35 years of design excellence dreamdesign
dreamclosets
dreamremodel
dreamtile
Let the Dream family of companies take you through your next remodel project.
5117 Verona Road | Madison, WI 53711 | 608-204-7575
www.dream-kitchens.com
CONTENT AUGUST-OCTOBER 2022
VOL. 23
publisher Amy S. Johnson ajohnson@homeelementsandconcepts.com editorial director Amy S. Johnson info@homeelementsandconcepts.com lead designer Linda Walker senior copy editor & lead staff writer Kyle Jacobson sales & marketing director Amy S. Johnson ajohnson@homeelementsandconcepts.com designers Jennifer Denman, Crea Stellmacher, Barbara Wilson administration Debora Knutson, Olivia Seehafer
Photograph provided by Dream House Dream Kitchens
BUSINESS DESIGN
A Kid-Friendly Hangout
Photograph by Kyle Wege, Crimson Sun Studios
34
contributing writers Dream House Dream Kitchens, Karina Mae, The Patio Warehouse, Sketchworks Architecture, Spray-Net, Lori Sulmasy
a cheerful place for kids to go to every day
photographs Chads Design Build, Curbside Composter, Dream House Dream Kitchens, Garden Search & Rescue, The Patio Warehouse, Chad Renly, C|R Prints & Photography LLC, Spray-Net, Kyle Wege, Crimson Sun Studios
Don’t Throw it All Away
subscriptions Home Elements & Concepts is available free at over 150 locations. To purchase an annual subscription (4 issues), send mailing information and $16 (payable to Towns & Associates) to Home Elements & Concepts, c/o Towns & Associates, Inc., PO Box 174, Baraboo, WI 539130174. Or sign up for a FREE online subscription at homeelementsandconcepts.com.
Making It Make Sense
comments We welcome your questions and comments. Please submit to Home Elements & Concepts, c/o Towns & Associates, Inc., PO Box 174, Baraboo, WI 53913-0174 or email info@homeelementsandconcepts.com. advertise To place an advertisement, please call 608.356.8757 or email ajohnson@homeelementsandconcepts.com. all rights reserved. ©2022 No portion of this magazine may be reproduced without prior written permission by Home Elements & Concepts.
Watch for the next issue November 2022. Cover photograph by Kyle Wege, Crimson Sun Studios, provided by Chads Design Build.
ENVIRONMENTAL/SUSTAINABILITY managing your food waste
26
FURNISHINGS/ACCESSORIES
24
new perspective to creating your perfect kitchen
The Patio Warehouse
dress up your backyard chill zone
30
LANDSCAPE/GARDENING
Lawn Alternatives
18
different styles of lawn-be-gone
REMODEL/RENOVATION
Ramping Up
12
luxury condo transformed from a parking ramp
Stunning & Serene Mid-Century Modern Kitchen
a major kitchen and mudroom renovation
What's the Best Exterior Paint
6
32
things to consider when selecting exterior paint
4 Advertiser Index 38 From The Publisher
HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS
3
from the publisher Where did the summer go? As we head into the fall months, many may feel like time is slipping away for yard and outdoor home projects. Even though some prime months have passed, there’s still time to accomplish plans, at least in part, or to start planning for the next year. For your yard concerns or wish list updates, you might want to consider something new. Karina Mae of Garden Search & Rescue again shares her expertise on lawn alternatives, which can beautify a yard while reducing maintenance. Do you want to compost and reduce the environmental impact of food waste but don’t have the time or yard space to do so? Derek Fry from Curbside Composter shares the benefits and importance of composting along with how you can do it at home and work even if you’ve previously thought it wasn’t feasible. We’re thrilled to showcase a beautiful kitchen and mudroom renovation by Chads Design Build, and share a downtown Madison condo transformation by Dream House Dream Kitchens. As always, you can find some great ideas from all our editorial features, and if you like what you see, you know who to reach out to for your next project. We appreciate you picking up Home Elements & Concepts each quarter and encourage you to connect with our incredible editorial and advertising partners.
