A few blocks from the Supreme Court building on Capitol Hill stands a stately row house that once was home to Frederick Douglass. Its current owners hired Moody Graham to upgrade the small front garden and make the backyard functional for family living—but with an eye on respecting the site’s cultural heritage. “Material selections and design choices were made to complement the historic neighborhood while responding to a contemporary rear addition,” says landscape architect Ryan Moody. The property (now dubbed North Star Garden after a newspaper Douglass founded to help enslaved people find freedom) features a copper star on its wrought-iron entrance gate. In back, horizontal wood fencing conveys a modern feel around a patio with zones for grilling and entertaining.
Landscape Architecture: Ryan Moody, ASLA, PLA; Avantika Dalal, project designer, Moody Graham Landscape Architecture. Landscape Contractor: Oldetowne Landscape Architects.
At Blue Sky Hill, a five-acre family farm in Vienna, a circa-1800s log cabin sat incongruously beside a 1980s abode—until an extensive, whole-property redo preserved the vintage building, updated the residence and connected the two structures. Horn & Company was tasked with incorporating a host of additional site elements: barn, greenhouse, garden pavilion, cutting and vegetable gardens, chicken coop, pool terrace, sport court, dining terrace and paddocks for horses, sheep, goats and alpacas.
“The landscape feels interconnected and grounded in its pastoral setting,” notes landscape architect Jennifer Horn. Salvaged items found on site—including millstones and an antique water trough—are accented by plantings ranging from drifts of pollinators to a crab apple allée.
Landscape Architecture: Jennifer Horn, ASLA; Angela Koloszar, Horn & Company. Architecture: BarnesVanze Architects. Builder: Carrmichael Construction. Landscape Contractor: Planted Earth Landscaping.
After renovating their 17th-century Middleburg abode with a modern addition and building a pool house and pergola, the residents wished to create an expansive outdoor living environment that would bridge the gap between historic and modern elements. Landscape architect J.R. Peter’s sweeping plan entailed renovating the existing swimming pool, implementing a Japanese garden and adding masonry walls, steps and walkways throughout. “Our passion is creating resort-like spaces,” Peter observes. “So the concept of a personal oasis played a substantial role in the design.”
Landscape Architecture & Contracting: J.R. Peter, RLA, Colao & Peter.
June Shea turned the low-height basement of an 1812 Alexandria row house into a European-style wine cellar. “The owners wanted to accommodate 400 bottles and up to six people for tastings,” she recalls. “They also wanted space for a washer/dryer, an HVAC closet and a daybed.” Removing the drywall ceiling to expose beams and timbers added height and ambiance. PVC pipes were replaced by copper and a former well was encased in concrete and topped with granite to form a table. Custom pendants by an artisan found on Etsy are made from wine bottles.
Interior Design: June Shea; Bonnie Cowan, Shea Studio Interiors Inc. Contractor: N Time Design, LLC.
A bachelor with a home in Davidsonville, Maryland, envisioned his mundane basement as an Irish pub-style center for entertaining and watching sports. “I created an immersive experience with timeless appeal,” relates designer Lisa Tullai. Exposed brick, faux-plaster walls and wide-plank, wood-look flooring envelop a space that features a custom bar with a tin ceiling and Guinness on tap; a plush seating area; wine and bourbon storage for tastings; and a room for billiards and darts. Sports memorabilia adorns the walls.
Interior Design: Lisa Tullai, ASID, Annapolis Interiors. Contractor: TailorCraft Builders.
The foyer of a Bethesda home offered stunning architectural details— from its groin vaulted ceiling to extensive millwork lining the stair wall—yet felt disjointed, with a busy color palette and ill-fitting furniture. As part of a whole-house remodel, Bungalow 10 Interiors orchestrated deft changes that revamped the space. “We wanted a calm yet grand entrance that would highlight the ceiling and wall, as well as the reclaimed-wood floors,” recounts designer Kristin Harrison.
Her plan called for painting the walls, moldings and ceiling all white, “to allow the eye to focus on the most beautiful elements of the space,” she says. Statement-making pendants hang above a 48-inch round table accessorized with vintage pieces, books and fresh greens.
Interior Design: Kristin Harrison, Bungalow 10 Interiors. Styling: Kristen Alcorta.
An Oakton, Virginia, family turned to designer Kristen Bonney-James to impart a fresh aesthetic to their main-level spaces. “Up until then, the living room had been a sort of pass-by space,” Bonney-James explains. “The owners wanted it to be a comfortable, happy destination for conversation, reading and music.” The designer homed in on “a new-traditional feel with a touch of Southern charm,” she says. Her plan removed outmoded corbels, updated the lighting and painted the ceiling a soft blue reminiscent of a porch down South. Existing lounge chairs were reupholstered in powder-blue performance chenille. Custom draperies sport a blue-and-green ikat motif while a small-scale print in shades of pink covers the ottoman. Throw pillows adorned with Greek key trim complete the look.
Interior Design: Kristen Bonney-James, KBJ Interiors.
The owners of a cabin near Shenandoah National Forest in Amissville, Virginia, tapped Powell Brower Interiors to outfit their retreat for entertaining and weekend guests. “We added sleeping areas, game tables for both adults and children and enough lounge seating for a crowd,” principal Nancy Powell relates. “There’s also a basement theater and a custom bunkroom.”
Furnishings were arranged to maximize views; pieces highlight wood trim and organic materials. Says Powell, “It’s a refuge to let the clients recharge and soak up the scenery.”
Interior Design: Nancy Powell, lead designer; Bethany Brower, designer, Powell Brower Interiors. Contractor: JMR Contractor LLC.
