Home Elements & Concepts – February-April 2018

art 路 home furnishings & accessories 路 landscape 路 remodel/renovation 路 lighting

sharing the voices of local people who create the spaces we live in

tell your builder you want a dream kitchen

“When you want something special, think Dream!”

Additions

Remodeling

Condos

Kitchens

Master Bath

5117 Verona Road | Madison, WI 53711 | 608-204-7575 | www.dream-kitchens.com Actual Dream House Project | Photography by RPG

Jerry Schmidt Dream Team Sales

Keven Schmidt Director of Design

CONTENT VOL. 5

FEBRUARY–APRIL 2018

publisher Towns & Associates, Inc. 126 Water Street Baraboo, WI 53913-2445 p 608.356.8757 • f 608.356.8875 homeelementsandconcepts.com

Photograph by Eric Tadsen

editor-in-chief Amy S. Johnson info@homeelementsandconcepts.com publication designer Barbara Wilson senior copy editor Kyle Jacobson copy editor Krystle Naab sales & marketing director Amy S. Johnson ajohnson@homeelementsandconcepts.com sales & marketing manager Kelly Hopkins khopkins@homeelementsandconcepts.com sales representative Terri Groves tgroves@homeelementsandconcepts.com graphic designers Jennifer Denman, Crea Stellmacher, Linda Walker administration Jennifer Baird, Sandy Carlson, Lori Czajka contributing writers Theresa Abel, Dean Loumos, Brenda Myers, Debbie Rabin, Kristin Rees, Harriet Statz, Kyle Stolldorf, Andrew Wanek photographs Abel Contemporary Gallery; Brett Allaman; Capital Lighting; Corbett Lighting; Crystorama; Housing Initiatives; Kichler; Kitchen Ideas Center; Michael Krakora, Krakora Studios; Pieces Unimagined; Progress Lighting; Qual Line Fence; Synchronicity by Hubbardton Forge; Eric Tadsen additional copies Home Elements & Concepts is available free at over 200 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., 126 Water Street, Baraboo, WI 53913. 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., 126 Water Street, Baraboo, WI 53913. Or sign up for a FREE online subscription at homeelementsandconcepts.com.

ART

30

Creating Art Part II

getting the work from the studio to exhibition

HOME FURNISHINGS & ACCESSORIES

Creating a Home with Useful and Beautiful Things

40

love and use the accent pieces you choose as they become the anchor for future furnishing picks

Decorate with What You Love

18

adding special touches to your home to tell a story

Illuminate Your Home with Lighting from dim to dazzling, lighting transforms any space

12

LANDSCAPE

Returning to the Garden: A Progress Report

a follow-up article on how a front yard was transformed into a beautiful and welcoming garden

NONPROFIT

Housing Initiatives

34

46

a leader in providing hope, homes, and healing to people who are homeless because of mental illness

REMODEL/RENOVATION

Kitchen Renovation

6

correcting the problems of the existing kitchen in an old Victorian home Photograph by Michael Krakora, Krakora Studios

comments We welcome your questions and comments. Please submit to Home Elements & Concepts, c/o Towns & Associates, Inc., 126 Water Street, Baraboo, WI 53913 or email info@homeelementsandconcepts.com. advertise To place an advertisement, please call 608.356.8757x105 or email ajohnson@homeelementsandconcepts.com. all rights reserved. ©2018 No portion of this magazine may be reproduced without prior written permission by the publisher, Towns & Associates, Inc.

Watch for the next issue May 2018.

Cover photograph of Kichler Montavello pendant, provided by Kichler.

SERVICE

Good Fences Make Good Neighbors

24

Qual Line Fence shares the process of building a fence around your home

4 Advertiser Index 50 From The Editor

HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS 3

from the editor

Thank you!

To our readers, sponsors, and contributors,

We’re grateful you’ve been part of Home Elements & Concepts’ first year! It’s always a challenge to bring an idea to fruition, and it wouldn’t have been possible without your support.

We also feel fortunate to have been able to create what we conceptualized: a publication that dedicates 100 percent of its content to sharing the stories, projects, ideas, and expertise of those in our local home industry. While other media, including our sister publication Madison Essentials, do a nice job of including features on a more limited basis, our wish for Home Elements & Concepts was that it could be done on a full-time basis, similar to national home publications, except that we’d do it with content that is exclusive to those individuals and businesses in our community.

As we look toward the upcoming year, we hope you’ll feel free to send us your topics of interest and the names of individuals or businesses you think are doing great work. We want this publication to be a collaboration with you: our readers and expert contributors.

Amy Johnson

4 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com

HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS 5

REMODEL/RENOVATION

Before

Kitchen

RENOVATION

by Debbie Rabin

Photograph by Brett Allaman

1980s kitchen.

Brett Allaman’s wife, Lisa, admired an unusual, beautiful ceramic drawer knob while browsing a local antique store.

Brett secretly purchased it and gave it to her as a wedding anniversary gift. It was the first element they determined to be part of their kitchen renovation. You could say they rebuilt the kitchen around it.

The Problem The kitchen of this 118-year-old Victorian brick foursquarestyle home was last renovated circa 1980 to boast the contemporary style of the day. Nearly everything was white

6 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com

Completed kitchen boasting a new contemporary design.

Floor refinishing.

Photograph by Brett Allaman

After

Photograph provided by Kitchen Ideas Center

Before

After

Photograph provided by Kitchen Ideas Center

The knob that started it all.

HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS 7

1980s kitchen.

laminate with grey accents, and there was a white ceramic top electric range. Not at all true to the style of the rest of this historic home, which was restored to its original charm after the family took residence in 2003. The time had come to focus on reworking the kitchen to correct structural and design issues.

There were several problems with the existing kitchen. The age of the home brought a common problem—settling.

• This created a 4-inch slope differential in the kitchen ceiling, causing the room to look and be off kilter.

Photograph by Brett Allaman

• With only two small off-centered windows, the kitchen lacked light, and the view of the outdoors was limited.

• The kitchen, 13 by 13 foot, provides adequate space, yet the working triangle was too tight.

Photograph provided by Kitchen Ideas Center

Before

After 8 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com

Completed island with beadboard wainscoting.

Completed kitchen with new inset cabinetry.

• The stove, small sink, and refrigerator were too close to each other, causing a traffic bottleneck when more than one person was prepping, cooking, or cleaning up. Not ideal for the family to gather in the kitchen. • Due to functionality and style, the existing cabinetry needed updating, and the maple floor had become dull due to years of heavy foot traffic.

The Solution Rick Hoekstra of Kitchen Ideas Center was hired to correct the problems with the existing kitchen and aid in designing a new layout to replace the 1980s-style kitchen. In a coordinated effort with the homeowners, work began.

Before

Photograph by Brett Allaman

After

Photograph provided by Kitchen Ideas Center

Install in progress.

First up, the ceiling is successfully leveled and used to run a straight line for the cabinetry, crown molding, and other millwork.

One large traditional-style window with mullions is centered on the wall, allowing more sunlight into the room as well as providing a better view, creating a great focal point visible from the adjoining dining room.

The layout is rearranged to expand the work triangle.

Placed opposite one another are the new energy star refrigerator, gas range, and a new large sink, which is centered on the adjoining wall beneath the window, resulting in opening the configuration to allow smooth traffic. This made a lot of sense for this family, who share in food preparation, cooking, and cleanup.

HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS 9

Plato Woodwork created a traditional revival full-inset cabinetry with modern functionality, including concealed soft-close hinges, large-capacity drawers, and convenient cubbies for baskets and recipe cookbooks.

The homeowner took on the task of refinishing the original maple floor which runs from the kitchen to the adjoining dining room to give the rooms a continuous and fresh feel.

The basement door was also refinished. It’s the one original door in this room, and has the only exposed hinges.

The ceiling is constructed of V-groove wainscoting, contrasting the island’s beadboard wainscoting. Crown molding, seven-inch baseboard, wainscoting, and other millwork add a great deal of charm and warmth to the room.

The installation of under-cabinet lighting gives the kitchen a warm glow at night. Retro industrial pendant light fixtures with LED bulbs are hung above the centrally located island.

Floor to ceiling, a mix of materials is used: glass, wood, stone, and metal.

Black soapstone replaces the old countertop, and several feet around the perimeter of the kitchen are added, increasing the working surface area.

The homeowners obtained upcycled walnut to build the center island’s countertop. “The walnut for the island top came from a landscaper friend in Milwaukee who acquired the log through one of his projects. He had it sawed into 2 1/4-inch-thick slabs 16 to 20 inches wide from the main trunk of the tree. I milled it to 3 by 2-inch strips and glued them together for a butcher-block look. I then sanded and refinished it with several layers of a high-gloss polymer. Environmental stewardship to last a lifetime,” says homeowner Brett Allaman.

The Result Kitchen Ideas Center fulfilled the homeowners’ desires. They now have a spacious, symmetrically balanced, functional,

After 10 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com

Photograph provided by Kitchen Ideas Center

Completed kitchen with an industrial light fixture.

Photograph by Brett Allaman

Before

Completed kitchen with more natural light.

energy-efficient, beautiful kitchen that matches the style of the rest of their 1899 historic home.

More natural light enters the room due to the large centered window, allowing a view of the outdoors and giving the space a lighter and brighter feel as well as a focal point.

A mix of materials lend a softness, charm, and warmth to the space. Rearrangement of the appliances and added counter space expand the work triangle, allowing the family to spend time in the kitchen together. Refinishing of existing features brings a fresh feel into the space.

After

Allaman Carpentry 608.516.5396 allamancarpentry@gmail.com Kitchen Ideas Center 2016 S. Stoughton Road Madison, WI 53716 608.222.3132 kitchenideascenter.com Plato Woodwork Cabinetry available at Kitchen Ideas Center.

Debbie Rabin is the Marketing Assistant at Kitchen Ideas Center.

View additional photographs at homeelementsandconcepts.com.

HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS 11

Photograph provided by Kitchen Ideas Center

Ceiling leveling.

HOME FURNISHINGS & ACCESSORIES

Photograph provided by Kichler

Kichler Montavello pendant.

12 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com

Photograph provided by Capital Lighting

ILLUMINATE

Your Home with Lighting

Capital Cole chandelier.

by Kristin Rees From dim to dazzling, lighting transforms any space. Beyond illumination, lighting can instantly change the look and style of a room from traditional to contemporary and everything in between. A good choice is fixtures that incorporate LED, as they are energy efficient, occupy minimal space, and allow for a variety of designs while still providing an exceptional quality of light.

Task LED Whether you are writing, reading, or cooking, task LED lighting can add concentrated lighting and style to any

Brian Patrick Lynn for Crystorama Alston pendant.

