Carkeek Major Remodel

Carkeek Major Remodel

This home near Carkeek Park lacked the open living area the family desired, and did not fulfill their need for a primary suite on the main level. By removing the walls dividing the kitchen and dining room, we created better flow for entertaining and made the space feel much airier. By using the square footage of one of the bedrooms on the main floor, we created a new primary suite with a bathroom and walk in closet. Since this reconfiguration required losing a bedroom on the main floor, we added a new bedroom on the lower floor by sectioning off part of the family room.

Entry

The back of an angled stone fireplace that jut into the space used to be what greeted guests when they walked into this home. With the adjustments to the layout of the living room, now the entry is light and bright, with a better-defined floor plan. Storage for coats and shoes is now tucked away into a closet, instead of out in the open, making the space much more inviting.

Kitchen / Stairs

The original kitchen’s awkward layout and lack of connection between spaces left much to desire. To open up the space, we tore down the walls surrounding the stairs leading down to the basement. A new railing, combining metal and wood, created open sightlines between the dining room and kitchen. Light wood cabinets and white subway tile backsplash keep the space feeling airy. Counter height windows allow both natural light and storage to be maximized by not sacrificing wall space needed for upper cabinets. Closing off a large window created space for tall cabinetry, a large refrigerator, and a hidden pantry. Black wood paneling on the pantry door continues around the built-in bar with a matching finish, providing contrast and defining the bar area.

Living Room

Although the fireplace stayed in the same spot as it was originally, redesigning the fireplace surround and straightening it out greatly impacted the space. New built-in shelves provide the perfect spot to display art and family photos, with the continuing hearth tying the shelves in with the fireplace. The light finishes in the space, such as the marble-look tile and white fireplace surround, brighten the space up and make it feel larger. Furthering this feeling, new windows, and a new three panel slider in the adjacent dining room allows natural light to pour into the space.

Primary Suite

The main floor lacked a true primary suite, so we took over one of the bedrooms to create a walk in closet and primary bathroom. A wood look tile accent wall in the shower contrasts beautifully with the charcoal floor tile and white large-format subway tile on the adjacent shower walls. The blue vanity on the opposite side provides a pop of color, while the matte black fixtures and brass wall sconces tie in with the finishes in the shower.