Kitchen with white cabinets, a marble countertop, a brass faucet, two wooden bowls of green apples, and a view into a living area with a pink wall and a chair.

First floor renovation

A Welcoming Home

Transforming a classic historic Colonial with a new kitchen and covered porch to create spacious, connected living areas. Designed for easy entertaining of grown children and friends, the project balances elegant historic charm with modern comforts.

Status
Completed 2023

SCOPE
FIRST FLOOR ADDITION

LOCATION
Alexandria, Virginia

Bright, white kitchen with large window, island with a sink, and surrounding cabinets. Gold accents on fixtures and handles. Wooden flooring, patterned rug, and decorative items like potted plants and a cake stand.

the challenge

Space, Flow, & Entertaining

This classic historic Colonial originally had a narrow galley kitchen with little connection to the backyard. Our clients wanted more generous, open interior and exterior spaces where they could comfortably host their adult children and friends. The challenge was to achieve this sense of openness while honoring the home’s elegant historic character and seamlessly integrating modern technology.

Dining nook with a wooden table, a white bench with patterned cushion, a potted plant centerpiece, large windows,. A modernized take on a classic style.

The solution

From Cramped to Connected

The original galley kitchen, though tall, felt confined and lacked a connection to the outdoors. We replaced it with a spacious single-story addition that opens into a bright, airy eat-in kitchen and generous family room. This redesigned space offers ample counter surfaces, island seating, and a cozy dining nook with a built-in banquette—perfect for hosting grown children and friends, all while matching the home’s elegant character.

  • A vintage-style bathroom with patterned wallpaper, a pedestal sink with brass fixtures, a gold-framed mirror, and a white ceramic vase with white flowers on the toilet tank.
  • A dining room with a wooden table, four blue and white patterned chairs, a white china cabinet with dishes inside, and a vase of white flowers on the table. In the background, a living room with a window, a black piano, and a chair.
Interior view of a built-in white bookshelf with decorative items, books, and a window with green foliage outside.

Special Feature

Custom Built-Ins

The client wanted the new spaces to feel timeless, so we designed custom built-ins inspired by those found in historic homes. Bookcases in the living room, hutches in the dining room, and a kitchen banquette all contribute to a sense of nostalgia throughout the home.

Living room with open glass doors leading to a balcony, woman in blue dress walking a dog outside, green trees in background, armchair, potted plants inside.

Historic Influence Meets Modern Convenience

A large covered porch, tucked between the existing house and new addition, extends the living space into the thoughtfully designed backyard. In juxtaposition to the historic design inspiration, we were tasked to thoughtfully incorporate modern conveniences. The outdoor porch includes recessed heaters, a sound system, and motorized retractable screens. By blending traditional aesthetics with contemporary technology, we created a home that is both comfortable and effortlessly suited for entertaining.

A look at where we began—original conditions, site constraints & mid-transformation

A Work in Progress

  • A backyard patio with outdoor seating including two chairs, a loveseat, and a small table, surrounded by plants and trees, with a large house on the right side and a patio heater on the left.

    Original patio, rustic and lacking a strong connection to the architecture or landscape

  • Front view of a two-story house with white brick and white siding, black shutters, a gray gabled roof, and a small set of brick steps leading to the front door. The house is surrounded by a lawn and trees, some with bare branches.

    Original front of house without a covered entry portico

  • Backyard patio with white chairs, a small table, a large yellow pot, and a brick house wall with windows and black shutters.

    Original back of house

  • A view of the back of a gray brick house with a garden, patio steps, potted plants, a backyard with trees, and a cloudy sky.

    Original kitchen structure was demolished

  • Kitchen with white cabinets, marble countertop, and a large arched window with woven shade, equipped with appliances and kitchen utensils.

    Original kitchen

  • Construction site with unfinished wooden framing, scaffolding, and a clear blue sky during sunny weather.

    Framing the Addition

  • Construction workers building a backyard patio area in front of a large white house on a clear, sunny day.

    Foundation footprint of the Addition

  • Interior view of a house under construction with exposed wooden framing, scaffolding, and a large open window showing green trees outside.

    Framing at the Family Room Bay

  • A house under construction with a green exterior wall, a partially installed roof, surrounded by trees and bushes, with a grassy lawn in the foreground.

    Framing the Kitchen

  • Kitchen with white cabinets and gold handles, a large stove with red knobs, a white marble backsplash, and some blue painter's tape on the wall. There is a cooking range cover in progress, and a workspace with a work tape measure.

    Kitchen Installation

Collaborators

Contractor: Federal Contracting

Interior Designer: Madigan Schuler

Stylist: Kristen Alcorta Interiors

Photographer: Jenn Verrier Photography

Landscape Designer: Mary Kirk Menefee

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