The results are in!
With the intent to showcase the best this industry has to offer, we set out to pay homage to those who create, build and enhance our local homes and surroundings. Since we couldn’t pick just one, we asked our readers and community to share their favorites. Starting March 24, we took nominations for our first ever Design & Living People’s Choice Awards. On April 6, we tallied up the nominations and started the final voting. We were thrilled to see thousands of votes pour in over the course of this friendly competition, with the races so close at times even one vote would sway the end result.
This last month we tallied up the final votes and interviewed a select few of the esteemed winners. Now, with the highest respects toward all of the nominees, we announce the final results. Congratulations to this year’s People’s Choice winners and all of the nominees for being considered in the top ranks of your industry.
Photos by J. Alan Paul Photography & Courtesy Zach Davis Photography
BEST COMMERCIAL ARCHITECT
Winner: T.L. Stroh Architects
8 7th St. N, Fargo
“I think what draws me to architecture is the process of creating something that enhances the lives of our clients and allows them to maximize their productivity. I’m inspired by objects of art and architecture as well as Gods creation around us. It is truly an honor to be put in this category. Our team at TL Stroh Architects really appreciates it, and are grateful to all our wonderful clients that have made it possible.” -Terry Stroh
Honorable Mentions:
R. L. Engebretson
Lightowler Johnson Associates
BEST RESIDENTIAL ARCHITECT
Winner: Chris Hawley Architect
Chris Hawley Architects
325 7th St. S. Ste. 300, Fargo
“In short, I am really proud to be recognized for something that I love to do. Because I am passionate about the work, it’s always nice to get a little “pat on the back.” I also hope this means that others will push to do the same. Quality is everything. 100 years from now, I want the work to speak for itself and be placed in the “timeless” bucket, to the point that someone wants to preserve it for another 100 years. In my mind, great design inspires people to want to live around it, talk about it, and do more of it…..I want to be on the leading edge of that!”
Honorable Mentions:
Holly & Company Classic Homes
Heritage Homes
BEST INTERIOR DECORATOR
Winner: Julie Alin
Scheels Home & Hardware
3202 13th Ave. S, Fargo
Before the final results were revealed, we met up with Julie Alin, to discuss how it feels to be ranked in the top three interior decorators in the FM area. “I’m absolutely humbled and honored because the company I’m in is so fantastic, which is of course Trever Hill and Sylvia Lunski. They are just such great talents,” she said.
Many feel Alin is deserving of the accolade if not for her talent then simply for her passion for the work she does. Those who have worked with her tell you that her knowledge of design goes well beyond color matching and furniture placement, looking to social trends for the next big design concept and incorporating it into her style.
“If you really keep your finger on the pulse of what’s happening around the world, it tells you all there is to know about how the trends are going to change,” she said.
Honorable Mentions:
Trever Hill Design
Design Direction
BEST WINDOW TREATMENT & BLIND SUPPLY
Winner: Design Direction
3211 Fiechtner Dr. Ste. 1, Fargo
Honorable Mentions:
Western Products
Smart Home Technologies
BEST WINDOW INSTALL & SUPPLY
Winner: Western Products
474 45th St. S, Fargo
Honorable Mentions:
Pella Northland
Rusco Window Co.
BEST HOME BUILDER BELOW $399,000 & BEST LUXURY HOME BUILDER $400K+
Winner: Heritage Homes
1815 38th St. S, Fargo
“We are deeply honored to be recognized for what we passionately love to do. To be in the top three lets us know we are doing the right thing, and helps us continue to provide the best product and service for our clients. Our team is inspired by the fact that we get to help create the American Dream. We positively influence people’s lives through our incredible homebuilding journey and the second- to-none livability of our homes. We are passionate about our process and our product. We live and breathe our goal of providing the best quality for this community.” -Tyrone Leslie
Honorable Mentions: (Best Home Builder)
Thomsen Homes
Jordahl Custom Homes
Honorable Mentions: (Best Luxury Home Builder)
Footitt Homes/Bob Footitt Construction
Century Homes
BEST LOCAL ARTIST
Winner: Jessica Wachter
“I am immensely honored to be recognized as one of the top artists in our community and
it is truly even more meaningful to have been voted in by the people. There are so many highly talented fellow artists here, so to be celebrated by Design & Living Magazine in this way is genuinely humbling.
“In life, the more we experience will drive and continue to deepen our work. The same is with my work. Experiences include making connections to culture, meeting people and other creators, or traveling to new places and landscapes. Through this I find new sources of inspiration for my work.”
Honorable Mentions:
Rando
Steve Knutson
BEST CUSTOM FURNITURE BUILDER
Winner: Grain Designs
666 Main Ave. W. Ste. 3, West Fargo
“It’s an honor to be recognized as one of the top furniture builders as we take great pride in the craft and quality of our products. Using reclaimed wood is a sustainable practice that helps relieve the stress on deforestation. The materials we use also allow us to create more unique and meaningful pieces than you can buy at a big box store or build from lumberyard materials because each piece we build has a story from its previous existence. What was once a barn or joists in a downtown warehouse building, now become a furniture or wall decor piece full of character. Each knot, nail hole and imperfection is a true testament to a piece of history.” -Blain Mikkonen
Honorable Mentions:
Finnu Designs
CNC Wood Design
BEST FURNITURE STORE
Winner: HOM Furniture
4601 23rd Ave. S, Fargo
Honorable Mentions:
Scheels Home & Hardware
Northern Home Furniture & Design
BEST SELECTION OF HOME DECOR
Winner: Scheels Home & Hardware
3202 13th Ave. S, Fargo
Honorable Mentions:
McNeal & Friends
HomeGoods
Kirkland’s
BEST HOME APPLIANCE STORE
Winner: Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery
1602 45th St. N, Fargo
Honorable Mentions:
Rigel’s Appliance
Homemaker’s Villa
BEST KITCHEN DESIGN CENTER
Winner: Floor to Ceiling Carpet One Floor & Home
360 36th St. S, Fargo
Honorable Mentions:
Accent Kitchen & Bath
Western Products
Showplace Kitchens
BEST CERTIFIED KITCHEN DESIGNER
Winner: Bill Tweten
Western Products
474 45th St. S, Fargo
“It’s gratifying to be recognized for the work you do. Many years ago I changed careers and design was such a natural fit for me—working with people and their homes and reinventing the space is such a fun, creative process. My dad always taught us to work hard and if you are going to do a job, do it well. I also feel a natural “compulsion” to work with space—-
to make order from chaos! God is the great designer, so much of what you need to know from design is seen in nature. Once you find the passion in your life for the talents God gave you, the rest flows easily.”
Honorable Mentions:
Beth Kemmer, Wood Specialists
Ferguson Enterprises
BEST CUSTOM CABINETRY
Winner: Mill Creek Custom Cabinets
2828 24th Ave. S, Moorhead
Honorable Mentions:
Wood Specialists
Western Products
Wendt Custom Cabinets
BEST COUNTERTOP INSTALL & SUPPLY
Winner: Stone Countertop Outlet
2414 University Dr. S, Fargo
Honorable Mentions:
Floor to Ceiling Carpet One Floor & Home
Spaulding Stone
BEST REPURPOSED STORE
Winner: Eco Chic Boutique
4955 17th Ave. S, Fargo
“It means everything to be considered one of the top repurposed stores in the area. Owning your own business is hard work and can feel daunting at times. We are so grateful for the love our customers have shown us.
