THEN | NOW |
| The living room was nondescript, with beige walls and few architectural details to give it character. There was no room to display collectibles. | Reich painted walls and trim in Benjamin Moore’s Gunmetal, a rich gray that modernizes the room while keeping it cozy. A wall of custom built-ins adds interest and display space. |
| Housing a hodgepodge of old furniture, the space lacked balance and harmony. | Symmetry rules in a furniture grouping that includes twin Bernhardt sofas, coffee tables and armchairs. Low-slung stools at the entrance maintain openness. |
| Bare windows and a dearth of artwork contributed to a feeling of coldness. A stylish mid-century chandelier went unnoticed against the humdrum backdrop. | Schumacher drapes soften the lines of the windows. Antiqued-gold drapery hardware picks up the finish on the chandelier, which pops against the gray walls. A colorful abstract painting by Baltimore artist Kelly Walker was commissioned for the space. |
Interior Design: Elizabeth Reich, Jenkins Baer Associates, Baltimore, Maryland.
THEN | NOW |
| The front yard was neglected and overgrown; invasive bamboo largely hid the house from view. | The bamboo was painstakingly eradicated. The recently renovated home’s charming front façade is now visible. |
| A ratty gravel driveway interspersed with weeds occupied center stage in front of the house. | After the driveway was relocated to one side of the home, a broad front walkway of Pennsylvania flagstone took shape, culminating at a pedestal urn surrounded by cobblestone. Beyond, a welcoming porch and front door beckon. |
| Weeds dominated the front yard, overpowering two ornamental trees. The overgrowth spilled onto the sidewalk. | A Carderock stone retaining wall borders a garden nestled beneath redbud and weeping cherry trees that now have breathing room. Astilbe, heuchera and ferns bloom in their shade while a garden of lilies across the walkway enjoys sunshine. |
Landscape Design & Contracting: Stephen Wlodarczyk, PLA, McHale Landscape Design, Upper Marlboro, Maryland.
THEN | NOW |
| A box-shaped, circa-1950s abode—a duplicate of its neighbors—lacked distinctive architectural details. Zoning restrictions prohibited additions to the structure. | Inserted into the existing footprint, a shiplap volume with a butterfly roof breaks up the façade. Tall front openings and a standing-seam metal overhang above the front door add interest. |
| Only eight feet high, a dilapidated porch on the back of the house felt dark and inaccessible. | A 10-foot-tall, shiplap-clad back porch is now an extension of the new build, which encompasses an open-plan kitchen/dining/living space. An adjacent covered area supplies indoor-outdoor connectivity. |
| Drab brick siding did little to set the house apart. The windows and front door were unremarkable. | Black-painted bricks contrast with the white shiplap. Protruding window frames are a contemporary element; along with the front door, they are painted a playful pink. |
Renovation Architecture: Paola Lugli, PLDesignStudio, Arlington, Virginia. Consulting Architect: Claudio Conti, Rome, Italy. Renovation Contractor: J&J Construction, Fairfax, Virginia.
Chad Hackmann Alair Homes | Jonathan Kuhn, AIA, LEED AP, Jonathan Kuhn Architect | Matthew S. McDonald, AIA, MCDStudio | Leo Wilson, AIA, LEED AP, Hammond Wilson
‡ ‡ ‡ ‡
‡ ‡ ‡ ‡
‡ ‡ ‡ ‡
‡ ‡ ‡ ‡
‡ ‡ ‡ ‡
‡ ‡ ‡ ‡
‡ ‡ ‡ ‡
Meghan Browne, Jennifer Gilmer Kitchen & Bath, Ltd. | Isabella Furiati, LXRY | J. Paul Lobkovich, Lobkovich | Katie Peters, Bowers Design Build
“Wet rooms are exclusive zones like those a spa would have; they combine a shower and a soaking tub in one glassed-in area.”
