This new, custom 5,500-square-foot home on Kiawah Island, South Carolina, was designed as a retirement retreat for longtime clients who wanted a space that felt both relaxed and refined. Interior designer Tracy Morris delivered a sophisticated, yet livable abode without any of the coastal clichés. Expansive windows frame the natural beauty of the Lowcountry, while the furniture plan encourages movement between indoor and outdoor spaces. Performance fabrics and natural textures, such as wood, linen and stone, instill a sense of ease and timelessness.
Architecture: McDonald Architects. Interior Design: Tracy Morris, principal; Maha Hartary, senior designer, Tracy Morris Design. Builder: Mangan Inc.
The music room in a family’s 10-year-old McLean home was ready for a refresh. The existing space was disjointed, split between a sitting area with a small rug on one side and the piano on the other. The owners called on Barbara Noguera Interiors to turn the room into a stylish, cohesive whole, where the mother, a piano teacher, could continue to teach and the whole family could gather to play and listen to music.
“Our clients have a deep appreciation for the intricate details found in patterns, textures and the rich, saturated colors they’ve encountered through their travels,” says Noguera. This gave the designer and her team the cues they needed to channel British design and elements of the unexpected in their approach.
They selected a large rug to unify the space and installed an oversized light fixture in the center. Vibrant wallpaper and glamorous drapes add a dose of sophistication.
Interior Design: Barbara Noguera, Madeline Goodrich, Annie Bennett, Barbara Noguera Interiors. Contractor: MMD Construction.
A hardworking couple dreamed of a primary bedroom that felt like a luxurious escape, but carving out more storage would be the key. Interior designer Laura Fox had the solution: “I knew immediately that I wanted to wrap this room in spectacular millwork and use a deep color,” she explains. A leather-upholstered niche envelops the bed; freestanding dressers provide a perch for nightly necessities. Built-ins keep everything tidy and out-of-sight, creating a clutter-free space primed for unplugging and relaxing.
Interior Design: Laura Fox, Laura Fox Interior Design, LLC. Builder: Allegheny Builders. Carpentry: Art Trim. Automation: A.B.E. Networks.
The oddly shaped, disjointed kitchen in their Falls Church, Virginia, home left much to be desired, so the owners turned to Premier Home Center for a makeover. Th e team reconfigured the space to form an open-concept layout. Designer Shereen Farahani evoked a modern aesthetic with quartz countertops, stainless-steel fixtures and matte finishes. Warm wooden floors and custom cabinets add a natural touch. A window ledge displaying potted plants doubles as a bench.
The plan created efficient workspace and added extra storage via a large island with drawers, open shelving and a pantry system. Special attention was devoted to lighting design; above the breakfast bar, a linear Eurofase chandelier makes a sculptural statement.
Premier Home Center KITCHEN DESIGN Kitchen Design & Contracting: Shereen Farahani, lead designer; Jonathan Contreras, lead carpenter; Daniel Aragon, project manager, Premier Home Center. Lighting & Furniture: Elysian Studios
For this compact Washington, DC, kitchen, designer Joy Williams optimized workflow and storage with custom cabinetry, a full-height pantry and an appliance garage. A repositioned window brings in more daylight, while tactile materials like Dekton countertops and a walnut console add durability and warmth, respectively. Oversized pendants provide island illumination and brass hardware lends a touch of glam.
Bold geometric wallpaper, in a wipeable vinyl, sets the stage for a gallery wall with art honoring the Black diaspora, infusing the space with a rich narrative that reflects its vibrant city. Notes Williams, “We believe that the kitchen— so oft en the soul of the home—should also be a place where identity and culture are celebrated.”
Joyful Designs Studio KITCHEN DESIGN Interior Design: Joy Williams, Joyful Designs Studio. Architecture & Cabinetry: Val Wilson.
An Upper Marlboro homeowner was tired of her cramped primary bath, once dominated by an oversized, step-in Jacuzzi tub. Tapped to reimagine the space, designer Ann Gottlieb developed a roadmap to transform the layout and increase functionality while conjuring a luxurious, one-of-a-kind retreat.
