--- title: Little Additions description: "Home additions come in all sizes--some you might not even think of as additions because they are so small. But a \"little\" addition is a design solution we often employ to gain big benefits. In this project, the problem is: not enough seating space in the kitchen. Here's how a little addition made a big difference in the functionality of this kitchen." image: https://www.gilday.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/malek-1.jpg --- [![Gilday](https://www.gilday.com/hubfs/theme2021/images/gilday-logo-white.png) ](https://www.gilday.com/) [ 301.565.4600 ](tel:301.565.4600) - [About Us](https://www.gilday.com/about-gilday-renovations) - [About](https://www.gilday.com/about-gilday-renovations) - [Architects & Designers](https://www.gilday.com/architects-designers) - [Administration](https://www.gilday.com/administration) - [Production & Construction](https://www.gilday.com/production-team) - [Careers](https://www.gilday.com/careers) - [Awards](https://www.gilday.com/awards) - [What Our Clients Say](https://www.gilday.com/gilday-renovation-reviews) - [Press](https://www.gilday.com/press) - Service Area - [Arlington VA](https://www.gilday.com/home-remodeling-arlington-va) - [Alexandria VA](https://www.gilday.com/home-remodeling-alexandria-va) - [Bethesda MD](https://www.gilday.com/home-remodeling-bethesda-md) - [Chevy Chase MD](https://www.gilday.com/home-remodeling-chevy-chase-md) - [Cleveland Park DC](https://www.gilday.com/home-remodeling-cleveland-park-dc) - [Kensington MD](https://www.gilday.com/home-remodeling-kensington-md) - [McLean VA](https://www.gilday.com/home-remodeling-mclean-va) - [Potomac MD](https://www.gilday.com/home-remodeling-potomac-md) - [Rockville MD](https://www.gilday.com/home-remodeling-rockville-md) - [Washington DC](https://www.gilday.com/home-remodeling-washington-dc) - [Portfolio](https://www.gilday.com/portfolio) - [Additions](https://www.gilday.com/portfolio#additions) - [Kitchens](https://www.gilday.com/portfolio#kitchens) - [Baths](https://www.gilday.com/portfolio#baths) - [Whole House Renovations](https://www.gilday.com/portfolio#wholehouse) - Services - [Home Remodeling the Design Build Way](https://www.gilday.com/home-remodeling-the-design-build-way) - [Renovation Architect Services](https://www.gilday.com/renovation-architect-services-gilday-renovations) - [Whole-Home Remodeling](https://www.gilday.com/whole-home-remodeling-gilday-renovations) - [Kitchen Remodeling](https://www.gilday.com/kitchen-remodeling-gilday-renovations) - [Bathroom Remodeling](https://www.gilday.com/bathroom-remodeling-gilday-renovations) - [Home Additions](https://www.gilday.com/home-additions-gilday-renovations) - [Pricing & Budgeting](https://www.gilday.com/how-to-budget-for-a-home-renovation-project) - [For Realtors - Pre-Purchase Evaluation](https://www.gilday.com/for-realtors-pre-purchase-evaluation) - [Resources](https://www.gilday.com/renovation-resource-center) - [Renovation Articles](https://www.gilday.com/design-build-dc-blog) - [Contact Us](https://www.gilday.com/contact) x Search the site # Little Additions [Kevin Gilday](https://www.gilday.com/design-build-dc-blog/author/kevin-gilday) ![Little Additions](https://www.gilday.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/malek-1.jpg) Home additions come in all sizes — some you might not even think of as additions because they are so modest in scale. Here is a design solution that draws on the big benefits offered by little [additions](https://www.gilday.com/portfolio#additions). In this example, the problem (one we encounter all the time) is: not enough seating space in the kitchen. ## Just A Little Bit Let's say, you don't need a *lot* more space but you definitely need more than you have. We could build a breakfast room addition, but that would over solve the problem. So we think small. We think banquette. That's built-in seating for casual dining. Here's one we designed for a home in the Palisades neighborhood of Washington, DC. It's just a modest little bump out, a window seat really. It serves as a transition space between an open kitchen and living room. [![](https://www.gilday.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/malek-1.jpg?width=600&name=malek-1.jpg "malek 1")](https://www.gilday.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/malek-1.jpg) This beautiful banquette has the attraction quality of a booth at a cafe.    It's a tiny addition to the room, but what a difference it makes. It's so appealing.   When you go to a cafe, don't you almost always ask for a booth? Or to be seated by a window?   ## Mini Family Room Addition This little addition is actually a window seat. When you lift the lid on the seating bench, a huge storage bin for the kids' toys is revealed. [![](https://www.gilday.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/M-Gilday-Liv-Bench-vert-crop013.jpg?width=600&name=M-Gilday-Liv-Bench-vert-crop013.jpg "family room window seat/banquette combo")](https://www.gilday.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/M-Gilday-Liv-Bench-vert-crop013.jpg) By recessing seating on one side, we gain approximately two and a half feet of space in the room.    It works with or without the table and chairs — giving this family of six the flexibility they need in their family room.   The seating bench doubles as a storage trunk for children's toys and art materials.   ## Big Plus Little This project did in fact require a full kitchen addition. In addition to the addition, we snugged in a banquette to provide seating for a large and very busy family to have daily meals. [![](https://www.gilday.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/1V9B7896.jpg?width=1200&name=1V9B7896.jpg "banquette in kitchen addition")](https://www.gilday.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/1V9B7896.jpg) A semi-circular banquette in the rear of this kitchen comfortably seats the entire family.   One of the beauties of this sort of small addition is that, when done well, the result is spatial/visual harmony. Circulation patterns and defined function areas work gracefully together. There is a logic to the room that is immediately felt when you enter. That's the beauty of design, and of thinking small. If you'd like to get more ideas about how to get more functionality out your older home, read our eBook, [The Essential Elements of Renovating an Older Home](https://www.gilday.com/the-essential-elements-of-renovating-an-older-home). [![Essential Elements of Renovating an Older Home](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/4060073/2468a592-9497-4250-a7d7-f1268a50b821.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/4060073/2468a592-9497-4250-a7d7-f1268a50b821) ## Related Articles: Home Addition [![A Tranquil, Court-side Guest Cottage: ADU Remodeling in Metro DC](https://www.gilday.com/hubfs/blog-images/01-ADU-Remodeling.jpg) **A Tranquil, Court-side Guest Cottage: ADU Remodeling in Metro DC** ](https://www.gilday.com/design-build-dc-blog/adu-remodeling) [![Home Additions Then and Now: How to Add New and Reconfigure Old Space](https://www.gilday.com/hubfs/Images/renovation-portfolio/scenic_overlook_porch_addition/scenic-overlook-porch-addition-potomac-md-3-1.png) **Home Additions Then and Now: How to Add New and Reconfigure Old Space** ](https://www.gilday.com/design-build-dc-blog/home-additions-then-and-now-how-to-add-new-and-reconfigure-old-space) [![The Home Addition Shortcut: Convert a Porch, Attic, Basement or Garage](https://www.gilday.com/hubfs/Images/kitchen/kitchen-renovation-take-two/kitchen-renovation-take-2-1.jpg) **The Home Addition Shortcut: Convert a Porch, Attic, Basement or Garage** ](https://www.gilday.com/design-build-dc-blog/the-home-addition-shortcut-convert-a-porch-attic-basement-or-garage) [![Home Additions and Architectural Style: Blending New and Old](https://www.gilday.com/hubfs/blog-images/Patio_Side_F.jpg) **Home Additions and Architectural Style: Blending New and Old** ](https://www.gilday.com/design-build-dc-blog/home-additions-and-architectural-style-blending-new-and-old) [![How to maximize space in your home if an addition isn’t possible](https://www.gilday.com/hubfs/blog-images/kitchen-island.jpg) **How to maximize space in your home if an addition isn’t possible** ](https://www.gilday.com/design-build-dc-blog/how-to-maximize-space-in-your-home-if-an-addition-isnt-possible) [![Can Zoning and Lot Size Affect My Home Addition Plans?](https://www.gilday.com/hubfs/Gilday-Nov2017/Image/0e46f4_1e4e4eccdaf84d899d72b3c44a21dabb_1.jpg) **Can Zoning and Lot Size Affect My Home Addition Plans?