Home & Design

Case Study Remodeling A Potomac couple called on Anthony Wilder Design/Build to expand their traditional abode with a porch and deck in contrasting modern style. “The goal was a room for all seasons that would feel different from the rest of the house,” says project architect Marian Vaias.

She and her team designed an industrial-chic porch that spills out onto a deck through a glass-framed garage door. Conceived by Wilder designer Steve Spohr, the garage door slides open above floating ceiling beams, from which lights and fans are suspended. Removable windows and casements keep breezes flowing in the warmer months while sheltering against the elements. Radiant heating under porcelain-tile floors adds warmth.

One side of the porch opens to the deck, which boasts a linear gas fire pit. On the other side of the porch, a covered grilling station complete with gas lines and an exterior-grade range hood enables the owners to cook outdoors all year round.

Designer Shannon Kadwell selected finishes that convey an industrial edge, from wood beams and window frames painted to look like steel to matching dark-painted aluminum garage-door frames. The addition is clad in tongue-and-groove cedar, treated to retain its hue. The deck is cedar with cable railings and a pressure-treated wood floor stained to look like cedar.

Designer Keira St. Claire-Bowery furnished the addition with a custom dining table, Lee Industries chairs and a woven armchair by Palecek. Gloster seating surrounds the fire pit, and all furniture is upholstered in Perennials outdoor fabric. LED lights illuminate the railings and stairs, which lead to a flagstone patio.

Addition Architecture & Contracting: Marian M. Vaias, AIA; Interior Design: Shannon Kadwell, CMKBD, Allied ASID; Keira St. Claire-Bowery, Allied ASID, Anthony Wilder Design/Build, Cabin John, Maryland. Landscape Design: Rossen Landscape, Sterling, Virginia. Photography: John Cole.

Marian Vaias’s Trade Secrets

  • When building a porch addition, consider how you will use it. Is it just for family or will you be entertaining? Will you spend time there year-round?
  • Airflow is very important. Do you want to include operable windows? Where will the doors be located? What about ceiling fans? A heated floor will allow for use during colder months.
  • When locating a porch addition, keep in mind the impact it will have on available light in the house. We often enlarge doors to the interiors and add skylights to compensate for the loss of light inside.
  • The porch ceiling should be as high as possible; this will make the space lighter and airier.

Case Study Kitchen + Bath A couple building a custom home in Arlington turned to Studio Snaidero DC Metro to create a warm, contemporary-style kitchen with plenty of storage and space for a family of five. The open plan encompasses the kitchen’s work area, centered around an island, and a pantry tucked behind it that opens into the airy breakfast room.

Working with Snaidero’s Shawna Dillon, the wife—who designed the home’s interiors herself—opted for flat-fronted white cabinetry punctuated by rustic, gray-stained oak modules that prevent the space from looking too stark.

“The challenge was to provide solutions for cooking and food-storage needs while maintaining an open, streamlined feel,” says Dillon, who supplied storage in the pantry, breakfast area and island to ensure surfaces would remain uncluttered.

Silestone countertops and a complementary backsplash in Nara Basic Blanco tile from Porcelanosa keep the room crisp and bright. A niche in the work area contains a Miele gas cooktop and oven, while the Best hood maintains a low profile tucked within the niche’s ceiling. A paneled Sub-Zero column fridge is concealed in the wall of cabinetry to one side, between the Miele microwave and convection ovens.

To suit the husband’s more traditional sensibilities, Dillon selected glass-globe pendants over the island. In the breakfast area, an inset, exposed-wood ceiling is treated in rustic style and paired with an ultra-modern Moooi pendant. Calligaris counter stools, Eames-style chairs and a Saarinen Tulip Table from Design Within Reach enhance the contemporary vibe.

Architecture: Devereaux & Associates, McLean, Virginia. Kitchen Design: Shawna Dillon, NCIDQ, ASID, Studio Snaidero DC Metro, Alexandria, Virginia. Builder: Great Jones Developments, McLean, Virginia. Photography: Jennifer Hughes.

