Subscribe at w w w.lakeandhomemagazine.com VOLUME 21 / ISSUE 4
JULY / AUGUST 2019
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VOLUME 21 • ISSUE 4 • JULY / AUGUST 2019 subscribe online at: www.lakeandhomemagazine.com
CONTENTS
12 OFFICE
Meet Our Team
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OFFICE
From the Office by Erin Hintz
LANDSCAPING
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Hydroseeding Versus Sod by Pat Morstad Precision Landscape & Irrigation
LIFE ON THE LAKE
Cabin Memories
Home Décor, Gifts and Apparel by Alicia Underlee Nelson
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LAKE GIFTS
INTERIOR DESIGN
Unique in Minnesota
Master Bedroom Retreat
Gifts for the Lake Lover
by Danae Branson
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PRODUCT GUIDE
How to Make Water Fun
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FLOORING
Floor Coating Systems A Concrete Investment to any Garage or Man Cave by Jen Miller
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RAVE Sports Shares their Newest Water Sports Toys
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HOME IMPROVEMENT
Choosing the Right Roofing www.buildwithrise.com
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DINING IN THE LAKES AREA
Mabel Murphy’s Fergus Falls, Minn.
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DESIGNER PORTFOLIO
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Hilltop Lumber by Andrea Canning
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FEATURE HOME
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Luxury by the Lake by Angela Garvin
SHOPPING
Service Directory
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FEATURE HOME
A Vision in White
Family designs their dream home on Pelican Lake by Alicia Underlee Nelson
FEATURED LAKE
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FEATURE HOME
A Story of Connections and Continuity
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FEATURE HOME
Establishing Control
A remodel that started with security and convenience led to much more by Craig Gustafson
Cover photo by Kip Johnson Story on page 92
Pelican Lake
by Patrice Peterson
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Volume 21, Issue 4 • JULY / AUGUST 2019 PUBLISHER Kip Johnson EDITORS Brent and Jennifer Rogness 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 SUBSCRIPTIONS In the U.S., one year $23.95; two years $42.50; three years $54.00. Elsewhere add $5.00 per issue. Back issues are available for $5.00 per issue, plus shipping and handling. Subscriptions can be purchased online at lakeandhomemagazine.com/products
LAKE & 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 & Home Magazine. ©2019 Compass Media. Except for purposes of review, material contained herein may not be reproduced without prior written consent. Printed by Hess Print Solutions, USA
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O
FROM THE OFFICE
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From the Office
hroughout the last couple of months, the remodel saga inside our home has continued. Yes, the same house that I’ve said we are finished remodeling.
Along with giving the basement a bit of a facelift, we took part of the family room that previously had a pool table and bar in it, built some walls and made it a den, and gained a new master bedroom upstairs. The existing bedrooms in our house were small and in short supply, and the master left a lot to be desired, but we were fortunate to have space available with untapped potential. So, our plan was to move our daughter from her tiny nursery that is quickly being taken over by toddler toys, into what was previously our master bedroom. Then, create a new master in the space that we tried to use as a formal dining room, and then a formal living room, both of which never felt quite right. Her nursery would go back to functioning as a main floor guest room. To make a long story short, we picked out flooring, paint colors, window treatments and lighting for our two-year-old’s new room. Her papa built a beautiful built-in bookshelf and we lined it with books, toy bins and all of the sentimental gifts she’d been given that her nursery never had room to display. It was turning out to be the room I always wished she
had. We had countless conversations about her big-girl room and all indications were that she was excited and this was going to go smoothly. She had us fooled. On her first night in the new room, our consistently perfect sleeper fell apart the moment I laid her in her crib and shut the door. After trying every trick I knew, we finally caved and moved everything back into her tiny little nursery. Yes, the tail wags the dog in our house. I wish I could say the story ended there, but we went through several nights dealing with bedtime anxieties (both hers and our own at that point), often resulting in her and I both crying. We did come out the other side of that fiasco and now have our easy breezy bedtime routine back… in the tiny little nursery. And, anyone who stays in our guest bedroom can still, for the time being, enjoy some board books and dainty, pastel décor in the bookshelves. But, the basement is finally a space that our family wants to spend time in, and we were able to add a much needed den and office. The real delight has been our new master bedroom. We’ve always overlooked the bedrooms in our remodels, so I’m just now discovering that waking up in a room that’s bright, clean and decorated can change your
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whole day, and it makes such a difference to have a comfortable space to wind down at the end of the day. If you’re planning your own master bedroom, whether that means making some changes to your current space, or building your “dream master” in your new “dream home,” be sure to check out the article in this issue on creating a master bedroom retreat. In your copy of this issue, you’ll also find articles on lawn care, floor coatings, and ways to preserve your cabin memories. We are thrilled to have Hilltop Lumber featuring their designs and products in our Designer Portfolio article. As always, you’ll find feature home articles showcasing beautiful Minnesota lake homes, four in this issue. It was a tough winter, and spring didn’t rank much higher, but this week we’ve turned a corner. The sun came out, temperatures are rising, my garden is planted and the air smells like fresh cut grass. It finally feels like summer. I’m ready to enjoy it, and we hope you do as well! ~L&H
Erin Hintz Advertising Sales
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INTERIOR DESIGN
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I think most interior designers and sleep psychologists would agree that the master bedroom should be a calming oasis that is designed to be a retreat away from the dayto-day stresses of life. How do you feel when you walk into your master bedroom? Are you instantly relaxed? Is it one of your favorite rooms in your home? There are several easy ways to create a master bedroom retreat that you’ll never want to leave. When planning your master bedroom, one of the simplest things to do is remove all clutter. You need to remove everything from your master bedroom that makes you think of work or causes you stress. Move chore-related items like a laundry hamper or ironing board to a closet or master bathroom. Remove any home office equipment, exercise equipment and catch-alls. These items inhibit sleep and should be moved to anywhere else in the house that is not a bedroom where sleep takes place.
Now that the master retreat is free of clutter, let’s focus on the color palette. Color psychology tells us that calming colors are a great choice for a bedroom because they help us relax and wind down, whereas bright colors can be too energizing for sleep. Some wonderful calming colors are muted blues, greens, pastels and neutrals. There are a variety of shades that will make your bedroom a happy place that will instantly make you forget about the stresses of the day. Every great bedroom needs a comfortable bed with comfortable bedding. Choose soft bedding made of breathable fabrics such as cotton, linen, silk and bamboo. These fabrics won’t cause you to overheat while you sleep, which disrupts your sleep pattern. Typically, a nice sheet set, comforter or quilt, and pillows are all you need. If you don’t want to remove a ton of throw pillows each night but want your bed to look nice and cozy, all you need are four regular sleeping pillows and one large oblong decorative pillow. Your bed will look amazing and you won’t have 37 decorative pillows on your bedroom floor each night.
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Speaking of the floor, it’s a bedroom so you want something warm and soft on your feet. Carpet or a large fluffy rug is ideal to give you a more comfortable feel. Walking on cold tile or wood floors at night isn’t very Zen-like. A bedroom should be a cozy and warm space that feels serene and almost spa-like. Low light is a must for your new oasis. Window treatments not only block out the sunlight, they can make a room feel cozier. They add a touch of privacy and texture that really warm up a room. Hang curtains a few inches above the trim and select a more neutral color to stay with the calming mood of the room.
I know I just told you to block out the sunlight, but lighting in the bedroom is key, especially if you read at night. One regular chandelier, ceiling fan or other light fixture in the middle of the room is great for putting away clothes, making your bed or getting dressed. Side table lamps or sconces with a softer light are perfect bedside for reading and winding down at night. To create a true oasis, don’t forget the plants. Flowers and greenery instantly add a calming effect to any room. Look for plants that survive with indirect light and little watering such as jade, philodendrons or snake plant.
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And now for the age-old question: TV or no TV? Honestly, to each their own on this one. I know some people wind down each night by watching TV, where others are affected too much by the TV’s light and quite possibly the program they are watching. It’s entirely up to you! If you want your master retreat to really knock your socks off, mix and match your bedroom furniture. Perhaps your bed and nightstands match but you have a different dresser... or your dresser and nightstands match but you have a different bed. You get the point. Mixing bedroom furniture helps to keep the space unique and luxurious.
Creating a wonderful master bedroom retreat doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive. By following some of the ideas above, you’ll be able to create a space that you can’t wait to use for slumber. ~L&H
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F FLOORING
When it comes to paint colors, backsplashes, right down to flooring, it’s generally a team effort. In the end, the queen of the castle tends to have the final say. To escape the frilly throw pillows and armchairs that are more for decoration than sitting, men retreat to the garage or have converted space into what is referred to as the man cave. These spaces have evolved quite a bit over the years, and one of the latest trends is polyurea or polyaspartic floor coatings.
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When you think of a garage, you might picture poor lighting, a cold draft, and a dingy cement floor with oil stains. However, if a man spends a lot of time in his garage, he’s likely putting some work into the space. But what about that dingy cement floor with oil stains? How many times will you have to pull out that heavy-duty power washer and spend big bucks on chemical removers… and for what? It might lighten those oil stains
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and fend off other chemicals your truck tires track in, but it will be an ongoing battle. “One of the best floor coatings on the market is polyurea or polyaspartic floor coatings,” says Scott Rundell, the general manager at Coatings Unlimited in Fergus Falls. He went on to say, “It comes in endless colors. It is extremely durable. It carries chemical-resistant qualities so you won’t have to fight the corrosion that comes off the roads like the salts and chlorides they use on the roads during the winter months.” Polyurea is a type of elastomer that is derived from the reaction product of an isocyanate component and a synthetic resin blend component through stepgrowth polymerization. Polyurea floor coating is fast-curing and can handle vehicle traffic in merely 24 hours. “Unlike
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epoxy floor coatings that never fully cure and tend to look brittle over time, polyureas are extremely flexible (98 percent more flexible than epoxy floor coatings), which in Minnesota is important because of our seasonal change. When you’re dealing with freezing temps, the concrete is shifting and expanding which causes most flooring coatings to fracture and crack,” Mike Barnhart, owner of K&M Coatings based out of New York Mills, explained. There are several benefits to laying a polyurea floor coating, such as how abrasion-resistant it is due to its flexibility, elongation, dense cross-linking, and mar resistance. The extra layers of adhesion that are commonly used in spray-on liners in trucks, are also used in polyurea, but reformulated for concrete. In a spray
application, the product is preserved within 17 seconds and has an eternal bond to the underline layer. “This same chemistry is used in our floor coating products but slowed down to an hour cure time. This gives the product time to penetrate into the concrete deeply and bond with the concrete on a molecular level,” Barnhart noted. “Polyurea flooring coatings are ultraviolet stable, meaning they don’t change colors like the epoxy floor coatings do overtime,” Rundell added. “Therefore, when you’re spending time in the garage, you can have the doors wide open to keep an eye on the kids who might be riding their bikes in the driveway or to enjoy what Mother Nature has to offer that day, without worrying about the UV rays from the sun fading the floor coating.
