Lending order and bringing new life

The new addition, at left, seen from the rear yard shows the new garage and kitchen with corner window and clerestory windows in foreground

Great Bones, Compromised Order

What began as a modest architectural request of deJong Studio — enclose an open carport — became the catalyst for a comprehensive addition and reorganization of a one-story mid-century modern home in one of Falls Church’s most intact postwar neighborhoods, Holmes Run Acres. The original house had the features typical of the period and the neighborhood: exposed rafters and structural decking, a low-pitched shed roof, and a generous open plan. But its circulation lacked clarity. Entry to the house passed directly through what functioned as a dining room, leaving the public zone without a coherent arrival sequence — and without a well defined kitchen, dining room, or entry worthy of how the house was actually lived in. In this expanded footprint we saw the inviting possibility to lend the missing order and spatial logic.

The Generative Move

The original carport sat at the front of the house, attached but unenclosed. The new design called for its demolition and proposed the construction of a new garage shifted laterally — a move that allowed us to create precisely the amount of space just within the setback needed for a new entry between the garage and the existing house. That five-foot translation became the generative decision of the whole project: without it, there is no entry sequence, no entry foyer, and none of the cascading reorganization of the public zone that follows.

In committing to the new garage, deJong Studio saw an opportunity to address what the new configuration made possible: a dedicated dining room converted from the original kitchen footprint, and a new kitchen addition adjacent to the garage. Together these changes would yield the functional, high-energy home for daily life as well as the generous, connected space for entertaining that our client craved.

The new front entry offers a bright and color filled pause when entering the house

Instead of the former kitchen, the view from the living now features an attractive dining room and new kitchen beyond

Constructing Anew and Restoring Vitality

The addition was designed to read as an outgrowth of the original composition. Vertical tongue and groove siding in deep charcoal, white trim, and a scissor roof — sloping in one direction over the garage, then pivoting to slope in the opposite direction over the kitchen — animate the exterior and the interior volumes alike. A new covered entry with skylight provides a warm material moment between new and existing. The red front door anchors the arrival and announces the interior color sensibility from the street. The garage, designed with a dual brief: car storage and fitness space, provides a finished space complete with exposed ceiling, large windows and gallery lighting.

Arrival, Color, Kitchen

The spacious new entry vestibule, focused on organization, centers around red powder-coated metal mesh lockers — graphic, functional, and unapologetically bold. A dark wood barn door closes off the play room when needed, and track lighting on the exposed rafters and tongue and groove decking carries that same material language throughout. The former kitchen, now dining room, opens to the living area and is connected by sightline to the new kitchen beyond. The powder room – with floor-to-ceiling penny tile and bold red accent wall, delivers a burst of personality. From front door through entry, dining, and into the kitchen the spatial sequence now flows the way a well designed mid-century open plan was always meant to.

Even the smallest of spaces allowed for playful explorations in tile and color

In the new kitchen addition the architectural design originates in the movement and play of the changing daylight. High transom windows bring rays of morning light to this west side of the house and a corner window at counter level anchors and frames a connection to the natural world beyond. Bold color here, as in the rest of the house, brings energy in the form of two-tone cabinetry — ink-blue lowers with integrated pulls, white uppers — is set against a graphically playful blue-and-white geometric triangle backsplash. White quartz countertops provide a clean counterpoint. Exposed rafters and tongue and groove decking, carried through from the original house, anchor the new kitchen to everything that came before it.

The new light filled kitchen offers a bright and open view to the yard with a generous corner window

View of corner of the kitchen with transom windows, white upper and blue lower cabinets and bold geometric tile backsplash

A House Fully Realized

One addition. One five-foot shift. A complete reimagining of how a mid-century modern home in Holmes Run Acres could work — with a real arrival sequence, a dining room that earns the name, and a kitchen designed for daily pleasure and easy entertaining. The exposed rafters, structural tongue and groove decking, and shed rooflines of the original are honored throughout. The interiors — bold in color, confident in material — reflect an owner who knows exactly who she is.

Builder: Lakewood Home Builders

Photographer: Renik deJong

The post Shifting Modern appeared first on deJong Studio | Architecture.

Bringing in the great outdoors

A busy professional family — two kids, an assortment of pets, and the cheerful chaos that comes with both — found their next chapter in a mid-century modern neighborhood in Falls Church, Virginia, a suburb of Washington DC. Accustomed to the larger bedrooms of their previous Arlington home, they were willing to embrace the modest scale of mid-century modern living, but only up to a point. What they needed most, and what the house couldn’t yet offer, was a private retreat from the energy of daily family life — a quiet sanctuary at the end of the day. That need became the starting point for everything that followed.

