Your Remodeling
Superstore
5117 Verona Road | Madison, WI 53711 | 608-204-7575 www.dream-kitchens.com
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CONTENT VOL. 10
MAY–JULY 2019
Photograph provided by Bella Domicile
publisher Towns & Associates, Inc. PO Box 174, Baraboo, WI 53913-0174 p 608.356.8757 • f 608.356.8875 homeelementsandconcepts.com editor-in-chief Amy S. Johnson info@homeelementsandconcepts.com publication designer Linda Walker senior copy editor Kyle Jacobson
BUSINESS DESIGN
Assorted Relevance
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the Sauk Prairie Area Chamber is designed to educate
copy editor Krystle Naab
COMMUNITY INITIATIVES
sales & marketing director Amy S. Johnson ajohnson@homeelementsandconcepts.com
Wisconsin Partnership for Housing Development
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sales & marketing manager Kelly Hopkins khopkins@homeelementsandconcepts.com
expanding affordable housing opportunities throughout Wisconsin
graphic designers Jennifer Denman, Crea Stellmacher, Barbara Wilson
Midcentury Modern Appeal
administration Debora Knutson
Shipshape!
contributing writers Convivio, Kyle Jacobson, Katherine Kamp, Legacy Exteriors LLC, MGE, Karina Mae, Jerry Schmidt, Tom Woodward
FURNISHINGS & ACCESSORIES
26
master closets and the ideal living space
Those Summer Nights
12
gin and tonic is a great way to start a party
photographs Bella Domicile, The Bruce Company, Mary D'Alton of Convivio, Dream House Dream Kitchens, Garden Search & Rescue, Legacy Exteriors LLC, MGE, Odana Antiques and Fine Arts Center, Sauk Prairie Area Chamber of Commerce, Wisconsin Partnership for Housing Development additional copies Home Elements & Concepts is available free at over 150 locations. If you would like a copy sent to you, please send mailing information and $4 (payable to Towns & Associates) for each magazine to Home Elements & Concepts, c/o Towns & Associates, Inc., PO Box 174, Baraboo, WI 53913-0174.
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midcentury furniture and décor is rapidly becoming all the rage
Photograph provided by Dream House Dream Kitchens
LANDSCAPE
Phase One Makeovers
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homes that often have oddly shaped yards
subscriptions To purchase an annual subscription (4 issues), send mailing information and $16 (payable to Towns & Associates) to Home Elements & Concepts, c/o Towns & Associates, Inc., PO Box 174, Baraboo, WI 53913-0174. Or sign up for a FREE online subscription at homeelementsandconcepts.com.
REMODEL/RENOVATION
comments We welcome your questions and comments. Please submit to Home Elements & Concepts, c/o Towns & Associates, Inc., PO Box 174, Baraboo, WI 53913-0174 or email info@homeelementsandconcepts.com.
points on how to build a body of water on your own property
advertise To place an advertisement, please call 608.356.8757x105 or email ajohnson@homeelementsandconcepts.com.
Bella Domicile Bathroom Makeover Living On Your Own Water
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Modern Improv: Making a Downtown Condo Feel Spacious
16
an overall expansive remodel to showcase ultra-modern style
Siding
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guidance for making decisions on home siding
TECHNOLOGY
all rights reserved. ©2019 No portion of this magazine may be reproduced without prior written permission by the publisher, Towns & Associates, Inc.
Go Green Support Clean Energy in Our Community 20
Watch for the next issue August 2019.
From The Editor
Cover photograph by Dream House Dream Kitchens
6
redesigning the way the homeowners interacted with their master suite
be more sustainable in how we generate and use energy in our community
4 Advertiser Index 46 HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS
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from the editor “The ache for home lives in all of us, the safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned.” —Maya Angelou This idea of home is where we start and end our days, and it’s the place where we spend most of our lives. Because of these things, we want it to reflect who we are and how we want to live. The creation of our space is done through design both inside and out, and includes construction, renovation, and decoration. From the structure of the house itself to the furniture we place in each room to the artwork we place on a wall, when you enter someone’s home, you feel who they are. In this issue we have both a beautiful downtown condo redesign and a bathroom makeover. And, with the warm weather finally upon us, it’s a great time to go out into the yard, so we have two looks at what you can do within your landscape: incorporate water features and a complete yard makeover. Although it may not be the first thing you think about for home design, the siding you select not only impacts your home’s longevity, but it’s also one of your home’s first impressions. The article inside provides some wonderful guidelines. We also appreciate being able to include important information about sustainability and technology, and to offer more storage and design ideas. Whatever elements you choose for your home, we hope to help you make selections that feel best for you because, ultimately, your home embodies a part of you.
Amy Johnson
4 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
Why choose BELLA for your kitchen?
We make it as easy as possible, after all, it’s all about YOU! belladomicile.com | 608.271.8241 | 6210 Nesbitt Rd, Madison
Made in Wisconsin for Wisconsin
• Free stain and paint color matching • Factory direct pricing every day • Large selection of quality products, stains, and paint Discover over 3,000 paint colors at our 5 Madison area locations. Downtown Madison • Madison West •Middleton •Monona • Sun Prairie HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS
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REMODEL/RENOVATION
6 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
After
Bella Domicile
BATHROOM Makeover
Few things in a house are more frustrating than having to share a vanity with your partner. For men, you might not know what all the different makeups are for and why they need to be out all the time. For women, you ask yourself why he can’t clean up all those facial hairs and rinse the sink when he’s done. For some couples, the issues might be double. Now imagine this master bathroom is connected to the master bedroom with no doors dividing the spaces. Better get used to waking up and going to bed when the other does every night and day. This was the case for the Hanauers in the Parkwood Hills neighborhood. Their master bedroom opened up to the vanity in the bathroom—one corner was the vanity and the other was the bedroom’s closet. A door opposite the closet led to a toilet and tub that had an inward-swinging door just missing the toilet’s edge. When Bella Domicile came to help redesign the way the homeowners interacted with their master suite, they worked together to create a list of objectives.
