Before and After: A Whole Home Renovation in Middleton, Wisconsin

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A Whole Home Renovation in Middleton, WI

Award-Winning Project!

Ann and Jerry recently moved back to Madison, Wisconsin, to be closer to their young grandchildren. They were searching for a home to spend their retirement years and had a healthy budget. They decided to look for a home that was 10 to 20 years old, in a beautiful neighborhood, and at a lower price point. This approach gave them a significant budget for a complete home renovation making their new home exactly what they wanted. All while saving money compared to their original plan and budget.

After finding the right home in a great location, they engaged one of our partners, Dondi from Belle Domicile, to create the kitchen and bathroom design. Dondi brought us onto the project. We were hired to integrate all of the additional home renovation work that needed to be done throughout the home. The project included creating a beautiful outdoor entertaining space.

Opening up the Space

Along with creating a new kitchen and spa-like master bathroom, the homeowners wanted to open up and modernize the space for modern living. The original home was a typical 2003 luxury ranch home with over 2500 square feet of living space on the main level. Typical of that era, the house had a dining room with columns, a kitchen walled-off from the great room, a breakfast area with windows looking out into the backyard, three bedrooms, and an office.

The great room had a fireplace in the middle of the back of the house with a pair of windows flanking it. There should have been plenty of light, but it felt closed off and bland. It didn't measure up to the living standard expected in 2022.

The primary home renovation the clients wanted was to refocus the kitchen design to create a better flow and space to entertain the grandkids. We removed the wall between the kitchen, breakfast room, and kitchen to create a beautiful, modern open floor plan. We installed a 10-foot four-panel patio door at the back of the house leading out of the kitchen to the outdoor space.

We re-oriented the kitchen sink to look out into the great room. The great room and kitchen feel more open thanks to the new windows and patio door visible throughout the space. In fact, we reduced the number of windows but placed everything so that the entire space feels much more bright, open, and airy. Our design created the perfect indoor/outdoor connection expected in a modern home today.

Building A New Dream Kitchen!

Once we opened the space, it was time to give Ann and Jerry their dream kitchen! The kitchen is designed to have the best of the best. The Thermidor appliance package includes a double wall oven, French door refrigerator, six burner cooktop, dishwasher, and a microwave drawer. The high-end Gallery Ideal Workstation single bowl oversized sink is the centerpiece of the large island. The appliances and work areas are lined up on one side of the kitchen, and the island looks out into the great room. To the left of the Thermidor refrigerator above the baking center, we built shelving for Ann's cookbook collection.

The extensive use of backsplash tile, a variety of trim moldings and cabinet heights, plus floating shelves, break up the expansive kitchen. Each area of the space has its purpose. All the elements are beautiful on their own, and when viewed together, it is a complete composition. The bright white quartz countertops complement the multi-color backsplash, which takes on a darker role in the design. Grey-painted custom wood cabinetry by Bella Domicile anchors the design to the walls, and dark metal hardware and faucets complement the dark kitchen island wonderfully.

A Relaxing Master Retreat

The master bathroom had another common problem with homes of this era. It included an oversized jetted tub that was never used. While the existing shower was not as small as many in homes of this era, it was small by today's standards. Once we removed the tub, we increased the shower size, making it 6-inches wider and a foot longer using the space where the tub used to be.

The homeowners were planning on aging-in-place. We set up the shower making it comfortable and safe for aging-in-place by including a teak bench, a Delta H2Okinetic technology shower, an adjustable hand shower, beautiful tile work, and a transom window overlooking the private backyard. The glass shower enclosure delivers plenty of light throughout the bathroom.

Giving up the tub allowed us to include the perfect make-up station for our aging-in-place client, ensuring that she'll be comfortable as she ages. The make-up station, with its beautiful use of wallpaper and a decorative sconce, is a focal point as you look from the bedroom into the bathroom. When you enter the bathroom and turn the corner, you truly appreciate the design and careful craftsmanship of the shower tile and glimpse the view into the private backyard.

This home renovation also included updating the main and downstairs bathrooms. We installed tile walls in the tub and shower areas and heated floors in all the bathrooms. The new cabinetry, countertops, faucets, and fixtures provide an updated, clean, modern look.

An Indoor/Outdoor Living Space

We opened the living space and added the 4-panel, 10-foot wide patio door in the kitchen leading out to a new deck. Ann and Jerry also wanted to improve and refurbish the a comfortable screened porch.

We added an large two-level deck to the home, and refurbished the screened porch. The new door create a transition from the home's interior to the outdoor living space. The porch addition features a Minke Aire fan and a view into the Great room. It's the perfect gathering space for family and friends or relaxing with coffee in the morning.

The Andersen 400-Series Frenchwood gliding patio door transitions perfectly from the Great room to a new two-level exterior living space. The lower deck level is set up as the perfect space for grilling and al fresco dining. Outside the patio door is a comfortable gathering space, a conversation area, and a gas fire pit. The large private yard with mature plantings makes this entertaining space quiet and relaxing, and the large yard is the perfect spot for the grandkids!

The Result Of This Home Renovation?

Degnan Design-Build-Remodel, Winner of two 2022 coty awards!

The new modern, open floorplan, updated kitchen, and beautiful outdoor living space give the homeowners the perfect place to host their family and friends. The multi-level deck and three-season porch extend the home's living space outdoors. Ann and Jerry now have plenty of space to entertain, enjoy outdoor dining, or sit around the fire pit with the grandkids making s'mores!

Ann and Jerry are delighted! Their home now has all of the amenities of a brand-new house while providing them the benefits of an established neighborhood, a beautiful lawn, and mature trees. All at a budget, while large, was commensurate and affordable to meet their goals.

If you're thinking about a home renovation project in the Greater Madison area, call the experts at Degnan Design-Build-Remodel at (608) 846-5963. We can help you to take your home to the next level of comfort and function! If you'd like to know what your project can add to resale value, we're always happy to answer all of your questions.