In Comes a New Income

So you've decided to add a suite to your home. There area a lot of things that you need to consider before picking up a hammer. 1st is to check your city/district bylaws to find out if your zoning allows for secondary suites. 2nd is to hire a designer. Here is a project completed recently of a 2,500 sq. ft. + home with its main floor as its target.

Here were a few cost saving ideas:

1. We determined the un-used and waisted spaces. Hallways are the biggest waist of space - so naturally that was first to go. The workshop was used so it was moved into the garage. Smaller counter space but larger work space.

2. The most important item on the list. Your primary residence must come first, primary being the optimum word.

3. We did not move outside of the building envelope. By staying inside of all exterior walls we cut down on costs pertaining to excavation, foundation, insulation, rainscreen, possible roofing, etc.

4. We did not move any of the existing load-bearing walls and mechanical elements. Keep it simple.

Designing began with the primary residence. Without the family room, we wanted to make the new 'great room' well, great. The bar was too big, closed in the kitchen, and left wasted space inside. By removing the bar counter, we relocated the cabinets and built an 8' butcher-block counter to seat 4 comfortably. We opened up the dining wall with railing and the potential of future stairs. The washer and dryer were un-stacked and relocated beside the powder room. The existing granite bar was cut and placed above the washer and dryer, while the garage door was relocated to a more convenient, central location.

As for the suite, an existing beam was within the structural wall as a visual detail, so removing the wall between the proposed kitchen and living was extremely simple. We then added a kitchen with built in dining nook and moved the existing workshop window above the sink. Framed in a bedroom with new window, bathroom, laundry closet, and mechanical room for the hot water tank. A key cost saving tip - try to keep all your plumbing services close together.

Total cost:  TBD