2014 Best of the Year: Far Pond
The combined efforts of Breitenbach Builders and Bates Masi + Architects on the coastal Far Pond whole-house remodeling project have won them Best of the Year in the 2014 Remodeling Design...

By: Remodeling Magazine

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When it comes to home remodeling, we stand by the saying: Bigger isnt always better. We have said it before and we will say it again: Good home remodeling is about function and design, not about size. We have seen small homes with much better style and function than homes with double the square footage. For instance, adding a large room on the back of your house may make you feel like you are solving space issues in your house. However, if there are still problems with the design/function of the rest of your house, additional square footage may not resolve the core issues of your home. Bigger is not always better has been our message since we started Renovation Design Group more than 10 years ago. Smart redesign that stays within the footprint of your house can be less expensive than a large, big box addition and can have a big impact on your lifestyle. During the past few weeks, we have been delving into a recent Houzz.com research study, "Transforming the American Home." The study shows that of the 200,000 respondents, 76 percent who remodeled stayed within the existing footprint of their home. This led the Houzz researchers to also conclude that bigger isnt always better. One of our role models in architecture is Sarah Susanka. She developed the Not So Big book series featuring such titles as "The Not So Big House" and "Not So Big Remodeling." These books are based on her architectural theory of keeping the scope of the project smaller with creative and smart design while taking the money saved and using it on finer finishes. This makes the space more functional and more beautiful without having to make it big. Basically, Susanka says finding the sense of home has more to do with quality than quantity. We completely agree. It has been exciting to see more people according to the Houzz survey grasp this concept. A relatively minor remodel or small addition can result in a significantly improved house design. Often homeowners cant see past the existing walls to even imagine a different floor plan and design; they just know they need more space and that for some reason their house isnt working for them anymore. An architect with "fresh" eyes can present options and solutions most homeowners (and contractors) would not see. A key issue for making an existing house function well is the circulation pattern of the home. It is always a problem when people have to cross through one room or area to access another. (These are the rooms in which we find it difficult to arrange furniture because they are functioning as a hall instead of a room.) If you can resolve the flow issues, you will have a home that will feel and function as a much larger space, even though the size has not actually changed. Some design solutions may involve moving walls, doors, windows or even stairs. Such alterations may seem drastic to the homeowner, but one such change can be the key to all the other functions falling into place. For instance, struggling to work around a totally misplaced stairwell can be equivalent to the "tail wagging the dog." No matter how you try to modernize the homes style, if the house does not circulate well, it will neither function properly nor feel comfortable. The other syndrome to avoid is putting "lipstick on the pig." This refers to replacing and upgrading finishes without dealing with the underlying issues of the home namely, the way the home flows and functions. If your kitchen is nothing more than a glorified hall with appliances in it, no amount of new cabinets or granite countertops will fix the problem. Unless your goal is to have a better-looking problem, you need to dig deeper and address the underlying issues before you focus on finishes. Finally, if you are contemplating adding a room, make sure of two things: First, there must be a logical and sensible way to access the room. Look at the circulation in the house before you consider anything else. Second, make sure the addition is proportional to the existing house and its infrastructure. By this we mean, dont add a huge family room off the back of your house if you have an 80-square-foot kitchen that cant support a family or gatherings in a room of that size. You must begin your design process by looking at the house as a whole. Be sure you focus on changes that will have the greatest impact on the way your family functions and on your lifestyle. While a house can indeed be too small, it is also true that it can be too large. With careful and thoughtful design, you can choose to make your home comfortable, beautiful and functional instead of massive. Bonuses associated with a smaller house include less to clean, less to heat and cool, and less to pay taxes on. Truly, bigger is not always better! Ann Robinson and Annie V. Schwemmer are the principal architects and co-founders of a residential architectural firm focused on life-changing remodeling designs at RenovationDesignGroup.com. Send comments or questions to ask@RenovationDesignGroup.com

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Robust remodeling: Bigger isnt always better

Published: Sunday, October 12, 2014 at 1:33 a.m. Last Modified: Sunday, October 12, 2014 at 1:33 a.m.

