Home & Design

During the renovation, an existing mantel was discovered in another location and repurposed in the front parlor, where it provides a focal point flanked by modern art and mid-century chairs.

The new kitchen occupies a central spot on the main level between the parlor and family room. Grounded by an island that seats four, the space features quartz countertops and customized IKEA cabinetry in a walnut veneer.

The primary suite contains a bedroom, bath, closet and den. The bedroom boasts “a hotel vibe,” says Jones, with carpeting, an upholstered panel-cum-headboard and an airy bay offering room to relax.

While the front remained largely unaltered, the rear façade was dramatically modernized. Jones designed large window openings on two levels with a modern aesthetic in mind. The kitchen offers easy access to the back patio.

Fresh Vision

Patrick Brian Jones masterminds a modern makeover in a vintage abode

After purchasing an 1890 row house on DC’s 14th Street Corridor, the owners tapped Patrick Brian Jones for a much-needed remodel. “The place had been carved up into mini-apartments,” Jones recounts. “There were oddly placed bathrooms and doorways. We kept to the original footprint but moved a lot of plumbing around and opened up walls.”

An extra-long rear dogleg allowed Jones to shift the kitchen from the back of the house to the center and add a family room where the kitchen had been. Upstairs, small, compartmentalized rooms became a primary suite overlooking the front of the house. “The owners wanted a modern aesthetic but also to retain the original character,” Jones says. “We struck a balance between traditional and contemporary.”

EXPERT INSIGHTS
Advice from architect Patrick Brian Jones
  • To marry old and new in a vintage home, I use a traditional material like marble, but in a modern, streamlined pattern.
  • The easiest way to bring light into a row house is to put in a skylight—but I light the skylight as well to create a moonlit quality at night.
  • Establishing a realistic budget and expectations is key to a successful remodeling project.

Renovation Architecture & Interior Design: Patrick Brian Jones, AIA, Patrick Brian Jones, PLLC, Washington, DC. Renovation Contractor: ART Design Build, Bethesda, Maryland.

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