As cupid’s arrow finds its mark this February, we thought it would be fun to celebrate in our own way at White Birch Design. In this month of love, join us as we delve into the heart of White Birch Design, our people! From the satisfaction of transforming spaces to the vacation spots we dream about, keep reading for a fun introduction to the remodeling team that loves helping homeowners #lovewheretheylive.
Into the Heart of White Birch Design
Angela Barnhart
Job at WBD: Owner/Designer
Years at WBD: 6 Years
Favorite Thing About Working with WBD: I love the people that I work with – both our team and our clients. The people on our staff are some of the most incredible people I have ever met and worked with. Their mentality is always positive, always fun, and always ready for whatever I throw at them! This goes for our subcontractors as well. They are some of the best in the business, problem solvers who stand behind their work. I honestly can’t say enough about them! Finally, our clients are all so great. I love that I get to help them create new spaces to live in. I love that I get to be creative and push the limits to give them what they are looking for.
Favorite Color: Orange
Favorite Food: Sushi
Favorite Beverage: Blackberry Bubly, Cold Press Coffee, and a good Old Fashioned!
Favorite Vacation Spot: Cabo San Lucas for a beach vacation, Niagara on the Lake for a family vacation!
If You Won a Million Dollars, What Would You Do With It: Travel the world!
Favorite Movie or TV Show: Grey’s Anatomy
Salty or Sweet Snack: Both!
Favorite Sports Team (s): Vikings for sure – but really, any MN team!
Favorite Kitchen Feature: I love a big island as well as a convection microwave/oven combo!
Favorite Bathroom Feature: I love a really well-designed tile layout in the shower! And a big shower!
Favorite Project You Worked On and Why: The Kindred has probably my favorite – I love to space plan and having the freedom to make changes to this space really was fun. I loved walking the family through the design process and seeing how much better the new space functions for them.
Item You Would Love Most In Your House: A deep soaking tub and a Wolf range!
Dane Mueller
Job at WBD: Construction Manager
Years at WBD: 3 years in February
Favorite Thing About Working with WBD: Our White Birch Family. It really does go beyond a “team” environment at White Birch Design.
Favorite Color: Blue
Favorite Food: I really just like food in general. If I had to pick, I would probably say Thai.
Favorite Beverage: Boat Drinks!
Favorite Vacation Spot: Anywhere my 3 boys can stay busy having fun.
If You Won a Million Dollars, What Would You Do With It: Go to the bank, Buy a 6 month CD, wait for interest rates to go down, and then call Steve McDonald at Remax Advantage Plus to buy some investment properties.
Favorite Movie or TV Show: That’s a hard one. All time TV show would probably be Band of Brothers.
Salty or Sweet Snack: Why choose one, I pick anything that does both.
Favorite Sports Team (s): Broncos, Avalanche, Nuggets, Colorado Buffaloes.
Favorite Kitchen Feature: I like how drawer microwaves really clean up a kitchen.
Favorite Bathroom Feature: Heated mirrors with built in lighting. Pretty sure they will be added to my house soon.
Favorite Project You Worked On and Why: Martinis & Monopoly basement remodel is my current favorite. The home was built in 1913 and still had some of the features from that time period including the old coal room. It was very challenging, but the end result was a wonderful space that the clients love.
Item You Would Love Most In Your House: I am not a bubble bath guy, but I would love a huge soaker tub for my wife. She would love it, and that would make me happy.
Steve McDonald
Job at WBD: Owner
Years at WBD: Six
Favorite Thing About Working with WBD: Meeting new clients & working with our subcontractors
Favorite Color: Blue and Green
Favorite Food: Italian
Favorite Beverage: Water
Favorite Vacation Spot: Europe
If You Won a Million Dollars, What Would You Do With It: Donate a portion and take my entire family on a vacation.
