Lake&Home Magazine May/Jun '18

Gardening Checklist • Stamped Concrete • Garage Doors S u b s c r i b e b y v i s i t i n g w w w.l a ke a n d h o m e m a g a z i n e.c o m

MAY / JUNE 2018

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LAKE AND HOME MAGAZINE MAY / JUNE 2018

MAY / JUNE 2018 lakeandhomemagazine.com

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CONTENTS

86 Volume 20 • Issue 3 • MAY / JUNE 2018 lakeandhomemagazine.com

From the Office 10

OFFICE

48

by Erin Hintz

12

Your Gardening Checklist 18

104

60 Home on the Range

Western Influences in Lake Country

by Maggie Vertin

What to Plant and Why

by Alicia Underlee Nelson

SHOPPING

Lake Gifts

Garage Door

Service Directory

Find the Right Professional for Your Next Project

Long Lake 106

FEATURED LAKE

Long Lake Remodel Turns House into a Home

Gifts for the Lake Lover EXTERIORS

DIRECTORY

Featured Home 70 A Lasting Transformation

Not Your Standard 32

Featured Home

LANDSCAPING

DESIGNER PORTFOLIO

by Tyler Wirth

More Than a Solid Choice

EVENTS

NEW! Lakes Area Events Calendar

Concrete Stamping

by Tyler Wirth

30

Swedberg Wood Products 98

LANDSCAPING

by Patrice Peterson

Featured Home 86 Home and History

by Patrice Peterson

46 Your Questions Answered HOME EXPERTS

Lake Miltona Remodel Celebrates Past and Present

by Angela Garvin

by Our Panel of Experts Cover photo by Scott Amundson Photography See story on page 70

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LAKE AND HOME MAGAZINE MAY / JUNE 2018

Volume 20, Issue 3 • MAY / JUNE 2018 PUBLISHER Kip Johnson Lic. #BC520694

EDITOR Brent Rogness CREATIVE DIRECTOR Kip Johnson ADVERTISING/MARKETING CONSULTANT John Burns LAKE AND HOME MAGAZINE – ADVERTISING SALES Erin Hintz • 218-205-2120 erin@lakeandhomemagazine.com Jerry Shea • 218-205-7454 jerry@lakeandhomemagazine.com Tyler Wirth • 320-828-1248

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 lakeandhomemagazine.com/products

LAKE AND HOME MAGAZINE Published bimonthly by Compass Media PO Box 9761, Fargo, ND 58106 (218) 205-2706 lakeandhomemagazine.com artwork@lakeandhomemagazine.com Unless previously agreed, all rights remain the sole property of Lake and Home Magazine. ©2018 Compass Media Except for purposes of review, material contained herein may not be reproduced without prior written consent.

Printed by LSC Communications, USA

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FROM THE Office

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From the Office

s I write this article we’re in the middle of yet another April snow shower. I do my best to avoid opening my Weather Channel app these days because I expect to see one of two things. (1) That there’s no sign of the winter weather we’re experiencing changing in the next 15 days, or (2) That they’re forecasting more spring-like weather at the end of the 15 day forecast, which will make me hopeful, and then I’ll open the app tomorrow to see the 40s turn to 20s and I just can’t handle that kind of emotional turmoil. Okay, yes, I’m being melodramatic and yes, I’m almost void of optimism.

But, this weather must really be taking its toll on me as the other morning I woke up from a dream that the winter weather had finally given way to warmer temps, the grass was green, and trees were budding… in fall color. Yes, the trees were

being efficient, skipping the entire green cycle because winter had lasted so long that it was already fall. Cue the Twilight Zone theme song - winter was starting over again. I had to lay in bed for a minute to shake it and convince myself that we wouldn’t actually skip spring and summer.

I sincerely hope that by the time this issue reaches you we aren’t still reminding ourselves that winter is bound to come to an end. So, in that spirit, this issue is full of all kinds of warm weather inspiration.

The thing I long for more than anything is to get my hands in the dirt. I have the end tables in our sunroom full of seed starting pots and all kinds of plans for this year’s gardens and landscaping. If you’re experiencing the same “dirt withdrawals,” you’ll want to check out the gardening checklist article to get your plans in motion for when spring finally does grace us with its presence.

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Articles on garage doors and concrete stamping are sure to provide you with some ideas to spruce up your home’s curb appeal. And of course, the three beautiful Minnesota lake homes featured in this issue will have your head spinning with ideas for your own home.

Like I said, I’m cautiously optimistic that by the time you read this, spring will have sprung and we’ll all be enjoying this issue on our patios. If not, close your blinds, page through the magazine, enjoy the green landscape in the photos and remind yourself, “Winter will end, winter will end.” It’s bound to...right? ~L&H

Erin Hintz Advertising Sales

Events Calendar Becker County Audubon

May 4

Steak Dinner and Bingo Audubon Liquor Store 5 p.m.

218- 439-6611

Detroit Lakes

May 2

Celebrate Aging Expo Holiday Inn on the Lake 9 a.m dlinn.com

May 4

Arlo Guthrie Concert Historic Holmes Theatre 7:30 p.m. dlccc.org/holmes.html

May 5

Free Family Movie Showing: “LEGO Ninjago” CineMagic Cinema 7 Washington Square 10 a.m. detroitlakes.odysseytheatres.com

May 16

“For the Birds” Music by Zeitgeist and Storytelling

by Kevin Kling Historic Holmes Theatre 7 p.m. dlcc.org

May 17-20

Festival of Birds Speakers, birding tours, book signings and socials Various locations visitdetroitlakes.com

May 26-28

Shady Hollow Flea Market Opening Weekend Shady Hollow Flea Market 7 a.m. shadyhollowfleamarket.com

May 31

Lakes Area Heart Walk Detroit Lakes Pavilion 5 p.m.

218-280-1317

June 1-2

Street Faire At The Lakes Juried art show, vendors, food and entertainment Downtown dlcc.org

June 2

Free Family Movie Showing: “My Little Pony The Movie” CineMagic Cinema 7 Washington Square 10 a.m. detroitlakes.odysseytheatres.com

June 7

Relay for Life Event Detroit Lakes Pavilion 5 p.m.

Lori Bachmann 218-847-4725

June 13

Cruise DL Night Classic Car Show West Lake Drive along the DL City Beach 4 p.m. facebook.com/cruisedlnight

June 29

Blues, BBQ and Beer Detroit Mountain 5 p.m. detroitmountain.com

Richwood

June 23

Summer Solstice Festival Richwood Winery richwoodwinery.com

Rochert

June 3, 10, 17, 24

Wildlife Movies Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge 2 p.m. fws.gov/refuge/tamarac 218.847.2641

White Earth

June 8-10

White Earth Powwow Contact Lew Murray at 218-261-1599

12 LAKE AND HOME MAGAZINE MAY / JUNE 2018

MINNESOTA L AKES AREA

Beltrami County

Cass County

Bemidji

Walker

May 1

May 1

May 7

May 5

May 12

May 11

Home-brewed Kombucha Cooking Class Harmony Natural Foods Co-Op 5:30 p.m. harmonyfoods.coop

Homemade Mustard Cooking Class Harmony Natural Foods Co-Op 5:30 p.m. harmonyfoods.coop

Northern Minnesota Women’s Expo Sanford Center 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. thesanfordcenter.net

May 12

Mommy and Me Garden Party A Mother’s Day Craft Event Bemidji City Park 9 a.m.

218-333-1850

May 16

Sista Otis Concert Fozzie’s Smokin’ Bar-B-Q 6 p.m. fozziesbbq.com

May 19

Color for Recovery 5K color walk/run Sanford Center/Paul Bunyan Trail 11 a.m. colorforrecovery@gmail.com

June 6

Bemidji Area Take a Kid Fishing Kids fishing event and fish fry Bemidji State Park Bemidjitakeakidfishing.webs.com

Traveling Art Pub Paint with friends The Lucky Moose 6 p.m.

218.454.1888

Chippewa National Forest Hike Chippewa National Forest, Woodtick Trail 3rd Crossing 10 a.m.

218-547-4678

Boy Scouts Annual “All You Can Eat” Smelt and Fish Fry Spencer Ross American Legion 5 p.m.

218-547-1011

May 23

Barn Quilt Painting Paint your own 2x2 barn quilt Walker-Hackensack-Akeley High School 218-547-4360

June 2

NSC Night of Champions Northstar Combat mixed martial arts Northern Lights Casino 6 p.m. northernlightscasino.com

June 16

Queen, Guns N’ Roses, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Tom Petty Tribute Bands Northern Lights Casino 6:30 p.m. northernlightscasino.com

June 21-23

Moondance Jammin’ Country Outdoor Music Festival featuring Gary Allan, Luke Combs, Cole Swindell and more jammincountry.com

Jun 24-28

Advanced Bass Educational kids fishing workshop Camp Bliss facebook.com/mycampfish

Clay County

kitchens baths cabinetry countertops flooring tile

Hawley

June 8-9

Hawley Rodeo American Heroes and PRCA Barnes Rodeo 218-483-3331

Crow Wing County Baxter

June 23

Lakes Area Women’s Expo Crafter and vendor show Arrowwood Lodge at Brainerd Lakes 10 a.m. arrowwoodbrainerdlodge.com

Brainerd

May 3-5

Mel Brooks’ “Young Frankenstein: The Musical” CLC Chalberg Theatre 7:30 p.m. clcperformingarts.com

May 5

Learn to Brew Kombucha Roundhouse Brewery 10:30 a.m. roundhousebrew.com

May 5

Cuyuna Agate & Mineral Show Crow Wing County Fairgrounds 9 a.m. cuyunarockclub.org

May 5

Spring ATV Ride Meals and drinks included, register at either location Green Lantern to Jr’s Junction 10 a.m.

