Details of renovation:
This home, built before 1920, had a small kitchen with an eating area, enclosed back porch and separate dining room. The wall separating the three rooms were removed and replaced by structural beams in the ceiling. Once the area was opened up the kitchen was completely redone.
Careful and innovative detailing
Objective: transform series of three segregated, boxy rooms – kitchen, dining room, and dilapidated laundry room that had been built out over existing deck during a previous renovation – into open great room while still preserving the unique identity of individual areas.
Clients’ goal of returning home to original style and heritage character dictated many of the design choices. New, energy efficient, Low-E argon windows are single-hung with simple, flat-stock casings. Cabinets reintroduce Shaker-style contours and ivory colour. Crown mouldings match unadorned angularity of Mission-style furniture. Subway tile backsplash draws inspiration from the past. Hardwood flooring is durable, easy care, and helps reduce accumulation of allergens.
Functionality and utility of floor plan
Three-foot wide space reclaimed from chimney surround is now a full-height pantry and appliance garage.
Three types of lighting – natural from enlarged windows, task lighting from undercounter and ceiling pot lights, plus soft frosted pendants – create different moods.
Creative use of space
Laundry room’s rotted subfloor was replaced and new joists installed. A wall-to-wall bank of windows convert this once dysfunctional, dark room into a sun-drenched, cozy solarium perfect for lounging or watching television. Peninsula-style counter extension achieves visual separation from the kitchen’s working area while still allowing people to interact.
Although the overall footprint was not changed, the resulting fluid interconnectivity makes the space feel significantly larger – a distinct benefit not only for the family’s day-to-day living but also for the often large gatherings of friends and family who are frequent guests.
