Home & Design

Two award-winning projects merge form, function and flair

Ed Ball Landscape Architecture has been a mainstay in the area’s outdoor renovation industry for over 30 years. Ed and his team complete 30-40 projects a year from pools, spas, and water features to fire pits, outdoor kitchens and more. Says founder Ed Ball, “We craft transformative landscapes that seamlessly blend natural elements while catering to clients’ needs.”

AWARD DESCRIPTIONS
1. Distinction Award - Outdoor Living Area
EBLA created an outdoor living/dining area on a wooded, sloped property, combining Techo-bloc pavers inlaid in synthetic turf, retaining walls and a custom, modern water feature. A cohesive design promotes indoor-outdoor connectivity for year-round enjoyment. Much of the yard was terraced to create a more usable space for outdoor activities.

2. Distinction Award - Front Residential Planting and Entranceway
EBLA transformed the front yard into a destination for gardening and entertaining; a paver path echoes the home’s modern architecture.

EBLA
703-433-1863 — ebla.pro

Grand Award - Outdoor Living Area Design/Build

Rossen Landscape reimagined a small lot in Chevy Chase for gathering and entertaining. On the list of requirements: a swimming pool and spa, and an expanded deck with a covered patio beneath it and a pergola above.

Before construction began, the Rossen team addressed the challenge of runoff in the small yard, which had to meet strict stormwater-management requirements. A crate system was implemented to capture water and percolate it into the soil; atop the system, a formal garden was planted.

Flagstone pavers surround the pool, where a custom-built Trex arbor anchors one end. The flagstones are accented with brick that also clads low retaining walls. The spa spills water into the pool. The deck features the Trex pergola and an outdoor kitchen.

DESIGN FEATURES

  • An expanded deck was designed with just three posts on the pool side for maximum views
  • Elevated Armstrong maples and Foster hollies provide privacy while allowing for additional plantings
  • Summer-blooming Limelight and Little Lime hydrangea are great for evening viewing, as they can be seen in darker environments

Rossen Landscape offers comprehensive landscape design, build and maintenance solutions in Great Falls, Virginia, and surrounding areas.

Rossen Landscape
703-327-2284 — rossenlandscape.com

A thoughtful plan transforms a mundane lot into a backyard oasis

Wheat’s was engaged by a homeowner who sought to enhance the aesthetic and functionality of their property. The residence faced a vacant lot to the rear, which included a large drainage reservoir. Collaborating with Wheat’s Jeff Krynitsky, the renovation project aimed at improving the home’s curb appeal and creating an outdoor living and entertainment backyard space.

Complementing the traditional architecture, Wheat’s installed an elegant pool house featuring columns and a standing-seam-metal roof. Inside, a vaulted ceiling and French doors integrate with transom windows creating an indoor-outdoor experience. A rectangular pool with bluestone surrounds flows into a gathering area with seating and a stone fireplace.

Oaks, maples, holly trees, and Green Giant arborvitae screen the rear of the property, while the entertainment space is softened by hydrangea, spirea, azalea, viburnum, and barberry shrubs. In a unique approach, the drainage reservoir was transformed into a small fishpond with a dock and fountain.

DESIGN FEATURES

  • The clients’ children fish from the dock and kayak around the pond
  • Stonework was selected to match the home’s exterior
  • Goldspire gingkos accent the pool area
  • Deer-resistant boxwood provides an evergreen border

Wheat’s provides design-build and maintenance services with an emphasis on personalized attention, creativity, quality craftsmanship and lasting relationships.

Wheat’s Landscaping
703-641-4790 — wheats.com

1. Distinction Award - Total Residential Contracting

The owners of a new, traditional residence in Northwest DC’s Spring Valley neighborhood tapped Planted Earth to install and maintain their landscape and outdoor living area. The completed project is a layered scheme encompassing an inviting pool and spa; a fire pit; an outdoor kitchen; seating and dining areas; and a dog path. A pavilion with a fireplace anchors one end of the pool.

As the goal was to complement the home’s traditional style and contribute to its older-home look, Richardson & Associates LA designed a hardscape of natural-cleft Pennsylvania bluestone, which conveys a sense of age and heritage. There is connectivity between inside and outside spaces. Existing large trees on the property were preserved and structured beds contribute both elegance and softness.

