LCH Archives - Lowell Custom Homes

The Den Revival

in Custom Home, Trends/by Lowell Management

As much as we love an open floorplan, the occasional quest for quiet space opens the way for a den revival. Our homes evolve and adapt to lifestyle changes, and recent years have seen countless adjustments. The den emerges as the answer to our need for privacy and flexibility.

Home Office

Home Office, Geneva Cabinet Company, Josh Z Photography

Post pandemic, working from home and hybrid work options have multiplied. Efficiency, work-life balance and worker-controlled hours are popular advantages. The key to productivity is having a private space with abundant storage and sound control. We installed custom cabinetry with open shelving and pull-outs for convenient access to files and printer. At the end of a busy workday, the equipment is tucked away and the room functions as a peaceful study.

Custom Storage, Plato Cabinetry, Josh Z Photography

Custom Storage, Geneva Cabinet Company, Josh Z Photography

Zen Den

Sanctuary Den, Shanna Wolf Photography

Paneled in luxury, this den is the perfect setting for video conferencing or restoring your energy. The modern pendant light focuses on the workspace, while recessed and sparkling pin lights accent with a gallery effect. This sanctuary features a library wall with open shelving for favorite books and family mementos.

Den Sanctuary, Geneva Cabinet Company, Photo by Shanna Wolf

Den Sanctuary, Geneva Cabinet Company, Shanna Wolf Photography

Den Versatility

Multi purpose den Photography Shanna Wolf

Versatile Den, Shanna Wolf Photography

More intimate than the living room, this cozy space invites the whole family to stop by and unwind. Knotty alder paneling lines the room with a nautical barrel vault ceiling inspired by the homes Lake Geneva location. Business is compactly conducted on one end of the room with file drawers and cabinetry to house equipment. The other side features a welcoming fireplace and intimate seating for cocktails or conversation.

Cozy multi purpose den Photography Shanna Wolf

Cozy Versatile Den, Shanna Wolf Photography

A Personal Statement

Den for Self expression Photo by Shanna Wolf

Den for Self Expression, Shanna Wolf Photography

More than a workplace, the den can tell a personal story. Surrounding yourself in a peaceful palette and favorite collections is the ideal way to position yourself for success. Adding just one comfortable chair limits interruptions.

Showcase the things you love den Photo by Shanna Wolf

ShowcaseDen, Shanna Wolf Photography

Cozy Niche

Cozy Niche, Geneva Cabinet Company, Shanna Wolf Photography

The den isn’t always a compartmentalized room. An intimate niche that flows from your main living space can showcase favorite books, games and music, a place to relax without isolation.

Visit our gallery for inspiration and call us to discuss your home building and remodeling plans.

Connect with us here

or call 262-245-9030

Plato Woodwork from Geneva Cabinet Company

Josh Z Photography

Shanna Wolf Photography

Geneva Cabinet Company

bedroom design inspired by boutique hospitality suites

Bedroom Inspiration from Boutique Hospitality

in Bed and Bath, Design Ideas/by Lowell Management

We have come full circle. At first, we wanted our hotel rooms to have all of the comforts of home. Now that boutique hotels have perfected suite design, we are borrowing their ideas for bedroom inspiration at home. Especially in the primary suite.

Contained and comfortable, the bedroom is your personal sanctuary. Using the model set by spa and wellness retreats can transform your space into an intimate cocoon. Imagine a tranquil environment that places all necessities within easy reach.

Position for Privacy

Lowell Custom Homes, Photo by Shanna Wolf/S.Photography

A custom home has the advantage of creating floorplans where the bedroom suite is located away from busy traffic patterns. We love the idea of a separate vestibule for the suite. It’s a subtle message to the rest of the family that you are in a do-not-disturb zone.

The Perfect Pieces

Lowell Custom Homes, Interior Design by Elizabeth Drake, Photo by Victoria McHugh

The Bed – Of course the centerpiece of the room deserves special attention. Start by choosing a headboard of distinction with a sturdy frame for support. Mattresses and bedding are determined by personal preference. Our recommendation would be to choose the most natural materials. This will sustain good air quality and limit chemical inhalants in an area where you spend several consecutive hours.

Side Tables or Chest – Choose tabletops that are within easy reach of the mattress height. The standard is 2 to 4 inches higher or lower than the top of the mattress. If space is tight, a side table will do. For more generous rooms use a chest to expand storage.

Ottoman or Bench – Anchor the foot of your bed with a bench when space allows. You will appreciate the convenience when dressing or preparing for bedtime. Models with storage are ideal for pillows, blankets, and linens.

Accent Seating – You will want a chair or two for a complete immersive experience in your bedroom suite. Think comfort for mindful meditation or curling up with a good book.

