Spring Home 2023

Inside:

A short-term rental on Detroit Lake destined to be a long-time favorite

Smith Furniture in Wadena helps bring spring indoors

Otter Tail Lake home brings the family together

Table of Contents:

A Hobby For All Seasons

Publisher: Devlyn Brooks dbrooks@dlnewspapers.com

Editor: Tris Anderson tanderson@dlnewspapers.com

Contributors: Michael Achterling machterling@dlnewspapers.com

Nathan Bowe nbowe@dlnewspapers.com

Vicki Gerdes vgerdes@dlnewspapers.com

Frank Lee flee@wadenapj.com

Barbie Porter bporter@dlnewspapers.com

Elizabeth Vierkant evierkant@perhamfocus.com

Graphic artist: Jamie Holte Fccspecialsections@forumcomm.com

Family renovates

CHURCH INTO CABIN

Former Calvary Lutheran Church given a second life

BY BARBIE PORTER For Spring Home

Jennifer and Lowell Engen had put off a dream to renovate a cabin for years. Life was busy with work, raising kids and the other to-do tasks that eat up time. When they stopped at a former church near Tulaby Lake, a heart-shaped lock moved the dream into action.

During the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Engens suddenly had time, and thought a renovation project would be a good way to spend it as a family. They learned there was a church that was built in 1940 just north of Detroit Lakes. It was near Tulaby Lake and had been used as a storage shed for the past several years. Friends and family members, who owned cabins a short drive from the former Calvary Lutheran Church, suggested the owner of the unique property may sell it to the right buyer.

To ring in 2020, the Engens viewed the 1.7-acre property in midwinter. As Jennifer walked to the front door she reached for the door handle and saw the locks were in the shape of hearts. She took it as a sign that they were on the right path for their long-awaited journey.

When Jennifer and Lowell Engen purchased Calvary Lutheran Church near Tulably Lake, the former church still had pews in it. Contributed / Engen family

Lowell also liked the location of the church, as it was about 1,000 feet from the lake’s public access and next to snowmobile trails. He noted backlots have much lower taxes than those with beachfront property, which was also a selling feature for him.

As Jennifer and Lowell entered the church along with their children, Luca and Zada, who are now 21 and 16, respectively, they saw the pews were still in place, as well as the tiered platform for the altar. There was a lot of work to be done to transform the church into a cabin, but they agreed to tackle the project together.

Jennifer said the first thing on the to-do list was to hire a professional to repair the roof.

“My husband is a contractor and knows how to do construction work, so we did all the work except for three things,” she said. “We hired someone to do the roof, the septic and the well.”

The Engen family snapped a picture after viewing the church property they wanted to renovate. Pictured are Jennifer and Lowell Engen and their children Luca, 21, and Zada, 16. Contributed / Engen family

My husband is a contractor and knows how to do construction work, so we did all the work except for three things.

- Jennifer Engen

After the roof was repaired and reshingled, the family began gutting the interior.

“We set up four cots in a corner by a space heater,”

Jennifer said, noting the church was seasonal and without a heat source. “After we cleared it out, we took measurements and made a floor plan.”

Visitors are now welcomed by a large entryway with walls lined in galvanized steel. Jennifer noted they envision adding a wood-burning stove in that space, to compliment the forced air propane heat they added. The rest of the cabin interior offers shiplap siding that enhances the modern-rustic motif

The former Calvary Lutheran Church, which was built in 1940, was fully renovated by Jennifer and Lowell Engen. They kept the three original chandeliers. Barbie Porter / Spring Home

and draws the eye to the living room, kitchen and dining area.

“For us, the kitchen was the hardest to design,” Jennifer said, noting they had one concept in mind and purchased several cabinets. But after trying the design, they decided to reduce the number of cabinets. “We didn’t use them as much as we thought we would. We tend to cook on the grill, or Lowell has a smoker. And in the winter, we use an air fry stove or go out to eat.”

Reducing the number of cabinets allowed for a larger table for family and friends to gather.

They decided to use the platform area, where the altar was located, as a bedroom and bathroom space. First, they needed to reduce the multitiered platform to one level. Then, they had to

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The Engen cabin near Tulaby Lake offers one master suite and a loft with four single beds. Contributed / Engen family

The Engen family removed the cross from the roof of the church and placed it inside the cabin to be used as decor. Barbie Porter / Spring Home

Jennifer and Lowell Engen’s church-turned-cabin near Tulaby Lake. The complete renovation included redoing the exterior and interior of the structure. Contributed / Engen family

decide if they were going to keep the 8-foot-tall stained glass window. The design plan called for the wall to go down the middle of the window. They considered different plans, but after taking a good look at the stained glass window, they saw much work would be needed to keep it.

“We decided to remove it and give it to someone who would restore it,” Jennifer said.