Shawna Dillon’s Trade Secrets

  • Using the same product lines for all the rooms will help ensure that everything wears at about the same rate.
  • Varying finish options can help make the budget work across several rooms. For instance, a high-gloss lacquer can be combined with a more cost-effective gloss laminate.
  • Show your designer your aesthetic using images. Discuss what does and does not work in your existing kitchen.
  • The most successful projects happen when the client and designer collaborate closely. This partnership guarantees a space customized specifically for your needs/desires while taking advantage of your designer’s expertise.

Drawing Board Interior Design Homeowners in Baltimore County hired Stephanie Gamble to update the interiors of their abode, a task that included revamping the lackluster living room. Gamble created “a very clean, modern, yet classic space,” she says, where her clients could entertain family and friends.

Then Now
The living room was forgettable, with dilapidated floors and a lack of architectural detail. The ineffective recessed lighting made the room dim. Gamble refinished the floors and painted the walls light beige, punctuated by cream-colored trim. Draperies allow for maximum light.
Despite the fireplace, with its boring surround, the room felt like it needed a focal point. The fireplace wall provides a strong focal point, with a new surround embellished with crisp molding and a dramatic painting above it by Michael Carson.
In its previous iteration, the room was informal, which didn’t fit the owners’ vision of it as a space for entertaining. Simple but elegant furnishings include a Thibaut sofa and Hickory Chair chairs. Hickory White cabinets flank the fireplace; cream-painted interiors lighten them visually.

 

Interior Design: Stephanie Gamble, Stephanie Gamble Interiors, Baltimore, Maryland. Photography: Jennifer Hughes.

Drawing Board Audio/Video + LightingAfter severe flooding destroyed a McLean, Virginia, basement—including a home theater designed by Integrated Media Systems in 2005—the owners decided to overhaul the space. IMS reconstructed and updated the theater area, collaborating with designer Barry Dixon, who selected its elegant furniture and finishes.

Then Now
The theater was state-of-the-art for 2005 but needed its audio/video systems upgraded for today’s technology. The new A/V package allows for ultra high-definition resolution and audio-encoding formats. The system is integrated with the existing whole-house Savant Control System, operated via iPad.
The projector was ruined and other components had to be removed and reinstalled later. IMS installed a new Sony receiver and video projector. Undamaged components, including the speakers and screen, were reinstalled.
Theater-style seating limited the room’s functionality. The owners wanted a space that would feel more like a regular room, decorated in a timeless, inviting style. Barry Dixon created a multi-purpose area with Tomlinson sofas of his own design and swivel chairs from Coup D’Etat. Phillip Jeffries grasscloth on walls and ceiling define the space, lit by Apparatus sconces.

 

Home Automation: Tom Wells, Integrated Media Systems, Sterling, Virginia. Interior Design: Barry Dixon, Barry Dixon, Inc., Warrenton, Virginia. Photography: Bob Narod.

Drawing Board Landscaping While renovating their home, a McLean couple tapped McHale Landscape Design to transform their lackluster yard into an inviting outdoor environment where they could entertain family and friends. The elaborate master plan included a complete overhaul of the front entry.

Then Now
A steep slope from right to left caused drainage problems and an uneven appearance. A cut-and-fill project leveled the front yard while a new drainage system manages stormwater.
Mundane azaleas blocked the front entry—and served as deer food. A new flagstone arrival circle complements the home’s entry portico and welcomes guests in style.
The spare, nondescript plant palette did not provide a succession of color or textural variation. Masses of annuals and perennials, along with blooming crape myrtle, create year-round color and interest.
A barren lawn was a “wasteland” in front of the house. Flagstone pavers set into the turf forge an informal connection to the street.

 

Landscape Design: Phil Kelly, McHale Landscape Design, Upper Marlboro, Maryland. Photography: John Spaulding.

Drawing Board Kitchen + Bath The new owners of a home in McLean sought to upgrade their master bath, which was dated, dark and cramped. They turned to Case Design/Remodeling to transform the awkward space into a modern, spacious and airy retreat.

