The Cleveland Park neighborhood of Washington, D.C boasts some of the most beautiful and well maintained bungalows of the late 19th century. Residential streets are distinguished by the most significant craftsman icon, the front porch. Porter Street Bungalow was different. The stucco walls on the right and left side elevations were the first indication of an original bungalow form. Yet the swooping roof, so characteristic of the period, was terminated at the front by a first floor enclosure that had almost no penetrations and presented an unwelcoming face. Original timber beams buried within the enclosed mass provided the only fenestration where they nudged through. The house, known affectionately as ‘the bunker’, was in serious need of a significant renovation and restoration. A young couple purchased the house over 10 years ago as a first home. As their family grew and professional lives matured the inadequacies of the small rooms and out of date systems had to be addressed. The program called to significantly enlarge the house with a major new rear addition. The completed house had to fulfill all of the requirements of a modern house: a reconfigured larger living room, new shared kitchen and breakfast room and large family room on the first floor and three modified bedrooms and master suite on the second floor. Front photo by Hoachlander Davis Photography. All other photos by Prakash Patel.

Kitchen Addition & Renovation, First Floor Renovation
Open concept kitchen - large traditional l-shaped light wood floor open concept kitchen idea in Philadelphia with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, granite countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

This 1966 contemporary home was completely renovated into a beautiful, functional home with an up-to-date floor plan more fitting for the way families live today. Removing all of the existing kitchen walls created the open concept floor plan. Adding an addition to the back of the house extended the family room. The first floor was also reconfigured to add a mudroom/laundry room and the first floor powder room was transformed into a full bath. A true master suite with spa inspired bath and walk-in closet was made possible by reconfiguring the existing space and adding an addition to the front of the house.

Kitchen Addition & Renovation, First Floor Renovation
Enclosed dining room - large traditional light wood floor enclosed dining room idea in Philadelphia with beige walls and no fireplace

Our plan was to create an addition on the north and east side of the house to increase the kitchen footprint, add a family room, mudroom, powder room and first floor laundry. We also added a new second floor addition with three bedrooms and two full bathrooms over the existing living room and kitchen addition below. We built a large two car garage attached by the new mudroom. In order to maximize the footprint and add a modern element to the design, the garage was designed parallel to the property line. We created a large front porch where they could gather and hangout with their neighbors, which was important to them.

Entry/mud-room photo from large first floor remodel and addition. Shown with reclaimed brick flooring, built-in cabinetry. Custom built mudroom cabinetry and cubbies with wire mesh screens, vaulted ceiling and industrial lighting fixtures. Construction by Murphy General Contractors of South Orange, NJ. Photo by Greg Martz.

Green Home Remodel – Clean and Green on a Budget – with Flair Today many families with young children put health and safety first among their priorities for their homes. Young families are often on a budget as well, and need to save in important areas such as energy costs by creating more efficient homes. In this major kitchen remodel and addition project, environmentally sustainable solutions were on top of the wish list producing a wonderfully remodeled home that is clean and green, coming in on time and on budget. ‘g’ Green Design Center was the first and only stop when the homeowners of this mid-sized Cape-style home were looking for assistance. They had a rough idea of the layout they were hoping to create and came to ‘g’ for design and materials. Nicole Goldman, of ‘g’ did the space planning and kitchen design, and worked with Greg Delory of Greg DeLory Home Design for the exterior architectural design and structural design components. All the finishes were selected with ‘g’ and the homeowners. All are sustainable, non-toxic and in the case of the insulation, extremely energy efficient. Beginning in the kitchen, the separating wall between the old kitchen and hallway was removed, creating a large open living space for the family. The existing oak cabinetry was removed and new, plywood and solid wood cabinetry from Canyon Creek, with no-added urea formaldehyde (NAUF) in the glues or finishes was installed. Existing strand woven bamboo which had been recently installed in the adjacent living room, was extended into the new kitchen space, and the new addition that was designed to hold a new dining room, mudroom, and covered porch entry. The same wood was installed in the master bedroom upstairs, creating consistency throughout the home and bringing a serene look throughout. The kitchen cabinetry is in an Alder wood with a natural finish. The countertops are Eco By Cosentino; A Cradle to Cradle manufactured materials of recycled (75%) glass, with natural stone, quartz, resin and pigments, that is a maintenance-free durable product with inherent anti-bacterial qualities. In the first floor bathroom, all recycled-content tiling was utilized from the shower surround, to the flooring, and the same eco-friendly cabinetry and counter surfaces were installed. The similarity of materials from one room creates a cohesive look to the home, and aided in budgetary and scheduling issues throughout the project. Throughout the project UltraTouch insulation was installed following an initial energy audit that availed the homeowners of about $1,500 in rebate funds to implement energy improvements. Whenever ‘g’ Green Design Center begins a project such as a remodel or addition, the first step is to understand the energy situation in the home and integrate the recommended improvements into the project as a whole. Also used throughout were the AFM Safecoat Zero VOC paints which have no fumes, or off gassing and allowed the family to remain in the home during construction and painting without concern for exposure to fumes. Dan Cutrona Photography

