Small: the New Big
Tour the Before and After of Gretchen and Vince's Dream Condo Remodel
By Angela Ashby
Welcome to the home of Gretchen and Vince Coleman, a newly married local couple who decided to remodel their 720 square foot mountain condo and call it their first home together. Outfitted with light fixtures reminiscent of an Austin Powers movie, groovy red Formica countertops, dark rustic timbers and antiquated electric baseboards, an update was needed for both aesthetics and practicality. The couple's goals were to stay within budget, incorporate sustainable design and create a comfortable living space. They had to figure out how to maximize storage without encroaching into living space. Luckily, since the space is small, they could afford to use high quality materials and still stay within their budget. Sustainable design goes beyond energy efficiency and material composition. It also pertains to living in smaller spaces, thereby using fewer resources. Here is how they achieved a contemporary showplace in 720 square feet.
They started by consulting with friends, family, an architect, an electrician, an EcoBroker (myself) and an interior designer to determine the best use of their $30,000 budget to create a space they would love and that would cost far less to operate.
With a fast approaching September wedding, the couple needed to get their space ready quickly for move-in. Gretchen, a graphic artist for Prudential Steamboat Realty, has a keen eye for design that is complimented by Vince's vision for a user-friendly contemporary kitchen. Vince, a chef at Bistro CV, needed to be able to move his 6'4" frame easily around the kitchen and have enough counter space to create his culinary masterpieces. The design process began long before actual deconstruction.
Deconstruction – In July, demolition and salvage of items that could be donated and recycled began with a complete gutting of the kitchen, bath and hallway. Items such as appliances, lighting and furniture were donated to a local charity, sk8 Church. Cabinets, doors and other items were set out as freebies for locals and were quickly snatched up. The antiquated electric baseboards were discarded because of inefficiency and perceived hazards. One baseboard heater located in the bedroom was replaced with a newer unit. The condo's gas fireplace and passive solar gain from south facing floor to ceiling windows were kept, as they warm the entire unit on most winter days.
Custom Design and Minimizing Transport – Tremendous logistical planning went into minimizing the carbon footprint of material delivery. Gretchen designed custom cabinetry for the bathroom to maximize storage, and her father then built it to specifications at his home in Minnesota. While on a trip home to Minnesota to prepare for the wedding, Gretchen and Vince purchased engineered wood flooring at $1.99/sf and “scratch-and-dent” energy efficient appliances. At the local IKEA, known for sustainably designed products, affordability and maximum storage with contemporary design, they purchased their kitchen cabinets, slider-doors for the hallway closet, bedroom storage and entertainment center. They took advantage of a delivery trailer headed to Colorado and loaded everything together for the single trip to Colorado. All perfect for Vince and Gretchen's vision!
Before
After
The Water Heater Debacle – Replacement of the fifty-gallon hot water heater offered many lessons. Once removed and donated to Home ReSource, the initial plan was to install an on-demand (tank-less) unit. While the intrigue of space savings and potential energy savings is huge, these units can actually be counter-productive depending on your space, utility location and budget. After consulting with the electrician and HVAC installer, and taking into consideration the quote of $4,000 for installation, Vince and Gretchen decided a Slimline electric hot water unit was the best option in this scenario. Because of the age of the building, their 120 volt electric panel would not support a tank-less unit and operation costs were actually estimated to be higher than a Slimline water heater. Additionally, bringing the gas line to the desired space would have been too costly. The Slimline unit which cost around $230, fit perfectly into the plan and fit perfectly into the hall closet. Potential remodelers who desire a tank-less hot water heater must make sure they know how much power is needed, the source of their power, and the location of venting. It is best to seek professional advice. Research on the proper equipment for altitude and the pay-off time for the equipment is imperative before making a decision.
