Modern Living on the Prairie
Coming Soon!
Coming Soon!
A BOUTI QUE LOW-MAINTENANCE COMMUNITY
Welcome to Meadowlark Crossing, Bismarck’s new 55+ Active Lifestyle community. Our boutique community offers thoughtfully designed luxury patio homes, boasting features like main floor living, abundant natural light, and open floor plans.
• Single-Level Living: Quit "stairing" and embrace the convenience of single-level living. Our homes are crafted to provide all your essential living spaces on one floor.
• Private Courtyards: Discover tranquility in our private courtyards, where you can enjoy outdoor moments in your own secluded oasis, perfect for relaxation and entertaining.
• Low-Maintenance Lifestyle: Bid farewell to the burdens of lawn maintenance. Spend your time indulging in your passions while we handle the rest, allowing you to enjoy every moment fully.
A BOUTIQUE LOW-MAINTENANCE COMMUNITY
Welcome to Meadowlark Crossing, Bismarck’s new 55+ Active Lifestyle community. Our boutique community offers thoughtfully designed luxury patio homes, boasting features like main floor living, abundant natural light, and open floor plans.
At Meadowlark Crossing, we've carefully curated a community where every detail is designed to enrich your lifestyle. From a wealth of amenities, including a clubhouse, fitness center, pool, and pickleball courts, there's something for everyone to enjoy.
• Single-Level Living: Quit “stairing” and embrace the convenience of single-level living. Our homes are crafted to provide all your essential living spaces on one floor.
Become a VIP! Scan here!
Welcome to Meadowlark Crossing, Bismarck’s new 55+ Active Lifestyle community. Our boutique community offers thoughtfully designed luxury patio homes, boasting features like main floor living, abundant natural light, and open floor plans.
This community is more than just a place to live; it's a place to thrive. Embark on a new chapter of comfort and convenience in an amenityrich environment. Truly a one-of-a-kind development that our community deserves. Welcome to Meadowlark Crossing, the perfect place to call home!
• Private Courtyards: Discover tranquility in our private courtyards, where you can enjoy outdoor moments in your own secluded oasis, perfect for relaxation and entertaining.
• Low-Maintenance Lifestyle: Bid farewell to the burdens of lawn maintenance. Spend your time indulging in your passions while we handle the rest, allowing you to enjoy every moment fully.
• Single-Level Living: Quit "stairing" and embrace the convenience of single-level living. Our homes are crafted to provide all your essential living spaces on one floor.
• Private Courtyards: Discover tranquility in our private courtyards, where you can enjoy outdoor moments in your own secluded oasis, perfect for relaxation and entertaining.
At Meadowlark Crossing, we’ve carefully curated a community where every detail is designed to enrich your lifestyle. From a wealth of amenities, including a clubhouse, fitness center, pool, and pickleball courts, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
S We invite you to join the VIP list to be the first to receive updates and access www.stoneshirebuilders.com/meadowlarkcrossing-vip.html 701.471.6935
This community is more than just a place to live; it’s a place to thrive. Embark on a new chapter of comfort and convenience in an amenityrich environment. Truly a one-of-a-kind development that our community deserves. Welcome to Meadowlark Crossing, the perfect place to call home!
• Low-Maintenance Lifestyle: Bid farewell to the burdens of lawn maintenance. Spend your time indulging in your passions while we handle the rest, allowing you to enjoy every moment fully.
At Meadowlark Crossing, we've carefully curated a community w every detail is designed to enrich your lifestyle. From a amenities, including a clubhouse, fitness center, pool, a courts, there's something for everyone to enjoy. This community is more than just a place to live; it's a place to thrive. Embark on a new chapter of comfort and convenience in an amenityrich environment. Truly a one-of-a-kind development that our
River + Ranch Magazine is a collaborative effort to showcase the creativity and design of the West. The two publishers of Bismarck Magazine decided to embark on a new adventure and create a different magazine focusing on design, art, and western living.
