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the basement plan
Last week we shared with you the work we’ve already done to our basement over the last 5+ years. After completing the structural work in 2009, we began brainstorming different ways to layout the new space (you can see the “before” and “current” floor plans of our basement on the design page). The basement is still relatively small (just under 400 SF), so we’ve given careful thought to what we need now and what we might need in the future. (If you’ve been following our blog for a while, you’ll know that a main goal of ours is to make the most out of this small house while providing the greatest amount of flexibility as our needs change.)
1. Media/guest room: this space would double as a TV room (we’re using the word “media” because the goal is to have a dedicated surround sound system at some point) and a guest bedroom. Ideally, we’d have a sleeper sofa and dedicated storage space that could easily accommodate guests.
2. Guest bathroom: although 99% of the time we function just fine with one bathroom, it would be nice to have a second bath and we see this as something that would add substantial value to the home. (Many homes of this era in Seattle only have one bathroom.) We also like the idea of having a lower tub that Bailey could more easily jump in and out of.
3. Laundry/utility room: our washer and dryer (the same ones that came with the house!) are currently in the basement and will remain in the same general location. However, we’d like to create a more dedicated laundry room with better storage, a large work surface and a utility sink. (When it comes time to replace the appliances we’ll go with front-loading machines and install a counter on top.) The existing footing and column create a somewhat awkward divide in this space, but we’ll probably eventually wall that area off (where it says “storage”) and fill it with deep shelves. While the “short basement” is completely open to the basement right now, eventually we’ll have a single access door near the exterior basement door.
4. Hallway: we debated whether or not the stair should open directly into the media/guest room, but ultimately decided that it would be better to provide more acoustical privacy for movie-watching and sleeping guests. At the end of this small hallway there will be some type of storage cabinet that will likely house linens, extra towels, toilet paper, etc. At the back of the cabinet we’ll design some type of access to the under-the-porch storage area.
As you may have guessed, the portion shaded in yellow is what we’ll be tackling this year. (Click to enlarge image.) We don’t need that second bathroom yet, but we wanted to make sure we had a plan that would allow it to be added in the future. (In addition to spreading out costs, splitting the work into two phases also means we can use the unfinished space as a staging area during construction.)
One of the challenges with our basement is that the concrete slab slopes about 6″ from one end to the other. We could choose to level out the entire floor, but this would have negative head height impacts to a space that is already pretty short. Therefore, to create a level floor while maximizing head height we’re going to level out the floors of each room instead. This means we’ll frame out the spaces first and then level the floors, creating a small step at each doorway.
In lieu of this approach, we also considered tearing out the existing slab, digging down and pouring a new slab at a lower elevation to create a taller basement space. Our main concern with this approach was the amount of work that would be required to gain a modest amount of head height. Because our foundation footing is right below the slab, we’d also have to underpin the existing foundation to prevent unwanted settling or structural failure. Ultimately, we decided that working with what we had would be a smarter use of time and resources.
This project may seem straightforward on the surface, but finishing out a basement is a fairly technical process that requires careful attention to how you handle insulation, waterproofing, thermal breaks, etc. We’ve been doing our homework and discussing the best tactics and will share all the details with you as we go!
2011 year in review
Well, another year has come and gone and like 2010, we wanted to recap the progress that was made. Compared to 2010, last year was not quite as epic in the remodel department. Even though we didn’t get as much done as we originally planned (c’mon, when does that ever happen?), we’re feeling pretty good about what we did accomplish. 2011 was also all about striking a balance between renovation projects and having a life outside our house. It’s not always an easy goal to reach, but after 5 years in our house it’s an important one.
January
We spent the first couple months of 2011 finishing up projects from the year before. In January, Kyle took a welding class, bought some equipment, built this and then built this:
Not bad for his first real project, huh? Yes, my husband is some kind of amazing bad ass who is always surprising me with what he can do.
February
In February, we started focusing on the interior sliding doors. Originally the doors were going to be welded steel frames with a painted MDO core, but after mocking up the bathroom door we weren’t happy with how it looked or how much time it took to fabricate. So we opted for paint-grade door slabs instead. For colors, we picked out shades of blue, yellow and teal and ultimately landed on “lakeside cabin” and “thunderbird” for the doors.
