Ahh, the sights, smells, and sounds of Christmas. There’s nothing like the holidays to bring the family together. Which can be both good and bad—usually at the same time. If you hosted out-of-town guests, you know what I’m talking about.
Are you feeling the post-holiday squeeze?
Was your Christmas celebration a bit . . . cramped?
Left you longing for an extra room, or two?
Did the pitter patter of little feet (nieces, nephews, grandchildren, etc.) leave you with a slight tick in your left eye? Perhaps your holiday festivities were more like the angst-ridden Griswolds than nostalgic schmaltz of Meet Me In St. Louis?
Perhaps you need more room. Then again, perhaps you need a new room.
Better Homes & Gardens published a book several years ago dedicated to the task of maximizing your square footage. It’s titled Complete Basements, Attics, & Bonus Rooms (Better Homes & Gardens, Des Moines, Iowa, 2002).
BH&G suggests the following steps to get you started:
- Explore your options (Convert your garage into an office or spare room? Add onto your existing structure? Remodel an old attic?)
- Asses your available space (How much square footage do you currently have? How much do you need? Do you need to add more space or just make better use of your current space?)
- Develop your design idea (Do you need to consult with a professional architect, plumber, or designer? You can get plenty of ideas online , as well as from local contractors).
- Gather your materials (Consider green options; they may be a bit more expensive but can save you money in the long run).
- Fine tune your plan (If you are contracting out the work, be sure to get several bids from a variety of companies).
- Gather your tools (Again, be willing to spend a bit more here. Carefully chosen, high-quality tools can make all the difference).
- Finishing touches (You’re in the home stretch – stick with it! Here’s where you firm up detailed decisions such as paint, trim, room accessories, etc.; if possible, try to FINISH your project; call in a favor from a friend if needed. Your sense of accomplishment and usability of the finished project depends on completion ).
The idea is to makes all your space “livable space” and it’s not really a new idea. Over the years, clever folks have tweaked their homes to incorporate extra guest rooms, home offices, man-caves, and more recently, the mom-cave.
City dwellers from places such as Japan and Hong Kong are no strangers to space limitations; this ingenious architect from Hong Kong may be taking things a bit too far . . . but his ideas are definitely impressive.
Once again, Happy Holidays to you and yours this year. For questions regarding real estate in Snohomish County, I’d love to help. My name is Joni Kerley; feel free to give me a call at 425-343-4545.
Photo Credit: dublindays; used courtesy of stock.xchng
