Before
Clients in Chevy Chase tapped Anne Decker for a whole-house renovation that would include a new kitchen and breakfast room located at the back of their historic home.
On the wish list: an addition that would enhance the existing home; better access to the backyard; and landscaping that would complement the home’s architecture.
| Then | Now |
| A small covered area nearly concealed by large hedges led visitors sideways out of the house instead of directly into the yard. | A spacious porch allows people to sit and enjoy the view; Pennsylvania bluestone steps lead straight down into the backyard where a patio offers ample room for lounging and dining. |
| A circa-1950s kitchen was crowded into the back of the house. | A new kitchen opens into the breakfast area (the paneled structure to the right, above). It incorporates a mudroom that leads to the porch. |
| A narrow back door was set askew along the back wall, giving the rear façade a haphazard, asymmetrical look. | The back door has been widened and centered on the rear wall, creating a sense of approach and a harmonious architectural presence. |
RENOVATION ARCHITECTURE: ANNE Y. DECKER, AIA, Anne Decker Architects, Bethesda, Maryland. CONTRACTOR: DAVID BROWN, David J. Brown Construction Company, Bethesda, Maryland. LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE: LILA FENDRICK, Lila Fendrick Landscape Architects, Chevy Chase, Maryland. PHOTOGRAPHY: GORDON BEALL.