“There is a feeling of joy and peace that fills ones heart and soul when they walk into their homes and it feels perfect for them. We love creating and finding pieces that bring that joy to others.” – Maria Bosak, Owner
Honorable Mentions:
Habitat for Humanity ReStore
Grain Designs
Redoux
BEST PAINTING SERVICE
Winner: Gene’s Paint & Decorating
3330 28th Ave. SW, Fargo
Honorable Mentions:
Red River Drywall
Shawn Weyer, Weyer-for-Hire
Apex Painting & Cleaning Service
BEST PAINT SELECTION
Winner: Scheels Home & Hardware
3202 13th Ave. S, Fargo
Honorable Mentions:
Hirshfield’s
The Color Wheel
BEST INTERIOR DESIGNER
Winner: Monica Hart Interior Design
3481 University Dr # 203, Fargo
“To think that the community feels I am a top designer just blows me away. I am most grateful! We are fortunate to be in a small city that has talented designers – many of them my friends. People who know me or have met me at the Parade of Homes know that I’ll talk their ear off when it comes to design or anything for that matter! My hope is always that people enjoy my vision and creativity and are maybe inspired for their own home. If I am working on a new construction home, remodel or room refresher, the client and their family usually inspires me. I try to make each space reflect the family by inserting unique touches that mean something to them. This sounds silly but sometimes when I am looking for selections for someone, the product speaks to me. I can instantly envision it in their home. I will be shopping for a room refresher and I swear certain products say, “I belong with so and so…..”. Once a client tells me their likes and project goals, I can start to see the spaces finished and I’m inspired to attain that finished vision in my head.”
Honorable Mentions:
Design Direction
Alesha Leslie
BEST TILE DESIGN & INSTALL
Winner: Floor to Ceiling Carpet One Floor & Home
360 36th Street, South, Fargo
Honorable Mentions:
Showcase Floors
Floyd Wangen
Trevor Odden, Stone Ridge Builders
BEST FLOORING SELECTION
Winner: Floor to Ceiling Carpet One Floor & Home
360 36th Street, South, Fargo
Honorable Mentions:
Carpet World
Design Direction
BEST HOME ENTERTAINMENT SOLUTIONS
Winner: Custom Cinema & Sound
5257 51st Ave. S. Ste. #1, Fargo
“It’s great to know that the hard work and dedication put in has paid off. The world of technology is always changing, and it’s great to be able to share that with the community. Being able to educate and provide our clients with cutting edge technology and our knowledge and expertise is my biggest inspiration. Technology changes constantly and it’s become an integral part of people’s lives. Today, everyone wants the best, top of the line electronics, and we’re willing to work with people to make sure they get the best solution.”
– Jon Kungel, Owner
Honorable Mentions:
Smart Home Technologies
Best Buy
BEST LIGHTING SELECTION
Winner: Valley Lights
1230 38th St. N, Fargo
Honorable Mentions:
Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery
Border States Electric (The Lighthouse)
BEST PLUMBING & SUPPLY
Winner: Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery
1602 45th St. N, Fargo
Honorable Mentions:
Home Heating, Plumbing & A.C.
Northern Plumbing
Precision Plumbing & Heating
BEST LUMBERYARD
Winner: Crane Johnson Lumber
3300 Main Ave, Fargo
Honorable Mentions:
Lampert Lumber
HDS (Home Design & Supply)
BEST EXTERIOR SIDING INSTALL & SUPPLY
Winner: Western Products
474 45th St. S, Fargo
Honorable Mentions:
ABC Seamless
SAV Siding
BEST GARAGE DOOR INSTALL & SUPPLY
Winner: Twin City Garage Door
324 Main Ave. E, West Fargo
Honorable Mentions:
Overhead Door
EZ Open Garage Door
BEST FIREPLACE INSTALL & SUPPLY
Winner: Hebron Brick
2300 Main Ave, Fargo
Honorable Mentions:
Home & Hearth
Western Products
BEST CONTRACTOR
Winner: Bob Footitt Construction/Footitt Homes
2673 Meadow Creek Circle S, Fargo
“It’s an incredible compliment to receive this type of respect from the community considering the large number of builders in the area. It’s also a sign the public recognizes there has been a seamless transition over the past 18 months since my dad retired. Our driving force is protecting the family name and legacy my father spent 40 years creating from nothing. He started the company from the ground up in a poor economy with high interest rates (over 12-14%) before retiring in 2013 as one of premier builders in town. Striving for perfection in all phases of the home building process- from unique one of a kind home designs, focusing on low volume top quality workmanship, emphasizing long term structural integrity of the home and going the extra mile for every home owner. There’s no greater feeling than receiving letters and texts from our home owners stating ‘we exceeded their expectations’ and ‘they couldn’t be happier with their home’. I give thanks to my incredibly talented “team” of carpenters, draftsmen and subcontractors.”
