The purpose of this project was to provide greater accessibility to the landscape and light surrounding an existing suburban family house.

A new garden landscape and an addition were designed at the back of the house. The grade level of the backyard was raised approximately eight feet and a new Family Room was built with a pergola/terrace opening out to the newly created lawn.

The Family Room connects to the kitchen through the former kitchen windows and the previously exterior stone walls are visible inside the room. The earlier multifaceted breakfast addition was connected to the Family Room through a bookshelf open to both spaces.

The pergola columns were constructed of the same stone as the house and paved in bluestone to match the existing terrace. The addition was softened and lightened with a stucco finish (traditional portland cement plaster over masonry). The interior of the Family Room is 15 by 22 feet, has exposed beams, and is painted in a color similar to the exterior stucco. The program also called for additional pantry storage and a small office space off the Family Room. On the second floor of the addition a small bathroom and study area were added next to an existing bedroom.

The result is that the house is greatly expanded through openess, light, and access to otherwise unused spaces.