MURRAY BUNGALOW : UPPER BATH PLAN

Hi there! Today, we're sharing our plan for the upper lever bath at the Murray Bungalow. It's the final interior space to cover before we move on to the exterior of the home (to catch up on plans for the rest of the house, scroll down under "JOURNAL"). Very exciting!!

BACKGROUND

Like the main level bath, the existing upper level bath is in pretty good shape from a functional standpoint (read about plans for the bath on the main level here!). The layout makes the most of the room's footprint to include a combined bath/shower along one wall, and vanity & toilet along the other. A nice-sized window brings in natural light and lends a feeling of openness. The finishes thoughout, including dark burgundy tile in the shower and busy floral wallpaper, have begun to show their age.

INSPIRATION

Knowing that this bathroom will serve as a busy hub upstairs, we want the space to feel as bright and open as possible. All white bathrooms are a classic choice for a fresh & clean look. We love when special touches are added for extra polish and/or utility: a beautifully-shaped mirror, glistening metallic accents, crisp, textural tile, pretty light fixtures, and storage-rich vanities. The inspiration images here serve as perfect examples.

SOURCES :
|1| Sunny Circle Studio, |2| unknown.

DESIGN PLAN

With the layout locked in, our design plan is all about using finishes to elevate the room's aesthetic. Our goal = crisp, clean, elegant, and highly-functional.

MATERIALS & SELECTIONS | Like the downstairs bath, we'll install all new plumbing, bringing in lots of polished nickel via Kohler Purist faucet, bath, & shower fixtures. We'll use a classic white vanity with built-in storage and Carerra marble top. Clean, white matte subway tile will surround the shower, and tumbled Carrerra marble hexagon tile will cover the floors. We chose a gorgeous inset medicine cabinet/mirror with aged bronze trim for a beautiful contrast against all of the white. Finally, a Cedar & Moss wall sconce above the vanity offers a sophisticated, artisan touch.

As the sole bath on the upper level, this space will no doubt be a busy one. We can't wait to give it the special attention it deserves!

Next week, we'll move on to the outside of the home, beginning with our plans for the exterior. Hint: we're saying goodbye to the peeling yellow paint (and couldn't be more excited!!).

Thanks, as always, for following along :).

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MURRAY BUNGALOW : BEDROOMS PLAN

Progress is moving fast at our beloved Murray Bungalow! A few weeks back, we shared a tour of the upper level, including all three bedrooms -- you can catch up on that post here! Today, we'll dive into the specific design plans for each bedroom.

BACKGROUND

We love the layout of this home so much. The main level handles all of the day-to-day hustle & bustle, and is set up perfectly for entertaining and hosting guests. The upper level plays an all-together different role -- that of a private and peaceful, cozy sanctuary for rest & retreat. All three bedrooms are nicely-sized, each marked with bungalow character ;) -- i.e., pretty vertical wall paneling (Bedroom #1), adorable original transom window & nook (Bedroom #2), and sheltering roof-lines throughout.

INSPIRATION

The soft & serene vibe of the bedrooms below we find very inspiring. Soft natural wood tones complement crisp, white walls to create a calm & clean backdrop for layers of bedding and pillows. Millwork in the form of built-ins & wall paneling lend a thoughtful, hand-crafted feel to otherwise non-descript rooms.

SOURCES :
|1| Valdirose, |2| Young House Love, |3| Veneer Designs.

DESIGN PLAN

From a design standpoint, our goal with the bedrooms is to freshen them up aesthetically with soft, neutral finishes, while retaining their cozy, private, bungalow character.

MASTER BEDROOM | We'll transform the west end of the "L"-shaped master into a wardrobe zone by buiding symmetrical his & hers closets and stealing square footage from the attic to create a built-in chest of drawers. Throughout the room, we'll install new flooring (white oak to match the rest of the house), new drywall, and a fresh coat of paint. New windows will be brought in for improved functionality. Not to worry, though -- the beautiful original window casing, trim, and baseboards isn't going anywhere -- all of this pretty woodwork will be refurbished and re-installed.

BEDROOMS #1 & #2 | The updates in the other two bedrooms will be primarily cosmetic. In Bedroom #1, we'll keep the vertical paneling but lighten it up with new white paint. In Bedroom #2, we'll expand the nook beneath the transom window to make this space more usable and versatile. Both rooms will receive new white oak wood flooring, new drywall, and new windows. All of the trimwork and baseboards will be retained and refinished in crisp, classic white.

