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Diane DiPrima's Light Well Reno

1-24-08-lightwell.jpg

"Before"

Sometimes a space feels more special when there's less of it, focusing its purpose and character to maximum effect for the occupant. So became the case for Diane DiPrima, who renovated the light well typical of her 1950s San Francisco row house into a bright, exceptionally private outdoor patio. Check out her "after" below the jump.

1-24-08-lightwell-2.jpg
"After"

An interesting trick Diane employed was to orient the slatted deck diagonally, visually enlarging the space. She also mounted a ladder to the side of the light well to provide access to the roof and the view.

Via: Home by Sunset

Comments (27)

Wow, what a change, nice work

posted by Garrett on 2008-01-24 18:22:14
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whoa.

posted by shari on 2008-01-24 18:37:48
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what is a "latter"?

posted by edgertor on 2008-01-24 18:37:49
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Simply gorgeous.

posted by Vanessa in New York on 2008-01-24 18:38:43
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So wait...would the same trick of putting say a wood floor on a diagonal work to make a room look larger too?

posted by shari on 2008-01-24 18:39:09
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I don't understand what is mounted vertically, the walls are horizontal, and the floor is diagonal...

posted by ARC on 2008-01-24 18:49:11
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Beautiful patio. I'm seeing a lot of changes here besides the flooring, windows are changed and a door where there wasn't one before. This is a great use of a part of the architecture that I've seen in the City many times.

Seeing this makes me wonder if the same space could make a nice sauna... it's so cold and rainy here this week.

posted by Slim on 2008-01-24 18:52:14
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gorgeous! I want one...

posted by mmbond on 2008-01-24 19:02:12
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Genius!

posted by louise on 2008-01-24 19:46:40
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ARC.The 'latter' (read ladder) was mounted vertically, at least that's the way I read it.

posted by bobbin on 2008-01-24 19:48:43
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Sorry! That should have read "diagonally"....

posted by Dani on 2008-01-24 19:54:22
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WOW!!

posted by goodnightdean on 2008-01-24 20:50:12
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beautiful, like an outdoor spa

posted by LaDonnaNichole on 2008-01-24 20:53:40
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wowowowowow!

posted by vitamin design milk on 2008-01-24 21:52:14
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Awesome!

posted by nazrd on 2008-01-24 22:02:58
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Hey, Bravo!

We did something similar with the angled deck in our lightwell. But you did us one better by having wooden siding.

Before: A wasted rooftop
http://photos.imageevent.com/bats/beforeandafter/websize/Old%20Lightwell.jpg

After: A grilling deck
http://photos.imageevent.com/bats/beforeandafter/websize/Lightwell%202007g.jpg

posted by bats on 2008-01-24 22:31:43
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Truly gorgeous---I wish I had the foresight and vision to do that on Uranus a few years ago. Light wells always seemed to have potential for much more than, in my case, holding garbage and recycling.

posted by krister on 2008-01-24 23:09:30
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bravo!

posted by superstovall on 2008-01-24 23:39:42
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nice!

posted by amy on 2008-01-25 02:03:31
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Stunning!

posted by luce on 2008-01-25 06:09:32
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So cute -- the sort of thing where you say, "Why doesn't every house have one of these?"

posted by wende in phoenix on 2008-01-25 08:25:52
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Wait--is this beat babe, Diane DiPrima?!? Beautiful place, great writer.

posted by judes on 2008-01-25 10:01:55
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Speechless!

posted by deepa on 2008-01-25 10:31:23
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shari -

yes, installing a wood floor on the diagonal would make the room look larger.

posted by ddg425 on 2008-01-25 11:05:37
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fanf*ckin!tastic!

posted by SD913 on 2008-01-25 11:51:20
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The new long horizontal window and slider are brilliant ideas to make the most of the indoor/outdoor vibe.

posted by longgoneblonde on 2008-01-25 12:57:40
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And a perfect place to sunbathe nude or to engage in love al fresco.

posted by Helene on 2008-02-24 15:29:59
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