It was determined early in the design process that the main floor simply needed to be 8 feet wider to accommodate a new central kitchen island. The new addition also needed to be designed  to allow for an uninterrupted and open floor space and therefore designed with a minimal  amount of columns to support the floor above.  The solution became the installation of a  new 3'-0" deep glum beam which spanned the large distance.   The new addition created a new vaulted  kitchen area with skylights allowing  ample natural light deep into the interior of the space.  No upper cabinets were desired therefore all kitchen storage occurs below the island or behind a series of barn doors located along the interior wall.