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RIVER + RANCH MAGAZINE
RIVER + RANCH TEAM
volume 4: Issue 4 River + Ranch Magazine is a collaborative effort to showcase the creativity and design of the West. The two publishers of Bismarck Magazine decided to embark on a new adventure and create a different magazine focusing on design, art, and western living.
Publishers
Hannah Haynes hannah@bismarck-magazine.com
Caroline Crary
Hannah Haynes
Jenna Kluting
Publisher/Co-Founder
Publisher/Co-Founder
Layout Editor
Caroline Crary caroline@bismarck-magazine.com Layout Editor
Jenna Kluting
Copy Editor
Jennifer Kranz
Contributors
Maria Fleck Jennifer Kranz David Borlaug Marci Narum
Cover Image Advertising
Karel Sovak
Jennifer Kranz
Bailey Hauf
Maria Fleck
Writer
Editor
NewAge Creative Caroline Crary caroline@bismarck-magazine.com
Writer
River + Ranch Magazine Corporation, Copyright 2018 River + Ranch and riverandranchmagazine.com. All rights reserved. This periodical cannot be reproduced without the written permission of River + Ranch Magazine. River + Ranch Magazine will not be held responsible for any errors found in the magazine. Bismarck Magazine Corporation accepts no liability for statements made by advertisers.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
10 Foundation to Finish 18 High-Class Hangars 42 Sailing Houseboat 52 Badlands Cabin 64 Art is Life. Life is Art.
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Grand Getaways Planes and boats and cabins, oh my! Plan your next vacation and be inspired by those who live by the saying ‘work hard, play harder.’
RIVER + RANCH MAGAZINE | August-September 2021
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LETTER
FROM THE PUBLISHERS Everyone needs a vacation, a space to getaway, relax, unwind and recharge from the busy lives we all lead. Whether you are jet-setting, sailing away or sneaking off close by it’s important to take time for yourself and your family; to leave the hustle and bustle behind and find an escape. Check out the incredible ways people are finding their peace and serenity from sailing their troubles away on a sailboat, heading out to the badlands, to flying around the country or maybe even just around the city. Special thanks to Chad Watcher for surprising us with a tour of his plane AND the city from a bird’s eye view. Whether by planes, trains, boats or cars it’s always nice to be whisked away to a new place for some R+R. Although it is the getaway edition don’t forget to check out the progress of the incredible home Josh Kuntz with Prestige Homes & Designs is building for the cutest family. Last issue we saw the bare bones of the home, now see how things are coming together before the final reveal in our October/ November issue.
*River + Ranch Magazine is a publication is a locally produced publication and collaborative effort to showcase the creativity and design of the West. River + Ranch is a home magazine dedicated to highlighting design, art and Western Living. Based in Bismarck, ND, but showcasing everything Westward. You can find River + Ranch Magazine at any local grocery store in Bismarck, Mandan, Minot, Dickinson, Williston, Watford City, Medora and smaller cities in between. Thank you for reading.
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RIVER + RANCH MAGAZINE | August-September 2021 Glasser Images
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from
F OU N D AT IO N T O FI N I SH story: Jennifer Kranz photos: NewAge Creative
We’re following the Heinle family through their new build over the next few issues. From beginning to end, here’s an exclusive look into what it takes to build a dream home.
RIVER + RANCH MAGAZINE | FOUNDATION TO FINISH
The anticipation is building for the Heinle family as they get closer and closer to receiving the keys for their new Misty Waters home. As electrical nears completion and they choose finishes, the family of eight gets more excited about moving in and enjoying their new Prestige Homes & Design home. “It’s exciting, we can’t wait,” says Justin Heinle smiling. The Heinle house has come a long way since we last took a peek at it. “It’s framed, the windows are in and mechanical work like heating, plumbing, and electrical is underway,” explains Josh Kuntz of Prestige Homes & Designs. These elements are followed shortly by shingles, sheetrock, insulation, and siding.
