Visual Scale

Our cities and suburbs are full of smaller, older homes that worked fine for mom and pop - but today they just don't cut it as the "lifestyle centers" our customers are looking for.
It usually comes down to SPACE - we all need more of IT. Room for the SUVs, sportswear, hot tubs, TVs and other toys our parents somehow lived without. The simple solution seems to be to add-on the biggest garages and master suites, and playrooms, and kitchens, and family rooms that we can afford. Space is actually cheap these days, compared to most other commodities. And as long as we're doing it - let's build BIG.

Unfortunately, the result can be as charming as a 4 x 8 sheet of plywood. Our old neighborhoods were built to the scale of a carpenter's reach; and the value of our homes is perceived in part by how well we preserve that legacy. Particularly in the older parts of town, the fabric of the community is maintained by the rhythm of the streetscape; and abrupt changes in the nature or scale of the homes can have a negative impact. Ultimately, this translates into resale value.
When adding space to older homes, it's wise to consider three things:

SIZE - try not to go any higher or wider than the building elements of the existing house. The idea is not to overwhelm, but to enlarge gracefully.

BALANCE - every home needs a central focus, usually the front door or the highest or most important portion.

HARMONY and PROPORTION - keep the windows and eaves and details nearly the same as the existing house, even when bigger, cheaper stuff is available.


This article was originally printed in "Remodeling" magazine published by Hanley Wood - December, 2006