Category: Lake Geneva

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Featured Homes Lake Geneva

Modern Meets Cozy Farmhouse

When it came time for homeowners Tonya and Ryan (who asked that their last name not be used) to build a full-time residence on Geneva Lake, Tonya knew she wanted the home’s aesthetic to embody a warm, farmhouse feel — she grew up on a farm in Nebraska, after all. Ryan’s aesthetic, on the other hand, leans more toward a modern design style.

The couple, who bought the property in fall of 2016, managed to meet in the middle when it came time to design their new residence with the help of developer John Matustik of Matustik Builders and interior designer Brady Mathews of Sojourn Design House.

A longtime builder and developer of lakefront homes, Matustik helped the couple map out how they would want the home to function over the years. He knew the home had to be adaptable. It needed to accommodate the daily life of the couple and their two young daughters and comfortably host large gatherings of friends and family.

“It starts with lifestyle,” Matustik says. “How are they going to live in the house as the family grows and things change? How are they going to utilize the house 10 years later? [And it’s] imperative that the house feels intimate when it’s just you and your spouse.

But when you have 30 to 40 people there, you also don’t want it to feel cramped.”

The design of the 7,637-square-foot home deftly accomplishes that goal and it certainly delivers on wow factor. From the moment guests step through the front doors, it’s hard not to be in awe. The rustic wood accents (all of which are sourced from barns across Wisconsin) have a grounding affect on the main floor. But other elements — like the glass wine display in the dining room, the leather-backed bar chairs around the kitchen island and the moody blue wallpaper in the main floor bathroom — offer modern touches that feel elegant and masculine. And despite its size, the three-story home does feel intimate, while maintaining the ability to sleep 22 people.

When the project kicked off, the couple didn’t have an interior designer. But after having a few conversations about the build with Mathews, a family friend, they decided to bring the Austin,

Texas-based interior designer into the fold. He came in with a vision for how each room could have its own wow-factor moment.

The kitchen, for example, has a grand stone range wall with a custom steel hood vent. Originally, the refrigerator was going to sit against that wall, but the new layout was Mathews’ idea and design, and it’s one of Tonya’s favorite features.

“I love having that open shelving and having everything within reach. But it’s also open. If someone is sitting at the table in the family room, we’re still able to converse with them,” she says.

Another showstopper is the four-season room just off the kitchen. Matustik, Mathews and the couple say it’s one of the most incredible parts of the home. The room opens up almost completely to the outdoors, thanks to the two exterior folding glass doors that open seamlessly to the outdoor pool and sunken fire pit.

“This room was a must-have,” says Ryan. “We wanted it to feel like an outdoor room that we could close off and use in the winter.”

The upstairs is the family’s respite, with three bedrooms and a bunk room for guests that comfortably sleeps about 10 people. The lower level is all about entertainment for the entire family. Ryan has a dedicated space for his golf simulator. And the girls have a small stage with a changing room off to the side.

“When we started planning this house, the girls were four and two [years old] at the time,” Tanya says. “In our previous house, they’d built this little stage and they were constantly on that. That’s one of the things we wanted to incorporate here. It’s crazy how much they use it.”

And to keep everyone active and occupied during the colder months, a gym area and sport court were set up in the garage. The family can play a little basketball or volleyball, and Tonya and Ryan have a home gym. Of course, the in-ground pool and lake provide a bevy of entertainment options in the summer. Having spent summers in Lake Geneva prior to making it their home full-time, the family knew what to expect during the warmest months. Come winter, the entire landscape transforms, and it’s opened their eyes to a whole new range of beautiful scenery and outdoor fun.

“We knew we’d love summer here,” Ryan says. “The winter months are a very different scene, but very enjoyable as well. When the ice [forms] on the lake, there are some winter activities we didn’t partake in before.”

“We’re loving it,” Tonya adds. “We absolutely love it up here.”

By Shelby Rowe Moyer | Photography by Shanna Wolf

MORE ABOUT THIS HOME

7,637 SQUARE FEET | 5 BEDROOMS | 6 1⁄2 BATHROOMS

UPSCALE AND FUNCTIONAL
The elegant design doesn’t sacrifice functionality. The couches are intended for outdoor use, so wet swimsuits and errant spills are no match for the durable upholstery.

FAMILY FRIENDLY
The main living room is cozy and intimate, perfect for the family of four who live here full-time.

A POLISHED POWDER ROOM
Early in the design process, the homeowners knew they wanted one statement room with dark features. Depending on the light, the wallpaper looks black in this room, but it’s actually a midnight blue.

BALANCING ACT
The spacious kitchen is intended for large gatherings, so to maintain a cozy vibe for the family of four, a breakfast nook was added to the left of the island.

FARMHOUSE FEEL
The ceiling beams warm and ground the main floor living spaces. The wood was sourced from old barns across Wisconsin.

PRETTY & SOPHISTICATED
The ensuite bathroom in one of the girls’ rooms has its own whimsical design. When it came to styling the girls’ rooms, they each got to help pick the color palette.

COOL & COZY
The owner’s bedroom has a spacious ensuite and closet. The couple aimed to maximize the room’s square footage by using it where they knew they’d need it most.

ROOM TO GROW
The rooms of the two girls have a bit of a grown-up feel, which was an intentional decision. This way, the rooms won’t feel too young and outdated when the girls reach their teenage years.

MODERN MOOD
The owner’s bedroom has a muted, masculine vibe, but the design doesn’t lose connection with the rest of the home. The barn wood beams tie in with the main floor living area.

SMART KITCHEN
The scullery behind the main kitchen wasn’t part of the initial design plan, but the extra storage and work space has proven invaluable.

DROP IT LOW
The sunken exterior fireplace ended up being one of the most brilliant features of the home. Its low profile buffers the area on windy days (enabling the family to use it nearly year-round) but also maintains a clear sight line out to the lake.

PUP FRIENDLY
Even though much of the home’s furniture was chosen to withstand plentiful guests and playful children, the durable and easy-to-clean upholstery is also great for the family’s two dogs, Trecker and Stella.

GRILL MASTER
Tucked just out of view is the grill area, which can be accessed through the back of the kitchen.

This home was featured in the Lake Geneva: Summer 2022 issue. For more photos of featured Lake Geneva homes, visit the Lake Geneva Gallery page.

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Featured Homes Lake Geneva

View This Tudor Home Makeover on the Water

For nearly a decade, an Illinois-based couple were on the hunt for a lake home. While their primary residence is in a northern Chicago suburb, they were interested in finding — or perhaps building — a year-round vacation home somewhere in the greater Lake Geneva area. Both had childhood ties to the locale and were hoping to establish a special space they could enjoy with their four children and growing number of grandchildren.

The homeowners had a specific feel in mind: A place that evoked the cozy warmth of cottage life, with colors and patterns inspired by nature. The house the couple eventually found was a sprawling, English Tudor- style home that was dark and rather somber. The century-old structure also had a fractured layout, thanks to numerous additions over the years. But with 125 feet of shoreline and pristine views of Delavan Lake, the couple knew they’d found their dream home.

The couple purchased the home in August 2017, eventually tapping Lake Geneva Architects and Elkhorn’s Stebnitz Builders to help them reconfigure the five-bedroom, four-and-a-half-bath structure into one that fit their lifestyle. Another goal was to better integrate the home’s various additions.

