This mid‑century modern home renovation in Wisconsin revives a 1958 house originally by Abe Tannenbaum, blending craftsmanship, daylight, and functional layout updates. Designed in 1958 as a modest builder spec home for Dr. Walter Shapiro and his wife Judith, the house originally featured vaulted cedar ceilings and stone fireplaces but lacked the openness and detailing typical of more iconic mid-century designs.
Over time, the home suffered from piecemeal updates and became a neglected rental property. That changed in 2014 when architect Justin Racinowski and his wife Elizabeth Martin purchased the home with the vision of transforming it into a refined example of mid-century modern living. The couple aimed to go beyond restoration—bringing forward the home’s original spirit while improving layout, performance, and material quality.
Central to this mid-century modern home renovation was the reorganisation of interior space. A poorly executed 1990s kitchen was removed, including a disjointed peninsula. Justin opened up the floor plan by removing a wall between the kitchen and living room, supporting the structure with exposed black cedar posts that added rhythm and transparency. The peninsula became a freestanding island with a waterfall counter, and the kitchen now features walnut upper cabinetry, high-gloss grey base cabinets, and terrazzo-look quartz surfaces.
Other updates included a new wall of cabinetry along the dining room to extend storage and prep space, while a skylight was enlarged to bring light into the previously dim area. The mid-century aesthetic was carefully reintroduced with clean lines, natural materials, and open sightlines.
The home’s exterior also received major attention. The former carport, impractical for Wisconsin winters, was enclosed to form a functional garage. A new colour palette and cor-ten steel landscape wall helped reconnect the structure with its wooded lot. The roof was replaced, skylights upgraded, and custom box gutters installed to maintain the crisp architectural lines.
In the living room, Tannenbaum’s original overlapping cedar ceilings and stone fireplace were preserved. A walnut-paneled feature wall was added with concealed storage, alongside new engineered hardwood flooring. The space also features original and new artwork by Justin himself, blending personal expression with architectural intent.
Mechanical systems were fully upgraded, including full LED lighting and a smart home automation system. Future phases of the mid-century modern renovation include bathroom updates, more hardwood flooring, a front porch extension, and solar panels.
