Category: Transformation

By Shayna Mace | Photography by Shanna Wolf

Like many young couples, Sarah and Chris Klein moved a few times early in their marriage as they entered different life stages. Their first “teeny” home in Maple Bluff was great — but felt too small when they started having kids. They rented for a year while they figured out their next move (literally). After searching several neighborhoods around the city, they landed on University Hill Farms, an area they had become familiar with through friends and coworkers.

The couple had a few non-negotiables that they wanted in their new abode, such as walking distance to an elementary school for their two sons, Rhys and James, a yard and a two-car garage. When they happened upon a stately Colonial-style home in 2010 that checked all of the boxes, they quickly snapped it up.

While the home had all of their must-haves, plus plenty of space for the family of four with four bedrooms and two and a half baths, the home’s front entryway and kitchen left much to be desired. For starters, the front door opened up next to the staircase between the first and second floors, resulting in an extremely tight front entrance. And the side entrance from the garage into the kitchen was much the same — it entered into the middle of the kitchen, where Rhys and James would throw their snowy or muddy shoes and coats on the floor. It was exasperating, says Sarah.

After several years of living there, the couple started brainstorming how to fix the home’s pain points. Looking at other homes in the neighborhood for inspiration, they landed on the idea of using the “massive” and unused front porch for expansion, rather than an addition. To verify this was even possible, the couple met with Denise Clearwood of Pine Clearwood Architects, who coincidentally, had redone an identical Colonial home in their neighborhood. Clearwood put forth a few options for the couple to consider, such as having the garage door enter into their screened porch (that’s on the back of the house), which the couple vetoed. The couple also wanted to remove a wall that separated the kitchen from the dining room, to open up their main living space dramatically.

All in all, the changes were incremental — yet delivered eye- opening results.

Pulling it Together

The biggest improvement — walling in 90 square feet of their 180-square-foot front porch — was a game-changer for the family. Now, guests walk into a roomy entryway and to the right is the brand-new mudroom (the mudroom also has an entry from the garage). Throughout the mudroom are cabinetry and built-in shelves to corral the family’s bags, outdoor items and shoes. A built-in bench under a new window invites guests to sit while taking off muddy or snowy coats and boots. A sink in the corner is used for washing hands after entering the home, or, during parties to keep wine chilled in the ice- filled reservoir. A tea and coffee station in the corner moves traffic out of the kitchen and into the cozy space to savor a sip in the morning. The mudroom also connects to the kitchen — so now the family can walk around the entire first floor instead of dead-ending in the kitchen. The entire space blends in so seamlessly that it’s hard to imagine it wasn’t there in the first place.

But even this small addition had its challenges, say the Kleins. When planning it out, their contractor, Kirk Klumpers of BASK Construction, wasn’t sure it was possible, due to the new addition needing support — and a new support beam would impede on the entryway staircase change. Luckily, they figured it out.

“Our contractor took us aside and he said, ‘we have to figure out a way to make this happen. Because if we don’t, you’re going to regret it.’ The flow of this space now is the greatest thing that’s ever happened to us in this house. Being able to walk all the way through [the house] is great,” says Chris.

Another necessary evil was adding in support footers in the home’s basement to accommodate the renovations, including removing the wall between the kitchen and dining room. Now (as seen on P. 56), the kitchen is flooded with light from the dining room and the screened-in porch.

The kitchen renovation also solved the issue of the family entering in a side door from the garage directly into the kitchen. The door was closed off, and the kitchen was completely reconfigured. Now, appliances flank either wall in the kitchen, and the kitchen’s open floorplan on both sides allows for lively conversation and beautiful views of the front and back yard — something it lacked before. A 3 1⁄2-by-8 foot honed quartz Caesarstone island was also installed to separate the kitchen from the dining room and provide additional seating and hangout space. The island has tons of drawers for storage, which adds even more functionality to the kitchen. The couple’s incredible attention to detail shows throughout each carefully thought-out space. The kitchen island has furniture “legs” to make it appear as a piece of furniture — rather than a built-in element, says Chris. The air switch for the garbage disposal (which is typically next to a kitchen sink faucet) is hidden under the shelving above the sink and is controlled with a wireless push button. The couple opted for open shelving on both walls in the kitchen to add an air of modernity — and show off Sarah’s cookbooks.

