Category: Madison

By Shelby Rowe Moyer | Photography by Shanna Wolf

College sweethearts Lori and Cory Wallman were living in a small two-bedroom Madison home with their daughter, Vivien, when they decided that if they wanted to expand their family, they needed a bigger nest.

With two major remodels under their belt — their Madison residence and a vacation property in Los Angeles that was featured on an episode of HGTV’s “House Hunters Renovation” — they felt they were up for the challenge of a new build.

Finding a buildable lot on the lake with a sunset view (and also within their budget) was challenge No. 1. The Wallmans were outbid on a few properties before securing one in 2017 — a vacant lot on the east bay side of Lake Waubesa.

“What sealed the deal is the capitol view,” Lori says. “At night, we came out here and you can see the capitol all lit up, and it was like, ‘Oh my! This is amazing.’”

The original goal was to have the house built and be moved in by the time their son, Ty, was born. (They both laugh at this.) The design process took a lot longer than they expected, in part because they wanted their home to have a West Coast, midcentury modern appeal — and finding the materials that fit that aesthetic was difficult in the Midwest.

“It was definitely over whelming,” Cory says of the whole process. “But I think you overthink things. There are so many choices and you want to make the right decision, but there’s probably 40 decisions that would look good.”

Lori adds, “I’m an ultimate bargain hunter, too. If I see a light fixture in a magazine, I’ll either find a replica that’s less expensive or the same one on sale. I’ll go to great lengths to get a good deal, so I think I made it twice as hard on us.”

The Wallmans worked with the same Los Angeles architect — Tom Tostengard — who helped them remodel their vacation home in Laurel Canyon. He drew up plans for the exterior, but also designed some interior features, like the midcentury modern metal divider in between the home’s main entrance and the living room, as well as the TV wall, which mimics the sleek exterior of the home.

McFarland-based Urso Brothers built the home, and by the time they moved in, Ty was 1 1⁄2 years old. The four-bedroom, 31⁄2-bath home definitely matches the Wallmans’ laid-back and creative personalities. The design style is a blend of midcentury modern, Scandinavian and coastal contemporary with tons of organic details — sprawling plants and nubby succulents, macrame wall hangings and wood accents.

And many of the elements are personal to them. The artwork is reminiscent of their Los Angeles home and trips they’ve taken. Lori’s dad, a retired logger, made a few pieces for them, including a live-edge shelf for Lori’s soaker tub. And, there are cute little nooks for the kids to play in.

“The best part of living there is being surrounded by nature,” says Lori. “The lake brings so much wildlife year-round, and we love to spend time on the lake exploring. We are so happy to be raising our family here.”

More About This Home

3,400+ SQUARE FEET | 4 BEDROOMS | 1 OFFICE | 3.5 BATHS

BARGAIN HUNTER

This Silestone countertop is perhaps Lori’s proudest bargain find. Brand-new Silestone countertops — a combination of natural quartz and other raw materials — are expensive, so she searched everywhere for a sale, until she came across 10 sheets at a remnants store. The sheets were leftover materials from a recent sweep of commercial renovations. So, she got her dream kitchen counters for a steal.

A BIT OF WHIMSY

The Wallmans created fun little nooks for the kids wherever they could, like this tent area on the second floor and the miniature playroom in the basement. Initially, the playroom under the stairs was marked for storage, but Lori thought it would be sweet to create this instead. She ordered the custom-made Dutch door from a playhouse company in North Carolina.

THE ULTIMATE RETREAT

It’s hard to pick a favorite spot, but the owner’s bedroom and bathroom might be Lori’s. It has the best views of the lake and an LA vibe with spiny plants, rattan accents and airy artwork.

SPA WORTHY

Lori’s soaker tub is another bargain find — she got it on Wayfair for $800. She thought she’d spend a lot of time relaxing here with a glass of wine and a great view. The reality, though? The kids use it the most.

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

By Shelby Rowe Moyer | Photography by Shanna Wolf

A man cave isn’t an unusual wish-list item. Typically, it comes in the form of a basement or additional bedroom. But a whole other home? That takes it to the next level.

Of course, Sarah and Joe Pavelski’s hangout spot next to their main vacation home serves as much more than that. The side- by-side properties on Lake Waubesa serve distinct purposes — the main dwelling is the family’s vacation home with four bedrooms, 41⁄2 bathrooms and a lower-level recreation room. The property next door is a multipurpose mecca for storage, entertainment and guest quarters.

The Pavelskis bought the main home in 2010, and it’s the perfect retreat for the couple and their son. The pair met in high school in Iowa and both attended the University of Wisconsin- Madison, so Madison is close to their hearts. The family splits their time between Madison and Dallas, Texas, where Joe plays in the National Hockey League for the Dallas Stars. Joe’s NHL career has taken their family all over the country, so they wanted to put down roots back in the Midwest, where they’d be closer to their families and friends, but also have access to top-notch hockey facilities.

