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Simply Perfect Style

Story by Lisa Marie Blair

Photos by Kelly Middlebrooks

Among the mature tree lined streets of the well-known McKennan Park neighborhood, sits a renovated craftsman style home proudly owned by Alex Halbach. From the moment you pass through the front door and step onto the beautiful 1 ½” white oak wood floors, it is easy to see he has poured his heart and soul into this home. This homeowner has done a brilliant job of preserving and enhancing historic details like the oversized oak baseboards, glass doorknobs and stunning wood floors, all while introducing modern design elements throughout.

Mr. Halbach, a lawyer and Partner with Cutler Law Firm, was first drawn to the McKennan Park area in 2007 while interning nearby at the Boys and Girls Club of the Sioux Empire before attending law school. Alex says, “I fell in love with this unique neighborhood and began regularly checking Zillow for homes for sale.” This particular home kept popping up in search results, but it needed a lot of work and he didn’t know if he was ready for the challenges of renovating an older home. Eventually, Alex decided to take a look and he fell in love with the thought of what it could be, not necessarily what it was. Alex is the 4th homeowner of this 107-year-old home, and he plans to make it his forever home.

Alex closed on this long-awaited home in 2010 and quickly started renovations to make it his own, but project after project brought remodel fatigue and in 2015, he decided to dive head-first into a 2-year renovation to transform the property which was completed in 2017 with the help of Penny Klinedinst from Simply Perfect and Ryan Knutson from Boulevard Construction. Alex lifted the home and installed a new foundation which allowed him to add additional living space on the main floor, lower and upper level. The addition includes a butler’s pantry, mudroom, half bath, covered porch, and almost tripled the size of the original kitchen. The kitchen is very timeless with its white perimeter cabinets, neutral grey subway tile, and large island painted in Urbane Bronze. The addition was so well designed that you would never guess that the floorplan was changed so drastically. Not only is this 1915 craftsman style home larger, but it’s also packed with character and style like apron front sinks that are true to that era.

The butler’s pantry allows Alex to keep his kitchen neat while all the kitchen essentials are nearby. In this beautiful pantry you’ll also find modern amenities like an espresso machine sitting on a beautiful Cambria quartz countertop and a conveniently located beverage and wine fridge. The nearby mudroom and half bath are in perfect harmony as all the cabinetry is painted in Blue Spruce and feature custom Aeroscape tile created by Ryan Knutson, which Ryan manufactures himself. Halbach is quick to give credit to Ryan and Penny for making his renovation vision a reality.

A real estate agent can make your home buying or selling process run smoothly. Two tight-knit agents can provide you with high-quality, beneficial services that can bring real value to your transaction.

Dawn, with a 20 year interior design career, will use her expertise and knowledge to stage your home prior to the sale. Expert staging gives the homeowner the opportunity to realize the most money from their investment! Buyer? Taking Dawn along to shop for a new home is way more fun when you have a designer dreaming of the potential with you!

Jenny, an expert in marketing with both television and print marketing experience will skillfully market your property. Knowing how to tell the unique story of your home while getting the most eyes on your listing is key to a quick and successful transaction!

Contact us today to hear more about how this process works!

Dawn Bures, Realtor & Interior Designer 605.491.1370 Jenny Hefty, Realtor & Marketer 605.351.4599

Alex added an eye catching black and white geometric wallpaper that runs the entire length of the home by starting in the main level mudroom and continuing down the staircase to the opposite end of the basement. The established lawyer explains that the wallpaper was picked with the intention of transitioning those walking throughout the home from the white and bright upstairs to the black and moody basement. This tactic works brilliantly in making the upper and lower levels of this 4000 square foot home blend seamlessly.

Once you’ve entered the lower level, you are immediately drawn to the show stopping 1800 bottle temperature controlled wine cellar and bar. The wine cellar cabinets, custom made library ladder, and ceiling are all finished in black walnut and were custom built by Ryan in the garage of his home. The back wall of the cellar features Sioux quartzite with a raised beaded joint, which is appropriate for a home built in 1915. The oversized black bar has plenty of space for mixing drinks on the Cambria quartz countertop making it perfect for entertaining. Near the bar is a rustic white oak pool table paired with a large chandelier and modern concrete fireplace. Alex pointed out to me that the pool table light and almost all the other finishes and furniture in the home are from Penny’s store. Mr. Halbach explains, “I met Penny through mutual friends and work connections. I love being the first in line for the Simply Perfect dock sales, even if that means arriving at 3:30 am with coffee and mimosas in hand.”

Alex, a self-proclaimed tech nerd, explained that this 4-bedroom, 4-bathroom home is fully automated. The Control4 system installed by Home Definitions in Sioux Falls allows him to control all aspects of the home - including sound, lighting, video, and temperature from the wall-mounted screens conveniently located throughout the home or controlled from an app on his phone. Halbach’s home was approved by the Sioux Falls Board of Historic Preservation. Following the completion of this project, Alex joined the Board of Historic preservation, where he has previously served as its President. ”My home is living proof that older homes can be renovated and reimagined to create a comfortable modern home that can last for another century.”

The magic of what Alex created in his home has inspired the homeowner to partner with Ryan and Penny on more projects. Following the completion of the project in 2017, Alex and Ryan joined forces and together now own Boulevard Companies which includes Boulevard Properties and Boulevard Construction. They recently partnered with Penny to form Simply Perfect Properties where they plan to “reimagine restoration” of other historic, one-of-a-kind properties and recently started a full renovation of a 1930’s cottage on the boulevard. Perfection takes time, and Alex, Ryan and Penny recognize that breathing new life into these older homes is a labor of love and an exercise in patience and are confident that, together, they can recreate the magic all over again. n

e House Where Design Inspiration Lives

A look inside Houndstooth House, Sioux Fall’s premier furniture store and design library.

Founders Michelle Marino and Denise Cotter invite everyone in for the Houndstooth House experience. “We have a great team that is ready to help,” shares Denise. Whether you are ready to change the vibe of a single room or build a new home, designing a space that refl ects your personality but is still functional for your lifestyle can be intimidating. If this resonates with you, the team at Houndstooth house can help bring your vision to life. “Bring in a picture of your space and we will help you create a space you love.” Michelle adds, “Your home should refl ect your personal style. Come in to browse our design library, have fun and let us create together.” e team at Houndstooth House provides a wide range of design services for residential and commercial clients. Specializing in the customer experience, their goal is to remove the intimidation factor by making design projects fun and stress-free. With 18 years in the industry and their constant evolving with the trends, you will get an experience unlike any other. Located in an iconic midcentury modern building, HTH has expanded its retail space to include timeless furniture pieces, home décor, accessories, and gi s. ey sell everything for your home including bedding, pillows, custom fl orals, art, lamps, dishes, table linens, stemware, and wine. Whether it is a sofa or a gi , they can customize it to your design aesthetic. From inspiration to installation let Houndstooth House help you enjoy the process and feel confi dent in your decision.

Houndstooth House provides a wide range of design services for residential and commercial clients. Founded by Michelle Marino and Denise Cotter in 2005, Houndstooth House seeks to have fun and minimize the stress of projects so clients can enjoy the process and feel confident in their decisions.

We are excited to announce our expanded furniture store into an iconic Sioux Falls building. Come shop and experience Houndstooth House!