The Knowles Residence

Objectives:

Remodel a home originally designed by famed architect Wallace Neff. The home should be brought up to modern standards while retaining the character of the original design. Address the kitchen’s inefficient and awkward layout, which is divided in half by a wall and a peninsula. Relocate the entrance to the guest room so it is not accessed via the kitchen. Relocate and redesign the service bathroom, and remodel the laundry room, including installing a drip-dry floor sink. Remodel the upstairs master bath, including the addition of a separate toilet room and freestanding tub; remodel the secondary bathroom. Work with the owner to select all finishes as there is no interior designer on the project.

The Knowles Home 

Outcome:

The wall and peninsula dividing the kitchen were removed, and a mahogany-stained island with a marble top was installed in the center, opening up the room. Custom, furniture-quality, flush inset cabinets were designed, and Rocky Mountain traditional hardware was selected. Caesarstone countertops were installed, while marble tile in a running bond layout was used for the backsplash. The spaces were reconfigured so that the mudroom served as the access point to the kitchen, service bath, guest room, and laundry room.

The master bathroom was gutted, and the cabinets were removed at the dormer wall and reconfigured to have his and her vanities. A free-standing tub was centered on the dormer, and a toilet room was built adjacent to the exterior wall so it could have a window; an enclosed, glass two-person shower was designed with a skylight above. The shower walls in the secondary bathroom were removed and replaced with glass, opening up the bathroom to the tub. A new cabinet was created, and the walls were outfitted with custom-designed tile wainscot. Having worked closely with the client in selecting the finish materials, RLB later incorporated those selections into the drawings.