The opportunity to buy the lot next door to their lake house came up a few years ago when their neighbors asked if they’d be interested in buying it.

“We had spoken about that with them in the past, and then they came to us and said they were ready,” says Sarah. “We thought it’d be another five years before they came to us. It wasn’t an issue of needing more space in our home, but we did need more storage and guest space.”

The Pavelskis decided to go for it, allowing them to envision a complementary structure to their home, complete with a man cave for Joe. They moved the house originally located on the lot to a different site, and with the expertise of Dream House Dream Kitchens, built their ideal entertainment spot.

The two-story structure has a double-deep garage that’s mostly used for storage in the winter, and in the summer, it takes on a second life as a workout and hockey practice area. Also on the first floor is a mudroom, shower and sauna that can be accessed from the backyard; a fish cleaning station; and storage for Joe’s recreational equipment.

The upstairs is outfitted as an entertainment suite for Joe that doubles as a lodge for guests — complete with a bedroom that sleeps six, a bathroom and fully functional kitchen.

“The way we were envisioning it was that it would definitely be Joe’s hangout,” Sarah says of the upper-level suite. “It started mainly with Joe wanting to have space for a golf simulator. He loves golf, and with the weather in Wisconsin, you can only do it for a certain amount of time during the year.”

A winding staircase brings guests up to a lounge equipped with a modern, industrial bar and two golf simulators. The walnut island, cabinetry and floating shelves were chosen to match the accents in their main house — but the rest of the fixtures are intentionally more masculine.

Dream House Dream Kitchens sales director Jerry Schmidt says they’ve never done a project quite like this one.

“It was fun to put together,” he says. “It’s almost like the garage playhouse that you want when you’re a little kid, but then you grow up and actually get to build it.”

While Dream’s staff was making Joe’s vision come to life for the upstairs lounge, they were also renovating the Pavelski’s main living space in their home next door.

Back in 2010, when they purchased the home, they had done some renovations. But by 2018, the Pavelskis realized they needed to do some reconfiguring of the kitchen and living space.

In the main house’s old layout, the oversized kitchen was taking up precious square footage, so Dream came up with a plan that maximized an open-concept layout so that the family had more room for entertaining.

“There was like 10 feet between the sink and the island [in the previous kitchen],” says Schmidt. “There was a lot of wasted space that wasn’t utilized.”

They added a walnut wood bar around the island with seating and a buffet to separate the kitchen and living room, which also gives them more countertop space when guests are over. The walnut panels on the ceiling, otherwise known as the company’s signature Dream Clouds, feature dimmable lights that create a warm, cozy atmosphere.

On the right side of the living room, large windows that looked straight into their neighbor’s house were swapped out for transom windows and a fireplace was added. Now, the family has more privacy — but they still have stellar lake views.

After owning the home for more than a decade and going through a couple of remodels, Sarah recommends living in a home for a while before making major changes.

“I’m a huge believer of using every part of your house and not having a ton of wasted space. You want a good feel of how you’ll use it,” she says. “Also, try not to get caught up in what’s pretty. Make sure you’re going to enjoy it, too. When it comes down to it, you still need to be able to use your home.”

More About This Home

ROUGHLY 3,600 SQUARE FEET | 4 BEDROOMS | 4.5 BATHS

DREAM CLOUDS

The drop ceiling panels with dimmable lights are known as “Dream Clouds,” a specialty creation of Dream House Dream Kitchens. Strategically lowering the ceiling height in spots can make a room feel cozier.

MORE THAN A MUDROOM

On the ground floor of the secondary home is an expanded mudroom with a roomy shower and sauna.

ULTIMATE MAN CAVE

On the upper floor of the secondary home is Joe’s entertainment suite, complete with a bar, lounge and two golf simulators.

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

By Shelby Rowe Moyer | Photography by Shanna Wolf

In Scott and Kelly Baumbach’s home, nothing is ordinary. Touches like handsome black trim, the white Carrara marble herringbone tile kitchen backsplash and the artisan-crafted walnut table in the dining room — it’s all a notch above what you’d expect.

When the Baumbachs built their Waunakee home in 2018 on Lake Mendota, they wanted it to be timeless and elegant, but also livable. The upscale, custom home was curated to feel comfortable and calming.

The Baumbach’s previous home — also a new build — was very trendy and colorful, Kelly says. So, while they loved it at the time, it quickly felt outdated. When planning the details of their current home, the couple realized they wanted to incorporate a quieter color scheme.

Kelly researched home elements that have remained classic and appealing throughout the ages. She felt that a minimalist white and black palette with warming wood accents would feel refreshing for decades to come. Shaker cabinetry was another timeless must-have, so the cabinetry throughout their home was custom-made in this style.

