I’ve written and posted several pictures on instagram of homes, kitchens, bathrooms, and residences that I have designed, or have inspired me. This is the first time I have revealed a different kind of project, one that you can visit and see in person if you’re near by and want to take the scenic route.

This project was for Anaway Place, a family business that my parent’s have owned and operated since 1995. It’s also my childhood home where I have seen many transformations of the business and continued growth over the years.

If you’re not familiar, Anaway Place (formerly known as Candlewood Cabins) is destination getaway with 80 acres of land in the Driftless region of Southwest Wisconsin. Over the years, my family has designed and built modern glass cabins, which are nestled quietly in the woods and valley.

When I was a young girl, I remember running and hiding every time a guest would approach our house to check-in for their stay. Once they would leave, I would return to whatever activity I was doing at the moment. My parents laughed and rolled their eyes. Little did I know I would one day enjoy the interaction I have with guests staying on our property. Which brings me to this special project.

Guests no longer have to check-in at the main house, which is my parent’s private residence (my childhood home). We were able to take the ground space of the Barn, and turn it into a general store, with groceries and Anaway Place’s decor line, Anaway Home.

Here are before and after photos of the huge transformation of this 19th century barn.

First, we started by dividing the lower level into two sections. This wall was built across with a doorway to access the back for supplies, inventory, and storage. My dad, who was the main GC for this project, was able to take old barn wood siding and apply it to the wall. We painted it White Dove by Benjamin Moore for a cleaner, classic, yet still rustic look. New concrete was poured and sealed to clean up the floors and even them out from years and years of wear from the old farming days.

Having a mother with a basement full of vintage items is not something I take for granted! She had these old pendant lamps that were still in perfect green color condition. All that was needed was a little black paint on the poles (they were silver before) and they looked just like new!

Upon their arrival, I wanted guests to have a clear view of where to check-in for their stay and to be greeted by friendly faces. This wall was designated for the welcome and check-out desk area. We wanted something that reminded us of an old general store with a large counter. To make it more modernized, I designed it to appear as if it’s floating above the floor. Obviously, it can’t float and needs a significant amount of support. Our builder, Casey Caley, was able to make the toe kick a little more than the standard 3” inset and painted it black, so the eye doesn’t catch the toe kick.

To save on material cost, we used plywood for the boards. I didn’t want a pattern in the grain, so Casey made sure to place the boards at random to make it more visually interesting and unexpected. We went with a classic quartz countertop with subtle veining for durability.

It was a family affair to make this store a reality! Pictured above is my partner working on shelving. We kept the stone walls for a rustic and authentic feel and painted them in White Dove by Benjamin Moore.

Once the build out was complete, we started bringing in the furniture pieces to display the product. We used new and modern shelving paired with vintage cupboards for a blended and timeless feel.

I am completely thrilled with the final result! It really did take all of my family member’s hard work, creativity, and dedication to make this vision come to life. We are so excited that guests have another amenity on the property to explore and feel welcomed. Plus, I no longer run away and hide when a guest checks-in 😉

You can also visit Anaway Place and the Store located at 21558 Candlewood Ln, Richland Center, WI.

Anaway Place

Anaway Home

GC and builder – Norbert Calnin

Designer – Katie Calnin

Builder – Casey Caley

Designer and Stylist – Susan Calnin

Project Manager and Stylist – April Calnin

Lighting design and build – Chris Calnin

Marketing and Branding – Lauren Calnin

Marketing and Branding – Nathaniel Calnin

If you would like to plan out your remodel or build new, book your discovery call with Katie by filling out a short form in the link below. We look forward to chatting with you!