“The house lacked continuity in its architecture,” says Jeff Auberger, design and remodeling consultant at Stebnitz Builders. “It was also very segregated.”

One of the main problem areas was the kitchen. Small and rectangular, it shared a wall with a small bedroom that blocked the lake views. Two small half-baths — one opening into the bedroom, the other into the kitchen — also took up more valuable space.

Stebnitz Builders removed the bedroom and half- baths, which enlarged the kitchen twofold. The additional space allowed the couple to create a dining area and install a spacious, 10 1⁄2-foot island. The island is crafted out of alder cabinetry and has a sink and built-in microwave oven.

Best of all, the couple added a picture window to the former bedroom’s exterior wall. Flanked by two doors with divided light grills, all of this glass allows gorgeous lake views and plenty of light to spill into the once-dark kitchen. The kitchen also receives a boost of sunlight from the adjacent family room, which now flows into the kitchen.

To help tie the rooms together, and to remain true to the Tudor style, Auberger recommended introducing exposed beams with clipped corners into the kitchen, with a mini version used as the new fireplace mantle.

“I really pushed to have a beam added to the large opening separating the kitchen from the great room, and to bring in a smaller version on the mantle,” he says. “They really make the home seem more architecturally consistent.”

To further meld the two rooms’ look, the tilework on the kitchen walls and fireplace surround feature blue-and-white Monet-inspired patterns, while the fireplace hearth and kitchen flooring both sport herringbone-patterned clay tile. “That tile is indestructible — and great for kids with wet feet,” says the homeowner.

Another notable accomplishment during the eight-month renovation is the home’s reimagined solarium, which is accessible via both the lakeyard and family room. The original structure was white and featured an opaque, acrylic ceiling. The new solarium was designed by Minneapolis-based Conservatory Craftsman, and was assembled on-site over the same footprint. The space boasts attractive, diamond- paned transom windows and a glass ceiling that lets in the sunlight. It’s also a soothing, gray-green color.

Two rooms the couple barely touched are the living room and hearth room, which are both off the front entryway. The living room features the original floor-to-ceiling fireplace, crafted out of Wisconsin fieldstone, plus original exposed wooden ceiling beams. A blue-and- white patterned area rug and throw pillows evoke the sapphire lake outside, while echoing tilework in the family room and kitchen.

“We want this space to be the place where we gather to have a glass of wine and maybe play dominoes or cards,” the homeowner says.

The hearth room derives its name from the arched-brick fireplace that dominates one wall. It’s one of the home’s numerous additions and includes a Murphy bed. While the homeowners don’t use the room now, they anticipate using it as a fifth bedroom for their grandchildren, when needed.

The homeowners have a few minor projects still on their to-do list, namely fixing the walls and windows in the home’s sun porch. But they’ve already gotten a lot of enjoyment from their new escape, and give props to Stebnitz Builders for making the long-distance project less stressful.

“Stebnitz was exceptional,” the homeowner says. “They were great with problem-solving and the expertise of the crew was outstanding! [And] we are so very thankful to all of the previous owners that added their rich histor y to this home.”

Auberger says he’s proud of the finished product.

“We took a very chopped-up home and opened it up, and made the space feel very natural and correct,” he says. “For me, when it comes to older homes, it’s about creating a space that feels historically correct, but lives like a modern home.”

By Melanie Radzicki McManus | Photography by Chris Kayser, Kayser Photography

MORE ABOUT THIS HOME

4,400 SQUARE FEET / 5 BEDROOMS / 41⁄2 BATHS

The home’s wet bar resides in the new, glorified mudroom that lies off the family room. While the homeowner describes the room as a catch-all space, the distressed maple bar provides an attractive accent. Two reclaimed wood shelves from Elkhorn’s Heritage Beam and Board float on a brick wall, while a small sink sits off to the right. “We wanted this space to be kind of quirky and fun, like the rest of the house, so we put the sink in an unexpected place in the corner with the faucet on the wall,” the homeowner says.

The kitchen’s eating area was once a small bedroom that concealed the gorgeous lake views. Tearing down the walls considerably brightened the kitchen, plus allows the lake vistas to spill into the room.

The homeowners greatly enlarged the home’s narrow, rectangular kitchen by eliminating an adjacent bedroom and two half-baths. An expansive knotty alder island is now part of the kitche which seamlessly flows into the adjacent family room.

The Viking range came with th home, although it used to resid in a different spot. Its striking range hood is an artful new addition. Created by Raw Urth Designs, a craft metal fabricato in Fort Collins, Colorado, it replaced a dated wooden one.

The home’s original solarium featured a heated floor and opaque ceiling, which blocked views of the sky. The homeowners kept the floor, but replaced the structure with a much larger, airier one featuring a glass ceiling and decorative transom windows. Bonus: To help keep the room warm when the temperatures fall, the family room’s direct-vent fireplace was constructed to send half of its heat into the solarium.

Windows in the home’s octagonal dining room needed to be restored — they were the originals — but didn’t need much additional work. The homeowners added new window coverings, opting for Roman shades with a trellis-type pattern in a nod to their original intention of creating a cottage feel in the home.

When the homeowners purchased the home, the kitchen sink was against a back wall. Post-remodel, it’s part of a 10 1⁄2-foot, knotty alder coffee bar, which includes a small fridge for the grandkids’ favorite beverages.

This patio is the spot where the homeowners gather to cook out and enjoy pleasant sunny days. The mudroom and wet bar are easily accessible.

The home’s primary bedroom features a patio door to a small balcony, plus wonderful lake views. “It’s so lovely to wake up and look at the water,” the homeowner says.

This hearth room was an addition created by a previous homeowner and now includes a Murphy bed. “It will end up being a kids’ room for the grandchildren someday,” the homeowner says, noting they have five young grandkids, two of whom recently arrived.

The home’s living room features original ceiling beams and an eye-catching fireplace crafted from Wisconsin fieldstone. The blue-patterned rug and throw pillows are reminiscent of the tile surrounding the family room fireplace, as well as the kitchen backsplash tile. They’re also meant to evoke thoughts of Delavan Lake, sparkling in the background.

This home was featured in the Lake Geneva: Summer 2022 issue. For more photos of featured Lake Geneva homes, visit the Lake Geneva Gallery page.

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Featured Homes Lake Geneva

A One-of-a-Kind Home on Geneva Lake

As a retired interior designer, a local homeowner built a career designing homes that reflected her client’s personalities and lifestyles. So when it was time to design her own home on Geneva Lake, she used the same process to create a home that aligned with her and her family’s lifestyle.

“When it came to my clients, the house had to look like them when it was complete,” explains the homeowner. “It was important for me to listen carefully to their wants and needs and understand how they live. The home needed to look like them and to feel like home. I used the same process for my own home, focusing on timeless design and avoiding trendy design and colors.”

The 9,000-square-foot lakeside home has five bedrooms, seven bathrooms and boasts an indoor pool, a green roof system, an atrium, a main pavilion and a lower level with outdoor access.

