“We need ten more rooms for all the things we love to do!” That’s a common lament, as energetic people crowd more and more activities into small spaces and busy schedules. You may want extra room at home for anything from a craft to a second career , not to mention making music, printing pictures, challenging your pinball machines, exercising to keep fit, meditating to keep sane, running a home business, sewing, refinishing furniture, developing your own film, or pursuing any number of other do-it-yourself projects. All those extra activities that take home life beyond the basics of eating and sleeping seem to require extra space. But they don’t always require separate rooms. With creative planning, a house can contain enough activity areas to satisfy the most multitalented, high-energy family. After all, your home may be a beehive of industry, but you probably don’t want it to look like a beehive, with a separate cell for every activity. The rooms in this book fall into three major types: family and recreation rooms for gathering people together; retreats, dens, studies and home offices for activities that flourish where there’s some privacy; and studio areas tailored to special equipment for arts and crafts. You’ll probably want to skim through the photographs and shop for general ideas before turning to the special feature sections that focus on important considerations like lighting and storage. The first chapter, “Family Rooms” (starting on page 10), looks at areas that, by nature, serve many purposes, conversation, relaxation, playing games, watching TV, listening to music. More casual than living rooms, family rooms are gathering centers. Like scrapbooks, they contain the mementos of shared experiences, reflecting the personalities and preferences of their owners.