Tag Archive for: indoor outdoor

Backyard Resort

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Why count down the days until your next vacation when you can relax in your own private backyard resort every day to summer!

 After spending several blissful years in their Lowell Custom Home these homeowners decided to take it to the next level with some enticing property improvements.   Take a look at how they created the perfect spot for relaxing and entertaining at home!

The Big Picture

It starts with a plan that includes space for your favorite pastimes.  Use your most memorable resort as inspiration and then personalize the ideas to create a space where you can truly live your best life on a daily basis.

Outdoor Pool or Water Feature

Backyard Resort Outdoor Pool and spa

A water feature will set the mood for relaxation.  It can be a pool, spa or even a fountain for a multisensory experience that includes the cascading sounds of water.

See more outdoor living ideas here.

Multiple Seating Areas

Sun or shade, active or quiet, multiple seating areas are the ideal way to accommodate the days activities with options to suit your mood.

Outdoor Kitchen

Backyard resort outdoor kitchen

No one wants to be confined to the kitchen and miss summertime fun, so keep meals simple and bring the cook outdoors.  This outdoor kitchen was created with cabinetry from Danver Luxury Stainless Steel Outdoor Kitchens and designed by Geneva Cabinet Company, LLC.  We love the summer cool-down tips on the Geneva Cabinet blog, read them here!

AlFresco Dining

One of the most satisfying part of a resort vacation is dining outdoors.  This protected dining niche is conveniently located near the outdoor kitchen and acts as an extension of the indoor living room.   It even has motorized retractable screens from Midwest Screen that are there when you need them and disappear when you don’t.

Warm It Up Outdoors

The outdoor fire pit or fireplace is perfect for extending your day .  Take the chill out of the air with an intimate seating arrangement then get ready to toast s’mores.  A fire feature will extend your fair-weather season while keeping the bugs away.  This cozy gas fire pit is low maintenance and well integrated into the landscape.

Light the Way

Backyard Resortlandscape lighting

Subtle lighting along the way lends a resort feel to your property by adding ambiance while guiding you safely along the path.

Enjoy Your Favorite Pastimes

Backyard Resort Golf Tee

Feel like a pro with your own backyard putting green, bocce ball court or croquet court.  The idea is to make space in your life for the things you love, and then create a convenient space where you can enjoy them more often.

Quality Outdoor Time At Home

You will start relaxing as soon as you pull in the driveway when you have an outdoor space like this!

For a complete outdoor living checklist click here!

We always love hearing from you and are happy to discuss your personal home projects! Building a new home or remodeling can be an exciting adventure and our team of experts is available to answer your questions and guide you every step of the way!

Lowell Custom Homes

262.245.9030

Screened in porch interior Lowell Custom Homes in Lake Geneva WI

Screened Porches – Bug Free Outdoor Bliss

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The fine art of “porching” may have been introduced in the south, but here in the Midwest we expand the tradition with protective panache.   Even the official Porch Sitters Union approves of the screened-in variety.  It is a highly respected option offering a laid back defense against bugs and weather conditions.

Lowell Custom Homes screened in porch exterior

Ideal Location for Your Porch

To help you identify the perfect location for your screened porch click here..  The idea is to achieve a seamless indoor-outdoor connection where you can enjoy nature without pesky bugs or excessive heat.   Depending on construction, this could be a year round extension of your home’s living and entertaining space.

Lowell Custom Homes screened porch with access from kitchen

The Anatomy of a Screened Porch

Overhead – The most appealing roof design is an extension of your home architecture.  A well constructed roof will offer protection from the elements with a shed, hip or gabled style.  The materials should be high quality as well as compatible with the main structure. This home received all new roofing that features long lasting composition shake shingle from DaVinci Roofscapes.

most appealing roofline by Lowell Custom Homes Lake Geneva WI

Enclosure – Full screening will promote a lovely cross breeze while the addition of windows can provide year round comfort for the space.  A large variety of window styles will work.   One of the latest trends is to install a glass wall of windows that folds back for an unobstructed view.

Interior –  Architectural details can take this space from elementary to enchanting.  Here we feature a beadboard ceiling, arched corbels and versatile lighting for after sunset. Ceiling fans and fireplaces are popular additions as well.

screened porch interior Lowell Custom Homes Lake Geneva WI

Underfoot – Moisture seal is imperative as a base layer before construction begins.  From there the flooring material should be durable with a level and visually pleasing transition from interior rooms.

exterior view of screened porch with access to outdoor leisure

Final Touches

Comfortable seating will complete your indoor-outdoor space.   Use sturdy pieces and fabrics for easy care and stress-free entertaining and relaxation.  Durable fabrics like those from Sunbrella are a modern miracle that will help you weather the elements in style.  Be sure to include drink tables, a place to prop up your feet and some perky accents, plants and flowers.

