Architect Megan Downey transformed a cramped garage behind her Cleveland Park Colonial into a sleek cook space, serving as the focal point of a redesigned first-floor plan with a unique, modern aesthetic. “By relocating the kitchen to the center of the plan, the renovation restored flow, light and connection, both within the house and to the wooded backyard,” she shares. The monolithic island, clad in Nero Marquina porcelain, beautifully contrasts with the white lacquer, full-height cabinets, creating a clean, minimalist look. The final touch? A millwork bench with a table that folds up into the wall provides the perfect perch for morning coffee while enjoying the views.
Architecture & Interior Design: Megan Downey, Megan Downey Studio. Builder: Smith & Daughter Construction LLC. Cabinetry Design & Fabrication: Innately Italy.
Annapolis homeowners wanted a primary bathroom that felt calm, restorative and functional, with generous storage and a more intentional layout for everyday living. As part of a bigger renovation, Julia Longchamps Design reimagined the underutilized space as a light-filled retreat. While the bathroom offered an expansive footprint, the original layout lacked clarity and cohesion. By introducing a new entry into the adjacent closet and opening previously inaccessible dormer spaces, the design team was able to dramatically improve both storage and natural light, turning overlooked architectural features into some of the room’s greatest assets. Generous built-in storage keeps essentials organized and out of sight. A freestanding soaking tub and a spacious glass-enclosed shower complete the spa-inspired experience. The finished space feels both luxurious and timeless, offering a calming sanctuary within the home.
Interior, Kitchen & Bath Design: Julia Longchamps, Julia Longchamps Design. Contractor: One Source Contracting.
Initially, the owners of this 1990s Potomac manse—a couple in their mid-60s who plan to age in place—just wanted to update their bath with fresh tile and a bigger shower. However, it became clear to the team at Barbara Noguera Interiors that a comprehensive overhaul was needed. Eliminating the step-down into the bath and enlarging the walk-in shower gave the couple the accessibility they craved. A newly vaulted ceiling replaced an awkwardly pitched version, and two new arched entries lined with custom paneling create a processional into the bathroom. Large-format Calacatta Gold blocks took the place of dated ceramic tile with busy grout lines. New twin walnut vanities with inset drawers now flank the soaking tub. The result is a timeless and traditional space whose features and finishes stay true to the home’s spirit.
Interior Design: Barbara Noguera, Madeline Goodrich, Annie Bennett, Kathryn Plumb, Barbara Noguera Interiors. Contractor: MMD Construction.
With all the amenities of a five-star resort, a residential landscape in McLean caters to its owners’ and guests’ every whim. Pristine Acres brought their clients’ dreams to fruition with a 2,400-square-foot pool house, a massive pool with a spa and swim-up bar, and a three-level addition to the main house. Custom details and materials, from dramatic fire bowls to Italian mosaic inlays, elevate the hardscape.
The pool house boasts a rooftop terrace and fully equipped kitchen; behind the structure, gardens and a koi pond beckon. “Beyond the excitement of entertaining, the design equally prioritizes tranquility and offers an environment that is refined, harmonious and deeply connected to the natural landscape surrounding it,” says director of design Kevin Kurdziolek.
Builder: TriCrest Homes. Landscape Architecture: Kevin Kurdziolek, Rambod Mirbaha, Manuel Menendez, Shawn Turner, Steve Waldron, Mike Nadolski, Pristine Acres.
Positioned between the Atlantic Ocean and a freshwater lake, a newly built Rehoboth Beach escape creates distinct yet interconnected outdoor environments that respond to contrasting ecological conditions and views. Campion Hruby Landscape Architects’ program established a transitional spine across the four-acre site. It progresses from the lake side, where an elliptical pool is set amid naturalistic gardens, to the seashore, where hydrangea, ornamental grasses and a diverse palette of native and adaptive species prevent erosion and bolster resilience during storms.
The completed, eco-friendly environment not only responds to its unique shorefront site, says landscape architect Bob Hruby, but it also “creates enduring connections between the home, its inhabitants and the dynamic coastal setting.”
Architecture: Kimmel Studio Architects. Builder: Horizon Builders. Landscape Architecture: Bob Hruby, PLA, ASLA; Meredith Beach, PLA, ASLA, Campion Hruby Landscape Architects. Landscape Contractor: Walnut Hill Landscape Company.
