Home Elements and Concepts May-July 2020 by Towns & Associates

CONTENT VOL. 14

MAY–JULY 2020

publisher Towns & Associates, Inc. PO Box 174, Baraboo, WI 53913-0174 p 608.356.8757 • f 608.356.8875 homeelementsandconcepts.com editor-in-chief Amy S. Johnson info@homeelementsandconcepts.com publication designer Linda Walker senior copy editor Kyle Jacobson

Photograph provided by Washa Remodeling and Design

Photograph by S.Photography/Shanna Wolf

copy editor Krystle Naab

BUSINESS DESIGN

sales & marketing director Amy S. Johnson ajohnson@homeelementsandconcepts.com

Contemporary Problems Require Historical Solutions

design team Jennifer Denman, Crea Stellmacher, Barbara Wilson

Abel Contemporary Gallery moves to the old no. 5 tobacco warehouse

administration Cathy Bacon, Debora Knutson

Rising Salaries and Rental Costs Mean More Homebuying Among Single Females

contributing writers Cabinet City, Samara Eisner, Christina Harrington, Kyle Jacobson, Karina Mae, MGE, Pieces Unimagined, Jessica Steinhoff

FINANCIAL

photographs Abel Contemporary Gallery, Cabinet City, Samara Eisner, Karina Mae, Mike McDermott, Aron Meudt-Thering, MGE, Pieces Unimagined, Kai Skadahl, S.Photography/Shanna Wolf, Eric Tadsen, Washa Remodeling & Design

FURNISHINGS & ACCESSORIES

additional copies Home Elements & Concepts is available free at over 150 locations. If you would like a copy sent to you, please send mailing information and $4 (payable to Towns & Associates) for each magazine to Home Elements & Concepts, c/o Towns & Associates, Inc., PO Box 174, Baraboo, WI 53913-0174.

organizing your garage and reclaiming space from Cabinet City

Custom Furniture is for Everyone

furniture that’s a little more you from Pieces Unimagined

Garages: Get Off the Floor

LANDSCAPE

Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa)

commonly referred to as butterfly weed, one of our showiest native wildflowers

subscriptions To purchase an annual subscription (4 issues), send mailing information and $16 (payable to Towns & Associates) to Home Elements & Concepts, c/o Towns & Associates, Inc., PO Box 174, Baraboo, WI 53913-0174. Or sign up for a FREE online subscription at homeelementsandconcepts.com.

Rain Gardens: Practical and Beautiful

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.

REMODEL/RENOVATION

advertise To place an advertisement, please call 608.356.8757 or email ajohnson@homeelementsandconcepts.com.

rebuilt home showcases quality craftmanship and finishes

Watch for the next issue August 2020.

for many women, the most empowering way to enter the next stage of life is with the keys to a new home

a rain garden is nature’s truest solution to manage your rainfall

LEGACY

Beyond Tours: Experiential Tourism

immersive tours are beginning to make an appearance at Taliesin

Inspiring Nirvana

making a bathroom space functional from Washa Remodeling and Design

You Get What You Pay For

TECHNOLOGY

Sustainable Living: Windows of Opportunity today's styles have plenty to offer

4 Advertiser Index 46 From The Editor

Cover photograph by Eric Tadsen

HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS

from the editor

Sending our

love and support to ALL in our communities. We're here for you and

appreciate you being there for us. Wishing you

peace, strength, and well-being. We will get through this

together! Amy Johnson

4 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com

Want to save energy? Make mge.com your first stop. • Get easy, low-cost ways to save energy. • Use calculators to estimate your savings. • View energy-saving brochures. • Learn about Focus on Energy. Interested in our energy future? Visit mge2050.com.

GS3276 8/14/2019

HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS

REMODEL/RENOVATION

After

Neo-angle glass door creates sharp angles and contrasts.

Inspiring Nirvana by Kyle Jacobson

6 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com

We spend one-third of our day in the bedroom, so investing in a bed makes sense. The living room, den, or rec room gets similar treatment with furniture and entertainment expenses. But the bathroom is often about practicality. Functional sink? Check. Toilet? Check. Shower? Check. In and out, with the exception of getting away from the kids until your feet fall asleep from prolonged toilet cowering. But when the team at Washa Remodeling took on an en suite master bathroom, they set their sights on creating a spa experience that the homeowners look forward to. The homeowner’s built their house over 25 years ago, so they already had something that fit their vision. But it was time to bring everything into the 21st century. Project manager Nick Siglinsky of Washa Remodeling says of the master bathroom there was “a lot of 1990s tile, dark wood cabinets, that kind of thing. They were looking to freshen it up.” Maybe it was the age of grunge music that brought on the espresso color palette, or a Raymond Babbitt-esque (Rain Man) appreciation for uniformity that insisted every corner be starkly framed. Whatever the case, the result of the remodel changed the look and toned down the accents. Of course, there are limits to what you can do governed by structure and utility routes. To best visualize the space, imagine a 20 by 30-foot rectangle with a double shower in its center. Cut the rectangle diagonally so you’re left with a smaller triangle and a larger five-sided space. The smaller side is an L-shaped wood-floored hallway with access to the

After

Attractive slate-grey porcelain tile with contemporary fixtures, a recessed shelf, and floating bench seat.

