Small additions completely transform a home’s lifestyle.

It is tricky to determine just how much additional space is needed to improve all spaces in a home. The rooms have to relate to each other both physically and visually. There is a balance needed when ‘opening up’ space so that you’re not creating a cavern with no definition.


PROBLEM

This was a simple home, made interesting with diagonal steps (A) connecting the entry (B) to the living room (C). The dining room (D) was really a dining “L”. The kitchen (E) was already bumped-out, but had limited counter and storage space. It had a limited visual connection (F) with the family room (G). The only access to the backyard was a French door (H), making all outside traffic transverse the family room.

The path (J) from the two-car garage (I) to the kitchen (E) is through a hall and up some stairs. A minimal sized half bath (K) sets in the corner of the family room (G).

The homeowners wanted a much better connection between the kitchen and the family room. They also really needed a Family Entry to accommodate coats, backpacks, shoes, etc. as family members come in from the garage.

A last request was to create a main floor laundry room, and abandon the one in the basement.

SOLUTION

In order to create the space for a Family Entry (L) and laundry room (M) I recommended that we extend the garage (N) about 10 feet out the front and claim that new space (O). This results in a wider hall, a “To Go” shelf, coat closet, and quite a good laundry room.

A radical change was to put the master bedroom in the space formally used as family room (G). The master bath (Q) keeps the toilet where it was, and adds a double sink vanity and large shower. This requires about a 6-foot bump-out (R).

The last addition (S) extends the house about 11 feet out the side. This gives us an office (T), which could be used as a guest room if need be, and a large, spacious family room (U), with double French doors (V) out to a new deck (W).

The kitchen (X) is updated and re-oriented. The curved island opens it up to both the family and living rooms. A dining table (Y) can float and extend in the space, but the homeowners said that they would use the island most of the time and on laps in front of the television. That’s how many people like it!

Written by Marcia Lyon and origianly posed on her public blog: Marcia Lyon's Creating Spaces. Marcia Lyon is a professional remodeling designer and freelance writer, producing projects locally and several other areas across the United States and Canada. Her new E-book on remodeling design is available at www.creatingspaces.net.