Lighting – Start with a stunning overhead fixture placed on a dimmer to control any harsh shadows. Then layer in bedside lamps or sconces for tasks and setting a flattering mood.

Flooring & Window Covering

Lowell Custom Homes, Photo by Shanna Wolf/S.Photography

Flooring – Hardwood and has become the standard in many custom homes. It is luxurious, durable, easy to clean and reduces allergens. In the bedroom you will appreciate a large area rug to soften the feel underfoot and absorb sound.

Window Coverings – Elevate the quality of your sleep with layered window treatments. Light control shades are perfect under breezy sheers or luxurious drapery with bump interlining for sound absorption.

Adjoining Bath

While the hospitality industry tries, they simply do not have the space for a luxurious bathroom suite by Lowell Custom Homes. Envision 12 feet of counter space with ample storage below to house everything you need for a stress-free start to your day.

Lowell Custom Homes, Geneva Cabinet Company, Photo by Shanna Wolf/S.Photography

See this for more information on bath design and then watch this for a peek at the design and installation process.

Personalized Closet

Our bedroom inspiration spills over to the adjoining spaces of a bedroom suite. Organized and efficient, a personalized closet system will declutter and destress your life. This can incorporate drawers and save on the purchase of bedroom furniture. When clothing is well organized and protected, you will avoid replacing damaged items or simply forgetting about pieces scrunched to the back of your closet.

Dressing Table

Reminiscent of more glamorous times, the bedroom or closet dressing table is an ideal drop zone. The additional storage will free up space in the bathroom and help organize makeup, beauty products and accessories.

Mini Beverage & Beauty Bar

Lowell Custom Homes, Geneva Cabinet Company, Photo by Shanna Wolf S.Photography

Morning coffee without facing family demands. Midnight snacks with no witnesses. There are so many advantages to tucking in a bedroom mini bar. It can be used for beverages, snacks and satisfying the latest trend for a Skincare fridge.

Bedroom inspiration from hospitality environments will help us create practical comforts at home. To explore more ideas from Lowell Custom Homes visit our Gallery and be inspired!

Connect with Lowell Custom Homes here

or call 262-245-9030

LCH & CCI Donate to Worlds Tallest Glass Tree

in News/by Lowell Management

We are exited to be a part of this community wide event at Yerkes Observatory!

Lowell Custom Homes and Corporate Contractors Inc are donating equipment and materials to construct 2022’s Glass Tree in front of the legendary Yerkes Observatory at 3737 W. Geneva St in historic Williams Bay.

The Tree is crafted using recycled glass bottles donated by the community, crushed, and melted in a mobile furnace to the consistency of honey. Artists will wrap the liquid glass around a 31-foot tall spinning steel structure until it is covered entirely in glass. On the event’s final night, a four-and-a-half-foot tall hand-blown star tops off the Tree for a total height of 35-and-a-half feet.

Free to the public, the World’s Tallest Glass Tree promotes lifelong family memories, inspiring children and adults alike.

This festive, creative celebration of the holiday season takes place over three weekends (Fridays through Sundays), Dec. 2-4, 9-11, and 16-18. At sundown on Sunday, Dec. 18, topping the Tree with a four-and-a-half-foot tall blown glass star completes the installation.

To help “grow” the Tree, Elliott and Mack invite everyone in attendance to donate glass. A collection bin will be available on-site to accept and sort community-donated clear and green bottles, jars, and vases. No window glass, please.

“We’ll gather the glass bottles and jars donated to us, break them up, and shovel them into the furnace. The labels, caps, spaghetti sauce, baby food, or whatever remains of the contents on or in the glass gets burned away, and out comes a crystal-like substance,” said Mack. “The community helps build the sculpture and becomes a part of the project. That’s what makes the Tree event so exciting; we all establish it together.”

Visitors will enjoy live demonstrations of glass-blowing, woodworking, and steel sculpting and can shop at an attached Winter Maker Market with local handmade wares and fine art purveyors. This year’s event also features special guest, Netflix star and renowned sculptor Rae Ripple, in collaborative demos with Jason Mack and his glass-blowing team. Throughout the weekend, onlookers can expect many live exhibitions showcasing a variety of innovative mediums.

The Winter Maker Market will offer handmade goods, fine art sculptures, and Mack’s one-of-a-kind hand-blown trees and ornaments. Mack’s pieces are also available for purchase online at mackglass.com.

Yerkes Observatory will conduct its Space & Spaces Tours inside the Observatory in accordance with the festival schedule. These tours focus on the Observatory’s extensive restoration, historic architecture, and the astronomy stories of Yerkes, with an opportunity to see the world’s largest refracting telescope. For ticket prices, tour times, and reservations, visit yerkesobservatory.org.

