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Mother’s Day is right around the corner! What greater gift could your children give their mom than help around the house? We’re not talking about just making beds and putting clean clothes away, but also taking on household chores and home improvement projects that are both helpful and learning activities. Moss Building & Design has compiled a comprehensive list of the Top 10 DIY Household Chores that your kids and your family can start tackling today – not only improving the appearance and organization of your home, inside and out, but also providing Mom the gifts that keep giving. Note that some activities are best done with adult supervision for safety reasons.

• Test out smoke detectors and change their batteries, change the fan blade direction for spring/summer on ceiling fans, and help change the home air filter: these are chores that can be taught once and then taken on by kids on their own. The good part about these chores is that they must be done on a regular basis, but not every day. Learning to schedule out when certain chores need to happen will teach your children planning and preparation (i.e. buying the air filter in advance, making sure you have enough batteries in the house).
• Clean and organize the garage: is your garage a complete mess? Used mainly for storage versus what it’s supposed to be for (parking your cars)? It’s understandable, because these days, kids have so many items that are stored in the garage, like their bikes, sports equipment, balls, toys, etc. Why not get the kids to really go through their items, get rid of those pieces they don’t use, and organize the garage better? One way to work together as a family is to figure out a better way to store the family bicycles – you can hang them from the garage walls, from the ceiling, etc. Adding in floating shelves for organization is also a great activity that a family can do together – teaching kids how to measure, use a level, and use a power drill.
• Plant flowers, spread mulch, weed the garden: a spring garden is a terrific way to get kids involved with home improvement. Not only will they learn about nature and science, but they can enjoy the fruits (no pun intended!) of their labor. Flowers add a lovely touch to a home’s curb appeal, and a vegetable garden can help supplement your family’s food budget. Owning the tasks of weeding and watering gives kids a sense of responsibility as well.
• Wash outdoor toys, sweep patio/deck, wipe down outdoor furniture: spring has sprung, and with it, the effects of winter weather and spring pollen. Get the kids to take on the task of cleaning up the backyard space. Kids can certainly wash their outdoor toys with a hose and a scrub brush, sweep the patio or deck of leaves, and wipe down outdoor furniture. It’s a nice feeling to have a prepped outdoor space for spring and summer evenings spent at home.
• Pick up yard debris and small twigs: this is an on-going chore that kids can take on for themselves. After a storm or a windy day, twigs and debris show up in our yards. Have the kids make it a regular job to go clean up the yard, front and back, to help out and make lawnmowing, for example, an easier activity (and if the kids are old enough, make them start mowing the yard!).
• Re-organize the laundry room (family activity): being at home a lot more doesn’t mean that laundry levels off. Nope, laundry never ends! Kids can always help do the laundry, fold and put away their clothes, but is your laundry room as organized as it could be? Maybe it’s time, as a family, to examine your space and think about ways that the room could be better organized. Mounting shelves for storage and organization of laundry detergent and other related items is a great start. We found this DIY tutorial courtesy of the Home Depot, which can help you get started with creating a more usable space plus teaching your children the benefits of using tools and materials such as a tape measure, level, power drill, screws and nails: https://blog.homedepot.com/diy-laundry-room-storage-ideas/.
• Build a compost bin (family activity): creating a compost bin is another part to the gardening chore. We found this easy and simple tutorial that your family could use to create a compost bin together. Not only will having a compost bin help your garden grow, but your kids will learn more about recycling and re-purposing of what previously was thought of as “garbage”: https://www.younghouselove.com/younghouselovedotcompost/
• Help with pets – feeding, cleaning up poop or litter, and walking. This goes almost without saying. Even young children can aid with the pets more. Feeding them on a regular schedule, keeping water bowls full, cleaning the litter box, and picking up poop in the yard are all ways the kids can be helpful and learn about responsibility! Pets are members of the family too!
• Use screws, nuts, and bolts to re-decorate the kids’ bedrooms: hanging photos, framed posters, string lights, etc. Is your child ready to redecorate their room? Especially your teenager? This is a great home improvement project for not only teens but kids of all ages – they can research different ideas online, create a design and room layout on paper, get photos or posters framed for their walls, hang up lights and wall décor, etc. The list goes on and on! This process also gives kids access to learning about budgeting, how to hang things properly, what their personal design style is, and more. We found some fun ideas here: https://www.thebudgetdecorator.com/teen-bedroom-decorating-5-quick-tricks/
• Most important tip for kids to give Mom a break: change the roll of toilet paper and load, unload, and reload the dishwasher WITHOUT BEING ASKED! This tip doesn’t need to be explained any further.

