Creating Spaces - Remodeling design for everyone!

01/14/2025

This homeowner went from a boring postage stamp deck to super great outdoor relaxing and entertainng spaces!

24048 Deck/Screened Porch

01/08/2025

How to find a remodeling contractor
and
Why contractors don’t always keep their appointments

By: Marcia Lyon
RESIDENTIAL REMODELING DESIGN FOR EVERYONE
515-991-1300
[email protected]
[email protected]
FIRST OF ALL – look for a contractor that does remodeling exclusively. A Builder typically builds new homes and their subcontractors are different. They get in and get out of a project. Remodeling subcontractors are used to dealing with surprises on the job – and solving them. They work with the other subs on the job like a team.
The typical way a homeowner approaches a remodeling project is to call a contractor. This is the only option most people have available to them. The homeowner is motivated by the need for more space and wants a price to see if it is feasible or even wise to invest the money into the house.
There is much more involved in what the contractor has to do to determine and present a realistic price.
The contractor's approach is to determine the scope of work so that he can work up a price. This sets up a frustrating and sometimes impossible situation for both parties because they are trying to achieve hard numbers on several possible scenarios, none of which is fully developed. The concepts are all verbal. Bids have to be obtained from his subcontractors to plug into the overall price. The contractor may spend several hours at the home, only to realize the homeowner isn't ready, or is more confused than before. The nature of a remodeling contractor's work is to bid on as many projects as possible, trying to insure he has included enough profit. And then they look at their schedule to determine when they could begin.
Contractors get many calls and, after several experiences of meeting with homeowners that are just 'thinking' or 'dreaming', the contractor could become a bit calloused. That's why a contractor may even agree to a meeting and then not show up because a more promising project has come his way, or several bids have come in at once and he gets focused on building instead of marketing. From the homeowner’s viewpoint this is unacceptable, but knowing the process, it should be understandable. Unfortunately, this may set up an adversarial attitude between the two sides.
An alternative to the contractor “punching all the numbers” is to give an estimate of the bid, which is likely much higher than a calculated bid, because he has to be sure that everything is covered. This is risky for most except the very experienced contractor.

01/07/2025

Upgrade amd ciustomize without adding space!!

24047 Second floor – improve master bedroom

12/17/2024

Newer houses have better finished basements.

24046 Basement Finishing

12/11/2024

ENCLOSE EXISTING SPACE - PORCHES, GARAGES
By: Marcia Lyon

Enclose a Porch
A front porch serves a specific, necessary purpose. It is a transitional space from the outdoor to inside the house. Just enclosing a porch doesn’t solve the problem. Once a porch is enclosed and used as indoor space, the front steps to the porch end abruptly at the new front door. There is no landing if you don’t rebuild the stairs. Getting inside may require people to back up (back down)to open a screen or storm door. Not good!!! Another, equally important factor, is location, size, and proximity to other spaces may make this converted porch into inappropriate shaped living space with hodge-podge access. Plus, the inside of the new space is a square of interior space on either side of the new front door and the old one. It is not really usable space and often ends up as ugly storage.
People enduring cramped spaces in their houses often look at porches or decks as ‘easy marks’ to gain cheap space. Rarely does this work for a number of reasons. The main factor is structural: decks and porches are constructed differently than enclosed heated and cooled spaces. Many porches have a sloped floor for rain runoff. If you want or need an addition, forget that deck or porch, and design what will work best for the house. The existing structure actually becomes a liability because it has to be removed to dig footings and construct an addition. A well-built deck could be removed and reattached after the addition is built.

Utilize garage space
When spaces are tight. Look for the relief valve that’s not always obvious. Additions are possible in many shapes and sizes but remember – a room that is too small doesn’t always benefit from exploding outward. Garage space and spaces without basements are less expensive than complete living space. Perhaps you could claim the existing garage space and build a new garage in another location. A garage looks like a great hunk of open space waiting to become a Great Room. You must evaluate many issues before you start moving the furniture where the lawn mower once stayed. If you live in a climate that deems a garage a necessary, not a luxury, determine where you can replace the garage space you are claiming. Given the land and the lust for enclosed space, perhaps a much larger, detached garage is the answer. Then consider the new access from garage to kitchen. If you are willing to do without a garage (in case it just stored junk anyway), then more land will be available to develop outdoor living spaces. Usually claiming attached garage space works well with the exterior because it is already integrated into the house and all the materials match. That’s a good thing.
There is almost always a floor level difference. Don’t plan to carpet over those grease stains. The floor should be built up with a wood structure to match the level of the house. Besides resulting in a floor that has some resilience and is warmer, ducts can be run under the new floor and reach the perimeter walls to adequately heat and cool the new space.

RESIDENTIAL REMODELING
DESIGN FOR EVERYONE
515-991-1300
[email protected]
marcialyon.substack.com

11/21/2024

24045 Dining room addition

11/19/2024

A new smoother and imptoved floor plan.