March
This month we finished the basement stairs. We used VG fir for the treads and risers and Kyle designed and fabricated the handrail out of tube steel and fir.
April
In April we completed the sliding doors! Our bedroom had not had a door for 2.5 years and our bathroom had been doorless for over a year. Privacy can be a real luxury when remodeling.
Although we decided to stick with only two colors for the doors, we found an easy way to incorporate some mustard yellow at our big kitchen window. (We later went a little yellow-crazy with accessories and furniture!)
May
This month we finally got some art on the walls! This series of wood block photos was taken by our friend Todd and hung in simple IKEA aluminum frames.
We painted and installed carpet in the loft earlier in the year, but we finally turned it into a sleeping nook this month. The bed is an Aerobed that we already owned. The duvet is from West Elm and the night stand is a painted step stool from IKEA. The space certainly came in handy last summer when so many friends and family came to visit.
June
In March, we laid out our plans for the big outdoor project. The first step was to demolish the concrete driveway apron and sidewalk in our backyard to make way for a new deck.
Kyle used a concrete saw to cut up the old sidewalk that wrapped around the back of our house. We transferred the slabs to our front side yard (using this crazy boulder dolly!) and will eventually use them as pavers for the front yard.
The second half of June was all about deck building! The plan was to finish it before summer started (which is often considered to be July 5th around here).
Well, we got close. =)
July
In July, we played outside. With temperatures in the low 80’s it was just too hot for manual labor.
August
In early August, we had a party for Kyle’s 33rd birthday. The deck was technically finished and with killer party lights, no one noticed the mounds of dirt or missing planter boxes.
It was a great party, but the next morning we were all feeling it.
During the second half of August Kyle fulfilled his dream of renting some heavy machinery for the house. Before we could think about landscaping (or finish out the basement) we needed to add foundation drains to the front half of the house. (Keyword: DIGGING.)
We also added a new member to our family this month! When a friend was trying to find a home for this stray kitten, we just couldn’t say no. So we adopted little Chloe. And then we found she was actually a he and quickly renamed him Felix. It was iffy at first, but Bailey and Felix soon became BFFs.
September
The drainage project dragged into September (and October), thanks to a few setbacks with machinery and hardpan soil. But we trudged through. Begrudgingly.
We did manage to get away for a long weekend to Eastern Washington to celebrate my 31st birthday. Wine tasting, spa treatments and a little R&R was just what we needed.
With the rainy season looming, we also set aside an afternoon to put the Penofin finish on the new deck. So shiny, so pretty.
October
In October we finally buttoned up the drainage and crossed our fingers that our basement would stay dry all winter (so far, so good!). We ran out of time to install (or even think about) landscaping, so that’s on the agenda again for this year.
Kyle also built this ipe “bridge” to connect the stoop to our existing concrete steps.
During this month we also refinanced our mortgage, which meant prepping for another appraisal. To play it safe, we added an IKEA wardrobe and bed to the flex room to assure the appraiser that our home was now a 2-bedroom, 1-bath.
At the end of the month Kyle squeezed in one more project – a steel planter box for the north side of the deck. We still need to fabricate two additional boxes that will go on the south side, but that’s a project for next year. Which is now this year. AHH!
November
As the gray permacloud rolled in, we turned our attention this month to something more uplifting – furniture!
We scored six vintage Eames fiberglass shells and added reproduction dowel bases that we found right here in Seattle! Shell chairs had been on our wish list for years and we were excited to finally pull the trigger.
The new chairs inspired a bit of furniture rearranging and we soon discovered that our BoConcept coffee table actually works a lot better in the Flex/TV room. To fill the void, we designed this table that can transform from end table to coffee table in about 10 seconds flat.
In a moment of furniture weakness, we also decided to finally ordered that LCW that we’d been pining over since our days in architecture school. (Thank goodness Herman Miller has a generous architect discount!)
At the end of the month we celebrated Bailey’s 6th birthday!
