Design and Living Magazine November and December

M A G A Z I N E

November/December 2012

DESIGN&LIVING

*NEW*PHOTOGRAPHY & LAYOUT

DESIGN & FEATURES

MCNEALAND FRIENDS

A NEW DESIGN STUDIO & BOUTIQUESTORY PG. 8

See the new Shotwell Commons and meet Terry Stroh p. 20

Gina Gould of Baker Garden and 3 Chicks Studio shows us an upside down take on traditional holiday design.

Pg. 14

Vintage Holiday

B r i n G i n g o u t d o o r r o o m s t o l i f e

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Landscape Architecture | Des ign | P lanning

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SPECIAL THANKS

Design and Living is published monthly by Spotlight Media Incorporated. Print quantity exceeds 15,000 per issue. Printed in the U.S.A.

Design and Living does not necessarily endorse or agree with content of articles or advertising presented. Design and Living assumes no responsibility for unsolicited

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Design and Living Magazine is a free publication distributed bi-monthly (6 times a year). Our mission is to showcase all that

the Red River Valley has to offer in terms of interior design, architecture, landscaping and profile the people that make these

possible. We also strive to provide a quality and fun reading experience and improve the way of life in our community. The

publication is mailed to homes across the US and has stand distribution throughout North Dakota and Minnesota.

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Mike Dragosavich

Andrew Jason

Mike Dragosavich , James Ness , Andrew Neidt

Steph Stanis lao

Andrew Jason, Tracy Nicholson, Bill Twe eten and Ami Baxter

Andrew Jason and Tracy Nicholson

Brent Tehven

Alizabeth Gaddie

Brent Tehven, Tracy Nicholson and Todd Graf

Kelsey Kuller

J Alan Paul Photography, Mike Dragosavich and Andrew Jason

Cover Photo : J Alan Paul Photography (www. ja lanpaul .com)

Gina Gould, Kat ie Beyer , Carr ie Warren and Matthew McCarty of Baker Garden and Gifts .

ADVERTISING : 701-478-SPOT (7768)[email protected]

DESIGN LIVING&NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2012

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A Designer Friendly Space.DESIGN ST UDIO AND BOUT IQUE

8 D E S I G N & L I V I N G • NOV EM BER / DECEM BER 2012

A Designer Friendly Space.

You’ll be instantly charmed by this downtown Fargo storefront and delightfully surprised when you open the door to McNeal and Friends. There are so many beautiful things to look at; you won’t know where to start. You also may want to move right in. Most of what you will see are exclusive lines generally

found in larger cities; the owners travel to Atlanta and New York twice a year to hand pick each item in the store. Lux linens from Peacock Alley, exclusive scents from Nest, delicate china by Michael Aram, also items from Hickory Chair and California lines like Noir and Oly Studio, make up just a little bit of their lavish inventory. At a glance it is easy to see that these items were chosen with great care and an innate appreciation for the finely crafted and more refined textures.

Desirae has a degree in Interior Design and found herself in a chance meeting with Shelly and Rondi that evolved into a career.

Rondi, a co-owner along with Shelly, uses her degree in Business Economics to handle the business aspects of Mcneal and Friends.

Shelly is the owner, designer and hand picks each accessory and furniture piece in the store, giving them some of the most exclusive lines in the area.

Decor and Furniture

Desirae Putnam

Rondi McGovern

Shelly Neal

2

3

Downtown Fargo’s newest design studio and boutique opened their doors this summer and quickly found a following for their unique and ultra exclusive design and decor.

By Andrew Jason and Tracy NicholsonPhotography by J. Alan Paul

506 Broadway N, Fargo – 701-235-0031

1

D E S I G N & L I V I N G • NOV EM BER / DECEM BER 2012 9

Mcneal and Friends is bringing a new look to downtown Fargo.

1

2

3

DESIGN ST UDIO AND BOUT IQUE


Neal likes strong architecture to drive the project while texture and a neutral palette is icing on the cake that easily makes way for pops of color and unique accents. Desirae suggests investing in classic pieces that will withstand time and use accent pieces and color to refresh them.

Shelly said reclaimed woods mixed with metals are still strong features, along with more refined lines in upholstery and furniture. As you can see, utilizing a neutral palette with subtle splashes of color make for an elegant backdrop.