As for those oil stains, grease spills and chemicals that travel in with the car tires, “It has been oil tested up to 28 days and battery acid tested up to five,” Barnhart said. And when it comes time to clean up those stains and spills, you won’t need a heavy-duty power washer or have to add more chemicals to fight chemicals. “It’s extremely easy to clean up; a simple garden hose can do the same thing as a pressure washer because nothing sticks,” Rundell explained. “And where concrete is naturally dusty, once you get this coating on it, you don’t get that dust,” Barnhart added.
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Another plus to polyurea flooring coatings is, “It gives a home more square-footage, for example, you can throw some tables and chairs out in the garage or if it’s raining, it’s a place for the kids to hang out,” Rundell stated. The spring is the busiest time of year for both K&M Coatings and Coatings Unlimited, as folks are getting ready for graduation parties. Floor coating companies like K&M Coatings only use advance polyurea formulas throughout the whole floor coating system: a pure polyurea base coat combined with a polyaspartic polyurea top coat. “The installation process is a two-day process,” Rundell stated and went on to say, “There is a day of prep which Coatings Unlimited will diamond grind the floor and fill in all the chips, and then we grind it smooth, leaving one big seamless floor. The next day we coat the floor with four coats; one coat to penetrate the concrete, a coat of chips and two coats of clear.” The coat of chips or flakes consist of little pieces of vinyl plastic that come in an endless variety of colors and styles to give the floor a nice look and texture. “You can get basically any color of the rainbow. We can swirl different colors around for a marble look,” Barnhart mentioned, like the marble flooring coating system pictured that K&M Coatings installed in a kitchen. Another popular look is the color granite. “A lot of customers will ask what is this look that looks like granite, because it’s obviously not a granite slab,” Rundell commented and went on to say, “There are a lot of creative options from loud to earth tones like a color from our stone collection.”
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Another interesting look that K&M Coatings installed out at a cabin is a coating that looks like a dock that separates the parking spaces. And if you’re looking for something more on the eccentric side, Coatings Unlimited also installs glow-in-the-dark chips and fluorescent chips. “We have a great number of products in stock and we can special order a chip combination, basically anything the customer comes up with. It doesn’t cost any more to do this, it just takes a couple of weeks to get the order in,” Rundell said. The variety of floor coating systems doesn’t end with chips or flakes, but branches out to quartz, metallic and solid color polyurea. Plus, “In low traffic areas or a man cave, for instance, we have put logos such as a bison (as pictured), or the Vikings logo (as pictured). We can do just about any logo underneath the clear coat,” Rundell mentioned. You may also notice in the picture supplied by Coatings Unlimited that different floor coating systems can be done in one space.
While floor coating is becoming increasingly popular in garages and man caves, the floor doesn’t end there. Besides residential, floor covering systems are installed in commercial spaces such as convenience stores and school hallways, as well as warehouses, hospitals and commercial kitchens, to name a few. You will also find floor coating systems on driveways, framing the pool area and even patios. “Anything concrete, we can coat it. Whereas wood is case-by-case because you wouldn’t coat natural woods, but we do coat particle board,” Barnhart explained. Both K&M Coatings and Coatings Unlimited offer free in-home estimates, and while they’re both based in Otter Tail County, they have cumulatively floor-coated a large portion of the upper midwest. There’s a good chance you’ve walked across their work. If you’re looking for a smooth look that involves little care to class up your garage or personalize your man cave, consider a floor coating system that will add value to your home. ~L&H
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LIFE ON THE LAKE
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Your lake home is the site of some of your most favorite memories, the source of cherished family traditions. Artists and entrepreneurs in the region make it easy to commemorate your cabin and preserve your memories and traditions for future generations. Whether you incorporate their products into your décor, pass them down as a family heirloom or wear them close to your heart, they make it easy to keep a piece of your favorite place with you, even when you can’t be at the lake.
Custom Lake Maps
Maps offer timeless charm. A new generation of mapmakers can customize a map of your lake for a surprisingly affordable price. It’s a unique gift and a great conversation starter. And there are lots of styles available. Lake Overview in Fargo features subtle, streamlined depth maps of many popular lakes in the region, including Little Cormorant, Lake Lida, Lake Melissa and Otter Tail Lake. Everything is organized by county, which makes searching easy. The soothing and subtle blue color scheme doesn’t call attention to itself, making this a minimalistic choice.
OldRoot Studio in Taylors Falls specializes in hand painted maps in soothing shades of sepia, blue and watery pastels. This timeless look is perfect for a room with a classic or historic vibe. Custom orders are available, so if you don’t see your favorite lake on the list, you can request it. Waldo Road Studio in Two Harbors also offers special orders, but the maps here have a totally different aesthetic. They’re colorful and graphic, with white print and landmarks on a vivid backdrop. They add a pop of color to even the most subdued decorating scheme. www.etsy.com/shop/LakeOverview www.etsy.com/shop/OldRootStudio www.etsy.com/shop/WaldoRoadStudio
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Legacy Books
Sorting through a lifetime of memories can be an overwhelming experience. Compiling those memories into a useable item that honors a life well lived can be a challenge. Sagis Legacy in Minneapolis takes the stress out of a major project by combining years (or even decades) of photos, topographical maps, geological research, historic photographs, journal entries and any other treasures you may discover, into handsome legacy books. Even love letters, paintings and newspaper clippings can be included.
Lake Signs
Show off your lake love with versatile signs. Showcase large signs on a stairwell or above the fireplace, make guests smile by tucking a smaller piece into a nook or powder room or arrange several as part of a gallery wall or open shelf display. Wired Up! in Dilworth offers what it calls scripted wall art (where wire is shaped into cursive writing to display messages like “Lake Life”), creating appealing signs with a unique twist. It’s a great option to add a different texture to your home and works well with both rustic and contemporary interiors. Fargo’s WoodnLap Designs features simple, rustic signs that work with almost any decorating style. Messages like, “Life is better at the lake” lettered on navy or subtly stained, natural looking wood, express your sentiments in a striking way. You can also choose a picture frame with the same message or request a customized, handcrafted cutout map of your favorite body of water. www.etsy.com/shop/WoodnLapDesigns www.iamwiredup.com
Three-Dimensional Wood Maps
For more three-dimensional map art, look to Uncommon Oak in Shakopee. The company offers custom engraved lake relief maps carved from hard maple and framed with walnut, with the water represented in a vivid shade of blue. Each order is finished with a personalized engraving and a compass. For a striking investment piece, look to SkapeWoodWorks out of Minneapolis. Each laser-cut topography map is made to order from birch plywood, birch, walnut and MDF walnut. The company also offers laser cut wood lake topography map coasters. They’re sold individually and in sets of four and eight. www.etsy.com/shop/UncommonOak www.etsy.com/shop/SkapeWoodWorks
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Each book is custom made, professionally printed and bound. They’re available in a variety of sizes, although an 8 ½ x 11-inch volume is most popular. You can create the work yourself or opt for professional assistance. Since your book will be specifically created to honor your friend or family member, it will only contain the documents, images and stories you think are the most important. If creating a legacy book is a goal, but the timing isn’t right due to a move, estate sale or bereavement, Sagis Legacy can also sort and store your documents until you have the time and emotional energy to tackle the project. These extra options make it easy to break a large project down into manageable parts. www.sagislegacy.com/
Custom Pillows
Make your lake a talking point with fun accent pillows. These make great gifts, so order for your friends and make sure they’re on your wish list, too. Fargo’s 521Handmade offers farmhouse style linen pillows in a sophisticated off-white shade that works with any color scheme and coordinates well with the company’s other pillow designs, which include maps and quotes. Sentiments like “Lake Sweet Lake,” “All I need is sunshine and lake water,” and “No Wake Zone,” are hand painted in elegant black calligraphy. You can also personalize a pillow with the name of your lake, city, ZIP code or area code. To add a little color to your sofa or armchair, try pillows from Taeamade in Fargo. They feature the names of your city, state, ZIP code or lake in an eye-catching font. If you don’t see your favorite place, custom orders are available. The shop specializes in creative embroidery, but hand-cut stencils and handlettered messages are also options. www.521handmade.com/ www.taeamade.com/
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Home Textiles & Memory Items
Taeamade’s city, state, lake and ZIP code pillows pair beautifully with the company’s memory pillows. These special pillows are crafted from a special shirt worn by a loved one. Kidderbug Kreations in Fargo also creates memory pillows made from shirts. They’re finished with a message of remembrance. The company can also create stuffed teddy bears from clothing previously worn by loved ones. In addition to memory items, Kidderbug Kreations also offers a soft and cozy blanket embroidered with “Life’s better at the lake.” It’s perfect for kids’ rooms, keeping warm on the pontoon or curling up with a book after a day on the water. kidderbugkreations.com/
Lake Prints
If you want to commemorate your love for the lake, but landscapes aren’t really your style, check out these modern prints from Minnesota artists. They’re affordable, easily giftable and they make great conversation pieces.
Lake Home Portraits
Fargo’s Northerly Goods offers custom watercolor lake home portraits to showcase your cabin in all its glory. These dreamy works look great with both modern and classic décor and complement more traditional landscape paintings, nature photography and photorealistic outdoor scenes beautifully. They’re a great gift for yourself or for the difficult-to-buy-for person in your life. Artist Courtney Stanley just needs one to three images of the home to work from and caption information to start. Cell phone reference
photos are fine, as long as they show the entire structure and any trees or landscaping you’d like to be included in the final product. Turnaround time is about three weeks, but be sure to order by November if you’d like to give one as a Christmas gift. If you’d like to give a custom home portrait as part of a set, you can also commission works featuring other properties (like a primary residence) or choose from Stanley’s other paintings. Favorite subjects include mountains, waves and other scenes from nature. www.etsy.com/shop/NortherlyGoods
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Minneapolis screenprinter Miss Amy Jo offers a red, white and blue “Life is better at the lake” print that complements a nautical or neutral color scheme. The retro yet modern styling looks great with your existing maps, photos and other art, but also coexists nicely with her other works, which includes funky homages to Midwestern landmarks, beloved dive bars and human subjects with a decidedly retro flair. The words themselves create both the image and the message in two different works by artist Nicole Rae of Moorhead. Select either “cabin” or “lake” to display a text-based nod to lake life that will appeal to modern and minimalist sensibilities. The easy to frame size is an added bonus. missamyjo.com/ www.artofdailypractice.com/
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Hand-cut Paper Maps
Crafterall takes maps to the next level with intricate, almost impossibly delicate threedimensional paper art. The website gallery for the Minneapolis-based business offers several regional lakes, including Leech Lake, Pelican Lake and Lake Bemidji, rendered in subtle, stair step shades to indicate depth. Choose your own color scheme (blue is a classic choice, but green, pink, wine, lilac, blue or gold are all options) or go with one of the tried-and-true options illustrated on the site. If you want a little more drama and a more graphic look, opt for a simple silhouette. You can choose the lake outline color and background color that suits you best. You can also add a shape to further customize your piece. www.etsy.com/shop/Crafterall
Dish Towels
Looking for a more practical way to show your love of lake life? Grab a cheeky dish towel from a local company. They’re affordable and everybody needs to replenish their stock from time to time, so they’re excellent gifts. (They’re also easy to pack or ship.) Beckamade out of Grand Forks stocks “Cabin Sweet Cabin” towels that features an A-frame cabin in a fresh shade of aqua. The retro styling of the cabin works with the cheeky vintage charm of the company’s other dish towels, coffee mugs and magnets which feature Midwestern themes and symbols (from lefse to Paul Bunyan plaid), as well as regionalisms like “uff da” and “ope.”
