a stone villa built with european influences makes an impressive statement, while offering seclusion not typical of lakefront properties.
38
one couple finds the home of their dreams and begins a new chapter in their decades-long love of lake geneva.
Honoring Family
Strong, multi-generational ties guide the construction of this home on the lauderdale lakes chain.
48 In Full Bloom
once neglected gardens are given new life and a homeowner finds a new passion.
rICHArD mCGeeHAN, PrINCIPAl At mCGeeHAN DeSIGN
This manhattan designer, who has a weekend home in lake geneva, tells us about his design philosophy and how his decisions translate to city or country living.
SereNe GreeNS AND COOl BlueS
a portfolio of home décor evoking harmony and tranquility from our friends at lake geneva’s Cornerstone Shop & gallery.
mAKING YOur HOme A SmArt ONe
home automation hits its stride with smart technologies for light, heat and security.
ummer has finally arrived, and I hope you can soak up some sun while reading our third annual edition of Lakeshore Living. Our cover features the quintessential lakefront porch, overlooking Green Lake of the Lauderdale Lakes chain. Don and Lori Lyon share their story of creating a new lakefront cottage while preserving the property’s old soul on page 38.
Last summer, we toured the weekend home of nationally-recognized interior designer Richard McGeehan, a resident of New York City (see our photo with Richard at left). Richard’s Lake Geneva getaway is featured in the summer issue of At The Lake magazine (visit www.atthelakemagazine.com for the digital edition). On page 12 of this issue, Richard shares a little about his design philosophy when it comes to lake versus city living.
Also, Lakeshore Collections (page 58) features accessories from the Cornerstone Shop & Gallery that create a sense of calm without sacrificing style and sophistication. Our staff loves their selection of lake-themed art, and recently purchased two prints for our new office at 400 Broad Street in Lake Geneva. We are in love with the serene greens and cool blues of summer!
Barb Krause Publisher
This classic, red brick Georgian/Federalist home is now for sale. Located on Lake Mendota in Madison, Wisconsin, four houses from the Governor’s Executive Residence, the home includes 5 bedrooms, each designed to maximize the views of Lake Mendota and the Capitol. The home also includes a large patio and private pier, an office/library and an elevator. The master suite has separate his-and-hers bathrooms and a 25-foot deep walk-in closet. A truly historic-looking mansion, with all the hallmarks of a modern luxury home, it’s the perfect vacation home or primary residence. For additional information about this property, please contact Janie Krohmer at T. Wall Enterprises Mgt., LLC at 608-354-2610 or Janie@BishopsBayCommunity.com
design
sales & promotion
Business
Q & A
With Manhattan designer Richard McGeehan
Principal at McGeehan Design, McGeehan has a weekend getaway in Lake Geneva that is both sophisticated and comfortable. He graciously invited At The Lake magazine into his home for a photo shoot, which is featured in the summer 2016 issue of the magazine (www.atthelakemagazine.com). To see more of McGeehan’s work, please see his website www.mcgeehandesign.com.
CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND?
My background was originally in antiques. I was trained at Sotheby’s in London and returned to New York to be an antiques dealer. I took a great deal of pleasure in creating very elaborate room settings when I did antique shows, and clients then starting asking me to design rooms for them. So I came to interior design unexpectedly. My initial projects were creating historic period rooms for collectors. Two of my first projects were a classical 1830s townhouse in Greenwich Village for one of Malcolm Forbes’ sons and an apartment in the Dakota that was high Victorian. Since then, there has been a massive shift in taste toward modernism and the 20th century, and my work has been led in that direction.
Q: WHAT IS YOUR DESIGN PHILOSOPHY? IS IT DIFFERENT DEPENDING ON THE PROJECT OR ITS LOCATION?
Every project is a new beginning, a new story. There are several forces that come into play – the architecture of the house or apartment itself, the taste of the owner, the budget, and what strikes me as being interesting and chic and delightful given those particulars. The process is always a total collaboration. But in the end, it is a success if the owners feel that the new space expresses who they are better than any place they have ever lived – that is the goal. I personally like a mix of vintage and modern pieces – it creates a space that to me feels both fresh and intelligent.
HOW WOULD SOME OF THE DESIGN CHOICES YOU’VE MADE FOR PERHAPS A MANHATTAN APARTMENT TRANSLATE TO A LAKE HOUSE?
Another question would be how would my choices for a lake house translate to a Chicago or New York apartment! I think it is interesting to bring some feeling of country to the city and vice versa – I personally like a country house that is relaxed and extremely comfortable but has an unexpected dose of high-style sophistication and style.