The idea of your perfect outdoor oasis might not be, say, your current backyard. But…since we’ve all been spending plenty of time in and around our yards these days, the timing might be excellent to add some elements to your outdoor space to make it the perfect destination for your family this spring and summer. Moss Building & Design has come up with a list of the five things you need to create the perfect outdoor oasis (and can help make that happen!):  

New/Updated Deck, Patio, or Screen Porch  

Perhaps you have a deck or patio already, but, is it checking off all the boxes of your outdoor space “must haves”? If not, consider updating your space to a screened-in porch that feels like a natural extension of your current home. You can add more homey features like lighting, décor, and much more. If you don’t have an outdoor space already, now is a great time to add a stone patio or a full deck (which can utilize long-lasting materials for durability and resilience throughout every season). Depending on how your home is situated on your property might dictate what is best suited for your home, and that’s where the expert designers at MOSS come into play. We can help you make the best decisions for your space to make it work well for your family. This Annandale, Virginia porch and deck remodel combines the best of both worlds, providing the family with space they can use practically year-round.  

Outdoor Fireplace  

Here’s one way to really up the ante: add a fireplace to your outdoor space! This remodel in Arlington, Virginia included not only a three-story addition, but, an outdoor “man cave” of sorts, including this gas fireplace. Not only is it functional, but the incredible stonework on the fireplace gives the space an outdoors-y, natural vibe. If a full fireplace isn’t in your wheelhouse, you can also have a portable firepit or have a permanent firepit built in, perfect for cool summer evenings and s’mores.  

New Long-Lasting Furniture 

Has your outdoor furniture taken a beating from the elements? It might be time to purchase new furniture. But there’s no need to limit yourself to specific furniture for fear of the weather. New developments in material have created many brands of furniture that are able to withstand rain, wind, snow, and more throughout the year. Explore the options available for comfortable seating for your screened in porch, tables and chairs for your patio, and more. This McLean, Virginia client now enjoys many a summer evening in their screened porch with their beautiful furniture:  

Better Lighting  

Outdoor spaces look romantic and lush when lit with ground, spotlight, or ambient lighting. Why not add those to your outdoor space to give it the look that you’re earning for? There are many ways to install lights: low points like on stairs or around the perimeter help provide soft lighting that is also practical (i.e. helping people see where they are going!), and higher installed lights provide a backdrop to the space, giving the illusion of a “room”. Lighting is an extremely personal decision – here’s a great resource on many ways to plan out lighting your space: https://www.thisoldhouse.com/landscaping/21017967/all-about-landscape-lighting.  

Plantings & Flowers  

If you’ve been considering adding some plants and a flower garden to your outdoor space, now is the perfect time! Even if you lack experience, you can learn a great deal from your local garden center and online. Pick what you think is pretty and would work well with your space – whether that’s around your patio’s perimeter or in pots or planter boxes on your railings or on your deck. Want to see how easy it is to create a planter box on your own? Moss Building & Design recently hosted a live workshop on Facebook in which viewers learned to build and fill both a flower and an edible planter box. Check it out with your family and challenge yourself to create your own: Planter Box Part 1 and Planter Box Part 2.  

Bonus Idea: Water Feature 

If you are thinking about taking things up a notch further, then installing a water feature might be something to consider. Here’s a beautiful set of ideas that could really bring some unique beauty and serenity to your outdoor oasis.  

We hope you’re inspired to update your outdoor space with any or all these ideas. And if you’re ready to begin, please contact us at Moss Building & Design for a free estimate to begin your outdoor space remodel at 703.961.7707 or via Hello@MossBuildingAndDesign.com.

Built in 1910, the historic home purchased by our clients last year fit all the criteria for what they were looking for in a forever home: ideal location, vintage charm, and space to entertain family and friends. However, the home’s original layout, with its large dining room and small kitchen, and lack of a master bathroom, while appropriate for the era in which it was built, did not suit the modern sensibilities and needs of the homeowners. With this in mind, Jacey and Brad reached out to MOSS and our team of expert designers to transform their main level to give them the gourmet kitchen that would provide them the opportunity to better receive family and friends, as well as create a brand new master bathroom entirely from scratch from a little used second floor “bonus” room. To paraphrase the homeowners, MOSS was able to assess the situation and visualize the solutions to make the homeowners’ vision of their dream home a reality.  

Creating a Beautiful Gourmet Kitchen from the Original Formal Dining Room 

When they first purchased their new home, Jacey and Brad immediately knew that the small corner kitchen and incredibly large dining room, used in the past for formal entertaining, was not to their taste. Rather, they knew that they wanted a large, beautiful kitchen that could be used to gather with family for the holidays and with friends throughout the year. Here’s what the dining room looked like originally:  

The solution? Switch out the dining room and make it into the new, grand kitchen the homeowners desired. Once the decision was made, and with a focus on having a white kitchen with entirely white cabinets (Jacey’s dream come true!), the MOSS designers created a seamless look to the cabinetry, including utilizing cabinet panels as the front for the refrigerator and freezer (a very trendy look these days) and using a section of corner cabinetry to house a baking center with appliances and supplies, as well as adding a half wall of cabinetry with glass fronts to showcase the homeowners’ beautiful china.  

The massive center island, which houses two dishwashers, a sink, plenty of prep area, lots of seating options, and a great amount of storage, is home to a beautiful countertop of honed marble, matching the rest of the kitchen’s countertops. The piece de résistance in the kitchen, the island truly serves as the gathering spot for Jacey, Brad, and their close-knit family.  