This dishware is one of their most exclusive lines from the Italian company, Vietri. It is made by Tuscan artisans, using traditional 13th century techniques with antique embossing tools to create intricate details on each handmade shape.

Jon Offutt Sitting in style

Personal opinion

Timeless trends

Irresistibly Italian

This landscape scene pottery is by Jon Offutt, who happens to be a cousin to Shelly and Rondi. The artwork behind the pottery is called “Pheromone” by Christopher Marley. Each piece of his incorporates natural artifacts like insects, minerals and botanicals.

These identical arm chairs by Lee Industries

complement a rich cabinet complete with

beautiful table top accessories by Michael

Aram.

In the back of the store, you’ll find the studio where Shelly and Desirae run the interior design aspect of the business, working with predominantly residential clientele.

Sisters Rondi McGovern and Shelly Neal opened McNeal and Friends on June 1 of this year. They opened with the hopes of bringing the latest and most exclusive lines to the area. They have created a designer’s dream of textiles, dishware, colors and exquisite artwork.

Design Studio

Quiet opening

“

”12 D E S I G N & L I V I N G • N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R 2 01 2

HELP MY HO USE. . .

Bill TwetenUff-dah! Maybe too much going on here! There are some great pieces to work with –but we need to do a little de-cluttering and balance the space. I would start by adding a sofa and “redistributing” a few chairs.

I’d place the sofa under the window flanked by new end tables and table lamps. Placing a recliner to the left and right of the sofa will complete the grouping. (Reupholster the recliners if necessary.) To control glare and add privacy, add a pleated shade to the window — and to soften the window frame add rodding and fabric side panels. Move the two bookcases and T.V. to the adjacent wall, opposite the sofa. Reduce the height of the T.V. cabinet by removing the middle section and placing the wood top directly on the lower audio cabinet. (Cabinet designers like to cannibalize existing cabinets to work in new ways!) I would mount the screen on the far wall and showcase favorite photo memories in the many openings — In front of this and a little to the left, I would place the round table and two of the arm chairs. For color direction, I would start with the rug purchase — take my color cues from it and be creative! Although the existing rug is colorful and has some punch — I would opt for a larger and more traditional area rug. Find a new rug that inspires the entire rooms color palate! I would likely tone down the foyer’s red color and deepen the color of the far wall. Remove the bench on the half wall and find new homes for the other furniture pieces.

We all have a vision for our home, but sometimes we need the view from someone else’s eyes. That’s where we come in. We find houses, just like yours, around the Red River Valley for our expert team of contributing

designers to assist you in bringing out your home’s true potential.

Bill has been doing design work for 25 years. He has a design degree from Alexandria Technical College in Alexandria.

He has worked at Western Products for the last two years.

He has worked as a residential designer, focusing on kitchen and bath design.

You can reach Bill calling 701-280-5996 or going to www.westernproducts.com. To have your own home critiqued by our team

of experts email [email protected]. You provide the rooms, we will get the pics and our contributing experts will dish out the advice.

“

”

Ami Baxter

This family’s south Fargo home is in a rut. Now that both of the kids have left the house, they are trying to figure out what to do with their living room. Being that this is one of the families most commonly used rooms, it is definitely in need of a little renovation. That’s where our designers come in.

Well this room doesn’t exactly say, “Welcome Home”…so let’s freshen’ up the space plan!

First, remove everything…yep, everything! Then start bringing pieces back into the room carefully. Sometimes less IS more…even designers experience this in our own homes.

Rug first…Center it perpendicular to the large wall (which currently houses the divider screen,) place the large chairs (backs to the window) one on each corner (closest to the window) and alongside each large chair, place a wooden arm chair. Basically creating a chair anchored to each corner of the rug. For the future…look for a coffee table, long bench or narrow ottoman to complete the seating area. Mount the TV opposite the window (lower height for better ergonomics – viewing at eye level.) Flank the TV with the barrister bookcases on each side and in the future purchase a low console table for below and to “anchor” the TV. Create a softer window with flowing drapery panels from ceiling to floor and cover inexpensive hardware with an upholstered cornice.

Move the small dinette table and chairs to the current TV wall and place one of the lamps in the corner (right-side and direction lamps towards vaulted corner for lighting up the wall.) Utilize the divider screen in the vaulted corner (folding it like an accordion) and when ready, fill in the openings with children’s artwork or fabric/wallpaper wrapped cardboard, to offer some pattern to the space.

