N. Old Town Condo
The Brief
This redesign of a 12th-floor, one-bedroom condo in North Old Town was inspired by its amazing views of the Potomac River, the clear blue sky, and the abundant foliage along the riverbanks in Alexandria. Our client requested serene rooms where she could sit to watch TV, eat, read, or just gaze out the window at the beautiful river below.
Unobstructed views, calming blues, her favorite chair reupholstered in a gorgeous tapestry-like foliage print, & pops of pink and coral are the heavy hitters in this lovely whole-home update.
In addition to an aesthetic update, the unit was desperately in need of a functional update. This 35-year-old kitchen was not working - literally. One by one, through the years, appliances failed, leaving only an operable refrigerator by the time our client called us for design help.
Credits:
Photos: Markus Wilborn Photography
Design: Lindsay Boudreaux, Kristen Hoeflinger, Emily Pasquariello
A well-planned kitchen needs at least 42" of clear travel space, but this layout had less than 30" between the fridge and range, so the fridge door couldn’t even open fully.
Today’s compact appliance options make small kitchens far more functional. We installed a 24" range and an 18" hidden dishwasher—each 6" narrower than standard—which gave us 12" of additional storage within the same cabinet run.
The new counter-depth built-in fridge also helped reclaim space, bringing the walkway to nearly 40" at what used to be the tightest pinch point.
Beyond improving the kitchen’s function, we also reworked the overall floor plan—creating a larger bathroom, a new foyer that frames a spectacular river view while bringing more daylight deeper into the unit, and a more private home office tucked just off the main living and dining space.
Before & After
