A Compact, Elegant Kitchen

This is a continuation of the previous article describing how we reconfigured my client’s home for a new life with creative friends and music in Silver Spring, MD.

Re-Sculpted for Function and Light

We radically re-sculpted her home within the existing footprint starting with the kitchen.  By moving the kitchen into the old dining room we created a light-filled kitchen with a much better connection to both the outdoors and to the music and living rooms.  (View before and after floor plans in the first article.)

Kitchen is Well Connected to the Garden & Flooded With Light

And Also Well Connected to the Rest of the Home

Efficient, if Somewhat limited, Storage

The kitchen is very small but better configured than its darker, cut-off predecessor.  Valuable storage space was sacrificed for even more important windows and doors.  The cabinets we used, though, were configured for maximum storage and utility.  The base cabinets are all drawer cabinets (not easily seen in the photos).  While my preference is for 30” wide drawer cabinets, for this project, we had to compromise and accept several narrower base cabinets to maintain counter space where needed.   One 30” base cabinet, one 33” base cabinet and one 30” pantry cabinet provide great flexibility for storing everything from pots and pans to dishes and platters.  We gained valuable drawer space in the work area by using a cooktop with drawers below instead of a range.  The single oven is placed out of the main work area.  We gained a little additional storage space – and saved money – by using a single oven instead of two ovens often found in higher-end kitchens.   A smaller microwave sits on a shelf above the single oven.  Putting the oven in a cabinet with a drawer below also puts the over at a better height for our aging bodies. 

Using a Single Oven Plus Microwave Instead of Double Ovens Saved Money & Space

We made up for the lack of storage space in the kitchen proper by building a long pantry closet in the music room between the kitchen and living room.  The Pantry is only 18” deep – deep enough to hold small appliances and big platters but shallow enough that nothing gets lost.  A light in the pantry makes sure items can be located quickly.  The bypass doors don’t take up floor space in the passageway. 

A Shallow, Long Pantry Closet Supplements Kitchen Storage

The Pantry (White Bypass Doors) is Tucked Into Music Room and Conveniently Located Alongside Kitchen

 Eating Nook

We even fit an eating nook into this small kitchen.  It’s perfect for my client when she is without guests.  It also makes an intimate setting with one to three guests and provides space for a buffet for larger gatherings.  The backless bench to the left is on casters and can be rolled out of the way for additional seating in the living room or to provide a wider passageway during large gatherings. 

We even fit a cozy eating nook in this compact kitchen

Design Decisions to Lower Costs

There were a myriad of design decisions that kept costs down including 3 primary decisions:

1. Working within the existing footprint.  The decision to work within the existing footprint means that the window over the sink looks across the areaway to the basement at the brick wall that forms the original L wing housing what’s now the master suite.  In the future, we’ll use stained glass or an art window film to hide the view of the brick while still allowing in light.  This decision, of course, saved tens of thousands of dollars. 
2. Using laminate countertops.  This decision saved at least $3,000.  Everyone wants stone these days.  Personally, I think granite is a bit overdone.  One of the big objections to laminate is the inability to use an under-mount sink.  The sink we used is a micro-edge sink that all but eliminates that objection.
3. The Lighting Scheme.  We used surface-mounted ceiling lights instead of the ubiquitous recessed lights.  Go back to the 2nd photo in this article to see the surface-mounted fluorescent lights that provide ambient light.  These lights are augmented with another surface-mounted light over the sink, undercabinet lights, and a single (large) pendant over the eating nook.  The lighting scheme, again, saved more than $3,000.
4. The selection of appliances.  We used a relatively narrow, full-depth refrigerator that appears built-in.  The 30” width allowed us to recess it into an existing header in the brick wall.  The full-depth results in a lot of storage space.  We sacrificed a little bit of space in the new hall bath and the Pantry to accommodate the full-depth.  As mentioned earlier, we selected one oven instead of two.  The hood, while modern and attractive, was much less expensive than most similar models on the market.  We re-used the relatively new dishwasher. 

The Micro Edge Works Well with a Laminate Countertop While The Large Deep Sink Hides Dirty Dishes & Drying Clean Dishes Helping Keep the Counter clear

A Regular Depth Fridge Looks Built-In And is Recessed Into The Bath & Pantry Behind

Special Design Features:

Even while controlling costs, there were many special features to make the design special. 

Integration between rooms – Note how by integrating the cabinetry with the door jamb separating the kitchen from the music room, we help bring those rooms together.  You can see this in the photos above and below.

Tiled wall – Rather than a simple tiled backsplash we tiled the entire walls behind and beside the counters.  We used large format 12 x 24 concrete-look tile with a brushed aluminum trim.  This maintains a clean, modern look. 

