PERIOD PERFECT

 This 1914 Craftsman house located on South Kline

Street is the pride and joy of Jamin Krause. His player piano (extreme left) balances out the functioning pipe organ in the living room. Inset photo by Jamin Krause.

Step back in time in Jamin Krause's 1914 Craftsman home.

by TROY MCQUILLEN

Jamin Krause is a hard worker. He works two to three jobs on a regular basis to earn money. Not for a car collection, not for travel, not to get rich, but rather to support his addiction. His addiction happens to be his house and all the things in it.

The first thing that happens when you step into his living room is your jaw drops. Then, confusion overcomes you. How? Why does a thirty-something bachelor live like this? The confusion stems from the fact that every square foot of the house is decorated with furniture and items from the home’s early time period. No, he didn’t find it like this. This is his collection of mostly family heirlooms, auction items, flea market finds, and a couple of reproductions.

“I have always liked antiques and period homes. My great-aunt had a house decorated similarly. I feel that’s where my inspiration came from. However, I wanted everything to look period-perfect,” Jamin explained.

No detail has been overlooked. Furnishing the rooms is probably the easy part compared to what he’s done to conserve the 1914 Craftsman home located on South Kline Street. When asked if he had to do much, Jamin replied, “Yes, both cosmetically as well as mechanically. Carpets and wallpaper came out, floors were waxed or refinished, cast iron plumbing that was crumbling was replaced, windows were re-glazed, grading happened around the house for better drainage, landscaping, and 28 gallons of paint went on the outside. Not one room looks like it did when I bought it, except the main floor toilet.”

Some modern conveniences in the home include “A mini-split AC, thermal cellular shades, insulated roof, and I made the attic usable,” Jamin continued. He also fenced in the back yard and created a gated parking area.

It takes a certain type of person to appreciate old houses. Old houses

 The formal dining room features thick crown molding, hand-medown period furniture, and a light fixture from an antique store.

 Homeowner Jamin Krause purchased the house in 2017 and has worked on it non-stop ever since.

are, as Jamin agreed, full of character from substantial woodwork, built solidly, and often feel as if they have a soul. That feeling maybe comes from imagining previous families living there and what their lives must have been like in 1915, 1940, 1960, etc.

“There is a sense of history,” Jamin said. “I like to think of those who lived here before. The maids in the kitchen, the different generations of kids that crept down the stairs on Christmas morning to see what Santa brought, the different conversations and arguments that occurred in the different rooms.” He said he feels more like a caretaker and conserver rather than an owner.

The home’s original owner, according to Jamin’s extensive research, was William C. Blanchard. He built it in 1914 as a wedding gift to his new

 The focal point of the kitchen is a reproduction electric range. Jamin could find no evidence of a stove vent suggesting his home always had an electric range.

Which makes sense as original home builder, William Blanchard, was the head of

Aberdeen Light and Power Company.

 The kitchen is filled with collectibles and functioning vintage appliances.

The narrow island adds a perfect amount of usable prep space.

 The oak staircase is beautifully maintained and rises to an original stained glass window at the top of the landing.  The den is Jamin’s favorite room to relax in with an episode of Murder She Wrote and a Windsor Coke. The wallpaper, which he uncovered, appears to be original.

bride, Blanche. Blanchard came from Traverse City, Michigan, around 1905 and met Blanche, an Aberdeen native. He was first a teller in the First State Bank alongside Isaac Lincoln (NSU’s Lincoln Hall’s namesake). Later, he became president of the Aberdeen Light and Power Company, which was eventually sold to Northwestern Public Service in 1919. He was also a member of the First United Methodist Church, YMCA, school board, and helped found the Home Guard during WWI. The Blanchards remained in Aberdeen until 1927, when they moved back to William’s native Michigan. Jamin bought the two-story house in 2017. He said he was looking for a project. He certainly got one. Each of the bedrooms upstairs is completely unique, featuring a dominant color, wall art, collections of knick-knacks, fabrics, drapery, and period furniture. Everything is meticulously placed, arranged, and displayed with an eye for detail, not unlike a Hollywood set decorator. He also enjoys decorating for the holidays and seasons, with Christmas being his favorite.

Jamin might be a motivated employee, but his house project is probably more demanding than all his jobs combined. And he wouldn’t want it any other way. //

 Each bedroom on the upper floor features a dominant color. Period furniture, collectibles and other antiques give each room a unique feel.

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 Heating and cooling the house is a challenge, and probably always has been. Large, inefficient windows in all the upstairs bedrooms require shades and heavy curtains to help keep the cold out.

 Jamin’s master suite is decked out with his favorite color. He wallpapered the room himself with vintage-inspired wallpaper.

He also built the canopy over the headboard of the bed. The hardwood floors throughout the house have all been restored.