Honorable Mentions:
Kochmann Brothers
Luxury Builders
BEST GREENHOUSE
Winner: Shotwell Floral
4000 40th Ave. S, Fargo
“It is such an honor to be considered one of the top greenhouses in the Fargo-Moorhead area. We know people have a lot of options locally, but we try very hard to provide the expertise, knowledge and quality products to our customers so they can feel confident in
their gardening purchases. We are a family business that has served the community for 126 years but we never take our customers for granted. We get inspired by what makes people happy. Flowers naturally brighten one’s mood. Our customers enjoy making their outdoors beautiful, getting their hands dirty in their gardens or planting containers; nothing inspires us more than to see what our customers create in their outdoor spaces.” – Annette Shotwell
Honorable Mentions:
Beyond Outdoors (previously Kroshus)
Baker Garden & Gift
BEST LANDSCAPE DESIGN
Winner: Natural Environments Landscaping & Outdoor Living
5508 53rd Ave. S, Fargo
“It is truly an honor to be recognized by past customers. We really appreciate it! I always enjoy looking at a new construction home or an older home that is in need of renovation and being able to transform it creating curb appeal and/or an outdoor living area that each of our customers can come home to and enjoy!” –Roger Klocke, Owner
Honorable Mentions:
Signature Landscapes
MGI Landscapes & Outdoor Living
BEST POOL/SPA INSTALL & SUPPLY
Winner: Olson Pool & Spa
1110 US-10, Hawley, Minn.
Honorable Mentions:
Tubs of Fun
Western Products
HotSpring Spas & Pool Tables 2
BEST LANDSCAPE/GARDEN SUPPLY
Winner: Baker Garden & Gift
2733 University Dr. S, Fargo
Honorable Mentions:
Beyond Outdoors (previously Kroshus)
Natural Environments Landscaping & Outdoor Living
BEST DECK BUILDER
Winner: Deckmasters
5507 53rd Ave. S, Fargo
Honorable Mentions:
Custom Decks
American Custom Decks
BEST REAL ESTATE COMPANY
Winner: Park Company
28 10th St. N, Fargo
“Being considered one of the top real estate companies is a distinguished honor. Our company goals and core values focus on our clients and their satisfaction and it is very rewarding to be recognized as a leader in the community. It may sound like a cliché, but our people set us apart from the competition. There is no replacement for people who are fully committed to the real estate industry, professionalism, teamwork and most importantly, the communities they live in.” -Dawn Lahlum
Honorable Mentions:
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices/ Premier Properties
Town & Country Realty
Hatch Realty
BEST REAL ESTATE AGENT
Winner: Erik Hatch
Hatch Realty
1205 16th Ave. S, Fargo
“This is a superb honor. There’s a lot of great realtors in the community and it’s a thrill to be considered as one of the best. We’re all products of those who surround us, invest in us and trust in us. And so this acknowledgement is something I get to share with my entire team and family, too! I’ve worked obsessively hard over the last number of years so that I could free myself up a bit to be the father I always dreamed of being – and back in October my wife Emily and I welcomed our first child, Finley Juul, into the world. She’s my biggest inspiration. I work for her. I want her to be proud of her father for the man that he strives to be and for the impact I can make in the world. I want to empower her to make a difference in the lives of people. Our team motto is this: ‘The Erik Hatch Team is in the business of helping people. We just happen to sell real estate.”’
Honorable Mentions:
Mary Eberhard
Hollie Kietzer
John Knosalla
CLICK TO READ THE FULL JUNE ISSUE OF DESIGN & LIVING MAGAZINE
The post The Results of Design & Living’s People’s Choice Awards appeared first on Fargo Monthly.