Then Now
The bath was narrow with all of its components crammed together. An old built-in tub was wedged into a small space at one end of the room. The design team borrowed space from a wet bar and closet in the adjacent master bedroom to enlarge the bath. A roomy shower occupies the once-cramped space that housed the tub.
A dark wood vanity didn’t offer much in the way of storage or useful surface area. Twin Ronbow vanities provide storage while a Jacuzzi soaking tub creates a focal point.
Dark wood and dingy reddish-brown tiles made the whole room look dim, despite skylights. White vanities, marble tops, and pale, wood-look porcelain floors are light and airy. A stacked-quartzite veneer on the wall behind the tub adds interest.

 

Renovation Design: Jim Wrenn, project developer; Loren Sanders, project manager; Kevin Shore, CKBD, architectural designer; Elena Eskandari, CKBD, Allied ASID, bath designer, Case Design/Remodeling, Inc., Bethesda, Maryland, Falls Church, Virginia, and Washington, DC. Photography: Stacy Zarin Goldberg.

Drawing Board Floors + Windows + Doors The owners of a mundane 1960s split-level in Silver Spring hired architect Bruce Wentworth to refresh its uninspired front façade and introduce a modern look. A commanding front entry, new windows and an attractive two-car garage realized the changes his clients were looking for.

Then Now
A front entry with a small overhang and nondescript front door was easy to overlook. A projecting front porch is delineated by stucco cladding and framed by the wood, brick and stone of the rest of the house. A bold red entry door and sidelite capture attention.
A ramshackle-looking carport was an unappealing appendage on the side of the house. A two-car garage with cedar doors is a vast improvement. Wentworth balanced the garage visually by also cladding the other end of the home in cedar.
A small, dated picture window to the left of the front entry was flanked by double-hung windows. Four large windows replaced the smaller original windows beside the door, conveying a modern vibe. All the window frames are now painted black.

 

Renovation Architecture & Construction: Bruce Wentworth, AIA, Wentworth Studio, Chevy Chase, Maryland. Photography: Morgan Howarth.

Drawing Board Closets + Organized Spaces The owners of a Georgetown condo wanted to brighten and modernize its dark spaces while adding functionality and efficient storage throughout. They hired Boffi Georgetown to overhaul the kitchen and bathrooms and to replace inadequate closets—including the one in the front hall.

Then Now
The hall closet was set into a drywall frame with doors that folded back. The design was inconvenient for accessing the closet’s contents. The finished project features a streamlined closet system built without a drywall frame. The doors open easily, while interior shelving caters to the owners’ specific needs.
Traditional design elements like moldings and expanses of drywall looked stodgy. The new closet system replaces moldings with reveals at the top and bottom of the closet, wrapping around the side at the top to create a decorative feature.
Dark-stained wood floors and red-painted closet doors made the front hall feel dark and dated. White-painted cabinetry and off-white, cement-look porcelain-tile floors keep the convo light and bright with a sleek, contemporary aesthetic.

 

Closet Design & Fabrication: Julia Walter, Boffi Georgetown, Washington, DC. Photography: Angie Seckinger.

Drawing Board Remodeling Homeowners who purchased a dated split-level in Vienna tapped Gyan Manu of the design/build firm G. Manu & Associates to overhaul the interiors and create a visually appealing exterior using natural building materials and a clean, modern aesthetic.

Then Now
A nondescript brick façade and traditional windows and shutters made the house look faded and boring. A porch area wide enough for a bench draws the eye to the new, modern front door, which is painted an eye-catching brick hue.
A ramshackle carport was an eyesore, offering little storage space and only accommodating a single car. The brick has been covered in stucco, painted in two colors for contrast. Panels of Western red cedar accent the corners of the left volume. Sleek, modern windows add to the clean-lined look.
The house offered no sense of arrival, with a mundane front door that seemed to blend into the front façade. A two-car garage with frosted-glass doors replaced the carport. The roofline is enlivened by the addition of a second-story master suite.

 

Renovation Architecture & Contracting: Gyan Manu, Associate AIA, NCARB, G. Manu & Associates, Falls Church, Virginia. Photography: Jason Flakes.

Drawing Board Architecture + Custom Building Homeowners with a cramped, dated abode hired Broadhurst Architects to redesign the kitchen and add on a third floor to accommodate visiting family members. They also requested an exterior makeover so the home would blend in with its upscale, traditional neighborhood.