218-764-2323

May 19

Children’s Theatre Company presents “Seedfolks” CLC Chalberg Theatre 11 a.m. childrenstheatre.org

May 29-June 9

The Van Gogh Cherrywood Quilt Challenge Display Quilters interpret the work of the painter in fabric in this touring exhibit Crossing Arts Alliances Crossingart.org

June 2

2018 Minnesota Fishing Challenge Fishing tournament fundraiser for drug and rehabilitation programs statewide Gull Lake 7 a.m. givehope.mntc.org/

June 21-23

Lakes Jam Music and camping festival featuring George Thorogood and the Destroyers Brainerd International Speedway lakesjam.com

June 16-17

CCS/CRA Motorcycle Race Weekend Brainerd International Raceway brainerdraceway.com

Pequot Lakes

May 18

Outdoor Movie Night Trailside Center 8:30 p.m. facebook.com/trailsidecenterplbc/

June 2

Cherry Car Show Car show, craft fair and food vendors Trailside Park 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. plbplionsclub.com

Jamie Wallace, CKD

Nisswa

May 4

Mark Olson concert The Live Well Nightclub and Coffee Bar grassrootsconcerts.org/

May 19

Downtown Nisswa Chocolate Walk Enjoy chocolates from ten vendors while shopping 10 a.m. kinshippartners.org

Full Service Interior Design

Calla Lily Designs 218.998.3889 1215 N. Union Ave. | Fergus Falls, MN www.callalilydesigns.com callalilydesigns10@gmail.com MAY / JUNE 2018 lakeandhomemagazine.com 13

Events Calendar

MINNESOTA L AKES AREA

Douglas County Alexandria

May 4

Wine and Paint Night Art Bar 39 7:00 p.m. artbar39.com

May 5

Run for the Roses Kentucky Derby Party Theatre L’Homme Dieu 4:30 p.m. tlhd.org

May 19

Saturday Gardening Seminars Douglas County Library 10:30 a.m.

320-762-3014

May 20

Symphony in Spain and Latin America Central Lakes Symphony Orchestra 2 p.m. centrallakessymphony.org

May 25-28

Ole Oppe Fest Festival with music, games, vendors and beer garden Big Ole Central Park 320-834-3030

May 27

Awake the Grapes 5K/10K Carlos Creek Winery 8 a.m. carloscreekwinery.com

May 28

Memorial Day Parade and Service 8th Avenue on Broadway Street (running south to north) 10:00 a.m.

May 28

RAKU Pottery Experience Carlos Creek Winery 11 a.m. or 1:30 p.m.

June 1

Wine and Paint Night Art Bar 39 7:00 p.m. artbar39.com

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June 7, 14, 21, 28

Free Courthouse Concerts Douglas County Courthouse 7 p.m. redwillowartscoalition.org

June 20

Trio Con Brio Concert Mount Carmel Ministries 7 p.m. mountcarmelministries.com

June 22 -23

History Alive!

Historical re-enactors, storytelling, crafts and activities Fort Alexandria 9 a.m. exploreminnesota.com/ events/35047/history-live-in-fort- alexandria

June 23

Awake the Lakes - RibFest Food, music, beer garden, fireworks awakethelakes.com

June 23

Denny’s Super 30 Fishing Tournament Carlos, Darling, Le Homme Dieu, Geneva, Victoria and Jessie Lakes 6:30 a.m. dennyssuper30.com

June 23

Minnesota Drum Corps Premiere Midwestern high school marching bands and drum and bugle corps perform Alexandria Area High School 6:30 p.m. facebook.com/VikinglandBandFestival

June 30 – July 1

“String” A romantic comedy Theatre L’Homme Dieu 7:30 p.m. tlhd.org

Events Calendar

MINNESOTA L AKES AREA

Grant County

Mahnomen County

Morrison County

Ashby

Mahnomen

Little Falls

May 11-19

May 11

May 5

The Van Gogh Cherrywood Quilt Challenge Display Quilters interpret the work of the painter in fabric in this touring exhibit North Star Retreat Center 9 a.m. northstarretreat.com

Hubbard County Park Rapids

May 12

2nd Sat Hap Live music, art, poetry and films for free Nemeth Art Center 6 p.m. nemethartcenter.org

June 20

23rd Annual Butterfly Hike Family-friendly hike, presentation and butterfly ID walk in Itasca State Park Itasca State Park (Meet at Forest Inn) Dnr.state.mn.us/state _ parks

Jon Pardi Concert Shooting Star Casino 8 p.m. starcasino.com

Waubun

May 19

27th Annual WWC Spring Fishing Tournament Enter by May 12 New Horizon Resort and Lodge 8 a.m.

Contact Steve “Carrot” Paul at 218-473-2417

June 7-10

Earth Rhythms music and art festival Pure Bliss Ranch pureblissranch.com

June 7

4th Annual Big Lake Sportsman’s Club Fun Day Shoot Food, beverages and clay shooting LeBlanc’s Rice Creek Hunting & Rec. Noon 320-290-6210

May 12

Free Art 2nd Saturday Art event for kids grades 1-5 Great River Arts 11 a.m.

Register at 320-632-0960

May 15

New Moon Drum Circle The Turquoise Turtle 6:30 p.m.

320-630-0905

May 26

An Evening in Black and White Beer and Wine Tasting Linden Hill 5 p.m. linden-hill.org

June 9

Free Art 2nd Saturday Art event for kids grades 1-5 Great River Arts 11 a.m.

Register at 320-632-0960

June 30

Camp Ripley Run 2 Bike race Jenkins VFW Post 3839 to Camp Ripley 9:00 a.m.

Contact Jim Hesselgrave at 612-599-9149 or vfwmn@aol.com

Opening Weekend Charles Lindbergh House and Museum 10 a.m. sites.mnhs.org/historic-sites/charles- lindbergh-historic-site

MAY / JUNE 2018 lakeandhomemagazine.com 15

Events Calendar Otter Tail County

Todd County

Wadena County

Battle Lake

New York Mills

Staples

Sebeka

June 22-23

May 3

May 6

June 15-17

Ottertail Classic Cup Tournament Contact Barry Chouinard at 218-790-4762

Fergus Falls

May 5-6

Bike Show and Motor Mayhem Motorcycle show and fundraiser Bigwood Event Center Zoorun.com

May 18

Art@Home Progressive art party with food and beverages Kaddatz Galleries 6 p.m. kaddatzgalleries.com

May 19

Celtic Music Jam The Spot Panini & Wine 7:30 p.m. facebook.com/thespotpaniniandwine

June 14, 21, 19

Concerts in the Park Free outdoor concert and movie Roosevelt Park 6:30 p.m. (concert) 9:00 p.m. movies fergusarts.org

June 15-16

Fireflies Walk Free talk and hike Prairie Wetlands Learning Center 10 p.m.

Register at 218-998-4489

June 21-24

Zoo Run 2018 21+ motorcycle run and camping fundraiser for Chahinkapa Zoo zoorun.com

Art For Lunch Enjoy beverages and art projects over lunch break New York Mills Regional Cultural Center Noon kulcher.org

May 4

William Florian Concert New York Mills Regional Cultural Center 7:30 p.m. kulcher.org

June 9

The Great American Think-Off 26th annual philosophy debate and reception New York Mills Public Schools 7 p.m. kulcher.org

Perham:

May 26

Jack and Kitty: Vaudeville and Jug Band Disgruntled Brewing 6 p.m.

June 13-17

Perham Turtle Fest Parade, carnival and famous turtle races Perham.com

Signature Signs DIY Wood Sign Party Choose a design a week in advance Lefty’s Bar 2 p.m.

Red Eye River Days Entertainment and family fun sebeka.com

Wadena

May 12

Book Ends Book signing, Q&A and lunch with author Alison McGhee The Uptown 11 a.m. hagensuptown.com

June 9

Book Ends Book signing, Q&A and lunch with author Julie Schumacher The Uptown 11 a.m. hagensuptown.com

June 22

Central Minnesota Bulls-N-Barrels Professional bull riding and barrel racing Wadena County Fair 7 p.m. centralbullriders.com

June 30

Wings and Wheels Fly-in Raffles, airplane rides, demos, car show and pancake breakfast Wadena Municipal Airport 7 a.m. bellelaneaviation@outlook.com

June 16

Turtle Fest 5K, 10K and Half Marathon 7 a.m.

Contact Jeff Morris at jmorris@perham.k12.mn.us.

June 30

Kinship Average Joe Triathlon 8 a.m.

Contact Jill Shipman at 218-346-7102

Have an Event?

Do you have an upcoming event that you would like to have featured in a future issue of Lake and Home Magazine?

