CONTENT
NOVEMBER 2021-JANUARY 2022
VOL. 20
publisher Amy S. Johnson ajohnson@homeelementsandconcepts.com editorial director Amy S. Johnson info@homeelementsandconcepts.com lead designer Jennifer Denman senior copy editor & lead staff writer Kyle Jacobson copy editor Krystle Naab
Photograph provided by Garden Search & Rescue
Photograph by A&J Photography, provided by Degnan Design-Build-Remodel
sales & marketing director Amy S. Johnson ajohnson@homeelementsandconcepts.com designers Crea Stellmacher, Linda Walker, Barbara Wilson administration Debora Knutson contributing writers AmeriDown Factory Outlet, Abe Degnan, Dreamhouse Dreamkitchens, Karina Mae, MGE, Jason Scott, Sketchworks Architecture, Dale Tomalin photographs A&J Photography, AmeriDown Factory Outlet, Degnan Design-Build-Remodel, Dreamhouse Dreamkitchens, Garden Search & Rescue, MGE, Chad Renly, C|R Prints & Photography LLC, Spray-Net 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.
BUSINESS DESIGN
Reach Dane's Healing Space for Kids and Families
30
designing a high-quality early childcare facility serving underserved children
FINANCIAL
Maximize Your Home's Return on Investment: Kitchen Renovations 36 kitchen projects that offer a strong return on investment
FURNISHINGS & ACCESSORIES
Allergen-Free Sleep
12
making your bedroom allergy free
The Right Bathroom for You tips on updating your bathroom
20
LANDSCAPE/GARDENING
Turning Nasty Nature into Dreamy Reality transforming an overgrown and unsightly yard
REMODEL/RENOVATION
Bringing Up the Past
6
an exterior makeover and new main-level floor plan turn a house into a dream home
16
advertise To place an advertisement, please call 608.356.8757 or email ajohnson@homeelementsandconcepts.com.
Spray-Net Cabinet Transformation
all rights reserved. ©2021 No portion of this magazine may be reproduced without prior written permission by Home Elements & Concepts.
Sustainable Living: Heat Your Home Efficiently This Winter
Watch for the next issue February 2022.
From The Publisher
Cover photograph by A&J Photography, provided by Degnan Design-Build-Remodel.
22
an easy, cost-effective way to transform the look of your cabinets
TECHNOLOGY
28
steps to save on one of your home's biggest energy users: heating
4 Advertiser Index 38
HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS
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from the publisher This issue ends one year and begins the next, which is perfect because it’s time to start planning your next home projects. A good place to start is to establish a wish list of all the things you’d like to do, and then decide which projects are necessary and which are not as urgent. Establish a budget and decide the projects that could be DIY and which will require professionals. When considering DIY, though, it’s important to make a realistic assessment about your abilities; otherwise, you could end up spending more time and money to fix or redo a job than you would have had you worked with a professional from the beginning. Start setting up appointments as soon as possible, as it’s common for designers and tradespeople to be booked out months in advance. Find the best fit as soon as possible to make it onto their schedule. Whether an indoor or outdoor project, a professional will take you through the process and ensure no part or potential difficulties are overlooked. For DIY projects, determine the most effective and efficient time schedule. Does a DIY project need to coordinate with a professional job? What supplies do you need and how quickly can you get them? Do you need to research projects plans? There are also seasonal logistics. Whether your project is DIY or professional, weather is something to contend with, especially in Wisconsin. If you have inside and outside painting projects, spread them out by working outdoors in the spring, summer, and fall, and indoors in the winter. And if you’re working on your landscape, from planting flower beds to putting in a patio, there are things best done in certain seasons. I hope you’ll find this year’s planning to be exhilarating. It’s a great time to make your space perfect for you. And, of course, Home Elements & Concepts will continue to present a range of practical and luxury ideas from talented professionals to make your plans a reality. Previous issues are archived at homeelementsandconcepts.com, so you can always refer back to them. Happy planning!