Photo by Jody Dole This was a fast-track design-build project which began design in July and ended construction before Christmas. The scope included additions and first and second floor renovations. The house is an early 1900’s gambrel style with painted wood shingle siding and mission style detailing. On the first and second floor we removed previously constructed awkward additions and extended the gambrel style roof to make room for a large kitchen on the first floor and a master bathroom and bedroom on the second floor. We also added two new dormers to match the existing dormers to bring light into the master shower and new bedroom. We refinished the wood floors, repainted all of the walls and trim, added new vintage style light fixtures, and created a new half and kid’s bath. We also added new millwork features to continue the existing level of detail and texture within the house. A wrap-around covered porch with a corner trellis was also added, which provides a perfect opportunity to enjoy the back-yard. A wonderful project!

Shingle-style guest cottage addition with garage below and interior connector from the main dining room of an early 1900 existing house. Sited so that garage entrance and drive works within the existing landscape elevation and orientation, the guest cottage connects directly to the first floor of the main house. This results in an interesting structural dynamic where the walls of the second floor addition are square to the main house, and the lower garage walls corkscrew at a forty-five degree angle to the walls above. Inspired by their fond memories of travels to the island of Malta, the client requested warm neutral finishes and chose honed cream marble flooring with tight fitting grout lines and an intricate pattern of a Walker Zanger marble tile for the fireplace surround. "Dove White" walls with "Antique White" trim were selected in traditional simplicity to replicate the standard of the existing house and create a seamless transition to the addition. Locally handcrafted copper sconces gently illuminate the space and maintain the period-style of the home.

The key to this project was to create a kitchen fitting of a residence with strong Industrial aesthetics. The PB Kitchen Design team managed to preserve the warmth and organic feel of the home’s architecture. The sturdy materials used to enrich the integrity of the design, never take away from the fact that this space is meant for hospitality. Functionally, the kitchen works equally well for quick family meals or large gatherings. But take a closer look at the use of texture and height. The vaulted ceiling and exposed trusses bring an additional element of awe to this already stunning kitchen. Project specs: Cabinets by Quality Custom Cabinetry. 48" Wolf range. Sub Zero integrated refrigerator in stainless steel. Project Accolades: First Place honors in the National Kitchen and Bath Association’s 2014 Design Competition

This beautiful Birmingham, MI home had been renovated prior to our clients purchase, but the style and overall design was not a fit for their family. They really wanted to have a kitchen with a large “eat-in” island where their three growing children could gather, eat meals and enjoy time together. Additionally, they needed storage, lots of storage! We decided to create a completely new space. The original kitchen was a small “L” shaped workspace with the nook visible from the front entry. It was completely closed off to the large vaulted family room. Our team at MSDB re-designed and gutted the entire space. We removed the wall between the kitchen and family room and eliminated existing closet spaces and then added a small cantilevered addition toward the backyard. With the expanded open space, we were able to flip the kitchen into the old nook area and add an extra-large island. The new kitchen includes oversized built in Subzero refrigeration, a 48” Wolf dual fuel double oven range along with a large apron front sink overlooking the patio and a 2nd prep sink in the island. Additionally, we used hallway and closet storage to create a gorgeous walk-in pantry with beautiful frosted glass barn doors. As you slide the doors open the lights go on and you enter a completely new space with butcher block countertops for baking preparation and a coffee bar, subway tile backsplash and room for any kind of storage needed. The homeowners love the ability to display some of the wine they’ve purchased during their travels to Italy! We did not stop with the kitchen; a small bar was added in the new nook area with additional refrigeration. A brand-new mud room was created between the nook and garage with 12” x 24”, easy to clean, porcelain gray tile floor. The finishing touches were the new custom living room fireplace with marble mosaic tile surround and marble hearth and stunning extra wide plank hand scraped oak flooring throughout the entire first floor.

This second-story addition to an already 'picture perfect' Naples home presented many challenges. The main tension between adding the many 'must haves' the client wanted on their second floor, but at the same time not overwhelming the first floor. Working with David Benner of Safety Harbor Builders was key in the design and construction process – keeping the critical aesthetic elements in check. The owners were very 'detail oriented' and actively involved throughout the process. The result was adding 924 sq ft to the 1,600 sq ft home, with the addition of a large Bonus/Game Room, Guest Suite, 1-1/2 Baths and Laundry. But most importantly — the second floor is in complete harmony with the first, it looks as it was always meant to be that way. ©Energy Smart Home Plans, Safety Harbor Builders, Glenn Hettinger Photography

