• BY RACHEL GALLAHER NOVEMBER 27, 2018

Portraits by Nate Watters

LAST FEBRUARY, I TOOK A TUMBLE WHILE SKIING AND TORE A MUSCLE IN MY LEFT CALF. It wasn’t anything major, but it put me on crutches for a few days. In an instant, I’d gone from being a stereotypically able-bodied individual to someone who needed help not only to get around but also to perform essential tasks.

Suddenly everyday movements I’d taken for granted were significant challenges. A trip from the couch to get a glass of water: an ordeal. Getting in and out of my old-fashioned clawfoot tub: another ordeal. Both my office and my apartment are on the top floors of walk-up buildings. Luckily, my job is flexible and allows me to telework, so I didn’t need to negotiate a commute. Friends and family helped out with meals, as standing to cook was out of the question.

Overall, I was very fortunate: my minor injury healed quickly and didn’t permanently disrupt my life. What it did disrupt was my way of thinking—in a few short days, my eyes were opened to the accessibility and exclusion challenges faced by millions around the globe on a daily basis. With each frustration I encountered, new questions arose: What if I had a job that required me to be onsite? What if I didn’t live near friends and family who were able to bring me food? How would I navigate trips to the grocery store, especially without an elevator in my building? What if I had small children to care for?

During my days on crutches, I experienced what Seattle-based designer, author, and educator Kat Holmes calls a “mismatch” with my environment. In her new book, Mismatch: How Inclusion Shapes Design (MIT Press, 2018), she explores inclusive design, explaining basic concepts that bring into sharp focus the need for accessibility both for people with disabilities and for society as a whole. In short, inclusive design is a methodology in which one designs with people, not for them, Holmes explains. It requires including a diverse set of individuals—of many races, genders, abilities, and socioeconomic backgrounds—in the design process from start to finish to ensure that the widest possible range of people can use, or easily adapt, the end product.

A mismatch happens when the features of an environment, product, or service don’t fit a person’s abilities or preferences. Think of it like this: The people, objects, places, and tech we encounter each day generally help us to access and participate in the world. Mismatches occur when these access points become barriers to our interaction with the world and even exclude us from it. We can all name obvious physical mismatches—e.g., absence of the curb cuts that enable wheelchair users to cross streets; TV shows that lack closed captioning—but we tend to overlook thousands of other, less tangible mismatches, such as public announcements delivered only in a single language, or cupboards and counters built to a standard based on “average” height. Yet according to Holmes, rather than allowing mismatches to overwhelm us, we in the design community can reframe them as opportunities.

“It isn’t about creating one perfect solution that works for every human at all times and in all circumstances,” she says. “It’s about who we include in the process of arriving at a solution, learning something we didn’t know, and letting that insight reshape how we design the solution.”

I’ll admit that before my ski-slope fall, I’d had no idea what inclusive design was. I’d heard the term, and I vaguely knew it had something to do with accessibility (the two are related but different; more on that later). It turns out that my myopia on the subject is common, even in the design field. “Small numbers of people have been working on wider recognition of inclusive design over the past few decades,” says Holmes, “but as far as its becoming a common practice or a part of a design education curriculum, we’re still in the beginning stages.”

Holmes is a whip-smart and empathetic mother of two with large, light-brown eyes, an easy laugh, and cropped platinum-blonde hair. She’s worked in design for nearly two decades—serving as principal director of inclusive design for Microsoft from 2014 to 2017 and taking up a new helm as director of user experience at Google this past July—but when she was growing up in Oakland, California, she didn’t know anyone, let alone minorities such as herself, in the design field.

Holmes enrolled at University of California, Berkeley, to study orthopedic biomechanics, planning to design prosthetic limbs. The first Bay Area tech boom imploded just as she graduated in 2000, so she pragmatically took a job at Tektronix, a stable, decades-old manufacturer of testing and measurement devices. After eight years with the firm, Holmes and her husband found out they were expecting their first child. She left Tektronix, thinking she would stay at home with the baby.

“I was at home maybe seven weeks,” she says with a laugh, “before I met Albert Shum” at an Industrial Design Society conference in San Francisco. Shum, now CVP of the design, experiences, and devices group at Microsoft, had just started at the company, and within two months of their meeting, he’d recruited Holmes to Microsoft’s Pioneer Studios, in downtown Seattle. An incubator for new business and design concepts, the studio was then led by J Allard, who was part of the company’s hugely successful push into video-game consoles.

Pioneer Studios was shuttered after three years, but Holmes had made an impression. After jumping to the main campus in Redmond, Washington, to work on Windows Phone, including the inaugural design and engineering of Cortana, Microsoft’s digital personal assistant, Holmes experienced what she calls a “crystallizing moment.”

