With more families putting off buying new property due to the troubled economy, home additions are becoming increasingly popular. The remodel gives homeowners the upgrade they desire, in the space they currently own. Additionally, the new rooms are also more about practicality than luxury. Here, Ferdinand Steyer, the owner of the home contracting company Mountain Works LLC in Connecticut, discusses some of the most popular designs in home additions now.
Kitchens: If you have a large family or have ever hosted a gathering, you know that no matter where in your home you anticipate people to mingle, they always end up in the kitchen. It’s as though the space has a gravitational pull that attracts people inside its quarters. So it makes sense that this is where a large percentage of the work is being done. Most often the addition is made to the back of the house. Some existing walls are removed and pushed back a few yards and new flooring is laid down to open up the space. Once the room’s space is established, then homeowners generally tend to request a spacious pantry where they can house bulk items, a large window area where a table can be nestled, and of course, the center island.
Sunrooms: With most of the population working more hours than ever before while still trying to juggle the responsibilities of a family, many people are using their saved money to add an oasis to their homes. After a stressful week at work and countless hours spent preparing science projects and driving to and from soccer games, it’s comforting to know that there is a place in your home where you can lie back and enjoy the beauty of nature without leaving your home’s confines. Generally, a sunroom, or sun porch as they are also called, has three of its walls completely covered in windows as well as skylights on the ceiling to allow for ultimate sun exposure.
Rooms over the garage: As families begin to expand, explains Steyer, they are looking to add more space to their home to accommodate their growing brood. And, one of the most popular locations for that added bedroom or family room is above the existing garage that is attached to the home. The above-garage location is perfect because the garage already establishes a second-floor base for the new room. If one were to choose to add a second-floor room elsewhere that would include building support for the new structure, which then translates into higher costs.
Whether any of these designs interest you, or you have something entirely different planned for your home, the first steps to achieving your dream space are proper planning on your part and selecting an experienced contractor.