One of McGeehan’s projects: a modernist house on Cape Cod.
WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST MISTAKES HOMEOWNERS MAKE WHEN TRYING TO DESIGN OR DECORATE THEIR HOMES?
I wouldn’t say mistakes, but there are many commonly held assumptions that come to mind – that all ceilings need to be white, that every room needs to be a different color, that rooms with little natural light must have pale walls, that artwork must be hung all at eye level. Rooms are more interesting and exciting when some of the “rules” are broken, and that‘s often hard to do on one’s own without some professional advice and vision.
HOW DO YOU ENSURE YOUR DESIGN EXPRESSES YOUR CLIENT’S PERSONALITY?
There is a lot of discussion and listening and intuition involved in the design process. Some clients have an expansive vocabulary when discussing furniture styles, etc., and some do not. But everyone can think about and describe how they would like to feel when they walk through the door. I also ask clients to look at various websites such as Pinterest and Houzz and pull images they are attracted to, whether it’s a color or a feeling or a particular piece of furniture they like. Then it’s my job to put it all together into a cohesive concept.
ARE THERE SPECIFIC DESIGN TRENDS THAT YOU’RE EXCITED ABOUT?
I think the pendulum may be swinging away from strict modernism and neutral colors. I will personally be happy to see more eclectic interiors with more color!
DO YOU HAVE A FEW FAVORITE PLACES TO SHOP WHEN VISITING LAKE GENEVA? When I have some free time I like to look for the odd vintage piece at the Lake Geneva Antique Mall – I have found some wonderful things there for my house in Lake Geneva and for projects in other parts of the country. ❦
This townhouse in Savannah is another of McGeehan’s designs, and it is owned by the same client as the Cape Cod house on the previous page. They are perfect examples of
Old-World Elegance on geneva lake
AN ItAlIANAte vIllA AND A PrIvAte POND PrOvIDe A CAlm OASIS ON A BuSY lAKe
BY
ANNe mOrrISSY | exterIOr PHOtOGrAPHY BY ClINt fArlINGer, INterIOr PHOtOGrAPHY BY SHANNA WOlf
In 2000, when Linda and Kurt Stier bought the lakefront property on Geneva Lake where their home now stands, they knew they would face some challenges in building their dream home. First, there was the question of the house that already stood on the property, which was ultimately burned down to make way for their Italianate villa. But in order to design their dream home, the Stiers recognized that the topography of the land presented a design challenge — it was marshy and sloped and contained a sizable pond. So they contacted the architect of the home they had just burned down, reasoning that he had the most experience with this unique piece of land, which used to be part of the Black Point Estate and at one time contained Catharina Seipp’s formal European garden.
The result of this collaboration was an imposing stone villa built into the landscape in such a way that it creates a sense of calm and privacy not often found on this bustling and popular lake. This privacy was aided by the fact that the home sits on an impressive 464 feet of lake frontage. “The nice thing about having that much lake frontage, you don’t see a lot of piers,” explains Kurt. “It’s a very secluded property.”
BUILDING A NEW, OLD HOUSE
The Stiers wanted to create a home reminiscent of the old-world estates they associated with European aristocracy. “We had gone to Europe and we liked the style of it,” explains Linda. “We wanted to build a home that looked like it should have been here 200 years ago.” To that end, they designed a pool and detached cabana that are connected visually to the house with an impressive stone archway reminiscent of Tuscan architecture. Their contractor, Thelen Total Construction, used a combination of poured cement and stone to achieve the desired effect. Landscape design firm B&J Tree Landscaping extended the sense of old-world luxury across the five-acre lot by combining English gardens and strategically placed tall trees. The manicured lawn is currently maintained by Geneva Lakes Landscaping.
Their goal in designing the layout of the home was to enjoy panoramic lake views from every room possible, and to have enough space for their kids, and eventually for their kids’ families, to enjoy the house comfortably as well. The result was a five-bedroom, 11,000-square-foot home with soaring ceilings, lots of open living space and most of the bedrooms on the lower level. “Every room in the house has a name,” says Linda. “The Gathering Room, the Butler’s Pantry, the Regular Pantry, the China Pantry…”
LEFT: The freestanding spiral staircase connects all levels of the house. THIS PAGE: The formal living room features a handcarved marble mantel, crown molding, and a custom ceiling designed by the homeowner. Interior designer Bonnie Gardner assisted the couple by putting her finishing touches on the decor throughout the home.