Photograph provided by Crystorama

When developing a lighting plan for your home, the experts at Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery recommend using the TADA (Task, Accent, Decorative, and Ambient lighting) method. By considering all four layers of light, you can achieve the proper illumination in any space.

HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS 13

Kichler Armstrong LED pendant.

Photograph provided by Kichler

Photograph provided by Corbett Lighting

room. Table lamps can provide great task lighting for a living room and home office. If you want a bright bathroom, task lighting is key. You’ll want to light the vanity area with a fixture above the mirror or with sconces on either side.

When thinking of your kitchen, consider under-cabinet lighting, where most of the work takes place.

Accent LED Pendant LED fixtures are great in rooms with high ceilings to add light and visual interest. Ideal over islands and dining areas, pendants offer a decorative accent and soft illumination.

Corbett Arpeggio pendant.

14 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com

Decorative LED LED lighting is also available in a wide range of sophisticated choices to match any design concept. Advancements in this eco-friendly technology create light in innovative forms that not only mask the LED bulb, but also afford for more decorative and stylistic lighting designs. Consider placing these fixtures in the living room to emphasize artwork, sculptures, or a large plant.

Five Trends When selecting options for your next light fixture, consider these lighting trends.

• Respect the Bulb: When the light source is exposed, showcase the intricate handmade filaments of antique vintage bulbs. The choice between tubular or traditional A-shape bulbs will completely transform

the look of the fixture. LED options provide additional brightness and performance with a fraction of the heat output and energy cost.

• Adjustable Fixtures: With a simple twist or turn, adjustable fixtures can adapt to your space and personal style preferences. The flexibility of these interactive pieces provides greater options when selecting home décor.

• Shapes—Round vs. Rectangular: How to choose?

Start with the existing furniture, textures, and colors in the room. Is the furniture contemporary with straight lines or geometric patterns? Complement these with a rectangular fixture. Does the room contain multipillow seating, large areas of lush carpet, or floral motif wallpaper? A round orb fixture will blend all elements together. Still can’t decide? Select

Progress Dome pendant.

Photograph provided by Progress Lighting

Ambient LED Set the tone of the room and provide general illumination with ambient LED lighting, which can be found in ceiling fixtures, like recessed lighting and chandeliers. Positioning recessed lighting around the perimeter or a chandelier in the center of a room can help the room look bigger and provides an overall comfortable level of light. For more control over the brightness and mood of the room, use dimmers so as the day progresses you can control illumination according to the daylight.

HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS 15

Photograph provided by Synchronicity by Hubbardton Forge

Syncronicity Corbe Duet LED pendant.

a fixture that artfully pairs the shapes together in a singular design.

• Let’s be Clear: Fixtures with clear glass offer style and design without obstructing views. Ideal for small spaces and rooms with standard ceiling heights, clear glass fixtures can provide a more open feel.

• Two-tone Finishes: Two-tone finish pairings offer more flexibility to coordinate with existing home décor and future updates. A mixed metal finish, such as antique bronze and natural brass, will also complement a wide variety of faucets and fixtures in the kitchen and bath.

Selection of lighting is an important part of the overall design plan and should not be overlooked. When planning your next upgrade, use the tips the pros know to create a space that is functional, well-lit, and beautifully

16 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com

illuminates your style. For more information, visit your local Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery or fergusonshowrooms.com to request an appointment with a knowledgeable lighting expert.

Kristin Rees is the showroom manager at Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery.

All products are available at Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery.

View additional photographs at homeelementsandconcepts.com.

Ferguson 4505 Triangle Street McFarland, WI 53558 608.838.3181 ferguson.com/branch/mcfarland-wi-showroom

Donate. Shop.

Support affordable housing.

Remodeling or replacing? Habitat ReStore accepts donations of used kitchen cabinets, appliances, building materials, furniture, and more.

You can drop off at either location Tuesday— Saturday, 9 a.m.—5 p.m. or schedule a pickup for larger items at restoredane.org or 608.663.1191.

Your generous donations to Habitat ReStore help build strength, stability, and self-reliance for Dane County families.

5906 Odana Rd. 4207 Monona Dr. restoredane.org

BEAUTY IN BLACK & WHITE Following the Trends in Lighting

MadisonLighting.com FREE

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6701 Watts Rd., Madison

HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS 17

HOME FURNISHINGS & ACCESSORIES

Decorate with

WHAT YOU

LOVE

by Brenda Myers

CAMELOT INTERIORS

18 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com

It was 1986 when Lauren and Michael fell in love with a 47-year-old Tudor-style home. Besides a quaint neighborhood, they were attracted to many charming details of the home, like the built-in nooks and crannies, leaded glass windows, and sprawling stone fireplace.

It was the perfect home to raise two children, three dogs, and two goldfish. Twenty-six years ago, they were referred to Brenda at Camelot Interiors to help create the atmosphere they envisioned. Since then, Brenda helped design the 1,800-square-foot home, updating some rooms four times over. “Her creativity and always-positive attitude makes decorating fun,” says Lauren. “She brings many options for us to see and choose from. It saves Michael

and I a great deal of time [compared to] if we had to shop ourselves.”

The exterior has interesting slopes and textures. As you enter the arched doorway, a warm russet mosaic tile greets you in the vestibule. Maple hardwood floors continue with custom wool runners in the hall and up the staircase.

