Arriving on site for the first time, the kitchen was missing, small tiles clad the floors, cedar hung loosely from the ceiling, lights were missing and while the bathroom was intact, it was tired looking. Designed and built by an architect in the 60s, the bones were strong but our clients were nine months into a renovation over their head with decisions and without direction.
Our program was to focus on the main floor, infusing a dark industrial loft aesthetic within the current midcentury modern, adding storage everywhere.
The layout itself had excellent flow, and with the original kitchen removed, the demolition needed for any spatial rework was minimal. In the front entry we focused on increasing the opening just enough to incorporate a closed shoe cabinet.
A custom wood handle had been used throughout the original home design; unfortunately this was a detail we were unable to salvage, so we recreated our own as a slight nod of respect to the original creator. We took it a step further and integrated it seamlessly into the front bench. Built in cabinets, with drawers and interior lighting, now replace traditional drywall closets, leaving the wall at the end of the hall open for our clients stunning art piece.
The only bathroom on the main floor is equal parts function (low drawers for the children) and beauty (for the guests). Slate tile carries in from the main living space and contributes to the desired moodiness. Cedar wood on the ceiling was refurbished and a small scale kit kat mosaic tile clad walls around a built in tub. An existing window lets in a dramatic beam of light, highlighting the texture of mosaic, giving this space a spa and very calming feel. Cool to warm dimming lights with a hint of brass tie back to connecting elements seen throughout the home.
Our clients had been collecting mid century furniture pieces for years and couldn't wait to have an updated main living and dining space to showcase them. With a couple steps down, the slate continues into these sunken spaces. Layering rugs and vintage pieces feel right at home amongst the cedar ceiling, beams, and wall cladding. A brand new wood burning fire gives this living room a second life for entertaining!
Keeping it light, bright, and very playful, an opening above the living room sofa sees the installation of a black net. Not only does this keep the visual connection from main to second floor intact, but the expanded square footage provides the perfect hang out spot for our clients children to lie and read while they cook!
Adjacent to the living space, sits a brand new, expanded kitchen. Strategically designed to support the beauty of the restored architecture and cedar, it's robust materiality of stainless steel, concrete, and quartz, set the tone for working kitchen. To open it completely a steel beam was installed. We opted to leave it standard grey: what's new is new. To avoid seams in the island we opted for a pour in place concrete. We worked closely with the cabinet company to design in a unique metal support and rail, which integrates seamlessly into the cabinets on the one side. The back, hard working, wall combines a quartz shelf, complete with LED strip lighting for ambience, mesh grid cabinets to hide easy access kitchen essentials, and the same mosaic kit kat tile as seen in the bathroom.
Overall, the design achieved is a cohesive moodiness, one the feels like a warm embrace upon entering from any point of the house.
