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Showhouse

Style and comfort for the whole family can be found in this well-appointed home.

by Howard Shingle

Traditional design and contemporary comfort are grandly united at Gable View, a nearly 6,000-square-foot country manor built in Mequon, WI, and recently honored as this year's Idea Home by Midwest Living magazine. From its hand-crafted ornamental woodwork with a touch of Arts and Crafts styling to its natural stone, slate and marble accents, the home teems with aesthetic appeal. Just as obvious is the flood of natural light from the home's many large windows offering views of the StoneFields subdivision and its sprawling fields, wildlife and estate homes. Featured on these windows are products from Springs Window Fashions Div., Middleton, WI -- most notably Nanik wood blinds and Graber® hardware. Room to Room Style Upon entering Gable View, a pillared archway opposite the foyer leads to the dining room lighted by a three-panel bay window overlooking a multi-level brick patio, pond and private waterfall. To the left, a cherry-paneled library joins the master bedroom featuring a sitting area and heated floors and antique European tile in the master bathroom. The master bedroom also features a motorized skylight above the bed. To the right of the entranceway, past a three-story staircase, the home opens to a large great room with beamed ceiling, fireplace and gourmet kitchen. Spacious bedrooms (one decorated for a boy, the other for a girl), a walk-in cedar closet and a guest suite separated by a bridged balcony overlooking the great room are all located on the upper level. The lower level is dedicated to entertainment. An in-home theater, billiard table, exercise room, cedar sauna and wine cellar with wet bar make this level a casual gathering place for the entire family. Gable View was open to the public May 9 to 25, 1997. A portion of the admission proceeds supports Gatherings on the Green, a charitable organization promoting the arts. Gable View Midwest Living 1997 Idea Home Designer: Glen Mielke, Ethan Allen Carriage House, Mequon, WI Installation: Designer's Workroom of Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI Window coverings: Springs Window Fashions Div., Middleton, WI. Window coverings distributor: Wisconsin Drapery Supply, Waukesha, WI Architect/builder: Lakeside Development Corp., Mequon, WI

In the master bedroom, a fireplace and private sitting area create a haven for the home owners, while two-inch Nanik wood blinds and Elite shutters protect their privacy. Robert Allen Pyrennes fabric is used for the side panels, Ethan Allen Renee for the swag and duvet, and Waverly trimmings are used throughout. The expansive great room seems even larger with its wall of windows at one end and beamed ceiling above. Two-inch Nanik wood blinds are custom stained maple and feature a cord tilt. Decorative fluted wood poles in natural finish are used with Graber Iron Artistry crown finials in black for the Ethan Allen Corduroy side panels in olive.