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Newly installed, sub-patio irrigation lines are concealed beneath patio planters
  • A 12-foot-caliper weeping cherry tree was installed with a 100-inch tree spade
  • Installation took place over three seasons due to the need to coordinate with utility and construction companies

Planted Earth offers high-end landscape installation, enhancements and maintenance. Principal Chris Vedrani founded the company in 2010; in 2023, his staff of 82 completed 74 installation projects and had management of 144 landscapes. “Our goal,” Vedrani says, “is to enrich the lives of our clients by creating and maintaining beautiful and functional outdoor spaces.”

AWARD DESCRIPTIONS

2. Distinction Award - Residential Maintenance
Clients who live beside a golf course wanted an outdoor living space that would feel connected to its locale while also maintaining privacy. Planted Earth created a harmonious environment around seating areas that enjoy abundant seasonal color.

3. Grand Award - Residential Maintenance
A formal garden in Northwest DC comprises a series of outdoor rooms delineated by lush, manicured boxwood and other shrubs. Native clematis vines are trained to festoon arbors that cover the walkways leading through the grounds.

Planted Earth makes excellent customer service a priority. Our experienced employees believe in doing the right thing every time.

Planted Earth
410-857-4744 — plantedearthlandscaping.com

Grand Award - Outdoor Living Area Design/Build
Judges Choice Award - LCA-VA MD DC 2023

Homeowners hired Surrounds to design and implement a new landscape plan for their property. Landscape architect Chad Talton and his team regraded the front and installed a driveway with columns, lighting and improved drainage.

In back, an existing deck was revamped and a new pool and travertine hardscape added. A rough-sawn cedar pavilion and attached pergola anchor one end of the pool; a material palette of cedar, brick and stone matches the exterior of the house. The pavilion and pergola feature a fireplace, bathroom and grilling area.

The lot has been landscaped—including a vegetable garden centering on a fountain. Ginkgo, crape myrtle paperbark maple and dogwood are softened by hydrangea, boxwood, drift roses and holly. Perennials and ground cover include astilbe, Mondo grass and nepeta.

DESIGN FEATURES

  • The pavilion is made of rough-sawn cedar beams and a bronze-hued aluminum roof
  • The kitchen features a Wolf grill, fridge and smoker
  • The hardscape blends travertine patios, Pennsylvania bluestone thermal treads and full-bed Eagle Ridge building stone

Surrounds merges landscape architecture and design with professional construction and meticulous garden management, enhancing lifestyles and increasing property values.

Surrounds Landscape Architecture & Construction
703-430-6001 — surroundslandscaping.com

A modern makeover transforms a small lot into a backyard oasis

Homeowners with a compact backyard wanted an extensive outdoor entertaining space. Tapping Pristine Acres for the job, they specified a pool, a sunken fire pit and a pavilion containing a fireplace, spa and outdoor kitchen. With space at a premium, The design team utilized an existing slope to engineer a reverse-beam-style pool set above ground on one side, with a ledge atop a low retaining wall for additional poolside seating.

The owners preferred a modern look to match their home’s architecture, so the pavilion was designed with a flat roof and hardscape materials with streamlined appeal. The pool deck is maintenance-free porcelain with basalt coping. The kitchen boasts marble-look porcelain surfaces and the pavilion ceiling is clad in white oak.

DESIGN FEATURES

  • The flat-roof pavilion houses a custom fireplace, bar counter and kitchen
  • Sunken fire pit area with built-in benches and custom lighting n Custom light feature built into the support column and outdoor kitchen and bar counter
  • Book-matched porcelain slabs frame the fireplace
  • A water feature incorporated into the pavilion ceiling creates a sheet of water that cascades into the adjacent pool

Pristine Acres is an award-winning design/build firm handling all aspects of a project, from design through installation.

Pristine Acres
877-333-5651 — pristineacres.com

A waterfront getaway makes al fresco living a breeze

After purchasing a weekend retreat on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, the owners hired Walnut Hill to transform their riverfront property for year-round entertaining. Their wish list included a pool, patio and cabana with room for gathering—all overlooking the water.

The design team collaborated with an architect on the two-level cabana, which encompasses an open seating area around a stone fireplace flanked by built-ins; curtains soften the openings to the structure. There’s a bathroom on the ground level and guest bedrooms above, accessible via an outdoor stair. A Pennsylvania bluestone floor continues out to the pool, unifying sheltered and open spaces. Beyond the pool, an expanse of lawn stretches down to the river where a dock beckons. Mass plantings of shrubs, perennials and grasses provide year-round color and textural interest.

