Our remodeling wish list
You have to go wholeheartedly into anything in order to achieve anything worth having.
— Frank Lloyd Wright
When you dream about a new home (whether you’re remodeling, designing from scratch, or looking to buy a move-in-ready place), you start creating wish lists of what you want (and, just as importantly, what you don’t want) in your new space. Our list could best be summed up in the words of celebrated Chicago architect Daniel Burnham, “Make no little plans…”.
Once we were serious about remodeling our existing house, confident that it would be no small upgrade, we began compiling our dream list. Without starting from scratch, this would be our opportunity to build a custom home, and we knew what we wanted.
Our wish list included the following:
- The addition of a second story, with multiple bedrooms and bathrooms. Our research into resale confirmed that the price jump from three to four bedrooms in our area was worth the cost of having four bedrooms on the second floor.
- A large kitchen with a central island for people to gather around. It would have plenty of room for multiple cooks in the kitchen and seating along one side where the kids could do projects, entertain friends, and hang out.
We loved our little kitchen when we moved in. Over time–and two kids later–it felt small. Our remodel greatly transformed the heart of our family home.
- An open staircase.
- High ceilings, vast windows, and rooms filled with natural light.
- Plenty of storage and no clutter.
- A comfortable office for the business. After years of co-working out of a cramped office in the basement, we were more than ready to move above ground to a window-filled workspace with separate desks for each of us.
- An airy primary suite with a walk-in closet and a bathroom with a deep soaking tub and spa shower.
- A dedicated school room for homeschooling and quiet study.
- More space for our family, with various areas to gather, hang out, work, play, or find alone time.
- A comfortable space for watching movies and playing games that could also serve as a hangout space for teens and friends.
- A space for Nate’s drums and keyboard so he could make music and noise.
- The flexibility to accommodate a parent living with us one day, should the need arise for aging in place with family.
As a starting point, we wanted to honor the existing house by retaining and enhancing the character of its Craftsman heritage. We took pains to avoid crushing the original charm with an overpowering addition. The existing home had nice lines, with a footprint, roofline, and architectural details we wanted to preserve and replicate throughout the new structure.
The dogs just chilling in the original home’s living room.
Of course, financially speaking, the project investment would need to increase our property value with an eye toward resale down the road. We avoided features and finishes that were low-end or trendy enough to become quickly dated. We emphasized authenticity and selected high-quality elements while never cutting corners. We wanted to do it once and do it right. We selected materials and construction techniques that would last so we could enjoy them for years with little maintenance.
Our ultimate goal was a house we would be proud of. Professionally, it would represent our company’s craftsmanship, attention to detail, and imagination. And for our family, it would be the place we happily call home in the years to come.
Next up in the series Our Little House Grows Up: A Peek Inside a 100-Year-Old Home Addition – Design, Take 1.
