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Home Magazine • The Free Press • OCTOBER 2018 •
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6 26 30
Table of Contents
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6 9 20 26 28 30 34 36 41 42
A little help from our apps Making A Vision Board Fall is Cardinal season Clutter matters Dream Home program Getting your home, yard weather-ready for winter What is Profinium? Techno living Treasures Local Directory
SOUTHERN MINNESOTA
The Free Press MEDIA
VISION Boards Color me HAPPY The CHANGING FACE of Real Estate SPRING Landscaping Home Magazine • The Free Press • MAY 2018 •
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SOUTHERN MINNESOTA
Spring Issue:
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The Free Press
Fall is CARDINAL SEASON CLUTTER Matters TECHNO Living
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Home Magazine • The Free Press • OCTOBER 2018 •
On the Cover:
101 Goodyear Avenue Photo by Mankato Jordan Powers Photo by Jordan Powers Mankato Home Tours Mankato Home Tours
• OCTOBER 2018 • The Free Press • Home Magazine
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Home Magazine • The Free Press • OCTOBER 2018 •
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October 2018 | Fall/Winter Issue PUBLISHER EDITOR
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Home Magazine • The Free Press • OCTOBER 2018 •
• 5
A little help from our apps Augmented reality technology helping professionals, homeowners take the guess work out of home improvement
Y
By Amanda Dyslin
ou’re standing in the painting supplies aisle, and in front of you is a sea of color choices. Every color under the sun is bleeding into the next. Before you know it, the fine line between green and blue seems indefinable, and you can’t seem to remember what shade you ever had in mind for kitchen in the first place. Even when you do manage to select one or two of those color cards with a palette you like, there’s no telling how the light in your kitchen will affect this particular shade you’ve selected, let alone whether the color will clash with the countertops and cabinetry. Plus, a 1-inch by 2-inch sample of color can look a lot more pleasant than an entire wall
6 •
• OCTOBER 2018 • The Free Press • Home Magazine
Room visualization
covered in it. So how, then? How can one confidently choose a paint color? For that matter, how can we pick out new windows, or roof shingles, or steel siding? What if we commit and don’t like the end result? Thanks to various advances in technology, much of the guess work has been taken out of the homeimprovement process. Augmented reality apps and programs have become widely used the past few years, and they allow people to see changes to their spaces before actually implementing any products or services. Augmented reality integrates digital content, such as color changes and objects, into a real-world environment. Cambria is one of many area companies that uses the technology to help customers select countertops. “(The response) has been phenomenal,” said Jamie Sorensen, Cambria market representative. “People want to see what they’re buying, and you can have choices. It’s nice for them to feel comfortable in their decisions.”
Sorensen said Cambria uses two augmented-reality programs, including Cambria AR, which allows customers to visualize Cambria’s designs in their space by mapping the existing surface (countertop, kitchen island, vanity, desktop, etc.) and digitally overlaying a Cambria product. You use the app to scan the surface you want to change, mark each corner of the surface to outline the perimeter, browse through the Cambria product designs, and select ones that you want to see superimposed on the surface. You can take photos of the designs you like to share with others, including designers and builders. Cambria also uses HP Reveal, which allows users to scan the code under a design sample in a brochure, and it pulls up an image of a slab to see the “full movement and body of the design,” Sorensen said. DragonVision is another innovative program accessible at cambriausa.com that allows you to choose the style of your home, play with cabinet and wall colors, and switch out Cambria products on the surfaces. Sorensen said the major benefit of the technology is the confidence customers have in their purchase. “We are constantly investing in our customers and our dealers and helping build an experience,” she said. “We’re more than just a countertop company. We’re a lifestyle brand.”
Home exteriors Replacing a roof, windows and siding is a major investment for homeowners. And it’s not just about energy efficiency and protection. It’s also about aesthetics. Nobody wants to lay down tens of thousands of dollars and think, “Gee, I wish we hadn’t picked green.” That’s why Steve Beetch, owner and president of Schmidt Siding & Window, is such a fan of a program his company has been using, called Renoworks. “It’s a program in which you can take a digital photo of the house, and we bring that back and do what’s called masking. We tape off everything and plug in different styles of windows, roofing, siding or stone,” Beetch said. Beetch said customers can bring in their own photos, but it’s best to have a professional come to the house and
take a perfectly straight-on shot of the front of the house to maximize the quality of the augmented image. The window manufacturer Schmidt’s partners with, Renewal By Andersen, also uses a visualizer that can superimpose different styles of windows, so the homeowner can see a complete look of the exterior of the home before any work has begun. “You can take things out and put things in,” Beetch said. Beetch said Schmidt’s has been using a form of the technology for more than 15 years, but it’s gotten much better over time. “In the beginning, it was not real easy to manipulate,” he said, “and it’s gotten much better with colors.” Beetch said about half of customers use the programs to make decisions. Others tend to already know what they want. For those who are less sure, augmented reality can provide the assurance they need to make big decisions. “After they decide to do something, the most difficult decisions are what color, what style, and (the programs) really help with that,” Beetch said. “We really want to take our time and make sure they get what they want.”
Color choices Tons of apps and programs exist that help homeowners choose paint colors. Sherwin-Williams uses ColorSnap Visualizer, which allows customers to explore numerous shades of color by uploading a photo or using one of the company’s sample photos and dragging and dropping color swatches into the space. Josh Kienlen, assistant manager, said the technology isn’t widely known among customers. A more popular tool widely available at paint suppliers is the ability to color match, he said. A customer can bring in a sample of something at least the size of a quarter, and a scanner in the store can match the color almost identically. Another painting app is called Tap Painter, which also allows users to visualize paint colors in a particular space, and it makes adjustments based on lighting conditions. Color911 allows people to create and save color palettes. There are downloadable color themes, or photos can be uploaded to create color palettes.
Home Magazine • The Free Press • OCTOBER 2018 •
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• OCTOBER 2018 • The Free Press • Home Magazine
Making Your
Vision Board
A Reality
By Marianne Carlson
D
eciding to build a new home or even planning a home remodeling project can be a huge undertaking. Many people start planning months, even years in advance, gathering magazines, shopping on Houzz and creating Pinterest boards full of their favorite design elements and products. Everyone wants their home to be unique – to say something special about them and who they are. Nowadays most people are busier than ever. So staying organized can really help keep stress levels down and help a project go more smoothly — whether you are a do-it-yourselfer and tackling a home improvement project or hiring a professional. What if you could keep everything for your project in one powerful folder system? What if you could keep all of the images, costs and dimensions of your product selections and compare them side by side and in the end, mark your final selection? What if you could set your project budget based on your selections and eliminate any surprises? You can! This fall Free Press Media and Home Magazine teamed up with HomeOnTrack.com to help our readers find a little inspiration. HomeOnTrack.com is offering our readers a FREE 60-Day-Trial! This image clipper allows you to pin images from anywhere on the web and put them directly into your home project folders.
