This "Before & After" pairing illustrates the fundamental change we made that enabled most of the other improvements in this renovation/addition project. The existing arched opening in the "Before" image (at bottom) separated a lower-level screened porch from an upper-level screened porch. The patio doors in the "After" photo (at top) now infill the arched opening. We removed the wall with the door and the perpendicular wall with the window seen in the "Before" image.  These changes allowed us to capture the space beyond the arched opening for the interior to create an expanded semi-open dining/kitchen area. To make the interior expansion seamless, we raised the floor of the area that had been the upper-level porch, so it aligns with the main living level, and made sure there would be no soffits in the planes of the walls we removed. We also raised the floor of the lower-level porch to reduce the number of steps required to circulate from the newly expanded interior to the remaining screen porch. Stay tuned for more to come.

by Katie Hutchison for House Enthusiast