JUNE 2019
COMPLIMENTARY
PROSat Home
LOCAL INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS SHOW THEIR OWN HOMES
DESIGN & LIVING
TEAM
At Design & Living Magazine, our goal is to create a publication that is just as much fun to read as it is to view. Here are the writers, designers, photographers and contributors who so affably use their time and talents to tell a story and give our pages purpose.
HILLARY EHLEN PHOTOGRAPHER
Ehlen is an editorial photographer for Spotlight Media and owner of Hillary Ehlen Photography. She is a native of Fargo and attended North Dakota State University for visual arts with an emphasis in photography.
JESSE HOORELBEKE PHOTOGRAPHER
Hoorelbeke is a former professional baseball player turned photographer. He is the owner of J. Alan Paul Photography in Fargo and veteran, lead editorial photographer for Spotlight Media. Hoorelbeke specializes in editorial, commercial, architectural and landscape photography.
SARAH GEIGER ART DIRECTOR
Geiger is a MSUM graduate with a BFA with an emphasis in Graphic Design. She is the lead publication designer for Design & Living Magazine, Fargo Monthly and Fargo INC! magazines at Spotlight Media.
SARAH STAUNER GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Originally from central Wisconsin, Stauner relocated to the FargoMoorhead area in 2017. She is a graduate of the University of Minnesota Duluth, where she recieved her BFA in Graphic Design and Marketing.
PAUL H. GLEYE CONTRIBUTOR
Gleye is a professor of architecture at North Dakota State University. His fields of expertise include historic preservation and urban design, and he leads the architecture school’s term abroad program in Europe each spring semester.
JOHN GUNKLEMAN CONTRIBUTOR
Gunkelman is current Home Builders Association of F-M president. He owns Dakota Construction of Fargo, Inc., specializing in custom homes, commercial remodeling and residential remodeling.
CHRISTEN ANDERSON CONTRIBUTOR
Anderson is a Minnesota native with an eye for decor and design. She is the owner of Christen Joy: Inspired Interiors & Events and is known for her exceptional remodels, expert home staging, accessorizing high-end living spaces and creating memorable events. Anderson is also a passionate art collector, world traveler and home cook who frequently entertains friends.
Te l l
M E A ST O R Y
Dear Readers,
This month, I got the chance to be a little selfish. As a writer, I have come to celebrate and admire the art of storytelling. Many creatives will agree that storytelling is a powerful force, one that can sway sales, envoke tears or influence the subconscious. Sharing tales is what makes us human. To say it lightly, I love storytelling. From framed family photos to memoirs from vacations abroad, I celebrate the art of storytelling that comes with interior decorating. In my own home, I consider myself a "sentimental hoarder." A framed poster from a music festival I went to, a stack of shells found scuba diving in Hawaii, an embroidery project I made in a surface-design course I took in college, a miniature bail of cotton from my family's old gin and grain company in Alabama. The list goes on. I'd like to think that my house looks like I, Alexandra Martin, live there. In making Design & Living each month, we look at a lot of homes and commercial spaces. From house to house and project to project, we often can see the fingerprints of those who have touched the project in some way. The personalities of those working behind a project often show through, whether they realize it or not.
We know a lot of our readers love to spend their summers in lakes country. So that you won't miss out on an issue while sunning lakeside, we've extended our distribution to the lakes area for our May, June, July and August issues. To readers who are seeing this magazine for the first time in their mailbox: welcome! Next month is our heavily anticipated lake living issue. If you're reading this and know of a beautiful lake home that you'd like to grace these pages, email me at alexandra@spotlightmediafargo.com.
This month we are asking: when given no outer preferences or restraints from clients, what do industry professionals do to make their own homes shine? As I mentioned before about being selfish this month, I enjoyed seeing how these industry professionals —professionals who have access to all sorts of resources— made their homes their own. Until next month,
ALEXANDRA MARTIN Editor
2019
Design & Living Magazine
Becky Muller Social Media Coordinator North Dakota Interior Designers
Melissa Rademacher President & CEO Downtown Community Partnership
downtownfargo.com
We at Design & Living Magazine want to make sure that our content is accurate, unbiased and reflects the local home industry. That is why we meet with our Editorial Advisory Board, which is made up of representatives from local, statewide and national organizations. Each month, we listen to their feedback and discuss innovations in local art, architecture, home decor, interior design and landscaping.
Photos by Hillary Ehlen and J. Alan Paul Photography
ndid.org
Editorial Advisory Board
Rich Lahren Hardscape Committee Member, Past Board Member & Past President North Dakota Nursery, Greenhouse & Landscape Association
Chris Hawley Licensed Architect/Member American Institute of Architects
Krista Mund Executive Vice President Home Builders Association of Fargo-Moorhead
Dayna Del Val President & CEO The Arts Partnership
theartspartnership.net aia.org hbafm.com ndnga.com 12
DESIGN & LIVING | J U N E 2 01 9
2019
contents
JUNE
FEATURE STORY
26 Pros at Home
Instead of showing us their latest projects, this month we asked area home professionals to show us their own homes. These industry superstars spend their work-week making clients' homes beautiful, but in this issue, we took a closer look into the places they call home. Andy Sourdif's Contemporary Comforts James and Melanie Iverson's Global Maximalism Jimmy Tehan & Kimberly Kreuger-Tehan's Custom Traditional
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Designing with Joy
In each issue of Design & Living Magazine, residential and commercial designer Christen Anderson of Live Christen Joy will answer a home design or lifestyle question. This month she celebrates welcoming home her new puppy London with a festive and fun puppy-shower!
Reinventing The Cheese Wheel with Milk Made
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Spaces the Work
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Cloud House – A Floodproof Home in Fargo
Join contributor Paul H. Gleye as he provides insight into some of our area's most interesting architectural feats. This month, he discusses architect Regin Schwaen and artist Meghan Duda's Cloud House along the Red River floodplain.
Meet Megan Lewis, the cheesemonger behind Milk Made Catering: a cheese-centric catering company. Learn about how she combines food and art and pick up some tips on summer entertaining.
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An Industrial Meets Modern Kitchen
Mike and Kim Hendrickson recently finished a drastic kitchen and living area remodel in their south Fargo home. With help from Showplace Cabinetry Design Center, they reimagined their living space into a modern and practical beauty.
Each month, we are excited to feature commercial spaces that work. Design & Living has always been a community resource to all things home and design. This month we looked at BNG Team's fun-filled office.
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Glass Act
Stained Glass artist Nick Walberg of Walberg Glass & Light takes the ageold art and turns it modern with his artistic interpretations of the craft.
ON THE COVER Andy Sourdif, manager of McNeal & Friends, enjoys his contemporary downtown digs.
NEXT MONTH One of our most anticipated issues is finally happening! Each summer, we look forward to heading out to the lakes and exploring the area's finest homes. We can't wait to take you to the water with us and show you what we've discovered along Minnesota's lakes.
For more exclusive, original content,
FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM @designandlivingmagazine
JUNE 2019 Design & Living Magazine is a free publication distributed 12 times a year. Our mission is to showcase all that the Red River Valley has to offer in terms of interior design, architecture and landscaping, profiling the people that make these possible. We also strive to provide a quality and fun reading experience and improve the way of life in our community. The publication is mailed to homes across the US and has stand distribution throughout North Dakota and Minnesota.
