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Sunroom Renovation: Before and After

Before:

Originally, the Sun Porch was lined on two sides with sliding glass doors that let in so much sunshine and glare that the Owner’s kept the wooden blinds down to filter the light. Combined with a dark stained wood panel ceiling, the contrast between the dark wood of the ceiling and blinds and all that bright sunlight made the room an uncomfortable space to occupy. The multiple doors provided too many access points to the wrap-around deck outside, making furniture placement within the room and out on the deck difficult. The southern portion of the deck, seen at the left, was less than three feet deep and offered no usable outdoor space. Rather than offer a sense of expansion to the outside, the wrap of the deck made the room feel confined. As well, the Sun Porch walls, ceiling and floor were not insulated, making the space too cold to occupy for most of the year, especially during New England winters.

After:

Our goal was to re-design the space to be more in keeping with the “Arts and Crafts” style of the original house and to transform the porch into a Sunroom able to be enjoyed all year round.

The interior wall and ceiling finishes were removed and replaced with sheetrock, painted a soft, warm golden hue. The narrow portion of the south deck was removed, providing space for the construction of a new window bay that spans the width of the room and expands the Sunroom out toward the exterior view. New Energy Star casement windows let in the summer breezes and natural light. Bathed in sunlight, the built-in window seat provides space for people to sit as well as plants. An Energy Star French sliding door leads to the remaining portion of the deck. Outside on the deck is an area for a table and chairs and a few potted plants.

All of the Sunroom’s walls, ceiling and floor are insulated with spray foam insulation. The eco-friendly foam insulation acts as both an air barrier as well as a thermal barrier, making the Sunroom a now very cozy space, especially in winter.

More Information:

You can read even more about this project here!

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Sweetwater Garage Addition: Before and After

Fortunate to have an over-sized lot with a large side yard toward the street, the clients requested we design a two bay garage addition, large enough to accommodate two pickup trucks and a work area. Complicating the design were setbacks required by the City of Tucson zoning regulations and the local Home Owner’s Association rules.

Immediately, it was clear that we needed a survey done of the property, to document how the existing house sat on the land in relationship to the property lines, and to show the available space of the side yard.

The new garage overlaps the corner of the existing garage just enough to provide a passage door from one to the other. Set at a right angle to the existing house, the new garage shares access from the existing driveway. Since the overhead door faces the driveway, the front wall of the garage offers a quiet façade to the street view. Here the architectural detailing matches that of the house, with bumped out corners and a projecting center bay element, terminated with a soft curve at the roof parapet. Neighbors have commented on how well the new garage integrates with the house and neighborhood.

You can read even more about this project here.

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Living Room Renovation: Before and After

Before:

 Reflecting typical 1970’s Tucson design, this Living Room felt restricted and clumsy.  The heavy iron metalwork, as seen in the andirons and the light fixtures, the dark wooden window shutters that blocked much light and views, the cream colored brickwork and the glazed, patterned tile on the hearth were dated and old. But the fireplace had some interesting design features, evidenced in the sloped brick pilasters that framed the firebox and the simple line of the wood mantel that related to the wood ceiling. The Italian slate flooring was beautiful and definitely worth saving.

After:

First, the wooden window blinds were removed and the all the arched windows were re-built with new larger and rectilinear Energy Star windows or sliding glass doors. The interior of these window frames were finished in mahogany, stained to match the mantel. Replacing the dated ceiling fixture was a modern ceiling fan and light that added both soft lighting and air circulation to the Living Room.

We then focused on the fireplace wall. Rather than add the considerable expense to completely replace this large structure, a decision was made to re-purpose this focal area instead. While we liked the brick and the pilasters, the colors were all wrong with grout that was too bold. Getting a little inspiration from Frank Lloyd Wright, we decided to have all the vertical grout joints re-pointed to make them flush with, and textured similar to, the face of the brick. Then we painted the brick, using a complimentary color to define only the horizontal grout joints. Next, we clad the pilasters with stainless steel sheathing. This highlighted the slope of the pilasters while adding striking vertical elements to balance the horizontality of the brick work and mantel. Deep charcoal porcelain tiles with a soft gray linear design replaced the glazed tile on the hearth. After painting the firebox black, the final design element within the firebox was a floating granite slab with an inset stainless steel eco-burner.

Click here to learn more about this project.

This project was featured in the December 2012 issue of Tucson Lifestyle Home & Garden.

