Home & Design

Architect Scarlett Breeding blended Shingle-style exteriors with minimalist interiors in her design of a house on the Magothy River near Annapolis. “It was important for the kitchen to keep the same language in order to integrate with the rest of the house,” she explains. Taking her cues from the architecture, she designed glass cabinet transoms to echo the architectural windows, integrating and concealing the appliances to retain a streamlined look; appliances around the cooktop are hidden away but within easy reach via flush lift systems.

Quartzite countertops and backsplash are grain-matched to create a clean-lined, unified effect. The range is a focal point, with an elongated stainless-steel hood and stainless-steel cabinets on either side; polished stainless-steel vertical wall cabinet doors define the beverage bar area. Breeding selected a soothing gray palette for the millwork, which complements the soft hue of the quartzite. It’s a combination that perfectly reflects the serene mood of the waterfront scenery outside.

The Details ARCHITECTURE & KITCHEN DESIGN: Scarlett Breeding, AIA, principal; Richard T. Anuszkiewicz, Sarah Favrao, Angela Phelan, project team, Alt Breeding Schwarz, Annapolis, Maryland. INTERIOR DESIGN: Helen Sullivan, Helen Sullivan Design, Washington, DC. BUILDER: Pyramid Builders, Annapolis, Maryland. CABINETRY: premiercb.com. COUNTERTOPS: rbratti.com. APPLIANCES: mieleusa.com, subzero-wolf.com. SINKS: Julien through rohlhome.com

The emphasis was on aging in place in the design of a contemporary Annapolis master bath by architect Scarlett Breeding of Alt Breeding Schwarz. In keeping with the home’s streamlined, modern style, she accentuated long, linear lines in the bath—while also ensuring long-term function with a curb-less shower, seated vanity area, oversized W.C., strategically placed grab bars and extended tub platform.

The vanity, which boasts two sinks, is made of an etimoe wood grain-matched veneer that echoes the furniture in the adjacent master bedroom. The wall-to-wall vanity mirror brings in light and a sense of openness and a dropped canopy above the counter houses the proper illumination.

A polished stainless-steel base reveals with integrated lighting creates a safe path for travel around the tub—and a wonderful glow that almost makes the tub deck appear to float. Large-scale, neutral-hued limestone tiles and complementary Lagos Azul limestone countertops convey a warm, restful vibe.

The Details ARCHITECTURE & BATH DESIGN: Scarlett Breeding, AIA, principal; Richard T. Anuszkiewicz, Sarah Favrao, Angela Phelan, project team, Alt Breeding Schwarz, Annapolis, Maryland. INTERIOR DESIGN: Helen Sullivan, Helen Sullivan Design, Washington, DC. BUILDER: Pyramid Builders, Annapolis, Maryland. CABINETRY: premiercb.com. COUNTERTOPS: rbratti.com. Wall & Shower Tile: architecturalceramics.com. TUB: mtibaths.com. PLUMBING FIXTURES: hansgrohe-usa.com

To make a small kitchen in Chevy Chase light and accessible, designer Meghan Browne first removed a wall separating the kitchen and family room, flooding both spaces with natural light. She then added a door to the dining room from the kitchen’s prep area for better flow between spaces. A cleverly planned layout concentrated the sink, dishwasher, double ovens and refrigerator along one wall—where Browne was able to create more functional storage by placing the sink off-center beneath the window to accommodate a larger lower-level cabinet.

Crisp, white floor-to-ceiling cabinetry by Decor is combined with a glazed ceramic subway-tile backsplash and honed Calacatta marble countertops to create a clean-lined, transitional look. Along one wall, the cabinetry is stained dark with frosted-glass doors that display dishware and decorative objects. An island with an extra-thick countertop provides space to eat as well as work, while airy, geometric pendants add a final, modern touch.

The Details KITCHEN DESIGN: Meghan Browne, Jennifer Gilmer Kitchen & Bath, Ltd., Chevy Chase, Maryland. CONSTRUCTION: Paul Lappas, Lappas Construction Co., Bethesda, Maryland. CABINETRY: decorcabinets.com. APPLIANCES: mieleusa.com, bosch-home.com. COUNTERTOPS: classicgranitemarble.com. BACKSPLASH: architecturalceramics.com

When the owner of an open-plan, garden-level condo in Logan Circle tapped designer Sarah Turner to renovate his kitchen, she conceived a functional space that would feel like a seamless extension of the adjacent living room. A paneled pantry door with traditional trim was replaced with a slab door painted to match the wall so that the adjacent spaces would flow together visually. An integrated Sub-Zero refrigerator-freezer, a paneled dishwasher and a sink made of the same Caesarstone as the countertops all contribute to the seamless look.

