On the home front On the home front: Favorite garden centers, women-friendly Realtors, hardware stores, insurance agencies, home remodelers, and ... handywomen.
It’s never too early to start planning your garden at Linder’s and Bachman’s. Photo by Emilie Richardson.
Favorite garden center: Linder's Greenhouses and Garden Center 270 W. Larpenteur Ave., St. Paul, 651-488-1927
www.linders.com Got cabin fever? Go hang out at Linder's Greenhouse. Though it originally started as a vegetable operation nearly 100 years ago, Linder's focus today is flowers. With approximately 10 acres and over 110 greenhouses, Linder's produces its own bedding plants, 800 varieties of perennials, poinsettias and a variety of Easter plants. And when spring is in the air, Linder's Flower Marts (poly greenhouses) will take up residence in seemingly every parking lot in the Twin Cities. Linder's is justifiably proud of being the only garden center to offer a two-year guarantee on its trees, shrubs, perennials and roses.
Bachman's Metro locations include Apple Valley, Eden Prairie, Farmington (seasonal), Fridley, Maplewood, south Minneapolis and Plymouth
www.bachmans.com One of the largest nurseries in the world is also a local, family owned business. The company started growing vegetables in the 1800s; the switch to flower production and sales occurred in the 1920s with the opening of the flagship store on Lyndale Ave. in south Minneapolis. Today, Bachman's ubiquitous purple color can be found in its garden centers, at Byerly's, and on its fleet of approximately 180 delivery vehicles. In addition to being a leader in the floral and nursery market, Bachman's stores feature a wide selection of upscale gifts. You can find anything your flower-loving heart desires at Bachman's.
You also like to get your green thumb dirty at Gerten's, Highland Nursery, Mother Earth Gardens and Tangletown Gardens.
Favorite women-friendly hardware store: When it comes time to run to the local hardware store, your choice is Aces. Literally. You picked locally owned franchises of the international Ace Hardware giant (more than 4,600 franchised stores in all 50 states and 70 other countries) as the place to get advice about which shade-tolerant grass seed is right for your sandy front yard and whether you should buy a top-of-the line Milwaukee cordless drill kit or if you can get away with a no-name cheapie model. Ace bills itself as "the helpful place," and their employees are more than glad to prove it to you.
Your favorite Aces: Frattalone's Ace Hardware 12 metro locations, www.frattalones.com Nicollet Ace Hardware 3805 Nicollet Ave. S., Minneapolis, 612-822-3121
Suburban Ave Hardware 1214 S. Robert St., West St. Paul, 651-457-3133
Welna Ace Hardware 2438 Bloomington Ave. S., Minneapolis, 612-729-3526
2201 E. Franklin, Minneapolis, 612-332-4393
Seven Corners Ace Hardware 216 W. 7th St., St. Paul, 651-224-4859
Favorite women-friendly realty services: Alicia Garatoni Keller Williams Integrity Realty, 612-821-7456
www.aliciagaratoni.com A Realtor with a mission statement? That's Alicia Garatoni, who takes her responsibility in assisting buyers and sellers very seriously. Garatoni prides herself on acting in her clients' best interests; one way she does this is by paying close attention to the details of every real estate transaction, feeling that anticipating potential problems is a good way to avoid them. You agree!
Beth Richardson ReMax Realty, 651-646-2100
www.movingtominnesota.com Richardson's clients rave about the special touches she puts on a real estate deal-and her team's understanding of the stresses associated with selling a home and buying another. With a background as a social worker, she has a special understanding of human dynamics. Richardson considers herself a "matchmaker" and many of you tell us she's matched you with the house of your dreams-and you wouldn't consider using another Realtor.
Edina Realty 31 metro offices, 952-928-5900
www.edinarealty.com As far as you're concerned, the state's dominant realty company is one of the best. Edina's website is tops-it includes all properties on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), and you can search by neighborhood, zip code, price, type of home and more. This Minnesota-based company has 32 metro offices and a total of 3,400 realtors.
You also buy and sell homes with Sandy Green Realty, River Realty, Ellen Schillace and Emily Sherman.
Favorite home remodeler: The Transformed Tree 651-646-3996
www.thetransformedtree.com More than 30 years ago this small business set out to make the finest in custom cabinetry. Today it's expanded into all sorts of home remodeling; you love how their attention to original architectural details brings fine craftsmanship into every area of your house. The Transformed Tree specializes in older, urban homes.
RRR Construction 612-836-1884
www.rrrconstruction.com RRR specializes in large-scale remodeling and renovation projects in the metro area. Want to turn your bathroom into a luxurious spa or redo your kitchen-or even raise the roof with a two-story addition? They're the people you call. For 27 years, RRR Construction has been turning homeowners' dreams into realities.
Celest's Honey-Do Repair 612-987-3005
celestroth@yahoo.com Self-taught handywoman Celest Roth thrives on the many referrals she gets. "I really like getting my hands dirty," noted Roth, who estimates 95 percent of her customers are women. "I show up when I say I will, and don't charge an excessive amount."
Favorite handywoman: You! You've taken "Do it yourself" to heart! MWP readers overwhelmingly named themselves as favorite handywoman. There is something satisfying about painting that wall puce (or aubergine) yourself, not to mention saving a hundred bucks by fixing your own clogged sink. But girls, there is such a thing as taking it too far. A recent Home Depot survey found that 68 percent of the women would rather work on home improvements than shop.
Favorite insurance agent or agency: American Family Insurance Many metro agencies and online at www.amfam.com
This mid-size insurance company prides itself on "excellent claims handling." It's committed to inclusion and diversity, and has an impressive record of philanthropy and community involvement in the 18 states where American Family operates. Their state-of-the-art website offers an impressive amount of information and options.
State Farm Insurance Many metro agencies and online at www.statefarm.com State Farm is the nation's largest automobile insurer-a staggering one in five American vehicles are covered through the Illinois-based company. State Farm's community-service projects include a new partnership designed to educate U.S. children about economics and individual finances.
You also recommend Farmer's Insurance.
Reader Comments
Posted: Wednesday, March 07, 2007
Article comment by:
Krista Betts
Women's Press is the best thing since pay-at-the-pump! The articles are so insightful and helpful.
