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Madison|Delafield
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Organized Spaces Middleton
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Let the Dream family of companies take you through your next remodel project.
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CONTENT VOL. 13
FEBRUARY–APRIL 2020
publisher Towns & Associates, Inc. PO Box 174, Baraboo, WI 53913-0174 p 608.356.8757 • f 608.356.8875 homeelementsandconcepts.com editor-in-chief Amy S. Johnson info@homeelementsandconcepts.com publication designer Linda Walker senior copy editor Kyle Jacobson
Photograph provided by S. Photography/Shanna Wolf
Photograph by Eric Tadsen
copy editor Krystle Naab
BUSINESS DESIGN
sales & marketing director Amy S. Johnson ajohnson@homeelementsandconcepts.com
Voices of Garver Feed Mill
design team Jennifer Denman, Crea Stellmacher, Barbara Wilson
FURNISHINGS & ACCESSORIES
administration Cathy Bacon, Debora Knutson
incorporating Industrial Modern into your décor from Pieces Unimagined
30
restoring a significant structure and preserving its past
Add a Little Edge to Your Home
12
20
contributing writers Cabinet City, Kyle Jacobson, Laurie Lodholz, Madison Lighting, MGE, Keiran Murphy, Pieces Unimagined, Katey Pratt
Entryways
photographs Cabinet City, Garver Feed Mill, Kyle Jacobson, TS Long, Madison Lighting, Aron MeudtThering, MGE, Olbrich Botanical Gardens, Pieces Unimagined, Eric Tadsen, S.Photography/Shanna Wolf
Madison Lighting— 2020 Trends: Light Changes Everything
additional copies Home Elements & Concepts is available free at over 150 locations. If you would like a copy sent to you, please send mailing information and $4 (payable to Towns & Associates) for each magazine to Home Elements & Concepts, c/o Towns & Associates, Inc., PO Box 174, Baraboo, WI 53913-0174. subscriptions 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 53913-0174. Or sign up for a FREE online subscription at homeelementsandconcepts.com. 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. ©2020 No portion of this magazine may be reproduced without prior written permission by the publisher, Towns & Associates, Inc.
Watch for the next issue May 2020. Cover photograph by S.Photography/Shanna Wolf
the right entryway system for your home’s primary entrance from Cabinet City
26
lighting tips from Madison Lighting that create beauty and perform a function
LANDSCAPE
Don't Rush Your Spring Cleanup!
22
benefits to delaying your spring cleanup process and some environmentally friendly factors to keep in mind once you start
LEGACY
Taliesin
42
conceived over a century ago by Frank Lloyd Wright as a destination for collaboration, innovation, and experimentation in culture, nature, and architecture
REMODEL/RENOVATION
DIY— It Costs Time to Save Money a remodel to create a lighter, more open living room
36
Historical Integrity meets Contemporary Design
16
making a bathroom space functional with touches that stay true to the history of the house
Paint on Point color of the year 2020
40
Transforming a Family Home into an Empty Nester
6
a remodel to create a lighter, more open kitchen
TECHNOLOGY
Sustainable Living— Heat Smart. Cool Smart. Save Money.
38
making smart choices and implementing simple strategies to save energy
4 Advertiser Index 46 From The Editor
HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS
3
from the editor “Your home should tell the story of who you are, and be a collection of what you love.”—Nate Berkus Leading into this first issue of 2020, I was thinking about what we want to highlight both this year and into 2021. Each year, I revisit our original publication goals and evaluate how well we’ve addressed them, where we want to go next, and whether we are on the correct path or need to adjust our course. We began Home Elements & Concepts hoping to regularly provide helpful and useful information and ideas to create homes. Topics have included building a new home, renovating an existing home, interior and exterior design ideas, energy conservation, and what to consider when purchasing your first or next home. We want to be relevant for every home, whether it has a value of $100,000 or $1,000,000, or its budget is $10,000 or $500,000. Basic ideas everyone can implement within the parameters of their home and budget. While we encourage you to utilize the talents and expertise of professionals, we realize it isn’t always possible, so we hope our topics also help you achieve your plans whether do-it-yourself, professionally driven, or a combination of the two. Personally, I always seek assistance for 100 percent of my projects because I recognize that my skills are more on the idea side rather than in execution. I appreciate talking through a project with a professional to determine how to best achieve my goals within my budget. My imagination always seems to cost more than what’s in my bank account, but I’ve been able to work with experts to find a path I can afford. Some fear a professional will cost more, but it certainly costs less than if you attempt work beyond your capability and then need to seek help to correct and complete the work. We look to our experts for ideas to present to you, but hope that you also feel free to reach out to us with topics you’d like us to tackle. I look at this as a cooperation to provide the best and most useful content to as many as possible. Whatever your goals, I hope Home Elements & Concepts can help you achieve them and help make your home feel more like home.