The bedroom space is a suite with its own bathroom area/ closet. There is also a second bathroom across the hall, as well as a space for a washer and dryer that leads to the back door and a covered patio.

A loft was built over the bedroom and bathroom, as well as a staircase leading to the additional living space. Along the outside walls fit four single beds. The Engens then took an RV booth that folds into a bed and placed it by the loft window.

“It’s a great space for the kids and their friends to hang out and play games,” Jennifer said.

As the temperatures rose and summer residents returned, the number of visitors increased. Some people stopped to hear about the Engens’ renovation project, while others shared memories they created at the church, such as a wedding or other celebration. Other visitors shared history about the church.

When the Engens purchased the building, it had a crawl space underneath. A visitor informed them a “bucket brigade” filled in the rest of the basement many years ago.

“They filled (the basement with) 5 feet of gravel,” Lowell said. “They left a 4-foot crawl space, which is plenty to get around under there.”

Now that the church has transformed into a cabin on the inside, they are completing the finishing touches on the exterior with new siding.

Jennifer said the renovation project fulfilled its purpose, allowing the family to spend time together as her kids begin to leave the nest for the next phases of their lives. They decided to put the cabin on the market in hopes more family memories are made.

The interior of the church renovated into a cabin offers refurbished original floors and an open, flowing floor plan. Contributed / Engen family

Jennifer and Lowell Engen did most of the renovation work, along with the help of their children, Zada, 16, and Luca, 21. Barbie Porter / Spring Home

Master Gardener Nick Williams keeps himself surrounded

greenery all year long

BY VICKI GERDES

For Spring Home

The gardens outside his rural Detroit Lakes home may be covered by piles of snow, but inside, Nick Williams is preparing to harvest some tobacco.

“I grow it for Native American ceremonial use,” says Williams, who has been a Becker County Master Gardener for “about seven years now,” though he and his wife Becky have been avid gardeners for most of their lives.

“She’s always been a flower gardener, I’ve always grown vegetables,” he said. Proof of the Williamses’ mutual passion for growing things can be seen in the flower pots and planters that are interspersed throughout their living spaces.

When he can’t be outside in his vegetable gardens, Becker County Master Gardener Nick Williams spends the winter months tinkering with his indoor gardens, which use both hydroponic and aeroponic techniques.

Vicki Gerdes / Spring Home

Contributed / Nick Williams

The lush gardens outside the home of Becker County Master Gardener Nick Williams are a testament to both his own talents and those of his wife, Becky. He prefers vegetable gardening, while she prefers to focus on flowers.

Contributed / Nick Williams

At the height of the growing season, the pollinator garden outside Nick and Becky Williams’ rural Detroit Lakes is so lush that the surrounding buildings are pretty well hidden from view. Contributed / Nick Williams

Outside, a medium-sized greenhouse can be found, as well as several gardens — some with raised beds, and some without. These have been lying fallow for a few months now, however … even the greenhouse.

“I haven’t even broken a path (through the snow) out there yet,” Williams said, adding that the greenhouse is usually heated and running by March 1, but continued freezing temperatures and intermittent snowstorms have delayed that by several weeks this year.

It’s the second straight year that spring has been late in arriving, he added.

“I hardly had any apples or pears last year, because of the prolonged winter,” said Williams. “It froze the blossoms on most of our fruit trees.”

Nick Williams enjoys experimenting with different lighting and gardening techniques in his indoor garden spaces.

Vicki Gerdes / Spring Home

Greenhouse gardening has allowed him to try growing several varieties of fruit trees that are not indigenous to northwest Minnesota — such as a type of apple tree native to Australia, which produces Lady Delicious apples.

His wife Becky has done most of the work in creating their thriving pollinator garden, he said. They also have three black walnut trees and two ginkgo biloba trees on their property, along with a Kentucky coffee tree — even though none of these varieties are native to Minnesota, nor are they typically thought to be hardy enough to thrive in this part of the state.

“The coffee tree has double compound leaves,” he said. “It looks quite bizarre in the winter.

“I was told black walnut didn’t grow this far north, but I have three of them that prove otherwise.”

Besides the various types of trees, Williams also has a thriving patch of asparagus, and “the horseradish is just starting to do well, after about four or five years.”

He typically tries to get his outdoor vegetable gardens planted and growing by May 1, weather permitting.

“Memorial Day is the traditional start date for vegetable gardens, but I like to jump the gun a little,” Williams said. “I’m just anxious, I guess. I like to get a head start, and I’ve been lucky most years.”

This year might be an exception, he added — but the freezing temperatures outside do not mean all of his gardens are currently frozen: A couple of small rooms in the basement

These seed starting trays were being nurtured for a March 31 workshop by the Becker County Master Gardeners at the Detroit Lakes Library. Vicki Gerdes / Spring Home

Memorial Day is the traditional start date for vegetable gardens, but I like to jump the gun a little.

