As a remodeler and woodworker with a strong interest in design and architecture, I was excited to sit down at the International Builder’s Show with well-known architect and author of the “Not So Big House” series of books, Sarah Susanka. I was especially interested in talking about her latest book, written with co-author Marc Vassallo, titled Not So Big Remodeling: Tailoring Your Home for the Way You Really Live.
Although remodeling books, magazines and television programs often promote the benefits of working with a talented architect or designer, the reality is that many homeowners will never get the opportunity to build a custom dream home. Furthermore, top-tier architects and designers often won’t take on just any remodeling project, and many people simply enjoy the challenge and creativity of a do-it-yourself endeavor. Recognizing that many homeowners will opt to pursue remodeling on their own, Susanka and Vassallo created a book filled with insightful ideas, tips and “before” and “after” photos intended to help DIYers approach remodeling projects the way an architect might.
“I wanted to try to convey the kind of conversations, questions and considerations that an architect might bring up with a client,” Susanka says. “I’m hoping to teach a thought process, to recognize that each decision will impact other parts of the house and that the root problem is often not what the homeowner first thought.
“We’ve organized the book to show that remodeling does not necessarily have to be all or nothing – a big addition or no change,” she continues. The book is divided into general room categories: kitchens, baths, bedrooms and shared spaces. For each category the authors offer projects ranging from simple improvements to large additions.
After talking about her book and ideas, Susanka offered to take a look at the sketches I’d been working on for my own upcoming kitchen remodel. How could I say no to this incredible offer? In about 15 minutes we applied half a dozen of the concepts in her book to improve my design.
Unfortunately, most people won’t fall into a free design consultation with Susanka, but she has provided five lists of tips and ideas for kitchens, baths, creating open spaces, green remodeling and applying general “Not So Big” remodeling concepts. For more about her books, go to www.notsobighouse.com.
Kitchen Remodeling Tips
Bathroom Remodeling Tips
Creating Open Living Spaces
Green Remodeling Tips
Guide to Not So Big Remodeling
Kitchen Remodeling Tips
From Not So Big Remodeling
1. Borrow before building – If the existing kitchen is too cramped, consider borrowing space from adjacent spaces. Often space is available in overlooked places such as an oversize living room, a rarely used dining room, a butler’s pantry or a poorly laid out back entry.
2. Leave well enough alone – Where possible, leave the utility hook-ups where they are, especially if money is a concern. Limiting the number of utilities to relocate will help to contain costs.
3. Consolidate entrances – Attempt to locate all doorways to the kitchen on one side of the room and eliminate any that are not absolutely necessary. This reserves the rest of the kitchen for continuous countertops and appliances while limiting the flow of foot traffic through the work area.
4. Pick out the pieces – Not all major appliances come in standard sizes. Select major appliances such as the refrigerator, oven and cooktop early in the design process so the evolving plan can be tailored to fit these specific dimensions. The difference of a few inches in any direction can make a design impossible to implement.
5. Work-triangle basics – When laying out a kitchen, an imaginary triangle is often used to make the work area more functional and efficient. The path linking the centers of the sink, cooktop and refrigerator should not exceed 26 ft. No leg of the triangle should be longer than 9 ft. or shorter than 4 ft., and no major traffic pattern should intersect it.
6. Bridging the distance – If the kitchen is more than 12 ft. wide, consider adding an island in the center. This can help the kitchen to function more efficiently and make it seem larger, even if the island itself is small. Make sure any walkways between cabinetry and the island are at least 36 in. wide or the kitchen will feel too cramped – 42 in. is better but not always possible when remodeling.
7. Keep it flowing – Large appliances and pantry cabinets that extend above the countertop surface can interrupt the flow of the work surface. To maximize the usable work surface, place large vertical objects such as the refrigerator or a double oven at the end of a stretch of countertop rather than in the middle.
8. Maximize interaction, minimize interruption – Successful kitchen remodeling encourages interaction between household members while minimizing the amount of movement through the space by noncooks. Eliminate the frustrations of a crowded workspace while improving the opportunities to socialize by creating a layout that is open to adjacent spaces but still clearly defined as a separate room. Consider these approaches:
• Create a sense of shelter as well as a visual screen with a section of raised countertop between the kitchen and an adjacent living area. Making the raised area 4 to 6 in. taller will block the view of messy work areas.
• Provide seating for onlookers that is close to the work area and tall enough that it is easy for the cook and onlookers to see each other.
• Make sure there is a clear line of sight to the sitting areas beyond the kitchen. This allows conversation to flow freely between the cook and other household members.
• Locate kitchen appliances that people other than the cook often use (such as a microwave or refrigerator) where they are easily accessible without disturbing the workflow.
Bathroom Remodeling Tips
From Not So Big Remodeling
If you consider the “per-square-foot” price of a room, bathrooms are among the most expensive areas in the house. Carefully consider personal patterns and preferences before determining the best remodeling solution for the situation.
