Beautiful Home Additions

Updated on May 4, 2017

Colorful Family Room

A two-story addition brings enlarged family spaces, a new master suite, and light to a 1909 home without compromising the character of the original structure. The family wanted a casual living area where they could spend time together rather than a formal living room. Because wall space is limited in the family room, they could afford to go bold with color, opting for a tangy shade of salmon.

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Cabinet Division

A freestanding cabinet separates the family room from the kitchen. The family room side houses home entertainment equipment and storage drawers for tapes and compact discs. At just 6 feet tall, the cabinet stops several feet short of the ceiling, allowing a visual connection between the two spaces and letting Southern light from the family room spill into the kitchen.

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Kitchen Storage

In your kitchen remodeling project, try an archway like this one that connects the kitchen to the sunny breakfast room. The kitchen side of the divider is fitted with storage cabinets for dry goods. The partition makes the spaces on either side feel intimate, yet they still seem like part of a larger room. A beamed ceiling spanning the two areas visually links them and echoes the Craftsman character of the original house.

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Sunny Breakfast Nook

An inviting breakfast nook with lots of windows protrudes from the back of the house, capturing plenty of light. The space is wrapped in wainscoting, lending it a cozy, cottage feel. The archway cabinets hold party supplies for entertaining.

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U-Shape Kitchen

The new space was designed to look as though it could be original to the house. Try pairing kitchen islands, such as this one, with cream-color kitchen cabinets treated to a brown glaze for an unfitted look that suggests the room evolved over time. Fluted pendant lights strike a contemporary note.

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Kitchen Cabinets

Multipane doors on kitchen cabinets suit the period of the house and add depth to cabinet-lined walls. Additional storage is tucked into the archway and the divider. Double ovens make it easy to cook for large groups.

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Convenient Mudroom

This new space contains plenty of mudroom storage, cubbies with hooks, and a bench for every family member. A pocket door closes to conceal the mess. The bold salmon color found in the family room and kitchen is repeated here.

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Bathroom Vanity

Bathroom vanities, such as this one with a glowing grid of glass, are smart additions. The unit sits 6 inches from the wall behind it to diffuse light entering through the windows; fluorescent lights concealed in the backsplash illuminate the glass at night. Glass mosaic tile adorns the shower walls.

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Rear Deck

The rear home addition, which acknowledges the home's traditional styling, includes a one-story bump-out containing the mudroom and breakfast room. Decks offer easy access to the outdoors. This one features newels inset with planters to soften the transition between interior and exterior.

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Main-Level House Floor Plans

A 1,800 square foot home in Chicago receives a 1,430-square-foot addition off the back including a kitchen, family room, breakfast room, and mudroom on the main level. The new kitchen and family rooms are divided by a freestanding cabinet containing pantries on one side and home entertainment equipment on the other. A deck reflects the home's Craftsman character, with paneled posts that double as planters.

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Upper-Level House Floor Plans

An upper-level addition includes a new master suite featuring a large bathroom and two closets. A beamed ceiling, trim, and wainscoting in the addition reflect the original architectural detailing in the old house.

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