The couple worked with Acker Builders to transform the vacant, lakefront lot into their contemporary, coastal home. Interior designer Amanda Van Wie of DesignWell Interiors was brought in for design expertise.

The Baumbachs found a floor plan and worked with Acker to adjust and customize it, resulting in an airy, four-bedroom, six-bathroom home with a four-car garage, sunroom, wine room, two offices and recreation room that allow Scott and Kelly and their two daughters, Tenley and Tayton, to spread out.

“It was great to [be here] during quarantine with the views of the lake … and the open floor plan created a lot of space when we were all here for the extended period of time,” Kelly says. Being able to go outside was another bonus, for calming water vistas. “The lake looks different every day,” she adds.

More About This Home

5,000+ SQUARE FEET | 4 BEDROOMS | 4 FULL BATHROOMS AND 2 HALF BATHS

CUSTOM CRAFTED

It’s difficult to tell in these photos, but the TV and fireplace wall mimics the look of stone — an aesthetic a local artist achieved with layers of paint.

WARM WOOD ELEMENTS

Most of the flooring throughout the home is this gorgeous Iberian Hazelwood (a few of the rooms have carpet). “We wanted a beach-y driftwood look, so that it feels almost like you’re on a beach,” says Scott, on why they chose this flooring. Finding light-colored hardwood was
a challenge when they built the home. At the time, dark hardwood floors were trending in the Midwest.

The clear pine wood wall inlets (above) provide a nice visual contrast to the white and black interior. “Clear pine is actually one of the very few wood species that is white by nature,” says Van Wie. “Whenever you stain it, it will take on the true color of the stain, so it’s one that coordinates well with other wood species.”

ANGLES + CURVES

The ensuite has subtle touches of glam with gold accents and champagne colored cabinetry. If a space is beginning to feel too angular, adding rounded elements — like the mirror, vases, towel holders and soaker tub — can break up those lines.

CLASSIC COLOR

In need of the perfect, soft white? The Baumbachs opted for Heron Plume by Sherwin-Williams — which has a slight grey hue — and used it throughout the entire home.

Having an all-cream owner’s bedroom was important to Kelly, who took charge on the design. Van Wie says because the Baumbachs wanted the whole house to feel bright and modern, they used the black trim throughout to provide contrast and visual balance.

OUTDOOR OASIS

The three-season sunroom on the main floor has a fireplace to keep warm in the cooler months and windows that fully open to allow lake breezes in during the summer.

DESIGN TIPS:

• Van Wie says she tries to get clients to break away from the constraints of choosing one design style. “Blending styles, textures and materials is what creates balance, while focusing on one or two elements to carry throughout the home is what leads to a cohesive project in any home design. I refer to our design style as Midwest Modern. We take a traditional approach and modernize it, creating a timeless design.”
• Van Wie is a firm believer in high/low decorating. Splurge on lighting, flooring, window treatments and cabinetry, she says. Things like accent furniture, art and décor are places you can save within your budget. The artwork above the bed, for example, was a HomeGoods find.

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

For several years, Megan and Andy Walker lived in a bit of limbo. Andy ran a software company on the East Coast and commuted back and forth to Wisconsin. Then his job took him to Washington, D.C., for a few years, and then, Chicago. All the while, he traveled for work and Megan and their four kids lived in a home they purchased on Lake Kegonsa in 2011. Adding to the family’s busyness was the fact that a year or two after moving in, the couple chose to remodel the nearly 30-year-old property and replace all of the mechanicals. “After that, we were done—and it was a beautiful house. We really did love it,” says Andy.

One night while out to dinner, the couple was approached by a visitor from Illinois who told them they liked their house, and asked if it was for sale.

“I jokingly said, for the right price, everything’s for sale!” says Andy. “And, he took me up on it.”

The family moved in with Megan’s parents in Stoughton while they scouted for another home off the water to buy, with the plan of building another home on the lake again—when the right property came up for sale. Luckily, the Walkers found a pie- shaped lake lot relatively quickly that had a cottage on it, and they snapped it up. Next, they had to design their dream home.

GETTING TO WORK

The couple worked with Tyler Hawryluk of Calgary, Canada-based THAD Residential Design Studio on the “modern, yet homey” feel they wanted in their floor plan, general design and even exterior renderings.

“We sent him pictures of our old house and told him that we loved that house, but I think we went a little too far on how modern we made it. [So] we wanted this one to feel a little bit more cozy, but at the same time modern, and blend those styles,” says Andy.

In the design, the Walkers wanted the kitchen to be the heart of the home and ensure that the main floor was open and conducive to hosting guests, “because at the end of the day, that’s where everybody wants to be,” explains Andy.

Once the plans were finalized, Megan and Andy weren’t afraid to roll up their sleeves to do the work—in fact, they acted as the general contractors—hiring everyone from Fuller Excavating to tear down the old cottage, to working with Kyle Kane of DK Design Build to oversee laying the foundation and the framing of the home. They also worked with Dream House Dream Kitchens on the main floor’s layout, cabinetry and other elements throughout the home.