After
Objective One: separate the bathroom from the bedroom The previous layout had it so the closet was a u-shaped area across from the vanity with three sets of closet doors for each side of the “U.” The answer was to put a pocket door, at the inside wall’s end of the “U” to allow the two rooms to be closed from one another.
Before
Objective Two: make the closet storage more accessible without so many doors and hard-to-reach corners First things first, how much closet space was available in the previous design? After taking some measurements, the most
HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS
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After
practical solution was to have the closet open directly into the bedroom and create a wall between the vanity and closet, allowing for more areas to hang clothes. Everything became more accessible, and the clients were able to purchase their own closet-storage systems after I gave some recommendations. Objective Three: add a second sink if possible and still maintain a makeup area/create a vanity space easier for two people to use at the same time With a new wall where the closet used to be, the placement of the second sink was clear. We used the new wall for one sink and part of the old vanity for the other. This allowed the homeowners to each have their own space for toiletries, makeup, razors, and whatever else they’d need. Both sink areas have their own medicine cabinets as well to help keep everything organized. Further organization was achieved through the use of Dura Supreme cabinets, which are frameless to maximize storage. The bathroom and vanity areas were tied together with marble-patterned quartz countertops for the sinks and marble-patterned ceramic shower tile for the shower, creating the always-timeless classic look. As a bonus when tackling the bathroom, we thought it best to do something about the door leading to the toilet and tub. A pocket door eliminated the awkward entering and exiting when maneuvering around the old swinging door in a relatively tight space. Objective Four: update materials while keeping the style in line with the traditional 1960s home/ create something special with tile in the space The clients hated to see the old wall arches/flutes go, so we created mirror frames with cabinetry parts that have fluted and arched details reminiscent of the old wall. Since the vanity floor area is very visible from the bathroom, we decided to incorporate a decorative tile feature there rather than on the more-hidden shower walls. With multicolored hexagon-shaped mosaic tile and the marble-looking porcelain tile around it, we created a sensible “rug� look.
Decorative tile feature with multicolored hexagon-shaped mosaic tile and marble-looking porcelain tile around it.
8 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
Before
After
HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS
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After
10 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
Objective Five: close the door from the bedroom to the office area When entering the master bedroom, the master bathroom is to the right and the bed is to the left. On the wall shared by the entrance door was immediately another door on the left leading to the office. Another door to the office was just outside the entrance to the master bedroom, creating a corner in the office where the two doors swung into each other. I suggested we move the main entrance to the bedroom down the hall a bit because when the door was fully open, it actually blocked off the vanity. The wall created when moving the master bedroom’s entrance door into the hall allowed a pocket door to be implemented for entering the office from the hallway. The door to the office from the bedroom was eliminated, creating a stronger feel of being in a home rather than a hotel room.
BEFORE
The Result The Hanauers hired their own general contractor for the labor and ended up with some truly unique design elements that feel as classic as they are current. They added a Solatube to incorporate natural light into the windowless bathroom, highlighting the faucets and accessories purchased to coordinate with the light fixtures they wanted to reuse. I suggested a bench under the low window just outside the closet for additional storage for gym bags as well as a place to sit and put shoes on. Everything now has a distinct feel and appropriateness to it. Now the Hanauers have an added ownership to their space, making it more their home and something they’ll treasure for a lifetime.
Before
AFTER
Photographs provided by Bella Domicile. View additional photographs at homeelementsandconcepts.com. Bella Domicile 6210 Nesbitt Road Madison, WI 53719 608.271.8241 belladomicile.com
HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS
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FURNISHINGS & ACCESSORIES
Those Summer Nights Gin and tonic is a great way to start a party. First set up a bar with the basics— tonic, ice, and limes—then add a selection of local gins to surprise your guests with unique spirits made in our own state. Wisconsin has many craft distilleries, and almost every one of them produces a signature gin recipe with a different botanical profile. For fun, you could ask guests to describe the flavor notes and even have a taste comparison of the different local gins. Keep your eyes open at garage sales or secondhand stores for vintage cocktail glass sets, or even groupings of mismatched glasses, to add an aesthetic entertainment value for your guests. Set your summer table. For a bold look, make a color statement by combining a group of bright dishes in solid colors then add a few patterned elements. Favorite vintage, Midcentury Modern, and 1970s pieces are often loaded with bright hues. Lanterns and candlelight. Make a wonderful and inviting setting to encourage guests to converse late into the evening. Hanging lanterns above and beside a picnic table really lights up a dining area. Citronella candles will keep bugs away, but avoid placing them near food. Instead, place them around the perimeter of your entertaining space.
Items sourced by Convivio. convivioshop.com
12 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS 13
How to Beat the Bidding Wars!
Avoid the stress of the crazy Summer Market GET YOUR FINANCES IN ORDER • Get rid of your debt! • Get a PRE-APPROVAL from a LOCAL Lender/Broker so you can start the buying process immediately (this is different than a “pre-qualification” and carries more clout). Sellers and their agents tend to give preference to pre-approval letters originating from local area banks and lenders. Your agent can recommend good sources for pre-approval letters locally.