- Nick Williams, Becker County Master Gardener

of the Williams’ home are dedicated to indoor gardens, using both aeroponic and hydroponic growing techniques.

The difference between the two? Though neither uses soil, in hydroponics, plants may be suspended in water full-time or fed by an intermittent flow of water. Aeroponic plants are never placed in water at all. To keep the plants healthy, nutrient solutions are either added to the water (hydroponics) or sprayed directly onto the roots (aeroponics).

“We have enough lettuce in the basement to have fresh salads two or three times a week,” Williams said.

He also grows “various herbs” downstairs, as well as the aforementioned tobacco.

Williams enjoys exploring the science of these nontraditional growing techniques.

“I’m always fiddling with the pH and nutrient content,” he said. “It’s like an ongoing chemistry experiment.”

He’s also enjoyed experimenting with different light levels, types of lights (LED, incandescent, etc.), and even different types of hydroponic and aeroponic systems.

“I’ve tried everything,” Williams said.

With the use of aeroponics (shown) and hydroponics, Becker County Master Gardener Nick Williams grows vegetables and herbs all year round, like this crop of squash, with its bright yellow squash blossoms. Vicki Gerdes / Spring Home

“There are several different types of hydroponics, and I’ve enjoyed trying them all.”

He also believes in passing what he has learned on to others — which is why he became a Master Gardener in the first place, Williams said. In 2021, he wrote a series of Master Gardener columns on indoor gardening, aeroponics and hydroponics for the Detroit Lakes Tribune.

“I’m currently serving on the University of Minnesota Extension Advisory Board,” Williams added (the UM Extension sponsors Master Gardener programs in counties across Minnesota). Nick

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Williams’ indoor gardens use a variety of aeroponic and hydroponic techniques to grow his favorite vegetables and herbs. Vicki Gerdes / Spring Home

The Riverside Escape

ON BIG DETROIT

A newly renovated short-term rental was completely furnished by Allure

BY MICHAEL ACHTERLING For Spring Home

Upon entering, brightly colored paintings, prints and color schemes jump off the walls to greet any potential visitor.

The large, open floor plan of the home remains cozy with natural sunlight shining through large windows and reflecting off the tropical hues found throughout the residence.

The newly remodeled short-term rental on North Shore Drive in Detroit Lakes is the product of Skye Fingalson, owner of Design 2 Sell and Allure, who found a way to showcase both of her businesses with every online booking.

“It was the perfect way to collaborate the two businesses to create a model home,” said Fingalson. “And then it became, Design 2 Sell can do the full design of everything and then

Skye Fingalson, owner and operator of Design 2 Sell and Allure, smiles in the kitchen of a newly remodeled short-term rental property on North Shore Drive in Detroit Lakes. The rental designed and furnished by her companies.

Michael Achterling / Spring Home

we’ll just pull all the furnishings of home decor, artwork and lighting from Allure.”

She purchased the lakeside property with her husband, Troy, last July and began renovating in December. By the end of February, the remodel was complete and Riverside Escape on Big Detroit was born.

“So that was very quick,” she said. “So now it’s officially listed on the Airbnb sites.”

She added the name for the property stems from the Pelican River that runs along the property line and enters Detroit Lake right next to the large wrap-around patio of the home.

The exterior of a remodeled short-term rental on North Shore Drive in Detroit Lakes designed by Design 2 Sell and furnished by Allure. Contributed / Design 2 Sell

The minimum nightly rate for the three-bedroom, 2.5-bath is about $300, she said.

“(It has) two living rooms, a game area, a full laundry room and then of course a full kitchen and dining area,” she added.

During the remodel, Fingalson said they took out a large wall that separated the kitchen from the main living area to create a long kitchen island with seating for five.

“It was kind of like a galley kitchen, so we decided to knock (the wall) down and open it up and create this big 9-foot-long island,” she said. “I knew that I wanted to do some floating shelves and incorporate some unique colors, and that’s why I picked the blue for the cabinets and played off the different metals. So you can see a lot of mixture of black and gold, and also the stainless steel.”

They also removed a sliding door divider, Fingalson said, which separated the dining area from the game room living area down a short hallway.

She also described how she approaches remodeling projects as an interior designer.

“It all comes from my heart,” said Fingalson. “I come in and I just feel it, I guess, and then I kind of get a vision in my mind and build off of that. And, for this one, I just wanted it to be playful and fun, and just kind of horde those fun tropical vibes.”

Design 2 Sell specializes in any remodel or redesign element large or small, she said. Adding the project could be as small as swapping out a shower, or as big as remodeling an entire home.

