WESTWOOD FAMILY REMODEL + SECOND STORY ADDITION + POOL
THE STORY
Westwood
LOCATIONLos Angeles Westside neighborhood
Complete Remodel + Second Story + Pool
SERVICEStructural expansion, full interior transformation, outdoor integration
Full Home Renovation + Vertical Expansion
PROJECT TYPEExpanding a home without expanding the footprint
Indoor–Outdoor Family Living
LIVING STYLEOpen main living space connected directly to backyard and pool
Expansion + Flow + Functionality
PRIMARY FOCUSLayout, vertical expansion, and indoor–outdoor integration
Spacious · Modern · Functional · Family-Oriented
OVERALL FEELOpen, connected spaces designed for how the home is actually lived in
Some homes don’t need a redesign.
They need more space.
This Westwood project started with a house that simply couldn’t keep up with the family living in it. The layout felt tight, rooms were closed off, and the backyard existed but wasn’t part of daily life.
The question wasn’t how to update it.
It was how to make it work for them.
Instead of pushing outward and sacrificing the lot, the decision was made early:
Build up. Then rebuild everything below it.
A full second-story addition created the space the home was missing. At the same time, the entire main level was restructured into a connected living environment centered around the kitchen and family room with direct access to a newly built pool and backyard.
The result is a home that feels significantly larger, but more importantly one that finally functions the way it should.
The Challenge
A Westwood home that couldn’t grow with the family and a layout that worked against how it was being lived in.
The home was undersized, but the real issue wasn’t just square footage. It was how the space was organized and how disconnected it felt from daily life.
The existing layout didn’t support how the homeowners actually wanted to live.
Rooms felt closed off and disconnected, with limited natural light moving through the space. The kitchen was separated from the main living areas, making it difficult for the home to function as a shared environment.
Circulation was inefficient, and there was no clear relationship between the main living spaces and the backyard. The outdoor area existed, but it wasn’t integrated into the experience of the home.
At the same time, the lot introduced a constraint.
Expanding outward wasn’t a viable option.
To create meaningful additional space while preserving the yard, the project had to move vertically — introducing the complexity of a full second-story addition while reworking the structure below.
The challenge wasn’t just improving the home.
It was rethinking it entirely and making sure every decision supported how it was meant to be lived in.
PROJECT CONSIDERATIONS
✔️ Add meaningful square footage without losing outdoor space
✔️ Turn the main level into a true shared living environment
✔️ Make the backyard part of the home — not separate from it
✔️ Get the structure right early so everything else works
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Our Approach
The strategy came down to three moves:
Build Up
A full second-story addition created the space the home didn’t have — allowing for better distribution of bedrooms and private areas without compromising the lot.
Open Everything Below
The main floor was completely reimagined.
Walls were removed. Flow was simplified. The kitchen and family room became the center of the home.
Not visually. Functionally.
Natural light was improved through larger openings and better orientation toward the backyard.
Indoor–Outdoor Integration
Instead of treating the backyard as separate, it was pulled into the experience of the home.
The pool, outdoor area, and main living space now work together — creating a continuous environment that supports both daily life and entertaining.
Behind the Build
The work behind the finished spaces.
The finished home feels clean and effortless, but getting there required careful coordination across multiple scopes — structure, systems, layout, and pool construction.
BEFORE — ORIGINAL CONDITION
The home was undersized, closed off, and disconnected.
Rooms felt isolated from each other. The kitchen was enclosed and undersized, and the layout didn’t support how the home was being used day to day. Natural light was limited, and the backyard felt separate rather than part of the living experience.
While the structure had potential, the way the home functioned didn’t reflect it.
DURING — IN PROGRESS
The transformation started with structural changes.
The existing structure was reinforced to support a full second-story addition, while load-bearing walls on the main floor were removed and replaced with new structural support to open up the living areas.
At the same time, all major systems were upgraded to align with the new layout.
The project also included building a new pool within a limited lot, requiring tight coordination between structural work, exterior construction, and interior sequencing.
By the time finishes began, the structure, layout, and systems were already aligned allowing the final spaces to feel cohesive rather than assembled.
This is where the real work happens.
Key Decisions
The decisions that shaped how the home now works.
Projects like this are defined by a few key moves. These were the decisions that turned a limited, segmented home into a space that feels open, functional, and aligned with how it’s actually lived in.
1
BUILD A SECOND STORY TO CREATE REAL SPACE
Expanding vertically allowed the home to gain meaningful square footage without sacrificing the backyard. This made it possible to support a growing family while preserving the outdoor environment.
2
OPEN THE MAIN FLOOR COMPLETELY
Removing walls and restructuring the layout transformed separate rooms into one connected living space. The goal wasn’t just openness it was creating a central environment that supports daily life.
3
RECONFIGURE THE LAYOUT FOR SHARED AND PRIVATE LIVING
Bedrooms and private areas were distributed between levels to create separation without disconnecting them from the main living spaces.
4
INTEGRATE THE BACKYARD AND POOL INTO THE HOME
The outdoor space was designed to function as an extension of the interior. Direct access from the main living areas created a seamless connection that changed how the home is used.
5
REBUILD ALL MAJOR SYSTEMS
Electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems were fully upgraded to support the new layout and ensure long-term performance.
6
KEEP THE DESIGN PRACTICAL AND LIVABLE
The focus stayed on clarity and function. Avoiding unnecessary complexity allowed the home to feel natural to live in rather than overdesigned.
Before & After
Drag to reveal the transformation.
Project Timeline
11 months from planning to completion.
Planning + permits
Project scope alignment, structural engineering, and approvals for the second-story addition and pool
PHASE 1PHASE 2Demo + structure
Full demolition, structural reinforcement, and framing for the new second story and open layout
PHASE 3Systems
Installation of new electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems aligned with the redesigned floor plan
PHASE 4Finishes
Interior finishes, pool construction, and integration of indoor–outdoor living areas
PHASE 5Handover
Final walkthrough, punch work, and project delivery
Coordinating vertical expansion and pool construction simultaneously required precise sequencing throughout the entire project.
The Result
A home that finally works the way it’s meant to.
The difference is immediate.
The home feels larger, but more importantly, it feels usable. The main living spaces are open, connected, and easy to move through, with the kitchen and family room naturally becoming the center of daily life.
The relationship between inside and outside has completely changed.
What was once a disconnected backyard is now part of how the home is lived in with direct access to the pool and outdoor space extending the main living area.
Private and shared spaces are now clearly defined without feeling separated. The second story allows the home to support a growing family while keeping the main level open and connected.
What changed isn’t just the square footage.
The home finally catches up to the people living in it.
Project overview
post-renovation
added vertically
completion
backyard integrated
ARCHITECT
INTERIOR DESIGN
Heart Construction
LANDSCAPE DESIGN
Heart Construction
PHOTOGRAPHY
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Ready to talk about your home?
Every project starts with understanding what’s actually possible before design, before plans, before construction.
If you’re planning a remodel, addition, or outdoor project in Westwood or Los Angeles, start with a conversation.
We’ll help you think through the space, the structure, and the right way to approach it.