1. Positioning the plumbing – If possible, avoid moving plumbing to keep costs down. However, sometimes moving plumbing is necessary to accomplish remodeling goals. If you have a bathroom door that opens to reveal a head-on view of the toilet, for instance, relocating the toilet to a less visible spot may be worth the trouble and added cost.
2. Controlling costs – There are several ways to reduce expenses during a bathroom remodel:
o Before beginning, identify the parts of the existing bathroom that can be saved, such as tile work, half-walls, faucets, fixtures and window and door casings.
o Use mirrors, reflected light, clear glass shower partitions and variations in ceiling height to make the space look and feel larger.
o Identify ways to introduce natural light with glass block or frosted-glass windows, skylights and solar tubes to make the room brighter and more appealing.
o Do not overspend on bathroom tile, faucets and fixtures. Instead enhance the overall design with color, mirrors, lighting, cabinetry and simple, inexpensive tile.
3. Expressing yourself – Tile is a great way to add flair using a simple yet creative design motif. For example, you can place one expensive eye-catching tile in a field of less costly tile to create a focal point for a bathroom without blowing the budget. Or use several sizes or colors of low-cost tile to create an innovative pattern. All you need is a little imagination, which doesn’t cost anything.
4. A tub for young and old – It’s a good idea to have at least one bathtub in a house: It’s more convenient for bathing young children, and elderly people often prefer baths to showers. For small children, a shallow tub is preferable; older kids love to play in deeper soaking or jetted tubs. In many homes these types of tubs are only in master bathrooms, but you can add one to another bathroom.
5. Daylight in the shower – When adding a window to a shower, make sure to install it properly to avoid moisture problems. Glass block or a more conventional window with obscuring glass can be used, but make sure that the window you choose does not have any wood parts that will be damaged by the moist environment. If possible, use a metal or vinyl-covered unit, and make the sill and surround out of tile or solid-surface material.
6. The throne – For extra comfort, choose an elongated toilet bowl rather than a standard model. Elongated bowls are usually 3 to 4 in. longer, which can make an enormous difference in everyday utility. Given how much we use this trusty fixture, it is worth a few extra dollars.
7. Mirrors – No room benefits more from the use of reflecting surfaces than the bathroom. A wall-to-wall mirror can double the apparent size of a room without adding a single square foot. To give the illusion of more space, the mirrored surface should extend all the way to the countertop or backsplash and up to the ceiling.
8. Small space, big effect – Powder rooms have the most impact per square foot of any room in the house. They do not have to be spacious to make guests feel well taken care of. As long as there is 24 in. of space in front of the toilet bowl and 30 in. of width around it, the powder room will be compliant with code. What is important is the design and attention to the details such as lighting, cabinetry and countertop design, and color. In this room, beauty matters more than you might expect.
Creating Open Living Spaces
From Not So Big Remodeling
1. Two become one – Make two smaller rooms feel more spacious by opening a shared wall to create a framed opening. A framed opening visually links one space to another and is most effective when it provides a wide connection between spaces while still maintaining the differentiation of one room from another.
2. Columns instead of walls – Create a more open floor plan, especially where the kitchen connects to adjacent living spaces, by removing a wall and replacing it with a new support beam and columns. Columns allow for differentiation of spaces with minimal view obstruction while providing the structural support of a load-bearing wall.
3. Let there be light – One of the best ways to increase the apparent size of a home without adding on is to bring more daylight into the interior. Increase the size of existing windows or place them adjacent to perpendicular walls and ceilings, allowing those surfaces to act as giant daylight reflectors. In addition, create openings between rooms to allow more of the available daylight to be seen from room to room.
4. Look to the ceiling – Vary ceiling heights to emphasize certain areas. For example, use lower ceilings over subordinate spaces such as hallways, alcoves and smaller rooms and create a higher ceiling to add dramatic impact to more important rooms.
5. Use the floor – Differentiate areas in an open space with a change in floor material or level. Changing materials creates a subtle boundary; the addition of a step or two between rooms can make a pronounced differentiation.
6. Connect with the outdoors – A great view of the outdoors can expand the perceived boundaries of a home to the edge of its property line or beyond. A house will feel several times larger if the doors and windows reveal the surrounding landscape and allow easy movement to the outside.
7. Bring the inside out – Create another room from which to enjoy the outdoors by sheltering an exterior sitting space from the elements with a widened overhang or a new segment of roof. The addition of a screened porch can also serve as an excellent connector between inside and out. During the summer months it may be the most heavily used living space of all.
8. Increase the apparent size – Differentiate surfaces with a beltline or headband (a continuous line of trim that divides the upper part of the room from the lower part, such as a chair rail, wainscoting or molding that ties together the tops of all windows and doors). Making the area below the line a darker color than the area above fools the eye so that the ceiling appears higher, which makes the whole space seem bigger.
9. Create visual vitality – Make a living space come alive by accentuating a focal wall with a saturated paint color. Or use a spotlight to highlight a feature such as a painting or piece of art to create a focal point for the room.
Green Remodeling Tips
From Not So Big Remodeling
The “Not So Big” definition of “green” refers not only to the sustainability, energy efficiency and durability of a house but also to its innate beauty and the appropriateness of its size. A house that is the right size for its inhabitants and beautifully designed and crafted is more likely to be well-cared-for by its residents for many decades. If a house is not beautiful, it is not truly sustainable, no matter how many green features it sports.
