| As households expand, so do their spatial needs. | | | | with a trundle below. |
| Suddenly a house that seemed perfectly adequate in | | | | 3. One of the complaints we frequently hear about |
| size may feel tight when more family members | | | | homes is that the dining room is too small for big |
| arrive. If a home already has enough bedrooms, a | | | | family get togethers. But when asked how often |
| family room addition is often a useful addition to | | | | people entertain large groups, it is usually once or |
| increase the amount of square footage in a home | | | | twice a year. A family room addition can help solve |
| and increase the functionality. | | | | this problem if space is designed in for a large |
| The location of an addition on a house will vary | | | | expanding table. |
| depending on the layout of the house and actual site | | | | 4. A oversized table is also useful in a family room |
| conditions. If there is space on the site that allows | | | | because inevitably kids will end up doing their |
| for a family room addition on the main level of a | | | | homework and school art projects where the family |
| home, we often look for a location near the kitchen | | | | gathers. A big table is a perfect multipurpose addition |
| area. If there is no space on the site for a ground | | | | to the family room. To save space, it can even be |
| level addition, we'll either look at a location such as in | | | | placed with an end against a wall, and pulled out |
| an unfinished basement, or consider adding onto a | | | | when additional seating is needed. |
| second story. One recent trend we are finding is | | | | Once you've identified all the necessary functions |
| locating a family space adjacent to bedrooms, | | | | that the new family room needs to accommodate, |
| especially if the space is located adjacent to kid's | | | | you'll want to start thinking about details such as |
| bedrooms. This family room space often becomes | | | | fireplaces, the TVlocation, and furniture layouts. The |
| the kid's 'hang out space'. | | | | primary issue with incorporating a fireplace in a family |
| Often a family room plays many roles, so it's | | | | room is that it competes for the same space as the |
| important to design the space to allow for the | | | | television. There are many ways to solve this issue, |
| functions you need. Here are some things to | | | | with the obvious one being placing the television |
| consider: | | | | above the fireplace. Be careful with this solution, |
| 1. While it's a luxury to have a separate media room, | | | | though, as it can lead to an uncomfortably high |
| often the space or funds are not available for this | | | | viewing angle. Often incorporating a television that is |
| luxury. Consider designing the family room addition to | | | | adjacent to the fireplace, or arranging a seating group |
| accommodate movie night by incorporating room | | | | that is at right angles where one side faces a |
| darkening black-out shades and the necessary | | | | television and the other side faces a fireplace can |
| electronic equipment and speakers. | | | | solve this problem. |
| 2. If you often need a place for extra guests to | | | | When possible we like to expand the family room |
| sleep, a family room can be converted easily to a | | | | space to the outside by adding French doors or |
| sleeping area if you incorporate the right furniture. A | | | | sliding doors. A deck or patio outside a family room |
| queen size sleeper sofa can comfortably sleep two | | | | can help make a smaller space feel larger. |
| (look for ones with an inflatable mattress topper for | | | | A well designed family room can serve many |
| additional comfort. Also standard size sheets will fit | | | | functionsif well thought through in the planning stages. |
| better since the mattresses are as thick as a | | | | This often means thinking ahead and planning the |
| conventional ones). If additional sleeping space, or | | | | type of furniture, the size and location of the TV, |
| individual beds are desired for activities like kid's | | | | and the location of the fireplace. But once you |
| sleepovers, then look for furniture such as ottomans | | | | determine all the pieces of the puzzle, they can be |
| and chairs that fold out to form single beds. If you | | | | assembled into an artful solution that integrates into |
| have the space, you may also be able to incorporate | | | | the existing house and provides a new space that will |
| a day bed. For additional sleeping, look for a day bed | | | | serve your family well for many years to come. |