Custom Framed Ornaments
JennySueInc offers a sweet way to honor favorite spots on the map. The Fargo shop offers a Minnesota silhouette crafted from clay, with your lake name hand-drawn next to a bright red heart. It’s set against a bold blue chevron background so you can display it year-round. Choose your favorite lake (or city) in the notes to the seller. Your custom lake art ornament ships a week after you order. www.etsy.com/shop/JennySueInc
For a little sass (and a complimentary shade of blue), grab the “Go jump in the lake” towel from 618 Love Towels. The Rollag company dives deep into modern Midwesternisms, which makes it the perfect source for riffs on tater tot hotdish, lutefisk and the aforementioned plaid, which adorns both Botticelli’s Venus and the Mona Lisa. beckamade.com/ www.etsy.com/shop/618love
Clothing & Accessories
Whether you need a coordinated (and lakethemed) look for this year’s family photo, a gift for a lake-loving person on your list or just want to represent the cabin lifestyle 24/7, entrepreneurs in the region offer a variety of options to choose from. You can shop for the whole family. The majority of the tanks, T-shirts, and sweatshirts from Detroit Lakes’ Lakegirl Clothing are in women’s sizes, but you’ll also find looks for men, boys, girls and babies here, too. The ladies can rock the Lakegirl slogan, while the little dudes can sport Dockboy attire. There are adorable Lakebaby onesies for babies, while men can choose T-shirts with retro styling or preppy zipup sweatshirts. If accessories are more your thing, Lakegirl Clothing also stocks hats, coffee mugs, totes, can cozies and jewelry. This is a handy option for when you can’t guess someone’s size or if you need to pick up a stocking stuffer or small hostess gift. If you have a jewelry lover on your list (or just want to treat yourself) customize your own unique necklace from Jennifer Dahl Designs of Hawley. Pick a bold, solder art charm emblazoned with a retro image of a “Lake Chick” or layer delicate silver tags hand stamped with the word “lake” next to round “Live, Love, Lake” bubble charms. Or choose pre-made “Lake Life” or “Lake Hair, Don’t Care” necklaces that feature a sweet little flip-flop charm. ~L&H www.lakegirl.com/ www.jenniferdahldesigns.com/
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PRODUCT GUIDE
Who is RAVE Sports? The “RAVE” yellow and blue inflatable water trampolines floating on Minnesota lakes this time of year are made by RAVE Sports. Over 20 years ago, RAVE Sports launched their popular water trampolines to camps and lake cabin owners. Since then the “RAVE” brand has been associated with high quality, innovative water sports products. Through the years they have expanded their product line well beyond water trampolines and water bouncers to include water trampoline attachments and floating mats, boat towable tubes, water skis, wakeboards, kneeboards, pool floats, life vests, tow ropes, pumps, winter sports, and more. 44 Lake & Home Magazine JULY / AUGUST 2019
What sets RAVE Sports apart from the others is not only their breadth of products, but that the company is based in Minnesota and is owned by Minnesotans who grew up on the lakes of Minnesota and Wisconsin. The company’s staff are all water sports fanatics who love to test new products so everything they design and produce is Minnesota-approved on our beautiful freshwater lakes. Making water fun is their passion, so read on to learn more about their most popular products that will help you amp up the entertainment factor at your lake property!
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Aqua Jump Eclipse Water Trampoline The classic lake cabin accessory, the Aqua Jump Eclipse Water Trampoline provides a trampoline-like jumping experience on the water, so users will jump, bounce, flip, and slide with a refreshing splash! Sets up easily: 1) inflate the tube, 2) attach the jump surface to the tube with springs, 3) connect the spring pad cover, 4) move it to 10’ of water depth, and 5) anchor. Available in three sizes and two color options for each size (Traditional yellow and blue or Northwoods green and tan). Add an Aqua Launch, Aqua Log, Aqua Slide or other attachments for double the fun!
Bongo Bouncer Designed for those who want bouncing and splashing in an all-in-one swim platform, the jump surface on Bongo Water Bouncers are connected directly to the inflatable tube without springs. Though a little less ‘springy,’ Bongo Bouncers provide a larger surface area for lounging and easier setup. Also available in four sizes and two color options for each size, and a variety of attachment options.
Water Whoosh Finally, a floating water mat that doesn’t curl, sink, or rip! Constructed of the same commercial-grade material used in their water trampolines, the Water Whoosh is a 6-inch thick mat that is also reinforced with thousands of tough polyester threads inside so it can be inflated to basketball-hard rigidity. Extremely durable and rigid, the Whoosh allows users to play king of the hill, slide from end to end, or just hang out with friends on this versatile mat. Available in 10’, 15’, and 20’ options and can be used alone or as an attachment to an Aqua Jump Eclipse or Bongo Bouncer.
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Stand Up Paddle Boards Stand up paddle boards (SUP) from RAVE Sports are designed for Minnesota lake country, with a variety of options to fit every family’s activity and skill level and budget. New for 2019 are their Hybrid Displacement Cruiser 116 SUPs for easy paddling, stability, and extreme steerability, and designed to be lightweight yet durable. Their unique design includes a traditional surf-style nose combined with a displacement keel that cuts through the water to make paddling easier and practically effortless for most adults.
Boat Towable Tubes From beginners to extreme riders, RAVE Sports tubes are the right choice. New for 2019 are two pontoon tubes that they added to their existing full line-up of deck tubes, sit-on couch-style tubes, open round tubes and extreme tubes.
Skis & Boards Every boat owner needs a set of water skis and / or a wakeboard if they want to keep kids and guests entertained. RAVE Sports offers a line of skis and boards that fit a variety of skills and budgets. New for 2019 is the entire water ski line that was re-designed with new graphics and a new slalom ski. RAVE Sports also invented the inflatable Aqua Buddy water ski and wakeboard trainer that takes the fear out of learning to get up the very first time. ~L&H
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“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
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L LANDSCAPING
Written by Pat Morstad Owner, Precision Landscape & Irrigation
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Over the years, I have installed acres upon acres of turf, everything from sod, to hydroseeding, and direct seeding, depending on the environment and situation. From high-end golf courses to roadside ditches, each application is unique, and each requires a different approach. I will give a quick explanation of the two categories and why I like one over the other. Sod is a good way to establish a turf canopy quickly. It is typically comprised of a blue grass seed, established in full sun, that is at least 2 to 3 years old. This is a great way to experience an instant lawn, as you are merely installing a pre-established turf mat. Sod may also be used to preserve a steep bank if it is secured properly. Something to be aware of when installing sod, you could introduce potential problems attributed to sod, for example: thatch, pathogens and/or insects that were existing in this sod prior to bringing it to your location. Sod will require repetitive watering to ensure proper establishment. Cost is also a consideration, as purchasing sod along with the labor costs for installation can be quite high in comparison to other processes. A word of caution to those who want this instant gratification. Make sure sod is utilized in the proper location. If you don’t have many trees on your property and get a minimum of 6 to 8 hours of full sun, this is a viable option. If you have trees and shaded areas, you will have good turf the first year, however, subsequent years of growth
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and turf quality may diminish over time. Meaning year one the turf looks great. Year two it starts to thin out in the shaded areas. Year three the thinning continues and year four you are looking at other options because the turf is nowhere near desirable. In this scenario, we recommend hydroseeding. Hydroseeding is a planting practice utilizing a slurry of wood fiber mulch, a blend of annual and perennial grass seeds and fertilizer combined with water to create the perfect growing environment for establishing new turf. The wood fibers hold approximately 45 times their weight in water to keep the seed hydrated, giving you a miniature greenhouse effect while creating the right environment for germinating and establishing turf. I have installed hydroseeding everywhere from highend golf courses to roadside construction ditches to residential homeowner sites. Typically, the cost to hydroseed is half the price versus sod installation, which is a great benefit for the higher quality. Hydroseeding
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will produce incredible results given the proper care making it very cost effective. Hydroseeding is created from a blend of blue grasses, fescues, and ryegrasses, so it will provide you successful results both long term and short term. It will also thrive in most environments from full sun to shade. The mulch and fertilizer mixed with seed also allow for quick establishment and if there is a turf disease it will have enough variation in the seed blend to be more resistant and resilient. Another great benefit of hydroseeding being composed of multiple turf varieties, rather than a single seed or a monoculture like sod, is that this allows for a customized lawn at your specific site. If you live in an area with lots of trees or have a combination of full sun and shade you can create a blend of grasses that will grow best in our region, with our soil conditions and even the amount of sunlight, or lack thereof, according to your specific yard.
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Drawbacks of hydroseeding should also be considered before picking the best way to get turf established at your location. Hydroseeding requires water, lots of it and at specific intervals, to keep moisture levels consistently available for the plant at all times. Watering must occur daily, several times a day, and for a minimum of a month. Different types of seed germinate at different times. Ryegrasses can take 3 to 5 days and bluegrasses can take 15 to 25 days just to germinate. That is why watering for such a long time is important to make sure you are providing proper care. Hydroseeding is not erosion control, it will aid in some situations but if Mother Nature gives you 1 inch of rain in 15 minutes you will see areas washing away. On steep banks there are other preventative practices that will help but hydroseeding is not the cure all and sod may be warranted.
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Hydroseeding also needs protection – keep dogs and kids off the newly applied areas. Spinning and twisting will disturb these areas and will leave a void in the turf. So, figuring a way to rope off the area after application, giving it time to build resistance to traffic will be important. It will take a minimum of a month for the roots to be established. The first couple times mowing will require a push mower versus a riding lawn mower. In my opinion, hydroseeding is the best way to grow turf when compared to sod. Both methods have their benefits and drawbacks. If you are interested in more information, please don’t hesitate to stop by our new sales office in Ottertail, we are more than willing to discuss options with you. ~L&H
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L LAKE GIFTS
Summers in the Minnesota lakes area are magical. Whether you’re visiting for the weekend or are fortunate enough to live on a little piece of lakeshore paradise, summer days here are guaranteed to leave an impression. No matter your age, this place has a way of making you feel like a child again, and reminding you of how the simplest things can bring the most joy. Waking up to a sunrise over a body of perfectly calm water beckons you to grab your swimsuit, still damp from the day before, skip your shower, and clean off in the lake. Watching a bustling lake with pontoon parties, skiers, tubers, sail boats, and fishermen, and listening to kids laugh and dogs bark as they run down a dock and plunge into the water makes you feel alive. The call of a loon echoing across a lake as the sun puts on an evening show before settling into the horizon, never fails to give you goosebumps. A night spent gazing at a sky lit up with stars as a fire crackles and the waves lap at your feet will always make you glad to be alive.