River + Ranch Magazine Corporation, Copyright 2018 River + Ranch and riverandranchmagazine.com. All rights reserved. This periodical cannot be reproduced without the written permission of River + Ranch Magazine. River + Ranch Magazine will not be held responsible for any errors found in the
Hannah Haynes
hannah@bismarck-magazine.com
Caroline Crary
caroline@bismarck-magazine.com
Jenna Kluting
Jennifer Kranz
Maria Brezny
Melanie Sioux Photography
Caroline Crary
caroline@bismarck-magazine.com
Hannah Haynes Publisher/Co-Founder
Jennifer Kranz Editor
Caroline Crary Publisher/Co-Founder
Jenna Kluting Layout Editor
Karel Sovak Writer
Maria Brezny Director of Communications
Carbon Oak Plank Mahogany Plank Cedar Plank Oak Plank
HORIZONTAL PLANK
All in the Details
Detail work is what brings a home together - we spoke with the experts who make sure to bring in every finishing touch with their years of experience.
Coldspring Stoneyard
Roughrider Hardwoods
Keller Hearth‘n Home
Blind Ambition
Fabricators Unlimited
Backyard Escapes by Kerner Next 2 Nature
Red River Glazing
Jobbers Moving & Storage
Creative Wood Designs
Studio One Designs
Melanie Sioux Photography
LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHERS
Dear Readers,
Happy Summer! After a long winter we are excited to enjoy the sunshine and warm weather. Welcome to the June/July issue of River + Ranch Magazine—a special edition we’ve lovingly titled “All in the Details.”
This issue is dedicated to the unsung heroes of homebuilding: the subcontractors. Those that set the countertops, landscapers, designers, cabinetmakers, and countless other skilled professionals who pour their expertise, care, and craftsmanship into every corner of a home. While builders often take center stage, it’s the subs who bring the vision to life—piece by intricate piece.
You’ll meet the artisans behind the finishes that catch your eye and the tradespeople whose work quietly ensures comfort, beauty, and function. From custom woodwork and hand-laid tile to smart wiring and perfected paint lines, it’s these details that make a house truly feel like home.
At River + Ranch, we believe great homes are built by great teams. This issue is a tribute to those teams—and a celebration of the pride and precision found in every job well done.
Learn all about these talented people in the trades,, their skill, and how they specialize in their field.
Thank you to all our readers, we hope you are inspired by these artists.
Connor Picard
COLDSPRING STONEYARD
STORY: JENNIFER KRANZ
PHOTOS: MELANIE SIOUX PHOTOGRAPHY
Coldspring Stoneyard is a one stop stone and hearth shop located a few miles north of Bismarck on Highway 83. Their five product categories of granite and quartz slabs, stone and veneer brick, gas and electric fireplaces, landscape product, and boulder block retaining walls ensure that whatever your project needs are, Coldspring Stoneyard has you covered. We visited with Wade Wessling, long-time sales manager, to learn more about this totally customized project.
When working with Coldspring having ideas and a rendering of what you are looking for as a customer is always encouraged. “If we have a rendering to know what we are trying to achieve or the color palette we are trying to achieve that’s always really helpful,” Wade says. “Then, once you get to our showroom and see all of the option we have we can pick and choose and blend them together and make sure everybody
is on the same page to achieve any sort of custom blend you’d like to see.
WHY THIS HOME ROCKS
For this featured home, Coldspring supplied all of the interior and exterior stone veneer as well as the back patio fire pit. The homeowners wanted a unique look that carried throughout the home and out into the exterior. To achieve this, Coldspring created a custom blend of five different stone profiles and colors that came from
two different manufacturers. “We’ve never had a project like this where we’ve incorporated five different stone products and blended them together to make one color palette,” Wade explains. “The masonry crew that was onsite was able to blend the stones perfectly to give the finished product the look the client wanted.”
The expansive fireplace in the great room is welcoming rather than intimidating and perfectly brings the exterior stonework inside.
While there is stonework everywhere, the showstopper is truly the backyard exterior. An outdoor kitchen and bar area allow for easy entertaining, and the firepit and fireplace ensure that the backyard can be enjoyed even in chilly weather.
When asked for his favorite part of this project, Wade had this to say, “The big thing for us is the stone blend. Its super unique and you won’t find a matching stone blend like this anywhere else in the country than what’s on and in this house here.”
