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CONTENT VOL. 17
FEBRUARY–APRIL 2021
publisher Amy S. Johnson ajohnson@homeelementsandconcepts.com editorial director Amy S. Johnson info@homeelementsandconcepts.com lead designer Barbara Wilson senior copy editor & lead staff writer Kyle Jacobson copy editor Krystle Naab
Photograph provided by DesignWell Interiors
Photograph provided by Degnan Design-Build-Remodel
sales & marketing director Amy S. Johnson ajohnson@homeelementsandconcepts.com designers Jennifer Denman, Crea Stellmacher, Linda Walker
BUSINESS DESIGN
administration Debora Knutson
designing a brewery from the ground up comes with no shortage of inspirations
Hop Haus Brewpub: A Sequel with Merit
30
contributing writers Avid Gardener, Cabinet City, Karina Mae, MGE, Jessica Steinhoff, Amanda Van Wie, Waunakee Furniture ETC
FINANCIAL
photographs Avid Gardener, Cabinet City, Degnan Design-Build-Remodel, DesignWell Interiors, Garden Search & Rescue, MGE, Pete Olsen Photography, Sketchworks Architecture LLC, Waunakee Furniture ETC
your home’s entryways are among the first features prospective buyers notice
subscriptions Home Elements & Concepts is available free at over 150 locations. To purchase an annual subscription (4 issues), send mailing information and $16 (payable to Towns & Associates) to Home Elements & Concepts, c/o Towns & Associates, Inc., PO Box 174, Baraboo, WI 539130174. Or sign up for a FREE online subscription at homeelementsandconcepts.com. 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. ©2021 No portion of this magazine may be reproduced without prior written permission by Home Elements & Concepts.
Watch for the next issue May 2021. Cover photograph by Pete Olsen Photography (peteolsenphotography.com), provided by Garden Search & Rescue.
Maximize Your Home's Return on Investment: Entryway Updates
36
FURNISHINGS & ACCESSORIES
Large Storage
34
storage capabilities for your attic, basement, or garage from Cabinet City
Personalized Furniture for Every Budget!
not only should your furniture be comfortable and functional, it should also be like a fine piece of artwork
LANDSCAPE/GARDENING
Creating a Backyard Oasis
28
22
inviting outdoor space with all the common comforts from Garden Search & Rescue
Homegrown
12
having plants in our homes and schools is an important component of creating a sustainable indoor ecology and healthy minds and bodies
REMODEL/RENOVATION
Building a House to Make a Home
16
build your house with the intent to make it your home, marrying the importance of lifestyle design function with all the beautiful things you love
Coordinated Appeal
6
when Degnan Design-Build-Remodel was tasked with a complete makeover for a two-story home in Oregon, they took function from purpose to inspiration
TECHNOLOGY
Sustainable Living: Save Energy with Smart Planting and External Shading Devices
20
strategically planting trees and shrubs also can help manage your energy use
4 Advertiser Index 38 From The Publisher
HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS
3
from the publisher It's a new dawn It's a new day It's a new life for me And I'm feeling good —Nina Simone, “Feeling Good” While the struggles we faced in 2020 are still with us, the above expresses my sentiments for a new year. In 2020, we made the necessary transition to our homes for work and leisure, but it’s likely we’re still figuring out parts of it. Since the duration of this issue leads us into spring, we want to think about how to make our outdoor time more enjoyable as well. Our lead-off article covers both the home’s interior and exterior with a complete home makeover project by Degnan Design-Build-Remodel. Especially when you purchase an existing home, you want to make the house yours in style, comfort, and function. Some may take on a full transformation all at once, while others may break it up, tackling one room or area at a time. The Degnan project is a great inspiration for both. If you’re thinking about a new construction project, DesignWell Interiors underscores the thought process needed to ensure you create the experience you’re looking for at home. It isn’t simply about a box with a couple of bathrooms, a living room, a kitchen, etc. It’s about designing for your lifestyle with function and aesthetics in mind. Karina Mae at Garden Search & Rescue invites you to let your imagination soar with potential outdoor experiences in her article on creating a backyard oasis. If you’re like me, your outdoor space seems to always get placed on the back burner because of indoor projects. But when you read Karina’s ideas and see the possibilities, you’ll likely have a hard time justifying why you’ve waited so long. Also included, MGE focuses on the outdoors with some wonderful suggestions to help you save energy and money through smart planting and external shading devices. Avid Gardener talks about indoor houseplants and their effectiveness in the area of well-being. UW Credit Union has some great tips on how to maximize your home investment. Waunakee Furniture ETC talks about the advantages of custom furniture. And Cabinet City has even more useful storage ideas. Lastly, we’re excited to bring you our next business design feature: Hop Haus Brewpub. The addition of the Fitchburg brewpub afforded owners Sara and Phill Hoechst the opportunity to create the space of their dreams—brewpub inside and beer garden outside. We also include input from Sketchworks Architecture LLC in the print article and feature them exclusively with an online-only article at homeelementsandconcepts.com. Wishing you a year of not having to stay at home, but one that instead provides you the opportunity to create the home that makes you want to stay in.
