Laundry

Hood House is a playful protector that respects the heritage character of Carlton North whilst celebrating purposeful change. It is a luxurious yet compact and hyper-functional home defined by an exploration of contrast: it is ornamental and restrained, subdued and lively, stately and casual, compartmental and open. For us, it is also a project with an unusual history. This dual-natured renovation evolved through the ownership of two separate clients. Originally intended to accommodate the needs of a young family of four, we shifted gears at the eleventh hour and adapted a thoroughly resolved design solution to the needs of only two. From a young, nuclear family to a blended adult one, our design solution was put to a test of flexibility. The result is a subtle renovation almost invisible from the street yet dramatic in its expressive qualities. An oblique view from the northwest reveals the playful zigzag of the new roof, the rippling metal hood. This is a form-making exercise that connects old to new as well as establishing spatial drama in what might otherwise have been utilitarian rooms upstairs. A simple palette of Australian hardwood timbers and white surfaces are complimented by tactile splashes of brass and rich moments of colour that reveal themselves from behind closed doors. Our internal joke is that Hood House is like Lazarus, risen from the ashes. We’re grateful that almost six years of hard work have culminated in this beautiful, protective and playful house, and so pleased that Glenda and Alistair get to call it home.

The opposite side of the bed loft houses the laundry and closet space. A vent-free all-in-one washer dryer combo unit adds to the efficiency of the home, with convenient proximity to the hanging space of the closet and the ample storage of the full cabinetry wall.

The built-ins hide the washer and dryer below and laundry supplies and hanging bar above. The upper cabinets have glass doors to showcase the owners’ blue and white pieces. A new pocket door separates the Laundry Room from the smaller, lower level bathroom. The opposite wall also has matching cabinets and marble top for additional storage and work space. Jon Courville Photography

Bergsproduction

This second floor laundry area was created out of part of an existing master bathroom. It allowed the client to move their laundry station from the basement to the second floor, greatly improving efficiency.

Sue Stubbs

Kenneth M Wyner Photography

Converting the old family room to something practical required a lot of attention to the need of storage space and creation on nooks and functioning built-in cabinets. Everything was custom made to fit the clients need. A hidden slide in full height cabinet was design and built to house the stackable washer and dryer. The most enjoyable part was recreating the new red oak floor with grooves and pegs that will match the existing 60 years old flooring in the main house.

Barnett Design Build utilized space from small existing closets to create room for a second floor laundry area in the upper stair hall, which can be concealed by a sliding barn door when not in use. The door adds interest and contemporary style in what might otherwise be a long, unadorned wall. Construction by MACSContracting of Bloomfield, NJ. Smart home technology by Total Home. Photo by Greg Martz.

Adrienne Bizzarri Photography

Anastasia Alkema

This Cole Valley home is transformed through the integration of a skylight shaft that brings natural light to both stories and nearly all living space within the home. The ingenious design creates a dramatic shift in volume for this modern, two-story rear addition, completed in only four months. In appreciation of the home’s original Victorian bones, great care was taken to restore the architectural details of the front façade.