Send your event info via email to: a rtwork @la k ea nd hom em a g a z i ne.c om

16 LAKE AND HOME MAGAZINE MAY / JUNE 2018

MAY / JUNE 2018 lakeandhomemagazine.com 17

G

GARDEN & LANDSCAPING

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A

b e a u t i f u l l y landscaped yard and garden make a house a home. But a Minnesota summer brings unique challenges to home and cabin owners – hot days, a short growing season and personal schedules vary widely depending on the weather, summer sports and how often we heed the call to the lake. Those variables make gardening challenging enough.

Add in a new house or cabin in need of landscaping, a tight budget or an inexperienced or unexpectedly busy gardener, and homeowners can quickly feel overwhelmed.

The experts at local greenhouses have the inside scoop on what to plant (and when and where) so your garden and yard can be beautiful all season long and you won’t need to spend all your valuable free time doing maintenance.

As an added bonus, you’ll cut down on silly mistakes that will send you right back to the greenhouse for replacement plants, which saves you time and money.

So here’s your Minnesota lakes country gardening cheat sheet. It’s designed to help you decide which plants work best with your yard, your schedule and your skill level.

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Full Sun

One of the most important questions to ask when selecting plants is how much sun the space receives. “Full sun is six hours or more of uninterrupted sunlight,” explains Curt Barth, grower at Natures Garden World in Fergus Falls. Once you’ve narrowed down your sun situation, you’ll have plenty of flowers to choose from, from classics to more unusual varieties.

Gunderson adds that classic perennials like yellow daylilies can be a smart solution for spots that alternate between sun and shade. Even if they don’t bloom as much when sunlight wanes, they’ll at least always come back and provide pleasing green foliage with very little maintenance.

“A lot of the coneflowers or blackeyed Susans work in full sun,” says Katie Gunderson, manager of Outdoor Renovations in Underwood. The purple coneflowers and bright yellow black-eyed Susan will bloom throughout the summer and into the fall, providing colorful garden spaces and flowers for bouquets for months.

Sedums (also known as stonecrop plants) provide a range of colors to a garden. Since they’re actually a variety of succulent, a desert plant, their distinctive, water-storing foliage can handle even the hottest Midwestern summers with minimal moisture.

Geraniums are a classic hot-weather flower for container gardens or flower beds. Better yet, these are available in a host of colors, including white, red and a range of pinks and purples.

Gunderson recommends that customers ask about the newer varieties of geraniums.

“They’re low maintenance and a lot of them flower nonstop,” she says.

Part Sun For gardens that get less than six hours of sunlight, it’s smart to opt for part sun plants.

Barth says that the Dragon Wing begonia and sun impatiens both do well in part sun conditions.

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As with any plant, be sure to put these in your garden well after the danger of frost has passed. In Minnesota lakes country, the last frost of the year can be late in May. Look online for your city at dnr. state.mn.us/climate/summaries _ and _ publications/ (or ask an expert at the store) to avoid planting too early and making a sheepish return trip to buy the same plants twice.

MAY / JUNE 2018 lakeandhomemagazine.com 23

Shade

Low-maintenance greenery like hostas do well in full shade with minimal maintenance. The lush foliage plants boast broad leaves in various shades of green, some with striking white edges.

Since they’re perennials, they return every year and spread out, so start with fewer plants and see how they fill in naturally.

“Sometimes I think less is more,” says Gunderson.

If you crave a little more color than the elegant purple and white flowers a hosta plant offers, try impatiens. The cheerful little five-petaled flowers are available in a wealth of bright colors, from reds, pinks and corals to violet and white. Just make sure they’re well fed and watered. “Treat them like a petunia as far as fertilizer goes,” Barth says. “Don’t starve them.”

Weekend Gardening

If you know you’re only going to be gardening on the weekends, save yourself the trouble (and money) and choose plants that are hardy and drought tolerant. Otherwise you might be headed back to the garden center to buy replacement plants sooner rather than later.

Barth says a dipladenia or mandevilla will work well for weekend gardeners. These tropical vines love heat and bright light.

Their trumpet shaped flowers in red, white or pink provide a striking accent without a lot of effort.

He also recommends a fan flower, which comes in blue, white and bicolor blooms.

“It’s going to be a low growing, trailing plant and it puts on blooms that sort of look like a fan,” Barth explains. “That one’s a water lover, but it will forgive you if you don’t water it. It’s always a good lake flower.”

If you truly have a black thumb, opt for a desert plant. “There’s a ton of annual succulents that are really hot right now,” says Gunderson.

“Those really do great in containers and can take hot dry conditions.

And that’s something you can take inside for the winter.”

MAY / JUNE 2018 lakeandhomemagazine.com 25

Edible Gardens

You don’t need to commit to a full vegetable garden to enjoy fresh produce this summer. “You can grow just about any tomato in a pot as long as you give it enough water,” says Barth, who recommends any variety except for beefsteak tomatoes, which do better in the ground. Just make sure to water them well, because once they reach full size, they can dry out quickly.

Herbs like mint, lavender or basil are also popular options. They spread readily in a garden bed, add variety to a container garden or window box and are striking on their own in a special herb garden. Just remember that water is an issue.

If you want something edible that will return season after season, plant rhubarb.

The root systems are deep and the plants are very resilient. You can always repay that nice neighbor that watered your herbs and tomatoes with lots of rhubarb.

Big Blooms

If you’re after big blooms and lots of colors, you can’t beat annuals, said Gunderson. The Midwestern classics like petunias are classics for a reason. They’re available in a range of colors, from white and light pink to deep purple and scarlet.

New varieties offer more blooms for your buck.

“A lot of the herbs are easy, but they’re going to need to be watered and they’re going to need to be planted in good fertile soil,” says Gunderson. “That’s not something you’re going to want to leave, unless you have a nice neighbor that’s going to come and water them for you or an irrigation system.”

26 LAKE AND HOME MAGAZINE MAY / JUNE 2018

“For the gardener that wants the big blooms, try any of the supertunias,” says Barth. “You can grow the supertunia in the ground or you can grow it in a container.

Wave petunias also cover a lot of space.

And if they’re in a windy location, you don’t have to deadhead them.”

And no matter what you plant, feeding flowers with powdered granulated fertilizers will give your blooms a boost.

“Your flowers flower like you would not believe,” said Gunderson. “We use that at the greenhouse and everything is always in full bloom.”

MAY / JUNE 2018 lakeandhomemagazine.com 27

Minimalist Chic

If your home has a modern exterior or if you gravitate towards a more subdued style, Gunderson recommends statement making shrubs, low growing evergreens and native grasses. These options will add visual interest during the winter as well.

If you prefer a bit more color, try coral bells.

“If it’s more shady, some of the coral bells that have colorful leaves can be a really minimalist look as well,” says Gunderson.

“Stick with one variety if you want it more minimalist looking.” You’ll have some interesting options to choose from. Don’t

let the name fool you – popular coral bells foliage colors include red-veined chartreuse, a silvery purple and a rich reddish burgundy.

Native Plants

To mimic the natural look of the state’s prairies and woodlands, ask your local gardening experts for wildflowers and grasses that are native to the area. “We have a lot of new native plants coming in for spring that we’re very excited about,” said Gunderson. “Swamp milkweeds, little bluestem, big bluestem native grasses and big butterfly weeds, which are great for the bees and great for the birds.”

Since these plants are perfectly adapted to the region (remember, they grow here naturally) they will spread much more easily than non-native plants, so plant judiciously at first. Once they get started, they’ll be a very low maintenance choice.

No matter what you decide to plant, don’t be afraid to ask the experts at your local garden center for help and advice. “Most of them have a great and knowledgeable staff that will help you pick out plants that will help you succeed and help you learn how to care for them,” says Gunderson.

Now you have the basic tools to decide what to plant.

The rest is up to you.

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~L&H

MAY / JUNE 2018 lakeandhomemagazine.com 29

The Clubhouse Bar & Grill at AGC

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC Featuring an American cuisine, local craft beer and signature drinks. All are welcome to enjoy a casual dining experience along with a daily fun happy hour. The bar & grill offers big screen TVs and panoramic views of the beautiful golf course. Open 7 days a week for both lunch and dinner. Happy hour specials and menus are available online at www.alexandriagolfclub.com 320.763.3604 2300 N. Nokomis NE, Alexandria, MN

Carlos Creek Winery We produce over 20 internationally awarded grape & apple wines right at our 160-acre Farm Winery-including our MN Nice Wines: Hot Dish Red, Wobegon White & You Betcha Blush. We offer live music every weekend, tours daily & wine tasting anytime we’re open! Our event center can host weddings & corporate groups up to 400. Plus we host two festivals each year: Grape Stomp (3rd weekend in September) & The Applefest (3rd Saturday in October). Year-round: 7 days/week.Looking for a quick gift Gift cards are also available!

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320-846-5443 | CarlosCreekWinery.com

MAY / JUNE 2018 lakeandhomemagazine.com 31

E Exteriors

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MAY / JUNE 2018 lakeandhomemagazine.com 33

NOT YOUR STANDARD GARAGE DOOR Building a new home, remodeling an existing home, or even providing a facelift to the outside of a tired old house can involve endless decisions – with unlimited choices for the types of siding, trim colors, or even shingles for the roof.

