Designing A Family-Friendly Home

I’ve been in the throws of re-designing a 2800 square foot home to accommodate all the needs of a growing family of four.  The main criteria for this new and improved home, is to ensure it is highly functional, extremely comfortable and impeccably styled.  In other words – create a family friendly and welcoming home environment for everyone who passes through the door. The scope of the project and my client’s wish list goes something like this: The First Floor:
  • Enlarge the kitchen by bumping outward thereby changing the roofline and adding new windows.
  • Create a more open floor plan by opening up the kitchen to the dining room to improve the flow and allow for ease in entertaining.
  • Add floor to ceiling windows in the front and back to allow in much more light.
  • Adding on to create a new front entrance.
  • Transform an office for one into a family friendly workspace for four.
  • Expand the existing living room and family room by integrating the interior with the new exterior living space.
  • Incorporate a service/bar area under the stairwell.
  • Re-design a family friendly family room for children and adults by borrowing some extra space from the adjacent bathroom.
  • Reduce the existing full bath into a sleek new powder room.
The Second Floor:
  • Change out stairwell and railing design.
  • Renovate and re-plan the boys’ bath by providing a stall shower and second sink.
  • Create a master bedroom/bath spa environment by re-planning the entire master suite.
  • Add a full balcony off the master bedroom overlooking the back yard and outdoor living space.
  • Add ample storage throughout the entire home.
Practicality and style can reign supreme in a family friendly home – all the while keeping connected to family and friends while cooking, working online or paying some bills. This is the underlying theme in this home renovation project. I encourage you leave questions or comments below this post, and fill out the form on the right hand side of this page to receive your free copy of my special report: “15 Money Saving Strategies When Planning Your Home Renovation” Article by Lori Gilder, Architectural Interior Designer, Los Angeles, Ca. © 2010 Lori Gilder. Interior Makeovers Inc.