Lake&Home Magazine Mar/Apr '19

Subscribe at w w w.lakeandhomemagazine.com VOLUME 21 / ISSUE 2

MAR / APR 2019

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LAKE & HOME MAGAZINE MAR / APR 2019

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CONTENTS

VOLUME 21 • ISSUE 2 • MAR / APR 2019 www.lakeandhomemagazine.com

12 Meet Our Team

OFFICE

14

From the Office

OFFICE

by Erin Hintz

Timeless Wood 16 INTERIOR DESIGN

Discover handmade wood

furniture and home decor from local artisans

by Alicia Underlee Nelson

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DESIGN

Blueprint for Success

by Patrice Peterson

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INTERIOR DESIGN

Style and Ease of Wood Grain Tile

by Andrea Canning

Lake Gifts 52 SHOPPING

Gifts for the Lake Lover

54 Choosing the Right

HOME IMPROVEMENT

Flooring

www.buildwithrise.com

66

INTERIOR DESIGN

Top 10 Indestructible Indoor Plants

by Danae Branson

LAKE & HOME MAGAZINE MAR / APR 2019

DESIGNER PORTFOLIO

Merickel Lumber

Maud Lake 111

FEATURED LAKE

112 Service Directory SHOPPING

74 Your Questions Answered

HOME EXPERTS

by Our Panel of Experts

FEATURED HOME 76 A Remarkable Elegance

by Patrice Peterson

FEATURED HOME 88 One-of-a-Kind Design

by Angela Garvin

FEATURED HOME 98 Farmhouse Nostalgia

A new chapter of family history on the shores of Maud Lake

by Alicia Underlee Nelson

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Cover photo by Rick Hammer Story on page 76

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LAKE & HOME MAGAZINE MAR / APR 2019

MAR / APR 2019 lakeandhomemagazine.com

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Volume 21, Issue 2 • MAR / APR 2019 Lic. #BC520694

PUBLISHER Kip Johnson EDITOR Brent and Jennifer Rogness CREATIVE DIRECTOR Kip Johnson ADVERTISING/MARKETING CONSULTANT John Burns LAKE & HOME MAGAZINE – ADVERTISING SALES Erin Hintz • 218-205-2120 erin@lakeandhomemagazine.com Jerry Shea • 218-205-7454 jerry@lakeandhomemagazine.com Andy Larsen • 218-205-1004 andy@lakeandhomemagazine.com

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LAKE & HOME MAGAZINE Published bimonthly by Compass Media 118 S Vine St | Fergus Falls, MN 56537 (218) 205-2706 www.lakeandhomemagazine.com artwork@lakeandhomemagazine.com Unless previously agreed, all rights remain the sole property of Lake and Home Magazine. ©2019 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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O

FROM THE OFFICE

From the Office

I’ve always said that when we bought our home I fell in love with it, but there was almost nothing about it that I liked. The floor plan and overall design of the house were high on my list of dislikes. The front entry had no closets. As a bonus, it also donned white floral carpeting. The front exterior of the home had several puzzling different-sized windows arranged at different heights.

The bathroom was right off the kitchen with the doorway positioned so when you turned around at the kitchen sink, you were looking straight at the toilet. Nothing says “come and eat” quite like the view of a toilet. The kitchen had a lot of missed potential with south exposure, but one tiny window, and a wide-open floor that was begging for an island work space.

Doors swung in the wrong direction, and knocked into fixtures, like the toilet in one bathroom.

That’s just the tip of the iceberg really. The house definitely had quirks, but growing up around many builds and remodels, and being just a little bit young and naive, dreaming about what the house could be stirred up too much excitement. We didn’t stop and consider just how much work it was going to take.

Almost four years later, I love our home.

But if you asked me if I would do it again, I might be hesitant to answer “yes.” The thought of living in a mess of sheetrock dust, insulation, plywood floors, and a gutted kitchen for as long as it took to complete the remodel, along with a few mishaps like bats spending the winter in our rafters and getting shingles (not roofing) at the height of the remodel is enough to make me pause.

Just like anything else, in building, it’s much easier to do it right the first time than to try to change it later. But, when faced with the process of putting together your dream home and “doing it right the first time,” I can imagine that it would be easy to find yourself overwhelmed.

This issue features an article on starting your design process, and the professionals and technologies that are there to ensure that your home will look and function exactly as you’d like.

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Be sure to also check out Merickel Lumber’s designs, showcased in this issue’s portfolio article.

This issue will also focus on flooring with an article on wood-look flooring, and another on energy efficient flooring.

You’ll also find articles on handmade artisan pieces and indoor plants, and of course, three feature home articles showcasing stunning Minnesota lake homes.

It’s a balmy minus 3 degrees as I write this article and it looks like it’ll be getting colder. I hope the magazine finds you in warmer weather, and we all hope you enjoy this issue of Lake & Home Magazine! ~L&H

Erin Hintz Advertising Sales

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INTERIOR DESIGN

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photo provided by: Fireside Lodge Furniture Company

O

ur attraction to wood is primal.

It’s a timeless material, linked to fire, to shelter, to human survival. But wood is also a sensual, tactile medium that’s shaped our sense of beauty for thousands of years. Our ancestors made some of their furniture, dishes and decorative objects out of wood. We continue this tradition, seeking out beautiful wood furniture, doors and accent pieces to bring a soothing part of the natural world into our modern homes.

There are many ways to decorate with wood and a huge range of wood species, finishes and designs to choose from.

Artisans in the Upper Midwest have been crafting beautiful, handmade pieces out of wood for decades. They all work with the same medium, but the results are distinctly different.

“For me, it is a tradition of fine craftsmanship in wood that ties to the past and leads to the future.”

RON HOLSTROM

photo provided by: Ron Holstrom

The Historian

RON HOLSTROM ANTIQUE FLOORS

Ron Holstrom’s Fergus Falls business is best known for pioneering reclaimed wood flooring in Minnesota lakes country. But Holstrom also builds period reproduction furniture – from colonial-style sideboards and dining tables to pared down Shaker styles and fireplace mantels inspired by the Arts and Crafts movement – using methods that have been passed down by master artisans (including members of his own family) for generations.

“I place great importance on a couple pieces of business advice I learned 40 years ago while visiting the shop of a very skilled West Virginia craftsman,” Holstrom explains. “‘Materials and tools are available to anyone. It is only in their use that a craftsman can distinguish him or herself. The work comes first and hopefully money follows.’”

Holstrom only uses solid wood – no plywood or melamine. Everything is hand-scraped, hand-rubbed and hand joined. Finishes are applied by hand. It’s a labor of love for a man that enjoys using handcrafted wood furniture as much as he enjoys creating it. He sees his work as part of a long tradition of craftsmanship.

photo provided by: Ron Holstrom

photo provided by: Ron Holstrom

“As I sit at my desk tonight (which is a period reproduction Chippendale partners desk that I built of beautiful wide plank cherry 20 years ago), it is easy to say what I love about woodworking,” he says. “On top of this desk is a Fergus Falls city directory from 1934 with a listing for my grandfather’s and great-grandfather’s furniture shop. My cousin has a beautiful china cabinet built by our great grandfather. When I built the desk I used their planes and chisels that still see daily use. My father lent a hand in sanding the desktop. So for me, it is a tradition of fine craftsmanship in wood that ties to the past and leads to the future.”

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out of. For those customers who want a harder surface, we tend to go with a white oak.”

In addition to responding to the design of the pieces they create, Bruckbauer says that customers also respond to the wood itself. Reclaimed wood offers a unique set of aesthetic characteristics.

“I think people really appreciate wood furniture because every piece is unique and different,” he says. “Especially with reclaimed wood, there are no two boards

photo provided by: Grain Designs

The Modernists GRAIN DESIGNS

The contrast between the rustic of reclaimed wood and the cool gleam of steel give Grain Designs’ furniture and wall art a modern and slightly industrial edge that’s right on trend. The Fargo-based business, operated by Pat Bresnahan, Phil Bruckbauer, Blain Mikkonen and Grant Koenig, creates a wide range of custom furniture and accent pieces. Featured items include everything from wood and metal signs that showcase maps, business names and local lakes to the sleek dining room tables, statement sliding doors and custom wood and metal desks that

“I think people really appreciate wood furniture because every piece is unique and different.

Especially with reclaimed wood, there are no two boards that are exactly alike.”

PHIL BRUCKBAUER ~ GRAIN DESIGNS

photo provided by: Grain Designs

photo provided by: Grain Designs

customers clamor for. Grain Designs also offers customizable shelves, wood paneling and home accents like mantels and wood paneling.

“Being that we use reclaimed wood and a lot of it is locally/regionally sourced, we end up using local materials,” explains Bruckbauer. “White pine and Douglas fir are the two most popular types of wood that buildings around here were built 20 LAKE & HOME MAGAZINE MAR / APR 2019

that are exactly alike, and every nail hole, knot, and crack has a story behind it.

There is also a warmth and texture and feel to wood that you just can’t get from other materials that I think makes a room cozy and comfortable.”

winter sky or a pair of deer stopping for a drink, their ears listening for danger.

The carving process (which includes sandblasting, hand sanding and hand finishing) takes hours. But it results in a unique piece of functional art that can be as appealing as the scene depicted on the door. It also allows the beauty of the wood to shine through.

“That sandblasting process removes that wood,” explains Manley. “And because you have hard and soft grains, it creates a texture that is unique to each piece of wood and each panel.”

The Naturalists GREAT RIVER DOOR COMPANY

Brent Manley, Mark Erickson and the team of artisans at Great River Door Company in Brainerd, apply decades of millwork, design and carving expertise to an often overlooked and unexpected medium – doors. The company’s pine, cedar and knotty alder are milled, stained and assembled by the team for a variety of commercial and residential clients. Each door is crafted with mortise and tenon joints, heavy duty, ball-bearing hinges, a durable weather strip and aluminum sill for decades of all-weather use.

But just because the doors are sturdy doesn’t mean they’re not also works of art. Some are traditional, with a subtle stain and minimal accent. But the doors that the company is best known for, the ones that are shipped out to customers all over the U.S., are much more ornate.

They appeal to a very specific kind of homeowner.

“Most of our carvings have a wildlife or a natural environment kind of theme,” explains Manley. “So that fits very well with people that have log homes, rustic homes in a lake cabin setting or mountain setting.”

“Because you have hard and soft grains, it creates a texture that is unique to each piece of wood and each panel.”

