In the aftermath of an electrical fire, Dallas-based Kitchen Design Concepts was called upon to craft a home in which multigenerational design was paramount.
Originating in the attic HVAC unit, the fire caused extensive damage, resulting in most of the second story being gutted, along with the kitchen and much of the first floor. A fire remediation company handled most of the demolition.
Multigenerational Family Needs
While the primary goal was to restore the home to safe and livable conditions, “The family was at the heart of this project,” said KDC’s Katie Brown CKBR, who helmed the project. “It is a multigenerational household with a strong focus on creating a welcoming, functional space for everyone. The client’s elderly mother, who is over 90 years old and stays with them for several months each year, was a key consideration in the design.”
Although no children currently live in the home, the clients have two adult children and two grandchildren who visit often, along with a steady flow of extended family, including aunts, uncles, and other relatives. The home was designed with this constant family presence in mind, featuring six bedrooms to comfortably accommodate guests and gatherings.
Project Planning & Management
One of the biggest challenges was just the sheer size of the project. Every part of the house needed to be redone or fixed in some way, so KDC had to be very thoughtful and strategic about how they tackled each phase. Another challenge was the compromised cast-iron plumbing lines throughout the entire house – with eight bathrooms, that was no small issue. Since the building had fire damage, KDC had to carefully assess the roof and roof rafters to determine what could be salvaged and what had to be replaced.
Meeting with the clients twice a week for two months gave a lot of insight into how they actually live and what they value. One of the biggest takeaways was how important it was to make each bathroom feel individual, tailored to the person who would be using it. Bacon said, “For example, in the primary bathroom, there is an open section where it looks like a tub should go. That’s because there used to be one, but the clients realized they would never use it. Instead of installing a freestanding tub just for the look, they chose to leave the space open.”
Multigenerational Design Programming
Specific bathroom features were thoughtfully designed to meet the needs of different family members. The client’s mother’s suite includes a hand shower, bench seat and grab bars to ensure safety and comfort. The daughter’s bathroom also features a hand shower for flexibility and ease of use. In the grandchildren’s bathroom, playful waterfall spouts were installed. All walls in this bathroom were finished with wainscot tile, making it easier to clean and resistant to water splashes.
Working at Scale
The ordering and installation schedule for this eight-bathroom project differed somewhat from a single-bathroom project. All bathroom renovations were grouped into a single scope of work to allow the plumber to complete them efficiently in one phase. This streamlined approach also applied to tile installation and other related finishes, ensuring consistency across spaces and reducing delays.
KDC finalized designs quickly and placed orders immediately to avoid delays, especially given the ongoing supply chain issues at the time. The project was approached in carefully planned phases, allowing Bacon’s team to manage both logistics and budget effectively.
This multigenerational design was the largest project that KDC has ever done. It provided valuable insights into the importance of strategic planning. One key lesson was the effectiveness of breaking down the work into manageable scopes and compartmentalizing spaces. Since then, this block-and-tackle strategy has been applied to a few other projects to help streamline workflows.
Sources
Design: Katie Bacon CKBR, Kitchen Design Concepts; Photography: Michael Hunter; Cabinets: W.W. Wood Products; Cabinet Hardware: Top Knobs, Berenson, Atlas Homewares; Countertops: Cambria & Stone Collection; Faucets: Brizo, Delta, Kohler & Moen; Lighting: Hinkley, Uttermost, Regency Hill, Troy, Hudson Valley, Lanza, Varaluz, Sable Point, Drury, Quoizel, All Modern; Mirrors: GlassHouse & Alamo Glass (local vendors); Paint: Sherwin-Williams; Shower Fittings: Brizo, Delta & Moen; Sinks, Toilets: Toto; Tile: Daltile, Interceramic, Renaissance Tile, TileBar, WOW, Antique Floors Elon & Elysium, Sonoma Tile; Tub: Kohler; Tub Filler: Delta; Ventilation: Panasonic; Wallpapers: Lion Heart, Kenneth James
