SPRING 2017
Abode
STEP HA NIE HOFMA NN
Your Bedroom Deserves The Best! DECORATE YOUR BEDROOM WITH OUR LATEST DESIGNS
Comforters / Sheets Quilts / Pillows 7404 Mineral Point Rd. | Madison | 833-8333 • Mon.–Fri. 10–7, Sat. 10–6, Sun. 11–5
Stop by Flea’s to get your free Summer Savings Pass!
Your Entire To-Do List All Summer Long
Passes Available This Weekend Only
ISTHMUS ABODE SPRING 2017
May 5, 6, 7
2
Calling All DIY Heroes!
Flooring | Cabinetry | Countertops www.fleasfloormarket.com 2418 S Stoughton Rd Madison, Wisconsin 53716
Skogen’s one-of-a-kind personalization of a thrift store cabinet (below) perks up the living room. The galley kitchen (left) boasts a classic blackand-white tile floor and farmhouse sink.
Century home
Beth Skogen’s bungalow is a cozy reason to throw a party By Erica Krug
Photos by Beth Skogen
way a bright yellow and the kitchen an unappealing shade of green. Looking past these colors, though, Skogen saw the home’s potential. “Paint can change the feeling so much,” she says. Skogen bought the house in 2013 and promptly changed every paint color. She wanted vibrant hues, ones that she was attracted to — cooler shades of blues, purples and grays. The staircase and ceiling of Skogen’s main room are now a clean cream, a beautiful contrast to the robin egg blue walls. The kitchen went from green to gray and the master bedroom is now shades of dark purple and lilac. When Skogen turned her attention to furnishing and decorating, she took it slow: “When you buy a house, it’s stressful because you want it to look good right away,” Skogen says. “But
you should think about it one thing at a time.” With an artist’s eye, Skogen started gathering pieces, her inspiration coming from some unlikely places. “There’s an alpaca in every room of my house,” Skogen announces shortly into the tour. After attending the Great Midwest Alpaca Festival in 2012, Skogen fell in love with the animal, which she calls “a mix between a long-necked dinosaur and a unicorn. I love their eyes.” An alpaca scavenger hunt in her house would lead you to gold alpaca bookends, framed photos of alpacas, a white alpaca-shaped ceramic lamp (which she admits might actually be a llama) and an alpaca Halloween costume she made herself, now on display. The inspiration for the revamping of a midcentury modern cabinet that Skogen found at
the Williamson Street St. Vincent de Paul for $35 was a $3 frame from a chain craft store. The frame, with its blue triangle design, sits next to a bright yellow chair in the living room (displaying a photo of Geoffrey, her photogenic Airedale terrier). The frame’s design prompted Skogen to commission local furniture restorer Oak and Olive to paint the wooden cabinet to match. In addition to being a strategic spot to store her shoes, the piece is now a stylish focal point in the bedroom with its graphic geometric blue-and-brown triangle pattern. Always on the lookout for a bargain, Skogen also asked Oak and Olive to refurbish a large dresser in the guest
➡
SPRING 2017 ISTHMUS.COM
Lifestyle photographer Beth Skogen’s home will celebrate its 100th birthday this year. But despite serious-looking design elements like a grand staircase, dark oak paneling and elegant built-in cabinets, this classic bungalow is young at heart, thanks to Skogen’s playful decorating style. When Skogen first looked at the threebedroom, 1,200-square-foot house on Madison’s east side, close to the Barrymore Theatre, she was drawn to the big front porch and the open space that makes up the entryway, living and dining rooms. Both were features she knew she wanted in her first home. But the color scheme at the time almost turned her away. The living and dining room walls were painted red, the ceiling and stair-
3
JUST IN TIME FOR SPRING!
Home Remodeling CITY OF MADISON
DEFERRED PAYMENT LOANS No monthly payment!
LOANS Roofing
Insulation
Siding
Electrical
Vivid robin egg blue walls set off the simple, classic lines of Skogen’s mid-century furniture finds.
