Americana Chic

A colorful palette, a unique and elegant backsplash, and thoughtful, functional updates come together in this D.C. area Craftsman cottage kitchen renovation to create a fun space for family time and hosting.

- By Laura Shimko

When the homeowners of this Arlington, Virginia, home approached Case Architects and Remodelers with plans to update their kitchen to meet the needs of their young and busy family, Allie Mann and Elle Hunter took on the challenge as a team. As the designer, Allie brought together all the design elements such as layout, finishes and palette, while Elle, as the project developer, balanced the budget and organized all the moving parts to ensure the timeline was smooth and efficient. “This way, the clients get a more comprehensive experience, and we can share the load—having a team is helpful,” Allie says.

EXPANDING THE FOOTPRINT

While the homeowners initially just wanted a kitchen remodel, it quickly became apparent that to fulfill their goals, a much larger project was needed. “As she talked through all of the things she wanted, I realized it wouldn’t fit in that space,” Elle says. The solution involved nearly tripling the original size of their kitchen by removing the dividing wall and incorporating the original formal dining space next door. The formal dining room was large and could seat 12 guests, but it was hardly used by the homeowners. “They are more casual and decided that formal dining wasn’t really their thing, so we took that space over,” Allie says. The result was a change that more than tripled the space.