Merrick Design & Build Inc.

Sep 2014

When Corie and Phil purchased their Chevy Chase home four years ago the kitchen was not original to the house. The cabinets were a medium dark wood stain and a wood-look laminate flooring had been installed. The countertops were a dark granite and the appliances were useable but dated. The L-shaped kitchen technically worked, although the room was a little on the darker side even with two windows. For added storage and countertop space, Corie added a rolling island. While it provided more work space, it closed off the kitchen and created a bottle neck from the backdoor, basement stairs and dining room entrance. Her kitchen wasnt perfect but she could make it work. But after four years of using her kitchen, Corie had a long list of things that didnt work. The cabinets were of poor quality, as was the laminate floor. The stove was electric and Corie preferred cooking with gas. As for space, despite the rolling island, there just never seemed to be enough. It was time for a change. During design we looked for ways to expand and brighten the space. The current layout had a blank wall because of a window. We had to lose a window to expand the work triangle but it was a sacrifice worth making. We closed off the side window and relocated the cooking area to this wall taking the kitchen from an L to a U shape. We kept the refrigerator and the sink in their original locations, but we flipped the dishwasher and moved the microwave off the counter. To get rid of the bottleneck, we took out the wall that separated the kitchen from the dining room. This made for easier access to the back and basement doors while creating an open concept for the entire area. Lighter Maple Hazelnut Shaker cabinets brighten the space, as does the off-white Silestone quartz countertops. The refrigerator is now a gleaming stainless steel 36 French door with bottom freezer. An ultra-quiet stainless steel Bosch dishwasher and a multifunction microwave were added too. When it came to a new stove, Corie wanted a stove to equal her cooking skills. A 30 stainless steel gas Wolf range was the only one that would do. We added a stainless steel and glass chimney hood with halogen lighting to balance the heaviness of the range and to let the backsplash tiles shine through. The backsplash of handmade subway tiles, in three shades of green, give the kitchen an organic, crisp look. With the dividing wall gone, we took the dining rooms oak hardwood flooring into the kitchen. The transition is seamless, no threshold required. The continuous floor flows from the dining room into the kitchen, creating one big room, perfect for the usual kitchen gathering. Simple brushed satin knobs decorate cabinet doors and drawers, and two glass cabinet doors allow some of Cories collectibles to be displayed. Its important to note that everything in Cories old kitchen was donated to either a person in need or a charity organization. Corie got the kitchen she wanted and others got the kitchen they needed.

$57k

Chevy Chase, MD

May 2014

Opened up first floor by removing structural walls, exposed original brick and added a roof top deck.

$106k

Washington, DC

Dec 2013

Full kitchen renovation, opened it up by removing non-structural wall.

$54k

Kensington, MD

Oct 2013

Kitchen addition, opened up brick structural wall.

$105k

Bethesda, MD

May 2013

Opened up first floor to attic and created cathedral ceilings. Gutted and opened up kitchen to living space.

$67k

Kensington, MD

Mar 2013

Whole home renovation including 2nd story addition, new master suite, and only thing untouched was the kitchen.

$210k

Silver Spring, MD

Dec 2012

Renovated old row house and added a new large master suite.

$60k

Washington, DC

Oct 2012

Joined two apartments and renovated master bathroom and kitchen.

$105k

Washington, DC

Jul 2012

Kitchen bump out.

$203k

Washington, DC