2022 PRO Remodeler of the Year Grand Award Winner
Our clients loved the location of their home, but the kitchen was perpetually dark; and dated. They wanted a renewed kitchen that was more open and light-filled and a proper main level mudroom/laundry room. Sadly, this client had hired and fired another remodeler… after partial demolition and cabinets ordered. We assessed the cabinets for both the kitchen and the mudroom/laundry room and unfortunately found they were all the wrong sizes. Luckily, we were able to work with the cabinet supplier to return them and partially refund the client. This gave us the opportunity to start from scratch and redesign the space, making it better. The finished product meets all their needs, and they love their renewed home!
Their specific objectives were to:
Kitchen
- Open the kitchen to the existing family room making it more spacious and light-filled
- Completely refurbish the kitchen
- Create more “smart” storage
- Have an island with seating for four
Mudroom/Laundry
- Have a generous space for storage, laundry equipment and a dog washing station
Powder Room
- Refresh the powder associated with the living areas
BEFORE: While we felt badly for the client’s experience with the remodeler they fired, having to order new cabinetry allowed us to redesign the kitchen and incorporate a new hallway between the kitchen, mudroom and dining to allow the client to close off the mudroom when entertaining and still allow direct access from the kitchen to the dining room.
AFTER: This was a critical addition to the design which eliminated the multiple doorways in the previous remodeler’s proposed design which would have required walking through the mudroom to get to the dining room. Adding the hallway allowed us to have just one doorway from the kitchen gaining back cabinetry space. The new hallway also closes off the direct sight line from the dining room to the kitchen without having to add a door.
The before kitchen was closed off, dark and outdated.
After the kitchen is more open and light-filled. We removed the wall between the kitchen and family room to open the space to take advantage of the rear wall full of windows.
Before the small opening over the sink was an attempt to connect the kitchen to the family room.
Taking down the wall creates the open kitchen/family room concept the family wanted. The “after” kitchen has so much more light: natural light from the rear wall of windows; recessed general lighting; accent lighting by Chapman and Myers – Darlana Small Lantern.
After, the kitchen has a crisp, clean feel. All walls are painted with Benjamin Moore Classic Gray for continuity in connecting the spaces. Weathered Oak floors in a light wash stain are contiguous throughout the kitchen and adjoining spaces as well. Crystal cabinets (Keyline/Danbury line) with shaker style provides clean lines. Island in Stonebridge gray… darker than the walls but in the same color palette. Perimeter cabinets in Designer White to really brighten the space. Tops are Calacata Covelano granite for longevity and ease of maintenance. See the new hallway to the mudroom/laundry area beyond the kitchen.
CREATIVE SOLUTION TO OPENING THE SPACE: REMOVING THE LOAD BEARING WALL. Removing the load bearing wall meant installing an engineered steel beam to support the upper level of the home. The new steel beam and associated support columns need to sit on solid fill masonry.
We had to create a new concrete footer in the basement and rebuild the block wall on top.
The new support column sits on the new block wall.
Before, the view to the kitchen from the family room. The pass through looked like a drive-up window.
After, the family room, new living room and kitchen become one useful space. When opening up the wall between these rooms, we noticed there was a small level change at the threshold, that would have been a tripping hazard. When we increased the opening, we replaced the flooring and very gradually sloped the floor from the kitchen to the rear wall to make the level change undetectable.
DURING CONSTRUCTION: Here’s how we innovatively corrected the floor leveling issue.
Gradually floating out the subfloor with shims allowed for a more uniform new hardwood flooring… no tripping hazard.
Meeting a homeowner need, there is seating for four at the island with an adjacent informal dining area nearby. The 48-inch Subzero refrigerator/freezer anchors the room. We designed the kitchen around he appliances the client had previously selected.
After, the view from the NEW LIVING ROOM demonstrates how the kitchen is the hub of the living area but connects the two seating spaces so well, creating great circulation. Continuity in wall color makes the space seamless but bright white trim and ceiling treatments help to delineate the functional spaces.
Another view of the former kitchen from the family room demonstrates just how closed off the kitchen was to the rest of the home.
After, all the kitchen finishes are intended to complement the surrounding spaces while adding beauty and functionality to the kitchen. The Mystique Decorative Marble back-splash in white with gray accents synthesizes all the colors in the kitchen and creates a gentle focal point. HVAC supply toe kicks replaced floor registers in front of kitchen cabinets.
