"The trifecta of good design, outdoor living spaces and landscaping create a continuity that’s hard to beat,” observes architect Paul Gaiser, who now works with Landis Architects/Builders. He reimagined the home’s exterior with architectural flourishes—from dormer windows in front to a two-story bay in back embellished by a white-railed deck.
| Then | Now |
| Built in 1940, the house had become dingy, with rundown front and rear façades. The contrast between brick and white clapboard was jarring and unattractive. Small windows with multiple grids felt dated. | Gray-painted HardiePlank siding covers both brick and clapboard. Larger windows with fewer grids create a more modern sensibility. Dormers enhance the front façade. |
| The home’s flat front lacked interest and dimension, and the front door conveyed no sense of arrival. The dilapidated stand-alone garage was too small. | A porticoed entry with a mahogany front door welcomes guests. A porch with a standing-seam metal roof and a shallow front addition to the right of the door add interest. A new, enlarged garage is elevated by matching mahogany doors. |
| The backyard had no landscaping or usable space for entertaining. | A two-story rear addition spills out to a patio complete with a built-in grill. The addition is enhanced by Palladian windows and a bay. |
Renovation Architecture: Paul Gaiser, AIA, Paul Gaiser Architects, Bethesda, Maryland. Contractor: Precision Capital General Work LLC, Takoma Park, Maryland. Landscape Design: Susy S. Altmann, CPH, Susy Altmann Studio, Rockville, Maryland. Photography: Pak Cheung.
The renovation of a 19th-century estate in Tidewater, Virginia, wasn’t complete without the overhaul of its pastoral 30-acre property, which encompasses five miles of shoreline along the Rappahannock River. The extensive landscape plan included gardens, terraces, arrival sequences—and a picturesque pond. “The owners were not interested in swimming,” recounts Eric Groft, FASLA, of OvS, who spearheaded the project, “but they liked the idea of water as part of the landscape.”
Inspired by the celebrated scenery at Monticello, Groft designed a 30-by-40-foot lily pond, which is nestled among pebble pathways and ornamental gardens mixing cultivars and native species. Just beyond, a 15-acre barley field stretches away to the riverfront.
The semi-circular pond is contained in a 23-inch-deep concrete shell with built-in planters that support lotus plants and lilies; openings in the planters allow water to flow in and out. As a bonus, the pond attracts all manner of aquatic life, from fish to frogs. Says Groft, “Such a feature in an agrarian area—it creates its own ecology.”
Landscape Architecture: Eric Groft, FASLA, OvS, Washington, DC.
After buying a secluded Potomac property, a couple tapped architect Jim Rill to update the residence. “They loved the concept of a house in the woods with a strong connection to nature,” he recalls. On the wish list was a third-floor owners’ suite from which they could enjoy the bucolic scenery.
Working with Thorsen Construction and designer Laurie McParland, Rill devised a plan featuring a charming bathroom retreat. It tucks into the roofline beneath a slanted ceiling and centers on an existing skylight. A roomy shower, positioned to take advantage of the skylight, “feels like you’re showering in the woods,” says the architect. A built-in bench sits within a niche in the shower; it is embellished by marble tile in a tactile mosaic pattern.
A sculptural tub from Vintage Tub & Bath perches in front of the shower, which is enclosed in clear glass so as not to interrupt the flow of light to the room. Marble surfaces are warmed by a walnut vanity and shelving, both crafted by Danish Builders. V-groove siding on the ceiling adds character.
Renovation Architecture: James Rill, Rill Architects, Bethesda, Maryland. Interior Design: Laurie McParland, Laurie McParland Design, Olney, Maryland. Renovation Contractor: Thorsen Construction, Alexandria, Virginia.
There’s an art to designing a restful room,” opines Kelley Proxmire, an expert at creating moods with color and pattern. “Rooms should be welcoming and crisp, calming and pretty.” Below, the designer shares further insights.
TIP 1 Choose one strong color, then add complementary hues.
TIP 2 Balance is key to combining strong colors and patterns.
TIP 3 Pastels tend not to blend with bolder colors; stay within the tones of stronger colors and patterns for a cohesive look.
TIP 4 Contrast dark shades with crisp white to keep a space light and bright.
TIP 5 Be aware of the scale of a pattern and how it complements your colors.
TIP 6 Mixing mini-prints with stripes, checks and florals is in now.
