2021 Home & Garden

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GARDEN GUIDE March 2021

Special Supplement to the StarGuide Shopper opper | www.star-pub.comFREE ST R Publications 2021 Spring AHome and Garden | Page 1

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GARDEN

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JT Electric..............................................................13 Kampsen Heating & AC .....................................43 Kleinschmidt Plumbing, Heating & AC ...............8 Kostreba Construction ........................................32 Kraemer Lumber....................................................5 Kutter Insurance ..................................................29 Lake Henry Implement, Inc. ...............................30 Long Prairie Lumber ............................................41 Long Prairie Plumbing & Heating ......................22 M&M Lumber .........................................................9 MAC’S...................................................................19 Main Street Title ...................................................14 Mayer’s Excavating ............................................11 Melrose Electric .....................................................8 Melrose Implement ...............................................6 Mid Central Heating & A/C ...............................11 Midwest Asphalt Maintenance .........................10 Midwest Machinery ............................................23 MN National Agency ..........................................43 MN National Bank ..........................................24-25 MN Olive Oil .........................................................19 Mortgages on Main ............................................15 Neighborhood Realty .........................................47 Opatz Heating and AC ........................................7 Opatz Metals & Rolloffs ......................................44 Polybuilt Inc. ...........................................................9 Precision Roadway Services ..............................13 Rahn’s Oil & Propane .........................................15 Riley Bros. Const...................................................37 Ripplinger Plumbing ............................................20 Rocky Ridge Outlet .............................................34 SC Real Estate .....................................................10 Schlangen Cabinets ...........................................30 Schmeez Concrete .............................................21 Schwinghamer Construction .............................18 Simply Surfacing ..................................................27 St. Rosa Lumber ...................................................22 Steiner Lumber .....................................................19 Steve Moritz Construction ..................................29 Superior Seamless Gutters, Inc...........................13 Surface Specialist Mid Minnesota .....................14 Target Painting.....................................................43 Tree N Turf .............................................................35 Tree Top Nursery ..................................................36 Tri-County Foam ..................................................39 Update Building Supplies......................................6 Walker Plumbing..................................................36 Waste Management ..........................................34 We Haul For You ..................................................46 West Central Sanitation ......................................15 Worm’s Lumber & Ready Mix.............................34

2021 Spring Home and Garden Guide | www.star-pub.com | Page 3

A design for everyone Wehlage discusses rising patio home interest

BY SARAH COLBURN STAFF WRITER

MELROSE – Patio homes aren’t just for the retired anymore.

Today’s home shoppers are often attracted to the functionality of one-level living combined with less expensive building costs.

At Kraemer Lumber in Melrose, co-owner Jody Wehlage works with a number of customers seeking patio homes.

“The patio home style kind of works for all ages,” Wehlage said. “It’s not to say we never do a rambler, but it amazes me, across the board, everybody is interested in a patio home.”

Not only is Wehlage seeing interest from couples of all ages, but families with young children and multi-generational families and singles. In addition, she said, there’s

PHOTOS BY GETTY IMAGES

Patio homes are becoming more popular for all age groups, and often range in size from 1,400 to 3,000 square feet. Most being built in this area fall into the 1,800 to 2,000 square-foot size, according to Jodi Wehlage of Kraemer Lumber in Melrose.

a definite rise in the number of people who want to live in a neighborhood with an association that handles much of the homeownership maintenance, including snow removal and lawn care.

In addition, she said, people are living longer and one-level living allows for the easiest accessibility for the longest period of time.

At the crux of the demand, Wehlage said, is the fact that recent changes in the building industry are forcing up prices for traditional single-family homes.

The biggest cost savings in a slab-on-grade home come in the elimination of the lower level.

Changes to the building code in recent years have added to the expense of homes with

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Page 4 | www.star-pub.com | 2021 Spring Home and Garden Guide

a basement. Now, according to code, there must be insulation on the exterior of concrete walls which can add to building expense. And, in many cases, the basement ceiling must now be finished in order to meet fire code. When that becomes necessary, she said, it often makes the most sense to finish the electrical work and the walls in the lower level.

“You can no longer hold off on doing those things – they now become an upfront cost,” she said.

That combination of requirements means the cost savings people once relied on by choosing not to finish a basement when building a traditional single-family home have diminished significant-

Patio homes page 5

Patio homes from page 4 ly, making homes without lower levels more attractive.

While many slab-ongrade patio homes offer single-level living, some do offer the option of a second story.

In some cases, that second story is home to additional bedrooms and in other cases, it takes the form of a bonus room or extra storage or work space over the garage.

“Storage space is a hot commodity in the patio home,” Wehlage said.

