Bryant Beauty

This active family with growing kids just could not imagine leaving their charming craftsman in Bryant with its beautiful trees and only minutes from work, but they desperately needed some elbow room. Best Practice came to their aid to design a new rear addition with everything they needed that packed in an expand kitchen and dining, new primary bedroom suite, family room, utility, and added bedroom.

The house was pushed-out to make way for an open, generous dining and kitchen. Large windows and a vaulted roof punctuated by a skylight flood the room with natural light and tree canopy. Deep blue cabinets backdrop the rich walnut island and finished with a beautiful natural marble countertop. A new pantry floats over the open stair and is edged by a custom metal railing. A remaining once exterior window provides a quirky display shelf and allows for an added connection between the living and dining.

The elevated rear deck extends the living space to the outside with an elevated view of the rear yard and is dappled with light through the exceptional wester cedar tree canopies. The covered counter seating at the kitchen window is primed for entertaining and grilling or just an outside summer evening family meal. For the more adventurous, the cleverly concealed gate in the deck railing swings open to access the climbing wall on the rear deck leading down to the lower rear yard.

The modest primary bedroom was cramped and lacked privacy sharing the main level bath. The new addition provides the opportunity to design a new ensuite bath with walk-in shower, double vanity, and custom top-paneled closet. The hand-glazed walk-in shower wall tile add a pop of deep Aegean blue and coral accent, and the rich, walnut custom vanity balances with a warm touch. The bedroom vaulted ceiling and generously-sized walnut window complete this airy and spacious retreat.

Within the primary bedroom, a concealed ceiling hatch pulls-down to reveal a ladder leading up to the new skylit, attic loft. The original attic hatch in the small hallway closet was retained for a sneaky passage that will endlessly captivate the kids' imaginations.

The restored hardwood floors cascade down the reconfigured stair to the lower level and land in a bright, daylit family room with direct access to the rear yard. The added bedrooms, refreshed bath, new storage and utility room, and expanded garage provide all the needed relief to the living space and family activities.

The new addition respects the integrity of the original craftsman detailing and massing. The expanded kitchen and dining volume is rendered with shingle siding to complement the existing, traditional ship lap, and the lower family room addition. provides a new plinth for the upper deck and climbing wall. The composition yields a uniquely original craftsman that breathes new life into this home for decades to come.