December
December turned out to be a very busy month. First we spent about 4 days down in Phoenix at the Hanley Wood Reinvention conference where we saw lots of modern homes (with so much glazing!), Taliesin West and the Will Bruder library. We also spent a lot of time in the Biltmore Hotel (where the conference was held), listening to various speakers and talking with other residential architects from all over the country.
When we got back from Phoenix, the holiday season was in full swing and we were jumping from one event to the next, while trying to cram in some shopping and baking in between.
For Christmas, we flew back to Oklahoma to spend some time with our families. We had a great time, but I’ve decided that six plane rides in one month is too much! (Also, could someone please hook a girl up with a direct flight from Seattle to Tulsa?)
So that was 2011! And what’s in store for 2012? Lots! (By the way, I love it when relatives and friends ask if we’re happy to be done with the house. Done? Ha! Never…) We’ll do another post about our project list for this year, but let’s just say that the basement o’ shame is first in line.
phoenix, part two
The conference was held at the Arizona Biltmore, a fancy-shmancy hotel designed by Albert McArthur and built in 1929. McArthur was a protegé of Frank Lloyd Wright (who also served as a consulting architect for the job).
The place was huge – a sprawling complex composed of the main building and several cottages, “villas” and support buildings.
When we were there temperatures would dip into the 30’s at night, so each morning we’d see all of the flowers protected with plastic until mid-morning or so. Was it weird to see flowers in December in the first place? Yes.
Between conference sessions, we’d have a 15 minute “coffee break”, but we usually headed straight outdoors to the adjacent terrace to soak up some vitamin D and scheme about ways to become weekend snowbirds.
The lobby of the hotel, decorated for the holidays. There were also two restaurants on the premises – the upscale “Wright’s” and the more casual “Frank and Albert’s”. One night, Kyle even ordered a “Wright’s ‘Rita” (though for the life of me I can’t see FLW sipping margaritas, he’s always struck me as a straight scotch kind of guy).
If only all hotels milked the architect(s) as much as the Biltmore.
The conference ended on Friday but we weren’t flying back to Seattle till the next evening. So on Saturday we rented a car and drove over to Scottsdale to see Taliesin West.
Visiting FLW projects seems to be on every architect’s bucket list and we’ve checked quite a few off so far. I got an early start by growing up a few blocks away from the Price Tower and during architecture school we visited Falling Water, the Robie House and a few others while in Pittsburg and Chicago. A few years ago, Kyle toured Taliesin East as part of a window factory tour (we architects know how to have a good time!) and we even saw a few others on this trip in the neighborhood surrounding the Biltmore.
It’s always interesting to see his projects in person, not only because they’re crazy and weird and beautiful but also because they are far from perfect. Frank certainly experimented with building science in his time and many of his works reflect that. Taliesin West has certainly taken a beating over the years from the relentless southwest sun, but the ideas and techniques to deal with that big ball of fire and use of local materials remain strong. (The home was, in many aspects, “off the grid” the first ten or so years. They still get all of their water from a nearby aquifer.)
BLUE SKIES!
Also, that reflecting pool below is actually a tool to help cool the structures via evaporative cooling. Oh Frank, so ahead of your time.
Some of the wood beams have since been replaced with steel but we noticed some substantial deflection in other parts of the house. I’m not sure what the official policy is on restoring vs. leaving as is, but I’d be curious to know.
Archidork #1…
…and archidork #2. (Whatever, it is a pretty sweet gate.)
[For more TW photos, check out Morgan’s collection from her recent trip.]
We had grand plans to spend the rest of the day on a scenic driving tour, but we didn’t leave Taliesin until early afternoon so we decided to stick around the Phoenix area instead. All was not lost though. We found an In-N-Out for lunch and finally got to see what all the hype was about. It was good. Not amazing, but good.
Before heading back to the airport, we stopped by the main public library, designed by Will Bruder and built in 1995. Like most metropolitan libraries, it’s a large, iconic structure that experiments with different ways to both express and protect from harsh sunlight.
