Retreat on the River

Nestled right on the river in Rock County, Wisconsin, this exquisite custom home is certainly a sight to behold. This 16,000+ sq.ft. beauty involved a specialized team of architects, builders, and designers to complete, and we were so honored to be a part of the planning and development of our client’s dream home. It all started with the selection of the exterior materials to highlight the captivating architecture and picturesque scenery of this home. 

This home boasts so many intriguing details to showcase, it is hard to select just a few spaces to highlight. When it comes to selecting materials for a home of this caliber, it always helps to start with the main living spaces like the kitchen and living room. Right as you enter the home, you come face-to-face with this exceptional three-story staircase. The floating steps are custom stained in a darker finish to contrast the hard maple engineered hardwood floors that run throughout the main level. We custom-built the stair rails and selected a contemporary honed stacked stone to highlight the wall behind the stairs. We also carried this stone on to the living room fireplace for continuity. The fireplace has a tailor-made mantle and hearth detail created from a matte finish quartz stone. Even the beams on the ceiling in the living space were designed by hand to reflect the architecture of the home and the angles of the windows. 

One of the main showpieces of this home has got to to be the kitchen. This was such an intriguing space to design. One of the main challenges of this space was trying to find a way to allow the homeowners and their guests to not only take advantage of the stunning river views out of the floor to ceiling windows, but to also have island seating facing the work zone of the kitchen for entertaining. This is where the floating window island idea was born. We were able to create a live-edge wood slab countertop that mounted right over the window for optimal views outside and a quiet space to have a cup of coffee. 

When it came to the kitchen, it was important to keep the materials minimal and in line with the rest of the home. We selected a maple cabinet because the clean lines and tight grain of the wood lended itself well to the overall design and the flooring selection. The stain was a proprietary color to the cabinet company we worked with and is one of their best sellers. The most jaw-dropping element in this space has got to be the two book-end quartz slabs on the island. We selected the island size based on the dimensions of these two slabs so that they would perfectly meet in the center to create a seamless look. This entire island is over 18’ long. The quartz was such a stunning element that we had to run it up the wall as the backsplash as well. This space would not be complete without a custom-made range hood, luxury appliances, and architectural beams throughout. 

One of the most unique elements of this kitchen is the hidden pantry design. We were able to incorporate the door to the pantry into the run of cabinets on the wall for a smooth transition between the two spaces. The pantry carries the same cabinet design, but we selected a subway tile backsplash to differentiate this space from the main kitchen. 

This home has so many incredible features that we could showcase. There is a floating catwalk leading to a private office, a bowling alley, a theater room with a custom star lit ceiling design, a wine room, a gaming space, a trophy room with an attached Irish-style pub and bar, secret doors and hidden rooms, and a three-story slide which is pictured below. If you are interested in checking out the rest of these amazing spaces and seeing more of this incredible home, follow us on social media and stay tuned as we share more on Facebook and Instagram!

Designing Your Feature Wall

There are so many ways to make a statement in your home. One of my favorite methods to add drama to a space is to include a feature wall. An accent wall brings attention to a focal area through texture and visual interest while making a space feel open and inviting. When it comes to materials, there are many to choose from to make a wall ‘pop’. Here are just a few of my front-runners.

Brick

Exposed, painted, or white-washed brick are all great options for an industrial look.

Design by Neptune Home

Design by Neptune Home

Quartz

Quartz or natural stone is a fabulous feature for a kitchen wall to make a timeless statement.

Design by Kate Marker Interiors

Design by Kate Marker Interiors

Stone

Stone is a great material to add to a focal wall to create an earthy, natural texture.

Design by Marie Laure Heimkampf

Design by Marie Laure Heimkampf

Built-Ins

Built-in cabinetry adds dimension and color to a focal wall in your living room, bedroom or office.

Design by Lydia Millen Home

Design by Lydia Millen Home

Paint

While I don’t often recommend large accent painted walls, in the right setting they can really be a nice feature.

Design by Kathy Kuo Home

Design by Kathy Kuo Home

Concrete

Concrete accent walls are a sleek and modern way of adding subtle texture to a space.

Design by Selector

Design by Selector

Metal

If you really want to make a powerful statement, metal accent walls add visual interest to a space, almost becoming a piece of art on the wall.

Design by Digs Digs

Design by Digs Digs

Artwork

If you want something less permanent in your space, try a collage art wall with lots of dimension and composition. 

Design by Coco Cozy

Design by Coco Cozy

Tile

A feature wall of tile is perfect for a kitchen or bathroom because it not only adds in color or pattern, but it also protects the walls from splashing water.

Design by New River Building Co.

Design by New River Building Co.

Wallpaper

Wallpaper has really changed over the years and the new patterns and textures they have now really add dimension and the prints are much more contemporary.

Design by Lindye Galloway

Design by Lindye Galloway

Wood

Raw or reclaimed wood have been all the rage lately as an accent wall in modern farmhouse and rustic designs.

Design by Allison Campbell Design

Design by Allison Campbell Design

Moulding

Painted geometric moulding or horizontal shiplap are popular accent choices because you can create patterns and use different colors to bring in dimension.

Design by Making Joy and Pretty Things

Design by Making Joy and Pretty Things