Cheverly, MD

A home for the next generation.  The goal of this renovation was to convert a 1940’s-era brick colonial home originally owned by the owner’s grandparents, into a 21-st century home for a young couple starting out.  Previously small, compartmentalized rooms are transformed by removing specific sections and slices of wall resulting in a new adaptation of the modest floor plate.  The removal of the non-load bearing wall separating the kitchen and dining area provided necessary connectivity and use of borrowed space.  The center load bearing wall to the adjacent living room, encumbered with structure and hvac, provided more of a challenge.  Targeted subtraction of this wall married with the consolidation of specific vertical functions (refrigerator, ovens, and pantry) produces a composed array of ‘columns.’ These columns provide definition of programmed zones while simultaneously allowing spatial flow and visual continuity.  All surfaces of the ‘columns’ contribute to adjacent space as kitchen side appliances and storage are wrapped with aluminum laminated panels, changing throughout the day as they reflect the morning and afternoon sun into the north facing living room.  On the reverse side (living room facing), the surface of the columns evolves once again to host a series of horizontal picture rails, up-lighting and small recesses for the remote controls.   Juxtaposed against the vertical columns, the continuous horizontal counter and cabinetry splices kitchen and dining area with an affordable and durable bamboo butcher block with ample room for side by side cooking.  The surprise of the kitchen’s pine (sub) floor, discovered during demolition, illuminated the solution of using a bright floor stain to contribute to the visual continuity of the entire surface while still highlighting the different grains of wood.