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Built for the Family
By Katie Sauck

Photos by Jeff Silker

    Joe and Karen VanderLaan’s home welcomes you with an open and inviting floor plan, rich colors and an overall feeling of warmth. Along with children Sarah and Ross, the family spent 20 years in six different homes in the Spirit Lake, Iowa, area, remodeling as they went, before they decided to build in 2005. Now they have a beautiful craftsman-style home that fits their lifestyle.
     “We waited a long time to build so it had to be right,” Karen says. To make sure their new home would fit the family perfectly, Joe, a building contractor who owns JVL Corp., designed and built the home along with his skilled crew. Karen says, “He likes to mix things up, using different woods together, angles and stone.” His creativity resulted in a home that the VanderLaan’s love.
     Looking out into the backyard, it’s easy to see what sets this house apart. Showcasing a pool, six-foot waterfall and a pool house, the backyard beckons you to come out and play. Such features make the home a great place for family and friends to gather.

Entrance

    Beautiful porcelain tiles grace the floor in the home’s main entry. “It took Joe two hours to lay out the flooring to make it look like it veined naturally.” Karen remembers. It would also be the perfect floor for a kitchen because it’s easy to clean. A faux finish with a leather look on the ceiling finishes off the space.

Kitchen

    Since the VanderLaan’s frequently entertain and everyone wants to be together, the kitchen was designed with an open feel. Complete with elegant Cambria countertops and cherry cabinets, the room has a fabulous blend of sophistication and practicality.
Joe placed rock under the center island and also used it to highlight the range hood. A backsplash shows off squares of black, copper, silver and some purple. “When the light hits it, you can see all the colors. It’s always different but always beautiful.”

Living Room

    A vaulted ceiling and large windows in the living room make it an impressive space. Karen’s brother designed and built the fireplace mantle while two women from Spirit Lake did all the stonework. Joe and Karen chose all the furnishings.

Master Bedroom

    The master bedroom has a private entrance from the patio and an exquisite view of the backyard. A large master bath and closet offer convenience to the homeowners.

Basement

    A drop down projection screen, wet bar, inviting couches and a corner booth make the basement a great gathering place. Both Ross and Sarah’s rooms are downstairs. Sarah’s room has bright colors, a spacious sitting area and a designated area for studying. “We took pictures of Sarah and her friends and had them blown up and put on canvases.” As a result, this high school freshman has an energizing room that suits her perfectly. Ross, a junior in high school, has masculine, earthy colors in his room. “He worked on the house every day alongside his dad to earn enough money to buy his own big screen TV for his room,” Karen says. A large comfortable L-shaped couch makes his room a good hangout for friends. “There is no carpet in the basement, just stained and stamped concrete, and area rugs.” The concrete could be mistaken for tile; it’s attractive as well as low-maintenance.

Pool

    The hot tub and pool house serve as the VanderLaan’s own little spa retreat. “It’s so fun,” Karen says. In-floor heat allows the pool house to be just as comfortable in the winter as during the summer while infrared heating outside keeps the hot tub area warm. The pool house is the perfect place for everyone to gather. There is a refrigerator, microwave, sink, bathroom with a walk-in shower, changing room as well as bunks for overnight guests. “That way people can eat, sleep and bathe and never go to the house from the pool.”

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