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"

            Incorporating a 3-D design approach, I am able to walk clients through a virtual remodel of their home.  Together we remove walls, enlarge window openings, and explore different cabinetry and casework options. The interactive nature of a virtual model offers my clients the unique opportunity to inhabit their remodeled home before the first nail is driven on the "real" project. This goes a long way to building client confidence in the decisions they are making.

            Designing in three dimensions is of great benefit to me as well.  The freedom of a virtual environment allows me to balance technical know-how with artistic vision, resulting in a sophisticated, cohesive design solution.  I learn from the model as I build it, refining every detail until it is just right.

The construction of a 3-D model is no small undertaking, but its value during the design process makes it well worth the time and effort for all parties involved.

If a room feels too big; architectural treatment of the ceiling and floor planes might be incorporated to create different zones within the space.  If a room feels too small; large window openings and strategic removal of vertical wall surfaces offer new views and a sense of openness. 

Scale can also establish a hierarchy and create focal points.  Like a road map, inhabitants and guests are lead by these architectural cues, and drawn through the spaces of a home.  Proper understanding and manipulation of scale informs every decision that goes into a successful design.

That room you walked into earlier... the one that seemed a bit off.  Imagine how differently it would feel with large windows that flood the space with sunlight.  A boxed bay widens the room creating a niche for the couch, restoring the natural circulation paths into and through the room.  Adjustments like this have the power to modify your perception of a space, redefining its scale.