Color palette you love?
I gravitate toward strong, saturated color. I want my surroundings to stimulate my senses and provide an inspiring dose of energy.
Celebrity designer crush?
I love Summer Thornton for her fearless use of color and pattern; Kelly Wearstler for her avant-garde eye; and Martyn Lawrence Bullard for his details and layered, dramatic approach.
What elements would you combine if a client with no budget restraints asked for a “collected look?”
Amazing architectural elements; original art; statement lighting; a few antique rugs and furnishings; unique fabrics and wall coverings; and modern, iconic upholstery.
What patterns—or solids—define your personal aesthetic?
I’m very much drawn to abstract patterns that were created with a modern, artistic approach.
VIBRANT PALETTE
Clockwise from opposite: Scenic wallpaper and statement art welcome visitors. Bonnell created a cushy window seat in a family room for reading or taking in garden views. A mom and her two kids share a chic and organized home office.
Erika Bonnell Interiors
erikabonnell.com - 703-468-1049
What color palette do you love?
Joyce: Warm neutrals on a light base. I add pops of color for fun or black and charcoal for contrast. The palette is timeless and the pops keep it current.
Name a vintage piece you pine over.
Arlene: I like working vintage architectural elements into new construction.
What exciting art work did you recently acquire for a client?
Arlene: Hand-painted panels on antique rice paper.
What patterns—or solids—define your personal aesthetic?
Joyce: My personal preference is solids and interesting textures, adding subtle patterns or soft geometrics.
Describe your favorite sofa.
Arlene: My living room sofa allows comfort with style. It’s clad in mohair and layered with textured pillows.
URBAN AERIE
Clockwise from opposite: A light-filled living room juxtaposes sleek lines with organic elements; bold architectural elements are softened by organic patterns and sheer draperies. A colorful rug grounds a restful bedroom, accented with complementary pops of color.
Interior Concepts, Inc.
interiorconceptsinc.com - 410-224-7366
Color palette you love?
I am a nature lover and I love the magnolia tree’s palette: glossy green, golden tobacco, ivory white, buttercream, silvery gray and blush pink.
Describe a special wallpaper you recently used.
Sandstone by Victoria Larson is a fantastic digitally printed grass cloth with a watery ombre design. Wallpaper can be a game-changer, and it doesn’t have to be bold to be impactful.
Celebrity designer crush?
Michael Taylor is a favorite. Very ahead of his time; he lightened things up with sunshine, plants and breezy palettes and was the original mixer of antique and modern.
Favorite chair in your home?
We have an odd Jacobean chair that looks like it came out of “The Munsters.” Found on a sidewalk in my 20s, it follows us from house to house.
ECLECTIC MIX
Clockwise from opposite: Josh Hildreth conjured a grand yet relaxed living room for a showhouse in Potomac. A cheerful sunroom beckons in a Northwest DC home. Deep-toned walls are a cozy backdrop to a bold, painted screen and antique furniture in a stylish foyer.
Josh Hildreth Interiors
joshhildrethinteriors.com - 571-449-3508
Color palette you love?
Color resonates with me—vibrant, subtle, even neutral. I try to be a “color ambassador” and find a palette that resonates with each client.
Name an exciting work of art you acquired for a client.
A home without art has no soul. Recently, I introduced clients to the paintings of iconic DC artist Sam Gilliam. They now own six.
Describe a recent project you’re most proud of...
I created bespoke interiors that interpret classics in fresh, timeless style for a 2010, Tudor-style estate.
What elements would you combine if a client with no budget asked for a “collected look?”
As exemplified by the project above: major artworks; silk rugs threaded with silver and gold; Murano glass sconces; and a sumptuous sofa inset with silvered-eucalyptus tables.
BESPOKE FLAIR
Barbara Hawthorn made a statement in a grand entry with art and custom furnishings. Built-ins incorporate woven shades, an entertainment center and an onyx-and-glass fireplace surround. A cozy grouping around a custom designed layered-stone fireplace.
Barbara Hawthorn Interiors
barbarahawthorninteriors.com - 703-241-5588
On June 29th, Home & Design celebrated the launch of its July/August 2022 issue with a festive event at Best Tile in Falls Church. Guests mingled, enjoyed drinks and bites and explored the showroom’s exquisite installations.
The Design Collective DC (DCDC) held a Summer Open House on July 21st in the Washington Design Center’s Century showroom. Founded last year, this local organization promotes racial diversity in the design industry. DCDC’s new advisory board was introduced at the event. For more information, visit designcollectivedc.com.
AjMadison hosted an evening of networking in its stylish Tysons Corner appliance showroom on June 15th. Home & Design co-sponsored the event, which featured a panel advising designers on getting their work published.
 | TOUCH OF DRAMAby Exquisite Designs |
 | SLEEK + SERENEby Exquisite Designs |
 | BOLD STATEMENTby Capitol Design Build |
 | TILED IN STYLEby Reico Kitchen and Bath |
 | FRESH FLAIRby Abbey Design + Remodel |
 | Eclectic Retreatby Eisenbrant Companies |
Clients with a home in Hunt Valley, Maryland, contacted Eisenbrandt Companies for a primary bath remodel. They wanted a spa-like retreat, a collage of natural hues with a bold industrial-chic statement.
The design team removed the linen closet and WC in favor of an open layout with more light. This allowed them to increase the size of the shower, which now features a bench and shelf niche. A pocket door saves space and a freestanding tub tucks in beneath a window wall.