“WE’VE NEVER HAD A PROJECT LIKE THIS WHERE WE’VE INCORPORATED FIVE DIFFERENT STONE PRODUCTS AND BLENDED THEM TOGETHER TO MAKE ONE COLOR PALETTE,” WADE EXPLAINS
ROUGHRIDER HARDWOODS
STORY: JENNIFER KRANZ
PHOTOS: MELANIE SIOUX PHOTOGRAPHY
David Jensen started Roughrider Hardwoods, a custom stairway company, in 1982 and has thoroughly enjoyed watching the evolution of the stairway trends. “When we first started stairways were carpeted staircases with ball-topped newel posts and that went on for a few years until the advent of websites like Houzz and Pinterest,” David explains. “People started realizing there were choices out there which kind of fed into what we liked to do. If it’s something different, we want in. So, whatever the trends have been we’ve kind of pushed the envelope.”
OPENING THAT ENVELOPE
If there ever were an example of pushing the envelope, the staircase in our featured home is it. “The problem with our company is that we say yes before we figure
out how. When you have the guys I have, you can pretty much commit to doing anything because you know they’re able to pull it off,” David says. When this homeowner went to David with the idea for the staircase, Roughrider Hardwoods had never done anything like it. It took them a week of figuring out how to make it work and they had four weeks to execute the envelope-pushing staircase with the Parade of Home as their deadline.
The idea of the stairway is to make it appear
floating. Of course, that’s not structurally possible, or up to code, so David and his crew configured the spine with a metal stringer in the middle and then clam shelled the treads of the staircase around that. “The finished look is of a solid tread but it’s actually two pieces,” David explains.
The next biggest challenge was keeping the minimalist look with the stair rail. “Those are actually pretty difficult to make strong so there’s a lot of engineering that goes into those as well,”
David explains. “It doesn’t look like it, but with any stairway you need to have faith in the ballast way itself. Its great when you step onto something that looks dainty but it’s still solid.”
The minimalist look of the railing is reflected in the upstairs walkway. The walkway’s railings do not anchor to the wall, giving the space a light and airy feel. The lighting incorporated into the stairs required collaboration with the flooring people, and the electricians.
David recognizes the importance of working well with the other trades especially working on his projects.
“In the trades, home construction especially, everyone has to get along and work together. In homes where that’s a fight it doesn’t go well but in the homes we typically work on, everybody knows what the goal is and we all work together.”
KELLER HEARTH’N HOME
STORY: JENNIFER KRANZ
PHOTOS: MELANIE SIOUX PHOTOGRAPHY
The old adage ‘Everything old is new again’ rings true for a recent project completed by Keller Hearth’n Home. The new owners of a home Michael R. Keller had originally worked on reached out and wanted to update the fireplace he and his crew installed 20 years ago. While the look of the fireplace is new, the functionality as a focal point in this featured home remains the same.
Keller is the owner of Keller Hearth’n Home and established the business in 1977 in Mandan. It is a one stop shop for all your fireplace needs. “We do the whole project. We take the old out and put the new in. We don’t just sell a product and send it out the door we do the whole entire project for our customers, so they get their desired results,” Michael explains.
BEFORE
ALL ABOUT THE GLOW UP
The goal with the fireplace remodel was to make the fireplace structure viewable from everywhere and make it look great from multiple viewpoints. To do this Michael and crew added to the base that was originally facing the sunroom and expanded it to include focal points from the dining room, kitchen, walking into the home from the front door, as well as from the sunroom/living room area.
The stone has been changed out completely with a more modern look giving the fireplace a contemporary vibe.
The cool touch model firebox allows for touching of the glass, a perfect update for a family with curious children. “The mantel stays cool, and you can hang stockings without a problem,” Michael explains. “It does divulge some heat into the home as it gets warmed up and it operates with the fire on or off. With the fire off you have the
electronic ember bed that throws a nice nightlight look adding ambiance to each space.”
glimpses of the stunning landscape outside the home depending your viewpoint.
Another perk of the cool touch model? No screens. No screens means see through glass which allows for
“It’s rewarding to be back here. I was very thankful and happy they came back to us to do the update. The same
guys that put the original one in were here taking it out. It felt good that we were able to make this dramatic change. I don’t know who wouldn’t love this,” Michael says smiling.