Amy Johnson
4 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
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REMODEL/RENOVATION
Bringing Up the Past John and Amy Stone bought a century-old Craftsman home in the heart of DeForest. The location, lifestyle, and beauty fit right in with their love of old houses. After living there for about a year, they were ready to turn the house into their dream home—into a new version of itself. The house needed a total exterior makeover as well as a new main-level floorplan on the interior. To create the home they envisioned, several goals would need to be met: a main-level bedroom suite with a remodeled bathroom, a larger kitchen not so closed off 6 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
by Abe Degnan
from the living spaces, an enlarged family room, and an attached garage, all while maintaining the best of the house’s character. Given the layout, a bit of creativity would be necessary, but Degnan Design-Build-Remodel were up to the task. Straightening up the rear-entry floorplan was only one step of reclaiming wasted space in the home. There were several key areas to address. At the front door, a very small interior foyer provided little benefit. By moving the front door to the other side of the house and giving it a more direct entrance
to the home, the reclaimed space gave what was needed for the master suite. Degnan was able to work in the main-level powder room, keeping guests separate from the master bathroom. At the back of the house, a porch had been enclosed and there was a maze of doors at the top of the basement stairway. This was simplified with an entry from the garage into kitchen-adjacent mudroom. The back porch was weatherized properly to provide an exit out to a new deck for grilling and to the backyard, with direct access to both the kitchen and basement without the excess doorways. With the doorway closed off, the primary living space could be relocated to the back of the home, where it looks out to the deck and private backyard. Because Degnan was doing the foundation for the garage, a delicate addition to the back of the family room provided just the right amount of space to give a generous, yet proportional, living space. Photograph provided by Degnan Design-Build-Remodel
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Photograph by A&J Photography
Photograph by A&J Photography
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Photograph by A&J Photography
Photograph by A&J Photography
Photograph provided by Degnan Design-Build-Remodel
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To further provide the desired privacy from the family room to the rest of the house, a large barn door was created. The door itself is actually two 32-inch doors joined together, discovered unfinished in the basement. Preserving the original wood floors in the house was important to John and Amy, and a pass through from the kitchen to the dining room helps to show it off. Worth noting, the formally dark and cluttered kitchen, complete with inadequate countertops and too many doors, is now an efficient galley—beautifully appointed with counter-depth appliances, a gas range, bold colors, and an attractive backsplash. Back at the front of the house, the master bedroom suite occupies space that had been a retrofitted bathroom, which originally would not have had indoor plumbing. The bedroom suite boasts a walkthrough closet; full bathroom, with a striking tiled shower and separate water closet; and even a stacked washer and dryer in a laundry closet. The clients 8 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
Considering the house was built before the luxury of indoor plumbing, it should also come as no surprise that heating was provided by an ancient boiler and there was no air conditioning. A rarity in our area, a high-efficiency boiler was installed and existing radiators were relocated to work with the new floor plan. Comprehensively, the home was retrofitted to be more airtight and energy efficient with new windows, housewrap, insulation, and siding.
Photograph by A&J Photography
now have the convenience of being able to live on the main level of the house without having to routinely go to the basement.
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Photograph by A&J Photography
“Working with Degnan Design-Build-Remodel made our dreams into a reality,” say John and Amy. “In a project of this magnitude, there will always be bumps along the way, especially during COVID-19, but Degnan’s team was responsive, thoughtful, and hardworking throughout.” Their home is an amazing example of how reinvestment in an older part of the community can yield comfortable and efficient results, letting them live every bit as well as those in newer homes, but with the character and beauty that can only be achieved through an authentic remodel. After
Photograph by A&J Photography
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HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS
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Photograph by A&J Photography
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Photograph provided by Degnan Design-Build-Remodel
Abe Degnan, owner of Degnan Design-Build-Remodel, helps change lives and solve problems by remodeling homes. A father of six, his passions outside of work are orphan hosting and adoption. View additional photographs at homeelementsandconcepts.com Degnan Design-Build-Remodel 128 Commerce Street DeForest, WI 53532 608.846.5963 degnandesignbuildremodel.com
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Before
10 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
President
Abe Degnan, CGR, CGB, CAPS
Project Designer
Dave Duewell, Senior Designer
Lead Carpenter
Kelly Lawton, CLC, CRPM
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.