Amy Johnson 4 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
Find Energy Savings Here. Partner with MGE to save energy. Make mge.com your first stop. • Get easy, low-cost ways to save energy. • Use calculators to estimate your savings. • Learn about incentives from Focus on Energy.
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HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS
5
REMODEL/RENOVATION
After
Coordinated APPEAL
by Kyle Jacobson
Function is ultimately what drives a home’s remodel: the homeowner may want their kitchen to incorporate a bar for cocktails and conversation, inviting guests to spread out, or they may want a backyard with a large fire pit to encourage more nights away from the television. When Degnan Design-Build-Remodel was tasked with a complete makeover for a two-story home in Oregon, they took function from purpose to inspiration.
6 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
Done thoughtfully, a home’s front exterior can serve as the title for what to expect upon entering. In the case of this home before its remodel, things were very straightforward. Dark vertical lines created contrast against yellowing siding in an outlining fashion à la English Tudor. The saltbox roof and two shed dormers provided some definition, but the space between the dormers felt plain in comparison.
After
house to reflect her vision of nature, Dave designed a cedar porch roof that extends across the front of the house and changed the exterior’s palette to a charcoal grey with white accents, punctuating the red of the cedar. Choice sections of siding between the Tudor outlines were swapped out for the rich cedar and now move horizontal to draw attention to the front of the home in a more graphic sense. What was once flat and plain is now warm and has dimension. Before
Senior Designer Dave Duewel says, “Both owners admitted that the existing house had no style to speak of, but they were in love with the lot itself. Their desire was to live in a mid-century modern home, which was very fitting for their subdivision.” Using one of the homeowner’s needs for the
Upon entering, there’s an immediate connection to the backyard resulting from the removal of an unused chimney. That bringing-the-outside-in connection is made much stronger by having replaced the original double sliding doors to the back porch and knee-high windows on either side with a 12-foot, floor-to-ceiling back patio door. A second, very much intended consequence of the enhanced
HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS
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flow is the blending of the kitchen into the great room. The space itself now feels much more open, addressing the other homeowner’s need of a tranquil space he can walk through on a daily basis and conduct business working from home. The great room itself is actually larger. A soft-angled, triangular extension was added along with a small deck extension. Previously, access to the backyard was a threestep stoop. As with the front of the house, the back now has mid-century life where things were previously flat. The redefined roofline coming out from the house as a pointed gable is especially eye catching. Back inside, the last of the homeowners’ remodeling goals was to turn two bedrooms and a bathroom into a main-
level master bedroom suite, complete with a pair of walkin closets. Through what Dave calls “very intentional, yet arbitrary, angles,” entering the completed space feels like a distinct transition. “Instead of simply having the master bedroom door look directly out to the dining room and stairway, walls are angled to direct you into a private alcove.” The angled walls themselves are treated as a gallery for the homeowners’ artwork collection. With no doors and mindful use of natural light, the walkin closets add presentation to storage, and the master bedroom itself feels like a short retreat from the rest of the house. Dave says, “There wasn’t a ton of space to work with as the two existing bedrooms were significantly too small for practical use, but it’s just enough to provide for all the needs of the clients. Passing through the angled gallery is
After 8 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
After
meant to decompress while heading off to bed. The spaces are cozy and right sized.” The master bathroom doesn’t sacrifice any luxury while addressing the homeowners’ desire for something agingin-place friendly. If anything, the luxuries are enhanced.