Publisher
Mike Dragosavich Drago@SpotlightMediaFargo.com
Chief Operations Officer
EDITORIAL
Editorial Director
Editor Art Director Graphic Designer Director of Photography Photography
Steve Kruse Andrew Jason Andrew@SpotlightMediaFargo.com
Alexandra Martin Sarah Geiger Sarah Stauner Hillary Ehlen Photography@SpotlightMediaFargo.com
J. Alan Paul Photography jesse@jalanpaul.com
Contributors
INTERACTIVE
Business Development Manager
Christen Anderson, John Gunkelman, Paul H. Gleye
Nick Schommer nickschommer@spotlightmediafargo.com
Creative Director Digital Marketing Strategist Videographer Client Relations Administrator Executive Sales Assistant
ADVERTISING
Simon Andrys Tommy Uhlir Patrick Thompson Alex Kizima Kellen Feeney
Associate Sales Director
Neil Keltgen
Senior Sales Executive
Paul Hoefer Paul@SpotlightMediaFargo.com
Sales Executives
Ross Uglem Ross@SpotlightMediaFargo.com
Zach Olson Zach@SpotlightMediaFargo.com
Ella Harrison Ella@SpotlightMediaFargo.com
Client Relations Client Relations Manager Business Development Executive
ADMINISTRATION VP of Human Resources
Office Manager
DISTRIBUTION Delivery
clientrelations@spotlightmediafargo.com
Jenny Johnson Gigi McColm Colleen Dreyer Wendy Kalbrener
Bruce Crummy, John Stuber, Craig Sheets
Design & Living Magazine is published by Spotlight Media, LLC. Copyright 2019 Design & Living Magazine & designandlivingmagazine.com. All rights reserved. No parts of this magazine may be reproduced or distributed without written permission of Design & Living Magazine and Spotlight Media, LLC is not responsible for, and expressly disclaims all liability for, damages of any kind arising out of use, reference to, or reliance on such information. Spotlight Media, LLC accepts no liability for the accuracy of statements made by the advertisers.
ADVERTISING: 701-478-SPOT (7768) spotlightmediafargo.com Send change of address information and other correspondence to: Spotlight Media, LLC 15 Broadway N. Suite 500, Fargo, ND 58102 or info@spotlightmediafargo.com
TAKE A LOOK AT
Spotlight Media's Other Magazines
What is workplace culture? How do you cultivate it in your business no matter the number of employees in your office? We sat down with businesses of all sizes this month and learn how they have created great company culture in their offices and how that allows them to grow as a business. So grab your notebooks and get ready to create your own business culture checklist.
There is no shortage of things going on as the weather warms here in Fargo-Moorhead. How do you know where to go, what to eat and what to do all summer? Do not fret! We have you covered with our version of the ultimate Fargo summer, complete with patios, food trucks, music, events and so much more. What are you waiting for? Get out and enjoy the summer in the Red River Valley!
LEARN MORE ABOUT US spotlightmediafargo.com
MEET THE TEAM
STEVE
ANDREW
NOLAN
SARAH
JENNY
JESSE
COLLEEN
BRUCE
JOHN
ALEX
JENNY
SIMON
NEIL
JENNIFER
MIKE
ALEXANDRA
SARAH
HILLARY
NICK
CRAIG
PATRICK
ROSS
PAUL
TOMMY
KELLEN
ZACH
WENDY
ELLA
by John Gunkelman Dakota Construction of Fargo, Inc. Home Builders Association of Fargo-Moorhead
Identify and stash
SAVING FOR A DOWN PAYMENT
W
e look forward to celebrating Homeownership Month each June here at the Home Builders Association! When it comes to affording a home, it’s essential to tackle one thing well ahead of time: the down payment.
Even a modest down payment can be more money than many first-time buyers have ever put together in one place before. The median down payment for first-time buyers is around 7 percent. On a $200,000 house price, that comes to $14,000, or saving $1,167 each month for a year — so, for most people, accumulating that down payment would be a multi-year project. One of the benefits of buying a home in North Dakota or Minnesota is that both states have great first-time homebuyer programs to make the burden of a down payment more achievable. Some of these programs can get you into a home for as little as $500 out-of-pocket, based on certain qualifications! Talk to your lender for more details. In theory, saving for a down payment has two simple parts: identify money you can spare and stash it where it’ll stay put. Consider these suggestions: • Put your savings where it’s not in the mix of your regular spending money, like a separate savings account. • Cut back on frequent small luxuries like coffee-shop drinks.
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• Make sure that savings go toward the down payment and don’t trickle out unnoticed in other incidental expenses or impulse purchases. For example, if you cut a daily $5 coffee expense, then every Sunday you can transfer $35 to your separate down payment savings account. • Analyze spending. Consider setting a budget for clothing or eating out. Check your credit card or bank withdrawals to get an idea of how much you spend eating out each month. Decide how much you’ll cut back and bank the savings. • Set up an automatic payday transfer. Choose an amount you can afford and have your bank automatically send that to savings. • Use a cash rewards credit card. Wait for the rewards to reach maximum dollars per point before you cash in and put the money in your down payment account. • Bank any windfalls — tax refunds, bonuses on the job or cash gifts. If you get a significant cash gift, you’re likely to need a letter for your mortgage lender confirming that it’s a gift and not a loan. • Consider moonlighting. Perhaps you could babysit, walk dogs, do yard work or even take a part-time job for a few hours a week — then stow those checks directly in your down payment account. Buying a home is a great long-term investment. The HBA of F-M has many members who can help you on your path to homeownership! From lenders to Realtors to builders, you can find them all at www.hbafm.com/FindAMember.
John Gunkelman is current Home Builders Association of F-M president. He owns Dakota Construction of Fargo, Inc., specializing in custom homes, commercial remodeling and residential remodeling.
Home Builders Association of Fargo Moorhead Nurture a thriving, innovative and diverse housing industry in our community
For more information, contact: hbafm.com info@hbafm.com facebook.com/ HBAFargoMoorhead twitter.com/hbafm
DESIGNING
with joy
INSPIRED INTERIORS AND EVENTS WITH CRISTEN JOY
A
proper
PUPPY SHOWER BY Christen Anderson | PHOTOS BY Hillary Ehlen
QUESTION: WOULD CHRISTEN JOY EVER CONSIDER TAKING ON CLIENTS FOR SPECIAL EVENTS?
Invites -Sara Fitz Studio of York Harbor, Maine, sarafitz.com Catering & Desserts – Nichole’s Fine Pastry & Café Flowers – Love Always Floral
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Well, life’s busy at Christen Joy — as you’ve read! Last month, we flipped homes, redesigned a condo and designed an entire new apartment complex. But they say if you want something done right, ask a busy person! That’s why we’re thrilled to extend the trusted Christen Joy brand to special events. What’s a special event? Think entertaining at home, holidays, girl's nights in, baby’s first birthday or something we did recently...a puppy shower!
London, our fawn Bullmastiff at Christen Joy enjoyed a proper puppy shower this month. We thought it’d be fun to share how you can pamper the amazing pet parents in your life using our example and easy tips.
ENVISION THE THEME Whether you’re designing a home, room or an event, take time to picture or envision what you want. Search online, save
magazine photos or keep an idea file. Use these to set your theme. For London, the theme was preppy, fresh, fun and fabulous. I gathered ideas from Pinterest and blogs and compiled a list of colors, flowers, food and parting gifts. The color palette was pinks, white and an irreverent splash of tennis ball yellow. To enhance the preppy vibe, I chose a gingham pattern. The theme and initial
details were enough to select partners who could help turn my vision into reality — the ‘magic makers’!
COMMUNICATE THE TONE Just like an entryway sets the tone for your home, an invite sets the tone for your event. I knew the invitations to London’s puppy shower had to communicate that the event was no ordinary puppy shower!
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In interior design, I study art and the methods or processes artists use to evoke feelings through their work. Why? Because I evoke feelings and moods through the spaces or events I design. Personally, I‘m drawn to a coastal mood – it’s relaxing, airy and sophisticated. For the puppy shower, I studied the work of Mainebased artist, Sara Fitz on Instagram and her website. Her watercolors were soothing, modern and preppy. I reached out to Sara, we connected and I asked if she’d do a commissioned watercolor of London and invites for her upcoming shower. As a fellow dog lover, she was eager to paint anything puppy related. We discussed the style of the shower and I shared details from my list. I communicated a hydrangea sprig, the pink and white gingham collar and a cursive “L” for femininity. Once the portrait of London was painted, which is now a keepsake, we moved forward with the details of the invite. Sara provided ideas on everything from fonts to color selections and helped me create the perfect invite – down to suggesting a tennis ball on the back flap of the envelope! With invites in hand, I addressed them, found a pretty stamp and headed to the mailbox. Next up: décor!
SET THE STAGE Now that people were saving the date, I planned details to make the day extra special. Online, I bought gingham ribbon, plates, napkins, table clothes and, of course, a puppy collar. Next, I found bulk tennis balls and dog treats — perfect to add throughout the home, for both décor and in floral arrangements. It’s also nice to plan something as a "wow" factor when guests arrived, so I selected a balloon garland in pinks, corals and creamy whites to display above cursive “London” balloons I found
online. It was the perfect touch to create that preppy and fun mood. Last, for freshness throughout: Love Always Floral. Christy Tehven and her team do an amazing job putting the finishing touches on any party. By simply communicating what I was aiming for, they provided recommendations. We locked in on white hydrangeas with tennis balls inside the vases — echoing the invite and look we were going for. Plus, one larger arrangement for that “wow” factor at the moment guests walked in, next to the balloons and “London” sign. There would be no doubt they had arrived at the right location. London’s framed photos from a recent puppy shoot with Tara Photography were placed throughout the room along with puppy snack “bones” and tennis balls for décor detail.
thrilled to work personally with her. Placed on appropriate dishware, each food had its moment and had cohesion with accompaniments when displayed. The food was impeccable. All items were made fresh that morning, down to the chive knots on the egg salad sandwiches.
SAVE ROOM FOR CAKE It’s not a proper shower without a cake. If you’re working with a baker, share as many details as possible – from colors, patterns, invitations, images, etc. I handed over the reins to Nichole to design London’s cake. I wanted it aligned with the theme...but a bit over the top. I knew she could deliver.
PLAN THE MENU Food and drink are a top priority. The selections must fit the party, be delicious and plentiful. Every host loves to hear how wonderful the food was and know that there was plenty for guests to enjoy. By providing a caterer print outs of your look and feel, and sharing what you are aiming for, such as colors, patterns, invitations and artwork, they can take your ideas to a wonderfully tasteful place. For London’s shower, I knew the event matched a favorite local place for coffee and a treat — Nichole’s Fine Pastry & Café. Online, I filled out a form and quickly heard back from Nichole. We scheduled a time to discuss my concept and plan the menu. I must admit, I had to dab a sweat bead when I met Nichole – she’s a bit of a celebrity and I was
Meet Christen Anderson of Christen Joy: Inspired Interiors & Events. Each month, she will answer a home design question posed by one of our readers. Anderson is a Minnesota native with an eye for decor and design. Christen Joy specializes in new-construction commercial projects, exceptional remodels, furnishing high-end living spaces and creating memorable special events. Anderson is also a passionate art collector, world traveler and home cook who frequently entertains for friends.
LONDON’S PUPPY
shower menu
Farro salad
broccoli, cauliflower, cucumber, radish, green onion with a basil vinaigrette
Heaping Veggie Tray with lemon basil dip
Open-faced cucumber rye sandwich with fresh salmon
Closed egg salad sandwich
The result? A two-tier, chocolate caramel sea salt and coconut cake, adorned with puppy paws, a collar and charm matching London’s portrait and two stacked doggie bones. The cakes were wrapped in white fondant and created the most polished and delicious puppy cake ever. For parting gifts, guests enjoyed individually wrapped custom sugar cookies with a gingham ribbon. Nichole created a tennis ball design, and the cursive “L” found on the charm, cake and invite. It was a perfect way to send off our guests as a "thank you" for joining the celebration. Thankfully, there were two left for me to enjoy! When you’re hosting, remember, food ends up being a large part of the décor. At some parties, it’s the main focal point. When this happens to you, it’s important to choose a caterer or baker with the design expertise and experience to create a memorable impression. In my example, I partnered with Nichole because I knew she’d make the perfect foods and hosting area centerpiece of amazing baked goods to leave guests raving about the decadent food for days.
CELEBRATE EVERY DAY London was freshly-bathed and wearing a new jeweled collar to greet family and friends. Guests enjoyed delicious food, refreshments and toasted to a precious new life in our Christen Joy family. We all have endless reasons to bring others closer to us. To show care and compassion. To throw a party. To eat cake and celebrate life. Plan an event today so you create a memory for tomorrow.
with chive tie
Chicken puff pastry
Join me on my Instagram & Facebook to see my latest projects and email me your design questions at christen@livechristenjoy.com to have the opportunity to have your question answered next month.
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Pros at Home BY Alexandra Martin | PHOTOS BY Hillary Ehlen
This month, instead of asking area professionals to show us their latest projects, instead we asked them to show us their own homes. These industry superstars spend their work-week making clients' homes and other spaces beautiful, but we wanted to turn the spotlight around and shine a light on their own homes. From interior decorators to builders to contractors, join us as we tour the homes of those who are behind many of our area’s greatest designs.
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James and Melanie Iverson's G L O B A L
M A X I M A L I S M
Founders, Mosaic Design + Build 29
Pros at Home
M E L A N I E
&
J A M E S
Mosaic Design & Build | mosaicfargo.com
M
BY Alexandra Martin | PHOTOS BY Hillary Ehlen
elanie and James Iverson’s north Fargo home is much more than just a redesign, it’s a new start. Melanie and James Iverson run Mosaic Design + Build, a design and general contracting firm that is passionate about creating spaces and places with excellence and integrity. Melanie serves as the lead designer while James is the lead of construction. Together, they live in North Fargo with their two tweens, Carter and Gracie, and a loyal yellow lab, Samuel Kingston Lover Jackson Keisha Ojuri Iverson, also known as "Sam."
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"We are surrounded by snow for seven months of the year, so I want my home to have that warmth as if I am living in a warmer climate." 31
Pros at Home
M E L A N I E
&
J A M E S
About Melanie and James Iverson and Mosaic Design + Build Mosaic Design + Build has paved a way for itself as a business that does it all. Melanie said, "I think something that sets us apart is that the design comes with the package. It’s part of what we offer." The duo added that they often work to design the client's vision within their specific budget. From initial vision to execution to decorating, the Iversons work with clients throughout their whole redesign process. As Melanie put into words her approach to design and her personal tastes, James interjected, "That’s one thing I love about you. Whatever is trending now, you’re always going where the puck is going to be, as opposed to where the puck is." In conversation with the couple, James many times injected words of praise like this about his wife, showing their admiration for each other, as partners in both business and life. New Beginnings This husband and wife duo create some of the warmest and most inviting spaces in town, but their outstanding teamwork has been a journey in itself. James and Melanie were married for seven years when they went through a rough patch that resulted in them divorcing. After almost four years, they found their way back to each other and now are coming into their second year of being remarried. Standing in their open-concept kitchen and living area, Melanie shared, "This is our first home since we’ve been remarried. We both moved into apartments when we were separated and divorced, and so for us, this is our restoring home. This means so much more than just redecorating. We have our family back again." From their rebirth, they created Mosaic. A friend of theirs had heard their story of separation and reconnecting and perfectly described their situation as a mosaic. As mosaics are made from individual pieces of tile and formed into one beautiful piece of art, as was the Iversons' lives. Melanie shared her friend's words, "'Wow, it sounds like your lives were shattered. Then God kept all the good pieces and put them back together.'" A Perfect Partnership Once they were remarried, they began dreaming big for their second chance together. With Melanie being an interior designer and James being a general contractor, they saw an opportunity for a professional partnership. Within their first year of remarriage, they started Mosaic and began renovations on their new home, which Melanie laughingly described as, "We are either really ambitious or really stupid." In the house they were living in at the time of their divorce, they were in the midst of some projects. In order to sell the house, James went ahead and executed all the visions Melanie had vocalized. "We sold that house and I saw how awesome it turned out. That came to be the foundation of why we decided to start this business together. We knew we were a good team. We knew we were a good fit, with her vision and my ability to figure out how to execute it," said James. Storytelling Through Decor "I like to mix the old and the new a lot," Melanie noted. "I love the vintage finds. It sounds funny, but I want every single thing that I decorate with to have a meaning or a story. That—to me— is really important." Sure enough, Melanie had stories to go with every corner of the home. She danced through the spaces, pointing our placemats from James's mother's trip to Fiji, gold wall mirrors from her great aunt, an acoustic guitar on the wall that was a birthday gift to Melanie from James during their first year of dating, a ratan light fixture that reminds her of chicken baskets she saw in a Qatar market while traveling. Virtually everything had a story.
