When embarking on an extensive home renovation and addition, it’s important to keep the dream alive. For the owners of an Alexandria Craftsman cottage, that dream was to transform their cramped, three-bedroom, two-bathroom, 2,166-square-foot home into a more expansive space that reflects their Mediterranean aesthetic.
“The intent was to create a larger home with good flow, plenty of natural light, and open spaces. The footprint of the existing home was very choppy,” says Christine Kelly, owner of Crafted Architecture. Kelly collaborated on the project with Justin Olewack, president and CEO of Bolt Builders, from 2022 to 2024.
“The homeowners have Italian roots and love cooking, entertaining, and hosting,” says Olewack. “The old kitchen barely fit two people. They wanted their dream kitchen, with plenty of space to cook, chat, gather, and dine with guests. They also wanted to have an extra bedroom to host people overnight.”
Making the Dream a Reality
Previously, the entrance to the house was off a screened porch on the side that opened into a parlor. The design team moved the entry to the front of the house and used the footprint of the screened porch to create a guest suite.
“In the process, we removed the parlor’s old fireplace and relocated the old staircase to open up access and through-views from the new front entry to the rear,” says Kelly.
The former dining room, also at the front of the house, had a part-mirrored wall and was dark, so the small windows were expanded to bring in natural light. Its footprint remained the same, but the wall was replaced with a moody paneled accent wall, creating a chic space that connects to a stylish new wet bar. The wet bar was carved out of part of the former kitchen. Beyond this, a small family room and office were both demolished to create space for the back addition.
“We ‘stepped down’ the first floor of the addition on the back of house to add ceiling height to the first floor. But we maintained the existing roof slope and height of the house as viewed from the street, tying in the addition with a gable roof that enabled us to do a cathedral ceiling for the second floor’s primary bedroom,” adds Kelly.
The new great room addition created a space for entertaining, with a family room to the left, new kitchen to the right, and dining room beyond.
“The family room’s coffered ceiling isn’t just a nice design feature. It’s a structural centerpiece. It literally supports the space with steel beams. We spent a lot of time ensuring it was both functional and beautiful,” Olewack says. Olewack describes the new chef’s kitchen as “modern traditional design with Mediterranean influences,” both functional and aesthetically pleasing. It features Shaker-style cabinetry in crisp white and pale blue, a shimmery glass-tiled backsplash wall, and simple crown molding. The custom hood is made of walnut wood, and all the appliances are by Wolf.
“There is a symmetry on the back wall, with balanced proportions, that is truly timeless,” says Olewack.
Reimagining Old Space
Using another old structure — a small garage — the team achieved more of the homeowners’ wishes.
“We were able to carve out a walk-in pantry, mudroom, and half-bath out of this once obsolete space,” says Kelly. The renovated area also features a new side entry to the home from the yard, which is perfect for the homeowners’ two dogs.
Custom porthole windows, coffered Douglas fir ceilings in the family room, and a dining room nook with a pitched beadboard ceiling and garden-facing windows all contribute to the home’s coastal charm and create a lovely layout for hosting.
“The remodel really allowed us to expand the kitchen, living, and dining spaces on the first floor, while keeping everything open and comfortable for entertaining,” Kelly says of the finished home, now 3,450 square feet. “We were also able to provide an abundance of natural light throughout the home and create a strong connection to the backyard.”
Feature image by Robert Radifera for Stylish Productions
This story originally ran in our September issue. For more stories like this, subscribe to Northern Virginia Magazine.