— J. Paul Lobkovich
‡ ‡ ‡ ‡
‡ ‡ ‡ ‡
Meghan Browne, Jennifer Gilmer Kitchen & Bath, Ltd. | Isabella Furiati, LXRY | J. Paul Lobkovich Lobkovich | Katie Peters, Bowers Design Build
‡ ‡ ‡ ‡
‡ ‡ ‡ ‡
‡ ‡ ‡ ‡
‡ ‡ ‡ ‡
Josh Kane, Kane Landscapes | Kevin Kurdziolek, PLA, ASLA; Pristine Acres | Bernie Mihm, LA; Fine Earth Landscapes | Joseph Richardson, PLA, ASLA; Richardson & Associates Landscape Architecture
‡ ‡ ‡ ‡
‡ ‡ ‡ ‡
‡ ‡ ‡ ‡
‡ ‡ ‡ ‡
‡ ‡ ‡ ‡
‡ ‡ ‡ ‡
‡ ‡ ‡ ‡
Barbara Hawthorn, Barbara Hawthorn Interiors | Laura Hildebrandt, Interiors by LH | Charlene Kennerknecht, MONARCH | Christie Leu, Christie Leu Interiors | Melanie Whittington, Whittington Design Studio
‡ ‡ ‡ ‡
‡ ‡ ‡ ‡
‡ ‡ ‡ ‡
‡ ‡ ‡ ‡
‡ ‡ ‡ ‡
‡ ‡ ‡ ‡
‡ ‡ ‡ ‡
A home in Northwest DC “needed new everything,” recalls Kelley Proxmire, who brought her signature lively, colorful perspective to the task of updating the circa-1970s spaces. “The owners have great artwork; we placed it in various rooms, then figured out complementary schemes of colors and fabrics.”
With her clients’ traditional sensibility in mind, Proxmire created elegant yet welcoming spaces using existing case goods, re-covered heirloom furnishings and new pieces to fill in gaps. Fresh greens and blues are woven through rooms that juxtapose textures, colors and patterns in fabric and wallpaper; attention to detail is evident in lavish trim embellishing draperies, pillows and upholstery. Says Proxmire of her measured approach, “I like a wow, but it also has to be peaceful.”
EXPERT INSIGHTS
Notes from Kelley Proxmire
Interior Design: Kelley Proxmire, Kelley Proxmire, Inc., Bethesda, Maryland.
A DC family turned to Anthony Wilder Design/Build to transform their cramped basement into an inviting family space. Their wish list included a game room, home theater, gym, guest quarters—and a playful, modern aesthetic.
The Wilder team raised the ceiling, streamlining or eliminating obtrusive ductwork. Walls were removed to improve circulation; a load-bearing wall between the game room and theater was reduced in size and reimagined as a stylish media cabinet. “A red barn door separates the guest bedroom/gym,” explains principal Anthony Wilder. “When it’s open, the flow throughout the basement is continuous.” An elegant, 364-bottle wine room replaced two storage areas under the stairs.
A herringbone pattern on various surfaces unifies the spaces, which are enlivened by a black-and-white palette with bold pops of color.
EXPERT INSIGHTS
Notes from Anthony Wilder
Renovation and Interior Design & Contracting: Anthony Wilder, Anthony Wilder Design/Build, Cabin John, Maryland.
The owners of a Woodbine, Maryland, property tapped D.A. Dunlevy to revamp their sloped backyard. “They wanted a conversation-piece pool and space for entertaining,” recounts principal D. Blake Dunlevy. “When we presented options, they were taken by the idea of a container pool.”
Traditionally used for overseas shipping, sea containers have become popular as vessels for residential swimming pools. Dunlevy tucked this one into the yard’s slope, surrounding it on three sides with an ipe deck. At the bottom of the slope, the exposed fourth side boasts an underwater viewing window.
The container pool met the clients’ aesthetic vision. “They wanted to integrate their modern taste with the farmhouse environment,” Dunlevy explains. “The pool has an industrial-modern feel.” A fire pit creates an additional gathering spot.
EXPERT INSIGHTS
Notes from D. Blake Dunlevy
Landscape Architecture & Contracting: D. Blake Dunlevy, PLA, D.A. Dunlevy, Poolesville, Maryland.