On one door, a bear lumbers beneath a canopy of pines. Others boast a rendering of the shoreline outside a beloved cabin, a set of cheerful paw prints, bare branches reaching into the BRENT MANLEY ~ GREAT RIVER DOOR COMPANY MAR / APR 2019 lakeandhomemagazine.com 21

The Manufacturer DAKOTA TIMBER COMPANY

Dakota Timber Company does things a little differently. And Seth Carlson is used to explaining that to folks that stop by the Fargo headquarters to learn more about how this reclaimed wood company works.

“Well, for starters, we are manufacturers, not retailers,” he says. “We take the raw material and process it into products that are ready to use. So when it comes to reclaimed wood, we work with old beams and barn boards and kiln dry them, machine them, and finish them into usable products like mantels, wall paneling, shelves, you name it.”

The company, which also operates a Bismarck store, also offers tabletops made from urban lumber that they

create and assemble for hotels, offices and restaurants. (Residential customers can purchase and assemble the same tabletops themselves.)

Urban salvaged wood is one of Dakota Timber Company’s most popular products. It’s repurposed into live edge slabs, cross cut wood cookies and a full line of paneling. A discussion of this project and its environmental benefits often leads to another common question; What exactly is urban salvaged wood? “‘Urban salvaged’ means that we’re taking logs from city boulevard trees and milling them into finished products right here in-house,” Carlson says. “This is material that used to end up in the landfill that we are now putting back out into the community.”

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”We take the raw material and process it into products that are ready to use. So when it comes to reclaimed wood, we work with old beams and barn boards and kiln dry them, machine them, and finish them into usable products like mantels, wall paneling, shelves, you name it.”

SETH CARLSON ~ DAKOTA TIMBER COMPANY

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The Rustics

FIRESIDE LODGE FURNITURE COMPANY

With acres of forest, dyed-in-the-wool cabin culture and an appreciation for skilled craftspeople and non-fussy design, Minnesota lakes country is a strong market for rustic furniture. In Pequot Lakes, Fireside Lodge Furniture Company and its factory direct store, Lonesome Cottage Furniture Company, are industry leaders.

photo provided by: Fireside Lodge Furniture Company

white cedar, blue stain pine, red oak timbers and circle-sawn pine.

photo provided by: Fireside Lodge Furniture Company

“We are the largest and most comprehensive manufacturer of rustic furniture in the USA selling wholesale to brick and mortar stores, internet retailers, and the hospitality industry,” explains Michael Trosvig. “We have more than 4,000 standard furniture items and also do custom design and building.”

“People tend to decorate emotionally and see their choices as a reflection of themselves,” says Trosvig. “There is a natural warmth to real wood – and when using raw materials that are inherently diverse (like reclaimed woods and natural logs), it adds a unique flavor to every piece.”

Trosvig sees barnwood as much more than just a trend. “Part of the reason is reclaimed barnwood speaks across different decorating styles: from rustic, to industrial, to farm, to modern,” he explains. It’s a unifying element that his company is happy to provide.

Every item created in the workshop is handmade by a team of skilled artisans.

They create everything from elegant bedroom sets and stately dining room tables, to low-key bars and chairs that showcase both the logs and the bark for homeowners, resorts and lodges. They work with many types of wood, including hickory, reclaimed planks from old tobacco barns, hand-peeled northern 24 LAKE & HOME MAGAZINE MAR / APR 2019

“There is a natural warmth to real wood - and when using raw materials that are inherently diverse (like reclaimed woods and natural logs), it adds a unique flavor to every piece.”

MICHAEL TROSVIG FIRESIDE LODGE FURNITURE COMPANY

photo provided by: Fireside Lodge Furniture Company

MAR / APR 2019 lakeandhomemagazine.com 25

that really is not a fad,” he says. “It’s something that everyone needs, wants.”

So whether your look is northwoods rustic or sleek and contemporary, seek out local artisans for handcrafted wood furniture and home accents that will stand the test of time. You’re bound to find a local business or craftsperson with a design aesthetic that compliments your style. ~L&H

photo provided by: Steve Revland

The Artist STEVE REVLAND

While most wood furniture is perceived as a functional item first and a piece of art second, Steve Revland’s creations have the opposite effect. Revland’s work has been featured in museums and galleries. He developed a national following after he was featured on HGTV’s “Modern Masters” series, and because his streamlined, Scandinavian-inspired pieces and sculptural tables are sold in Fargo’s Dakota Fine Art Gallery instead of a furniture store, Revland sometimes needs to gently remind customers that a table can be both fine art and a functional object.

“Most of my pieces are conversation pieces,” Revland explains. “They’re tables, so of course they’re functional, but it’s more of a sculpture. They’re concerned about scratching it, but I assure them that the finishes are very usable and that they can use it, they don’t have to just look at it.”

But it’s tempting to just sit and stare. While Revland works with a few domestic wood species (notably cottonwood and elm salvaged from local boulevards that he swirls with hypnotic rivers of Caribbean blue epoxy), the wood that really speaks to him comes from all over the world.

These varieties boast colors so naturally vivid and varied that they don’t require staining, just a clear coat to let their beauty shine through.

“It seems to me that the exotic species from Mexico, Costa Rica, and Brazil are much more appealing because of their color and beautiful grain,” he says.

“Monkeypod, acacia, parota, angelim pedra – all woods that are reddish, orangish, purple.”

While the tables that Revland specializes in are unusual, his customers’ desire for them isn’t. Revland says that an attraction to the beauty of wood furniture is a constant.

“I’ve been doing this for almost 50 years and I think that wood furniture is something

”I’ve been doing this for almost 50 years and I think that wood furniture is something that really is not a fad,” he says. “It’s something that everyone needs, wants.”

STEVE REVLAND

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photo provided by: Steve Revland

photo provided by: Steve Revland

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D DESIGN

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Image provided by: CB Designs

uilding a home requires a specific design plan or drawing. Even when remodeling a home or adding a steel shed, a construction drawing is needed to show the dimensions, specifications and materials for each project.

The term “blueprint,” is still frequently used to describe any basic floor plan, but it’s actually an outdated term relating to a print process developed in 1842. Since the 1940s, new and improved printing processes, along with computer-aided design (CAD), have increasingly changed and redefined these drawings.

Whatever you want to call them, design plans provide the homeowner, builder and supplier with the necessary information to complete a project.

“Depending on the level of involvement someone wants when starting a building project, there are many options out there for developing and completing a design plan,” says Clint Bachmann of CB Designs in Alexandria, who started his independent drafting and building design firm four years ago. “Not everyone is looking for the same kind of experience, so my business provides them with their own set of plans that they own and take with them.”

B

Image provided by: Merickel Lumber

metal sheds since completing his AAS degree in drafting and design from St. Cloud Tech in 2002. His personalized plans are all created with a CAD-based computer software program called Revit, which he describes as going from drawing a print to creating a three-dimensional (3D) model that gives depth perception and the feeling of “walking through” a house.

“From a homeowner perspective, some people can look at a printed floor plan and ‘get it,’ but many others don’t truly understand how to read that plan,” he says. “When you show a customer a 3D model and you hear that ‘Ahhh’ moment, you realize you can hopefully eliminate many issues down the road. No one wants the homeowner to walk on the property and say, ‘This isn’t what I pictured.’”

With the CAD training he received, along with his 17 years of experience, Bachmann says that besides the 3D imaging, the Revit software also provides

Bachmann, who is originally from Alexandria, loves operating his own business in the place where he grew up, designing everything from lake homes to

Image provided by: CB Designs

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“When you show a customer a 3D model and you hear that ‘Ahhh’ moment, you realize you can hopefully eliminate many issues down the road. No one wants the homeowner to walk on the property and say, ‘This isn’t what I pictured.’”

Clint Bachmann CB Designs

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Image provided by: Lakeside Lumber

the construction site capabilities he needs, with strong features and wideranging blueprint capabilities.

“If I’m working on a complex house,” he explains, “I need to add more information, sections and details, so there won’t be any issues later on.”

Tony Stoll at bhh Partners in Perham emphasizes the importance of creating a solid floor plan before shifting focus to the exterior. “We typically start with floorplan modeling. It’s more about flow, function and size of space from a square-footage standpoint and relating back to their budget,” says Stoll. “If they really like the floorplan, then we have to make it look good on the outside. Once we start that process, we have a general idea of what we want to do with exteriors.”

Image provided by: Lakeside Lumber

Utilization of 3D modeling is critical to giving the homeowner a true feel for what their home will look like. Stoll remembers the days when actual physical models were built to give clients an idea of shape and configuration.

Image provided by: Lakeside Lumber

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Today, bhh Partners relies on a computer program called SketchUp to make this happen. “It’s user-friendly and efficient.

Most of our 3D focus is on exteriors, but we’ve done interior 3D modeling where people want to walk through a space and see it or feel it from the inside,” says Stoll. “With 3D modeling, the best thing is it brings a lot more excitement to clients because they can see real-life images of what they’re spending their money on.”

Bobbi Jo Schmid, architectural draftperson at Merickel Lumber in Wadena, uses another “customer friendly” 3D computer software program called Chief Architect.

She agrees that sometimes customers can’t picture what a house will look like by just looking at a one-dimension drawing.

Image provided by: Merickel Lumber

“3D can bring a house to life on the computer. Besides showing the way a room will look as far as size, I can even show furniture placement. So, if someone is wondering if their grandma’s special little hutch will fit, I can show them exactly how it will look in their living room."

Bobbi Jo Schmid Merickel Lumber

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Image provided by: CB Designs

“If the contractor realizes that something might need to be changed, they can call us, explain the situation, and I can go back into the program and draw up a revision very quickly."

Jamie Williams LAKESIDE LUMBER

“3D can bring a house to life on the computer,” says Schmid, who went to drafting school at Thief River Tech for a two-year program. “Besides showing the way a room will look as far as size, I can even show furniture placement. So, if someone is wondering if their grandma’s special little hutch will fit, I can show them exactly how it will look in their living room.”

These programs aren’t as simple as pushing a button, of course. Basic computer knowledge and an understanding of design parameters are both needed to run the program effectively. Schmid explains that all of the dimensions that she adds must be accurate, including floor height, roof pitches, door styles, and any specific finishing designs.

Jamie Williams, draftsman at Lakeside Lumber in Ashby, also uses the Chief Architect software program. After working

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as a carpenter for 10 years, he attended the two-year drafting program at St. Cloud Tech.