Being in a library like this always reminds me what an incredible public (and free!) resource they are to the surrounding community. Kyle was amazed that you could check out DVDs and music. Obviously we need to visit our own libraries more. =)
After leaving the library we still had a few hours to kill. We considered lounging in the sun in a nearby park, but truthfully we were tired and worn out and decided instead to take an earlier flight back to Seattle. It was a good trip, but we were glad to get back to the mossy northwest, taking comfort in the fact that the sun is only a 2 1/2 hour flight away.
side table
After making the decision to move the coffee table into the flex room, we realized that what we really needed for the living room space was some sort of side table. With our L-shaped couch configuration, our first thought was to find something that could overlap the chaise. Something like this:
This style of table is not hard to find, but with prices ranging from $150-$400, DIY was starting to seem like a better alternative. I mean, how hard could it be?
So a couple of weeks ago, after a few preliminary discussions and some back and forth e-mailing, we came up with an idea that’s a different spin on the ol’ C table. In a moment of simultaneous design vision, we realized that with one small move, what appeared to be one table could actually be two. To illustrate the idea, Kyle texted me this quick sketch (hence the funky colors):
Instead of a simple wood top fixed in place, we had the idea to use a piano hinge along one side so that the top could be flipped to the opposite side of the frame (as shown with the dashed blue line) and then the whole thing could be turned on its side, creating a coffee table of sorts.
Later that night we talked more about the design and ultimately ended up nixing the piano hinge (too fussy) and instead decided to use a simple friction fit method for the removable top.
So with the design settled on, it was time to build!
Kyle used 3/4″ tube steel that we had leftover from the loft ladder project. First he cut the pieces to size, then grinded them smooth to ensure a clean, mitered connection.
Next, he moved the pieces to the carport (aka the welding shop) and began setting up the frames for welding.
The key with welding is to have a solid work table that pieces can be securely clamped to.
[10 bonus points if you see Bailey in the above photo.]
To make sure that the corners were true 90 degree angles, he used this fancy Mag-Level…
After the welding was complete, Kyle used an angle grinder to clean up the welds.
The finished frame – a bit mottled but not a big deal since we planned on painting it.
[Newbie welder tip – we’ve found we have better results if you can either hide your welds (like with our planter boxes) or grind and paint them (like with our loft ladder). It’s a good way to get a nice end product without needing to go super high-end with your equipment.]
For the wood top, we wanted to use solid fir wood instead of a veneered plywood, so we decided to biscuit together three 1×8 boards.
After a quick dry fit to make sure everything was lining up, Kyle moved the frame down to the basement (aka the spray shop) to give it a few coats of our favorite black-gray automotive primer (the same thing we used on the loft ladder and barn door tracks).
The table top received a coat of Benite and a few coats of Satinthane. Here’s a shot of the underside that shows the wood strips that provide a snug friction fit into the frame.
To protect the paint finish and provide a slight reveal between the wood and the steel, Kyle added small plastic protectors at each corner.
And here’s the finished product – instead of making both pieces solid fir, we decided to instead face the larger table top with the same cork we used on our floors (we had some unfinished scraps leftover). Can you say giant coaster?
But wait, this isn’t just your run-of-the mill C table…
Nope, it’s a Transformer.
TRANSFORMER – coffee table in disguise!
(If you were a child in the ’80s…you’ll get that.)
That’s right, our lil’ table has a dual identity.
Over the years, we’ve learned that in a small home it’s crucial for pieces to serve multiple functions. Depending on our needs, we can change the configuration or location in just a few quick steps.
Oh and hey, it also works as a side table on the opposite side of the couch…
To get a flush transition between the two top pieces, we used 3/4″ fir for the fixed panel and 1/2″ fir (with approx. 1/4″ cork) for the removable panel. Kyle also did a very light sand at the cork for an eased edge.
It’s a bit tall, but in a pinch it could also double as a couch-based work station…
Finally, to test its durability we called in our feline expert:
The table is a prototype of sorts, but we like it. (As seen in the photos above, we’re also messing around with some more artwork ideas.) The “finishing touches” phase has been one of the most challenging for us, but with each bit of progress it starts to feel more and more like our home.
eames shell chairs
After writing about our mustard yellow fiberglass shells, the quest for dowel bases officially began. Our preference was maple and zinc, but we knew that might be tough to find.
Or maybe not.