NEXT 2 NATURE
STORY: JENNIFER KRANZ
PHOTOS: MELANIE SIOUX PHOTOGRAPHY
We had the opportunity to visit with Mitch Becker, manager at Next 2 Nature, at an incredible property in the middle of nowhere North Dakota. Here, Next 2 Nature showcased their amazing landscaping talents and transformed the outdoor space into an area that guests will never want to leave.
Next 2 Nature is a full design and build landscaping company that has their own nursery. They’re involved in projects from the start and see them through to the end between grade work, hardscape patios, soft scape trees and sprinklers. With their own greenhouse, Next 2 Nature is truly a one stop shop for all of your outdoor landscaping needs.
CREATING AN OASIS
In this featured escape, the homeowner wanted to create an outdoor oasis that enticed guests to stay outside and enjoy the natural beauty of North Dakota. Next 2 Nature began design work in the winter of 2022-2023 and the project itself took place in 2023. Because of the scope of work the Next 2 Nature crew had to chip away little by little and as is the cyclical nature with growing things, the grass didn’t come up until the summer of 2024. Pavers and impressive landscaping in the front
of the house welcome visitors to the home. It’s unexpected and it’s a statement, a juxtaposition to the backyard where the amenities and view take center stage. “There’s 2 fireplaces out on the patio, a hot tub and grill station, so there’s plenty of things to do to keep the experience outside rather than inside,” Mitch explains. “The point was to keep people outside and entertained and enjoy North Dakota for what it is.”
Framing the view was a priority when considering
options for plants at this property.
“We tried to keep plants minimal but did want to keep it green, the plant material was chosen more precisely and kept smaller so as not to block the view. Some of the trees have a more transparent viewpoint, like the
Honey Locust, so you can kind of look through the tree rather than having a big leafy mass blocking the view,”
Mitch explains.
Stamped concrete edging surrounds the house and neatly contains larger
than average three-inch round rock and outdoor lighting highlights the landscaping as the sun sets.
Mitch’s favorite part of this project is the outdoor kitchen, “The hood itself took quite a bit of time to
design and get up here. It’s definitely a showstopper. That was the point of having that stainless steel stack all the way up there, so it stands out.”
BLIND AMBITION
STORY: JENNIFER KRANZ
PHOTOS: MELANIE SIOUX PHOTOGRAPHY
Believe it or not, as technology has grown and evolved the evolution of window coverings has evolved right along with it. Gone are the days of fighting with tension chords and roaming around the house ‘waking it up’ every morning by opening the curtains and letting the natural light in. Now, its as easy as touching a button or even programming a set schedule so the shades open just as you’re pouring your first cup of coffee.
Where can you find these innovations in window coverings in the area? Look no further than Blind Ambition, western North Dakota’s premier window treatment provider.
“We do interior window treatments, custom drapes, shutters, blinds, and shades, and I love it,” Blind Ambition owner Angela Oakland says.
When choosing window treatments for your home, Angela suggests going with something from Hunter Douglas. “They’re our biggest seller. Hunter Douglas has the biggest variety of products, and I think they have the highest quality products, too,” Angela explains. “They have a really great warranty and they’ve been good to work with. If we have issues, they’re really good about replacing things and they have really good customer service.”
Hunter Douglas also has superior motorization and tech integrated into its window coverings making them not only aesthetically pleasing and high quality, but easy to use as well. Their app features scheduling as well as real time look ins on where shades are at, if a battery needs charging in non-hardwired sets, and if a shade’s tech needs a firm ware update.
IN THE HOME
Blind Ambition’s versatility in what they can offer is showcased perfectly in our featured home. A wide variety of shades and drapery hang elegantly on windows throughout the home showing off both the beauty and
functionality
Blind Ambition can bring to a home.
A soft, beautiful Vignette model hangs from an inside mount allowing the shade to all but disappear when its fully raised. This lets the light and the
views be the stars during the day and the woven patterns the stars when the shade is down.
The light filtering Pirouette model offers soft, pretty fabrics that add style and ambiance to any room. They have
the look of a Roman shade but great functionality. In the living room we see velvet drapery paired with the Vignette shade. Blind Ambition gets their draperies from Carole Fabrics, a sister
company of Hunter Douglas. “The great thing about that is they share tech so you can even get motorized soft treatments like this drapery,” Angela explains.
