This vibrant kitchen in Northwest DC was an afterthought. Really!

The world-traveling clients who spend time in this home when not adventuring abroad had initially hired us to create an apartment in the basement of this property. So we had dug out the entire basement and even went lower under the house in this remodel in order to create high ceilings in that basement.

But while we were working on this revenue-generating property down below, the couple — who was coming back from spending time in Africa — decided to redesign their kitchen upstairs. (After all, they entertain often and wanted an open space not unlike the modern apartment we were creating in their basement.)

The kitchen started out as a closed, dark space in the very back of the house. It was a little area hugged by steps that led up to a bathroom. The entire back portion of the property on that particular floor held potential that we would realize in just a few months’ time. So, by the time they were ready to settle back into their Washington, DC, home from their experiences abroad, they were able to capitalize upon a completed basement rental and a brand new kitchen complete with a bathroom and open gathering space fit for entertaining.

We opened up the entire space, removing the non-essential walls that formerly had created a tight squeeze throughout. We put in custom-made steel windows and doors to give the room more light and feeling of space. The wooden floors are heated and are painted with a resin, high-gloss paint. The end result in an open, bright gathering place.