The renovation of this 1970′s slump block masonry house, located in the foothills of the Tucson Mountains, involved opening the house up to the surrounding mountain and city views. The allure of the house leads one through it and back to the outside once again. From within the house, every vista is a striking framed vignette that compels further exploration. A key element of the renovation was the creation of a new outdoor living area at the East end of the house.

The existing arched elements of the house  were a feature of the front facade, but the original aluminium framed windows had to go. The renovation included  new Energy Star windows, designed to fit within the existing window openings. A new stucco ledge grounds the windows, and draws the eye horizontally to the new deck and garden wall at the East end of the home.

Front Facade

This house’s interior was also renovated.

The Entry walkway at dusk. The view from the entry continues through the house to the exterior beyond. The original front door was replaced with a custom wood door with vintage leaded glass.

Front Entry. Photo by Robin Stancliff Photography.

Formerly nothing but Star Pass desert scrub, this area was developed as an outdoor living space, with a spacious deck overlooking the new water garden. A large glu-lam beam holds up the exposed rafters of the roof. The ceiling is finished with tongue and groove stained wood planks. The columns are wrapped with metal which was treated to create a rusted finish. A built-in gutter leads to the rain chain at the left, which channels the water down to the garden area behind the wall. The notches in the garden wall are infilled with Saguaro ribs.

Deck

The view  from the surrounding desert of the newly built deck, patio and water garden.

View of deck and water garden.

The twilight view from the deck, overlooking the City of Tucson and the Catalina Mountains beyond. The Deck was designed to feature this custom made bar, brought by the Owners from Connecticut. It has become the social gathering spot in the evenings.  The beam mounted down-lights cast warm pools of light on the marble bar-top.

The decking is Timbertech; a synthetic decking  made from recycled materials.

Photo by Robin Stancliff Photography.

This house’s interior was also renovated.

Floor Plan of  renovated house. See also “Tucson Arizona Home: Exterior Renovation” Project.

This house’s exterior was also renovated.Located at the West end of the house is the Great Room. The existing slate floor and wood beamed ceiling were kept, but the former arched windows had to go. New, enlarged Energy Star windows provide panoramic views of the Tucson Mountains, and fill the room with natural light.

Great Room. Photo by Robin Stancliff Photography.

Rather than demolish and create a new fireplace, the existing brickwork was repointed to eliminate the vertical elements, and then painted. Stainless steel cladding was afixed to the existing pilasters, creating an entirely new look to this focal area. A slab of granite “floats” in the firebox, holding a eco-flue burner.

Great Room Fireplace

This view is looking toward the Kitchen from the Great Room.  Colors drawn from the desert palette and new lighting blends with the warm wood tones of the existing ceiling and the new Kitchen cabinetry. The pendant lights are vintage 50′s, re-wired and hung from a length of track lighting, custom painted to blend with the ceiling.

Great Room toward Kitchen. Photo by Robin Stancliff Photography.

Kitchen

The raised mesquite countertop adds warmth to the Breakfast bar, while shielding the sink area from view. The bar stools are vintage 50′s, bought on Ebay.

Kitchen Island

 

A dry bar area was created at the end of the Kitchen. The upper cabinets have frosted glass doors to allow a glimpse of the bar glassware stored inside. The beverage center holds both beer and wine as well as bottles of water, which are in high demand in a desert setting.

Dry Bar and Beverage Center

 

The built-in refrigerator and microwave oven occupy the end wall of the Kitchen, anchoring the cabinetry. The same frosted glass that was used in the cabinet doors was used in the doors leading to the Pantry and Laundry Room.

End wall of Kitchen.

This view is from the Lower Sitting Room, looking up toward the Great Room beyond. Warm, bamboo flooring replaced the slate tiles in the Lower Sitting Room, to add contrast to the tiles left on the stairs and floor above. The stair was framed with low walls, and accented with a light above.

Lower Sitting Room. Photo by Robin Stancliff Photography.

Looking toward the East end of the house, two closets were removed from the end of the Hallway to allow the installation of a door,  providing a glimpse of  the Catalina Mountains and leading to the new deck beyond.

Sitting Room looking East. Photo by Robin Stancliff Photography.

 

Standing in the newly relocated doorway of the Master Bedroom, the eye is drawn to the exterior mountain views, outside the new windows and sliding glass door. The horizontal design of the window follows the mountain-scape outside.

M. Bedroom. Photo by Robin Stancliff Photography.

 

An elegant concrete ramp sink highlights the renovated Master Bathroom.

