This summer, as the world begins to open up again with a deepened appreciation for family, we invite you to be together as a part of ours at The Kensington Reston.
Here, that means companionship at your fingertips, new friends to share in conversation, a warm welcome when families come to dine, special-interest activities to enjoy with fellow residents, and of course, care and service that reflects our uncompromising regard for excellence.
We invite you to join and celebrate with us! This Saturday, June 26, we will be hosting a complimentary summer concert with refreshments in the courtyard at The Kensington Reston. Please note that we are meeting all recommended safety precautions to keep our residents, staff and guests safe.
When? Saturday, June 26, 4-6 p.m.
What? The Classics with Samy Youssef and enjoy gelato
RSVP by calling 703-559-8294, or email Alexandra Ramsey at [email protected].
To learn more about The Kensington Reston, visit us at www.KensingtonReston.com.
By Nicola Caul Shelley, Synergy Design & Construction
By now, it’s not new news that the COVID-19 pandemic unexpectedly resulted in an increased demand for home remodeling services.
Summer may be here, but even as we start to enjoy a little more “normalcy,” demand remains high. The pandemic sharply refocused minds on the importance of “home” and the desire to get what we want in our houses for our own enjoyment — and to put every square foot to good use. And there is one place in the home that is especially true: the basement!
It’s not always easy to know where to start, so here are five tips to help you plan for your basement remodel.
1. Make a list
What is it you want out of your basement remodel? Throwing up drywall and a coat of paint is much easier and less expensive than a design-thoughtful basement transformation. Make a list of your “must-haves,” “like-to-haves” and “pinch me” items. Here’s what this might look like.
- Must-haves:
- Refinish/finish rec room
- Create guest bedroom
- Add guest bathroom
- Like-to-haves:
- Custom bar and beverage center
- Add walk-out
- Add space for separate home gym
- Pinch Me List:
- Sauna
- Temperature-controlled wine cellar
This will help you get your priorities right and give you a starting point for discussion with any contractors. As you begin to define the scope of your project and understand costs, it will also help you to focus on the things you can live without and can compromise on — or to make an informed decision to splurge on the things on your “pinch me” list!
2. Think about the best way to create “zones” in your space
One of the biggest mistakes we see homeowners make is not thinking through how they’ll actually use the space once it’s finished. If you entertain a lot, you need lots of places for guests to sit and convenient places to rest drinks and food. Separate zones mean guests can relax at the bar, watch the latest movie in a comfy chair or just find a quiet corner.
If your teens are going to be hanging out down in the basement the most, plan for the additional space you need for a pool or billiards table (and make sure there is room to take a shot without the cue banging into a wall!), that much coveted foosball table or anything else on their wishlist. A full-service design-build home remodeling company like Synergy can help with all of the above, but if you use a general contractor, help with furniture placement and layout may be outside of their scope of services.
3. It’s all about lighting!
Occasionally, folks comment on professional home remodeling photos: “It only looks much better because of the lighting in the ‘afters’ the professional photographers take.” While there is some truth to this, the camera, in this case, doesn’t lie! We put a lot of focus and attention on how to maximize lighting in the home remodels we work on. Nowhere is this more important than in a basement, which tends to be darker than the rest of the home.
Make a lighting plan and add recessed as well as pendant lighting if you can afford to. We also love under-cabinet lights if you have upper cabinets in the bar or integrated lighting under floating shelves. This helps provide functionality and/or ambiance while the rest of the room is in darkness for movie watching. Even better? Put dimmers on all your lights so you can easily create the mood you’re looking for.
Like many first-time homebuyers, you’ll first reach out to family and friends when you decide to buy your first home. While the advice you receive has the best of intentions, what you hear may not be the way to win a contract in today’s fast-paced seller’s market.
Consider the following tips:
1. Obtain pre-approval
Talk to a couple of local mortgage lenders (not necessarily large banks) and get your pre-approval early on. Looking at homes without having your pre-approval is pointless; you’ll end up wanting to make an offer and then have to back-pedal to get your financing in order. You may be too late to the party at that point.
Getting pre-approved generally takes 48 hours, and that’s only if you have bank statements, tax returns and pay stubs on hand. If you take this step first, you’ll know what you can afford and better target your home search, plus you’ll be ready to make an offer. Sellers simply won’t consider a contract without a pre-approval letter.
2. Be willing to waive contingencies, including the home inspection
In my experience, very few buyers have the luxury of conducting a home inspection in this market. If waiving the inspection makes you nervous, consider buying a home warranty to cover the home’s major systems should something break. Also, consider waiving the appraisal and financing contingencies. Making a “clean offer” to a seller has been very successful lately.