Conceived in the 1990s by celebrated modernist architect Don Chapell, a contemporary getaway in East Hampton, New York, had become outmoded over time. Spearheading an update, designer Barbara Noguera embraced the home’s pedigree while bringing it into the 21st century. “It’s a quirky house with lots of angles, character and originality,” she notes. “My goal was to honor its architecture and integrity.”
Noguera’s plan conjured airy interiors and a better connection to the outdoors. Drywall rails made way for glass on the curved stair and catwalk, both of which define the sunken living area. The kitchen was relocated and opened up to the pool via an oversized sliding-glass wall.
Whitewashed, wide-plank oak replaced carpeted floors. A new sectional sofa was customized to fit the assymetrical living room, where double-height windows let in the light.
Interior Design: Barbara Noguera; Amanda Strawitch; Karla Rivera, Barbara Noguera Interiors. Contractor: EPM & Services. Styling: Charlotte Safavi.
Inspired by European travel, the owners of a circa-1920s home in DC envisioned a remodel that would channel Old World charm in livable spaces. They tapped designer Sarah Brady to modernize the interiors while incorporating historically inspired details such as dentil molding, wainscoting, herringbone floors and ceiling medallions. Brady combined heirlooms and relics from the couple’s travels with reclaimed Oriental rugs, tasseled draperies and classic furnishings. A vibrant color palette animates the traditional spaces.
Interior Design: Sarah Brady, Aligned Design Interiors. Renovation Contracting: Leveille Home Improvement Consultants, Inc.
The by-product of a poorly conceived renovation, a two-story unit in a 100-year-old Logan Circle townhouse cried out for a better fate. Tapped for a redo, Mary Douglas Drysdale first addressed mismatched architectural details and a poorly configured layout. Two non-functioning fireplaces were covered over and simple crown molding was added throughout. She expanded the kitchen into an airy, open space. “The furniture plan was essential to making the space flow,” says Drysdale, who designed or selected pieces with interesting shapes. “The 10-and-a-half-foot wall height was a canvas for a bold, new art collection.” Colorful abstract works, many by local artists, are showcased. Walls in painted stripes—a Drysdale signature—complement the art.
Interior Design: Mary Douglas Drysdale; Daniel Gossard, Drysdale Design Associates.
A modern, 9,700-square-foot abode overlooking the Magothy River in Pasadena, Maryland, needed an update. Locust Grove Studios collaborated with Delbert Adams Construction on a thorough overhaul that knocked out walls, reconfigured the floor plan and revamped the glass-walled kitchen to take better advantage of the water views.
“Our client expressed a preference for calm, monochromatic tones,” recounts creative director Joe Karlik. “Our aesthetic could be described as ‘industrial light,’ with a muted palette of amber and honey hues complemented by dark steel.”
Cantilevered ceiling details mimic the structure’s concrete forms while also scaling the spaces down to feel more intimate. The firm sought local artisans and artists for site-specific custom furnishings, lighting and art, while a material palette of glass, metal, wood and leather, says Karlik, “becomes part of the home’s living texture.”
Interior Design: Joe Karlik, creative director; Brian Ghiloni, art director; Kristina Herman, senior designer; Dainius Jasinevicius, designer; Hope Myers, designer, Locust Grove Studios. Contractor: Delbert Adams Construction.
First priority when designing a new home or addition?
Communication is paramount. It enables us to understand the homeowners’ wishes and needs. As the discussion progresses, we shape the design to meet the project goals.
What is most rewarding about your work?
I love turning clients’ dreams into spaces they will be able to live and grow in as a family—no matter the size or budget.
Name a talent or skill you offer.
We sketch floor plans and elevations with the client during the first meeting. This allows us to share different directions and gauge clients’ reactions on the spot. By the end of the first meeting, we have a design concept that everyone is excited about.
James McDonald Associate Architects
jamesmcdonaldarchitects.com
703-757-0036
Number one priority when designing a new home or addition?
Natural light. Light-filled spaces connect us with nature and foster healthier living environments. We utilize well-placed fenestration to incorporate light and views while keeping glare and direct sun at bay.
What’s the secret to meeting difficult architectural challenges?
History. We synthesize our solutions through the lens of beautiful historic architecture, reviewing precedents that inform our solutions.
What unique talent or skill do you bring to a project?
We listen to our clients and their homes. Each tells an important story, whether it’s about clients’ functional needs or the appropriate scale for an addition. We ensure new spaces relate to the old while keeping clients’ wishes in mind.
MPR Architecture
mprarchitecture.com
202-450-3126
First priority when designing a new home or addition?
MATT: Learning the clients’ “pain points.” Why are they hiring us and what do they need? While we’re generally the creative force, it’s the clients’ home and they need to be happy in the finished product.
Most rewarding aspect of your work?
JENNIFER: Seeing and hearing how clients are enjoying the new spaces we helped them create. Once we’ve found a solution, it’s fun to hear homeowners remark over how “we never thought of that!”
Secret to solving difficult architectural challenges?
JENNIFER: Iteration and visualization. To arrive at the right design, we will review 10 others first. Often, the perfect design doesn’t appear immediately, and we’re not afraid to work for it.
MCDStudio
mcdstudio.com
301-215-7277
What is the most rewarding aspect of your work?
There are a few moments in each project when I can make a profound difference in the way my clients use their home. It’s rewarding to present those options and see them executed.
How do you meet difficult architectural challenges?
Each project requires a unique approach. I am consistently able to hear clients’ needs and provide them with solutions that meet or exceed expectations.
How do architect role models shape your vision?
I continually challenge myself to think like my mentors in order to grow professionally. I want to oversee every aspect of a project, from the big vision down to the final details.
stadlerdesign
stadlerdesign.com
920-379-0472
