I avoid doing flat-roofed additions, and not just because of the potential leaks. In my view (and that of most clients), an addition should take its architectural cues from the house to which it is being added. Since a house's roof is its most essential feature, unless the house itself has a flat roof, a flatroofed addition runs a high risk of looking as if it doesn't belong. However, sometimes a flat roof is virtually unavoidable. Here's one I wasn't able to avoid, and it points up some of the challenges. The program was a common one: a total kitchen remodel, along with the addition of a family room and a small library (see Figure 1). The
