REDOUX HOME FALL 2010

re•doux

home

september / october 2010 • free

northfield • dundas • faribault • cannon falls

CELEBRATE the harvest

special feature: northfield redouxhome.com

home remodeling tour

september / october 2010 EDITOR’S NOTE

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Who is REDOUX HOME? BY ELIZABETH CHILD

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Faribault’s entertainment and dining options abound. BY LAURIN WOLF

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Fall harvests let you sample the best of living off the land. BY ELIZABETH CHILD

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Chai-Apple Coffee Cake. BY ANNIE WITKAMP

REMODELING TOUR

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An open-house tour to showcase remodeling projects in Northfield homes.

READER REMODEL

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What’s old is new again: Marmoleum floors. BY ELIZABETH CHILD

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Tom Williams of Porchlight Painters. BY ELIZABETH CHILD

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Home Sweet Home Prices. BY BRIAN TREBELHORN

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Give your lawn a healthy helping of attention before winter. BY JARED COOPER

‘GARDEN ROOM’

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Henry Emmons, M.D., creates an inspirational Garden Room. BY ELIZABETH CHILD

REDOUX-IT YOURSELF

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A virtual dorm makeover. BY NICHOLE DAY DIGGINS and FELICIA CROSBY

CALENDAR

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Upcoming events in the area.

ON THE TOWN

CELEBRATE THE HARVEST RECIPE

7 REAL ESTATE

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YARD CARE

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PROFILE

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editor’s note Hello, World!

PUBLISHER Nichole Day Diggins / Flying Pan Productions EDITOR Elizabeth Child COPY EDITOR Jodi Ohlsen Read CONTRIBUTORS Elizabeth Child Jared Cooper Felicia Crosby Nichole Day Diggins Brian Trebelhorn Annie Witkamp Laurin Wolf CREATIVE DIRECTOR Nichole Day Diggins

REDOUX HOME • PO BOX 148, Northfield, MN 55057

p: e:

redoux home is produced by Flying Pan Productions.

All rights reserved. Copyright 2010.

Copies of this publication or its contents may not be made for promotional purposes. For article reprints, contact REDOUX HOME at info@redouxhome.com. to advertise:

507.301.9710 • 612.812.9987 www.redouxhome.com

We sincerely hope you will become regular readers.

Thanks for welcoming us into your home!

Elizabeth Child, Editor editor@redouxhome.com

Who owns REDOUX HOME? Not the News. Not the I-35 people. No corporate entity backs us. REDOUX HOME is the brainchild of Nichole Day Diggins, Northfield-based publisher and entrepreneurowner of the graphic design firm, Flying Pan Productions.

Day Diggins, who holds a degree in journalism, also has a redecorating business, not surprisingly named “Redoux,” with partner Felicia Crosby. (The two Redouxs are separate entities.) She has tapped her design sense to create the most beautiful publication on the market.

Who is this editor?

Me. I have been communicating professionally since my early 20s when I began working for the Twin Cities publication known now as the Business Journal, where I was director of research. This vaunted title came with a $12K salary. The more title, the less money. I am now president of Elizabeth Child & Company, Inc., my marketing communications firm, and I teach yoga at Heartwork Yoga Studio. My corporate title comes with a company car (that I pay for) and an office (in my home). I was once a vice president, too, at Piper Jaffray. I left the corporate life and made Northfield my hometown 10 years ago.

Q: What do you get when you combine an English Restaurateur, a German chef, a pastry chef from France and two savvy business women?

A: see back cover

redouxhome.com

Open Monday–Saturday 8 a.m.–9 p.m. & Sunday 10 a.m.–7 p.m.

516 Water Street S, Northfield • 507-650-0106 • www.justfood.coop

507.301.9710 info@redouxhome.com

Isn’t everything web now?

Ahhh, but you can hold up REDOUX HOME and smell its ink; run your fingers over her silky paper; tuck the minimag with big ideas in your bag.

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SALES Elizabeth Child Sara French Wendy Smith

Welcome to issue two of REDOUX HOME. We succeeded in catching a lot of Elizabeth Child relaxes at Cannon River Winery eyes and interest in June, our first issue, so starting in September we are proud to announce we are bi-monthly and have a new website: redouxhome.com. Many of our readers who liked what they saw asked who we were. Since you asked, I’m turning the tables to interview, well, me.

Why start a magazine in this down market?

Day Diggins wasn’t letting a little thing like double dip recession stop her. And as an avid reader of various home and design publications, she felt there may be a market for a home magazine done from a local perspective, which focused on sustainable living and design for all budgets.

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on the town in

Faribault

By Laurin Wolf

You don’t have to hit the interstate to the Twin Cities for an evening on the town with great food and entertainment. Faribault offers quiet, dramatic or toe-tapping options with local flavor.

