Before & After: Complete Kitchen Transformation in Arlington, VA

This Arlington, VA kitchen was stuck in the 1980s. Dark laminate cabinets, a drop ceiling with fluorescent tubes, an island that blocked traffic flow, and a wall that completely separated the kitchen from the dining room. The homeowners had lived with it for six years and finally decided it was time.

Here's how it came together.

The Starting Point

The existing kitchen had several structural and design problems that made a cosmetic fix impossible:

• A non-load-bearing wall closing off the kitchen from the dining area
• Drop ceiling concealing original height and blocking any recessed lighting
• Cabinets original to the 1987 build — laminate in dark oak finish, water-damaged at the base
• Tile countertops with failing grout lines
• Undersized single-basin sink with a builder-grade faucet
• Fluorescent overhead lighting
• Linoleum flooring that ended abruptly at the kitchen boundary

The homeowners' goals were clear: open concept, more light, functional layout, and a kitchen that matched the rest of their recently updated main level.

What We Did

Demo (Days 1–2) We removed the non-load-bearing wall between the kitchen and dining room, the drop ceiling throughout the kitchen, all existing cabinets and countertops, flooring, and the old appliances.

Removing the drop ceiling revealed original 9-foot ceilings — a significant find that changed the feel of the entire space.

Structural & Rough-In (Days 3–5) With the wall out, we patched and skimmed the ceiling, relocated one electrical circuit for the island, and added dedicated circuits for the new refrigerator and dishwasher. No plumbing relocation was needed — we kept the sink on the same wall.

Cabinets & Layout (Days 6–12) We installed white shaker-style semi-custom cabinets with soft-close hinges and dovetail drawer boxes throughout. Upper cabinets run to the ceiling, taking advantage of the full 9-foot height and adding significant storage that the old kitchen lacked. A new 8-foot island replaced the old undersized one, with seating for four on the dining room side.

Countertops & Backsplash (Days 13–16) Calacatta white quartz throughout — including a waterfall edge on the island. Subway tile backsplash in a classic brick pattern with a matte white finish. Simple, timeless, and easy to maintain.

Lighting (Days 17–19) We installed six recessed LED fixtures on a dimmer, pendant lights above the island (three black matte pendants spaced evenly), and under-cabinet LED strip lighting throughout. The difference between the original fluorescent box and the new lighting setup was dramatic.

Flooring (Days 20–22) LVP in a wide-plank light oak finish, continuous from the kitchen through the dining room — no more hard line between the two spaces. This single change did more for the open-concept feel than almost anything else.

Finishes & Punch List (Days 23–24) Hardware, faucet, appliance installation, touch-up paint, final cleaning.

The Result

The kitchen went from 180 square feet of closed-off, dark cooking space to an open 280-square-foot kitchen-dining zone that feels twice as large as it is.

The homeowners gained:

• 40% more usable kitchen floor area
• Seating for four at the island (none existed before)
• Storage to the ceiling vs. standard-height cabinets
• Natural light from the dining room windows now flowing into the kitchen
• A home that finally matched how they actually live

The home was appraised six months after completion. The kitchen and the open-concept layout contributed to an appraisal increase the homeowners were happy with.

Thinking about your own kitchen? TAV Remodeling serves Arlington, Alexandria, Falls Church, and the greater Northern Virginia area.