Floors that Rock • Winterizing Power Sports Equipment • Porches with a Purpose Subscribe print or digitally by visiting www.lakeandhomemagonline.com
SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2016
First NatioNal BaNk, We’ll get you there At First National Bank you can count on a local process for the quick answers you deserve. Stop in to see one of our lake-country bankers, or apply online at fnbhenning.com.
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CONTENTS
42 VOLUME 18 • ISSUE 5 • SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2016 LakeAndHomeMagOnline.com
8 From The Editor 1 0 Home Maintenance Hot Tips & Tools for Cooler Days Interior Design 16 Porches with a Purpose
Home Experts 24 Your questions answered by
our panel of experts
On the Lake 26 Winterizing Power Sports Equipment
Interior Design 34 Floors that Rock
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LAKE AND HOME SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2016
FEATURED HOME
Practical Magic 42 A rustic gathering place
on Fish Lake
FEATURED HOME
54
A Woods and Water Retreat on Idyllic Island Lake Design Inspiration 67 Special Section Featured Lake 82 Island Lake
Cover photo by Kip Johnson See story on page 54.
Volume 18, Issue 5 • SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2016 PUBLISHER Kip Johnson MANAGING EDITOR Jan Werkau ART DIRECTOR Kip Johnson ADVERTISING/MARKETING CONSULTANT John Burns LAKE AND HOME MAGAZINE – ADVERTISING SALES Erin Hintz • 218-205-2120 erin@lakeandhomemagazine.com Haily Johnson • 218-205-5068 haily@lakeandhomemagazine.com SUBSCRIPTIONS In the U.S., one year $23.95; two years $42.50; three years $54.00. Elsewhere add $5.00 per issue. Back issues are available for $5.00 per issue, plus shipping and handling. Subscriptions can be purchased online at lakeandhomemagonline.com/products
LAKE AND HOME MAGAZINE Published bimonthly by Compass Media PO Box 9761, Fargo, ND 58106 (218) 205-2706 lakeandhomemagonline.com artwork@lakeandhomemagazine.com Unless previously agreed, all rights remain the sole property of Lake and Home Magazine.©2016 Compass Media Except for purposes of review, material contained herein may not be reproduced without prior written consent. Printed by RR Donnelley, Long Prairie, MN, USA
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FROM THE EDITOR
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hen we last visited, lake season was in high gear but as I write this, I know, as we all do, that the far-too-limited number of days of pontooning, picnics, parades and paddleboats will soon come to an end. I nearly always feel a sense of urgency around this time of year. An urgency to “fit in” all the necessary outdoor activities – concerts, hikes, relaxing afternoon visits to my favorite lake spots, several S’mores sessions, stops at the seasonal shops – which in my childhood days meant a frosty mug hanging on for dear life off the front window of my parent’s station wagon du jour. I’m still a huge fan of that stuff in the frosty mug, but it has never again tasted quite the same as it did in those days. Thoughts turn to the inevitability of the fall and winter seasons. From ice cream cones to icicles. From hosting summer visitors to planning mid-January beach vacations. From sitting around outdoor fire pits to cozying up near indoor fireplaces. From cutting flowers in the garden to turning the pages in a seed catalog planning next year’s bouquets. It is a time of transition. To help prepare you, we’ve got a fall projects list (and a few tools that might just make things easier) and some thoughts on winterizing your marine watercraft. As the nights start to cool, you’ll be tempted to snuggle up with a stack of Lake and Home Magazines and begin dreaming of building, buying or improving your own “lake place”. This issue is sure to provide plenty of design inspiration for your next home project. But don’t head indoors for the season quite yet, there are sure to be gorgeous Indian Summer days yet to come where you can sneak in a foliage-watching walk or hike. If you haven’t visited Maplewood State Park on a sunny, crisp fall day, you haven’t yet experienced all of the beauty of our lakes country. Be sure to bring your camera. The colors are stunning and may just inspire a new palette in your home.
Jan Werkau
Managing Editor Lake and Home Magazine 8
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From the Editor
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HOME MAINTENANCE
As the temperatures begin to cool, thoughts turn to fall cleanup, winterizing chores and readying your home for the spring’s rising temps, and the eventual return of an easy summer at the lake lifestyle.
Guard Your Gutters Consider the installation of gutter guards from industry leaders such as Leaf Guard, Leaf Away or Gutter Helmet. Each product is designed to rid homeowners of the dreaded chore of cleaning out the gutters. If you’ve ever done it, you know how unpleasant a chore it can be. There are many products on the market, some DIY options and others that require professional
installation. Those with mesh-type screens have a tendency to catch pine needles and are less effective in our woodsy northern areas. These two products work using surface tension that causes the water to cling thereby discarding any debris it was carrying; and allowing only the water to flow into your gutters.
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Leaf Management With all those leaves coming off your roof instead of into your gutters, you’ll need to manage them once they hit the ground. Whether your choice of tool for managing them is a rake or blower, we’ve selected a couple of great tools to help you get the job done quickly.
The Dewalt Blower Cordless Electric Brushless Blower, rocks an air volume of up to 400 cubic feet per minute at 90 miles per hour. With a variable speed trigger and speed lock, a brushless motor that maximizes efficiency and durability, as well as a fan design that maximizes air output and run time, you’ll be the man (or woman) in charge of this year’s leaf management tasks.
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Leaf Management If manual labor is more your style, a dual tine rake might be the just the tool you need. The innovative design of this 26-inch True Temper model is ideal for those who want to rake faster, and frankly, we don’t know anyone who prefers to rake slower. The dual tine design quickly rakes through leaves and grass with a clean sweep. The large head size makes quick work of the task, while the included detachable hand rake gets into tight spaces easily. A comfort grip textured handle allows for better control and eases strain on hands and arms.
