Top: Provided by Dream House Dream Kitchens, Middle: Provided by Garden Search and Rescue, Bottom: Provided by Chad Renly of Branded Exposure LLC
additional photographs Dream House Dream Kitchens, Garden Search and Rescue, Krystal Images Photography LLC, The Patio Warehouse, Chad Renly of Branded Exposure LLC, Rubin's Furniture
Watch for the next issue AUG-OCT 2025
subscriptions
Madison Home is available free at over 150 locations. To purchase an annual subscription (four issues), send $24 and mailing information to: Madison Home
c/o ASJ Publishing LLC PO Box 559
McFarland, WI 53558
comments
We welcome your questions and comments: Madison Home
c/o ASJ Publishing LLC PO Box 559
McFarland, WI 53558 mhm@madisonhomemagazine.com
advertise
To inquire about advertising space, please call 608.729.4888 or email mhm@madisonhomemagazine.com
McFarland, WI 53558 608.729.4888 madisonhomemagazine.com
from the PUBLISHER
We are at the height of home project and outdoor entertainment season! Whether our project is new construction, a renovation, landscaping and gardening, or a patio update, we simply tend to do more during the warmer weather months.
As we are spending more time in our yards, Karina Mae of Garden Search and Rescue provides great information about mulch, and there’s a lot to talk about. Depending on what you want to do and when, the proper mulch selection can have a huge impact on your project.
Included in this issue are special furnishing sections to address both your outdoor and indoor needs. The Patio Warehouse can help you enjoy your home’s outdoor spaces even more with their patio furniture selection, and Rubin’s Furniture has a wonderful variety of Scandinavian relaxation furnishings to enhance your indoor downtime.
While the trend has been more defined spaces in your home, opening up the floor plan a bit can still improve your home’s flow. Dream House Dream Kitchens shares a renovation where they removed a wall between a kitchen and formal dining space to create a kitchen that’s more functional and inviting.
We also have a contribution by Fair Housing Wisconsin about the important issue of housing discrimination, and we highlight award recipients from Madison Black Chamber of Commerce’s Building Dreams recognition event.
Whatever your plans for the summer or any season, we hope the expertise we bring you each issue will help you envision your goals and that you will connect with our contributors, who can make your ideas come true. Also, do not forget that we archive our past issues on madisonhomemagazine.com so you can refer back to see if we have covered the topic of your focus. Happy reading and happy summer!
Amy Johnson
MAKING ROOM to Breathe
BY KYLE JACOBSON
Trending away from open-concept homes means defining spaces by their intended uses—something a lot of remodelers have been waiting for, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t instances when flow can be improved by opening the floor plan up while remaining true to the home’s style. Indiscriminate use of walls in the past has led to single-function rooms, like those meant for dining, becoming storage areas. When these homeowners saw
their carpeted, wall-off dining room filling up with junk, they knew it was time to call in the professionals.
“We ended up taking out the wall between the kitchen and the formal dining room to expand the kitchen and then the wall between what was the formal dining and the kitchen and the living room in order to give them that open-concept feel,” says Lindsay Nelson, Dream Team
designer for Dream House Dream Kitchens. Being able to enter the kitchen from multiple directions without having to Pac-Man around corners makes the whole room more inviting. Visitors may even choose to take a seat at the island instead of the living room.
Another issue that needed addressing was having the countertop space to prepare meals for the occasional large group. The dining room used to be in the corner where the fridge and pantry are now, so extending the counter into that space created this huge prep area. In addition, the island provides ample room for prepping and serving.
On appliances, “We needed a place to put the oven, so we put it between the two windows,” says Lindsay. “They wanted it to vent directly to the exterior. That was the path
of least resistance: put the range against the wall, vent that straight to the backyard. In order to give a cleaner countertop space on either side of the range, we put the sink in the island, which she didn’t mind since the island is so huge.” What results is a tight cooking triangle, the area between the sink, oven, and refrigerator, allowing everyone to move freely about the kitchen without interfering with the chef.
Between the oven and refrigerator is a built-in convection microwave below the countertop. Not having the appliance take up prep space or interfere with the view to the backyard not only adds to the clean look of the kitchen, it is more ergonomic than reaching across the counter or up to an over-the-range microwave. Opting for a convection microwave also adds another degree of efficiency to cooking in the kitchen. “You can microwave
anything you normally would,” says Lindsay. “And you can also use it as a small second oven for roasting veggies or cooking a pizza or a small batch of cookies in a smaller pan. It’s super versatile.”
