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Back to top |
 Into the
fire
When Cindy and
Ken Denison stepped into the empty-nester world, they were ready to
remodel their home to fit their new lifestyle. The Delafield couple
wanted a clean, sleek style incorporated into a kitchen with plenty of
space to cook, says Cheri Ware of Ware Design in Delafield.
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 Start smart
Q.
What are critical pieces of information homeowners should have before
embarking on a kitchen remodel?
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 Idea file
For 10 years
Mary Ann Thielen had been gathering ideas in a three-ring binder for
her dream kitchen, so when it came time to renovate, she was more than
prepared. "Our main objective was to give her an updated kitchen
and to let her have all the features she had been dreaming about and
collecting," her husband, Paul Thielen, says.
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 Let the
sunshine in
If winter is
cocoon time, then summer is the time to burst out and show your true
colors. You can turn your home from warm and cozy to bright, airy and
vibrant. And, it can be easily done with just a few changes.
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 Kitchen chi
Dream Kitchens
Inc. co-owner Terri Schmidt and her team had their work cut out for
them in designing a kitchen to rise to the level of the Frank Lloyd
Wright-inspired architecture of the home. The empty-nester homeowners
wanted a kitchen in keeping with the architecture, and one that would
accommodate entertaining.
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 I need space
Whether your
home is a small apartment or a 5,000-square-foot house, it can feel
crowded if you simply have too much stuff. According to home design
experts, the key to living well in a small or crowded space and
finding room for the things you want to do is to use your imagination.
With the proper strategy, you can reclaim the room you need for a play
area, exercise room, office — whatever the purpose.
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Trend watch:
Going graphic
Designers
aren’t mincing words when it comes to one of the fastest growing
trends in interiors these days. Letters, numbers, phrases and symbols
are everywhere, from the floor on up. Upholstered furniture like
chairs and ottomans as well as accessory pieces like pillows, rugs and
even coasters are showing up in homes all around town. While you don’t
want to overdo it, adding a typographically inspired piece is an
unexpected way to add pizzazz to a room.
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 Go mod!
If you’ve been
inspired to go a little mod in your home, join the club. The trend
toward clean lines and streamlined spaces in residential interiors has
really taken off. Even if you still lean toward the traditional,
mixing in a little modern flair can freshen up your home. Three local
experts share some ideas: Stephanie Quinn, designer at OAR in Elm
Grove; Orry De Young, interior designer at Rubin’s Furniture,
Milwaukee; and Tom Hoffman, president of Tom Hoffman Design,
Milwaukee.
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Fit for a
king
Fine
linens, like fine wine, get better with age. "In addition to its
luxurious look and feel, with proper laundering and care, fine bedding
has longevity and becomes softer with time," says Mark Van Ess,
co-owner of Cranston, Milwaukee. Although more expensive up front,
treating yourself to fine linens is an investment that will pay off in
the long run.
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Vanities go
luxe
Goodbye boxy
faux-wood and Formica. Today’s vanities are luxe pieces of furniture
that make a statement.
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Say it with 'Ahhh'
A sparkling
Manyas white polished marble floor imported from Turkey adds a touch
of glamour to the master bath in this condominium at River Renaissance
Condos in the Third Ward.
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The woo of
wood
Cabinets are one
of the most important elements of kitchen design. Historically, wood
has been the material of choice; today 80 percent of cabinetry sold is
made of wood.
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Style points
Whenever Ronnie
Harris returns from a business trip to her downtown Milwaukee condo
and its bright red kitchen, she wonders if she will have tired of it.
"I still love it three years later," she says. "I
wouldn’t change anything."
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Buzz
words
Decorating
a home can be an intimidating proposition, and if you don’t know the
lingo, it can be downright confusing.
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Decorate me
beautiful
As an interior
designer Emily Winters is adept at melding her clients’ tastes with
her design know-how.
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Holiday
face-lift
The
holiday season is nearly six weeks long stretching from Thanksgiving
to New Year’s. So we asked three area designers for their ideas on
how to give your living room a seasonal face-lift that transitions
from holiday to holiday and won’t break the bank.