FOUNDATION TO FINISH | RIVER + RANCH MAGAZINE
With the exterior of the house moving along smoothly the challenge of choosing interior elements is next on the list and the Heinle’s are in a good spot. “We’re picking out final touches, but all the big stuff is pretty much done,” says Danette. Josh adds, “We’re just down to little questions that will pop up like how they want to see things finished.” One surprise that has come out of the home building process is Danette’s preferred style. “I’ve learned a lot about myself. I thought I was really farmhouse, but my style is not farmhouse, it is more modern Craftsman, Shannon (Koski of Studio One Designs) tells me,” Danette explains.
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RIVER + RANCH MAGAZINE | August-September 2021
RIVER + RANCH MAGAZINE | FOUNDATION TO FINISH
“We’re picking out final touches, but all the big stuff is pretty much done.”
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This style revelation came about while choosing finishes like countertops, cabinets, flooring, and lighting. Even with this change of style Danette is enjoying the process, “It’s exciting, but it’s overwhelming,” she explains. “I want the rooms to flow, and Shannon has been a big help with this, she’s great at tying it all together.” Paint, furniture, wallpaper, and accent walls are the final elements that Danette is working on dialing in. One of the bigger design changes in the Heinle’s home design is the fireplace. “It will be different, something that’s not in a lot of houses,” Danette explains of the 22 foot fireplace. White wood floor-to-ceiling paneling and marble tile are sure to make this a stunner. Justin loves television so the changes needed to be made to accommodate an 80-inchwide unit. Built-in shelving was sacrificed to make it all work but in the end everyone is happy. Justin got his television and Danette got her floor-to-ceiling paneling. Josh is happy, with the change, too. “I got my showy fireplace for pictures,” he quips. As their home gets closer to completion both Justin and Danette are excited about different things. “I’m still really excited about the garage because I think you can literally
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RIVER + RANCH MAGAZINE | August-September 2021
Choose a Designer & Custom Home Builder You Can Trust 701-516-4386 | prestigend.com
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drive in here and turn around then come
sweet. Josh has a huge window in there
bedroom on the main floor, and laundry
back out,” explains Justin about the 4-car
and it’s dreamy. To be able to eat dinner
being both up with the kids and on the
garage. “I’m excited about the basketball
around your table and have that view, it
main.
court and the whole thing.”
will be sweet,” she says.
they are looking forward to. Our final installment of this year’s Foundation to Finish is coming up in the
Family and friends are important to the
next issue of River + Ranch. Join us as we
For Danette it is all about a view the
A few things Danette and Justin both
Heinle’s, so having more space to host
unveil Josh’s latest masterpiece and the
whole family can enjoy together. “I’m
are excited about are the south facing
parents and grandparents for extended
Heinle’s beautiful home.
excited for the dining room. It is pretty
position of the house, the primary
periods of time is something extra special
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RIVER + RANCH MAGAZINE | August-September 2021
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HIGH-CLASS Hangars story: Jennifer Kranz | photos: NewAge Creative
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RIVER + RANCH MAGAZINE | August-September 2021
A
bout six months ago Lori Malloy of Decorating Den Interiors reached out to River + Ranch Magazine to let us know that
four men, including her husband, were building their dream airplane hangars at the Bismarck Airport and that it could be such a great feature for the upcoming Getaway issue. She spoke about these four ‘boys and their toys’ and the excitement they each have for planes. These hangars would not only house their planes, but also had loft areas that each of the men would get to design for their needs - making sure they hit their “must haves.” Some of the lofts are still a work in progress but each hangar has unique elements. Thank you to Roger Domres, Chris Krein, Howard Malloy and Chad Wachter for letting us into your favorite space to get away.
