OLD TOWN ALEXANDRIA WHOLE HOUSE RENOVATION

The former owner of this Old Town residence had used the home as a vacation home, and it had not been updated in 30 years.  “He asked us if we wanted to keep the pool table,” recalled the new owners with a chuckle.  They hired Braswell Design+Build to perform a whole house renovation before their move-in day.  Through our design+build process, they were able to complete the entire renovation within a tight timeframe. 

Our design solutions for the foyer, office and living room were focused on creating a more elegant and finished ambience through improved lighting, built-in cabinets, coffered ceilings and wainscoting. A repaired black and white tile floor in the foyer reflects light from the gold sconces and chandelier, and wainscoting along a black and white stairwell creates a dramatic entrance to this four-level home. A built-in cabinet which houses a television and comfortable couch make the office the perfect place for game days; French doors at the entrance give it more privacy without blocking natural light from the office windows to the foyer.

The homeowners spend much of their time at home relaxing in their second floor living room – with their dog and a book or an iPad. With its coffered ceilings, white-on-white color scheme, and the sun streaming in the floor-to-ceiling windows, the expansive room exudes peace. The additional painted built-in cabinet across from the fireplace helps frame the room, and our suggestion of a mirrored television above the fireplace contributes rather than detracts from the room’s graces. Three re-paneled arches between living and dining room give the passageway a pleasing formality. 

The vision for the kitchen and bathrooms was inspired by the homeowners’ online searches. In the kitchen, the homeowners selected off-white custom cabinets, a quartzite countertop, farmhouse sink, and professional grade appliances. A handmade ceramic backsplash in yellow tones, recessed ceiling lights and stained built-in cabinets make this eat-in kitchen a warm and inviting place for a meal. Exquisite tiled walls in the foyer and second level bathrooms make quite an impression on guests. The design for the fourth floor guest bathroom was a throw back to the 40s; its glass-paneled cabinet, wainscoting and black and white tile give this room a sense of tranquility. 

Throughout the process, there was a continued focus on efficient use of space. To make the master bedroom both more functional and furnish-able, the master bathroom entrance was moved from the bedroom to the hallway. In addition, a sloped wall in the master bedroom was moved forward to create a vertical wall for placement of a dresser and two cozy window seats, ideal for curling up with a good book at the end of the day.