All the stairways in the house underwent major changes. This was mostly because of the 1927 addition to the back of the house that required going through the 2nd floor southwest bedroom to access the vaulted ceiling room through French doors. Creating direct access required taking out the intermediate landing and bringing the main floor stairs forward into the sitting room opening.

That also allowed a full height ceiling going through to the kitchen that was widened to accommodate French doors. That wall was a closed off exterior wall with no kitchen access and served as a wall for hanging coats until 1973. The lack of a hall closet was rectified in the latest construction where the butler’s pantry passthrough was closed to make a coat closet.

On the 2nd floor the effect of moving the stairs created an opportunity to create a laundry cabinet in a space that lacked full ceiling height that was close to the bedrooms.