A cantilevered window volume laps the original home at the new addition and works well to blur the line between old and new

While a transom window continues the architectural language of the original home a new slot window anchors artfully to the carefully matched brick

Identifying the Team

The homeowners came to deJong Studio through a realtor recommendation — a relationship the practice values deeply. Realtors who understand what thoughtful architectural design can unlock in a mid-century modern home are invaluable partners, helping clients imagine not just what a home is, but what it could become. For this family, that imaginative leap led to a clear design objective: to bring the transparency and openness of the home’s public living areas into the private bedroom wing, allowing the tranquility of the surrounding landscape to filter in.

Designing the Addition

The existing bedroom wing presented familiar constraints — rooms that felt tight and inward-looking, disconnected from the wooded lot that made the property so special. The addition addressed this directly, enlarging the modest bedrooms and introducing a generous, light-filled primary bath. The design strategy throughout was to dissolve the boundary between inside and out: walls of glass replace what had been solid enclosures, and the lush treetop panorama becomes an ever-present backdrop to daily life.

A cantilevered bedroom window wall reaches out toward the canopy of trees while Douglas fir interior mullions and a frameless glass corner effortlessly dissolve the boundary between structure and landscape. The continuous flow of flooring from bedroom into bathroom reinforces this sense of dissolution, blurring the threshold between the two spaces and drawing the eye outward through the glazing beyond.

Minimal wall frames the new primary headwall blurring the lines between inside and out

The primary bath continues the same spirit of quiet luxury. A sliding glass wall opens directly to a serene, filtered wall of greenery, making the act of bathing feel unhurried and deeply private. A freestanding tub beneath a skylight captures shifting daylight and dappled shadow throughout the day — a perfect perch for a scented candle on the adjacent ledge. A handcrafted teak vanity, mid-century modern in its sensibility and bespoke in its execution, anchors the space with warmth and precision.

Sliding glass doors reveal a primary bath meant to be seen

Luxury is in the details for this primary bath – faucet and shower tile and drain

Below the primary suite, a quiet study occupies the base of the addition. Tucked beneath the bedroom and oriented toward the same wooded surroundings, it offers a contemplative retreat — a place for focused thought while remaining immersed in the filtered light and shifting greenery beyond the glass.

Connecting Old and New

Rather than announcing itself as an addition, the new work builds upon the design language of the existing home — extending its post-and-beam logic, honoring its material palette, and continuing the floor-to-ceiling glazing that defines the best of mid-century modern design. The Douglas fir framing, the teak millwork, and the careful detailing throughout speak the same quiet material language as the original house. The line between old and new is intentionally blurred, the addition feeling less like an appendage and more like the fulfillment of what the original house always aspired to be.

The new addition features cantilevered window bay, frameless corner and playful color blocking

The Completed Addition

This Falls Church, Virginia mid-century modern addition demonstrates what becomes possible when a home’s natural setting is treated not as a backdrop but as a design partner. Once defined by the contrast between open public spaces and closed private ones, the house now carries that same spirit of openness from front to back. In one of Northern Virginia’s most beloved mid-century neighborhoods, it stands as a quiet example of how thoughtful architectural design can transform the way a family lives — and how a home feels — for decades to come.

Builder: Oakwood Construction and Remodeling LLC

Engineer: YFG Structural Engineering LLC

Photographer: Renik deJong

The post Natural Modern appeared first on deJong Studio | Architecture.

Transforming the forgotten

An intrepid couple with a taste for adventure and a longing for a nature-immersed lifestyle, our clients had their hearts set on rehabilitating a mid-century modern home nestled along the border of Rock Creek Park in Silver Spring, Maryland. Guided by a deep appreciation for Scandinavian design and a shared passion for sustainability, they entrusted the task of realizing their ambitious dreams for this future home to deJong Studio.

Unveiling the Vision

Their journey began with the discovery of a weathered late mid-century modern house, designed and built by an aerospace engineer, in an ideal location. Recognizing its potential, they engaged deJong Studio to begin the task of transforming it into their ideal retreat. The result was a custom design thoroughly woven through with the homeowners’ aspirations.

View from the street of the existing dilapidated home showing T-11 siding and colored aluminum panels between windows. The site slopes steeply down from front to back toward Rock Creek Park

View from the street of the newly renovated home. Included in the entirely new exterior envelope are are custom milled cypress nickel gap cladding, new enlarged windows, and turned front entry stair and landing

Navigating Challenges

Together, deJong Studio and its clients faced several obstacles, from the dilapidated state of the home to the compromised foundation and lingering mold resulting from years of unaddressed water leaks. Drawing upon decades of experience, deJong Studio carefully navigated the challenges, skillfully guiding the homeowners through each hurdle.

Rear view of the home showing two tone nickel gap cypress siding, new cantilevered library and screened porch and deck / stair addition plus ground level patio

View of the setting sun on the very private back yard and newly renovated and expanded rear of the home as it faces Rock Creek Park

Side view of the new ‘treehouse” library addition shown in chestnut stained cypress cladding with corner window and ebony stained cladding at bedroom wing

Forging Design Excellence

Through the course of collaboration, the design vision began taking shape — a melding process where sustainable strategies laid a foundation upon which to build Scandinavian elegance. Harnessing geothermal heating and cooling systems, natural ventilation, and “Smart Wall” construction, the design sculpted a sanctuary that harmonized with its natural surroundings. Locally sourced materials, reclaimed wood accents, and bespoke finishes transformed the house into a living testament to the homeowners’ ethos.