Using a curbless shower provides a chic design with no tripping hazard, and having built-in recessed shelving eliminates clutter. “There’s also a low niche at the perfect elevation for washing your feet and shaving your legs,” says Dave. Also worth noting, the floor and bench are heated.
After
Before HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS
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As for the choice in tile, a series of long waves resembling grey spruce is meaningfully accented with leaf-shaped mosaics, which are present in to the floating vanity as well. Above the custom teal cabinets and wood countertop, the vanity has an LED backlit mirror, a pair of pendant lights, and LED strip lighting. The experience is meant to feel a bit like being outdoors while overlooking whatever undesirable weather Wisconsin might bring that day. Every new aspect of the home aims for a connection with the outside. The homeowners’ collection of mid-century modern Scandinavian furniture also helped to guide Dave as he sought inspiration in fine tuning his choices. This attention to completion gives the house a harmony that can be added to over time with direction, as opposed to
After
arbitrarily. Degnan Design-Build-Remodel created a home meant to grow with the homeowners—something they can pour themselves into to reflect who they are today and who they become year in and year out. Kyle Jacobson is a senior copy editor and lead staff writer for Home Elements & Concepts. Photographs provided by Degnan Design-Build-Remodel. View additional photographs at homeelementsandconcepts.com
After 10 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
Degnan Design-Build-Remodel 128 Commerce Street DeForest, WI 53532 608.846.5963 degnandesignbuildremodel.com
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11
LANDSCAPE/GARDENING
Homegrown Having Green plants in our homes and schools is an important component of creating a sustainable indoor ecology and healthy minds and bodies. Indoor plants lead to an improved overall environmental quality while creating a happier and calmer space for creative and focused learning. Your Brain on Nature: Indoor plants psychologically link
us to nature. They also stimulate both physiological and psychological relaxation responses. Breathe Easy: Indoor plants improve air quality by
removing carbon dioxide, particulates, benzene, and up to 90 percent of formaldehyde. Comfort is King: Plants increase ambient humidity in
dry indoor environments. Plants are known to increase room humidity from 20 percent to a more comfortable 30 percent under bright lighting conditions. Friendly Flora: Houseplants supply beneficial bacteria and
increase the microbial diversity in the indoor environment, benefiting human health indoors.
Credit for the plant facts goes to the NICH (National Initiative for Consumer Horticulture). All items sourced by Avid Gardener, a funky gardening specialty store offering eclectic gardening items, quality plants, and fantastically useful goods. They have spring pansies, unique summer annuals, and hanging baskets. They also have wonderful gifts, from garden supplies and home goods to local cheeses and charcuterie selections. avid-gardener.com
12 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS
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14 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
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REMODEL/RENOVATION
16 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
Building a House to
MAKE A HOME by Amanda Van Wie
A custom home is a unique opportunity to design and build your house with the intent to make it your home, marrying the importance of lifestyle design function with all the beautiful things you love. It’s important to think through the design of your home on a personal level. Start by considering your hobbies and asking yourself how you want to entertain guests, where you’ll spend most of your time, if you need a separate space for kids (a question
most important considering the past year), and where you’ll showcase your collection of artwork. The goal when designing a new home is to connect function to aesthetic. The finish materials are the best part, don’t get us wrong, but if you’re in love with a certain wallpaper and end up without a wall to showcase it or have your heart set on displaying a particular heirloom but it doesn’t end up fitting on any of your shelving, you’ve missed out on the opportunity to design your home with the intent to perfectly marry function and aesthetic. There’s nothing more disheartening
HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS
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than coming into a home post construction to help a client finish out their design and they say, “I wish I would’ve done ‘x.’” It can be as simple as a light fixture placement to light up an accent wall or shelf.
