How a small addition made a huge difference for one Tiburon homeowner

This is the story of a four-year project. Of course, most home additions and remodels don’t take that long, but some do. (We don’t mind telling you that; the more information you have, the better.) Delays can pop up in finding the design that’s right for your home or in dealing with the city. Sometimes, though, extra time is built into the project on purpose.

When planning for the next 20 or more years, many clients take their time, as they should. The homeowner may need to take things slow, building gaps into the project schedule due to time constraints or finances. When you consider that the home you’re building will be there for 100 years or more, it’s worth shooting for perfection, and that often means taking things one step at a time.

In this case, finding the right design took some time, and the final product was worth the wait.

The homeowner hired designer Matt Waitkus to increase her living space and improve the energy efficiency of her Tiburon home. The initial plan was a 1000-square-foot addition, but after reviewing the costs and the magnitude of the project, the owner decided to reduce the size of the addition and re-work the current layout to suit her needs.

Changing the size of the addition to 400 square feet, Matt remodeled the existing garage into a new living room. This was the right solution for this homeowner, who doesn’t mind storing her vehicles outdoors in exchange for an incredible living room. To make up for the lost garage, a parking pad was added to the property. Matt also added a deck with storage space beneath it.

This elevation shows the home’s original design.

In the new plans, the garage is replaced with a living area. To make up for the re-purposed garage space, the designer added a deck with storage beneath it and a parking pad.

To expand the common areas of the home, Matt opened up the interior to give the family more room for meals, hosting, and everyday activities. He also added a play room off of the dining room, giving the home a versatile space that could be a place for kids, an exercise room, or an office.

The home’s existing floor plan, before the remodel

The new floor plan, which adds a family room, new entry, and deck. There are also improvements to the common areas and a new play room for the kids.

For this homeowner, the benefits of reducing the size of the project went beyond the cost savings. Since the addition is fewer than 500 square feet, the review process with the city is less intensive and will take less time. She’ll also enjoy greater energy efficiency.

This project will break ground fall 2019. Once it’s complete, the homeowner will be able to add solar and battery power to her home, bringing it close to net-zero energy.

This is a great example of what a homeowner can accomplish with the right designer. Interested? Contact us today to talk about your project goals and ideas.