View of new entry foyer and mid-century modern floating stair which includes glass partition wall, white oak paneling, white oak floating slabs and blackened steel picket rail and white oak handrail

Overhead view of new mcm inspired white oak slab floating stair, white oak handrail and blackened steel picket rail

New mcm inspired white oak slab floating stair includes 3 glulam stringers that “branch” from one another at right angles as the treads descend

Bringing it All Together

As the project unfolded, deJong Studio sought to bring all the elements together in a symphony of design that elevated the ordinary to the extraordinary. With careful attention to detail, a home was curated that not only satisfied the clients’ wishes but exceeded their wildest expectations. Every aspect of the project reflected the homeowners’ unique vision on living well.

View of existing fireplace and hearth newly clad in stack stone veneer, peek through view of mod kitchen beyond and “snuggery” at left

View of new mod kitchen showing playful baltic plywood and laminate cabinet doors, Fenix countertop, white tile backsplash, white oak flooring and minimalistic Futuro exhaust hood

View of mod kitchen toward “snuggery” showing integration of walnut side panels and baltic plywood and laminate cabinet doors and game changing new window over sink

A Journey Fulfilled

As the final touches were applied and the last details perfected, the homeowners marveled at the masterpiece that had emerged from their collaboration with deJong Studio. With full hearts and excitement for the future, they embarked on the next chapter of their lives, secure in the knowledge that their mid-century modern retreat was not just a house, but a reflection of their dreams, brought to life by deJong Studio.

Interior view of cantilevered “treehouse” library reading niche showing wood paneling, super sized lounging daybed with colorful fabrics and pillows

Avid readers, our clients are happiest when lounging in their cantilevered “treehouse” library surrounded by their books and trip photos

View of primary suite with quiet and warm cork floor showing restful connection to nature at the most peaceful corner of the house

View of bedside table featuring a few of the many charming mid-century modern antiques our clients have amassed over years of collecting

View of primary bath – custom made mahogany double vanity where a mahogany storage trough keeps things tidy and open curbless shower with frameless splash guard and Bedrosian tile

Builder: Finecraft Contractors Inc. and Parz Designs (stairs)

Engineer: Robert Silman Associates

The post Sustainable Modern appeared first on deJong Studio | Architecture.

Reconciling historic charm with living today

One of the best kept secrets of Holmes Run Acres is a small outcrop of homes that lies just outside the proper boundary of the neighborhood. It was here that a discerning couple discovered a hidden gem — a modified “Bodor” model designed by architects Satterlee and Lethbridge, nestled on a hillside with elegant mid-century modern style and unobstructed views of the woods and Holmes Run stream. A tranquil retreat by any measure, the home nonetheless had its share of constraints that would need to be addressed in time.

Identifying Architectural Opportunities

The homeowners came to the project with a clear appreciation for the historic value of their home and a commitment to making upgrades that would honor rather than compromise it. They turned to deJong Studio, confident in our ability to extend the home’s original charm into the new work. Their immediate focus was the shared hall and master bath, which — due to a common shower — compromised privacy for both. They envisioned two entirely separate bathrooms but were unsure how to achieve this within the limited space. This would be the first of two projects undertaken with deJong Studio. A few years later, attention would turn to the small, isolated kitchen that made cooking a cramped and solitary task.

Adding a new and fluid connection between kitchen/dining has aligned this mid-century modern home with the open lifestyle young families enjoy today

Developing the Design

We approached the project with a focus on enhancing functionality while preserving the home’s mid-century modern appeal. The design for the baths centered on rich natural materials and refined detailing — slate, custom-built millwork, Duravit plumbing fixtures, and bespoke lighting. These choices not only resolved the privacy issue but elevated both spaces to a new level of quiet elegance in keeping with the restrained sophistication of the original home.

The kitchen presented a different challenge. Its existing layout isolated the cook from the rest of the house, making what should be the social heart of the home feel like a back-of-house function. The solution began with significantly enlarging the exterior windows, flooding the space with natural light and restoring a connection to the landscape that is so central to mid-century modern design. Opening the wall between the kitchen and dining room — and closing the doorway that sat just inside the front door — created a more open, inviting and functional arrangement, freeing the space from its narrow confines.

The material palette was carefully considered: GE Cafe Series appliances, midnight blue cabinets, a “mid-century white” Heath tile backsplash, and fresh concrete solid surface countertops in a honed finish. Quiet but confident, the choices speak the language of the original house while meeting the demands of contemporary living.

Harmonizing Old and New

Preserving the home’s mid-century modern essence was central to both projects. Existing mahogany panels were carefully removed and reinstalled to ensure a seamless integration of old and new — the kind of alteration that looks as though it were always part of the original design. The new kitchen now allows for joint cooking and easy entertaining, and has become the hub of family activity it was always meant to be.

