2020 Home Show by Globe Gazette

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2020

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SECTION C

29TH ANNUAL NORTH IOWA HOME & LANDSCAPING SHOW Find that perfect home improvement project

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ant to learn how to garden with hay? Build your own landscaped garden? Better yet, find someone reputable who’ll do it for you at a reasonable cost? Clear your calendar for next weekend. The 29th Annual North Iowa Home & Landscaping Show is Feb. 28–March 1 at the North Iowa Events Center in Mason City. Over 125 exhibitors will be showcasing the latest in new ideas and products for the home, lawn and garden. Exhibits at this year’s Home Show include new home contractors, remodeling experts, landscaping experts, interior design and kitchen specialists. Experts will be on hand with energy-saving solutions and creative options for the home. Solar energy is a hot trend and contractors will be on hand to help determine if solar will work for you. Consumers can shop for lighting, plumbing, water systems, flooring, windows, doors, siding, hot tubs, fireplaces, sun rooms, grills, cookware, geothermal, lawn care equipment, custom and outdoor furniture and garage doors. It’s your annual one-stop shop for new and innovative products and ideas for the home. Landscaping and gardening designers will construct landscaped garden displays utilizing pavers, retaining block, trees, shrubs and a variety of products. Lawn and acreage equipment and lawn care products will also be featured. Seminars will feature Joel Karsten Straw Bale Gardening presentations all three days of the show. Karsten is a native of southwest Minnesota and has degree in horticulture. Nearly 30 years ago, he bought a house with bad soil and turned to growing vegetables in bales of straw. Karsten has spoken all over the country about it, not only as a hobby,

JEFF HEINZ, THE GLOBE GAZETTE

Joel Karsten talks about his straw bale gardening technique at the Garden Seminar at NIACC

TRACY WALSH

This is a picture of a garden with straw bales set up.

2020 MASON CITY HOME SHOW SEMINARS FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28

 4:30 p.m.—Straw Bale Gardening

Joel Karsten

 5:30 p.m.—Landscaping for Clean

Water and Wildlife Jim Sholly

 6:30 p.m.—Straw Bale Gardening

Joel Karsten

This photo shows the same garden later in the year. but as a sustainable form of agriculture. He’s also written 5 books and talked about it in 2018 at a TEDx event in Edina, Minnesota. He has appeared in North Iowa several times. Other seminars during the show will cover kitchen design, landscaping and patios. A Green Mountain Davy Crock-

ett pellet grill will be the grand door prize, sponsored by Lake Fireplace and Spa. The show’s hours are: 3 p.m.-8 p.m. Feb. 28, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Feb. 29, and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. March 1. Admission is $5 for adults, and free for youth 12 and under. Detailed show information can be found at www.northiowahomeshow.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 29  11 a.m.—Update Your Patio with 20/20 Vision Sandy Vanek  Noon—Straw Bale Gardening Joel Karsten  1:30 p.m.—New Kitchen Trends Jennifer and Lynne Breister  3 p.m.—Straw Bale Gardening Joel Karsten  4 p.m.—Update Your Patio with 20/20 Vision Sandy Vanek  5 p.m.—Straw Bale Gardening Joel Karsten SUNDAY, MARCH 1  Noon Straw Bale Gardening Joel Karsten  1 p.m.—New Kitchen Trends Jennifer and Lynne Breister  2 p.m.—Straw Bale Gardening Joel Karsten com or North Iowa Home and Landscaping Show on Facebook.

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29TH ANNUAL NORTH IOWA HOME & LANDSCAPING SHOW

C2 | Sunday, February 23, 2020

YOUNG CONSTRUCTION Dan Young, owner of ‌ Young Construction Company, says the home improvement business has been good in recent years and thinks it will continue that way. “People are still putting money into their homes,” he said. “If it’s on the outside of their home, they’re doing it.” Young Construction offers roofing, siding, windows, gutters, insulation and hail and storm damage repairs. It is a family-owned business with a goal of giving customers “a seamless, thorough experience.” Young said his company has participated in the Home Show for many years. “This time of year is a good time to plan ahead on what you want to do with your home,” he said. “Our biggest business is in roofs. Windows are big too. Sometimes, people will want their roof done and then will de-

SANCO EQUIPMENT

cide that as long as they’re doing that, they might as well think about gutters or siding – one-stop shopping.” According to Young, the company is an Owens Corning Platinum Preferred Contractor, which means it can offer a 50-year warranty on its roofing. The company also offers financing plans. “We are Iowa’s home exterior experts. We are very knowledgeable and trained.” At this Home Show, Young Construction is bringing an equipter, a machine that removes debris from roofs, preventing landscape damage. Young Construction is located at 1639 N. Federal Ave. in Mason City.

