Project Overview

This DC-area couple, both professionals with two young kids, came to us ready to transform their single-level home with a walk-out basement into a two-story retreat. Their vision included a new upstairs primary suite, a larger kitchen and dining area perfect for entertaining, and a comfortable in-law suite below. Above all, they wanted the house to feel like a peaceful nature escape—calm, green, and far removed from the city’s fast pace. With its earthy palette, minimally processed finishes, and expansive windows overlooking tiered landscaping and a wooded creek, this full-home renovation gives their houseplant collection and lifestyle room to thrive.

Design and Layout

Originally, the primary bedroom occupied much of the main level, limiting the kitchen and living room footprint. To better meet the family’s needs, we expanded upward, adding a second story with a serene main suite, a spacious walk-through closet, and a dedicated office and art studio. Since this was meant to be their forever home, the design also accounted for multigenerational living. We converted the formerly dark, wood-paneled basement into a bright and welcoming space, now home to a full in-law suite, second living room, additional office, and wet bar—complete with a wide awning window that opens onto the patio for easy outdoor entertaining.

Style and Finish

The homeowners leaned toward a modern aesthetic that still celebrates natural materials. The kitchen features minimalist sliding glass doors that allow light to pass freely from the rear-facing windows while creating flexible separation. A neutral two-tone cabinetry palette—white oak and macadamia—sets a soft tone. A botanical wallpaper in the mudroom adds texture and reappears upstairs as an accent in the primary suite. Generous bedroom windows and a skylight in the ensuite bath draw in daylight and views of the forested surroundings. Round porthole-style windows appear throughout, enhancing the tranquil, tucked-away feel of the home. The end result is a forever home that will meet the family’s needs for years to come.