Windows & Doors
Plumbing
Bath & Kitchen Upgrades
Furnace
ISTHMUS ABODE SPRING 2017
Available through the City of Madison Department of Planning and Community & Economic Development
4
www.cityofmadison.com/homeloans 266-6557 • 266-4223
bedroom. That piece she found on the side of the road, recruiting a passerby to help her load it into her car. Other pieces in the home belonged to her family or were made by local artists. A large, whimsical embroidered tree, stitched by her grandmother and later found in Skogen’s parents’ garage, hangs prominently above her stairs and sets the tone for the house. “It really was my inspiration,” Skogen says. “It’s all the colors I love.” An antique sun-shaped mirror that also belonged to her grandmother is a centerpiece of Skogen’s bedroom and displays some of her favorite necklaces. Paintings by local artists Tammy Schreiter and Juliette Crane and fanciful ceramic sculptures by Rachelle Miller brighten walls and corners. Skogen displays some of her own work, too, including a striking black-and-white photograph of the son of a family friend standing up in a rowboat, setting the tone for the aqua and white, waterthemed guest bedroom.
Her galley-style kitchen has a classic black-and-white tile floor, wooden butcher block countertops and a farmhouse sink. Punches of color come from the orange, red and yellow fabric of the seat cushions and pillows in the breakfast nook. This is a spot people tend to congregate during Skogen’s parties and potlucks. So is the back deck. Come warmer weather, that’s home to roses, hostas and ferns and at night, brightened with hanging bistro lights. But it’s Skogen’s garage in a back alley that is party central. It’s home not to her car but to a ping pong table, with ambiance provided by strings of Christmas lights. Last year, when she thought the house had been built in 1916, she threw a “century party,” inviting friends and a vendor who makes wood-fired pizzas out of a trailer. Now that she’s learned that the charming bungalow was actually built in 1917, who knows what kind of party she’ll dream up for its real centennial? Perhaps she can even find some alpacas for the shindig. n
Upgrade Your Home 6 areas where you can improve the value of your home and save money in the long run Generate Solar Power Produce clean, green solar power from your home and business. Take advantage of the Focus on Energy Cash-Back Reward, 30% federal tax credit, and low solar electric panel prices. Full Spectrum Solar’s highly credentialed team will guide you from design to commissioning.
FULL SPECTRUM SOLAR
(608)284-9495 • www.fullspectrumsolar.com
Green Your Furnishings Consider alternatives to the norm! Minimize the impact of petrochemicals. We offer numerous upholstery options such as wool and bamboo fabrics and eco-friendly soy foam. High quality, natural products for your home, available at:
THE CENTURY HOUSE 3029 University Ave., Madison, WI 53705 608.233.4488 • www.centuryhouseinc.com
Build and Remodel with New Surplus & Used Materials Habitat ReStore carries a huge variety of building materials including cabinets, doors, windows, flooring and more. Starting a remodel? We can remove or pick up used cabinets and building materials you donate to support Habitat for Humanity homes in Dane County.
HABITAT RESTORE
East: 4207 Monona Dr. • 608.661.2813 West: 5906 Odana Rd. • 608-442-9919 Donation Pick-ups: 608-663-1191 Open Tue.-Sat. 9-5 • www.restoredane.org
Get Smart Financing for Energy Efficiency
HOME SAVINGS BANK
Online • East • West • Downtown • Stoughton 608.282.6000 • home-savings.com NMLS#457895
We source cabinets from manufacturers that use low UV finishes with no VOC. We’re a locally owned family business that’s been operating in the Madison area for several generations. Come see the new generation of cabinets at Cabinet City.
CABINET CITY
6649 university Ave., Middleton, WI www.cabinet-city.com 608 535-4907
Explore Green Landscaping Formecology, LLC is a landscape design, build and care firm unlike your typical garden variety. We specialize in beautiful and eco-friendly (sustainable) landscape solutions, perfect for residential, commercial and public spaces. Serving the Madison area and beyond, Formecology is your green solution.
FORMECOLOGY
608.882.6656 • info@formecology.com www.formecology.com
SPRING 2017 ISTHMUS.COM
Learn how a home equity loan or a mortgage refinance can help make restoration and efficiency improvements affordable. Get advice from an independent bank that understands sustainability and provides fast, local decisions. Call or visit us online.
