Houzz Tour: Dramatic Before-and-After Transformation
An architect’s plans turn an older split-level house into a light-filled contemporary home in Washington, D.C.
Working with developers, architect Charles Warren transformed an older split-level home in Washington, D.C.’s Kent neighborhood into a stunning contemporary home. “The existing house had a lot of different levels that resulted in a strange circulation,” he says. To rectify that in the remodel, Warren composed two gabled forms with a stair tower in the center. Come take a tour of this dramatic transformation, which includes a kitchen addition that opens to a large patio and a roof deck with leafy views.
Exterior
After: The new house is composed of two tall, gabled volumes connected by a stair tower in the center. “The house had a really good foundation — they made them with oversize footings back in the day,” Warren says. This meant it could support a design that extended the building vertically. With the exception of a kitchen addition off the back, the home’s footprint remained the same.
Proportions were important. Covering the lower level in gray stucco gives the two white gabled volumes a visually pleasing scale. Cumaru wood details and black window trim add attractive contrasting accents. The architect was able to extend the existing chimney and covered it in gray stucco.
The gabled forms are on different planes, with the one on the left jutting out closer to the street. (This can be seen more clearly in the “before” photo.) Warren created different compositions with standard-size windows. “I got playful with the different windows — I didn’t want the two gabled volumes to be symmetrical, especially because they were on different planes,” he says. To keep the lines organized, he aligned the tops of the windows on each level of the home.
Browse windows and doors in the Houzz Shop
After: The new house is composed of two tall, gabled volumes connected by a stair tower in the center. “The house had a really good foundation — they made them with oversize footings back in the day,” Warren says. This meant it could support a design that extended the building vertically. With the exception of a kitchen addition off the back, the home’s footprint remained the same.
Proportions were important. Covering the lower level in gray stucco gives the two white gabled volumes a visually pleasing scale. Cumaru wood details and black window trim add attractive contrasting accents. The architect was able to extend the existing chimney and covered it in gray stucco.
The gabled forms are on different planes, with the one on the left jutting out closer to the street. (This can be seen more clearly in the “before” photo.) Warren created different compositions with standard-size windows. “I got playful with the different windows — I didn’t want the two gabled volumes to be symmetrical, especially because they were on different planes,” he says. To keep the lines organized, he aligned the tops of the windows on each level of the home.
Browse windows and doors in the Houzz Shop
Stair Tower
This is a dramatic view of the front entry, looking down the stair tower from the top level of the home. In addition to this entry, the lower level contains a mudroom-landing zone space, two bedrooms, a full bathroom, a laundry room and the garage. “It’s kind of an inverted house,” Warren says. “The family room and the library are on the top level.” The two bedroom spaces are flexible, suitable for uses such as a home office or playroom.
This is a dramatic view of the front entry, looking down the stair tower from the top level of the home. In addition to this entry, the lower level contains a mudroom-landing zone space, two bedrooms, a full bathroom, a laundry room and the garage. “It’s kind of an inverted house,” Warren says. “The family room and the library are on the top level.” The two bedroom spaces are flexible, suitable for uses such as a home office or playroom.
The stair tower also serves as a light well, thanks to the skylight over it and the generous windows. Warren designed the steel handrails.
“The stair tower is the central core of the building and it is a dramatic feature,” he says. “I set up the circulation around it. By straightening out the levels and working off the stair tower, we were able to make the circulation rational.”
“The stair tower is the central core of the building and it is a dramatic feature,” he says. “I set up the circulation around it. By straightening out the levels and working off the stair tower, we were able to make the circulation rational.”
This view from the backyard shows how the stair tower connects the two gabled volumes. Like the accents on the tower, the decking on the roof deck is also cumaru. “This is a Brazilian wood that’s very durable like teak,” Warren says. “It doesn’t rot and it has warm golden tones in it.” Cumaru is also a sustainable alternative to other wood species with these qualities.
