Week of Feb. 16, 2014
2014
Spring Showcase Showcase of Homes
of Homes!
A special supplement to: The Pioneer-Republican Williamsburg Journal Tribune Star Press Union The Pennysaver
Look inside for a... • Peek at these beautiful new homes • Interviews with the owners • See which contractors built them!
These materials are the sole and exclusive property of the Des Moines Register & Tribune Co., and are not to be used without its written permission. © 2014 Des Moines Register & Tribune Co.
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Week of Feb. 16, 2014
Showcase of Homes
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Built five years apart from each other, the homes of Ross Vargason and Adam Vargason are in a new addition on the west side of Keystone.
Vargasons build a new home next door Family builds together in Keystone By JIM MAGDEFRAU Star Press Union editor It’s a family business. Adam and Ross Vargason joined their father, Steve, at Vargason Construction several years ago. Eight years ago, they built a home in the new addition on the west end of Keystone. When Ross was married three years ago, Adam, of course, moved out. “I was surprised he built right next door,” Steve observed. Steve Vargason did a walk-through recently of the new home. They went by a floor plan design in a magazine for Ross’s home. By the time they built Adam’s home, they incorporated ideas they picked up in building other people’s houses. The newer home has more open area and ninefoot ceilings on the first floor and in the basement. Continued on page 3
The basement of the Adam Vargason home has a large entertaining area. The basement also has nine-foot ceilings, just like the upstairs, and keeps with the mission style.
Week of Feb. 16, 2014
Showcase of Homes
Mission style home in Keystone Continued from page 2
“We were after putting everything all in one,” Steve said of the main room upstairs. “We were after more of the open look.” The main room has a dining area, living area and kitchen with an island. Vargason described it as a “mission” style home because of the wood for the cabinets and flat panel doors. Jay Usher and Brian Parr made the cabinets in the home. The home also has two bedrooms and a large garage. The new home has 1,530 square feet. The home for Ross and his wife has 1,750 square feet. “We built a house for Steve and Judy Petersen and we liked this part of it,” Vargason said while standing in the main room. “It’s just a couple of different plans put together.” The basement has a bar and projection TV screen. “It’s nice to watch,”
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Steve joked, but he usually gets there too late to enjoy sitting in one of the recliners. Both homes have geothermal from Rabe Hardware and the late John Feuerbach of Feuerbach Electric did the electrical work. The Vargasons built one house last year and lined up to build another home in the spring. They try to build a couple of houses each year. Future plans are to build a deck on the west of the home. Sub-contractors Rabe Hardware, Blairstown, heating, cooling and plumbing Accurate Concrete, Fairfax Feuerbach Electric, Keystone Scheer Masonry Brick, Atkins Country Floors, Newhall Healey Painting, Victor Kinzenbaw Excavating Knaack Lawn Care
An open area for the main living area in Adam Vargason’s home is an idea Vargason Construction picked up when working on another home.
We were proud to be the general contractor on Adam’s and Ross’s homes.
Vargason Construction Keystone, IA
319-521-2664 or 319-442-3433
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The master bedroom in the Adam Vargason home, located on the west side of Keystone.
A bar is featured in the basement with a Hawkeye theme.
Thank you Adam & Ross Vagason for having us be a part of your new homes!
