architecture

wilkinson blender
MEETING MINUTES 1714 n damen 3m chicago il 60647 T 773.772.7787 F 773.772.7888

Project: Stevens Residence

Date: 12/10/09
Meeting No: SD-3
Attendees: Greg Gibson (GG) Distribution: Attendees
Michael Wilkinson (MW) File
Anne Stevens (AS)
Reed Stevens (RS)

NEW ITEMS:
MTG/
ITEM ITEM ACTION
00.00 Material MW explained the Material Removal Diagram. AS noted WBA revise material removal
Removal and that walls outside bedrooms are not the same cherry as diagram.
Reuse outside the kitchen, but that the maid’s room has the
same cherry outside of it. WBA to revise diagram
accordingly. MW suggested leaving as much as possible
at the kids’ rooms and office for budget reasons. AS
added that the ext. walls in those rooms are drywall so
they can potentially be insulated without removing the
OSB walls that run north / south.
01.00 Budget MW noted that the budget is still estimates and MW to revise contract for final
allowances, but it gives us something to work back from. review and signature.
AS / RS asked if general conditions is an allowance and
if it would be open book. MW confirmed.
MW to revise contract for final review and signature.
02.00 Middle The composition of the middle bar was discussed. RS WBA to continue to study
Band noted that he is not too attached to the oak plywood that middle band.
comes out of the stair and extends on to the band, but
that we can maintain it just the same. RS wondered if
more stone would be better. AS suggested that the wall
above guardrail height just east of the stair cylinder be
polycarbonate – allowing the stair cylinder to read as
unraveled and allowing the stone to hint through. This
adjustment seemed to help the composition, but in the
end, all agreed that this middle band still needs work.
WBA to continue to study this band.
RS also noted that he feels strongly about having a
pocket door at the east end of the middle band for
acoustic privacy to the master bedroom.
03.00 Master RS / AS generally approve of reconfiguring the master to WBA to study master bath and
Reconfiguratio allow for more generous space and a more spa-like possible sunken tub.
n feeling. The office located next to the master allows easy
access and provides a buffer between master and kids
area. WBA to study and provide views of this design for
review. RS suggested sinking the tub into the floor. WBA
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wilkinson blender
MEETING MINUTES 1714 n damen 3m chicago il 60647 T 773.772.7787 F 773.772.7888
to study this possibility.
04.00 Other GG suggested the possibility of “maintaining” the second WBA to study minimal changes
Bathrooms bath as a refurbished Gutnayer piece. MW thought of to 2nd and first floor bathrooms.
removing the somewhat odd vanity and replacing with
wall hung porcelain sinks. RS / AS seemed to approve
of this strategy as long as storage can be gained on the
west wall or built into west wall.
GG suggested maintaining the first floor bath, but
perhaps with a shower tile that compliments the floor a
bit better. AS/RS referenced Heath Tile’s overstock
website as a reference for potential tile options. RS
would like to maintain the shower there for guests and
use by the kids coming from the beach.
MW is concerned about walking in and immediately
facing the toilet. GG mentioned adding a door between
shower/toilet room and vanity as a way of solving this
problem. Any attempt to reconfigure needs to allow us to
maintain the floor that is there.
05.00 Closed GG described the appliance and feature locations for the
Kitchen closed kitchen. RS/AS to provide program for
appliances, size, number of ovens, etc. GG illustrated
the issue with refrigerators that are not fully integrated.
RS suggested his concern is more for quality than
aesthetics. All discussed the pros and cons of the open
north wall, which at the least would need its openings
reworked to make sense with the proposed kitchen.
There does not appear to be enough room of anything
else other than the seating area. AS asked what about
cladding the wall with something other than drywall
which will likely get dinged.
06.00 Open GG described the open kitchen. AS/RS appreciate the RS/AS to advise on which
Kitchen attempt to define space using the ceiling plane. MW kitchen to pursue.
suggested pulling the ceiling treatment south to engage
the column and beam west of stair. GG mentioned AV
location at far west end of tall cabinets. Adjustment to
the opening in the cabinets along north wall was
discussed. RS likes that opening as a buffet. GG noted
window openings could be reworked but need not span
the entire cabinet opening – window and solid would be
treated as 1 family within the cabinet opening.
RS/AS to advise on which kitchen to pursue.
07.00 Curtains AS/RS generally like the curtains. They said they do not WBA to rework curtains as
need the curtain at the west wall. They like the ability to discussed.
close off the kitchen, but MW suggested closing off the
dining room – surrounding it with curtains. The curtain at
the kids play area would double as a stage curtain.
08.00 Secret GG described the secret stair and how it seemed to
Stair / Roof compliment the opening and roof doghouse that

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wilkinson blender
MEETING MINUTES 1714 n damen 3m chicago il 60647 T 773.772.7787 F 773.772.7888
Gutnayer originally conceived. GG described the
stripped down roof design consisting of a door from stair,
a small enclosed sauna, and an exterior office. RS / AS
generally approve of the secret stair and the roof design.
09.00 Rear Stair WBA described the stair in back. All (except AS) wish
there was a basketball hoop on the stair wall. Stair
design generally approved by AS/RS.
10.00 Next Construction: RS/AS to begin removing
Steps MW suggested that we begin removing and stockpiling valuable items from the house.
materials to be reused (pre demo careful removal). In
order to do this, RS/AS need to remove all valuable
items from the house. RS noted that the piano will stay.
GG illustrated problems with having finish items on the
construction site for the duration, and that we should
crate the piano if it is not moving. MW suggested we
designate an area for storage of items to be reused. RS
mentioned reusing light fixtures. These fixtures should
still be removed and crated so they are not damaged
during construction. RS also noted developing a creative
use for a Sullivan stained glass window from Roosevelt WBA to consider locations for
University. WBA to consider possible locations. stained glass window.
Drawings:
MW anxious to get a permit. He suggested that since the
specifics of the interior design do not impact the permit,
that we allow some of these design development issues
to simmer while a permit set is produced. GG suggested
that it may not help timing issues to apply for permit
before or during the variation process. GG / AS to
prepare for variation submittal by first reviewing the AS to try and get contact with
project with Kevin Kilpatrick. AS to make contact through Kevin Kilpatrick.
her connections and report back.

Greg Gibson compiled these minutes on 12/10/09. The above constitutes the understanding of Wilkinson Blender ARCHITECTURE Inc. with
regard to the meeting referenced above. Should you find any inaccuracies with the content of the information, please notify the author
immediately.

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