W. Helen Home Addition & Deck

Palatine, IL

Staying in the Home They Love: A Palatine Addition & Deck

These Palatine homeowners loved welcoming their children and grandchildren, but they wanted more room to gather comfortably. With plans to stay in their forever home, they also wanted improvements that would serve them as their needs changed.

We designed and built a rear addition with a full bathroom and a new composite deck. The 17.5-by-22-foot addition connects to the existing family room, creating more space for everyone to spend time together. A vaulted ceiling and custom arched window give the room an open, airy feel, while remote-controlled blinds make it easy to adjust the light.

Connecting the addition to the home required opening an exterior load-bearing wall and installing a steel beam. We extended the natural hardwood flooring into the new space without changing the floor height, helping the addition feel like a natural part of the house.

The full bathroom serves visiting family now and was planned with the homeowners’ future use in mind. A low-threshold shower makes entry easier, while an awning window brings in natural light.

Outside, a smaller, low-maintenance composite deck replaced the homeowners’ aging DIY wood deck, with pavers providing additional outdoor space. Faux-stone skirting closes off the area beneath the deck to help keep animals out. A new Pella patio door with integrated blinds connects the indoor and outdoor gathering areas, and low-maintenance LP siding on the addition complements the home’s existing cedar exterior.

The result is a home with more room for family, less exterior upkeep, and thoughtful features that support the homeowners’ plans to stay as they age.