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See us for all your excavating needs. Doug Kinzenbaw 319-642-3415 or 319-361-1002 FREE ESTIMATES
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Showcase of Homes
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New home in Brooklyn opens up possibilities Homeowner works with contractors to build new home with a future By DANN HAYES dhayes1@dmreg.com When Tyler Busch was looking for a home to buy in the Brooklyn area, he took advantage of the interest rates and bought a newly built home. “I had put a couple offers on several houses, but the offers fell through,” he said. So he looked at new houses. “The interest rates were so low, that it was easy to build.” Working with Dave Huedpoehl, Burg Builder, Williamsburg, Busch was able to add some personal touches to the newly built home at Link Circle, just across from the BGM school complex. “We got an ordinary floor plan and then we customized it to my specifications,” Busch said. “I added a 1/2 bath off the garage and took out a wall between the kitchen and dining room to open up the floor plan.” The house is a three-bedroom, one-story ranch – it currently has an unfinished basement, which he has plans for, but he says with a laugh that a foosball table that is still in the box is as far as he has gotten so far. The 27-year-old wanted to find a place in the area – he had moved from Boone four years ago and is employed at Manatt’s. While there is still some more
to do inside – Busch is doing some interior finishing work on his own in spots – he took advantage of Huedpoehl’s experience in design and construction for the overall plan. “We just opened up the floor plan for more space,” Busch said. Basically, he said, he wanted to be able to watch television from the kitchen area while cooking or eating – something the original floor plan didn’t have. By removing the wall between the kitchen and living room area The floor plan for the house was changed to add open space – a wall between the kitchen area and adding the 1/2 bath between and the living room area was removed. This is a view from the dining/room kitchen area to the living the garage door and the dining room. room area, Busch has created a living area for his needs. He bought the all-steel kitchen appliances on his own in Des Moines – stove, refrigerator and microwave. But most of the other work was done by the contractors and sub contractors. For example • Bertch cabinets and vanities were installed by Gallagher Woodworking in Brooklyn. • The wood flooring was covered by Redeker’s Furniture from Boone. Other subcontractors took care Thanks to Tyler Busch for his confidence in us of the rest of the house and for making us part of his great home project! • S&S Plumbing, Marengo, took care of the heating and cooling as From blue-prints to the finished product, we do it all! well as the plumbing. We have the know-how to take you from the first step to the last. • Kline Electric, Des Moines, finished the wiring. ~ Quality at a fair price ~ Overall, the Brooklyn Building Center provided the building materials while Hamilton Construction, Belle Plaine, took care of the foundation. Custom Homes & Remodeling Dave & Cheryl Huedepohl Williamsburg, IA 319-668-2753
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Week of Feb. 16, 2014
With the living room to the left, the hallway goes to three bedrooms and a bath at the end of the hall. The stairs to the right go down to an unfinished basement.
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A view of the dining room from the living room area.
Tyler Busch obtained the all-steel kitchen appliances on his own, but they were a perfect match to the design of the kitchen.
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Week of Feb. 16, 2014
Showcase of Homes
Large windows on their home’s east end were a priority when Alan and Joyce Schumacher planned their rural Marengo home.
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The open floor plan of Alan and Joyce Schumacher’s home provides a spacious area for daily living and family gatherings.
Worth the wait
Lengthy planning process yields rustic living space for Alan and Joyce Schumacher Story and photos by MELINDA WICHMANN mwichman@registermedia.com Good things come to those who wait. Alan and Joyce Schumacher’s home at 2063 F15 Blvd., north of Marengo, is a testament to that proverb. The couple took about five years to design their home and the process included multiple floor plans and numerous visits with contractors and their financial lender before they ever broke ground. “People were probably ready to kill us,” Alan recalls, laughing. He and Joyce had lived in a much smaller, older farm home directly in front of their new house for 30 years. Alan is plant manager at City Carton recycling, Cedar Rapids, and sells real estate part time with Iowa Valley Realty, Marengo. Joyce is director of patient finance at Marengo Memorial Hospital. They raised their three children - Carl, Josh and Abby - there and although they did several renovations through the years, the cost factor to repair and update the older home finally became just too much. It made more sense to build new. And so the planning began. They considered at least five sets of floor plans. They looked at Wausau homes. They considered log homes. They
talked to friends who work in the construction business. They collected photos and ideas from magazines. They spent a lot of time walking around on the hillside behind their old home, trying to imagine a new home there. Finally, in late August 2010, they broke ground. Doug Kinzenbaw Excavating did the necessary earthwork to level the building site and construction began. “We are blessed to have so many good contractors in this area,” Alan says. “They were all great about working with us.” The Schumachers’ rustic Cape Cod design home blends the best of the