Up until the past few years, choices for garage doors on the front of the house have been almost entirely limited to a raised panel design in white, sandstone or brown. Not much variety. Nothing unique. No customization.

Options for garage doors are now beginning to expand, and one online supplier recently boasted the availability of “over 70 garage door colors.” Not all garage doors are created equal, of course, and sometimes it may be a better idea to match your garage doors with the main color of the home so they don’t stand out. But many of the newer custom home designs and front-of-thehouse facelifts are starting to include attractive garage doors in those designs.

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photos top & middle: Wood

Grain Overlay /// American Door Works

MAY / JUNE 2018 lakeandhomemagazine.com 35

Why now?

“In the past, homeowners didn’t always think much about it, but they are now beginning to realize that garage doors are a significant portion of what your eye sees when looking at a house,” says Randy Utecht, division manager of American Door Works in Alexandria. “I recently discovered a fun fact about homes: On average, the garage door is one-third of the ‘face’ of a house.”

Housing designs and styles are always changing and evolving, and garage door designs seem to be following those trends. The carriage-house look is one trend that has become popular in garage door design.

They are showcased in a variety of colors and feature large hinges and barnlike styles that were common on oldfashioned carriage doors. With these and other home designs appearing on cable television shows (like HGTV) and website design sites (like Pinterest), the average

consumer is becoming more informed about the endless possibilities and choices in home decorating and design.

“People will come to us with pictures of specialty garage doors that they saw on Pinterest and ask us to duplicate it,” says Nathan Brown, sales and client services manager at American Door Works, which also has offices in St. Cloud, Brainerd and Willmar. “With the expanding choices from our manufacturers, we can usually track it down and get them what they want.”

Brown explains that the shift in garage doors spreads out from architects to interior designers to the actual homeowners, and that shift is “still happening” as garage door design becomes more defined as a normal part of the process – rather than a second thought add-on.

photo top:

Accent Color Overlay /// American Door Works photo left:

Recessed Carriage with Windows /// American Door Works

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Carefully Considering Garage Door Options There doesn’t seem to be a “right” or a “wrong” way to change the appearance of a home with a garage door. The impact can be as much or as little as personal taste dictates (or maybe as much as property guidelines or neighborhood covenants allow). By including a garage door into the design of your home, you can add not only style and personality, but also another layer of decisions and choices.

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What do homeowners want?

Garage door manufacturers and distributors have been significantly affected as they scramble to react to these changing design ideas by offering more choices – choices in styles, choices in colors, choices in materials. Most of the changes have followed housing design trends, but this transition in garage door style changes didn’t happen overnight.

“People are finally understanding that the true focal points at the front of your home are the entry door and the garage doors,” says Travis Ostroviak, head of sales at Great Northern Door Company. “They’re finding that there’s value in accentuating a home’s curb appeal by tying together all the elements of the home’s exterior – including the garage doors – into the overall design.”

Instead of hiding a garage around the corner or de-emphasizing the garage door by “blending it in” with the house, designers and homeowners have been slowly bringing garage doors into the foreground of their front yard planning for the past several years.

photos top & right:

Wood Door /// Great Northern Door Company

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MATERIALS Choosing between natural wood, “faux” wood, aluminum, fiberglass or steel doors can depend on many factors, including maintenance, price and personal taste.

• Are you interested in man-made or natural materials?

• Are you concerned with a resistance to rust and corrosion?

• Are you content with the wider range of pre-painted colors now available?

• Do you need a door material that can be painted a specific, custom color?

• How would each of those materials fit into your design plan?

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COLORS Steel or natural wood doors can be painted almost any color imaginable. Instead of a few neutral colors to choose from, there are now dozens of choices.

Before you decide, here are some questions to consider: • Do you want your garage doors to become a focal point – or fade into the background?

Metal or wood?

While designs are changing, options for those designs and the types of materials used are broadening.

As a custom wood door company based in the Twin Cities, Ostroviak says Great Northern Door has seen increasing interest all over the country in new garage door designs. In the lakes area, he has found a particularly deep-seated desire by homeowners to set themselves apart from everyone else and try to establish their own personal look and design.

“Garage doors can be an extension of that desire,” he adds. “Instead of following the traditional ‘Up North’ trend with a rustic cedar look for their front door and garage doors, they want to branch out with a more modern, clean look, and are requesting different kinds of wood, too, such as alder. Once they decide on a specific design, the wood garage doors can also be stained or painted to match or contrast with the house.”

A steel door with a wood grain design is a different rising trend that Utecht has seen with the garage door business at American Door Works.

• Should you blend, contrast, or accent with color?

• Should you paint the garage door the same color as the front entry door?

• Should you choose a standard neutral color for a classic design style?

• Should you choose a black or dark green color to make a bold or sophisticated statement? photos top & left:

•

Should you choose a vivid red or deep brown to add richness and depth to the home exterior?

Screen Doors /// American Door Works

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WINDOWS

“I guess you could call it a ‘faux’ wood door, but they’ve become very popular because of the wide variety of options in color and wood graining styles,” he says.

“It is a composite overlay that adheres to the outside steel and gives it a very real look. Many people think it’s a natural wood door.”

The good news is that both wood and metal garage doors have evolved into better products that are more durable, last longer, and provide the wide variety of design options homeowners are demanding.

What about technology?

Garage door trends are also influenced by the role technology plays in today’s society. Not only can you push a button to open your garage door, we now have the capability to control those doors from any location with a smart phone. Another available app has sensors that detect when your particular car is approaching – and open up automatically.

A screen door for your garage is another option for homeowners who want to get air flow through their garage, or to utilize the space in the garage for other purposes.

Installed right next to the garage door

photo top:

Wood Grain Colored Steel Doors /// American Door Works

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Adding windows to a garage door is a choice you may not have considered. Windows can open up the garage space with additional light and add style and charm to the home’s exterior. Combining that with the use of the right materials and trim color can improve the curb appeal.

• Choose quality windows with double-paned glass.

•

Install windows in the top section of the door to prevent outsiders from looking in.

• Consider using frosted glass – providing light, but also privacy.

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track, this automatic screen can be lowered in place of the door and then easily rolled back up and out of sight.

By taking the garage itself from just a place to park cars and store boxes into much broader usage, these improvements in technology are placing a new focus on garages in general.

What’s next?

Customer feedback appears to be the key to rising trends and design improvements.

“As garage door installers, we’re still kind of in the middle,” Brown adds. “Customers are coming to us, looking for something, and we go to the manufacturers. They are now constantly engineering and trying to come out with new ideas and new options that would be appealing to the end user – the homeowner.”

As long as home designs continue to evolve and door manufacturers continue to follow those trends, the choices for a garage door most likely won’t ever go back to a raised panel design in white, sandstone or brown. ~L&H

Hardware, Accent Lighting and Landscaping •

Hardware and handles on garage doors have typically been more functional than decorative. Many garage doors don’t even have handles anymore due to the increased use of automatic garage door openers. Newer decorative hinges, handles or even step plates are now available as an additional way for you to contribute to the exterior “mood” of your home.

•

A few carefully placed outdoor lights can continue that “mood” into the evening. Exterior accent lighting installed close to the top of the garage, or even from eaves and corners, can brighten any door and give it a sleeker look.

•

Don’t forget the garage door area when completing your landscaping plan. Using flowering bushes, vines or potted plants near and around the area, you can either emphasize or soften the visual effects of a garage door.

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Your Questions

H

Answered By Our Panel Of Experts

Home Experts

Question:

What is the first step in purchasing or refinancing a home?

Answer: Once you decide to purchase or refinance, the first step is to meet with a lender to determine if it makes financial sense to refinance, or determine the loan you may qualify for, if purchasing. Many Realtors require clients to obtain a preapproval or pre-qualification letter prior to making an offer.

The documentation you will typically need to provide is as follows: • Last two years of tax returns • Paystubs for the last 30 days

• Last two months of bank statements • Last two years of W-2s • Most recent retirement account statements • Driver’s license It is important to include all pages of the above documents. I encourage the borrower(s) to bring everything in, and I will make copies and determine what pages I need. The purpose of providing the documentation is to verify income and asset information provided by the borrower(s) on their loan application.

After this information is reviewed, the lender may have follow up questions such as explaining any large deposits and/or recent credit inquiries. Once all the information has been gathered, it will be reviewed by an underwriter to determine if the borrowers have the ability to repay the loan, sufficient cash reserves, and the funds needed for their down payment, if

Otter Tail County, Minnesota

purchasing. It is important to remember that once the loan application process begins, the borrower(s) should not apply for any new credit as a credit report is usually run just prior to the closing date and any new debt or inquiries could jeopardize the final loan approval.

It may seem like a daunting task, but an experienced lender can guide you through the process of securing a loan for a new home, or help save you money by refinancing an existing mortgage. ~L&H

Chris Marvel

American Federal Bank

Otter Tail County, Minnesota

“My clients who have worked with American Federal for their construction loans have appreciated the welcoming environment and professional advice provided by Chris Marvel. The entire staff at American Federal is committed to making the financing process stress free.”

- Dave Erwin, Dave Erwin Construction, Inc.

