party house demo update

Holy floor plan! I know - it's a lot of lines so I'll break it down. We have gotten so close to permit and the official 'start' of our project and the floor plans have gotten really serious. The trick with being married to the contractor is that little parts of the project have been able to start - like salvaging the lights in the dining room or the knobs in the front bed room. Around the house it's looking very exciting!

Want to review the project with me?

First, when you walk in, you walk into the living room. There's a short 'entry' space that will have the new upstairs stairway in it as well. Currently the living room has gotten a few updates since these original photos but since literally nothing is staying, we can start with these photos.

Ali Hedin | Weeknight Party House Living Room

We've worked with our architect David Coleman to create a mid-century feel to the new space that's isn't "old fashioned." Functionally, the current space is challenging for two main reasons:

1. You cannot get to the backyard easily. There's one tiny door that's tucked around a corner and it creates a bottle neck when people want to go in and out at the same time - which does happen.

2. You cannot arrange furniture around a fireplace that's on a corner. Literally C A N N O T. I have chosen to ignore the fireplace and not arrange anything around it. It makes it a little awkward. Plus since we can't even use the fireplace because it's so old and has inside issues it's totally pointless.

We are removing the fireplace completely. I hate it and can't wait for it to be gone. It was actually one of the things I loved about the house when we first bought it because it gave the house such a sense of the era. But after living with it for seven years I'm done.

Once that is gone - and it's huge - there will be space for a built in bar and a walk way to the back room which will become an office/library space. Next to that walkway we're creating a cool slat wall that replicates some of the awesome slat walls of the 1960's and 70's.

The windows that are so huge and yet such a tease because you can't go out them are leaving. We found these G I A N T sliding doors that are like four feet wide panels and are so fabulous to replace them.

This blank wall becomes the 'slat wall' and possibly holds the television?

CLICK TO SEE THE LIVING ROOM INSPIRATION

party house living room inspiration

The best part of this new living room? A FREE STANDING FIREPLACE! You guys! Like at the Parker Palm Springs or on White Christmas. I am so beyond excited. Beyond. The plan is to have a hood made from brass (Mr. Hedin has a guy) and build our own base. In Washington State you can't have a gas flame without it being surrounded by glass (party poopers) so we are using BioFuel which is not only legal but doesn't need anything extra piped in. Win.

The dining room doesn't feel like it's getting very updated. But it's going to be great because we can actually host people in here without it feeling like a cavern. Right now it feels like a cavern. It will help that the giant windows are becoming more giant sliding doors to match the living room. The current solid wall will become another slat wall to match what's happening in the living room. Not only will it look really cool, but having the wall be open and not closed off which will let in more light and make the space feel more open.

The floors in the dining room are going to be hardwood. The living room and the kitchen will be a terrazzo style tile but this space will have it's own unique hardwood floor. The way these rooms all run together visually, it was the architect's idea to create delineation in the flooring. From the mock ups I've seen, it's going to look awesome.

Furniture wise we are attempting to repurpose our existing dining room set, but with updated chairs to keep the space feeling modern without loosing the cool family heirloom that has lived in our house.

Arguably the most dramatic of all is the kitchen. The existing space is being divided into kitchen and pantry to create two separate spaces for working, storing, and cleaning. As I am sure you can tell from the photos, this kitchen is the pits. Literally it's awful. Not only is it dark and full of awkward cabinets, but there is virtually no workable counter space.

The new space looks really simple. And if you are worried about how I am going to cook in the space, have no fear. I was worried too so Mr. Hedin and I cleared out our existing dining room and literally taped out the floor plan. Here's why it works:

1. Lots of prep space on either side of the stove + around the sink. Plenty of room for cutting boards to be out and functioning or ingredients to be stacked up. I like to get everything out when I start cooking and see what I have to work with. Currently I put a cutting board over the sink to stack things on. Not ideal.

2. Because the island can be used on all sides, there is plenty of prep room for all members of the family to help cook. One struggle we faced in the old house was that everyone wanted to help cook (literally for breakfast, lunch and dinner) but there was virtually no where to do that. Bringing in an island gives us loads more workable space.

3. The pantry. 99% of why this space works is because the pantry is a work horse. The pantry will end up with a sink, dishwasher, oven, microwave, appliance cabinet and storage for all of the food. The main kitchen space will look sparse and lovely thanks to the pantry.

The last "public" room in the house is - what I am calling - the library. Currently this is the master bedroom. Since that is moving upstairs with the new house, we had this space to use for homework, actual work, and just getting away. Plus, since the current master is huge, this gives us the option to add storage. Mr. Hedin is hoping to keep the garage tidy which means storage of camping gear, ski boots, etc. needs a home.

This room left me feeling really confused for a while and then... I stumbled onto Mandy Moore's renovation (which is epic) and she has an office space that we can use as inspiration to create a cozy and inviting room for studying, reading, and possibly piano playing. The room will end up with a built in desk and a built in sofa seat with a squishy velvet cushion on it. I keep picturing it as a perfect spot to cozy up with a book, and then I hit reality and realize it will be the place my children end up with an iPad. Le sigh.

Since we are now starting demolition and the project will officially kick off on Monday, you will be seeing a lot more of this on social media! Follow me on Instagram to get the latest updates (and check the stories!) and check back here as I start to flush out more rooms throughout the house. We're having some parent/child power struggles on room color. Stay tuned as I battle that one.