Environmentally Forward Cabinets
5
Your Backyard Birdfeeding Specialist®
May Putting the fun in functionality Birdbath May May May Birdbath Birdbath SALE! SALE! rdbath SALE! ®
®
ckyard Birdfeeding Specialist® ®
Your Backyard Birdfeeding Specialist® Your Backyard Birdfeeding Specialist®
Small-space hacks to improve a “cozy” apartment By Laura Taylor
®
(May 1— 31)
® Your Backyard Birdfeeding (May Specialist 1— 31)
15% OFF! May 15% OFF! ALE! LL (May 1— 31)
15% OFF! • Glass Baths
Birdbath May• Glass Baths SALE! L L % OFF! • Clay Baths A Birdbath
•• Glass Baths Clay Baths A May A 1— LL31) Granite Baths •• Clay Baths ®
Your Backyard Birdfeeding Specialist®
ConcreteBaths Baths •• Granite In-groundBaths Yard •• Concrete Decorations • In-ground Yard Decorations
(May 1— 31)
15% OFF!
Baths • GlassSALE! Bathsto•cGranite k In-S ll (May A • Clay Baths1— 31) • Concrete Baths • Glass Baths • Granite Baths • In-ground Yard 8402 Old Sauk Rd., Madison L • Clay Baths AL 8402 608.664. 1414 Old •Sauk Rd., Madison • Concrete Baths Glass Baths Decorations •www.wbumadison.com Granite Baths 608.664. 414 Together L We Bring People & 1Nature L • Clay Baths A •www.wbumadison.com Concrete Baths • In-ground Yard • Granite Baths We•Bring People & Nature Together In-ground Yard • Concrete Baths Mon-Fri 9-7, Sat 9-6, Sun 11-5 Decorations • In-ground Yard Decorations
15% OFF! Mon-Fri 9-7, Sat 9-6, Sun 11-5
Decorations
ISTHMUS ABODE SPRING 2017
402
8402 Old Sauk Rd., Madison 608.664. 1414Madison 8402 Old Sauk Rd., www.wbumadison.com Old Sauk608.664.1414 Rd., Madison We Bring People & Nature Together wbumadison.com 608.664. 1414
8402 Old Sauk Rd., Madison 608.664. 1414 Rd., Madison e Sauk Bring People & Nature Together & Nature Together Mon-Fri 9-7, Sat 9-6, 11-5 Mon-Fri 9-7, Sat Sun 9-6, Sun 11-5 www.wbumadison.com 08.664. 1414 Mon-Fri 9-7, Sat 9-6, Sun 11-5
www.wbumadison.com We Bring People 6
wbumadison.com We Bring People & Nature Together
Art by Stephanie Hofmann
Whether you’re a first-time college student living in a dorm, a recent apartmenthunting graduate or you’ve downsized from your family home, small-space living is becoming a standard for downtown Madison. Ashley Thielbar, a 24-year-old UW-La Crosse graduate, recently accepted a new job in Madison. Thrilled to be on her own and beginning a new chapter in her life, Thielbar packed up her belongings and signed a lease on a downtown Madison apartment. Move-in day quickly arrived, and, much to her surprise, Thielbar found herself in a tiny space, unable to unpack all of her boxes. “I had no idea it was going to be this small,” says Thielbar of her one-bedroom unit. “How am I supposed to fit everything in here when I only have one closet and no extra room?” Renters considering one of the many new apartment units in downtown Madison will find efficiencies and one-bedrooms that are, well, cozy. The least-expensive units might mean something as small as a 350-squarefoot efficiency or a 500-square-foot onebedroom. That’s slightly bigger than a standard two-car garage. These space constraints require inventive storage solutions and strategies to make the space seem bigger. It’s a bar, it’s a desk! Finding furniture that can function in multiple ways is essential. Adding a kitchen island with wheels will not only add additional counter space, but can be pushed away to the side for extra room and act as a desk
or bar cart. Add some stools and it’s now a kitchen table. To really maximize space, consider purchasing extra stools to provide additional seating for when you’re hosting guests. Doug Zander, from Zander’s Interiors on Monroe Street, says finding multi-function furniture is his top priority when designing for small spaces. He recommends ottomans, TV lift cabinets for the end of a bed, and stools that can double as side tables. These all serve many needs and are easily moved from apartment to apartment. Consider a platform bed. Platform beds offer additional under-bed storage, take up less space than beds with a traditional headboard and footboard and don’t require a bulky, hard-to-move box spring. Keyword: organizers Lack of closets and storage space are often the biggest pain of small-space living. Overthe-cabinet door organizers are key to maximizing space in the bathroom and great for storing cleaning supplies. In the kitchen they can be used to store spices, canned goods