Before

After

HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS

After

Double vanity with marble countertop, and cylindrical wall sconces that provide salon-mirror lighting.

master bathroom at either end. In the bathroom, you’ll find the shower doors, double vanity, bathtub, and access to a deck with a view of some nice greenery. Nick says, “Taking what we know about trends and bathrooms, we offered some design aspects about what we can change in the layout. We ended up flipping the tub around so it was up against the window, allowing more natural light to come in. We changed the shower. The shower was originally an octagon shape in the center of the room. It was very large and obtrusive—didn’t really flow well with the feel of the bathroom. We put a neo-angle glass door on it so that it created some sharp angles and sharp contrasts that made it a feature in the bathroom.” That’s the big picture. As for the new look, the shower itself had some white inch-by-inch 90s-high-school-gym-looking tiles updated to a larger, much more attractive slate-grey porcelain tile with contemporary fixtures and a recessed shelf for shampoos, razors, and shower cocktails. Changing the doors also removed the abundance of chrome framing around each pane. Floor-to-ceiling glass gives the sense the shower is part of the room, rather than a completely separate area. 8 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com

Before

Elegant soaking tub with a floor-mounted tub filler with hand shower next to a creative outerwall-recessed niche.

After

HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS

An elegant soaking tub with a faucet that comes up from the floor replaced the old oversized jacuzzi. Ingeniously, the outside wall was used for “a shampoo niche. It’s a wallrecessed shampoo niche. You find them a lot in showers, but this one is specifically for the soaker tub, so they have someplace to put shampoos, phones, things like that as they’re sitting and relaxing and soaking in the tub.” Next to the tub, the double vanity received a facelift—more drawers, larger cabinets, modern hardware, marble countertop, and cylindrical wall sconces that provide salon-mirror lighting. All these updates work together thanks to the new tile flooring, which uses a staggered (as opposed to checkered) pattern, removing the feeling of stepping into the movie Tron. But it was also the most time-intensive aspect of the project. “We encountered a couple extra layers of subfloor that we had to rip up, and the tile was laid down with almost a half inch of mortar. We had to chisel up every individual tile with a hand chisel, which was really labor intensive, but without doing that, you don’t have a fresh base to lay down new tile, so you don’t get a good finished product.” Functionally, it’s still the same, but now the homeowners navigate the space just a bit more naturally—each direction disguised as exploration. The lighting is warmer, and components feel like features. “The design was set when they built the house, and we just took it and flowed it a little better around the room,” leaving behind something seamless, eye catching, and obligatorily practical.

After

Kyle Jacobson is a copy editor and writer for Home Elements & Concepts. Photographs provided by Washa Remodeling & Design. View additional photographs at homeelementsandconcepts.com Washa Remodeling & Design 2605 S. Stoughton Road, Suite 300 Madison, WI 53716 608.838.8318 washaremodeling.com

Before

10 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com

FURNISHINGS & ACCESSORIES

Custom Furniture is for Everyone There’s nothing more impressive than a custom set of furniture in any room of the house. It’s art you interact with every day that can be overengineered to last forever. These are the pieces your heirs will fight over. You’ll probably brag about how little you actually paid for that industrial workbench turned coffee table. The process of working with a designer to create a piece isn’t just unique, it allows you to set a budget for the team of artists to work within. And custom doesn’t have to mean starting from scratch. Oftentimes, the modification of an existing piece saves money and creates something meaningful to you. For space saving, there’s nothing better. Set your parameters on a dining table that can convert to a workstation and into a bar. Custom furniture isn’t a status symbol, it’s a reflection of the person who owns it. Turn your home into something that’s a little more you, and a little less big-box showroom.

Items sourced from Pieces Unimagined. piecesunimagined.com

12 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com

HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS

REMODEL/RENOVATION

YOU GET What You Pay For As design professionals in the building industry, we often hear, and sometimes even say, that you get what you pay for. This Madison area teardown and rebuild home is a perfect example. The style preference of the owners of this home was for something somewhat understated, yet elegant; more casual and comfortable; and all with materials and finishes rugged enough to withstand heavy use with minimal upkeep.

14 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com

The first-floor powder bath is a small six-foot room dominated by a beautiful, floating vanity. The front has two large drawers faced with sculptured, grain-matched walnut panels. Grain matching is not an option with all cabinet providersâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;it requires quality materials and craftsmanship

for production. The top is a translucent quartzite material called Iceberg. The kitchen was designed to be a gathering space and hub for this larger family to entertain in. It opens to the dining

HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS

area and is 33 feet long, and the center island is 10 feet. In general, the size of a large island is determined by the size of the slab used for the top. Walnut beams crafted by the builder add warmth to the large room. The kitchen includes an integrated wet bar, complete with entertaining sink and undercounter beverage and wine refrigerators. Kitchen islands need outlets. Often this is an afterthought leading to an ugly outlet or two destroying the visual aesthetic of a tailored cabinet. The designers at Kitchen Ideas Center incorporate electrical needs in the design of an island's cabinetry. Instead of looking like an afterthought, outlets are integral to the design.

16 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com

The great room is two stories with two-story windows. The stone fireplace surround was taken up to the ceiling, rather than ending lower, so that the additional texture of the

stone would add coziness to this large volume of space. The wood newels and iron balusters of the railing system at the upper catwalk are visible from this room.

HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS

The lower-level rec room houses another entertaining and gathering space: the bar. Stacked stone pilasters flank the back bar, which consists of inset rustic walnut cabinets with a square-bead edge detail, and a 72-inch-wide commercial undercounter beverage refrigerator. On the back bar between the two glass-door cabinets is a stepped bottle shelf made of translucent Corian. LED rope lights illuminate the bottle shelves from below, highlighting the multicolored array of beverages. The lower level also houses the wine cellar. The wine-bottlestorage-system kit was shipped in pieces and assembled on site by the builder. Custom tiles were used throughout both bathrooms, and the cabinetry is weathered alder with quartz countertops. The rebuilt home showcases quality craftmanship and finishes, and the work completed by the selected design professionals was truly appreciated by the homeowner and family. Photographs by S.Photography/Shanna Wolf. View additional photographs at homeelementsandconcepts.com Kitchen Ideas Center kitchenideascenter.com Olson Brothers Building olsonbrothersbuilding.com Laurie Driscoll Interiors, Inc. ldinteriors.net Luce Lighting and Design, LLC lucelighting.com 18 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com

Made for You in Wisconsin for over 60 years

LOVE | SERVE | CARE

• Sustainably Manufactured in Sun Prairie • Bring this in for 40% off any Hallman Lindsay Product • All Hallman Lindsay Quality Interior/Exterior Paint and Stain is 100% Wisconsin Made & Mixed Discover over 3000 paint colors at our 5 Madison area locations.

Downtown Madison • Madison West •Middleton •Monona • Sun Prairie *40% off applies to any purchase of a Hallman Lindsay labeled paint or stain product. Offer expires 5/30/2020 HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS

TECHNOLOGY

Sustainable

LIVING

Windows of Opportunity Today’s Styles Have Plenty to Offer

While new windows enhance your home’s aesthetic appeal and can increase its value, they also can improve energy efficiency. It’s an important consideration as heat loss and gain through windows is responsible for up to 30 percent of the energy used for residential heating and cooling.

Additional frame options include fiberglass, which is stronger than vinyl and can be very energy efficient. Fiberglass frames can also be fabricated to resemble wood. Another option is composite, which combines the strength and stability of wood with the rot resistance and low maintenance of vinyl.

Understanding different types of windows and materials used in their construction is essential in choosing the right option for your home. From frames to glass, there’s plenty to consider when it comes to looks, upkeep, functionality, and energy efficiency.

How Many Panes? Many older homes have single-pane windows, which are made with one pane of glass. A more energy-efficient option is a double-pane window, which consists of two glass panes with an insulating gas between the panes. Doublepane windows offer more layers of protection between the weather and your home.

Frame of Reference Many residential windows are made from wood. If you select this option, be sure to check for certification by the Window and Door Manufacturers Association. Wood windows offer good insulating value, but may require more upkeep than other styles. Consider wood windows with vinyl or aluminum cladding on the outer surface because they require less maintenance and don’t need painting. Well-built wood windows can stand the test of time, but they may be more susceptible to mold. Vinyl frames are a popular style. They’re low maintenance and easy to clean. Sunlight and extreme temperatures used to degrade vinyl, but better vinyl window grades are now available. Look for certification by the American Architectural Manufacturer’s Association. A wellconstructed vinyl window can be practical and offer excellent energy efficiency. 20 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com

Double-pane windows made with low-E glass are a good choice for saving energy. This type of glass is coated with a glaze that reflects heat radiation from the sun while still bringing in sunlight. Double-pane windows come in a variety of sizes and styles. There are also triple-pane windows. Considered more of a luxury product, triple-pane windows are fabricated with three panes of glass. This design increases the amount of insulating space, making them very energy efficient. They also effectively keep out outdoor noise. However, triplepane windows are costly and quite heavy, which may require modifications to your home’s structure. They also may reduce visibility and light transmittance.

Installation is Key Even the most energy-efficient windows can’t do their job if they’re not installed properly. Be sure to have your new windows installed by trained professionals according to the manufacturer’s instructions. If you do not, your warranty could be void.

• Check for air leaks, then consider a window film to eliminate drafts. Be sure a full seal is made with the frame of the window. If there’s even a small hole or area that isn’t sealed, it will diminish the effectiveness of the covering. Another option is a temporary caulk that peels off when you want it off.

Check the Label Once you decide on the type of windows to purchase, be sure to look for the ENERGY STAR® label. The ENERGY STAR® label indicates a product is independently certified to save energy. Check the label to be sure the windows you’re considering are certified to meet the criteria for your climate. Homes in Wisconsin are in the Northern Climate Zone.

Ask the Experts Window shopping can be complicated. MGE is available to answer your questions and provide tips on new windows as well as making existing windows more energy efficient. MGE’s energy experts are available 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, at 608.252.7117. Or you can email AskExperts@mge.com.

You’ll also see the National Fenestration Rating Council’s (NFRC’s) energy-performance rating on the label. This is similar to the mileage sticker on cars except the lower the NFRC-rated U-factor, the better the energy performance. This rating is the only way to accurately compare the energy efficiency of windows. The solar heat gain coefficient is also listed, which indicates how well a product blocks heat from the sun. In Wisconsin, it may be better to choose windows with a lower solar heat gain for the west and south sides of the house to keep out extra heat during the summer. Windows with a higher solar heat gain could work well on the north and east sides because they let in more of the sun’s light, which heats up your home in the winter. Update Existing Windows for Energy Efficiency Keep in mind that buying energy-efficient windows can reduce energy costs, but it takes at least 20 years to recover the cost of the new windows in energy savings. Replacing all the windows in a house rarely saves more than 15 percent of your home’s heating and cooling bill. If your existing windows are in good condition, taking steps to improve their energy efficiency may be the most cost-effective way to increase comfort and save on energy costs.