DECIDE WHAT YOU WANT BEFORE STARTING YOUR SEARCH • You will beat competitors to the punch and make offers faster! • You and your spouse/significant other need to agree on “Must Haves!” Create separate priority lists, and then compare/combine them so your agent can use them as the FOUNDATION of your search. • Spend time driving around desired neighborhoods during different times of the day to see if location variables fit your needs (do this PRIOR to going to showings!).
PREPARATION SAVES TIME…AND TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE • Try to get in to see houses BEFORE the scheduled open house times. • Have your Realtor ask questions PRIOR to the showing so you can be ready to submit an offer as needed. - Are there any offers on the table currently? - Will they be presenting offers as they come in? • Ask your Realtor for a Comparable Market Analysis (CMA) to determine the home’s actual worth. - It’s okay to pay more than the appraised value or asking price. - Don’t let your emotions get the best of you: there will always be more “fish in the sea.” Walk away if your gut tells you to. • If you are renting and your lease end date is coming up or farther out, see if you can go month-to-month or if you can sublet. • If you have a home sale contingency (meaning you need to sell your primary home prior to purchasing your next home) and have an opportunity to move somewhere temporarily and store your belongings, do so! It would help your chances when dealing with multiple offer scenerios. Sellers look at offers without home sale contingencies more favorably.
SELL YOURSELF TO THE SELLER: NEGOTIATION IS NOT ALWAYS ABOUT $ ONLY!
• Ask your Realtor for advice regarding an Earnest Money Deposit. Then consider raising that amount. You’re going to pay it anyway at closing. • Don’t make a lot of special requests or ask for additional inclusions. - Wait until AFTER your offer is accepted and address any concerns during your home inspection contingency timeframe. This is the key to determine what the Seller needs to compensate you for any deficiencies found in the home. • Writing a letter to the Seller is a nice touch! Explain how you see yourself in the home and what you love about the house. Have your Realtor submit the letter along with your offer. • Put yourself in the Seller’s shoes and get creative to make your offer stand out from others. Small details can add up and push your offer to the top of the pile.
Contact Laura today! Laura Lahti with Badger Realty Team is a seasoned Realtor with a great reputation in the community. Contact her today to assist with negotiations and manage your paperwork details so you don’t miss your chance on a great home! 14 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
608.239.3469 teamlahti.com
Want to save energy? Make mge.com your first stop • Get easy, low-cost ways to save energy • Use calculators to estimate your savings • View energy-saving brochures • Learn about Focus on Energy Interested in our energy future? Visit: energy2030together.com
GS3205 8/2/2018
HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS
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REMODEL/RENOVATION
Modern Improv Making a Downtown Condo Feel Spacious by Jerry Schmidt 16 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
This 1,880-square-foot, two-bedroom, two-bath condo was already modern. But the new residents wanted more closet space, more-open kitchen space, and more of an overall expansive feeling to showcase their own ultramodern style. The condo is located in a downtown Madison building that was converted from a parking ramp into condos in the early 1990s. The parking ramp’s wide structural pillars
In order to keep with the large scale of the pillar, a custom 10-foot-long, stainless steel hood was installed.
A custom, walnut, waterfalledge bar top wraps around the pillar in the kitchen.
have always been a design challenge in the living space, but in the new design, the pillars would become a focal point. Because why not have the pillars work into the design instead of having to work around them? A custom, walnut, waterfall-edge bar top wrapped around the pillar in the kitchen became a statement piece of the design. The warm, natural walnut wood tones bring a sense of warmth into the otherwise austere white and stainless steel room. Highlighting the presence of the pillars adds HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS
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to the industrial chic feel of the space, creating a true conversation piece. Counters and cabinets were constructed at angles on the bias in the original design. Straightening out the lines in the kitchen created more room to move and an open feel to the workspace, and there is now more walkway space between the back wall and island. The former floating desk/organizational space was removed and the coat closet modified so that the wraparound bar and a wine fridge could be added. In order to keep with the large scale of the pillar, a custom 10-foot-long, stainless steel hood was installed. The repeated long horizontal lines of the hood, walnut countertop, and quartz slab backsplash are all nice
A clever city skyline mural with a hidden door to the new utility closet.
counterpoints to the strong vertical pillar. And we replaced standard-sized doors with eight-foot doors to keep things in scale as well. Before the remodel, one entered the condo through a hallway that appeared as a wall of doors leading to a front closet and utility area. Blowing out the front closet and modifying the laundry and storage portions of the utility room created a new den that doubles as a welcoming entry space. A clever city skyline mural was also added with a hidden door to the new utility closet. Another holdover from the parking ramp days is a slope in the floors due to the grade of the original ramp surfaces. Removing tile and hardwood flooring surfaces and refinishing the existing concrete flooring throughout the entire condo eliminated the need for transitional grading between flooring materials.
18 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
Reallocating the space from hallway built-ins to the master bath space created a larger cavity where closet shelving could be added, resulting in more storage space with less bulk. The new master bath design also required reconfiguration of the shower space. Bold marble mosaic tile and new high-gloss cabinetry and counters complete the look. More people, including young professionals, young families, and maturing empty nesters, are choosing condos. It seems that every month there is a new mixeduse development under construction, with businesses on the ground level and condos on the upper floors. A condo has the same remodeling and custom design potential as a single-family home structure. Smaller condos can feel spacious and be adapted to gain entertaining and storage space, and a condo owner can create a showcase of their own personal style.