DESIGN FEATURES

  • Trees create a vertical effect without blocking water views
  • An understated lighting plan subtly accents the features of the landscape
  • The driveway was relocated to draw visitors to the front door of the house and into a clearly defined parking area

Walnut Hill designs residential properties in Maryland, DC and the Eastern Shore. Our outdoor spaces reflect personal style while exceeding expectations.

Walnut Hill Landscape Company
410-349-3105 — walnuthilllandscape.com

Distinction Award - Outdoor Living Area

The owners tapped Fine Earth Landscape to help them reimagine their back yard for entertaining and kids’ play, with their idyllic equestrian setting as a backdrop.

Their wish list included a swimming pool, spa, fire pit, patio, a small waterfall, and colorful plantings. Addressing a 10-foot drop-off from the back porch, our team used a combination of a short wall and regrading to allow placement of the pool at slightly below porch level with a slope to the pasture to feature views of their beautiful horses.

The pool is surrounded by a deck of natural-cleft Pennsylvania flagstone. Plantings were chosen to create explosions of color. Hydrangea, hibiscus, echinacea, dianthus, shasta daisies, roses, and butterfly bushes are supplemented with colorful annuals.

DESIGN FEATURES

  • PebbleTec with blue tile clads the pool
  • Low natural stone walls capped with two-inch thermal flagstone offer seating
  • The flagstone pool deck with hidden drains
  • Annuals include coleus, celosia and begonia. Planters hold petunias, lobelia, Creeping Jenny and more

In business nearly 50 years, Fine Earth creates and maintains beautiful outdoor environments, offering comprehensive design, extensive experience, and unparalleled customer service.

Fine Earth Landscape, Inc.
301-972-8810 — fineearth.com

1. Distinction Award - Total Residential Contracting Design/Build
Kane Landscapes was hired to transform a blank-slate lot while the house on site was under construction. The scope of the project included a large pool, expansive upper and lower patios, fire features, a driveway layout with motor-courts, lush plantings, extensive outdoor lighting and a two-acre lawn installation. The clients wished to capitalize on the home’s proximity to a picturesque existing pond in back, so the design team conceived the space for entertainment and family fun around views of the water. In front, an approach to the house was devised to be inviting while also complementing the dwelling’s grandeur and scale.

HIGHLIGHTS

  • The large infinity-edge of the pool and exterior of the spa are clad in blue-glass tile that conveys a resort feel
  • An oversized gas line for the fire pit adds power and pizzaz at night
  • The outdoor kitchen is designed with space for family and friends to gather and enjoy the view
  • Beneath the extensive upper deck, a lower-level covered area offers a reprieve from the summer sun

Kane Landscapes founder Josh Kane started mowing lawns in the fourth grade. He later studied business, horticulture and landscape design, launching his company in 1991. Today, a staff of 55 completes more than 30 landscape architecture, construction and garden-care projects a year.

AWARD DESCRIPTIONS
2. Grand Award - Outdoor Living Area Design/Build
Kane Landscapes was hired to transform a barren rear lawn into a sophisticated outdoor living space for clients who wished to entertain family and business associates al fresco. Clean, uncluttered lines define a poolscape anchored by a pavilion with a fireplace.

3. Grand Award - Outdoor living Area Design/Build
With a lot prone to flooding, homeowners turned to Kane Landscapes to remedy the issue while creating an outdoor-entertainment zone. The design team devised a sunken poolscape that redirects runoff; travertine hardscape and stone retaining walls blend with the wooded setting.

Kane Landscapes combines well-thought-out design, high- quality materials and skilled craftsmen to ensure successful and enjoyable results.

Kane Landscapes
703-803-3146 — kanelandscapes.com

Grand Award - Excellence in Outdoor Living Area

Clients with a historic waterfront farm tapped landscape architect Matt Rhoderick of McHale to reimagine the property, matching the home’s traditional architecture and creating extensive flower and vegetable gardens. Setbacks and restrictions complicated the project, which included the addition of scalloped white picket fencing adorned with finials and a custom-built potting shed.

Rhoderick positioned the garden on axis with the existing pier and driveway to allow access to the property via both land and water. Gravel pathways and raised planters establish low-maintenance upkeep. The garden is planted with squash, tomato, beans and herbs. Cutting perennials include purple coneflower, Russian sage, Obedient Plant and phlox. Purple verbena provides continuous summer color.

DESIGN FEATURES

  • Double-arched barn doors, a cupola and a weathervane impart quaint charm to the compact shed
  • Orderly raised beds are crafted with cedar to eliminate chemical leaching into the soil. The gravel allows drainage from the site
  • Two white triangular trellises for climbing vines and several bird houses add character and interest

McHale Landscape Design is a residential landscape architecture design/build and maintenance firm with more than 425 award-winning landscapes.

