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Smoke Room, Dining + Great Room Addition

A Residence addition concept developed to add a smoke room, dining area, and great room on the left side of the existing home while replacing the impacted one-car garage function with a basement garage and walk-out access.

Home additionGreat room expansionBasement garage planningPennsylvania area
Rendered view of the proposed Residence addition with smoke room, dining area, great room, deck, and basement garage

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Home Additions · Renovation Design · FAQ

Project type

Dining, great room, and specialty room home addition

Existing problem

The desired living-space addition affected existing garage function and needed to be solved as part of the overall layout.

Design response + deliverables

Add expanded living and dining space while replacing impacted garage function with basement garage access and a walk-out solution.

Existing/proposed first-floor plans, exterior concept imagery, and home addition drawing coordination.

The challenge

The desired addition improved living space but affected an existing one-car garage.

The project added new living area to the left side of the home, including a smoke room, dining area, and great room. Because this work impacted the existing one-car garage on that side of the house, the design also needed to preserve practical storage and vehicle access.

The solution included a basement garage area with a walk-out door, allowing the home to gain new living space while still maintaining usable lower-level access.

Design priorities

  • Add a dedicated smoke room, dining area, and large great room
  • Replace the impacted one-car garage function with a basement garage area
  • Provide walk-out access at the lower level
  • Improve the home’s gathering space and connection to the deck
  • Keep the addition visually compatible with the existing home

Existing conditions

Photos that show the home, site constraints, and existing interior living areas.

Click any image to enlarge.

Existing front exterior of the Residence before the proposed addition
Existing front exterior before the proposed addition.
Existing left side of the Residence where the addition was proposed
Existing left side of the home where the new living area was studied.
Existing rear exterior and deck area of the Residence
Existing rear and deck relationship considered during the design.
Existing right side exterior of the Residence
Existing side view showing the home’s overall massing and roof relationship.
Existing living room before the proposed great room addition
Existing living room condition before the proposed expansion.

Before + after planning

The first-floor plan shows how the new addition changes the home’s main living function.

The proposed plan adds the new great room, smoke room, dining area, deck connections, and revised circulation while accounting for the garage function affected by the addition.

Click either plan to enlarge.

Existing First Floor

Existing first-floor plan before the Residence addition
Existing first-floor layout before the smoke room, dining area, and great room addition.

Proposed First Floor

Proposed first-floor plan showing the Residence smoke room, dining area, great room, deck, and related changes
Proposed first-floor layout with the new great room, dining area, smoke room, deck relationships, and revised circulation.

Design response

A larger living addition with garage access solved as part of the overall plan.

The design expands the home with a substantial great room and related dining and smoke room spaces, giving the residence more flexible gathering area while improving the overall flow of the first floor.

Because the addition affected the existing one-car garage, the plan incorporates a basement garage area and walk-out door. This keeps the home functional while allowing the new living spaces to take priority where they benefit the homeowners most.

Project outcome

The Residence concept balances added living area, practical access, and site-specific constraints. The result is a clearer path for expanding the home without simply losing the garage function that the addition displaced.

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