Y Design Loop : Powell Avenue Loft Renovation

Closets Doubled and Serenity Returned to Powell Avenue Loft 

After enjoying their 2-bed, 2-bath, converted-school-condo for 10 years, the clients decided to tackle all the things that bugged them at once.  Their overall wish was to make better use of their central Ottawa 1,000 sq. ft. condominium for their den, bedroom and closets.  

 

Finding space for a lifetime of artwork, books, camera equipment and designer wardrobes is always a challenge....and what a great opportunity for improvement !  The space is open and inviting with a large wall of windows facing south. Most of the interior partitions go up 8' to the 10' high ceilings, giving the semi-industrial space a lot of interesting interior architecture to work with.

 

View from new bedroom looking into living room

 

The end result doubled the closet space by adding a Dressing Area in the "North Wing" and a new closet in the "Entry", which was a passage-way into the "South Wing" bathroom. See floor plans and photos [numbered] below showing the wish list and solutions to each area :

 

SOUTH WING 

Wish List : Organize clutter, provide adequate storage, and brighten space including new bathroom.

1  BEDROOM

Solutions : 
- switch office and bedroom
- change drywall wall to glass wall with wood Venetian blinds to better control light

- build walls up to the ceiling to create more sound privacy

AFTER - BEDROOM

BEFORE - OFFICE

2  BEDROOM

Solutions :
- install wall sconces to maximize space for other furniture
- add ceiling fixture for ambient lighting

BEFORE                                                                          AFTER

3  BEDROOM

- enclose space above closet to hide storage
- change closet doors from triple doors to double doors for better access
 

BEFORE                                                                              AFTER

4  SOUTH BATH      Inspiration : designer  Andree Putman 
Solutions :
- use light colors and classic materials such as marble mosaic flooring to provide calming environment, off of new bedroom

5  SOUTH BATH
Solutions :
- rotate tub and close off 1 doorway, in order to create coat closet in Entry
 

BEFORE                                                            AFTER

ENTRY 

Wish List : Provide better access to laundry room, create more closets for coats and shoes, upgrade and add lighting.

6  ENTRY

Solutions :
- add new coat closet on right by rotating the tub 90 degrees and building a wall

- re-purpose old bedroom closet into entry coat closet by expanding doorway in entry wall; enlarged coat closet and laundry room are on left

BEFORE                                                                                AFTER

7 ENTRY

Solutions :

- change 2 sets of swing doors to triple-panel sliding doors 13' wide
- add pot lights

NORTH WING

Wish List : Create illusion of a larger, contemporary bathroom with a higher ceiling, add dressing area, create den comprised of tv viewing and office area.

8  NORTH BATH    Inspiration : designer Paul Smith

Solutions :
- install long narrow tiles vertically, to create illusion of height

- create seamless bathroom floor to visually enlarge the space

9  NORTH BATH

Solutions :
- replace acoustic ceiling tiles with punched MDF panels and paint to match walls
- create interesting, intriguing ceiling while still providing access to mechanical systems

10 NORTH BATH

Solutions :
- change swing door to a pocket door so it doesn't block linen shelving
- design floating vanity

BEFORE                                                                       AFTER

11 NORTH BATH

Solutions :
- remove linen closet door to make storage more accessible and provide opportunity to display beautiful items

BEFORE                                                                             AFTER

12  DRESSING AREA

Solutions :
 - add 35 sq ft. of closet space for clothing and camera equipment; walk-in closet on left, shoe closet and shelving on right [not shown in photo]

13  DEN  
Solutions :

- add floating shelves for tv, books and display
- material : white-washed quarter-sawn oak

BEFORE                                                                        AFTER [Dressing area in mid-ground]

14 DEN

Solutions :
- close off unnecessary interior window to provide wall for art
- add more floating shelves for artwork

BEFORE                                                                         AFTER

15 DEN
Solutions :

- create 8' wide custom desk with slot for large format photographs
- material : white-washed quarter-sawn oak

16 DEN 
Solutions :
- source new modern sofa and pair with concrete sculpture/ coffee table 
- sits across from floating shelves and tv, making a cozy entertainment area

After months of planning and design, almost every area was redesigned, [except for the kitchen and dining], including new walls, doors, lighting and electrical, built-in cabinets & shelving and furniture.  Open spaces that flow into each other are maintained, keeping the condominium peaceful and serene. 

 

Thank you to Handwerk, Cadieux Interiors, Astro, Marchand Electric, Randalls, Komandor Doors, Ceragres, and JRB Construction for their part in making this project a reality!  The fabulous photography is by David Taylor Photo Studio.

