Home & Design

Work of Art In transforming a house to accommodate an extraordinary collection of modern paintings and sculpture, the owners produced an elegantly unified home, as minimal and balanced as the abstract art within. Monumental paintings, iconic sculpture and classic 20th-century furniture stand out, interplaying against a canvas of crisp white walls. Contemporary gardens continue the orderly progression outdoors. A sense of harmony prevails throughout. 

This perfect synthesis of art and environment is especially remarkable given earlier conditions on the site. Located at the base of a hill in Potomac, the house had suffered regular flooding as well as major structural and mechanical damage. Dated decorating cluttered the interiors. 

None of that fazed the prospective owners. “When we walked in,” the wife recalled, “we said, ‘Wow. This would be great!’ There were wide hallways, large spaces, lots of bare walls, a high entrance hall, good light—perfect for hanging art.” 

Her husband also looked past obstacles, observing, “The house hadn’t been touched in 20 years. That was both terrible and nice. We didn’t have to fit ourselves into somebody else’s idea.”

The couple had decided to sell their primary home on the bay in Annapolis to be closer to urban conveniences as well as to their children and grandchildren. Their goal was to find a residence to showcase their extensive works of art. Adding to the challenges, they set a tight move-in deadline—just six months. Then they found a dream team that made it happen.

At a recent reunion, interior designer Gerald L. Smith and Steven Kirstein, a principal in the design/build firm BOWA, gathered in the impeccable new dining room. “The project was a great collaboration between all of us sitting around this table,” the husband beamed. “They were the pinnacle of efficiency.”

The owners’ idea to unify art and design was the starting point. “That was the hub, defining the interior architecture and space planning, and how the house was finished,” said Smith, emphasizing that such singular vision is rare. “Art collections are more often embellishments. This was a wonderful and refreshing approach.”

The existing plan—a one-story rambler with added wings—remained. Tearing down the house was never an option. “There wasn’t enough time,” Kirstein acknowledged. However, everything inside was eliminated down to the studs. Any vestige of traditional architecture—crown moldings, paneled doors, high baseboards—was stripped away. All windows, doors, skylights and cabinetry were replaced and streamlined. 

Paring down the architecture to basics introduced other hurdles. “Simple is always complicated,” said Smith. Removing soffits that interrupted straight lines between walls and ceilings caused ripple effects. Mechanical systems housed within the soffits had to be relocated underground. Running miles of new wiring and cabling in trenches dug through and under the home’s concrete slab exposed structural flaws. “There were huge voids and cavities in some places. Nothing underpinned some of the bearing walls supporting the house,” Kirstein recalled. “It gave us the opportunity to fix a lot of things.”

Nothing was left to chance. Before walls were finished, the owners’ art curator, Gary Snyder, arrived from New York to position the paintings; then more than 100 ceiling lights were placed to highlight the art. Before shelving was designed, Smith visited the owners’ previous home to measure the depth and linear footage of their limited-edition art books, each signed by author and artist. 

Recessed LED lights along the top shelves recall a tradition of white Christmas lights that sparkled along the highest bookshelves in the husband’s previous offices. All of the lighting is part of an integrated whole-house automation system installed by Bethesda Systems that allows the owners to control lighting, drapes, heating and cooling, audio/video and security remotely using a computer, mobile phone or tablet.

Whether at night or in daylight, the colors and contours of the art are set off against uniform white walls. The “absence of color,” as Smith said, “was never questioned: Benjamin Moore’s Bright White. It’s a very neutral white, very clear, crisp and clean.” It serves a purpose familiar to most modern art galleries of not competing with the art. 

