New space that reads as part of the house, not attached to it.
An addition is an architectural problem before it is a construction one: new space has to belong to the house it joins. MRC plans and builds significant additions with attention to proportion, rooflines, materials, daylight and how the expanded home will actually function — on the design-build path or from your architect's drawings.
The approach
An addition that belongs to the home
Rooflines, materials, window patterns and interior connections coordinated so the new space looks considered from the street and works from the inside.
Kitchen and family room additions
Connecting everyday living, entertaining and access to the outside — usually the reason the addition is being built.
Primary suites and larger expansions
New rooms evaluated alongside structure, mechanical systems, circulation and the spaces they are joining.
Second stories and raised roofs
When the footprint cannot expand, we evaluate the existing structure, roof form, zoning considerations and how a second story would relate to the home and its setting.
Featured project
Thoughtful Additions That Preserve a Home’s Character
Shadowlawn West | Westfield NJ | Whole-Home Renovation and Additions
Michael Robert Construction and Ellie Mroz Design
Adding space to an older home requires careful attention to the building as a whole. At Shadowlawn West in Westfield, approximately 1,000 square feet was distributed across several additions: a guest bedroom and bathroom above the left wing, extensions to the family room and primary suite at the rear, and a longer garage. The original stone facade and balanced front elevation remained the architectural anchor. Enlarged windows and cream plaster on the additions introduced a fresh expression while respecting the existing home. See how the design moved from the original exterior through architectural visualization to completed construction.
BeforeThe original stone home.
Concept renderingConcept rendering — proposed front elevation.
CompletedPreserved stone facade and balanced front elevation.
Completed — rear exterior and outdoor connections.
An addition is usually where the storage finally gets solved, and the pieces that do it — mudroom cabinetry, a bench by the door, shelving built into the new wall — are made by MRC's own carpenters rather than ordered in, so they are sized to the space that was just built rather than the space a catalog assumed.
Setbacks, lot coverage, grade, drainage and the approvals the work needs all shape what is possible — and they are property-specific rather than town-specific. Two houses on one street can face different constraints.
Reviewing the property, the proposed scope, the approvals and the investment together, before the footprint is fixed, is what stops an addition being redesigned after it has been drawn.
Historic home addition
An addition that improves daily life in a historic home
At a 1905 Westfield residence, a covered carport and mudroom connection brought a practical new arrival to a grand historic home. Columns, stairs and roof-edge details were studied in architectural elevations so the addition could serve a modern family and relate to the house.
BeforeBefore renovation: the 1905 Westfield home, before the covered carport was added.
PlanArchitectural elevation: columns, stairs and landing studied around mudroom access, with storage proposed beneath the stairs.
AfterCompleted work: the covered carport addition beside the historic Westfield home, designed to support access to the mudroom addition and add function for a busy family.
The mudroom it was built to reach
CompletedBuilt-in lockers, a bench over basket storage and herringbone brick underfoot.
Details
Joining new work to old
The test of an addition is the seam. These two details are the kind of decision that makes one — a cedar bracket shaped to land on existing brick, and a gutter and leader run so the new roofline sheds water where the old wall begins.
Where the cedar lands on the brick: the bracket is shaped, not bought, and the downspout is run behind it. Mountainside exterior renovation
A half-round gutter, a cast outlet and a round leader run down the corner board — the rainwater detail is the first thing a new roofline gets wrong and the last thing anyone looks at. Shadowlawn West, Westfield
… We had a unique space/layout to renovate, and were able to create a thoughtful plan to meet our needs, from aesthetics to functionality … Execution/project management/final product; all exceeded expectations including during a very volatile time …
Brandon, Westfield, NJ
Two ways to begin
Start with us, or bring your architect’s plans
MRC Design-Build
Coordinated architectural planning and construction, so cost and constructability are tested against the design as it develops.
Bring the drawings and engage MRC as your construction partner. Early scope review, construction input and budgeting help align the project before work begins.
Optional EMD Construction Consulting & Furnishings
Michael Robert Construction and Ellie Mroz Design work together as MRCxEMD. EMD Construction Consulting and Furnishings are optional services available with either MRC Design-Build or construction from your architect’s plans. We also welcome collaboration with your existing architect and interior designer.
Construction Consulting
Interior design decisions that affect the build — cabinetry, kitchens and baths, lighting, plumbing, tile, flooring and finishes.
Furnishings
Furniture, window treatments, rugs, art and accessories, with procurement, installation and final styling.
Should we build out, build up or renovate the space we have?+
That depends on the property, existing structure and what your home needs to do. We consider circulation, usable space, site constraints and the construction involved in each option. More square footage is not always the best answer to a layout problem.
How do you make an addition feel like part of the original house?+
We look at rooflines, proportions, windows, materials and the connection between old and new spaces. Those decisions need to work together. An addition should improve how the home lives and make architectural sense from the street and the yard.
Why does an addition cost more than its new square footage might suggest?+
The work often extends into the existing house. Structural connections, utility changes, roof transitions and renovations to adjoining rooms can be essential to the project. Pricing only the new area can leave out a substantial part of the scope.
When should zoning and approval requirements be evaluated?+
Early, before the design becomes too developed. Your architect and project team should identify which property constraints and municipal reviews apply. Approval requirements depend on the parcel and proposed work; feasibility should not be assumed from a neighboring project.
Will an addition disrupt the rest of the home?+
Usually, to some degree. Connecting the new space may require work to structure, utilities and adjoining rooms. We consider those connections during planning so the construction sequence and any occupancy limitations are understood.
An addition's cost is driven by its size, its structural implications, the finishes and how it meets the existing house. Ground conditions and approvals can matter as much as square footage.
Tell us the town, the goals, where the design has got to and the investment you are anticipating.
Discuss Your Home
Tell us about the property, the scope you are considering, your architectural plans and anticipated construction investment.
