Fresh from a stint living in Palo Alto where she was surrounded by modernist spaces, designer Raji Radhakrishnan of Raji RM & Associates was standing amidst the grandeur of Versailles on holiday when an idea struck her. “I was in a moment of flux about classical versus modern design,” she recalls. She imagined juxtaposing a grand, classical room with modern furnishings—but how to recreate the sumptuousness that characterizes those Old World European spaces?
Her own photographs supplied the answer. “It was the details I had captured in the ceiling frescoes and paintings on the walls,” Radhakrishnan reveals. “I realized I could blow up these photographs almost to room size to create classical backdrops.”
Thus, Raji RM Murals was born. The collection currently comprises 17 classical scenes—whittled down by the DC designer from hundreds of digital photographs and adjusted for light, shadows, color, cropping and content. The room-sized images are printed on panels and installed by a wallpaper hanger. Says Radhakrishnan, “The interplay between styles tells a new story, evoking the best of history and modern life.” rajirm.com
“My clients purchased their home in Northwest DC, then hired me to overhaul the traditional rooms in fresh, kid-friendly and transitional style,” says Erin Paige Pitts. “The dining room was an important component because it connects to the living room, kitchen and family room, which makes it a hallway of sorts. Even though we wanted to be able to seat 10 to 12 at the dining table with extensions, we had to keep the flow open.”
| Then | Now |
| The dining room was dark and drab, with deep-red walls and not much natural light. The centrally located space connecting other main-floor rooms needed to make an impact. | Pitts enlivened the dark room with a strong shot of color “to make it memorable,” she says. Sherwin Williams’ turquoise-blue Open Seas inspired the color palette in the adjoining rooms. |
| Boring, dark-stained furniture contributed to the feeling of stodginess, as did a classic Oriental rug with strong primary colors. | Pitts exchanged wood-framed dining chairs for light velvet-upholstered seating by Mr. & Mrs. Howard for Sherrill. A creamy Kravet rug now covers the floor, with matching drapes in Romo fabric. |
| The room had no stand-out features. | Original artwork, including an abstract canvas by Deborah Barlow, adds interest. A Currey & Company chandelier imparts sparkle. |
Interior Design: Erin Paige Pitts, Erin Paige Pitts Interiors, Annapolis, Maryland.
When a Georgetown homeowner enlisted Christopher Boutlier to guide the redesign of her newly purchased vintage row house, the project began as a simple paint job. As is often the case, however, the scope of work grew until Boutlier found himself overseeing a whole-house makeover in bold, contemporary style.
“My client had lived in a fussy, overdone space for years and was ready for something new,” he relates. “I said, ‘let’s paint everything white’—and it snowballed from there. We started with a paring-down process, stripping the baseboards and adding a modern staircase.”
Boutlier envisioned a black-and-white palette, which his client embraced. “I think I brought out the minimalist in her,” he quips. A stacked-stone fireplace replaced a traditional one in the living room, while strongly veined Statuario marble backsplash and countertops direct attention away from traditional kitchen cabinetry, now painted white. In the master bath, large-format porcelain tile clads the floor and shower enclosure. Clean-lined furnishings combine white upholstery with dark-stained wood pieces. Bold, abstract artwork chosen by the homeowner pops on the walls. Pine floors throughout the house are stained dark.
A defining element in the home is a lush living wall rising from the dining area to the master bath above it. Installed by the previous owner, it experienced a rebirth in the hands of Boutlier and his client, who replaced its ferns and small sculptures with greenery that seems to burst out into the room. “We thought about putting it behind glass,” Boutlier says, “but there is something nice about being able to touch and interact with it.”
Interior Decoration: Christopher Boutlier, Allied ASID, Christopher Boutlier, LLC, Washington, DC. Contractor: Vicente Pro Handyman LLC, Arlington, Virginia.
How do you make a monochromatic space sing?
The key is tonal variations. The space should be quiet and restrained, but layered and complex. Form is also really important. Color brings visual interest and can make clumsy or uninteresting shapes and proportions acceptable; without it, if things aren’t scaled correctly, you’ll notice instantly.
Describe a design shift that you favor.
I love highly patterned and dramatic stone. It’s been plain white marble for so long, it’s nice to see people branching out.
What is your furniture-selection process?
It’s form, color, pattern, then texture. We create a furniture plan with design boards that show us how pieces interact. Then we move on to rugs and fabrics, then accessories and accents to finish off the design.
Advice for clients embarking on a design project?
Be bold and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Fear is the antithesis of creativity. Besides, most things are fixable. I think it’s better to make mistakes than to play it safe.
