Tag: design ideas for the American home

TRADITIONAL BATHROOM REMODEL IDEAS: MAKEOVER TAKEOVER FOR MATT & HARMONY

I’m back today with another MAKEOVER TAKEOVER!  The first virtual takeover, of my own parents bathroom, was received very well and I have since had a few requests come in from readers with tricky spaces they would like help with.

Remember that this is a FREE digital home design consultation, which is available to anyone who subscribes to the Arrow Hill Cottage website. If you would like this free service, simply email me with a few photos and a description of what issues you would like resolved. If chosen, I will offer a solution + inspiration through 3d images and sourced items. Hurry though! I only have the ability to do one Makeover Takeover each month and the spots are filling up quickly!

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For this Makeover Takeover installation, I had the fun privilege of helping with a bathroom that is located in a house that Craig and I used to own! We sold our 1905 American Foursquare to Matt & Harmony about three years ago, and it has been amazing watching them transform it to meet the needs of their own family. It is wonderful knowing that a house you lived in and loved for nearly 10 years is now in the care of people who love it just as much! They have tackled other remodel projects in the home with much success and have decided it is now time to turn their sights on the upstairs hall bathroom to make it their own.

This is the only bathroom on the second level of the house, and serves all four bedrooms. The owners before us had done a bit of repair in the room – to get it clean and updated. They didn’t, however, take the style or period of the house into much consideration and some of the finishes just don’t seem quite right. When Craig and I lived in the house, the most major update we gave the bathroom was removing the plaster ceiling and installing drywall. We also added a new light fixture/ vent fan, installed built in shelving in the corner for extra storage, and painted the room a bright yellow.

This is how the room looks today:




PROPOSED PLAN CHANGES

As you can see by the plan, there are some odd angles in the room. There is ample space though, and some nice natural light brought in by a high square window. There isn’t much of a reason to reconfigure the fixture locations in the room. Thankfully the layout seems logical. Matt & Harmony did request that the large clawfoot tub be removed and replaced with a tiled shower. Though it is a really cool vintage touch, the shape of the tub means that it isn’t super functional to stand and shower in. I’m sure the historic fixture will find new life in another bathroom somewhere.

Another major change for the bathroom is the door. Currently the door swings in and hits the toilet. It makes sense to install a sliding barn door. Not only will it free up space in the room, it will look amazing!

FINISH INSPIRATION

Matt & Harmony shared with me some inspiration images of finish materials they want to see in the space, and let me tell you – they have GREAT style! They really did make my job very easy! I was able to source amazing items from various online retailers to create an inspiration board for an updated traditional bathroom that fits the time period of the house and the classic style of it’s owners. You can learn more about each product by clicking on the titles below.

VANITY: This piece is a great focal point for the room. Created using reclaimed lumber, it adds warmth and history.

FAUCET:Dark bronze with an antique look, this faucet complements the vanity well.

SUBWAY TILE: You really can’t go wrong with a simple white subway tile!

HEXAGON TILE: Another all white option, the hex tiles are the perfect choice to pay homage to the period of the home. They were all the rage in 1905!

PATTERNED TILE: The fun pattern adds a bit of whimsy to the room. I added it in the shower only, so as not to make the small room seem too busy.

SHOWER PARTITION: Ties in the other black and white elements in the room.

SHOWER FAUCET: Complete with a rain shower head and a hand held spray, this faucet system is versatile. It also has a matching finish to the sink faucet.

BOARD & BATTEN: A great traditional detail that adds charm to the room. The link will bring you to a tutorial on how to install DIY board & batten.

TOWEL RING: Providing a simple place to hang a hand towel near the sink

MIRROR: This thin trimmed mirror looks great with the other finishes in the room.

WALL SCONCE: An updated light fixture with vintage charm

DOOR HARDWARE: The sliding barn door will require some heavy duty hardware!

RUG: Fluffy white and just big enough for place to stand both at the sink and when getting out of the shower. The bonus is that it is washable and has a non-slip backing!

