Kingston Design Project Brief

Posted on: December 10th, 2010 | 18 Comments

This week’s Design Project comes from long-time Slowhomer Marilyn! In this design brief, John and Matthew speak to Marilyn about her home in Kingston, Ontario, and what changes she would like to make to it.

If you’d like to try remodeling Marilyn’s bungalow, use the resources below, then submit your redesign in the comments section. John and Matthew will premiere their remodel plan, as well as all your great ideas in a LIVE extended Online Workshop tomorrow at 9am Mountain!

Design Materials

Kingston Design Project Brief – Existing
Kingston Design Project Brief – Demo
Kingston Design Project Brief – Full Symbol Library
Kingston Design Project Brief – PDF

  • http://deleted S.N.

    [img]40002.jpg[/img][img]50002.jpg[/img][img]60002.jpg[/img][img]80002.jpg[/img][img]110002.jpg[/img]

    Hi
    Here is my design for this week
    I didn’t change the bathroom a lot, because I concentrated on the bedroom this time. I hope you can find some better option for the bathroom.
    In the bedroom I installed working fireplace. Its purpose is to connect study with bedroom, and define a small reading corner in front of the fireplace. Fireplace is made of two parts: lower block and upper block. Upper block is finished in a nice stone, and its volume extends into the skylight (it would be great if we had picture of the skylight).
    The wall between bedroom and study was not removed but it was rearranged. In the study I added floating desk along the whole with of the space. The desk extends through the window (it is a separate structure, but made to look like one), and on its end I placed a birdhouse (pointless but fun).
    The rest of the bedroom remained the same, the wardrobe is extended, and I added one more window on the opposite side of the bed.

    That is it. Hope you like it

    O, yes I forgot to add Santa.

    P.S. the was a mistake with the scale of the drawing in the .pdf project brief. So you have to scale the drawing using furniture as a reference.

  • http://deleted S.N.

    [img]8_1.jpg[/img]

    o yes, here is the plan :)

    S.N.

  • Jim N

    [img]hillendecohoouse..jpg[/img]

    Wish I had time to work on a plan for this… That long bedroom wall seems like such a waste of a view. I understand wanting the visual distance from the neighbors, but maybe some cantilevered window sections would work.

    Here’s an example I like: http://www.jetsongreen.com/2010/04/ultra-green-hill-end-ecohouse-brisbane.html. Greg La Vardera also uses these (for example, http://www.lamidesign.com/plans/planscat/0385/0385pg.html & http://www.flickr.com/photos/lamidesign/3167522580/in/photostream/ & from the inside http://www.flickr.com/photos/lamidesign/3842976944/in/set-72157622102207524/).

    I’d probably do three of these, evenly spaced along the wall from the front of the house to the far end of the office. The first two would only be glazed on the view side. The office section would be glazed on both sides with a built in desk. Can’t wait to see what everybody comes up with.

  • Terri

    [img]marilynnh.jpg[/img]

    I made the most changes to the bathroom, moving the plumbing (except sink). This allowed me more space for the entry into the bedroom. The long bedroom window is moved closer to bathroom to facilitate some light in the closet area. The clerestory window will also allow some light over the top of the closet as well as the bed area, while still giving privacy. A window bench is built under the side window, facing the bookshelves. The office is unchanged, and the dresser is now closer to the closet area.

  • Terri

    S.N.
    I like your idea of making a working fireplace out of that chimney! The graphics you provided are great too–the snow outside is a nice touch.;)
    I thought the scale seemed too tight on our demo. Which dimension is wrong?

    Jim N.
    I like those cantilevered windows–would you cantilever them towards the south so that more light is allowed in?

  • Brad W

    SN – renderings are spectacular…the fireplace is inspirational – perhaps something more modest/cost effective could be done to achieve the same result

    The thing I find disjointed here is the mix of styles on the exterior facade. You have a dominating entry gable in a cottage style with windows that are decidedly modern in form.

  • Frank

    [img]kingstondesignproject.jpg[/img]

    SN: Nice work and renderings.
    Terri: I like the window seat and am incorporating it into my design.
    Brad: I agree with your analysis of the exterior. Needs some work. The gable entry is heavy looking balancing on those thin 4×4 columns. I would at least work on that part of the entry.

    Here is my quick design for this project. Another free hand drawing due to time constraints. If I have time later tonight I will find some images and will add some discussion to this drawing. I wanted to get something into the discussion, though. Sorry this is so brief but I have to run right now but hopefully will return later……..

  • Frances GF

    [img]1_shs10demo.jpg[/img]

    SN and Terri great plans! I liked them so much that I’ve incorrporated SN’s streamlined desk and Terri’s repositioning of the bathroom and bedroom doors.

    I’ve kept Marilyn’s bed and low dresser and the original bookcases in the office. The bed is backed by the new closet, the walls of which are not full height.

    SN, Santa is probably just too busy to make an appearance this time of year!

  • Brad W

    Frank – A good use of the existing space…I look at your work and I am wondering what the implications are of reversing the bedroom but I think you made the right choice – I like the way the closet wall blends into the window seat and study but the bed facing the entry door and bathroom wall leaves me undecided

  • Brad W

    Jim N – love the angled windows

  • Mid America Mom

    [img]kingston1.jpg[/img]

    Good luck Marilyn on this last part!

    Simple was what came to mind with the estimated lifespan of the structure. The cost will be in the bath. I said No to built in furniture or cabinets, thought the fireplace could stay, doorways remain. I did not change the built in bookcases or study area since you seemed to like this space already.

    To help balance the left side of the exterior I placed a duplicate window in the bedroom of the one that is already there. This will also allow a little light into that part of the bedroom.