3. Offer a high earnest money deposit
Show a seller you’re serious! The earnest money deposit (EMD) shows a buyer’s good faith in the transaction. If a typical EMD is $10,000, then offer $20,000. Don’t worry, this amount is credited toward your down payment at closing so simply consider it a technique to get the seller’s attention.
4. Be flexible
Consider the seller’s timeline. If they want to settle on a certain date or with a particular title company, offer to meet those requests. Also, giving a seller extra time to move via a free rent-back can make your offer very appealing.
5. Write a personal note to the seller
Not everything in a home sale is about money. Seller’s feelings about their home are often very strong. Appealing to their nostalgia in a short, personal letter about how you’ll enjoy living there might sway them!
Lynn Cooper is a licensed REALTOR in Virginia with McEnearney Associates in McLean. Whether buying or selling, Lynn is 100% committed to her clients before, during, and after the transaction. Connect with Lynn at 202-489-7894, [email protected] or @lynncooperrealestate.
Virginia Tech’s Evening MBA announced that students will return to its Falls Church center for classes this August. The Evening MBA program is among the best in the country and the top part-time MBA program in Virginia, according to a 2022 survey of the nation’s top graduate schools by U.S. News & World Report.
“We know many students choose the Evening MBA because they value the in-person interactions they have with classmates and faculty members,” said Rebecca McGill, associate director of MBA recruiting at Virginia Tech. “We’re excited to return to in-person classes and provide those rich learning and networking opportunities that some find they’ve missed in the online environment.”
At the same time, McGill says there has been a high level of interest in Virginia Tech’s recently launched Online MBA.
“We were pleased with the level of interest for our first Online MBA cohort, and I think that reflects the changing needs and preferences of today’s professionals after a year of adapting to remote work,” said McGill.
Dana Hansson, director of MBA programs at Virginia Tech, says it’s important to adapt to meet students wherever their needs are. “Our strategic focus since 2013 has been to provide working professionals with flexible options that fit into their personal and professional lives,” she said.
Virginia Tech’s current suite of programs includes the Evening MBA, Online MBA and the Ballston-based Executive MBA. All are part-time formats designed with working professionals in mind.
Applications for the Evening MBA program are due July 1. Learn more about Virginia Tech’s MBA programs at mba.vt.edu.
This is a sponsored column by attorneys John Berry and Kimberly Berry of Berry & Berry, PLLC, an employment and labor law firm located in Northern Virginia that specializes in federal employee, security clearance, retirement and private sector employee matters.
By John V. Berry, Esq.
In one of the first court rulings on the issue, a federal district court has dismissed a lawsuit brought by over a hundred Houston hospital employees that had challenged their employer’s COVID-19 vaccination requirement. Hospital officials had suspended a number of employees that refused to be inoculated for COVID-19, and a lawsuit was filed.
First Ruling on Forced COVID-19 Vaccinations by Employers
U.S. District Judge Lynn Hughes of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas noted, in the opinion, that the federal government has advised that employers can require employees to get vaccines.
Judge Hughes, in rejecting the hospital employees’ lawsuit, held: This is not coercion. Methodist [Hospital] is trying to do their business of saving lives without giving them the COVID-19 virus. It is a choice made to keep staff, patients and their families safer.
Furthermore, Judge Hughes referred to the lawyer’s argument that requiring employees to take the COVID-19 vaccine as being similar to medical experimentation in Nazi concentration camps as “reprehensible.”
Employees Have Option to Refuse Vaccine and Seek Other Employment
In closing, Judge Hughes held that employees had a choice between complying with the COVID-19 vaccination requirement or finding other employment. The case is likely to be appealed and more litigation in the future is likely.
Contact Us
If you are in need of employment law legal representation or advice, please contact our office at 703-668-0070 or through our contact page to schedule a consultation. Please also visit and like us on Facebook or Twitter.
This summer, as the world begins to open up again with a deepened appreciation for family, we invite you to be together as a part of ours at The Kensington Reston.
Here, that means companionship at your fingertips, new friends to share in conversation, a warm welcome when families come to dine, special-interest activities to enjoy with fellow residents, and of course, care and service that reflects our uncompromising regard for excellence.
We invite you to join and celebrate with us! Every Saturday in June, we will be hosting a complimentary summer concert with refreshments in the courtyard at The Kensington Reston. Please note that we are meeting all recommended safety precautions to keep our residents, staff and guests safe.
