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sty le media and design, inc.| 970.226.6400 |

w w w. s t y l e m a g a z i n e c o l o r a d o . c o mw w w. s t y l e m e d i a . c o m

Publisher/editor Lydia J. Dody

creative director Austin J. Lamb

assistaNt editor Corey Radman

Photo editor Diane M. Specht

GraPhic desiGNer Kerry Fannon

GraPhic desiGNer Tammy Beard

sales MaNaGer Saundra Skrove (970) 217-9932

advertisiNG sales eXecutivesJon Ainslie (970) 481-1459

Barbara Burkett (970) 631-3599Karen Christensen (970) 679-7593

Lydia Dody (970) 227-6400

office MaNaGer Ina Szwec

accouNtiNG MaNaGer Karla Vigil

data eNtry Betty Frye

coNtributiNG WritersJason Clarke, Lynn Dean, Austin J. Lamb,

Jennifer Leigh Johnson, Court Klinck, Corey Radman, Diane M. Specht, Ina Szwec

coNtributiNG PhotoGraPhers Lydia Dody, Austin J. Lamb, Dana Milner

Corey Radman, Diane M. Specht, Ina Szwec

affiliatioNsFort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce

Loveland Chamber of CommerceGreeley Chamber of CommerceWindsor Chamber of Commerce

Estes Park Chamber of CommerceJohnstown Milliken Chamber Of Commerce

2006 style MagazinesJanuary-Loveland/Greeley Medical & Wellness

Magazine and DirectoryFebruary-Building & Remodeling

March-Family, Community & NonprofitApril-Business of Northern Colorado

May-Home & GardenJune-Men & Business

July-Fort Collins Medical & Wellness Magazineand Directories

August-Women & BusinessSeptember-Home Interiors & Entertainment

October-Lifestyle, Health & BeautyNovember-Holiday

December-Winter/Wedding

style Media and design, inc. magazines are free monthly publica-tions direct-mailed to homes and businesses in Northern Colorado. Elsewhere, subscriptions for twelve issues cost $24 annually (53% off newsstand price). Free magazines are available in stands at 75 loca-tions throughout Northern Colorado.

For ad rates, subscription information, change of address, or correspon-dence, contact: style Media and design inc., 211 W. Myrtle, Fort Col-lins, Colorado 80521. Phone (970)226-6400, Fax (970)226-6427.E-Mail: [email protected] or [email protected]

©2006 style Media and design inc. All rights reserved. The entire contents of Style Magazine is copyrighted and may not be repro-duced without the expressed written consent of the publisher. style Media and design inc. is not responsible for unsolicited material. All manuscripts, artwork, and photography must be accompanied by a SASE. The views and opinions of any contributing writers are not necessarily those of style Media & design inc.

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FROM OURREADERS

NICE JOB STYLE

I wanted to tell you how much we all loved the 211 Transformation article in the Woman & Busi-ness issue. That was well written, it hit the points I wanted to make, the quotes were well relayed, and it took a complicated topic and made it under-standable to the average person. Nice job Style!

-John Sinnett,and all of us at Sinnett Builders

THANKS FOR THE INCREASED BUSINESS

Since advertising with Style Magazine, I have no-ticed an increase in calls from brides to be look-ing for bridal gowns. From the fi rst issue that my ad ran, the calls started coming in the same day the magazine was distributed! The placement of the ad was perfect, and the art department did a phenomenal job in creating the current ad. I am very happy I decided to choose Style Magazine in which to advertise. I have reached the clientele I was hoping to, and again my business has experi-enced growth since placing the ads. Every time I receive a call from a bride to be, she tells me she found me in Style Magazine!

-Patty BurlingSimply Elegant Wedding & Event Planning

EVERYONE READS IT!

I am amazed at how many people read Style Mag-azine! Thank you for photographing your fash-ions at the Union Colony Civic Center in Greeley. We’ve all enjoyed appearing in the Family & Com-munity issue and continue to have compliments from so many people. That’s why it’s such a good magazine – everyone reads it!

-Mark BreimhorstUCCC Manager

DELIGHTFUL EXPERIENCE

Dear Lydia, Thanks for the invitation to model in the Women & Business edition of Style Magazine, it was such a delightful experience. I have been surprised at how many comments (autograph jokes aside) I have received. You have quite a wide range of readers - men and women, and all ages! Thanks again Lydia!

-Brenda Cummings, OTR, CHTHarmony Hand & Physical Therapy Center

We love hearing from you by mail, phone, fax or email. Thank you for your support these past 22 years!

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FROM OURREADERS

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How do you Find the Perfect Home?

page 22 Profile: Colorado Kitchen & Bath

page 40 Designed Just for You:Colorado Interior De-sign Center

page 46 Loft Appeal

contentsTABLe oF

Home Interiors & entertainment2006

features departmentspage 26flooring: The Carpet Difference

page 32windows:Letting the Light In

page 34art:Master of Mosaics:Alex Gupton

page 36electronics:iHome

page 38restaurant review:Bent Fork the Grill

page 50entertainment:Colors of Autum

page 56transformation: Destination: New Digs211 W. Myrtle

on the cover Ed Brehon, Colorado Kitchen & Bath owner is pictured here in his Estes Park showroom, which features extraordinary custom Plato Cabinetry. The featured table has a Soapstone top and wood inlay.

Cover photography byDana Milner

page 08From our Readers

page 12Publisher’s Letter

page 62About Town:

Bixpo 2006

The Ultimate Drive for Susan G. Komen Breast CancerFoundation

Realities for Children Gadabout

Women Against MS Luncheon

columns

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Publisher’s LetterChange is in the Air

There is now a certain familiar crispness in the air, the leaves are start-ing to drop and a change of seasons once again turns our thoughts to spending more time indoors. Our homes are our sanctuaries and today many of us are choosing to improve, remodel or revitalize them. Read our profile on Colorado Kitchen & Bath and get ac-quainted with Ed Brehon and his team of professionals. They will surprise you with innovative ways to improve the look and function of your kitchen or bath. Sprucing up a room or window is easily done with just a few updates; gather some ideas from Designed Just For You. Also, innovations in carpet design and fibers will enhance your lifestyle while enhanc-ing your resale value so enjoy The Carpet Difference for some valuable tips. How Do You Find the Perfect Home? is a question many ask when actively looking to move. Learn what profession-als have to say as to the important considerations when shopping for your perfect home. Have you ever consid-ered loft living? Certainly a popular choice for an increas-ing number of buyers, so read up on two exciting projects in Fort Collins in Loft Appeal. Somewhere I read a thought that went something like this: If we recognize that change and uncertainty are ba-sic principles that exist, then we can welcome the future and the transformation that we all are undergoing with the belief and understanding that we don’t know enough to be pessimistic. So with that conviction, an innate optimism, and Helen Keller’s quote, “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing,” the Style Magazine staff courageously moved into a new office. Even though not completely renovated, 211 West Myrtle is our new home and we are very en-thusiastic about our bigger, better space and downtown location. We hope you have been following our remodeling progress in the pages of Style this year as the partners who are helping us are contributing to a donation we will be making to the Hope Lives Breast Cancer Support Cen-ter, a non-profit that helps women who are diagnosed with breast cancer in Larimer and Weld counties. This not-for- profit is near and dear to my heart and I hope that some of you consider going to their annual Hope Lives Benefit on October 14th at the Hilton Hotel. Call 225-6200 and ask for Mary to buy tickets. You will forever be changed once you attend this inspiring event! I promise.

May your fall days be blessed with beautiful colors and rich opportunities to explore new growth and change.

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How Do You Find the Perfect Home?by Jason Clarke

Is it better to look for a great bargain on an older home and then fi x it up? Should I look for a newer home that’s more expensive but doesn’t need any remodeling? Which is more important, the home itself or the neighborhood it’s in? How do I know which homes are going

to appreciate the fastest? Which improvements will increase the overall value of the home and which will have little or no impact on resale value?

While all of these questions may seem daunting, in reality there are some pretty clear rules to follow in order to ensure that you not only fi nd the home of your dreams, but make a wise fi nancial decision as well. The key to buying a home in a buyer’s market is to make sure that you not only fi nd a great place to live, but also protect your equity and make sure that you’re in a solid position when it fi nally comes time to sell.

One thing that all of the experts seem to agree on is that it’s nearly impossible for an individual to answer these questions without professional help. Every house and every buyer is different, which means that there is no simple formula to use when making purchasing decisions. “There’s not a one-size-fi ts-all approach that fi ts every

project,” says Bryan Soth, Co-owner of HighCraft Builders in Fort Collins. “On one project it may not make sense to do more than just change the carpet, while on another project a half-million dollar remodel may be just fi ne in terms of re-sale value.”

Soth believes that any buyer should consult, at a bare minimum, two different kinds of professionals before making a home purchase. “A buyer needs to consult someone who understands real estate values, and another professional who understands design considerations and construction costs,” he says. “Otherwise people might not understand the costs involved in a project and then they may make plans that don’t fi t their individual fi nancial means or don’t make sense in terms of resale value.”

Kate Crist, Broker Associate at RE/MAX Advanced, Inc. agrees that professional help is essential when making what is usually the single most important investment decision a person ever makes. “Only a seasoned broker knows the inventory and the intimacy of a specifi c neighborhood and can tell you if the house value is correct for the current market,” she says. “There may be zoning changes coming down the

pike, school boundary line adjustments, or new developments coming up that may be right next to the home you intend to purchase. If you don’t know about these changes until after you’ve made the purchase, you may not be too happy when you do fi nd out.”

It may seem as though a buyer’s agent isn’t necessary with so many homes available, but in reality the opposite is true—only an experienced agent has the time and resources to stay on top of a complicated and constantly revolving inventory in order to spot the good deals in the crowd. “A Realtor has the advantage and can pass it on to a prospective buyer,” says Joanne DéLeon, Broker Associate/Partner at the Group, Inc. “Robert Kiyosaki’s book, “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” points out the importance of seeing many homes before making a buying decision and a Realtor sees many homes weekly in a large geographical area and in many price points.” This gives the buyer working with a Realtor a signifi cant advantage over those who choose to search alone.

But only rarely does a buyer fi nd the perfect home fully built and ready for move in—usually there are small changes, and often there are major changes that need to be done before a dream

Now that we’ve settled in to a solid buy-

er’s real estate market along the front

range it seems as if it should be easy

to fi nd a new home. But surprisingly, a

buyer’s market often makes things more

complicated than ever as potential pur-

chasers wade through a crowded mar-

ket looking for just the right home. A

buyer’s market offers a lot of choices,

but at times all those choices can seem

overwhelming, leaving people asking

lots of diffi cult questions.

14

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15Home Interiors & Entertainment 2006

1515


”“A buyer needs to

consult someone whounderstands real estate values, and another professional who

understands designconsiderations andconstruction costs.

-Bryan SothHighCraft Builders

Also pictured: Dwight Sailer

Only a seasoned broker

knows the inventory and

the intimacy of a specific

neighborhood and can tell you

if the house value is correct for

the current market.

“”-Kate Crist

Re/Max Advanced, Inc.