This second-story addition to an already 'picture perfect' Naples home presented many challenges. The main tension between adding the many 'must haves' the client wanted on their second floor, but at the same time not overwhelming the first floor. Working with David Benner of Safety Harbor Builders was key in the design and construction process – keeping the critical aesthetic elements in check. The owners were very 'detail oriented' and actively involved throughout the process. The result was adding 924 sq ft to the 1,600 sq ft home, with the addition of a large Bonus/Game Room, Guest Suite, 1-1/2 Baths and Laundry. But most importantly — the second floor is in complete harmony with the first, it looks as it was always meant to be that way. ©Energy Smart Home Plans, Safety Harbor Builders, Glenn Hettinger Photography

the project included a second floor addition and complete renovation of the first floor of an existing home. the kitchen was completely renovated and opened up to both the dining room on one side and to the exterior deck on the other, while a second floor addition provides 3 bedrooms, a kids bath, a master bath and walk-in closet , and laundry. peter hess photography adam rouse photograhpy

We expanded the main level of this 1947 colonial in the Barcroft neighborhood of Arlington with a first floor addition at the rear of the house. The new addition made room for an open and expanded kitchen, a new dining room, and a great room with vaulted ceilings.

the project included a second floor addition and complete renovation of the first floor of an existing home. the kitchen was completely renovated and opened up to both the dining room on one side and to the exterior deck on the other, while a second floor addition provides 3 bedrooms, a kids bath, a master bath and walk-in closet , and laundry. peter hess photography adam rouse photograhpy

The dining room features a distinctive, handcrafted table that is extraordinarily durable. When not in use for entertaining or family dinners, the dining room becomes a project space. The tea cart holding the flowers in these photos provides additional serving capabilities without adding visual weight. The slim Runtal radiators accommodate different furniture configurations, as well as drapery to soften the feel of the dining area. Interior Design: Elza B. Design Photography: Eric Roth

Full Home Renovation and Addition. Industrial Artist Style. We removed most of the walls in the existing house and create a bridge to the addition over the detached garage. We created an very open floor plan which is industrial and cozy. Both bathrooms and the first floor have cement floors with a specialty stain, and a radiant heat system. We installed a custom kitchen, custom barn doors, custom furniture, all new windows and exterior doors. We loved the rawness of the beams and added corrugated tin in a few areas to the ceiling. We applied American Clay to many walls, and installed metal stairs. This was a fun project and we had a blast! Tom Queally Photography

Green Home Remodel – Clean and Green on a Budget – with Flair Today many families with young children put health and safety first among their priorities for their homes. Young families are often on a budget as well, and need to save in important areas such as energy costs by creating more efficient homes. In this major kitchen remodel and addition project, environmentally sustainable solutions were on top of the wish list producing a wonderfully remodeled home that is clean and green, coming in on time and on budget. This photo shows bamboo flooring and a well organized and planned kitchen layout. ‘g’ Green Design Center was the first and only stop when the homeowners of this mid-sized Cape-style home were looking for assistance. They had a rough idea of the layout they were hoping to create and came to ‘g’ for design and materials. Nicole Goldman, of ‘g’ did the space planning and kitchen design, and worked with Greg Delory of Greg DeLory Home Design for the exterior architectural design and structural design components. All the finishes were selected with ‘g’ and the homeowners. All are sustainable, non-toxic and in the case of the insulation, extremely energy efficient. Beginning in the kitchen, the separating wall between the old kitchen and hallway was removed, creating a large open living space for the family. The existing oak cabinetry was removed and new, plywood and solid wood cabinetry from Canyon Creek, with no-added urea formaldehyde (NAUF) in the glues or finishes was installed. Existing strand woven bamboo which had been recently installed in the adjacent living room, was extended into the new kitchen space, and the new addition that was designed to hold a new dining room, mudroom, and covered porch entry. The same wood was installed in the master bedroom upstairs, creating consistency throughout the home and bringing a serene look throughout. The kitchen cabinetry is in an Alder wood with a natural finish. The countertops are Eco By Cosentino; A Cradle to Cradle manufactured materials of recycled (75%) glass, with natural stone, quartz, resin and pigments, that is a maintenance-free durable product with inherent anti-bacterial qualities. In the first floor bathroom, all recycled-content tiling was utilized from the shower surround, to the flooring, and the same eco-friendly cabinetry and counter surfaces were installed. The similarity of materials from one room creates a cohesive look to the home, and aided in budgetary and scheduling issues throughout the project. Throughout the project UltraTouch insulation was installed following an initial energy audit that availed the homeowners of about $1,500 in rebate funds to implement energy improvements. Whenever ‘g’ Green Design Center begins a project such as a remodel or addition, the first step is to understand the energy situation in the home and integrate the recommended improvements into the project as a whole. Also used throughout were the AFM Safecoat Zero VOC paints which have no fumes, or off gassing and allowed the family to remain in the home during construction and painting without concern for exposure to fumes. Dan Cutrona Photography