The homeowner and her husband sold their family home in Madison to move to Lake Geneva full-time, with the intent that the home would be a family home for her son and his family to enjoy for decades to come. Her son’s family lives in the Chicago area, so the homeowners moved to Lake Geneva to be in closer proximity to their son, daughter-in- law and grandchildren.

“Our son and his family come every weekend,” she says. “Our grandchildren are 12, 10 and 8, and they come all year round. We’re very adventurous; we enjoy exploring in the woods to see what we can find. We go ice skating and sledding in the winter, apple picking in the fall, and in the summer, it’s lake, lake and more lake.”

In the summer, from sunrise to sunset, the family can be found engaging in water activities and taking jaunts in the boat to Gordy’s for lunch.

When conceptualizing her home, the homeowner wanted her house to be different from the other homes on the lake. To complete the project and achieve her vision, she turned to Balsitis Contracting, Inc.

“[The homeowner] has a very creative eye,” says Joseph (Joey) Balsitis Jr., owner and chief executive officer, Balsitis Contracting, Inc. “She wanted to create something completely different than any other home on Geneva Lake, and have it be a generational home. It’s a contemporary home, whereas many houses on Geneva Lake have similar taste and design. In addition, the layout is very unique and multifunctional, and was designed as a home for entertaining.”

For the homeowner, the most important attribute of her home was the flow. “I wanted something very open and has good flow. We are right on the water, so I wanted people to come in and to see the lake,” says the homeowner. “The sight line of the water is through an atrium; once you leave the foyer, the rest of the house opens to the lake.”

Once you pass through the greenery of the atrium, you enter the home’s main pavilion. This space is home to the formal living and dining rooms and a casual dining room, among other rooms. Although the home is open concept, each room still feels distinct; separated through a series of partitions.

During her 30-year career as an interior designer, most of her projects were traditional-style homes, including the Wisconsin Executive Residence in Madison. For her own home, she wanted a modern home with clean lines — something completely different from what she’s done before. She gathered inspiration for her Lake Geneva home from the Lake Geneva Home and Garden Tour.

“The design inside is very minimal, which can actually be challenging,” explained Balsitis. “The contemporary design has very clean lines and looks very simple; however, it’s one of the more difficult home styles to build.”

During construction, Balsitis and the homeowner developed a mutual respect and appreciation for each other’s talents. “Joey explained everything in detail and how we would go through and execute it without changing the design’s integrity,” shares the homeowner.

“His methodology is perfection, and he didn’t move forward unless the details were laid out to perfection, and he knew what needed to be done and how he could achieve it.”

By Deanna Kane | Photography by Matthew Petersen, Ensure Productions

MORE ABOUT THIS HOME

9,000 SQUARE FEET | 5 BEDROOMS | 7 BATHROOMS

HUB OF ACTIVITY
The home’s central living space features lake views, shiplap details and a cathedral ceiling with skylights to allow natural light in.

COOL KITCHEN
The kitchen was designed with a focus on minimal, clean lines. The quartz used in the kitchen island was utilized throughout the rest of the home, and the smoked wood floors carry through the home for a streamlined effect.

NOD TO THE WATER
The couple installed a four-sided aquarium in the kitchen as a nod to their former Madison home. They had one there too, and wanted to incorporate it in their Lake Geneva home.

SOOTHING SPACE
With peaceful aqua walls, and views of the lake and the rose garden, the primary bedroom is a space to rest and recharge for another day on the lake.

CONTEMPORARY CHIC
Minimalist cabinetry, sleek sconces, decorative tile and quartz countertops complete the lower level bathroom.

AIRY AND BRIGHT
The stunning entryway is filled with floor to ceiling windows, sleek shiplap and direct views to the home’s atrium, which looks out to Geneva Lake.

HAVE A SEAT
The family’s lower level features a bar space where they can gather around for refreshments, to refuel in between swimming, games of billiards or long afternoons on the water.

ENTERTAINMENT PARADISE
The lower level is a place for the family to hang out, relax and engage in a friendly game of billiards or swim in the indoor pool.

SET TO SWIM
The amazing indoor pool means the family can swim comfortably year-round — even while watching the snow fall. They can also catch views of the lake while splashing around inside.

This home was featured in the Lake Geneva: Summer 2022 issue. For more photos of featured Lake Geneva homes, visit the Lake Geneva Gallery page.

Categories
Featured Homes Lake Geneva

Manifesting the Dream on Delavan Lake

By Shelby Rowe Moyer | Photography by Shanna Wolf

This is the home Stacia Hahn has been envisioning for In terms of the big picture, Hahn says she and Haas wanted the decades. She and her husband, Eric Haas, have lived in Delavan for the last 20 years, and while their previous home was located on the far east end of the lake, Hahn had always dreamed of living on a busier part of the lake, where activity is constantly buzzing.

In 2018, they noticed a listing for a small home on Delavan Lake. While they initially passed it over, Hahn said they ultimately reconsidered and decided it was a good opportunity to move to their desired location. After closing on the property in late 2018, the couple opted to tear down the existing home and begin building anew with Geneva Lake Dream Homes.

Hahn came to Geneva Lake Dream Homes co-owner Ernie Tuchscherer with a very specific vision. And Tuchscherer says Hahn has great taste. She did all of the interior design herself, and she knew exactly what she wanted, he says, so it was just a matter of transforming her ideas into a functioning home.

In terms of the big picture, Hahn says she and Haas wanted the lake views to be the crowning jewel in every room, and they wanted ample space to entertain. Also, because this is Hahn’s full-time residence — Haas spends most of the week in Green Bay where he works — the aesthetics were even more crucial.

“It was definitely important to have the home that was in my head for the last 20 years,” she says. “I wanted a stairway tower; I wanted a large [owner’s bedroom] and closet. I wanted a monochromatic color scheme — that has always appealed to me. I didn’t want it to be a typical lake house. You [often] see the coastal-type look with a shaker roof and siding, so I knew I wanted black windows with white siding — more modern and contemporary with a lot of black and white. Stylish and classic.”

The three-story, four-bedroom and four-bath home is certainly stylish and classic. The interior and exterior mirror each other beautifully with the monochromatic palette and clean lines that have an upscale aesthetic.

Hahn was very intentional about carrying the design from room to room. Because the majority of the interior is white, she went with white oak flooring that was stained a rich, dark hue to warm up the rooms on the main level and add some color. Design is carried through in the selection of light fixtures as well. All the fixtures are black (except in the lower level) and spherical, which help break up the linear look of the furnishings and architectural details.

The lower level is the only area that breaks away from Hahn’s white and black color scheme. It has walk-out access to the lake, which brightens the rustic, industrial gray of the bar, and the orange bar stools are the only pop of color you’ll find in the home.

“I wanted it to be more masculine,” she says. “Just to shake it up.”

In the basement they were able to incorporate some special heirloom pieces that lend themselves to the masculine vibe. In the wine room, they used Haas’ great-great-grandfather’s sofa — which they had reupholstered — and the trunk his grandmother took to college.

Tuchscherer says the look of the lower level is one of his favorite aspects of the house. “They made good use of [the space] with the pub, eating area and exercise room. Behind that, there’s an office for Stacia that overlooks the lake.”

Now more than ever, homeowners are asking for dedicated office space, as well as a flex room that can be used as a guest bedroom or an additional office — which is also present in Hahn and Haas’ home, he says.