Enlarging exterior windows in a compact kitchen adds light and a connection to the outdoors that increases a perception of spaciousness

The Polished Results of Thoughtful Renovations 

Across two phases of work, these interior alterations have brought this Falls Church, Virginia mid-century modern home fully into alignment with the way its owners live today — without sacrificing an ounce of the character that drew them to it in the first place. A hidden gem in the Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington DC, it remains exactly that: understated, refined, and very much at home in its wooded hillside setting.

Opening a wall in a compact kitchen creates a broader sense of space even if the kitchen proper footprint remains the same

Builder: T.W. Herren and Custom Home Remodeling Inc.

The post Laconic Modern appeared first on deJong Studio | Architecture.

Maximizing charm + functionality

Often overlooked, a foyer defines the first impression of your home. Investments made here on a quality front door and slate flooring set just the right tone for all that is to come

Meeting the Family

A busy family of six approached us with a unique challenge. Swayed by its distinctive character and charm, they had settled in a unique 1970s Vermont ski-chalet style home in McLean, Virginia. As a busy family though, their love of the home’s style was soon overshadowed by the awareness that it lacked the functionality they needed. The quirky layout, once a draw, made it difficult to accommodate their dynamic lifestyles that include homeschooling, sports, and frequent guests. Recognizing the need for a thoughtful renovation, they sought our expertise at deJong Studio.

Digging In

When we began, our first step was to understand their daily routines and aspirations. How did they use each space? What were their favorite aspects of the house, and what frustrated them? We asked about cooking habits, favorite reading spots, and how they balanced work and play. This dialogue helped us pinpoint the home’s shortcomings and identify their priorities.

Greeted with a view to two story living room through floating stair, you are instinctively drawn into the welcoming, light filled heart of the house

Identifying and building upon what works in an existing home is critical to good design. A perfect balance between impressive and warm, this living room regularly draws the family around the wood stove for rousing conversation

Taking Stock and Uncovering Potential

The existing home had a lot of potential but needed a reimagined layout to serve the family’s needs better. The main issues were the lack of a full guest bath on the first floor, insufficient study space, and under-utilized areas like the primary bedroom loft office. With these insights, deJong Studio proposed a comprehensive renovation plan that would transform the house while preserving its unique charm.

The design approach focused on enhancing functionality and creating aesthetically cohesive spaces. There was much about the existing home that was lovely — the living room with rough plank paneling, the two-story space and mezzanine, the open plan and large windows at the rear of the home. There were also problems — an awkward powder room accessed through hall closet, a laundry area off the primary bedroom, an unused mezzanine above the primary bedroom, and an upper level bath with compromised headroom. deJong Studio envisioned a home where each family member could thrive, whether working, studying, or relaxing. The new design included a renovated kitchen and dining area, a new powder room, a new mudroom, a dedicated homeschool study lab, a second primary en suite, a new primary bath, a Moroccan-style reading niche, and an additional upper-level hall bath.

View of kitchen through new custom room-divider, built-in cabinetry. Contrary to what many homeowners think an open plan space requires more careful management of all that is seen and not seen

Our kitchen design focused on creating an artful balance between sleek and earthy. We achieved this by offsetting warm and expressively grained hickory cabinets and rich reds with handmade Moroccan tile backsplash, cream colored elements and a brushed stainless farmers sink

Design Development – Harmonizing Old and New

To achieve this vision, we planned significant changes while respecting the home’s original character. The kitchen was redesigned with a blend of hickory wood and white cabinets, handcrafted Zellige Moroccan tiles, and cement solid surface countertops — modernizing the space while adding a nod to the family’s appreciation for global aesthetics.

The new powder room became a highlight with its Moroccan ceramic bowl sink and wall-mounted spigot faucet, adding an exotic flair to the house. For the children’s homeschool study space, we created a bright, organized area that fosters creativity and learning.

A key part of the renovation was the new second primary en suite, providing a luxurious retreat for the homeowners. We also added a Moroccan-style reading niche with a custom-built daybed, cabinetry, and paneling, offering a cozy corner for the family’s avid readers.

Close up view of handmade Moroccan casablanca colored “zellige” tile backplash tile and mid-century modern dining room side board. Inspired by our client’s playful sense of style and Spanish heirlooms, the resulting design is a wonderful backdrop to their well curated home life

View of dining area with new mid-century modern sideboard, table and chairs and large matte black “Ambit” pendant by Muuto. Creating an attractive but highly functional dining space was critical for this large family

View of integrated refrigerator and funky play of wood grain directionality for a wall of full height, full depth cabinets. At right Blanco “Panera” faucet set the tone of functional modern elegance at the sink

New Materials Bring New Life to Existing Ones

One of the main challenges was to seamlessly integrate the new elements with the existing structure. We ensured that the renovated spaces retained the home’s original charm while introducing modern comforts. The foyer now features slate flooring, setting a welcoming tone as one enters the house. The new upper-level hall bath, with its playful patterned cement tiles, adds a bold yet harmonious touch to the home.