As the wife pointed out, “Art needs a nondescript background, to breathe.” Views throughout the home are breathtaking. Starting at the soaring entrance, sweeping through the central core of the house and glancing down broad hallways, every perspective is studded with major mid-century works of geometric abstraction and the Washington Color School. Color-saturated paintings by Morris Louis and Helen Frankenthaler stand like six- and seven-foot-tall sentries beside a large opening to the living room. In the adjacent gallery, an illusionist painting by Al Held, a tile composition by Sol LeWitt, a backlit wood construction by Pamela Gwaltney and an Op-Art screen print by Bridget Riley riff on geometry at different scales. Overhead, an Alexander Calder mobile drifts above Le Corbusier leather armchairs in this luxuriously reductionist, exclusively black-and-white space. 

At the back of the house, glass doors frame sunlight glistening from the surface of a bronze water sculpture by Archie Held. Landscape architect Lila Fendrick placed sculptures close to the house to be viewed in all seasons. Wide steps and large bluestone pavers simplify detailing on rear terraces in a serene, unified transition outdoors. 

The owners find near-perfection in their completed home. One possible glitch: “We’ve run out of walls,” said the wife, pausing before she reflected with a smile, “But we’ll let this sit for a while and enjoy it.” 

Writer Tina Coplan is based in Chevy Chase, Maryland. Anice Hoachlander is a principal of Hoachlander Davis Photography in Washington, DC.

RENOVATION DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION: STEVEN KIRSTEIN, BOWA, McLean, Virginia. INTERIOR DESIGN: GERALD L. SMITH, G. L. Smith Associates, Inc., Washington, DC. LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE: LILA FENDRICK, Lila Fendrick Landscape Architects, Chevy Chase, Maryland. 

Water's Edge A winding, tree-lined drive is the first hint that something special lies ahead. When the road opens up to reveal a stately white clapboard home, expectations are fulfilled. Nestled into a 10-acre waterfront property, the house is expansive—a harmonious, symmetrical structure beyond which the picturesque South River can be seen. Its solid, traditional style belies its newness—and that’s the point. “The whole idea was a house that didn’t look like it was just plopped here,” says the homeowner. “We wanted it to look like it belonged.”

She and her husband, a mechanical engineer, were living just a couple of miles away when the property came on the market. The couple, who built their previous house, wished to move with their three teenagers into a new custom home on the water. They jumped at the sizeable lot, which at the time encompassed three houses. Assembling a design team that included architect Catherine Purple Cherry and interior designer Lisa Publicover—with the husband acting as the general contractor—they first razed two of the structures, retaining and renovating the other as a small cottage on the property. 

Then the team set to work realizing the homeowners’ vision for the main abode. The wife “was committed to an older look from the outside,” explains Purple Cherry. “So we chose the Georgian style, very balanced and symmetrical in the front. But we always try to open up the back—the goal in waterfront houses is to make sure the solid space is minimized in back in order to show the views.”

The finished house measures 10,000 square feet, with exteriors of clapboard-like HardiePlank siding and brick reclaimed from the Eastern Shore, which impart an authentic, older-house look. Inside, extensive millwork adds character and visually scales down the rooms, making them feel intimate despite their size. 

Purple Cherry designed a spacious foyer with a wide, elegant staircase and clear sight lines to the water. To one side, the foyer opens to a formal dining room. Beyond the stairwell, a long corridor leads on one side to a small parlor and the husband’s study, paneled in knotty alderwood. At the other end, a private wing includes a mudroom, the wife’s office, a main-floor laundry room and a wine storage room. The floors in the private area are slate while wide planks of reclaimed oak sound an informal note throughout the rest of the house.

An open-plan kitchen/family room spans 52 feet. The classic, white kitchen (a collaboration between Lisa Publicover and kitchen designer Joni Zimmerman Manto) boasts custom cabinetry and extra-deep Carrara marble counters. A breakfast nook overlooks the river, and both kitchen and family room open out to a screened porch where cushioned seating beckons. 

According to Purple Cherry, the construction process was seamless, due in part to the husband’s skill set. “His experience [as a mechanical engineer] made him logical and reasonable,” she observes. “He made the whole project easy.” 

