Perhaps it’s still the pandemic effect, or a side effect of the tight housing market, but the propensity to invest in one’s own home – and honor its historic integrity, too – is seemingly more popular than ever. These six remodels, each with its own unique set of challenges, prove that thoughtful, intuitive design is a powerful tool.
It’s time to pick your Milwaukee favorites for the year!
Modern-Day Rework
Myriad compartmentalized spaces and awkward remodels left the kitchen of this historic Tudor home in need of an entirely reworked footprint. “When you hear a house has ‘good bones,’ it often refers to a great layout and strong architectural character,” explains Amy Carman, principal designer and owner of Amy Carman Design.
“While we loved the architecture, we really needed to structurally rework the entire floor plan and reduce the number of rooms. That takes skill, experience and the ability to see past the complexities of an existing layout. The ‘bones’ of this house needed to be extensively reworked.”
Columns and doorways were removed and shifted, and generously scaled openings to adjacent rooms were created. New leaded glass windows flood the room with natural light. “We flipped the existing dining and living room to place the living room next to the kitchen, taking advantage of the high ceilings and intricate plaster moldings,” Carman says.
“It took us a minute to figure out exactly how we would connect the spaces to allow the kitchen and surrounding rooms to live and function in a way that makes sense for a modern-day family.”
Furthermore, a neighboring walk-in utility space, once cluttered with pantry items and cleaning supplies, was transformed into an elegant wine bar and pantry. Deep-green trim and lushly patterned wallpaper – Florencecourt by Cole & Sons – evoke a jewel-box-like feel, and brass and marble accents add touches of glamor.
“Our clients love to show it off and use it for entertaining,” says Carman of the space. “This is a pantry you can really spend some time in!”
Creative Push
The original footprint of this 1913 Colonial kitchen was small and inefficient, challenging the design team to use every square inch to create a storage-filled, stylish powerhouse.
“We were landlocked with exterior walls, windows and adjacent rooms, which meant we needed to carefully work the space planning to gain the storage and functional needs a kitchen requires,” explains Stephanie Piehl, director of design at Refined Renovations.
Statement-making built-ins were created to house pantry items, and the sink and oven were relocated to improve workflow in the space. “Arranging the sink and range closer together allowed us to make better use of open square footage for storage requirements,” Piehl adds.
Architecturally rich ceiling details, soapstone countertops, period-inspired lighting and brass cabinet hardware nod to the past, and the jewel-toned blue cabinetry and black walnut accents add depth and richness.
“We called for new windows in the redesign for greater efficiency,” Piehl says, “taking care to tie the window casing and style into the rest of this century-old home.”
Near the built-ins, a chalkboard wall, which integrates the home’s original laundry chute into its design, offers a whimsical touch, providing space for reminders, grocery lists and doodles.
“We truly try to work within the envelope we are given before considering taking over new space or adding to the home,” Piehl concludes. “However, this project pushed our creativity.”
Chef’s Kiss
The homeowners wanted a space that functioned as a chef’s kitchen, while mimicking the character and appeal of the 1940s home. The existing space had last been updated in the 1980s.
First on the agenda was removing a wall separating the kitchen and living room, creating an open-concept floor plan. An existing window and side entry door, which served little purpose, were also eliminated. “Once we had a blank slate, we were able to reimagine the aesthetic and use,” says designer Sarah Rhoden of S.J. Janis Company.
Natural light now floods the area, from the family room to the kitchen. … A custom, table-style island creates seating for the whole family, while still providing storage, an ample prep surface and a discreet microwave. The removed soffits allow cabinetry to the ceiling, adding valuable space.”
The “main event” of the space, says Rhoden, is the French La Cornue gas range. Its black finish and brass accents inspired many of the material selections, she adds, such as the sconce and pendant lighting and cabinet hardware.
Durable Wilsonart quartz countertops provide a slight contrast to the cabinets, complementing the gray notes speckled throughout the Carrara marble backsplash. A chef-style Kohler faucet nods to a more modern aesthetic.
“To coordinate with the existing oak flooring throughout the home we built a custom hood with a matching [wood] shroud accent,” Rhoden notes. “It provides consistency from old to new.”
Quiet Luxury
The existing limitations of this primary en-suite bathroom – e.g., overhead soffits above the built-in tub and the inability to expand into adjacent spaces – demanded a full demolition.
“Our clients were willing to let go of the idea of a tub completely, and this allowed us to design the space around a roomy walk-in shower,” explains interior designer Linsey Lowery of Three Sixty. “A glass door helped visually keep the space open and airy.” The walls and ceiling were painted a tone similar to the neutral wall tile, she adds, giving the illusion of a larger room.
Material selections and sight lines are modern yet timeless, ensuring the longevity of the space. “Clean neutrals were essential in creating this serene haven,” Lowery says, noting that the addition of spunky light fixtures, which can easily be swapped out down the road, adds flair and personality. The custom-made walnut vanity optimizes storage for bathroom essentials, and a walnut cabinet above the toilet provides additional storage. “Going custom here was necessary, as space was very limited and we needed every inch to work for us and them,” she adds.
“Many residential clients come to us because they know we love to bring a big personality and tell stories in a space,” Lowery concludes. “Our spaces are all unique to our clients [and] their aesthetics and desires. This bathroom was no exception, but fell more on our ‘quiet with quality’ spectrum and less on the ‘go big or go home’ spectrum. We love it just the same.”
Green With Envy
A well-defined desire to preserve the integrity of the 1890s Queen Anne home inspired the design of this bathroom remodel, which required a near-gut renovation to properly build out the space.
“During this time period, you saw a larger prevalence of bathrooms clad in tile, which is why you see the gorgeous green wall tile,” says Linsey Lowery, an interior designer with Three Sixty. “The tile itself is sculptural, but with a more timeless shape.”
The porcelain sink – and its lack of undermount storage – is similar to those popular at the time, she continues, and an abundance of vibrant color nods to the exteriors of the “painted ladies” of the era, though the house’s exterior is mostly brick.
“Homes of that time also often featured wallpaper with unstructured floral patterns,” Lowery says of the wallpaper choice. “The colors were a lovely combination for us to play with.”
Retaining Character
Numerous challenges – both prior to and after demolition – resulted in significant setbacks during this guest bath remodel.
“Previous workers had run air conditioning in the bathroom soffits, which required them to be kept in the space, but we resized them as small as possible,” explains Carol Johnson, senior designer at AB&K Bath & Kitchen.
Clay tile walls were discovered under the original plaster, and the exterior walls are constructed of block and brick, so new framing was required for insulation and wiring.
Abandoned lead pipes left large holes in the subfloor, and an inconsistency in sleeper construction created varying heights in the new floor. (Sleepers are wood boards laid over another surface.)
To resolve the issue, bags of cement were mixed on site to level the floor in preparation for the mosaic floor tile.
The historic nature of the home inspired selections that felt as if they had always been there, says Johnson.
Pinwheel white-with-black-dot ceramic tile covers the bathroom and shower floors, and Kohler Memoirs pedestal sinks frame the doorway.
“These selections mimic colors, styles and textures found in homes of this age, and keep the historic feel alive in the room,” she adds. “We salvaged and reinstalled the original doors and casings – painted a new, fresh white – to retain the original character of the home.”
Modern amenities, such as LED lighting and spa-like shower fixtures, blend seamlessly with the selections, creating a timeless aesthetic.
