Houzz Tours
My Houzz: Family-Friendly Style in Wisconsin
This light and bright new house includes a cheerful home-schooling space and special features for the kids
“The ordinary moments are the ones that best sum up the feeling of our home,” says Becki, pictured here on the front porch with Tim and their three children, Rosemary, Oliver and Henry. The couple are co-owners of Apple Wellness, a vitamin and health food store. “Moments that make up the everyday highs and lows, and for the coming together at the end of the day when all the babies are tucked in safe and tight in their rooms. More than a sense of style and decorating, I want love to fill these walls. I want my children to remember their childhood in this home with feelings of comfort and joy, and I want them to feel like it is their home too.”
“Our main goals with this home were to increase bedroom size for the kids, include a guest room and utilize the area above the garage for living space,” Becki says. This house is a custom build, and the O’Briens tried to take advantage of every square inch; they’re planning for this to be their forever home. They worked with Tim Lemkuil and Andy Fieber of Aldo Partners. Becki recalls spending hours poring over blueprints and discussing ideas with Lemkuil to get all the details just right.
The open layout of the main living space gives the parents a chance to feel connected to their three children from the kitchen. A typical day in the O’Brien house with three energetic young kids involves a lot of running in circles. “Our downstairs is perfect for that,” Becki says.
Wall paint: Snowbound, Sherwin-Williams; tufted leather sofas: Davenport, Steinhafels; throw pillow: Watercolor Floral, McGee & Co.
The open layout of the main living space gives the parents a chance to feel connected to their three children from the kitchen. A typical day in the O’Brien house with three energetic young kids involves a lot of running in circles. “Our downstairs is perfect for that,” Becki says.
Wall paint: Snowbound, Sherwin-Williams; tufted leather sofas: Davenport, Steinhafels; throw pillow: Watercolor Floral, McGee & Co.
“I’m not sure how to adequately describe how much I love my kitchen,” Becki says. “It’s a clear reflection of how much I love white, but I branched out a little and had contrasting wood cabinets for the island. The two-toned approach comes together with the white quartz countertops. “We purposely made the island huge; it’s 10 feet long, and it is a great space for coming together,” Becki says. “I wanted the kids to have room to color or work on projects while I make dinner, and we can all easily sit together for meals.”
The family eats most of their meals together at their island.
Wall paint: Snowbound, Sherwin-Williams; counter stools: Carlisle, Target; pendant lights: Everly, Kichler
The family eats most of their meals together at their island.
Wall paint: Snowbound, Sherwin-Williams; counter stools: Carlisle, Target; pendant lights: Everly, Kichler
The dining room has a shiplap accent wall and features a gallery of framed black-and-white photographs of the kids.
Wall paint: Repose Gray, Sherwin-Williams; dining table: Braxton, Target; table runner: Blue Villa Stripe, Cost Plus World Market; white chairs: Carlisle high-back metal dining chair, Target; black chairs: Windsor metal stack club chairs, Target; rug: Herringbone indigo woven cotton, Dash & Albert; pendant: Eldridge rectangular, Ballard Designs
Wall paint: Repose Gray, Sherwin-Williams; dining table: Braxton, Target; table runner: Blue Villa Stripe, Cost Plus World Market; white chairs: Carlisle high-back metal dining chair, Target; black chairs: Windsor metal stack club chairs, Target; rug: Herringbone indigo woven cotton, Dash & Albert; pendant: Eldridge rectangular, Ballard Designs
Becki worked closely with Sarah Malhotra of Sarah George Designs to decorate the home. “Sarah became my most frequently texted number. We went back and forth almost daily, and she deserves a prize for putting up with my indecision in light fixtures specifically,” Becki says.
Wall paint: Gray Matters, Sherwin-Williams; sofa: Felton tufted in navy, Target
Wall paint: Gray Matters, Sherwin-Williams; sofa: Felton tufted in navy, Target
This sitting room is directly off the living room. “We had made it accessible with huge pocket doors, and my intention was to make it some sort of kid room — the doors were perfect for hiding any mess. But I was totally stumped on how to make the room come together and not feel awkward with the rest of the downstairs when the doors were open,” Becki says. “Sarah’s initial suggestion of putting a couch in there seemed odd to me, but in reality, she was absolutely right! I bought a kidproof couch from Target [and] added some bright pillows, floor cushions and a play table. Toys are stored in the tall shelf, and the desk holds the TV. It is one of our most-used rooms in the whole house.”
Bookshelf: Loring five-shelf ladder bookcase, Project 62
Bookshelf: Loring five-shelf ladder bookcase, Project 62
“One of the first things I like to do when we move into a new place is hang up our family photos,” Becki says. “It took me a little longer with this move, and one day my 3-year-old son asked me, ‘I love the new house, but I want you to hang our smiles back up because they make me feel cozy and just right.’ Loosely translated: Home is the people, not the house, and our walls needed some familiar faces.”