Amy Johnson
4 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS
5
REMODEL/RENOVATION
Stunning & Serene
MID-CENTURY MODERN KITCHEN BY LORI SULMASY
6 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
create areas to display their handcrafted glass and ceramic collections, reference their love of commercial kitchens through lighting and stainless steel accents, and improve the function and flow of this fundamental space to refresh one’s spirit. In a nutshell, they wanted to showcase their love for food, art, and their home’s architecture. The result is a stunning and serene kitchen fit for the collectors, gourmet baker, and restaurateur in the family. The updated mid-century modern color palette and stylish design solutions showcase the personal touches of the clients while highlighting the existing features and architecture of a beloved home. Retaining the existing footprint of the kitchen took creativity to improve traffic flow and impart a sense of openness. Personal items and appliances that the clients wanted to keep were incorporated into the remodel. A goal to sustainably refresh well-worn surfaces and revitalize the space was achieved through selective use and reuse of durable materials. Key appliances were refurbished, and the existing celestial-blue tile floor was beautifully restored to provide continuity within the all-new kitchen experience. Swapping cabinet locations, opening walls to bounce natural light and expand passageways, and replacing upper cabinet runs with open shelving contribute to improved brightness and spatial balance. The placement of the refrigerator and pantry were switched for better accessibility and improved walkway access to
After Photograph by Kyle Wege, Crimson Sun Studios
The owners of this mid-century modern home realized their vision for a major kitchen and mudroom renovation with the professionals at Chads Design Build. They sought to brighten and contemporize the home’s aesthetics using clean lines and an updated color palette, open the space to the outdoors for more natural light and to adjacent rooms for entertaining,
Before Photograph provided by Chads Design Build
HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS
7
8 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
Photograph by Kyle Wege, Crimson Sun Studios
After
After
the mudroom. These design improvements, along with a comprehensive electrical plan, truly expand the floor plan both visually and spatially. Rearrangement of the cabinet clusters provides for prioritized storage in relation to how the clients use their kitchen. Clearly delineated baking, coffee, and prep workstations are more efficient for when the kitchen ramps up productivity. A custom hidden pot rack in the decorative horizontal soffit now provides ample space for hanging cookware. On the wall above the stove, the drywall soffit containing rerouted ductwork allowed the new stainless steel hood to be raised and visually float like the shelving. Repeating stainless steel details in the appliances, shelving, spotlights, and horizontal cabinet pulls reinforce the cohesive commercial kitchen concept and are echoed in the gleaming stainless steel counter section under the espresso machine. The heavy-duty stainless steel shelves, combined with carefully integrated puck lighting, provide myriad options for the owners to display their collections of artisan ceramics and art glass. The mudroom area now sports a stacked washer and dryer with added outlets set inside the
Photograph by Kyle Wege, Crimson Sun Studios
After
cabinets for utilizing and storing small appliances while allowing flexibility for more counter space on laundry day. These updates contribute to a roomier new work zone behind the scenes in the mudroom. The stated goal to brighten and contemporize the Before space is masterfully achieved through the updated lighting and color palette. Custom undershelf lighting, refurbished skylights, and the adjustable LED spotlight rail enhance existing task and ambient lighting in an energy-efficient manner. Commercial replacement windows are framed in anodized aluminum. These complement the stainless steel components and were repositioned to place the bottom boundary edge level with the countertop to reinforce a clean-line appearance. Above the sink, a larger picture window lets in more natural HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS
9
Photograph provided by Chads Design Build
Photograph by Kyle Wege, Crimson Sun Studios
Photograph by Kyle Wege, Crimson Sun Studios
After
Softer grey tones in the cabinetry combined with the creamy white walls and quartz counters make the brilliant colors in the art pieces and warm wood trim in adjoining spaces really pop in comparison. The striking wood grain pattern of the cabinet surfaces underscores the horizontal lines of the existing aesthetics and strengthens the midcentury modern architectural integrity of the home. The updated color scheme also better integrates the kitchen space with adjoining rooms. Removing the upper cabinets and kitchen-side wood soffit on the shared wall directs your focus to the art displayed in both rooms and expands entertaining options by inviting flow between the spaces. The counter seating area extends the commercial kitchen vibe through the updated modern stools and meshes seamlessly with existing furnishings. The Chads Design Build team is proud of the partnership formed with the clients and the stunning renovation. This relaxing and revitalized mid-century modern kitchen is a joy to behold and use every day. Lori Sulmasy is the marketing director and Chad Speight is the president and owner of Chads Design Build, which is celebrating 30 years of sustainable renovations and satisfied clients in the Greater Madison area.
10 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
Photograph provided by Chads Design Build
light and frames an expansive view of the backyard. The tranquil and immersive outdoor views are the new focal point.
Before
Chads Design Build 3212 Commercial Avenue Madison, WI 53714 608.221.1799 chadsdesignbuild.com President | Owner
Chad Speight, CR, NARI Certified Remodeler
More than pet supplies
“My customers make my childhood and family’s dream of owning a business come true every day.” - Jerina, Owner JNJ Gifts and More, Verona
Home decor
Kitchen supplies
Furniture and more!
