Design & Living May 2018 by Spotlight Media

MAY 2018

COMPLIMENTARY

SAFE & SOUND The Art of Home Technology

FROM THE EDITOR

Sleek, Sexy,

PHOTO BY Hillary Ehlen

Home Technology

Editorial photo taken at Ecce Gallery's RoCo space.

hen we include homes in Design & Living Magazine, certain features can go unnoticed because they aren't overtly obvious in a photo. This month, we want to give our local home technology experts the recognition that they deserve with our issue, "Safe & Sound, The Art of Home Technology." Some homeowners might feel that home technology is intimidating, out of budget or simply unattractive. This could not be further from the truth; it is becoming more and more aesthetically pleasing and simple-to-use. Home technology is sleek and sexy. This is what I found when touring showrooms and project sites with local experts from Smart Home Technologies, Arctic Audio, TrinSPIN and Integrated Technology Systems. Before you turn that page, I'd love to share the way that we came up with these articles with you.

This issue also includes articles about local art, a commercial refresh and more! Of course, I can't forget to mention the Spring Parade of Homes! Even before I became the editor of a local home magazine, I've always loved going on the parade. I can't believe that it's now a part of my job. I guess that's how I know I'm pursuing the right career.

DESIGN & LIVING | M AY 2 01 8

First, I chose a theme for this issue with approval from our editorial manager. Then, I reached out to the owners of every local home technology business and asked if they 'd like to collaborate. What you're about to see is the result of the combined efforts of those business owners and our in-house, contracted and contributing photographers, as well as our in-house graphic designer. If anyone would like to have an article in Design & Living Magazine, they can email becca@ spotlightmediafargo.com with an article pitch or to request an online article application. Our sales representatives also share that application with clients who would like to help us create editorial content, which is free and independent from ad content. On that note, I'd like to introduce our new associate publisher, Chantell Ramberg, who can be reached at chantell@spotlightmediafargo.com.

Finally, I'd like to welcome Kayla Cote van Rensburg who has volunteered to contribute our "Locally Trending" article features. I first met Kayla when working on an article about her APT Studio Space, and since then have enjoyed collaborating with Dak & Co. You can keep up with other exciting announcements by following Design & Living Magazine on Facebook and Instagram. As always, thank you for reading, and enjoy!

Rebecca Opp Editor With article proposals, feedback or any other inquiries, please contact becca@spotlightmediafargo.com.

DESIGN & LIVING TEAM At Design & Living, 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

JESSE HOORELBEKE

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.

Hoorelbeke is a former professional baseball player turned photographer. He is the owner of J. Alan Paul Photography in Fargo, N.D. and our veteran, lead editorial photographer for Spotlight Media. Hoorelbeke specializes in editorial, commercial, architectural and landscape photography.

JAMIE DEJEAN

MONICA HART

DeJean is the owner of Smart Home Technologies in West Fargo. With over 25 years of experience in commercial and residential audio-video and technology, DeJean brings extensive knowledge and a genuine passion to his client-centered business.

Monica Hart is current president of Home Builders Care of F-M Foundation. She owns Monica Hart Interior Design, Inc., specializing in design services for new construction and remodels, as well as space planning, finish selections and home refreshers.

KAYLA COTE VAN RENSBURG

JOE BURGUM

Originally from Minot, ND, Cote van Rensburg has made her home in Fargo with her husband, Piet van Rensburg. In 2017, the two founded the local lifestyle brand, Dak & Co.

Burgum is an entrepreneur and community builder who is currently serving as President of the Hawthorne Neighborhood Association.

PHOTOGRAPHER

CONTRIBUTOR

PHOTOGRAPHER

CONTRIBUTOR

Design & Living Magazine

Sarah Huckle Social Media Coordinator North Dakota Interior Designers

Melissa Rademacher President & CEO Downtown Community Partnership

downtownfargo.com ndid.org

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

Editorial Advisory Board 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.

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 14

DESIGN & LIVING | M AY 2 01 8

Photos by Hillary Ehlen and J. Alan Paul Photography

2018

contents

MAY

FEATURE STORY

32 Safe & Sound

Join us as we consult with local experts to discuss the thriving home-technology industry. Then, see how real homeowners have seamlessly integrated these seemingly futuristic functions into their everyday lives without sacrificing aesthetically pleasing design.

Footprint, Larger 60 Smaller Vision

For the past decade, ecce gallery has been curating community in Downtown Fargo. In November 2017, gallery director Mark Weiler announced that ecce would be relocating from 218 Broadway to the historic Loudon Building before transitioning into their new space. On April 12, 2018, the beloved art gallery celebrated the opening of its RoCo location with a group exhibition titled "Look Both Ways."

Photo by J. Alan Paul Photography Home Technology by Smart Home Technologies

76 A Historic Home in the 66 Preview Making On the outskirts of Horace, ND, rests a beautiful farmhouse surrounded by woods. It is one of five luxurious featured homes in the 2018 Spring Parade of Homes. Built by Jason Carpenter of Carpenter Homes, it's plain to see that no corners were cut in the making of this family home.

The Warm Nature of Square Foot Gardening with Brian Fuder

T Lofts Refresh

Neighborly Artists: The Making of Next Level Creations

Locally Trending: Wood, Stone & Foliage Locally Trending is a monthly feature that highlights the high quality home products available at locally owned stores in the FM area.

ON THE COVER

NEXT MONTH

Special thanks to Jamie DeJean of Smart Home Technologies for allowing us to feature their client's home on the cover of our May issue, photographed by Jesse Hoorelbeke of J. Alan Paul Photography.

June is almost here, and that means the end of the school year. What better time to talk about family-friendly design and design for all ages than with our upcoming issue, "Room to Grow?"

There's a misconception that all students live in dorm rooms or poorly-maintained houses, and in this case, that couldn't be further from the truth. We spoke with Christen Anderson who gave the T Lofts a refresh as a part of her ongoing collaboration with Roers.

What started with a casual conversation between two neighbors in their front yards has become a mission to combine sports with art.

For more exclusive, original content,

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MAY 2018 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 Steve Kruse Associate Publisher Chantell Ramberg

CREATIVE Editorial Director Andrew Jason andrew@spotlightmediafargo.com

Editor Becca Opp becca@spotlightmediafargo.com

Designers Sarah Geiger, Matt Anderson Photographers J. Alan Paul Photography, Hillary Ehlen, Jill Ockhardt Blaufuss, HBA, Brian Fuder, Christen Anderson, HELIOSTUDIO, HNA, Next Level Creations, White House Co., Arctic Audio Contributors Becca Opp, Monica Hart, Jamie DeJean, HNA, Kayla Cote van Rensburg Social Media Becca Opp Web Team Huong Tran, Jessica Ballou

ADVERTISING Senior Sales Executive Ryan Courneya ryan@spotlightmediafargo.com

Sales Executives Scott Rorvig scottrorvig@spotlightmediafargo.com

Dan Helm

dan@spotlightmediafargo.com

Client Relations Manager Jenny Johnson Sales & Operations Assistant Pam Mjoness Business Operations Manager Larissa Kunde

DISTRIBUTION Distribution & Circulation Manager Darren Gibbins Delivery Bruce Crummy

Design & Living Magazine is published by Spotlight Media, LLC. Copyright 2018 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

Meet the team

ANDREW

BECCA

SARAH

MIKE

STEVE

NATE

JOE

NOLAN

SAM

MATT

DAN

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SCOTT

CHANTELL

PAM

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HUONG

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TAKE A LOOK AT Spotlight Media's Other Magazines

As the local entrepreneurial ecosystem continues to grow, so do the number of real-life success stories that it breeds. From a "smart" walker company founded by a guy from MIT to a drone company that moved to town from Grand Forks, the 13 companies in this month's cover story have recently opened up shop in the metro. Learn a little more about all of them and find out each of their answers to one question: Why Fargo?

