Clients with a narrow, 365-foot-deep lot approached Sandy Spring Builders about constructing a custom home on site. Working with GTM Architects, they devised a plan for a 10,000-square-foot “telescoping” house that would make the most of the challenging parcel. The completed, four-bedroom abode exudes a timeless presence with lime ash brick, cedar shakes and standing-seam copper roof details. “The exterior provides the sense that the home has always been there,” notes Sandy Springs’ Mike McNeel. An arched entry foyer leads to the kitchen, dining area, family room and glass-walled sunroom. And an exercise room with heaters for hot yoga overlooks the pool and rear yard. A lower-level rec room with a wine cellar, golf simulator and home theater round out the amenities.
Builder: Mike McNeel; Tyler Abrams; Eric Abrams; Wendi Walsh, Sandy Spring Builders. Architecture: GTM Architects. Interior Design: Amelia Johnson Design. Landscape Design: Fine Earth Landscape, Inc.
Homeowners with young children who love to entertain in their Arlington residence had grown tired of its lackluster dining room. Stuck with only one window and dark furniture and finishes, the space was uninviting. So they enlisted Lorna Gross for a makeover. “The main goal,” says the designer, “was to lighten the overall appearance by creating a sense of elegance and freshness.” She incorporated a lighter color palette, enveloping the room in shimmery grass-cloth wall covering. And she selected curved pieces, from a bowed console table to barrel-backed chairs, for their playful lines and for the kids’ safety. A large Uttermost mirror hung above a custom credenza reflects light and makes the area feel larger. “The outcome,” notes Gross, “was a fresh and modernized dining room.”
Interior Design: Lorna Gross, Lorna Gross Interior Design.
New owners of a 1930s kit home in Annapolis were less than enamored with its coastal cottage style. So they turned to interior designer Cathy Newman for help taking the abode in an elegantly classic direction. “My clients were unafraid of color and pattern and requested furniture that could stand the test of time,” says Newman, who curated a mix of new, repurposed and antique finds. She and architect Jim Suttner converted a screened porch into a cozy, all-season sunroom, installing reclaimed-brick flooring in a herringbone motif to pay homage to the former outdoor perch. In the dining room, the designer traded shiplap paneling for chic tree of life wallpaper; a nautical fixture made way for an understated brass chandelier by Visual Comfort. “All the furnishings,” Newman points out, “can live with the family for years to come.”
Interior Design: Cathy Newman, C. Newman Interiors. Renovation Architecture: Jim Suttner, Suttner Architecture. Renovation Contractor: Frazer Company.
Clients in Forest Hill, Maryland, tasked Stephanie Gamble with updating their early-2000s-era kitchen, where dark wood cabinetry and a dysfunctional floor plan set a dreary tone. “They wanted to reflect clean, classic style in a kitchen where extended family could gather,” Gamble relates.
The designer first tackled the problematic layout dominated by a two-tiered, crescent-shaped island, replacing it with a rectangular one boasting ample storage, seating and prep space. Removing an obtrusive walk-in-pantry made way for a cabinet wall and created space to enlarge a neighboring mudroom.
Answering a request for “a bright, timeless kitchen that also feels warm,” Gamble paired white oak and cream-hued cabinetry with Kalahari quartzite on the countertops and backsplash. Fixtures and hardware in unlacquered brass and black finishes complete the look.
Kitchen & Interior Design: Stephanie Gamble, Stephanie Gamble Interiors. Cabinetry Supplier & Fabricator: Rojahn Custom Cabinetry.
During construction of a custom abode in Leesburg, Virginia, Kane Landscapes was tasked with devising and implementing a landscape plan proportionate to the home’s grand scale. “The infinity-edge pool and tile-clad spa are the eye candy, but there is truly something for everyone,” says principal Josh Kane. A large deck featuring a shaded bar creates space for covered seating below. Beside the pool, an outdoor kitchen is sheltered by a pergola; a gas-burning fire pit and a built-in trampoline are among the amenities.