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Cabinets - American Woodmark Cabinet Hardware- Build.com Countertops - White Quartz from Stone Countertop Outlet, Black Walnut Plank from Craft Art Company and finished by Mosaic Design + Build. Flooring- The Carpet Garage
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Pros at Home
M E L A N I E
&
J A M E S
As Melanie shared stories from various pieces, James chimed in, "The way that she decorates is ever changing. But there are a lot of staples that I’ve seen over and over again, but reused in so many different ways, which I think is really fascinating," said James, then turning to Melanie to add, "It’s really cool the way you do that." Among these memories are two matching ottomans and an entryway bench. "Right when we were starting our business, I found this Kilim vintage rug dealer who was selling off his stuff. I found this rug that was $100. This was right at the time we were starting and I didn't know if I could justify spending 100 whole dollars on a rug!" shared Melanie. Despite her financial doubts, her design eye took over and she purchased the rug. Shortly after, their business—unsurprisingly—took off. "The rug was damaged, which I was really disappointed about. But I kept it and I recovered these two ottomans and bench with it. It reminds me of when we got started," said Melanie. Global Maximalism In an ever-changing design world, Melanie subscribes to the belief that more is more. As Fargo's heritage is heavily Scandinavian, many interior styles lend themselves to minimalism. However, Melanie coins her style as "Global Maximalism," citing inspiration from Justina Blakeney's Jungalow designs and from her own global travels. "In college, I spent six months abroad. I had some really cool opportunities where I got to see places that look different than what I was used to. One of my favorite places was Barcelona, and then recently I was able to go to Madrid and Thailand. I just love how vibrant they feel," said Melanie. A Home for Family As this remodel marks the beginning of their rebuilt family, having this home designed for entertaining was the goal. When touring homes on the market and trying to decide which space they would picture their family in, this north Fargo home checked all the boxes. "I wanted a place where our kids would want to hang out and bring their friends over," said Melanie. "Family is important to me. When I walked into this house, I was just imagining what Christmas would be like and what it would be like to host the Fourth of July. So for me, this was it." This is the home they could envision their children graduating from and the place they could see themselves hosting family events. The quiet north Fargo neighborhood was the cherry on top of this family home. Even though there are still projects to be completed in their home, they are enjoying the process of being together as a family once again. Each project is an opportunity for teamwork and each successful execution serves as a reminder as to just how good of a team this duo is.
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Andy Sourdif 's C O N T E M P O R A R Y
C O M F O R T S
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Pros at Home A N D Y
S O U R D I F
McNeal & Friends | 3265 45th St S #128, Fargo | facebook.com/mcnealfriends
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BY Alexandra Martin | PHOTOS BY Hillary Ehlen
cNeal & Friends' manager, Andy Sourdif, lives just far away enough from the hustle of downtown Fargo, but just close enough to please his love of city-life. By day, he manages high-end home destination McNeal & Friends, where he is surrounded by upscale design services and exclusive furniture lines. When he is off the clock, he enjoys returning to his downtown flat where he surrounds himself with treasures from the store alongside found objects that tell his stories.
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Pros at Home A N D Y
S O U R D I F
About Andy + McNeal & Friends After living in larger cities for 10 years, Andy Sourdif returned to the Fargo-area two years ago to be near family. Sourdif went to school for fashion design, and with years of experience in the fields of apparel and design, style runs in his blood. Sourdif enjoys working at McNeal & Friends and gets inspiration from his coworkers' own tastes and ways of piecing things together. Something he admires is their design studio's ability to create unique spaces for all styles and tastes. With options to special order or custom design pieces of furniture or decor, possibilities are seemingly endless. "Our interior designers are so multifaceted. We have designers that trend towards traditional, and we have some that are a little more contemporary and some that are a little bit more California-chic," said Sourdif. "We really do have a well-rounded design team that can help anyone create the home of their dreams." Love at First Sight When Sourdif returned to the Fargo-area after being away for 10 years, he wanted to maintain a feeling of city-living that he was accustomed to. In his home search, he knew he wanted to live near Island Park. In a wave of luck and perfect timing, he came across what would become his Fargo abode. He found the posting for his current 8th Street home the day it was posted online and immediately reached out. He was told there were already many other people interested in the space and to come to look at it soon if he was serious about it. Upon hearing this, Sourdif came to visit the apartment with a check in hand and claimed the flat as his own. Old-School Charm Besides its ideal location, the old-school charm of the space is what enchanted Sourdif. The dark hardwood floor contrasts with the neutral cabinets with the kitchen, making for a rich, blank canvas for Sourdif to work from. "I’m so particular with all the things that are around me, so I needed something neutral. I was able to create whatever I wanted in this space," he said. Although the square footage is small, the large windows and exposed brick walls make the space feel larger. Sourdif takes advantage of the large windows and often keeps them open, allowing breezes to dance through the airy linen curtains. "It's old. It's not perfect. It's dusty a lot of the time, thanks to having my windows open often. But you learn to live with it and it's part of living in an older building," Sourdif shared. In The Kitchen As with any space, what makes this space so special are the details. Throughout the spaces of his home—and especially in the kitchen— Sourdif enjoys decorating with found items. "My mom discovered this little antique store in Dilworth called Vintage Rose Antiques. It seems like every time I go there, I find something that I really love," he said. An oversized wooden spoon hung near the stove and a tawny ceramic bowl displayed on the wall near the entryway are just a few of the antique treasures he has thoughtfully scattered around the space.
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"I think that working in the type of place that I do, where I’m very busy all the time, I need to come home to a place that makes me feel comfortable."
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Beyond decorative antique pieces, he ensures many of his objects are practical. "It has to be utilized, but I wanted it to be beautiful, too," he said regarding the bowls and containers on his countertop. A dark wood table from Four Hands and two Ward dining chairs by Gabby, all from McNeal & Friends, tie the kitchen area together. Sourdif said, "I love the lines of these chairs, it brought in the contemporary with the more organic, natural feels." Living with Found Objects "I think the living room is my favorite space in the whole place. There’s a lot of special pieces here," said Sourdif. A metal etagere bookcase commands much of the northern wall. Atop its open glass shelves are artfully placed goods, from art books like "Cézanne's Objects" by Joel Meyerowitz and "The Intangible" by Kerry Joyce to glossy ceramic jugs found at Fargo antique stores. Across the room on the south side is a down-filled custom sofa from Lee Industries. Reflecting on his own style, Sourdif said, "I was always more contemporary in my younger years, and I think, as I’ve grown older, I’ve really been drawn to more of an organic-meetscontemporary feel. I would have never gotten a skirted sofa before, but I love the way that it looks now. It’s more of a traditional style usually, but the lines of the sofa are a little bit more contemporary." The Lee sofa is slip-covered, allowing the opportunity for change, as Sourdif's tastes might further shift. Belgian linen Libeco pillows and handmade golden mohair throw pillows perfectly complete the seating space. Visual Comfort table lamps on either side table add a warm glow, complementing the gold-tone of these throw pillows. Minimalist Gallery On each of the walls framing the living room are minimalist pieces of art. While all uniquely different, each eggshell and black piece compliments the others and completes the space. Above the television and within the space between the metal shelving is a 1960's print. He came across this piece at market in Atlanta, where McNeal & Friends brought back many similar pieces from that same gallery. Above the couch is a piece from a McNeal & Friends favorite artist, Susan Hable. Appropriately, the piece is titled "artifacts." Andy shared, "I thought it was nice to put this piece on the other side of the room where all my own artifacts are." An Understated Bedroom Sourdif wanted his bedroom to be understated and uncomplicated. "This room is probably the most simple of all the rooms. This is where I sleep, so I didn’t want a lot of noise happening," he shared. An antique grain scoop serves in place of a headboard above his linen-dressed bed. Cinderblocks were turned into bedside tables, echoing the texture of the exposed brick wall and adding an industrial tone. Through Sourdif's mixture of new and old, polished and rough, he's created the perfect space to relax and be comfortable.
Jimmy Tehan & Kimberly KreugerTehan's C U S T O M
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Krueger Construction | 1133-A Harwood Drive, Fargo | kruegerbuilt.com
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BY Alexandra Martin | PHOTOS BY Hillary Ehlen
rueger Construction was founded by Kimberly Kreuger-Tehan's father Greg Krueger the year she was born. Thirty-five years later, much of Kim's family has come on board the business, and now includes her brother, sister, brother-in-law, cousin, husband Jimmy Tehan and herself.
