The Bonus Room

What do first-time buyers with growing families have in common with energetic empty nesters eager to explore new tropical lifestyles? When choosing a dwelling in Southwest Florida they all want more room, great views, and better organized space for everyday living and entertaining. It delights home buyers to realize that a big house in Florida can cost less than a small one in California, so when they consult with a contractor, they want as much space for the money as possible.

After the advent of oversized, luxury-filled closets, laundry rooms, home offices, exercise rooms, master bathrooms and outdoor pavilions with summer kitchens, it was only a matter of time before the bonus room made its debut. Buyers and builders alike love the bonus room because of its multitasking possibilities. A bonus room is anything you want it to be-game room, teen retreat, loft library, sports lounge, extra guest suite, or as one builder calls it, "Camp Grandma."

A hallmark of the bonus room is generous size. In Todd Johnston's 6,614-square-foot Wilshire model home in Grosvenor Gardens, University Park, the upstairs bonus room is sectioned into two merging spaces. One measures 15 by 22 feet and the other approximately 14 by 16. In Pruett Builders' Villa Venezia II at Legends Walk, the five-bedroom residence offers 5,586 square feet of living space and includes a 22 by 27-square-foot upper-level bonus room with a wet bar and generous balcony for dining and treetop viewing of the lush green surroundings. And in Najjar Construction's grandly proportioned Bramasole model in Mayfair at University Park Country Club, the 9,186-square-foot home boasts a second-floor bonus room that measures a whopping 32 x 29 feet, not including the screened balcony running the width of the room. In Manhattan this would constitute a comfortable loft apartment.

In two-story homes, look for the bonus room upstairs at the rear, overlooking the pool area with a bird's-eye view of water features, nature preserve or golf course. Upper-level bonus rooms generally include a screened balcony, mini-kitchen (or at least a wet bar), adjoining bath and ample closets.

John Cannon, whose semi-custom homes start at around $400,000, believes the bonus room evolved from the yearning for the Northern basement. "Here in Southwest Florida our company began looking at the bonus room concept as more Northern buyers asked for extra space to compensate for the basement they left behind. Our open kitchen/family room floor plan appeals to everybody, but it's basically public space. Homeowners wanted something additional, more private and separate. And they wanted it as big as the basement spaces they had. The bonus room provides that private space but with great views and lots of natural light because of its improved location. It's ideal flex-space because it can be anything you want it to be and its functions evolve over time from toddler playroom to teen entertainment center to billiard room for empty nesters. I include a bonus room in all my models." In Cannon's new 5,935-square-foot Ballina model at Lakewood Ranch, the four-bedroom home has a treetop bonus room of approximately 17 by 20 feet with an adjoining 18- by 10-foot screened balcony.

Najjar Construction project manager Shannon Najjar reports that 90 percent of her dad's clients opt for the bonus room. "It's usually the biggest room in the house after the family room/kitchen and it's the most flexible space on the property," she says. "Recently we've noticed that clients are asking for more appliances in the bonus room, including an oven and full-size refrigerator. Many of our model plans also include an elevator to the bonus room and safety sensor step lights on the stairs going up to that space."

In the design studios of Todd Johnston's 25-year-old company a bonus room is featured in every model. "We actually pioneered the bonus room," he says, "starting with small ones over the garage. But the craze for the bonus room has evolved until today it is by far the largest room in our models. And it's nearly always positioned upstairs at the back of the home with a balcony and a great view."

Johnston says the bonus room is the essence of cocooning. "It's that distant, private space that doesn't need to be neat all the time. Put in a ping pong table, spread out the toys and it becomes fun central for kids and their friends. I've had clients who use it as a gorgeous megaoffice. Other people display their trophies in the bonus room or use it as a sewing room, craft space or the ultimate model train setup. The beauty of the bonus room is that it's whatever you want it to be at a particular time of your life. And having such a space truly is a bonus gift to yourself in the home buying or building process."

Today's luxury laundry room offers even more of a bonus.

The traditional laundry room is a dinosaur. It's extinct. Once a cramped, single-purpose space that measured about 50 square feet, the modern laundry is supersized, routinely up to 300 square feet.

Americans typically spend between five and seven hours a week in the laundry room, and they're doing more than sorting whites from dark. A well-planned laundry is a destination for every member of the household. Architects and contractors are building in specially designated hubs for family use. A pet grooming station is one. A deep tub, spray faucet, low countertop and special cabinet, baskets or cubbyholes for grooming supplies makes it easy to keep the family dog as spotless as your tennis socks.

A crafter in the group? Then your laundry room will have shelves, cabinetry and counters devoted to organizing your materials and tools. Some laundry rooms contain a sewing center or a section just for wrapping gifts and storing all the paper and ribbons you'll ever amass. You might need a sector for flower arranging and houseplant maintenance. Other homeowners want a wall-mounted television, computer station, or bookcase just for cookbooks or hobby manuals.

Experts advise home owners to match their laundry room décor with cabinets and counter tops that match what's in the kitchen. For maximum storage, cabinets and open shelving should ideally rise from floor to ceiling and should be deep enough to store luggage and infrequently used bulky toys used by the grandkids when they visit. Floors should be durable ceramic tile, stone or a wood laminate. If there is crown molding in the rest of the home, it should extend the laundry room too. The wall treatment should be of the same quality as the kitchen or hallway leading into the room. The idea is that if you leave the door open to the laundry room, you'll be proud to have guests see it.

A laundry room can also be a:

* Pet spa

* Sewing station

* Hobby and craft center

* Plant maintenance and flower arranging hub

* Mini home office

* Gift-wrap center

* Extra storage closet

* Display area for collectibles

Sorting out the new luxury laundry:

* Make a list for your architect or contractor of the uses you want for the room besides caring for clothes.

* Pay special attention to proper lighting: overhead, under counter and task lighting for doing detail work.

* Wire your laundry room for computer, phone, music and TV.

* Vary the counter heights for different tasks.

* Maximize storage with floor-to-ceiling cabinets and open shelving.

* Consider the new front-loading washers and dryers.

* Include a window or skylight.