While a Fulton, Maryland, couple expecting their first child opted not to find out the baby’s gender, the mother-to-be still wished to have the nursery newborn-ready. Designers Laura Outland and Lynne Lawson of Lawson Dream Team/Decorating Den Interiors were tapped to conceive a warm, welcoming—and gender-neutral—space. “She wanted a whimsical and sophisticated vibe so they could enjoy their baby without feeling like they were in daycare,” recalls Outland. Space was at a premium as the room, measuring 100 square feet, needed to accommodate a crib, storage and a rocking chair.
The design team went with a monochromatic color scheme of gray, black and white. York Wallcoverings wallpaper in a soft cloud pattern accents one wall, with white pompom curtains and an eye-catching black-and-white rug from Surya. An industrial-style Elk Lighting chandelier resembles a mobile. Strategically placed, a comfy upholstered rocker and fluffy footrest beckon. Artwork depicting baby animals hangs above the crib, poised to greet a newborn in style.
Interior Design: Lawson Dream Team/Decorating Den Interiors, Columbia, Maryland. Styling: Charlotte Safavi.
Nestled pondside on a remote farm, a tiny, rough-hewn outbuilding appears to be a longtime fixture. In fact, it’s the recent creation of GriD Architects principal Alick Dearie, AIA, whose parents have owned the West Virginia property since 1978. “This spot has held rudimentary saunas before,” Dearie relates. “After the last one burned down, we wanted something permanent.”
Inspired by Native American “ritual sweating” structures, Dearie designed a 67-square-foot structure with two bench-lined walls angled at an ergonomic 15 degrees. His colleague Brian Grieb, AIA, who teaches at Morgan State University, recruited six students to construct the sauna manually over 10 days.
A steel frame supports a 2,500-pound steel-plate roof that was hand-cranked into place. Reclaimed-oak cladding was torched to create fire-resistant shou sugi ban planks. A steel heat shield laser-etched in a West Virginia quilting pattern protects the interior from the wood-burning stove, protruding beyond the steel entry door to the exterior. The project, a 2020 AIA Maryland Citation award-winner, “combines the traditions of sauna building with those of outbuildings in the area,” says Dearie. “It reflects the spirit of place and possibility.”
Buying an American Four- square on a tree-lined Chevy Chase street fulfilled a dream for designer Katy Anderson, who had always wanted a historic property. After renovating the home’s interiors, Anderson and her husband embarked on a favorite plan for the outside: enclosing an existing side porch and attaching a new porch in back. “I’m from Atlanta, and porches are a way of life there, a way to extend the seasons,” observes the designer. “I wanted to take the indoors out.”
Anderson collaborated with architect Christopher Snowber on the renovation, which was a challenge when it came to the exterior because of the home’s historic designation. “As with many homes that have a strong historic character and engaging details, the trick was to echo the character of the existing house without being slavishly redundant,” Snowber notes. The design team enclosed the open porch on the driveway side of the house to create a mudroom; it matches a porch on the other side that was previously converted into Anderson’s home office. Both spaces boast restored architectural details and glass expanses over the openings between columns.
A roomy screened porch replaced a small deck and slate patio off the back. It extends along the side of the house to connect with her office. With its comfortable all-weather furniture and rug, the new structure “feels like another room,” Anderson says. A wood-burning fireplace provides a focal point and curtains frame the screens. Painted-wood floors paired with walls clad in their original stucco convey a vintage look, while reclaimed-wood ceilings unify all the porch spaces.
Renovation Architecture: Christopher R. Snowber, AIA, Hamilton Snowber Architects, Washington, DC. Interior Design: Katy Anderson, Katy Anderson Interiors, Chevy Chase, Maryland. Builder: Zantzinger, Inc., Washington, DC.
It all started when the wall oven broke. For a Potomac couple, the simple loss of this integral appliance snowballed into a sorely needed remodel. Their existing kitchen was dated and dysfunctional, with builder-grade cabinetry, vinyl floors and black appliances that were an eyesore. But the biggest problem was storage. “They wanted dedicated space for everything, from appliances to cookware, silverware, spices and pantry items,” says project developer Mary Englert of Case Architects & Remodelers, who collaborated on the project with designer Melissa Cooley.
