The homeowners purchased this brick home with the goal of an addition and renovation to modernize and make it work better for their family. The existing maze-like first floor had three bedrooms, a kitchen, a living room, and a bathroom. The homeowners opted for a full reconfiguration of the first floor as the family living area and to add square footage with a full second-story addition for the bedrooms.
The first level’s maze-like floorplan accommodated three cramped bedrooms, a bathroom, a kitchen, and a living room. The new program’s focus was to move the kitchen to the back of the house and make it open to the family room and dining area. French doors connect the family space to a rear patio, and large windows flood the open space with natural light. Increasing the ceiling height from 8 to 9 feet also adds to the open feel. This was possible as we were adding a full second story.
The house underwent testing to explore the size and depth of the foundation. The structural engineer determined the house foundation was adequate to support a second-story addition. The designer was able to easily fit a master suite, and two bedrooms, each with its own bathroom, a study, and laundry on this new level.
