The tennis courts at Rutherford Park in Wakefield area will be closed for about two weeks, starting around Memorial Day.

The park’s three tennis courts are set to undergo resurfacing work from approximately Monday, May 29 until June 12, the Fairfax County Park Authority announced today.

Unfortunately for local pickleball players, no changes will be made to the programming or layout of the facility at 4710 Guinea Road.

“Rutherford Park is not a candidate for pickleball courts and will not receive any pickleball lining,” the FCPA said.

Instead, the project will consist of “pressure washing…cleaning and filling existing cracks, resurfacing, color coating and lining for tennis, and installing new net posts,” according to the news release.

About $38,000 has been allocated to the resurfacing project in the county’s current fiscal year 2023 budget.

The McDonald’s in Bailey’s Crossroads is a step closer to making some big changes, thanks to the blessing of the Fairfax County Planning Commission.

The commission voted unanimously on May 17 to recommend approval of several upgrades to the site at 5603 Leesburg Pike, including the addition of a second drive-thru lane and a 1,300-square-foot expansion.

Mason District Planning Commissioner Daren Schumate said that, after multiple deferrals of the vote, McDonald’s sufficiently addressed issues flagged by the commission and staff at a March 15 public hearing.

Schumate said the fast food company agreed to green building requirements and additional landscaping in response to the county’s concerns. The company also shifted a handicap parking spot slightly to avoid a tree that was near the spot.

“With that, it looks to me they’ve done good job of addressing concerns,” Schumate said.

However, the company did not agree to add a sidewalk that would connect the site to another property, because they argued it was out of the scope of the project. Staff concurred with the applicant, which has committed to providing a 10-foot-wide trail along Leesburg Pike.

Moving forward with the expansion would require the demolition of an adjacent office building, according to the application. The building was built in 1960.

An additional lane and ordering station is proposed with a median separating the lanes. Customers would enter the drive-thru area along the northwestern corner of the building and circulate clockwise to reach the drive-thru. The exit point is at the northeastern corner of the restaurant, according to the application.

To accommodate the expanded drive-thru, the company plans to redesign the parking lot. Existing parking spots on the eastern property boundary along the northern building facade would be removed to make space for a new sidewalk along Carlin Springs Road. The trash collection area would also be relocated further west of the parcel.

The applicant is seeking a 16% reduction in the number of parking spots required. Instead of 56 spaces, the applicant intends to provide 47 spaces.

The company also plans to install fully transparent windows, along with an outdoor seating area with chairs and tables at the front entrance of the building.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing on the application tomorrow (Tuesday) to determine whether it’s ultimately approved.

The site that currently hosts the Bailey’s Crossroads McDonald’s was originally home to the very first Roy Rogers. McDonald’s also recently moved to refresh its restaurant at 6729 Arlington Blvd, which is its oldest franchise in Fairfax County.

By Nicola Caul Shelley, Synergy Design & Construction

It may not be the most exciting decision you’ll have to make when it comes to remodeling your kitchen, but it is an essential one: the refrigerator!

At the center of home life, function is more important than form for some, but for others a new refrigerator is an opportunity to make a design statement. There are no right or wrong answers when it comes to choice. It mostly comes down to personal preference, the utility you need and the look you prefer. If you’re undecided or just looking for a little design inspo, here’s a quick guide to some of the most popular options.

Pro tip: don’t forget to think about the depth of your refrigerator. Counter-depth refrigerators will sit flush with your countertops rather than jutting out. In recent years, improved design and technology means you don’t have to forego capacity for this streamlined look.

You also need to ensure the door style you choose will fully open with enough clearance for interior produce drawers to be pulled out. This can be particularly problematic when the refrigerator placement is against a wall. No one wants to buy the latest and greatest refrigerator only to find out they can’t open the drawer fully to get to the veggies!

Before we get started, it should be noted the benefit of working with a design-build company like Synergy is that our Interior Designers help you make appliance choices. We also have (and this is the case for most professional home remodeling companies) accounts with suppliers and will not only pass any trade discounts on to you, we help you with your appliance package and coordinate delivery for your project. Although not every kitchen and bathroom remodeler does this, we also register appliances for warranty purposes on behalf of clients. It’s a huge time saving convenience for them and all part of the Synergy service.

Refrigerator Styles

Don’t know the difference between a french door, a side-by-side or column refrigerator? A good place to start is reviewing the different styles out there. You’ll notice not all of the examples below have exterior ice/water makers. Many of our clients choose refrigerators and freezers that have integrated water/ice makers on the interior.