ABUNDANT ATTENTION TO DETAIL
Inside the home, the Stiers worked with two interior designers over the course of the project to get every detail right. In the kitchen, for example, the island countertop was custom carved out of three-inch-thick maple to mimic the shape of the pool. “You’ve got to be careful with scale in a home of this size,” says Kurt. One of the show-stopping elements inside the home is the fullwall mural in the dining room that depicts the property as it might have looked around the turn of the 20th century. The artist, Jackie Camodeca, even incorporated Kurt and Linda Stier into the painting, in a rowboat on their beloved pond. “The pond has a great history to it,” explains Kurt. “They used to keep the steamboats in the pond in that era. The steamboats would leave the pond and go across the lake to Williams Bay to meet the Millionaires’ Special train and take them to their estates around the lake. We love the pond because it has great reflections of the trees and bushes. We really enjoy it.”
Other luxe touches in the home include the hand-carved marble figures on the mantel in the formal living room, the ornate ceilings (which are actually tin ceilings Kurt designed and hand-painted to match the room), and the custom mahogany bar in the top-floor lounge/great room. A freestanding spiral staircase ascends through all the levels of the house. Finishes throughout the home are top-of-the-line as well: marble, granite, imported tile and carved wood are featured in almost every room. The large four-poster bed in the master bedroom was constructed specifically for the space by Thelen Total
ABOVE: The kitchen was designed to evoke a rustic Italian style. The tiles in the backsplash behind the stove were imported from Italy, and the island countertop was carved from three-inch-thick maple to mimic the shape of the pool. RIGHT: The four-poster bed in the master bedroom was custom designed for the room and built by Thelen Total Construction.
The mural in the dining room takes up the entire wall and depicts the property as it would have looked at the turn of the 20th century. The artist, Jackie Camodeca, painted the homeowners into the image, in a rowboat on their favorite aspect of the property: the pond.
TOP: The top-floor lounge and great room provides stunning panoramic views of the lake, and features luxe Axminster carpet imported from England as well as a baby grand piano the homeowners salvaged from the previous home on the property. RIGHT: The stepped landscape design provides a view of both the pond and the lake from the 40-foot in-ground pool.
FAR RIGHT: The pool and a cabana are connected to the home visually by an imposing stone archway.
Construction, and the enormous dining room table was made locally by a craftsman in Genoa City, who had the cherry wood shipped from Vermont. The vibrant, multi-colored carpet in the lounge and great room is by the famous Axminster company and was imported from England. A baby grand piano salvaged from the previous home on the property sits on top of it.
But the Stiers say their favorite thing about the home is sharing it with others. “We enjoy entertaining and we have tons of people in and out all summer long,” says Kurt. “The house is geared for entertaining and guests, and we have a great summer here.” Linda concurs: “I also think because of the lake frontage that we have, we get a ton of lake walkers, and I think they enjoy it, too. They’ll stop and have a picnic on the table we’ve set up or walk over and look at the pond or catch frogs.”
Now, after 16 wonderful years in this opulent custom home, the Stiers have decided it’s time to downsize. The house is currently on the market waiting for the right buyer, and it’s being sold fully furnished. “We’ve really enjoyed our time here,” says Kurt. “And it’s killing me to think about having to move.” ❦
My BlUE HEAvEN
A coUPlE’S lovE FoR lAkE GENEvA coNTiNUES iN THE HoME oF THEiR DREAMS
By BARB HowEll | PHoToGRAPHy By SHANNA wolF
ABOVE: A series of double hung windows with transoms provide spectacular views of Geneva Lake and flood the dining room with natural light. The home’s architect specified individual motors for each of the awning style transoms so they can be opened remotely. The dining room and kitchen feature black and white décor by Mackenzie-Childs, a collection of home furnishings made in upstate New York but found at Bloomingdale’s in Chicago. RIGHT: The dining room’s off-white buffet with distressed finish holds the couple’s china and silverware settings.
On the north shore of Geneva Lake stands a shinglestyle home that is so strikingly blue that on a sunsplashed day, with the lake’s water shimmering before it, one has the feeling that these blissful surroundings just might be heaven.
The couple, who owns this grand yet inviting home, readily admits they feel blessed. Married for 43 years, they discovered the beauty of Lake Geneva when their romance was just beginning in the early 1970s. As their love blossomed, so did their love for Lake Geneva and the people who live here. Throughout their marriage they’ve owned other homes on the lake, but once they saw this property one year ago, they knew it was perfect for their family. “It was meant to be,” they explain.
