Expert: Ted Barnhill (Principal, Design45 LLC) - 12/28/2009

Question
We live on a busy street in a small, beautifully crafted dutch colonial in central CT. We are contemplating turning our existing garage into a first floor bed and bath which we are currently lacking. Also, we want to add a bigger garage to the front of our house. That will quiet the traffic noise and block the northwest winds in winter. All this would change on the interior our kitchen/dining room as a new entry/foyer will be needed. The final product must be tasteful and visually appealing to us and our neighbors however this is not a "hi-end" neighborhood. I cannot guess what the cost of these changes would be. How do we discuss this with the architect/construction company? Do we tell them what we are willing to spend or have them tell us what we should expect to pay? And do we, as homeowners, need to check the zoning regs are or does whoever we hire do that?

Thanks!

Answer
Ellen,

Happy Holidays, and thanks for your questions.

You have hit on the two big questions when determining the feasibility of any project: Is it legal?  And, what will it cost?

In my experience, adding a garage in front of a home raises red flags for zoning folks.  This is because homes are often built right up against the front setback, so you have no room to build in front.  Also, some areas have zoning regulations intended to preserve the neighborhood's look and feel which prohibit having the home's entry set back from the garage entry.

An architect or contractor familiar with your area will be able to offer an opinion on zoning issues as well as general costs at your initial consultation.  It will certainly be within your designer's responsibilities to ensure compliance with local zoning, but if you'd like to do your own homework before hiring anyone, you will probably find your local building office more than willing to help you.

As for costs, this will be an ongoing conversation with your builder.  They will probably be able to give you a nearly-instant ballpark figure based on matching your home's current materials, but more accurate pricing depends on resolving the design, especially as you will be remodeling interior spaces in the process.  (Kitchens are expensive!)  Finding the most cost-effective solution that meets your needs and budget is what good designers do for a living, and results from an ongoing discussion with you, the client.

Best of luck as you begin your project,
Ted Barnhill
Design 45, LLC