Transitional Kitchen Transformation
“I found Andrea a few years ago as my husband and I hit our “empty nesting” years and decided to “reclaim” our home. We started working with Andrea on some of our common area space on our first floor and I must say that Andrea knocked the ball out of the park with the window treatments in our family room, so the room blends in with the landscaping behind the house. The first project went so well that we had her come back for two additional projects, the last being our master bedroom. Andrea worked with us to create a space that is not only beautiful and functional but she also created a “ retreat” for my husband that has now become my favorite room in our home. The built-in wardrobes have created storage in a way that blends into the room and the stunning colored glass chandelier is the centerpiece of the space. In addition to her eye for style, colors and functionality, Andrea has a ton of energy and is great fun to work with!”
– Shirley Bloomfield – Arlington, VA
Project Details
Any successful kitchen design is equal parts art and science. Whether we’re cooking up a new space or renovating an existing one, we bring both disciplines to bear. And that was certainly the case as we planned a kitchen redesign for repeat clients in Arlington Virginia. A beautiful and functional kitchen can make life a lot easier and more enjoyable. This kitchen has beauty and braun.
The empty-nest couple asked us to orchestrate a major kitchen transformation. Our plan addressed some functional challenges in the existing layout and presented selection options that would refresh the look. We completely reimagined our clients’ kitchen, improving function and flow while instilling fresh, transitional style.
Because we had worked with these clients before, we knew their tastes from the start. Their house is a ’50s-era, updated-Colonial with a white-washed-red-brick exterior, and we wanted the kitchen selections to play well with the architecture. The owners envisioned a palette of timeless neutrals for their new space. This is the glorious outcome.
It’s always exciting when we can reveal a newly completed project — and even more exciting when we can give you a virtual tour. Click below and follow along as we walk you through this new kitchen and dining space.
Photo Gallery
The L-shaped island seats six, which was important to the couple with grown kids who often return to the nest. We chose comfy Hickory Chair counter stools and covered them in a textural, tone-on-tone weave. The sizable island is also perfect as a serving station when hosting bigger groups.
The new transitional-style kitchen boasts Decora cabinets. We selected a warm gray paint finish for the periphery and a dark wood stain for the island. Mixing the two tones lends interest and depth. A quartz with soft veining was our choice for the countertops. It’s both elegant and durable. Our furry friend is very happy with the kitchen transformation.


During a kitchen renovation, you have to keep your eye on the prize. The demolition and construction phases aren’t pretty, but before long, a new-and-improved space starts to take shape. When renovating an older kitchen, there’s typically some type of quirkiness that we have to work around. As you can see, this dramatic kitchen transformation went far beyond a cosmetic facelift. We developed a plan that better fits our clients’ lifestyle and worked closely with our contractor Old Dominion Building Group to execute.

The real star of the space, however, is the glass mosaic backsplash from Lunada Bay Tile. It blends earthy neutrals with touches of blue, along with the right amount of sparkle. And the subtle mix of different sized tiles enhances the look.
Pro Tip: When installing glass mosaic tile, the brown paper faces outward, not to the wall.

Chef-Worthy Appliances
Since we spend so much time in our kitchens, I’m a big believer that the details matter. And that was especially true in this combined kitchen and dining area. But the appliances, of course, are important too. Our clients likes to cook, so top-quality appliances ranked high on their wish list. The range, speed oven, refrigerator and dishwasher are Thermador; the hood is from Zephyr.

Pro Tip: We love to mix metals in our kitchen designs, brass hardware and stainless steel appliances. It’s more interesting when everything is not one note.

Since the renovated space now does double-duty as the home’s only dining area, it needed to have plenty of pizazz. Custom-colored, glass pendant lights from Tracy Glover Studio certainly fit the bill. An accent wall painted a marine blue adds another dose of color.
Dreamy Kitchen Transformation
This new kitchen boasts a more functional plan that allows the kitchen and dining area to flow seamlessly. It also showcases our carefully curated selections and designer details. Replacement windows and a new sliding door that opens to the just-added porch were key to enhancing the space’s livability.
Our clients love their transitional-style design. If your kitchen is less than ideal, please reach out. We’d be happy to discuss a refresh.
Learn More About This Project
Find more details on our blog Creating Spaces, helpful information about the design process to help you with your kitchen remodel.