With the Oregon housing market at an all-time high, many families are debating selling and looking for a different home or remodeling their existing home and adding on. Homeowners have come to us after exhaustively exploring real estate options and finding nothing that will work for their family. This leads them to consider adding on to their existing home. If you are in the same boat, let us guide you with a few tried-and-true insider tips and suggestions.
Square Footage
When it comes to additions, square footage is the largest cost component. We always advise homeowners to be very conscientious about how much square footage they really need. Bigger isn’t always better and wasted space isn’t something that you want to invest in. To answer the square footage dilemma, you must first identify the key goals of your project. For example, think about how many bedrooms and bathrooms you’d like. If including a family room or bonus room, try to focus on the activities that the space will be used for. Creatively designed mid-sized spaces can be more inviting and suitable for conversation than unnecessarily large or “cavernous” spaces.
Strategy
Many times, homeowners want to add a bedroom, a bathroom, and more living space. One of the best solutions for the family home is to add-on a primary suite. Homeowners come to us thinking that they will keep their existing primary suite as-is and accommodate guests or other family members in the addition. However, we always like to reframe the approach to consider adding on a new primary suite for the homeowners and converting the existing bedrooms to be useable for the other family members. We have found that it is a lot more rewarding for our homeowners if they get to enjoy this new space themselves. The benefit of this primary suite addition is that you can customize it to fit your desires and aren’t limited to what is existing. If you always wanted a vaulted ceiling, a walk-in closet, or ensuite bathroom with a freestanding tub, you could achieve that within your new addition.
Layout and Placement
Additions can be transformative to a home. Strategic decisions in space planning and design can be the most rewarding investment you can make for your home. Our designers attempt to eliminate unvaluable space that take the form of hallways or paths of travel. By creatively integrating these natural hallways and walkways into the newly designed living space, we are “doubling up,” as this valuable square footage now serves two purposes.
Another significant component of planning additions is where to build. Do you build out or up? There are pros and cons to both of these solutions, but you will find that building up does cost more with the addition of stairs and structural support. Lot zoning setbacks, landscape grade, and the existing structure are all major factors that are considered in the placement of the addition. You want an addition that is compatible with the flow of your home, elevates the exterior curb appeal, and suits your vision for the landscaping. We suggest consulting with an experienced design-build firm to help you brainstorm the ideal placement of your addition.
GROWING FAMILY RANCH STYLE ADDITION
In this modern farmhouse addition, we balanced all these components to create a family home that will be able to grow with the family. We added a 1250 square feet main level addition, nearly doubling the size of this house but no square footage was wasted. By connecting the detached garage to the home, a better interior flow and more attractive curb appeal were created. A primary suite was added that features a vaulted ceiling, walk through closet, and primary bath with a soaking tub and large shower. Another bedroom and bathroom were added, all connecting to the existing living space through a den. This den is an auxiliary space that “doubles up” as a hallway and bonus room for the family.
A lovely interpretation of a modern farmhouse bathroom with a double vanity, classic soaking tub, and modern tiles.
A large, tiled shower with matte black accents.
Modern Farmhouse primary bedroom with a vaulted ceiling, walkthrough closet, and ensuite primary bathroom.
A unique approach to the walk-in closet. We created a long “walk-through” closet, with two entry/exit doors in the bedroom.
A cozy den/home theater that connects the addition to the main home.