DREAM DESIGN

In the open floor plan, each space blends seamlessly with the next—which also presented some design challenges, admits Andy. One design trick the couple used was utilizing tile flooring in the entryway and the outdoor room that faces the lake to demarcate those spaces. The couple also used Douglas Fir ceiling beam accents to help ground the space and subtly emphasize room divisions.

“What Megan did really well was use those [ceiling] beams as an artificial separation in the house. [So in the entryway] the herringbone tile stops at one of the beams and then it transitions into hardwood even though the beam is on the ceiling—not on the floor,” says Andy.

The couple wove in Douglas Fir touches throughout the entire home— including in contrasting trim on the inky black kitchen cabinetry. Quartz countertops in the kitchen provide a clean, refreshing break to the dark cabinetry and gold faucets add a gleamy touch to the space. Two dishwashers, a 48-inch-wide Wolf cooktop (plus searing station and griddle) and plenty of prep area mean the space can easily accommodate the family of six plus guests anytime.

The dining area is another special spot, outfitted with a table custom-made by Andy’s dad, a retired woodworking teacher. The furniture piece against the wall was crafted by Dream House Dream Kitchens and houses a cooler drawer and icemaker on the left, and a wine fridge on the right—all cleverly disguised as a buffet. “I really think they did a good job,” affirms Andy.

As a busy family of six, Megan and Andy also needed a respite in their home to retreat from the daily grind. Their master suite takes up about two-thirds of the main level, which includes the bedroom, a master bath, his-and-hers closets, and Andy’s office. “It feels like a mini apartment, to be honest,” says Andy.

Jerry Schmidt, director of design at Dream House Dream Kitchens, praises the Walker’s unique vision and painstaking detail in the home. “I would say the fact that you can see straight through the house end to end is a cool feature,” he says. “It’s a fun house, because you feel like you’re walking on the water, in a sense. It really pulls you toward the lake. It has the right window heights and lines—it’s a great formula.”

More About the Home:

7,000 square feet | 5 bedrooms | 4.5 baths

come in

Homeowners Megan and Andy Walker designed the entryway around a mahogany door by the Pivot Door Company that swings in the middle instead of hanging from hinges. “The front door is a great piece that everyone always comments on,” says Andy. It was Megan’s idea to wallpaper the ceiling in the front entryway for an unexpected, contemporary touch. Black herringbone tile defines the space.

heart of the home

The white chevron tile backsplash with gray grout dresses up the kitchen and complements the simple yet chic Shaker-style kitchen cabinets. The couple chose Douglas Fir accents from Brunsell Lumber & Millwork to kick up the cabinetry. Jewel- like pendant lamps from Steinhafel’s hang over the kitchen island.

The family’s Double Doodle Gunner often lounges in the entryway.

special touches

The kitchen has a waterfall edge peninsula that can seat four, in addition to the six people the kitchen island can accommodate. “It was really important for [us] that if we were having people over, that everybody could be in the kitchen eating and drinking and not feel like they have to stand,” says Andy.

The family room has a comfortable, casual vibe with a mix of leather, wood and metal accents. “We spent several days in Chicago sitting on furniture—we wanted something that was going to be comfortable and inviting. This couch is from Room & Board,” says Megan.

water vistas

The “outdoor room” as Andy calls it, faces the lake. It has two sets of NanaWalls, which are foldable glass walls. One set is on the home’s exterior, and another set separates the outdoor room from the dining room. Each set of walls is also equipped with screens, so the room can become a screened- in porch or completely open to the outside. When both walls are open, lake breezes waft into the home. The tiled floor adds durability for when the room is open to the outside, and hearty West Elm furniture can withstand temperature swings.

cool touches

The Walker’s double- sided vanity was a one-of-kind request, says Dream House Dream Kitchen’s Jerry Schmidt. But once the team saw how
it turned out, they were sold. Andy’s dad custom-welded and powder-coated the mirror that hangs from the ceiling.

The spacious rectangular tub was a must-have for Megan. Matte black Brizo plumbing fixtures are used throughout the master bath.

Andy ordered an online kit and assembled the wine rack underneath the stairs himself in the temperature-controlled wine cellar.

The couple’s two teenagers share this upstairs bathroom. Each kid has their own vanity for getting ready and storing their items.

By Shayna Mace | Photography by Shanna Wolf

This home was featured in the Madison: Spring 2020 issue. For more photos of featured Madison homes, visit the Madison Gallery page.

During the summer, the Wisconsin Dells area transforms into a bustling destination for tourists visiting from near and far. Meanwhile, as tourists play the days away on water slides and go-karts, a family home sits quietly on Lake Delton, seeming as if it’s a million miles away from the crowds.

