What do you do when your growing family outpaces a small house on a compact lot? You build up. For this family of four, staying in a neighborhood they loved meant rethinking the home vertically—despite the challenge of adding above a recently remodeled basement.

The project reconfigured the main floor, added a second story, and introduced an attached garage with a family room above. The basement became an ADU, and the entry was relocated to the front, replacing a constrained side-yard approach. Shifting the garage north created a more usable, south-facing backyard.

A centrally relocated stair organized the junction between old and new. The main level was opened into a continuous living, dining, and kitchen space, with service functions consolidated into a compact core. An undulating wood screen defined the stair while allowing light from a wrapping window and skylight to filter through. Floor-to-ceiling glazing connects to the front and rear yards, while clerestory and low windows balance light, privacy, and small moments of daily life

Above, new bedrooms and baths provide separation and flexibility. The primary suite anchors the west end with a walk-in closet and light-filled bath and walk-in shower. A new laundry sits at the top of the stair, and secondary bedrooms line the south side, capturing daylight and distant views.

By building upward, the project transforms a constrained site into a more adaptable home, adding both living space and a rentable ADU.