We gather our belongings and saddle up to hit the old dusty road in the May edition of Bison Illustrated. We may frequent the Road to Frisco, but this month, we're hitting the recruiting trail with eight current members of the Bison football team. Hear from some of the most notable players on the team and why they agreed to join the Herd.

Do you ever feel like you need to get out of FargoMoorhead for a few days? Maybe your 9 to 5 is running you into the ground? If so, you're in luck! This edition of Fargo Monthly gives you an A to Z rundown of places you can getaway to! We take you to various parts of North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota and even Canada to give you plenty of options to choose from. So pack up your car and get going on your weekend getaway!

LEARN MORE ABOUT US spotlightmediafargo.com

HBA EDITORIAL DESIGN&LIVING

Let Me Tell You A Story... Student Pursues Career As Electrician After Academy David Ebens went from a graduating senior who was unsure about what to do next, to a graduate with a solid plan. Like David, many students approaching high school graduation still have career plans that are up-in-the-air. But they do know they don’t want to be stuck behind a desk.

ast year, Ebens attended the Herdina Academy for the Construction Trades and was offered a job at New Horizons Electric, Inc., in Fargo, where he has been working since late summer and early fall. Always an outdoorsy person, Ebens wanted a career where he could work on a job site. Once the Herdina Academy for the Construction Trades’ activities started rolling, he noticed he most enjoyed roofing and electrical work. The Herdina Academy is a two-week experience for youth aged 15 years and up to learn through applied exercises about the construction industry. Students work side-by-side with industry and education professionals, learning about occupations, tools, safety

DESIGN & LIVING | M AY 2 01 8

requirements and skills required for satisfying and well-paying careers. Ebens had taken some construction classes in high school, but he enjoyed working with the contractors themselves, learning how things are done “in real life.” He also enjoyed getting an inside look at how they do things in their own companies. His connection with New Horizons Electric, Inc., came about because of a speed interviewing process the students participate in at the Academy. His mother, Kathy Ebens, was impressed with the hands-on opportunities with professional contractors. At the Academy’s conclusion, she says her son had multiple offers from different roofing and electrical businesses.

In addition to the valuable experience it offers, successful completion of the academy allows students to apply for three college credits and take advantage of scholarship opportunities. Dates are June 4-15. Cost is only $25 to attend. To learn more about the Herdina Academy for the Construction Trades, contact the Home Builders Care of F-M Foundation at 701-232-5846 or email info@hbcfm. com. You can also visit hbcfm.com or visit @Construction Trades Academy on Facebook. This is just one story about one student who discovered the rewards and challenges that a career in the construction trades can offer. Desk jobs and four-year degrees are not for everyone. The trades offer lucrative, fulfilling and exiting options for our youth.

By Monica Hart

The Home Builders Care of Fargo-Moorhead Foundation is the Home Builders Association of Fargo-Moorhead's charity that provides a positive outlet for the housing industry to give back to the community, building a framework for the future.

For more information, contact: hbcfm.com info@hbcfm.com facebook.com/ HomeBuildersCare twitter.com/hbcfm

Flexible Style HISTORIC HAWTHORNE HOME SERIES DESIGN&LIVING

IN A FARGO FOURSQUARE

ven as a child, Brenda Weiler knew that her family’s historic Queen Anne home in the Hawthorne Neighborhood was something special. “We trudged through the snow to school, biked downtown and went sledding at the dike. Our whole existence was in this district,” said Weiler.

Year Built 1918 Style Stucco foursquare Square Feet 1,727 Owners Derek Harnish and Brenda Weiler

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Weiler, Harnish and their daughter, Ruby, sit on their home's original staircase.

BY Simone Wai & Joe Burgum PHOTOS BY Hillary Ehlen

DESIGN&LIVING HISTORIC HAWTHORNE HOME SERIES

After moving back to Fargo with her husband, Derek Harnish, these fond memories led them to purchase their own home in the neighborhood. Soon after the couple moved in, the anxieties of caring for a home and preserving a piece of history led Weiler to consult her father on his experience. His advice? “Give yourself some time to live in it and get to know it. You’ll start to understand it and become friends with it.” After 11 years, the friendship between family and home is still going strong. The couple, with their daughter, Ruby, enjoy their home’s natural light and the open floor plan of the classic foursquare layout. The craftsmanship of the

original stairway banister and fireplace mantle accent their minimal, modern style. Carefully curated furniture and accessories fill their space in a way that is comfortable and flexible. “We tend to have smaller pieces of furniture we can move around. Rearranging every year allows us to create new moments and memories in our space,” said Harnish. Though the home celebrates its centennial this year, the current homeowners have not had to make many updates aside from painting and adding new light fixtures. They did have to replace the roof, but Weiler and Harnish simply consider this to be a part of owning a piece of history.

Painting by Jay Pfeifer

Painting by Jessica Wachter

The Hawthorne Neighborhood Association brings together neighbors and business owners to create a strong and vibrant community. Join them for neighborhood socials, quarterly meetings and their biennial Historic Home Tour. The Historic Hawthorne Neighborhood is part of Fargo’s original townsite and is at the core of the National Register Southside Historic District. It was named after Hawthorne Elementary School, located on 6th Street and 8th Avenue South.

DESIGN & LIVING | M AY 2 01 8

SAFE & SOUND The Art of Home Technology

Nowadays, anything is possible with the simple push of a button. That is what you will learn by exploring smart homes in the FM area. Within these pages, join us as we consult with local experts to discuss the thriving home-technology industry. Then, see how real homeowners have seamlessly integrated these seemingly futuristic functions into their everyday lives without sacrificing aesthetically pleasing design.

PHOTO BY J. Alan Paul Photography | TECHNOLOGY BY Smart Home Technologies

ARCTIC AUDIOPHILES Imagine that you are sitting in a recliner under a ceiling of stars, watching your favorite action flick on a 156" screen with surround sound. No, you aren't at the movies. You are in the Arctic Audio showroom on Main Avenue in Fargo. We sat down with Rod Shafer to talk about his business and their recent trips to CES in Las Vegas and AXPONA in Chicago.

ABOUT ROD SHAFER In 2004, Shafer opened Arctic Audio in Fargo. "Audio is why I got into the business. It's been my hobby for over 30 years," Shafer said. Outside of work, he is a caring husband and father. Shafer and his family live in a historic home, which he has converted into a smart home without compromising its integrity.

