Use the elements of CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design). 

Don't you need an architecht or draftsman or designer in the mix here?

Google "residential styles" I bet you get tons of designs to look at, from tiny houses to mansions. 

hello I recently moved into a basement apartment in Portland or. the windows are great size ceilings are high but was wondering if not having any control over thermostat and still being charged for heat and utilities with no option to turn on separate from top house is legal , in agreement she does state that we are to split utilities based on people they have five adults we have 5 people as well but three of us are under 4 years old it is listed online as a single family home.we have shared mail box, shared trash can( not dumpster) and no option for separate cable. any advice is greatly appreciated thank you 

,I actually had a design firm in Denver for 9 years, and prior to that ran the same company in the San Francisco Bay Area for 2 years (Minor Details Design | Drafting), and prior to that I had a stint at LLNL.

I'll have to do more research, but I believe the accessory dwelling designation allows for the two story brick garage on this property to be converted and used for residential or office purpose if desired.

XXXXX XXXXXX (also an owner and self designated representative for the units) to work out a solution not only for my tenants, but for the benefit of the entire complex.

Hopefully, you'll be able to convince the agents that there is no long-term issue and that they should still take their clients.To elaborate on what Bill said, a surveyor can do an Elevation Certificate that will indicate if the property is really in a flood plain or not (when FEMA does their maps, they don't investigate every house individually -- they just designate large swatches of area to different flood plains and it's possible that individual houses within the area aren't really below the flood line).

I once had a high-end client that we designed a two toilet bathroom for... with a urinal too.

One of the hardest things for me is finding someone in the same age group as I am (teenager, almost adult tho =]) who find passion in being an entrepreneur and/or investing in real estate.