Milieu is a series that explores the unique ways in which we breathe life into our homes. From coastal towns to city living, our homes are a celebration of small, simple moments. They’re a reflection of our lives. Our stories. Our milieu. 

We are thrilled to be picking up this beloved series in a place not too far from our hometown... Nestled in the heart of the Canadian prairies lies the village of Neubergthal, a National Historic Site of Canada and home to visual artist and amateur ethnic-anthropologist, Margruite Krahn. ⁠⁠Between her studio loft and impressively restored family home (what was originally a 1927 Mennonite/British style barn), we couldn't help but jump at the chance to share it with you all. And if that weren't enough to pique everyone's interest, Margruite's home includes an original 19th-century Herdsman House, which has become a true labour of love for this engaging artist. ⁠

Let's step inside, shall we?

Before we begin, please, introduce yourself! 

My name is Margruite Krahn and I am a visual artist and amateur ethno- anthropologist.

Has Southern Manitoba always been home for you? 

In 1998 my husband and I, along with our three young daughters, moved to Neubergthal from Winnipeg. Prior to that I lived in Edmonton. My formative years were in several towns in Manitoba, Alberta, PEI, and Indiana.

What initially drew you to Neubergthal? Furthermore, what has continued to draw you to stay? 

We were in a book study based out of a Mennonite church we were attending in Winnipeg. The book was called What Are People For, by Wendell Berry. It was about care of the land and home. One of the women in the group grew up in Neubergthal and after “fleeing at eighteen” felt the call home. She invited us, along with another couple (founder of the funk group Moses Mayes) to join her family on a field trip to Neubergthal. Her motives were to entice us to join her in this move. 

My husband Paul and I immediately fell in love with the charm of this Mennonite Street Village. It had just been announced by the Parks and Monument Board of Canada that Neubergthal would be designated a national historic site. We looked at a housebarn as well as a barn as a possible future home. We immediately were drawn to the barn, and imagined it as our home. At the time my husband was the English Department head of the school he was teaching in in Winnipeg. We agreed that if a suitable job would become available at the local high school in Altona we would make the move to Neubergthal. Two years later we found ourselves moving to Neubergthal.

The property had a bungalow we could live in while renovating the barn during the summer months. Shortly after moving onto the property we were made aware of a rare building on our property. A smaller house turned garage and sinking into the ground, was actually the only remaining village herdsman house ( where the cow herder lived) in the country and possibly North America. It was one of the elements that made Neubergthal a national historic site. 

I became involved in the Neubergthal Heritage Foundation after the 2000 homecoming and a barn dance we hosted in the loft of our barn. As mentioned earlier I moved around a lot, and other than living in Dauphin, it felt like home. Feeling a sense of place helped me grow as an artist and discover my love for history, material culture and built heritage. At this stage of the game I am too invested to imagine living anywhere else.

What inspired you to begin uncovering and then restoring the traditional Mennonite floor patterns? 

As chair of the Neubergthal Heritage Foundation during the 2000’s, I was project lead of several building restorations (c 1900). It was the contractor that introduced me to the floor patterns hidden under layers of carpet and linoleum. From there my research and interest grew as I discovered hand painted patterns in the herdsman house (c1880), and other house barns in the village and surrounding area. It rekindled memories from the local women of their mothers, aunts, and grandmas painting floors.

What is your favourite part about Neubergthal in autumn? 

The light. Long shadows made by the cottonwoods. September, February, and June, the angle of the sun is similar, but how the light reflects against the colours of the season is most intense at those times of the years.

Where in your home do you feel most creative? 

I wander. My problem is that the barn, the studio, the yard, and the herdsman House are all about form and function and I like to take it all in . We have a path around the yard, this connects the spaces with my thoughts. That being said, both Paul and I, and when our adult children come home, tend to gravitate around the stone table in the dining area.

Hands down the herdsman house is my “play house”. I am constantly changing things around and looking for better ways to present the space to guests.

When I need to buckle down and create a floor cloth or painting I am in the studio. Not nearly there enough!

Can you describe your home for our readers? Did you help it transform from a barn into a family home?

I grew up with parents who built or renovated our homes. When Paul and I bought our first home in WInnipeg we took on major renovations, learning in the process. I say this because neither Paul nor I were daunted by a desire to turn a 1927 Mennonite/British style barn into our house. The barn was solid and grand. The barn had not had animals in it since 1968, but the stalls, tack room, post and beams were in excellent shape. 

The stalls and tackroom were taken down and the wood was reused to make doors, trim, and a kitchen island. The original tongue and groove fir boards on the exterior walls were refurbished, transit windows were replaced with triple pane, and custom wood windows replaced the original sash windows. 

Two 36 foot beams from old growth Douglas Fir span our living space, and the posts define where cows and horses wintered. The grain rooms and section where the pigs were housed, were turned into bedrooms/office a bathroom and mechanical room. 

The troughs are covered over with concrete etched with hydrochloric acid, and encase the water lines for our ground source heat.

Between the back section of the barn and our main living area is a breezeway with a 33 ft ceiling. Two canoes are suspended by a hay sling during the colder months. Stairs lead to a catwalk- one side is a non insulated 140 seat venue for concerts and whatever we decide to host, and on the other side is my studio. The four season studio boasts plenty of light, a 16 ft ceiling that imitates the barn rafters, original hardwood plank flooring, and a wood stove. A second set of stairs in the studio lead to a self contained suite as well as Paul’s bike room. 

While this may all sound exhausting for two people to undertake, this is a project that has happened over 26 years, and is ongoing. Many people have helped us along the way, especially with areas that required the advice of an engineer. Lucky for us it's all in the family.

Which interior piece (big, small, new, old) in your home has the most unique story? 

Perhaps what draws the most attention is the work of Todd Braun, a local stone-guy and amateur archeologist. Between the living space and the kitchen is a 4000lb stone bench. Behind it is a wood stove that heats the back of the bench in winter. The chimney is clad in field stone and the base of the wood stove is also a slab of granite. Following the stone theme, the dining table is a 1000lb large slab of highly polished granite that seats 8-10 people. The kitchen counter is also made of granite, all acquired from a quarry in the whiteshell. 

What does a typical day at home look like for you this season? 

Fall is a time to assess the projects for the coming year. Currently I am preparing for the next leg of my exhibition Resurfacing:Mennonite Floor Patterns, which opens in Waterloo, Ontario Nov 8th. I am also curating a house/barn in Neubergthal and getting it ready for public use. This includes restoration and renovation of hand painted floors to meet health inspection, painting and parging walls to match original aesthetic, and finding handmade Mennonite furniture suitable for a cafe. 

Like everyone else in the village I need to clean up the garden, and unlike most people these days, it’s time to put the storm windows and winter doors on the herdsman house. Thankfully the wood pile is ready for another winter. 

Who or what are some of your biggest artistic inspirations? 

Canoeing in the experimental lake region-the Canadian Shield. Collaborating with musicians and interpreting their music in my paintings.

Any upcoming projects or exhibitions you’d like to mention? We’d love to stay tuned! 

Resurfacing: Mennonite Floor Patterns will be on exhibit at Conrad Grebel, University of Waterloo, Nov 8-February 21, 2025. 

The Herdsman House is a year round artist residence and guest house, and you can visit the Neubergthal Heritage Foundation's website for activities at The Commons if you're local to the area. 

If you're feeling as inspired as we are after meeting Margruite, we recommend you learn more about what she's up to on her website. (And highly recommend a stay at the Herdsman House for a peaceful getaway in a pretty special spot!)