A large home addition involves much more than adding square footage. It requires architectural design, structural planning, engineering, permitting, construction coordination, and a clear strategy for connecting the new space to the existing home.
We are taking you behind the scenes of a fantastic multi-phase, two-story addition for our longtime clients in Prairie Village.
This project actually began with a simple request, a place to gather around a table. That idea became the foundation for everything that followed and ultimately shaped the entire design direction of the addition.
The result is a home designed for gathering at every level: a spacious dining room centered around that statement table, a dramatic fireplace, an upper-level bunk room for overnight guests, and new spaces built for hosting large groups. It also requires our team to rework portions of the existing home, connect two levels, coordinate structural and mechanical systems, and make the addition feel like it has always belonged.
While this is a complex project, it’s one we're well equipped to handle our seasoned team has done tons of large-scale additions over the years.
Throughout our Built for Gathering series, we will share how this home addition moves from the first idea through design, engineering, permitting, construction, and the final reveal.
Table of Contents
A Project Years in the Making
Some remodeling projects begin with a house. Others begin with a relationship.
Over the years, we've had the privilege of partnering with these homeowners on multiple projects, helping their home evolve alongside their family and the way they live. When they were ready for another transformation, they returned to Schloegel Design Remodel with a vision that was both beautifully simple and incredibly ambitious.
Like many families, their home had become the backdrop for countless holidays, celebrations, and weekends spent together. However, as gatherings grew larger and traditions continued to evolve, they realized their home could no longer support the way they loved to entertain.
Rather than simply adding square footage, they wanted to create spaces that would make welcoming family and friends feel effortless for years to come.
That's where this Prairie Village home addition began.
The Request That Started It All
Surprisingly, this project started with a dining table.
Not a kitchen remodel.
Not a primary suite refresh.
Not even the addition itself.
Just one very specific request.
The homeowners envisioned a custom 22-foot dining table where everyone could gather together in one room. Family dinners had grown into holiday celebrations. Holiday celebrations had turned into reunions. Friends and loved ones regularly traveled from out of town, and large-scale hosting had become one of the greatest joys for our clients.
The challenge wasn't finding enough chairs.
It was creating a home that could comfortably bring everyone together at one table, under one roof.
As conversations continued, one idea naturally led to another. If the dining space was going to grow, what else could the home become? Could it better support overnight guests? Could entertaining feel more natural? Could every gathering feel a little easier?
What started as room for one extraordinary table soon became the inspiration for a large residential addition!
Why This Home Needed to Grow
Every successful remodel starts by understanding how a family truly lives.
Instead of looking for ways to simply build outward, our team carefully evaluated the home's existing layout. An underutilized covered patio and adjacent hallway presented an opportunity to rethink how this portion of the home functioned while maintaining the character of the original architecture.
Rather than feeling like an addition, the new spaces are being thoughtfully designed as an extension of the home.
At the heart of the project will be a spacious new dining room centered around that custom table, complete with a dramatic fireplace that anchors the room and creates a warm, inviting place for conversation long after dinner ends.
Above the new dining space, a second-story addition will provide something equally meaningful—a large bunk room designed for visiting family and friends. Instead of worrying about where everyone will sleep during holidays or reunions, guests will have a comfortable place to gather, stay, and make lasting memories together.
Every decision has been guided by one simple question: How can this home better bring people together?
As you'll see throughout this series, every square foot has been designed with purpose.
What Makes This a Complex Home Addition?
Not every home addition carries the same level of complexity. A single-room bump-out on an open lot is one thing. A two-story addition that must seamlessly integrate with an existing home, structurally, architecturally, and functionally, is something entirely different.
This Prairie Village project is a clear example of why thoughtful, coordinated design matters so much.
It involves several interconnected challenges:
- Creating a new dining room large enough to host a custom 22-foot table
- Building a second-story bunk room above the new gathering space
- Evaluating the existing structure and engineering a new, continuous load path
- Integrating new foundations, framing, roofing, electrical, HVAC, and other systems into the existing home
- Blending the addition so it feels intentional, not “tacked on” or disconnected
- Reworking an underused covered patio and adjacent hallway to improve flow and function
- Designing a large fireplace and coordinating surrounding exterior stonework
- Preserving the original home’s character, proportions, and architectural intent
- Managing construction in carefully planned phases so the homeowners can continue living in the home
In a project of this scale, no decision exists in isolation. Every choice influences several others.
Window placement shapes the exterior composition. The upstairs layout determines structural support below. Fireplace design impacts framing, ventilation, and room configuration. Even mechanical systems must be carefully planned to serve the new spaces without disrupting comfort in the existing home.
This is where design done right becomes essential.
A complex addition like this benefits from a fully integrated design-build process—where designers, architects, engineers, project managers, and craftsmen are all working together from the start. Instead of solving problems in isolation, the entire team evaluates how each decision affects the whole home.
