After two decades in their modest Palisades abode, homeowners watching a 40-foot-tall house take shape next door decided they were ready to renovate. In addition to better curb appeal, their wish list included expanded interiors with an enlarged and updated kitchen, a new owners’ suite and an open floor plan.

“It was quickly evident that the best way to achieve these goals would be an addition to the front of the house,” relates architect Bruce Wentworth, who spearheaded the project.

Before + After: Curb Appeal - His plan imparted height and street presence to the front façade with a steeply pitched roof and tall chimney.

The Wentworth team whitewashed the existing brick, while the new portions of the exterior were clad in textured stucco. A recessed entry provides protection from the elements.

Inside, the dining room’s location was shifted forward to the front of the house. This created more space for the kitchen, which has been enlarged in chic, transitional style and centers on a furniture-like island topped with engineered stone. The kitchen flows into the family room at the back of the house.

Before + After: Curb Appeal - Renovation Architecture & Contracting: Bruce Wentworth, AIA, Wentworth, Inc., Chevy Chase, Maryland.