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