At Blind Ambition the options are seemingly endless. Whether you want the view to be the star, or the window treatments to stand out, Angela can help you find what you’re looking for. And the best part, you won’t have to choose between the view or the treatments, With Angela’s expertise, you’ll get both.
FABRICATORS UNLIMITED
STORY: JENNIFER KRANZ
PHOTOS: MELANIE SIOUX PHOTOGRAPHY
Fabricators Unlimited was founded in 1985 and the Bismarck division started in 1999. It began as a hub delivery point for Fabricators’ salespeople covering the western half of North Dakota in 1999 and when the Bakken took off in 2011 Cory and Kelli Thompson moved out to run the operation. Cory is the division manager whose areas of focus include managing the branch, as well as installation, template, and operations management. Kelli is the sales and showroom manager. Today, Fabricators Unlimited handles commercial and residential projects for all of western North Dakota and works with all types of materials including laminate, solid surface, quartz, and manufactured stone.
“We expanded our installation doing quartz installs as that was the market that was really taking off out here,”
Cory explains of the move west. “We focused on the rural market and that’s what has always been our foothold in North Dakota because we would go to the places no one else would. That’s really how the business started even out of Fargo. We had a very, very strong relationship in all the smaller markets and it just grew from there in Bismarck, Minot and Williston.”
shop became more and more an installation and template hub versus a fabrication site. So today, that’s the majority of what the employees do- sales, showroom, and installation services.
As the market shifted away from what was the norm of laminate to quartz countertops, the
In our featured home, Fabricators Unlimited
worked with the homeowners to create one of a kind showstopping pieces with the focus being on the primary bathroom with a beautiful vanity and the kitchen with a unique center island.
For the vanity “Kelli came to me with the inspiration photo that the homeowners provided her,” Cory explains. “I think we got as close as we could.” Kelly quips, “It was homeowner approved so we sure did!”
the inspiration photo as close as possible Kelli and Cory suggested going with solid surface material. “Solid surface is an amazing product because if you can dream it, we can build it,” Cory explains.
homeowner it was important to have an impactful piece in the room.
In the original photo the vanity was made out of natural stone. To mimic
Of course, the kitchen is where everyone gathers, so for the
This is where the island countertop truly shines. Three inch thick edging draws the eye from a distance while the embossed veining texture of the Cambria Inverness quartz steals the show up close giving a more natural texture than a standard polished
quartz. When asked her favorite part of the project Kelli had this to say, “The kitchen is beautiful, but for me it’s the vanity. The vanity is the show piece of this home. It’s where you just have to stop and take a moment.”
HOME LOANS MADE SIMPLE
MORTGAGE | REFINANCE | HOME EQUITY LOAN
BACKYARD ESCAPES
BY KERNER POOLS & SPAS
It all started with research for his own family’s pool.
Jason Kerner, owner of Backyard Escapes by Kerner Pool & Spas was searching for an honest estimate and what would all come along with that estimate. When he couldn’t get answers from those around him, he started looking for them himself. “I’ve always been in the building industry and found fiberglass pools,” Jason explains. And the rest is history, as they say.
An innovator in the pool and spa industry, Jason has led the way in fiberglass pool installations in western North Dakota. Why fiberglass, you ask? Jason answers, “It’s one of the best pools for North Dakota because it’s going to have one of the lowest lifetime costs. It installs very quickly which is important because our season is limited. Memorial Day to Labor Day is a typical pool season up here, it’s like that around the country
STORY: JENNIFER KRANZ
PHOTOS: MELANIE SIOUX PHOTOGRAPHY
but they have a longer season to be installing the pools.” The speed with which fiberglass pools can be installed caters to the shorter install time and allows Kerner and his team to install more pools each year.
MAKING A SPLASH
Our featured pool is a true beach entry pool and the first Backyard Escapes has done. The Grace beach entry model from Thursday Pools is 16x40
and comes in their inviting California Blue. The beach entry offers a gradual decline into the clear, refreshing water. “With the beach entry pool there’s a multi-level option,” Jason explains. “You can have just your feet in the pool and the further you go in the higher the water is going to go. It’s great for small children and pets and it’s also really good for people that have a hard time with steps and getting in and out of the pool.”
