Initial plans and concept

     This whole process started over 2 years ago, before Dexter left for his mission. He was in all of the family councils where we discussed our options of:
1. Remodel the current home.
2. Buy a home somewhere else.
3. Build a home somewhere else.

     By the time he left for New Zealand we had mad the decision to remodel our current home. We and he figured that he would be getting back to a nice new place after serving for 2 years. Well that isn't how it worked out. He returned the end of December 2013 and construction didn't start until January 2014. Right before Dex returned we had moved next door into the small 2 bedroom rental home. I had purchased a futon that was the couch and Dexter's bed. It is all very tight and crowded.
     We have all of the contents of our home spread between 2 storage units, the detached garage, the in-laws, and the carport.

     When we started we decided it would be best to work with a professional home architect and designer. It was a good idea as he was able to think outside of the box. He thought of things that we never would have. We had been there so long we could not see beyond what was there currently.
     There is so much open space in the attic that we had always thought of building up there. The first conceptual drawings added bedrooms and other space up there.

Main floor

Basement

 2nd floor/attic space

     This would have token us from 1500 sq feet to around 8500 sq feet. From 3 bedrooms to 7. From 1 bathroom to 5.

     It looked awesome in concept, but in reality it was way more than we needed and the cost was astronomical. Building in the attic was just exorbitant for the return. So we decided to not do anything in the attic. We figured that the kids will be gone soon and we wouldn't need a bunch of bedrooms and space upstairs that would be used very infrequently.