Patching Bare Spots If we’re lucky weather-wise this fall, you may have time to get in a little patching of the lawn after the leaves have been cleaned up and before the snow begins to fall. Pennington’s One-Step and OneStep Complete will have your lawn patched in as little as two weeks. A combination premium grass seed and professional-grade fertilizer (and mulch) is contains technology to ensure better growth of beautiful, healthy, thick grass.
Dig and Divide, Pot and Plant With all that planting and dividing, you’ll need the right tools. The landscaper’s tool called a Hori Hori is a cross between a knife, a trowel, and a saw. This efficient tool can be used to cut roots in the ground, divide plants, and dig out weeds, and of course, for digging and potting plants. For the serious gardener, or one who simply likes using the best tools, a hori hori will help you get a lot of work done with just a little effort. 12 LAKE AND HOME SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2016
Once you’ve finished all those outdoor projects, there’s still a few to be done inside before you can sit back and enjoy the beauty of our northern winters with a good book (or game) beside a warming fire.
Plant for Spring Color Is it already too late in the season to patch that lawn? Consider turning that space into a perennial and bulb garden. Perennials and bulbs both work very well planted in the fall and then left, with the right mix of soil amendments, for a long winter’s nap. We’ve selected three Zone 3-hardy tulips to bring bright hot summer hues to your spring garden. Divide a few of your existing perennials, such as hosta, daylilies, bee balm and peonies, add the tulips and you’ll have a spring garden that will be the envy of your neighbors. And…you’ll be benefiting the perennials by dividing them. We call that a garden win.
Carnival de Rio Tulip Almost candy-striped in appearance, this modern Rembrandt tulip, Carnival de Rio, sports flamed bicolor pattern in red and white. Blooming mid spring, this variety will produce an abundance of cut flowers.
Kiev Tulip Kiev sports huge blooms of bright red with sunny yellow edges that sit atop purple and green mottled foliage. Very impressive! A Greigii tulip, these are low growing but the blooms are very large in proportion to the rest of the plant. Blooms mid to late spring.
Parrot King Tulip The most flamboyant parrot tulip -- the king of all Parrots -- deserves its name. As blooming begins, the yellow-orange frilly edges of the petals offset an emerald green midrib; with maturity, the petals become solid yellow with red feathery edges. During the day, they fully open in a dramatic display and then close at night. Blooms mid spring.
Mind the Heat Change furnace filters or check the status of your unit’s permanent filter. Be sure to review your furnace or heat exchanger’s manual (or local service provider) for seasonal maintenance requirements, but don’t forget to change the filter too. Dirty filters restrict airflow and increase energy demand. As heating season begins, it’s important to keep all components of your system in top working order. A little maintenance now could avoid or reduce a costly repair later. Disposable fiberglass filters trap very little of your home’s debris, but they get dirty surprisingly fast. Installing an electrostatic filter can up the cleaning power to nearly 90% of debris and are better at controlling pollen, mold and bacteria. Genuine HEPA filters remove 99-plus percent of particles in your home’s air.
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Stop Leaks Caulking windows and doors where leaks can steal up to 30% of a home’s heating (and cooling) efficiency pays big dividends. It’s a good idea to seal up gaps with caulking or weather-stripping in corners, where pipes and wire exit the home, places where air might be escaping (or coming in), but one of the biggest culprits in energy waste, are doors and windows.
Those windows were caulked when they were installed, but if it has been a while, you might want to look them over closely or do an incense test to see if they are leaking. More information about incense tests can be found numerous places online. If you do re-caulk, make sure you buy the right product for your project and follow the manufacturer’s instructions in order to get the most benefit out of your time.
Clean, Cover and Store Deck Furniture That deck and outdoor furniture you spent all summer relaxing on needs a little TLC before it’s stored away for the season. Whether you have an indoor storage spot for them, or have to leave them outdoors for the season, be sure to clean them well of all debris, then consider a cover such as the Veranda line from Classic Accessories. This line features heavyweight Gardelle™ woven polyester fabric and special water-repellent and resistant undercoating. Air vents reduce condensation and wind lofting and there are padded handles for easy fitting and removal. The elastic hem cord with toggle allows adjustment for a custom fit. The covers are available for tables, sofas, loveseats, lounge chairs, sectionals. ~L&H 14 LAKE AND HOME SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2016
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INTERIOR DESIGN
Porches W ITH PUR POSE
by Chris Olson
For many, porches play an important role in life at the lake. We greet our guests from the front porch. We end our days on the back porch as the setting sun reflects off the lake. We cat nap on the sleeping porch. A porch is a great place to enjoy the indoor/outdoor aspect of lake living.
Proper Placement Adding a porch may affect how daylight reaches your interior rooms. Be sure to consider placement of the porch and its effect on light coming into rooms such as kitchens and living rooms that might normally be well lit by windows.
If you’re considering a new build, front, side and back porches should be on your short list of amenities. The addition of a front or back/side porch (often dubbed “sunroom”) adds function and value to any home and is almost always worth the investment. Selecting the right style of porch is important. If you’re adding on, the addition needs to match or complement your home’s existing architecture.
Materials Low or easy maintenance materials are the name of the game in porches. Constant exposure to the elements means that use of easy to clean and durable or composite materials is best. This includes your construction finish materials as well as those used in your décor pieces.
Air Movement On steamy summer days and nights, you’ll be thankful that you took the time to install ceiling fans on your porch. Not only do they move the air, but they add a decorative element to your porch. No matter the style of your home, fans come in all sorts of design styles from retro to ultra-modern. Adding a remote control option to those fans will ensure that you remain comfortable without disrupting your relaxation time.
