2020 Washington Metro DC Chapter Contractor of the Year (CotY) Award from the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) for Best Residential Addition
This professional couple had an original 1940s colonial with a small galley kitchen. With an expanding family and lots of friends; they wanted a larger place to host their frequent gatherings. A two-story addition on the rear of the home was a big part of the solution.
Client’s Needs Met:
On the main level, the addition had to:
• include a new kitchen
• provide easy access to a new patio
• be comfortable while still feeling elegant
On the upper level, the addition needed to accommodate:
• an owner’s suite
• laundry area
The existing space:
• needed to be refreshed so that the entire home looked renewed
• add powder room to main level
• convert screened porch to sunroom
The before home was a typical 1940s Colonial with a quaint floorplan including a small galley kitchen.
The after home includes an addition with a large kitchen, sitting area and eating area. The addition provides gracious access to a new patio. The former small galley kitchen is now a Butler’s Pantry. The addition also allowed for the addition of a new Powder Room on the main level.
The before 2nd level floorplan included an owner’s bedroom with small en suite and two smaller bedrooms sharing a hall bathroom.
The after 2nd level floorplan illustrates the addition of a large owner’s suite, bathroom and large closets. There is also a new laundry closet adjacent to the new suite. Closets in the spare rooms have been altered to provide more storage.
Before Rear Elevation
After construction, new addition transitions to new patio for entertaining, meeting a client needs.
SUPERIOR CRAFTSMANSHIP: The addition features a new kitchen with a sitting area, dining area and plenty of space for guests. The space is comfortable yet elegant, meeting a client need. The space looks great, but also has loads of added functionality.
The homeowner wanted family to help with big meals and also didn’t want to be stuck in the kitchen alone, like she previously was in the small galley kitchen. The circulation and gracious space in the kitchen allows for lots of helping hands.
The homeowners wanted the addition to blend seamlessly with the outside patio. Large windows and French doors make outside and inside look like one great space. Recessed lights, pendant lights, and a beautiful cage chandelier provide general and task lighting for ultimate functionality.
FUNCTIONAL AND BEAUTIFUL: A beverage area complete with sink, space for the coffee maker, glass/mug storage and ice maker… keep guests from under foot as the host focuses on meal prep in the main work triangle. Basket weave backsplash tile in soft grays looks great against the denim cabinets.
FUNCTIONALITY: The main kitchen sink has many unique and high function features: Deep sink the client wanted, countertop cut away at sink to allow for the client to get closer to the sink… helped alleviate back pain.
Removable butcher block allows client to use the block for food prep but remove it to reveal a drying area during clean up.
THE DETAILS MAKE A DIFFERENCE: You can never have too much storage. This kitchen has no wasted space. Cabinets tucked under the island skirt store infrequently used items like vases.
SUPERIOR CRAFTSMANSHIP: Pull out drawers behind faux island legs accommodate spices and oils near the stove.
Our clients love to go to the farmer’s market often to stock up on fresh products. So, having an extra-large 36-inch “all refrigerator” was important.
Use of frozen products is minimal. Two freezer drawers meet the need.
The kitchen’s sitting room and eating area are perfect for the two homeowners and can expand with company.
Taking advantage of the deep area behind the refrigerator allowed for roll outs for larger kitchen items.
The waist-level beverage refrigerator is “kid proof” and easy on older backs.
TRANSFORMING EXISTING SPACE: The before galley kitchen shown above is now a Butler’s Pantry and Food Storage Area.
Custom drawers with locks keep heirlooms safe yet accessible for quick set up when entertaining. The design was intended to make this a little “jewel box” in the center of the home. Demin colored custom cabinets with gold pulls are fun yet elegant.
BEAUTY AND FUNCTION: Lights on dimmer can make the space a focal point or “disappear” at night.
TRANSFORMING EXISTING SPACE: The before dining room had a single door to the former galley kitchen, making the room very tight to navigate when entertaining.