Landscape Design & Construction: Josh Kane; Alan Blalack, RLA, ASLA, Kane Landscapes.
Inspired to create a wine cellar on the lower level of their Edgewater, Maryland, home, residents tapped their interior designer, Gina Fitzsimmons, for the job. With budget in mind, she studied the empty, unfinished space and developed a plan to achieve the look and amenities the owners wanted. Realizing that fully custom built-ins were beyond reach, she proposed that they order interior racks from an off-the-shelf provider and then hire a local cabinetmaker to create the framing details. Fitzsimmons designed a back-lit, blown-glass window flanked with stone columns as a focal point. She finished the project with a wrought-iron chandelier that, she says, “made a perfect centerpiece and added a touch of Italian tradition to the space.”
Gina Fitzsimmons, ASID, principal; SeDell Byrne, Fitzsimmons Design Associates Inc.
After a major renovation of their 1877 Logan Circle home, the owners tapped Kate Ballou to complete the interiors and curate everything from furniture and rugs to art and accessories. Inspired by the clients’ existing collection of pieces by Mid-Century Modern icons Vladimir Kagan, Pierre Jeanneret and Paul McCobb, the designer built upon the period in her plan. “Our first task was to tie the sculptural yet singular elements together through color and form,” she explains. In the sitting room, the team landed on a Matt Camron Oushak carpet with blue and orange tones that reflect paintings flanking the fireplace. Ballou helped the residents procure original art, including a Joshua Jensen-Nagle photograph that dominates the dining room.
Interior Design: Kate Ballou, Allied ASID, Hendrick Interiors. Renovation Architecture: Lauren Wegel, Lauren Wegel Architect. Renovation Contractor: Falcon Construction.
Collaborating with architect Peter Miles on an update of an Annapolis bi-level, Katalin Farnady took the interiors in a bold direction. She went for a monochromatic palette that let views of the South River shine, yet instilled spaces with texture and pattern. In the family room, oak floors and creamy upholstery offset a dramatic granite fireplace. The kitchen boasts a waterfall island and hood sheathed in Calacatta Cremo marble. “Playing with sizes, shapes and materials,” notes the designer, “kept each room unique.”
Interior Design: Katalin Farnady, Farnady Interiors. Renovation Architecture: Peter Miles, The Drawing Board. Kitchen Design: Konst SieMatic. Renovation Contractor: Lynbrook of Annapolis, Inc.
Working on a tight, urban lot in DC, Colleen Healey masterminded a kitchen addition centered in the rear yard—thereby uniting the husband’s penchant for his vegetable garden with the wife’s love of cooking. “This project connects their two passions visually and practically,” notes the architect.
The new plan incorporates full-height windows, sliders and skylights. “We avoided cabinetry on the east elevation so as to draw the garden’s foliage and texture into the experience of the kitchen,” Healey says. The original kitchen became a butler’s pantry that facilitates entertaining. A spacious center island anchors the glassy new kitchen, which features white cabinetry topped by quartzite counters. An adjacent space can be used as a breakfast nook or sitting area; it opens onto the garden.
Renovation Architecture & Kitchen Design: Colleen Healey, AIA; Sydney Harmon, Colleen Healey Architecture. Renovation Contractor: Freeman Builders.
A builder-grade primary bath in Gaithersburg, Maryland, needed an overhaul. Tapped to reimagine the outmoded space, Beyond the Box Interiors’ Lanna Ali-Hassan began by replacing an unused alcove tub and a small, cramped shower with a new tub and shower enclosed in a wet zone. A glass divider protects the adjacent vanity area while promoting an open feel. “The shower fixtures are controlled by a digital system and the jetted bathtub offers chromatherapy,” Ali-Hassan notes. White, floor-to-ceiling wall tile unifies the space, where a modern vibe prevails.