16

1616


home becomes a reality. “Many times our clients can look past the home as it is at present and see potential. It is our responsibility to listen to their wish list and help them to create their dream home, but also to guide them to reality, helping them decide whether or not the property and the investment in a renovation is a wise move,” says Rita Peterson, Principal Co-Owner of ABD, Ltd., a local design/build company.

“The location of the home is important to almost everyone. Mature landscaping, views, school vicinity, and personal preferences such as a desire to live in the Old Town area or on an outlying acreage are all factors,” says Peterson. “We are hired to work on many homes when prospective buyers love everything about the neighborhood except the house itself. It may need anything from a minor change to a major renovation to turn it into the exact home that they are searching for.”

Remodel decisions are often complicated because the effect of a renovation on resale value is usually not the same as the cost of the renovation itself. Some changes are relatively inexpensive yet can have a dramatic impact on resale value, while other changes are much more expensive yet have very little effect on a home’s value. “The cheapest and most dramatic change is paint,” says Gary E. Hixon, Owner of Gary E. Hixon Interiors, Inc. “The use of color can really enhance the flavor of a room.”

“Cosmetic issues such as paint, flooring, and countertops are certainly the easiest,” agrees Soth. “But finishing basements can also be cost effective if a new buyer simply needs more square footage.” He does warn, however, that some aspects of a basement can’t be changed. “Low basement ceiling height could preclude certain design goals,” he says.

Focusing renovation on rooms that buyer’s usually key in on can have a significant impact on resale value, says Hixon. “The rooms that seem to attract the most attention are the kitchen, master bathroom, and front entry,” he says. “These rooms can speak volumes, so the more pleasing the aspects in these rooms, the better. You want a ‘WOW’ factor in place, so the front entry should be dramatic.”

“Studies have shown that kitchens and master bedrooms suites, particularly bathrooms, are by far the most effective rooms to renovate if you want to add to the resale value of a home,” agrees Peterson. “Generally speaking, our clients’ key rooms are the kitchen, master bedroom suite, and family living space. What’s most important is to evaluate how the home can be remodeled to fit the buyer’s needs. Even if the home a potential buyer is considering does not have a suitable kitchen, for example, we can help a buyer to examine all of the options, even if that means modifications. Sometimes the existing space can be reconfigured, or we can expand the kitchen either within the existing interior spaces or through an addition so that the end result will meet their needs.”

Although major remodels are often cost prohibitive, some changes can be well worth the investment. “If the time frame for living in the house is less than five years, then a minor kitchen and bath remodel generally has the highest rate of return,” says Soth. “Also, minor remodels like removing or adding an interior wall or two to fix a

Continued on page 21


1717


The most important partof any buying decision

is the price. A good Realtor will do a ComparativeMarket Analysis for aprospective buyer.”

“-Joanne DéLeonThe Group, Inc.

We are hired towork on many homes when

prospective buyers loveeverything about the

neighborhood except the house itself.

“”-Rita Peterson

ABD, Ltd.

18

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The use of color can reallyenhance the flavor of a room.”“

-Gary E. HixonGary E. Hixon Interiors, Inc.

�0�0


layout problem could make a huge improvement in value at minimal cost.”

But determining which kinds of remodeling are suitable is more complicated than simply renovating a house to meet the desires of a potential buyer. In terms of protecting equity and improving resale value, outside factors are often as important as the actual cost of a particular improvement. “A buyer should consider the location and weigh an improvement with the price point of the neighborhood,” says Crist. “For example, in a mid-range development, it is probably not a good idea to customize over and above the area standard.”

Of course, the most obvious factor in looking for a new home is the price. If a home is overpriced for the current market then any renovation would be impossible to regain in equity anytime in the near future. On the other hand, a home that is under-priced may well be worth investing some money in. “A good realtor can tell you if the home you are interested in is priced well, priced too high, or if it’s a real bargain,” says Crist.

Keeping track of all of those variables is almost impossible for the average home buyer, but luckily real estate professionals have access to cutting-edge technology that can help them track home values and make sure that buyers find a home that is priced fairly. “The most important part of any buying decision is the price,” says DeLéon. “A good realtor will do a Comparative Market Analysis for a prospective buyer.”

Along with her husband, Tim DéLeon, also a Broker Assoicate/Partner at The Group, Inc., Joanne DéLeon has developed a new software tool that gives realtors the ability to create visual diagrams which show sellers and potential buyers what a home is actually worth. By comparing a home to similar homes that have recently been sold, a buyer or seller can get a sense for the actual value of a home in a visual format that is easy to read and understand.

Called the “Competitive Price Line” and the “Scattergram,” these visual pricing tools are already influencing the way that realtors present price information to their clients. “The response has been exciting,” says DéLeon. “We have talked to many realtors who are experiencing new success.” Featured at Larry Kendall, Chairman of The Group Inc.’s, “Ninja Selling Retreats,” these new tools are yet another reason to seek the help of a professional realtor when searching for a new home.

Professionals agree that the most important factor in buying a home is that the home is priced right. New technologies like DéLeon’s visual pricing tools can help a buyer decide whether a house is really worth buying and renovating, and can give both buyers and sellers a more realistic appraisal of a home’s value.

A buyer’s market can be a fantastic opportunity, but because every house is unique, it’s often difficult to tell whether a renovation project will positively impact the value of your new home or simply drain your wallet. But with the help of the right professionals, any potential buyer can make the right decisions and ultimately create the perfect home for you.

Jason Clarke is an English teacher at TVHS in Loveland. He lives in Fort Collins with his wife, Victoria, their son Jaden and their daughter Jordan.

Continued from page 17.

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Profile: Colorado Kitchen and Bath Journey Through ExtraordinaryKitchen and Bath Vignettes.by Court Klinck

Q uality. This one word, more than any other, sums up the business philosophy of Edward Brehon, owner of Colorado Kitchen & Bath. From the time, right out of high school, when he bor-

rowed $350 from his parents for power tools to start his first business in their garage, Brehon has remained uncompromising in his insistence on in-corporating top quality into the products and ser-vices he provides. Even after 9/11, when business was really slow, he maintained his product quality and held firm on prices. As Brehon puts it, “I just worked harder.”

In the beginning, Brehon built picture frames. From there, he moved into cabinet refacing. Step by step, over 23 years, he has built Colorado Kitchen & Bath into a thriving business - provid-ing homeowners, builders/architects, commercial contractors, lodges and resorts, and hotel and motel owners with one-stop shopping for a broad assortment of kitchen and bath products and ser-vices. Offering everything from full service remod-

eling to new construction, the company serves all of Northern Colorado (and sometimes other parts of the state and nation as well) with the finest in builder-grade, semi-custom, and custom kitchen and bath solutions. They’ve also recently added a home theater line. Colorado Kitchen & Bath has two primary lo-cations: a large and beautiful showroom in Estes Park featuring the company’s complete line, main office, and countertop manufacturing facility and a showroom in Lucerne north of Greeley.

The company currently has 14 employees, and regularly works with a number of key subcontractors. Besides Brehon (who designs and sells as well as runs the business), the team consists of master carpen-ter Bruce Olsen, shop manager Todd Bauer, five design and sales consultants - Sheryl Gustafson, Doug Baer, Ken Akerfelds, Susan Novy, and Lindsey Brehon, two members of the office staff - Kim Brehon and Samantha Shaw, and six carpenters, fabricators and installers. Brehon feels strongly that the keys to his company’s success are the continued emphasis on quality, and a team approach to the business. “Every member of our team, from employees to subcontractors, plays an important part in the company’s suc-cess. I couldn’t have built this business without them.”

Brehon encourages people to bring their plans and dreams to Colorado Kitchen & Bath where in-novative design, quality construction and excellent customer service have characterized the company’s operations since its inception. Brehon’s experienced carpenters have the knowledge and ability to design and remodel a kitchen or bath from floor to ceiling. Work can include framing new walls, moving existing walls, hanging and completing drywall, painting, and installing cabinets, countertops and ceramic tile. They also do electrical and plumbing work if it’s not permit related.

Colorado Kitchen & Bath offers many types, styles and brands of cabinets, countertops and acces-sories to help customers create a solution that fits their individual taste, budget and design plan. The company is a cabinet dealer representing five different cabinet lines – Brandom, Merillat, Great North-ern, Custom Cupboards, and Plato. In putting together a specific kitchen or bath configuration, the

Cabinets from Custom Cupboards in knotty alder with Old World red finish.

Countertops are Silestone natural quartz.

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”“When I’m designing, it doesn’t feel like work – this is my passion.

company offers its customers cabinets in virtually any style, color, wood and finish – made to or-der as requested. According to Brehon, “A lot of small shops call themselves ‘custom.’ They build cabinets ‘to the quarter inch.’ We don’t consider that custom. Our definition of custom is a cabinet company that will invent a new door style and match a color to a piece of fabric. It makes a big difference in terms of quality.”

The company’s fully furnished workshop builds countertops, standard cabinetry and spe-cialty woodworking. Brehon provides his custom-ers with several different styles of plastic laminate and solid surface counter top material including Corian, Swanstone, Silestone, Soapstone and granite. Integral and drop-in sink bowls are also offered. It’s worth a trip to the Estes Park show-room just to see the gorgeous $2,500 polished copper sink in one of the kitchen displays.

In addition to new cabinets and countertops, Colorado Kitchen & Bath also offers cabinet refac-ing, using in-house employees. This approach works in some remodel situations where existing cabinets are in good condition. Brehon points out, however, that he can install builder-grade cabinets for the same price as refacing, excluding tear out and installation.

For those seriously interested in adding or re-modeling a kitchen and/or bath (or even those just looking for some good ideas), a short drive to the Estes Park showroom is definitely recom-mended. As you enter Estes Park from Loveland, you’ll see the Sombrero Horse Ranch on your right. Take the next right turn onto the frontage road. The Colorado Kitchen & Bath showroom is in the first shopping center on the right. Brehon describes the Estes Park showroom as a “mega-store” in that it includes a wide range of prod-ucts such as cabinets, countertops, appliances, hardware, lighting and plumbing fixtures, floors, ceramic tile, tile wall splash, decorative items and, recently, home entertainment items. The show-room presents multiple kitchen and bath arrange-ments that provide visitors with fully configured examples of the quality design and workmanship inherent in the company’s offerings. When he’s asked why he has located his showroom in Estes Park, Brehon replies simply, “I’ve always enjoyed spending time in the mountains, so I decided to open my showroom here where I can spend time every week.

Brehon invited Lori Brisco, Principal of Alpha Design Group in Greeley, to assist him in the cre-ation of the elegant Estes Park showroom. Brisco provided her high-end expertise and design guid-ance for floor coverings, tiles, paint colors, etc. According to Brehon, “When people walk into the showroom, they get pretty excited – as if they’re in a candy store.” Perhaps the most impressive showroom display is the $85,000 kitchen with Plato cabinetry, which is all such high quality that its cost alone totals more than many other full showrooms. The gorgeous kitchen features high-end cabinetry, cherry raised panels with stained and glazed applied molding inset doors, granite and Soapstone countertops, hammered copper apron front sink, Grohe oil rubbed bronze pull out spray faucet, and integrated wood fronts on the 36-inch Sub-zero refrigerator, Decor warming

Robinson Brick natural stone on walls. Cherry cabinets from Plato.

