Historic Row Home in Alexandria Receives Addition on a Tight Lot

With the help of Winn Design + Build, this row home in Old Town Alexandria, Va., went from cramped and compartmentalized to modern, bright, and airy
March 2, 2026
4 min read

Story at a Glance:

  • The renovation expanded the home from 1,814 to 2,832 square feet, adding a two-story rear extension to maximize space.
  • Large glass doors and expansive windows create a seamless indoor-outdoor connection, enhancing natural light and visual flow throughout the home.
  • Design elements include custom white oak cabinetry, warm white porcelain countertops, and a neutral color palette to achieve a contemporary, minimalist aesthetic.
  • Universal design features such as widened doorways, accessible thresholds, and grab bars were incorporated to improve accessibility for all residents.
Reagen Taylor
Alexandria row home dining room

Through renovation, Winn Design + Build was able to bring this Alexandria, Va., rowhome from a disjointed, narrow space to a modern home filled with natural light and warm finishes. 

The homeowners of a historic row home in Old Town Alexandria fell in love with the narrow property's walkable location, but, built in 1948, the home felt cramped, compartmentalized, and lacked a floor plan suitable for modern living. They ultimately turned to McLean, Va.-based Winn Design + Build to help reconfigure the disjointed layout and bring it into the present day.

Serving as both architect and contractor, Winn Design + Build opened the floor plan and brought in lighter finishes to help brighten and update the space. A new two-story rear addition was also added, expanding the narrow structure from just 1,814 square feet to 2,832 square feet.

Reagen Taylor
The home is finished with a light, neutral color palette that helps open up the space and make it feel larger than it actually is.

The home is finished with a light, neutral color palette that helps open up the space and make it feel larger than it actually is. 

A Light, Airy Design That Helps Open Up the Space

To help create a warm, light-filled space that flows into the outdoors, Winn Design + Build opened the floor plan and relied on large expanses of glass and a warm, neutral color palette to brighten the space. A sliding glass door at the rear of the home extends sightlines from the connected dining and living areas near the front entry to the outdoor spaces beyond.

“We tried to make things feel very clean and open so that the spaces flow from one to the next," says Michael Winn, founder and principal of Winn Design + Build. "Especially when you walk in that front door, it's long and somewhat narrow, so it's nice to have things that draw your eye across the space, and out the back. It gives you this illusion that the space is bigger than it really is.”

The home blends contemporary and minimalist design, with custom white oak cabinetry and flooring, warm white porcelain countertops, and a mix of matte black and brass hardware and plumbing fixtures throughout.

Reagen Taylor
A sliding glass wall to the rear of the home helps connect interior and exterior spaces.

A sliding glass wall to the rear of the home helps connect interior and exterior spaces.

Universal Design Furthers the Home's Modern Style

While working within the constraints of the narrow row home, the team still managed to implement elements of universal design.

According to Winn, certain features—such as the elevated front entry—could not be changed, but, inside the home, the design team paid special attention to minimizing thresholds and expanding doorways for the client’s mother who was planning to stay with them. The open floor plan also helps to eliminate barriers that were part of the home’s original layout.

“We were really mindful of thresholds, trying to keep it as accessible as we could going from the parking location through the house, and the doors were widened," explains Winn. "Upstairs, especially, we were mindful of that in the in-law suite, and of course we added grab bars, and another universal design guidelines were applied to the bathroom."

Reagen Taylor
Large windows help bring natural light into the home, opening it up and making it feel less compartmentalized.

Large windows help bring natural light into the home, opening it up and making it feel less compartmentalized. 

The Challenge of a Two-Story Addition

Reagen Taylor
A two-story addition clad in black fiber cement siding expands the interiors while still leaving ample outdoor entertainment space.

A two-story addition clad in black fiber cement siding expands the interiors while still leaving ample outdoor entertainment space. 

With the home's narrow lot lines—just over 2,000 square feet—and close proximity to neighbors, the renovation did not come without its challenges. The new two-story addition required underpinning along both sides to protect adjacent homes. Shared property lines—incuding fences and hardscaping—had to be deconstructed and restored. 

“We're working within the constraints of the two side walls [and the] front wall," Winn said. "We couldn't do anything there, so we really had a pretty well-defined limitation on what we could add to the house. It was a matter of trying to work efficiently within those spaces.”

Winn says clear communication with surrounding neighbors was the best way to keep the project moving and on schedule while being mindful of noise levels and other disruptions that come along with renovations. 

For custom builders finding themselves in similar situations, Winn says being upfront with neighbors is the best path forward. 

“Make sure you do your due diligence, understanding what impact the project will have on neighbors," he says. "Start communicating to them well before construction."

Project Details: 

Location: Alexandria, Va.

Area: 2,832 sq. ft. interiors | 2,042 sq. ft. lot

Builder: Winn Design + Build

Architect: Winn Design + Build

Photographer: Reagen Taylor

 

You Might Also Like

About the Author

Catherine Sweeney

Catherine Sweeney is the associate editor for Pro Builder and Custom Builder, where she creates both digital and print content, including Pro Builder’s daily e-newsletter and various news stories for both brands. Before joining Endeavor, she began her career in local journalism, later pivoting to the commercial real estate industry where she worked for several years as a reporter and editor.

Sign up for our eNewsletters
Get the latest news and updates

Related

A Forever Home Designed to Give Back to the Grid
The Texas Builder Who Cracked the Code of Luxury Offsite, And Now Is Giving It Away