Welcome to our new series on home remodeling tips! For over 10 years, we’ve been working with clients in the greater Washington, D.C.  Metro area to achieve their dream homes, kitchens and bathrooms. In that time, we have learned a great deal and hope to pass on some tried and true design and remodeling tips so that you might get the most out of the investment you’re making in your home. 

Up first, we have three of our favorite tips for kitchen renovations, featuring stunning transformations in Oakton, Manassas, and Washington D.C.

Pro Tip #1. Use a layered approach to lighting 

Kitchens are the heart of every home! A layered lighting approach creates depth and dimension within a space; lighting should not only enhance the style of your kitchen, but also provide flexibility and functionality.

In the kitchen renovation pictured below, we ticked all the boxes of good lighting by providing recessed lights in the ceiling (ambient lighting), decorative pendants over the island (accent lighting), under cabinet lights (task lighting) and display lights in select cabinets (more accent lighting). With the addition of dimmers, the lighting can be fully customized to suit any occasion, whether you want to create a relaxed atmosphere for sharing cocktails with friends or brighten things up for a chef at work! 

Pro Tip #2. Take advantage of ceiling height

On any given project, we always try to find creative ways to maximize space. It was common practice in older kitchens to float wall cabinets rather than take them all the way to the ceiling. In kitchens with tall ceilings, we recommend stacking cabinets as the perfect solution to take back underutilized wall space and create a classic tailored appearance. In kitchens with more standard height ceilings, we suggest replacing floating cabinets with taller cabinets to add storage and create a more custom look. In the two examples below, the end result in both kitchens is a more updated and polished look that the homeowners love.

Pro Tip #3. Do a thorough kitchen inventory before you begin 

We recommend doing a thorough kitchen inventory before you start planning your renovation. Think about where and how you want to store things and plan accordingly. To help with this process, we provide clients with a detailed inventory spreadsheet. We also take photos of the contents of every drawer and cabinet, what’s on the countertop and in the pantry. We want everything to have a home in the newly remodeled kitchen.  Careful planning at the beginning of a project will ensure a more successful renovation in the end. 

In this project from Capitol Hill in D.C., our client wanted to get items off the countertop for a less cluttered, more streamlined look. We created extra storage by taking uppers to the ceiling and adding cabinetry to a formerly blank wall; the reduced depth of the base cabinets on the right keeps the kitchen feeling open while still providing ample storage and more counter space!

At JDBG finding the perfect balance of function and design is at the core of our home remodeling philosophy. Our comprehensive design-build approach ensures that the process is as seamless as possible and we take care of every step along the way. Before you sign on the dotted line, this may be something you want to ask of your home remodeler as well! 

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Until next time,
David & Shelley