Portfolio » Residential » Urban Artist’s Loft
These clients had a large home with a second story that had basically been used as a storage unit over the years. It had low, popcorn-covered ceilings and little natural light. It felt utilitarian and definitely wasn’t living up to its potential!
One of the homeowners, an artist and prolific writer, was looking to create an artist’s loft in which she could complete her day-to-day projects and store her “half-dones”’ without cluttering the home’s downstairs. In addition, the homeowners wanted a warm and welcoming space in which their out-of-state children and grandchildren (and other guests) could comfortably stay for extended periods of time.
One of the first things we wanted to address in this space was the lack of natural light. Because of the steep pitch of the roof, adding dormers made the most sense. By doing so, we were able to add six windows to the artist’s side of the upstairs area, which look out over the couple’s beautiful backyard and pool. The homeowners opted to keep the space open, rather than walling in the bedroom area, so natural light also comes in from the opposite side of the space.
The second major area to address was the lack of a bathroom. We were able to add a full bathroom in the corner of the loft, complete with a dual-sink vanity and a large shower-tub combo. With two windows, the new bathroom is also filled with natural light during the day.
In addition, we included a kitchenette/bar, with a sink, a built-in mini fridge, and tons of cabinetry for storage.
We only added 150 square feet of living space to the upstairs of this home, but it looks and feels so much more spacious than before! It also perfectly suits the homeowners’ desire for a beautiful, multi-functional space.
Here’s what the homeowner had to say about their experience working with Grisafe Architecture on their second-story home remodel:
“We were thrilled with the final project. It. Is. Beautiful. All the sweat, blood, and tears were worth it. Pages of flat, paper drawings magically (haha) became three-dimensional with our great contractor’s help.
Owner Mark Grisafe was professional and patient as we slogged through the process like recruits trying to arm-crouch through basic training muck. He also arranged for required safety rulings with a capable structural engineer and later a quick and helpful consult with a solar engineer when we were choosing among solar companies.
To a person, the staff at Grisafe Architecture, Inc. were courteous, competent, responsive, and good humored—even when we were stressed to Mach-level twelve.
If we were to do it again (however, I think we’re done here), we’d choose Grisafe Architecture, Inc. in a heartbeat. Thanks for a beautiful remodel.”