Creating Spaces

by Marcia Lyon

Architecturally trained Marcia Lyon uses her remodeling design know-how to create CREATING SPACES. Each week's column and illustrations features the "Problem and Solution" to various remodeling dilemmas, fitting each homeowner's needs. CREATING SPACES capitalizes on the home designing and remodeling craze consumers are wild about these days.

Samples

CREATING SPACES by Marcia Lyon

STAIRCASE BLOCKS BACKYARD VIEW FROM BUNGALOW

This project is located in Plymouth, Mich.

If it is in your area, and you would like more information, please contact Marcia Lyon.

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Many homes are built with no orientation to the outside or any emphasis on an existing view. The typical house is based on a plan that is built over and over again, regardless of the lot. Having no windows on side walls is fine if your walls are close to a neighbors' walls -- you don't want to offer a view of everything going on in your house. But if there is wide open space, side windows could add light and cross ventilation.

Houses should allow views that connect to that primal protection urge in us. It's important to be able to see who or what is approaching the house. It is also important to be able to monitor children playing outside. See where your view and natural light is blocked and consider opening it up with standard windows.

PROBLEM

This bungalow had blockage in many areas. First of all, the semi-enclosed front porch (A) obscured the view of approaching visitors and darkened the living room (B) and bedroom (C). It served no real function except as storage, so the path to the front door (D) was around household items that had no other storage place.

The kitchen (E) layout had the stove on the back, outside wall and left no room for a window toward the backyard (F). The solid back door prevented light from passing in and offered no view. The two windows over the sink offered welcomed light, but no view.

The basement stairs (G) and the stairway to the half story above (H) consumed the entire back wall of the dining room (I). All of these rooms were separate and boxy. The living room (B) was actually smaller than the dining room (I). The main bedroom (C) and the only bathroom (J) filled the rest of the first floor. There was a profound lack of closets -- no closet for coats, cleaning supplies, linens. How can you put things away if you have no place to put them?

Because of this floor plan, a very nice backyard (F) went unused. When questioned, this single mother and her two daughters said they would like to have a private outdoor space. The mother frequently wished that the stairways were located elsewhere, and she had pictured them in the ideal place -- dividing the living and dining rooms. She also wanted an office, but had no idea where that space could come from.

SOLUTION

I took her well-founded ideas and made them work when we used the concept of combining the living and dining spaces (K) toward the back. In the past, the old dining room (I) had been used primarily as a computer center. By dividing these spaces unevenly, we created a true office (L) in the former living room (B) with a built-in desk in the front.

The new staircase (M) is decorative and open on the office side. The stairway to the basement (N) was closed with a door and a wall, providing a furniture wall (O) for the new living space. Three wide, long, double-hung windows (P) filled the space where the stair had been and solved all backyard-view issues.

The porch (A) was modified to be a trellis (open-roofed) porch (Q), which enters into a screened porch (R) and makes the path seem shorter. The office (L) is a walk-by space, and storage (S) is built into the wall.

The new living/dining room (K) is quite spacious and opens to the kitchen (T). The kitchen door was replaced by a full glass door. The range was shifted over to allow for an additional window. A closet-style pantry (U) filled the space next to the refrigerator. The new island provides a snack spot in the kitchen. A coat closet (V) hides the back door from the living/dining room. The resulting opening (W) is about 7 feet wide.

The bathroom (X) became better organized when we moved the vanity next to the toilet. We also added a linen closet (Z) in the small hallway.

The upstairs works better now because the staircase divides the two bedrooms (not shown). This central location also allows for a future bathroom to be built in a dormer above the first-floor bathroom.

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(Marcia Lyon is a professional remodeling designer and freelance writer, producing projects in [INSERT YOUR CITY] and throughout the U.S. and Canada. Her new e-book is available at her Web site www.creatingspaces.net. Reach her by e-mail at Marcia@creatingspaces.net or phone (515) 991-8880.)

COPYRIGHT 2008 MARCIA LYON

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