Relaxing, earthy colors were chosen to accentuate the stone fireplace and beautiful woodwork. The living room, one of their favorite spots to relax in, was designed with two conversation areas. This was accomplished by using a pair of low swivel chairs placed in the center of the room. The wall sconces create a warm glow along with

the natural grass shades on the windows, which let light filter in. The screened porch off the living room is a special spot where Michael and Lauren share many relaxing summer evenings.

As a designer, Brenda believes everyone’s home should tell a story. Lauren and Michael have many family mementos, and each room brings special touches that make their house a home. Special family heirlooms shown in the living room include Michael’s father’s cane leaning against the fireplace. One Christmas it was displayed and hasn’t moved since (remember Miracle on 34th Street, when santa left his cane?). His father’s smoking pipes found a spot on the nesting tables.

HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS 19

Lauren’s mother’s console table is graced by an original painting of a bulldog who so resembles Chief, one of their deceased pets. Pets can make a room feel truly complete.

Renowned photographer William Waldron once said, “They reflect not just our passion for domesticity, but our ability to share the spaces we love.”

The dining room brings family and friends together for warm conversation and great food. Lauren cherishes her grandmother’s dishes displayed in her grandmother’s china cabinet. She remembers how special it was to enjoy holiday meals on the fine china growing up. Now she and Michael share the same tradition with their children and grandchildren. Lauren’s grandfather made his own root beer, and the bottles are displayed in the room as well.

Many original pieces of art painted by Lauren’s mother are placed carefully throughout their home.

20 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com

The latest kitchen design was inspired from a trip to France.

Michael and Lauren love the calming blue paint color when they prepare meals together. The ceiling has a tile-like wallpaper to give texture and interest. The built-in nook is cozy for conversation and a cup of tea. Paintings from Venice are displayed in the kitchen and dining room to remind them of their fond times in Italy.

Lauren’s den was originally a nursery in 1991 for their son, Scott. Today it’s filled with treasured items that give Lauren a sense of calmness and happiness as she unwinds from work. Her desk was passed on her from her mother, and one of a pair of wooden chairs was brought back from the Civil War by her great, great grandfather. Artwork in her den ranges from their children’s art to prints she and her parents brought back from France in 1967. The ceiling was painted an evergreen shade to accentuate the sloped lines, and the same color is repeated in the custom window treatment.

Fun artsy lamps add color and a happy place to relax in.

The main bath upstairs is a small, quaint room with a sloped ceiling and a window in the shower/tub area. For privacy, we added custom leaded glass window panels. The black-andwhite tiles are the original tiles. The bath has been papered and painted many times.

Michael’s favorite room is his office because “it’s me.” He cherishes a wood carving made by his father.

The family room is designed with a nautical feeling.

Memories of family vacations off the coast of North Carolina and Door County are displayed as accents in this room. A bulletin board by the back door is covered with family photos and high school athletic letters from the very athletic family of four.

The master bedroom, originally belonging to their daughter, Lisa, is being redecorated for the fourth time, and as of this writing, we are still in process. Again, pieces of furniture

HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS 21

from Lauren’s childhood will be used, as well as her mother’s original art, her jewelry box, and other special mementos.

It’s the finishing touches that truly define your style.

Brenda Myers is owner and interior designer at Camelot Interiors.

Photographs by Eric Tadsen.

View additional photographs at homeelementsandconcepts.com.

Camelot Interiors 6771 University Avenue, Suite 106 Middleton, WI 53562 608.826.9060 camelot-interiors.com

22 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com

HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS 23

SERVICE

Good Fences MAKE GOOD

Neighbors

by Harriet Statz

24 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com

There are many reasons people choose to get a fence: to keep out intruders, to contain their pets, to protect their children from running across the street, to hide a neighbor’s unsightly yard, and to give flowers and vegetables in a garden a solid structure to climb. But wanting a fence and going through the process of installing a fence are two different things that require much consideration.

For starters: • There are two sides to a fence, and your neighbors will have opinions on the subject. Find out your neighbors’ points of view, and keep them informed about your intentions.

• Municipalities usually regulate fence placement, style, and height, and require a permit (for a fee).

• Often homeowner associations establish fence rules, which they may or may not enforce.

• Property lines must be located, which may necessitate you having your property surveyed.

Making the decision to install a fence is a multifaceted task.

Take your time. Look for the best because your fence should last many years. At Qual Line Fencing, we are proud to see our fences still looking good after two or three decades or more.

Long before other companies in this area, we turned to driven steel posts, specifying depth and strength that will stand up to strong winds. To match cedar fencing,

HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS 25

we create post covers from the same wood. For PVC material, the steel posts are held in place with brackets designed for that purpose. Ornamental fence posts slip over the steel. There’s more to fences than meets the eye.

What materials appeal to you?

Here are some frequent choices, listed in ascending order of cost.

• Aluminized chainlink • Vinyl-coated chainlink • Western red cedar • Our own DiamondBack or Rollback—welded heavy mesh

26 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com

• Traditional ornamental steel or aluminum • Plastic, known as PVC (polyvinyl chloride) Gate posts require extra footing. Here, too, we depend on steel rather than concrete, driving iron deep into the ground at proper angles to hold the posts in place. This method also anchors our flagpoles, which we manufacture from aluminum—again with a heart of steel in the taller poles.

