14 years ago, our clients bought a cozy house they loved – a townhouse with coveted lake access in Reston. Three children and some scattered updates later, they were finally ready to give this home in their dream-location a new “dream interior” to match. We partnered with the couple to refresh the Main Level, including opening up the Kitchen, updating the Powder Room, and replacing flooring throughout.

In the Kitchen, which had received a previous facelift in the form of painted cabinetry and solid-surface countertops, we helped envision the space with a whole new layout: Since there was another casual dining space nearby, we expanded the Kitchen into a breakfast area at the front of the house which had become a storage area, and in the process eliminated a peninsula that was hindering traffic flow, as well as a wall with a small pass-through window that broke up the view between the Kitchen and dining space. We also maintained but pushed back a built-in pantry that originally jutted into the middle of the Kitchen.

The result is a large open Kitchen with tons of added storage cabinetry, and most importantly, room to breathe, move around, and work in the space as a family! By using a new header to span the space between the dining area and the Kitchen, we were able to replace the small pass-through window and doorway with a wide-open view to the table and back yard, and a new peninsula with cabinetry that adds functionality and a flat, open countertop that allows for seating and mingling on the dining side. In a corner of the Kitchen where the family piano was relocated to the basement, they added a fun, rustic countertop that doubles as a workspace for adults or a homework landing for the young kids.

To complete the Main Level transformation, our team also refreshed some nearby spaces. The Powder Room received an elegant new navy vanity, gold fixtures, and a delightfully unique patterned floor tile. A packed coat closet with inconvenient by-pass doors was transformed with a new organizational structure of cubbies, backpack hooks, and shoe shelves. Finally, the flooring throughout the Main Level was updated to a warm hardwood that added natural texture. Our team worked with the homeowners to keep budget in mind by coordinating the new selection with some existing hardwood that was left as-is, and also to find low-VOC, healthy materials which were so important to their family.

In the end, our clients were so grateful for a thoughtful renovation process, gushing: “Your quality responsiveness and exceptional customer service is unmatched by any previous experience we have had and we appreciated experiencing a renovation that stayed on budget and timeline. We never could have expected how truly enjoyable the process was and are grateful for this very special team.”

Photo credit: Ashley Sullivan Marks | @exposurely | exposurely.com