Amy Johnson
4 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS
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REMODEL/RENOVATION
TRANSFORMING a Family Home into an Empty Nester by Laurie Lodholz
6 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
Originally built 20 years ago, the home had been sufficient for a young couple with five children. Like most young parents, they built the home for volume and necessity. But now that the children were in high school, college, and beyond, the clients’ wish was to transform the home into a finely detailed retreat where they could not only relax in warm cozy spaces, but also entertain an expanded family or group of friends. It made more sense for the clients to add the higher-end details, finishes, and amenities that were not in the original build budget rather than uprooting and moving to obtain them. It would be a renovation that would turn a maximizedfor-space structure into an elegant home that would also serve as a comfortable retreat.
After
After
Before
After HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS
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After
Built-in storage for china, crystal, and wine was added.
Coffee and beverage area, which is now in the butler pantry.
The design team consisted of John Kohl of John Kohl Builder, LLC; Laurie Lodholz, ASID, and Tricia Raab of Laurie Driscoll Interiors, Inc.; and Rick Hoekstra of Kitchen Ideas Center. The design team transformed a large portion of the main level to make it flow and fit the clients’ needs and desires. The spaces included the foyer, powder bath, living room, kitchen/pantry, butler’s pantry, and dining room. On the second floor, changes were made to the master suite to make the space a special retreat from the rest of the house. Every remodel should enhance the lives of the users by increasing the functionality of the home. To meet the objectives for this project, the design team: After
8 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
• Created a better traffic flow in the kitchen with one large simplified island and sensible separation of some functions, like the coffee and beverage area, which is now in the butler pantry. • The master bath was transformed into a calming retreat. A large clunky tub was replaced with a spastyle soaking tub. • A custom-sized recessed niche and shelves were included in the master shower. • Luxury vinyl plank (LVP) flooring replaced old tile and wood flooring. LVP is easier to keep clean than wood, which was a preference of the clients. All flooring was provided by Sergenian’s. • The new kitchen lighting design allows the space to be alive and bright or gentle and refined, whichever is required at any given time. Recessed task lighting combined with larger decorative fixtures at the island and breakfast area help define those spaces, creating pleasant and functional zones and making them cozier in the large kitchen area. The lighting designer was Mitch Conklin of Luce Lighting and Design, LLC. • Built-in storage for china, crystal, and wine was added to the dining room. Being able to store these items in the room they’re most frequently used was a request by the clients.
After
Before
Before
After HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS
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After
Form follows function, and a successful remodel also enhances the beauty of the home. The design team incorporated the following for this project:
put their needs and wants front and center, the homeowners live in a retreat that’s the place everyone will look forward to visiting for years to come.
• At the foyer, the huge space had to be more inviting without compromising the grandeur of the high ceiling. This was accomplished by adding truss beams.
Laurie Lodholz is the owner of Laurie Driscoll Interiors, LLC.
• The clients wanted to be able to comfortably seat large groups of people. This meant being innovative with furniture design, including adding a new built-in banquette at the kitchen area.
View additional photographs at homeelementsandconcepts.com
• A fresh, updated palette was needed. Grey is still a very popular color, but the current trend is for warmer neutrals. Warm greys and beiges were used with powerful accent colors to create a fresh, elegant setting. These homeowners came into the start of their empty nester phase with a vision, and it paid off. They now have a beautiful home with the potential to be as lively as when their kids had friends over. Because they hired experts who The master bath was transformed into a calming retreat.
After
10 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
Photographs by S.Photography/Shanna Wolf.
John Kohl Builder, LLC johnkohlbuilder.com Kitchen Ideas Center kitchenideascenter.com Laurie Driscoll Interiors, Inc. ldinteriors.net Luce Lighting and Design, LLC lucelighting.com Sergenian’s sergenians.com
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HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS
11
FURNISHINGS & ACCESSORIES
Add a Little Edge to Your Home Don't be afraid of furniture with an edge! The genre Industrial Modern (I.M.) may lead you first to think cold urban loft, but there are degrees of warmth that you can control by changing the amount you bring into a space. The key is how you incorporate, and the result can be spectacular. If you’re attracted to I.M. features, like drawers, baskets, mixed woods, metals, imaginative repurposing, and overengineered quality that lasts forever, snatch the ones that catch your attention and try them in your space. They’ll be practical and useful, and provide an interesting contrast to other pieces. You’ll be amazed how the introduction of I.M. pieces can make a room pop. Even your other furniture and accessories will start to look new again.
Items sourced from Pieces Unimagined. piecesunimagined.com
12 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS
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Everyone Needs a Table.
Have you met
Audrey?
Local artists using reclaimed woods and metals to create unique and useful furnishings and accents... affordably priced, well built.
9 East Wilson Street • www.theaudreykitchenandbar.com
14 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
ES
UNIMA NED
Located in the Hilton Madison Hotel
S
GI
She’s in the lobby. Grab a drink at the bar and learn more about her...
P I ECE
Stop in and see what we have this week!
