After years in their outmoded, 1989 Colonial, a Bethesda couple enlisted designer Dara Beitler to spearhead a main-level overhaul. “My role was to reimagine the first floor, improving function and aesthetics,” she recounts. “The homeowners wanted a larger kitchen, better flow, improved storage and a kid-friendly, open plan.”

Working with kitchen designers at Häcker Greenwich and contractor ASAP Kitchen & Bath, Beitler removed walls and closets in the kitchen and razed the wall separating it from the dining room. A laundry room was relocated to the second floor.

This reorganization allowed the team to enlarge the kitchen without adding onto the 4,329-square-foot, six-bedroom abode. Outdated cabinets and granite countertops gave way to white and wood Häcker cabinetry combined with quartz counters and backsplash. Though the staircase was updated and a new powder room was created, existing architectural features such as columns and ceiling medallions were preserved.

Noting that her clients specified “a modern-yet-warm, clean California” vibe, Beitler opted for natural oak flooring, black-painted window frames and crisp white walls as a fresh backdrop for chic furniture and lighting and bold contemporary art sourced at Merritt Gallery. Says the designer, “Pops of color impart personality, bright charm and fabulous focal points.”