Designing for the View: How to Bring the Outdoors Inside Your Wisconsin Home
If you are lucky enough to live near one of Wisconsin’s beautiful lakes or scenic landscapes, your home’s design should reflect that. When we take on a major remodel or custom build, one of our top priorities isn’t just updating the square footage… it’s figuring out how to connect the living space to the natural beauty just outside the glass.
The living room pictured below is a perfect example of how intentional construction choices can completely transform how a home feels.
If you’re planning a future remodel and want to maximize your property's natural surroundings, here are three design strategies we used in this space that you can bring to your own project:
1. The Power of a Window Wall Grid
Instead of installing one standard picture window, we created a dramatic grid of floor-to-ceiling windows paired with a massive sliding glass door. This accomplishes two things: it floods the entire open-concept kitchen and living area with gorgeous natural light, and it turns the lake into a living, changing piece of artwork.
Design Tip: Notice the dark window trim. Choosing a dark or contrasting trim frames the outdoor scenery perfectly, drawing your eye straight to the view rather than letting the windows blend into the drywall.
2. Embracing Vaulted Ceilings for Scale
To make a room with this many windows feel balanced, you need height. By opening up the ceiling into a dramatic vault, the interior architecture matches the grand scale of the outdoors. It keeps a large room feeling airy, bright, and incredibly spacious, even on a gloomy day.
3. Creating a Seamless Flow to the Deck
A waterfront home is meant for entertaining. By placing the sliding glass doors directly in line with the main seating area, the transition to the outdoor deck is entirely seamless. Whether you are hosting a summer barbecue or watching the snow fall from the comfort of the couch, the barrier between inside and outside completely disappears.
Ready to Transform Your View?
Your home should be your favorite place to unwind. If your current layout cuts you off from your property's best views, it might be time to rethink your space.
At Schmidt Construction, we specialize in high-end remodeling and custom builds that bring your vision—and your view—to life. Contact us today to chat about your next project!