elements they had chosen from their planning marathon. The couple had a distinct list of features they really wanted. “You just have to start somewhere,” Joyce says. “Make a list and then see what you can’t live without,” Alan adds. Their list included large windows on the home’s east side to capture the morning light, a combination kitchen/ great room, a fireplace, a covered porch and an attached garage. Storage throughout and a main floor laundry room were priorities as well. In the end, they blended their favorite elements from the existing floorplans they had looked at with ideas
Congratulations Alan & Joyce 888-539-3210 www.ksbiowa.com 330 Western Ave., Marengo 319-642-7345
chosen from magazines. The couple agree they designed their home to have all the elements kitchen, living room, master bedroom and bath, laundry room - on the main floor. The resulting home includes all of the above features, along with three bedrooms and three and a half baths. “We went from 800 square feet of living space in the old house to 1,500 square feet here,” Alan says. The large east windows and covered porch on the home’s south side take advantage of a commanding view of the Iowa River valley. Having three and a half bathrooms was a dramatic change from the single bathroom shared by the couple and their three children in their old home. “We didn’t plan to have that many bathrooms originally,” Joyce explains, but their builder pointed out the advantages of having a full bath on each floor, to accommodate overnight guests. Since having room for their grown children and grandchildren to visit was also a priority in designing the home, the three and a half baths have turned out to be a good idea, she notes. Continued on page 8
Week of Feb. 16, 2014
Schumacher
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Continued from page 7
Hickory cabinets in the kitchen, along with hickory laminate flooring and pine trim throughout the home give it the simple, rustic look the couple desired. The open floor plan encompasses the kitchen and living room into one large great room with a vaulted ceiling. The master bedroom, master bath, a half bath and laundry room comprise the main floor. A second level loft overlooks the great room and provides office space. A bedroom and full bath are also located on the second level. The partially finished basement has space for the three grandkids to play, along with a bedroom and full bath, utility room and a storm shelter. A separate entrance allows access to the basement mechanical room and provides easier traffic flow without tracking through the house. Working in the recycling industry, giving older items new life is second nature to Alan. In fact, the couple had been saving some items over the years with an eye toward using them in their new home some day. The fireplace in their living room was built by Ken Pine trim and hickory laminate flooring carry a rustic theme through the Schumachers’ home. The fireplace is made Curry from paving bricks torn up during the Court from bricks re-purposed from Marengo’s Court Avenue and the mantle is from a manger board Alan had saved from his Avenue, Marengo, renovation. The couple coaxed father’s barn years ago. Curry into coming out of retirement as a bricklayer The Schumachto build their fireplace. He was assisted by his son, ers’ home enjoys a Mike Curry. commanding view of The mantlepiece on the fireplace is a manger board the Iowa River Valley from the farm where Alan grew up. It had been worn north of Marengo. smooth by generations of cows rubbing against it and Alan used steel wool and tung oil to bring out the beauty of the old wood. The two-car garage is paneled in wood taken from the couple’s first home and provides a place to display Alan’s deer hunting trophies. The breezeway connecting garage and home is paneled in barn boards with a ceiling of corrugated tin, both taken from Alan’s father’s old barn. The couple spent their first night in their new home winter in Iowa history,” Alan says. sales to help clear out the clutter and after re-purin February 2011. Although the home wasn’t comThe moving process was fairly simple, since their posing as much of their old home as possible, the pletely finished at that time, it was close. old home was so close by. They had several garage remaining structure was torn down in May 2011. “We had the good fortune to build in the mildest Area individuals, businesses and building contractors providing work and materials for the home Thanks to the Schumachers for include: Phil Marshal Construction, Doug Kinzenthe opportunity to work on your baw, Marengo Ready Mix, Ken Lacina, Nick Robnew home! 909 William Ave. erts, Steve Krakow, Ken Curry and Mike Curry and Keystone Bank, all Marengo; Kirk Draper, Marengo IA 52301 Laminates Carpet Vinyl Ceramic Tile Atkins; Matt Byer and Roberts Construction, Victor; Rabe Hardware and Kimm’s Ready Mix, Garcia Blairstown; Mitch Hughes, Williamsburg; Garcia Professionals at work, quality guaranteed Carpet, North English; the ArJay Center, Sears and Carpet Voted Best Drywall Contractor in Iowa Co. Menards.
Marengo Drywall Co. 319-530-0832
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Week of Feb. 16, 2014
Showcase of Homes
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Thank you for choosing Roberts Construction, Inc.! Concrete foundation by Roberts Construction, Inc.
In 2007, Bette McGivern, Marengo, made this quilt and gave it to Alan and Joyce Schumacher as a gift “for your new house.” The couple finally built their new home in 2011 and were happy to display the quilt in their master bedroom.
Congratulations Alan & Joyce!!
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319-454-6200 • Fax: 319-454-9062 We were glad to have been chosen to supply concrete for your new Thank You Alan & Joyce Schumacher home.