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Howard & Lori Malloy Who: Howard and Lori Malloy. Howard is the president of Bismarck Title Company and Lori owns Decorating Den Interiors Aircraft: Piper 2000 Howard has gotten back into aviation after 30ish years being out of it and loves the freedom of flying. “It really just opens up the world,” Howard explains. Friendly Skies After renting for awhile in a local hangar Howard decided it would make more sense to own one of his own, so he turned to guys he knew to help get his hangar off the ground. “These guys had way more experience in aviation and hangaring than I did,” he explains of Roger, Chris, and Chad. “I was the one that really started talking to everyone and I pushed it.” The result is this beautiful, functional hangar built by Robb Sattler that is perfect for these four boys and their toys. Speaking of…
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RIVER + RANCH MAGAZINE | August-September 2021
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Boys and their toys Owning a plane is about convenience and education for Howard and Lori. “What I enjoy about flying is that we can decide if we wanted to go to Minneapolis for supper, we could go right now and we would be early,” Howard explains. For Lori it’s the connections they’ve made, “Some of the people we’ve met stopping at little airports for gas are wonderful.” An unexpected piece of flying is education. “It’s constantly growing and learning and that’s important, too,” Lori adds. It’s also about going fast. “I like fast. I do like to fly and just buzz around, too,” says Howard.
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RIVER + RANCH MAGAZINE | August-September 2021
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HOWARD & LORI MALLOY | RIVER + RANCH MAGAZINE
Room with a view The Malloy’s mezzanine is beautifully finished with black cabinetry and unique glass. “It’s kind of manly but I needed it to be cool,” explains Lori, an interior decorator. “We were going for a little industrial and I just wanted cool, clean lines.” The space is perfect for entertaining. “It’s a nice comfortable spot and I just thought if we’re going to do it, we might as well do it as best we can,” Howard says. “I take a lot of friends places and I wanted to have a private place for guests. I wanted a mezzanine so that when they come and I’m working on the plane or getting ready for the flight they aren’t just sitting around on their luggage in a really cold hangar.” The couple is hoping the comfortable space will help ease their friends’ pre-flight jitters. “Especially if they are nervous about getting on a small plane they can sit here and watch and acclimate a little to the whole experience,” Lori says. Howard enjoys bringing a little excitement to his friends’ lives. “Most people haven’t flown on a small aircraft. It is a nice plane and there’s room for 6. It’s exciting and we can do fun stuff,” he says with a smile.
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RIVER + RANCH MAGAZINE | August-September 2021
RIVER + RANCH MAGAZINE | HIGH-CLASS HANGARS
“I just thought if we’re going to do it, we might as well do it as best we can,”
Chris kRein Who: Chris Krein of CK Auto Inc. Aircraft: Piper Mirage Chris Krein got into flying in an unconventional way. “A friend of mine came into my office one day and said to me ‘We should buy an airplane.’ I told him he’s crazy and to get out of my office,” Chris explains with a laugh. Ultimately his friend convinced him to go look at the airplane and 10 years later here we are and now he flies often. Boys and their toys Chris agrees that Lori’s ‘boys and their toys’ comment is pretty accurate. “I went from not having any interest in [aviation] and that nobody can afford it to realizing that it’s not actually that expensive. It’s fun,” he explains.
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RIVER + RANCH MAGAZINE | August-September 2021
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Chris uses his plane for both work with CK Auto and for pleasure. “I use it a lot for work as far as going to car auctions. I can leave on my schedule and still be home on the same day and you can’t do that with commercial,” he says. Regardless of the reason he’s in the cockpit, flying has become an escape from what’s going on on the ground. “When you’re flying you kind of forget about everything else that you have like your daily stress and things,” Chris explains. “It challenges your mind so much when you’re flying and trying to be professional and doing the best job you possibly can do you forget about all those things, so it’s like a stress reliever. It occupies my mind and I go to some other place and forget about everything.”
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RIVER + RANCH MAGAZINE | August-September 2021
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CHRIS KREIN | RIVER + RANCH MAGAZINE
Room with a view Chris’s mezzanine is unfinished, but its future use is potentially utilitarian. Of the space Chris says his idea is an efficiency apartment complete with a shower, “That’s still a little bit up in the air. I think I’m going to turn it into a place that when someone flies into town it’s a place to stay. Somebody could stay overnight if they had to.” Chris’s section of the hangar has a different look from the others. His walls are copper in color and stone accents add a point of interest to an otherwise bland space. “I don’t know why I chose these colors. I just didn’t want it to be the same. I wanted it to be kind of homey,” he explains. Lighting on the floor is a nod to the taxi ways on runways with its red and white bulbs. The railings on his mezzanine differ from the rest and make his space feel overall more industrial.
