The existing kitchen connected to both the family room and a generous deck, but its small footprint limited how the family could cook, gather and entertain. Our clients wanted to expand the kitchen into the family room, create significantly more seating and improve the connection between the interior and outdoor living spaces with a new 14-foot double sliding glass door. During the permitting process, we discovered that some unpermitted work had been done under the previous owners, which required remedy before we could move forward. The resulting constraints ultimately inspired a distinctive and highly-functional layout, proving that even the most challenging setbacks can have a beautiful outcome.