View of new study/home school learning lab where once a bath and laundry are took up critical room on the first floor of the home

View of upstairs kid’s bath showing vanity, Zia “Oslo” hex cement tile at left and built in bench and towel storage in shower area at right. This area was once an unused mezzanine floating above the master bedroom

A new, built-in Moroccan style reading niche located on the mezzanine where a old bath with compromised headroom once lived is a coveted feature in this household of readers

The Finishing Touches

The renovation would not be complete without the attention to detail that brings everything together. Custom cabinetry, intricate paneling, and thoughtful design choices throughout the house ensure that every space is both functional and beautiful. The Moroccan-style accents and modern design elements reflect the family’s love for global aesthetics and contemporary living.

Conclusion

The homeowners are delighted with their transformed home. The renovation by deJong Studio not only meets their practical needs but also enhances their lifestyle — making every day more enjoyable. This project is a testament to the transformative power of design. Where once there was frustration, there is now a home where fond memories are made in abundance.

Builder: Lakewood Home Builders

The post Bohemian Modern appeared first on deJong Studio | Architecture.

Instilling character + room to grow

Our clients came to us with a classic dilemma. They found the perfect property in the City of Falls Church, Virginia that possessed the simple post-war charm homeowners love. Unfortunately it needed renovation and lacked the functionality needed for a growing family. With both homeowners working from home, a nanny and two kids running around, they needed additional space. Confined spaces and an earlier garage-turned-playroom conversion at the rear of the house were limiting movement through the house. They knew they probably needed a home addition but weren’t clear on exactly what changes to make. They knew the best place to start was with a residential architect.

This challenge was intriguing and required investigation. We began with conversations about what was and wasn’t working in their existing home. We asked about everyday life. How do you cook, entertain, and relax? How do you find quiet time? Where and when is the natural light best? These questions led inevitably to the tougher questions. What do the spaces lack? What would the homeowners change if they had the power to change anything they wanted? Our team heard their answers and made notes. We then began sorting their priorities, distinguishing between wants and needs.

A side door is often the primary entrance for a homeowner. This inviting new entry leads to a stylish, highly functional mud room. The mud room is complete with elegant built-in cabinetry for storage

Identifying Opportunities for a New Home Addition

As we had seen, the home’s chief impediment was the difficulty in moving around in tight, landlocked spaces. The playroom was accessed through the dining room and small kitchen — remote and cut off, preventing any view of the kids while cooking. With this in mind, deJong Studio proposed removing the former addition altogether. In its place we would add a far more open and therefore functional one. This replacement home addition would include a modern kitchen and family great room all in one space. What’s more, moving the kitchen out of the original house would leave space for new purposes — a larger dining room, new powder room, and a primary bath. We proposed a new side entry/mud room and new laundry room in the new addition as well. In the main house we would use the newly increased roof height to add a much needed second-story bath.

A cathedral ceiling great room, open island kitchen and adjacent screen-in-porch home addition provides the perfect space for both cozy family time and casual elegant entertaining

Design Development for New Addition and Renovations

After roughing out this improved layout, the next challenge lay in artfully merging old and new. To do this we focused on thoughtfully scaling and locating the addition so that we could preserve the view of the original home’s best architectural features — brick cladding, the centered windows, and the attractive roof line. A series of material upgrades uniformly applied to old and new — new James Hardie cladding, new Andersen 400 Series windows, roofing, eaves, and more refined trim work — imbued interest, complexity, and rounded out that wholistic unity we were seeking. This exterior refresh presented a wonderful opportunity to introduce a transitional cottage style balanced beautifully with transitional modern elements.

Exposed beams, bone and slate colored wall/base cabinets and pendant lighting in the new addition pull it all together in the new kitchen. In the dining room, formerly kitchen, mixing modern bubble glass pendant and mid-century modern dining set with historic trim, windows and hutch offer a fresh take on the cottage aesthetic

Merging Existing and New Home Addition

Our clients are smart and stylish individuals, each with a keen eye for modern design and furnishings. We capitalized on this, balancing traditional with modern design elements throughout the interior. In the addition sits an open, classic kitchen complete with high-end Bosch appliances, two-tone cabinets, black soapstone counters and matching farmers sink. Together with exposed beams, vaulted ceilings, Velux skylights, intricate fireplace details and paneling, this creates the perfect space for entertaining and everyday family life. Each aspect of the design, when handled well, quietly and tastefully contributes to the overall transitional aesthetic. Even with much attention spent on the larger spaces, it is the smaller, hardworking spaces like laundry and powder room that are among the homeowners’ favorites. Great design, as we see over and over again, is often most appreciated in the small details that enrich everyday life.