In some cases, patio homes may be built with the mechanical room below the ground. There are limitations to the size of what is considered truly a mechanical room and it must fit specific criteria to be permitted as such. This mechanical space may allow for a small amount of storage and/or serve as a storm shelter area if there’s no issue with

building below ground due to the local water table.

Oftentimes, slab-on-grade homes are constructed in areas with a high water table that don’t allow for below-ground construction.

Many times, Wehlage said, patio homes are built following the Americans with Disabilities guidelines in mind.

Homeowners, she said, typically want to increase their door sizes to 36 inches, which would accommodate someone in a wheelchair or with mobility issues.

“If we have the room, we’ve gotten the request, no matter what style of house, to put bigger doors in,” she said.

Patio homes can range in size from 1,400 square feet to 3,000 square feet. Most, Wehlage said, are in the 1,800 to 2,000 square-foot size.

The larger doorway and

Many new homeowners don’t finish the space right away, but homes may be finished with a roof or gable end, making it easy to add on an additional exterior roof in the future for a covered patio space or screened-in porch.

hallw a y widths, she said, more easily accommodate larger appliances and furniture, allowing for ease

Patio homes page 7

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Patio homes from page 5 of living.

In addition to expanding out, many of the homes are expanding up and constructed with 9-foot ceilings, allowing for transom windows that let in additional light. The additional height also allows for larger, more decorative trim and moldings around the doors and windows and, on occasion, ceiling beams or shiplap. The homes that are built with 8-foot ceilings often incorporate tray ceilings or vaults to give the illusion of more height, space and openness.

“It just makes it feel larger,” Wehlage said.

Once the interior decisions are made, Wehlage said patio homes are following the same exterior trends as single-family homes. Outdoor living spaces, especially in the age of COVID-19, are becoming more important and popular.

While some patio homes are large enough to offer sunrooms as an additional sitting or entertainment space, other homeowners opt for a ground-level patio.

Though many new homeowners don’t finish the space right away, We-

PHOTO BY GETTY IMAGES

In addition to expanding out, many homes are expanding up and constructed with 9-foot ceilings, allowing for larger, more decorative trim and moldings, and on occasion, ceiling beams or shiplap.

hlage said the exterior may be constructed with a future patio or covered living area in mind. The homes, she said, may be finished with a roof or gable end, making it easy to add on an additional exterior roof in the future for a covered patio space or screened-in porch.

Wehlage said clients can design their own custom patio homes and choose to add in the finishes and spaces that are most important to them. Individualized planning can come down to something

as specific as the way the entrance from the garage to the home will be constructed. All the details are put together to give clients a finished product that meets all their needs and desires.

“Every house we build or any residential project, it really is custom,” she said. “We deal directly with the person whose home it is and build it how they want it.”

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Don’t forget the

storm shelter!

BY SARAH COLBURN | STAFF WRITER

PHOTO BY GETTY IMAGES

Storm shelters are an important feature in patio homes, and can be as simple as a reinforced master closet that is finished off like this one.

While slab-on-grade patio homes are gaining in popularity for families of all types, it takes planning from the beginning to equip the homes with a storm shelter area.

“It all depends on the customer, their notion of safety and what makes them feel safe,” said Jody Wehlage, co-owner of Kraemer Lumber in Melrose.

Some patio homes, she said, can be constructed with a small mechanical room below the ground. These mechanical rooms need to be constructed to a specific size in order to be permitted and not have to adhere to the same guidelines as building a basement. On occasion, she said, these mechanical rooms can provide enough space to serve as a storm shelter in an emergency.

More often, the staff at Kraemer work with customers to plan for an above-ground storm shelter. While some customers are happy to just hunker down inside the bathtub with a mattress overhead, others opt for reinforcing an interior space.

While patio homes have historically been purchased by those looking to downsize or retire, they’re gaining in popularity with singles, couples and families with kids due to lower construction costs and ease of living. The size of the family can play into the needed space for a shelter.

“You try to plan that from the beginning – not as an afterthought,” Wehlage said.

There are a few options for interior reinforcement depending on the customer’s budget and the level of safety they’d like to have.

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Storm shelter

“We have the conversation with everyone and talk to them about what they desire for a storm shelter and we work it into the plan.”

from page 8 At Kraemer, Wehlage said, all the homes are built with the customer’s plans and specifications in mind.

“We have the conversation with everyone and talk to them about what they desire for a storm shelter and we work it into the plan,” Wehlage said.

Typically, storm shelters are constructed in an interior space in the home that doesn’t have windows. That usually means a master bedroom walk-in closet, a laundry room or pantry. The interior of the home is typically the most resilient part of the structure, she said.

