NBA star D’Angelo Russell wanted his home near Minneapolis to be renovated using only black and white colors. Interior designer Tiffany Thompson, from Duett Interiors in Portland, led the redesign of his 6,300-square-foot home. Russell liked the contrast of black and white, and Thompson incorporated this into the design.
Thompson added a black Italian leather sofa and a cream Flag Halyard chair in the living room. The kitchen featured a dark Belvedere leathered quartzite countertop, surrounded by black leather and brass chairs. Throughout the home, cherry wood flooring was used.
The aim was to blend the home’s rustic, midwestern roots with a calm and attractive atmosphere. Thompson drew inspiration from a visit to Yakushima, a wooded island in Japan, for the color palette. The design includes elements like Shou Sugi Ban custom treatments inspired by Japanese wabi-sabi principles, focusing on asymmetry, roughness, and simplicity. Thompson refers to the design as a “mood board” meant to evoke a specific emotional response to the fall season.
I really enjoyed working with Tiffany on this project,” says Russell, who is originally from Louisville, Kentucky, and joined the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2020. “This is our second project together, and we have a great working relationship. Tiffany understands my preferences, takes creative risks with the design, and we just click.
Even though Russell started his career in 2015 with the Los Angeles Lakers and had short stints with the Brooklyn Nets and Golden State Warriors before coming to Minnesota, he appreciates Tiffany’s approach to creating a warm and welcoming home. He mentions that the constant moves during his career made him value Thompson’s focus on creating a cozy home environment. “Tiffany helped make Minnesota feel like home quickly,” he says. “On my days off, I like to relax, especially since I’m usually on my feet during games. It’s nice to have a peaceful home where I can let my dogs run around. She brought a sense of calm into my home, and I love that.”
Certainly! Creating a home for an NBA star involves adding special features related to their job. In this situation, it meant putting in a half-court basketball gym with official NBA measurements. Bill Costello, the chief operating officer at Streeter Custom Builder in Minnesota, explained that the basketball court is easily accessible on the main level, making it convenient for everyday use. Streeter Custom Builder handled the interior construction, including removing the texture from the original cherry wood flooring throughout the entire home.
For the basketball court, Streeter used high-quality NBA-grade maple wood flooring and covered the walls with dark stained oak wood panels. Russell’s favorite basketball jerseys are displayed above the court in wooden frames with safety glass. Additionally, there is a lounge area surrounded by floor-to-ceiling glass that provides a view of the entire gym.
