Some Vienna homes are original 1960s ranches, split-levels, and 1970s colonials that need a complete rethinking. But at least half of the older housing stock has already been torn down and rebuilt in the last two decades, and many of those newer, larger homes are now ready for their own updates. Whether you’re opening up a closed-off floor plan in a mid-century ranch or redesigning the kitchen and baths in a 2005 colonial, the need is the same: making the home work for how your family actually lives today.
Home Remodeling in Vienna, VA
Design/Build Services for Families in One of Northern Virginia’s Most Sought-After Communities
Ranked among the top three places to live in the U.S. by Money Magazine, Vienna is known for its tight-knit neighborhoods, top-rated schools, lively downtown festivals, and a housing stock that spans nearly a century of building styles.
For over 40 years, Commonwealth Home Design has helped Vienna homeowners reconfigure, modernize, and expand their homes through design/build remodeling. Whether you’ve recently moved into an older home near Church Street or you’ve lived in Vienna for decades and are ready for a transformation, we specialize in major renovations, additions, and thoughtful reconfigurations that make your home work beautifully well into the future.
Our Remodeling Services in Vienna
Kitchen Remodel
Whether it’s a dark, closed-off kitchen in a 1970s colonial or a builder-grade layout in a 2000s rebuild, Vienna kitchens are our most requested project. We open floor plans, improve natural light, and redesign layouts for how families cook and gather today.
Bathroom Remodel
From outdated primary baths in older colonials to underwhelming finishes in newer construction, we redesign Vienna bathrooms for function, comfort, and lasting quality.
Home Additions
Many Vienna homes sit on compact lots. We design additions (sunrooms, primary suites, family rooms, in-law suites) that expand your home without overpowering the property.
Whole House Remodel
Whether it’s a dark, closed-off kitchen in a 1970s colonial or a builder-grade layout in a 2000s rebuild, Vienna kitchens are our most requested project. We open floor plans, improve natural light, and redesign layouts for how families cook and gather today.
Basement Remodel
Vienna’s older homes often have unfinished or underused lower levels. We convert them into livable space: guest suites, media rooms, home offices, or playrooms.
Outdoor Living
Screened porches, four-season rooms, and outdoor entertaining spaces designed around Vienna’s neighborhood lifestyle and lot constraints.
Mother-in-Law Suites
Multigenerational living is increasingly common in Vienna. We design self-contained suites with private entrances, kitchenettes, and accessible features.
New Home Design
For Vienna teardown-and-rebuild projects, we provide full architectural design and construction for new custom homes on existing lots.
Garage Remodel
Convert, expand, or improve your Vienna garage, whether that means adding storage, finishing the space above, or building new.
Recent Projects in Vienna
Whole House Remodel and Reconfiguration in Vienna
A 1960s home was structurally reconfigured, expanded, and modernized—opening the main level, reworking the upper floor, adding a finished basement, and a full exterior redesign with a new garage addition.
Whole House Remodel in Vienna
The second floor of a Colonial-style home was reconfigured and expanded, creating a larger primary suite with a new addition over the garage, a custom bath, laundry room, and a statement, luxury walk-in closet.
Contemporary Kitchen Remodel and Screen Porch Addition in Vienna
A contemporary kitchen remodel and screened porch addition improved flow and indoor-outdoor living, with targeted updates to the family room, bathrooms, and basement bar.
Ready to Remodel Your Vienna Home?
Whether you’re reconfiguring a 1960s ranch or updating a home built just 15 years ago, our architect-led team is ready to help. Let’s talk about what’s possible.
What Homeowners near Vienna Say about Working with Us
The Home Styles and Remodeling Challenges We See Most in Vienna
Vienna’s housing stock tells the story of a community that has reinvented itself more than once. The original wave of development in the 1950s through 1970s produced the ranches, split-levels, and colonials that still line many streets in the Town of Vienna. These homes share familiar limitations: load-bearing walls that separate kitchens from dining rooms, dark compartmentalized layouts, small primary suites with outdated bathrooms, and floor plans that simply weren’t designed for how families live today.
But the story doesn’t end there. Over the past two decades, at least half of Vienna’s older housing stock has been torn down and replaced with larger, newer construction. Many of these homes were built in the late 1990s and 2000s, and while they’re structurally sound, their layouts and finishes already feel dated. Builder-grade kitchens, uninspired primary bathrooms, and cookie-cutter floor plans are common in these newer homes. Owners of these properties often have substantial budgets and specific visions for kitchen and bath remodels, interior reconfigurations, sunroom additions, and other upgrades that bring their home up to the standard they expect.