McHale Landscape Design
301-599-8300 — mchalelandscape.com

“Euro shams are always the foundation—three for a king, two for a queen. We typically layer in another row of king or standard shams and then finish with an accent or bolster pillow. Each bed can have its own mix of shapes and textures—depending on how committed you are to remaking it every morning!”

—Rebecca Penno, Penno Interiors

PHOTO: Angela Newton Roy Photography


“It totally depends on the clients and what feels cozy to them. Some people love a bunch of pillows and a huge duvet, while others prefer a more simplistic approach with just a beautiful quilt and small accent pillow.”

—Laura Fox, Laura Fox Interior Design, LLC


“Layers are a must-have when making a stylish bed. The best looks include a mix of textures, even if the color palette is monochromatic or neutral. Layering two or more blankets can add interest or a smidge of color, either as the main component or as an accent that adds a nice little surprise.”

—Sarita Simpson, Interior Matter


“A stylish bed combines clean lines with sumptuous, touchable fabrics and a mix of subtle textures that harmonizes with the surrounding décor.”

—Barbara Hawthorn, Barbara Hawthorn Interiors, LTD.

PHOTO: Kenneth M. Wyner Photography


“I love to layer blankets and quilts; fluffy duvets require more work to look consistent. Pillow shams will make the edges feel finished. I try to blend 3D textures with smaller or minimal ones. Colors and patterns depend on the overall design concept. Leftover fabric from a window treatment makes a great pillow.”

—Ann Gottlieb, IIDA, LEED AP ID+C, Ann Gottlieb Design PLLC


Laura Hildebrandt

Interiors by LH, LLC

interiorsbylh.com

Photo: Christy Kosnic Photography


Jamie Merida

Jamie Merida Interiors

jamiemerida.com


Kirsten Kaplan

Haus Interior Design

hausinteriordesign.com


Samantha Friedman

Samantha Friedman Interior Design

samanthafriedmaninteriors.com


Bonnie Ammon

Bonnie Ammon Interiors

bonnieammoninteriors.com


Samantha Sopp-Wittwer

Interior Concepts, Inc.

interiorconceptsinc.com

PHOTO: Geoffry Hodgdon Photography


 


 

Formal Beauty

A lush landscape blooms around a venerable Georgetown abode

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Estate Casual

A party-ready outdoor oasis takes shape on a sweeping Clarksville property

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Modern Magic

Clean lines and luxe materials enhance a sleek retreat in McLean

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Earthly Delight

An ever-evolving landscape in Vienna, Virginia, pays homage to its history

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Each year, a panel of building-industry professionals chooses nominees for the Great American Living Awards. Sponsored by the Northern Virginia Building Industry Association, the GALA Awards—held last October at the Hilton McLean Tysons Corner—honor excellence in new-home architecture, interior design, sales and marketing in the Mid-Atlantic region. The 2023 contest reviewed 293 entries; those pertaining to architecture and design included single- and multi-family homes, townhomes and condominiums, and custom-home and remodeling projects. Following is a list of winners in residential design, architecture and custom building.

CUSTOM HOME OF THE YEAR
Chateau Du Soleil—The Building Group, Inc.; James McDonald Associate Architects

COMMUNITY OF THE YEAR
 Under 100 Home Sites: Hillside at Broadlands—Van Metre Homes
 100+ Home Sites: Amblebrook Gettysburg—Crown Community Development; Sutton Yantis Associates Architects; Megan Sherwood Designs

DESIGN & ARCHITECTURE
Detached Home (on lots under 7,000 square feet)
 $700,000 to $849,999: Scotland Heights—Dream Finders Homes; KTGY; Model Home Interiors
 $1,500,000+: Fairfax Landing—Dream Finders Homes; Devereaux & Associates; Model Home Interiors

Detached Home (on lots 7,000 square feet and over)
 $700,000 to $849,999: The Belleville Model at the Reserve at Clearview—Drees Homes
 $1,400,000 to $2,999,999: Kalorama at Mt. Prospect—Toll Brothers; Lessard Design, Inc.
 3,000,000 to 4,999,999: Capital View—James McDonald Associate Architects
 $5,000,000: Chateau Du Soleil—The Building Group, Inc.; James McDonald Associate Architects

