by Kira Koldeway
Kate and AJ fell in love with their Fort Collins home when they bought it nearly a decade ago. They appreciated its transitional style, open floor plan and huge backyard. But as the needs of their family changed over the years, the house struggled to keep up. There simply wasn’t enough room.
“After COVID, AJ and I were working from home a lot more,” Kate says, which proved to be a challenge. The house lacked a study or office, let alone two. On top of the office dilemma, the couple’s only guest room was located in the basement, where it served double duty as a workout space. The cramped room was dark and full of exercise equipment—not ideal for Kate’s parents, who visit from New Zealand and stay for several weeks at a time.
Kate and AJ had taken on home renovation projects in the past, but their work and family life had become too busy.
“We needed a company that could take on all aspects of the project—design, construction and project management,” AJ says.
Before the addition.
They also required a team that ran a clean and worry-free jobsite where the family of four would live during the construction. Based on recommendations from friends, Kate and AJ called the team at HighCraft Builders to design and build a home addition to meet their growing needs.
“Our primary goal was to create a workspace for Kate,” AJ says.
As the couple discussed possible designs with HighCraft, they decided to reclaim unused attic space, pop the roof and create a new living area over the garage. The resulting 707-square-foot addition includes Kate’s workspace, a wet bar, lounge area, storage room with built-in shelving and guest suite with a bedroom and private bath.
The addition is meant to look like it’s always been there, not an afterthought. On the exterior, the team matched the roofing, gable pitches, trim, paint color and siding—including board and batten—all critical aspects of the design’s consistency and HOA approval.
On the inside, Kate loves her dual-desk office space with lots of natural light. When it’s time for a break, she can grab a cup of tea from the wet bar and relax in the nearby lounge. A door to the second floor can be closed when she’s on a business call or if guests want more privacy.
The lounge has quickly become the favorite weekend hangout spot for teenage members of the family. An unassuming door provides easy access to the finished storage area. Located off the lounge, and far from the hustle and bustle of the main floor of the home, the guest suite provides a private bed and bath retreat. The quiet space is perfect for Kate’s parents during their extended stays, and it allowed Kate and AJ to convert the spare bedroom in the basement into a dedicated workout area.
Kate, AJ and the kids had only good things to say about living in their home during construction.
“When the workday was over, you wouldn’t know the tradespeople had been there,” AJ says. “They made a point of cleaning after every shift. Kate worked from home almost the entire time. Our project manager, and all of the subcontractors, were incredibly respectful of our space, and we had complete trust in them.”
The family felt so at ease, they even went on a few vacations during construction.
“The HighCraft team was incredible,” AJ says.
When asked what they love most about their new home addition with a guest suite, AJ says, “Everything.”
“And we finished weeks ahead of schedule,” Kate adds. “How many times do you hear that for a major construction project?”
Whether you’re ready to start developing plans for your custom home or want to reimagine the space you have with a remodel, HighCraft’s experienced design-build team can navigate every detail of the planning and construction process for projects of any size or budget.
Explore more remodeling and custom home projects at highcraft.net.
970.472.8100 • info@highcraft.net
Photos by CassiHise Photography.
