Kitchen, Family Room & Foyer Remodel in Washington, DC: Pt 2
In part one of this two-part blog series, we discussed the background of the home remodel and the homeowners’ goals. Now we will summarize the design of the new kitchen, family room and front entry in the Northwest Washington, DC neighborhood of American University Park.
Project Design Details
Kitchen
While the available kitchen space was generous, measuring 11 x 19 feet, it was previously designed as an L shaped kitchen with a table space at one end and an undersized island. The owners did not need two spaces with tables since they had a dining room for meals and preferred a kitchen island with four bar stools. At the south wall, we installed the new range and hood, flanked by two windows. At the east wall, overlooking the rear yard, the old windows were removed and replaced with shorter windows allowing for base cabinets and counters. The new kitchen sink is located in front of these openings to take advantage of the view of the yard.
The new kitchen design is an elongated “U” with a 9-foot long island with a prep sink and seating for four. Every bit of space was utilized, including hard-to-reach corners where pullout shelves hold dishware neatly in a tight corners. Countertop appliances are also stored unobtrusively within space-saving appliance garages.
The homeowners desired a timeless and transitional aesthetic, both low-key and understated, and the design team selected white cabinets with flat recessed panels and crown molding.
The other design features help create the look and feel the homeowners wanted:
- Virginia Mist leathered granite countertops
- 3 x 6-inch subway backsplash tiles with beveled face for texture and depth
- Stainless steel appliances, which are high end but not ostentatious
White porcelain sinks were a special request, while oak floors integrate with the family room and help to visually expand the space.
Family Room
Raising the sunken floor and removing the wraparound step easily added 12 square feet of usable floor area to the family room. Taking away the old railing that obstructed circulation from the kitchen enhanced the space further and allowed for a more practical furniture layout.
We replaced the old fireplace with a new gas model to meet the homeowners’ safety requirements. A new painted wood mantle was custom designed and built for the fireplace. Our team bumped out the fireplace volume from the existing plane of the wall to accentuate the room’s height to create the ideal centerpiece. Custom bookcases with closed storage below and open shelving above flank the fireplace, and the new oak floor makes the family room and kitchen spaces feel contiguous.
Foyer/Mudroom
The homeowners were fortunate that the living spaces at the front of the house were slightly oversized and could accommodate a reconfiguration plan that accommodated a foyer/mudroom. The design team and homeowners settled on a new foyer space (measuring approximately 10 x 7 feet) that was fully fitted-out with a large L shaped built-ins with:
- Bench seating
- Drawers
- Shelving
- Hooks
Painted bead-board provides an attractive backing to the cubbies. The small cubbies above allow for the flexibility to store anything from gloves to hats to boxes. We chose a slate tile floor for two reasons: its ease of cleanup and the wife’s fond memory of her grandparents’ mudroom floor. A cased opening at the foyer wall provides natural light and views into the adjacent dining room. To complete the enhanced entry, we installed a new custom door, appropriate in style for a Bungalow.
View the full gallery of the Washington, DC kitchen, family room, and front hall remodel »
