Photos by Alyssa Lee || Interior design by KASA Interior Design || Architecture by Melby Design || Build by Hart DeNoble Builders
When stepping inside this Waunakee, Wisconsin, home, color greets you at the door. The mudroom’s soft blue hue creates an inviting first impression, while just around the corner, the kitchen—awash in a deeper blue shade—makes a visually striking statement. In the nearby dinette, a lighter blue-green complements the warm red and orange brick of the living room fireplace. And from there, each space ahead holds its own identity—yet together, they form a cohesive color story that ties the home into one harmonious whole.
At more than 13,000 square feet—with six bedrooms, seven baths, and other playful amenities like a secret room, sport court, and two-story garage with a car lift—the home was thoughtfully designed for its residents, who frequently host extended family and friends. “All the spaces are very intentional,” notes Bonnie Kespohl, principal at KASA Interior Design, who handled both the interiors and exterior finishes. “It’s a big house, but it doesn’t feel big when you’re in it. It’s very welcoming, from the moment you first walk inside.”
Given the bold palette, it might be surprising to learn the inspiration actually came from the surrounding Waunakee countryside. “When you’re driving there, there are a lot of old barns and farmland, which provided much of the inspiration for the design,” she says. The stylistic direction also was dictated by the homeowners’ differing tastes:
He leaned more modern, while she gravitated toward a traditional, “shabby chic” aesthetic. The result is what Kespohl describes as a “traditional farmhouse with modern amenities.” But if you ask us, it seems to fall in a league all its own.
At first glance, each color choice might seem like a dramatic departure from the last. But if you look closer, you’ll notice jewel tones and corals woven throughout each space—subconsciously linking everything together. “There are these threads of color repeating in the drapery fabrics and upholstery,” she explains. Because like any good story, the home’s narrative is held together by a common theme—one that carries through from room to room, corner to corner, beginning to end.
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