Fixing a 690 sq.ft. Loft in Denver – Part 2

Posted on: March 11th, 2011 | 10 Comments

In the conclusion to this week’s “From Fast to Slow” segment, John and Matthew describe the design changes made to a 690 sq.ft. loft in Denver.

If you enjoyed today’s Design Minute, you may also like “From Fast to Slow: Fixing an 800 sq.ft. Apartment” and “From Fast to Slow: Fixing a 2500 sq.ft. Single Family House”.

  • http://deleted S.N.

    Hi,
    This was an interesting Design Minute. I spend some time yesterday to see what can be done with this apartment (the habit I got doing yours online workshops last year) and couldn’t come up with a proper solution. Your solution is great; it really fixes problems in this apartment.
    One thing I would change is washer drier. Placement is really not appropriate; thing about selling the apartment, that can be a problem, some potential buyers could be put off (I would). What I would suggest is to place the washer drier in the kitchen, left of the refrigerator. I would build a cabinet that will hold washer and drier that would be made from same materials as the kitchen cabinets, so from outside it looks as a normal kitchen cabinet. This placement would take a foot or so from the dining room, but it will solve the problem of washer drier placement. And there would be no problem when trying to sell the apartment.
    Your solution for the bathroom is great, I really like it!

    Online course looks great; I sent mail to John the same minute I saw the video to apply for testing… Hope I can help.

    S.N.

    P.S. are you really sure this Denver loft is 960 sq.ft. ,it looks more like 500 to 600 sq.ft. :)

  • Terri

    S.N.
    Your washer/dryer idea sounds good, but I’m wondering if it might push the kitchen cabinet wall just a little too much into that dining alcove that Matthew and John created. The video says that the apt. is 690 sf–the online data somehow reversed the first two numbers.

    John & Matthew;
    I wondered why you partitioned the bedroom closet, taking away another six inches from an already minimal closet space.

  • Jesse

    S.N. – I was thinking the same thing! I just don’t see this as being 960 sf, something seems wrong. If I had to guess I’d put it at 500 sf. I like the design changes a lot and it’s more impressive if it’s really the size advertised:) Here’s hoping I’m in on the beta testing, you guys are the best.

    Jesse

  • Jesse

    Edit- Half the size advertised…

    Jesse

  • Steve – Slow Home Editor

    Hi Slowhomers’

    The 960 sq.ft. was just a typo on my part. It is in fact 690 sq.ft.

    I’ve corrected yesterday and today’s post to reflect the proper dimensions.

    Steve

  • S.N.

    John & Matthew & Steve, I hope you don’t find us picky :)
    Funny thing, Every morning I open Slowhome page and yesterday I saw title “Fixing a 960 sq.ft. Loft in Denver”
    My first fought was: what kind of architect can mess ups 960 sq.ft studio loft :)
    I know it is hard to make a good 400 500 sq.ft. apartment, so making a 960 sq.ft. studio can’t be that hard. :) :)

    Thanks Steve for correcting the title. :)

    Just a note….
    How funny, this is a 690 sq.ft loft, J & M made it to one bedroom apartment, and in America and Canada this is regarded
    as a small apartment.
    And you are right, you have different standards.

    For what I use to this is really large square footage for one bedroom apartment.
    So, just for fun I made found two apartments that that can compare to this loft apartment in Denver.

    These are typical examples of what you will find all over the Europe.

    First apartment has 688 sq.ft. it is typical for what you can expect for that size.
    If you are looking for washer drier, it is the bathroom. :)
    Dimensions are in metric.
    So instead of studio/ one bedroom apartment you get 2 bedrooms 1.5 bathroom apartment in Europe.

    Second apartment has 441 sq.ft. I picked it because it is 1 bedroom 1 bathroom apartment just like one in Denver after J&M’s intervention.
    For it’s size this is pretty good apartment (for my standards at least)

    Men, I am jealous of your standards. :(

    S.N.

    P.S. there is NO typo on square footage regarding presented apartments. :o))

  • S.N.

    sorry here is the missing picture of the FIRST apartment. :)

    S.N.

  • Deb

    Hello: In response to the show re the 690 sq ft loft I have a few comments:
    1) I like the separate bedroom with closets… who wants to change in front of a large patio door?
    2) I like the creation of a proper dining area and the 12 inch deep storage to distinguish between the living and kitchen areas. However I don’t see that light/airiness has been compromised too much.
    3) would support the prior comment about putting the W/D in a closet in the kitchen
    AND
    4) I would recommend reversing the swing of the bathroom door instead of moving the fixtures all around….I think this is more economical and feasible. Occupants don’t have to see the primary fixtures (toilet and sink) and it is a simpler fix. I recognize the potential crowding behind the door but this could be dealt with by making the bathroom a foot wider. Given the desire to relocate the closets to the bedroom, this could become part of that construction. Slow Home design, in my mind, can compromise somewhat by being mindful of the cost to replace, energy used in manufacturing new materials and rework of existing pieces. I still advocate the principles of the old adage: reduce, reuse and recycle wherever possible.
    Thanks for listening.
    P.S. Love the website, the slow home design concept and the delivery by John and Matthew. As a late arrival to the website I am still going through the archives and enjoying the process.
    Regards.

    P.S. Love the website, the slow home concept and the delivery by John and Matthew.

  • Terri

    S.N.
    Thanks for posting your European plans–so interesting to consider the differences.

    I agree that the one-bedroom works well with limited space. I can’t quite see two people moving around in the kitchen at the same time, but perhaps one gets into position before two steps in to do something?:)

    In the two bedroom, I’m amazed to see two bathrooms (half and full) and decent sized closets and bedrooms. The kitchen is better for two as well. I see that the dining/living are where a compacting of space occurs. It seems that we imagine ourselves dancing in our living rooms where Europeans might just imagine sitting or lying on the furniture, which is more realistic of what occurs on day-to-day basis.

  • http://deleted S.N.

    Terri
    Thanks for the comment.
    It is really interesting for me to see how different culture thinks about same space. Your remark about the kitchen in the one bedroom apartment is correct, it is small, but it is appropriate for the size of the apartment. Yes two people can’t work in the kitchen at the same time, but still how many times per year would that happened? For one person it is a good kitchen layout.
    As for the two bedroom apartment, I totally agree with you! Everything is great except the living dining space. It is missing 5 feet lengthwise (so dining space is formed in better way). Overall it is a great two bedroom apartment for its tiny size 688 sq.ft.

    S.N.