A cozy craftsman in the woods

By Andrea Busche

WhenKim and Tony Radloff made the decision to build their next home, a comfortable Craftsman-style abode set on seven acres in Fredenberg Township, they were up to the challenge. After all, this was the second time they had built a home from scratch. And it was also the second time they hired Jeff Nelson, owner of Nelson Builders of Duluth, LLC, as their general contractor.

The couple explained the reason for their repeat business.

“Jeff is extremely meticulous,” Tony noted. “He holds himself and his sub-contractors accountable. He was here swinging the hammer himself, and had his hands in every aspect of the build.”

“Jeff treated me as an equal, and I really appreciated that,”

Kim added.

And, when selecting their home designer, the Radloffs trusted the word-of-mouth recommendations provided from friends, who said Heather Hiner, of Hiner Home Designs, LLC was simply the best. And they definitely weren’t disappointed.

“Heather was knowledgeable, professional, and very easy to work with,” Kim said. “We worked together seamlessly toward the end result we wanted.”

Since the Radloffs had been through the building process before, they had learned a few tips to make the process go more smoothly the second time around. And being prepared in advance with their preferences was key.

“I had a lot of things picked out ahead of time,” Kim said, in regards to color schemes, finishes and other aesthetics, noting that she enjoyed doing research on the website Houzz in her spare time.

“Kim was very organized,” Nelson added. “I would give her a list of items to pick out, and she would return with a very detailed list that even included SKU numbers.”

And Tony had researched other important components, such as home insulation and heating systems.

So, when it came time to start the planning and building process, this couple hit the ground running. The planning began in October 2017, and the Radloffs moved into their new home in May 2018.

Active couple

The Radloffs are an incredibly active couple who enjoy both exercise and time spent outdoors. Kim, who works as Essentia’s security manager, is a triathlete, and Tony, a police officer, has a master’s degree in exercise physiology. He has coached and trained high school athletes and police officers though his proprietary program, Thinner Blue Line. Tony actually discovered the plot of land for their new home while he was out biking.

So, a primary desire for the Radloff floor plan was having a comfortable place to work out. Nelson definitely came through for them, constructing a huge, commercialgrade gym, which the couple outfitted with a wide variety of exercise equipment, along with Bluetooth stereo and a big screen TV.

“Something I would say is unique about the home,” Nelson said, “is that we situated a 14-foot by 25-foot exercise room in the middle of the one-level home and built the rest of the home around it.”

In addition to their love of working out, the Radloffs had a few other requests.

“Natural sunlight, exterior views, and outdoor living space makes this home perfect for entertaining and personal relaxation, which was what the homeowner requested for their new home,” Hiner said.

As such, both the front porch and back patio have a covered roof, providing protection from the elements. These two outdoor spaces, in a beautiful setting surrounded by trees, are a great place to grill or relax with a cup of coffee.

The home has plenty of natural light, including an entire wall of Marvin windows in the living room, providing bright, warm southern exposure. And the open concept living/dining/ kitchen area provides a great place for the couple to entertain family and friends.

Exterior, mechanicals and color scheme

The home’s exterior siding is constructed of LP SmartSide in a dark grey shade with cream trim and deep chocolatecolored shakes, and the home’s insulation is dense packed fiberglass.

“We tried to build for energy efficiency whenever possible,” Tony said. The roof is topped with asphalt architectural shingles.

The home features comfortable in-floor heat, perfect for the most frigid of Minnesota winters.

“They have two heating systems,” Nelson noted. “An in-floor hot water boiler with forced air and AC, plus a gas fireplace.”

The entire home is painted in earth tones from the

Sherwin Williams collection, in colors like Tavern Taupe and Balanced Beige. The one exception is the gym, which is painted in a more festive shade called Copper Pot.

The home’s flooring features a combination of porcelain and ceramic tile, which accomplished double duty by accommodating the in-floor heating system, along with being low-maintenance and easy to clean. Lighting in the home is a combination of pendant lighting and sconces, along with recessed lighting. Built-in nightlights are also one of this home’s wonderful, well-thought-out conveniences.

Beds and baths

The Radloff home features two bedrooms, two and a half bathrooms, and is 2,200 square feet. It is a one-story home, built on a slab with footings. The home’s size feels comfortable, open and cozy, and is the perfect amount of space for the Radloffs and their adorable Morkie pup, Gizmo.

The well-appointed master suite offers the convenience of direct access to the exterior patio. The attached master bathroom features a double granite-topped sink, soaking tub, and a walk-in shower with three styles of matching tile, which is Kim’s favorite part of the home.

The master suite is connected, via pocket door, to a large walk-in closet. In addition to saving space, the pocket door offers quiet entry and exit, which benefits Tony, who works some overnight shifts. A laundry room is conveniently located directly “next door” to the closet, making the task of washing and putting away clothes a breeze.

The guest bedroom, with a large closet and two windows, is comfortable, and situated directly across the hall from the guest bathroom. And the home’s bathroom count is rounded out by a powder room near the garage.

Living areas

As noted, the home features an open concept kitchen/ living room/dining room. The kitchen features a Kitchen Aid appliance package in a black stainless finish, all sourced from Johnson Mertz. The Dura Supreme soft-close cabinetry, purchased from Billman Construction, is made of knotty alder, and features steel pulls with a black finish. While the couple has a dining table, as a family of two, they typically dine at their elegant quartz-topped island unless they are entertaining.

The living room features a beamed, vaulted ceiling, a custom-built bookcase, and a Mendota gas fireplace with faux birch logs. The fireplace surround is finished in Eldorado Chapel Hill Stacked Stone.

And, when the couple isn’t relaxing in the living room, you’ll likely find them in the “bonus room” located above

Warm, the attached, two-car garage, which is outfitted with theater lighting and surround sound – perfect for football games or movie night. While Tony is a Vikings fan, Kim roots for the Packers. In the interest of marital harmony, it can be beneficial to have two places to watch the big game.

Plans to age in place

While today, the Radloffs are an incredibly active couple in the prime of life, they purposely built their new home with plans to age in place.

“The doorways are all wide enough to accommodate walkers or wheelchairs, and we have a curbless shower,” Tony noted. “We plan to stay here in retirement.”

Kim and Tony Radloff achieved their dream of a lovely, comfortable home in a peaceful, serene setting. And with a bit of planning, along with the expertise of experienced professionals, they got exactly what they wanted.

“The homeowners were lovely to work with and more than happy to listen to my ideas and suggestions,” Hiner said. “So, the project was a good collaboration between them knowing the elements of what they wanted and trusting me to piece those ideas together into what ultimately became their final blueprints.”

“We are so happy with the end result,” Tony said. “We would definitely hire Jeff and Heather again. In fact, I couldn’t imagine building with anyone else.” D