A day at a Minnesota lake will leave you curling up at night in bedding that has the unexplainable smell of a lake cabin, with a sore body, feet that are still being broken in, and skin that feels tight from a day in the sun; but it will also leave you with a feeling of both peacefulness and excitement. A feeling that I believe can only be experienced here. A Minnesota lake community is its own little world in the summer, hazy from heat, drawing you in with an atmosphere that feels like it must be what the “good old days” were about. Where American flags gently flap in a warm breeze and people walk down sidewalks of streets that were quiet and snow covered just months ago, but are now alive with the excitement of summer. Those same streets will see parade floats and little hands reaching in a frenzy for candy, feet tapping to the beat of live music at street dances, and will be lit up with fireworks on the Fourth of July. Those streets hold shops where you can find the kind of clothing and accessories that can’t be found in a “box store,” beautiful décor, much of it handmade in the area,
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and antiques that are second to none. Visiting and looking for souvenirs? On the streets of any lake community, you’ll find shops full of items that will encapsulate just how special this place is. Those same streets are lined with a wide array of dining options, breweries and unique ice cream stores and candy shops. In any lake community, you’ll find garden centers that stretch on forever, where plants weren’t hauled in on a truck, but were carefully grown right in the soil they’re being sold on. There’s no doubt this place is unique. The businesses here are, too. The people who run them are extraordinarily talented and they know how to add to your experience at the lake, because they live it. Those people and businesses are the reason that these Minnesota lake communities hold so much charm, and they are without a doubt worth a visit. Here, we’ve highlighted some of the unique businesses that the Minnesota lakes area has to offer. ~L&H
The Market 120 S Union Ave • Fergus Falls • 218-998-3663 122 Lake Ave S • Battle Lake • 218-864-2555 The Market is a gift store located in downtown Fergus Falls with a sister store in Battle Lake. We carry a broad range of categories such as kitchen, home décor, bath, kids, jewelry and accessories, art, candles, essential oils, specialty foods and more. What makes us unique is we offer a variety of products, all in one location, which has made the Market a popular destination. We also provide complimentary gift wrap with purchase. The Market strives to give great customer service while providing our customers an enjoyable shopping experience.
Neverwinter Clothing Co + Gifts Battle Lake, MN Located on Main Street Battle Lake, in the heart of lakes country, Neverwinter Clothing Co + Gifts is open for the season. We have created a branded style perfect for those hot summer days and cool fall nights. You will love the superior quality and comfortable feel of our custom lake and state apparel. Hoodies, T-shirts, tank tops and more for the entire family. We have a great selection of gifts as well!
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Periwinkle 218-367-3900 | 328 MN Hwy 78, Ottertail, MN Welcome to Periwinkle! Periwinkle Marketplace is an Ottertail city shopping favorite. Find women’s clothing, jewelry, kids, home décor, and all things lake! Check out our vendors section! You’ll find clothing, furniture and all sorts of rustic vintage and repurposed finds. See more on our Facebook page! Open 7 Days a Week – Monday through Sunday 10am to 5pm
Lake & Home Magazine lakeandhomemagazine.com/subscribe Fergus Falls, MN The perfect gift for any lake lover a subscription to Lake & Home Magazine. Find articles on building, remodeling, landscaping, interior design and more! Plus every issue showcases 2-3 feature homes.
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
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décor with a lake theme, which includes personalized lake signs, lake map jar candles, cribbage boards, 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
Roofing Choosing the Right
HOME IMPROVEMENT
Learn more at buildwithrise.com
AsphaltShingles
what is it? Asphalt roofing is typically laid as rectangular shingles. This is perhaps one of the most widely adopted roofs in North America, but only because of its lower cost.
what to look for AVERAGE COST
$2.5 - $3 per sq ft
LIFESPAN
15 - 20 Years
ClayRoof Tiles what is it?
Flat or wavy, rectangular tiles made of clay, composite, or metal materials, laid horizontally from the bottom edge of a roof upwards, with each new row overlapping the previous one.
what to look for Clay tiles give a beautiful appearance to your roof. Look for the distinctive red clay color, although other earth colors like brown, cream, and gray are available, too.
Look for as light a color as possible, especially in hot climates. Better yet, look for a longerlasting and more reflective roofing material.
Terra cotta clay tiles have the color baked into them, so they won’t change color over time, while just-clay or cement tiles will change color in the sun. Clay tiles are heavy, so ensure that your roof structure can support the weight. Look for locally-produced clay tiles where available, because they are also heavy to ship. Tile roofing that simulates clay tiles is also available made from cement or composite polymer materials. These simulated clay tiles can be lighter, but are harder to recycle when they come to the end of their use on the building.
Composite Shingles
what is it?
Composite shingles are made from various different materials and can be made to look like slate, wood or terra cotta roofing.
what to look for AVERAGE COST
Varies
LIFESPAN
50 Years or more
Find out what material the composite is made from, whether there is recycled content or whether it is recyclable. Consider the longevity and long-term maintenance needs of the various available types of siding
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sustainable features Asphalt shingles are affordable, and can be repaired, but they don’t last as long as metal or tile roofs. Asphalt, being dark, also absorbs solar radiation, causing overheating of the roof and attic spaces and contributing to the urban heat island effect that raises the temperature in cities. It’s not considered the most sustainable roofing material.
AVERAGE COST
$5 - $10 per sq ft
LIFESPAN
70+ Years
or roofing shingles. Composite shingles may have installation instructions that are product specific!
sustainable features Composite shingles or shakes can be made from recycled content, like recycled asphalt roof shingles, wood, or plastics. They can also be durable and long lasting, without requiring additional maintenance or treatment.
ConcreteRoof Tiles what is it?
Flat, rectangular tiles made of concrete and laid horizontally from the bottom edge of a roof upwards, with each new row overlapping the previous one. Roof tiles work for roofs with a relatively steep slope.
what to look for Concrete roof tiles are often made to look like clay roof tiles, and come in a wide variety of colors, so you can choose what you like for the style of your home. Look for a good warranty and a roofing contractor with good references. Note that, like all tile roofs, concrete tiles require at least a medium slope and are not for low-slope or nearly flat roofs.
sustainable features Concrete roof tiles are durable, and lighter than slate roof tiles, and they can be returned to the earth, just as stone, when you are done with them. However, production of concrete takes a lot of energy and generates a lot of greenhouse gas emissions.
fun facts Tiles have been used on roofs for more than 5,000 years, but making them from concrete started in Bavaria in the 1800s.
AVERAGE COST
$5 - $10 per sq ft
LIFESPAN
40+ Years
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CorrugatedMetal what is it?
Roofing material made of metal, typically galvanized steel with an enamel coating in a variety of colors.
AVERAGE COST
$7 - $10 per sq ft
LIFESPAN
80+ Years
what to look for Is the pitch of your roof sufficiently steep for metal roofing? Note that corrugated metal roofing should typically be installed on a sloped roof, with a pitch of at least 2 in 12. And when choosing a color, light colors will save more energy on air conditioning in the heat of summer, and decrease your contribution to the urban heat island effect, by reflecting away more sunlight.
EPDM White Rubber what is it?
EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Terpolymer) is a type of rubber that can be used as a waterproof membrane of a flat or low slope roof. EPDM is typically black, but going with a white color can have energy savings. White roofs are sometimes called cool roofs.
what to look for Look for the Energy Star rating label. Energy Star rated low slope roofs must have an initial solar reflectance greater than or equal to
0.65 and after 3 years or weathering and sun exposure, the solar reflectance must still be greater than 0.50.
sustainable features Using white rubber reflects solar energy, rather than absorbing it like a typical black EPDM rubber roof. In hot climates this can reduce the amount of air conditioning required to cool a building. Note that in cooler climates, a white roof can actually result in higher heating costs!
what is it?
Flashing underlayment is a metal layer placed under shingles to protect the roof from water and other natural elements.
$1.50 - $2 per linear foot
LIFESPAN
30 - 60 Years
sustainable features
Metal roofs are durable, completely recyclable, and fire resistant. Many metal roofs can earn an Energy Star rating based on their reflectivity factor (rather than absorbing sunlight like a conventional asphalt roof), which decreases summer overheating and air condition energy consumption. This type of roofing will perform even better when installed with an air space behind to promote ventilation.
Roof
RoofFlashing
AVERAGE COST
Roof
what to look for Look for durable materials, typically metals such as galvanized steel, zinc, copper, or even stainless steel. Avoid flashing made of lead where possible, because lead is a toxic element when it is released into the environment.
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AVERAGE COST
$5 - $10 per sq ft
LIFESPAN
25 - 30 Years
sustainable features A necessary component of your roof system, extending the life of your building by preventing water leaks.
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SlateRoof Tiles what is it?
AVERAGE COST
$10 - $30 per sq ft
LIFESPAN
100+ Years
A long-traditional roofing method using stone tiles of natural slate laid in horizontal rows from the bottom edge of a roof upwards, with each new row overlapping the previous one. Slate is a foliated, metamorphic rock formed in ancient riverbeds. It is easily split into thin slabs making it a useful stone for chalkboards, pool tables, siding and flooring as well.
what to look for Slate tiles are heavy, so the structural support of the roof must be strong enough to carry them. Also, slate tiles work for medium to steep sloped roofs, not for low slope or flat
Solar Roof what is it?
Shingles
Solar roof shingles are photovoltaic (electricity-generating) modules in the form of roof shingles that can be integrated right into your regular shingled roof to generate solar power.
what to look for Solar roof shingles come in a variety of shapes, sizes and dark colors. They are increasingly compatible with various shingle styles, like
roofs. Be sure to select fasteners that will last as long as the roofing. Copper nails are commonly used because they do not react with water (rust free!). They do, however, react with the atmosphere and the exterior layer will oxidize to create a greenish black layer of copper-oxide that will protect the structural integrity of the nails.
sustainable features A roofing material that lasts for centuries, and is repairable. Slate can be reused or returned to the earth when the building is deconstructed. Slate tiles are also fireproof, so they can protect a home from forest fires that may sweep through an area.
Spanish, modern, slate, etc. Take a look at the price and the solar electricity output. They can sometimes be more expensive than regular solar panels and regular roofing combined, but you may find the look to be worth it.
sustainable features Solar roof shingles generate clean electricity from the sun, and do double-duty by keeping rain out of your house. Two-for-one!
AVERAGE COST
$3.50 - $4.50 per watt installed
LIFESPAN
30+ Years
Standing SeamMetal what is it?