French Door Refrigerator

This refrigerator style simply means you have left and right swing doors for fresh produce storage on the top and a pull out freezer at the bottom. A classic style, this remains one of the most popular choices for many. This style of refrigerator may be for you if you tend to have more produce than frozen food, or if you have large dishware or boxed items (like birthday cake, yum) that need to be stored.

This kitchen remodel nicely shows how a french door refrigerator is equally at home in a more contemporary aesthetic just as much as in a transitional or traditional kitchen.

French door refrigerators now come in all sorts of configuration options. This 36” Bosch 4-door refrigerator has two pullout drawers.

Side-by-side 

This style means the refrigerator is on one side, the freezer is on the other. There are a couple of benefits to a side-by-side vs a french door refrigerator:

1. the freezers tend to have more capacity
2. both fresh and frozen can be seen at eye level when the doors are opened
3. There is less likelihood of frozen produce getting buried under other items

Some people worry there is no room for things like pizza boxes in side-by-side refrigerators. Not so! Most are designed these days with compartments that are large enough to fit this type of box.

In this home remodel in Fairfax, our clients took the side-by-side to a whole new level with this 36” Sub-Zero refrigerator and 36” freezer.

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Reston Town Center will turn on the water for its iconic Mercury Fountain tomorrow (Saturday) for the first time in over a year.

Fountain Square and the neighboring pavilion are set to open with a celebration from 1-4 p.m. after a year-long renovation effort that brought the facility’s first improvements in more than 30 years.

“The improvements to the Fountain Square and Pavilion were completed just in time to usher in a lively spring and summer season of outdoor programming,” Boston Properties said.

The renovations included upgrades to the lower base of the fountain and a replacement of its mechanical system. But the original design of the upper base and statue remain unchanged. New trees and planning were also added along with the expansion of outdoor seating.

The town center’s pavilion had reopened in November for the winter ice skating season, including an “Ice-travaganza” event in February, but the renovation hadn’t been completed yet.

“They were able to do enhancements while having that open for ice skaters,” a Boston Properties spokesperson said.

Reston Town Center plans to host weekly concerts along with other events. A complete calendar is available online.

The breakdown of the festivities is below:

Reston Town Center will officially unveil the new-and-improved Fountain Square and Pavilion at RTC’s annual springtime tradition, Fountain Day. Mercury Fountain will be officially turned on for the season and kick off a fun, family-friendly celebration (rain or shine) that will include engaging activities, such as:

The Golf Truck by CitySwing
Live Painting Demonstration
360 Degree Photo Booth
The Marigold Bus Photo Booth
Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Truck (Courtesy of BXP, While Supplies Last)

For Kids:
Airbrush Tattoos
Caricaturists
Basketball Toss

Entertainment:
DJ Ralph
Stilt Walkers
Aerialist
Balloon Dancers
Bubble Guy

There will also be giveaways from Reston Town Center and its retailers “while supplies last,” per a media alert.

Metro will assemble an armada of shuttles this summer to support travelers during its multi-week shutdowns of several stations on the Orange, Silver and Green lines.

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) announced yesterday that free shuttle buses will be available throughout the closures, which will begin on May 12 and roll out to Fairfax County’s Orange Line stations starting June 3.

During the closures, the agency will conduct maintenance work at each of the stations and modernize their facilities.

“Continued maintenance work is essential to safe and reliable rail service,” WMATA Chief of Infrastructure Andy Off said in the press release. “We are working strategically to target maintenance locations and minimize the impacts on customers as we conduct this critical work to upgrade systems, improve reliability, and modernize station facilities.”

In Fairfax County, the closures will take place in two phases.

First, the Vienna, Dunn Loring, West Falls Church and East Falls Church stations will close from June 3 to 25 so that Metro can replace the 40-year-old train rails and add fiber-optic cables.

“Replacing the track in this section is a top priority to ensure safety and increase reliability,” WMATA said.

A combination of local, express and limited-stop shuttle service will be offered:

Orange Line Shuttle: Local service between Vienna, Dunn Loring, West Falls Church, East Falls Church, and Ballston-MU stations.

• Local service between McLean, East Falls Church, and Ballston-MU stations.
• Every 5 minutes during rush hours. (6- 9 a.m., 3-7 p.m.)

Orange Line Express: Express service between Vienna and Rosslyn stations.

• Service every 5 minutes during rush hours. (6-9 a.m., 3-7 p.m.)
• Service every 10 minutes during non-rush hours. (9 a.m.-3 p.m., 7-9 p.m.)

Silver Line Limited: Limited-stop service between Washington Dulles International Airport, McLean, and Rosslyn.

• Service every 5 minutes during rush hours. (6-9 a.m., 3-7 p.m.)
• Service every 10 minutes during non-rush hours. (9 a.m.-3 p.m., 7-9 p.m.)

