Tucked into the picturesque grounds of Woodlawn Plantation in Alexandria is a structure from a completely different era. Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1939, the Pope-Leighey House exemplifies the illustrious architect’s “Usonian” vision: small, single-story dwellings, integrated with nature and affordable for the middle class. After years of deteriorating and fading in the elements, this tiny yet significant abode had its exterior painstakingly restored in late 2015.
Architect Ashley Wilson, AIA, ASID, of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, oversaw the conservation effort, which involved cleaning the Tidewater red cypress exterior, protecting it from biological growth and UV rays and coating it with a wood preservative. Narrow grafts known as wood dutchman were also used to repair parts of the outer structure.
“This project provides the further understanding of Frank Lloyd Wright’s intent for exterior wood while offering new solutions for the care and maintenance of wood buildings,” explains Wilson. “The solutions can be used by any homeowner.”
Originally commissioned by journalist Loren Pope in Falls Church in 1939, Pope-Leighey House was moved to Woodlawn Plantation—once part of the historic Mount Vernon estate—when construction of Interstate 66 threatened to demolish it in 1963. The home features the flat, cantilevered roof, corner windows and spacious interiors that typify Wright’s work and continue to influence American architecture today.
“Pope-Leighey House was only 25 years old when the Trust recognized its importance to American culture as a representative example of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Usonian houses,” says Wilson. Starting in April, the house is open for tours Friday through Monday; tickets are $15 for adults. woodlawnpopeleighey.org
In a tech-savvy world where GPS has made paper maps obsolete, Joseph Tarella has found a way to keep cartography alive. The New York-based artist renders East Coast geography by hand, using ink and watercolor to create elegantly detailed pieces. Also an architect, Tarella began drawing maps more than 20 years ago for an urban design firm, returning to the craft as a hobby. “I’m fascinated by the ever-changing aspect of where the water meets the land,” he explains. Though he researches and often visits each location, Tarella points out, “my work is not about way-finding.”
The artist’s latest creation spotlights the Chesapeake Bay. “I’ve illuminated how the bay changes over its length, including major seaports, great rivers and an elaborate network of roads and rails,” Tarella says. His limited-edition maps, available in sizes up to 40 by 60 inches, range from $30 to $700. coastalartmaps.com
Mod Maple Architectural Systems’ Interwoven Eco-Panels for walls have been color-washed in four neutral shades that can be combined to create visual interest. The three-dimensional maple surface is backed by a thin layer of birch and finished with a low-VOC, low-sheen varnish. archsystems.com
All Systems Go The Container Store has entered the closet systems market with designs that are fully customizable, from belt racks to mirrors, and a three-week turnaround time from design to installation. Available in six finishes. containerstore.com/tcsclosets
In Living Color EuroChef USA’s Verona Classic 36-inch professional range boasts furniture-like plinth legs, an easy-to-clean porcelain interior, a dual-fuel connection and a multi-function convection oven with seven cooking modes—and it now comes in a pretty light blue hue. veronaappliances.com
Do It Yourself Arteriors’ unusual 10-light steel Webster Chandelier consists of rods that can be rearranged to suit your space: Fan them out horizontally or pull them together to form a column. Shown here in vintage silver with radio bulbs, the fixture also comes in antique brass. arteriorshome.com
Fired Up Spark Modern Fires has an outdoor version of its Fire Ribbon, pictured here in a project by Bonick Landscaping. The stainless-steel firebox and surround can hold natural gas or propane, while a glass wind barrier shields against the elements. Remote-control-operated and available in three- to six-foot widths. sparkfires.com
Blast from the Past To celebrate its 70th anniversary, Farrow & Ball has produced three new wallpaper designs—all inspired by the 1940s, when the company was founded. Pictured here, the Arcade pattern is block-printed to create a textured scallop motif that comes in seven colorways. us.farrow-ball.com
Vanity Fair Porcelanosa employed its engineered KRION surface material to create the sleek, wall-mounted Leaf Vanity, which boasts mitred edges and an integrated basin/countertop. The smooth front panel is actually a soft-close drawer that only requires pulling on one side. Available in veneer and gloss or matte lacquer. porcelanosa-usa.com
All in a Glaze Country Floors’ Moresque collection of decorative, hand-glazed ceramic tiles showcases stylized, interlocking arabesque patterns and intricate mosaics. Suitable for interior wall and light-traffic floor applications, the collection comes in 12 colors and a range of designs, and in field tile, trim and architectural moldings. Pictured here, the Perla Glossy decorative tile. countryfloors.com
Bauhaus Style Brizo’s Litze bath fixtures collection was influenced by the German Bauhaus movement, which celebrated the marriage of engineering and artistry. Bends, joints, teak accents and knurling (a braided surface design) are among the features that distinguish the collection, available in four finishes and in shower, tub and sink fixtures. Pictured here, the Litze Two Handle Faucet. brizo.com
