While building a custom home on a prominent Vienna lot, clients tapped Alan Blalack of Kane Landscapes to create a landscape plan with both large- and small-scale entertaining in mind. Their wish list included a pool, deck, patio and pavilion, all designed to complement the home’s style and situation.
Blalack and his team demolished existing stone walls and worked around root systems to protect mature oak trees on the property. Storm water runoff requirements were met via substantial remediation efforts. A curved deck breaks up the lines and angles of the house while the pavilion beckons guests poolside. An existing shed at the back of the property was converted into a pool house; it houses a convenient and attractive bathroom.
Kane Landscapes
703-803-3146
kanelandscapes.com
While a custom home by Artisan Builders was under construction in Great Falls, Fine Landscapes, Ltd., was asked to transform the expansive property. Principal Charles Owen conceived a picturesque, Cotswolds-inspired landscape that satisfied the owners’ vision. The plan encompassed a pool, spa and fire pit; and a barn-like pavilion housing a stone fireplace, outdoor kitchen and seating and dining areas.
“The land was sloped and had to be graded to achieve pleasing contours,” recounts Owen. “We created a stair-step plan with tiered gardens integrating the pool and pavilion; the idea was for each level to be less than two feet in elevation.” The swimming pool recalls cisterns found in Europe; at the base of the pool wall, a bocce ball court beckons.
Fine Landscapes, Ltd.
21558 Stonetree Court, Sterling, VA 20166
703-421-7441
finelandscapes.com
Design: Galiani Designs
J. Paul Lobkovich founded Lobkovich Kitchen Designs 20 years ago. Today, he and a staff of eight design 40 to 50 kitchens a year. “An early interest in industrial design led me to architecture, and then to kitchen design,” Lobkovich recalls. “As a trained architect, attention to proportion drives my design philosophy. Proper proportion results in beauty and harmony.”
Members of the design team at Lobkovich Kitchens work collaboratively on projects in a range of styles, listening carefully to clients. The ability to interpret their wishes and develop fresh, unexpected design ideas they can present clearly and concisely is essential. “We enjoy tackling the unknown issues that come up in the course of every project,” says Lobkovich. “It’s what makes our work challenging and interesting”
Lobkovich Kitchen Designs
8000 Towers Crescent Drive, Suite 150, Tysons, Virginia 22182
703-847-0601
lobkovich.com
Photos: Lobkovich Kitchen Designs
Alexandria architect David Peabody only designs green projects—trying, as he says, “to make buildings that are as benign as possible.” So it made sense for an Alexandria couple wanting to build an energy-efficient residence to call him first.
In fact, the electrical engineer and his wife approached Peabody with a request that pushed the sustainability envelope farther than most. “They wanted a zero energy-ready structure that could handle the home’s needs, plus those of one car and a hot tub,” the architect explains. “They wanted to employ passive-house methodology.”
Peabody designed the contemporary structure in cube form—a shape that optimizes surface/volume ratio to lower energy loss. Two sloped, south-facing roofs support ample solar panels, while a central core bisects the cube; high clerestory windows bring ventilation and northern light to the home’s center.
Peabody incorporated a six-inch-thick, exterior insulated finishing system (EIFS) that, he says, “is ideal for passive houses. It can look like traditional stucco, but here it’s panelized for a contemporary look.” A high-pressure laminate rainscreen clads parts of the exterior as a wood-look accent.
Designer Christie Leu collaborated on the home’s modern interiors. “They’re empty-nesters and wanted to be casual,” she explains. The three-story abode boasts wood surfaces with no-VOC finishes—including purple cabinetry that makes a bold statement in the kitchen. Beside a maple-paneled wall, a floating walnut-and-metal staircase occupies the home’s core. In the kitchen/great room, a fireplace wall of flamed- and brushed-basalt tile adds subtle texture. Furnishings selected by Leu blend sleek and organic styles.
Architecture: David Peabody, AIA, LEED AP, Certified Passive House Consultant, Peabody Architects, Alexandria, Virginia. Interior Design: Christie Leu, Christie Leu Interiors, Chevy Chase, Maryland. Builder: O’Neill Development, Gaithersburg, Maryland. Landscape Architecture: Moody Graham, Washington, DC.
How do you orient a passive-energy home?
You should have decent southern exposure and your primary view should not be west-facing, as west-facing windows create too much heat gain.
How does regional climate influence your designs?
Our climate is benign, but it can be extreme. We pay special attention to humidity as well as heating requirements. We aim to spend the same amount
for heating as for cooling.
Can you retrofit a home for sustainability?
