Adding Flow and Functionality to a Cottage Grove Home

We recently completed a kitchen remodel and mudroom/laundry room update for business owners Dan and Kristia, a GenX couple with teen children living in Cottage Grove, Wisconsin. Having heard about us through their Facebook group of friends, they engaged us to redesign and remodel their kitchen, mudroom, and sunroom. Although the house was only about 15 years old, the cabinetry was showing its age.

The home was built during the last building boom by an amateur builder. It was a time when anyone could become a builder and sell a house. As a result, quality and design didn't seem to matter as much. However, they loved the location, it had the perfect yard, and it was well worth the investment to make the home exactly what they wanted.

Kitchen Remodel and Design Challenges

The original kitchen was dark and heavy. A large valence covered the upper portion of the kitchen window. Dark paint, cherry cabinets, and dark countertops were outdated, fake luxuries that looked good but were unimpressive when you lived with them in real life. The U-shaped kitchen had a wall of cabinets blocking any connection with the sunroom.

The sunroom overlooked the backyard and pool area. Connected by a narrow door, it was isolated and had become a catch-all storage area. Connecting it to the home was a key design opportunity!

Another problem with the old kitchen was the microwave above the range. In a premium home, this is a major faux pas. Dan and Kristia had several specific requests for their kitchen remodel, including a proper dual-fuel range and range hood, a place for the microwave, a walk-in pantry, a prep sink, and an overall bright, cheerful design.

Coming up With A Design Plan

Thanks to the innovative design creativity of senior designer Dave Duewel, we delivered what Dan and Kristia had requested. We met with the homeowners to evaluate different floor plans and compare windows versus doors to the three-season porch. We decided to go with an L-shaped kitchen layout with the refrigerator bookending one corner and a double patio door leading to the porch.

An island in the center of the room provides the primary workspace for the kitchen, and it creates an easy connection between the range, sink, refrigerator, and the open island space. The new patio door matches the existing doors to the deck and the three-season room. The new doors let in plenty of light and highlight the view when closed. Depending on how the space is being used, you can open the double doors wide or just use the former single door.

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The next step was eliminating the desk area to create the needed space for the new walk-in pantry. Where the desk was once recessed, the wall now bumps out by a couple of feet to allow for a proper walk-in pantry with shelving on three sides. It's well-organized and spacious. Another tall cabinet stands just to the right of the pantry, providing the perfect transition and enough space for a double-door connection to the newly designed mudroom.

A Kitchen Remodel to Improve Functionality

The home features a beautiful formal dining room at the front of the house. The new island is the perfect space for everyday dinners with the family. Because of the angled wall and bump out between the sunroom and the deck, we had the room to create a comfortable curved seating area at the island.

The kitchen island was designed to be a versatile workspace. It houses the microwave drawer, a beverage cooler, the Blanco America prep sink, and additional storage drawers. The Amish white cabinetry, handcrafted in Wisconsin, with light gray and off-white countertops, is the perfect complement to the original oak flooring and trim work throughout the home.

We included dark-stained open, floating shelving around the kitchen sink and window to match the dark-stained island in the central kitchen area and to tie in the design with the home's original woodwork. Every element of the kitchen is well-designed, integrated, and intentional! It achieves all of Dan and Kristia's goals while tying in perfectly to the original home, making the home everything it should be.

A New Laundry Room and Mudroom

The homeowners also wanted to address some issues with the mudroom and laundry room in the home. Originally built with a hallway and closet, divided by a door to the laundry, the cramped entrance from the garage into the house was a mess of doors. There was no room to take off or put on winter clothes and boots comfortably, and the storage situation was terrible. The laundry layout was haphazard.

Our solution to the laundry room problem was to remove the dividing wall and make the laundry room and mudroom one open, comfortable space Cubbies at one end allow for storage of jackets, shoes, hats, and other family items. The laundry is slightly divided with sets of cabinets serving specific purposes. Along one wall is tall, floor-to-ceiling cabinetry with baskets and drawers for storage of general items, all of the new puppy's toys, lunch boxes, some sports equipment, and extra overflow.

On the opposite side of the room, the laundry machines and sink remained in their original locations, saving on re-plumbing costs. Another floor-to-ceiling cabinet provides a hint of division from the mudroom area. The cabinet is a drop zone for the family, with charging outlets and cubbies for incoming and outgoing mail. Another key feature in the laundry room is plenty of space for hanging and drying various items, plus a dedicated spot for clothes hampers.

Upgrading The Three-Season Sunroom

With the new patio door connection to the sunroom, this three-season room received an upgrade. We removed the hard-to-open aluminum storm windows, enlarged the openings slightly, and installed Porch Conversions Three-Season windows. It gives the room an entirely new feel! It's now a focal point of the kitchen, providing a connection that invites you to sit, relax, and enjoy the view of the yard or keep tabs on the teenagers in the pool below.

As part of the upgrade, we did a structural rehab, installing new support beams underneath and repairing some early structural rot to prevent future damage. The only finish we changed in the sunroom was the flooring.

A Space for Everything, Including A Walk-in Pantry

Dan and Kristia have a new kitchen and laundry room perfect for their busy family. The kitchen is open, bright, and high-functioning. The sunroom is no longer a forgotten storage space and is actually used. In fact, it's become an inviting kitchen expansion, providing a stunning view and connection to the outdoor space. The everyday experience of coming in through the garage is delightful and organized. . This project transformed the energy of the home and its functionality!

If you're considering a kitchen remodel or a complete home renovation and you live in the Madison, Wisconsin, area, call the experts at Degnan Design-Build-Remodel. We can help you plan your project and get the most for your budget. Let us help you to take your home to the next level of comfort and function! If you'd like to know more, we're always happy to answer all your questions.