As a growing family with evolving styles, this new construction client in Waunakee set out to create a home where function and design enhance one another through well-thought-out decisions. When this client decided they were going to be putting in a pool, we suggested moving the powder bath from the space off the mudroom, which is a pretty traditional spot, to the back corner of the kitchen, the room nearest the pool. Now when the kids come inside to use the bathroom, they aren’t traipsing through the house. The swap of the powder bath with the pocket office allowed for an additional design detail of arched doors in the foyer which opens to the pocket office, providing the display for this amazing wallpaper the client knew she had to have while not sacrificing any of the powder-bath design aesthetic. It also allowed for the client’s home office and work space to be centrally located in the home along with the coffee and wine bar, which is imperative in a busy household with four children. Once the floorplan and materials have been selected, it’s just as important to finish the design process by piecing together furniture and accessory plans to be able to plan for all of the things you love. These details truly make a house personal, unique, and a true home for your family to enjoy both functionally and aesthetically. Amanda Van Wie is the owner and principal designer at DesignWell Interiors. Her studio is located in Waunakee, where she lives with her husband and four children. Photographs provided by DesignWell Interiors. View additional photographs at homeelementsandconcepts.com DesignWell Interiors 133 West Street Waunakee, WI 53597 608.220.3050 designwellhome.com
18 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
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HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS
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TECHNOLOGY
Sustainable Living
Save Energy with Smart Planting and External Shading Devices While we often think of landscaping as a way to add curb appeal, strategically planting trees and shrubs also can help manage your energy use. It's estimated smart landscaping can save up to 25 percent of the energy a typical household uses, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Shading your home is a smart way to save energy year-round. To achieve maximum energy savings, it’s key to plant the proper tree or shrub in the proper place. You need to consider what’s located above and below your desired planting location as well as the mature height and spread of a plant. It may be easy to visit a garden center and choose a plant that looks nice, but that particular species may not be the best option for your site. It’s a good idea to consult an ISA-certified arborist who can help you determine what will work best in your yard. Visit the “Find
20 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
An Arborist” page at waa-isa.org to locate an expert near you. If you decide to tackle some landscaping on your own, consider these general planting tips for energy efficiency: •
Plant large, leaf-shedding trees on the east and west sides of your home to provide maximum summertime shade and lower the surrounding air temperature. They should be planted at least 20 feet from the side of your home. A six-foot-tall deciduous tree planted near your house will shade windows in the first year. That same tree will shade the roof in 5 to 10 years.
Trees with lower leaves and branches work well on the west side of your home to offer shade from lower afternoon sun angles.
• Position trees and shrubs to shade air-conditioning units. Equipment that operates in the shade will use less electricity; however, be sure not to block the airflow. • Plant bushes next to your house to create air space that will provide insulation year-round. Take Precautions Be aware of planting locations that can cause electric service interruptions or other dangerous situations. Call Diggers Hotline at 811 at least three days before doing any digging in your yard. MGE and other participating utilities will mark the location of underground facilities on your property and indicate safe overhead line clearances. This free service will help you stay safe and avoid costly fines. You may be tempted to use plants to conceal the green electric transformer in your yard if you have one, but use caution. For safety and electric reliability: • Allow three feet of space on the sides and behind transformers. Without proper air circulation, padmounted transformers can overheat and cause a service interruption. • Allow 10 feet of clear space in front of transformers. At least once a year, MGE technicians need to service transformers, and they need that amount of clear space to work safely. It’s also important to plant trees away from overhead power lines. Trees that grow too close to power lines can cause outages. Remember that the short tree you plant today could grow tall enough to reach power lines in the future. Find MGE’s list of the 10 best trees to plant near power lines at mge.com/landscaping.