Rod Shafer stands with his wife, Ellen Shafer in their historic home.

AXPONA AUDIO EXPO AXPONA is the largest audio show in North America. In April 2018, Shafer attended this three-day event in Chicago, where he was able to experience the newest technology in high-end, consumer audio products. The show featured over 150 listening rooms, and attendees were encouraged to go from room to room, sit, listen and compare sound systems. Shafer enjoyed attending AXPONA and even provided a few tips for those looking to upgrade their own home audio systems.

BY Becca Opp PHOTOS BY Hillary Ehlen and Bill Kloubec of HELIOSTUDIO

CONSUMER ELECTRONIC SHOW (CES) In addition to attending AXPONA in April 2018, Shafer attended CES in January 2018. CES is set in Las Vegas and plays host to the foremost innovative home technology solutions. There, Shafer saw projectors being integrated into pieces of furniture, voice activated technology and more.

Shafer helped these homeowners find the right automated blinds for their home, which was built by Gary Fiske of Fiske Construction.

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Photo by HELIOSTUDIO

TIPS FROM AN AUDIOPHILE â&#x20AC;˘ Go listen. You have to go experience it for yourself. â&#x20AC;˘ Find a dealer who will let you try something out. Shafer explained, "So many people read reviews. Certainly, reviews have their place, but when it comes to audio, you have to go experience it for yourself." To do this, you can simply visit your local showroom. He also recommended finding a dealer with a flexible return policy, which would allow you to test out a new set of speakers in your own space. For example, you can purchase expensive speakers, but they will sound awful when used in the wrong room.

LOCAL VS. ONLINE Our trip to Arctic Audio concluded with a discussion comparing and contrasting local businesses with online retailers. While online retailers may boast competitive prices, they lack the expertise necessary to help you find what is right for your space. Shafer amiably encourages his fellow audiophiles to find local experts who will be able to help them every step of the way when selecting the right home technology.

The Arctic Audio showroom features a simulated home theater.

Arctic audio outfitted this home with a state-of-the-art audio video system.

For more information, contact: Arctic Audio 3045 Main Avenue Fargo 701-298-2998 arcticaudio.com rshafer@arcticaudio.com

Photo by HELIOSTUDIO

Photo by Jill Ockhardt Blaufuss Architect - Dan Elton, AIA, Chris Hawley Architects General Contractor - Gary Fiske, Fiske Construction Home Technology - Tony Elhard, Integrated Technology Systems Interior Designer - Monica Hart, Monica Hart Interior Design Lights - Valley Lights Flooring - Carpet World Custom Furniture - Room & Board and HOM Furniture

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DESIGN & TECH SAVVY When it comes to building a home, these homeowners are forward thinking in both design and technology. After planning their dream home for years, they moved into it last fall after a 15 month build. Designed by Dan Elton at Chris Hawley Architects and built by Fiske Construction, this home is unique in its form and function.

The theater area features a cozy fireplace, large, bold-colored sectional, poufs and a projector with a 133â&#x20AC;? screen perfect for watching movies. Fun factâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; the homeowners can change the color of the LED lights hidden behind and around the screen.

BY Monica Hart PHOTOS BY Jill Ockhardt Blaufuss & Hillary Ehlen

The main floor, loft and man cave of this home were featured in the November 2017 issue of Design & Living Magazine. 37

Featured in the November 2017 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Master Craftsmanshipâ&#x20AC;? issue of Design & Living Magazine, the stunning main floor, loft and man cave of this home showcased energetic colors, unique design features and product selections along with custom furniture all selected by the homeowners in collaboration with their interior designer, Monica Hart of Monica Hart Interior Design. Each component was carefully chosen to flow harmoniously into the next. The lower level features much of the same along with integrated technology making this an entertainment space a must see and use.

Photo by Jill Ockhardt Blaufuss Accent/Wine Display Wall - Audrey Newman, JW Kitchens Custom, Steel-Wire Railing and Wood-Tread Staircase - P2 Industries Wall Art - Jessica Wachter

The main equipment rack is located in the lower level reading nook next to the theater area.

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The homeowners worked with Tony Elhard at Integrity Technology Systems for all of their technology needs. This home was designed around a centralized distribution system for both video and audio throughout the house. The central rack contains all of the different audio and video sources for the entire house. A matrix will take any connected source and send it to any connected TV or projector. The advantage of this design is it minimizes the amount of satellite or cable boxes, blu-ray players or streaming devices required. Any one device can be seen or heard in any one room or combination of rooms. The main equipment rack also contains the Dolby Atmos surround-sound receiver and surge protection equipment.

The most important component in the design is the ELAN main system controller. This component is what controls all of the gear and allows the homeowners to select which rooms they want to watch in and what to watch using handheld remote controls, their cell phones or 7â&#x20AC;? touch panels located in strategic locations throughout the home. They can even control it all while away from their home! The ELAN system ties all of the homeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s electronics together into one, easy-to-use interface. Not only can they operate their media systems, but also the Vantage Lighting control system, Qmotion motorized shades, the ELK Products intrusion system, the Luma surveillance system and even the irrigation system, all from touch panels or their phones.

Photo by Hillary Ehlen Architect - Dan Elton, AIA, Chris Hawley Architects General Contractor - Gary Fiske, Fiske Construction Home Technology - Tony Elhard, Integrated Technology Systems Interior Designer - Monica Hart, Monica Hart Interior Design Lights - Valley Lights Custom Furniture - Room & Board and HOM Furniture Pillows & Accessories - Monica Hart Interior Design

The homeowner designed the unique and interesting book shelf in the reading nook. It was masterfully built by Paul Vesledahl for Fiske Construction and then painted white to pop against the purple walls.

Photo by Jill Ockhardt Blaufuss Bar - Audrey Newman, JW Kitchens Custom Barstools - HOM Furniture

When asked what some of the benefits are of using technology like this, Elhard answered, “The main benefit is it simplifies using all of the different, specific systems throughout the house. It also allows automation. A good example is the 'sunset scene.' At 15 minutes before sunset, using an astronomical clock, the system turns on the outdoor lighting, lowers all of the shades, turns on the art lighting and turns the front LED, color wall wash lights to the last setting as chosen by the owner. Then, at 11:00pm, it turns off the outdoor lighting and wall wash fixtures, but leaves the shades lowered for privacy.”

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When asked what it was like working with the homeowners, Elhard replied, “The homeowner is a 'techie' at heart and, having installed his own systems previously, understood the challenges and benefits of every aspect of the design. Both homeowners were decisive and in-sync with design decisions, making the overall design process much simpler. If every client were as easy to work with as these homeowners, my job would be much less complicated!”

Fun and eclectic cabinets in the lower level bar were designed by the homeowners and Audrey Newman of JW Kitchens. The cabinet doors feature different designs and hardware for visual interest. The Volga Blue granite provides glimpses of blue –tying in the blue sectional in the theater area, and the wood canopy is trimmed out with steel and rivets by P2 Industries.

