| HERMANTOWN | SUPERIOR | CLOQUET

overhead lighting. A “split” above the bed provides either air conditioning or heat. The owners say it doesn’t take much to heat the home, as the in-floor heat provides comfortable warmth throughout the house.

A pocket door opens to a roomy walk-in closet, complete with large dresser and organizer shelving. The connected master bath includes double sinks and a walk-in shower with large “rain” showerhead, similar to the showers the Bergums have seen and used in Mexico.

“We go to Mexico often, and my husband just loves these showers,” LaDonna explained.

The glittering tile and glass trim along with another oiled rubbed bronze faucet like in the kitchen appear again here, and Estoria granite tile covers the floor, shower bench and sink counter.

A frequent guest in Tom and LaDonna’s home is their 3-year-old granddaughter, Harper. She loves to stay in “her” bedroom in the home, which includes a white metal bed fashioned in an antique style and quaint prints from France. It’s a little girl’s dream room.

A cozy den, powder room and more

The den feels like a cozy lodge, with slate floor tile, an iron-and-stone woodburning fireplace (the stone comes from the Bergums’ property), wood accents, windows that look out into the woods, and a sliding door that opens to the poured cement patio that is stamped to look like cobblestone.

The hallway leading to the garage includes a little closet that’s perfect for housing the vacuum; two coat closets — one for each of the home owners; the mechanical room; a door to the garage; and a door to a room above the garage that’s destined to be Tom’s “man cave.” And don’t forget the “Doggy Condo” — a small tile-covered room with a doggy grooming station and shower. The sliding door is an old stall door bought from a farmer in Esko.

Open the pocket door with the crystal handle, and you’re in the “Powder

Room.” It includes a large pedestal porcelain sink with a polished nickel faucet, and industrial-look shelving made by LaDonna with plumbing piping.

“LaDonna’s Room,” or the laundry room

Finally, a very important room in the house is “LaDonna’s Room.” She has masqueraded it as “the laundry room” so that no one else will want to enter it! But it contains so much more than the stainless-steel washer/dryer and huge antique porcelain laundry sink. This is where LaDonna keeps her ribbons and wrapping papers, sewing machines and several of her handmade baskets, as well as many other secret treasures. For a light and airy look, the cabinetry is painted white and the granite countertop is colonial cream.

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A home of dreams

LaDonna and Tom have created the home they dreamed of for five years. They’ve filled it will the souvenirs and antiques that they love. They’ve lived in it now for 2½ years, and they still have dreams they hope to fulfill there — several of which might just make use of their red barn.

“We’re pondering getting alpacas or goats, and we will definitely have chickens this spring,” LaDonna said. “We both think we were farmers in a former life.” D

Alison Stucke is a Duluth freelance writer and frequent contributor to The Woman Today.

by Matthew H. Hanka

Spring is construction season. Are you planning a project? If so, you may find the following tips helpful.

First, how do you identify a contractor for your project? Is the work specialized or general? Have you used a certain contractor before and been pleased with the result? Or, can a trusted contractor give you a referral if the work is outside their expertise? Finally, you can ask trusted neighbors, co-workers and business contacts for referrals.

Is contractor licensing important? Hiring a Minnesota licensed contractor ensures that the company has met certain standards that include continuing education and maintenance of proper liability insurance — both important considerations. Also, hiring a licensed contractor may allow access to Minnesota’s Contractor Recovery Fund, which is a statutory safeguard that compensates owners who have suffered losses because of fraudulent, deceptive or dishonest practices.

Once you have identified a contractor, and assured that the contractor has the proper credentials, you are ready to proceed with outlining