The Seamless Home Addition

We have all seen it, the home addition that is so obvious it doesn’t look like it belongs. Maybe it’s out of scale with the rest of the house, has mismatched siding material, or an incompatible roofline. It just doesn’t look right.

During an expansion project, gaining living space is at the forefront of the priorities for homeowners, while the second priority is usually the exterior architecture of the home. Additions must be designed and constructed in a way that blends with the existing architecture and enhances the home’s curb appeal and interiors. One of the highest compliments that a homeowner can receive on an addition is, “where was the addition?”. The design process for additions takes time as one can go through many different iterations for rooflines, window sizing, proportions, etc.

These are a few guiding principles that we consider when it comes to a seamless addition:

1. Define the existing architectural style of the home – It’s important to incorporate architectural elements that are typical of that specific archi- tectural style. For instance, craftsman architecture will generally have one and half stories, a low-pitched gabled roof, tapered columns, a wide front porch, and exposed wood detailing. Those features would be carried into the design of the addition.

2. Consider the roof lines – The most important exterior aesthetic of an addition is the roof line. In our design process, we aim to follow all roof lines and pitches to create balance and symmetry. All the fascia boards and gutters should be aligned with the existing for a unified plan.

3. Consistent floor heights and ceiling heights – In order to create continuity, we try to keep all floor heights consistent so that there aren’t any steps up to or down to an addition space. A step is a detail that usually doesn’t sit well with future home buyers or for aging in place principles. Similar ceiling heights are also a key unifying factor, with the exception of vaulted ceilings. If your ceiling heights are low and you want to improve them in an addition space, then perhaps consider creating a transition space such as a hallway that then opens to a taller ceiling height.

4. Complementary or matching exterior materials – Using the same siding as the existing home is a great way to tie in existing and new construction. However, sometimes if a particular siding is unavailable, using a contrasting siding material adds interest that looks intentional. For example, board and batten siding material can bring a nice contrast to a lap siding when placed in key locations. Using the same paint color, is also a must when it comes to exteriors of additions. Sometimes, a paint color has faded which requires painting all of the existing house.

5. Match interior details – Consistent interior trim is an excellent way to join an addition to the rest of the home. Extending existing flooring is another way to create a seamless interior finish.

These guidelines were foundational in the success of this recent addition.

Continuity is created by continuing the cherry flooring through the home from existing to new construction, and with the addition of a beautiful cherry vanity in the guest bathroom.

This home underwent a large 765 square foot 2-story addition to add a master suite and a main level guest bedroom, bathroom, and office space. The original design of the house had a garage dominating the façade, typical of many homes in the neighborhood. Our goal for this project was to create a seamless extension of the home’s interior and exterior so that no one would ever know that an addition had been done, essentially an addition that doesn’t look like an addition. On the exterior this was manifested in a design that added on 15’ to the length of the home with identical picture windows and a gable accent over the windows. This design was so effective that it seems like it always should have looked this way and balances out the scale and proportions resulting in a more inviting curb appeal. While this sounds simple it is anything but simple. When it came to the construction, much skill and thought had to be applied by the designer and crew to line up the framing, floor, and roof lines.

On the interior, we focused our attention on creating a seamless transition from existing to new construction. For the main level, we created a small hallway that transitions into a guest bedroom and bathroom off the main dining and formal living room. An office now sits off the dining room with a glass door. To create continuity, we extended the cherry hardwood floors into the adjoining hall and office. A cherry vanity was installed in the guest bathroom to echo the hardwoods from the formal spaces.

An addition that adds living space and improves livability in the home is a true gem--and this one surely is!

Upstairs, the existing primary bedroom was turned into the family’s bonus room and a new primary suite was created with a large walk-in closet, and a luxurious primary bathroom. Large picture windows were chosen for the primary bedroom and walk-in closet ushering in plenty of natural light. The large window in the bedroom is on the west side of the house and is a perfect place for the homeowners to sit and watch sunsets dip below the greenspace that sits behind their backyard. What a view! A his and hers closet was created with semi-custom cabinetry to maximize storage. The primary bathroom features a large freestanding tub and tiled shower. The shower has beautifully patterned tile, a built-in tiled bench with a quartz top, and a frameless glass door. The double vanity has quartz countertops and ample storage. Each room in the primary suite is a bit different but a consistent traditional design theme runs throughout from the gridded French doors in the walk-in closet to the plantation shutters over the freestanding tub.

An addition that adds living space and improves livability in the home is a true gem--and this one surely is! Intentional design and careful construction are the cornerstones of any successful home expansion, enhancing daily life and enjoyment.

About Heidi

Heidi oversees customer service at Powell Construction. She has a degree in business administration from Boston University and over 30 years of business & remodeling experience.

Connect with Heidi by calling 541-752-0805 or email heidipowell@powellconstruction.com

Left: New master suite with stunning views. Below L to R: Double vanity with quartz countertop, his and hers closet with semi-custom cabinetry, and primary bathroom with large freestanding tub and tile shower,