A Ceramicist Gets Hands On While Renovating Her Midcentury Home

How to Renovate a Midcentury Home with a Focus on Architecture and Ceramics

Step 1: Property Search and Initial Assessment

• Start by looking for a property that aligns with your vision, whether it's to tear down and rebuild or renovate extensively.
• Consider the layout and condition of the property, identifying areas that need significant work such as walls, ceilings, and roofs.

Step 2: Reorienting the House

• Prioritize reorienting the house to suit your preferences, such as focusing on views of mountains and oak trees rather than the street.
• Aim for a modernist design with a touch of funkiness and bold colors while maintaining a connection to the 50s ranch style.

Step 3: Design Concept and Color Palette

• Choose a design concept that combines modernist elements with a playful twist, avoiding taking itself too seriously.
• Experiment with colors by incorporating the full primary Bauhaus color palette (red, yellow, blue) while grounding the design with dark porcelain floor tiles and ceiling beams.

Step 4: Designing Within Constraints

• Embrace constraints as a creative challenge and an opportunity to enhance the design.
• Hide necessary structural elements creatively to improve the overall design beyond your initial conception.

Step 5: Integrating Ceramics into the Design

• Utilize your skills in ceramics to create custom pieces that complement the design of the home.
• Design and make ceramic planters, tiles for the kitchen backsplash, and other decorative elements to personalize the space.

Step 6: Creating a Studio Space

• Allocate space for a studio within the property, such as converting a garage into an Accessory Dwelling Unit (Adu).
• Make the studio a functional and inspiring workspace where you can pursue your passion for ceramics conveniently.

Step 7: Enjoying the Finished Home

• Appreciate the final result as a reflection of your interests in architecture and ceramic art.
• Take pleasure in the seamless integration of art and design in your home, showcasing your creativity and craftsmanship.

By following these steps, you can renovate a midcentury home with a focus on architecture and ceramics, creating a personalized and inspiring living space that reflects your passion and creativity.