Other Resources • mge2050.com • mge.com/saving-energy Photographs provided by MGE. Energy Efficiency Kit focusonenergy.com/seesignup ENERGY STAR energystar.gov Focus on Energy focusonenergy.com/smart MGE Connect mge.com/MGEConnect

• Use window shades strategically. During the cooling season, sun that shines on your windows heats up your home. Close window coverings to reduce heat gain. During the heating season, open window coverings to take advantage of natural light and heat from the sun. • Lock up. When heating or cooling your home, don’t just shut your windows—lock them as well. This step can be overlooked, but is very important. The locking mechanism activates a seal that helps keep the air you heat or cool stay inside your home. HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS

LANDSCAPE

RAIN GARDENS Practical and Beautiful

by Karina Mae

Rudbeckia hirta, commonly called black-eyed Susan

When the rain comes lately, it pours down hard, leaving trails in its wake and amazing us with how much it collects. How we manage rain can vary, but a rain garden is nature’s truest solution. With a little work on the install, you can be left with a treasure that will delight you, nurture the earth, and manage your rainfall without you having to think much about it. There are a plethora of options and questions when you explore keeping water on site. How do you begin? What do you want the water-moving entity to look like? Do you want plants? Would you like to see rocks? Big ones or small ones? How much water should you prepare for? What happens

22 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com

if it doesn’t rain? What’s the upkeep? Rain gardens can be broken down pretty simply though, and can be installed easily enough to manage your watershed. It’s extremely important to first look up before looking down. Consider your roof layout and downspout positioning. How much of the roof feeds your downspout? A quick measurement of the catchment area will help determine the depth, size, and positioning of the retention area. Minimally, stay four feet from any foundation and three feet from any sidewalk. Call Diggers Hotline (811) to pinpoint gas utilities and electrical lines. Determining where other utilities, underground electrical wires, internet cables, plumbing,

phone, etc., are located is equally important. Other considerations should include nearby tree roots, plantings, yard features, and pathways. When the rough position and amount of water the rain garden must move has been determined, shape is next. Recessed-ditch retention or rock-filled drainage? You can plant a shallow, round ditch with a smooth bottom and water-drinking plants, or fill a deeper, more compact-sized retention with varying sized rocks—small on the bottom and large on the top—creating a level surface. You can maintain plants or have rocked drainage that feeds existing lawn, trees, and gardens. These decisions lump together because they take you different directions. One option is a lush, rich garden filled with native plants and trees, bumbling with beneficial insects of all kinds, while the other is lovely, simple, and serene, yet more geological looking, all while managing rainfall with a bit less upkeep. Incorporating a sunken corrugated or PVC pipe is often a needed component for the nonplanted varieties to adequately move the water. Rain garden plants work double duty, as they not only look pretty and promote healthy insect life, but also drink tons of water. Without these thirsty friends, you’ll need to consider the method the water travels underground and away from your building, which is largely reliant on how much water you’re dealing with.

Author’s favorite rain garden plants:

The best shapes for rain gardens resemble large, wide cereal bowls with large edges, a designed spill side, and deeper basin ends or tributaries to ease overflow. These bowl irregularities allow additional collection and feed auxiliary plants or areas while giving you more control over where any extra water would flow. This is where the PVC piping comes into play. It’s extremely important to maintain an outwardly or downward path to the overall bottom of the retention area. Any tributaries should maintain this slope with the annex areas dug to feed out to them or be slightly deeper to allow for another pooling area. These shapes and outlets often operate best when not perfectly circular, but parabolic, almost octopus looking. Multiple pooling areas can be very beneficial if you have a lot of water or a larger planting zone and want to be sure you’re distributing the moisture more evenly downstream. Be sure the downward slope is in overall effect. Personally, and for safety reasons, I prefer to keep all ground leveled or raised in appearance, though trenches may run deep. I choose to fill retentions first with a layer of sand, several inches of clear stone or pea gravel or both, and then cover with either pea gravel for foot traffic or large stone to create a feature that’s prominent in all four seasons. These rock-filled trenches, sometimes called French drains, often stay wet much longer than the ground, thaw earlier, and reduce insect larvae capability. I usually select a few key

Carex, Variegated Japanese Sedge

Lobelia cardinalis, Red cardinal flower Schizachyrium Scoparium, Little blue stem Monarda Media, Bergamot Eupatorium fistulosum, Joe-Pye weed Asclepias incarnata, Swamp milkweed Vernonia noveboracensis, Ironweed Phlox Maculate, Meadow Phlox Iris versicolor, Blue Flag Iris Thalictrum Pubescens, Meadow Rue Geranium Maculatum, Wild geranium Anything Carex variety, Sedge Sambucus canadensis, Elderberry Cornus varieties, Dogwood Lindera benzoin, Spicebush Betula negra, River Birch, Celtis occidentalis, Hackberry

HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS

stones to help break the flow from the downspout wherever it seems appropriate. Checking things in a downpour so you can adjust as needed is wise.

Asclepias incarnata, Swamp milkweed

If you do not rock your garden, be sure slopes descend gradually, are shallower than rock rain gardens, packed well at the base. If you fill it, the edges may be sharper and more jagged looking, and you can create a deep basin. The planting area surrounding or filling these retentions should be varieties specific to rain gardens. There are many resources, but pay attention to native varieties, sun preferences, and salt tolerances if the garden will be edging sidewalks or driveways. Many trees and shrubs can drink just as much water and bring in greatly differing habitats and finished looks. General upkeep includes keeping waterways flowing and clear of debris. Adjust flow blockers if too much force is damaging or disrupting plants or soil. Plant maintenance

can plant in these shallow basins

large rocks on top planting space

small rocks on bottom

side view of retention basin planted

side view of retention area deeper, stepped, and rock filled

is minimal for perennial beds. Once establishedâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;three to four yearsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;your rain garden perennials should have deep enough roots that they can withstand several weeks of dry weather and be relatively unaffected. Long-term droughts, though, may cause some species to go dormant, sometimes rendering them dead. Midwest rainfalls seem to be increasing, as does our need to compensate. A rain garden can be both a practical and beautiful solution for your home. Karina Mae is the designer and team leader at Garden Search & Rescue.