117 South Mill Street Fergus Falls, MN 56537 218.739.3377 888.389.3377 46 LAKE AND HOME MAGAZINE MAY / JUNE 2018

Otter Tail County, Minnesota

Douglas County, Minnesota

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E Exteriors

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Whether looking to add some creativity to a landscaping project or install an elegant and functional driveway, stamped concrete may be the right choice.

Originally utilized as a method to save money, stamped concrete first surfaced around the 1950s, but it wasn’t until the 70s that builders took notice of this method to both satisfy their customers while being more efficient with project budgets. While it has been around many decades, the spectrum of choice for pattern, base color, and overall function continue to increase and many a concrete contractor have seen a tremendous increase in stamped concrete projects.

In considering various landscaping and/or outdoor grounds improvement projects, stamped concrete offers a cost-effective application which, if installed properly, will have great longevity and minimal maintenance.

Kyle Holbrook of H & H Masonry offers, “We are seeing more stamping because of the longevity of it, but it needs to be done correctly.” Given the tremendous array of applications, we looked at asphalt, natural stone, precast pavers, and stamped concrete to get the feel for their use in typical area projects.

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Project Options

Need a planter that looks like rough stone?

Got it. How about a patio floor of classic wood with concrete durability? Got it.

Or, maybe it is time to liven up that mud room floor with some London cobble stone? Yes, one can do that as well. These questions are but a small taste of the variety of projects one could consider for concrete stamping.

With a driveway, for example, typical options would be asphalt, concrete, or pavers as far as popular and non-gravel options go. A primary difference among the options would be how loads are distributed among the subgrade – both pavers and asphalt are a bit flexible and do spread out loads, but concrete typically supports driveway loads with little weight distribution, giving it a plus in

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the durability column. When comparing stamping to pavers, Holbrook adds “… they both look great yet one of the biggest things I see with pavers over time is they hold tire ruts and moss.”

Asphalt, while perhaps the least expensive, offers little as far as options available (think blacktop). Pavers, while providing a wide array of pattern and color options, are often the more expensive route, especially if considering a larger area like a driveway. Additionally, if needing to consider permeability, pavers are unique as their installation can often meet code for any sort of permeable surface requirements.

Lake home/property owners, some might argue more than others, understand well that larger projects around lakes often have “permeable footprint” considerations which regularly sees a ceiling on the percentage of their lot/land that can be impervious surface.

Again, cost of a permeable installation will likely exceed that of concrete or asphalt application.

Pattern and Color

Hands down, stamped concrete offers a nearly unlimited design combination of color and pattern when comparing to other materials which might offer a similar look. Asphalt, of course, gives one look and wouldn’t typically be used for much other than a drive or pathway. Natural stone is certainly limited as far as options and when considering cost – the more exotic the stone, the greater the likelihood

of requiring a higher budget. Precast pavers do offer many more options than the aforementioned, but, much like the natural stone, cost increases proportionally with the intricacy of the design. By far, stamped concrete offers the most possibilities within a particular budget.

Tom Harrington from Quality Construction in Fergus Falls says that he always shows 2-3 test pads to the customers so they can see the color and texture of the stamped concrete. He recommends that you find a contractor who pays attention to detail and is willing to show projects that they have completed in the past few years.

Decorative, stamped concrete projects that they have completed over the past 10 years still look great today! He does recommend that all stamped or stained concrete be sealed every 3-4 years.

Durability & Performance

Asphalt is often selected for the low-cost installation per square foot, however, that may be its biggest benefit as it typically doesn’t fare well in the harsh upper Midwest seasons. Both natural stone and precast pavers have very good durability when properly installed and maintained but can certainly be impacted by the continual freezing and thawing we are so fortunate to experience. Because stamped concrete is solid, it tends to be more immune from the many beatings

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imposed by Mother Nature. Much like the other materials, when properly installed (especially with added steel reinforcement), stamped concrete will see little environment-related impact.

Installation

From project start to a first-use timeline, stamped concrete installation falls somewhere in the middle when compared to other materials. Asphalt leads this category in speed of installation, with just a day or so of curing before first use (pending the weather, of course). Natural stone and pavers, with a lengthy combination of underlayer preparation to ensure proper drainage and actual installation, can take anywhere from 10-12 days for a 2,000-square-

foot driveway (concretenetwork.com).

A similar driveway installation of stamped concrete might span 4-5 days depending on the level of stamping complexity.

Color, naturally, is pre-mixed and when the concrete is poured, patterns must be immediately stamped. Most of the 4 to 5-day installation timeframe can be attributed to front-end preparation and post-pour curing.

Maintenance

While all surfaces require some sort of maintenance, the most labor-intensive maintenance winner might be a toss-up between asphalt and the natural stone or precast pavers, depending on an owner’s ambition. Asphalt requires an annual seal coat to weather properly and meet expected wear and tear milestones. If an owner is ambitious enough,

54 LAKE AND HOME MAGAZINE MAY / JUNE 2018

this can be a do-it-yourself project but is undoubtedly dirty work. Pavers and natural stone installations require more maintenance and can be both ongoing and tedious in nature. Weeds and moss that grow in joint areas will need removal and sand will need to be replaced to ensure proper drainage and protection from our upper Midwest seasons.

Stamped concrete, on the other hand, requires not much more than some asneeded resealing every few years and an occasional power wash to maintain color vivacity and control potential staining.

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Cost

As mentioned, asphalt is undeniably the most economical to install. At roughly $2.50 - $4 per square foot (not including maintenance costs), many choose this surface when budget is the top priority.

Certainly, this is not the case for projects outside the driveway. Natural stone, in most areas, can start at about $25 per square foot and go up considerably depending on the material rarity, size, and even from where it may have been sourced – freight costs aren’t cheap! Pavers, once again depending on the pattern complexity and style, can run from $12 - $20+ per square foot. As

mentioned, whether or not the project requires permeability can be another cost factor (which may rule out concrete but is something to consider) which could easily put paver installation costs at or above the upper end of the aforementioned range.

Average stamped concrete cost per square foot for this region run in the $12 $18 range with factors such as size, color, and style of pattern impacting overall expense. In comparing to other materials, the field of choice for color and pattern is vast and will likely provide a desired look and feel within a chosen budget.

When thinking about a project that could involve stamped concrete, Dennis Bitzan of Bitzan/Ohren Masonry advises, “…first, ask what is the contractor’s experience.

If they don’t have a lot in stamped work, it is hard for them to help you decide if stamped is truly the way to go. Next, figure out your budget so that you can see what will work for the final look and feel of your project.” With the winter woes we all feel in Minnesota, there can also be finish considerations because safety will be a factor in any outdoor project. Bitzan continues, “…make sure you pick patterns that minimize slipping and it is always a

good idea around here to go with an anti-slip grit in the finish sealer.”

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Large or small, stamped concrete applications are only limited by the imagination, your chosen contractor’s experience, and your desired budget. While it may not be the best fit for every project, proper research, shopping, and planning can easily make stamped concrete a solid choice. ~L&H

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F

Feature HOME

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Unique. . . distinctively characteristic; being the only one of its kind; unlike anything else.

Heather and Jesse Haugan started their lives together in a 900-squarefoot farmhouse that they filled with love, joy, two young children and happy memories. That made the transition to

their new home especially easy, as the new home is a remodel and expansion of the original. And according to Heather, “the magic survived.”

The creative behind the new, remodeled, additional and expanded space is the Haugans’ neighbor and building designer, Pete Thiel, of PT Designs, Ottertail, Minn. Pete is extremely visual and works without drawing up plans.

He is a big promoter of using salvaged materials and usually has plenty on hand when starting an architectural project.

Pete is the designer and creative genius behind the renovation of the Ottertail Creamery just down the street from the Haugan home.

This Haugan project incorporates some of the design elements that Pete utilized while renovating the St. Paul House historical building that was donated to the Firestarters Ministries, moved and attached to the Creamery as a guest house last year… it has a bit of a western motif.

The house was expanded by the addition of a 24 foot structural beam right down the center of the existing building, now gutted.

The interior design is based on western style post and beam and includes influences from equestrian stables and country barns.

Perhaps the biggest challenge for Pete and his team (which included Jesse Haugan) was to get Heather on board. “She had

a lot of really good, practical ideas and was a bit hesitant at the beginning of the process, but we were able to validate and compromise on her ideas and vision.”

Heather insists she couldn’t be happier with the results, “. . . they have surpassed my expectations in delightful ways!”

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Perhaps the most unique feature of the new home is the floating design of all the additional space. All of the new walls and exterior decks are suspended above the ground at the same elevation and stand on their own Sonatubes. The space under is completely open and filled with pea rock and gives the feel of a light and airy structure.

The original core house now serves as the kitchen and guest suite. The new house surrounds the original.

The Haugans originally planned to have a master suite on the first floor along with the guest room, and to finish the lower lever for the young boys. But while Pete was designing the space to connect the lower level to the main house, he suggested they add a second level family area. This idea resulted in a unique “family foyer” main floor space that connects the kitchen and the family’s large outdoor patio to both

stairways going up to new space and down to the lower level, as well as access to the outdoor space on the east side of the building. Heather can access the laundry room from this same space and still has enough room to add a home office. Best part? The upper lever has become the boys’ playroom and family room and it is open to the space below by a balcony spanning the entire length of one wall.