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Front Porch
Potted Plants Plants are a must have item on your front porch. They bring seasonal color and curb appeal along with a welcoming tone to the entrance to any home. Make sure you’re keeping them watered, pruned and looking fresh all season long. In the fall, switch from annual flowers to pumpkins and colorful fall accents. As the holidays approach, think evergreen branches and twinkling lights.
Color Choose a great (perhaps unexpected) color for your front door. Your front door is a great place to show the world you’ve got a little bit of whimsy going on. Burnt Orange, Eggplant, Deep Turquoise, Dill Pickle Green – all great colors to consider giving your front façade a color lift. Coordinate that bold choice in a few accents such as pillows, a rug, or a planter painted in the same color.
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Comfortable Seating Even if you’ve only got room for a chair or two, make them comfortable enough to “sit a while” on. If your porch is a bit grander in size, deep seating, wellcushioned chairs and a loveseat will be appreciated by your guests.
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Back Porch
One Word: Screens We’ve seen (and admired) a number of back porch additions that are half screened in and half open deck. We’re betting that the screened in portion gets a lot more daily use. A screened in outdoor space is just short of a necessity when the bugs start flying. But they are also very enjoyable when the nights start to cool and you can “be outside” enjoying the fall air in the comfort of your own home.
Add a Lamp and an Ottoman You’re going to want to do a little reading, whether it be the latest in your favorite detective series, the local hometown newspaper, or a stack of holiday catalogs, You’re going to need a great reading light. The ottoman can serve as a footstool (intended purpose) or a place to serve a late night snack.
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Make Room for the View Make sure that the furniture arrangement you choose optimizes that great view of the lake, woods, or setting sun, if possible. For those rooms set in a more suburban location, orient the layout to maximize your evening-time privacy.
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Side Porch
Double (or More) Duty A side porch could function as a dining room, library, greenhouse, or guest room. A four-season suited build could add valuable square footage, as well as character. Creating an intentional multipurpose room allows for changing use over time and maximizes your investment.
Make It Light A room constructed of window-filled walls will bring in a ton of natural light without sacrificing privacy in the rest of your home. French or sliding barn-type doors would be a nice addition allowing the space to be open to or closed off from the main living spaces. ~L&H
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Photo courtesy Jyl Graves Design
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HOME EXPERTS
Your Questions Answered By Our Panel Of Experts Question: What should be considered when making the decision to downsize your home?
Answer: Chris Marvel
American Federal Bank
The kids are grown. Retirement is on the horizon. Planning for this next life goal is important and real estate can play a role. Maybe you’re looking at a smaller, less labor intensive property to allow you time for other activities at this point of your life. Some homeowners who sell a large home to downsize have equity in their home and get
OTTER TAIL COUNTY, MINNESOTA
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cash back when they sell. What to do with this cash becomes an important factor to consider. Your American Federal Banker can help you look at options. Options to consider include: •
Placing the cash toward the purchase of a new smaller home, often a condo or retirement villa
•
Making a small down payment on a new residence and investing the balance of the cash; or
•
Dividing the cash, with half going toward a down payment on a new home and half into an investment account or emergency fund.
OTTER TAIL COUNTY, MINNESOTA
OTTER TAIL COUNTY, MINNESOTA
With a move to a condo or townhouse, home owners will want to consider association fees and what’s included in the fees, such as homeowner’s insurance coverage, property upkeep like snow removal and lawn mowing, and the use of recreation facilities. If a second home is sold at a profit, there can be tax consequences. Discuss your individual situation with your American Federal Banker.
DOUGLAS COUNTY, MINNESOTA
117 South Mill Street Fergus Falls, MN 56537 218.739.3377 888.389.3377 americanfederalbank.com
OTTER TAIL COUNTY, MINNESOTA
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ON THE LAKE
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T
here is more to maintaining a boat or personal water craft besides the motor. Marine vehicles should be protected inside and out, especially in cold climates, fully protecting your valuable recreational asset. Winterizing is an important step in maintaining your water craft. You can winterize your power sports equipment by taking it to a local marine service center or you can do it yourself. You should remember that your insurance policy may not cover damage done by lack of maintenance or neglect. If you decide to do it yourself, the checklist should include: • Change the oil and oil filters. • Change the lubricant in engine transmission or the outboard lower unit. • Apply fogging, if called for by manufacturer.
• • • • •
Drain the boat’s fuel tanks as much as possible. Add biocide and/or stabilizing agents to fuel. Change the fuel filters. Add antifreeze to the engine’s cooling system. Add distilled water to batteries, charge completely and disconnect.
Before you begin, plan ahead by gathering all the necessary items to perform the task. Add to the checklist tasks or specific products recommended by the manufacturer’s manual. There are good reasons why all this maintenance is necessary. After running your boat all summer, it is likely that water, acids and other byproducts have built up. It’s important to change the oil to prevent corrosion and excessive wear which can lead to loss of power, poor fuel economy or engine failure.
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Fresh water expands in volume by about nine percent when it freezes and can push outwards with a force of tens of thousands of pounds per square inch. That expansion can crack an engine block, damage fiberglass, split hoses or destroy a refrigeration system. An analysis of 10 years of freeze claims from the BoatUS Marine Insurance claim files found that more than three-quarters involved cracks in the engine block or the exhaust manifolds that occurred because water remained in the engine or cooling system during a hard freeze. “A customer came in last spring saying his new inboard boat won’t run right,” said Tyler Neumann, service manager at Frontier Power Sports in Fergus Falls. “It turned out the engine was cracked because he said he did not know to winterize it. It cost him about $10,000.”
