Arlington Condo Remodel

Story by Liesel Schmidt | Photography by Christy Kosnic

As a certified kitchen and bath designer for 18 years, Anna Gibson has a substantial portfolio of work to back her name. On top of that, the relationships she has forged with industry experts has created a strong network that gives her company, AKG Design, an even greater edge. Hired to redesign a condo that had all the hallmarks of a builder-grade special, it was that network that brought her to the condo owner’s attention. “I was recommended by her contractor, and after reviewing our previous projects and our discovery call, she realized that we were the right fit to make her vision come true,” Gibson recalls. That vision was one of Old-World glamour, bringing the condo from “drab to fab” in a way that would fit the client’s lifestyle. “The builder-grade style was not going to fit our client’s needs and style,” Gibson notes. “When she bought this unique twostory condo, it had a beautiful view into Washington DC, but most of the finishes were original, with a few ‘updated’ that were very much outdated and didn’t fit her unique style. One of the main goals was to bring high style and functionality to the condo. Beyond the update of the flooring and the bathrooms, the kitchen was small and dysfunctional, and the master bedroom was open to the office below, leaving it with little privacy. The owner wanted to make sure the master bedroom had privacy that still allowed sunlight and a stunning view of the National Cathedral. We came up with a glass enclosure to match the existing windows that would also block any sound and added remote control window treatments on the main window, keeping the view accessible, the room private with light control and the view front and center. In the kitchen, we opened all the walls, bringing the view in with plenty of countertops, storage and space to host.” As with any redesign, there were challenges to overcome. “Being that this was a condo, we had to leave a few things in place, but we were able to hide them or work around them,” Gibson says. “We also originally planned to drop the ceiling

"Anna was recommended to me by my contractor and helped me completely update my condo. She brought in creative design ideas to make my space both functional and beautiful and shepherded me through the reno process end to end. I loved how seamlessly she worked with my contractor team and every individual supplier and could not be happier with the end result!

- Sarah

and add recessed lights, but because of the location of the fire sprinkler system, we were limited on how much we could drop it. So we installed a tube LED system in the drywall, allowing us to spread light throughout the room. We also had to keep the wall to the right of the island and built it into the design, as the plumbing to the island had to run through it.” Using a mix of materials, finishes, textures and intricate patterns, Gibson achieved the glamour that her client aspired to, still keeping the spaces clean and modern, yet timeless. Seven months after beginning, the project was complete. “Our client loves every corner of her new place,” says Gibson. “Having the very specific style and look she was going for, I think we absolutely nailed it.”

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