Location: Jefferson County, TN

Completion Date: Spring 2021

Size: 1,760 SF

Contractor: Mike Sartain Construction

Photo Credits: Ben Cantwell (lakewayphotographytn.com)

Rosser Design Studio was commissioned to design a new master suite and back patio for a rural home in Jefferson County.

The existing home has a beautiful setting with a back view towards the Smoky Mountains, which you can see on a clear day. The Owners are nearing retirement and were looking to add a master suite onto the ground floor, and more exterior space to enjoy the views. However, the traditional floor plan and symmetry made for a challenging solution. But, after a series of concepts, we decided to renovate the existing garage into the master suite and use the back patio to tie all of the spaces together visually and spatially.

The idea to turn a garage into a living space is a good idea because it can save money; but it should be done carefully. Things like the floor level, heating and air, flow of space, window locations, and overall massing must be taken into consideration with such a plan. For optimum comfort we designed the floated floor to be fully insulated and vented into the conditioned space, basically a conditioned crawlspace. The new covered patio can be accessed from the living room, kitchen and master suite, making it an intregral part of the house and the Owner’s day to day living.

The Owner’s now have more interior and exterior space to enjoy amongst themselves and with their family.