In October 2017, Justin and Sarah Pope embarked on finally making their dream home a reality. After spotting a Hart DeNoble Builders home during the 2002 Parade of Homes, the couple fell in love with the builder’s designs and decided then and there that they wanted them to build their future lake home.

Fast-forward nearly two decades after that Parade of Homes sighting, and the Popes are now living in, and loving, their lakeside home.

AN IDYLLIC PIECE OF LAND

Although the home project was started in 2017, their vision was formulated long before that. Lake Delton residents since 2004, the couple who are parents to two boys (Nolan, 13, and Ethan, 11) explains, “Our family was living in another home we had purchased in 2007 on the other side of the lake when we came across our current property for sale. We had been very happy with our previous home but [it] lacked green space for our boys to play on.”

The couple was immediately drawn to the property—it was a double lot with flat water frontage and a bygone cottage that had been built in 1944.

“This was the perfect opportunity to build the home we had always wanted,” Sarah shares. “We purchased the lot in 2015 and began making plans for our next home.”

In 2017, the Popes met with Steve Hunter, their architect from Hart DeNoble Builders. From there they worked with a contracting team which included Jason DeNoble, Jason Franzen and Gar Holcomb. Later that year, the crew took down the original cottage and construction began.

THE BUILDING PROCESS

Jason DeNoble shares that the Popes desired “a quality-built home taking advantage of the amazing lake views and lot.”

Like many lake homeowners, the water was Pope’s main focal point. “Our goal was to have a lake view from every main living space and bedroom,” Sarah echoes.

Over the next 11 months, the team got to work. To maximize the vistas that the couple dearly wanted to enjoy, the elevation of the property was raised substantially.

Sarah adds, “It was a large undertaking to bring the elevation of the home up to what the design dictated. Over 50 truckloads of fill were brought in to raise the home. Our current main level sits at the same level as the previous cottage’s roofline!”

Other design aspects provide unhindered views of the lake. For example, the couple opted for 10-foot ceilings throughout the home to open up the space and allow for expansive windows that would invite natural light to pour in.

“The elevation of our main level sits in a fashion that when you are standing inside, you feel as though you are right on top of the water,” Sarah says. “It makes for a very peaceful and serene vibe in the home and a jaw-dropping view when you enter the two-story foyer.”

DÉCOR DETAILS

When the family isn’t boating, fishing or taking in stunning lakeside sunsets (often shared with their pup, Gage, who equally loved being on the water), they are enjoying the comfortable, airy surroundings of their home.

“We wanted a timeless feel as we plan to stay in this home forever,” Sarah says.

Amid the coffered and wood-paneled ceilings, wood mouldings, built-in cabinetry and Bluestone fireplace lie warm and thoughtful décor touches. Sarah especially loves the lighting throughout the home, all purchased through Madison Lighting.

Dwellings, a Madison-based furniture and interior design company, lent their aesthetic expertise to the home as well.

“We helped Sarah select furnishings for her great room, master bedroom and dining area,” co-owner Julie Umhoefer explains. “Because of the beautiful lake view and details that Sarah had already paid such attention to, we knew the furniture needed to be complementary to the home itself. We wanted to create a cozy, inviting and livable space, one that her family could enjoy and feel comfortable in. This home feels like a soft, Midwestern lake retreat.”

The breezy visuals carry to the exterior as well. Inspired by trips taken out East and spending time in Cape Cod, the exterior has handsome gray shingles and Bluestone reminiscent of an ocean-front cottage.

When asked about her favorite aspect of the home, Sarah says, “For me, I would say everything! This home has been in my head for years, and to see it become a reality has been nothing short of a dream. Some of my favorite days are spent sitting by the fire with a glass of wine and taking in the views, whether it be by the fireplace or outside at the fire pit. I feel so fortunate to be able to call this my home.”

More About the Home:

4,492 square feet | 4 bedrooms | 3 full baths, 2 half baths

coastal kitchen

The decorative accents in the kitchen are close to homeowner Sarah Pope’s heart. As for the Chinoiserie vases above the cabinets, she says, “Blue is my favorite color, and this is a collection I have been gathering over the years.” She thought the silver whale “deserved center stage in our kitchen.”

wide open spaces

“The details are what makes the difference in any home,” Sarah shares. These details can be seen in the whisper-blue backsplash showcased in the kitchen, the Visual Comfort chandelier over the table, the Dwellings pieces seen in the dining room and great room, and a beloved painting over the fireplace. “This was a gift from a family member that we brought in from our previous home,” Sarah explains.

marine colors

From the laundry room’s navy cabinets to the nearly all-white mudroom, blues and whites are prevalent throughout this lakefront home, nestled alongside visually-pleasing decorative elements. These pieces are beautiful without overwhelming the space, like the quatrefoil mirror from Pottery Barn.