A final unique touch, in contrast to the all-white kitchen and countertops, is the stunning navy blue stove, which matches the china on display as well as the curtains on the tall windows. Add in all new new light fixtures, recessed lighting, and, along with plenty of natural light, the stunning new kitchen is a “wow”!  

Creating a Master Bathroom from the “Bonus” Room 

While at first glance having a “bonus” room would seem to be just that, a bonus, that was not the case for our MOSS clients. The bonus room was simply another room that served little purpose. On the other hand, the lack of a master bathroom was a bigger issue that needed to be solved. MOSS brought its creative energy to help solve the issue, and the team, along with Jacey and Brad, all agreed that the bonus room, with its location next to the master bedroom, would be the perfect space for a new master bathroom.  

With its odd layout, however, as well as three staircases in and out of the room and the top of the former kitchen’s chimney running through it, the bonus room had to be completely transformed to become the master bathroom Jacey and Brad were seeking. To solve these issues, one staircase was completely closed off and the chimney covered up so as to essentially disappear, while all the plumbing for the room had to be run through the lower level ceiling and walls up to the bathroom.  

The final result? A calming oasis for the homeowners to relax in at the end of the day. The large walk-in shower is beautifully hand-tiled and located next to a standalone soaking tub, which sits next to a large window that allows in plenty of natural light. The water closet area has a unique wallpaper that draws the eye, as does the curved archway above the toilet, which matches the design in the kitchen leading from the hallway. MOSS was also able to transform a beloved piece of family furniture, which had traveled the globe with Jacey and Brad, into the master bathroom’s vanity, adding in a gorgeous countertop. While the room was transformed almost entirely from its original purpose, the homeowners kept the original hardwood floor, which provides continuity to the rest of the home and the original look and feel of a bygone era.  

Can’t get enough of this gorgeous renovation? See more and hear from the homeowner in this video. 

Stunning Home Renovation in Herndon, Virginia 

Helping to transform this Herndon home was a labor of love not only for Jacey and Brad, but also for the MOSS team that worked with them. A forever home is a dream home, and every day in it, post remodel, should feel special. MOSS strives to give every client the incredible result that they desire for their home remodel – and this beautiful transformation is a testament to that commitment. If you’re feeling inspired and/or been considering a home remodel, contact MOSS today for a free consultation at 703.961.7707 or email us at Hello@MossBuildingAndDesign.com.  

Transitional interior design combines the best of both worlds – traditional and contemporary design elements.  With more than half of all kitchen remodels designed in transitional style recently – more than double the kitchens designed in traditional, contemporary, or farmhouse styles, transitional design is a hot design trend for 2020 and beyond. 

A well-designed transitional kitchen includes clean, sophisticated lines of modern design features as well as beautifully decorative accent pieces typically seen in traditional kitchen design.  It’s important to maintain a good balance of modern and traditional design elements, so one does not overpower the other.  

To ensure a cohesive and fluid transitional-style kitchen remodel, as opposed to a mismatched clash of styles, keep the following in mind during the design and selection process:

• Streamlined cabinets with sleek hardware
• A nice mix of man-made and natural materials
• Marble, granite, soapstone, or limestone countertops – polished, honed, or a combination of both
• Hardwood flooring
• Neutral colors, such as white, beige, gray, or “greige”
• Stainless-steel appliances and mixed metal fixture finishes
• Stacked grid backsplashes, geometric-patterned tile, or herringbone pattern
• Ease of movement between kitchen and dining or living areas

Combining Man-Made and Natural Textures Creates Depth

In this Northern Virginia kitchen remodel, a moveable island work-station on smooth caster-wheels features a thick, gorgeous butcher block top that complements the dark, wide-plank hardwood floors and contrasts beautifully with the smooth white cabinetry.  The pretty colored base of the island work-station was custom ordered to complement a similar shade on the walls, creating a warm, inviting place to work and play.  

Gloss-finished, beveled white subway tile adds a polished touch between the wall cabinets and the white and gray natural stone countertop, which coordinates with the stainless-steel double oven and appliances.  Additionally, in the same kitchen design, similar lush wood tops the bay-window seat in white carpentry featuring hidden storage.  The designer ensured the lines were clean and crisp throughout the transitional style kitchen remodel.   

Pairing Contrasting Countertop Materials Generates Interest

In this Fairfax Station kitchen remodel, a transitional style brings together traditional and modern features into an updated classic style, with a variety of contrasting elements that when combined make a strong design statement.  The two large islands custom-built for entertaining feature sleek, smooth, polished white marble with elongated darker veins countertops atop white base cabinets; whereas, the perimeter countertops are honed, leather-textured indigo soapstone.  The homeowners were fascinated with how soapstone responds to the leathered treatment, resulting in elongated raised crevices creating depth and texture that complement the movement in the smoother-finished marble.  Together, the striking contrast is intriguing and beautifully composed.  