“There were hundreds of engineers and designers working on Cortana,” she recalls, “but not a single one had ever had or been a personal assistant. I thought, ‘Why don’t we talk to people who do this for a living?’” It was a realization that launched a broad conversation about designing based on input from actual humans rather than an isolated group’s assumptions about human ability and behavior. “Suddenly we were asking ourselves, ‘What would be possible if our design process started to include the expertise of people who have been listening and talking to their computers for a very long time, like people who are blind or people who can’t use a keyboard?’”

Holmes went on to spearhead development of the Microsoft Inclusive Design Toolkit, a free, downloadable 60-page guide that explains how firms can use human diversity as a resource in their design practices. In 2014, Satya Nadella became Microsoft’s first CEO ever to visit the design studio. “We had a conversation about inclusive design,” Holmes says, “and I was blown away by the quickness with which he understood that we were talking about an approach to innovation that could transform any of Microsoft’s products, and not just developing a checklist that could bolster accessibility.” Over the next six months, one of the largest, wealthiest, and most innovative companies on the planet started championing inclusive design as a crucial imperative across all its departments, an initiative that’s still in process today. The tide was turning, and Kat Holmes was on the crest of the wave.

Holmes left Microsoft in early 2017 to found mismatch.design—a digital magazine and community that advances inclusive design—aiming to use her experience and knowledge to introduce inclusive practices to other tech companies and, eventually, other industries. But only a week after leaving Microsoft, MIT Press asked her to write a book on inclusive design.

Mismatch is a powerful read that not only has the potential to change the way we approach design but also serves as a strong check to our ingrained assumptions about how and why people move, act, speak, and interact (or don’t). According to Holmes, you can’t talk about inclusion without first talking about exclusion. In the design world, exclusion happens when we solve problems using our own biases (examples include the assumption that everyone has the use of two arms, or is strong enough to lift a smartphone, or can perceive a wide range of colors). Usually such assumptions aren’t intentionally harmful; they’re made because of the all-too-human tendency to use our own experience of the world as our baseline. Often designers don’t even think about those who fall outside the range of the “average” person—that mythical consumer whom companies use as a benchmark in product design. Of course, there is no average person, and as a result companies end up crafting products that wide swathes of people can’t use.

Thirty-two-year-old John Porter knows this sort of exclusion on a personal level. His spinal muscular atrophy leaves him unable to walk or lift objects, so he uses a wheelchair to get around and an assistive technology called Dragon (a voice-command software program) to interact with his computer. Holmes met Porter in 2016, and his experience looms large in Mismatch. Like Holmes, he advocates for inclusive design, and he’s adamant that listening to diverse human voices is key to advancing ideas. This August, he joined Microsoft’s Inclusive Design team as a UX designer (meanwhile, he’s also completing his PhD dissertation on video game accessibility and teaching at the University of Washington’s Human Centered Design and Engineering program).

“What we have achieved over the past 100 years of design is now bumping up against a wall,” Porter says. “We’ve plateaued in innovation and fallen into a sort of apathy where innovation is driven by technological progress rather than by a creative design process. The only way to overcome that is to bring in new ideas and perspectives.”

Porter notes that one of people’s biggest misconceptions about inclusive design is that it is synonymous with accessibility. It’s not. As noted above, inclusive design is a methodology in which you design a place or product that a diverse group of people can interact with or use. Accessibility, in contrast, is an attribute that makes an experience open to more people.

Think about a playground; an accessible one might include ramps so that kids who use wheelchairs can reach all the levels of a play structure, and swing seats with back and arm supports for those who need it. An inclusively designed playground, on the other hand, has a distinct goal: to create a shared sense of belonging and an experience in which everyone can take part, in a variety of ways. The process of designing such a playground includes asking for ideas from children of all ages and abilities as well as experts in children’s health and development. The completed playground might offer a mix of physical, sensory, and social activities, as well as multiple challenge levels in each type of physical activity. It also might provide comparable types of equipment in the same area, allowing users of all ages and abilities to play in their own unique ways.

Accessibility features actually can cause issues if people see them as sufficient in themselves and they aren’t part of a holistic inclusive design plan. An elevator might be seen as the sole answer to the needs of those who can’t use stairs; while it certainly helps those with wheelchairs, strollers, or bags of groceries, what about a user who doesn’t have use of his or her arms? An inclusive design process would consider this issue from the beginning, consulting with individuals who can personally speak about such experiences and provide input on potential adaptations. When we design for and not with people, or when we view inclusive design as the “right thing to do” rather than as a necessity, we create an unequal power dynamic.

“When people come from a place of sympathy and say, ‘We need to help these poor excluded communities,’ they automatically assume their knowledge is superior to people’s actual lived experiences,” says Holmes. “That benefactor mentality doesn’t serve the people it purports to serve.”

Architectural designer Tiffany Brown understands the effects of this mentality firsthand. Born and raised in Detroit, Brown grew up in the Herman Gardens housing projects, in what she describes as one of the “rougher inner-city neighborhoods.” Just a few miles east was Brewster-Douglass, the first federally funded housing project in the United States. Built in the 1930s for working-class African Americans, the Brewster Homes (as they were originally called) were family-oriented townhouse residences. In 1951, the Frederick Douglass towers were added to the development. Cramped and starkly designed in Brutalist style, the towers fell into disrepair and become a hotbed of crime over the next three decades as the US Congress steadily reduced funding for public-housing upkeep. Raised in comparable conditions, Brown attended public schools that were similarly run-down and cheaply designed and built.

“It wasn’t until high school that I began to take interest in the built environment and pay attention to the types of spaces around me and how they affected my learning experiences,” she recalls. Like Porter, Brown is featured in Holmes’s book, but her story focuses on the importance of social inclusion, especially in the field of architecture. Despite extreme social and financial barriers, Brown worked her way through college and is now project manager at Detroit’s SmithGroup. In 2017, she founded 400 Forward, an organization focused not only on introducing young girls (especially girls of color) to architecture but also encouraging them to pursue it as a career.

“Last year, the 400th African American woman was licensed to be an architect in the United States,” Brown says on the phone from Detroit. “We’re talking 400th of all time. 400 Forward is a way for me to seek out the next 400 women to become architects. I want these girls to understand that they have the power to change their cities and impact future generations.”

Educating the next 400 is only the first step, however. A huge amount of responsibility rests with architecture firms themselves, historically dominated by affluent white males, to seek out, interview, and employ a diverse workforce. Purposeful moves such as these will give firms a leg up, opening design conversations to unheard voices and a broader range of problem-solving abilities, which in turn gives firms a real chance to make lasting changes to neighborhoods, cities, and the larger social fabric of our country.

“A shift toward an inclusive workforce in the future of design can be a catalyst to end the cycle of socially unjust cities,” Brown says. “Inclusive design leads to good social design, which in turn is a strong predictor of lower crime rates, better-performing schools, and gains in other measures of quality of life.” Inclusive design is not a new idea. People have practiced it for centuries. Some of the objects we use every day, from keyboards to reading glasses to curb cuts, are the results of people creating adaptations to products that allow the product to better serve their individual needs. What’s exciting today is seeing inclusive design formalized and adopted by designers as an integral part of their practices. Microsoft is a leader in championing inclusive design, but one company—no matter how big and influential—is not enough. We need architects, product designers, city planners, developers, and, most importantly, educators to embrace inclusivity as a core part of their businesses and curricula. Teaching the next generation about inclusive design will create a vanguard of thoughtful, open-minded individuals who can drive a paradigm shift in design and architecture that will benefit society as a whole.

In Mismatch, Holmes writes about the Persona Spectrum, an inclusive design method that solves issues for one specific person or need and then extends that solution to many others. I experienced it first-hand when I was on crutches and used elevators instead of stairs. I experienced it again after I was off crutches when I followed a closed-caption TV program in a noisy airport. The point is that we will all benefit from inclusive design at some period in our lives. As we age, changes in our abilities—which might include loss of hearing, diminished eyesight, and limited mobility—are inevitable. We all will need adaptive measures to continue living comfortable, independent lives. As Holmes points out, when we use inclusive design to create new products and technologies, “we’re designing not only for others but also for our future selves.”

KAT HOLMES

During her tenure as Principal Director of Inclusive Design, Kat Holmes helped Microsoft develop the inclusive design methodology that’s now become a core corporate tenet. After leaving the tech behemoth in the spring of 2017, Holmes started drafting Mismatch, the book that’s quickly becoming the primer on inclusive design. “Writing the book forced me to contend with the fact that inclusion happens in many different ways,” she says. “So many people were talking about inclusion through the lens of gender and race, and I had spent most of my time focused on disability.”

JOHN PORTER

A UX designer at Microsoft, Porter focuses on seeking ways to better account for the diversity of human ability in the company’s designs. While pursuing a degree in materials science and engineering at the University of Washington, Porter discovered UW’s Department of Human Centered Design and Engineering, which explores the roles that tech plays in human activity and works with interdisciplinary researchers to build the technologies of the future. He was immediately hooked. Now he’s finishing up his PhD while teaching at HCDE, centering his work on video game accessibility. “I’ve been playing video games since I was three,” Porter says. “Around the time that the N64 came out, I was no longer able to use the controller. My gaming switched over to the computer, which is more inclusive because it allows me to use a wider and more flexible variety of input methods.”

TIFFANY BROWN

Architectural designer Tiffany Brown was born and raised in Detroit and currently works with SmithGroup, an international design and architecture firm with an office in her hometown. Brown wasn’t exposed to design or architecture as a child, but she loved to draw and dreamed of being an animator at Disney. When Brown was 17, she heard a speaker from Lawrence Technological University deliver a talk on architecture, a pivotal moment that sent her on a trajectory toward gaining her own degree in the field. In 2017, Brown won a Knight Arts Challenge grant for her project, 400 Forward, which strives to welcome more black girls and women into the fields of architecture and urban planning. “I want to be the face I was looking for when I was growing up,” Brown says.

SVA Construction Corp: The Experts in Repurposing Your Home

For over 40 years we have been redesigning, repurposing and rebuilding homes to meet a new lifestyle. The SVA Construction Corp team evaluates your existing home, use of space, and your future needs to seamlessly add or reconfigure space customized for in-law multigenerational living. Then our experienced professionals work with you every step of the way to implement your vision.

According to Barron’s, sometimes the modifications you make can also be covered by long-term care insurance.

The need for privacy

SVA Construction Corp can create a plan to provide both open shared spaces for family and social gatherings and separate private spaces for family members. Full living in law suites can also be adapted for needs as families evolve. While privacy matters, there are some other benefits to in-law multigenerational living like shared expenses. A family under one roof pays one set of bills for local town taxes, internet, water, sewer, electricity and other utilities.

Creating Your Private Bathroom

Having a private suite with a personal bathroom is a must. It produces the felt-sense of privacy within your home. Although you may not want to start with grab bars, the room should have the necessary supports in the walls for easy installation of handles and safety bars at a later time. Pedestal sinks are easier for wheelchair users, but they are still attractive. Another option is adjustable height vanities. Choose tubs that are wide enough to handle special lift seats in the future, and there should also be dedicated outlets that can power a lift chair or other safety equipment. You can also eliminate the tub completely and choose curb-less showers that are easy for people with limited mobility to use.

Kitchen Considerations

One of the great things SVA Construction Corp enjoys about creating in-law suites is customizing the space for those living within it. A kitchenette or kitchen area is another key factor. When designing the space, choose raised cabinets with additional kick space underneath. Look for multi-level, pullout counters that can be used by people in walkers or wheelchairs. Faucets with motion sensors are also a smart investment. Induction cooktops are easy to use and safer. Look for wall ovens that can be mounted at a height that’s comfortable for people in wheelchairs. Choose base cabinets featuring drawers that pull out rather than cavernous cabinet spaces. All of these additions make the kitchen more functional for aging family members.

Plan, Design and Create In-Law Multigenerational Living Today!

SVA Construction Corp| Design Remodel Build, the leading group for home design and remodeling, provides customers in Washington, DC, Northern Virginia and the Maryland area with everything they need to create in-law multigenerational living. With the young unable to afford to leave home and seniors facing the high cost assisted living and the risk of isolation, more families are opting to live together.

Many families have called on us to start the process. We are the right choice. We know what matters to you. After all, we’ve been remodeling outstanding homes and communities for over 40 years. We utilize both our experience, design and local knowledge to help you make the best choices. For all of your building, renovations and remodeling needs, SVA Construction Corp|Design Remodel Build is the right choice. If you’d like to discuss a new project with one of our knowledgeable consultants, you can contact us via our site or at one of the phone numbers below:

Maryland: (301) 444-4663
Virginia: (703) 832-8159
Washington, DC: (202) 792-7320

It’s called whole home renovation.

Perhaps you’re looking to sell your home and want increase the property value. Or perhaps you’re closing on a house and wish to create your dream home. Or, you are a senior and you just want to age in place and you need to make your home safer, more accessible, and more livable for many, many years years to come. Then you’re ready to call SVA Construction Corp | Design Remodel Build. A family firm that brings a focus on building and renovating homes for life.

Don’t over-do your do-over

Home remodeling projects can be complicated. That’s why you need to feel comfortable and entrust the most experienced professionals. SVA Construction Corp focuses on designs, which are based on master plans that can be implemented in phases over the long term. The firm has specialized experience with aging-in-place, accessible and universal design that beautifully and comfortably accommodate our clients’ day-to-day needs.

For over 40 years our family focused team has been handling everything from the simplest of single room remodels to the largest and most complex renovation projects in this area. We have earned the premier reputation for doing quality work on time and on budget.

Only use experts for home renovations

The expertise of each member of the SVA Construction Corp team extends to every area of home remodeling. We sit and study the needs every client and we pride ourselves on customizing services to the needs and preferences of every client.

If you’re new to your home, we recommend to live in your house for a while before making any plans to overhaul. This enables you to learn the house flow. Like where the groceries are delivered, and the best place to put the laundry. How the sun hits the house and how rain flows off it. All of this will inform your choices when you make your renovation plan.

Where to start the project: Kitchen and Bathroom

The SVA Construction Corp team of remodeling professionals evaluates your existing home, use of space, and your future needs to determine the best way to seamlessly add or reconfigure space that is customized for your lifestyle. The kitchen, along with the bathroom, are the most remodeled rooms in any home. This makes them great places to start your whole home renovation.

SVA Construction Corp creates all kinds of kitchens from indoor to outside patio places to grill. There are many possibilities from a design perspective. If you don’t know what you want, let’s push the limits together. You’ll have a designer ready to explore all possibilities, with the latest tech and year-round functionality.

The family bathroom has multiple users, whether children or houseguests and works very hard to accommodate them all. Future-proofing a bathroom is a prudent way to prepare for all stages of life. SVA Construction Corp| Design Remodel Build will take you through the process of creating a bathroom that is safe, healthy and functional for all family members.

Plan, Design and Create A Whole Home Renovation Today!

SVA Construction Corp, the leading group for home design and remodeling, provides customers in Washington, DC, Northern Virginia and the Maryland area with everything they need to create a whole home renovation. This re-do can make everything from the entryway to the bathrooms to kitchen and bedrooms safer, more accessible and perfect if you want to age in place or just enjoy a better life. SVA Construction Corp was built on a foundation of integrity, care, and understanding. From day one our mission has been to provide superior design, remodel and construction services to customers that value their fine homes. For over 40 years we’ve strived to exceed expectations while focusing on professionalism, clear communication, quality craftsmanship and meeting unique needs.

For all of your building, renovations and remodeling needs, SVA Construction Corp|Design Remodel Build is the right choice. If you’d like to discuss whole home remodeling with a knowledgeable consultant contact us on our website or one of the phone numbers below:
Maryland: (301) 444-4663
Virginia: (703) 832-8159
Washington, DC: (202) 792-7320

Many of us will spend more time on the porch than we do in the house. Today, with the high cost of travel and expensive restaurants, there’s no reason to leave home when you can have the perfect outdoor living place in your own backyard. And one of the joys of summer is having meals in the great outdoors, whether it’s a cup of coffee in the morning sun or an elaborate dinner under the stars.

A New Perspective on Your Backyard

Perhaps that Bluestone is getting old. You see little green weeds poking through holes. Those decks you love feel a little gray and creaky. Why live with unsightly and sometimes unsafe places in your home when you create something amazing? Build a patio with a kitchen and live under the moonlight. To create that amazing outdoor space, call SVA Construction Corp Design Remodel Build, the ideal resource in Washington, DC Metro, Northern Virginia, Bethesda, Chevy Chase and Potomac areas for custom solution design and creation in outdoor patios and kitchens.

Many in this area are calling now to take advantage of SVA Construction Corp’s 40 years of experience. It’s time to slow down and enjoy the nature of your own backyard. Let SVA Construction Corp design the perfect custom outdoor living space for maximizing your natural surroundings.

Creating the Perfect Outdoors Space

The first step is to come and see SVA Construction Corp designers. They are the experts. SVA Construction Corp creates all kinds of outdoor additions from kitchens to patios to beautiful places to grill. There are many possibilities from a design perspective. If don’t know what you want, let’s push the limits together. You’ll have a SVA Construction Corp designer ready to explore all possibilities. With the latest tech and year-round functionality, your outdoor space could be the party destination all year long.

Patio Ideas

Here are some options to consider when thinking about your patio.

* Make it Soothing with Water. There’s something special about water that’s serene and peaceful. Enhance those relaxing moments with a patio-size water garden.

* Leverage Shade. Have a large shade tree? Why not consider building your patio under its canopy? You’ll enjoy the cool, shady retreat in the heat of summer. Add Cover with a Pergola. More substantial than an arbor but less confining than a gazebo, a pergola may be as simple as an overhead structure attached to the back of your house to cover a deck. Pergolas are especially effective over paved areas, such as paths, courtyards, and patios.

* Throw down a Rug. There are numerous high-quality, weather-resistant rugs for use outdoors. They come in a variety of colors and styles.

* Using illumination. Give your patio personality at night. Whether to illuminate a dark space or add ambiance to your favorite seating area, outdoor lighting can be just the touch of nighttime pizzazz your patio needs.

* Build a Fire Pit. Gather around the fire with the kids late at night. Fire pits can be made from anything from flagstone slabs to small boulders. Fire pits allow for friends and family to gather around the feature, creating an environment that is warm and allows for conversation to flow all directions.

* Create a patio with curving edges to add character and a sense of informality to an outdoor living area. Curves can be more relaxing and visually appealing than straight lines.

* Outdoor Kitchens. Cook full meals under the moonlight. We’ll help you with the right outdoor kitchen appliances, weather-resistant countertop materials, and built-in grills.

Contact SVA Construction Corp/ Design Remodel Build today!
Your home can be the summer place. Entertain, have a party or just gather with friends. SVA Construction Corp can create a plan that will turn your outdoor space into a relaxing getaway. We have managed projects from small to elaborate backyard patios that added thousands of square feet of outdoor living space and additional resale value.

Today you have a great resource like SVA Construction Corp that fits your needs with construction and design. If you are thinking about enhancing your great outdoors, now is the time to call SVA Construction Corp. We place an emphasis on client communication and we would be more than happy to set up a meeting between you and one of our designers to explore the best and most economical way to move forward. Set the wheels in motion, contact us, or call us at (301) 444-4663.

Help is on the way

From a financial perspective, moving back home can provide graduates with an opportunity to start paying back loans or build up an emergency fund with the goal of gaining independence. Also, living with your parents is natural. Who better to live with? Now we know that old room your kids lived in may not work for an adult who needs their own space. That’s why at SVA Construction Corp/ Design Remodel Build we’ll help you devise a dynamic master plan to transform that cold musty basement into a livable, comfortable home within your home.
What to create for your basement

A basement, with its concrete floor and exposed joists, may seem raw, but think of it as a blank canvas which just needs a parents and designers loving touch. Before we get to fun stuff like rugs, paint and track lighting there are some basics to consider. You will probably need to add plumbing and wiring and you’ll need to insulate the ground and walls of the basement to protect against noise and cold temperatures. Basement building codes usually require basement windows that both let in light and allow people to escape in case of an emergency. These are some basics. It all depends on where you live and the town requirements.

Call in the experts

At SVA Construction Corp/ Design Remodel Build, we collaborate with you to create the perfect basement remodel for your lifestyle and budget. We have been setting the standard for basement remodels in this area for decades. Year after year, we win awards for excellence that are voted on by experts within our industry and we take a lot of pride in the reputation that we have been able to establish-we can do this for you. All costs are driven by the complexity of the design and materials you choose. Come in and visit our showroom and you’ll discover our wide range of product options and creative ideas. It’s our job to make sure you get exactly what you want.

All basements are not the same

Your basement is a unique environment. There are challenges that don’t appear anywhere else in the home. Obstacles such as low ceilings, utilities, and dampness are exactly what the experts at SVA Construction Corp are designed to handle. Here are just some of the challenges SVA Construction Corp will handle:

* Obstacles such as staircases, support columns, and windows
* Building around utilities such as furnaces and water heaters
* Low ceilings that have pipes and ductwork
* Creating larger windows to meet code
* Uneven or stone walls

Add Value

Basements remodels are improvements that increase home value. The basement already has a floor, walls, wiring, plumbing, and a roof – making it affordable to renovate and adds square footage to your home. But more than that, a finished basement will improve your child’s living experience over the short and long-term. So it’s well worth the money and the effort.

Contact SVA Construction Corp/ Design Remodel Build Today!

If you are thinking about the possibility of a basement remodel to your home in the DC metro area, now is the time to call SVA Construction Corp. We place an emphasis on client communication and we would be more than happy to set up a meeting between you and one of our designers to explore the possibilities. To set the wheels in motion, contact us or call us at (301) 444-4663.

Renovate your home for better living

At SVA Construction Corp/ Design Remodel Build we believe the beauty of building additions is that it gives us the opportunity to create everything state-of-the-art, keeping energy and environmental concerns and your vision front and center. We have a detailed and thoughtful approach in the initial stage; sweating every detail, this is a safeguard to make sure we do the work the way you want it to be.

Building Home Additions that Blend into the Environment

There is something beautiful about keeping the spirit and identity of a particular place then adding an addition to make it more comfortable for the way you live today. That’s why the SVA Construction Corp team evaluates your existing home and use of space, your property and your future needs to help determine the best way to seamlessly add space to your existing home.

If your home is a modest one, they will create floor plans that make the most of nooks and crannies. They cover everything from big renovation projects to smaller ones that need fine crafted details. SVA Construction Corp’s experience brings the right look for every age and style of house. They honor your homes look. It’s like your home grew an addition and no one may notice.

Home Additions add value

A great addition will not only provide the functionality you are looking for but can have a huge impact on the beauty and curb appeal of your home. The transformation can be amazing. Having completed hundreds of additions and with a well-defined process to make the experience as seamless as possible, you can count on the designers at SVA Construction Corp to get you on the right track.

Budgeting and other questions

One of the most important questions on a homeowners mind when considering an addition is “How much is it going to cost”? The size of the space being renovated and the materials selected play a major role in determining this. Other questions to consider that have an effect on cost are:

-Will I need permission from the town for my addition?
-What are the building regulations
-Can I make changes?
-Will my project upset my neighbors?
-Heating and electric

The professionals at SVA Construction Corp Design Remodel Build can help you answer these questions and address your many concerns as you plan an addition to your home.

Don’t do it yourself. Additions can be major projects. Finding the right materials and using the right tools is a serious undertaking. Leave this to the professionals. SVA Construction Corp’s design and construction teams are ready with skill, care and expertise. The team at SVA Construction Corp stands alone as the leading contractor in the Washington, D.C. Northern Virginia and Maryland areas.

Let us make your addition add more value and more beauty to your home.
Contact or call SVA Construction Corp/ Design Remodel Build at 301-444-4663.

Now that dream has become smaller, confined and dated. The windows leak. The pipes are getting old and rusting. You need to paint or redo the siding.

Do you go or do you stay? Unfortunately changing your address may just be substituting one set problems for another.

Today there are wonderful new materials and techniques that can transform an old house into a modern one. Lighter, more airy, more fuel-efficient and worth more, means you get a better price on resale. The construction industry calls this remodeling. But before you remodel you need to bring in the experts at a company who have done this work before and have seamlessly given older homes new life. That company is SVA Construction Corp/ Design Remodel Build

SVA Construction Corp/ Design Remodel Build: Over 40 years of making homes better

SVA Construction Corp specializes in residential renovation and construction projects that can go from the simple to the complex or from the traditional to the innovative. Founded more than 40 years ago, SVA Construction Corp is a firm of designers, project managers and carpenters, many of whom have worked together for decades, mastering the craft of remodeling.

We expect the unexpected

Remodeling and construction always have their share of things that aren’t planned. And the intelligent designers and craft professionals at SVA Construction Corp have the experience to solve the problems that can arise in a project. They keep one primary goal: deliver your project on time and on budget, while fully realizing the vision of you and your architect. They are in business for the reward of remodeling something more beautiful, more useful and now more enduring of your dream.
Complete kitchen redesign and build in Falls Church, VA by SVA Construction Corp/ Design Remodel Build 

SVA Construction Corp’s 10 Important Secrets Every Homeowner Should Know Before Remodeling

Set clear priorities.
Consider Chemistry.
Know the firm.
Don’t make assumptions
Be weary of unrealistic timeframes.
Ask questions.
Always check references.
Recognize red flags.
Do the math.
Remember that resale value for a remodeling project is just a part of your ROI.

Remodeling reflects you

Remodeling is your vision. It’s the way you want to live. Perhaps you want hardwood floors, update a master bathroom, or turn a bedroom into a laundry room and office space. The list goes on and we realize that you know what you want better than anyone. As Winston Churchill said, “We shape our dwellings, and afterward our dwellings shape us.”

Give us a call

SVA Construction Corp’s highly experienced construction team will transform your vision into reality. We believe that reputation is ingrained in detail. The detail of the design. The detail of quality workmanship; most of all the construction. SVA Construction Corp accepts nothing other than the best for our clients.

The team at SVA Construction Corp stands alone as the leading contractor in the Washington, D.C., Northern Virginia and Maryland areas. Let’s remodel your home and bring out the inner beauty and amazing comfort you deserve. Call SVA Construction Corp/ Design Remodel Build at (301) 444-4663

Putting a new face on an old home
If you are considering adding onto your most cherished possession, your home, you should consider a company like SVA Construction Corp/ Design Remodel Build. Founded over 40 years ago, SVA Construction Corp is a firm of designers, project managers and carpenters, many of whom have worked together for decades mastering the craft of building additions.

Additions need to blend in
The SVA Construction Corp team will evaluate your existing home and use of space, your property and your future needs to help determine the best way to seamlessly add space to your existing home. If your home is a modest one they will show with floor plans how to make the most of nooks and crannies. They cover everything from big renovation projects to smaller ones that need fine crafted details. SVA Construction Corp has the experience to bring the right look for every age and style of house. They honor your homes look, it’s like your home grew an addition and no one may notice.

Additions add value
A great addition will not only provide the functionality you are looking for, but can have a huge impact on the beauty and curb appeal of your home. The transformation can be amazing. Having completed hundreds of additions and with a well-defined process to make the experience as seamless as possible, you can count on the designers at SVA Construction Corp to get you on the right track.

Budgeting for your Addition
One of the most important questions on a homeowners mind when considering an addition is “How much is it going to cost”? The size of the space being renovated and the materials selected play a major role in determining this. Other questions to consider that have an effect on cost are:• Will I need permission from the town for my addition?
• Building Regulations
• Can I make changes?
• Will my project upset my neighbors?
• Heating and electrics?
The professionals at SVA Construction Corp Design Remodel Build can help you answer these questions and address your many concerns as you plan an addition to your home.

Don’t do it yourself
Additions can be major projects. Finding the right materials and using the right tools is a serious undertaking. Leave this to the professionals. SVA Construction Corp’s design and construction teams are ready with skill, care and expertise. The team at SVA Construction Corp stands alone as the leading contractor in the Washington, D.C. Northern Virginia and Maryland areas.

Let us make your addition add more value and more beauty to your home.

Call SVA Construction Corp/ Design Remodel Build at 301-444-4663

Maybe you’ve been thinking about this for years and now it’s finally time to get started. Or perhaps you just moved into a new home where you love the neighborhood and lot but knew that you would be doing major renovations before moving in to make the house perfect for you and your family. Either way, good planning and preparing are key to a good remodel. Here are some things to keep in mind as you begin to explore your whole house remodel.

1. Have a plan for paying for your remodel

Whether you will be financing your project or paying out of pocket, have realistic expectations for the budget for your project and a plan for how to pay for it. There are so many items that go into the budget including various design considerations, labor, materials, and so much more that realistic expectations must be set up front for a successful project that includes all of the “must-haves” that you want.

2. Take into account resale value with your remodel

Think about not only what you’re investing and what that return on investment looks like but also how sellable your home is based on your remodeling choices. Think about not only how you will use this home, but how your choices may transfer to someone buying your home down the road. 

3. Develop a good plan for communicating with your remodeler

A good remodeler will typically have a tried and true process in place for how communication will play out during your remodel. Consistent communication is absolutely critical to the success of your project. Changes will no doubt arise throughout the process so staying in close communication is key to not holding things up or worse yet having to do things over.

4. Consider permit and zoning timeframes

When you’re thinking about timing for your project, be sure to include getting building permits in that equation.  Building permits take notoriously long to get approved. Permits for large-scale renovations can take weeks and even months. A good remodeler will know best how to turn in drawings and documentation that ensure the most efficient and quickest turnaround but still expect this part of the process to potentially be lengthy.

5. Take safety and cleanliness seriously

A big remodel like a whole-house renovation is going to be messy and disruptive to your day-to-day life. Taking certain measures beforehand can help alleviate some of this though. De-cluttering, before the project begins, can make covering up all of your belongings a little bit more streamlined. Certainly be sure to remove any important or expensive keepsakes so that they don’t get damaged during the process. Think about areas of the home that you will need to get to during construction and develop a plan to safely be able to reach those areas.

When you think about adding space to your home, the first thing you might think about is, where does it make sense to add on? The great news is that there are a lot of possibilities. It is up to you and your remodeler to figure out the best option for your home, family and neighborhood.  Some of the most popular options include:

• Second-story additions
• Master bedroom additions
• Sunroom additions
• Screened room additions

You may have been dreaming about one of these options for years so know exactly what you want to do. Or, you may need to weigh the pros and cons of several of the options to determine the most viable one for you. This could mean taking into account available space, your lot, budget, and how you will be using the space.

Second-Story Addition

Adding a second story to your home can capture views, maximize square footage and allow all of the bedrooms to be located on the same level. The design and function of a second-story addition will affect the rest of your home — everything from finishes to mechanical work to structural work. A good design will make the second story look like it was always there, and oftentimes significantly adds to your homes curb appeal.

Sunroom Addition

Nothing transforms a home like a sunroom. Space is added. Sunlight and nature are brought in, and family fun just seems to follow. Your sunroom becomes the perfect place for gatherings, game nights, parties, quiet chats or a place to spend time alone.

A sunroom allows you to enjoy the outdoors and nature to its fullest! Sunrooms also add easy access to the outside.

Master Bedroom Addition

One of the most common home additions is a new master bedroom. Whether you bought an older home in an established neighborhood and the current bedroom lacks amenities, or you have sent your offspring out into the world and are ready spend money on yourself, there are a few things with which you might want to spoil yourself.

Screened Porch Addition

Screened porches allow you to enjoy the weather without having to worry about keeping the bugs away. Lightweight aluminum screens provide maximum outdoor visibility. Screened rooms are great to enjoy most of the year other than when the really cold weather sets in.