Creating Open Spaces

After contracting with Michael Nash, a local homeowner watched as his vision came to life. But creating an open floor plan within an older home was not without its challenges. The redesign took time, dedication and a lot of creativity.

As someone with a background in the construction industry, the owner of a Centex townhome whose first floor was closed off and lacked the openness he wanted to see knew that creating an open floorplan was possible—with the removal of a few walls and the reworking of some spaces. “He wanted to explore taking all interior walls out and create an open flow between the kitchen, dining and living spaces, with a massive kitchen,” says Sonny Nazemian, Master Designer of Kitchen/Bath at Michaela Nash Design, Build & Homes.

After contracting with Michael Nash, the homeowner watched as his vision came to life. Initially, the home’s living room at the front adjoined a small, boxed-in formal dining room, and a structural wall separated the kitchen at the back of the house from the front living space. “It was all too choppy and too separated for their daily lives,” Nazemian notes. “What they envisioned was much more open and useful to how they live in their home.”

The challenges in creating the open floor plan out of the existing one came from various factors. The floor was built on a concrete slab, and the partition wall was load-bearing. The HVAC system was also located on the second floor, with the supply and return ducts all boxed in columns in living spaces on the first floor. Opening the areas meant eliminating the bearing partition walls, relocating all supply and return ducts from the box columns, running a gas line from the exterior meter for the new stove, and cutting the concrete slab to relocate all plumbing and electrical for the new kitchen island.

The plan was to combine all of the spaces of the entire first level and create an open floor plan, relocating the new, larger kitchen at the front of the townhouse and constructing a large island in the middle of the space to accommodate ample group seating. The old kitchen at the back of the home was converted into a casual family room with seating facing a coved wall with a linear fireplace, shiplap boarding and a built-in, recessed TV. The old, glued floor was replaced with a more contemporary LVT flooring, and the space was lit with new LED lighting.

Floor-to-ceiling cabinetry was installed on the south wall of the kitchen with upgraded appliances, and lighting was installed in the cabinets. The newly built island was covered with a gorgeous quartz countertop with a waterfall edge on one end, and the addition of three pendant lights brightened the space.

“The design team spent a great deal of time with the couple for details such as color scheme, backsplash design, countertop slab and floor design to determine what they wanted their new space to look like and to make that vision a reality,” says Nazemian. “Now, the island stands tall in the middle of this amazing kitchen, and the living spaces are open to one another. This new open floorplan reveals what an amazing total overhaul has been accomplished and how happy the family is now spending time on this floor of their home. It works much better for their needs and how they live, and they are incredibly pleased with the outcome.”

Story by Liesel Schmidt

Anyone who’s ever been a kid knows that, as a child, you’re not exactly preoccupied with dental health. If anything, you’re scheming how to get out of brushing your teeth. Raising your child’s awareness of good oral hygiene is important, so try to do it in a way that’s fun and will stay with them. Here are a few “fun facts” about teeth that will help your kids take better care of their smiles.

Did you know…?

The enamel on your teeth is actually the hardest bone in your body. Believe it or not, your skeletal bones have nothing on tooth enamel. The protection that your enamel provides as the covering of your teeth is the reason teeth last so long. Enamel also defends the inner part of the tooth called the dentin. Maintaining and taking care of your enamel means brushing your teeth regularly—once at night and once in the morning—and not biting into hard objects. In other words, avoid the ice chewing and crunching on hard candies.

Over the course of your life, your mouth generates around 25,000 gallons of saliva. Got spit? Amazingly enough, that 25,000 gallons of saliva is the same as the amount of water in a standard Olympic-sized swimming pool. All that spit serves a vital purpose beyond keeping your mouth moist: saliva contains essential minerals that protect the enamel on your teeth and help avoid decay.

Baby teeth start growing in the gums prior to birth. As a baby develops before birth, his or her teeth also start growing and forming under the surface of the gums. This growth accounts for the “itchy gums” that kids experience before baby teeth sprout. A child’s mouth has 20 baby teeth, compared to 32 permanent teeth in adults.

The amount of bacteria in your mouth outnumbers the population of the entire world. As big a number as that is, it doesn’t have to be a problem. Brushing your teeth regularly between meals will help keep the bad bacteria that causes tooth decay and cavities at bay and protect against it.

No one has teeth the same as anyone else. Look at your teeth in the mirror and pay attention to the teeth of the people around you. You’ll see that yours are not like anyone else’s. Teeth are as individual as fingerprints. No two people—even people who are related—have identical teeth, which makes them a great identification tool, as does the enamel that protects them and makes them last forever.

