Closet Addition Nearing Completion.

The closet addition to our previous mudroom project is almost complete. The closet system went in today. This project filled in an unused porch area located above a mudroom addition we designed a few years ago. The owner wanted the new addition to be modern and sleek and stand out from the existing house. Dark stained cedar siding ties the new portion into the previous addition. We ended up removing and replacing some of the lower siding with the dark boards as well to pull it all together. More pics to come (without the large van). Once fall hits, the new facade will be very visible as it is currently veiled by foliage. 

Mostly veiled by foliage, the new cedar infill sits above the mudroom we designed a few years ago. Fall will bring a much more visible facade exposing the two windows. The East window serves the closet while a North facing window is over a small desk area off the master bedroom.  

The vertical wall flanking the doors entry was changed to the cedar to help tie the two floors together. 

The main conceptual idea behind the design was to carve the corner of the building out to represent a response from the noisy school nearby.  

The view from the driveway approach. The narrow trim around the new window provides a small shadow line around the new widow. The windows on the second floor of the addition relate to those below. 

 

BEFORE AND AFTER OF THE ADLER BARRY MASTER BATHROOM.

Finished Photos Barry Bar. East Lakeview, Chicago.

A few new images of this bar project for a condo in Lakeview. The grey-wash on the cabinetry really worked out well. Both the color and framing bead detail match the doors on the rest of the floor. The faceted tile from Ann Sacks is a perfect tile for a bar and gives it a feel very different from that of a kitchen. Click on images to enlarge. 

Adler Barry Remodel

The bathroom fixtures in the master bath are all in. The mirror about to be installed in the photo below.

Piggy-Back House

The second floor of the Piggy-back house is completed.  Some of these photos were taken right before we added towel bars, shower rods, and some other accessories.

Second Bath and Master Bedroom entry/office

Master Bathroom

Mudroom Addition - Completed

The Mudroom Addition project on the North side of Chicago is completed. It adds an fantastic light to the space and provides a great spot to keep the clutter of the everyday out of the kitchen. Click on the images to enlarge for better quality.

Piggy-Back Plans

We are just about completed with the Piggy-Back house second floor rehab. Here is a plan showing the before and after layout. As you can see, we reduced the size of the secondary bathroom to fit a 4th bedroom into the plan. We also made better use of a hallway connecting the master bathroom to the master bedroom by building custom desks and file and book storage. In the master bedroom, we raised the ceiling to match the small cathedral portion they already had so that the entire master bedroom has a peaked ceiling. In addition, we better utilized the shape of the room and created 2 large master closets behind the bed wall. 

The big trick in all of this was figuring out how to tackle the house plan changes while keeping the original West exterior wall intact.  This wall, which now separates the two bathrooms, is crucial to the structure as it carries much of the roof weight down to the foundation. 

Piggy Back House

We're almost there. Master Bedroom is finished with furniture still to arrive.

The secondary bathroom is almost there as well. Better photos coming soon. 
The new raised ceiling in the master bedroom makes a huge difference in the perception of the space. At the entrance to the master bedroom we've created a small office area with built-in file storage, bookshelves, and a desk. 

Piggy-Back House Remodel

We're well underway what we're now calling the "Piggy Back" House.  This late 19th century balloon frame house has been changed, gutted and renovated over time. The original footprint remains with a newer addition "piggybacked" over the top of the roof and walls. We even uncovered the original siding and windows inside an interior wall. It truly is a layered home which makes this renovation very special. The new owners have asked us to reconfigure the second floor and add a bedroom. The master suite will now be more efficient and elegant.  We've also completely re-structured the ceiling in the master suite area to both stabilize it and provide a dramatic space.