They began by replacing the soffit above the wall cabinets with a row of cabinetry, perfect for storing and displaying seldom-used collectibles. They straightened and enlarged the inconveniently angled island and wrapped the base with cabinets. The walk-in pantry was replaced by a wall of easy-access, pull-out cupboards and a corner sink was removed to accommodate appliance garages tucked out of the way.
Customized storage abounds. “We found locations for each small and large appliance that would ergonomically serve the client,” recounts Cooley. Every item—toasters, blenders, mixers and more—was precisely measured to fit its allotted space and open cubbies were strategically placed for storage and display.
The adjacent family room was decorated in clean-lined style, so the owners embraced the same sensibility in the kitchen. Semi-custom Crystal cabinets in white and two shades of gray are topped with quartz counters. Large-format Porcelanosa tile with no grout lines—a favorite of the wife repurposed from the original kitchen—provides a three-dimensional, textured backsplash, adding visual interest without cluttering the busy space. Wood-look porcelain-tile floors are an extension of the family room floor, but delineated by a herringbone pattern.
Kitchen Design & Contracting: Mary Englert, CKBR, UDCP, project developer, and Melissa Cooley, CKBR, UDCP, designer, Case Architects & Remodelers, Bethesda, Maryland.
With visions of log-cabin vacations in the mountains, Elizabeth Reich and her husband, a mechanical engineer, purchased a small lot near Maryland’s Deep Creek Lake. They hired Eric Lapp of Snowy Mountain Construction, which specializes in log cabins, to build their weekend retreat. Choosing from a range of floor plans, the couple tweaked their choice to reflect their personal tastes.
“It gets really cold up there, so I wanted everything to be as cozy as possible,” explains the designer. “And there’s no question that log cabins are cozy!”
Clad in sturdy standing deadwood, the three-bedroom abode encompasses an open-plan living/dining area and kitchen, with a mudroom and separate owners’ suite. The second floor houses a bedroom for the couple’s 11-year-old son, along with a guest room and a loft with a pullout sofa overlooking the living area. Natural pine clads the interiors from top to bottom, and Reich had the floors and doors stained dark for contrast.
Against this backdrop, she imparted “a rustic-modern feel—but not country,” she says. “I layered fabrics and mixed materials, patterns and textures to create interest.” Soft but durable Moroccan rugs warm the rooms and bright-hued fabrics adorn the beds and punctuate the living spaces via pillows and throws. When it came to furniture, vintage and new pieces serve the dog- and kid-friendly home well. “I like everything imperfect,” Reich avers. “Nothing should be too precious, even if it’s new.”
After a day skiing (or ziplining, their son’s favored activity), a stone fireplace beckons, adorned with a reclaimed-wood mantel. On one wall, sliding-glass doors lead out to a deck while expansive windows take in those dazzling mountain views. n
Building Design & Construction: Eric Lapp, Snowy Mountain Construction, LLC, Swanton, Maryland. Interior Design: Elizabeth Reich, Jenkins Baer Associates, Baltimore, Maryland.
While updating the backyard of their traditional residence, Bethesda homeowners wished to make better use of their large, under-utilized patio by adding a three-season shelter for gathering. After considering pergolas and pavilions, they decided to up the ante to four seasons with a sunroom. Hired to overhaul the property, landscape architecture firm Fritz & Gignoux brought on architect Timothy Clites for the task.
Working with Horizon Builders, Clites conceived a 484-square-foot room, accessible from the house through existing glass doors. “We started with a traditional plan,” Clites notes. “But in the end, we felt it should have its own more modern vocabulary. As it turned out, a lot of creative things happened in that 22-by-22-foot space.”
Foremost among them: a star-shaped skylight, measuring 13-and-a-half feet from point to point. “The owners wanted it to look like a star had fallen through the ceiling,” Clites recounts.
“It became an exercise in how much glass was possible—they wanted more glass and less structure.” Two manufacturers designed star-shaped skylights in a sort of contest; Tanglewood Conservatories’ domed design, combining wide expanses of glass and a metal framework embellished with decorative cutouts, was the winner.
Ten-foot-tall, steel bi-fold doors open to the backyard on two sides. Integrated into the patio, a narrow reflecting pool borders one set of doors while the other set opens onto a portion of the patio delineated by low retaining walls. The patio’s existing slate surface was replaced with limestone that better supports the heavy structure. Armed with its own heating-and-cooling system, the light-filled sunroom stays comfortable year-round, whether it’s open for summer breezes or closed off for coziness.
