Boyle Project

Though they loved their Alexandria neighborhood, they didn't so much like the zoning regulations. So, before we began our project, I told the Boyles to build a ceiling in their detached Garage.

Given the size of their lot and their existing house, they were only allowed to add 447 ft2 of "habitable space" (ceilings above 7'-6") - not enough to add a Family Room and expand the Kitchen and Master Bedroom. Since the Garage had no finished ceiling, as far as Alexandria was concerned, its ceiling was the bottom of the rafters, which started at 7'-0" and sloped up to about 10'.

Ironically, by installing a finished ceiling at 7'-5" in the Garage, we were able to render all 213 ft2 of it "uninhabitable." This meant we could now add 660 ft2 to the house.

With careful tweaking of our design, we came up with a 656 ft2 addition that filled the Boyle's needs, and satisfied the zoning regulations.

The existing Kitchen was only 9'x10'. We added 8' off the back and moved the wall between the Kitchen and Dining Room 1' back for a slightly larger Dining Room and a much larger Kitchen. Behind the rest of the house, next to the Kitchen, we added a 17'-3" x 16'-0" Family Room. The Kitchen is joined to the Family Room with a peninsula and raised countertop.

Kevin, a fireplace expert at Fireplace Solutions selected a very cool gas fireplace which adds warmth and ambiance to the Family Room. The stone-veneered chimney and raised hearth give the room a rustic, homey feel. We dropped the floor 7" to achieve a higher ceiling and allow for taller windows. The Boyles spend almost all their time in this Kitchen/Family room space.

We considered many Master Suite layouts. Lynne said, "It was really very helpful to see all those options - to understand our choices." Every square foot is always precious, but especially so here. With our "hard cap" on square feet, moving a wall 3" put us over the limit. Every adjustment had a tradeoff.

Master Suite Options

She wanted something that would create a small room off the Master Suite. It could be a Sitting Room, an Office, or another bedroom, but we all knew it would be Lynne's Closet/ Dressing Room.

The configuration of the hall and doors allows this room to be a separate bedroom or part of the Master Suite. Though it lengthened the Hall by two feet, we put the closets along the existing house walls to allow windows on both sides of the Master Bedroom.

Arched window and vaulted ceiling in Master Bedroom

The vaulted ceiling frames a tall arched window in the back wall. Lynne, and anybody who sees it, loves the bedroom.

Given the square footage requirements, the upstairs could not be as large as the downstairs. "Habitable space" was reduced by making the new Kitchen roof a Master Bedroom balcony.

Following the existing house, we used brick on the main level and siding upstairs.

Architecturally, the addition is the most interesting part, but it complements rather than competes with the existing house.

The City of Alexandria also requires electrical plans and plumbing riser diagrams, which I prepared for the Boyles.

Kitchen Beam Framing Revision

I worked closely with the builder, Ken Epstein of Saxon Builders, during construction. Once the "shell" goes up, clients get their first real feel for the spaces. Sometimes they want to make a change.

In the Kitchen, Lynne decided the door to the driveway wasn't as important as more cabinet/counter space. The Powder Room was also reoriented to add more space for the oven.

The Boyles complicated matters structurally but improved them aesthetically by concealing the beam between the Kitchen and Family Room. Ken and I were able to smoothly coordinate the design, construction and City approval of the revisions.