{ ..in the Small Details } Ask a Designer

We received an e-mail from a reader looking for advice on how to incorporate red shakes in the gable roof with the rest of his newly constructed garage.  Thanks B. for your e-mail, here’s what I think you should do…

Before

After

Inspiration photo via: RemodelingCenter.com

Building a detached garage can be a very exciting home renovation project, as it can add additional storage space, and increase the value of your home.  The process from start to finish is much like that of building a home, but on a smaller scale.   Most of the same stages in construction occur during the project such as drawing up blueprints, applying for permits, gathering quotes, and finally physically constructing the building.  A detached garage  provides an excellent opportunity to experiment with colour and an assortment of building materials, since it is not attached to the existing home.

This inspiration picture really has the look of a mini house, as it mimics many of the same great architectural details used on houses on the exterior of the garage.  Like the before shot that our reader has sent in, the garage in this photo has chosen red as an accent colour for the upper part of the garage.  I think this a great use of colour, and in order to create a unified pallet, the red should be carried to the lower portion of the garage.  Let’s start at the top of the garage and work our way down.

To soften the red shakes in the gable, try using a white bracket in the centre of the peak as shown above.  Since the roof is a dutch-hip style, there would only be room for one bracket, but it will still give the desired effect.  You can duplicate these brackets on either side of the garage man door with or without a pergola above.  In my opinion the brackets would look just as good without the pergola since there are deep eaves around the building, and little headroom above the door.

Next, I would suggest using white shutters on either side of each window to break up some of the blue siding and introduce more white to create a more balanced colour pallet.  I love the white planter boxes below the windows, so if you have a green thumb, they would be a charming addition, especially with some red flowers to coordinate with the other red accents.

Since the siding has already been completed, there is no option to incorporate red brick directly on to the building, so perhaps some red brick planter boxes, or something with a similar red-tone on either side to the overhead door opening would work instead.

I contemplated red for the garage overhead door, but I feel it would be too overwhelming.  Instead, I think the overhead door should remain white, and the garage man door would be perfect painted red.  This way all of the colours will have be evenly distributed across the whole building, creating a uniform and cohesive look.

~k

{ Loft Reno Installment #1 + Pakoras Recipe } DIY

Good Morning!

I have been leaving little twitter/facebook updates regarding our attic loft. Many of you have asked me how this renovation is going. This tells me that you find inspiration in local renovation projects.

I was going to talk about cleaning grout (exciting! not…) but I decided that it would be much more interesting if Joe and I shared our renovation progress with you. I hope to share an update with you every Friday along with other DIY features. This of course will depend on how much we can accomplish while running two businesses, working full-time, going to school full-time, and cramming in family-time. Amazingly enough, we do get a lot done!

When we first looked at this house a year and a half ago, one of the biggest selling features for us was the vaulted attic. Although it only has a 6/12 pitch (meaning the peek is at 6ft.), we could see right away how it could be included as living space.

We contemplated taking off the existing roof and replacing it with a steeper pitch, but when the economy slumped we decided that concentrating on doing things to give the BIGGEST impact on the SMALLEST budget would be the smartest choice. Therefore, we decided to keep the 6/12 pitch.

We have had many ideas for this space and we’re still not totally sure what the “official” purpose of the space will be. I’m leaning towards making it a flexible space which can be used for different purposes depending on the needs of the current owner (see CMHC’s FlexHousing™ program). Right now, we’re leaning towards making it a “bijoux” master bedroom loft and converting the existing master bedroom (which is directly off the living room) into an office complete with built-ins.

I don’t have a before picture of what the attic looked like when we bought it, but I can show you what it looks like currently:

I have collected many photographs for inspiration over the last year. Here is my current favourite:

Via - Better Homes and Gardens

One of the biggest sources of my learning when it comes to making a small house livable has been a book called “Little House on a Small Planet“. I first heard about it on PeekMoment.tv (highly recommend checking this site out). In this book, author Shay Salomon takes readers on a journey through North America to visit and discuss small-home living.

Another great source of inspiration for sustainable based renovating is the Canadian Housing and Morgage Corporation’s website. I have spent countless hours on this website dreaming of the day when I can play a role in the Comox Valley concerning affordable housing. This website is well organized and I find it easy to get the information I need.

Today we’re going to continue working on the attic. Our “to-do” list includes finishing the taping and mudding, and sourcing out some flooring that will tie into the look of the rest of the house.

I’m looking forward to sharing our progress with you! Best of luck for any DIY projects you’re undertaking this weekend.

_________________________________________________

Recipe Feature with Jackie Connelly

“I recently got the chance to photograph (and eat!) some fabulous Indian food from a very well known Chef, Vikram Vij, while sitting in the middle of a farm; I was in heaven! This is a recipe for his pakoras, and if you’re craving Indian these won’t disappoint.”

