The family room is a space for curling up with your loved ones and relaxing. When it comes to this space, it’s all about comfort. But what if your family room is starting to feel a bit cramped?
This is especially true if you live in an older home. Our lifestyles now are much different than they used to be 30, 40, and 50 years ago or more. You certainly don’t have to move, but you don’t want to live on top of each other, either. A family room addition could be the perfect solution.
Designing a Family Room For Your Lifestyle
Like any home renovation, you should think about what function you want your new space to have and what kind of look and feel you’re going for. What will you be doing in there? Will you be playing with your little ones? Watching TV or playing video games? Do you frequently entertain? Is it a high-traffic area? These questions can help inform your plans for the addition.
Structural Concerns
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There are a few different ways to go about adding space onto your home. You might consider a full addition, which is an entire room tacked on to your home’s existing structure. An addition is awesome for growing families, and those with the time and budget to make a major change to their home.
A bump-out, on the other hand, can give you a few extra feet of space in a slightly cramped but otherwise serviceable room. A bump-out usually extends about three feet out from the back wall of the room and can add to your home’s existing square footage. Bump-outs are great for when you need just that little bit of extra space, and they can be more affordable than a full-on room addition.
The Right Size, The Right Look
You might be tempted to pull out all the stops when designing an addition. You’re already doing a significant renovation, so why not make it huge and extravagant? Keep in mind, your addition will look better if it’s in proportion with the rest of your house, and spatially it will make more sense. You want your addition to complement the look of your home, rather than overwhelm it.
Planning the Layout
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As with any room, you want to maximize space and natural light. You’ll also want to consider what kind of sun exposure the space will get, and position your windows and doors accordingly. Also, think about whether you prefer sliding or French doors that open to the exterior of your home. You want to end up with a seamless flow that connects, rather than separates your addition from the rest of the house. You will probably have to partially or fully knock down a few walls to make this happen. You will also need to adapt your home’s existing roofline, so it flows nicely into the addition.
Paperwork and Permits
You’ll want to get all your ducks in a row when adding on to your home. In Maryland and DC, there are certain legal hoops you’ll have to jump through before you build. This includes filing and submitting building permits, critical area worksheets, and grading, site, and construction plans. It’s essential that your addition meets local codes. The paperwork can be a bit of a hassle, but it’s all in the interest of safety and legality.
A Blended Family Room
Your family room addition should blend as effortlessly with the original structure as possible. Again, depending on the age of your home and the wear and tear it has experienced over the years, you might not be able to achieve perfection. Even with identical materials, the brand new ones will look different from ones that have had a lot of use.
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While you may not be able to find a perfect match, your designers will do their best to find the right materials to make it all work. This includes exterior materials like shingles, siding, frames, doors, windows, and shutters, as well as interior textiles like paint and flooring.
Ultimately, adding onto your family room can completely change the look and feel of your home. It can increase your comfort level and enjoyment of the space and give you that upgrade you need so you don’t have to think about moving. When you’re ready to make a change to your living environment, you can rely on Winthorpe Design & Build for a job well done. Reach out today, and let’s get started!
