HOME +GARDEN driftless HOMETOWN CALLING
Couple returns to Decorah –where it all began
BY ROZ WEIS DECORAH LEADER STAFF WRITER
Scott and Ann Ulring are right at home in their newly renovated ranch rambler in the heart of Decorah, fulfilling hopes of reconnecting with their roots and contributing to the community.
A down-to-the-studs renovation of the house was completed in a year, and the home has been transformed into a stylish family dwelling.
Scott, a Decorah native, and his wife Ann met at Luther College. They graduated in 1984 and made their home in the Minneapolis area. The Ulrings have two children, Jane and Adam, both residing in the Twin Cities.
“We chose to return to Decorah because we felt it was the ideal place to retire,” Ann said. “We are drawn to the natural beauty of the Driftless, the vitality of Water Street, the cultural offerings of Luther College and the friendliness of Decorah’s townspeople. We love being a part of the Decorah community; communities like this simply don’t exist in the same way in a large city.”
In the back of their minds, a return to Decorah was always in the cards for the couple. Ann said they were
Ulring home
A down-to-the-studs renovation project brought new life to the Ulring home. Original cedar siding was found under the mint green vinyl siding of the home on South Mill Street in Decorah. Before and after photos show the transformation. (Photos by Roz Weis)
HOME + GARDEN 2025
struck by the simplicity of their future house and its proximity to the downtown area while passing the home one fall afternoon. They were also impressed with the community, which they said boasts natural beauty, outdoor recreational activities, a vibrant cultural scene and plenty of options for quality dining. Ann reached out to the owner of the Mill Street house, expressing their interest in the property if the owner ever planned to sell.
“We loved the location,” Ann said. “We knew it was right for us.”
The Ulrings purchased the home a few years ago, and remodeling began in 2023. The project was finished in the spring of 2024.
Ann described the renovated home’s design theme as Scandinavian modern with a farmhouse twist.
ABOVE- The home’s kitchen, dining and living area were combined into a new, open concept space. The Ulrings found a special place above their dining room table for their keepsake chandelier.
The project was grand in scope. The Ulrings raised the ceilings, added a 10-by-26 foot addition, attached the garage and removed the old, mint green vinyl siding, discovering the home’s original redwood siding underneath.
The home’s sleek, slab cabinetry, featuring flat, single-panel doors, stand out inside the renovated house’s open concept kitchen and living area. The cabinets’ simplicity also adds to the kitchen’s clean and uncluttered design. The kitchen, dining and living area were combined into a single, open space to allow a seamless flow of movement among the different areas.
The main floor also boasts two bedrooms, a full-bath and a three-quarter bath and laundry room.
The clever bathroom-laundry room combo features plenty of storage and offers a dual-purpose functionality.
A newly installed staircase provides wide access to the basement, creating a stylish and functional transition between the floors. Windows have been strategically placed along the staircase to provide views of the nearby steeples rising from Bethania Church and First Lutheran Church. The home’s cozy, lower-level nook is a comfortable escape from the outside world, complete with comfy sitting room, a family room, bathroom and guest room accommodations.
The space offers room for relaxation, recreation and sleeping, and it is decorated with keepsakes from the Ulring family’s years together.
The Ulrings said they prioritized essential upgrades while maintaining an affordable renovation, and they said keeping the renovation on target with a well-planned budget ensured a good return on their investment.
“I told Scott he married a ‘Sears’ girl,” Ann said with a
INSET- Scott and Ann Ulring relax in the living room of their renovated home near downtown Decorah.
Slab cabinetry, with flat, minimalist design, was the choice for the Ulring’s modern kitchen. (Photos by Roz Weis)
smile. “I like finding things on a budget.”
They furnished the home with beds, fixtures, tables and chairs from their previous homes. A keepsake chandelier hangs from the shiplap of the living area’s raised ceiling and adds a comfortable touch to the room.
The couple’s only new furniture purchases during the renovation project were a contemporary chair and sectional couch locally in Decorah.
The Ulrings, with help from Pinter’s Gardens of Decorah, opted to create a comfortable outdoor seating area as part of their front lawn renovation. A paved patio is situated near the
front door of the home. Passersby may take an upclose look at the landscaping this summer, as the Ulrings plan to be among the local residents who will open their lawns for the 2025 Nordic Fest Town and Country Garden Tour at the end of July. Scott said he and Ann are excited to contribute to what he sees as a common thread running through Decorah.
“The one thing that has surprised me since moving here is the depth of the artisan culture,” Scott said.
“By this I am not just talking about the obvious — the arts, music, the wood carving, the
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ABOVE PHOTOS- The lower level guest room is a calming, welcoming space with soft lighting and clever, innovative storage areas.
LEFT- A well-executed patio in the front yard is perfect for socializing and relaxing in the warmer months.
The home’s staircase boasts new windows, flooding the space with natural light and showcasing views of nearby church steeples.