or utensils. Over-the-door hooks for clothing or canvas shoe organizers can be used on bedroom, closet, or entryway doors. Getting things up and off the floor will increase the amount of usable, livable space. Stack plastic storage crates and boxes together to create a modular, interchangeable closet system. For those who are handy with tools and have landlord approval, create a makeshift closet by horizontally suspending a pole with parallel chains. This uses free space while also leaving the floor open for additional clothes and shoe storage. Light and delicate Subtle design and décor changes can make an apartment feel more spacious. If you are able to change the paint color, try choosing a lighter shade. White, beige or ivory bring more light into a room and make it appear larger. Similarly, adding mirrors will reflect light and make a space look more open. Madison-based interior designer Karen Claffey-Koller emphasizes the importance of good lighting, too, since it creates atmosphere, regardless of what square footage you have. Bringing in more light by using table lamps and hanging lights as well as choosing smaller, more delicate decorations can create a big difference in feel.
SPRING 2017 ISTHMUS.COM
Green is good When you live downtown, access to a yard or outdoor space is rare. Add hanging plants to bring greenery and life to your apartment. Hanging plants won’t take up any additional floor space. This also draws the eye up towards the ceiling, making your apartment seem bigger and taller.
7
Terrace time
Streetside gardens are permissible — to a point. Here are the tricky details By Dylan Brogan
Terrace tips
ISTHMUS ABODE SPRING 2017
Gardeners beware. That strip of green space between the sidewalk and the curb — officially known as a terrace — is not your property. It might be right outside your door, but that slice of earth belongs to the city of Madison. However, that hasn’t stopped many a homeowner from adding rows of flowers, raised beds, planters, Little Free Libraries and even rock gardens to terraces. Much of this urban landscaping is perfectly legal. But it isn’t hard to find terrace gardens that fall outside the letter of the law. In order to avoid becoming a scofflaw green thumb (or having your terrace garden scrutinized), here’s what you need to know.
8
Until recently, policy on city-owned terraces was mostly about turf grass, reflecting the near ubiquity of grasses like Kentucky Bluegrass alongside streets and sidewalks. There was (and still is) a requirement in Madison that residents maintain the land by keeping grass on terraces below eight inches in height. But as awareness grows about the environmental toll of a finely manicured lawn, it has become more increasingly common for residents to get creative with this quasi-public space. So in 2014, city officials clarified the rules on terrace gardens with an official “treatment policy.” It spells out the do’s and don’ts of permissible landscaping in terraces (although there is still wiggle-room in the law). City officials are largely tolerant of terrace gardens that aren’t technically in compliance with a hodgepodge of city ordinances. Landscaping features like mulch meant to protect “approved plantings” (we’ll get to that later) are allowed as long as they are stable and easy to remove. So are temporary wire fencing, lattices and vegetable cages. A street terrace permit is required for putting in permanent structures like retaining walls, raised beds, benches, large planters and other “privately placed” items. Not many people apply for a street terrace permit, according to building inspector George Hank. Yet terrace gardens are easy to find. And because enforcement of the rules is “100 percent complaint-driven,” it’s unlikely an inspector will come knocking. “We aren’t going out there looking for violations,” says Hank. “Our philosophy is to educate first, enforce when necessary. We really don’t like writing tickets.” The most common complaint the city does enforce is when plants get in the way. If leaves, vines or flowers start encroaching on sidewalks, driveways or the street, the city will typically send an official notice informing residents to get their plants under control. If even some progress is made but
• To avoid electrocution or an awkward
visit from a utility worker, give Digger’s Hotline a call. Just dial 811.
