Remodelling Townhomes In Denver

Posted on: April 28th, 2010 | 23 Comments

This is Day 99 of the Slow Home Project, and we need you to join us in our quest to evaluate the design quality of houses in nine North American cities in nine months. This week we are analyzing townhomes in the Denver area and today we are going to be working on a design exercise to rework one of the townhomes that was posted on the Slow Home Project earlier in the week.

It’s time for another “Design Project”! This is our favorite time of the week when the Slow Home viewers get a chance to work out a renovated architectural plan for a town house in Denver. The goal, as always with the “Design Project” is to prove to the world that with a little more care and attention, we are all better at designing residential projects than most
developers!

Today’s project is from the “First Creek” development in Denver, Colorado and the unit is called the “Jasmine M”. It is 1342 sq ft and has 3 bedrooms and 1 bathroom. Today, we will be focusing our attention on the main floor of this unit.

There are several problems with the layout of this unit. The first is that the side by side laundry takes a lot of space on the main floor. There is no front entry space and there is no coat closet. There is also an odd storage room with a window at the front of the unit. The kitchen, while a good size, has a poorly placed fridge, no seating area at the counter and is oriented towards the hallway space while leaving an open alley to the dining area. Finally, the living room lack a visual focus.

The demolition plan removes all the walls except for that odd room at the front of the unit and also leaves the built out area around the mechanical equipment under the stair.

Your challenge is to re-design this plan putting back a kitchen, living and dining space, a laundry area, a front closet and you must come up with a reasonable use for the small front room with a window.

Remodelling Townhomes In Denver (PDF)
Remodelling Townhomes In Denver (Existing)
Remodelling Townhomes In Denver (Demo)
Remodelling Townhomes In Denver (Full Symbol Library)

We look forward to seeing your plans! Matthew and John will be commenting throughout the day. When you are ready, click on the player below to reveal how Matthew designed this space.

Remodelling Townhomes In Denver (Completed Concept Design)

Join us tomorrow when we will be doing an “In Detail” episode with a tutorial on bedroom design.

  • Murray

    [img]denvertownhouse01.jpg[/img]

    Here is my go.
    I put in a fireplace with a TV mounted overtop.
    The wall structure between the kitchen and dining wouldn’t necessarily be a complete wall, just something for a bit of separation so you don’t have to deal with the visuals of a messy kitchen.
    The unit in the dining room is a low buffet/wine rack.
    Now to view Matthew’s solution.

  • MollyK

    [img]shdenverthr1jpage002.jpg[/img]

    OK,
    I had so many design ideas but I always ended up with space issues because of the narrow footprint. I still may try a few and post them just to get some feedback.
    I moved the laundry into that odd room which may work since it has a direct path from the stairs leading to the bedrooms on the 2nd floor. However, I wasn’t happy that whoever walked in the front door could see down the hallway almost immediately. So I changed the swing on the front door in hopes of reducing the view of the hallway to the right.
    I think everything else is pretty simple.

  • MollyK

    Murray,
    I really like your powder room/closet area. And I think consolidating the W/D in the closet by the stairs is logical. But now the laundry is in a most unfortunate location–the circulation path into the living area. I’m not criticizing…I’m just pointing out the limitations of the narrow townhouse floorplan. It is frustrating…I’m always thinking “I just need 3 more feet.”:(

  • MollyK

    Matthew,
    Well, I like your plan. I wanted to share my thoughts on the laundry/powder room area. Originally I had my powder room in the same location as you. But after placing the toilet and sink in the room I looked at it and decided that the space might be slightly large for just a powder room, especially in a townhouse where square footage is limited. (In a larger home I probably wouldn’t have thought twice about using that space for a powder room.) I thought about the convenience of a side-by-side W/D and the phrase in #13 of the Slow Home test that reads “sufficient workspace in front of the machines”. So I changed my design to minimize the powder room and attempted to incorporate a more user-friendly laundry area. And ended up with my first redesign of the day.
    This is the kind of “stuff” that runs through my head as I work on the project. Do you look at the blank slate and visualize things before you begin drawing?

  • Matthew North

    Molly K – your thought process about the laundry versus powder room for the front entry room makes sense. I also tossed the two uses back and forth and in fact that is what I was hoping would be the generator of today’s discussion….so it worked! I chose a stacker washer and dryer because I currently have this set up and I really like it, but as a single guy, this suits me well but will not necessarily be the preferred choice for a young family or couple with ore laundry. I think that creating a laundry room is an equally good idea – and perhaps is the more universal option because you have provided a good powder room as well that is appropriate in scale for the size of the unit. Overall, your design is great – I may put the fridge in your kitchen on the back wall (the one shared by the powder room) and make that a millwork wall – I am thinking that the fridge door swing may be tight in your kitchen.

  • Matthew North

    Murray – I really like your entry/powder room space – I think the idea of the long counter with the toilet turned on end is elegant. I am curious about how you would detail the half wall/ eating counter. Thoughts?

