OH Design Lab

Master Bathroom and Kitchen Remodel Project.

A few months ago, I had the opportunity to direct and manage the construction of one of the home remodels I designed. While I have been involved in supervising and observing residential construction projects in the past, I have never been able to credit myself completely, so this one felt particularly special.

Our project began when a sweet older couple contacted me for a design strategy to revamp and revitalize the duplex property they had recently purchased. An inherited early 2000’s-theme in the kitchen called for aesthetic improvements, except for the other parts of the house where we completely managed to rearrange the interior layout.

The design intervention could be divided into 2 distinct parts of the house. One of which is worthy of some merit which deals with the values we’ve assigned to the spaces within our house, as well as recognizing and prioritizing the functions and behaviors that can improve our lives. In this project that particular space is the Hallway.

Originally envisioned to create a privacy buffer between the laundry room, sleeping quarters, and the foyer, this long, narrow hallway created a slight redundancy in the way the house was navigated. Fulfilling the function of load bearing wall, this private-public separation effort was not to be changed. Our efforts, however, were centered on reutilizing the hallway space and reassigning values to the subservient spaces surrounding it. Moving adjacent rooms around is similar to a puzzle.

Among the client's wishes was a desire to expand the original 5x7 master bathroom and incorporate a double-sink vanity to elevate this important room into one that is more spacious and enjoyable. To achieve this outcome, we worked around the existing plumbing line, extending it toward the hallway to service a second sink on one side and the new laundry room on the opposite side. Encroaching into the hallway, we were able to maximize the functionality of two intersecting walls without losing the structural integrity or diminishing the value the foyer provided.

Our team was fortunate to work with clients who were quick to reassign values to the spaces already offered by the house and trusted our vision for making changes to the space within its confines.

Onto the next design and build project.