Interior Remodeling: Kitchens, Bathrooms, Basements | Exterior Remodeling: Windows, Siding, Roofing, Gutters, Decks

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Featured Project: Town Home in NW Washington, DC



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Basement Remodeling -- remodel your basement to enjoy the extra space

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The Wish

Our customer had always had been an admirer of some of the older Federalist townhouses common to Georgetown DC. "The biggest problem with most of the great old homes in Washington DC is that very few people can afford them and our client wished to live in Arlington Va, Falls Church Va or Vienna Va. Trying to buy something like that just wasn't practical for them. Our client finally identified their dream home in Arlington Va. and that's where the story begins.

The Reality

Existing Square Footage

When the home was purchased it was a nondescript, 1920s row house in Arlington Va just ten just minutes from Washington DC and close to other communities in Northern Virginia. Five years ago, it was definitely not their dream home. "This was a typical federalist row house with small broken-up rooms, lacking in flow or character" and the living space was 1,250-square-feet. "They were built in mass in Arlington, Vienna and Falls Church Virginia in the late 1920s and 1930s as affordable housing for government clerks and other workers.

The Solution

New Bathrooms, Remodeled Kitchen and Better Flow

Our client ended up renovating the majority of the home with a special emphasis on the powder room and the master bedroom and bathroom. With its long and narrow design, the semi-detached house seemed to crowd in on itself. The line up of social spaces past the house's foyer, living room, kitchen, and seldom used dining room - only emphasized the confining regiment of space. "The floor plan was restrictive, and the bathrooms were reflective of old homes found in Alexandria Va., Falls Church Va., and Leesburg Virginia."There just wasn't enough room and it was chopped up." The bathrooms had old tile, shower heads, toilets, and vanities from a renovation completed in the mid 1940s. The bathroom plumbing was leaky underneath the vanities and the bathroom and shower pipes made odd noises when they were in use.

Remodeled Sleeping Quarters

The upstairs was little better. The master bedroom at the front of the house had an extremely small adjoining bathroom. Two people could not fit in the small bathroom space at once... "Taking a shower was a claustrophobic experience." On the third floor there was one great big room, but it had no bathroom or powder room. "It was a terrific space, but for whatever reason it was never really incorporated in the original design and flow of the house and the addition of a bathroom was critical. We used this space for the master bathroom." The master bathroom is now reflective of our client's personality and incorporates all of their wishes which included dual bowl sinks, a sunken tub, a Jacuzzi, and modern shower stall, along with new travertine tile and modern toilets.

Reallocation of the Space

The renovation was to be originally limited to a new master bedroom suite and the bathroom on the third floor. As space was cleared on the second floor and ducts and wiring were installed for a new central air-conditioning system, it wasn't long before most of the house was down to studs. The two biggest issues to the project were construction of a new staircase from the second floor to the third, and a roof addition to accommodate the top of the stairs and the new master bathroom.

With the removal of the old closet staircase to the third floor the tiny bathroom off the second floor bedroom now had the space to be normal size and functional. Our client was able to come into the show room choose the style of toilet, and bowl sinks that were appealing and we were able to renovate and build and design the powder bathroom they wanted. More importantly they had the dream home they couldn't afford to purchase in Washington DC and it was right across the river in Arlington, Va.

Conclusion

"Today our client states "I have a truly exceptional home that they love spending time in. It's terrific for entertaining and for hosting house guests." It just goes to show that even though most people may not be able to afford a historically important house, with a little imagination and persistence, it is possible to create your own ideal dream home. According to our client: "Most importantly I have bathrooms that are up to date, easy to access as well as a comfortable place to relax and un-wind" in after a stressful commute and long day at work.


Custom Remodeling and Paint
Kitchen remodeling, basement refinishing & bathroom renovations for 30+ years, JJK Remodeling brings quality contractors & workmanship to your home improvement projects such as additions, custom bars, house painting, window replacement, custom carpentry, custom cabinets, decks & more.
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