** ](https://www.gilday.com/design-build-dc-blog/zoning-and-lot-size-affect-home-addition-plans) [![WHAT'S THE COST OF A HOME ADDITION IN WASHINGTON, DC](https://www.gilday.com/hubfs/Gilday-Nov2017/Image/0e46f4_d7f3eb1f8a0144539562f72002726611_2.jpg) **WHAT'S THE COST OF A HOME ADDITION IN WASHINGTON, DC** ](https://www.gilday.com/design-build-dc-blog/whats-the-cost-of-a-home-addition-in-washington-dc) [![What’s the Right Size for a Home Addition? Not Too Big and Not Too Small](https://www.gilday.com/hubfs/blog-images/interior-view-of-yard.jpg) **What’s the Right Size for a Home Addition? Not Too Big and Not Too Small** ](https://www.gilday.com/design-build-dc-blog/whats-the-right-size-for-a-home-addition-not-too-big-and-not-too-small) [![Why Investing in Home Additions is Better Than Buying New](https://www.gilday.com/hubfs/blog-images/architects-rendition.jpg) **Why Investing in Home Additions is Better Than Buying New** ](https://www.gilday.com/design-build-dc-blog/why-investing-in-home-additions-is-better-than-buying-new) [![Considering Porches -or- How the Greeks Invented Outdoor Living](https://www.gilday.com/hubfs/Gilday-Nov2017/Image/0e46f4_423a6344cd1948a699103fe85a7ca493-2.png) **Considering Porches -or- How the Greeks Invented Outdoor Living** ](https://www.gilday.com/design-build-dc-blog/single-post/2016/04/07/considering-porches-or-how-the-greeks-invented-outdoor-living) [![Home Additions That Go Against the Grain](https://www.gilday.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Lichtman-1a.jpg) **Home Additions That Go Against the Grain** ](https://www.gilday.com/design-build-dc-blog/room-additions-that-go-against-the-grain.html) ## Leave a comment We are architects We are interior designers We are builders Let us be yours Gilday Renovations 8820 Brookville Road, Silver Spring, MD 20910 © Gilday Renovations 2025 - [About Us](https://www.gilday.com/about-gilday-renovations) - [Portfolio](https://www.gilday.com/portfolio) - Services - [Resources](https://www.gilday.com/renovation-resource-center) - [Renovation Articles](https://www.gilday.com/design-build-dc-blog) - [Contact Us](https://www.gilday.com/contact) 301.565.4600 [info@gilday.com](mailto:info@gilday.com) [Privacy Policy](https://www.gilday.com/gilday-com-privacy-policy) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@id" : "https://www.gilday.com/#website", "@type" : "WebSite", "name" : "Gilday Renovations", "potentialAction" : { "@type" : "SearchAction", "query-input" : "required name=search_term_string", "target" : "https://www.gilday.com/hs-search-results?term={search_term_string}" }, "publisher" : { "@id" : "https://www.gilday.com/#entity" }, "url" : "https://www.gilday.com" } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@id" : "https://www.gilday.com/#entity", "@type" : [ "Organization", "GeneralContractor" ], "address" : { "@type" : "PostalAddress", "addressCountry" : "US", "addressLocality" : "Silver Spring", "addressRegion" : "MD", "postalCode" : "20910", "streetAddress" : "8820 Brookville Road" }, "areaServed" : [ { "@type" : "State", "name" : "District of Columbia" }, { "@type" : "State", "name" : "Maryland" }, { "@type" : "State", "name" : "Virginia" } ], "image" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://www.gilday.com/hubfs/Gilday-Nov2017/Image/0e46f4_15daa73f94264bbd95eb4e173ad2d447.jpg" }, "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://www.gilday.com/hubfs/Gilday-Nov2017/Image/H_Logo.jpg" }, "name" : "Gilday Renovations", "openingHoursSpecification" : { "@type" : "OpeningHoursSpecification", "closes" : "17:00", "dayOfWeek" : [ "Monday", "Tuesday", "Wednesday", "Thursday", "Friday" ], "opens" : "09:00" }, "priceRange" : "$$$", "sameAs" : [ "https://www.facebook.com/gilday.renovations/", "https://twitter.com/GildayBuilders", "https://www.linkedin.com/company/gilday-renovations/about/", "https://www.pinterest.com/gildaycom/", "https://www.houzz.com/pro/gildayrenovations/gilday-renovations", "https://www.instagram.com/gildayrenovations/" ], "telephone" : "+1-301-565-4600", "url" : "https://www.gilday.com" } ``` ```json { "@context": "http://schema.org", "@type": "BlogPosting", "mainEntityOfPage": { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://www.gilday.com/design-build-dc-blog/little-additions.html" }, "headline": "Little Additions", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/4060073/Imported_Blog_Media/malek-1.jpg", "height": 800, "width": 800 }, "datePublished": "January 13, 2012", "dateModified": "January 13, 2012", "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kevin Gilday" }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Gilday Renovations", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/4060073/Gilday-Nov2017/Image/H_Logo.jpg" } }, "description": "Home additions come in all sizes--some you might not even think of as additions because they are so small. But a "little" addition is a design solution we often employ to gain big benefits. In this project, the problem is: not enough seating space in the kitchen. Here's how a little addition made a big difference in the functionality of this kitchen. " } ```