    The bath stole space from the linen closet but the footprint is same. The wall near the loo stays – this defines the new roomy shower. The loo is next to the wall. I pictured a converted dresser for the vanity and thought you could take that with you.

    In the bedroom you have a dressing area where the existing window is. I thought drywall with a door would be the most cost effective. You could get by with a dividing wall to the sleeping area and armoires on the one side. The bed will reside on the dividing wall. You can turn in bed and see the sunrise over the water. The corner of the bedroom by the bed (see the dark circle) would be a great place for a dog bed.

    Maybe a corner desk for the study would be nice.

    ******
    Will not be able to join you folks tomorrow since I am working. I look forward to seeing the rest of the plans and workshop later!

    Mid America Mom

  • Frank

    [img]2_kingstondesignproject.jpg[/img][img]1_bed1.jpg[/img][img]1_closetbehindbed.jpg[/img][img]closetexample.jpg[/img][img]1_halfwallclosetbehind.jpg[/img][img]1_halfwallatbed.jpg[/img][img]interlubkeso7pivotorpull.680.full.jpg[/img][img]interlubkeso7pivotorpull.679.full.jpg[/img]

    Thanks Brad. The wall will definitely need some type of focal point whether it be a piece of art or flat panel television.

    Here is my thought process regarding my design:
    1. I defined four functional spaces for the various activities (sleeping, dressing, resting, and study) in the bedroom and study spaces.
    2. I then determined the storage closet units (removable if later desired) should be placed along the northeast wall without any windows.
    3. This allowed me to develop a continuous set of built in units (closets, window seat, desk) along that wall and a visual sight line out the study window. I would add a window or door (prefer slider at larger opening adjacent to bed as shown) with window out to a private screened simple zen garden (pavers, racked rock and potted japanese maple trees) on the north side of the master suite.
    4. I was not sure whether the fireplace was just a flue or a full fireplace but the location of the window lent itself to a window seat for reading or resting and looking at the view.
    5. I was bothered by the wall separating the study and resting areas so I replaced the wall with a structural beam to make the opening a little wider.
    6. Same goes for the small window on the north wall. I added a new header and a slider for access into the private garden.
    7. I envision keeping the dresser and relocating it off the bedroom entry.
    8. For the bed I envision a built in half wall or higher height dresser that screens a portion of the closet doors.
    9. For closet doors I envision some nice removable units with either pull and pivot doors, pull out units or hinged doors.
    10. For the bathroom, I went back to basics like John and Matthews design from last week.
    11. At the entry I added a large rolling barn door/art work that could be rolled into place since the clients appear to enter the bedroom via the study most of the time. When guest are visiting the art could be rolled back to the entry wall and the master door closed.

  • Frank

    My photos appear caught in cyberspace awaiting moderation. Not sure why. Sorry about the duplication.

    Here is the text that goes with my previous floor plan in case the pictures do not make it through by tomorrow morning.

    Thanks Brad. The wall will definitely need some type of focal point whether it be a piece of art or flat panel television.

    Here is my thought process regarding my design:
    1. I defined four functional spaces for the various activities (sleeping, dressing, resting, and study) in the bedroom and study spaces.
    2. I then determined the storage closet units (removable if later desired) should be placed along the northeast wall without any windows.
    3. This allowed me to develop a continuous set of built in units (closets, window seat, desk) along that wall and a visual sight line out the study window. I would add a window or door (prefer slider at larger opening adjacent to bed as shown) with window out to a private screened simple zen garden (pavers, racked rock and potted japanese maple trees) on the north side of the master suite.
    4. I was not sure whether the fireplace was just a flue or a full fireplace but the location of the window lent itself to a window seat for reading or resting and looking at the view.
    5. I was bothered by the wall separating the study and resting areas so I replaced the wall with a structural beam to make the opening a little wider.
    6. Same goes for the small window on the north wall. I added a new header and a slider for access into the private garden.
    7. I envision keeping the dresser and relocating it off the bedroom entry.
    8. For the bed I envision a built in half wall or higher height dresser that screens a portion of the closet doors.
    9. For closet doors I envision some nice removable units with either pull and pivot doors, pull out units or hinged doors.
    10. For the bathroom, I went back to basics like John and Matthews design from last week.
    11. At the entry I added a large rolling barn door/art work that could be rolled into place since the clients appear to enter the bedroom via the study most of the time. When guest are visiting the art could be rolled back to the entry wall and the master door closed.

  • Frank

    [img]3_kingstondesignproject.jpg[/img][img]2_bed1.jpg[/img][img]2_closetbehindbed.jpg[/img][img]1_closetexample.jpg[/img][img]2_halfwallclosetbehind.jpg[/img][img]2_halfwallatbed.jpg[/img][img]1_interlubkeso7pivotorpull.679.full.jpg[/img]

    Okay: Here are the images to go with my previous text. Finally figured out that one of my images exceeded the size limits and that kept them all from posting. Hope this works.

  • Frank

    [img]3_bed1.jpg[/img][img]buitinbed.jpg[/img]

    Here are some photos to go along with my text. Not sure why all of them are not posting.

  • Frank

    [img]interlubke.jpg[/img][img]2_closetexample.jpg[/img][img]3_closetbehindbed.jpg[/img]

    Here are the closet photos. I think I finally figured out the problem.

  • Frank

    [img]3_halfwallatbed.jpg[/img]

    Another bed example with a half height headboard to screen a dresser behind. The dresser could be the headboard also and accessed from behind.

  • S.N.

    Hi all
    Thanks for the comments.
    I specially like Frank’s plan, it is well proportioned, and a great connection between long rooms of study and walk in wardrobe. :)
    Love windows from JimN :)

    SN