A FAMILY RETREAT
The house is truly designed for family living, and with two married daughters and five grandchildren, ages 2-8, it checked all the boxes (and more) on their wish list. The three-level, 10,000-square-foot home has seven bedrooms, six full baths, three half baths and three laundry rooms.
One portion of the third level is designed for the couple’s grandchildren and includes a bunk room/playroom complete with a boat-shaped bed and bunk beds. The home’s lower level combines an indoor pool, wine room, family room with bar and billiard table. Large outside entertaining spaces encompass decks, porches and patios, plus an in-ground pool and outdoor kitchen. However, the kitchen and great room on the home’s main level, are where guests and family typically congregate, according to the homeowners.
TOP: The white cabinets in the kitchen contrast beautifully with the dark honed granite counters, rust-colored island and solid walnut flooring. The walls, originally painted white, blended in with the home’s white millwork. The homeowners had the walls re-painted a soft taupe, adding definition to the architectural elements. BOTTOM LEFT: The kitchen’s cozy banquette is a great place for the grandchildren to have breakfast or to share a book. BOTTOM RIGHT:
The main level great room features a wall of built-ins on one side and a fireplace opposite it. The furnishings and design by Philip Sassano, owner of Lake Geneva’s Design Coach, create a comfortable, relaxing space.
The study on the home’s third level evokes the feeling of a “crow’s nest” in a seaside home. Large windows on three sides offer views of the lake and the home’s grounds. Off the study, there is a half bath and a closet which the previous owner made into a humidor.
TOP: The home’s beautiful millwork and attention to detail is evident in this photo of the second story landing with curved bannister and elaborate door casings. BOTTOM: A hallway, accented with a barrel ceiling finished with bead board and flanked by columns, leads to the master suite. Most of the home’s artwork was acquired by the homeowners over the last 20 years at Lake Geneva’s Galerie Matisse. The piece of artwork above is special to the couple as it depicts sail boats off Italy’s Amalfi Coast, where they’ve vacationed.
TOP: The master suite’s soothing color palette creates a relaxing retreat for the couple. An original painting by artist Robert Kipniss hangs in the alcove leading to the master bath. The claw-foot tub in the master bath faces the lake. BOTTOM: The home’s lower level, with access to the outdoor patio and pool area, has a bar with billiard table. Adjacent to the bar area and family room is this set of elaborate doors leading into the wine room. BOTTOM RIGHT: A special reminder sits next to a bench in the home’s entryway and embodies the philosophy the homeowners have adapted toward their business and personal lives.
The home is ideal for the couple’s five grandchildren. The bunk room serves not only as sleeping quarters for the kids, ages 2-8, but also as a playroom. As the children grow older, the room can be easily changed to fit their needs. The indoor pool is a favorite gathering place when the weather is inclement. The turtles on the wall are pieces the homeowners purchased at Lake Geneva’s annual Art in the Park event.
SELECTING A NAME
The home, built in 2008, was designed by Architect R.R. Browne of West Dundee, Illinois and its extraordinary attention to detail is second to none. As a former home builder, who has completed high-end residences for several prominent clients in the Chicago area, the homeowner says he’s never seen such a well-conceived design coupled with quality craftsmanship.
The home’s millwork is beautiful and elaborate and encompasses everything from wainscoting on the walls and bead board on some of the ceilings to built-in bookcases and decorative columns.
The exterior — with its stunning blue shingles, white trim and interesting architectural details — is reminiscent of an East Coast vacation retreat. The “blue house,” as the couples’ grandchildren fondly call it, needed a more fitting name they explained. Brainstorming sessions ensued but to no avail. One day, however, while walking back from the pier and looking at the house, their son-in-law came up with “My Blue Heaven.” The family unanimously agreed on the name.
Now that their home has been formally christened, the couple hopes it will serve as the setting for a natural continuation of many more Lake Geneva memories. And for this family, that’s a heavenly idea. ❦
TOP: The outdoor pool is surrounded by a large area that’s ideal for entertaining. A fireplace, at right, is perfect for chilly evenings. BOTTOM: This porch, off the main level great room, offers a beautiful view of the pool area and Geneva Lake beyond it. Ceiling fans keep those seated here comfortable on hot summer days.
