The way families live—and want to live—has changed astronomically over the last half-century. Homework is done in the kitchen and dinner is sometimes had at the wet bar so busy families can wring out extra time together as the kids bounce from school to gymnastics to piano lessons, and parents toggle between work and other items on their “to do” list.
Wanting physical spaces that are more conducive to this modern interpretation of the dinner hour, many owners are transforming the formal, compartmentalized houses they purchased years ago into open expressions of functional minimalism. Consider this transformation of a 60-year-old brick rambler in Arlington’s Boulevard Manor neighborhood, where Foster Remodeling Solutions revamped the Tighe family’s dark, outdated kitchen into a more livable and contemporary communal zone.
The remodel comes with one trifecta that makes family time a snap: an open kitchen linked to a dining area and tiled entryway that acts as a working “mudroom.” While meals are being prepared, the parents can watch their kids do homework at the dining room table or play outside through the garden-view window. Snowy boots can be kicked off at the door and hot chocolate can be received seconds later. The result of knocking out the wall between the kitchen and dining room is a cohesive space that’s both open and intimate.
On the island, a tiled backsplash with built-in outlets marries the white Swanbridge bar top with the darker Cambria quartz countertop. The project’s designer, Dory Clemens, notes that, “the ideas implemented here respond to a broad range of owner requirements, yet the balance of colors and textures work together to create a warmly habitable living space.”
The new design has a sleek but lived-in look, rather than a sterile one where people are afraid to eat. After all, it’s still a kitchen.
The two-level prep island features plenty of storage cabinets and a built-in microwave, but it also doubles as a bar, with cubbies for wine bottles and high-top seating for family and friends.
See the space for yourself at an open house Saturday, March 24 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Because space is limited, those interested in touring should RSVP by calling 703-550-1371 to receive the home address.