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Gran Plaza Mexican Restaurant 520 Central Avenue N. 507.333.1344 Granplazagrill.com Gran Plaza serves up hearty portions of fresh, authentic Mexican food in a colorful and casual atmosphere.

Specialties include enchiladas, burritos and a house special called “Pollo Loco,” a flavorful mix of chicken, cheese, peppers, tomatoes and onions. Libations include the 18-ounce margaritas (just $2.99 on Wednesdays and Thursdays) and an extensive list of imported and domestic beers. Kids eat free all day on Sundays.

Hours: Sunday-Monday 11 a.m.- 9 p.m., Tuesday-Thursday 11 a.m.- 10 p.m., Friday- Saturday 11 a.m.- 11 p.m.

Signature Bar and Grill 201 Central Avenue 507.331.1657 Groove to the jazzy sounds of Jivin’ Ivan and the Kings of Swing at the Signature Bar and Grill from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday, September 11 and 25 in the main dining room. While you listen, enjoy a prime rib dinner, on special for $15.95 every Saturday, or one of the Signature’s juicy burgers. Happy hour is from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and again from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. daily, offering one dollar off all drinks except shots.

Hours: Monday-Wednesday 10 a.m.- 1 a.m., ThursdaySaturday 10 a.m.- 2 p.m., Closed on Sunday.

Paradise Center for the Arts 321 Central Avenue, Faribault 507.332.7372 paradisecenterforthearts.org

Comedy Tonight – Gilmore and Friends, Friday, September 10, 8 p.m.

Literary Arts Event, Saturday, September 11, 12 p.m.

Open Lab: Textiles, Tuesday, September 21, 6:30 p.m.

Chi Explosion exhibit opens, Friday, October 1, 5:30 p.m.

“On Golden Pond” presented by The Merlin Players, Friday, Weekends October 1 through Saturday, October 9 , 7:30 p.m.

Literary Arts Event, Saturday October 9, 12 p.m.

Open Lab: Textiles, Tuesday, October 19, 6:30 p.m.

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Laurin Wolf is a Faribault native and college student at Johns Hopkins University.

Happenings in Paradise

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Kick off a memorable evening with a glass of wine and a cheese plate or homemade soup at The Cheese Cave. Cheeses are made in Faribault’s own sandstone caves.

The bleu pear pizza features Faribault Dairy’s Amablu gorgonzola cheese, voted the best in the world, and a pear butter base, while the caprese pizza is drizzled in a 12-yearold balsamic vinegar that is “so good, I would bathe in it,” says cook Jill Mackey.

Hours: Monday-Wednesday 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

Thursday-Saturday 10 a.m.- 8 p.m.

Closed on Sunday.

The renovated Rock Island Depot is a great spot to grab a burger or one of Chef Jeff Labeau’s signature sandwiches.

True to their homemade promise, the meat for the burgers and other entrees is cut on site. Another customer favorite, the five-onion soup, is just right for fall. The bar’s popular Bloody Marys are on special for $3.50 every Saturday. The Depot offers outdoor seating during the warmer months.

Trains still run alongside the depot, just like they did in days of old when passengers could board.

Hours: Monday-Saturday 11 a.m.- 1 a.m., Sunday 11 a.m.- Midnight

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The Cheese Cave 318 Central Avenue N. 507.334.3988 cheesecave.net

The Depot Bar and Grill 311 Heritage Place 507.412.8882

By Elizabeth Child

Celebrate

Fruits ripened on the tree, bush or vine multiply in flavor.

And the sweetness grows when you join the harvest with friends and family. Fall harvest outings let you taste the best of living off the land, and the families who dedicate their lives to the ups and downs of farming revel in the chance to celebrate the harvest with you.

the

Harvest

Highway 19, 1 ½ miles east of I-35 Northfield 507.663.1376 firesideorchard.com

The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, it is said. Todd Harvey has been championing Minnesota’s fine local apples since 1987 at Northfield’s 40-acre Fireside Orchard and Gardens. His father, Robert, started the apple orchard in the 1970s, running it with wife Judy, but Todd Harvey’s farming roots extend even farther. As a boy, Todd used to help at his grandfather’s truck farm, which sold sweet corn, cantaloupes and other fresh produce along the roadside in Maple Plain.

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In truth, Harvey didn’t plan to follow the family into farming.

After college, he collected acid rain data studies for New York’s Adirondack Lake Survey Company. He continues to take environmental concerns seriously, growing his apples safely and sustainably. During the worst of the BP oil spill, he tacked a picture of an oil-soaked pelican to his refrigerator to remind the family about the extreme costs of oil-dependence.