Hahn and Haas moved into the home in May 2020, and they’ve gotten extensive use out of every square foot. The exercise room, for example, has always been on Hahn and Haas’ wish list, and with the pandemic, they’ve been able to stay healthy at home.

Her advice to others embarking on a new build is to have “a general idea of what you’re looking for before the process begins and the ability to make decisions quickly, but also take the advice of others. Be open to other opinions, especially the experts, because they’re all invaluable.”

More About This Home

5,600 SQUARE FEET | 4 BEDROOMS | 4 BATHROOMS

Modern Functionality
Ernie Tuchscherer of Geneva Lake Dream Homes says the No. 1 request he gets is open-concept living. “[Homeowners] don’t want all of these dens and a dining room. They want a large eating area off the great room and large counters. Everyone wants these 8-to-10-foot islands that people can [gather] around.”

Visual Contrast
Stacia Hahn points to the dramatic fireplace as a special element. To break up the white in the room, she came up with the idea to install the black bench underneath.

The 12-foot-high ceiling with an exaggerated coffered design also adds extra dimension to the room.

Hahn has long dreamed of this statement staircase tower. The black railing was custom fabricated, and it, along with the black trim windows, creates beautiful visual depth.

Suite Style
Hahn wanted an oversized owner’s bedroom. It easily holds their king size bed, plus has a sitting area with a sectional and TV. She sourced the bed, couch, pillows and cube poufs from CB2.

Spa-Worthy
The free-standing steam shower, soaking tub and floating vanity were must- haves, Hahn says. “The shower is really large. It’s just nice to go in there and sit for a half hour, and the glass pivots, so you can fully enclose it.”

The lower level has a cool, masculine vibe that incorporates some heirloom family furniture. In the wine room, they placed Haas’s great- great-grandfather’s sofa and his grandmother’s college trunk. From Hahn’s side of the family, she was happy to mount the antelope her father shot in Wyoming over the bar, and she also has her grandfather’s cigar table and her great-great-grandmother’s gold pocket watch.

Outdoor living is abundant with the family’s two decks and lower-level seating area. Hahn says the fire pit on the lower level was a must.

Pure Elegance
The vanity was custom-built based on a sketch Hahn made to convey her vision, and the floor tile was carried into the shower and up the wall to make the room feel longer.

This home was featured in the Lake Geneva: Summer 2021 issue. For more photos of featured Lake Geneva homes, visit the Lake Geneva Gallery page.

Categories
Featured Homes Lake Geneva

Luxury Living on Geneva Lake

By Deanna Kane | Photography by Ensure Productions

Rose and Gaetano Lollino, and their son and daughter Gianni and Nicolette, had been visiting Williams Bay for years and fell in love with the area. When the Lollinos were ready to call Lake Geneva home, they knew exactly where they wanted to be — on the water.

The Chicago-based couple bought their five-bedroom, four-bathroom home on Geneva Lake five years ago. With the help of Stebnitz Builders, the Lollinos began renovating their coastal-inspired home from top to bottom, both inside and outside, in 2018 to create a more modern flow and functionality within the home — as well as ensuring the lake views took center stage.

The greatest design challenge for the Lollinos was renovating the interior of the home — reworking the flow of the first floor and adding square footage to create enough space to comfortably accommodate their guests. In order to accomplish those two main goals, the exterior ultimately became a major part of the renovation, too. But all the hard work and planning certainly paid off.

At the beginning of the project, Tracy McHugh, sales and brand manager at Stebnitz Builders, says the Lollinos came to them with some preliminary drawings from an architect they worked with in Chicago. “[Ultimately], the design won a Platinum 2019 Key Award by the Home Builders Association of Greater Chicago,” she says.

During the renovation, the Lollinos leaned on Jeff Auberger, remodeling consultant and designer at Stebnitz Builders, to help guide them and bring their vision to life.

“Jeff was an anchor for me,” says Rose. “He helped me see through so many parts of the design process.”

KEEPING COMFORT FIRST

High on the Lollinos’ priority list — in addition to keeping the lake views central and visible on every level — was having ample space for all their guests.

“Creating a space where our guests feel comfortable is so important to us,” Rose says. “The amount of seating space and sleeping space were two of the most important parts of the renovation. The more we could maximize sleeping space, the better. We wanted our guests to have a comfortable place to sleep without having to blow up air mattresses.”

To accomplish this, the Lollinos added an additional story to the house to make space for a lofted bunk room and bathroom.

On the home’s main level, entertaining takes center stage with a comfortable seating area, a high-top table with seating for six, plus an additional kitchenette with lots of storage, a wine fridge and even a beer tap. This main floor hub makes it easy for guests to grab snacks or drinks while lounging on the deck or hanging out in the living room.

INDOOR-OUTDOOR ENJOYMENT

To create a better flow, Stebnitz and the Lollinos focused their attention on the living spaces — particularly within the kitchen and great room. The original fireplace was relocated and a bay window with built-in seating was added to facilitate more fluidity in the home’s central gathering space.

The kitchen island with a built-in, uniquely shaped dining table is Rose’s favorite part of the house. Whether she has a house that is filled with family and friends gathered around it or the island is completely cleared, she can admire its beauty.

“The kitchen has beautiful zermatt quartzite countertops and backsplashes. The island waterfalls into a dining table,” says McHugh. It’s a truly unique element that sets the design apart from what’s typically seen in homes.

For the family, all of these wow-worthy spaces are yet another reason their waterfront move was the right choice, with options to seamlessly enjoy family time indoors, or take in the stunning lake views on their decks or boat. From the pier to the pergola, they take advantage of all the outdoor space their home has to offer.

After all, a big portion of the redesign was to showcase its best asset: the views of Geneva Lake, so it’s no surprise that being lakeside is Rose’s favorite part of the home.

“We often end up under the pergola in the front of the house in the evenings when the lake gets a little cooler, or in the lower-level screened-in room,” says Rose. “But the pier is one of my favorite places at the lake to be.”

More About This Home

GATHER AROUND
The kitchen island waterfalls into a dining table. It’s Rose Lollino’s favorite aspect of the kitchen. Whether it’s filled with people laughing and eating or not, it’s beautiful to look at.

LETʹS LOUNGE
Just off the great room on the main level is a kitchenette stocked with snacks, a wine fridge and even a beer tap — giving the Lollinos and their guests additional space to quickly grab refreshments.

During the renovation, the living spaces were given extra attention to ensure there was enough room for everyone to hang out. Here, guests can lounge on the couch, sit at the bar facing the great room or gather at the dining table.

COZY HOUSE GUESTS
In order to accommodate friends and family who come to stay, an additional story was added to create a bunk room and bathroom for guests.

This home was featured in the Lake Geneva: Summer 2021 issue. For more photos of featured Lake Geneva homes, visit the Lake Geneva Gallery page.

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Featured Homes Lake Geneva Northwoods

One Family’s Ultimate Up North Getaway

By Shelby Rowe Moyer | Photography by Shanna Wolf

Heidi and Steve Eldred live full-time in Beloit — roughly 50 miles southwest of Madison — however, their Northwoods property is a true home away from home. After decades of vacationing in this spectacular northern lakes area of Wisconsin, they decided to purchase a beautiful piece of property. Their purchase, on the Manitowish Chain of Lakes, gave them the waterfront access and the excellent fishing they desired.