Turner selected Zonavita cabinetry in warm wood tones and a flat-fronted modern style that complements the living area nearby; the cabinets are larger than their predecessors, with better storage. The island countertop with waterfall ends provides a comfortable perch, furnished with rattan stools. Double ovens, a built-in Miele espresso machine, and a U-Line wine fridge make entertaining easy.

The Details KITCHEN DESIGN: Sarah Turner, Jennifer Gilmer Kitchen & Bath, Ltd., Chevy Chase, Maryland. CONTRACTOR: Nolan Brook, Brook Custom Remodeling, Oakton, Virginia. CABINETRY: zonavita.com. APPLIANCES: subzero-wolf.com, mieleusa.com, u-line.com, bosch-home.com. COUNTERTOPS: caesarstoneus.com. BACKSPLASH: Limestone mosaic through architecturalceramics.com

In the mid-century modern home of a commercial architect in Silver Spring, Davida Rodriguez transformed a 1980s kitchen that had been a pass-through space into a vibrant central area where the owners and their guests can congregate. She began by removing a wall to create an open plan that would make the kitchen easily accessible from the family room, dining area, and backyard. Her design also borrowed space from an adjacent bath for a pantry that optimizes storage.

Drywall soffits in an accent color and waterfall countertops made of quartz convey a sculptural sensibility that’s “more reminiscent of art than of function,” says Rodriguez. Dark-stained cabinetry adds warmth and the two-tiered island with double-sided cabinets conceals part of the prep area. Sleek, double-sided frosted-glass cabinets hanging from rods maintain a sense of openness between the living room and kitchen. Stainless-steel appliances and a glass-tile backsplash lend the kitchen a clean, reflective quality.

The Details KITCHEN DESIGN: Davida Rodriguez, CKD, Davida’s Kitchen & Tiles, LLC, Gaithersburg, Maryland. CONTRACTOR: Sergei Tsoy, Modern Style Construction, Silver Spring, Maryland. CABINETRY: wood-mode.com. COUNTERTOPS & BACKSPLASH: Through davidaskitchenandtiles.com. APPLIANCES: kitchenaid.com, thermador.com

Clients with a home on a canal near Rehoboth Beach hired Jennifer Gilmer to design a kitchen that would take advantage of water views. Working with architect Amy Gardner, who designed the home, Gilmer created a welcoming space with an industrial edge and a “modern farmhouse” aesthetic. At the clients’ request, she emphasized sustainability in her design choices.

The unique material palette combines two styles of cabinets. One resembles horizontal-grain, textured barn wood and the other smooth, vertical-grain gray wood—both are made of high-pressure melamine. The island and cooktop console, framed in hot-rolled steel, convey the look of furniture; countertops are made of granite. Strips of fir border the tops and bottoms of the cabinets and floating fir shelves display dishware. The cabinet wall continues into a sitting area where a TV is concealed behind a sliding door.

Exposed ductwork at ceiling level adds to the kitchen’s modern, industrial style.

The Details KITCHEN DESIGN: Jennifer Gilmer, CKD, Jennifer Gilmer Kitchen & Bath, Ltd., Chevy Chase, Maryland. ARCHITECTURE: Amy Gardner, FAIA, LEED AP, Gardner Mohr Architects, Silver Spring, Maryland. CONTRACTOR: Beachwood, Inc., Showell, Maryland. CABINETRY: artcraftkitchens.com. COUNTERTOPS & BACKSPLASH: inhomestone.com. APPLIANCES: mieleusa.com, rangecraft.com

The owners of a turn-of-the-century row house in Georgetown tapped architect Christian Zapatka to renovate their kitchen and designer Sarah Turner to bring it into the 21st century. Zapatka facilitated circulation between the kitchen, the living area at the front of the house and the patio in back while Turner reorganized the layout of the kitchen, updating cabinetry and finishes.

The clients were downsizing from a large kitchen in a suburban home and did not want to compromise on storage. Turner incorporated tray bases, drawer dividers and spice and cutlery inserts to optimize functionality. Moving the cooktop to the island increased countertop space. Columns of stainless steel above the fridge and double ovens frame wood cabinetry and floating shelves that display items picked up by the owners while traveling.