Home Magazine • The Free Press • OCTOBER 2018 •
• 9
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Since its inception, the mission of LEE Industries has been to create innovatively styled, high-quality home furnishings while adhering to a set of values that focus on their customers, the community and the environment. And it’s all made in the USA! This includes the frames, foam, springs, cotton ticking, decking, fabrics, and packaging. Local suppliers mean local employment and reduced transportation costs and CO2 emissions. At The Design Element, we help you create beautiful and functional environments that suit your vision, your budget, and accommodate your unique needs. We know that surrounding ourselves with a refined and intentional aesthetic emphasizes an elevated quality of life. We also know that our job is not just about aesthetics; your life takes place in your home, and it needs to be as functional as it is stunning. We create designs that serve both purposes. We know your home is where your heart is, and we hope we can help you accentuate your love for it. Find your best local furniture and lighting at:
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Home Magazine • The Free Press • OCTOBER 2018 •
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• 19
Fall is Cardinal season Cardinal Drive embraces quintessential neighborhood holiday decorating tradition By Amanda Dyslin
W
hen Jessica Beyer and Kurt Klinder moved onto Cardinal Drive in Mankato in 2009, it wasn’t long before they noticed something happening. Like, all along the street. “It actually first came about around Halloween,” Klinder remembered. Orange, purple and black lights were being strung on eaves. Cotton cobwebs covered bushes. Full-on graveyards were popping up on front lawns. Strobe lights pulsed. Smoke filled the air. Was that a skeleton on top of that roof? Yup, it sure was. Unwittingly, the Klinder-Beyer clan had moved into a pretty unique neighborhood – one of few that truly still embraces the small-town neighborhood tradition of holiday decorating. Many area folks remember the now defunct tradition in the 1980s and 20 •
’90s of North Broad Street and Mary Circle doing up Christmas decorations like nobody’s business. Tour buses would drive through nightly from far and wide just to see all the lights and decorations. Cardinal Drive does Christmas, too, but even more unusual: the decorating season starts in early October when the street’s residents do it up for Halloween. This was a neighborhood factoid left off the property listing. So, when Christmas 2009 also exploded onto Cardinal Drive, Klinder and Beyer did the only thing they could think to do: hightailed it to Menards for supplies.
Flicker becomes flame Jeff Bengtson’s family moved onto Cardinal in 2000 before much in the way of decorations was happening, just a smattering here and there. Bengtson just personally really liked Halloween, and he wanted to get into
• OCTOBER 2018 • The Free Press • Home Magazine
The Drummers’ entire yard gets taken over by Halloween each year. it for his kids. “Halloween is kind of my thing,” he said. “When we moved here, my kids were young and excited about Halloween, and I remember trick-ortreating in my neighborhood when I was a kid. I wanted to carry that on for my daughters.” As time passed, Bengtson added things, and since he doesn’t really throw anything away, the house became a sight to behold. He did a spaceship in a tree pouring smoke. He made his boat into a pirate ship. He
built a graveyard with headstones. “As the decorations grew over the years, my house tended to be recognized as having the big skeleton on the roof,” he said. Bengtson’s backyard neighbors also were pretty “gung-ho,” he said, fueling some friendly competition. Nancy Drummer, who moved onto Cardinal Place (a cul-de-sac off of Cardinal Drive) in 2002, remembers those early days, too. And she said neighbors seemed to just start looking around to see what others were doing, and then slowly they started to participate. “There were a few things here and there, like the people down the street were doing orange lights,” she said. “Then
it just kind of grew.” The Drummers started accumulated animatronic figures like witches, and they started getting more creative with decorating, including doing chalk outlines of their kids’ bodies in the driveway and splattering them with ketchup, projecting images onto the garage door, and illuminating ghosts on the lawn. By 2005, the flicker had started a flame all along the street, both with Halloween decorating and then Christmas, too. More families were decorating, and with Halloween, families also started dressing up to hand out candy. Drummer said a man on the street dressed up as Mr. Incredible every year, and after he moved, her husband took Home Magazine • The Free Press • OCTOBER 2018 •
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4
up the tradition. “And then a lot of people dressed up as they handed out candy,” she said. “In later years, our teenage sons dressed up in ghillie suits used for hunting, and the last few years they’ve been kind of scaring the trick-ortreaters, but not in a bad way.” The Drummers’ piece de resistance is their three-tied fountain that they add red food coloring to, and they float fake fingers, hands and eyeballs in it. The red coloring makes the water look like flowing blood. “That’s kind of a big draw,” she said. The “trail of terror” leading up to the door includes motion-activated animatronic figures, like witches and pirates. “It kind of transforms our yard,” she said. “We add something every year.” As the Halloween hullabaloo has grown, so has the draw. Hundreds of families flock to Cardinal Drive to trick-or-treat. Last year Drummer said she had well over 300 kids come to visit. In 2009, that was another thing Klinder and Beyer hadn’t anticipated. “We came from having like 30 kids (trick-or-treating) to over a hundred,” Klinder said. “The first year I ran out of stuff,” Beyer said. “I was literally giving away granola bars.”
Friendly competition Beyer said it’s not as though she and Klinder felt competitive or pressured to live up to neighborhood expectations all those years ago. After all, about half the houses participate and half don’t. But they just wanted to 22 •
• OCTOBER 2018 • The Free Press • Home Magazine
5
be part of something special that made Cardinal Drive a unique and fun place to live. For the veterans, however, there’s some healthy over-the-fence sideeyeing happening. “One year someone put out a Countdown to Christmas clock, and everybody was jealous in the neighborhood,” Drummer said. “Everybody watches what everybody’s putting up.” Another thing that had folks talking was a neighbor who started putting an old car out front with zombies and a graveyard around it. With Halloween decorating, there’s not a whole lot of time for additions if someone is, shall we say, “inspired” by another neighbor’s decorations. Drummer and Bengtson said wind and weather can damage the Halloween stuff, so many folks put their decorations out just on Halloween. Christmas is another story. Thanksgiving is the kick-off of holidaylight illumination, so most things are in place by then. Drummer said she handles the pretty things like spruce pots and wreaths, and her husband tackles the lights along the edge of the roof. Like Halloween, their decorations have grown over the years to include motion-light bells, decorations in trees and several inflatables. The Drummers have huge snowmen as tall as 16 or 20 feet. “My husband’s favorite things are the inflatables,” Drummer said. Before a row of trees grew taller, the Drummers backyard could be seen from Balcerzak, so they were always sure to decorate all around the house.
6
Create your own festival holiday display By Amanda Dyslin
1 All throughout the Bengtsons’ yard are spooky displays for Halloween.
2 Every nook around the Bengtsons’ home has some sort of Halloween display come Oct. 31st.
3 The Drummers’ kids dress up in ghillie suits used for hunting to scare trick-or-treaters. 4 Nancy Drummer gets very creative with her Halloween displays.
5 The piece de resistance of the Drummers’ Halloween decorations is the fountain they die red to look like blood. 6 The Bengtsons’ home on Cardinal Drive has become known on Halloween as the one with the giant skeleton perched on the roof.
For Halloween Jeff Bengtson mounts a UFO in a tree, and smoke pours out.
