Bethesda Whole House Remodel/Addition

The homeowners purchased this house for its idea location in a quiet residential neighborhood just outside Washington, DC. However, the outdated split-level home did not reflect the clients’ contemporary styles or fit their living needs. They wanted to modernize the appearance, reconfigure the floor plan, and construct an addition to increase the amount of living space for their large family. The mechanical, plumbing, and electrical systems required extensive work to comply with current building codes and increase energy efficiency.

The new design enhances the existing structure by extending the roof to enclose the addition and repeating existing roof angles at the new front entry and areaway. Exterior textures remain consistent, but new paint updated the brick walls and hardi-plank siding replaces the use of vinyl siding. Efficient space planning allows the addition of the Master Suite, without substantially increasing the vertical scale of the home.

The clients’ desire master suite was achieved with an addition that replaced the attic space over the kitchen and dining room. The deign created a space for the homeowners that feels like a retreat to a luxury boutique hotel in the city. The new space takes full advantage of both the previously unused attic space and the ample natural light that bathes the front of the existing house. A contemporary roof line is the perfect solution that fits the clients’ design style and allows for a bright and spacious room that feels much larger than the footprint. The new master bath is the product of the client’s love of contemporary design and European travels. The style is both sleek and modern with a splash of sophistication. Once again, full advantage was taken of the natural light that drenches the bathroom. This allows the masculine tiles and vanity to reflect light thorough the space and create a warm inviting feeling. A steam shower was also essential for the clients, and the vaulted ceiling helps to create a spacious retreat that is also relaxing. This combination of details proved to be a perfect fit with the upscale style of the master bathroom.

The renovation of the outdated existing kitchen was an important part of the homeowners’ remodeling needs. Although the clients did not desire a huge kitchen, they did want to alter the layout and eliminate the closed in feel of the space. They wanted a modern kitchen with sleek finishes, plenty of light, and an open floor plan. The existing area was gutted, and a new kitchen was designed in the same location. The layout was reconfigured to fit the client’s needs. The interior kitchen wall was removed to open the space to the dining room, and the window on the front wall was shortened to gain additional counter space. The new kitchen is bright, fresh, and open for business. It not only interacts well with the new dining area, but becomes a focal point and gathering space for the family. The open shelves in the kitchen are representative of not only ow the kitchen functions but how the family functions as a whole. The room allows a seamless transition and effortless interaction between the adjoining spaces.

The challenge in this front to back split level house was to create a spectacular staircase that opened up the house and maintained a budget. When the new second floor master suite was built and the first floor walls removed, the homeowners fell in love with the wide open space and the unobstructed view from one end of the house to another. This created a structural challenge, as a support column was needed under the upper floor stair landing. The homeowners did not want this column to interfere with the wide open space they had envisioned. To address this dilemma, the stair and the landing are suspended from the roof structure. While being a structural solution, it proves to be an aesthetic solution as well. The structural component became part of the new metal railing, incorporating a new metal post  into the design and extending it up to tie into the roof structure. The new stair allows for an open view with unobstructed sight lines from end to end of the new house. The result is a beautiful new staircase and landing that appears to defy gravity.