My Most Difficult Client…Me.
October 20, 2021
by Stephanie Mader
![house-blog-header house-blog-header](https://maderdesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/house-blog-header.jpg)
When we relocated to Madison, WI in 2006 and purchased our 1st remodel here
I thought that was it, especially since it was house #12 in my adult life! Quickly I realized suburban living was not for me (that will be another post for another day) My true happy place is on the water, and Madison could not be a better place to live on the lake. Oh and I also get bored easily, just ask my hubby.
![test2 a before image of a house](https://maderdesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/test2.jpg)
![test1 the modern updated after version of a house](https://maderdesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/test1.jpg)
So without a property yet, and just glimmer of an idea, I started my binder. Binder you may wonder?? Well as an interior designer by trade I have the luxury of seeing all sorts of new products and attend many trade shows. This is a positive and a negative when it comes to my personal projects. You see, I find all these funky and eclectic products and ideas. And let’s be honest, the average customer isn’t always looking for that. So I save them or myself.
After 7 long years of looking for the perfect slice of heaven and continuing to pack my family up every summer for the “Northwoods”, we found the one! Well, most people may not see it as perfect, but I am always looking for that diamond in the rough.
![oldhousebefore Old house road side view](https://maderdesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/oldhousebefore.jpg)
Road Side
![oldhouseback Old house lake side view](https://maderdesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/oldhouseback.jpg)
Lakeside View
I thought finding the property was going to be the hardest part, but boy was I wrong! After we closed on the house the first thing I did was call friend and architect Steve Schulfer at Sketchworks Architecture. I knew we could not do this without the perfect architect and structural engineer. Especially on the water! The goal was t0 gut the existing 2 story house and build forward 32′. After 18 months of zoning meetings and thousands of dollars spent on planning, we were told that was not going to happen…. Now I was determined more than ever!
After almost another year we finally got our permit!
![kid-playing-in-dirt-large A child on a pile of dirt in a construction area](https://maderdesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/kid-playing-in-dirt-large.jpg)
Boys love nothing more than a big dirt pile and grown up sandbox toys. Start of demo. My son Hawk, age 8.
![building-permit a happy man holding a building permit](https://maderdesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/building-permit.jpg)
My hubby Dan proudly holding the permit… boy is he ever glad this part is over.
So much for downsizing and building forward…. now we are going up! Adding another story certainly doesn’t make things easier and adds a whole other level of complication. Oh and that’s the year Madison had the worst flooding in over 100 years. So we started not once, not twice, but 3 times to get this project off the ground. Definitely determined more than ever now, and gained a few more wrinkles.
![third-story a work in progress image of the third story being made](https://maderdesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/third-story.jpg)
And here goes the 3rd story
![lake-house-far A zoomed out view of the old lake house](https://maderdesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/lake-house-far.jpg)
And now for the FUN part! I am naturally drawn to things that are different and not on trend, and pride myself as being a trendsetter. So of course I needed this house to be all black on the outside, something in 2017 NO ONE was doing, at least not in the Midwest. And not just black, the materials needed to be interesting. I needed a perfect frame for my art piece.
Oh did I mention, I am obsessed with Shou Sugi Ban??
![housefront New house after, front view](https://maderdesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/housefront.jpg)
![houseback Finished new house, back view](https://maderdesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/houseback.jpg)
Charwood siding by Montana Timber Products and PAC-CLAD metal panels make up the siding, accented with glass panels for a seamless view of the lake and glass paned overhead garage doors.
Its hard to just pick a couple of favorites when you have a binder full of them, but the outdoor space really is special here, and where we spend most of our time. I was lucky enough to have an “A” frame boat house come with the property. Around the lakes here you are not allowed to build anything new on the water, or even tweak an existing structure, so this was like winning the lottery as far as I am concerned. I created over 1500 sq ft of patio space on the house and then continued with the FUN factor out the door of the oversized screened porch leading to Lake Mendota.
What do you do when you have 300 feet of flat yard? Make it your personal playground!
![chessset A large yard sized chess yet in the backyard](https://maderdesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/chessset.jpg)
A life size chess board is the perfect interactive landscape piece
![granitetable A long granite table in the backyard area](https://maderdesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/granitetable.jpg)
2 full slabs of Super White granite make up this patio table for 18
![chairset A fire pit area with chairs surrounding it](https://maderdesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/chairset.jpg)
The gas firepit is perfect for marshmallow roasting. Virginia Tiles Atlas Concorde in seastone gray for our pavers.
