Condo Renovation

Town Home Transformation: Before & After Plans

Town Home Tranformation - Kitchen In progress

Town Home Tranformation - Kitchen In progress

THE BEFORE PLAN

The original floor plan of this single level town home didn’t have the open concept layout my empty nester clients were used to or desired, it also had some functional layout issues like the awkward spacing of the kitchen appliances and the ensuite/closet doors.

With a little bit of demo, some thoughtful tweaks to the plan, and all new finishes we set out to give this home a complete transformation that was all about editing and paring down to create a modern, minimal, white back drop to a collection of artwork, books and the owners favourite classic modern furniture pieces.

The kitchen window nook area (left) and kitchen (the back of the front hall closet is seen on the right). Cosmetic updates were planned for the entire condo; vinyl sheet flooring, wall to wall broadloom, dark wall paint, chintz window treatments, colonial light fixtures and colonial doors and trim work would all be replaced.

AFTER FLOOR PLAN - Design by: Carol Reed Interior Design Inc.

AFTER FLOOR PLAN - Design by: Carol Reed Interior Design Inc.

THE AFTER PLAN

New Layout: We removed the walls separating the dining and living area from each other and the hallway and removed the closet separating the kitchen from the hallway - resulting in an open concept Living, Dining and Kitchen space. A kitchen island was added and a desk floating from wall to wall in front of the large window. Counter seating at the island and an extendable table in the dining room would meet their needs for day to day and entertaining. A wall of builtin bookshelves would house their book and album collections and the long wall provides a large expanse of wall space for the homeowners art collection.

Tweeks: The bathrooms will receive cosmetic updates only, new floor tiles, floating vanities, large mirrors and more lighting. I’m not a fan of ensuites that are accessed through a closet particularly when the closet storage is not behind doors as was the case here. We removed the closet door, added flanking custom built-in his and her’s wardrobe units with a combination of drawers and hang rods, all neatly concealed behind cabinet doors. This greatly improved both the passage into the ensuite and the amount of storage.

The ensuite door which was awkwardly blocking off the toilet nook was changed to a pocket door to improve the flow. With the toilet no longer blocked off by the door swing the space is visually expanded and freed of the intrusive door swing.

In the Laundry Room new front loading laundry appliances would facilitate a countertop for folding, and wall cabinets above would add concealed storage and a hang rod. To make up for the lost front hall closet, the long wall inside the laundry room will be outfitted with hooks, an upper shelf and boot/shoe racks.

Progress at the Townhouse transformation. | www.carolreeddesign.com

Progress at the Townhouse transformation. | www.carolreeddesign.com

Progess - Mahone Bay Townhouse transformation. View from the Living/Dining area into the kitchen.www.carolreeddesign.com

Progess - Mahone Bay Townhouse transformation. View from the Living/Dining area into the kitchen.

www.carolreeddesign.com

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I’m looking forward to seeing the finishing details of the construction phase come to completion and the next phase of furnishing and styling get underway.

Portfolio Archives - Master Ensuite Before & After



Photo by Donna Griffith, room design by Carol Reed Interior Design

Looking back at portfolio images its hard to believe I designed this bathroom 7 years ago and I just realized its never been posted on the blog before.  So to elaborate on a little throw-back-Thursday instagram post, I thought it was a good opportunity to share more photos about it here.  This Master Ensuite was part of a top to bottom renovation of a 3 storey condo in mid-town Toronto.  Although it wasn't a complete gut reno like the main hall bathroom, the master ensuite modifications were designed to work with a couple of existing elements.  There were three things that remained untouched; the cararra marble tile floor, a walk-in shower (not visible but is located to the left of the tub in this photo) which was tiled floor to ceiling in the same marble tile, and a small mirror medicine cabinet.  Since so many years (and computers) have passed I've lost track of most of the before photos but I think you can see from the one before image below the extent of upgrades that were implemented.

Master Ensuite vanity before.

Master Ensuite After, room design and photo by Carol Reed.

I designed a new double sink custom vanity, mirror and tub skirt in macassar ebony. The vanity and tub were finished with a cararra marble top and a pair of rectangular undermount sinks.   A feature wall above the tub was designed to create a beautiful sightline as you approach the bathroom thru a hallway from the bedroom.  The back painted glass panel reflected a lot of natural light from the skylight and glowed a beautiful and serene watery blue at night.   This room photo was taken by me a year or so before the top photo of this post (professionally shot).  


Preliminary Concept Sketch of the tub feature wall.


Master ensuite after - room design and photo by Carol Reed

This last image is another shot taken by me, on the same day as the professional shoot and illustrates the difference in how much better the professional images are.   I hope you've enjoyed the peek at one of my past projects which has never been seen on the blog before.  Despite how many years ago this was designed I still love it as much today and know that it can continue to stay fresh and modern looking thru the simple change-up of accessories.