REENA RACKI ASSOCIATES- ARCHITECTURE & INTERIORS

Reena Racki provided architecture and interior design advice on our home renovation. We could not be happier with the result. She helped us keep the design integrity and style of the 1939 Cape Cod home while bringing light, windows to the garden, a modern kitchen, new family room and garage, updated sunroom and master bedroom, and new modern master bath. She helped us bring beautiful light into the house.

Several years after the purchase of a decades-old waterfront cottage on the Chesapeake Bay, we decided to remodel it. We engaged Reena Racki who was referred to us by another architect friend of ours. The restrictions for waterfront property renovations were daunting. Nonetheless, Reena was able to develop a plan to our liking that was only slightly larger than the footprint of the existing structure (footprint size being a major restriction). Reena's plan transformed our home into a light-filled, architecturally interesting, serene environment. Our home protects us from the elements yet never confines us from them. Reena's sense of space, scale and livability are evident. Because our home is subject to, at times, hostile weather conditions and extreme wind shear, Reena's knowledge of and demand for sound engineering principles were essential in the construction of the house. Reena's sense of space, scale and livability are evident and appreciated.

Reena Racki worked with us in planning and them redesigning our home. Her design took into account our needs and preferences. Yet she helped us innovate in our design choices. Her design brings the outside in. Her choice of materials and colors betrays a deep artistic bent of mind but everything had to work for her clients. We redesigned most of our home without moving outside its original footprint. She also managed the project with care, helping us come in on time and on budget.

Reena Racki came highly recommended to me when in 2007 I decided to renovate my rather bland two-bedroom Cleveland Park condo. Reena transformed my apartment into a comfortable place full of light and color, stunning design and show-casing of works of art. To this day, first time visitors always have an “AHA”moment and/or comment on the beauty of the renovated apartment. Reena listened to my wishes, explained and discussed options and carefully monitored execution of the work by the technicians. All the objectives I had initially set out for the renovation were realized and beyond.

Reena and her team renovated our house over 10 years ago. Not only was it beautiful when completed, it has stood the test of time. The interior and exterior design is beautiful and fits our needs very well. Particularly, her design choices that bring-the-outside-in have made the house a restful and relaxing place to spend time. Finally her management of the construction process is part of the reason it has stood the test of time as well. Both Reena and the contractor delivered excellent quality work.

Reena Racki has many years of experience as an architect, Our project involved updating the two main floors, rearranging the layout of the common area which involved adding an addition and moving the kitchen, the bathroom and the laundry room to opposite ends of the house. This was necessary since we could not bump out our kitchen because what we thought was our backyard was actually our side yard. Reena proposed this solution. We also renovated the master bathroom and a second bathroom on the upper level. The master bath was originally very small. There was space between the bathroom and the closet that was Reena used to expand the master bath. The smaller bathroom originally only had a tub. By using an adjoining closet she added a shower. She also added a deck and pergola next to the addition, refinished the existing floors and repainted all the existing rooms. Reena was very easy to work with. She proposed all the aforementioned changes. She helped us to negotiate with the contractor and and made sure the budget was kept and that the contractor was doing the work properly and that deadlines were met. She made suggestions for the kitchen and bathroom cabinets and appliances that were very helpful and accommodated our preferences in all those areas. We were completely satisfied with her work.

My Dream Kitchen Realized! We contacted Reena Racki to design an extension for a larger kitchen and dining area. She suggested instead transforming our 1909 row house within its existing footprint. Her design and use of the space gave us all of the items on our wishlist and much more! And best of all, the project stayed within close range of the allocated budget! She picked the ideal contractor and we now have a home we treasure. She is an artist that creates with space, light and a careful use of materials for utility and texture. She redesigned our entire first floor, preserving architectural details from the original structure but creating the modern minimalist look we love. She also designed a multipurpose guest bedroom/office complete with a custom murphy-style bed. All of the spaces are filled with natural light and she maintained the internal and external integrity of our property.

Reena Racki Associates designed a major all-floor renovation of our 1950s center hall colonial in Washington, D.C.. Previously, the design of the house did not take advantage of the site, which overlooks a slope with numerous old-growth trees. There were just a few small windows on that side of the house. Reena's design opened the house up to those views and has brought sunlight streaming into the house during all seasons. The highlight of the project is a small but magnificent dining room addition on the main floor of the house. Reena designed the addition to have ten-foot ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows to bring in the trees and the light.

When my family returned to the U.S. after many years living abroad, we engaged Reena Racki Associates to prepare a remodeling design for our 1930’s colonial reproduction home. We chose this architectural firm because of their extensive design experience, sound technical knowledge, and outstanding reputation. Because the house was 80 years old and had been rented for some 15 years, we knew it required extensive plumbing and energy upgrades as well as improved lighting. From the beginning, Reena Racki Associates’ concept focused on bringing more natural light into dark rooms by opening the space, adding a window wall, and a front door with frosted glass windows all the while honoring the integrity of the house. Our project took two years to complete. Throughout this time the architects maintained a positive, helpful attitude toward all involved. During construction we met as a team bi-weekly to address burning issues. The deadline for the project was fluid because of scheduling for permits, materials, and hidden issues that arose during demolition and/or construction. The same was true of the budget—hidden issues caused adjustment to budget estimates. An example was during demolition when old termite and carpenter ant damage was discovered. This required collaboration between the architect, the contractor, and the owners to solve and was professionally handled by Reena Racki Associates. Also, during the rebuilding process, there were times when a redesign was necessary. This was readily accomplished by the architects in a timely manner.