Favorite Movie or TV Show: Shawshank Redemption and Breaking Bad
Salty or Sweet Snack: Depends, I like both
Favorite Sports Team (s): Twins
Favorite Kitchen Feature: I had the good fortune to do our kitchen a little over a year ago and still enjoy it every day.
Favorite Bathroom Feature: I really liked the sauna in the shower in our Finn Sisu bathroom remodel
Favorite Project You Worked On & Why: Kindred Prior Lake remodel – we did a major change in layout on the first floor and brought laundry to the 2nd floor. Also, the clients and their family were great to work with!
Item You Would Love Most In Your House: Sauna
Kevin Lerdon
Job at WBD: Field support
Years at WBD: 17 months
Favorite Thing About Working with WBD: Variety of work
Favorite Color: Green
Favorite Food: King crab
Favorite Beverage: Arnie Palmer
Favorite Vacation Spot: Hawaii
If You Won a Million Dollars, What Would You Do With It: Pay off mortgage and help with college for our two kids
Favorite Movie or TV Show: Yellowstone
Salty or Sweet Snack: Dark chocolate
Favorite Sports Team (s): Minnesota Wild
Favorite Kitchen Feature: Hands-free faucet
Favorite Bathroom Feature: Lighted mirror
Favorite Project You Worked On & Why: Complete remodel of an old country home
Item You Would Love Most In Your House: Steam shower
Alicia Czech
Job at WBD: Design Associate
Years at WBD: Almost two now!
Favorite Thing About Working with WBD: The culture is absolutely phenomenal
Favorite Color: I can’t commit to one, I love all jewel tones!
Favorite Food: Dungeness crab from the Oregon coast, where my mom lives
Favorite Beverage: Grapefruit sparkling water
Favorite Vacation Spot: Aspen, CO
If You Won a Million Dollars, What Would You Do With It: Travel with my family
Favorite Movie or TV Show: Modern Family
Salty or Sweet Snack: Salty, Movie theater popcorn
Favorite Sports Team (s): I am loving watching the PWHL-MN, there is so much energy at the games. My kids play hockey, and it has just been so awesome to see my daughters get to watch these amazing women playing at the Xcel Center.
Favorite Kitchen Feature: The rev-a-shelf cabinet insert for mixers. I love to bake with my kids.
Favorite Bathroom Feature: Steam showers. Who doesn’t want to be steamy when its -30 here?
Favorite Project You Worked On & Why: I worked on a project with a father and daughter, doing selections for the father’s home. By the end of the day, they felt like family. We were hugging and talking about how much we connected.
Item You Would Love Most In Your House: A dog wash for my dogs. My golden doodle is messy!
Mike Leahy
Job at WBD: Job Supervisor, Doer of all!
Years at WBD: Two years and counting
Favorite Thing About Working with WBD: Being part of the process, start to finish
Favorite Color: Green
Favorite Food: Baked chicken w / mashed potatoes & greens
Favorite Beverage: Depends on the time of year
Favorite Vacation Spot: St. Pete’s Beach
If You Won a Million Dollars, What Would You Do With It: Disappear
Favorite Movie or TV Show: Every Which Way But Lose
Salty or Sweet Snack: Sweet, Chocolate.
Favorite Sports Team (s): Vikings, when they win the Super Bowl
Favorite Kitchen Feature: Under cabinet LED lighting and double ovens
Favorite Bathroom Feature: Steam shower
Favorite Project You Worked On & Why: I like all the projects, hearing the ideas that people have and how we bring them to light.
Item You Would Love Most In Your House: My wife would love a soaking tub
A Labor of Love – White Birch Design, a Lakeville, MN Home Remodeling Team
Thanks for coming along on our fun little foray inspired by February! We hope one thing is abundantly clear: the love for what we do runs deep. From the joy of bringing a design to life to working side by side with our clients, we truly put our heart and soul into every aspect of the remodeling process. If you are thinking about remodeling an area of your home, we’d love to hear from you to learn more about your ideas and inspiration. Let’s explore how we can help you #lovewhereyoulive!