Jerry Schmidt is the Dream Team sales director at Dream House Dream Kitchens. Photographs provided by Dream House Dream Kitchens. View additional photographs at homeelementsandconcepts.com. Dream House Dream Kitchens 5117 Verona Road Fitchburg, WI 53711 608.204.7575 dream-kitchens.com
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TECHNOLOGY
Go Green
Support Clean Energy in Our Community
It’s an unprecedented time in the energy world. New technologies are creating new opportunities to be more sustainable in how we generate and use energy in our community. Madison Gas and Electric (MGE) continues to seize these opportunities, embrace new technology, and make investments to advance our clean energy goals. Under our Energy 2030 framework, we’re committed to reducing carbon emissions at least 40 percent by 2030. Beyond 2030, MGE is targeting carbon emissions reductions of at least 80 percent by 2050. By working with our customers, we can meet—or even exceed—our carbon reduction goals. Growing the company’s use of renewable energy, and thereby reducing carbon intensity in electric generation, is a key strategy for achieving deep decarbonization. MGE is actively working toward deep decarbonization by advancing clean energy projects and programs for customers. Growing Our Use of Wind and Solar Energy Earlier this year, MGE’s 66-megawatt (MW) Saratoga Wind Farm began delivering carbon-free energy to the electric grid. Located in northeast Iowa, Saratoga's 33 wind turbines produce enough clean energy to power about 47,000 households. MGE also is working to build two large-scale solar projects. The Badger Hollow Solar Farm and Two Creeks Solar projects, both in Wisconsin, would add 100 MW of new solar capacity. This is another step in MGE’s ongoing transition toward cleaner energy sources. Partnering with Customers For customers who want to power their home or business with 100 percent renewable energy, MGE offers residential 20 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
customers and businesses of all sizes an opportunity to support clean energy by taking part in voluntary programs. • Shared Solar. MGE plans to expand its successful community solar program with a second solar installation in the service territory. An expansion of the program will allow more customers, including small- and mediumsize business customers, to participate. Shared Solar gives customers the opportunity to power their home or business with locally generated solar at minimal upfront cost. Participating customers may receive up to half of their annual electricity use through the program. Join the Shared Solar waiting list to be among the first to learn details about the program's expansion. MGE’s Shared Solar pilot project, in partnership with the City of Middleton, came online in 2017. The 500-kilowatt array is on the roof of the City's Municipal Operations Center. • Green Power Tomorrow. MGE's Green Power Tomorrow (GPT) program is another optional green energy program for customers. It’s an easy and affordable way to power your home or business with 100 percent clean energy. Customers who subscribe pay a penny more per kilowatthour to receive all or a percentage of their electricity from wind and solar resources in our region. A residential customer with typical monthly electricity usage could go 100 percent green for about $5 more per month. About 10,000 residential customers participate in this program. • Renewable Energy Rider. Under this program, MGE partners with large customers on customized renewable energy solutions. This new service can provide renewable energy to power all or a portion of a business. Last year, MGE and Dane County announced plans for a solar installation of up to 8 MW on County-owned land near Dane County Regional Airport. Under the renewable energy
rider, MGE will own the solar infrastructure; lease the land from Dane County; and sell the energy to Dane County, which has the goal of 100 percent renewable energy for its operations. This is the first project announced under MGE’s renewable energy rider. MGE also partners with customers who want to install solar on their premises and connect those resources to our community grid. There are nearly 700 customer-owned wind and solar resources located throughout our community feeding our electric grid. Electrifying Transportation, Promoting Energy Efficiency In addition to advancing clean energy, MGE is working with customers and stakeholders to promote energy efficiency and to electrify transportation, both of which are key strategies for achieving deep decarbonization. Wisconsin's Focus on Energy program, our partner in energy efficiency and renewable energy, connects residents and businesses with information, resources, and financial incentives for completing energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. The program can help you move forward on energy-related improvements for your home or business. Customers also can visit the MGE and Energy 2030 websites for tips on saving energy. By reducing our collective energy use, we are practicing good environmental stewardship and helping to reach shared energy goals for our community.
transportation. Our energy experts work with customers, municipalities, property owners, employers, and community partners to grow the use of EVs and to enable charging opportunities. We continue to transition our own vehicle fleet to all-electric or hybrid where possible and have implemented workplace charging. We use our experience to help customers do the same as we work to electrify transportation and expand charging options throughout our community. MGE's LovEV web resource is dedicated to sharing with customers the different aspects of driving an EV. From the types of models available to charging options as well as cost and environmental considerations, LovEV is an easy online stop to learn more about the EV experience. Learn More Technology is changing the energy landscape and offering exciting new opportunities. Learn more about our new projects and programs and find energy-saving tips and more online. By working together, we can create a more sustainable future for our community. Join us. As your community energy company, MGE is your source for energy-saving information. Visit mge.com and energy2030together.com. Or talk to an energy expert on MGE's Home Energy Line at 608.252.7117 or 800.245.1125, Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or by email at AskExperts@mge.com. Photographs provided by MGE.