THE COUNTRY STORE The Country Store in ‌ Clarion has been providing furnace, fireplace and wood stove products and services for 44 years,” says Rick Titus, owner. They also provide chimney cleaning for those who need it. When asked what customers can expect this year, Titus said, “Just the same old reliable sales and service.” The store specializes in wood and gas fireplaces and inserts, fireplace repair, wood stoves and corn stoves and wood furnaces and outdoor fur-

naces. Titus, who opened the business in 1975, said people often have a lot of questions about what’s best for them. He will come to a home, offer suggestions and provide estimates free of charge and with no obligation on the homeowner. People attending the Home Show can expect to see fireplace inserts, gas logs, wood stoves and even a fireplace that burns gas.

Sanco Equipment is a ‌ part of the family-owned Sanco Enterprises, owned by Dan and Bonnie Santarserio. Albert Lea saw the transformation of the company into a Bobcat dealer in 2003. Since then, it expanded to Mankato, Minnesota in 2008 and Rochester, Minnesota in 2017. This past October, the company expanded once more to Mason City. According to Steve Zahradnik, store manager for

STELLAR TRUCK & TRAILER

Mason City’s location, “The company is excited to serve the greater Mason City area with fully staffed sales, rental, parts & service departments.” This year, Sanco Equipment is planning to bring two new pieces of Bobcat equipment: a new compact utility tractor and a 76R series skid steer (if available), which will be usable for many construction, residential or farming functions.

HOME LUMBER & BUILDERS INC. ‌Home Lumber & Builders Inc. has been a family-owned business in Mason City for more than 60 years. It started under the ownership of Ken Bothwell in 1965 and was passed on to his two sons, Scott and Steve and is now led by Ken’s grandson, Carl, who is president of the company. Home Lumber specializes in all types of building materials such as windows, doors, siding, cabinets and many other related products. The company also offers services such as drawing plans, estimating and delivering. Carl Bothwell said the company has grown over the years and has continu-

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‌Stellar Truck & Trailer provides everything from floor mats to truck bodies and cranes, serving both the big customer and the typical everyday consumer. “We want to emphasize our interest in walk-in business,” said Troy Ristau, general manager of the Mason City branch of Stellar Industries, which is headquartered in Garner. “We have the big items that we are known for, but we also have things that people might not realize we have until they stop in.” Some of those big items include truck beds and platform bodies, enclosed

and van truck bodies, dump and dropside bodies, mechanical trucks and service cranes. This year, they are bringing back an aluminum utility trailer for the Home Show. Ristau wants people to know “We are not necessarily just for large truck equipment. We do install vehicle accessories for non-commercial vehicles, as well as commercial vehicles.” The business is at 822 S. Taft Ave. in Mason City.

ally added new products to its inventory. When asked what the business was like when it opened 61 years ago, he laughed and said, “I don’t know. I wasn’t around back then.” The two big products for this year’s Home Show are Marvin Windows and Doors. People attending the upcoming Home Show will be able to see these products and learn more about them from Bothwell and his staff. Home Lumber is located at 716 S. Jefferson Ave. in Mason City.

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North iowa Home Show all Seasons Floor plan

North iowa Home Show olson building Floor plan

Company_Name Advanced Door Systems Affordable Arches Alerts That Work, Inc. All American Turf Beauty American Health Filtration American Waterworks Architectural Seamless Surfaces Ashley Homestore Bath Fitter Bath Planet of Central Iowa Bernd's Pond Big Dog Satellite (Dish Network) Blossom St Honey Brickyard LLC Budget Blinds Card and Co Technology Solutions City Builders & Supply, Inc. Concrete Designs by Potter Country Meadow Place The Country Store Crown Point Builders Crystal Clean Carpet Culligan Curb Appeal by S & S Custom Seamless Guttering Cutco Cutlery Cutting Edge Tree Service Eastvold Landscaping Eberts and Company LLC.

Booths A111, A112 A108 B11 A98 G23 A26 - A27 A96 B31, B32, B45, B46 A83 & A84 G10, G11 B1, B2 A10 B51 A93 A81, A82 A68, A69 A16, A17 A15 B29 A5 A48 A4 A86 & A87 G30 A43 A31 D7, 08 A85 B43, B44

Epic Eateries Exit Realty Mason City Farmers State Bank Farus Contracting Flagpole Solutions Flooring America Fox Woodcraft Frederika Locker Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa Great River Maple Haas Chiropractic Clinic Habitat for Humanity of N Central IA Hall Realty Hanson's Countertops & Flooring Heritage Homes Home Lumber & Builders, Inc. Home North Iowa Home Solutions Midwest Ilan Sales Iowa Wall Sawing Johnson Heating & Air Conditioning JT Mudjacking Kester Stair Lift, LLC King Exteriors Koch Landscapes The Kringle Man Kristy Marquis State Farm Lake Fireplace & Spa Land-O-Dreams La Vie Marketing

A23 D3 A113 A128 A45 A109, A110 A7 - A9 A41 B19 B4 B5 - B6 D4 A44 B21 A92 A19 - A21 A18 A61-A62, A76-A77 G22 A79 & A80 A72 & A73 A106 A6 A1- A3 B30 B15 A78 A129-A131 B33-B36, B47-B50 A24, A25

