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We’ve added three pictorial checklists: “Laundry Room Design,” “Kitchen Design,” and “Oops!” These lists are chock-full of insightful information to help design function into your new home. And you know what they say: “A picture is worth a thousand words!” For more information, Click for FREEBIES !
Hidden Storage Space
Revealed
Can we ever have too
much storage space?
I don’t believe so.
Usually we find
ourselves scrambling
to find a place for
everything so we can
put everything in
its place. While
you’re in the
process of building
or remodeling take
advantage of storage
space that might
just be lurking in
the shadows waiting
to be revealed.
Here are a few ideas
for gaining storage
space without
increasing square
footage.
Hidden Attic Space:
Sometimes a portion
of the
trusses of your home
can be configured to
provide storage
in areas that would
otherwise be
inaccessible. The
picture to the right
shows such an area.
By configuring the
trusses in the
manner shown and
providing an access
door the homeowner
was able to gain an
additional storage
area. Ask your
architect if there
are any areas of
your home where you
could incorporate
this idea.
Garage Ceiling
Storage:
The trusses above
the garage can also
be
configured to
provide additional
storage as shown to
the right. I’ve
seen kayaks stored
in this overhead
design or the
installation of
platform storage
that can be raised
or lowered.
Just be sure there
will be enough room
above open garage
doors for whatever
you plan to store.
If you have 10 foot
high or higher
ceilings in your
garage, platform
storage might work
without
incorporating the
cofferred truss
design.
This will depend
upon the height of
your garage doors,
the height of the
ceiling, and the
size of the items
you wish to store.
The platform system
shown to the right
is called Heavy
Lift™ and is
available through
many different
stores on the web.
Under Stairs Storage:
Utilizing the space
under the stairs is
another opportunity
to gain functional
space.
The area under the
stairs in the
picture to the right
has
been opened up to
provide a great
location for a
built-in desk.
Although there
wasn’t a huge amount
of space available
under these stairs,
the area was perfect
for a refuge for
the dog.
Additional ideas for
making use of the
space under the
stairs include a
location for wine
storage, pantry
shelving, or a coat
closet
All past issues of
this ezine are in
the Ezine Archives on
our web site.
Click
here for Ezine Archives !
Copyright © 2007 Tracy DeCarlo - All Right Reserved
WANT A CHECK LIST OF HUNDREDS OF TIPS
AND IDEAS FOR DESIGNING A FUNCTIONAL HOME?
If you liked today’s tips you’ll love the book “Don’t Forget the Linen Closets!” It’s packed with over 240 ideas and reminders to help you incorporate function, organization, and efficiency into your home without breaking the bank.
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To us, it [“Don’t Forget the Linen Closets”] is the most thorough guide to building a house, regardless of size, in the industry. Most importantly, it is geared toward the folks who will actually live in the house.
By following your guidelines, we are confident that we will have a far more functional home than if we had been on our own. Also, we know that we and the builder have saved thousands of dollars by avoiding rework and non-functional design flaws. In fact we have dubbed the book, “The Home Buyers’ Essential Handbook for Design and Construction in Less Than 50 Pages.”
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experiences in such a concise and useful way.
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Homeowners building a custom home
Orlando, FL – February 2006
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WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR ON YOUR WEB SITE?
You can, as long as you include the following blurb in its entirety:
Tracy DeCarlo, author of “Don’t Forget the Linen Closets!” publishes the idea-packed, monthly e-zine “Tips for Designing a Functional Home.” If you’re ready to learn how to incorporate organization, function, and efficiency into your new home or remodeling project without breaking the bank, get your FR*EE tips now at www.BuildingTips.net.
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