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Todd Harvey Days & Hours: Every day, August-December, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Pick or purchase: A dozen varieties of apples, pumpkins, mums, grapes for eating or wine-making, popcorn and home-made cider, pies and donuts. Picking begins in mid-September.

Earliest Apple: Early Blush, a University of Minnesota crop that is great for pies and eating in early August.

Best value: The seconds found in the bins under the bagged apples. calendar & recipes: MinnesotaApple.com or MinnesotaGrown.com.

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Fireside Orchard boasts a dozen varieties of local apples.

Robert, Todd and his wife, Wendy, invite customers, visitors and school groups to share a slice of their paradise by sampling newly picked apples, picking their own, picnicking by the lily pond or rose garden Robert painstakingly nurtures, or gobbling up melt-in-the mouth

donuts tumbling off the old-fashioned, automated donut maker. Take an afternoon outing or breeze in to purchase cider made on site, pies, cheese and fudge atop the hill just off I-35.

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Harvey returned to Minnesota to help his father and make a living off the land, an occupation he says he likes for its “straight-forward” nature. But it is hardly predictable.

Northfield’s August hailstorm of 2006 cost him 40 to 60 percent of his apples. Even in this year’s near perfect growing season the memory seizes him: “If we don’t get hail, it will be one of our best harvests,” he says.

Robert Harvey tends his rose garden

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Fireside Orchard & Gardens

Most popular: Honey Crisp, Haralson, Fireside, Sweet Tango Most under appreciated: Zestar (Todd Harvey’s favorite) Longest lasting: Keepsake and Honey Crisp can last up to six months.

recipe

Chai-Apple Coffee Cake Serves 8 - 10

ANNIE WITKAMP thedabble.com – recipes & musings from a northfield culinary writer

Ingredients: Batter:

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2 1/2 cups flour 1 cup sugar

Streusel:

2 tsp. baking powder

½ cup flour

1/2 tsp. baking soda

½ cup brown sugar

1/2 tsp. salt

3 tbsp. butter, softened

2 tsp. cinnamon

Apple Topping:

1 cup butter, softened

2 cups of apple, peeled, cored and thinly sliced

2/3 cup chai tea latte concentrate

2 tbsp. butter

2 eggs

¼ cup chai tea latte concentrate

2 tsp. vanilla

2 tbsp. brown sugar

Preheat the oven to 350ºF and grease a deep 9-inch baking dish, deep 9-inch cake pan or a spring form pan with removable bottom. If using the spring form pan, wrap two layers of aluminum foil around the bottom so that the batter doesn’t seep.

In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Add the softened butter and mix until crumbly with your fingers or a pastry blender. In another bowl, mix chai concentrate, egg and vanilla.

Blend into flour mixture, spoon the mixture into the pan and spread along the bottom.

For the streusel, place 1/2 cup flour, 1/2 cup brown sugar and 3 tablespoons of butter in a small bowl. Mix with your fingers until crumbly. Place over the batter.

For the apple topping, sauté apples in 2 tablespoons of butter in a small skillet over medium heat for a few minutes.

Add the chai concentrate, cover and continue to cook for two more minutes to thicken the sauce and soften the apples. Spoon the apples and the sauce over the streusel and sprinkle with 2 tablespoons of brown sugar.

Bake for 60 to 85 minutes (depending on the type of pan) or until the top is golden brown and a toothpick comes out with moist crumbs. After about 40 minutes, check that the sides are not baking faster than the top. If so, cover the top with foil and continue baking. Cool on a wire rack for at least 20 minutes before serving.

Celebrate the

Harvest

Cannon River Winery 421 Mill Street West Cannon Falls 507.263.7400 cannonriverwinery.com

If you haven’t tried a Minnesota wine lately, it’s time.

Minnesota wines used to mean sweet, fermented libations made from anything but grapes. But today, most Minnesota wines are produced just like wines in Europe and California.

At just six years old, Cannon River Winery, owned by John and Maureen Maloney, is one of the oldest wineries in Minnesota. Commercial wine making is still in its infancy here, despite a century of research and development at the University of Minnesota to come up with hybrid grape varieties that allow for world-class wine production in the cold winter state.

Vista at Cannon River Vineyards

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In recent years, Minnesota has spawned more than 30 wineries on 16,000 acres and Maureen Maloney welcomes all new-comers. “We’d love to have more. You wouldn’t have Napa valley if there was only one winery to visit.”

She and John hope to make the winery a tradition they can share with one or more of their three sons who have been involved from the start. The oldest, John, helped to pound in 9,000 stakes for fencing and plant grape vines as far as the eye can see.

While Cannon River wines are available at local liquor stores, tasting the varieties at the 19th century building the Maloneys converted to a winery is a festive experience, and five dollars gets you nearly a dozen tasting glasses.