Thrift Store
6904 Watts Road, Madison (608) 709-1275 giveshelter.org/thrift
Find 600+ local business owners that you can support!
danebuylocal.com
Proceeds benefit animals in need
Made for You in Wisconsin for over 60 years
LOVE | SERVE | CARE
• Sustainably Manufactured in Sun Prairie • Bring this in for 40% off any Hallman Lindsay Product • All Hallman Lindsay Quality Interior/Exterior Paint and Stain is 100% Wisconsin Made & Mixed Discover over 3000 paint colors at our 6 Madison area locations.
Downtown Madison • Madison West • Middleton • Monona • Sun Prairie • Waunakee *40% off applies to any purchase of a Hallman Lindsay labeled paint or stain product. Offer expires 1/31/2023 HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS
11
REMODEL/RENOVATION
RAMPING UP B Y K Y L E J A CO B S O N
12 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
Twenty-three years ago, the old Union Transfer building transformed from a parking ramp into luxury condos, half overlooking Lake Monona and the other half with a view of the capitol up King Street. Since then, many of the condos have undergone interior makeovers. One of Dream House Dream Kitchens most recent contributions is the home of a couple who wanted modern design elements with a contemporary feel that accommodated their homemade-cooking, handmade-cocktail lifestyle.
The photos in this article showcase precisely how the condo looks day in and day out. Jerry Schmidt, Dream House Dream Kitchens’ director of sales, says, “[The homeowner] went through and detailed all his different mixers and countertop appliances—all these different pieces. ... As simple as this kitchen looks, it actually functions in a high-value way, so you have the pieces you need without all the clutter.” With custom cabinets, the kitchen has the perfect place for everything. Some of the cabinet faces are oak to add a warm splash of color to the overall design, a motif echoed throughout the space. “Sometimes when people overdo contemporary, it just kind of looks blah,” says Jerry. By incorporating a change in color and texture, the whole space is given an air of home, quieting the gallery feel just enough to add to its appeal. These relaxing touches are almost necessary to distinguish the space further from its truly unique previous life as a parking garage. The big circular pillars won’t be in any other home, and with no interior support walls, the only real restriction in terms of layout is the perimeter walls. Of course, figuring out the best option for the floor was a bit limited. “Because it was a parking garage, all of the floors are angled for the water to drain, which makes it very difficult to install product on top of. So what we did is we stripped all the concrete, reprepped it, then stained the concrete floor.” HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS
13
14 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
Toe-kick lighting shows off both the cabinetry and the floor, which then meets up the base of waterfall countertops, creating a sense of movement between the different textures of wood, concrete, and granite. Since the space is very open, suggesting direction and flow with these touches breathes life into the space that might otherwise feel stale. The walkup bar incorporates all the design aspects highlighted so far. As the couple loves craft cocktails, it was necessary to make sure every drawers and cabinet worked to create the feel of a full bar without showing clutter. From the undercounter fridge to the glass storage, making a cocktail becomes an experience for both bartender and drinker. Visually separation of kitchen, bar, and living room isn’t just defined by furniture, but also by light fixtures. Where the kitchen has tasteful globe lights, the living room has a bouquet of a chandelier. The dining and bar area feels like its own world with a large ultramodern halo light. It’s all a fun way to set the tone for each space without sacrificing the openess of the home itself. The ceiling is fully exposed, which provided ample opportunity to create varying degrees of intimacy from each light source. “A lot of times they opt to not close the ceiling off in these units, especially if this is the aesthetic they’re going for. It allows us to get a lot more ceiling height, and [the lights] have to drop below all the mechanicals. It’s a visually interesting piece to have with that downtown urban loft feel.” As attractive as the main living areas are, it’s important to note that the bathrooms were updated with honeycomb tiles, herringbone-pattern backsplashes, and built-in shelves. This tried-and-true style feels like an appropriate capstone to make sure that all the effort put into the rest of the loft isn’t lost when taking a shower or brushing your teeth.
HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS
15
Since there really wasn’t room in the master bath for a makeup counter, space from a seldom-used guest room was sacrificed to create a large walk-in closet to pick up where the bathroom leaves off. Clothes are on display, making it easier to choose the right outfit, and the makeup mirror sharing the space makes the process of getting ready much more streamlined. As for the guest bedroom, a Murphy bed is now in place so the room can be used as a lounge when the homeowners aren’t keeping company. The condo might lean heavily into an impressive theme that can be found in cities much larger than Madison, but by blending texture and movement with straight lines and a clean look, it finds the right amount of charm. Lifestyle and luxury with a sense of place. Kyle Jacobson is lead writer and senior copy editor for Home Elements & Concepts. Photographs provided by Dream House Dream Kitchens. View additional photographs at homeelementsandconcepts.com. Dream House Dream Kitchens 5117 Verona Road Madison, WI 53711 608.204.7575 dream-kitchens.com 16 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
Abel Contemporary Gallery Abelcontemporary.com
524 East Main St. Stoughton, WI 608-845-6600
Image: Peterson
YOU MAKE THE MEMORIES. WE’LL MAKE THEM LAST. Whether it’s a beloved print or family heirloom, give your piece an artful presentation that will stand the test of time. OPEN Tues – Sat, 10am – 5pm Schedule an appointment or drop by
1901 Monroe St Madison, WI | 608.255.7330 | monroestreetframing.com HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS
17
LANDSCAPE/GARDENING
18 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
LAWN ALTERNATIVES by Karina Mae
Lawn, grass, or gramina (Latin), whatever you call it, can be wonderful when lush and verdant, but maintaining its velour isn’t always the easiest or most practical. Thankfully, we live in an era and area full of parks where grassy lawn spaces exist to enjoy or play in without the maintenance. So what could we do with existing lawn space? There are a plethora of lovely options, most requiring much less work than a traditional lawn. Lawn can be fickle, drying out and dying due to heat, water loss, dog urine, and heavy tread; infiltrated with weed seeds; and require repeated mowing, fertilizing, watering, and raking. It’s exhausting to say the least. Most living in Greater Madison have anywhere from 1/8 to 1/2 acre, so our space isn’t that large to begin with. Identifying ways to fill the space could lead to a need for assistance with layout, fundamentals, and features. Having an interplay of people and open space is a personal preference, and the applied features need only be as large as you deem necessary. Even downsizing some of your lawn will make an impact on your workload and the habitat you’re creating.
Food Forest Plants: serviceberry, chokecherry, cherries, pears, plums, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, grapes, blueberries, and mushroom logs Tall, More Orderly Plants: hollyhocks, delphinium, liatris, hybrid echinacea, lilium lilies, and peonies Mid-Height Wonders: sedges of all varieties, Hakonechloa macra, hostas, lupine, low geraniums, and toad lilies Low-Grow Varieties: ginger, bergenia, sedums, ajuga, creeping phlox, creeping thyme, Irish moss, dianthus, heuchera, woodruff, primrose, and prairie smoke. CAUTION with both vinca myrtle and pachysandra, as they’ve grown aggressive Good Weed Lawn Varieties: creeping Charlie, white clover, dandelion, plantains, purslane, and violets Bad Weed Lawn Varieties: Aegopodium podagraria (bishops weed), campanula, red clover, vetch, beggar’s tick, stickseed, and tickseed (the three main scarf destroyers) HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS
19
Why not lawn? Besides the aforementioned challenges, lawn doesn’t support much in terms of beneficials, offering less microbiological activity, insect life, and so on up the scale. Lawn is also only able to drink so much water before it becomes soggy and runoff occurs, which takes away nitrates and other fertilizer components with it. When coupled with our homes and driveways, we should look at overall impermeableness. Adding lawn alternatives is a fantastic way for the soil to drink in more, feeding our water table. Visually obvious things would include furniture spaces for a hammock, fire ring, kid zone, cook station, gathering space, and eating area. Art, statues, stone candle huts, hanging chimes, and bird stations surrounded by mulch or placed on stone can be very enticing and entail less physical upkeep. Less attention-seeking areas could be space for yoga, dance, and a long dog run. Having lawn under any of these spaces requires additional energy to move and remove for mowing and tending, while placing these settings on gravel, mulch, or a no- or low-mow option means they stay in place while you tend around them.