Silver Line riders will need to take a shuttle to bypass the East Falls Church transfer station. Trains between Ashburn and McLean will run every eight minutes, except after 9:30 p.m., when they will operate every 10 minutes.

Both of the Falls Church stations will reopen on June 26, but the Vienna and Dunn Loring stations will stay closed through July 16 to finish the rail replacement and cable installation.

Free local shuttle service will be provided betwen the Vienna, Dunn Loring and West Falls Church stations, operating every 5 to 10 minutes on weekdays and every 10 minutes on weekends while Metrorail is open.

By Nicola Caul Shelley, Synergy Design & Construction

Basements always seem to be last on the list of priorities when it comes to home remodeling, yet they provide the opportunity to create multi-functional spaces that serve as the perfect place for family and friends to gather and unwind. For those who regularly have overnight guests, having a bedroom and/or bathroom on a different level also provides privacy and separation of space. Finished basements also add value from a return on investment perspective for resale.

Whether you’re looking to finish a totally unfinished basement or redesign your existing space to improve functionality or somewhere in between, here are some factors to help you kick-start your basement remodel. We’ll also take a behind the scenes look at a recent basement remodel in Vienna to show you how it’s done.

Figure out what type of contractor you need

Knowing the type of help you need is the first step. A simple project to finish a basement with drywall and add carpeting does not need a full service design-build firm. A more cost-effective way may be to use a general contractor (GC), but you will likely have to take on more responsibility for managing the project and making design choices and (sometimes) buying the materials yourself.

Synergy Design & Construction is a full service design-build firm, meaning we have an in-house team of professionals who partner with you on both the design of your space and its construction. Local home remodeling companies like Synergy tend to focus on design-thoughtful, complex basement remodels that involve reconfiguring the space, adding a bathroom, wet bar, laundry room, etc.

Still not sure what a design-build firm is? Read this article!

Let’s take a look at one of our recent basement remodels in Vienna. The space had an existing rec room and guest bedroom/bathroom, but there was also a large unfinished space that was ready to be put to better use. The design goal was to create different ‘zones’ within the basement by reimagining all of the spaces and refinishing it with modern — but family friendly — finishes. Our clients knew they needed the design expertise of a design-build company like Synergy as well as wanting to work with a deadline driven company who would project manage the remodel for them.

Create a ‘Must-Have’, ‘Nice-to-Have’ and ‘Pinch Me’ List

We recommend homeowners make this list for all home remodeling projects, not just basement remodeling. This is where you get to work putting together a list of what your needs really are — and those that you can live without. For example, creating a guest bedroom and bathroom might be a ‘must-have’, but adding a new wet bar with beautiful cabinets, a bar sink, a dishwasher and icemaker might be a ‘nice to have’. We know, we know: you want it all, but be realistic about how costs add up.

For our basement remodel in Vienna, our clients ‘must-haves’ were to transform the unfinished space into a TV/Rec Room and add a new bar, upgrade the existing rec room and turn it into a games room and add additional work space. Another must-have (and this often comes into play for below grade basements) was the need to add an egress window to the existing guest bedroom. Lastly, our clients decided that although the guest bathroom was functional, remodeling it to update in line with the rest of the basement was also on their list.

Set a Budget

Talking of costs, now it’s time to set a budget. Don’t be afraid to be upfront with any prospective home remodelers or contractors you talk to about what your budget is. It helps set expectations from the beginning of the relationship and any reputable company will be honest with you about your budget vs. what they deliver.

A number of factors will impact the cost of your basement remodel. The most obvious is the total square footage of the space, but that’s not the only item. Other things to consider are if the basement is completely or partially refinished and if existing plumbing lines or rough-ins are in place for bathrooms, washing machines and bar sinks/dishwashers, etc.

If you’re thinking of taking down walls or creating a different floor plan, then load-bearing walls, columns or other structures need to be taken into account. This will add cost to your remodel. Advice for tell tale signs if a column or beam is load-bearing can be found here. This also applies to ductwork. Ductwork that needs to be added, changed/removed or concealed will also add cost. Looking for ideas on how to hide ductwork? Read our blog “How to Hide the Awful Ductwork“.

The other big ticket item is the level of finish you expect. Adding things like a beautiful new built-in TV/Media center or wet bar with cabinets and all the bells and whistles will, of course, increase your cost.

Back to our case study. As with every home remodeling project we work on, we discussed the budget upfront so we could partner with our clients to create a design that met their investment goals. During the Preliminary Design phase, our Interior Designers worked with the homeowners to create the perfect floor plan and layout for their specific needs.

