It’s been a whirlwind few weeks, but we’re almost done with the framing stage of our renovation! This milestone feels huge, and we’re so excited to finally share the updated floor plans with you. Whether you’re here for inspiration or just curious about how our home is evolving, I hope this gives you some great ideas for your own spaces.
Where We Began: The Existing Main Floor
Our starting point had some great bones, but there were a few things that didn’t work for our lifestyle. For example, we lacked a side entrance and mudroom, which made keeping the house clean with two playful dogs a challenge. Our current living room is also right by the front door, so we wanted a more private, cozy family area at the back of the house to enjoy.
The New Vision: Our Proposed Main Floor
Here’s where the magic happens! The biggest changes include:
Side Entrance & Mudroom: We turned the existing kitchen into a dedicated mudroom with a relocated powder bathroom, making it easier to clean off the dogs after outdoor playtime.
Family Area: The back of the house now serves as a more private retreat for our family—a place to gather, relax, and enjoy.
Improved Functionality: We’ve reimagined the main floor layout to create a better sense of functionality for our lifestyle while also maintaining a majority of the existing historical house, something that was extremely important to us.
Design Challenges & Game-Changing Decisions
Like any renovation, this project has come with its share of challenges. One of the biggest hurdles was working within the city’s square footage constraints for our lot size. Since we are also adding square footage in the back of our home, in order to make the upstairs work, we added dormers rather than a full second story since attic eaves don’t count toward the total allowable square footage.
We also made a last-minute change during the design phase to flip the layout, which originally reversed of the layout below. This puts the primary suite on the side of the house where we have mature trees for more privacy—definitely a decision we’re glad we made!
From Attic to Amazing: The Proposed Upstairs
The most exciting transformation of all is what used to be attic space! This new second level is adding so much functionality and character to our home. Here’s what we’re most excited about:
Primary Suite: No more tripping over dog beds every morning! This spacious suite will feature angled ceilings and tree-filled views, giving it a cozy, treehouse-like feel.
Upstairs Laundry: A huge convenience we’re so happy to incorporate.
Flexible Rooms: While technically “bedrooms,” these spaces will serve other purposes for us. One will be a dedicated office with pocket doors for both a grand entrance and privacy, and the other will become an exercise space.
What’s Next: Stay Tuned!
As we move into the rough-in stage, I’m shifting focus to the design of our primary bathroom. This is one of the spaces I’m most excited to create, and I can’t wait to share the process with you!
We’ll also be sharing a video tour of the framing progress soon, so stay tuned for that.
What do you think of the new layout? Would you have done anything differently? I’d love to hear your thoughts and ideas—drop a comment below or message me on Instagram!
This is such an exciting time for our renovation journey, and I can’t wait to keep sharing updates with you.
Until next time... Cheers!
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