A
stroll down Cardinal Drive at Halloween or over the Christmas season would be daunting to most. The idea of creating something so elaborate N in our own yards seems both H ot only does Jeff Bengtson decorate for alloween, but he and many expensive and beyond our other Cardina Drive resident l s get creativity. candy to hund dressed up to hand out re ds of trick-or-t But it’s doable with some tips reaters from Kathy Van Tol, owner of Hilltop Florist. Start with a modest display, maybe a few strands of lights and one standout cutout or inflatable. Reuse “Then add a piece each year,” Van Think about using base items Tol said. that are reusable so that, with a few adjustments, you can quickly A great way to add to your collection transform the display from fall to is to visit stores the day after each Christmas and even beyond. holiday ends and stock up on clearance holiday décor items. Take, for example, a lantern, Van Tol said. You can take an everyday lantern, even one you might have in Seek out inspiration the garage for camping, and fill it with If you’re not that creative, Pinterest gourds or a fall candle to have out has a million ideas for homeowners during October and November. Then to turn existing items in their home for Christmas, you can swap out the into fabulous holiday accent pieces for candle and add fresh evergreens or put inside or outside. Christmas balls inside of it. Van Tol also offers various “You take major pieces and workshops through the fall season redecorate for each of the holidays,” to teach customers’ how to do home she said. decorating. Spruce pots, which seem The same tactic can be used with to be the new must-have outdoor décor things like metal bird cages, milk piece, are just one item Hilltop Florist crates, baskets and more. Put a plastic offers help with over the holidays. head with splattered ketchup inside a And, when all else fails, keep things cake display for Halloween, and then neutral. Van Tol said whites, golds clean it up and swap out the head and silvers are the “it” color palate for a small spruce pot and ribbon for for Christmas these days, along with Christmas. the rustic look. The best thing about a neutral palate is that everything Build over time matches, so there’s no guess work. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither were the Cardinal Drive For upcoming workshops and events, residents’ collection of holiday visit www.hilltopflorist.com. decorations. Home Magazine • The Free Press • OCTOBER 2018 •
• 23
The Drummers’ front door is flanked by lighting displays on all sides for Christmas. 24 •
• OCTOBER 2018 • The Free Press • Home Magazine
liday season on during the ho displays like t gh ni ch ea -sacs to see Cars drive by and its cul-de Cardinal Drive at the Drummers house this
They still put a lit-up Santa, Rudolph, reindeer and a sleigh on their back deck. “It’s fun,” Drummer said. “It’s also a lot of work. It’s more fun putting it up than it is taking it down, unfortunately.” What seems to make it all worthwhile to Drummer and many neighbors is the enjoyment of the kids and families who come to visit. Many nights after Thanksgiving cars drive slowly down the street to look at the lights and displays. Drummer said there’s a family that goes around putting goody bags in the mailboxes of people’s homes who do an especially nice job of decorating with a note encouraging them to keep doing it. When Drummer saw that in her mailbox, she was definitely encouraged to keep alive the tradition.
The inflatable s in the Drum reach 16 or 20 mer family’s yard feet high.
“Not only do we decorate, but we dress up as a family, like one year we were the Simpsons,” Beyer said. “We even dress our dog up every year.” For Christmas, the couple uses tasteful blue and white lights outside. “We do all three trees out front and all the way around the house. You can see our house from Balcerzak, and the neighbors on the back side can see the back side as well, so we do all the way around,” Klinder said. “We also have inflatables. We’ve had big snowmen and Christmas trees. We’ve had penguins, and we’ve had polar bears.” As kids, both Beyer and Klinder remember how special it was to drive around either North Broad Street or Mary Circle to see the Christmas lights. Now that they have a 2-year-old daughter, living on a street with neighbors who choose to create a version of that magic all their own is even more special. “My husband and I are very much Christmas people. We really transform the interior of our house,” Beyer said. “But really, it was moving into the neighborhood that got us into the spirit, too.”
Getting into the spirit Klinder and Beyer said one of the neatest parts of the Christmas decorating is seeing how so many houses incorporate cardinals – cardinal birdfeeders, signs, cutouts, you name it. It’s a nice personal touch that illuminates the neighborhood spirit. After that first year on the street, the couple caught that spirit quickly, and they’ve grown their decorations over the past nine years. For Halloween, they line their driveway with tiki torches, and they use a smoke machine to create a spooky ambiance.
Nancy Drummer makes little spruce pots and wreaths special and adds signs and lights around the yard.
Home Magazine • The Free Press • OCTOBER 2018 •
• 25
Clutter Matters Submitted by: Antje Meisner Concepts
W
ant to know what I think the hottest design trend is right now? It may not be what you expect. Velvet upholstery, richly patterned wallpapers, and artisan light fixtures are all having their moment. Mixed metals and natural woods are in the spotlight too. As a designer, I’m appreciating all of those. Who doesn’t love the seduction of a sofa covered in velvet? But the best trend right now. The one that will have lasting staying power in your home. That’s the trend of decluttering. I know, not very sexy. Let me share why it’s important. Clutter. Think of it as visual diarrhea. Whether it’s your kitchen counter or the family room, excess things can have a negative impact on your ability to focus and process information. Clutter matters. It takes up space not only in your home but in your head. It can make you feel stressed and anxious. Clutter can make your home feel more like an enemy than a friend. Basically, mess causes stress. Clutter is distracting. It causes our brains to go into multitasking mode. A study done by UCLA in the early 2000’s sent researchers into homes to count material objects. In the first home, 2,260 visible objects were noted in just the living room and 2 bedrooms. That number didn’t include items in the closets or drawers. Researchers concluded that “the visual busyness of hoards of objects can affect basic enjoyment of the home.” Quiet space is important. Our eyes need a place to rest. We can all benefit from a few calm and clean areas in each room. Areas that don’t demand attention and don’t require our brains to process any new information. Clutter wastes time and money. Be honest. How many moments are stolen due to the clutter in your home? I hate to admit how much time I’ve wasted on unorganized stacks 26 •
• OCTOBER 2018 • The Free Press • Home Magazine
of paper on my desk. The average American spends one year of their life looking for misplaced items. One year! What a waste of energy! The extra stuff wastes money too. Buying items you don’t need. Buying a duplicate paint roller for that weekend project because you can’t find the one you already own. No wonder clutter can make us feel defeated. This quote from designer Nate Berkus is a favorite of mine. “Your home should rise up and greet you. And at the end of the day, it should ground you in a sense of peace.” Your home should be a retreat and haven from the outside world. A place to feel pride. To me, the first place you begin this mission is to edit and clean. Clear the useless, unnecessary stuff from your space. We all have it. We all can let it go. “Kondoing” your home, capsule wardrobes, tiny houses. All reactions and solutions to too much stuff. Too many material possessions. Too many things coming through our front doors. Too much clutter! Don’t know what “Kondoing” your home is. Where have you been? I highly recommend reading The Life-Changing magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese art of decluttering and organizing by Marie Kondo. Fair warning, Marie does talk to her socks. You’ll have to read the book to discover what that’s all about. It will all make sense. Another great book is “Simple Matters” by Erin Boyle. The subtitle reads, “Living with Less and ending up with More.” Both books provide guidance and strategies for clearing out the stuff and being more organized. Fall is the perfect time of year to declutter. We’re getting ready to hunker down and hibernate for the approaching Minnesota winter. Purge the excess belongings now! Come January you’ll be so glad you did. I encourage you to cut the clutter. Having the latest velvet sofa in your family room or an amazing wallpaper in the entry doesn’t matter if your space makes you feel frustrated. Peace, calm, and a more focused mind are some of the rewards you’ll gain when simplifying. Interior design trends can change drastically from year to year. They come and go. Reducing clutter and minimizing is a trend you’ll never regret following. A trend that’s becoming a lifestyle.
