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Laundry Room Design Hacks

I’ve painted my laundry room a peaceful aqua color that honestly makes me take a relaxing breath every time I see it — even if there are piles of laundry to do on the floor. Color can go a long way. Another great paint choice for your laundry room could be this year’s Pantone Color of the Year: Living Coral.

You’ll also want to design your space with these hacks for laundry rooms in mind: install shelving to hide clutter, add a folding station, hide your ironing board in a roll-out drawer or have a designated hanging spot for it on the wall, or consider sliding barn doors if your laundry area is more of a nook rather than a defined space.

Make sure each family member has their own laundry basket. Having a different colored basket for each member makes it easy to sort and separate (and helps them know if their folding chores have been done). No more, “Mom, where is my soccer jersey?”

Additionally, I love the idea of a wall-mounted drying rack — like this one from Pottery Barn — for those delicate air-dry items. If you have space, some larger laundry rooms have a drip or drying bar that could be installed over your folding station.

Laundry Room Organization at Its Best

Good shelving is essential in a laundry room. This simple laundry room in a Vienna, Virginia basement has open, adjustable shelving above the utility sink. This is the best place to organize your cleaning supplies and laundry detergents as well as store bulkier items like paper towels, tissues, and toilet paper for your home.

Over-the-door hanging racks — like this one available for just $18 on Amazon — are also a great hack for storing cleaning items.

This laundry room in Herndon, Virginia does double-duty as a mudroom as well. Muddy sports outfits can go straight in the wash, instead of sitting on the floor for days. Efficiency at its best! Lots of cabinets also help the space look clean, organized, and clutter-free.

When renovating your laundry room, one of your major decisions will be what type of washer and dryer to purchase. Consumer Reports is a great place to go to get the most up-to-date ratings and reviews. It’ll also help you decide whether you’d want front-loading or top-loading machines.

Ready to Work With Northern Virginia’s Best Contractor?

If you are looking to reimagine your laundry room and get over all your laundry room organization woes, contact us at (703) 961-7707 or email us atHello@MossBuildingandDesign.com.

Ask us how you could get 4 free hours of design help from a professional home organizer through our Home Organization Promotion running until the end of May 2019.

Oakton Kitchen Remodel Built for Entertaining

What were their must-haves? The list included a large island, a seating space for entertaining, spacious pantry storage, and the proper layout for transitioning easily from cooking to serving (particularly, hosting large, family-style pancake breakfasts).

The original kitchen design was no longer architecturally pleasing. To accommodate awkward beams and spacing issues, white cabinetry and column accents were specially designed to work with the room and hide load-bearing beams. This made for a seamless flow between the cabinets and created maximum storage.

It was so important for the family to have space for their children, spouses, and future grandchildren to all come together in this area that a large island upgrade was absolutely necessary. The river blue, granite island and counter tops helped inspire the blue paint color used in the kitchen and dining area as well as the modern, blue bar stools. It also brings out the hint of blue used in the back splash tiles.

Unique Pantry and Sitting Areas Customize This Kitchen Design

A unique feature of this kitchen is the couch adjacent to the island. The couch sits up against a knee wall that separates the kitchen from the living room. This area divides the large space and adds extra seating for gatherings.

To accommodate a need for smart storage solutions, MOSS’ designer worked with the homeowners to create this pantry area in the kitchen. The large, roll-out cabinets replaced the now-eliminated corner pantry room without sacrificing storage space.

The kitchen is absolute perfection when it comes to beauty and function. The original floors were kept and new hand-cut, clear glass Schonbek “Bagatelle” pendant lights hang over the kitchen island; a new gourmet, double bowl kitchen sink overlooks the adjacent dining room; and new appliances — like the Thermador oven — inspire the desire to cook large, family meals. Everything down to the custom knife drawer and hidden bookcase for cookbooks and miscellaneous supplies was thought of meticulously.

Northern Virginia Kitchen Remodeling Experts

Transforming dated kitchens into luxurious places for families to gather is one of our specialties. Read about another Oakton kitchen remodel on our blog here.

Are you inspired to transform your kitchen? Contact Moss Building & Design to discuss the remodel of your dreams at (703) 961-7707 or email us at Hello@MossBuildingandDesign.com.

Planning Ahead Is Key When You Have a Small Kitchen

The most essential step in redesigning any kitchen is to plan ahead. This is especially important for a smaller kitchen because there is little room to spare. A small kitchen’s layout should prioritize food prep over entertaining or gathering spaces.

