Home & Design

Moody Blues

A design team turns a mundane home office into a dramatic destination, renovation by Marks-Woods Construction Services

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Clever Redo

Blue Star transforms a rundown DC row house with a dynamic, modern update.

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Timeless Style

BOWA elevates a Reston kitchen with an open plan, improved functionality and luxe finishes.

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Stylish Getaway Homes

Tapped to design a modern vacation home in the Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia, Jonathan Kuhn paid careful attention to the obstacles and opportunities of the site. “We situated the structure at the bottom of a hill in the only level area of the property,” he recounts. Inspired by the rugged, wooded surroundings, the architecture “took on a prairie style emphasizing simplicity, integration with nature and horizontal massing that reflects the setting.”

The three-bedroom, two-and-a-half bath, single-story home comprises three volumes. The double-height central volume houses a light-filled entry that connects the volume holding the public spaces to the wing that contains the bedrooms. A screened porch links the dining room to the deck, which boasts a hot tub.

“A peaceful and tranquil retreat is set within the wooded and rugged surroundings of nature’”
—Jonathan Kuhn Jonathan

Shou Sugi Ban wood siding and micro-concrete flooring are among the materials that maintain a low-maintenance connection to nature. Says Kuhn, “The hill almost cradles the house, protecting it from the elements while providing a beautiful backdrop.”

Kuhn Architect • kuhnarchitect.com

Stylish Getaway Homes

The owners of a log cabin on Deep Creek Lake embraced their abode’s characteristic rustic exterior—but they were less enamored of its dark interior spaces. The fireplace obstructed expansive lake views while heavy timbers and traditional sliding doors also created a distraction. The owners sought a brighter, cleaner aesthetic that would reflect their preference for modern design.

“The best renovations make the greatest impact in the fewest number of moves,” observes project architect and principal William Kirwan. “Relocating the fireplace to an adjacent wall opened up the vista while providing an opportunity to significantly increase the amount and height of the glazing on the lake view-facing wall.” Folding-glass wall systems maximize the views, opening the interior to the deck and lake beyond.

“The owners sought to reflect their preference for modern design in their lakefront getaway.”
—William Kirwan, AIA, LEED AP

The log main stair was rebuilt in steel with reclaimed white oak treads, eliminating a clunky landing that had blocked sightlines. Exterior and interior timber walls were sheathed in painted drywall; timber ceilings were painted to match, brightening the spaces while retaining the original timber construction. Heavy timber railings inside and out were replaced in steel with cable rails that enhance the views.

Project Highlights

  • A kitchen facelift features new painted cabinetry, leathered-granite countertops, LED lighting and new hardware
  • Exterior logs were darkened to a sepia hue with charcoal accents
  • Floors were replaced with reclaimed white oak
  • Bathroom fixtures and lighting now reflect a modern aesthetic

MUSE | KIRWAN ARCHITECTS • musekirwan.com

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As we spend more time at home, kitchens are doing triple duty, often serving up three meals a day. If your kitchen could use an upgrade, don’t miss this special webinar featuring the designers behind a trio of kitchen makeovers covered in our Winter 2022 issue. They’ll provide a personal tour of each project, dish on the hottest kitchen trends and answer your questions on best practices in kitchen design.

A number of regional chapters of the American Institute of Architects honored the best in local architecture during the 2021 AIA Excellence in Design Awards. The following pages list residential winners in AIA’s Northern Virginia, Maryland, Chesapeake Bay, Baltimore and Potomac Valley chapters; a sampling of award-winning projects is pictured. For a complete list of chapter winners, visit homeanddesign.com. Projects are also on view at aianova.org/DA21 and mdaiaawards.secure-platform.com

AIA MARYLAND

CITATION

MERIT

HONOR

AIA BALTIMORE

RESIDENTIAL DESIGN AWARD

  • Brighton House: Kevin Vandeman, AIA; Gary James Inglis, RIBA, RIAS, Blu Homes

RESIDENTIAL HONORABLE MENTION

AIA NORTHERN VIRGINIA

EXCELLENCE

MERIT

JURORS’ CITATION

AIA POTOMAC VALLEY

SPECIAL RECOGNITION

MERIT

HONOR

AIA CHESAPEAKE BAY

HONOR, RESIDENTIAL NEW CONSTRUCTION

MERIT, RESIDENTIAL NEW CONSTRUCTION

HONOR/PRESERVATION, RESIDENTIAL RENOVATION/ADDITION

CITATION/SUSTAINABLE DESIGN, RESIDENTIAL NEW CONSTRUCTION

 

Each year, a panel of building-industry professionals chooses nominees for the Great American Living Awards. Sponsored by the Northern Virginia Building Industry Association, the Washington Metropolitan Sales & Marketing Council and the Maryland Building Industry Association, the GALA Awards—held last October at the Hyatt at Reston Town Center—honor excellence in new-home architecture, interior design, sales and marketing in the Mid-Atlantic region. The 2021 entries filled 48 categories; those pertaining to architecture and design included single- and multi-family homes, townhomes and condominiums, and custom-home and remodeling projects. Following is a list of Grand Award winners in residential design, architecture and custom building.