“This Mud’s for You”
Week of Feb. 16, 2014
Showcase of Homes
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Downsizing with a feel of the country Joe and Kelly Loftus move outside of Marengo into ranch home By BRIAN RATHJEN When it came time for Joe and Kelly Loftus to downsize, a move from their longtime home on JJ Avenue, five miles southwest of Marengo, into town was in order. The site they ultimately built their new single-level, ranch-style home still gives the couple the feel of living in the country. A friend of theirs – Mike McBride, a custodian at Iowa Valley JuniorSenior High School – had owned some property along Cherry Street, on the city’s west side. Joe joked that “he had mowed it long enough” and offered to sell. “We like to see the levee,” said Kelly. “There’s people walking up there a
lot.” “… And the deer,” chimed in Joe. “It makes us feel we’re still out in the country, because we came from the country. We wanted to have a home that felt like country but had the convenience of town.” “I live with three men and they’re all outdoors type of people,” Kelly said, referring to Joe and sons Joe “Cory” and Logan. “So we tried to incorporate that into (the house).” And so it was, the Loftus’ new home, at 1141 Cherry Ave., which they moved into shortly after Thanksgiving 2013. Now, less than three months after moving in, the couple say they enjoy their new house very much.
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CONTRACTORS A friend recommended Brent and Corrienne Dally, owners of Bear Creek Construction, to design the house. The couple worked with the Dallys and a representative of Lowe’s to tweak the floorplan and decide where everything was going to go. “We found the house plans online and they (the Dallys) would tweak them,” said Kelly. “The craftsmanship from Brent and Corrienne we were very, very pleased with. It’s outstanding time that they spent on this.” Bear Creek Construction was assigned as general contractors and got everything ready. Joe said he and his wife didn’t have to worry about much of the legwork – just finalizing different decisions.
“They wanted to know what we wanted. It’s easy to do things that way,” he said. TOUR OF THE HOME The three-bedroom house comes complete with three bathrooms and a half bathroom. One of those bathrooms is located just off the mud room, which serves as the entryway for the Loftuses when they come in from the two-car garage. “We just wanted to keep the washer and dryer hidden away from the rest of the house,” said Kelly. “And the half-bath (is) just for convenience when people are over.” Continued on page 11
We are proud to finance your new home.
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The Loftus’ home at 1141 Cherry Ave., was built by Bear Creek Construction. Owners Joe and Kelly Loftus moved to the new single-floor, ranch-style home after years in the country.
The kitchen island has a sink basin, which was decided on after considering a multitude of options of where to place the sink.
Kelly and Joe Loftus are proud to be in their new home. Behind them is a small office area, just off the front door, where several hand-built items are located.
Continued from page 10
The open area living room is complete with a fireplace and oak flooring. It opens up to the kitchen and provides a feel of openness.
The garage has plenty of hanging shelves for storage. Later on, a heater will be installed to keep the cars warm in the winter. If there’s not enough storage there, the Loftuses have the option of a
crawl-space beneath the home. Access is through a panel in one of the walkin closets, just off the master bedroom. The distressed hickory flooring complements the wooden, rustic feel of the house and many of the furniContinued on page 12
Week of Feb. 16, 2014
Showcase of Homes
Loftus Home
Continued from page 11
ture and accent pieces throughout the house. Joe himself built such items as a hutch, various accent tables and so forth, and they are spread throughout the main living areas of the home – the dining area, a small office area just off the front door and the living room. That living room, by the way, is an open area built with gathering in mind. “We’ve been in houses that have had sections before and we liked the openness more,” she said. “And, we wanted the kitchen open to the living room, so that when you’re cooking or eating you can still feel like you’re part of what’s going on there.” The kitchen is complete with hickory cabinets and continues on the outdoorsy, rustic theme. The kitchen island includes a dual-basin sink, and it was quite a decision to decide on that. “When we first (built) we couldn’t decide where to put it, how big it was going to be, whether it was going to be an island or a peninsula,” she said. “Corrienne and the gal at Lowe’s tried a lot of different setups with me on the computer what would work best. “We ended up going with the sink inside the island because otherwise, when I was doing dishes I would have always been facing the wall and away from the light,” she continued. “That was the big deciding factor … and it was facing the levee. And I like to see the levee.” The master bedroom has its own pair of bathrooms, one right off the other. One of the bath-
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rooms has a dual-basin vanity along with the requisite bathtub and toilet, but the other has a door where one can take a private shower in the walk-in shower. Throughout the house, windows are framed with oak trim. Actually, a variety of woods are used throughout the house. “When we couldn’t do a type of wood because of price we went with a different type of stain … like we’d use a cherry type of stain on the oak trim,” said Kelly. CONTRACTORS Contractors for the Loftus home are: • General contractor: Bear Creek Construction • Materials: Victor Lumber. • Excavation: Brian Miller Excavating. • Concrete: York Construction and Manatt’s • Foam and Insulation: Jenatae Foam Co. • Drywalling: Marengo Drywall Co. • Gutters: KD Seamless Gutters • Electrical: Jeff Schafbuch. • Stone work: Terry Hawkins. • Garage doors: Over Head Door. • Plumbing and heating: Doug Wiebold. • Cabinetry: Lowe’s. Top – The Loftus’ son, Logan, has one of two main bedrooms in • Appliances: Victor Appliance and Lowe’s. the home. The master bedroom (below) is spacious and – like other Also, the Loftuses thanked Koenig Construc- rooms of the home – features plenty of oak framing around the tion, Koenig Trucking, Out Door Creations, windows. Alex Installations Flooring, and Farmers Trust & Savings Bank.
