Room of the Day: Parents-to-Be Ready Their Bedroom for Change
A renovated bedroom and loft make room for middle-of-the-night feedings and quiet time
Becky Harris
December 2, 2015
Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1940s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."
I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia.
Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1940s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe... More
This couple wanted to get their bedroom ready for their baby on the way. A high gabled roofline and extra attic space were going to waste in the low-ceilinged room. The pros at Reliance Design, Build, Remodel raised the ceiling to the roof, opened up access to the loft and finished both spaces to create a cohesive look with the rest of the home. And perhaps most important, they were able to finish the job in time for the newest family member’s arrival.
Photos by Erika Bierman Photography
Houzz at a Glance
What happens here: Late-night feedings, sleeping, reading, writing, working, watching TV
Location: Los Angeles
Size: Bedroom: 256 square feet (24 square meters); loft: 48 square feet (4.6 square meters)
That’s interesting: The home was designed by Robert Byrd, a prominent California architect who built many homes from the 1920s to the 1950s and always embedded a little birdhouse into the architecture of the homes he designed.
The home is a Craftsman, but the master bedroom was added after the original home was built. It is raised up a few feet from the rest of the house and, before the renovation, had ceilings that were only 8 feet high. “It was important that the renovation fit in with the style of the rest of the home,” says design consultant Golnaz Motamedi of Reliance Design, Build, Remodel.
Houzz at a Glance
What happens here: Late-night feedings, sleeping, reading, writing, working, watching TV
Location: Los Angeles
Size: Bedroom: 256 square feet (24 square meters); loft: 48 square feet (4.6 square meters)
That’s interesting: The home was designed by Robert Byrd, a prominent California architect who built many homes from the 1920s to the 1950s and always embedded a little birdhouse into the architecture of the homes he designed.
The home is a Craftsman, but the master bedroom was added after the original home was built. It is raised up a few feet from the rest of the house and, before the renovation, had ceilings that were only 8 feet high. “It was important that the renovation fit in with the style of the rest of the home,” says design consultant Golnaz Motamedi of Reliance Design, Build, Remodel.
The designers took down the ceiling and went all the way up to the gable roof. Because other areas in the home had exposed beams, they added Douglas fir beams to create a connection between the master bedroom and the rest of the house.
“The homeowners already had this beautiful bed made from reclaimed wood, so that also inspired us,” Golnaz says. All of the reclaimed Douglas fir came from a dismantled Northern California barn.
“We like to keep the character of the original wood,” says Ben Motamedi, who managed this project. They cleaned up the beams, skipped staining them and simply finished them with polyurethane.
Another way they created continuity was by matching the new oak floors with the existing oak hardwood. “We used oak planks that were 1¼ inches wide by ½ inch thick, like the hardwoods in the rest of the house,” Motamedi says. “Boards used in new construction are typically 2¼ inches wide by ¾ inch thick.”
“The homeowners already had this beautiful bed made from reclaimed wood, so that also inspired us,” Golnaz says. All of the reclaimed Douglas fir came from a dismantled Northern California barn.
“We like to keep the character of the original wood,” says Ben Motamedi, who managed this project. They cleaned up the beams, skipped staining them and simply finished them with polyurethane.
Another way they created continuity was by matching the new oak floors with the existing oak hardwood. “We used oak planks that were 1¼ inches wide by ½ inch thick, like the hardwoods in the rest of the house,” Motamedi says. “Boards used in new construction are typically 2¼ inches wide by ¾ inch thick.”
The industrial-style light fixture the couple chose also influenced the style of the room. “It’s a mix of nautical, industrial and rustic — they have great taste,” Golnaz says.
The French door leads to the master bathroom.
The French door leads to the master bathroom.
Because they were expecting their first child, the couple wanted a cozy area for sitting with the baby, especially during late-night feedings. This small niche has just enough room for a comfortable chair and a pouf. The light fixture adds a nautical-industrial touch, while the wide beadboard paneling adds texture and enhances the nautical look. This is sure to become a favorite spot for reading stories to their child.
The team made the most of this corner by adding reclaimed barn wood shelves that match the new ceiling beams.
The designers ripped out an existing closet that accessed an attic space, because the master suite had another large closet. They created access to the loft via this custom ladder, which is tucked up against the wall out of the way.
When the homeowners want to access the loft, they pull the ladder out at an angle to make the climbing easier and safer.
The Reliance team designed and installed custom railings in the space. They also repaired an existing pocket door that can be slid in behind the oar to close off the suite.
The loft’s floor space is only about 6 by 8 feet, but the designers made the most of it to create a cozy workspace. It’s kind of a secret fort for the parents.
Bookshelves made of reclaimed barn wood create continuity between the loft and the bedroom.
An existing dormer window had been going to waste up here. Now it fills the space with light that also illuminates the bedroom.
The view from the loft down to the bedroom shows the interesting trusses. The room is now clean-lined, fresh, inviting and ready for the next exciting phase in the family’s life.
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A charming room!