AUBURNDALE | When you're hot, you're hot.

Having recently mounted a major campaign to raise funds for badly needed repairs, remodeling and expansion of its services, Anchor House Ministries finds itself close to its goal, having collected $278,000 in the past few days.

Two major donations gave the Auburndale boys' home a needed boost, including $110,000 from an anonymous donor that will be used to jump-start a transitional program for boys 18 and older who have aged out of the program but still need assistance, officials said.

Another gift of $150,000 brings the ministry closer to its goal of raising $250,000 for repairs and upgrades to its main campus. The money is from Helen Rich of Hillsborough County, a granddaughter of chewing gum magnate William Wrigley Jr., who learned of the nonprofit's needs after watching a Tampa Bay television newscast, said Kathy Bucklew, president of the board of directors at Anchor House.

The agency concluded its banner week by raising another $18,000 for remodeling during Thursday night's banquet at the First Presbyterian Church in Lakeland, she said.

The dinner alone was "by far the largest single-event collection in our history," Bucklew said. "We're so excited. We're really feeling the momentum build."

[ Eric Pera can be reached at eric.pera@theledger.com or 863-802-7528. ]

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Major Gifts To Help Anchor House

Eagle Eye Pest Control | Pest Control in League City
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Close-range foxes: the work of the Terrierman
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Window and Door Installation on Fire Island - Awnings, Casements and Patio Doors - Beach House - Video

Moorpark Outdoor Lighting and Timer Service
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Moorpark Outdoor Lighting and Timer Service - Video

Oxnard Outdoor Lighting and Timer Service
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By Christine Brun, Special to the U-T10 a.m.Oct. 11, 2014

The design of the Qasr al Sarab resort in Abu Dhabi blends with the desert landscape.

A room with a view is precious. When you book a hotel room, there is added value attached to a view of a quaint garden fountain, the ocean or a mere peek at a mountain range. If you are a family that enjoys staycations, there should be just as much value placed on any open space and what lies beyond your own yard.

I am reminded while traveling around our county how fortunate we San Diegans are to have an impressive assortment of extraordinary views from a wide number of neighborhoods.

Near Balboa Park, you might have expansive views east of canyons, rooftops and the Cuyamaca Mountains, the same mountains visible from Mission Bay high-rise structures. South Park offers views of the same eastern geometry, but also an interesting angle on San Diego Bay.

From the rim of Fashion Valley or City Heights, you peer straight down the San Diego River bed and see where the Pacific meets our sadly anemic river. Ridge lots in eastern-facing parts of Encinitas hover over the San Dieguito River bed and all of Rancho Santa Fe. And no one needs to remind those homeowners hugging Mount Soledad on both sides of the amazing blue-water views.

Its all a classic California landscape dotted with eucalyptus, sage, palm trees of every variety and tempting azure waters from Imperial Beach up to Encinitas.

Which brings me back to the subject of views and what to do about yours. The example in this photo is nothing if not exotic. Taken at the Qasr al Sarab resort nestled on the edge of the Liwa Desert in Abu Dhabi, rooms here are the epitome of luxury. But what strikes me more is that when you experience an interior that is clearly tapped into the feeling and sensation of the view, a magical experience can result.

Now you dont have a backyard in Abu Dhabi, I know. But perhaps your yard overlooks the amazing Mission Trails Regional Park. Are not those canyons and hills spectacular? Could you not pull colors from nature to extend your living space into your backyard or onto your deck? What would a color scheme based on a moss green, tan, charcoal gray and black do for you, with pops of red or a buttery gold? Look at your blooming shrubs for inspiration.

It is notable that this serene exterior room blends into the color of sands beyond. This is the precise reason that the view pulls you out into that fading landscape. Is it really so different from looking down Peasquitos Canyon from Carmel Valley homes or backyards in the Santa Luz development? We are, in case you didnt notice this past summer, really living in the Southern California desert, and that means that we all should be rethinking how we use our exterior spaces.

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Outdoor dcor helps define view