Does your house suit your lifestyle? While it’s possible to abide in almost any form of abode, living in a house which really suits your lifestyle is something to aim for. If you buy an existing house, chances are some rooms will be too small, too awkwardly shaped for your preferred use, or laid out in an unworkable space arrangement. The best way to achieve the house of your dreams is to build from scratch, but there is another alternative – the lifestyle renovation.
In contrast to the more mundane types of renovations – re-roofing, re-siding, repainting – which maintain the status quo, lifestyle renovations bring an existing house up to the standard of comfort you’ve always dreamed about. Perhaps you’d like a breakfast nook adjacent to the dining room, a two-person jacuzzi in the ensuite bathroom off the master bedroom, or a south-facing solarium with tall windows casting sunlight deep into the house – the possibilities are limited only by your imagination.
Converting the house you have into the house you’ve always wanted isn’t limited to interior changes. The exterior look of a house can be upgraded without changing one thing on the interior. If you must replace the siding as a matter of regular maintenance, have an architect redesign the facade, using the same amount of new siding, but in a considerably better looking arrangement. If it’s time for new windows, don’t simply select the cheapest, which will probably not offer the look you want, invest in ones with architectural style. Enhancing the exterior appearance adds value to a property and, with a good design done beforehand, who knows, you may even end up with the best looking house in the neighbourhood!
Begin your lifestyle renovation with your dreams. Imagine all the things you would love to have in your house. Make a wish list. Think of the transformations that are possible with you present home. An extension here, a wall taken out there, even remove part of the upper floor to create a two-story space somewhere. Remember, any of these changes are far cheaper than building a brand new house.
Perhaps the style of the house you desire can be achieved with cosmetic changes. Out with the standard plain mouldings, in with the richly curved colonial mouldings. Change the hardware style, the bathroom accessories, the finishes, or the cabinetwork – all these things contribute to the “feel” of a house. First determine the style of house you prefer, then remodel everything with that goal in mind.
After exploring the possibilities, narrow down your wish list to the most preferred things. You need not do everything at once. In fact, it’s often better to phase the work over time to avoid one large cash outlay, and with staged renovations, you probably won’t have to move out temporarily while the work is in progress.
Of course, there’s that nasty word “feasibility” which can dampen your enthusiasm for a lifestyle renovation. Questions arise such as “Can that wall be removed without bringing down the roof?” or “Should the new porch be attached to the old exterior wall or not?” (Actually, a control joint is recommended between new and old construction to prevent problems resulting from differential settlement).
To ensure your renovation plan is feasible, it’s wise to consult an architect, especially if the work involves major changes. An architect will ensure the soundness of any structural changes, keep the project costs in line with your budget, and most importantly, give you the look and types of spaces you want in your remodelled home. Once the design is finalized, an architect can help you select a contractor, based not only on the price quoted, but on the quality of workmanship the contractor has displayed on previous projects.
When considering feasibility, look beyond the raw costs and construction technicalities. These things have to be addressed with any project. Ask the question “Will the renovations suit my lifestyle?” Measure feasibility in terms of the increased satisfaction a renovation will give to your day to day living. Whether you’re undertaking a minor or major renovation to add style to your life, make sure the key ingredient isn’t forgotten – the design itself!
SOLARIUM
The best way to bring the outdoors indoors, without the extremes of weather, is to add a solarium to your house. Ideally, a solarium faces directly south, but it will still work reasonably well on the east or west side if it projects out from the house and has some south facing windows.
The south facing windows should be the tallest to gain maximum advantage from the sun when it’s at the highest point of its arc across the sky. A glazed, sloping ceiling allows more light indoors and provides extra height for hanging plants.
Sliding glass doors and windows from the solarium to the interior of the house minimize heat loss and provide views through the solarium to the outdoors. Separating the solarium from the main part of the house also allows for the “greenhouse effect” in the solarium during the daylight hours without affecting the temperature in the main house.
A solarium opening off the dining room can be used as an informal eating area or an expanded dining room if additional space is provided for a table and chairs. An exterior door from the solarium to the outdoors will further enhance the indoor to outdoor connection.