Everything else that wasn’t mentioned…shouldn’t trickle back into the space.

There are also many wonderful ways to pull together the color in this space. Reupholstering the existing chairs to compliment the rug or keep the rug for below the dinette table and find a new rug with a neutral color to coordinate with the existing chair fabrics.

Type: Living RoomLocation: Fargo

Living Room

Ami has been a designer for over nine years and has been the owner of Firefly Designs for seven years.

She has assisted in decorating with Lake Park Audobon High Schools, the Fargo Jet Center, Faith Lutheran Church in Hibbing, Triumph Lutheran’s Moorhead and West Fargo Campuses, Camp Grafton Training Facility and much more.

You can reach Ami at 701-866-3321 or go to her website at www.fireflydesignsandevents.com


GINA GOULD'S HOME IN DOWNTOWN FARGO OFFERS A NOSTALGIC TWIST ON THE TRADITIONAL HOLIDAY.

This upside down tree puts a new spin on gathering around the Christmas tree.

Upside down Tree

HOLIDAY HOME

14 D E S I G N & L I V I N G • N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R 2 01 2


VINTAGEHOLIDAY

WRITTEN BY TRACY NICHOLSON PHOTOGRAPHY BY J. ALAN PAUL PHOTOGRAPHY

in sp ira t ion

In preparat ion for th is yea r’s Homes for the Hol idays tour; Gina Gould of Baker Garden and Gif t and 3 Chick s Studio gave us a sneak peek into her ec lect ic 8th

Street home in Fargo and a bit of her upside down hol iday design.

A simple glimpse inside her home is really not enough to fully appreciate the unique charm of the existing

original detail and modern flair. Greeted with champagne, the longer we stayed, the more we discovered. From the mahogany walls of the library to the original built-in seating and bar in the lower level, everywhere you turn reminds you of an era where quality and out of the box design came together perfectly. Throw in an eclectic mix of family keepsakes and their family’'s pet bunny, appropriately named Bugzy, and you’ve got yourself a home fit for Gina, her husband Eric and their two kids Atticus and Eloise. It's easy to see that Gina delights in the unusual and strives to preserve the history of this home, as do so many others who share an appreciation of this historic neighborhood.

Out of all three Christmas trees in her modern 1950's home, one stands out a bit more than the others.This obvious stand out is a completely different and unexpected take on the traditional holiday decor. At first glance it appears to be suspended from the ceiling, but upon closer inspection we realize it's very artfully crafted to disguise the stand below. Why the upside down tree? ’"Because no one else has one!" ’ Gina smartly states as we stand in awe of this mind boggling tree that's a display of Hollywood glam meets ice capade. Whatever it is, we are quite sure we love every over the top detail about it. In Gina’'s words, ’"More is more, and more is better!" ’

The obvious question is, how do you decorate an upside down, nine foot tree? It’s actually quite simple. According to Gina, all you have to do is

’start from the top. ’ We'd say don’t try this daring tree at home, but we realize that it might be too darn tempting.

To avoid mishaps, she suggests placing the tree against a wall, preferably in a corner for more stability. To recreate this look; lace it with warm white lights, then start at the top with white Kuwa branches, glittered dogwood and work your way down with a mix of oversize Tiffany blue mercury glass bulbs and blue starburst. To add texture, use an array of ornaments like angel wings, doves, peacocks and snowflakes, all of which can be found at Baker Garden and Gift. To give this look balance, add in monochromatic floor pieces like reindeer and silver glitter netting.

HOLIDAY HOME


Baker Garden and Gift and 3 Chicks Studio created this modern take on vintage dining for the holidays. This take on mixed metal, which uses accents in white, silver and bronze, is what lends this look a timeless holiday charm.

Oversize jester like bulbs, wired spheres, snowflakes and bronze

netting make a brilliant backdrop for vintage china.

This tree is inspired by the 1950's library in which it's displayed. Amongst the perfectly weathered books, mahogany walls and the red lacquered magnolia wreath resting from

the slate hearth, this tree boasts a worldly and well traveled theme throughout. An eccentric

mix of Eiffel Tower, airplanes, vintage suitcases, VW buses and whiskey bottle ornaments help to reinforce the room’s art deco style. To create

a fuller look, they've accented the tree with berries, dogwood, glitter bamboo and a mix

of red and gold glitter netting.

