PROJECTS
the urban living room: creating space where there was none
Brief: To create a more spacious but homey feeling in this 1970's-built urban condo.
The 1970's was not they heyday of home construction. Downtown residential buildings were designed to fit as many as possible on one plot of land at the expense of interior space.
RIGHT: Throughout the space, I used muted colours and soft, comfortable textures to capitalize on the large windows and making the overall space feel larger than it really is.
left: This home has three large windows that allow light and air to permeate the space. They are also the first line of defense in helping to make any small space feel larger.
Using top-down/bottom-up window shades helps to assure privacy in this urban first floor condo.
A wood-burning fireplace says nothing if it doesn't scream "homey".
left: Storage space will always be a problem in a small home. In the entry hall, we took a chunk of the coat closet to create a pantry for kitchen overstock.
The boring, plain doors were given a new lease by adding some simple trim work and giving it a "shoji" screen look.
Kitchen Design: The befores and afters
RIGHT: The counter space behind the wall had become a catch-all, making it totally impractical for any other use.
FAR RIGHT: By opening the wall and creating an eat-at counter and workspace, the efficiency of the kitchen is dramatically improved. The new counter houses both the dishwasher and waste/recycling centre, plus an area for trays and baking sheets.
FAR LEFT: A dated and inefficient kitchen that is dark and cluttered.
LEFT: transformed into a bright, spacious space with a much more efficient layout that includes adding counter space to the right of the stove.
RIGHT: The counter space at the entrance to the kitchen was always a catch-all and the wall separating the entry door from the kitchen kept the space feeling crammed and blocked sunlight from permeating the room.
FAR RIGHT: With the wall removed, the counter becomes a breakfast bar (and the dishwasher is relocated freeing up cabinet space). Overall, the kitchen is now much more easily accessible from the entry hall.
FAR LEFT: The counter space is rarely used as it has become a repository for appliances and kitchen accessories.
LEFT: A bank of drawers, a better access to lower cupboards and removing the corner unit allowed an almost unused corner of this kitchen to become the main food preparation area.
Fully-accessible bathroom design
BRIEF: To create a wheelchair-accessible bathroom in a newly-built basement room.
It was important that this room not appear institutional or old-fashioned.
It was imperative to use fittings and fixtures that were easy to use for both the owner and caregiver.
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Features of this room include a curbless shower, allowing the wheelchair to be rolled in unobstructed and a sink that allows the user to access while sitting.
Other features include a penny tile floor to reduce any possibilities of slipping, motion detector lighting, a "touch-tap" faucet and luxurious Carrera marble.
proposed wheelchair ramp
(Currently under construction) The design incorporates a stair access within a wheelchair ramp.
The elegant circular design is less intrusive on the landscape and incorporates beautifully into the newly-built home.
fireplace redesign
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An assymtrically-placed fireplace was installed in the early 1980's, quite out of sync with this "international style" home.
Accessories ike the stereo system and a wine rack made the overall look appear dishevelled.
ABOVE:(Clockwise) (1) The original fireplace, (2) wires detail, (3) Proposed design, (4) Costruction drawing.
LEFT: The final product, integrating all the elements including, a shelving bay for the stereo system and a wine rack.
The fireplace insert is the original, brought up-to-date by painting the brass trim with a heat-resistant matte black paint.
HAIR SALON, HELL'S KITCHEN, NYC
With a goal to creating a more accessible environment, The Colour Box, Broadway's go-to hair salon needed few upgrades.