Our shells post generated a lot of positive feedback for reproduction company Modern Conscience. Kyle contacted the company and was pleasantly surprised to learn that 1) they’re located in Seattle and 2) they had 6 maple and zinc wide-mount bases. Let’s call that fate.
So early last week we headed down to their studio, a rad work/live loft in South Seattle.
The owners, Amanda and Brian (both trained as architects), were super nice and helpful. Amanda was even able to tell us that, based on the plastics factory stamp on the bottom of the shells, our chairs were likely reproduced in the early 60’s.
The legs are maple and have a tung oil finish that will likely darken a bit with time. They also have plastic protectors at the foot of each leg, which seem to work well with our cork floors.
Fortunately, the offset bracket at the top means that the bases can be used for our wide-mount configuration (the shells originally had a stacking base). [Not sure what the difference is? This handy graphic explains it well.] This was good news for us since we really didn’t want to mess with removing and remounting the shocks (which seem to be in pretty good condition).
Felix volunteered to QC the job.
To attach the bases, Kyle simply installed a screw through a washer and lock washer, paying careful attention not to drive the screw too far (which could cause the shock to pop off). The lock washer compresses between the bracket and the regular washer as you drive the screw in, creating a nice solid connection. The bases definitely “settled” the first time we sat in them, so we’re keeping a screwdriver handy to adjust them if needed after a week or so of use.
But in general – LOVE. The maple, zinc and yellow work well together and with the rest of our home. The smaller size and more delicate proportions are a much better solution for the space. If anything, the table feels a bit too blond now, but we’ve got our own plans for that. =)
Like some people mentioned, the seat height is a bit lower than a standard chair, but they still work fine. For the future dining room table, we’ll probably make it a smidge shorter. Although the chairs don’t necessarily look comfortable, they really are. The dining table is also our impromptu office, so I’ve spent a good many hours in them already.
Bailey didn’t seem to have an opinion…
…but Felix did. Our old upholstered chairs were a favorite napping spot for the kitten so he’s not too thrilled with the replacements. Good thing we don’t base design decisions around cats. [Although as a consolation prize of sorts, he did finally discover the loft ladder.]
Although it looks more saturated in the photo above (left), the color is more of a muted yellow in real life.
In addition to our chair acquisition we’ve also been tweaking our furniture layout. Although we were loving our flex room redo, we eventually grew tired of the Aerobed and decided to move our older couch back up from the basement. On a whim, we then decided to move the coffee table into the flex room…
…and you know what? It works so much better in there! This whole time we’ve known that something wasn’t quite right about the living area but chalked it up to its modest size. (We’ve even been toying with the idea of doing a future bump-out addition for that space.) But with the coffee table gone, the space feels more inviting and functional. In the flex room (aka TV room), we finally have a place to set drinks and store our half-dozen remote controls…which means I no longer have to hold my glass of wine through an entire episode of Dexter. A win-win for me and our wool carpet.
The other radical thing we did was shorten and rotate the table 90 degrees. We originally designed the space so the table could work in a number of configurations depending on the event or our mood. When we first brought it back into the room last year it was right before my big 30th birthday party, so we must have decided to add the leaf back in, which meant orienting it parallel to the long direction of the house. Over a year later, it finally dawned on us that we certainly didn’t need the larger configuration on a day-to-day basis and by shortening and rotating it, we could free up a bit more space for the living area.
[Also, we need an orchid whisperer. After one watering mishap, all of the flowers fell off but the plant itself still looks healthy. I’ve just continued to water it, hoping it will remedy itself, but I’m growing weary of that strategy. Orchid experts, advice?]
Anyway, scooting the couch a bit closer to the kitchen also gives us more room for chairs at the other end, which we’ve found is critical when we have people over. Although it was important for us to get six chairs, we’re keeping two in the living area for the time being. The jumble of audio equipment behind is also on the to-do list for this fall/winter. Last year we came up with this design for a media cabinet. While we’re still envisioning a long, low-slung piece, we’re tweaking the design to work with the revised furniture layout (and our growing record collection!).
There are still several things on our to-do list for this space, but the chairs are a giant step in the right direction. And, they make us happy.
[P.S. – thank you for all of your thoughtful and encouraging comments last week! You guys are the best.]
