Town Home Transformation: Before & After Plans

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.

BEFORE PLAN www.carolreeddesign.com

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.

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

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

www.carolreeddesign.com

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.

Interior Design: Floor Plan - Before & After

Before & After floor Plans of a Whole Home Renovation

Floor Plan - Before | Carol Reed Interior Design Inc.

The before & after plans of this past project are a great example of how effective it can be to assess and make thoughtful changes to a floor plan.  This important step is the catalyst to achieving a successful home design or renovation - its also my favourite part of the design process because its when the potential is revealed and solutions are realized. The objective for this plan was to update an 80's suburban home for a busy young family of 4 who love to cozy up for movie nights and also host large family gatherings.  The most pressing issue was the need for a more functional kitchen and so the renovation planning started and extended from there. (See plan above and the key issues to be addressed.)

The house had none of the builder upgrades (like hardwood or crown mouldings or granite counters) and so not only was it in need of aesthetic updates the layout didn't function well for their lifestyle.  The hard working spaces like the kitchen, entry and laundry areas were inefficient. This put them in a dilemma many home owners face….endure a top to bottom renovation… or.... begin a search for another house that better suited their needs. Both can be equally daunting choices for a busy young family, ultimately they chose to undergo a full renovation but in the hands of a professional team and with the intent that the project wouldn't become an extensive gut-reno.   I came on board to re-design the floor plan plus all the new details and finishes that would transform the home - featuring a luxurious new kitchen (which by design, would not be the typical open concept configuration).

Floor Plan - After | Carol Reed Interior Design Inc.

The “after” version of the floor plan shown above and below with notations of some of the key changes.  Although the changes to the layout were not drastic from a construction stand-point,  the combination of those layout improvements with the added functionality and all new materials, finishes and details resulted in a dramatic transformation.  

Floor Plan - After (showing proposed furniture placement)

Design by: Carol Reed Interior Design Inc.