Inspired by agrarian buildings nearby, architect Suman Sorg's home in Sherwood, Maryland, overlooks the Chesapeake Bay. At night, black aluminum siding blends into the scenery. Architecture: Suman Sorg, FAIA, A Complete Unknown. Photo: Anice Hoachlander.

Architecture, Interior Design, July/August 2024, Landscape Design

Past Perfect

A stroll down memory lane features a sampling of beautiful projects that have graced our pages over the last 25 years

By Sharon Jaffe Dan and Julie Sanders

Elegant Mix

Called on to update a client’s 1990s-era Baltimore County home, architect Jay Brown and designer Jay Jenkins channeled its original French-manor style in a fresh, uncluttered way. The foyer greets guests with Cole & Son damask wall covering and a contemporary canvas by Tom Bolles. Architecture & Renovation: Levin/Brown Architects. Interior Design: Crosby Jenkins Associates. Contractor: J. Paul Builders LLC. Photo: Jennifer Hughes.

Lakefront Idyll

Architect Robert M. Gurney designed a modernist manse of steel, wood and glass with dramatic views of Lake Barcroft in mind; the dining area lies beyond a floating stair of painted steel and white oak. Architecture: Robert M. Gurney, FAIA Architect. Interior Design: Baron Gurney Interiors. Builder: Potomac Valley Builders. Photo: Anice Hoachlander.

California Dreaming

Monarch reimagined a 1950s fixer-upper, taking inspiration from Napa Valley style. Today, the DC home evokes a serene, organic vibe. An Ecocrete fireplace wall anchors the living room; abundant windows and doors blur the lines between indoor and outdoor spaces. Renovation, Interior Design & Construction: Monarch. Photo: Stylish Productions.

Moment of Zen

When a DC client acquired a neighbor’s property so he could build his wife a yoga studio and garden, he called on landscape designer Katia Goffin to realize the vision. She created a green haven planted with Winter King hawthorn, liriope and boxwood, and buttressed by a fieldstone wall. Landscape Design: Katia Goffin Gardens. Landscape Contractor: Y&A Landscaping, Inc. Photo: Roger Foley.

Collected Vibe

After a couple purchased a renovated 1908 row house in DC, they turned to designer Zoë Feldman to restore its classic luster. Establishing a luxe, layered look, she outfitted the living room with a Carrara mantel, a French Directoire daybed and an Empire commode. A velvet Baker sofa adds a burst of color. Interior Design: Zoë Feldman Design. Photo: Stacy Zarin Goldberg.

History Reborn

The redo of a Logan Circle row house by architect Colleen Healey merged its 1883 bones with 21st-century functionality. Exposed floor joists and brick form a backdrop for the sleek kitchen; glass-and-metal doors open to the backyard. Renovation Architecture & Interior Design: Colleen Healey Architecture. Contractor: AllenBuilt, Inc. Photo: Jennifer Hughes.

Bold Strokes

Designer Catherine Ebert took a client’s large, new DC home in a bold direction “with a bit of drama.” She jazzed up the dining room with silk-and-abaca wall covering and a Gabriel Scott prism chandelier. Architect of Record: Akseizer Design Group. Interior Architecture: PETRA Design Studio. Interior Design: Catherine Ebert Interiors. Builder: GC Construction. Photo: Stacy Zarin Goldberg.

Sky High

Architects Mark McInturff and David Mogensen upgraded a Bethesda condo with enhanced materials and detailing. In the living area, a soffit made way for a dropped ceiling that gently follows the room’s lines, focusing attention on panoramic views. Renovation Architecture: McInturff Architects. Interior Design: ColePrévost; Susan A. Vallon Ltd. Contractor: Added Dimensions Inc. Photo: Anice Hoachlander.

Island Idyll

Masterminded by architects Leo Wilson and Marshall Harris with designer Erin Paige Pitts, a custom, Shingle-style abode on Maryland’s Kent Island emphasizes easy indoor-outdoor connectivity. In the living room, platform swings provide perches for enjoying waterfront views. Architecture: Hammond Wilson. Interior Design: Erin Paige Pitts Interiors. Builder: Focus Construction, Ltd. Photo: Stacy Zarin Goldberg.

Trés Chic

Designer Julie Geyer collaborated with architect Carmel Greer on Geyer’s custom Bethesda home, conjuring interiors that merge warmth and a touch of glam. In the dining room, walls and trim in Sherwin-Williams’ Tricorn Black enhance glamorous chandeliers from Sunpan and Jeffrey Alan Marks draperies. Architecture: District Design. Interior Design: Julie Geyer Studio. Builder: GBI Corporation. Photo: Stacy Zarin Goldberg.

Fresh Palette

Designers Jamie Merida and Denise Perkins were tasked with updating what Merida called “an over-the-top 1980s” waterfront estate on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. The chic, sophisticated redo extended to the foyer’s stone floor, where a strong plaid pattern establishes the home’s color palette. Interior Design: Jamie Merida Interiors. Contractor: Capitol Homes. Photo: Stylish Productions.

Party Time

The owners of a 1980s Bethesda residence tapped architects Paul Davey and Rachel Drummond for a redo. Erica Burns updated the décor with clean-lined sophistication. A cozy zone for entertaining is delineated by a wall clad in vertical wood slats. Renovation Architecture: Studio Z Design Concepts, LLC. Interior Design: Erica Burns Interiors. Contractor: O’Neill Development. Photo: Stacy Zarin Goldberg.