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RIVER + RANCH MAGAZINE | August-September 2021
RIVER + RANCH MAGAZINE | HIGH-CLASS HANGARS
“When you’re flying you kind of forget about everything else that you have like your daily stress and things.”
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Chad Wachter Who: Chad Wachter, President of Investcore Inc Aircraft: Cirrus G2 Vision Jet Flying has played a role in Chad’s family long before he was born. “My dad got his pilot’s license when he was 16 years old. When I grew up, I used to fly with my dad. My grandpa was also a pilot, and he flew in the invasion of Normandy,” Chad explains. “Aviation kind of runs in our family. Boys and their toys Of Lori’s statement Chad had this to say: “I think Lori’s right, I think it’s boys and our toys, I think it’s part of it. If I had more time on my hands I would probably tinker with more toys. I have a couple cars I’d like to put here with the airplane. It’s a nice place to just hang out and be around friends. Some people collect cars, and some people have a lot of different hobbies and mine is airplanes. Airplanes are fun.”
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RIVER + RANCH MAGAZINE | August-September 2021
Chad earned his pilot’s license in his late 30s after his oldest son went off to college. He began flying Pistons and worked three years to get the special rating to fly jets. “I wanted the ability to get places faster and get up higher where it’s smooth and get above the weather, to carry more passengers and go further,” says Chad. Room with a view Chad’s vision for his loft area is a comfortable place where his family and friends can hang out whether he’s preparing for a flight or not. “I wanted to have a place where my wife and my kids and other passengers could hang out while I’m getting the aircraft ready because it takes a little time before you get ready to fly. You’ve gotta do a preflight check and a good preflight takes 20 to 30 minutes to do,” Chad explains.
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CHAD WACHTER | RIVER + RANCH MAGAZINE
“I also wanted a place where I could just get away and be with my friends, where I didn’t have to worry about being at home and getting messy.” The multi-purpose space will include a bar, bar stools, a sitting area with televisions, as well as two chairs and a table. The plane level of the hangar includes in-floor heating and LED lighting. Outside the hangar door is a curtain of heated cement so that the snow that builds up along the edge of the garage melts and it’s easier for the planes to taxi to the runway.
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RIVER + RANCH MAGAZINE | August-September 2021
“Some people collect cars, and some people have a lot of different hobbies and mine is airplanes. Airplanes are fun.”
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Roger W. Domres Who: Roger W Domres, Founder of Edgewood Real Estate Investment Trust Aircraft: Pilatus Flying has been a part of Roger’s life since he was a kid. “My father was in aviation and Alfred Peach from Minot is a gentleman that really got my father and myself into flying,” Roger explains adding “It’s a passion and a part of how I grew up.” Now, Roger is channeling his passion and using it to help him in his professional life. Along with a professional pilot, Roger flies whenever it’s deemed necessary. “We fly about 400 hours a year. We utilize it for our company and our staff,” he explains. In fact, Roger has taken his plane on a two-day, four state business trip visiting Fargo, ND, LaCrosse, WI, Waterloo, IA, Rochester, MN, Eden Prairie, MN, and Crookston, MN. A hangar like this allows him to cover so much ground during trips like that.
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RIVER + RANCH MAGAZINE | August-September 2021
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Friendly Skies Roger joined in the group in the hangar because he needed a space in Bismarck for his Grand Forks based plane to hang out. “I was the last one to come in and they really wanted one more person to fill this and that’s why I came in,” Roger explains. “You’ve got a good group of guys that everyone sees things similar in nature.” Boys and their toys Roger lives up to Lori’s quote and admits to his love of grown up toys. “I have toys, collector cars, collector motorcycles, collector snow mobiles,” he explains. “Fortunately, or unfortunately, I have a wife that really likes this kind of stuff, and she encourages my bad habits,” he says with a smile.