  • Terri

    [img]denverth.jpg[/img]

    I see that others felt a powder room would be a good addition, especially where that storage room was (I’m guessing that to keep costs down, they simply didn’t install the fixtures in what was originally designed to be a powder room). I hated to waste that other front window though, so I opted to create a T-hall so that the kitchen could benefit a little by being more open to the front of the house. I opted for the stacked washer/dryer. It isn’t facing the window but has its own hall, basically.

    There’s a pantry/can/broom cupboard to transition to kitchen space. Now that the kitchen is open to both front and back, I could divide the living and dining with a two-sided gas fireplace in a millwork divider.

    BTW, What happened to our angled chair symbol? That lumpy object in the LR is my quick sketch of one.

  • Terri

    Like Molly K, I changed the front door swing, and like Matthew I opted for the stacked washer dryer. I have lived with a stacked unit with young kids (washing cloth diapers daily even) and it works fine. For a family, though, it’s nice to have a little more space dedicated to the unit, even if only in a long closet (side entry sliding door is best, I found).

  • MollyK

    [img]shdenverthr2jpage002.jpg[/img]

    OK,
    Here’s redesign #2. Moved powder room and laundry and still able to maintain workspace in front of W/D. Incorporated some mill work on living area and dining area walls. First time using the Big round table (I think).

    Matthew,
    I pondered the frig…just got lazy and didn’t want to re-configure the cabinets. But, yes, the back wall is a better location.:)

  • MollyK

    Terri,
    OMG, earlier today I was working on a design that left the front window unobstructed, letting light into the kitchen, but I was having space issues so I dropped it. (I was actually going back for a 3rd redesign…determined to bring in the light from that window…now I don’t have to.) I love yours…it turned out great. And I love the 2-way fireplace (as always).:)

  • MollyK

    On my 2nd design…I believe I have swing issues between the frig and the dishwasher.:( Might need to move the sink & dishwasher down slightly to correct.

  • Mid America Mom

    [img]denvertown3.jpg[/img]

    Interesting this week. I have another version as well that I am working on and will post later.

    My kitchen moved to that prime corner with a desk and I placed MollyK and I’s fav- a see through or multi view fireplace in the family room.

    Wonder what everyone did with the family space and closet. Mid America Mom

  • MollyK

    [img]shdenverthr3jpage002.jpg[/img]

    OK,
    This is it…I’m spent. Just a twist on the original. Tried to get some light from the front window as Terri did. Didn’t get the exact dimensions I was looking for…dining/living seem cramped compared to my other plans. This is due to the additional “hallway” between the closet and powder room. Still…it was fun trying something different.

    MAM,
    I’ll look more closely at your design later. My eyes are bugged, but through the blur it looks interesting.:)

  • MollyK

    MAM,
    I don’t mind that the island is not eat-in ready. I only wish the dining room had a window…but what can you do with townhouses, so limiting.
    Of course, I love the fireplace. You and Terri hit the mark today..mine was on the wall. (Hmmm, I’m contemplating a 4th design.) I wasn’t sure about its location at first but after visualizing how it would look from the entry I decided it was a nice focal point at the end of the hallway. The fireplace pulls you toward the back of the unit because its such a cool feature. Unfortunately, you can’t look out the window with the furniture facing the fireplace. Perhaps 2 smaller couches and a coffee table arranged so that you can look over your shoulder toward the fireplace and then in the other direction out the window. That’s just a personal suggestion, nothing absolute.;)
    Oh, I also like the desk and its location right at the window.

  • Terri

    MollyK,
    Wow! You really put your head to the design project this week. I wasn’t going to bother, but something about that front window just called to me…But you win the award for trying so many different configurations.Each plan has something interesting–the first one with the sink and toilet in an L-shaped powder room is clever; the 2nd plan’s kitchen/dining appeals to me. (BTW, I thought that fridge was a split-door unit, which means each door takes less space when opened. It’s not expected that someone should be able to open the fridge and the dishwasher simultaneously–if that’s what you mean–we just need to clear the opposite counter’s edge.) Your 3rd plan,where you allow the light to come to the kitchen from the front window could probably be tweaked a little so that there’s clear sight back to front and that extra hall for the powder room wouldn’t be necessary too.

    MAM,
    I see we both latched on to the fireplace/divider idea this week (great minds, eh?). I think if you could switch your living room and kitchen the fp would seem more integrated because then it’d be next to both the living room and the dining table for viewing.

    I was thinking that this unit was calling for a banquette by the window, but I resisted. Could your next plan possibly incorporate one? ;)

  • MollyK

    Terri,
    Thanks for the feedback. Some days I allow myself to just play around with the designs…today I had time to do it.
    Also, your suggestion for MAM about flipping the rooms…yes, I agree. The fireplace would be shared between the living and dining. I did that in the apartment redesign last week. I think it is really elegant. Wonder if MAM is up to a 2nd design?;) I know I am whipped so I’m calling it a night. Hope to chat with you tomorrow.