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Design
solutions
Whether
you are dreaming of an updated kitchen, bathroom or bedroom, or
thinking about an addition to your home, the Metropolitan Builders
Association offers a great way to see the finished work of top area
remodeling contractors. The MBA and the Remodelers Council are
sponsoring the 26th Annual Fall Remodelers Tour, Saturday and Sunday,
Oct. 9-10.
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Reflection
collection
The design world
has fallen in love with mirrors. Look through any home magazine these
days and it’s hard to find a room without one. Mirrors aren’t just
for the bedroom and foyer anymore — they’re even hanging around in
kitchens and laundry areas.
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Shine time
Home
décor follows fashion," says Michael McKinley, partner at the
Milwaukee Design Collection in Milwaukee. "We’ve been seeing
gold and silver purses and shoes for some time. Now we’re seeing
gilded furniture, even silver and gold leather furnishings."
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Geometry
lesson
Continuing to dominate the 2010 design
landscape, geometrics make a bold statement in any living space.
Global influences play out with the use of strong, repetitious
patterns and shapes on everything from upholstery to picture frames.
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Say it with
leather
On the walls, covering the floor and even as
pulls on cabinets and drawers, leather is fast becoming a major trend
in residential design.
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Animal
magnetism
Animal
prints add a sense of adventure, fun and personality to any space in
your home. "Animal prints add texture to a room," says Sarah
Steltenpohl, an interior designer at Swan Interiors in Wauwatosa.
"There’s an element of surprise; you’re not just playing it
safe.
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Small
spaces, big ideas
Bathrooms
today are simple and sleek, spa-like and calming, says Molly
Madsen, vice president of AB&K, Greenfield and Mequon. The
easiest way to ruin the mood is by loading up counters with
toothbrushes, hair dryers, makeup and more of life’s daily
essentials. Madsen and interior designer Karen Kempf of Karen
Kempf Interiors, Waukesha, offer some tips on how to reduce
clutter and keep your Zen.
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Shower Power
Showers are one of the most important
elements in bathroom design today. "A number of our clients are
replacing their whirlpool tubs with showers. People are looking for a
total shower experience," says Sandra Bernacchi, general manager
and designer at Colleen Horner in the Third Ward and Pewaukee.
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Dream baths
The Schuettes wanted to create a master bath in their home on
Nagawicka Lake that would provide the privacy and space they desired.
Dream Kitchens of Delafield found the answer by decreasing the size of
an upstairs patio and using the space for a new master suite.
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The future
of design
With
Americans spending more than 90 percent of their time indoors, a
greater portion of that time is being spent at home as technology
allows us to do our jobs away from the office in increasing numbers.
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Sweet dreams
For many of us, bedrooms are more than just places to sleep. They
are personal, rejuvenating retreats in which to relax and unwind from
the stresses of the day. And not surprisingly, the use of color has a
big impact on how we view this special space.
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Fired up
When it comes right down to it, fireplaces are a matter of taste.
Homeowners now have options — and plenty of them — when it comes
to adding ambiance and warmth on a cold evening. Some want the
traditional wood burning kind while others prefer to flip a switch on
a gas unit. But now there is a whole new approach to fireplaces — a
bio fuel line that resembles art and efficiency rolled into one.
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Frugal and
fabulous
Pointless.
It’s another way to say uninteresting, and that’s the last thing
we want when it comes to our décor. The creative Frugalitarian knows
that in every room it’s essential to have a point — a focal point.
No matter what atmosphere you’re trying to create — a little
serenity or a sensation — the first place you look when you enter a
room should be stunning. Here are a few pointers:
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Dollar
decisions
You love your home, but lately it seems so … well, drab and
boring. Redecorating can add a new look and feel, but how should you
spend your money? Local design experts give their advice about the
best places to spend — and when it makes more sense to save — if
you’re considering making some changes.
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Color my
world
Mad
for plaid? Gaga for geometrics? Nothing says you can’t paint your
walls with a mix of hues that would have gotten you bounced out of a
traditional art class. It just takes a supportive designer and a
willingness to take a risk and go against the grain. So throw away the
color wheel, think outside the box and let your imagination — and
paint choices — run wild like the clients of these two designers.
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Wall art
Wallpaper has gotten a bad wrap over
the years. The mini florals, tacky prints and cringe-worthy colors
that made their way onto the home design scene in the ’70s and ’80s
have most homeowners frightened to even say the word
"wallpaper." Can you blame them?