Illustration by Karina Mae

Garden Search & Rescue Madison, WI 608.438.9571 gardensearchandrescue.com

overview of parabolic shapped retention; the center area is still graded the deepest

Formula for measuring amount of flow and size of raingarden: Width X Length of catchment area (roof) /

overview options with annexjoints and tribularies

the number of downspouts multiplied by the amount of rainfall = gallons of rain 550 gallons of water for every 1,000 square feet per inch of rain 1 year average: Square feet / 1,000 X 550 X annual rainfall 50 square feet (5 X 10, 7 X 7, etc.) of planted garden can drink 200 Illustration by Karina Mae

24 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com

gallons of water per inch of rainfall.

HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS

BUSINESS DESIGN

Photograph provided by Abel Contemporary Gallery

Contemporary PROBLEMS Require Historical Solutions by Kyle Jacobson After

After 26 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com

Photograph provided by Abel Contemporary Gallery

Photograph by Eric Tadsen

Space needs order. Not that everything is in its place, but that navigationally things need to make sense. Even the most cluttered pack-rat wonderland jives with someone. But the task for a business taking on space is to make it comprehensible to everyone. When Theresa Abel and Tim O’Neill of Abel Contemporary Gallery moved their business from Paoli, the pieces fell into place for them to take on the old no. 5 tobacco warehouse in Stoughton, which had been living its latest life as an antique store. “What we loved about it is it was just a big open space. We could envision gutting the interior completely and simply having this giant open gallery space,” says Theresa. Two of the three 4,200-square-foot stories would work for their art gallery, and the basement would be rentable studio space. First things first, they had 12,000 square feet of white pegboard corridors, burgundy carpet, drywall, and shelving to tear down. Tim and Theresa weren’t strangers to renovation, but this was beyond anything they’d done. Theresa says, “Partway through, we realized it was going to be a huge project. We are handy people, but this was a much larger-scale building than anything we had previously tackled. It needed a completely new heating and cooling system, and all the electrical had to be redone. We brought in professionals for

During

Before HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS

Photograph provided by Abel Contemporary Gallery

After

to take on the design work for the new gallery. Suchi does phenomenal work around the globe, and our project would be in amazing company. Her work has been featured in national publications, and her project list is impressive. While visiting the building, she asked, ‘Can I design the gallery for you?’ “We looked at her stunned and said, ‘We can’t afford you for a minute.’ During Photograph provided by Abel Contemporary Gallery

those updates. The work was still overwhelming, and simply finding the time for demolition was daunting.” The problem then became twofold: no time and no money. They were working within a strict budget. Their fortune, however, had been amassing in relationship capital— owning a gallery has led to them building a community with patrons, friends, and the artists they represent. Everyone came together to ensure the new space would be a success. In addition to the manual help with renovations, someone else from their lives pulled through in a rather unexpected way. “One of our dearest friends, Suchi Reddy of Reddymade Design and Architecture in Manhattan, offered 28 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com

“And she said, ‘I want to do this because I love you and we’re friends. If this isn’t why we do the work that we do as creative people, what are we doing it for?’ “She designed every wall and envisioned how you move through the space, creating movable wall systems that we have inside to make the gallery completely flexible. She’s amazing.” Not every aspect of Suchi’s vision was affordable at the time, but her ingenuity along with Theresa and Tim’s experience created a space that harmonizes with every piece exhibited. Museum lighting doesn’t just highlight the work, but also the exposed skeleton of the building. The resulting contrast is compelling. Original wood floors marked by blue-collar tenacity match dense structural timber columns that frame areas around the studio, inspiring direction.

Photograph by Eric Tadsen

After

This unique scale showcases industrial design of the past, and remains to preserve the story of the building.

“There’s something about the way you walk through the space,” says Theresa. “There is a clear view from the front of the building to the end, making the art on the rear wall a crescendo.” And everything is movable, so different exhibits can be focal points. One distinct area of the main floor breaks away from the darker, footstep-patinaed wood to a sanded, cream-colored maple. Here, an exhibit can be shown in an entirely different element, allowing a more-expected gallery experience behind a weathered brick column. This room provides the option of displaying pieces in natural light, which works better for some artists and mediums. The upstairs continues the warehouse motif, but instead of columns, a large tobacco-elevator-sized hole is surrounded with a railing system complete with overhead electric motor and pulley. This space feels even more open than the large main floor, affording sculptures their deserved prominence.

Photograph by Eric Tadsen

After

The original tobacco elevator and railing system complete with overhead electric motor and pulley remains on display. The no.5 room entrance can be seen on the right.

After HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS

Photograph provided by Abel Contemporary Gallery

100-year-old drawing of a tobacco pipe from an employee of the warehouse’s past.

After Photograph by Eric Tadsen

In the corner, Theresa and Tim built what I found to be the heart of the potential everyone saw in the building: the no. 5 room. It’s a place for experimental pieces that give visitors a glimpse into the mind of an artist. When I was there, pools of water on suspended clear plastic refracted light onto wooden cities below. It’s really a place where a concept can be born as well as presented, breaking conventional restrictions of customary gallery spaces. On the frame of the entrance to no. 5 is a potentially 100-year-old drawing of a tobacco pipe from an employee of the warehouse’s past. The building is filled with these relics—markings, initials made of nail heads pounded into columns, and abundant dents from hammer strikes, offering a stage for those historical voices to intermingle with those from the artwork. “The warmth of the wood and the architecture gives people a good feeling when they walk in as well as the way that we have displayed things and the welcoming way the staff approaches people," says Theresa. "We want you to be able to visualize a painting in your home. We want the work to be approachable and for you to want to spend time with it. We want you to feel like you belong here.”