One of the most important needs of the homeowner in this remodel was brightening the space up. Taking the herringbone backsplash all the way to the ceiling and bringing in more natural light by having that second window in the same room as the kitchen were both great starts, but finding the right fixture would prove to be tricky.
“A lot of things the homeowner was drawn to were big tall drum-shaped pendants,” says Lindsay. “We had to be careful because the ceiling height isn’t so tall. It
always looks silly when your light fixture is super huge but there’s only a tiny amount of cord or chain left. She really wanted that woven feel. We ended up having to go with those glass fixtures over the island, and they have the rope to kind of give it that coastal feel.
“And we always add canned lights just to give it all that functional lighting. I like to say the decorative fixtures should really just be added to the functional lighting. You should have enough light in your space outside of that to really light up your space.”
The color choices for paint also play a significant role is turning up the brightness. Originally, the cabinets were dark-stained oak. Now, the white perimeter cabinets and quartz countertop allow for a lot more reflection.
The homeowner also opted for blue on the island cabinetry, which just gives off the right amount of character to create the aforementioned coastal feel.
Having excess white might be too much for some homeowners, but it works as the perfect backdrop to incorporate different decoration preferences. Plants, pictures, and other flair do a fantastic job showing off an individual’s style, where having too much color can sometimes feel limiting.
Though an open floor plan that combines too many spaces feels like a warehouse, Lindsay’s thoughtful approach maintains this home’s intimacy with intentional connections. The floor blends the living room into the kitchen, but the oversized header distinguishes the spaces. A preexisting pony wall still separates the kitchen from the sunken dun. The temptation to do too much is always there; these homeowners avoided it by combining the traditional with the contemporary in a transitional modern style.
Kyle Jacobson is a writer living in Sun Prairie
Photographs provided by Dream House Dream Kitchens.
Dream House Dream Kitchens
5117 Verona Road
Madison, WI 53711
608.204.7575
dream-kitchens.com
WHAT'S ALL THE Mulch About?
BY KARINA MAE
There are a lot of options when it comes to mulch. Selection is based upon timing, type, reason for mulching, and what one hopes to achieve with it. Look and thickness of mulch can make huge impacts on the garden and landscaping, while type of mulch can greatly enhance your growing situation or limit it some. Most gardeners would agree that mulch or soil cover is a necessary addition.
Timing of mulch has been under the spotlight in recent seasons, and it is much better for the beneficial pollinators to wait until after things awaken, usually around the time there are six days in a row above 60 degrees Fahrenheit. This means all the microorganisms and insects that live there are allowed to start the process of life again and not be suffocated under the heavy new layer of mulch.
Later May and June often require less mulch and result in happier plants as their tender new edge growth has a chance to claim ground for the growing season. It also allows for the sleepy late summer perennials to fully awaken. September, October, and even early November are all wonderful months for deep mulching or lasagna mulching. The days are cooler, the plants are mature in size, and most pollinators are living in the plant matter above ground. This is also a fantastic time to build new beds for next season or layer mulches for a big soil boost that can last multiple seasons.
Types of mulches vary greatly in what is available, affordable, and sensible. They all have positive sides and somewhat adverse sides. Different mulches produce different variations in soil quality and content; this is extremely wise to consider with different applications for successful growing situations. Leaf mulch is quite possibly the most favorable for perennial gardens and vegetables, but it can bring in unknown things, like disease and slugs. It is best when aged some or coming from a tree you know. It provides high-quality nitrogen in
the form of tea to the soil and builds nutrients faster than any mulch.
Hardwood bark mulch is probably the most popular and easy to obtain, as well as reliably attractive. Untreated and aged natural mulch is the best addition for moisture retention and adds a very uniform and clean look to the garden. Being carbon based, though, it can lock up the nitrogen in the soil for five to six months, which is most the growing season if laid in May.
A gentle way to combat the carbon offset is to layer leaves or spring plant debris with the mulch. Another helpful addition can be high-grade bagged compost or simply
waiting until a later time to spread the mulch. Gravel or stone is often utilized but can literally crush the results, compacting the soil and limiting the tender new growth of perennials. Gravel gardens are becoming a thing all their own, but that is another approach entirely.
