Fall Home and Garden September 25 & 26 A Supplement of The Tipton Conservative, Sun-News and West Branch Times
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FALL HOME & GARDEN
THE TIPTON CONSERVATIVE
New Home for the Gasho’s
By Kit Phelps Kurt and Kathy Gascho purchased 11 acres south of Buchanan in 2006 with the intent of someday building a home and retiring in Iowa. The couple had lived in Crystal Lake, north of Chicago for 30 years, but Kurt was raised on a farm near Badger, Iowa in the Fort Dodge area. He had always wanted a ranch home with a walkout basement and the land on the west side of Harding Avenue gently sloped down to make the perfect spot. The Gascho’s erected a pole barn 12 years ago and used it for storage and their ATVs. It came in handy when their oldest child went to the University of Iowa and needed to store his things between school years. Although Kurt has not retired yet, they decided to go ahead and start building last fall. He found a house plan on the internet and had it “tweaked” by an architect in Iowa City. Building while living three hours away had its challenges, but they had full confidence in their contractor John Stebral from Solon. Kathy said, “We came every weekend and filled the pole barn with stuff.” The smoke-gray sided Craftsman with tan accents and matching stone sits off of Harding Avenue next to the matching pole barn. The Craftsman front doors and sidelights lead to a large open entryway. To the left is the open stairwell with metal railing to the basement. Directly in front of the entry is the living room with the corner gas/ wood fireplace. Triple windows topped with transoms look onto the deck. The L-shaped kitchen has custom-made white shaker cabinetry on the perimeter. The stacked upper cabinets have a decorative glass door. The countertops are in shades of brown granite and the backsplash is a taupe subway tile. Behind the stove and stainless
E CONTEST
steel hood are small glass tiles in a herringbone pattern. The eight-foot island has stained maple cabinets and contains the farmhouse sink that Kathy really likes. The dining room has a bump out with sliding glass doors to the deck on the end and on one side a window to the deck and the other side a window and a door to the screened in porch. “The porch is my favorite room in the house,” Kurt says. At the back of the house it has a view of the entire back yard and timber. The flooring and the entire deck are all no maintenance materials. Around the corner are a half bath and the mud/laundry room. That room includes a washer and dryer, a counter and sink and a doggy door for their three border collies. The locker bench area is in-between a closet and the pantry. They have a washing station for their dogs in the garage Kurt said they used it a lot this spring and recently while they are waiting for grass to grow. Back to the front entry on the right is a guest room that Kurt also uses for his office when he works from home. There’s an attached guest bath that also has an entry from the hall. Down the hall is the master suite with a tray ceiling and triple windows in the large master suite. Also, a door leads to a small cantilevered balcony. The master bath has an eight-foot long shower with showerheads on each end and no shower door. There are his and her walk-in closets. Down the stairs one enters the family room with a gas fireplace and a wet bar. The barstools are pulled up to a concrete countertop. The back wall is stacked stone with lighted barn wood shelves over a black countertop with a sink. On the other side of the room are three white barn doors that hide the closet and storage areas for the room. Built-in shelves house the Sonos wireless home sound sys-
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tem. There’s a hobby/work room on one end of the basement and on the other a hall leading to two more bedrooms and another bathroom. The rest of the basement includes the furnace and geothermal equipment and a lot of storage. The patio and fire pit area can be reached through the sliding doors in the family room or stairs from the deck. RVM Landscaping added brick around all the concrete and also installed retaining walls. In the interior they are planning to hang
SEPTEMBER 25, 2019
more things on the walls, buy bar stools for the island and get blinds for the west side of their home. Kathy has always been a city girl, so there has been an adjustment for her living in the country. She misses her bunco group and would like to get one started here as a way meet people and have fun. The Gascho’s enjoy their new home and the ability to have lots of room to entertain family and friends. Kathy said this is the biggest kitchen she has ever had and now she has the time and the room for cooking more often.
The basement wet bar has a concrete countertop on the raised bar. The back wall is stacked stone with lighted shelves.