Since buying the home, much of the interior has changed, Heidi says. The stately stone fireplace in the great room has remained the same, but the couple added large windows that boast lake views — and bring in tons of natural light.

The most recent round of renovations, which began in 2018, have really taken the home to another level.

The Eldreds love to cook and entertain. Their three grown children often spend summers with them at their Northwoods home — along with their friends and their friends’ parents, who drop by for a homemade meal.

All of these gatherings spurred their initial conversations with interior designer Lisa Africano to help them come up with a kitchen and dining room layout that worked for their lifestyle. Bringing talented Manitowish Waters contractor Jim Meier of Jim Meier Builders onboard the project was the next important step.

Prior to the renovation, the kitchen and dining room were cramped, and the walls angled down in less-than-flattering spots. As is common during renovations, conversations about how to en- large and remodel those spaces quickly spun into more projects throughout the home.

Steve’s sunroom was failing structurally, so they opted to tear it down and rebuild the space.

During this major renovation, they added square footage to the kitchen and rebuilt the sunroom and the owner’s bedroom. The additional square footage also allowed them to add a bedroom with an ensuite on the lower level, which now also has walk- out access to the lake.

To help the new spaces blend with the existing ones, Africano worked with the Eldreds on a design theme that looks upscale without sacrificing the cozy, Up North feel of the home. The aesthetic is a beautiful blend of contemporary (brass fixtures and midcentury modern lighting) and homey textures, such as leather and wool accents.

“We want people to feel welcome and like they’re part of the family, and we wanted the design to reflect that,” Heidi says. “… We want people to come in, and we want them to stay.”

Steve’s favorite room, the sunroom, had a structural failing, which kicked off an additional tear down and rebuild of this space. The windows and sliding doors connect to the owner’s suite.

The sunroom also flows into Heidi’s office, where she can do a little work or some yoga. Each of the three connected rooms — the office, sunroom and master bedroom — can be closed off for privacy.

More About This Home

A CHEF’S KITCHEN

The mixed materials used in the kitchen add intrigue and also make the kitchen feel cohesive with the rest of the home. The minimalist cabinetry (painted Benjamin Moore Sidewalk Grey) feels very contemporary and the smoky-hued wood island and range hood lend a rustic vibe.

The industrial pendant lights over the island play off of the brushed brass sconces flanking the range, as well as the concrete table in the dining room.

“We found the lights first and wanted them to be in the kitchen, so we built a lot of the design around that,” Heidi says. “I think of lighting as the jewelry of the room. They were kind of a throwback to a bygone era, but also modern.”

The stone fireplace is a favorite feature of Heidi’s, and they kept it when they bought the home. Other than the fireplace, much of the home felt dated, according to Heidi, with mauve and peach tones. “We’ve made it feel like it belongs [Up North].”

STAY AWHILE

The Eldreds’ three kids often have friends in tow when they come to stay. In order to better accommodate their much- loved guests, the upstairs needed to accommodate at least 10 people.

Katie and Sarah’s (the Eldreds’ daughters) bedroom (far left) has
two queen beds and feels more luxurious. The leather throw pillows emblazoned with antique images were sourced from Roughing It in Style, located in Hazelhurst, a great resource for rustic decor.

Their son Jack’s room was meant to be a “floppable” space for him and all his friends.

This home was featured in the Lake Geneva: Summer 2021 issue. For more photos of featured Lake Geneva homes, visit the Lake Geneva Gallery page.

Categories
Featured Homes Lake Geneva

A Modern Masterpiece on Geneva Lake

By Shelby Rowe Moyer | Photography by Shanna Wolf

Designing a home that looks good and functions well is always the No. 1 goal when building a new dwelling. And when the two seamlessly merge, that’s when the magic happens. Such is the case for one family’s Geneva Lake home, which has an immense level of detail and functionality in it, yet has an artistic edge that invites visitors to appreciate its uniqueness.

Describing it as their forever home, the homeowners say that during the design process they considered how each decision would allow them to age in place.

The family didn’t want to compromise on space. To work within the constraints the narrow lot posed, they built a three-story home, which included three bedrooms and five bathrooms. Because they couldn’t fit an owner’s suite on the main level, they chose to include an elevator in the home to maximize future accessibility.

In addition to the main living spaces, the first floor also boasts a sunroom, an office and a library that doubles as a flex space for office work or entertaining guests. On the lower level, the homeowners have more room to entertain with a secondary living room and a bar, plus an exercise room, recreation space and storage. Rooms flow seamlessly from one to the next, equipped with wide doorways that make the home feel open, while also maintaining the individual integrity of each room.

The owners have long wanted to live in a house like this. They moved to Lake Geneva in 2012 after spending nearly 30 years in Chicago. Prior to building their home, they lived in a condo in Lake Geneva while searching for the ideal lake lot. They wanted a house that was within walking distance of downtown and also capitalized on sunset views. After some searching, they closed on this property in 2018, and began the build process with Lowell Custom Homes.

Scott Lowell, president and founder of Lowell Custom Homes, says the homeowners knew exactly what they wanted, and they were dialed in to how they wanted the home to look and function.

He describes the overall aesthetic as “transitional traditional” — the exterior has a more traditional vibe, while the interior leans a little more contemporar y. As part of Lowell Custom Homes’ ser vices, they connected the homeowners with interior designer Beth Welsh of Interior Changes.

Welsh worked closely with the homeowners, and they often consulted with her before making any decisions. They wanted everything within the home to feel intentional and cohesive, and Welsh helped keep them on that track.

On the first floor, everything is anchored by the expansive, all-white kitchen. The ultra- modern kitchen has an incredible array of storage features that are hidden behind sleek cabinetry. A set of doors next to the refrigerator, for example, open to reveal a large pantry where glassware, dry goods and small appliances are stored. In the main part of the kitchen, drawers neatly corral loose cooking utensils. The holy grail, however, might be the custom sink. It’s roughly five feet long, and makes food prep and assembly so much easier with removable compartments that can catch food scraps or hold cutlery.

The kitchen is open to the great room, which flows beautifully in to a sitting room that has, potentially, the best views of the lake. Also on the first floor is a spotlight-worthy, all-wood office, as well as a library that doubles as a flex space where the couple can work or entertain guests.

The homeowners spent a lot of time considering which species and shade of wood would wrap the interior of the office and tried to strike the perfect balance between light and dark.

Ultimately, they were inspired by the buttery walnut wood on their Eames lounge chair. From there, they landed on cherry wood for the walls, built-ins and ceiling because of its fine-grained, even appearance.

The end result is a warm space with a nod to Scandinavian design. “There’s a soothing [quality] to it,” the owner says. “The house has this very zen feel, and there’s a zen-ness to the office. [It has] clean lines, but there’s uniqueness to it.”

In the owner’s suite, the room’s muted design allows the floor-to-ceiling lake views to capture all the attention. The wide-open bathroom was designed with accessibility in mind, including the zero-entry shower.