Adding to the comfort level, designer Lisa Publicover and the homeowners had worked together on two previous projects. “I came in at the beginning,” Publicover says. “Everything was new and the biggest challenge was dealing with the sheer number of selections and details in a short time frame. I didn’t want to hold anyone up!” In keeping with the waterside locale, Publicover and her client chose a fresh palette of teal and cream against crisp white woodwork for the downstairs rooms. Comfortable easy chairs in a conversational enclave anchor the family room; sofas and chairs are grouped round a brick fireplace and a wall of windows brings the outdoors in.

The second-floor landing mimics the front door vestibule below with a bay window (directly over the front door) flanked by window seat niches. The sons’ rooms are down one hallway while the daughter’s room and another bedroom—currently outfitted as a gym—are opposite. Each bedroom has its own bath, and the kids share a cheerful sitting room complete with a large-screen TV.

Situated above the kitchen, the master suite encompasses a large walk-in closet designed by California Closets and a luxurious bath with a soaking tub that serves as a stunning focal point. White Thassos marble clads the floors and shower surround.

In the second-floor landing and sitting room, Publicover mixed teal and sunny yellow to create a sense of lightness and fun. Accessible through an extra door to the main hallway, the master bedroom is awash in pale blue and cream. “I try to ensure that there’s always an anteroom for privacy so the bathroom and closet are not just accessible through the bedroom,” Purple Cherry explains. “I strategize connections between spaces for quality of life.”

Outside, landscape architect Kevin Campion created a design that incorporated a pool, hot tub, sport court and pavilion with full outdoor kitchen, as well as a perennial garden, tidal lawn and parking court. “We located the drive and lined it with elm trees for scale,” he says. “Historically, older homes included terracing down to the water, so our terraced design conveys a sense of the house being older.” 

While the home emphasizes traditional beauty and a connection to its stunning locale, it also puts a premium on functionality. Two sets of two-car garages flank the driveway; one accesses the house directly and one via a breezeway. An elevator was installed that will enable the homeowners to age in place. “Life is complicated,” says Purple Cherry. “It’s important to understand how we humans live.”

Photographer David Burroughs is based in Annapolis, Maryland.

ARCHITECTURE: CATHERINE PURPLE CHERRY, AIA, LEED AP, principal; BRIAN BASSINDALE, AIA, project manager; RICHARD MONTEIRO, project designer, Purple Cherry Architects, Annapolis, Maryland. INTERIOR DESIGN: LISA PUBLICOVER, LPID LLC, Annapolis, Maryland. LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE: KEVIN CAMPION, ASLA, Campion Hruby Landscape Architects, Annapolis, Maryland.

Remote Control sojourn in Guatemala didn’t stop economist Ugo Fasano and photographer Manuel Morquecho from purchasing a townhouse in Washington, DC, and finding an architect to renovate it. Before moving to Guatemala City in 2009, the two had been living in the District’s Tenleytown neighborhood. When a property down the street from that home came on the market, they decided to buy it, anticipating their return to Washington in 2013. 

“It was bigger, wider and had taller ceilings than our other house,” says Fasano. “But it is in the same convenient location, close to public transit and shopping.” The home also offers independence for his 85-year-old mother, Rita DiMatteo, who lives in an apartment on the ground floor.

While attracted to the size and location of the townhouse, the partners found its 1970s interiors bland and in need of remodeling. They searched online for a DC-based architect to transform the upper two levels while they were in Guatemala and selected Andreas Charalambous of FORMA Design. “We wanted something new and different from the traditional décor and all the color of our previous house,” says Morquecho. “What we liked about Andreas was the clean but elegant look of his designs.”

For Charalambous, long-distance client relationships are familiar; he has worked with homeowners living in South Korea, Hong Kong and Colombia. “The most important ingredient for success in this type of effort is to be on the same wavelength with the clients on expectations, budget and taste,” says the architect. “This is achieved by having them create idea books of images they like from other projects, as well as asking them for a brief essay on their hopes and wishes for the project.” 