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Counter
Intelligence
The owner of this Whitefish Bay Colonial did his due diligence
before he bought his house in April 2008, looking at dozens of
properties with the help of his Realtor, Shorewest’s Kate Kenlay.
"I wasn’t sold on it right away because the kitchen and baths
were so outdated," the homeowner says.
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Set a swanky
table
The
"good china." Isn’t "good" really code for the
expensive, unused china? If it’s safely tucked away for special
occasions only and it cost a fortune, then technically, it’s a
wasted resource. The Frugalitarian says all china is good china and
there’s no need to spend a fortune on it.
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See the
light
Taking a relaxing soak has a whole new meaning when it comes to
using a chromatherapy tub.
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Small
spaces, big ideas
Believe
or not, it can take more creativity to plan a small room than a large
one. That’s obvious when you look at some of the big mistakes people
make when they attempt to design their small spaces, according to
local experts.
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Hot stuff
M asked Milwaukee-NARI members to make their picks for home design
trends gaining in popularity and proving to be more than just a
passing fancy.
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Rethink your
style
Andrew and Laura Brusky took one look at their unfinished Wauwatosa
basement and knew exactly what they wanted to do. The couple called
Jim Grote at Cream City Construction and turned the
"storage" space into a valuable living area.
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Bedroom sets
Master
baths help couples carve out private spaces at home.
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Rate your space
If
your home or room desperately needs a face-lift, you don’t have to
break the bank — and it doesn’t have to be a big production. The
first step? Organization and decluttering, the old "less is
more" mentality.
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Adaptable abode
Though
there will be no photos of living room accessories with black bars
across them to shamefully mark as erroneous don’ts, the passionate
responses from top local designers on what accessories can completely
make a living room may be just as dramatic. Here’s what they had to
say on the subject of accessorizing your living space.
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Interior chi
In the case of this Whitefish Bay remodeling project, familiarity
breeds harmony, not contempt, as the old saying goes.
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Hot topics
Lately
homeowners are returning to the hearth to spend quality time with
family and friends. Ensure your abode is making a (positive) lasting
impression with tips from local experts on the hottest trends in
dwellings.
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Haven sent
Molly Fay enjoys the art of conversation and practices it every
weekday as co-host of WTMJ-TV’s "Morning Blend" talk show.
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Design star
When supermodel Cindy Crawford launched Cindy Crawford Home, her
signature furniture line, in 2005, she relied on more than two decades
of experiences around the world for her inspiration.
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Meeting in the middle
The thought of custom
cabinetry — the oohs, the ahhs, the envy — is often
regretfully followed by a more common and sobering reaction: The
sticker shock.
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Bold
bathrooms
In remodeling Stephen and Roberta
Isaacson’s Fox Point master bathroom, Nancy Miller of Form and
Function Inc. faced a challenge in designing a luxurious space for her
clients while catering to the room’s dual purpose as a powder room
for guests.
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Bye bye bland
walls
Do you
have a space in your home that’s crying out for attention? Dreary
walls that are in desperate need of excitement? Worn-out rooms that
badly need a shot of energy? Consider these eight ideas that can take
your space from bland to grand.
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Memory
enhancement
George Eastman’s invention of film in 1884 led to the development
of the modern camera. But Eastman’s discovery also created a dilemma
for future generations — what to do with all those family photos
cluttering up attics, basements or hall closets. It’s the rare
individual who doesn’t have boxes of candids, graduation portraits
and historic family photos hidden away, sight unseen.
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Mural, mural
on the wall
Murals,
in their various forms, make political statements, tell a story or
simply liven up a previously bland space. Each of these three
diverse projects from around the Milwaukee area has a story to
tell.
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Pump it up
Spring is here, but how fresh is your home feeling on the inside?
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Interior
intervention
If you avoid common mistakes, decorating your home can and should
be a joyous, fulfilling experience, according to four area interior
decorators.
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Empty nest
When the kids finally move out of the
house, it can be a difficult time for moms and dads who must get used
to the sudden lack of activity. Emotions can run the gamut from the
blues to a newfound feeling of freedom. What some parents choose to do
with that freedom has created a market for home remodeling firms and
decorators.
