A Sunset Hills, MO ranch home looks the same from the outside, but inside it now feels spacious.
The family moved into their Sunset Hills, MO ranch home, built in 1965, in 2011. They love the neighborhood, the town and most everything about the house.
The home met all their needs, yet they longed for a more spacious, less cramped feel, akin to the hunting lodges they enjoyed in Alaska. After peering into their attic, they wondered if it was possible to raise the height of their standard 8 foot ceilings to turn the family and living room into one lofty great room.
The living room before the remodel.
The family room before the remodel.
Mosby Consultant Rich Oris came to their home to discuss the ceiling concept. It was possible to appropriate unused attic space above the entry foyer, family and living rooms. The ceiling could soar to a maximum height of 14 feet by adding 6 feet to the top of the load-bearing wall between the living and family room, and with an artful series of cut-outs, light would easily flow through the heightened space. How to Identify and Remove a Load-Bearing Wall.
Mosby architect’s 3D rendering of what the family room would look like with a raised ceiling.
The 3D rendering of how light and airy the living room will look with a soaring ceiling.
The family sat down with Mosby architect Brian Yount to explore the aesthetic possibilities of the two public rooms. They liked the idea of knotty pine bead board on the ceiling, and possibly the walls. And a heavy timber truss look was intriguing, like in a hunting lodge. But would trusses be a good idea, essentially “filling up” the newly opened areas? And in the family room which was covered in oak paneling, how would it look with knotty pine paneling instead, or should they go for simple, unadorned walls for a cleaner look?
Brian provided a series of 3D renderings that illustrated all the ideas expressed, helping the homeowners’ decision to go with exposed beams and bead board only on the ceiling (the 2 illustrations above). The drawings revealed that new drywall painted a neutral color in both rooms better conveyed the open and expansive feeling they craved.
The family room during the construction to raise the ceiling. All wood paneling was removed to install new drywall.
During construction, adding 6 feet of framing to raise the ceiling.
With the design decisions made and construction drawings complete, the Mosby production crew, headed by Project Manager Rick Henson, started by removing the insulation and flooring in the portion of the attic over the entry, living and family rooms. For the paneled family room, walls were taken down to the studs (above), and new insulation installed to hang new drywall.
The photo above shows the load-bearing wall wrapped for protection while up to 6 feet of new framing was added above it. When they first moved into the home, we had created for them the enlarged opening in the wall (above left), and that work needed to be preserved. New structural 2 x 10 roof rafters created the vaulted ceiling.
Cut-outs in the load-bearing wall allows light to flow through the heightened ceiling.
With the project complete and the furniture back in, the family room takes on the lodge feel they longed for.
The ranch home feels so much more spacious from raising the ceiling to a maximum height of 6 feet.
A remodeling project like this has psychological and emotional benefits for homeowners. It’s worth the investment when you plan to stay in your home for the long haul, and some architectural adjustments will make it the perfect home for you. To explore ways to fine-tune your home, work with the certified designers and architects at Mosby Building Arts. See a portfolio of some of their interior remodeling projects. To get started, call our office at 314.909.1800 or contact us here.
Why Work with Mosby Building Arts?
If efficiency, knowledge and quality craftsmanship are of the utmost importance, then Mosby is the partner for you. We are a design build firm that handles every aspect of your remodeling project from beginning to end. All team members needed to complete your project (designers, architects and production crews) are under one roof to provide time and monetary efficiencies, quality control, and seamless communication throughout.
Home Additions
Do you want to stay in your home, but you need more room? Mosby helps you explore all options for gaining extra space in your St. Louis, Missouri home. Our certified designers and registered, in-house architects create additions to meet your needs, plus our skilled craftsmen build them to last a lifetime.
Learn more about home additions here.
Interior Living Space Remodeling
There are many ways to breathe new life into your home. Mosby’s certified designers and builders have an eye for the details that make a home uniquely yours. Do you have under-used space in your home? Do you need more space? Have you thought about changing the function of an existing room?
Learn more about interior living space remodeling here.
Basement & Lower Level Remodeling
Finishing your basement is the best way to gain more usable space. Your basement is an opportunity to have the spaces you want, and will essentially create a lower level in your home. Mosby’s team of certified designers and registered architects will turn the blank canvas of your basement into the rooms you’ve always wanted.
Learn more about basement and lower level remodeling here.
Home Remodeling Peace of Mind
There’s no need to deal with multiple companies, or the frustration of the left hand unaware of what the right hand is doing. Mosby takes the guesswork out of home remodeling by planning the work and working the plan. You will know the scope of work and price before the first hammer swings. And the work will be done with a commitment to excellence and your happiness. All of Mosby’s remodeling work is backed by our 10-year workmanship warranty.
You can trust you’re in good hands with Mosby:
- 10-Year Workmanship Warranty
- 70+ Years Experience