Blog Tags

1960's Contemporary 3-D Addition additions additions bethesda additions maryland American Institute of Architects Montgomery an attractive yard Anti-Mansionization Architect architects & master builders Architectural Architectural Detail Architectural Services Architectural Solutions Arlington Award Winner Architect bath addition bath renovation bathroom Bethesda big snow home tips brenneman & pagenstecher Builder Built-up roof buyer Chevy Chase Commission National Association of the Remodeling Condensation consider more expensive changes if necessary Construction Services Cotswold Cottage countertops County Historic Preservation curb appeal decks Design Design Build District of Columbia don't ignore the driveway dream home Edgemoor elegance emphasize pathways English Cottage EPA lead certification exterior first impression FSC Certified Wood Garden Glen Echo Heights Great Falls Green Green Building Green Remodeling home Home Remodeling Home Renovations House on a Hill HVAC unit's ice damage impact In House Building Industry Professional Remodeler Iron Railing Itallianate Villa Style Kenwood kitchen remodeling kitchen renovation kitchen renovations lead-based paint Light living space Low VOC major winter storm home damage make your entryway inviting Maryland Master Architects master bath Master Builder Master Builders McLean Mohican Hills mold and asthma mold on renovations mold remodeling Montgomery County New-Old House Northwest DC Not So Big House outdoor kitchens outdoor living space outdoor retreat paint resist moisture and corrosion patios planning to stay in your home polished Carrara Marble rug Potomac Prarie Style preprogrammed smart devices RefrigeratorsSmall regulations on Lead-Based Paint Remodel Remodel in Phases Remodeling Services Remodeling Solutions Renovate Residential Architect Residential Builder Roman Grille Roof failure room addition Room with a view Round Room sanding or removal of lead-based paints Scale sell severe mold snow damage snow damage diagnosis snow leaks on door snow leaks on windows Space special features Stone counter stone countertops stone tops kitchen Sustainability Sustainable Architecture Sustainable Building synthetic stucco mold Tear-Down termostats Thinking outside of the Box tile tile rug Transformation Transformations of Older Homes Turn your home into a Smart Home vinyl siding mold Virginia Virtual Washington, DC Whole House Makeover WindowsSmall

Michael Ullrich's Blog

Defining Design
Tags >> Green

Adding Space without Adding Space

Posted by: Michael Ullrich on Jul 30, 2009

            In the current economy, and with growing awareness of green concepts, it seems the desire for "big" houses is on the decline.  This gives architects and remodelers an exciting opportunity and challenge: to make smaller houses live "large".

          To me, a house should be tailored so that every square inch has purpose and usefulness in the daily life of its inhabitants.  This concept is critically important in smaller homes.  In the next couple of blogs, I will discuss different ideas and methodologies to customize your home, and maximize the utility of its space.

Repurposing under utilized space:

          I thought I would start with an example (my own home); I had a formal dining room that we used 2-3 times a year at best.  I came to realize that we were wasting this valuable square footage in our home, so I repurposed the room.  Installing a wall of built-ins, I created a space for the family computer, with a mixture of concealed storage and bookcase / display shelves.  I took the leaves out of the dining room table so it would comfortably seat 4 (previously it seated 8-10) and repositioned it against a wall in the room to maintain natural circulation paths.  The remaining 4 chairs were dispersed into other parts of the house.  The dining room is now used daily for craft projects with the kids, for surfing the net on the computer, or for browsing through an ever growing stack of magazines.  The 2-3 times a year we need it for formal dining; with a few minutes of straightening up and minor rearrangement of the furnishing, it still serves its original purpose, and the new built-ins are perfect for serving.

           I added 168 square feet of useful space to my home without changing its footprint.  Repurposing a room is a great way to reclaim the under utilized spaces within your home.  In my case, the combination of formal dining and a library / office space made perfect sense. If you have a space like this in your home, maybe its time to stop thinking about what it is, and start thinking about what else it could be.

 

Check back in for future installments of "Adding space without adding space"