The Whitefish Bay home after an interior renovation and second story addition.
The Old Home
One story, no space.
The existing structure was a one-story ranch with an awkward layout and dated features. This lively and busy family was quickly outgrowing a crowded one-story with small rooms and many walls.
The existing kitchen looking through to the dining and living room.
Achieving the dramatic changes desired by the family would mean taking the home down to studs, so the family elected to move out for the duration of the remodel. They got a rental in Milwaukee and we got to work.
Bare Bones
The view from the living room into the dining room.
Demolition required the removal of most walls on the first floor. To safely support the new addition, two steel beams were set in the existing structure. The installation of the larger beam required a crane and happened on one of the coldest days of 2014!
Progress
Drywall in the master bedroom.
Beams were set, framing completed, and mechanicals installed. Drywall was set inside while outside, stucco was applied to the new addition and masonry filled in a hole left by an old window. New windows went in both upstairs and down, and new hardwood was laid throughout the first floor.
Room to Grow
Entering through either the side door or the garage brings you to a mudroom with custom storage. Clutter is kept contained with ample shelving and easily hidden by a pocket door. Kitchen, dining room, and living room blend seamlessly together and allow free communication between all areas.
A large island dominates the cook space and provides seating for causal dining, while the generous and dramatic dining room table is always available for dinner or birthday parties. The built-in desk and bookshelf provide a homework station or a place for dad to grade papers while the kids work on projects.
Down the hall are the kids bedrooms, painted brilliant pink or green with a blue and white striped ceiling. Sandwiched between is their bathroom, featuring among many fine details a woven look tile with glass and stone and a turquoise hexagon sink by Kohler.
The New Addition
The stairs lead to a small landing with some cleverly created storage. Light blue carpet with a light shag provides a warm welcome to the new addition. To the left is a cozy office if mom needs to work away from the hubbub of the family.
A luxurious master bath with double vanities, a generous soaking tub, and a large enclosed shower prove a favorite for the whole family. The master bedroom sits at the heart of the new addition and features gorgeous angles framing new windows, and a color scheme that invites rest and relaxation.