Vij’s Buttemilk Pakoras Recipe

‘©2009jackieconnelly’

www.JackieConnelly.com

{ Bay Window Beauty }

Bay Windows are a lovely architectural feature in homes,  but they can present an issue when trying to furnish the space.  Thank you to “C” who offered her photos for todays Ask A Designer. We met “C” at the Home Show – thanks for stopping by!

Before

After

Inspiration by House & Home Magazine

When arranging furniture in a space with a bay window, it can be difficult to decide where place the pieces without taking away from the architectural design of the window.  In many occasions bay windows have a custom  seat built in below, but how do we furnish the room when using pieces of  furniture rather than built-ins so it looks like a custom fit?  In this case the home owner has purchased some lovely furniture for the living room, and now it’s time to arrange it to best highlight the bay window, and provide a comfortable seating area.

Since the room is somewhat on the smaller side, it’s best to maximize every inch of space.  I recommend placing the sofa  into the bay window area where it will tuck nicely into the space, and offer a place to sit and enjoy the window views.  It also mimics the look of a custom piece built specifically for that area.  In order to add some personality to the sofa, toss in some colourful pillows with your existing animal prints, to  help to break up the neutral shade of the upholstery.

Floor to ceiling curtains  with luminous roman shades help to produce a backdrop that will soften the edges of the bay window, and by using two window treatments, this will create a luxurious layered effect.  Since your home has a bulkhead above the window, try mounting the curtain rod across the entire span of the bulkhead, as close to the ceiling as possible allowing the curtain panels to cascade down either side of the bay window opening.  To diffuse the light and add privacy, mount  roman shades directly inside each window.  This combination of window treatments will create the same effect as the inspiration photo, but with a few minor adjustments to adapt to your home.

Place the round coffee table and accent chairs across from the sofa with the small side table in between the chairs.   Then try moving  the third chair, larger side table, and table lamp to the centre of the left wall for additional seating, and creating a cozy spot to read a book.  The floor lamp would look lovely on the right side of the bay window beside the sofa, and the location will provide  balanced lighting across the room as well as highlight this area.  I love how the inspiration photo has used a narrow rectangular table for displaying accessories, and also providing a great opportunity to hang a collage of art above…so, if  a table like this is in the budget, I would explore that option.  Good luck, and have fun customizing your space!

~k

{ Fireplace Facelift }

We received an E-mail from a home owner in Powell River with some inquiries on how  to reface her existing fireplace, and incorporate a television into the space .  Thanks for your question S. – here’s what I think you should do…

Before

After

Inspiration Photos From HGTV.com

There is usually some confusion surrounding where to put the TV in a room where there is also a fireplace.  Typically it’s best not to make the television the focal point of the room, but let’s face it,  TV has become a part of our everyday lives, therefore we need a convenient location for viewing.  So what do we do when we also have a fireplace thrown into the design? Traditionally  fireplaces were the focal point of the room as they were considered a feature architectural detail, and let’s not forget the added bonus of  snuggling up to the secondary heat source!  Thankfully there are a couple of solutions that work wonderfully for rooms that require a multi-featured area.

Both photos demonstrate the need for built-in cabinets on either side of the fireplace when a TV has to be incorporated into the space.  Today television viewing requires a host of components such as the DVD player, Satellite hook-up, Cable box, surround sound systems and whatever other gadgets and gizmo’s are required. Ideally these  should be to be concealed and these cabinets work really well to hide the equipment behind closed doors, and provide easy accessibility when needed.  The use of open shelving above the storage cabinets is an excellent way to display collections, and personalize the space.  I love how in the second photo the wall behind the shelves has been painted a rich dark colour to add contrast and make the accessories pop!

Now that the storage issue had been addressed, it’s time to determine the finish on the fireplace.  In the first photo stone has been used for the face and the hearth of the fireplace.  This creates a dramatic statement in the room, and the hearth provides additional seating for guests.  In this case the TV has been placed beside the fireplace, and on top of the built-in cabinetry.  This is a great option as sometimes it can be difficult to mount the TV to the rock.  In the second photo the area above the fireplace has been drywalled, trimmed with decorative moulding, then painted to match the cabinets.  This works great for renovations with a tighter budget, and by painting all the trims and mouldings white, the new fireplace and surround will nicely compliment your existing Behr – Pebble Path wall colour and chocolate oak floors.  In this case I would mount the TV where the current picture is hanging and since all the cords have been concealed into the built-ins, the TV will now look like the missing piece of art.

Good luck with your renovation, let us know what option you’ve chosen!

~k