Join us in creating a more sustainable future. Visit mge2050.com.
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HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS
11
FURNISHINGS & ACCESSORIES
Allergen-Free Sleep It’s estimated that 30 percent of adults and 40 percent of children in the United States suffer from allergies. That’s more than 50 million Americans, ranking allergies as the sixth leading chronic disease in our country. Over 35 percent of people living with allergies report disturbed sleep. For those struggling with allergies, the best place to start making your home allergy free (while getting a better night’s sleep) is in the bedroom. First step is a new pillow—look for hypoallergenic down or down alternative. Using a zippered pillow protector acts as a barrier to dust and is easy to remove and wash. If you like the feel of down but are highly allergy sensitive, choose a down alternative comforter and mattress pad spun to mimic the light, lofty characteristics of down. Dealing with allergies doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice comfort and style. AmeriDown Factory Outlet in Madison welcomes you to stop in and work with a bedding consultant who will help you find the best products to meet your needs. You may even improve the quality of your sleep and have the bed of your dreams!
Submitted by the AmeriDown Factory Outlet. ameridown.com
12 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS
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goods
14 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
s h o p. h o m e. o f f e r s . p r o d u c t s . s e r v i c e s .
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HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS
15
REMODEL/RENOVATION
SPRAY-NET Cabinet Transformation by Dale Tomalin 16 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
Refinishing your kitchen and bathroom cabinets is one of the most cost-effective ways to update and boost your home’s value. After all, it’s been said that kitchens and bathrooms sell homes. Spray-Net offers you a way to easily transform the look of your kitchen and bathrooms without having to spend a ton of money on replacing your cabinets or live through a disruptive remodel. Whether you want cabinets in the classic color of Chantilly Lace or a trendy choice, like Hale Navy, or maybe you want to paint your island one color and other cabinets another, Spray-Net can make your dream come true.
Just like its exterior painting service, Spray-Net offers a 15-year no-peel warranty. That alone is almost unheard of in the painting and coating industry. Spray-Net can offer this warranty because they manufacture their own specially formulated paint. What’s more, Spray-Net's 15-year warranty on peeling is transferable, a value-added feature for anyone looking to sell their home. To provide you with superior durability and a flawless factory finish, SprayNet’s polyurethane paint for kitchen and bathroom cabinets combines the best of all worlds. • the adhesion of a soft alkyd • the flexibility of urethane • the hardness of a polyurethane This formula makes the Spray-Net coating flexible enough to avoid cracking, hard enough to avoid chipping, smooth enough to wash easily, and tough enough to block stains. Their paints come in a low-toxicity, water-based formulation that conforms to Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association standards. The result is a seamless factory-quality finish that will have your friends asking you where you bought your brand-new cabinets. And there’s more good news: it can take Spray-Net as little as one day to transform your kitchen or bath. Spray-Net’s cabinet-painting process is so unique that it’s been featured by several high-profile renovation and interior design professionals on HGTV, and is a U.S. patent holder. You can head to spray-net.com to check out the range of colors offered for cabinets (custom colors are always an option too) and try out the Visualizer to imagine what your cabinets would
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“The team from SprayNet were great getting my cabinets painted, and saved us the ordeal of buying new cabinets. The process took two days—they did a perfect job, from taping to painting to clean up.”—Judy V
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look like updated with Spray-Net. Their Visualizer lets you upload a picture of your kitchen or bath and sample color options before deciding which color scheme works best for your home and personality.
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Like your kitchen but aren’t in love with it anymore? Go for it. Rethink renovation. A local Madison entrepreneur has partnered with Spray-Net to open the first Spray-Net location in southern Wisconsin. To book a free consultation about painting your kitchen or bathroom cabinets, call 608.471.7768. Whether you’re looking to boost your home’s value or give an out-of-date kitchen or bath a refresh, this new, innovative, and eco-friendly trend in home renovations is available to you.
Photographs provided by Spray-Net.
