5 Ways to Add Extra Living Space in a Small Home

Modern homes are often on the compact side. Estate agents use all kinds of purple prose to make the most of what is essentially a glorified rabbit hutch in some cases, but if you are stuck with a smaller than average home there are several ways you can maximise space without having to move to a larger property.

The Benefits of Extending

Moving home is expensive and stressful. Unless you need to relocate for your career, it is often more sensible to make the most of what your current home has to offer. Adding some extra living space won’t eat too much into your bank account. It is also worth remembering that if you tackle the project in a sensible way, you will increase the value of your home and make it easier to sell when you do eventually decide to upgrade or downsize.

There are lots of ways to add extra living space, but here are the best ones:

1. Attic Conversion

An attic conversion is one of the most popular ways to add an extra bedroom. As long as you have the right type of roof space, it won’t be too difficult to extend up into the attic, and if your neighbours have already done this, securing planning permission will be a breeze.

How cute is this office nook in the attic? Picture source here.

2. Garden Room

Garden rooms come in all shapes and sizes. Timber summer houses are an affordable option for most people, but if you want a garden room you can use all year round, look at building a more permanent structure with masonry walls and a proper roof. If the idea of a contemporary garden room appeals, you can find more info here.

3. Conservatory

Adding a conservatory is a quick and easy way to increase your living space. However, it won’t work unless you have sufficient outside space at the back or side of the house, so be careful not to sacrifice too much of your garden for the sake of a living room extension.

How gorgeous is this covered porch? Picture source here. 

Cheaper conservatories are great for spring and autumn, but not so great in winter or during the heat of the summer. If you want a conservatory you can use all year round, look at building a sun room or orangery with a higher level of insulation.

4. Basement Extension

Basement extensions are popular in areas where space is at a premium. It is possible to add lots of extra living space below ground level, but the project does need to be undertaken by professionals with plenty of experience in basement construction.

5. Garage Conversion

A garage can easily be converted into extra living space with the addition of more insulation, a door and windows. Be aware, however, that losing your garage means you also lose a useful storage space for miscellaneous junk, not to mention a place to park your car when the weather is bad.

Always draw up a list of pros and cons before you make any final decision, and if you do decide to go ahead with a renovation project, make sure you hire a reputable contractor.

3 Small Home Modifications That Could Make All the Difference this Summer

While it may still be cold outside, we are beginning to transition into spring and it won’t be long before keeping the house warm becomes a problem of the past, and staying cool becomes an issue. This is something we tend to be quite bad at planning for, with most people not even having ceiling fans let alone air conditioning at home, however when the temperatures rise our hot days can compete with those in countries where these cooling measures are considered essentials! The spring is a good time to start planning any changes you want to make to your home to make it more comfortable in the peak of summer, and here are three affordable ways you can get your home set up for a cool, pleasant July and August:

A Swamp Cooler

Air conditioning may be an expensive modification you may not deem worthwhile when our summers tend to be short and unpredictable, however a swamp cooler can be a much cheaper alternative that will make your home feel much cooler on the days when the temperature does soar. If you are unfamiliar with the concept, a swamp cooler blows air over water and cools the room as the water evaporates. There are various ways of improvising your own swamp cooler, but buying a swamp cooler unit can cost no more than buying a good fan or dehumidifier, and this could be a purchase you’ll be glad you made in a matter of weeks from now.

Electric Window Controls

If you have windows or skylights you tend to open in summer to let fresh air in to cool your home, then it can be a great idea to fit electric openers to them so you can open and close them by remote control. This is an especially good thing to use on hard to reach skylights, or if you have elderly people in your home who may struggle to open windows or close them to make themselves more comfortable. tealproducts.com has a selection of window operators that can be used on just about any type of window, and this can be an affordable home mod that will serve you well in the summer.

Magnetic Insect Meshes

Opening windows and doors can be the easiest way to let air flow through your home and make it less hot and stuffy in summer, and many people tend to basically live with all their windows and things like French windows open during the warmer season. However, this brings with it a new problem as flies, mosquitoes, and the dreaded wasps are able to easily find their way indoors. Fitting insect meshes over windows is a good start, but you can also buy meshes that snap closed with magnets for your patio doors or French windows. These allow you and your kids and pets to come and go through the doors easily without letting bugs in.

These three simple modifications can be made now, making summer in your home much more comfortable and convenient!

5 Metals That Will Make Your Home Shine

Traditionally, metal was used for its high strength and its durability, and leading suppliers like cannonsteelsltd.co.uk are still helping builders and home improvement enthusiasts with their building and DIY needs with steel. However, different metals are being used more and more in homes for their aesthetic properties, and as part of the overall look and design of a home. How you incorporate metal into your home is a personal choice, but here are a few ideas that may give you some inspiration for your design.

Picture above: Ruffoni copper canister set with brass acorn finial. Aren't they dreamy?