1. One is better than none – Include as many green upgrades as the budget allows. If the prospect of many upgrades seems overwhelming, just pick one and do it well. Every improvement makes a difference in the long-term sustainability of the structure. One small step at a time can collectively upgrade the existing housing stock. Changing the furnace filters once a month is an extremely simple step anyone can take, and it will improve the efficiency of the whole heating and cooling system.
2. Waste not, want not – Reuse as many of the original components from the existing house as is reasonable. Responsibly recycle items that cannot be reused. There are many interesting ways to repurpose materials, such as reusing wall studs to extend the eaves or grinding up old stucco for a driveway base.
3. Mind your materials – Choose paints and varnishes that are free of harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and formaldehyde. Look for engineered wood products and wood certified by the Forestry Stewardship Council as well as carpet made from natural fibers such as wool.
4. Give your house a checkup – Obtain an energy audit from a home-energy expert to identify problems and streamline the process of improving energy efficiency within a specified budget. This strategy alone can save homeowners hundreds of dollars a year.
5. Seal leaks – Have the existing heating and cooling system checked out by a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) contractor. Seal major air leaks identified by the energy audit, replace defective or substandard ductwork and seal all ductwork in unconditioned spaces.
6. Improve efficiency – Increase efficiency and lower energy bills by choosing efficient HVAC equipment and using double or triple-pane windows with a coating known as “low e.” Select appliances that are Energy Star-rated, and install low-flow dual-flush toilets that flush once for liquids and twice for solid waste.
7. Increase insulation – Consider increasing the level of insulation in the house if it is below standard. Attics and crawl spaces are common culprits. There are many insulation options to choose from today (such as sprayed-in, closed-cell, no-VOC foam insulations) that can achieve a high R-value even in a fairly small stud or rafter cavity.
8. Use the roof – Extend roof overhangs to protect the exterior from weather and shade the house from the high summer sun. If there is an area of roof with largely unobstructed, south-facing access to sunlight, consider installing a solar hot-water system or adding a photovoltaic array.
Guide to Not So Big Remodeling
Insights and ideas from Sarah Susanka and Marc Vassallo
1. Set priorities – When beginning a project, consider quality, quantity and cost. Determine which two are the most important. Because remodeling is an inexact science, one of these variables must be allowed to “float” in order to make a remodel possible.
2. Examine the space – Begin exploring remodeling options by first looking at what can be done within the existing footprint of the house. By thinking creatively about the available space, you may discover that you don’t need to add on. Instead, problems can be solved by rethinking the locations of each activity area within the existing footprint.
3. Think in terms of activity areas – It is a common temptation to think about remodeling in terms of rooms. However, that approach can limit the solutions before the project begins. Instead, create a list of activities that need to be accommodated, recognizing that each activity requires a space but not necessarily an entire room. This allows for a greater number of potential design options and will lead to a remodeling plan that best addresses the needs identified.
4. Start with the simplest strategy – Learn to think about a home as an architect would. Begin by exploring the simplest remodeling solution – working within the existing footprint – and only move on to more complicated solutions, such as a bump-out or a small addition, if you determine that the simpler solution won’t work. This strategy is the most important way to discover a “Not So Big” solution.
5. Study storage – Evaluate the home’s existing storage areas, including cupboards, closets and pantries. Many homes have too little storage in places where it is most needed, and too much in places where it is only marginally useful. A little well-designed storage in the right place can replace a lot of poorly designed storage, opening up some much-needed floor space in areas that are currently too small to function properly.
6. Bump out a little – Bumping out a section of wall by just a few feet can add some much-needed square footage without making the whole area too big – a common error in many add-ons. A bump-out that creates an alcove or a small extension running the width of a room will keep costs down while maintaining the scale and proportion of the existing house.
7. Add on with grace – If none of the above strategies meets the remodeling needs, and if your budget allows, a small addition may be the best option. When adding on, it is important to consider what each exterior face of the house will look like. A well-proportioned addition can greatly enhance the value of a home, whereas a poorly proportioned addition can actually reduce a home’s value. Good design is always a good investment, and it does not have to cost any more money.
8. Let the roof be the guide – To ensure that a bump-out or addition will look good on a house, let the existing roof inform the design solution. The roof shape will make some options easy and others nearly impossible without looking like a mistake. In some situations, a bump-out or addition just won’t work without serious roof reconfigurations that will cost more than the results are worth.
9. Work with windows – Few things can have as much impact on the character of a room as the shapes, patterns and positioning of the windows. In any remodeling situation, an interesting composition of windows can add personality to both the inside and outside of the house.
10. Include the exterior – Remodeling doesn’t have to be restricted to the interior of a house. Even if the home does not need exterior changes, consider giving it a prettier face. Few remodeling strategies can affect the long-term value of a home more than an external facelift, which can be accomplished inexpensively when done with a “Not So Big” focus on quality rather than quantity.