IN A NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE the houses all but rub against each other, a major question when designing an addition that nearly doubles the size of a house is: How do you let light in?

The rear addition to this 1917 Arts and Crafts house steers clear of the property lines, allowing light to enter an expanded kitchen and a new family room on the first floor, and a master bedroom on the second.

Architect Philip Rossington also re-imagined a small side courtyard, transforming it into a circulation area connecting the kitchen, dining room, family room, and back patio. Glass block pavers allow natural daylight to filter through the courtyard and penetrate a music room directly below it. At night, the favor is returned, when light from underneath illuminates the outdoor space.

BD061001168L1.jpgCLICK HERE FOR IMAGE GALLERY
BD061001168L1.jpgCLICK HERE FOR IMAGE GALLERY
BD061001168L1.jpgCLICK HERE FOR IMAGE GALLERY
BD061001168L1.jpgCLICK HERE FOR IMAGE GALLERY

Rossington also gave the entire exterior a makeover. Taking his design cues from existing shingles on the attic dormer, he replaced a “bad '40s/'50s stucco job” with cedar shingles—a much closer approximation of the house's original look.

Category: Whole-house makeover or significant addition; Entrant/Architect: Rossington Architecture, San Francis-co; Builder: A. Murphy Construction, Point Richmond, Calif.