Once you start thinking seriously about fences, you’ll start noticing them a lot. Keep your eyes open for what’s appealing and what’s appalling. There’s a distinct difference between bad, mediocre, good, and fabulous fencing. If you do your homework, you’ll be a good judge.

What can you expect from a fence company?

• Clear and thorough communication • Careful attention to your needs and wants • Detailed explanation of the process and product • Efficient and effective construction methods • Contract price • Guaranteed materials and installation • Experience, innovation, and expertise • Longevity of service—still there when you need them in the future Some homeowners start out thinking they’d like to build their own fence. Yes, we could sell you the materials, but the problem is in the equipment: post drivers and nail guns powered by air compressors, for example. Also, wear and tear on your body. Other projects are more suitable for DIY.

HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS 27

What else affects pricing?

• Style: plain or fancy, solid or open • Terrain: level, uneven, and sloped terrain • Underground stuff: utility lines, power boxes, rocks, and concrete • Season: soft ground in the spring, frozen ground in the winter • Access: ease for installers get to the areas to be fenced Ray Statz founded the Qual Line Fence company in 1956, and is still going strong, along with son, Al, who started fencing as a kid. Many of our employees have been with us for a long time. For us, family business is a great way of life.

Harriet Statz is a Certified Fence Professional at Qual Line Fence.

Photographs provided by Qual Line Fence.

View additional photographs at homeelementsandconcepts.com.

Qual Line Fence 801 S. Division Street Waunakee, WI 53597 608.849.4654 quallinefence.com

28 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com

tools

TRADE

B E S T. DECISION. EVER.

BROOKFIELD (262) 781-9048 MADISON (608) 838-3181 FERGUSONSHOWROOMS.COM

©2017 Ferguson Enterprises, Inc. 1217 667996

LIGHTING

OF THE

HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS 29

ART

Creating ART Part II

by Theresa Abel

Meaningful art is an important part of our society. You may purchase art for the joy it brings and to enhance your home’s interior, but it also helps support artists so that they can devote themselves to their craft. How does one become an artist and how is art priced? In my last article, I explained how one becomes an artist through formal education and practical experience followed by the challenge to create a professional and consistent body of work. The final steps

include getting the work from the studio to exhibition, then hopefully to being purchased.

Accomplishing the goal of creating art ready to be sold is daunting enough, but there’s a lot left to do to get one’s art in front of the public, specifically those interested in purchasing it. Art galleries are an obvious and traditional choice for partnership, but finding a commercial art gallery

Jessica Calderwood exhibit at Abel Contemporary Gallery.

30 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com

Detail from installation

by Richard Jones at Abel Contemporary Gallery.

that is accepting new artists and is suitable to an artist’s style of work is extremely difficult. Submitting a proposal to a gallery is akin to applying for a job, and involves creating professional materials for submission.

Many artists desire to spend the bulk of their work day creating art while a gallery manages sales. A good commercial art gallery will accomplish most aspects of selling, which include maintaining a physical location and associated overhead. Especially for an emerging artist, the opportunity to have work seen by a dedicated and interested audience is vital. Maintaining a commercial art gallery is costly, which is taken into consideration

Exhibit at Studio Paran.

HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS 31

Installing exhibition at Studio Paran.

when pricing art. But artists who sell their work from their studio and at art fairs realize the costs involved in both, which include travel and studio overhead, add expenses analogous to a gallery. Thus, the pricing calculation is similar to partnering with a gallery.

In addition to displaying their art at commercial art galleries, art fairs, and open studios, many artists also work to show in art centers, museums, and other nonprofit spaces. These exhibits are good exposure, which can add to the interest in an artist’s work because supply and demand affect art prices just as other commodities.

Lori SchappeYouens delivering her paintings to the gallery.

32 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com

When the value of art is raised, we may think about the work of established—blue-chip—artists heard about in the media: work that sells for hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars. This is a very small group of artists. Most professional, full-time artists are emerging or in midcareer, and work extremely hard to make a modest living.

There is often a correlation with work by an artist that has reached a prominent level of excellence and demand for their work, but there are also wonderful artists making work that appeals to a very select audience and never commands sales prices that would even pay the artist a living hourly wage. Two artists may create work similar in subject matter, style, and quality, yet one of the artists is able to garner a much higher price. Often it is simply that this artist has had greater success and notoriety in the market place.

They might live and exhibit their work in a locale where art commands a higher price, so they benefit from the environment. Chances are that a little luck and business acumen are also in play.

I want to be clear that sales are not the motivating factor for most artists. There are artists who create work that is not a commodity at all, and create their art with grants and other funding from outside sources. But for most, selling art is a necessity to allow them to continue to work in their chosen field. The arts enrich our lives, adding value that has nothing to do with money. Like music, literature, theatre,

and movies, once you live with original visual art, you will wonder how you lived without it.

Theresa Abel is an artist and owner/director of the Abel Contemporary Gallery, a fine art and fine craft gallery in Paoli. She studied painting at the University of Wisconsin– Madison and the Scuola Lorenzo de’ Medici, Florence Italy, receiving her BFA in 1991. Theresa works in oils and recently has been creating a body of work incorporating silver point drawing.

Photographs provided by Abel Contemporary Gallery.

View additional photographs at homeelementsandconcepts.com.

Abel Contemporary Gallery 6858 Paoli Road Paoli, WI 53508 608.845.6600 abelcontemporary.com

Exhibit at Abel Contemporary Gallery.

HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS 33

SERVICE LANDSCAPE

Returning to the Garden A Progress Report

Photograph by Michael Krakora, Krakora Studios

by Andrew Wanek

34 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com

Photograph by Michael Krakora, Krakora Studios

After The DIYers achieve a great deal with a limited palette by including a variety of shapes and layers of vegetation.

A year ago, we featured A Garden to Grow With—One Family’s DIY Approach to Landscaping. The article told the story of a busy family’s landscaping project. With the help of a professional landscape designer and their own sweat equity, they transformed their front yard into a beautiful and welcoming garden. Now, after four full seasons, we are checking in to see how it’s going.

The homeowners worked with Jeff Epping on the design.

Jeff began with an assessment of the homeowners’ lifestyle and time they’d have to commit to gardening. Although they love to garden, they have a young family and limited time for maintenance. As the homeowner said in a recent visit, “We want to focus on raising kids, not grass.” They hope to spend more time gardening when their children are older and possibly include the children as well.

With this in mind, Jeff’s plan used plants that require less care, but provided a layout that would allow for other more complex plants to be added as the family’s lifestyle allows.

After

The selection of shrubs and plants enhances the family’s enjoyment of the landscape, and the pop of color fits their style.

HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS 35

By starting with perennials that are hardy and require less dividing as they mature, he set the homeowners up for success in establishing their garden and combined it with the flexibility to plug in other varieties in the future.

After

Before starting his design, Jeff made an analysis of the lot, which is on the large side and includes a partial canopy of hickory and oak trees. Turf covered most of the area, and also included some daylilies and hostas. His approach was to create a clean slate, but also salvage some of the existing hostas to fill in the new design. Jeff worked with Plantings along the front walk lead friends and neighbors to the family’s front door.

36 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com

Photograph by Michael Krakora, Krakora Studios

Planning paid off. With respect to maintenance, it has only required minor weeding and a fresh layer of mulch in the spring. They have not yet made any additions or alterations, but the opportunity to do so is there when their time commitments change.

Much appreciated by the family is the attention to blending the existing anchor trees with multiple levels of new vegetation seamlessly.

the homeowners to come up with an installation approach to match their skills and DIY ambitions. His crew managed some of the more challenging aspects, but the homeowners contributed their own labor in the planting process. They are pleased to report that all 183 plants came back in the spring! This is not only testimony to the care they took in planting, but also for choosing plants appropriate for the light and soil conditions.

In his design, Jeff added a mid-layer of smaller ornamental trees to the already-established upper canopy. Shrubs are used to fill the lower plane and, as a bonus, provide winter interest so that the garden has beauty in all four seasons.

After one year, the plants are still young and have yet to fill out. It will take a few years before they mature and become more robust, but the effect Jeff was going for is still evident and will continue to improve with age. The homeowners

Photograph provided by Homeowner

After

Photograph by Michael Krakora, Krakora Studios

Before

are thrilled with the aesthetics and how it has improved the curbside appeal of their home. Furthermore, they feel it was a good neighbor thing to do since many neighbors have nicely kept gardens, and have complimented them on the changes.

Another benefit to landscaping is that it brings nature to your front door by providing a natural habitat. When asked if they have noticed any changes, the homeowners noted there do seem to be more birds and butterflies. They have also seen fox and flying squirrels.

The homeowners decided to include some hardscaping as part of their project, and it’s being used even more than they expected. It’s small and intimate—ideal for a couple of chairs. And it’s tucked in a corner—not to be too exposed, but just right for waving to neighbors passing by.

HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS 37

Before

Photograph by Michael Krakora, Krakora Studios

Photograph provided by Homeowner

The front patio is a favorite spot for reading or a chat with a neighbor.

After

They find it an especially relaxing spot to read a book or share wine with a friend. They even purchased an outdoor firepit to extend their usage of the space into summer and fall evenings.

The homeowners love their new garden. The approach worked well for them, and having a strong plan from a professional made it a success. It completely changed the first impression of the home from a plain design with sparse planting to an inspired landscape rich in color and texture.

Furthermore, they now enjoy the space more than they ever had before.

38 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com

These days, they look forward to landscaping their backyard, where more sun gives them opportunity for colorful plantings. They also anticipate more hardscaping to create an outdoor room for entertaining larger groups. In other words, they’ll be creating more gardens to grow with.

Andrew Wanek, AIA, is a licensed architect and principal of Ginkgo House Architecture.

View additional photographs at homeelementsandconcepts.com.

Connecting Madison’s

Community Since 2007

Independent, locally owned businesses keep our economy strong.

Shopping, dining, working, relaxing, whatever your needs,

THINK LOCAL FIRST.

Dane BUY

LOCAL danebuylocal.com HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS 39

HOME FURNISHINGS & ACCESSORIES

If you like it, then that’s Interior Design.

40 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com

Creating a Home

WITH USEFUL AND

Beautiful Things

by Kyle Stolldorf

It can be intimidating to fill your home without recreating what someone else has already done or ending up with a mess. I did the copycat way of decorating, and it left me feeling like…a copycat! Then I encountered a quote by poet and designer William Morris: “Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.”

It revolutionized my life. Willy, as I call him now, helped me overcome my fears of bad decorating by simply including

things that are an extension of my needs and wants. I started jettisoning things that were not useful or beautiful to me, and not only did my home become simplified, my life did as well.

