is move-in ready in

How is it possible to design and build a home without knowing who will ultimately occupy the residence?

For builders J&R Sundberg Construction, Inc., the answer is threefold:

1) Construct the property using universal design (more on that later).

2) Make it super energy-efficient. Who wouldn’t want lower energy bills?

3) Utilize a professional designer to make the space beautiful.

Spec home

Located in Duluth’s Morley Park neighborhood, 545 Glenwood St. was built “on spec.” This means it was designed and constructed with the belief that a buyer would eventually come along and purchase the home after it was built.

This new home offers 1,838 square feet of one-level, energy-efficient living. It has three bedrooms and two bathrooms and sits on a 69-by-174-foot lot with a two-car garage. The home is built on a slab with no basement.

Top: This home offers one-level living, where the residents can age in place. Builders, J&R Sundberg, selected Maintenance free and durable materials throughout the home.

Above: A seating area for 2 is set-up in the nook between the attached garage and front entrance of the house.

Ty Sundberg, Project Manager with J&R Sundberg, said 545 Glenwood is the 25-year-old company’s first spec home. He isn’t too concerned that the home, which is listed at $450,000, will sell. “The Duluth real estate market seems pretty solid right now,” he said.

The property was part of the recent Parade of Homes, and Sundberg said the feedback has been incredibly positive. “Customers have been asking for one-level, energy-efficient homes with an open floor plan,” he said. And although the exterior is modern, featuring black siding and natural, thin veneer stone, almost everyone who sees it loves it.

Universal design

The home was constructed using universal design, meaning while it’s not designed specifically for people with disabilities, it also will be comfortable for seniors and people with disabilities.

“A home with many levels doesn’t appeal to people at retirement age,” Sundberg said. “This home offers onelevel living, where the residents can age in place. There are no stairs, and the home has large doorways. The tile shower can even be accessed with a wheelchair.”

The home would be equally safe and comfortable for people who aren’t elderly or disabled but are interested in convenient, easy living. The exterior siding is constructed of maintenance-

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Continued on page 52 free steel, and the flooring and countertop materials were specifically chosen for durability and ease of use.

Although vacant, the entire home is staged and features beautiful furnishings from Amish Furniture Haus. All interior touches, including rugs, lamps, cabinetry, flooring and artwork, have been provided from Bradley Interiors.

Interior design

While J&R already had a building plan in mind, interior designer Linda Beeman of Bradley Interiors designed all aspects of the home.

“I handled the cabinetry, layout of the furniture, flooring, tile and lighting, and then we also added a few elements of my original design, such as a wall constructed of wood batten, laid out in a grid pattern,” said Beeman, who has 30 years’ experience in the profession.

“Normally, when you’re working with a client, you know their wants and specific tastes,” she said. “This was my first time working on a spec home. While Duluth is a relatively conservative area, we wanted the home to have a somewhat contemporary look. I like a classic design that transcends time, and I think we pulled it off.”

Master suite

Beeman used chrome fixtures in the kitchen and bathrooms. “Chrome is a classic finish,” she said. “I’m told that in Europe, they only use chrome.”

The master bath offers a large, quartz-topped vanity with double sinks, perfect for a couple sharing the space. A small window between the sinks allows plenty of natural light into the room. Simple concrete-looking porcelain tile on the floor abuts a walk-in “curbless” shower featuring a shower pipe mechanism, a rainfall shower head and a detachable handheld shower head.

Large white tile, 12-by-24 inches, with a faint gray veining was used inside the shower, with a lovely mosaic of sliced rock lining the shower floor. One interior shower wall has textured tiles that mimic the look of waves. “The juxtaposition of the rock with the white tile really gives the shower an eclectic look,” Beeman said.

The attached master bedroom is a cozy sanctuary, offering three windows, a walk-in closet and pendant light fixtures on either side of the bed. This room also features the unique

Continued on page 54 accent wall Beeman dreamed up, made of 2-inch boards arranged in a grid pattern. Purposely located at a distance from the rest of the home, the master suite provides plenty of privacy.

Great room

The home’s great room features an office (which also could be used as a bedroom) connected off to the left by a set of French doors. An open-concept living-dining-kitchen area takes up the rest of the space.

The great room is bright and airy with a tray ceiling and a clerestory window sitting just below the ceiling line, providing plenty of natural light. A stone-veneered natural gas fireplace is adorned with a simple, clean-looking floating timber mantel. Flooring throughout the home (except in the master bath) utilizes luxury vinyl tile (LVT), providing a dark, natural wood look with easy care. The entire home is painted in a warm, soft shade of gray.

The dining area offers intimate seating and a large window. A rustic light fixture, with a rectangular “cage” housing several Edison bulbs, hangs above the dining table.

The galley kitchen is long and narrow, with a wall of sleek, contemporary dark oak cabinets and an island. The kitchen area also has a generous pantry. The countertops are constructed of white quartz with gray veining, resembling Carrara marble. Quartz is harder and more durable than granite and requires no sealing. Pendant-style light fixtures mounted above the kitchen island resemble gallon water jugs. The kitchen features black stainless Samsung appliances from Johnson Mertz.

Laundry area and back hallway

The laundry room is well-appointed with a sink, undercounter basket and plenty of hanging space. The navy blue cabinetry contrasts nicely with white laminate counters where the homeowners can comfortably fold their laundry. The Samsung washer and dryer were provided by Johnson Mertz.

The home’s back hallway area features an open closet system with a bench. This provides a convenient “drop off”

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A convenient location for personal accouterments location for personal accoutrements as you enter the home from the two-car attached garage.

Main bathroom and spare bedrooms

The home’s “main” bathroom features white subway tile, dark oak cabinetry, and LVT flooring consistent with the rest of the home. The additional bedroom is comfortable for children or overnight guests. The room currently set up as an office could easily be converted into an additional bedroom.

Exterior

The maintenance-free, seamless steel siding and natural, thin veneer stone of the home’s exterior is complemented by stone paver edging, rock mulch around the perimeter, a large natural stone retaining wall, stamped concrete walks and a spacious back patio. There is a doorway leading from the back patio directly into the great room, providing convenient access to and from the outdoor space.

Energy efficient

The home is incredibly energy efficient, outfitted with a luxurious infloor heating system, powered by an air source heat pump. This system also cools the house.

This ductless mini-split system is used until temperatures dip below zero, when the high-efficiency natural gas boiler system kicks in. Three separate “zones” provide the ability to control temperatures in different areas of the house. It’s easy to switch between heating and air conditioning. After all, “In the same 24-hour period in Duluth, you can be heating and cooling your home,” Sundberg said.

The home’s windows are tripleglazed Marvin windows, providing an additional layer of quiet in addition to energy efficiency. The attic is insulated above code to R60, using blown cellulose recycled newsprint insulation. The exterior walls are also rated above code and insulated to R26. Energy sipping LED lights have been utilized throughout the house.

Awaiting its occupants

With beauty, functionality and energy efficiency to spare, 545 Glenwood St. is a fully move-in ready house, simply awaiting its new family in order to make it a home. The folks at J&R Sundberg are incredibly pleased with how this project turned out, and are considering other spec homes in the future. They even welcomed a new addition to their business during the process; they were so happy with Linda Beeman’s work as interior designer that they hired her to come on board! Whether you’re in the market for this particular house, or want to build your own, J&R Sundberg offers comprehensive service from the first initial contact to handing over your new house keys. They offer home remodeling, too. And with interior design services included in their pricing, your home can absolutely become the home of your dreams. D

For more information, please visit jrsundberg.com or bradleyinteriorsmn. com.