Now that we've shared the "before" tour and floor plan for the main level of the Murray Bungalow (check it out here), it's time to reveal our plans for the renovation!
For reference, the existing floor plan:
For reference, the existing floor plan:
And here is our proposed:
Let's walk through the big changes, one at a time:
CENTRAL KITCHEN HUB & OPEN FAMILY SPACE | The most significant change that we make to the house is relocating the kitchen from the back southeast corner to the north wall, in what was formerly the family room. This new location allows the kitchen to be star of the home, the central hub around which day-to-day life unfolds. We gain a natural connection to the living room to the west, and the capacity to build a large custom island, perfect for entertaining and inviting friends & family to congregate. On the east side, we'll open up the sunroom wall to let in tons of natural light and tap into under-utilized square footage. No longer a "once in a while" room, the sunroom now becomes a versatile, everyday family space.
LAUNDRY / MUDROOM | In the current home layout, laundry resides in the basement, and one closet serves the entire first floor. We change all of this in our proposed floor plan by transforming the old kitchen space into a combined laundry / mudroom. Better suited in size for these purposes, and located conveniently off of the stairs and back entry, it's the perfect spot for a washer/dryer laundry station and "drop zone" for shoes & gear. This configuration also allows us to build out an bonus closet, tucked in off of the main hallway, for increased storage.
UPDATED BATH | The original house was blessed with a full bath on the main level, a feature that isn't super common in homes of this age, but certainly valued. We'll retain the functionality of the full bathroom on this level, but make a few key adjustments: swap the location of the sink and toilet for better flow, remove the drop ceiling to provide a more spacious feel, and modernize fixtures & finishes for a fresh, clean look.
OPEN AIR PORCH | We'll transform the existing screened-in porch into a relaxed & inviting open air front porch. This will involve refinishing the floor boards, adding new ceiling paneling, and building out a custom railing to match the original style of the home. The end result will be a welcoming point of entry to the property -- one that links the house to the neighborhood, and substantially boosts the home's curb appeal.
CENTRAL KITCHEN HUB & OPEN FAMILY SPACE | The most significant change that we make to the house is relocating the kitchen from the back southeast corner to the north wall, in what was formerly the family room. This new location allows the kitchen to be star of the home, the central hub around which day-to-day life unfolds. We gain a natural connection to the living room to the west, and the capacity to build a large custom island, perfect for entertaining and inviting friends & family to congregate. On the east side, we'll open up the sunroom wall to let in tons of natural light and tap into under-utilized square footage. No longer a "once in a while" room, the sunroom now becomes a versatile, everyday family space.
LAUNDRY / MUDROOM | In the current home layout, laundry resides in the basement, and one closet serves the entire first floor. We change all of this in our proposed floor plan by transforming the old kitchen space into a combined laundry / mudroom. Better suited in size for these purposes, and located conveniently off of the stairs and back entry, it's the perfect spot for a washer/dryer laundry station and "drop zone" for shoes & gear. This configuration also allows us to build out an bonus closet, tucked in off of the main hallway, for increased storage.
UPDATED BATH | The original house was blessed with a full bath on the main level, a feature that isn't super common in homes of this age, but certainly valued. We'll retain the functionality of the full bathroom on this level, but make a few key adjustments: swap the location of the sink and toilet for better flow, remove the drop ceiling to provide a more spacious feel, and modernize fixtures & finishes for a fresh, clean look.
OPEN AIR PORCH | We'll transform the existing screened-in porch into a relaxed & inviting open air front porch. This will involve refinishing the floor boards, adding new ceiling paneling, and building out a custom railing to match the original style of the home. The end result will be a welcoming point of entry to the property -- one that links the house to the neighborhood, and substantially boosts the home's curb appeal.
In addition to all of this design work, the vital systems of the house will receive a complete overhaul: new electric, new plumbing, new HVAC, and improved insulation throughout.
We've certainly got out work cut out for us, but the potential is real! As we go through the project, we'll dive deeper into design plans for each room, sharing our progress as we go.
Up next, we'll cover the upper level photo tour and plans for improvement. Thank you for reading!
We've certainly got out work cut out for us, but the potential is real! As we go through the project, we'll dive deeper into design plans for each room, sharing our progress as we go.
Up next, we'll cover the upper level photo tour and plans for improvement. Thank you for reading!