The seating area in the center of the music room is perfect for entertaining. "We asked the homeowners if they would like a piano and they did. And we had an idea for the cocktail table and chairs so you can come in here after dinner to sit and talk," says Greg Holm. The piano is more than what it appears to be. The instrument has a player attachment where you can download your iPod, allowing the piano to play on its own. The modern stacked stone sculpture in the corner adds interest to the space and carries the contemporary feeling throughout the home.

Greg Holm and Emily Winters had no idea the challenge they were about to face when the phone rang at Peabody’s Interiors of Whitefish Bay.

A previous client wanted the designers to update their summer home near Mukwonago. At the time, the couple weren’t sure if they were going to put it on the market, or keep it for their children.

A whole house remodel might be the perfect assignment for a designer, but the challenge came when the couple said the remodel had to be completed in nine months while they were away.

Holm and Winters had a series of meetings with the homeowners prior to the couple’s departure in order to get a sense of what they desired. Beyond that the design team was given a blank slate to redesign the entire interior of the home. "We had our ideas on how to bring the home up to date and the homeowner agreed," says Holm.

With the help of Lemler Builders of West Bend, everything was replaced — windows, flooring and all the furniture. The old furniture was donated to a local church and a family who lost everything in a fire. The rooms were all painted or wallpapered and window treatments replaced.

The overall color scheme was done in amber, bronze, apricot and tan. "We moved in the direction of a neutral pallet because all the walls had been white and there is so much color coming off the lake including all the trees surrounding the home," says Holm. The home had been decorated in ’80s modern. "Everything was fuchsia and cobalt blue," Winters adds.

The living room has an excellent view of the lake and is very comfortable for guests. "The floor plan is for conversation and television watching," says Greg Holm, which is evident by the flanking flat screen TVs on either side of the fireplace. The homeowner wanted the dual TVs so he can watch multiple sports channels at once. "We modified the bookcase to accommodate both TVs," says Emily Winters. The two-story window has motorized shades for convenience. "It’s elegant and comfortable yet serviceable," explains Holm. For instance, the ottoman is covered in leather so it’s very usable, and the swivel chairs can be used for different things. "She wanted her and her grandkids to be able to come in from the beach, sit down and get comfortable," says Winters.

The spa experience is immediately felt upon entering the master suite with its soft tones, whirlpool tub and frameless shower stall. "The shower looks like a wall of glass," says Greg Holm, and the floor is made of river stone, adding an organic feel to the space. Wall-hung vanities and floor-to-ceiling mirrors replaced the old cabinets. The infinity style sinks add to the contemporary, clean atmosphere in the space.