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NEW NARI Honors Extraordinary Home Projects

Northeast Wisconsin’s National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NEW NARI) celebrates National Home Improvement Month each May, along with a showcase honoring members’ extraordinary projects called Evening of Excellence.

NEW NARI is one of three chapters in the state that serve homeowners by forging connections with home improvement contractors, various trade professionals, suppliers and retailers who uphold their code of ethics and high standards.

“There are good quality, trustworthy contractors out there,” Executive Director Cheryl Kaczmarek insists. “(Members) must commit to and exemplify the NARI principles of integrity, fair business practices, continuous education/training, quality craftsmanship and home improvement excellence.”

From creating an open-concept kitchen and entertainment spaces, creating functional and charming kitchens and revamping a midcentury house into a forever home, this year’s projects highlight NEW NARI members’ innovation, vision and hard work.

From Dark, Dysfunctional and Dated to Bright, Stylish and Inviting: Hockberger Homes
Andrew Hockberger, President/Owner of Hockberger Homes

Start date: April 2024 Completion date: August 2024

The transformation: For this project, we reimagined the home to better suit the needs of a large family. Walls were removed to create an open-concept kitchen, enhancing both flow and functionality. A large, three-panel patio door was added, bringing in much more natural light and connecting the home to the backyard. A bathroom was relocated to expand the kitchen space, as well as an office space for dedicated work from home space, resulting in a more spacious and efficient design.

Additionally, the laundry and mudroom were modified to accommodate the demands of a busy household. A half wall was built in the living room to house the television and provide storage, increasing floor and wall space. Updates to flooring, trim, fixtures, and appliances completed the transformation, giving the home a modern and cohesive feel. 

Challenges: When one wall opens, unexpected challenges arise. During the remodel, we discovered that about 10 years prior, the roof had been replaced by simply adding a new roof over the existing one. This created complications when removing walls, as we had to get creative with beams and posts to maintain the home’s structural integrity. 

Pride points: By opening the layout, this remodel transformed the home into a functional and inviting space, perfectly tailored for a large family. The vibrant colors of the cabinetry in the home added a distinct charm and personality. A large, three-panel patio door was added, bringing in much more natural light and connecting the home to the backyard. A custom half wall was built in the living room to house the television that was installed on a motorized track to move the TV  up out of the wall when they want to watch it and then moves down into the wall hidden when not in use to eliminate a cluttered look.

From the homeowner: “My best feeling (from) the renovation is being at peace… I feel at peace because now when I look around my home it feels right, and it looks stunning. It makes sense, the colors are beautiful and calming, and everything functions so wonderfully.

I look out my giant patio door and I enjoy the natural light (there was no patio door before!); I use my perfectly planned kitchen cabinets and I enjoy everything fitting our life.

The second feeling I have about the renovation is joy. I feel so much joy at seeing my vision come to life and our family living in it and loving it. The materials I chose and the work done with them by Hockberger Homes are both top-notch as well and add to my joy.

I love my home now. (This) is the single best change I could have ever asked for.”

From Dated, Lacking Character and Very Average to Warm, Inviting and Refined Casual: RH Design Build
Susan Hirschberg, Architect/Owner, RH Design Build

Start date: Late November 2023 Completion date: Early February 2024

The transformation: The remodeled kitchen was centered on the living room opening. The living room ceiling was made a focal point, and different sources of light were added. It is now fresh and up to date.

It was pretty straightforward, but the finish on the island was changed to add a wood element to the painted cabinets. We hope (the homeowners) are happy and feel that they are. We think that they are pleased that we made the island more usable, and gave them a great coffee bar space for entertaining. And that they have a better layout, bigger pantry, and we went from a standard range to a double oven.

Challenges: We sunk the under counter refrigerator into the office closet to keep the coffee bar shallow to help with the flow from the garage entrance.

Pride points: We were particularly proud of the combination of 3 finishes in the kitchen, and how the new finish on the living room ceiling beam highlights the kitchen.

