Beautiful Renovations
Beautiful renovations are at the heart of two local businesses that recently opened their doors to customers. Both businesses were transformed through gifts of love – husbands sacrificing their time and talents to make dreams become reality for their wives.
In early February, Hometown Florals in Lake Park moved across the street into a new storefront. Nove’ Collective Salon & Suites opened its doors in downtown Spirit Lake for the first time in late January. Both of these successful business women are excited for the opportunities ahead and thankful for the beautiful spaces to showcase their talents.
Hometown Florals in Lake Park
Gorgeous floral displays welcome customers who visit Hometown Florals. Houseplants and gifts for birthday or sympathy are interspersed amongst the arrangements. April Junge of Hometown Florals has been offering floral services in Lake Park for the last five years and is excited for her new location.
A few months ago, the 1800’s building had sat empty for at least five years. A staple of downtown Lake Park, it once hosted a town favorite in Elsie’s Café. Next door neighbor Mel Zevenbergen of Mel’s Insurance purchased the building and provided April with an opportunity to host her floral shop with the potential to own. April’s husband Heath of H. Junge Construction oversaw the work and tore the building down to studs.
“We redid everything. It was a total gut,” April said. “I was so thankful for my husband’s time and talents and I knew it would be done correctly, because I know how he holds himself to high standards.”
Located on the west side of Market Street, April loves how the sunlight pours into the building and how it’s more handicap accessible. The new front door is protected from the wind and the new Gerkin Windows came from Consumers Lumber Company, as well as many of the supplies.
“As we renovated, we kept the colors more cool grays and blacks, allowing me to better highlight the floral displays and plants throughout the shop,” April said.
Sibley Sheet Metal installed the new furnace and Winter’s Woodworking out of Ocheyedan created a beautiful live-edge Maple countertop for the register.
“Steve told me that it was one of his top five pieces of wood he’s worked with from this area,” she shared.
Heath also designed a built-in cooler for April to hold her flowers in the back, and the basement has been renovated and dedicated towards storage space.
“I’m so thankful for the new shop and how Heath and I could partner together to create a beautiful space my customers will love,” April added. “We are also very grateful for the Zevenbergen family and everything they did to help with the process.”
Hometown Florals is located at 125 N Market Street and April can be reached at (712) 432-8126, on social media or at hometownflorals.com. She offers a full-service floral shop that includes fresh flowers, home decor, silks, weddings, sympathy and so much more and delivers throughout the Iowa Great Lakes area. Walk-in hours are Monday-Friday 1-5 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m.-5 pm. She can be reached during non-hours by leaving a message.
Nove’ Collective Salon and Suites
Stacy Howard can’t believe her dream has finally become reality. Nove’ Collective Salon and Suites recently opened in downtown Spirit Lake in what was last known as Sackett’s Law Firm or had previously been Mayer’s Photography Studio. The 1892 building has been a fixture of the community for close to 134 years and is a beautiful space for Stacy’s vision.
“This has been a dream of mine for quite some time and we’ve actually been looking for the right space for close to ten years,” Stacy shared. “Over the years, we even looked at some business concepts down in Des Moines. I just followed the Lord’s timing and he led us to this beautiful building in downtown Spirit Lake in 2025 - now was the right timing in our lives.”
Stacy is very thankful for her husband Cassidy Howard of Howard Construction for his knowledge and time he has put into the building’s renovation.
“Cassidy spent many late nights working on the renovation. He has such great ideas, and with his knowledge, I couldn’t have done it without him,” she shared.
The Howards purchased the 1704 Hill Avenue building on October 15 and quickly began demolition, something their five children especially enjoyed helping with. They removed paneling, opened up walls and eliminated office spaces. The south wall is exposed original brick, which Stacy said, “if the walls could talk, the stories we’d hear!”
The stamped ceiling is also original with the 1800’s building, while Cassidy used karndean flooring from Okoboji Flooring and Furniture to transform the floor. Dulin Contracting oversaw the plumbing, while Mills Electric handled the electric changes. New light fixtures were added to the ceiling.
The roof was in need of repair, as well as several exterior walls. “There were some rough patches where places had rotted away. We replaced some of the brick areas and Veteran’s Roofing put in a new roof,” Cassidy said. “The building had good bones overall despite its age.”
Howard Construction also gutted the basement, which allows for additional storage space and a potential office for Stacy. There was a closet added upstairs to house the washer and dryer and provide more storage. A-1 Woodworking built the cabinets and Consumers Lumber Company provided countless construction supplies for the project.
“The project was a lot of fun, especially knowing this would be something Stacy would really love and something she has dreamt about for quite some time,” Cassidy shared.
Katie Sires of Katie Sires Home & Design provided direction on the project and helped Stacy with colors. Stacy is also very appreciative of her dear friends who came and offered sweat help to help get the space cleaned up after construction. Bonfire Marketing helped with Nove’ Collective’s branding as well as the website, and Amy’s Sign Design created outside signage.
From the beginning, Stacy envisioned a space that was open and welcoming. Whether it was a renter or a guest, she wants them to feel invited and wanted. “I want us to be filled with positivity and be at the forefront of the industry,” she said. “But also want personalities that mesh and fun to be around.”
Right now, Stacy has three girls committed as stylists downstairs in the open concept and two enclosed spaces are filled upstairs, including Mani By Madi and Northwest Iowa Dermatology.
“We have a few more spaces available and trusting for the right ones to come,” Stacy added.
For appointments, contact Stacy at 712-330-2904 or novecollective@gmail.com