FALL HOME & GARDEN
SEPTEMBER 25, 2019
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Paint or Stain Your Home’s Exterior? by Gregory Norfleet West Branch Times Your choice may depend on your preferences, your budget and how much work you are willing to put into future recoating. Robertson's Painting and Construction is a family owned company out of Iowa City. The father, Randy, teaches at West Branch High School, where his sons graduated. We found brothers Chris, Bryant and Derrick on a job in Atkins, painting a porch for a customer who had hired them two or three times before. Chris Robertson said the company will do either paint or stain work for a customer. But his preference? Staining, especially for treated lumber. "Treated lumber can withstand a lot more elements, but a lot of people think, 'Treated? You just leave it alone and never take care of it.'" he said. "But the sun will split it up and it will start cracking. But if you stain it, it preserves it. It helps protect it. If you stain a deck, the water just bubbles, like any wood." Then there's painting. "Painting, especially on a floor, it won't last," he said. "(Stain) will be easier upkeep. If you stain a deck, you just have to clean it and then you can stain it (again). Now if you paint it, or use a solid stain, it's going to chip. So then it's tough because you've got to get all the chips, the loose paint, the old paint off. Stain's the most economical and the best way to do it." Of course, paint companies and stain companies both tout the benefits of their products. Cabot Stain (cabotstain. com) advocates for showing off wood's beauty. "Painting coats the top of wood while stain penetrates the wood," reads Cabot's Woodcare Council page. "Stain protects and preserves the beauty of your wood compared
to paint which covers and hides it. Stain wears away gradually for periodic recoating. Paint peeling requires extensive scraping." Paint companies even recommend staining decks, but for other exterior jobs, paint will do well to both beautify and protect, according to BenjaminMoore. com. The Montvale, N.J., company suggests everyone make a plan to paint based on expected weather. "Rain can easily ruin a fresh coat of paint and undo hours of hard work, so weather is truly a critical component of a successful exterior paint project," reads the website. "Refrain from painting when the temperature drops below 40°F (and) always reference the paint can label for additional insights on weather-related directions. BenjaminMoore.com recommends acrylic and latex paints for wood siding, brick, stucco, fiber cement and "Engineered Insulation Finishing System" (EIFS) surfaces. "As a general rule, UV resistance, which prevents fade, is one of the main benefits that separate the quality of one paint from another," says the paint company. "Besides the sun protection, higher quality paints have great expansion and contraction characteristics, resistance to wind-driven rain, mildew and dirt pick-up resistance, and a number of other benefits." The website goes on to talk about preparation work, priming, caulking and, finally, painting. "To upkeep it and so it can handle the weather, you've got to take care of it," Robertson said. "Painting it or staining it really helps protect it from the elements, and it looks nice, too." BenjaminMoore.com talks specifically about wood siding and how to use a paint brush to "cut into the trim" and "any areas
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below drips or decorative moldings." Life? Robertson said a good painting job on top of quality wood can last about 10 years. "But there's so many variables with painting," he said. "You've got moisture to the weather to snow being packed on it -- whether its just sitting on the railing or if you clean it off -- or if it's on the north side or south side of the house." Cabot says restaining depends on what type of stain is used -- clear, semitransparent, semi-solid or solid -- clear lasts about one season, while solid lasts five years or more on a deck. On siding and fences, clear can last up to two years and solid stain can last from seven to 25 years. BrooksPainting.com said a good exterior paint job can last up to 10 years on stucco and five to seven years on wood siding. Whether one chooses paint or stain, both take about the same time to dry. Robertson recommends waiting a day before returning, say, a porch, to normal use. But watch the forecast before you pick a date. "You don't want it to rain within 24 hours," he said. "And in between coats, too. It's good to give it 24 hours so the first coat can do its thing and the overcoat helps that even better yet." Go pro? Robertson said money seems to be a common deciding factor for most customers to hire professionals. "Money's a big thing, and the know-how," he said. "If they're handy or not, or what kind of job is it? Is it high in the air, is it low to the ground?" Time is also a big factor. "Life's so busy," he said. "It's sometimes for a busy guy to do it himself. ... A lot of stuff we do, anybody can do it. It's just that you've got to know the little tricks. Every trade has tricks." Cabot does list some tips and tricks on how to identify and treat mold and mildew, peeling, "tannin bleed," weathered wood and new wood. "The first place to start
Robertson's Painting and Construction's Chris Robertson paints the balustrade of a porch in Atkins on Aug. 30. The company will paint or stain based on customer preference, though Chris recommends stain for decks. Gregory R. Norfleet/West Branch Times
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with any exterior wood project is to understand what you are working with," reads Cabotstain. com. "Exterior wood, no matter if it’s decking or siding, can have a variety of challenges that need to be addressed before staining." Their website even includes how-to videos for more assistance on applying and maintaining the stain for long life.