Allure, Fingalson said, was created because Design 2 Sell had accounts already set up for many of the fixture vendors

Wooden light fixtures hang above the center-kitchen island of a remodeled short-term rental on North Shore Drive in Detroit Lakes, designed by Design 2 Sell and furnished by Allure. Michael Achterling / Spring Home

“

For this one, I just wanted it to be playful and fun, and just kind of horde those fun tropical vibes.

- Skye Fingalson, owner of Design 2 Sell and Allure

the design company was using.

“We were doing interior decorating jobs and then we decided we outgrew our space at Design 2 Sell for this stuff,” said Fingalson. “So, we opened up Allure, where now we can put (our home decor items) all over there and have more of a showroom for people.”

The kitchen of the remodeled rental had a couple of focal points during the design process, Fingalson said.

“The light fixtures above the kitchen island because those are really playful and fun,” she said. “Also, the kitchen in

Before photo of the game room living area of a short-term rental on North Shore Drive in Detroit Lakes. Contributed / Design 2 Sell

AFTERThe game room living area of a remodeled short-term rental on North Shore Drive in Detroit Lakes, designed by Design 2 Sell and furnished by Allure. Contributed / Design 2 Sell

general is kind of the main heart of the home, the gathering place.”

The other eyecatching design element was the selection of artwork and prints to go along with the bright design.

“We did find the artwork when we went down to Las Vegas Market this last January,” she said. “I saw some pieces, fell in love, and ended up ordering all of (the artwork) in the house from there.”

The dining area, she said, needed a built-in nook area because a regular dining table setup would’ve pushed too far into the walkway.

“It would’ve been too tight for a walk space and that’s

The master bathroom of a remodeled short-term rental on North Shore Drive in Detroit Lakes, designed by Design 2 Sell and furnished by Allure. Contributed / Design 2 Sell

The guest bathroom of a remodeled short-term rental on North Shore Drive in Detroit Lakes, designed by Design 2 Sell and furnished by Allure. Contributed / Design 2 Sell

when we came up with building a bench,” said Fingalson. “That way we can shift the table over and still have this walk space.”

The guest bathroom used to feature an old, fiberglass unit, she said. The renovation crew pulled the old unit and installed a new bathtub with green tile work above it.

“We had all of the vanities custom-made,” said Fingalson.

The primary bedroom features a unique wooden bed frame and a sliding barn door for the master bathroom.

“We had a door that swung into the master bathroom and because you were kind of dancing around the door when you opened it, we decided to do a barn door,” she said. They also replaced the old 3-foot-wide shower and neighboring liner closets to install a large standing shower, big enough for the user to open and close an umbrella with ease.

The game room living area features a stand-up Ms. Pacman machine and foosball table, along with a colorful seating area and a deceptive wallpaper design.

I had a blast doing (the remodel) and I got to be really creative and I enjoy doing my own (projects) when I’m able to.

- Skye Fingalson, owner of Design 2 Sell and Allure

The main living area of a remodeled short-term rental on North Shore Drive in Detroit Lakes, designed by Design 2 Sell and furnished by Allure. Contributed / Design 2 Sell

“That’s actually wallpaper on the back wall there,” she said. “Isn’t that crazy? You have to touch it to realize it.”

The wallpaper is a near-perfect image of three-dimensional wood paneling in sea blue.

The exterior of the remodeled rental has changed very little, she said, aside from the pink entry doors. However, she said they have plans to remodel the outside as the weather gets warmer. The rental will also have shared dock access with the neighboring property.

When asked if she plans to remodel more short-term-rental homes, Fingalson said she’d love to, but it would have to be the right property, and they are still in the process of making this one successful.

“I had a blast doing (the remodel) and I got to be really creative and I enjoy doing my own (projects) when I’m able to,” she said. “I just got it up and listed, but I do have all of July booked up already.”

Fingalson added she was not able to do the whole remodel on her own and wanted to thank the contractors for doing such professional work. She thanked: Bud Gillespie Construction, Malstrom Electric, Vesey Plumbing, Morris Paint and Decorating, F and A Heating and Cooling, Crumbs and Creations, Lumbros Building Solutions, and, of course, Design 2 Sell and Allure.

“That’s what we do on all of our projects through Design 2 Sell, we use the same team for electricians, plumbers, drywallers, painters, carpenters … so everybody knows how they work together,” said Fingalson. “And the end result is always awesome … we’ve just got an awesome team with all the tradesmen and everybody.”

Pink flowers adorn the dining table of a remodeled short-term rental on North Shore Drive in Detroit Lakes, designed by Design 2 Sell and furnished by Allure. Contributed / Design 2 Sell

Think spring with home

Smith Furniture helps bring spring indoors

BY FRANK LEE

For Spring Home

It’s never too early to “think spring,” especially when the temperatures drop and cabin fever reaches an alltime high.