It’s the smallest of spaces and the careful detailing found there that make all the difference in the daily rhythms of life

In the primary bath in the new addition a mid-century modern, double sink mahogany vanity, and nickel finish hardware work wonderfully with “Heath Ceramics” wall tile to create a simple but rich interior

Artful Interior Design Pulls It All Together

Last but far from least, in this whole house transformation, our skilled interior design partners at Making Room for Peace selected just the right touches — furnishings, lighting, tile — to take the entire home to a new level of style and grace. The homeowners are so happy with the results and say this process has brought them from only liking to fully loving their newly customized and expanded home.

In the primary bedroom a dark, monochromatic scheme, upholstered platform bed, organic cotton bed linens and brass finishes provide a serene interior

Updates throughout including new flooring, doors, trim, paneling, color schemes and classic cottage lighting unify existing portions of the home with the new addition

Builder: DW Dively Construction Services, Interior Designer: Making Room for Peace

The post Cottage Modern appeared first on deJong Studio | Architecture.

Turning artfully inward

A corner lot in an established neighborhood in a suburb of Washington DC presented an unlikely brief: design a primary suite addition that transforms the site’s greatest complexity — its exposure — into its defining asset. The clients, two busy professionals, came to deJong Studio with a clear program and a strong aesthetic sensibility. They knew quality, they knew what they wanted, and they knew what they wanted the end of their day to feel like. That clarity made for a focused and deeply satisfying design process — one of those projects where client and architect arrive at the same place quickly, and spend the rest of the time refining rather than searching. When that synergy is there, the work shows it.

Where the house is, and where it wants to go. The proposed addition emerges as a wireframe from the existing home’s roofline, reaching toward the garden

A Japanese Landscape 

The design draws on a traditional Japanese approach to siting: the living space lifted from the ground plane, wrapped in deck, connected to the landscape but held slightly apart from it. The effect is one of floating — the primary suite suspended above the garden, oriented toward it, intimate with it, yet always a world apart. The wide deck that encircles the bedroom is not a transitional space but the design’s central gesture, the move that makes the room feel simultaneously sheltered and boundless.

A Japanese approach to siting brings this primary suite addition to life — lifted from the ground plane, wrapped in cedar, opened to the garden

Careful selections for the exterior material palette bring the concept to life in rich western red cedar

Old and New, Resolved

At street level, the existing dark masonry base anchors the composition — a grounded datum against which the cedar volume above reads as light, almost weightless. Black-framed windows tie the addition back to the original house, giving the whole composition a coherent palette. Rather than announcing itself, the new work folds back into the existing home, encompassing part of its footprint so that the threshold between old and new is something you feel more than see.

A corner window becomes a tool for liberating a compact bedroom, merging new addition with existing house

Every detail thought of, the interior material palette reveals the plan for the luxury primary bath

The existing bedrooms also share in the transformation. The former primary bedroom receives enlarged windows that open it to the landscape beyond, while the smaller adjacent bedroom is transformed by a floor-to-ceiling frameless glass corner — a move that dissolves the wall entirely and liberates what might otherwise feel like a compact room. Light and outlook, once in short supply, become the rooms’ defining features. The flat roof of the addition meets the existing pitched roof in a clean, unforced transition — an honest acknowledgment that this is new work on an older house, designed to belong.

Deck, garden, treeline. The wraparound deck steps down to the landscape, turning a corner lot into a private sanctuary

A Serene Primary Addition

This addition demonstrates what becomes possible when the complexity of a corner lot is read as opportunity. A site that offered exposure becomes one that offers enclosure. A deck that might have been an afterthought becomes the organizing idea. In the primary suite — an expected asset in a home of this caliber — a quiet reward lies waiting: a luxurious retreat, every aspect thoughtfully detailed through careful construction documents.

There is a particular satisfaction in seeing an idea realized completely on paper, every aspect of the build envisioned before a single nail is driven. Ideas have a way of waiting for just the right moment to emerge. This one is ready for all that comes next.

Structural Engineer: YFG Engineering LLC

The post Serene Modern appeared first on deJong Studio | Architecture.

Liberating space through refined design

Getting Acquainted

For more than twenty years, our clients had been living in a very unique 1960s modern home located in Mantua, a beautiful community in Fairfax County. With their children grown, they finally had the resources to begin their dream kitchen renovation project in their Fairfax, Virginia home. They knew this would be a process that would require both structural alterations and heavy renovation. They needed a Fairfax architect.

An accomplished home cook, the homeowner had always considered her small kitchen the creative center of her home. Because the kitchen was a cramped interior space without windows, it required a much-needed refresh. What she needed was an architect’s thoughtful, period-inspired design talent fostered in a collaborative working relationship. She had ideas honed over years spent cooking in her kitchen — and she wanted those realized in this renovation.