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Repairing freeze damage takes time and all too often involves a complete engine replacement. In The Boater’s Guide to Winterizing, you’ll find the list of items that would have prevented more than 95 percent of the freeze claims handled by the BoatUS Marine Insurance Program in the past decade. To protect the engine against damage from freezing, run antifreeze through the engine. For the best protection use marine engine grade antifreeze, either one rated to -60 or -100 degrees. Do not dilute the antifreeze or it will not perform correctly. To protect the inside of the engine until spring you must fog the engine to protect its moving parts. You can spray them into the carburetor while the engine is running or apply it through spark plugs holes while the engine is turned over. Winterization starts with prepping the fuel supply long before the day you haul out
for the winter. The engine’s fuel supply should be treated for storage during the last week or so of your boat’s in-water use. Neumann says they used to tell customers to fill the gas tank and add a stabilizer. However, he adds that ethanol in today’s gas is not good for boats at all. It breaks down the gas and gums up the engine in a short time. Now he tells customers to drain the tank as empty as possible and stabilize the rest. If a tank is empty there is no need for a stabilizer. If your boat is small enough, simply disconnect the batteries and bring them home. Add distilled water and charge them occasionally. For larger boats, disconnect the batteries, add distilled water and then periodically reconnect and charge them using shore power. There is a benefit in removing batteries and storing them in a warm environment. The cold saps the juice out of batteries,
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providing less cranking capacity. The other benefit is that the cable connections get cleaned when the battery gets put back. To double the life of a battery, there is a charger, called a battery tender, available that you can leave on the battery all winter. It will not overcharge the battery, sensing the level of charge, only working as needed. The old chargers would overcharge and ruin the battery if left on all winter. Plus, batteries have increased in price, so it makes sense to keep yours maintained properly. Winterize the hull and interior of the boat. First, do a thorough examination of the hull, keeping a careful lookout for blisters in the gelcoat. Also check for stress cracks which most often occur near the bow. Finally, pressurewash the hull to remove dirt and debris.
The work you do at the end of the boating season will extend the life of your craft and is well worth the time (and money) to do it right.
Fall/winter is a perfect time to put the shine to your boat’s gelcoat, restoring or maintaining your boat’s shiny finish. By washing and waxing the boat before it goes into storage you will have less work to do when spring arrives. Storing your boat outdoors in shrink-wrap or indoors each has their own advantages and disadvantages. If you store your boat outdoors, be sure to choose a sturdy boat cover and support structure to withstand heavy snow. If you want to keep mice from causing trouble keep your boat away from buildings, including indoor storage areas. Neumann adds he has tried everything to keep them out but nothing seems to stop them, even mouse poison or shrink wrap. The work you do at the end of the boating season will extend the life of your craft and is well worth the time (and money) to do it right. ~L&H
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My Favorite Lake in 3-D Proudly display your favorite body of water in 3-D. Each contoured depth map is custom designed just for you. Highly detailed and beautifully framed, they make a great gift idea too! Made in USA. Various sizes, starting at just $159. CampAndCottageStore.com
Distressed Mango Serving Set Distressed mango serving set includes a bowl and paddle shaped spreader. $39.95 www.LakehouseOutfitters.com
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INTERIOR DESIGN
Floors From boldly modern to rustic chic, today’s hottest flooring materials are giving homeowners lots of exciting options to consider that will give their living spaces a fresh, contemporary look. While flooring may not be the first aspect of design most homeowners consider, the wide variety of options available mean that choosing flooring is no longer a snore. Whether you’re looking to install the latest in your new build or are simply ready to update outdated flooring in your home, consider any of these flooring materials:
CONCRETE Concrete is no longer just for commercial, industrial or outdoor spaces. The variety of colors, finishes and textures make it the perfect option for modern-style homes. The smooth surface makes floors look sleek, while maintaining the industrial-grade durability. Concrete is not just extremely cost effective, experts say it’s easy to dress it up with rugs to add comfort.
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WOOD Today, wood floors are made with a variety of materials and manufacturing methods. While traditional solid wood floors in oak, hickory, maple, pine, cherry, walnut and other timber are available, wood flooring can also be “engineered.” Manufacturers are taking natural products and, by adding a manmade touch, transforming them into more durable, moisture-resistant products that are great for particularly dry or humid climates. If the rustic, cabin feel is more your style, perhaps reclaimed wood is for you. Made from old beams, salvaged lumber and even reclaimed wine barrels, the hand-hewn look of refurbished timber exudes character in its imperfections— perfect for Midwest homes. When it comes to size, say goodbye to the two-inch wooden planks you once knew. Widths upwards of five inches add depth to a room, making it feel more spacious. Color-wise, both light, blonde colors as well as deep, rich browns, like ebony and espresso are popular. For reclaimed wood, the rustic, weathered gray hue is all the rage.
that rock T h e H o t t e s t Lo o k s i n H o m e F lo o r i n g B y A le xa n d ra F lo e r s c h
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CARPETING Carpet is still king, maintaining its number one seller status in flooring – and there are more choices than ever. While designers are seeing fewer shag and friezes trending, cut-and-loop is the buzz phrase. Cut-and-loop carpeting combines both loops and cut loops to create definite lines, “heathered” textures and other patterns. Call it “carpet with character.” Also notable is the continued move toward green manufacturing practices. Manufacturers are using eco-friendly or recycled fibers for carpet to reduce environmental impact. Carpet pads are also changing, loose fiber is being replaced by high-quality rubbers that last for years to come.
BAMBOO Bamboo flooring is by no means new, but its unique colors and styles that again have trendsetters talking. The jungle “grass”, once dried, can be as hard, if not harder than traditional hardwoods, like oak and cherry. Technology advances have also made the wide-plank varieties available. However, it’s prone to moisture and not recommended for bathrooms, laundry rooms or other potentially damp spaces.