T. 2 0 1 5
Located on Creative and Funky Williamson Street! 1228 Williamson Street • Madison WI 53703 Open: 7 days 10am - 6pm 608.280.1155 • piecesunimagined.com
HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS
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REMODEL/RENOVATION
Historical Integrity meets
Contemporary Design
16 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
Not every house has a story to tell, and not everyone wants to own a house that tells a story. But for those who own a house with historic charm, there inevitably comes a point where you have to ask yourself about incorporating a degree of modernity in an update—a decision never taken lightly. Oftentimes, it’s a matter of value: is the voice of the old space truly worth more than the convenience of a new one?
HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS
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The biggest change came to the shower itself. The homeowner is in her twilight years, so grab bars and handles to assist in sitting and standing were very important. A bench in the shower and another next to the sink bridge continuity throughout the space as much as possible, creating something as seamless as it is practical. Stainless steel and white porcelain ring a timeless color scheme, harkening back to when the house was built, and a halfround grey trim accents the era. But the shower isn’t stuck in the past. A floor-to-ceiling glass door gives a contemporary touch and provides an openness to the space, eliminating the feeling of claustrophobia inherent in the old bathroom. Another addition, or rather subtraction, that came from giving an answer to a questionable design choice was shortening the closet. Whoever did the original closet was dead set on storage space, but what actually happened was they created a place for critters to build homes from forgotten cotton balls and buried rolls of toilet paper. Okay, maybe not that bad, but you’d need a flashlight to know for sure. Now the entire closet is accessible without having to climb in.
When it came to a bathroom remodel in a small home on Monroe Street, the question of intrinsic value wasn’t so difficult to answer. Deb Corning, interior designer and general contractor at DC Interiors, says, “[The homeowner] didn’t really want to get rid of anything because of the historic value and charm, but it really needed to be updated.” The house is 100 years old, and some of those telltale signs of aging, like rust in the pipes, were of concern. Aside from things straying far from code, the size of the space was a bit too cozy. “They probably took a closet and made it into a bathroom at one point,” says Deb. There’s a novelty to a tiny bathroom, but it wears off pretty quick when it becomes part of daily life. Making the space something functional with touches that stay true to the history of the house seemed the best way to give the homeowner what she needed without being too pervasive. 18 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
The closet door and frame both remain honest to the age of the house. Using straight wooden sides with a dropped header feels bold against some of the softer touches, like swooping wall sconces on either side of the vanity and crystal doorknobs on the drawers. The entire space is coherent, but hard to place. Perhaps somewhere between cottage and farmhouse? What really matters is there’s no betrayal to the house. Monroe Street, itself, has an ancient voice. As Deb worked on the remodel, she learned more of the history. Some of the old boards had dates and historical events written on them, one even alluding to the house being used as a safehouse for immigrants. “The houses on the street have a really deep backyard. It’s in the Monroe Street area, and they’re all pretty much small lots with small houses. And this is a tiny house, but with a big backyard.” It turns out the ice train used to go through the back of the homeowner’s yard, so when the ice-train chapter closed, residents were left with big backyards.
© ORG Home
Whether ice trains, a dated stud, or a fresh remodel, the layers of history here are very tangible. Perhaps a less aware contractor may have just gone purely with a trend, but because of Deb and the homeowner’s sensitivity to the past, a transition between layers remains. Most importantly, the new amenities in place will help prevent accidental falls. Owning a historical piece of property is something this homeowner values, and now she can enjoy it with a peace of mind she didn’t have before. Photographs by Eric Tadsen. View additional photographs at homeelementsandconcepts.com. DC Interiors & Renovations 3000 Cahill Main, Suite 215 Fitchburg, WI 53711 608.444.0571 dcinteriorsllc.com HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS 19
FURNISHINGS & ACCESSORIES
Entryways Mastering Your Storage Spaces Brought to You by
Cabinets for every
room in your home!
Going outside in Wisconsin weather can feel a bit like suiting up. Hat, gloves, scarf, mittens, boots, jacket, and that’s if it’s just you. Maybe you have a toddler or infant. You’ll want to grab their diaper bag, and then there’s the whole fight to get them to stop taking off their mittens. After hunting down your child’s missing shoe, you reach for your car keys and...car keys...car keys...where are the— It doesn’t have to be this way. Building the right entryway system for your home’s primary entrance can reduce the stress of getting ready and help keep the rest of your house in shape.
20 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
What a lot of people don’t take time to consider is that the unmodified foyer closet, with one place to hang coats and maybe a shelf or two, is not the only way to keep outdoor things out of sight. Boot benches are great for storage and have the added benefit of being a place to sit so you don’t have to dance your shoes off. Or how about a locker system to give a home to those things occupying the closet floor. You can also get rid of that milk crate filled with sports equipment. Entryways are a shared space in the home, which can lead to a lot of frustration. But if it’s thought out, an entryway can actually be useful and organized. You can add convenient touches, like putting up a whiteboard for notes to let the family know if the dog has been out, where the kids are, and to keep track of upcoming appointments. Contact the experts at Cabinet City to help narrow down your options. They have the experience to ensure your entryway becomes the one that’s right for you. Photographs provided by Cabinet City.
HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS
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LANDSCAPE
DON'T RUSH Your Spring Cleanup!
A resourceful duck used leaf litter to make her nest.
by Katey Pratt
Spring is right around the corner. Do you feel like somehow your garden chores are already stacking up? With so much to do, you may be tempted to get a jump-start on your spring garden cleanup, but be patient. There are many benefits to delaying your cleanup process and some environmentally friendly factors to keep in mind.
Eryngium (rattlesnake master) does double duty in the garden—it has a great seed head and hollow stems.
Soil Structure Rushing into your perennial beds could lead to compacted soils. You never want to work in the soil when it’s too wet, especially in clay-type soils. Instead, use the time to prepare for the busy gardening season by cleaning and sharpening your tools. With a short growing season, wouldn’t you rather spend your time gardening than fixing tools? Clean tools last longer and help prevent the spread of pests and diseases around your garden. Proper maintenance will also save you time and money in the end. Unpredictable Weather Remember those mid-April snowstorms that seem to be happening more and more? Wisconsin definitely has some harsh, random weather. As an extreme example, we can look to the Lake Monona historical records. According to the Wisconsin State Climatology Office, the latest opening date (when the lake thawed to an observable 50 percent ice cover) was May 4, 1857. If you remove all the dead foliage from your perennials and grasses too early, you’ll expose the crown of the plant to extreme temperatures or fluctuations with no insulation around their root zone. Even hardy, cold-tolerant plants appreciate a natural blanket at this time of year. Leave Your Leaves Does it really make sense to remove every single leaf just for you to mulch again in upcoming weeks? No! Leaf litter, long grass, and brush piles are critical components in your garden. Leaves decompose and add important organic matter to your soil. Fallen leaves provide shelter for insects, which are rich in protein and a necessary food for birds, especially as they’re raising their young. Beneficial insects, like ladybugs, lacewings, and soldier beetles, are hibernating in your leaves. If you let them be, once they wake up from their winter slumber, they’ll help you battle common garden pests without the use of chemicals. Long grass and brush piles are highly attractive to our feathered friends, providing nesting material and protection from predators while foraging.
22 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
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Seed Heads for Birds Hopefully, you left some perennial and grass foliage in your garden for additional winter interest. Now let them stand just a little bit longer. Both migrant and winter birds rely on native perennial and grass seeds. When food sources are scarce, foraging birds, such as sparrows, towhees, buntings, chickadees, nuthatches, and finches, will appreciate a smorgasbord of seeds to choose from. Plus, it’s fun watching them! Hollow Stems for Bees Solitary nesting native bees are often overlooked, but pollinate plants more efficiently than European honeybees. Thirty percent of North American native bees are cavity nesters that lay their eggs in the hollow stems of plants, including mason and leafcutter bees. It’s best to leave hollow-stemmed plants standing as long as possible into the spring. These unique plants could be housing hundreds of native bees and beneficial insects who are overwintering, hunkered down inside the stem as either adults or pupae. Did you know that the female adult bee determines the sex of the egg when she lays it? The females take longer to develop and, therefore, are deposited into cells at the back of the tunnel or stem so that the males will hatch first. The males are then ready and waiting to mate when the females finally emerge.
Hollow stems could be housing native bees and beneficial insects.
24 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
Don't remove foliage too early— temperature fluctuations can harm your plants.
Echinacea seed heads are a great food source for birds during the winter and early spring.
Bee Gentle When you start your cleanup, don’t overdo it. During spring garden-maintenance chores, try to minimize disturbances. Don’t cut your plant stems and branches into small pieces— there may be sleepy bees in there! Instead, leave the plant material as intact as possible, cut grasses 8 to 12 inches from the ground, and keep them as long stalks. Gently toss plant material onto your compost pile or spread out loosely along your fence line. This method will allow any insects taking shelter inside to emerge when the time is right. Plants with Hollow Stems • Allium • Baptisia • Eryngium • Eutrochium (Eupatorium) • Fargesia • Forsythia • Helianthus • Persicaria • Rubus • Sedum Plants with Great Seed Heads • Allium • Coreopsis • Echinacea • Helianthus • Monarda • Oligoneuron (Solidago) • Panicum • Rudbeckia • Sedum • Symphyotrichum (Aster) Dates to Keep in Mind When Deciding When to Do Your Garden Cleanup Zone 5: April 15 or later, if possible Zone 4: May 1 Zone 3 or colder: May 15 Visit planthardiness.ars.usda.gov to determine your zone. Katey Pratt is a horticulturist at Olbrich Botanical Gardens. Photographs provided by Olbrich Botanical Gardens. Olbrich Botanical Gardens 3330 Atwood Avenue Madison, WI 53704 608.246.4550 olbrich.org HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS
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FURNISHINGS & ACCESSORIES
Madison Lighting 2020 Trends: Light Changes Everything It’s easy to think of lighting as simply décor, but lighting is an important facet in the design of your home. There are areas of your home that simply crave light: task areas, dining room, and entryway. In fact, one source of light is never enough in a kitchen, they’re that complex! So start at the top and select lighting that will gently light the space. Then enhance your task areas with sconces. By adding matte black, a 2020 trend, you fill a design need with updated décor. Combine the sconce lighting, under-cabinet light where needed, and recessed lighting over the lead edge of the counters for optimum ambiance and visibility. Whether it’s a kitchen table or an island, pendants bring surfaces to life. Incorporate the black matte finish on the pendants for sharp contrast to a bright white kitchen with touches of natural wood to warm and calm the design.