Consider External Shading Devices External shading devices are another option to help prevent unwanted solar heat gain from entering your home. Such devices include awnings, overhangs, and trellises. A shading device doesn’t have to be complex. It can be as simple as putting together a few 2 x 4s. For south-facing windows, a shading device should be based on window size. For example, with a window that is 36 inches tall, the shading device should be placed 9.6 inches from the top of the window. It should be 21.6 inches deep extending out from the house. There are online calculators to help determine where to install a shading device based on window size. For west-facing windows, the shading device needs a vertical component to block summer sun. Adding hanging vines to the shading device will help further block the sun. Consider creating a grid-like structure with plastic or rope, then add climbing vines. Vines that have leaves in spring and summer that fall off in fall or winter are best for your shading device. This will keep sun out during the summer and allow in warmth during the winter. Ask the Experts MGE is available to answer your questions and provide tips on landscaping for energy efficiency. • MGE Home Energy Line: MGE’s energy experts are available 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Call 608.252.7117, or send an email to AskExperts@mge.com. • Another resource for energy-efficient landscaping is mge.com/our-environment. Photographs provided by MGE.
Be safe when pruning your landscaping too. Wear eye, ear, and head protection. Don’t work alone, especially when pruning large branches. If branches are within 10 feet of utility lines, can’t be reached from the ground, or are too large to manage, contact MGE to determine if it’s safe for you to remove them. Plants that are pruned incorrectly or at the wrong time of year are susceptible to fungal diseases. An arborist can help with this too.
HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS
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LANDSCAPE/GARDENING
CREATING a Backyard Oasis by Karina Mae Many of us dream of having an inviting outdoor space, one with all the common comforts, but are often unsure where to start. Hiring designers and landscapers is one sure way to go; however, sometimes an easier solution or faster result is sought, even if it’s only until what's better desired is known. We have all spent much more time getting to know our spaces this year, and there’s nothing like a long Wisconsin winter to dream up ways of making it better. No matter where you’re starting in the dreaming phase, it’s wise to stay “pie in the sky” style while brainstorming to reduce oversights. Ideally, this part of the planning would
22 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
involve the majority of the members who share the space thinking of pets, neighbors, and guests. This process should leave room for a few ever-evolving areas as well, i.e. more seating later as your family grows, a larger vegetable garden once you’ve mastered last year’s plan, or a play zone for the dog you always wanted. Thinking thoroughly who would use this space, the reasons, and at what time of the day this is most likely to occur will help assure you’ve addressed the little things. Creating the space on paper as you imagine what you need or want while writing a list of things to do, find, or purchase will no doubt give you some direction. There are so many things that contribute to a finished space’s feel, but they often work best when some lead time is in the midst of them all coming together. Larger priority items would include patios or paths, lighting, furniture, and the “attraction” of the space. Paths should be between three and four feet wide to allow a comfortable feel navigating them. Lighting should be as adequate as needed and as
HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS
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Before
simple as possible. Solar lanterns or hanging lights can be quick and easy, but hardwired lights can last a few decades reliably and turn on via a switch. Candles or tiki torches can provide ambiance and help to combat those pesky biting insects. Furniture would greatly depend on the attraction: the reason to be in the space. A fire pit is more generously served with Adirondack chairs and outdoor throws, while a dining area would love upright, cushioned chairs and a table. Outdoor destinations can provide a space with definition, four-season interest, and somewhere for our eyes to land from the window—a much more relaxing tonic than most think. This could be a bench, a bistro table and chairs, a hammock, a fire ring, a rug with ample conversation seating, the grill where dinner is made many nights of the week, or a compilation of any destination. These key elements are often the foundation to the backyard.