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About Jimmy Tehan & Kimberly Kreuger-Tehan and Krueger Construction Krueger Construction is a family owned and operated residential construction company, specializing in custom homes with smart and functional designs, quality construction and affordable pricing. They work step by step with clients to create beautiful homes, tailored to each unique homeowner. While each home is tailored, Krueger homes often fall under a modern-meets-classic style. "A lot of our designs are not starkly modern, not super farmhouse or super traditional, they incorporate little bits of all here and there," said Kim. With no black and white parameters to rule over them, Krueger Construction is wellversed in a variety of trends and knows how to adapt to them all. As in many small family businesses, each staff member wears multiple hats. Kim primarily focuses on marketing, sales and strategic development. Her husband Jimmy works as a project manager, as well as in floor plan development. Both of them are licensed Realtors, adding yet another position to their resumes. Kim shared that the company has seen an exciting past couple of years of growth and changes, introducing new roles and responsibilities for all. Moving Forward When the Tehan's build their current home, they envisioned it fitting into their three to five-year plan. Now encroaching on six years, they've been ready for a move. When working in the building industry, it's tempting to want to switch things up and start over again. Kim shared with a laugh, "We’ve done basically everything we can do here, so it’s time for another house." Not only enticed by new home trends they see on a daily basis, but their family dynamic has also shifted since they first moved into the home. Alongside Kim and Jimmy, they now have a two-year-old son Tripton. "Since we’ve had Tripton, almost every room has become his. He’s the king of the house for sure," Kim smiled. Since building this house five years ago, their lives and priorities have changed. Kim noted that five years ago, things they envisioned being ideal for them 10 years down the road are not the case anymore. In the fall, the trio will be moving into a new construction of theirs in the Cottagewood development. In this opportunity for change, they've been able to reflect on their favorite elements of their current home and ruminate on which ones they want to carry into the new home they are in the midst of constructing. Learning By Doing As the family is about to depart from their current home and transition to a home better suited to their changing demands, they have the benefit of learning from experience. Day in and day out, they have access to homes being designed for all styles of families. They get firsthand feedback from buyers on aspects they love, and which aspects they would have done differently. When building their own home, they get the chance to branch out and get experimental with ideas. "When we are building homesfor ourselves, it's a good opportunity for us to try new things," said Kim. Those new
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things can be anywhere from a new contractor to a different type of finishing. Kim added, "We’re kind of trying to push the envelope a little bit with some of what we are going to do in our next plan. It’s nice to put pen to paper with those things. So when we are building for ourselves, it helps us grow our business a little bit too." Go With the Flow "Not just this floor plan we live in now, but all the Krueger floor plans, we work really hard to have a smart flow with nice open living areas," said Kim. She emphasized that they want their home to feel cozy and comfortable— a place where you can turn the fireplace on in the fall or sit on the front porch with a cup of coffee in the spring. She added, "There are so many beautiful homes in the market and there are so many directions to go. But I think our focus has always been having a home where it's comfortable to come home to and where you want to hang out with your family." The Tehans agree that they both love the rambler-style open concept of their home. With a majority of the living space being on the same level, they can spend a lot of time entertaining or together as a family. Another favorite part of their home has been their basement. To the adults, a highlight of the space is the full bar and walk-in wine cellar, finished with Dakota Timber reclaimed wood. To Tripton, the basement is a play space with bins of toys and even a special closet beneath the stairs that's the perfect size for a toddler hideaway. Jimmy added, "Once we had Tripton, this basement turned out to be a good place for us to escape the main floor living space and have more of a recreational space for all three of us." On the weekends, this space becomes their oasis where they can relax as a family and maybe even watch a movie on the big screen. "Those kinds of things have made our house a home, and I think that’s the same for a lot of our buyers. It’s all about those little spaces that you can kind of make your own and that the whole family can use," said Kim. Sense of Style As with most Krueger Construction designs, the Tehans's own style does not lend itself to just one trend or design movement. They describe their space as including elements of farmhouse, traditional and French country styles. Kim said, "At the end of the day, what we love about our space is the clean, traditional lines that are timeless." She added that after living in the home for five years, they've changed art and decor quite a bit. The bones of the house remain the same and, thanks to their timelessness, welcome these shifts in style. Throughout the house are thoughtful details that are both chic and on-trend while also personal and warm. Such elements are a personalized child-size armchair embroidered with Tripton's name, a decorative jar filled with wine corks from bottles shared and photographs of friends and family hanging on the walls and framed on side tables. These details are what make this polished, timeless house a home. While the Tehans will be moving onto a new home in the fall, this custom home has treated them well and is sure to serve its next family with just as much happiness and comfort.
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Cabinets and Counters - Wendt Custom Cabinets Flooring- Carpet World Stone, Interior and Exterior, and Fireplace- Hebron Brick Appliances- Rigels Appliance Store Wine Cellar Wood- Dakota Timber
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Reinventing The Cheese Wheel: M I L K M A D E C AT E R I N G B R I N G S C H E E S Y W O R K S O F A R T TO FA R G O
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BY Alexandra Martin | PHOTOS BY Hillary Ehlen DECOR AND STAGING complements of The White House Co.
Meet Megan Lewis of Milk Made Catering Only the granddaughter of a China painter and a master carpenter and the daughter of a quilter could be able to turn the basic food staple of cheese into a work of art... and do it as a career. Enter Megan Lewis, owner of Milk Made Catering, a cheesecentric catering company that focuses on bringing the best out in cheese. Hitting two years of business in May, Lewis has been taking on the Fargo food scene with her picturesque catering spreads.
With high-end charcuterie, seasonal fruits and veggies, Lewis creates cheese-based platters that are almost too beautiful to eat. All elements are designed to complement each other in taste, but also in color, texture and shape. From hosting cheesemaking classes to selling mini platters to catering weddings and corporate events, her goal is to help everyone find a way that they can appreciate cheese.
With Style
Lewis had always dreamed of becoming
a food stylist. When she went to culinary school, she had plans of moving to New York or Chicago upon graduation to pursue a shiny career in this field. However, she met her husband along the way and together they settled in Fargo instead. Here in Fargo, Lewis worked at a cheese counter. After working with cheese on a daily basis, she fell in love with the product. "I loved the stories, I loved that there was so much to learn. There are so many nuances about it, I just fell into this huge, awesome black hole that is the world of cheese," shared Lewis. 57
As she made her first platter, she saw her love of food styling and her love of cheese come together. She reminisced, "It was like the first time it clicked for me that I felt like I could do this for the rest of my life. Every single aspect of it, from the color profile to the story to the product, I loved everything about it. I had a passion for all of it."
Culinary Storytelling
Beyond the flavor nuances, Lewis found a love for the history and personality of cheese. "As a cheesemonger, I think the most important thing to understand is that most of our job is to be a storyteller. It’s my job to take this product that somebody spent a lot of time and put a lot of love and energy into creating and to sell it to you as the consumer," said Lewis. Lewis places great importance on her role as a storyteller. She said, "I’m the front line of helping cheesemakers' products be sold and be romanced and to be made look beautiful. When I started this business it was important to me have a lot really awesome relationships with cheesemakers. I’m going to be selling their product, so I should be able to tell their story." Because of this, most of Lewis' inventory is local and she knows the makers of a lot of the elements she puts on her platters. She added, "If we don't support artisan's foods, who's going to?"
'Tis the Season
Summer offers great opportunities for entertaining, and what's a summer gettogether without a gorgeous spread of food? Lewis offered advice on what goes into a perfect platter:
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"I think the first thing to think about when you’re putting together a platter is to think about the type and the style of cheeses you’re going to pick. What I mean by that is making sure you include different milk types. Having a goat cheese or a sheep's milk cheese can really texturally and colorfully make a difference. Also, include harder cheeses like a Gouda or a cheddar. This variety makes sure there are different styles so guests can pick and choose what they like." She emphasized the importance of getting products in-season so that you'll have the freshest, most vibrant fruits. The colors and the flavors will lend themselves to a much more appealing payoff. She also suggested that your platter offers some surprises for your guests, "I think it's really fun to put some things that people don't expect. I love pairing chocolate with cheese because cheese can turn dessert really fast [...] Sometimes thinking outside the box is fun. Platters don't have to just be fig jam and grapes."