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LAMINATE Laminate is often thought of as the “wannabe wood”—constructed of four layers of material fused together to mimic wood. The benefit to laminate is that it’s much more cost effective than the real thing. In fact, even distressed-looking laminate can mimic reclaimed wood, often much less expensively. It is also available in the wide-plank variety and can even be laid in any pattern including herringbone, chevron or subway patterns. The best part? The locking planks are easy for DIYers to install themselves.
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CORK If comfort is the number one priority, cork may be a better option than hardwood floors. Due to its makeup, the fiber is softer and more comfortable to walk on. It also has acoustic properties that make it perfect for homes filled with musicians. Though it’s more durable with quality finishes today, just like a wine cork swells with moisture, cork floors are not immune to moisture or sun damage.
TILE In tile, the motto is the bigger, the better. Trendsetters have done away with the typical four-inch by four-inch stones. In their place, large format tiles are making a breakthrough, ranging in size from 12 by 12-inch up to 36 by 36 inches. But builders caution DIY installation; these tiles are much heavier than their ancestors, often requiring a professional’s expertise. Just like smaller tile sizes varieties, the assortment of shapes, textures and colors allow homeowners to create unlimited and unique patterns in their home.
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LUXURY VINYL Today’s luxury vinyl has come along way since the 1920s when it first hit the market. In fact, just like laminate mimics wood, so can vinyl for an even smaller price tag. The material comes in three different options: sheet vinyl (on a roll), vinyl tile and vinyl planks. And it’s appearance isn’t just limited to wood look-alikes. Designwise, basically anything you can take a photo of, you can turn into vinyl. Marble-esque patterns are trending for bathrooms, while slate and leather looks are also available.
CARPET TILES When they think of carpet tiles, many people think of the commercial, block pattern carpet at the office. But in 2016, the less expensive, more durable option for businesses is also making a splash in the home. As separate tiles, the carpet is easier to install than the large, broadloom carpet rolls and can be removed and replaced in well-traveled areas like hallways and doorways. They also make great, and interesting, “rugs.” Like ceramic tile, the squares can be installed to create patterns by shifting a quarter-turn or pairing with various shapes and sizes. Woven, tufted and flatweave varieties also add an element of surprise to floor design. While it doesn’t require a carpet pad like traditional carpet, homeowners must be careful in choosing quality backing so the edges of the tiles don’t curl or catch.
RUBBER With a trend in home gyms comes a trend in gym-quality flooring: rubber. The durability and resilience of rubber has slowly but surely made it more and more appealing to other rooms in the home like bathrooms and laundry rooms—its waterresistant quality is especially attractive for these damp spaces.
Unlike concrete flooring, rubber is easy on the joints and has acoustic-friendly qualities similar to cork. The flooring is available in a variety colors and patterns, including aesthetically pleasing hexagonal shapes for a modern kitchen. While it can be an investment—costing upwards of $20 per foot—high-quality rubber flooring may be mistaken for anything but.
Choosing the perfect flooring to fit your home is no longer a bore. With a variety of materials and textures, colors and patterns, you’re sure to create a perfectly beautiful space. ~L&H
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By Danielle A. Teigen Photography by Henry “Dutch” Hempel
J
eanie Rasche has a message for anyone who wants to build a home: “If you have the right people working for you, you can do it on your own.” Jeanie and her husband Steve didn’t use an architect to build their dream home on Fish Lake near Windom, Minnesota. But that doesn’t mean the couple didn’t have help. They had their lumberyard draw up their plans. They worked with a trusted builder. And they had faith that a team of artisans and craftsmen would make their dream lake home a reality in just over nine months. When their neighbors packed up their vehicles after Labor Day celebrations in 2015, they drove by a small cabin the family had long outgrown. When they arrived for Memorial Day the following spring, a modern yet rustic home stood in its place.
The Rasche family is a blended one, so the most important goal of the new home was to create a place for the whole family to gather together. When Jeanie and Steve married, he had three daughters (Alexa, Michaela and Maddie) and she had a son, Jake. They later had two daughters, Claire and Emma, together. “We have two out of school and married, two in college and two at home,” Jeanie says. “They range in age from almost 30 down to 10, so we have a big range coming and going. It was nice to have a place where we could just be here and they could come and go.” And the family just keeps growing. Alexa married Anthony and Michaela married Mike and now both couples are expecting babies this winter.
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The couple envisioned a home that would offer plenty of space and also meet their family’s changing needs. The floor plan is anchored by two main living spaces, a communal area that holds the great room, dining room and kitchen on one side and a two story sleeping space that contains the master suite, a large bunkroom and two additional bedrooms on the other. The set-up allows for both raucous sleepovers and napping babies. The home’s two main living areas are connected by a glass corridor that allows the eye to sweep through the structure and out across the lake. A paver stone patio and a pergola crafted from reclaimed barn wood beams create a gracious al fresco dining and living space with soothing water views. Walls of windows inside the home welcome the outdoors in. Rasche says
that the family’s first few days in their new home felt a bit like living in a house of glass, so they added electric window shades from Carey’s Electronics in Spencer, Iowa to gain a little privacy without sacrificing the clean, pared-down look they loved. “We took a trip to Napa Valley recently for my birthday and I was really inspired by some of the architecture and the elements there,” said Jeanie. “Some of the beams and the stonework and the woodwork are a direct reflection of that influence.” Builders Lance Freking and Jeremy Fuller of Central Construction, Inc. in Nelson, Minnesota, helped the couple turn their vision into reality. He’d already built a home and barn for them in nearby Heron Lake, so they already knew they worked well as a team.