The most common – and economical – fix for creating a secure space is to install 2x6 wall framing instead of 2x4 wall framing. Then, threequarter-inch plywood can be

- Jody Wehlage

secured to the framing and drywall can be applied to the outer layer to make the space look like a normal room, but with slightly thicker framed walls and additional plywood for protection.

For those looking at optimal protection, a concrete block room can be created.

The concrete block, Wehlage said, goes up to the trusses in the home and, if the homeowner chooses, can be topped with a cap made of concrete or another material.

“It all depends on what their definition is of a safe room,” she said.

A low percentage of cus-

tomers choose to skip the storm shelter all together.

Typically, she said, homeowners do want some level of protection and what they ultimately choose is dictated by budget and personal preference.

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A shower o

shake-up a p

BY SARAH COLBURN | STAFF WRITER

While gourmet kitchens and master bedroom suites have dominated the marketplace of single-family homes the past few years, builders are seeing a shake-up in what homeowners want.

“It’s definitely a tile or marble shower,” said Jody Wehlage, co-owner of Kraemer Lumber in Melrose.

While the focus for years has been on the soaking tub or jetted tub, now homeowners are focusing on walk-in shower spaces as well. Some prefer complete glass walls while others avoid them.

“They don’t want the maintenance,” Wehlage said.

While it’s still necessary to provide a tub somewhere in the home, the focus is straying away from the jetted tub. Homeowners may opt for a standalone Roman-style tub in high-end ensuites, or they may no longer want it in the ensuite at all.

“People are too busy,” she said.

Instead, Wehlage sees customers saving the money to spend on an outdoor living space that includes an outdoor hot tub for soaking.

“People still enjoy it, but want to spend more money on outdoor living,” she said. “People like their hot tubs even in the winter.”

Though Wehlage said plumbers often get into the specifics of finish choices in the bathroom shower, there is a lot of interest in shower heads that provide a spa-like atmosphere in the ensuite. From rain shower heads to showers with multiple heads coming from various directions, there are options on today’s market that provide a full-body experience in the shower.

For homeowners with accessibility issues, zero entry showers are important, though they are more costly. These showers allow for ease of entry and exit, but the concrete has to be poured differently, so planning ahead is essential.

PHOTO BY DIANE LEUKAM

Homeowners are often focusing on walk-in shower spaces, with interest in shower heads that provide a spa-like atmosphere in the ensuite. When necessary, people with disabilities are able to access these showers more easily than tubs.

Page 12 | www.star-pub.com | 2021 Spring Home and Garden Guide

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Keepers of the topiaries PHOTO BY SARAH COLBURN

Becky Rand and Carl Olsen live on a property in Avon that is aptly known for its garden art. The two tend to the topiaries on the lawn, placed there by Cyril and Elenor Budde.

Rand, Olsen take over from Budde in caring for living sculptures

BY SARAH COLBURN | STAFF WRITER

AVON – Becky Rand spent years admiring the topiary trees in the yard adjoining the Avon Community Church parking lot. She never dreamed that one day, she’d be overseeing their care. Rand bought the well-known “house with the topiaries” in 2017 from the family of Cyril and Elenor Budde, who built the house in 1984. She lives there with her husband, Carl Olsen.

The yard is home to a multitude of flowers that Elenor tended to, including peonies, tulips and daffodils. When Rand moved in, the garden also housed vegetables and raspberries; today it is home to squash and pumpkins.

Though the gardens are bountiful, the topiaries still take center stage.

“I bought the house from the Budde family,” Rand said.

“I’m just the keeper of the topiaries.”

Al Budde, Elenor and Cyril’s son, tended to the topiaries for more than a decade starting in 2005. As his parents got older, Budde agreed to take on the task. A gardener at heart, Budde said trimming the topiaries isn’t that different from pruning the 23 apple trees he has on his own property. Each spring and fall, he would trim the topiaries an inch or 1-1/2 inches to cut back the growth and retain steady, flowing lines in the design.

“I tried to follow what was there and keep it looking sharp,” Budde said.

Today, Olsen does the trimming and follows the design lines that Budde honed through the years. He’s only had one injury – five stitches when his hand came too close to the electric trimmer.

Budde said he’s happy to see the upkeep.

“It’s an art form, nature’s art form,” Budde said. “It’s using the beauty of nature to express design, form, imagination, diversity; no two are alike.”

Topiaries page 18

2021 Spring Home and Garden Guide | www.star-pub.com | Page 17

Topiaries from page 17 Cyril and Elenor planted the topiaries themselves.