A well-designed floor plan will optimize every inch available in the cabinets, on the counter, and along the walls.

Ideally, the length of a “work zone” in a kitchen is a maximum of eight feet, with three feet between opposing countertops. This is one of the reasons the work triangle works so well in smaller kitchens, including both the galley kitchen and U-shaped kitchen. If a peninsula or stationary island is not in the plan, don’t desert the island concept.  Instead, make an additional workspace movable with a rolling cart or butcher block.

Appliances Need Not Be an Eyesore  

Appliances occupy the most square footage in the kitchen, so choose the right size for your space. Even in larger kitchens where the refrigerator is aligned with the countertop, it can stick out and infringe on the flow of traffic. Here are some tips to make appliances work for you in a smaller kitchen:

• Recede the refrigerator into the wall.
• Hide appliances behind cabinets with a built-in, integrated or overlay cabinet style.*
• Purchase smaller-sized appliances in stylish designs.
• Raise appliances and cabinets off the kitchen floor to create the illusion of a higher space.

*An integrated style refrigerator is fully paneled and installed flush with cabinets; whereas, an overlay unit has a visible vent and a door panel that protrudes out from the cabinets.

Whatever option you choose, make sure to include the appliances in the planning phase and incorporate their features into the overall design of the kitchen. That will prevent them from sticking out like sore thumbs in the end. Finally, clean lines create the impression of a larger area, so don’t clutter the space with appliances all in one part of the kitchen.

Utilize Vertical Square Footage

To make the most of a small kitchen, start at the bottom and work your way up the wall.  Running the floor tile or boards lengthwise will make your room look longer. Using the space along the wall just below the ceiling for storage will create the illusion of a higher room, as well.

• Extend cabinets all the way to the ceiling to trick the eye into thinking the space is larger than it is, and also capitalize on often wasted space.
• Use the top of cabinets for extra storage and display pieces, if current cabinets do not extend to the ceiling.
• Add more efficient storage options for food with a tall pantry and door organizer to collect similar items in one convenient location within reach and out of sight.
• Tile a feature wall all the way to the ceiling with tiles positioned in the opposite direction to the floorboards to create depth as well as height.

Accessorize With Space-Saving Organization Solutions

A small kitchen constantly invites countertop clutter because there never seems to be enough storage space. Eliminate the clutter build-up with well-planned organization inside drawers and cabinets.

• Consider a thin pull-out spice rack from space that otherwise may be wasted with filler.
• Add at least one shelf to each upper cabinet.
• Use drawer organizers, plate racks, shelf risers, cabinet dividers, utensil trays, custom pot drawers, pull-out racks, or a Lazy Susan.
• Choose lighter colors for the walls, countertop, and cabinets and also brighten the inside of the cabinets with glass doors to create a more airy, open feel.
• Install cabinet lighting fixtures if budget permits.

Two major perks to remodeling a kitchen are planning the layout to exactly meet the needs of your lifestyle and getting to personalize the design.

Moss Building & Design can help you design stylish, smart solutions for your dream kitchen. Contact us at (703) 961-7707 or email us at Hello@mossbuildinganddesign.com.

Do you feel like you have a small kitchen? The industry describes a 10×10 footprint as a standard-sized kitchen, so anything smaller is defined as “small.” Whether or not your kitchen is “small” or just right, Moss Building & Design is a great partner to help you maximize storage and create the impression of a bigger space, which we all need.

Planning Ahead Is Key When You Have a Small Kitchen

The most essential step in redesigning any kitchen is to plan ahead. This is especially important for a smaller kitchen because there is little room to spare. A small kitchen’s layout should prioritize food prep over entertaining or gathering spaces.

A well-designed floor plan will optimize every inch available in the cabinets, on the counter, and along the walls.

Ideally, the length of a “work zone” in a kitchen is a maximum of eight feet, with three feet between opposing countertops. This is one of the reasons the work triangle works so well in smaller kitchens, including both the galley kitchen and U-shaped kitchen. If a peninsula or stationary island is not in the plan, don’t desert the island concept.  Instead, make an additional workspace movable with a rolling cart or butcher block.

Appliances Need Not Be an Eyesore  

Appliances occupy the most square footage in the kitchen, so choose the right size for your space. Even in larger kitchens where the refrigerator is aligned with the countertop, it can stick out and infringe on the flow of traffic. Here are some tips to make appliances work for you in a smaller kitchen:

• Recede the refrigerator into the wall.
• Hide appliances behind cabinets with a built-in, integrated or overlay cabinet style.*
• Purchase smaller-sized appliances in stylish designs.
• Raise appliances and cabinets off the kitchen floor to create the illusion of a higher space.

