2020 NARI Capital CotY Merit Award Winner, Residential Interior Over $500,000

This family has purchased a 1960 rambler in a prominent neighborhood in heart of Mclean, VA. Hoping to revamp the entire interior of this home to the way they dreamed their home will be.

They loved the landscape of the home and they recently had a pool installed in their backyard.

This rambler was built with a wide foyer which walks directly to the living room — a big two-story cinder block and brick wall was separating the foyer and living room space from the kitchen and eating area.

Just to the left of this foyer, a set of seven wide steps leading you to a dragged dark paneling recreation room/basement. Completely dated and no sense of purpose for the space made them not use it to its full potential. A half bath off unfinished laundry room was cutting off the flow of this space.

The kitchen was old and small with a wall oven and a small electric cooktop in middle of structural brick wall. They wanted an open concept and more modern home with a state-of-the-art kitchen, a full bath with a separate entrance from the pool, and finally, a backyard.

The wall of brick and stone had to go. This home was built on slab concrete floor, so relocating the plumbing, electric, and bringing in a new gas line were all very challenging. 

The big cinder block wall was taken out and replaced with supporting steel to hold a second story. A double-sided gas fireplace was implemented in the center of it to open up the living room into the breakfast area. A 12-foot wide double sliding door opened up the kitchen and breakfast area to beautiful backyard. The kitchen was revamped with a large island, new sink, new dishwasher, and a big serving counter top.

Tall cabinetry, upgraded professional appliances, hood and beverage center spruced up this home. New porcelain tile floors were installed from the foyer and all the way to the back pantry — softening the atmosphere.

The back room used to be a pantry and small powder room was converted to walk in shower stall and full bath with its own back entry and door to breakfast room.

All of the paneling from the walls were stripped down and replaced with drywall and large-scale trim got installed.

The back stairs and front stairs all were replaced with wood floor and new wrought iron railing.

The loft above the kitchen was opened up to an adjacent bedroom and the loft bathroom was remodeled with upgraded and new contemporary fixtures and tiles. The other bathrooms were redesigned and remodeled as well.

The front door was replaced with etched glass Mahogany eight-foot wide door making a grand entrance to this home.

The basement was the most challenging task of all. Stripped down to cinder block wall, taking out a window on back wall and fill in with matching brick to place a large bar that the husband desired to have. All in dark stained cherry wood covered with exotic quartzite stone, fully equipped with two full floors to ceiling wine fridge, beverage center, bar sink, dishwasher and lot of other amenities that made this bar jewel of this project.

The old brick fireplace was converted to a gas fireplace covered with ledgerstone and large slab of flagstone for its heart. The basement was partitioned to have a guest bedroom and walk in closet. The old bathroom was gutted and relocated to new location serving as guest and main area bath. Now it is furnished with a fantastic shower stall and all other facilities.

The Laundry room was expanded by relocating the furnace and hot water heater and rerouting duct work giving them a mudroom they always wanted. The entire basement was furnished with heated floor and wide wood plank tiles.

This project was involved, complicated, yet the outcome was amazing and homeowner got what they desired and wished for a long time. The use of light, yet contrasting color schemes and upscale products has made this project the jewel of this neighborhood.