More Photos of the Completed Addition

Interior view - looking towards the new addition

Interior view - looking towards the new addition and screened porch

Interior view - new Heat N Glo Twilight II indoor/outdoor gas fireplace

New screened porch and see-through fireplace

Interior Progress

This view at left is almost the same as the one in the upper right corner of my blog title. You can see the new archways (where the old exterior wall was removed) and extra space. We moved the sliding door to the new exterior wall.






Below are the Ikea cabinets that make up the new kitchen island. This island seperates the kitchen and living/dining areas. The cabinet fronts are temporary - a cabinet maker is making custom door and drawer fronts in oil-finished cherry. The walls at the ends of the island will be finished with tile (the same as the backsplash) and there will be square cherry "legs" at the corners. The wall shown below is 6" higher than the counter and will wrap around the back side of the counter top to shield the sink from the living/dining area. It will be topped with a granite bar top.

The side of the island facing the living/dining areas (in progress at left) has open cherry shelves and wine storage. I higher bar top on the left side of the column will shield the sink counter from view. The granite counter top at the right side of of the column will overhang the shelves to allow for counter seating.

There will be two open cherry shelves above the range (between the overhead cabinets) on the back wall of the kitchen.

We moved the old bar top to the screened porch (right now it's holding some of our plates and glasses while the new kitchen is under construction). The porch ceiling has yet to be installed, but the screening is in and we've been using it often.

Exterior Progress

The shingles are almost done - just a few more are needed above the bay window. The stairs from the sliding door are in lieu of a deck. Hopefully we'll build a deck next year when the coffers have been replenished. You can see the air conditioner under the window. We installed this instead of central air on the first floor. Because the interior is so open, it cools everything done quite nicely and cost only $600. We did install central air on the second floor, but to add it to the first floor would have cost another $10,000.

Design Journal - New 2nd Floor Plan

2nd Floor After

The second floor of the addition is smaller than the first floor. I created a bathroom and closet space for the master bedroom above the new family room. There will be a cathedral ceiling with a high window above the new kitchen space.

2nd Floor Before

Design Journal - New 1st Floor

Like most families with young children, we spend a lot of time around the kitchen - making meals, eating snacks, & doing homework. Our kitchen was really only suitable for one person to cook, and I wanted more space for the kids and their friends to hang out. The addition will allow an expansion of the kitchen and extra living space for entertaining.

First Floor After

First Floor Before

2nd Floor Before

The 2nd floor of our house is actually pretty roomy (it was a 2-bedroom apartment when we bought the house.) The only things missing are a master bathroom and more closet space. The house is a cape, so the ceiling slopes from 8' to 2o" in all of the bedrooms. The bathroom and office have dormer roofs, so have full ceiling height.

Before

This is the 1st floor plan of my house - a weird cape code built around 1920. It was divided into three apartments when we bought it in 1999 . We lived in and renovated the first floor while the existing tenants still lived upstairs. In retrospect, not the smartest thing for an architect working in another state and a first year tenure track professor to embark on. But, it was a labor of love, and with the help of friends we made a great place to live.

Ten years later, we and our two daughters are outgrowing our home. So naturally I'm doing what any architect would - adding on instead of looking for a larger house.

Below is a view of the dining room from 2002 - not long after we finally completed the first floor (and our first daughter was born.)