DESIGN & ARCHITECTURE
Home of the Year—The Logan at Quarry Springs, Bethesda, MD. Wormald Homes
Custom Home of the Year—1437 Cedar Avenue, McLean, VA. Clear View Homes; WCRA
Community of the Year‑—Robinson Landing, Alexandria, VA. EYA LLC; JBG SMITH; Mitsui Fudosan America; KTGY Architecture + Planning; Shalom Baranes Associates
Innovative Land Planning—Robinson Landing, Alexandria, VA. EYA LLC; Shalom Baranes Associates; KTGY Architecture + Planning; Mitsui Fudosan America; JBG SMITH
FreeStanding Club House—Bayside Fenwick Island, Fenwick Island, DE.
Carl M. Freeman Companies; AdsIntelligence Marketing
Outstanding Living Space or Architectural Feature—Cabana at Cornwell Farm, Great Falls, VA.
James McDonald Associate Architects
Outstanding Implementation of Innovative Design Concepts Detached/Attached—Chateau De Riviere, Great Falls, VA. The Building Group; Grow Landscapes
Green Building—Mid-Century Modern, Arlington, Arlington, VA. Arlington Designer Homes Construction LLC

Detached Home (lots under 7,000 square feet)
Under $300,000—Brooke in Evershire North, Waynesboro, VA. KTGY; Atlantic Builders
$600,001-$700,000—Atwood at Tapestry, Clarksburg, MD. KTGY; Miller and Smith
Over $850,000—Parkhurst at Willowcreek, Dayton, MD. Toll Brothers; Lessard Design, Inc.
DESIGN & ARCHITECTURE Detached Home (lots 7,000 square feet and over)
$1,000,001-$1,400,000—The Robey on Homesite 8 at Miller’s Reserve, Purcellville, VA. Evergreene Homes
Over $5,000,000—Chateau De Riviere, Great Falls, VA. The Building Group; James McDonald Associate Architects
Under $400,000—The Chesapeake at Orchard Hill, Spotsylvania, VA. Atlantic Builders
$400,001-$500,000—Tidewater Slab at Kindleton, Lewes, DE. KTGY; Lennar Corporation
$500,001-$600,000—Southport Basement at Kindleton, Lewes, DE. KTGY; Lennar Corporation
$850,001-$1,000,000—The Monroe at Meadows at Rose Hill, Alexandria, VA. The Christopher Companies; Moment Engineering + Design
Over $1,400,000—Palatine at the Windmill Collection, North Potomac, MD. KTGY; Toll Brothers

Attached Home
Over $850,000—The Logan at Quarry Springs, Bethesda, MD. Wormald Homes
$400,001-$500,000—Norwood at Watson’s Glen, Millersville, MD. KTGY; Tri Pointe Homes
$500,001-$600,000—Bluemont at Carter’s Mill by Del Webb, Haymarket, VA. PulteGroup
$600,001-$700,000—Sydney at Crown East, Gaithersburg, MD. PulteGroup
$700,001-$850,000—Willard at the Braddock, Chantilly, VA. KTGY; Toll Brothers

Multi-Family
New Construction—Robinson Landing, Alexandria, VA. EYA LLC; JBG SMITH ; Mitsui Fudosan America; KTGY Architecture + Planning; Shalom Baranes Associates
Mixed-Use—Juniper, Columbia, MD. CBG Building Company; The Howard Hughes Corporation; The Preston Partnership
Condominium or Apartment Unit—Walney at the Fairfax Collection, Chantilly, VA. KTGY; Toll Brothers

CUSTOM BUILDING
DESIGN & ARCHITECTURE Custom Home, Single Lot
3,000-5,000 square feet—Walker Road, Great Falls, VA. James McDonald Associate Architects
5,001-7,000 square feet—Arnon Chapel Road, Great Falls, VA. James McDonald Associate Architects
Over 7,000 square feet—Cornwell Farm, Great Falls, MD. James McDonald Associate Architects

DESIGN & ARCHITECTURE Custom or Customized Infill Home
5,001-7,000 square feet­—1437 Cedar Avenue, McLean, VA. Clear View Homes; WCRA Under 3,000 square feet—OPaL’s Tiny House, Washington, DC. OPaL, LLC
3,000-5,000 square feet—6525 32nd Street, Falls Church, VA. James McDonald Associate Architects
Over 7,000 square feet—1016 Langley Hill Drive, McLean, VA. Brush Arbor Home Construction; WCRA

DESIGN & ARCHITECTURE Renovations or Additions Over $1,000,000—
OPaL’s Historic Renovation in Cleveland Park, Washington, DC. OPaL, LLC

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The owners of a 20-year-old French Country manor in Washington, DC, recently turned to Patrick Sutton to revive its outdated interiors. Patrick reimagined the entire residence, creating chic, timeless spaces that foster easy entertaining. Please join us for a before-and-after look at this dramatic transformation and a conversation with designer Patrick Sutton and builder Mark Sanders, moderated by editor in chief Sharon Jaffe Dan.