An intricately patterned, a handmade tile backsplash is a striking focal point; its colors match the slate-blue island. Soapstone countertops have timeless appeal.

The Details   KITCHEN DESIGN: Sarah Turner, Jennifer Gilmer Kitchen & Bath, Ltd., Chevy Chase, Maryland. RENOVATION ARCHITECTURE: Christian Zapatka, AIA, Christian Zapatka Architect, PLLC, Washington, DC. CONTRACTOR: Trust Building Service, Rockville, Maryland. CABINETRY: qcci.com. COUNTERTOPS: avantimarblegranite.com. BACKSPLASH: walkerzanger.com through architecturalceramics.com. APPLIANCES: subzero-wolf.com, bosch-home.com.

The choppy kitchen in a Capitol Hill row house was compartmentalized, with wasted space and inadequate storage. The owners, who love to entertain, asked Kamila Kvitkova and Javier Baldiviezo to open up space and make congregating with guests easy.

Anchoring the kitchen between the open-plan dining and living areas created a central gathering spot. A wall of cabinetry and stainless-steel appliances lines one side of the room, while a 14-foot island, housing the sink, offers the seat at one end and plenty of storage. With its openness, the island fosters ready communication between hosts and guests.

The style of the kitchen is transitional, with dark-gray base cabinets and white upper cabinetry and pantry cupboards that keep the room light. Modern touches include Cambria quartz waterfall countertops and a row of frosted-glass cabinets near the ceiling. West Elm pendants over the island and stools from Room & Board complete the space.

The Details   KITCHEN DESIGN: Kamila Chase Kvitkova, Balaton Builders, Washington, DC. CONTRACTOR: Javier Baldiviezo, Balaton Builders. CABINETRY: design-craftcabinets.com. COUNTERTOPS & BACKSPLASH: cambriausa.com. APPLIANCES: thermador.com. PLUMBING FIXTURES: grohe.com

A client asked architect Donald Lococo to create a wine cellar on the lower level of his Northwest DC home that would serve as a spot for gathering with friends. The architect’s plan reimagined the typical cave-like basement wine cellar with a wine room reminiscent of a stately library. Rows of mahogany cabinetry hold the owner’s wine collection in a climate- and the humidity-controlled area behind a nearly invisible barrier of glass. On the other side of the space, comfortable seating beckons.

Lococo repeated the same mahogany millwork in the adjacent seating area, in the form of ceiling beams, wall panels, and bookshelves. Additional rooms surround the space, fostering gatherings large and small. A gallery lined with niches for large urns from Century Furniture leads to a wine memorabilia library at one end and an art studio at the other, while a foyer leads back to the seating area—called the imbibing room—and a terrace.

The Details  ARCHITECTURE, DESIGN & CABINETRY DETAILING: Donald Lococo, AIA, Donald Lococo Architects, Washington, DC. CONTRACTOR: Horizon Builders, Crofton, Maryland. CABINET FABRICATION: ivancdutterer.com. PHOTOGRAPHY: Donald Lococo.

Paul Bentham was hired to overhaul a dated Northwest DC kitchen with an open floor plan and a clean, contemporary look. Bentham removed a wall between the living area and kitchen and took out a peninsula that awkwardly separated the kitchen from the dining area. Sliding patio doors now flank a floor-to-ceiling pantry and a four-foot-wide island with waterfall counters provides additional storage and a place for the sink.

A custom oak table extends from one end of the island,“ replacing the predictable table and chairs,” Bentham says. Stained dark to match the floors, the table measures 36 by 100 inches and had to be lifted in through the patio doors by crane.

Torquay quartz countertops by Cambria and white cabinetry create a crisp contrast to the dark wood of the table. Playful translucent pendant lights—controlled by an iPad app—can change colors to suit the mood of the moment.