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Winemaker Vincent Negret has produced 20 wines with laudable characteristics. St. Pepin, Sogn Blanc and Irene Blush, among others, are international award winners.

The Cannon River vineyard is open to the public in the fall for grape harvesting and tours.

In September, you can join the harvest by picking grapes in the vineyard that arches to a tall vista in Sogn Valley.

Harvesters are treated to lunch and can follow their grapes back to the winery to watch the crushing or pressing.

The southern exposure and height of the vineyard kept this year’s crop safe despite a killing frost in May. To celebrate the harvest by picking, contact the winery at 507.263.7400.

Winemaker Vincent Negret

Open year round Sunday 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Monday - Thursday 11 a.m to 7 p.m.

Friday & Saturday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Celebrate the

Harvest

Lorence’s Berry Farm

28625 Foliage Avenue Northfield 507.645.2528 (call before coming) Lorence’s Berry Farm on Northfield’s northern edge lures strawberry, raspberry, and, in the past few years, asparagus lovers from around the region. They come not only for the luscious crop, but also for the friendly atmosphere on the 35-acre farm.

David and Holly Lorence moved to the farm in 1977 from Bloomington, where David’s grandfather owned a berry farm that has since been sold. Son Shawn started making plans to buy an adjacent farm as a teenager, and by the time he finished high school in 1982, he was a full-fledged farmer.

Five years later Shawn met his future wife, Gayle, in the berry rows. She was a seasonal worker during her college years and a “townie” from Northfield. By 1992 she and Shawn were married and built their home on the farm he’d purchased. It’s a life Gayle finds as peaceful as it is busy.

Today, David and his current wife Susie, live across the road and run the strawberry operation while Shawn and Gayle grow the raspberries. By September, the farm delivers row upon row of fat, ripened raspberries. The late bloomers are remarkably sweet and have fewer seeds than traditional, tart summer berries. A fifth-generation grower, Shawn says he experimented with 20 varieties to arrive at the three varieties he is proud to offer for public consumption.

Asparagus Mid-May to mid-June Strawberries Mid-June to mid-July Annika Torbenson picks raspberries at Lorence’s Berry Farm.

Raspberries Late July to late September

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Harvest Calendar

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Gayle and Shawn Lorence with Emily and Jake

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Elizabeth Child is Editor of REDOUX HOME and a Northfield-based marketing communications consultant.

2010 Northfield Area Home Remodeling Tour Saturday, September 18 – 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Join us for the first annual Northfield Area Remodeling Tour. This free tour is your opportunity to see the updates Northfield residents are making to their homes. Come experience kitchens, a finished basement, screen porch, a green roof, mudrooms and a landscaped outdoor room. You are welcome to explore one or all of the homes to get great ideas for your own project. The project architect or contractor will be at each site to answer questions and show you the unique features and solutions. There will be a drawing too—so be sure to register at each location you visit.

The more homes you tour the better your chance of winning.

The tour is brought to you by Vivus Architecture + Design and Schmidt Homes Remodeling, with support from Lamperts Yards, REDOUX HOME, Community Resource Bank, Budget Blinds and Vohs Floors.

redouxhome.com

7-Prairie Oak Builders

1 – 610 Union St. •

5 –

2 – 201 3rd Street E. • Schmidt Homes Remodeling

6 –

Taylor-Made Builders Kitchen and mudroom addition with green roof

Remodeling, kitchen remodel and mudroom addition

707 3rd Street E. • Vivus Architecture + Design Screen porch and mudroom addition

3 – 4 –

5-Grove Landscaping

1-Taylor-Made Builders 6-College City Remodeling

205 Elm Street • Olson Brothers Construction

1501 Mayflower Drive • Grove Landscaping Outdoor room

700 Turnberry Lane • College City Remodeling Remodeling, basement finish

1201 Sumac Lane • Prairie Oak Builders Kitchen remodeling

7 – 8 – 9 –

2004 Johnson Court • Northfield Kitchen Concepts 4635 86th St. E. • Schmidt Homes Remodeling Remodeling, kitchen remodel

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2-Schmidt Homes Remodeling

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3-Vivus Architecture + Design

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Look for tour updates at www.vivusarchitecture.com. We are also on Facebook!

sustainable is attainable

the new, eco-friendly linoleum

Hayford says the main reason for the Marmoleum comeback, however, is that Marmoleum is all-natural and biodegradable. Forty-five percent of Marmoleum is postindustrial content. The material is made from linseed oil mixed with pine resin and linoleum cement. Wood flour from paper production and limestone are added, and then it is backed with jute.

redouxhome.com

BY ELIZABETH CHILD

Northfield city councilwoman Betsey Buckheit is all about vibrancy, and her family’s home reflects her style. She says people passing by her house on Northfield’s Union Street have dubbed it “the Crayola house” for its bright, many-colored trim.