And, the closet is a fashion lover’s dream. Aside from the specialty lighting and cabinetr y, there’s also a secondar y closet for extra storage that opens up to the guest bedroom closet, allowing for natural light from the guest closet window to flow in.

Their home was finished and they moved in right before the pandemic began and everything shut down, the owner says. Because this is their full-time residence, they designed it with comfort in mind — a silver lining, you could say, to suddenly becoming homebound.

More About This Home

3 BEDROOMS | 5 BATHROOMS

CLUTTER-FREE KITCHEN
The 5-foot-long, double-faucet sink — called a “workstation” — was crafted with room for ample kitchen accessories, says Natalie Spiniolas, senior designer at Geneva Cabinet Company (which custom-built all of the cabinetry throughout the home). “Everything is extremely customizable, and there are hundreds of accessories that [can] go into the sink. We made all of the cabinets [underneath] that hold all the accessories — strainers, cutting boards, serving dishes. [The owners] did not want any clutter. Every cabinet has some kind of storage.”

Scott Lowell, owner and founder of Lowell Custom Homes, likes to create visual interest on ceilings within the main living spaces of the homes they work on. “It creates a different ambiance in different parts of the home,” Lowell says.

The vanity in the main floor bathroom is a true showstopper. The homeowners came across this fossilized stone top at a remnants store, and fell in love with it. Special lighting was installed underneath to capitalize on the stone’s crystallization.

ELEVATED OFFICE
The wood-paneled office has the feel of a bygone era without losing its contemporary edge. The owners opted for cherry wood because of its fine-grained appearance, and it strikes the perfect balance between light and dark. The windows make the space feel more open, as do the glass French doors.

CUSTOM CRAFTED
Lighting was a crucial part of the planning for the owner’s closet. All of the rods and shelves are outfitted with lighting, making it easier to find items within the closet. Spiniolas said Geneva Cabinet Company configured the measurements around the number of shirts that would be hanging and even the length of pants to create a totally custom design.

This home was featured in the Lake Geneva: Summer 2021 issue. For more photos of featured Lake Geneva homes, visit the Lake Geneva Gallery page.

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Featured Homes Lake Geneva

Where Architecture and Artful Spaces Meet

When you walk into Beth Bovis and David Feldstein’s 7,900-square- foot lakefront home, it’s hard to know where to look first. Every element was thoughtfully considered and curated to create an artful sanctuary for adults and kids, from the brilliant architecture to the expressive furnishings to the cozy living spaces designed with family fun in mind.

It’s certainly a far cry from the original home that sat on the two- acre lot on Geneva Lake. When Bovis and Feldstein bought the property in 2016, they decided the little lakefront cottage had already been renovated to the fullest extent it could be, so they opted to tear it down and start from scratch. Knowing this vacation home could potentially be their full-time residence one day, the couple took extra care to ensure it had the functionality they needed, and that it would be a special place to continue making memories on the lake.

BUILDING THE DREAM

Bovis had grown up spending sun-splashed summers in Williams Bay since the 1980s, and she and Feldstein wanted to continue that tradition with their own family, which includes teenage son Alex, 14, and daughter Samantha, 18. The Madison-based family wanted a summer home where they could comfortably boat, fish and swim, so their attention turned to Geneva Lake.

“There’s always stuff to do in the city, and we knew we were not the ‘head up north and really rough it kind of folks,’” Bovis says. “We wanted to be able to go to a restaurant or be able to stay home and barbecue and have a fire and s’mores.”

Early on in the planning process, Bovis says their vision was to use the lake as the focal point, with functional balconies, plenty of outdoor space, a screened-in porch and bedrooms that maximized the view. Gathering spaces were also a priority — having a place where the kids and adults could hang out separately or together was a must.

The couple worked closely with Lowell Custom Homes and interior designer Michelle Hackworthy of Madison- based Zander’s Interiors to create a contemporary home that still looked like it belonged in Wisconsin. The couple opted for a neutral palette of tans and grays that added warmth to the home but allowed the artistic light fixtures, tilework and modern furniture to sing.

The beauty of the home is in the attention to detail and appreciation for uniqueness. In the kitchen, the Zephyr Pendant light fixture by Hubbardton Forge is reminiscent of undulating ribbons and is complemented by recessed bulbs that provide even lighting throughout the space. The bar stools paired up with the kitchen island were purchased from Three Five Sheridan, a consignment shop in Lake Geneva. The couple had them recovered to match the aesthetic of the home.

“They fit so perfectly with our style,” Bovis says. “They’re one of our favorite things in the house.”

The “levitating” Rubik’s Cube-like coffee table in the living room is made up of individual wood blocks held together by repelling magnets and a system of cables. Bovis met the artist — Jessica Banks, an MIT engineer turned furniture designer — in New York, and they bonded over their Wisconsin ties.

On the second floor, where most of the bedrooms are located, the master suite and two kids’ rooms were designed with architectural distinction and characteristics that spoke to the style of each family member.

“We love interesting rooflines,” Bovis says. “We created a lot of them. Every room has its own features. The master has a big barreled ceiling, a view [of] the lake and [lots of] light that [streams] in through the windows. In my daughter’s room, she has a vaulted ceiling and an interesting ceiling fan. My son’s room has a French chateau ceiling, and it’s all green — it’s his favorite color.”

Aside from the creative design elements of the home, a major focus of the home design was functionality. Bovis says they knew they wanted a home they could share with family and friends, and that’s exactly how the living spaces are laid out.

Take the basement, which is no ordinary space. Lowell increased the ceiling height in some spots, so the area feels open and airy. And in this home, it’s an entertainment mecca with several elements, including a game room, movie room, wet bar and dining spot. Family and friends can easily swivel between watching the Packers game and enjoying a competitive match of ping-pong down here.

“When we were looking for our home, we went and visited many properties and, obviously, none of them were the right one, but they all had things we liked. In my mind, this is our ‘best of’ basement,” Bovis says.

The third-floor loft is a kids’ sanctuary. The spiral staircase leads to the top floor turret, where the furniture can be rearranged for any scenario. With the loft, it’s a tough call on who’s having more fun: the kids or the adults. The adults can hang out with cocktails and conversation on the main floor, while the kids can hang out in the loft.

It was also important to Bovis and Feldstein that the home was equipped with the latest technology. The property has a Crestron audio/visual system that controls all the lighting, sound and video in the home. The family can turn the lighting in the movie room to “night” mode for TV-watching. Or they can stream an audiobook through speakers in the master bedroom and bathroom, and then transfer the livestream to their phones when they leave. It’s the ultimate example of seamless, modern-day living.

Now that the family has lived in the home for a couple years, they’ve had many gatherings already: last summer saw a gathering of 18 people staying at the house and everyone was comfortable.

“It’s a dream come true to have a home like this,” Bovis says. “I really feel honored and privileged to have built it and we’re happy to be able to share it with friends and family.”

More About the Home:

7,900 square feet | 6 bedrooms | 6.5 bathrooms

Stay Awhile

The main floor’s open concept was designed with gatherings in mind. Seating abounds in the living room with accent chairs flanking the custom-made sofa from Lee Industries.

The coffee table is from RockPaperRobot, a New York-based furniture company. A matrix of wooden cubes are held together by magnetic repulsion and a system of tensile steel cables.