Budde said his mother traveled frequently to San Francisco for more than 40 years, taking 10 days a year to visit her sister and, during her stay, touring the public gardens of San Francisco.

Those trips, he said, likely were the inspiration behind the creation of the topiaries.

The topiary trees are red cedar, which are native to Minnesota. Cyril went out in the pasture on his brother’s farm and the farm of his mother’s siblings, dug up the red cedars and transplanted them onto the roadside lawn in Avon.

The early shaping was done with a hand pruner.

Each topiary is created from two trees leaning into one another. To create the shape, Cyril used insulated wire to tie the trunks of the trees toward one another so they would bow together. The wires, Budde said, are still inside the trees after all these years.

The Budde family is known throughout Central Minnesota. Cyril started Budde Trucking back in 1948. The house with the topiaries sits where the Buddes’ family garden was when they were kids. Elenor began in the garden growing strawberries to sell to the community and Budde said it was a

PHOTOS BY SARAH COLBURN

Topiaries are unique, artful structures that have an ancient history dating back to 23-79 A.D.

way for her to keep the kids busy.

The house that stands on the garden plot today, alongside the topiaries, is the house Cyril and Elenor built after their children left home. The empty nester spot was a place which Elenor spent countless hours making beautiful, with garden beds galore.

Budde said he still takes pride in the topiaries, knowing that they’re eye-catching and unique in the Central Minnesota landscape.

When Cyril died, an art teacher friend of Al’s traveled to the funeral and the topiaries caught his eye. He marveled at them and pulled over on the side of the road to take them in. He later asked Budde where his par-

ents lived, found out he was the caretaker of those same topiaries and was astonished at his friend’s homestead décor.

Topiaries have a long history as an art form. The earliest referenc-

es date back to 23-79 A.D., according to research from Cornell University, which has a web page dedicated to living sculptures including topiaries. Through the centuries, topiaries have gained in popularity. Ancient Romans used cypress trees to create them and during Medieval times, they became a popular way to train fruit plants.

In the 15th Century, according to the site, the Dutch began shaping topiary animals.

Topiaries regained popularity during the Victorian era and hit North America around 1960. In the 1950s and ‘60s, indoor topiary artforms gained in popularity and houseplants began to be shaped into different forms.

For Rand, the tribute to the Buddes’ travels are still a source of awe.

Topiaries page 20

One of the topiaries was hit by a car; the accident broke off part of the tree structure.

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Page 18 | www.star-pub.com | 2021 Spring Home and Garden Guide

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PHOTO SUBMITTED ED

Al Budde maintains his own wn orchard and said trimming ng topiaries is not much different nt than pruning apple trees. es.

Budde, son of Cyril and Elenor, or, tended to his parents’ topiaries es in Avon for more than a decade de starting in 2005.

Topiaries from page 18

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She watched the trees grow and take shape from the time they were planted and she has learned the history from the Budde children and from neighbors around the property.

One of the topiaries was victim to a car accident that broke off part of the structure; that topiary sits closest to the road.

Nonetheless, the only other times Rand and Olsen have seen the structures in nature are in formal gardens or during their own travels out west.

“They’re kind of a landmark in Avon,” Rand said. “They’re very different and I like different.”

Page 20 | www.star-pub.com | 2021 Spring Home and Garden Guide

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Page 22 | www.star-pub.com | 2021 Spring Home and Garden Guide

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Hours : M-F 7 AM-5 PM Sat 8 AM-Noon

HYDRANGEAS

Plan for this fall beauty in springtime

BY SARAH COLBURN RN STAFF WRITER

SAUK CENTRE RE – When Marty Claussssen opened Tree Top p Nursery in Sauk k Centre 38 years ago, he carried two varieties of hydrangeas. Today, he carries more than 20.

“It’s gotten a little over the top,” Claussen said.

The low-mainteenance shrubs have skykyrocketed in popularity rity during the last decade ade because they’re fairly rly durable and produce uce mounds of beautiful ful flowers with the help elp of just a little fertiliziz er. And, many varieties survive the Minnesota winter. Claussen sells hundreds of hydrangeas a season and eight to ten times more than he sold 10 years ago.

“Everybody wants

to have something unique; we want to be like the Joneses, but we

want to be a little different,” he said.

Hydrangeas cover

1

liant blue.

In addition to boasting colorful blooms, hydrangeas provide a structure in the winter and the dried flowers can hold on throughout the change of the seasons, providing winter interest.

Katie Drewitz is a University of MinnesoPHOTOS BY ta Extension Educator SARAH COLBURN covering horticulA Peegee Hydrangea tree has come into full ture, small farms fall bloom and offers and local foods in Stearns, Benton and just a hint of pink Morrison Counties. on its blossoms.