classic comfort

Many Dwellings furniture pieces can be seen throughout the home. Co-owner Julie Umhoefer says, “When choosing the furnishings for Sarah’s home, we paid close attention to details—contrasting welts on the swivel chair and ottoman, hand-rubbing on the dining chairs, the sisal rug in the great room, layering of textures in the bedding pieces, upholstered captain’s chairs in the dining room and more. Every piece was hand- selected to create a finished look.”

lakeside look

This home’s locale is infused in nearly every room you see, from the nautical bedroom outfitted in Ethan Allen linens to the bathroom featuring weathered wood, to the washroom drenched in navy blue hues.

life on the water

Even when indoors, the outdoors are never far with the home’s copious windows. Hart DeNoble’s Jason DeNoble notes that the placement of the rooms optimized the views, and to continue the lakeside fun, he says that “storage was added under the garage with easy lake access for watersports equipment.” A patio outfitted with wicker furniture and a gilded Pottery Barn coffee table invites friends and family to linger over lakeside views.

Get The Look

Sarah and Justin Pope called upon the interior design expertise of Jenny Haley and Julie Umhoefer of Madison’s Dwellings to furnish key areas of their home. The sisters designed and chose pieces such as the master bedroom’s bed, dresser and linens; the dining room’s table, chairs and area rug; the great room’s sectional, ottoman, swivel chair, floor lamp, console table and area rug; and the upstairs loft’s media cabinet. Other items in the home were purchased from tried-and-true retailers such as Pottery Barn, like the silver whale in the kitchen and the quatrefoil bathroom mirror. The chandeliers in the dining room and master bedroom are from Visual Comfort.

Schumacher Santa Barbara Ikat pillow, $99, popocolor.com

Martini Counter Stool, $585, brookeandlou.com

Melbourne Pendant in white, $545, brookeandlou.com

Lily Pad Ginger Jar, $185, enchantedhome.com

By Shelby Deering | Photography by Shanna Wolf

This home was featured in the Madison: Spring 2020 issue. For more photos of featured Madison homes, visit the Madison Gallery page.

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.

By Shayna Mace | Photography by Shanna Wolf

2,500 SQUARE FEET / 3 BEDROOMS / 3 BATHS

As seasoned house-flippers and real estate owners, Ashley and Luke Bruckner know a good house when they see it. The Madison couple had been living in the Westmorland neighborhood on the near west side of Madison but always kept an eye out for just the right lake home. It helped that Luke is a realtor—so he was able to stay abreast of the market.

When they spotted a property in 2016 on Lake Waubesa in McFarland, Luke knew the right house had come along. However, the couple agreed the dated floor plan would need to be addressed— as did the landscaping in the back of the house that was choked with trees—that blocked the lake view entirely.

The couple consulted with an engineer friend to plot out the home’s renovation.

“I wanted this house to be unique, because everything had to be a certain way with the staircase where it was,” explains Ashley. “I’ve always liked modern [style], and with the beams where they were in the main [living] room, we just embraced that and brought up [the whole home] to a modern standard.”

The couple tackled much of the work on the 1962 house themselves, as well as hired friends and trusted contractors they work with on their house flips. In all, the renovation took two years, on and off.

MODERN MARVEL

Now, the entertaining-friendly home has everything the couple and their two Boston Terriers, Hank and Roy, need—including a killer lake view and sunsets every day.

Walking into the home, the main living area, kitchen and dining room are all in one—and the pitched ceiling with exposed beams—although already there—perfectly fit Ashley’s midcentury modern aesthetic. All the couple had to do was paint the beams black and leave the ceiling its existing warm wood color for contrast. One entire wall is exposed brick, which the couple also opted to leave—although they painted it gray—and replaced the old fireplace with a minimalist gas one. Ashley also had a smaller wall adjacent to the front door covered with Ipe wood—a hardy Brazilian species that marries into the neutral color scheme flawlessly.

The largest change on the main level was relocating the kitchen from the front wall of the home (that has a street view) to the side and adding in an island, so now the couple can cook and socialize—while still catching water views. They also added a clever eight-foot-long bar-top table and seating area alongside the staircase that looks directly out to the water. They frequently eat dinner here or guests can hang out and sip their drinks.

With the kitchen relocated, the Bruckners were able to install huge sliding glass doors that lead out to a quaint deck area in front of the house where Luke can grill and they can eat outside.

The couple also carved out other smart space hacks on the first level, like tucking in the washer and dryer in a front hallway along with a handy dog-washing station. The master bedroom and bath and two guest bedrooms and full bath sit in the same footprint as before—albeit stylishly updated with sleek, modern décor.

In the lower level is another hangout area with wet bar, ice machine, wine fridge and cabinetry that was added by the couple. The quartz waterfall island and seating area is also a stunning update to the room. Also downstairs is a cool workout room plus kicky sleeping area for the Bruckner’s nieces and nephews when they visit.