Granite countertops on exterior walls.Original Soapstone on island countertop.

-Ed Brehon

2�Home Interiors & Entertainment 2006

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drawer and Asko dishwasher. Also featured are a 36-inch Wolf stainless steel gas range, 30-inch Wolf built-in oven and 30-inch Wolf built-in mi-crowave. An additional “must see” is the custom designed real stone range hood with a Grohe stainless steel pot filler. The overall kitchen de-sign is topped off with hand-carved wood corbels under the range hood and beautiful hand-carved appliqués applied to the range hood’s upper face. Almost as eye popping is the $55,000 fully work-ing kitchen. This kitchen will be used this fall for different cooking shows involving area chefs pre-paring various types of meals. It will also be used as part of several “How to Get Started” clinics dealing with kitchen and bathroom remodeling, cabinet design, and manufacturers’ cabinet prod-ucts. These clinics are planned to be put on disk and eventually offered on-line for the benefit of out of town customers who can’t easily travel to the showroom.

The bathrooms displayed in the Estes Park showroom are, like the kitchens, beautifully de-signed with functionality in mind. One of the bathrooms is fully handicapped accessible with a walk-in shower and support handrail. It’s ideally suited for a retirement community or anywhere else with handicap requirements.

A second bathroom employs standard semi-custom cabinets, easy-to-clean and attractive Swanstone countertops and shower walls, large tub with optional jets, and a porcelain floor that simulates hardwood but isn’t affected by mois-ture. The high-end bathroom on display sells for $40,000. The cabinetry is custom, hand-crafted and hand-painted, has Travertine natural stone, is equipped with a European-style 3/8 inch thick glass door, and has a 32-inch LCD flat screen TV above a large corner jetted tub. Bathroom design tile accents are from Water Jet Wonders in Love-land.

In addition to the kitchen and bath displays, a portion of the showroom contains a home enter-tainment configuration. Colorado Kitchen & Bath is an LCD/Plasma TV dealer and, by next summer, the showroom will have a complete corner of the store devoted to home theater, with an $8,000 sound system, theater chairs, and a projection TV screen.

In spite of his company’s success , Brehon is modest about his personal accomplishments. He acknowledges the mistakes he made along the way while building his business, but views them as part of a necessary learning experience that has made him and his company better. He con-tinues to work hard but, in his words, “ When I’m designing, it doesn’t feel like work – this is my passion.”

Brehon wants people to know how grateful he is to everyone who has helped to make his business successful. His family, employees, cus-tomers, suppliers, business partners – all in their own way have assisted him along the way. Brehon describes the relationship this way, “I may drive the ship, but without all the others, I wouldn’t be where I am. There have been a lot of good people helping me over the years.”

Colorado Kitchen & Bath, and owner Ed Bre-hon. In a word, quality.

Court Klinck is a freelance writer living in Greeley.

2�

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Two-person, jetted corner tub from Maax. Custom cabinet from Campana. Shower enclosure is 3/8” European-style glass. Natural travertine tile throughout.

Back Row - Left to Right:Edward Brehon, CEO Kitchen & Bath Designer, Doug Baer, Certified Kitchen Designer, Ken Akerfelds, Reface and Countertop SalesTodd Bauer, Countertop/Shop Manager

Front Row - Left to Right:Kristi Pearce, Business Development OfficerSheryl Gustafson, Interior Design/Kitchen & Bath Designer, Susan Novy, Interior Design/Kitchen & Bath Designer


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The CarpetDifferenceby Jennifer Leigh Johnson & Corey Radman

FLOORING :: CARPETING

Carpet is one of the most important design features in a room. see just how Carpet Can make a differenCe.

There are three main manufacturing processes for both residential and commercial carpeting:

Woven – The carpet is produced on a loom similar to woven cloth and is a cut pile. Several colored yarns are

used, making this process capable of producing in-tricate patterns from pre-determined designs. This type is usually used for residential and is usually the highest value on the market.

Tufted – The carpet is produced on a tufting machine using single colored or sometimes non-colored yarns. This type of carpet can be cut pile, loop pile, or a combination of both. Modern tuft-ing technology enables the production of basic geometric patterns.

Needlefelt – These carpets are much more technologically advanced than woven or tufted

carpets. Needlefelts are produced by electrostatic attraction of individual synthetic fibers forming a unique carpet with extremely high durability. This type of carpet is used in the most high-volume areas such as hotel rooms.

When choosing new carpeting for your home, first think about the kind of use the floor will get and what fiber best matches your needs. Dedra Hetherington, design consultant at Avalanche Floor Coverings, believes that wool is the best way to go when choosing carpet. “At one time, wool was a very exclusive fiber viewed as costly and hard to take care of,” she says. “However, wool carpeting is becoming more popular due to its many benefits.”

Hetherington explains that there are two different types of wool carpets: traditional and looped. Traditional wools are available in standard

and plush and are very ornate because they are tightly woven in order to produce intricate pat-terns. Looped wools are exactly what the name entails. The carpet fibers are looped in various sizes to achieve a different look. “Wool is just ab-solutely fabulous,” says Hetherington. “They are a natural fiber, very affordable, easy to care for, and environmentally friendly.” Wool carpets are considered a Livingreen product because they are woven from a renewable resource and are also biodegradable. Hetherington is a huge advocate of wool carpeting and considers the wonderful fiber the best value for your money. “Avalanche offers a wide variety of wool carpets to choose from which range in style and affordability.”

Natural fibers like wool, alpaca, and sisal are typically oil-based whereas synthetics are typically comprised of recycled fibers. Fiber choice for a

Stop reading right now and lay down on your carpet. Is it soft and pleasing to the touch? Is it cushy enough to stay there a while? Ev-eryone dreams of the kind of plush carpeting that calls you down to the floor to revel in its softness. As technology advances, our choices for this floor covering just get bet-ter and better.

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carpet depends on its use, aesthetic character, and cost. The most popular yarn constructions in the carpet market today are wool and wool blended with synthetic fibers like nylon, polypropylene, olefin and polyester. Nylon is widely used due to its resiliency and dirt resistance ability; however, other fibers are becoming more popular.

Style of the carpet is your next choice to make. Do you want plush, or shag? How about Berber? “Berber is a looped carpet typically used for of-fices and high-traffic areas and shag is just what you would envision – the look of a shaggy dog,” says Hetherington. Frieze is another style of car-pet in which the fibers are spooled together and pulled tight in order for the yarns to appear inde-pendent of one another. This produces somewhat of an “old shag” look. About customer needs Hetherington says, “Customers want the carpet to perform well and look sharp.”

The construction of newer carpeting has pro-duced a myriad of options in texture. Looped yarns that are woven high and low create tex-tures that include swirls, bows, lattices, plaids, pin dots, and fleur-de-lis. Using these options can add great visual and tactile interest to a room and can compliment furniture and window treatments. The texture on the floor is a great compliment to smoother elements in your furniture, walls, and counters.

And what about color? Urban colors and earth-tones are popular. “The color of carpet seems to follow the trends in fashion,” says Hetherington. “Currently, colors such as rich brown and burgun-dy, olive, gold, and tan are the trend.”

If you think that carpet can not be acces-sorized, or may look too busy with accent rugs, Gwen Healey, flooring and showroom manager at Lighting Designs & More, says to think again.

“Rugs can accent your carpet along with other items in a room,” she says. Consider laying patterned accent rugs on top of a simpler carpet to add texture and visual interest to a room. An-other idea is to “frame” your carpet with tile or hardwood around the perimeter of a room creat-ing an inset rug.

Carpet padding is a choice you as a consumer probably don’t give much thought to but will ul-timately enhance or detract from the comfort of your carpet. There are many different carpet-spe-cific types of pads. Your professional carpet dealer or designer is the best person to ask about this. As is the case with everything, you get what you pay for. Be prepared to invest in your carpet pad as well as the carpet.

Installation is the final part of the carpet pur-chase. The most important day in the life of your new carpet is the day it is installed. Your carpet installer will use a variety of tools to ensure that it is properly stretched but most important of all is his careful planning to visualize the layout and minimize the number of seams. The proper instal-lation makes your vision a reality. Now you can lay down and really stay a while.

Carpeting for commercial use also deserves

2�Home Interiors & Entertainment 2006

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careful consideration. Although there are many differences between the types of carpet which are used for commercial versus residential purposes, ultimately the choice depends on the look, feel, cost and overall result you want to achieve in the home or office.

Rocky Gentry, owner of WestPoint Interiors, explains that carpets for commercial use are looped, not cut pile. “Looped carpets are tighter, shorter in fiber length and constructed with du-rability in mind,” he says. “They are specifically made for high-traffic areas so that it will not flat-ten down over time.”

Gentry says that when it comes to industrial standards, commercial carpets should always be glued directly to the surface of the floor, and al-though double stick padding may be used to add more comfort, Gentry says that the process is more costly.

Like residential carpets, commercial carpets span in a wide range of styles, textures and colors. “The type of carpet chosen for the office depends on the end result you want to achieve,” says Gen-try. “If you want a high-end look, a nylon printed yarn would be the best choice.”

Healey of Lighting Designs and More says, residential carpet can handle the daily wear and tear of a home, but not a commercial setting. “Commercial carpet is rated for the heavier traf-fic associated with commercial use. Commercial carpet usually has a very low knap and is most often a loop pile. The colors typically used with commercial carpets are darker to hide the dirt as-sociated with high traffic.” Gentry of WestPoint

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Dedra Hetherington of Avalanche Floor Coverings

Gwen Healey of Lighting Designs & More


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09.2006_master.indd 29 9/22/06 6:22:46 PM

Imagine I’m a customer who needs carpet-ing for my home. What are the fi rst things I need to consider?Think about the style of your home, i.e. tra-ditional, contemporary, does the room have beams or other structural elements that give direction? Also think about use of the room and maintenance time you want to spend on the carpet.

What are the top 3 most popular carpets right now?Patterned carpets, shag, and area rugs that ac-cent both carpet and hard fl ooring.

Shag, really? That harvest gold stuff from the 70’s?(Laughs) That’s what everyone says. Really, with updated, more trendy colors, it’s a very popular choice.

What’s on the fl oor at your house?I have Travertine tiles, and wide plank, hand scraped hardwood fl oors. For carpet, I have solid colored, textured nylon. The texture is a Grecian fret pattern in a chocolate brown color. I also have shag area rugs and one chocolate shag inset in a hardwood frame in the dining room.

Seriously, shag in the dining room? Do you have kids?(Laughs) Yes, a fi ve –year-old and an eighteen-month-old but we don’t actually eat in there. The mashed potatoes and green beans are a lot easier to wipe up off of the hardwood in the kitchen.

What can you tell a do-it-yourselfer when starting to think about carpet?Do think about maintenance and use: is it a laundry room, dining room? Do you have kids that will spill things? Is it a high traffi c area? Is the carpet likely to show dirt? Do you have two kids – maybe skip the plush white carpet. Then think about style choices to match your personal taste.