AVERAGE COST
$6 - $15 per sq ft
LIFESPAN
100+ Years
Roofing material made of metal, typically galvanized steel, copper, or zinc, with the seams between sheets crimped together and standing a few centimeters above the roof surface. Standing seam roofs are distinctive because the crimped seams can cover all the screws and nails that fasten them to the roof, leaving a smooth and leakproof surface.
what to look for Look for the material that works best for you - steel, zinc, and copper are some of the available metals. The steel products come in many different colors, coated in enamel. Look for a light color, because it will reflect
Roof
summer heat away from your home, saving energy on air conditioning and decreasing your contribution to urban heat island effect. Consider the track record of the installing company, asking for references from customers.
sustainable features Metal roofs are durable, completely recyclable, and fire resistant. Many metal roofs can earn an Energy Star rating based on their reflectivity factor (rather than absorbing sunlight like a conventional asphalt roof), which decreases summer overheating and air condition energy consumption. This type of roofing will perform even better when installed with an air space in behind to promote ventilation.
Wood Roof Shakes what is it?
Wood shingles are a thin, tapered piece of wood that are used to cover sloped roofs. This type of roofing is known for its unique, natural look. Note the difference between shingles and shakes. Modern shingles are precisely milled which makes them easier to install. Shakes are the predecessor to shingles and were made by splitting logs or a block of wood. Modern shakes are typically split on one side and sawn on the other. The smooth, split side of a shake makes it more resistant to water penetration, but their irregular shapes make them more difficult to install so that wind-blown water may penetrate the gaps.
what to look for When sourcing your shingles or shakes, look for locally harvested, Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified wood.
Learn more at buildwithrise.com
or Shingles
The installation is just as important as the material used. There are many techniques for flashing wood shingle or shake roofs so that water doesn’t enter around the roof apex, valleys, skylights or chimneys. As well, be aware of the other materials used; for example, nails or staples for fastening the shakes should be stainless steel. Shingles or shakes may also be installed with roofing felt paper laid in-between each layer to prevent water from entering through any gaps that might be created as the shingles weather. Wood shakes and shingles come in various grades (letters or numbers). They may be Grade A, B, C, or D, or Number 1, 2, 3 or 4, with Grade A and Number 1 being the most ‘clear’ or knot-free. High-grade shingles are also called ‘clear shingles’ and are the best choice for roofing. They may also be pre-stained or coated to prevent moss and mildew growth and if so, be sure to check what type of finish was used. Low-grade
(Grade D) shingles have many knots and are meant to be used for other purposes, like construction shims or indoor finishing.
sustainable features Wood shakes and shingles are typically made from cedar or redwood and can be sourced locally and depending on the finish used (stain or paint) they can also be fully biodegradable.
AVERAGE COST
$30 - $80 per bundle
LIFESPAN
30 - 40 Years
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D
LAKES AREA DINING
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F
FEATURE HOME
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Mike and Carol Schafer built every inch of their sunny beach house on Pelican Lake from scratch. Designing their own dream home might not be something every couple is capable of doing, but the Schafers are experts at it by now. “We always have,” Mike says simply. “This is our fourth one on this lake. And Carol’s got such an eye for design.” The couple had worked with Kathleen Frances Interiors in Excelsior on their previous homes, so reuniting to design build this one was easy. Over time, this homeowner and designer dream team has refined a look that’s so consistently covetable that the new owners of their previous home on Pelican bought the house and everything in it – right down to the curtain rods and cutlery. While this is a big compliment, it also made moving into their new home in April 2018 eventful for some unforeseen reasons. “We came in without anything – not even a garden hose. And then she got to design it from scratch,” explains Mike. “It sounds like it would be cool, but it was a lot of shopping. We had to pick out everything. The day we
moved in, we ordered a pizza and we couldn’t even cut it. We didn’t have a knife or a pizza cutter! We left it at the other one.” Carol laughs. “We didn’t think that one through,” she says sheepishly. That might have been the only thing the Schafers didn’t think through completely. The couple knew they wanted this home to have a completely different look, one that made the most of stellar views and the large lot’s unique features. “Our last place on Pelican was really lodgey, so if we were going to move, I wanted it to look totally different – more cottage, just beachy looking,” says Carol. “The lot really warranted that, because it’s a lot of just nice sand, no rocks.” 72 Lake & Home Magazine JULY / AUGUST 2019
Mike, recently retired from the construction industry, took those goals and started working on a plan. When the couple was confident in the home’s design, they took it to Gary Severson at Structures International in Nisswa. “We discussed it, Carol and I, and then took it to him and said ‘we need a napkin drawing so we can get a permit,’” says Mike. “He really helped. He really thinks outside of the box. He placed the house so you don’t see the neighbors when you’re out on the deck.
“. . . if we were going to move, I wanted it to look totally different - more cottage, just beachy looking.” homeowner - Carol Schafer
Severson agrees with the basic facts of this assessment. But he thinks Mike is selling himself — and his role in the project — short.
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“All designs start with the site,” Severson explains. ”Because you have to orientate all the daytime rooms into the sunlight so that it gets morning and evening sun.” The group settled on a “Y” shaped design so the family could take in both the sunrise and sunset. The layout worked with the light, bright, beach house aesthetic and met the family’s goals. “The problem was trying to fit it to the site so they’d have privacy because it was just one big open lot when we started,” says Severson. “I came up with that shape to kind of hide the neighbors and maximize the view, trying to create privacy on a sugar sand beach that was really deep and to create privacy on a fairly standard lot.”
“We wanted a lot of light. When you walk in the front door, you see all lake.” homeowner - Mike Schafer
“Mike took a hold of that plan,” insists Severson. “He generated the entire house, he found the best subs, he worked with them hand in hand,” says Severson. “Truthfully, it’s Mike’s love. All I did was amplify his feelings. And that’s perfect. That’s the way a cabin should be.”
Severson does agree that the placement of the home presented the biggest challenge, though. This is the case with any lake home, but especially so with the lot the Schafers purchased, which offered excellent views of Breezy Point and the island and that welcoming and sandy beach, but also very little privacy.
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The 3,100-square-foot home’s design revolves around a great room that allows sunlight to stream into the combination kitchen, dining room and living room. It’s anchored by the first of two dramatic fireplaces, making it a welcoming conversation spot in all seasons. “It’s kind of the heart of the whole home, says Carol. “Everybody gathers there.” The kitchen’s polished granite countertops gleam, while white cabinets seem almost luminescent in the light. All of the walls are painted the same shade, Sherwin Williams’ “Moonlight White,” for a sleek, contemporary look that amplifies the natural light and lets the views take center stage. “We wanted a lot of light,” says Mike. “When you walk in the front door, you see all lake.”
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“No matter if it’s a gray day, it just seems bright,” agrees Carol. The couple worked with Kathleen Frances Interiors to coordinate every tiny detail. Floors in the main living spaces are heated ceramic tile that looks like wood, for a warm and comfortable feeling with minimal maintenance. All electrical outlets have hidden screws for a sleek, minimalist look. “It’s a smart home, so everything’s electronic on your phone,” says Mike. “All the drapes go up and down on buttons, all the fireplace and lights can be programed, all the thermostats are controlled through phones.” Even the home’s three bathrooms are high tech. They contain touchless toilets with heated seats, which have been known
to amuse and impress guests, including the couple’s grandson, who is a big fan. There’s one detail in the home that’s especially unique. Carol saw it in a magazine and knew it would be the perfect addition to her kitchen. But it’s so subtle, that it usually takes a minute for it to catch a visitor’s eye. “We made the cabinets see-through so they could see back through to the woods,” explains Severson. “It’s so unique,” says Carol. “If I have to be prepping or cooking, having that big expanse of windows is amazing.” Transparent cabinets was just one of the ways that the couple and their architect collaborated with Craig Ethen of Alpine Cabinetry in St. Cloud. Ethen says that the seethrough cabinets stumped him at first, but in the end, they were among the most unique cabinets he’s ever created. 76 Lake & Home Magazine JULY / AUGUST 2019
“I’d never put cabinets over a window,” he says “What a beautiful touch that turned out to be! I can usually answer questions just about spot-on about designs and how to build something, but I had to literally sit there for a minute or two and think about the whole scheme, the install, the logistics, the overall look. It’s a beautiful touch with all the light coming through.” The design team also collaborated on several other design elements, including a dramatic fireplace with a custom mantel in the great room and the distinctive ceilings in the great room, sunroom and master bedroom. “We didn’t want the cathedral vaulted ceiling with beam and wood,” says Mike. “We decided to go up a coffered ceiling – it comes up at an angle and then goes flat. Eric painted the beams the white trim color. But the main part of the house, there’s no sheetrock. It’s all wood except for our bedroom.”
Projects like these were an ongoing collaboration between Alpine Cabinetry, Structures International, Kathleen Frances Interiors and the homeowners. But since all five major players had plenty of experience, ideas flowed freely and organically between them. “There was a lot of creativity there,” says Ethen. “We were working hand in hand with Mike and Carol on the home. We would do some designs, then Mike would run it past Kathleen and Gary to make sure the styling of the home was headed in the direction they wanted.” The group got creative when it came to arranging the two guest bedrooms as well. Mike and Carol are retired and divide their time between Little Canada, Bonita Springs, Fla., and their Pelican Lake cabin. They knew they wanted their lake home to be both a soothing retreat for them and a gathering place for their extended family, which includes their son Travis, his wife Audrey and their kids Eva (5) and Mila (2), as well as their daughter Tara, her husband Steve and their children, Carolynn (17), Klorissa (13) and Brock (12).
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“Mike wanted to make sure there was plenty of room for everybody, so upstairs the bedrooms have extra bunks and a trundle type bed craftily put into place to follow the ceiling lines,” says Ethen. “You could sleep six per room with kids. It’s a great use of space, lots of clean lines and white paint.” Ease of use and a consistent visual style link other rooms in the house as well. The sunroom is separated from the great room by a sliding glass door, which makes it easy to move between the two spaces when entertaining. A shielded courtyard helps the family spend time outdoors when the lake breezes might otherwise make it a little too chilly. Other areas of the home are also situated to maximize views, improve function and work with the elements. North Fork Boulders & Excavating in Pine River installed shrubs and landscaping to increase the beauty of the outdoor living space and preserve privacy. The company also created a 12-inch deep retaining wall out of flat stone along the beach, where a raft and diving board attract the grandkids like magnets. Porches are designed to use every moment of natural light.
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“We set up the entry with the larger porch to be into the western sunset where there might be breezes coming off the lake that might be comfortable,” says Severson. This porch compliments another space just inside that sees a lot of use. “We’ve got a back kitchen that’s got a dishwasher, a wine rack, a fridge and a smaller sink than the main kitchen,” says Mike. “And it’s got a little oven back there.” “It’s a nice area to prep things and it’s perfect for when we’re going out to the lake with the pontoon because we can fill the cooler right there,” adds Carol. “There’s a side patio and back door so we can just go right down to the lake.”