30 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com

The no. 5 room

Remnants of the building's past can be found intermingled with the gallery art. Photograph provided by Abel Contemporary Gallery

There’s still a lot the space has to tell Theresa and Tim about how to best use it. Since every podium and interior wall can be moved, there’s a never-ending host of layouts to be discovered. One addition they hope to incorporate is an L-shaped staircase (designed by Suchi) in the middle of the room that would lead visitors up through the hole left by the elevator. The result through each addition and rearrangement is something that demands exploration. Best of all, everybody who enters the space is experiencing as intended because, as is true with every piece of art in the gallery, the intention is left to interpretation. Kyle Jacobson is a copy editor and writer for Home Elements & Concepts. View additional photographs at homeelementsandconcepts.com Abel Contemporary Gallery 524 East Main Street Stoughton, WI 53589 608.845.6600 abelcontemporary.com

Everyone Needs a Table.

Local artists using reclaimed woods and metals to create unique and useful furnishings and accents... affordably priced, well built.

NED

UNIMA GI

P I ECE

Stop in and see what we have this week!

T. 2 0 1 5

Located on Creative and Funky Williamson Street! 1228 Williamson Street • Madison WI 53703 Open: 7 days 10am - 6pm 608.280.1155 • piecesunimagined.com

HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS

LANDSCAPE

Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) by Samara Eisner

Botanical Name: Asclepias tuberosa Common Name: butterfly weed Family: Apocynaceae Height: two to three feet Spread: one to two feet Light: full sun Habitat: dry, sandy soil to medium, well-drained soils (occurs in dry/ rocky open woods, grassy meadows, prairies, fields, and roadsides) Native Range: New England south to Florida, west to Texas, and north through Colorado to Minnesota Zone: 3 to 9 Hardiness: 5 to 9

As Wisconsinites, most of us have our food thing: our irresistible, can’t-live-without-it thing. Whether it’s fresh squeaky cheese curds, beer brats, apple kringle, Friday fish fry, or locally crafted beer, most of us have one thing we’ll go the extra mile for. For the monarch butterfly, milkweed (Asclepias) is it. In fact, it’s the monarch caterpillar’s (larvae’s) one and only thing. Perhaps one of the showiest milkweeds is Asclepias tuberosa because of its colorful, long-lasting blooms. As Wisconsin’s only orange-flowering Asclepias, it’s easy to identify. The twoto three-inch-wide orange flower clusters appear midsummer and sit atop two- to three-foot-tall plants.

Photograph by Samara Eisner

32 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com

Photograph by Samara Eisner

HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS

Photograph by Kai Skadahl

Why milk is missing in its common name? This species lacks milky latex in its foliage, making it a nice cut flower. The roots were once used for medicinal purposes, including treatment of pleurisy. As a result, another common name is pleurisy root.

The flower color is primarily orange, but ranges from orange yellow to red and will continue blooming until early fall. The flowers are followed by several slim, attractive pods bursting with silky parachutes ready to drift in the wind. This rugged, drought-tolerant plant is easy to grow in soils ranging from dry and sandy to medium and well drained. As a sun-loving perennial, it dies back in winter and resprouts from underground tubers in late spring. Because of their large taproot (tuber), Aslecpias tuberosa are difficult to transplant. They’re best established as young plants or by seed. Make Asclepias tuberosa your thing. Not only will you support monarch caterpillars, you’ll provide many other butterflies

34 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com

with a much-needed, irresistible nectar source. Whether planting them in massive quantities in garden beds or dotting them throughout a border, you can’t go wrong with milkweed, commonly referred to as butterfly weed, one of our showiest native wildflowers. Samara Eisner is a horticulturist at Olbrich Botanical Gardens. Olbrich Botanical Gardens 3330 Atwood Avenue Madison, WI 53704 608.246.4550 olbrich.org

Have you met

Audrey? She’s in the lobby. Grab a drink at the bar and learn more about her... Located in the Hilton Madison Hotel 9 East Wilson Street • www.theaudreykitchenandbar.com

HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS

FURNISHINGS & ACCESSORIES

Garages: Get Off the Floor Mastering Your Storage Spaces Brought to You by

Cabinets for every

room in your home!

Where do you keep your vacuum cleaner? How about your dishes? Card table? Pet food? My guess is the answer to most of these questions is not “leaned up against a wall in the living room or kitchen.” So why do we give things in our garage this treatment? Sure, it’s where the cars live and it’s practically outside, but the cars aren’t going to pick up after us. If you took all the clutter in your garage and put it in most kitchens, you’d be lucky to have floor space left over. Chris Schmidt of Cabinet City says, “The garage is perceived as this dirty place. The cars are never clean. The floor is always dirty. Putting some sort of hanging rack system or cabinetry in

36 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com

the garage for your personal items would make everything feel less dirty.” Hand tools, lawn tools, and dog tools make your garage look a bit of a mess when they’re scattered about or in piles. Another thing people don’t think about is getting their bikes and kayaks off the floor. Even if you use these items several times a week, cargo carriers and racking mounts can be so easy to utilize that putting things away isn’t much different than hanging up your coat. Lastly, consider all that space in your garage’s attic. It’s great for seasonal items and other decorations used on an annual basis. Keeping the garage clean is part of keeping the house clean. When the garage is organized, you might find that you can move some of the indoor clutter to a giant room you didn’t even know you had. Photographs provided by Cabinet City.

HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS

FINANCIAL

RISING Salaries and Rental COSTS Mean More Homebuying Among Single Females by Jessica Steinhoff

Efforts to achieve gender equity in the workplace are fueling home sales. According to the National Association of Realtors’ latest survey of buyers and sellers, single women are now the second-largest group of Americans buying homes. That’s 18 percent of the homeowning population, up more than 10 percent from the early 1980s. Demographically, single women buying the most homes are baby boomers, but women age 37 and younger are also eager to purchase a piece of the American dream.

According to Julio Rios, vice president of mortgage lending at UW Credit Union, a home can be a smart investment for many people, including single women seeking financial stability. “The equity you build by owning a home can be a valuable resource when you want to retire or if you experience a financial emergency,” he says. “It’s good to have that cushion if you’re living on one income. It can help you if you lose your job or have a big expense, like a medical bill.”

Though downsizing and marrying later may play a role, much of this trend is attributed to progress in the employment arena. While a wage gap still exists between women and men, women are earning higher salaries and controlling more wealth than ever before. And many are seeking investment opportunities.

Homeownership is also a way to escape rising rents, which can consume much of a single person’s budget. Researchers at the University of Wisconsin–Madison say there’s a sizable affordability gap in Dane County’s rental housing market. This means there aren’t enough available units that rent for less than 30 percent of the occupant’s

38 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com

income. With the monthly rent for a one-bedroom Madison apartment averaging $1,125, people earning an annual salary of $45,000 or less are at risk of living somewhere they can’t afford or being priced out of the market entirely. In some cases, homeownership is a budget-friendly alternative. If a woman earning $45,000 a year purchased a home for $130,000 with a $7,000 down payment and a 30year mortgage at a 4 percent interest rate, she might find herself in better circumstances than she would as a renter. Even with property taxes and private mortgage insurance, it’s possible for her total monthly housing costs to fall below $1,100. By spending less than 30 percent of her income on housing, she’d have an affordable housing situation. Plus, she’d amass equity and have a place of her very own. Adding a mortgage to any monthly budget is big decision. According to Julio, it’s important that mortgage seekers are set up to succeed. For a mortgage loan officer, this means finding the right type of loan for the homebuyer’s financial

situation, lifestyle, and goals. “If you’re buying a home on your own, it’s very important to have a monthly payment that’s manageable,” he says. “Our mortgage lending team makes sure homebuyers know how to plan for costs, such as property taxes and insurance, and that they don’t borrow more than they need. This puts them in the best possible position for the future.” Tools, such as home-affordability calculators, can be helpful during the homebuying process, but there’s no substitute for one-on-one advice from a pro. Plus, learning about mortgages and equity can boost a buyer’s confidence when it’s time to make an offer. That’s why it’s important for mortgage loan officers to be strong and supportive educators. “We want homebuyers to know they’re building a strong foundation for the future, and that we’re here to help them along the way at every stage of life,” Julio says. In other words, empowerment matters. And for many women, the most empowering way to enter the next stage of life is with the keys to a new home in hand. Jessica Steinhoff is a senior copywriter with UW Credit Union, which offers educational seminars, credit consolidation consultations, and other services for homebuyers. For details, see uwcu.org/loans/home-loans. UW Credit Union 3500 University Avenue Madison, WI 53705 800.533.6773 uwcu.org

HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS

“My customers make my childhood and family’s dream of owning a business come true every day.” - Jernia, Owner JNJ Craftworks, Verona

Find 600+ local business owners that you can support!

danebuylocal.com

40 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com

TADSEN PHOTOGRAPHY DRONE - ARCHITECTURE - PRODUCT TADPHOTO.COM 608-469 -2255

g ds

shop. home. offers. products. Services.

Classic, Traditional Mid-Century

Classic traditional design will last a lifetime! Bring style into your home... affordably priced, well built.

NED

UNIMA GI

P I ECE

Stop in and see what we have this week!

T. 2 0 1 5

1228 Williamson Street • Madison WI 53703 Open: 7 days 10am - 6pm 608.280.1155 • piecesunimagined.com

HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS

LEGACY

Beyond Tours: Experiential Tourism by Christina Harrington, Visitor Experience Manager

42 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com

Taliesin was originally intended to be used as a center for experimentation, sharing new ideas, and creating improved ways of living. Taliesin Preservation, the Wisconsinbased nonprofit organization charged with preserving the Taliesin legacy and methods of educating the public, makes innovative thinking and living its guide to future visitor experiences.

Most often, visitors to Taliesin take one of four regularly offered tours. Led by experienced guides, these tours allow visitors to experience and learn about the history and architecture of Frank Lloyd Wrightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s personal home and estate. Tours are the most accessible way visitors can see the home, and they regularly usher in over 27,000 visitors annually. While our tours are successful and continue to grow, Taliesin Preservation is committed to finding new ways to engage visitors.

Soaring high above Taliesin Preservation, the Wisconsin-based nonprofit organization charged with preserving the history and architecture of Frank Lloyd Wrightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s personal home and estate.

Visitors hiking the Welsh Hills Trail.