Master Bathroom. Photo by Robin Stancliff Photography.

 

In the renovated Guest Bathroom, sandstone tiles evoke the colors of an Arizona sunset.

Guest Bathroom. Photo by Robin Stancliff Photography.

This house’s exterior was also renovated.

New two car garage.

The new garage shares the driveway access with the existing garage.

The garage sits quietly in the side yard, leaving plenty of space for landscaping.

Garage viewed from yard.

You can see an animated before & after image slider of this project here.

Twilight view of house. Photo by Maggie Cole Architectural Photography.

Water side view. Photo by Maggie Cole Architectural Photography.

Exterior view from the beach. Photo by Maggie Cole Architectural Photography.

View of Entrance side of house. Photo by Maggie Cole Architectural Photography.

The view from inside the Entry draws the eye through the house to the water beyond.

Entry Hall. Photo by Maggie Cole Architectural Photography.

The first floor of the house was also a renovation – it was expanded around the original Living Room. The surrounding spaces echo the rhythm set by the beamed ceiling. The interior colors and tones were taken from the rocks and reeds outside.

Living Room. Photo by Maggie Cole Architectural Photography.

The new second floor provides a large Master Bedroom Suite, with a sitting area overlooking the ocean.

Master Bedroom Suite. Photo by Maggie Cole Architectural Photography.

 

Limestone countertops and tile, and custom cabinetry provide a soothing spa like feeling to the newly-renovated Master Bathroom.

Master Bathroom. Photo by Maggie Cole Architectural Photography.

 

In the daughter’s room, the built-in bed creates a wonderful retreat for sleep, study or daydreaming.

Daughter's Bedroom. Photo by Maggie Cole Architectural Photography.

Mudroom. Photo by Maggie Cole Architectural Photography.

We were then commissioned to review the entire first floor and to re-structure the spaces to provide a better flow from space to space. The Kitchen became the focal point, about which the other spaces revolved. In the Kitchen, we used a mix of natural materials and glass block to play off the industrial nature of the stainless steel appliances.

Kitchen. Photo by Maggie Cole Architectural Photography.

Kitchen. Photo by Maggie Cole Architectural Photography.

We used the glass block again, to define the openings between spaces.

Kitchen looking toward Dining Room. Photo by Maggie Cole Architectural Photography.

Family Room looking into Living Room. Photo by Maggie Cole Architectural Photography.

Entry. Photo by Maggie Cole Architectural Photography.

Our final task was to design a Sunroom addition. On the exterior, the addition ties into the existing roof lines of the house and the siding materials blend with the existing.

Exterior of Sunroom. Photo by Maggie Cole Architectural Photography.

On the interior of the Sunroom, a mix of natural materials was once again used, to play off the large glass windows.

Interior of Sunroom. Photo by Maggie Cole Architectural Photography.

This project involved an expansion of the kitchen space, linking it to a newly constructed lower Family Room. The Kitchen was relocated into part of the former Family Room, connecting the existing house to the new addition. The new cabinetry lay-out and design was the culmination of close work between Warren Architecture, LLC and the Kitchen Designer/Owner: Kitchens by Gedney, of Madison, CT.

Kitchen

The working portion of the Kitchen is anchored in the corner, while the breakfast bar provides a wonderful opportunity to converse with the cook.

Kitchen Island.

The former Kitchen area was expanded and now serves as a wet bar. The window and skylight are original to the former Kitchen. Family dining is enjoyed at the table, which overlooks the new Family Room.

Wet bar.

View of dining area, looking back toward the Kitchen. The table was custom made by the cabinet manufacturer, and is finished off with a limestone top.

Dining area.

View of the Family Room, as seen from the dining area. Built-in cabinetry was designed by Warren Architecture and custom made by Kitchens by Gedney, of Madison, CT.

View of Family Room.

Built-in cabinetry.

Family Room. Photo by Philip Dutton Photography.

Details of the hand pegged, heavy timber trusses.

Timber details. Photo by Philip Dutton Photography.

Joinery details. Photo by Philip Dutton Photography.

An adjoining Study also made use of recycled materials. The flooring, wood ceiling and barn board siding are of  recycled lumber.

Study. Photo by Philip Dutton Photography.

Study. Photo by Philip Dutton Photography.

The built-in bar was made from left over barn board siding.

Bar area. Photo by Philip Dutton Photography.