And that clear, refreshing water? That stays
clear with the help of a leading-edge pool cover with an innovation Jason created. “What I did is a cover sweep, it’s very unique and we’re the only ones in the country doing it. We’ve had that manufactured for top track cover systems as well as beach entry pools. What it is is a little broom edge that attaches to the bottom of the leading-
edge bar, and it prevents leaves and debris from blowing in underneath the pool cover.” The pool cover is strong enough that legally no fence is required. This allows the backyard view to shine. Customizable underwater lights add a festive touch, and the water features
create a fun spot for kids to play as well as add the sound of falling water. Back Yard Escapes worked along Myhre Concrete to ensure the pool deck was flawless.
ROOSEVELT CABINETS
STORY: JENNIFER KRANZ
MELANIE SIOUX PHOTOGRAPHY
At Roosevelt Cabinets, a division of J.E. Homes, craftsmanship and functionality are the building blocks of their exceptional cabinetry. A supplier of highly sought after Belmont cabinets Roosevelt connects homeowners with quality and style from cabinet manufacturers. We met with SaŠa MiŠiĆ at this featured home to learn more about Roosevelt Cabinets and their process as well as see their impeccable work in real life.
SaŠa is Roosevelt Cabinets cabinet manager, and his role encompasses design, preliminaries, warranties, receiving, and delivery. His background in cabinet installs and trim and his work in the field made it an easy transition to a management role.
PHOTOS:
THE PROCESS
Roosevelt Cabinets is involved in your building process from the beginning. From the first meeting to the final product Roosevelt is there every step of the way. “We’ll get plans from architects and then start the design process,” SaŠa explains. “We can do inhouse design or work with a designer. Then, we do preliminaries and go onsite to measure to make sure everything will fit. From there, 3D renderings are created and then we order.” The whole process has approximately a two-month timeline.
FROM RENDERING TO REAL LIFE
When walking into our featured home’s kitchen, designed by Alexa by Design, the cabinetry makes an immediate impact. The coastline European styled kitchen has a light and airy feel showcasing Roosevelt’s use of the Griffin style cabinet doors by Belmont, the cabinet manufacturer out of Washington state. A plaster hood created inhouse and dainty hardware add
eye pleasing details throughout the space. The faux farmhouse style sink is a unique feature created by layering an undermounted sink basin and the countertop. A double oven is nested into a cabinet face that is cut to fit to create a seamless look.
The functionality of the kitchen can be seen in the details in the inside of the cabinetry. Each drawer is adjustable, and a wide range of accessories are available to completely customize the finished product.
Dovetail craftsmanship, perfect to the 1/8inch installation, and bolt and receiver hardware add quality to the aesthetically pleasing cabinetry.
In the bathrooms, floating vanities continue the light and airy theme and built-in cabinetry with bracketing
ground the overall look of the home. Roosevelt Cabinets’ capacity for super custom design ensures you will get exactly what you want. Their streamlined process ensures you’ll get it when you want it, too.
A SIMPLE SCREENING FOR TYPE 1 DIABETES AND CELIAC
Sanford Health would like to invite your child to participate in a screening research study. Through Sanford PLEDGE, we hope to identify children at higher risk of developing type 1 diabetes (T1D) and celiac disease and intervene early to prevent serious illness.
Your child may qualify to join the study if they: Are ages 0-5 or ages 9-16
Do not have T1D
Children ages 6-17 who have a sibling with T1D or T1D antibodies may also join the study.
Ask your provider or care team about the PLEDGE screening study. Visit sanfordhealth.org/PLEDGE or call (877) 878-4825 to join the free study or learn more about PLEDGE.
RED RIVER GLAZING
STORY: JENNIFER KRANZ
Red River Glazing is a commercial and residential business that does everything with glass including mirrors, showers, and glass tabletops. That’s not an exhaustive list as Stacy Pellett, sales and installation manager for Red River Glazing points out. “We can pretty much make anything work- glass handrails, glass-colored backsplashes, and we can color it any color that Sherwin Williams paint has.” Stacy has been in the glazing and glass industry for 33 years, and with Red River Glazing for almost 20 of those years. Over the years Stacy has seen the industry evolve and trends come and go. “Everything has gotten bigger and fancier. There’s a lot of challenges, so we get to keep learning,” he explains.
