Before & After: Kitchen Remodel in Ashburn, VA

This Ashburn, VA kitchen remodel turned a 2005 builder-grade oak kitchen into a bright, open, modern space — same footprint, dramatically different feel.

The before

• Honey-oak raised-panel cabinets (original 2005)
• Beige laminate counters, tiled backsplash
• Small pantry closet
• Poor lighting — one center dome fixture
• Vinyl flooring pretending to be tile

What the homeowners wanted

• Modern but warm (no cold all-white kitchen)
• Way more storage
• Better lighting
• No wall removal — budget kept the layout

The remodel scope

• Cabinets: slim shaker in warm off-white, painted navy on the island
• Counters: 3 cm quartz, waterfall on island
• Backsplash: floor-to-ceiling zellige tile in a soft cream
• Pantry: converted a coat closet into a full pantry wall with pull-outs
• Lighting: 6 recessed cans, 3 island pendants, under-cabinet LED
• Flooring: engineered white oak, wide plank
• Appliances: kept the fridge, upgraded the range and dishwasher

Final numbers

• Cost: $68,500
• Timeline: 7 weeks demo to walk-through
• Payback impact: comparable Ashburn homes with updated kitchens sell 4–7% higher

Design lessons

1. Same layout, better storage was the single biggest budget win — no plumbing or gas moves.
2. Painted island delivers a modern accent without committing the whole kitchen to a color.
3. Zellige tile to the ceiling made a small kitchen feel much taller.
4. Pantry wall eliminated the need for taller upper cabinets.

Want the same in your Ashburn home?

Book a consultation — we'll walk your kitchen and give you a fixed price. See more finished projects on our projects page.