![showerset Outside shower, in the backyard](https://maderdesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/showerset.jpg)
Outdoor shower is a must have to keep sand out of the house- Hansgrohe – Axor shower in chrome
![bushes A second fire pit area with a couch and chair set around it](https://maderdesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/bushes.jpg)
Privacy hedges by FenceScreen
![bushtopview A birds eye view of the backyard fire pit area](https://maderdesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/bushtopview.jpg)
Patio furniture by CB2 and Frontgate
![golfset The porch golf putting area](https://maderdesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/golfset.jpg)
A surprise bonus for my hubby, a professional putting green by PlayN Wisconsin
![golfchair Golf room lounge chair](https://maderdesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/golfchair.jpg)
Patio furniture from Frontgate
![goldchair Porch table and chair set](https://maderdesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/goldchair.jpg)
Gold chairs and white Carrara marble table from CB2
![swingchair A porch with a wicker swinging chair](https://maderdesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/swingchair.jpg)
Hammock chair by Mistana
Front Entry & Kitchen – Before & After
![entrywayone the old entryway](https://maderdesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/entrywayone.jpg)
![entryway-after the updated entryway with modern art on the walls](https://maderdesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/entryway-after.jpg)
artwork from Crate and Barrel- Curated Collection
![kitchenbefore the old wood grain kitchen](https://maderdesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/kitchenbefore.jpg)
![kitchen-after The updated kitchen with black cabinets and rose gold metal chairs](https://maderdesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/kitchen-after.jpg)
Custom charcoal gray cabinets accented with Bend Goods copper counters tools and “HAND” Jonathan Adler fruit bowl
Main Bathroom – Before & After
![mainbathbefore an old bathroom interior](https://maderdesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/mainbathbefore.jpg)
![mainbathafter1 the updated bathroom with brown modern cabinets](https://maderdesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/mainbathafter1.jpg)
![mainbathafter3 the updated bathroom with a marble countertop](https://maderdesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/mainbathafter3.jpg)
![mainbathafter2 an updated bathroom with large white tiles](https://maderdesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/mainbathafter2.jpg)
Kohler faucets, sink, NUMI smart toilet, Porcelanosa chrome wall tile, Virginia Tile WOW Gradient Crayon in black wall tile and Atlas MEK metallic white oversized floor tile.
Living Room & Lower Level – Before & After
![living-room-before the old living, very empty](https://maderdesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/living-room-before.jpg)
![living-room-after The updated living room with marble like walls and a nice white carpet](https://maderdesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/living-room-after.jpg)
Virginia Tile Laminam porcelain panels for the fireplace wall, Restoration Hardware vintage velvet furniture and William Sonoma Home acrylic coffee table.
![lowlevel-before The old lower level](https://maderdesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/lowlevel-before.jpg)
![lowlevel-after The updated lower level with green moss on the wall and a large black leather sectional](https://maderdesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/lowlevel-after.jpg)
Hydra moss wall, Restoration Hardware leather sectional, RH shagreen coffee table and Urban Wood petrified look porcelain tile with Schluter heated floor mats.
Old Bathroom Becomes a Bar & Screen Porch – Before & After
![barbefore the old downstairs bathroom](https://maderdesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/barbefore.jpg)
![barafter the old bathroom has been turned into a black and marble themed bar](https://maderdesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/barafter.jpg)
Matte black cabinets with brushed gold hardware, vintage mirror backsplash and glass shelves by Hellenbrand Glass with LED lights
![porchbefore the old screen porch area](https://maderdesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/porchbefore.jpg)
![porchafter the updated screen porch with a bright green couch](https://maderdesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/porchafter.jpg)
Marvin Multi Slide patio doors make this space open up to the rest of the lower level as they disappear into the wall.
Lake Lounge (former boathouse) – Before & After
![lakehousebefore the old lake house, an exterior shot](https://maderdesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/lakehousebefore.jpg)
![lakehouseafter2 A close up view of the exterior lake house](https://maderdesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/lakehouseafter2.jpg)
![lakehouseafter3 the inside of the updated lake house](https://maderdesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/lakehouseafter3.jpg)
![lakehouseafter1 A view of the updated lake house with chairs outside of it](https://maderdesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/lakehouseafter1.jpg)
Updated Bedrooms – Deer Bedroom, Cockatoo Bedroom & Bamboo Bedroom
![deerbed1 A bedroom painted fake deer head mounts](https://maderdesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/deerbed1.jpg)
![deerbed2 A bedroom painted fake deer head mounts](https://maderdesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/deerbed2.jpg)
![birdbed2 A bedroom with two large paintings of cockatoos](https://maderdesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/birdbed2.jpg)
![birdbed1 A nice modern bed with a unique black and white wallpaper](https://maderdesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/birdbed1.jpg)
![plantbed1 A bedroom with bright green bamboo wallpaper](https://maderdesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/plantbed1.jpg)
![plantbed2 A bedroom with bright green bamboo wallpaper](https://maderdesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/plantbed2.jpg)
Updated Bathrooms
![updatedbathroom8 A bathroom shower with unique black and white tiles](https://maderdesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/updatedbathroom8.jpg)
![updatedbathroom1 A bathroom with unique black and white tiles and blue wallpaper of swimming people](https://maderdesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/updatedbathroom1.jpg)
![updatedbathafter4 A makeup/vanity area of a bathroom](https://maderdesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/updatedbathafter4.jpg)
![updatedbath5 A bathroom shower with large grey tiles](https://maderdesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/updatedbath5.jpg)
![updatedbath2 A bathroom shower with unique black and white tiles](https://maderdesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/updatedbath2.jpg)
![updatedbath7 A bathroom shower with black tiles in a herring bone pattern](https://maderdesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/updatedbath7.jpg)
Updated Laundry Room Area
![laundry1 A laundry room with bright orange wallpaper](https://maderdesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/laundry1.jpg)
![laundry2 A laundry room with bright orange wallpaper](https://maderdesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/laundry2.jpg)
Lily Pulitzer wallpaper, DRYAWAY racks, STEELE laundry bins and high gloss greige colored cabinets.
I created this house with all my favorite things, and doing this post made me fall in love with it all over again.
![initals Initials carved into concrete](https://maderdesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/initals-265x300.jpg)
As always, we have to leave a little reminder that we were here.
But all good things must come to an end, or should I say start a new beginning? Time to start that new binder! Let me know what you think in the comments below and please check out our website and facebook page for more before and after pictures of NOIR ON THE NORTHERN SHORE.
xoxo, Stephanie