First Floor Remodel in Chevy Chase, Washington, DC
Project Overview
The owners of this Chevy Chase home had recently returned with their children from several years abroad, and decided it was time to take on some renovations which had been on hold while they were away. The house was in livable condition, but badly in need of modernizing. We initially contracted with them to design updates to the family room, office, entry, and powder bathroom.
Design and Layout
Once we began the design it became clear that more was needed, and we began preparing to renovate the entire first floor, including the kitchen and bathroom. The entry and living room needed some minor updates – radiator covers, a bookshelf/entertainment center, and some paneling to spruce up the stairwell. In the office, we created much needed file storage by adding custom cabinets on both sides of the entry door, and adding a pocket door to improve the flow. The powder room, which was off the office, had a storage closet that we re-configured for efficiency, and some classic paneling was added to the walls. The kitchen and dining room were a challenge. We were happy that the client understood that the house did not lend itself to a one-size-fits-all approach, and did not want an eat in kitchen, no matter how trendy. To connect the dining room and kitchen, we created graceful arched openings that allowed for better circulation and sightlines, while maintaining a classic, timeless look. We completely re-configured the window and door openings to unify the spaces, and to let in more natural light.
Style and Finishes
We maintained a classic look throughout the house – clean, white, inset cabinetry and millwork, arched doorways, and elegant stone. This was paired with modern appliances and quarter sawn floors to enhance the character of the house while bringing it up to date. By adding similar elements in each room of the first floor, we were able to create an atmosphere that is both graceful and unified.
Construction and Final Product
As always, we spent plenty of time planning the construction. The job went according to plan and schedule. We were able to correct some poor exterior flashing details which had been done in a previous renovation, and add highly effective insulation in most of the rooms. One small issue was quickly resolved – the homeowner did not like the height of the hood once it was in. We offered to replace the cabinet above with a smaller one free of charge, which was a small cost to pay for a happy customer.
What the Customer Said
“We hired Four Brothers to construct some built in cabinetry, but found in our initial discussions that our vision was so aligned that we would move forward with a ground floor renovation which included our kitchen and powder room. Liz really listened to our ideas, and was able to conceive a new kitchen design that beautifully met our needs. At every point, Four Brothers would answer questions, and address any of our concerns, quickly and thoroughly. We took lead safety very seriously and when our young children tested zero for lead levels after living at home throughout the renovations it was because of Four Brothers’ careful precautions. The brothers and their employees were consistently on time and friendly. Our project was finished on time and on budget even after a delay with a third party vendor. For these reasons we recommend Four Brothers without hesitation and would not consider doing any future renovations without them.”