Main Level
Light filters down through the stairwell into the main level. The area past the stairs contains two more bedrooms, a full bathroom and a powder room. The area on this side of the stairs contains the living room, the dining room and the kitchen. “The house feels large, generous and open,” Warren says.
Light filters down through the stairwell into the main level. The area past the stairs contains two more bedrooms, a full bathroom and a powder room. The area on this side of the stairs contains the living room, the dining room and the kitchen. “The house feels large, generous and open,” Warren says.
Before: The living room is at the front of the home. It had a wood-burning fireplace that was in great shape. Warren extended the chimney and flue to maintain its functionality. A gas line was installed so potential homebuyers who preferred gas to wood would have that option.
After: The architect gave the existing fireplace a new look. He specified a large-format tile with a ribbed texture, in a color that resembles concrete. The new fireplace adds warm industrial style to the room.
Find a local fireplace contractor
Find a local fireplace contractor
From front to back, the living room, dining room and kitchen are open to one another. “The flooring is white oak that has a clean, modern look,” Warren says.
Forging strong connections to the outdoors was a priority of the design. In the kitchen, accordion doors span a large opening to the patio. The kitchen has an L-shaped layout with an island in the center. The windows over the sink look out to the backyard, and there’s a convenient beverage bar on the left.
While Warren describes the house as contemporary, he also notes that it has some modern farmhouse elements. These include the Shaker-style cabinets and the light fixtures seen here. On the exterior, the gabled forms and the standing-seam metal porch roof over the front door nod to farmhouse architecture.
While Warren describes the house as contemporary, he also notes that it has some modern farmhouse elements. These include the Shaker-style cabinets and the light fixtures seen here. On the exterior, the gabled forms and the standing-seam metal porch roof over the front door nod to farmhouse architecture.
Backyard
The kitchen doors open to an expansive bluestone patio. The kitchen is the only extension off the original home’s footprint. Warren wrapped it in cumaru wood. Bright green Adirondack chairs add a splash of color.
Browse Adirondack chairs in the Houzz Shop
The kitchen doors open to an expansive bluestone patio. The kitchen is the only extension off the original home’s footprint. Warren wrapped it in cumaru wood. Bright green Adirondack chairs add a splash of color.
Browse Adirondack chairs in the Houzz Shop
Warren extended an existing retaining wall to create the large patio. Extending the kitchen off the back of the house created the roof deck, which provides a view of the tree canopy.
Top Level
On the top level, the family room and library are on one side and the master suite is on the other. The library, a powder room and a second laundry room are located off the hallway on the right. Double doors lead from the library onto the roof deck.
On the top level, the family room and library are on one side and the master suite is on the other. The library, a powder room and a second laundry room are located off the hallway on the right. Double doors lead from the library onto the roof deck.
Large glass doors and a transom bring natural light into the library.
Because of its location off the back of the house and the way the street slopes, the roof deck feels private and removed from the house next door. A large outdoor sectional sofa makes it a great place for a family to gather or for adults to enjoy their morning coffee or a nightcap.
This photo provides the best look at the exterior’s white metal siding. “This siding is long, shingle-like pieces that lock together,” Warren says. The seams where the pieces lock are slightly recessed, creating vertical lines.
This photo provides the best look at the exterior’s white metal siding. “This siding is long, shingle-like pieces that lock together,” Warren says. The seams where the pieces lock are slightly recessed, creating vertical lines.
Warren strategically placed the master bedroom on the back of the house. This provides privacy from the street and leafy views out the large expanse of windows.
Locating the bedroom at the back pushed the en suite bathroom to the front of the house. High windows let in the light while providing privacy from the street.
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House at a Glance
Who lives here: This was an investment property
Location: Washington, D.C.
Size: 3,990 square feet (371 square meters); five bedrooms, three full bathrooms, two half bathrooms
Designer: Teass \ Warren Architects
Contractor: Blue Star
Before: The split-level house sat on a steep and narrow lot. The topography and the existing foundation informed the architectural design in this down-to-the-studs remodel. “The existing house had four or five different levels,” Warren says. “We needed to straighten them out to make the circulation rational.”
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