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ARCHITECT
Wouter Boer, AIA
Jones & Boer Architects
Washington, DC
jonesboer.com
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INTERIOR DESIGNER
Jodi Macklin
Jodi Macklin Interior Design
Chevy Chase, Maryland
jodimacklin.com
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LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT
Kevin Campion, ASLA
Campion Hruby Landscape Architects
Annapolis, Maryland
campionhruby.com
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INTERIOR DESIGN FIRM
Zoë Feldman Design
Washington, DC
zoefeldmandesign.com
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CUSTOM BUILDER
Bayview Builders
Annapolis, Maryland
bayviewbuildersmd.com
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KITCHEN DESIGN FIRM
KONST SieMatic
Bethesda, Maryland
konstsiematic.com
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LANDSCAPE DESIGN FIRM
Jennifer Horn Landscape Architecture
Arlington, Virginia
jh-la.com
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ARCHITECTURE FIRM
WCRA
Chantilly, Virginia
wcralston.com
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DESIGN/BUILD FIRM
Joy Design + Build
McLean, Virginia
joycustom.com
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APPLIANCES
ABW Appliances
Area locations
abwappliances.com
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ART RESOURCE
Merritt Gallery & Renaissance Fine Arts
Baltimore & Chevy Chase, Maryland
merrittgallery.com
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ARTISAN
Mersoa
Gaithersburg, Maryland
mersoa.com
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ARTISAN FURNITURE
Niermann Weeks
Millersville, Maryland
niermannweeks.com
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ARTISAN METALWORKS
Gutierrez Studios
Baltimore, Maryland
gutierrezstudios.com
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CARPET & FLOORING
Stark Carpet
Washington Design Center
starkcarpet.com
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CUSTOM CLOSETS
California Closets
Washington, DC & Chantilly, Virginia
californiaclosets.com
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FABRIC & WALL COVERINGS
Schumacher
Washington Design Center
fschumacher.com
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FINE FURNITURE
Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams
Washington, DC & Tysons Corner, Virginia
mgbw.com
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LIGHTING
Circa Lighting
Cady’s Alley, Washington, DC
circalighting.com
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HARDWARE
Push Pull Decorative Hardware
North Bethesda, Maryland
pushpullhardware.com
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HOME TECHNOLOGY
Integrated Media Systems
Ashburn, Virginia
imsva.com
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TILE SURFACES
Architectural Ceramics
Area locations
architecturalceramics.com
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WINDOW TREATMENTS—(tie)
Gretchen Everett
Silver Spring, Maryland
gretcheneverett.com
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WINDOW TREATMENTS—(tie)
Rockville Interiors
Rockville, Maryland
rockvilleinteriors.com
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Custom-building projects come to life when an architect designs a house, bids to contractors and the one chosen builds it. In a custom-building project, the architect’s design will reflect the aesthetic you want and adapt your home to your needs.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN AN ARCHITECT
Your architect should be licensed by the state, which means he or she has worked under a licensed architect and passed exams. In Maryland, DC and Virginia, you must be licensed to call yourself an architect; without a license, you’re an architectural designer. An architect can belong to the AIA without being licensed.
A STRONG TEAM—A good relationship between architect and builder will ensure you get the house you want. If you hire an architect, select a contractor who works with architects; in a design-build firm, the contractor is also a designer, which can make the architect a third wheel.
ESSENTIAL CHEMISTRY—This process is long and can be emotionally loaded. Your architect should buy into your vision. Clients should be part of the design team.
COST CONSIDERATIONS
DURING CONSTRUCTION—Most important of all: Include the architect in the construction process. This will ensure every decision reflects the design intent. The architect is your ally during construction. He or she will make life easier and may eliminate costly mistakes.
Devin Kimmel, AIA, ASLA, designed a curved iron-and-oak staircase as a focal point in a modern home in Annapolis. Builder: Lynbrook of Annapolis.
“Systems such as geothermal heating/cooling, energy-recovery ventilation and daylight sensors appeal to buyers because they measurably reduce the home’s operating cost.”