Fes t i v e De ta i l s

V in tage Din ing

Dis t i ngu i shed Hol iday


The second tree in Gina’s dining area takes a more subtle and organic approach with dyed Kuwa branches, dried artichokes, lotus pods, African knob wood, bell cups and twig spheres. The pine cones and bronze netting pave the way for an elegant and unconventional Zebra pelt skirt.

Organ i c Approach

More of Gina Gould and her team’s work can be seen at Baker Gardens and 3 Chicks design studio

and boutique. 2733 University Dr. S, Fargo

www.bakernursery.com

A 1950's library makes for a warm and distinguished holiday setting.

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“There really isn’t anything like it in Fargo, from the standpoint of being in an established neighborhood,” Stroh said in an interview inside the model home. “The location of living downtown isn’t for everyone… This gives you alternatives in regards to being close to downtown but you’re not directly downtown.”

The homes were designed to replicate a contemporary,

eighth street look. Each home is custom built for those moving in and features their own private courtyard. While no two homes are the same, they average around 2,785 square feet. The homes are designed for people who are ready to downsize. Stroh is quick to point out that if a family decides to move in, the homes can be adapted to accommodate a family. The only thing the homes have in common is that their features, colors, and styles are completely unique to the homeowner.

“All the home’s interiors are different… we have seen varying kinds of styles, from the contemporary to the traditional.”

Almost every aspect of the home is customizable. From the ceiling heights, paint colors, built-ins

and appliances, everything can be changed to the owner’s liking. Stroh wanted people to have a say in their future home, even going as far as letting people choose their mailbox.

Stroh has had the idea of building at this Shotwell location for quite a while. He knew that eighth street had always been the best of Fargo but he always felt it was under utilized. He might have a fondness to the area because his first home was only two blocks away from where Shotwell Commons is located. About two years ago, he approached John Shotwell about purchasing the land that Shotwell Floral was on. Construction began on the homes about a year ago and has progressed very quickly.

Terry Stroh explains the ARCHITECTURE and history behind the new shotwell commons.

Shotwell Commons

architecture DEVELOPMENT


Eighth st reet nea r downtown Fa rgo has a lways been THE place to l ive w ith some of the most coveted homes in Fa rgo-Moorhead. The g iant maple t rees hover above, creat ing a cha rming canopy over the pic turesque st reet s . With a desi re to interpret the eighth st reet cha rm, Terr y St roh has created a new, yet old development that t ru ly encompasses histor ic Fargo. Shotwel l Commons development is a lmost completed, and a f ter a tour through thei r model home, it cer ta in ly l ives up to the h igh standard that th is neighborhood is k nown for.

A r t ic le by A ndrew Ja son and Trac y Nicholson

Photos by A ndrew Ja son a nd J . A la n Pau l Photography

Shotwell Commons


Terry is originally from Bismarck, graduated from NDSU in 1980 and became an architect in 1984.

T.L. Stroh’s Architecture firm was founded in 1990.

About Terry

When did you realize you wanted to become an architect?

TS – By default really, my brother was a chemical engineer and he knew I liked art and was good at math and suggested it to me, for all the wrong reasons of course! (Laughs) I really fell in love with it after my first course though.

If there is one project that you hope people will remember you for, what would that be?

TS – I think the new Vogel Law Firm is probably one of my most successful projects. But, Shotwell’s turning out to be really an amazing project from the standpoint of what I heard in the neighborhood about how skeptical everyone was at f irst with the idea...now some of those same people are even fixing up their own homes to improve the neighborhood even more. I really like the versatility of the interiors in each one too.

What’s with your interesting socks?

TS- (laughs) I call these my “Happy Socks”. My son-in-law first got me into socks like these when he mailed me a pair a few years back.

DEVELOPMENT


Stroh believes that microwaves do not need to be the focal point in a kitchen, so this one is built directly into the cabinets. Ready for a quick meal? At the touch of a button, the microwave will appear out of nowhere… literally.Terry Stroh and Donna

Wiger, his Interior Designer, have worked together for over 12 years now. Wiger is responsible for the Interior Design of each of the homes.

In the bathroom, the designer chose a nostalgic octagon tile to create a retro yet modern appeal.

The model home was created to evoke a modern day eighth street feel.