Photographs provided by Madison Lighting of install completed for a Shaw Building & Design project. Items sourced by Madison Lighting. madisonlighting.com
26 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS
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Independent, locally owned businesses keep our economy strong. Shopping, dining, working, relaxing, whatever your needs,
THINK LOCAL FIRST.
Dane BUY
LOCAL danebuylocal.com
28 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
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BUSINESS DESIGN
Voices of
GARVER
FEED MILL
by Kyle Jacobson
The Garver Feed Mill, off of Fair Oaks by Olbrich Botanical Gardens, recently underwent a rebirth after being slated for worm condos. Restoring a significant dilapidated structure is rarely a cost-effective measure, but in the eyes of those privy to history, it can sometimes be worth it. This leaves the design team with a challenge: find a way to preserve the historical integrity of the building while telling its story and making the space functional outside its original design.
30 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
“The biggest challenge was making a strong connection amongst all of the second-floor spaces—on the other side of the atrium walls—to the heart space,” says Adam Voltz of The Kubala Washatko Architects, the Cedarburg-based firm responsible for Garver Feed Mill’s redesign. “There was no shared second-floor access for any of the tenant spaces, and in some cases, there wasn’t a floor. There were a couple of ships ladders and crawlspaces people could get into, but there was no common connection.” A lot of parts of the original layout are vestiges of what made sense when the feed mill was a sugar-beet-processing facility and then when it was Garver Feed & Supply.
HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS
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Before
Adam and his team envisioned the next chapter of the space as “this collective of makers and wellness-minded folks.” To create a sense of connection between all tenants while encouraging patrons to navigate the space, “This mezzanine was added in a way that preserves the whole character of the room.” The second-floor catwalk isn’t just an intuitive way to explore the space, its elevated position amongst iron truss work, exposed ductwork, and wood ceiling joists provides a vantage to imagine what work on the floor looked like over the decades.
32 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
Some of those past decades involved the years after Garver Feed & Supply closed, in 1997. The abandoned building became refuge for all sorts of people, including graffiti artists. “We didn’t want to erase history in the process of restoration,” says Adam. “We wanted to hold on to it as much as we could then add the next layer. ... There is some [graffiti] here that we left intentionally for the Kosha space.” I was fortunate enough to climb around the building during its remodel, and some of the graffiti art was done in hard-to-reach spaces. Now, after what Adam calls a “very careful editing process” to determine each piece’s value, those remaining works of graffiti are on display and much more accessible. Part of the charm of navigating Garver lies in the flow when transitioning between spaces, which includes a courtyard. Adam says, “We took every opportunity that we could to create real defined outdoor spaces, like outdoor rooms. While it’s unfortunate that a part of the building burned in 2001, it leaves us with this outdoor room with masonry walls on three sides and a view of the green space.” A steel-andwood trellis defines an outdoor seating area where, being so close to Olbrich Gardens, the greenery feels relevant to the entire space and beyond. To further siphon in the outdoors and reduce Garver’s carbon footprint, “We added a series of skylights to balance out the light in this space,” says Adam. I imagine when the facility was a feed mill, the only natural light in the factory came from large multipane windows on the building’s south side. With the skylights, natural light comes into the space in a more even fashion regardless of the time of year. “In the summer, when the sun is high, you have direct light on the floor by Ian’s.” Going full circle, skylights also speak to the state of the building before the team took to its restoration. There were holes in the ceiling, a tree growing on the roof, and roots creeping along mortar joints in the brickwork. The telling of that story with natural light delivers a contemporary aesthetic. The point isn’t that everyone will hear the story, but that it’s there to be heard by anyone who wants to listen.
Artifacts salvaged during renovation on display at the history event.
