When our clients purchased their home in Medford, MA, it came with an appealing option – a formerly unfinished and unused walk-up attic space. They had big plans for this valuable square footage and enlisted the support of our design & build team to convert it into a Primary Suite tailored to their specific needs. Functionally, they needed a bedroom, bathroom, closet, laundry, and office area. Stylistically, they wanted a light and airy open-concept space, with an element of fun, vibrant colors.

In the bedroom area, Designer Madison Cota repurposed the attic’s original floorboards as a striking diagonal shiplap style accent wall. Inspired by the homeowner’s inspiration images, Madison recommended a deep green paint color (Benjamin Moore: Hunter Green) to anchor the bedroom area of this open floor plan and seamlessly harmonize with our client’s style. Oil-rubbed bronze wall sconces finish the look while complementing the contemporary light fixture above the staircase entrance.

To capitalize on the currently unusable space in this former attic, it required two sizeable shed dormers on either side of the roof to allow enough head height to house areas for the walk-in closet and bathroom. Classic clean white oak hardwood flooring was installed throughout the space, with the exception of the beautifully tiled bathroom, creating a feeling of harmony and spaciousness. An office nook and sitting area separated by a partial wall and enveloped in sunlight were carved out of the space adjacent to the bedroom. Bold colors and patterns in the bathroom help give the small space a modern, chic feel.

One of our client’s primary goals and a key design challenge for this floor was to incorporate a laundry area into the space. To accomplish this, we sought a creative approach to integrating space that wouldn’t take away from the usable living area. As this floor had formerly been an attic, space under the eaves that was too low for functioning walking or sitting space proved the perfect height for a side-by-side washer, dryer, and storage. The addition of sliding barn doors with contemporary hardware not only adds aesthetically to the design but also makes easy work of obscuring the laundry when not in use.

One of the most unique and fun features of this remodeled attic is the skylight at the end of the hallway. This seemingly ordinary, albeit tall, skylight set in the roof line opens to reveal a surprising balcony that allows exceptional light and airflow to the space in addition to an incredible view of the Boston skyline. You can see the VELUX Cabrio Roof Balcony in action here.