WARose Construction: Rockridge renovation: Roomier, lighter and brighter
By Janet Peischel 0 Comments

Residential Upgrade, Oakland

These Upper Rockridge homeowners wanted to create a lighter, more open living space that would extend onto the deck where they loved to entertain during the City’s warm summer months.

Project Details

To accomplish this, we removed the bathroom and a bedroom that was on the other side of the kitchen. An additional 24 sq ft of living space was added at the rear of the house, and we did some minor structural work to shore up the home, removing a dividing wall and installing a new structural beam.

We installed hardwood floors in the kitchen and family room to match existing floors throughout the house, installed new cabinets and an island, new granite countertops and a tile backsplash in the kitchen. We also added a pantry in the kitchen.

Once we’d framed the new walls, hung drywall, finished the home’s structural work, plumbing and electrical, we completed a number of small repairs and upgrades. We made small repairs to the deck and hallway flooring. Power washed the deck and refinished with a new stain. The home got a new rear door plus a door for the family’s dog, a Golden Retriever. We stained the cherry casework in the new space and added new stucco to the exterior.

Additional efforts

  • During the course of construction, we noticed a potential leak. This was not included in our scope of work, but we were concerned about mold and its potential health issues. We brought this to the attention of our clients and resolved the matter.
  • We found during the demolition that the floors between the two spaces were not level, so we discussed this with our clients and made the necessary adjustments.

The Results

A lighter, brighter, roomier and more livable space.

Photography: Ellyce Moselle

 

By Janet Peischel 0 Comments

Residential Transformation, Montclair

This Rockridge home received not just a remodel, but a transformation. The house was built on a hillside, so we completed major excavation and soil removal, along with piers and a concrete retaining wall, to prevent a potential mudslide.

Project Details

The two-bedroom, one-bath home increased its square footage by 963 sq ft, adding a master suite, another bathroom and two walk-in closets. Both bathrooms now have new tile floors; the spacious master bathroom has beautiful new walnut cabinets. W.A. Rose moved the laundry room from its old location under the house to its more convenient home at the end of a hallway. The owner’s new wine storage room is accessible through a handsome barn door.

Also new are a roof deck, the stucco exterior, a sprinkler system and Marvin windows. The rich hardwood floors throughout the home showcase a color palette of soft earth tones.

The Results

Light, bright, safer, more accessible. A very livable new space.

Photography: Ellyce Moselle

 

WA Rose Construction turned an old studio apartment into a sleek, beautiful pied a terre.
By Janet Peischel 0 Comments

Loft, Uptown Oakland

W.A. Rose will be remodeling the Montclair home of one of our clients, so we retrofitted a space that he can live in during the construction. The loft is located in the heart of Uptown Oakland, a neighborhood known for its First Fridays/Art Murmur event and vibrant restaurant and bar scene. We turned the dark 1,200 sq.ft. space into a sleek, inviting, masculine studio apartment that will be our client’s interim new home. The apartment’s color palette is in beautiful soft shades of blonde, bronze and brown.

Project Challenges

Our overarching challenge was making the most of a small space, and we worked closely with designer Darlene Isaacs to execute her design. We needed to accommodate a dishwasher and washer/dryer. To create a new kitchen area, we moved the sink, installed Cambria quartz countertops with a bronze tiled backsplash. We added a dishwasher and created enough space for a full-sized refrigerator. We adjusted the HVAC, plumbing and electrical for the new configuration and kept the original fluorescent lighting except for new LED lights in the bathroom. We also built in cabinets, a peninsula and installed a new range.

With an eye toward green construction, we were able to repair the lower level’s tongue and groove Douglas fir floors. The owner wanted to retain the rich look of the wood, so we removed those areas that were worn, infilled them with new fir, sanded and added a clear finish.

We completely reconfigured the bathroom. The owner wanted a roomy shower, so the sink and toilet were relocated to accommodate it. A pony wall on one side creates separation, while allowing light into the space. We laid new tile in the shower and floor, including accent tile in the shower. We installed carpeting in the upper bedroom area and reconfigured the closet to accommodate a stackable washer and dryer.

Because we had found some leaking during one of the Bay Area’s winter storms, we did some rooftop water testing to pinpoint the problem areas and made repairs.

The Results

Attractive, functional and accessible, our client is delighted with his cozy new loft.

Design: Darlene Isaacs; Photography: Ellyce Moselle