Furnishing my home from then on was guided by William Morris’ approach, and the result was a place to recharge and recreate my way. It’s intriguing to guests because each room isn’t big-box furnished, but instead thoughtfully curated one piece at a time.

Industrial Modern meets chic without any conflict. Mix it up!

HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS 41

Make sure you display the things you love. For yourself. For your guests.

Vintage, traditional, and industrial all getting along beautifully.

42 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com

Further confidence was found when I read what geographer Yi-Fu Tuan observed as an important fact about things and us: “Our fragile sense of self needs support, and this we get by having and possessing things because, to a large degree, we are what we have and possess.” I trimmed back what I owned until all I had left were things that I love.

Go into your living room. What do you sit on? Do you use the easy chair or sofa, or do you have them because

everyone else does? How often are you in the room and what do you and your guests do in it? Do you eat, drink, read, or do computer work there? These questions will help determine what stays and what goes. Be brave!

Be you!

Make sure you love and use the pieces because many times they become the anchor for future furnishing picks.

For example, you can have an easy chair you use, but if it’s ugly, find one you love.

HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS 43

Choose things you find to be useful and beautiful and that will complement what you already have. You can stay within a style or genre, or not. It’s okay to mix. Remember, things are an extension of you and your family’s soul.

If your home can be the safe haven where you refresh, recreate, and recharge, it will be a place guests can see more of who you really are. They will be intrigued because they most likely haven’t seen your idea before, and it will invite conversation.

Kyle Stolldorf is the owner, creator, and curator at Pieces Unimagined.

Photographs provided by Pieces Unimagined.

View additional photographs at homeelementsandconcepts.com.

Pieces Unimagined 1228 Williamson Street Madison, WI 53703 608.280.1155 piecesunimagined.com

44 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com

Repurposed factory parts can perform well while looking like fine art.

Your office can be functional when you need it, and beautiful when you don’t.

www.centuryhouseinc.com

Discover

design

3029 & 3420 university ave. madison 608.233.4488

WHO YOU GONNA CALL?

If you find a wild animal you believe needs assistance, before intervening, contact Dane County Humane Society’s Wildlife Center at (608) 287-3235.

THE WILDLIFE CENTER!

Knowledgeable staff and volunteers are happy to talk you through the next steps to determine when help is truly needed.

giveshelter.org (608) 287-3235

B E S T. D E C I S I O N . E V E R .

B R O O K F I E LD ( 26 2) 7 8 1 - 9 0 4 8

MADISON (608) 838-3181

FE RGUSONSHOWROOMS.COM

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Axis Collection

HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS 45

NONPROFIT

Housing Initiatives

By Dean Loumos

Housing Initiatives is a leader in providing hope, homes, and healing to people who are homeless because of mental illness. In the last 20 years, Housing Initiatives has brought over 600 people in off the streets.

Rayshun is a single father of three who, like so many in our community, has struggled with mental illness.

Without proper medical care to deal with his paranoia and depression, Rayshun found it difficult to hold a steady job.

And without a job, he and his kids found themselves in a cycle of homelessness. Rayshun says, “Being homeless was

46 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com

one of the worst experiences. I was in and out of hospitals for my illness, and we lived out of cars and shelters for 18 months.”

undiagnosed. Many describe their experience as being lost in a dark tunnel that they can’t find their way out of.

Being the strong, single parent he is, Rayshun stepped up for his children. He can now proudly say finding a home has turned his life around. “My stable home has made a big difference for us. My kids are doing better in school.

My oldest daughter is achieving a 4.0 GPA.” Having a permanent home and support services enabled Rayshun to begin a process of recovery. A process where he has learned how to better manage his mental illness and begin working with Chrysalis to seek employment.

Combating homelessness and mental illness together can become a never-ending, vicious cycle from which people’s ability to carry out essential aspects of daily life, such as self-care, caring for a child, and holding a job, become nearly impossible. Mental illness may also prevent people from forming and maintaining stable relationships, causing paranoia, irrational behavior, and misinterpreting guidance from others. Too often, this inadvertently results in pushing away family, friends, and even professionals who may be the force keeping that person from becoming homeless.

In Madison today, there are 3,000 homeless neighbors on the streets. Over one-third have been diagnosed with a mental illness and have become homeless because of it, while most of the remaining two-thirds are thought to be

This is one of the many reasons why Housing Initiatives believes offering permanent housing is only the first step.

We build trust and a relationship with each individual client to address their unique needs, and help them find a path to

HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS 47

a more peaceful life. Providing housing alone will not keep our neighbors off the streets and help them find stable, permanent housing unless they have access to continuous treatment and services.

As of this writing in 2017, Housing Initiatives staff and partners have provided 408 hours of stabilization services, such as counseling, substance-abuse programs, transportation to doctor appointments, veteran support groups, and others. This support is what keeps clients from falling back into homelessness. Because of their unique expertise in providing permanent housing and support services year after year, 95 percent of clients never return to homelessness and lead happier, healthier lives.

Housing Initiative Properties

48 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com

Despite these promising numbers, the homeless population continues to climb. So, too, does the need for supportive services and housing. In the last year alone, Housing Initiatives has housed 242 individuals from a variety of ethnicities and backgrounds, including to: • • • • • • • •

214 adults 27 children 153 males 83 females 5 transgendered 79 African-American 13 Hispanic/Latino 55 veterans

Again, it doesn’t just end with placing our homeless brothers and sisters in housing. Supportive services are what build trust and keep neighbors from becoming homeless again. To ensure that doesn’t happen, Housing Initiatives developed a Landlord Relations Program that provides support to landlords willing to rent to homeless clients with unique needs.