With the plethora of possibilities available today, shopping for appliances can be a daunting experience. “We recommend visiting a showroom to see what is out there and learn about the latest industry trends,” says Oliff. Below are tips to help you on your way.

 

Finish Line

  • Stainless steel is still king, followed by white appliances with professional stainless-steel handles, then slate finishes.
  • Many home chefs seek out a pop of color, customizing the range, hood and refrigerator in a painter’s palette of 1,000-plus colors and finishes.
  • Brass-handled appliances, brass hoods and other brass accents are a hot trend in the kitchen.

Sleek Style

  • Homeowners are moving away from the retro look in favor of a sleek, modern aesthetic with flush-mount installation.
  • Appliances with no handles are on the rise with finger-touch and swipe controls replacing traditional knobs and pulls.

Tech Watch

  • Oven features now make it possible to cook with less butter and oil. These functions include steam assist; options for air frying and slow cooking; and thermometer controls for sous vide, a process that cooks food for a long time at very low temperatures.
  • Smart hubs above the range hood or integrated into the backsplash control the kitchen (among other parts of the house) via touch screen. They allow you to preheat your oven, turn on your hood, check ice levels in your freezer and much more.

Personal Favorites

  • The Monogram Hearth Oven is handcrafted to capture the performance of a wood-fired brick pizza oven and comes in a new brass option.
  • Beverage centers from Sub-Zero and Monogram hold wine, beer and sodas, freeing up space in the main refrigerator.
  • A steam oven from Wolf can cook a 20-pound turkey in an hour and a half.
  • A built-in Miele espresso machine holds a pound of beans and brews perfect coffee, cappuccino and latte.

Pro Tips

“Textured backsplash tile contrasts with sleek cabinets in a contemporary kitchen. Add a subtle crackle finish in a transitional space or classic subway tile in a traditional one.”
—Stephanie Fried, Jack Rosen Custom Kitchens  
“Wood stain is back in style in the kitchen—but not cherry or maple. Now is the era of walnut, oak and hickory.”
—Yasin Kazanci, USA Cabinet Store

 

Sponsored by the MBIA, this annual awards program honors architecture, construction and remodeling projects in the Greater Washington, DC, area. A full list of 2021 winners follows, along with photographs of a number of award-winning projects.

Custom Contemporary Home over 6,000 square feet
GOLD—Sandy Spring Builders, LLC

Custom Contemporary Home under 6,000 square feet
GOLD—Douglas Construction Group

Custom Traditional Home
between 4,000-4,999 square feet
GOLD—Mid-Atlantic Custom Builders

Custom Traditional Home
between 5,000-5,999 square feet
GOLD—Bethel Regency Homes

Custom Traditional Home between 6,000-6,999 square feet
GOLD—Sandy Spring Builders, LLC
BRONZE—Mid-Atlantic Custom Builders

Custom Traditional Home
between 7,000-7,999 square feet
GOLD—Mid-Atlantic Custom Builders

Custom Traditional Home under 4,000 square feet
GOLD—Leveille HIC, Leveille Custom Cabinets

Renovation
GOLD—Sandy Spring Builders, LLC

Speculative Renovation
GOLD—Francis Development

Speculative Home between 3,000-3,999 square feet
GOLD—Foxhall Homes
BRONZE—Foxhall Homes

Speculative Home between 4,000-4,999 square feet
GOLD—Mid-Atlantic Builders LLC

Speculative Home between 5,000-5,999 square feet
GOLD—Laurence Cafritz Builders

Speculative Home between 6,000-6,999 square feet
GOLD—Claude C. Lapp Architects, LLC
BRONZE—Mid-Atlantic Custom Builders

Speculative Home under 3,000 square feet
GOLD—Douglas Construction Group

HOME&DESIGN, published bi-monthly by Homestyles Media Inc., is the premier magazine of architecture and fine interiors for the Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia region.

The company also publishes an annual H&D Sourcebook of ideas and resources for homeowners and professionals alike. H&D Chesapeake Views is published bi-annually and showcases fine home design and luxury living in and around the Chesapeake Bay.

The H&D Portfolio of 100 Top Designers spotlights the superior work of selected architects, interior designers and landscape architects in major regions of the US.

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