2020 NARI National Contractor of the Year Winner for Residential Interior, home remodel; Fond du Lac, Wisconsin: The homeowners love to cook and give small dinner parties. Their kitchen is the focal point of their home, but it was small and dated. A previous addition made an exterior load-bearing wall an interior wall, disrupting the space and segregating the dining and living rooms. Timber Innovations restored the open concept to this Russell Barr Williamson home and added a contemporary twist on traditional design elements.

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Challenge: Opening the space required removing several support structures and walls. A load-bearing exterior wall that had become an interior wall when an addition was built, was removed.

Solution: Ceiling beams were added where possible to support the floor above. The columns that couldn’t be replaced were hidden in the chimney structure and in the design of the kitchen cabinetry.



Challenge: Keeping warm in a space with a tile floor and large windows.

Solution: In addition to traditional heating systems, the floor employs hydronic warmboard beneath Italian porcelain tile, which is energy efficient and radiates warmth. The heating system is managed from a smart device with the Control4 app.

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Challenge: Usually, illumination is provided by recessed lights and pendant lighting. The homeowner wanted something unique.

Solution: The lighting plan includes natural, LED and colored lights. Overhead is a custom-made frame using LED diodes in paper covered with an acrylic diffuser which provides even lighting with no hotspots. Recessed lighting over counter tops provide task lighting. LED lights in the handmade metal cabinet doors change color to set the mood for lively entertaining, relaxing evening at home, or a romantic dinner. All lights are managed using the Control4 on a smart device.

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Challenge: Stay true to the Russell Barr Williamson design aesthetic without looking dated.

Solution: The fireplace is a mix of traditional limestone and modern marble with a mitered corner, allowing for the veins to wrap around the structure. The dramatic kitchen island is South African, Belvedere Leather Quartz, a fine grained rare quartzite with a deep black background and swirls of white and gold, combined with a leather finish. It is cut with a "rock ledge" edge. All other counter tops are done in smooth contrasting white marble. Cabinetry is custom-made with Pecky Cyprus, Walnut and metal.