Space Maker

Remodeler: The Ventura Group, Ashburn, Va.

Architect: GTM Architects, Bethesda, Md.

In a nutshell: The clients, who loved their neighborhood and wanted to stay, had looked for a new home there but couldn’t find anything to suit their needs. So the best option was to stay put and renovate the existing house. The whole-house remodel involved updating the house throughout, creating his-and-hers office spaces to accommodate teleworking, building an addition to provide more family entertainment space, and enlarging the master suite. 

Solutions: The remodel added more than 2,600 square feet of living space, mostly by means of a two-story side addition that created a new breakfast room and family room on the first floor and a new larger master suite on the second floor. The roof was largely kept intact by building window dormers into the attic to create headroom for the family’s high school-age son, who needed a place of his own. 

The clients wanted a deck made from a durable, natural material that would age gracefully. The design team selected ipe wood, which is dense, strong, tightly grained, and develops a beautiful patina over time. Beside the new deck is a patio of Pennsylvania flagstone, chosen for its ability to blend into the surrounding landscaping.

Existing first-floor spaces were converted into his-and-hers offices, and hallway walls were removed to make space for a kitchen pantry. The updated kitchen features new, all-white cabinetry; an island that seats four; three separate sinks; and an open floor plan that leads into the new two-story addition.

See the full list of winning entries here.