Wolf cooktop and Miele convection and steam oven duo give the client lots of baking and cooking options.
The large island is accented with a turned leg feature that emulates the turned legs at the range.
The turned legs framing the range area are cleverly hidden spice racks.
Before, lack of proper storage meant dishes were stored with food goods.
After, everything has its place. Even the client’s extensive spice collection is organized.
The client wanted counter space for their small appliances that could be closed off to minimize clutter.
We created a counter tower cabinet with pocket doors to allow the client easy access to these appliances. Cup hooks make coffee prep more convenient.
The 33-inch Kohler Prolific stainless steel under mount sink has a practical cutting board feature. Elkay pull-out kitchen faucet extends the functionality of the sink. InSinkErator’s Instant Hot faucet facilitates quick hot drinks for this busy family.
Crystal cabinets’ knife drawer insert feature doubles the volume and organization of this drawer.
A Sharp microwave drawer is strategically placed to be easily accessed while cooking but also accessible to the family so they can pop some popcorn and never miss a movie scene.
Onto the new mudroom/laundry room… the BEFORE space was the dining room. This photo shows the demolition done by the former remodeler and the cabinets they ordered are stacked in the former living room… which will become their new dining room.
AFTER shows how we closed in the opening to the former living room and created a transition hallway to help with circulation between the kitchen, mudroom and new dining room. Closing in the opening allowed us to create space for more storage, an overflow refrigerator and more. Legacy gray 12 X 24 ceramic tiles, installed in 1/3 brick pattern, provide functional flooring for this high performance/high use area.
The BEFORE dining room had a double hung window.
We suggested replacing the window with a passage door to create egress to the detached garage from the new mudroom.
Before: Side of home facing detached garage. Notice lower window.
After: Lower window was removed to create doorway leading to new porch and walkway to existing detached garage.
AFTER the new exterior door has a convenient doggy door next to a seating area with storage.
A new storage closet holds all the dog and cleaning supplies.
This wall of the mudroom/laundry room is feature rich: Oversized Electrolux washer/dryer; 30 x 20 Apron front sink; Large area for hanging wet clothes to dry over stone top; Bins for clean clothes on shelving; Plenty of storage cabinets; A custom dog washing area.
With three dogs on a large wooded lot, there were plenty of opportunities to wash a dog! One of the homeowner’s dogs is demonstrating the functional use of the dog washing area. 12 X 12 Porcelain tiles with a Carrara marble pattern look great but are easy to clean. 36 X 36 shower pan is covered with a custom teak wood slatted floor. A hand-held shower sprayer makes dog washing easier. Swinging shower door is designed to keep water in while allowing the human to lean over comfortably to wash the dog. The ceramic flooring is waterproof and mops up easily.
Semi-custom Shaker front floor to ceiling cabinetry makes the room so much more functional. You can ever have too much storage space.
The last client need was to refresh the powder room making it look more current and in keeping with the rest of the rejuvenated space.
Removing the wallpaper and painting the walls Amsterdam Blue made an immediate impact. The wall to wall shelf adds functionality. Changing the dated gold fixtures to Delta’ polished chrome complement the new vanity lights and mirror. It is amazing what a few simple changes can achieve.
We met all the clients needs and garnered this praise from the client: “We are enjoying our amazing newly renovated home, one we still marvel at every day, thanks to you. As you may recall, we came to you carrying a lot of bad contractor experience baggage. Your team turned all that around and delivered in remarkable form during a difficult pandemic time. We have also appreciated the attentive and timely “after project” customer support that you continue to provide. Your team has been a shining star in an otherwise challenging year.”
Award Winning Remodelers in Northern Virginia – Bowers Design Build has specialized in providing the best overall experience in the remodeling industry since 1990. Bowers Design Build specializes in Northern Virginia Remodeling and Northern Virginia Custom Homes. Our numerous industry remodeling awards have been great, but the true measure of our success has been high marks in overall customer satisfaction
Service areas: McLean, Arlington, Falls Church, Vienna, Oakton, Great Falls, Alexandria, Fairfax County and Middleburg.
Specializing in: Northern Virginia New Custom Homes, Northern Virginia Whole House Renovations, Northern Virginia Kitchen Renovations, Northern Virginia Master Bathroom Renovations, Northern Virginia Interior Renovations, Northern Virginia Basement Renovations, Renovations for Aging-in-Place and Northern Virginia Outdoor Living Spaces.