That wraps up our plans for the bedrooms -- a handful of small, simple changes to create a calm & cozy upper level retreat.

We have only one more interior space to tackle -- the upper level bath -- before moving outside. With spring now fully underway, we're beyond excited to think about trees, landscape, and outdoor living. Check back soon :).

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MURRAY BUNGALOW : MAIN BATH PLAN

Hello, and Happy Friday! Today, we are covering plans for the full bath on the main level of the Murray Bungalow -- the final room plan to cover on the first floor before we move upstairs.

BACKGROUND

First, I should mention how happy we were to discover a full bath on the main level of this house. The inclusion of a main level on the first floor offers so many benefits: extra capacity for morning and evening routines, a dedicated bath for overnight guests (feel free to pull out those air mattresses!), a convenient place to bath kids or rinse sandy toes during the day, the list goes on ... Though the room is compact in square footage, retaining the functionality of the full bath is important. In terms of layout, the main problem is the position of the toilet directly inside the door, which makes it highly visible from the hallway and interferes clumsily with the doorswing. Cosmetically, the low ceilings, dark burgundy tile, and bypass tub door all contribute to a dim and confined feeling inside the room.

INSPIRATION

For inspiration, we looked to bathroom designs that make the most of every square inch. There are lots of tricks! We love the idea of a wall-mount vessel sink to open up legroom and lend a feeling of spaciousness. Vertical storage, such as built-in medicine cabinet and wall shelving, helps relieve clutter underfoot. And widespread application of tile -- especially crisp, classic selections like subway tile and carerra marble -- can help small spaces to feel polished and pulled together.

SOURCES :
|1| Scandinavian Simplicity, |2| My Paradissi.

DESIGN PLAN

The goal for our design plan is to enhance the room's full bath functionality while lightening & brightening the space aesthetically.

LAYOUT & CONFIGURATION | We'll swap the locations of the existing sink and toilet to eliminate the awkward interaction with the door and conceal the toilet from view off of the main hallway. We'll replace the bulky sink cabinet with a wall-mount sink and add new storage via a mirrored medicine cabinet. Last, we'll remove the bypass door above the bath and replace with a fixed curtain rod.

MATERIALS & SELECTIONS | All new plumbing fixtures will be put in place. We'll use polished nickel as the repeating metallic finish throughout, including new Brizo faucet and Kohler Purist bath & shower trim kit. White matte ceramic subway tile will surround the shower walls from tub to ceiling. On the floor, we'll apply a beautiful carerra marble hexagon mosaic for a much-needed dose of natural tone & texture. Last, an oversized globe wall sconce will provide pretty lighting above the sink.

Can't wait to arrive at the other end of this room transformation with a fresh, clean, and highly-functionaly space, sure to add so much value to this home!

Next week, we'll move on to our plans for the upper level of the Murray Bungalow, including the bedrooms and full bath. Following this, we'll share what we have in store the exterior as well as landscaping and back yard plans. Stay tuned!

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MURRAY BUNGALOW : LAUNDRY & DROP ZONE PLAN

Last week, we covered the plan to relocate the kitchen to a new, more central position in the home (catch up here if you missed it!). Today we're sharing what will take the place of the old kitchen: a new mudroom!

BACKGROUND

In its current layout, the Murray house simply lacks the space for a proper mudroom on the main level. Laundry units are located in the basement, translating into lots of trips up and down stairs, and a single coat closet serves the entire first floor.

INSPIRATION

The best mudrooms are designed with purpose & organization in mind -- lots of built-in storage, cubbies, wall hooks, etc. -- thoughtful details that help these hard-working rooms hum with efficiency :). Aesthetically, we love these rooms to be beautiful but simple, providing a calm & clean setting for the tasks at hand. Below are two perfect examples.

SOURCES :
|1| Studio McGee, |2| Studio McGee.

DESIGN PLAN

Luckily, in moving the kitchen to its new home along the north wall, we found the perfect location for a new mudroom -- the former kitchen! Here, directly off of the back stairwell, we're able to lay out the mudroom in an l-shape with laundry lining the back wall and drop zone built in along the other. With this configuration, the laundry is tucked away from view, yet super accessible to upstairs bedrooms and the kitchen, and the drop zone is located just steps away from the back door, within easy reach of the back yard and driveway. As an added bonus, we gain a handy broom closet on the backside (directly off the main hallway), doubling the number of closets on the main floor.