Leaf Filter A28, A29 Linahon Electric A94 Lions Club B12 Little Cedar Windows G27, G28 Log Cabin Produce B37 M & E Sales A124, A125 Mark's Tractor & Implement Inc. G14, G15 Mason City Roofing A39, A40, A57, A58 Mayo's Kustom Garage Floors ETC, LLC B24 - B26 Mediacom MH A120, A121 Midland Concrete Products, LLC A66 - A67 Mid State Fire Safety A107 Midwest Construction A32-A35, A50-A53 Midwest Basement Systems A117, A118 Midwest Duct Works B10 Midwest Insulation B18 Mort's Plumbing & Heating Geo Comfort A102-A103 G24 Moxie Solar MR Landscaping B13, B14 Natures Solution A97 Nelson Septic Services B17 Nordaas American Homes A88 North Central Mechanical Services G1 - G3 Northland Glass, LLC G7 North Iowa Car & Home Electronics A105 North Iowa Kitchens A49 North Iowa Fresh A54 North Iowa Turf & Irrigation G12 North Iowa Water Company A42 Northland Buildings A46

Noss Landscaping A59, A60, A74, A75 NSC Northern Siding Construction A104 Overhead Door Company of Mason City A89 - A91 Packin' Heat B22, B23 Polytek Concrete Coatings A122, A123 Real Time Pain Relief B16 Ressler Custom Landscapes G21 RetroFoam Iowa A38 Revive Sales A36, A37 Sanco Equipment G25, G26 Simply Nuts and More D6 Snow Construction B3 Spray Seal G6 Stellar Truck & Trailer B38, B39, B52, B53 Stillwater Greenhouse A55 & A56 Stream Connections C2 T & R Custom Tops A71 Tiger Pride Lawn Care A30 USCC Services, LLC A95 Veterans of Foreign Wars A47 Wausau Homes Mason City A70 White Oaks Cabinetry G8 & G9 Windows by Pella, Inc. A63 - A65 Window Concepts of Minnesota, Inc. G19, G20 Window World MC A99-A101, A114-A116 Yost Construction B7 - B8 Young Construction of North Iowa Inc. B41 - B42, B55 - B56

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29TH ANNUAL NORTH IOWA HOME & LANDSCAPING SHOW

GLOBE GAZETTE

NORTHLAND BUILDINGS Northland Buildings is a post-frame construction company that does business throughout the Midwest, including at its facilities in Clear Lake. It specializes in storage buildings, garages and agricultural and commercial buildings. Northland’s specialty is post-frame construction and offers 25 years of experience. Its sales staff, building crews, engineering and transportation departments are committed to each individual project from start to finish. Free estimates are available on any project.

MORT’S WATER, MORT’S PLUMBING

Dave Valdner, the salesperson who will be attending this year’s Home Improvement Show, will be showing off a photo display of the many projects Northland Buildings have worked on and finished. For more information, interested parties are invited to visit the company’s web page at northlandbuildings.com or call 800-736-4510.

MASON CITY ROOFING Mason City Roofing has been in business since 1933 and offers services in roofing, windows, gutters, siding, sunrooms, decks and railings. Ernie Martinez, owner, said consumers need to be careful about whom they hire to do their roofing. “You don’t want to hire people who are using your house as their education,” he said. “Choose someone with experience.” For example, Martinez said many roofers aren’t concerned about ventilation, but it is vitally important. Mason City Roofing includes ventila-

tion options in its bid on any roofing project. “If they don’t want it, they can sign off on it but it’s in the bid,” he said. At this year’s Home Show, attendees can expect to see Mason City Roofing’s new timberline HDZ shingles, as well as class four impact shingles. Viewers will also be able to see their siding and window displays.

Mort’s Water Company and Mort’s Plumbing & Heating are separate businesses but often work together on projects because of the multiple needs of consumers and builders. The businesses have separate managements but have the same owner, Kent Morton, who has carried on a family business that has involved several generations of Mortons. Both companies will be represented at the upcoming Home Show where Mort’s Water Company

will be displaying a Kinetico water treating system and Morts Plumbing and Heating will display boilers and air conditioning systems, according to Sales Manager Mike Goodwin. Mort’s Water is located in Latimer. Mort’s Plumbing is in Iowa Falls and is coowned by Brad Lewis who is also the store manager.