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Home Magazine • The Free Press • OCTOBER 2018 •
• 27
Dream Home
T
he Dream Home Program started in 2005 as a way for the Minnesota River Builder’s Association to give back to the community. Since its inception in 2005, The MRBA Dream Home Program has donated more than $20,000 to deserving causes including: Hurricane Katrina Relief, Partners for Affordable Housing, SMILES Center for Independent Living, Alzheimer’s Association, ISJ Hospice, Habitat for Humanity, United Fund of Garden City and Young Life. This year’s Dream Home looks every bit the European country castle, complete with a stone turret and a drive through porte-cochere. From the two-story curved library, to the Tudor styled latticework windows and the Juliet balcony overlooking the great room, the house is full of touches designed to bring castle living into the 21st century. With, a dining room that seats 18, two grand kitchen islands and the intricately carved fireplace, this house was built with majesty in mind. Though large in scale, this is truly a family home. The house features ample play rooms, an indoor basketball court and more unique additions like a secret room behind a book shelf, or the perfect childsized reading area in the second story of the library. This year’s Dream Home was built by Deichman Construction and photographed by Jordan Powers.
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• OCTOBER 2018 • The Free Press • Home Magazine
Two agents. One Goal. Together we achieve more! Katie & Kevin Regan
Real Estate Team (507) 469-9683 ✧ (507) 304-2921 real estate group
katie@jbealhomes.com
Home Magazine • The Free Press • OCTOBER 2018 •
• 29
Getting your home, yard weather-ready for winter By Amanda Dyslin
A
s a kid, Matt Mader used to walk by a house on Common Street in Waterville that was pretty eyecatching in the winter. “It had icicles 4 feet wide. They were all the way to the ground,” Mader said. At the time, he of course didn’t realize those icicles would become his cross to bear. Two decades later the house became his and his wife’s first home. Luckily, however, Mader knew exactly what he was up against. With a background in construction and carpentry work, he knew the icicles were a sign of heat loss, and he knew what steps that would have to be taken to deal with it. “Yeah, our first heat bill was $500,” Mader said of his family’s first, pre-renovation days in their home. Mader, owner of Mader Insulation, ended up gutting and spray-foaming the entire house, including sealing off the entire roof area to prevent heat loss. Most of us don’t have the know-how and expertise to solve such a big issue on our own. But it’s not so hard to know what to look for and then hire a professional to come check it out. With another Minnesota winter on the horizon, there are all kinds of things to prepare for with regard to our homes, gardens and landscaping. Here are some tips from the pros.
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• OCTOBER 2018 • The Free Press • Home Magazine
Air leaks Last year’s winter included a “crazy weather spell,” Mader said. It was super cold for two weeks, and then it would warm up. This wreaked havoc on homes with air-leak and heat-loss issues. When air leaks from the house into the attic – via cracks or attic doors, for example – moisture is carried into the attic, where it freezes. The sun warms the attic, creating vapor and condensation, and then it freezes again. Moisture was collecting for weeks in people’s attics and freezing, and then it eventually starting coming through people’s ceilings. “They were seeing moisture around light fixtures, and that’s one sign that something needs to be done,” Mader said. “That’s not about the amount of insulation in the attic. That’s more of an air-leak problem.” Fall is a great time for people to look for air gaps and hire someone to fill leaks and secure attic hatches, he said. “Air leaking in attics is a lot more important than what people think it is,” Mader said. Attics themselves can be good places to look for issues. Water stains or mold on rafters can be a tell-tale sign of air leaks from previous winters. Similarly, fall is a great time to look for air leaks around doors and windows. Inexpensive weather-stripping can help
block a lot of cold air from entering the home, Mader said. “So your house, imagine it as a big chimney. If you block as much air coming in at the bottom, less will leave at the top,” he said.
Heat loss A sign of inadequate insulation can be seen on the roof. A light snow or frost will melt on the roof if a home is losing heat, Mader said. The water then runs to the edge of the roof, where it refreezes causing ice dams. This can damage shingles and gutters, and can even leak into the home. Steve Beetch, owner and president of Schmidt’s Siding & Window, said the ice buildup can cause leaks in the ceiling and windows. “It can show up many different places,” he said. “(In this case) it’s not a bad window; the problem comes from up higher.” Mader said a homeowner can measure insulation, which, depending upon the product, should be anywhere between 12 to 18 inches thick. “If you go up and you can see the ceiling joists, that’s not good,” he said. “If you go up to an attic, and there’s only four inches of insulation, that’s not good.” And, of course, if you have 4-footwide icicles, that’s not good, either. “Icicles are never good,” Mader said. “It shows heat loss.” Less easily detected, and perhaps best left to professionals, is ensuring the attic is also adequately vented. Moisture has to be able to leave the home, or it will mold and cause rot. If adding insulation isn’t in the budget this year, Beetch said homeowners should keep the edges of their roofs clear of snow. “Keep the first four feet of the whole edge of the roof clean,” Beetch said.
Siding, gutters and decks Siding is a pretty low-maintenance product. Beetch said, other than keeping siding clean to prolong its aesthetic appeal, there’s little that needs to be done to get it weather ready. Homeowners might want to give their siding a once over for areas where moisture can creep underneath, though. Beetch suggested caulking
leaks and around windows as a fall weatherization preparedness task. Gutters are another story. Gutters that aren’t cleaned out result in ice buildup that can damage the roof and split or warp the gutters. In addition to making a habit of cleaning gutters every fall, investing in a Gutter Helmet system is a longterm solution, Beetch said. Gutter protection lets rainwater in, but keeps leaves and debris out, which means fall rain won’t get trapped and build up. “It’s a very good system,” he said. Dan Hansen, owner of Uglydeck. com in Eagle Lake, said decks are another area of the home to keep from moisture buildup. Most of the time, the weight of the snow isn’t that big of a deal. “The bigger thing is to get it off because when it starts to melt, it just constantly drips,” Hansen said. “The decking framework doesn’t have the chance to dry out, and that’s when the rot starts.” Hansen said composite decks are becoming the primary material used for building. He does only a couple of wood decks per year these days. The composite is much more forgiving when it comes to moisture’s effects, but there still could be issues with the frame. “So even with composite decking, it’s still important to scoop off the snow,” he said. “And when you do scoop the snow off a maintenance-free deck, use a plastic-edge shovel so you don’t scratch it.” For those with wood decks, Hansen recommends choosing transparent or semi-transparent stains because Minnesota winters are not forgiving on the finish. “Every single one of them will start to chip and rub off eventually,” he said.
Landscaping To prune, or not to prune? How much do we prune? Do my plants need to be covered in the winter? Is mulching important? Winter-readying the yard and garden can seem like a an intricate puzzle, which is why Johanna George, landscape designer and manager at Drummers Garden Center & Floral, said when someone is in doubt about how to care for a particular plant, they
should just ask a professional. But here are a few rules of thumb for the basics. Todd Rieck, owner of Mankato Landshapes, said rosebushes are one of the only shrubs that should be covered over winter. The only real touch-and-go time for most trees and shrubs is when they’re first installed. After that, they’re pretty hardy. “Typically, trees and shrubs should be mulched when installed,” he said. Mulch insulates the soil around a tree or shrub. So even though the rest of the ground may be frozen, the ground underneath the mulch is not, he said. “Shredded leaves tend to work the best for this,” George said. “It prevents the fluctuation of the soil temperature at the crown of the plant. Once the ground freezes, that would be the ideal time to put our shredded leaves on, or a rose cone, or even extra wood mulch as extra cover.” As for pruning in the fall, George said the rule of thumb is no more than 1/3rd at a time. So if you have a 6-foot-tall plant, you wouldn’t prune it shorter than 4 feet tall. “Fall can be a popular time to prune, but that’s not the ideal time,” George said. “The best time is going to be during dormancy when there’s nothing happening as far as growth. The ideal timeframe to prune is Dec. 15 to March 15, she said. Pruning is a growth stimulant, not a growth suppressant. So when weather conditions allow for it, a freshly pruned plant will push new growth. Then when the freeze sets in, that new growth dies, causing dead tips across the plant. With plants such as lilacs and forsythia, which bloom in the spring, pruning should wait until June. Pruning done in the fall or winter cuts off next year’s blooms. Similarly, evergreen trees shouldn’t be trimmed or shaped until May. They stay alive and active all winter, so fresh cuts leave the trees vulnerable to the elements. As for perennials, such as peonies, the well-established plants can be cut down in the fall without damaging the plant, George said. “If it’s a new perennial, then I recommend waiting until the spring. The foliage will die down around the plant and act as your mulch,” she said.
