THEN | NOW |
| The original bath faced the backyard, while the primary bedroom sat on the front of the house. The bath’s awkward layout featured a cramped stall shower and a large corner tub that ate up most of the room. | Flopping the primary bedroom and bath locations required a full plumbing overhaul, but doing so allowed the design team to rejigger the layout to incorporate an oversized shower and freestanding soaker. |
| His-and-her vanities resided on each side of the corner tub, feeling disconnected. They also lacked enough storage for the couple’s things. | Waterlily Interiors worked with BOWA to create a long vanity with dual sinks and storage towers. A free-standing wood cabinet from Four Hands acts as a cache for extra toiletries and linens. |
| Builder-grade finishes, including ho-hum lighting choices and lackluster tile, left the original bath feeling bland and uninspired. | A dramatic Regina Andrew bubble chandelier and Visual Comfort sconces complement the light palette and luxe finishes, which include bookmatched porcelain slabs behind the tub and Marble Systems custom mosaic tile on the floor. |
Interior Design: Tracy Schlegel, Waterlily Interiors, Bethesda, Maryland. Renovation Architecture & Contracting: BOWA, McLean, Virginia.
Empty nesters with frequently visiting family dreamed of renovating the original kitchen of their 1997 Great Falls home. “A lot of the problem was aesthetic; it was frilly and overdone,” recounts architect Nancy McCarren of Jennifer Gilmer Kitchen & Bath, who was tapped for the update.
Luckily, it wasn’t all bad: Existing parquet floors, stained ceiling beams and a salvaged French pantry door provided inspiration for the freshened-up look. A limestone-and-brass Francois & Co. range hood became the new focal point, while a large island with furniture legs conceals a wealth of storage. Nearby, a built-in bar replaced an outdated and barely used desk area. Warm white cabinets with quartzite countertops and a stunning marble mosaic backsplash complete the scene. “The owner was open to having something unique,” says McCarren of the backsplash. “The moment we saw it, we knew it was a magical find.”
Kitchen Design: Nancy McCarren, AIA, LEED AP, Jennifer Gilmer Kitchen & Bath, Chevy Chase, Maryland. Contractor: Paul Lappas, Lappas Contractors, Inc.
On a hill with sweeping views of the Severn River, sits a 1.87-acre property in Arnold, Maryland. The site’s elevation and proximity to the water provided an inspiring foundation for McHale Landscape’s design, which features lovingly restored 90-year-old terraced stone walls that wind along the lot’s steep bluff. A cast-stone wall fountain, installed in a 10-foot retaining wall, introduces sound and movement. After clearing years of invasive growth from the property, boxwood, hydrangea, and azalea were planted to bring in color and texture. Balancing historical preservation with modern usability on such a steep site was a point of pride for the project, which honors the history and grandeur of this 1935 home and its gardens.
McHale Landscape Design
mchalelandscape.com
301-599-8300
The owners of a property in McLean just under an acre wished to turn an unusable, steeply inclined backyard into a fun-filled outdoor oasis. To do that, Pristine Acres removed an outdated deck. The combination of retaining walls and a pool built 10’ out of ground surrounded by an expansive deck allows for one level use—all surrounded by trees and lush plantings in bright colors. A new pool house hosts a guest suite, fireplace, kitchen and full bath with large full-length sliding doors. Not only does the finished project feature lovely views from the house, the vistas from the pool house and even the driveway offer plenty of visual rewards, too.
Pristine Acres
pristineacres.com
On a 10-acre pastoral estate in Great Falls, Virginia, Fine Landscapes developed a 10,000-square-foot entertainment venue for weddings and gatherings in a glass-roofed, stone conservatory-style building. Nearby, a French-inspired Parterre Garden with mature specimens, including hydrangea, crape myrtles, Italian cypress, boxwoods and seasonal flowers, leads to a fully functioning greenhouse in a matching architectural style. Garden pathways and hedges direct the eye towards the fountain and greenhouse, then back up the stone staircase to the conservatory centerpiece. From the top of the hill, the grand stone structure provides a breathtaking view of the gardens, greenhouse, the original residence and surrounding property.
Fine Landscapes
finelandscapes.com
703-421-7441
Favorite room at home
My library—a much-used office for hand-drawing and email correspondence. I designed shelves that consolidate most of my books and serve as a great background for Zooms.
Hot spot
The zinc bar at BlackSalt for the best oysters and fresh fish, along with a great Sancerre.
Go-to couture
If I’m feeling extravagant, Paul Stuart, where I recently found an unusual, giant-scale paisley linen jacket. Sid Mashburn if I want reliable; I wear their polo shirts all summer for work or play.
Admired building
The old Penn Station in New York—a building I never saw. McKim, Mead & White’s Machine Age interpretation of the Baths of Caracalla provided a glorious way to enter the greatest city in the world.
Dream escape
The Brazilian Court Hotel in Palm Beach. It was originally a low-rise apartment building designed by Addison Mizner around a lush, tropical courtyard.
Recent read
The Waters of Rome by Katherine Rinne—a fascinating history and entertaining tour of the complex relationship between water and the Eternal City.
Home & Design unveiled its July-August 2025 issue on June 25th with a reception at Ateliers Jacob in Georgetown’s Cady’s Alley. Guests explored the high-end Canadian cabinet maker’s stunning new flagship.
The Baltimore-Washington Chapter of the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) gathered at VisArts in Rockville on June 12th to celebrate the winners of its 2025 design awards. H&D sponsored the gala and competition.
