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Pure beauty
Mark Smith knew he wanted to make the most of the natural surroundings when he decided to build his rural Oconomowoc home. After collaborating with Vetter Denk Architects Inc., the Prairie style design blends in with the three-acre property just as Smith imagined.
The Phoenix house
One lightening bolt and it was all gone for Chris and Carolyn Eigel. Shortly after completing extensive remodeling on their second home in November 2005, it burned to the ground.
Nouveau style meets Old World
Interior designer Gay Saari has owned her own firm, Artistic Interiors, for 14 years — but this is her first experience with the 2010 Wisconsin Breast Cancer Showhouse for a Cure. She decided to get involved this year after one of her best friends, Linda Maris, underwent treatment for breast cancer. "She’s doing very well," Saari says.
Best practices
Steven Giles and Jennine Pufahl have an emotional investment in their home that goes beyond weathering a 10-month remodeling project. "All of our children were born at home," says Steven Giles. He and wife Jennine Pufahl’s two daughters were born in their Fox Point home and son Nolan, the oldest, was born in their previous house in Whitefish Bay.
Creative meets resourceful
"Take a left at the grasshopper." Outsiders might find this instruction a bit unusual, but once you’ve turned down the gravel road to the entrance of Stone Fences Farm it makes perfect sense. Part farm, part fantasy, this 160-acre family compound nestled in the rolling hills of Ottawa is a visual treat.
Aged to perfection
"Mission accomplished," the homeowners quietly chuckled when complimented on the "remodeling" of their newly constructed French Provincial house. With exquisite details, fine craftsmanship and a standard of absolute authenticity, at that moment the couple knew they had achieved their goal of creating a home that transcended time.
DIY fixes
Spring is in the air, so it’s the perfect time to think about freshening up your home. We have four of the latest ideas in home design for your consideration. While some projects are best left to the professionals, others you can tackle yourself. M talked to the pros to see which projects you can do and for which you should call in the experts.
Renaissance on the Lake
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.
Hidden gem
The Knickerbocker On The Lake has been a part of the Milwaukee landscape since 1929. This historic hotel underwent a transformation in 1984 when the building was converted into condos.
Inspiration Piece
With her creative eye, it doesn’t take much for Courtney Turall to find inspiration. The color concept for the master bedroom in her town of Delafield home started with a black and white pillow case.
Mixed mediums
After they built their Mequon home three years ago, Scott and Jandell Herum got used to the stares. "We had a lot of people stop," Scott Herum says. "Some take pictures. Some just sit there and look and look and look."
Living larger
A family cottage on Lac La Belle turned into a personal project for architect Kent Johnson. Johnson and his wife, Heidi, took on the task of converting a 1947 summer cabin into their year-round home. The cottage was built by Heidi’s grandfather.
Art + Architecture
In designing a 23rd floor condo in the University Club Tower, architect Wade Weissmann researched early 20th century apartment houses constructed in Chicago and New York to examine how his predecessors laid out floor plans.
Build or remodel
The same elements that led a family to a home are the same ones that generally keep it there — location, location, location.
Treasure hunt
What started as a maintenance project for their home in Milwaukee’s North Point Historic District evolved into a restoration project that yielded some surprising discoveries for homeowners Mark and Grace Thomsen.
Past meets present
The day after the hole was dug for this contemporary farmhouse in the town of Merton, a tragic accident ended the life of one of the homeowners. The widow, too grief-stricken to continue the project, filled in the hole and put the project on hold. A year later she decided to build the home in memory of her late husband.
Plan ahead
The days of one-size-fits-all housing are long over. Today’s home buyers want a home designed with their needs in mind. 
Elegance defined
It’s all in the details when it comes to John and Patricia Bosbous’s Elm Grove home.
A new neoclassic
The 1912 Georgian Revival house on Milwaukee’s East Side is a timeless classic with its symmetrical composition, peaked gable roofs and portico front entry. Inside, visitors are wowed by the oak staircase and a large stained glass window of a Greek temple arch and an Irish church ruin on the foyer landing, and paneled wainscoting and leaded-glass china cabinet in the dining room.
Atlantic is calling
In planning their retirement home on Big Cedar Lake, architect Wade Weissmann’s clients presented him with three pieces of information: a picture from a magazine, the word Nantucket and the DVD "Something’s Gotta Give."
Acre by acre
If the earth at Mark and Cheryl Brickman’s 15.5-acre Dragonfly Farm could share its memories, it might tell stories about its life nourishing a farmer’s crops, or the years when it was simply the anchor for a lawn dressed in suburban green. Today, though, the land seems to sing in sweet harmony with nature.

Rising to the challenge
A simple wrought-iron motif that graces the courtyard gate at the home of Cathie Madden and Jeff Yabuki is much more than an architectural afterthought. The floral motif, repeated numerous times throughout the home, is a signal that this house is about more than square footage, walls and forms. "It elevates the entire design to an art form," says architect Jorgen Hansen of Port City Studio.

Pool party
Everybody can’t live on a lake, Elaine Lesko says, but having a backyard pool is the next best thing. "We have very few beautiful months in Wisconsin. It’s nice to be able to enjoy them to the fullest," Lesko says.
A fresh look
Throughout their marriage, Allen and Jan Dembski have always enjoyed contemporary design.
Upward mobility
In designing her condo atop the Marine Terminal Lofts in Milwaukee’s Third Ward, the homeowner, a Gen X business executive, had an eclectic wish list for Greg Holm and Lisa Manetti, designers with Peabody’s Interiors in Whitefish Bay. "I was going for a vintage, modern, contemporary look — a bunch of oxymorons actually," the owner says. "I wanted a little bit of everything. I wanted it to reflect who I am."

