By Dave Fidlin
SPECIAL TO HOMES PLUS
WAUKESHA – Jim and Barbra
Lauterbach have long enjoyed
their home on the city’s southern
end. But cramped kitchen space
and a lack of natural lighting
prompted the couple to make a
few changes to their 56-year-old
abode.
When the Lauterbachs pur-
chased their home 18 years ago, it
featured all of the original cabi-
nets, countertops and tiles. Barbra
said she also considered the space
cramped and not up to its full
potential – in part because of a
wall leading to a hallway that con-
nected to a screened-in porch
area.
Jim and Barbra also had misgiv-
ings about the porch area, which
was defined with giant screen
windows.
“My husband and I always want-
ed to do something different with
the area and make it more useful,”
Barbra said.
For nearly four years, the couple
let ideas percolate about the two
sections of the home. Last year,
the Lauterbachs found themselves
at a crossroads as they began
thinking about their long-term liv-
ing situation.
“We were wondering if we
should sell or stay where we are,”
Barbra said. “Then we had an ‘ah-
ha’ moment, and we for sure will
be staying here at least another 10
years.”
The cumbersome 25-foot wall
that took up kitchen space was
removed, as was the hallway that
served as the walk-through to the
screen porch.
With both features out of the
way, the Lauterbachs enlisted the
services of Wisconsin Kitchen
Mart to overhaul their cooking
and dining area. The entire
kitchen was gutted with new
countertops, cabinets and tile.
“There is now an island in the
kitchen, which we absolutely
love,” Barbra said. “The new floor-
ing and tiling on the walls looks
completely different.”
The result: a room that has a
much brighter and open appear-
ance than the previous iteration.
A publication of the Waukesha Freeman and Oconomowoc Enterprise • February 2012
C O N T E N T S
See LIGHT/Page 4
Photo by Charles Auer/Homes Plus
Jim and Barbra Lauterbach’s kitchen features new cabinets,
countertops, tile and lighting.
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223572002
Couple’s changes create
brighter, more spacious
kitchen area to enjoy
Let the light
shine in