The Details   KITCHEN DESIGN: Paul Bentham, Jennifer Gilmer Kitchen & Bath, Ltd., Chevy Chase, Maryland. CONTRACTOR: Marios Nicolaou, Marnic Contractors, Washington, DC. CABINETRY: decorcabinets.com. COUNTERTOPS & BACKSPLASH: cambriausa.com. WOOD TABLE: glumber.com. APPLIANCES: Owned by the client. LIGHTING: Le Klint Pendants through lumens.com

In a classically detailed waterfront project near Annapolis designed by architect Cathy Purple Cherry, kitchen designer Joni Zimmerman created the main kitchen that houses the most-used appliances and prep surfaces and a pantry kitchen that operates as a coffee center and area to stash dirty dishes when the owners are entertaining. The two sections are divided by a furniture-like hutch, tucked between columns that separate the spaces without blocking backyard views.

The main kitchen flows into the family room; a beverage center acts as a room divider and glassware is stored on the backside of the island. A walk-in pantry closet provides storage.

Zimmerman worked with interior designer Arlene Critzos to create an aesthetic in keeping with the house. Traditional white cabinetry contrasts with a dark-stained island that matches the hutch. Granite countertops and a high-gloss ceramic-tile backsplash complement the cabinetry. An inviting breakfast area occupies a bay window in the main kitchen.

The Details   KITCHEN DESIGN: Joni Zimmerman, CKD, CBD, Design Solutions, Inc., Annapolis, Maryland. ARCHITECTURE: Cathy Purple Cherry, AIA, Purple Cherry Architects, Annapolis, Maryland. INTERIOR DESIGN: Arlene Critzos, Interior Concepts, Inc., Annapolis, Maryland. BUILDER: Pilli Custom Homes, Millersville, Maryland. CABINETRY: signaturecustomcabinetry.com. COUNTERTOPS: Owner’s purchase. BACKSPLASH: inhomestone.com. APPLIANCES: subzero-wolf.com

Best in Show Strong Reflection Columbia, Maryland, homeowners tapped designer Paul Bentham to transform a closed-off kitchen into an open, contemporary space that would better fit their needs. “The wife is an avid baker and hostess,” Bentham says. “An island with lots of prep space was mandatory.”

The new floor plan opened the kitchen up and added square footage by incorporating a small dining room into the footprint. A dual-level island boasts an auxiliary sink and storage beneath a Calacatta Nuvo quartz waterfall countertop; the island has a table-like extension for food prep or meals.

In order to make space appear larger and wider, Bentham relied on reflective surfaces. The range hood is clad in mirrored stainless steel, while the table portion of the island has a base wrapped in mirrored glass that creates the illusion that the island is floating.

Vertical-grain, high-gloss cabinetry adds further reflectivity and Veli pendants by Slamp add a touch of glamour.

The Details   KITCHEN DESIGN: Paul Bentham, Jennifer Gilmer Kitchen & Bath, Ltd., Chevy Chase, Maryland. CONTRACTOR: Mike Thornton, M.R. Thornton & Sons, Inc., Woodbine, Maryland. CABINETRY: zonavita.com. COUNTERTOPS: caesarstoneus.com. BACKSPLASH & GLASS FABRICATION: hutchisonglassandmirror.com. APPLIANCES: mieleusa.com, subzero-wolf.com, rangecraft.com. PENDANTS: lumens.com

Best in Show Soothing Retreat Designing a luxurious, modern master bath for Bethesda clients who wanted unique materials and a spa-like aesthetic, Paul Bentham first selected a three-dimensional porcelain wall tile by WOW. Paired with Calacatta marble floors, the undulating tiles provide a contrast to solid, dark-stained wenge surfaces that include vanity countertops, the top of a bench in the center of the room and the frame of a large mirror on one wall. The natural wood has been sealed against water damage.

Bentham replaced a seldom-used tub with a shower area featuring a window framed by water-resistant white quartz that looks like wood. Tiled in Certosa glazed porcelain, the shower zone boasts rain-head, fixed and hand-held showerheads, a storage niche and a tiled bench.

The vanity and central bench are set on tall, mirrored toe kicks so that they appear to float above the floor. Vessel sinks, wall-mounted faucets, and oversized medicine cabinets complete the space.

The Details    BATH DESIGN: Paul Bentham, Jennifer Gilmer Kitchen & Bath, Ltd., Chevy Chase, Maryland. CONTRACTOR: Marios Nicolaou, Marnic Contractors, Washington, DC. VANITY: premiercb.com. COUNTERTOP, BENCH TOP & MIRROR FRAME: glumber.com. WALL TILE: wowdesigneu.com through architecturalceramics.com. VESSEL SINKS: kohler.com. SHOWER FIXTURES: grohe.com. MEDICINE CABINETS: robern.com

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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