What about comfort? What fi bers are the coziest to lay on?Tactesse – it’s the highest quality, premium nylon fi ber to date. It feels like cotton, very soft. Also wool is a great choice. It lasts lon-ger, it’s very comfortable, and is a nice high-end choice.

Interiors adds that commercial colors still refl ect current fashion colors with the most popular choices leaning toward the earth tones.

It is of course always important to take care of your carpet in order to keep it looking new. Although vacuuming and cleaning out dirt spots seems simple enough, carpet maintenance can often be neglected.

“Believe it or not it’s actually recommended to vacuum carpet daily, but how many of us have the time to do that?” says Healey. She recommends vacuuming weekly and spot cleaning traffi c areas to help keep up the look of your carpet. “Once or twice a year is probably suffi cient to have your carpets steam cleaned. It’s better to have some-one come in that has a high powered machine that will get the soap residue and water out of the carpet completely rather than do-it-your-self steam cleaners which aren’t always strong enough to get out all of the soap and water and can actually make your carpet dirty faster.”

Corey Radman is the Assistant Editor for Style, Media & Design Inc.Jennifer Leigh Johnson is a freelance writer for Style, Media & Design Inc.

QQQA&CARPET

with Toni Klein

She’s a local designer and business owner with fl air. Toni Klein, owner of Tuscany Interior Design, Inc., spoke with Style’s Corey Radman on carpeting.

The type ofcarpet chosen for the offi ce depends

on the end result you want to achieve.

“”-Rocky Gentry

WestPoint Interiors

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QA

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09.2006_master.indd 31 9/22/06 6:23:57 PM

@ LENDER

In the fall of 1995, Front Range Internet had been up and running

for only four weeks when Bill and Brad Ward realized they needed a new business plan in a hurry. Fort Collins had discovered FRII, and the

company was growing I 0 times faster

than they had expected.

"Until then, I thought

of FRII as a great father-and-son project," says Bill. "We were having a

ball - but we didn't think the company would take off quite Dave Marcy that fast!" VP Business Lend1ng

It's been a steady climb ever since.

Today. FRII is a regional leader in providing custom solutions in digital telecommunications for businesses

large and small.

When FRII recently needed financing to fuel more growth, Home State Bank stepped in with a plan to

make it work.

"We needed a banker who values bits and bytes as

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"Home State took

the time to learn about our business,"

says Bill. "Their recommendations have given us the

strength to grow even faster.''

Member FDIC

If you're looking for anything from

broadband to 2-gigabit fiber and VoiP, call FRII . But if you're looking for a

bank that will recognize the true value in your business, call Home State Bank. 203-61 00

R Home Stale

BANK

Letting theLight In

Simply put, windows are complex, fragile elements that must open and close at a touch to let in air and light. Whether they swing in, swing out, swing from the side, or swing from the top, slide up, down,

or sideways - windows are largely ignored until they don’t work, or begin to deteriorate. Because windows face both the outside, and inside of the house, they are the single greatest design focus in most homes.

Although windows are chosen for function, their form, style, and fashion are equally impor-tant to the overall design, comfort, and conve-nience of a homeowners’ lifestyle. There are fi ve basic types of windows:

Casement – windows which are hinged at the sides.

Awning – windows which are hinged at the top and open outward.

Hopper - windows which are hinged at the bottom and open inward.

Slider – in which both sashes slide horizontally in a double-sliding window and only one sash slides in a single-sliding window.

Single and Double Hung - In double-hung units, both sashes slide vertically. Only the bottom sash slides upward in a single-hung window.

Fixed – windows which do not open and are for decoration only.

However, windows are much more than portals for light. Window technologies have im-

proved dramatically over the years in areas such as framing materials and air tightness. Double glaz-ing and low-e coating help to substantially reduce heat gain and loss, low conductance materials, such as wood, vinyl, and fi berglass have improved performance, and windows have become much more effi cient due to better techniques in creat-ing an air tight seal.

High-performance, energy-effi cient windows can offer quite a difference to your new or exist-ing home. This includes a quieter home interior due to the use of multiple panes and insulated frames which help to block outside noise, reduced fading of curtains, furniture and fl ooring due to low-emissive coatings which can block up to 98% of UV rays, a reduction in the cost of your utility bills due to houses losing less heat in the winter and absorbing more heat in the summer, and overall improved quality.

Since windows typically comprise 10-25% of a home’s exterior wall area, and account for 25-50% of the heating and cooling needs, depend-ing on the climate, it is critical to consider high-performance, energy-effi cient windows when constructing a new home.

Steve Kraxberger, owner of Builders Supply in Fort Collins agrees on the importance of high per-formance windows. “Windows are the fi rst thing people notice in the home,” says Kraxberger. “They bring a lot to the overall exterior and in-terior design.”

Kraxberger explains that most customers are looking for performance so windows are con-

stantly improving in quality. “One of the more re-cent advances in windows is a high-performance Low - E4 self-cleaning glass produced by Ander-son,” he says. “The new Low-E4 glass reduces water spots up to 99% and minimizes dirt build-up on the window when activated by sunlight. It also dries faster with fewer water spots and adds thermal protection to a home.”

Low-e coatings have also helped improve the quality and performance of windows. “[The town of] Windsor requires a low-e coating on all windows because it is so much more energy and cost effi cient,” says Kraxberger. “A very benefi cial grayish, brown tint is also available for windows that promote heat reduction.”

Windows are available in a number of sizes and shapes. “I have always thought that moun-tain homes or homes with a great view should consist of one giant window,” says Kraxberger.

Champion Windows sells one of the highest performance and technologically advanced win-dows out there. It’s called Comfort 365 based on the idea that it provides comfort 365 days a year. Steve Lambert, division manager and part owner of Champion Windows in Fort Collins be-lieves Comfort 365 to be the best in the industry. “These windows provide the best in energy ef-fi ciency and performance throughout the year,” he says. “We will even come to your home to per-form a heat lamp demonstration in order to show you that they really are the best.”

Champion also sells windows which have been passed through numerous tests in order to

WINDOWS :: THERMAL EFFICIENCY

SIMPLY PUT, WINDOWS ARE COMPLEX, FRAGILE ELEMENTS THAT MUST OPEN AND CLOSE AT A TOUCH TO LET IN AIR AND LIGHT.

Imagine walking into a house or build-ing with no windows, no sunlight shin-ing in, no fresh air coming through, and no place to look out into the world. More than likely, this is not a very ap-pealing thought; that’s why windows are one of the most important aspects of the home.

By Jennifer Leigh Johnson

Inside the Champion Challenge Steve Lambert of Champion Windows demonstrates the Comfort 365 Glass which provides year-round thermal performance.

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achieve an end result of a 9-layer coating. “These coatings include anti-refl ectors, silver oxides, dif-ferent types of overcoats, and UV protectors,” says Lambert. “There are various methods in the production of these coatings ranging from fi lms to sprays; however either method will still leave the glass clear.”

Lambert believes that functionality and perfor-mance are the most important when it comes to a good window. “It usually takes a home owner needing to replace a bad window with a high per-formance window before they can really appreci-ate high quality,” he says.

According to Lambert, customers typically look for energy effi ciency, maintenance-free win-dows, quality and cost when purchasing a high performance window, but also need something that will last them a lifetime.

“Here at Champion, we are all about win-dows,” says Lambert. “We build them, fi x them, install them and stand behind them 110%.”

If you are looking to cut down on your utility bills, utilize the natural ability of the outdoors to heat up and cool down your home, protect your-self from harsh UV rays, spend little time cleaning and maintaining glass or are tired of air and wind leaks, then it’s time you invest in one of these amazing high performance and quality windows. According to both Steve Kraxberger at Builders Supply and Steve Lambert at Champion, these wondrous windows are guaranteed to make you and your home happy.

Jennifer Leigh Johnson is a freelance writer for Style Media & Design Inc.

Steve Kraxberger of Builders Supply.


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09.2006_master.indd 33 9/26/06 5:40:35 PM

Master of Mosaics:Alex Gupton

Looking for a one-of-a-kind way to dis-

tinguish your patio, garden, kitchen or

bath? the answer to your search has

just settLed in LoveLand. artist and de-

signer, aLex gupton, speciaLizes in incred-

ibLe, reaListic mosaic tiLe scenes which

add coLor, texture, and vibrancy to any

setting. in addition to his phenomenaL

taLent as an artist, gupton brings reaL

strength in his abiLity to reLate to cLients

and create custom originaL work that

best refLects their tastes. with previous

jobs, gupton puLLed in “whatever cLients

had, and custom designed any piece to

meet their needs.”

Alex Gupton completing a tile mosaic pool bottom before it ships to Hawaii.

art :: alex gupton mosaic

Looking for a one of a kind way to distinguish your patio, garden, kitchen or bath? the answer to your search has just settLed in LoveLand.

Specializing in tile mosaics is a new slant to gupton’s artistic career, which started in pen and ink drawings and then migrated to murals. gupton grew up in kona, hawaii and, while in college, started painting murals at a friend’s bar in exchange for drinks. word of mouth about this talented painter got out and gupton soon found himself painting scenes in houses all over kona. his expertise with a french technique called trompe L’oeil (“to trick or fool the eye”) facilitated some beautiful “windows on the world” murals featuring

peaceful seascapes framed by realistic looking windows that weren’t really there. clients were thrilled with realistic looking window scenes in dark interior hallways and soon began to ask for all kinds of work. when a client asked gupton to paint a mural on the bottom of her pool, he began searching for another, more durable medium because paints wouldn’t work in that application. that was gupton’s

tropical kitchenbacksplash

by Corey Radman

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ART :: ALEX GUPTON MOSAIC

LOOKING FOR A ONE OF A KIND WAY TO DISTINGUISH YOUR PATIO, GARDEN, KITCHEN OR BATH? THE ANSWER TO YOUR SEARCH HAS JUST SETTLED IN LOVELAND.

fi rst tile mural. Four years later he has found so much success, that he works with it almost ex-clusively now.

Tile mosaics have been used for thousands of years by artists. It has real appeal for a ho-meowner who wants to invest in a very durable, but beautiful piece of useable artwork. Featured almost anywhere you can imagine, a tile mosaic can bring light and texture to an entryway, a bathroom, a kitchen backsplash, or a decorative accent piece. Gupton favors its durability and ver-satility, citing thousands of years old Roman glass tile creations that are still in place today. Because of the vitreous glass tiles, and the tiny amount of grout he uses, “these pieces will last a lot longer than your house,” says Gupton referring to the durability of glass tile versus drywall, etc.

Gupton chooses a variety of tiles to work with including ceramic, glass, metallic, or iridescents. He can also incorporate rock for a more washed, natural look – and has even cut rock pieces to use from clients’ existing landscape or design elements in their houses. With every job, he starts with a free consultation and will create free sketches and suggest samples that can be used for a job. All of Gupton’s work is original but often begins with client inspirations. His mosaic is very versatile and ranges from kitchen backsplashes to shower walls to pool bottoms (pictured left). In-corporating his previous Trompe L’oeil experience from murals, Gupton strives to trick your eye with much of his tile work as well. Pool installations often feature a swimming animal with shadows that seem really life-like, especially when under water. His methods are very tight, and leave very small grout lines. This enables Gupton to con-trol the image you see perfectly, and results in a multi-dimensional look that is smooth to the touch. In his move to Colorado, he looks forward to working more with local stone and featuring western scenes.