Bath & Cabinet Design: Lanna Ali-Hassan, Beyond the Box Interiors; David Schulman, The Kitchen Center. Contractor: Torres Construction.
| | STONE AGE Cultured Stone’s new Tenley Brick veneers stand out for their slender shape and organic texture. Suitable for interior applications, they instill contemporary flair whether installed vertically or horizontally. Colorways include creamy white, soft gray, flint gray and deep charcoal. culturedstone.com |
| AU NATUREL Brèche Fantastique by Antolini, a collection of exotic marble slabs, celebrates earthy tones of brown and cream. Rare natural works of art, the surfaces fabricated in Italy create dramatic focal points on floors or walls. antolini.com |
| OPTICAL ILLUSION The Op-Art movement inspired Theia Tiles’ Ego, a handcrafted ceramic 3D tile that tricks the eye with its use of color, depth and shadow. Find in a wide range of hues and finishes; Deep Blue is pictured. theiatiles.com |
| GROUNDED LOOK Italian manufacturer Iris Ceramica mimics the look and feel of natural stone with its Pietra Di Bilbao porcelain flooring collection. Tiles are available in three formats and four colorways: Ice, Black, Gray and Sand. irisceramica.com |
We are honored to present the second annual Home & Design Excellence Awards. Showcasing the depth and breadth of talent in DC, Maryland and Virginia, this juried competition recognizes outstanding work in residential architecture, interior design, custom-building, kitchen and bath design, landscape design and remodeling. Congratulations to the winners, chosen from 152 entries. They are listed here and further spotlighted in corresponding sections of this online version of the Idea Book.
 | Grand AwardContemporary ArchitectureMcInturff Architects | Merit AwardContemporary ArchitectureRobert M. Gurney, FAIA Architect |
 | Grand AwardTraditional ArchitectureDonald Lococo Architects | Merit AwardTraditional ArchitectureHarrison Design |
 | Grand AwardCustom Build, Over 4,500 sq. ft.Pyramid Builders | Merit AwardCustom Build, Over 4,500 sq. ft.Sandy Spring Builders |
 | Grand AwardKitchen Design | Merit AwardKitchen Design |
 | Grand AwardBath Design | Merit AwardBath Design |
 | Grand AwardMore Than One AcreKimmel Studio Architects | Merit AwardMore Than One AcreKane Landscapes |
 | Grand AwardLess Than One AcreStudio AKA | Merit AwardLess Than One AcrePristine Acres |
 | Grand AwardPool ScapeD.A. Dunlevy | Merit AwardPool ScapeLand & Water Design, Inc. |
 | Grand AwardWhole House, TraditionalC. Newman Interiors | Merit AwardWhole House, TraditionalInterior Concepts, Inc. |
 | Grand AwardWhole House, ContemporaryHendrick Interiors | Merit AwardWhole House, ContemporaryFarnady Interiors |
 | Grand AwardOutstanding Room MakeoverEL Studio | Merit AwardOutstanding Room MakeoverLorna Gross Interior Design |
 | Grand AwardSpecialty SpaceFarnady Interiors | Merit AwardSpecialty SpaceFitzsimmons Design Associates Inc. |
 | Grand AwardInterior Renovation | Merit AwardInterior Renovation |
 | Grand AwardCurb AppealDonald Lococo Architects | Merit AwardCurb AppealRobert M. Gurney, FAIA Architect |
Three expert panels judged the 2023 Home & Design Excellence Awards. Many thanks to our esteemed local jurists, listed below:
| Amy Gardner, FAIA, LEED AP, established Gardner Architects in 2003. The Silver Spring-based firm artfully crafts buildings and places, guided by a commitment to environmental stewardship. Gardner is a professor at University of Maryland’s School of Architecture, Planning & Preservation and has twice led UMD’s winning entries in the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon. | Simon Jacobsen founded Jacobsen Architecture, LLC, with his late father, modernist architect Hugh Newell Jacobsen. The award-winning Middleburg firm focuses on residential, commercial and institutional design, interiors, furniture and lighting. In 2022, Rizzoli published American Modern Home: Jacobsen Architecture + Interiors, a book devoted to projects Jacobsen designed with his father. | Stephen J. Vanze, FAIA, launched award-winning, DC-based BarnesVanze Architects in 1989 with partner Ankie Barnes. In addition to his practice, Vanze has served as president of the Washington Architectural Foundation, president of the AIA/DC and board member and chairman of the Old Georgetown Board of the United States Commission of Fine Arts. |