Lake and pontoon access is especially important, because when friends and grandkids are visiting, the days are full. Although the schedule might be a little different day to day – a golf outing for Mike, his son and son-in-law, or a kayaking excursion or trip to Nisswa with the whole family, the morning routine when the grandkids are at the cabin is a cherished family tradition. “The first thing we do when we get up in the morning is get the donuts and the chocolate milk and get out on the pontoon in our pajamas until they make a total mess of the pontoon,” says Mike happily. “Then we come in and go tubing forever.” This kind of easy togetherness is exactly what Mike and Carol Schafer set out to create when they designed their dream home on
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Pelican Lake. The couple built more than a house – they built a place to create memories. “You want that fellowship,” says Severson. “I’ve found that people put more love into their cabin than any house they’ve ever owned. That’s where they share the good times with their family. The lake home is your heritage home, the one where you can spend time together.” ~L&H
“The bedrooms have extra bunks and a trundle type bed craftily put into place to follow the ceiling lines.�
Craig Ethen - Alpine Cabinetry
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FEATURE HOME
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amily farmland near Ashby provided the perfect backdrop and location to build a “Forever Home” on Melby Lake.
“This piece of property has been in my family for several generations,” says Erin Peterson, “and we plan to keep it in the family for generations to come.” Erin’s husband, Justin Eberhardt, designed the house on the 25-acre lot. “When we first started thinking about building a home here almost 10 years ago, it was in the middle of the woods, so we had a blank slate,” says Justin. “After clearing out trees, we settled on an exact location and then lived in Ashby while we figured out where to start.” Justin and Erin met in college at the University of Minnesota-Duluth, where Justin studied engineering and worked for a building designer. Although his career path led him in a different direction (he currently teaches math at Alexandria Technical and Community College), he says he always enjoyed the designing.
Erin focused on medical school, and Justin says they always knew they would be back in Ashby. Her time as a doctor of internal medicine is split between clinics in her hometown and in Fergus Falls. Lakeside Lumber of Ashby supplied the materials for this home, and co-owner Heather Rossum, who has known Erin and Justin for a long time, says it’s rare for homeowners to design their own homes. “But Justin had that design experience, and they knew right away what they wanted,” she says. “The house is gorgeous, the setting is ideal, and it’s all about family and connections.” After clearing some of the land and putting in a long, winding driveway leading to the spot where they wanted the house, Justin says they interviewed a couple builders, and ended up using Erin’s cousin, who owns Dan Barbre Construction in Battle Lake.
This piece of property has been in my family for several generations, and we plan to keep it in the family for generations to come."
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homeowner, Erin Peterson
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“Even though he was a relative, we felt Dan was the best one to go with,” says Justin. “It was convenient that he was from Battle Lake, and it was also important for me to have a builder who could act as a general contractor. I needed someone who could look out for our interests and take charge of the project.” Many people might assume that mixing work and family can tend to be a headache, but Barbre claims they’re probably one of the best customers he’s ever had.
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With no space restrictions on the large piece of property, he also incorporated a unique angle between the house and the attached garage, giving it more character and also making the garage more easily accessible.
The Interior:
While the exterior was influenced by Scandinavian architecture, it’s not quite as easy to define a specific style for the interior. Various elements inside the home stand out, like the white woodwork in the open kitchen and the extensive ship lap in the dining room. “Initially, we didn’t think we would go with an open concept, but then we realized that having the house open between the kitchen, the living room and the loft makes it feel like we have a lot of space to move around in,” says Justin. “And the focal point right in the center of that open space is a natural stone fireplace.” A loft above the entryway provides an area where their 2-year-old son can play with his toys. “With the openness, even when he’s up there and one of us is downstairs in the kitchen, it still seems like we’re all together and part of the conversation.”
“Issues that came up were solved easily, and they were very understanding with the process, even when we had quite a bit of rain that caused delays,” he says. “It’s all Justin’s design, and when he came to me with the plans, we made a few small tweaks, and it all worked out phenomenally.”
The Exterior:
When Justin and Erin traveled to Sweden several years ago, they both loved the countryside where all the farms, cabins and cottages were red and white, so that’s where his design began.
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Railings:
The wide expanse of white stair railing leading up to the loft is striking. “Our initial desire to have the loft area open to the area below led us to wondering where we should put railing,” says Justin. “We decided we should put railing everywhere!”
One challenge of that railing that Barbre and his crew accepted was the distinctive landing. “We ran steel beams out that carried the load of the landing, and we had to be sure there was no flex in it, because if it moves at all, the sheetrock would crack,” Barbre explains. “The dramatic effect is that it basically ‘floats’ in the air instead of having supports under it.”
Flooring:
When Justin and Erin walked into Seland’s Flooring Center in Fergus Falls to choose their wood floor, they picked the one they liked the best – a wide plank white oak with a natural oil finish. “It’s an absolutely beautiful floor, but turned out to be a little difficult to obtain,” Heather explains. “They had no idea that it was from France, and it literally had to be shipped over here from Europe on a barge.” According to Justin, however, it’s turned out to be one of the most recognizable features in the home that “jumps out at you.”
Barnwood, Beams & Bathrooms:
Large wood beams salvaged from a 100-year-old barn on Erin’s family farm accentuate the high ceilings. “The ancient barn fell over more than nine years ago, but before they buried it, I spent a couple weeks out there and salvaged as much as I could,” says Justin. “I hooked up the tractor to the big beams for the ceiling and hauled them out of there.”
The mantel on the stone fireplace is also made from the salvaged wood. In addition, Justin collected a number of 8-to-12-inch wide pine boards from the roof that he says were used for attaching the shingles. It was important for him to install those boards himself. “You wouldn’t find wood like that anywhere else,” he says. “I left a natural finish on them, cut them, and lined the walls in the guest bathroom for a very unique look.”
Energy Conscious:
Conserving energy was very important to these homeowners, and even the siding on the house is insulated. “It’s one of the ‘tightest’ houses I’ve ever seen as far as being efficient,” Barbre claims. “All the insulation is spray foamed, and the home has a dual fuel heating and cooling system.” Working with Otter Tail Power, Justin supports wind power through the Tailwinds Program, and he also drives a Tesla car 60 miles per
It s one of the ‘ tightest houses I’ve ever seen as far as being efficient." “ ’ ’
Dan Barbre Dan Barbre Construction
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day from the Ashby home to Alexandria. The electric-powered car does need to be charged every evening, so Dan installed a special charging station in the garage, with an additional electrical panel. “I’ve had my business in Battle Lake since 2008,” says Barbre, “but this was definitely the first house I built where I put in a Tesla charging station!”
Space to Expand:
“One of our goals was to try and build a ‘forever home’ that will easily adapt to our needs as we go through life,” says Erin. “All the current living space is on the main floor, with room to expand above the garage and in the lower level if we need it. That would also make it easier, as we get older, to someday scale down the living space.”
She can’t think of anything they wish they had done differently in building this home. “One of our favorite things about the home and the location is how immersed we are in nature here. We are on a bit of a promontory, so the water surrounds us, offering beautiful views. The sunsets are often spectacular, and we see wildlife on a daily basis.”
Outdoor Space:
This active family takes advantage of the wide-open outdoors around them, and Erin says that almost every day they will go for a run, a hike, or head out skiing, biking or snowshoeing as a family. At this location, they can do any of those things from their front door. An experienced international cross-country ski racer, Justin has groomed and maintained 2 kilometers of ski trails through the woods on their property, plus he grooms a little bit more out on the lake.
“He has already done a lot of work cutting in ski and hiking trails, and he has plans to add more in the future,” says Erin. “He even has the trails rigged with permanent lighting, so we can go skiing after dark.” While Melby Lake is admittedly quite small, when they look out their windows, they also see rolling hills through the trees, along with a small pond. “From every single window in the house, we can see water,” says Justin. “It feels like an island.”
Completion:
Is there an end in sight for the improvements or upgrades for this house? “I don’t think our home will ever be finished,” Erin adds with a laugh. “I anticipate we’ll always be working on some sort of project on the house or the property for the rest of our lives.” ~L&H
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FEATURE HOME
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itting on a one-and-a-half-acre lot, this one story, 4,800-squarefoot Tuscan home is as cozy as it gets.
With four bedrooms, and plenty of places for the homeowners and their visitors to hang out, this home on Lobster Lake is one you may never want to leave. When homeowners, Al and Judy began the process of designing their home, they first made a rough drawing of what they wanted the house to look like and then went to Simonson Lumber & Hardware in Fargo, ND to create the architectural drawings. Simonson’s then took the drawings and built a model of the home so that Al and Judy could look at it in 3D, allowing them to see the house complete before they even began building.
After the plans were completed, Al and Judy went to Hilltop Lumber in Alexandria, and it was there that they learned of Gene Kotzenmacher Construction. “[Gene] was fabulous,” the homeowners said. “We didn’t have any change orders because we had everything designed the way we wanted it. [We] cannot say enough good things about him.” “What was so great is that Gene has such a [good] relationship with [sub-contractors such as] the plumber and the electrician, so when he was ready for them to come in, they were here. He didn’t have to wait for them,” they said. “They came when they were supposed to and got things done.” The interior of the home was designed by homeowner, Judy, who owns Interior Affairs and specializes in custom window treatments, bedding, furniture, area rugs, blinds, and accessories.
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The great room, with its gas fireplace made of Silver Creek Ledge stone surrounded by built-in stained knotty alder shelving, begs you to sit down and relax next to it. “It is cozy, and that was my purpose when I designed our home,” said Judy. “I wanted it to be comfortable and homey, so if someone comes to visit, they would feel like they are welcome and that they are at home.” The flooring throughout much of the main floor of the home is stained scraped Mayan Pecan. There are also French doors that lead out to a stone Juliet deck off the great room.
“I wanted it to be comfortable and homey, so if someone comes to visit, they would feel like they are welcome and that they are at home.” Judy - homeowner
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Off the great room is the dining room. “I wanted a table big enough so our whole family can sit down for a holiday dinner,” Judy said. “I like entertaining and cooking, and it is so much fun to sit and enjoy a meal together.” Looking into the kitchen from the great room you’ll quickly notice the stunning Silver Creek Ledge stone archway, a dynamic addition to the home that the homeowners found in a magazine. It took some time to figure out how to make the idea come to life, but after adding some brick to the structure underneath, the result turned out absolutely beautifully. In the center of the kitchen is an island with black painted cabinets and a walnut countertop. The rest of the kitchen cabinets are painted and glazed in a soft white, with bronze hardware and granite countertops. The black glass refrigerator, dishwasher, and double stove stand out in beautiful contrast to the light cabinets and the stone backsplash. The kitchen also includes a built-in gas range, and a Blanco Silgranit-Anthracite sink that the homeowners love because it is both beautiful and easy to maintain. Next to the kitchen is a large pantry, a place where the homeowners can store food, extra dishes, special glassware, and small countertop kitchen appliances.