Although living through the eight-month renovation wasn’t fun for the family, the couple admit that the joy and functionality their renovated main floor brings them was definitely worth it.

“The foyer is one of my favorite things — just having it really changed our house. The light [we have now], the openness, the airiness. The back of our house always felt light and airy, but the front never did [before] — it felt dark and not very welcoming. And I love the mudroom. Now, it all ties together,” says Sarah.

What to Consider When Doing a Renovation

Sarah and Chris Klein share tips for what worked for them.

Clearly identify what isn’t working

It’s why you’re doing a renovation, right? “Be smart about it and think through things on the front end,” says Chris.
Do you need more storage, more space, better flow? It’s easier to pinpoint exactly what you want at the beginning and be thoughtful, versus changing things down the road.

Think outside the box

The couple hadn’t thought of enclosing part of their porch, but it was beneficial to them to utilize that part of their home for the renovation, since it was already built upon the home’s foundation (therefore, saving some money).

Do your research

Sarah and Chris are detail-oriented, so they researched every aspect of their renovation, from light switches to paint colors. Matching their Vermont green slate tiled entryway was an exhaustive effort for Sarah, until she found a company out East that had the tiles. But if she hadn’t been persistent, they would have had two different flooring types in their foyer.

Ask if there’s a custom solution

In the mudroom, Sarah specifically wanted a tall cabinet that housed just their Dyson vaccum. Chris had a custom panel cover crafted for their dishwasher. They also added extra bracing within
their kitchen island to hide the unsightly bracket that typically goes underneath. It’s all about the details.

Lighting is tricky

The couple both agree it’s worth bringing in a lighting expert or interior designer to help with lighting. “Our contractor was asking about how we wanted things wired,” says Chris. “We didn’t know!” So they consulted with an interior designer friend, who walked through their spaces to help them figure out the lighting. Another takeaway? “Put everything on dimmers,” Chris says.

This article was originally published in BRAVA Magazine‘s January/February 2022 issue. BRAVA Magazine and Lakeshore Living are both published by Nei-Turner Media Group.

By Shayna Mace | Photography by Shanna Wolf

When Joy and Stuart Geenen moved into their home on Madison’s west side 20 years ago, they were thrilled to be in their desired neighborhood, and they loved the home. It had enough room for their son, Clay; daughter, Sophia; and dog, Yadi.

However, the Geenens had to contend with an eyesore from the outset: a four-sided fireplace that partially separated the kitchen and family room. Visually, it wasn’t attractive, and worse, it took up quite a bit of space in the kitchen that could’ve been used to expand its footprint.

The kitchen’s flow also didn’t work because it centered around a small island, “and you couldn’t really cook or work because everything was too close together,” says Joy. “It was just a very bad layout.”

Joy explains, “[We knew] we loved this house, but that fireplace had to go!”

The couple met with various interior designers over the years to reimagine their kitchen and family room, but none of the proposed plans quite hit the mark for the family.

“It took us 20 years to figure out what to do with the fireplace, because we kept hitting roadblocks of replacing the ceiling if it came out, or redoing the floor or redesigning the kitchen. We didn’t know where to go next.”

Finally in the fall of 2019, Joy and Stuart met with designer and general contractor Deb Corning and interior designer Alana Barerra of DC Interiors & Renovations to revamp their main floor once and for all. This time, the couple loved the plans put forth by Corning and Barrera, which involved taking out the fireplace (of course) and reconfiguring the kitchen’s layout. But what really sold the Geenens was the addition of a scullery that serves as an expanded pantry and work area — something they never dreamed of adding in their kitchen.