With the layout locked in, here's the design plan:

WALLS & FLOORS | The laundry nook and drop zone spaces will receive new paint and oak wood flooring to match the rest of the house.

LAUNDRY NOOK | We'll build out a super functional laundry nook on the west end of the room, taking advantage of the full height of the room. Front-loading washer & dryer units will rest below a new wood countertop (perfect for folding clothes or stowing a laundry basket). We'll hang new cabinetry above, in a white matte shaker-style to match the kitchen, and extend all the way to the ceiling. Vertical v-groove paneling will line the back wall.

DROP ZONE | The drop zone will include more wall-hung cabinetry, shelving, and a built-in bench. Vertical paneling will cover the back wall, where we'll install a row of wall hooks for coats & bags.

SELECTIONS + MATERIALS | Last, finish materials & selections will build on the warm, modern bungalow aesthetic that we've developed for the project (learn more on that here). The design is intentionally pared down to maintain a sense of calm in these busy, hard-working spaces.

We're so excited about this room and know that it will have a huge impact on the livability of the house. Though functional spaces like mudrooms don't always enjoy the design spotlight, when these areas are given due attention & care, it can be such a game-changer -- the difference between a home that feels clumsy and difficult in the day-to-day, and one that just works.

Next week, we'll wrap up plans for the main level with our main bath design post. Then on the upper level, exterior, and landscape plans. Can't wait!

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MURRAY BUNGALOW : KITCHEN PLAN

Hi, there! Today's post is a big one. We're covering plans for the kitchen at the Murray Bungalow, where we have some major changes in store.

BACKGROUND

The existing kitchen resides in the southeast corner of the house. We knew right away when touring the house for the first time that the kitchen would be a big focus in this project. In its current state, a number of factors hold it back -- its small-ish footprint, interaction with back door and stairwell traffic, lack of integration with other rooms in the house, and overall condition (pretty much everything would need to be replaced or improved).

INSPIRATION

In thinking about the form & function of the bungalow's future kitchen, we're inspired by kitchens that feel fresh, light, and open -- clean lines, natural tones, plenty of counter space, and room to congregate. Below are three beautiful examples.

SOURCES :
|1| Amber Interiors, |2| Amber Interiors, |3| Amber Interiors.

DESIGN PLAN

In order to address the shortcomings of the current space and help move the house toward our design vision, we came up with a great solution : to relocate the kitchen to a brand new spot, the space currently functioning as the family room. In relocating the entire room to this new location on the north side, we happily secure the kitchen's rightful place as central hub of the home (read more about this and all other floor plan changes in a previous post here).

Here are the big changes:

WALLS & FLOORS | Like every other room in the house, we'll update the walls & floors with lighter, brighter materials & color palette (read more about the home's general interior design direction here).

LINKAGE TO LIVING & FAMILY/SUNROOM | We'll connect the kitchen to the other main living spaces in the house by building out wide, cased openings between rooms.

BANK OF CABINETS | We'll pack the north wall of the kitchen with as much function as possible, inlcuding floor-to-ceiling cabinetry, counter-depth french-door refrigerator, gas oven/range, and custom hood vent. We'll run beautiful glazed brick tile as the backsplash, set against new Caesarstone countertops.

CUSTOM ISLAND | A large custom island will anchor the room. We'll top it with Caesarstone, creating a clean, wide-open workspace. The north side of the island will house the sink cabinet, dishwasher, microwave cabinet, and additional storage. On the flip side (the south elevation), the island will fulfill its social role by accommodating a row of counter stools. We'll finish the island with pretty trim and vertical paneling for a tailored, custom look.

SELECTIONS + MATERIALS | As for the finishes, we'll build on the warm & minimal bungalow design direction, installing a beautiful mix of selections & materials: stainless steel Kitchenaid appliance suite, white matte shaker-style cabinetry, gorgeous oak wood flooring (carried throughout the house), Misty Carrera Caesarstone countertops, glazed brick tile backsplash, and satin brass metallic accents.

Truly, the kitchen is on its way to becoming the star of the home -- super functional, polished, and inviting on its own, while fostering a more open & fluid dynamic for the home at large. Can't you just see the potential?

It's a tall order, but one that we're very excited about. Wish us luck!

And stay tuned -- more plans to come next week :).

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