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