Local resident Sherie (Pouliot) Kolbinger recently took up the hobby of refinishing furniture.  She loves looking for neglected and forgotten furniture.  Last summer, she wanted to redecorate her house and also wanted different storage in her bathroom. 

 

Sherie explained: “I found a piece that would be perfect. Then I started researching how to re-do it. I got a little distracted, and that piece is still not done!” While Sherie hasn’t finished that project or any for herself, she has re-finished many pieces for her family and friends. Sherie has refurbished night stands, dressers, desks, hutches, vintage chairs, benches, sewing machines and more. She does a variety of custom paint jobs on the items she refinishes and is up to date on current trends. Pinterest and Etsy have nothing on Sherie!

 

Sherie works at Monticello Dental Center in the business office and is now only working two days per week, looking towards retirement in November after working there since 1978!

 

Sherie enjoys working on her projects. She can often be found in her workshop with her circular saw, drill, putty and wood filler. She told me when her kids first saw her working with power tools, it scared them!

 

Sherie particularly enjoys coming up with an idea and seeing the finished product after her work is done. She has always loved decorating. 

 

Sherie has always been a mover and shaker and has always enjoyed organizing projects behind the scenes. Sherie lived with her parents Red and Bea Pouliot in Minneapolis until their family moved to Becker when Sherie was 15.  She would often organize parades and shows for the neighborhood kids and entertain their neighbors near South Lake Calhoun. 

 

Sherie married Harold Kolbinger in 2009. Their two children, Brian and Jeni, both live near Sherie. Harold and Sherie built a beautiful house (Haus Construction) on the family farm property in 2007. Sadly, Harold passed away of cancer in 2009.

 

My brother has rented property from Harold’s brother Eugene for many years and buys straw from Harold’s brother Ronnie. We have always considered the Kolbingers friends and great people. My sister Karen was a classmate of Sherie’s and Harold was Karen’s husbands' (Larry Sakry) classmate. 

 

Harold was the Erickson mailman for many years (co-worker and close friend to my brother Stephen at the post office). My brother Stephen reminisced about his friendship with Harold: “I  miss Harold's great sense of humor, upbeat attitude and ability to get along with everyone (even difficult people). If you had a problem with Harold - YOU had a problem!"

 

Harold was also a good friend to my brother Russell. We all miss Harold's unmistakable infectious smile, piercing blue eyes and sweet spirit. And his station wagon delivering the mail on the county line road for 29 years. 

 

Sherie lives near Harold’s siblings and their families. “I feel very blessed by them. Harold’s siblings, Eugene, Ronnie and Teresa, live near one another on Kolbinger Hill north of Becker. Harold’s sister Teresa spent her entire adult life in Woodbury teaching and came home to Becker to live when she retired. I don’t know what I would do without Harold’s siblings and their families. They are always there for me and I consider them my family.” 

 

Sherie keeps herself busy. Besides her new hobby of refinishing furniture, she also enjoys cooking and spending time at the lake with family. 

 

If you’d like to see some of the pieces Sherie has completed, search Sweet Finds on 92nd. Her creativity is inspiring! I plan to visit the Junk Bonanza at Canterbury Park in Shakopee next weekend and check out some clever ways tired furniture has been transformed into beautiful, re-purposed pieces.