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Often, historic voices in a space fade to echoes over time, but Adam and his team have worked to incorporate them into a new voice. “Light the space, show off what remains intact, and then just add a sparkle to soften it up.� Not every old space needs to be a curated museum. When those who know the story share it through design, nuance and reason become escorts. As a result, instead of giving a lecture, Garver Feed Mill provides an experience. Kyle Jacobson is the senior copy editor and writer for Home Elements & Concepts. Photographs provided by Garver Feed Mill. Garver Feed Mill 3241 Garver Green Madison, WI 53704 garverfeedmill.com For more on the history and rebirth of Garver Feed Mill, check out the July/August 2019 issue of Madison Essentials, our sister publication, at madisonessentials.com
34 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
TADSEN PHOTOGRAPHY DRONE - ARCHITECTURE - PRODUCT TADPHOTO.COM 608-469 -2255
HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS
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REMODEL/RENOVATION
DIY
It Costs TIME to SAVE Money by Kyle Jacobson
We all want to make our homes something that feels like, well, home. When I first moved into my half duplex, it felt like I was taking over a place that belonged to someone else—probably because I was. The flooring, the walls, the layout, this was all the previous owner’s vision. I wanted to redo every room, but after dropping a huge chunk of change on getting the half duplex in the first place, it was difficult to see past the price tag on every modification. There were certainly projects I didn’t want to do myself because the research would be too time consuming and the risk too high. Knocking out a load-bearing wall between the kitchen and living room and installing cabinets and countertops in its place would be the most recent. The cost to have that project done by professionals was well worth it. The team got everything done in a week and a half, and the results were fantastic. I was also pleased they were able to install a red-oak bartop I made as a way to transition from the living room to the kitchen. Had I done the project myself, I imagine it’d have been closer to two months of me working on weekends when I had spare time.
Green carpet removal.
36 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
After
But my wife and I live under the reality of our budget, and in order to afford professionals on certain projects, I have to do some of the other projects myself. This time it meant replacing a shaggy, forest-moss-green carpet with something a little more contemporary. It had been on our wish list since we moved in, and when we saw a sale on laminate flooring, things suddenly became affordable.
Prepping the floor.
The first step was research. I had never installed laminate flooring. What tools did I need? What were common mistakes? How long would it take? I would be doing this myself without an expert looking over my shoulder. Aside from materials, the only expenses for me were an oscillating multitool (which, bonus, I wanted anyway); an 80-tooth, 10-inch circular sawblade; and jigsaw blades—all for cutting laminate. The multitool allowed me to correct mistakes after I had laid the planks for areas where things were too tight, which might be something a professional wouldn’t need because they’d get it right the first time. All in all, the tool and blades cost me $200. Removing the carpet was easy enough. Cut it into strips and roll it up. The best part was seeing my funky subflooring. Most of it was three-quarter ply, but there were tiles in the area off of the kitchen. I imagine the tiles once crept past the wall and then some gold-plated divider separated it from loop-pile carpeting. A potential problem popped up elsewhere in the form of an eighth-inch difference in height between two plywood sheets near the stairs. Next was laying and taping the underlayment, which I also stapled to the subfloor. Easy enough. In comparison to actually laying the laminate, this took no time at all and very little know-how.
Laying the floor over underlayment.
Finishing up with white trim.
Then came the fun part, where I actually got to start seeing what my new floor would look like. The laminate plank flooring I bought has a tongue-and-groove locking system. You have to put the piece you’re installing together with the already installed pieces at an angle. After inserting the piece and laying it on the ground, you use a block to dampen your strikes as you tap the pieces tighter. Do this until your back wishes it were a noose to put you out of your misery, take a break, and repeat. Aside from some tricky cuts and relearning the adage that the larger the room, the less square it is, I got it down. To finish up, I lined the walls with trim, which is necessary to keep the floating floor down, and divided the rooms with reducer and T-molding where appropriate. Some people think it looks perfect, some don’t even notice the floors are different, and I am very aware of every mistake. That eighth-inch drop was something I just covered and hoped everything would work out, but I feel it every time I step over it. There was also a long weekend where my wife took the boys to her parents while I worked. But now I have more money to put toward future projects that may involve hiring a professional, further making the house a part of my family. Kyle Jacobson is a copy editor and writer for Home Elements & Concepts. Photographs by Kyle Jacobson. HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS
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TECHNOLOGY
Sustainable
LIVING Heat smart. Cool smart. Save money.
With our four distinct seasons come hot and humid summers, frigid winters, and everything in between. It's perhaps not surprising that heating and cooling are the largest energy users in our homes. By making smart choices and implementing simple strategies, you can save energy and control your heating and cooling costs. The Power of the Thermostat Adjusting your thermostat is one of the easiest ways to manage heating and cooling costs. Set the thermostat for one temperature when you're home and another when you're away or sleeping. The smaller the difference between the indoor and outdoor temperatures, the less energy you'll use. Recommended Thermostat Settings Winter Summer When you're home 68°F* 78°F When you're NOT home 55°F* 85°F When you're sleeping 55°F* 78°F
Window Wisdom Whether your home is old or new, you easily can boost the energy efficiency of your windows. It's a worthwhile step because heat loss and heat gain through windows is responsible for 25 to 30 percent of the energy used for residential heating and cooling. That's air you paid to heat or cool going right out the window. Here's what you can do. • Be smart with window coverings. During the cooling season, sun that shines on your windows heats your home. Close window coverings to reduce heat gain. During the heating season, open window coverings to take advantage of natural light and heat from the sun.
*Or as low as health permits. Check the owner's manual if turning down the temperature for more than 24 hours.