The family photos were taken by Lexi Ducommun.
Wall paint: Repose Gray, Sherwin-Williams
The family photos were taken by Lexi Ducommun.
Wall paint: Repose Gray, Sherwin-Williams
The mudroom has cubbies and hooks for the kids to hang up their jackets and store their belongings.
Wall paint: Sea Salt, Sherwin-Williams
Wall paint: Sea Salt, Sherwin-Williams
The kids were enthusiastic about their new home and enjoyed visiting the project site every day. “A funny memory was the day the doorknobs were installed. The kids ran in circles through the house singing a silly song about how much they loved doorknobs!” Becki says.
“We really wanted the kids to remember and feel involved in the whole experience,” she adds. “My favorite moment was letting them sign their names and draw pictures on the subflooring in their rooms before the wood flooring was installed. The thought of those little drawings under the floor still makes me smile.”
Wall paint: Modern Gray, Sherwin-Williams; tepee: A Teepee to Call Your Own, Land of Nod; rug: Jute Chunky Loop, nuLoom; swing: Joki Planet Koala, La Siesta; storage: Metal nine-cubby Thomas wall storage, Cost Plus World Market
“We really wanted the kids to remember and feel involved in the whole experience,” she adds. “My favorite moment was letting them sign their names and draw pictures on the subflooring in their rooms before the wood flooring was installed. The thought of those little drawings under the floor still makes me smile.”
Wall paint: Modern Gray, Sherwin-Williams; tepee: A Teepee to Call Your Own, Land of Nod; rug: Jute Chunky Loop, nuLoom; swing: Joki Planet Koala, La Siesta; storage: Metal nine-cubby Thomas wall storage, Cost Plus World Market
Three-year-old Oliver and 2-year-old Henry enjoy matching twin beds as well as a tepee and swing in their shared bedroom. “The boys’ room has the best setup for sleep and play, and that swing and tepee get constant use,” Becki says.
Wall sconce: Nickel Fisherman sconce, Pottery Barn Kids; twin beds: Modern Studio, Zinus; quilt: Braden Dino, Pottery Barn Kids
Wall sconce: Nickel Fisherman sconce, Pottery Barn Kids; twin beds: Modern Studio, Zinus; quilt: Braden Dino, Pottery Barn Kids
The couple spent hours planning out the details of each kid’s bedroom. “My daughter’s room is basically my childhood dream room, with the cathedral ceiling, chandelier and soft pink walls,” Becki says. “The builder offered to custom-build her bed, and it was purposefully made so she could sit in bed and look out the window.”
Chandelier: Ruby, Pottery Barn Kids (shop similar chandeliers)
Chandelier: Ruby, Pottery Barn Kids (shop similar chandeliers)
Hooks on the wall can be easily accessed.
Beneath the built-in desk in 5-year-old Rosemary’s bedroom is a secret space. “It’s small, but she can crawl behind there and hide from her brothers,” Becki says.
Wall paint: Faint Coral, Sherwin-Williams; mirror: Decorative circular, Project 62
Wall paint: Faint Coral, Sherwin-Williams; mirror: Decorative circular, Project 62
The couple worked with Andy and Nicole Kidd of One Stall Workshop to build a custom desk for their upstairs space, which Becki refers to as the schoolroom.
Labeled bins keep the kids’ toys neatly organized.
Storage system: Trofast, Ikea; rug: Fretwork, Target; world map: Gritty City Goods, Etsy
Storage system: Trofast, Ikea; rug: Fretwork, Target; world map: Gritty City Goods, Etsy
The family spends a lot of time in the schoolroom, as Becki home-schools their three children. The boys can access this room through a small “doggy door” in their closet. “That little door gets more use than their bedroom door,” Becki says.
Wall paint: Snowbound, Sherwin-Williams; metal chairs: Carlisle high-back metal dining chair, Target
Wall paint: Snowbound, Sherwin-Williams; metal chairs: Carlisle high-back metal dining chair, Target
“The schoolroom is exciting for me, because there is enough space for play and learning. There is room for all the toys for the little ones, but it is also functional as a schoolroom for my daughter,” Becki says. “Her favorite spot is the little craft area. The table is old and so thoroughly covered in marker that nothing could be done to make it look any worse. The little baskets on the wall hold paper, crayons, colored pencils, scissors, stickers, glue.… I love having it at their level, and I love to see them sitting there throughout the day, unprompted, helping themselves to some art therapy.”
The guest room is close to the schoolroom and does double duty as a place for overnight guests and Becki’s home office. “This room is a mismatch of a lot of things I found around the house and pulled together to make a cozy space for me to settle in and get some work done,” Becki says. “My favorite color has always been pink, so this space with soft, feminine details and splashes of blush pink makes me especially happy. I do all of the graphic design, photography and marketing for our business, and working from home has been so much easier with a dedicated space to work and store all of my supplies.”
Becki made a makeshift headboard out of a piece of a wood pallet that she painted. “The result is a little quirky, but I think it fits well with the rest of the space,” she says.