Then Now
The kitchen was too small and needed an overhaul. There was no side entry from the driveway, making it inconvenient to bring in groceries, etc. An attractive addition enlarged the kitchen and created a side entry. It conveys the impression of an existing porch that was later enclosed—similar to other houses in the neighborhood.
The squat, gambrel roofline stuck out in a neighborhood of classic, colonial-style homes. A third-floor addition replaced the dated roof. The new, gabled roofline harmonizes with its setting.
A nondescript front entry and dull brick façade meant the house had no street presence. A front portico provides a commanding entry to the brick-and-clapboard home, which has been uniformly painted white with traditional dark-green shutters.

 

Renovation Architecture: Jeffery Broadhurst, AIA, Broadhurst Architects, Rockville, Maryland. Builder: O’Neill Development, Gaithersburg, Maryland. Photography: Anice Hoachlander.

2018 Designers’ Choice Awards Each year, Home & Design polls hundreds of area professionals regarding their picks for leaders in the innovative, ever-evolving home-design industry—and requests their votes of confidence in rising stars on the local scene. We also ask architects and designers to choose their favorite industry resources, in categories ranging from audio/video and appliance showrooms to lighting dealers and art galleries. The following pages cover the complete survey results for 2018.


Hall of fame

Architects

Janet Bloomberg, AIA,  Richard Loosle-Ortega, RA

Kube Architecture
Washington, DC; kube-arch.com

 

Interior Designer

Patrick Sutton

Patrick Sutton
Baltimore, Maryland; patricksutton.com

 

Landscape Architect

Michael Prokopchak, ASLA

Walnut Hill Landscape Company

Annapolis, Maryland;  walnuthilllandscape.com

 

 


 

Architecture Firm

this award category was a tie between

Mark Sullenberger, AIA

Custom Design Concepts Architecture + Design

McLean, Virginia; cdcarch.com and  Neal Thomson, AIA,  Patrick Cooke, AIA,

and

Thomson & Cooke Architects

Washington, DC; thomsoncooke.com

 

Up & Coming Architect

Jon Hensley, AIA, LEED AP

Jon Hensley Architects, Arlington, Virginia; jonhensleyarchitects.com

 

Up & Coming  Interior Designer

Quintece Hill-Mattauszek

Studio Q, Alexandria, Virginia;  studioqdesigns.com  Landscape FirM

McHale Landscape Design

Upper Marlboro, Maryland;  mchalelandscape.com

 

Kitchen Design Firm

Lobkovich Kitchen Designs

Tysons Corner, Virginia;  lobkovich.com

 

Custom Builder

Thorsen Construction

Alexandria and Warrenton;  thorsenconstruction.us

 

Design/Build Firm

BOWA

McLean and Middleburg; bowa.com

Craftsman

Potomac Woodwork, LLC

Gaithersburg, Maryland;  potomacwoodwork.com

 


Industry Awards

Art Resource

Torpedo Factory Art Center

Alexandria, Virginia; torpedofactory.org

 

Carpet

Stark

Washington, DC;  starkcarpet.com

 

Custom Closets

California Closets

Area locations; californiaclosets.com

 

Decorative Accessories

Gretchen Everett

Silver Spring, Maryland;  gretcheneverett.com

 

Fabrics & Wall Coverings

Schumacher

Washington, DC; fschumacher.com

 

Fine Furniture

Roche Bobois

Washington, DC; roche-bobois.com

 

Home Technology

A.B.E. Networks

Silver Spring, Maryland;  abenetworks.com

 

Kitchen/Bath  Appliances & Fixtures

Ferguson

Area locations; ferguson.com

 

Lighting

Circa Lighting

Washington, DC; circalighting.com

 

Tile & Flooring

Architectural Ceramics

Area locations;  architecturalceramics.com

Rooms We Love Bathroom A couple building a custom home on the James River in Williamsburg enlisted Atlanta-based kitchen-and-bath designer Shirley McFarlane, who had worked with them on previous projects, to collaborate on their sprawling new riverfront abode—which would include a luxurious master-bath retreat boasting a stunning river view.