While you can manually adjust your thermostat to achieve energy savings, it's not always convenient and you may forget. Consider installing a programmable or smart thermostat. A programmable unit adjusts heating and cooling automatically according to a schedule that you select. A smart thermostat uses artificial intelligence to learn your behaviors and uses that information to control the temperature of your home. Eligible MGE customers can take advantage of a $50 cash-back incentive from Wisconsin's Focus on Energy® program for purchasing a qualified ENERGY STAR® smart thermostat. Get more details at focusonenergy.com/smart. 38 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
• Consider applying plastic film to the inside of your window frames during winter. This will reduce drafts and make your home feel warmer. It also reduces condensation buildup. • Lock up. When heating or cooling your home, don't just shut your windows, lock them as well. This step can be overlooked but is very important. The locking mechanism activates a seal that helps keep the air you heated or cooled inside your home. Other Strategies If you want to do more, consider these strategies to cut heating and cooling costs.
• Use a heating pad or electric blanket at 100 watts instead of a space heater at 1,500 watts. You will save energy by heating yourself instead of the entire room. The same is true for cooling in summer. Ceiling fans can efficiently cool people rather than the whole house.
water wasted when you shower. Focus on Energy offers free energy-saving product packs that include low-flow showerheads. Order yours at focusonenergy.com/free.
• Close high air vent returns and open lower returns in winter. This allows the furnace to pull in cooler air (cooler air is denser and sits lower to the ground). Do the reverse in summer—close bottom returns and keep higher returns open. The furnace then pulls the hotter air back down to the furnace to be cooled.
And, if it's time to purchase a new water heater, keep these tips in mind:
• Check the furnace filter monthly during the heating season. Change or clean the filter when it's dirty. Clogged filters make your furnace work harder, which uses more energy and costs more money. • Turn your furnace fan to "auto" rather than "on." In auto mode, the fan runs when your furnace calls for heat. If you leave it switched on, it will run continuously, which isn't necessary and, depending on your type of furnace, could cost about $25 a month. • Have a professional inspect and tune up your heating and cooling system every other year for optimal efficiency. • Replace old heating and cooling equipment. Today's high-efficiency HVAC systems are greater than 95 percent efficient. And they are safer than older models, which can be around 70 to 85 percent efficient. • Consider a home energy assessment from Focus on Energy. You'll learn exactly where your home is wasting energy and what improvements you can make to boost comfort and cut energy costs. Learn more at focusonenergy.com.
If you go on vacation, switch your water heater to vacation mode so it's not heating water when you're not there to use it.
• ENERGY STAR models are a smart choice for energy savings, performance, and reliability. • It's more expensive to heat water with electricity than with gas. • Other technologies are available, including tankless water heaters, solar water heaters, and air-source heat pump water heaters. Each can offer benefits based on your home and use patterns. Ask the Experts From new technologies to seasonal strategies, there's a lot to understand about controlling heating and cooling in your home. MGE is available to provide tips and answer your questions about saving energy and money. Call the MGE Home Energy Line. Energy experts are available 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Call 608.252.7117 or 800.245.1125, or email AskExperts@mge.com. Other Resources • mge2050.com • mge.com/saving-energy Photographs provided by MGE.
Water Heating Hot water is a daily essential for everything from taking showers to washing dishes. Water heating also is responsible for a significant portion of a home's energy use. Some simple ways to cut water-heating costs include keeping the water heater temperature set at 120 degrees Fahrenheit, using cold water to wash clothes, and running the washer and dishwasher only when you have a full load. Install a low-flow showerhead to reduce the amount of HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS
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REMODEL/RENOVATION
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HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS
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LEGACY
TALIESIN by Keiran Murphy
Taliesin is a nonprofit laboratory for living in the Driftless region of southwest Wisconsin conceived over a century ago by Frank Lloyd Wright as a destination for collaboration, innovation, and experimentation in culture, nature, and architecture. Rich in history, Taliesin, Wright’s personal home and studio for almost 50 years, is often referred to as his autobiography in wood and stone.
As a working laboratory, Wright made changes to Taliesin from 1911 until the end of his life, in 1959. It was an experiment and sketchbook, constantly evolving to include new ideas, and stands in a valley with perhaps a closer connection to Wright than any other place in the world. At Taliesin Preservation, we believe that Taliesin is an ongoing
“Was I the key to a Taliesin nobler than the first if I could make it? I had faith that I could build another Taliesin! Taliesin III."
Photograph by TS Long
FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT 1867-1959
42 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
Photograph by Aron Meudt-Thering
Interior Views at Taliesin III.
vision for the betterment of a shared future—we are about sharing the place and idea, building a laboratory for living and convening a community.
Romeo and Juliet Windmill.
The valley in which Taliesin sits was originally settled in the 1860s by Wright’s progressive Welsh family, the Lloyd Joneses. The year Wright turned 11, he was sent by his mother, Anna, to his Uncle James’ farm in “The Valley,” where Taliesin is now located. He spent each of his summers on this farm until he was 18. The Valley and his ancestors became the inspiration for how Wright saw the world.
