Careful Painting Weblog

Design Doctors and Careful Painting spice up Burnsville rambler

2008-01-18T14:28:00.000-06:00

Careful Painting just finished a complete redecorating job in Burnsville at the Eric and Pam Dahlager household. A friend who works with Eric at Waste Management recommended us to the Dahlagers, and we painted the entire main floor for them, in addition to staining a new patio door to match the existing cabinetry in the kitchen. Pam and Eric have a fairly simple lifestyle, but the decor was dated, and as Pam said, it was time for an update. Motivated by a recent trip to Italy, the Dahlagers called in the Design Doctors to help redecorate six rooms and the hallway of their 30 year old suburban home.

The Italian scheme is warm and inviting. Design Doctor Victoria selected colors from the Devine paint line to complement the existing walnut-stained woodwork. She also helped Pam select everything from flooring to furniture. Pam raves about the ease of working with Victoria and about the Design Doctors' service - Victoria even checked Pam's online selections to make sure they would harmonize with the overall design scheme and provided her expertise on a shopping trip to HOM Furntiure. The Dahlagers sold their old furniture to a young neighbor who was getting married, and the entirely new furnishings do make a dramatic difference in the look of their home. More importantly, they are comfortable, functional, and fit into the Dahlagers busy lifestyle. We love the flooring and carpeting Victoria and Pam picked together, and so do the Dahlagers. Pam is an independent consultant for PartyLite candles, and her own products are the icing on the new design - the warm glow and scent of the candles coming from attractive sconces and candle holders multiplies the warm, cozy effect of this design scheme.

This was our first experience working with Devine paint, and we were interested to see if this line held up to its reputation of being a high-quality product. We were very pleased by the results. Devine says that its product goes on like yogurt and looks like chiffon. Those aren't necessarily the words I would have picked to describe the paint, but there's no doubt that it is creamy, easy to work with, and dries to a great velvety finish. Victoria chose the colors Filbert for the living room, Muslin for the hallway and guest bedrooms, Reef for the master bedroom and bathroom, and Cafe for the kitchen, with an accent of Cabernet on the soffit above the kitchen counter. The colors harmonized well and drew the eye from room to room. As much as we like Devine paint, we did use our favorite paint, Benjamin Moore Aura, for the Cabernet red accent above the kitchen counter. We've found that for dark colors like Cabernet, Aura is unmatchable in its ability to cover, ease of touchup, and effortless scrubability. In fact, both Devine and Aura provide easy cleanup, which may be important in the near future as Eric and Pam are contemplating adopting a golden retriever puppy after the unexpected death of one of their hunting dogs over Christmas.

There are a few details left to address (Pam is not quite done installing the sconces that will show off both her entryway and her PartyLite candles) but the overall design is done, and was complete ahead of schedule, which allowed the Dahlagers to do some entertaining in their new home over the holidays. The warm colors are incredibly effective; they work together to create an Italian-inspired refuge from Minnesota winters and compliment the dark woodwork perfectly. The Careful Painting crew enjoyed this work, and we're glad to have had a part in such a great re-decorating project.

East Side Restoration

2006-08-16T11:45:00.000-05:00

Earlier in August we stained and painted the Ross and Jan Shoger residence overlooking the Carleton Arboretum at 201 Oak Street. It was designed by Bob Warren and Sewall Mathre of SMSQ Architects. Bob Warren Studied at Taliesin. Note the cantalivered deck. There are quite a few Frank Lloyd Wright elements, such as the "hidden" front door. It is worth a walk to see the house.

Before painting we washed the house with a special non-toxic formula to remove some mildew. We also scraped off loose paint at the windows and removed loose window putty. Two different primers were used according to the condition of the substrate.

Jan, Ross, and I met several times to discuss color.

As an artist Jan is very particular about color. She wanted to warm up the feel of the rough vertical Cedar, which had always been a charcoal color. I was concerned about being able to cover the charcoal without applying a heavy film: It was important to me to use a penetrating oil stain rather than going to the easier, popular solid color latex stains. Jan and Ross were also open to the possibility that some of the old color might still peek through the new stain. We settled on Cabot Semi-Solid Stain in "Oak Brown."

The new brown is nicely accented by the warm red and gold panels on the walk-out side facing the Arboretum. The light blue trim gives the home a friendly Northfield/Scandinavian feel.

Stoneybrook Wallcovering Installation in Northfield

2005-11-17T11:38:00.000-06:00

Jolene and I are excited about a new wallcovering material which we installed in the new Occupational Clinic at 710 South Division Street in Northfield. Stoneybrook paper comes in many colors and is simple for an experienced paperhanger to install. I have been hanging wallpaper since about 1989.