HAMPER:Large enough for dirty towels and clothes, but small enough to not overtake the small room. Comes with a lid and a liner.

WASTE BASKET: A small metal variety with a lid – fits perfectly in the small niche, under the shelving.

SHELVING: Adding a bit of industrial look to the space, these shelves dress up the niche.

SHOWER BENCH: A shower bench adds a lot of versatility to a shower, allowing even young children to shower safely. This bench is made to fold when not in use.

WORD ART: Fitting sentiments for a bathroom!

FLOWER CANVAS ART: These flowers add the perfect pop of color.

TOWEL HOOKS: One for each member of the family – lined up on one wall.

TOWELS: These colorful fluffy towels are sure to brighten up the room.

WALL PAINT COLOR: I think this light grey color from Behr, called ‘Cotton Grey’ provides the perfect backdrop.



AND NOW FOR THE BIG REVEAL!

Can you spot the differences? Quite a few changes, I would say. I think the virtual makeover gave the room a much more period appropriate style – and yet the room also has clean and contemporary lines, a fresh look.

More views of the virtually remodeled space

The 3d animation really shows the space changes well. Click on the play button for a virtual tour!

 

I hope that Matt and Harmony are able to incorporate some of these changes and that they invite Craig and I over to see it in person once they do! Working on their bathroom gave me a lot of fun ideas for our bathrooms at Arrow Hill. Maybe I will work on those next!

If you like what you see, and think a friend could get some inspiration from this bathroom virtual makeover, go ahead and use the buttons below to share this post. Spread the word about the free Makeover Takeover service while you’re at it.

Thanks friends!

 

10 HOME DESIGN TIPS FROM THE 2017 TOH ‘IDEA HOUSE’

You probably know ‘This Old House’ as the PBS TV show focused on bringing dilapidated old homes back from the brink of despair. They make it look easy. So easy. The show has been airing since 1979, and is still going strong. I was introduced to its glory by watching episodes every Sunday with my dad in our living room. The show really helped to harbor my love for residential design and appreciation of fine craftsmanship.

In 2015 the show branched out from renovations and built the very first IDEA HOUSE, a bright blue storybook cottage.


I remember being drawn in to the charm of the home when I saw the feature in the magazine (yes, I have a subscription!), and I was really blown away at how well it had been executed. This Old House had gone NEW! They released the 2016 IDEA HOUSE the following year, a modern farmhouse styled home which was jam packed with energy efficiency.


I anticipated the 2017 IDEA HOUSE, and was excited to see a 14 page spread of the design in the October issue of the magazine! It is a Rhode Island beach house in the classic coastal style. Isn’t it stunning?

***all photos are property of This Old House***

After reading the article, and snooping around on the TOH website a bit, I’m ready to share with all of you my list of 10 home design tips to take away from the 2017 This Old House Idea House.





1. DESIGN FOR MULTIPLE GENERATIONS: Though multi-generational housing is quite common in most areas of the world, it has only recently become a trending concept in America. Perhaps it is an increased need to care for aging parents or a desire for families to cut down on housing costs driving this shift. Whatever the reason, it makes sense to plan for multiple future scenarios, even if it isn’t necessarily something that is needed for you right now. To accomplish this, the Idea Home cleverly situated bedroom and living spaces on multiple levels -allowing for privacy and connection at the same time. The bonus space above the garage, currently set up as a game room, could easily be converted to a studio apartment for a young adult not quite ready to fly the nest, or for aging parents who need some extra day to day help.

2. ALLOW THE CHARACTER OF THE REGION TO INFLUENCE YOUR HOMES EXTERIOR: A quaint log cabin would look out of place in a metropolitan setting, but graceful on a wooded lot. Natural and built elements in the immediate surroundings should be considered when designing your home. The designers of the Idea House hit the nail on the head by choosing a classic seaside shingle style for the home’s location near the ocean. 