In fourteen years as an artist, Gupton has

Gupton working from his home studio.

Tropical kitchenbacksplash

achieved an enduring elegant style that has lim-itless applications. For more information about his work or to contact him, visit his web site at www.alexgupton.com.

Corey Radman is Assistant Editor at Style Media & Design, Inc.


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eLeCtrOniCS :: HOme entertainment

form and function... can you have both in the famiLy entertainment space? the gurus at dream theater show us how to have the to best of both worLds.

iHomeby Austin J. Lamb & Gabe Hernandez

the famiLy room

the media room

Classic home decor debate. my mom wants a traditional family room where all family members can sit and watch television, movies, sports, and even lis-ten to music. my dad wants that very same room - but he wants it to rock

with great sound, superior picture, and an ease of use. in other words he wants to be able to control it all from one remote, without having to get another degree to use said remote.

the question is, can this sort of miracle be worked in a standard family room? absolutely! panels can be incorporated into room design. myriad colors, styles, looks can integrate into decor. companies like cdgi (cinema design group, inc) are pushing the envelope by creating acoustical panels that look like framed paintings or movie posters, fake windows, or wall mu-rals. the reality is, the media room can be every bit as good as a full fl edged home theater by applying some science to the architectural and interior designs.

the media room, on the other hand, is a room specifi cally designed by dream theater. this ensures that the equipment you purchase will be used as it was intended - pumping every watt of sound out of the speakers and popping every pixel from the picture screen.

in most cases dream theater opts to hide every-thing equipment-wise. the photo of the bookcase demonstrates how all the equipment used to drive this system is hidden inside the cabinet, invisible to all. the speakers are all placed in the ceiling, faux painted to match the ceiling, chosen for their ability to project sound directly to the listening position despite being relegated to the ceiling. the screen triggers from the ceiling only when “watch” is chosen on the remote. if the client opts to “listen” to a cd or the radio, or satel-lite radio stations, the screen stays hidden.

CEDIA is an international trade association of compa-nies that specialize in de-signing and installing elec-tronic systems for the home. The association was founded in September 1989 and has more than 3,000 member companies worldwide.

dream theater recently took home bronze honors in this year’s industry recognition eLectronic LifestyLes® awards 2006.

Large home theatre Level v – 250k-399kLevel v bronze technical design Dream Theater ColoradoLoveland, CO

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Even a room, moderately well designed (as seen on left), can be improved upon sonically with some minor changes, and these changes can, as in the case of this room, dramatically improve the audio presentation.

BEFORE AFTER

This is how a truly user-friendly remote can be laid out. Care must be made to choose the right remote for the application as well as to insure that the control is refi ned specifi cally for the equipment and the user. Can anyone operate the system without being familiar with it? Ease of use should never be an afterthought for the installer or the client.

The iPort from Sonance makes it easy for the entire family to use the Apple iPod™ to enjoy their digital music and digital photo collections throughout the entire home. iPort provides quick docking and access to the iPod photo, iPod mini and 4th Gen-eration iPod with Click Wheel. The included Wallplate allows the iPort to connect to and play through practically any local or whole-home audio system. The DC power supply (also included) charges the iPod while it is docked in the iPort.


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simple food done very well. that’s the theme the bent fork has speared perfectly. from the iconic bent fork door handle with actual twirled tines, through the simple yet elegant décor, to the back to basics menu, the bent fork has an unpretentious elegance that brings you back repeatedly.

the dining room is inviting with sage and mahogany throughout, though you might opt to hang out in the bar -- it’s so cozy. what really distinguishes this prom-enade shops at centerra hot spot is the quality of the food. there is something ap-propriate for all of the varied clientele that they attract. bent fork’s location is ideal for business dining, centerra shoppers, ice-skating families, and they have a menu to satisfy all of those hungry people.

Bent Fork the Grill :: the Promenade ShoPS at Centerra

owners john tetrault and mike smith stress taste over flash every time. it is their sincere hope that the great quality ingredients and the appealing preparation will require no extra seasoning by the consumer.

consider their seared ahi tuna with a black pepper crust with a soy mustard and topped with sesame seeds and a sweet soy sauce (opposite page). owner, john tretrault is proud to boast that chad mcwhinney orders nothing but this fantastic dish when he frequents the restaurant. the style staff fell in love with the baby back ribs, which are slow roasted pork that are then grilled and basted with their homemade bbQ sauce (available to buy by the bottle). another big favorite was the salmon fish and chips, beer-battered and deep fried to a golden brown and served with cole-slaw, fries and a side of baked lemon aioli.

the dinner and lunch menu are the same, so you can always be assured to find your favorite dish. the prices range from an affordable but tasty lunch sandwich like their new mexico ribeye at $8.99 (fabulous!) to a reasonable dinner entrée around $19. whether you are in the area, or you drive down just for dinner, the bent fork won’t disappoint!

sara duffert (Account Representative, Sage Marketing), karen christensen (Account Executive, Style Magazine), john ainslie (Account Executive, Style Magazine), ina szwec (Ad Traffic Controller, Style Magazine), austin Lamb (Creative Director, Style Magazine)

mike smith, john tetrault (Business Partners & Owners of Bent Fork The Grill)

clockwise from the left: bbQ baby back ribs, spicy pecan and gorgonzola salad and the new mexico ribeye sandwich.38

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09.2006_master.indd 38 9/22/06 4:36:32 PM

seared ahi tuna with a black pepper crust with a soy mustard and topped with sesame seeds and

a sweet soy sauce.

bent fork’s full service bar offers a wide variety of spirits and wines. their more mature wait

staff are trained to recommend wines that best complement your meal.

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Designed Just for You: Colorado Interior Design Center

WHAT’S YOUR PERSONAL DESIGN

STYLE? ARE YOU DRAWN TO THE COZY

WARM INTERIORS OF TUSCAN DECOR,

OR THE BREEZY, COOLER TONES OF

NEW HAMPTON DESIGN? DO YOU LIKE

THE CLEAN LINES AND SURFACES OF

A CONTEMPORARY INTERIOR, OR DO

YOU PREFER THE LAYERED LOOK OF

A MORE TRADITIONAL ONE? DO YOU

WANT YOUR HOME TO TRANSPORT

YOU ACROSS THE OCEAN TO ASIA

OR AFRICA, OR JUST BACK IN TIME TO

“MID-CENTURY” AMERICA? DO YOU

LIKE FLORAL AND WOODSY PATTERNS,

THE SWIRLS AND SWOOPS OF PAISLEYS,

OR SIMPLE GEOMETRIC SHAPES?

No matter what your personal design style, chances are you’ll start tweaking it during the next couple of months-- adding a piece of furniture here, or a new accessory there-- as you nestle in and prepare for the long winter ahead. According to Danette Brouillette, Owner of the Colorado Interior Design Center in Fort Collins, this is the time of year when we start thinking about decorating. “Summer is over and people start focusing on their interiors,” she explains. With the change in seasons, our social

events also move indoors. “It’s the holidays– family gatherings– entertaining– parties.”And these days everybody wants to decorate their rooms with style. “There are a lot of design shows

on television and they inspire people to think outside the box,” says Brouillette. “People just want to decorate more.”

Unfortunately, many of us don’t know where to begin. That’s where the professionals at the Colorado Interior Design Center can help. “Most people come in and they say that they just don’t know where to start,” says Sabrina Knowles, Colorado Interior Design Center’s Manager and Head Buyer. “We can help them with a starting point and move them in the right direction. We carry a wide range of looks from traditional to retro to sophisticated to shabby chic– there’s a look here for everybody.”

“Our staff are trained designers, not just clerks,” says Brouillette. “We cater to individual homeowners as well as designers. We offer a designer look at affordable prices.” Brouillette, herself, has years of experience helping customers through the design process. “Each home is a masterpiece that is a refl ection of the homeowners’ personality and personal style,” she says. “They are all exquisite. Always keeping my client in mind, I usually design with a style of casual elegance.”

If you’re not sure what your personal style is, or just want a change, the designers at the Center can help with that too. “We talk with people and fi nd out what their needs are,” says Knowles. “People usually know what they like when they see it, but don’t know how to express it in words,” she explains. “We listen to what they’re saying and then try to show them what they’ve described.”

Brouillette and her staff have designed the Center’s 12,000 square foot showroom to help customers ferret out exactly which looks they’re drawn to and show them how each might fi t in their own homes. The

by Lynn Dean

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entire center exudes a casual elegance prevalent in Brouillette’s designs and is merchandised beautifully.

“My whole focus in the showroom was to show people different looks and make each vignette feel like an interior room,” explains Knowles. “I wanted to show people how to mix and match fabrics, color tones, and undertones. It was important for me to do that, and I think we’ve accomplished it.”

Indeed, showroom visitors can saunter from a cozy mountain cabin to a leather filled masculine sanctuary, then through a more modern sitting room and into a breezy cottage at the beach. Each “room” is fully furnished and includes all the finishing touches– colorful walls, art, greenery, vases, lamps, throws– everything a customer might need to complete a room at home. “Hopefully we inspire people and help them be creative,” adds Brouillette. “A room should always be about them.”

One reason the Design Center can showcase so many styles is because Brouillette and Knowles buy from a variety of different sources. “We go to shows, order out of catalogs and buy directly from vendors,” explains Brouillette. “We feature


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four major upholstery lines, several case goods lines and many accessory lines. We carry anything you could possible use to decorate a home. We’re also a Pennsylvania House dealer.”

“I always thought there was a need for a design center in Northern Colorado that encompasses beautiful fabrics, home furnishings, accessories and custom window coverings,” explains Brouillette. “I wanted to give customers a selection to choose from at reasonable prices.”

The Center is located just north of Prospect Road on the I-25’s West Frontage Road. And while the current construction quagmire makes it a bit more difficult to get there, it’s still a lot closer than other comparable showrooms which are all located in the Denver metropolitan area. You’ll discover that the variety of design styles featured at the Center makes it well worth the detour.

Another reason to go out of your way is to take advantage of the personal design service the

Baron bed from Largo Interna-tional with custom bedding set from Mario Marielena.

Danette Brouillette, owner of Colorado Interior Design Center, in the custom window treatment gallery

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colorado interior design center has all the accessories to meet your interior design needs.

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Colorado Interior Design Center offers its clients. For no more than the cost of your furnishings, the Center’s trained designers will sit down with you, and walk you through the design process. They will help you design just one room, or your whole house. They will even come to your house to evaluate the space your furnishings will inhabit.

“We cater to people who would love to hire an interior designer but don’t know where to find one, or don’t want to pay their fees,” explains Brouillette. “We go out to people’s homes, sit down and talk with them and find out what their needs are,” adds Knowles. “We ask lots of questions. Do they have pets? Allergies? How is the room going to function? How many people do they want to seat? We ask about all the things that are going to be critical to designing a great room. It’s so much about personal preference. People like their furnishings to be a reflection of themselves,” agrees Brouillette.

