We are renovating a 1950's 2 story cottage that had additions on either side. the original house has 8 foot ceilings. The addition has a 7 1/2 foot ceiling.

We would like to raise the ceiling to 9 feet in the original part of the house, but in order to get a decent working size kitchen we need to expand the kitchen into the area with only 7 1/2 foot ceilings. The area in the low part measures 7 feet deep by 13 feet wide - we then have an additional 7-8 feet that will fall under the 9 foot ceiling.

To raise the 7 1/2 foot ceiling would mean limiting access to one upstairs room from a back staircase only.