Who Is Involved in Planning a Complex Home Addition?
A complex addition requires more than a builder and a set of plans. It brings together design, architectural planning, structural engineering, permitting, project management, skilled craftsmanship, and specialized trade work.
Because Schloegel operates as a design-build remodeler, all of this work is handled by one coordinated team. That means structural needs, construction feasibility, design decisions, material selections, budget considerations, and scheduling are all considered together throughout the project.
Leading the design is Maggie Stephenson, with support from Megan Bringman, who are thoughtfully balancing new spaces with the timeless character of the existing home.
Andy Gower is serving as Project Director, overseeing the many moving parts that come with a large, multi-phase remodel, while Joe Meagher is leading the day-to-day work on site as Project Manager, helping ensure every milestone moves forward with care.
What's Coming Next
Over the coming months, this Prairie Village home addition will include:
- An expansive new dining room designed around a custom 22-foot dining table.
- A fireplace that creates a beautiful focal point for gathering.
- A thoughtfully integrated two-story addition.
- A spacious upper-level bunk room for overnight guests.
- New entertaining spaces designed to make hosting family and friends easier than ever.
- Architectural details carefully crafted to blend seamlessly with the home's original design.
And that's only the beginning.
We'll be sharing the story behind each phase as construction continues, giving you an inside look at the craftsmanship, planning, and collaboration that make a project of this scale possible.
Follow Along with the Journey
Over the next several months, we'll be sharing regular behind-the-scenes updates as framing reaches completion, rough-ins begin, stonework transforms the exterior, and every new milestone brings this remarkable home one step closer to reality.
We'll introduce the people behind the project, explain the construction process, highlight thoughtful design decisions, and celebrate the progress along the way.
In our next chapter, we'll take you behind the scenes of the design process, sharing the plans, renderings, and vision that will guide this transformation from concept to completion.
Sneak peek of one of the 3D renderings!
Be sure to follow along on our blog and social channels for each update as this Prairie Village home addition continues to take shape. Whether you're considering your own home addition or just love following incredible remodeling projects, we hope you'll join us for every chapter!
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a home addition complex?
A complex home addition usually affects several parts of the existing house rather than adding one independent room. It may involve multiple stories, structural modifications, new foundations, roofline changes, plumbing, electrical and HVAC extensions, extensive permitting, or changes to the home’s existing layout. The complexity increases when all these elements must be coordinated while preserving the home’s original architecture.
Do I need an architect or structural engineer for a home addition?
Large or structurally complicated additions often require architectural planning and structural engineering. The specific professionals involved depend on the project and the requirements of the local jurisdiction. A design-build remodeler can help assemble and coordinate the appropriate team so architectural and structural decisions are addressed early.
How long does a Prairie Village home addition typically take?
Every home addition is different. The timeline depends on the size of the project, the complexity of the design, permitting, weather, and material availability. Large, two-story additions like this one often take several months of design and planning and then months to complete because every phase is carefully planned and coordinated.
Can you live in your home during a major home addition?
In many cases, yes. Whether homeowners remain in the home depends on the areas being remodeled, the scope of construction, and personal comfort. During the planning process, we work closely with homeowners to determine the best approach for minimizing disruption throughout the project.
Can an addition be built to look original to the home?
Yes, but it requires more than matching siding or brick. The design should account for rooflines, window proportions, ceiling heights, foundation elevations, materials, trim details, massing, and how the addition connects to the existing floor plan. These decisions should be made together so the addition feels like part of the original architecture.
What should be evaluated before designing a two-story addition?
Before designing a two-story addition, the team should evaluate the existing foundation and framing, zoning and setback requirements, roof configuration, utility locations, drainage, mechanical capacity, stair and hallway connections, and the effect on surrounding rooms. Structural feasibility should be considered early because the new upper level adds loads that must be transferred safely to the foundation.
What should homeowners consider before building a two-story home addition?
A successful addition starts by understanding how you want your home to function. Beyond adding square footage, thoughtful planning considers traffic flow, structural requirements, architecture, and how new spaces will connect with the existing home to create a seamless result.
Is a design-build firm a good choice for a complex addition?
A design-build firm can be especially helpful for a complex addition because design and construction are coordinated through one team. Designers, architectural professionals, engineers, estimators, project managers, craftsmen, and trade partners can identify conflicts earlier and evaluate how one decision affects the rest of the project.
How do you design a home for entertaining?
Designing for entertaining starts with understanding how a family gathers. Whether it's creating a larger dining area, adding overnight accommodations for guests, or improving the connection between living spaces, every design decision should support the way homeowners naturally use their home.
What spaces add the most functionality for hosting guests?
Large dining rooms, flexible gathering spaces, guest accommodations, outdoor living areas, and thoughtfully connected floor plans all help create a home that's comfortable for everyday living and memorable when family and friends come to visit.