• If you have questions, contact the city
engineering department at 608-266-4751.
• Permission is needed to add a “Little Free Library” to a city terrace. But there’s no permit or application fee.
• The city is generally laid-back about
terrace gardens (just don’t mess with city trees or irritate your neighbors).
• See the full policy at cityofmadison.com/
engineering/documents/terracetreamentpolicy422014.pdf.
the issue isn’t fully resolved, the city will grant additional time. Only when it’s “absolutely necessary” will a citation be issued. And there are complaints about terrace gardens. Hank says his office frequently finds itself in the middle of a dispute between neighbors. “Beauty is often in the eye of the beholder. We get complaints from people that their neighbor’s [terrace] is overgrown. Other times, someone has clearly put in years cultivating some kind of garden and the neighbor just wants to see grass,” says Hank. “We don’t really pay attention to what type of plants are there. It’s all about whether it’s in compliance with the code.” Whether it’s just a bed of tulips or a raised bed, a terrace garden also can’t interfere with on-street parking. Plants need to be placed two feet back from the curb to accommodate people getting in and out of cars. Plants in terraces also cannot be taller than 30 inches for a four-footwide area parallel to a driveway apron. “This is about visual clearance for people pulling in and out of driveways and for pedestrians,” says Hank. “These areas provide you a
chance to see either someone on the sidewalk or in the street.” But fair warning: Hank says there is one big caveat to terrace gardens, whether a resident seeks permission or not. “Any time you do anything in the terrace, you are doing it at the risk that the city might come through and tear it all up,” says Hank. “They won’t put anything back or compensate you at all for it. Permit or no permit.” And that might be the most exciting part of terrace gardening. You might come home one day and it’s all gone. The 2014 treatment policy grants homeowners wide latitude in what types of plants are allowed in terraces. Flower gardens, vegetables, hostas, basically all non-woody plants are permissible. Plants with bark are another matter. “What is heavily regulated on terraces are shrubs and trees. They have to be under 24 inches in height. So that pretty much eliminates planting trees,” says Phil Gaebler, a city engineer. “I’d stick with plants that you can easily cut back so you have a clean slate each spring.”
Madison Forestry, part of the city’s Parks Division, is responsible for maintaining 96,000 trees along Madison’s 700 miles of city streets. Not only does the city not allow residents to plant trees, they don’t want you messing with their trees either. It’s against the law to cut, prune or remove a city tree. The treatment policy even forbids plantings within a five-foot radius of a terrace tree, although it’s pretty easy to find yards where terrace trees are ringed with hostas. A handful of plant species have been deemed health hazards and could lead to a $20 ticket if not eradicated. In January 2017, Ald. Ledell Zellers shepherded an update to Madison’s noxious weeds ordinance. It outlines 14 plant species that aren’t allowed on terraces (or anywhere else, for that matter). These include poison ivy, stinging nettle, giant hogweed, wild parsnip, Canada thistle, plumeless thistle, musk thistle, marsh thistle, common and cutleaf teasel, purple loosestrife, Japanese knotweed and common reed grass. Language was also included in the updated noxious weed ordinance to encourage residents to use plants native to Wisconsin in their gardens. Doing so would “eliminate or significantly reduce the need for fertilizers, herbicides, water and lawn maintenance equipment.” “Native plants are also beneficial because they help reduce air pollution because they do not require mowing,” reads Section 23.29 of the Madison General Ordinances. “They attract a variety of birds, butterflies and other pollinators. And their use promotes biodiversity and stewardship of our natural heritage.” For a list of plants native to Wisconsin, the UW Arboretum’s website (tinyurl.com/ winativeplants) has a guide that provides detailed information on dozens of flora including the best species for attracting butterflies, hummingbirds and other pollinators.
0
SALE!
Friends of theofUW-Madison Arboretum Friends the Arboretum, Inc.
