Interior Design Makeover of a 1980s Contemporary Home in Madison

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1980s Contemporary Home Remodeling Madison, Wis.

An Arboretum Neighborhood Home Gets An Updated Interior Design

We were first contacted by our clients Adam and Britney based on a referral from their realtor. They came to us after selecting a gracious 1980s contemporary in the private and desirable Arboretum neighborhood. 

They desired to create the feeling of a modern, mountain-industrial home, something along the lines of a Utah mountain house, but not a cabin. The long sloping roofline of this 1980s home was perfect for that feeling. The interior and exterior of the home were fully integrated when the project was complete.

Their goal was to let the home speak for itself in its design and functional elements. They wanted us to keep them as the focal point of our interior design. They also requested that we use natural materials and bring outdoor materials indoors like wood, stone, and metal. Further inspiration from their home is their love of plants and everything natural. As you can see in the photos, plants are a part of nearly every room in the house. From the living room to the solarium, plants are present—the windows of the home frame the stunning year-round beauty of the Arboretum neighborhood. 

Overcoming COVID-19 Challenges

We had our first video meeting while the couple was still living on the West Coast and preparing to move home to Madison. At Degnan, we are comfortable with video meetings, having used them for several years. Shortly after our first video meeting with our clients, the world was shut down due to COVID. Their flight home was canceled, and they were unable to reschedule. We understood that this made their situation more challenging. However, they were moving back soon and the project needed to progress. 

For only the second time ever, all of the design and contract negotiations happened remotely. We finally met Adam and Britney after the job was already underway. Typically, we have several in-person meetings with our clients to determine their needs, goals, and personal style. For this project, many choices were made remotely. A successful remodeling experience like this required a great deal of trust and preparation. 

Luckily the homeowners had a clear vision and an extensive wish list for their project. Our interior design honored their request to let the home's design speak for itself. We incorporated natural materials like wood, stone, and metal, bringing outdoor elements indoors. 

Creating a Functional and Aesthetically Updated Interior Design

This project was a multi-room remodeling encompassing every area of the home. It included two and a half bathrooms, reconfiguring the master suite, updating the kitchen, and opening up the space to improve the flow and functionality. The homeowners also wanted to repurpose two screened porches, turning one into a fabulous outdoor dining space off the kitchen and updating the rarely used solarium off of the master.

The goal was to update the dated 1980s interior to improve the functionality and aesthetic appeal through a new interior design to bring the home up to modern family living standards.

Opening the Floorplan

Adam and Britney first wanted to improve functionality while incorporating the clean lines of the original design. We started by opening up space. We removed the half walls in the loft and stairway to create a more modern open floor plan. We replaced the half walls with Regal Rail black newel posts and a 1/8-inch stainless steel cable railing. To add further architectural focus, we installed faux iron beam plates with bolts from AZFauxBeam.com. The space was opened up and flooded with natural light by connecting the once dark, disjointed kitchen to the adjacent living, dining, and media rooms.

In the master bedroom suite, we opened up the space to incorporate the seldom-used solarium creating a direct extension of the master. This design was instrumental in bringing in natural light, stunning views, and not previously present comfort. The home was opened to create a new indoor-outdoor flow. The 9-foot Andersen Folding Outswing Patio Door to the fabulous dining porch further creates the open feel of a Utah Mountain home.

Creating Fabulous Functional Outdoor Living Space

A significant element of the project, two screen porches were converted into 3-season rooms. One, referred to as the Dining Porch, is now a proper indoor-outdoor living space, connected directly to the kitchen. We replaced the small back door and opened up the wall with a 9-foot Andersen patio door when it's open, the two spaces nearly seamless.

The second porch is now known as the Conversation Porch. It sits off the right side of the house and is connected to both the front deck and the main living room. This potch boasts cathedral ceilings, and its knee wall provides privacy from the street.

Bringing The Outdoors In

The homeowners asked us to incorporate as many natural materials as possible to bring outdoor elements into our interior design. Highlight include our edge-grain walnut butcherblock countertops from Southside Workshops of Chicago throughout the kitchen and powder room, cedar ceilings, and soapstone in the guest bathroom. 

We replaced the original fireplace with a high-efficiency Mendota Hearth DVX35 gas unit. At the same time, keeping the original limestone surround, cedar feature wall, mantle, and bookshelves. The mantle and bookcase were redesigned and stained with a rich dark Java stain to bring in the dark tones used throughout our interior design. We also created a beautiful piece of custom art using a cherished piece of natural Rainforest Quartzite as a focal point in the media room. 

We worked hard to tie our interior design together. We incorporated natural materials and carried a dark color palette throughout the house. Using the same cabinetry in the kitchen and bathrooms, natural stone, butcher block countertops, and incorporating plants throughout the home visually tied the living areas. The functional indoor-outdoor space improves the home's flow and works to highlight the views of the Arboretum.

We created the perfect combination of indoor and outdoor living space, soaring ceilings, inspiring views, natural materials, and high-end finishes for our clients. It all fits together perfectly to create the spectacular home Adam and Britney were dreaming of!

Working with a design-build-remodeling firm for your interior design and remodeling project is a great choice. If you live in the Madison, Wisconsin area and plan a remodeling project, give the experts at Degnan Design-Build-Remodel a call at (608) 846-5963. Their award-winning design team is ready to help you realize your creative vision. Call today and arrange a free consultation to discuss your upcoming project.