Back to basics: 4 spots to consider in your remodel

When kids are added to the mix, the home of your dreams might need some new plans. Adding or remodeling versatile areas that are functional and fun can help your family make memories as children grow. We asked local builders for some of their most popular kid-friendly spaces. 

Outdoors

Think summer nights and teens after the ball game – a fire pit or outdoor fireplace is what David Gerisch with DG Builders (thedgbuilders.com) said he often recommends. 

Adding a fire pit gives families “a simple yet impactful addition that creates opportunities for families to gather, laugh and reconnect,” according to Gerisch. 

For roasting marshmallows or just spending time together, a fire pit serves as a gathering spot that increases the versatility of outdoor spaces. Gerisch said it is a simple addition that enhances a home’s functionality and gives parents and kids a spot to make memories. Learn more at thedgbuilders.com/blog/guide-custom-outdoor-fireplaces. 

Drop zone or mudroom

This might be the most practical and useful addition any parent can have, especially in a family with multiple children. It is a most-loved feature, according to the builders at Stone Custom Construction & Design (stonecustombuilt.com). A drop zone – or a full mudroom, if you have the space – is the spot for backpacks, shoes, sports equipment, lunch boxes and all the many things that come in and out with kids all day long. Contain it in one area and make life a little less hectic. 

Drop zone spaces can be customized to a family's lifestyle with custom cabinetry that can include seating, storage shelves, drawers or cubbies and hooks, according to Stone Custom Construction & Design, offering a central location for everything families need to get out of the door in the morning.

Screened-in porch

Outsmart the mosquitoes this summer with a screened-in porch. The builders at Stone Custom Construction & Design noted that they are now created as an extension of a home’s living space, providing a bug-free, protected space for kids to play and for entertaining friends and family. 

Turn the porch into an outdoor room with heaters, ceiling fans and even a TV, making it a space that can be used almost all year. 

Bonus room

Is it a bedroom, a guest room, a play space or a craft area? Yes. Clients of Stone Custom Construction & Design are often choosing to add bonus rooms to their floor plans. That creates a versatile space for families that can change over the years as children grow and everyone’s needs change. That playroom might become a teen gathering spot and then a home office – and one day, a room-away-from-home for grandkids. Learn more at stonecustombuilt.com/new-home-construction-renovation.