Becki made a makeshift headboard out of a piece of a wood pallet that she painted. “The result is a little quirky, but I think it fits well with the rest of the space,” she says.
“I love having a welcoming space ready for when guests come, and this guest room is really great because it’s set apart from the rest of the house, so nobody will be awakened by the inevitable nighttime sounds that come from having three small children,” Becki says.
Chair: Winslow tufted back, Target; rug: Compton, Safavieh
Chair: Winslow tufted back, Target; rug: Compton, Safavieh
Textured wallpaper with a brick pattern creates a unique accent wall in the master bedroom. “My husband has always joked that my way of dealing with stress is finding an unnecessary project to tackle,” Becki says. The wallpaper is removable, so the homeowners can swap it out later if they want. “The process was therapeutic, and the finished product is one of my favorite details in the house,” she says.
Wall paint: Sea Salt, Sherwin-Williams; removable wallpaper: Devine Color textured brick, Target; headboard: West Elm (no longer available); nightstands: Margate end table, Target; table lamps: Modern Globe desk lamp, Target; rug: Petit Diamond platinum and ivory indoor-outdoor, Dash & Albert
Wall paint: Sea Salt, Sherwin-Williams; removable wallpaper: Devine Color textured brick, Target; headboard: West Elm (no longer available); nightstands: Margate end table, Target; table lamps: Modern Globe desk lamp, Target; rug: Petit Diamond platinum and ivory indoor-outdoor, Dash & Albert
The white dresser is one Becki used as a child, and she updated with a fresh coat of paint. “The mirror in the corner was made and given to me by my dad. The history behind these pieces make them extra special,” Becki says.
Pale blue walls, white tiles and a stand-alone tub create a calm and soothing master bath retreat. “Every day in this home feels like a gift,” Becki says.
Floor tile: Rhombus, Merola Tile
Floor tile: Rhombus, Merola Tile
The O’Briens discovered this beautiful lot for sale in their subdivision in Madison. “It felt like a piece of country amidst a bustling neighborhood. It was large and lovely, crowded with big, tall trees and backing a beautiful forest. We loved it, but the timing was impossibly off — it had only been two years since we built the home we were living in; we had a newborn and had just expanded our business to a second location,” Becki says.
“We had every excuse to pass, and yet we found ourselves listing and selling our house, buying the dream lot and moving our family of five into a two-bedroom apartment for eight months. For better or worse, the dream was moving forward and we once again stepped into the amazing building process.”
“We had every excuse to pass, and yet we found ourselves listing and selling our house, buying the dream lot and moving our family of five into a two-bedroom apartment for eight months. For better or worse, the dream was moving forward and we once again stepped into the amazing building process.”
The O’Briens appreciate the work that Tim Lemkuil and Andy Fieber of Aldo Partners did to make their forever home a beautiful place that is perfect for their family. “A huge reason we chose them is because of their unique and beautiful construction design. We had such a fantastic experience working with this team, and they are a huge part of what made the building experience so enjoyable and stress-free,” Becki says.
“When we were working on the blueprints and layout for the home, our builder sent us drawings of a farmhouse-style home with an attached garage with a gorgeous gambrel roof. I was immediately sold. So, with a garage that looks like a barn, it kind of became our modern farmhouse, and all of the design elements throughout the home stay true to this theme.”
My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
Browse more homes by style: Apartments | Barn Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Floating Homes | Guesthouses | Lofts | Midcentury
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“When we were working on the blueprints and layout for the home, our builder sent us drawings of a farmhouse-style home with an attached garage with a gorgeous gambrel roof. I was immediately sold. So, with a garage that looks like a barn, it kind of became our modern farmhouse, and all of the design elements throughout the home stay true to this theme.”
My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
Browse more homes by style: Apartments | Barn Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Floating Homes | Guesthouses | Lofts | Midcentury
Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Small Homes | Townhouses | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | Vacation Homes
Who lives here: Tim and Becki O’Brien and their children, Rosemary, 5, Oliver, 3, and Henry, 2
Location: Madison, Wisconsin
Size: 3,300 square feet (306.5 square meters); four bedrooms, 2½ bathrooms
Year built: 2017
Tim and Becki O’Brien decorated their new build in Madison, Wisconsin, in a modern-farmhouse-inspired style. “The living room is where all the elements of our modern farmhouse really come together in a dramatic way,” Becki says.
Those elements include shiplap walls, a brick fireplace, a sculptural light fixture, sleek modern couches and a predominantly white palette with layers of texture, including different metals and natural wood. “People laugh when they hear that my daughter’s favorite color is white, but if you look around our house, I think you’ll see the reason why,” Becki says. “My decor mantra is ‘White, bright and full of light.’”
Chandelier: Granada Lantern, L’Aviva Home; art on mantel: It Is Well Canvas, Lindsay Letters; rug: Braided Jute, Ballard Designs