2025 PRO Grand Award Winner – Interior Renovations Under $250,000
As Seen in Home & Design Magazine’s January and Arlington Magazine’s March 2024 Issues
When our client inherited his parents’ 1967 Colonial home in a great neighborhood, he and his wife wanted to respect the history of the home but needed a more modernized space that better met their lifestyle needs. The existing home had a traditional floorplan with den, living room, dining room and kitchen. Because they entertain a lot, it was VERY IMPORTANT that the kitchen to be the heart of the home and open to all the adjacent living areas. We gave most of the main level a complete refresh, breathing new life into this childhood home.
This 1967 Colonial had a very traditional floorplan:
Den • Formal Living Room • Formal Dining Room • Eat-In Kitchen • A large 1980s sunroom addition on the rear of the house (not shown in this drawing because was not in scope of work)
BEFORE
Client Needs:
- The entire main level needs to be modernized and made more functional
- The kitchen needs to be the large heart of the home; client does a lot of entertaining
- Improve the flow and circulation of the in and around the kitchen and living spaces; spaces were cut off from one another
- Kitchen needs to be highly functional as clients makes all meals from scratch and are avid bakers
AFTER
After:
- Den – remains intact but doorways to kitchen and foyer were made larger to improve circulation and the room given a facelift
- Formal Living Room (never used) – repurposed to become dining room; doorways widened for better circulation
- Formal Dining Room – combined with original kitchen footprint to create larger, more functional kitchen
- Eat-In Kitchen and laundry area – absorbed into new kitchen
Red lines denote doorways made wider for better circulation
FRONT FOYER BEFORE: The Main Level needed to be modernized.
FRONT FOYER AFTER: Looking to the right inside the front door, the renovated front foyer was updated with: new recessed and ceiling lights • new hardwood flooring • new stair rails and posts • a wider cased opening to the new dining room for better circulation.
FRONT FOYER BEFORE
FRONT FOYER AFTER: Looking to the left from the front foyer, the doorway to the den was widened to mimic the wider opening to the dining room. This change allow for better circulation and a more open/modern feeling to the entry way. New foyer hardwoods and refinished flooring in den were stained a beautiful silver-gray stain for continuity.
ENTRY HALLWAY BEFORE
ENTRY HALLWAY AFTER: The renovated entry hallway features new recessed light kits, new hardwood floors and a wider cased openings into the new dining room and kitchen for improved circulation and visual openness.
POWDER ROOM BEFORE
BEFORE
POWDER ROOM AFTER
AFTER: The powder room off the entry hallway remained in the same footprint but was updated with new: hardwood flooring • new crown mouldings • a beautiful light teal Benjamin Moore paint (Cloudy Sky) • new dark blue vanity with gold fixtures, mirror and lighting to complete the look.
BEFORE, IT WAS THE LIVING ROOM: The before living room was not used. However, the son and his wife do entertain formally and wanted to be able to repurpose his parents’ dining room table and chandelier.
AFTER, IT IS THE NEW DINING ROOM: The former living room was repurposed to the new formal dining room. New wider cased openings provide better circulation to the foyer and new kitchen.
BEFORE KITCHEN: The former kitchen was a typical 1967 kitchen. The lack of natural light made the cooking area dark. Small doorways and different flooring in every space also made the space feel disjointed.
BEFORE: Before dining room was used for entertaining but it was closed off from the other spaces making circulation challenging and the space unappealing.
AFTER: By combining the dining room space with the kitchen space, we were able to create significantly better circulation for entertaining and more spacious access to the sunroom addition. A new window in the cooking area brings in more natural light.
BEFORE: Former Kitchen was small and dated. There were four small entry doors in and out of this space, making the room feel closed off and not integrated with the rest of the living space.
AFTER: Kitchen is updated, spacious and full of functionality for entertaining. The walls between the former kitchen and former dining room have been removed to create a larger kitchen. The use of a continuous hardwood flooring, more lighting and a lighter color palate makes the space brighter and more inviting.
AFTER KITCHEN: New Entertainment Center (looking toward the previously added 1980’s sunroom addition) – Utilizing the former dining room space in the new kitchen footprint allow for this Entertainment Zone housing ample storage space and a beverage center. The large countertop is the perfect serving area for entertaining.
AFTER KITCHEN: Looking Into the Dining Room – We made the opening to the former living room (now dining room) wider to increase circulation. The new kitchen storage and beverage area is a great bridge between the kitchen food prep area, the new dining room and the sunroom addition… tying all the entertainment space together seamlessly… meeting a client need. Like the consistent use of the hardwood flooring, we used the same Benjamin Moore’s Edgecomb Gray wall paint color throughout the space for a cohesive look.
AFTER KITCHEN: Designed to be the “heart of the home”… a client objective – Casual seating space at the island allows guests to visit with the cook during food prep. The seating area’s proximity to the dining room and eat-in kitchen space offers additional seating for both informal and formal events.
EATING AREA BEFORE: The former eat-in kitchen was small and cramped, hardly able to accommodate a table and chairs. The former exterior door also made the space look dated.