From the homeowner: We were pleasantly surprised and impressed by the significant amount of planning and attention to detail in the design phase, including multiple visits to our house. The team was exceedingly professional and attentive. During the renovation, communication was easy and we always received responses in a timely manner. We are very happy with the result!
Our new space is modernized, as well as more convenient for our busy family life. The color scheme and wood tones contribute to the lake house feel: serene, relaxed, and comfortable. We believe the style blends our individual preferences in a way that truly feels like home.

From Dated, Cluttered with Over-Designed Features to Clean, Sophisticated with Unique Design Elements: Timber Innovations
Paul Driessen, Master Builder and Owner, Timber Innovations LLC

Start date: September 2022 Completion date: July 2023

The transformation: The home already had an open plan layout circa 1980, but the elaborate design elements were visually chaotic- intricate wood/metal railings, interior balcony, rounded archways and a ceiling medallion that extended downward into the living room.
The homeowner wanted a simple, clean design that embraced the home’s natural surroundings. The architect’s vision was to pay homage to the rustic appeal of a lake cabin, but in a contemporary way. To achieve their goals, natural materials were used to create a simple backdrop to the stunning lakeside views.

Challenges: An oddly placed little room on the first floor was created specifically to support the second floor. It limited the flow to the front entryway so it was removed, the load point moved and a long structural beam added.

An unexpected challenge was discovered when cracks in the garage wall revealed that the floor had settled 3 inches and needed to be stabilized. Nine helical piers were installed 90’ below grade and attached to footings to raise the floor 3 inches.

Pride points: As always, the parts of the project where we’re able to use our artistic, creative skills are our favorite. Turning natural materials into effective design elements that bring joy and beauty into the lives of our homeowners is personally fulfilling.

The custom-made wet bar is a real showstopper-the reclaimed tin tile backsplash shimmers in the light and the combination of quartz countertop, steel upper cabinets and oak lower cabinets creates a beautifully useful beverage center.

The custom kitchen island is a combination of a gorgeously marbled Spalted Maple dining area on one end with a concrete countertop for food prep and White Oak cabinetry below for storage on the other.

The primary bathroom works as an invigorating place to start the day or a relaxing retreat at day’s end. The cut slate tile on the shower floor that also flows down the wall behind the concrete vanity gives a feeling of a riverbed. A found piece of lake driftwood supported by pendant lights adds softness to the stone and angular vanity.

From the homeowner: This is a vacation home for my whole family to enjoy. It is brighter, more open, and the lake is visible from just about everywhere. The cleaner design is understated yet visually striking, providing a space for us to breathe, relax, and recharge. I smile every time I enter a room.

Cramped, Inaccessible and Unorganized to Accessible, Organized and Breathtaking: VKB Homes
Misty Hermanson, Owner/Interior Designer and Nathan Koning, Chief of Operations, VKB Homes

Start date: End of September Completion date: Beginning of March

The transformation: The main reason for this large remodel and addition was to provide  accessibility, comfort, and independence for the husband. This remodel was a  deeply thoughtful and purposeful project, driven by the goal of restoring  independence and comfort to the husband after his accident, while also  ensuring the home remained a functional and enjoyable space for the entire  family. The emphasis on accessibility without sacrificing design highlights a  careful balance of practicality and aesthetics.

Addition/Master Area: This addition creates a cohesive, self-contained master suite where the  husband can move effortlessly throughout the space—restoring the  independence he enjoyed pre-accident. The wife benefits from her own  luxurious walk-in closet and shared access to the upgraded amenities,  ensuring the space works for both of them. The design elements weave in a  “fun and beautiful” style, while the ADA-compliant layout delivers on function.

