Digging It: Basement Remodel

1 MIN READ

Marjorie and Tim’s modest Craftsman home in Seattle had all the space they needed, except for a place for leisure activities such as watching movies or doing yoga. Their partially above-grade basement was dark and uninviting, but it was dry. So the couple enlisted architect Laura Kraft to help turn the basement into a family room.

Excavating the earth outside the basement’s rear wall led to the creation of a brightly lit room and attractive outdoor entertaining area. Excavating the crawlspace made up for lost storage space.

Adapted with permission from Not So Big Remodeling by Sarah Susanka and Marc Vassalo, published by The Taunton Press (2009).

About the Author

Sarah Susanka

For 20 years, architect and author Sarah Susanka has been leading a movement that is redefining the American home and lifestyle. Through her “build better, not bigger” approach to residential design, she reveals that the sense of “home” we seek is a quality that has almost nothing to do with square footage. Her “Not So Big” message has become a launch pad for a new dimension of understanding how we inhabit our homes, our planet, and even our day-to-day lives. Susanka is the best-selling author of nine books including The Not So Big House, Home By Design, and The Not So Big Life, which collectively have sold well over a million copies. Her books provide the language and tools for homeowners to bring their own dreams of home to life. As a cultural visionary, Susanka is regularly tapped for her expertise by national media, including “The Today Show,” CNN and The New York Times. Builder Magazine recognized Susanka as one of 30 most notable innovators in the housing industry over the past 30 years, Fast Company named Susanka to their debut list of “Fast 50” innovators whose achievements have helped to change society, and U.S. News and World Report dubbed her an “innovator in American culture.” She is also a recipient of the Anne Morrow Lindbergh Award for outstanding individual achievement toward making positive contributions to our world.

No recommended contents to display.