Big Plans for Small Spaces B Y C A R R I E M C C O N K E Y, W W W. C A R R I E M C O N K E Y. C O M
M
ANY OF US haven’t spent this much time at home since childhood. When we were kids, we embraced our confined quarters by constructing different domains within remember building a fort in the living room? Take a look around your own house (since you’re probably there already) and dream of what mini-spaces can be transformed into fun and functional areas that will bring pleasure long after we’re out and about again. Here are four ideas to spark your creativity: 1. Calm Down Through Crafting Get away from it all by assembling a space that will relieve stress while fueling your artistic passions. Take inventory of your supply stash to plan the proper storage spaces, and map out the type of area you’ll need to design your best work. Add an ergonomic chair and safe and efficient LED lights to brighten up your creative outlook. 2. Handle Things in a Home Office Working on the dining room table can only last so long. Pick a quiet room with a door and begin adding components that will help you dive into work without distractions. Keep your area space-efficient by using the
wall near your desk for shelving or cabinets, and hang a magnetic dry-erase board to list and keep track of your goals. 3. Loosen Up in a Library Carve out space for a home library where you can display and read your treasured tomes. Install floor-to-ceiling bookshelves on either side of a fireplace or along one wall of a cozy bedroom. Design the shelf heights to fit your books and cherished mementos. Add a comfortable chair, peaceful plants, and a floor lamp for the perfect reading escape. 4. Bundle Your Best Sentiments If your gift wrapping is known for being a present in itself, set up a designated station to indulge your talent. The enviable space
perfect for Christmas use will be handy all year ‘round, containing special tissue paper trays, ribbon racks, and drawers designed to hold colorful wrapping papers. The convenient area will also come in handy when boxing up online order returns. Use your imagination to create “grown up” spaces that will make you feel like a kid again. Not sure how to make your vision a reality? Call Closets by McKenry to design affordable refuges that will enhance your extra time at home.
Closets by McKenry
201 Center Park Drive, #1070 Knoxville, TN 37922 865.249.6382 2019 Closets Designer of the Year – Interior Design Society
Johnson Architecture Project Marble Hall Earns AIA East Tennessee Merit Award has earned recognition for a third time for its re-imagining of Marble Hall at Lakeshore Park. The East Tennessee Chapter of the American Institute of Architects presented the company with a merit award on May 1. Johnson Architecture received the distinction in the category of renovation and restoration for its work on the historic chapel. AIA East Tennessee presented its annual Design Awards online in 2020 because of coronavirus precautions with a live video reveal of the 12 winners from 34 project submissions. Johnson Architecture previously earned awards for the preservation project from Knox Heritage and the East Tennessee Historical Society. “Designing a new look and function for Marble Hall while preserving its character was an honor for our firm,” said Daryl Johnson, founder and president of Johnson Architecture. “The recognition by our peers is especially gratifying. This historical site has become a place for people to gather and reflect and enjoy the beauty of Lakeshore Park.” The Lakeshore Park board and landscape 10
EVERYTHING KNOXVILLE July 2020
Photos by Ben Finch
JOHNSON ARCHITECTURE
architect Ross Fowler hired Johnson Architecture to restore Marble Hall. Denark Construction handled the renovation. The AIA judges said Marble Hall became “a thoughtful modification of a dignified vintage structure and will doubtless contribute to the public’s enjoyment of the facility in its new incarnation.” The judges also pointed out the “bold design moves,” such as removing exterior walls, and that the supporting pavilion and restrooms are “equally impressive and well-executed.” The classic architectural identity was kept intact while part of the “skin” was peeled away to expose the simple elegance of the 3,367-square-foot structure. The existing
Tennessee marble cladding remained, as well as the structural wooden frame and ceiling and the intricate rose window. The design also included new, adjacent public restrooms and a 1,008-square-foot Marble Hall Pavilion, which features materials reflective of its counterpart. Marble Hall originally was constructed in 1958 as a chapel for the Eastern State Psychiatric Hospital, later renamed Lakeshore Mental Health Institute, and is one of the few remaining buildings on the property from that era. Following the closure of the institute in 2012, the State of Tennessee conveyed the property to the City of Knoxville. Lakeshore Park now draws thousands of visitors annually.