“During the pandemic, we had a lot of people that were coming in,” said Christina Frost, owner of Smith Furniture in downtown Wadena. “During that time, they were spending so much more time inside – at home – that they kind of looked at things a little bit differently.”

When it’s cold on the outside, people can still spruce up their living space with spring home decor furnishings

and accessories that will have them thinking of warmer days ahead.

“We carry sofas, recliners, dining room tables, end tables, bedroom furniture and all of the accessories – table lamps, wall art, all of the smaller home decor that you would use – to decorate your house,” Frost said.

The retail space has been a furniture store since the building at Jefferson Street and Colfax Avenue was built in the late 1800s, and it has been Smith Furniture since 1950, according to Frost.

“Definitely the majority of our customers are local customers – and have been customers for generations – their

grandmas and their moms and now them,” Frost said of Smith Furniture, which sells a lot of living room furniture and mattresses.

Frost is beginning to carry and display items related to spring in the 10,000-square-foot, two-story building kitty-corner to the Cozy Theatre and across from The Uptown restaurant.

“We work with our customers and ask them questions about what’s currently in their homes, what kind of style they like, who uses the furniture, how often it gets used, things like that,” Frost said.

One of Smith Furniture’s favorite trends that is making its way in 2023 is layers of richly

The retail space at Colfax Avenue and Jefferson Street in downtown Wadena has been a furniture store since the building was built in the late 1800s. Smith Furniture has been located in the space since 1950. Frank Lee / Spring Home

textured fabrics and cozy vibes, according to the business’s website and its section on this year’s design trends.

“Adding textures to your home can be done by adding throw pillows in textured or velvet fabric, mixing wood with metal, adding real or faux plants, or using different elements on your walls such as canvas or metal,” according to tips, tricks and advice the furniture store offered.

Frost said, “Our website is more just for information, so we don’t have any sales online.”

Smith Furniture was closed for the day on March 9 to allow personnel to attend a furniture market in Red Wing, Minnesota, where they purchased some area rugs and wall art to offer for sale at the Wadena business.

“We saw some new finishes that one of our bedroom lines is bringing out,” Frost said of the furniture market. “We saw a couple of new styles that one of our stationary sofa lines is bringing out and just looked at some of the new fabrics.”

According to the furniture store’s webpage about design trends for 2023, using various materials adds a ton of character to a room, so don’t be afraid to mix metals, or florals with stripes or add multiple textures through artwork.

“What we’ve noticed in some of our shopping for accessories … is a lot of earthy looks to them but then pops of color, so lots of bright blues and yellows, and greens and coral, and mixing styles, mixing patterns – not so matchymatchy as it used to be,” Frost said.

Pantone’s color of the year is Viva Magenta, “a beautiful bold magenta color that brings life to any room it is applied to,” according to Smith Furniture’s webpage regarding style inspiration.

“Splashes of this stunning magenta color will add a cozy feel to your room without being overpowering. … You can try adding it to your room with throw pillows or blankets, artwork for your walls, or even an accent table or chair,” according to the business’s webpage.

“It’s a lot of incorporating your personality into things … just kind of, again, not so matchy-matchy to make things that are really just a little bit more unique and eclectic … so mixing wood and metal on a tray … or putting different pillows on your sofa,” Frost said.

Frost said she is just starting to display all of her spring accessories and decorate her showroom floor, which includes a large storefront window or streetside display.

“Most people start thinking spring when the snow melts and then they kind of look around and want something brighter and more colorful and cheerful, to bring that kind of outdoorsy stuff in,” Frost said. “There’s so much greenery and florals and that’s always kind of a staple of spring.”

For more information about Smith Furniture, call 218631-2301, email smithfurniturewadena@gmail.com, visit www.smithfurniturewadena.com, or stop by the store at 302 Jefferson St. S.

Mixing metal with wood, such as a tray atop a wooden dresser, bucks the conventional wisdom of making sure everything matches. Frank Lee / Spring Home

Adding real or faux plants to any interior space is an easy way to bring the outside in and incorporate a spring feel to the home. Frank Lee / Spring Home

“

Most people start thinking spring when the snow melts and then they kind of look around and want something brighter and more colorful and cheerful, to bring that kind of outdoorsy stuff in.

- Christina Frost, owner of Smith Furniture

Sofa throw pillows in various sizes and textured fabric covers keep things visually interesting after a snow white winter. Frank Lee / Spring Home

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Living out

A BEACHY DREAM

Vicky and Darold Woessner had their lake home designed by Sota Interior Design

BY ELIZABETH VIERKANT For Spring Home

If there’s anything Minnesota is known for — especially the Otter Tail County area — it’s lakes. Many dream of that lake life, living full-time in their very own lake home like the vacation houses seen on television. For one Ottertail town family, married couple Vicky and Darold Woessner, this life is a reality with their very own, beachy home right off the shore of Otter Tail Lake.

