with trim, accented by a stunning, custom-made cloud chandelier by Apparatus.
Christen chose a beautiful burl desk and custom built-ins to organize and showcase her interior design materials library, with finish samples of fabrics, rugs, paint, and wallcoverings. Christen primarily works in Fargo, Grand Forks, and the lakes area, but thanks to virtual technology, she also takes on clients from coast to coast.
Although an extended team takes on specific tasks, she is still the sole designer, offering clients an intimate one- on-one design experience. "We have many clients who don't live locally, but they have lake homes here, so we do a lot of virtual work for them, everything from new construction—working with the architect—all the way down to fluffing that pillow that's on the sofa that we source for them," explained Anderson.
"Our passion is helping clients with all the details throughout the process, being a guide and support system. It's about crafting a home that's not just beautiful, but also highly functioning for them on a day-to-day basis. We also help with floor-to-ceiling furnishings and refreshing space, from rugs and wall coverings to lighting. So, really taking the client's vision and creating a space that is truly unique to who they are."
"Finishing my home and the studio right before the 10th anniversary is the cherry on top — this home has very much been a reflection of my business and my personal style," said Anderson.
"It's really exciting to think about how far we've come."
For more information, visit ChristenJoyInteriorDesign.com.