Kitchen Remodeling Service in Washington DC

Anacostia is a well-known neighborhood in Washington, D.C. with a lot of history. The area was once a Native American settlement called the Anacostans by the English explorers in 1608, and the vicinity of what is known as the Bonus Army Conflict during the Great Depression. The area was called Uniontown in 1854, notable for restrictions against the sale or lease of any property to anyone of Irish or African descent. The most notable people that called Anacostia home also happen to be African-American: social reformer and statesman Frederick Douglass (also known as the Sage of Anacostia), poet Ezra Pound, singer-songwriter Marvin Gaye. as was former DC mayor Marion Barry, the first civil rights activist to ever become mayor of a major city in the US.

Anacostia is a relatively small community, but it is often mistaken as the name of the city southeast of the Anacostia River. Nevertheless, what it lacks in size it more than makes up for historic interest. Among the interesting landmarks within the neighborhood is the world’s largest chair, built by Bassett Furniture and installed in 1954 by the Curtis Brothers Furniture Company on the corner of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue and V Street.

Located east of the Anacostia River, Anacostia was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a historic district in 1978. As such, many of the homeowners tend to keep changes to a minimum. Its population of 50,000 is mostly single and employed in white collar jobs.

Things to Do Around Anacostia

East of “D.C.’s forgotten river” is a great place to go if you want to know about DC’s history. The Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum plays host to the work of many local artists and community leaders that tell the story of the area, and is the regular venue for events, film showings, and festivals. You can also head on over to the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site on Cedar Hell for a day tour and a fantastic view of the district. Afterwards, you can wet your whistle at the Uniontown Bar & Grill where you can enjoy beer with fried catfish sandwiches and the house Angus burger. If it happens to be April, then you could be right in time for the National Cherry Blossom Festival.

New Resident Marries Old with New

Most Anacostia residents are proud of the historic architecture prevalent in the neighborhood, and as a new resident, the client was careful to keep things outside as intact as possible. However, the outdated kitchen with inadequate storage was more than she was willing to live with. She wanted an update that would not clash too badly with the rest of the house. She asked for a consultation, and we were happy to oblige.

During the ocular, we pointed out that the proportions of the kitchen was good. It was just a matter of maximizing the space available by replacing the old cabinets with new ones with pull-outs and taking out one wall and replacing it with an elevated island to give it an open floor layout. Replacing the ceramic tiles with granite countertops and the sink would also update the kitchen, but still give it a classic vibe.

We invited the client to the showroom to choose the granite for the countertops. We only stock the best quality stones available from around the world, so it was a bit tough for her to decide. We also showed her the catalogs of cabinets and sinks from our partner suppliers so she could choose the style she wanted. We walked her through each item, advising her on what would look good with the existing color themes and design of the rest of the home. Once she had made her choices, we provided her with a cost estimate and schedule for the remodel. She was pleasantly surprised at how much lower the cost was compared to other estimates she had gotten from other companies.

Installing the Granite

The choice of granite was a good one for the client. It is very durable, and its classic look is in keeping with the historic vibe of the neighborhood. Granite is abundant in nature, yet no two slabs are the same, so the client would have a unique kitchen design  without having to change the character of the home.
The client had paid a deposit for the granite slabs she wanted, a classic light-colored granite that went very well with the white cabinets she had chosen. We sent over the contractors to remove the walls, cabinets and countertops, and as soon as the base for the countertops had been installed, we sent fabricator to make a template for a precise cut of the slabs. The demolition and installation of the new cabinets, island, and countertops took three weeks, and we handled the removal and recycle of the old materials for the client.

Post Installation

We completed the project on time and on budget, about which the client was very happy. We thoroughly enjoyed showing her the final results in a dramatic reveal worthy of a reality television show. She was very pleased with the granite countertops, which looked fantastic with the new cabinets.
She also marveled at how much more storage space she had, especially with the addition of the island, which we designed to double as a work area. Since she lived alone, she appreciated having everything she wanted daily handy in one area.

The updated kitchen looked great, but more importantly, it blended in with the rest of the home. This was a boon for the client, who was happy that she did not have to do extensive renovations for the rest of the house, and saved a ton of money in the process.

We Love a Challenge

The skilled staff at Fairfax Kitchen Bath focus solely on satisfying the needs and wants of the client. Servicing the Anacostia client was a bit of a challenge because of the design constraints, but fortunately, it was not our first trip around the block. We could help the client choose just the right colors and styles for her home to preserve the old, but still get the benefits of the new. Our granite countertops are especially noteworthy, done as they are with precision and high standards of workmanship.

Granite is not the only stones we offer, however. We also offer marble as well as quartz stones from Silestone, Caesarstone, and Cambria.
When it comes to choices, we have you covered. Our sinks come from Blanco, Kohler, Allora, and Brita. and we offer cabinets from Schrock, Touchstone, Echelon, Wolf, and many others. You have to work very hard not to find the perfect match for any kitchen or bathroom remodel need when you work with Fairfax Kitchen Bath.