The liquor cabinet is tied into the security system and equipped with a magnetic lock. The homeowner can arm a separate partition in the security system which activates the magnetic lock, securing the door. If the door is pried open, it triggers the ELAN system to send the homeowner a text informing them that the liquor cabinet has been opened.

Photo by Hillary Ehlen Home Technology - Tony Elhard, Integrated Technology Systems Cabinetry - Audrey Newman, JW Kitchens

For more information, contact: Dan Elton, AIA, Chris Hawley Architects: 701-478-4600 Gary Fiske, Fiske Construction: 701-238-7635 Tony Elhard, Integrated Technology Systems: 701-200-2960 Monica Hart, Monica Hart Interior Design: 701-235-4929 Audrey Newman, JW Kitchens: 701-551-0625 Valley Lights: 701-277-0344 Carpet World: 701-235-7525

CAUGHT ON CAMERA WITH TRINSPIN Trinity Schaff has been working in the home technology industry for three decades. In 2011, Schaff founded his own business, TrinSPIN, which is a play on his first name and the unique spin that he and his technicians put on their work. Recently, Schaff gave us a tour of his showroom and discussed his personal experience with home security.

BY Becca Opp PHOTOS BY Hillary Ehlen Trinity Schaff stands next to a security display inside of the TrinSPIN showroom.

CAUGHT ON CAMERA Home security has been one of the most popular services that TrinSPIN provides. Schaff noted that home security is becoming increasingly user-friendly, allowing homeowners to customize and control their own systems and settings with ease. Now, clients can monitor their commercial and residential properties from almost anywhere in the world via an app on their smartphone. Schaff himself favors an app created by alarm. com to keep an eye on his home, business and lake home. During our visit to his showroom, Schaff shared with us his personal experience with home technology.

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About a year ago, Schaff installed a new camera outside of his home. Days later, he noticed a sports car parked outside of his neighbors' house. After months of the car sitting empty, Schaff became suspicious and called the police. Local authorities found that the vehicle had actually been reported missing and Schaff had captured the thief's face on camera immediately after he parked the car. "Of all places to drop a car off, he couldn't have put it in a worse spot," Schaff said with a laugh.

The TrinSPIN showroom was a collaboration between owner Trinity Schaff and architect Chris Hawley.

You might be thinking, 'What if something were to happen to your smartphone?' That is why clients have control panels placed in strategic locations throughout their homes. Schaff usually recommends installing a control panel by the entrance closest to the garage. This allows clients to easily access their settings on their way in or out of the house. "People used to always have one in their master bedroom as well, but that's been eliminated now because of mobile devices," Schaff explained.

Some of Schaff's favorite items in the TrinSPIN showroom currently include a waterproof, SEURA TV screen, mirrored TV screen and simulated home theater room.

Schaff keeps supplies and equipment on hand in his warehouse, which is connected to the TrinSPIN showroom.

FAMILY-FRIENDLY LOCATION In addition to servicing all of North Dakota and Minnesota, TrinSPIN has had project sites in Kansas, Arizona, Colorado and Wisconsin. Despite the fact that Schaff and his support technicians travel frequently, they maintain a familyfriendly work environment. In fact, the TrinSPIN showroom sometimes plays host to Schaff's daughter and her Girl Scout troupe.

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Schaff encourages anyone with an interest in home technology to come visit the TrinSPIN showroom. "We pride ourselves on being a turnkey solution for all of our clients so we can go into any residential, commercial or industrial project from the design phase all the way to the cabling phase," he concluded.

For more information, contact: Trinity Schaff 5625 51st Ave. S, Fargo 701-361-0358 trinspin.com info@trinspin.com

From his smartphone, Schaff can monitor the automated shades, thermostat, doors, windows and surveillance cameras in all of his properties. He can even see when the TrinSPIN showroom is opened each day.

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A LUXURIOUS, LOCAL SMART HOME We have had the pleasure of working on many amazing homes with integrated technology, but very few come close to this luxurious smart home in terms of aesthetically pleasing design and simple-to-use controls. This residence has nearly every kind of technology you could possibly want in a home. This client has been gracious enough to open their doors for Design & Living Magazine to highlight the ways various forms of technology can increase the use and function of a home without distracting from its architectural elements.

ABOUT SMART HOME TECHNOLOGIES Smart Home Technologies was founded in 2014 with a team of like-minded individuals driven by our shared passion for all things technology. With more than 50 years of combined experience, we handle all aspects of home technology, regardless of the size or scope of a project. We apply this same standard of excellence to our commercial projects as well. Our love of this industry pushes us to create the absolute best experience for all of our clients.

Jamie DeJean is the owner of Smart Home Technologies in West Fargo. BY Jamie DeJean PHOTOS BY J. Alan Paul Photography

HOME TECHNOLOGY TOUR For this project, the client trusted our experience and expertise. While they approached us with a specific list of needs, their primary request was for the home to function in a simple, reliable and fully-integrated capacity. This required us to work closely with the architect, builder, interior designer and several other important trades to deliver a truly exceptional user experience. CENTRALIZED LIGHTING Centralized lighting is a different approach to controlling the lights in a home. Typically, a light fixture has a switch on the wall that turns it on and off. Depending on the room, there may be multiple locations where that same light can be turned on and off. This requires additional light switches. In a home with centralized lighting control, a simple-to-use keypad with engraved and backlit buttons replaces all of those light switches. This not only reduces wall clutter, but also provides a much better user experience. The keypads still provide control of each individual light (as you would normally have with a light switch or dimmer) and give you the ability to turn an entire room or area on or off with one button press. We add buttons to the keypads near the exit points of the home to provide "All Off" or "Away" presets. This gives the homeowners peace of mind knowing all of the lights are off when they leave their home. Additional conveniences can be added to the "Away" presets such as turning off all of the televisions, closing the motorized shades and setting the thermostats to the "Away" state to save energy. In this particular home, the client asked us to take things one step further than "on" and "off" functions on those keypads. They found themselves turning on the same lights throughout the home and raising or lowering the brightness depending on the time of day, so we created lighting scenes called "Day" and "Evening" that allow the client to turn on lights they normally use to a preset brightness of their preference, depending on time of day, all with the touch of one button.

MOTORIZED SHADES Most homes have some sort of window treatments, whether they are shades, drapes or blinds. These are typically operated manually with pull-strings or chains. Depending on the size of the home, opening all of the window treatments can be a time consuming task. Some rooms also have large windows or windows that are out of reach. Motorized shades offer a convenient solution to those challenges while providing a seamless look for interior designers and clients alike.

DESIGN & LIVING | M AY 2 01 8

WHOLE-HOME MUSIC SYSTEM Many of our clients share our love of music and this client was no exception. The sound system in this home was built for entertaining. Every room has concealed speakers to provide outstanding sound that flows seamlessly from room to room without compromising the architectural elements of the home. We even incorporated an extensive outdoor audio system consisting of over 50 satellite speakers and subwoofers that are inconspicuously placed among the landscaping around the home. This gives the homeowner the ability to move between any of the outdoor entertaining areas and listen to the same sound that is being played indoors. These speakers are capable of playing sound from TVs as well as streaming services such as Pandora, Spotify or Apple Music.

