We received a great question the other day on Facebook, and I thought I’d take a quick screen shot, and address it here more thoroughly. I also felt weird taking a screen shot, so then I kind of freaked out a little and totally blurred out the last name in case there’s some odd rule somewhere that says taking screen is rude. And in case this fabulous person didn’t appreciate said screen shot. Yes, I am a classic over-thinker. Shocker. #calmdown
But Beth had a great question. She wanted to know which space functions for us the most. It’s an interesting question, but the answer is not a simple one. We took on this house renovation in stages, {with more to go} in hopes that this will be our forever home. This included careful consideration on it’s usage. We’ve absolutely loved every single phase, even the hard ones. And today, we thought we’d break them down for you and explain their uses.
{Pssst: you can follow along with all the changes we’ve made, by checking out the entire series here + shop our spaces, here.}
Phase one:
Great room {and upstairs levels, which we won’t include here today since it’s basically where we sleep/bathe and you know those are essential}
It’s History:
When we took possession of the house, it looked like this. It had 4 smaller rooms on this one level.
So we took out the ceilings and the walls to create one large space.
What the renovation includes:
• It holds a seating area with a fireplace {a tv hides behind that art, but we use that tv least, now that the other spaces are finished, though we’re still glad to have it here}
• Our kitchen
• Eat-in area
Future uses:
The left side of the cabinets in the kitchen, will be the entry to our master suite {long story with codes and our septic tank, but we hope to add it here}. The right side is still unfinished as well, and while we at first thought it would be a desk, we plan to add a much needed coffee bar area. Still to be completed. Notice how I rarely show that side of the room from that angle. It’s on the list this year.
What we use it for:
This is our natural gathering spot because of the kitchen, and definitely the hub of the house.
We love it because it offers different seating options for kiddos, and eating. It also provides space for the kids to spread out a little in our house. They are now ages 14, 12 {next week!}, and 10. As children grow, their needs evolve. They like to split up a little more these days, and it’s nice to have an extra space, especially when they have a friend over.
This was the first major change to our house, so it has naturally evolved over time. We use it a little less than we did now that the other spaces are complete. But we love having another option for eating {bar? round table? pool room table? – that space is below if you have no idea what I’m talking about} which is actually perfect when entertaining.
We find that we use it more together as a family.
When we have guests over, we love that there’s a place for children to go, and adults. The dynamic changes when people come over, and we love having options. But from piano music to game nights at that table, we love that this is definitely the hub of the house. It’s naturally so, because of the kitchen. Jamin also works a lot here since we don’t have an official office.
We love to entertain, and this was important to us. I think it’s good to know thyself when it comes to your house, and what you want to accomplish with your vision.
Something to consider:
We in no way regret taking out these walls and ceiling. You can’t deny that this was a drastic before and after.
Game. Changer. {We couldn’t even fit our sofa in the original living area, for starters.} We did that, because we knew we were adding other areas to the house. Taking out all your walls with no other options, can make you feel like you’re living in a fishbowl. It works for our house, and it may work for others. But we did this because we have other rooms.
Phase two:
The basement.
Once upon a time this was crusty and scary and all those things. We lived on the top level while we finished up the basement, and I would basically run downstairs to load the laundry, and then run back up. I thought a clown may actually come out of the crawlspace. At one point during the renovation, I heard a rustling in the corner. The spiders were so large, they could have installed the drywall themselves. I seriously thought there was no coming back from this. We were all, what have we gotten ourselves into?!
I’m happy to report that the giant spiders went away, and that probably has a lot to do with good pest control and sealing the crawlspace. And as soon as I write this, one may appear. But it was a game changer for how we felt about the house.
It’s History:
Yes, this was a garage. It just might be our most asked question on the site.
While we have long term plans to add a small carriage house on the property, this is what it is for now. Lots of people in our area, do not have garages. We say this changeover was totally worth it. You can read more about our decision to do this on our original post, along with future house plans here.
We’re pretty sure that the old owner once cleaned his deer here. There were hooks for such in the beam, and we actually had a few friends look at the house before us tell us as much {we’ve met them after the fact, and many people can tell us they just weren’t sure what to do with the house}. Needless to say, we were glad to gain some square footage, and change it over to a much-needed space.