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RIVER + RANCH MAGAZINE | August-September 2021
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ROGER W. DOMRES | RIVER + RANCH MAGAZINE
Room with a View While the size of the hangar was important so that Roger’s plane could fit through the door and in the space, the convenience of the loft space was another contributing factor to joining this crew. When asked if he spends time in the hangar he replied, “I do and I will more as I complete everything else. We have a full-time pilot and he can utilize the space as he’s working on the airplanes.” Roger wanted to be on the end of the hangar because he wanted windows on his side. Roger’s loft is a work in progress but the work that has been done so far is pristine. Clean lines and white cabinetry give the kitchenette space a light and airy feel. A window floods the loft with natural light making it the perfect place to either relax or focus before a flight.
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RIVER + RANCH MAGAZINE | August-September 2021
“We fly about 400 hours a year. We utilize it for our company and our staff,”
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midwest getaways
SAILING
Houseboat story: Maria Fleck photos: NewAge Creative | Lisa & Jeran Harmon
W
hen most people say they live on the water, they don’t usually mean that literally. However, when Lisa and Jeran
Harmon say they live on the water, that’s exactly what they mean. They are the proud owners of a 34 foot Gemini Catamaran sailboat dubbed Second Chance with a full kitchen, working bathroom, and three bedrooms which enables them to literally live on the waters of Lake Sakakawea on the weekends.
Lisa and Jeran purchased their sailboat from a man in Florida who lived in it year round with his cats. Because of this, the boat was in rough shape. After the Harmons had the boat shipped in, they got to work on desperately needed repairs and renovations. Nearly the entire interior of the boat needed to be re-done. The Harmons stripped the boat, took carpet off the walls, repainted, reupholstered the seats, sanded and stained wood, and along with other necessary maintenance. They worked on restoring the boat over the winter of 2019 so the boat would be ready for its maiden voyage as the Second Chance in the spring of 2020.
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It may seem surprising that a sailboat has the space for three bedrooms, a full kitchen, working bathroom, and living room. The boat has enough room for all these necessary living spaces because it is a catamaran, meaning it has two hulls. The Harmons are able to live on their sailboat because of the extra space this provides. Despite how large it sounds, the boat still isn’t large enough for much walking, so for exercise the couple brings along paddleboards. With all these components, the sailboat has become the perfect getaway home for Lisa and Jaren. The boat even has solar panels, so the couple could stay out on the water for weeks on end. The Harmons try and get up to their home away from home every weekend. They usually sail out as far as they can get on Lake Sakakawea, tuck into a bay, and spend a night out on the water. “I think my favorite part of sailing is when you put up the sails, and you turn the engines off, and it’s just so peaceful,” describes Lisa. “All your worries go away. It’s hard to describe in words. There’s nothing else like it.”
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RIVER + RANCH MAGAZINE | August-September 2021
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Both Lisa and Jeran had experience with sailing before purchasing the Second Chance. Lisa grew up sailing Hobie Cats which are racing sailboats. Jeran was gifted a 27 foot monohull sailboat when he was in college by some family friends, and he taught himself how to sail. When Lisa and Jeran started dating, they would often go sailing together on Jeran’s boat, and the tradition of sailing together has carried on into their marriage. Sailing gives them a chance to disconnect and just spend quality time together which is one of the reasons they love sailing together so much.
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RIVER + RANCH MAGAZINE | August-September 2021
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Sailing is not a straightforward mode of transportation, and the fastest the Harmons’ boat can travel is 7-8 knots or about 9 mph. “It always takes us a little longer to get places,” jokes Lisa. However, because the journey is the whole point of sailing, the slow speed is in no way a hinderance to the Harmons’ enjoyment of their time on the lake. The couple hopes to take the boat out for a longer trip this summer. Their plan is to take a week and just slowly sail west on Lake Sakakawea, spending time together while taking in the summer sun and fresh air, enjoying all the opportunities their getaway home offers.