24 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
Smaller items can often make or break the space with almost equal intensity. Say you have a wonderful dinner and setting, but then the mosquitoes are in full frenzy. Or how the tiniest bit of privacy can keep your quaint family dinner from being distracted by all the neighborhood evening games. Adding things for safety and privacy, such as gates, fences, or partial fences as screens, can really change the way a space is portrayed from inside-to-outside vantages. Outdoor area rugs placed over mulch or lawn can keep down dirt and bugs while inviting a living-room feel. Toss in a few accent pillows and a throw, and it looks just like inside. Circulating or standing utility fans are an effective way to reduce mosquito activity. Add a few tiki torches with citronella, and you may be super surprised how fewer winged guests there are. An umbrella or small gazebo bring much desired coolness and shade to any area, offering respite on a hot summer day. Small touches are often the ambiance you craved from the inside brought out; they sing of a space lived in. Other components to really set your space apart or make it uniquely yours could include a small electric waterfall
to break the sounds of city traffic, or colorful stationary planters to provide a substance of sorts and height among the plantscape. Planted or potted herbs can ground the vegetable garden closer to the living area without complicating it; combine with flowers, and you hardly notice the greens. Bird feeders, bird baths, houses, insect habitats, butterfly feeding stations, hanging things, and garden art all lend the feel of a space that is thought of and enjoyed while boosting a diverse habitat. Four-season art, such as trellises, structures, and large stone features, strikes the landscape all year long. And let’s absolutely bring in the fun! A place for gathering, enjoying a fire, playing yard games, growing together, or just relaxing is the best way to nail your outdoor space. Make it really work for you and to all who land there. Shopping off season for any
seasonal items is almost always a ticket to affording more backyard dreams. In the land of transparency and the time of COVID-19, we welcome you to our oasis, Ashen Haven. There is as much intent here as there is an ongoing re-creation of our small space. A cedar fence that matches the gate has been on order since June, but as many of you may have experienced,
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this is one of the humors of our pandemic. We’ve grown in this space for 15 years with some original items and many updates. Our yard is an absolute extension of our lifestyles from April to November. We invite you to virtually wonder at our butterflies and hummingbirds, lay in our hammock, lounge in the yard, and relax. What dreams live in your backyard? Karina Mae is the designer and team leader at Garden Search & Rescue. Photographs taken by Pete Olsen Photography (peteolsenphotography.com) and provided by Garden Search & Rescue. View additional photographs at homeelementsandconcepts.com Garden Search & Rescue Madison, WI 608.438.9571 gardensearchandrescue.com
26 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
a home for the holidays. HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS
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FURNISHINGS & ACCESSORIES
Personalized Furniture for Every Budget! Not only should your furniture be comfortable and functional, it should also be like a fine piece of artwork. A custom item can be a conversation piece that your guests will be envious of—an heirloom piece that you'll pass down to the next generation. Customization can mean simple changes to an existing item, like changing the size, stain color, or fabric, that can lend a little personalization to your piece. What's the best thing about custom furniture? It fits your style, your space, and your needs. It also means supporting local business to find a piece of furniture that's unique to you and not something everyone else has from a chain store. Stop by Waunakee Furniture ETC to see how their Design Team can help you pull together a space that is uniquely you!
Items sourced by Waunakee Furniture ETC. waunakeefurniture.com
28 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS
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BUSINESS DESIGN
Hop Haus Brewpub A Sequel with Merit
by Kyle Jacobson 30 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
Designing a brewery from the ground up comes with no shortage of inspirations. Over a century of brewery, beer hall, and brewpub concepts aren’t just a click away, they’re open for business across the state. Add Sketchworks Architecture LLC, a local firm whose large portfolio includes several breweries and distilleries, and you get the new Hop Haus Brewpub in Fitchburg. The building itself seeks to do two things: bridge the gap between brewery and patron to create a grain-to-glass experience, and seamlessly transition from brewpub to beer garden whether going outside or upstairs. On the former,
Brad Koning, partner at Sketchworks Architecture LLC, says, “[Hop Haus owners Sara and Phil Hoechst] wanted a visual connection into the brewhouse from the taproom. So the full-height glass, no obstructions, glazed into the brewhouse looking at the equipment ... wherever you’re at in the brewery or in the restaurant itself, you always have that visual connection back to the brewhouse.” Though the tap lines run through the wall directly to the cooler adjacent to the bar, the tap handles are in the foreground of one 30-barrel and six 15-barrel fermenters, reminding everyone they’re drinking just about the freshest beer they can get. As for transitioning from industrial to natural or vice versa, patrons choose whether to enter from the beer garden or main entrance. Going through the main vestibule leads to a high open ceiling with exposed ductwork and I beams, providing the industrial feel. The walls, a turn-of-the-century, red-brick veneer, and the floor, a warm-beige concrete, stay consistent throughout the interior. Some features, like the concrete bar top, play off the natural elements of that motif. Moving to the back of house, the seating changes from tall pub tables to traditional restaurant seating visually separated by a pony wall with reclaimed-wood siding. Natural light plays into the restaurant seating from east- and north-facing walls via two glass-paneled garage doors and corresponding entrances. The garage doors are separated at the corner by the brick veneer, and both can be opened to effectively bring the outside in.