Wright named this home Taliesin, which is Welsh for “shining brow.” However, to Wright, the name Taliesin signified more than solely the placement of the house. He wrote, “Taliesin! Name of a Welsh poet, druid-bard who sang to Wales the glories of fine art. Many legends cling to that beloved reverend name in Wales.”
Photograph by TS Long
Wright eventually left Wisconsin for Oak Park, Illinois, to start a family and build his architecture practice. In 1909, after earning recognition for his Prairie style of architecture, Wright left Oak Park and his family to go to Europe and publish a portfolio. He took with him his mistress, Mamah Borthwick Cheney, a client and wife of Edwin Cheney. In 1910, he returned to Oak Park to settle his affairs while Mamah waited in Europe until she could divorce her husband. In 1911, nearly 32 acres in The Valley were acquired in Anna's name, and Wright designed his home on the brow of the hill, which Wright said was “one of my favorite places when I was a boy.”
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Photograph by TS Long
On a personal note, Wright spent almost nine years with Miriam Noel, his second wife. In 1924, Wright met the woman with whom he spent the rest of his life, Olga Lazovich “Olgivanna” Milanoff Hinzenberg. Wright and Olgivanna married in 1928. Taliesin II stood for roughly a decade. During that time, Wright expanded the building, adding more agricultural structures to it. In 1925, a powerful oncoming storm caused a devastating electrical fire at Taliesin II, also destroying the home's living quarters. Precious works of art were destroyed, but Wright pushed onward once again. He wrote, “Was I the key to a Taliesin nobler than the first if I could make it? I had faith that I could build another Taliesin! Taliesin III.” In all practicality, there are three Taliesins, the eras designated by those two fires. However, there are truly multitudes of Taliesins spanning from its creation to Wright's death. Wright changed the structure as his life 44 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
and economics changed, constantly adapting, constantly evolving. Taliesin became a laboratory for testing innovative products and innovative designs which he ultimately used for his clients at Fallingwater, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, and many others. In 1932, during the Great Depression, commissions were in decline. A strong believer of education, Wright purchased his progressive aunts’ Hillside Home School, which they founded in the 1880s as one of the first co-educational day and boarding schools in the country, and used it when he began the Taliesin Fellowship. In the Fellowship, men and
Riverview Terrace Cafe located at the Taliesin Visitor Center.
Photograph by Aron Meudt-Thering
Taliesin saw two major fires, in 1914 and 1925. In the first, for unknown reasons, a servant set fire to Taliesin's living quarters and murdered seven people, including Wright’s mistress. The architect, determined to move forward, decided to rebuild Taliesin because it “should live to show something more for its mortal sacrifice than a charred and terrible ruin on a lonely hillside in the beloved Valley.” And so, “Taliesin II began to rise from Taliesin the first.”
women worked under Wright as apprentices and took a learn-by-doing approach to education. In order to sustain their community, Wright built the Midway Barn complex on the property to integrate living, farming, land management, food preserving, cooking, and animal husbandry. In the 1940s, Taliesin changed to a dedicated summer home under Wright’s direction due to the creation of his winter home, Taliesin West, in Arizona. The home’s transformation included changes that could be made without insulation, as Wright was no longer in Wisconsin during the winter. Since the inception of the Taliesin Fellowship, now known as the School of Architecture at Taliesin, hundreds of individuals from around the world have studied here. Taliesin became an integrated place of learning, built on the dialogue of architecture conversing with art, food, farm, nature, music, education, and community. After all, Wright believed that it is the integration of the parts that make the whole, whether talking about architectural structures or people.
alongside the Grand Canyon and the Egyptian Pyramids. These buildings by Wright exemplify his contribution to 20th century Modern architecture around the world. Today, Taliesin Preservation believes in sharing the whole story of Taliesin, offering adult workshops, microapprenticeships, retreats, and volunteering opportunities that inspire individuals like Wright toward a better shared future. To learn more, visit taliesinpreservation.org. Keiran Murphy is the cultural historian of Taliesin Preservation. Taliesin Preservation Frank Lloyd Wright Visitor Center 5607 County Rd C Spring Green, WI 53588 taliesinpreservation.org
The importance of the 800-acre estate (600 of which Wright owned) with Wright's home and four other buildings designed by him, has resulted in it being named as a National Historic Landmark. In July 2019, Wright’s home, along with seven other Frank Lloyd Wright buildings, was added to the list of World Heritage Sites by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO),
Hillside Studio and Theater
Photograph by TS Long
Photograph by Aron Meudt-Thering
HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS
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Enter the – Drawing to Win
WOLFF KUBLY
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Win 2 gallons of Magnolia Home interior paint by Joanna Gaines of HGTV fame. A value of up to $100. Enter by submitting 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 March 16, 2020.
Good Luck!
Winner Thank you to everyone who entered our previous drawing. The winner of the 121 pc. Craftsman Tool Set from Wolff Kubly is Judith Ferstl of Plain, WI.
Congratulations!
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