“What we’re really listening for are clues to those things they like that don’t really know how to articulate,” explains Knowles. “We’re also listening for things they don’t like. They can tell you that in a minute.”

The designers give their input during the visit, too. “I tell them if I really feel something isn’t going to work,” Knowles says. Then she goes back to the office and creates a scale drawing of the room incorporating her proposed design, furnishings and accessories. “After talking with them, looking at the heirloom pieces they want to keep, and making sure the scale is going to work, I like to present the client with the best look and usage for the room– something that is going to be functional for them and their family.”

Even if you don’t have a complete room to furnish, the professionals at the Colorado Interior Design Center can help you. They also make “Accessory House Calls.” “I think a lot of people have a hard time once they’ve moved into a home and purchased the major pieces,” says Brouillette. She explains that the scale and emptiness of new spaces can be overwhelming to new home buyers. They often lack the finishing touches the right accessories would provide. So she and her staff pay close attention to the importance of accessories in any home design.

“What I recommend is that we come to the home and see what they need,” says Knowles. “Then I come back to the showroom, pull the accessories together and go back and merchandise the house.”

If you like to design your spaces on your own, or want to hire the services of another designer, the Colorado Interior Design Center still has a lot to offer. “Along with space planning, our designers can also help with selecting paint color, window treatments and home furnishings,” says Brouillette. “Our expert designers understand color theory and can help customers not only choose paint colors, but choose a color palate for their home, as well.”

“We also offer very good discounts to licensed interior designers,” adds Brouillette. “They can come in here, take something off the floor and see how it works in their clients’ homes. Or they

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can bring their clients to the showroom.”“Another thing that sets us apart– that makes

us different from other stores – is that you can actually buy the pieces right off the showroom fl oor and take them home with you,” adds Brouillette. “And if you love the style, but don’t like the fabric, you can custom order that same piece in a fabric you love.”

After all, fabric is the backbone of any room design. At the Center you can fi nd fabric to fi nish a baby’s room, dining room, family room, or custom great room. You can also fi nd fabric to recover that favorite chair, ottoman or barstool. “Everything revolves around fabric,” says Brouillette, “not only in the furnishings, but in the window coverings.” Leaving nothing forgotten, the Center also offers a full line of custom window treatments. The showroom features 700 bolts of fabric, and special touches like trims, tassels and cords, for customers to see, touch and experience. But again, you’re not left on your own. “We help the client with the selection of fabric, design the window treatment with that fabric in mind, fi eld measure, fabricate the window treatment, and have it installed,” explains Brouillette. “It’s a turnkey process from the fabric selection to the installation.”

The showroom also features a full line of Hunter Douglas window treatments and product, and includes a full wall of plantation and wood shutters in various colors.

So whether you know your personal design style, or are still exploring it, the Colorado Interior Design Center offers something to meet your needs. So stop in and check it out. Then come back with a friend.

“We love having visitors,” invites Brouillette. “It really takes a couple of visits to make a decision on what to buy. We also love it when people come back and bring mothers, sisters or friends.”

So don’t be shy- go ahead and visit soon. The trip will be worth your while!

Lynn Dean is a freelance writer living in Timnath.


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LoftAppealby Jennifer Leigh Johnson

if you are looking for a new place to call home with unique

character, a very open living space and a postmodern

feel, then the unconventional appeal of loft living may be

exactly what you are looking for.

Lofts, meaning upper room on air, first originated as living spaces in the 1940s in the soho district of new york city. as part of the postmodernism movement in architecture, lofts were created as an

appeal against conventional thinking, building, and living. an open concept of living and the use of unconventional spaces are celebrated through these crafty structures.

much different from an apartment, condo or town home, a loft isn’t a loft if it does not have certain elements. these elements include: open flowing floor plans, minimal use of interior walls to define space, high ceilings, exposed piping, duct work and other structural elements, large

windows, access to the sky often with roof top gardens or decks, merging living and work spaces, and traditional mediums mixed with modern finishes.

if this sounds appealing to you, but you don’t want to move all the way to new york city to enjoy this type of spacious living, no need to worry. thankfully these little wonders are popping up all over northern colorado and gaining quite a reputation for luxury and excellence.

magnolia street Lofts and mason street north sit in the heart of fort collins amid a bustling community with historic old town near by. the lofts are a great buy for anyone and everyone looking for something a little different, unique and spacious.

the magnolia street Lofts offer true, urban-esque loft living in the fort collins area. it is guaranteed that you will fall in love with the unique floor plans which range from 950 to 1750 square feet, and include an open atrium, exposed brick walls and beams, 12-foot ceilings, radiant heat, hardwood floors and a rooftop observatory. aside from the lofts, the building also has several offices on the main floor and a conference room which will be open to all office and residential tenants. there is also a parking garage and high security with intercom systems throughout the entire building. other features include air conditioning in all lofts, beautiful cherry cabinetry and slab granite countertops, tile and natural stone backsplash, luxurious tiled baths and

mason street north Lofts

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breathtaking, grandiose views.The structure is currently in the framing stage

and will be complete by the end of March. Dave Muth, Broker/Associate/Partner of The Group, Inc., explains that the location couldn’t be in a more perfect spot. “Street noise is minimal because the structure does not sit near any of the busier roads,” he says. “The convenience of Old Town is also near by which is a great highlight.”

Muth says that the lofts are a “street-scape” design, meaning that although you may be walking indoors, it has the feeling of being outdoors. “The building was designed with an open atrium and skylights in order to bring in the natural lighting and feeling of the outdoors.” A rooftop observatory is also available to residents in which the entire Front Range and Fort Collins area can be viewed in all its glory. “It’s a great place to have barbecues, parties, or just spend time with family and friends,” says Muth.

Lofts are most popular for the lifestyles of young professionals and empty-nesters, but that doesn’t mean that lofts don’t appeal to those beyond these categories. “It is a great living structure for those who are looking for easy, no hassle living,” says Muth.

For more information on the Magnolia Street Lofts visit the web site at www.loftsatmagnolia.com, or call Dave Muth at 481.5963.

Dave Muth of The Group, Inc. at Magnolia Street Lofts.

It’s a great place to have barbecues, parties, or just spend

time with family and friends.”“

Magnolia Street Lofts under construction.

-Dave Muth


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mason street north is described as a mixed-use

project designed to support and encourage the fort collins community by creating an attractive and high quality environment for people to work and live.

the web site, www.masonstreetnorth.com, provides a lot of information about the structure, location and features of the lofts. the most popular aspect of mason street north seems to be their short distance from downtown fort collins and the 50-acre park on the poudre river which the building overlooks. the development also includes 18,000 square feet of office and commercial space in three buildings and 20 loft-type luxury residential units which are built over the office space.

“the location of the lofts is the most unique

feature,” says todd spiller, partner for nichols street reality. “they are right next to old town and surrounded by a park, bike trail and beautiful scenery.”

these lofts have been specifically designed in the spirit of new urbanism, in which future residents and commercial tenants will be involved in creating a vibrant and sustainable mixed-use community.

the project was based on the idea of creating a lively and visually appealing focal point at the edge of Lee martinez park on the fringe of the historic downtown core of fort collins.

the loft design consists of three buildings. the web site provides a visual layout of each floor plan and explains the layout of each building as follows:

the eastern building is two buildings

connected by an overhead bridge. traditional brick detailing and large storefronts face out onto mason court. office, personal service, or light retail uses are proposed for the main level with four individually designed residences above. “there is a nice balance and flow between the commercial and residential floors,” says spiller. “the businesses are a good fit for this type of structure and there won’t be any interruptions for either them or the residents.” new businesses will include daz bog, a court reporter and an attorney. spiller says that there are spaces still left to fill.

kitchen at mason street north.

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the middle building is composed of two long wings connected by the second level living space of one of the eight residential lofts. this overhead bridge creates a well-defined entry to the landscaped courtyard. office uses are directly accessed off the courtyard as are the entry stairs to the upper level residences.

the largest building is placed at the western edge of the site, adjacent to the recently completed martinez park community. office uses are located on the main floor above an underground parking garage. there are eight, two-story residences accessed by an elevator. vaulted living areas, open plans, upper level master suites, and covered terraces are provided for a variety of home sizes.

the unique design of each residence allows prospective homeowners to choose from a variety of different plan configurations and orientations. a diverse range of sizes and prices are available for you to choose from.

“the open floor plans, use of multiple windows in combination with vaulted ceilings to bring in exceptional lighting, good flow and room separation, create a very appealing atmosphere,” says spiller. although the niche market for loft living is typically young professionals, singles, and couples as muth had explained, spiller believes the market is expanding. “we have many people buying a loft as a second home in order to live closer to their families,” he says.

not only are the lofts conveniently located near fort collins best in entertainment, restaurants and shops, but spiller says the biggest appeal is the low-maintenance, easy living aspect of loft living. “they are great for those who lead busy life styles, or just enjoy not having to worry about yard work.”

for more information on mason street north visit the web site, www.masonstreetnorth.com, or contact todd spiller at 218.9526.

jennifer Leigh johnson is a freelance writer for style, media & design inc.

eric nichols and todd spiller, mason street north.


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ENTERTAINMENT :: ENTERTAINING AT HOME

BRING YOUR FALL ENTERTAINING INSIDE WITH CREATIVE IDEAS FROM LOCAL FLORAL AND WINE EXPERTS .

The grill’s golden embers have faded; umbrellas have been removed from outdoor dining tables, and fallen leaves, rather than guests, adorn our decks. So what

can we do to wow our guests inside and create an atmosphere of festivity in lieu of summer’s embracing ambience? Some of this area’s fi nest connoisseurs of style have offered creative tips for entertaining in your own home with personality and pizzaz! Whether you are setting the stage yourself or hiring professionals, a cache of creative options are revealed!

Colors ofAutumn

by Diane M. Specht

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Colors ofAutumn

PAUL WOOD FLORIST

Judy Boggs, owner and master fl orist of Paul Wood Florist, along with her award winning designers, Kris Colwell and Sue Charles, create several thematic atmospheres in the home of Susie Ewing, to show that a little experimentation inspires creativity and imagination.

A southwestern table setting (opposite page top) is resplendent with a bountiful centerpiece bouquet of purple artichokes, red chili peppers, helenium, dalias, miniature calla lilies, and hanging amaranthus, arranged in a rustic, colorful vase. Paired with Mexican style dinnerware, napkins and place mats mimic the earthen, southwestern hues found in the centerpiece. The dinner setting evokes both a culture and mood. Simple votive candles are nestled in a bed of dried lentils, while individual pepper and kalanchoe plants fl ourish in miniature terra cotta pots tied with rafi a.

Susie Ewing (opposite page bottom) lights one of the votive candles in legumes (or even coffee beans, suggests Boggs) amongst the trio of wheat glass cubes, creating a simple centerpiece fi tting for a longer, narrower table or buffet. Red mums add a splash of color; and small pebbles align the bottom of the glass cubes, creating layers of visual interest.

