In the living room, bamboo doors conceal cabinetry designed by KUBE and fabricated by Mersoa Woodwork.
While overhauling a semi-detached house in Northwest DC, KUBE partner Richard Loosle-Ortega preserved original elements that contrast with the bold, modern language of the remodeled spaces. “The existing thresholds, floors, stairs, transoms and radiators are reconfigured around a modern context,” he recounts. “Glass panes from jalousie windows were repurposed as stacked-light elements and new bamboo cabinets are attached to a frame beside the
original stair.”
Interior walls were eliminated, allowing for direct sightlines from the front to the back of the house. A rear addition accommodates an enlarged owners’ suite and deck, with increased square footage on the main floor. Color demarcates spaces: Thresholds and trim are black and white while floors and ceilings are neutral. Moments of bold color—in the kitchen, on the stair rail and in a hallway—add verve.
Renovation Architecture: Richard Loosle-Ortega, RA, principal; Matthias Arauco-Shapiro, design associate, KUBE Architecture. Renovation Contractor: Cornerstone Remodeling.