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“I use it a lot when I’m prepping,” Judy said of the space. There is also a Blanco Silgranit sink in the pantry which comes in handy when the homeowners have company over. “When we entertain, we bring the dirty dishes in there, so the kitchen isn’t cluttered.”
A step down through French doors brings you to a cozy space with two walls of windows letting in natural light and a gas fireplace on the far end with an old fashioned barn wood mantel. Above head is a dynamic ceiling covered in dark stained knotty pine.
The pantry also has a sliding door that allows the homeowners to close off the space if needed.
The master bedroom has an indented tray ceiling, adding a unique touch to the space.
“That’s my favorite room in the whole house. I absolutely love it.”
“We have a beautiful view of the lake, and we wake up to that every morning.” Judy continued, “And at night we see the moon glistening off the lake.”
Also off the kitchen is a beautiful three season sunroom. “If you put the fireplace on, you can be out there in the winter time, too,” Judy said.
“We have a beautiful view of the lake, and we wake up to that every morning. And at night we see the moon glistening off the lake.”
Judy - homeowner
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The master bathroom includes New Venetian Gold granite countertops and RagnoCalabria tile flooring.
“I can’t say enough good things about her [Melonee Lamb]. She was out here for two weeks painting. She is just phenomenal. She made my house what it is.”
Judy had fun working with a friend of hers at McArthur Tile Co. in Fargo picking out the Ragno-Calabria tile for the walk-in shower and designing the layout of the tiles in the space. One of the amazing design details throughout the home is the textured Tuscan faux painting done by Paint Designs based out of Carlos, Minn. Judy had a design detail in mind for the walls, but she wasn’t sure who she was going to find in the area to complete it for her.
Judy - homeowner
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After a visit to the local Sherwin Williams, she was connected with the owner of Paint Designs, Melonee Lamb, and visited Lamb’s home to see her work first hand. “Our decorative painting company works directly with clients and collaborates with interior designers, builders, and architects to create unique high-end finishes for walls and ceilings,” said Melonee. “We never know for certain where we might be working next, but working with clients who desire our luxurious finishes keeps our work so interesting.” The dining room ceiling is a shade of copper, and the office walls were done to match the animal print rug on the floor.
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“I can’t say enough good things about her,” Judy said of Melonee. “She was out here for two weeks painting. She is just phenomenal. She made my house what it is.” Another major contributor to the project was Jerry Swedberg of Swedberg Wood Products, in Alexandria. “He is very professional, very accurate and detailed and very fun to work with,” the homeowners said of Swedberg. Swedberg Wood Products specializes in kitchen designs, custom cabinetry, and countertops and works closely with their clients to find the best options for their vision and budget. “Everybody is different,” Swedberg said. “Everybody’s budget is different, everybody’s tastes are different, so the showroom we have
here is to give people a few ideas, and then we can take it from there, helping them with designs, [and choosing] textures and colors.” Swedberg’s also puts together samples for customers, so you are sure to get what you are looking for. The lower level of the home is just as cozy as the main level and has a lot of room for visitors, allowing them to have their own space to relax as well as gather with the rest of the family. The family room includes a gas fireplace and French doors that open out to a stamped polymer limestone composite landing leading out to the backyard. “When our family comes in from the lake at the end of the day, we often play games on the game table or simply gather around the TV watching a good movie,” Al said. The space also includes a bar, complete with a Rondo Bar Sink, dishwasher, refrigerator,
“When our family comes in from the lake at the end of the day, we often play games on the game table or simply gather around the TV watching a good movie.� Al - homeowner
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and microwave. Above head is a beautiful coffered ceiling, and the countertops are made of Sandalus Leather Granite. There are three additional bedrooms in the lower level; each of them has a walk-in closet. There are also two bathrooms, one of them is easily accessible when anyone comes in from the lake and backyard, making clean up easy. When you walk out the round-top wood front door, you find yourself in an arched vestibule with Silver Creek Fieldstone walls and covered in walnut wood; a beautiful enclosed space that leads you out to the Rocky Mountain Quartzite sidewalk. The outside of the home is covered with Black Fox LP siding and walnut trim, and the twoplus car garage includes a pulldown ladder giving the homeowners easy access to the storage space overhead.
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There is no doubt there will be plenty of amazing memories made in this beautiful Tuscaninspired home on Lobster Lake.
Also on the lot is an old-fashioned gray barn with a bronze metal roof and large garage doors. This building is an excellent place for the pontoon and boats to be stored, and of course, no barn is complete without a classic sliding barn door. There are a lot of fun places for the family to spend time together, both indoors and outdoors. One of those being an outdoor kitchen that is below their bedroom on the level of the lake. It includes a bar with a grill, refrigerator, and a seating area. You can also find a place to relax underneath the sunroom near the gas fire pit, or the wood fire pit near the lake. There is no doubt there will be plenty of amazing memories made in this beautiful Tuscan-inspired home on Lobster Lake. ~L&H
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FEATURE HOME
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any reasons exist for contemplating a move: health, job changes, downsizing, or even the weather. For some, changing homes stems from a transition in life, and with the combination of an empty nest and a recent retirement, the owners of this feature home wanted a home that better reflected their evolving lifestyle.
Once the decision was made, a list of desirables emerged that defined what the couple sought in a new property. With travel on their minds, they wanted to relocate from central Minnesota closer to the airport. Being away from their home for extended periods, however, spurred their desire to have a comprehensive security system with cameras, systems monitoring, and remote control of lights, climate, and access to the home. Their children had started lives in the Twin Cities, and that also played a role in determining a location.
In regard to the specific attributes of a property, they wanted seclusion and privacy, some acreage with good views, and a place that would lure their children with their families back to visit. Lastly, access to fine dining and restaurant variety were motivating factors. “In the spring of 2017 I started looking,” he said. “I probably looked at 15 to 20 homes in the western suburbs and I wasn’t real happy with what I was seeing.” That frustration led to considering land and a build from the ground up. “I thought, ‘It’s going to take another year or two before I would have a home if I were to purchase land and then build a house from scratch,’ as I had no plans and nothing identified for design.” Then their realtor called with an offer to see a home that had not yet hit the market. “We said, ‘Yeah, we’ll go take a look at it.’ And as I was driving up the long, curved driveway lined with evergreens, I thought to myself: ‘This is the place.’”
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The couple had looked at homes exceeding 14,000 square feet and didn’t want that much space. Moving from a home of roughly 4,500 square feet, this home fit at just over 8,000 including the carriage house. “It was just the right size and was all on the same floor,” he said. “The layout flows really nicely with room in all the right areas, and it wraps around the pool and patio area so you can access it from just about any area of the home. It just stuck out to us as being the place that we thought we’d want to live.”
assembling a team
Once they finalized acquisition of the property, the couple turned their attention to putting their stamp on the place. The first call was to a trusted craftsman. Tischler Wood Products (tischlermn.com), based in the greater St. Cloud area, had previously constructed custom cabinets for the couple’s home. “I said, ‘Hey, I bought this house and we’re going to be doing a bunch of
“I liked the work they do. They have a couple of guys that have worked at my home. They’re responsive, they’re knowledgeable, and they explain things well.” homeowner on working with J. Becher & Associates
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remodeling in there, and I really want you to do the cabinets.’” The cabinetmaker, Bryan Becker, asked the couple two questions: First, are you interested in a recommendation for a designer, and then do you have a construction manager? The construction manager was Lee Cornelius, an independent contractor, and the designer was Bruce Kading of Bruce Kading Interior Design in Minneapolis (brucekading.com). The three contractors had worked together on many projects and had developed a good rapport. The final piece was J. Becher & Associates, an electrical contractor that also has a lowvoltage division specializing in alarm systems, systems monitoring, audio-visual technology, and automation. Becher was also involved in the couple’s previous remodel and ongoing upgrades, installing quite a bit of security and audio-visual equipment. “I liked the work they do,” he said. “They have a couple of guys that
have worked at my home. They’re responsive, they’re knowledgeable, and they explain things well.” As purchased, the home was finished in Western style with generous use of stone and rough-hewn wood. “It was just an absolutely fantastic property,” said Kading. It was just 12 years old, and had plenty of amenities, including a lake, a pond, and a pool. “There were some things that we liked and some things that we didn’t like,” said the homeowner. “My wife and I have been through a remodel before and lived through it, and I didn’t want to live through it this time. As we discussed it, we decided we were going to go all out and do it the way we want to do this house.”
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the makeover
In early conversations, the word traditional must have come up because the first design Kading produced was very traditional in nature, which left the couple uninspired. After some continuing discussion, they zeroed in on French country styling. “When Bruce came back with the design, we knew right away that is what we wanted.” Kading got to work making over the exterior. “We recycled the outside of the house to make it look more French,” he said. “We remortared all the stone outside of the house the way the French would have done the mortar. We put balconies on the carriage house and on the main house. We’ve done some fancy railings and gates out of a really French-looking ironwork, and leaded glass windows that are more traditional and French.” Inside the home, the bathrooms got a refresh, the fireplaces were rebuilt, and the paneling
was darkened to be consistent with the worn appearance of French country style. Those improvements led to the floors. “We were going to keep all the original wood flooring,” said the homeowner. “We were going to just sand it down and re-stain it. As we kept making changes, I just thought that wood floor needed to be changed. So I asked Bruce. He went to his back room right away and he pulled out a piece of wood and said, ‘This would look really nice in there.’ So we said, ‘Let’s tear out the wood floor.’” The kitchen offered the opportunity to address two significant visual features: a fireplace and the refrigerator. For these, Kading turned to woodcarver, Erik Wyckoff of Minneapolis (erikwyckoff.com) for assistance. The refrigerator was styled to look like the front of a armoire, and Wyckoff provided the detailed cartouche above the door. Likewise, he carved the mantle for the fireplace. A fine art painter was brought in to finish the faux armoire, Jennifer Kranz of Hastings, Minn. Stone was removed from a large wall and painted paneling installed, while 19th century lighting fixtures and furniture completed the transformation.
The one aspect of the house that isn’t French inspired is the bonus room, which the couple turned into an English pub with Kading’s help. “You walk up the stairway and when you get to the top, we added a bathroom,” said the homeowner, “knowing that if you are going to be hanging out there for long periods of time, you don’t want to run downstairs to use the bathroom.” Then you see the side of the bar and the tin ceiling, the bar stools and a brass foot rail. It’s big enough that you can have a number of people up there and not be crowded. The pub is a really great hangout, perfect for playing cards.
“We recycled the outside of the house to make it look more French. We remortared all the stone outside of the house the way the French would have done the mortar.” Bruce Kading Bruce Kading Interior Design
Moving to the dining room, Kading pointed out what he described as a trellis pattern on the ceiling that was painted out. “When we were done with the design feature in the ceiling, my wife looked up there and said, ‘It needs something else,’” said the homeowner. The solution was wooden florets that made the feature look finished. “That’s how things happened,” he said. “You are walking in there every two weeks and you see something you might want to change or that you might want to have happen. We were not originally going to gut the whole house, but that’s what we ultimately ended up doing.” “It is eclectic French, basically 17th century and 18th century French stuff. We had no idea we were going to get as French as we did,” said Kading. He and his wife would bring in pictures of fancy French stuff all the time. The house got fancier than originally planned.