Dale Tomalin is a Madison entrepreneur passionate about helping people achieve their dreams. He’s excited to bring the Canadian-based Spray-Net concept to southern Wisconsin to create beautiful home transformations, affordable solutions, and happy customers.
Spray-Net 6706 Colony Drive Madison, WI 53717 608.471.7768 spray-net.com
18 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
Have big kitchen dreams and a small budget? Go for it. Spray-Net.
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Our patented paint solution bridges the gap between replacing & refacing your kitchen cabinets in one quick & cost-effective service.
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TRANSFORM YOUR HOME WITH OUR EXTERIOR PAINTING SERVICES
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Our patented and customized paint solutions ensure that we achieve a factory finish for every application, backed by our 15 YEAR WARRANTY against peeling.
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SPRAY-NET.COM
608.471.7768 After
Rethink renovation. HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS
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FURNISHINGS & ACCESSORIES
The Right Bathroom for You Mastering Your Spaces Brought to You by
For Every Room
in Your Home.
Who doesn’t like showing off work they had done on their house? New countertop, taking out a wall, changing up the flooring, it’s exciting. But not every room is something other people can appreciate. For instance, the owner suite. “Essentially, it’s a very private area,” says Chris Schmidt of Dreamhouse Dreamkitchens. “You’re customizing it to accommodate you.”
20 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
For a lot of homeowners, the bathroom is a fight for space. Oftentimes people think the solution might be a double vanity, but Chris says this might not be the solution for everyone. “Instead of having two separate sinks, which divides the vanity area up—you end up with a space on the left, a space in the middle, and a space on the right, not much counter space—how would you feel going with a big wide sink?” A wide sink isn’t as large as a kitchen sink, and has the added convenience of two faucets, one on each side. It eliminates the neutral middle zone, making each person’s space more clearly defined. To complement the new sink and keep your wall looking clean, consider an LED mirror. Chris says, “You look in a mirror to get ready, and you don’t stop until you’re satisfied with what you see in the mirror. Well, with an LED mirrors, it’s really great because you get even lighting, especially when it’s an LED border. And almost all of them come from the factory with defogger, so it’s completely clear even though the room is misty.” Nobody can tell you what the right bathroom is for your needs, but once you figure it out, there’s never been so many options and features to make it something just for you. Photographs provided by Dreamhouse Dreamkitchens.
HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS
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LANDSCAPE/GARDENING
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Turning Nasty Nature into
Dreamy Reality by Karina Mae There are too many reasons why a landscape or yard can become overgrown and unsightly. Depending on the duration and the kinds of plants that make our yards their home in that time, gaining ground can be challenging and daunting. So what do you do when your goals include things like not using chemicals, creating a birding and flower oasis, and giving yourself somewhere to land in that space? Welcome to one such story that started just as gnarly as they come.
22 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
We were called first back in 2019 to help plant a pollinator garden, rain gardens, a patio, and design for colorful growth. This homeowner wanted her yard back, and her plans included all her dreams; this is where she wanted to spend the rest of her life. What we found was nothing but large aging and decaying trees, two small forests of head-height buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica), creeping campanula (Campanula rapunculoides), and bishop’s weed (Aegopodium podagraria). You literally could not see the house from the sidewalk or vice versa, let alone enter the yard anywhere front or back. The owner patiently
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explained and pleaded her story, and with only a moment’s hesitation, we settled on the long haul. We called an arborist to help remove the large items and instantly started in on the aggressive invasive plants ourselves. These plants often require much care in removal or the situation can be quickly exasperated and become even thicker in root mass. We dug slowly and methodically to the roots of the herbaceous predators with digging forks, carefully forking the roots up like pasta, taking care to remove all the roots possible. These plants go very deep into the soil, often reaching lengths of four feet in just a few years. Clearly, we don’t dig that deep. But the remnants will
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24 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
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all grow, and they will push up in the soil to give another fight at life. Then we can go after them again. Buckthorn is a bit the opposite. We’ve found that digging is extremely labor intensive and damaging to the soil layers, and those oh-so-viable roots just win with vigor. We now implement a strategy I’ve coined “the goat method.” We start by removing the seeds that would be present in the crowns and cutting the leader at about chest high. We wait for the cane to sprout and grow 6 to 10 inches and cut it 4 to 5 inches below the first cut. We repeat this until we have reached ground layer, and by the time we hit bottom, the roots are sapped and have given up. We leave all the slashed matter on site to add carbon and nitrogen to the ground, which will help the soil repair. In this case, we also added
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HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS
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During
many loads of fresh wood chips (hot from the arborist) to lock up any nitrogen present with all the fresh carbon and hopefully starve out our smaller sprouting challengers. We repeated a similar approach in the front yard but used aged mulch instead, as we also planned to plant there first. There are often several passes required to get the soil space back, but with determination, time, and patience, it’s very possible. This project did take a bit to complete, but was done without using any harmful chemicals. The labor (cost) was spread out over that time, making it a bit easier to digest. Patience was needed in ample amounts, but the results are so stunning, the owners can hardly remember the mess it had been. The backyard is slated for rain gardens, paths, and birding shrubs 2022. Karina Mae is the designer and team leader at Garden Search & Rescue.
