Prioritizing Your Home Remodeling Projects

By Bruce Wentworth, AIA

Homeowners are budget conscious when making home remodeling decisions. Wentworth can help you make these often difficult or confusing decisions at an in-home consultation, where priorities, design concepts, and construction issues can be clarified. Budget-minded simply means allocating financial resources in the best possible way. Excellent design solutions, coupled with quality craftsmanship and materials, are still a smart long-term home investment.

A well-located Washington area home remains a solid investment. After three decades in business, I can offer these tips to improve home value.

1. Kitchens: Kitchens more than 25 years old are functionally obsolete and aesthetically outdated. A well-designed kitchen enhances home value and improves family life.

2. Bathrooms: A well-designed master bath is an excellent investment, although cosmetically upgrading older baths will also improve home value.

3. Facades: If your home lacks curb appeal, exterior façade enhancements will add value. A new front door, windows, a front porch, or other architectural embellishments, all sensitive to your home’s architectural style, can be considered.

Thoughtful design analysis of your home makes appropriate, cost-effective remodeling decisions a reality. Call for a consultation today 240-395-0705 x 100.

The Luxury of Space

By Bruce Wentworth, AIA

It is a rare occasion when a client has too much space. But it does happen. And this was the case for a recent remodeling project involving a Master Bathroom. The happy homeowner’s are a couple with two small children and a spacious townhouse.

Their circa 1980s home needed an updated master bathroom that utilized the existing space properly and took advantage of a spectacular city view from its fourth floor vantage. Although the existing bath’s space was ample, it was inefficiently arranged, cheaply built, and lacked the aesthetic appeal desired by the homeowner.

The space had several challenges. A south facing wall of glass included a large window and sliding-glass door that lead to a narrow balcony. The spectacular view from the fourth floor bathroom was sacred, but lacked privacy and suffered from hot southern sun. Additionally, there was too much space to properly place all of the bathroom functions in one room adjacent to a wall of glass. Sensible design required that the bath be reconfigured and zoned for functionality.

The design team agreed that the new layout would have ‘public’ and ‘private’ spaces to be more practical. The public space, opening onto the master bedroom with double doors, was placed near the window wall with a free-standing sculptural tub so bathers can enjoy the city view. A double-sink vanity, furniture-like with a mirror and over-mantle feature, provides an aesthetic and functional focal point. The large wall visible upon entering the space was enhanced with applied panel moldings and two tone paint colors. The public area’s ample space also accommodates an upholstered bench and a cheval glass mirror. The simple arrangement and ample space feel luxurious. Privacy and sun control are provided for with a wall of sliding louvered panels.

The bath’s smaller, private space was placed behind a new wall. Separated from the public space, by a frosted-glass pocket door, this smaller private area accommodates the toilet and a large walk-in shower stall with a built-in bench. Large scale porcelain wall tile and horizontal bands of glass mosaic wall tile enhance the shower. Linked to this private space is an existing ample sized walk-in closet that allows the homeowner to exit to their bedroom.

Success is measured with a happy client. Aesthetically and functionally the master bath has changed their home for the better. The project is a testament to the importance of a good space plan zoned with public and private spaces. Where else can a homeowner enjoy a view of the Washington Monument while soaking in their tub?

Bruce Wentworth, AIA, an architect and contractor, is the founder of Wentworth, Inc. a residential design-build firm offering architecture, interiors and construction. 240-395-0705 x 100. www.wentworthstudio.com

Entertain from your Home

It’s a national trend. Americans are remodeling their homes with custom-built, personalized home entertainment spaces. We are nesting. A recent client provides a good example of a full-blown luxury home entertainment trend. The homeowners, a retired business man and his wife, were fortunate to have 2,400 square feet of space on their lower level (basement), along with 9’ ceilings to accommodate their modern home entertainment desires. And, we were fortunate to have clients with excellent taste in a contemporary vein.

Pool Table and Wet Bar
At the very first meeting the man-of-the-house expressed his desire to have a proper space for a billiard table, room enough for guest players, and a classy wet bar. This was a priority for the design. The pool table was given center stage with dramatic lighting, and, along one wall, we placed a ledge where guests can rest their beer, chat, and watch the games. Within the same area, a 15’ long custom bar was designed with a dark espresso wood and a cantilevered glass bar top. The wet bar was fitted-out with sink, ice maker, refrigerator, granite counter top, and abundant storage. A back bar was designed with espresso wall paneling and glass shelves that hold bottles and barware. The back bar features two back-lit eco friendly synthetic panels (3-Form) embedded with bamboo grass. The soft mood lighting provides an evocative bar atmosphere. Stone floor tile is easy to maintain in the bar area, and neutral color carpeting with a subtle circle pattern adds a bit of unobtrusive whimsy to the overall space. Hand-blown glass pendant lighting hangs over the bar and is visually appealing. Guests can observe the billiard game and enjoy a cocktail while perched on a swank bar stool.

Media Center
The adjacent space was furnished with a large leather sectional for small gatherings or quiet naps. A low and unobtrusive stone coffee table makes it easy for small groups to watch the latest sports game or movie. A wall of wood paneling is the aesthetic focus of the space and is fitted with a large recessed flat screen TV. A custom sound system with built-in speakers provides up-to-date technology for entertaining. A closet in the adjacent fitness room accommodates a tall rack of high-tech media equipment. Next to the media center is an alcove with a stone fireplace for cozy evenings of reading. Stone paving sets the fireplace alcove apart as distinct, and floor-to-ceiling drapery contrasts with the hard stone to soften the alcove’s sitting area. A gas log makes it a no-fuss space.

Fitness Room
Behind a private frosted-glass door is the owner’s fitness room which houses exercise equipment and work-out benches. Built-in lockers with cubbies provide storage, a mirrored wall visually expands the space, and a soft floor covering made for health clubs, called “Plynyl”, was installed throughout the fitness room. An outside entrance leads to an expansive swimming pool with patio for maximum entertaining. A new bathroom was created for guests using the fitness room or swimming pool. A large shower stall with a frameless glass enclosure and walls clad in stone make the space luxurious. The bathroom’s unobtrusive location makes it a pleasant surprise to guests.

Home Office
Of course, life is not all play and no work, which required a new home office on the lower level. Two pairs of glass doors visually link the office with the entertainment spaces and allow circulation through the office for those large parties. Two custom workstations, counter tops for office equipment, built-in bookcases, a conference table, lounge seating, storage closet, and ample lighting make this home office a pleasant space for those daily necessary tasks.

Reception Area
No good entertainment space is complete without a reception area to make that first good impression. An oval reception area is the perfect space to meet and greet. The home’s staircase curves gently as it descends toward the lower level and arrives at the new oval reception room. Large-scale stone tile set in a diagonal pattern follows the oval shape and is repeated in the custom oval drywall ceiling design. A decorative hanging light fixture and a wall niche with artwork complete the design of the space.

Although the overall space is large, the design provides distinctive and unique areas focused on different activities and specialized types of entertainment. The homeowners can comfortably entertain large groups of guests or select a single space to converse quietly with one. With sophisticated homeowners, the design evolved as a truly specialized and personalized entertainment space. They may never feel the need to leave home.

photos by Ron Blunt