*An integrated style refrigerator is fully paneled and installed flush with cabinets; whereas, an overlay unit has a visible vent and a door panel that protrudes out from the cabinets.

Whatever option you choose, make sure to include the appliances in the planning phase and incorporate their features into the overall design of the kitchen. That will prevent them from sticking out like sore thumbs in the end. Finally, clean lines create the impression of a larger area, so don’t clutter the space with appliances all in one part of the kitchen.

Utilize Vertical Square Footage

To make the most of a small kitchen, start at the bottom and work your way up the wall.  Running the floor tile or boards lengthwise will make your room look longer. Using the space along the wall just below the ceiling for storage will create the illusion of a higher room, as well.

• Extend cabinets all the way to the ceiling to trick the eye into thinking the space is larger than it is, and also capitalize on often wasted space.
• Use the top of cabinets for extra storage and display pieces, if current cabinets do not extend to the ceiling.
• Add more efficient storage options for food with a tall pantry and door organizer to collect similar items in one convenient location within reach and out of sight.
• Tile a feature wall all the way to the ceiling with tiles positioned in the opposite direction to the floorboards to create depth as well as height.

Accessorize With Space-Saving Organization Solutions

A small kitchen constantly invites countertop clutter because there never seems to be enough storage space. Eliminate the clutter build-up with well-planned organization inside drawers and cabinets.

• Consider a thin pull-out spice rack from space that otherwise may be wasted with filler.
• Add at least one shelf to each upper cabinet.
• Use drawer organizers, plate racks, shelf risers, cabinet dividers, utensil trays, custom pot drawers, pull-out racks, or a Lazy Susan.
• Choose lighter colors for the walls, countertop, and cabinets and also brighten the inside of the cabinets with glass doors to create a more airy, open feel.
• Install cabinet lighting fixtures if budget permits.

Two major perks to remodeling a kitchen are planning the layout to exactly meet the needs of your lifestyle and getting to personalize the design.

Moss Building & Design can help you design stylish, smart solutions for your dream kitchen. Contact us at (703) 961-7707 or email us at Hello@mossbuildinganddesign.com.

Personalize your master bedroom with inspirational design features and you will no longer want to escape to a fancy bed and breakfast. Your space for rest and relaxation will be right at home.

Here are three fail-proof interior design trends to help you transform your master bedroom into your peaceful sanctuary.

Lighting is a Key Interior Design Feature

One of the most essential ways to achieve a beautiful home design is through lighting because it sets the ambiance. Lighting in the guest room or master bedroom is no exception. Good lighting sets the stage for sinking into a cozy bed for a quick nap on a crisp winter day or relaxing in a comfy chair with a good book just before bedtime.

Choosing the lighting elements in your room is important so that all your personal needs, from dressing and putting on makeup to relaxing and reading, are addressed. Like all good home remodeling projects, start with a plan. First, assess how much natural light you’re getting in your room. Do you have enough natural light from windows? How many and how big are the windows? Are they spaced around the room or on one wall? How much privacy do you need from the neighbors?  

Next, determine your overhead lighting needs. Do you need recessed lighting spread out across the ceiling, a bold chandelier that makes a style statement, or a subtle fixture to showcase other lighting features? Complement your lighting design choices with task lighting for a reading nook and bedside table lamps or wall sconces.

Master Bedroom Design Inspired by Paint Color

Which paint color you choose, like lighting-fixture finishes and fabric patterns, is a personal choice and sets the tone for the purpose of the room. To achieve a beautiful home design, rooms are planned with a purpose and with color.

Neutral colors like shades of white, Earth tones, grays, tans, and softer, lighter scales create a sense of calm and order, perfect for pampering and relaxing; whereas, bolder colors tend to invigorate and motivate.

If darker hues are a favorite, then glossy finishes work better because they reflect light, making the room look bigger and brighter rather than smaller and densely compacted.

Using one main color on the walls along with two accessorizing colors throughout the room is one inspirational design trend we can all get behind. This adds interest and depth to the room. Accessory colors can be found in trim, curtain and bedding fabrics, rugs, throw pillows, artwork, and textiles.  In fact, if you have treasured art or a favorite fabric, start your color scheme from it and choose your three coordinating colors from that cherished piece.

