Attic Transformation

This converted attic space is a great spot for two young kids to play and develop. While the original house, built in 1917, had tons of character, it lacked space for the family to grow. Moreover, before the renovation, this unfinished attic space was freezing in the winter and unbearably hot in the summer, with no insulation between it and the first floor living space. The addition includes (2) bedrooms, (1) dynamic hangout/play/study area, (1) bathroom, and (1) storage room. There’s plenty of space for daydreaming or to dive into some serious Lego building.

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When designing this renovation, care was taken to maintain the integrity of the original house design. The house already had a previous addition added to the rear in the early 2000s. We wanted to avoid a "patch quilt" effect with three separate areas stitched together with little cohesion. We achieved this from the exterior by maintaining the original top ridge height and incorporating the "Hardie" Siding from the previous addition, as well as matching the roofing throughout.

 

On the interior we keep the feeling light and airy with white walls and plenty of windows. This allows for the furniture and kid stuff (toys, games, sheets) to carry the bright pops of color. The large center oculus (round window) brings some unique geometry to the front façade and second floor interior. From the interior the oculus frames the maple tree in the front yard. The oculus, combined with the skylights, and original square leaded window bring in an incredible amount of daylight. During the summer, while the maple is in full bloom, the center play space feels like a tree house.