Identifying Next Level Kitchen Renovation Opportunities

While touring the home, the first thing we noticed was the light. Beautiful morning sunlight flooded the sitting and breakfast rooms adjacent to the existing kitchen. Unfortunately, the only natural light entering the kitchen itself came through a subdued pass-through window. The 60s-style cabinets were dark, the counter was beige laminate, and the floor was beige vinyl with a single central rectangular fluorescent fixture serving as the sole light source. It was a perfect time capsule ready for us to open, assess, and reinvigorate.

An open kitchen must be designed to be seen from a distance. The design must accommodate functionality while creating minimal lines and surfaces

We asked the homeowner to complete our “Kitchen Inventory + Preferences” questionnaire and then interviewed her about how she used the space: how did she store everything she needed in this small space? Did she prefer to cook alone or while socializing? What types of countertop appliances did she keep here? What were her goals for this kitchen remodel? Her answers provided us with everything we needed to begin considering her future dream kitchen.

Developing the Design Together

We started with a shared “ideabook” and asked the homeowner to begin saving images of materials, along with images of kitchens and kitchen features she admired. This gave our team a sense of her specific wants and needs and a glimpse of the aesthetics she preferred. We added images and tested ideas we thought would complement her strong sensibility and retro-inspired style.

Fewer walls make planning for adequate storage more challenging. Every wall, under counter space and alcove become an opportunity for more cabinet space

In developing the new kitchen layout, deJong Studio focused on creating a wide-open space. The homeowner agreed that it was time for the walls to come down. An open kitchen is a very different kind of design challenge than creating a galley style kitchen. To do this we would need a clever way to manage storage that relied less on wall cabinets. We noticed, in looking closely, that three doors opened into this small space — meaning much of the existing footprint was dedicated to circulation. We realized there was an opportunity with a more open kitchen to sacrifice two of the doors without hampering movement. This modification gave us more wall space as a location for full-height storage and base cabinets.

Visualizing the Changes

In the first design meeting, we proposed three different layouts and discussed the pros and cons associated with each. deJong Studio presented live 3D models that allowed the homeowner to spin around and see what each of the designs would look like in her home. Once she had selected the preferred schematic layout, we spent time developing the exact cabinet combination that would meet her specific storage needs. We encouraged her to mentally move into the space to be sure that all items had been considered. As the process continued, we presented material boards and tile samples that we spent luxurious hours discussing together. The material palette and lighting selected at this stage would play a critical role in the final character of the space.

Often a more efficient floor plan can be found by looking carefully at existing circulation paths

The design that resulted is a modern, light-filled, high-functioning kitchen that is an integral part of the breakfast area and adjacent sitting room. In using warm wood tones, matte chalk white cabinets, and a rich emerald green 60s retro ceramic backsplash, we assembled a combination of colors and materials that perfectly complement the earthy palette of the existing fireplace and slate hearth. The new design integrates almost invisibly into the existing style and first floor of the home. The homeowner, living her culinary dream, is thoroughly pleased with the result.

The post Refined Modern appeared first on deJong Studio | Architecture.

Expanding from inside out

That expression “the cobbler’s children have no shoes” applies across disciplines. Christiane, like so many professionals, had invested her expertise in client work while inadvertently neglecting her own home expansion. She and her husband, Mark, spent years dreaming about what their own Falls Church, Virginia mid-century modern home expansion could look like. When the time finally came, they were ready to go beyond the smaller renovations that occupied the previous years. Their family had expanded in that time, now including two children, and what they really needed was more space. 

A front home expansion must carefully integrate with the existing facade. The solution lies in compatibly scaling and massing the new volume

Defining Opportunities for a Home Expansion

Like many deJong Studio clients, Mark and Christiane live in Holmes Run Acres, a wonderful northern Virginia, a mid-century modern community in Falls Church, Virginia designed by well-known architects Satterlee and Lethbridge. Over the years, Christiane had sketched out numerous options for a home expansion. Each iterative sketch was informed by a growing appreciation of the home’s original design. What they needed was enough space to keep the current home modestly competitive in today’s real estate market. This was a familiar challenge—one she’d been through with client after client. Christiane sought to add space and functionality while preserving and complementing the home’s original design.  

A well designed addition enhances existing space while simultaneously offering expansion

Christiane and Mark wanted their two-story, three-bedroom home expanded to include a small fourth bedroom, a dining room, and a small master bath. While physically possible, this is a significant amount of space to add to an existing starter home. Looking at the setback criteria, it was apparent that a rear or side addition would not be permissible due to the local zoning criteria. This meant a front addition was the only option. This would require a thoughtful design and Christiane spent copious hours exploring ways to minimize the bulk of the new space.

Developing the Design

With a front addition, the challenge lie in developing a design that would not eclipse the original house. The answer became clear. Keep the volume tight to the original house and minimize bulk by creating a composition of smaller volumes. Christiane saw the deep front yard as an additional opportunity. As she progressed through the design process she continually considered multiple distanced vantage points from the street.

