Expansion and Upgrade of Three-Level Builder Home

Bellevue Residence
The original structure was expanded 4 feet to the right to accommodate a larger kitchen with generous clearances for a functional island.

This three-level Bellevue residence — a builder home erected about 10 years ago — underwent a comprehensive expansion and upgrade.

What the Client Asked For

The clients liked the location but wanted a larger home, better adapted to their lifestyle. The structure and amenities were already starting to show signs of wear and tear. Specifically, the clients asked for:

  • A living space that was less generic and more functional and intimate, better suited to their daily routine, with better articulated spaces and storage placed and organized to prevent clutter.
  • A larger, more functional kitchen.
  • A covered deck with protection from the sun and rain.
  • An exercise area and home theater.
  • New appliances, cabinetry, and finishes throughout.

Solutions

  • To provide more floor space on the main and lower levels, 3.5 feet were added along the south side of the house and a covered deck was built out from the main level. The entire structure was reestablished and cantilevered off the existing foundation, using glue-laminated beams. The roofline was also reworked to make the expansion appear seamless, as though the house had originally been built that way.
  • On the main level, the enlarged footprint allowed the complete reconfiguration of the kitchen and family dining and living areas, with coordinated remodeling of the existing entry and formal areas.
  • In the expanded daylight basement on the lower level, there was enough space under the new deck for an exercise area and home theater. Existing spaces, including a rec room, guest room, and kitchenette, were adapted and upgraded. CASA handled space pre-design for the dedicated home theater. The actual theater design and installation were contracted out to a specialist.
  • There was also remodeling in the upper level, primarily to repurpose an underused common area. This allowed doubling the size of the master suite’s walk-in closet, and expanding a child’s bedroom into a small suite, complete with a new bathroom, a walk-in closet, and a bay window with built-in seats and storage. Another, existing bathroom was upgraded.
  • Throughout the home, work and storage zones were strategically placed and concealed with door panels and custom cabinetry to minimize clutter in the main areas.
  • Other improvements included replacing the front porch columns and the banister for the main stairs.
  • The remodeled spaces are virtually new construction with new plumbing, lighting, cabinets, appliances, and surface finishes.

 

Bellevue Residence
The other side of the kitchen features custom cabinetry concealing a refrigerator plus pantries and appliance garages on either side.
Bellevue Residence
View of the kitchen from the family dining area, with a peek at the formal dining area through the back doorway.
Bellevue Residence
The island was positioned and configured to match the cooking style and work flow of the owner, with a chopping-block prep area around the sink and adjacent two-level granite counters, all in easy reach of the stove.
Bellevue Residence
The original open layout was widened and articulated with wall offsets and ceiling coffers to define three spaces: a living room, informal dining area, and kitchen. This created additional space, but with a more intimate feeling. A newly constructed covered deck is accessible through the glass doors on the right.
Bellevue Residence
The rec room in the original lower level was reconfigured into a functional pool room, with full 5-foot clearances all around the table. Through the back doorway is a completely updated kitchenette.
Bellevue Residence
The pool room from the other direction. The arched doorway leads to a hallway with a recessed display area, for the suit of armor, and access to a remodeled guest bedroom and a new home theater.
Bellevue Residence
This new exercise area is situated under a new enclosed deck added to the south side of the house. Plenty of space was created for all the exercise stations as well as open stretching areas.
Bellevue Residence
A columned partial wall with custom cabinetry separates the home gym from the pool room.