“There are other similar CAD programs, but I feel that Chief Architect gives a very realistic feel,” he claims. “You can spin it around to all different views and different colors, and you can even set the sun to the side of the house it will be coming in, whether it’s at 6 p.m. in the summertime, or late afternoon in the winter. You can actually see the specific angle of the sun hitting the room at any time of the year.”

At Lakeside Lumber, a family-run, full-service lumberyard in Ashby, part of Williams’s job is to provide design services for contractors by working with their customers/ homeowners on any specific project’s design. Once a homeowner has seen and approved the 3D plans, and construction has started, this new technology also

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“In addition to our design and drafting services, all materials can be ordered through Merickel’s, and we can match up a contractor with a customer as far as personality, location, and type of project."

Bobbi Jo Schmid Merickel Lumber

makes it quicker and easier to “change things on the fly” at the job site.

“If the contractor realizes that something might need to be changed, they can call us, explain the situation, and I can go back into the program and draw up a revision very quickly,” he says. “I can then email that revision to a cell phone, and that contractor can immediately see exactly how it will look, and whether or not to move forward.”

One of the other options they offer as part of their customer-based sales and service is when people come into Lakeside Lumber with already completed

plans and want to know if they can switch something. Williams can work up the plan in Chief Architect so they can see, one way or another, if it will all work together.

Drafting and designing different plans for different projects on the computer is the way Williams enjoys spending his days, fine tuning it until the customer is happy with the floor plan.

“I like the entire process, but if I had a choice, it would be to draw plans all day,” he adds with a smile.

For Schmid, at Merickel Lumber, no two projects are alike, and no two days are alike, either.

“Once a customer has decided to have us do the drafting, we go through possible budgets, ideas, sketches, styles, and square footage,” she says. “Sometimes when I turn the plans over to the contractor, I’m finished with it. Many times, however, I stay involved when they begin picking out the actual materials, like siding, shingles and windows, because with the Chief Architect program, they can see in 3D exactly how it will all look.”

After working with many contractors and customers in the Wadena area, where she grew up, Schmid feels that one aspect of Merickel’s reputation for excellent customer service is that it’s “a one-stop shop” for any kind of building project.

“In addition to our design and drafting services, all materials can be ordered through Merickel’s, and we can match up a contractor with a customer as far as personality, location, and type of project,” she says. “We don’t directly employ any contractors, but we know the areas they work in, and which ones will travel out of those areas, to create a perfect fit for our customers.”

Whether a homeowner wants the independence of owning a design plan and shopping for individual contractors – or would like the services provided by a one-stop shop, there are always choices. From very high-end homes down to garages, porches, additions, or interior basement remodels, creating an effective design plan is the first step toward a positive outcome for any building project.

Image provided by: Lakeside Lumber

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Rick Bladow started his home building career in North Dakota when he joined his father, a general contractor, to form a partnership known as Bladow & Sons Construction. They designed and built homes in Eastern North Dakota until 1996, when Rick moved to Battle Lake to continue designing and building top quality homes in the lakes area.

To prepare for the drafting and design end of the business, Bladow completed a two-year design course at the State College of Science in Wahpeton, N.D. Drafting was hand drawn on drafting tables, and Bladow continues his design and drafting of homes using this method.

Admitting it may be easier by computer, Bladow enjoys his hours at his drafting table. He has been joined by his daughter, Tiffany, who handles the computer, working in the office. She is also a crew leader, framer, and finish carpenter.

Creating blueprints this way hasn’t seemed to hinder Bladow – or his business.

“We handle everything with a hands-on approach,” he explains, “From the initial meeting when our clients present their ideas, to the day the keys are handed to the new owners, you will be working with us personally. One of us is constantly at the job site to ensure only top-quality materials and craftsmanship go into the construction of your new home.” ~L&H

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“We handle everything with a hands-on approach. From the initial meeting when our clients present their ideas, to the day the keys are handed to the new owners, you will be working with us personally."

Rick Bladow Bladow construction

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INTERIOR DESIGN

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Image provided by: Armstrong Flooring

T

he rise of the ‘farmhouse look’ in popular design shows, home decor, and blog posts has inspired homeowners to seek ways to incorporate this style into their own homes.

The standout element of farmhouse design is hardwood flooring, yet the maintenance and natural restrictions that come along with this type of flooring cause it to be a prohibitive choice. Tile manufacturers in the last decade have found a solution to this design dilemma, by creating a new tile that combines the durability of ceramic and porcelain with the new technology of HD printing that gives tile the visual appearance of traditional hardwood flooring.

Design and Technology

While tile flooring has been in existence for thousands of years, it has only been in the last five years that this tile trend has emerged in the Midwest. New advancements in HD printing techniques have increased the design possibilities for tile to be used in ways that were previously unimaginable.

The new technology that is being utilized in this industry scans authentic vintage, refinished and new hardwood. It is then used by tile producers who can print with these images to achieve a wood look.

The more imprints of an image that a tile receives (30 or more) the higher the quality the wood grain appears. Each variation of the print allows for depth, grain, and texture to be appreciated and a cohesive wood design is created.

“The ‘wood look’ has become increasingly more realistic and larger in format. Additionally, many now have textural variations that follows the pattern of the digital print,” states Koral Busch of Syverson Tile & Stone, a local wholesale company that works directly with builders, remodelers and designers.

“The ‘wood look’ has become increasingly more realistic and larger in format.

Additionally, many now have textural variations that follows the pattern of the digital print.”

Koral Busch Syverson Tile & Stone

With these innovations in HD printing, tile can now be produced in a variety of designs, textures and color patterns that can be utilized in any design plan.

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Image provided by: Arnquist CarpetsPlus

rustic, they stylistically fit the decor of homes in the lakes area,” shared Bush of Syverson Tile.

One of the greatest benefits of wood grain tile is that it does not emit VOCs (volatile organic compounds), which can be emitted from laminate, vinyl and carpet backing. Wood grain tile is also a hypoallergenic flooring option for those who suffer from allergies or other medical conditions.

Installation Insights

Every good installation begins with a proper foundation, and for tile that means a subfloor that is smooth and level. This may mean using a self-leveling underlayment (a cement-based product that smooths and flattens interior flooring surfaces to prepare for new flooring installation), which is especially important in basements or in older homes in order to achieve proper tile installation.

“It is very important to have a ‘no-crack isolation membrane’ underneath all ceramic or porcelain tile. Using a selfleveling product is akin to creating a fresh

Ease of Care

Wood grain floor tile has a unique ability to be used in all areas of the home, due to its ability to repel moisture and because it is not affected by heat or humidity it’s the most versatile of flooring options.

Cleaning a room that is tiled requires the most minimal of effort in sweeping up crumbs, or the use of a wet mop to thoroughly clean on occasion.

According to Adam Arnquist of Arnquist CarpetsPlus, “Wood grain tile is made from either ceramic or porcelain, and for the most part it takes care of itself!

The glazing is very stain resistant, and I highly recommend using a pre-sealed

grout. This is especially important in high maintenance areas such as bathrooms, mud rooms and kitchens that are exposed to spills and soil.”

Unlike hardwood floors, where every stiletto heel or beloved pet could leave a permanent imprint upon delicate finishes, wood grain tile is impenetrable to any foot traffic.

Installing wood grain tile in a lake home is a new option to add to an easy lake life.

“The sand and gravel that gets tracked into a lake home can be easily cleaned with wood grain tile. The variation of the tile, from industrialized to traditional and Image provided by: Arnquist CarpetsPlus

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Image provided by: Arnquist CarpetsPlus

“Wood grain tile is made from either ceramic or porcelain, and for the most part it takes care of itself! The glazing is very stain resistant, and I highly recommend using a pre-sealed grout.�

Adam Arnquist Arnquist CarpetsPlus

MAR / APR 2019 lakeandhomemagazine.com 45

Image provided by: Armstrong Flooring

“It’s recommended to lay tiles in this 1/3 pattern, as tile may have a slight cup or curve at the ends due to the baking process during manufacturing. The longer the tile, the more significant the curve will be during layout. If we have a cupped tile, the ends will drop below the joint where it meets the tiles that are immediately next to it. This creates a floor that appears uneven. We remedy this by inspecting the tile upon delivery, and the tile will tell us what type of pattern should be used,” advised Arnquist.

Choosing grout that is not only complementary to the wood grain tile but is of high quality will ensure a proper install and ease of care long into the future.

Image provided by: Armstrong Flooring

sheet of ice for hockey, and we create a smooth surface for your wood grain tile to be smoothly laid,” Arnquist enlightened.

Laying the tile in an offset alternating pattern of 33 percent (instead of a 50 percent brick layered look) creates not only a visually pleasing outcome but one that is installed correctly.

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“If tile is installed correctly, it can last for multiple lifetimes. The TCNA (The Tile Council of North America) states the lifecycle of carpet at six years, laminate at 25 years, man-made hardwood at 25 years and natural hardwood at 50 years.

This all depends on the type of foot traffic that the flooring encounters, kids/pets/ high heels and moving of furniture all drastically reduce these ratings. Tile from the 1600s and before, still exist in perfect condition today,” states Busch.

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Looking Into The Future

While wood grain tile is new to the design world, it has a foothold that is only expected to grow over the next year.

The look of this tile will take on new style trends that are associated with traditional hardwood, wire brushed (intentional scratches that expose the natural beauty of the wood), handscraped (variations in the wood caused by hand tools scraping the wood to create a unique look), and the distressed look (an aged, antique, worn look that appears as if the wood has been through a hard experience).

The timeless look of oak will make a resurgence in wood grain tile, due to its distinctive yet comforting lines that blend with all decor styles.

An unexpected new trend is the incorporation of color into wood grain tile. This new look is going beyond the traditional whitewash look and into bright

bold colors including shades of blues that will become widely popular in 2019.

A new option this year in wood grain tile reflects the popular mid-century style of parquet floors. Tile manufacturers are producing porcelain tiles that mimic the timeless elegance of parquet flooring, that can blend seamlessly into all decors.

With the new patterns and designs in wood grain tile, the size of tile is about to make a drastic change. Traditionally these tiles are 6x24 or 8x24, but in 2019 with more homes being built with large open floor plans, tile will now reflect that concept and come in 8x48 or larger.

“Large profile wood grain tile is the newest thing. These larger tiles allow the impact of the wood grain look to be extended further into the home for an awesome visual impact. It also reduces the amount of grout needed, so you have a floor that’s even easier to care for,” shared Arnquist.