Native Plant Sale Saturday, May Saturday, May13 9 U 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
9 am to 2 pm More than 200 species of: species of: More than 100 • Woodland plants UÊ7 ` > `Ê« > Ìà • Prairie plants UÊ*À> À iÊ« > Ìà • Shrubs UÊ- ÀÕLà • Trees Propagated plants — not dug from the wild UÊ/Àiià Experts on hand to answer your questions
May 12, 13 , 14
Friends of the UW-Madison Arboretum
Native Plant Sale Saturday, May 9 U 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
More than 100 species of: UÊ7 ` > `Ê« > Ìà UÊ*À> À iÊ« > Ìà UÊ- ÀÕLà Create an inviting glow in your home with Genuine Stone Lamps UÊ/ÀiiÃ
in Selenite, Aragonite, Himalayan Salt, and Calcite!
*À «>}>Ìi`Ê« > ÌÃÊqÊ ÌÊ`Õ}ÊvÀ ÊÌ iÊÜ ` Ý«iÀÌÃÊ Ê > `ÊÌ Ê> ÃÜiÀÊÞ ÕÀʵÕiÃÌ Ã
Native plants grow well with minimal fertilizers, pesticides, and irrigation, because they are naturally adapted to our local temperatures, and soils. Arboretum rainfall, Visitor Center Native plants provide habitat for butterflies, bees, hummingbirds, and songbirds. £ÓäÇÊ-i iÊ } Ü>Þ
Madison
UW-Madison ArboretumForVisitor Center more information: 608.263.7760
ÀÊÕÜ>ÀL ÀiÌÕ ° À}Év > 1207 Seminole Highway, Madison For more information: 608.571.5362, director@foamadison.org -V> ÊÌ ÃÊ+,ÊV `iÊÜ Ì Ê or arboretum.wisc.edu/get-involved/friends/native-plant sale/
*À «>}>Ìi`Ê« > ÌÃÊqÊ ÌÊ`Õ}ÊvÀ ÊÌ iÊÜ ` Ý«iÀÌÃÊ Ê > `ÊÌ Ê> ÃÜiÀÊÞ ÕÀʵÕiÃÌ Ã
BURNIE’S on Park
burniesrockshop.com
Here’s How Cabinet City Works!
Quick Ship Delivery Programs Offered
Find us on Facebook!
O w No
SPRING 2017 ISTHMUS.COM
In Home Measuring with Guaranteed Fit
901 E. Johnson St. 608-251-2601
! n pe
Designer Cabinets/Discount Prices Beautiful 3-D Full Color Renderings
ROCK SHOP
-V> ÊÌ ÃÊ+,ÊV `iÊÜ Ì Ê Þ ÕÀÊÃ >ÀÌÊ« iÊÌ ÊÛ iÜÊ 636 S. Park St. « > ÌÊÃ> iÊ`iÌ> ÃÊ i° 608-630-9419
Þ ÕÀÊÃ >ÀÌÊ« iÊÌ ÊÛ iÜÊ « > ÌÊÃ> iÊ`iÌ> ÃÊ i°
Dream Driven Designs & Layouts
BURNIE’S
Cabinet City | 6649 University Ave. Suite 120 | Middleton, WI 53562 | 608-829-2489 Hours: Monday - Friday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM & Saturday 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM - www.cabinet-city.com
9 Cabinet City_Half_Ad.indd 1
4/25/17 3:28 PM
Character-building exercise Bethany Nelson brings her design sense to a 1941 home
ISTHMUS ABODE SPRING 2017
By Lindsay Kindschy
10
Bethany Nelson, owner and designer of Milkhaus Design, often carries a tote bag or wears a pretty patterned scarf that she designed herself. As she explains on her website, “Every item you own should be stylish, no matter what it is. It’s often the little details that make life just a little bit better and a little bit sweeter.” She’s been following this mantra the past few years as she slowly redesigns her 1941 home herself — on a budget. The 1,118-square-foot ranch had “absolutely no character” when she bought it, says Nelson, an accessories designer who makes handprinted and dyed totes, bags and clutches. “It was basically a white box.” But she was up for the challenge of transforming the space. Her goal: To create a living space that is timeless. She works out of her home, so she likes to keep the space clean, simple and classic. Her choices start at her bright yellow front door. The living room walls are paint-
