Originally, this room felt very disconnected from the rest of the house and had lost its intended purpose as a family gathering space. Over time it had become a storage area for miscellaneous household items and workout equipment. The space was dimly lit, finished with carpet that had been in place for over fifteen years, and no longer contributed meaningfully to the life of the home.

Working closely with our clients, we reimagined the room as a private ensuite bedroom and studio, more of a quiet retreat that balances sleeping and living spaces within a single room.

From the beginning, the overall layout of the space felt very straightforward. Rather than making significant structural changes, our focus shifted toward the atmosphere of the room. We carefully discussed how to shape the experience through light, texture, and material selection.

Warm oak flooring was installed throughout the space, bringing continuity to the interior. New windows in the bedroom area and a French door in the living area introduce more natural light and strengthen the connection to the outdoors.

To add depth and visual weight to the living space, we applied a soft green Venetian plaster finish. The subtle movement and natural variation within the plaster bring a subtle richness to the walls without feeling like too much.

A custom shoji screen divider, fabricated from solid birch and traditional shoji, separates the bedroom from the living space. This helps maintain a sense of openness and filters light between the two areas.

While the structural intervention in this project was minimal, it allowed us to approach the design in a different way by focusing on how light, material, and texture can reshape the feeling of a space and create a more intentional architecture.