An Addition, part 4. The Basement Laundry and Bathroom.

The kitchen-addition took center stage last time, and it was recently featured in Thermador Behind the Build if you would like to read more about it. Now we return to the the unfinished basement. We’re the kind of people who feel that tingle of excitement when we first see an old and neglected basement, and there’s nothing wrong if you feel the same. It’s a big world. You do you.

The basement in this home was a typical dark and dank cavern in need of much attention, including a new bathroom and laundry room. Neither could be standard issue. Regarding standard issue builds, be sure to read to the end of this post.

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A steel Restoration Hardware vanity with custom marble top adds plenty of storage in the new bathroom. Penny round tile from Ann Sacks and a Kallista One faucet with cross handles modernize a classic bathroom style.

The shower opposite the vanity. Subway tile from Ann Sacks and hex tile from Stone Impressions help elevate this basement bathroom.

In addition to the new bathroom in the basement, we needed to create new spot for the laundry machines.

When we stop thinking of a room as a strictly utilitarian space, something changes for the better. A bedroom becomes a restful and relaxing place. The kitchen is more welcoming, Here, laundry is a little less of a chore.

A view of the other half of the laundry room with ironing board, storage, and drying rack opposite the laundry machines. Pardon the snapshot, photography in small rooms is always a challenge. The quartz top is impervious to water, a good tip when you are thinking about the placement of clothes drying racks.

One key to making good use of the basement is to treat it as well or better than the rest of your home. If the basement is carefully planned and comfortable, you will increase your chances of enjoying it. Thanks for reading about this addition and renovation!

Aiming Above the Ordinary. . .

We’re happy to announce that we are in the planning phase for a showcase home in the McKenzie School area. This new home will definitely not be standard issue, and we’re looking forward to showing you the project from start to finish. Please reach out if you know anybody who is thinking about new construction in Wilmette next year.

An Addition, part 2. Improving Good Plans.

Every good build relies on good plans, and now you may thank Captain Obvious for pointing this out. A slightly less obvious proposition is that good plans can be improved when the builder and client are collaborating well. For example, the addition of a wet bar in the basement made sense (ok, adding a bar makes eminently good sense these days), especially when we could take advantage of a nearby plumbing wall. Now let’s take a look at the original basement bedroom plan.

The addition included a new basement bedroom, which also requires a so-called egress window below grade. More on the “so-called” part below. Egress window wells tend to be a hassle to keep clean of debris, need some sort of cover on them, and generally look unsightly—the only saving grace is that they are mostly visible from the basement only.

The guest bedroom looked appealing on the plans. The egress window was supposed to be on the side of the rear of the house, minimizing the eyesore. So far, so good. Then our client asked if we could create a walkout basement by adding an external stairwell.

A couple decisions in every build often add outsized value to the project. This was one of them. We hesitated at first because it might be a little challenging for City of Chicago reasons that we do not need to discuss here. Also, it would cost more to accomplish and add a little complexity. Still . . . it was easy to see the appeal of our client’s request.

Smart plan, if we could make it work. Brilliant idea, said our crew chief, who knows one when he hears it. Tell me where and let’s dig, shouted the always enthusiastic excavator who was already turning over the engine.

New steps from grade to the basement bedroom allowed us to eliminate the egress window and provide access to the basement without entering the first floor. Perfect for guests and relatives, a live-in helper, or even a tenant.

In went a flight of stairs, and out went the so-called egress window. We say “so-called egress window” because it’s a commonly used expression when, in fact, there is no such thing as an egress window in the International Residential Code. The IRC only refers to an “emergency escape and rescue opening” or EERO, which can be a window or a door or some other opening. The important part is that it has to be large enough for an emergency rescue. The new basement door satisfies this requirement and provides multiple options for the client’s basement living space.

Sometimes we have a lightbulb moment, and sometimes our clients do. Great things can happen when there is an exchange of good questions and good listening in the planning phase. May your New Year be filled with many good ideas, wherever you find them.

An Addition, part 1 (and a toast to 2021)

Like many we know, we are certainly ready to pull away from the table full of all things 2020. We might have been over-served, but we’re ending it with a deep appreciation for the lovely families we worked with this year. We felt enriched by working on beautiful projects, and we were moved by how well our clients and colleagues adapted to the times in which we all live.

We plan to dive into a particularly rewarding adventure over the coming months, and it was the first major project we completed during the pandemic. In the spirit of the season, we’ll start with the basement bar.

The basement bar, finished in Hague Blue from Farrow & Ball.

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The original part of the circa 1901 basement was unfinished and unloved before we connected it to the addition. Our clients requested a basement bar while we reviewed the plans over pizza, and so we took advantage of the bathroom plumbing wall to add the wet bar on the opposite side. Capturing those unplanned developments or realizing unforeseen opportunities is one of the satisfying parts of major construction.

It turned out that this wet bar was even more important than we realized at first. A family member is now staying in the basement bedroom and has convenient access to necessities without having to visit the kitchen upstairs. Sometimes a bar is more than just a bar.

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Most basement bedrooms are an afterthought. Not this one.

We have more about this project coming soon. Until then, we wish you all healthy and happy holidays!