Home Magazine • The Free Press • OCTOBER 2018 •
• 31
Did you know? Myth-busting landscaping tips from the pros
W
ord of mouth can be a great thing when we want tips on products to buy or contractors to hire. But when it comes to gardening landscaping, there tends to be a lot of misinformation – or, dare we say, “old wives’ tales” – floating around. Here are some lesser-known and perhaps even myth-busting tips about caring for your plants during the cold months. n Most of us turn our hoses off when the cold weather sets in. But the watering should continue late into fall until the ground is frozen. Evergreens, for example, continue to draw moisture throughout the winter, and dry conditions in fall cause a lot of brown evergreens come springtime.
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n One product that can help protect evergreens when under water stress is Wilt-Pruf. It’s a spray that seals needles and helps prevent winter burn. The spray is also good for rhododendrons, azaleas, hollies and boxwoods. n All trees might seem robust, even when they’re freshly planted. But they’re actually pretty vulnerable when they’re young, and their trunks should be wrapped from Oct. 31 to April 1. This prevents sun scald and cracking from frost. It also prevents animals, such as mice and bunnies, from eating at the young trees. If the bark on a tree is smooth, wrap it up; if the bark is rough, it’s tough enough. n Some folks might think spring is the best time to compost a vegetable garden. But incorporating compost and manure into the garden in fall allows it time to meld into the soil, and the garden will be ready to plant by spring. You’ll be ahead of the game. n Some folks chop at the tops of their rosebushes to keep them from getting too tall. But a good way from keeping your rosebushes from becoming enormous is to go down deep toward the ground and remove some of the woodier stalks. By removing 1/3rd of older stalks during each annual pruning period, room is made for the vibrant younger stalks to grow in. n While we’re on the subject, pruning does not suppress growth, despite popular belief. The act of pruning a plant actually stimulates growth, which makes fall a less than ideal time to make cuts. Wait until the deep freeze sets in to prune many shrubs that don’t flower in the spring. n Are you pruning your lilacs over winter with the rest of your shrubs? You’re actually cutting off next year’s blooms. Flowering shrubs should be pruned after they bloom.
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Sources: Johanna George, landscape designer and manager at Drummers Garden Center & Floral, and Todd Rieck, owner of Mankato Landshapes
Home Magazine • The Free Press • OCTOBER 2018 •
• 33
Let’s take a moment to play a quick round of trivia with a question commonly heard in the community.
Question:
What is
profinium.com
100 Warren Street First floor, Profinium B
507-389-8900
Profinium?
A
nswer: If you answered a local bank helping you bank smart then you are right. Congratulations on your win for the day! The name Profinium comes from the phrase “Professional Financial Solutions for the New Millennium.” In a boutique setting we have all the services needed for your financial world. Services from personal banking to mortgages and refinancing, personal loans, insurance, trusts and investments. Whether you are ready to move into a house with more space for your family, ready to figure out a plan
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• OCTOBER 2018 • The Free Press • Home Magazine
of how to pay for college, or the ultimate dream of planning for retirement, Profinium has the plan and solutions. We are focused on providing full financial health solutions for our clients. Our purpose, our why, is achieving dreams together. Together being the key word. Remember when you were searching for your new home? It may have even been last night on the iPad with Netflix running in the background. Searching through sites and photo after photo and then there it was! Your dream home! You can clearly picture your kids tossing sprinkles all over that kitchen while baking holiday cookies. Solely setting up accounts
Kato Moving & Storage does not achieve that dream. Hard work, dedication and focus to that goal is what makes that dream a reality. If you’ve purchased a home before you remember the process. There are so many steps, so much paperwork, and so much regulation that is ever changing. How are you to remember it all let alone deal with it all?! Well you don’t. Not alone at least. That is why we achieve dreams together. We are your expert guides for your financial world. Samantha Paris, our Mortgage Loan Officer in Mankato, believes in achieving dreams together as she teams with you and your realtor to provide you with an extraordinary buying experience. “The process can be overwhelming.” said Samantha, Sam for short. “The favorite part of what I get to do as a mortgage officer is to see the look of relief on my client’s faces when I have guided them through the process of purchasing their home.” Whether purchasing a home or balancing a budget so purchasing a home can be an option in the future, convenience is a big factor in our client’s financial decisions. We are a local home-grown bank with the technological conveniences to rival the big banks. Our mobile app provides the ability to combine all accounts, no matter the bank, into one convenient spot. Now you can see your entire cash flow status as you build a budget to accomplish your dreams. Building a budget and then sticking to that budget can be a daunting task if it is new to you. We have designed our mobile app so you can take baby steps with your budget. Review your budget categories and then rank them from highest to lowest based on those that will have the largest impact to your finances. Go into your Profinium mobile app and start monitoring the top 3 categories. You will receive notifications if you are close to maxing out a category that month. Once you have accomplished getting those categories under control then move on to the next three categories. Ready to achieve your dream? Check us out at Profinium.com, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Profinium has four personal service locations to meet your needs: Fairmont (established in 1875), Truman, Owatonna and Mankato (in Profinium Place at 100 Warren Street).
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Home Magazine • The Free Press • OCTOBER 2018 •
• 35
Techno living Smart home technology no longer the wave of the future By Amanda Dyslin
M
ark Deichman’s kid was 4 years old when his family incorporated smart home technology into their home a few years ago. Even at preschool age, the boy was “fully operational” on how to control stuff around the house after a brief tutorial. “That wouldn’t have been the case 15 years ago,” Deichman said, referring to how complicated and expensive the early automated systems used to be. “That’s really what’s driven this is the use of apps. You can do so much more today than you could years ago and at a fraction of the cost.” 36 •
• OCTOBER 2018 • The Free Press • Home Magazine
Deichman, owner of Deichman Construction, said all of his new-home builds incorporate some level of smart home technology. During the past few years the popularity of smart homes has exploded, as has the versatility of use and capabilities. Those with existing homes don’t need to change most of the infrastructure to incorporate the system. And options can range from $50 for something as simple as automated home lighting in a room, and go to $100,000 or more for a fully equipped smart home that can do everything from unlock
doors from any location at the push of a button, to send smart phone alerts when the dryer ends its cycle, to turn the temperature up a couple of degrees in the swimming pool. “There’s many different levels you can take it to,” Deichman said.