Choosing Neutral Colors Provides Backdrop for Personal Style Kitchen Decor

Transitional style cabinets are light or medium color in lighter-grained wood, painted wood, or mixed materials. Walls are white, light gray, beige, greige, or blues.  In this Northern Virginia kitchen remodel, the hood is hidden behind white cabinet-like panels above a six-burner gas range.  Subway tile, that changes color from gray to beige depending on the light source, bridges the light countertop and white upper-wall cabinets and also connects to the greige wall color above.  The lines in this kitchen are designed to establish a fluid flow both vertically and horizontally and draw guests into the space to pull up a seat at the inviting island.     

Mixing Metal Finishes Sets New Kitchen Trend

Gone are the days where everything in a room needed to match.  No more matchy-matchy in interior design for the home.  Thankfully, 2020 kitchen trends give permission to feature handles with any finish, adorning cabinets like stylish but subtle jewelry in the same kitchen, with elegant light pendants showcasing black or gold metal, glass shades or pendants, and stainless-steel appliances and faucets. 

Ensuring Well-lit and Ease-of-Movement Transitions

Since transitional style kitchens typically open to the dining or living rooms, a smooth design transition and ease of movement are key elements.  In this Northern Virginia kitchen remodel, a large, functional, and stylish island serves this purpose very well, as does a separate beverage station or butler’s pantry.  While white kitchen cabinets with stainless steel appliances are timeless in almost any design style, the more traditional-style dark base-cabinet in the island is trimmed with more decorative shoe molding to create a transitional kitchen design.  The two rectangular windows, white perimeter cabinets, and lighter backsplash tile with lighter grout provide the light and airy effect necessary to achieve a transitional kitchen design. 

Because the kitchen serves multiple purposes, ranging from preparing meals to gathering around the island to relaxing nearby, so do well-thought out lighting options.  Designers are strategically placing a variety of light sources in transitional kitchens, including pendants, recessed lights on dimmers, under-cabinet mounted strips, interior lighting in glass-door cabinets, chandeliers, and ambient lighting fixtures.  

Transitional Kitchen Design

Transitional interior design is a collaboration of the best of both worlds – blending intriguing textures of traditional design with the sleekness of contemporary style elements.  When remodeling a kitchen to be a transitional style, a cohesive balance is required of clean straight lines and an overall lighter color palette from modern design and of decorative details and darker minimal finishes from traditional design. 

If you are considering and addition or remodeling your home, MOSS designers are seasoned design experts and can help you transform your space.  For a free, in-home estimate, call us at 703-961-7707 or email us at Hello@MossBuildingandDesign.com to get started.

“Hope springs eternal in the human breast; 

Man never Is, but always To be blest. 

The soul, uneasy, and confin’d from home, 

Rests and expatiates in a life to come.” 

― Alexander Pope, An Essay on Man 

Staying at home during this unusual and unprecedented time is the best way to help our community and the essential workers on the front lines of the COVID-19 crisis. That being said, we here at Moss Building & Design understand that many people are struggling with how to make the time at home as positive as possible, even with work, distance learning, and family under one roof, all the time. So, with that in mind, we reached out to local area experts to learn ways that we can all take advantage of the time at home this spring to spruce up our homes with some simple, fun and easy do it yourself (DIY) tips – which can result in brighter, greener, less cluttered and more organized homes. We hope you take advantage of these tips and, if you’re in need of home remodeling or improvement, MOSS, an essential business, is open and available for free estimates at your convenience.

Interior Spaces & Staging For Spring  

Dawn Earles, owner of Dawn Earles Design, LLC and curator of popular Facebook group (Renovate Ready Nova (Nova Redesign & Remodel) shared the following top 10 ways to upgrade your interior:  

1. Painting is the best way to freshen up a space: add drama with an accent wall, try using a fashion-forward color like Benjamin Moore Newburg Green HC-158! 
   
2. Give a dull and dated hall bath a face-lift by painting the cabinets a classic color like White or a fun color like Hale Navy and add new hardware to create eye-catching drama.
3. Repurpose old pillows by heading to your favorite craft store and purchase pillow covers for an instant pop of new color or fun texture.  
4. Can’t manage to keep flowers looking fresh and alive? No problem! Create a beautiful DIY boutique with a variety of faux peonies, roses, ranunculus and greenery for instant color! 
5. Looking to add some art to a blank wall? Head over to my friends at Etsy and select from hundreds of downloadable images to print off and frame. I do this a lot for clients on a budget or for rooms that need smaller pieces of art.  
6. Freshen up a family room by decluttering and removing unnecessary objects in corners. A lot of times we find ourselves filling spaces that would be better if left unfilled. 
7. Mirror, mirror on the wall…it’s important to let light reflect objects and what better way than by adding a mirror to your space? This will also make the room appear larger!  
8. When re-arranging furniture, clear the room. Take the scale of your furniture into consideration. We all want to be comfortable but oftentimes we stuff the room with oversized furniture that doesn’t fit the space and end up shoving it all up against the wall. Play around with the furniture in the room but understand you may need to remove a piece or purchase new to accommodate flow and scale. 
9. Color your books…yes! If you have old books around the home, and want to put them to good use, paint them! Grab acrylic paint and pick a color scheme that coordinates with your decor to add interest to bookshelves or style to mantles or tables! 
10. Add texture to your floor. Nothing makes more of a statement in a room than a beautiful rug. It’s OK to layer a rug over the carpet as it adds another element of texture. Nowadays rugs are pet and kid-friendly: just look for a 100% polyester material and you’ll be sure to find one to beautify your space! 

