Archive for the ‘Renovations’ Category

Closet Makeover

Thursday, January 14th, 2010

Storage is always a consideration when designing a home.  We live in an older home where closet space is at a premium.  Recently, we had Closet Solutions in Knoxville makeover our guest room closets with their closet organization system.  It was a quick, easy, and affordable project.  Within a matter of two hours, we had emptied the closet, installed the new system, and reorganized.  With the new closet system, we were able to gain about 42″ of hanging space, and the additional shelves hold a variety of items neatly that were stacked on the floor in the previous closet.  Check out their website http://www.goclosets.com and learn more about their process.  Following are a few photos of our project.

Closet before with a single rack

Closet before with a single rack

After the installation of the new sheves and rods

After the installation of the new sheves and rods

The finished product.  Notice how there is some empty rod space.  We never had that before.

The finished product. Notice how there is some empty rod space. We never had that before.

The Ultimate Before and After, Floor Plan

Monday, December 7th, 2009
Cabin Floor Plan

Cabin Floor Plan

A couple of weeks ago, I posted the start of a before and after project, called “The Ultimate Before and After.”  It can be found further down in the Blog.  I have spent the past weeks formulating a plan for what to do with the space, and following is a photograph of the floorplan we have come up with for the space. 

 

There was a giant pantry that divided the living area from the kitchen.  The first thing we did was to remove that and open up the living space.  The tv will be placed over the fireplace, and we were able to get a full size sofa and a love seat in the space, along with two comfy lounge chairs, one with an ottoman.  A nice large rug will unify the seating area.  Behind that is a dining area that will seat six, and can expand to seat eight for entertaining.  The kitchen is completely open to the space, and we are planning on using an antique work table as the island.  We added windows across the back of the house that will go from near the ceiling to the kitchen counter, so this will be a really light and bright space.  There is a spot near the dining room for a tall china cabinet for storing dishes. 

 

To the left of the great room is the office.  This holds a nice large desk, about 3′ x 5′, and a cabinet that can be a filing cabinet.  This will be the perfect place to work on a computer and to use as a home office.

 

To the left of the kitchen is a space we created from a back porch.  This will be the new sunroom, and will provide access to the back yard, as well as access to the parking area just outside the side door.  This space will have a brick floor, which will be perfect to keep the character of the log cabin as well as provide a durable surface for a house on a farm.  We were able to get a small breakfast table in the space, as well as a small sofa.  Opposite the window wall is another large piece which can serve as additional pantry storage for the kitchen.  The two side chairs on each side can be the additional side chairs needed in the dining area when the table is expanded. 

 

The bedroom furniture arrangement is simple, and pretty much dictated by the available space and existing window placement.  The front bedroom gets the addition of a new bathroom with a tub/shower combination, a nice vanity, and an additional closet.  The closet shown in the bedroom itself is original to the house and will be restored. 

 

The master bedroom gets a much enlarged bathroom with a nice vanity and an enormous shower with a bench at the back.  Also this room gains a nice size closet where we will put a stackable washer and dryer and a small laundry sink.  Corner windows will be in keeping with the original architecture, and will allow some natural light into the master bath and closet.  A pocket door will divide the space from closet to bath.  This is a great solution for a door and will take up no floor space.

 

The next step is to work on specific kitchen design, cabinetry details, and select appliances.  We will follow that with bathroom fixture and tile selection, and then do an electrical and lighting plan.  This will be a wonderful space when complete.  My client was thrilled with the proposed plan, and workers were at the house today starting demolition.  Stay tuned for more updates

Deck Railing Details

Monday, December 7th, 2009
Completed Deck Railing with Decorative Screen at Bottom

Completed Deck Railing with Decorative Screen at Bottom

Rail Cap Detail
Rail Cap Detail
Plinth for Lantern on Deck Rail

Plinth for Lantern on Deck Rail

For the perfect deck railing, you should consider how the deck will be used.  Most decks are used for entertaining, and that involves drinks and food.  Sometimes there is not enough seating space for guests on a deck, so the rail is a great extra spot for guests to sit drinks and small plates. 

Make the top of the deck rail nice and wide.  We used a 2×6 with a routed bottom detail and a rounded top edge.  It is positioned on top of a 2×4 plain.  Our deck railing is made from 4×4 material, so the 2″ pieces together equal the thickness of the rest of the deck material.  It has a nice solid look; provides a place to put a drink or small plate, and feels substantial enough so that guests won’t feel like they are going to fall off.

I like the concept of porch lights looking like candle lanterns that have just been set on the railing.  To achieve this look, we added a 12×12 piece centered on top of the hand rail.  It got the same top and bottom details to make it consistent with the rest of the cap rail.  We drilled the center of it for wiring, and placed a custom lantern from McLean Lighting Works on top of that.  This is their Arts and Crafts lantern, which we felt had the same artistic design as a simple old French farmhouse lantern would have.  The base of the lantern is attached to the plinth, and the top is removable for changing bulbs.  Since the lantern was custom, we had the option of making the candles varying heights.  This is a great touch which adds a sense of real candles to the lanterns.

The Start of the Ultimate Before and After

Tuesday, November 24th, 2009

One of my big credos on design work is never to pre-judge anything.  When someone calls me to do work, I never think before hand about the type of job it will be.  You simply cannot do that.  If you do, you will build something wonderful up in your head only to be disappointed; or the opposite will happen when you expect and prepare yourself for the worst, and it becomes a fantastic project.   Today, I broke my rule.

Last week, a client called to ask if I would assist her remodel a “cabin” on her property.  I have known her for years.  She has a lovely home in a picturesque setting by a creek in the middle of 1000’s of acres of farmland.  So romantic it is to drive through and enjoy the views from the road approaching her house.  When she said it was in desperate need of repair, I totally did not believe her.  “There is no way she would own something that was so bad”, I said to myself.  Yesterday, there was a fax in my office with the following inscription, “Wear boots.  It is muddy.”  So I thought, rainy season in East Tennessee, no big deal.  A few puddles never hurt anyone, but prepared I came none the less.

Today, when I rolled up on the “cabin” I was in shock.  It was totally derelect.  Unoccupied for 25 years.  There is now a hole in the kitchen floor where I fell through while taking measurements.  When my car was safely parked….across the road and in another driveway, I met the client.  You needed a tractor to navigate the yard, not a BMW.   She was laughing at my awe that she really was telling me the truth about the condition of the place.  Hysterical with laughter described me.  Attached below are some photographs of the place.  One shows the outside, another the kitchen, including the hole created by moi. 

I typically would not share this much information on the front end of a project, but there is enough completed work in the portfolio section of my website to illustrate my capabilities.  So, here it goes.  You can follow this project through to the completion when her two sons move in for the summer.  The plan is just now in the formative stages, but it will involve a new roof, new logs to replace any rotten ones, a new bathroom addition, enclosing a porch for a sunroom, complete renovation of the kitchen, complete gutting of the interior, and I am sure the list will grow as we proceed.  Work is to start on December 7, so stay tuned.  And, if you are wondering, “why save this dump?” It has sentimental attachment.  Her husband grew up there.  Her sister in law loves it.  There are recipes used by her mother-in-law hand written on the inside of the kitchen cabinet doors.  I am honored to be part of a love affair with a house that will cause someone to be so moved to restore something they love so much; and thankful for their faith in my guidance. 

Front view.  Can anyone say Green Acres?

Front view. Can anyone say Green Acres?

That fabulous kitchen!  Note the large hole on the left side of the cabinets

That fabulous kitchen! Note the large hole on the left side of the cabinets

Those charming recipe doors.  My heart melted.

Those charming recipe doors. My heart melted.