Once Fasano and Morquecho supplied this information, Charalambous created an open-plan living level and spacious master suite on the top floor. He stripped the rooms of crown moldings, built-in bookcases and fussy details to establish a neutral backdrop for colorful rugs, pillows, accessories and artwork. 

“Given the fact that Manuel is an artist and he and Ugo have an extensive art collection, lighting became of the utmost importance,” Charalambous observes. “We used a plethora of light sources that allowed the owners to set various moods according to the time of day or the events taking place.”

Adjustable track fixtures, halogen down-lights and LED cove lighting are accompanied by floor and table lamps. A dropped ceiling with a dramatic, sculptural chandelier defines the raised dining area. 

Sliding glass panels on the rear wall were replaced with taller French doors to brighten the living area. Skylights inserted above the staircase, master bathroom and dressing area introduce abundant daylight to the top floor. 

A new stone fireplace anchors the living area, where dark-stained wood floors contrast with their light-colored surroundings. “They make the furniture and rugs appear to float,” notes Charalambous of the wide, ebonized planks. 

At the front of the home, Vincent Sagart of Poliform | sagartstudio designed the galley kitchen to blend into the adjacent dining and living areas. Lacquered upper cabinets, a glass-tile backsplash and synthetic-stone countertops extend the pale background. 

Unifying the main level are wood furnishings in walnut, including Danish designer Hans Wegner’s three-legged Shell chair and a custom coffee table on wheels. “We didn’t need much furniture, so those pieces had to be of great quality,” says Charalambous. 

Upstairs, the architect widened the stair landing and erected a new wall of shelving to display books and artwork. Behind this partition, a former bedroom is now a walk-in closet, part of a master bedroom suite that’s been reconfigured with a spa-like bath. 

A guest room, which also serves as an office, is now framed by double-pane windows, which were installed throughout the house to increase energy efficiency. 

Fasano, who works for the International Monetary Fund, only traveled to DC three times during the six-month renovation process to meet with the architect and review the construction progress. Says Charalambous, “In this global environment, email, telephone and even video-conferencing can supplant the need for face-to-face meetings—even if the client is in Rockville.” 

Frequent contributor Deborah K. Dietsch is based in Washington, DC. Photographer Geoffrey Hodgdon is based in Deale, Maryland. 

RENOVATION ARCHITECTURE & INTERIOR DESIGN: ANDREAS CHARALAMBOUS, AIA, IIDA, FORMA Design, Inc., Washington, DC. CONTRACTOR: MICHAEL APERGIS, MCA Remodeling, Inc., Montgomery Village, Maryland.

Southern Charm Betty and Jennings Connell were the original occupants of a three-bedroom, 1984 house in Vienna, Virginia. A couple of renovations over the intervening years had increased the home’s footprint—an added kitchen and family room in back, as well as a master suite expansion upstairs. But Betty was looking to hit the “refresh” button as their college-age twins left home and she and her husband became empty nesters.

“I felt a big change coming in our lives and I wanted the house to accommodate it,” says Betty. “Our kids are now young adults. We didn’t want to move, but we did want to create a space that felt grown-up.”

She hired Charlene Kennerknecht and Arch Williams, principals of Monarch Design DC, to help her achieve what she was looking for: a fresh, clean-lined look that, in her words, “wasn’t too sterile, but was warm and inviting.” 

As Kennerknecht recalls, “When I did the initial walk-through, the house felt tired. But despite the pinks, teals and Hunter greens, I knew we could make it work.” 

Williams set about creating “good bones” in the choppy floor plan. First, the downstairs rooms were opened up and spatially connected to each other by removing unnecessary doors, including the French doors separating the parlor from the family room. Next, the existing moldings and wainscoting were removed; the latter, especially, cut the rooms in half and made the eight-foot ceilings seem lower. “We then added fresh architectural layers like brighter, cleaner trim work,” says Williams. “With the parlor fireplace, we went oversized to make it an element that would lend architectural weight to the room.”

