This project involved of the interior renovation and exterior restoration of a 4-story contemporary townhome located in the South Loop neighborhood of Chicago. In collaboration with 2 Point Perspective Architecture+Interiors, our scope involved the reconfiguration of the layout on the 1st floor including new interior framing, new lighting, new flooring, the addition of a gas fireplace, custom millwork, finish carpentry, and a selective upgrade to the kitchen including an extended peninsula finished with custom quartz countertops. We performed minor renovations to the upper floors including improvements to the master suite and the addition of millwork and lighting to the 3rd and 4th floors. Our scope also involved the fabrication and installation of architectural composite cladding to the exterior.
The catalyst for this project was a sudden fire caused by a cigarette thrown into our clients’ exterior planter by a random bystander on an extremely dry day. The exterior planter erupted into flames which quickly engulfed the exterior cladding. Thankfully, first responders were able to immediately subdue the fire and no injuries were sustained. Subsequently, our clients sought to remedy the exterior fire damage to their home. As a result, they ultimately decided to capitalize on the process of qualifying a contractor and pursue an interior renovation as well in order to improve their lifestyle for their charming young family.
The design of the spaces focused on the improved function of the living areas. While the 1st floor boasted approximately 500 square feet of living space, the open-concept layout did not allow for multi-purpose use and lacked storage space. Furthermore, our clients had found minor design flaws of the original architecture which negatively impacted their daily lives. For example, the kitchen peninsula featured a raised backsplash to house electrical outlets which created a visual separation between the kitchen and the living space. This separation felt counterintuitive to the open-concept layout. The peninsula also lacked sufficient counterspace – they did not have a substantial surface area anywhere to use for family-style dining which forced them to use freestanding furniture for their needs. This was not an ideal arrangement for accommodating small children and enthusiastic animals.