Refined Renovations LLC

Oct 2015

The existing space had an awkward layout that included redundant islands, an unneeded powder room, and a small mudroom entry. Large oak beams crosshatched the ceiling and made the ten-foot ceilings feel low. The light wood floors were old and worn. The family approached us to create a space meant for entertaining, with good flow between the living, dining, and cooking areas. A redundant powder room and it's hallway was removed and the kitchen was blown out into this empty space. The extra space allowed for triple windows to replace the single window over the sink and take advantage of the lake view. The repetitive islands were removed and replaced with an island buffet and breakfast bar, and a generous island with a hammered copper prep sink. Space taken by a butler’s pantry was split, half donated to the new mudroom and the other half becoming a coffee bar. In the entirety of the dining/living/kitchen area, the existing oak ceiling beams were replaced with beams reclaimed from an old barn. We spaced them further apart and running them parallel to each other instead of in a grid. Chocolate Bamboo quartzite tops run throughout the kitchen and coffee bar, a warm and dark stone featuring random veins of natural quartz. The breakfast bar was created with hand-distressed and glazed cherry, matching the new stain on the existing dinette table. Vertical pine boards were stained a warm grey and installed on the vaulted ceiling of the dinette. The floors were sanded and refinished, repaired where needed and stained a darker shade.

$284k

Mequon, WI

Aug 2015

This Mequon home constantly plays host to weddings, parties, birthdays, and dinners. The large size did not compensate for an awkward layout that included redundant islands, an unneeded powder room, and a small mudroom entry. Large oak beams crosshatched the ceiling and made ten-foot ceilings feel low. The family approached us to create a space meant for entertaining, with good flow between the living, dining, and cooking areas. They desired a feel in the whole space of history and warmth, a kitchen that would make anyone feel immediately at home. A redundant powder room situated behind the existing stove wall was removed along with its access hallway. The kitchen was blown out into this empty space, creating a kitchen whose size matched the home. The extra space allowed for triple windows to replace the single window over the sink and take advantage of the lake view. The repetitive islands were removed and replaced with an island buffet with breakfast bar, and a generous island with a prep sink. Space taken by a butler’s pantry was split, half donated to the new mudroom and the other half becoming a coffee bar. Featuring generous storage and display shelving, the slightly–away from the kitchen location is perfect when all six kids are home with their significant others and everyone needs coffee. Like, now. In the entirety of the dining/living/kitchen area, the existing oak ceiling beams were removed. In their place, we used beams reclaimed from an old barn, spacing them further and running them parallel to each other instead of in a grid. This new configuration gives gravity and interest to the home while not overwhelming the senses. New windows and paint flood this new kitchen with natural sunlight and truly create a space of warmth and welcome.

$275k

Mequon, WI

Jul 2015

This couple met in Milwaukee’s Third Ward as young professionals. A marriage and a baby later, they purchased her childhood home from her parents. They wanted their new Brookfield home to reflect the urban chic nature of their beloved neighborhood left behind, while accommodating large gatherings and a growing family. New designs centered around cooking as a family. The existing kitchen layout was reconfigured by removing a pantry closet and relocating the fridge to accommodate a new Wolf range. A commanding island with storage, seating, and a prep sink replaced the existing small island. Carrara Marble tops, Carrara subway tile, and a marble/glass Moroccan mosaic behind the stove combine with sleek grey cabinetry for an impressive yet functional workspace. Five-inch Acacia hardwood runs throughout the level and unify formerly disconnected rooms. An old desk space was removed and the opening widened between the kitchen and family room. A custom-built banquet was created to replace a kitchen table and create interest between the two rooms. A table was creates from a distressed Walnut top and a pedestal sourced from a local store. Leaving the 1993 era golden-stained railing, balusters, and newels allowed us to save money but we brought them into the present by reforming the newel posts with new caps, added petite trims and painting the entire railing and stairs system. The family room mantel also received new paint, enlivening the colors in the existing brick and making the whole floor feel unified and chic.

$150k

Benicia, CA

Oct 2014

The Washington Highlands contains historic and gorgeous homes and we’ve been lucky enough to do multiple projects for these historic residences. An extra basement room with great windows and a brick fireplace was the beginning of a pub room inspired by travels throughout Europe. Our clients requested a space for entertaining to be built within an existing room in their basement. It must be functional – remain warm and dry though the worst Wisconsin weather and include a variety of lighting to suit any atmosphere from wine tasting to football games. The homeowners have adolescent children, so all alcohol must be under lock and key. They requested display storage for a collection of pint glasses and other sports memorabilia. The new space features new windows and insulation to keep the cold at bay, and in-floor heating combined with the gas fireplace keep the space warm. Existing beams recieved new casings, set with lights, and plastered into place. This allowed us to run electrical within the beams, keeping the costs down by avoiding the need to drill into the existing plaster ceiling. Wood-look tile was installed in a herringbone pattern and a cast concrete mantlepiece as created to draw out the colors in the existing brick surround. Custom cabinets, including a distressed wood countertop, were created to fit the space and convey the “pub” feel of the room. The homeowners say this Washington Highlands basement pub has become a gathering spot for the whole neighborhood – we’ll drink to that!

$125k

Wauwatosa, WI

Jun 2014

This Whitefish Bay family of four was quickly outgrowing their small ranch home. The family approached Refined Renovations to design a second-story addition with master suite and additional office for mom. The remodel also included a complete redesign of the first floor living area, the mud room, the kids’ bath, and new paint in both the children’s bedrooms. New spaces were proposed with a contemporary feel and adventurous selections, but still with an eye for the needs of a family. A mudroom with drop zone was created in the transition between the garage and the kitchen. The kitchen and living area was created with an open feel. The addition of a built-in desk and bookshelf provide a homework station or a place for dad to grade papers while the kids work on projects. A large island dominates the kitchen and provides space for causal dining, while the generous and dramatic dining room table is always available for dinner or birthday parties. Down the hall are the kids’s bedrooms, painted brilliant pink (sister) and green with a blue and white striped ceiling (brother). 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. Upstairs 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.

$450k

Whitefish Bay, WI

Mar 2014

Our clients built this home 26 years ago. The kitchen and dining area had become the gathering area of the house but had long been too small and ill-equipped for their entertaining needs. This homeowner is a regular contributor to Cook's Illustrated and serves full, multi-coursed meals multiple times a week. She had been actively planning her dream kitchen for four years and we were honored to bring her dreams to life.They sought a kitchen design that allowed socialization while the meal was being prepared. The space needed to be warm and inviting with good flow between the family room, dining room, and kitchen. It also needed to be functional with ample storage and good access to all appliances and tools. By rethinking the layout of the first floor and removing an unneeded hallway, we were able to add 95 square feet of space to the kitchen. This allowed for a large island with a second sink and ample storage, both hidden and exposed. The laundry room was relocated to a more intuitive location and features built-in custom cabinetry storage and shelving. To separate this functional area from the rest of the home, a smoky glass pocket door was installed. It takes advantage of the sunlight from the exterior laundry room door while still hiding any 'dirt laundry.' The space saved by shifting the laundry became a small drop zone and charging station with an area for coats and shoes. Elsewhere, changes like additional doorways, a powder room update, and new carpets freshen spaces otherwise untouched by the remodel. Small touches and large ones combine to make this Brookfield house feel immediately like home.

$182k

Brookfield, WI

Dec 2013

A busy and growing Tosa family needed additional space for their family and hoped to find it in their cold and awkward basement. They desired another bedroom, a bathroom, exercise room, space for the kids, and a sauna if the plan permitted. We aimed to design a layout for their basement remodel that followed a natural logic and that was comfortable and efficient. The new laundry is steps from the existing laundry chute at the base of the stairs. Featuring blue cork flooring and a vibrant blue engineered stone stop makes the laundry as fun as it is functional. The small but comfortable sauna has easy access from the workout room and is a few steps from the brand-new bathroom. Nearby is the additional bedroom, with a new egress window and closets created by removing the foundation walls of the old cistern. The owner’s tastes lean toward contemporary, so the design called for clean lines and an uncomplicated aesthetic. Cool paint colors, ample natural light, and the light color of the stranded bamboo floors maintain the open contemporary feel of the space. It was decided to save money by simply refreshing the stairs instead of replacing them. The single piece original maple treads were carefully removed, sanded, and replaced. Upon finding that the old chimney was constructed with cream city brick, we decided to tuck point it, patch old venting holes, clean it, and feature it. We left the original metal cleanout as a link to the original craftsmanship of the home.

$182k

Wauwatosa, WI

Jul 2013

The kitchen began as a cozy homage to Americana, but the owners felt it was time for a change. The layout was not efficient and the space was worn, tired, and dark. With directives such as creating current and highly functional spaces that are bright, cheery and grandchild friendly, they teamed up with Refined Renovations to get it done. Most of the existing kitchen was demolished, including a portion of the second floor stair wall. With the addition of a skylight at the top of the stairs, this extra six feet of opening allows sunlight to flood the hallway. New windows including transoms and the addition of a smoked glass door to the laundry room mean that this once cramped space is now open and full of light. At the bottom of the stairs, a check point drop zone was created to serve as a communication hub for the family. This replaced the outdated kitchen desk area so popular in homes of this era. A large island was created and features Costa Esmerelda granite with a Cubist Clear recycled breakfast bar. Custom and hidden storage was used to create hideaways for everything from glassware to the Kitchen Aid mixer. The walk-in pantry was removed and part of the basement stair carriage, which allowed for a bank of double ovens and extra counter space.

$163k

Brookfield, WI

Apr 2012

When our clients bought their home in the historic Highlands neighborhood, they knew it would need some work. It was important to the family that their builder respect the nature of the home, and the recently renovated kitchen by our company proved we could meet this challenge. The necessary requirements of the new bath would need to be achieved within the existing space, and this new bathroom would need to accommodate both adults and teens. Modern amenities must exist within a space that fit into a traditional home. The room was stripped down to studs before being rebuilt with functionality and style in mind. Attic crawl space was sacrificed to frame out medicine cabinets that are deep enough to hold towels. White subway tile and hexagon floor tiles create a timeless feel while a polished limestone counter top and double sinks provide modern sensibilities. A large glassed-in shower contained tiled niches and bench, making a it both functional and comfortable. Years later, the room is still going strong and the family is happier than ever,

$100k

Wauwatosa, WI