The homeowners of this cottage style home wanted to create an addition to the left side of the house containing a family room on the first floor and an expanded master bedroom on the second floor. A deck was placed on the front of the house to transition to the landscaped garden surrounding the addition. The family area features a beamed ceiling with a fireplace at the far end. By lowering the family room floor one step, we were able to get additional ceiling height, better separation from the kitchen and an easier transition from the deck to the garden.