Honoring Family
Time and generations give way to a new house on this Lauderdale Lakes property, yet its respectful design incorporates family first
By Barb Howell |
Photography by Shanna Wolf
When Don and Lori Lyon started thinking about building a home on their family’s property on Green Lake, one of the lakes in the Lauderdale chain, their first concern was how to respect the past. Since the early 1950s Don’s grandparents and then parents lived on this slice of land, and to build a more functional, new home would require Don and Lori to tear down the place where the family had gathered for years — and in essence — erase a half century of memories.
“Given the history and heritage of the property, we really wanted to be careful to do something respectful of the generations,” Don says. “We were nervous about tearing down the old house my grandparents built and we were wondering how my parents would feel about it.”
As the third generation to own the property, Don and Lori decided the right design for their home needed to have the feel of an old lake cottage, yet have all the modern amenities with plenty of bedrooms and baths to accommodate visiting family, including Don’s parents and his three brothers and their families. “Old lake houses get a patina and a
soul over the years,” says Don. “We wanted to design this house so it would have a patina when it was built and a head start on its soul.”
TURNING THEIR VISION INTO REALITY
To help them achieve the look they wanted, the Lyons enlisted the help of Randy Thelen of Thelen Total Construction. Thelen quickly learned the family didn’t want to miss a summer on the lake, so demolition of the old house occurred the day after Labor Day in 2011 and the new house was completed the week before Memorial Day in 2012.
According to Thelen, the schedule didn’t present too many challenges because the Lyons were easy to work with, had great ideas and offered them in a timely manner. “Collaboration and brainstorming is really what our process is all about and it certainly was the case with Don and Lori,” says Thelen. “Our goal was to step into their shoes; see the home through their eyes, and help them create the best home for their family.”
The Lyons and their three daughters used dozens of resources to make sure they would achieve the
ABOVE: The kitchen mixes high-end appliances including a Wolf range, a Sub-Zero refrigerator and quartz countertops with vintage accents such as a Mason jar light fixture and distressed cabinetry. The Lyon’s youngest daughter suggested incorporating the red hutch at right, which actually features two beverage drawers. BELOW: A series of cubbies and cabinets in the laundry area keep the family organized.
Randy Thelen’s daughter, Katie Wozniak, owner of Katherine Elizabeth Designs helped the Lyons select the perfect color scheme for the house. White woodwork and gray walls offer a soothing feel throughout the first floor. The dining area, with a pine table overlooking the lake, is part of the large open concept first floor layout.
The home features hickory flooring throughout with a distinctive compass design in the foyer.
TOP AND ABOVE LEFT: The exterior of the home incorporates stonework below the first floor reminiscent of an old stone foundation. A walk-out lower level with 10-foot ceilings was possible due to a slight slope in grade toward the lake. This design feature raised the first floor elevation, but that was remedied with an elevated front porch with a grand set of stairs and front door, mimicking the front entry of an older home. Family heirlooms on the porch and throughout the house honor the family’s past. ABOVE RIGHT: The boat house with unique bell-shaped roof is original to the property and dates to 1921.
character and feel of an older home. “It was really a family labor of love,” says Don. “It was all five of us sitting at our kitchen table going through Pinterest and Houzz and every magazine imaginable.”
FAMILY RETREAT
Soon after beginning work with the Lyons, Thelen coined the phrase “retreat” to capture the family’s objective to use the house primarily as a weekend getaway. In keeping with that, they all agreed the house needed to feel appropriate to the site — not something that would overwhelm it, but still have plenty of space inside for everyone.
One of the first must-haves for the family was a screened porch. It’s a place, Lori says, that’s used a lot by everyone — whether it’s to slip away to read a book, watch the boats on the lake or get out of the rain, yet enjoy the feeling of being outdoors.
The home’s open concept main level has a gourmet kitchen with large island with seating, a dining area as well as a living room with fireplace. The five bedrooms, with the exception of the master are not oversize. Again, that was something the Lyons felt strongly about. “We didn’t feel bedrooms in a lake house should be a place where you spend a lot of time. The thought is to get out of bed and get to the pier,” Don says.
The master bedroom, however, with its wall of windows facing the lake is designed as an oasis where it’s easy to linger. An inset in the bed wall with two small windows and pendant lights strategically placed above the night stands are special touches the Lyons discovered while researching design ideas. The adjacent bath with vintage soaking tub and large shower offer additional serenity to the master suite.
Another idea the family incorporated was a bed nook in the dormer of a lakeside guest room. “That nook was created during the building process,” says Thelen.
“Guests who stay here love sleeping in that bed,” says Lori. “The sun comes through those two windows and rises right over them.”
