Galleries: Bath, Kitchen
Remodel Lights Up a Kitchen and Bath
In this remodel of a 3,730-sq.ft. Washington, D.C. row house, the efficient linear layout devised by EL Studio centralizes work in the kitchen and sets up the creation of several discrete dining areas – a priority for the clients. Architect Elizabeth Emerson said, “As two busy doctors working in a hospital, much of the clients’ family life is spent together at mealtime, so having a great kitchen that would provide a few different settings for family meals was critical to them.”
Relocating the kitchen from the rear of the house to the front strengthened the living area’s connection to the outdoors and opened spatial options for mealtime family gatherings.
Lining the bay window with built-in seating established a sun-lit breakfast/coffee area. The second setting was at the kitchen island, with barstools providing a casual spot for a snack, with a view into the compact cooking and prep zones. Finally, a more formal dining environment was located adjoining the open kitchen.
To offset splurges on items like a high-performance range top, existing architectural elements were updated, rather than replaced.
After removing a number of interior walls, the enlarged primary bath feels open while remaining connected to the space. A walk-in, zero-threshold shower and a separate toilet room are bridged by a double floating vanity. The tripartite plan eliminates any bottlenecks and enables all features to be used simultaneously.