The Joy of Cheese
Megan's smile and energy are contagious. It's only appropriate that her business revolves around a product that is so beloved. She said, "It’s so funny to me just how much cheese brings people sincere joy. I recently did a big event and I saw people’s faces light up from across the room when they realized there was
my huge cheese display there. It makes people so happy and I just love that." Milk Made has succeeded in part thanks to people's genuine enjoyment around all things cheese, but also partially thanks to her own contagious spirit and passion for what she does. Even someone indifferent to cheese could leave a conversation with Lewis suddenly impassioned about the product. With Lewis at the helm, it's safe to predict that Fargo will be enjoying unique cheeses in beautiful arrangements for years to come.
Pictured
Included in this pictured Milk Made summer spread is: Jeff's Select Gouda from Minnesota, a St Pete’s Select Blue Cheese from Fairville, Minn., a Merlot BellaVitano from Wisconsin, a four pepper chevre from Wisconsin, a Shelburne cheddar from Vermont and charcuterie from Iowa and Red Table Meats from Minneapolis. Alongside the cheese and charcuterie are ground mustard seeds, limoncello almonds, lemon poppy seed chocolate and seasonal fruits like pomegranate, pear, prune, blood orange, dried pineapple, watermelon radish, blueberries and grapes. Milk Made milkmadecatering.com
Cabinets: Showplace Cabinetry Design Center's Frameless Line in Pure White and Natural Cherry Hardware: Top Knobs, Ash Grey Countertops: Caesarstone in Pure White and Sleek Concrete from Spalding Stone
AN INDUSTRIAL M E E TS MODERN K I TC H E N BY Alexandra Martin | PHOTOS BY Travis Beauchene, Studio Three Beau
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Mike and Kim Hendrickson recently finished a drastic kitchen and living area remodel in their south Fargo home. With help from Michaela Bakken, designer at Showplace Cabinetry Design Center, the Hendricksons were able to reimagine their living space into a modern and practical beauty. A Need for Change...and Storage Mike and Kim Hendrickson lived in their south Fargo home for 16 years and felt that it was time for a change. After starting the process of touring some homes, nothing on the market jumped out to them, so they began going down the path of a remodel. Built in 2000, their home wasn't old by any means, but it was in need of a modern update. Their previous space had a wall in the middle of the room, dividing a small, dark kitchen from a front sitting room that was seldom ever used. The previous kitchen had decorative warm wooden cabinets and was a tight squeeze, certainly not ideal for this busy family of five. It was time to find a solution to make their old house a home again. "We just wanted to figure out how we could make this kitchen huge and with more storage," shared Mike. Enter Showplace Mike said that they had been collecting inspiration photos and talking about ideas, but didn't quite know where to go from there. In the early stages
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of researching how to even begin a renovation, the Hendricksons decided to visit Showplace Cabinetry Design Center one afternoon. "When we went into Showplace, we really felt comfortable," said Mike. This level of comfort was maintained throughout their whole experience. From initial visions to making suggestions to overseeing the installation, Showplace worked with the Hendricksons to make sure their ideas came to life. Throughout the whole process, the Hendricksons had their ideas that they wanted to try, but ended up really enjoying the additional ideas brought to the plate by Showplace. Island Time Beyond knocking down the wall that divided the space, another main priority in the renovation was creating a huge island. Mike stated that they wanted everything to be based around a massive island in the center of the space. Kitchen islands have been trending in modern kitchens and have become a centric part of the designs of family living spaces. From this island, they can wash and prepare foods, gather for drinks with friends and utilize the ample amount of storage on all sides. At first, the Hendricksons wanted a black and white-centric kitchen. After working with Showplace along the way, they took away and introduced different design ideas. One of the most impactful of these
Backsplash: Carpet World Flooring: Carpet World Floating Shelves: Dakota Timber Company Lighting: Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery Fireplace: Hebron Brick Company Contractor: Chris Denman, C&N Remodeling
Showplace Cabinetry Design Center offers custom cabinetry made locally in Harrisburg, S.D. Cabinetry is their specialty, however, they also help homeowners select countertops, backsplash tile, plumbing fixtures, lighting and much more. Not limited to only kitchen cabinetry, Showplace also designs bathrooms and other areas in your home that can be highlighted with cabinetry. Visit their stunning showroom to learn more and talk with one of their designers. For more project inspiration, follow Showplace on Instagram at @showplacedesigncenterfargo.
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changes was the addition of the cherry wood on the front side of the island. Walking into the home, this rich wood is eye-catching and has become a focal point of the room. Mike shared, "People walk in the door and the first thing they say is, 'Wow, that island is beautiful!'" In addition to being a beautiful focal point, the island is practical. Along with the sink and ample prep space, they also have storage drawers, built-in double garbage cans and a pull-out towel holder. Their dishwasher used to be against the back wall and the sink in the corner of the room. Now they both are placed in the island, making kitchen activities easier. Kim said, "I just like the flow of getting everything out of the dishwasher. You don’t have to go to the corner to put everything away." Open Concept for the Family As a family of five, this addition of extra useable space has been so valuable. Kim said, "I like that the kids can actually do their homework in the front space and not be disturbed if we have the TV on in the living room." Before, there wasn't a common space that the children could focus on their schoolwork in and usually they would go up to their bedrooms to get it done. Kim laughed adding, "Now that they can sit out here and do it, I can make sure they're doing it!"
Hearth at Home Since the remodel made the first floor more open and connected, the family decided to make some updates to the living room as well. "It was funny, Michaela showed us a picture and I’m going, 'Ooh my gosh, I had just pinned that in my Pinterest!' And she came up with the same ideas and we just ran with it and it was perfect," said Kim. Michaela Bakken joined the project later along the design process, but she really got to be hands-on in the fireplace design. The end result is a slate color tiled fireplace by Hebron Brick, framed on either side by warm flat and modern cabinets with frosted glass fronts. Above, a television is mounted on crisp white shiplap. The outcome is modern and smart yet still comfortable and welcoming. "We recently were with someone and they asked us if we would change anything about [the remodel]. And we said we can't think of anything. It seems like everything we wanted, we got. I don't know if we would have done anything more," said Mike. Personal details alongside modern details are what makes this project incredible in ways beyond just aesthetically.
