“Next time you come home, do you want to take some [gelatin] molds with you?” my mother asked me over the phone. She entertained a lot during the 1970s and 1980s when elaborate gelatin molds created “salads” that were all the rage. I’ve always wanted to try and recreate a delicious one I had in the 1980s that was red and tasted like the soda, Tahitian Treat. But that was until I realized exactly how many molds my mother owns. I thought, “What am I going to do with all of these?” I found the answer while interviewing Jan Johnson for this month’s semi-annual homes issue. With the help of interior designer Jen Cirone, Johnson found creative ways to blend her love of antiques with modern design. Take, for example, what Johnson did with her doughnut-shaped mold—she filled it with mini succulent plants and placed it in the middle of her patio table to create an elegant centerpiece that allows an umbrella to go through it. It’s a beautiful and unexpected décor element. Now my mom wants her gelatin mold back. (Which is OK because my aforementioned dream dish was shaped like a tiered cake.) But that little decoration nugget is only one of a few when it comes to Johnson’s home and her unique way of mixing the old and new.
Speaking of old and new, do you remember that awful hail storm that fell upon us in the early 2010s? It showered golf-ball sized hail down on our roof and windows. Sadly, it marked the end of our roof, and when it was time to choose its replacement, we were offered only two options— asphalt shingles or cedar shake. I thought to myself at the time, “Surely, there must be something better than this?” Now there is! We chatted with Edina roofing company Stinson Services about other choices and how we don’t really have to stick with asphalt if we prefer another option.
And finally, if you’re like me and wondering what else we can make over a bonfire that isn’t s’more related, we spoke with an outdoor enthusiast who adores all things cooked upon a campfire. It’s the perfect way to enjoy September, the only month where we can enjoy the last traces of summer warmth and embrace the idyllic transition to the beautiful canopy of fall colors.
