How does one make a 9,000-square-foot home feel inviting and deeply livable? For designer Kelly McGauley of Leona Rose Interiors, the answer was clear: embrace texture, authenticity and a family-first layout. Built for a couple with three young daughters, the western Wisconsin residence boasts a modern industrial style. Concrete, brick and steel materials juxtapose handcrafted furnishings, neutral colors and enticing spaces designed for both everyday living and large gatherings. Thoughtfully positioned on a bluff overlooking the St. Croix River, the three-story home takes full advantage of the sweeping woodland views while balancing drama and comfort.
Photography by Jim Kruger
The home was the realization of a long-held dream. “It was my husband’s lifelong goal to live on the St. Croix River,” says the homeowner. “So when we found this property, everything just fell into place.” The couple had previously considered a different lot and even hired an architect to draft plans, but they ultimately determined that the space wasn’t for them. Soon after, they reached out directly to the owner of this property (which, along with its neighbors, shares 38 acres and lakefront access). Within days, he agreed to sell. “It felt meant to be,” she says.
Although the couple was immediately drawn to McGauley’s personal home style — which she calls “California contemporary with an industrial twist” — they also knew they’d need an architect and contractor who were comfortable building a large-scale project that required extensive pre-construction planning due to its riverfront location. The team included David Zweber of David Charlez Designs and Nor-Son Custom Builders. “Permits were complex, and the topography inspired the lateral design of the house,” says Nor-Son Senior Project Manager Pat Schumacher. “Our role was to balance the clients’ wishes with the architectural vision and to ensure every decision aligned with the schedule and budget.”
McGauley’s task was to soften and celebrate the scale by incorporating various textures and finishes, all of which elegantly age while telling the family’s story,” says the designer. “Floors will scratch and countertops will wear, but that’s part of the beauty. Like marble or wood in Europe, it only gets better with time.”
The result is an interior that celebrates both patina and personality. For example, wood harvested onsite is used for a headboard wall in the primary suite and a vanity in the cabana bathroom. In the husband’s office, leather floors are enhanced with baseball stitching, and in the primary closets, crocodile-embossed leather adds an unexpected detail. One of McGauley’s favorite details is the three-story staircase. “It has a steel frame instead of wood and an offset stringer,” she explains. “The treads are supported by cantilevered plates.”
Throughout the home, industrial design meets a welcoming embrace. A waterfall concrete island in the kitchen is paired with soapstone counters and inset cabinetry detailed with traditional hardware. Performance fabric and slipcovered cabana seating make the home approachable, while furry bar stools in the kitchen and at the dining table cut from a single tree add elegance. In the living room — which boasts 20-foot ceilings — one chandelier felt too predictable. “Four made the space more interesting and less formal,” says McGauley.
Beauty and functionality were important, but so was the inclusion of spaces that the whole family could appreciate together. The David Charlez Designs team was instrumental in accomplishing this. The kids often hang around the kitchen island or in the great room, while the cabana is prime for watching TV, playing games or taking afternoon naps. “Downstairs, there’s a dance room and a theater room, which has become the hangout for sleepovers,” says the homeowner. “It’s an area where everyone can be together.”
The theater, in particular, was a chance to have fun, outfitted with blackout drapery, a large-scale sectional and a popcorn machine. “When people take risks, they end up liking the space more; no one has ever said, ‘I wish I hadn’t chosen that,’” says McGauley. “We call ourselves ‘courage buddies’ with clients.”
Even small spaces like the powder bathroom have a unique spin, with a petrified-wood sink mounted on concrete and a wallcovering made to resemble crushed granite. In the cabana, a gridded wood floor with stone inserts was engineered from a single inspiration photo. Inside, a wall completely opens up to the pool and outdoor kitchen, making it a true entertaining hub.
By the end of last summer, construction was complete, and the team gathered for a celebration with clients, subcontractors and vendor partners. Schumacher recalls her favorite moment: walking the land for the first time with the homeowners. “The sun was setting over the river, and it was just stunning,” she says.
The homeowners are thrilled with the final result. “We wanted a place that felt warm and inviting, where we could raise our kids and share moments with family and friends,” says the couple. “Now that we’re here, we wouldn’t change a thing.”
Project Partners
Architect: David Charlez Designs
Interior designer: Leona Rose Interiors
Builder: Nor-Son Custom Builders