“We wanted things to be durable and comfortable. When people come in, we didn’t want them to have to worry about tracking in sand.” Homeowner Jeanie Rasche on the welcoming nature of their home
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For the builders to be efficient, the Rasches needed to be decisive. They chose design elements and finishes that evoke a feeling of solidarity, durability and history whenever possible. The result is a home that combines clean, modern lines and earthy textures and materials for a timeless, rugged appeal. The home’s cement floors are complimented by matching rugs from Restoration Hardware. Blue Ox Timber in Alexandria sourced the exposed beams along the soaring great room ceiling from the same Minnesota barn that provided the wood for the outdoor pergola. They offer both an arresting focal point for the communal living area and a soothing sense of repletion throughout the home, both inside and out. The home’s color scheme is muted, an intentionally neutral palette that echoes elements from the natural world. Jeanie focused her love of color into a few specific areas (a set of shelves here, throw pillows for a pop of holiday cheer there), a move that allowed her to take a break from decorating and let the distinctive design elements in the home speak for themselves. 48 LAKE AND HOME SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2016
When their neighbors packed up their vehicles after Labor Day celebrations in 2015, they drove by a small cabin the family had long outgrown. When they arrived for Memorial Day the following spring, a modern yet rustic home stood in its place.
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But she let her imagination run wild when it was time to choose lighting elements. “I am a lighting freak,” she says with laugh. “I’m a fanatic. You can make such a big statement with lighting.” From a statement piece in a bedroom to the hand blown glass globes in a bathroom, each room features a unique showpiece or two that Jeanie carefully sourced from Arteriors, Hammers and Heels, Circa Lighting and Hudson Valley Lighting. The timeless look Jeanie and Steve wanted for other elements in the home required an old-fashioned kind of bespoke craftsmanship. Whitewashed shiplap paneling combines the warmth and historical look of wood with a pale color that worked with the home’s neutral
color scheme. Over grouted stonework by Al Jurgens of Jurgens Construction in Windom makes the home seem it’s been a fixture on Fish Lake for generations instead of just a few months. Welder Nate Vortherms fabricated the distinctive fireplace, kitchen hood and the railing around the staircase. “He did an amazing job of seeing my vision,” Jeanie says. Nate and his father Dick Vortherms of Dick’s Welding in Windom collaborated on other projects, including hooks to attach optional privacy curtains on the outdoor entertaining area. “They did a lot of really necessary things, but also designed elements that are really beautiful to look at,” says Jeanie.
“I thought it was too close to home to ever feel like we could truly relax.” Jeanie on their lake vacation spot’s proximity to the family farm
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The practical beauty of the family’s new home makes it feel welcoming, not fussy. “We wanted things to be durable and comfortable,” says Jeanie. “When people come in, we didn’t want them to have to worry about tracking in sand.” And they do come in. Fish Lake is the kind of place where families go for generations, where the 4th of July fireworks show is a
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cherished tradition and neighbors pop their heads in the door to ask if you need anything from the store before they head out. It’s a busy lake, deep, cool and clear, with ample opportunities for outdoor recreation. And the Rasche family is right in the thick of things, swimming and paddle boarding, fishing with the kids, sailing and kayaking with the neighbors.
The sense of community was one thing that initially attracted Steve to Fish Lake. But the proximity to real life – the couple’s farm about 20 minutes away in Heron Lake – made Jeanie wonder if it could really feel like a vacation spot. “I thought it was far too close to home to ever feel like we could truly relax,” she says. But she finally conceded Steve was right. “It’s amazing when you drive down here. It just feels like you’re going to a whole different place.” It is a place for connecting, for pulling up a chair, pouring a glass of wine and sitting down for a meal at the long wooden table. “The heart of the home is definitely the great room on the communal side,”
Jeanie says. “At home, we don’t always have time to sit down at the table. And here we really wanted to make it impossible to anything but that.” Now when the family gathers, it’s mindful and intentional, in a space designed just for them. “For us, the idea of building this was about bringing our family together and having a common space they can all come to,” Jeanie explains. “We really did it for our kids. We really did it for our family life. It’ll be something we can pass on as our legacy.” ~L&H
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“You know as you go. I kind of find my way through each building project.” Ron McMartin, Jr. What is your dream home away from home? For North Dakota native Ron McMartin, Jr., it is a peaceful retreat of lake and woods, something dissimilar to his prairie abode and ag-business base in Grand Forks. “I really wanted to find a lake getaway that was different from home which is wide open and where all the roads are squared up. Here they [the roads] are winding and tree-filled,” says McMartin.
“But isn’t that what you want from your vacation home; something completely different?” he asks. Once situated on Lake Melissa in Becker County, McMartin, who hails from the small farming community of St. Thomas, North Dakota, decided a few years back that he wanted to be more off the grid with regards to his life on the lake. With a killer view, a couple of cabins, and 50+ acres of woods and water, his current lake residence fulfills that desire perfectly.
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McMartin first heard about Island Lake one night over a casual conversation with friends. During the course of the discussion, he simply posed the question, “Which is considered the best lake in Becker County?” The reply, to his surprise, was quick. “My friend said, ‘Hands down, Island Lake’.”