S PA C E S T H AT
Each month, we are excited to feature spaces that work. Design & Living has always been a community resource to all things home and design. As more and more outstanding commercial spaces throughout town have caught our attention, we cannot overlook them any longer! 69
Workplace Furnishings- Hannaher's Workplace Interiors Custom Furniture- P2 Industries Server Networking Equipment- High Point Networks Concrete Work- All Finish Concrete Wiring and Technology Solutions -TrinSPIN, Inc
Driving in south Fargo at night, around 47th Street you can see a three-story window illuminated from within, showcasing three primary colored and twisting slides. Driving past, you might guess that this site is a school or a play center. But if you guess that this building is anything but business solutions giant BNG, you'd be wrong. As hard as they work, BNG makes sure to play just as hard. This March, BNG Team began moving into their new space in south Fargo. Since the initial planning stages in early 2017, BNG looked to Hannaher's
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Workplace Interiors to help this growing company turn their office into the epitome of great company culture. BNG is a company slated for a large amount of growth, so this new building had to account for the changes the company is predicted to see in the coming years. With good planning and thought for both current and future employees' needs, they successfully have created a space that is both fun and practical. About BNG BNG Team provides small to mediumsized businesses with invaluable services, including credit card processing, point-of-sale systems, premium website development, marketing services and automated billing software. BNG operates under essential core values that are reflected
in their output of work, but also in their physical workspace. These core values are integrity, excellence, ambition, creativity, and happy and grateful. Work Hard, Play Hard Even without knowing anything about BNG, upon the first step into their office, one gets a feel of who they are and what they stand for. Two of these pillars are a technological focus and an attitude of having fun and dreaming big. BNG facilities manager Beth Brasel said to think about the whole place as a playhouse for three 19-year-olds who had big professional dreams that, now over a decade later, are becoming reality. This is in reference to the company's creators Tyler Buechler, Ryan Goodman and Brady Nash—three college dropouts—who became friends at NDSU and embarked on creating BNG with an entrepreneurial spirit. Standing out among the office's many fun features are the three slides that reach from all three floors of the office. The orange, green and blue slides twist and turn into each other creating a focal point, but also a unit that connects all three floors of the building together. Brasel laughed, "Brady [Nash] says that the slides are purely efficient! It's faster for him to get to the first floor from the third by the slide, he rarely takes the stairs or elevator anymore." One of Hannaher'sWorkplace Interiors' interior designers on the project Brigitte Pobuda said, "I think it’s great to see a client that wants the best for its employees. One that wants to make an amazing space for the employees to work every day. It’s great for us to be able to work on those projects and help do that
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— it's very rewarding." A testament to the vision of creating a space that physically represents the company's values, BNG's Chief Operations Officer Jason Gibb said, "You hear that laughter all over, you hear people laughing and having a good time. We work hard and we get things done, but we play hard and have fun, too." Work Smart Gibb referenced Steve Jobs's office layout for Pixar as an inspiration for BNG's layout. In both of these offices, teams are separate, but close enough to share communal spaces. With dedicated workspaces and offices on the perimeter of the building and more communal workspaces in the middle, it heightens the odds of chance-encounters and community building amongst people who might not be working on the same team normally. In any workplace, everyone has their own palette of postures and finding the right fit for everyone is an art. To account for this and to make sure every employee could work comfortably, BNG and Hannaher's worked to find solutions for all. From beanbags for a relaxed position to standing desks for a more active position, they wanted to accommodate every employee. Electric height-adjustable desks have been having their moment in offices across the country. Every single person in BNG's office has a height-adjustable desk, allowing them to work standing, sitting or a combination of both throughout the day. The modesty screens at each desk also move up and down with the desktop itself. At a seated position, these panels and modesty screens block
Meet the Team From the start, BNG had big visions of what they wanted their new office to incorporate. While executing some of their own playful visions themselves and with the help from local custom fabricator P2 Industries, BNG looked to Hannaher's Workplace Interiors for guidance on creating an efficient and productive workspace. Leading the project from Hannaher's Workplace Interiors' end was account manager and interior designer Jennifer Burgard and interior designer Brigitte Pobuda.
Jason Gibb, BNG Chief Operations Officer
Jennifer Burgard, Hannaher's Workplace Interiors Account Manager and Interior Designer
Brigitte Pobuda, Hannaher's Workplace Interiors Interior Designer
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the direct eye-line, allowing for a more private workspace. However, when in the standing position, one can look over the panels, allowing for open conversation and collaboration among coworkers. From the customer support team to the designers to the developers, each team at BNG works differently. Brasel said, "I think a big part of the planning was looking at how each team works individually. We came up with a somewhat standard design plan that also has specific components to relate to what these people are doing and that really supports them every single day." Custom Conference Rooms Break-out conference rooms were
important focal points of the office. Each conference room is a different theme, but not in the way that you might think of a room being "themed." Each of these conference rooms is heavily dedicated to its theme.
room's table is covered in over 9,000 keyboard keys, creating a word search of even more hidden words, phrases and inside jokes.
One conference room is a postapocalyptic, gamer's dream. In this room are gamer chairs and the conference table is a functioning computer with exposed wiring and circuits lighting up beneath a glass top. Another conference room near the designers' space is pixeled-themed, with all colors of the rainbow in a cascade of pixels on the wall, table and lighting. Another conference room is a developer's paradise with the walls covered in pieces of code—some actual code they worked on and some industry jokes. The code
After working on this project for about two years, Pobuda noted, "It's exciting to watch it start from the beginning and come full circle. It's fun seeing the progress and to finally see it all together." She added that from a furniture standpoint, it was rewarding to see people utilizing the power of choice and control over where and how they work.
Room for Growth
BNG's flexible and smart space is both playful and strategic. The company stays true to its core values, both baseline
values like excellence and integrity but also embracing the values of being happy and grateful. Gibb said that the building is a representation of their dedication to being happy and grateful. When looking at offices such as BNG's, it creates a new foundation for what a strategic office space looks like. Thoughtful elements that help with productivity combined with playful features make for a space that goes beyond what Fargo is accustomed to seeing. "Where are all the cool places to work in the US? It’s Silicon Valley, it’s Boston, it's New York. Why not have that here?" said Gibb. Sure enough, The BNG team has created a model in Fargo sure to attract eyes, setting the bar high for workplaces across the nation.
Cloud House – A Floodproof Home in Fargo BY Paul H. Gleye | PHOTOS BY Hillary Ehlen
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hen photographer Meghan Duda and architect Regin Schwaen moved from Virginia to Fargo in 2007, they knew exactly what kind of house they wanted: one on a street with a name (as most Fargo streets are numbered), trees in the yard, a gas stove, a clawfoot tub —Meghan’s dream from childhood— and a house they could live in while they improved it. They found their ideal home near the Red River, an 800 sq. ft. house built in 1919 that needed work. With a modest budget, they began transforming it into a unique environment that combines historic remnants with sleek Scandinavian-inspired modern features. To the south of the existing dwelling, they added a new living room dominated by large panes of recycled safety glass within a structural system of laminated veneer lumber. The exterior wall of the original house, including the old back door, still stands inside the new living room. A new kitchen extends the entire width of the house on the north side, using modified Ikea cabinets (and a gas cooktop, of course ), with a ribbon window that looks out upon the street. Given the house’s small footprint, the stairs to the upper floor actually begin in the kitchen, with a landing at one end that allows the kitchen countertop to serve as a sitting bench. Upstairs, a new guest room dubbed “the cloud” protrudes out over the front entrance, with more large glass windows overlooking the Red River. A single steel pier in the center of the “cloud” and placed in front of the entrance to the house, supports the protruding room. In the end, they enlarged the home from 800 to 1,300 square feet – still modest in size but dramatically enhanced by what they call “architectural moments” throughout the house. These “architectural moments” comprise of unexpected small features created for effect – window placements that offer specific views, fresh air vents as small insulated doors in the outside walls, handmade stair handrails and balustrades and elements of the 1919 house retained in unexpected places. Inside, the remaining historic features are painted, while the new wood is stained but unpainted, leaving evident contrast between historic and modern. Outside, cedar slats cover the north and south sides, while the east and west are in corrugated steel siding, offering a dramatic interplay of materials and color. Finally, the home is now floodproof and climateproof. The owners installed a concrete flood wall for the foundation (this was accomplished before Fargo embarked on flood mitigation for the entire city), and they wrapped the entire historic house in foot-thick insulation, creating a house within a house, and resulting in heating bills of about $500 per year. The “cloud house” as transformed by Duda and Schwaen celebrates the aesthetic juxtaposition of wood and concrete, historic and modern, expanse and intimacy. It truly demonstrates what the creative eye of architect and artist can achieve on a limited budget.
Paul H. Gleye is a professor of architecture at North Dakota State University. His fields of expertise include historic preservation and urban design, and he leads the architecture school’s term abroad program in Europe each spring semester.
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locally
trending WITH SCHEELS HOME AND HARDWARE
ONCE MORE, WITH FEELING BY Alexandra Martin | PHOTOS BY Hillary Ehlen
This month, Kim Longtin and Steve Johnson from Scheels Home and Hardware helped us find home goods that will elevate your space for seasons to come. These seasonless trends incorporate something special to your spaces with texture and sheen. In this season where plants in backyards are starting to show themselves again and winter blankets are beginning to be packed back into storage, it's a time for change. With these changes, it's natural to want to get out and shop for some edits to the interior of your home. As our region experiences some extreme seasons, it's tempting to celebrate summer by going bright and colorful. While punches of color are a favorite design option, this month we want to showcase ways to spruce up your home for the season that are beyond just punches of vibrant color (ok fine, we'll throw some color punches in there, too).
THE WALDORF CHAIR $399
This slate-blue snakeskin chair is ideal for both homes and commercial spaces, alike. With a chair like this, it serves as an accent without being too commanding of the room. A texture like this snakeskin adds just the right amount of drama to stand out, but not too much as to be staggering. The chic fabric contrasts with the brushed metallic of its frame, making for a chic, modern piece. A TIP FROM SCHEELS: Metallic is coming back, and especially gold. This time around, these metallic finishes are coming in a matte finish, adding a more understated and polished look.
