Elmwood Shared Studio
Location Traverse City, Michigan
Type Major Renovation
Builder Mark Kellogg Construction
Size 1100 SQ FT
Designsmiths redesigned a 100-year-old, former neighborhood grocery store, for their studio and to share with other creative professionals. The building originally constructed in 1898 by grocer E.S. Jones had once been a hub of the surrounding community. In the ground-level main studio, all of the walls from previous renovations were removed to re-create the open and inviting spatial experience of a neighborhood grocery store. Where efficiency was needed, modernizations were made (LED lighting, windows, insulation, plumbing, and HVAC, all powered by solar panels hidden on the roof) and relics of the past (original floors, tin ceiling, storefront windows) were celebrated. A small kitchenette and bathroom separate the front studio from a private back office.
Photography by Andy Wakeman
Elmwood Apartment
Size 1100 SQ FT
This second-floor apartment was originally divided into several small spaces, which we opened up into two large living areas, two bedrooms, a laundry area and one bathroom. From the entry, you can see through the width of the entire building and from the kitchen, you can see down the entire length. This axis creates the feeling of a large open floor plan and takes full advantage of natural light and cross breezes.
