The configuration of an 1870’s era town house, where the existing fireplace subdivided the 12’ x 18’ living space into two unusable rooms, prompted the desire to unify and renew these spaces into one larger, more-usable space.  By removing the non-working fireplace and chimney flue, utilizing the remaining hole as a chase in which to sensitively place ductwork and electrical wiring for modern amenities, the feeling of the home was completely transformed.  An elegant, offsetting masonry chimney and a Rumford fireplace with a custom designed mantle on the exterior wall provide the new focal point for the unified room, and complement the architectural style of the existing house.

Additionally, the owners wanted to add a full bath to a cramped three bedroom town house without compromising the established aesthetic, flow and layout of the existing house, or the client’s limited budget.  The solution:  take an existing 5’ x 5’ windowed closet and convert it into the desired new bath.  By adding a vintage claw foot tub to make the space appear larger, using bead board to eliminate the need for costly tile work, installing the smallest wall mounted lavatory available, and adding a custom-built, wall-mounted storage cabinet, these features combine to create a fully functional bath that belies its small size.

Project Stats:

Alexandria, VA

25 SF

Completed 2006