Island Park
The Project: Convert an original basement in a century home to a high-end finished space that included guest space,work space,a three-piece bathroom and family hang-out space.
The Client: A couple whose family of four became a family of five in the final stages of the renovation.
We had two distinct challenges with this renovation –one we foresaw going in and one we didn’t. The first was that Island Park is a difficult neighborhood to do construction work in due to significant restrictions on parking and on anything that might disturb neighbours. The basement was very rough and more concrete work was required than originally planned. Due to the neighborhood restrictions,we couldn’t get a truck in to pour the significant amount of concrete needed to reinforce the foundation wall between the original space and a later addition.
As an added bonus,sticking to the planned timeline was more important than ever because the clients were going to have a baby toward the end of the project.
We took a proactive approach to the neighbours,communicating clearly about our work and sticking to the boundaries we set together about how we’d do it. We didn’t want our presence during the reno to be a sore spot for our clients’neighbours because our clients have to interact with them long after we’re gone.
For the concrete,hard work plain and simple was the answer. We hand mixed all the new concrete to provide a sound base for all of the wall and floor framing. This ensured it would be installed properly and that all our finishes would be flawless
We worked with Jen Robinson Design to develop a layout that fulfilled the clients’wishlist for the multi-use space,including a rec room/tv area,and office/guest bedroom,a three-piece bathroom,a drybar,a workout area,and a separate utility room.
We went to great lengths to provide high levels of insulation and proper air sealing techniques so that a basement in an old century home could become the most comfortable space in the house.
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Because the headroom in the basement was already less than ideal (typical of homes this age) we did a considerable amount of rework to the HVAC and plumbing to minimize the bulkheads required.
A wood-burning fireplace insert was high on the clients’wishlist,so we incorporated it into a feature wall with a statement tile surround and a reclaimed wood mantle. The bathroom made the best use of a small footprint with a walk-in shower and a complimentary walnut vanity. The terazzo and textured tile give the bathroom that mid-century feel.
The affirmation from the clients that the basement became the most used room in the house felt like we had achieved what we set out to accomplish. Even guests of the clients exclaimed that the bedroom in the basement didn’t feel like you were sleeping in a basement at all.