Deep, Wide Sink – The sink, in addition to having a micro-edge, is very deep and wide.  This keeps dirty dishes and drying dishes off the countertop.

Original ceiling beam details – These details were maintained but painted while to keep some of the original feeling that the client liked but made for a less busy treatment. 

Deep Door Jamb Integrated Into Cabinety Helps Integrate Rooms

Large Format Tile Wrapping the Walls Provides a Relatively Low-Cost Wow-Factor

 
Before

"Before" From Same Angle as Picture 2

Original Kitchen "Before"

The Remodeled Kitchen is Well Connected to the Home & the Music Room

My client came to me because she wanted to create the next phase of her life.  She is a relatively recent widow with grown sons — and with the completion of the remodel has retired from her job.  She lives in a post-WWI brick rambler in the Forest Glenn neighborhood of Silver Spring, MD.

Her life has been filled with music, friends and family.  She envisions her new home as a French-style Salon – a place where her creative friends and their friends would meet to share music and discuss art, literature, and politics.  She wants a seamless transition from home to garden to entertainment space in her basement. 

In addition to the grand vision, she also wanted:

• A master suite with an in-suite bath
• A guest bath that is fully wheelchair accessible for when her mother visits
• A new kitchen
• A wider hallway for wheelchair accessibility

And to make the project even more challenging, my client’s budget was quite limited and the lot small so the magic had to be performed within the existing footprint. 

The discussion of this project will cover several articles. 

1.  This article covers the overall plan and the changes to the foyer.
2.  The second one will cover the kitchen.
3.  The third will cover the new guest bath.
4.  The fourth will cover the master suite.
5.  The final will cover the new exterior rooms.

The original room configuration was typical of houses built in the early 1950’s with small rooms and unconnected with each other and unconnected with the out-of-doors.

Floor Plan - BEFORE

As you can see from the floor plan, above, the kitchen – while in the middle of the house – was cut off from everything.  The dining room has a solid door and windows to the back yard but felt unconnected.  The hallway was too narrow for a wheelchair and the single hall bath was small and hard for everyone to use let alone someone with any physical impairment. 

Floor Plan - AFTER

The back wall of the kitchen in the remodeled home is wide open to a new patio and to the music and living rooms.  The now open hallway is wide enough for easy transit and helps make the whole home feel more expansive.  It also offers a more visible connection between the entertainment area of the basement and the first floor.  The old kitchen was reconfigured into a wheelchair accessible bath and a large pantry.  The new master suite – while not fully wheelchair accessible has many universal design features. 

Kitchen is Well Connected to the Outdoors

The Stairway Was Opened On All SidesOpen Floor Plan Connects The Basement to the Living room

Open Floor Plan Connects The Basement to the Living room

 

Read more about the details of this remodel as I post the rest of the series in the next few days. 

 

 The 2 “BEFORE” pictures, below, are from the same camera angle as the first image and the hallway image. 

"BEFORE" From Same Angle as 1st Image

 

"BEFORE" From Same Angle as Hallway Image

 

A Colorful Craftsman Bungalow

The small Takoma Park, MD Craftsman bungalow, on a hill above the street, faces north, and is surrounded by mature trees.  In the shade and low sunlight, the house can easily melt into the background.  Previously the owner addressed that problem with a warm yellow gold main color accented with a brick orange and sage green (see before pictures, at end).  The roof is a deep brick-red. 

My client, a friend and neighbor, was ready for a change.  I had previously consulted on her interior palette – replacing her off-whites with cool, sophisticated tones of greyed green (see interior colors).  Delighted with the varied, soft transitions of her new interior, she found that the exterior colors didn’t really mesh with them.  So she came to me again for an exterior color consultation.  While still wanting a bright, welcoming feel to the exterior, she wanted the palette to extend seamlessly from the outside to inside.  

 

A colorful palette -- Blue/Grey Primary, Sage Green Secondary, Firey Red/Orange Accent

If you’ve followed some of my other color conversions, you know that I usually prominently incorporate a “near-complement” accent color.  Instead her interior is composed exclusively of tints and tones of a single complex greyed-green.  The exception is a warm off-white color on all the wood trim.  I used this subdued, sophisticated palette in her interior because she has a lot of reddish/orange artwork and antique furniture with a reddish patina.  Thus, the artwork and furniture became the “near-complement” accent. 
 

Accent Windows With Color Instead of Typical White Trim

The exterior palette gave me the opportunity to highlight a near-compliment accent — a fiery red/orange (Benjamin Moore 077) — alongside colors analogous with the interior shades (blue/green) but much more saturated than her interior.  The main color is a saturated blue/grey (Benjamin Moore 2129-40) – analogous to the interior greens but more saturated.  The secondary color is a greyed green that I used as the deep accent  color in the interior.  It’s more saturated that the other interior colors and is sufficiently saturated to coordinate well with the exterior shades. 