MIDWEST CONSTRUCTION COMPANY People visiting the Home Show this year will be able to see a fully-constructed 12-foot-by-16-foot gabled, all-season sunroom. Midwest Construction will also be displaying American classic insulating siding and Everlast advanced composite siding. Show attendees will have a “full-size window display to operate and view,” according to Paul Despenas, vice president of marketing. “People will actually be able to go in, sit down in the sunroom, and see what it’s like” said Despenas. The company was started in 1958 by Paul’s father, Alex Despenas, and has remained a family-owned business. Paul’s sister, Kalliope Despenas Eaton, is president of the company.

business. This success has led to the opening of several plants across the country, and they have been selected as one of the best companies to be employed by in the United States, according to Waterloo’s branch sales manager, Dan Mills. Mills encourages people

The company specializes in remodeling the exteriors of homes, siding, windows and sunrooms. “There are a lot of choices when it comes to home improvement in North Iowa, and Midwest Construction has been serving since 1958. So stop by and see the Midwest Construction difference for yourselves,” said Despenas. The company’s Mason City office is at 1601 S. Taft Ave. More information can be found on its website, https://www.mwcinc.com.

to attend the show because they are a “good Iowa-based company.” They plan to bring a variety of product samples, including windows, fiberglass, patio doors and entry doors. Pella Windows and Doors is located on 1511 S Monroe Ave. in Mason City.

for everYthing

WINDOW WORLD Window World of Mason City is a locally owned and operated franchise that offers free, no pressure, in-home consultations so customers can learn about the products and get their questions answered. Its Mason City office opened in 2012. Its customer base is widespread with the free consultation services offered in nine counties throughout North Iowa, as well as in four counties in Minnesota. Products include vinyl replacement windows, vinyl siding and replacement doors in various colors and

styles. The company has won awards for its service and efficiency. All of their products are 100% United States made and Window World offers warranties that they stand behind. For this year’s Home Improvement Show, Window World is bringing a mini show-room on wheels, displaying a home consisting of some of the products the business has to offer.

Country Meadow Place in Mason City has specialized for years as a living center for adults with Alzheimer’s and other memory-loss illnesses. Since last year, the business has upgraded from 36 to 56 units. This was a 20-unit increase for assisted-living apartments. “This is an exciting development for us and we are anxious to get the word out,” Country Meadow Place manager Kim Boyd said.

Country Meadow Place hopes people will stop by their informational table to learn about their marketing department and the rest of the business at the Home Show. The complex is at 17936 Kingbird Ave.

ARCHITECTURAL SEAMLESS SERVICES Architectural Seamless Surfaces provides its customers with services that will “floor” them – literally. At least, that’s the goal. Bob Becker, who owns and operates the business, said he specializes in “one of a kind seamless, custom applied, custom colored flooring. We’re a general contractor. We do other things, but flooring is the big thing,” said Becker. “You don’t have to go out of town. We’ve been doing this for over 20 years and

are the most experienced installers in the area.” He said his customers include homeowners, business owners, designers, architects and others seeking a pleasing attractive, aesthetic appearance. This year, show-goers can expect to see a variety of flooring on display. Architectural Seamless Surfaces is located just outside of Swaledale.

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C4 | Sunday, February 23, 2020

29TH ANNUAL NORTH IOWA HOME & LANDSCAPING SHOW

CUSTOM SEAMLESS GUTTERING Keith Main, owner of ‌ Custom Seamless Guttering, laughed when he talks about how long he’s been in business. “My mind has been in the gutter for 35 years now,” he said. The Clear Lake business specializes in 5-6 inch gutters with a 25-year guarantee and also offers gutter cleaning that includes removal of debris and prevention of ice buildup. One of his featured products is the LeafX gutter cover, which is constructed of 100 percent aluminum,

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requires no drilling into the roof or fascia and is only offered by authorized installation experts. Custom Seamless Guttering will be showing a working display of a rain gutter and a leaf cover at Mason City’s Home Show. For more information on Custom Seamless Guttering, go to customseamessguttering.net or call 641-357-5959.

ADVANCED DOOR SYSTEMS ‌For North Iowans tired of the cold weather and snow, Advanced Door Systems has a product to give them more of a sunny outlook. In addition to commercial and residential overhead doors, the company also offers overhead screens that can help turn a garage into a sunroom. “It’s a very popular item,” said Joel Albertson, marketing manager for the company that has offices in Forest City, Ankeny and Spencer. It has been in business

Globe Gazette

since 2000 and offers product lines that include C.H.I, LiftMaster, Raynor, Lifestyle, Val6 and Durascreen. The company offers sales, services and repairs and prides itself in providing “the right door, the right way.” Advanced Door Systems plans to bring a Raynor, along with garage doors, lift master openers and Val6 heaters.

Johnson Heating and ‌ Air Conditioning is in the comfort business and has been for many years in North Iowa. It specializes in taking care of its customer’s heating and cooling needs through the sales of new products or repair of existing ones.

The company is a factory-authorized dealer for Bryant Products. Bryant named Johnson Heating and Air Conditioning as one of its top 15 dealers

Show, viewers will be able to see a furnace and air conditioning unit. Along with these, people will also be able to look at an on-demand water heater and a ductless minisplit. The company is located at 1405-B S. Taft Ave. in Mason City.

