Mid-Century Edina House Built for Maid of Scandinavia Founder Costs $1.795 Million

From Craftsman bungalows to Tudors, Parker Newcomb researched specific home styles.

While looking for a house four years ago, he came across a mid-century modern in Edina that literally took the cake: it was built by the founder of Maid of Scandinavia, a decorating supplies company cakes.

The 6,000-square-foot house featured an entryway with 22-foot ceilings and a terrazzo staircase with a curved brass railing. The house itself was a concrete construction and had glass and stone walls. The living room was glazed on three sides.

“I love architecture,” Newcomb said. “It was so remarkable in so many ways.”

He didn’t know much about the luxury home, which was built in 1961, or the neighborhood it was in. But he gradually learned more, with help from the original owners’ family members and others who knew them.

Newcomb met a neighbor who told him the area had been the old Schaefer farm and that Dee and Mark Dalquist were the first to build. Soon Mark’s brother, H. David Dalquist — founder of Nordic Ware, the St. Louis Park cookware company best known for its Bundt pan — had built a house nearby.

“The neighbor really knew the story,” Newcomb said.

Newcomb eventually met Dee and Mark’s son, Mark Jr., and their nephew David Jr., who grew up on the streets. Not only did the cousins ​​stop by the house, but Mark Jr. also gave Newcomb an architectural model of the house, which was designed by architect George Mastny.

“To have the story of the two families working together and living together in close proximity was very cool,” Newcomb said. “The house was built for entertaining, that’s why there are big open spaces. They had a lot of fun and quite a formal way. They [had a pipe organ and] would bring in professional organists to play at parties. »

Newcomb also learned that Dee and Mark had wanted a home that was as close to fireproofing as possible.

“That was the engine behind all the concrete construction. Every ceiling, every wall is concrete. It’s built like a fortress, it really is,” Newcomb said. “The construction is meticulous. I just knew there had to be a story.”

Update and referencing

During the time that Newcomb lived there, he made some updates.

He remodeled the kitchen, installing custom Italian walnut cabinetry, stainless steel appliances, and a 5-foot-long workstation sink, along with quartz countertops and backsplash. He added a home theater system, updated several bathrooms, and added a glass door to the kitchen for easy access to the balcony. Outside, he added a stone terrace.

While he enjoyed living in this unique home, he put the five-bedroom, five-bathroom home on the market.

“I’m going to start spending my winters on the west coast. I’m downsizing here and getting second place there,” he said. “I will miss living in this house. I have mixed feelings, for sure. But it’s time.”

Newcomb hopes the next owner will appreciate the home’s solid structure and setting: on nearly an acre of land overlooking a pond and located on a quiet cul-de-sac.

“The side yard here looks like a football field, which is what the living room and this nice row of trees look like,” he said. “The fact that you’re so close to town and have all this natural beauty around you is what really sold me.”

Listing agent Gary Bennett praised the home for its design and livability.

“It’s so architecturally powerful. And for such a big house, it feels really good. The spaces are just amazing,” he said. “They don’t build them like that anymore. They didn’t build many like that back then either.”

Gary Bennett ([email protected]; 612-229-6972) has the $1.795 million SEO.

Correction:
Previous versions of this story misidentified the company founded by Mark Dalquist.