The Firey Red/Orange is a Near-Complement to Blue/Grey Primary Color -- which makes both more vibrant.

 
Note that I also had the pleasure of doing this with a Takoma Park bungalow – a community and a house style that welcomes bright colors.  This exterior color combination would not be welcome in many communities and house-styles. 

The blue and green fit well into the shady environment while the fiery red/orange makes these colors more vibrant and sets the home apart from the shade.  The blue and green exterior provides a vibrant echo of the interior tones.  Blue and white pottery visible as you enter bring the exterior blue indoors.  The red-orange is picked up in flashes of the vivid, warm colors of the owner’s folk art collection.

Exterior Colors Coordinate with Interior Accents

 

My client says:  “My humble little house is as beautiful as any palace.  Marvelous, harmonious colors turn the inside and outside into one glorious whole.  The outside is more vibrant and welcoming, and the inside more calm and relaxing, just as I would want them to be.  I wouldn’t trade it for all the granite countertops and stainless steel appliances in the world.”

 

Before - View 1

 

Before - View 2 - Notice How much more Vibrant The Red Roof Looks with the New Blue/Grey Than the Original Yellow/Gold

Indoor/Outdoor Connection with great views & play of light and shadow

We added a mere 70 square feet to this 1930’s Tudor revival but dramatically increased the livable space and its connection to the outside.  The house is in Silver Spring, MD – a neighborhood that’s just a mile from the border with Washington, DC with a great neighborhood feel – where everyone knows everyone else and get-togethers are frequent. 

Seamless Blend of Old & New:  Previously the home had a tiny foyer – you basically walked right into the kitchen.  A tiny coat closet wasn’t even deep enough to hang coats – hooks were all that was available.  Now when you walk in you have a welcoming foyer with large coat closet and desk area.  Divided Lite Glass Pocket doors provide a view straight through to the garden but also let you visually divide the foyer from the kitchen.  The 1980’s kitchen we removed was of a style that was at odds with the original Tudor revival home.  In this remodel, we took pains to make the remodeled areas blend seamlessly into the original home.  But we lightened the space with less stained wood and more painted wood.  The images below are “After” and “Before” images from approximately the same viewpoint.

View From the Front Door Through House to Back Garden

"Before" From Same Camera Position

View of Remodeled Foyer

"Before" View of Foyer From Same Camera Position

Additional View of Foyer - Including a Place to Place Mail and Packages.

Kitchen as the Center of the Home: 

A Centralized Kitchen for Multiple Cooks

 
The original kitchen was cut-off from the rest of the home and cut-off from the outside.  The new kitchen acts as a central hub for both everyday living and entertaining.  We added 70 sqft of new space by extending the enclosed porch to the original garage (converted several decades ago to a large storage area).  This allowed us to change the traffic patterns and view lines connecting the porch to the kitchen and the kitchen to the outdoors. 

We also annexed a portion of the old garage into the kitchen.  The very old boiler and hot water heater were both replaced allowing us to remove the chimney serving these appliances to dramatically open up the space.  Gable windows added to the old garage area bring in abundant light and a wonderful play of light and shadow. 
[See before and after floor plans at the end of the article.]

While we used cabinetry and hardware that coordinates well with the original style of the home it is more modern in line and style.  For example, the stain colors match almost exactly but the original wood is pine while the cabinets are cherry.  The use of glass tile for the backsplash clearly modernizes and brightens the kitchen.  So while the style blends with the original it is also distinctly modern.

The new kitchen provides prep areas for multiple cooks – which occurs during large family gatherings while still working well for a single cook.  Note that the ovens are out of the main work area. 

Kitchen - A Blend of Original Stains & New Touches Like Glass Tile

 
Large, Stylish pantry:  Notice the frosted glass doors to the right of the gable windows.  Inside is a wide, shallow pantry that provides a tremendous amount of storage. 

Stylish Frosted Glass Doors Hide Hard-Working Pantry

Hard-working Pantry Behind Frosted Glass Doors

 
Indoor/Outdoor Connection:  Before the remodel, the family spent a lot of time on the drafty enclosed porch.  One of the main goals of the remodel was to make the porch more comfortable and better integrated into the flow of the home but to also retain the original feel of an outdoor space.  The next 2 images – After & Before – are taken from the same point.  You can see the small area that we added – the brick wall you see in both images is the same wall – the outside of the original garage.    We raised the floor to the same height as the rest of the house and used the same oak as used throughout.  We also added hydronic radiant heat to the floor, vaulted the ceiling and added skylights.  We thought about replacing the old steel windows with new steel windows but the price was prohibitive.  Instead we used stained wood. 

