The Story
Mike and Robin’s home had the non-negotiable features they relocated hundreds of miles for: an indoor pool and a location on the lake. After only a year, the cracks in their dream home started to show.
The bathroom wasn’t made for a couple who liked to get ready together, and none of the recreation spaces were set up for entertaining. The floor plan wasn’t the problem; everything else was.
The couple first came to Build It Right to improve their primary suite, but it snowballed into an unplanned collaboration that spanned 7 months, touched the kitchen, primary suite, wine room, basement bathroom, and lower level across two separate phases.
Oconomowoc, WI
Phase 1: 4 months
Phase 2: 3 months
$395,730
" I feel like our remodels were done promptly, accurately and exactly what we wanted. I would highly recommend Build It Right to anyone looking to remodel! He exceeded our expectations.”
— Robin and Mike
The existing home was full of as many problem areas as it was places to preserve. The too-small primary bathroom and awkwardly oriented, outdated kitchen needed some serious work. Meanwhile, the fireplace, lower-level wine bar, wine room, and basement bathroom were just shy of past their prime.
Mike and Robin didn’t actually need us to gut their entire home. They needed a kitchen oriented around foot traffic and cooking patterns, gathering spaces where their guests could feel at home, bathrooms outfitted for occupying two at a time, and finishes that enhanced the warmth they wanted.
They knew they wanted to stay forever, but weren’t sure how to make it happen. They came to us with a primary suite project, but we all knew the space needed more.
Primary Suite: The primary bathroom needed the most work, and we suggested gutting it, expanding the shower, replacing the cabinet, and the mirror. We also proposed a walk-in closet with shelving and drawers, and lake-view primary bedroom windows.
Lower Level: Our lower level plans included enclosing the wine room with a glass door, expanding the basement shower, replacing its vanity and mirror, updating the fireplace, and adding lighting to the indoor pool.
Our detailed plans and 3D renderings highlight the changes that often get overlooked in a conversation. From small details like the dual showerheads to larger features like the wine room’s reimagined glass doorway, these designs helped Mike and Robin experience the updated areas of their home early in the process.
Mike and Robin can get ready for the day together, in a primary suite built for two. Downstairs, drinks still pass through the same window that’s always overlooked the pool, only now there’s a wet bar and a glass-enclosed wine room on the other side of it. The kitchen island, once too small and badly placed to gather around, seats six to eight easily, so when friends come over for the lake view and a dip, everyone ends up right where Mike and Robin wanted them: gathered in the kitchen, looking out at the water.
Client Must Haves
A larger shower, double shower heads, built-in niches, and foot rests make the primary bath a true couple’s space. Floating Cabnova oak cabinetry with quartz countertops and under-cabinet lighting elevates an often overlooked area.
An existing pass-through window just outside the indoor pool was the inspiration for an added wet bar, fully furnished with quartz countertops and bronze finishes for entertaining long into the night or well into the morning. It’s the thoughtful changes that turn the home into a staycation paradise.
While a wine room already existed, Brian knew how to make it pop. He hand-set the 28 brackets that the accent bottles would rest against. The existing filing cabinet and safe were removed, while an old solid wall gave way to a glass enclosure. Added accent lighting, a cedar ceiling, and floating glass shelves carried the home’s warmth throughout, inviting people in.
A new 4’ x 11’ kitchen island took the place of the much-smaller original. We oriented it to flow with the kitchen’s natural foot traffic rather than against it, turning the island into a gathering spot that brings friends and family together.
Large lake windows offer the primary bedroom a beautiful lake view and bathe the space in natural light.
The primary bathroom and shower floors were replaced with heated ones for additional comfort.
Lit mirrors carry the light motif from the floating cabinets into other areas of the room.
Dated lighting and cabinetry made way for a cozy makeup station you can spend hours in front of.
The Serena White 3” x 8” tile backsplash connects the cabinets to the rest of the kitchen while adding texture and shine.
The outdated 1960s facade fireplace couldn’t stay put. A new brick facade gas conversion harmonized the fireplace with the rest of the space.
No homeowner can plan for every potential outcome; that’s what Brian and our team are for. Phase 1 revealed a pipe with a 45-year-old nail-puncture problem that was secretly leaking into Mike and Robin’s indoor pool. We opened the area up and brought in a drying company for four to five days. We also documented every detail with photos and videos so the homeowners could file an insurance claim.
The repair work cost about $5,000, and in a week, we were back on schedule.
The result
Mike and Robin’s house wasn’t a complete loss; it only needed a few targeted improvements to turn those pain points into points of pride. Their kitchen, primary suite, and wine room all received a serious refresh. Meanwhile, intentional changes to the fireplace, lower-level serving area, basement shower and bathroom, and primary bedroom took the home from 80% finished to all the way there.
Contact Us
Let’s talk problem areas and the ways we fix them.
Every part of your home should feel like it was made for you. When it doesn’t, our team can work with you to transform the space designed with others in mind into one you never want to leave.