A Kids’ Haven

The circular stairway leads to the third- floor loft, a cozy room designed specifically for the Bovis-Feldstein kids, plus their friends and family. The design of the staircase adds architectural intrigue, but it also saves space.

The furniture in the loft room was selected because it can be easily moved around and reconfigured. The kids can play their gaming systems up here while the adults chat downstairs.

Room for the Whole Family

The main floor guest bedroom steps right out onto a back patio with views of Geneva Lake. But what makes this room really special is the en suite, arguably the most beautiful in the house, Bovis says. The spherical light fixtures are by Hudson Valley Rouseeau.

The bunk room above the garage is great for when the whole family stays over, which means roughly 20 are staying the night. The bunkroom sleeps 10 comfortably.

By Shelby Rowe Moyer | Photography by Shanna Wolf

This home was featured in the Lake Geneva: Summer 2020 issue. For more photos of featured Lake Geneva homes, visit the Lake Geneva gallery page.

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Featured Homes Lake Geneva

Next Generation Lake Living on Delavan Lake

Patrick Gries grew up spending summers on Delavan Lake, staying in a family cottage no bigger than a two-car garage packed with 10 siblings. It was so noisy inside that his mom nicknamed it The Chatterbox.

Though The Chatterbox isn’t around anymore — one of Patrick’s brothers bought it and built a new home on the land — pieces of it live on at his and wife Patty’s current vacation home on Delavan Lake. The couple preserved little touches from the original cottage like the white wicker chairs, and a rustic Chatterbox sign hangs in the screened-in porch.

FROM OUTDATED COTTAGE TO MODERN DWELLING

The Gries family, who live in Illinois and have three grown children, bought their vacation home 11 years ago and decided to renovate it before their daughter, Molly, got married — when they knew family and friends would be over. When the couple started construction in 2018, the list for the remodel was a large undertaking, but still relatively short: finish the basement, redo the kitchen and replace the windows and siding.

The historic Foursquare-style house — a boxy architecture trend that was popularized in the late 1800s and early 1900s — was old, and needed sprucing up. But once contractors started their work, they found a host of problems. Mummified beehives were found in the walls and the windows and doors didn’t have proper structural support — so they ended up gutting much of the house to reorganize the layout, and added more bathrooms and a bedroom.

“It was a lot bigger project … than we initially thought,” he says.

The end result rendered the interior and exterior of the home nearly unrecognizable. Now, the abode has a new lease on life with an open concept floor plan and a coastal, Nantucket style layered with navys, grays and reds. Chris Stebnitz, owner of Stebnitz Builders, says his team has done a lot of work around Walworth County, but the Gries home was certainly a grand project, namely, because they raised the house so the basement could function better for their family.

Prior to the renovation, the basement was a cellar with poor ventilation on the backside of the home, facing the lake. Now it’s a family oasis with 1,800 square feet of living space, including a bedroom, bathroom, kitchenette, laundry area, recreation room and a stunning fireplace designed by Jeff Auberger of Stebnitz Builders. Plus, the family can walk right out to the backyard and enjoy the fire pit or hop in the hot tub.

“When it comes to lake homes, I would say the majority of people are talking to us about design,” Stebnitz says. “They’re looking for more space and they want it to be functional. We used the same footprint [in the Gries home], but it’s … more efficient.”

Aside from the basement, the biggest transformation was the kitchen. Patrick says the old kitchen was essentially a porch slab that was an add-on from the home’s original summer kitchen. It’s now modern and stately with big swaths of subway tile backsplash and white cabinetry that extends to the ceiling with trim added by Stebnitz, giving the space a completely custom look. Oh, and we can’t forget that island. It’s one of Patty’s favorite features.

“I’ve got this 8-foot by 41/2-foot island that looks straight out to the water, and I can do dishes here,” she says. “I love to cook, and [now] I’m part of the whole group whereas, before, the kitchen was in the back area of the house.”

TOUCHES OF OLD AND NEW

Though the house looks brand new, some of its special moments are in the vintage furnishings. The built-in china cabinets in the dining room add warmth to the main floor living area and are original to the house, built by the second owner, Patrick says. Stebnitz added trim to the cabinets, a small detail that makes the built-ins really pop as a three-dimensional focal point against the pale wall.

Patrick refinishes furniture as a hobby and has preserved heirloom bed frames, dressers and chairs from his grandparents and parents. These little pieces of family history are dotted throughout the home in bedrooms and living spaces. It’s these elements that make the house sing and feel unique to the Gries family.

This fall, when their daughter gets married, the Gries will host a pre-wedding waterskiing party at the home. It’s one of the Gries’ favorite activities, and it goes back to why they bought the house more than a decade ago. The first time they saw the property, their daughter was teaching her cousin how to waterski on the lake when she said, “Dad, I like this house. We should buy it.” That was in August 2009, Patrick says, and they closed on the house that December.

During the spring and summer, Patrick and Patty come to the Delavan Lake house just about every week, making the hour or so drive from their home in Illinois. It’s truly a respite and the lakefront house they’ve always wanted.

“Our favorite thing is to go on the pier and watch the sunsets,” Patty says. “The south shore has the most beautiful sunsets, and it’s just absolutely gorgeous. We were watching it last night and there’s just nothing like it.”

More About the Home:

3,800 square feet | 5 bedrooms | 4 bathrooms

Family History

Prior to the remodel, the living room, dining room and kitchen were cordoned off with walls, but now the family enjoys an open concept. Throughout the house, old-meets-new touches are sprinkled throughout, like the refinished wood rocking chair in the living room that belonged to Patrick Gries’ father.

The kitchen used to be in the back of the house and felt closed off from the living spaces. Now, meals can be prepped while the Gries mingle with guests.

Rustic and Refined

The dining room exemplifies the original charm of the lakefront home. The oak built-ins were installed by the second owner of the home and were refreshed with matching trim that make them pop. The light fixture is also original to the house. Patty insisted on keeping it, and Patrick refinished it with a little paint and varnish to make it look anew.

The barn door leading into the pantry softens the modern renovation.

A Dreamy En Suite

The Gries’ master bathroom was gutted and the layout rearranged. Now, it feels light and bright with the help of marble countertops. Sleek tile wraps the walls and was selected for its likeness to driftwood. The master bedroom has traditional charm with furniture that was crafted or refinished by Patrick. He made their bed frame out of old doors and crafted midcentury modern nightstands to match. The chest at the foot of the bed was falling apart before he refinished it.

A Place to Gather

The screened-in porch is now the perfect place to sit with a cup of coffee, outfitted with wicker chairs and a table that came from Patrick’s childhood cottage, and original wood flooring. Previously, the space was a hallway used for storage.

The home was lifted to bring the lakeside portion of the basement to ground level. The basement was remodeled to include a bedroom, bathroom, kitchenette and entertainment and lounging space. When the house was lifted to renovate the basement, a bump-out was added to match the architecture of the main floor.

By Shelby Rowe Moyer | Photography by Kayser Photography

This home was featured in the Lake Geneva: Summer 2020 issue. For more photos of featured Lake Geneva homes, visit the Lake Geneva gallery page.