Electric vehicles (EVs) continue to grow in popularity. MGE is a resource to learn more about the future of electric
Energy 2030 energy2030together.com Focus on Energy focusonenergy.com Genre 2030 genre2030.com Green Power Tomorrow mge.com/gpt Living in Balance livinginbalancemadison.com LovEV mge.com/lovev MGE mge.com Shared Solar mge.com/sharedsolar
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REMODEL/RENOVATION
LIVING on your own water The upper Midwest is known for beautiful lakes and the recreation that goes with them. We look forward to summer outings and activities on a lake or in an area with lake access, but there’s less and less available lakefront property. What if you could build a body of water on your own property? The cost is less than installing a pool, and the size can be much greater per dollar invested. Private ponds offer more versatility than a pool, and they offer additional leisure options to swimming, such as canoeing, fishing, and wildlife viewing. To sort out water-feature questions, Shane Wagner, manager of aquatic services for The Bruce Company, shares his expertise. “There’s more to it than excavating a large hole and filling it with water. There are a few steps trained professionals take to ensure your pond has clean, high-quality water and requires far less work than needed to keep a swimming pool clean and enjoyable.” Hiring an aquatic-landscaping expert knowledgeable in synthetic lining installation will ensure this goal. Like any landscape project, there are many customizable options that determine cost. A basic, one-third-acre pond will cost $30,000 to $40,000 depending on the options chosen. Shane recommends placing the pond as close as possible to your house. “When our Bruce Company experts walk through the different design elements of a desired installation, we typically recommend placing the pond near the homeowners house for more frequent access, enjoyment, and a better viewing experience.”
22 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
The best way to start the planning process is to determine permit regulations in your area. Then schedule a site inspection with your selected expert to determine size, placement/orientation, shape, drainage, etc. Ask for an estimate on an entry level design, then ask about upgrades. As an example, The Bruce Company will provide a drawnto-scale plan and create a virtual video of your ideal design. “An added benefit advanced technology allows is to create a digital walkthrough of the desired project, giving the homeowner a true feel of the space before any digging begins,” Shane says. And be sure to ask about the best methods for ongoing maintenance so you can enjoy years of living on your own water.
Beach area and rock formation shoreline patio
Wildlife pond
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• Aquatic Plants. Planting aquatic plants both submerged and around the pond edge is highly recommended. They not only use up nutrients that would otherwise encourage algae growth, but also enhance the fish and wildlife habitat. Aquatic plants are perennials, so once you plant them, they’ll come back year after year. • Aeration Systems. Installing a diffused aeration system is important for water quality and the health of fish in the pond. The water must be kept oxygenated in order to sustain important microorganisms, such as bacteria.
Fish structure
These are some things to keep in mind when creating your own body of water. • Timeframe. It doesn’t take as much time as you might think, with the average time being 45 days. The thing that takes the most time is filling your water feature with water. • Permits. It’s best to have your expert help with the process because permit requirements vary. Most projects need an Erosion Control Permit and Storm Water Erosion Control Permit. And if you’re building your pond within 500 feet of navigable water, you’ll need an additional permit. • Pond Depth/Water Quality. Better water quality will be achieved with a deeper pond, with the minimum recommended depth being nine feet. Steeper slopes leading to the deep water are important—a three-to-one slope ratio is recommended. This means that for every three feet of walkout, the pond gets one foot deeper. Shallower slope ratios will be used for beach and fish/ wildlife areas. • Limit Runoff. Keeping natural runoff at a minimum will lessen the amount of organic sediment and nutrients entering your pond. High levels of sediment cause poorer water quality and create more work to keep it clean. Creating swales around the pond to divert runoff is the solution. This means your pond will only be filled with rain and well water.
Rock spillway and aeration system
24 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
• Overflows. You must incorporate an overflow in your pond design so heavy rains (or forgetting to turn off at the water fill source) will not produce flooding and a maximum water level can be sustained. • Regular Maintenance. Adding bacteria to your pond every two weeks from May through September is vital to keep it functioning and looking beautiful. Occasional filamentous algae treatments and submerged aquatic weed treatments may also be necessary to control growth of unwanted plants. These treatments are safe for pond organisms, wildlife, and people. Photographs provided by The Bruce Company. View additional photographs at homeelementsandconcepts.com. The Bruce Company 2830 Parmenter Street Middleton, WI 53562 608.836.7041 brucecompany.com
REMODELED HOMES TOUR Sunday MAY 19 9:00am–4:00pm More info at
NARIMadison.org Walk inside newly remodeled homes throughout the area and talk with the NARI professionals who created them.
TZ of Madison, Inc.
Purchase tickets at any tour site the day of the tour. HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS
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FURNISHINGS & ACCESSORIES FINANCIAL
Shipshape! Mastering Your Storage Spaces Brought to You by
Cabinets for every
room in your home!
Believe it or not, long, long ago, many people only owned one set of clothes. This kept clothing storage needs at a minimum. But storing weapons and armor is a practice dating back several millenia. These armoriums evolved into the 17th century French armoire, which eventually became the precursor to the closets we know today. These storage units were normally only owned by the wealthy, as they had long cloaks made of expensive fabrics that needed protecting. In 1880, The Dakota, one of the first luxurious apartment complexes in New York City, introduced a new level of closet decadence and promoted their spacious closets complete with electrical outlets, locking doors, and special shelves for shoes. During the 1950s, these types of closets became standard in middle-class homes as people left the cities and moved to the suburbs in search of larger homes that fit their middle-class budgets.
26 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
Today, the master closet is truly one of the most important features of the ideal living space. We expect function and ease from all areas of our homes, including our closets. Utilizing customizable features available to homeowners and remodelers, it’s easy to create a storage space that you actually enjoy spending time in. Busy professionals with growing families need to keep everyday things as organized as possible, and the possibilities for achieving closet nirvana are endless!
HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS 27
g
ds
shop. home. offers. products. Services.
Unique, Unusual, One-of-a-kind... Pieces Unimagined!
S
28 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
UNIMA NED
ES
Stop in and see what we have this week!