Set in Stone

Conceived by architect David Jameson as four glass volumes around a giant atrium, a 12,000-square-foot dwelling of mahogany, glass and Carderock stone forms a modern fortress on a mountainside in The Plains, Virginia. A wall 11 feet tall anchors a massive lap pool with an infinity edge. Architecture: David Jameson Architect. Builder: Pureform Builders. Photo: Paul Warchol.

Al Fresco Retreat

Owners of a sprawling property on the Miles River near Easton, Maryland, tapped landscape architect Richard Arentz to surround their vacation home with four acres of gardens and outdoor living spaces. Near a walkway planted with lush greenery, a waterfowl sculpture by John Dreyfuss draws the eye. Landscape Architecture: Arentz Landscape Architects. Photo: Roger Foley.

Layered Luxe

With an artful mélange of classic and modern elements, designer Skip Sroka transformed his former 1962 town house in Upper Georgetown into an elegant retreat. In the dining area, an antique French tapestry weaves its own atmosphere, paired with a mod chandelier. Renovation & Interior Design: Sroka Design, Inc. Contractor: The James O’Reilly Group. Photo: Erik Kvalsvik.

Into the Woods

Built on the foundation of a mid-century rancher, a modern home conceived by architect Travis Price straddles its sloping site. The structure stands out with jutting angles of oxidized copper, cedar and glass. A bridge to the front entrance incorporates built-in planters. Architecture: Travis Price Architects. Builder: KGPbuild. Photo: Kenneth M. Wyner.

Work of Art

Streamlined interior architecture orchestrated by BOWA turned a dated Potomac abode into a showplace for modern art and iconic 20th-century furnishings. Works by Morris Louis and Helen Frankenthaler frame an opening between rooms; Mid-Century Modern furniture beckons. Renovation Design & Construction: BOWA. Interior Design: Gerald L. Smith, G.L. Smith Associates, Inc. Photo: Anice Hoachlander.

Love Story

Architect Peter Miles and designer Katalin Farnady collaborated on a modern Annapolis redo for newlyweds. Sporting a fireplace wall in leathered granite and a spare palette, the family room accentuates South River views. Interior Design: Farnady Interiors. Architecture: The Drawing Board Inc. Contractor: Lynbrook of Annapolis, Inc. Photo: Jennifer Hughes.

Modern Metaphor

A recently married couple tasked architect Janet Bloomberg with reimagining their Capitol Hill row house as a minimalist retreat. The finished dwelling enjoys lofted spaces, a frosted-glass-paneled stair and indoor-outdoor connectivity via expanses of sliding glass. Exposed brick-and-block walls add an industrial edge. Renovation Architecture: KUBE Architecture. Contractor: HouseCraft, LLC. Photo: Greg Powers

Living Museum

Hired to infuse a dated Ashburn, Virginia, residence with character and color, Mary Douglas Drysdale tapped into the local art scene. A painting by Julie Wolfe brightens a home office; Anna Beeke photographs make a bold statement near the door. The chair and pouf are Drysdale designs. Interior Design: Mary Douglas Drysdale, Drysdale Design Associates. Photo: John Cole.

Classic Gem

BarnesVanze Architects and interiors firm Solis Betancourt & Sherrill reimagined a 1930 Georgian Revival residence on Embassy Row with light-filled spaces and clean-lined furnishings in muted tones. The main hall leads to the living room, where a Vladimir Kagan sofa fronts a restored marble fireplace. Renovation Architecture: BarnesVanze Architects. Interior Design: Solis Betancourt & Sherrill. Contractor: Zantzinger. Photo: Marcos Galvany.

Riverfront Refuge

On the banks of the Chester River in Centreville, Maryland, Cathy Purple Cherry orchestrated a new manor home and outbuildings that conjure a multi-century estate. Kevin Campion spearheaded the sprawling landscape plan, which includes a front lawn adorned with dog sculptures and bordered by a carriage house and entertainment barn. Architecture: Purple Cherry Architects. Builder: GYC Group. Landscape Architecture: Campion Hruby Landscape Architects. Photo: Durston Saylor.

Old World Style

The swank elegance of Old World train travel inspired designer Lorna Gross’ update of an 1870s Georgetown row house, where the streamlined shapes, rich textures and exotic materials of the Art Deco period hold court. The parlor boasts a vintage chandelier and metallic Romo wallpaper. Interior Design: Lorna Gross Interior Design. Contractor: Glass Construction. Photo: William Waldron.

Private Spot

A natural, chlorine-free pool designed by Miles Barnard celebrates the great outdoors on a Chestertown, Maryland, property. A shallow regeneration zone is situated on one side with a deeper swimming area on the other. A cedar hot tub and outbuildings clad in reclaimed barn siding lend a rustic touch. Landscape Architecture: South Fork Studio Landscape Architecture, Inc. Landscape Contractor: Anthony’s Flowers and Landscaping. Photo: Allen Russ.

Industrial Revival

Designed by architect Donald Lococo, a custom home in Leesburg, Virginia, was inspired by its owner’s fascination with the bygone architecture of America’s mills. The low-slung structure with black steel beams and rough-hewn hemlock timbers forges a backdrop for interiors by designer Sandra Meyer. Architecture: Donald Lococo Architects. Interior Design: Ella Scott Design. Builder: The Block Builders Group. Photo: Stylish Productions.

Lavish Effect

Designer Joe Ireland recast a Northwest DC condo as a chic pied-à-terre, combining soft-modern style with urban flair. Luxuriously layered art, objects and fabulous finishes abound; in the dining area, a custom banquette and table were designed to let in the light. Renovation & Interior Design: JD Ireland Interior Architecture & Design. Contractor: Winchester. Styling: Mieke Ten Have. Photo: Stacy Zarin Goldberg.