Blog Post

Laura and Mike O’Mara moved into their new home in The Reserve at Brightwell Crossing in June 2020. Kettler Forlines Homes had nearly completed the beautiful residence in Poolesville, MD, when the couple purchased it. There was so much to love, but Laura and Mike had a few more things on their wish list. Once they lived there for a bit, they chose to undertake remodeling to make a new home even newer. 

The home is a Kensington floor plan, one of Kettler Forlines Homes’ most sought-after designs. The flexibility allows the homeowner to expand from the 2,988-square-foot plan with 4 bedrooms and 2.5 baths to as much as 4,883 square feet that houses 6 bedrooms and 5.5 baths—with options in between those sizes. There are so many interior details that make this home so desirable. The gourmet kitchen, for example, features an oversized island with a breakfast bar that comfortably seats 4 people. The owner’s suite includes a separate sitting area, perfect for a reading room, workout space, or even a home office.

Live larger outdoors

The changes that Mike and Laura wanted for their new home reflected living spaces beyond the interior: a screen porch, deck, a patio, and a third garage bay. They were happy with the quality of their Kettler Forlines home, so they decided to return to us for the renovations.

Mike and Laura sat down with Tom Kettler, president of Kettler Forlines Homes Design, Build, Renovate, to discuss the additions. They were impressed by the attention to detail that Tom and his team offered throughout the design process.

“They would arrive at the house, ask us what we wanted. They gave us ideas and came back with drawings that they reviewed with us in very specific detail,” Mike said.

Construction began in January 2021. That process, too, was organized. Laura was impressed by the strong communication. They were always informed of the plans for the week and updated on any changes. Best of all, Laura said, “There was always someone we could reach out to with questions.”

Think a bit bigger

The initial design for the O’Maras’ addition included a patio, but the scale of the other additions made them question their idea. After the screened-in porch and deck were added, Laura and Mike took another look at the plans for the patio. They decided to extend the patio across the back end of the house.

“We decided we could really use that extra space for the kids to ride their bikes, roller skate, and use sidewalk chalk,” Laura said. “We ended up hanging their hugglepods there. They could play outside and still be close to the house.”

The home remodeling project was completed in early May, just in time to enjoy their newly added outdoor living spaces. Laura used the deck to add a garden, free from the worry of creatures nibbling on her plants. Having the screened-in porch also protected them from bugs intruding on their outdoor entertaining. The addition of a firepit on the patio is another bonus. They often enjoy sitting around the fire and making s’mores as the temperature cools down.

With all this newness in their home, what stands out as the favorite? Here’s where the opinions of Mike and Laura differ.

“We really love it all and the way it turned out. My absolute favorite is the screened-in porch. It’s been great to have family meals and spend more time outdoors without worrying about bugs.”

Mike, on the other hand, likes the deck. They didn’t have an outdoor living space in their prior home and now he knows what they were missing. The family has been using the new deck frequently for entertaining, playing, and relaxing.

Not every addition expanded the O’Maras’ outdoor living space—or any living space at all. They had Kettler Forlines Design, Build, Renovate add a third bay to the garage. Mike needed a place to safely store his motorcycle. “There’s no more worrying if the kids are going to run into them with their bikes,” Laura smiled.

The final addition for the home remodeling project was a utility shed. The outbuilding gave them a place to store lawn equipment without taking up space in the garage.

Mike, Laura, and their two children now have the home of their dreams, inside and out. They’re glad they chose Kettler Forlines to add onto the home they had built the year before.

Mike says they get a lot of compliments on their home and the additions. “We’ve actually had people come up to us asking, ‘Who did your deck? Who did your patio?’ And we’re very happy to say, ‘It was Kettler Forlines.’”

Could your home use some improvements? Kettler Forlines Homes welcomes the chance to remodel your home in the DC Metro area. With more than 40 years of homebuilding experience, we’ve earned a reputation for quality craftsmanship and personal attention. Click here to hear from our homeowners. Then reach out to us to see how we can bring more value to your home.