If you’ve watched any reality home improvement shows, you know that one of the perks people want today, whether they’re house hunting or taking on a remodeling project, is an en suite. Most people who add a master bedroom suite want to add some extra comfort and space.

If you want to turn your bedroom into a master suite, you’re going to need more room, which means you have to convert existing space or build an addition. In most cases, building an addition makes the most sense.

Create Your Dream En Suite

A master bedroom and bath addition is a popular remodeling project for personal comfort and enjoyment. A master bedroom may include a king-size bed, multiple dressers, walk-in closets, a bath with spa features, a walk-in shower, a free-standing tub, and other amenities. Begin planning your renovation by assessing the following considerations:

1. Consider the Amount of Space

If you live in a two-story house, you must decide if your master bedroom is going to be on the ground floor or upstairs. If your master bedroom will go on the second floor, adding reinforcement to the house below will be necessary to handle the new load. Building up is a great way to preserve your yard space. However, most prefer to have easy access to the bedroom and bathroom, which means no stairs.

If your master bedroom is going to be on the ground floor, you’ll have to extend the new space to your home. This requires that you have ample yard space and that your new structure is up to code and meets restrictions regarding how close it is to your neighbor.

2. Identify Important Elements 

Master en suites are personal spaces, so they should reflect your preferences. Details to consider as you plan your project include:

• Privacy. If your home is located in a neighborhood where houses are built close together, you may want to think about the orientation of windows and the use of skylights to bring natural light into the rooms.
• Storage. Take time to assess your storage needs. Closets, shelving, and cabinet layouts should be determined during the planning phase of the project.
• Noise abatement.  A good contractor can suggest ways to minimize exterior noise caused by wind, traffic, or neighbors.
• Exits and entries. Do your plans call for an exit to a deck, patio, pool, or hot tub area? Consider wider doorways and level thresholds for safety and accessibility. You will find that door widths will be very important when you move furnishings into the room.
• Furnishings. The dimensions and placement of bedroom furnishings are important in the design of your project. Dressers, mirrors, lamp tables, chairs, a chaise, and other furnishings that occupy floor space should be accounted for in the plans.
• The setting of your home. Will your en suite be a room with a view overlooking gardens, a wooded area, or waterfront? If so, discuss how to optimize the view and manage light exposure with your contractor.
• Maintenance. Cleaning and maintaining your new features can be time-consuming depending on what you choose. A glass enclosure for a shower or a free-standing tub will require frequent cleaning. A tile pattern with a lot of grout lines may be more susceptible to staining.

3. Choosing the Right Contractor

Only choose a contractor that has been fully vetted. They should have references that you can investigate. Good communication is important as you discuss your project with them. There may be zoning considerations such as space allowances between houses in your neighborhood, height restrictions, or if your home is located in a historic preservation area. 

The present condition and architecture of your home may also impact the plans. A reputable contractor will help you to determine the appropriate amount of space needed to meet your objectives and work with you on all aspects of the project from drawings to completion.

4.  Exterior Features

An addition should blend seamlessly into the architecture of a home and look like it was part of the original plan. Talk with your contractor about the roof line, façade options, shingles, siding, exterior trims, doors, and windows that will be used.

5.  Consider Special Needs of All Users

The height of everyone using the master bedroom is a very important consideration in planning a remodeling project. Other issues to consider are health conditions and any limitations regarding mobility.

Ready to Add Your En Suite?

Let Finnteriors create the master bedroom suite you’ve always wanted. We have the experience to plan, design, and build the perfect addition to your home.

Design Tips for Your Open Space

An open floor plan will maximize space and provide excellent flow from room to room. The concept generally combines the kitchen and family room into a single room that's perfect for relaxed entertaining and informal gatherings. An open floor plan elevates the kitchen to the functional center of the home, often featuring an island that provides extra counter space and a bar with seating.

Open floor plans can seem hard to layout and decorate. While closed dining rooms and living rooms have clear guidelines as to where each piece of furniture should go, open floor plans are more up to interpretation. Open floor plans vary widely in size and shape, with each design coming with its own set of challenges. No matter the shape, there are key design ideas that will help with the flow of any type of open floor plan.

1. Define Your Space 

A great area rug is a key to an open design floor plan. Without area rugs, these great rooms are just big empty spaces. Rugs outline your conversation spaces and guide foot traffic. They also make the large open space feel cozy and grounded. Layering your rugs in more eclectic designs signify a gathering area, dining room, living room, or family room. Rugs work well in open concept floor plans because they provide subtle boundaries.

2. A Balanced Look

One easy strategy for designing an open floor plan is to create a balanced look with larger furniture pieces. You want symmetry in the room to bring it all together. Doubling up sofas with a complementary table and matching chairs pairs well with a great room.

3. Coordinate with Color 

In a large open space, it’s best to choose an overall color palette and incorporate it into each space. Then choose at least two accent colors, and add them to each area in the form of fabrics, rugs, and accessories. The accent colors will help divide the room, while the overall, more neutral palette will lend the open area a sense of cohesion. Large open floor plans without enough color can read as blank or empty.

4. Adding the Right Light

Thoughtful lighting design is key for every style home, but it becomes especially important in an open floor plan. The right lighting helps divide an open floor plan into workable areas. Over-counter pendant lighting is perfect in the kitchen area. A pendant or chandelier over the dining table also helps to define that space in a vertical sense.

Floor lamps are necessary for the living room, and a table lamp on side tables will illuminate those areas distinctly and cohesively. Installing recessed lighting provides an ambient source and helps guide the flow of the room. You can also use attention-grabbing ceiling fixtures to define dining and living areas.

5. Add a Console or Shelves 

If an open floor plan feels too cluttered for you, you can create barriers without putting up walls by using furniture like bookshelves or consoles. Open shelving is a great way to block out the clutter of one area, like the kitchen, while still allowing light and space to pass through.

A console behind the sofa is another great add-on to break up a living and dining space, and still maximize all of your square footage.

Let Professionals Open Your Space

If you’re ready to knock down your walls to create an open floor plan in your home, Finnteriors has the skill and experience to make it happen. Whether you have a small or large home, we can transform any space. Contact us today for a free consultation.

Transforming the Extra Space

Getting the most from a game room involves a lot more than just plugging in a television and setting up a game console. A good amount of home improvement work is often needed. Homeowners have the option of remodeling a spare room, basement, attic, or loft into a game room.

Finnteriors can add a completely new room to the home or even transform a shed in the backyard.  Features that must be considered for a game room addition are wiring and lighting. The layout of the room will be determined by the space available and the gaming equipment put in the room.

Small game room designs are the perfect size for a game table that can be used for board games and poker. Darts is another good game choice for small rooms. Of course, a television, game consoles, seating, and a mini fridge are essential items for a small game room. A small pool table is another game option.

For homeowners who have unlimited space, the ultimate game room can be created. Built-in shelves, a bar, a large pool table, an air hockey table, a pinball machine, and classic arcade games can keep everyone entertained for hours on end. 

Benefits of a Game Room in the Home 

Indoor recreation is essential especially in extreme cold or hot weather. A cool spot for the grandkids to hang out or a gathering place for adults to play a card game benefits everyone involved.  Other benefits include: