Some buyers see a dated house on a great street and recognize what others miss: the potential underneath. Our client purchased this 1957 bungalow in Arlington's historic Glencarlyn neighborhood at a favorable price, knowing from day one that a full home remodeling was the plan — and chose NextDay Remodeling as their general contractor to make it happen.
But before you scroll through the finished result, take a look at where this project started. The photos below show the original house, exactly as it was on day one.
Full Gut Renovation in Arlington, VA: Every Detail Rebuilt from Scratch
This wasn't a refresh. It wasn't a cosmetic update. This was a full gut renovation. A ground-up reinvention of a mid-century bungalow that retained only its brick walls and foundation. Everything else was removed, redesigned, and rebuilt to modern standards: new framing, new plumbing, new electrical, new dual-zone HVAC, new roof, and an entirely new second floor that didn't exist before we broke ground.
The finished home spans 3,150 square feet across three levels, with 5 bedrooms, 4 full bathrooms, an open-concept main floor, a fully finished walkout basement, and a detached two-car garage with a self-contained ADU studio above it — all on a 6,000 sq ft lot just steps from Glencarlyn Park.
Scroll through the photo gallery above and see for yourself what's possible when vision meets craftsmanship.
Code compliance and permit transparency: Every phase of this project (structural work, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and finish work) was permitted through Arlington County and passed all required inspections. When you hire NextDay Remodeling as your home remodeling general contractor, full code compliance isn't optional. It's how we protect your investment and keep your home insurable, sellable, and built to last.
Scope of Work
Structural Overhaul & Second Story Addition
The structural centerpiece of this project was a full second story addition built over the existing brick shell. This home addition required careful load calculations, new floor systems, and a complete re-engineering of how the house carries weight from the roof down to the foundation. On the first floor, load-bearing interior walls were removed and replaced with recessed structural beams, keeping the ceiling flush and seamless while opening the entire level to a single, connected living space.
New systems installed throughout the home include:
- Full electrical rewiring with 120/240V service
- New PEX plumbing supply lines and updated drainage
- Dual-zone heat pump HVAC system for independent climate control per floor
- New shingle roof and gutters
- HardiPlank fiber cement siding on the new addition
- New Trex deck at the rear with French door access from the kitchen
First Floor: Open-Concept Kitchen, Dining & Living
Walking into the finished first floor, you feel the difference immediately. The walls that once chopped this level into separate, disconnected rooms are gone. In their place: a single open expanse where the kitchen, dining area, and living room flow naturally into one another. It's the kind of layout that makes everyday life easier and entertaining effortless.
Our kitchen remodeling scope on this level included:
- Custom Shaker cabinetry in a warm light gray finish, running floor to ceiling
- Large center island with a waterfall quartz countertop that wraps cleanly to the floor
- Heavy-gauge electrical and a high-CFM range hood for professional-grade cooking
- Full plumbing reroute to accommodate the new sink and dishwasher positions
- Wet bar in the dining zone, with a wine cooler, hexagonal tile backsplash, and open shelving
- Three-tier lighting: recessed LEDs throughout, black-and-gold pendants over the island, and a statement chandelier anchoring the dining area
- Wide-plank light oak hardwood flooring running continuously across the entire level
- Dark geometric accent wall near the staircase for depth and contrast
The rear of the kitchen opens directly onto the Trex deck through large sliding glass doors. This seamless indoor-outdoor connection makes the backyard a natural extension of the living space.
Basement: From Storage Problem to Premium Living Level
Before this project, the basement was what you'd expect from a 1957 home in Northern Virginia — damp, fragmented, and underused. Transforming it into a livable space meant solving the moisture problem permanently before a single finish material went in.
As part of our basement finishing process, we implemented a two-layer basement waterproofing strategy that took full advantage of the home's comprehensive reconstruction:
- Exterior waterproofing applied to the foundation walls while the site was fully open — a level of protection rarely achievable during standard renovations, and one that provides confidence for decades to come
- Interior perimeter drainage system channeling any residual moisture to a high-capacity sump pump
- Dedicated automatic dehumidifier maintaining optimal air quality year-round
With moisture fully managed, we reconfigured the layout: the staircase was relocated for better flow, and a brand-new basement walkout entrance was added, bringing in natural light and giving the lower level true independence from the rest of the home.
The finished basement now functions as a self-contained suite:
- Open lounge area with LVP flooring in a light oak tone
- Sleek wet bar with custom soft gray-blue cabinetry, floating wood shelves, and quartz countertop
- Full private bathroom
- Generous storage closet
- Recessed LED lighting throughout
Bathrooms: Four Full Baths, One Consistent Standard
The primary suite bathroom scope included:
- Electric radiant floor heating beneath the tile
- Custom double vanity with twin mirrors and integrated linear LED lighting
- Walk-in shower with a matte black rain head, custom tile niche, and a low pony wall with glass panel in place of a solid partition — a detail that immediately opened the space visually
- Vertical fluted tile from floor to ceiling, maximizing perceived height
Detached Garage with ADU — A Second Structure in the Backyard
At the rear of the property, we handled both garage building and ADU construction as a single integrated project — a new two-story structure that adds meaningful utility and long-term value to the property.
Ground level — Two-car garage:
- 20×20 ft garage with an oversized footprint
- Glass-panel garage door
- Dedicated EV charging receptacle
- Concrete apron with paver walkway to the main house
Second level — ADU Studio (400 sq ft):
- Private exterior staircase with its own entrance, fully independent from the main residence
- Kitchenette, full bathroom, and open living/sleeping area
- Separate mechanical system (heating and cooling)
Whether used for an au-pair, extended family, or as a rental unit, this second story addition to the garage operates as a fully self-sufficient living space — a genuine asset with its own identity on the property.
Project at a Glance
| Total Living Area | 3,150 sq ft |
| Levels | 3 (Basement · First Floor · Second Floor) |
| Bedrooms / Bathrooms | 5 BR / 4 Full BA |
| Lot Size | 6,000 sq ft |
| Garage | 2-car detached + ADU (400 sq ft) |
| Original Year Built | 1957 |
| Renovation Completed | 2024 |
| General Contractor | NextDay Remodeling |
| Location | Glencarlyn, Arlington, VA |
Ready to Transform Your Home?
If this project resonates with what you've been envisioning for your own home, whether it's a full home remodeling, a second story addition, or a complete whole home renovation from the studs out, we'd like to hear about it. At NextDay Remodeling, we manage every phase in-house: design coordination, permitting, structural work, trade scheduling, and final inspections. You get one point of contact, full accountability, and a team that's done this before at this level of complexity.
Contact us today to schedule a consultation and find out what's possible for your home in Northern Virginia.