Last year, Bartelt. The Remodeling Resource celebrated a major milestone: 40 years serving southeastern Wisconsin homeowners. Over those four decades, the company has overseen hundreds of residential renovations and custom homes, establishing itself as Wisconsin’s premier remodeling firm with its timeless, high-end design and quality craftsmanship.
“We take it one step at a time,” says Matt Retzak, a project designer and coordinator at Bartelt. “The first and most important step is to listen. When I’m invited into a client’s home, there is often something wrong that needs to be adjusted, fixed or corrected. A home should function to improve daily life, and that is the most critical part to get right before moving on to the next stage.”
Bartelt is a turnkey operation, taking on full-home and multi-room remodels of all shapes and sizes. Rearranging layouts, building extensions, and adding doors or windows are just some of the ways Bartelt increases functionality in homes. A project with Bartelt begins with a consultation to determine the goal and how to get there.
“When it’s time to hit the drawing board, I typically try to get a couple of plan ideas on paper, including any suggested by the client, and some they have maybe never thought of,” says Retzak. “Sometimes the solution is a hybrid of what we started with.”
At Bartelt, function comes first. After those initial architectural, structural or mechanical problems have been solved, the team moves on to aesthetics.
“Taking things one step at a time keeps the process mentally manageable for our clients and contributes to keeping the process exciting and enjoyable rather than completely overwhelming,” Retzak adds.
Heather Scott, an interior designer and project coordinator, helps clients choose details that bring a design to life, including materials, colors and finishes.
One striking recent example of Bartelt’s approach is a renovation of a historic early-1900s house on Nagawicka Lake, pictured here, which included a kitchen, dining/living space, primary suite and laundry room remodel. The final result brought new life to the dated space, while maintaining the character of the century-old home.
“It’s always satisfying to adapt older homes. They have so many original character elements that are not part of new homes today,” says Retzak. “It’s a great feeling to see these historic homes preserved and adapted to a modern lifestyle rather than torn down and replaced with new construction that typically lacks character and charm.”
Ultimately, for Retzak and the rest of the Bartelt team, each project goes beyond design. It’s about creating a home that feels right for the people who live in it.
“I hope that together we create a home they love and works perfectly for them,” says Retzak. “I hope their space brings them joy every day, is a place they are proud of and a place where they share and make wonderful memories.”