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POM POM PILLOW BY CLOUD 9 $44.99
MADDOX PILLOW BY D.V. KAP $129.99
DIXON CHAIR BY ROWE FURNITURE $699.99
Not every accent pillow needs to be vibrant and loud to be a key player in a room. Dramatic textures and more subtle patterns create depth and points of interest in living spaces. The lively texture of the navy pillow will add excitement while the neutral colors of the D.V. KAP pillow create balance.
While florals for spring are expected at this point, it doesn't mean they don't get to have their moment each season. Instead of going subtle with bright accents, go all in and make a whole chair your accent piece for the room. A TIP FROM SCHEELS: Patterned accent pillows have morphed into one statement chair or other larger piece. It's nice to have that one piece that really pops!
NAKASA MARBELITO VASES $29.99 and $39.99
MATRYOSHKA NESTING TABLES BY MERCANA $429.99
Metallic and slate grey are a favorite duo of ours lately. The earthy quietness of the gray juxtaposes the glean of the gold metallic, making for a perfect room accent. Both a statement and a neutral, these oversized vases can really tie a room together. A TIP FROM SCHEELS: Check out Scheels' Smart Style line. This line comes in a more affordable price point, allowing for more regular style or design changes. Typically, with accent pieces like vases, you'd want to purchase more than one, so this more conservative price point allows for that flexibility.
WHITE VASES
$16.99 and $19.99
FAUX TULIPS $19.99
Sleek and versatile nesting tables are both stylish and practical. Style them stacked to preserve space or separate them out to make for more room for entertaining or displaying fresh flowers. And while on the note of fresh flowers...While we adore bouquets of fresh flowers and wish we could have many all over the house, sometimes that just isn't practical. A friendly alternative is realistic faux flowers. Freshen up a room that might not get a lot of natural light or keep them in arms reach of pets or children with no dangers.
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ARTIST FEATURE
Glass Act NICK WALBERG OF WALBERG GLASS & LIGHT IS MAKING STAINED GLASS A MODERN ART BY Alexandra Martin | PHOTOS BY Hillary Ehlen
W With an undergrad degree in English Literature and a Juris Doctor degree, Nick Walberg might seem an unlikely candidate for an emerging stained glass artist. Walberg came across the field of stained glass by chance and, after seven years of the craft, has become an admirable artist in his own right. By day, Walberg works alongside Michael Orchard at Michael Orchard Studio, working on stained glass commissions for churches, residential and commercial builds, as well as stained glass and antique lighting repairs. But after hours, he is making a name for himself under the name Walberg Glass & Light with modern interpretations of the age-old art.
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LEARNING FROM EXPERIENCE Experience is the best teacher. And lucky for Walberg, 'experience' goes by the names Michael Orchard and Ron Brauckmuller. Walberg's introduction to the field of glass was by pure happenstance. He was at a dinner with his husband Chad's best friend from college where someone mentioned that the friend's father, Michael Orchard, was looking for help at his glass business. "He was looking for someone to grout windows, and I had no idea what he was talking about, but I knew he worked in a stained glass studio and I went for it," shared Walberg. Seven years later, Walberg still works alongside Orchard and calls himself an apprentice, even though it's clear he is well past that title. "I got so lucky," he reminisced while sharing how he stumbled upon this trade. "It’s been a paid gig the whole way, I make a decent wage while I get paid to learn. I still learn every day. I just feel like I got lucky." Walberg repeatedly emphasizes his admiration and thankfulness to his mentors Orchard and Brauckmuller. Owner of Michael Orchard Studio, the company's namesake came to Fargo by way of Omaha and has created
thousands of windows all across North Dakota and Minnesota since 1985. Brauckmuller is a retired farmer who worked in stained glass alongside Orchard for a dozen or so years before he truly retired. Walberg described Brauckmuller as an excellent craftsman, who did perfect work—and fast.
THE PROCESS Most people have seen stained glass before, whether it be in churches or historic homes or even in lighting fixtures. While this is an art form we are all familiar with, how many people know what goes into the final product? In the basement of his historic home, Walberg demonstrated the process; tracing, cutting and bending his way into crafting pieces of art. The first step of the process is to design the pattern, which Walberg notes is his favorite part, saying, "The tough part about stained glass is that the fun and creative side that I love is right up front. Then the rest is just working. The fun stuff is the very first thing and then three months later you get to actually see what you've made." As a self-proclaimed "old millennial," Walberg states that he is still learning all things computer, so he prefers doing his design work by hand.
Once he has the design measured and to scale on paper, the next step is to cut the glass, a method that has been the same for a hundred years. This step involves carefully dragging the glass/tile cutter along the lines of the pattern and hearing the glass sing in a delicate crackle. Once a nice clean score is made, breaking pliers snap the glass into the desired line. While this has been the method for as long as stained glass has been around, glass remains a finicky material. Walberg notes, "I break so much glass. That’s just part of the job." Once the glass pieces are cut to the desired shape, it's time to lead the window. With a compound that's 50 percent lead and 50 percent antimony, Walberg uses this pliable, yet strong material to hold the carefully formed pieces of glass together. In this step, Walberg notes, "You always have to be thinking one step ahead of where the next piece is going to go [...] If you like puzzles, this can be fun." As he shuffled through a bin of glass pieces, picking which unique piece he wanted to use in which spots, he noted that a lot of the pieces he uses on personal projects are scraps from his day job. "We always have to order it in, because no one here is making sheets
of glass. Glass is expensive, so we try to recycle when we can," he said.
BRINGING STAINED GLASS TO THE AREA You can count on one hand the number of stained glass artists practicing here in town. This sparse art is often associated with liturgical settings, but Walberg wants to bring the craft into more residential spaces in Fargo. "I’d love to do more residential work. I want to show people how they can get stained glass into their modern home," said Walberg. "Especially in newer homes, I see lots of fixed windows, which would be perfect for stained glass!" Walberg emphasizes that stained glass can be showcased in a variety of ways. From being installed into a window frame to displayed hanging in front of a window, even to being its own framed piece of art. Discussing one of his own home fixtures, Walberg adds, "You can hang stained glass in front of a fixed window [...] I’m trying to get people thinking about. It doesn’t have to be a fixed thing that you install."
ART FOR THE HOME Walking through Walberg's Moorhead home to get to his basement studio, you see pieces of local artwork on almost every wall. Walberg's husband, Chad Johnson, has been on the board of directors for The Rourke Art Gallery and Museum for five years now and the couple is heavily invested in the local arts scene. Walberg noted, "I don’t know if we’ve had anything on the walls that aren't local. That’s kind of what we like to spend money on; local art." From working after-hours on museum exhibition pieces to working on custom church installations at work, Walberg stays busy. He shared, "Sometimes I have really awesome ideas that I want to do around the house. And I work all day and my hands hurt and the last thing I want to do is come home and cut more glass, but it’s a good problem to have. I like how I spend my days." Find Walberg Glass and Light walbergglass.com nick@walbergglass.com @walbergglass
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Included amongst local art in the home are Walberg's own creations. In an office upstairs is Walberg's first lightbox. "I built this in 2014, I had no idea what I was doing," he shares with a laugh. While he has grown as an artist since this lightbox's creation, the Frank Llyod Wright inspired interpretation of a fall landscape serves as a visual reminder of how much he's learned over the years.
Surrounded by other pieces of local art, Walberg wanted this piece to emit a really subtle light. The dim light inside the lightbox creates movement in the rectangular design.
On display in The FMVA BIG Art Show at the Hjemkomst Center is one of Walberg's recent pieces, "Mood Follows Action." This piece was inspired by podcaster Rich Roll's signature sentiment that once you take positive action, the mood will follow. This piece showcases Walberg's ability to work with organic lines, as well as geometric ones that he often lends himself to. While he remains humble about his skill—even calling it a 'craft' rather than an art—he finds himself on display at local exhibits like this often. The upcoming 60th Annual Midwestern Invitational Exhibition of Fine Art at the Rourke will feature a new piece of his, "Slipping Away."
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