Expanded All-Season Porch

"Before": Porch - From Same Camera Point - Brick Wall in Background Now Enclosed in Porch

Remodeled Porch - Another View

The furniture arrangements are still evolving and the client is waiting for some new furniture.  The placement of the table moved from the design phase and we will either move the pendant light or replace it with a swag light that can be centered over the table. 

Porch Details:  Notice the foundation wall that we left exposed inside the porch.  The custom stained glass window “looks” into the storage area of the garage.  To give a sense of light, we installed a mirror about 3” behind the window. 

Stone Foundation Wall Exposed as Interesting Detail

Stained Glass Window with Mirror Backing Looks Like View to Outside

Formal Dining Room:  The client wanted to retain the formal dining room – in part because of their lifestyle and in part to retain the original formality of the home.  The further that aim, we designed and installed a new coffered ceiling stained to main the original molding. 

Coffered Ceiling in Formal Dining Room

“BEFORE” & “AFTER” Floorplans:

Floor Plan - BEFORE

Floor Plan - AFTER

After – The background arch is seen in the Before Picture Below. The foreground arch is new.

Before – Same View. In the after view you can see that we divided & raised one section of the living room to make it feel larger and more connected to the outside

Before - Another Before View Showing How the Windows felt separated from the living area

My client lives in a delightful late-1920’s art-deco building close to Rock Creek Park and the National Zoo — in the neighborhood known as Woodley Park.  The building was converted to condos in 1973 and offers high ceilings and classic details. 

While my client loves the building and her unit, the living room was awkward – long and narrow.  The only natural light comes from windows at one end of the room.  The windows felt seperated from the living area because that section was raised on a platform — probably a former porch.  While Rock Creek Park was right outside, my client felt cut off from it.  She also wanted more built-in bookcases and storage.  She showed me pictures of window seats and built-ins clipped from magazines that she liked. 

During the conceptual design phase, I developed 5 different options for the living area – most of the options – including the one she selected — broke the living room into 2 areas.  The floor height of the area furthest from the foyer and closest to the large windows was raised to the height of the old porch platform.  Raising the floor 5” is hardly noticeable with original 9’ 3” ceilings.  This allowed us to incorporate the natural light into the main living area.  The area closest to the foyer was converted into a “piano” room.  A new arch – that matches the arches original to the unit – divides the reconfigured living room from the newly created piano room. 

All options included a window seat and my client selected my favorite — an asymmetrical window seat that invites you to lounge with a view out the window while still being engaged in conversation within the room.  It also provides additional storage and display space.  The design also has a less formal feel.  The homeowner can sit on the window seat to watch TV or use it as a cozy reading nook with lots of natural light.  And with this summer’s excessive heat, she often sat on the window seat reading and watching the park.  The original design was for a curved seat.  We changed it to straight lines to save a bit of money.   Also to save money, we made the back of the window seat square and plumb and specified the back cushion to be wedge shaped for comfort.  The top of the window seat and surrounding cabinetry became the window sill for a clean look and for function.  The casings around the windows were in bad shape so we replaced them but kept the same profile. 

The asymetrical window seat encourages lounging while looking out the window and still being engaged in conversation

The window sill becomes the top of the window seat & cabinet.

Window Seat with Adjacent Storage & Built-ins

Built-ins surround the window seat plus we designed an additional full wall of built-ins in the reconfigured living room.  Crown molding was added throughout the living room, piano room and foyer adding additional architectural detail to an already rich unit.  The large flat-panel TV plus hidden components were selected before designing the built-ins so they fit-in well.  A perforated metal panel keeps the components out of sight but still allows line of sight for remote controls to operate.  We used a square grid that looks a bit more modern.  We also replaced the metal panel on the radiator to match.  We left the brushed aluminum unpainted. 

Custom Designed Built-ins

We also updated the paint, fixed lighting and art arrangements throughout the unit.  Originally the living room and foyer were painted in antique white because the homeowner was afraid the unit would feel too dark otherwise.  Even though we used quite saturated colors in the new palette, the unit feels larger and brighter.  The deep reddish brown in the foyer really sets off the living and dining rooms.  The semi-gloss paint of the built-ins – particularly the window seat — reflects light into the room.  The matte finish on the walls and ceiling absorb the reflected light.  As I do for almost all my clients, we used deeper tones in the center of the unit and moved toward lighter tones as you move toward natural light.  This helps make the whole unit feel larger and brighter than when it was painted a single light color. 