Challis Lawn Care
This would be a great time for a fall aeration,seeding or fall lawn treatment. The lawns are compacted from heavy rains this year and aeration would lessen compaction issues. It also would be a great time for a fall broad leaf weed control and fertilizer application.This will set up your lawn for a great 2020 season. Both of these treatments can be done up until the first hard frost.
Contact Ron @ 563-299-9745 ronchallislawncare@gmail.com
Like us on facebook @ Challis Lawn Care
Robertson's Painting and Construction's Derrick Robertson gets up under a railing on a painting project in Atkins on Aug. 30. Gregory R. Norfleet/West Branch Times
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THE TIPTON CONSERVATIVE
FALL HOME & GARDEN
SEPTEMBER 25, 2019
Kelly Tree Farm Known Throughout the Midwest
Jacob Dohmen, owner of Kelly Tree Farm, stands beside some of his potted shade trees for sale.
By Kit Phelps Kelly Tree Farm is known throughout the Midwest for their windbreak trees. Right now they have 40,000 potted trees that they have planted from seed, dug up and potted, then watered and kept alive while the tree grows to the needed size and develops a good root system. People come from all over Iowa and further to the tree farm north of Clarence because it’s known to have some of the best (lowest) prices. One man from Kansas has come twice and said it was worth the drive. The most distant client drove from Tennessee. Jacob Dohmen, owner of Kelly Tree Farm, also delivers and will plant the trees. He designs the windbreaks and choses the right trees for what’s best for the project and the soil types. “Every situation is a little different,” he said. A lot of his business is for livestock operation, new houses or replacing old windbreaks. Jacob was first associated with trees when his parents Frank and Gloria Dohmen started growing Christmas trees south of Mechanicsville. Later while he was attending Kirkwood Community College for Parks and Natural Resources, he interned at Kelly Tree Farm in 2005 and continued working for Kevin Kelly until 2009. By that time he had finished his degrees at Upper Iowa in Conservation Management with a minor in Biology. He then returned to Kelly Tree Farm in 2014. In 2016, Kevin sold him Kelly Tree Farm, but retained his Kelly Christmas Tree Farm near Tipton. Fifteen acres of the tree farm are devoted to growing all types of shrubs and trees including shade, fruit, nut and ornamental. Each tree starts with a seed except the hybrid willow that starts with a cutting from the mother plot. This is the time of year that the Dohmen family visits parks with their “bag-a-nut,”
a nut harvester that looks a little bit like an old-fashioned reel mower. He tills a strip of land and then plants the seeds. “The animals think this is a buffet,” Jacob said. Squirrels, chipmunks, raccoons and even crows like the seeds and rabbits and dear enjoy the young plants. He has experimented with covering them with chicken wire, but says the squirrels are quite adept at reaching through. The bucks damage the larger trees by rubbing against them. Jacob lets the surviving trees grow from one to three years. Then he attaches a plant lifter to the tractor. The machine gets under the roots and then shakes off the dirt. They take the bare rooted plants and store them in a cooler in the basement of the barn to be sold as is and others are potted in the hoop barn. Four or five semi loads of potting material are used throughout a year. The summer months are spent weeding, mowing and moving sprinklers for the potted trees. “Kevin had no idea we would get this large,” Jacob said, “So we have inground irrigation, hydrants and overhead sprinklers that have to be moved.” After the ground freezes in the fall, Jacob helps his parents with their Christmas trees. In the winter months he attends the Quad City Farm Show in Rock Island, the Iowa Power Farming Show in Des Moines and the Hawkeye Farm Show in Cedar Falls. He has a booth with lots of tree photos, catalogs and some of his potted trees. In the spring Jacob hires extra help, otherwise he has one full-time employee and his mother-in-law Deanna Welch works part-time and helps with a little bit of everything. His wife Anna, who is a nurse, also pitches in with what’s needed and helps with the Facebook page. He and Anna live between Mechanicsville and Lisbon and have three children ages two, eight and 10.