Image provided by: Armstrong Flooring

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“Large profile wood grain tile is the newest thing. These larger tiles allow the impact of the wood grain look to be extended further into the home for an awesome visual impact.”

Adam Arnquist Arnquist CarpetsPlus

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Wood grain tile allows for an ease of care that was previously unavailable when trying to achieve the look of hardwood flooring. By combining this dynamic duo of tile and wood grain, it’s an unstoppable new look in the world of flooring options.

Incorporating wood grain tile into an overall design scheme of a home by laying them in a unique pattern is a fresh take on the traditional hardwood flooring that it is based upon. From chevron patterns to a mosaic wood design, there is no limit to where this design trend can go.

For the past decade, tile manufacturers have worked to combine the beauty of hardwood with the durability that only tile can offer, to create wood grain tiles.

The rise of wood grain tile in the design world may be a recent development, but it shows no signs of slowing its pace to gain a proper space in flooring choices.

From the centuries of proven durability, to the remarkable design capabilities that continued technological advancements have allowed for, this new wood grain tile combines a strong aesthetic with exceptional functionality.

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Wood grain tile allows for an ease of care that was previously unavailable when trying to achieve the look of hardwood flooring. By combining this dynamic duo of tile and wood grain, it’s an unstoppable new look in the world of flooring options, that will far outlast the ‘farmhouse look’ and become a standout home design feature in its own right. ~L&H

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Cabin Fever Get-Away | Carlos Creek Winery 320-846-5443 | CarlosCreekWinery.com Have cabin fever yet? Get out with your friends and family during these spring months and warm up with us at the Winery! Enjoy wine sampling, live music, Sparkling Sundays or Tapas Thursdays. Check out our gift shop for fun, new items and décor you can add to the cabin this year!

Creative Touch Boutique 320-762-8786 | 516 Broadway St, Alexandria, MN We are a boutique store in downtown Alexandria, which carries home décor, gifts, and clothing. We specialize in women’s clothing with an emphasis on being cute, comfortable, and

affordable. One whole section of the store is devoted to Minnesota clothing which includes t-shirts, sweatshirts, and hats for both men and women. Also included in this section are gift items and home décor with a lake theme, which includes personalized lake signs, lake map jar candles, cribbage boards,

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beer glasses, and coffee mugs. You will also find hundreds of signs with many featuring lake sayings. Follow us on both Facebook and Instagram. The store is open year-round, seven days a week, right in the middle of the bustling downtown Alexandria shopping district!

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H

HOME IMPROVEMENT

Flooring Choosing the Right

Learn more at buildwithrise.com

BambooFlooring

what to look for

the real benefits • Makes your place beautiful • Reduces your footprint

what is it?

Flooring made from renewably and sustainably harvested bamboo, a tall, fast-growing type of woody grass.

$3 - $6

100+

per sq ft

years

AVERAGE COST

LIFESPAN

Look for low-VOC or no-VOC and formaldehyde-free glues and waterbased finishes for installing and finishing a bamboo floor. Also look for bamboo flooring from FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified bamboo plantations this ensures that the bamboo was grown on previously degraded land, not land cleared by clearcutting forests.

sustainable features Easy maintenance and moisture resistant, bamboo grows quickly and is harvested every three to five years without taking the whole plant, making it a fantastic and rapidly renewable resource.

Carpet what is it?

A soft floor covering made from piled fibers attached to the top of a backing mat. The fibers can be a natural material, originally were often wool, and now are primarily synthetic materials like polyester, polypropylene, and nylon.

sustainable features Carpet doesn’t have a lot of inherently sustainable features. It doesn’t last very long, compared with many other floor coverings, and it harbors dust, dirt, and hair, thus requiring frequent deep cleaning. The glue and foam backing

underneath it can off-gas volatile organic compounds (VOCs), decreasing indoor air quality unless you choose low or zeroVOC carpet. On the up side, carpet can be recycled at the end of its working life, and it can be made from recycled or natural fibers.

what to look for Look for the CRI (Carpet and Rug Institute) Green Label Plus, which indicates carpets with lower VOC emissions. You can also look for carpets made from recycled materials, or renewable materials like wool, cotton, hemp, sisal, seagrass, bamboo, and jute.

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$4 - $9

10

per sq ft

years

AVERAGE COST

LIFESPAN

Linoleum

Flooring

$2 - $4

20 - 40

per sq ft

years

AVERAGE COST

LIFESPAN

what is it?

Linoleum is made from linseed oil, wood/ cork powder, and rosin. It’s dent and moisture resistant, and easy to install and maintain. This type of product can be made with all natural products, recycled products, and benefits from having antibacterial and anti-allergenic properties.

sustainable features Linoleum is made from renewable, plantbased materials, does not emit VOCs in the home, and is biodegradable at the end of its useful life.

what to look for Be sure to find true linoleum, and not vinyl tiles, which are sometimes incorrectly called linoleum. Also, while linoleum itself does not emit VOCs, it has to be installed with an adhesive, so look for low- or noVOC adhesive to maintain healthy air quality in your home.

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CeramicTile

Floors

the real benefits

• Makes your place beautiful • Increases home comfort

what is it?

Floor tiles made from ceramic or porcelain materials. Ceramic tile is durable, spill-resistant, dent-resistant and easy to clean. It’s particularly popular for kitchen and bathroom floors.

what to look for $1.15 to $1.50 per sq ft AVERAGE COST

Life of Building LIFESPAN

Look for local manufacturers of tile flooring, if available, to reduce the impact of shipping. Consider what kind of grout to use to hold the tiles in place. Cementbased grout is made with Portland cement, which takes a lot of energy to produce but is easy to work with and has zero VOC emissions. Epoxy-based grout is more water resistant, but can emit VOCs when curing.

EngineeredHardwood

the real benefits

• Increases home comfort

what is it?

$4 - $6

50+

per sq ft

years

AVERAGE COST

LIFESPAN

Engineered hardwood flooring is made with two or more layers of wood. The surface layer is a wood veneer, which is a thin layer. The core can be made of pieces of solid wood or plywood. The pieces are glued together to form one piece that looks much like solid hardwood flooring.

what to look for The most important sustainability factors to consider for engineered wood are - is the wood source sustainable, and are the glues non-toxic, without emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in your home? Look for FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certification, and low- or no-VOC glue.

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sustainable features Although it takes quite a bit of energy to produce, ceramic tile lasts a long time, has low impact for maintenance, no volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions, and is easy to keep clean with natural cleaning products and simple equipment. After years of use, if they are no longer needed, tiles can be reused, repurposed, or returned to the earth.

fun facts Ceramic tile has been a medium for artistic expression for at least 6,000 years, with tiles used to decorate walls in ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. In a later era, one of the most renowned ancient works of tile art is the Ishtar Gate, the eighth gate to the inner city of Babylon, built around 575 BCE, with golden dragons and aurochs (bulls) standing out from a sea of blue tiles.

sustainable features Engineered hardwood can withstand a higher range of humidity and temperature with less changes in shape and size, and has less tendency to warp or split than solid wood.

fun facts Parquetry, from the Old French parchet, meaning small enclosed space, is patterned flooring consisting of inlaid wood in geometric shapes like squares, diamonds, and angles. One of the most well-watched pieces of parquet floor in history is the floor that the Boston Celtics play on, in the National Basketball Association. From its first installation in 1946 in Boston Arena, they brought their floor with them through two moves, to Boston Garden in 1952 and FleetCenter in 1995.

Pieces were sold in 1999 as souvenirs after a demolition, and some pieces are still in the floor they play on now, at TD Garden.

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Concrete Color

S tain

the real benefits

• Makes your place beautiful

what is it?

Acid stain for adding color and decorative patterns to the surface of a concrete floor. The stain penetrates into the pores of the concrete and reacts chemically with the hydrated lime in the cement, becoming a permanent part of the surface of the concrete, so it cannot peel off.

$2 - $10

100+

per sq ft

years

AVERAGE COST

LIFESPAN

what to look for Look for a true acid-based stain, which is a mixture of metallic salts in acid.

These react with the concrete to form a permanent pattern. You can make different patterns, and even prints on the floor, using leaves or other objects. The color is a result of the reaction between the concrete, the stain, and the inorganic salts, so it will look different each time

ConcreteFlooring

what is it?

Floor made of an overpour of concrete, typically at least two inches thick or more. A concrete floor can be used as an effective place to install in-floor radiant hydronic heat distribution. The floor surface can be polished and finished with concrete floor stain to produce colors and patterns.

what to look for

$5 - $8

100+

per sq ft

years

AVERAGE COST

LIFESPAN

Look for concrete with a high content of recycled material and fly ash. If you are installing in-floor radiant heating in the floor, that’s an additional cost, and if it’s on the ground floor it needs to be exceptionally well-insulated underneath, because in-floor radiant heat loses more heat to the ground than other heating systems. Seek local concrete producers for lower transportation distance. Choose a low- or no-VOC stain to finish the surface.

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and cannot be matched from one job to another. Use safety precautions for handling acid if you are working with the stain yourself.

sustainable features Provides a beautiful and durable finish to concrete, with minimal materials needed. It’s easy to keep clean.

fun facts When acid staining concrete, you can leave footprints behind that show up in the stain, whether intentionally or unintentionally. The process involves washing the concrete thoroughly with soap and water before staining. Your footprints while washing the concrete can embed more soap in the footrprinted spaces, which can show up in the later staining stage. If you like the fun of having permanent footprints on the floor, go for it! If not, you can wear shoes with fine spikes for all stages of the work, so the footprints don’t show.

sustainable features Concrete is very durable, only requires a minimal finish, and requires little maintenance. It conducts heat well, so it works well as a substrate for in-floor heating. On the down side, concrete takes a lot of energy to produce, and its production emits high greenhouse gases. But once it is installed and cured, there are no off-gassing emissions in your home and it does not accumulate dust or dirt.

fun facts Mortar, a cement made of heated lime, sand, and water, that hardens over time with exposure to air, first made over 7,000 years ago in the Middle Eastern region, was an early precursor to cement, which is a key component of modern concrete.

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FSC CertifiedHardwoods

the real benefits

• Increases home comfort • Supports local sourcing

what is it?

Hardwood floors, made from woods such as birch, maple, oak, or chestnut, are long-lasting, beautiful, and comfortable.

Hardwood flooring typically comes in interlocking tongue-and-groove pieces, and can come bare or pre-finished.