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The garage provides plenty of storage space and room to display Joe Loftus’ photos and other memorabilia from a 30year coaching career at Iowa Valley High School.
Week of Feb. 16, 2014
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S T N R O U C CTIO K R Concrete Work
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Home ownership can be an unending series of adventures, especially for those homeowners who love good home improvement projects. Some projects are fun and improve the value of a home instantly, while others are undertaken to address a potentially serious issue. Discovering that termites are taking up residence where you live can be disconcerting, but termites are a very common occurrence. Understanding termites and recognizing the signs of termite damage early on can help homeowners reduce the havoc that such critters can wreak on their homes. Termites are social insects that live together in colonies. These colonies eat nonstop, dining on wood and other cellulose plant matter. They also eat materials made from plants, like fabric and paper. According to the National Pest Management Association, termites cause more than $5 billion in property damage a year. Studies show that queen termites can live up to decades under ideal climate conditions while workers and soldiers live approx-
imately one to two years. While there are many varieties of termites, all are silent destroyers capable of chewing undetected through housing structures. To eradicate termites, homeowners must first identify the insects and then contact a termite management specialist to address the pest problem. Spotting termites Termites may not always be visible. Subterranean termite homes are usually formed in soil, where the termites build elaborate tunnel systems that channel through to above-ground food sources. Drywood and dampwood termites may live within the wood they consume and be undetectable until the wood collapses or rots away. Homeowners often realize they have a termite problem when they witness swarming termites. At this point there already may be a mature colony at work damaging a home. Swarming, winged termites form in a mature, established colony. Winged termites emerge and Continued on page 22
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Doug Wiebold Plumbing & Heating Williamsburg, IA
319-668-1261
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The Achens built their house outside of Williamsburg near Parnell on a near 40-acre plot of land. Here the front of their single-level house is shown. The Achens said they plan on doing more in the yard after the winter season.
Achens enjoy new home on edge of Williamsburg By BENJAMIN EVANS Driving up the steep incline on Timberview Drive the day after a snowstorm is frightening. A front-wheel drive sedan, already beat up from an unrelenting Iowa winter, barely makes it up the frozen hill on which the difference between pavement and dirt is indiscernible. The front wheels spin, then catch, then spin, then send the sedan sliding into park outside its target destination: 2464 Timberview Dr, just outside of Williamsburg. And there sat the house, tucked away in a rural development, light charcoal gray in color with white trimming and dark shingles. It was built one-story tall facing east into the west side of a long, sloping hill that rolled into a small wooded area a few acres back. Alex and Courtney Achen, the owners of the near six-acre property, said
they built the house in that location because of the view. Any person could see why, as the land had a sort of Midwestern hard-working-but-majestic feel: the unhindered and thin snow drifts, the Walden-esque location, the tree lines. The name of the area was loyal to its natural amenities: the timber was quite a view. The Achens are a relatively young couple, he aged 30, she aged 27, and had lived in Iowa City before building a house on Timberview Drive. They lived in a duplex in Iowa City, which etched out a priority when building a house closer to Courtney’s workplace: privacy. “Before you could see your neighbors having dinner, so it’s nice having privacy out here,” Alex said. Both hail from small towns and Courtney has worked at Kinze for seven years, so a place out in the country seemed like an ideal spot. Alex wanted
a newer home, Courtney wanted “timber” so a new house on Timberview Dr. was a good fit. “It’s nice being back in the country,” he said.
brightly-colored oranges, accent the granite countertops and stainless steel appliances. White lights hang over the dining room table tucked away in a nook near another set of large windows, while wooden bar stools line the kitchen island. Another right, past the kitchen, reveals two bedrooms and a bathroom. One bedroom is a guest room, decorated with equal care, while another bedroom the beginnings of a nursery.