Imagination is the limit A teenager at home one night wants to make a pizza, and reading the package is a task of yore. He takes out his smart phone and scans the barcode on the box, and the oven behind him turns on and adjusts to the right temperature. A mom is running late getting home from work, and her kids are getting off the school bus in five minutes. She takes her phone out and unlocks the
front door as they approach, and she locks it back up when they walk in. On vacation in Mexico, a couple checks their phone once or twice a day to see what’s going on inside their home, or to make sure no packages or newspapers were left on the front step that might alert burglars that nobody’s around this week. Folks, these scenarios are not just for the Jetsons anymore. They are playing out all over southern Minnesota every day. Erik Kindgren, who works in sales at DeGrood’s Home Store, said the versatility of smart home technology has allowed customers to pick and choose what elements they want for their lifestyle and preferences. It has also grown so much during the past few years that the capabilities are limited only by a person’s imagination. “I would say noteworthy would be the kitchen, and that’s a big part of what we do here,” Kindgren said. “They’re finding out ways to tie things together. So, for example, if nobody is home to empty the dryer, you can set it to tumble every 15 minutes until you can get to it so your clothes aren’t a wrinkled mess.” A person can also preheat the oven from their phone on the way home to cook dinner, and your appliances can send notifications to your phone, such as temperature warnings in a refrigerator and a finished cycle on the washing machine. Sensors can be installed in the basement to send alerts when moisture is detected. “Personally, I use mine for music and for my garage door and thermostat,” Kindgren said. “I’ve enjoyed having the thermostat (function) to cut down on energy costs. The garage door’s been quite helpful too. For example, if the kids come home at certain times, we could just open the garage.” The Deichmans built a home six years ago and incorporated a complete automation system, controlling everything from lighting to security to audio and even the window blinds. Deichman said the convenience is something enjoyed every day. “If we’re on vacation and need to let someone in the house, we can open the door, open the security system, and not have to give the passcode to anybody,” Deichman said. “With video, we can watch a service guy enter and exit the house. Coming home from the airport, in the winter, you can turn the heat
up in the house, and it will be warm when you get there. We have a cabin up North, and we always turn the heat up before we get there.” Scott Peterson, project manager at ECS, also has “pretty much everything” in his home controlled through smart technology, including lighting, audio, video, the thermostat and the front door. Convenience is the biggest factor for having it. For example, sometimes he’ll look at his phone out of curiosity just to see if the lawn guy came to the house. “Obviously, it’s endless what you can do with it,” Peterson said. But safety and security is also a big reason people elect to have a system installed. “It’s a good way of keeping eyes on your home when you’re not around,” he said. “We have installed this in assisted living places, where it gives alerts if someone has opened a door using motion sensors. So it’s very helpful to keep an eye on an elderly situation, for example.”
Developed over time Kindgren said, years ago, to have a smart home you needed to have a full automated system that was complicated and expensive. Smart phones and apps are what led to the development of smart homes the past few years into the mainstream. “Now you can have just one thing if you want – a (smart) garage door, or a single light in the house,” Kindgren said. At DeGrood’s, projects like theater rooms were where the technology started to gain footing. They were installing projection systems with surround sound and other audio capabilities, and people wanted to be able to control the audio and the lights with a remote. “When you start a movie, you can make the room dim,” he said. “Or maybe you wanted to pause the movie and have the lights come up, and they could control all of that with their remote control.” From there DeGrood’s started doing things like sharing music throughout the whole house, or sharing a video source. “Then, of course, came controlling thermostats,” he said. The internet and smart phones and iPads made the technology much more
Home Magazine • The Free Press • OCTOBER 2018 •
• 37
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38 •
• OCTOBER 2018 • The Free Press • Home Magazine
affordable, Deichman said. There didn’t need to be a core, automated infrastructure installed throughout the house any longer. “As little as 15 years ago, a complete home automation system would cost in excess of $100,000. Now you can take the same level of control and then some, and you can have that for a fraction of that – $5,000-$10,000,” he said. Peterson said while most people want control on their phones, there is the option to have control pads installed in the home. But there’s no gutting and wiring required. “It’s all done through internet,” Peterson said, adding that additional network security protects the home from hackers and other security threats. Kindgren said the least expensive option starts with lighting control, which can cost less than $50. The next most affordable option is thermostat control, which can cost a couple of hundred dollars. Pricing will vary based on the equipment that a person elects to purchase. For example, if a person wants automated audio throughout the home, they might also need to buy speakers. Deichman said existing homes can certainly add a system, but when building a home, it’s more convenient to incorporate one from the beginning. “It’s easier and more economical if planned from the get go,” he said. “For example, if you want to control security, we put in a security system that can be controlled that way, or we put in the right HVAC system. It’s planned from the beginning.” People with older homes shouldn’t be deterred from asking questions. Peterson said smart technology can be incorporated into any home and can use existing infrastructure in many cases. For example, furnaces can be controlled by simply installing a new thermostat. “Anything in the home can be controlled via telephone or smart pad,” he said. And people are starting to catch on to that fact. “Every week we have, full-time, four guys installing systems,” Peterson said.
What is a smart home?
A home with lighting, electronics, heating or infrastructure, such as doors, that can be controlled remotely, usually by smart phone, smart pad or computer.
What does smart technology cost?
Prices range a great deal based on what facets of the home that a person elects to incorporate. A smart light switch can cost less than $50. A fully automated smart home with all the bells and whistles – from full home audio to door locks to security – can cost $100,000.
We Are Truly Grateful for Being Voted #1 in HVAC & Plumbing
Thank You For Putting Your Trust in Us
Front: Brooke, Chris, Keith, Peg, Greg, Julie; Middle: Wendell, Nick, Lucas, Monica, Jay, Jesse, Korey, Alex; Back: Tim, Travis, Roger, Mike, Derek, Paul, Rex, Mike
For over 40 years your comfort has been our business! Heating • Cooling • Plumbing Northern Comfort offers heating, air conditioning and plumbing services to residential and commercial customers.
Thank You Mankato For Voting Us One of Mankato’s BEST!
Call today for a FREE in-home estimate for any replacement work!
917 Southbend Ave | Mankato, MN
507-387-6596
www.NorthernComfortInc.com Home Magazine • The Free Press • OCTOBER 2018 •
• 39
s e r u s a e Tr Metal and Beaded Wood Chandelier
“A beautiful metal and beaded wood chandelier from an eclectic lighting company, make this a unique piece in your reclaimed living room or dining room ensemble. With a width of 25 ½” this fixture can illuminate most spaces in ambient mood lighting.” Listed at $398.00.
The Design Element & Lights On Madison 1711 Premier Drive Mankato, MN 56001 (507) 345-8708 & (507) 345-8771
The Riccar Radiance Premium
The Riccar Radiance Premium is a USAmade upright vacuum that captures deep down dirt and allergens lurking in your carpet. Its dual motors work in tandem for exceptional cleaning performance. Selfsealing HEPA media bag system with 7 layers of filtration keeps your home clean and healthy with less dust and allergens in the air.
Better Housekeeping Vacuums 1022 S. Front St., Mankato 507-386-8227
When it financing When it comes comes tohome home financing When it comes toto home financing ——— Whenhere it comes to home financing — we’re for you we’re here we’re here forfor youyou we’re here for you
Contact us today! Contact us today! Contact us today!
