By Shelby Deering | Photography by Shanna Wolf

3,500 SQUARE FEET / 4 BEDROOMS / 4 BATHS

On any given day, Lisa Baumann’s lake home is filled with the sounds of laughing children, happy dogs and friendly gatherings. But then just as easily, the home can turn into a tranquil place where you can hear a pin drop, something that suits her perfectly when she makes solo visits to the lake during the week.

When she’s not working as a designer at her primary home in Monroe, Baumann (and her lively family) soak up the lakeside vibes in the 3,500-square-foot modern farmhouse masterpiece on Lake Waubesa in McFarland.

AN AIRY TRANSFORMATION

Baumann hadn’t previously owned a lake home, but when her friends purchased a place on Lake Kegonsa, her wheels began to turn.

They continued to turn for a couple years until she found herself drawn to one particular abode.

Built in 2004, the original interiors featured predominantly dark colors and maple woodwork, which didn’t resonate with Baumann. But she couldn’t get enough of the locale.

“I love the location,” she says. “It’s easy to get to from Monroe. And I like the proximity to Madison.”

With an image in her mind of fun-filled weekends spent with her partner, Curtis, and his children (who bring eight grandchildren in tow), the home was purchased, and renovations began.

Working with a team that included Dana Langreck, a certified kitchen designer at Bella Domicile, they set out to lighten and brighten the interior and exterior of the home, a process that would take nearly a year to complete.

BRAND-NEW LOOK

Langreck explains that Baumann had several goals when beginning the project. She shares, “Lisa wanted to upgrade the materials in the home to a more neutral palette to complement her well-curated furniture and art. She also wanted to modify the living room space for better furniture arrangement options and connection to the kitchen while maximizing views of the lake.”

Baumann envisioned a home that felt clean, fresh and spacious. This was achieved by gutting the entire first floor, replacing nearly every material in the home, swapping the oak trim for white and installing new flooring throughout.

Since she has a skilled eye for design, Baumann was able to make her vision a reality alongside her team. Frequently referring to images gathered on Pinterest, she also called upon her background and experiences when picturing the home.

Langreck says, “Traveling regularly to California and being a designer herself, Lisa has many resources for inspiration.”

DREAMY DÉCOR

Baumann describes the style of the home as “modern farmhouse,” but there’s something about the décor that skews closer to rustic-meets-contemporary rather than farmhouse standards.

“I wanted to keep it balanced between industrial and farmhouse,” she says. “I didn’t want it to get too sweet.”

In this lake home, the decorative objects are beautiful, and yet, they don’t overwhelm the space. Curved silhouettes rest comfortably alongside polished, linear light fixtures, while quiet floral artwork, soft pillows and a mix of real and faux plants punctuate the interior.

The neutral hues allow the decorative elements to shine, but there was another reason for the subtle palette.

“I didn’t want a lot of color and detail in the interior taking away from the lake view,” Baumann says.

This home is certainly big on style, but many of the decorative pieces carry small price tags. Baumann purchased several of the items online and frequented local design destinations as well. She counts HomeGoods as a favorite, visiting the store a few times a week as she gathered décor.

She also enjoys Brown & Beam in Madison for items that achieve “an industrial look that’s not too formal-looking.” Online, Baumann often headed to Wayfair to track down several chic furniture pieces displayed in the home.

Swathed in whisper-soft colors and lovingly-chosen décor objects, one can’t help but feel at peace in this lake home, even when it’s bustling with friends and family.

“There’s just a different kind of speed here,” Baumann says. “There’s a calming and peaceful nature here. Sitting and watching the world go by—the birds, the fish, the boats—is really wonderful.”

This home was featured in the Madison: Fall 2019 issue. For more photos of featured Madison homes, visit the Madison Gallery page.