Photo Credit © Jenn Verrier
stadlerdesign
Alexandria, VA
Project partners include Rust Construction & Norton Consulting Engineers
This 1000 square foot condominium space within a historic building held ample opportunities for a stunning renovation. The existing conditions revealed a kitchen space with a 7’6″ ceiling height that had no access to the main space of the condo and a poor layout. Furthermore, the original primary bathroom only contained a stall shower, small vanity and toilet.
The design concept was to open the kitchen to the double volume space of the main living area to create better connection and more efficient use of space. By replacing all of the aging appliances in the existing kitchen with higher efficiency models, we also decreased energy consumption.Â
Following a guiding principle that organized spaces as either light or dark helped orient the rest of the project. Higher volume spaces and higher activity spaces would be light in color and private, sequestered spaces would be dark. The wet bar, study, powder room and upstairs closet were the dark spaces due to their function and proximity to daylight. These spaces received black high gloss paint and other black finishes such as an embossed wallpaper and quartz countertop.Â
The light spaces had ample access to daylight or were high use. The kitchen, main living, bedroom and primary bathroom were the light spaces by this metric. These spaces received an alabaster white paint in high gloss as well as a white quartz and white appliances. To tie the spaces together we used gold fixtures and gold leaf. The increase in access to daylight made the light spaces much more vibrant and pleasant than in their original layout.
The client for this project has an affinity for older buildings and feels a responsibility as a steward of this space to make it beautiful to show the potential of old buildings. By investing in this renovation, the client has set the standard of care in this type of project.
Visit the stadlerdesign website.
Published: 03/19/2025
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