WHOLE-HOME VIDEO SYSTEM As Television technology continues to evolve, TVs continue to get thinner. What hasn't changed is the number of devices needed to enjoy all of the shows and movies you love. In this home, we integrated a distributed video system that allows every TV in the home to access all of the video sources including HD cable Television, blu-ray players, the home's video surveillance cameras and online streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, iTunes Movies and Amazon Video. This helps keep the user experience the same in every room, regardless of the TV or sound system being used. It also helps eliminate the clutter of needing to have multiple pieces of equipment in each room by consolidating them in mechanical room equipment racks.

DESIGN & LIVING | M AY 2 01 8

HIDDEN TELEVISIONS You can see that no details were spared in the design of this home. During the design process, we relied on technology to disguise the TV screens so they would not detract from the decor. Ordinarily, a TV is placed where it is most comfortable to view. However, features like a waterfront view or highlydetailed fireplace take precedence over screens. The master bedroom is an example of how technology can be used to disguise a TV, which we executed by installing a motorized lift that raises the TV from the floor. The end result was exactly what the client and designer had in mind, so we applied the same logic to the fireplace wall in the garage where the TV folds up into the ceiling.

DESIGN & LIVING | M AY 2 01 8

In the master suite and walk-in closet, TV screens are visible through custom, dielectric mirrors.

This control panel is located in a main hallway off of the kitchen and living area.

STATE-OF-THE-ART SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM This residence includes a number of buildings with a gate at the front entrance of the property. In addition to addressing the homeowner's audio-visual needs, we installed a state-of-the-art surveillance system throughout the entire property for peace of mind when our client is away. All of the televisions and touch panels are capable of displaying video from any of the cameras, including visitors awaiting entry at the front gate. ONE-TOUCH CONTROL FOR THE ENTIRE HOME Technology can be intimidating, especially when all of it operates in different ways. To simplify control of the home, we centralize all aspects of home technology into one, simple-to-use interface. In this home, we placed large, tablet-like, touch-screen panels in strategic locations throughout the home that can control everything. Lighting, shades, audio, video and temperature can all be controlled from any of those panels or the homeowner's smartphone.

TECHNOLOGY AT THE FOREFRONT Technology doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t need to take a back seat when it comes to architecture and design. This home represents how many different technologies can enhance our clientâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s daily lives while remaining inconspicuous to the eyes of even the most discerning designers. There was a lot of careful planning and attention to detail that went into this project that began long before construction even started. We are proud of the finished project and thrilled to have been a part of this beautiful home. TECHNOLOGY FOR ALL Home technology is for everyone. Smart Home Technologies helps our clients identify what areas of technology best meet their family or business needs. We enjoy working on all projects, big or small. While this home is an extreme example of what is available today, we also love getting people excited about the tech that can be integrated into homes at every price point.

For more information, contact: Smart Home Technologies 3306 Sheyenne St. #212 West Fargo ND 701-526-0979 smarthomefargo.com facebook.com/fargosmarthome Design & Construction Team De Giulio Design 1121 Central Avenue Wilmette, IL 847-256-8833 degiuliodesign.com Tomlinson Schultz PO Box 1808 Detroit Lakes, MN 218-847-3092 tomlinsonschultz.com Joan Hebert, JH Design 412 15th Avenue N. Fargo 701-729-1714

ART DESIGN&LIVING

Ecce Gallery Celebrates New Location with "Look Both Ways" Group Exhibition BY Becca Opp | PHOTOS BY Hillary Ehlen

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or the past decade, ecce gallery has been curating community in Downtown Fargo. Since its conception, ecce has been a gathering place for established artists, emerging artists, patrons, collectors and spectators alike. In November 2017, gallery director Mark Weiler announced to a receptive audience that ecce would be relocating from Broadway to the historic Loudon Building before finally transitioning into their new space in Roberts Commons. On April 12, 2018, the beloved art gallery celebrated the opening of its RoCo location with a group exhibition titled "Look Both Ways."

Preparing for the Group Exhibition Opening Ecce gallery's new location opened on the evening of Thursday, April 12, 2018 with a group show featuring works by local artists Andrew Stark, Dan Jones, Jay Pfeifer, Mike Marth, Tessa Beck, Bob Crowe, Meghan Duda, Mollie Douthit, Zhimin Guan, Warren Kessler, Kelly Thompson, Pirjo Berg and Zoran Mojsilov. On the day of the exhibition, Weiler seemed calm and collected, though his composure contained a hint of excitement as he and his assistants prepared for the event. We had previously enjoyed an exclusive meeting with Weiler, during which he provided insight into the meaning behind the name of the exhibition, "Look Both Ways." "The location is opposite of where ecce used to be, so it's symbolic in that way. The show is about looking at things from different perspectives and understanding things from different points of view. It is also a bit of an ironic play on the alley being a one-way," Weiler explained.

ART DESIGN&LIVING

Enjoying The Evening of the Event Not long after the gallery name and hours of operation were posted in vinyl lettering on the glass door, guests began to trickle into the 500-square-foot space. Before long, it was filled from wall to wall with familiar and new, but curious, faces. Interestingly enough, the close quarters encouraged people to converse, regardless of whether or not they had known each other for many years or were only meeting for the first time. Unlike some shows during which guests keep respectful distances from each other and whisper in quiet tones, conversations were taking place, in some cases with the artist themselves participating in the discussion.

Dan Jones was in attendance, as well as many other wellknown, local artists.

Making Local Art More Accessible to All Though the new location is a bit of a departure from ecce's record of calling historic buildings home, the clean walls and concrete floor create the perfect setting for future exhibitions. "With ecce, we've always had these majestic spaces-big, decadent spaces. I wanted to go a complete 180 and do something succinct, modern and bright," Weiler said. Having a smaller physical footprint will allow ecce to focus on making local art accessible to more people. Tessa Beck, longtime assistant at ecce gallery said, "I feel so good about this space and the new direction we are approaching. With downsizing, we're looking for mobility and flexibility. Sizing down is going to allow us to be much more selective with the works that we choose. We can do smaller shows that rotate more frequently." Weiler will also have the ability to devote more time and energy to expanding ecce's online archive. By visiting eccegallery.com/artists, the public can browse through all of the artists ever featured at ecce and see high resolution images of their current and past works. The website also provides key information about each piece, including its title, year made, medium and exact dimensions. Patrons can view specific pieces in person by setting up an appointment.

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DESIGN&LIVING ART

"The space itself feels so active and so warm. It's going to feel that way for each opening just because of the space reduction. It is nice to see so many people out supporting us already. These last six months have been a lot transition-wise, and we've been lucky to have such a supportive group around us," said Beck. This was the first time her work as a photographer had ever been featured in an exhibition at ecce.

At the height the event, Weiler gave a brief talk thanking everyone for coming out to celebrate the opening of ecce's new RoCo space and "Look Both Ways."

Tessa Beck stands in front of her work, "Untitled (Greenpoint)."

Mark Weiler hangs "Art Opening I" by Dan Jones.