THE TOUR Upon walking into the Achen house, the guest is greeted with natural light and an open floor plan. Down the hall, past the first floor laundry room on the right, the genesis of the light is clear: large windows line the west walls Congratulations to from the living room, Courtney & Alex Achen complete with fireplace and built-in shelves, to on your beautiful new home! what my mother would call a beautiful kitchen on the right. The minimalistic, fresh decor, from dark chocolate leather furnishings to bowls of
319-338-2800
Week of Feb. 16, 2014
Alex put a hand over her stomach and, with a glow and smile, said the couple was expecting, so the room wouldn’t be quite finished until the baby arrived. A retreat back to the living room, past the warm fireplace, is the master bedroom and, more notably, the master bathroom complete with his and hers sinks, a luxury bathtub and a wellendowed shower. Just off the bathroom is a walk in closet. The journey to the basement can be taken right off the living room, and though it is not yet finished, the Achens said they plan to finish it in a couple years.
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One of the favorite aspects of the Achen home is the open floor plan. The living room, kitchen and dining nook are all lit by natural light from the windows to the west.
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Showcase of Homes
Achen Home - Williamsburg
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The living room includes, along with the windows, built in cabinets and a fireplace.
Congratulations to Courtney & Alex Achen and all the local contractors on a successful year!
The kitchen includes stainless steel appliances, dark wooden cabinets and an island with a sink. This is just off the living room, which is to the right.
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Week of Feb. 16, 2014
Showcase of Homes
The master bedroom is located just off the living room and has a master bathroom to the left. It also includes a walk-in closet.
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The guest bedroom is one of three bedrooms in total. The bedroom has a bathroom just next to it in the hallway.
Ceramic Tile Got it.
Shingles Got ’em.
Custom Cabinets Got ’em.
Siding Got it.
Windows Got ’em.
Tricycles?
Don’t got ’em.
The kitchen includes stainless steel appliances, dark wooden cabinets and an island with a sink.
Got it.
Countertops
Hardware
Millwork Doors
Got ’em.
Got it.
Got ’em.
Laminate Flooring Got it.
Call for your siding needs! Proud to be a part of Courtney & Alex Achen’s building project!
LEE WETJEN Williamsburg 319-631-5133
9OU 7ANT )T 7EªVE 'OT )T !LMOST Homeowners and contractors: If you want to build or improve a home, you want Gilcrest/Jewett’s wide selection of quality materials and products. (But, if you want a birthday present for the kids, we’d suggest shopping elsewhere.)
Gilcrest/Jewett: Building Relationships Since 1856. www.gilcrestjewett.com Iowa’s exclusive distributor of Windsor Windows & Doors. ALTOONA 515-957-0027
CORALVILLE 319-338-0089
MARION 319-377-1593
WAUKEE 515-987-3600
Week of Feb. 16, 2014
Showcase of Homes
Page 18
Calderwood home
Country charm laced with modern conveniences By J.O. PARKER joparker@dmreg.com Erick and Billie Jo Calderwood’s new rural Brooklyn home features lots of modern conveniences surrounded by plenty of country charm. Everywhere you turn, there are bits and pieces of family history. For instance, the upstairs guest bedroom features a headboard made from a window that came from the old Calderwood farmstead that once sat on the property. There are also decorative tables and wall hangings sprinkled throughout the home made from old window shutters. They were designed and built by Bill Schultz, Billie Jo’s father. Above the rock fireplace is an old antique photo showing running horses in black and white. “I wanted it because it was like one that hung in my grandparents’ hallway,” said Billie Jo. “My dad had a collection of them.” The front door entryway features an old Brooklyn Rural Route 1 mail sorting table. The table was gifted to the couple by Jim and Sue Eichhorn of rural Mahaska County. In the master bedroom is an old trunk that, according to the couple, was brought to America from Europe by Erick’s ancestors. “It almost got thrown away,” said Billie Jo. “When I discovered its history, I said ‘no way.’” Located at 3689 V18 Road, the 2,800 square foot home includes a full walkout basement and unique built-in screen porch off the kitchen. Blake Bushong of Montezuma designed the home. Blake is a student at the University of Northern Iowa and a friend of the family. “We took him our ideas and he just did it in his free time,” Billie Jo said. Bruce Baustian Construction of Brooklyn built the house, which was finished in mid-February 2013. “He is local and we knew he did very good work,” Billie Jo said. The couple worked with as many local and area contractors as possible. All the materials for the home, including the Marvin Integrity windows and self-closing quiet touch Mid Continent kitchen cabinets, were purchased from Brooklyn Building Center. The counter tops were built and installed by Continued on page 19
Erick and Billie Jo Calderwood’s new rural Brooklyn home.