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HABITAT RESTORE Habitat for Humanity ‌ has a well-earned reputation for building homes for families that need them through its volunteers who donate time and effort to the projects. Habitat provides another important service through its ReStore. It is a place where builders and others can donate used, but still usable materials that consumers can purchase at reasonable prices. “It works well for so many people for so many different reasons,” said Melissa Schoneberg, who has been executive director of Habitat for Humanity of North Central Iowa since 2007. She said the ReStore provides a means of good stewardship of sustainable

in the country and presented the company with its Medal of Excellence Award. Johnson offers its customers free estimates on new equipment, preventative maintenance agreements and 24-hour emergency service. For this year’s Home

resources by diverting reusable materials from the landfill, affordable options for people remodeling their homes and additional funding for Habitat to support its mission of building new homes. Habitat ReStore hopes to inform show-goers about the home improvement ReStore and their variety of products from furniture to appliances to windows. The business allows you to sell, donate and buy products. The ReStore is at 517 First St. N.W. in Mason City.

‌Flooring America opened its Mason City store on Feb. 14, 2011. Vern Moses is the store manager and has been from the very beginning. Its product line includes “all things flooring,” according to marketing director Melissa Alto-Kintigh. “That includes carpet, tile, vinyl, laminate hardwood and area rugs,” she said. “Right now, a hot product for us is luxury vinyl plank and tile. It’s waterproof, easy to clean and very durable.” The store is currently offering free carpet instal-

lation. Flooring financing plans are available. Flooring America is bringing a variety of flooring products to the Home Show. These items include carpets, LVP luxury vinyl planks, ceramic tiles, backsplashes, pet-proof carpets, and wood samples. The store is at 3501 Fourth St. SW in Mason City. Further information is available at iowaflooringamerica.com.

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Globe Gazette

29TH ANNUAL NORTH IOWA HOME & LANDSCAPING SHOW

Sunday, February 23, 2020 | C5

Rick Titus in His 45th Year of Selling and Installing More Efficient Fireplace Inserts & Vent Free Gas Logs. - photo by Les Houser, Wright County Monitor

Rick Titus of Clarion started his business, called “The Country Store”, in 1975 and even though he has moved into town now, he has no intention of retiring any time soon. “l enjoy and love doing this.” said Titus. “I’ve covered every corner of the state because I’m an expert, and that is not meant as a boast. I don’t think anyone else in the state does exactly what I do.” What he does, is sell and install the Fuego Flame (brand name) fireplace insert, which he believes are the most efficient inserts on the market, for the money. However, it took him awhile to find out about that brand. “I was living in Littleton, Colorado. and came across a brochure for the Heatilator fireplaces, which were made at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa,” said Titus. “When we moved back here 3 years later, I decided I was going to call them and be come a dealer.” Titus was soon displaying the units at county fairs and got some business. But then in checking back with his customers, to his amazement, he found out they were sending most of the heat up the chimney. “I then tried selling other brands of fireplaces like Preway, and Majestic and found they were no better. These were touted to be energy efficient, having fans and adjustable dampers, but they still were not burning like a wood stove, so I just kept looking. I was selling wood stoves, but not everyone wants a wood stove in their home. Then I found out about the Fuego Flame Fireplaces, which were as close to wood stove efficiency as you will find. This company made Zero Clearance fireplaces and also made four different sized inserts, so now I could offer my customers a super efficient fireplace, or install one of the inserts inside of their existing wood burning fireplace, no matter how large or small,” Titus said. But then it wasn’t long before he found a fireplace that has an unusual shape, like a two sided, or see-thru. or arched opening, and these inserts would not fit. So he decided to just make the inserts from scratch to fit these unusual fireplaces. He even built an insert to fit a four sided fireplace for Bill Knapp in Des Moines. The Fuego Flame fireplace inserts can make any fireplace burn up to 70% efficient, and needs no electricity while keeping 99% of the heat in the home. It burns slow like a wood stove while keeping the beauty of the fireplaces overall appearance and fun of watching the fire. Once the insert is installed, the average fireplace can heat 1,000 to 1,500 square feet of a well insulated home, while using 2/3 less wood, and protects the home from runaway fires. It can burn most of the night on just 3 or 4 hardwood logs, leaving you a nice bed of hot burning coals to ignite new logs come morning. “Some of my customers use the fireplace 24/7 all winter long, and rarely hear their furnace kick on. Thus they save a tremendous amount of fuel each month. These inserts literally pay for themselves by saving the customers fuel,” Titus says. The inserts are made using 12-guage steel, which Titus said transmits the heat quicker because it’s lighter. Cool air from the house enters underneath the insert, and is then circulated up the back of the fireplace with the heated air exiting out the top, all without the use of a fan. The temperature of the air coming off this insert varies from 200 to 1000 degrees. Titus says, “You bake in your oven at 350, and you can feel that kind of heat coming out of the top of the fireplaces heat opening. Most heat circulating fireplaces do not come close to putting out that kind of heat, for they send all their heat up the chimney.” The Fuego Flame inserts are installed using an insulated ceiling, which prevents the stove heat from going up the fireplaces chimney. The insert damper control is on the inserts face plate, so you can close the doors and then close the damper. The inserts also burn with their damper 95% closed, thus making the wood burn nice and slow. The twin glass doors are made using ceramic glass, which will take 1400 degrees temperature, so you never have to worry a bout breaking the glass with heat, and you get to enjoy watching the slow burning logs inside. These twin doors are easy to clean with very little effort. “Remember when you were a kid sitting around the campfire, or at a family reunion, how much fun it is to sit around the campfire? Well, you can have that same fun in your home with a real wood burning fire in your fireplace all winter long, and enjoy the romance of the flames; and everyone could use more romance, right? It is actually mesmerizing to watch the flames, and you don’t even have to say a word as you watch the fire. Now you can have the romantic comfort of a campfïre and enjoy all that warmth in your home safely and efficiently,” said Titus. For those that can’t or don’t wish to burn wood, Titus offers super efficient gas logs as an option. He started selling those in 1991, and they offer the same nice flame effect, but without the work and cleanup from real wood. “I’ve got people who bought a fireplace from me in the 70’s and 80’s that are now having me put gas logs in those same fireplaces,” said Titus. These gas logs are capable of heating up to 1,000 square feet of the average well insulated home, so if you have a power outage, these gas logs will keep you toasty warm, and keep the pipes from freezing in your home. Titus has covered a large area of the Midwest in his sales and installation travels, “I have built and installed units in fireplaces from Minneapolis to Kansas City and all over Iowa.” said Titus, “I’ve learned that if I go to a county fair, I get business from that area.” He also feels that word of mouth has been his best advertising, and that the personal attention he can offer gets the sales. “I do all the work myself,” said Titus. “I don’t even charge for estimates when I come into your home. I feel an in home visit is the only way I can know exactly what the customer needs.” Titus is also not afraid to tackle, or at least look at, any chimney problems including a cracked chimney. “I’ve fixed one of those many times for someone,” said Titus. “I installed a stainless steel liner inside the chimney and made it safe and efficient.” Titus explained that these inserts are not like others that you can buy, and that it takes some time to install them. “This is not a quick fix job,” said Titus. “I don’t just shove it into your existing fireplace, collect a check and leave. Most of the other inserts on the market make your fireplace look like it has a wood stove shoved into it, and they change the whole look of the fireplace by putting a big metal shroud around the insert. It takes me from six to eight hours to do this, but it will be done right and you’ll never need to do anything more with it.” Titus has even thought of people who like to cook food over a wood fire. “I’ve developed a barbeque grill that will fit inside there,” said Titus. “You can grill steaks or bake potatoes. It will work great for putting a dutch-oven in the fireplace too.” Feel free to contact Rick at The Country Store for more information. You can call either 515-532-3881 or 515-293-2455, or visit his website at: www.fireplacesatthecountrystore.com, or email him at yahtitus@gmail.com. “We don’t know what the future holds for our electrìcal system in this country,” said Titus. “If someone wants to control us, they could cut off the electricity, food supply, or disrupt our fuel. Everyone should have a way to heat their home without electricity.”

