HGTV Designer of the Year Nomination
We’ve recently been nominated for the HGTV Designer of the Year Award! We couldn’t be more thrilled to be considered. Our Waterside Retreat project is the featured in the award nominations. Take a peek at the project and our design process below. Also, be sure to vote too! Follow this link and select “Waterside Retreats” from the “Vote Now” tab. Our project is “Century Old, Tudor-Style Wisconsin Lake Home.”
THE DESIGN INTENT – A PERFECT BLEND OF OLD AND NEW
The history of an approximately 13-acre property on one of Southeastern Wisconsin’s most sought-after lakes sparked the interest of this lake country family. They fell in love with the idea of reimagining the almost 100-year- old Tudor-style home, root cellar, and lakeside icehouse that once proudly stood on this land. The homeowners challenged the design team to maintain the historical feel of the property while layering it with modern influences to suit their true architectural style. They wanted “a perfect blend of old and new.”
THE TEAM - CREATIVE COLLABORATION
The architect for the project was introduced to the homeowners by designer Brienna Wagner of In Good Company and specifically chosen for his strong understanding of classic Tudor architecture and passion for modern design. Steve Wollersheim, the owner of HOM Dezign, took this project head on and worked closely with the homeowner and Wagner to purposely perch the home along the almost five-hundred-foot shoreline.
THE SCOPE & PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS – DETAILS MATTER
Creating the perfect blend of old and new in this almost 9,500 square-foot, five-bedroom home required a thoughtful balancing act. Before getting started on the plans, the homeowners, Wollersheim and Wagner walked through the existing house as a source of inspiration. This allowed the team to include original features, such as the fire extinguishing system and the decorative carved accents from the home’s exterior.
The architecture for the new home reinforces traditional styling such as massive stone chimneys, casement windows, a slightly asymmetrical exterior layout, heavy wood beams, and rooms defined by custom paneling. Arches and ceilings with intricate plasterwork by artistians from Meraki Finishes, add to the true Tudor
appeal. The exterior features a contemporary pattern of half-timbering, along with reclaimed siding, solid wood brackets, and custom-fabricated exterior lanterns from St. James Lighting. Exploring furnishings with contemporary flair created a wonderful opportunity for layering and creativity. Specialty items, such as the Ribbon Chair from Pierre Paulin and the Vladamir Kagan chaise in the primary suite add a special modern twist. Many of the vintage pieces throughout the home were owned by the homeowner’s grandmother or sourced from Harbour Honestgoods.
“I live for design challenges like this home, creating the perfect blend of old and new. The homeowner’s passion for this project provided a great source of inspiration as we created luxurious layers of textures, colors, and materials. Every detail was carefully curated yet each space exudes a simplistic and effortless beauty.”
—Brienna Wagner
CREDITS:
Preliminary illustrations by Matthew Kerr of M Kerr Designs and Wagner brought the design concept to life for the homeowners.
The property also hosts an expansive outdoor entertaining space with a pergola, a carriage house (inspired by the original building in the same location), and a boathouse at the water’s edge, constructed by Northgreen Builders of Cedarburg, WI.
Material selections, furnishings, and styling by Brienna Wagner | In Good Company (Oconomowoc, WI)
Architecture by Steve Wollersheim | HOM Dezign (Elm Grove, WI)
Illustration by Matthew Kerr | Kerr Designs (Milwaukee, WI)
Tile Design & Sourcing by Nancy Lehman | Bella Tile (Delafield, WI)
Vintage finds by Harbour Honest Goods (Oconomowoc, WI)
Custom wall plastering by Meraki Finishes (Waukesha, WI)
