A neighborhood-friendly remodeling project

If you want to live in an established Salt Lake City neighborhood, the houses often are either too small or expensive fixer-uppers.

The nature of a typical city neighborhood breeds remodeling. In Holly Morham's neighborhood, she says she sees remodeling projects on almost every block. "But I see that as a good thing," she says. "It means we are keeping up instead of dying. Have you ever seen a neighborhood that has died? It isn't a pretty sight."

Holly's home was one of those remodels-in-progress just a year ago, but starting her project in a historic neighborhood wasn't without its challenges or fears.

A year before the Morhams' remodel, there was turmoil in the neighborhood. Someone had torn down a bungalow and built a two-story home that took up 60 percent of the lot. Even though it was only 4,000 square feet and 35 feet high (relatively small according to mansion standards), for the Salt Lake City neighborhood it felt like a monster home that towered over its neighbors.

The neighborhood tried to come up with rules that would prevent anything like this from happening again. They didn't want more "monster homes" ruining the character of the neighborhood.

"Whatever we did, we didn't want to be the next lightening rod in the neighborhood," Morham says. "I didn't want my house to be the house everyone hated."

So, the Morhams worked hard to design a home that blended in with the neighborhood and held true to the style and character of their 1913 bungalow, but also met the needs of their growing family.

As her children became older, her family was bursting out at the seams in their small three-bedroom home. While Holly didn't want the children to be hiding away in their bedrooms, she didn't want the computer, television and homework all going on in the same small public space anymore, either. The noise wasn't working for her — or the rest of the family.

She and her husband decided adding a second story to the bungalow would be the best option. The problem was, the proposed rules for the neighborhood would prohibit a second story. The Morhams compromised with the neighbors so their second-story addition wouldn't be outlawed. "Not every two-story bungalow is a bad thing," she says. "What it comes down to is, you can't legislate taste."

As part of the neighborhood remodeling regulations, the four neighbors surrounding the Morhams' house had to approve the design plans. "All four were absolutely supportive of our design," she says.