MURRAY BUNGALOW : LANDSCAPE + HARDSCAPE

Happy Friday, everyone! Today's post on our landscape & hardscape plans for the Murray Bungalow marks the very last of its kind -- it's our final "design plan" to share before we reveal finished work!! The whirlwind of activity is beginning to settle down and the end is in sight. We couldn't be happier with how this sweet house is shaping up!

BACKGROUND

When considering this project last fall, one of the home's most attractive features was its large, un-tapped back yard and the opportunity it presents to create usable and beautiful outdoor living space (we cover this whole discussion in our project introduction post here, if you're interested!). As the photos show, the existing yard is pretty much a blank slate. We're not sure how the previous owners used the space, but the potential to elevate the outdoor scene and accommodate all kinds of outdoor activities -- dining, entertaining, play zone for kiddos, gardening, etc. -- is huge!

INSPIRATION

In line with our vision to create a clean, minimal home exterior (read more about that here!), we're drawn to landscape and hardscape designs that are simple & streamlined, thoughtful but not overly fussy, and truly complementary to the look of the house. For landscaping specifically, we love how layered ornamental grasses and pretty perennials offset and soften a crisp white exterior, adding subtle variation of color and texture.

SOURCES :
|1| Clarke Design Group, |2| Mindy Gayer Design.

For hardscape, we love the simplicity & cohesiveness of using one material -- concrete pavers -- as a common building block to create both patio surface and "step stone" walkways.

SOURCES :
|1| unknown, |2| unknown.

DESIGN PLAN

Inspired by the ideas above, here's our landscape & hardscape plan for the Murray Bungalow:

BACKYARD LIVING SPACE | Taking advantage of the large plot, we'll build an expansize patio off the back of the house to create an outdoor room for entertaining, grilling, dining, and relaxing. For hardscape material, we've chosen charcoal-grey 24" square pavers for a clean, modern look. We'll use these same pavers to create step stone pathways both in the back yard, leading from the back door to the patio, and at the front of the house connecting the front walk to the driveway.

LANDSCAPE IMPROVEMENTS | We'll update all of the landscaping, beginning by highlighting the site's best natural assets: the gorgeous magnolia tree in the back yard and spacious turf area. We'll add definition to the yard via new flower beds along the front of the house, patio perimeter, and far east edge of the back yard. Plant species are TBD, but think soft, flowing grasses, mounding flower beds, & lush, layered greens.

HARDSCAPE IMPROVEMENTS | We'll remove the broken pavement and gravel in the driveway and pour a new concrete pad that extends beyond the back entry to the home. This extension will make loading and unloading from the car so much easier, while adding space for parking.

MODERN ACCENTS | Finally, we'll repeat a handful of the same modern accents used at the front of the house to make the back entry just as welcoming, including exterior lighting, soft grey door color, and planters of varying heights and shapes.

The chance to re-imagine and re-shape this yard is such a dream. These changes will no doubt have a dramatic impact on how the future owners use and enjoy the home, unlocking all kinds of possibilities for outdoor fun.

Be sure to follow along on Instagram for updates as we go: @dailyhomeco. Thanks for reading :).

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MURRAY BUNGALOW : EXTERIOR DESIGN DIRECTION

Hi there! A while back we shared our design direction for the interior of the Murray Bungalow (catch it here if you missed it). This same design direction -- what we're calling, "modern bungalow" -- perfectly guides our design thinking outside as well.

We believe in the notion of interiors & exteriors working together to create a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts. Thoughtfully-considered outdoor living spaces, fluid indoor/outdoor transitions, exterior aesthetics that complement interiors, hinting at what can be found inside ... when attention and care are given to the exterior, there's a synergistic magic that kicks in to make for a property that feels truly special.

Today, we're revealing our plan to update the exterior look of the Murray Bungalow including the front elevation or "curb view". There's more to come on our plans for the outside with a follow-up post on landscape & hardscape plans in the works.

BACKGROUND

We talked previously about our appreciation for the home's prairie bungalow roots (read more about that here). At some point in the past, the Murray Bungalow was treated to a bold, multi-yellow color scheme. While a colorful approach like this can do a great job of highlighting architectural details, our view is that given the scale of the house and prominance of its roof-lines, the yellow-on-yellow scheme makes for a busy, "chopped up" look. Moreover, the condition of all of the yellow paint -- peeling and fading -- necessitates a comprehensive re-think.

INSPIRATION

Our design vision for the exterior aligns directly with that for the interior: a fresh, clean, pared-down look with lots of warmth and natural touches, elegant in its simplicity. In combing through inspiration imagery, we fell in love with the idea of a clean, sophisticated, all-white exterior. When paired with a natural wood, either on floorboards and/or ceiling, a pretty accent color on the front door, and contrasting hardware, a crisp white exterior simply cannot be beat. See below for some beautiful examples.

SOURCES :
|1| White Lane Decor, |2| Little Living Blog, |3| Modern Cottage,
|4| Making Modern Home, |5| Studio McGee.

DESIGN PLAN

Armed with our inspiration pics, here's our playbook for the Murray Bungalow exterior:

CONVERSION TO OPEN AIR PORCH | The conversion of the existing screen porch into an open air porch (covered in our main level floor plan post here a while back) is truly a game-changer for the exterior of the home. It makes for such a smooth and welcoming transition between indoors & out, giving a huge boost to the home's curb appeal. And maybe most important, it's a change that feels 100% natural & true to the home's bungalow roots. We weren't able to find the original architectural plans, but wouldn't be at all surprised if the porch was always intended to be open-air with the screens added later. Our vision is to build out the railing along the porch's perimeter to match the style of the existing stair rail.

ALL NEW PAINT | We'll paint the entire home -- all siding and all trim -- a crisp, clean white. This bold all-white approach we hope will have a modernizing & unifying affect, shifting the focus away from color (yellow on yellow) and toward the charming shape & structure of the house.

MODERN ACCENTS | All white does not equal boring. We'll warm up the look by returning the front porch floor boards and stair treads to a natural wood tone, and install natural cedar v-groove ceiling paneling overhead. We'll make a subtle statement with the front door by refinishing in a soft grey paint color. Last, we'll use matte black accents via door hardware, wall sconce, and mailbox for a modern, contrasting effect.

LANDSCAPING | To finish the house up and provide soft texture, natural color, and freshness, we'll install all-new landscaping along the front of the house. More specifics to come in a follow-up post.

With most of the interior work now nearing completion, we can't wait to turn our attention to these exterior changes. Assuming that our beautiful spring weather streak continues, the painters will be starting in next week. Hooray!!

I'll do my best to post progress shots on Instagram as we go -- be sure to follow along => @dailyhomeco :).

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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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