When moving from Chicago to Washington, a single buyer saw potential in a dated, two-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath condo 
on the third floor of a Foggy Bottom mid-rise built in 1975. He purchased the unit and tapped interior designer Sally Steponkus and Nadia Subaran, co-owner of kitchen-and-bath design firm Aidan Design, to help him realize his vision for the space.

The overhaul began with structural changes that opened the kitchen to the adjacent dining and living rooms. “The client loves to cook and entertain and wanted a plan that would allow for better views, flow and connection,” recounts Subaran. “We created two large, framed openings—one to the dining room and one to the living area. A long peninsula with seating helped to define the working part of the kitchen while also transitioning to the more formal dining space.”

Subaran and her team collaborated with Steponkus on the finish selections for the kitchen, where Wood-Mode cabinets stained a warm gray hue are paired with Frosty Carrina countertops by Caesarstone and a marble mosaic backsplash. Built-ins in the dining room, masterminded by Aidan Design to support storage needs, match the kitchen cabinets and connect the spaces visually.

Steponkus addressed décor throughout the apartment. “The client wanted clean lines and a handsome aesthetic,” she recalls. Against a muted backdrop of Phillip Jeffries Grecian Squares wall covering that resembles a faux-painted grid, the designer achieved a tasteful, masculine aesthetic via a palette of grays, blue-greens and beiges, with a focus on texture and graphic patterns. Textiles and rugs boast menswear-inspired herringbone and plaid, from the custom living room seating, covered in fabrics by Larsen and Osborne & Little, to the Lee Industries ottoman clad in leather.

A geometric Carpet Impressions rug grounds the dining room, where counter stools designed by Steponkus harmonize with the existing furniture, including newly reupholstered chairs. Subtly patterned draperies fabricated by Pilchard Designs soften the space.

After completing the project in 2020, Aidan Design returned in 2021 to bring the outmoded owner’s bath (pictured) and powder room up to the level of the rest of the dwelling. “In the primary bath, we wanted to create a rich look, but without using gray hues,” says Subaran. She and her team retained the original layout but replaced fixtures and finishes, beginning with new beige limestone floor tile in a hexagonal shape that ensures a vibe that is “light and bright, but has depth,” she explains. This tile also appears on the shower enclosure floor, providing visual contrast to the white marble wall tile.

The owner preferred a furniture-style vanity, so the designers traded out a builder-grade cabinet with a double sink for a walnut version that resembles a credenza, topped with Dekton, an engineered material comprised of quartz, glass and porcelain. The new vanity offers loads of storage; a corner tub with a walnut surround blends in beautifully.

Interior Design: Sally Steponkus, Sally Steponkus Interiors, Washington, DC. Kitchen Design: Nadia N. Subaran, Aidan Design, Silver Spring, Maryland. Contractor: Impact Remodeling and Construction, LLC, Washington, DC.