Straw or hay can be great for mulching in vegetable gardens or for large-style lasagna bed building. It is full of nitrogen, and due to the depth of the brick-style application, there is continuous moisture for most the growing season. It also squelches all weed growth but may come with seeds of its own. Living mulch or ground covers are another option that presumably take low input once established.
PRO-TIP: when buying bagged compost or additives, buying products inside or near the cash register will ensure you get a quality product versus something that’s been fully sunbaked.
Mulch is needed. A bit of thought and mindful seeking can result in wonders for your landscape, reduce weeds, retain moisture, and feed the plants.
Karina Mae is owner and designer at Garden Search and Rescue.
Photographs provided by Garden Search and Rescue.
This year, under the theme Building Dreams, the Madison Black Chamber of Commerce (MBCC) came together to recognize and uplift Black entrepreneurs, leaders, and professional who are laying the foundation for a stronger, more vibrant community.
Congratulations to all who received awards at MBCC's Black Business Awards & Recognition Exhibition. These individuals and businesses embody the spirit of resilience, innovation, and excellence.
Photos are provided with credits to Krystal Images Photography LLC
Realtor Award
Project Site Management Award
Leadership Award
Residential Design Services Award
Bonita Nunez, Keller Williams Realty
James Blilie, First Supply
Denzel Bibbs, Findorff
Action Jackson, Jackson’s Yard Care
RISING STAR
RISING STAR
Commercial Design Services Award
General Contractor Award
Neighborhood Investor Award
Construction Site Services Award
Interior & Event Design Services Award
Residential Home Services Award
Real Estate Award
Camille Carter and Andrew McKinney accepting the award for Cle Gray, Prodigal Building Systems
Rafeeq Asad, JLA Architects
James Sutton, Smart Cleaning Solutions
Andrea Shorter Amos, Creative Events
Dora Monroe, Class A Cleaning
Tiffany Malone, Own It: Building Black Wealth
Dr. Ruben Anthony, Urban League of Greater Madison
Scandinavian Comfort
in Madison, Wisconsin
Sykkylven, Norway, is famous for its steep mountains and deep fjords as well as being the production and development center for Scandinavian comfort recliners, including International Mobel Group (IMG).
As part of the Ekornes group, IMG’s passion is engineering and designing furniture that delivers an exceptional combination of comfort, quality, and unsurpassed value. Within every chair and sofa, you will discover IMG’s drive for excellence. Their philosophy combines the science of body-correct ergonomics with old-world craftsmanship and state-of-the-art technology.
As evidence of their commitment to the highest standards of craftsmanship, every single piece of furniture from IMG has the mark of the person who last handled it. This signature is the fingerprint of a proud producer and is also a guarantee that the furniture from IMG is built to give you years of pleasure.
Rubin's Furniture proudly offers IMG relaxers, sofas, and reclining sofas. These relaxers and sofas are designed to provide you with blissful comfort and relaxation in a space-efficient and stylish design to complement the theme of your living area.
Items sourced from Rubin's Furniture. rubinsfurniture.com
“I did not think this still happened.”
“They do not even know me and treated me unfairly anyway.”
HOUSING COUNCIL
Fights Back
“I have good credit and excellent housing history, but when they saw me and my family, they denied my application.”
We would like to believe otherwise, but housing discrimination is still a common and deeply harmful experience for many. Victims of discrimination have legal rights and can fight back.
The Metropolitan Milwaukee Fair Housing Council and its satellite offices, Fair Housing Center of
Greater Madison and Fair Housing Center of Northeast Wisconsin, help victims of discrimination understand their rights and options for achieving a legal remedy. Services to housing consumers include complaint intake, counseling on fair housing rights, investigation of complainants’ allegations, and assistance with seeking a legal resolution with a government agency or in a court of law.
The federal Fair Housing Act protects us from discrimination based on protected classes: race, religion, color, sex, national origin, disability, and familial status. Additionally, Wisconsin’s fair housing law prohibits discrimination based on marital status; age; sexual orientation; lawful source of income; and status as a victim of sexual assault, stalking, or domestic abuse. Many cities and counties have additional protected classes. In Dane County, local ordinances prohibit discrimination based on use of rental assistance among other additional protected classes.
Fair housing laws apply to many sectors of the housing market: rentals; sales; insurance; appraisals; and mortgage lending, including refinance and rehab loans. Further, laws apply to
nearly any stage in a housing transaction, from beginning to end.