Jolene was able to find a color to go with the new carpet. While it does cost a little more than other wallpapers, this "torn" paper effect has real depth, will cover problem walls, and is very easy to repair. No more seams to deal with, either.

Because it is hand made to order, Stoneybrook paper must be ordered about a month in advance of installation. Careful Painting sells and installs Stoneybrook papers in the Northfield, Rochester and Mankato areas.

Work begins on Huckle house

2005-08-17T13:39:00.000-05:00

As we near the end of summer, Mark and his Careful Painting crew are busy scraping Renee Huckle's Northfield home, preparing it for a new, lighter paint. The home will feature more contrast, with dark brown soffits and a deep red front door, changes that will complement the neighboring Liberty Park homes.

Sprucing up the Reed Wittemore House

2005-08-02T07:29:00.000-05:00

This summer the Careful Painting crew scraped and painted a garage for John Tymoczko and Alison Unger at Fourth and Elm Streets. We also touched-up over at Wayne Carver's house at 203 Maple.

Reed Whittemore lived in the house at Fourth and Elm during some of the years he taught English at Carleton College in Northfield. He edited the Carleton Miscellany in the attic above the garage that we repainted for John and Alison. According to Alison and Professor Carver there was a ladder up to the garret which Professor Whittemore would pull up when he didn't want to be disturbed in his writing and editing.

Here is a poem that Reed Whittemore wrote about the house at 319 Elm Street in Northfield, Minnesota, relevant as ever....

The Farmhouse

Our house is an old farmhouse, whose properties

The town has gradually purchased, leaving it

Only a city lot and a few trees

Of all that wood and busheldom, and breeze

It once served. It is high and square,

And its lines, such as they were, have been muddled by several

Conflicting remodlers, whose care

In widening, lenghtening, and adding on, letting in air

Has left it with four kinds of windows, three porches

And a door that leads to a closet that is not there.

The city houses around us have borrowed from verse

And the Old Dominion; their cosmopolitan

Muddle is elegant next to ours.

We think of moving, and say we'll add no more dollars

To those already spent making a box

Of what was, is, and will be, forever, a box,

When there's land, empty and unboxed, down a few blocks

Waiting.

We say this as we pull down, pull up, push out,

And generally preserveserve with our renovating--

That is--making new again--knowing

That houses like our house are not made new again

Any more that a man is. All that growing

Up and away from the land, that bowing

To impersonal social forces that transform

Wheat fields into rows of two-bedroom ramblers

Must be acknowledged; but the warm

Part of our country boy will not conform.

It remains, behind new windows, doors and porches,

Hugging its childhood, staying down on the farm.

Andrew Bresnahan priming dormer windows facing South onto Fourth Street.

Summer -- A Time for Renewal

2005-07-27T11:16:00.000-05:00

The Northfield home of Susan Dunhaupt and Dick Brown is looking refreshingly lighter these days as the Careful Painting crew nears completion on the exterior project. The couple had decided to give the home a facelift some time ago, and began the transformation by painting the porch, but then called upon Mark and his crew to finish the job.

I met with Susan to match up the color they had chosen with a durable exterior paint, and then helped select a red to accent the roof and a cream for the trim. The new light yellow complements the home's red roof nicely, and is a refreshing change from the former green, as seen below from the backyard.

A Taste of Norway Ends the Day

2005-07-08T08:52:00.000-05:00

The Careful Painting crew recently completed work on the Jurries' home, where they ended by adding decorative detail to the kitchen soffits. Jolene used the technique of rosemaling once again, in a pattern designed to fit with the homeowners' decor.

In fact, the Jurries own an antique bellows, decorated with rosemaling, that they display in their home. Several furniture pieces also feature similar painted decoration.

Outside, the new paint color looks as though it were made for the house, the warmer hue complementing the Jurries' colorful landscape nicely.

Our first home movie

Rosemaling Front Page News

2005-06-23T12:32:00.000-05:00

Apparently I wasn't the only one impressed by Jolene's artistry in the work she did on the Larson-Anderson home. Northfield News featured her photo on the front cover of their June 22 edition, above. Since joining Careful Painting in February, Jolene has shown excellent skill in craftsmanship, especially with detail work such as the Rosemaling project.

Having earned her degree in the arts -- specializing in painting -- from the University of Minnesota in 2003, Jolene has quite a bit of experience with the art form. She also does commissioned portraits and caricatures for clients. Originally from New Prague, Jolene now resides in Le Center with husband Jason and daughter Lana.