New Neighbors and Upcoming Exhibitions With their new flexibility, Weiler would love to be able to travel with shows to expose even more people to local artists and their work. He is also looking forward to welcoming their new neighbors, as ecce was the first to open in the building. "The idea was to connect all of these businesses within a hundred feet," Weiler said. We, for one, cannot wait to grab a cup of coffee and experience ecce's upcoming exhibitions.

For more information, contact: ecce gallery 208 Roberts Alley, Fargo 701-361-7067 eccegallery.com facebook.com/ecceartgallery

PARADE OF HOMES DESIGN&LIVING

PREVIEW A

Historic Home

O n the outskirts of Horace, ND, rests a beautiful farmhouse surrounded by woods that was built by Jason Carpenter of Carpenter Homes. Surprisingly, this house was not built 100 years ago. It is one of five luxurious featured homes in the 2018 Spring Parade of Homes. Now, you can catch a sneak peek of the stunning interior and be sure to read future issues of Design & Living Magazine for a complete tour of this historic home in the making.

LIVING ROOM Ten-piece crown moldings help the living room a stately impression. Carpenter and his crew used decorative moldings throughout the interior as a call back to the elaborate woodwork found in turn-of-thecentury homes. Custom Paint Finishes – The Coatings Authority Millwork – Cory Kara, Salquist Custom Woodwork Cabinet Design – Katy Krehlik, D&M Industries Beams – Blueberry Timber

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in the Making

DESIGN&LIVING PARADE OF HOMES

BY Becca Opp PHOTOS BY J. Alan Paul Photography

Quite the Project The homeowners met Carpenter about three years ago when they purchased one of his homes. Then, they reached out to him again to build their forever-home in Horace. Before breaking ground in late 2016, several things had to fall into place. “It took eight months to do the land deal. We’ve been working in this house for about 17 and a half months, so it’s been quite the project,” said Carpenter.

Builder – Carpenter Homes Architects – Tiffany Brantner; Josh Strand, Eye for Design Drafting – Josh Strand, Eye for Design Consulting Architect – SKD Architects Project Manager – Tiffany Brantner Project Manager – Tyler Carpenter Project Manager – Cory Kara Shingling – WJH Exteriors Siding Installation – Riverwood Construction

A Sneak Peek of the Stunning Interior

FOYER The foyer makes a statement with its grand staircase, 25-foot ceilings and a gold-plated chandelier. To the left of the entrance is a room with beautiful wallpaper. Custom Paint Finishes – The Coatings Authority Grand Staircase Materials – D&M Industries Millwork – Eli the Trim Guy, KPB Builders Flooring – Imperial Flooring

In case you missed this home during the first weekend of the 2018 Spring Parade of Homes, here is a sneak peek of the stunning interior for you to enjoy.

DESIGN&LIVING PARADE OF HOMES

KITCHEN The kitchen was a collaboration between the homeowners and Katy Krehlik of D&M Industries. One of the crown jewels of this room is the whiskey-barrel-inspired island. Custom Paint Finishes – The Coatings Authority Millwork – Salquist Custom Woodwork Cabinet Design – Katy Krehlik Appliances – Rigels & JW Kitchens Flooring – Imperial Flooring Brick Backsplash – Rock Solid Masonry

DINING ROOM Custom Paint Finishes – The Coatings Authority Flooring – Imperial Flooring Reclaimed Wood – Dakota Timber Company Millwork – Cory Kara

PARADE OF HOMES DESIGN&LIVING

FOR THE PARADE Although this home photographs beautifully, nothing can compare to seeing it with your own eyes. We have only included a select number of rooms in this preview, and there is so much more for you to explore during the 2018 Spring Parade of Homes. The Parade runs through the first weekend of May from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. A shuttle will be available to transport guests from the main road for their convenience, as private vehicles will not be allowed past a certain point. If you are unable to attend the Parade, be sure to read future issues of Design & Living Magazine for a complete tour of this historic home in the making. For more information, contact: Carpenter Homes 3659 Hidden Circle, West Fargo 701-371-8170 carpenterhomesfargo.com JasonCarpco@yahoo.com

BUTLER'S PANTRY For these homeowners, the butler’s pantry was a must. Small touches like the beadboard ceiling make you feel as if you are standing in a real farmhouse. Cabinet Design – Katy Krehlik Millwork – Salquist Custom Woodwork Flooring – Imperial Flooring

DESIGN & LIVING | M AY 2 01 8

GARDENING DESIGN&LIVING

THE WARM NATURE OF

Square Foot Gardening with Brian Fuder

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If you asked your child or grandchild to draw you a farmer, you might get something that looks like Brian Fuder, wearing his signature denim overalls and plaid shirt. Fuder is the only certified Square Foot Gardening instructor in North Dakota and upper Minnesota. There may have been snow on the ground when we visited his shop, but Fuder has a warm nature that he gladly shares with anyone who is interested in gardening. BY Becca Opp | PHOTOS BY Hillary Ehlen and Brian Fuder

DESIGN&LIVING GARDENING

GET TO KNOW FUDER Originally from Breckenridge, Minnesota, Fuder moved to Fargo with his wife and son to take a job at NDSU. Today, he is the Regional Manager for Donor Development at Dakota Lions Sight and Health and pursues gardening in his spare time. Fuder has been playing around with Square Foot Gardening for a number of years. Eventually, people started asking him to teach them how to do it. He soon got ahold of the foundation and sought certification. Square Foot Gardening is typically taught on the ground, but Fuder elevated the wooden planters for accessibility. "People have no trouble getting down on the ground. It's getting back up that is the problem," Fuder joked.

THE SQUARE FOOT GARDENING METHOD "People get excited around this time of year. They want to start gardening, so they get outside, dig up half of their backyard and get this huge garden that's just way too much work. By the Fourth of July, its full of weeds and half dead and they say, 'I'm never going to garden again.' Square foot gardening is a method that we use to decrease the overall size of the garden," Fuder said.

Fuder uses one-foot-by-one-foot models to demonstrate how Square Foot Gardening works. "In one square foot, depending on the plant size, we can either plant one, four, nine or 16 plants in each of those square feet. If you were going to plant radishes, you could plant 16 radishes in here," Fuder said.

Square Foot Gardening is a grid-based gardening method that was created by Mel Bartholomew in 1976. Fuder first became aware of Bartholomew by watching his PBS series that aired from 1982-1986. "I used to think that this guy had the coolest job in the world," Fuder said.

When making the Square Foot Gardens, Fuder trims each piece of wood to size. "A lot of times your lumber will vary in width from three eighths of an inch from one piece to another. I trim everything to size," he explained.