When clients tapped landscape architect Joseph Richardson to conjure a Hamptons-style garden on their Chevy Chase, Maryland, property, he welcomed the challenge. Focusing on symmetry, luxury and restrained charm, his plan called for a swimming pool and spa surrounded by a lush carpet of grass. A neat hedge of Green Giant arborvitae and Annabelle hydrangea screens the pool. Simple stone-tile paving grounds the lounge area and a dining terrace near the residence.
“The spare, yet elegant, vision was achieved with complex engineering, which required us to level the rear slope,” Richardson remarks. Orderly boxwood, liriope, hollies and New Dawn roses set the tone in fresh garden beds.
Architecture: Thomson & Cooke Architects. Interior Design: Elizabeth Kannan Interior Design. Builder: The Banks Development Co. Landscape Architecture: Joseph Richardson, PLA, ASLA; Adam Sexton, ASLA; Marci Bonner, PLA, Richardson & Associates Landscape Architecture. Landscape Contractor: Planted Earth Landscaping.
The architectural and landscape plans for a new home in Bethesda took shape at the same time, resulting in a modern retreat that’s perfectly integrated into its surroundings. Complete with a pool, spa, bocce court and putting green, the gardens designed by Richardson & Associates revolve around recreation. Meadow-like plantings create all-season views. As Joseph Richardson notes, “this landscape provides a secluded, far-away sensibility ideal for appreciating nature.”
Architecture: GTM Architects. Builder: Sandy Spring Builders. Landscape Architecture: Joseph Richardson, PLA, ASLA; Mark Finlayson, PLA, Richardson & Associates Landscape Architecture. Landscape Contractor: Chick Landscaping, Inc.
After reviving a dated, 1970s property in Baltimore County, a retired couple tapped Bob Jackson Landscapes to mirror the refinement of their interiors with a major outdoor upgrade. The owners envisioned a relaxing sanctuary that would foster a rich sensory experience, engaging sight, sound and scent.
The team created a sequence of garden rooms with dedicated settings for the residents’ personal art installations. Highlights include a custom water feature and curated seasonal arrangements encompassing more than 40 plant species and 7,500 bulbs selected for color variation and scent. As Jackson reflects, “What was once an aging landscape has been transformed into a timeless outdoor environment that feels deeply rooted in its setting, providing beauty, comfort and enjoyment for years to come.”
Landscape Design: Bob Jackson, Douglas Conyers, Colin Hazlett, Bob Jackson Landscapes, Inc.
Challenges were many when Pristine Acres was tapped to transform a small, steeply sloped backyard into a fully loaded outdoor retreat. The new design features a covered structure that shades a raised spa, outdoor kitchen and lounge area; a level lawn; and an infinity-edge pool. After orchestrating complex retaining walls and solving permitting and drainage issues, the team made their clients’ vision a reality—down to the installation of a 138-inch, waterproof outdoor TV for sports and movie nights.
Landscape Architecture: Kevin Kurdziolek, Rambod Mirbaha, Manuel Menendez, Shawn Turner, Steve Waldron, Mike Nadolski, Pristine Acres.
A recent makeover transformed an outdated Bethesda house with maze-like interiors into a warm, functional and highly tailored family oasis. The revamped floor plan opened up sightlines and improved flow throughout the six-bedroom, 12,200-square-foot home.
Collaborating with architects at Studio Z Design Concepts and Cabin John Builders, JLA Designs took the interiors in a clean-lined, modern direction. “The goal was to create a contemporary home that felt sophisticated yet livable,” says principal and interior designer Jodi Berger. To that end, the team incorporated a curated mix of natural stone, custom millwork and layered textures throughout. A neutral color palette and soft, sculptural furnishings provide cocoon-like allure.
As Berger reflects, “The design balances modern refinement with comfort, resulting in a home that feels both elevated and welcoming.”
Renovation Architecture: Studio Z Design Concepts, LLC. Interior Design: Jodi Berger, principal; Sarah Markley, senior designer, JLA Designs. Kitchen Cabinetry: Division 12 Design. Builder: Cabin John Builders. Styling: Kristi Hunter Studio.
Tapped to outfit a family’s new, 5,600-square-foot Bethesda residence, interior designer Dara Beitler took inspiration from its scenic parkland surroundings. She wove a natural material palette, from stone and ceramics to warm woods and mixed metals, throughout the home. “We selected these elements to reflect the environment while adding depth, texture and quiet sophistication,” Beitler explains. To accommodate the owners’ three kids, performance fabrics were thoughtfully integrated to ensure durability without compromising style. Shapely seating and tactile, richly colored fabrics create a chic visual tapestry.