What the renovation includes:
This space is multifunctional, and nearly as important as the upstairs changeover. It includes other areas of the house that we needed to maintain our working business, along with the functions of an every day household.
• Our main entryway – once we changed over one wall to a much-needed hall tree, we were astounded that this is the entry and exit we use the most, every day.
• Main area for the kids – we even included furniture that changes into sofa beds for sleepovers + visiting friends/family. It stores their toys, games, books and more. Can I call it a library?
• My small studio – our working space where we keep samples for clients, art supplies, etc.
• Laundry corner – while the house does not have an official laundry room {plans for that are in the future} it does have a functioning laundry space.
The space also holds extras like our additional fridge, and more storage.
Future uses:
If we are able to build our master, the current laundry space will become a large, functioning closet.
Or one child may make this their bedroom for our in-the-meantime phase. We like having flexible options as our family continues to grow up. We just wish time would slow down.
What we use it for:
Besides all the highly functional reasons listed above, the kids have absolutely dominated this space. It’s used every day, whether they have a friend over, they’re playing, or they’re watching a movie. Our youngest loves this space for his homework.
It’s our favorite spot to gather on a snow day or for movie marathons. The older they get, it’s nice to have options to snuggle together, or spread out.
Something to consider:
A basement is much more functional than a garage ever would be. You don’t have to follow the rules to enjoy your home… a mantra we’ve always loved.
Also, think through your furniture and make sure it’s multifunctional. We love that the La-Z-Boy sofas can be used as a sofa or a bed when you need them. The chairs are also recliners, which are great for movie nights. Perfect for out of town guests or slumber parties.
Phase Three:
The pool room.
It’s History:
We fondly named this one the pool room because of it’s initial location. Bye, old metal shed. While we created some fun memories there in the meantime, we’ve loved adding this space to the back of our house for us, and for entertaining. This space has changed the entire dynamic of the house. It’s truly interesting how that happens.
What the renovation includes: {this one was an entirely new build}
• It holds a seating area with a fireplace
{a tv hides behind that art} + another bed for out of town guests – but really, the bed is for me. I love writing here.
• Eat-in area + banquette for storage:
It’s given us so many more options for larger pieces we don’t use that often, like our crockpot + storage for other random items
• Added bonus:
A working studio space for both of us, and writing area. With plenty of light it’s the perfect room for photography, along with painting, too. Our prime area for all things projects.
We had time in between the main level, and then the finished basement to think about what our home lacked and what we could use. What we chose doesn’t disappoint.
What we use it for:
When we entertain, this is amazing. We find that adults tend to migrate to this room, while kids have the run of the house, between the basement and their rooms upstairs. In the summer months it will be great for easy access from the pool with food, etc. But we love having another option for food, with more places for multiple guests to sit.
But right now, we use this room every day. It’s our makeshift office, since we don’t have an official office/studio just yet, besides the smaller space downstairs. It’s perfect for that. We use this space for us, while the kids tend to migrate to the basement. It’s nice to have a quiet area for work or rest when needed. Jamin has also adopted this room as his official fall football space. I’ve decided I can compromise if he lets me work on my oil paintings here. ;}
Something to consider:
How much it can change the way your house feels. This is the number one comment we receive when people visit. With large windows and a nice fireplace, it’s just what the doctor ordered.
And we do mean literally: I plan to spend the winter here. I know it may sound silly but the days can be short and gloomy, and while we’ve slowly adjusted, it was really hard at first. I think this may be a great option to darker spaces in the house, along with a nice room to keep me warm. We also added a metal roof so that rain actually has a benefit. If you can’t beat ’em… SAD is a real thing, and I’m not discounting the added health and psychological benefits this space has.
As you can see, each space is highly functional and much-used in it’s own way. If we had to choose, I don’t think we could… we love each one so much for different reasons! We never imagined having options would be such a great thing for our family. I think it comes down to assessing your family’s needs, and choosing what works best, along with how the space can work hard for you.
As always, let us know if we can answer any questions! We hope this helped illuminate some of the uses for our rooms, along with some things to consider.
Have an inspired day!
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