If your heart is set on one neutral color scheme, then create a dramatic contrast with lighter or darker half-tones of the same shade on the ceiling or trim. You could also change out bold red, blue, black, or gold accessories within a soft white room or decorate with darker furniture colors.  Introducing varying textures, materials, and seasonal colors in rooms with neutral white, gray, or tan painted walls will prevent it from becoming stark or boring. Remember, walls are not the only features that wear color.

Layering is an Easy Way to Add Style to Your Bedroom

Layering is an easy way to make a bedroom more cozy and comfortable. Create a layered look that is useful and practical for winter with throw blankets on a side chair, a folded family quilt at the end of the bed, a plush rug on colder hardwood floors to warm your feet, and novels stacked on bedside tables.

In warmer seasons, peel back the heavy layers and replace them with airy, lighter accessories. A light blanket at the foot of the bed for a breezy night; fresh flowers and family photos set on top of a decorative runner; and a pretty garden hat or lightweight sweater tossed neatly on an over-stuffed bedroom chair or well-loved sofa all work together to create a welcoming and inviting sanctuary.

How to Add Layers with a Remodel

When designing your master bedroom remodel or addition with a contractor, work with the designer to choose texture-rich features like a stone wall, fireplace, wood tongue-and-groove ceiling, or enlarged picturesque windows to showcase nature’s earthy features. Ensure you have a wide-enough wall to place your bed, which often is a stylish focal point of a well-designed master bedroom.  Dress it with layered and colorful fabrics to showcase the headboard, whether hand-carved wood or upholstered.

Are you looking for interior design inspiration for your master bedroom makeover? The possibilities are endless when you work with Moss Building and Design. Contact us at 703.961.7707 or email us at Hello@mossbuildinganddesign.com.

Download Moss Building and Design’s Guide to Home Remodeling here.

MOSS Wins Award for Community Service

The Community Relations Team was proud to accept this year’s National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) Metro DC Chapter’s 2019 Capital CotY award for outstanding community service. This is the second year in a row the team has been honored with this award.  

Throughout 2018, the team coordinated the donation of funds, handyman services, food, gift cards, and other items to over 100 organizations, schools, and other good causes in Northern Virginia. 

“Our team, and company as a whole, is dedicated to making a difference in our community each year. This award reinforces how rewarding our work is for those around us,” said Jennifer Zschunke, MOSS Community Relations Manager. 

The company has been community-minded since its founding in 2001. The hallmark of the Community Relations team’s efforts are HandyMOM 101 workshops to empower women to take on home remodeling tasks. Along with coordinating these workshops, the team works with a variety of organizations to sponsor school groups, food drives, races, and more. 

Moss Team Accepts Award at “Evening of Excellence”

Julia Kilberg and Janice McLaury accepted the award on Saturday, February 9, 2019 at the Westwood Country Club in Vienna, Virginia. The evening, the Annual CotY “Evening of Excellence,” was a blast from start to finish. Here are a couple of photos from the night.

 “Tidying Up with Marie Kondo” is all we’re thinking about right now. That’s why we’re getting in on the minimalist design trend!

To help you stay organized before or after a home remodel, Moss Building & Design is offering four hours of FREE help from a professional home organizer.* This includes a one-hour consultation and three hours of hands-on help from Amy Slenker-Smith.

Professional home organizer and owner of Simply Enough, Amy is ready to help you pack up your space before a remodel, or reorganize and declutter after the home remodel is complete!

For nearly 3 years, Amy has been a living simply blogger, speaker on minimalism in the home, and professional home organizer. She’s also a Moss Building & Design customer! Amy has literally been where you are and understands what it takes to stay organized before and after a home remodel.

Getting organized, decluttering, and simplifying your life has never been so easy. Space is limited, so take advantage of our Home Organization Promotion today!

The living room is one of the most functional spaces in your home. It’s used for relaxing, gathering, greeting visitors, and much more. So, how do you make the best of your living room when you have an oddly shaped space?

Follow these tips from Moss Building & Design to maximize your living room layout whether it’s small, large, or otherwise awkwardly shaped.

Small Living Room Remodel

A small living room can be a challenge. You need to make it comfortable without being cramped. You also need to include essential furniture like a sitting area, coffee table, and shelving. The best way to achieve balance in a small living room is by choosing the right furniture and minimizing the amount of clutter. Also, make sure your lighting choices are bright, as dark rooms often look smaller.