Spring fed with a couple of outlets and not having much of a year round population, it was an idyllic lake in Ron’s eyes. Next, on the agenda then was to find the perfect property. After discovering a 53acre parcel along the southwest shores of Island Lake, his lake retreat ideas now had their starting point. Previously owned by Joyce Warner of Detroit Lakes and later maintained by a trust upon her passing, the property consisted of 38-acres lakeside and a 15acre back lot. Filled with woods, wetlands, ponds, and gentle hills, it also came complete with two small cabins. “I bought this property from a trust in 2007,” notes McMartin. “I really enjoy the quietness of it.” A true work in process, McMartin has been slowly carving out various trails and building sites for the better part of a decade. Technology has aided in that
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Build One: The Shop McMartin’s first construction project was a shop which he erected in 2009. “I built the shop first, a Foltz building, in 2009,” he explains. “It was a great investment.” Eventually the shop became a hub for all of his other building projects. “You know as you go,” explains McMartin of his building process. “I kind of find my way through each building project.
endeavor, allowing McMartin to divide his time between his home in Grand Forks and his ever expanding property on Island Lake which now includes a shop, garage, the two freshly remodeled cabins, a tavern and numerous paved paths through the woods. According to McMartin, it was a team effort with regards to his many building projects. “I have had great help along the way,” remarks McMartin. “Pete Theilen of Foltz buildings introduced me to carpenter Steve Swanson and several of the other contractors that worked on the shop and eventually were used in other parts of the property. Drawing on a plethora of local talent such as Stenerson Lumber, Malstrom Electric, Winter Masonry, and Stan Seaberg Heating-Plumbing, Land Elements of Fargo who designed much of the landscaping / patio projects that Lakes Area Landscaping implemented, and interior finishes from Skye Fingalson of I’ll Tile and Stone, McMartin’s dream lake escape has uniquely taken shape over the course of nine years, and he couldn’t be happier.
Build Two: The Cabins After the shop build, McMartin went on to tackle the property’s two existing cabins in 2010. Situated on the shores of Island Lake, one was built circa 1904 and the other in 1972. Nestled along 1500-feet of picturesque shoreline, one of his main concerns with the cabin renovations was to keep each structure’s distinctive character. “The one cabin [the 1904 cottage] was a total tear down. It had a sturdy fireplace but the foundation was literally falling away from it and sinking into the ground,” notes McMartin. Due to setbacks and various waterfront building restrictions, McMartin had to follow footprint of the old 1904 cabin which was 25-foot by 25-foot. To optimize the constrained space, he added a deckedout galley kitchen; unique, verticalstacking fireplace; and a hydraulicpowered staircase that can be quickly lifted to afford more entertaining space. Ron’s favorite detail though – after the amazing galley kitchen which he notes provides more space than kitchens twice its size and an extremely convenient, 5-foot crawlspace – is a door-less, walk-in in shower with rustic river rock tile floor.
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“I’ll never go back to a door on a shower again. It is just perfect,” says McMartin. The 1972 “cozy cabin” as McMartin refers to it, is located just a few yards from the 1904 cabin. It is a vintage gem with low-hanging, tiled-ceiling; classic stone fireplace; smaller windows and knotty pine walls. Combined, the various nostalgic elements exude a true north woods look and feel, allowing Ron’s guests to step comfortably back in time. Says McMartin, “My daughters love this cabin because it is easy to close the curtains and get a great sleep any time of the day. It is very peaceful.” Build Three: Gator Garage Continuing to transform his lake refuge, McMartin next added a garage and a fleet of John Deere Gator, side by side, all-terrain vehicles which he uses to get around his heavily-wooded property. Utilizing a variety of well-constructed,
concrete trails that crisscross his Island Lake retreat, the Gators provide easy transport to and from the lake and the property’s many on-site structures. Build Four: The Tavern One of McMartin’s favorite buildings, affectionately known as the Sugar Hill Tavern, wrapped construction in the fall of 2014. According to McMartin, it is the best place to watch Bison football games. With its 20-foot vaulted knotty pine ceiling, 10-foot side walls, commercial-grade kitchen for party prep and a set of his and her bathrooms, it is also a retreat within a retreat. With its belted ceiling fans, hand-selected antiques, large bar and set of specially made Napa Valley wine barrel bar tables on wheels that can reconfigured to keep things as social as possible, the tavern is a place where everyone feels relaxed and at home.
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Even the tavern’s bathrooms lend a feeling of nostalgia to the newly constructed watering hole. Complete with a set of copper sinks; black river bottom granite countertops; and high tank toilets; the vintage looking restrooms give the tavern a truly ‘aged beyond its years’ look. Then there is the giant stuffed bison watching over tavern patrons. A graduate of North Dakota State University, it is fitting that the NDSU mascot would find its way into McMartin’s tavern. Affixed just above a set of impressive double doors near the back of the woodsy drinking establishment, the bison
shoulder mount transforms the tavern from posh drinking space to cozy dive bar in the wink of an ever watchful eye. “It took a long time to get [the bison mount], but it was worth it,” adds McMartin. As a bonus, the many different woods used to create the tavern’s warm interior – a cherry bar top, pine flooring, as well as chocolate-stained white oak wainscoting – come directly from McMartin’s own backyard. Carefully plucked out of his woods to do the least amount of damage, the local wood was also milled just down the road in Ponsford, Minn.
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“With all that wood, we really have to watch the humidity, keeping it at about 35-percent year round so nothing buckles. That means adding moisture in the winter and sucking it out in the summer,” notes McMartin. A true lover of wood, McMartin added he can’t wait until his cedar shakes get an aged, grey patina look because although the tavern is buried in the leaffilled summer woods, it is visible from the road in the winter. “I want it to look likes it been here a while. Soon it will all just blend in.”
“It’s time to take a little break from construction. It’s time to enjoy some of this.” Ron McMartin, Jr.
