During the dog days of DC’s summer, our team has been dreaming of crisp mountain air and alpine panoramas. And we’ve been busy instilling that spirit in our Arlington bachelor pad project. Back in June, we shared our plans and schemes for the mountain-inspired spaces. I’m happy to report that the bungalow redesign is taking shape beautifully. Here, we’re pulling back the curtain on our process and giving you a peek at the progress to date.
To refresh your memory, our vision for the living room started out like this:
Laying the Floor Foundation
We begin most projects by assessing the interior architectural envelope and addressing any shortcomings or needed updates. And this Arlington bungalow had a few of each, which our top-notch general contractor, Chris Kupczak of K-Quality Services, helped us tackle. The existing oak floors gave off an orangey glow, so our first step was refinishing them throughout.
Refinishing floors is messy work. The stair treads had to be sanded by hand. Some of the floor boards were damaged, so we patched and repaired as needed.
Luckily, we have a highly skilled team of craftsman, so the final result is seamless.
We specified a fairly light finish — lighter than we normally do — to help the smaller spaces feel more airy. A matte topcoat protects Isaac, the owner’s mastiff, from slipping and sliding.
Climbing the Walls…and Ceilings
With the floors rejuvenated, we turned our attentions to the walls and ceilings. My team meticulously preps the walls before painting.
Even with a comparably small project, such as this bungalow design, we always draw up a detailed paint schedule for our contractor to ensure that we are all on the same page.
We leave nothing to chance because there are a lot of moving parts to any paint job…with different colors and finishes for the walls, ceiling and trim.
Speaking of trim, the question of crown molding always comes up in a renovation. This 1960s home had none and, given the relaxed look we were after and the somewhat low ceiling heights, we considered foregoing it. I felt, however, that the spaces needed a little something for added interest. But nothing frou-frou would do! We created a bespoke, modern crown treatment by milling a 5/8” x 5.1/2” trim to this final shape:
Streamlining the Stair Railing
Aesthetically, one of the most impactful changes we made in this bungalow redesign was updating the ’60s-era stair railing. This is what it looked like before (and you can glimpse the original orange tone of the wood floors, pre-refinishing):
As you can see, every other metal baluster was twisted. We envisioned a sleeker, more uniform look. What I love about this makeover story is that we worked with what was already there and salvaged the original balustrade. We removed the railing, cut out the twisted balusters, and welded new streamlined ones in place to match the others.
We then banished the curlicue and the entire balustrade received a coat of dark brown paint. To complete the transformation, we added an oak cap, which waterfalls down the front edge, and handrail with a clean block look.
Improving Kitchen Functionality
Next we turned our attention to the kitchen. The space was gorgeously reimagined a few years ago by Arlington’s Kitchen & Bath Factory, giving us a great starting place.
Besides a fresh coat of paint, we added form and function by installing a funky trio of exposed-bulb glass pendants from Tracy Glover Objects and Lighting over the island.
We focused most of our efforts, however, on an alcove at the far end. It had become a catch-all space for mops, dog leashes, trash receptacles, and other trappings of daily life. Take a peek:
Clearly, storage was an issue! We designed and installed a functional solution, which includes a bench with drawers below and a tall pantry on the right.
All it needs now is a soft bench cushion for Isaac, the 120-pound “pup.”
Making the Most of a Bungalow Bedroom
Storage was doubly a concern in the tight master bedroom — where we had a jumble of cords to contend with.
Our plan called for a function-packed bed wall, with a floor-to-ceiling storage cabinet to one side and open cubbies across the top. The team at Closet Factory in Tysons Corner helped us realize our vision last week.
The apropos name of the finish on this masculine bed and storage unit is Casting at First Light.
And to control the cord situation, the built-in nightstands are outfitted with power grommets for multi-device charging.
Setting an Audiophile’s Sound Stage
As you might have guessed from all the cords and devices, our client is quite a techie. He wanted his bachelor pad to be wired for sound, so we placed electrical outlets and Sonos brackets in some ceiling corners to provide an efficient, permanent network for his Play:1 wireless speakers throughout the home…an audiophile’s dream.
Bungalow Redesign Nearing Completion
We can’t wait to show you the finished spaces, so look out for our Big Reveal! We’ve loved immersing ourselves in these mountain-inspired spaces the past few months and hope you’ve been able to escape, at least mentally, this summer.
A Bungalow Bachelor Pad Design