The basement of the Calderwood home features a hand-built bar designed by Marcus Hollingshead, the fiance of Billie Jo’s daughter, Kelsie Sheets. The cabinets behind the bar were purchased at Habitat for Humanity Restore in Des Moines.
The wood-burning fireplace features is encased in rock. The running horse photo is like the one Billie Jo remembers hanging on her grandparents’ wall growing up.
Christian Calderwood’s basement bedroom is decorated in John Deere green and yellow. He enjoys collecting toy John Deere tractors and Old Thresher’s Reunion buttons. He also likes old Chevrolets and has decorated his bathroom with old signs.
Week of Feb. 16, 2014
Showcase of Homes
Page 19
Continued from page 18
OK Tops in Brooklyn. The home also features Mid Continent maple doors (interior and exterior) throughout. The upstairs features an open floor plan with the living, dining and kitchen flowing together as one room. The master bedroom, guest room and office, which the Calderwood’s call the “Iowa Room,� are also upstairs. Just off the kitchen are the mudroom and a separate laundry room. There are 2.5 baths up-stairs. The full walkout basement is half finished and features one bedroom and a full-size bath that the couple’s son, Christian, calls home. Christian is a John Deere fan and has decorated his room in green and yellow. He also likes old Chevrolets and has decorated his bathroom with old signs. The basement entertainment area, Continued on page 20
One of Billie Jo’s favorite places to spend a fall day is on the screened in porch located just off the kitchen area.
PROUDLY SERVING BENTON, IOWA AND POWESHIEK COUNTIES Ready Mix Concrete All Year With Prompt Service
Call or visit our website to find a ready mix plant near you! 1-800-877-1258 • www.manatts.com
Thank you Tyler Busch and Erick & Billie Jo Calderwood for choosing Brooklyn Building Center R5 15 )' -5 R5 )& 5 ,(R5 #.#)(-5 R5 %R5 #( .-5 R5 ))Ĺ€5(! R5 &/' #(!5 ( 5 & .,# & R5 #(.5 ( 5 . #(5 /**&# R5 #( )15 ( 5 , (5 * #, ÂŽ
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Week of Feb. 16, 2014
Showcase of Homes
Page 20
Calderwood Continued from page 19
which Billie Jo refers to as the “man cave,” features a hand-built bar designed by Marcus Hollingshead, the fiancé of Billie Jo’s daughter, Kelsie Sheets. The cabinets behind the bar came from Habitat for Humanity Restore in Des Moines. There is also a fully encased concrete safe room in the basement, should a storm hit the area. The home features Climatemaster geothermal heating and air installed by Ternus Electrical, Heating and Plumbing of Tama. The company also completed the plumbing work in the new home. Erick, a licensed electrician with Collum Electric in Brooklyn, did all the wiring in the new home. All the wiring runs underground. Should the power go out, the home features a GE backup generator that automatically switches on. The generator runs on propane. The laminate flooring, carpeting and tile was Continued on page 21
The extra-large master bedroom features its own bath and large corner windows to allow plenty of natural light in. The trunk shown is believed to be brought from Europe to America by Erick’s ancestors.
Thanks Erick and Billie Jo! We enjoyed working with you.
FREE ESTIMATES
DESIGN . BUILD . ENJOY Your Satisfaction is Guaranteed
1329 Michael Avenue, Grinnell vtlandscaping@hotmail.com
Michael VanTomme Owner
Week of Feb. 16, 2014
Calderwood
Showcase of Homes
Page 21
Continued from page 20
purchased and installed by Witte’s Home Decorating in Brooklyn. The rock work around the woodburning fireplace was done through Baustian Construction. Daryl Hall poured the basement walls and Minnaert Concrete of Brooklyn did the flatwork (basement floor, driveway and sidewalk). Manatts supplied the concrete. Van Tomme Landscaping of Grinnell built the retaining walls that adorn the front of the home. The greenery was planted by a Calderwood family member from Omaha, Neb. The appliances throughout the home were purchased from Victor Appliance. The headboard in the guest room is made from a window that was in the Calderwood farm house that once stood on the property. Billie Jo’s father, Bill Schultz, built the headboard.