Tudor Cottage a Painter's Paradise

2005-06-22T10:36:00.000-05:00

The Northfield home of Susan and Don Jurries will soon have a new look, thanks to Careful Painting. Mark and his crew of four have been busy scraping and masking the exterior and interior, getting the home ready for paint. The outside will feature Benjamin Moore's Bradstreet Beige, while the owners have chosen Danville Tan for the living room, both of which complement the home's limestone accents and dark wood trim.

The Jurries purchased the home eleven years ago from Don's mom and sister. It was originally built for St. Olaf music professor Abrahamson in 1939.

Scandinavian Embellishment at Home in Northfield

2005-06-21T12:54:00.000-05:00

The Norwegian painting tradition of Rosemaling is a perfect fit in the Northfield community, home to St. Olaf College and the beloved Ole Store Cafe, among others. Careful Painting first practiced the technique back in March, with crew member Jolene Robertson painting a chair for display at the local Home and Garden Show. Since that time, Jolene has used Rosemaling at home to embellish a table, but is now taking it to the next level by decorating a home with the fanciful swirls and strokes.

Ann Larson and Bruce Anderson's Northfield home -- on St. Olaf Avenue, nonetheless -- was due for some touch-up work, which is where Careful Painting came in. After talking with owner Mark Lange, the couple agreed to embellish their front porch with Rosemaling, so Jolene and fellow employee Cassy Simon immediately began sketching out ideas. Jolene started painting this morning, using four different exterior colors from Young's Paint Center in Dundas. The design features various flowers and swirls to add a bit of decorative whimsy to the home. Both Jolene and Cassy have studied fine arts, Jolene graduating from the U of M and Cassy from UW-River Falls.

Work Continues on the Woodward Home

2005-06-03T13:15:00.000-05:00

The Careful Painting crew has been busy scraping, priming, caulking, and painting the Northfield home of University of Minnesota professor "Chick" Woodward. The home features beautiful details, such as the corbel below, which is highlighted with the decoration of several colors.

While working there today, the painters were joined by this friendly moth, who found his way into a paint can and decided to stick around.

Another "Careful" Success!

2005-05-25T10:40:00.000-05:00

Tuesday, May 24, I stopped by the home of Bonnie and Wade Baumberger to photograph yet another project by Careful Painting. Mark and Jolene recently completed painting the main level of the Baumbergers' home in "crouton," a warm, golden hue. The color looks beautiful against the woodwork, and highlights Bonnie's amazing decorating. They have a beautiful home that illustrates how color and accessories can truly transform a space. Bonnie and son Alex were gracious hosts -- thanks, again!

On the left, a floral arrangement designed by Bonnie's sister fills an opening between the living and dining rooms. On the right, guests are welcomed with this fabulous vignette in the foyer.

Clinic Project Complete

2005-05-23T10:06:00.000-05:00

Careful Painting crew Jolene Robertson and Mark Lange completed their multi-weekend painting project at the clinic complex at 1381 Jefferson. The interior colors match those found at the new hospital, reflecting the buildings' relationship to one another. Mark and Jolene have been working after hours -- Saturdays and Sundays -- so as not to upset business, and will likely welcome going back to their normal Monday through Friday routine.

Highway 3 Construction Starts

2005-04-26T15:59:00.000-05:00

Highway 3 construction has started in our neighborhood. The Minnesota Department of Transportation started taking trees down in preparation for construction of an eighty foot high retaining wall across the street from Careful Painting. My neighbor Arlene reports that she had no idea that this was going to happen. Bernie down the street at the River Legacy Motel is negotiating the sale of his property to Mendota Homes for the 140 townhomes planned for the old Kump property. Rumor is that he will take 1.1 million for his riverfront parcel. Arlene and I will each gladly accept one million for our river frontage!

View from my yard with the old Tom Thumb in the background

Hansen Concrete Fixes Steps

2005-04-06T20:28:00.000-05:00

This past winter was hard on old concrete like we have down here at 308 Water Street North. Tracy Hansen from Hansen Concrete is fixing the back steps to the house. Tracy is a great guy and he does good work. When I learned that he could work me in right away I said "let's Go"! I could have spent a week getting bids around town, but I prefer to build on the relationship that Tracy and I have--he poured a driveway for me in 2000 at 410 Orchard Street North. His work there still looks good, and I have asked him to pour some steps there as well. Tracy is a very good Steward of his Mason's craft, and I recomend him highly to property owners who want things done right the first time. His number in Randolph is: 645-4751

Cannon Valley Colors Unveiled at Home and Garden Show

2005-03-29T11:41:00.000-06:00

Cannon Valley Colors highlighted the Northfield Home and Garden Show at the new Middle School last Saturday. Our unique color pallette, designed by Sarah Mensink and custom formulated by Jolene Robertson, highlights color from our local scenery. Some of my favorites are the deep browns and reds that you also find in Prairie Style Architecture.