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Romancing
the stone
When
Deb Guerrera purchased this Fox Point home, the master bath had no
"bath" at all, she says. A Calcutta marble subway tile lines
the shower walls and the tub surround; a solid Calcutta marble slab is
used on the tub deck.
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Powder rooms
with punch
Powder rooms come by their name honestly. Once a spot for servants
to add talcum powder to a gentleman’s wig, today’s powder rooms
offer guests style, relief and, if done well, inspiration.
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Baths and
beyond
William Pape wanted to create a larger master bath befitting the
architecture of his home, and with the help of Phil Nuelk of Philip’s
Construction and Rory Palubiski of Fein Design LLC, he now has a
sumptuous bathroom oasis.
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Fresh
tablescapes
The
cooler months reveal a trend away from the more traditional colors and
styles in tableware. Dishes and linens imported from Europe are just
the thing to dress up your table for the holidays. The sparkle and
warmth are still there, but the colors and the fabrics are new and
exciting, Milwaukee area design professionals say.
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Small
space style
For
many, a Christmas tree represents some of the fondest memories of the
holiday season.`
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Form and
function
Is
your dining room untouchable? Are all children and pets banned? Sadly,
the dining room is often the least used room in the house unless you’re
having a formal dinner party. On the other hand, some homes don’t
have an elegant place to dine even when the occasion calls for it.
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Combat
clutter
You
know the neighbor or friend that ignites the fires of envy in you. It’s
really not the person with the most expensive car or the fantastic
wardrobe, or even the honor student.
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In
the mood
When
you’re blue or bored, a little thing like lunch with a friend can
lift your spirits. Little things can also go a long way to lift the
mood of a boring or humdrum space in your home, making a major
statement without a major cash outpouring. Here are 12 examples from
local design experts that are sure to inspire you.
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Finishing
touches
The
kitchen can be a great place to let your creativity pop. The trick is
to not let your personal style overwhelm the space. Choose focal
points and let the other finishes enhance, not compete, with your
choices.
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Vintage
refined
Jon Schlagenhaft of Jon Schlagenhaft
Design incorporated his client’s ’40s, ’50s and ’60s vintage
furniture into a new condo nestled into the Mequon countryside. The
home has a spacious floor plan, yet has the appeal of a modern, cozy
cottage.
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Kitchen
connection
The home of Mark and Jacqueline Gold looks like a typical two-story
Colonial from the outside, but a renovation project by RCI —
Remodeling Center Inc., has updated the interior layout of the
1978-built house.
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Night lights
A bedroom should be a soothing, comforting space where you can
leave the stresses of the day behind. Lighting plays a major role in
setting the feeling of a room, so it is important to choose lighting
conducive to a peaceful setting.
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Naturally
perfect
A piece of handmade furniture purchased today can become a family
heirloom in years to come. A table, chest or chair built by a
craftsman truly is a beautiful yet functional piece of art.
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Bath
and kitchen improvements boost room appeal
An
updated kitchen or bathroom can provide a big payoff when you sell
your house — not to mention the benefits while you’re still living
there.
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Closet craze
Smartly
designed closets are at the heart of every well-organized home. More
homeowners are designing their closet space for multitasking. And with
that smart design comes finishes that look as beautiful as what is on
the other side of that closet door.
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New and
improved
An
updated kitchen or bathroom can provide a big payoff when you sell
your house — not to mention the benefits while you’re still living
there. There’s a wide range of possible improvements, from simple to
extravagant, but it makes sense to spend your money on items that work
best for your lifestyle and your budget.
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5 things we
love about this bathroom
We
asked three Milwaukee-area designers for their opinions on this
bathroom by Loren Imhoff Homebuilder that was featured in the 2005
Madison Area Builders Association Parade of Homes.
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Intimate
space
Timothy J. Benkowski and his wife, Annette
Hallada, of North
Prairie, feel like they’re back in Mexico every time they step into
their master bath. Benkowski, who owns timothyj. kitchen & bath in
Delafield, lived south of the border for six months while working on a
project and was inspired by the custom swimming pools he saw there.
"I did it before glass mosaic tile became real popular," he
says. "I got the idea from a swimming pool in Mexico."
