By Melanie Radzicki McManus | Photography by Shanna Wolf
It all began with the mudroom.
Paul and Michelle Schildgen loved the unique layout of their 1979 home, plus its location on a quiet cul-de-sac tucked into the woods. But they hated the mudroom.
“Functionally, it was the worst room in the house,” says Michelle, owner of Studio Captivate, a commercial and residential interior design firm in Madison. “The door was right in front of the dryer, there was no cabinetry, and there was nowhere to sit or set anything down. And we needed more storage. I hated walking into shoes everywhere.”
The couple decided to renovate the room, but that quickly became problematic. If they moved and replaced the door, for example, they should probably replace all of the doors in the home to match. If they installed new flooring, they should probably redo the flooring in the nearby kitchen, too. If they replaced the kitchen flooring, shouldn’t they just remodel the kitchen, as well?
Soon the two had a new plan: Remodel the entire home.
The couple divided the project into two stages. First, they remodeled the primary suite and a hall bathroom. A few years later, they remodeled the rest of the home, including the combination laundry room/mudroom that inspired the entire project.
Since Michelle used to help run a residential remodeling company, she managed the project herself, tapping various subcontractors for different portions of the project. Whenever possible, the Schildgens did the work themselves.
“We painted the entire interior and installed the tile in the powder room,” she says. “We found ways to be economical where it made sense.”
One challenge with the kitchen remodel was storage space. Michelle wanted to create an art gallery in the kitchen where cabinets would normally be hung. But that meant removing about 75% of the upper cabinetry and they couldn’t afford to lose that much storage space.
The solution came via Broihahn Custom Woodworks in Lancaster, Wis., which crafted the room’s new cabinetry. Through its creative use of space, the Schildgens’ new kitchen contains the same amount of storage, despite eschewing wall cabinets.
“I love how much you can do with custom cabinets,” Michelle says. “If you’re going to remodel a space and don’t use custom cabinetry, you’re missing out on a lot of benefits.”
The Schildgens are thrilled with the results of their latest remodel. Not only did the project turn out exactly as envisioned, it resulted in one pleasant surprise. After opening up a wall separating the kitchen and back living room, a wealth of natural light now fills both rooms.
“Previously, we spent more time in our front living room,” Michelle says, “but now we spend much more time in the back living room. It feels so good to be back there.”
MEET MICHELLE OF STUDIO CAPTIVATE
Michelle Schildgen is an interior designer and owner of Studio Captivate, a company specializing in bespoke interiors. For residential customers, Schildgen helps create personalized spaces, while the designs for her commercial clients center around who they are and what they do.
Schildgen encourages her clients not to simply purchase new items when redecorating, but to seek out favored items they already possess, such as family photos, inherited furniture and artwork from a loved one.
“If you surround yourself with good memories, your home will always feel like home,” she says.
Where do you like to shop for clients?
For accessories and artwork, I like antique stores and art fairs. You get better quality, plus unique items that aren’t found everywhere. I also really love designing custom cabinetry.
What is your style?
I love midcentury, art deco and Victorian. Art deco and Victorian in particular have brassy hardware, ornate designs and detailed woodwork.
What is your favorite room to renovate or redecorate and why?
I love designing bars. There’s something bougie about the glassware, shelving, wine glasses and liquor bottles. And it’s all about adding hospitality into a space.
What can make or break a room?
The lighting. It completely changes how a space looks and feels. People often pull money out of their lighting budget to pay for something else, but that’s probably the number one thing you shouldn’t value-engineer.
If you have a limited budget, which room in your home is the most important to redecorate?
The room you use the most.