What all these homeowners share, whether they’re in a 1965 ranch or a 2005 colonial, is the same core challenge: making the home match how their family actually lives. That might mean creating open, light-filled main living spaces, maximizing function when footprint expansion isn’t possible, or adding space for multigenerational needs. Vienna is full of socially active families who entertain often, host visiting parents, or have teens who need more room. Our work is built for this lifestyle.
Common Vienna home styles we remodel: 1960s ranches, split-level and multi-level homes, 1970s colonials, 1980s center-hall colonials, late 1990s and 2000s rebuilds, and newer Craftsman-style construction on teardown lots.
Kitchen Before:
Living Room Before:
Why Vienna Families Trust Our Architect-Led Design/Build Approach
Unlike general contractors who subcontract design or offer surface-level upgrades, Commonwealth integrates architecture, design, and construction under one roof. You get structural solutions a contractor can’t provide, more accurate budgeting from the start, creative space planning tailored to Vienna home styles, and a cohesive team of architects, designers, carpenters, and project managers who work together with daily jobsite presence and consistent communication.
Our clients frequently tell us how much they appreciate our responsiveness, honesty, and meticulous work, whether it’s navigating a complex addition, opening up a closed-in floor plan, or rethinking an entire main level.
Vienna & Fairfax County Permitting Expertise: We Handle It All
Vienna homeowners navigate two permitting authorities.
The Town of Vienna Handles Zoning
This includes setbacks, lot coverage, accessory structures, porches and porticos, driveways, fencing, exterior changes, and architectural review in certain neighborhoods. Recent zoning changes, including updates allowing more front porch designs, create new opportunities, and we stay ahead of those amendments.
Fairfax County Handles Building Permits
This includes structural work, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, additions and finished basements, load-bearing wall removal, site work and land disturbance, and health department approvals if required.
You don’t have to manage any of it.
We coordinate all reviews, applications, inspections, and required drawings to keep your project compliant and on schedule.
Visit Us in Our Historic 1903 Building in Downtown Vienna
Commonwealth Home Design operates from one of Vienna’s most storied structures at 208 Dominion Rd NE, originally built in 1903 as the “Sanitary Grocery.” The building sits right on the W&OD Trail, across from the Red Caboose and home to the Rustic Love Hearts & Home Mural.
Since purchasing the building in 2005, we’ve restored and designed within this historic space, uncovering artifacts like parade costumes, a speakeasy door, and a Victorian-era coffin used in past Halloween traditions. Today, with Toastique opening in the street-level space, our building continues to be a vibrant part of Vienna’s downtown fabric.
As longtime members of the Vienna Business Association and Vienna Rotary Club, our roots here are deep. Commonwealth was honored with the Vienna Thrive Award for 35 years in business.
Location: 208 Dominion Rd NE, Vienna, VA
Across from the W&OD Trail + Red Caboose. Walkable from Church Street and Maple Avenue.
Frequently Asked Questions: Vienna, VA Remodeling
Do I need both Town of Vienna AND Fairfax County permits?
Most major projects require both. The Town of Vienna handles zoning approval and Fairfax County handles building permits. We manage the entire process.
How long does a whole-house remodel take in Vienna?
Large Vienna remodels typically take 4–8 months depending on scope, structural work, and whether you’re adding square footage. Your timeline is discussed and confirmed during the project scoping process.
Can you remove load-bearing walls in my Vienna home?
Yes. It’s one of our most requested services, especially in 1960s through 1980s homes. Our architecture and engineering team handles design and structural plans.
Do you build additions on smaller Vienna lots?
Yes. We do feasibility studies early in the process to evaluate setbacks, lot coverage, and zoning requirements before design begins.
Can you help with multigenerational living needs?
Absolutely. In-law suites, reconfigured lower levels, and accessible bathrooms are common upgrades for Vienna homes.
Do you remodel newer homes, or only older ones?
We remodel homes of every era. A large share of our Vienna work involves homes built in the late 1990s and 2000s where owners want to upgrade kitchens, bathrooms, and living spaces beyond the original builder-grade finishes and layouts.
Also Serving Communities Near Vienna
In addition to Vienna, Commonwealth Home Design serves homeowners throughout Northern Virginia. Each community has its own character and housing stock, and our team brings the same architect-led approach to every project. Explore our service areas:
Ready to Remodel Your Vienna Home?
Whether you’re reconfiguring a 1960s ranch or updating a home built just 15 years ago, our architect-led team is ready to help. Let’s talk about what’s possible.