$3 - $8

100+

per sq ft

years

AVERAGE COST

LIFESPAN

what to look for Look for FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified hardwood flooring, to ensure that the wood comes from sustainably managed forests. Consider the finish you will use, looking for low- or no-VOCs. As alternatives to varnish and urethane finishes, several traditional older finishes work with hardwood, including beeswax, linseed oil, and a Danish traditional finish that uses soap flakes.

LaminateFlooring

what is it?

A synthetic flooring tile product made of multiple layers of resin and fiberboard materials laminated together. Laminate flooring often comes in tongue-andgroove pieces, and is fairly easy to install.

what to look for

$1 - $3

15 - 20

per sq ft

years

AVERAGE COST

LIFESPAN

Ask about recycled material content of the product, and look for products with formaldehyde-free glue in the wood fiber core. Laminate flooring for sale in the USA is required to meet standards of the US Environmental Protection Agency for low emission of formaldehyde and other VOCs.

fun facts Laminate flooring was first produced in 1977 by the Swedish company Perstorp, and sold by the brand name Pergo. Today there are many brands of laminate flooring.

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sustainable features Hardwood is a renewable resource if it is harvested sustainably, and can be salvaged and repurposed when it is removed from a building. It is produced at fine wood mills in a variety of locations, so it can often be readily sourced locally.

Typically installed with nails, it has no offgassing of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

sustainable features Laminate flooring uses wood fibers and sawdust in its core, which can be up to 75 percent pre-consumer recycled waste, such as sawmill waste. The surface resin is often melamine, which is made with formaldehyde, but the formaldehyde is chemically bonded into the resin, so formaldehyde emissions into indoor air are minimal. Laminate is affordable, and its light weight and minimal use of materials avoids demand for wood from forests. On the other hand, it wears out more quickly than hardwood, and is not as easy to reuse or recycle into other useful products.

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ReclaimedHardwoods

the real benefits

• Reduces your footprint • Supports local sourcing

what is it?

$2 - $5

100+

per sq ft

years

AVERAGE COST

LIFESPAN

Hardwood flooring reclaimed from older buildings or made from salvaged wood.

Typically available through demolition and salvage companies, reclaimed hardwood can be over a century old and as good or better than new hardwood.

Natural StoneFloors

the real benefits

• Makes your place beautiful • Increases home comfort

what is it?

Floor tiles made from natural stone such as slate, granite, sandstone, travertine, marble, and limestone. Natural stone is durable, spill-resistant, dent-resistant and easy to clean. It’s particularly popular for kitchen and bathroom floors.

what to look for $5 - $10 per sq ft AVERAGE COST

Life of Building LIFESPAN

Try to find stone tile that is quarried in your region, as it is heavy to transport. Also ask your installer what materials they use for sealing the tiles - is the sealing material low-VOC?

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what to look for Look for demolition and salvage supply stores, or online buy-and-sell listings. Be aware that using reclaimed wood can take extra work, from cleaning off the old dirt to removing nails. But typically the wood quality is higher from centuries-old trees.

sustainable features By re-using material, reclaimed hardwood saves on new wood. It can also bring period character to a renovation, as when installing century-old hardwood flooring in a renovated century-old home.

sustainable features Stone is naturally sourced and can be easily returned to the earth after it has been used. It has no volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions. It has great thermal mass, meaning it can absorb heat from the sun and the room to keep the room warm later on. On the down side, it can feel cool on the feet in winter, due to its high thermal conductivity. Stone is sourced from all over the world, and you might be able to find local sources, especially for granite and sandstone.

fun facts The Great Pyramid of Giza, Egypt, has stone floors that are still in good shape after more than 4,500 years. That’s a durable floor!

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SuppressedHardwoods

sustainable features

the real benefits

• Reduces your footprint • Supports local sourcing

what is it?

Hardwood floors sourced from trees that grow in the understory of mature forests, specifically in areas where forestry practices have prevented fires, and natural thinning and succession haven’t occurred.

what to look for Look for locally sourced and FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) wood products.

Thinning and select cutting of suppressed hardwoods makes use of the forest resource without clearcutting. These smaller trees might be removed in managed forests to decrease fire risk, and they have close grain and good properties for flooring.

$3 - $8

100+

per sq ft

years

AVERAGE COST

LIFESPAN

Natural CorkFlooring sustainable features

Cork is a renewable material that can be harvested from the outside of the tree, which then regenerates over 12 to 15 years. Since the tree is not cut down to harvest the cork, a forest or plantation of cork oak trees can be maintained over the 150-year natural lifespan of the cork oak tree.

family that is indigenous to Southern Europe. A flexible material, cork makes a very comfortable floor that looks a bit like textured wood, and is resistant to dents and stains. It also has fire retardant properties, will not rot, and is hypoallergenic.

what is it?

Cork is made from the outer bark of the cork oak, a species of tree in the oak

RecycledRubber

$5 - $8

50

per sq ft

years

AVERAGE COST

LIFESPAN

Mats

the real benefits

• Reduces your footprint • Increases home comfort

what is it?

Floor mats for home gyms, garages, and other work spaces. Protect your feet and your floors when doing work. Made from recycled tires.

$25 - $30 per sq ft AVERAGE COST

5 or more

what to look for

sustainable features Uses a waste product (used tires) to produce a useful product that improves the comfort of your work or workout.

fun facts More than 200 million automotive tires are replaced per year in the United States alone. That’s a lot of used tires to recycle. ~L&H

Several suppliers make recycled rubber mats. Look for the recycled content.

LIFESPAN

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Find out more at: buildwithrise.com

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I

INTERIOR DESIGN

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E

veryone loves plants, right?

Plants make people feel happy and are a proven form of visual therapy. Plus, plants are known to absorb toxins and purify the air quality in your home, which is another reason why we should include more of them in our design.

at local boutiques. Why artificial you ask?

Because, although I love plants, I have a hard time keeping some varieties alive, which is why I’m writing this article.

I am determined to start adding more live plants in my décor, so I wanted to research the best indoor plants that are easy to care for and hard to kill.

I absolutely love plants and use real ones and artificial ones in my interior design all over my home. They add instant life to any room and are a great way to spruce up your home’s interior design without busting the budget. I’m particularly obsessed with succulents right now and have found some amazing artificial ones

One of my favorites is the jade plant. This plant requires little water and can survive in most indoor conditions. I do have it next to a south facing window, so it gets some sunlight and it is thriving. This plant is also known as the friendship plant or money plant. You can easily take one of the leaves of the jade plant, put it in dirt and grow another plant. My plant started as a leaf off my mother’s jade plant. I’m currently growing a few more in a separate pot for my kids to put in their bedrooms and I also gave some to my best friend.

They are easy to grow and split.

Another wonderful indoor plant is the African violet. It thrives best in moist soil with good drainage, so plant it in a pot containing moisture holding soil. This plant loves indirect light, so it doesn’t need to be sitting in a window, just near one.

Tillandsia is also known as an air plant.

It grows without dirt altogether! Larger varieties like to soak in water for 2-3 hours every 10 days (you may need to put this in your calendar). I would go with the smaller varieties that do just fine with a good misting now and then. If you are soaking them, allow them to dry before placing them back in their home to avoid mold.

This plant loves indirect sunlight, artificial light and its leaves will curl telling you it needs water.

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Peace lilies are a plant that I managed to keep alive for years. The leaves wilt to tell you when they need watering.

They are best kept in a warm window during warmer months and will thrive in a bathroom and away from cold drafty windows in the winter months. Peace lilies are a tropical plant, so they love sun and humidity. According to NASA, they are great at removing formaldehyde, benzene, and carbon monoxide from the surrounding air.

Phalaenopsis orchid, commonly known as moth orchids, do just fine with a watering once a week or every week and a half.

This gorgeous plant is a forgiving plant that loves indirect sunlight. They grow best in a north or west-facing window in the summer and depending on your light, a south or east-facing window in the winter.

They love a lot of light but not direct or they will burn up.

Bromeliad is a gorgeous plant that I’ve decided I need. It is a tough and interesting plant, a relative of the pineapple, it produces side shoots that will eventually replace the original plant. This plant loves 70-degree temperatures and a monthly watering which makes it the perfect indoor plant. And in cooler months, you may even decrease watering to once every two months (bonus!).

Philodendrons love to be on the dry side … score! Don’t water them more than once per week and they prefer indirect light. They sit perfectly near a window but don’t like the sun’s rays to be directly touching them. These plants are perfect in living rooms, dining rooms, kitchens and bedrooms.

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Mother-in-law’s tongue can go an entire month without water. I need one of these! It’s also nicknamed a snake plant and would be perfect in the bedroom. As soon as you wake up in the morning, you’ll look at your plant, instead of your phone.

Hopefully you are now inspired to add more indoor plants to your home. They really do boost your mood and add much needed comfort to any room. ~L&H

Pothos can survive low light and irregular watering. This leafy vine can grow a 10foot trail indoors. It thrives in humidity, so this plant is perfect in a bathroom or kitchen because the steam alone can keep it hydrated.

The king of indestructible plants is the ZZ plant. This guy can tolerate drought, low light and low humidity. This plant is so gorgeous and shiny on its own, it looks amazing anywhere in the house.

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Your Questions

H

Answered By Our Panel Of Experts

HOME EXPERTS

Question:

What is the difference between a construction loan and a conventional mortgage?

Answer:

Chris Marvel American Federal Bank

“A construction loan is used to build a home or complete a significant remodel and/or addition,” says Chris Marvel of American Federal Bank in Fergus Falls. “It is typically a line of credit controlled by the bank. The borrower submits bills to the bank for payment. Payment is issued directly to the contractor and a lien waiver is collected as verification that the contractor has been paid. During the process, the bank monitors progress to make sure the project stays on budget and the borrower has enough funds to complete the home. The normal term for a construction loan is six to twelve months. The borrower makes monthly interest payments for the term of the loan.”

OTTER TAIL COUNTY, MINNESOTA

“A conventional mortgage is a type of mortgage that meets the criteria of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. It is not insured or guaranteed by any government agency. The normal term for a conventional mortgage is 15, 20 or 30 years and rate can be fixed, adjustable or fixed for a period of time then converting to adjustable. Funds from a conventional loan are used to purchase a home, refinance an existing mortgage (or mortgages) or to pay off a construction loan.” ~L&H

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 74 LAKE & HOME MAGAZINE MAR / APR 2019

DOUGLAS AND OTTER TAIL COUNTY, MINNESOTA

DOUGLAS COUNTY, MINNESOTA

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F

FEATURE HOME

76 LAKE & HOME MAGAZINE MAR / APR 2019

“We orchestrate all the components of a house, and sometimes you get fun clients, like homeowners Julie and Ryan, who want to step outside the normal box.”