Categories
Featured Homes Lake Geneva

A Perfect Fit on Geneva Lake

It’s a common story in Lake Geneva: Once you visit, it’s hard to let this lake town go. Such was the case for Michelle and Perry Browder and their kids, Amanda, Emily and Martin, and their dog, Emma. After many visits over the years for Perry’s work conferences, the Glenview, Ill.-based family dreamed of the day they could own their own piece of Geneva Lake paradise. And, with it only being a quick hour-and-a-half drive away from their Illinois home, “it’s a getaway — but not too far,” says Michelle.

Michelle says that Perry looked for years for the right lakefront property and, in 2017, found one on Geneva Lake that was under construction by Hummel Construction. It was a great piece of land, the right size and the general layout was what the family was looking for. The family closed on the home less than three weeks after they saw it.

Luckily for the Browders, they came in early enough in the building process that they could still do design tweaks with Hummel in some of the rooms. The couple also brought in Melinda Cahill and Suzanne Glavin, owner-principals of North Shore Nest, an interior design firm also based in Glenview. Cahill and Glavin had worked with the family on their Glenview home and the Browders were eager to seek their expertise for their unfinished lake home.

“The walls were already there and some of the house was there, but we came in at a point where we could really change things and add those layers that we love to with a new build,” explains Cahill. “So, our first phase was the design portion of the home itself. Then, we moved into the interior design portion of it.”

The first floor was entirely open concept, but Cahill and Glavin thought that adding a bit of separation could actually benefit the home’s feel.

“One of the things we wanted to do was define where the kitchen and the family room were. Not closing them off necessarily … but adding in architectural elements that make the spaces feel more cozy than when it’s just left completely open,” says Glavin.

A set of transom windows from the ceiling were added to subtly divide the kitchen from the family room. Because the family room was large enough, the couple decided to move their dining area in there, so they’d have a lake view when eating. The room that was designed to be the dining room (tucked off the home’s main hallway, but without a lake view) instead morphed into a cozy library/sitting room.

“It’s just a little more intimate, and it calls you into wanting to sit in there,” says Glavin.

Other changes included shifting elements around in the kitchen for better flow and to accommodate Michelle’s requests for two dishwashers and spots for a standalone fridge and freezer. Now, the space sings with plenty of cabinetry, a large island that can seat people on three sides and a prep sink. The nautical theme running throughout the room is showcased in the gold Visual Comfort pendant lamps, white undulating subway tile backsplash and Serena & Lily woven chairs.

“It’s an amazing kitchen — I just love it,” enthuses Michelle. “Suzanne and Melinda did a great job of designing it. We spend a lot of time in here. People can stand around the island and talk and do a bit of cooking. There’s so much room in there and storage for so much. It’s a ‘wow’ space!”

LOVELY AND LUXE

But truly, the entire home is full of “wow” spaces. With the couple’s “light, airy and nautical” feel in mind, Cahill and Glavin designed the family room to match this sensibility.

“We knew [the room] was going to be blue and white, looking out at the water — and we wanted to bring the outside in. This is one of the largest spaces in the home for gatherings, so we wanted to make sure there was a place for that. We like to set up rooms where we can to form a kind of ‘circle,’ whether it’s around a cocktail table or large ottoman,” says Melinda.

Using entirely custom furnishings from a combination of Tritter Feefer, Mr. & Mrs. Howard for Sherill Furniture and Kravet, guests have plenty of options for seating and lounging while enjoying lake sunsets. The sophisticated mix of patterns, while also employing pops of orange (“just to add that fresh pop of something fun in the room,” says Cahill), ensure the room’s décor will remain timeless, but never boring.

Adjacent to the sitting area is the spacious dining area, which allows for 10 guests at the custom- designed Rohan Ward table. Ward, based out of Wilmette, Ill., is one of Glavin and Cahill’s favorite furniture makers.

“This was a fun area because we had the space. We didn’t want the dining room tucked away. We did banquette seating with two tables that can be pushed apart or pushed together. That was important, because if it was just the five of them [dining], then it’s cozier,” says Glavin.

Also on the main floor is the library/sitting room that offers a quiet reprieve from daily life. The space features custom ceiling beam detail, Mr. & Mrs. Howard custom-upholstered chairs, a Lillian August leather-covered ottoman and Schumacher ikat fabric window treatments.

“This is one of mine and Suzanne’s favorite spaces,” says Cahill. “It draws you in — it’s so comfortable. We love creating spaces like this for people to have after-dinner drinks in, or read in the morning and have your coffee. It’s nice to take a step away [here].”

VACATION VIBES

For a home built for rest and relaxation, the Browder’s abode has it in spades. The lower level features a wow-worthy bar area with built- in navy cabinetry, refrigerator drawers, wine cooler, dishwasher and a bar with a custom zinc top. Michelle admits they hesitated about painting the cabinetry and trim throughout the room navy — but says she trusted Cahill and Glavin’s judgement — and the family was happy with the results.

“[In this room] you want the lake feel, but also, a huge part of the time, is fall and winter, where you want that cozy feel. And that’s what we wanted to create coming off of the lake, whether it was winter or summer,” says Cahill.

The other retreat spaces were similarly designed with comfort in mind, including the kids’ bedrooms, the guest room and the upstairs bunkroom that sleeps 12.

“I love the bunkroom, and it’s so kid-friendly — even for my adult kids!” says Michelle. “But we love the views of the water here and just looking out at the lake. There are so many different areas here that I love.”

More About the Home:

7,500 square feet | 5 bedrooms + bunkroom | 7.5 bathrooms

Wine and Dine

In the lower level, Michelle says Perry was inspired by the zinc-topped bar at Margeaux Brasserie at the Waldorf Astoria in Chicago. So he tracked down the restaurant’s designer and ordered his own zinc bar top from
their supplier.

Nautically Nice

“We always love mixing metals in our kitchens. We also like the details that went in here, and the hardware is really amazing. Our favorite part is just the way this space works, and the way it flows,” says Cahill.

The boat art by Trowbridge accents the dining area perfectly.

Can’t Beat This Retreat

“We wanted this space to be unexpected, and not so lake-y — again, giving those layers we love,” Cahill says about the main floor’s powder room, which features a tortoise-framed mirror and Fabric Hut wallpaper.

“For guest [rooms] we always try and create an experience, and make [guests] feel as though they’re at a hotel … that is so different from what they have at home,” says Cahill. In the Browder’s guest room, the design duo wove in navy and Kelly green. The bathroom’s stool and the bedroom’s luggage stand are custom-covered in Greek key patterned fabric by Quadrille. The sleek wood chair and side table are by Worlds Away, and the beach scene photo print is from Natural Curiosities.

Great Gatherings

Michelle says she hosted a group of girlfriends for the weekend and they all opted to stay in the home’s bunkroom that sleeps 12. Six queen beds are built in with twin beds lofted atop. Vintage sailing flags and a framed American flag lend a traditional, nautical vibe to the room.

Blue & White is Right

Love this home’s classic, coastal vibe? These pieces will capture that feel:

By Shayna Mace | Photography by Cynthia Lynn | Styling by Charlotte Safavi

This home was featured in the Lake Geneva: Summer 2020 issue. For more photos of featured Lake Geneva homes, visit the Lake Geneva gallery page.