“We’re normally not here in the wintertime, but staying in this home made it not so tough because this is so comfortable,” Vicky said one snowy afternoon. “We just love it here.”

Darold continued, “It’s just nice coming in.”

Though Darold, who owns a construction company — Woessner Construction — was the one who built the home’s structure in 2005, they recently collaborated with Sota Interior Design’s Danielle Glorvigen and her assistant

Courtny Warren in order to make every single detail of the home welcoming and luxurious. Vicky has always been a fan of the “beachy” feel when it comes to her homes, especially with their house located right off the shore of Otter Tail Lake. Together, Glorvigen and Warren worked with Vicky’s beachy taste as they selected new flooring and paint colors, refaced the front of the kitchen island, reupholstered barstools, selected lighting and millwork for an accent wall, and completed all the general shopping and decorating.

As a visitor walks into the Woessners’ home, they’re immediately able to feel the beachy inspiration utilized throughout the space. With high ceilings and white walls, the entrance floods with natural light. Light and textured woods on the entrance’s cabinet and mirror bring the essence of trees inside, even featuring a plant to add to the natural atmosphere. The floors are a shiny marble that reflects the sunlight, and a soft light brown area rug sits in the center to keep that outdoorsy vibe consistent from ceiling to floor.

The living room, complete with a fireplace, sits in front of windows looking out onto Otter Tail Lake. Contributed / Danielle Glorvigen

To the left of the entryway is the home office, complete with lush carpet, cozy chairs and light wood decor. That light wood, in fact, is carried all throughout the home. As a visitor walks forward from the entryway to the living space, the walls widen into an open floor plan, light wood flooring separating the space from the entrance. This open-floor space features four different areas: the sunroom, dining room, kitchen and living room.

While the Woessners were building their home in 2005, they knew they wanted to have an open floor plan, however, they also knew they wanted a way to still separate the spaces from one another. That’s when Darold came up with the plan to utilize different ceilings.

The high ceilings of the kitchen and living room are separated by a slightly lower beam that runs diagonally across the ceiling before joining other beams formed in a

Light, natural and pastel colors carry throughout the home to give it an airy and welcoming feel. Contributed / Danielle Glorvigen

We’re normally not here in the wintertime, but staying in this home made it not so tough because this is so comfortable.

- Vicky Woessner

Elizabeth

rectangular shape above the kitchen. While some walls separate the living and dining room from the sunroom, the entrance remains wide open. Then, as a visitor walks into the sunroom, they’re greeted with a vaulted ceiling and window, facing to look out at the gorgeous waters of Otter Tail Lake.

Light wood features are meticulously placed throughout the space, from ceiling lights to wall art to the photo frames and side tables. Most of the walls are light colors, only further brightened by the tall windows and glass doors. Everything feels light and natural, especially the few green plants found within the rooms.

While a lot of the colors utilized throughout the home are whites, tans and browns to accentuate Vicky’s desire for an outdoorsy, beachy atmosphere, splashes of green from the plants and blues in the furniture and walls complete the natural vibes. A feature wall in the sunroom is a deep, cool blue that’s reminiscent of the water glimpsed through the windows, and the angular millwork displayed on it almost feels similar to the waves.

In the kitchen, the water inspiration can be found in the iridescent blue backsplash that reflects the natural light. While the cabinets are a light brown wood similar to that found all throughout the home, they’re actually original to when the home was built in 2005. As are the

Down the stairs from the Woessners’ upper level is the large entrance to their bedroom, framed with a stained glass piece of a beach above the doorway.

Vierkant / Spring Home

The natural light woods continue to carry on into the home’s bathroom, even featuring a plant in a light brown pot to resemble a palm tree. Contributed / Danielle Glorvigen

gourmet Miele appliances, including a coffee machine and steam oven for meals like vegetables and seafood.

“(Woessner Construction) built the house and handled all the cabinetry,” Darold said of his company, which also does cabinet construction. “At the time we built, we were dealers for Miele appliances so we had their appliances to put in here.”

Through the living room’s glass doors is the outdoor patio, complete with a stone fire pit where the Woessners can sit outside during the summer and enjoy the beautiful weather at the lake. However, this isn’t just any normal patio with a fire pit. In fact, the stone surrounding the pit almost resembles a traditional indoor fireplace.

“When we were getting the fire pit in, and we were landscaping and stuff like that, I thought, you got that fire pit, and the smoke always seems to follow someone around and all that,” Darold explained. “So I had the masons here, and I had them put the fireplace up, so the smoke just goes up. It’s just like a campfire, but the smoke is going up and not bothering everybody. It works out pretty good. The grandkids get to make their s’mores out there.”