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The renovation of Lake Thoreau Pool is roughly one month behind schedule, according to Reston Association staff.

At an RA meeting on March 23, capital projects coordinator Chris Schumaker said the delay is approximate due to unforeseen conditions.

“We are forecasting four-week delay due to site conditions,” Schumaker said.

So far, the project is roughly 50% complete. The pool base, retaining walls, propane tank and concrete structural supports have been completed.

Construction on the structural steel component of the deck, the storm drain, and parking is in progress.
Schumaker also said the addition to the bathhouse is on hold due to a problem with a sanitary sewer connection in the area.

Despite the unforseen delay, Schumaker said the pool’s reopening is still slated for sometime in the summer.

“We still hope to have an opening sometime in the last summer of this year,” he said.

Lake Thoreau’s pool has been closed since 2020 for the renovation project, which was originally scheduled to break ground two falls ago.

The new facility will include a pool with six lap lanes, a ramp to provide ADA access, a redesigned deck, a larger 25-space parking lot, an overlook with a pollinator garden, and expanded bathhouses, which have been moved away from the spa.

The project is expected to cost roughly $3.5 million.

The design phase of the renovation at Reston’s Armstrong Elementary School is nearly complete.

The project — which would boost the building’s design capacity from 784 to 800 students and add 126,00 square feet of space — is on track to begin construction in the spring of 2024.

Completion is expected in the summer of 2026, according to project staff.

It will include a revamped administrative wing with a new main entrance, a new library, a new extension of a classroom wing, and two new Pre-K classrooms. Renovations are also planned for general learning classrooms and support spaces, bathrooms, plumbing and mechanical systems, and new outdoor play areas.

A community meeting on the project is slated for tonight (Thursday) in the school cafeteria of the school (11900 Lake Newport Road). The hour-long meeting begins at 6:30 p.m.

Because the project is in the design stage, only minor changes may be incorporated.

“At this stage in the design process, no major changes may be made but small adjustments may be considered,” Fairfax County Public Schools says.

It’s led by architect Hord Coplan Macht, with civil engineering by Pennoni and structural engineering by Ehlert Byran.

Permitting is expect to take roughly a year, according to a staff presentation. The project is funded by a 2021 bond.

The school currently has 362 students enrolled. It is ranked 49 of 63 schools in the school system’s renovations queue, which was approved in 2009.

By Nicola Caul Shelley, Synergy Design & Construction

As a full service design-build home remodeling company, our focus isn’t limited to the finishes in the space we’re remodeling, we often work with clients who want to make changes on an entire level or throughout their home as part of their renovation plans. One (often overlooked) change that can have a big impact on the look and feel of a home? Interior doors!

Six panel doors are one of the most commonly used interior door styles in houses in this area, but there are other options. If you’re ready for a change, we’re here to help with some design ideas (most are from homes in the local area) so you can get inspired about what’s possible in your space.

Single/1-Panel

For a more contemporary look, many homeowners are opting for 1-panel doors. They are sleek looking, fuss-free and, the best bit, versatile as they work in many different styles of home. They look stunning with chrome or black hardware.

In this contemporary townhome remodel in Reston, we reconfigured the layout of the entrance hall as part of an entire main level renovation. The 6-panel doors on the coat closet did not blend with the contemporary finishes of the rest of the renovated main level. We moved the location of the coat closet to unutilized space behind the front door and used double 1-panel doors (also used on the powder room door — not shown) for an updated look.

This next example shows how double 1-panel doors with frosted glass and square chrome door hardware add a feeling of spa-like luxe to this primary bathroom.

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The renovation of Crossfield Elementary School in Herndon is moving forward.

At a Fairfax County School Board meeting on Feb. 9, the board voted to award a $33.3 million contract to R.J. Crowley, Inc. for the project. The overall project is expected to cost $49 million.

A 2021 and 2019 school bond referendum will fund the project, which includes a nearly 11,600-square-foot addition and renovations of nearly 89,000 square feet of space.

New additions include an administration suite, library, classrooms, courtyard and a front entry area. Existing classrooms, art rooms, cafeteria, gym, music areas, and mechanical, electrical and plumbing areas will also be renovated.

The school is ranked 42 out of 63 schools in the FCPS renovation queue, which was developed in 2009.

According to the school system’s proposed Capital Improvement Plan for 2024-2028, the school is at 89% of its capacity utilization for the current academic year — a number that increased slightly over last year’s figure (86%) and dipped from the 2020-2021 academic year (94%).

Construction is expected to kick off sometime in the spring. The project will be completed in the spring of 2025.

The school first opened in 1988 and is named after A. Scott Crossfield, an aeronautical pioneer who lived nearby the school.