ed a mix of gray and light blue, the color of a Midwestern sky. Coasters of her own design, candles and a stack of magazines are casually placed about the room. An art print from a trip she took to Japan is held up by pink washi tape, a color that is reinforced by the bright red cord attached to a nearby hanging light fixture. Other prints, such as one by Madison artist Emily Maryniak and a three-part print Nelson made herself, decorate the walls. Her Boston terrier, Lucy, is curled up on the couch. Lucy isn’t a design element, but her presence underlines how the home is warm, inviting and lived-in. “I follow the same thoughts designing for my home as I do designing an item for my line,” Nelson says. “Shape and proportion are other elements I focus on.” She appreciates mid-century design, particularly its Scandinavian roots — its simple lines, for instance. She doesn’t go overboard with period accessories, though, and tries to avoid obvious
Photos by Beth Skogen trends. “Make sure your house reflects your personality. Don’t make changes because you think it ‘should’ look a certain way, when in reality that doesn’t fit your life,” she advises. She also warns people off buying a set of furniture all from the same store, such as 100 percent Pottery Barn or West Elm. Her furniture is a mix of pieces from various name-brand stores including Ikea, as well as antique shops, flea markets and craft fairs. “I love wandering the aisles of a hardware store and trying to find ways to use items in an unexpected way,” she says. She’s used shelves meant for garages or closets in her living room as decorative pieces, for instance. Most of the scavenging for materials, as well as the drilling, measuring, cutting, hauling, sanding and installation, has been done by Nelson herself. In the kitchen, she selected the butcher block countertops and oversaw the installation; she made her wooden side tables and a coffee table, and she built the
eclectic, modern shelves in her family room: “I’m slowly building my power tool collection, and I have yet to lose a finger!” Although she likes to do most home projects herself, Nelson recognizes when she needs help. The subway tile in her kitchen and the lights above the kitchen island and sink were installed by professionals: “Though I have visions of doing everything myself, I have learned that sometimes things get done faster and better if you hire someone.” Her next project is tiling the bathroom floor, a project she plans to outsource as well. Nelson’s advice to others wanting to renovate their homes on a budget is to “get an idea of the style you like. Look at magazines and online resources so you can start to see a trend of your likes and dislikes.” Do what you can yourself, but “know when to hire someone to do the work. Time is money, and sometimes it’s worth it to save yourself time to actually get the project completed.”
Touches of color like the blue chair (right) and yellow door (above) contrast with more somber art works like the gray cloud print (above) Nelson made herself.
The Kitchen Gallery Exceptional Culinary Provisions
TRUST A WORM TO KNOW GOOD DIRT! SHREDDED TOP SOIL GARDEN MIX • COMPOST SHREDDED BARK WASHED STONE CRUSHED ROCK • SAND CRUSHED GRANITE
LOCALLY GROWN
L ive Deliciously
WE DELIVER www.kelenytopsoil.com Family Owned and Operated Since 1934.
Annuals & Perennials • Succulents Hanging Baskets • Fresh Cut Flowers Vegetables & Herbs • Air Plants
7486 Valley View Rd, Verona
Garden Gifts • Pottery Organic Fertilizer Celebrating Soils & Mulches 104 Years in Business Tools 3758 E. Washington Ave. | Madison | (608) 244-5661 | www.kleinsfloral.com
107 KING STREET, MADISON 608.467.6544 www.kitchengallerymadison.com
10% OFF ALL PURCHASES
WHEN YOU BRING IN THIS AD Excludes electronics & cook sets Expires 5/31/17
@IsthmusMadison follow for fun photos :)
SPRING 2017 ISTHMUS.COM
Our retail store stocks:
11
www.centuryhouseinc.com
ISTHMUS ABODE SPRING 2017
Experience design
12
everything for the modern home
3029 & 3420 university ave madison 608.233.4488