Many people stopped by the booth to check out the new pallette. While Careful Painting envisions Cannon Valley Colors as an ongoing project, our selection presently consists of seven hues: Brick Red. Earth Brown, Norwegian Blue, Sandstone Yellow, Southwest Salmon, Nature Green, and Gilded Gold. Of course we also work with colors from various national paint manufacturers such as Benjamin Moore. We can also help your find just the right color to express your own sense of place, of dwelling. Look for more on Cannon Valley Colors in future posts.

Sarah Mensink and Mark Lange

Jolene Robertson

2005-03-24T19:34:00.000-06:00

Jolene Roberson has been working with us for about a month now. She has a degree in art, and has experience with painting portraits in oil. She lives with her husband Jason and her daughter Lana in LeCenter. For the Northfield Home and Garden Show on March 26th, I asked her do a little decorative painting on an old chair. The base color is Benjamin Moore 2004-70 "Light Touch." This she embellished with some Telemark style Rosemaling in artist's acrylics. For durability we added a coat of Benjamin Moore Stays Clear acrylic polyurethane.

If you come to the Home and Garden Show at the new middle school, stop by our booth and check out the new Cannon Valley Colors palette designed by Sarah Mensink. She has been working hard at pulling colors out of our local scenery. Jolene and Sarah mixed up some samples which will be on display at the show.

East Side Bedroom Restoration

2005-03-24T18:18:00.000-06:00

We recently refurbished a bedroom for a good customer. The ceiling in this stately older home on the East Side had been textured during an earlier remodeling. We removed the texture, repaired the cracks, and applied a fresh coat of gypsum joint compound, which we then sanded smooth, primed, and painted.

We sanded the woodwork and primed the new Marvin sashes with Bullseye 1,2,3 primer. The windows, doors and wide baseboard were topcoated with two coats of Benjamin Moore Satin Impervo, "Antique White." All the paints came from Young's Paint Center in Dundas. The plaster walls were repaired and finished with two coats of Regal Aquavelvet HC-149, "Buxton Blue."

The owners wished to refinish the old pine floor which had been carpeted over years earlier. On inspection the existing top coat was delaminating-- it had probably been applied over a dirty or glossy surface. The safe choice was to remove this coat, which we did using Moore's Finish Remover. While we did not have the dust associated with sanding, or the fumes that come with many strippers, we did enounter difficulties removing the old finish.

Here you see Chris Klein scraping the softened paint with a Warner carbide scraper. Chris, Jolene and I worked very hard on this project.
After removing the old topcoat, we washed the floor, filled holes, and applied two coats of M22 Urethane Enamel, HC-154, "Hale Navy."

The finished room presents a simple and cozy charm, without going to the extreme of gutting the plaster or tearing up the old floor. This project expresses our ideal of Good Stewardship: we honed our old-fashioned painting and decorating craft skills while improving a treasured family home. And we started on a Monday and finished that Friday!

Circa Restoration Studio

2004-09-30T19:52:00.000-05:00

Circa Restoration Studio is opening tomorrow at 16 Bridge Square. A couple of weeks ago we helped the Lisa Ebert, who is opening the antique shop and furniture restoration studio, prepare to move into her new space. Here are Lisa and the Bart DeMalignon--the building's owner--inspecting the new color for the studio. The new gold color will really show off her oak, cherry, and mahogany pieces. We had to fill some holes in the walls.

I hope you will visit Lisa in her new shop. Circa Restoration Studio will particpate in the Northfield Art Crawl Friday, October 1st, from 7-9 p.m.

Below Cindy Brooks applies the first coat of eggshell finish latex enamel over our spackled and primed repair areas.

Lisa and I discuss her color selection.

Tammy Feldman Interior Repainting Project

2004-05-03T20:52:00.000-05:00

When Carleton College Benedict Distinguished Visiting Professor of Economics Tammy Feldman purchased this house at 315 Elm Street the walls and woodwork had all been painted gray. The lower ceiling in this room was still a cool teal from the original 1950s color scheme. From Cambridge, Massachusetts, Tammy brought colors that her decorator friend had helped her choose over two years ago. Note the Summerdale Gold on the ceiling. The woodwork has all been primed with Zinsser Oderless Oil bonding primer, followed by two coats of Moore's Satin Impervo in "White Chocolate." Here we have the new red birch hardwood floors protected with plastic and heavy canvas.

