Upon driving down 11th Avenue SW in Sidney, Dennis and Brenda Marker’s house looks like a typical ranch style home with a single car garage. However, this home is now anything but typical, thanks to the extensive planning by Dennis and Brenda and the expert remodeling work by H&R Construction.
In the process of the remodeling project, the kitchen and dining rooms were expanded, a walk-in pantry and laundry room were added as well as an oversized, triple car garage and workshop that deceptively looks like only a single car garage from the street. The balance of the home remains in the same layout as when Dennis purchased it about 24 years ago which features a living room, 3 bedrooms, and a bath on the main floor and 2 bedrooms and another bath in the finished basement.
Ever since they got married, the Markers have always wanted to remodel and make a larger kitchen and add a garage. They also wanted to move their laundry room up from the basement to the main floor. In 2012, they finally got their chance when Terry Roth and Art Herman of H&R Construction found time in their busy schedule to start the ball rolling. Frank Sticka poured the concrete and the crew from H&R Construction did the framing and the Markers turned to Brenda Larson of Creative Solutions for help with the interior design and the kitchen layout. Brenda Marker said, “Not surprising, Dennis knew exactly what he wanted in the garage, but had no vision for the kitchen, except that he wanted dark cabinets. I knew I wanted a villa look that we had seen in Europe. I liked the feel of it and actually got to see it all over there, all I had to do was get it home! The shop at Ken’s Heating was full of our furniture and knick-knacks way before the project even began!” Choosing the decorations were easy for Brenda M., but when it came to choosing floorplans, cabinets and countertops, they turned to Brenda Larson. “She made it so easy for us,” Brenda M. said. “She would put the components together that she thought we would like and then we wouldn’t have to go through so many samples. Such as the quartz countertop, we walked in and saw the sample she had put with our dark cherry cabinets and I said, that’s what I want! Let’s do it!!! Brenda L. says, “Putting complimentary products together is one of the services Creative Solutions provides. It is just too overwhelming for most people to choose all of the different things.”
Now, when one walks from the garage, they enter through a new fiberglass door from ProBuild that was stained to match their woodwork and into an entry that goes to the pantry, laundry or kitchen areas. The well-organized pantry is complete with LifeSpan Organizers from Creative Solutions and rotating can storage units that hold the canned goods as well as an extra fridge. The bright red washer and dryer from PATH are the focal point of the efficient laundry room. A folding counter and work space was chosen by Brenda M. with Dennis in mind. “I got to choose everything else in the house that I liked, so I got this for him. It’s unique and clean and refreshing looking, as well as durable and useful.” This room also has a LifeSpan Organizer that features a hanging bar, shelving and laundry basket.
Next, one enters through an impressive knotty alder door and into, “A little taste of Italy.” This stunning area that is the kitchen and dining room, is breathtaking and features Bella, mission and charcoal glazed cherry cabinetry by Dura Supreme, villa-inspired tiled backsplash, LED under-cabinet lights, glistening quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances and dark, Perma-Stone tiled floors. A canvas print of an Italian city graces the rich green walls with dark red and gold decorations that accent the room, including potholders made by a 94 year old lady from a Tuscan village. “We just love the large island in the kitchen!” Brenda M. stated. We use the whole thing and this is where the family comes together when we are making our favorite German and Norwegian family recipes. Also, the cabinetry is just beautiful and Charlie from H&R Construction and his son, Chris did a great job of installing them. We love Charlie! He was just great and was very picky! He even watched the other workers and made sure they were careful. It was really refreshing to watch how he worked and how he cared.”
“We couldn’t have done this without the help of Brenda and the girls from Creative Solutions either,” Brenda M. stated. They took our inspirational piece that was a buffet I had previously purchased and transformed the entire room around it into something beautiful as well as efficient. It’s a pleasure to come home and be able to work and relax in this area.”
Having a business of their own, the Markers realize the importance of buying locally and they strived to do just that during the remodeling project. The concrete came from Sidney Red-E-Mix, the building products from ProBuild, Melby’s Seamless Gutters installed the gutters and downspouts, Mike Potts did the plumbing, Prairie Electric did the wiring and Gurney Electric and Prairie Electric both furnished light fixtures, Mandy Householder of Finir did the tile work, Johnson Hardware supplied the paint and stain, the flooring came from Chads and the cabinetry, countertops, cabinet hardware and closet organizers came from Creative Solutions and of course the HVAC came from Ken’s Heating and Sheetmetal!
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