Kevin Kulesa Designs, LLC

Jun 2012

The loft is a downtown warehouse with a box which housed a bathroom, closet, washer/dryer, and HVAC. One outer wall of the box was a kitchenette with minimal counter space. The bathroom, kitchenette, and closets all shared walls. In the kitchen, more counter space, storage, and outlets were added with a clean design. The dramatic red glass backsplash is beautiful and very easy to care for. Several units in the building have a raised kitchen island built on a cumbersome platform. Our approach was to remove a strip of concrete from the floor to run the needed services while maintaining a level floor. The new Asian inspired bathroom includes a deep-soaking tub, bamboo cabinets, and a teak-matted platform. Part of the ceiling was removed to expose the gorgeous wooden beams above and two walls were moved to create more space for the bathroom and a separate hidden nook for the washer/dryer. A new frosted glass sliding door and window panel brings in natural light along with a cantilevered overhang which further reflects light. The hallway was reconfigured to add a broom closet and more light as well. Sustainable materials were used whenever possible. The cabinets and closet doors are bamboo and the countertop is made from recycled materials. The existing toilet and garbage disposal were reused and along with a lot of drywall. The lighting is low-energy LED and the new appliances all exceed EnergyStar requirements. These elements make Loft #3 a unique design project and special home.

$50k

Pittsburgh, PA

Dec 2010

Built in 1964 by a Taliesin student and builder for Frank Lloyd Wright named Don Owens. The kitchen needed to fit the personality and era of the house. The projected started when finding vintage steel lab cabinets recovered from a hospital. Everything from then on had to be customized to fit the available size and specifications. Wall, electric, plumbing, lighting and duct would need to be moved. The walls that stayed would need to be stripped down to the studs and resurfaced with thinner materials in order to accommodate the non-stand height and width the cabinets. Each cabinet would have to be numbered, dismantled, sanded, primed, painted, reassembled and installed. Cabinets had to be welded, patched and sawzalled to fit appliances. One of the cabinets was repurposed from a hanging desk cabinet to base cabinet for under the oven and microwave. The main reason for wanting glass backsplashes was the thin profile. Hand painted red backsplashes hang over the cooking area and a sidewall for a write-on menu board. Inset clear glass to the right of the stove for is used for a splashguard. The rest of the backsplashes are stainless steel for the same reasons.

$17k

Pittsburgh, PA

Jun 2012

The loft is a downtown warehouse with a box which housed a bathroom, closet, washer/dryer, and HVAC. One outer wall of the box was a kitchenette with minimal counter space. The bathroom, kitchenette, and closets all shared walls. In the kitchen, more counter space, storage, and outlets were added with a clean design. The dramatic red glass backsplash is beautiful and very easy to care for. Several units in the building have a raised kitchen island built on a cumbersome platform. Our approach was to remove a strip of concrete from the floor to run the needed services while maintaining a level floor. The new Asian inspired bathroom includes a deep-soaking tub, bamboo cabinets, and a teak-matted platform. Part of the ceiling was removed to expose the gorgeous wooden beams above and two walls were moved to create more space for the bathroom and a separate hidden nook for the washer/dryer. A new frosted glass sliding door and window panel brings in natural light along with a cantilevered overhang which further reflects light. The hallway was reconfigured to add a broom closet and more light as well. Sustainable materials were used whenever possible. The cabinets and closet doors are bamboo and the countertop is made from recycled materials. The existing toilet and garbage disposal were reused and along with a lot of drywall. The lighting is low-energy LED and the new appliances all exceed EnergyStar requirements. These elements make Loft #3 a unique design project and special home.

$50k

Pittsburgh, PA