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RIVER + RANCH MAGAZINE | August-September 2021
“All your worries go away. It’s hard to describe in words. There’s nothing else like it.”
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midwest getaways
BADLANDS Getaway story: Maria Fleck | Photos: Glasser Images
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RIVER + RANCH MAGAZINE | August-September 2021
L
ocated two and a half hours from Bismarck, 40 miles north of Medora and a few miles away from Elkhorn Ranch, is a newly built 5,000
square foot home right on the Little Missouri. To get to this diamond in the rough from Bismarck, you have to cross the river and take rarely traveled gravel and dirt backroads. As one can imagine, building in such a remote location had its fair share of challenges. Jeremy Kukowski, owner of Creative Touch Homes, was hired to build the homeowners’ dream home on their operating cattle ranch. The homeowners came to Jeremy because of his willingness to take on challenging projects, but also because of his familiarity with the area. He grew up in the Beach area and trapped all over this prairie with his father. He also knew the previous owners of the ranch, and so his building expertise paired with his first-hand knowledge of the area brought the current homeowners’ vision to life.
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Planning for this Badlands home began in the fall of 2016. After unforeseen issues prevented Creative Touch Homes from starting in the fall of 2017, actual construction began in May of 2018 and finished September 2019. Many challenges arose from building a home so far from city limits. “The number one thing that was probably the most difficult was estimating the cost of building in this location. Every time I estimated the cost of something I tried to estimate in the logistics of travel, but it’s almost impossible to get it right,” says Jeremy. Scheduling with subcontractors had to be perfect since the trip out to the home took two and a half hours. If something did not get communicated, that was a waste of at least five hours. Another challenge included predicting the weather. Since many of the roads the workers needed to travel on were gravel, rain made it almost impossible to get to the home. And if the river was swollen from rain or melting snow, they had to travel around the river, extending the trip to three and a half hours. Even with all these challenges, Jeremy said he would do it again. “I’ve always been drawn to challenging projects,” he explains.
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RIVER + RANCH MAGAZINE | August-September 2021
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The home is roughly 5,000 square feet. The home is all above ground and has three bedrooms and four bathrooms, a game room, wet bar, a pocket office, and a full office. Much of the inspiration for the home’s interior decorating came from the incredible views right outside the home. The large windows located in every part of the home provide an almost 365 degree view of the beautiful badlands. “The hardest part of the home was location, but my favorite part was the location… you don’t see anything like [this view] in North Dakota,” says Jeremy. “It’s just spectacular.” Both the build of the home and its design is very unique. The home’s layout is symmetrical at the request of the homeowners. “You don’t see that very often, where the house is perfectly symmetrical,” says Jeremy. Design-wise, the home is a blend of modern and traditional styles. Tani Short, who does design work all over the country, helped the homeowners blend these two different styles. “I feel like so often a house reflects a designer or a builder rather than a homeowner,” explains Tani, “so I just really try to wrap my head around what they want it to be.” Tani was involved in the home’s design from the very beginning, while they were still looking at the floor plan, until the finishing touches, even helping choose the dishes and sheets.
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RIVER + RANCH MAGAZINE | August-September 2021
After 43 years... Where Every Day is a Home Show!
3709 Memorial Hwy | Mandan, ND | 701-663-7902
1150 3rd Ave W | Dickinson, ND | 701-227-8441
w w w . r i ver a n dr a nch m aga z i n e . com
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Each part of the home was developed with intentionality. “The kitchen was designed for a true cook,” Jeremey says. “It is set up to cook in.” The wife is an amazing cook, and she wanted to have a truly functional kitchen. “It’s fun to see someone who loves to cook get a space like this and put it to use,” says Tani. The kitchen has an incredible amount of storage with plenty of counter space to work on. The cabinetry was done by Creative Wood Designs and the countertops were all done by Precision Tops. The entire kitchen feels bright and open thanks to the windows that overlook the Little Missouri and let in natural light.
