Before & After Images For A Master Suite Renovation in Madison, WI

A Master Suite Renovation in Madison, WI

Summary

We updated the second and third floors of a 1926 Madison bungalow, converting them into a lake-focused master suite, a flexible office or guest room, and a comfortable guest retreat. Our team kept the home’s historic character and its “perfectly imperfect” charm. We combined small bedrooms to create a spacious master suite with bigger lake-facing windows, custom bohemian-style storage, and a new bathroom with nature-inspired finishes. The old third-floor primary bedroom became a guest space, and we added a multi-purpose room with a Murphy bed, desk, and a reading nook with custom shelves and lake views.

Learn how our master suite renovation created a stunning primary bedroom and a designated, multi-purpose guest space in this classic 1926 bungalow.

Our clients, Pete and Betsy, live in the east-side Schenk-Atwood neighborhood in Madison. Their 1926 bungalow overlooks Lake Monona. The homeowners came to us seeking a way to make the most of the beautiful view. Their small bungalow had small bedrooms on the second floor, and a prior remodel created a third-floor attic bedroom suite.

The couple’s goals for their master suite renovation were to create a primary suite on the second floor, create a designated space for guests, and retain the historical character of the home. They wanted our design to bring the outside in by enhancing the views of Lake Monona from the new primary suite and flexible office/guest room. Throughout the entire design process, Pete and Betsy trusted our team and were open to anything our designers presented.

See before and after photos and learn how our master suite renovation transformed the second level of this 100-year-old bungalow into a beautiful primary suite and multi-function space everyone can enjoy!

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Before Renovation

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After Renovation

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Before Renovation

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After Renovation

Creating the Primary Suite

The homeowners were currently using the third floor as their primary bedroom. The plan was to create a primary suite on the second floor with lake views and a smaller multi-purpose office/guest space.

The second floor had three small bedrooms, and each had many doors. They were interconnected, going from one to the next rather than having a true hallway. The third floor would be converted into a guest retreat, and we would take two of the second-floor bedrooms to create a large primary suite.

The second floor is divided by a staircase running down the center of the home. Since we would not be moving the stairs, it gave us the perfect opportunity to create the primary suite on the right side of the home. On the primary side of the staircase, there was originally a purple bedroom and a taupe bedroom. Our design combined these two rooms and used part of the hallway to create the perfect primary suite.

A Master Suite Renovation

Pete and Betsy’s style has a very natural, whimsical, bohemian vibe. They wanted their master suite renovation to incorporate all those elements while focusing on the view and honoring the home's historical elements.

When you first walk into the new master suite, the first thing you see is a treasured stained-glass window lit by the bathroom behind it. We incorporated this window into our design to add a unique element that pays homage to the home's age.

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Before Renovation

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After Renovation

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Before Renovation

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After Renovation

As you continue into the space, the next element you see is the unique open dressing area. The homeowners needed storage for their clothes, so we created a large wooden wardrobe and a unique Amish-made custom dresser with nearly a dozen drawers. Pete and Betsy wanted any new cabinetry to fit the home's age, which made the stain color super important. Both custom pieces were stained in a warm fruitwood, tying them to the rest of the woodwork throughout the home. The truly unique aspect of the dressing area is that, rather than an enclosed closet, it is a piece of built-in furniture that also serves as the bed’s headboard. With the half wall that includes electric outlets, the open dressing area feels spacious and unobstructed, offering a stunning view of the lake.

The original taupe room had a dormer with two small windows overlooking the lake. You couldn’t see the lake without walking to the window. We fixed this and created a beautiful view by incorporating larger windows into our design. The larger windows were a part of Pete and Betsy’s original must-have list. The two new, larger windows flood the space with natural light and give the couple a beautiful, unobstructed view.

A New Primary Bathroom

You enter the primary bathroom through a set of vintage French doors. They were original to the house, and we found them sitting in the basement. Since one of the homeowner’s main goals was to honor the original character of their 100-year-old home, it made perfect sense to bring these original doors into the master suite.

Another goal for their master suite renovation that the couple shared with us was to bring the feel of the outside into their home. Our focus on the lake view was one element toward meeting that goal. The primary bathroom was the perfect spot to bring in some outdoor influence.

For the flooring, we chose a beautiful 12x24-inch tile from 21st Century Tile Beauty called Sandwaves Light. It’s a unique tile that mimics the ripples water leaves in the sand. For the shower, we chose Lifestyle Del Squal Azzurro, a beautiful blue 3x16-inch subway tile. To add a whimsical touch to the shower niche, we used an Italian tile that was given to the homeowners by friends. It is shaped like waves and fish. Our bathroom design is at once calming, comforting, and functional.

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Before Renovation

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After Renovation

The Multi-Functional Room and Guest Retreat

The staircase divides the upstairs. The new primary suite takes up the right side of the house. On the opposite side, we created a multi-purpose room/guest retreat. Pete and Betsy wanted a multipurpose room that they could use, and their guests could enjoy. We started by adding new, larger windows to let in the light and feature a lake view.

The abundant natural light streaming through the space allowed us to create the perfect reading nook. The space features custom wood shelving and comfortable seating, creating a warm, inviting getaway.

On the opposite side of the room, we removed a closet. This made the room larger and gave us the space to add a Murphy bed. When closed, the bed doubles as a desk, giving the homeowners a functional workspace. This room is the perfect place to hang out, enjoy the lake view, relax with a book, or catch up on email. Pete and Betsy now have a great space to hang out and enjoy, with or without guests

FAQs

• What were the homeowners’ main goals for this renovation?

  They wanted a second-floor master suite with better Lake Monona views, a designated multi-purpose guest/office space, and a design that respected the 100-year-old bungalow’s historic character.​

• How was the second floor reconfigured to create the new master suite?

  Designers combined two small bedrooms and part of the hallway on one side of the central staircase to form a large main suite, while reserving the other side for a multi-purpose guest/office room.​

• How did the design enhance views and natural light?

  They replaced the small dormer windows facing the lake with larger ones, bringing in more natural light and giving both the master suite and the new guest or office space clear views of the lake.

• What features make the new primary bath feel connected to nature?

  The bathroom features Sandwaves Light 12x24 floor tile that looks like ripples in sand, blue subway tile in the shower, and playful Italian accent tiles shaped like waves and fish. Restored vintage French doors lead into the space.

• How is the new multi-purpose room set up for both daily use and guests?

  This room has a sunny reading nook with custom wood shelves, bigger windows facing the lake, and a Murphy bed that folds up to become a desk. It works as a home office, lounge, or guest bedroom whenever needed.

The Result of this Master Suite Renovation

Betsy and Pete’s goals were to create a comfortable primary suite on the second floor, a dedicated multi-purpose guest room/office, and to better capture the beautiful lake views. They wanted their master bedroom renovation and multi-function workspace to be perfectly imperfect to match their home's vintage character and quirks. Mission accomplished! We met their goals, exceeded their expectations, and Pete and Betsy now have a perfect home that fits their lifestyle and meets their needs today and into the future.

Are you considering a remodel or any other home improvement projects? Whether a new kitchen remodel, a bathroom update, or any other project, let us help you create a new look and design for your home! If you live in the Greater Madison area, call the experts at Degnan Design-Build-Remodel at (608) 846-5963. We can take your home to the next level of comfort, design, and function! Are you ready to learn more? We are always happy to answer your questions.