Because hydrangeas are flowering, they provide resources the color gamut, from for pollinators, Drewitz white to lime green to said. Larger plants may whit those with a pinkish also provide a habitat thos tinge in the fall, some for birds and butterting that turn almost red and flies, adding to the bioothers that are a bril- diversity of an area.

Though some species of hydrangea won’t be appropriate for the Minnesota climate, hydrangeas are perennials so they provide blooms year after year. Because there are so many varieties of hydrangea, Drewitz said, there are plants that do well in a variety of conditions.

Annabelle and Paniculata Hydrangea can do well in light to part shade, providing flexibility in planting.

When Claussen first started selling hydrangeas, he sold Annabelles and the Hydrangea Paniculata Grandiflora. Then, plant companies began hybridizing hydrangeas and the varieties began to flourish.

As the cross-breeding continued, Claussen saw some varieties that came to market too quickly and didn’t last – the stems were floppy

The s look e hydrangeas s en the of t of an old wooden fence.

Hydrangea bushes create the perfect fence between residential yards, providing both a barrier and a wonderful backdrop for a perennial garden.

and the plants were weak. As hybridizing continued, the market has recovered some and the varieties are stronger.

“There are some varieties that are similar and some are distinctly showier than others,” he said.

Now, he has customers coming in asking for simply white hydrangeas.

There are a few things to consider when choosing a hydrangea, Claussen said.

The shrubs come in 3-foot, 4-foot, 5-foot and 6- to 8-foot variet-

ies. To keep them as maintenance-free as possible, he recommends choosing a mam ture size that’s approt priate for the available space.

Additionally, gardeners with only two to three hours of sun a day should choose a shady variety of hydrangeas while those with five or more hours of sun should choose a paniculata style.

Some hydrangeas offer open, airy-looking blooms while others, such as the Limelight, have very dense flowers.

“The biggest problem for hydrangeas is hot and dry weather,” Claussen said.

During extended hot and dry times,

he recommends giving them extra water but said arborescens varieties will look limp in the hot sun no matter how much they’re watered.

The zone rating on hydrangeas is also important.

He encourages customers to opt for Zone 3 hydrangeas, though Central Minnesota is technically ranked a Zone 4.

“The lower the zone, the lower temperature the plant can tolerate,” Claussen said.

No matter which variety gardeners choose, hydrangeas are a low-maintenance way to add color, structure and vibrancy to any landscape.

Hydrangeas page 26

PHOTOS SUBMITTED

Marty Claussen owns Tree Top Nursery in Sauk Centre and has seen a huge increase in the popularity of hydrangeas over the past 10 years.

Katie Drewitz is a University of Minnesota Extension Educator covering horticulture, small farms and local foods in Stearns, Benton and Morrison Counties.

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Page 24 | www.star-pub.com | 2021 Spring Home and Garden Guide

Sauk Centre 320.352.5211 • Long Prairie 320.732.2133 • mn-bank.bank

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2021 Spring Home and Garden Guide | www.star-pub.com | Page 25

Hydrangeas from page 25 Choose the right

hydrangea: 01.

02.

03.

04.

05.

Consider the space requirement of the mature plant and plant it accordingly.

Consider the soil in the anticipated planting area and choose a hydrangea species that’s appropriate.

Be sure to purchase a plant for the proper hardiness zone.

Choose a variety that will thrive in the type of light your space has to offer; shade plants are appropriate for areas with only two to three hours of sun a day, and paniculata work well in areas with five or more hours of sun a day.

In early May, prune off the dried blossoms, cutting just above a pair of buds. Also prune off crossing branches, damaged branches and dead branches. May is the best time to shape the shrub. Bottom branches on panicle hydrangeas can be pruned to provide space for shade plants.

Protecting Your Property Rights Closings, Title Insurance, Abstracting & more!

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Fax: 320-271-1114 • www.httitle.com • orders@HTtitle.com Page 26 | www.star-pub.com | 2021 Spring Home and Garden Guide

• Mary Klimek • Sara Bye • Tim Nelson • Katie Gottwald • Brenda Sand

25

Josiah Kircher OWNER

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2021 Spring Home and Garden Guide | www.star-pub.com | Page 27

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Page 28 | www.star-pub.com | 2021 Spring Home and Garden Guide

Atkinson Well Drilling Wellll DDrilling W illi & W Well Service Work

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2021 Spring Home and Garden Guide | www.star-pub.com | Page 29

Spa-like showers

taking over home bathrooms

BY SARAH COLBURN STAFF WRITER

As spa-like showers begin to take over the mainstream home bathroom market, First Rate Glass is seeing an uptick in homeowners who want a new look for their space.