The plant lifter grabs under the roots of the plant and then shakes the dirt off. Contributed photo
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SEPTEMBER 25, 2019
FALL HOME & GARDEN
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New Kitchen For Wulf Farmhouse
By Kit Phelps When Alicia and Alex Wulf purchased their farmhouse on an acreage six miles northeast of Tipton two years ago, Alicia knew she would someday re-do the kitchen. A former homeowner had remodeled the entire house, but the kitchen wasn’t Alicia’s style. In her last home she had redone the kitchen with dark cabinets and then didn’t like it. She said, “I wanted white and bright for this one.” The walls between the kitchen and the living room and the living room and the office were removed by contractor Pat Steffen and replaced by LVL beams wrapped red cedar. Another beam was added over the island for esthetic reasons and to hide the electrical for the pendants. The kitchen now extends partway into the old office and the cabinets beyond the refrigerator are actually doors to a hidden pantry. The rest of the former office is taken up by a piano and provides a nook for their three dogs to lounge. All the cabinetry from Spahn & Rose is white with black hardware and the countertops are white quartz with some gray veining. The upper-stacked cabinets have glass doors to display Alicia’s wine glass collection. The white marble-like subway tile with the gray variations and dark grout adds color and interest to the white kitchen. On the cabinet wall, one window was removed and the kitchen sink window was
expanded to a bay window. On the opposite wall triple windows were unchanged and below them a long bench was built with drawers underneath and flanked by two 40-inch cabinets that hide the dog food. Four black wire cage pendants hang from the beam and compliment the three black lights over the sink. The 12-foot island has plenty of room for the six stools. Besides lots of drawers, it has a place for the microwave and a mixer lift cabinet. Alicia also uses the island for baking cookies and trying out new recipes for D’Alicia’s Cupcakery and Cafe in Tipton. Three doors are at the far end of the kitchen. One leads to the back staircase to the master bedroom, one to the downstairs landing and main entry and the other to a bathroom that had already been remodeled by the previous owner. The only change they made was to extend the flooring—a light barn wood looking luxury vinyl plank from Randy’s—to match the rest of the first floor. The dining room is at the front of the house on the other side of the living room. On one wall they installed the same cabinetry as the kitchen for a bar/buffet with room for an undercounter refrigerator. Alicia said they have plenty of room for entertaining. They had recently hosted a party with more than 15 people. “We used the island as a buffet and we were not cramped at all,” Alicia said.
The all white cabinetry has stacked cabinets with glass doors that display Alicia's wine glass collection.
The 12 foot island was so long the quartz countertop had to be pieced and provides plenty of room for 6 or more.
windbreak trees
Conservation Potted Trees Available Plants
Evergreens, Shade Trees, Fruit Trees Bare-Root or Potted Pictures & prices at www.kellytreefarm.com
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THE TIPTON CONSERVATIVE
Deb Harr Has A Flair For Decorating
By Kit Phelps When Deb Harr moved into her brand new house in on the northeast edge of Mechanicsville nine years ago, she had to start her yard from scratch or rather dirt. “I had nothing, not even grass,” she said. A new neighbor gave her a cutting of sedum, and Deb didn’t even know where to put it. She planted it by her garage door where it thrived. She has taken many cuttings from it and now has sedum around many of her trees and along the west end of her home. Before that she had lived in an 1849 brick home in Stanwood with an established yard, garden and trees. Deb, who has been an elementary teacher in Mechanicsville for 36 years, went to college with the intent of becoming an interior designer. After her first year she decided she had a better chance of getting job as a teacher and switched majors. But she still loves interior design and has carried it to the exterior. In the front yard she has a pear shaped tree surrounded by asiatic lilies, gloriosa daisies and of course the sedum. Deb said that she did not water any of them this summer and they tolerated the dry conditions. The back of her house faces south and around her deck are various plantings. She admits at making a mistake by planting hostas below her deck. She advises reading the labels about sun/shade preferences of plants. Next year she will be replacing those hostas. The ones on the west and north sides of her house are growing nicely. Red twig dogwood line the back border of her property providing a privacy screen and a backdrop for the birdhouses she likes to collect. She also has a collection of CocaCola paraphernalia and has a small round table with a Coca-Cola umbrella in front of a wire arbor and birdbath. She likes to decorate for the different seasons and now has fall both inside and out. Her front porch is a welcoming
FALL HOME & GARDEN
place with pumpkins and gourds scattered among a birdbath fountain, benches, a Coca-Cola cooler and pots of plants. In front of the porch she has planted hostas, daisies and mums. Deb found her house plan in the Cedar Rapids Gazette. An unusual feature is a curved dormer with three small round windows. The burgundy front door with sidelights leads into the great room with a corner fireplace, the kitchen island and kitchen right beside the living area. The kitchen island has a raised bar. The cabinets are a medium dark stained oak. The living area has a tray ceiling outlined in oak. Deb’s favorite place is her chair in front of the fireplace and TV. From there she can also look through the sliding doors onto her deck and her backyard. “I love to look out and don’t close the blinds very often,” she says. Her dining area at the front of the house has a curved wall of six windows. The room has a high ceiling with light also coming from the three round windows at the top. There’s also room for a counter cabinets and a pantry cabinet just around the corner from the kitchen. In Deb’s previous home in Stanwood she had many rooms, including a library and so she also has one in this house on the other side of the entry. Down the hall is the guest bath and on the hall by the bedroom a painting of her old house. The bedroom is the Tinkerbelle Room and decorated accordingly for a friend’s daughter and her family that visits. Her master suite is behind the kitchen and her washer and dryer are in the large walk-in closet. She also has a big glass chandelier hanging over her tub. The basement has a large family room with a lot of her Coke collectibles. It looks like a lot, but she said she downsized when she moved. There’s also another bedroom and bath. She has loads of storage for all her seasonal decorations.