The three-month process was intense, and the couple was without a working kitchen during that time. First, a crew removed the fireplace. From there, all of the carpeting on the main floor was ripped out, and replaced with wood flooring. Then, all of the wood flooring was stained to match, uniting the kitchen, family room and dining room.

Corning’s plans called for walling off part of the kitchen to devote square footage to the new scullery area — which was possible because the family gained square footage in the kitchen with the removal of the fireplace. (Win-win.)

The couple opted for Shaker-style cabinetry that reaches the ceiling by the Kitchen Ideas Center, beautiful quartz countertops throughout from The Granite Shop of Madison, Mercury glass-like globe pendant lights from Madison Lighting and teal and black midcentury modern stools from Rubin’s that surround the kitchen island.

The rest of the main floor was redecorated to match the kitchen’s new contemporary look. The kitchen and family room were painted a soft white shade (as opposed to a cool white) to play off of the warmth of the oak trim that’s still throughout the house. New furnishings and artwork were purchased for the family and dining rooms to echo the white, teal, gray and blue color scheme. It all ties together perfectly and embodies the family’s classic taste, with a contemporary twist.

“We’ve lived in the space a while now, and there really isn’t anything we’d change. We just love walking into the space every day,” says Joy. “It just feels good to have a nice, fresh space.”

More About This Home

The original kitchen island was tiny and cramped the flow of the space. The new, larger island is a lot more functional.

The dishwasher, microwave and another sink are all tucked away in the scullery behind the wine fridge. It serves as an ideal spot for meal clean up and storage, plus, the navy cabinetry adds a pop of the unexpected.

Before, the Geenen’s main floor had a darker color scheme and a fireplace that separated the kitchen and family room. Now, it’s light and bright and the rooms seamlessly flow together.

With newly painted walls and stained floors, plus a new throw rug and artwork, the Geenen’s dining room looks totally different from its dated past. Chairs from Rubin’s, a pendant light from Madison Lighting and artwork from Décor (Corning’s home accessories shop), was also peppered in.

By Shelby Rowe Moyer | Photography by Shanna Wolf

Looking at it now, it’s hard to imagine John Johnston’s Lake Geneva condo before the renovation, when it had popcorn ceilings, mirrored walls and a closed-off configuration.

When he bought the condominium in 2018, he knew it was going to be a fixer-upper. The small unit has two bedrooms and two bathrooms, and, because it’s a condo, there was only so much rearranging that could be done — due to plumbing constraints and load-bearing walls. Still, the kitchen, dining and living rooms had a lot of potential for a major upgrade to make the whole area feel more open.

Johnston worked with the late Frank Guido (a well-known builder who, unfortunately, passed in 2020) on the construction, interior designer Ann Kottler, and senior designer Natalie Spiniolas of Geneva Cabinet Company to give the condo a coastal contemporary look. At the top of the to-do list was scraping off the popcorn ceilings, removing the brick wall in the living room and gutting the kitchen so that it was open to the rest of the space.

Kottler says Johnston wanted the overall theme to be nautical and fresh, and he was willing to make bold choices. In fact, much of the design was selected around the navy hue of the cabinets, which were custom-built by Geneva Cabinet Company. Kottler says taking a chance with a colorful kitchen can feel really refreshing. Navy is a popular color choice in Lake Geneva homes because of its lake aesthetic, but it still feels clean and refined, Kottler says.

“For me, in terms of pushing the envelope, I do think it’s worth taking a chance on bold choices suggested by the design professional team that you hire,” Kottler says. “But I also think people should learn to trust their instincts. Here is A and B. Which one feels better? It’s about the space that you create to enjoy the place and make memories with your friends and family. When your space is well-designed, it feels good to be there.”

From a functional standpoint, the open concept makes it easier to entertain. The banquette-style dining area in the corner was a smart choice as it works in the small space, and it also allows more people to gather around.

“I really like the banquette,” Johnston says. “In that small space, we have several congregating areas with the stools, the banquette and the TV area.”