As of September 2017, Housing Initiatives has added 15 units of apartment housing for the year.

That’s compared to 18 in 2016 and 20 in 2015. Housing Initiative properties are located within the heart of many Madison neighborhoods. These properties act as anchors, spurring waves of new development in vulnerable neighborhoods.

New, affordable housing ended homelessness for 82 more individuals this year, which included families and veterans.

This important progress would not have been possible without the support of the Madison community and other transformative organizations helping combat homelessness and mental illness. With continued generosity, Housing Initiatives can provide neighbors struggling with mental illness hope, healing, and a home: basic needs that we all deserve.

To learn more about Housing Initiatives, visit the website or follow us on Facebook to see the progress.

Dean Loumos is the executive director of Housing Initiatives.

Photographs provided by Housing Initiatives.

This approach to housing puts clients back where they can find value and purpose. Housing Initiatives intentionally purchases foreclosed or devastated properties then renovates them, creating additional new development and safe, affordable housing options in some of Madison’s most challenged neighborhoods.

Housing Initiatives 1110 Ruskin Street Madison, WI 53704 608.277.8330 housinginit.org

HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS 49

– Advertiser index Action Outdoor Kitchen 23

Enter the – Drawing to Win

Camelot Interiors 29 The Century House 45 CLUCK the Chicken Store 45 Coyle Carpet One 5 Dane Buy Local 39 Dane County Humane Society 45 Dreamhouse Dreamkitchens 2 Ferguson 29,

45 Garden Search & Rescue 23 Habitat ReStore 17 Iconi Interiors & Consignment 29 Kitchen Ideas Center 51 Luxi Stone 39 Madison Lighting 17 Monroe Street Framing 23 Our Lives Magazine 39 Pieces Unimagined 29 Qual Line Fence Corp. 5 Rivendell DesignWorks 5 UW Credit Union 52 Vault Interiors & Design 17 Waunakee Furniture ETC 29 Wolff Kubly Hardware 39

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We could not do so without the support of our advertising sponsors, and we appreciate every one of them. We hope that you, our readers, 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!

50 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com

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Win 6 gallons of Valspar highest quality paint. ($240 value)

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. 126 Water Street Baraboo, WI 53913 All entries will be entered into a drawing. Deadline is March 11, 2018.

Good Luck!

Winner Thank you to everyone who entered our previous drawing.

A $150 Garden Search & Rescue Gift Certificate was sent to Mary Johnson of Middleton.

Congratulations!

Providing quality cabinetry for discerning homeowners, designers, and contractors since 1980 Kitchens, baths, closets, pantries, bars, entertainment areas, bookcases, built-in storage, home offices, laundry areas, crafting spaces, basements, wine rooms, garages, professional innovative design and CAD drafting

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iscerning homeowners, designers, and contractors have been partnering with Kitchen Ideas Center for their cabinetry and countertop needs for over 30 years.

Locally owned and operated with our award-winning staff and our wide array of products and services, how can we help you to turn your ideas into your reality?

2016 S Stoughton Rd Madison, WI 53716 kitchenideascenter.com (608) 222-3132

Lowest Closing Cost Commitment Find Your Perfect Home, Worry Free

With our Lowest Closing Cost Commitment,* you don’t have to spend time shopping for the perfect home loan. That’s because you’ll get the lowest closing costs from us. In fact, if you find lower closing costs with another lender, we’ll match their closing costs or give you $500.

This is one more reason why we’re a top Wisconsin lender.1 To learn about membership, visit uwcu.org/membership.

uwcu.org/homeloans *Lowest Closing Cost Commitment is available only for first mortgage purchase or refinance transactions. Offer excludes VA, FHA, WHEDA, Rapid Refinance, jumbo, lot and construction loans. Offer subject to credit approval. To qualify for the offer, a borrower must complete a UW Credit Union mortgage application and provide an unexpired Loan Estimate of an equivalent loan from a competing lender prior to locking either loan. UW Credit Union will determine at its sole discretion if the loan terms of the two loans are equivalent and compare closing costs. The comparison of closing costs will exclude title insurance, transfer tax, escrow payments, daily interest charges and loan level pricing adjustment (LLPA) fees. LLPAs represented as origination points or fees are also excluded. UW Credit Union will determine whether to match closing costs or pay $500 for qualified borrowers at its sole discretion. Offer not valid if loan terms or conditions change prior to loan closing with UW Credit Union or competing lender.

UW Credit Union will not compare closing costs for this offer once a mortgage loan is locked with UW Credit Union or a competing lender. Membership requirements apply. Member must have a qualifying UW Credit Union checking account to receive $500, which will be deposited into member’s Premium, Value or Access checking account within 90 days after receiving a copy of the (1) final Closing Disclosure and Settlement Statement and (2) mortgage note within 30 calendar days of closing the loan with a competing lender. By law, $500 must be reported for tax purposes. Offer subject to change and without notice.

UW Credit Union actively monitors key market competitors quarterly; as of 10/2/2017, average closing costs are $1,989. Average closing costs are based on conventional fixed rate mortgage loans. 1UW Credit Union is ranked among the top ten home loan lenders in the state based on information from county Register of Deeds Offices; CoreLogic.