SEPTEMBER 25, 2019
The curved dining room has a 6 window bay and 3 porthole windows at the roofline. Pictured on the left, Deb's unusual house plan has a big front porch and a big bay window topped with a customized dormer.
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FALL HOME & GARDEN Tips for Creating the How Your Family Can Perfect Home Office Protect Songbirds Around Your House and Garden
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SEPTEMBER 25, 2019
(StatePoint) With more people nationwide opting to create their own businesses or work for their employer remotely, the home office has become one of the most used spaces of the house, with many people spending more than eight hours a day in this room. If you’re one of these people, the kitchen table just won’t cut it if you’re looking to get serious and organized. To create a dedicated workspace that is beautiful, smart and functional, consider the following tips: Tip 1: Design a space where you’ll enjoy spending time. Simple touches like lighting, a bright touch of paint or a wide-open window, can help create an inviting ambiance, and so can the addition of certain accessories. Instead of opting for a simple ceiling light fixture, dare to add a pop of style and color with a new ceiling fan. Not only can this addition make your space more comfortable, it can elevate your décor, with the ceiling as the centerpiece. Options from Hunter Fan Company like the Norden or Hepburn can bring the Satin Copper trend from the kitchen to the office, while new finishes in some of the brand’s fan favorites, such as the Cranbrook in Dove Grey or Blush Pink, will fit seamlessly into a bright and inviting space. Tip 2: Add life. Add color and vitality to your home office with some plant life. Not only will you be improving indoor air quality, you’ll be adding beauty to the space. To save precious desk-space, consider a few hanging planters, opting for plants that thrive indoors, such as spider plants or jade. Tip 3: Don’t forget function! As the wheels turn and your creative juices start flowing, nothing can be more distracting than a creaking ceiling fan or a light that just doesn’t do the trick. A simple switch can make all the difference. While a desk lamp might solve your lighting problem, why not opt for a fixture that can solve both of those issues at the same time? Tech-savvy ceiling fan options from Hunter Fan Company like the Tunable White LED Dempsey, allow you to adjust the temperature of the light, ensuring your fan will operate quietly, keep you cool, and work as hard -- and as late -- as you do. With its dimmable remote, you can adjust the light temperature for your eyes, using warm white lighting for nighttime work and cool white lighting to perk you up in the morning. Such details will help any entrepreneur avoid distraction and create a more productive work environment. Tip 4: Get personal. You may be doing business, but when it comes to decorating, it’s time to mix in the personal. Items such as photographs of friends and family or reminders of previous accomplishments will bring you joy and help you stay motivated. Whatever you do, don’t settle for completely bare walls! Gone are the days of dark wood-paneling, moody lighting and rolodexes. Today’s most effective home offices are brighter, more welcoming, and unite function with your personal style.