This living room in Arlington, Virginia, combines a small couch and chairs with a couple of round tables. The built-in wooden cabinetry was installed to surround a cozy gas fireplace.

Long Living Room Remodel

If you have a long living room, you’re likely dealing with the challenge of the space also being narrow. The best way to renovate a long living room is to focus on different functional zones.

One layout recommendation is to have the sofa and television space in one area with a conversation corner in the other area. An L-shaped sectional can delineate the room without using a wall.

Also, install built-in bookshelves in one part of the room to distinguish that as a reading or library area.

Use Built-Ins To Maximize Difficult Living Spaces

You may have an awkwardly shaped room with spaces you have no idea what to do with. Perhaps you have stairs with empty space underneath them, or your living room is circular. It might also have odd shapes and corners or low ceilings. Creatively using built-in shelves could maximize any of these spaces. Built-in shelves reduce the need for additional furniture and give character to your living room — even if it has a funky living room layout.

This round living room in Oakton, Virginia, embraces its unique shape. The orb pendant chandelier, rounded chairs, and rounded staircase were all room design choices to maximize the room’s shape. Read more about this remodel in our Before & After blog here.

How To Incorporate Farmhouse Doors Into Room Design

When you need separation but traditional doors won’t work, sliding farmhouse doors are a trendy solution.

This Arlington, Virginia, living room is next to an office space. In order to separate the office from the rest of the home, the owner opted for a decorative sliding door that adds to the look of the living room itself when closed.

Start Your Northern VA Home Remodel

If you want to remodel your living room, contact us now to discuss options. At Moss Building & Design, we’ll work with you on your living room design and tackle difficult remodeling projects. Call us at 703-961-7707 or email us at Hello@MossBuildingandDesign.com.

No matter how big your home, there never seems to be enough storage space. Yet, no matter how small your room, there are always clever storage hacks to help maximize space and organization.

Winter is an ideal time to declutter and prioritize your personal belongings into well-organized and practical storage solutions for stuff you’re not yet willing to part with or still need but don’t use regularly. Here are some creative ways to incorporate storage into your interior design.

Clever Storage Ideas for Small Bedrooms

Rethink what belongs in your closet and bedroom. Store your off-season clothing in clearly marked, breathable containers sized to slide under your bed. Consider subtle darker-colored bins, decorative baskets, or antique suitcases for a textured design element. A bed-skirt will also finish the look and cover the stowage.

If you need additional space, add risers to the legs of your bed frame. You may need more help than these DIY storage solutions can provide. That’s where an expert remodeler and the designers at Moss Building & Design come in.

Vertical Storage Solutions for Small Spaces

Vertical storage provides tremendous additional square-footage options for stylish storage solutions. Built-in or corner shelves showcase meaningful collections in a clean, functional process design element. A recessed wardrobe streamlines a room and limits bulky, protruding furniture pieces. A multi-purpose closet with sliding doors creates another working room within an existing space. There’s always room to convert the space under the stairs into a home-office nook.

Moss Building & Design worked with a homeowner in Oakton, Virginia, to provide a custom addition where the master bedroom features wall-lined floor-to-ceiling bookshelves to house an impressive library of books.

This multipurpose working space is another genius storage solution. The laundry table pulls out to a stainless-steel desk or additional workspace housed between recessed, symmetrical closets showcasing sliding barn doors. This multifunctional storage concept could easily be incorporated into a bedroom.

While renovating a home in Great Falls, Virginia, Moss Building & Design transformed the unused space under the stairs into a cozy nook for a laptop and office supplies instead of a closed-off closet. A similar concept could be designed into a bedroom with dormers to feature a desk and inset bookcases.

Dual-Purpose Furniture is Key

Use furniture that serves a dual purpose and provides additional storage. Instead of a bedside table, use small storage cabinets; install a floating drawer instead of a hook or shelf; and invest in a storage ottoman for linens or sweaters, as well as a place to sit while putting on your shoes.

This tucked-away pantry in one of MOSS’ renovated kitchens is another way to cleverly use storage space and keep your kitchen less cluttered. If you’re looking for help designing a kitchen like this one, we’ve got you covered.

Are you in search of additional storage solutions for all your seasonal clothing, office supplies, sports gear, holiday decorations, toys and keepsakes, books, inherited treasures, or clutter? Moss Building & Design can help you create additional storage in your attic, garage, basement, hidden nooks, or addition. Contact us at 703.961.7707 or email us at Hello@mossbuildinganddesign.com.