3. INCORPORATE TRADITIONAL INFLUENCES INTO NEW HOME CONSTRUCTION: Classic homes offer visual interest and unique angles that aren’t typically adopted in new builds. It is worth the effort to find builders who can incorporate detail, and the This Old House team did just that. The use of a wrap around porch, intricate gambrel roofs, shake siding, curving walls, and a unique eyebrow window add up to create a home that is not only beautiful, but personable. 

4. CREATE DEFINITION FOR INTERIOR SPACES: Although open concept floor plans are popular in today’s new homes, often times they make for an expansive space that feels lifeless and lacks intimacy. The Idea House cleverly uses ceiling design, partial walls, and columns to create defined spaces within the larger open plan. Sight lines remain open from one room to the next, but there is a coziness that is added by this extra layer of detail.



5. DESIGN FOR ONE LEVEL LIVING / AGING IN PLACE: Going a bit further with the idea of designing for multiple generations under one roof, the Idea House team was also mindful that the family who eventually lives in this house may desire to stay there long term (who wouldn’t?).  Concepts such as using minimal stairs from the garage to the house and from the house to outdoor spaces, plus the addition of a first floor bedroom suite, drive this practice. Smaller details to make everyday life a bit easier for the older generation, such as lever style handles and a curbless walk in shower, were also incorporated.



6. CUSTOMIZE YOUR HOME TO FIT YOUR LIFESTYLE: Again, this house was designed for a typical family – but not with one particular family in mind. That being said, the space is far from generic. There are details throughout the house that suggest how customizing could benefit. One such example is the dog washing station in the mudroom. A feature such as this can really bring a standard house into ‘home’ status, by allowing it to function in the way the family who lives there needs it to.

7. USE A COHESIVE COLOR PALETTE: Color helps to tie things together, and this house utilizes coordinating color palettes and decorating motifs seamlessly. There is definitely a ‘beachy’ vibe going on with a variety of blue hues and drift wood accents. The kitchen is sleek but playful with its seaside glass tile back-splash; and the master bathroom gets in on the theme with fanciful sea creature wallpaper!


8. PROVIDE AN INDOOR/OUTDOOR CONNECTION: Nobody wants to feel like they are living in a box. With the advancement of glazing and insulation, larger windows are now a reality of home construction – and providing stunning views from inside the home to the natural world is a desirable attribute. The Idea House takes the concept of connection a step further by locating a gorgeous screened in porch directly off of the living room. With its vaulted ceiling and cozy fireplace, it is sure to be a family favorite nearly year-round!





9. UTILIZE MODERN TECHNOLOGY: The advances that have been made in technology recently are incredible, and the housing market is also seeing benefits from this development. The Idea House takes technology to the next level by incorporating a thermostat in each individual room with a VRF system, which provides room by room comfort and offers an estimated cost savings of 40% over conventional heating systems. The thermostats are controlled by a smartphone app. The security system is also top notch, with plenty of smart features that will ensure that the family who eventually lives in the home will feel safe and secure.



10. MAKE THE MOST OF EVERY SQUARE INCH: Though the house is a generous size, the designers made sure that every bit of the 3,000+ square feet is functional. In the bunk room, built in beds were crafted in the space under the eaves, providing a cozy and charming spot for children or visitors to sleep. Personally, I’m pretty sure the bunk room would be my fave spot to hang out. Just take a look!

 

There you have it, 10 amazing house design ideas! As always, This Old House did not disappoint! The level of innovation, detail and character of this home are in line with that standard of excellence we have come to expect from the TOH team.

Want a closer look at the house? I encourage you to visit the This Old House Website to see the floor plans and check out a virtual tour, which allows you to look 360 degrees around each room. Very cool! They also documented each step of the construction and design process, including the installation of shingle siding, the building of the intricate chippendale railing, and discussion of what elements influenced the home’s overall color palette.

Stay tuned, the next project they are tackling looks to be just as intriguing! Get a sneak peek here. Spoiler alert! Mike Rowe makes an appearance!