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Posh powder
rooms
Patricia Hoben and Charles Carter called upon Jim Grote of Cream
City Construction to complete a total remodel of the master bathroom
in their 1928 French eclectic manor house. Instead of creating one
large room, the design maintained a multiple room layout to stay
within the context of the home while creating a simulated spa
experience.
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Gathering
places
Tim and Liz Kohler knew that remodeling the kitchen of their 1929
Shorewood home would make the home more functional.
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Simmer in
style
Dan
and Tracey Cowell did a massive renovation project after purchasing
their Brookfield home. Walls were removed to open the kitchen into the
dining and living rooms.
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Double
vision
Patricia Hoben and Charles Carter wanted to breathe new life into
their kitchen. They wanted a more functional, family friendly space
that complemented the French eclectic manor style of their home. In
order to achieve this eclectic style, the couple worked with Cream
City Construction to combine areas of elegance and grandeur with
touches of comfort and French country.
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Home 'suite'
home
Once
thought of as that first step to finding a "real home,"
condominiums are competing for home buyers who no longer consider them
a stepping stone to buying the proverbial house with a yard and a
white picket fence.
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A fresh
solution
Your
kitchen is looking a bit tired and you’d love to wake it up, but you
don’t want to do a complete overhaul. What are your options?
According to the experts, the key to giving your kitchen a brand new
look without tearing down walls is to enhance the aesthetic or visual
elements.
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Sticker
shock
Judy Pemberton knows just about
everything about condos. She’s lived in them and she sells them. So
her words — or mantra — for potential condo buyers is worth some
attention. Her instructions are simple: get involved, do your
research.
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A kid's
kingdom
Kevin
and Jill Mattson’s children can burn off plenty of energy while
improving their game in their indoor basketball court in their
Hartland home.
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The white
elephant
Great
Aunt Gladys’ generosity is bountiful. You have inherited a lovely
(in her opinion) armoire and she can’t wait to see it in your home.
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Sleeping
beauty
Once
upon a time, there was a little girl named Morgan Kern.
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Design for
the ages
John and Kris Worthington’s family includes two young daughters
with very different personalities. Abby, 6, loves animals, and Kelly,
8, likes more girly things.
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My space
Decorating
your child’s bedroom is often a game of chance — polka dots or
stripes, purple or blue. Chances are, parent and child are bound to
disagree. Interior design experts say the focus in the beginning
stages of decorating a child’s room shouldn’t focus on color
schemes at all, but rather on space and function.
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R(attical)
spaces
Once dusty, musty and full of creepy
crawlies, attics were considered the stuff of horror movies and
nightmares. Sometimes they were viewed in a more benign way, as a spot
to hunt for buried treasure, things like old uniforms, long-forgotten
photograph albums and memories of days gone by.
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Is there an
elephant in the room?
Great
Aunt Gladys’ generosity is bountiful. You have inherited a lovely
(in her opinion) armoire and she can’t wait to see it in your home.
Yikes! What can you do with that "white elephant" and still
have some sense of style in your house?
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Office space
With
more and more people working from home, how can you create a balance
between the professionalism of the downtown office building and the
casual nature of the home office? Libby Castro of Interior Investments
and Mark Larson of Kahler Slater found inspiration in a tailored suit
for the design of the Breast Cancer Showhouse office. The timeless
lines of classic office furniture, structure of the carpet and elegant
fabric give this space a classic, professional look.
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My favorite
things
The nice thing about Betty Johnson
Interiors — which has been in business for 50 years — is the store
isn’t wrapped into any specific style. When walking through the
vignettes of furnishings and accessories it’s obvious that both
contemporary and traditional styles are respected here.
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Personalize
it
Working
from home with no one looking over your shoulder sounds like an ideal
setup — if the setup’s ideal.
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Crafted
kitchens
Wauwatosa’s Cindy Busche dreamed of making her kitchen her own
since moving back into the 1950s Cape Cod she lived in with her
parents as a child. On Sept. 26, the OAR Group started helping her
dream unfold.
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Home
"suite" home
Once thought of as that first step to
finding a "real home," condominiums are competing for home
buyers who no longer consider them a stepping stone to buying the
proverbial house with a yard and a white picket fence.
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