24044 Non-Addition Addition – Improve every space

11/14/2024

What is important when planning an addition?
By: Marcia Lyon
RESIDENTIAL REMODELING DESIGN FOR EVERYONE
515-991-1300
[email protected]
marcialyon.substack.com

You Need More Than Space! The biggest remodeling mistake people make is to just slap on an addition or refinish the basement, without first defining what’s good and bad about what they have and how they might achieve what they need with a minimum of changes.
There are multiple potential hazards of hiring a contractor and just telling him you want more space. For instance, he might give you just what you ask for, which may not be what would work best. He might build for you the family room that HE thinks is ideal, or even worse, the style of the addition may not match the existing house (never assume anything).
THE NEW ROOM Simply slamming a big room onto the back of your house isn't likely to solve the problems and could actually compound them. To access a space like this, an existing room is typically sacrificed and turned into an oversized hallway. The New Room will eliminate any windows it butts up against. The New Room will likely be out of proportion with the other rooms in the house, discouraging their use further. Squaring off the house rarely solves the complex puzzle that a floor plan presents.
Remodeling should never be priced per square foot. That is for new construction. A square foot includes the foundation; first floor exterior walls and floors; second floor (if there is one) includes floors and exterior walls; and the roof structure. There is not an allowance to match existing details, or modifications of interior walls. Each square foot is expensive to build, and my approach is to get the most mileage of each precious foot.
In order to determine what you really need, you'll half to ignore your existing patterns and think objectively. Evaluate your lifestyle and interests to see if you really need that gourmet kitchen if you don't cook, or if what you really dream of is a place to paint or sculpt art. What is important to you and your family, and what will really be used? Think about how you want to live, without the constraints of your existing walls. Think in terms of function - the things you want to end up with, and for now, don't worry about how to get there. Some problems are obvious such as not enough closets or counter space, or rooms too small for furniture. But look beyond the obvious and mentally track your daily patterns.
•is it a tight squeeze getting family members through the back door at the same time, with all their "stuff"?
•is the front entry well defined for visitors or does it confuse them about where they should go?
Track the path from the car with groceries to the kitchen counter and if it is a maze or obstacle course, then something has to be done to simplify things for you. Can you get gracefully from the kitchen to the deck or patio with food to be grilled? Are your spaces too confined and closed in or too open? Does the style of your house clash with the style of your furniture and your basic taste? Is the primary view for your guests in the living room that of the dirty dishes in the kitchen sink or the toilet in the half bath? Try to locate the Prime Spot in your house. Consider the resale-ability.
What are the outdoor views available to you? Do you have an expansive yard, or even a confined yet beautifully planted courtyard? Or are most of your windows oriented toward your neighbor? Is there an area you could open up to the outdoors that would offer openness and also privacy? Think of what you will be viewing when you are doing different things such as washing dishes or playing piano. It is not only the space that is important, but what we see when we are using the space. Communicate with your Partner and family members about their needs and how they feel about the house. We all live differently in the same house because our patterns, duties and activities are varied based on our position or role in the family and possibly our age. Have each one enumerate in order of importance the elements they would like to see in the remodeled house. Combine the various agendas into a collective priority list. These are your goals and objectives. Next create a wish list and allow a little dreaming. The responses might surprise you. You never know, if you are frugal on some things, a wish list item might just materialize.

11/12/2024

Wow, this floor plan really got "cleaned up".

24027 Addition – Only 8’

11/07/2024

Even minor plan changes can make a big difference

24043 Non-Addition Addition –Kitchen and floor plan makeover

11/06/2024

What foundation is right for your addition
By: Marcia Lyon
RESIDENTIAL REMODELING DESIGN FOR EVERYONE
515-991-1300
[email protected]
marcialyon.substack.com

FOUNDATION TYPES – three primary choices: slab, crawl space, or basement. Your foundation choice will affect the price of an addition.
CONCRETE SLAB A Building on a concrete slab is appropriate in warm climates. It can be done in cold climates, but to prevent ice sheets from forming on the bottoms of your feet, heat ducts must be installed on the inside perimeter before the slab is poured. If you house is on a slab and you have no basement, you may want to have a basement under the new space you build for basement type storage, and perhaps utilities like furnace and water heater. Even if you are adding only ten feet, the basement space can be accessed from the outside if it is only storage. Don't automatically add a basement under your new space if your existing basement space is under-utilized.
CRAWL SPACE Crawl spaces have foundation walls that extend below your local frost line, usually four feet in cold climates. The wood floor joist construction will extend above it. The earth is excavated to leave about three to four feet between the ground and the underside of the floor joists - leaving just enough room for someone to crawl under to service ducts or whatever would need servicing.... thus, the name....crawl space.
Two types of crawl spaces are available. One in which the floor joists are insulated, and the air underneath can flow freely to the outside through foundation vents. This airflow is necessary to prevent mold and mildew.
The alternate type is a heated crawl space. This means that the inside perimeter foundation wall is insulated, and the airflow is between the crawl space and the existing heated basement. There will be vents (or openings) between the crawl space and the existing basement. I consider this the prefer able type, encouraging the insects to live elsewhere.

For more fun and information about designing and planning your remodeling project you might want to purchase my book
The Essential Planner for Home Remodeling It is available on my website CreatingSpacesDesign.com
For more stimulating articles about real remodeling projects, check out my Substack column at marcialyon.substack.com

10/31/2024

This is the office I designed for my company. It was an addition to the standard dutch colonial home I had. It worked perfectly for 11 years and then we bought an office building for the business. At that time the home office space converted beautifully into a super family room.

24042 Addition – Professional Home Office