When building a house to sell, a developer is tasked with crafting a home that will attract an unknown buyer and generate a profit. By partnering with an interior designer as early as possible in the project, the builder can achieve an appealing aesthetic and remain conscious of the budget. This was the situation at a new-build home in Chevy Chase, Md., when Hannah Goldberg, founder of Washington, D.C.-based Hannah Charlotte Interiors, took on the design of a large home and infused it with the amenities to attract a high-end buyer while ensuring her builder client would benefit from the investment.
For Goldberg, the first step in this type of project is imagining the end user of the home, even developing a furniture plan to inform how the interior structures are laid out.
“We don’t want to design for no one,” she said. “I love to imagine how people will flow through the space and live in it.”
Goldberg achieved her goal of giving the home both character and mass appeal by being willing to spend more on special features and pull back on others.
All in on Kitchen Cabinetry
In the kitchen, the appliance package provided direction, and with the end user and furniture plan in mind, Goldberg tweaked the layout to improve the workflow. Knowing what a high-end buyer would expect, she selected upgrades like paneled appliances, double ovens, a microwave drawer, a large work sink and secondary prep sink and created a spacious walk-in pantry.
A significant part of the budget went to the cabinetry, which is custom and has a slate-blue/green finish. Because cabinets are a key element a homeowner interacts with every day, going custom was a splurge that made sense.
“Taking cabinets to a granular custom level and putting a lot of thought into what purpose each serves is a really powerful tool,” said the designer.
To keep the kitchen costs within her client’s profit margin, Goldberg chose quartz countertops with subtle veining, which will also provide the future homeowner with a durable work surface. For the first time, she used a beadboard backsplash, which saved money and added texture to the space without competing with the cabinets. Likewise, the budget-friendly cabinet hardware does its job but does not take centerstage, and lighting was chosen from cost-effective lines that offer stylized designs.
Worth-It Custom Features in the Bathroom
The primary bathroom is another space where balancing the budget allowed Goldberg to create a broadly appealing design with notable elements. Here, her biggest splurge was the oversized floor tile, which is also used as wainscot in the shower. Although she searched for less-costly options, she and her client agreed it was worth the expense.
To keep the tile budget in line, Goldberg paired the oversize tile with a less-pricey shower floor tile and used subway tile above the shower wainscot. With each design in the same color family, the monochromatic look raises the effect of these less-expensive selections.
“We are always looking at creative ways to use subway tile,” she said. “With colors, installations and grouts, you can make it look better than basic.”
In this bathroom, the custom double vanity with details like set-back shelves and a double-sided waterfall countertop for symmetry further elevates the space. A custom tub surround balances the large room and includes push-to-open drawers.
But custom means costly, so Goldberg pulled back on the plumbing package, which was neither a splurge nor a save, and sourced mirrors and light fixtures with an entry-level price but high design.
Her second project with this builder, the house shines with personality.
“When you are designing an investment property, pick your moments to make the deepest impact,” she said.
Sources
Designer: Hannah Goldberg, Founder, Hannah Charlotte Interiors Photographer: Jenn Verrier KITCHEN Countertop & Oven Wall Backsplash: Viatera Quartz Cabinet Hardware: Top Knobs Cabinet Paint: Sherwin-Williams Cabinets & Hood: Custom by Turner Cabinetry Cooktop, Microwave, Ovens & Range: Wolf Dishwasher, Refrigerator & Ventilation: Sub-Zero Faucets & Pot Filler: Grohe Flooring: White oak Lighting: Four Hands & Jake Arnold Sinks: Kohler PRIMARY BATH Cabinet Hardware: Top Knobs Countertop & Tub Surround: Viatera Quartz Faucets, Shower Fixtures & Tub Faucet: Grohe Flooring: Porcelanosa Lighting: Hudson Valley Lighting & Jake Arnold Mirrors: West Elm Paint: Sherwin-Williams Shower Door: Custom by Hutchison Glass Sinks & Toilet: Kohler Tile: Bedrosians, Porcelanosa & Tile Bar Tub: American Standard Vanity: Custom by Turner Cabinetry