Hallway and Bath Reconfiguration – The original hallway closet featured two very small openings with bypass doors to access one long closet. The space was essentially wasted with such limited access. One large opening was created to easily access the entire space. The doors were replaced with large sleek glass sliders and the result was more storage and the effect of a larger space. Future plans call for a mini-office in one side of the space which will create the sense of another room.
An awkward door separated what was considered a master suite from the living area. Behind the door stood the water heater and a hallway vanity area, then another door lead to a water closet containing the tub and toilet. Both doors in the space were removed and the wall separating the water closet was torn down to create one large bathroom. A new door was framed-in farther back in order to create a hallway. The area where the old water heater was located became the new laundry area with small twenty-four inch deep front-load stackable energy efficient washer and dryer.
Bedroom Space – In the bedroom, an IKEA storage component was customized to provide the couple a closet and storage for their clothing. Additionally, drawers underneath the bed help to maximize storage. Plans for built-in side tables to provide additional storage are next in line for Dad to construct and deliver on his next planned road trip to Steamboat.
Before
Photo credit - Paul Knowles
After
Photo credit - Paul Knowles
Bathroom Facelift – The new bathroom features dark grey slate in a subway tile pattern and custom cabinetry with Vessel sink. The Vessel sink is one of Gretchen's favorite things about the bathroom because of the counter space created and less mess when washing her face. The cabinets were designed to maximize storage and to camouflage a very large four-inch copper vent pipe that could not be removed when the wall was torn out. Efficient mat-in-floor heating was installed in the bathroom, thereby reducing need for baseboard heating. When the bathroom was gutted, there was virtually no insulation around the tub and shower area. The tub area is now warm and cozy!
Kitchen for a Chef – The kitchen design incorporates the contemporary look of stainless appliances and sleek black granite countertops, with the earthiness of slate and maple cabinetry. The cabinets are made of wood certified by the FSC (Forestry Stewardship Council) and have a cherry stain. At thirty-nine inches, they extend nearly to the ceiling to maximize kitchen storage. The full wall backsplash was a great, late addition and came from leftover materials from the new Vertical Arts space. The uneven horizontal rough slate reflects the slate color in the bathroom. Plenty of counter space for Vince, and seating at the bar is a treat for visitors who get to watch him prepare meals.
Accessories – All the lighting was purchased locally at Lightworks and completely sets the tone for the living space. Lightworks will evaluate a space and consult on what type of lighting is needed. Drop downs, under cabinet lighting, track and ceiling fixtures are positioned in just the right places to provide the proper task, accent and mood lighting. The LED (light-emitting diodes) fixtures reduce energy consumption and other lighting fixtures were chosen for their compatibility with future LED technology. Gretchen greatly prefers LED lighting over CFLs (compact fluorescent bulbs).
Windows and Doors – The original window in the dining area and the balcony slider in the bedroom are inefficient and single-paned. These accounted for much of the energy loss in the condo. For a temporary fix through the winter, they installed protective film to help insulate. It has proven to be a worthy fix and this spring they plan to replace both with already purchased units found at Home ReSource.
Odds and Ends – Extra insulation was added to the airy attic space, clever design created storage for ski boots behind the sofa and the coffee table serves as more storage with drawers on either end. In the living room, a programmable thermostat was installed for the fireplace. Overall, they maximized storage in their small space by taking things off the ground and utilizing wall space. 
The End Result Vince and Gretchen Coleman created a sustainable remodel.
- They stayed under their $30k budget
- They consumed half the amount of electricity than prior to the remodel
- They are able to live in a smaller space—comfortably
- They utilized local salvage resources
- They minimized their carbon output with one-stop shopping
- They supported local businesses
- They used materials that were more sustainable and energy efficient
- They created a place of their own in their own style
Features
The Beetle Kill Issue
10 Years Strong
Building Green With Beetle Kill Wood
A Cut Above - Harvesting and Milling
Securing Safer Forests by Salvaging Snags
Stimulus Funding Hits the Ground
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The Green Scene
Builder Perspectives
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