Invisible Railings are becoming a wonderful option to traditional railing systems.

When you live in developed areas such as Bethesda and Chevy Chase, owning the newest house in the neighborhood can still mean owning a 40-year-old house. Such was the case with 2 homes Design Builders renovated.  One in the Overlook neighborhood of Bethesda, and another in Chevy Chase.

How to get your deck ready for spring after a harsh winter

Deck owners rejoice! After a long Maryland winter full of ice, snow, cold, and freezing rain, decks everywhere are primed to be reclaimed from mother nature. While there was little that could be done to help our outdoor living spaces in recent months, rising temperatures and increasingly-present sunshine are ready to join your quest to reverse the havoc caused by foregone seasonal elements.

Witnessing the Future of Deck Building in Our Own Backyard

If you didn't already know - and if you didn't, you need to get into the Houzz more - outdoor living spaces are a burgeoning frontier for luxuries and amenities historically reserved for indoor spaces and upscale home remodels. Neighborhoods large and small in Virginia and neighboring Maryland and Northwest Washington, D.C. have become a hotbed for design innovation, luxury, and upscale entertaining.

This is an in-depth look at one such design out of our own backyard, erected in Clifton, Virginia and completed in 2016. It was developed closely with the homeowners, who were unsatisfied with the ailing state of their existing deck and patio. The ultimate project consisted of several parts: a chic round portico, an illuminating Trex lighting network, and even a technology-laden pavilion complete with motorized retractable porch screens. Let's dive in!

Screened-in porches have come a long way from the rickety, drab structures where grandmothers used to read romance novels in rocking chairs.

Thanks to advancements in technology and design, some of the screened-in porches of today are surprisingly cool, with cutting-edge sound systems, sleek fire pits, and state-of-the-art grilling facilities.

The Scenario

Bill and Eileen are two of many Virginians who call Great Falls their home. They purchased their 5 bedroom, 4 bathroom house in 2002 and have since grown to a family of five with three young daughters. With the amount of room the property has, the couple will be living there for the foreseeable future and has already completed several renovations to its interior.

With a reinvigorated kitchen, a basement-turned-bar and game room, and an expanded master bedroom, the couple's attention has turned to their deteriorating 25-year-old deck that is showing signs of its age. As Bill and Eileen come from large families, they are looking for an outdoor makeover to support the scale of holiday gatherings they are accustomed to as well as birthday parties, play dates, and other events year-round. With their current set-up not meeting these needs, it's time to makeover their outdoor living space.