The kitchen has been designed to feature the newest appliances, lighting and tile design with the owner’s specific needs strategically planned out.

For more information on Shotwell Commons, go to www.tlstroh.com/Shotwell.html. Interested in living at Shotwell Commons? Contact Dave Noah with Remax Realty at www.davenoah.com.

The model home at Shotwell Commons

The Lighting

Utilities

Terry and Donna

The Bathroom

The Kitchen

This light switch might not be very interesting to look at but it is in fact a pretty remarkable lighting system. With a touch of a button, you can create up to five different lighting scenarios for your home. For example, you can program which lights you would like to come on during a party and which you’d prefer for reading or dining. All you need to do is hit one button and multiple lights dim or brighten automatically to help set the mood of the room.

The Team You NeedBuy from LuAnn. Insure with Erik.

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Home.Sweet.

Office.


Home.Sweet.

Office.Welcome to the office. How was your day? Here at the Sundog, just about every day is a good one. This advertising agency understands the importance of comfort in the workplace.

Feeling cold?

Office.


OF F ICE SP ACE...

SUNDOG MARKETING + TECHNOLOGY

WELCOMES YOU TO THE OFFICE

We bet you haven’t seen an office like Sundog. Sundog is a marketing and technology firm that handles clients like Sanford, Medtronic, Bobcat, Schwan’s and many more. Since 2006 Sundog has been housed

inside the sixth floor of the Multiband Tower in Fargo. Since moving in they have taken over parts of the fourth and fifth floor so that they now occupy around 25,000 square feet. Sundog has recognized the importance of having a work space that promotes creativity.

PHOTOGRAPHY AND ARTICLE BY ANDREW JASON

Work Place

Office.

OF F ICE SP ACE...

//////// THE ViEW ////////

Sundog has a view like none other in Fargo. The outdoor patio that’s six floors up gives a great view of 45th street. You can see for miles.

//////// learn more about sundog ////////To learn more about sundog marketing + technology go to www.www.sundoginteractive.com or call 701-235-5525.

//////// Family Pictures ////////Employees on the sixth floor are encouraged to bring a picture that is important to them. Many employees bring pictures of their family, friends or hobbies. According to Sundog’s Marketing Coordinator, Heidi Haaven, this is a great way to get to know your colleagues.

//////// Open-door policy ////////Don’t you hate when you want to talk to the boss and their door is closed? That never happens at Sundog. In fact, the boss doesn’t even have a door. None of the offices have doors, creating a very literal, open-door policy. (We should probably mention that although the offices don’t have doors, the bathrooms do. This is an important distinction to make.)

//////// Gazebo ////////Have you ever seen an office with a gazebo in it? Neither have we. This used to be their spot for morning meetings but, unfortunately, their staff has grown too large for the gazebo. It’s still a great spot to relax and get your creative juices flowing.

//////// Gumball art ////////Take a closer look at this picture. Those are all gumballs, 6,350 gumballs to be exact. This unique take on their logo took a team of 14 working for eight hours. This is a great example of the creativity they try and instill in their employees.

//////// Creative Space ////////Employees here are encouraged to be creative. That’s why Sundog has done away with the typical office dress code. They only ask for their employees to get comfortable. (Aren’t we all more creative when our dress shirts and slacks aren’t restricting the blood flow to our brains?) Employees work together in open areas. Teamwork is a key ingredient to their success.

//////// Some fresh air ///////It shouldn’t surprise you that Sundog has been voted the “Best small company to work for” by the Fargo Forum, the “Best place to work in North Dakota” by the North Dakota Young Professionals and one of the “Best places to work in marketing and media” by Advertising Age. Talk about a breath of fresh air.

“I think our culture is really reflective in our space. We have a really fun, diverse and unique culture. We try and reflect what we do in our space.” - HEIDI HAAVEN, SUNDOG’S MARKETING COORDINATOR


//////// THE ViEW ////////

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Step inside and take a look at the interior of Sundog. You’re going to wish you worked there.

//////// WELCOME ////////The entrance to every floor is the same. They have a solid wood backdrop with concert DVDs playing continually. Talk about a dynamic first impression.

//////// Zen Café ////////Sundog realizes that everybody needs that perk to keep their day running smoothly. That’s why they offer free coffee, pop and treats in their own Zen Café. It doesn’t stop there though. Take a break and cozy up by the fireplace, join their 4 o’clock Friday socials or even rock out to their office band, Code Freeze.