Three-Seasons Room: The three-seasons room was transformed into a four-season room to fulfill  the client’s wish for an office and relaxation area connected to the main living  space, enhancing the overall openness of the area. This involved adding  insulation, heating, weatherproofing, and installing new windows. We gave  this room a “speakeasy” vibe with bold high lacquer black paint, antiqued  mirror tile, and black and white floor tile.
Laundry/Butler Pantry: The previous laundry space was expanded into part of the mudroom to create  a generous butler pantry suitable for the entire family. Providing plenty of  storage, workspace and a bold visual punch with the vibrant wallpaper.
Powder Room: The powder room was updated to provide a striking visual appeal for both the  homeowners and their guests. We installed a custom marble sink that was  imported from Turkey, and the walls were painted a bold purple to tie in with  the veining of the marble sink.

The project remained straight forward in creating an aesthetically pleasing  environment that did not appear solely focused on ADA compliance. In the  initial phases, we dedicated considerable time collaborating with our clients  and our team, which included the Project Manager, Crew lead and Design  team. Our objective was to ensure that we addressed all of their  requirements, encompassing both functional design and ADA standards.

Challenges: The current configuration of the house presented challenges in  establishing a zero-entry shower. The existing double truss floor  system complicated the installation of mechanical systems. To  proceed with the addition, it was necessary to drain the nearby pond  and adjust the foundation system to address the elevated water table.  To transform the three-seasons room into a four-seasons room, we  were required to upgrade the windows, insulation, HVAC system, and vapor barrier.

Our team collaborated with subcontractors on-site to develop a new  structural system beneath the zero clearance shower. This modification  enabled them to adjust the existing mechanical systems for both the shower  and the additional space. The chimney draft system was updated with the  installation of new HVAC ductwork, windows, and insulation to regulate the  climate in the newly created four-season room.

Pride points: Design/ layout, craftsmanship, problem solving, and creative solutions with a  priority focus on communication between all involved.

From the homeowner: Leading up to the renovation, we were excited and hopeful. I had a lot of inspiration photos that we used to guide the design process. During the renovation, VKB proactively communicated the timeline and who would be in our house and when. It’s not easy living in a construction zone, but we loved coming home everyday to see what changes were made. Opening the door after work was sort of like Christmas morning! It was fun to see how far they got and to see our ideas coming to life.  Now that it’s finished, we couldn’t be more pleased with how it turned out.

This renovation turned our house into the home we always wanted. It’s our forever home, and the renovation gave us the space and accessibility we needed. We made some bold design choices that give our house personality rooms that we wanted to be fun and welcoming. We also went for a more calm, spa-like vibe in the primary bathroom which is the perfect way to start and end the day.

From Turquoise-y, Antiquated and Cramped to Modern, Spacious and Farm-Characteristic: Wood and Wire
Samantha K. Blaine, CSMP, Partner and CFO, Wood & Wire, Inc.

Start date: April 2024 Completion date: August 2024

The transformation: Basically, the entire house was gutted and remodeled. The kitchen, living room, sunroom, garage, bedrooms, bathrooms, siding, roof, windows, and doors were all touched. We closed up the staircase to the basement and built a new one in a different spot that made more sense. We added a second garage door to the back of the garage per the client’s request (so cars can drive through and park in the backyard for Packer games). We extended the sunroom and added an overhang and a large stamped concrete patio. We also installed a smart home system throughout the entire house. We didn’t have to make any major modifications or adjustments to the original design, so the process was pretty straightforward. Our clients wanted a comfortable, updated home for them to stay in when they are in Green Bay, and they wanted plenty of indoor/outdoor space and a wet bar in the kitchen for hosting gatherings (like Packer parties!).

Challenges: The biggest challenge was the layered backyard patio. There were a lot of landscaping and drainage components that had to be addressed in order to lay the concrete properly. We also had to figure out how to get power out there for the stair lights.

Pride points: We are extremely proud of how the intricate smart home feature turned out. The homeowner can control all the interior/exterior lights, TVs, and speakers from an app on their phone. We are also very pleased with the creativity of the layout we came up with. The house now has an open and cohesive flow that maximizes space.

From the homeowner: They would say that they are very satisfied with the final result. They regularly tell us how much they love the house!