Open-Concept Kitchen & Main-Level Remodel in Burke, VA
A full main-level transformation — kitchen redesign, open floor plan, hardwood flooring, and a rebuilt staircase.
This Burke, Virginia home needed more than a cosmetic refresh. The main level felt closed-in and dated, with walls boxing the kitchen off from the dining room and foyer, worn carpet on the stairs, and finishes that no longer matched how the family wanted to live. Vale Construction reworked the entire level into one bright, open, connected space.
By removing the walls that separated the kitchen, dining room, and foyer — and taking out an unnecessary closet — we opened up the sightlines and let natural light move through the whole floor. A complete kitchen redesign, new hardwood throughout, and a modern staircase tie the rooms together into a single, cohesive living area.
Project Overview
Location:
Burke, Virginia (Fairfax County)
Project Type:
Kitchen redesign & main-level renovation
Scope:
Open floor plan, kitchen, flooring, staircase
Contractor:
Vale Construction
Scope of Work
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Removed the walls dividing the dining room from the kitchen and the foyer from the kitchen to create an open-concept main level.
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Demolished an existing closet to reclaim usable space and improve flow.
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Replaced dated carpet throughout the main level and stairs with elegant hardwood flooring.
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Full kitchen redesign with new cabinetry, a large center island, quartz countertops, and a fresh tile backsplash.
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Rebuilt the staircase with new modern railings and light wood treads to match the new flooring.
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Coordinated finishes across the kitchen, dining, and living areas for one cohesive look.
The Challenge
The original layout worked against the home. Load-bearing and partition walls separated the kitchen from the spaces around it, so the cook was cut off from the dining and living areas and daylight was trapped in individual rooms. The cabinetry, busy granite, and tile backsplash read as dated, and carpeted stairs with a heavy wood railing made the entry feel dark and enclosed. The goal was a modern, open main level that felt larger and brighter without changing the home's footprint.
The Renovation Process
Removing the dividing walls turned three cramped rooms into one continuous, light-filled living space. The redesigned kitchen now anchors the main level with clean white shaker cabinetry, a generous island with a waterfall quartz countertop, a modern apron-front sink, and a contemporary tile backsplash. Warm hardwood flooring runs unbroken through the kitchen, dining, and living areas, and the rebuilt staircase — with its bright open railings and natural wood treads — completes the transformation.
The remodel didn't just modernize the look of the home; it fundamentally improved how the space works for everyday living and entertaining.