20 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
Outdoor area rugs are also a fantastic way to claim a little non-lawn space. They instantly soften and provide a landing pad for something more original. Removing the lawn under as prep isn’t always needed; lawns are fickle and perish fairly easily under any kind of stress. Walls, boulders, rocks of all sizes, winding paths, patios, and other landscaping are all large and mighty ways to have an entertaining space, but sometimes just a little bit goes a long way. A precisely placed boulder with a little garden can be just as intentional and lovely. Small gravel pools invite butterflies and moths to feed on salt and moisture, and a small rain garden can do the heavy lifting while plants nearby benefit plenty. Adding parking or walking space with permeable stones is aesthetic and functional. And, of course, there are the numerous kinds of gardens one could implement: food forest, rolling, tall, woodland, short, low grow, or a mix. Food forests are becoming increasingly popular and are an amazing way to feed you, your kids, and birds. Rolling gardens would be taller perennials, perhaps prairie or
butterfly-type species with grasses and are generally later blooming in nature. Tall gardens could be that or a more English presentation with shrubs and tall, orderly flowers, such as delphinium or hollyhocks. Shorter gardens would be all the forbs at less than 15 inches, so more woodland, shade mix, and specific sun species, like salvias, perennial alliums, bergenias, and Hakonechloa macra. Low-grow or no-mow gardens would be mostly less than six to eight inches in height with possible blooms exceeding that, but by minimal means. Stars of this crowd would be creeping thyme, creeping sedums, Irish moss, dianthus, creeping phlox, and ajuga. Another option in the mid to low category is to let it just grow and see what happens. White clover, creeping Charlie, and even dandelions both fix soil and feed the bees way
more than any hybrid perennial can, and they often give way to more appealing things, like zig-zag goldenrod or dwarf asters. This is best tended with some very high mowing once or twice a season, what we call a fire drill, where you just weed the seed you don’t want or cut the seed heads if you don’t have time to weed, balancing your seed bed. These styles of lawn-be-gone can be mixed and matched with the sunlit areas in your space and your personal preference. They will all boost aesthetic, interactive space, and habitat. Adding them as slowly as you’re comfortable will allow you to transition at your own pace. You’ll find them to be more resilient, beautiful, and much less work than the lawn counterpart previously established. Happy takeover! Karina Mae is the designer and team leader at Garden Search & Rescue. Photographs provided by Garden Search & Rescue. Garden Search & Rescue Madison, WI 608.438.9571 gardensearchandrescue.com
HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS
21
MARCH–AUGUST 2022
we make a difference
homeelementsandconcepts.com | madisonessentials.com | journeyofaging.com 22 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
goods
s h o p. h o m e. o f f e r s . p r o d u c t s . s e r v i c e s .
HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS
23
FURNISHINGS & ACCESSORIES
MAKING IT MAKE SENSE Mastering Your Spaces Brought to You by
For Every Room
in Your Home.
We are creatures of habit, not that there’s anything wrong with that. But when it comes to doing what’s convenient versus what’s familiar, we might miss the obvious. This can be especially true when designing your first custom kitchen. So where do you currently put your plates, bowls, and cups? If you’re like most people, I’d guess the upper cabinets. But some of those spaces might be hard to reach, and if you’re looking for a particular item, it might be buried. With a drawer on the lower cabinets, “You’re looking down at everything that drawer has to offer,” says Chris Schmidt of Dream House Dream Kitchens.
24 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
The accessories for drawer boxes have come a long way. There are peg hole drawer systems for bases with insert posts for keeping everything from moving around. Now think about having to bend down and reach deep into your cabinets for that large pot. With a custom drawer system, that doesn’t have to be the case. And if you don’t like the drawer-face look, you can consider rollout drawers, which offer even more customization for large items while maintaining the cabinet-door look on the outside. “With a big rollout drawer, that cabinet is twice the depth compared to an upper cabinet, so you can fit a lot of your plates and bowls and Tupperware— you can fit them all in a full drawer or two thirds of a drawer and still have room left over for more storage.” It’s not new technology; it’s a new perspective. Working with a professional designer to get your ideas rolling might just be the first step to creating your perfect kitchen.
HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS
25
ENVIRONMENTAL/SUSTAINABILITY
Don’t THROW it ALL Away BY KYLE JACOBSON
26 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
What would it take to get you to start composting at home? Having your own garden? Your own yard? Or perhaps you already compost but struggle to use what you and your family produce. You might have even once composted but stopped when the rats and mice showed up for mixed-species housing. Finding a way to compost at home doesn’t need to be a major inconvenience or even something you need a yard for. Curbside Composter is one of a handful of compost services available in the Greater Madison area that will manage your food waste. For about a dollar a day, you get a bucket, liner, and weekly pickup. In the case of Curbside, your food waste is then used as part of a compost recipe to help local farms improve their soil quality. After talking to Curbside Composter owner Derek Fry, certified compost aficionado, it became clear that there is no one-size-fits-all solution for composting at home, though every solution shares the same objective: get food waste out of landfills. “I want as many to compost as possible,” says Derek. “I don’t care that I have competition. I want them to harness more food waste if they can. It’s great.”
HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS
27
Curbside Composter does compost pick up at some churches for free, schools for free, pantries at half price, and for barter at restaurants and businesses. Worms are donated to schools when they have vermicomposting systems. Derek has no employees and works seven days a week, including holidays. He also uses a public Kiva loan page to give out loans all over the world.
Before getting too deep into the conversation, a refresher from Derek on what exactly composting is. “Composting is just the natural breakdown of organic matter. You can assist in it by creating a better environment for these thermophilic bacteria.” He also mentions bokashi, meaning fermented organic matter, which is a type of composting that involves an anaerobic process in which oxygen is isolated as much as possible. Though we won’t get into specifics here, bokashi composting is very distinct from traditional methods and can be done in much smaller spaces due to the airtight bin being the only equipment needed. To effectively compost in your yard, Derek says you need a four by four by four pile. “That’s the minimum-sized pile to achieve thermophilic activity, and in order to continue that, you have to turn it at least once a month. A lot of people don’t do that in their backyard. They just throw food waste in there and let it sit.
28 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
“Getting it out into the country is, in my opinion, the best. I’ve tried, most recently in my yard, just the weeds mixed with coffee grounds. Even then, the heat from that over the winter attracts mice to the bin to live there.” That isn’t to say some of you might not have it figured out for your home, but even those with an efficient operation at home might want to consider something like worm castings. The great thing about this method is the quality of compost you get, which Derek calls high-dollar stuff. It starts with a bin, then you add your food waste (sans meat and cheese) as well as some newspaper to a tray. You then add trays as necessary, and the worms will move through it. So what do you do with that compost? As mentioned, those with gardens in their yard have a pretty straightforward answer. Those in apartments might be able to start a windowsill garden with herbs or even vegetables and, if
they’re fortunate enough to have a deck or patio, can use grow bags in areas that get some sunlight to have a tomato plant or small vegetable garden. It’s also worth noting that the Greater Madison area has free drop off sites for your compost. These might not be the most convenient way to go for everyone, but they’re certainly a viable option. There’s not a simple website you can go to, but searching “compost drop off Madison” should provide some results. However, if you care to know where your compost is going, then using the services of an outfit like Curbside Composter makes a lot of sense. Local farmlands are always on the hunt for new ways to enrich their soil, and they don’t always know the best way to do it.
“He said, ‘Well, I’m gonna till them into my soil.’ “I know that if you just add carbon to the soil, it’s going to suck up all the nitrogen that exists in that soil and change it. You’re not going to have good production there.” The education component to composting is as important as actually composting. Without it, it’s hard to convince anyone to change. Composting should be as habitual as recycling, and with services out their making compost properly and using it right away, the benefits are darn near instant. Kyle Jacobson is lead writer and senior copy editor for Home Elements & Concepts. Photographs provided by Curbside Composter.
Derek recalls one farmer who told him he was spinning woodchips into black gold. “He had these mounds of woodchips sitting oh his land. I called him up and I said, ‘What are you doing with all these woodchips?’
Curbside Composter Madison, WI 608.338.4798 curbsidecomposter.com .
HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS
29
FURNISHINGS & ACCESSORIES
The Patio Warehouse There have been big increases of sales of patio furniture in the country since 2020. One of the main reasons is that many people spent most of their time in their backyards during the pandemic. This also influenced their neighbors, friends, and relatives, and more people enjoyed spending time on their patios and in their backyards. This trend has kept up to now and may continue for the next several years. Dress up your chill zone with the latest from Tommy Bahama, Brown Jordon, Ariel, and other brands we carry.
Items sourced by The Patio Warehouse. thepatiowarehouseofwisconsin.com
30 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS
31
REMODEL/RENOVATION
EXTERIOR PAINTING SPRAY-NET A Whole New Painting Experience Brought to You by
An Innovative
Painting Solution
someone or painting it again yourself much sooner than you’d like.
After
Concerning quality, while more expensive doesn’t always mean better, most often you get what you pay for. We’d need a blog in and of itself to decipher the differences between brands, so our suggestion is to get the best available premium exterior paint in the line you select. If you’re hiring a professional, keep in mind that you’re also paying for someone to apply the paint with a degree of expertise and ability beyond your own, so don’t skimp there either.