ART IST P ROF ILE


Tile StyleBracken Rourke

artist profile

Bracken Rourke grew up a round a r t work . The t ime he spent surrounded by pa int ings or enjoy ing the a roma of the k i ln f i r ing , wou ld in f luence the rest of h is l i fe . He is now the owner of Cot ton Lake Ti le and is a ver y ac t ive a r t i s t (and a pret t y good one at that .) Rourke creates custom hand made t i le , t i le a r t , in-home t i le , commercia l t i le and some insta l l ing of t i le . To sum it up, Bracken Rourke k nows t i le .

A r t ic le by A ndrew Ja son

D E S I G N & L I V I N G • NOV EM BER / DECEM BER 29

Rourke was born and raised in the Red River Valley. However, he hasn’t stuck around the area for all of his life. He has traveled extensively, which has had a huge impact on his life and his art.

“I’ve been to Europe a few times and I get out to the Southwestern part of the United States, New Mexico mainly. There are so many landscape features and the really dark blue skies against the brown mountains, the green forests north of Albuquerque. It’s really inspirational for me.”

The tile that he creates has been used throughout the area. One of the biggest projects he has worked on, is for The Lodge on Lake Detroit in Detroit Lakes, MN. This included creating sunset mosaics for all 55 hotel rooms, a fish mosaic for the front desk, a couple tables for the bar, a piece for the spa and ceramic fish for the pool.

The life of an artist is not an easy one. Rourke constantly has to attend craft fairs, galleries and trade shows to promote his work. He also runs Cotton Lake Tile by himself. That means he has to run the business side as well. Whether that entails answering emails, paying bills or creating the tile, Rourke has to spend some long days in the studio.

“This is an 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. job, six or seven days a week,” Rourke said with a laugh.

He also must balance the line between doing commercial work as well as residential. He doesn’t have a preference when it comes to the two of them, but

he does admit that commercial work comes with its own set of challenges, such as a stricter deadline.

Whether it’s the life he lived as a child or the life he’s living now, it is apparent that Bracken Rourke loves art.

Bracken Rourke was born in Moorhead and grew up in Fargo and rural Detroit Lakes, MN. His work has been entered into seven solo shows, 21 group shows and numerous art fairs across the country. Through this he has earned three first place awards, seven honorable mentions and two purchase awards.

About Bracken

Bracken Rourke knows and loves art. We caught up with him to learn more about his passion.

In 2009, this piece was created for a theme show.

Rourke had to pick a famous artist, in this case he

chose Pablo Picasso, and created this self portrait.

Since so many people refer to him as the “Tile Guy”,

Rourke titled the piece, “Picasso’s Tile Guy.” Many

hours went into the making of the piece.

Picasso’s Tile Guy

I never run out of ideas and things to do. There’s never

an idle moment. If I’m not glazing, I’m firing the kiln,

I’m making tile, painting or doing woodwork.“

“

REAL ESTAT E...

UniquePROPERTIES

The Red River Valley has some great houses. Whether you' ’re looking for a modern retreat on the Sheyenne River or a historic home in downtown Fargo, there’s something for everyone. So go ahead, don't bother looking at the price and imagine living in one of these top properties.

This beautiful 4,640 square foot home offers a large theatre room, a master suite with a 14 X 18 foot walk-in closet, a wet bar and maintenance free decks. Looking for some nature but want to stay dry from the river? This house is not part of the flood plain and is protected to 42 feet so you’ll be safe no matter what Mother Nature throws your way. Plus there are 200 beautiful black walnut trees. There are plenty of more amenities to see but you have to check it out yourself.

7991 3rd St S, MoorheadSQ FT: 4,640Location: Moorhead Cost: $500,000Realtor: Luann White (Coldwell Banker)

This beautiful brick home offers a truly unique and fun space. This four bedroom, four bathroom, home offers 6,875 square feet, a gourmet kitchen, a great room with a 20-foot ceiling, stone fireplace and tons of storage.

