higher. Huguet used existing
vaulted ceilings, installed floor
joists and built a third floor in
that former vaulted space. "We
also did some creative design
with a slightly flatter roof so
we didn't go above the existing
height restriction," he explains.
The result is an 800-sq.-ft. mas-
ter suite, complete with outdoor
deck and a section that looks
down into the main living space.
Although that provided the
third-floor view, it added a new
problem: the house was 800
sq. ft. over its maximum limit.
Huguet and his team looked to
the basement for that solution.
One part of the basement was
buried against solid dirt and
very dark. Huguet made that
space a storage and mechanical
room and brought the ceilings
down so the room is a mere 4
ft. high, which was low enough
so the city doesn't include that
space in square footage counts.
The hot water, furnace and elec-
trical is in one spot, along with
additional shelving for storage.
"It's still a totally usable space,
but it freed up the 800 sq. ft.
where it was more important
— where the view was," he says.
Including conversations and
approvals from the city, the
remodel took about nine months,
seven of which was taken up by
building. And, despite adding an
entire new floor, whole-house
square footage stayed nearly the
same. Before the remodel, the
house was 3,360 sq. ft; today, it
is 3,485 sq. ft.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
After juggling square feet, the
next biggest project was recon-
figuring the entranceway. Before
the remodel, people had to navi-
14 July 2014 QR ForResidentialPros.com
PROJECTS: Master Design Solutions | By Laurie Banyay
The home overlooks spectacular views of the Vancouver area.
The added third-floor master suite, created by using space in a
vaulted ceiling and creating a flatter roofline, includes a balcony.
Photos: Lumic Photo
Before
After
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