Screened porch outdoor furniture Lowell Custom Homes Lake Geneva WI

Here’s to all of the ways our home can help us celebrate the spring & summer season!

Fun facts about this home:

This home was originally built by Lowell Custom Homes and designed by M & E Architects.  The renovations in 2018 are by Lowell Custom Homes with architect Todd Cauffman and General Manager/Project Superintendent Rich Kinter.

To see more of the lovely details visit our gallery by clicking here.

Photography is by Shanna Wolf, S.Photography and Styling

The new roof is by DaVinci Roofscapes and features a long lasting composition shake shingle.

Here is a better look at the new kitchen by Geneva Cabinet Company, LLC which features cabinetry from Plato Woodwork, Inc.

We always love hearing from you and are happy to discuss your personal home projects! Building a new home or remodeling can be an exciting adventure and our team of experts is available to answer your questions and guide you every step of the way!

Lowell Custom Homes

262.245.9030

Gatherings Making memories at home for the holidays

Gatherings – A Time When Memories Are Made

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Memorable gatherings, great and small, begin in a home that radiates warmth.  Sharing the comforts of your home is one of the most meaningful gifts you can give for the holidays. While daily lifestyle takes precedence in home design, here are a few features that are truly appreciated by guests.

Lowell Custom Homes entry door

Welcoming Entry

Before the doorbell rings your home is making its first impression.  The character of this home is reminiscent of a French Country Chateau with exterior lighting that glows to guide visitors forward.   The richly stained and subtly arched entry doors are framed by curved corbels and surrounded by dimensional stone work.  For more inviting exterior ideas click here!

Lowell Custom Homes Lake Geneva Wi Interior entry door

Balance

Guests are reassured by a sense of balance.  The beautiful symmetry of this living room plays a gracious role communicating comfort.

Lowell Custom Homes a entry flow into open living

Inviting Flow

Unobstructed views and an open floor plan encourage a relaxed flow throughout the home.

Lowell Custom Homes open concept floor plan

Lovely Scale & Proportion

Scale is more important than size when creating a welcoming room.  This floor to ceiling stone fireplace is perfectly at home in a room that can support its dramatic presence with ample ceiling volume.   View more ideally proportioned interiors in our gallery by clicking here.

owell Custom Homes options for intimacy cozy den

Options for Intimacy

Large formal rooms are lovely, but at times a scaled down room is just right for more intimate gatherings.  Here, fine handcrafted details are perfectly proportioned for a more personal setting.

Lowell Custom Homes versitility open or close spaces versitility

Versatile and Multifunctional

We all love an open kitchen, but at times you just want to pull the curtain, or in this case the pocket door, on the chaos.   Built-in versatility is the key to spaces that perform day-to-day as well as when entertaining.  This kitchen can be a place for meal preparations, casual dining, or mingling.

Lowell Custom Homes island party in front business in the back

Party in the Front, Business in the Back

Function is a priority, especially in kitchen design.  Here a dramatic oversized island is part of the design by Geneva Cabinet Company, LLC.  At first glance you’ll notice show-stopping good looks, but a peek around to the back side exposes easy-to-access storage, wide open work surface and undercounted appliances.

Lowell Custom Homes behind the scenes convenience and staging area

Staging Area

Behind the scenes at any great event is a well executed plan.  This spacious laundry room can double as a butler’s pantry while thoughtfully designed cabinet interiors are a thing of beauty every day.

Lowell Custom Homes indoor outdoor

Seasonal Transitions

A protected indoor-outdoor area is appreciated by many guests.  This screened in room offers comfort and style along with a little fresh air.

Time to Unwind

And finally, after the last air-kiss good-night, every homeowner deserves a place to unwind and reminisce about the exciting events of the day.

Lowell Custom Homes place to rejuvanate after entertaining and careing for others

That should include the privacy of a Master Bedroom and Bath Suite as the perfect place to rejuvenate for the next round of holiday festivities.

We send our heartfelt thanks

to our customers and all of those who follow

our activities as we build these lovely homes,

always,

and especially this holiday season!

 

This home was originally built by Lowell Custom Homes and designed by M & E Architects.  The renovations in 2018 are by Lowell Custom Homes with architect Todd Cauffman and General Manager/Project Superintendent Rich Kinter.

To see more of the lovely details visit our Houzz portfolio by clicking here.

Photography is by Shanna Wolf, S.Photography and Styling

The new roof is by DaVinci Roofscapes and features a long lasting composition shake shingle.

The kitchen by Geneva Cabinet Company, LLC features cabinetry fromPlato Woodwork, Inc.

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