(StatePoint) Songbirds are not only beautiful, they are a vital component of the ecosystems they inhabit. If you have a garden, you may have observed this in action. Unfortunately, millions of wild birds are killed annually colliding with windows in the U.S. alone. But your family can take action to prevent it from happening on your own property. Here’s how: • Make windows visible to birds: Special decals that reflect ultraviolet sunlight to your home’s windows, particularly those windows that are highly reflective of open sky, have been proven to substantially reduce the likelihood of bird strikes. Those from WindowAlert feature patterns that give the appearance of slightly frosted translucent glass, but glow like a stoplight for birds, and the brand also makes a high-tech liquid called WindowAlert UV Liquid, which can be applied between decals for greater protection. More information can be found at windowalert.com. • Be mindful of birdfeeder placement: Birdfeeders are a lovely way to attract beautiful birds to your yard, while giving them a place to rest and refuel. Remember though, bird strikes tend to occur near bird feeders, as feeding birds are easily frightened and are apt to take wild, evasive flight. To avoid this from happening, be sure to use window decals, as well as to position feeders closer than three feet or farther than 30 feet from windows. Surprisingly, the safest placement is attached to the window itself. Assess the birdfeeders in your yard and make changes as needed. • Consider other hazards: Other ways you can protect birds on your property include gardening organically, keeping pet cats indoors or in an enclosure and growing native plant and flower species suited to pollinating birds. “With a few small home updates this season, your family can save the lives of wild birds and be better stewards of the environment,” says Spencer Schock, founder of WindowAlert.
Top Tips for Moving With a Pet (StatePoint) Your furball is part of the family, so if you’re like most, you don’t make major life decisions without thinking of your pet’s needs — including where you live and how you move into a new home. When people decide on new homes and communities, pet priorities are often equal to or more important than human-focused amenities, according to the 2019 Mayflower Mover Insights Survey. American pet owners say one-third of their overall decision to move was related to their pets. What’s more, survey respondents cited a willingness to pay significantly more in living costs per month (32 percent) and even forgo perks like shorter commutes and updated kitchens in favor of pet-friendly features. Pets may get the priority for perks when their humans relocate, but moving is still a stressful activity for animals. Half of pet owners reported their pets struggled to adjust to new homes. However, there’s good news: more than nine in 10 owners say their pets adjusted to new settings in less than a month. And, more than 90 percent agree that wherever they and their pets are together is instantly home. Moving with a pet? Consider the following: • Yard Matters: Dog owners consider yard size 85 percent of the time, and 82 percent of dog and cat owners consider a fenced-in backyard. If you’re looking to let your dog off-leash or allow your cat into the yard, prioritize homes with fencing and plenty of space for pets to exercise. • Walking Trails: Don’t just consider the house when home-shopping. Look for neighborhoods offering proximity to parks, dog runs, walking trails and other amenities that make dog-walking safe and enjoyable. • Scope Out Pet Services: Try not to leave a gap in veterinary care or pet services. If you’re moving far enough away to require a new veterinarian, identify who that will be in advance. If anything arises as you’re settling into your new home, you won’t want to deal with the added stress of researching where to take your sick pet. Likewise, get recommendations for services such as dog walkers, pet sitters or dog boarding so you and your pet can hit the ground running in your new community. • Anticipate Bumps: A move can be difficult on pets — dog owners reported their dogs had trouble adapting to new neighborhoods, while cats had more trouble adjusting to new houses. Nine out of 10 dog and cat owners recommend being patient, spending more time with pets and showing them where everything is in the new home. • Pack Pet Gear Wisely: Make moving day a breeze by keeping all your pet supplies — food, medications, etc. packed in an easy-to-access box that’s clearly labeled. Consider keeping several days’ supply with you and transporting these necessities in your car. Planning a move? For tips and insights, visit mayflower.com. With a bit of extra preparation, you can pave the way for a smooth move for everyone in your family, including your pet.