Eric Carder Baratto Brothers

N

ot much surprises Eric Carder. He has worked with many different homeowners on many different types of homes as a partner and director of project development for Baratto Brothers, a design/build home construction company in Crosslake that has been doing business in the Brainerd Lakes area for more than 15 years.

“We orchestrate all the components of a house, and sometimes you get fun clients, like homeowners Julie and Ryan, who want to step outside the normal box,” he says. “From top to bottom, this home they built on Big Pine Lake in Aitkin stands out and surprises me. I think we understood their vision of what they wanted, and we got to work with materials that you don’t get to work with every day. It was custom for them, and custom for us.”

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The kitchen. The transition into the bedrooms. The painted wall paneling.

The big beams. The reclaimed wood. The elegant touches.

All of it adds up to a style that Carder claims isn’t easy to define.

“We didn’t want to be boxed in by a theme,” Julie explains. “We definitely didn’t want a typical rustic theme – we wanted to be able to blend styles, including some modern touches, and still be able to make it look like it all belongs together.”

The family of five, along with extended family and close friends, have owned smaller cabins on this lake for more than 20 years. They love the beauty and size of the 635-acre lake and the land surrounding it, and two years ago they were considering building a larger cabin where they could have family and friends all together.

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“We looked at a couple other lots on the lake, but we weren’t actively searching – maybe more just waiting for the right spot,” says Julie. “We found that spot when we were out boating on Labor Day weekend in 2017 and saw a ‘For Sale’ sign in some weeds along the shoreline.”

After meeting with several builders, the couple, who live and work in the Twin Cities area, chose Baratto Brothers to build the home, and an architect, Travis Miller of TWM Architecture in Nisswa, to design it.

Within a few months, they had plans and were getting ready to start.

The older, original cabin on that property, with a backstory that included ownership by a once famous hockey coach, had no running water, along with an outhouse.

Located on 4.5 acres of land, it also had 250 feet of pristine, sandy shoreline. They decided very quickly that was the spot where they would build.

“Right from the beginning, Julie and Ryan had a pretty good idea of what they wanted, and we worked well together throughout the project,” says Miller, who has had his own architecture firm since 2011. “I use a CAD (computer-aided design) program, where I can get their input and concepts, add them to what it looks like in my head, and then give them a 3D vision of how it will all look when it’s done.”

“We wanted to make it feel like it was truly ours, but we also wanted to create a lived-in, welcoming feeling, where our kids would want to come and want to bring their friends to enjoy the space.”

Julie The scope of the project included some excavating, along with the relocation of a privately owned road, but Miller says all of it was supported by the size of the lot.

“The terrain was steep in some places, but it worked well for the elements they wanted,” Carder adds, “and all of the outside spaces tie together with both fun and functional items inside the home.

It flows well throughout the property, beginning with the large wood and iron gate that provides both a dramatic and private entrance.”

The Interior

The main level has a large living area with a balcony and a lake view, of course, and it also contains personal touches that resonate throughout the home.

“The huge metal light fixture in the great room on the main floor was custom created, and makes a statement about the owners,” says Brittany Wille of Redstone Interiors in Minneapolis, who worked with Julie and Ryan as they made their decorating choices. “They take their unique personal style, with high ceilings, metal and wood, and they

also add some modern touches, while at the same time making it functional, comfortable and relaxed.”

Not wanting a “model home,” Julie says they picked everything out themselves.

Besides the custom light fixture in the great room, they also had several other light fixtures custom designed, along with a sink trough, and most of the furniture.

“Ryan and I know what we like, and we usually agree,” she says. “Brittany was great to work with because she has the resources to find items that we may not be able to find, and then help us put it all together. We wanted to make it feel like it’s truly ‘ours,’ but we also wanted to create a lived-in, welcoming feeling, where our kids would want to come and want to bring their friends to enjoy the space.”

Since it’s not unusual to have 10-15 of those kids and their friends there at the same time, functionality and space were high priorities, especially in the kitchen and dining area on the main floor. Besides carving out enough room for all of them to be sitting together

homeowner

A Master Plan

With vaulted ceilings and beams in the living room, the master bedroom, also on the main floor, follows a slightly different course.

“Barn wood accents on the headboard wall are coordinated nicely with a unique tray ceiling made of the same barnwood,” says Wille. “They continued

comfortably, they created a well-thought-out area for meal preparation, with double ovens, a push-button microwave in a drawer, and cutting boards – purposefully placed near cooking surfaces and trash bins.

Laundry rooms are also strategically located on each floor of the house for convenience, and they installed a tankless water heater that instantly heats the water as it flows through the system.

“At the old cabin, because we had so many people there at a time, we would constantly run out of hot water, and nobody likes a cold shower,” says Julie. “It was very important to us to install a system where we have endless hot water.”

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that cozy and relaxing theme in the master bath, with a stand-alone tub and a ‘rain’ shower, with a pebbled floor and numerous body sprays.”

Lower Level

The walkout space on the lower level includes a bedroom and bathroom for each of the three children, ages 12, 13 and 14. An additional living space leads directly out to the lake, and boasts a “serve-through” window from a kitchenette – for passing milk shakes, snacks and drinks outside to the covered patio.

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“By mixing in different textures, like the leather floor in the poker room, and the linear burner fireplace on the lower level,” she says, “it personalizes the house in a unique and individual way.”

In a further effort to encourage their kids to bring friends with them up to the cabin, “bonus” rooms were added in the space above the garage for group “sleepovers.”

Included: an additional bedroom, a small living space, a deck overlooking the lake, and two sets of bunk beds.

“I’m not above bribery,” Julie adds with a laugh. “We want them to like it up here, so we put some technology touches in, like built-in screens and chargers in the bunk bed headboards so they can use their Xboxes together.”

The “Poker Room” has a step up and is an additional fun space that defines the emphasis that the family places on spending time together. “As the kids get older, we wanted to create an area where we could gather together, even if we’re doing different things,” Julie explains. “It’s a space where you can play darts, pool, cards, bumper pool, arcade games, enjoy dining together, or any number of other activities at the same time – just so we’re all together.”

Family Style

While it may appear at first glance that this house has a mountain rustic lodge look, Wille adds that Julie and Ryan included some modern touches to give it a more streamline effect that fits in with their family activities.

“By mixing in different textures, like the leather floor in the poker room, and the linear burner fireplace on the lower level, it personalizes the house in a unique and individual way.”

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Julie

homeowner

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The family also jointly owns nearby property with close friends, where Julie and her daughter spend time sharing their love of horses, a significant part of their lives on Big Pine Lake. Her husband and their sons like a different kind of horsepower, she says, and they all enjoy boating, tubing and other lake and sports activities.

“Since we’re at the cabin for long periods of time in the summer, we wanted to include some kind of sport court to help us stay active and healthy as a family,” Julie says. “Working with the architect, Travis, on the initial plans, we realized that we could utilize the space under the garage for an exercise room instead. It fit in perfectly and has a separate walk-out on the lake side of the house.”

Initially, the family thought about adding some kind of “secret room” hidden within the house. While interest faded during the design phase, their daughter never gave

up on the idea, and her persistence paid off. The bedroom she helped design for herself on the lower level has a beachy theme, with white and blue shiplap, and within that room is a secret door that opens to a secret space.

A successful combination of homeowner, builder, architect and designer can make for an elegant and functional home, but it takes surprises and secret spaces to make an exceptional home like this one. ~L&H

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FEATURE HOME

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D

riving up to the beautiful home on the south side of Deer Lake, it is clear you have found sanctuary.

This 3400-square-foot, four-bedroom home is where the Muehlberg’s call home.

John and Jodi were living in the Twin Cities area when they decided to move to the Battle Lake area.

“We were looking around for a place, and we knew we wanted to be on the lake, but we weren’t finding anything that had what we wanted,” John said.

“It was hard to wrap our minds around spending that kind of money to get a nice house on the lake, and not liking certain things about it.”

“We decided we could get everything we wanted if we built.”

In the spring of 2016, the Muehlberg’s put their house on the market, then purchased a lot the following June. In August construction began, and in January of 2017, the house was complete.

“I had mapped out how I wanted the house to flow in terms of the main level, bedrooms, bathrooms, and where I wanted the stairs to go,” John said.

“We provided that to Bobbi Jo [of Merickel Lumber], and Jodi came with pictures of what we wanted it to look like aesthetically on the outside and [Bobbi Jo] came with the first draft.”

“She was able to work with what we had, see Jodi’s vision and pull it all together.”

“It’s amazing when people come with ideas, and then getting to see both how similar and different it is when [construction is] done,” said Bobbi Jo Schmid, an architectural draftsperson with Merickel Lumber.

Merickel Lumber, based in Wadena, Minn., carries a wide range of materials for every room in your home, and they can also create custom designs for their customers.

After entering the Muehlberg’s front door, it is hard not to notice the amount of light coming in due to the beautiful windows surrounding the front door.

“I love symmetry,” Jodi said. “I knew I wanted a sidelight, but I wanted it on both sides.”

John added, “Jodi was adamant that this is what we needed to do, and it was worth it because [it adds] so much natural light into the living room.”

“It’s amazing when people come with ideas, and then getting to see both how similar and different it is when construction is done.”

Bobbi Jo Schmid Architectural Draftsperson | Merickel Lumber

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Off of the entryway is the living room and kitchen, with its open floor plan and all the light from large north facing windows.

There are many points of interest in the living room, one of them being a gorgeous gas fireplace.

Also, above head are two exposed ceiling beams made of pine that boldly stand out against the white vaulted ceiling. The beams are not structural, but for aesthetics.

“[The beams] were the brainchild of Dave,” John said, referring to the owner of Dave Erwin Construction. “We just kind of let him and his team run with it and we trusted they were going to make it look good.”

“When people walk in and see the wall of windows, it draws them to the view of the lake, and then they look up and see the beams.”

“The beams were the brainchild of Dave Erwin.

We just kind of let him and his team run with it and we trusted they were going to make it look good.”

John Muehlberg

homeowner

A sliding barn door off the living room leads to an office and craft space for Jodi.

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Sherwood rustic pine, CORETec vinyl flooring goes throughout most of the main level of the home. It was important to the homeowners to have flooring that was easy to take care of and could stand up to lake life and their two dogs.