Perhaps the biggest stretch for the Connells was the designers’ suggestion to ebonize their floors. They resisted at first, but after looking at images and mulling it over, they decided to take the leap. The inky floors and gray walls not only provide visual continuity on the main level, but also set a casual yet elegant tone in the overall décor.

“Arch and I have a holistic approach to design,” says Kennerknecht. “We call it our ‘global plan.’ We prepare ideas for every room based on how our clients live and what they want to accomplish. These homeowners really love Charleston and are drawn to a Southern aesthetic.” 

The Connells owned some family heirlooms including an antique piano that needed to be incorporated into the redesign. Otherwise, they were open to starting afresh with their furnishings. In general, Kennerknecht and Williams adhered to neutral, tone-on-tone linen upholstery on tailored and appropriately scaled pieces. For example, the furniture in the small parlor is diminutive in comparison to the hefty sectional in the larger family room.

The narrow parlor effectively demonstrates how Monarch creates “destinations” in a given room, no matter its shape or size. The parlor includes a music area; a work area with a writing desk; a sitting area by the fireplace for Betty and her friends; and a reading area for Jen, with his armchair dividing the room. “Jen and I never used the parlor,” says Betty, “except to listen to a kid play the piano. Now that it’s opened up—and the way it’s laid out—it’s become the core of our house.”

The designers added layers of texture to room plans that allowed for multitasking. “We laid down lots of sisal rugs,” says Kennerknecht. “There’s also nailhead trim outlining the furniture instead of fussy trim, and wrought iron, leather and cowhide furnishings. We integrated wood pieces to tie in the antiques.”

In keeping with the sophisticated Southern vibe, there are also subtle chinoiserie elements in the home, evident in black-lacquered wood details. Artwork purchased in Charleston adds pops of vibrant color to the serene spaces. A palette of greens, yellows and oranges punctuates the window treatments and other accents. 

In the master bedroom, Williams added a peripheral soffit to hold recessed lights and create architectural interest. A cozy, tufted bed occupies center stage while a serene meditation nook is defined by upholstered walls. “We switched from grays to creams, and reversed the moldings, making them darker than the walls,” says Williams.

The twins’ bedrooms were also overhauled: The son’s sports his University of Virginia blue-and-orange, while the daughter’s is adorned in fabrics with a bohemian vibe to suit her personality.

“The house has such a good feeling,” observes Betty. “When our friends or the children’s friends come over, I keep hearing how everyone loves it. To me, it’s like a big hug, all comfortable and warm—which is exactly how I wanted it to be.” 

Charlotte Safavi is a writer in Alexandria, Virginia. Photographer Lydia Cutter is based in Las Vegas.

RENOVATION & INTERIOR DESIGN: CHARLENE KENNERKNECHT and ARCH WILLIAMS, Monarch Design DC, Vienna, Virginia. CONTRACTOR: Monarch Homes, Inc., Vienna, Virginia.

Modern Counterpoint Builders finishing new luxury homes these days typically leave landscapes a blank slate so that residents can improve the lots to their liking—or not. Such was the case when a couple with three children purchased a large Vienna, Virginia, spec home set on a scant two acres as barren as a football field. 

The owners had something else in mind entirely when they brought up the subject with architect Mark Kohler, principal of KohlMark Architects and KohlMark Builders, whose team was just putting the finishing touches on a year-long upgrade inside the new house (built by a national firm). Specifically, the couple envisioned a backyard complete with a pool, a pool house, an outdoor kitchen, terraces, gardens and more—all designed in a modern, clean-lined style. “Our kids are young; we entertain a lot and we have a lot of family,” explains the wife. “We wanted a place where we could all gather, where everyone could come, relax and enjoy.”