March 2023

MARCH 4

St. Patrick's Day Parade in Old Town

101 S. Alfred St., Alexandria

12:30-2pm

Held annually on the first Saturday in March, the Parade has grown to being the largest one-day event in Old Town Alexandria. Featuring pipe bands, Irish dance schools, community groups, and a host of other musicians and performers. www.ballyshaners.org/parade.html

MARCH 5

Comedy Night

Hops N Shine, 3410 Mt Vernon Ave, Alexandria

7-8:30pm

Laughs are free on draft every Sunday! Doors at 6pm and the show starts at 7pm. Seating is available first come, first serve. Every week a new local comic is featured. Any comic including brave newcomers (or seasoned standups) who are interested in entertaining the crowd for Del Ray’s favorite comedy night should arrive early to sign up! Learn more: www.hopsnshine.com/events

MARCH 8

Women In Business (WEBA)

The Garden - 5380 Eisenhower Avenue, Suite C Alexandria

6-8:30pm

Join the West End Business Association (WEBA) for its First Annual Women's History Month Celebration! Featuring Alexandria City Leaders, Small Business Owners, Non-Profits, and Guests. Your ticket includes (2) drink tickets, networking hour and a panel discussion. Register: www.alexandriaweba.com

FEBRUARY 9

MARCH 9

Trivia Night

Barkhaus, 529 E. Howell Ave., Alexandria

6:30-8:30pm

Think you're smarter than your dog? Come find out at DC's first dog friendly trivia night! Hosted the last Tuesday of every month at Barkhaus! Be sure to come hungry, thirsty and ready to compete for a grand prize! Reservations are required to play.

Register: www.brewskisbarkhaus.com

MARCH 11

Lena's 2nd Annual Meatball Madness

Lena's Wood-Fired Pizza & Tap, 401 East Braddock Road, Alexandria 11am-1:30pm

In honor of National Meatball Day, gather your winning team of four to see if you can balance Lena's Giant Meatball on a spoon without dropping it in record time. Unleash your inner elementary school relay race skills in this tournament!

Reserve your team: www.eventbrite.com

MARCH 12

Celebrations of the Land: Inspired by River Farm

River Farm, 7931 E. Boulevard Drive, Alexandria

1-3pm www.novapleinair.com

Group show by Nova Plein Air Artists at the beautiful historic property formerly owned by George Washington. Now home to the American Horticultural Society, it offers lovely gardens and beautiful river views. Many of the paintings in this show were painted on site at River Farm and all are for sale.

MARCH 13

CareerCon: A Post-Grad Masterclass

Northern Virginia Community College (Alexandria Campus - Fine Arts Building), 5000 Dawes Ave, Alexandria

8:30am-12pm

Whether you are about to graduate from high school or already pursuing higher education, this program is for you! This new program will connect Alexandria’s students with professionals working in industries of interest. Students will learn about the state of their future industries as well as essential curriculum skills for adult life.

Free Registration: www.thechamberalx.com/event/careercon

MARCH 16

Jeopurrdy Night: Trivia with CATS

Mount Purrnon Cat Cafe + Wine Bar, 109 S. Alfred St, Alexandria 6-8pm

One hour of Jeopardy-style trivia - with adoptable rescue cats. www. mtpurrnoncatcafe.com

MARCH 17 - APRIL 17

Still Fresh Group Exhibition

Principle Gallery, 208 King Street, Alexandria

6-8:30pm

Visit this local art gallery for their new show: “Still Fresh.” Featuring beautiful artwork like Hanging Lemons by Pamela Carroll, Sponge Cake V by Jason Pfeiffer and Touching Play by Anna Wypych. www.principlegallery.com/alexandria

MARCH 17

Lucky's St. Patrick's Day Bar Crawl

Various locations

4-10pm

Join the luckiest bar crawl ever. Two days of fun - pay once and crawl both days! Complimentary drinks, stadium party cup, food specials and more! Tickets: www.crawlwith.us/alexandria/stpattys

MARCH 18

Guinness Six Nations Viewing Party

Daniel O'Connell's, 112 King Street, Alexandria

All Day

Visit Alexandria's "Home of Six Nations" Rugby for Round 5. Doors open 15 minutes before kick-off.

Learn more: www.danieloconnells.com/events/

MARCH 24

Women's Leadership Forum

The Westin Alexandria, 400 Courthouse Square, Alexandria

7:45-10:30am

An interactive, “straight talk” discussion filled with inspiration and insight as we explore this topic and more. Presented by The Goodhart Group. Register: www.thechamberalx.com/event/womens-leadership-forum

MARCH 25

Senior Services of Alexandria Annual Gala

The Westin Alexandria, 400 Courthouse Square, Alexandria

7:45-10:30am

SSA’s 55th anniversary. Celebrating the positive impact they have on the lives of Alexandria’s older adults.

Learn More: www.seniorservicesalex.org/news/gala