PHOTOS: MELANIE SIOUX PHOTOGRAPHY
For install technician Jimmy Gohner it’s the little things that he’s come to appreciate after two years with Red River Glazing. “It’s the attention to detail that makes the jobs that much crazier and they become more and more aesthetically pleasing,” he explains.
In our featured home, the primary bathroom is where the expertise of Red River Glazing really shines. The huge mirror, measuring 130 inches by 42 inches, serves its utilitarian purpose while
also making the room feel bigger. “Huge mirrors like that are scary to work with. We have huge sheets of mirrors that are 10 feet by 6 feet tall so we can cut the mirrors at the shop,” Stacy says. The huge sheets of mirrors allow Red River Glazing to create all sizes and shapes of custom mirrors. “We can pretty much manufacture any mirror you’re looking for,” he adds.
Red River Glazing also created the glass showers in this home. The shower walls and doors are
made of 3/8ths inch thick glass, and the hardware was color matched to the rest of the room. “Our shower doors come with a coating on the back side that allows water to bead making cleaning easier,” Stacy explains. “We’ve been doing it forever. It’s not an option; it just comes with our glass doors. We want our customers to be happy.”
REFLECTING ON THE PROJECT
When asked their favorite part of this particular install the pair had these things to say: “Glass is very elegant to begin with and it’s great to be able to see the finished product like this in a lived-in house, it’s really beautiful,” Jimmy says. “It’s the satisfaction of seeing the finished project and how it ties into the house,” Stacy adds. “It belongs here.”
JOBBERS MOVING & STORAGE
STORY: JENNIFER KRANZ
Jobbers Moving and Storage is a second-generation, locally owned moving company. Sandra and Wally Keller took over from Sandra’s father in 1996 when a desire to raise their children closer to family brought them back to Bismarck from Chicago. Now, Sandra and Wally help families and businesses alike make moves in an efficient and smooth way that has their customers enjoying their new spaces as fast as they can unpack.
“We try to accommodate and make things go as smoothly as we possibly can because even with that it’s a hectic and emotional time. We try to smooth things and make them as easy as possible so you can enjoy your new home and family,” Sandra explains. Sandra and the whole staff at Jobbers carry that professionalism throughout their work. To secure
PHOTOS: MELANIE SIOUX PHOTOGRAPHY
a move using their services, customers will start with a free estimate. Jobbers will come out to your current home and look at the household goods and what the move will entail and create an estimate from there. Once that information is collected and shared, Jobbers will put you on their books.
Jobbers offers a wide range of moving preparation options, whether that be their staff will fully pack up a home, the customer will pack the home and the Jobbers’ staff packs up the boxes and moves them to their new location, or Jobbers offers all
the packing supplies you might need to pack up yourself. Being around since 19660, Jobbers has seen their fair share of unique moves. One of Sandra’s most memorable moves was for the museum. “There are pictures of moving a shark and a buffalo and that’s something that really stands out,” she explains.
Sandra is grateful for her time growing up in the moving industry. “My dad used to take us to work when we were really little. We’d have dolly races,
and we’d use all the markers and staples in the secretary’s desk,” Sandra explains with a grin.
“Then we started picking up garbage outside and we’d get $.35 an hour and go buy a piece of pie at Little Cottage or go to the backdoor of the Big Boy. It progressed to where my sister and I would answer the phones or fill in wherever they needed help. It was a really good experience. It provided me with an awareness of professionalism and how to answer a phone and speak correctly. I think it was an invaluable experience, and I thank my parents for requiring us to do so.”
Whether you’re moving a taxidermized animal or packing up your home for a relocation, Jobbers Moving and Storage will get you and your most prized possessions where you’re going safely and efficiently.
CREATIVE WOOD DESIGNS
STORY: JENNIFER KRANZ
MELANIE SIOUX PHOTOGRAPHY
Mike Ness, Darin Sebastian, and Danielle Kemmesat make up the dream team at Creative Wood Designs. When these three put their heads together there’s nothing they can’t create. When it came time to design and build a new showroom, the trio worked together to create a gallery of examples of Creative Wood Designs artful craftsmanship.