Kall Contact us Kris today! Kris Kall Kris Kall Office: 507-550-1941 Kris Kall Office: 507-550-1941 Office:Cell: 507-550-1941 507-382-8142 Office: 507-550-1941 Cell: 507-382-8142 Cell: 507-382-8142 kristy.a.kall@wellsfargo.com
Cell: 507-382-8142 kristy.a.kall@wellsfargo.com kristy.a.kall@wellsfargo.com NMLSR ID 400346
kristy.a.kall@wellsfargo.com NMLSR ID 400346 NMLSR ID 400346 NMLSRSprague ID 400346 Daniel Daniel Sprague DanielOffice: Sprague 507-550-1840 Daniel Sprague Office: 507-550-1840 Office:Cell: 507-550-1840 507-380-2718 Office: 507-550-1840 Cell: 507-380-2718 Cell: 507-380-2718 daniel.j.sprague@wellsfargo.com Cell: 507-380-2718 daniel.j.sprague@wellsfargo.com daniel.j.sprague@wellsfargo.com NMLSR ID 833080 daniel.j.sprague@wellsfargo.com NMLSR ID 833080 NMLSR ID 833080 NMLSR ID 833080 David Maertens 507-387-9264 David Maertens DavidOffice: Maertens David Maertens Cell: 507-995-3428 Office: 507-387-9264 Office:Office: 507-387-9264 507-387-9264 david.maertens@wellsfargo.com Cell:507-995-3428 507-995-3428 Cell: 507-995-3428 Cell: NMLSR ID 1611875 david.maertens@wellsfargo.com david.maertens@wellsfargo.com david.maertens@wellsfargo.com NMLSR ID1611875 1611875 NMLSR ID 1611875 NMLSR ID
Kim M. Weise M. Weise Kim Office: M.Kim Weise 507-387-9382 Kim M. Weise Office: 507-387-9382 Office: 507-387-9382 Cell: 507-340-5558 Cell:507-387-9382 507-340-5558 Cell:Office: 507-340-5558 kim.m.weise@wellsfargo.com
Cell: 507-340-5558 kim.m.weise@wellsfargo.com kim.m.weise@wellsfargo.com NMLSR ID 400945
kim.m.weise@wellsfargo.com NMLSR ID 400945 NMLSR ID 400945 NMLSR ID 400945 Chris Harstad Chris507-344-2681 Harstad ChrisOffice: Harstad Chris Harstad Office: 507-344-2681 Office: 507-344-2681 Cell: 507-351-9988 Office: 507-344-2681 Cell: 507-351-9988 Cell:chris.harstad@wellsfargo.com 507-351-9988 Cell: 507-351-9988 chris.harstad@wellsfargo.com chris.harstad@wellsfargo.com NMLSR ID 1420705 chris.harstad@wellsfargo.com NMLSR ID 1420705 NMLSR ID 1420705 NMLSR ID 1420705 Brad J. Brozik Office: 507-387-9225 J. Brozik BradBrad J.Brad Brozik J. Brozik Cell: 507-514-0408 Office: 507-387-9225 Office: 507-387-9225 Office: 507-387-9225 bradley.brozik@wellsfargo.com Cell: 507-514-0408 Cell:Cell: 507-514-0408 507-514-0408 NMLSR ID 402019 bradley.brozik@wellsfargo.com bradley.brozik@wellsfargo.com bradley.brozik@wellsfargo.com NMLSR 402019 NMLSR ID 402019 NMLSR ID ID 402019
Ryan Greene Ryan Greene Ryan Greene Office: 507-933-4313 Ryan Greene Office: 507-933-4313 Office: 507-933-4313 Cell: 507-514-1104 Office: 507-933-4313 Cell: 507-514-1104 Cell: 507-514-1104 ryan.w.greene2@wellsfargo.com ryan.w.greene2@wellsfargo.com ryan.w.greene2@wellsfargo.com Cell: 507-514-1104 NMLSR ID 763148 ryan.w.greene2@wellsfargo.com NMLSR ID 763148 NMLSR ID 763148 NMLSR ID 763148 Nate Olsen Nate507-550-1903 Olsen Nate Olsen Office: NateOffice: Olsen 507-550-1903 Office: Cell:507-550-1903 507-382-1048 Office: 507-550-1903 Cell: 507-382-1048 Cell: 507-382-1048 nathan.olsen@wellsfargo.com Cell: 507-382-1048 nathan.olsen@wellsfargo.com nathan.olsen@wellsfargo.com NMLSR ID 1519662 nathan.olsen@wellsfargo.com NMLSR ID 1519662 NMLSR ID 1519662 NMLSR ID 1519662
Office: 507-387-9243 Toll-free: 1-800-720-9243 Office: 507-387-9243 Office: 507-387-9243 Office: 507-387-9243 www.wfhm.com/ Toll-free: 1-800-720-9243 Toll-free: 1-800-720-9243 Toll-free: 1-800-720-9243 mn-mankatobranch-mankato www.wfhm.com/ www.wfhm.com/ www.wfhm.com/ mn-mankatobranch-mankato mn-mankatobranch-mankato mn-mankatobranch-mankato
Information is accurate as of date of printing and is subject to change without notice. Wells Fargo Home Mortgage is a division of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. © 2011 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. NMLSR ID 399801. AS3938779 Expires 11/2018 is accurate dateofand ofprinting printing andistoissubject subject to change without notice. InformationInformation is accurate as of date ofasasprinting is subject change notice. Information accurate ofofdate and towithout change without notice. HomeisMortgage Mortgage division Wells Fargo Bank, ©Fargo 2011 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. NMLSR ID 399801. AS3938779 Expires WellsFargo Fargo ofofWells Fargo N.A.N.A. © 2011 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. Allreserved. rights reserved. NMLSR ID 399801. AS3938779 Expires 11/2018 11/2018 Wells FargoWells Home Mortgage a divisionisisofaadivision Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.Bank, © 2011 Wells Bank, N.A. All rights NMLSR ID 399801. AS3938779 Expires 11/2018 40 •
• OCTOBER 2018 • The Free Press • Home Magazine
Multi-Function LED Lights
Light up your holiday with Roman Lights ™! These LEDs are super bright outdoor and indoor high-density lighting that use 4 times as many lights per foot as regular lights. Get one strand to cover a whole tree! Add light to your décor anywhere with the USB connector (adaptor included) or purchase a separate battery pack.
Flexsteel Digby Sofa
Slim tapered arms and a tightly padded back make Digby feel roomy even in smaller areas. Its exclamation-point arm is finished with a tall tapered leg to add visual height, and the tight back enhances the architectural feel of this style while offering surprising comfort.
Johnson Furniture Mattress – Interior Design 429 S. 2nd Street Mankato 507-388-2337
Drummers Garden Center & floral 281 St. Andrews Drive Mankato 507-388-4877
Ekornes Stressless Chair Ekornes Stressless chairs are one of the most famous comfort furniture brands. These chairs are manufactured in Norway and use only the world’s finest leather to create their products. Johnson Furniture is the newest Stressless Comfort Gallery in Southern Minnesota.
Johnson Furniture Mattress – Interior Design
Is Your Family At Risk From Radon Gas? Radon Reduction is all we do and we Guarantee results! Save $50 on the installation of an active soil depressurization radon mitigation system for your home!
Tom Hamberg/NRPP Certified Brian Westerlund/NRPP Certified
507-304-3537 Mankato & Albert Lea
Contact us for a FREE consultation and radon mitigation proposal for your home.