—JOHN HELTZEL, AIA, John F. Heltzel, AIA
“We had to sign a waiver before entering, and you could see the sky from inside in places,” recalls architect Anne Decker of the fire-damaged, circa-1889 Queen Anne Victorian she was hired to restore in Chevy Chase’s Somerset neighborhood. “The home is on Maryland’s National Registry of Historic Places and can’t be torn down, so you’d have to be an old-house lover to buy it. Luckily, our clients were.”
| Then | Now |
| The house was literally falling down. It had been empty for 20 years following a fire that destroyed its whole rear section—about a third of the structure. | David J. Brown Construction restored the existing house, which contains the kids’ bedrooms and a music room. |
| Measuring only about 24-by-24 feet, the original house was too small for a growing family. | Architect Anne Decker’s design more than doubled the square footage with a two-and-a-half-story addition that is virtually hidden from the street. New roof lines mimic the original for continuity. |
| The existing façade, roof and architectural detailing were too dilapidated to be repaired. | The design team replaced original clapboard and added slate roofing on the new and old sections. |
Renovation Architecture: Anne Y. Decker, AIA, Anne Decker Architects LLC, Bethesda, Maryland Contractor: David J. Brown Construction Co., Cabin John, Maryland.
When it came time to design the basement of a custom home in Garrett Park, GTM Architects and builder Pat Keating of PKK Builders—who owns the home—pulled out all the stops. In addition to a rec room, guest quarters and a home office, the finished lower level features a gym and a workshop—both distinguished by a stripped-down, industrial aesthetic that Keating wanted but that “we couldn’t get away with in the main living spaces,” he notes.
GTM’s Luke Olson adds, “Pat was looking for cost-effective ways to provide added details, so rather than hanging drywall in the gym, we left the ceiling joists exposed. Clear-coat plywood walls mount equipment and hardware and the wood creates a connection to the outdoors.” Metal-framed ash barn doors close off the gym.
The workshop nods to the methods and materials used on the house, with walls clad in corrugated metal wainscoting and wood panels salvaged from pallets on site. The concrete floor is coated with non-slip epoxy. Like much in the streamlined space, says Olson, “it’s purely for function.”
Captivated by an Alexandria property perched above the Potomac River, a couple bought the lot and tapped Joanna Schmickel of cox graae + spack architects to renovate the house already on the site. As often happens, the redesign morphed into a decision to raze the dwelling and start fresh. The owners envisioned an abode that would do justice to the panoramic views while harkening back to an old stone house they had lived in—and loved—previously. “The husband likes rustic while the wife is crisp and modern,” Schmickel relates. “The goal was to blend their styles and make the house about the way they live.”
Working with Horizon Builders, the architect created a simple, 5,000-square-foot gabled structure clad in stone and infused with a modern aesthetic. “A mahogany hyphen links the two stone volumes, reappearing as a single-story mahogany box at one end that houses the breakfast room,” explains Schmickel. The main floor encompasses a luxe kitchen as the wife loves to cook and entertain; a dining/living area with a custom stone fireplace; a foyer featuring sculptural steel stairs; a spacious study; and a guest suite. The second floor houses the master suite while a home gym, additional guest quarters and a catering pantry are on the lower level.
Expansive window walls take in views from the back of the house, while oversized windows sound a modern note on the traditional front façade.
Seven outdoor living spaces bring the homeowners even closer to nature, including several stone terraces, a dining patio off the breakfast room, a balcony off the master suite and a rooftop terrace above the breakfast room.
Architecture: Joanna Schmickel, AIA, LEED AP, principal, cox graae + spack architects, Washington, DC. Contractor: Horizon Builders, Annapolis, Maryland. Kitchen Design: St. Charles New York, New York, New York. Landscape Architecture: Jordan Honeyman Landscape Architecture LLC, Washington, DC. Photography: Christopher Ambridge.
Barbara Hawthorn Interiors, Ltd., is known for livable designs that use classic elements in beautiful, innovative ways. The firm’s expertise and insight ensures the best possible results.
Describe your philosophy.
We make the experience fun while applying rigorous attention to detail. Our spaces, from historic to contemporary, are functional, harmonious and sophisticated.
What sets your firm apart?
Clients come to us for one-of-a-kind rooms. Principal Barbara Hawthorn’s experience in the arts allows her to advise clients wanting to develop their own art collection.
What makes a successful project?
Open communication and a strong collaboration with the contractors and artisans who help bring clients’ vision to life.
Barbara Hawthorn Interiors, Ltd.
703-241-5588
barbarahawthorninteriors.com
Design is not just about beautiful spaces, it’s about the challenges that arise and how we deal with them, notes Bonnie Ammon, who brings 15 years of design experience to the table—and 20 years in finance. This powerful combination allows BAI to provide clients with the most cost-effective approach to achieving their dream homes.
