When it comes to home additions or any home renovation project, I can’t help but think of the truism I first heard coming out of graduate school and into the real world of architectural design: “Fast, good, and cheap…pick two.” The simple truth is that you can’t have all three; something cannot be good AND fast AND cheap at the same time. You must decide which two are most important, and in the design world, that varies from project to project. However, when it comes to your own home addition, it is most advisable to make sure GOOD is one of the two you pick.

Understanding timelines and having realistic expectations for the process aid homeowners in achieving a successful project. As entertaining as shows like HGTV are to produce, these shows have made it more difficult for contractors and designers due to unrealistic expectations. Many homeowners are led to believe that even the most complicated projects can be completed in a few months and under budget, or that a smaller project like a bathroom renovation can be completed over a weekend.

If you have decided to invest in updating or adding to your current home, it is well worth your while to allow time for both the design and construction processes to ensure the highest quality and outcome. Obviously, timelines should be within reason, but a quick fix usually doesn’t equal a long-lasting product.

The most successful and enjoyable home addition/renovation projects are those where homeowners have an attachment to some existing character of the home or property. Whether it’s architectural or functional, it helps guide the design process.

This was such the case with the renovation and addition of an existing one-bedroom/one-bath cabin. The homeowners loved the existing stone fireplace, and its story of how the original owner had collected stone from the surrounding farm to build it by hand. The focus was to build around it so that it may remain the central point of the home. The cabin was expanded to include three bedrooms, a primary suite, and two bathrooms. The living spaces were doubled in size, and a new wraparound porch was added. The result was a design that provided the program for the owners to better use their home with their growing children and to have a more direct connection with their surrounding farmland.

Another such project, though with fewer programmatic changes, underwent a substantial visual transformation with the addition of a porch. This home was built in the early 1900s and had glimpses of what it once was, but over time and through various ownerships, the charm that once was there had been covered and details stripped away to make way for more modern, simpler materials and uses. It took the right homeowner to see through these layers, understand the house’s true character, and know what it needed to breathe life back into it.

The home had been loved and lived in for some time, and the owner was finally ready to bring to life the design they had been envisioning. First was the foundation. This home, like most homes of its time, was built with little to no crawl space. Many homes were built with the floor joists sitting directly on the earth beneath. With the structure so close to the ground, it increases the likelihood of mold and moisture buildup and limits access to utilities that may need repair or relocation. This house had settled a good deal over the past century, so it was decided to lift the entire house and raise the foundation.

The original wood siding was rotted in many places due to poor water drainage from the hip roof above. Much of the trim around windows and doors was in disrepair. The siding was removed and replaced, along with all the windows, to give the home a new layer of protection and improve its overall energy efficiency.

Last was reimagining the exterior and its relationship to the rest of the property. There was an existing porch, but its size and connection to the interior were limited, thus restricting its use. To fit the homeowner’s lifestyle and desire to have more outdoor space, the porch became the main focus of the design. The addition extended the existing porch around the side of the home, providing more areas to sit and take in the crisp Tennessee air rolling off the hills nearby. A screen porch was added adjacent to the dining room with a vaulted ceiling and a stone wood-burning fireplace.

The result was an addition that looked as though it had always been there. The design accomplished the owner’s goals while preserving the historical charm. Both projects involved homeowners with a clear vision of what they wanted, full architectural design, and knowledgeable contractors who worked as a team to make each home better than it was found. Whether these were fast or cheap will be left to the reader’s imagination, but most importantly to the homeowner’s, the end product fulfilled their vision and was GOOD.

To make your remodel/addition dreams come true, visit tkc-ae.com or call Kristen Newton at (615) 617-7477. For inspiration, follow them on social media @tkc_ae.

KRISTEN NEWTON is a founding principal and architect at TKC Architecture & Interiors in Columbia, Tennessee. Newton’s experience ranges from custom residential homes to boutique restaurants, hotels, and high-end commercial projects. In addition to her architectural resume, she is experienced in interior design.