Kohler invited landscape architect Howard Cohen of Surrounds to collaborate on a comprehensive design that would take the landscaping and pool house into account. First, Cohen proposed a conceptual plan that would orient a rectangular pool and adjacent pool house perpendicular to the house to keep sight lines open. Then Kohler designed the pool house—a stone and glass structure with window walls on two sides and a cantilevered shed roof. “What Mark came up with was really cool,” says Cohen. “We kept the same clean look and designed the landscape to be uncluttered and simple.”

Time was of the essence when the designs were finalized. The owners were planning a family reunion for 100 and wanted the backyard ready in less than six months. So the KohlMark and Surrounds teams went into high gear, tag-teaming on permits and utility lines to streamline the process. “It was a massive joint effort,” Kohler recalls. The frenzy paid off as the project was completed in time for the big day. 

The main door to the backyard was originally five feet above ground level, so Surrounds implemented major grade changes to extend terraces up to the residence. Now, the owners can walk straight out onto a dining terrace.

Walnut travertine paves the terraces throughout the entire project. An outdoor kitchen complete with two grills (one for meat, one reserved for vegetarian use), refrigerator, stove top, sink and serving counter can accommodate parties large and small. Nearby, a custom fire table rimmed by comfortable outdoor seating creates a dramatic gathering spot after dark. A private spa is nestled behind the pool house. Beyond, a full sport court plays double duty as a basketball or tennis venue and a fenced-in, 30-by-30-foot garden that Surrounds primed with fertile soil awaits fruit and vegetable planting by the owners this spring. 

Kohler selected Dove Gray Chocolate stone for the pool house exterior since it’s also used on the main residence. “We did pick up on the stone that was already on the house,” he says. “Otherwise, the pool house is completely contemporary and meant to be a little elegant gem in the backyard.”

Inside, an inviting seating area with a fireplace and flat-screen TV, a spacious kitchen, powder room and separate shower room cater to year-round fun, whether the family is hosting a kids swim party or watching football on a winter afternoon. 

Crisp detailing and a palette of organic materials blur the lines between indoors and out. A wall of maple surrounds the fireplace while granite countertops and glass tiles grace the kitchen. The travertine floor slabs inside the structure align with their outdoor counterparts in perfectly seamless geometry. “It all had to tie in,” explains Kohler. “The tiles carry right through to the patio and the roof and ceiling and everything else. 

“The pool house has a lot of glass but it’s well insulated with a spray-foam material. In fact, I think it would make a neat house on its own if you extend it a bit.”

Interior designer Kathy Lipscomb worked with the homeowner to outfit the pool house with hip, stylish and kid-friendly furniture, mostly sourced at B&B Italia in New York. 

The family is thrilled with their new entertainment hub, which won KohlMark a Grand Contractor of the Year award for detached structure, as well as Home & Design’s Award of Excellence. “We look out and can’t believe this is our yard,” says the owner. “We don’t need to go on vacation; we can just step outside.” 

Photographer Greg Hadley is based in Fairfax, Virginia. 

ARCHITECTURE: MARK KOHLER, AIA, principal; WILLIAM FLETCHER, project architect, KohlMark Architects PC, Burke, Virginia. CONSTRUCTION: WADE GREENE, KohlMark Builders Inc., Burke, Virginia. LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE: HOWARD COHEN, Surrounds, Sterling, Virginia. INTERIOR DESIGN: KATHY LIPSCOMB, Kathy Lipscomb Interior Design, LLC, Boyce, Virginia. KITCHEN DESIGN: AMY PACEK, Integrated Kitchens, Gaithersburg, Maryland. POOL: TOWN AND COUNTRY POOLS, Sterling, Virginia. 

Once the offices for the Central African Republic, an 1890 row house in Kalorama Cool had fallen into major disrepair by the time a couple of empty nesters decided to purchase it. They tapped Muse Architects to redesign their new abode and Glass Construction to overhaul the space. The result—which won a Grand Contractor of the Year award for Entire House over $1 Million—is a clean-lined, light-filled home that deftly blends traditional and contemporary architectural features. 