Another sweet detail to the home is how they arranged the wall of windows in the living room. “Our dogs are like our children, so in our living room we made the windows on either side of the sliding door lower so the dogs could see outside,” Jodi said.

The kitchen features exposed ceiling beams as well, contrasting beautifully against the white cabinets and brushed nickel hardware.

The large island allows for a great deal of work space, as well as serving space.

The stainless steel appliances, including a double oven, are complemented by the gray, black and white granite countertops.

The kitchen also has a deep stainless steel sink.

Off the kitchen is a cozy breakfast nook, complete with its own exposed beam overhead and a delicate, modern industrial light fixture.

“That was a must-have on my list,” Jodi said. “I needed my breakfast nook.”

“When we have company over or play games, we always end up in that nook area,” John added. “We didn’t want to take up square footage with a formal dining room, but we wanted a place for more people to eat.”

In the center of the space sits a large stained pine, trestle table that was custom built by Jodi’s brother, Jeff Suedbeck. It is surrounded by built-in, padded benches on three sides, and white crown molding accents.

“When people walk in and see the wall of windows, it draws them to the view of the lake, and then they look up and see the beams.”

John Muehlberg

The master bedroom features more of the vinyl flooring, as well as an indented, tray ceiling.

A wood bench sits on the remaining side, completing the seating around the table.

Another thing the homeowners did was add storage underneath the benches.

“They don’t have any basement storage,” Schmid of Merickel Lumber said. “So we tried to use all the space that we could for extra storage.”

Large windows on each of the three walls of the eating area allow for a great deal of light and views of the lake.

Another inventive use of space was placing a large pantry underneath the stairway.

The master bathroom includes side by side sinks, granite countertops, painted white cabinets as well as a gray tile floor.

A white, free-standing bathtub sits in the corner, perfect for relaxing after a stressful day. Next to the tub is a large walk-in shower with slate gray tiling. The shower includes a window between it and the rest of the bathroom allowing for more light.

“That was Dave’s idea,” John said. “We had talked about putting in a glass shower, and Dave had the idea of having a smaller opening to the shower without a door and then adding a glass window, allowing for more light.”

homeowner

The laundry room features a stacked stainless steel washer and dryer, easy access from the master walk-in closet, and a unique area for washing their two precious dogs.

It is a waist level platform complete with a drain, a detachable shower head, and vinyl wall coverings that make clean up easy.

“I do a lot of bird hunting, so the dogs are always in ponds and swamps, and they spend a lot of time in the lake, so it’s so much easier to lift the dogs and have them at the right level to do the washing,” John said.

“It’s nice to take the dogs from the garage right into the laundry room to get them cleaned up.”

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The landscaping was done by Matt Hoen.

“He did a good job and had a lot of great ideas on how to set up the patio,” John said.

“The patio isn’t in front of the door, but off to the side, so it doesn’t block the view of the lake from the living room.”

Other than the breakfast nook, another must-have for Jodi was a storm shelter.

“Since our house is built on a slab, we wanted to make sure we had somewhere to go during a bad storm,” Jodi said.

“Dave built us a room off the garage that serves as a shelter and a utility room.”

John added, “The utility room has poured concrete side walls, a concrete ceiling,

The stairway, off the kitchen, leads to a second level family room. With its leather furniture, warm colors and luscious carpeting–not to mention the view of the lake–it is a cozy and welcoming space to hang out.

The upstairs also includes a full bathroom, a storage room over the garage, and three bedrooms, one of which is being used as an office by John.

Back to the living room on the main level, you find a sliding door that leads to the patio and a large backyard; the perfect place for hosting gatherings for friends and family, or enjoying the sunset in the evenings.

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“There is a lot of decision making that goes into it in terms of picking everything out, the process, and the timeline. Dave did a good job of keeping us apprised of the progress; making suggestions on when it made sense to upgrade and when it didn’t.”

John Muehlberg

homeowner

and a reinforced barrier door, so when you go in there it’s pretty secure.”

be there every week to help or see the progress,” John said.

John continued, “The underfloor heat in the house and the garage was a must have for me.”

“There is a lot of decision making that goes into it in terms of picking everything out, the process, and the timeline,” John continued. “Dave did a good job of keeping us apprised of the progress; making suggestions on when it made sense to upgrade and when it didn’t.”

Dave Erwin Construction worked with the various vendors, such as Merickel Lumber, to make the Muehlberg home come together. As an experienced builder, he understands the importance of communication.

“When we were building we were still living in the Twin Cities, so we weren’t able to

Jodi added, “His communication was awesome, and I loved that he gave us a timeline of when we needed to have certain things picked out. He was amazing to work with.” ~L&H

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F

FEATURE HOME

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elebrating family history, repurposing elements from the past and creating ways to gather and make new memories guided Nancy and Larry Wiebusch as they imagined their vision of their perfect lake home. History, tradition and family connections are expertly woven into every square foot of the couple’s cozy white cabin on Maud Lake.

Nancy has been coming to this Becker County spot her entire life. And now the cabin she and Larry envisioned will continue that tradition for generations to come.

“My grandfather purchased the cabin next door to us in 1954 and I first came down in 1957 when I was six months old,” she explains. “There were 17 of us in this little tiny cabin as we all grew older. Dad built on an addition with a cement floor, rafters showing, rusty old cots. It was okay – we just wanted to be there.”

The original cabin came down last year, but Nancy and her extended family continue to build on the family tradition her grandfather started years ago. Nancy’s aunt and uncle built a lake home next to her cousin and her family on one side of the Wiebusch cabin. Her sister, brother-in-

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law and nieces and nephew live on the other side. Her three grown children drive in from Fargo to spend leisurely days with their extended family, just as they (and their mother) have done since they were children.

“We call it ‘the compound,’” Nancy says.

“We’re just back and forth between houses in all seasons. We all have snowmobiles, so the kids snowmobile together. In the summer, my sister has a lot of campfires and people gather around the campfire.

It’s pretty casual.”

“I knew in my heart that I wanted a farmhouse.

“It’s just nostalgia. I grew up on a farm by Gardner, N.D., and I had a white farmhouse.”

Nancy Wiebusch

homeowner

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Larry and Nancy knew they wanted to retire on Maud Lake (she retired last June after teaching English in the Fargo Public School system and he’s employed

by Trane) and make it their full time residence, so they took their time to think about exactly what they wanted from their new home. They built on design elements they’d loved from previous homes and buildings that were important to them. (And in some cases, they built with materials from previous homes and buildings that were important to them.)

The result is a comfortable home that stands out despite its modest size and unassuming façade because it’s quietly different. Nancy knew she wanted a home that brought her back to a happy time before her beloved father passed away when she was just 12, a place that would conjure up a feeling of safety, comfort and her deep prairie roots.

“I knew in my heart that I wanted a farmhouse,” she says. “It’s just nostalgia. I grew up on a farm by Gardner, N.D., and I had a white farmhouse.”

The couple contacted Paul Davis Restoration and Remodeling in Detroit Lakes to bring their vision to life. After a series of meetings and a site visit, it was

determined that building a new structure would be more efficient than remodeling the existing cabin. It was a creative collaboration from the very beginning.

“The new home design began with Nancy sending us many photos of ideas her and Larry loved,” explains Paula Boehm of Paul Davis Restoration and Remodeling. “Early on we learned that Nancy’s inspiration came from her family farm with the white house and black trim. However, she wanted an updated, fresh look that still reminded her of her family farm legacy.”

A focus on tradition kept the project grounded. And the ability to start from scratch gave the builders and the homeowners more creative freedom.

“What was so fun and unique about this project was designing a modern farmhouse look from a clean slate,” Boehm says. “When you deal with an existing home and you’re looking to add on and transform an existing space, you are somewhat limited. With new, you can really do what you want.”

The result is a sweet, white abode that looks humble on the outside, but feels expansive inside, thanks to high ceilings and plenty of natural light. A small front porch, stately iron fence and a cobblestone path give the home a homey look from the road, while an expansive deck on the back offers lake views and plenty of room for outdoor entertaining. Every element was carefully considered.

“(The) Wiebusches were very creative, which was really fun for us,” says Boehm.

“They have a great eye for design. The Wiebusches were less concerned with a large footprint and more concerned with quality throughout all the spaces.”

The home’s footprint is about the same as the original cabin’s – around 1,500 square feet on the main floor – but thoughtful design choices make it feel bigger. Welcoming rooms are decorated in soothing white, sky blue and pale aqua tones, which effortlessly brings the colors

“Early on we learned that Nancy’s inspiration came from her family farm with the white house and black trim. However, she wanted an updated, fresh look that still reminded her of her family farm legacy.”

Paula Boehm Paul Davis Restoration and Remodeling

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of water, leaves and sky indoors. Light wood ceilings add interest and texture without drawing focus. A cheerful border of seashells adorns the master bedroom, providing a tactile, beachy accent to a room anchored by water views.

The roof rises to a series of peaks high over the combined living room, dining room and kitchen space for an airy feeling. Still more windows look out onto the shore of Lake Maud. When a guest stands by the dining room table lit by an opalescent chandelier and looks toward the living room, the room’s accents echo the fresh celadon green of the new leaves outside and the cool blue of the lake water. The kitchen’s gray and white cabinets bring to mind a muted Minnesota winter sky.

Despite the cool Scandinavian colors, this home feels like a beach house, not a stark showroom. This is a place for living.

You can almost imagine the Wiebusch family around the dinner table, almost hear their three dogs padding around, almost feel the warmth of the fire. Larry and Nancy Wiebusch put their mark on every single corner of this home. And no detail is too small.

“In keeping with the farmhouse nostalgia, we installed a few of the old push button light switches,” says Nancy. “I had these in my childhood farmhouse. Kind of silly, but I love to hear the ‘click’ as they are turned off and on.”

Every room of this home has a story or two to tell. The stories begin as you step in through the front door.

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“I chose to paint my indoor porch ceiling what the southerners call ‘haint’ blue, an age old tradition in the Deep South that was believed to ward off evil spirits (haints),” Nancy explains. “I don’t believe in that, but love the history and whimsy of it.”

The couple infused the home with dozens of tiny details that they respond to, both aesthetically and personally. The result is a home the residents clearly adore, a house with a style all its own.

“I love the casualness of it,” says Nancy.

“I love the hooks on the wall where you can hang your coats. I love the windows.

