Wallingford Bungalow Dormer and Remodel

KITCHEN

The existing kitchen needed a lot of help. The fixtures and cabinets were old and worn out. An unheated mudroom created a large area intruding into the kitchen volume. A banquette-style table with benches, while cute, was not workable for a family of four. Also, the closet from the side bedroom was projecting in the kitchen. We decided to gut the entire kitchen.

We installed all new painted cabinets and a new stove, hood, dishwasher and sink. A heated mudroom area was created next to the rear door. The old banquette area became a stool-height counter for mail, paperwork and hanging-out. We also used:

• Paperstone: a "green" product made from high-content recycled paper, plus non-toxic resin.
• Salvaged exterior light from original house. Reconditioned.
• Salvaged and stripped heat registers and door hardware, throughout house.
• Low energy use and low water use dishwasher. European style, purchased against the advice of the appliance store salesman. Requires periodic clean out of food trap.

DINING ROOM / LIVING ROOM

We preserved the leaded glass built-ins on the common wall with the kitchen. We kept the original windows with decorative mullions, and will put up storm windows every winter.

MAIN FLOOR BATHROOM

The existing bathroom was very cramped with sink cabinet blocking second doorway. There were out-of-date, inefficient fixtures: toilet, faucet and tub, as well as worn-out flooring.

We put in a dual-flush toilet, pedestal sink and a new shower where the tub was. The contractor used 2x10 studs to form a wall at the end of the shower, and then put shelving in between the studs, as a space-saver.

EXISTING STAIRS AND UPSTAIRS

Stairs were very steep and not to code. They also intruded into the center portion of the ceiling of the adjoining room. The new design created safe L-shaped stairs that shift to the side of the adjoining room. They also have a "Harry Potter" half-closet underneath.

UPSTAIRS

The upstairs was just two oddly shaped bedrooms. There was no bathroom upstairs.

Technically, this is a one-and-a-half story house, and we decided to make the most of it. The reconfigured the existing space and added a dormer. Welcome to living under the rafters.

UPSTAIRS HALLWAY

This hallway features a skylight for daytime illumination, lessening the need for electric lighting. A whole house exhaust fan goes on briefly every 24 hours to help with proper indoor air quality. And a hallway shelf helps us remember items that are going downstairs or have come upstairs.

DORMER MASTER BEDROOM / WALK-IN CLOSET

Our bedroom is in the new dormer. WE have large casement windows facing north, and two small awning windows at opposite ends of the room for good cross ventilation. The closet is tucked in under one of the roof beams coming down. There is enough room for a double-stacked hanging poles and a wall of cubbies.

UPSTAIRS BATHROOM / LAUNDRY

We added a new common bathroom with two sinks, a dual-flush toilet, jetted bath, and glass-surround shower. Two windows at the bathtub look out onto I-5 and the Cascades, if you stand on tiptoe: our peek-a-boo view!

A doorway leads to a nook just large enough for a stacked, front-loading washer and dryer. They just fit underneath one of the roof beams. We put the old all-metal kitchen sink-cabinet unit in here as a laundry sink and extra storage.

BASEMENT:

The basement is reached via an exterior stair, which we decided to leave. It is used for storage, and my teen-age son's rock group.

MECHANICAL, ELECTRICAL AND PLUMBING

We used:

• New 94% efficiency furnace with variable speed fan for highest effectiveness in heating.
• Hospital-level furnace filter, and pre-filter, for highest quality air quality.
• New ductwork for maximum efficiency.
• Keeping existing hot water heater until it fails. Piping is set for a new on-demand tankless Hot Water Heater. No need to heat 40 gallons of water while you sleep or are at work.
• Basement ceiling completely insulated.