For many homeowners across Northern Virginia, the main level is where life really happens, whether it’s cooking, gathering, working, relaxing, or entertaining. Yet many homes were designed with formal rooms, closed-off kitchens, and layouts that aren’t intentional or functional. A thoughtfully planned main level remodel in Northern Virginia can change that! Transform any layout into the one that makes sense for you and your family with creative design solutions.
At Sun Design Remodeling, we’ve been reimagining main levels in the DMV, using our collaborative design-build remodeling process, for over 35-years – we’ve seen it all!
Discovering Design Possibilities You Never Imagined
One of the most common things we hear from clients is, “We never realized our home could be this way!” Many homeowners are amazed at the design possibilities hidden within their existing footprint. Through Sun Design’s proven process, our team collaborates closely with each client to uncover how they truly want to live – then designs solutions to support it.
By understanding how a family moves through their home, where bottlenecks occur, for example, and which spaces are underused, we’re able to transform main levels in ways homeowners had not imagined. The result is a custom main level remodel that reflects their lifestyle, priorities, and long-term plans – not just a prettier version of what they already had.
Turning Unused Rooms into Spaces That Makes Sense
Across communities in McLean, Fairfax, Vienna, Arlington, and Great Falls, we see the same pattern again and again: large formal dining rooms that sit empty most of the year. While these rooms were once designed for special occasions, today’s families often prefer flexible, everyday spaces that better support how they live.
In many Northern Virginia home renovation projects, these underused dining rooms are often transformed into:
- Expanded kitchens
- Family-friendly great rooms
- Home offices or learning areas
- Lounge or entertaining zones
By repurposing these oversized dining rooms, homeowners gain square footage where they need it most – without adding on. It’s a powerful way to make a main level remodel both efficient and highly personal.
Creating Cohesive & Connected Spaces
Opening up the main level, what is referred to as “open-concept”, is one way to achieve better connection on the main level, but it’s not the only way. Sometimes the key to making your main level feel connected, brighter, and more comfortable is to introduce visual harmony throughout.
For example, in the photo to the right, the color of the built-ins/walls in the living room matches the color of the kitchen cabinets shown above, which creates visual harmony. A wall between them was removed, yes, but the design stopped short of full open-concept. Instead, we created a sight-line that allows the two spaces to connect while remaining defined. The added bonus is that this allows natural light to flow from one side of the house to the other, while preserving a cozy aesthetic.
Main level designs often incorporate:
- Open kitchen layouts with islands for gathering
- Better sightlines between rooms
- Defined zones that still feel connected
- Consistent flooring and finishes for visual harmony
These upgrades create a home that supports everything from quiet mornings to lively evenings with family and friends.
A Smart Step Toward a Whole Home Remodel
For many homeowners, the main level is the first step in a larger transformation. Whether you’re looking to do a main level remodel in Fairfax or just reimagining your kitchen in Clifton, starting with the main level delivers immediate lifestyle improvements and long-term value.
That is why we believe in using a holistic approach to design, which means we look at the spaces as a whole, not isolated from one another, but considering how changing one space would affect another. This approach, in collaboration with you and understanding your family’s needs, will result in a home that enhances your everyday life for years to come.
The Sun Design Difference
As an award-winning design-build remodeling firm, serving Northern Virginia and the DC metro area for over 35-years, Sun Design takes a collaborative, client-focused approach to every main level remodel. We listen carefully, plan thoughtfully, and design spaces that reflect how you live today, and how you want to live tomorrow.
From concept through construction, our goal is to bring families together, and create a remodeling experience that feels as seamless and rewarding as the space itself.
Ready to love your home?
Schedule your no-obligation design consultation and discover how Sun Design can help you create open, inviting spaces designed for winter living – and every season that follows.
Partner with Sun Design for a Smooth Remodeling Experience
At Sun Design Remodeling, we believe in building trust, fostering creativity, and delivering exceptional results. Whether you’re planning a McLean luxury home remodel, Great Falls custom home renovation, or looking to increase home value with a remodel in Arlington or Alexandria, our proven process ensures every detail is planned and executed with care.
We proudly serve high-end neighborhoods across the region, including:
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Fairfax luxury home remodel
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Leesburg luxury home remodel
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Lake Barcroft custom home renovation
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Northern Virginia luxury home remodel
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And beyond—including the best remodeling company in the DMV and metro DC area
Ready to start your home renovation investment? Contact us today!
For more inspiration and expert advice, explore our Creative Design Solutions on our blog.