A partially open kitchen offers more controlled views. An eat-in counter, Spanish baltic plywood cabinets, bamboo end panels and orange Caesarstone countertops offer a retro modern palette

Christiane and Mark are passionate aficionados of mid-century modern design. At the same time, they knew they wanted the design of the addition to stand out in its own right. They found certain components of the original design to be lacking. They wanted a covered entry, an entry foyer, and a way to greet arriving guests from the upper-level living room. Christiane was confident these could be integrated using compatible modern staples not part of the original design. Elements like a cantilevered volume, a small roof deck and new aluminum windows would stand apart and yet continue to honor the mid-century modern lexicon. 

Even small baths can provide big luxury when well designed. Frameless glass splash guards and curbless shower provide an elegant simplicity

Living the Dream

After months of construction, much of it self-built, Christiane and Mark were rewarded with a highly efficient 400 square-foot addition. The addition proved to be a game-changer for the deJong family. It offered much needed room for growth and also shifted the perceived center of the house forward toward the street in the expansion. The living room, once fine for family but too small for entertaining, now took on the character of a wide-open loft space. The high-sloped dining room space and adjacent balcony remediated the former sense of confinement and separation between inside and out. The small master bath supplied privacy for the primary bedroom. The cantilever over the front door and foyer vastly improved the home’s entry and a visitor’s first impression. At last, the completion of construction represented the culmination of years of thoughtful effort. The family could not be happier with the roomy results of their Falls Church, Virginia home expansion. 

Builder: Exterior – T.W. Herren and Interior – Mark and Christiane deJong AIA

The post Aloft Modern appeared first on deJong Studio | Architecture.

History enriched modern living 

Getting Acquainted

Outside of a new build, few homes offer a design that perfectly accommodates a new homeowner’s every need. With planning, however, home buyers can find a property that lends itself to a whole house renovation or addition. This pre-remodeling mindset is crucial for anyone who wants to purchase and modify or preserve a historic home with a whole house renovation. This is especially true in a highly competitive real estate market like the one in Falls Church, Virginia. 

For this five-bedroom whole house renovation project, our clients presented us with just this type of challenge. Their house-hunting search brought them to many beautiful mid-century modern homes but none were exactly right. With their timetable growing tight, the homeowners made a smart move and approached deJong Studio mid-hunt.

This charming Holmes Run Acres house includes signature elements of the mid-century modern style – low pitch gable roof, carport, floor to ceiling glass, and colorful flush panel front door

Knowing they would be selecting an imperfect home, the couple knew that advance thought was needed. Identifying budget and space criteria would guide them to the home that would yield exactly what they needed. Once the home was purchased, they would be able to act quickly, develop a design and launch into renovation.

Trading enclosing walls for full height cherry cabinets between dining and kitchen, the new space appears limitless in this whole house renovation

The Design Work Begins

Off to an early start, deJong Studio and the homeowners began discussing their space needs immediately. In no time at all the couple found a wonderful mid-century modern house located in Holmes Run Acres. The home possessed a full glass front facade and a lovely warm-wood interior, with floor-to-ceiling windows in the large living room looking out onto a private side yard with mature landscaping. A previously completed addition gave them a sunroom above and two kids’ bedrooms below. As predicted, however, many of the hardworking spaces were badly in need of renovation. The 1980s closed-off kitchen, the water-damaged bathrooms, and more required replacement. As with many of the Holmes Run Acres homes, the upper level lacked the three bedrooms that would allow the family to sleep on the same level as the kids.

Flooded with natural light during the day and bathed in the glow of a Nelson apple bubble pendant at night this is the perfect space for gatherings of family and friends

To create three bedrooms on the same floor, the homeowners needed a primary suite on the lower level. The lower level also needed to accommodate a new kids’ bath, a new laundry room, and a more centralized family room. The solution involved an entirely altered lower level, including relocated walls and wet spaces. What began as a limited renovation project soon grew into a whole house renovation. In response, deJong Studio stepped up the pace to deliver both design and construction within a six-month time frame.

The new open kitchen is designed to be seen. Cherry cabinets with fluted sliding glass doors echo classic mid-century design in this whole house renovation

Researching and Developing the Design

The design process, although compressed, included luxurious hours identifying precisely the right configuration and finishes. deJong Studio conducted extensive period research for built-ins, and the final design included replacing the kitchen/dining wall with a full-height cherry cabinet room divider, a handsome mid-century inspired sliding door, and custom Kerf cabinets for baths and laundry. To round out the built-ins, we proposed an extensive array of period tile options, plumbing fixtures and fittings, light fixtures, wall and floor coverings, and paint colors. For each, our 3D modeling became an invaluable tool, providing a full design preview and eliminating any guesswork for the clients.

What resulted from this whole house renovation is a beautiful Falls Church, Virginia home rich in mid-century modern character. With construction completed it is now all but impossible to delineate between old and new. In an environment of simple elegance merged seamlessly with new home functionality, this family has now found the perfect forever home.

Builder: Elite Contractors Services

The post Quintessential Modern appeared first on deJong Studio | Architecture.