The streamlined, open plan accommodates a soaking tub, a curbless shower, a vanity and a linen closet, plus a separate WC. Glazed Japanese tile drenches the spa-like space in a saturated blue; the lower walls feature a textural mix of eight varied motifs.
As Gottlieb reflects, “By thoughtfully reconfiguring the bathroom and integrating smart storage solutions, we created a space that feels open, indulgent and tailored.”
Bath Design: Ann Gottlieb, principal, Ann Gottlieb Design. Contractor: Beautiful Home Services. Styling: Kristi Hunter.
For a family in Severna Park, Maryland, designer Melissa McLay transformed a lackluster primary bathroom into a coastal-inspired retreat. First, she enlarged the space to improve function, then cloaked the room in vertical nickel-gap paneling for a nautical vibe. A dormer window alcove with a vaulted ceiling was added to give it a bright, airy feel, providing the perfect spot for a freestanding soaking tub. A double vanity addressed storage concerns and a spacious shower replaced a cramped corner model. The creation of a separate water closet improved the bathroom’s overall flow.
Luxury finishes include broken-joint Calacatta Gold mosaic tile and Taj Mahal quartzite. Heated towel bars and floors ensure a cozy start or end to the day.
Architecture: J. Gallaher Architect, P.C. Interior Design: Melissa McLay Interiors. Builder: Nielsen Development Group LLC.
For a pair of busy professionals eyeing retirement, a five-acre former horse field on a hilltop in Fairfax County provided the ideal opportunity. Starting with the curved gravel drive, landscape architect Joseph Richardson brought a rustic formality to the property.
On the front hillside, an orchard bears fruit and nut trees, while the side kitchen garden has over 200 square feet of raised beds for vegetables with a border of pollinators and herbs.
Behind the new house sits a reflecting pool with a fountain and a patio planted with boxwood and ferns enclosed by a stone wall that steps up to the lawn terrace. Beyond, an outdoor pavilion with a fireplace is set among a native array of grasses and flowering shrubs, blending into the bordering woodlands.
Architecture: Thomson & Cooke Architects. Interior Design: Melissa Colgan Interiors. Builder: Thorsen Construction. Landscape Architecture: Joseph Richardson, PLA, ASLA, principal, Richardson & Associates. Landscape Contractor: Lucas & Clark Grounds Company.
This family compound in Alexandria, Virginia, formerly the historic Collingwood Mansion, was reimagined as a waterfront oasis. Bordered by dense woods on either side, the river-facing rear of the 1859 property is defined by a Lautner edge pool and detached pool house, leading to a 300-foot-long dock in the distance. Throughout, Pennsylvania bluestone, Indiana limestone and cobbles provide hardscape contrast to perennial gardens and a diverse plant palette.
Architecture: Rill Architects. Builder: Thorsen Construction. Landscape Architecture: Joseph Richardson, PLA, ASLA, principal; Richardson & Associates. Landscape Contractor: Black Pearl Management.
Once the dust settled on the renovation of a bungalow in Alexandria’s Del Ray neighborhood, the owners enlisted FORM Garden Design to transform their urban lot into a functional, private and visually engaging outdoor retreat. The landscape architects elevated the compact site with a bluestone dining terrace, a fire pit with built-in seating and a sculptural water feature. Mitigating poor soil drainage, the team also orchestrated sunken rain gardens to manage runoff.
Layered plantings, from ferns and grasses to flowering perennials, offer texture, movement and seasonal color all year. Fencing, a hornbeam hedge and raised steel planters filled with bamboo screen views while contributing to the garden’s structure and rhythm.
Renovation Architecture: MODE4 Architecture. Builder: EET Construction. Landscape Architecture: Kevin Gaughan, ASLA, PLA, principal; Thomas Haley, landscape architect, FORM Garden Design. Landscape Contractor: Planted Earth Landscaping.
CLINTON+RIES Landscape Architects was tapped to integrate two adjacent Chevy Chase, Maryland, properties—one harboring a family’s main home and the other a guest house. The ambitious master plan creates a “mosaic” that weaves the parcels together via travertine and granite terraces, carving out verdant spaces that revolve around entertaining and relaxation. A mahogany-and-steel arbor anchors the main house terrace. And lush plantings envelop the curving patio of the guest house, which contains a pottery studio.