My client has a lot of artwork but didn’t have most of it displayed.  To display all the work, we grouped lots of different artworks into large groupings on several walls.  As additional cost-savings measures, we kept the existing frames and deliberately created interesting mixes of art and framing.  We also put a threshold between the foyer and the new piano room, this eliminated the need to refinish the floors in the rest of the unit. 

The New Color Palette Makes Home Feel Larger

Groupings of Artwork with mis-matched frames lend detail and character

Another Grouping of Artwork

Foyer After - Notice How it Welcomes You Either from the Living Room or as You Enter

Foyer Before

The Deep Reddish-Brown was used in the hallway as well as the Foyer Resulting in a Feeling of Expansion as you Enter the Lighter Colored Rooms

My client says she feels happy each time she opens the door to enter her remodeled unit.  “I just can’t believe how great everything looks.  I especially like how the outdoors feels so much closer.  I can’t wait until autumn arrives so I can sit on the window seat and watch the leaves change color.” 

Floor Plan After

Floor Plan Before

A Front Porch with Acid-Stained Concrete Floor

I love to sit on my front porch at the end of the day or on the weekend with a book and a cup of coffee.  Almost always my neighbors stop to chat.  Sometimes it’s just for a minute and sometimes it morphs into dinner or drinks on the porch.  And then other neighbors stop by… and I catch up on what’s going on without leaving the shade and comfy chairs of my front porch.

Adding a front porch or other outdoor garden room is one of the most dramatic and cost-effective changes you can make to your home.  Here are 2 porches I’ve done in the past few years where my clients report benefits much like I’ve observed with my own porch. 

Cigars on the Concrete Front Porch

The Porch is Close to the Ground without Intervening Railings Which Further Connects to the Neighborhood

The husband, Dan, was initially reluctant to add a porch.  Now he wonders “why didn’t we build it sooner?  We never used our front yard. It was just a way to get into the house. Our porch has given us a place we sit, meet neighbors, and enjoy our street”.  Their Porch has two sitting area – one very open to the neighborhood (above) and one more secluded and private (below).  When they want to interact with the neighbors they sit on the side that’s more open to the street.  The acid-stained concrete porch is very close to the ground so there are no railings to separate them from the yard and the street. 

Shrubbery and a Higher Elevation Separates This Side From the Street

The other side, above, is more sheltered by landscaping and — while railing is still not needed — the porch is higher off the ground providing more separation from the street.  Arlene laughs about sending Dan and his friends to the porch to smoke cigars after dinner.  The ceiling fans on both sides keep both the cigar smoke and the mosquitoes away.  The central wood bench hides the gas and electric services and Arlene reports that she often sits on the bench to go through the mail while their cat lounges on the sun-heated stone insert.

A Side Porch That Acts As a Front Porch

A More Traditional House Needs a More Traditional Porch

A Ground-Level Porch Grounds the House to the Neighborhood

The remodel of the home, above, won an award from the local historic preservation group for reconnecting the home to the neighborhood.  The house is situated on a corner and the front entry was steep (see before picture, below).  We added the porch to the right side of the house.  Now friends and family always enter from the more level alternate street side.  Again, note that the porch is low to the ground – without railings – which welcomes the neighbors to say hello and stop and visit.  The porch also helps balance the addition built on the left side of the house.  Many neighbors commented on how much better balanced the house now feels. 

Before - Without Porch & Before Remodel

So what’s the value of a front porch?

New Rooms To Live In: An expansive, shady front porch offers a delightful retreat. Add ceiling fans, comfortable chairs and tables and you’ve just added alot more square footage to your home! Not to mention, a special place to unwind and watch the rest of the world whirl by.

Neighborhood Integration:  You’ll meet and talk with neighbors you’ve only nodded to before.  Your kid’s friends will prefer your place to others for playing on the porch.  Nothing beats a covered front porch for entertaining! It’s a wonderful place to socialize, catch up on the latest news or just relax and enjoy the company.

Curb Appeal: The front entry sets the stage for your home.  First impressions make a huge difference in how your family, friends and neighbors view your home.  A dramatic transformation happens when a “flat-faced” home receives a new, covered front porch.

Added Value: Enhanced curb appeal can translate into a higher selling price and faster sale for your home down the road.

Protection from the Elements: A front entry with no covering exposes your guests and home to damaging sun and rain. A porch or portico provides great protection for your front door, hardware, trim, lighting—and even, foyer. And your guests will truly appreciate it on rainy or hot, sunny day. It can even help lower your summer energy bills.

So now back to my porch (below).  It is in desperate need of repair – like the cobbler’s children going barefoot.  But the general disrepair doesn’t in any way detract from my use of the porch as an extension of my living room and an extension of my studio.  One side is for enjoying informal interactions with my neighbors.  I think of the other side as part of my studio with a work table where I do dirty work I don’t want in inside.  Both sides are wonderful places to watch the world go by. 

