Considerations Before Building

Home owners never fail to be impressed by the difference major space changes can make in the quality of a family's life. You love your home but it isn't working for you. You don't want to leave your neighborhood, your neighbors, and your schools, but something really has to be done to refit your house to your lifestyle.

Not to worry. Adding a room, wing, or a floor to your existing home can be a major undertaking, but it can also be a fulfilling experience, especially if your project is well designed. Excellent design is critical since the remodeling can enhance or detract from your existing structure. The one thing you don't want is an addition that clashes or stick's out like a sore thumb.

Begin by evaluating the style of your home. Is it contemporary, or traditional? Is it a Victorian bungalow, rambler, split level or colonial? Each home has specific architectural lines and details which can be echoed in the design of your addition. Next, think in terms of scale. A common design mistake is an addition that overshadows the original home, or is much too small and insignificant to add to the overall architectural style. Cut out pictures of homes that you appreciate. This homework will help you zero in on your particular tastes.

Take a look at the style of your home. Pay special attention to:

The pitch and style of the roof
The style of the windows and doors
Architectural details such as; soffit and fascia, shutters, moldings, porches
The material used; type of shingles, siding, stone, brick, stucco

Think about which architectual details you want to repeat in the design of your addition. Repeating design elements is an excellent method of creating additions that look as if they have always been there. For example, your addition could include a dormer that mirrors another elsewhere on your home. And it should include a complementary window style to that of the original.

The design of the interior offers more flexibility, since it is not viewed in it's entirety, as is the exterior. Even so, you want to strive for a comfortable transition from existing space to new. The ceiling height can make a big difference in the tone of the room. A steep pitch roof can make way for dramatic cathedral ceiling on the interior. This can add drama to a contemporary or traditionally design space, whether it's a living room, kitchen, bathroom, or family room.

Little is more satisfying than living in a home that has been beautifully remodeled with a new addition. If you have take the time to plan everything and pay attention to the details that make a new space part of your home, you'll love your space more with each passing day.