Spring Decluttering With The LITL System 

Lisa Geroci Rigoni, owner of The Organizing Mentors and curator of the Facebook page The Organizing Mentors, shared that her business’s main goal is to help give her clients their space back, both mentally and physically. During this time, she suggests focusing on decluttering the area of your home that drives you the craziest. The kitchen is likely the busiest area of your home at the moment, with constant use and lots of traffic. If that’s not an option, Rigoni suggests working on the area of your home that can serve as a retreat from all the together time we are all experiencing. Perhaps your bedroom could use some decluttering – by making a few actionable changes, you can find some space that works for you to relax better. Rigoni offers virtual sessions for anyone who needs extra assistance in working through their home organization, and also shared with us her proprietary “LITL (Leave It To Lisa) System”, which is outlined below – a great start to spring decluttering:  

THE LITL SYSTEM: 

L – Let It Go – What do you have that you can do without? If something doesn’t fall into the categories of Love or Need, then let it go. Start simple, with what you know you don’t want. 

I – Intentional – What makes you feel positive when you see it? And what has the reverse effect? Discard items that produce negativity, sadness, resentment – and keep the things that bring positive emotions. Ask the difficult questions. 

T – Transform – Once you make a decision, you are transformed. Clean something out, your world will transform. The benefits and relief are instantaneous. 

L – Love It – What you’re left with are only those items that you love and/or need. The space surrounding you will be a truer representation of who you are, and living within that space becomes uplifting and empowering. You’ll love it. 

Home Organization & Maintenance  

Is it just us or do you often find yourself either avoiding organizing your closets until you’ve got “free time”, or, organizing them and then, six months later, returning to the job because you can’t maintain said organization?  

Dan Beller, Chief Operating Officer of Eco-Nize Closets, shared the following with us: “If you want to be successful reorganizing your closet and adding custom closet organizers, it’s best to break down the project into a couple of steps. Here are a few tips and tricks for each step of the process!” 

Decluttering 

1. Before you begin decluttering, take an inventory. Divide everything up seasonally, and try to donate or give away one item per day from each season for a week. 
2. Be realistic: if a particular item is not in style anymore, or you’re not in love with it, add it to the donate pile.  
3. By getting things you’re not wearing donated, you give yourself a better idea of what you need in your new closet. And, the more you can prune down your clothing storage ahead of time, the easier the transition to the new closet will be. 
4. Is there anything in your closet that shouldn’t be there? Did your holiday decoration boxes end up in your closet instead of back in the basement or attic? Get everything into its proper place so you can accurately plan your layout. 

Planning/Design 

1. Start deciding how you want to store everything: by season? Color-coded? By clothing type? Will you store shoes in loose pairs, or in their boxes?  
2. Think about your design: do you want a system open to the floor, so you can slide boxes under your hanging clothes? Or do you prefer a bottom shelf and trim, to give your closet a more built-in look?  
3. This is a great time to get a professional involved – by having a designer from a closet company like Eco-Nize come out for a free consultation, you can get a rendering of your space, suggestions for optimizing your storage, and budget expectations laid out. 
4. Don’t forget about all the useful accessories: tie and belt racks, jewelry tray drawer organizers, laundry hampers, etc. 

Installation 

1. This is the easy part for you! Sit back and let the experts install your beautifully designed brand-new closet! 

Settling In 

1. Fill your new closet back up! Think about buying new, thinner, plastic hangers, rather than reusing your thick clunky wooden or plastic ones – you can actually save a lot of space just by switching to a thinner hanger.  
2. Let your friends come over to admire the new closet, and share these tips with them so they can repeat the process in their homes!  

Adding Greenery Inside and Out

Family owned and operated, Reston Farm Garden Market has several locations in the Northern Virginia area, and, is still operating with online ordering and curbside pickup for their fresh fruits and vegetables, homemade delicacies, plants, mulch and much more. MOSS spoke with Lowell and Bonita Weinstein, owners of Reston Farm Garden Market, to learn more about how to bring greenery into and around your home this spring.  

Indoor Green Spruce Up Tips 

1. Add houseplants, which have relaxation benefits, and also bring oxygen to your home. Start with a small (6 inch desk sized) plant, then expand to 10 inch plants.  
2. Consider beginning a small garden from seed from inside your home. This is also a great opportunity to do this as a family project. Reston Farm Garden Market sells kid-friendly kits for small home greenhouses as well as flower pot kits for kids.  
3. Plant an herb garden – this can be done indoors or outdoors, or as a combination project. Start small with starter plants in a window box or a small pot, then expand to a larger pot outside. You can combine several herbs into one pot as well, but avoid adding mint to the mix (mint is a fast growing herb that will take over the others).  