So, when it came to redoing her kitchen floor this year, she was immediately drawn to the bold and bright Marmoleum samples at Vohs Floors in downtown Faribault.

“If you want color, this is the way to go,” Buckheit says.

BIG STYLE. SMALLER PRICE.

The kitchen, designed by Vivus Architecture + Design and constructed by Taylor-Made Builders, angles off the back of the house, so laying squares of Marmoleum made economic as well as design sense. It was also a sustainable choice.

Marty Hayford, who represents Marmoleum locally for Forbo Flooring Systems, says Marmoleum is a throwback that’s making a big comeback. “Marmoleum has been covering hard-working kitchen floors for decades,” she says. One of the hallmarks of the product is the ability to create complex designs with it. While two-tone squares are easily patterned on site, intricate designs can be cut at the Forbo factory with a water jet, pieced together and shipped.

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marmoleum

She chose two shades of red, which Faribault’s Dan Deneen installed in random L-shaped patterns. The effect is vintage and the colors enliven her new, contemporary space.

Importantly for Buckheit and her family, it is durable and easy to clean. “It had to be able to withstand me,” she says with a wink, and also stand up to four-legged family members, Sasha, a black lab, and Laika, a shepherd mix.

Signature Murano®

Betsey Buckheit and Sasha Featured on the Northfield Area Home Remodeling Tour pages 15 – 16

Marmoleum is a brand of linoleum flooring produced by the Swiss company Forbo Group. Marmoleum’s vibrant colors and all-natural ingredients have reignited the popularity of linoleum. Not only is it durable and easy to clean, it also boasts antibacterial properties: Microorganisms like salmonella and staff aren’t spread as with other types of flooring. It’s made from linseed oil which continues to oxidize in the floor, keeping bacteria from multiplying. An added bonus: as the linseed oil oxidizes it hardens, making the floor even more durable.

Save 25% on select Signature Series® custom window treatments (exp. 10/15) Call today for your complimentary In-home consultation

507.581.5291

www.budgetblinds.com

Shutters • Draper y • Shades • Blinds • More!

profile

MEET the PAINTER

T he Co l or of In t egr i ty REDOUX HOME Editor Elizabeth Child interviewed Porchlight Painters owner Tom Williams about the recession and how it has helped him define his business.

EC: OK, let’s cut to the chase: How are recessionary times hitting you?

TW: We opened in 1999. In our first four years we grew so fast that we had three partners and a total of 12 employees. Now we have two employees: me and a partner. We’re really busy but I’ve learned that I like keeping the business small. From now on, that’s the way it will stay.

EC: This is America, land of bigger is better. Why would anyone want to stay small?

TW: I like to be on the job site, making sure of quality and customer service. I am in charge of production, sales and finance. With multiple job sites, I couldn’t do that. It’s more important for me to keep customers and maintain a reputation for high quality than to run a lot of jobs.

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EC: Why did you start Porchlight?

EC: What was the hardest part of that job?

TW: The last summer I worked there, I was the quality assurance guy in the metro area. College Pro would send me out to jobs that hadn’t gone necessarily well. I, of course, hadn’t been involved in the work. I was calling angry customers and saying, “I know you’ve had a bad experience. Let’s get it right.”

EC: As an owner, has that experience helped you?

Tom Williams

TW: Yes. I never let jobs get to the point where customers are calling up angry. That’s why I like to be involved in every job.

EC: How do you use your undergraduate degrees in psychology and sociology in your role?

TW: Ethics are really important to me. I am very focused on doing what’s right for the customer. I think that comes from my interest in human nature.

TW: I went to St. Olaf from 1992 to 1996. During that time I ran a painting franchise for College Pro Painters.

That’s where I got bitten by the business bug. It took me a couple years after college to get up the guts to start my own business – I was doing phone sales of automotive abrasives and hating it. One day I quit, called my brother-in-law, and said, let’s start a business. Now I’m the sole owner and I love having my own business.

EC: How are you feeling about the future of your business?

EC: Why did you choose painting instead of some sort of desk job?

EC: What are the characteristics of a good painter?

TW: I like to roll up my sleeves and get my hands dirty.

I feel a greater sense of accomplishment at the end of a job knowing that I played a role in the actual work. At College Pro I was training to be a franchise manager. I rarely painted.

TW: I am optimistic. I sent out a letter to 300 customers in December ’09 telling them that times are slow and offering them incentives that were only for my customer base. It worked out really well. Listen, our door is always open to new customers. But to those who are already part of the family, I do what I can to treat them specially. I owe it to them.

TW: Most importantly, you have to have certain character traits. You have to have patience, attention to detail, the ability to take constructive criticism and a strong respect for the people who you’re working for. I can train someone to create crisp edges, prep a site and keep the site clean.