4476 66th St S, Fargo

SQ FT: 6,875Location: FargoCost: $769,900Realtor: For sale by owner (www.4476fargo.com)

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It’s easy living with this 2,015 sq ft. modern condo that sits on the second floor facing SE which overlooks all green private park space and features two beautiful balconies. This two bed, two bath, floor plan was designed by a professional architect and design team and features upgrades galore. There is Brazilian Cherry throughout, three inch Cambria counters, gas fireplace, lighted closets, eight feet solid doors and many more features. This is a must see for anyone wanting convenience and style!

Do you have a large family? Then this is the perfect house for you. This six bedrooms and three bathrooms house was built in 1899. There’s an abundant 3,544 square feet at your disposal as well as, a jetted tub, kitchen island and a wet bar.

You can feel the history in this house. This gorgeous six bedrooms, four full bath home with three fireplaces has served as a private residence, bed and breakfast and a business. This home was built in 1899 and still looks as gorgeous as the day it was built.

708 8th St S, Fargo 1100 3rd Ave S, Fargo

3200 11TH ST S Fargo

SQ FT: 3,544Location: Downtown FargoCost: $899,999Realtor: Sharon Hilgers (Park Company Realtors)

SQ FT: 4,778Location: Downtown Fargo Cost: $479,900Realtor: Lisbeth Fandrich(Coldwell Banker)

Square Feet: 2,015Location: South Fargo (Harwood Groves subdivision)Cost: $495,000Realtor: Suzanne MaringPark Company

3 4

5


CRS, e-PRO, GRI

FEAT URED HOME


WELCOME TO CUSTOMFinding comfort

in custom

This is luxury at its finest. The 3,227 sq. ft. house borders the

Sheyenne River and has everything that you could possibly want: seven

bedrooms, a rec room, a gym, a large family room with a custom wet

bar, an HD movie theatre with a 120 inch screen (guys, stop drooling)

and a 20 ft floor to ceiling stone fireplace. Impressed yet?

//////// Curb appeal ////////

Contemporary dryvit and stone front exterior. This 50 x 25 square foot turned garage is heated, sheet rocked, insulated taped and textured with two floor drains. It also has eight foot tall glass, insulated garage doors. The back views out to the Sheyenne River.


WELCOME TO CUSTOM

For more information, contact Designer homes

of fargo-moorhead at designerhomesfm.com

or call 701.492.5057.

//////// Master suite ////////The master suite includes heated tile floors, a double vanity, custom tile shower with two shower heads and bench, recessed whirlpool along with his and her walk in closets. This home has seven beautiful bedrooms.

//////// Custom Gourmet ////////This kitchen is equipped with granite countertops, Birch cabinets with stainless steel accents, Viking, Wolff gourmet stainless steel appliances with Sub zero wine fridge featuring double oven and built in refrigerator.

//////// welcome to the fun house ////////This is a fun house. It has a rec room, wet bar and an HD movie theatre with 120 inch screen including 70 inch LED TV in the family room with a six zone audio and iPod dock.

Kim MeyersNew Home Specialist

[email protected]

Gretchen TaylorSales Coordinator

[email protected]

Mari SantoyoNew Home Specialist

[email protected]

Steve LarsonSales Manager218.443.2553

[email protected]

James HandNew Home Specialist

[email protected]

Licensed with Prudential Premier Real Estate in ND and MN.


Happy Holidays from the Heritage Homes team!




Jackson StromSp ot l ig ht

Meet Jackson Strom. He’s a young guy with a great career, working on projects with Helenske Design Group around Fargo-Moorhead. But there’s one dirty little secret you might not know about.

He’s not a licensed architect. Well, not yet anyway...

Don’t let that fool you though; he has designed a few homes on his own, and without even realizing it you might see some of his work each and every day. We grabbed a cup of coffee with Jackson over at Moxie Java the other day, and here’s what we were able to find out.

What Jackson needs to know before he begins a project.

- Your budget.

- Your needs.

- Who is living in the house.

- What your day-to-day life is like.

Project preparation

Photos and text by Nick Proulx

D&L: How long have you been an architect?

Strom: “Well, you see, that’s the first thing: I’m not a registered architect. I graduated in 2009 from NDSU with a masters in architecture, and I’ve been working at Helenske full time for about three years now — I worked there through college, too. I work with Craig, the principle there, and he and one other guy are the only ones who are licensed architects. I work with three or four others who aren’t licensed. You end up doing pretty much the same stuff; you just don’t sign your name on the dotted line. It’s kind of a common misconception; people say, ‘Oh, you graduated, but you’re not an architect? You must have went to tech school.’”

