Built-In Beauty
While visiting and writing about small homes for our June 2009 “Think Smaller” issue, it quickly became clear that when space is sparse, the best way to get the most bang for your buck is with built-in shelves and cabinetry.
Although the Anderson house in Washington state is not small—it measures in at a whopping 3,980 square feet—the 1964 home originally designed by Seattle architect Ibsen Nelson was plagued with a cramped kitchen and a small, dark master bathroom. To brighten and open up these areas, the residents hired Seattle-based Shed Architects to do a renovation.
The biggest trouble spot was the kitchen. The architects used the adjacent laundry room and pantry as an opportunity to increase the space in the kitchen without adding additional square footage, by opening up the wall between the two zones. Joining the rooms had the additional advantage of highlighting the existing high ceilings and maximizing the natural light that comes in through the band of windows.
Left: Anderson Remodel by Shed Architects. The pantry and laundry room looking into the kitchen before the renovation. Photos courtesy of the architects.
Right: Anderson Remodel by Shed Architects. The kitchen before the renovation. Photos courtesy of the architects.
To create the stunning cabinetry that lines—and dips into—the walls, Shed brought on board Kerf Design, a custom furniture and cabinet shop also based in Seattle. In the former pantry and laundry room, cabinets and cubbyholes store dry goods and special-occasion tableware. In the kitchen, built-in shelves next to the fridge create space for displaying toys and trinkets as well as an eat-in library.
Anderson Remodel by Shed Architects. Custom cabinetry by Kerf Design. Photos courtesy of the architects.
The original and new kitchen areas are visually connected through the green and blue cabinets that brighten the atmosphere as well as by the continuous countertop that weaves through the space. The counter materials vary according to function across the uninterrupted surface: The eating area is made of solid walnut, the cook top and sink are surrounded by stainless steel, and the baking zone is finished in honed limestone.
In the bathroom, a similar two-into-one room conversion opened the space and made it more functional. In this case, the architects combined the master bathroom with the powder room. Kerf Design created cabinets in the tucked-away, hard-to-reach places in the bathroom to increase useable space.
Left: Anderson Remodel by Shed Architects. Custom cabinetry by Kerf Design. Photos courtesy of the architects.
Right: Anderson Remodel by Shed Architects. Custom cabinetry by Kerf Design. Photos courtesy of the architects.
For more images of the Anderson house remodel, click the “View Slideshow” button at the top right-hand corner of this post.
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I don't think the house shown is a good example of creating additional storage space to stretch a small house. In addition, it would have been clearer to show "after" photos to match the two "before" photos to give an idea of the degree of change that occurred. The budget for the remodel appears to have been unlimited, the house is huge by my standards. Some of Dwell's articles should target the lower end of the $$ spectrum. Sure there is some degree of take home message that can be gleaned from any remodel example but when the article is "Think Smaller", Dwell should search around for a couple more clever small examples instead of going for the default high end designer spread.
I love Kerf Design cabinets, and I think they do a fantastic job, making innovative, clean, modern designed products that fit well into the 'think small' concept. They make the most of limited spaces, and they do it with style and efficiency. Calling this project "Think Small" idea is an annoying stretch at best, unless you think that a less than 200 sq ft kitchen is 'small'. The example you show is not an example of thinking small. I live in a nearly origina (except for one remuddled bathroom), one-off, Mid-Century, 3 bedroom, 2 bath, 1,800 s qft house. The actual kitchen foot-print is 8 x 10, including all cabinet and appliance space, and it has just one wall. The one other vertical surface is a brick wall with a fireplace. The rest is the flowing open living/dining/stairs/family room space. This example space, just counting the U shaped kitchen in the background, is at least twice the size of most average mid-century kitchens I have seen. This is a perfect example of why I let my subscription to your magazine lapse. All of us who own 'average' modern or otherwise average older homes are under your radar.
I adore everything in this post. I always wish that I knew how to do carpentry and make my own built in fixtures. There's something so comforting about having that pre-existing organization system that almost becomes a design element in itself. Great post, thanks so much! xo Katherine aka. Urban Flea :) www.urbanfleadesign.com
I, too, am rather disappointed/frustrated that this is what Dwell decides to include in an article focusing on "Think Smaller", and have long since let my subscription lapse for this type of disconnect. Show me how I can fit that kitchen in my large NYC 450 square foot studio apartment and I'd be really impressed. At least be realistic of what people's expectations will be when you're focusing on small homes - If I created space for a three week supply of Pellegrino I'd have to get rid of either the refrigerator or the range. Yes, the work is beautiful, and quite a change over the "what was", but isn't on target of what most will expect you to be showing us.
Beautiful work. Love the post. The idea of utilizing previously unused space makes sense no matter what size space you're dealing with. I find the beautiful after-renovation photograph of the kitchen at the top of the page inspiring even though my home is much smaller. Keep up the good work Dwell!
The "before" kitchen shown is about twice the size of my current kitchen. I have to agree - not the best choice to show a remodel of a "small" space!
Please note that Ibsen A. Nelsen was one of the most effective architectural innovators of the post WW II generation, and should at least get his last name spelt correctly in Dwell. Those wishing to experience more of his architecture that is open to the public should visit his largest Seattle-area project, the Museum of Flight at Boeing Field, combining the best of wooden utilitarian vernacular historic restoration with a grand glass and steel cathedral to the Pacific Northwest's affection for and world-class innovations made in the field of aviation.
There must be more examples to choose from - or is it by submittal only? It's disappointing to see "modern" design that is 50 years old, in my humble opinion. It's just that I never did understand why cabinets are either out of reach over head to back breakingly low. Never did seem practical. It's much easier to walk upstairs to a sitting room and walk down to a bedroom then visa versa. Oh well, it's hard to find REALLY human design. Think of all the convenient locations for things that you use everyday - everything would be redesigned, relocated, repositioned. Rooms are 8 feet tall, why? Why aren't they - well, you know what I mean. The original reason d'etre is no longer.
I agree with the first few posters that this is not a small space. However, there are some great ideas for using vertical space. Using vertical space is the key. But what about those of us living in an apartment? There must be some affordable options for renters who cannot knock walls down or build custom cabinets. This house looks great. But I'd like to see more articles for actual small spaces with options for renters.
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