2024 Home + Design Gold Award Winner

We are dedicated to creating unique buildings with beautiful, healthy, light-filled spaces that enrich our clients’ lives, our communities, and the environment. We partner with trusted consultants and contractors to produce award-winning architectural works, including new residential and commercial projects, renovations, additions and historic restorations.

PROJECTS

Chenequa

River Hills Renovation

Lake Drive Modern

Beach House

Michael P. Johnson Renovation

Abe Tannenbaum Renovation

Shorecliff

FLW Adelman House

Waubesa

Eisner

Adelman Travel

Wrayburn Addition

Northwoods Trail

Russell Barr Williamson Renovation

Lake Monona - Coming soon

Erie Loft

In Progress

Aldo

Wildwood

About

We are dedicated to creating unique buildings with beautiful, healthy, light-filled spaces that enrich our clients’ lives, our communities, and the environment. 

Honesty of materials, clarity of form, and consideration of local climate and context are fundamental components to our design process.  Our hope is that the work we create today will someday be worthy of restoration by future generations.

We are small and specialized, allowing us to give each project the attention it deserves.  Projects range in size from modest interior renovations to complex new buildings.  We engage in a multi-disciplinary approach involving close collaboration with engineers, consultants, fabricators, and builders to achieve a strong understanding of the construction process and attention to detail.

We work in conversation with clients, listening without preconception, generating ideas and possibilities together, and finding clear and compelling solutions. 

We are a full-service design firm, including new residential and commercial projects, renovations, additions, and historic restorations.

We all impact the natural environment with our actions, and believe building design should promote environmental responsibility.  This can occur through the use of natural/recycled materials, minimizing energy and utility consumption, orienting the building with the sun, reducing construction waste…and many others.

Justin is a leading resource and proponent for the restoration and preservation of mid-century modern architecture in the local community.  He lives with his wife in a 1958 MCM home designed by local architect Abe Tannenbaum.

JUSTIN RACINOWSKI
Principal and Lead Design

ELIZABETH MARTIN
Marketing Director

MICHAEL BLODGETT, PE
Structural Design

Our team of extremely talented collaborators…

  • Amy Carmen, ASID, Interior Designer

  • Andy Fieber and Jon Wanta, Aldo Partners

  • Matthew Jahns, Refined Renovations

  • Kate Schley, Coach House Homes

  • John Sauermilch Contractor

  • Dana Grabovac-Ircink, Powers Realty

  • Michael Minster, The Meadow Craftsman

  • Jeffrey A Beane PE, SE, LEED AP, Structural Engineer

  • Alan Rentmeester, PE, Spire Engineering

  • Susan Lasecki PE, Ionic Structures

  • John McWilliam, Scathain

  • Ronnie Barenz, Barenz Builders

  • Jeff Burg, JFK Builders

  • Jason Katcha, Present Power Systems

Awards

  • Gold Award - Milwaukee Home + Design Awards, 2024

  • Finalist - Best Architect Milwaukee, Shepherd Express 2023

  • Silver Award - Milwaukee Home + Design Awards, 2023

  • Named Best Architect Milwaukee, Shepherd Express 2021

  • Home Builder Digest, Best Residential Architects List, 2021

  • Named Best Architect Milwaukee, Shepherd Express 2020

  • Professional Builder Design Award, Custom Home 2019

  • Finalist - Best Architect Milwaukee, Shepherd Express 2019

  • NARI Wisconsin Remodeler Award 2019 Gold

  • Finalist - Best Architect Milwaukee, Shepherd Express 2018

  • Named Best Architect Milwaukee, Shepherd Express 2017

  • National AIA Residential Architect Award for Preservation

  • American Society of Interior Designers, Gold Award 2015

  • NARI Wisconsin Remodeler Award 2015 Gold

Publications

Our projects have been featured in:

Selected Blog Articles

Blog
In the Press: Greendale Project Featured in ATOMIC RANCH
In the Press: Greendale Project Featured in ATOMIC RANCH

