The Reston-Great Falls Interior Design Corner

When it comes to home projects, most answers are not found ”online.” However, when we are trying to visualize the outcome of a room, 3D models are exactly what we need to confirm our vision. As I mentioned in my previous post, I recently worked on a fascinating project in which the right answer came through a 3D model. We turned a traditional kitchen into a country French house or a farm house, and more importantly: my clients loved it.

3D models are particularly helpful when we are dealing with high ceilings (15 to 20 feet high). My clients had just purchased a beautiful house in McLean and it was time to turn it into their home. Not surprisingly, the kitchen and informal dining room caught their attention immediately. The cherry cabinets were of excellent quality and finished in a traditional dark tone. This young couple felt however, that it was dated and too dark for them. I thought so as well.

In addition, the layout did not feel right to them either. There were two islands parallel to each other, the outside one was hosting the sink and was behind an elevated counter top to block it from the family room view. But kitchens these days are designed with a different concept and integration. They also preferred the sink facing the door to the garden and pool. The view of the garden is stunning, and they can keep an eye when the children are playing outside.

Their first idea, an L-shaped island, would have turned the room out of balance. After I thought about it, I realized that we needed a big island to make a statement and to create a harmonious space. So I rearranged the existing cabinets into a 80” x 100” island and I leveled its height with the rest of kitchen counter tops . The 3D model helped them to experience their new kitchen when we were in the design phase, and that was when they understood that we were on the right track.

If you are wondering about the color scheme (Fig. 1); the walls are in Classic Gray (BM 1548), the cabinets are in diluted Classic Gray (50% BM 1548), and the island cabinets are in Van Deusen Blue (BM HC-156). The counter top was made of a quartzite with a delicate blue veining (Bianco Impala).

We removed some wall cabinets from the opening between the kitchen and the family room. That created a more open space feeling (Fig. 2). As dusk was falling over McLean, the owner said: "I love how you can see the new lanterns above the island from the family room."

More to come about this project on how we added the golden touch with the gilded- iron finish lanterns. Don't miss the series: Color Trends and Setting Up the Right Mood for your home at Total Wine and Prosource of Dulles. Dates will be posted on The Reston Patch and in my website

Every other Friday, the Reston-Great Falls Interior Design Corner will come to you. The posts are focused on making home improvement enjoyable, efficient and less stressful. Comments and questions are always welcome! If there is a topic that you are interested in, please bring it to my attention (ameliavinteriors@gmail.com), so I can include it in future posts. At the bottom you will find a link to my previous posts.

Amelia Vallone Logan, Ph.D.

The Reston Great Falls Interior Design Corner: Published Posts

1. Getting Ready for the Spring Home Projects -Avoid making expensive mistakes

2. Developing your Home Improvement Project: Turning your home vision into a reality