Outdoor Green Spruce Up Tips 

1. Many people are now preparing their gardens to grow vegetables, getting beds ready, purchasing mulch — now is a great time to begin the process, as Reston Farm Garden Market has 4 inch starter plants for tomatoes, peppers, squash and more available.  
2. With lots of first time customers anxious to beautify their homes’ exteriors and interiors, the Reston Farm Garden Market recommends, if you’re new to gardening, to consider hearty plants such as pansies, geraniums, or begonias. The market also has a full line of shrubs, perennials, and more.  
3. This spring could be a wonderful time to add some color to your home’s interior and exterior but also gives you something to do and keeps your hands busy. And the results of a home garden are truly satisfying!  

So, How Do I Start My Spring Spruce Up?   

We love all the suggestions that our expert Northern Virginia area partners have provided for us to share with you – but truly, we realize that tackling them all at once seems overwhelming. So how does one start the spring spruce up process? Take baby steps. Pick one area that you’d like to improve upon and begin there. Go slowly, pace yourself, and revel in what you’ve accomplished that day or week, but keep your expectations in check.  

At MOSS, we understand that this is an odd time to be living our day to day lives – pick and choose your spring spruce up options carefully, and then keep this list handy for when you’re ready to start task # 2, and so on and so forth. And, remember, as you’re spending more time working in the same space and staring at the same walls, perhaps also considering a spruce up to your master bathroom, gourmet kitchen, basement, or other areas might provide you the focus and motivation to make some remodeling decisions for your home that will benefit you far beyond this spring. Contact MOSS at hello@mossbuildinganddesign.com or call us at 703.961.7707 for a conversation, consultation, or a chat, and we’ll work with you to get started on whatever home renovation has sparked your fancy this spring. 

Gourmet kitchen design trends are exciting to watch as they come into the marketplace, aren’t they?! Moss Building & Design has recently been keeping tabs on several kitchen appliance trends, specifically, that are unique and popular with our customers. Perhaps you’re in the pre-planning or design stages of a gourmet kitchen remodel (or have some long-term plans to begin a kitchen remodel in 2020!) – if you haven’t yet considered specific kitchen appliances, we’d like to share some of those that our kitchen designers are finding particularly trendy:

Hidden Kitchen Appliances

At a glance, do you know where the refrigerator and freezer are in each of these images? If it’s not immediately apparent, then our designers (and clients) did a great job hiding them! In fact, the kitchen appliances are “hidden” behind front kitchen cabinetry panels specifically designed to appear as if they are simply that, cabinetry. This stunning look is very popular and trendy right now and transforms your kitchen. 

We love the look of the all black wall in this Oak Hill kitchen remodel, which also hides a pantry and other storage — all the kitchen cabinets open with a touch mechanism, which completely minimizes the need for handles. The other featured kitchen, also located in Oak Hill, hides the refrigerator and freezer beautifully in line with other accent cabinetry and lighting, and looks more like a featured work of art than an appliance.

Mini-Beverage “Drawer” Fridge

How clever is this? Instead of installing a mini-fridge in your cabinetry, why not install a mini-fridge drawer? This drawer looks just like another way to store pots and pans. But, in fact, it’s a mini-beverage station! Perfect for quickly icing down plenty of drinks or having cool beverages on hand for the kids and for parties. We adore this beverage fridge in this Fairfax gourmet kitchen!

Full-Sized Temperature-Controlled Drink Refrigerator

Why install a mini-fridge when you could install a full-sized one? If your family entertains a lot, or has a large wine collection (and doesn’t have a wine cellar), a full-sized drink refrigerator, complete with perfect temperature control, would work best for your gourmet kitchen remodel. In fact, this full-sized refrigerator is located in the family room with an attached mini dishwasher and bar set up. Perfect additional appliances for all the parties you’ll be able to throw in this renovated kitchen in Reston!

Oven Air Fryer 

Image courtsey of Frigidaire and Home Depot

While the multi-cooker was the “it” countertop appliance for the past few years, countertop air fryers have followed closely on its heels. With the ability to cook food in a manner that is reminisent of frying but with many fewer calories and fat, the air fryer is the answer to many food lovers’ prayers. Now, many appliance makers have been creating conventional ovens that also have the ability to air fry peoples’ favorite foods in addition to regular baking, roasting, or stovetop sauteing. This evolution gets rid of the need for the countertop appliance completely! We think this will be a trend that will be embraced quickly!

“Smart” Kitchen Appliances

This isn’t news, but, technology is everywhere – and if you haven’t seen it in your kitchen appliances yet, you soon will. Imagine being able to control your slow cooker or oven with an app on your phone or via text message? How about all touch controls that connect you to recipes from the internet directly onto your refrigerator? These and more advancements are being seen in more and more kitchen appliances. Probably the best way to help busy families will be the ability to control appliances after you’ve left your home – what if you’re in a hurry getting the kids to school and yourself to work but you can’t remember if the oven or stove are still on? Smart kitchen appliances can notify you when you’re out and about and allow you the remote control (so to speak!) over them – putting your mind at ease and not creating havoc on the homefront. 

