A little more info...

As we talk about this addition and what purpose it might serve, what it might look like, when and how it might be built, I realized it would help to add some photos of the house for reference. (See Chris's original post for layout ideas.) This is the house looking at the east side - where we'd like to build. The double window on the east side toward the front of the house is the living room. The two windows behind it are the guest room and bathroom, respectively. The windows above are Ellis's room and Chris's and my bedroom. There is lawn and a small retaining wall off the east side of the house, but that's about it - seems like the most practical spot to build and take advantage of the most southern exposure for passive solar heating and easy access to the rest of the house, including plumbing, electric, etc. We have also talked about wanting to put a sunroom and/or screened porch off the front of the house where there is ideal sunlight and ample space that is currently just lawn that needs to be mowed.

Here is the living room from the inside of the house - with our friends Corrie and Amy showing how well used this space is. It's really a thoroughfare - a gathering spot, a playroom, a workspace. The living room, dining room and kitchen are our ultimate communal spaces - used the hardest by the most people. The windows behind the couch in this photo would most likely become interior french doors...or some other kind of entry into to the addition. We've talked about there being a "living space" (study/library/sitting room) immediately off the living room. We all agree that we need bookshelves lining the walls, as 90% of our books are still in storage (and hopefully not mildew ridden!). I love being surrounded by books, I love lending out books, adding to the library, and watching Ellis and Owain fill their days with books...even if much of their time is spent simply emptying the bookcase onto the floor. So, lots of bookshelves are on the docket. As well as two or three bedrooms, a place for me to call an office at least for the time I work from home, and a bathroom. What else? What about storage? If we don't want to take up precious square footage with closets, how do we best make interior storage space? Ideas? Also, Chris and I have thought about maybe making one of the bedrooms a part of a loft area - what about stairs then? Does anyone have ideas on how to do stairs that take up minimal space but are more substantial than a fold down ladder?

If you have books or specific houses or people we ought to know more about, please send us your suggestions. Thanks!