Jason Mack, an Illinois State University graduate, has been creating hand-blown glass and other types of glass projects since 2000. From 2008-2010, he and Elliott built community glass Christmas trees and sculptures in Bloomington, IL. In 2020 and 2021, Mack made community Glass Christmas Trees in Champaign, IL. He currently lives and works in Champaign, developing his portfolio and teaching classes through Parkland Community College.

Rob Elliott, a graduate of Illinois State University, is a successful entrepreneur and philanthropist who resides between Williams Bay and Milwaukee with his family. Rob’s high-energy and creative approach creates successful events and unique, custom projects.

For more information about Jason Mack’s work, you can find him on Facebook at Mack Glass, Instagram @WorldsTallestGlassTree, email him at jason@mackglass.com or visit mackglass.com

For more information about Rob Elliott’s work, you can find him on Facebook at Rob Elliott,
Instagram @RobertTElliott1, email him at Rob@theblankcanvasproject.com or visit theblankcanvasproject.com

For more information about Yerkes Observatory, you can find them on Facebook at
Yerkes Observatory, Instagram @WorldsTallestGlassTree, or visit them online at yerkesobservatory.org

For information about all of the amazing Holiday Events happening in the Lake Geneva Area this winter visit visitlakegeneva.com

More Than a Kitchen

in Home Ideas, Interior Design, Kitchen Design/by Lowell Management

More idyllic than a Nancy Meyers movie set, this fresh and fabulous kitchen design expresses the Lake Geneva lifestyle beautifully! We are excited to share the inspiring kitchen of a recently completed Lowell Custom Homes. A lake home aesthetic is firmly established by the talented interior designers at North Shore Nest. Photography by Aimée Mazzennga captures the rooms for all of us to appreciate.

The kitchen environment has evolved over time into a space where most of our home life happens. Square footage and amenities have both expanded. The result is a spacious design to accommodate our busy lifestyles. The freshest kitchen designs strike a balance between comfort and practicality.

Kitchen Design

Furniture quality cabinetry is the key to making it all work seamless. This home features custom cabinetry from Das Holz Haus, selected for their meticulous craftsmanship and superior finishing. Their motto, “. . . the most valuable tools are our hands” speaks to the integrity and construction of each piece.

Cooking is at the heart of any kitchen design and here a Lacanche range is the true centerpiece. Known for their superior performance among home cooks and professional chefs, these ranges are made to order deep in the Burgundy countryside of France. This work of art was created in French Blue with signature brass trim.

The range adds a distinctive charm to the kitchen along with a full height patterned backsplash. Reflecting the range finishes, a sophisticated blend of brass and nickel is applied throughout the kitchen for hardware, lighting, and trim.

Functionality in Kitchen Design

The kitchen has become the new living room. It is a family friendly space with designated areas for food prep, cooking, cleaning, working, and gathering together. It all began in the 80’s by taking down a wall. Now the open concept kitchen continues to mature with generous space permitting zones dedicated to specialized activities. This often includes expansive countertop work surfaces and a super-sized island or two.

The cabinetry is beautiful while supporting customized storage. A peek inside reveals expert planning by the kitchen designers at Geneva Cabinet Company in Lake Geneva. Impressive cabinet interiors house everything needed to keep a home running smoothly, even during the most hectic time of day.

The full height storage wall features (from left to right) a storage pantry with roll out shelving, the Miele Coffee System, multiple refrigerator drawers, built-in sideboard, and Sub Zero integrated 30″ refrigerator with 30″ freezer.

In addition to storage, the built-in niche presents a durable surface ideal for serving foods and beverages. The refrigerator drawers located in this section keep essentials like coffee cream, ice, and snacks within reach.

Floor to ceiling cabinetry takes advantage of the full wall height for storage while visually adding substance to this voluminous space. With cabinetry this efficient, every kitchen component is neatly tucked away to avoid clutter. Dexter has plenty of space to make himself comfortable while basking in a sunbeam.

Kitchen Islands

The kitchen island has progressed with the rest of the room to become a mainstay for family activity and entertaining.

In this home two very generous islands further define kitchen versatility. The inside island across from the range contains two dishwashers, two apron front sinks, a waste bin and compactor. The back of this unit boasts 18″ deep drawers for easy accessibility. The space between the two island is an entertainer’s dream. A microwave, warming drawer and more storage keeps everything within reach when serving friends and family. The public side of the outer island is finished with paneling and a countertop extension for casual dining and gathering.

And while the kitchen is an absolute dream, the adjacent dining room offers yet another dining alternative with sweeping views of the lake.

To see all of the impressive details of this Lowell Custom Home visit Poolside Paradise in our Featured Home Gallery.

Follow this link for more kitchen ideas.

The team at Lowell Custom Homes is ready to listen to your needs and help you develop the perfect plan for your lifestyle.

Contact the experts at Lowell Custom Homes to help plan your new home or remodeling project.

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