Complaints alleging discrimination based on race and familial status, including presence of children in a household, are among the most commonly filed complaints. And nearly half of statewide housing discrimination complaints filed with the Fair Housing Council allege discrimination based at least in part on disability, making disability-related complaints the most common received.
Fair housing laws define disability as a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. Covered disabilities include physical, psychiatric, and chronic mental illness; cognitive disabilities; AIDS or HIV-positive status; and persons in recovery from drug or alcohol abuse.
Housing discrimination based on disability occurs in a variety of ways. Many complaints are filed by consumers who have been denied a reasonable accommodation or modification. Reasonable modifications are changes to the physical structure that enable a person with a disability to reside there, including installation of ramps or bathroom grab bars, if the consumer is willing to pay for such modifications. Reasonable accommodations are also changes to a housing provider’s rules, policies, and procedures, including:
• Allowing a service animal when a tenant requires one due to their disability, even if there is a no-pets rule.
• Use of non-toxic or organic cleaning products in common areas for someone whose disability involves chemical sensitivities.
• Assigning a specific parking space for resident with a mobility impairment.
In other cases, people with disabilities experience discrimination when they are denied the opportunity to rent, buy, or otherwise obtain a home because of a disability.
Discrimination also occurs when housing providers offer unfair terms and conditions to housing for persons with disabilities. As an example, charging a higher security deposit for someone who uses a wheelchair.
Discrimination based on presence of children also persists and can occur in many forms. An example, Sheryl (not her real name), a mother of two, called about a two-bedroom apartment advertised in Madison. She was looking for a safe, comfortable home for herself and her four-year-old son and two-year-old daughter. The apartment location was ideal because it was very close to where her family lived. She spoke with the owner’s agent, and after discussing rent, security deposit, and features, the agent told Sheryl that the apartment could house a maximum of two adults. Sheryl asked if one adult and two children would be okay, and the agent said
no, going on to say that there were not children in the building and that the owner would not accept children in the apartment because it was on the second floor. After the phone call, Sheryl says she “was very upset. I love my kids and was afraid of being out on the streets. I knew what had happened felt unfair, but I did not know it was against the law.”
Sheryl called Fair Housing Center of Greater Madison. When she was told that discrimination against households with children was prohibited by fair housing laws, she filed a complaint. The Center advised her of her legal rights and conducted an investigation into her complaint. The investigation included a method called testing, which is a controlled way to compare the quantity and quality of information provided to different homeseekers. The investigation provided evidence that corroborated Sheryl’s complaint, showing that a tester with a child was told that there were no children
permitted in the apartment, while a tester with no children was given information about the housing and afforded the opportunity to rent the unit.
With evidence in hand, Sheryl filed fair housing complaints with the State of Wisconsin Equal Rights Division and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, alleging she had been discriminated against based on her familial status. Both federal and state fair housing laws prohibit discrimination based on the presence of minor children in a household. Sheryl received assistance with the preparation of complaint documents and ongoing help throughout the process from Fair Housing Council staff. Several months later, Sheryl and the apartment building owner reached a confidential settlement.
Sheryl says, “I learned a lot from this ordeal. I know a whole lot more about my housing rights, and that has helped me when looking for housing since. I appreciate the help Fair Housing Center gave me.” Sheryl also says her experience has encouraged her to continue being a self-advocate and stand up for her rights. “You have got to keep on fighting, no matter what.”
If you feel you have experienced illegal housing discrimination, call 877.647.3247, a toll-free complaint
intake line. The Fair Housing Council also provides educational fair housing presentations to social service agencies, community groups, religious congregations, and civic organizations.
The Metropolitan Milwaukee Fair Housing Council and its satellite offices, Fair Housing Center of Greater Madison and Fair Housing Center of Northeast Wisconsin, comprise a private, nonprofit civil rights enforcement organization. Our mission is to promote fair housing throughout the state of Wisconsin by combating illegal housing discrimination and by creating and maintaining racially and economically integrated housing patterns. We envision a future where illegal discrimination poses no barriers to housing choice; neighborhoods are integrated, inclusive, and thriving; and all people share a commitment to creating equitable communities.
Submitted by Fair Housing Wisconsin.