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515-532-3881 or 515-293-2455 www.fireplacesatthecountrystore.com

29TH ANNUAL NORTH IOWA HOME & LANDSCAPING SHOW

| SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2020

NORTH CENTRAL MECHANICAL SERVICES North Central Mechanical Services asks attendees to stop by their booth at the North Iowa Home Show and discuss their heating and air conditioning needs. They offer the traditional systems and Water Furnace systems from Trane and geothermal systems. Lennox, along with CenTheir staff will have tral Boiler wood heating Home Show offers avail-

GLOBE GAZETTE

KESTER STAIR LIFT

able. North Central Mechanical Services also offers 24-hour emergency services. They are also hiring for HVAC techs. They are located at 2601 15th St. S.W. in Mason City and can be contacted by calling 641-424-4828.

Kester Stair Lift, based in Waterloo, Iowa, is the leading stair chair company in the United States. Don Kester, owner of Kester Stair Lift, has been in the business for over 20 years and his products are manufactured by Bruno Independent Living Aids. Kester used to work in the elevator business, but that

changed when they had a request for a stair lift. He enjoyed it so much, he decided to start his own company. “You are serving a need and helping people who

have trouble navigating the stairs,” he said. This year, people who attend the Home Show can expect to see him displaying one of the Bruno stair chairs. He is looking forward to seeing all of the people who attend the show. Kester Stair Lift is located at 1176 Mt. Vernon Drive in Waterloo.

Room

with a view

How one interior designer transformed a sunroom

ith a bright 2020 already in full swing, I thought there was no better way to celebrate than with a mini makeover. I had the pleasure of working with the talented Anna Petrow, who is a photographer in Kansas City, Missouri, in givKATIE LAUGHRIDGE ing her sunroom a little update. She had never worked with a designer before, and I wanted to make sure she had a wonderful time from the initial home visit to the final reveal. Anna has a lovely house in Brookside that has all the charm and character you could ask for. One thing I loved about her space is how she mixes antiques and older pieces with new items and modern touches. We love doing that, too! She mentioned she has been trying to figure out how to update an antique daybed she had picked up years ago and had not been able to successfully place in a room. Upon hearing this, I knew we could be of service. Anna’s home is so light and airy that

the dark, necktie-inspired fabrics on the daybed were creating a heavy visual space that didn’t quite fit. We agreed that once reupholstered, it would be perfect for her adorable sunroom. Anna herself has a great eye for design, color and spacing, so I knew this would be a fun project. After some chatting, I had her come into the shop to peruse our fabric room to find out what colors and patterns she gravitated toward. It can be easy to get comfortable in your decor choices, so I thought it would be fun to shake things up by presenting three very different options for her. We wanted to help her complete her space but also push her out of her comfort zone. Our first look is one we called “Calming Chambray” and is made up of muted blues, dark denims and light creams for a dreamy and casual appearance. The collection is light on color variety but heavy on texture. We thought this would tie in her existing denim chair beautifully to her new reupholstered piece and fit with

