Sroka's built-ins deftly conceal a desk and shelving. © Geoffrey Hodgdon
Skip Sroka designed a study for two in a new McLean residence. It houses a pair of built-in desks with generous drawers and shelves above that can be hidden behind doors when not in use.
When planning this home office, Sroka allowed for adequate storage and lighting—important factors in any home-office project. “Also, ensure you have chases for wires, a hardwire connection for CAT6, electrical outlets and grommets to run plugs through,” he advises.
Millwork in his McLean project, fabricated in sapele and rift-cut cherry, meets these requirements with style.
Architecture: Glenn Chen Fong, AIA. Interior & Millwork Design: Skip Sroka, CID, ASID, Sroka Design. Builder: Sandy Spring Builders. Photography: Geoffrey Hodgdon.
FASHION FORWARD
A homeowner with a keen fashion sense turned to Christine Philp to design her Chevy Chase abode. Philp took the dressing room in a bold direction with textured Duralee wallpaper animating the ceiling. Built-in wardrobes flank an island topped with marble while a Visual Comfort chandelier adds bling.
Philp recommends homeowners carefully consider their preferences when designing a closet. “Do you want to see everything or have it neatly hidden behind doors?” she queries. “Take the time to create the best environment you can.”
Architecture: Aggregate Architecture + Design. Interior Design: Christine M. Philp, Palindrome Design, LLC. Builder: Sandy Spring Builders. Photography: Jenn Verrier.
LAP OF LUXURY
Designing a dressing room “is an opportunity to carve out a special sanctuary,” says Barbara Hawthorn. In this luxurious Bethesda retreat, she designed custom mahogany built-ins featuring interior lighting, glass-enclosed shelving and adjustable space for hangers; a center island conceals charging stations and outlets.
“Good space-planning and circulation are essential," Hawthorn notes. “If possible, access to natural daylight is beneficial. And be sure to create a comfortable place to sit for dressing tasks that are easiest accomplished seated. This is especially important as you age.”
Interior & Millwork Design: Barbara Hawthorn, Barbara Hawthorn Interiors, Ltd. Millwork Design & Fabrication: Atrium Interiors. Photography: Kenneth M. Wyner.
KID-FRIENDLY RETREAT
Laura Fox was tapped to design a family’s Woodley Park home, which includes a room where their kids can study, practice music and relax. A custom cabinet stores books and toys; at one end, a flip-top table creates an instant desk.
“With virtual learning and technology taking over, it’s important for kids to have space to work and be creative,” says Fox. Whether or not it’s a dedicated kids’ room, she first considers how it will function and how to maximize every inch. “Making it pretty,” Fox insists, “is the easy part.”