“We spent a year in the planning stages,” McFarlane recounts. “They had a very strong vision for space.” At the top of the owners’ extensive wish list was contemporary hanging cabinetry with clean, spare lines; a sculptural statement tub sited in front of a window wall with the expansive water view beyond; and a light, airy feel.

“It was a fun challenge to figure out how to make space work,” says McFarlane, who designed glass enclosures for the shower and WC that enhance the sense of openness in the space. A passageway between the enclosures leads to the closet. For the sake of privacy, the glass surrounding the WC is frosted.
Cabinetry from Premier Custom Built is made of fumed, quartered eucalyptus wood with a high-gloss, exotic-wood veneer. It flanks the door to the bedroom, with open shelving and storage on one side and his-and-her sinks and a makeup table on the other.

Classic Calacatta Gold marble tile was used on the floors and in the shower to soften the bathroom’s contemporary lines. A mosaic pattern from New Ravenna on the floor mimics an area rug, while heavily veined marble distinguishes the shower enclosure. Calacatta Manhattan marble tops the cabinet surfaces.

Sinks by Lacava and a Victoria & Albert soaking tub are paired with sleek Dornbracht faucets. Sconces by Hudson Valley Lighting provide a transitional touch.


Architectural Design: Carroll W. Johnson, Residential Designs, Ltd., Chesapeake, Virginia. Bath Design: Shirley McFarlane, CKD, McFarlane Design, Inc., Atlanta, Georgia. Builder: Butch Palmer, Palmer & Co., Williamsburg, Virginia. Photography: Tony Giammarino.

See More Rooms We Love:

Living Room

Dining Room

Kitchen

Bedroom

Rooms We Love Bedroom When designer Erika Bonnell was enlisted to overhaul the interiors of an Oakton, Virginia, home, her task included very specific instructions for the master bedroom. “The wife is obsessed with Lisa Vanderpump,” Bonnell recounts. She wanted a bedroom in the style of “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills”—one that would exude femininity and romance. Fortunately, the husband was on board with this directive. “He just wanted function and comfort,” observes the designer.

Bonnell started out by researching the popular TV personality’s home. At her client’s request, she selected soft rose for the walls—a Benjamin Moore hue called Pleasant Pink. A plush wall-to-wall carpet in pale gray serves as a neutral foil, while a shiny silver-leaf treatment by Twin Diamond Studios on the tray ceiling contributes a touch of glam.

Throughout the room, Bonnell employed mirrored surfaces, crystal pieces and soft, billowy fabrics in creamy white and light gray. A tufted Vanguard bedstead upholstered in white Kravet velvet sets the stage, with bedding by Matouk. At the foot of the bed, a Hickory Chair bench covered in Kravet fabric gives off a subtle sheen. Twin John-Richard nightstands with mirrored fronts hold Bradburn Gallery table lamps with pink ceramic bases. Above, a brass-and-crystal chandelier by Visual Comfort makes a grand statement.

A seating alcove, which opens out to a balcony, holds a pair of elegant armchairs from Oly drawn up to a Worlds Away coffee table. Existing built-ins painted lustrous white are adorned with decorative items and flank an inviting window seat. A busy mother of young kids, the wife “wanted an escape,” Bonnell notes. “She asked for space where she could go in and close the door, that would make her feel special and glamorous. So that’s what we gave her.”


Interior Design: Erika Bonnell, Erika Bonnell Interiors, Haymarket, Virginia. Photography: Stacy Zarin Goldberg.

See More Rooms We Love:

Living Room

Dining Room

Kitchen

Bathroom

Rooms We Love Kitchen A McLean family tapped architect Mark Sullenberger to design a home that would blend an Old World aesthetic with their modern lifestyle. Builder Patrick Latessa collaborated with designer Kristin Peake to bring the design to life—including a kitchen that beautifully reflects that special blend of old and new.

Latessa added charm and character by embellishing the vaulted ceiling above the kitchen and the dome over the breakfast area with salvaged-oak beams. “They are hand-hewn, rough-cut wood with a rustic sensibility,” observes Peake. “They connect the two areas of the kitchen visually.” The floor, made of reclaimed antique limestone sourced from France, contributes to the Old World feel.