26 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
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Photographs provided by Garden Search & Rescue. View additional photographs at homeelementsandconcepts.com Garden Search & Rescue Madison, WI 608.438.9571 gardensearchandrescue.com
SEPTEMBER 2021–FEBRUARY 2022
we make a difference
madisonessentials.com | homeelementsandconcepts.com | journeyofaging.com
TECHNOLOGY TECHNOLOGY
Sustainable Living Heat Your Home Efficiently This Winter If you want to take a bite out of your energy use this winter, it makes sense to attack one of your home's biggest energy users: heating.
Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). It helps determine a filter's efficiency, effectiveness, and what it can capture and remove from the air.
The furnace is a good place to start. Regular maintenance helps keep it energy efficient, safe, and operating optimally. A good way to make sure your furnace is in top shape is to schedule a professional tune-up every other year. The technician will clean, inspect, and test your furnace. You also can ask for a furnace efficiency analysis. This can help you gauge when it may be time to replace your furnace with a more efficient model.
ASHRAE rates filters from MERV 1 to MERV 17. The rating indicates the size and type of particles a filter can trap. This includes dust, bacteria, gases, viruses, and other contaminants in the air. The higher the MERV, the finer filtration the filter provides. The Environmental Protection Agency recommends at least MERV 13 for most indoor spaces.
All Filters Are Not the Same Clogged filters can inhibit airflow, causing your furnace to work harder and use more energy. During heating season, check your filter monthly, and clean or replace it when it’s dirty. This will help manage energy use and enhance air quality.
MERV 8 and MERV 13 are popular filter ratings. A MERV 8 filter is 20 percent efficient at trapping particles that are between one and three micrometers. In comparison, a MERV 13 filter is at least 85 percent efficient at capturing particles of that same size. It can be helpful to consider the kinds of particles that filters with these two ratings can capture. • MERV 8: Lint, dust, pollen, and mold spores.
When shopping for new filters, you may be tempted to buy the most inexpensive filters on the shelf, but you should consider the MERV rating. This industry-standard rating system was developed by the American Society of Heating, 28 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
• MERV 13: All those listed for MERV 8 plus pet dander, smoke, smog, particles from coughing/sneezing, and virus carriers.
Don't Forget the Fireplace A fireplace is another way we can help keep a room warm. It's important to make sure this feature is energy efficient. • Get your chimney cleaned. Burning certain types of wood can cause soot to accumulate in your chimney, making your fireplace unsafe and inefficient. • Check the flue for cracks and ensure liners are intact. This is especially important if you have not had a recent home inspection. • Check the seal on the damper. It should be snug. When not using the fireplace, close the damper. An open damper acts like a large hole that pulls hot air out through the chimney; however, if you have a continuously burning pilot light, the damper must stay open slightly to allow combustion byproduct to move up and out of your home via the chimney. If you are installing a new fireplace, consider opting for a direct-vent model. Direct-vent fireplaces are more efficient than traditional fireplaces, which lose a significant amount of heat due to warm air rising out of the chimney. Directvent models also offer air quality and safety benefits. If you’re retrofitting an existing fireplace, opt for a unit with an airtight door and a blower. The more airtight the door, the less heat that is wasted going up the chimney and the more heat you will get from the fireplace. A blower is important because it moves hot air across the top of the fireplace and into your room. Remember to take steps to reduce heat loss even if you don't use your fireplace. • Plug and seal the chimney flue to keep drafts out, as long as the pilot light is not on.
