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'QUICK FIX' MORPHS INTO PERMANENT SOLUTION
CREATING SPACES by Marcia Lyon
This project is located in Elma, N.Y.
If it is in your area, and you would like more information, please contact Marcia Lyon.
Sometimes houses are expanded by taking the path of least resistance -- enclosing a porch or claiming garage space. Those can be good solutions if the alteration is thought out and makes sense with the rest of the house. Quite often it is a temporary fix until the money appears for a real addition. If you've already done this stop-gap approach and are ready to do the real deal, see what we did with this project.
This started out as a fairly traditional house with an attached one-car garage.
Apparently the homeowners had once considered that the living room (A) was not enough space to share visiting and television watching and, therefore, had wanted a quick-and-easy family room. The single garage (B) had been claimed, but was not well integrated into the house.
The concrete slab was carpeted over and sometimes leached moisture into the room. A wall (C) with a window replaced the old garage door, and the original stairs (D) remained because the garage floor was not raised to the main floor's level. Because the driveway (E) remained, cars parked in front of and next to the old garage, and the side door (F) became the main pathway into the house. As you can see, traffic cut through this newfound space and made the new room less than desirable.
That was then, and now the family was ready for a real family room and an updated kitchen.
We did incorporate the former garage/family room (B) into the remodel, this time leveling the floor.
A 14-foot addition (H) was needed to gain the space needed for a bright, airy family room (I), open kitchen (J), plus the family entry (K) and a first-floor laundry room (L). We actually moved the old back wall (M) 3 feet toward the kitchen to get an even larger family room.
We modified the original back door (N), absorbed the screened porch and straightened out the basement stairs (O). The stairway leading upstairs was revealed with a railing (P). A pantry (Q) nestled in next to the stairway. The entire area at the foot of the stairs (R) is wide and easy to maneuver.
A new two-car garage (S) was added to the side of the house. The door to the family entry (T) is the same door that was used as an entrance to the kitchen. The family entry (K) contains a bench and coat closet. Cubbies are adjacent as well as the "to go" shelf. A built-in computer desk is next to the casual dining table (U).
The new, spacious kitchen (J) truly is the center of everything. The expansive curved eat-on island makes the perfect prep counter and serves as homework station.
(Marcia Lyon is a professional remodeling designer and freelance writer, producing projects in [INSERT YOUR CITY] and throughout the U.S. and Canada. Her new e-book is available at her Web site www.creatingspaces.net. Reach her by e-mail at Marcia@creatingspaces.net or phone (515) 991-8880.)
