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Show - - j . : i'f ' ' r. ' . 1 " vyw-yi' V - ! - -, 3 IN 1 GREATROOM Stretch remodeling dollars with 3 in 1 Greatroom thinking about adding a c'ooto your home, you certainly (., ant to build an inch more than tid. Why? ;-e:der this : .;;jning contractor costs of $40 per .Ttfoot, the difference between a 12 'not addition and a more compact !l2addition is a cool $2,400. -,p is expensive. But there's a rijy or beating the higher cost of 4, Think in terms of "double making a room serve more than isrpose. 1 good illustration of double duty riling is the "3 in 1 Grea troom " in : latent issue of "Woman's Day Kit-GindFamily Kit-GindFamily Rooms" magazine. A :: project of the magazine and the :;wng ulterior design center, this latroom" consists of a redecorated s'jj kitchen with a family room ad- at both rooms are smallish in rives, it was decided not to divide r. with a wall but rather to let them aether in the open plan style. The lit is a single large room for cook-ting cook-ting and entertaining which stable duty one better. - ":t open plan layout has other ad-nges ad-nges besides spaciousness. For 1 il lets the cook visit with guests ;d in the family room or mixing a :i at the bar (really nothing more ') large wicker tray filled with bot-i bot-i jnd glasses and occupying a niche "ill storage unit). ""storage unit, built into a corner of 'ailyroom at a 45 degree angle, i Jp open shelves up top (for TV, games, the bar, etc.) and com-Kcupboards com-Kcupboards below. Its diagonal went adds architectural interest taking up the room's square vjreat room is chockful of do it ideas that hold down costs. ' ot people aren't skilled enough ; basic construction jobs like 1 and wiring, almost anybody ; finishing work (floor, ceiling, L-;. trim ) . 'morn's color scheme of soft, pastels was suggested by the , 'Pncot and beige of the do it yourself Custom Solarian no wax floor tile, which closely resembles expensive imported ceramic tile. Other considerations considera-tions in the choice of flooring were ease of installation the tile is the self sticking stick-ing kind and ease of maintenance. Cued by the floor colors, designers painted the walls peach, except for one corner of the family room and the backsplash behind the kitchen counter. Those areas were treated to buff colored col-ored brick veneer: good looking and easy to apply. Accent colors are two shades of blue : blueberry (curtains, throw pillows, footrest) and cornflower blue (chairs, stools, crockery). Countertops are '-'autumn cider," and the sofa slipcover and a tablecloth are the same cheerful, splashy print, also in blue, apricot and beige. Opposite the storage unit in the family fami-ly room is the brick walled dining corner, cor-ner, with a round table for meals, games or cards and a hutch whose shelves display prized collectibles. There's more dining in the kitchen, at an oversized island. It has a projecting edge at one end for leg room for people ensconced on stools. And the island is ideal for buffet set ups. But its primary function is as a surface sur-face for food preparation. Because this kitchen is for people who look on cooking cook-ing as an art form and who like to watch artists at work. Small, inexpensive, do it yourself touches give the redecoration a custom flair. For example, wooden spandrels reminiscent of Victorian "gingerbread" "ginger-bread" adorn the kitchen cabinets, window win-dow and island, and other molding painted cornflower blue embellishes the cabinet doors. Both types of molding or trim are available precut from building supply stores. Capping off the whole room is an Armstrong do it yourself ceiling in rustic "knotty pine" planks. Downlights in the ceiling provide dramatic illumination for work and play areas. Of course, even this remodeling project, pro-ject, for all the designers' cost cutting savvy, still wasn't cheap. But at least it didn't cost a penny more than necessary, thanks to "double duty" and do it yourself products. |