GI
P I ECE
Local artists using reclaimed woods and metals to create unique and useful furnishings and accents... affordably priced, well built.
T. 2 0
15
1228 Williamson Street • Madison WI 53703 Open: 7 days 10am - 6pm 608.280.1155 • piecesunimagined.com
HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS 29
REMODEL/RENOVATION
SIDING by K. Gauwitz
Once you’ve made the decision to replace your home siding, the next step of determining material, color, and style elements can be a stressful one. You can work with a company, like Legacy Exteriors, LLC, in order to make the process more relaxed by providing you with the information you need, including the benefits of each type of siding, the colors, and styles, and the warranties available with each.
30 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
Vinyl • Most cost effective. • Available in many different profiles, exposures (distance between each lap), thickness, and colors. • Decorative options available: wood shake, half round, and board and batten. • Lifetime warranties available. Fiber Cement Board • Strength and durability are high. Resists shrinking, swelling, cracking, and fading. • Fire resistant and won’t be eaten by insects and animals. • Available in multiple profiles, textures, finishes, and colors. • Decorative options available. • Appearance of traditional real wood siding. • Ability to have no exposed fasteners (nails). • Variety of trim board options to add uniqueness to your home. • Lifetime warranties available. • Approximately two and a half times the cost of vinyl siding.
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After
Engineered Wood Composite • Strength and durability are high. • Warranty covers up to one-and-three-quarter-inch diameter hail. • Built to withstand gusts of wind up to 200 miles per hour. • Termite resistant. • Comes in longer lengths and weighs less than fiber cement. Creates a look with fewer seams, however, the seams may be more defined due to expansion and contraction of the product. • Available in multiple textures, profiles, finishes, and colors. • Decorative options available. • 50-year warranty available. • Approximately two and a half times the cost of vinyl siding. Aluminum • Comes in multiple colors, textures, and patterns—some that can mimic wood. • Low maintenance. • Does not swell, rot, or encourage the growth of mildew. • Does not rust and is completely waterproof. • Not affected by extreme cold. • Recyclable and requires little energy to manufacture. • Never ends up in a landfill. • Insect proof. • Fire resistant. • Approximately one and a half times the cost of vinyl siding. Wood • Traditional choice with classic look. • Style and color can be combined into an almost endless array of choices. • Two to two and a half times the cost of vinyl siding. • Insect and water damage are the two most common downfalls of wood siding.
32 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
Before
No matter what you choose, the investment will reap benefits for years to come and improve the curb appeal of your home. Submitted by Legacy Exteriors, LLC. Photographs provided by Legacy Exteriors, LLC. View additional photographs at homeelementsandconcepts.com. Legacy Exteriors, LLC 4125 Terminal Drive, Suite 120 McFarland, WI 53558 608.221.3000 legacy-exteriors.com After
Before
Shop, Donate and Volunteer!
Thrift Store
680 Grand Canyon Dr. #5, Madison, WI Mon-Fri 12-7pm Sat-Sun 12-5pm giveshelter.org
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FURNISHINGS & ACCESSORIES
1
Midcentury Modern Appeal Midcentury Modern furniture and dÊcor is rapidly becoming all the rage in America’s heartland. The term Midcentury Modern is commonly used to refer to pieces from the 1920s to the 1960s. Its style is defined by sleek lines, classic simplicity, functionality, and superb craftsmanship. The style is an offspring of Modernism, which has its roots in the industrial revolution and post-World War I period. Midcentury Modern innovatively embraced the use of glass, metal, vinyl, and plywood. The objective was to make quality, well-designed furniture for the average consumer. Its popularity is enduring decades later. 1. Josef Lenhard watercolor 2. G Plan of England teak vanity 3. Midcentury teak table with 18-inch butterfly leaf circa 1960 by A.H. McIntosh & Co. Ltd. Kirkcaldy, Scotland. Sitting on the table is a 10 Piece Midcentury Dorothy Thorpe Silver Fade ice bucket and 8 tumblers in chrome caddy 4. Marshall Studios ceramic lamp 5. Marcel Breuer for Knoll Wassily Chair in chrome and leather
Items sourced from Odana Antiques and Fine Arts Center. odanaantiques.com
34 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
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LANDSCAPE
Phase One MAKEOVERS by Karina Mae
Madison’s east side is peppered with adorable single and multifamily homes that often have oddly shaped yards. The homes have taken priority on the landscape, and the result can be somewhat harrowing. The lucky have parking; the fortunate have small yards in the front, side, or back; and a few have patios, porches, or walkways. What the areas lack in luster space-wise often counters with character. They deserve special attention as they still impact our lives in a great way, if not even greater ways, as they are often our only connection to the outside. A yard makeover doesn’t always need to be a huge undertaking. Often changing an approach or adding shrubs or seating can have a great visual effect without a punishing impact on the budget. And it can often be done in phases. The following are phase one makeovers on three east side homes. The homeowners plan to extend their yard time, so we started with what would have the most impact. Budget concerns were high for all.
After
BEIGE HOME The owners desired more privacy and to screen in their dining room since the sidewalk is close to the windows. There were utilities that needed to be hidden while remaining accessible, and we wanted to include some existing plants. A formal walkway wasn’t necessary, but a stone utility path provides a visual across the yard that makes it appear larger.