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The woods which McMartin hopes his tavern will blend into, are a mixture of pine, basswood, birch, oak and a whole lot of maple, about 80-percent, which helped coax Ron into a new hobby: making maple syrup. “Dan and Fran Fry introduced me to it. They are an amazing couple across the lake. They use to watch over the property for Joyce and then her trust,” says McMartin. “They are local and help me keep on top of things still. They also take pride in making sure the area is kept up.” To celebrate the opening of his tavern, Ron’s daughters had a special Sugar Hill Tavern Hamm’s Beer sign made for their dad. Displayed above the double doors on the bars exterior, it lights up at night and shows the way to the tavern from the bonfire pit. McMartin notes, “I love neon signs, and bar signs in general. I love the Hamm’s beer signs the best. It seems like every great dive bar has one hanging in it. They just had such great advertising campaigns through the years, so there is lots of great stuff out there.” In addition to indoor spaces, McMartin has couple of bonfire pit getaways for guests to enjoy the outdoors as well. One is stationed lakeside between his two, newly remodeled cabins and the other is located behind the tavern. The latter sits between two still ponds, one of which has a light up fountain that illuminates the woods at night. “It’s quiet and still out there but no mosquitoes thanks to the Mosquito Squad,” says McMartin, who speaks highly of the local mosquito busting business. Thanks to “the squad” Ron notes his last big gathering went off without a hitch; no mosquitoes in site.
Build Five? Sometime in the future, McMartin is plans to build a lake home for his Island Lake hideaway. The prairie-native turned lake-enthusiast notes when he eventually does build his lake home; it will be tucked into his beloved woods.
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McMartin Home
FEATURE HOME CONTRIBUTOR
Skye Fingalson, who has been working with McMartin on his various builds for more than six years, helping him with interior finish and décor choices, notes she is looking forward to seeing what McMartin has imagined for his eventual lake home. “We started working with Ron in 2010 when he was redoing the 1904 cabin and just kept on working on additional projects just as he has,” explains Fingalson. “I can’t wait to work with him on the house.” At this point, though, the home build is a future endeavor. Currently McMartin’s is focused on enjoying the summer sunsets over the water, watching Bison football games in his tavern and tapping his maple trees in the spring. In short, it is time to take advantage of the simple pleasures the woods and water have to offer. “It’s time to take a little break from construction,” concludes McMartin. “It’s time to enjoy some of this.” ~L&H
Lakes Area Landscaping
Lakes Area Landscaping is proud to serve the Pelican and Detroit Lakes areas with more than 19 years of experience in landscape design, installation and maintenance. We install all types of landscapes including Pavers and Flagstone Patios, Block and Rock Retaining Walls, Trees and Shrubs and Sod and Hydro-Seeding. Visit our new showroom located 2 miles north of Dunvilla on Highway 59
218-863-7625 49026 245th Avenue, Pelican Rapids, MN www.lakesarealandscaping.com
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rom roofs to floors, and closets to cabinetry, our experts are ready to work with you on any project from a new design/build to adding seasonal touches to your décor -- from the perfect pillow to the right hue of blue. You may have begun collecting magazine clippings or curating collections on an online idea board, but when the time comes to take action on all those ideas, you’ll need an expert or a team of them perhaps, in your corner.
Sometimes, finding inspiration isn’t the problem. Sorting through the mountain of ideas and narrowing them down to the things that matter most is essential. Let our experts help you sort through all those ideas, and then plan and execute your dream. Perhaps lack of inspiration is exactly the reason your project hasn’t taken off yet. If you’re staring at a blank piece of paper, or standing in your (outdated, too small, windowless, insert the appropriate word
here…) room, and have no idea where to begin, they’ve got you covered there as well. We’ve featured many of their projects in this and past issues of the magazine and are always honored to be able to showcase their work within our pages. Let them inspire the perfect design … for you.
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HOME SHOWCASE
Products and Services for your Lake Lifestyle
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Advertiser Index Advertiser
1st National Bank Advanced Storage & Moving American Federal Aspen Building & Design LLC Bell State Bank & Trust bhh Partners Bladow & Sons Construction Brainerd Hardwoods Brock White Building Concepts Calla Lily Designs Camp and Cottage Store Central Construction, Inc. Coatings Unlimited Cullen’s Home Center Dave Erwin Construction, Inc. Deerwood Lumber Everts Lumber Gate City Bank H2 Custom Homes Hilltop Lumber I’ll Tile and Stone Incinolet Jack Chivers Realty Karvonen’s Furniture Lake Area Docks & Lifts Lake House Lifestyle Lakes Area Landscaping Legacy of the Lakes Museum Merickel Lumber & Design Center Otter Tail Power Company Prairie Bay Grill & Catering Radiant Homes Ravnik & Co. Refreshing Designs Ron Holstrom Save the Boundary Waters Service Master Sharp Edge Hardwoods Sperling Modern Home Stenerson Lumber The Market W W Thompson Borgert
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FEATURED LAKE Size: 1,179 Acres Max Depth: 38 ft. County: Becker Near: Detroit Lakes Clarity: 8.3 ft.
Island Lake Becker County
Suitable for swimming and wading, with good clarity and low algae levels throughout the open water season. Island Lake is noted primarily for its walleye fishing although the fish community is diverse enough to support angling for northern pike, yellow perch, black crappie, bluegill, and both largemouth and smallmouth bass. For a 1,179 ÂŹacre lake, it receives a substantial amount of fishing activity when fishing is good. In addition to the adjacent homes and cabins and the public access, Island Lake receives fishing pressure from four resorts. Based on data reported by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Island Lake is mesotrophic. Moderate algal blooms have been observed during several recent summers. The lake is well suited to walleye natural reproduction. There has been no stocking of walleye in Island Lake since 1985. However, for the first time since assessments began in 1960, a pike larger than 30 inches was sampled. The public access is located on the east shore and includes a concrete ramp.
Source: MN DNR