"What Will My Addition Look Like?"

This is a question I often hear during the very first meeting with clients. And my honest answer is: “I’m not sure yet.”

That uncertainty isn’t a lack of direction. It’s simply the reality of the design process. There are many factors that shape the final look and feel of a home addition. These include the client’s goals and program requirements, the limitations of the site, the style of the existing home, and local building and zoning codes.

Another key factor is flow, or how the new addition connects to the original home. For example:

• Should the new space open up the house to the backyard with a seamless, open-plan design?
• Or does the addition need to remain somewhat separate, offering more privacy between the new and existing spaces?

Each project is unique, and the answers come from working closely with the client, understanding the site, and testing design ideas.

Below are a few example diagrams that begin to illustrate different ways we can approach adding onto a home. They serve as starting points for discussion rather than final answers, and that is the exciting part of the design process.

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Additions To a Single Story Home

Additions To a Second Story Home

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