French | Vanderhorn Architects

4 Stylish Bunk Bed Designs

While bunk beds are sometimes thought of simply as a space-efficient way to organize a kid’s room, they can also be designed to be both a beautiful and functional element of a space.

Today we’re sharing four of our clients’ homes that include bunk beds in their lower level entertaining areas. Whether they’re the centerpiece of a children’s play room or part of an elegant adult loft, bunk beds can infuse a playful, cozy element into any space.

Bunk Bed Design #1 at Our Seaside Shingle Cottage

At our Seaside Shingle Cottage, the owners requested a lower level entertainment space where their growing family could gather. Featuring fun activities for children and adults alike, the area includes table tennis, game machines, a wine cellar, wet bar, and a kids’ play space.

The children’s play area is nautically themed – complete with a play ship, ‘harborside’ storage cabinets, and ‘officers’ quarters that create an imaginative nautical dream world for young adventurers. Complementing the nautical theme are the pictured four comfy bunk beds.

The paneled bunks feature tapered seat backs, reading lights, stained mahogany rails, and custom ship ladders to the top bunk. The bunk beds beckon a view of the play ship on one side, and the real water view of the Long Island Sound through French doors at the other.

Bunk Bed Design #2 at Our French Eclectic Project

In the basement rec room at our Waterfront French Eclectic home, our clients’ grandchildren have the perfect sleepover nook. Four twin-size bunks and two trundle beds hideaway behind a pair of paneled doors. Each archtop bunk alcove features scroll brackets, reading lights and a ship ladder.

The area features practical durable carpeting, while paneled wainscoting and hand-hewn timber and oak plank ceiling really dress up the space.

Bunk Bed Design #3 at Our Mead Point Shingle Style Home

At our Greenwich Waterfront Shingle home, the basement was developed into a functional kids’ space for the family’s teenage children. The wood-clad lower level recreational space provides a casual chic departure from the upper levels, complete with built-in bunk beds, table tennis, and a banquette and bar for snacking.

The hidden bunk beds continue the home’s waterfront aesthetic and make sleepover parties a breeze. Ship-lap walls and sliding barn doors add a rustic flair to this kid-friendly space.

Bunk Bed Design #4 at Our Rye Beach Shingle

At our Rye Beach Shingle home, the bright nautically themed basement recreation room features shiplap paneling with v-groove board accents, richly stained hardwood flooring, millwork pieces and moulded accents.

The area’s barn doors reveal a double bunk-bed niche with shelf space and trundle – making for a great relaxation area after practicing table tennis skills or playing basketball or lacrosse in the space’s sport court.

To check out more of our designs, please visit our residences page.

3 Renovations that will WOW you!

Many of our projects are home renovations, which sometimes means updating an entire home, and other times means revamping just a part of a house. We love creating a client’s dream kitchen, making a bathroom luxurious and new, or redoing a home in its entirety to give it an updated look and feel.

Here’s a look at three of our renovation projects that boast dramatic results.

1. French Manor Estate Complete Renovation:

Originally built in 1958 in a Neo-French style with a Mansard roof, the house was composed of a central portion flanked by matching wings. Over the years the Greenwich house was added to and so extensively modified that the original charm had all but disappeared.

The owner of the house wanted to improve its appearance by giving it a distinctly French look with fine detailing and a strong presence. The entire house was gutted, portions removed, and everything in the central block, above the second floor line, was demolished. From this arose the stately and elegant main body appropriate for a classic French manor estate. Here are some looks at before and after the renovation:

2. Master Bath Transformation:

Inspired by the luxurious Claridge’s hotel in London, the architects set out to transform a large outdated bathroom into a sophisticated spa retreat. Stone tiled walls and an overpowering tub deck made way for a simple plan with timeless elements and generous storage. The main space features a soaking tub and vanity, while the sauna, shower and toilet rooms are arranged along one side of the room.

Classic detailing defines the spaces, with a marble chair rail extended from the vanity countertop and wood wainscoting below. The wood paneled vanity and tall glass fronted cabinets provide storage, along with a polished nickel medicine cabinet framed in black marble. Radiant heat flooring keeps the basket weave Carrera mosaic warm underfoot. The glass door on the red cedar sauna allows light to enter from the large picture window facing the Long Island Sound.

Here are a few peeks at the before:

And a look at the dramatic transformation after:

3. Shingle Style Home Renovation:

This project called for nothing short of a complete transformation. The home was once a gracious 1890s shingle style house but during the 1950s, the second floor of the home burned. Two subsequent renovations led to awful design results.

The goal here was not to enlarge the home, but to reclaim the stone first floor and its beautiful original interiors. As part of the process, all second floor facades have been re-arranged while keeping the floor plan in place. A steeply pitched slate roof and traditional cornice was added. A front porch and rear balcony were added to help connect the home to its landscape and capture the water view. A variety of shingle style window types and details are used to enliven the façade and bring more light to the interior. A finely detailed new chimney tops off the roof line. The final result is a gracious home that did not need to get bigger to get better.

Here’s a look at the before and after of the front of the home:

And here’s a look at the transformation from the rear of the home:

Visit our Renovations tab on our website to view more projects!

French Country Pool House

Inspired by the follies of great French estates, this pool house features two whimsically designed cabanas joined by a pergola-covered open loggia. Framed with Doric columns, the terrace provides an inviting outdoor space with an ample lounging area for entertainment throughout the year.

Category: French