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Part 1 – Ritter Lupita Residence, Massachusetts, Upper Floor
September 9th, 2009  |  30 Comments

Part 1 – Ritter Lupita Residence, Massachusetts, Upper Floor (PDF)
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Part 1 – Ritter Lupita Residence, Massachusetts, Upper Floor (Demo)

  • James Scott

    I’m guessing from the demo plan that the bedroom will be on the front, closet in the middle and office at the back. That would explain keeping the two entries to the bathroom.

    The other option I see is moving the bath to where the window is on the side and the replacing that space with the new closet. the bedroom at the back and the office at the front.

    I’ve got the impression that guest stay overs are not an issue so a second bedroom is not a priority. Possibly the office can double up.

  • Anonymous

    How many unworkably small bathrooms can we cram into this already small house? Less rooms, well done = great small house.

    My initial concept would be to locate the office at the back and use the rest of the space for the master bedroom/bathroom. Guests…build a guest house over the garage.

  • BradW

    [img]shdp291.jpg[/img]

    Not great but…

  • Louis Pereira

    [img]09090901.jpg[/img]

    I didn’t anticipate submitting anything today, but i began drawing and couldn’t stop…

    I am also in favour of having the ‘office’ at the back. Once visitors reach the landing at the top of the stairs they are led directly to the office. I also prefer the one bathroom that serves both the Guest/Office and Master Bedroom. I expanded the Ensuite to include an additional sink and glass shower.

  • Jim Argeropoulos

    Louis
    I like that. It makes it feel large enough.

  • John Brown

    Brad and Louis,
    The idea of putting the office at the back is interesting. You are correct about having it close to the top of the stair. What would you propose if the client insisted on some kind of additional bedroom?

  • Louis Pereira

    John – I considered the ‘Wall Bed’ feature in the Office to account for the additional Guest Bedroom. Requiring a separate Guest Bedroom altogether is indeed a challenge and would require re-thinking my original submission. I’ll have to give it some thought…

  • Terri

    [img]ritlupper.jpg[/img]

    As everyone (so far) has said, it’s most logical to double up the office/guest room and also the two bathrooms; but in keeping with the assignment as stated, I tried to incorporate the works.

    Yes, these rooms are all on the thrifty side. And the front bathroom may not be possible because the entry is below. The master bedroom gains a little closet space (as John said was wanted) and the bathroom wall there has been moved over slightly (toilet remains in same position, but tub and vanity switched sides). Since the master bedroom space is so tight, I’ve indicated millwork to incorporate nighttable and headboard space next to the flue.

    As we established (last week) that clients wouldn’t be coming to this office, I’ve made it just functional but bright and open with bookcase on one side and long desk on the other. The guest bedroom does not have a closet. Too bad.

  • Louis Pereira

    [img]09090902.jpg[/img]

    This is how i would re-organise the second floor with a separate ‘Guest Bedroom’. Still haven’t figured out how to incorporate a second Bathroom though…

  • BradW

    If the clients insisted upon a guest bedroom I’d tell them to get another architect! Just kidding…

  • Louis Pereira

    Terri – Yes, that is ‘thrifty’ but it certainly works. i failed to note as you pointed out that the clients would not be coming to the office. This would certainly free-up some space on my plan as i tried to accommodate a ‘meeting place’ within the Home Office area.

  • Louis Pereira

    [img]09090903.jpg[/img]

    OPTION 3 – Applying Terri’s solution with my Option 2 layout.

  • John Brown

    Terri,
    I like the way you placed the second bathroom in that problematic little space behind the stairs. Good idea.

  • John Brown

    Louis,
    It is nice to have you back on the site. I really like your layout for the front facing office in option 2. Another good use of the space behind the stair.

  • Elizabeth

    [img]design909.jpg[/img]

    Howdy,

    First drawing submission! Started this AM, and when I saw Louis’ moving along the same lines, decided to include this. The wall between the office and guest bedroom could be moved to make one bigger and one smaller, depending on which the clients want to emphasize. I guess you could put in a closet then, but thought I’d leave them to use a wardrobe for guests. If they preferred, they might decide that they’re spending enough time in the office to move it into the nicer room at the front of the house.

  • Louis Pereira

    [img]09090904.jpg[/img]

    OPTION 4 – 2 Bedrooms / 2 Bathrooms Back-to-Back and separate work desks perhaps?…

  • Louis Pereira

    Welcome Elizabeth! Didn’t mean to post so quickly after yours.

  • Terri

    Louis,
    Wow! You’re back in a BIG way–four options, no less!