Tipton Plumbing 710 Meridian St., Tipton
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FALL HOME & GARDEN
THE TIPTON CONSERVATIVE
SEPTEMBER 25, 2019
Schultz Family Builds In Country Setting By Kit Phelps Chris and Kiley Schultz started looking for land to build because Chris had always wanted to live in the country with a pond and timber and their twin sons kept saying they needed “more area,” than their house in Tipton had. Kiley’s requirements for the land were that it be on a hard surfaced road, no more than three miles from Tipton and less than 10 acres. They purchased land In June of 2017 with a pond and timber, but it was almost 50 acres and six miles from town although very little gravel. Chris, who is an engineer for Weavers, Inc., started removing trees and brush to clear the land for a driveway and the house site. By that winter they were ready to start looking at plans and took their ideas to a draftsman in Iowa City. Pat Steffen was hired as their contractor and most of the building products were from Spahn & Rose, Tipton. Their drive winds between their farm ground and timber to the Pacific Blue Craftsman home with the three-car garage angled so the driveway is in front of the home. Kiley said her mother [who is very wise*] had instilled in her to have a driveway close to the front entry so guests would use the front door. “I wanted people to walk into my great
room and see the view, not my mudroom,” she said. A wide sidewalk leads to the front porch that is framed by wood and columns. Stone installed by Dane Esbeck also runs across the lower front of the home and there are wood accents at the gable and the porch ceiling is pine. The large wooden front door with an upper window sidelights and transom opens into the great room with beams across the vaulted ceiling. On the other side of the room are windows flanking a glass door that all show the view down the hill to the pond. The living area is carpeted and is centered around the fireplace with stacked stone to the ceiling. The wooden mantel matches the beams and was made by Pearl City. Behind the sectional sofa is a large Amish dining room table made out of reclaimed barn wood. A recessed area by the stairs has a built-in buffet with floating shelves above. The open U-shaped stairway to the basement has metal horizontal railings built by a welder at Weaver’s. A nine-foot island separates the kitchen and has a curved top of walnut, ebony cabinets and a small sink. The rest of the kitchen has pecan cabinets with black granite countertops. Windows above large deep sink look toward the pond. The stove with
has a separate toilet room, a double vanity divided by storage and a super large walk-in shower that does not require any doors, a recommendation from one of their friends. The soaking tub is in front of a cedar wall with a double window and a chandelier. The electrical and plumbing was by Lowden Plumbing and Heating. The walkout basement contains the family room, the three bedrooms for their children, two bathrooms and a large unfinished room with the furnace and storage area. Although the interior of their home is finished, the outside still has projects. They have plans for a retaining wall in the front and still need a new front step. In the backyard they will have a patio and a fire pit and a concrete slab for their outdoor shower—a requirement for having a sandy beach at the pond. The building project was started in April 2018 and they moved in at the end of October. Kiley admits there have been some adjustments to living in the country. She said, “ I often look outside and see my boys playing with only their underwear on, so maybe it’s a good thing we live in the country.” * The author of this article is Kiley’s mother
a bronze and wood hood is angled between the sink and double wall ovens. Doors to a hidden pantry are between the ovens and refrigerator and then the wall slants again for more cabinets. Across the hall is another walk-in pantry that also includes their upright freezer. Kiley’s favorite room is the sunroom connected to the dining room by sliding glass doors. The original plans called for a screened in porch. Then they decided to make it a three-season room which then evolved to a sunroom with heating and air conditioning. The finished room is like a well-lit cabin with windows on all sides and pine siding on the walls and ceiling. Lots of birds can be seen at the bird feeders on the deck that’s beside the sunroom and also reached from the living area. The hall angles toward the garage. The luxury plank vinyl flooring from Randy’s runs diagonally the rest of the house toward the garage. That includes the laundry room, the guest room and bath and the large mudroom area with a bench and storage that Pat Steffen built. On the other end of the first floor off of the living area is the master suite. The master bedroom overlooks the pond. The large bathroom’s floor tile has a reclaimed wood look laid in a herringbone pattern. It
Fall is a Great Time to Buy or Sell! 1667 Garfield Avenue, West Branch $448,000 *20+ Acres on Hard-surface Road, Minutes from I-80, & easy access to Iowa City and Quad Cities *Timber/great hunting! *Crop Ground *Aronia Berries *Bright, cheerful 3 Bedroom Home with additional 2 Non-conforming BR's in Lower Level 224 290th Street, West Branch $495,000 *40 Acres on Hard-surface Road-F44 Easy Access to I-80, Iowa City & Quad Cities *Great Residential Building site *Agricultural/Horticultural Pursuits "The Meadows" Phase 4 West Branch Lots from $63,900 to $74,900--Available Soon! *Great Location *Beautiful Views
View of the Schultz vaulted great room from the kitchen. The entry and stairwell is on the right and the sunroom and deck are on the left side. Iowa Photo Company
* Single Family and RB-1 Lots (Residence-Business) * City services and City Building Incentive Program
The sunroom has pine walls and ceiling and windows on three sides. Photo by Iowa Photo Company
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