But I can’t train them to be respectful of others.

real estate

By Brian Trebelhorn

“Should I buy a home right now, or wait?” That’s the question that is on the minds of those contemplating a home purchase right now. For those selling properties, the question is similar, “Should I sell my home right now, or wait?”

The buyer, of course, wants to buy the home for the least amount of money possible, while the seller wants to sell the home for the most amount of money. So, is there a happy medium where both buyer and seller can win? One thing is certain, there’s probably never been a better time, perhaps in history, to buy a home.

redouxhome.com

“There’s probably never been a better time, perhaps in history, to buy a home.”

Homes are at historically low prices and you can find a number of tremendous deals. Some homes are priced low because the market is simply demanding it, while others are priced low due to bank involvement. That is, an owner of a home can no longer afford to own the home and the bank that holds the mortgage is either asking for a short sale or the home has already been foreclosed upon. A short sale is when a home is sold for an amount that is less than what is owed on it. It is “short” the entire amount due.

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Home-Sweet-Home Prices

In either case, these can be very good deals for buyers, even if short sale or foreclosed homes may require some fixing up.

For sellers who are not working with a bank to try to sell their home, selling can be challenging. It may be a little tough to compete in this market, especially if you either bought your home when the prices of homes were very high a few years ago, or if you’re competing for a sale with a bank-involved home.

If you have a home on the market that is selling for $200,000, and one just like it down the road is selling for $50,000 less because it is in foreclosure, you will be hardpressed to compete on price, even if the other home needs $20,000 in repairs.

Got Equity?

On the other hand, if you happened to purchase your home more than 10 years ago, you may find yourself positioned well against the competition in this market. You could have a good deal of equity in your home, allowing you to price your home below competitive homes. Owing less on your mortgage means you can afford to sell for less.

Pricing your home correctly has never been more important.

If you’re also buying a home, you can take advantage of this market to get a home that’s a better fit for you.

If you’re in the market to purchase a home, my advice to you is: Don’t wait too long. It is only a matter of time before the whole housing market turns around and prices start to increase. It will happen. It’s just a matter of when. You don’t want to let the good deals go by and suddenly find none left. One thing is certain, homes right now truly are great buys and more than likely they won’t decrease in price from here on.

W h a t ’s a “ s h o r t s a l e ? ” A short sale is selling a home for less than the amount left to pay on a home loan or mortgage. If you owe $200,000 on your mortgage, but in today’s market the value of your home is only $175,000, you may ask the bank holding your mortgage for permission to sell it for $175,000. The sale is called a short sale because

I tell sellers that although it may be tough out there now, compare selling your home to the lottery. Sure, it may be difficult to win with the odds heavily against you. But your chances of winning are zero if you don’t try at all. Buyers are out there. You just may have the winning ticket.

it is selling “short” $25,000. In some

Brian Trebelhorn is a real estate agent with Re/Max Advantage Plus.

seven years.

cases the bank will relieve you of the

the

art of Landscape Design

Providing Exceptional Quality & Uniquely Creative Design/Build Landscapes. From Contemporary to Classic...

Transforming functional spaces to evoke the feeling of

living in fine art.

$25,000 you are short, but a bank can also ask you to pay it within five to

651-460-2171 • 507-645-9741

SwitzersNursery.com

Fall is for

Feeding Give your lawn a healthy helping of attention before winter.

By Jared W. Cooper

Now that summer is fading into autumn, it is time to think about preparing your lawn for winter. Just like a bear eating extra food to prepare for hibernation, your lawn needs to be well fed in fall so it has the energy to last through the snowy months. Fall feeding will boost your lawn’s health and give it a head start in the upcoming spring.

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Applying a high quality fertilizer sometime between late August and mid-October is ideal. It is also beneficial to core aerate and over-seed your lawn in the fall. I recommend plug-style aeration, over-seeding and finally fertilizing, in that sequence. This opens up the soil, allowing the grass seed a place to fall, while the fertilizer feeds the new seed and helps it grow.

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redouxhome.com

You may be asking, “Why does my lawn need all that attention when winter is almost here and everything will die anyway?” The fact is, your lawn does not “die” during the winter. It goes dormant, but is very much alive.

Furthermore, the more energy you can give your lawn before winter, the healthier it will be. Lawns that get extra attention in the fall are the most lush in spring.

If you have dandelions in your lawn, treat them in the fall as well. Dandelions have two, and occasionally three, growing cycles every year.

Backyard lawn and garden of Northfield’s Carol Korda.

The dandelions that go to seed in the fall sprout the following spring. The dandelions that go to seed in the spring, sprout in the late summer or fall.