Peake worked with Lobkovich Kitchens to select custom white cabinetry and a massive furniture-style island. Counters are of Calacatta marble hand-selected at a quarry in Italy, and a Visual Comfort chandelier made of distressed wood and iron hangs above the island. “It’s elegant without being ostentatious,” Peake explains. “And it’s huge, to complement the island.”

In the octagonal breakfast area, chairs from JANUS et Cie with indoor/outdoor fabric and a custom banquette pull up to a Lillian August table made of wood and metal. A carved-wood chandelier from Currey & Company matches the light-hued furniture.

The wife stressed the importance of hiding clutter, so Latessa created a walk-in pantry for additional storage. Sub-Zero refrigerators, flanking a Rohl sink beneath the window, are paneled, while the Wolf range is paired with a paneled hood to match the cabinets. An adjoining mudroom even keeps the pets’ clutter at bay: Custom cabinets conceal a cat litter box as well as the dog’s water and food bowls.


Architecture: Mark R. Sullenberger, AIA, Custom Design Concepts, McLean, Virginia. Interior Design: Kristin Peake, Kristin Peake Interiors, LLC, Rockville, Maryland. Kitchen Design: J. Paul Lobkovich, Lobkovich Kitchen Designs, Tysons Corner, Virginia. Builder: Patrick Latessa, The Galileo Group, McLean, Virginia. Photography: Geoffrey Hodgdon.

See More Rooms We Love:

Living Room

Dining Room

Bedroom

Bathroom

Rooms We Love Living Room The son of Congressman Jennings Randolph, Frank Babb Randolph grew up in an era when he could jump on a streetcar and explore Washington’s treasures alone. “I haunted the National Gallery,” he recalls, “and had the opportunity to see some of the best houses in Georgetown.”

Decades later, the seasoned designer would express his classicist eye in the design of his own 1959 Georgetown residence. Though he loved the generous proportions of its living room, Randolph “enhanced the woodwork and added tall windows and a center window like Jefferson did at Monticello,” he explains.

Pale gray walls and a muted Odegard carpet created a serene backdrop for a collected-over-time mix of antiques, accessories and modern pieces of Randolph’s design, including a banquette sofa that will be part of a forthcoming collection for David Iatesta. A 19th-century Zuber screen made a bold statement behind the seating arrangement, which Randolph kept “mobilier,” so pieces such as the antique French center table could be moved around as company enjoyed the space.

On one wall, a Niermann Weeks console was flanked by Louis XV chairs covered in eye-catching coral fabric. Niermann Weeks sconces and a David Iatesta mirror hung above.

Randolph, who moved to Kalorama in spring 2017, reminisces about his former living room. “People who visited would say ‘I’d live in this room all the time if I were you.’ Well, I did. It made an impact, despite its subtlety.”


Interior Design: Frank Babb Randolph, Frank Babb Randolph Interiors, Washington, DC. Photography: Max Kim-Bee.

See More Rooms We Love:

Dining Room

Kitchen

Bedroom

Bathroom

Modern Magic For a McLean project currently in the works, AV Architects envisioned a contemporary abode (rendered here) with the retreat-like feel of a vacation home. The 8,000-square-foot structure is sited on a sloping half-acre. “It was a challenge to design on this location with functional, picturesque outdoor spaces in mind,” relates principal Francisca Alonso. Sliding-glass doors will connect the dining room to the front porch, while the stair tower will feature expanses of glass bringing in natural light.

Gray, fiber-cement panels will clad the exterior, with cedar accents on the stair tower and front entrance. “At the base of the house, we’ll use ledger stone,” Alonso says. “We’ll incorporate the same stone in the landscaping and walkways.”

FACTS + STATS
Husband and wife team Francisca Alonso, Associate AIA, and Antonio Alonso, AIA, (above) launched their firm in 2001. Their staff of seven completes between four and eight projects a year. Major renovations start at $400,000 while custom homes start at $1 million.

AV Architects + Builders
9903 Georgetown Pike, Suite 201
Great Falls, VA 22066

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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