In the living area, the brick fireplace surround was removed and a charcoal gray slate tile from Bella Tile & Stone was swapped in, and built-in shelving with storage was added on either side. Shiplap was affixed to the ceiling for texture and can lights were installed. The can lights disappear into the ceiling so the view of the lake is unobstructed — always a must for a lakefront property.

Johnston, who lives full-time in Illinois, comes regularly on the weekends, especially during the summer, and he loves how the entire project came together.

“What you see spells it out,” he says. “It’s an undertaking doing [a renovation]. There were quite a few trips to Lake Geneva to get it right. … It turned out really well. I’m very pleased. It just fits.”

More About This Home

The shiplap ceiling adds texture to the room and also lends itself well to the nautical aesthetic. To bring more light into the area, can lighting was installed throughout the kitchen, dining and living room. It brightens the space without obstructing views of the lake.

Custom built-ins with shelving make the fireplace feel more intentional and add much-needed storage. The fireplace tile is charcoal gray slate from Bella Tile & Stone, and the prefinished hardwood flooring is Denali-colored hickory from Casabella’s American Relics Collection.

The custom banquette works beautifully in the small space by seating more people than a traditional table. The fabric was sourced from Ralph Lauren, hearkening back to John Johnston’s former career working with racehorses. Everything was designed around the Plato custom cabinetry in Moody Blue, says Natalie Spiniolas.

Before, the kitchen was closed off, making the whole room feel small and tight.

By Shelby Rowe Moyer | Photos Courtesy Silver Leaf Interiors

Tanya Quint said that when she and her husband, Ryan, built their Waunakee house in 2010, it was enough to swear them off big projects for a while. The Quints decided to leave the basement as a blank space, which they mostly used for storage, until 2019 when Tanya decided it was time to transform it into usable square footage for the family of four.

The Quints worked with Laura Groenier of Silver Leaf Interiors — who originally helped them design their home — to turn their lower level into a place where their friends and family could hang out.

With a loose concept in mind, Tanya and Ryan agreed that they didn’t want the space to feel too refined or feminine, so they opted for a modern, industrial aesthetic with a mix of wood, stone and steel materials. Groenier came up with a design that created a natural flow from one space to the next, yet also incorporated elements from their main floor.

“Lower levels are often open to the first floor, and it’s important to have these spaces connect seamlessly. You don’t want a shockingly different experience,” says Groenier, who helped the couple narrow down the creamy wall color, flooring and trim.

One of the main challenges when renovating the basement was the layout. Groenier says it was a wide-open space with a structural pillar in the middle of the room that housed part of the HVAC system.

In order to create visual interest and make it feel less like a basement, Groenier and Tanya decided to curate a few distinct spaces where people could hang out at the bar, around the fireplace, TV area or at a game table. When people are down there, it allows everyone to spread out into their own area, while still being together.

To solve the issue of the pillar, Groenier decided to build the fireplace out from one end and connect the bar to the other — and now it’s a standout design element, instead of an obstacle.

“I fell in love with the fireplace,” Tanya says. “I told Laura, I’ve seen these, and I wanted a three- sided glass fireplace. It’s simple and clean, but we both knew it would pull the room together.”

The bar is another showstopper. The design called for a live-edge counter top, and Tanya found and refinished a slab of black walnut for the bar top. The wood is balanced out with industrial pendant lighting and a steel façade on the lower part of the bar, which was distressed by Custom Metals to give it a rough, artistic edge.

The end result of the space is more than they imagined it would be, Tanya says. Aside from the main entertaining area and wet bar, tucked away behind ribbed glass barn doors is a workout room. The renovation wrapped up before the pandemic started, and she said they were grateful to have this additional retreat space, especially because the whole family was home a lot.

“Everything down there looks like art, but it’s useable, and that’s exactly the goal,” Tanya says.

When renovating a basement, Groenier’s advice is to use any support beams as a starting point to create flow within the room. Tanya echoes this, saying to ask yourself, “How can you hide the ugly?”

It could ultimately work to your advantage.