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The sunroom featured playful jungle elements and some pops of color. her current room theme. Ultimately we decided it was too familiar, though she did spy one of her favorite fabrics (which luckily we could fit into our finished look). As a second option, we went in the opposite direction. The look was a collection of spicy reds, eye-catching jewel tones and whimsical prints that we named “Southwest Spice.” Full of color and texture, the collection was a new direction for her home but one that created interest and added depth. While this was not the look we finalized, it did offer a nod to her love of animal prints. The final option was the fresh and fierce “Jungle Bungalow” look. Full of animal prints and soft leafy accents, it plays perfectly with the plants that line the sunny space and the natural woven elements throughout the room. We knew almost immediately this was going to be our winner. The playful jungle elements fit perfectly in her sunroom, and the bursts of color helped tie in her existing decor. We choose a deep

green performance fabric for her daybed cushion (she has a new puppy who loves to keep watch in this room, so it must be durable) and used some lighter textured patterns to effortlessly tie in her denim chair. We even threw in her favorite fabric from the chambray collection to add another light element to balance everything out. In the end, it was the perfect way to enhance her room and create a space in which she would love to spend time. I had so much fun working on this project with Anna. One of the things we strive for is bringing out our customers’ own styles and enhancing their already beautiful homes. We want to create a fun and stress-free space to get creative and step outside your comfort zone to find the perfect design match. Being able to play around with fun looks to find the perfect fit reminds me why I love design in the first place. Contact Katie Laughridge at info@nellhills.com.

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29TH ANNUAL NORTH IOWA HOME & LANDSCAPING SHOW

Globe Gazette

Sunday, February 23, 2020 | C7

Make

yourselves right at home

PATRICK CLINE, MICHELLE GERSON VIA AP

Tips for blending two styles into a shared space MELISSA RAYWORTH

Associated Press

haring a home with someone you love can be wonderful. But decorating together isn’t always easy, especially when your tastes aren’t the same. If one partner loves filling every space with mementos and the other is clutter-averse, who gets their way? It can be hard to find good compromises when one loves bold colors and patterns while the other favors calming shades of gray. Interior designer Penny Drue Baird draws as much on her doctorate in psychology as on her design training when she works with couples decorating a home. “I’m there as the mediator, like a marital therapist,” Baird says, “working out how to approach it so both persons don’t feel like they’re the one that can’t get what they want.” Here, Baird and two other New York-based interior designers — Deborah Martin and Michelle Gerson — discuss how couples can tackle the sometimes challenging task of decorating shared space.

Sharing your vision

All three designers begin by doing an intake meeting with a couple to find out “everything that they are hoping to achieve and the look they feel like they’re going for,” Baird says. Clients will bring photos they’ve ripped from magazines or show pages from design books to help explain what appeals to them. A couple can sit down together and have this sort of meeting even if they aren’t working with a designer. By showing your partner what you envision, you may find that you have more common ground than

you realized. Martin says that sometimes a client begins with a preconceived notion that they don’t like a certain pattern or style, but when they see it in context, they do like it. “It’s about discovery,” Martin says. Just as a designer must “take some risks and present what you feel will work very well in the home,” a partner can take the risk of showing their vision and taking in their partner’s vision with an open mind. Both may end up happily surprised. In some cases, one partner might say they’re fine turning over the reins completely. If you’re redecorating a home or moving to a new one and your partner says you can make all the design choices, keep them updated along the way to avoid any unpleasant surprises.

Cohesive compromises

Gerson recommends making a list of items you both need in the room or home you’re decorating. These are the shared must-haves you can agree on, like plenty of seating in the living room if you both like to entertain. Find that common ground, she says, and try to agree on one major piece of furniture. Maybe it’s a sofa that one partner loves the shape of and the other likes the fabric. Once each person feels like their biggest requests have been heard, it may be easier to compromise on other details. Another way to compromise: If one person likes a space full of colorful things and the other dislikes clutter, Gerson says, “then we try to organize the stuff. When stuff looks organized and purposeful, and not just like stuff all over the place, then people start to realize they do like having stuff around.”

When one partner has a collection to display and the other partner prefers an uncluttered space, it’s important to take an organized approach, as seen in this home office space, where custom shelving was designed to display music memorabilia.

