Entertaining haven
In this custom-built West Chester home lives an energetic family with an active social life. The wife also runs a successful home-based business. We made changes to the house that reflects their vibrant energy and specific needs, and when Covid hit, this family of five (plus two large dogs) found that they sometimes needed every space available in order to spread out.
The clients asked us to design a floor plan with better flow for when they entertained. They also wanted a functional home office/guest room, a suitable laundry room (larger space, more storage, and a place to fold), and a mission control/office for home organization that is centrally located. After designing several options which oriented the kitchen towards the back of the house, the clients chose to keep the kitchen where it was and fix what they didn't like about the remaining spaces. The floor plans at the bottom of this post show how we made the laundry room a little bit larger and shortened a hallway that was too long. In addition, we stole some space from the formal dining room to make the smaller office, which can be closed off by barn doors.
The white oak floors were refinished in a custom-colored stain throughout the main level to achieve a more Scandinavian look and feel. Once completed, we lightened up the walls to allow some of the darker elements to pop. In the open-concept great room, we removed the curtain panels, chose cooler colors for the walls and furnishings, and replaced the light fixture over the dining table.
Using a tile that the client had fallen in love with, we redesigned the fireplace wall. The dark cabinets now make a striking statement, and the whole wall is a strong focal point for the room.
One design element in the kitchen that needed to be addressed was the outside wall, which had small windows that blocked natural light and the view to the veranda. We removed the cabinets along that wall and reused them in the new, small office. The microwave went into the pantry. This change opened up sight lines and balanced the natural light coming into the entire space.
We had Grothouse make and install the 2-1/8" thick kitchen island countertop of rich walnut wood, stained dark with a beautiful matte finish. Contrasting the wood is a lightly veined white quartz on the rest of the countertops and the backsplash.
A new fridge/freezer was added in the pantry for extra storage capabilities, like easy access to cold drinks and snacks. The new office across the hall took care of the paper and office items, and opened up counter space for food and kitchen items. A new pocket door with frosted glass was installed to hide the pantry if desired.
Once the doorway to the dining room was opened up, a barn door was added on the dining room side to keep the sound from traveling between the formal and casual spaces.
We replaced the windows with a sliding door in the dining room to allow for better flow between the indoor and outdoor areas. The focal point of the dining room is the beautiful view, so we chose a monochromatic palette for a calming effect. A departure from the cooler tones in the other areas, the warmer colors in this room still work well with the whitewashed floor finish.
The "formal" living room got a fresh coat of paint, a beautifully wallpapered accent wall, and a new area rug. We wanted to draw attention to the barrel ceiling and make a bold statement, so we chose a dark taupe color. The paper on the accent wall introduced a vibrant blue to the space. We then scattered blue pillows and accessories throughout the room.
The large painting on the fireplace mantel is the perfect focal point for both the living and dining rooms.
The new plan for the laundry room provided critical additional square feet used for storage and folding.
The new office is as useful as it is beautiful. A dual desk allows space for two. A bookshelf, storage baskets, wall filing systems, and plenty of drawers were installed for an efficient home office. A large-scaled wallpaper gives the space some color and personality. The wall on the left houses a Murphy bed for overnight guests. (Not shown).
Here is that much-needed office/multi-purpose desk nook hidden behind barn doors.
For the side/everyday entry area, we added a new door to the stairwell, installed panels in the hallway and up steps, changed out the floor tile, re-did the storage area, and painted the handrails. A new, durable carpet runner added to the stairs increases safety for both people and pets.
The plans below show the thought process and progression through various iterations until we reached a plan that the clients were happy with. The addition of better spaces and more durable surfaces will allow this active family to live and entertain in beautiful surroundings, and we loved helping them get there!
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Final Floor Plan