The “new” dining room is larger, taking a little space from the former kitchen, and has two access points to the new Butler’s Pantry, improving circulation tremendously.
The dining room not only improves the circulation and aesthetics of the space; but transitions well to the Butler’s Pantry and new kitchen beyond.
The before main level did not have a powder room. Guests had to go upstairs. The before space shown above was an alcove adjacent to the small galley kitchen to supplement kitchen space.
The space was able to be repurposed creating space for a main level powder room.
Before Living Room
BEAUTY AND FUNCTION – IMPROVED CIRCULATION AND LIGHTING OF EXISTING SPACE: A large cased opening connects the existing living room to the new addition. The openness of the new addition brings great light into the previous dark space.
The before screened porch was enclosed to create a conditioned space.
RENEWED EXISTING SPACE: Former Screened Porch. It did not increase the footprint of the home, it did increase the space’s usability. While the paint colors inside the home are neutral. Bolder colors add a pop in remote rooms.
NEW ADDITION – UPPER LEVEL: Upstairs, a transition space connects the existing home with the new owner’s suite addition.
This space is the perfect spot for the new laundry closet. Previously the laundry was two flights down in the basement. This full-sized stacked laundry equipment makes the task more easily accomplished for this empty nester couple.
The owner’s suite brings in lots of light… a client request. Antique furniture had recently been inherited. Window height at the desk area was specifically designed to match the desk height. The homeowner loves bright colors, so we coached her to celebrate them in private rooms and ancillary spaces while retaining calmer colors in more “public” spaces.
SUPERIOR CRAFTSMANSHIP: Our carpenters built this custom mantel around new gas fireplace giving the space a polished look. French doors allow more light into the room.
The owner’s bathroom invokes the client’s favorite color; bright teal.
Cambria polished Fieldstone dark countertops contrast well with Waterfall colored custom cabinets.
Drawers with electrical outlets in the back help to maximize the counter space and increase functionality.
The master shower features 4 X 12 Carrera wall tiles are offset with glass accent turquoise tiles in a herringbone pattern to match the teal walls. Basket weave pattern tile on the floor blends perfectly with the wall tile.
The former upper level hall bathroom had original 1940s features.
RENEWED EXISTING SPACE – UPPER HALL BATHROOM: The renewed hall bathroom kept the beautiful black and white flooring, but removed the wall tile.
We updated the fixtures and added this fun black and white wall tile in the shower. The former window was closed due to the addition but replaced with storage shelves.
RENEWED EXISTING SPACE – FORMER OWNER’S BATHROOM: The former en suite owner’s bathroom was small.
Now that it would be a guest room bathroom, the homeowners wanted to improve the space as much as possible in the existing footprint. Moving the radiator allowed for more leg space at the toilet. Removing the shower wall and replacing it with a glass shower door helped the space feel more open.
OBSTACLES OVERCOME / INNOVATIVE METHODS:
Renovations are never boring. That’s why we love this industry. While no obstacles we overcame were not outside the scope of a day’s work in this industry, here are three memorable ones.
To ensure the new floor and underlayment would align properly; masonry was removed to confirm proper floor heights. Also had to modify the floor structure to work around the electric meter until it was relocated after the new exterior walls we built.
With only 8 feet of clearance on the sides of the project and a steep slope to the grade, getting equipment and supplies around the house was at times a challenge.
During design, we developed a solution to run new ductwork in a solid masonry home without sacrificing space in the new floor plan – we created a solution by splitting the new upper level floor beam and added an upper flush beam to head off the floor trusses.
THE FINAL RESULT: Our clients love their renewed home. The design has met all their needs, improved the aesthetic of the home and adding tons more functionality. The client sent us family photos of Christmas morning with a caption saying how happy they were to gather easily with their extended family in the new space. And the greatest compliment was the client saying, “We wouldn’t change a thing about the design, craftsmanship or our experience.”
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.
