by Guest Contributor Raubyn Rothschild
This past year we literally saw well laid (floor) plans change before our eyes. There was not one of our projects in the planning, permit or construction phase that did not see modifications to the floor plans based on the developing consequences of the pandemic.
Many of the revisions resulted in re-thinking the square footage previously allocated to income suites within the home, to instead recapture that space back for the family who were now needing to accommodate a combination of functions such as work, school, gym, running a business, childcare and hobbies 24/7.
The Wellington Project expanded an existing income suite into a 950 square feet flex space to accommodate a home office for two professionals, a guest bedroom, kids zone, larger suite kitchen and better flow to the backyard. Phase 2 of the project consists of an outdoor kitchen, new landscaping and outdoor entertaining areas.
With all of the uncertainty, we also saw clients wanting to create small self-contained micro suites. The hope was to accommodate their parents either for extended visits, or invite them to permanently move in. In a few cases, the intended guests were boomerang kids returning to ride out the pandemic. Either way, I’m sure we can all agree that having defined space for each person to have a modicum of privacy would go a long way to maintaining sanity for all. Dare I say, if done right, there is a distinct possibility that everyone may actually enjoy it!
At under 500 square feet, the Laneway Project is the perfect self-contained structure that will rotate as a crash pad for their kids when home from university, and extended visits from parents. With the addition of a barrel sauna and outdoor shower, it will be the perfect retreat for everyone year round.
One of my favourite calls was from a friend who called me to ask if I’d be willing to design their family’s new vacation property – a new (to them) trailer. Now this is not a trendy, photogenic Airstream, friends. As they sheepishly asked if I could take on such a humble project, I was outwardly elated! It is precisely these types of oddball projects that our studio was based on, and we will always happily return.
Honeymoon Bay Plan At 550 square feet, this newly renovated vacation trailer has everything a family needs to get away for the weekends. Enclosing an existing porch allowed for a new master bedroom with plenty of storage, as well as a new entry mud room. Custom millwork throughout maximizes storage while keeping sightlines open.
Vacation properties aside, many of us in the industry have been preoccupied the last few weeks from the sheer pressure of supply chain issues. The focused state I need to dwell in, for ideally long periods of time on the days I block off to be solely in the studio, was elusive. I did not want to sit down and write about the current challenges, as all industries are going through their own highs and lows. A strange thing happened though, as I started writing; thinking about our projects, the obstacles began to seem small compared to the uplifting intentions of our clients and the work that has gone into fulfilling those visions.
The pandemic has forced us all to take stock of the spaces we are in, and find ways to transform them into what we, collectively, need. It was about how we could accommodate the people our clients cared most about, making sure their loved ones were close, and safe.
As I reflect on what was important to our clients this year, it was not about wanting more, bigger, new. It was about simple shifts in perspective of how they could better use what they already had, or allocating resources to spaces where they could spend more time together, not less.
Here are 5 planning rationales to account for if you are considering resolving existing square footage in your home or on your property:
- Consider your current needs, yet don’t overlook future needs
- Make it functional for more than one type of use or easily adaptable as needs change
- Clever use of built-in millwork for both storage and furniture can add structure, architectural interest and help create a sense of place
- Focus on some of the overlooked or underutilized areas of the home, turning a negative into a positive, and
- Don’t overlook the outdoors; allow for electrical, gas and plumbing infrastructure in the initial phase so that there’s flexibility to further develop the area when ready.
