As our families grow and change, our homes go through various stages. Sometimes it's might feel like there is no corner you can escape to for some solitude, while eventually we turn into empty nesters where there seems to be room after unoccupied room. If you have a long-term plan to stay in your family home, a renovation needs to be flexible enough to feel spacious when it's filled with terrible two year-olds, and yet modest enough to feel cozy and comfortable when you're the only ones at home. Down Size Up Size House by Carterwilliamson Architects attempts to achieve these seemingly contradictory aspirations...
Carterwilliamson Architects' clients had packed up their life in a nearby apartment and were looking for a modest home to start a new chapter - they want to start a family.
The materials chosen are robust and will only get better with age - perfect for the family to 'wear in'. Reclaimed bricks provides a textured and character-filled backdrop, while matte black joinery creates a striking contemporary counterpoint. Moments of drama are created with joinery suspended on the brick wall and lighting used to highlight the wall's colours and textures.
"[This house] is an example of project with a constrained site, built on a tight budget, going beyond its confines to delver a well considered project with a robust and balanced material palette." - Carterwillamson Architects
The architects addressed the cornerstone of beautiful living spaces - natural light - by inserting strategically placed linear skylights into the home. This helps bring light into the centre of the home in-spite of its narrow, constrained site.
A central tile-lined courtyard/light well is planted with a Japanese Maple, creating a view for the living area, bathroom, bedroom, and elevated deck. A well-placed window seat here provides perfect spot to relax.
Sitting within the existing roofline is a private deck off the master bedroom. Line completely in stunning black mosaic tiles, this area is a sophisticated retreat. With glimpses of water, it will serve the adults well as their family grows - a grown-ups retreat. It also enables the master bedroom to be slightly smaller without feeling cramped.
The backyard is modest, but it's well-connected to the home thanks to sliding doors which move completely out of the way. The garden makes up for what it lacks in size with clever planning and connection to the home.
"Our clients now enjoy a home flexible enough to allow for their family to grow, without creating excessive rooms." - Carterwillamson Architects