FUDER'S WORKSHOP Fuder builds all of his own elevated planters in a shop in his backyard. Though he is more than happy to accept custom orders, Fuder builds three-foot-by-three-foot wooden boxes that are elevated about three feet off of the ground, making them wheel-chair-accessible. Usually, Fuder's Square Foot Gardens weigh about 40 pounds, making them sturdy enough to withstand North Dakota winds. Fuder builds each of the planters by hand. "I'm pretty fussy about how they go together. I put a little extra love and attention into each and every one of them," he said. Fuder sells his three-foot-by-three-foot gardens for $149, but custom orders vary. Fuder explained how he has determined the price tag for his labor of love. "I've got it down to materials and time. My biggest dream is that someone is going to come in and ask for 100 of them, and my biggest fear is that someone is going to come in and ask for 100 of them," he said with a laugh. Luckily, he does have a gentleman who is willing to help when he does have a larger workload.

"SQUARE FOOT GARDENING IS A METHOD THAT WE USE TO DECREASE THE OVERALL SIZE OF THE GARDEN." - Brian Fuder

DESIGN&LIVING GARDENING GIVING BACK THROUGH SQUARE FOOT GARDENING Fuder loves to share his work and believes that gardening can be therapeutic for people of all ages. He recently built Square Foot Gardens that he will donate to the Moorhead Head Start program thanks to a grant from The Awesome Foundation. He also built a Square Foot Garden for a pair of blind, elderly sisters who placed Braille labels on the wooden planter to keep track of where each vegetable had been planted. Fuder is also responsible for bringing Square Foot Gardening to Daily Park in Moorhead and has a large set of gardens where he teaches classes at Trollwood Park in Moorhead.

Blind, elderly sisters 'seeing' square foot gardening for the first time.

Square Foot Garden plots at Trollwood Park.

FUDER'S TIPS FOR SQUARE FOOT GARDENING 1. Place the Square Foot Garden in a sunny location, away from trees, close to the house. "If you tuck it into the back corner of your yard, it's easy to ignore it," Fuder said. 2. Plant some of the things that you usually buy when you go to the grocery store. 3. Spend a little time each day tending your Square Foot Garden. "It's probably three minutes of care a day," said Fuder.

Square Foot Garden plots at Daily Park in Downtown Moorhead.

Fuder's motto is "'Keep your fingers dirty."

THE SECRET TO SQUARE FOOT GARDENING "We can plant in succession so that you always have something growing, something harvested and something being planted. In that nine square feet, we could have enough to feed an average adult a fresh salad or vegetable every day of the growing season," Fuder explained. Perhaps the most important ingredient of Square Foot Gardening though is the soil that Fuder uses. "We don't use topsoil. The secret to this is really in this mix. It's a combination of vermiculite, peat moss and compost. All of the nutrients, everything that we need is there. It's very light, friable, airy, so you get a good root structure. There's more underneath the ground of most plants than there is above ground, so we have to have a good root structure. Roots have to be able to breath. With this type of a mixture, your roots are able to breath. It allows for drainage and it also allows for some moisture retention. We don't have to put any inorganic fertilizers in there. We just put another scoop of peat or another scoop of compost in and we've got a good healthy garden," Fuder said.

For more information, contact: Brian Fuder 3902 6th St. S, Moorhead 701-640-8985 brian.fuder@gmail.com sfgrrv.com gofundme.com/SFGRRV facebook.com/SFGRRValley

TRENDS DESIGN&LIVING

locally

trending

Wood, Stone & Foliage

Locally Trending is a monthly feature that highlights the high quality home products available at locally owned stores in the FM area. Materials such as natural wood, white stone and leafy greens are this month's inspiration. With May in full bloom, we can't help but be inspired by nostalgic moments spring brings to mind. Thoughts of skipping rocks across a pond or taking barefoot steps across freshly-cut grass warm our hearts after a long, drawn-out winter. Now, as we watch newly budding leaves begin to open, we are finding ways to bring the feeling of spring into our homes with a few local finds.

BY Kayla Cote van Rensburg | PHOTOS BY Hillary Ehlen BEFORE PHOTO BY The White House Co.

MEET KAYLA Kayla Cote van Rensburg is originally from Willow City, ND, and has made her home in Fargo with her husband, Piet van Rensburg. In 2017, the two founded the local lifestyle Brand, Dak & Co.

DESIGN & LIVING | M AY 2 01 8

DESIGN&LIVING TRENDS

DINING SET The White House Co. $250

This one-of-a-kind dining set from The White House Co. would be a great way to bring the essence of the outdoors into your home. The White House girls thrifted this Midcentury piece and reupholstered all four seats with luxurious, leafy-green velvet. Featuring gold accents and a unique shape, this set is both chic and charming. Meanwhile, the glass table top adds just a touch of elegance.

BEFORE

DESIGN&LIVING TRENDS

TABLETOP ITEMS MINT + BASIL $13-$78

These tabletop items from MINT + BASIL would be perfect for any occasion from a garden party gettogether to a casual evening in with family. The Creative-Co-op dinner plates with a green leaf motif would surely please anyone at your next dinner party.

TRENDS DESIGN&LIVING

DAK & CO SPRING INSPIRATION PIECE At Dak & Co, spring has truly inspired us. This is why my husband, Piet, and I created the mini Desk Dak + planter, which would fit perfectly in any home or office, or even as a part of your tabletop display.

KAYLA'S TIPS 1. Plan an outdoors-in themed garden party for you and a few friends. 2. Decorate the Vintage White House Co. Dining set with all your favorite things of spring, including the green glassware from MINT + BASIL. 3. Fill the be HOME stone + wood cutting board with all of your favorite artisanal cheeses, fruits and nuts. 4. Serve your guests a delicious meal on the green-leaf-motif dinner plates. 5. Create memories through food, conversation and a nice bottle of wine.

A. This be HOME stone + wood cutting board would make a sculptural statement in your kitchen. Use it as a serving platter for a fruit and cheese spread to wow all your guests. B. To complete the look, pair your cutting board with these wooden be HOME utensils. C. These glass tumblers would also complement any kitchen display.

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DESIGN&LIVING DESIGN

T LOFTS

Refresh

T BY Becca Opp | PHOTOS BY J. Alan Paul Photography

About Christen Joy Homes

Christen Anderson began Christen Joy Homes shortly after returning to the Midwest following five years on the West Coast. The Minnesota native reestablished her roots in Moorhead when building her first home and found a sincere love for the process. Her business specializes in both commercial and residential projects from new builds, remodels to the finishing touches.

here's a popular misconception that all students live in dorm rooms or poorly-maintained houses, and in this case, that couldn't be further from the truth. The T Lofts were built by Roers in 2011 to give students a modern option when living off campus. Since then, they have stayed ahead of the curve by undergoing a well-timed redecoration with Christen Anderson of Christen Joy Homes. We sat down with Christen and asked about her ongoing collaboration with Roers.

Kristen Juven Roers Marketing Director

About Roers

Roers is a construction, development and property management company based out of Fargo, ND. Kristen Juven is the Roers Marketing Director. She was tasked with reaching out to Christen Joy Homes. "Christen was an easy choice. We've seen her work in the past, and she does a great job getting to know and executing her clients' vision within budget and on a timeline," Juven said.