For one client who had a collection of music memorabilia, Gerson added built-in shelving in a home office to display the collection in an organized way that pleased both partners. If a home is big enough, couples with differing taste might find it’s easier to compromise on the main rooms if they will each have more influence on one other room, Baird says. One person might choose darker colors for a home library, for instance, while another can use bright, bold colors for their home office or hobby space. The main rooms can serve as a bridge, connecting those styles together more smoothly. Martin agrees: “I try not to create a ‘his space’ or a ‘her space’ in favor of creating spaces that flow nicely and have continuity.””

Take your time

Gerson says people often are in a rush to completely decorate a room and fill every space. That can lead you to compromises that neither of you like, she says. Don’t be afraid to leave a bit of empty space until you discover the right piece to put there. “It’s OK if you have a fabulous sofa and a great coffee table and a rug,” Gerson says, to then wait until you stumble upon a wonderful chair you both like that can complete the room. Time also makes the shared decorating process easier: “I find that the longer a couple has lived together or been married, the more likely they are to have the same design objectives,” Martin says. “They’re on the same page, especially older couples.”

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C8 | Sunday, February 23, 2020

29TH ANNUAL NORTH IOWA HOME & LANDSCAPING SHOW

Globe Gazette

5 ways a breakfast bar improves life in the kitchen DIANA CRANDALL

HomeAdvisor

Cooking with limited storage and counter space is frustrating. Ingredients pile up, pans clatter, and casual conversation can feel difficult. If you don’t have enough space for an island, there’s a simple way to make a new place to prep food and entertain guests: by installing a breakfast bar. Take a look at how this popular mainstay can change the way everyone feels about your kitchen — especially you.

saves space 1 It Breakfast bars are usually

created by extending a countertop in some way or installing a wall-mounted table. They differ from a kitchen island bar because they’re attached to something else, not freestanding. This gives you three usable sides you didn’t previously have in your kitchen, and it adds a layer to the decor. A quick search provides plentiful

inspiration for how the addition might fit into your specific space as well as ways to play up your kitchen’s existing features.

affordable 2 It’s The cost of breakfast bar

installation is a little different from other types of kitchen upgrades because it doesn’t require a significant investment unless you want it to. Homeowners report paying as little as $100 for a ready-made island with breakfast bar capabilities, via HomeAdvisor’s True Cost Guide. Others pay significantly more for a custom, expert touch that may require electrical work or construction. A kitchen remodeling professional can provide clarity on what type of cost you can expect based on the type of breakfast bar that fits best in your space.

versatile 3 It’s A major asset of the break-

fast bar is that it’s dynamic. One

moment, it’s covered in cutting boards; the next, a pile of homework. It becomes a natural centerpiece that people in your home will gravitate toward to eat, converse or have a drink, no matter how large or small your space might be. It’s also easy to install. Seeking impermanence? Nab a ready-made bar. Already completing a kitchen remodel? It won’t take much to tack on a countertop extension. Building a house? Talk to your designer about a wall-fixed table. The limit on this is your budget and imagination.

customizable 4 It’s Breakfast bars supply an

extra few feet of counter space, but it’s possible to turn them into your kitchen’s most adaptable feature. If you’re pining for storage, opt for a bar with drawers built into the unit. Breakfast bars also can easily hide a pull-out cutting board or offer up space

Installing a breakfast bar can turn your kitchen into everyone’s favorite hangout spot. DREAMSTIME

for an inconspicuous shelf. If you need the counter space but want to open up the room, ask a pro to build you a floating breakfast bar. The end result should complement your space and serve your unique needs.

5 It’s both stylish and functional

It’s undeniable that breakfast

bars add an entirely new layer to a kitchen — especially galley or small kitchens that are difficult to add depth and space to. Adding a dose of design with a fundamental base in practicality can make a uniquely shaped or tiny kitchen the most interesting room in the house. If you aren’t sure where to start, a kitchen pro or handyman can help to answer your questions.

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Globe Gazette

29TH ANNUAL NORTH IOWA HOME & LANDSCAPING SHOW

Sunday, February 23, 2020 | C9

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C10 | Sunday, February 23, 2020

29TH ANNUAL NORTH IOWA HOME & LANDSCAPING SHOW

Globe Gazette

EXPANDING NOW TAKING RESERVATIONS 20 NEW Assisted Living Apartments Come see us at the Home Show

February 28, 29 & March 1 North Iowa Events Center - Mason City, IA

Home Show Special: Put in a reservation and waive the deposit fee!

John Joyner Manager

Tyler Hedegard

Community Relations Coordinator

309 307 525 SF

600 SF

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CORRIDOR

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310 308

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Country Meadow Place voted Best Assisted Living by Senioradvisor.com, Reader’s Choice and Iowa Assisted Living Association

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178'-11 1/2"

Assisted Living and Memory Care Community

17396 Kingbird Avenue, Mason City, Iowa 50401 641-423-7722 • Email: manager@countrymeadowplace.com www.countrymeadowplace.com www.facebook.com/seniorhousingcompanies 00 1