MADISON, WI – Voyageur Extended Stays is honored to announce the grand opening of The Medallion, offering first-of-their-kind furnished apartments in downtown Madison. Unlike most apartments that use off-the-shelf furnishings, each unit features unique, hand-made, and custom-designed furniture and finishings throughout. Units are available for stays of 30 days or more.
The Medallion, located at 525 East Main Street, showcases the work of local master woodworkers with handmade wooden sofas featuring custom cushions, a monumental maple and black walnut headboard, wood ornamentation and custom shelving. Additionally, the design team had custom Axminster carpets and rugs, cabinet pulls, chairs, and light fixtures built for the units.
Creative Collaboration
The Medallion came about as a result of a collaboration between renowned Dutch designer Arno Hoogland and Voyageur’s owners Julia and Kristopher Steege-Reimann. The vision for The Medallion began when the Steege-Reimanns stayed in a hotel room designed by Hoogland in Amsterdam in fall 2022 and were blown away by his creative use of materials and color. The pair had recently finished renovating their first larger furnished apartment project – a 1929 Georgian Revival building named The Wilson in downtown Madison – and they were hungry to do another project and lean even more into custom, handcrafted design.
“We love renovating buildings in ways that bring out the beauty of the original design even more. And we’re passionate about collaborating with and supporting artists, designers, and woodworkers. Working with Arno and our woodworkers has been a dream,” said Kristopher Steege-Reimann.
When they reached out to Hoogland about designing their next furnished extended-stay project, the trio bonded over a shared love of Frank Lloyd Wright. Wright’s architectural legacy, combined with the building’s unique exterior brickwork, became pivotal inspirations for The Medallion’s design.
“To me, the diamond-shaped brickwork was especially interesting, since the simple construction of nine bricks creates an intricate visual. I used this diamond-shaped ‘medallion’ as a core visual element that returns in all facets of the interior design. In the detailing, material choices, and color palette I was inspired by the architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright, a renowned 20th century architect from Wisconsin,” said Hoogland.
Voyageur Extended Stays Takes New Life
The Medallion adds 21 units to Voyageur’s existing 25 furnished units in downtown Madison. With the launch of The Medallion, the business has become known as Voyageur Extended Stays and now offers furnished units at multiple buildings in downtown Madison. As the name suggests, furnished units are available for stays of 30 days or more and include all utilities and Wi-Fi.
Voyageur residents include everyone from campaign managers, traveling medical professionals, remote workers, visiting artists, grandparents visiting grandchildren, relocating workers, and people buying, selling, or renovating homes. They also include graduate students and academics, people seeking medical treatment, and those going through life changes.
Voyageur’s team prides itself in providing a curated, personalized Madison experience in both design and customer service. One aspect is that each unit includes a welcome package with local goodies and discounts for guests. They also organize resident gatherings at bars and rooftop decks and coordinate pontoon boat rides.
“We are so excited about Voyageur Extended Stays. For people who are relocating to Madison or spending a few months here, Voyageur’s buildings will help people fall in love with our city. That will greatly benefit our downtown,” said Jason Ilstrup, president of Downtown Madison Inc.
About Voyageur Extended Stays
Voyageur Extended Stays provides uniquely curated, furnished rentals for stays of 30 days or more in downtown Madison, Wisc. Learn more at www.voyageurstays.com. Follow our progress at @voyageurstays.