Modern Facelift
http://www2.allblues.org/aroundthehouse/articles/29/1/Modern-Facelift
By
Published on 12/1/2006
A LITTLE SOMETHING OLD...
One local couple had a vision for their home—to give their Ballard farmhouse with typical turn-of-the-century dimensions a modern kitchen with the type of multi-use accommodations for the way people live today.
Although conventional wisdom would argue that "you can't have your cake and eat it too," remodelers would beg to differ. A much-loved home can be given a face lift and a nagging drawback to an otherwise fabulous house can be eliminated with the help of a contractor. From adding rooms to morphing existing quarters, the entire purpose of remodeling is to provide homeowners with their own personalized visions of perfection, whatever those visions might be.
One local couple had such a vision for their home - to give their Ballard farmhouse with typical turn-of-the-century dimensions a modern kitchen with the type of multi-use accommodations for the way people live today. And, like many local homeowners, the couple had both a limited budget for the project and a commitment to keep the construction as earth-friendly as possible.
To implement their vision, the couple called on the help of Master Builders Association member, JAS Design Build, Inc., a residential design and construction firm in Seattle. The owners asked to keep the old world details and the original Ballard-esque character in place, while revamping their kitchen into more of a lifestyle area instead of just a cramped utilitarian space for cooking.
They also wanted to open up the back of the house to the backyard to create a seamless transition from their indoor living space to their outdoor living space. The backdoor had been their primary entrance for the entire time they had lived in the house, yet the entrance was less than inviting.
A LITTLE SOMETHING NEW...
JAS began by dividing the kitchen into zones of use. The "wet zone" incorporated the sink and dishwasher along with prep work space and dish storage. The "cooking zone," consisting of the stove and storage for both pots and cooking necessities was designed with an a sort of culinary intimacy and featured recessed built-ins and a dropped ceiling for optimal light distribution and the overall feeling of a stone hearth.
An "entertaining zone" (right) offered both a breakfast bar with high stools and a sitting area positioned to catch optimal sun. This zone was designed to function equally well for the couple to lounge around in with their morning coffee or entertain groups while dinner was being prepared.
Finally, a "life pantry zone" (left) was installed in the hallway between the kitchen and the existing dining room. This area took its name from its integration of space for a laptop, stereo, chalkboard/pin-up board and support space for the kitchen including cookbooks and seldom-used appliances.
Throughout all the zones, salvaged and "green" products were used, including reclaimed Alaskan marble countertops and Marmoleum, a natural linoleum alternative made from linseed oil, rosins and wood flour. The chalkboard/pin-up board in the "life pantry" was made from recycled chalkboard and a sustainable, recycled product on the pin-up board side called Homasote. Recycled fir flooring was also used in other areas of the house that saw cosmetic upgrades.
To open the house to the outdoors, french doors were installed in the kitchen (right), leading to the outdoor deck. And the backdoor was revamped from a plain entrance into an inviting mudroom, creating a welcoming and definitive transition from the worries of the outside world to the comfort of returning home.
When the project was complete, the owners had a more open, engaging floor plan that facilitated both intimate comfort and relaxing entertaining. Through careful, multi-purpose design and execution, the kitchen truly became the heart of the home.
Thanks to JAS Design-Build for contributing their information and ideas on behalf of the Master Builders Association. For more information on the MBA, go to www.masterbuildersinfo.com.
A LITTLE SOMETHING OLD...One local couple had a vision for their home—to give their Ballard farmhouse with typical turn-of-the-century dimensions a modern kitchen with the type of multi-use accommodations for the way people live today.
The Challenge
Although conventional wisdom would argue that "you can't have your cake and eat it too," remodelers would beg to differ. A much-loved home can be given a face lift and a nagging drawback to an otherwise fabulous house can be eliminated with the help of a contractor. From adding rooms to morphing existing quarters, the entire purpose of remodeling is to provide homeowners with their own personalized visions of perfection, whatever those visions might be. To implement their vision, the couple called on the help of Master Builders Association member, JAS Design Build, Inc., a residential design and construction firm in Seattle. The owners asked to keep the old world details and the original Ballard-esque character in place, while revamping their kitchen into more of a lifestyle area instead of just a cramped utilitarian space for cooking. They also wanted to open up the back of the house to the backyard to create a seamless transition from their indoor living space to their outdoor living space. The backdoor had been their primary entrance for the entire time they had lived in the house, yet the entrance was less than inviting.
Advice from the Master Builders Association
A LITTLE SOMETHING NEW...
JAS began by dividing the kitchen into zones of use. The "wet zone" incorporated the sink and dishwasher along with prep work space and dish storage. The "cooking zone," consisting of the stove and storage for both pots and cooking necessities was designed with an a sort of culinary intimacy and featured recessed built-ins and a dropped ceiling for optimal light distribution and the overall feeling of a stone hearth.
An "entertaining zone" (right) offered both a breakfast bar with high stools and a sitting area positioned to catch optimal sun. This zone was designed to function equally well for the couple to lounge around in with their morning coffee or entertain groups while dinner was being prepared. Finally, a "life pantry zone" (left) was installed in the hallway between the kitchen and the existing dining room. This area took its name from its integration of space for a laptop, stereo, chalkboard/pin-up board and support space for the kitchen including cookbooks and seldom-used appliances. Throughout all the zones, salvaged and "green" products were used, including reclaimed Alaskan marble countertops and Marmoleum, a natural linoleum alternative made from linseed oil, rosins and wood flour. The chalkboard/pin-up board in the "life pantry" was made from recycled chalkboard and a sustainable, recycled product on the pin-up board side called Homasote. Recycled fir flooring was also used in other areas of the house that saw cosmetic upgrades.
To open the house to the outdoors, french doors were installed in the kitchen (right), leading to the outdoor deck. And the backdoor was revamped from a plain entrance into an inviting mudroom, creating a welcoming and definitive transition from the worries of the outside world to the comfort of returning home. When the project was complete, the owners had a more open, engaging floor plan that facilitated both intimate comfort and relaxing entertaining. Through careful, multi-purpose design and execution, the kitchen truly became the heart of the home.
Thanks to JAS Design-Build for contributing their information and ideas on behalf of the Master Builders Association. For more information on the MBA, go to www.masterbuildersinfo.com.