Defined millwork elements include board-and-batten wainscot and a custom knotty pine double vanity and linen cupboard, both adorned with Lucite hardware. The vanity is topped with Arabascato marble while the walls and floor are clad in Calacatta marble-look porcelain tiles. The shower is enclosed in custom-grid shower glass framed in black-painted metal. Rain head and hand-held shower heads add versatility for bathing.
Eisenbrant Companies
eisenbrandtcompanies.com
410-925-6749
Tapped to refurbish a primary bath in Ashburn, Virginia, Abbey Design + Remodel orchestrated a dramatic transformation while leaving the existing layout in place. A dark, walled shower was replaced with a glass enclosure sporting Jaclo rain and hand shower heads and body sprays. An obtrusive built-in tub made way for a freestanding Signature Hardware tub and Kohler tub filler. Dark-stained his-and-her vanities were replaced with vanities painted white and topped with Cambria quartz.
The new aesthetic complements the home’s transitional architecture. A ledger-stone accent wall extends to the vaulted ceiling and large-format, marble-look porcelain tiles clad the shower and floor. Marble-look porcelain mosaic tiles cover the shower floor and extend up the wall for a decorative flourish. Vanity hardware from Top Knobs finishes the cabinetry and Allen+Roth sconces flank enlarged mirrors.
Abbey Design + Remodel
abbeyremodel.com
703-450-8181
Homeowners in Fredericksburg, Virginia, wanted to transform their mundane primary bath into a spa retreat. Among their requests: a spacious, glass-enclosed shower; expanded storage; and a bold use of tile for visual interest. Reico Kitchen & Bath gutted and redesigned the bathroom. An extended vanity area features blue-painted cabinetry from Merillat and a custom countertop with integrated wave bowls. Plumbing fixtures by Moen equip the tub, sinks and custom shower, which also features a custom slider door by Sterling Mirror & Glass. To create the visual interest the clients wanted, several types and sizes of tile were utilized. The pattern of the tile was hand-selected to create a modern, bold arrangement of colors and variation within the herringbone pattern found in the shower and floor “rug” design. Lighter marble covers the floor, offering a complimenting contrast to these patterns.
Reico Kitchen and Bath
reico.com
800-336-4526
Clients in Washington, DC, turned to Capitol Design Build to redesign a dated and traditional owners’ bath. They wanted to reorganize the layout so the shower would become a focal point, and to overhaul the existing vanities. They specified modern design elements, a bold material palette and plenty of natural light.
The design team selected an epoxy resin slab that captures swirling, abstract digital imagery as a dramatic focal point in the shower; it was fabricated by Artistic Surfaces and is complemented by a mosaic-tile floor in the same blue colorway. A floating double vanity crafted of marble-look Silestone quartz features integrated quartz sinks. Concrete-look MSI flooring and Porcelanosa large-format porcelain tile on the vanity wall contribute to the sleek, modern sensibility. New cabinetry with a bold blue finish hides linen and shoes, solving storage issues. A full-ceiling skylight illuminates the space.
Capitol Design Build
capitoldesignbuild.com
703-436-6919
With proper space planning, Exquisite Designs turned a cramped primary bath into a sleek and serene retreat. The clients requested storage, separate vanities and abundant natural light. The renovation plan removed an unnecessary bulkhead, traded regular doors for pocket doors on the closet and WC and added a frosted-glass paneled entry door. A vertical rain-glass panel over the tub brings in additional light while a leaner mirror adds depth and dimension.
Clean-lined, walnut vanities from Adelphi Kitchens & Cabinetry are adorned with Schaub hardware. Topped with quartz counters, the vanities are paired with Robern Uplift medicine cabinets and Tech pendants. The shower, Kohler sinks and Hydrosystems soaking tub boast Grohe plumbing fixtures. Porcelain tiles clad the shower and vanity walls. A favorite touch: A floating shower floor of wide-plank wood pieces, conjures the feel of showering al fresco.
Exquisite Designs
exquisitedesignshome.com
703-930-8388
The owners of a Potomac Falls home enlisted Exquisite Designs to oversee the redo of their primary bath. Their wish list included a spacious shower enclosure, a comfortable soaking tub and a more functional vanity—all in chic style with a touch of drama.
The design team removed an obtrusive corner Jacuzzi, freeing up space for a roomy shower clad in Marble Systems porcelain tiles and boasting a rain shower head. An enlarged vanity by Adelphi Kitchens & Cabinetry with Kohler sinks now incorporates a storage tower with electric and USB ports. The Hydrosystems tub is tucked beneath a bank of windows.To create a “wow” element, slabs of polished exotic marble now enhance the tub and accent walls. Santec plumbing fixtures complete the look, which includes Top Knobs cabinet hardware in a gold finish and complementary Hinkley sconces. Hunter Douglas blinds ensure privacy.
Exquisite Designs
exquisitedesignshome.com
703-930-8388
This issue marks the 15th year that H&D has spotlighted up-and-coming designers who lead their own firms in DC, Maryland and Virginia. To celebrate the milestone, we gathered for a portrait shoot at Washington's iconic Kreeger Museum, designed in 1963 by luminary architects Philip Johnson and Richard Foster. We couldn't imagine a more fitting spot to host these promising pros—all of whom are breaking exciting new ground with their work, revealed in the links below.