I love the shiplap. It kind of lends itself to the East Coast (style) houses also. I felt like it was a good marriage of the two to put on a lake here.”

In addition to having well thought out ideas about what they wanted to include in their home, Nancy and Larry Wiebusch also had the technical expertise to put many of their plans in motion themselves.

Tim Stenger, of Stenger Excavating in Detroit Lakes served as the project’s excavator and installed the cabin’s septic system, and Shingledecker Concrete and Construction in Pillager poured the home’s foundation, but the couple handled almost every other project together.

Nancy served as the interior decorator, spending hours happily pouring over paint samples and fabric swatches and clicking through light fixtures on Wayfair.com, Restoration Hardware and Overstock.com. Larry installed the plumbing and electrical wiring. They did all the tiling except for the backsplash in the kitchen themselves, tackling the bathroom showers and the floor tiles together.

“We tiled our fireplace, we tiled the entrance floor,” says Nancy. “I picked a herringbone brick because I wanted it to look like a farmhouse. Don’t ever pick a herringbone tile!” Even Nancy’s

“In keeping with the farmhouse nostalgia, we installed a few of the old push button light switches. I had these in my childhood farmhouse. Kind of silly, but I love to hear the ‘click’ as they are turned off and on.”

Nancy Wiebusch

homeowner

cautionary tale for other DIY homeowners is punctuated with laughter.

Aside from the herringbone tile incident and a few other minor missteps (including needing a second try to get the reclaimed wood mantel from Dakota Timber Co. exactly right and rejecting a backsplash tile design as “way too busy”), the home came out as the couple envisioned it.

They’ve continued to build more on their own, adding three extra bedrooms, a bathroom and a kitchen in the basement for when their kids visit “and want to make a pizza at 3 in the morning,” Nancy says with another laugh.

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They’re using reclaimed knotty wood pine from the original cabin to create faux shiplap for the downstairs living space.

That initially discarded backsplash tile has become the centerpiece of the basement kitchen.

Clearly, the Wiebusch family believes in saving and repurposing items with meaning. The materials used in the basement are just a few of the meaningful items that the couple has repurposed.

When Larry and Nancy heard that their school in Arthur, N.D., was going to be demolished, they stepped in and saved a transom window for a future project.

“When we had the present home built, we had the transom window installed over the second bathroom door,” explains Nancy. “It’s a tiny piece of our past that we incorporated into the present.”

There are other links to the couple’s past displayed throughout the home. A tribute to Nancy’s grandmother greets guests as they arrive.

“The small pantry in our entrance belonged to my grandparents,” she explains. “My grandma used to store her canned goods in it. As a young child of the 60s, whenever I got to stay overnight with them, Grandma would tell me to go to the pantry and pick something out for lunch. I always chose Chef Boyardee meatballs and gravy, which was a special treat to me at that time.”

A few coats of light blue paint and glass door panels breathed new life into the piece. And now stories of Nancy’s grandmother live on for a new generation.

Every item, every square foot of the Wiebusch cabin on Maud Lake tells a story. They are stories of love, of family, of belonging. They are stories of coming home, both to a physical dwelling and to the lake itself.

“When I step into these waters to swim, this feeling just overcomes me that this is where I started and this is where I belong,” Nancy says. “It’s a wonderful feeling. So we have my grandpa to thank for this.

And we are so very grateful. Because this is where my heart resides.” ~L&H

“What was so fun and unique about this project was designing a modern farmhouse look from a clean slate. When you deal with an existing home and you’re looking to add on and transform an existing space, you are somewhat limited. With new, you can really do what you want.”

Paula Boehm Paul Davis Restoration and Remodeling

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DESIGNER PORTFOLIO

First opened in 1935, Merickel Lumber remains a strong presence along U.S. Highway 10 in Wadena.

What started as a lumber mill, this family-owned company expanded and transitioned over the years to a quality home building center. Besides lumber and building supplies, Merickel’s now includes a design department, a large fleet of delivery vehicles, full-scale model homes to tour, and a 10,000 square-foot ACE Hardware and Rental store.

As a fourth generation owner, Jason Merickel knows and understands the strong family traditions of professionalism and passion. His father Jim continues to spend time in this community-oriented business, where generations of families return time and again to Merickel’s for their building needs and exceptional service. We asked Jason about the company’s history and ongoing dedication to excellence.

BESIDES THE CHANGES IN PRODUCTS AND SERVICES, HAS ANYTHING ELSE CHANGED? It’s truly astonishing how many more products are available to our customers now, compared to even 20 years.

There’s one thing I can tell you that doesn’t change, though: Trust. Whether a customer is buying a power tool or building a home, that customer needs to trust the product and the people. From our expert sales staff to our delivery drivers to hardware staff to a home designer, everyone is on the same page. We want to create a work atmosphere for our employees that makes them want to stay, and that leads to a built-in professionalism.

It also leads to the kind of environment where we’re fortunate to have a large number of long-term employees. We’ve been making memorable experiences for our customers for almost 80 years, and we want to continue that.

challenge to keep up with market trends.

Furthermore, it’s not always enough to be competitive on pricing. Customers want an exceptional experience, and a convenient one at that. For our staff, providing excellent service means going at it with the right attitude. We feel there’s always a way to solve a problem, and part of what’s kept us in business so long is that we like solving problems. We don’t like to say “no.” Our customers expect a lot out of us, and we in turn expect a lot out of our staff and our suppliers.

IS THERE ANYTHING ABOUT MERICKEL’S THAT PEOPLE MIGHT NOT KNOW? One thing that often surprises people is that we offer free delivery, not just on lumber, but on other items they wouldn’t expect. We have a fleet of 14 trucks and great drivers, and we put a lot of emphasis on those drivers to understand how important it is to be sure everything is loaded accurately and delivered on time. We also have a millwork shop that builds doors, repairs windows, cuts glass, manufactures seamless gutters,

WHAT SHOULD CUSTOMERS EXPECT WHEN THEY WALK INTO MERICKEL’S? They can expect a friendly greeting and our undivided attention. Besides quality products, we strive to provide the best possible service and advice to anyone who walks into Merickel’s. With the amount of information available, it is a and cuts countertops. In addition, our design and drafting department is inhouse, which is a huge advantage to the home builder/remodeler. You can talk with a sales associate and the designer simultaneously when you walk into our office.

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WHAT DOES A GOOD DAY LOOK LIKE FOR YOU?

WHAT KINDS OF CHALLENGES DO YOU FACE ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS? Like any business, one of the main challenges is to keep communication clear and concise–that means among staff, customers, homeowners, designers, and even subcontractors. We need to give timelines to all those involved and make decisions that keep things moving. Clear communication not only saves time and money, but it also saves misunderstandings and mistakes.

HOW DO YOU KNOW WHEN AN INDUSTRY TREND IS REAL AND YOU SHOULD FOLLOW IT? Obviously, there’s risk involved anytime you adjust your business to a trend, but you need to be willing to take a risk to make your business grow. I never met my great-grandfather, Harry, who started the business, but my grandfather Jack and his brothers weren’t afraid to try something new. They were very ambitious back then, and if they thought they could sell something new, like boats, they went

out and tried it. With all the variables in today’s market, that mindset probably wouldn’t work as well right now. Thankfully, we’re located in the center of a thriving lakes area, which gives us opportunities to expand our business. Plus, we continue to look for new products or services that will help with that expansion.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE PROJECTS? What’s really rewarding are the projects where someone comes in to design and build a home. It’s very special to be a part of that. Anyone can buy a car, for instance, but someone else can buy the same exact car. Building a home with us, we have the capabilities and tools to help you design it and build it exactly the way you want it. When completed, that’s one of the few things in life, to me, that can really and truly be your own.

I try to go into Merickel’s every day expecting it to be a good day. We’re very fortunate that everyone on our staff enjoys being busy. We keep things lighthearted.

Although we totally understand there’s a job to do, we make an effort to keep that job enjoyable for everyone. Basically, a good day is deliveries going out, customers coming in, and everyone staying busy. I am grateful to be able to carry on this business with all its rich history, and I continue to enjoy having customers stop in and tell me stories about their parents or grandparents who shopped here or built one of our “kit homes” or “lake cottages” back in the 50s. Sometimes I make a joke about literally not making it very far in life, because my work is only a quarter mile from where I was born.

Joking aside, it is a great community to work in and raise a family. ~L&H

L

FEATURED LAKE Size: 517 Acres Max Depth: 32 ft.

County: Becker Clarity: 13.6 ft.

Shore Length: 4.15 mi

Maud Lake Becker County

Maud Lake is known primarily as a northern pike, largemouth bass, and panfish lake, while also containing a small number of walleyes. Suitable spawning habitat is present for all fish species, except walleye, which is maintained by stocking.

Special regulations have existed for northern pike, largemouth bass, bluegill, and black crappie since 2008.

Historical evidence and information from anecdotal fishing pressure suggests the bluegill population in Maud Lake was relatively unexploited in the 1950s. The potential for Maud Lake to produce quality-sized bluegills led to a special regulation that limited the bag limit to five bluegills. Theoretically, this should increase bluegill size by allowing harvestable size bluegills to remain in the population for continued growth. Preliminary evidence suggests this regulation is having some success at increasing the overall size of bluegill in Maud Lake.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

Historically, tullibee (cisco) were found in Maud Lake and are likely still present although none were captured in 2004, 2010, or 2016. These fish are an indicator of relatively good water quality. They require areas of cool, welloxygenated water during the heat of summer to survive. They are also an indicator of the potential for the lake to grow large pike, but only if pike can escape harvest long enough to grow to trophy size. In general, anglers are encour-

aged to release medium to large fish (especially pike and bluegills) while keeping smaller fish for eating to balance the populations, sustain spawning age fish, and provide anglers with more opportunities to catch large fish. Lakeshore owners are encouraged to practice good shoreline and land management stewardship. Aquatic vegetation (especially bulrushes) provides spawning, rearing, and feeding cover for many fish species and is important for maintaining good water quality and protecting shorelines from erosion. ~L&H

INSULATION

LUMBER

ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR

MASONRY

RADON TESTING & MITIGATION

ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR

QUARTZ & GRANITE

HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING

SEPTIC SERVICE

SHOWERS

FLOORING

CABINETS

MARINE / WATERCRAFT REPAIR

FLOORING

CABINETS

112 LAKE & HOME MAGAZINE MAR / APR 2019

DESIGN & DRAFTING

GARAGE DOORS

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114 LAKE & HOME MAGAZINE MAR / APR 2019