Mom can be in the kitchen, creatively designed with an interior window, sans glass, and see into the upstairs and the boys can hear her as well.

“Sometimes remodels are more fun than original designs, because we have to think outside the box,” says Pete, “especially true with interior spaces.

I like to encourage clients to push those established limits and to create something truly representative of their personal taste and lifestyle.”

Fun and innovative window size and placement was given serious consideration – not only for sun exposure or relief, but also considering the changing geographical elements of the surrounding area. Small windows

“Sometimes remodels are more fun than original designs, because we have to think outside the box, especially true with interior spaces.

I like to encourage clients to push those established limits and to create something truly representative of their personal taste and lifestyle.”

Pete Thiel // PT Designs

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were placed on walls facing the major road and large windows were placed where views of the yard and kids would be beneficial and to create ambiance in the large entertainment areas. With lots of high ceilings, the house incorporates high windows as well ensuring lots of natural, indirect light.

In a “rustic meets remix” style, Pete incorporated rough cut beams with smooth plank board and baton and cured white pine for the exterior siding.

The roof is crafted from reclaimed and salvaged metal.

The barn wood was salvaged from just four miles down the road. Other lumber and building materials were locally sourced from Hilltop Lumber in Ottertail.

The exterior siding is rough cut pine that had been air drying at a mill north of Dorset, Minn.

“It was Pete’s idea to use corrugated metal on the interior ceilings and I had my reservations at first.”

Heather Haugan // Homeowner

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The Haugans enjoy the clean lines incorporated with textured materials that make the home feel open and airy with distinctive architectural features. “It’s warm and welcoming,” says Heather, “. . . and the best part is that we are not worrying about little boys damaging sheetrock, because most of the walls are covered with alternative sturdy materials. I love the bright, calming effect of the white and the shiplap and the contrast with the warm flooring.”

Heather is quick to credit the designer for pushing the creative envelope.

“It was Pete’s idea to use corrugated metal on the interior ceilings and I had my reservations at first.”

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Pete designed a large wall separating the kitchen and guest suite (the original house) by mimicking a horse barn style.

A full height wall is attached behind two braced post and beam elements.

This wall creates a hall behind with an entrance to the guest area and is lit from behind and above. The ceiling of the hall creates a loft the boys will enjoy when they get a bit older. For the time, the wall creates beautiful shadows and ambiance throughout the day from the natural sunlight and into the evening from the onsite lighting. The Haugans’ guests enjoy unique privacy.

The tile flooring was installed by Casady Thiel, of Thiel Tile and Stone. Jesse was aided in the install of the wood floor by Andrew Campbell, who also did the painting and staining of the walls and floors. “To get away from the tiny house syndrome,” adds Jesse, “we used a minimum of floor coverings throughout.

That also helps pull the various spaces together.”

Campbell treated the tongue and groove pine planking from Timber Roots with a white “barn wash” technique. He also added a creative touch to the wood flooring to bring out the warmer tones.

This treatment was also repeated on a large kitchen wall and then repeated in the family foyer bringing added continuity to all of the spaces.

Jesse’s company, Haugan Heating and Cooling, designed and installed the HVAC system.

Local craftsman and carpenter Wendell Danielson designed and built several pieces of furniture and stairways for the Haugans and he and Jesse created the sprawling industrial fixture that anchors 68 LAKE AND HOME MAGAZINE MAY / JUNE 2018

the family foyer. Wendell is a member of Pete’s team and, like the others, did his apprenticeship with Pete before starting his own business, Danielson Design Co., specializing in handmade rustic furniture such as cabinets, bookshelves, tables and mirrors. Because of Pete’s visionary style, his team is always prepared for on the spot creative decisions and the results are one of a kind.

To describe anything designed by Pete Thiel as “unique” could actually be an understatement. ~L&H

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F

Feature HOME

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This stucco and stone residence with a French country influence commands majestic views of Long Lake from its slightly elevated position on the south shore. It appears to fit right into the hillside, with a gentle slope that leads gradually down to the beach.

With 155 feet of lakeshore and a scattering of trees, the lot offers the serenity that homeowners Jon and Kristi Riewer desire, along with a certain amount of privacy and seclusion. They now have space for their family of five, and they can observe their children’s water activities from a screened-in porch with a fireplace, builtin barbecue and hot tub.

Huge windows dominate the home’s lakefront, and Lakes Area Landscaping designed the surrounding outdoor area with an eye toward both beauty and family living. The lower level walkout provides additional views, along with the expanded living space.

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“You can come here, even in the fall or winter, and look out over the lake,” says Jon. “It’s a wonderful quality of life opportunity.”

The Riewers worked closely with Paul Maki, an architect with Nor-Son Custom Builders, a design and build firm with offices in Fargo, Brainerd and Wayzata.

Designing and creating exactly what the customers want in a house is the “fun” part of his job, he says, especially with the ever-changing styles in lake home building and design.

“Even up here in the lake country of Minnesota, we’re seeing a shift to a more formal look in housing that reflects the tastes and interests of the homeowners on an individual basis,” he says. “There is nothing negative about the typical rustic look for cabins or lake homes, but more people like the Riewers are trying new types of designs – or even mixing styles by painting the woodwork, then bringing in a knotty alder door or reclaimed timber beams for rustic accents.”

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From Renew to Remodel

to Rebuild

The road to the Riewer home wasn’t as simple as they hoped it would be.

Growing up in Frazee, Jon always loved the lake life. When they moved back to the lakes area in 2001 to be near family, and Kristi opened a dental practice in Detroit Lakes, they purchased a small, seasonal cabin on Lake Seven and became what Jon calls, “weekend warriors.” Selling that cabin a few years later, they soon bought a different cabin on Bad Medicine Lake, but the constant back and forth with their family caused a great deal of extra work.

In 2007, it felt “just right” to both of them when they purchased a home on Long Lake as their permanent residence. Even though the original 30-year-old house could not meet all their needs, they were willing to update and revise it along the way. At one point during the initial process, they briefly put it up for sale, but it lingered on the market.

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“We’re not the type of people who come in and ‘flip’ a house, moving from place to place,” says Jon, who is president of Eventide Senior Living in Moorhead. “We knew going in we would have to make some drastic changes and do extensive revisions to stay here long-term, but it felt like home, so that’s what we decided to do.”

Kristi says the decision to work with Paul Maki at Nor-Son was spot-on right from the beginning, when their initial plan included updating and remodeling the existing home.

“We had been making small-scale updates since we moved in, but in 2016 we were ready to go ahead with preliminary plans to fully remodel the house and create exactly what we wanted,” she says.

“Paul did a great job of understanding our needs and designing and changing what he could, but the initial estimate was a little shocking. It took us a while to realize that we were trying to make the aging house something it couldn’t be, and we weren’t sure any longer that it was a good idea to put all that effort and money into a remodel.”

They had not initially considered building an entirely new home with a totally new footprint, and they struggled heavily with the concept before asking Paul to come up with a plan and estimate for Nor-Son to design and build a new home – and compare it to the total remodel costs.

Once they realized the cost estimates between remodeling and rebuilding weren’t as dramatic as they imagined, they recognized that if they built the new home on this lot and lake that they loved, they wouldn’t have to “work around” the many structural and placement issues that were hindering the process of truly improving their living situation.

The new home plans Paul Maki designed allowed Jon and Kristi to incorporate their desire to simplify the design and stick to their budget priorities, making sure “every room has a purpose and that every space serves the needs of the family.”

With 2,674 square feet on the main level, and 1,946 square feet on the lower walkout level, the new home actually has a smaller footprint than the original home.

But with 5 bedrooms, 4 ½ baths, a music room, an office, and that screened-in porch, it has far more wide-open and livable space for the Riewers. In addition, the location of the new house was moved several feet from its original setback to provide space for a small backyard and incorporate a more open and practical balance with the lake, the lot and the view. The results went far beyond Jon and Kristi’s expectations.

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“We knew going in we would have to make some drastic changes and do extensive revisions to stay here long-term, but it felt like home, so that’s what we decided to do.”

Jon Riewer homeowner

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Salvaging as Much as

Power

Once they made the decision to build, it was important for the family to salvage as much as they could from the original house. All of the appliances went into the downstairs bar area, and several pieces were re-purposed in the house, including the original kitchen’s center island. Surrounded by the new kitchen’s white painted cupboards, the island’s dark stained wood is effectively accented by the coordinated countertops from Capital Granite and Marble.

With the installation of Phantom Screens, the Riewers added another exceptional element to optimize space and comfort on their screened-in porch. During the day, these automated power screens are rolled up and hidden inside the soffits so everyone can enjoy the warmth and sunshine when there are no bugs around.

At night, with the press of a button, they can be easily powered down to keep the porch enclosed and free of bugs.

Possible

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Screens

I guess you could label our particular personal style as ‘transitional.’

Whatever you want to call it, it’s definitely now our forever home.”

Kristi Riewer homeowner

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Couldn't have done it without • Nor-Son Construction • Phantom Screens • B/M Electric • Glenwood Welding • Wood Products Unlimited • Lakes Area Landscaping • McPherson Products •Expert Insulation • Modern Heating and Plumbing

Lighting

A computer controlled “smart home” lighting system adds to the fun factor of this remarkable house. The cost of these types of systems used to be out of reach for the average homeowner, Maki says, but those prices have come down and they are now more commonly built into everyday homes. The system is totally programmable, and the manufacturer works with homeowners on creating different scenes within the home with different lighting moods and intensities.