By treating them at the end of the growing season you will have fewer in April and May. If you are like me and want to use the least amount of herbicide, this minor change will pay huge dividends after a year or two.

Other weeds such as creeping charlie, wild violets, crabgrass, plantain, spurge, knotweed and clover will often take longer to control. Look for organic weed killers whenever possible and spot spray to minimize the application.

The best defense against weeds is a thick and healthy lawn. After the weeds are gone, it is very important to replace the bare spots with more grass. You can accomplish this with a balanced fertilizer and watering schedule. Watering can be a hassle and expensive, but sprinkling even a little water when a lawn is starting to dry out will keep the lawn from going dormant during the summer. A dormant lawn has zero defenses against weeds.

Sunshine is all that weeds need to grow and they can thrive when the grass cannot. Increasing the amount of grass in your lawn through aeration, seeding and fertilization is a natural solution to fighting off weeds. Next spring, your lawn will wake up as healthy as a well-fed bear.

Jared W. Cooper is the owner of Aesthetic Appeal Lawns in Northfield, specializing in nontoxic lawn care.

The

Chemistry of

Gardening

By Elizabeth Child

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Some people clear off a desk to get ready for a big project. Northfield-based psychiatrist Henry Emmons, M.D., made a garden in which to write his books. His first, The Chemistry of Joy, was published to wide acclaim in 2006. His second, The Chemistry of Calm, will be released this October. The two companions are insightful east-meets-west books showing how lifestyle choices coupled with factors such as upbringing affect our brain chemistry. And brain chemistry, in turn, affects our ability to cope with overwhelming sadness, fear, anxiety and depression, which Emmons has treated for two decades.

Before he authored his first book, Emmons created a space in which to ask himself clarifying questions, reflect and journal. His writing place is his Japanese-influenced “garden room,” which he created in his backyard as an extension of his home. It is a retreat to contemplate and watch nature change her colors and shapes with each day, each season and each year.

Henry Emmons sits back and enjoys his ‘garden room.’

Never a gardener before, Emmons allowed his vision to unfold in its own time. “When I started I was interested in an eclectic space with interesting evergreens, colors and textures. I didn’t read much about gardening. And I never felt good at design,” he says. “This has become a creative outlet. I like developing my own eye, looking for plants that appeal to me. Before I plant, I place potted plants next to each other to see how they look. I do a lot of moving things around.”

Creating the garden was, perhaps, as essential to his writing process as his years of practice and study.

Elements of the Japanese garden intrigued him. Although initially he spent time observing Carleton College’s authentic Japanese garden, it was a guide, not a blueprint.

He has kept his garden far looser. The feel is a Minnesota perennial garden arranged with Japanese principles. The plants are typically zone-four for winter hardiness.

Emmons’ vision for the garden began after he moved into his current home with his wife, Jane Blockus, and children 15 years ago. It is a modest home in a suburban-style neighborhood within the Northfield city limits. A selling point for Emmons was the care that had been taken to save the tall Scotch and white pines growing near the house. Towering silver maples were also plentiful, but many grew sickly and later had to be removed.

Emmons incorporates flowering perennials with sedum, hostas and Japanese maples he found in typical Japanese gardens. The rocks and sculptures, considered “the bones” of a Japanese garden, are subtle, though plentiful limestones make up the central water feature. Created

by Northfield’s Tom Nelson, known for reclaiming rare plants from construction sites, the still pond and gurgling waterfall succeed in placating an active mind within a city neighborhood.

Three years ago, Emmons and his oldest son, Eric, then 15, constructed the tea house to the side of the pond, supported by six-by-six and six-by-eight timbers. They traveled to the North House Folk School in Grand Marais for hands-on instruction. The tea house has become both a feature of the garden and a place from which to view it.

While the garden seems wholly finished, it continues to be a work in progress for Emmons. In the future Emmons will limit plant varieties and add stone sculptures and low fences.

As any gardener knows, just maintaining a garden takes trimming, weeding and watering – work that is constant.

But Emmons allows himself the freedom to sit back and enjoy it, too. “I find I love working in my garden in the springtime.” Summer is his time to participate in the sense of calm he’s created. If a few weeds grow, so be it.

Like his books, his garden is an extension of a fertile mind working best unrushed, inspired by art and nature. And subject to reinterpretation and reinvention.

Elizabeth Child is editor of Redoux Home and a Northfield-based marketing communications consultant.

“This has become a creative outlet. I like developing my own eye.”

redoux-it yourself

Ba c k t o S c hool

DORM MAKEOVER

DOR M R EDOU X - deux

What’s old is new again. From the retro wall decals

(scribbleoneverything.com)

to the peace signs and the Lego clock radio (cb2.com), all the componants come together with one mellow vibe. The electric guitar on the wall actually lights up (pbteen.com). The hopscotch rug on the floor encourages a few off-line games (cb2.com) and the Pendleton style blanket wraps you in warmth and color (urbanoutfitters.com).

