Transitional Home Renovation in Rockville, Maryland
Project Overview
A family of four, two anthropology professors and their two children, desperately needed a home renovation. Their brick colonial in Rockville, Maryland was presenting issue after issue: Plumbing problems, cabinet disrepair, and drywall failure all kickstarted their journey to Four Brothers for the remodel. The house in disrepair was very traditional, and the homeowner’s tastes tend more towards the modern and eclectic; they have a wide ranging collection of artifacts from around the world and wanted a good place to house them.
Design + Layout
The existing layout included a formal dining room next to the kitchen which was rarely used. So, we ended up taking down the wall between the two rooms, moving the kitchen from the rear of the house to the middle, and extending it into a new dining area where the old kitchen used to be. This also allowed for more windows and a double sliding glass door, to showcase the view down into a beautiful wooded valley. Extending the kitchen also made it possible to fit a large island, a key requirement, for a communal workspace, informal dining area, and gathering spot.
Style + Finishes
The homeowners loved mid-century palettes, particularly stained walnut grain, which is where we drew inspiration for the cabinetry. They also are fond of the Via Lactea granite covering the island, but we shied away from using solely the dark stone for the whole kitchen: the perimeters have a bright white quartz. Lighting from outside is plentiful thanks to the long window behind the sink and glass doors, and is supplemented by soft mint green pendants, recessed ceiling lights, and under-cabinet LED strips. For the floor, we stuck with the original white oak, patching where necessary, and sanding and staining the whole floor to match.
