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With two popular teenagers and frequent get-togethers with friends and family, the owners of this Carmel Mountain home wished to expand their existing living area into a more generous, inviting and user-friendly space that would accommodate the needs of the entire family. However, the home's property lines and backyard swimming pool posed constraints that prevented the addition of a new room.

The alternative? Consider removing a load-bearing wall separating the existing living and family rooms, and combine them to create a larger area for entertaining and relaxing.

While the homeowners were excited about the concept, they were wary about the functionality and appeal of the newly opened spaces, especially since the two rooms had different ceiling heights.

Our design team first consulted with an experienced engineer, who determined that the load-bearing wall could be removed without compromising the home's structural integrity. We then re-engineered the adjacent walls, adding a beam to redistribute the weight and satisfy building codes and earthquake requirements.

To smooth the transition between the two ceiling heights and unify the rooms, our team integrated a decorative shelf along the boundary. We created a striking focal point in the new family room by adding a custom-built entertainment center and coordinating mantel placed along the main wall. Both the mantel and a matching shelf were designed to wrap around the corner into the living room, thus integrating the two new spaces and providing an ideal display area for family photos and keepsakes.