  • Mid America Mom

    Hi I can try another before I go to bed tonight. I wanted to post a few more Denver Townhomes too.

  • Murray

    Hi All,

    It would be great to all be in one room together – every point that has been discussed today went through my mind as I worked on my plan. I guess we all just have to bite the bullet and move forward with our own vision and appreciate the give and take that is offered.

    Matthew, thanks for your comments. Regarding a solution for the separation of kitchen and dining room in my plan – I only wish I had a visual library to offer a picture-perfect solution to the problem.

    Terri – I love your chair in the corner – it looks really comfortable.

  • Mid America Mom

    [img]denvertown2.jpg[/img]

    Hello everyone! Ok this is my second plan. This was my original but abandoned it – I had this John and Matthew comment running through my head – ” wished the dining was more separate from the kitchen and I would add stools to that island”
    *
    First I wanted to work on a focal point when you entered the home. Some wall or something and I went from there. I wanted to fix the kitchen in the same area too.
    *
    For a 1300 sq foot unit I felt we needed a little more space (ah what I would give for a slightly wider unit!) in that resulting great room. That space from behind the stair to the back is 15 and the rear is 19. I also wanted to stretch and find a way to fit everyone in one place to eat without use of a breakfast bar or banquette. I felt this dining space should be at least 10 by 11/12 for a 5 by 3 table that seats 6 (A three bedroom unit probably would have a max of 6 people living there. That dining table size is common- with or without a leaf). My result is a 10 by 11 dining area.
    *
    For the living room, by not having bar seating I can place furniture a bit more easily (I can use the back of the island if I like).
    *
    Though the kitchen is a double galley – not my favorite- we have a 4 foot aisle with plenty of counter space and a desk at the end.
    *
    MURRAY- your submission reminded me of the Toronto townhome redesign comment that gave you problems. This plan feels alot like that one but without the garage.. I am going to do a little sleuthing next. Terri and MollyK I will see if a great room on the side wall is in that thread.
    *
    Mid America Mom

  • Mid America Mom

    [img]denvertown1.jpg[/img]

    Ok- Jodi J had a see through fireplace with a side wall great room in the Toronto townhouse redesign plan. The living room was at the back.

    I forget who said what but I made modifications with my flair. I looked to MollyK’s kitchen at the back. Nice triangle. The swing on the refrigerator is to the windows. The dishwasher is placed on the right for the desk. Passes the butt test. The table is 5 by 3 and can handle 6 people, so there is no breakfast bar.

    The living is in the interior and I know no one suggested that. Before you say “what was she thinking???” … this way folks can look at the fireplace and out the window. I limited the circulation in that room to those who just want to be in that space. The dining room picked up the burden of the back entry circulation. I felt that was fine since I assume that room, in terms of minutes spent there, is probably used the least.

    Added a 4 foot wall near the utility closet. One side is a bookcase. Hopefully it will catch the eye when someone walks in. The other side could house the TV if desired.

    So there you are- I am spent. Feel free to modify etc
    Mid America Mom

  • Wayne

    [img]redesignprojecttownhomedenver.jpg[/img]

    For this plan I did not see the logic of not using the storage space for a guest bathroom on the main floor. I then added the front closet and laundry, which with a stacking washer and dryer would have some storage space. The kitchen has been redesigned with a pantry in the corner and kitchen island with seating. Finally I really did not like the location of the patio doors relative to the flow of traffic through the space so I swapped the patio door and window. This created a long transition space from one side of the house to the other with spaces branching off.

    The only thing I would change is to actually move the wall that creates the guest bathroom, laundry and closet towards the back of the house. Then there would be more storage and room for a side by side washer and dryer. Moving the wall would also eliminate the pantry, but that would change the layout of the kitchen very little and make it a bit more compact.

  • Lacey

    [img]designprojecttownhomedenvermodel.jpg[/img]

    I tried to keep this plan simple, and focus on addressing the issues John and Matthew mentioned.
    Hope it works.

    Thanks!
    Lacey

  • Jodi J

    [img]designprojecttownhomedenver1.jpg[/img]

    a few notes on the redesign:
    - addded a powder room to front hall as a better use of the large closet space
    - the stacked washer/dryer units are a more efficient use of space, as are bifold doors versus the passage doors present on the original laundry closet
    - defined the entry with three moves: added a closet, lowered the ceiling, and extended the staircase wall ever so slightly so that the open railing ends where the entry ends
    - u-shaped kitchen allowed for enough counterspace for stools, as well as a more efficient working triangle
    - fireplace added in living space to create focal point
    - dining room table shape and placement creates a long, narrower room, thus providing enough space for the living room funiture
    - dining room also boasts enough space to comfortably access the rear patio doors (which concurrently serve as a focal point for the dining space)

    as always, looking forward to comments and suggestions!