Before the sun goes down in the summer, however, sitting outside on the brick and stone can get pretty hot. Originally, the Woessners had a big umbrella, but that wasn’t quite enough to keep them cool. Now, they have a canopy that can come down to keep them shaded and comfortable when enjoying the summer weather or sunsets over the lake.

The Woessner’s master bedroom showcases Vicky’s enjoyment of beachlike themes, featuring cool, water-like colors along with touches of natural and earthy browns.

Contributed / Danielle Glorvigen

The master bathroom features a luxury tub. The relaxing atmosphere is enhanced with plants, candles and a window that allows natural light in.

Elizabeth

Vierkant / Spring Home

After an evening admiring the sunset, it’s time to go to bed, and the Weossners’ master bedroom — with those same browns, tans and whites with splashes of blues and greens — is the perfect place to do so. The entrance is a wide and tall doorway, complete with a stained glass window design of a beach framing the top.

Inside the bedroom, also surrounded by tall and bright windows, is yet another fireplace. After bathing in the jetted tub or the stone shower of the master bath, Vicky likes to sit at this fireplace to warm up, get dressed and get ready for the day.

Stairs to the upper level are found right outside the master bedroom, with the laundry room off to the right. Upstairs, the beach theme continues with blues, greens and browns, with all the additional rooms for the Woessners’ grandchildren to stay in when they visit. The love for their family is reflected in a mural of photographs at the top of the stairs, full of smiles and hugs.

The Woessners’ grandchildren love visiting them on Otter Tail Lake, and family members all fell in love with rural lake living after seeing the luxurious life Vicky and Darold are able to lead in their home.

This dining/sitting area has plenty of natural light thanks to the large, arched windows that look out onto Otter Tail Lake. Elizabeth Vierkant / Spring Home

The dark countertops, backsplash and appliances contrast with the light wood cabinets featured in the Woessners’ kitchen. Elizabeth Vierkant / Spring Home

“My brother is only about three doors down from us,” Darold shared. “And (Vicky’s) brother is right next door. We have a few family (members) around. She’s got another brother on Buchanan Lake. A few of them have been attracted here since we’ve been here and seeing us.”

As the cold dissipates, the ice thaws and the snow melts, the Woessners will be back to living that outdoor lake life. In

the meantime, while they wait inside for the weather to warm up, having a nice interior in which to live has made the winter an enjoyable season.

To see more of Danielle Glorvigen and Courtny Warren’s interior design efforts, visit Sota Interior Design on Facebook or Instagram. Sota Interior Design can be reached at 218-7701970 or info@sotainteriordesign.com.

The luxurious atmosphere of the Woessners’ home is clear from the entryway, tall ceilings above marble flooring and framed with an earthy area rug.

Contributed / Danielle Glorvigen

This light wooden cabinet and mirror in the entryway introduce visitors to the bright, outdoorsy theme as soon as they walk inside.

Contributed / Danielle Glorvigen

Browns, tans and blues are featured throughout the living and dining space of the Woessners’ home to correlate with its beach theme and the lake outside their windows. Elizabeth Vierkant / Spring Home

Bergen’s Greenhouses is a big player

IN SPRING PLANTS

Lilies are particularly tricky to grow, since most of them are sold the week before Easter Sunday

BY NATHAN BOWE For Spring Home

If the Easter lily is a symbol of beauty, hope and life, then Bergen’s greenhouse in Detroit Lakes is the place to be over the winter – it starts the new year with 50,000 Easter lilies growing under its roof.

As they get larger, 30,000 of those Easter lilies are moved to Bergen’s greenhouse in Columbus, Minnesota, to finish growing.

All the lilies in this year’s crop started in Detroit Lakes, because the 11-acre Detroit Lakes site specializes in young plant production, said owner Chris Bergen.

“We’ve been working on spring (plants) since December –we started in earnest in January,” he said. “We’re like farmers, but our peak production is now.”

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We’ve been working on spring (plants) since December – we started in earnest in January. We’re like farmers, but our peak production is now.

- Bergen’s Greenhouses owner Chris Bergen

Bridget Bergen is production manager at Bergen’s Greenhouses. She is standing among the Easter lilies growing in mid-March, 2023. Nathan Bowe / Spring Home

Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 14 this year, and that holiday traditionally is peak sales for spring plants, he said. “A lot has to happen in the next 40 days,” he said in an interview in mid-March.

Speaking of spring plants, those lilies are particularly tricky, since most of them are sold the week before Easter Sunday, which falls on April 9 this year. Unlike set holidays like Christmas, which occur on the same date every year, Easter can fall anywhere between March 22 and April 25.

“With Easter Sunday always moving, the schedule can be tight, and is adjusted accordingly each year,” Bergen said.

Something else has changed as well: The lilies grown by Bergen’s this year aren’t your grandmother’s Easter lilies.