While praising the high-tech capabilities, Jon admits he hasn’t fully integrated the entire system. “When I figure out how to work it all,” he says with a chuckle, “I’ll let you know.”

• Sharp-Edge Hardwoods • Capital Granite • Advantage Seamless

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Exterior

Design

The French country influence is evident in the exterior of this home, and Maki says the roof itself is a main design element.

“With a steeper pitch to the roof, along with some cupolas, vents and copper spires, there is a distinctive overall look,” he explains. “The carriage-style wood garage doors are also an extra design premium. Sometimes you try to hide garage doors around the side of the house, but these doors tie into the front entry and tie into the shutters very nicely.”

The dormers above the garage are also an integral element of the home’s style.

Initially, Jon says they weren’t going to finish off that inside space, but then they thought about the differences in their children’s ages. At 15, 13 and 10, their activity levels are beginning to vary more and more, and they decided an extra TV room up there might be a nice addition.

“It turned out to be a great idea, and that room is used all the time,” Jon adds. “Again, everything we included in the design has a practical purpose, like putting in two laundry rooms – one on each floor – which is one of Kristi’s favorite features of the house. We use ALL the rooms.”

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Interior

Design

Personal touches from Kristi and Jon abound throughout the home, including painted white wood ceilings in the great room, a stunning cast stone fireplace, an interior railing with reclaimed wood, distinctive storage areas from McPherson Products, and wood floors from SharpEdge Hardwoods.

Kristi isn’t sure exactly how to define their personal style within their living spaces.

“It’s not really modern,” she says, “and we weren’t looking for a farmhouse or lodge feel.”

While she admits that most people would call the house itself “French country,” she says they lean more toward calling it “traditional” or “highly livable.”

“What we really know and understand now is that for our children, besides enjoying lake activities like tubing and skiing and fishing off the dock, they all have their own rooms and all enjoy their own spaces. I guess you could label our particular personal style as ‘transitional.’

Whatever you want to call it, it’s definitely now our forever home.” ~L&H

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F

Feature HOME

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I

n the 1880s, a group of men from Kansas City and St. Joseph, Mo., began traveling to Minnesota for fishing holidays during the summer.

Their lake of choice: Lake Miltona, near Alexandria.

They pitched tents and camped on farm grounds on the edge of the lake, and before long they decided to start a club.

The Minnesouri Angling Club, now often referred to as just the Minnesouri Club, was established in 1890, consisting mostly of people from Missouri, and a few from the Minneapolis area.

As time went on, the women decided they wanted to come to the lake as well, so after purchasing land, small cabins were built on the property. Each cabin had a bedroom or two, small porch, living area and a small kitchen.

In the end, there were 18 cottages, most of which have been renovated and added to over the years.

This particular property has been in the family for 80 years, and the house holds precious memories for the homeowners, one of whom has spent 73 of his 75 years enjoying summers at the lake. The main goal of the one-and-a-half-year remodel process was to maintain as much of the history and original elements of the structure as possible, while updating it so it would last a multitude of years to come.

The current state of the home is significantly different from what it was before they began the renovations, with rooms being moved and redecorated, but it still possesses its vintage cottage charm.

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Upon entering the home, you are greeted by a wall of old and new photos selected by the homeowners. They are pieces of the past and the present, providing a striking conversational piece that displays the history of the home and club, bringing you back to another time.

The master bedroom is just beyond the entryway, with its soft and light colored floral decor, making it the perfect place for relaxing and recuperating after a busy day on the lake. The vaulted wood ceiling was replicated to match the original.

The laundry room is situated off the entryway, which happens to be the original location of the kitchen. The laundry room was moved to keep the noisy machines on one end of the home and make it possible to relocate the kitchen to make it a part of the great room.

The kitchen includes a custom island, with its custom aqua color, that brings out the color in the chairs in the eating area. There is also a beautifully designed bar on the west wall, that is perfect for entertaining guests.

The living room was originally two rooms prior to the renovation. They were combined into one great room, along with the kitchen. This process took a lot of coordination and planning since there was a fireplace on the lake-side wall that needed to be relocated.

The reconstruction began with removing the wall separating the two rooms and creating the look of a beamed ceiling throughout the entire room to make it appear as if it had always been one room.

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“I didn’t want to lose the characteristics and details that were necessary for the original cottage. And that was my driving force.”

Jill Stoeck Jill Stoeck Designs

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Then they needed to move the fireplace from the north side of the home to the west side. The fireplace was original stonework, so when it was moved, they made sure to replicate the look to keep the original feel of the home on the outside as well.

Now the great room has three large windows that let in an abundance of light and give the homeowners a great view of the lake from the table, the kitchen or the couch.

Off the living room is a porch facing the lake, one of the favorite spaces of the homeowners. With its white wicker furniture, a beautiful fir wood floor painted a lovely shade of yellow and a great view of the lake; it is not hard to see why.

One of the smart features of the room is the storm shutters that come down with the flick of a switch and protect the room from the outside elements. Though the porch is not heated, the space can be used all year round, and the furniture can remain there instead of being put into storage for the winter months.

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Jill Stoeck, of Jill Stoeck Designs in Alexandria, worked closely with the homeowners from beginning to end and has become like family to them.

She worked hard to put together a color story for the home, combining and blending up to 11 fabrics and seven different colors throughout the home.

How well they work together can be seen from the porch, looking through to the other side of the home with the low-gloss,

Ice Cube color paint (Rosengren Painting) serving as a solid coordination base.

“My whole goal was at the end of the project that they could walk into it and feel that it was theirs and the family’s,” Jill commented. “I didn’t want to lose the characteristics and details that were necessary for the original cottage. And that was my driving force.” She added, “They are one of those clients that are a dream to work for.”

Heading back to the entryway, you find a set of stairs surrounded by a Chippendale inspired railing leading to the lower floor.

The staircase was added to the structure, as the home did not have a lower level prior to this particular renovation.

The home was originally situated on 100-year-old tree trunks, as were all the cabins when the Minnesouri Club began.

Old growth trees were cut at one level, and the homeowners built the frames for

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their cabins right on them, placing the floor right on the trunks of the trees.

By creating a basement, they were able to almost double the living space of the home and keep the original shape and structure of the home.

The lower level of the home has two bedrooms, the twin room with its nautical theme, and the blue room with the Bohemian theme. These rooms, and the living area in the basement are a more casual space with its wool carpet and light colored features.

There is also a loft bedroom in the home with three twin beds that often becomes the place where the grandchildren spend their time.

As you walk through the home, a few themes are common, one being the white octagon-shaped tile in each of the bathrooms. Another feature is the wood floors that go throughout the main level of the home. This was an important feature, and the team worked hard to make sure it was similar in color and finish to the original flooring.

Another theme carried throughout the home is the shiplap walls; some hung vertically and some horizontally.

It was important to the homeowners to use as many local resources as possible when renovating the home. They felt it was important to support the local area and businesses as they had come to know so many people in the area.

In addition to using Swedberg Wood Products for their custom cabinets and Arnquist Home Center for their tile, Rick Rosengren was the local general contractor they chose to work with, and they were impressed with how quickly he and the rest of the team worked. “Rick was great to work with,” they said. “The team was great; they were on top of everything.”

On the outside of the home, facing the road is a deck that was added during the renovation. It is an excellent place for family members to hang out, read a book or grill steaks during their summer visits. There is also a bridge walkway from the deck down to the garage, which is a structure that is important to the homeowners as they wanted to make sure they have access to the home for as many years as possible.

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The original garage was built for a Model T car, so it was decided to build a two-car garage in its place during the renovation, making sure to keep the original feel and look to match the home.

The Minnesouri Club homes are located on a piece of lakefront property stretching a mile on the south side of Lake Miltona. On the lake side of the home is a trail called “Pike.” Initially, it was a well-worn path in the earth that was used to walk from tent to tent, eventually getting updated by laying down concrete blocks.

The Pike was a common way for the residents to get around and was often used to roll a poker table from one cottage to another, eventually wearing the octagon table into a more rounded shape.

Children throughout the generations have walked up and down the Pike during the summer with their fishing poles, not having to worry about traffic, and often without a smartphone in their hands.

There is no doubt that this vintageinspired cottage along with all of its history will be enjoyed for generations to come.

“It’s a pleasure to come here, and we’ve enjoyed it over a lifetime,” the homeowners said. “This is a great place to enjoy the outdoors. It’s one of those places where many of the traditions of the past have stuck over a long period of time.” ~L&H

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“This is a great place to enjoy the outdoors. It’s one of those places where many of the traditions of the past have stuck over a long period of time.” homeowner

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D

DESIGNER PORTFOLIO

If you’ve done anything with cabinetry in or around west central Minnesota, you’ve likely heard the Swedberg name. Among those who are truly exemplary in their field, Swedberg Wood Products has been known for excellence since 1982, when the company was formed.

The company sits just west of the Douglas County Fairgrounds. What was once a hobby that kept Jim Swedberg busy building and selling furniture to friends out of his garage on Bryant street is now a flourishing business in which the Swedberg family and employees take great pride in its continued success.

