Renovating
Outdoor Expansion
Builders created additional living space and outdoor areas while remaining true to design.
BY
Meryl Dillman
PHOTOGRAPHY
Alise O’Brien

To add living and entertaining space for the homeowners’ large family and frequent guests while staying true to the overall home and neighborhood’s architectural style. The homeowners also wanted to increase accessibility, incorporate the outdoors and add Southern charm to the home’s design.



SOLUTION: In order to add living and entertaining space, S.W. Scheipeter Construction transformed the home’s existing two-car garage into a living space with a bedroom/sitting room and guest bath. A new garage was then constructed with a porte-cochère that provided a covered walkway between the garage and the house. Built with maintenance-free materials, the walkway increased accessibility for the homeowners. To accommodate more off-street parking for guests, a semicircular driveway was added to the front of the house and was extended back through the porte-cochère to the new rear garage, resulting in a customized home addition.



During the remodel, Steve and his crew were conscious of the homeowners’ wish to remain consistent with the look of the neighborhood and home’s original design. That was achieved by expanding the home into a sprawling ranch layout instead of adding a second story, and by remodeling the porch using a more welcoming design. As part of the porch reconstruction, the roofline was redesigned and columns were added, incorporating a Southern architectural influence. Coach lights were also included to brightly light the porch and provide visual cohesion. “In stretching the home outward, it was important to add roof lines that had architectural details that would enhance the overall appearance,” Steve says. In addition to preserving the original architectural design, the homeowners wanted to allow as much light into the house as possible to incorporate the outdoors into the home’s interior. Open, oversized windows were added, as well as ample doorways with glass.