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gaining control
In contrast to the period French décor, a modern, state-of-the-art ELAN Home Control System (elanhomesystems.com) runs throughout the house, connecting and controlling the environment and entertainment options. Initially, the couple was more concerned with security in the home. “I needed to have good security and I wanted the ability to have access to the home when I am not there, so I would know what is going on in the home all the time,” he said. “I want to be able to make sure the home is in good shape and I don’t have to have somebody there constantly to manage it—cameras and all kinds of warning systems so that if something were to happen I could get someone out there right away and get it taken care of.” According to Greg Elsner, technology manager at J. Becher & Associates, the ELAN system connects the entire house, providing surveillance cameras at the front gate and front door, controlling thermostats, activating lights, setting the temperature of the pool, extending or retracting window shades, and accessing television, audio, and streaming services. “He pretty much gave us the ability to put in what we felt was best to make the system work,” he said. The system from ELAN is open in that it is capable of talking to products from different vendors in order to create a seamless smart home system. Lighting and window systems from Lutron were used, as were heating system controls selected to be compatible with the alarm control. Some of the control operates in the background, but the results are obvious. “We also have geosensing involved,” said Elsner. “So when he pulls into his driveway, the gate opens because it recognizes his phone and that he showed up, then it will also turn off the alarm.” ELAN handheld remotes provide complete control of nearly every function of the home
“We also have geosensing involved. So when he pulls into his driveway, the gate opens because it recognizes his phone and that he showed up, then it will also turn off the alarm.” Greg Elsner Technology Manager at J. Becher & Associates
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The couple didn’t begin to consider the level of automation that was possible until the construction phase had begun. “We were standing in the kitchen one day and there were these tall windows,” he said. “I thought, ‘With the sun coming through, it is going to be hard to draw the shades up there.’” Power shade systems were installed to run shades throughout the house. Most of them were hardwired to avoid battery changes, but the homeowner was relieved to find out that the battery-powered motors only need a change every five years. Televisions and remote speakers are located throughout the house, offering seamless transitions from room to room. The controllers for the entire system are centrally located in a mechanical room. The network is set up on a zoned system that can all broadcast the same thing or operate independently. Furthermore, with the level of coordination these systems permit, every room in the house can be set up with scene settings to create different environments based on the time of day and the activity in which the homeowners are engaged. 112 Lake & Home Magazine JULY / AUGUST 2019
“You can actually say to the remote, ‘I want to watch a movie,’” said Elsner, which then adjusts the lighting, the shades, turns on the TV and sets the audio to the right channel to distribute sound. “The same remotes are used throughout the house,” said the homeowner. “If you can learn to use that one remote, you can use every remote in the house.” Even the design interacts with the technology. Twenty years ago, designers did their best to hide TVs in a room. Now that flat-screen models are so thin and so large, Kading has taken a different approach. Many of the screens in this house have been framed to look like a picture. Going one step further, Samsung Frame TVs display a user-selected piece of art when not being used.
One of the most unique TV installations in the house is the unit that sits behind the mirror in the master bath. The unit, made by Séura, looks like a normal mirror when it is off, but shows through the mirror when switched on. “The designer had already picked out the framed mirrors he wanted for the master bathroom,” said Elsner. “So we took his existing frames, took the mirrors out of them, made templates out of those mirrors and sent them to Séura. They were really unique mirrors that were custom made to make that work.” Despite the proliferation of wireless technology, Elsner actually recommends pulling wire or fiber-optic cable. “I’ve been doing this long enough to know that wireless doesn’t always work,” he said. “It is very
inexpensive to pull wire before the walls are finished. It is very expensive after the house has been remodeled.” Overall, the nine-month project turned into 18 months, but the couple got the home they envisioned. With work still progressing on landscape, exterior balconies on the carriage house, and the pool house, the home is still evolving, but Kading sees that as normal. “We always leave room to do more and to update over the years, so you can build on it,” he said. “You don’t throw it out after five or ten years and start over, it keeps getting better and better. That’s my philosophy.” ~L&H
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D
DESIGNER PORTFOLIO
When you begin a lake cottage renovation project or gather plans for a remodel or new home build, one of the earliest choices you’ll make is to decide where you’ll turn to for supplies. You have the option to go to a big box store and be just another customer in line, or you can turn to a local company like Hilltop Lumber where they will know you by name. For the past 31 years, Hilltop Lumber has not only built a solid reputation with contractors and homeowners, but is also known for having
customer service that hearkens back to an era when stores took time to care for and get to know their customers. This standard of care extends into every aspect of the Hilltop Lumber company. HOW DID HILLTOP LUMBER ORIGINATE? It was at the Thanksgiving dinner table, almost 30 years ago, when we (the Klimek family) began to discuss the need to have a building supply store in Glenwood. That conversation about a dream business soon became a reality when we purchased an old lumberyard
located on top of a hill in Glenwood in the winter of 1988. Hilltop Lumber now has locations in Alexandria, Glenwood, Parkers Prairie, Brandon and Ottertail. HOW DOES HILLTOP WORK ALONGSIDE HOMEOWNERS, BUILDERS AND DESIGNERS ON A HOME/CABIN REMODEL? We are often the first stop for many customers as they begin a project. Our experienced drafting and design departments can help create the plans for your project. The Hilltop design team can help plan the kitchen or
flooring design, and the paint department can help you coordinate and assemble the paint colors you love. The entire Hilltop Lumber team is experienced in working with homeowners, designers and architects at every stage of your project. DESCRIBE THE PHILOSOPHY OF HILLTOP IN THREE WORDS. Family, charity and innovation. HOW DOES HILLTOP CONTRIBUTE TO THE COMMUNITY? We strongly believe in giving back to the communities that support and surround our stores. Hilltop regularly donates to local school sports teams, area children’s programs, and a wide variety of charitable community organizations. Helping the next generation prepare for careers in the trade industry and carpentry is important for our growing community. We actively participate in this endeavor by providing materials well below cost to the Alexandria High School carpentry program. WHAT ITEMS WOULD PEOPLE BE SURPRISED TO LEARN THAT HILLTOP LUMBER CARRIES? Many customers are surprised with our Idea House Galleries in Alexandria and Ottertail, they feature the largest and most comprehensive Marvin Windows and Doors
display in the central lakes area. The home décor department in these two stores are equally impressive, with kitchen design centers that feature a wide variety of options for countertops, flooring and cabinetry. Another area of our company that amazes people is our rental department, it’s stocked with everything you may need to help you complete your project.
WHAT ARE YOU KNOWN FOR? We are known for carrying quality products and having employees who go above and beyond to help our customers. HOW HAVE HOME DESIGN SHOWS IMPACTED YOUR GROWTH? The interest in HGTV, social media design pages and Pinterest have all been an asset in helping customers create an initial vision for their project. At Hilltop, we have a knowledgeable team that stays current with the latest design trends, and they will help you implement your design dreams. HOW HAS YOUR ONLINE AND SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE HELPED HILLTOP? Our website, hilltoplbr.com, is a wonderful resource to use to help you see what we have to offer. We showcase the products we carry along with the services we offer to help fulfill your building or remodeling project. Hilltop Lumber can also be found on Houzz, a social media site for design and remodeling ideas.
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WHAT SETS YOUR COMPANY APART FROM YOUR COMPETITORS? Hilltop Lumber is a family-owned business and we were founded on the belief that we should treat others as we would want to be treated. This philosophy underscores how we relate to not only our team of valued employees but to each and every customer. WHAT ARE YOUR FINAL THOUGHTS YOU’D LIKE READERS TO KNOW? We are a local company that was created to serve carpenters, that has now grown to serve the lakes area in five locations: Alexandria, Glenwood, Parkers Prairie, Brandon, and Ottertail. Hilltop has been able to reach out and help our entire community by providing a family work environment that treats everyone that walks through the door like a member of our Hilltop Lumber family. We may not know your name when you walk in the door, but when your project is complete, we’ll be old friends. ~L&H HOW CAN HILLTOP HELP A HOMEOWNER START A REMODEL PROJECT? Customers often stop by our Idea House Galleries at the Alexandria and Ottertail stores to see the latest in design trends, color combinations, and actual installations of Marvin window/door options. After walking through the gallery, customers can schedule to meet with our well-trained drafting team to discuss the scope of their building project. By using 3D software, our dedicated drafting team can create the plans and provide an accurate cost estimate that will work within your budget. The Hilltop team of interior designers can then guide you through the planning process of kitchen and bath design, floor selections, and help with the finishing touches needed to make your home or cabin complete. With decades of experience, our team will set you on the right path to have a successful build or remodel.
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INSULATION
LUMBER
ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR
MASONRY
RADON TESTING & MITIGATION
ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR
QUARTZ & GRANITE
HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING
ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR
SHOWERS
FLOORING
CABINETS
MARINE / WATERCRAFT REPAIR
FLOORING
CABINETS
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LANDSCAPING
CONSTRUCTION
GARAGE DOORS
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L
FEATURED LAKE
Pelican Lake Crow Wing County
Size: 8,367 Acres Max Depth: 104 ft. County: Crow Wing Clarity: 17.6 ft. Shore Length: 27.76 mi
Pelican Lake, at 8,253 acres, is one of the largest and most popular lakes in the Brainerd area. The lake is heavily developed along most of its shoreline. There are four public accesses and a public swimming beach that provide recreational opportunities. The maximum depth is 104 feet and about 47 percent of the lake is 15 feet deep or less. Shallow water substrates consist primarily of sand, although areas of gravel, rubble, marl and silt are also common. The aquatic plant community is quite diverse, and with 38 species present, is critical to maintaining healthy fish populations. Emergent plants such as bulrush are important for shoreline protection, maintaining water quality and they provide essential spawning habitat for bass and panfish species. Submerged plants provide food and cover needed by fish and other aquatic species. Walleye fry are stocked annually into Pelican Lake and combined with natural reproduction, provide abundant, young fish sampled by fall electrofishing. Largemouth bass numbers were down from previous electrofishing surveys, but still appeared plenty abundant.
Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Northern pike numbers were near 3/gill net, which is preferable to higher catches since Pelican is managed primarily for walleyes. Average length was 22.4� with 22 percent measuring 24� or larger. Panfish numbers were average for this type of lake, but getting enough fish of quality size might be a challenge. Pelican Lake anglers and boaters should be aware that zebra mussels are present in the lake. Before and after launching, lake users are required to inspect and remove any aquatic plants and animals from their watercraft and trailers as well as pull the plug and drain all water from the watercraft, including bilges, livewells and baitwells. ~L&H
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