Ever a company that puts their customers’ experience first, the team at Creative Wood Designs knew that giving people a place to see their work, not just showcasing it, but experiencing it was going to be key. “People are visual, they like to touch and feel,” Danielle explains. “The first thing they’ll do when they get to the shop for a meeting is walk around and open up cabinets and drawers. They’re very excited to
PHOTOS:
see the different options in real life versus on the computer screen.”
To create this experience the team installed three different displays with two different island configurations. Throughout the displays examples are examples of hoods, multiple spice rack options, a paneled appliance, mixer lift, lighting features, hidden outlets, and push to open cabinet doors and drawers, to name just a few of Creative Wood
Designs custom options.
These are key features to be able to see in real life.
“If you want outlets underneath your cabinets, it raises your first shelf height and that doesn’t work for everybody, so they can see that example here,” explains Mike.
“Or, if you want a really pretty backsplash and you don’t want an outlet to cut into that then the outlets are recessed into the cabinets for that seamless look,” Danielle adds.
While the guts and functionality of cabinetry is incredibly important, the look of them reigns supreme and the cabinet wall is an impressive place to find your dream look. There are 275 slots on the wall and the team has every spot planned for. “The bottom will be different styles of doors with
different hardware combinations and different finish combinations,” Mike explains. “We have a lot of doors that take a lot of engineering that are really cool with cool applications. We have metal doors up there, metal and mesh inserts, as well as glass inserts, cloth inserts, wallpaper inserts. We’re
really expanding our horizons on that because that’s the kind of work our clients are having us do.”
“Over the last 11 years we’ve figured out what works well and what doesn’t to help a customer visually see designs in their space,” Mike says. “A mixer lift
or wood panel appliances you really have to show them; you can’t just talk about it, so we really hit that home with this showroom.”
STUDIO ONE DESIGNS
STORY: JENNIFER KRANZ
PHOTOS: NOCTEM PHOTOGRAPHY
Shannon Koski is the owner of Studio One Designs where she shines as an independent contractor and interior designer. She is in tune with her clients’ wants and needs and has a keen eye for design, bringing to life her client’s vision for often times their biggest and most lived in investment.
“I essentially white glove the entire process from plan to scale,” Shannon explains. “This means I meet with the architect or engineer, and we start with the plan to scale, doors, windows, etc. I’m making sure everything is going to meet our full design all the way through every single selection.” No aspect of a home is left unscrutinized by Shannon. “This is a huge investment, building their dream homes, and I want it to be a great process and an easy one for them,” she adds.
WORTH THE WAIT, NATURALLY
In our featured home, Shannon worked with the homeowner for a year in weekly meetings taking them through her proven process. “The process is a certain way to make sure it turns out a certain way. We start out with the scale and then we go through each selection. By the time we are finished with lights and mirrors we are doing the electrical walk through, so I know where every
wire needs to be placed when the house is just framed,” explains Shannon.
The homeowner is a wholistic practitioner, so Shannon focused on a very organic modern aesthetic throughout the home. Every material was selected with natural elements as a priority and holding true to that created a calm and effortless feel.
In the living room natural stone reigns supreme. Warm, natural tones highlight the softness in the stone while a concrete mantel grounds the room and the wooden beams tie everything together. A real weathered leather couch and a woven wool rug give the space an easy lived-in appeal.
The open concept allows the natural feel to flow from the living area to the kitchen. Maple cabinets and the first of its kind in Bismarck Taj Mahal quartzite countertop honors the homeowner’s love of clean lines.
Shannon loves her job and the role she gets to play in making her client’s
dreams reality. “My hope is my clients come with their coffee, and they see their inspiration photo and that’s it. I want the process to be enjoyable for people.” And in working tirelessly to make the process enjoyable for her clients Shannon gets to enjoy all her hard work, especially with this home.
“I totally understood the assignment and I felt attached to it and the story behind it. I love it when people want to do real, natural elements. It just makes it so serene. It feels like a big exhale.”
23 LSV
FIVE YEARS IN A ROW
