When this family bought their home in Reston, they bought it because of the site. Beautifully wooded and south-facing, it was indeed extraordinary. But the house, built in the 1970’s, had very few windows, and little access to the outside. The rooms were rather small, and the structure was marginally insulated. After living in the house for ten years, the family decided it was time to bring the site into the house.
After living in an imperfect house in a great neighborhood, this family decided to tackle a whole raft of problems. They wanted to bring in lots of light, improve flow, add a new kitchen and family room that connect to the existing house, add a front porch and a second-floor master bedroom suite.
The owners wanted to upgrade, and they faced a choice: move, demolish and build anew, or try to work with the existing structure. The unique, beautiful site precluded the first option. A tight budget precluded the second. We agreed to explore the third.
This house is part of a family compound. Several houses and various out-buildings share a 176 acre parcel of land in Rockbridge County, Virginia, with spectacular views to the Blue Ridge Mountains.
This 1930’s cottage faced a large rear garden, yet offered little view or access. The owners wanted an informal family/breakfast room that felt “in the garden” and remained open to the kitchen and dining room.
This client decided to add on to their 1200 square foot bungalow to house their growing family. Green considerations guided their decisions; they chose to add a second floor rather than increase their home’s footprint.
Our clients had hired a design-build firm to combine and renovate two penthouse units, comprising one fourth of the top of Alexandria’s only high rise apartment building. The project had not gone well. In fact, it had not gone at all, and our clients were left with a gutted space with no design and nothing built.
The owners of this 1930’s English cottage in northwest Washington DC love to cook, entertain frequently, and wanted a kitchen that could be part of the party.
Imagine living in a one-bedroom townhouse, built-in the 19th century. Naturally, you’d hire an architect to give you more space. Not so these clients — they were satisfied with the quantity of space: just under 1250 square feet. Instead they wanted to change the quality of space.
When this client decided to add on to their home, it was very important to them to do it in a sustainable way. Rather than increasing their footprint, they added a second floor and attic.