What are your favorite of these trendy gourmet kitchen appliances? We think they’ve all got a place in the kitchen remodels of today and the future, and Moss Building & Design would love to chat with you about your dream gourmet kitchen. Contact us at Hello@MossBuildingAndDesign.com or call us at 703.961.7707 for a free consultation – and start thinking about which (or all) of these appliances will have a place in your new kitchen remodel.

Pictured here are two kitchen countertops installed in homes remodeled by Moss Building & Design: 

Can you tell which is granite and which is quartz? Maybe not from a set of kitchen remodel pictures (unless you’re a professional kitchen designer!), but, in person, there are distinct differences. While both are beautiful and add incredible style and look to your kitchen or bathroom remodels, it’s important to know what options exist so you can pick the one that’s perfect for you. 

Granite Kitchen Countertops

A natural stone mined throughout the world, granite is made up purely of various minerals, giving each slab a unique and attractive look. Considered one of the most durable of the natural stones due to its heat-resistant qualities, granite doesn’t blister or chip or scratch easily. Plus, granite is one of the hardest materials found on Earth!

When choosing to use granite in your remodel, slabs are either cut and polished to fit the specific dimensions of a kitchen countertop or bathroom countertop or you can choose pre-cut slabs, depending on your design.

Granite is an excellent choice for kitchen countertop remodels – imagine not having to worry about putting a hot dish on your counter or dropping a heavy platter without a bit of worry! Installing granite in your bathroom remodel is also a great idea for enjoying it long term. The durability of granite cannot be downplayed. 

Are there negatives to granite? Granite is a porous material. It’s important that your countertops be sealed upon installation, and then at various points in the future (using sealers you can purchase and apply yourself), so that liquids are not absorbed too quickly, potentially. Bacteria can also live longer on granite surfaces. Another potential negative to choosing granite is that you are limited to what is available from sources, and, as granite comes from natural sources, the colors and speckling are not going to be bright and bold as something man-made could be. 

Quartz Kitchen Countertops

Quartz is a natural stone that is actually harder than granite and is also extremely durable. It is a non-porous material, which means that neither bacteria nor liquids can be absorbed if present. That all being said, however, quartz is generally not the only material used in quartz countertops. Mostly, the countertops listed as “quartz” are a combination of quartz, a chemical binder, and a variety of other stones – therefore, quartz countertops are more commonly known as engineered stone. 

Quartz countertops used in kitchen remodels must always be protected from high heat pots and pans – the surfaces are not as heat-resistant as granite. While that is a downside, quartz countertops are a more “green” choice for your kitchen or bathroom remodel: by combining a variety of both natural and man-made products, there is less need for damage to the Earth in the process of producing it. Plus, engineered stone is able to showcase specific colors or a more streamlined look than granite (where every slab is different and unique). 

A final difference is price: more homeowners are turning to quartz countertops as they can truly find something that is specific to their aesthetic. This, of course, makes it a potentially higher price point. If you prefer a more natural look, choosing granite might be a good way to also save money. 

Should I Choose Granite or Quartz? Either One! 

You really can’t go wrong with either granite or quartz in your kitchen and bathroom remodel. Moss Building & Design works with each client to understand their personal style and vision to create a design that makes it a reality. Understanding the differences between the two choices can only make the decision making harder! If you’re ready to begin a kitchen or bathroom remodel, contact MOSS today at Hello@MossBuildingAndDesign.com or at 703.961.7707. 

During this time of COVID 19-related uncertainty, it would be easy to focus solely on ourselves and our needs. However, as it has been shown time and time again, we, as a people, are driven to reach out, give back, and help those around us who need it more than we do. However, just as we are still learning how to deal with the situation as it changes every day, figuring out how to help our neighbors, community, and local small businesses is constantly shifting and changing. MOSS has been giving back to the local community for years, and we pride ourselves on partnering with groups that need our assistance. Our team has been listening and leaning in, and hope that we can offer some ways that we can help those #inneed today, tomorrow, and in the weeks and months to come: 

Helping Your Neighbors

• Social media is trending with the hashtag #inneed. If you are in need of something (Clorox Wipes, etc.) or know of an older individual who is, post #inneed then the item that is needed. This is a great way to help on behalf those who are not active on social media. 
• Visit your senior citizen neighbor and ask how you can help them — shop for groceries for them, pick up their medication, and make their life easier and safer. 
• Check in on your neighbors, constantly! Make a text stream for your street neighbors if anyone needs help and be available if anyone needs childcare or dog walking, for example. 

Helping Your Community

• Buy reasonable amounts of items and adhere to guidelines (don’t over buy!). 
• Follow the CDC recommendations: constantly wash your hands with soap and hot water for 20 seconds, don’t touch your face, practice social distancing, shop at off hours to lessen crowds, and be vigilant about staying home if you are sick. 
• Donate any extra canned food or needed items for school children who normally receive free or reduced breakfast and lunch at local elementary schools. 

Helping Local Small Businesses

• Order a meal delivery a few times a week from a local, family-owned restaurant — help them stay in business, especially if communities are asked to self-quarantine. 
• Promote online shopping for local businesses or consider personalized gifts for birthdays or anniversaries for the rest of the year by choosing a local vendor. 
• Local businesses might implement delivery options for dog food, pharmacy items, or more – stay on top of the news or details via NextDoor.com. 