Before 36 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
The shrub species chosen are fine and lacy in foliage cover or dense and shorter in height. All spark enough interest to catch the attention of passersby. A Merrill magnolia planted a few feet away from the couple’s frequented table fills the open spring windows with creamy, saucer-sized blooms, while other soft greens and textured grasses fill in and hold ground all summer and fall. The planting color scheme is simple, creating an uncomplicated space with variegated plants, coniferous shrubs, and delicate purple and creamy flowers. The 300-square-foot space is divine with a total project cost at $2,600—35 hours of labor and $1,000 in materials.
YELLOW HOME This home is owned by one person and shared with one or more renters who almost always have dogs. The client was interested in reducing mud in the ever-present shade and creating a space she would possibly venture into or enjoy more from the porch or kitchen, all while canine residents
run free. The main objective was to make the space visually inviting from every angle—two side entrances, a garage entrance, and a door from the kitchen—and leave room for space development as the owners decide how they want to use the property.
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The biggest addition is the path completing the area between the garage, porch, and backyard; a very permeable flagstone path will feed the statue tree and keep the mud at bay. We reused existing herbaceous hostas along the garage—mixing the variety a bit—and then added three Aronia melanocarpa chokecherry on an intentional burm to create a light and airy screen between the ground and the bottom branches of the arborvitae. The client’s table is a coffee destination. Vegetables adorn the side yards, leaving the space in back for shade, relaxing, and petting pooches. Total cost $4,100—54 hours of labor and $900 in materials.
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BLUE HOME This young family had several requests but settled on an update of their front yard. The area was wrangled with the invasive weed Aegopodium bishop’s weed and overgrown by undesirable shrubs, so we began by removing the unwanted. The owners expressed a strong desire for lots of interest; bright colors; and inviting, varied textures. The wide angled path felt like the only natural approach and pleasantly contrasted the perpendicular feel of the house, driveway, and sidewalk. The small stone path connects the driveway and offers a cut-through. The planting scheme is a true treasure of seasons, and will consistently have interest that will only grow as it matures. We planted several tall shrubs and many lovely herbaceous perennials, anchored by one multistemmed Crimson Frost river birch. The utilities were politely hidden, and the small
Before
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spaces were given extra attention to be sure the yard was equally enjoyable from the inside and for drive-by views. The flower colors and rich textures will surely delight everyone and attract many the pollinator guests. The terrace vegetable box was added by the homeowner and contains the soil removed for the path and shrubs. Total cost $5,900—58 hours of labor and $2,800 in materials.
Karina Mae is the designer and team leader at Garden Search & Rescue.
As a longtime east side resident, I understand the value of a yard and outside space no matter the size. But when square footage really counts, so do your decisions. The result should be pleasing on a daily basis and offer you more to enjoy at your home.
Garden Search & Rescue Madison, WI 608.438.9571 gardensearchandrescue.com
38 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
Photographs provided by Garden Search & Rescue. View additional photographs at homeelementsandconcepts.com.
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BUSINESS DESIGN
40 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
Assorted RELEVANCE by Kyle Jacobson
Many spaces we interact with outside our homes tend to be designed around a single objective. In restaurants, you could almost pigeonhole the experience into merging meal with eminence—fast-food joint compared to a casual-dining chain compared to fine-dining bistro. In hospitals, the focus is ease in navigating their oftentimes complex layouts. But then there are the spaces that work to accommodate a diverse range of needs because they never quite know who will stop in for what. The Sauk Prairie Area Chamber of Commerce, built in 2012, is designed to educate children and adults about the Wisconsin River and nearby state parks, to provide a workplace for visitors and a conference room for chamber members, and to celebrate local businesses and artists whose visions have established and encapsulated the spirit of Sauk Prairie. On top of all of these things, the overarching objective is to then have visitors go out and explore the area. Of course, there still exists the most pressing challenge inherent to all spaces, though seemingly more so for chambers: getting people through the door. This entails assuming relevance. When Morey Moseman designed the
Sauk Prairie Area Chamber of Commerce, he insisted on a giant clock tower. “When that was put in the paper,” says Tywana German, executive director of the Sauk Prairie Area Chamber of Commerce, “that was the one design element that garnered a lot of discussion. Some liked it, others were vocal that they didn’t.” But when that clock lights up at night, it’s a beacon. It’s distinct. It makes the building feel like a landmark. Tywana notes that the walk-in traffic increased a hundred times compared to the old location. Some who enter the space are drawn to a large painting of the Wisconsin River, the background for a giant sculpture of an eagle’s nest six feet in diameter and built stick by stick. Others notice the 1,200-gallon aquarium. Tywana says, “It typically houses bass, perch, walleye, things of that nature.” The aquarium serves as an educational tool for the city’s fourth graders when they come by each year to learn about their community and all of its assets. Then there’s the touchscreen on top of a tree stump sculpture that provides everything needed for a person to create their own itinerary. Along with area publications on boating, HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS 41
camping, restaurants, and other communities in the area, I’d say this vestibule is more than enough to get people interested in exploring everything and anything the area has to offer. It all comes together to create an inviting informational library. Through the doorway next to the fish tank is the lobby, filled with natural light from a large windowed wall. The room is designed to be navigated much like a small museum. There are old fishing poles, local wildlife taxidermy, and paintings and photographs of the area by local artists. A few small businesses set out their products and others have displays, like a Wollersheim wine barrel and book on craft beer. Displays also tell the stories of the five local businesses, ACE Sauk Prairie, Wollersheim Winery, Culver’s, Bank of Prairie du Sac, and Harley Davidson, who donated $125,000 over the course of five years so the chamber could market the space. In the center of the room are small round tables serving as places to work, relax, or just enjoy a cup of coffee. The incentivizing aura to explore Sauk Prairie is carried through with earthcolored tile, prairie-green walls, and broad wooden accents serving as frame and molding. On the far side of the lobby lies the conference room for chamber members, also filled with natural light from windows taking up half the wall space and used more often than I expected (roughly two or three times a day). A large projector and plentiful seating make the room perfect for company meetings, but people also use it for interviews and other business needs.