| Mary Douglas Drysdale founded Drysdale Design Associates in 1990. Her acclaimed Washington, DC-based firm creates beautiful, functional residences noted for interior architecture, one-of-a-kind furnishings and curated art. Drysdale has received many accolades and awards; her work has been published extensively and has appeared on more than 70 magazine covers. | Mona Hajj marries romance, sensibility and personality, whether a project is grand or rustic, rich in tradition or contemporary and simple. Her award-winning Baltimore studio creates soft, inviting, comfortable rooms layered with beauty. Hajj’s work has been widely published and she’s the author of two books, Interior Visions (2011) and A Romance of East and West (2019). | Paul Sherrill founded DC-based Solis Betancourt & Sherrill with partner Jose Solis Betancourt in 1990; today, their award-winning, internationally recognized firm employs a staff of six, creating elegant and thoughtful designs in a range of styles and aesthetics. A monograph, Essential Elegance: The Interiors of Solis Betancourt (2010), celebrates the firm’s work in the U.S. and abroad. |
| D. Miles Barnard, RLA, ASLA, specializes in residential landscape architecture that incorporates principles of sustainability and ecological restoration. Over the past two decades, his Chestertown, Maryland, firm, South Fork Studio Landscape Architecture, has completed a wide range of projects, from high-end residential design to historic restoration and commercial development. | Scott Brinitzer, PLA, ASLA, launched Scott Brinitzer Design Associates in 1987 with the goal of creating beautiful, enjoyable spaces that enhance quality of life. His award-winning Arlington, Virginia, firm combines a landscape architecture practice with garden installation services. Brinitzer is a past president of the Landscape Contractors Association MD • DC • VA. | Katia Goffin, ASLA, founded McLean-based Goffin Gardens in 2013. Her boutique landscape design and architecture firm creates award-winning projects that are recognized for a classic European sensibility combined with thoughtful contemporary elements and informal wildflower meadows. Trained in the U.S. and Europe, Goffin brings more than 25 years’ experience to her work. |
Each year, Home & Design polls local design professionals and consumers to discover their favorite home-furnishings resources in DC, Maryland and Virginia. These pages reveal the winners of the 2023 Readers’ Choice Awards.
 | LightingDominion Lighting Arlington, Virginia • dominionlighting.com Photo: Stacy Zarin Goldberg |
 | Kitchen & Bath FixturesWaterworks Washington, DC • waterworks.com Photo: Gentl & Hyers |
 | Fabric & Wall CoveringScalamandré Washington, DC • scalamandre.com Photo: Kip Dawkins |
 | AppliancesABW–Appliances a Better Way Area locations • abwappliances.com
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 | To-The-Trade FurnitureBaker Washington, DC • bakerfurniture.com
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 | Carpets & FlooringFloor & Decor Area locations • flooranddecor.com
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 | Outdoor Furniture & AccessoriesJANUS et Cie Bethesda, Maryland (opening early 2024) • janusetcie.com
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 | Retail FurnitureRoche Bobois Washington, DC, and Tysons, Virginia • roche-bobois.com
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 | Custom ClosetsCalifornia Closets Area locations • californiaclosets.com Photo: California Closets |
 | Smart HomeIntegrated Media Systems Ashburn, Virginia • imsva.com Photo: Eric Llanes |
 | Tile & StoneArchitessa Area locations • architessa.com Interior Design: Jeff Akseizer, ADG | Akseizer Design Group. |
 | Window TreatmentsRockville Interiors Rockville, Maryland • rockvilleinteriors.com
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