and the overall efficiency of the system by reducing leakage from the ductwork. • Clean warm air registers, baseboard heaters, and radiators as needed. Make sure they are not blocked by furniture or drapes. • If your home has high and low vent returns, open low vents and close top vents to draw cold air through the return registers so the furnace can heat it. Now that you've taken steps to improve heating efficiency and air quality in your home, have you considered testing for radon? This colorless, odorless gas is produced naturally from a breakdown of uranium in soil, water, and rock. High levels can be dangerous. Fall and winter are the best time for radon testing because your home is closed up. Contact a professional to set up a test or consider a do-it-yourself test kit, available at most hardware stores. Ask the Experts MGE is available to answer your questions and provide tips on heating your home efficiently this winter. • MGE Home Energy Line: MGE's energy experts are available between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Call 608.252.7117 or send an email to AskExperts@mge.com. • You also can get more energy-efficiency tips online at mge.com/saving-energy and mge2050.com/our-energy-use. Images provided by MGE. Residential services managers Leah Samson and Laura Paprocki serve as MGE Energy Experts, engaging customers in a variety of ways to help them use energy wisely and achieve shared energy goals.
• Install a heat exchanger to draw in cool air from your home, heat it, and then disperse it back into your living space. Some models are mounted to the top of the fireplace opening. Others fit within your firebox. Other Tips for Heating Efficiency • Get your ducts cleaned. Dust and other debris accumulate in your ductwork over time. This slows down the movement of air and reduces the efficiency of your heating system. If you can access the ductwork in spaces like the attic or a crawl space, apply rated tape along the seams. This will help with heat distribution HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS
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BUSINESS DESIGN
30 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
REACH DANE’S
Healing Space for Kids and Families by Sketchworks Architecture
Feeling safe and secure in our homes and workplaces is of utmost importance. And when an organization’s clientele are infants and children—some of which are experiencing homelessness or trauma—it’s even more crucial to design calming, protective spaces. In 2019, Reach Dane, a Madison-based nonprofit that provides childcare and family supportive services to over 1,000 underserved children in Dane and Green County, approached Middleton-based Sketchworks Architecture to design a highquality early childcare facility. The organization, which already has 17 locations throughout Dane and Green County, had purchased a building on the city’s south side to open another location, which enables them to provide full school-day programming to all of the preschool children. Besides childcare for kids up to five years old, the 30,000-square-foot facility also needed to provide a variety of other services for parents, families, and community engagement, including adult education, housing, employment, parent education, and more. With these requirements in mind, it was important that Sketchworks’ staff, including interior designer Michelle Schildgen, architect Steve Shulfer, and architectural designer Claire Brunner, collaborated with Reach Dane’s staff to execute Reach Dane’s vision.
Rolling hills of turf and adventure play offer the kids sensory experience, as well as much-needed occupational therapy outlets.