When you first lay eyes on your new dorm room, it may seem like it’s never going to feel like home. Most dorms start out a no-frills space: plain walls with a couple of beds, dressers and desks and not much more. Because you usually can’t paint the walls or bring in your own furniture, personalizing the space can be a challenge. We visited Shattuck-St. Mary’s School to tour the dorms and come up with ideas for a virtual dorm makeover. by nichole day diggins and felicia crosby re-doux.com reimagine your space

1. Add panache underfoot. Decorative rugs create an eye-catching focal point and bring warmth to the room.

2.

Mix it up. Layer linens and bedding, mixing colors and patterns.

Add throw pillows and hang colorful curtains in coordinating - or contrasting - colors.

3. Wall decals are a great alternative to paint. They add color and pizzazz and are easily removed.

4. Lighten up. Turn off the overhead fluorescents and add floor

lamps, desk lamps and fun hanging lanterns and globes. (You can

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SEPT / OCT 2010

buy paper shades and cord sets for under $20 - ask your school about regulations.)

ssm3074take3:Layout 1 8/19/2010 9:44 AM Page 1

Shattuck-St.Mary’s School Presents...

THE 2010-2011 FESLER-LAMPERT PERFORMING ARTS SERIES

re befo

Rhythmic Circus S . 9, 2010 The Princess and the Pea S . 25, 2010

Eisenhower Dance Ensemble J My Antonia M . 24, 2011

Tanner Taylor Trio O . 14, 2010 Igor Stravinsky’s “L’Histoire Du Doldat” J

Chic Gamine M . 31, 2011 The Sweet Land Project A

AN. 20, 2011

EPT

EPT

5. Organize closet

storage (not shown).

A hanging shoe rack doesn’t take up floor space and can also be used to store socks, accessories and undergarments.

Organizational baskets are a must in any small space.

Drawing by Felicia Crosby

AR

PRESENTED BY MISSOULA CHILDREN’S THEATRE

PRESENTED BY ILLUSION THEATER

CT

CELEBRATING OUR 25TH SEASON...

AR

AN. 6, 2011

C ONTACT P ERSON : R ICHARD K ETTERING – 507-333-1631 –

PR. 6

RKETTERING @ S - SM . ORG

& 7, 2011

ssm3074

calendar • fall 2010

Saturdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. through October River Walk Market Fair, Northfield Find original artwork, jewelry, crafts and local and organic produce while strolling along the Cannon River. through saturday, September 11 Northfield Arts Guild gallery Inspirations in Colors/Songs without Words, Rose Marie James and John Maakestaad. northfieldartsguild.org Wednesday, September 15 – Saturday, October 23 Northfield Arts Guild gallery Sharol Nau exhibit, Fancy Water, in a variety of mediums. northfieldartsguild.org through Saturday, September 25 Paradise Center for the Arts, Faribault Shoe Stories, a juried art show for Minnesota artists featuring shoes. paradisecenterforthearts.org OCTOBER 1, 2, 3 • FRIDAY, SATURDAY, SUNDAY • 10AM – 5PM FRESH ART FALL TOUR, western wisconsin Enjoy the spectacular fall foliage in Western Wisconsin’s Lake Pepin region as you tour 17 artists’ studios and galleries. freshart.org october 1 & 2 • friday 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and saturday 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Rice County Piecemakers’ Fall Splendor Quilt Show Historic Cathedral of Our Merciful Savior Church & Guild House, 101 NW 6th Street, Faribault. Admission: $3

Fresh Art Fall Tour • Painting by Bruce Dunlap

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REDOUX HOME SEPT / OCT 2010

Wednesday, September 15 – Saturday, October 23 Northfield Arts Guild Doug Foxgrover exhibit Paper Trail.

Friday, October 1 – Saturday, November 13 Paradise Center for the Arts, Faribault Chi Explosion, Sum-I Painting. paradisecenterforthearts.org Saturday, October 16, 6:30 p.m.

Shattuck St. Mary’s, Faribault Fall Family Weekend Silent and Live Auction • Johnson Gymnasium. s-sm.org Saturday and Sunday, October 23 and 24 • 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

South Central Studio Artour, from Northfield to Faribault 14 artists open their studio for the tour and sale. southcentralartour.com

South Central Studio Artour Pottery by Colleen Riley

Sunday October 31 Halloween Wine-O-Ween, Cannon Falls, Cannon River Winery Take a ride down the Three Rivers Wine Trail on this spooky Saturday. All ages welcome. cannonriverwinery.com If you have a fall calendar item for our November / December issue, contact: editor@redouxhome.com by October 1, 2010.