Back Addition
with New Stair, Elevator, Breakfast Area and Greenhouse
The old back entry was an open stair. One cold, winter night, the owner's dog decided to chase a squirrel - causing the owner to go crashing down the icy stairs. That was the inspiration for a new rear entry and interior stair. The elevator was added to enable aging parents easy access to the main level since there was no entry to the house without stairs.
The picture above shows a projecting middle section used as a greenhouse as well as provding protection for those entering below. The right side of the addition is the new, interior stair with abundant light from the clerestory windows. The left side is the new breakfast area with southern exposure and beautiful views of the rear yard. The middle of the addition is for the elevator and kitchen pantry.
The house is a traditional colonial with clapboard siding. We chose to make a break with that aesthetic to create a flat roofed addition that does not interfer with any existing windows and the new wrap-around windows bring in as much light and views as possible.
So - no more bumps in the night on those icy, exterior stairs. And now, the owners get fantastic views of the fall foliage, too!