Wide-Open Views to a Narrow Majority

Many men and women know it is possible to take advantage of small living spaces through smart design choices. But this double-stacked house in Edmonton, Alberta, proves that using a supernarrow lot dimensions, it is likely to create a staggeringly expansive floor plan. How expansive? How about a 17-foot-wide house that boasts 3,400 square feet?

While most lots in Edmonton clock at at 50 ft broad, this 25-foot half lot posed a substantial design challenge which caused many people to move on to greener, more considerable pastures. But thirdstone’s architects watched the immediate potential for their customer to make a big family home with epic design cache.

Their aerodynamic model made 16- from 16-foot rooms — larger than most people’s living rooms and bedrooms — with windows on either side to capitalize on the abundance of lighting, a massive advantage over denser designs having the inclination to bury some rooms deep inside their core. The low lot size also meant a decrease in price, which allowed the homeowners to put extra money into building something dramatic that catered to the demands of their family. They wanted to have the ability to interact with the outside spaces, have glass walls so that they could see their kids playing outside and have the space be more flexible for family growth. The big, open kids’ area, for example, can easily be partitioned off to create two bedrooms at the future.

Meanwhile, they employed low-cost, off-the-shelf substances to get a fresh, forward-thinking design. “We certainly saw the potential of the site,” says architect Louis Pereira. “We knew it’d work.”

in a Glance
Who lives here: Acouple with 2 kids (ages 7 and 9)
Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Size: around 3,400 square feet; 1 bedroom, however distance to extend into 5
Budget: $450,000

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The top-floor master bedroom along with the bottom-floor living area are visible through the largely glass exterior, allowing for a better connection with the surrounding neighborhood, something among the homeowners specifically was looking for. Now he can wave to his neighbors from inside the home (yes, even from the master bedroom). “I personally wanted visibility to the home,” he states. “I believe it is refreshing to be receptive. It’s a way to socialize with neighbors.”

The white fiber cement panels are accented with knotted cedar planks. Both substances extend to the landscape with garden walls that seem to become part of the home.

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The floor is a laminate at a good charcoal grey to help ground the room, using a reflective end for an airy feel. The TV is hidden with a stain behind walnut wood cabinets. “We wanted a traditional parlour feel, where we can sit and have coffee or wine and a discussion,” the homeowner says.

The inspiration came from Ludwig Mies van der Rohe’s classic Farnsworth House (shown in this roundup of must-know modern houses). “I always wanted a living area with a modernist feel,” says the owner.

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For the kitchen, the homeowners didn’t need anything too decorative, but rather something to reflect the calmness and refined appearance of the remainder of the interior and the exterior. To complement the grey flooring, charcoal highlights all of the recessed components in the white Ikea cabinets.

The drop-down ceiling is walnut hardwood with a walnut stain, mimicking the island layout below and nodding to the living room cabinets.

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The kitchen double-galley design allows two people to cook in the kitchen simultaneously. The small prep sink area from the backdrop adds more counter space and hides kitchen appliances.

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The homeowners envisioned the dining room as hosting large parties that trickle out to a courtyard. The fir-framed doors totally fold open to create one fluid space.

The homeowner created the painting based on a single he saw while on vacation in Bali. The chairs and table are from Ikea.

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The courtyard connects evenly with the indoor dining area. A large garden wall along with the knotted cedar plank wall make the room feel cozy and intimate.

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A small workstation for among the homeowners, seen here, along with his family features an integrated monitor and storage cabinets for crafts and media.

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The open-riser staircase provides the appearance of floating wood slabs — in this situation, more maple with a walnut stain. Aside from looking cool, the design lets the homeowners view from the workstation to the entryway, also allows air flow between the two floors.

Thirdstone came up with an economical design for its handrail: The architects created the middle brackets, then bought 1 1/4-inch wood dowels from a hardware store.

The painting was bought in Bali and picks up the a variety of wood tones at the home.

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A skylight over the stairs opens to draw lingering heat from downstairs through the roof. Floor-to-ceiling windows throughout the home allow cross ventilation through operable openings at the top.

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The kids’ rooms are one big, open space with a play area at the middle. It was made to be flexible for when the kids become teenagers and need more personal space; the homeowners can easily and affordably incorporate partitions.

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When the blinds are open in the master bedroom, then the homeowners can tide to their neighbors on the road.

The seat was bought locally. The platform bed is from Ikea.

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A charcoal tile bath with cedar wood for the shower floor is among the most breathtaking spaces from the home. The wood slats sit above tile and can easily be removed to clean beneath.

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