 

See more photos at yvonnepotter.com

 

Blogatchalater! 

March's Top 3 Tips - Scale is Everything

What does scale mean and how is it relevant to your interior space ?

Scale has several meanings, but the one we are demonstrating here means size, especially in relation to surrounding objects and architecture :

Tip #1 : Increase the scale of an object to achieve drama and/or strong focal point for a room. 

Here is an over-the-top example, but you get the idea ! :

 

Tip #2 : Think Big to make a statement. 

Notice that not only the size but location of this chandelier is not something usually seen; but because of the similar scale [and color] to the surrounding furnishings it absolutely works ! Living room by our design guru Phillipe Starck :

Tip #3 :  Think small, but many.
But be careful because with small tiles on a large area, it is easy for a space [especially a small shower stall such as this one] to look waaaay too busy.  This designer chose one, simple, smooth, dark color mosaic tile with contrasting grout. It's the lines that create the texture and pattern, not the tiles themselves :

  

Blogatchalater ! 

August 3 Monthy Interior Design Tips : The Perfect Kitchen

3 Tips for designing the perfect contemporary kitchen :

1] Cabinet Height

Build your upper kitchen cabinets up to the ceiling [or bulkhead as the case may be] :

If you don't, you will likely get a deep dark shadow,  more visual "clutter" not to mention an area for dust to collect as seen here :

2]  Layered Lighting

Make sure you have layered lighting in your kitchen for both tasks and ambiance

For proper implementation of a kitchen lightning design, there are four kinds of lights that you can use.
These are the task, accent, ambient and decorative lighting.
The task lighting focuses on making the kitchen a working one. This is the most appropriate lightning that lets you see your sharp knife as you prepare food. Task lighting is usually situated between the work surface and the person running the kitchen.
The accent lighting, as its name denotes, accentuates the whole kitchen. It adds dimension and depth to the whole space. Accent lighting is usually low voltage. An example of accent lighting are the fixtures placed underside cabinets to spotlight back splash and counter top materials.
The third kind of kitchen lighting design is the ambient lighting. This kind of kitchen lighting can immediately improve your kitchen look. Make sure your have enough recessed lighting to create a soft yet warm glow that soften shadows.
The last type of kitchen lighting design is the decorative lighting (pendants above an island for instance). Decorative lighting adds sparkle to your kitchen but make sure not to overdo it. It can make your space look overdone and cluttered.

3] Consider Your Finishes

Remember that high gloss finishes on cabinets and counter tops will show every finger print for heavy traffic kitchens. If you are a childless couple who love to clean, go for this modern and sexy look!

If you have children and spend a lot of time in your kitchen consider a honed granite or quartz counter top finish and satin finished cabinets, rather than high gloss, for less maintenance.

Blogatchlater!

3 Key Interior Design Tips

#1 Function supersedes form. 
Are you a homebody who likes relaxing & watching tv or are you a social butterfly, preferring to entertain friends & family?  Style, furnishings and material choices come after your space planning is defined. Your home should reflect your lifestyle and be designed for maximum use by you!

#2 Don't be afraid of colour! 

Colour is a inexpensive way to bring energy and excitement to any room, transforming the mood instantly.

-If you don’t want to paint an entire room in a dramatic colour create a focal point in your room with an accent wall.

-When choosing a colour just be mindful of picking up a colour that already exists in the room in a piece of furniture, a fabric or artwork. 

#3 Layer your lighting

Each room in your home should have 2 or idealing 3 layers of light.

1. Overall/Ambient: General illumination that comes from all directions in a room

2. Task: Lighting focused on a specific area to make the completion of visual tasks easier.

3. Accent: Lighting that emphasizes an area of or an object in a room. This lighting adds to the drama or style of a room by highlighting certain aspects of a room's decor. 

Subscribe to ckyscaper. More great home design tips to come!

Do you need to add "zing" to your dining room?

Is your dining room simply somewhere to grab a quick pizza or help the kids with their homework? Looking for a little panache to inspire you and make you feel excited about your home again ? Want to get the "restaurant" ambiance of subdued sophistication ?

Lighting is like the icing on the cake ! The jewellery on the body ! The garnish on the plate !

Look no further than Modern Light now open in Old Ottawa South :

This place is fabulous ! Notice the iconic "Random" Light spheres by Moooi in the top right corner :

I wish I could change my light fixtures as often as my earrings with this fabulous selection!!

Notice the inner bas-relief porcelain sculpting of this absolutely gorgeous!! glass luminaire :

And Modern Light offers great furniture by Modernica and art too.
Owner Michael Shaiken with cky design's Yvonne Potter :

Blogatchya later ! -Yvonne