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+ GARDEN 2025
Elevate the backyard experience
Chances are no one wants to replicate the side effects of the global pandemic anytime soon. Despite all of the upheaval it brought to so many people’s lives, there was at least one silver lining to the pandemic: a newfound appreciation for backyards and other outdoor living areas. Back in 2021, OnePoll, on behalf of the landscaping company
TruGreen, found survey participants reported spending 14 hours outside every week, which marked a three-hour in-
crease than before the pandemic hit.
Outdoor spaces like patios, decks, yards and even front porches remain popular places for homeowners and their loved ones to congregate. Various studies have shown that those who spend more time outside in nature have lower levels of stress, anxiety and depression. Being outside is strongly associated with improved mental and physical health. Homeowners who want to maximize the potential of their outdoor
spaces can look to these ideas to take backyards up a notch or two.
Establish a gathering spot
A well-designed yard has one or more dedicated gathering spots, particularly areas that enable comfort underfoot. Homeowners can give consideration to hardscape that enables individuals to spend time outdoors without standing in soggy or buggy situations.
Whether they’re traditional decks, platform decks, concrete or paver patios or areas separated from the lawn with pea gravel or another type of rock, homeowners can make the yard more useable through these spaces.
Invest in an outdoor cooking area
Grilling, smoking and even making brick oven pizzas outdoors are major components of
Spring planting pointers
Many people view spring as a season of rejuvenation. That renewal may be somewhat metaphorical for human beings, but it’s literal for lawns and gardens that begin to grow anew as temperatures rise and hours of daylight increase in spring.
Each spring presents an opportunity for homeowners to get back outside and tend to their gardens. As the temperatures rise, homeowners can consider these spring planning pointers to ensure their landscapes look lush and full in the months ahead.
• Start with the soil. Soil can serve as the starting point each spring. Winter can take its toll on a garden and even overwhelm the area with debris over the colder months. Clear rocks and other debris from the area before loosening the soil. The Farmer’s Almanac recommends loosening soil to a depth of at least eight inches if planting a new garden. An existing garden may only need to be loosened to a depth of around six inches, after which homeowners can mix compost into the soil in early spring. Compost is organic matter that provides nutrients and helps to build strong plant roots.
• Consider a raised garden in colder climates. The Farmer’s Almanac notes raised gardens can help homeowners in colder climates dry out and
warm up wet, cold soils more quickly. Homeowners in such regions also can cover their beds with black plastic or cardboard prior to planting. Doing so can protect the beds from late-season snow and spring rains and helps overcome erosion.
• Take soil temperatures. Unpredictable weather is among the noticeable effects of climate change in recent years. That lack of predictability can make spring planting a little more tricky than it once was. Experts note that soil temperatures around 50 degrees F are best for cool-season crops, while soil should be 60 degrees F or warmer when planting warm-weather plants such as tomatoes.
• Work with a garden center to identify what to plant. The right plants for one region may not be ideal for another, so homeowners are urged to work with a local landscaper or garden center before planting. Such consultation can be especially useful for homeowners planting a new garden. Landscapers and garden center professionals will know which plants work in the local climate.
• Consider planting vegetables in the spring. Various garden experts note that spring is an ideal time to plant a vegetable garden. If planted at the right time, a vegetable garden can save homeowners money
on their grocery bills and provide a season’s worth of fresh veggies. Lettuce and spinach are sun and shade-friendly vegetables, which can make them good options for a spring garden. Cool-season root vegetables, which include beets, carrots and Swiss chard, are some
other notable veggies that can thrive in early spring. Spring is a season of rejuvenation for gardens. That’s even more true when homeowners consider some conventional planting wisdom in early spring.
HOME + GARDEN 2025
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college — I am talking about the attention to craft, and it is everywhere. I see it in the people who lay the tile, the wiring, the finished carpentry in the walnut staircase, the pegged portal across the street, the fellow who works on old tractors by day and arranges symphonies in the evenings. It is there in the children — the sports, the speech, the music and more. It is there in the adults, the Decorah Chorale, the trails with the breathtaking stone work, the passion project stock cars on Friday evenings, the list goes on and on and on. There is an attention to craft and beauty that is immersive. I knew that Decorah as a ‘place’ was special. What I didn’t understand as well is that it is the people that actually make the place.”
Zillow, the term “cozy” appeared in 35 percent more real estate listings in 2024 than in 2023. Though various components can help to create a cozy vibe inside a home, wood has long been a go-to material when interior designers attempt to add warmth to a property. The home renovation experts at Houzz also cite wood-infused architectural warmth among their 10 most popular home trends in the coming year. Homeowners who want to capitalize on this trend before
A view from the front window of the Ulring home shows the old Painter-Bernatz Mill and nearby Heritage Park at Vesterheim Museum. (Photos by Roz Weis)
The kitchen area boasts plenty of open shelving for showcasing the Ulring’s collectibles, including a handcrafted tray from KL Design placed along the backsplash.