We took a dark one story with low ceilings, added a second floor and allowed the living room to occupy both floors, creating an incredibly decadent volume in the center of the house.
The dramatic 2-story limestone wall framing the staircase, and the elevated walkway overlooking the living room produce a wonderful sense openness and luxury. We used the V-shape of the house to create a sense of privacy and connectedness to the outdoors by using the two wings off the central living space to “envelope” the large back yard, with all rooms orienting towards the patios and pool, creating.
Lower ceilings in the dining room and kitchen made sure the ensemble still felt inviting and comfortable. Check out the before and after pictures to see the transformation.