Click on a picture to view them all together! Then click on the image again and select view image to magnify it!
Piet Dorota Phase 1 House Makeover
Overview
This project is about doing a quick makeover prior to moving into a 1960s tract home in Los Alamitos, CA. The house was pseudo 'fixed up' for the sale of the sale of the home, but it had some issues and design elements that needed changing. The floors were covered in new 'floating' laminate flooring which looks Ok. All ceilings were textured with a cement -based product that was not attractive. Some of the windows had been changed out, most were not and were single-pane, steel cased windows. A vaulted design, the ceilings in most rooms were open, except the heating system had to use dropped areas (soffit) to bring duct work to the various rooms. There were not lights in the ceiling, except the hall way and guest bath. There were some older chandeliers in the dining and nook areas, but one was not in the right location for the next Phase. The kitchen seemed closed off with a large dropped soffit, which the clients identified was not going to stay. Also, the same low ceiling was in the master bathroom and made it feel tight.
Further looks in the attic space, which was very minimal, revealed a lot of utilities would be int the way if the master bath soffit were removed, and this would require additional expenses beyond reason. It was proposed to build a skylight and try to use the chase to open up the ceiling a bit. Also, the shower stall had not light and was dark, so the thought there was to add a tubular skylight in that area as well. All bathroom tile was dated or bland, as well as the fixtures. For Phase 1, the kitchen cabinets would stay, but the utilities would move in anticipation of a new layout in another Phase.
To add to the mood settings, all rooms would get recessed lights with the latest LED technology. The ceilings would be smoothed out for no texture. Switches for lights would be near the location of the lights they were controlling. Remove the kitchen soffit, add a large sky light, replace the larger sliding glass door with a new one, and add a 2nd door where a smaller back door and window existed. New tile in the bathrooms, new fixtures, closet and pantry organizers, plus shiplap wood ceilings in the living room, dining, kitchen, nook, and master bedroom.
Existing Kitchen with soffit above.
Dining Nook area: note textured ceiling. Goal: remove door and window, put in sliding door to the same area as the window and door combined. Close up window area not used.
Replace big door and add skylight above kitchen. Electrical panel will get new circuits and reroute others. Note screen door hits facia.
Master bath: textured and low ceilings - not seen before in a master bathroom.
Master bath shower - existing. A bit dark. Dated fixtures.
Master ceiling. Old plastic skylight was darkening the room.
Guest bathroom. Keep the tub and blow the rest away - new window.
Functional but dated. New cabinet and counter top, toilet, tile, etc...
Hallways: low ceilings and textured. Some lighting.
Living room: no lights. Gets wood ceiling and 8 recessed lights.
Guest Bedroom 3 - no lights in ceiling, remove texture. To become master bedroom in another Phase.
Guest Bedroom 2: no lights, same as Bed3.
Demo and Framing: During Shots
Protect and start demo. Kitchen.
Wires everywhere! Move all of it. The soffit was a main pathway to the rest of the house from the right side wall.
New skylight, small soffit for cabinets, recessed lighting. Duct will go inside cabinet false back.
View of back wall.
Living room. More lights.
Next to kitchen: nook area. Opening framed for door, lights in and moved. Pantry behind door which is now a closet.
So how did they get those wires over there? The holes were made and covered with two coats already in this picture. More smooth.
Bedroom2: ceiling more smooth.
Guest bath - well not exactly to the studs, but scraped to the walls.
Master bath chase opened it up without moving gas line (notched in upper area).
Shower tile removed. New valve and niche going in, plus skylight tube with light.
Day light coming in, and new valve installed.
Master bedroom ceiling, new skylight. Note color samples on wall.
11/7/15
Insulation in, drywall attached to the lid, more patch work to do. Doors in (one not visible).
Kitchen view.
11/14/15
Just needs grout and caulk. Paint on the way.
11/20/15
View of Kitchen with old cabinets - to replace in next phase.
View of Living Room and Kitchen
Bath1: waiting on fixtures.
Unfortunately the mirror reflects the camera for any other angle - looks better in person. Bath1.
Bath2: shower door on. Tile on and sealed. Took many days to lay marble pieces.
1/5/16
