Maria and Allen
Maria and Allen lived in their Coquitlam home for 30 years without changing much of the interior. After their son moved out on his own, they decided to renovate the basement, which seemed to give them a taste for the design process!
An awkward and useless hallway leading from the stairwell to the kitchen needed to be reimagined, and both the kitchen and main bath needed an overhaul. Maria had always dreamed of a spacious office and crafting space, and it was my honour to make that dream come true.
Walling off a strange unusable hallway and donating that useless space to the bathroom was the first step to get this project underway, along will removing the wall dividing the kitchen and dining room.
Given that the space has previously been dreary and dark, Maria wanted light, light and more light! Removing walls allowed more sunlight to filter through the entire space, but we also added a grid of pot lights throughout the main floor. Augmented by our off-white colour scheme, the home looks brand new, bright, open and cheerful - just like Maria herself. The new wood banister adds warmth to the stairwell as guests are welcomed into the space.
Plenty of counter space was a must, as Maria cooks and bakes daily, and Allen wanted a specified area for preparing coffee in the morning. A shallow pantry allows Maria to spot food items quickly, and a pull-out spice cupboard near the stove makes cooking more convenient.
While working with a cool off-white colour scheme, adding texture, interest and warmth to the kitchen was going to be important for the heart of this family home. We opted for a matte faux-stone porcelain for the backsplash instead of polished marble. Not only will it be easier to keep clean in this busy kitchen, but the finish also adds a softness to the room overall.
The framed mosaic behind the stove is one of my favourite features of the space! Made of recycled glass, the lantern shape brings a slightly traditional element to the kitchen, updating the style, keeping it contemporary without looking cold.
The bathroom transformation was an important point of focus for this renovation, for multiple reasons. We took extra care in planning this room, in recouping space from the strange useless hallway and adding storage inside the bathroom as well as a closet accessible from the hallway.
Allen wanted "wow factor" in the new room, and a walk-in shower with bench will allow Maria and Allen to age in place safely. A niche for soap and shampoo bottles will keep the bench clear of clutter.
Maria dreamed of a getaway space where she could work on her computer or scrapbooking hobby and enjoy some privacy.
Her supplies had previously been kept in bins in a closet, so creating the perfect combination built-in desk and storage unit with easy access to her inventory was a must.
We designed extra-deep drawers for filing and paperwork, as well as cubbies beneath the desk for lesser used items.
Intended to be a creative space, adding a pop of colour in this room made sense! Using this denim blue accent on the drawers finishes off this space with a touch of whimsy.