Editor’s Note: Stu Garlington, president, Towne Craft Builders & Remodelers is a member of the National Association of Home Builders and a regular contributor to TheBAYNET.com. In this article, Garlington shares the suggestions and tips for anyone considering a home remodeling project in either St. Mary’s or Calvert Counties.


There is growing interest with homeowners to consider a first-floor remodeling addition of a master in-law suite. Towne Craft Builders recently completed an 870 square foot ground floor expansion to a single-family detached residence in St. Mary’s county.

Nationwide, there is an increasing number of individuals searching on Google, Yahoo, etc. for “mother in-law suite,” “multi-generational living,” etc.  Towne Craft indicates there were many architectural considerations for this now-occupied “father in-law suite.”  There has to be a balance between privacy and easy accessibility to the rest of the house.

Remodelers are cautioned that working with a client at this level requires more attention to detail and interaction with the client.

“As you can see (below), we first drew a minimalistic floor plan of the existing house including the 2nd floor so we could create a 3D Model. Then we went to work on the room addition. There were three to four versions with corresponding meetings with the client,” said Garlington

“Each meeting helped narrow down their vision and our interpretation with more and more detail being discussed and added until there was consensus.

“The client was very concerned that the room addition didn’t look like an obvious ‘addition.’ They wanted the original structure and room addition to blend together as if they were built at the same time.

“The client and I agree we accomplished that goal and believe you will agree when you view the before and after photos.”

Click here for a full “before” and “after” online slideshow. 
http://www.townecraftbuilders.com/room-additions_in-law-suite.html

More local remodeling ideas can be viewed at: http://www.townecraftbuilders.com/home_remodeling.html.    Garlington can be reached either by calling (301) 737-5400 or by visiting www.townecraftbuilders.com.

Towne Craft is also affiliated and/or recognized by the following professional organizations:

•    Maryland Home Builder Registration No. 3066
•    Maryland Home Improvement Contractor (MHIC #124992)
•    Home Builders Association of