EATING AREA AFTER: By creating a custom banquette (built by our craftsman on site), the eat-in area is more spacious and sized appropriately for the room. A dog bowl niche keeps doggy’s food and water accessible while preventing a tripping hazard with the bowls in a walk-way. We also changed the exterior door to this space to a more attractive door while allowing lots of light into the room.
BEFORE: The former laundry area was in the kitchen footprint and made the space feel even smaller and disjointed. So, we moved the laundry equipment upstairs to an existing closet space outside the bedrooms. This photo also shows the small doorways to the den and entry hall; impeding circulation.
AFTER: By moving the laundry equipment upstairs, we were able to reclaim that space for the refrigerator, double ovens and additional storage. Note: we made the doorway to the den and new dining room wider to improve circulation. In addition, we removed the two small swinging doors from the hallway entry (left of fridge)… making a significant impact.
BEFORE DEN: Our client wanted to preserve the look of the original wood-paneled room including the wood ceiling beams.
AFTER DEN: To refresh the room, we updated the lighting to brighten the space. We also painted the brick fireplace surround and refinished the floors. The wider cased openings to the kitchen and front foyer make the room’s style feel more current and improved circulation.
Since our clients wanted the kitchen to be the heart of the home and highly functional, we will highlight the kitchen details important to our client…
KITCHEN DETAILS: Increased functionality and aesthetics through better lighting
Lighting:
- Task, accent (all on dimmers) and undercounter lighting… allow for customized levels of lighting depending on the desired setting.
- In addition to the recessed lights, bright task lighting on the vent hood offers precise illumination to the cooking surface.
- Fiess’ Thayer pendant lighting in antique gold adds accent light and traditional warmth to the design. The no glass design reduces the need for constant cleaning.
- A new kitchen window installed above the sink allows for more natural light in the space.
KITCHEN DETAILS: Improved modernization, style and space
- Quartz countertops in Calcatta Monaco are practical (heat and stain resistant) and beautiful. The round edges are a nod the traditional aspects of the home.
- Oskar 1-1/4 Inch Mushroom Cabinet Knobs in Warm Brass continue the pattern of warm gold accents.
- This photo also provides a good view of how removing the doors from the hallway and creating a cased opening made a significant impact to circulation.
KITCHEN DETAILS: Improved functionality for our chef/baker clients
A mix of GE Monogram and Café appliances in Stainless Steel provide the right level of food prep and storage acumen to the kitchen:
- Monogram 36″ Statement Collection Gas Range with six burners and WiFi Dynamic Oven
- Monogram, 30″ Built-In Single Oven Statement Series, True European Convection with LCD Touchscreen and Precision Cooking Modes
- GE Monogram 30″ Built-In Advantium Speedcook Oven
- GE Cafe Refrigerator, Full Depth, 36″ 4-Doors
- Zephyr Pro Collection Titan Island Mount Range Hood with 6-Speed 750 CFM Internal PowerWave™ Blower
BEFORE: “beverage” fridge was in the garage.
AFTER: Ability to entertain made easier with the new Entertainment Zone area – Two beverage 24” built-in refrigerators not only encourage guests to stay out of the kitchen prep area, but their presence had freed up space in the garage where a second overflow refrigerator resided for beverages.
KITCHEN DETAILS: Improved functionality for entertaining beautifully
- In the Kitchen Entertainment Zone (storage and beverage area); we used the same five panel flat cabinet doors as the prep area but painted them in an interesting dark gray to create an interesting contrast.
- Crown moulding and arched toekick on the anchoring cabinets gives this cabinetry a custom furniture-like quality.
- Mother Of Pearl Oyster White Herringbone Tile, backsplash is effervescent and reflects the undercounter lighting for a dramatic effect… especially in the evening.
KITCHEN DETAILS: Loads of new storage increase utility. No wasted space.
Storage cabinets on the back side of the island
Storage cabinets around all the appliances
Storage drawers in the custom banquette
Entertainment Zone is filled with storage space
HEART OF THE HOME: From every angle, this renovated kitchen has improved the functionality, aesthetics, livability, circulation, and usability of the home.
During photos demonstrate thoughtful, detailed design and quality construction.
Bearing wall with ductwork to be removed between original DR and kitchen
Bearing wall removed, floor system with temporary shoring for future flush bean install
New flush beam installed to allow a larger kitchen ceiling/footprint
Plumbing from laundry equipment and mechanical systems relocated
New ductwork under new job-built banquette will exit through toe kick
Framing for new rear window over kitchen sink
Plumbing and ductwork modified/relocated for new window placement
Waiting for window delivery, but work continues to achieve on-time project completion
Preparing to create larger opening from kitchen to den
New header installed to support wider opening
Our clients are very happy with their rejuvenated home
Client Needs Met:
- The main level has been modernized and made more functional
- The larger kitchen has become the heart of the home and the perfect space for entertaining
- The flow and circulation around the kitchen and living spaces has been improved
- The new kitchen is highly functional for clients that make all meals from scratch and are avid bakers
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 Primary Bathroom Renovations, Northern Virginia Interior Renovations, Northern Virginia Basement Renovations, Renovations for Aging-in-Place and Northern Virginia Outdoor Living Spaces.
