Finding the way

Leslie went to Kerry with firm ideas. "I had a detailed plan that I had mapped out on graph paper," she says. "Kerry said, 'Let's back up; talk to me about what you need, how you want to use the space.' "

The discussions were lengthy. Leslie and Kerry had different visions about where to locate the kitchen, and Kerry advocated a vaulted ceiling for the addition, which Leslie didn't think was necessary.

The finished project features a mixture of suggestions from both. With a steep drop-off in back, Leslie says, "It already feels like you're in a treehouse," so no vaulted ceiling was necessary. Kerry's floor plan, however, won out, much to Leslie's satisfaction. "One thing I was very headstrong about was the traffic pattern," she says. "I didn't want the boys and their friends traipsing through spaces where they didn't have to be."

The house's new design solves that problem neatly. Originally, the front door opened directly into the living room, and visitors had to walk nearly a full circle through the main floor to get downstairs. Now, the front door opens into an airy, bright foyer that offers direct access to the garage, living room and great room; steps to the lower level; and a double coat closet.

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