HOW I TURNED AN UNUSED KITCHEN INTO A HOME BAR, TRANSFORMED
A FRONT HALLWAY INTO A BOURBON LOUNGE, TRANSFORMED THE TOP OF A SET OF STAIRS INTO A READING NOOK
AND MORE...
I'm a firm believer that EVERY space in your home should be lived in and well used. If you have a room that isn't being used, something needs to change. Let's discuss.
I meet clients all the time that, when we are touring their home, I will hear them say, "This is our (fill in the blank) but we never use this room". Which, is actually music to my ears. I see this as an opportunity to 'fix' an issue.
There are reasons people do not gravitate to a space. The issue could be any number of things:
Poor or missing lighting
Lack of texture
Furniture arrangement. There is something to Feng Shui!
The use that has been assigned to it, well, there may be something better.
Color. Some colors draw you in and others do the opposite
Furnishings (or lack thereof)
A combination of all of the above
The old space (the original kitchen) became a catch all for miscellaneous over flow items from the newly renovated kitchen. It adjoined the kitchen and dining room, and so was the perfect location for a home bar.
We opened the wall, finished the opening with decorative casing, and added metal shelves to keep the space open. The red floor gave the room pop and the backsplash and reflective paint added texture.
TOP OF THE STAIRS OR READING NOOK?
I SAY NOOK.
This client had a nice amount of unused space at the top of the stairs. The ceiling is vaulted so it was a bit of a challenge to 'dress' this area adequately and better yet, make it usable space. She has lots of grandchildren and so I designed the space to accommodate a perfect little reading / sleeping nook. The fabric I used for the drapes created the perfect finishing touch to cozy up the space. A few throw pillows, art and lights and, the once blank wall, is now a welcoming spot for relaxing, meditating, reading with a cup of tea in hand, or sleeping over.
PASSTHROUGH AREA TURNED INTO A CUSTOM HOME OFFICE
This space was a pass through / catch all area between two rooms now turned into a cozy home office. Older homes often have unusual spaces that were used at one time for storing luggage, trunks, crocks and the like. This area was the perfect size and location for a small home office.
UNUSED WOOD SHOP INTO A POPULAR AIRBNB
This space was formerly an unused wood shop. I rearranged furniture, purchased decor and accessories, redesigned a closet into a coffee bar and it quickly transformed into a very popular Airbnb and guest house for the family's out of town visitors. It's a great space now complete with an upstairs loft bedroom and full bath.
BLANK WALL TRANSFORMED INTO A LIBRARY WALL
At one time this upper living room was broken into two levels. The former homeowners were piano players and used the upper section to feature a grand piano. This was no longer necessary so, I had the floor leveled and instead of a blank back wall, designed the wall to feature custom bookshelves. Dimmable lights were added strategically to enhance the area and add dimension. Now what was a blank wall has been transformed into a library for the new owners.
DOG CRATE CORNER OR FLOATING LIVE EDGE SHELVES, MICROWAVE DRAWER AND STORAGE?
When renovating this kitchen design I had to address this awkward corner which housed the owners two dog crates. Fortunately, they were open to having me create this extra deep cabinet area which boasts an extra deep, live edged walnut counter top, accommodates a microwave drawer and has additional drawers for storage.
A CATCH ALL HALLWAY TRANSFORMED INTO A MUCH ENJOYED BOURBON LOUNGE
Another catch all space. This hallway housed an unused piano, a bureau and miscellaneous clutter. I added molding to the walls, painted and furnished it and now it is a well used bourbon lounge.
If there is a space in your home that is not being used (especially if it nags at you), give some thought about how you might transform it into something more useful. All it takes is a little creativity. It's amazing what lighting, paint, furnishings, and accessories can do to transform a space.
Interested in a consult to see how you might use transform a space in your home? You can reach me via text or call 717-278-3900 or Email me here. I'd love to hear more!
I specialize in COLOR PLANNING, FLOOR PLANNING, FULL SERVICE INTERIOR DESIGN and
COMPLETE HOME RENOVATIONS.
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