In the last issue, we began our exterior paint discussion with what makes an exterior paint the “best.” In short, it depends. What material makes up your home’s exterior? Are you painting your doors? We continue our deep dive by answering a few more questions concerning logistics above the surface. What’s your budget? Your budget determines how much of the project you can get done without skimping on quality. We’re not saying to paint half your house, but perhaps there’s another summer project that might be best to wait until next year or you might consider painting your doors and trim later because, when it comes to painting your home’s exterior, you don’t want to settle for good enough. Any shortcut could very well leave you hiring
32 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
Before
What equipment will you be using? Oftentimes, painting the exterior of your house involves working at heights. Both quality and safety must be considered. Ladders are an option, but scaffolding,
paint project, you’ll want to make sure you can continue and finish within the shortest time span to avoid lines in your paint job. You’ll want to constantly maintain a wet edge, meaning each stroke of your brush or roller overlaps the previous stroke before the paint can begin to dry.
After
while more costly, is generally safer and allows you to work more comfortably. Last issue, we mentioned the importance of coating—to properly and entirely wet the surface to enhance adhesion. Will you be spraying on the Before coating? This can give you better wetting and a thicker, more even coat over brush and roller application (not to mention a better finish), but it requires a specific expertise. When spraying, proper masking and technique must be used to avoid disaster. Have you planned enough time? This question should be answered once you better understand the variables of your project to get the most durable exterior paint job. Preparation is key, so have you factored in the time to do this? The basics of adhesion are mechanical and chemical bonds, and for either of these to happen, a surface free of dirt and grease is required. The part often not mentioned or understood is that we must increase the surface energy of what’s being painted to ensure proper wetting. This is done mechanically (by scuff sanding smooth or glossy finishes) or chemically (by using a solvent, such as acetone, right before painting). If after proper washing the surface is still shiny, we suggest doing both. Once a home is properly prepped, you’ll want to paint it within a reasonable time frame to avoid having to prep it all over again. Additionally, once you start your exterior
What kind of weather will you be painting in? Since we’re unable to control the weather, and predictions aren’t guaranteed, there are a few things to keep in mind to get in front of Mother Nature. Before we even get into it, take a look at your exterior paint’s warranty; you’ll notice many conditions that will void it. That’s because if the paint dries too slow (cold and humid weather), the coating will likely sag or never fully cure so it can come together as one even film. If the opposite occurs, and the paint dries too fast (hot and dry weather), the paint film will not have enough time to wet the surface and become a fully uniform film which fully covers the surface. Think plastic wrap, which works because it’s one full piece. That’s what you want to achieve with your paint. Any holes in your paint film (even microscopic) means weathering will chip away at it and compromise the job, causing the ghastly p-word. Peeling! A quality primer can be a good fail-safe here, as primers are formulated with a strong binder meant to fill pores and improve paint adhesion. This is especially important on rough surfaces. Perhaps the worst thing you can do when it comes to painting your home is to try to do it too fast or too cheaply. Look for our next article to learn more about how color choice contributes to not only the look of your home, but the longevity and durability of the job. Photographs provided by Spray-Net.
HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS
33
BUSINESS DESIGN
A Kid-Friendly HANGOUT by Sketchworks Architecture
34 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
Salman and Mawara brought on former Goddard parents Katie and Jeremy Neuman as on-site owners and partners of the Sun Prairie location. Salman says, “The most important factor with success of a preschool is having owners who are present at the school every day to support teachers and families. Katie and Jeremy are the on-site owners of the Sun Prairie location, and we serve in an advisory role.” Having opened the Verona location in 2016, Salman and Mawara have seven and a half years of experience operating a Goddard franchise, so they knew what they wanted in the new location. The owners turned to Sketchworks Architecture and 1848 Construction to help them design and execute their vision. Of course, much goes into planning a childcare center, explains Nick Badura, project manager with Sketchworks Architecture. “What’s interesting and a challenge on a project like this is … that there are many parties involved during the design process,” says Nick. “Working between federal and state building codes, state daycare codes, owner and corporate input, the city design committee, and our architectural opinions, we needed to be able to adopt a plan that meets the expectations of everyone.”
With a riot of bright primary colors and an under the sea motif throughout, The Goddard School in Sun Prairie is a cheerful place for kids to go to every day. Serving newborns up to six-year-olds, the childcare center opened in January 2022. Owner Salman Ahmad says the location was chosen specifically because Sun Prairie is the fastestgrowing community in Wisconsin and is close to several small communities, which helps with staffing. Salman also owns a Goddard School location in Verona with his wife, Mawara Sohail.
HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS
35
Because it’s a franchise, there are specifications each Goddard location must follow, but they are free to make modifications based on needs as well. For example, safety standards, such as exterior fencing, playground surface, bollards in front of the building, and security measures, are universal at each location. But Salman says they knew what tweaks they wanted to make in the new facility based off of their Verona location. “The floorplan of the [Sun Prairie location] is more open and welcoming. All of the support functions (offices, conference room, breakroom, reception, storage, laundry, and kitchen) are in the middle [of the building], while classrooms are on each side. One side is the infant/toddler wing, and the other is the preschool/pre-K wing.” 1848 Construction worked with The Goddard School on both of their locations and brought their expertise into the project. Sam Blahnik, vice president, business development at 1848 Construction, says working on the state-of-theart facility involved following detailed specifications to maintain franchise and branding standards, as well as safety requirements.
36 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
Although having a safe, up-to-code, brand-new building is at the heart of the new location, it’s pretty darn attractive too—which is what staff and families see every day. Primary colors (blue, red, yellow) along with artsy touches provide a lively backdrop to the childcare facility. Salman says, “We hired a professional muralist to hand-paint murals for each classroom and common areas. A lot of creativity and hard work went into this design.” The 12,000-square-foot facility has been bustling with activity since day one, and the childcare center can accommodate 152 children and 25 staff members. Sun Prairie has a huge demand for affordable daycare. Salman says, “Staff and parent reactions have been great. The response from the Sun Prairie community has been positive.”
Sketchworks Architecture is a local architectural and interior design firm specializing in living, working, and entertaining environments. Our award-winning portfolio spans corporate, hospitality + retail, multifamily, government, and brewery + distillery projects. Photographs by Chad Renly, C|R Prints & Photography LLC. Sketchworks Architecture 2501 Parmenter Street Suite #100B Middleton, WI 53562 608.836.7570 sketchworksarch.com
HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS
37
– Advertiser index Abel Contemporary Gallery
17
Art Gecko State
23
Avid Gardener
23
Chads Design Build
5
Coyle Carpet One
5
Dane Buy Local
11
Dane County Humane Society
11
Degnan Design-Build-Remodel Dream House Dream Kitchens Garden Search & Rescue
Enter the – Drawing to Win Win a $50.00 Gift Certificate to
40 2 17
Hallman Lindsay Paints
11
Monroe Street Framing
17
The Patio Warehouse
23
Spray-Net
39
Waunakee Furniture
23
Submit your name, mailing address, phone number, and email at homeelementsandconcepts.com, or by mail to: Home Elements & Concepts c/o Towns & Associates, Inc. PO Box 174 Baraboo, WI 53913-0174 All entries will be entered into a drawing. Deadline is September 23, 2022.
Good Luck! – PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS! Home Elements & Concepts is happy to provide local lifestyle magazines free of charge to the Greater Madison area. We could not do so without the support of our advertising sponsors, and we appreciate every one of them. We hope that you will consider them when deciding where to dine, shop, and play, and when you need services. These businesses represent the true entrepreneurial spirit of our community!
38 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
Winner Thank you to everyone who entered our previous drawing. The winner of the CityTins is Jean Stube of McFarland, WI.
Congratulations!
A S
S E E N
O N
H G T V
There’s painting. There’s replacing. And now, there’s Spray-Net. Our patented and customized paint solutions ensure that we achieve a factory finish for every application, backed by our 15 YEAR WARRANTY against peeling.
BEFORE
NOW
BEFORE
NOW
KITCHEN CABINETS · ALUMINUM · BRICK · FIBER CEMENT & HARDIE BOARD · STUCCO · DOORS & WINDOWS · VINYL A
RANTI
ENT
G
E
L’ É
CAI
LL
FAC TO RY F I N I S H
QUICK & COST-EFFECTIVE
15-YEAR WARRANTY
NO SURPRISES
SUSTAINABLE RENO
We’ll deliver a finish that looks & lasts like it came off the assembly line.
No matter the project, we’ll transform your home quickly and for a fraction of the cost of replacement.
All Spray-Net revamps are backed by our 15-year warranty against peeling... without any red tape.
You’ll know exactly what we’re painting & how much you’re paying. No curveballs once we’re on site.
By revamping instead of replacing, we reduce waste by keeping substrates in good condition out of landfills.
C A L L
U S
F O R
SPRAY-NET.COM
YO U R
F R E E
Q U OT E !
1.608.471.7768
RANTI
ENT
G
M
E
E
M
E
ENT
G
ENT
G
E
TR
E
LL
A CON
TR
CAI
RANTI
CON
TR
L’ É
LL
E
E
CON E
CAI
M
A
TR
RANTI
L’ É
E
A
E
M
CON
OUR PROMISE
E
WE PAINT
L’ É
CAI
LL
