Tulsa World: Downsizing residence can be an expansion of your budget, lifestyle

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Downsizing residence can be an expansion of your budget, lifestyle

By PHIL MULKINS World Action Line Editor
Published: 6/19/2009 2:20 AM
Last Modified: 6/19/2009 4:05 AM

Dear Action Line: We are thinking of taking advantage of these low home mortgage interest rates and buying a house smaller than the one we are leasing. Do you think this is wise or should we look for a house of the same size? We don't know if we can live without all our stuff, but the house payment, exceptionally lower than our lease payments, will make things so much easier. — Mrs. P.W., Tulsa.

Recognizing that larger is not necessarily better and that less can actually be more, many homeowners look for ways to make their smaller homes more enjoyable, says the Bankrate.com Web site.

True colors: "Paint is the cheapest and most powerful thing you can do to put your personal stamp on a home," says Barbara Corcoran, a New York City Realtor and NBC's "Today" show real estate expert. "Use colors you enjoy feel happiest within."

Ditch some stuff: "You have more stuff than you need. Get rid of some of it," said James Gauer, author of "The New American Dream: Living Well in Small Homes."

Start simple: Find the simplest remodeling solution within your home's existing footprint before considering expanding its size, says Marc Vassallo, co-author of "Not So Big Remodeling: Tailoring Your Home for the Way You Really Live."

Booth dining: "I've yet to see a small living/dining room where a free-floating dining table and chairs really works," says Gauer. "A dining banquette against the wall looks and feels luxurious and comfortable while taking up considerably less space."

Books: "Put a wall of books in any room and it's cozy and inviting," says Corcoran.

Consolidate doorways: "Locate all the doorways to the kitchen on one side of the room and eliminate any that are not absolutely necessary," Vassallo says. "This leaves the rest of the kitchen for continuous countertop and appliance arrangement while limiting the flow of foot traffic through the work area."

Plan furniture first: "Never buy furniture without first laying out a furniture plan," says Gauer. "Chances are, that sofa you're eyeing is too big and will just make your living room feel crowded."

Let there be light: "The right lighting can make a heck of an improvement," says Corcoran. "Throw in task lighting to make tasks easier, mood light to make a room sexier. And don't forget dimmers! I can't imagine lighting without them."

Add a column: "Create a more open floor plan by removing a wall and replacing it with a new support beam and columns," says Vassallo. "Columns allow for differentiation of places with minimal view obstruction."

Submit Action Line questions by calling 699-8888 or by e-mailing phil.mulkins@TulsaWorld.com or by mailing it to Tulsa World Action Line, PO Box 1770, Tulsa OK 74102-1770. By PHIL MULKINS World Action Line Editor

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