Small Home Additions Can Make a Big Impact

Often times there is a more environmentally friendlycreates an attractive focal point in the space while
and lower cost alternative to a "big box" addition.increasing the rooms' natural light and views to the
Small but well-designed additions can give you exactlyexterior. Bays also allow for the inclusion of window
what you need at a fraction of the cost. These lowseats, which are both functional and aesthetic. They
cost room additions also create minimal or no changecan offer additional seating, create a cozy niche
in the exterior appearance of your home. Smalladjacent to a larger space and provide storage space
additions are especially effective in bathrooms, livingunder the seat.
rooms, dining rooms and kitchens.In a kitchen, adding just 2 feet to one side allows
One couple who lived near Salt Lake City, Utahyou to put in extra cabinets while maintaining the
needed a larger shower and closet for theirkitchen's open floor space.
second-story master bathroom. Rather than designingIf you're interested in making a small room addition to
a new large addition, a simple a 2-by-4-foot bay wasyour home, keep the following structural aspects in
added directly above a bay window that alreadymind:
existed in the dining room below the master bath.- It is possible to have a small addition, such as a bay
This created a perfect spot for a new jetted tub,window, jut several feet out from the wall of your
freed up space for a larger, separate shower and ahome, eliminating the need to pour a new concrete
bigger closet. The overall functionality of the spacefoundation.
was also much improved.- You can "borrow" a few feet from a room or
Another couple in the Avenues of Salt Lake City hadspace adjacent to the room you want to enlarge. For
a living room that was only 11 feet wide. Aexample, you can capture the space from a closet to
2-by-6-foot bay window on one side of the livingadd to a bathroom, which would allow enough space
room was designed for them by their architect. Thisfor a new shower or bathtub.
minor addition allowed them to include the additional- If you have a large roof overhang of 2 to 4 feet,
furniture they wanted to use at a fraction of theyou may be able to tuck an addition under your
cost of building the addition they thought would beexisting roof. If you don't have such an overhang,
necessary.you will need to build a new roof to cover an
Adding bays in living rooms or dining rooms alsoaddition.