Playing with purpose
What a room is for matters more than you think
Friday May 8
On the TV
A week-by-week commentary on Rock the Block Season 7
Something I’ve really loved over the last few weeks of talking about these episodes is just how much I’ve been able to combine my knowledge of real estate and interior design.
If you’re not familiar with Rock the Block, it’s a show where interior designers compete to produce the home with the highest appraisal value. They start with the same house plan and essentially work to improve it each week as they work on the different spaces within the home. In this week’s episode, they all tackled a 250 sq ft building on their properties, what they called the “multi-gen” space.
Before I go any further, I just need a moment to state that it is bonkers that this space was just 250 sq ft compared to the 890 sq ft they had last week for a kitchen.
But, moving on: this was a challenge that required them to think about not just filling a space, but actually leveraging it effectively. In other words: purpose.
Purpose was two-fold:
What would the purpose of the room be? Entertainment, workout, office, guest suite etc.
What was the designer’s purpose (or objective) in designing this room? Was it to add value, to be creative, or a mixture of both?
My immediate assumption was that everyone would create some version of an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU, also known as a granny flat or in-law suite). I made this assumption based on the fact that it was most likely to improve overall appraisal value (ding! ding! ding!). And I was largely correct.
For the space to really work as an ADU or potential short-term rental, it needed to have some form of kitchen or kitchenette, a full bathroom, and a place to sleep. Bonus points for a washer and dryer and closet space, as these would allow it to really be used long-term.
Three out of four teams essentially had the same approach with some slight variations: sleeping area, kitchen area, bathroom area, living area.
Scott and Brooke created a bedroom that was entirely separate from the living space, adjusted the layout of their bathroom, and created a small kitchen, which included an island. They tiled the entire bathroom; a choice I like for making a room feel bigger, but in this instance, while the tile was nice, I didn’t think it was the best choice for the whole room. Their living room also didn’t have enough proper seating.
Mina and Vernon went the opposite way to Scott and Brooke, minimizing the bedroom space by opting for a daybed, and maximizing the kitchen. This kitchen was a showstopper; honestly I think I liked it more than the kitchen in their main house. They skipped an island (wise, in my opinion), included full-size appliances, and took their cabinetry all the way to the ceiling, which made the ceilings feel higher. The only thing they did in their kitchen which I didn’t like was place the fridge essentially opposite the sofa. In this instance I think I’d have moved their dining area into their kitchen (they didn’t have an island, so why not?), and opted for a Murphy bed instead of a day bed. I found their bathroom boring (while I liked the style of the fixtures, I didn’t like the finishes).
Taniya and Drew had one of the coolest bathrooms, featuring beautiful sconces and a stunning visual from the living room area. Doing something slightly different to the two aforementioned teams, they floated their bed in the middle of their space. And, skipping a dedicated dining area, they chose to build an island to expand their kitchen prep space. It was a nice space, and felt very hotel like, but it was a miss for me in terms of layout.
Black (Yellow) Sheep
Kim and Chelsea did not do what everyone else did. While they had some of the same elements; a bathroom and a kitchen (with a hidden induction cooktop—genius by the way!), they skipped the bedroom entirely and opted to make the purpose of the space a movie room.
They tented the room in yellow fabric and went full blast 70s style with the design: doing a giant velvet sectional, funky floral wallpaper, and great 70s-style lighting, including a bulbous chandelier and a playful fringed lamp. Their bathroom continued the theme, with a geometric mirror mounted on top of another mirror, the same wallpaper, and a stone sink.
It was, in a word, astounding. Very unexpected. Stunning visually (in my opinion anyway; not all this week’s judges agreed), and extremely well executed. No notes (except for some finer interior design details).
Also: bonus points to them because they connected it to the main house!!
I did initially have some concern that this wasn’t the best use for the space, but as I thought about it, I recognized they had still designed it in a way that could function for other purposes. The drapery could come down, a bed could go in the space easily, a small dining area could be created with little trouble. So honestly, bravo.
Figuring out your ADU
If you’re considering an ADU, here’s some basic advice. I’ve never built or designed an one, but from the range I’ve seen, here are a few simple things to consider:
The main purpose: guest suite, in-law suite, studio-cum-guest suite, office-cum-guest suite etc.
Where the ADU sits in connection to the main property: if it’s in the back of the house versus in the front or on the side, your design for it may need to be different
How it connects architecturally to the main property: same style, styled like a garage, etc.
How it connects physically to the main property (or doesn’t!)
How big you want it to be (also, pay attention to state laws)
How flexible vs fixed you want the space to be
Returning to the Hypothetical Spanish Revival Multi-Gen Space
So what possibilities did I see and think about?
It’s Vegas, it’s hot, it’s a luxury home priced over a million dollars; I thought about a pool house. Honestly, I kept thinking of Rory’s pool house situation at her grandparents’ home in Gilmore Girls.
So, along that vein, I think I would have done a pool house and solved the living/bedroom conundrum with a Murphy bed. I would have had a seating area (housing the Murphy bed), a small, well-stocked eat-in kitchen (including cabinets to the ceiling like Mina and Vernon, and an invisible induction cooktop just like Kim and Chelsea). I’d also have a small, well designed closet connecting the bathroom to the main living/bedroom space (maybe a walk through closet?). If possible, I’d also replace the existing door with—you guessed it— french doors that opened up to the outside. The best thing about going for a flexible Murphy bed living room is that it would allow the ADU to work excellently as a pool house if a pool was put in later by a future homeowner (with some additional considerations like flooring etc.). Ultimate flexibility.
Let me know what you think and what you would do.
Signing off for this week! If you’re looking for more, check out the blog, the podcast, or find us on Instagram and Pinterest.
Loooove those movie room vibes - they feel old school without feeling dated. I can imagine a spill on one of those sofas would be a nightmare to get rid of though ha