- Saturday, June 12, 4-6 p.m.: Just Four Grins Barbershop Quartet and enjoy an ice cream float
- Saturday, June 19, 4-6 p.m.: Caribbean Vibe Steel Drums and enjoy shaved ice and fruit bars
- Saturday, June 26, 4-6 p.m.: The Classics with Samy Youssef and enjoy Italian ice
RSVP by calling 703-559-8294 or email Alexandra Ramsey at [email protected].
To learn more about The Kensington Reston, visit us at www.KensingtonReston.com.
If you’re looking to rent in Reston, there are currently 79 homes available, according to Homesnap.
These range wildly — from a luxury three-bedroom condo for $5,200/month to a 6 BD/3 BA single-family home for $3,475/month.
Below are a few recently listed rentals worth checking out:
- 11427 Hook Road — 6 BD/3 BA single-family home — $3,475/month
- 2308 Whitetail Court — 4 BD/2.5 BA single-family home — $3,350/month
- 1441 Greenmont Court — 3 BD/3 BA townhome — $2,600/month
- 11800 Sunset Hills Road #307 — 2 BD/2 BA condo — $2,250/month
- 1715 Ascot Way #A — 2 BD/2 BA condo — $1,720/month
In the market? Check out the latest in Reston real estate.
First off, thank you for following us on Facebook and Twitter. (And if you don’t already, you know what to do.)
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Paint is the most inexpensive way to transform your home — it makes an incredible impact. As a former interior designer, I’ve seen many houses look radically different with just a simple coat of paint in a new color.
Let’s face it: We’ve been spending a lot of time in our houses because of COVID. Instead of renovating, try paint as an inexpensive alternative!
Choose high-quality paints like Sherwin Williams or Benjamin Moore. They apply easily without any streaks and contain 40% more pigment than paints from the big box stores so you can paint fewer coats. This saves time and money (and a lot of aggravation!). Down the road, cleaning up small scratches and marks is easier if better paint is used.
My favorite neutral colors this year are City Loft by Sherwin Williams and Edgecomb Gray by Benjamin Moore. I love using those colors on the walls and ceilings instead of using traditional white ceiling paint.
Bold colors are also trending now, like a green library/home office (Soft Spruce by Benjamin Moore). If this is too much color for you, consider painting a bold color to just one wall. A condo I recently sold in North Reston was all white with one black wall (Seal Skin by Sherwin Williams), and it was stunning!
Go beyond just walls — consider painting your kitchen/bath cabinets, front door and window sashes or freshen up old furniture with a funky paint color to add punch to your space.
Painting just a little bit can make a huge impact on the way your space looks and feels. It’s amazing how color can impact our emotions, and the way our home makes us feel. The colors you choose creates the foundation of your home’s personality and reflects your own!
Lynn Cooper is a licensed REALTOR in Virginia with McEnearney Associates in McLean. Whether buying or selling, Lynn is 100% committed to her clients before, during, and after the transaction. Connect with Lynn at 202-489-7894, [email protected] or @lynncooperrealestate.
At The Kensington Reston, we are proud to partner with Inova Health to support you and your loved one on your caregiver journey and offer an Ask the Expert virtual discussion on Boosting Brain Health Through Engagement.
This interactive presentation is moderated by Angela Bailey, Executive Director of The Kensington Reston; Dr. Hillary Goetz, Neuropsychologist with Inova; Dr. James M. Ecklund, Chairman of Neuroscience, Inova Fairfax Medical Campus; and Dr. Dan Larriviere, System Division Chief of Neurology in the Inova Service Line of Inova Health System. They will introduce and delve into the ways we can all boost our brain health through engagement and provide an overview of future brain health initiatives within the Inova Brain Health Program.
The event takes place on Wednesday, June 2, 6-7:15 p.m. Click here to register.
To learn more about The Kensington Reston, please reach out to Karen Carter at [email protected] or 571-356-9052.
This is a sponsored column by attorneys John Berry and Kimberly Berry of Berry & Berry, PLLC, an employment and labor law firm located in Northern Virginia that specializes in federal employee, security clearance, retirement and private sector employee matters.
By John V. Berry, Esq.
As we move forward, employers in the United States will likely be able to require that employees entering the physical workplace be vaccinated against COVID-19, according to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in guidance issued this past Friday.
Updated EEOC Guidance
The EEOC issued updated guidance stating that federal laws do not prevent an employer from requiring workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19. As with everything, there are some exceptions. In some situations, laws may require that an employer provide reasonable accommodations to employees who, because of a disability or a religious belief, cannot be vaccinated.