D&L: So, why not become licensed?

Strom: “I actually am studying to become licensed right now. It’s a series of seven tests, and every test is a different division of construction or something similar. You have to have about three years of experience in the field and pass those seven tests to become licensed.

Although he's technically not an architect, Jackson Strom knows a thing or two about architecture.

“I would never have to be licensed if I didn’t want to, but if I wanted to go start my own firm or become a partner in a firm, then I have to become licensed. Eventually, that’s what I want to do.”

D&L: Why did you want to become an architect?

Strom: “To be honest, I always loved to draw when I was younger. I was always into art in high school, and it pretty much got to the point during my junior or senior year when my advisor sat me down and said, ‘You have to figure out what you want to do with your life.’ She noticed I loved art and drawing, and I did some construction in the summers, and she asked if I had ever thought about architecture. From there I just kind of went with it — there wasn’t a whole lot of deep thought into it at the moment, but I’m really glad I did take this route.”

D&L: So what have you worked on?

Strom: “With Craig I’ve worked on a bunch of residential stuff — more high-end residential. It’s a lot of fun working on those projects. There’s a pretty big residential project in Detroit Lakes that we’re working on right now. It’s still under construction at

The Interview

36 D E S I G N & L I V I N G • NOV EM BER / DECEM BER 2 01 2

Strom: “Their idea was to take this space and make it

guest services, and that’s really all they gave us. We

started out with a much larger space. We first started

working with the program; laying out what they wanted

and figuring out how we could incorporate all of it and

make it aesthetically pleasing. It all revolves around what’s

going on behind the scenes. If you go back there you’ll see

a lot of stuff going on, but from the outside you can’t see

it — which is what we wanted. We also wanted something

that would let light through. It would be a shame to have

all those windows and put a big wall in front of them.”

D&L: Which do you like more, working with professional

clients or helping people create their homes?

Strom: “I think early in your career you can relate to

residential stuff, just because everybody is familiar with

a house. Everybody loves to say ‘I’d do this differently

or that different,’ or, ‘I like this or that.’ As an office, a

bunch of us would go to home tours in the cities and see

what’s new and bring it back. I’ve done a few residential

projects on the side back in my hometown in South Dakota.

It’s good to work with Craig and learn this stuff, and

apply it to some stuff back home, because even though

I’m not licensed, I can stil l work on those projects.”

West Acres MallGuest Sevices at

this point, and we’re still working on the main space but it’s going to be magazine quality when it’s done.”

D&L: What ’s a trend you’ve noticed recently?

Strom: “There has been high demand for a small, more efficient homes. People want something that’s going to work a lot better for them in their day-to-day life rather than, you know, ‘Build me a big house with a lot of rooms — I’m not sure what I’m going to do with those rooms, but I want to show off to my neighbors,’ or something. People are getting smarter now with how they live.”

D&L: Have you ever finished designing something only to realize it ’s not going to work out as planned?

Strom: “You learn that there are details you have to go back and do later after the initial design process. Being young in your career, you don’t know how to detail everything, that’s why you need a guy like Craig, or whoever the principle is, or a coworker. They show you how to detail something, but you realize over time that there’s more than one way, more than one answer. I’ve definitely had to go back and redo something before.”

D&L: Do you analyze most of the buildings you walk into, or are you able to turn the switch off?

Strom: “If it’s heavy on your head, then you pay attention to it more so. I definitely find myself looking at things that my friends think, ‘Why are you paying attention to that? Why does that interest you?’ It’s just a general interest. If you’re passionate about something you always have it in the back of your head.”

D&L: Where do you want to be five years from now?

Strom: “I’d like to be a principle or partner in a firm, and I think it would be around here. There are a lot of great people around here, a lot of stuff happening in the community right now and I see even more happening in the future. There are a lot of ambitious developers around, and it seems like there are more young people sticking around. It’s more exciting than most people think.”

Project Highlight

Jackson and his team worked on the Guest Services project at West Acres Mall in Fargo. It takes a true team to

complete a project like this. Jackson had just that.

Project Team:Jackson StromCraig Helenske - Owner of Helenske design

Joan Nelson – Interior Designer and owner of Inside 515

West Acres Team – Carol Schlossman and Alissa Sorum

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Documents

Design and Living Magazine November and December