Thanks Erick and Billie Jo for letting us build your new home
BRUCE BAUSTIAN CONSTRUCTION, Inc. General Contractor New Homes • Remodeling Decks • Garages
Over 30 years experience 506 W. Pershing Drive Brooklyn, IA
641-522-9403
Week of Feb. 16, 2014
Showcase of Homes
Page 22
Termites Continued from page 13 fissures or cracks near wood sur-
fly off looking for mates. Afterward they will locate a new breeding site and form another colony, potentially spreading infestations through multiple locations. Winged termites are attracted to light and can be seen by windows and doors in spring. Other signs of termites include accumulation of soil or dirt at the base of wood structures or the foundation of a home. There also may be
faces. Sometimes “frass” or termite droppings can be seen. They appear as rough, granulated sawdust. Covered mud tubes, or channels of mud leading from the soil up the foundation of a home, are indicative of the presence of termites. Even if termites are no longer present in these tubes, that does not mean the termites have moved on. They simContinued on page 23
The open kitchen floor plan features an island, quiet touch self-closing cabinets and modern Kitchen Aid appliances purchased at Victor Appliance.
Thanks Erick and Billie Jo for putting your trust in us CUSTOM COUNTERTOPS We help make your kitchen one-of-a-kind
LOCALLY CUSTOM MADE SPECIALIZING IN • Formica • Wilsonart • Pionite • Granite • Quartz• Custom Laminate or Solid Surface • Marble Vanity Tops • Under Mount Sinks
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240 West Front St., Brooklyn, IA
Thanks for letting us do the concrete flatwork on your home project.
Call us for all your concrete needs
Shop Floors Driveways Skidloader Services
Sidewalks Patios Free Estimates
Shawn Minnaert, Owner • Insured Home Cell 641-522-3077 641-990-9833
Week of Feb. 16, 2014
Showcase of Homes
Continued from page 22
ply may have chosen a new path to your home. Keeping termites away Once termites have been identified, it is time to eliminate them. This means getting rid of water and food sources
that are close to a home. * Repair leaky faucets and other water drips in and around the house. * Keep gutters and downspouts clean. * Seal entry points around water and utility lines or pipes. * Divert water away from the founG]c e]`Y VO`R SdS`g ROg :Sb A31C@/ ^`]bSQb g]c` R`SO[a ³ bV]aS g]c¸dS OQVWSdSR O\R bV]aS gSb b] Q][S
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dation. * Keep lumber, firewood or paper away from the foundation of the home. * Clear away stumps and tree debris. * Prevent untreated wood from contacting the soil. Treating termites It is very difficult for homeowners to get rid of termites by themselves. Very often they require the work of professionals. A termite exterminator will conduct a visual inspection of a home and property and may do extensive testing involving expensive acoustic or
infrared equipment to probe the soil beneath the house. Depending on the species of termite, the exterminator will suggest various treatments. These may include the application of pesticides and making areas around the home less hospitable to termites. Severely damaged wood may need to be removed and replaced. Termites are problematic in many areas of the world. These insects often stay hidden and do serious damage that can cost homeowners a fortune. Treating termites promptly is essential.
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116 W. State St., PO Box 7 Williamsburg, IA 52361 (319) 668-2241 â&#x20AC;˘ (800) 765-1281
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306 West State Street Williamsburg 319-668-9933
Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time to get rid of the Winter Blues! New flooring and blinds will liven up your home. We have hundreds of laminate, ceramic tile, duraceramics, vinyls and carpeting samples to choose from at both locations
FREE ESTIMATES & EXPERT INSTALLATION OF ALL PRODUCTS â&#x20AC;&#x153;We enjoyed working with Erick & Billie Calderwood on their beautiful country home. Our laminate, duraceramic and carpeting enhanced the beauty of their gorgeous home.â&#x20AC;?
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Give us a call or email us to discuss your next electrical project. We will be happy to answer any questions you may have. Brooklyn - 641.522.7483 Grinnell - 641.236.6587 EMAIL - mark.collumelectric@gmail.com
Ternus Electric
ELECTRIC - HEATING - AIR CONDITIONING SELF STORAGE - PLUMBING & BACKHOE
Ivan Ternus
Business 641-484-2521 Home 641-484-5018 1010 East 5th St., Tama, IA 52339
Week of Feb. 16, 2014
Showcase of Homes
A WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY Mortgage rates are still near all time lows. If you are considering the purchase of a new home or want to refinance to a lower rate on your current property, let’s schedule a meeting. And don’t forget, UICCU does not charge the 1% origination fee usually attached to mortgage loans.
Ryan Doehrmann 319-341-2130 rdoehrmann@uiccu.org www.uiccuryandoehrmann.com
You can join if you live or work in Eastern Iowa.
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