Ammon was inspired to become a designer “by the happy feeling I’d have when I entered a room I loved,” she recounts. “I wanted to create interiors that evoke those happy emotions.” She and her staff of three complete eight projects a year, working comfortably in any style. Says Ammon, “A well-designed home speaks volumes when it reflects the people who live there, surrounded with the things they love.”
Bonnie Ammon Interiors
18571 Norborne Ct, Leesburg, VA 20176
703-778-5755
bonnieammoninteriors.com
The owners of a traditional Bethesda home wished to convert their kid-oriented family room into a space that adults could enjoy. After creating a kids playroom in the basement, they tapped Byron Risdon to redesign the family room in comfortable yet chic style.
Because the room is long and narrow, Risdon created two separate but cohesive seating areas. He painted, installed new flooring and redesigned the fireplace and surround. “I got some pushback on painting everything—walls, trim, windows and fireplace—the same color,” he recalls. “But the owners were pleasantly surprised at how calming the space became.” He also selected lighting, window treatments, art—and durable furniture. Says Risdon, “It’s still a place for the whole family to enjoy.”
Byron Risdon LlC
27 Franklin St NE, Washington, DC 20002
202-798-1135
byronrisdon.com
Photos: Stacy Zarin Goldberg
Clients with a modern vacation retreat in Bethany Beach turned to Interior Concepts to create a sleek, family-friendly getaway that would be a departure from their traditional-style main residence. Working with architectural challenges that included unusual ceiling angles and large expanses of glass, principal Arlene Critzos along with Joyce Pearl and Samantha Sopp-Wittwer conceived a minimalist interior envelope detailed with organic tile, sculptural lighting and whimsical pops of vivid color through dynamic modern art. Functional built-ins maximize sleeping space for the couple’s teenagers. “This is an unexpected interior for a home just one block from the ocean,” Critzos observes. “The location and architecture allow for ocean breezes and natural light, all perfect for a vacation environment.”
Interior Concepts, Inc.
2560 Riva Road Annapolis, MD 21401
410-224-7366
interiorconceptsinc.com
Instagram: @interiorconceptsinc
David Cochran, who has been a portrait artist for over 30 years, takes an unusual approach to his craft. His acrylic-on-canvas works depict families in paintings combining from six to 20 portraits measuring three to 10 feet in width. “I don’t paint from live sittings but use client snapshots as my resource,” Cochran says. “A candid photo will capture a genuine smile, which can reveal a person’s true personality.” He only needs one good face shot of each subject to do his work.
Personalized backdrops, from a childhood home to a memorable vacation spot, enhance each portrait’s meaning. Clues to a subject’s life are incorporated, including t-shirts, school logos or jewelry. Beloved pets, past and present, are often featured as well as multi-generational images. Observes Cochran, “Clients tell me they never feel alone in a room with my family portraits.”
Cochran Studios
703-684-7855
davidcochran.com
Unique by Ruth redesigns furniture and kitchen cabinets to create a stylish, one-of-a-kind look. “We give clients the opportunity to tailor their own pieces,” relates owner Ruth Gamarra. “They can choose any color or finish, which makes us an innovative option in the market.”
Most clients are looking to modernize their old furniture; Gamarra and her team employ an incredible range of finishes, from elegant matte to high quality gloss lacquers and stains.
Adding new legs, new hardware, fabric or even wallpaper are just a few of the customizable touches they love to deliver.
Refinishing kitchen cabinetry is a big component of the business. “The demand for professionally executed finishes from our cabinet companies, our designers, discerning clients is big in today’s market,” Ruth observes. “Custom colors have become very popular.” Unique by Ruth is able to complete most cabinetry projects in only four or five days, so clients can have a whole new kitchen in less than a week. Says Gamarra, “The priority is making sure we’ve filled all the customer’s expectations.”
Unique by Ruth
12266 Wilkins Ave. Suite L
Rockville, MD 20852
uniquebyruth.com
A couple with a large family in Centreville, Virginia, wished to better utilize their flat, featureless backyard. They turned to senior landscape designer Mike Convery of McHale Landscape Design to create an expansive garden space that would extend the outdoor season and offer plenty of options for gathering.
The project centers on a versatile cedar pavilion off the back of the property that complements the home’s Colonial-style architecture while reflecting the rustic, wooded abode. The pavilion features an integrated kitchen and bar complete with a grill and exhaust hood, commercial icemaker, double refrigerator and custom cabinetry topped with granite. A large quarried-stone fireplace and natural-gas, lantern-style heaters warm the space into the cooler months, while an attached pergola provides additional seating.
McHale Landscape Design, Inc.
6212 Leapley Road, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772
301-599-8300
mchalelandscape.com