Because the house was a historic property, the owners had to preserve the original front façade—though it was clear to the design team from the start that the interiors would have to be gutted. Glass Construction revived the exterior by restoring the windows, front door and stairs, and stripping the painted brick down to its original warm red. Inside, “the house was severely neglected,” says principal Tom Glass. “The roof leaked and the interior finishes had deteriorated. Basically, we took it down to the four brick walls.” 

The renovated house comprises four full stories including the finished, above-ground basement. As architect Stephen Muse says,  “the house was exceptionally dark. The owners wanted a new, contemporary design but even more, they wanted a lot more natural light.” 

To answer all their wishes, he designed a modern plan that would flood the stairwell with light: Fixed-glass panels were installed in the roof and the heavy wood staircase was replaced with slender steel cable railings and open risers. In the upper hallways, the floors are inset with opaque glass panels. “Light pours down from the roof all the way to the basement level,” Muse says.  

Surrounded by private lots with no yard to speak of, the house is virtually landlocked—so Glass and his team built a wood-and-steel rooftop terrace that allows the owners to enjoy the outdoors. Just off the kitchen, a narrow patio spans the width of the house. Originally set at ground level, it’s been raised eight feet to make it accessible from the main floor where it can be reached through French doors. 

Muse retained a separate entry hall. The spacious living room is connected to the new kitchen and dining area through a short passageway with a barrel-vault ceiling. Built-in shelves line the living room, where a fireplace was removed to free up wall space. The shelves display books, sculpture and other memorabilia, while abstract art from the owners’ collection adorns the walls.

To create a higher ceiling in the kitchen/dining area, the architect placed the space a step down from the rest of the main level. It has a warm, modern vibe, with clean-lined, custom maple cabinetry and honed Absolute Black granite countertops and backsplash. Tumbled travertine floors are inset with slate accents. A wall of windows brings in yet more natural light.

The second floor houses the master suite, encompassing a bedroom, bath and small closet. Because of the lack of closet space, Muse designed extensive built-ins that line the master bedroom walls. They incorporate shelving, cabinetry, drawers and even the bedstead; clerestory windows along one wall admit light. Porcelain tile and a mosaic-pebble shower floor embellish the master bath. On the third floor, there are three bedrooms—one for each of the owners’ two grown daughters when they visit and a guest room—plus another full bath. 

Muse called on interior designer Celia Welch to help choose a palette and furniture for the remodeled home. The owners sought a contemporary sensibility, but also wanted it to be fun and vibrant. “They love color,” Welch explains, “so though I chose light paint colors to highlight the architecture, there were punches of strong color in the art, rugs and other accessories.” She furnished the rooms with a mix of new and repurposed pieces; the owners’ abstract art collection shares space with two contemporary sofas from Vastu in the living room, a dining table from Design Within Reach and dining chairs by Furniture From Scandinavia. 

Throughout the house, Muse incorporated contemporary and traditional elements. Coffered ceilings, moldings and trim co-exist with the minimalist staircase, unadorned built-ins and light oak floors and accents. “The owners didn’t want it to be full-out modern,” the architect says. “And we didn’t want to completely lose what the house historically was.”  

Photographer Anice Hoachlander is based in Washington, DC.

RENOVATION ARCHITECTURE: STEPHEN MUSE, FAIA, principal in charge; WARREN SHORT, AIA, LEED AP, project architect, Muse Architects, Bethesda, Maryland. CONSTRUCTION: TOM GLASS, principal; TONY KOCHIS, project manager, Glass Construction, Washington, DC. INTERIOR DESIGN: CELIA WELCH, Celia Welch Interiors, Bethesda, Maryland.