My Front Porch

 And here’s one of my favorite Porches:

One of My Favorite Porches

To read more about these front porches:
http://www.braitmandesign.com/design-solutions/curbappeal-2week-makeover/
http://www.braitmandesign.com/home-remodeling/a-sense-of-place/
http://www.braitmandesign.com/home-remodeling/remodeling-within-the-existing-footprint-case-study/

This "Devil Man" has guarded my gardens for the past 12 years as it did my Mother's for almost 30 years

1.  Think Style & Maintenance before Digging or Buying Plants
Sun versus Shade; Formal versus Casual; Modern vs. Traditional; Symmetrical vs. Balanced, Summer vs. Spring, Alfresco Dining vs. View From the Window,
High Maintenance or Self-Caring, Dogs & Children vs. Delicate Plantings, Food Production vs. Views. 

These are not all mutually exclusive but just like any home remodeling project –  you need to start with your goals, lifestyle, and aesthetics.  Your answers will dramatically change what you plant and where you plant.   For example, the classic boxwood will rarely look as comfortable in a casual garden than a formal one.  And self-seeding annuals and perennials will make a cottage garden dramatically easier but will be the bane of a gardener who wants order.  Pressure-treated lumber works well in a casual garden as does irregular flagstone but concrete, painted wood and regular flagstone are more suited to a very modern garden. 

The Decking, Fence, Walls & Stone River were installed Before Plantings

2.  Think Structure before Plants
Structure refers walks, decks, patios, pergolas and other built items often referred to as “hardscape”.  It also refers to plants and the planting structure.  

Three examples:  First, think about planting on a hill.  Somewhat counter intuitively, your yard will feel more balanced if the plants get taller as they move up the hill.  Recognizing this requires you to select the plants you’re going to use before buying or planting any of them.  

Second, also counter intuitively, breaking up a small (or large) garden into separate (but visually integrated) areas will make it feel larger.  In all gardens, the area will feel larger and more balanced if you think structurally about foreground, mid-ground and background.  Start with this structure before you start planting.  For example, I installed a low (36”) fence inset from the sidewalk on my very small front yard in order to make it feel larger.  If I had decided to do this after I planted, I would need to remove and reinstall plants. 

Third, installing patios and other “hardscape” disturbs roots.  Ideally, you want to plan and build all your structures before starting you planting – or leave at least 8-10 feet so that you won’t need to disturb your roots while building. 

And of course, plants grow.  You need to think about the mature size of plants when planting shrubs and trees.  While they’re growing you can fill in with annuals or self-seeding or spreading perennials.  For example, in the border garden depicted in the images 2-4 below, I purposefully planted several rapidly spreading perennials (a mum, a euphorbia, and a Caryopteris) to help take over the large swaths of former lawn while the shrubs and other perennials could establish themselves.  I’m now starting to pull out (and either move or give away) the excess as other plants come in.  With this strategy, the area looks good and I have less weeding to do in the garden’s early years.  

Plants Grow over and around Fencing & Walkways; Notice Also Different Leaf Types

3.  Think Foliage before Flowers
Flowers on trees, shrubs and perennials last only weeks while foliage is visible and prominent all year – or for 7-9 months depending on your zone.   Between foliage color, texture and form, you can create dramatic vignettes without any flowers at all.  When you think foliage, you can also more easily create a year-round garden rather than one that looks terrific only 1- 3 months of the year.  Also consider what works in your climate and sun exposure.  There are lots of plants that wilt or mildew in Washington DC’s hot humid summers.  Similarly, there are plants that do well in Washington’s shade but will burn-up or become diseasedin the sun.  For example, Euonymous is a wonderful plant for the Shade but will become overrun by scale in the sun.  On the other hand, many plants will look scraggly or fail to bloom without enough sun.  Unless you want a lot of work, think about what works in your climate and sun exposure.  

Variations in Foliage Form and Color Can Substitute for Flowers

Notice How the Rocks and Fence Also Add to the Drama of the Vignette

Foliage Variation is Just as Important and Dramatic in the Sun

 
4.  Now Decorate Your Garden!
A decorated garden can fit within any style.  Rocks, Found-Objects, and Sculpture are wonderful foils for plants.  And they make your garden truly one-of-a-kind.  And you can re-decorate your garden just as you do your home.  Enjoy! 