While designing a custom estate on the Severn River in Annapolis, Purple Cherry Architects also conceived a 2,230-square-foot guest house that reflects the main abode’s modern architecture. “The structures embrace and amplify the surrounding environment, showcasing waterfront views,” recounts principal Cathy Purple Cherry. “Both utilize stone, large-scale glass, standing-seam metal roofs and vertical, nickel-gap siding.” The guest house is composed of three volumes connected by glass links. The center volume harbors a great room, complete with a kitchen and living and dining areas; there’s a guest suite above. Single-story guest suites flank the great room, which spills out to a water-facing deck. Says Purple Cherry, “The owners wanted sweeping views, but also a sense of privacy for themselves and their guests.”
EXPERT INSIGHTS
Notes from Cathy Purple Cherry
Architecture & Interior Design: Cathy Purple Cherry, AIA, LEED AP, Purple Cherry Architects, Annapolis, Maryland. Builder: ILEX Construction, Easton, Maryland. Stylist: Helen Crowther.
Kevin Gilday, Gilday Renovations | Geoffrey Kuck, FWI Custom Homes & Renovations | George Papaheraklis, FineCraft Contractors | Michael Winn, Winn Design + Build
‡ ‡ ‡ ‡
‡ ‡ ‡ ‡
‡ ‡ ‡ ‡
‡ ‡ ‡ ‡
‡ ‡ ‡ ‡
‡ ‡ ‡ ‡
‡ ‡ ‡ ‡
‡ ‡ ‡ ‡
Six months after buying an outmoded split-level in Fairfax, Virginia, its owners were ready for an overhaul. They envisioned better flow and function, and updated style—particularly in the drab kitchen. “The wife loves the mid-century aesthetic,” recounts Ann Gottlieb, who was hired for the job. “Since the house was built in the ’50s, she wanted to embrace that look.”
Gottlieb created openness by replacing a load-bearing wall between the kitchen and dining room with a wood-clad steel support beam. Windows in both spaces were enlarged and the kitchen was reconfigured around a spacious island. A coat of white paint brightened the existing beamed, exposed-wood ceiling in the kitchen; a layer of drywall between the beams conceals wires for lighting.
EXPERT INSIGHTS
Notes from Ann Gottlieb
Interior & Kitchen Design: Ann Gottlieb, IIDA, LEED AP ID+C, Ann Gottlieb Design, Fairfax, Virginia. Contractor: Luxor Improvements, Fort Washington, Maryland.
Avid equestrians relocating from California to Maryland’s Eastern Shore tapped Pyramid Builders to create a custom waterfront farmhouse along with a six-stall, working barn on their 15-acre property. Designed by Purple Cherry Architects, the finished project includes luxurious stables along with a 12,000-square-foot residence. “The floor plan of the main house caters to stunning river views from the back,” says Pyramid president Bret Anderson. The builder put a premium on craftsmanship throughout the residence, from the reclaimed white oak floors to custom kitchen cabinetry with elaborate mixed-metal finishes. As Anderson observes, “Wraparound porches, a pool, pool house and screened patio maximize the outdoor experience.”
Builder: Bret Anderson; David Attenberger; Mark Sanders, Pyramid Builders. Architecture: Purple Cherry Architects. Landscape Architecture: Campion Hruby Landscape Architects.
NOTE: IMAGES OF THIS PROJECT ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE.
Challenged to design a modern home in a busy Arlington locale, Robert Gurney envisioned a residence that would embrace—rather than shy away from—its surroundings. “We designed the house in a horizontal language to respect the scale of neighboring houses,” notes the architect. The compact, three-bedroom abode boasts open, light-filled spaces where large walls of glass provide plenty of daylight and views; motorized screens control solar gain and privacy. Conceived to tread lightly on its footprint, the home employs efficient mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems along with durable, low-maintenance building elements. Says Gurney, “Material transparency paired with a low garden brings a connection to suburban street life that other houses on the street
do not achieve.”
Architecture: Robert M. Gurney, FAIA; Matt Stephens, project architect, Robert M. Gurney, FAIA Architect. Interior Design: Therese Baron Gurney, ASID, Baron Gurney Interiors. Builder: Washington Landmark Construction. Landscape Architecture: Campion Hruby Landscape Architects.
