It's not often that a laundry room inspires an entire house renovation. But for one Wisconsin family, a relatively modest makeover set in motion a five-year project that would transform their 6,374-square-foot lakefront property from its dated interiors to its expansive outdoor entertaining spaces.

Built in 2006 and situated on the shores of a lake in Suamico, the house was already the center of family life. With four children, grandparents living across the street, and a constant stream of visitors, the homeowners had no intention of moving. What they wanted was a forever home that better reflected their lifestyle – and the places they loved to travel.

'The project began during the pandemic, when this very active family suddenly found themselves spending a lot more time at home,' explain Melanie Kachan and Stephanie Bruss of Wisconsin-based studio, Designs of the Interior. 'We started with the powder room and laundry room, but conversations soon turned to the kitchen, primary suite and other areas of the home.'

The couple's travels provided an unusually eclectic starting point. Their fondness for Jackson Hole and Montana, the husband's hunting collection, and the understated luxury of their favorite boutique hotels all informed the interiors. Meanwhile, holidays in Hawaii inspired a resort-style approach to the outdoor spaces.

'Throughout the project, they regularly shared photographs and ideas from their travels,' Melanie and Stephanie recall. 'That ongoing exchange became an important part of our design process, giving us a way to reinterpret the places and experiences they loved.'

Working alongside McGregor Design LLC and DeLeers Construction, Designs of the Interior renovated all three levels, rebuilt the garage with an entertaining room above, and reimagined the exterior architecture. The result is a house that balances generous proportions with intimate spaces, contemporary craftsmanship with collected treasures, and everyday family life with a healthy appetite for entertaining.

The kitchen was one of the most consequential changes. Previously separated from the adjoining gathering rooms by a wall of cabinetry, it felt disconnected from both the family's activities and the lake beyond. 'The biggest change was removing the wall of cabinetry between the kitchen and living room,' the designers explain. 'It had interrupted both the views and the flow of the house, so taking it down opened up possibilities for the entire main floor.'

Relocating the pantry behind the kitchen allowed the designers to bring the former breakfast area and adjoining rooms together, creating a sociable space with uninterrupted sightlines towards the water. The new kitchen is a masterclass in tonal contrast. Ebony-stained, rift-cut white oak cabinetry sits alongside painted units in Sherwin-Williams' ‘Worldly Gray’, while solid-brass hardware, fluted backsplash tiles and a sculptural plaster range hood introduce layers of texture. Oversized dark metal pendants lend an almost industrial edge, balanced by upholstered Lee Industries counter stools and pale countertops.

Next door, the former living room has become a hearth room, centered on a substantial stone fireplace. The same natural stone used outside was carried indoors, establishing a visual connection with the architecture, while timber detailing adds warmth to the existing coffered ceiling. 'The homeowners wondered at first whether it would get much use,' Melanie and Stephanie admit. 'Now it's one of the family's favorite places to be, close to everything happening in the kitchen but comfortable enough to spend an entire evening there.'

Throughout the main floor, the palette moves between warm tans, cognacs and deeper browns, with grasscloth wallcoverings, natural woods and tactile upholstery preventing the neutral scheme from feeling flat. 'The homeowners have always loved a neutral palette, and they wanted their home to feel comfortable, not precious,' the studio explains. 'With four children and people in and out all the time, everyone needed to feel at ease using the rooms.'

Rather than furnishing the house entirely from scratch, the designers incorporated pieces the family had collected over the years, creating an appealing dialogue between old and new. In the foyer, the homeowner's antique bench is paired with oversized contemporary brass mirrors, while the adjoining dining room brings together a substantial RH timber table, patterned drapery, and grasscloth walls.

A metal cabinet belonging to the homeowner displays a collection of pottery, its varied silhouettes and finishes providing an informal counterpoint to the more formal furnishings. 'We didn't want everything to look newly purchased or perfectly matched,' the designers explain. 'It's the mix of art, pottery, fabrics and accessories that gives these rooms personality.'

A small bar nook just off the dining room is equally characterful, with antiqued beveled mirror tiles, brass details, and vintage barware. Designed for frequent gatherings, it encourages guests to help themselves rather than wait to be served.

Upstairs, the primary suite takes its cues from the couple's favorite luxury hotels, although the original bathroom was hardly five-star material. Separate closets, fluted columns, and a sunken bathtub divided the room into awkward compartments.

The homeowners had a rather memorable brief for its replacement: they wanted a bathroom that Beyoncé might have in her own home. Designs of the Interior responded by removing the divisions and making a central glass shower enclosure the architectural focal point. Separate vanities allow the couple to get ready simultaneously, while ebonized rift-cut oak cabinetry, refined metal detailing and custom storage for clothing, shoes and handbags deliver the glamour they had envisioned.

Crucially, the new layout also accommodates one of the couple's daily rituals. 'Some of their best conversations happen while getting ready together in the morning,' the designers explain. 'We wanted to preserve that connection while creating the feeling of a private retreat.'

The adjoining bedroom is equally luxurious, with mohair upholstery, an antiqued mirror, and richly layered textiles. French doors opening onto a Juliet balcony strengthen the connection to the landscape.

Perhaps the home's most playful space is the new entertaining room above the rebuilt garage, where the family's love of the American West comes into its own. Originally conceived around a golf simulator, the room evolved into a fully equipped social space with shuffleboard, a custom dartboard, wet bar and multiple seating areas.

'We brought in plaids, épinglé, rich leathers and hides, along with horn and brass accents, pairing contemporary pieces with more traditional elements,' the designers explain. The husband's hunting collection has been displayed as a gallery wall, reminiscent of Western cabins. Traditional big-game mounts sit alongside vintage taxidermy, smaller antlers mounted on clear acrylic plaques and contemporary artwork, giving the room a characterful, unexpected mix.

One particularly personal detail is a series of bespoke liquor lockers, inspired by the couple's travels. Each family in their circle of friends has its own locker and key, filled with favorite spirits and meaningful mementos.

Yet it's the corner banquette beneath the windows that has proved an unexpected success. 'The children immediately claimed it for homework and games,' Melanie and Stephanie say. 'We love that the room is just as useful on an ordinary afternoon as it is for a party.'

Outside, the transformation is equally ambitious. The original pool remains, but the surrounding grounds have been reorganized into a series of terraces and gathering spaces inspired by the couple's stays at Four Seasons resorts in Hawaii.

There are dedicated areas for outdoor cooking and dining, poolside lounging, fireside conversations and golf, with each positioned to take advantage of the lakefront setting. The details are as personal as those indoors. Recalling afternoons spent in rocking chairs on Hilton Head Island, the homeowners requested their own lakeside versions. Designs of the Interior sourced generously proportioned contemporary rockers with a tactile, woven finish that echoes the natural textures of the surrounding landscape.

Above the garage, a two-level deck provides both an open-air terrace and a covered lounge, complete with a fireplace, sectional seating and draperies that can be drawn against the weather.

What began with a practical laundry room update has ultimately produced something far more meaningful: a house shaped around the people who live there, the places they've visited and the memories they continue to make.

As Melanie and Stephanie explain, the intention was always to make the property 'just as comfortable for a quiet evening as it did when the whole family and their friends were together.' Five years and countless design decisions later, now there's little reason to check into a five-star hotel.

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