Rejects From My Glass Studio Help Decorate the Garden As Faux Fungus Forms

Bath Tub Ducks Migrated to the Rocks Around the Pond

Stained Glass in the Garden

Abstract Art - Notice the Layers of Foliage Interest

Photo Taken by chris5aw — see her photo stream on Flickr 

Color, Structure, Foliage and Art is Equally Vital in the Modern Garden

Photo Taken by Aimee Quiggle, See Her Photo Stream on Flickr

Garden Room with Tree Canopy Ceiling & Landscaped Walls

1.  Walls & Ceiling:   

  If you only remember one thing, remember that outdoor rooms need walls and ceilings just like indoor rooms.  We crave a sense of intimacy and protection when we sit and relax or when we dine.  The walls and ceiling don’t have to feel constraining – sometimes we only need a hint – like the combination pergola/bench in the image, below, combined with a privacy fence and plants or plants alone.  [Read more about this outdoor room by Braitman Design]   

A ceiling can be as simple as an umbrella (image below) or the canopy of a tree and the suggestion of a ceiling from a pergola (like the image above). [Read more about this outdoor room by Braitman Design]   

Garden Rooms Needs Walls & Ceilings

Garden Rooms Need Privacy

 
2.  Privacy:  Garden Rooms feel best when they feel private.  Privacy can be fairly complete like the garden below where stucco and concrete wall fully block views by neighbors.  Or they can be slightly more porous, like the garden room above and to the left, where shrubbery largely blocks views and the open fence defines the border. 
    

Private Patio Photographed by Erica Marshall

3.  Extension of the House:  Have you ever noticed how often exposed decks off the 2nd floor are largely unused.  It’s often because they feel separated from the house and they usually violate rules 1 and 2, above.  Through use of more refined materials and by creating walls, ceilings and privacy a deck or patio should feel like an extension of the home – a garden room beyond the living room or family room.   

Stone Terrace acts as Extension of House

The metal balusters in the railing above, feel much more transparent than wood.  The porcelain flooring feels more like indoors.  Shrubs (not visible in this picture) will mature within abut 3 years to provide greater sense of privacy.  In the short-term, annuals hanging from baskets in the summer will help solidify the walls during the months when the owners want to be outdoors.    

Glass doors should invite you out to the garden room beyond.  The two images below show how glass doors off two different rooms beckon the family onto a private patio at the front of the house.    

Glass Doors Beckon You to Garden Room Beyond

Doors Off Adjacent Sun Room Also Open Onto Patio

4.  Outdoor Kitchen:  An outdoor kitchen can be as simple as a conveniently located grill or can be extensive with built-in sinks and refrigerators and grilling centers (like the patio, below.    

Outdoor Kitchen by Artistry in Concrete

5.  Shady Spots and Sunny Spots:   

 
If your deck or patio faces south or west, remember to include ways to shade a sitting or eating area.  In the image, above, an arbor shades the dining area from harsh western afternoon sun
   

6.  Add a Water Feature or Fire Pit:  

Water — especially running water — can transport you away from your urban or suburban spot to someplace far away.  It can drown out the noise of cars and neighbors.  Similarly, the crackle of a fire can also bring your heart to distant vacations.   

Fire Pit Beside PatioA Patio Retreat with Pond

http://www.flickr.com/photos/montanaraven/ / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

In the backyard retreat, above, notice how planted a berm behind the pool provides privacy from the neighbors while also providing the height needed for a small water fall.  The table placed close to the pond provides a sense of separation.

7.  Lighting.  Be creative about lighting your backyard getaway.  Lighting could be as simple as porch lights (below).  

Porch Lights Are Inviting

Or you could use elaborate and creative fixtures to create a festive, inviting nighttime tableau (below).   

Inventive Patio Lighting

http://www.flickr.com/photos/secret_canadian/ / CC BY-NC 2.0

For More Ideas:
http://www.remodelingcenter.com/decks/platform-deck-design-ideas/
http://www.remodelingcenter.com/decks/deck-solutions/create-a-backyard-getaway/

Three Ceiling Fans Help Deter Mosquitoes

The pergola, above, was built by Artisan Specialties in Columbia, South Carolina, but it’s quite similar to ones I’ve designed for a clients.  The powerful ceiling fans, close together, will provide good coverage to provide cooling breezes and to keep mosquitoes and other biting insects at bay. 

What conditions do you need for a fan to work?  You need a very strong stream of air — if you don’t like air blowing on you, this solution isn’t for you.  I like the design, above, because you’re getting wind from all sides of the table.  The fans need to have strong motors and large blades.  You also need fairly open conditions.  Ceiling fans won’t work as well on a front porch that’s surrounded by shrubbery or covered by vines.  The plants provide a place for the insects to hide and protect themselves from the breeze and have only a short flight to get to your skin — especially your feet and legs.  In this setting, an oscillating fan or box fan blowing across the sitting area — at about 30-36″ off the floor — will provide better protection.

I was intrigued to also see the stand-mounted “ceiling” fan that fits in most umbrella holes by Backyard America. 

Stand-Mounted Fan

I can also recommend the OFF!® PowerPad® Lamp and Lantern.  I’ve found the product effective when I use 2 to 4 lamps — that fully bracket a sitting area on a porch, deck or patio.  I was convinced the first time when 3 of us were enjoying my patio without getting bitten.  One minute all was calm, then the repellant had burned off and all 3 of us started getting bitten.  As soon as the candles and pads were replaced, calm returned. 

Mosquitos love me and I get huge welts with every bite and I live just outside buggy Washington, DC.  So I’ll keep looking for ideas that work.  If you have any to share, please contact me.

Opening A Modest Kitchen to Outside Makes It Feel & Act Larger

I’m starting a follow-on series today about how objectives can radically change kitchen remodeling decisions.  A few days ago, I wrote about planning a kitchen remodel
In my experience, kitchen remodeling is about lifestyle more than about kitchen details.  Homeowners often focus too soon on the details such as what type of appliances or cabinets to buy and fail to concentrate on the lifestyle they want.

This series will take 3 classic home configurations from the 1920’s through the 1940’s – the age of the homes that I most often work on – and will investigate how dramatically the “right” configuration depends upon the homeowner’s living style and objectives.  After we’ve looked at objectives we’ll also look at how budget factors in.

Today we’ll look at a modest center-hall colonial built in 1933 in Bethesda, MD — a close-in suburb of Washington, DC.  And we’ll look at how the remodel would change for 3 different homeowners and with different budgets.  Today we’ll look at a young family that does a lot of entertaining of their extended family.  In a few days we’ll look at the needs of a professional couple that spends many of their weekends traveling.  And a few days after that, we’ll look at a professional couple with teenage children and that does more formal entertaining for work.

Goal:  Informal Extended Family Get-Togethers With Many Cooks and Seamless Indoor/Outdoor Connection. The homeowners in this scenario are a young couple with 2 small children.  They both come from close families that grew up in the area and both have married siblings with young children that live nearby.  Their home is the most centrally located.  As a result, they host informal extended family gatherings almost weekly.  There are often 6-10 children in attendance.  They want a home that’s bullet-proof, that’s as comfortable when it’s the 4 of them or when there are 20 extended family members visiting for the day.  They also anticipate living here indefinitely.  So the home needs to work as well when the children are teenagers as it does now. Their wish-list also includes a powder room on the first floor.  This couple also wants to limit their budget and want lots of outdoor space for games and gathering.

Below is the existing floor plan.  As I said, it’s a quite modest home with a very small, inefficient kitchen cut off from both the dining room and kitchen.  The entire home is cut-off from the outdoor – as is common with houses of this age.

BEFORE - 1930's Modest Colonial Floor Plan

AFTER - Modest Colonial Floor Plan

Here;s how we approached the house from the objectives of our first family:

Existing Footprint: To save money and to preserve outdoor play space we stayed within the existing footprint.  While it might feel small from today’s  standpoint, the greater openness, new circulation and new access to the outdoors lets the house live much larger than its square footage.

Create Foyer & Storage:  While our client didn’t emphasize the lack of a foyer, they definitely wanted a coat closet and a better sense of arrival.  By putting the powder room, coat closet and pantry at the front of the house, we created a new foyer area and separation of the arrival and living.

Open to Back: Across the back, are 4 door size openings of glass — 2 are doors and 2 are non-operable doors.  In the new dining area, we replaced a window with a new glass door, and we replaced a single smaller window with 2 larger windows that give good views to the back.  .

More Open Floor Plan: We also opened all the interior doorways to create a more open floor plan and longer views through the house.  By congregating the utilities up front, we got them out of the circulation path and allowed us to create much greater openness and circulation.

Small but Functional Kitchen: While the kitchen is small, it packs a lot into a small space and because it is open to the back, it feels and acts much larger.  The pantry — while also small — and full-height cabinet help isolate the powder room from the kitchen and provide a lot of very useful storage.

Patio or Deck in Back: A more extensive outdoor living area might be a phase 2 — but even with little additional landscaping the change in doors allows for multiple “garden” rooms in the back and side.  By putting a door off the new dining area and moving the door off the screen porch, we created a somewhat smaller and private courtyard framed by these 2 exterior walls.  This is in addition to the larger outdoor room off the back of the house.

Opening A Modest Kitchen to Outside Makes It Feel & Act Larger

View from Front of Living Room: Connected with Kitchen, Dining & Outside

View from Back of Kitchen to Front: Pantry, Coat Closet & Full Height Cab Create Alcove for Powder Room