“There has been very little breeding work done in the genetics of Easter lilies since the 1980s,” Bergen said. “This is quite odd, since a lot of the genetics change yearly in most of the other material we grow. Our annuals, perennials, vegetables, poinsettia and garden mums are updated often. New patented varieties are introduced every year. The exception has been the Easter lily.”

The “Nellie White” variety has been the standard Easter lily since the 1980s, he said, but since 2019, Bergen’s has been trying out a new variety of lily called the “Miracle” lily. This new introduction is from Zabo Plants, a Dutch lily breeding company.

“Each year, we grow more Miracle lilies and fewer Nellie White lilies,” Bergen said. “There is still limited availability (of Miracle lilies) as they work on increasing the stock bulb production. Bergen’s is one of the

Easter lilies growing at Bergen’s Greenhouses. The Detroit Lakes greenhouse starts 50,000 Easter lilies at the beginning of the year, timed to be sold before Easter. Contributed / Bergen’s

largest growers of Miracle lily in the nation.”

The Miracle lily has some advantages, he said.

For one, the growing time is easier to get right for Easter. “It’s easier to control,” Bergen said.”Every year Easter falls on a different date – to hit it is a little difficult.”

Also, since the Miracle lily is genetically a dwarf species, it produces a more uniform plant, with 5- to 6-inch pure white flowers. “It’s a great performer,” he said.

And finally, it provides a great post-production shelf life for the customer. “It’s very hardy and it has a great shelf life – you can plant it in your garden and it will bloom in July,” he said.

Easter lily plants like bright, indirect sunlight. Cool temperatures between 65 and 75 degrees are best, and they should be watered often enough to keep the soil lightly moist, but not soaking wet, Bergen said. As each blossom fades, trim and enjoy the remaining blooms.

Bergen’s Greenhouses has about 250 total employees across all locations (including about 50 in Detroit Lakes) and operates an 11-acre site in Detroit Lakes, a 14-acre site in Columbus, Minnesota, and a 24 ½-acre site screened by trees off Highway 34 just outside of Park Rapids.

Bergen’s owns about 50 semitrailers, and uses a lot of owner-operators to haul its plants. “We have a dedicated crew that comes back every year,” he said.

All the Easter lilies are shipped out in a three or four day period to Minnesota and surrounding states. Bergen’s serves stores and flower shops of all sizes, “from the biggest retailers in the world to some of the smallest,” he said.

When the spring planting season gets into gear, those drivers really get busy. “In May we’ll have 30 semitrucks on the road every day,” Bergen said.

Lilies have held a significant place in world history because of their aroma, grace and beauty. From ancient times to the greenhouse down the street, people always think of the lily as “the Easter flower.”

Easter lilies growing at Bergen’s Greenhouses. Contributed / Bergen’s

TIPS AND TRICKS Spring cleaning

Spring is a time of year when change is in the air. Trees are budding, plants are flowering, and homes laden with dark or heavy fabrics and clutter could use some lightening up.

Spring cleaning projects are popular this time of year as residents take inventory of their living spaces and aim to declutter, clean and increase efficiency. Some people find the prospect of getting organized overwhelming. Here are some tips that can help anyone master spring cleaning.

• Create a plan. Make a checklist and establish a cleaning plan of attack. Focus on areas that are not regularly cleaned, as they probably need a little attention.

• Assemble your cleaning kit. Spring cleaning can be slowed down considerably if you don’t have all of your equipment at the ready. Items to have on hand include an allpurpose cleaner, concentrated cleaner, microfiber cloths, paper towels, mop, vacuum, dusters and a squeegee. Adjust your equipment based on the task at hand.

• Curate your cleaning playlist. Create a playlist with songs that will get you moving and motivated to clean.

• Work from top to bottom. Work efficiently by cleaning shelves, ceiling fans and other elevated items first, as dust and

debris will trickle down and need to be cleaned next.

• Purchase or rent a carpet cleaner. According to the experts at Clean That Up, carpets help filter indoor air by trapping debris and allergens. By deep cleaning carpets, homeowners can improve the indoor air quality of their homes. Use a carpet cleaner on a warm, dry day so that windows can be opened and cross breezes will help dry the damp rug.

• Clean windows. Wash windows inside and out and utilize their screens to help brighten indoors spaces.

• Deep clean the kitchen. Clean out and disinfect the refrigerator by wiping it down with warm water and baking soda or a vinegar-and-water solution. While in the kitchen, set the oven to the self-clean function so it becomes cleaner as well.

Homeowners also can focus on cleaning curtains (including shower curtains), steam-cleaning upholstery, removing clutter from closets, cleaning out the dryer vent and duct tubing, wiping inside kitchen drawers, and vacuuming under beds and other furniture.

Spring cleaning can bring the revitalizing nature of this beloved time of year into your home.