Copper

Copper isn’t only for your piping, it is one of the most stunning metals you can use in your home. It has a beautiful rich colour that can be applied anywhere, but it is certainly a perfect choice for the kitchen or bathroom; and can be used in these rooms in abundance. Worktops, counters, pots and pans, back splashes, and even basins and baths can add to the look of any kitchen or bathroom, so let your imagination run wild and add this lovely warm tone to your home. Though copper is often overlooked as it can discolour, cleaning your copper need not be a troublesome task as long as you have not ignored it for too long.

Steel

Whether stainless or not, steel is incredibly versatile in the home. A traditional metal in the kitchen because of stainless steel’s hygienic qualities, there is no reason not to utilize it around your home. Using reflective steel in a lounge will increase the appearance of space and light, while the choices of satin finishes can give you a great option for cupboards, ceilings and even walls. Corrugated steel is now being utilized by interior designers too, and is fantastic for an unusual rustic look.

Iron

For furniture, wrought iron has a style all of its own, but iron is also a great statement when constructing stairways or balconies. For an added touch of wrought iron appeal, that will allow light to flow around your home, internal wrought iron gates can be used to replace interior doors, while there is an incredible array of iron ornaments and shelving that will look incredible in most rooms

Brass

“As bold as brass’. Need we say more? Another beautiful colour, brass is an alloy of copper and zinc, and is a metal we can use for its incredible golden look. It may not be as popular as other metals, but there is no reason it can’t be used in your home. Used as trimming for furniture it is a delight and adds a look of real quality, while solid brass tables and chairs are also available (at a price). Accessorizing your home with brass is definitely worth investigating, especially as everything from vases to chandeliers are available in this beautiful yellow metal. Brass may be less expensive than copper, but that doesn’t stop it being any the less attractive.

Bronze

Last, but not least, is bronze. This is an incredibly versatile metal in your home (look here for some stunning examples), and one that you would ignore at your peril. From spiral staircases to avant garde furniture, bronze adds a touch of class to everything, and is rapidly growing as a choice for interior designers.

There is a wonderful choice of materials available for our homes; from beautiful woods to practical plastic, but make sure you consider one of these metals before making your final choice.

Flower Power

I was invited to guest post at Point2homes, a leading Canadian real estate portal and blog. You can view my post under the Home Improvement & Interior Design section or here. 

As winter months are long and dreary and as our sunny days are at a premium, design enthusiasts across the blogosphere (yours truly included) have started to dial down projects as if it’s time for hibernation. Let’s all agree that during winter, besides the daily grind, we just don’t feel like going above and beyond! Instead, we are looking for petite joys in our life, little things that get us going and lift us up. For days like these, I always turn to fresh flowers.

Blue hydrangeas in my living room, AM Dolce Vita

Blue hydrangeas in my living room, AM Dolce Vita

After all, they are such an inexpensive way to add colors and wow factors to your interiors that, while I was flipping through decor magazines and books, I noticed that I couldn’t find one single photo that didn’t have fresh flowers in it. And, because nature gives us unlimited choices of colors and types, you can use them to elevate your style by picking a bouquet that directly complements your space, similar to what I did in the picture below:

Or, if you are a person who enjoys contrasts, you can even add a pop of color to stand out, like these purple-pink tulips in my overall white foyer. These would work particularly well if you were staging your home for sale, for example, as you could use them to direct attention to your house’s best-selling features.

While it’s nice to go “designer” and source your fresh blooms from a professional florist, keep in mind that you have ample selections at your local grocery stores as well. I actually prefer the latter as I can take my time and let my creativity run free.

Grocery store flower bouquets, AM Dolce Vita

And, if you find fresh flowers too difficult to keep alive for a decent amount of time, don’t worry! You can always turn to low-maintenance and long-blooming types like Phalaenopsis orchids, which give elegant and clean flowers for a steady 2-3 months!

Vintage Murano Chandelier Update

I am sure it's a weekend full of excitement for most fellow Torontonians. First, there was the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game led by the almighty Drake (I was only there for Drew and Jonathan :)). Then there was the NBA All-Star Game. Both of them were hosted here in T Dot. And who could forget the Valentine's Day when all the social media was pretty much painted in red and flooded with valentine hashtags? We lucky Ontarians also got today off as the Family Day. 

The 3-day long weekend also availed me the opportunity to figure out where this vintage Murano glass chandelier should go in my house. It only took me 3 months but I finally found a happy place for this beauty - doesn't it look stunning in my master bedroom? I loved it so much that my heart was about to explode from happiness. 

I felt I could look at it all day long. It's now hands down my favourite lighting fixture in my house. 

I posted on my Instagram a few weeks ago about this lucky score from HomeSense, a Jonathan Adler Rider Tripod table-lookalike, for a fraction of the cost. 

This is the real McCoy. 

The legs are almost identical. 

The only obvious difference is that the marble tabletop of the one from HomeSense was set into a matching black frame. I actually quite like it that way. This Spring the table game at HomeSense is going really strong, so head out to a location near you soon.