Building With Style: Opening an Entryway: A Case Study

I was asked to redesign the kitchen wing of a Cape Cod-style house and to add an elevator for a disabled occupant. The plan hasn’t yet been built, but it is a good example of how three simple design ideas — moving a wall back, changing a stairwell, and installing a skylight — can open up a cramped space. The house is T-shaped, with the kitchen wing extending perpendicularly back from the main section. At the intersection is an entry hall, featuring a small U-shaped stair, two closets, and a half bath (see illustration). To the right is the dining room, to the left the living room with a chain of rooms beyond. Directly opposite the front door is