Sunroom Architecture: Timothy L. Clites, AIA, Clites Architects PC, Middleburg, Virginia. Interior Design: Tricia Huntley, Huntley & Co., Washington, DC. Landscape Architecture: Fritz & Gignoux, Washington, DC. Builder: Horizon Builders, Annapolis, Maryland. Photography: Walter Smalling, Jr.
This waterfront home was completely remodeled inside and out,” says McHale’s Sandra Moffatt, who spearheaded the project. She and her team transformed all exterior spaces—including the area beneath the new deck, which now boasts a sea-glass mosaic path bordered by plantings.
| Then | Now |
| The house and its landscape lacked character and interest. An underwhelming entry portico greeted visitors. A small second-floor deck on the back of the house was the only space from which to enjoy the water views. | A stylish portico topped with a balcony conveys a sense of arrival. In lieu of the small rear balcony, a new ipe deck overlooking the water wraps around the house and accesses the side yard via a curved, wrought-iron stair. |
| The under-utilized yard was empty of hardscaping, with no place to gather at ground level. | A stone garden wall defines a circular side patio of irregular Pennsylvania flagstone and crushed granite. An adjacent spa is surrounded by travertine. |
| There was no landscaping, either around the house or by the water. Invasive phragmites and baccharis dominated the shoreline. | Limelight hydrangea, hibiscus and astilbe bloom around the patio, while a mix of ornamental and native perennials and grasses now graces the shoreline. |
Landscape Design & Contracting: Sandra Moffatt, McHale Landscape Design, Upper Marlboro, Maryland.
“The clients wanted a comfortable feel and didn’t want everything to look brand new,” says designer Pamela Harvey. “They already had much of the furniture, so we added interest with throw pillows, art and lighting. We mixed metals and tied the spaces together with black elements.”
| Then | Now |
| The kitchen and family room lacked connectivity, with an obtrusive wall and angled peninsula separating the two areas. Much of the kitchen was tucked behind the wall. The breakfast nook had little appeal. | The wall and peninsula have been removed and the kitchen reoriented to face the family room. A built-in banquette, Hans Wegner Wishbone chairs and custom shades add charm to the breakfast nook. |
| The family room focused on a dated, boring fireplace. A combination of wall-to-wall carpet and terra-cotta tile clad the floors. | A sleek, floor-to-ceiling slate fireplace wall with a rustic wood mantel takes center stage. Stained-oak floors connect both spaces. |
| Neutral fabrics, mundane art and dull lighting choices made the family room an uninviting spot. | The family room beckons, with vibrant pillows on the neutral sofa, eclectic art and eye-catching Visual Comfort lighting. A custom concrete coffee table anchors the room. |
Interior & Kitchen Design: Pamela Harvey, Allied ASID, NKBA, Pamela Harvey Interiors, Herndon, Virginia, and St. Petersburg, Florida. Kitchen Installation: Carrmichael Construction, Oakton, Virginia.
“To our clients, design was as important as function in their new bathroom,” says lead designer Shannon Embly. “We created a tile design that answered their wish for something unique to them, not just on-trend.” She and her team carefully mapped out tile color changes and layout transitions from horizontal to vertical—and were able to deliver on a chic, eye-catching design plan.
| Then | Now |
| Newly married clients lamented the lack of space and storage in their primary bathroom. A pedestal sink offered no surface area and the combination shower/tub was dated. | Slate Design & Remodel incorporated an adjacent hall closet and relocated the bathroom’s entry door. These changes made room for a glass-enclosed shower and a vanity with plenty of storage. |
| The run-of-the-mill room was painted a bland white and had no discernible style. The owners requested a clean-lined sensibility and a mix of neutrals and bold hues to enliven the space. | In the shower, an unusual stepped motif incorporates subway tiles in vivid green and an oatmeal hue. The green embellishes the vanity wall, while the oatmeal clads a partial privacy wall separating the shower |
| Dingy, dated floor tiles looked faded. A lack of effective lighting made the couple’s daily routines a challenge. | Wood-look porcelain floor tiles nod to the home’s wooded location. Recessed and task lighting keep things bright. |
Bath Design & Contracting: Shannon Embly, lead designer, Slate Design & Remodel, Chantilly, Virginia. Photography: BTW Images.