GETTING IT RIGHT
The apprehension the Lyons felt as they embarked on this building project was of great concern. Honoring their family’s heritage on this property was paramount, but as Don says, their fears were eased when they sat down for dinner together as a family on the first Memorial Day after moving in. “I looked at my parents and they had tears in their eyes. They were so pleased with the fact that we had done it right, and it would be a place where future generations would come.” ❦
TOP: The master bedroom is flooded with morning light through windows facing the lake. The room features an inset in the bed wall with two small windows and pendant lights placed above the night stands. A vaulted ceiling and wainscoting give the room a true cottage feel. BELOW: A bed nook in the dormer of a lakeside guest room is a cozy place to curl up with a book.
The master bath has a large, walk-in shower and a freestanding, soaking tub. Hanging over the far edge of the tub is a metal soap dish that once belonged to Don’s grandmother.
A bench alongside the path
a place to
within the shade garden offers
sit on hot summer days. right: A 19th century classical statue of woman presides over the Secret Garden.
In Full Bloom
THE joURNEy oF cREATiNG A lUSH GARDEN oN A FoRMERly NEGlEcTED lAkEFRoNT PRoPERTy
By Anne Morrissy | Photography by clint Farlinger
For years, Linda Learn would walk by a dilapidated house on Geneva Lake just outside of town and say to her sweetheart Andy Loughlin, “I could really do wonders with that house.” Then one day, Andy came back from getting his daily newspaper and said, “Get in the car. We’re going to go on a ride that will change your life.” Their dream house was finally for sale. So in 1996, Linda and Andy purchased the house and began an extensive remodeling project that lasted more than a year.
When they bought Willow Landing, Linda knew she wanted an English garden. But at the time she didn’t know anything about gardening. “I didn’t know an annual from a perennial,” she laughs. “I didn’t know anything about gardening. They probably just shook their heads at me when I walked into the greenhouse. I just learned by trial and error; it was quite an awakening.”
The challenge was made greater by the state of the property when they bought it. “There was nothing in the garden worth saving,” she explains. “We could hardly get back there.” When the garage was enlarged, a hill lined with boulders was
The lakeside garden is complemented with brick pavers and a trellis covered with tropical annuals, creating a welcoming entry to the pier.
A seating area encourages visitors to linger and admire the view of the Secret
Garden.
added, creating a stairway to the back garden. Then Linda began planting, kindling a passionate hobby. She and Andy now keep a vibrant English garden they call “The Secret Garden,” as well as a tranquil shade garden and a lakeside garden. Linda tends to prefer to plant annuals, so she can change the colors and the design season to season.
The shade garden lines a path of stone pavers that ultimately leads to the Secret Garden. Linda says she loves the shade garden for its cool tranquility. A weathered stone bench provides a nice place to sit on hot days, and hostas and coleus line the path. But the true gem of the property is the Secret Garden. The focal point is a 19th century classical statue of a woman that the couple purchased at the Chicago Botanic Garden Antique, Garden and Design Show six years ago. The statue presides over a landscape of boxwood hedges and Carefree Wonder pink roses, which Linda loves because, she says, “They smell wonderful and bloom all summer.”
A colorful mix of annuals accent the display, but there’s one thing you will never find in Linda’s garden: orange. “I said no orange in my garden!” she
laughs. “I like to go mostly with pink, purple and white, and some yellow. I love the colors to be softer and more pastel.” However, her favorite flowers, bright pink impatiens, strike a bolder pose. The Secret Garden is made up of roughly six sections, and each section is also home to a petite fairy statue, which Linda also picked up at the Chicago Botanic Garden Antiques, Garden and Design Show. Linda often invites walkers and passersby to sit a while in her garden and enjoy the view. “The garden is just a really soothing, beautiful place to be,” she explains. “I wish I could garden all the time. It’s my relaxation.”
In front of the house, the lakeside garden frames Willow Landing’s beautiful view of the lake. It features marigolds, phlox and tropical annuals that climb the arbor trellis, where walkers on the Geneva Lake Shore Path often stop to take photos. The bolder colors complement the traditional white pier. And the lakeside garden also serves as a reminder to Linda and Andy of that fateful day they first looked at Willow Landing: it is the garden that Andy now passes through every day to meet the famous Mailboat and pick up his daily newspaper. ❦
above: Adjacent to the brick driveway is a rock wall and a variety of annuals, including Linda’s favorite pink impatiens. beloW: Each section of the Secret Garden is home to a petite fairy statue.
Layers of color are represented in the Secret Garden with a variety of plants like marigolds, phlox, impatiens, heliopsis and salvia.
