Converting an attic to usable space requires two things. First, you need the proper ceiling height to make the space usable and second you need a way to access the space.
After a recent client meeting in Rancho Palos Verdes, I had the opportunity to visit one of my favorite places, the Wayfarers Chapel. A creation of renowned architect Lloyd Wright, son of Frank Lloyd Wright, the Chapel is considered one of the most notable examples of organic architecture. Situated on a bluff, much like the future home of our clients, the structure emerges from the hilltop and is barely differentiated from the now mature landscaping of trees, rose bushes, and other greenery. Perched above the Pacific with views of Catalina Island, the blue sky backdrop to the nearly all glass chapel, blurs the distinction between inside and out—the defining trait of organic architecture.
As architects and builders, we deliberate over every aspect of a home. From the overall size, proportion, and feel of the space, we try to think through every scenario for the people for whom we are building the project. We proceed from design through construction using a rigorous process that takes into account even the smallest of details. While we often consider spaces and materials for pet use and durability, it’s a true pleasure when a detail we’ve considered for the two-legged members of the family also becomes a favorite spot for the four-legged ones.
Pivot doors don’t need a frame around the door or a threshold. The clearance area is also reduced from a swing door because having an offset pivot reduces the distance the door swing will project into the space. The door can be designed to go edge-to-edge with the wall to seamlessly blend together. For our client’s home, we used Douglas Fir on the door to mirror the size and pattern of the boards used on the adjacent board-formed concrete wall. The entry door also has a soft-closing mechanism, so that our client’s children do not get their fingers jammed.
Why are bathroom vanities always against the wall? This standard configuration may work for most, but one of our clients wanted to take a different approach to the conventional bathroom layout. Our client stated that looking in the mirror while using the sink was not important to her–she had other preferences for the bathroom:
How do you create a bunk room for a family of all boys? A bunk room that sleeps 7? A sleeping quarters boys would love to be in that can stand up to play, but be safe for four brothers plus their friends to camp out in? A space that captures the imagination and spurs hours of play and can stand up to the rough and tumble ways of young boys?
The start of each building project where you are either adding up or on to an existing structure should be to determine if the underlying foundation and structure are sufficient to support your construction dreams. Every project is unique. Every projects has its challenges.
Beauty is found in the small details that make up a home’s design–whether your style is modern, contemporary, or more traditional. My firm has worked on various home styles over the years doing both completely new builds and historic restorations. Over this time, we’ve also done some smaller additions or small remodeling jobs as we did when renovating an artists studio in a home in the Brentwood area of Los Angeles.
At one of our current projects in Benedict Canyon in Beverly Hills, we are working on a major renovation of the home and building a large addition over the garage. The addition includes a new master suite with a balcony on the front elevation. We wanted to shade the balcony as well as to control the sunlight coming into the new master suite—both important considerations when designing for the California sun.
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