52 weeks of design (kitty & Company) week 17

By Kitty Golding
Kitty & Company will be conducting a series of short interviews with Chelsea Residents for 52 weeks, bringing to light differing personalities and design styles in our community.  Perhaps you will meet someone new through these weekly interviews or perhaps it will be YOU! Stay tuned and follow us each week – we now introduce you to Mr. Todd Kauranen.
What is your profession and for how long? Industrial Design.
When did you move to Chelsea? Where did you live prior to this? My wife and I moved here in March of 1997.  We lived in a small pop up camper inside a barn while we were building our first home. Before this we rented a 25 foot by 25 foot house for the first five years of our marriage in order to save our money to buy the land for our new home.
What do you love about where you currently live? I love living rurally because we are free from most of the distractions of the world. Our property allows for many genuine honest tasks that are therapeutic in nature, such as harvesting all our own firewood, gardening, raising chickens and hunting game.
 
If you could have a second home anywhere, where would it be? Italy.
 
What three words describe your style? Innovative, Analytical, Nonconformist
 
As you think about the home in which you grew up, what elements did you like and do you think you have incorporated some of them in your own home? I grew up in the 70’s in Hartland MI. The small hometown community is probably the biggest common denominator.
 
Who most influenced your design styles? I think what has most influenced my design styles come from heroes in the movies I like, culture and real life. The attributes that I admire in these influences trickle into my choices in fashion, art, products etc.
 
What are you most inspired by in your design/decor?

1. Nature: Textures.
2. Travel: Rich colors and patinas.
3. History: 1920’s through early 1940’s Cars, Fashion, the Italian futurists.
4. Urban Culture: BANSKY, raw industrial.
5. Other: Subtle tension with superb proportions.

 
When entering your home, how do you want it to feel? I want it to feel like a refuge from the world that exemplifies who we are as a family.
 
What is one trend in design you do NOT like? Trends themselves, carve your own path!
Have you stayed true to a design style throughout the years, or have you fluctuated in your tastes? We have stayed fairly steady and really only have changed colors.
 
Which room in your home gets the most use? Please give any explanation as well: The kitchen / It is where the food is!
Is there any design choice you regret when you built your home? I would like to replace the wrap around porch ceiling with a wood ceiling and install some fans.
 
If you are a pet owner, has that influenced your choices in design? We do have animals, but I haven’t made decisions based on them. My only annoyance is that our dog lets himself out and I would like to have a metal plate around the door handle as it is all scratched up.
 
If you were moving and could only pick one item from your home to keep, which would it be and why? I would pick the cherry cabinet I made for my wife to put in our foyer, because I wouldn’t want to build it again.
 
 If you were given $1,000 to buy a new piece of art, what would it be?   More than likely a modern abstract with bold lines and colors.
 
No room is complete without: good lighting.
 
I tend to be- a minimalist by nature.
What are you currently doing to pass the time during the COVID-19 State shutdown? Getting ready for the growing season and the coming winter.
A few of your favorite things!
Movie: Pursuit of Happiness.
Historical Place You Have Visited:  Tivoli, in Italy.
Scent: Basi.
Season: Fall.
Song, Artist or style of Music: Hauser.
Food: Italian.
 
Bucket List Travel Destination: Finland.
Museum: The Louvre.
Item on a bookshelf: Miniature Radio Flyer Wagon.
Color: Black.
Design Style: Clean and Dark.
Hobbies: Land management.
Tree or plant I prefer hickory for its strength.
Pets?:  Dog person all the way. We do have cats but they are not allowed in the house.
 
 
Kitty’s note:  I met Todd (and his wife) a long time ago – around 16 years ago at church. Todd has a creative talent that never stops – from furniture design and build, to product design/create and sell, pieces of artwork to woodworking (see the stair case photo that he designed and built for his home). Our boys have become the best of friends.  Todd inspired my son to raise chickens, and taught my boys on occasion, when they were visiting, various drawing techniques. There was always learning through life, happening at the Kauranen Homestead. I also have enjoyed their home and their style.  It is beautifully REAL. 

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