Lakeshore Collections
vietri Dinnerware: square charger,
PHOtOGrAPHY BY SHANNA WOlf
Serene Greens and Cool Blues
Lake Living evokes a sLower pace and comfortabLe surroundings. But there’s no need to sacrifice style and sophistication to create a sense of calm. Bring the outdoors in with beautiful décor that combines the soothing colors of nature. We enlisted our friends at Cornerstone Shop & Gallery in lake Geneva to help us select objects that will help foster a feeling of harmony and tranquility within your lake home.
Top Row, Left to Right: multicolor frame with aged finish, $29.99; mercury glass lamp with white shade, $149.99; outdoor 4 x 6’ rug in brown/aqua, $54.99. Middle Row, Left to Right: large wooden shutter lantern, $92.99; Tabor ink throw, $44.99; Pillows: 24” square with yellow stripe, $54 and 14 x 23” with blue stripe, $26. Bottom Row, Left to Right: Schooner sail boat painting, $599.99; Braided natural ottoman, $231; ombre glacier candle holder, $54.99.
White canisters and serving pieces, various sizes and styles, $22.99-$49.99
Top Row, Left to Right: Woven design, 5 x 7” silver photo frame, $27.99; hester glass lamp, $119.99; Pillows with botanical leaf designs: 12” square with french ticking, $19.99, 10 x 18” with burlap, $19.99. Middle Row, Left to Right: ramone glass and bamboo jar, $44.99 with agave spray botanical, $9; nautical anchor vase, $39.99; mirror with dark brown finish, 30 x 40,” $334.99; Table with yellow top and wrought iron legs, $60. Bottom Row, Left to Right: Dark gray hurricane, $47.99 with Japanese cedar wood pillar candle, $18; Strie wheat throw, 55 x 70,” $139.99; Jute braid pillow, 18” square, $28.99. ❦
Making Your Home a Smart One
A look at the latest technology to operate everything from lighting to garage doors | By
Maura Keller
Imagine living in a house where your drapes draw themselves at sunset and open at sunrise, and your home’s heating and lighting adjust automatically based on your daily activities. Or better yet, on a blustery, snowy day, imagine using an app on your mobile phone to tell your house to turn up the thermostat four degrees and turn on the driveway defroster.
What kind of house would this be? A smart one and one that would make George Jetson proud.
High-tech “smart” homes are the wave of the future and manufacturers are stretching technology to make refinements in products we already use—and inventing new things for our homes that we never knew we needed until now.
“There are multitudes of reasons to include smart home technology in one’s home,” says Jeremy Udovich, director for HiQo Solutions in Madison. The most relevant are cost savings, safety and security. The luxuries are more along the lines of home
automation such as being able to control your lights or garage door with a smartphone app.
LET THERE BE LIGHT (AND HEAT)
According to Jason DeNoble with Hart DeNoble Builders in Middleton, homeowners can buy thermostats, such as products from Ecobee, Nest and Honeywell that allow you to control heating and cooling only, or other products, like Lutron, that offer complete house lighting control. These wall-mounted computer systems know what day it is, how bright a homeowner likes their lights and how loud they like their music. Want a little Mozart with your manicotti? Simply push a button on your dining room’s computer panel and the classic melodies will begin. What’s more, the music will follow you as you move from room to room.
In the HVAC area, Nest would be the most recognizable product in this category.
“Essentially it turns your phone into a remote control for your thermostat, which is great, but the real value is the machine learning algorithm that starts to learn your usage patterns and preferences so that it runs when you need it to and rests when you don’t,” Udovich says. “The obvious objective here is to save energy and this turns into cost savings for the homeowner.”
From a home security perspective, the majority of smart home technology is centered around wireless camera systems that can sync up to a mobile app on your phone so you can keep an eye on your space.
“The automation industry is experiencing a boom [and] a tremendous amount of growth in the home industry,” says Scott Lowell, owner of Lowell Management Services, a custom builder in Lake Geneva. “There are a tremendous number of options out there for today’s homeowner.”
Lowell sees the primary areas of smart home automation revolving around heating control and security systems. “There are an amazing number of things you can do to automate your home,” he says. “I often counsel my clients to consider some basic automation, but then to add modules or infrastructure that will allow for future automation as needed as technology changes.”
“One that is interesting to me personally is a company called Ring,” Udovich says. “This is a connected doorbell with camera that detects motion and allows you to see a person at your door and speak with them from your mobile device.”
