How we Quadruped the size of a Pantry

photo by Emily Kennedy

Being in the construction industry, I see a ton of strange things. Vashon, especially, gets its share of funky design and build because, in my opinion, one of the biggest contributors to this is because building codes aren’t always adhered to.  Whatever the reasons, I encounter countless code violations and strangely "creative" ways to solve problems.   It makes me proud to know that my talents can help improve these situations and make homes safe WHILE becoming more beautiful as well.

Before photo of a chaotic pantry with empty space behind the shelving, and little room due to the oversized, inaccessible water heater living behind the shelves.

A recent client had an extra-large water heater enclosed in a drywall box, hidden behind pantry shelves.  I am sure at the time the house was built, there wasn’t an interior design professional watching over the project. One of my favorite parts of my “job” is to problem solve using my design knowledge, creativity, and past experiences to not only see the current situation but to analyze and reflect on  possible solutions.  As you know, if you change one aspect of a house, it often affects several other areas as well.

There is a huge water heater behind these shelves which is a code violation because it’s completely inaccessible.

As you can see in this photo, the dark void behind the canned goods is where the water heater is located. In this photo it kind of looks like R2D2 lurking at you and I would know because my son is 7 years old so I have them all over my house.  Here is one of the challenges with this situation, if you bumped a can, it would fall behind the shelves and disappear forever.

A second challenge is that the shelves were static so there was not a door to access the water heater. This was against code because appliances, such as water heaters, need to have access without having to remove permanent construction (IPC Code 502.5).

When we started to tackle this design dilemma, we had discussions on what the owner liked and didn’t like about the current pantry.  We played around with keeping the water heater in the pantry, but the water heater and pantry lived in this “box” in the center of the kitchen and the living room, along with a coat closet.  As I mentioned before, it is not safe, and now we also are focused on the fact that is it in the center of kitchen and living room. Remember, each adjustment has an effect on other parts of your home, so it is important to consider all of these aspects when planning.

The homeowner also wanted a cleaner more streamlined look for their kitchen, without all of the clutter with the recycling, trash, and microwave.

Keeping a full-sized water heater made increasing the size of the pantry quite difficult. We also contemplated converting to a tankless water heater, but we would still need a door accessing it, and that still took away from the pantry’s real estate.

The best solution was to put a strong platform in the attic and relocate the water heater up there. This provided a wide-open space around it and since we rarely need to get at it, why keep it in the main living space?  This now provides ample room for a larger, walk-in pantry without compromising the volume of the already-tiny coat closet.

I took these concepts, the measurements, and the goals back to my drawing board and created a few ideas so the client could see it on paper.  In the next few images, you can see how we manipulated the space so the microwave, trash, and recycling can all neatly tuck away within the new pantry, which has a great door for closing it all away.

We had an amazing general contractor on this project who created the shelving from some cabinet panels that were damaged in shipping. Those were replaced by the manufacturer, so it left these large pieces of finished  wood available to us.  Here is one of the reasons why I love working in this community, we all want what is best for the environment. What an awesome use of recycling!

Now, I am proud to say, the new pantry is extremely roomy and very well lit. The space is calm and “neat” when you walk inside, and the homeowner is pleased.

One of the most pleasing aspects of interior design and remodeling is that my team and I are able to improve the quality of life for our clients, reducing daily stress by creating a calm and organized atmosphere!

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@clarajearlyphoto

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Here are 5 tips if you are wondering if a remodel would benefit you and your home.

1)     Create a list of areas that cause stress or anxiety in your daily life.  What is bothersome to you as you move about?

2)     Determine if all of your appliances are up to code.  If you need help, let me know.

3)     Close your eyes and try to imagine your home with the perfect flow. What walls or areas would be removed?

4)     Determine if your outside living spaces (like deck, front porch, basement, attics, and closets) are being utilized to their maximum capacity.

5)     Identify what is in the way.  Chances are, it can be hidden from site.

Please be sure to download my free interior design guide!

How Architectural Details Will Uplevel Your Space

Everything you need to know about woodwork & millwork.

What sets your home or commercial space apart? Your same light fixtures are being used in hundreds, if not thousands, of other places. Your layout might be standard (because, hey, the traffic flow just makes sense). Your furnishings and decor might be custom, semi-custom, or straight from the big box store.

You look at your space and think, "What else can I do to make this reflect the rich values, the story, and the legacy that I want people to tangibly experience when they enter?"