“With the popularity of bathroom remodels the past year, we’ve been seeing complete bathroom construction, gutting the entire bathroom and starting over new, (and other customers are) simply adding a semi-frameless shower door system,” said Jed Pahan of First Rate Glass.

The move to more glass, he said, helps open up the bathroom space and make it appear larger.

While COVID-19-restricted homeowners have been finding ways to add luxury to their existing spaces, First Rate Glass staff have been doing a number of new installs as well as retrofitting doors to existing showers to show off tile work or cultured marblework and create an airiness in a space.

First Rate Glass is family-owned and operated. Jeff and Tammie Pahan founded the business in 1992. Jeff began work in his home garage as a service to the community.

He had glass experience, having worked during college at his uncle’s glass business.

Five years after his unofficial launch, he built the shop the family works out of now.

Jeff owns the business and Tammie is the office manager/accounting specialist. Their sons, Josh and Jed, have their own specialties.

Josh is the operations man-

PHOTO SUBMITTED

Jeff Pahan installs a frameless shower door with a side panel. First Rate Glass has seen soaring interest in this style of shower door as it shows off the interior tile work, lets in the natural light and the side panel provides a bit of privacy.

ager and Jed is the assistant, handling communications and technology for the company. Together, the four of them not only work behind the scenes, the four-person crew works in the field, doing installs of all types of glass.

The company offers everything from windshield repair and replacement to residential windows, store front glass, automotive glass and agricultural glass.

“You’ve got to stay diversified,” Jed said.

When it comes to shower glass, Jed said, customers often call with a picture in their minds of what they’re looking for.

“There are so many ideas you can find just with one Google search,” Jed said.

Right now, frameless shower doors with side panels are trending for the company.

Showers page 32

Sliding barn door hardware for the bath provides an upscale look while allowing the interior tile work to be the star.

2021 Spring Home and Garden Guide | www.star-pub.com | Page 31

Showers from page 31 The side panels allow the natural light to come in and also provide some privacy.

Sliding barn door-inspired hardware is also very popular and provides an upscale finish that may complement other sliding doors in the house.

Right now, Jed said, customers are leaning toward oil-rubbed bronze, brushed nickel and black hardware finishes.

As the style of shower doors has changed, so has the hardware. There have been big improvements in the last 20 years that allow door mechanisms to slide more smoothly.

Today’s ball bearing rollers, he said, perform so much better than older models which use rubber on glass or metal tracks with metal-framed doors. Today’s hardware is all rust-proof to avoid the friction that can come as the doors age, and most frameless models offer very little visible hardware.

The shower glass

door styles offered by the company are as endless as customers’ Pinterest searches, with frameless shower doors, semi-frameless doors and framed shower door systems options.

Frameless shower door systems are installed in walk-in showers or can be retrofitted to semi-frameless systems in existing tub/showers.

Neo-Angle shower stalls are framed shower door systems.

Frameless shower doors can be customized to match the style and parameters of any room. Glass can even be customized to a trapezoid shape in order to properly accent the pitch of a ceiling in a bathroom.

“Frameless shower doors add an elegance (to the space),” Josh said.

They’re also an easy pick when it comes to accessibility and function. Showers with zero entry can aide in wheelchair accessibility and some showers, with glass doors that swing both ways, allow for the easiest accessibility with a walker.

Additionally, Jed said, updating the bathroom with a mod-

ern, seamless look increases the value of the home.

As customers begin their process of dreaming and brainstorming their bathroom space, they not only need to think about the existing materials in the shower and the hardware, but also the type of glass they desire.

Glass can be completely clear or can be specialized. First Rate offers not only clear glass but rain glass and glue chip glass that can add character, privacy and charm to a space.

For those undertaking the process of building a home, Josh recommends considering the bathroom finishes as part of the building process. In some cases, double or even triple stud walls in the shower area can set up the perfect style for placing shower door hinges. Additionally, planning the swing of the door and the amount of glass in the room to allow in natural light, is important.

“People want an open feel in their showers,” Jed said.

“Glass 100 percent adds that feeling.”

B C T E S R I E

Tree Trimming, Removal and Stumping

PHOTO SUBMITTED

This frameless rain glass shower allows for a bit of privacy while still providing an open and airy feel.

Member of Central Minnesota Builders/National Association Since 1992

TIM ROGGENBUCK

700 West Queen Street Osakis, MN 56360 Phone: 320-859-5957 Cell: 320-808-4242

FREE ESTIMATES

Family Owned

2nd tion Genera

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1200 Sinclair Lewis Ave., Sauk Centre, MN 56378

Page 32 | www.star-pub.com | 2021 Spring Home and Garden Guide

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Time T ime tto o rrepair epair tthe he llawn awn and plant your garden?