DESIGN DESIGN&LIVING

Mirrors - FM Glass

ABOUT THE

Project

The goal of the T Lofts refresh was to give an inviting update to common spaces, providing comfortable seating areas for residents to enjoy. The refresh included two entrance common areas, a communal restroom and the exercise room. "We wanted a brighter, more functional and contemporary feel for those who call T Lofts home-something residents would utilize, feel comfortable in and where they would enjoy spending time. Due to their location, T-lofts are associated with NDSU, but we didn’t want residents to feel like they were on campus. Touches of NDSU and the demographic’s lifestyle are cleverly weaved throughout the design," Juven said. Vanity & mirror - Wendt Cabinets Wall tile - Carpet World

Q & A with Christen Anderson Q. Where did you draw inspiration for this project? A. Located near the edge of NDSU campus, the T Lofts' primary occupants are college students, so creativity was key when choosing designs. I wanted the space to have hints of local, North Dakota flavor, sustainable, modern comfort and welcoming, vibrant character. Q. What was your process like when working on this project? A. I approached this project as I do most and that begins with understanding the end-goal. Roers a budget and timeline in which the refresh needed to be completed. Roers granted me the freedom and flexibility to truly take any direction, so it was important for me to be able to maintain consistent communication and frequent "check-ins," ensuring we were all on the same page from the first meeting through the final walk through.

DESIGN & LIVING | M AY 2 01 8

Q. What challenges did you encounter when working with this project? A. Finding the right balance between pieces that were inviting, comfortable and durable definitely challenged me to get creative. Q. What was your favorite thing about working on this project? A. I loved the creativity this project required and the opportunity to incorporate so many local, talented artists. Their talents made my vision a reality. Q. What do you think of the final results? A. I was thrilled with the final results, but in the end, it’s the clients' opinions that matter most. The day following project completion, residents were taking photos of the wall paintings, conversing on the couches and playing shuffleboard.

Sign painting and design Upper Hand Signs

LOCAL Flavor Inspired by their work in Roberts Alley in Downtown Fargo, I invited Upper Hands Signs to use the concrete walls of T Lofts as a canvas. Their hand-painted wall art highlights the T Lofts logo, serves some ND pride and adds quirky personality in unexpected places like the mailboxes and exercise room. Photos from J. Alan Paul Photography and custom, wood furniture from Grain Designs are layered throughout the spaces creating instant wow factor from local artists.

DESIGN DESIGN&LIVING

End table - Grain Designs

VIBRANT

& Welcoming Character The shuffleboard gaming center and bookcases displaying local magazines invite residents to enjoy the space. Additionally, rearranging the equipment to better fit the space instantly transformed the exercise room. I also had furniture moved and large mirrors installed, making it much more open and appealing.

DESIGN & LIVING | M AY 2 01 8

High-top table - Grain Designs

SUSTAINABLE,

Modern Comfort

In the open common areas, I opted for large sectionals and wingback chairs to provide ample seating with the right amount of color, texture and comfort. I then paired industrial stools with a custom, high-top table from Grain Designs. The restroom refresh included two full walls of highgloss subway tile, instantly creating fresh and clean feel. Layering in the fun puppy print gave the perfect balance of character and quirk to the restroom.

Livability Roers and residents alike seemed to be satisfied with the results. NAME said, " Truth be told, the results really lie in the newfound livability in the spaces she [Anderson] touched. Historically, the common spaces werenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t used for much more than as a way to get from point A to point B. Now itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a regular thing to see and hear residents and visitors alike using the updated spaces." T Lofts resident Nancy Ngo said, "I think when we saw the couches, we all went 'woah.' Now we sit down here and chat when picking up our mail." In the Works Anderson is also collaborating with Roers on the SGC apartments and U32, which we can look forward to visiting and seeing renderings of in the next few months.

For more information, please contact: Christen Anderson 425-922-5237 christenjoyhomes@outlook.com Facebook.com/christenjoyhomes Instagram.com/christenjoyhomes

ARTIST DESIGN&LIVING

ARTIST FEATURE

neighborly artists THE MAKING OF NEXT LEVEL CREATIONS

ryan Vidger and Tom Hagen have lived next door to each other for going on 18 years. What started with a casual conversation between two neighbors in their front yards has become a mission to combine sports with art. The tricky part? They're doing it all in their spare time. BY Becca Opp PHOTOS BY Hillary Ehlen and Next Level Creations

DESIGN & LIVING | M AY 2 01 8

DESIGN&LIVING ARTIST

Two Guys Talking Over the Fence Vidger and Hagen gave us an exclusive tour of their garage-shop and described how Next Level Creations began. "It started with a random conversation in the front yard. Bryan had an idea and I thought it was pretty darn cool. It was just two guys talking over the fenceline, really. We decided we’d build this machine and, after doing some research, we developed a sculpting process that is unique to us," Hagen said. The two neighbors have been refining their 3D-relief-sculpting process on-andoff for the past few years. "We’ll put in a good amount of time and then take a break. That’s the cool thing about this because there really is no pressure on us. It’s something we're doing that's fun and that we're excited about," Hagen continued.

The Sports Direction Vidger and Hagen started experimenting with sculptures of local landmarks and have even collaborated with a local artist. However, in the Fall of 2017, they decided to take their signature sculpting process and run full-speed-ahead in a new direction. "Last fall, we determined to take this in a sports direction. We both like sports and art, so that’s why sports sculpture interests us," Vidger explained. For them, that meant commemorating historic moments in Bison football. To do so by the book, they became officially licensed through Collegiate Licensed Properties (CLC). Now, they can create memorabilia for any university or fans of any college team. "We wanted to take photos and create art pieces that mean something to people," Hagen said. Because of this, they also look forward to making custom sculptures using clients' own personal photos.

ARTIST DESIGN&LIVING

The 3D-Relief-Sculpting Process Vidger and Hagen came up with their process in a garage-turned-shop. "We start with just an image and build a model in the computer," Vidger said. Then, they use a machine to carve the model into a piece of wood. Next, they hand-finish the wooden, 3D-relief sculpture and use it as a mold. Finally, they add an antique-metallic finish.

Vidger and Hagen custom-built this machine to carve their models.

DESIGN & LIVING | M AY 2 01 8

Born and raised in Fargo, Bryan Vidger has been exploring photography from a very young age and has formal training in graphic art.

Tom Hagen is originally from East Grand Forks and has lived in the FM area since 1987. An MSUM alumni, Hagen pursued a career in graphic communications and business.

While Hagen enjoys making noise and creating sawdust, Vidger likes adding fine details that make each piece oneof-a-kind. "Tom does a lot of the carving out in the garage with the machine, and I do a lot of the finishing in my basement, but we crossover at times," Vidger explained. "We dabbled with different materials, but we wanted something that was timeless. Bronze is timeless; it can fit in with any dĂŠcor. Our sculptures look like they've been around for 50 years, and the nice thing is that they will be around 50 to 100 years from now," Hagen elaborated. Where are they Now Vidger and Hagen have displayed their work from Next Level Creations in Underbrush Gallery. Though they have not gone to other lengths to make their work known to the public, the two neighbors have relied on word-of-mouth to spread their mission.

For more information, contact: Next Level Creations nextlevelcreations4u.com nextlevelcreations4u@gmail.com

blink BLINDS + GLASS

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