Back Room Idyll

For this small scale retrofit of an existing room at the back of a house, new surfaces and insulation are applied to make the space more liveable throughout the 4 seasons.  New tilt-and-turn fibreglass windows replace the old fixed single pane windows, allowing for greater control of fresh air intake, and a significant improvement in thermal performance.  A new glazed door also replaces the old.

 

 

As the room faces primarily northward, a new skylight was installed for additional natural light, allowing the midday sun to directly penetrate in the summer months.  A light cove sits at the intersection between the plywood ceiling and the existing brick.  An adjustable light fixture is installed on the wall for reading or specific tasks. 

 

 

As the back yard acts as a small urban oasis, the design approach to finishing this existing room is to treat it more as a remote cabin, separate in character from the rest of the house.  Furniture-grade sanded plywood surfaces provide a rustic yet refined backdrop to enjoy and engage with the greenery beyond. 

 

 

The existing brick wall has been kept essentially as is, with its various layers of old paint visible.

 

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Addition and Renovation - Details II

Some final details are being completed on this project, including guards, finishes, and lighting.  At the top of the stair, a steel guard has recently been installed.  A simple array of vertical pickets was drawn for their compact dimension, utility, and clarity of form.

The length of time between initial design conception and execution can vary from project to project.  Sometimes it takes years to see the results on site.  While a long timeline may be beneficial to honing the design of the end product, it can also lead to cost cutting and second guessing along the way.  But a little perseverance from the owners and design team can be ultimately rewarding.

During a conversation with the owner some months ago I mentioned that pursuing a restrained minimalist design approach can be a somewhat vulnerable endeavour.  By that I meant a carefully or subtly balanced composition can be undermined by a last minute change.  In the image below the compact exterior light fixtures and the security camera are located along the same horizontal plank.  While the lights were selected some time ago, the final selection and location of the camera was unknown until recently.  Happily, they appear to coexist in reasonable harmony.  

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Addition and Renovation - Interior Details

With this residential addition and renovation project approaching completion, various elements within the interior can be reviewed in context.  The oak steps, along with the vertical oak slats form a partial screen; this separates the dining room from the more private areas of the 2nd floor.  The assembly also creates a stair opening to the finished basement, where the kids can play within earshot.

At the kitchen, a direct relationship with the new living area was desired, with a peninsula and counter designed for casual seating.  A wall remains between the kitchen and the dining room, to shield the cooking activities.  In the picture below, a potted basil plant is growing under the skylight. I hadn't anticipated that use, but it seems well placed.

 

As the two-piece washroom is in close proximity to the new living area, some degree of subtlety was desired.  The nearly-invisible door frame pictured below helps to suppress its visual impact.  This type of detail takes more effort to build than a conventional or traditional door frame.  However, with a little resolve and attention, it is achievable.

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