Come see us for all your spring rentals; aerators, power rakes, tillers, wood splitters, trailers and more!

Our greenhouse is fully stocked to fill your garden with annuals, trees, shrubs and perennials.

And when you’re all finished with your garden and lawn, rent our kayaks and canoes to explore beautiful Lakes Koronis and Rice Lake and the Crow River

Blue Stem Flowers 320-243-2348 • www.bluestemflowers.com

480 North Grande Street, Paynesville Next to Fleet Supply

2021 Spring Home and Garden Guide | www.star-pub.com | Page 33

Why choose • Residential • Farm Pickup • Recycling • Commercial • Demolition

Dumpster Rental. Simpli ed.

Call 866-773-5658 to schedule your dumpster today!

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SPRING SPECIAL!

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39864 South Hwy. 71 • Sauk Centre, MN • www.wm.com

Purchasing, Refinancing or Remodeling?

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“We’re here to help! p! ”

Sara Will Mak e Choosing A Home Lo a Simple & n Easy

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Page 34 | www.star-pub.com | 2021 Spring Home and Garden Guide

Come to Where the Grass is Always Greener!

Tree-n-Turf Services

320-796-0507 Serving Your Community for 37 Years

Sure Am Glad I Called

Tree-N-Turf Services

• Lawn Fertilizing • Weed Control • Core Aeration & Thatching g • Insect and Disease Controll • Roundup Spraying • Soil Sterilization

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David Weber Cell: 320-290-0160 Blair Weiers Cell: 3 320-290-1840 1180 Sinclair Lewis Ave., Sauk Centre, MN Office: 320-351-4100 Fax: 320-351-4115 • Lic. # 057710-MR

2021 Spring Home and Garden Guide | www.star-pub.com | Page 35

Color outside the lines

QUICK PICKS

A splash of color can brighten up a room, like this small dining room, where the spring green and white play off each other to create a cheerful space. If you are looking for a project, start small with just one room and finish your project in a weekend.

Each year, paint manufacturers choose their color of the year. For 2021, Benjamin Moore chose Aegean Teal for a “soothing feeling” and Sherwin-Williams’ Urbane Bronze adds a dark, earthy tone.

For an easy way to select colors, browse the color selections of major companies to see what this year’s palettes have in store.

In the end, choose colors that suit your own personal tastes. If you like it, paint it!

RILEY BROS. CONSTRUCTION, INC.

www.rileybros.com Established in 1974 BASED IN GLENWOOD, MN & MORRIS, MN

We will be completing asphalt paving in your area during the 2021 construction season.

No job too large or small!

For a free estimate on your driveway or parking lot CALL 320-634-3535 or email paving@rileybros.com 2021 Spring Home and Garden Guide | www.star-pub.com | Page 37

QUICK PICKS

Display your collection!

Do you have three or more of anything? If so, you have a collection. But, if you have a collection that is hidden in a closet, storage room or in totes, you may as well not have one. Consider displaying it! There are many creative ways to display collections, like the one shown here. Having your favorite pieces visible and at hand is a perfect conversation starter.

People collect everything from stamps and coins to silver spoons, vinyl record albums, fine art, trading cards, comic books, sports memorabilia and toys.

Surround yourself with the things you love, but use caution – sometimes, less is more.

Matt Imdieke Broker

320.420.1295

WWW.MATTIMDIEKE.COM • MATT@CENTRALMNREALTY.COM

70 Agents with 11 Office Locations...

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Page 38 | www.star-pub.com | 2021 Spring Home and Garden Guide

Carpet squares!

QUICK PICKS

Carpet tiles, or carpet squares, are a new option in home flooring, although they have been used in commercial settings for many years. They can be easier to install than roll carpeting, and do-it-yourselfers have ventured into the realm of carpet tiles. These tiles might be perfect for your home, but be sure to talk to a flooring expert to learn all the pros and cons. Whether or not the industry gravitates toward carpet tile in the future remains to be seen.

THAT FIRST HOME IS SPECIAL

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2021 Spring Home and Garden Guide | www.star-pub.com | Page 39

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Breth Construction and Concrete, LLC 320-260-6977 • 40807 State Hwy 238 - Albany, MN 56307 mikebreth@yahoo.com • Lic.# BC639950

Page 40 | www.star-pub.com | 2021 Spring Home and Garden Guide

Mike Breth Owner

The new farmhouse

QUICK PICKS You thought a farmhouse had to be on a farm? Modern farmhouses can be found anywhere, and there are certain characteristics that define them. White exteriors, gray or black roofs, industrial fixtures and lots of windows are common. Steep gable roofs, often covered in standing seam metal, along with large, open porches complete the outside appearances.