As an example of this, the EEOC said, as a reasonable accommodation, an unvaccinated employee entering the workplace might potentially wear a mask, work at a social distance or be given the opportunity to telework. There is also the possibility that other federal, state and local laws could be factored into such decisions as we move ahead.
According to the EEOC, if employers choose to obtain vaccination information from their employees, they must keep such information confidential under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Vaccination Incentives
The EEOC also indicated that vaccination incentives could be an option for employers to consider, so long as they are not deemed coercive. As the EEOC stated: “Because vaccinations require employees to answer pre-vaccination disability-related screening questions, a very large incentive could make employees feel pressured to disclose protected medical information.”
In sum, it is very likely that employers will be able to require that in-house employees be vaccinated from COVID-19 prior to entering the workplace. Many of the details will eventually be worked out, but this seems to be the clear direction that the country is heading toward.
Contact Us
If you are in need of employment law legal representation or advice, please contact our office at 703-668-0070 or through our contact page to schedule a consultation. Please also visit and like us on Facebook or Twitter.
Plain and simple: Bathroom renovations can be daunting.
It’s not uncommon for a renovation to cost more than $15,000. (Yes, even for such a small space.)
But D.C.-based company remodelmate will help you design your dream bathroom for a fraction of the price — and without stress or headaches.
Here’s how remodelmate works:
- Get a free estimate online. It takes one minute.
- Speak with a design consultant to refine the details of your estimate.
- Pair up with two professional interior designers to create your new bathroom. You can get a 3D look before moving forward.
- Next, your dedicated project concierge takes over, handling all of the material sourcing and ordering. Don’t worry — they’ll stick to your budget, and you can keep tabs on everything through your online dashboard. (See? No headaches.)
- Licensed and insured contractors, who are vetted through a rigorous screening process, carry out all the hard work.
- Enjoy your beautiful new bathroom!
With remodelmate, you’ll pay a $100 booking fee, but otherwise there’s no down payment. You’ll simply make “milestone payments” as you approve each completed phase of the work.
To get started, get a free online estimate in one minute or less.
First off, thank you for following us on Facebook and Twitter. (And if you don’t already, you know what to do.)
If you want more local news, join the 5,000+ people who have already signed up for our daily newsletter.
When you subscribe, you’ll get the latest headlines delivered to your inbox each afternoon. Think of it as your free digital newspaper. You’ll never miss out on local happenings (the social algorithms work in mysterious ways), and you can easily scan the newsletter to find what interests you most.
Signing up takes less than a minute.
And we know your inbox is sacred territory. That’s why we’ll never give your information away. You may get an occasional email on behalf of an awesome local sponsor, but we’ll never spam you with obnoxious emails.
Thank you for subscribing and your continued support of local news.
The Kensington Reston is proud to partner with Insight Memory Care Center and introduce our early-stage engagement program on site at our community this summer for individuals who have mild cognitive impairment or who are in the early stages of dementia.
Together with professional staff, a small group of club members will participate in recreational activities with the opportunity for peer support and socialization in a safe, non-judgmental setting. Program activities will champion cognitive engagement, creative expression, movement and social engagement.
The Kensington Day Club will take place June 8 to July 29. Tuesdays and Thursdays will be in person from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at The Kensington Reston. On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, virtual programming will be held 10-11 a.m.
Space is limited. Reserve Your Spot Today!
You are also invited to join The Kensington Reston along with the INOVA Department of Neurosciences, virtually, to learn about Boosting Brain Health Through Engagement. Register for this complimentary event today.
To learn more, please reach out to Karen Carter at [email protected] or 571-356-9052.
Meet Reston’s latest Pet of the Week, Robbie. He had a tough past, but, even so, this sweet boy is trusting and is ready to make new friends (human and dog!).
Here’s what Robbie’s friends at NOVA Pets Alive! had to say about him:
Everyone loves Rob, and Rob loves everyone!
This sweet boy’s story will break your heart. He was tied outside to starve with several other dogs, some of which sadly didn’t make it. When we first met Rob he was skin and bones. It was hard to believe such a neglected dog could still be so trusting and sweet after all he was put through.
We sent Rob to an amazing foster family who nursed him back to health, and they have nothing but love for their sweet hound dog. Rob is housebroken, good with other dogs, good with kids, and loves going for a nice long walk.
Rob’s foster mom says: “He is a darling dog, super friendly with everyone. He’s made several people and doggie friends in the neighborhood and would do great with kids and a dog buddy. Rob is an absolute delight of a dog and whoever adopts him will be sooooooo lucky!”
Are you and Robbie the perfect match?