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Outside, tables are set up under slim ground-to-roof canopies to provide some protection or shade when needed. There’s also a fire pit on the patio and ample greenspace for yard games or for dogs and kids to play in. Upstairs grants its own outdoor patio experience. Sara says, “Initially, we kind of wanted to be real industrial up top, like all steel, everything like that.” After considering the costs, Sara hoped that Sketchworks Architecture LLC could come up with something less expensive without sacrificing the element of cool in her vision. Brad says he was focused on figuring out, “How can we design this space to feel inviting while maintaining a consistency with the building’s overall design?” The compromise came through combining both steel and wood to create design elements more of an incorporation of the inside to the outside rather than full on trying to make things feel like the bar area downstairs. First thing people will notice when they step outside: the vinyl plank flooring, which
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really fits into Sara and Phil’s desire to keep everything low maintenance. Planters wall the north and east sides—once established, tall grasses and other plantings will serve as a wind barrier while further defining the space’s intimacy. The west wall has large windows looking into the brewery, and the south wall is a full bar with seating under a wood pergola and outdoor string lights. “They really wanted [the upper patio] to be a celebration of community,” says Brad. “A space that, if it’s even in winter, they could turn on some heaters and have some of the dome igloos, trying to think about how they extend that season and provide unique spaces for their customers.” Adding to the variety of spaces provided, a small event area, with standing room for 134 or seating for 80, is available on the ground floor and separated by another garage door. “It’s just a good space for people to rent for meetings, smaller gatherings, and that sort of thing,” says Brad. “But it still has that connection where they could expand the dining room if they really needed to.”
Hop Haus Brewpub was designed to be flexible and able to grow with Sara and Phil’s success. There’re already plans to build a stage for live music, and a large chunk of the space meant for expansion in the brewery itself, which takes up almost half of the property’s footprint, has found purpose as a canning line. For Sara and Phil, direction anticipated hasn’t always been direction taken, and thanks to Sketchworks Architecture LLC, they’ll always have a lot of freedom to adapt and adopt ideas with the evolving wants and needs of their business. Kyle Jacobson is a senior copy editor and lead staff writer for Home Elements & Concepts. Photographs provided by Sketchworks Architecture LLC. View additional photographs at homeelementsandconcepts.com Hop Haus Brewpub 2975 Sub Zero Parkway Fitchburg, WI 53719 608.497.1133 hophausbrewing.com
HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS
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FURNISHINGS & ACCESSORIES
Large Storage Mastering Your Storage Spaces Brought to You by
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Four totes of snow clothes, three rolls of holiday lights, two oversized yard inflatables, and a molting partially assembled fake Christmas tree. Yeah, there’s not much rhythm and rhyme there, but the same could probably be said about how you store these things in the attic, basement, or garage. Now is the best time to give those totes and large items their own space.
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Since no two piles of clutter are the same, a good place to start is custom shelving. Chris Schmidt of Cabinet City says, “When we go to preview the site, we like to say don’t hide anything. Don’t put anything away. Leave it out because you need to tell me what is priority to get organized. ... We’re only going to get more stuff.” Consider complementing your custom shelves with HyLoft, a type of ceiling-mounted shelving that allows homeowners to take advantage of high ceilings. HyLoft can be used in both open and tight areas, like the unused space above your parked car and the gap between the ceiling and open garage door. Your floor is also something that can be a great place to store larger items if you don’t treat it like a landfill. We try to be careful when it comes to what items we put on concrete due to moisture wicking, but with an appropriate and cost-effective vinyl snap-and-lock tile floor, you can ensure your basement and garage are going to stay dry enough to store your fancy cardboard Peanuts display. Whether you’re storing giant LED stars for the holidays, a mannequin collection for Halloween, or you simply need a more convenient place to store what you already have, organizing your storage areas will help you ease into each season by eliminating the annual archeological excavation. Photographs provided by Cabinet City.
HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS
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FINANCIAL
MAXIMIZE
Your Home's Return on Investment: ENTRYWAY UPDATES by Jessica Steinhoff Your home’s entryways are among the first features prospective buyers notice. They’re also some of the best items to update if you’re seeking a healthy return on investment (ROI). Here are some of the most ROI-friendly upgrades in the Madison area. Transforming the Front Door Have you noticed how many houses on the market have a front door painted red or orange? There’s a good reason: this door shapes buyers’ first impressions of a home. It can also make or break their decision to step inside. In other words, it pays for it to be memorable and charming. 36 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
Luckily, a few smart choices about the front entrance can mean substantial returns when you sell your abode. One of the smartest is swapping the existing front door for a steel model. This should recoup about 83 percent of the $1,900 you spend, according to Remodeling magazine’s latest Cost vs. Value Report, an annual survey of real estate agents and home appraisers in every region of the United States. Another upgrade to consider is constructing a grand entrance, which the report defines as a 12-36-12 door with a fiberglass blank and matching dual sidelights. The door also has decorative glass panels, stained hardwood casings,
and exterior trim wrapped in PVC. This type of project costs about $9,200 and has an ROI of nearly 42 percent.
panels, foam insulation rated R-12 or higher, and galvanized steel tracks.
Upgrading the Windows Windows are the main entrance for natural light, an element that can improve your home’s feel and function. They’re also a source of fresh air, views of the yard, and other natural stress relievers. On the flip side, they’re an exit point for heat during the colder months, so it’s worthwhile to consider both aesthetics and energy efficiency.
Costing roughly $3,700, a garage door project like this one is within reach for many homeowners, even those with modest renovation budgets. Fortunately, many people can tap into their home equity to fund a wide variety of upgrades to their property.
According to the Cost vs. Value Report, replacing 10 threeby five-foot windows has an ROI of about 58 percent if you choose wood windows and 63 percent if you choose vinyl ones. In these scenarios, insulated, simulated-divided-light windows with low-E glass replace double-hung windows of the same size. The exterior finish is a custom color. In the Madison area, this project costs about $17,700 to $21,500. Adding a Mudroom A mudroom can make your entryway more inviting while increasing your home’s usable space. According to a 2019 study by realtor.com, adding this popular multipurpose area is one of the most effective ways to sell your home fast—and at the best possible price. This bump in resale value reflects how much contemporary buyers value storage space. Boots, umbrellas, sports equipment, and other items that might overwhelm a small coat closet are easy to organize and access when placed in cubbies or lockers. Meanwhile, purses, backpacks, and dog leashes can hang neatly on hooks. Per FIXR.com, this convenience costs about $12,000 to create if you opt for a 50-square-foot space with cubbies.
According to Josh Fetting, consumer lending sales manager at UW Credit Union, a home equity line of credit (HELOC) is an excellent fit for many homeowners with renovation projects. “With a HELOC, you can borrow exactly what you need, when you need it, and only pay interest on that amount,” he says. “This makes it a great choice for many home updates, including window and door replacements.” Renovating to maximize ROI isn’t just about getting the most from a sale; it’s a chance to put your stamp on your home or make it more functional, helping you enjoy your time there. You really can’t go wrong investing in your comfort and happiness. Jessica Steinhoff writes about financial health for UW Credit Union, a not-for-profit financial institution that offers mortgages, home equity products, auto loans, and more. See uwcu.org for details. UW Credit Union 3500 University Avenue Madison, WI 53705 800.533.6773 uwcu.org
Replacing the Garage Door A garage is a must for many Wisconsin homebuyers, especially those with cars. In addition to giving vehicles shelter from storms of all sorts, including snow and hail, it often has space to park a lawn mower or snow blower. But that’s not all—the door to this space can help a home feel welcoming and well maintained. It’s a prime reason that replacing your garage door is such a sound investment. Madison-area home sellers recoup 80 percent of the money spent on a garage door replacement, according to the Cost vs. Value Report. This figure is based on a project that involves removing the old door and installing a four-section door made of high-tensile-strength steel. The new door also has two coats of paint, thermal seals, pinch-resistant HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS
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