Inside, a new farmhouse will include features like exposed wooden beams, a farmhouse sink, clean lines, simple décor and big, comfortable furniture. Above all, it must be functional.

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2021 Spring Home and Garden Guide | www.star-pub.com | Page 41 3/4/2020 10:25:43 AM

sanctuary Bicks’ backyard

BY SARAH COLBURN STAFF WRITER

SAUK CENTRE – As the water cascades down the flat rocks of the waterfall in Mike and Theresa Bick’s Sauk Centre backyard, it creates a calming effect, eventually spilling into a large, fish-filled pond flanked by a paver patio and a multitude of flower plantings.

The sound of the gurgling water resonates through the space, adding a living, breathing centerpiece to the yard and creating a sanctuary of relaxation. The water flows under a small foot bridge and meanders PHOTOS BY DIANE LEUKAM among the yellow This cascading waterfall pops of Rudbeck- was built by Bob Bick after ia blooming in the his retirement in 2000. His sun. Native grass- wife, Kay, wanted fish in the es blow in the waterfall pond; the fish wind and moundadd life to the pond and survive the ed shrubs ground cold winters. the space.

Retaining walls finish the centerpiece Bob and his wife, on either side, spilling over with brightly-col- Kay, worked together ored red geraniums and to create the elaborate white-flocked alyssum. landscaping.

She tended to the The garden, the ponds and the nearby kids’ flowers while he foplay places – a charm- cused on creating the ing, fairy tale-like hardscapes, including house for the girls and the laying of each india fortress for the boys vidual paver stone that – were all built by Bob Bicks page 45 Bick, Mike’s father.

Theresa (from left), Mike and Bob Bick enjoy the backyard oasis designed and created by Bob.

Page 42 | www.star-pub.com | 2021 Spring Home and Garden Guide

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Page 44 | www.star-pub.com | 2021 Spring Home and Garden Guide

PHOTOS BY DIANE LEUKAM

A sweet little cottage house was built by Bob Bick for his granddaughters on the Bicks’ country property near Sauk Centre.

Bicks from page 42 graces the landscape.

The two lived in the home and surrounding 50 acres of property for 35 years.

They rented most of the acreage to a local farmer and kept up the land surrounding the home themselves. Five years ago, after Kay died, he opted to trade homes with his son, Mike, and his growing family.

Mike’s family lived in town on a smaller property in a smaller house and Bob had not only a larger house, but the

land to provide plenty of space for Mike, his wife, Theresa, and their four children.

Though the Bicks have traded homes, Bob makes regular visits to the house, fixing up skewed retaining wall brick, tending to the necessities and visiting for a bit. The ideas for the backyard haven he designed himself didn’t come from magazines or books; instead, he created the plans in his mind and the end result is pretty close to what he envisioned. Bob doesn’t like to talk much about his skill set. He laughs when asked if he’s al-

ways been good with hands.

“That’s what people tell me,” he said.

His work gets noticed. People stop by the house he now has in town to admire the gardens and patio he’s constructed there. They get out of their cars and ask if they can take pictures.

Bob always agrees but it’s clear he doesn’t know what all the fuss is about.

“It’s just fun to

start something and see it turn out halfway decent,” he said. “It changes things. Taking something where there’s nothing and making something out of it is always kind of satisfying.”

He began creating the pond at the country house after retirement as a way to fulfill something he had rolling around inside his head. Everything that came after that, he said, was just him keeping

busy doing something he enjoys. The gardening and tending of the flowers, he said, are skills he learned from Kay and that he continues now that she’s gone.

“She was one of those people that everybody asked her, ‘how do you do this, how do you do that,’” he said. “Over the years, I didn’t know I was, but I learned from her.”

This children’s fort is complete with a bunk house, office, lookout tower and a slide.

2021 Spring Home and Garden Guide | www.star-pub.com | Page 45

Happy trails lead to

Evie’s Garden AVON – Our photographer, Kayla Albers, happened upon Evie’s Garden last summer and snapped a few photos.

She was not alone in her admiration of Evie’s work. According to the City of Avon’s website, “If you are looking for an area to walk around and look at flowers, plants, or take photos, stop by and walk around in Evie’s Garden.

Located East of the trail head on the Wobegon Trail. Open to the public!”

ALL PHOTOS BY KAYLA ALBERS

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Page 48 | www.star-pub.com | 2021 Spring Home and Garden Guide