Professional Radon Measurement & Affordable Radon Mitigation Services www.Ameradon.com Home Magazine • The Free Press • OCTOBER 2018 •
• 41
SOUTHERN MINNESOTA
Local DIRECTORY
Ameradon Services LLC radonservice @ameradon.com ameradon.com
507-304-3537
Better Housekeeping Vacuums
Blinds & More
1022 South Front Street, Mankato info@betterhousekeeping vacuums.com betterhousekeepingvacuums.com
blindsandmore.org
CCF Bank
1951 N Riverfront Drive Mankato Candssupply.com
180 St. Andrews Drive Mankato
Consolidated Communications 221 E Hickory St. Mankato consolidated.com
507-387-1151
507-380-5019
507-625-5388
C & S Supply
507-387-1171
424 Belgrade Ave North Mankato
507-386-0200
Design Element 1711 Premier Drive Mankato www.thedesignelement.net
507-345-8771
• OCTOBER 2018 • The Free Press • Home Magazine
1631 Stadium Road Mankato bldr.com/locations/ mankato-lumber
507-387-5608
Century 21 Atwood Realty
Connect Real Estate Group
209 S 2nd St #200 Mankato century21.com
1040 S. Victory Drive Mankato christa@connectmankato.com connectmankato.com
507-387-3131
Drummers Garden Center 281 St Andrews Drive Mankato sarahm@ drummersgardencenter.com drummersgardencenter.com
507-388-4877
42 •
Builders FirstSource
507-779-7319
Electrical & Communication Specialists 510 Sibley Street Mankato ecsmankato.com
507-388-3271
Elegant Creations
First National Bank Minnesota
First National Bank Minnesota
First National Bank Minnesota
1371 State Street South Waseca elegantcreations.com
209 Main Ave, Gaylord bank.gaylord@fnbmn.com Fnbmn.com
507-237-5521
500 Long St, Mankato bank.mankato@fnbmn.com Fnbmn.com
507-625-1121
226 W Nassau St, St Peter bank.stpeter@fnbmn.com Fnbmn.com
507-931-4000
MCI Floor to Ceiling
Hilltop Florist
Home Run Realty
Independent Paint & Flooring
150 St. Andrews Ct, Suite 520 Mankato
219 S Victory Dr., Mankato ipaf@hickorytech.net ipafmankato.com
507-000-0000
224 St. Andrews Dr. Mankato
885 Madison Ave. Mankato hilltopflorist@hickorytech.net hilltopflorist.com
ftcmankato.com
507-387-7908
JBeal KR Real Estate Team
Johnson Furniture
3 Civic Center Plaza, Suite 210, Mankato katie@jbealhomes.com kevin@jbealhomes.com jbealhomes.com
Corner of 2nd & Cherry Street Downtown Mankato earljohnsonfurniture.com
507-625-3472
HomeRunRealtyMN.com
507-345-7009
Jordan Powers
JScotty Builders
507-344-1030
1609 N Riverfront Drive Mankato jordanpowersphotography.com
507-933-041
507-345-3223
507-469-9683
jscottybuilders.com Jeff
612-701-6315 Chris
507-382-4945
Buy.Sell.Rent.We do it best!
Email: Web:
info@connectmankato.com www.connectmankato.com
Phone: Office:
(507) 779-7319 151 St. Andrews Ct, Ste 400 Mankato, MN
Home Magazine • The Free Press • OCTOBER 2018 •
• 43
Kato Moving & Storage Company 417 Poplar Street, Mankato jerry@katomoving.com katomoving.com
507-388-9329
Mainstream Cabinets 306 Main Street Mapleton msc@hickorytech.net mainstreamcabinets.com
507-524-3377
Lacina’s Siding & Window Inc.
Liberty Heating & Cooling
Lloyd Lumber Company
2104 N Riverfront Dr. Mankato lacinasiding.com mlacina@hickorytech.net
601 Poplar St, Mankato info@ libertyheatingcooling.com libertyheatingcooling.com
1860 Commerce Drive North Mankato lloydlumberco.com
507-625-5064
507-389-9855
Minnesota Valley Federal Credit Union
Minnesota Valley Federal Credit Union
1640 Adams Street Mankato mnvalleyfcu.coop info@mnvalleyfcu.coop
100 Memorial View Court Mankato mnvalleyfcu.coop info@mnvalleyfcu.coop
507-387-3055
507-625-4500
MinnStar Bank 201 Poplar Street, Mankato customerservicemk@ minnstarbank.com minnstarbank.com
507-625-6816
507-387-3055
Minnesota River Valley Title & Abstracting 100 Warren St Suite 317 Mankato dkscruggs@mnrivertitle.com
We’re proud to put our 95 years of experience behind every gallon of paint we craft. Manufactured by True Value® in our own facilities, EasyCare® is among the top national
507-720-6415
brands in quality and durability—at affordable prices.
HOME • FARM • COMMERCIAL 1951 N. RIVERFRONT DR., MANKATO
507-387-1171 • 1-800-879-1938
www.candssupply.com
Mon-Fri 8 a.m. - 7 p.m. • Sat. 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.• Sun. 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
44 •
• OCTOBER 2018 • The Free Press • Home Magazine
AA813 OLD WORLD HERRINGBONE | 19009 HANOVER
CARPET • RUGS • HARDWOOD • andersontuftex.com
New Ulm Furniture
Nicollet County Bank
Northern Comfort Inc.
16 N German Street New Ulm newulmfurniture.com
220 S 3rd St, St Peter ncb@ncbank.net Nicolletcountybank.com
917 Southbend Ave, Mankato sales@ northerncomfortinc.com northerncomfortinc.com
507-354-2716
507-931-3310
Rickway Carpet
Schmidt Siding & Window
1107 Cross Street North Mankato rickwaycarpet.net
507-625-3089
901 N 5th St, Mankato info@ schmidtsidingandwindow.com Schmidtmankato.com
507-625-6412
Profinium Inc. 100 Warren St, Suite 100 Mankato profinium.com
507-389-8900
507-387-6596
Schwickert’s
SO MN Construction, Inc. (SMC)
30 Poplar Street Mankato
1905 Third Avenue Mankato mguillemette@omgmidwest.com omgmidwest.com
schwickerts.com
507-387-3101
507-388-3122
St. Andrews Title
The Travel Details
True Real Estate
Wells Fargo Home Mortgage
300 Saint Andrews Drive Mankato
traveldetails.com thedetailstravel.com
112 S Riverfront Dr #122 Mankato truerealestatemankato.com
1600 Madison Avenue Suite 115 Mankato wellsfargo.com/mortgage
standrewstitleandexchange.com
507-000-0000
507-385-4459
507-345-(TRUE) 8783
507-387-9225
Title Work You Can Trust. You Have A Choice! • • • •
Locally Owned & Managed Licensed Abstracting Over 20 Years Experience Title Searches
• Fast, Professional Service • Title Insurance • Real Estate Closings
R iveR valley T & a
DEBRA K. SCRUGGS
MINNESOTA
iTle
bsTRacTing
100 Warren St Suite 317 • MANKATO, MN • 56001
Direct: 507.995.0444 | Office: 507.720.6415 DKSCRUGGS@MNRIVERTITLE.COM
Home Magazine • The Free Press • OCTOBER 2018 •
• 45
Quality Products and Exceptional Service from your local, hometown lumber yard and rental company for over 71 years.
Lloyd Lumber Company Marvin windows and Doors brings its Built around you® philosophy to life with every customer and every product it creates. A premier manufacturer of made-to-order windows and doors, Marvin offers unparalleled value with craftsman-quality construction, energy-efficient technology and the industry’s most extensive selection of shapes, styles sizes and options.
507-625-4500
1860 Commerce Drive North Mankato HOURS: Monday - Friday 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Saturday 7:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. 46 •
• OCTOBER 2018 • The Free Press • Home Magazine