Attached Home
 Under $400,000: Afton Villa Quinn—KTGY; Atlantic Builders
 $400,000 to $499,999: Scotland Heights— Dream Finders Homes; KTGY; Model Home Interiors
 $500,000 to $599,999: Potomac Station Marketplace—Dream Finders Homes; Devereaux & Associates; Model Home Interiors
 $600,000 to $699,999: The Bluemont Model at Watershed—Craftmark Homes; Pinnacle Design & Consulting
 $700,000 to $849,999: The Douglas at EYA Townhomes at Graham Park—EYA; Sutton Yantis Associates Architects; STUDIO39; Bohler
 $850,000 to $999,999: The Persimmon at The Enclave at Fair Lakes—Integrity Homes; KRO Residential Designs
 $1,000,000 to $1,399,999: Ainsley at Amalyn Origin—KTGY; Tri Pointe Homes
 $1,400,000+: Madera at Amalyn Origin—KTGY; Tri Pointe Homes

Multi-Family
New Construction, Mid-Rise: Archer Square Condominiums—Lessard Design; The Knutson Companies
New Construction, High-Rise: Terwilliger Place—CBG Building Company; Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing (APAH); DCS Design
New Construction Mixed-Use: Eckington Yards—CBG Building Company; KTGY; Eric Colbert & Associates; LCOR; JBG; Grosvenor
New Construction, For Sale Model: 2C Unit at the Flats at Montebello—Del Webb
Green Building: The Falls—Arlington Designer Homes Construction, LLC
Renovation or Conversion, High-Rise: The Residences at Venue—Lessard Design; Carr Companies; McWilliams Ballard; CIM
Innovative Land Planning, Residential: EYA Townhomes at Graham Park—EYA; Sutton Yantis Associates Architects; STUDIO39; Bohler
Freestanding Clubhouse (under 6,000 square feet): Heritage Clubhouse and Pool—Van Metre Homes
Freestanding Clubhouse (over 6,000 square feet): Amblebrook Gettysburg, Rock Creek Fitness Center—Crown Community Development; Sutton Yantis Associates Architects; Megan Sherwood Designs

Custom Home, Single Lot
 3,501 to 5,000 square feet: Palmer Drive—Sutton Yantis Associates Architects; Mitchell + Best Homes
 5,001 to 7,000 square feet: Rockland Farm—James McDonald Associate Architects
 7,001 to 8,000 square feet: Piney Run—James McDonald Associate Architects
 Over 8,000 square feet: Hansborough Model—Green Building Group
Renovations or Additions, $1,000,000+: The Falls—Arlington Designer Homes Construction, LLC

Awards of Merit
Detached Home (on lots under 7,000 square feet), $1,500,000: Fairlane at Amalyn—Toll Brothers; KTGY
Detached Home (on lots 7,000 square feet and over), $1,400,000 - $2,999,999: Timberneck III—Van Metre Homes

Attached Home, Including Townhouses, Two-over-Two's, Back-to-Back Townhouses and Duplexes, Fee Simple and Condo-Ownership
 $400,000 - $499,999: Cascades at Embrey Mill—KTGY | Miller & Smith
 $600,000 - $699,999: The Bellair at Graham Park—EYA; Sutton Yantis Associates Architects; STUDIO39; Bohler
 $700,000 - $849,999: The Cedar Hill at Potomac Overlook—Integrity Homes; KRO Residential Designs
 $850,000-$999,999: Whitlow at Brookland Grove—Tri Pointe Homes; KTGY

Freestanding Clubhouse (over 6,000 square feet): Amalyn Clubhouse—Toll Brothers; Tri Pointe Homes; KTGY
Green Building: Hansborough Model—Green Building Group
Custom Home, Single Lot
 3,501 to 5,000 square feet: 702 Walker Road—James McDonald Associate Architects
 5,001 to 7,000 square feet: The Grand Westchester—Classic Homes
 7,001 to 8,000 square feet: Jossie Lane—GRA Design Group, LLC
 7,001 to 8,000 square feet: Leigh Mill—James McDonald Associate Architects
 Over 8,000 square feet: Potomac—James McDonald Associate Architects

HOME&DESIGN, published bi-monthly by Homestyles Media Inc., is the premier magazine of architecture and fine interiors for the Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia region.

The company also publishes an annual H&D Sourcebook of ideas and resources for homeowners and professionals alike. H&D Chesapeake Views is published bi-annually and showcases fine home design and luxury living in and around the Chesapeake Bay.

The H&D Portfolio of 100 Top Designers spotlights the superior work of selected architects, interior designers and landscape architects in major regions of the US.

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