Penthouse Appeal penthouse apartment in Reston Town Center had seen its share of changes. Owned initially by former Washington Redskins defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, it was a chrome-and-leather playground awash in mirrors and TVs. When a single father of three purchased the property, it sorely needed an update that would reflect a more understated style. The technology executive wished to combine a sophisticated bachelor’s sensibility with a welcoming, family-oriented layout. He hired architect John Heltzel to overhaul the 21st-story abode.

The first task was to reconfigure Haynesworth’s two-bedroom layout to accommodate bedrooms for the owner and each of his kids—twin girls and a boy, all under 10 years old. However, “the project grew once we established a level of comfort and the client started to realize the potential of the space,” Heltzel says. “My client was going for family-friendly but cool—a kind of New York City loft-conversion look.”

A far cry from the original, the finished apartment is still contemporary but with a softer, subtler edge. Honey-colored engineered-wood floors have replaced glossy black tiles, while the overall aesthetic marries clean-lined modern with rustic elements for an industrial vibe. “It was really dark,” the owner recalls. “I wanted the space to feel warmer, brighter and happier.”

Prior to the renovation, the main floor encompassed a kitchen, living room, master suite and spare bedroom. An upper-level loft was used by Haynesworth for entertaining, with a full bar, pool table and powder room. With the owner’s kids in mind, Heltzel and his team removed the master suite from the main floor, gutting the space and dividing it into two small but comfortable girls’ bedrooms that share a roomy bath and walk-in closet. The son took over the spare bedroom, which also has an attached bath. 

Upstairs, the loft now houses the master suite, complete with a catwalk that overlooks the living room below and leads to two separate, spacious balconies. While Heltzel maintained a sense of openness throughout the residence, he ended up enclosing the bedroom to give the homeowner more privacy. “He wanted to be able to have parties on those killer decks,” the architect recalls, “but he didn’t want them to be accessed through the bedroom. So we pushed the bedroom away from the deck entry.” 

Heltzel and his team separated the bedroom from the rest of the loft with a set of barn wood doors made of oak that were ordered through Wellborn + Wright, a Richmond-based firm. The doors allowed privacy for the homeowner while also adding a rustic element to the space.

To make the smallish master bedroom feel more open, Heltzel and his team sought permission from the condo board to push through the flat ceiling to the sub-roof above. In doing so, they discovered attic space above the bedroom. “So we built a room where we were able to stuff all the mechanical systems—heating and cooling, humidifier and dehumidifier—and free up space for a large master bath,” he explains. 

In the open, two-story living room, another set of barn doors and a fieldstone fireplace wall impart a sense of rustic style and warmth. Two wide doorways open into the clean-lined, spacious kitchen, which features custom cabinetry, Corian and Silestone countertops and Viking and Sub-Zero appliances. Heltzel gutted the original kitchen to create a space with a breakfast nook surrounded on three sides by windows with panoramic views. “Everything in the kitchen has been redone,” he says. “The breakfast nook was isolated from the rest of the kitchen. We opened it up and made it more family-oriented.” 

For Heltzel and his team, the greatest challenge was completing a large-scale renovation in a condo that was only accessible via a small passenger elevator. “There were a lot of logistical issues,” the architect remembers. “Everything had to be built, then broken down to get it upstairs. The 10-by-10-foot barn door, which was fabricated in Richmond, had to be dismantled with all parts labeled and put back together in the apartment.”

The owner is more than happy with the remodeled space, which won a Grand Contractor of the Year award in the category of Interior Space over $500,000. “It’s the perfect balance between modern and warm,” he notes. “I’m really pleased with how it’s worked out.” 

Photographer Greg Hadley is based in Fairfax, Virginia. 

RENOVATION ARCHITECTURE: JOHN HELTZEL, AIA, P.C.; CURT ZIESE, project manager, John F. Heltzel AIA, McLean, Virginia. CONSTRUCTION: Heltzelhaus, McLean, Virginia. 

HOME&DESIGN, published bi-monthly by Homestyles Media Inc., is the premier magazine of architecture and fine interiors for the Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia region.

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