Although the house was a lot of work and the couple encountered some bumps in the road along the way (like replacing rotted siding on one side of the house), they are both in love with the finished product.

“We get the sunsets, and I think that’s both of our favorite parts of this home,” says Luke. “We both like sitting out here and having a drink at night and watching the sun go down. And obviously, the lake view is incredible.”

This home was featured in the Madison: Fall 2018 issue. For more photos of featured Madison homes, visit the Madison Gallery page.

By Melanie Radzicki McManus | Photography by Eric Tadsen, Tadsen Photography

3,800 SQUARE FEET / 6 BEDROOMS / 5.5 BATHS

Fred and Katie Cromer never intended to purchase a lake home. Not that the two didn’t enjoy being on the water. The couple both grew up in Evanston, Ill., and regularly vacationed in Lake Geneva with their families. Still, they had no plans to purchase a lakeside vacation home until they spotted one for sale in 2015.

It was a 1970’s-era ranch home on Lake Wisconsin’s Okee Bay, and it featured 100 feet of lake frontage— twice the norm. But more importantly, it sat in between homes owned by Fred’s father and his sister and brother-in-law. The chance to be this close to family was priceless, especially since Fred’s job with Bombardier Inc. required the family to relocate a few times over the years. In fact, when the couple purchased the home, they were primarily living in Los Angeles, although Fred had recently taken a position with Bombardier that was based in Montreal. A second home in the Midwest would make a convenient meeting spot for the family.

The Cromers tapped Vive Home Transformations to remodel the 2,265-square-foot ranch house into a welcoming place that would be able to sleep plenty of people. While their three daughters—Lauren, Caroline and Allie—are grown, the Cromers enjoy entertaining and wanted their kids to be able to visit with friends in tow. After checking into the cost of renovating the existing structure of the original ranch home, the estimates came in over what the Cromers and Vive had expected.

So Joel Geissbuhler, project development manager for Vive, says that after discussion and collaboration with the Cromers and Vive’s associates, everyone agreed it would be easier, and actually less expensive, to tear down the house to its foundation and rebuild from there.

Once that decision was made, things proceeded much more smoothly. And by the summer of 2017, the Cromers had their new lake home: a 3,800-square-foot abode that was homey and intimate, yet could sleep 17.

The focal point of the home’s main living area is, of course, the lake. It spills into the combined great room/kitchen/dining room through a wall of glass. “They have two sets of dual-operation sliding doors, plus large transom windows above that, that let in about 228 square feet of natural light,” says Geissbuhler.

To enhance the light and lake views, the interior of the main living area is clean and white, with a shiplap ceiling and maple kitchen cabinetry painted with a white icing finish. Warmth comes from the mocha-toned luxury vinyl flooring and the local, reclaimed barn wood used in the great room’s stone fireplace mantle and open shelving. Soothing lake tones are reflected inside via a sky blue couch and numerous blue glass accents.

Yet if this palette sounds a bit cliché for a lake home, the effect is not at all that of a cottage or beach house. Katie wanted to create an industrial farmhouse look, which mixes modern metals with rustic woods. And she achieved that with the help of Amanda Funk, head of Niapa Building Planners, and Carrie Simpson of Vault Interiors & Design.

With Katie many states away, the women often communicated ideas through Pinterest, creating boards for each room in the house. “Joel told me that at one point, he had to block me because all of my pinning was setting off his phone all night long,” Katie laughs. But the strategy worked well.

Simpson was able to locate metal chairs that worked perfectly with the kitchen island, and metal-framed beds for the Cromer daughters’ room, created in a lofted area above the garage. “The metal makes the beds very light in visual presence,” says Simpson, “which is valuable because there are four beds in there.”

Katie, in turn, scoped out most of the home’s unique light fixtures, many of which she found on Pinterest. The Cromers also incorporated items from their previous homes into their new Wisconsin digs, such as the massive pine dining room table, a sentimental family favorite from their years in Houston.

With the home largely finished except for some wall décor, the Cromers’ next project is a rebuild of the property’s old boathouse, plus a new look for the landscaping.

“I’m just so happy with the outcome of this project,” Katie says. In fact, once Fred retires, Katie says she can envision making this spot their home for half of the year.

“I never imagined how much we’d enjoy being here in rural Wisconsin,” she says. “It’s just so pretty and relaxing.” Just like their beautiful, new home.

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

By Shayna Mace | Photography by Shanna Wolf

If you’ve ever visited the graceful streets of downtown Charleston, South Carolina, or the stately plantations of New Orleans, the deep South has a sense of hospitality and charm that permeates the air and the dignified, historic homes that are there. And up here, Middleton couple Ryan and Janelle Baxter designed their own slice of Southern paradise—right on Lake Mendota.

