Kitchen Renovation in McLean, VA
Project Overview
Our clients bought this stately colonial in Mclean with plans to immediately start renovation. They wanted to create a welcoming space, as their three children, all in high school, like to invite their friends and teammates over. Since entertaining was a major goal, they were keen to build more kitchen and food prep areas. The old layout also conveyed more of a formal aesthetic than a welcoming one, so they hoped to rearrange a few features in order to capitalize on the architecture’s ability to invite guests into the home. They tasked us with building an outdoor kitchen as well, for parties and BBQs by the pool on the lower level.
Design + Layout
The existing kitchen lost some useful space to a stairwell headed to the basement, which we rerouted behind the main staircase in the foyer. We installed an informal dining area in this extra space which comfortably seats 6. We were also able to build out a fully featured butler’s pantry which connects the kitchen to the formal dining room, which is very useful for when our clients are catering, in addition to being an extra prep space for everyday cooking. For outdoor entertaining, we built a fully featured kitchen above the poolside lounge, with a large grill, fireplace, and seating area.
Style + Finishes
For the main kitchen, our clients preferred a classic clean style with warm white shaker cabinets, bright nickel hardware and plumbing, and solid carrera marble counters and backsplashes. A gorgeous walnut island countertop adds gravity as a centerpiece, extending the comforting neutral tones of the hardwood floor upwards. Ornate lantern-style pendant lights hanging from the coffered ceiling add an antique flair, while bright lights and clean lines reinforce a cozy modern aesthetic. The butler’s pantry is finished dramatically with deep blue cabinetry and a classic checkerboard tile floor. The glossy oak counter and mirror tile backsplash help spread light around the galley, and the bidirectional swinging door into the dining room adds utility and mimics a restaurant style. Outside, Naturekast custom cabinetry, impregnated with resin, ensures resistance to the elements, while the large grill top and Lynx outdoor hood make grilling and barbecuing easy and convenient.