Landscape Architecture: Kate Ries, ASLA, PLA; Dan Cook, ASLA; Emma Kerr, CLINTON+RIES Landscape Architects. Landscape Contractor: Rasevic Landscape Company.
Over the years, the owner of this home in McLean made improvements to the existing structure, which inspired the addition of an infinity pool, dining patio, secluded shower, fire pit and newly planted landscape. To complete the client’s vision, landscape architect Joseph Richardson extended the horizontality of the house, incorporating a geometric hardscape contrasted with lush plantings. Custom ipe screens frame the walkway to the backyard where a smoker, surrounded by herb planters, provides one cooking area, with another created around a fire pit that overlooks the pool and its large spa. With nearly 50 species, the mostly native plant palette features bold foliage and flowers throughout the year.
Architecture: STEHLIK design. Builder: Jose Pimenta Construction Co. Landscape Architecture: Joseph Richardson, PLA, ASLA, principal; Richardson & Associates. Landscape Contractor: Lucas & Clark Grounds Company. Lighting Design: Outdoor Illumination.
Poolside on a Potomac property, a clean-lined pavilion forms a dramatic focal point. GTM Architects conceived the 1,100-square-foot structure to create an al fresco kitchen, dining area and lounge where residents can gather, watch TV and entertain. Reflecting the main home’s architecture, the design combines a flat, cantilevered roof, a Sapele mahogany trellis wall and a fireplace. The kitchen features a grill, pizza oven and outdoor appliances. A palette of metal, concrete, stone and wood blends modern and natural elements.
Architecture: Mark Kaufman, AIA, LEED-AP, GTM Architects. Builder: FWI Custom Homes LLC. Automation: Bethesda Systems.
An abandoned DC warehouse presented an ideal canvas for Patrick Brian Jones to conjure his own urban live-and-work space. The architect updated and expanded the ramshackle, single-story brick structure into an airy, industrial-style dwelling. Exposed ductwork, black-mullioned windows and concrete floors define the ground level, encompassing a studio, living/dining area and custom kitchen. A floating staircase ascends to a new second floor, which houses an office, guest quarters and the primary suite. A roof deck above surveys the city skyline.
Preserving the building’s shell and main-floor’s concrete ceiling reduced Jones’ carbon footprint. “It’s very rewarding to repurpose a building rather than demolishing it and sending materials to a landfill,” he notes. Solar panels offset the use of electricity in this 100-percent fossil fuel-free home.
Architecture & Interior Design: Patrick Brian Jones, AIA, Patrick Brian Jones PLLC. Builder: CMX Construction Group.
Bordered by a forest reserve, an eco-friendly getaway designed by architect Amy Gardner celebrates its waterfront Annapolis locale. The 8,500-square-foot home weaves together landscaping and the built environment in a sequence of interconnected spaces. The property is organized around a garden court, with a biopool on its southern boundary. From its terraces to its retractable walls, the home bonds with nature at every turn.
Architecture: Amy Gardner, FAIA, LEED AP; Brittany Williams, AIA, LEED AP, Gardner Architects. Interior Design: ColePrévost, Inc. Landscape Architecture: Campion Hruby Landscape Architects. Builder: Bayview Builders.
On a five-acre plot in Etlan, Virginia, a contemporary farmhouse stands out among the rolling pastures—not least for its bold red hue. Designed by architect Robert Gurney, the 1,700-square-foot home features three connected gabled volumes dressed in humble exterior materials, such as clapboard siding, asphalt shingles and corrugated metal. Inside, tall ceilings, large windows and quiet finishes conjure an air of monastic calm, allowing the exquisite scenery to be the main draw.
Architecture: Robert M. Gurney, FAIA, principal; Matt Stephens, project architect; Robert M. Gurney, FAIA Architect. Builder: Fajen & Brown. Landscape Architecture: Campion Hruby Landscape Architects.
