DC Home Addition for Film Maker made Dream Kitchen Remodel possible

Filmmaker and lobbyist Jonathan Zuck was stuck. His Washington DC home was in desperate need of a space a home addition would provide possibly for a freshly designed kitchen remodel. Back in 1938 when his beautiful 4 story house was built, probably by the prolific builder Wardman, the kitchen was allotted very little space. You would have to conclude that kitchen design in DC was by accident.

As far as Jonathan was concerned a grand and very large Washington DC home addition was needed to accommodate his new kitchen remodel. There were so many considerations. The house was more than a home it was also a film & photography studio, where technicians, actors, and associates were coming and going day and night. Entertainment, dinner for not two or three but for many, had to be considered. Where to begin was Jonathan’s problem. As a filmmaker & photographer, you would think that envisioning home additions or room additions for a DC kitchen remodel would have been much easier. Jonathan Zuck would readily admit that it was a real struggle he said it more than once “If I cannot envision a home addition, I don’t see how the average person sees it.”

Washington DC Home Addition must not overpower the existing house

In August Jonathan decided to interview some design-build contractors and DC kitchen remodels companies to discuss home additions. He contacted Signature Kitchens Additions & Baths because as he put it “Kitchen Additions” is your middle name”. He met with Ellyn Gutridge a most perceptive kitchen designer. Jonathan’s initial position was that he wanted a home addition, which would run the entire width of the rear of his Washington DC house and be significantly deep 18’ to 20’ by almost 40’. He envisioned a multi-room addition to include a kitchen design remodel with custom kitchen cabinets DC appropriate as well as a sitting area. Such a large home addition to the house would have been 600 square feet, very expensive and overpowering. Ellyn asked Jonathan, that he put the size of his Washington DC home addition off for a while, “Let’s just focus on the kitchen design, first your wants and needs and then the custom kitchen cabinets, species & finishes, flooring & tile. As an MD, VA and DC design-build contractor we feel that the smartest room addition should not weigh down the original. We should focus on delivering the maximum benefits in the minimum space. The kitchen design will dictate the wrapping i.e. the size and shape of your dc home addition”.

Design Build Contractors DC

Home Additions

Signature Kitchens Additions & Baths are what is known among home builders in Washington DC as design-build remodeling contractors. Why would Jonathan prefer a design build contractors dc over a general contractor? Simple the kitchen remodel design and the cost to build are openly discussed together as the design process develops all the way to its conclusion. This meant to Jonathan his home addition DC kitchen remodel design would be concluded with the actual costs known. It’s construction based upon the actual capabilities of one of the very best metropolitan DC design-build contractors v.s. a set of plans to be bid upon which often are the joint fantasy of homeowner and architect rolled into one over budget & incomplete set of plans. As a Design Build Contractor what we mean by complete is that Jonathan’s plans and specification included his DC custom kitchen cabinets in fine detail, the faucets, sinks, garbage disposals, recessed lights, cabinet lighting, countertops, flooring, windows, and doors all selected and specified. In other words, these materials are not simply items which are to be selected later they are selected as part of the design process. That is why our design-build agreements do not contain any allowances. We would not need allowances because Johnathan would have selected every item we were to install as part of the design process. As a result, there are no surprises the entire project has been designed selected and priced concurrently. You will never arrive with us as your DC design-build contractors with a perfect design which you cannot afford to build. After all what good is your dream kitchen remodel as a framed blueprint of a room you wish you had?

DC Home Addition Materials Used & Design Details

As Ellyn and Jonathan continued with the design process they selected Medallion Cabinetry, a pillowed stile and rail door style, in maple with a Mulberry finish, topped with a valance and crown. The floor is Ecofinishes cork, which shows a lot of swirling grain and has a light beige green tint. Cork, of course, is a very green product because the cork tree grows back it’s cork. It’s sort of like a sheep which grows back its wool. Cork is easy on the feet and a warm product which we use often. We have quite a bit of it in the showroom. The appliances are very very interesting. The hood is a Best Hood which fits flush into the ceiling. What a designers dream product. We were actually able to design this kitchen with a window behind the Wolf range specifically because there was no hood in the way it was on the ceiling! Incredible. This DC kitchen remodels home addition cost between $175,000.00 and $200,000.00.

Put our ideas & experience to work for you

To discuss your room additions & kitchen remodeling DC aspirations call us today at 301-251-1880 or complete the form fill above right and a designer will contact you soon thereafter. There is no obligation to come into the kitchen design showroom sit down and talk to a designer.

Kitchen Addition

Kitchen or bath additions can be easier to design in many ways from room additions. After all, a family room addition is often designed before any furniture is bought, a bedroom addition beyond bed and end tables usually contains space for ideas of furniture not yet bought. Which makes these rooms in many ways more challenging. They are almost like an intangible within an intangible. When we are doing a bathroom addition, for example, it’s much easier. If we know you want a luxurious shower, a custom built set of vanity cabinets and a simple soaking tub then we know the components which then dictate the shape & size of the addition. Frankly, when we are making an existing master bath larger a bathroom addition might be more accurately called a bump out addition. A bump out being only two, three, or four foot deep. Of course things might get bigger with a closet, sitting area included…

1. Signature Kitchens Additions & Baths represents Medallion Cabinetry (semi custom), Dura Supreme Custom Cabinetry and Jay Rambo Cabinetry (furniture grade).
2. Signature Kitchens Additions & Baths is an Amtico dealer, Marmoleum dealer, and US Floors dealer.
3. Signature Kitchens Additions & Baths is a GE & Kitchenaid Appliance dealer as well as a AGA, Gaggenau, and Turbo Chef Dealer.