Won't You Be My Neighbor
Friends become next-door neighbors in Parade homes in Waunakee
Exterior of the Ryan home in Waunakee. SEE MORE PHOTOS OF THE EVERSON AND RYAN HOUSES BELOW IN THE SLIDESHOW.
Joe De Maio
Some people make friends at work or school. Brock and Teresa Ryan and Aaron and Dawn Everson, on the other hand, became friends through their homes.
The couples met years ago when the Eversons bought a house from the Ryans. But that’s only the beginning of the story.
The Ryans had decided to build a 2008 Parade of Homes house with Temple Construction in the Southbridge Blue Ridge Addition in Waunakee. Meanwhile, the Eversons were looking to move. Brock jokingly suggested to Aaron that they should consider doing the same, as Parade builders would be choosing lots the next day, and suggested checking with Hensen Builders, a company they build with three years prior.
In a rapid turn of events, the Eversons talked with the builder that night and bid on a lot the next day. “We decided in twenty-four hours what we were doing,” Aaron says.
Thus, a joke and a spur-of-the-moment decision turned friends into next-door neighbors.
But while the houses sit side by side, each has its own distinct style.
The Ryan home carries a rustic yet luxurious Mediterranean aesthetic, from a stone and stucco exterior to an interior characterized by curving walls and staircases, custom cabinetry, granite countertops and wrought-iron details.
“It’s traditional,” Teresa says.
“And a little Tuscan,” Brock adds.
The Ryans took care to create an open floor plan within the 5,895-square-foot home and choose details carefully, such as Kohler fixtures and a special lighting design by Luce Lighting, and a wine cellar. They furnished their house for the Parade with their own furniture, so they were able to move right in after the tour.
Next door, the Everson house offers a spa feel with soothing colors, natural materials and clean lines. At 5,819 square feet, the home features Asian walnut floors, music wired to all rooms, and arches and columns.
The couple worked with CS Interiors to completely outfit the home—a process that had to be completed quickly before the Parade began.
“The craziest part was probably the last week,” Aaron says. “There was no furniture in here.”
To celebrate moving into their new homes—and becoming neighbors—the Eversons and Ryans hosted a big party last summer, setting up a tent between their yards. Their kids play together constantly, and they’ve extended their circle of friends to others in the family-filled development.
“I think the best thing in moving here has been our neighborhood,” Aaron says.
“We have to plan extra time for walks because we always end up talking to someone,” Dawn adds.
Katie Vaughn is associate editor of Madison Magazine.
Slideshow: Ryan and Everson homes
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