“[Staff] intentionally wanted the new facility to be nothing like their other locations,” says Michelle. “They wanted a new, cutting-edge design. Given the children they serve, we came up with a design concept centered around nature as a healing, restorative, joyful environment. Reach Dane thought this was perfect because the kids need contact with nature, and we could incorporate so many nature-themed occupational therapy opportunities for sensory play and therapy purposes.” HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS
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Utilizing input from Reach Dane’s executive director Jen Bailey, operations services director Patty Lofquist, child and family programming director Luann Williams, and occupational therapist (OT) Gretchen Becker-Crabb, Sketchworks was able to gain insight on how the facility would operate; what children’s and teachers’ needs were; and, most importantly, how spaces could serve children for therapeutic purposes. Using this wish list from staff, Sketchworks also incorporated hot-desking areas for collaboration and storage areas for the roughly 30 staffers that work in the facility. The finished product is an exuberant, restorative building that opened in August. According to Michelle, using a palette that reflects the “sunshine and joy” of grass green, pink, yellow, sky blue, and warm neutrals infuses the interiors with lightness and brightness. And because it’s a place of learning, unique, kid-friendly, and OT-approved design touches abound throughout Reach Dane, including: • Vinyl wall graphics in the hallways that provide sensory experiences and guide kids to walk single file. • A multipurpose room with turf hills, a tunnel, real trees, acoustical tree canopies, a rock climbing wall, and a garden with handmade vegetables recessed into golf holes. • Magnetic walls concealed within painted classroom walls, serving as a way for kids to learn through touch.
An intriguing view of the multipurpose room brings the theme of the indoor playground into the main entrance.
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Each classroom has its own personality; from the curviture of the ceiling and floor to the accent wall, wayfinding is made easy through the use of uniquely designed spaces.
• Lockers that match accent walls in each classroom for kids to easily identify which lockers are theirs.
A new infant room at Reach Dane allows more room for play while also providing natural lighting and views to the exterior.
While these design touches look good, they also serve the greater purpose of actually helping kids. Michelle points out that low-stimulus environments are ideal for calming children, while the overall nature theme and plethora of windows and natural light serve to uplift and have subtle healing properties. “We created a design that not only uses natural elements and colors, but blurs the lines between indoor and outdoor spaces,” says Claire. “In order to maximize light to the occupied spaces, we moved all of the utilitarian spaces toward the center of the building. HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS
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Hot desking and unassigned workspaces provide Reach Dane with flexibility and better use of space.
An image printed on plywood and laser cut makes a true Devil's Lake rock climbing experience while relating kids to a noteable Wisconsin landmark.
We also strategically added exterior windows to the existing building.” For kids and families who are sometimes going through what Jen calls “sad, heart-wrenching moments,” Reach Dane’s new facility will continue their mission to provide this much-needed resource for families. And with so many wonderfully designed spaces, the facility will inspire smiles during those tough times. “I can’t help but be most excited about the fact that we are helping underserved children in our community,” says Michelle. “[We got to] look at a variety of ways to help kids who have been through trauma or who don’t have a home. Incorporating things throughout the space that would feel joyful, exciting, fun, and positive makes me proud of the work we did.” Sketchworks Architecture is a local architectural and interior design firm specializing in living, working, and entertaining environments. Our award-winning portfolio spans corporate, hospitality + retail, multifamily, government, and brewery + distillery projects. Photographs by Chad Renly, C|R Prints & Photography LLC. Sketchworks Architecture 7780 Elmwood Avenue Suite #208 Middleton, WI 53562 608.836.7570 sketchworksarch.com 34 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
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HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS
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FINANCIAL
Maximize Your Home's Return on Investment:
KITCHEN RENOVATIONS Kitchens are an important part of any home, but if you’re thinking about selling, an attractive, functional kitchen is essential. “Right now, people are trying to modernize their homes and also make their dwellings sale ready in case they decide to go down that road,” says Josh Fetting, consumer lending sales manager with UW Credit Union. If your kitchen could use a facelift, here are some tips on getting it done. Scale and Scope “A kitchen is going to be one of the biggest bangs for your buck as far as remodels go,” says Josh. “It’s an extremely visible and well-used part of the house, and it’s a place 36 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