And, when you find yourself potentially at home dealing with an illness, caring for others who are sick, or hunkering down at home with children who are home from school for long periods of time, it helps to think ahead to the future when life returns to normal. Perhaps you’ve been considering a home remodel for a while, or perhaps after staring at your four walls for a few weeks, you’re inspired to make a change! Spend some time browsing our MOSS boards on Pinterest and pin some ideas for a gourmet kitchen or an updated master bathroom, or begin your own vision board on Houzz (check out the MOSS Houzz page for ideas!) to get your thoughts in order. 

Working Together 

By working together as a community to flatten the curve, continuing to practice healthy habits, and focusing on our fellow man as well as ourselves, we can live through this current public health crisis and come out the other side ready to return to our usual day to day existence. MOSS wishes all our customers and friends good health. 

As families grow, both in number and age, homes start to feel a little cozier than when you first moved in. Is that true for your Northern Virginia home? Is it feeling a bit snug? If so, you might have already been considering the different ways to add space, especially if you love your community and want to stay where you are settled. But at the same time, do you adore your yard space? Perhaps the answer to it all is remodeling your home to include a bump-up addition using vertical space to give your family room to breathe AND to preserve the yard you love. Learn about our home remodeling services and how they can help you with your dream home!

A vertical build-up, also called a bump-up or pop-top addition , preserves your existing footprint as well as outdoor space. Options include: Utilizing your existing top floor space with a Gable-style high-pitched roof which may offer room to convert into living space with the addition of large dormer windows, a balcony, and stairwell. Or, add a second story to a Ranch or Rambler style home–perhaps on a narrow lot. Another thought: add a third floor to a split foyer or split level home. Build up with a guest suite, rental, home office, sunroom or porch, or game room above an existing garage or over part of an existing, one-story wing: whichever direction you choose, the end result will give you the space you need while preserving the yard you want. Most pop-top additions are bedrooms/bathrooms/laundry rooms with maybe some common areas.

How to Start Your Home Addition

Home Remodeling Basics

With a vertical home addition of any kind, your contractor should always inspect the foundation and ground to ensure it is stable and can bear the significant extra weight and pressure. Additionally, the allowable height for homes in your neighborhood as well as the floor-area-ratio, also known as building-to-land ratio, will be confirmed before architectural drawings are started or permits pulled.

Some moderate changes will be made to the existing home to create a passageway and stairs, access electrical lines and heating and A/C components, and connect plumbing. Sometimes, it is most cost effective to install a bathroom over a laundry room, kitchen, bathroom, or any other room below with existing plumbing, so the water lines can connect via the shortest distance.

In this Vienna addition, a master suite was built over the garage to maximize living space as the homeowners remodeled their home.

 

 

 

Connecting the Structure

Even though a bump-up home addition is focused on the upper level, a seamless approach to adjoining the lines between the original structure and the new one is essential so that it does not look disjoined. Your contractor will discuss options for the roof line, façade, shingles, windows, doors, and exterior features related to the overall style of your home.

This Arlington bump-up home addition included an entirely new second level, built over the original brick rambler, housing multiple new bedrooms and bathrooms.

In a bump-up addition, you likely will not need to consider where the roofline connects to the house, as a new roof across will most likely be required. In the long-run, a roof’s size and cost to replace is much more manageable as a build-up than a build-out which covers more horizontal square footage. The same can be said for the initial cost of foundation materials to build-out. You will, however, need to consider exterior and interior finishes and materials to create a cohesive style, as well as new windows.

 

 

 

In this Arlington bump-up, also called pop-top, the new second-story home addition included three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a laundry room. In the process of transforming their home, the original brick was painted, while cedar shake siding was used for the new addition exterior, creating a seamless look to the update.

In the back of the bump-up, would you like floor-to-ceiling windows to bring the outside in or would you prefer shorter, higher windows? In the front of the house, windows should complement and harmonize with the existing windows on the main level in regard to size, placement, and spacing. In the back, there is more room to play with design changes. This is a great home remodeling project completed by MOSS.

Have you identified a good place to install the stairs, which require 80 to 120 square-feet, depending on design?

Designing Your Home Addition

Now that you’ve canvassed your neighborhood for recently remodeled floor plans, created an inspiration album on Houzz or Pinterest, and window-shopped various showrooms, it’s time to coordinate your dream home ideas with your and your family’s lifestyle, budget, and purpose for expanding your home.

In this Northern Virginia bump-up, an in-law suite with an enlarged step-in shower, dual-sink, and antique vanity accommodates relatives all-year round.

 

For 18 years, Moss Building and Design has served Northern Virginia in build-up and build-out additions as well as kitchen, bath, basement, laundry, whole-house, and master suite remodels. Contact MOSS at 703.961.7707 or email us at Hello@MossBuildingandDesign.com for a free one-hour estimate to talk about your ideas for a bump-up to preserve yard space and maximize your living space’s square footage. To start your inspiration album of photos and ideas, log on to www.mossbuildinganddesign.com to see our recent projects.