Give home a makeover now that the kids are gone

This happens so often … you raise your kids, doing the best you can with what you have. In retrospect, I’ve been told some parents are amazed that they have done so much with so little.

Once they are grown and gone and have families of their own, the parents can look around and imagine what they can do for themselves, turning their home into an oasis for their retirement years. Creature comforts are desired, along with improved function.

Not to be forgotten is a place for returning children with grandchildren.

PROBLEM

This three-bedroom, two-bathroom home, built in the early 1960s, features the minimum of space. The entry (A) was located on the side of a small front porch. The entry area was both tiny and dangerous because the step down (C) to the family room (D) was too close.

The traffic from the garage (E) went either through the family room (F) [long ago blocked off], or across the front porch (G).

The kitchen (H) was spacious and had a pantry (I) that was too deep to be efficient. Even though a "breakfast bar" (J) opened the kitchen to the family room, it was not used and just collected junk.

The dining room (K) was furnished, but effectively a “museum room.” The same could be said for the living room (L).

The basement stair (M) was open on one side because the basement was semi-furnished.

The hall/guest bath (N) had to double as the laundry room. The master bath (O) seems to be patterned after the old motel style, with barely enough room for one-butt, let alone two!

The master bedroom (P), second and third bedrooms (Q & R) were minimal with small closets.

This couple wished for a walk-in closet and a big master bath. They wanted all of their spaces to work more efficiently and end up with a pleasant living space that will work for family gatherings.

SOLUTION

I started with the front entry (S). I repositioned the front door to the front of the house. To make that work, we had to build up the floor and create a new interior hall (T). This entry area is shared with the new door from the garage (U). This walkway opens with an angle [and another open railing] to provide circulation (V). Now the only stair down to the now living room (W) is accessed closer to the kitchen (X). A new laundry room (Y) went in, consuming part of the old kitchen. The new kitchen (X) moves into the dining area, opening into the new family room (Z). In order to make this a large, nicely proportioned room, we bumped out six feet, loading the new walls with windows. We added a glass door (BB) leading to a new deck (CC). The dining table floats near the stair. The basement was further finished to add three bedrooms and a bathroom (not shown). The former hall bath (N) morphed into a half bath (DD). The master bathroom (EE) changed to include a 6’-by-6’ shower and two sinks. The new master bedroom (FF) is larger, with a huge walk-in closet (GG). A den/office (HH) developed out of the last bedroom, and French doors pull natural light into the hallway.

Marcia Lyon is a professional remodeling designer and freelance writer, producing projects locally and several other areas across the United States and Canada. Her new book on remodeling design, “The Essential Planner for Home Remodeling,” is available on her website www.creatingspaces.net. Reach her at marcia@creatingspaces.net or 515-991-8880.