~ Row House in Pittsburgh ~ FIRST FLOOR

I'm helping my son refurbish his new purchase. A row house built in 1900. One side is attached to the home next door and the other is not.

The positives about the purchase are:

1. it's made of brick

2. it has a backyard

3. it has a small 1 car garage

4. it's in the RIGHT location.
5. And it has a view of the city from the 2nd and 3rd floor.

BEFORE

Google photo July 2017

Thank heavens they decided to painted it gray and white before they sold it. Curb appeal!

I would like to go one step further and bring the outside to what it should be.

* The lower front windows need to be raised to where they originally were.
* The 'eyebrows' have been removed and the windows look too small.

* I'd also love to add some black railings leading up to the front door and widen the steps.

This color combo of light gray and white windows is also a nice light touch. Also note the door lantern.

CHECK OUT EVERYTHING I'VE SAVED ON PINTEREST HERE
ROW HOUSE REDESIGN IDEAS

I'm working on some ideas for the first floor rehab.
The kitchen is the heart of the home and it would be nice to get it to line up with the dining room. and living room. Right now it's located in the 14 x 14 area in the back. The pink is a outdoor slab that leads to the back yard.

If we moved the kitchen to the slab we need to do several things.
1. remove the brick exterior wall.
2. Add an exterior wall
3. Create a new door opening to the backyard
4. Do not drill into the slab and keep the electrical there - like the stove. Sink stays on the other side.
5. Add electrical to that area.

Back slab to move kitchen 14 x 6
GREAT POSTS ~ Save them!

Garage door look - plenty of light - and includes a door.

View out the Kitchen windows.

ORIGINAL KITCHEN

This is now flipped to the other side. Maybe we can use some of the cabinets - paint them.

This is a large item in a kitchen and the current one still looks like it's in good shape.
What if we back it up to a storage area behind it and recess it so it becomes flush with the counters.
I also like when a Fridge is surrounded by wood and not showing it's sides.

This is bumped out - it should look flush with the counters.

1. The powder room plumbing is right behind the kitchen plumbing.

2.There is a pantry behind the kitchen. Maybe we can use a barn door - covering the storage and moves over the hallway if they're the same width.

3.The powder room gets the window.

4. Pocket doors on the powder room save space.

5. You can see the fridge is recessed into the pantry area so that it can be flushed with the counters.

The long hallway can have coat hooks and bench for storage.

* I was also thinking maybe put the laundry in this area - but a stackable machine with cabinet & plumbing stands about 40" away from the wall.
* A false wall would be placed behind the fridge.
* That only leaves about 60" from the fake wall to the other side.
*Leaving walking space available about 20".
*That's not wide enough for a proper hallway to the powder room.
* So, the laundry has to go somewhere else.

It's costly to remove the entire wall that runs down the hallway - a support beam may be needed to keep the floor above from bouncing.

Even if you remove the wall ~ and create a more open concept ~ you still need a hallway for proper traffic flow to the back of the house.

Keeping the partial wall achieves that flow.

1. A chair needs 36" when pulled out
2. A dining table is 36 - 42" wide
3. A banquette is about 32" deep
4. Shown this way it's 3 ft of area in front of the fireplace.

1. Keep the wall behind the Banquette
2. The wall can hold 2 sconces above the banquette for ambiance. Since the grouping is not centered ~ you don't need a chandelier.
3. Use recessed lighting on dimmers
4. The cabinet in the hallway would have a mirror and lamp for light and reflection.

Mid Century Modern Banquette

BRICK WALL BEHIND BANQUETTE

I also like the beams.

* From this photo ~ I'm realizing the opening is opposite the fireplace.

* That's awkward ~ because that's where I want the banquette

*So, Houston we have a problem. The wall and opening need to move.

Did anyone notice ~ There's a WINDOW under the wall!

* REMOVE ALL RADIATORS

*INSTALL 1st and 2nd floor HVAC

* REMOVE WALL AC

* RESTORE WALL PLACEMENT

Doorway between Living Room & Dining Room

REMOVE THIS WALL
SAVE THE DOORS!

RAISE CEILING AND ENLARGE WINDOWS
* Again - these door openings need to be tweeked if we keep the walls.
* The openings can also be raised with the ceiling.