All in all, the designer realized her clients’ dream to fashion “an inviting retreat for both everyday living and gathering.”
Architecture: Pollock Dickerson Associates. Interior Design: Dara Beitler, Dara Beitler Interiors. Styling: Limonata Creative.
The new owners of a historic Kalorama penthouse saw potential despite its disconnected interiors and cumbersome spiral stair. They enlisted architect Colleen Healey to reimagine the apartment as an open, airy home where they could live, work and age in place.
Healey’s updated floor plan maximized daylight and flow. Subtle ceiling-plane changes and strategic gallery walls define spaces while preserving an open feel. Exposed-concrete columns reveal the building’s history.
A new stair with an enlarged opening filters light from a tower room above. As she describes, “Sculpted white forms define key moments within the home, creating quiet contrast between historic texture and contemporary precision while softening the loft-like volume.”
Renovation Architecture: Colleen Healey, AIA, principal; Kevin Garzon, staff designer, Colleen Healey Architecture + Interiors. Kitchen Cabinets: Jack Rosen Custom Kitchens. Contractor: AllenBuilt, Inc.
With its exuberant color scheme and maximalist style, it’s hard to imagine this Washington, DC, pied-à-terre before the designers at Lisa & Leroy worked their magic. The team transformed a mundane, 1970s-era condo into a personal retreat for a resident in her 80s, complete with luxe furniture, rich fabrics and notable art. “Our client was drawn to bold, dramatic interiors that would bring her joy,” says CEO and creative director Lisa Shaffer.
New upholstery, finishes and paint treatments revived existing pieces throughout the 1,500-square-foot nest. Graphic, striped wallpaper graces the entry and a hall accessing the apartment’s two bedrooms and den. Because poured-concrete construction restricted additional overhead lighting, layered illumination including lamps and sconces created warmth and dimension.
Interior Design: Lisa Shaffer, creative director; Mikayla Woodbury, designer; Oscar Ventura, Selvin Benavides and Juan Benavides, carpenters, Lisa & Leroy.
Whether residents are enjoying time alone or hosting a crowd, the ideal vacation escape celebrates relaxed, no-fuss living. That was the mission when clients tapped Jodi Macklin Interior Design to decorate their newly built Dewey Beach retreat designed by Randall Mars Architects. “The vision was to create a sophisticated coastal home that feels warm, inviting and timeless,” says Macklin.
The scheme embraces natural materials, layered textures and a calm palette inspired by the surrounding scenery. Expansive windows and large, sliding-glass doors flood the interiors with natural light and ensure the ocean remains visible from the main living spaces. Custom millwork, durable surfaces and thoughtfully integrated storage solutions ensure the home is as functional as it is beautiful.
Architecture: Randall Mars Architects. Interior Design: Jodi Macklin; Lauren Sparber, Jodi Macklin Interior Design.
Empty nesters hired Katalin Farnady to design their second home in Miami with an over-arching goal: “They wanted a modern home with artistic expression—something polished, inviting and completely different from their traditional primary residence,” she notes.
Farnady rose to the challenge, creating functionality and infusing the interiors with rich textures, patterns and luxe wood and stone finishes. Contemporary art and sculptural light fixtures add layers of refinement to the opulent tableau.
Architecture: Strang. Interior Design: Katalin Farnady, Farnady Interiors. Kitchen Design: MiaCucina. Contractor: Intelligent Construction Inc.
As part of a five-year restoration underway at an 1858 Richmond residence, designer Jessica Williamson updated its salon into an elegant yet comfortable gathering space. “The primary challenge,” she explains, “was balancing modern functionality and furnishings within a room defined by historic features.”
The redo carefully preserved original elements, including the marble fireplace surround, decorative millwork and period moldings. A mix of new furniture and antiques is thoughtfully arranged to promote circulation and accentuate garden views.
Festooning the salon is a custom, hand-painted mural inspired by flora and fauna on the property. As Williamson reflects, “This bespoke artwork serves as both a focal point and a storytelling element unique to the residence.”
Interior Design: Jessica Williamson, NCIDQ, principal designer; Kristen Cary, lead designer, JTW Design. Contractor: Hampden Hill Custom Building.