In the the East facing bedroom Tammy chose Benjamin Moore "Timothy Straw," again with the White Chocolate accent on the woodwork.

Note the Pella windows with oversized cranks and built-in screens which roll up into the wall when not in use.

We are very excited to help Tammy get comfortable in her first house. Later this summer we will be washing and sealing the exterior redwood.

Scope of Operations--Careful Painting, Incorporated, Northfield, Minnesota

2004-03-16T09:15:00.000-06:00

Careful Painting was incorporated on December 31st of 2003. Two businesses are housed within the corporate structure--Careful Painting, a full-service painting contractor; and Painter's Toolbox, an online retailer of painting tools and supplies. Since this is the Careful Painting website, I will proceed to describe some of the painting and decorating services that we provide.

Mark Lange and Nicole Hernke at the shop

Currently there are two of us at Careful Painting: me (Mark Lange), and Nicole Hernke. Nicole helps out two days a week while studying Interior Design at Dakota County Technical College in Rosemount. We will be hiring more help for the Summer.

We do residential and light commercial painting; staining and finishing of woodwork; plaster and drywall repair and texturing; water damage repair; custom stain matching; color matching; wallpaper removal; wallpaper installation; washing and pressure-washing; preparation and repainting of very old and weathered wooden buildings; waterproofing cement walls; repainting of prefinished siding; painting cement board, stucco, and concrete; restoration of interior wooden interior window sashes which have discolored due to moisture condensation; custom decorative effects such as interior clouds and painted stripes; wallpaper border installation; kitchen cabinet washing and refinishing; priming and painting of new Gypsum Board in new construction; deck cleaning, stripping, sealing, staining, and refinishing; window glazing and interior and exterior caulking; woodwork washing and enameling. Brush, roller, and spray painting. Interior and exterior painting. House painting with both oil and waterborne paints. We use mainly Benjamin Moore and Diamond Vogel paints.

We paint in Northfield, Waterford, Randolph, Cannon Falls, Vasa, Welch, Hampton, Hastings, Afton, Lakeland, Stillwater, Stanton, Dennison, Sogn, Wastedo, Kenyon, Skyberg, Bombay, Nerstrand, Faribault, Cannon City, Dundas, Shieldsville, Millersburg, Webster, Hazelwood, Castle Rock, Farmington, and in Hudson, North Hudson, and Prescott, Wisconsin.

While I have had many chances to work in the Cities, over the years I have preferred to work in smaller towns. Earlier in our history we did jobs in St. Croix Falls, Wolf Creek, Osceola, New Richmond, Star Prairie, Somerset, Houlton, Bayport, Marine-On-St.-Croix, Scandia, Withrow, Hugo, and Lake Elmo. Most of those jobs are still looking good after many years, and we do continue to travel to those area for special customers.

Small town life is very handy. From our central shop at 308 Water Street North in Northfield (two doors South of the Northfield Foundry) we can easily serve all of Northfield and the surrounding area. Carpenters find it easy to drop off woodwork to be finished prior to installation. We receive regular shipments of the various supplies that we need to do all the preparation and finishing, and we're close if more sandpaper or caulk is needed to complete a job. Plus we're here to consult with on new projects and to perform the regular maintenance and touch-up services that we offer.

Short History of Careful Painting - Part I

2004-03-04T23:15:00.000-06:00

After graduating from Stillwater High School in 1979 I sought work in Minneapolis for the summer. My cousin Jim Grathwol and I found employment in the roofing trade until our employer walked off a roof. I returned to Stillwater and was hired by Marv Richert of Richert Decorating. Later I worked for the Cub Foods painting crew, for Chandler Exhibits, and for Bill Weed in Northfield.

The name Careful Painting was registered by the Minnesota Secretary of State in 1984.

The name comes from a section of Martin Heidegger's "Being and Time" in which care--or--Sorge--is identified as the most essential characteristic of human being. For about two years I read Heidegger and painted in the summers while attending Carleton College in Northfield. In those days an interest in continental philosophy was required for summertime employment at Careful Painting. My partner Peter Henry enjoyed discussing the finer points while hanging from gutters, swatting bees, and painting windows in Northfield and the St. Croix Valley for several months over the course of two summers. Peter succumbed to an allergy to alkyd paints and moved on into a successful career in education. He is remembered today for his Plymouth Fury--a former police car--which we used to haul our forty-foot ladder.

[Webmaster note: This text has now been added to the About Us page.]