As Seen in Arlington Magazine January 2023 Issue
The homeowners felt their home’s main living level was not conducive to the open floor plan they desired. With two young adults in the family, the homeowners were looking for the main living area to create more opportunities for conversation when the family is together but to also to work well for them as they become empty nesters in the future. The BEFORE floor plan had many separate rooms and the AFTER is more open and fluid. The homeowner’s objectives for the final product were for the space to be highly functional with intentional uses for each space, have clean lines, and facilitate organization and comfort.
Objectives:
- Main level open floor plan
- Highly functional
- Conducive to conversation
- Clean lines
- Facilitate organization
- Comfortable
BEFORE: FIRST FLOOR – The floor plan squeezed a powder room and closet into the entry hall, creating a closed-off, unwelcoming feeling and a barrier to the open floor plan that the clients desired.
AFTER: FIRST FLOOR – Relocating the closet and powder room was a key factor in creating more fluid, open spaces. Removing doors and widening cased openings were subtle changes, but key aspects to opening the space.
Before: The entry hall was dark, narrow and closed-off due to the placement of the closet and powder room in the center of the home.
After: Creatively relocating the closet and powder room allowed for a more open view through the home and connected all the living spaces on the main level meeting the clients’ desired objective.
After: Applied “out of the box creativity” to solve this design challenge. A larger view of the new entry way/foyer. The new closet location is to the right in this photo. Relocating the closet opens circulation. The cohesive use of color; soft whites, grays and tans create a calming feeling and add to the connected feeling of the new open floor plan.
Before: A view toward the former front door. The family room opening/wall to the left is shoved up to the front door frame. The narrow opening to the living room to the right creates a tunnel affect in the entry way.
After: The family room wall and opening to the left was shifted to allow a more spacious dedicated entry way and provide room for hanging the homeowner’s artwork (a secondary project objective). The cased opening to the right was completely removed. This subtle change was highly creative and creates a better proportion for the entry space and a more aesthetically pleasing feel to the floor plan.
Before: The entry closet and kitchen cabinetry created a “bottle neck” in the walk-way to the kitchen.
After: The entry closet is still located close to the front door, but its placement allows for a more open floor plan and easier circulation. Custom trim elements, at the floor and ceiling, further tie the space together.
After: Without the obstruction of the former powder room and closet location, the new beautiful kitchen is a focal point from the front door; with views through the windows to the beautiful, wooded rear yard. Given this focal point, special care was given to showcasing high-quality woodwork… especially at the range hood.
After: The view from the kitchen back to the front door/entry way. The use of continuous, uniform flooring also accentuates a feeling of openness and connectedness.
Before: The Dining Room was a separate space closed off from the adjacent kitchen.
After: The wall separating the Dining Room from the kitchen has been completely removed and replaced with a functional, glass front cabinet/storage unit and a casual bar top eating area.
Before: Dining Room decorative wall panels and light fixtures (chandelier and sconces) were dated.
After: The Dining Room is completely updated. The chandelier and scones have been replaced with recessed lighting to create a more unobstructed view and to provide greater flexibility for future furniture placement. The old wall paneling has been removed and the opening to the family room made wider to facilitate the spaces being more connected.
Before: The use of multiple flooring materials to delineate spaces only served to create more visual separation of space and circulation. In addition, change in floor heights was a tripping hazard.
After: The use of the new red oak flooring throughout makes an impactful difference. New flooring is a durable 5” wide, red oak, engineered flooring with a semi-gloss, Smoke, finish.
Before: The Family Room was dated, dark and the furnishings too large for the space making it feel crowded. Note: We advise on furniture style, size, colors and textures so that the client orders appropriate furnishings post construction.
After: The Family Room colors have been updated and furnishings more appropriately sized for the space… yet it is still functional and comfortable for daily living.
After: The view from the family room into the renewed dining room. The opening is larger and aligns with the symmetry of the dining room windows. All the colors have been changed, including the furnishings, to contribute to an inviting, open feel.
Before: Recall, the far-left wall of this room was jammed up to the front door casing.
After: Shifting the wall and opening to the right had many benefits. In addition to opening the space to the foyer, it allowed for a well-proportioned room. All these modifications made the space more appealing and functional.
Before… Living Room: Walls were shortened or removed.
Before: Openings were made wider… improving circulation.
After… Sitting and Reading Room. The Formal Living Room is now a comfortable “get away” room for reading and conversation.
After: A floating partition behind the sofa opened lines of sight to the rest of the home.
After: The sitting room fireplace has been converted to convenient gas logs. Custom job-built wood trim on the fireplace surround is highlighted by two Libby Langdon Scones in polished nickel.
Before: The kitchen was long, narrow, and dark. And while the garage entrance was convenient, you had to walk through the laundry room (behind the white door).
After: Not only is the kitchen lighter and more open, but there is also a new hallway to the garage that allows for a discreet laundry area to the left
and the relocated powder room to the right.
Before: A closer look at this before and after space.
After: Wall panels to match the kitchen cabinetry create a seamless, crisp look.
Before: You had to walk through the unpleasing laundry room with expose laundry equipment to get to the garage.
After: The new laundry room is tucked away its own separate closet with space saving, full sized, stackable washer/dryer unit and plenty of storage and folding space. You no longer must walk through the laundry room to get to the garage!
Before: Powder room was in the middle of the first-floor plan, creating an obstructed circulation.
After: A pocket door helps save hall space.
After: New powder room relocated to the new hallway to the garage… is beautiful, and out of the way… creating greater privacy.
Before: The kitchen was narrow, dark, and dated…
…and closed off to the rest of the living area.
After: Walls have been removed, powder room and hall closet relocated to create the open concept the client desired.
After: Details Matter! We’re Cooking… Easy to clean Miele conduction range in the island • Miele Wall Steam Oven and Vacuum Sealer Drawer… convenient to counter space when taking hot trays out of the oven • Overhead exhaust: 36″ Extra Slim Hood Insert with 625 CFM, Easy Clean and Stainless-Steel Grease Filters with noise reducing collar… wrapped in beautiful custom, job-built wood housing to match the cabinets.
A detailed inventory of the client’s kitchen storage needs was developed, and the kitchen plan reflects all the necessary storage required by the client.
Drawers, pull outs and cabinets with roll out inserts.
Crystal Cabinets French Villa Square with Glass mimics a “China Cabinet”
Kohler’s Whitehaven 29-1/2″ Undermount Single Basin White Cast Iron
Polished Silestone with 3/4 beveled edge in Ocean Jasper compliments the palette
3 X 12 Glazed Ceramic Tile in Pure White with strategically placed accent corbels
Annata 3-Light 12″ Wide Cage Mini Pendants by Miseno provide beautiful general and accent lighting over the bar top. Under counter lighting illuminates prep surfaces. Corbels installed under the top at the eating area mimic the ones under the upper cabinets.
36″ wide 84” high, Sub Zero Built-In, Combination Refrigerator with Two Freezer Drawers provides plenty of cold storage. Custom panels help this large appliance blend in perfectly.
After: Every possible inch of the island is additional storage.
The clients are extremely happy with the renovation. Their testimonial: “Everything about this process, including the finished product, has been a pure joy.”
Objectives Met:
Main level open floor plan • Highly functional • Conducive to conversation • Clean lines • Facilitates organization • Comfortable
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.