Currently in its second generation, the company’s ability to combine classic artistry with modern technology in order to provide the finest in custom cabinetry is quite amazing. From the initial design phase to production and final installation, Swedberg’s goal is to provide superior

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customer service while delivering a quality product. Lake and Home was fortunate to meet with Jim Swedberg’s son, Derek, vice president.

Growing up having watched your father and uncle grow the business, what are your favorite memories with respect to Swedberg Wood Products?

My dad grew up on the property that is now the home of Swedberg Wood Products. It was a farm back then, and shortly after he started the work out of

his garage on Bryant in Alexandria, he bought the barn from my grandfather. He and my two uncles, Jerry and Rod, started formally making cabinetry as Swedberg Wood Products. It’s funny, I remember their “showroom” early on when I was maybe 6 or 7 years old - it was a single cabinet and just a couple door styles.

With being so young then, the memories are mostly of Dad working in the shop with my grandpa and uncles while I was running around the farm and playing with my brother or a friend.

How has your company had to evolve over the years as a custom shop to remain competitive?

With how many parts and pieces a person can buy, it’s a challenge to stay competitive, but we also know we’re in the business with quality well above what a person might get from a box store.

We like to make every single part of the cabinet right here; we don’t want to order any of the doors or components and then just be an assembly shop. I think people appreciate that we are kind of

“old school” still, and that we do have our hands on everything. Probably one of our biggest purchases happened when I first started, and that was a CNC machine, which was a pretty large investment at the time. That has really allowed us to stay in line with the times and has streamlined a lot of processes – it helps us optimize materials better, reduce mistakes, and ultimately takes the place.

At roughly the same time we added the CNC machine, we moved from handwritten plans to using Cabinet Vision, which ties in well with our shop and the actual CNC machine itself. There are a couple of other machines we’ve added that help us cut various components in a more efficient way. Because we are so custom, we have to look each and every year at new technologies or processes that help us be more efficient.

What trends are you seeing in building that you are excited about?

When I started, we were on the tail end of everybody doing oak, but now when people come in, it’s exciting that you just don’t know what they’re going to want to do – the styles are all over the map.

They could bring a contemporary, frameless look from a magazine with a unique color or it could be a traditional, inset cherry or oak style cabinet. That we are able to take a picture a client provided and produce it is pretty neat, and it is even better that because of this, our clients end up doing some of the work for us.

In the upper Midwest, much less rural Minnesota, we’re a bit slower than other areas when it comes to seeing new innovation, but a few trends are definitely standing out in some of the newer builds we’ve been fortunate to work on as of late. We are seeing more who are adding glass and reducing upper cabinetry to open up lake views and that creates opportunities to rethink storage and use below the countertop level. The other trend that stands out is having the cabinetry not stand out – people are opting for a more clean, sleek look that still optimizes the space.

While these trends are on the rise, we still see a fair share of traditional cabinetry, but with more of the modern options like a distressed or unique finish and soft-close hardware.

When you are helping a potential customer design a project, what are your favorite inspirations?

Typically, our inspirations come from our clients first and I always ask first how they’re going to use the space. Questions like: “Are there any particular appliance needs or wants that they want to design the kitchen around?” Another question I like to ask is, “What aspects do you like and dislike about your previous kitchen?”

These questions are important for us to tackle so we can come up with the top three or four priorities for a particular space.

Many people can’t necessarily name a particular wood species from a magazine ad or such, so it’s great when they bring that type of thing into the process. It is great when we can use some of those examples from media so we can put together some samples.

I don’t necessarily read them from front to back, but we get a good deal of design magazines and I try to keep up on the latest and greatest there so we can tap into that when needed.

Over the years, what has been your favorite project to complete and why?

With how many projects we’ve done in both commercial and residential, it is tricky to name a favorite – each seems to bring its own unique approach and finished product, but from a commercial perspective, I’d say what we did with Tastefully Simple stands out. We were just finishing that up when I started, but there were SO many different rooms and nooks with cabinets as well as a huge, triangular 2-piece conference table. The amount of design and planning was huge, but the finished look and feel is super fun – at the time, that was our largest project to date.

On the residential side, the work we did on Erika Johnson’s home was very memorable (Lake & Home Feature Home, A Modern Home with Natural Flair, September 2017). That was a very cool,

contemporary look that was fun to put together and see the finished project.

Just about any project we do with High Point Homes and Blue Ox Timber Frames are fun to work on as well – they both are great to work with and those always seem to turn out well.

What aspects of owning/operating Swedberg Wood Products, Inc., help make you excited to go to work each day?

First, we love the community here in which we work – my dad and I are very fortunate to live in such a thriving and growing area like Alexandria. To own a growing business like we do is truly awesome and we feel very lucky to have such a great place to both live and work.

I enjoy working with all the people, both in and out of our company – just the day to day emailing, collaborating on projects,

and interaction is great. It is especially fun when projects finish up and we see people happy with how something turns out. It is an extra bonus when both the client and our staff is happy as well. Granted, not every project goes exactly as planned, but I’d say 99 percent of people are happy and that goes a long ways.

What have been some of the challenges that have taught you the greatest lessons?

There are so many details, options, and choices when it comes to custom cabinets that the amount of information going this way and that is just incredible.

Communication is one important area that my dad has taught me over the years.

It’s not necessarily any one big mistake that taught this, but along the way, there can be details missed which can lead to larger problems. Ensuring that the designer, the client, and other internal employees are on the same page is top priority.

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Having everything on paper years ago taught a lot of this lesson – if you didn’t write it down, it was hard to go back and recall that detail. Was it 66’’ or 68”? It is nice to have email and texting now so it’s easier to be on that same page and I can always go back to a text or email and find what it was we had discussed.

Whether building new or remodeling, what advice would you pass along to someone who might be thinking about custom cabinetry?

Every customer is so different, so it is difficult to have universal advice, but a couple of smaller pieces of advice along the way would be, first, when designing their floor plan, figure out what they want to do with their island. Based on the types of homes and kitchens we deal with, pretty much everyone has an island, so making sure the island is sufficient for what they need is important.

Other areas that might have equal importance would be talking through countertop selection, how to use upper cabinet spaces (i.e. definitely use the full ceiling height), and hardware selection.

In fact, hardware selection and the impact it can have on the overall look is very important. That, and making sure to go with soft-close on everything are two pretty important things to consider.

Last, the types of finishes will each have their own plusses and minuses. I’m more of a wood type of guy, so I like a finish that can bring out the grains more than covering them up, but to each their own. With paint, there are certainly more options as far as finishes and look go, but one would also want to consider longterm impacts – as woods change over time, it is typical that a paint might need maintenance before a more traditional finish.

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What do you feel vendors with whom you work closely would say about working with you and your company?

I certainly hope and think they say we’re nice people to work with; that we’re honest and hard working, and I’d like to think we’re also good communicators! The biggest thing is that with how many builders we work with around the area, it speaks to our quality that they continue to do a lot of selling for us. We work with a majority of the most well-known contractors in town and I’d say they’re our best sales source.

Really, they’re doing the initial meeting with clients and it is from there that we get the first opportunity to bid jobs. We really want to make contractors happy because they’re the ones that are going to be coming back for repeat work. ~L&H

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INSULATION

LUMBER

ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR

HOME BUILDERS

GUTTERS

ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR

TREE SERVICES

HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING

CONCRETE

MARINE / WATERCRAFT REPAIR

FLOORING

CABINETS

MARINE / WATERCRAFT REPAIR

FLOORING

CABINETS

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QUARTZ & GRANITE

MASONRY

SHOWERS

CABIN CARE

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L

Featured Lake Size: 408.73 Acres Max Depth: 61 ft.

County: Becker Clarity: 15 ft.

Shore Length: 6.38 mi

Long Lake Becker County

Historically, Long Lake has been noted for its abundant populations of small northern pike and bluegill. Anglers are encouraged to release northern pike over 24 inches to sustain a balanced population. Largemouth bass and black crappie are also popular angling targets in Long Lake.

Walleyes are stocked regularly to maintain the fishery. Since 2001, Long Lake and three other area lakes have been involved in a statewide research study to determine the most effective walleye stocking methods for a given lake type. Both walleye frylings (~ 2 inches) and fingerlings (6-7 inches) have been stocked in the lake since then. The previous stocking regimen of 2.0 pounds of walleye fingerlings per littoral acre, biennially, resumed in 2007.

Despite stocking efforts, however, walleye abundance has continued to decline below the lake average. Walleyes sampled in 2016 had an average length of 16.1 inches and an average weight of 1.9 pounds.

Long Lake is a small, highly developed lake that has shown some signs of declining water quality. Every effort should be made by lakeshore residents and other watershed dwellers to minimize nutrient inputs. Some helpful practices include: (1) leaving or establishing buffer strips of natural vegetation along the shores, (2) leaving aquatic vegetation stands like bulrush and cattail intact, (3) not fertilizing or using phosphorus free fertilizers, and (4) ensuring compliance of private septic systems. Many septic systems have now been replaced by the city sewer system and this should help to reduce nutrient input.

Emergent vegetation stands are particularly important to the lake for both water quality and fish habitat and should be protected as much as possible.

Source: MN DNR