A design firm helped the new owners of this 1950s Wisconsin home navigate the tension between staying true to the house’s roots and bringing it into the 21st century. ATOMIC RANCH: A 1950s Wisconsin Home Balances Authenticity and Updates

In the Press: Better Homes and Gardens
In the Press: Better Homes and Gardens

Justin Racinowski was interviewed for the BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS article The Groovy Return of Conversation Pits

Racinowski Design Studio Included in Best Residential Architects List
Racinowski Design Studio Included in Best Residential Architects List

HOME BUILDER DIGEST: “This list presents some of Milwaukee’s most reputable architects. Because of their expertise, some of these firms have also been featured in publications like Dwell, and Architectural Record, among many others”  The Best Residential Architects in Milwaukee

In the Press: Tannenbaum Featured in MID-CENTURY HOME
In the Press: Tannenbaum Featured in MID-CENTURY HOME

Our Tannenbaum whole house remodel is featured in MidCentury Home… Midcentury Renovation in Wisconsin Delights Original Owners

Your New Home Design: What to Expect
Your New Home Design: What to Expect

Collaboration between the architect and client is the single most important aspect of the design process.  The best projects result from clients who want to be engaged in having an architect help them see the opportunities and potential of what their project can be, beyond their imagination. 

How to Embrace the Resurgence of Mid-Century Modern Design
How to Embrace the Resurgence of Mid-Century Modern Design

Justin Racinowski Interview for M MAGAZINE, March 2017, by Rick Romano. The modern home has made a comeback of sorts — more than 60 years past its heyday in the 1950s.

Meeting a Master: Dion Neutra
Meeting a Master: Dion Neutra

I met Dion last April while touring his VDL house and studio building on a Los Angeles trip, and was able to speak with him for awhile.  He has lead the architecture firm since his father’s death in 1970.

Instagram Feed

The Beach house... A celebration of natural materials and integration with nature Builder: John Sauermilch Contractor #modernhome #modernlakehome #lakehome #wisconsinhome #mcm #midcenturyinterior #moderndesign #wisconsindesigner #wisconsinarchitec
Tannenbaum kitchen renovation, ready for entertaining.... #midcenturyinterior #midcenturydesign #midcenturymodern #modernkitchen #abetannenbaum #abetannenbaumarchitect
Welcome to summer!!!! #poolhouse #luxuryhome #luxurypool #midcenturydesign #midcenturymodern #milwaukeearchitect #milwaukeedesigner
Eisner Residence midcentury renovation Builder @refined_renovations Photos @michaelakaskel @kylebaldwindesign #midcentury #midcenturyinteriors #milwaukeedesigner #milwaukeearchitect #midcenturydesign #midcenturyremodel
The Beaver Lake House with Builder @aldopartners Interior design @amycarmandesign photos @justin.racy with @samsung S24 ultra #modernlakehome #modernhome #moderninterior #modernarchitect #moderninteriordesign #interiordesign #wisconsindesigner #wi
Beaver Lake House project, completed 2024 with Interior Design @amycarmandesign Builder @aldopartners Video @brodiekerst #moderninterior #modernhome #lakehome #modernlakehome #moderninteriordesign #modernarchitecture #wisconsinarchitect #wisconsi
Another fantastic mid-century Wrightian style home, the Lawrence Adelman House (brother of Albert Adelman who built our Frank Lloyd Wright Adelman house 1948) Glendale, WI with @danagrabovac @destysteam #mcm #mcmwi #midcentury #midcenturydesign #mi
The Beach House photos @michaelakaskel Builder John Sauermilch #newmodernhome #modernhouse #modernhomedesign #wisconsinarchitect #modernarchitect #lakehome #modernlakehome
We are starting construction on a very ambitious whole house renovation design, an original midcentury ranch by J. Sleeter on Lake Drive in Fox Point. Bold black and whites throughout with punches of color, rich walnut, and polished brass evoke Palm