Unique taste
When the Pautzes decided to remodel their kitchen they really wanted to make a statement. 
The big picture
With all the doom and gloom about the economy and the housing market in the news, it is easy to lose sight of the No. 1 reason why it’s still a good time to build a home in southeastern Wisconsin — because it is a long-term financial investment. 
Royal transformation
A Bayside couple likens their interest in a 1930s Tudor cottage to caring for a misfit, smelly, ugly, poor man — who, after some tender loving care, turns out to be a better catch than someone else’s ideal of a prince charming, or a brand new home, as the case may be.
Vivid hues
Little did Tricia Bortz realize, when she collected four porcelain plates she liked, that one day those plates would be the driving force behind a home remodel’s color palette.
Historical facelift
Realtors like to remind us that updated kitchens and bathrooms sell houses. But owners of historic homes face a unique set of challenges when they decide to remodel their kitchens.
Home for the holidays
Warm and inviting are two words that best describe John and Chris Lesko’s Brookfield home. Drapery in rich hues and Oriental rugs in warm, dark colors make every room feel like a welcome escape on a cold winter day.
Winter wonderland
From the traditional Spode Christmas tree tablescape to the playfulness of life-size toy soldiers and a purse-adorned Christmas tree, the Tom and Trish O’Brien home is the place to spread Christmas cheer.
Urban retreats
Influenced by the Mediterranean-style architecture of the home and the waters of Lake Michigan, interior designer Karen Kempf created a peaceful sanctuary in the master bathroom of the Fox Point home of Jeff Yabuki and Cathie Madden.
Navigating the building process
Building your new home should be one of the happiest times of your life. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case, especially if you enter into the process without doing a little detective work. Here’s some advice that should help you sail smoothly through the building process.
Living lakeside
When Carl Tomich’s friends called and asked him to build their home, he knew it was fulfilling one of their dreams. The Waukesha County natives always wanted to live on a lake so their children could build the same memories they shared of good times with their friends on the inland waters.
Back at the barnyard
In the countryside northwest of Milwaukee, endless rows of corn are interrupted only by stands of mature trees and the occasional barn. One of these "barns," however, is different from the rest. It is a recently constructed home equipped with all the modern conveniences. Authentic barnyard touches extend the farm feeling throughout the uniquely designed and furnished home.
Cape Cod reborn
The Collins moved into a 1950s Cape Cod home in Elm Grove after relocating from central Wisconsin.
Fusion living
When the Labinskis moved to Whitefish Bay in the summer of 1995, both Kathy and her husband, John, knew they’d miss the Southwest. "We were leaving an adobe home we had designed and built two years prior," Kathy Labinski says.
Simply perfect
Contemporary and family friendly design sounds like an oxymoron. But take a look at the home that Susan Kim, the co-anchor of "Live at Daybreak" on WTMJ-4, and her family share in Wales. Kim obviously did not have to sacrifice style when designing a kid-friendly space. "We designed a house that we wanted our family to grow in and love," she says. "I wanted a place where my kids would be comfortable, happy and love growing up in, and a place that my husband and I could enjoy."
Urban retreat
Most people wisely choose to evacuate during a major home renovation. But few move to such an amazing location as Jamie Wilke and his family. Wilke is the owner of Jamie Wilke Interiors. 
Custom character
Those who like to follow trends in paint color will be happy to know that the palette is wide open. While many people continue to stick to neutrals, there are many who are choosing to paint their kitchens red and their living rooms espresso brown. 
Milwaukee's grandest home
At a time in their lives when most parents are contemplating empty nests and plans for their golden years, the contemporary thought is to downsize, perhaps make life a little easier. But that wasn’t quite what Fred and Maria were thinking when they acquired a parcel of land at 2000 Grand Ave. in Milwaukee.
Inside Ten Chimneys
Ads tout it. We all strive for it. But the husband and wife acting team of Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne actually achieved the good life in their summer home located at Genesee Depot. 


MORE IDEAS... 

Your Place: No need to keep bulky, old hot-water heater 08-30-2010

Shuffle the floor plan by giving old spaces new purposes
08-30-2010

Fix it: Old lures have appeal 08-30-2010

Your Place: Advice for kitchen flooring 08-23-2010

Renters can do plenty to make their homes more eco-friendly 08-23-2010

21st-century homesteading: More families 
seek simple, self-sufficient, low-impact lifestyles
08-23-2010

Your Place: All about bidets 08-16-2010

Fix it: Ceiling fans, on or off in summer? 08-16-2010

Treasures by the yard: Decorator trolls local
yard sales and finds six bargain buys for $20 or less
08-16-2010

Your Place: what type of flooring should be install in our home? 08-09-2010

Here comes the sun: Solar power within reach 08-09-2010

Fix it: Ticked off about a tick 08-09-2010

Air conditioning tips will keep house cool 
while making sure system is running more efficiently
08-09-2010

Your Place: Am I making efficient
use of my home's cooling system?
08-02-2010

Big ideas for small spaces 08-02-2010

Fix it: The squeaky heel gets the glue 08-02-2010

Choose materials carefully and plant fences in the right place 08-02-2010

Avoid decorating faux pas by featuring your space properly 08-02-2010

Your place: Solar energy is there, why not use it to cool? 07-27-2010

Homeowners wouldn't trade their 
vintage appliances for anything
07-27-2010

Old mattresses are green business 07-27-2010

Fix it: Canning jars; neither butter nor plastic 07-27-2010

Your place: Controlling fireplace pilot can keep cold air out 07-19-2010



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