Photography by Sophia El’Rae Digital Agency
Joseph and Lisa Robbins
Joseph and Lisa Robbins know a little something about building. The husband-and-wife team — he an architectural designer and she an interior designer — have been making houses feel like homes for a combined 20+ years. In 2021, they opened their first brick-and-mortar shop in Stillwater, Brick + Linen. Then, last fall, another outpost followed, this time in Wayzata. Both locales boast a curated collection of bespoke, artisan-crafted home goods and gifts; they also serve as full-service design studios.
“I dream a little dream, and Joseph gets it off the ground,” says Lisa of the shops, acknowledging that Brick + Linen acts as a “billboard for the backbone of the business” — that is, their design/build company, BLd.Co.
The shops feature all the things the couple loves, things that “give comfort and respite,” Lisa notes, pointing to cozy throws, handmade pottery and namesake stonewashed linens. Creating that vision, Joseph explains, is often what prompts people to engage the firm to collaborate on larger projects: a restoration, a complex remodel or a start-from-scratch new build.
“Handling these important decisions and your investment is our specialty,” says Joseph. “Our design tends to be very thoughtful and approachable. There’s an organic, tactile nature to it,” which is also apparent in the shops.
“Great design is an experience; it should feel guided, detailed and fun,” Lisa explains. “We believe that living a life you love starts at home, which should be a place of relaxation and rejuvenation. Our homes are also an extension of who we are and what we yearn to be, so I listen very closely to clients to understand how they feel about their homes. Sometimes it’s just taking home a new accessory, a pampering bar of homemade soap or a pair of earrings that’s enough to fill your cup.”
Their local fan base is growing rapidly — and organically. When people discover Brick + Linen or BLd.Co, “it tends to be a wonderful happenstance,” notes Joseph. “We like to think our shops have a unique vibe, even from each other, and as we continue to grow, we’re going to keep that alive.”