    I like your option 3, maybe cause it’s so close to my own. One thing I’ve noticed is the north door on the master bath. Maybe it really isn’t necessary since it’s not that far from the bed to the other door into the bathroom, and since you’ve allowed for a second bedroom upstairs. If the door were removed, there’d be more wall space for further storage options. I like your twinned bedroom cupboards, BTW, with the bed facing the window. Nice symmetry.

  • Terri

    Elizabeth,

    I like your angled door into that guest bathroom, but I’m wondering how John likes it, given his aversion to angles. ;)
    It makes that bathroom more easily accessible to the office though.

    As I mentioned (above) to Louis, maybe that North master bath door could be omitted. In your plan it would allow for a nicer view as one comes to the top of the stairs. You’ve incorporated that flue nicely into the closet. It looks like the door into the bedroom could open against that wall where the bathroom door is presently. Is that what you intended?

  • BradW

    [img]shdp292.jpg[/img]

    1. Grouped the bathrooms together – two are provided but I think one larger bathroom would be better.
    2. Used the space at the front for the office – here I have provided a sliding door to reveal a second large desk effectively expanding the size of the office when the guest room is not in use.
    3. Enlarged the master closet.

    This has all the elements in the brief, however, I strongly feel that the client is asking for too much given the space. A bedroom, a nice bathroom and a guest room/study would be perfect for this space.

  • Elizabeth

    Terri,

    Good eye! I meant to remove that hallway entry into the ensuite.

    The angled door into the second bathroom was a mistake too. I didn’t want the bathroom door to be at the end of the hallway but didn’t want it just opening to the guest room either. I guess I just didn’t quite finish the drawing because I hadn’t decided what to do. Let’s say the angle was deliberate…

    Thanks for your comments and for your Welcome, Louis!

  • jim baer

    [img]untitled3.jpg[/img]

    my take on things. i know the “office” is small…but i live in brooklyn, so i am used to utilizing every inch.

    have been very impressed with louis’ creativity and output.

  • Louis Pereira

    [img]09090903a.jpg[/img]

    Brad – I like your latest plan. Would you consider placing the door to the w-in closet so that you could add another ‘leg’ of closet space on the right side?

    Jim – I think we should all live like we’re in Brooklyn. Much like Brad’s latest version, yours is compact but very efficient!

    Terri – Thanks for pointing out the Ensuite door on the north wall. That makes so much sense! As you indicated, it helps provide more wall space, perhaps for additional storage as shown on the attached revisions…

  • Louis Pereira

    [img]09090905bradw.jpg[/img]

    Brad – The question i posed earlier didn’t make sense after reading it. For clarification, i was suggesting to ‘centre’ the walk-in closet door in the Master Suite so that you can add more millwork along the right side. The result is an even amount of closet on either side of the door way.

    Another suggestion would be to shift the main door of the bedroom north so that it’s swing doesn’t conflict with the Ensuite door. (attached)

  • BradW

    Louis – I like the revisions…my plans today were not very good – not much time – so I appreciate the help. Impressive output today – like John I thought your office in option 2 was terrific and, as always, your bath layouts are well done.

  • Cat

    There are a lot of good plans here. It looks like the clients would have a lot of good options to choose from. I like the plans that leave the hallway/stairway open to the front. It is such a narrow, tight spot and we are trying to cram in so much. I think having the light come all the way through the space from the front window will help make it feel more open and less cramped. Most of the plans that leave the stairway open have the office in the lower right corner and it’s more of an office area, rather than an office room. If the clients insist upon a separate office room, I might encourage them to consider one of the bedroom/office combination plans.

  • John Brown

    Louis,
    Thanks for stepping up to the plate in today’s discussion. I am involved with beginning of term activities at the architecture school and was unable to discuss the work as much as I would have liked.

  • John Brown

    Elizabeth,
    Welcome to the site and thank you for both your drawing and your comments. I hope we hear more from you in the future.

  • John Brown

    Jim Baer,
    I think this is the first time I have seen you on the site – so welcome. I appreciate the perspective of someone used to the small confines of urban life. One option that I saw a lot when I lived in Manhattan was doubling up spaces like the study and the second bedroom so that they both had enough space even if it was shared. Thoughts?

  • John Brown

    Cat,
    I very nice summary of the plans to date. I agree with you about the advantages of leaving the hallway open = this is a space that is often overlooked. Do you think you could achieve the same (or almost the same) quality of light with either a skylight or a series of windows on the side wall so that the floor space at the front could still be used for something?

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