| If you have a family, planning home | | | | refinish furniture, a potting bench for |
| improvements should be a family matter. | | | | plants, a place for the pets when the family |
| Still, you want to stick to ideas that work. | | | | has guests. I've seen all of the above work |
| | | | well alone and in a variety of combinations. |
| Ideas That Work | | | | |
| | | | Many modern homes have a "formal living room" |
| We've all seen families who get along well | | | | that is too small to really work as a living |
| most of the time and families who are | | | | room. It can be set up and decorated as a |
| constantly at odds with each other. One | | | | library or study and be the perfect place for |
| common denominator among families who get | | | | a parent to do some serious work and not be |
| along are homes that work for them. Let's | | | | interrupted too frequently. |
| talk about ideas seen more than once in homes | | | | |
| that work. It may help you explore what will | | | | Master bedrooms are getting larger and |
| work for you. | | | | larger. They often have a small seating |
| | | | arrangement included in their design. This |
| Many families with school age children have a | | | | can be a parental retreat for quiet |
| computer and homework area near the kitchen. | | | | conversation. |
| It's often a computer desk and the breakfast | | | | |
| area table. This is usually sandwiched | | | | Master bedrooms can also provide a quiet |
| between the kitchen and family room, and all | | | | corner for a computer desk and work area. If |
| three areas are open to each other. It's an | | | | looking at work space isn't relaxing to you, |
| easy area for parents to make themselves | | | | you can always shield it from view with a |
| available to help and supervise the children | | | | decorative folding screen. |
| while they themselves perhaps cook, talk, | | | | |
| read, or have a cup of tea (or other | | | | Don't forget the importance of family |
| beverage) before or after dinner. | | | | dinners. Studies show that children of |
| | | | families who have dinner and conversation |
| Family rooms are also great for TV, movies, | | | | together several nights a week, week in and |
| and computer games. A finished basement | | | | week out, tend to be more successful and |
| provides an ideal place for a "home theater" | | | | happier than those who don't. It can be at |
| for the same sorts of things, but supervision | | | | the kitchen table, in the breakfast area, or |
| becomes tougher. | | | | in the dining room, but plan for it and make |
| | | | it happen if you value the success and |
| Unfinished basement areas can be just what's | | | | happiness of your children. |
| needed for a workbench, an artist's studio | | | | |
| (especially walk-out basements with big north | | | | Every home is unique and so is your family. |
| facing windows), a sewing area, a place to | | | | When improving your home, look for ideas that |
| practice a musical instrument, a place to | | | | work. |