Fair Housing Center of Greater Madison 1574 W. Broadway, Suite 200 Madison, WI 53713 608.257.0853 fairhousingwisconsin.com
The Patio Warehouse
Warmer months bring on the best patio and porch weather, and the right patio furniture lets you enjoy it all in worry-free style.
Belcourt and Valencia are two of the finest traditional patio sets, complete with four steady chairs and two swivel rocker captain chairs. These sets offer the perfect complement to any patio or porch, providing the ideal environment for a light snack, a full meal, or just hanging out.
If an even more casual atmosphere is the goal, look no further than Borneo’s six-piece chat set. These modular pieces bring the comfort of the living room outdoors. You can arrange the pieces around a table for drinks, across from each other for coffee and conversation, or as a large “L” if you’re wanting to stretch out.
And since nobody wants to worry about an incoming storm ruining their outdoor furniture, each set is made from high-quality aluminum, ensuring lightweight convenience and absolutely no rust.
Only you can determine the right set for your home, and the best way to figure that out is to see it firsthand. The Patio Warehouse in Sun Prairie is proud to carry the sets featured here and welcomes you to come in and take a seat.
Items sourced from The Patio Warehouse. thepatiowarehouseofwisconsin.com
A Thrilling ESCAPE
In 2023, Madison business owner Guy Kitchell appeared on ABC’s Shark Tank to pitch his attraction and entertainment company, Thrill Builders. Guy was seeking a $250,000 investment for 20 percent of his company, which designs and builds escape rooms, haunted houses, laser tag, and minigolf courses. Although Guy’s company was already successful, his pitch was for a new addition to his business: building out a family entertainment center, complete with laser tag, minigolf, bowling, escape rooms, and arcade games. Guy secured a $300,000 deal with Lori Grenier, Kevin O’Leary, and Jason Bloom for 30 percent equity.
Since then, Guy’s dream has been realized in Madison’s Thrill Factory, located in East Towne Mall. The 50,000-square-foot former Gordmans department store is now an allin-one, family-friendly entertainment hub that features the aforementioned attractions plus food and beverage service.
Before Guy appeared on Shark Tank , his concept was already in development. In 2022, Thrill Builders teamed up with Sketchworks Architecture (a previous collaborator) to begin designing Thrill Factory. Sketchworks handled the foundational aspects of the project, including layout, building and safety code review, and designing the interior shell. Thrill Builders then took over, applying their expertise in creating exciting themed spaces to complete the project. Thrill Factory opened in late 2024, adding a oneof-a-kind entertainment offering to the city.
“This was a unique experience, working on an entertainment space with all of these attractions,” says Nick Badura, project manager with Sketchworks. “There is a lot of complexity in making all of the parts work together for the customer and also within the limitations of the existing space. It involves balancing the customer experience along with easy access to supplies for staff and working with the existing utilities and structural components. It was fun thinking
about what the customer experience would be and optimizing that.”
As one would expect, the business interior features a riot of colors, lights, and things to see. A Zombie Town Shooting Gallery awaits with a creepy gargoyle perched nearby. The arcade buzzes with excitement, and Hyper Bowling is a sleek upgrade
from a traditional, small-town alley. Tiny Turf Golf has a Honey, I Shrunk the Kids vibe with oversized insects and murals on the walls. The escape rooms offer brain-bending challenges, and the Shipwrecked Bar and Tiki Bar have food and drinks at the ready for patrons.
Lighting plays a crucial role in Thrill Factory in shaping the mood and atmosphere of the dining and entertainment spaces, highlighting each attraction. Hyper Bowling is bathed in vibrant, color-changing lights, while the Tiki Bar features twinkling string lights. Neon signage invites guests to explore each of the escape rooms.
Thrill Factory is poised to capitalize on the growth in family entertainment centers. According to GlobeNewswire, the international family entertainment center market grew from $43.36 billion to $52.35 billion in 2024. As individuals and families look for innovative ways to get out of the house, beyond malls and movie theaters (the former
of which is declining in numbers, and the latter in ticket sales), Thrill Factory offers a well-designed and -executed experiential escape.
“This project was a unique opportunity for Sketchworks to collaborate with the creative team at Thrill Builders,” says Nick. “We hope it has great success and their model can be brought to other cities around the country.”
Submitted by Sketchworks Architecture.
Photographs by Chad Renly of Branded Exposure LLC.
Sketchworks Architecture 2501 Parmenter Street, Suite 300A Middleton, WI 53562