by Jason Scott
where there are a lot of little features that you can add and improve upon. You have countertops, cabinets, appliances, flooring—all sorts of things that add a lot of value.” It’s typical for midrange kitchen upgrades to touch on all of these items, according to Remodeling magazine. Upscale projects can feature higher-quality finishes, including custom cabinetry, stone countertops, the latest high-end appliances, and upgraded lighting, all of which can add to the total cost of the project. Remodeling’s Cost vs. Value Report, which compares the average costs for remodeling projects with the value they retain in the housing market, places the average local
cost of kitchen remodels between $26,000 and $150,000, depending on the scope. A portion of those costs can be recouped in the sale price of your home. Renovating a kitchen could provide greater ROI than upgrades to other areas of the home. “For kitchens, you end up getting a lot closer to dollar-for-dollar, which is everyone’s goal: to maximize their investment in the home,” says Josh. “What you want is for things to match up. You don’t want very old, failing cabinets with a brandnew countertop because, more than likely, you’re going to have to redo the cabinets anyway. Sometimes it makes sense to just do it all at once.” Right-Size the Project Kitchen remodels can certainly be a worthwhile investment, but don’t bite off more than you can chew. “It’s unlikely that with a couple of projects you’re going to double the value of your home,” says Josh. “You could have large impacts, but it’s important to be realistic about what the costs are, as everything from materials to labor has increased.” One way to be sure that you’re maximizing your ROI is to research other homes in your neighborhood. “Is your neighborhood the kind that has mostly granite countertops in the homes?” asks Josh. “Or would a nicer laminate countertop be appropriate? Overdoing it could backfire if your remodel is too luxurious for your neighborhood.” Conducting that kind of research can help you determine whether a kitchen renovation is worth pursuing. An upgraded kitchen can make your home more attractive to potential buyers and help you sell your property quickly.
the ability to pay for a project in stages, which can come in handy when working with contractors. “HELOCs help you finance a larger project over time,” says Josh. “If you’re hiring someone for a large remodel, you’re most likely putting down a deposit and paying the rest upon completion. Even if you’re doing it yourself, you’re not generally buying all the materials at once.” Additionally, HELOCs can help you absorb additional costs if the project ends up over budget. “A HELOC allows you to tailor it and build a little cushion into your budget and have extra when you need it,” says Josh. “And if you don’t need it, you don’t have to use it.” Jason Scott writes about financial wellness for UW Credit Union, a not-for-profit financial institution that offers home-equity products, mortgages, auto loans, and more. UW Credit Union 3500 University Avenue Madison, WI 53705 800.533.6773 uwcu.org
Similarly, researching your neighborhood can help you to set a budget for your kitchen renovation. If, for instance, you notice that similar homes in your neighborhood with updated kitchens are selling for a higher price than those without, you can use that difference as a ballpark figure for your budget. Picking the Right Lending Product Once again, the scale of your kitchen remodel comes into play when considering how to fund the project. If you’re planning to do much of the work yourself or only tackle a small kitchen improvement, a personal loan or even a credit card might be enough to suit your needs. However, for most kitchen remodels, a home equity line of credit (HELOC) is probably most appropriate. This lending vehicle leverages your home’s equity and allows for more flexibility that other lending products lack. HELOCs offer HOME ELEMENTS & CONCEPTS
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Degnan Design-Build-Remodel
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38 Additional photos at homeelementsandconcepts.com
Win 4 gallons of Benjamin Moore Regal Select Paint A value of up to $248. Submit your name, mailing address, phone number, and email at homeelementsandconcepts.com, or by mail to: Home Elements & Concepts c/o Towns & Associates, Inc. PO Box 174 Baraboo, WI 53913-0174 All entries will be entered into a drawing. Deadline is December 24, 2021.
Good Luck!
Winner Thank you to everyone who entered our previous drawing. The winner of the 4 gallons of Benjamin Moore Regal Select Paint from Wolff Kubly is David E. Bier of Janesville, WI.
Congratulations!
Get A Rate You’ll Love Coming Home To. At UW Credit Union, we work hard to make homebuying easy. Our intuitive online application process, fast preapprovals and trusted team of experienced mortgage loan officers help keep the process simple and stress-free, so you can spend more time focusing on the important things. Find out what a top Wisconsin lender can do for you by applying online today.
Mortgages For Every You. | uwcu.org 800-533-6773
UW Credit Union is ranked among the top ten home loan lenders in the state based on information from county Register of Deeds offices, CoreLogic.