Kris Colwell, AIFD fl oral designer from Paul Wood, creates another option with the individual terra cotta plants by placing the pepper and kalanchoe plants at every place setting as a gift for each guest. A bound twig wreath adorned in fall bloom creates another alternative for a centerpiece. Boggs suggests using the wreath as a candelabra, positioning tapers at different heights between hydrangeas, sunfl owers mums, artichokes, and berries for a perfect candlelight dinner. Boggs is particularly inspired by the longevity of a wreath base, which can incorporate different seasonal or celebratory themes.

Boggs creates an oriental inspired mood in the Ewing home with a Zen table setting. Represented by a stylish trio of square black containers, each is adorned with rows of terra cotta roses and green cymbidium, and a purple artichoke. For accent and a fun gift for guests, colorful chopsticks are tied with raffi a and green cymbidium orchids.

Creating an adornment and fi nishing touch for wine, Boggs and Charles dress up the neck of the bottle with a miniature bouquet of green cymbidium, hanging amaranthus, with mountain ash berries tied around a napkin ring. Boggs adds a touch of light with a votive candle enmeshed in dried green lentils.

by Diane M. Specht


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PALMERFLOWERS AND

DECORATING GALLERY

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Angela Palmer, owner of Palmer Flowers and Decorating, who is a member of the Society of American Florists, the AAF and who will be inducted into the AIFD, along with Susan Stockwell, one of her award-winning designers, crafts centerpieces which are inspired by themes, as well as the bountiful color, texture and simplicity in nature, adding a fl air of the unusual, which is a Palmer signature trait. Palmer creates a richly abundant harvest display, replete with grapes, berries, breadsticks and loaves of bread and gourds. Enhancing this with a hand-tied bouquet of sunfl owers, Gerber daises, bells of Ireland, sage and strands of wheat, a marvelous buffet centerpiece is created. Palmer uses artifi cial grapes and bread loaves, but suggests that real loaves and bread sticks may be used, sealing them in cellophane, then giving to guests as a favor.

Creating drama with the bountiful palette of fall hues, Palmer designs a lower, more rectangular display, perfect for a side board, buffet, or a longer table. The pave arrangement keeps the mono-botanical selections low, which makes it a perfect centerpiece for dinner table conversation. Roses in vibrant shades of red, peach and yellow are aligned in one square container, then connected to another with a bridge of lily grass. The second container is an eye-catching jubilee of larger roses, cattails, sunfl owers, chili peppers, artifi cial miniature pumpkins, and pheasant feathers. Accentuated with non-traditional votive lights, these illuminations are created with a small electrical light, fl oating in water, called an “acolyte.” When activated, acolytes provide approximately forty-eight glowing hours. For those who wish to spend a little more, miniature lights with batteries are available for the same effect, but are also reusable.


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Quattro Vino

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Written by Ronald Harwood. Directed by Laura Jones.

“Burns with love of the theatre that conquers all.... Perfectly observed, devilishly

entertaining backstage lore.”- New York Times

401 Pine Street , Old Town Fort Collins. Tickets: 970-498-8949 or www.basbleu.org

Produced by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc.

SEPT. 9 THROUGH OCT. 21Thursday - Saturday 7:30 pm Sunday 2:30 pm

$19 adults, $15 seniors, $10 studentsSpecial group rates available: call for info.

Sponsored by:

Have you ever wanted to host a wine-tasting in your own home? Thanks to a brilliant concept in wine selection available at Quattro Vino, the new wine store in Fort Collins, one does not have to be an oenophile to conduct an in-home wine-tasting with confi dence. The idea is the brainchild of Stefanie and Matt Haines, (opposite page top) a former elementary school principal, and software architect, with a PHD in computer science, who have researched and packaged wine selections to make an in-home wine-tasting fun, affordable and convenient.

Quattro Vino carries eighty selectively paired four-packs of wine. Each pack contains four different wine selections which are grouped according to either Region, Season, Taste or Situation. For instance, if you like the taste of a shiraz, its profi le is categorized as spicy and peppery within the Taste groups. A Quattro Vino four-pack is available for you to take home, including a shiraz, along with three other wines with a similar taste profi le, but without exact repetition. Haines has done the research for you, selecting four extraordinary wines to complete any four-pack.

If wines from Tuscany are a regional preference, Haines has prepared a four-pack of select wines from this northern region of Italy. He explains that fi ne wines are selected for each category, assuring a customer that he will be confi dent in his selection, regardless of cost. A customer can purchase a wine-tasting kit, to guide his own in-home tasting, or Quattro Vino offers the expertise of a wine enthusiast, who will come to one’s home, for a fee, to guide the tasting. Their website also offers recommendations and assistance. Quattro Vino has made entertaining with an in-home wine-tasting a fearless endeavor for anyone!

Linda Kunkel, Kathy Petersen, Ron Petersen, and Gary Kunkel, (opposte page bottom) taste one of the four wines offered at Quattro Vino’s regular Saturday afternoon wine-tasting events, guided by Raffi Jergerman, wine enthusiast.


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TRANSFORMATION :: NEW DIGS

THE BUILDING TOWER IS STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND STYLE STAFFERS ARE THRILLED TO SEE THE PROGRESS OF THE BUILDING’S NEW FAÇADE, WINDOWS, AND ROOF. CHECK OUT THE GREAT JOB THAT SOME OF OUR BUILDING PARTNERS HAVE BEEN DOING!

Destination: New Digs

DALE’S CARPET ONE FORT COLLINSBOBBIE AND JERRY COGBURN, OWNERS

Jammie Collins, Installation Manager for Dale’s Carpet One, Fort Collins, arrives at 211 W. Myrtle to oversee the installation of the carpeting throughout the second fl oor offi ces and hallway porcelain tile in the refreshment bar

and entry. Jan Rittenhouse, Dale’s Carpet One Designer, describes the tightly looped commercial grade carpet as a rich textural blend of rich earth tones. This solution-dyed nylon, in hues of periwinkle blue, sage, chocolate, olive and black, will be an excellent wearing carpet for heavy traffi c.

“This is a quality piece of carpet, so it will give a high-end fi nish to the entire second fl oor, says Geoff Meyer, who, along with Tom Heil and Andy Hughes, will install the carpet using a double stick process. Gluing the pad to the wood fl oor provides a cushioned surface, adding an extra bounce to the step. Then gluing the carpet to the pad, helps to reduce friction, one element

responsible for excessive wear to carpet fi bers. Meyer explains that if the carpet is kept clean, and the friction mitigated, the carpet will last longer. A pre-made carpet, base trim will be installed around the edge of the carpet against each wall, presenting a tailored, professional appearance.

Jammie works with Meyer to achieve a smooth transition between the newly installed porcelain tile in the entry and the threshold of the exterior doorway. To successfully install porcelain tile on a wood fl oor, the fl oor must be prepared with an underlaying cement board, called ‘ditramat’. The small ducts on one side of the board are fi lled with mortar to create a stiffness to the fl oor, thereby reducing its fl exibility. Without this technique, the fl exibility inherent in a wood fl oor could be pliant give enough to disturb the grout lines between the tiles. The subtle sand and earth tones of the porcelain tile give a natural stone appearance to the kitchenette fl oor and the entry, polishing off the entire area of the second fl oor.

Jamie Collins and Geoff Meyer discuss the threshold area where the new porcelain tile installation meets the exterior doorway.

211 W. Myrtle

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901 JOSEPHINE COURT, LOVELAND

970-667-4676 WWW.KAMTZCO.COM

Specializing in Architectural Millwork and Doors

3900 CANAL DRIVE, FORT COLLINS

970-224-5952 WWW.PLATTEVALLEYLUMBER.COM

VA~ I-, .,... ,.,.. ..

PLATTE VALLEY LUMBER INC.

COLORADO KITCHEN & BATHED BREHON, OWNER

Todd Bauer, Ed Brehon, and David Greiner install a cabinet face frame in the new 211 refreshment bar.

Transformation is in the air. The guys from Colorado Kitchen & Bath are on-site at 211 to install new cabinet fronts, drawer fronts and cabinet doors, though most of their time and effort has already been completed in their workshop in Estes Park. After receiving Style’s order for a Shaker-style, knotty alder wood, cabinet reface, Ed Brehon’s crew got to work. They took exact measurements for the second fl oor refreshment bar and then, from their shop, custom made new fronts for the existing cabinets, which “completely change the look of the room,” says shop manager, Todd Bauer. They will remove the dated bright turquoise laminate cabinet doors and replace them with warm golden-toned wood doors. “This is a less expensive way of making the cabinets look new.” While installing the new fronts, woodworker, David Greiner adds, “[The look] is a total 180.”

The kitchen transformation is complete with the installation of a Swanstone, solid surface countertop the color of Tahiti Desert. The sink will have an undermounted bowl for a clean, modern look. Between the new cabinet doors and the counter top, the change is powerful for a minimal investment. Further enhancing the visual change is the effi ciency of the Colorado Kitchen & Bath crew. Because all the construction work is done away from the Style building, the installation is quick and effi cient. The installers are in and out in no time and leave no sawdust mess. The company’s commitment to quality shows through their careful workmanship and the professional way that all of the employees represent the company.

David Greiner prepares the cabinet surface.

Todd Bauer drills the faucet holes in the

new counter.

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The key to Fort Collins Sprinklers’s success is owner, Harriet Anderson’s, way with people. Through her careful attention to her customers’ needs and her continued high standard of service, she has sixteen years of successful operations in Fort Collins. Harriet bought the sprinkler business from Fort Collins Nursery, where she worked while fi nishing her horticulture degree at CSU. Over time, she was able to manage the growth of the business to match the needs of her customers and her family. Today the company has seven trucks and eight employees.

Currently, the company devotes 90% of its time to service and repairs of existing systems and 10% to new installations. Anderson has seen tremendous customer growth in retirees who are depending on contractors like her to help maintain their property, thereby allowing them to stay in their homes. She has also noticed growth in service calls during water restrictions due to the need for optimal sprinkler operations for conservation. Good word of mouth is a huge part of Anderson’s public relations. Another key is having experienced employees on her crew. With so much of the business being troubleshooting problems, Fort Collins Sprinkler needs skilled technicians like Kevin Hartley on the job.

At Style’s new home, Irrigation Technician, Kevin Hartley is digging an old control box out of the ground. He explains that the plan is to get water to the new fl ower beds and the neglected sections of grass at 211 Myrtle Street. Under Anderson’s direction, Hartley will hook new lines to the water source, lay sleeves in the ground for electrical wires and pipes, run drip lines, and install a new controller. Soon the building will be surrounded by lush greenery that will incorporate the existing ash, walnut, and oak trees and include new shrubs and perennials. Through the careful planning of both Alpine Gardens landscapers and the irrigation specialists at Fort Collins Sprinkler, there will soon be year-round color and texture at 211.

FORT COLLINS SPRINKLERHARRIET ANDERSON, OWNER

Asked what she likes best about her job, Anderson answers, “working with people.” Her interest in her customers and her genuine desire to be of service to others shows in her careful workmanship and in that of her employees. “I was drawn [to the 211 job because] I want to do my part to help out with the breast cancer foundation and to be a part of this group project,” says Anderson. A portion of all the service and material donations from the 211 partners will be donated to the Hope Lives Breast Cancer Support Center.

