REMODELING TIPS
Renovating your home doesn't necessarily mean making it larger. Here are a few suggestions on how to remodel within your home's existing footprint, from Jeff Lindgren, a designer with Streeter Renovation & Design.
Simply adding more square footage to a home may not solve the space issues. Restructuring traffic patterns could enhance how the home functions in the same amount of space. Assess your project and devise a list that breaks these items down into wants, needs and maintenance issues. Then decide which features you truly need.
Determine your budget before you start. Knowing how much you can spend will help an architect, designer or builder manage your expectations.
Understand local building codes. When renovating older homes, extra dollars may have to be spent to bring features such as stairs and electrical outlets up to code.
Make sure the home's "shell" is healthy. Fix any exterior problems first to protect the investments you plan to make to the interior.
For more ideas on how to make the most of your existing space, visit "The Not So Big House" author Sarah Susanka's website at www.susanka.com.
ELIZABETH LARSEN