A long road scattered with towering pine trees takes visitors to the elegant abode with a circular driveway designed by Steven Swenson of The Bruce Company (a purposeful down-South touch) that has a classy white exterior with handsome copper accents—and wooden shutters dotted with pineapples (hand-carved in each shutter by their builder, Brian Sipple of Classic Custom Homes of Waunakee). After all, the pineapple is the symbol of hospitality down South.

“When we were in Charleston on a walking tour, we always knew pineapples meant hospitality, but we didn’t know why,” explains Ryan. “We learned when sea captains would come back from trips, they would bring this very exotic fruit home to their wives—and it was always the pineapple, and they would set it on the porch.”

“That was a sign you could come by and say ‘hi,’” adds Janelle.

And for the Baxters, pineapples turn up again and again in their home in light fixtures and art—a welcoming gesture to family and friends who are always visiting their traditional-meets-new-build home.

IDEAL COMBINATION

When the Baxters decided to build their dream home on the lake back in 2016, it was a merging not only of lives for the engaged couple at the time—he’s originally from Madison, she’s from Chicago—but an integration of several must- haves on their list, including a Southern-inspired floorplan and design, the ideal piece of property and a location close to city conveniences. Enter the overgrown, yet sprawling piece of land (that had a 1950s cottage on it) that they snagged to start the process.

“What captured me was the pine-lined driveway. That’s why we didn’t look for a ‘new’ piece of property because we really love having the established trees,” explains Janelle. “There’s character—there’s already years of growth.”

When concepting the design with Classic Custom Homes, the Baxters endeavored to incorporate their love of the tasteful, historic homes they had seen on their travels.

“We wanted something that looked like it had been here a long time—something that was unique-looking,” says Ryan. “So the home façade mirrors a home that [we saw] in Oyster Bay, outside of Boston. This home had a very unique half-circle entry, and it struck us.”

“The rest of that home was Dutch Colonial, and we love that architecture style, but the way this property lies, we wanted to maximize the lake view, so it’s kind of wide and narrow,” says Janelle. “We had a vision board of probably two or three thousand pictures. As we looked at the images, a couple of themes came about. We liked the coastal Cape Cod look, and Dutch Colonial. And once we started with that [half-circle] entrance, we built the rooms around that, and the little details fell into place from there.”

The home’s half-circle entryway is certainly the statement-maker in the home. A curvy staircase hugs one side that circles around to the second floor, where the Baxters get panoramic views of the trees in the front and the lake in the back. A soft and subtle yellow shade (Sherwin-Williams’ Philadelphia Cream) colors the entryway and the adjoining living room that has built-in bookcases, a granite-surround fireplace, wall-to-ceiling windows on one side, and white wainscoting. The room has a sense of lived-in comfort about it—which was of course deliberate.

“The other big influencer for us was Southern homes—that hospitality presence,” says Janelle. “I wanted archways because that gives a unique visual. Crown molding and coffered ceilings [were also must-haves].”

Although the home flows easily from one room to another, the couple also wanted a bit of separation in the home.

“A traditional home is very segmented—so there aren’t big, open living areas,” says Ryan. “So the living room is separated, as is my office. The remainder of the home is laid out very traditionally, where you have long hallways and not a lot of big, open areas. But then our one main living area [the eat-in kitchen and lounge area] is wide open—and more convenient.”

Ryan’s referring to the most-used area of the house—the eat-in kitchen and sitting area with fireplace. The couple like to sit here with one- year-old daughter Savannah, or entertain friends. They wanted to blend in traditional touches along with modern conveniences, so they sought the expertise of interior designer Laurie Driscoll of Laurie Driscoll Interiors, who recommended their octagonal kitchen island have a cherry base and quartz top (to reflect the character of an older home), a Moroccan-inspired backsplash, heightened kitchen cabinets and dark countertops as a balance to the light and bright kitchen. Janelle’s parents’ prized 50-year-old copper pieces sit on display above the range—a touching reminder that family is always nearby.

FULLY FUNCTIONAL

Tucked next to the kitchen is a spacious pantry (with a library-like ladder that moves back and forth on rails) and butler’s area with an extra sink and storage. The couple’s laundry room with extra fridge, more storage, dog-washing area and mudroom cubbies help the busy family of three keep life in order.

Through another arched doorway next to the kitchen is a small playroom for Savannah and a wet bar with mini fridge so guests can grab beverages as they make their way out the back door to the water. A final Southern- inspired touch is the screened-in porch on the right side of the house that has brick-red floors (another element inspired by the South, says Ryan) with built-in grill, fireplace and dining table. The room is the perfect place for the family to sit and eat dinner on warm nights, or for larger gatherings with friends.

“My favorite part of our home is being steps from Lake Mendota,” says Ryan. “I’m reminded daily of my fondest childhood memories, [like] taking boat rides with my Dad, and knowing that I’ll make those same memories with my kids.”

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