Photograph by Mike McDermott

Photograph by Aron Meudt-Thering

HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS

The Twilight at Taliesin evening experience is one way visitors can experience Taliesin much in the same way Frank Lloyd Wright and his apprentices and guests would have while living and staying on the estate. Unlike guided tours, guests are encouraged to explore the home at their own pace with a tour guide on hand to give a brief introduction to Taliesin. Throughout the experience, guests enjoy wine and hors d’oeuvres provided by the Food Artisan Immersion Program at Taliesin, an immersive educational program that teaches culinary students how to responsibly source seasonal ingredients and create sustainable food. Twilight at Taliesin is offered later in the evening to experience the golden hour in the hills surrounding the house and the warm glow of the Wright-designed lighting, often missed during daytime tours. The tour ends on Wright’s terrace to enjoy dessert in the night air. Twilight at Taliesin is meant to make visitors feel like the personal guests of the Wrights and enjoy the home as an entertainment space. This experience is ideal for visitors looking to explore the house in a different setting, and for returning guests seeking an authentic Taliesin experience. The Garden Tours at Taliesin are another unique way to see the estate and connect with nature for inspiration and innovation. This experience is meant for visitors with an interest in gardening or the outdoors looking for a relaxing evening, or even those Wright fans that want to delve more into the nature of Taliesin, a key theme of Wright’s organic architecture.

44 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com

Also set in the evening hours, the garden tour is spent outside of the buildings examining the enchanting landscape and carefully curated gardens. A tour guide leads you around a path not taken by any other tour, with views of the natural hillside and the guest wing beneath the main floor. Guests are then led up the front steps to the garden courtyard, a space Frank Lloyd Wright intended to perfectly unite the interior and exterior of the house. The gardens surrounding the buildings are all restored to the historic, organic style originally intended, with plants selected because of their historic connection. The garden stroll ends with refreshments on a terrace overlooking the valley. Visitors with limited time or seeking something other than a guided tour can still enjoy a unique perspective of the estate. A hiking trail starting at the Frank Lloyd Wright Visitor Center is a great way to experience the landscape native to Taliesin while also affording unique views of Taliesin, Midway Barn, and much more. This mile-long trail weaves in and out of wooded hillsides bordering Highway 23 across from the estate. The trail passes through the lower slopes of remnant prairies, once almost completely covered by aggressively growing cedar trees. In recent years, Taliesin Preservation has worked to remove these trees and return the land to native prairies. During the summer months, a trail walk will show glimpses of unique prairie flowers and grasses. The path ends across the street from Unity Chapel, one of Wright’s earliest collaborations in architecture, next to the Lloyd-Jones/Wright family cemetery. This building is

Visitors enjoying the June Farm Dinner at Taliesin.

Photograph by Aron Meudt-Thering

not currently featured on any Taliesin tours, so the hiking trail provides a great path of discovery to explore this hidden gem. From its beginning, Taliesin was meant to be a place to create and experiment with new ideas. Taliesin Preservation strives to uphold the legacy that the public should experience this iconic place in innovative ways beyond the typical tour. These experiential tours are meant to show visitors how to integrate nature, art, and culture into everyday life. Taliesin Preservation hopes to continue with this tradition and explore new methods to share Frank Lloyd Wrightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vision of living with visitors. Christina Harrington is the visitor experience manager at Taliesin. View additional photographs at homeelementsandconcepts.com Taliesin Preservation Frank Lloyd Wright Visitor Center 5607 County Road C Spring Green, WI 53588 taliesinpreservation.org

Photograph by Aron Meudt-Thering

HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS

– Advertiser index Abel Contemporary Gallery 31,

AmeriDown Factory Outlet 41 The Audrey Kitchen + Bar 35 Beckman Builders 47 Cabinet City 25

Enter the – Drawing to Win

WOLFF KUBLY

Housewares • Hardware • Garden • Time Center

Coyle Carpet One 5 Dane Buy Local 40 Dane County Humane Society

Dream House Dream Kitchens 2 Garden Search & Rescue 25 Hallman Lindsay Paints

Iconi Interiors & Consignment 35 Legacy Exteriors 35 M.O.D. Media Productions 40 MGE 5 Monroe Street Framing 19 NARI Madison Chapter 35 The Patio Warehouse 41 Pieces Unimagined 31,

Shire Wood / Accord Realty 25 Simply Creative Productions 31 Tadsen Photography 40 UW Credit Union 48 Washa Remodeling & Design 11 Wolff Kubly Hardware 31

– PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS! Towns & Associates, Inc. is happy to provide local lifestyle magazines free of charge to the Greater Madison area. We could not do so without the support of our advertising sponsors, and we appreciate every one of them. We hope that you will consider them when deciding where to dine, shop, and play, and when you need services. These businesses represent the true entrepreneurial spirit of our community! 46 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com

Win 4 gallons of Benjamin Moore Regal Select Paint A value of up to $248. Enter by submitting your name, mailing address, phone number, and email at homeelementsandconcepts.com, or by mail to: Home Elements & Concepts c/o Towns & Associates, Inc. PO Box 174 Baraboo, WI 53913-0174 All entries will be entered into a drawing. Deadline is June 16, 2020.

Good Luck!

Winner Thank you to everyone who entered our previous drawing. The winner of the 2 gallons of Magnolia Home interior paint by Joanna Gaines of HGTV fame from Wolff Kubly is Marsha Zelmanski of Madison, WI.

Congratulations!

Time For A New Home? Try A New Lender. At UW Credit Union, we have mortgages for every stage of life. Whether it's for a starter home or a dream home, our dedicated team guides you through the process while ensuring you get the right loan that helps you move in faster. Discover why 95% of our members say we meet or exceed their expectations.* Apply today!

Mortgages For Every You. | uwcu.org *UW Credit Union critical measure survey data from 2019.