We have the answer: Custom woodwork and millwork. Look at any historically-acclaimed or award-winning, modern building. They always have custom woodwork, millwork, or a combination thereof. This is what sets spaces apart and makes them quite nearly impossible to duplicate.

1. WHAT IS WOODWORK?

Architectural woodwork is any exposed wood that is meant to be included in your finished space. This includes wooden cabinetry, paneling, staircases, ceilings, molding, doors, trim, and flooring. Exposed structural components, such as beams and supports, can also be considered architectural woodwork. Most often, this woodwork serves both an aesthetic and utilitarian function (e.g. kitchen cabinetry).

2. WHAT IS MILLWORK?

Millwork is often used as another name for woodwork, but the two terms aren't quite interchangeable. Millwork can include standalone pieces, structures made of wood, and can also refer to those made of plastic, plaster, or laminate. Non-wood millwork is most often found in business and hospitality spaces.

3. DO YOU NEED BOTH?

Many custom cabinetry or architectural firms will specialize in both woodwork and millwork, as the two crafts are often beautifully combined. Think of your ideal custom cabinets. Are they made entirely of wood? Often not. Instead, they will include glass panels — and perhaps even fabric panels or metal accents and features.

Vashon Island Interior Design

 You love where you live, but your house feels a little...tight. You don't want to move, and you can't find any other houses that you like in your area (because you already looked!). We feel for you. Fortunately, savvy interior designers and architects exist, including yours truly, who can add a creative addition to your home.

First a bit about me. I am Angie Harpole. I have been helping clients with redesigning their homes since 2014. I live on Vashon Island in the Puget Sound Region of the Pacific Northwest, just a 20-minute ferry ride from downtown Seattle, Washington. I am your Vashon Island interior design consultant.

My background includes client-side and agency-side internet marketing project management. My passion for interiors started at my corporate jobs at Herman Miller and Knoll. Then the nail in the proverbial interior design coffin was hammered in while building a home on the North end of Vashon Island. I left the corporate world to get schooling, as well as experience, designing interiors.

Now I am the Founder and Head Designer of Harpole Home. My specialty is full home remodels, stripping interiors down to the studs and designing a whole new living experience for clients. My focus is on functionality and flow of your rooms, efficiency of space, and making the space YOURS.

As an interior designer, I believe additions should look timeless, as though they were always part of your whole home design. Today we are sharing three types of additions to consider. Not all will be applicable to your situation, but they'll get you pointed in the right direction.

The best way to make this a reality is to speak with Harpole Home. We'll do a site visit, draw up a plan, and execute it. The only downside is that you'll never want to leave your house!

1.  THE SECOND STORY
Unsurprisingly, this is a great option for homeowners with limited acreage. If you can't build out, build up! Not only does this increase the curb appeal of a ranch home/single story home, it also greatly enhances resale value and usability. A second story can double your bedroom count, provide space for a home office with a view, or allow room for that perfect spa bathroom you've been imagining.

Is your home a good fit for a second story addition? We can work with architects and engineers to determine this by evaluating your home's existing structure, and outlining the extra measures that will need to be taken for load-bearing and code requirements.

 2. THE GLORIFIED GARAGE LOFT
From becoming a glorified home office to a noisy game room, the space above your garage was meant for more. You could even go wild and make it a mother-in-law suite or a rentable listing on Airbnb. (All the opportunists reading this just perked up.) Whether you choose to fulfill your tiny house fantasies in regal style or create the craft room of your dreams, you can be certain that Harpole Home will help design the perfect solution.

Is your home a good fit for an above-garage addition? Contact us with your budget, timeline, and a description of what you'd like. Or, let us help you design a whole new plan.

 Check out Harpole Home’s design for our client’s detached two-car garage with a mother-in-law suite above. 

3. THE ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT
Affectionately referred to as "granny flats," these accessory dwelling units (ADUs) are gaining fast popularity. If you want more living space but would rather not change the footprint of your main house, adding a micro-house elsewhere on your property is a real option. This allows for the privacy and comfort of your guests, aging family members, or short term rental guests (Airbnb, VRBO, etc.).

Is your lot a good fit for an ADU? Harpole Home can address your zoning issues and develop a plan during our consultations. If you're serious about revamping your property, creating rental income, or just increasing your family's comfort, we are too.

A Taste of Vashon's Interior Design

As your Vashon Island Interior Design expert, I wanted to give you just a taste of what I have been able to do for my clients here. These three types of additions might spark your interest or might pique your curiosity.  Feel free to contact me to see what I can do for you.