Harriet Anderson, owner of Fort CollinsSprinklers and Kevin Hartley, irrigation

technician Fort Collins Sprinklers work on the sprinkler installation at 211 W. Myrtle.

Marty Hergenreter, irrigationtechnician unrolls a pipe for the new sprinkler system. Kevin Hartley mans a puller with the borring rig.


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TICO’S ROOFINGMARTIN FALLAS, OWNER

Great service and quality are guaranteed when Tico’s Roofi ng is on the job. Martin Fallas, owner of Tico’s, has been roofi ng for 13 years, 10 of them in Colorado. His commitment to quality shows through his personal attention to his customers as well as his 30 employees. Originally from Costa Rica, Fallas named his company after the affectionate nickname many Costa Ricans call themselves, “Tico’s”. The company does quality work in all kinds of styles and materials. “We do everything,” he says, “tile, shingle, metal, asphalt... everything.” Run as a family company, Fallas’ wife, Fanny Ramirez, is co-owner and offi ce manager. They have the philosophy that all the work they do must be good for their employees and also their clients. By investing confi dence in their workers, the workers give back plus some in effort and commitment to their work. All of their customers get the same, great service and quality workmanship.

Fallas was very interested in working on the transformation of 211 W. Myrtle Street both because, “it’s pretty neat to be able to help local women” (through the donation to Hope Lives Breast Cancer Foundation) and also because of the interesting detail on the front tower.

Herbie Gordo, Project Manager for Tico’s Roofi ng, is on top of all of the details for 211 W. Myrtle Street. “It may just be a roof, I know, but there are a lot of intricate details we have to account for.” About two-thirds of the new roof is standard asphalt shingling. Tico’s Roofi ng experts have already scraped the old shingles and paper off of the plywood roof, and laid new thirty pound felt paper. Black, walnut colored asphalt shingles will be nailed in, which are black with a brown accent.

The more detailed, time-consuming work will be in installing the metal roof at the front of the

building and on the newly constructed tower. Style Magazine has chosen charcoal colored metal roofi ng sheets to adorn the standing seam roof. A standing seam roof lays narrow pieces of metal side by side with a narrow overlap on the edge of each piece that gives the design a subtle vertical stripe of texture about every sixteen inches. Twenty-four gauge metal is a tricky material to build with because cuts to it are not forgiving. They have to be exact, which is why the roof on the tower will probably take as long to install as

the rest of the entire roof because there are multi-length, angled pieces that will all fi t together to form big triangles on each side of the peaked tower. Gordo says that while the effort to get the metal installation correct is intense, “metal adds so much to the personality of the building. It will really give the building a style of its own.”

Martin Fallas and his wife, Fanny Ramirez, owners of Tico’s Roofi ng.

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CONVERGENCE SOLUTIONS, INC.STEVE AND STEPHANIE SOLTON, OWNERS

that this works well for both large businesses with satellite offi ces in multiple locations and small companies with contracting employees working from home offi ces. Stephanie explains that the technology helps families too. As a mom and busy professional, she can even continue working seamlessly from home on days that her kids are sick.

Cool technology aside, the outstanding service that Convergence provides is unparalleled by other telecommunications providers. At Style’s new home on 211 W. Myrtle Street, owner Steve Solton has installed the new Toshiba CIX 100 phone system and set up the voice mail. He has been back to conduct employee trainings multiple times and even personally sat with Style’s owner, Lydia Dody, to record the system greetings. “We really care that your new system works the way you need it to,” explains Stephanie, “and if there are problems we will be back to get it fi xed.” “It has been our privilege to provide a new communications system and assist in the transformation of Style,” says Steve.

Their commitment to their customers shows. The Soltons even provide night-time emergency support to customers who can reach a live person or get an immediate call-back most of the time. “Optimize Your Enterprise,” is the company’s motto. Convergence Solutions is committed to making that happen.

Leveraging technology to make your life simpler is a goal for Steve and Stephanie Solton, owners of Convergence Solutions, Inc. Lines between business and personal life are increasingly blurred as work demands more and more of your time. The team at Convergence can make doing both of them well an achievable goal. “It’s all about balance,” says Stephanie Solton, part-owner of the company.

Whether large or small, your business can benefi t from the quality product and the amazing service that Convergence provides. Through voice-over IP phones, company employees and contractors can work from anywhere and still use a company phone extension. Stephanie explained

Steve Solton, Owner of Convergence Solutions, Inc. upgrading system with the most current software

Daniel Rhodes, Sales Manager assembling the new Toshiba Display

telephones for the offi ce.


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Budweiser Events Center at the RanchSeptember 13-14With fi ve brilliant industry speakers, more than 200 ex-hibit booths and a Regional Business After Hours with the Chambers of Commerce, Bixpo has become the single greatest networking and showcase opportunity along the Northern Front Range and Wyoming.

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN PLUMBINGCandy Traupe, Victor Fallon, Barton Palmer

EN’ELLEDAY SPA & SALON

Suzann Buie

WATER VALLEYJim Jenson, Pegg Busch

CENTERRAMCWHINNEY COMMUNITYTom Hall, Paul Hummel,Ron Kuehl

3T SYSTEMS INC.Jason Fitzsimmons, Ron Bramhall

CBEYOND COMMUNICATIONSJennifer Bradbury

STYLE FYI:Cbeyond provides Style Magazine with all of its telephone, internet, and web service needs! Call them today so you can start communicating in style too. Be sure to tell them that you read about them in Style Magazine!

IBMCKin Schulz, Amanda Herting, JoAnn Caddoo, Steve Steele

INTERLOGIZ CORPORATIONSteve McGarrah, John Fryer

TEKSYSTEMSJohn Sparkman

EVOLVE TECHNOLOGIESFrank Burris, Robin Foreman, Dooug Hanson

about townBIXPO 2006

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INTERLOGIZ CORPORATIONSteve McGarrah, John Fryer

REALTEC COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE SERVICES INC.

LeAnne Bodine, Toni Grant,Nelia Edwards

FIRST COMMUNITY BANKRon Pino, Eric Berglund, Ted Ray, R.J. Martinez

CO’S BMWChris Casson, Susan Raikes

H.M.S. PROTOCOL & ETIQETTE TRAININGMarie Hornback

GARNSEY & WHEELER FORDIsaac Pacheco

FRII - FRONT RANGE INTERNET INC.Scott Eastman, Kaye Lehmann, Kristi Siedow-Thompson

FLOOD & PETERSON INSURANCE INC.

Cody Greman,David Hite

KENNEDY & COLEDixie Larson, Shauna Kellogs

EKS&H/EHRHARDT KEEFE STEINER & HOTTMAN PCMaryann Lasco, Shane Brown, Randy Koerselman,

Janis Bonds, Katie Obarski, Christopher Otto


Chris Casson, Susan Raikes


ALL PHASE RESTORATIONL. Jeff Manck, Heather Fritzler, Wilf Ingersoll,

Megan Avery, Brian Weightman, Bob Manck, Kelley Manck

OFFICE SCAPESSharie Grant 63

6309.2006_master.indd 63 9/22/06 4:58:03 PM

THE ULTIMATE DRIVE FOR THE SUSAN G. KOMEN BREASTCANCER FOUNDATION Co’s BMW Center, LovelandAugust 28

many people came to support the all day

fundraiser including, over 300 test drove

a bmw and helped donate a $1 for every

mile driven, over 100 attended the inaugural

luncheon fashion show, with top fashion

modeled by 17 cancer survivors, and many

attended the evening free concert at thunder

mountain amphitheatre making additional

donations to complete the event. the all day

fundraiser event helped raise over $12,000

for the susan g. komen foundation and their

programs on education, research on breast

cancer treatments and their search for a cure.

Ann Clarke

Karrol Steeves Ann Clarke

Lydia Dody Antigone Kotsiopulos Jeanne Lambert Bobbie Beyersdof Nancee Testa

Antigone Kotsiopulos Nancee Testa Tammy Milne Diane Kaufman

Aimee Jenson (Guest of Honor - The Ultimate Hero)

about townREALITIES FOR CHILDREN GADABOUTabout townCO’S BMW SUSAN KOMAN

about townWOMEN AGAINST MS LUNCHEON

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Craig Secher, Dean & Georgia Ackerman, Pam Swerer, Joan Langer, Carrie Kralicek

Todd Harding, Tammy Matson, Sandi Ortega, Craig Secher

Rio Grande Mexican RestaurantFort CollinsSeptember 13-14More than 200 vacation-at-

tired travel enthusiasts met

for international cuisine and

live music. Sandi Ortega

was the winner of a Cruise

Planners 5-Day Eastern

Caribbean Cruise Vacation

for two.

Carl Bradbury, Megan Greer, Ann Bradbury, Carly Lee

Karen Rhomas, Marshall Canafaz, Molly & Craig Secher, Julie Elliott

Dixie & Ed Daly

Hilton Fort CollinsSeptember 20

Nearly 350 women attended the

Women Against MS Luncheon to

hear guest speaker Michelle Theall,

publisher of Women’s Adventure

and author of the Little Kick in the

Butt series. Michelle, an avid rock

climber herself, was diagnosed 3

years ago with MS. Her inspira-

tional speech provided hope and

courage for all who attended.

Proceeds to benefi t the National

MS Society Colorado Chapter and

early projections fi nd this 8th an-

nual event to be highly successful.

(Photo Courtesy of Richard Ricchiuti ofImagecatcherman Photography)

Michelle Theall with event committee members: Carol Wood, Susan Barstad, Sherry Bartmann, Mary Anne Martell,

Kathleen Henry, Dawn Paepke, Allison Hines

Brandee Frusher, Sharon Ferguson Tam Wahl, Pat Stryker

Holly Osborn, Lori McWhinney Terry McNeal, Elaine Tool Jackson

Cindy Bean (V.P. Chapter Fund

Development), Carrie Nolan

(Colorado Chapter

President)

about townREALITIES FOR CHILDREN GADABOUTabout townCO’S BMW SUSAN KOMAN

about townWOMEN AGAINST MS LUNCHEON

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antiques at Lincoln park fall teas add whimsy to your social calendar. Learn the anthology of some of our most popular holidays from

guest historian cheryl miller and enjoy a traditional afternoon tea.

October 7th

halloween history and Lore

November 11th vintage cookbooks

December 2nd

the night before christmas collection

teas are from 2pm – 4pm.tickets are $8 per person at the door..

50% of the proceeds will go directly toa women’s place.

seating is limited, reservations are required.call 970-351-6222

Visit www.antiquesgreeley.comfor more information.

822 8th StreetHistoric Downtown Greeley

66

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6767

09.2006_master.indd 67 9/22/06 5:02:17 PM

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INTERIOR/, INC SERVICING NORTHERN COLORADO I FULL INTERIORS I 965 59th Ave., GREELEY, CO 80634 I 970.353.7847

CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

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PAIDpermit 5200denver, co

2627 redwing rd, ste 220fort coll ins, co 80526

6868

09.2006_master.indd 68 9/22/06 5:02:27 PM

2006-09 lydia's style magazine

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