42 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
Throughout the entire building there’s a hyperawareness to wanting to establish connections. This goes beyond the chamber itself, as they strive to be a hub for nearby business designs going forward, really looking for others to carry the river-stone theme, as can be seen in Vintage Brewing’s brewpub on the river. It’s not common for every chamber to be utilized as a community space or to garner much foot traffic. Tywana says, “I think overall this building produced way more than I ever thought possible.” To function effectively for its community and visitors, the chamber needs to continuously tap into everyone’s evolving needs. Having a versatile design that’s as inviting as it is practical provides a stage that will keep the space relevant well into the foreseeable future. Kyle Jacobson is a copy editor for Home Elements & Concepts, and a writer and beer enthusiast (sometimes all at once) living in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. Photographs provided by Sauk Prairie Area Chamber of Commerce. View additional photographs at homeelementsandconcepts.com. Sauk Prairie Area Chamber of Commerce 109 Phillips Boulevard Sauk City, WI 53583 608.643.4168 saukprairie.com
TADSEN PHOTOGRAPHY DRONE - ARCHITECTURE - PRODUCT TADPHOTO.COM 608-469 -2255
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COMMUNITY INITIATIVES
WISCONSIN PARTNERSHIP
for Housing Development
by Katherine Kamp
The Wisconsin Partnership for Housing Development (WPHD) was created in 1985 to expand affordable housing opportunities throughout Wisconsin. Since that time, we have been involved in the development and management of numerous programs, each addressing our mission and business strategy to expand options for affordable housing and revitalize neighborhoods through partnerships between the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Rehabbed home in Janesville, Wisconsin.
At WPHD, we believe that everyone should have the opportunity to live in a safe, healthy, and affordable home. We know that housing is the foundation for both individuals and families. Access to affordable housing is important to developing a steady workforce, vibrant neighborhoods, and a prosperous economy. The issue of affordable housing has been at the forefront of recent economic-development activities because the lack of available housing is affecting businesses’ decisions to locate in a particular community. In Wisconsin, you must earn more than $18 an hour in order to afford to rent a twobedroom apartment and still pay only 30 percent of your income for rent. Only about half of the jobs being created in Wisconsin pay this wage level. And yet we need childcare workers, homecare workers, and service workers who might make less than this wage level. So we must continue to aggressively pursue the development of affordable housing across the state, but particularly in communities with expanding job markets. WPHD promotes affordable housing in a number of ways. First, we provide technical assistance to communities to look at their affordable housing needs and to develop programs to address needs. Second, we manage the federal programs that provide assistance to first-time home buyers in purchasing a home and to homeowners so that they can rehab and remain living in a safe and healthy home. These 44 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
same rehab programs assist families in completing rehab activities to ensure that their children are growing up in homes free of lead paint. Finally, we engage in development activities. We have worked on the development of large and small rental properties, developed condo projects, and established a mixed-income neighborhood. Currently, our development work is focused on the purchase and rehab of homes. In most cases, we sell the homes, providing affordable home-ownership opportunities to households who make less than 80 percent of the area median income. We also develop smaller rental projects in communities to provide opportunities for those of lower income to afford to rent safe and decent housing. When we purchase a home, it has generally been vacant for a year or more. As a result, it usually requires substantial rehabilitation in order to become an asset in the neighborhood. We try to take the worst house in the neighborhood and make it great again—a home for families to be proud to own. In many cases, we try to target particular neighborhoods in a community and do many homes to improve neighborhoods and areas that had been hard hit in the recession. In addition, we also engage in new construction in these same neighborhoods. A house standing that cannot be rehabbed may be demolished to make way for new homes.
For example, we have done almost 25 units of housing, including new construction homes, in two downtown neighborhoods in Janesville. When we do a home on a block, other people living in the neighborhood see the investment that is being made and decide to invest in their own home. As a result, over the period of a couple of years, dramatic improvements can take place in a neighborhood. In the area where we work in Janesville, the value of the homes that we worked on tripled, and median home prices in the entire neighborhood increased by more than 50 percent. Development of affordable housing in most neighborhoods is a win for everyone! In addition to creating affordable housing, the work that we do provides jobs to contractors and training opportunities for at-risk youth in our community. One contractor states, “The development program of the WPHD has created a number of local jobs and helped renew some of the neighborhoods hardest hit by the recession. The program is making safe, quality homes affordable for lowerincome families and bringing back a sense of pride to neighborhoods that were once deteriorating.� In addition, where possible, we use youth training crews, including young people that are learning construction skills under supervision. These skills are ones that they can use to get living-wage jobs in our community.
New construction in Janesville, Wisconsin.
Before and after in Stoughton, Wisconsin.
We take great pride in the work that we do, believing that anyone would want to live in the housing we develop. The homes are lead free, asbestos free, well designed, and energy efficient to create truly affordable housing for families now and into the future. Katherine Kamp is the executive director at Wisconsin Partnership for Housing Development. wphd.org Photographs provided by Wisconsin Partnership for Housing Development. View additional photographs at homeelementsandconcepts.com. Wisconsin Partnership for Housing Development 121 S Pinckney Street, Suite 420 Madison, WI 53703 608.258.5560 wphd.org HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS
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