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Today’s customers like to be able to control different parts of their home without actually having to be in the room they want to control. For example, you can be in your living room and arm the security for your outbuildings, set the temperature in the upstairs master bedroom, indicate your evening lighting or turn your home theater off because the kids left it on. Your garage, if left open, would automatically close in the evening if forgotten, or open when you drive up to it.
“Whether you are a working parent and you want to be able to log in remotely and see the kids and nanny, a busy business professional who travels often, or you own multiple homes, you can now control your home whenever, wherever you want,” says Barry Daoust, CEO of Smarthomes.us. “You can bring the shades up with the sunrise and down with the sunset, send text or email alerts whenever someone walks through the front door, and control all of your entertainment preferences — by room, by season, by mood.”
AN APP FOR THAT
Trends are moving quickly to enable control of different items in your home via smartphone or tablet. The increasing improvement of Internet connectivity and the growing number of smartphone applications is helping to make this a reality.
As Sanjay Patel, CEO of TiO, a home automation company explains, most major security, telecom, and Internet service providers offer remote home monitoring services due to the rise in number of both partners working and the increased risk of burglary, trespassing or other criminal activity to the home.
“Lighting automation solutions will see a very healthy growth through 2020,” Patel says. “Residential lighting accounts for about 10 percent of household bills, so the need to leverage lighting automation will provide a savings opportunity for consumers. As lighting solutions become more integrated into home automation solutions, we will see an increased usage by homeowners.”
HVAC automation also is expected to grow approximately 17 to 18 percent since this segment will grow at the pace of new HVAC installs.
“Since HVAC systems account for 45 percent of the homeowner’s energy bills, there will be an increased demand for controlling them smartly to reduce the cost,” Patel says.
Even garage door opener manufacturers are starting to develop their own solutions for controlling their
“There are an amazing number of things you can do to automate your home. I often counsel my clients to consider some basic automation, but then to add modules or infrastructure that will allow for future automation as needed as technology changes.”
- Scott Lowell, owner Lowell Management Services
garage doors from a mobile app. There are some solutions leveraging geo-fencing to open the garage door automatically when you pull into your driveway. Several major garage door opener companies also offer apps to allow consumers to open and close the garage door from a smartphone.
While corresponding apps are proprietary to the company used for home automation, they offer a streamlined approach to smart home design.
“You have to use their apps that are designed to work with their product,” DeNoble says. “But these products are great for simple functions on a budget under $1,000.”
If your budget allows, you can also consider whole home automation. As DeNoble explains, many companies make products that include their own apps. A favorite and the most common is Control4, which allows homeowners to dim the lights, stream high-resolution music, turn up the heat, lock the doors and arm the security system.
“This system will allow you to do as little or as much as you want,” DeNoble says. “Your phone can control the TVs, HVAC, garage doors, lighting and security cameras from anywhere in the world.”
A homeowner should work with a builder, or an AV integrator if the home is already built, to determine the best solution for them. “Most builders today are offering a home automation solution, generally a starter package, to help consumers experience home automation,” Patel says.
ON THE HORIzON
“The technology has become very user friendly,” DeNoble says. “Ten years ago when things were newer, the system would go out and then a tech would have to come out before you could change the temperature in your house or get the home theater on.”
That said, Udovich says it’s important to remember that there are really no standards that allow all of these products — for inside and outside the home — to work seamlessly through one app. So if you want to connect your lights, security system, television, HVAC and sprinkler system, you will need a separate phone app to control each system. “The technology is in its infancy and this is too clunky for mass adoption,” Udovich says. “But someone will create a more standardized platform that will allow a majority of these devices to work with one mobile app or one hub in the home. Then we will see much greater adoption by home builders and, in the end, consumers.”
Patel stresses that there will be tremendous growth in leveraging digital technology in people’s homes. “With more robust solutions and more economical pricing, this will provide more homeowners the opportunity to own a smart home to simplify their lives,” Patel says.
With the latest technology and the smartphone capabilities available today, it is becoming affordable to the masses.
“The control features for certain areas, such as heating and security, is completely affordable,” Lowell says. “It is going to become standard in many of today’s homes.”
“It is security, peace of mind, entertainment, cost savings [and] home management all in one. It is a way of life,” Daoust says. “The same reason you have power windows, door locks, navigation, dual climate control, ABS brakes, power steering, Bluetooth, satellite streaming music [and] heated seats in our cars. Things all of us do every day can be made easier with technology whether [it’s] in your home or car. Home automation has arrived.” ❦
