add to the building and do discreetly
"We always went to Ireland in June. Ever since the four of us began to go on holidays together we
had spent the first fortnight of the month at Glencorn Lodge in County Antrim. It’s a large house by
the sea, not far from the village of Ardbeag. The English couple who bought the house, the Malseeds,
have had to add to the building, but everything has been done most discreetly."

Hello!

In the text above I can't understand the last sentence. What is meant by "add to the building" and why it had to be done "most discreetly"?

Thanks!

Question

add to the building and do discreetly
"We always went to Ireland in June. Ever since the four of us began to go on holidays together we 
had spent the first fortnight of the month at Glencorn Lodge in County Antrim. It’s a large house by 
the sea, not far from the village of Ardbeag. The English couple who bought the house, the Malseeds, 
have had to add to the building, but everything has been done most discreetly."

Hello!

In the text above I can't understand the last sentence. What is meant by "add to the building" and why it had to be done "most discreetly"?

Thanks!

Answer

They had to extend the building ( make it larger), but they did so in a way that was deliberately not noticeable. They enlarged the house using the same materials and architectural style as the original building, and with sensitivity towards the proportions and aesthetic of the original.  You'd also presume that the extensions were put at the back of the building, so as not to alter the look of the facade.

Answer

To “add to the building”, in this context, means to upgrade or build additional features onto the house. By “discreetly tely”, I think they mean by causing as little disruption as possible. Perhaps to avoid offending the neighbours. Perhaps, though I believe less likely, to avoid causing offence. The building was described as quite large and so it could be seen as an example of boasting or “showing off” if the owners openly spent a lot of money on their already expensive property!

Answer

In many regions, the property tax or land tax goes up whenever the buildings are enlarged or improved.  Some owners enlarge their buildings discreetly, so as not draw the attention of the tax authority.