w w w . r i ver a n dr a nch m aga z i n e . com
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The living room features a grand stone fireplace with a reclaimed wood mantel. The omission of a television was an intentional choice in order to keep it a conversation area. The coffee table brings a touch of rustic to the space, but the braided rug helps maintain the modern feel. The idea for the office came from one of the homeowners. Its rustic hickory ceiling and other masterful woodwork was done by Roughrider Hardwoods who also did the stairs. The master suite was designed for functionality. The separation of the master bath and master bedroom was intentional so if one of the homeowners has an early morning, they will not disturb the other’s sleep. The gorgeous floor and tiling finishes off the space beautifully and was done by Imperial Flooring, who did the home’s other flooring and tiling.
Tani loves how the home turned out and the way it highlights the beauty of the surrounding land. “Once the home is up and you look out the windows from different rooms, you get such a different perspective on the landscape around you,” she explains. Both Tani and Jeremy said that this project was fun to work on because of how unique this opportunity was. Not very many people can say they have worked on building and designing a luxury home in the middle of the undeveloped badlands. “It was a challenge,” says Jeremy. “It involved literally removing a hill to make a spot for the house to sit… but I would do it again.” Jeremy would like to give a special thanks to his subcontractors for their hard work throughout the home-building process, especially Prairie Lumber, LB Concrete, JFA Construction, Ben’s Electric, Northern Plains, Dakota Heating and Air, Imperial Flooring, Creative Wood Designs, Precision Tops, Roughrider Hardwoods, and Kaufman Woodworks.
“The hardest part of the home was location, but my favorite part was the location… you don’t see anything like [this view] in North Dakota,”
Art is Life. Life is Art. A column exploring art in your home, by David Borlaug and Marci Narum, The Capital Gallery
The mission statement of The Capital
to express our sense of place here in
Gallery may appear simple and concise,
Dakota. Our artists, whose work finds its
but it’s really very encompassing—
way into homes across the country, help
“Celebrating History, Art, and Culture!”
us meet our mission, for every piece tells a story. And we are all about telling stories!
With
our
heritage
going
back
to
establishing the Lewis & Clark Interpretive
Perhaps no other art form better
Center in Washburn, ND, a world-class
exemplifies this than American Indian
historical museum, our mission makes
Ledger Art. This art form began 150
sense. From the day we opened the doors
years ago, from the northern plains to the
of that special place, 24 years ago, we used
southwest and lands east and west, with
art as a form of historical interpretation.
Native Peoples using precious leftover
Through the years, we built a collection
paper from general stores, government
where he has been teaching art at United
artists are keeping alive a vital thread
including the historical art of Karl
offices, etc. and colored pencils, usually, to
Tribes Technical College for over 40 years.
of the fabric of our culture here on the
Bodmer and George Catlin, along with
tell their stories.
contemporary artists Michael Haynes,
plains. We are proud to display them, and Monte currently lives in New Mexico, and
share in their joy when their work finds a place in homes.
Vern Erickson, Water Piehl, and sculptor
Two of the most notable practitioners of
travels throughout the country exhibiting
Michael Westergard. Today, it is owned by
this art form today, known throughout
at prestigious venues, including in his
the people of North Dakota, through our
the country and internationally, are
favorite place, North Dakota.
State Historical Society.
Monte Yellow Bird, who grew up on the
Visit our website for more details or find us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Fort Berthold reservation and is Hidatsa/
Both artists are on display in our Bismarck
Fast forward to nearly five years ago, when
Arikara/Crow; and Butch Thunder Hawk,
gallery through August, and in Medora
we opened our first gallery, we continued
Lakota Sioux, who resides in Bismarck,
permanently. Each in his own way, the
Provided by the Capital Gal lery
This wall of American Indian ledger art in The Capital Gallery features Monte Yellow Bird at left and Butch Thunder Hawk, right.
Monte Yellow Bird presenting his story to students at Standing Rock in Fort Yates, ND.
Provided by the Capital Gal lery
Butch Thunder Hawk demonstrating in Medora.
Provided by the Capital Gal lery
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