The Heart of the Home

This 101-year-old bachelor pad gets a modern farmhouse makeover to accommodate the needs of a growing, young family

- ANGELINA KAUL

Standing proudly in the historic Lyon Park neighborhood of Arlington, Virginia is a 101-year-old bungalow with recent renovations that would charm and delight any modern farmhouse-style enthusiast. Bright, airy and warm, this house once a bachelor's pad is now a cozy home to a young family of four.

When the homeowners purchased the house, they knew that something had to be done to make it their own. "We knew that the house had good bones, but the layout did not function well for our family," say the homeowners. Although the exterior of the house kept its bungalow look, the interior needed work to accommodate a family with a toddler and a preschooler. The homeowners enrolled Michael Sauri, CoOwner and President of TriVista USA Design + Build to help them with their dream project.

THE PROBLEM

"When you walked through the client's front door, you were originally greeted by a space that was very modern and cold," says Michael. He realized immediately that the space was a complete mismatch for the family's transitional style. A huge double-sided and awkward looking fireplace and two wide floor-toceiling columns separated the space. A dated wooden accent wall and irregular fixtures were begging for a change. The lack of kitchen cabinetry or pantry and the kitchen sink were a major problem for them. The family room was oriented to face the fireplace, but you couldn't see inside the kitchen. This was also a problem for the homeowners because it was important for them to keep an eye on their young children if they were in the living room and the adults were in the kitchen. The flow of the entire space was confined with limited functionality, and it presented a challenge for a family with young children.

MAKING IT MODERN