The building envelope offers opportunities to improve efficiency. Replace windows, add attic insulation and consider exterior
wall insulation when renovating.
Don’t over-insulate your basement or you’ll lose the benefit of the ground cooling your house.
How do you select a mechanical system?
Most mechanical systems are over-designed so mechanical contractors don’t have to field phone calls on hot summer days. They tend to be inefficient.
You want a contractor who will do
the calculations correctly and design
to the actual loads of the house.
When a couple hailing from a traditional abode in Louisiana moved to a circa-1900 Capitol Hill row house, they tapped Andrea Houck to reimagine its outdated interiors. The owners wished to honor the home’s historic bones while creating a fresh, lively vibe. “The wife loved the charm and was comfortable maintaining the traditional aesthetic,” Houck says. “I was tasked with redecorating the main-floor living and dining rooms.”
A Pierre Frey embroidered-silk pattern of delicate foliage and butterflies provided the jumping-off point for the unexpected design scheme, which layers classic style with airy, feminine overtones. The favored fabric took a front-and-center role as an elaborate, decorative window treatment in the living room. “We pulled colors from that cornerstone textile for other design elements, from the soft lavender-gray hue on the walls to the upholstery and accent fabrics,” Houck recounts.
A faux finish by Billet Collins on the existing fireplace duplicated the original marble, which was damaged. Houck selected a Hickory Chair ottoman in playful Romo cut velvet, while velvet Kravet Couture chairs create a cozy spot by the bay window. Antique demi-lune consoles flank the fireplace.
In the adjacent dining room, Houck took her cues from an existing grass-cloth wall covering that clad the hallway and stairwell nestled between the living and dining rooms. “We decided to keep it and repeat it in the dining room,” explains Houck, who chose a rich, gold Kravet wall covering just like it that adds elegance in the dining room; on an accent wall, the grass cloth is embellished with a tree-of-life pattern that echoes the draperies’ garden theme in similar shades of lavender and green. The fireplace was faux-painted to look like its original mahogany; it complements dark-wood Hickory Chair furnishings that are both stylish and comfortable.
Interior Design: Andrea Houck, A. Houck Designs, Arlington, Virginia.
Whether you’re redoing your current space or simply looking for design inspiration, the process can be as easy as 1, 2...7. Here are seven insights we offer our clients that help make their kitchens both beautiful and functional.
“Make the kitchen accessible to everyone, regardless of age, height or skill level. Work zones, targeted storage, multi-level counters, smart appliances, flexible lighting and wider aisles all bring the family together.”
—Jonas Carnemark, CKD, CLIPP, CARNEMARK design+build
“Current kitchen trends include contrasting colors, finishes and materials. Doors with thin frames, picture-frame bevels and beaded insets are replacing the Shaker style of the last decade.”
—Davida Rodriguez, CKD, Davida’s Kitchen & Tiles
“The most important thing to consider is permanency. You are adding an expensive detail to your home, so it’s essential that built-ins add value to the physical structure. The rest is classic design decision-making. How will the space be used? Are we featuring art and accessories or hiding clutter? Client needs change over time, so versatility is key.”
—Melanie Whittington, Whittington Design Studio
whittingtondesignstudio.com, 703-533-3705
“One of the most important factors is determining what will be stored inside and displayed on the outside. A built-in needs to be beautiful, functional and timeless since it is adding to the architecture of the house.”
—Laura Hildebrandt, IFDA, NKBA, Interiors by LH, LLC
interiorsbylh.com, 571-334-6476
“A built-in should integrate and complement existing architectural details. Avoid designing doors that are too large and cumbersome to open and close easily.”
—Barbara Hawthorn, Barbara Hawthorn Interiors, Ltd.
BarbaraHawthornInteriors.com, 703-241-5588
“The most important things to think about when having custom cabinetry designed and installed are function and aesthetics. If you are paying to have something more custom created, then make sure you are working with someone who can really create or capture that for you. If you are working on a budget but want a more custom look, there are a lot of ways to achieve this through small modifications like hardware or paint.”
—Laura Fox, Laura Fox Interior Design, LLC
laurafoxinteriordesign.com
“Our favorite benefit of built-ins is the way they can make an eyesore in a space, like a bulky soffit, disappear as we blend it seamlessly with a new built-in.”
—Andrea Maaseide, Allied ASID, Studio 320 Interior Design
studio-320.com, 571-459-2136
Bonnie Ammon
Bonnie Ammon Interiors
bonnieammoninteriors.com
703-778-5755
Jamie Merida
Jamie Merida Interiors
jamiemerida.com
410-819-8666
DuVäl Reynolds
DuVäl Design, LLC
duvalreynolds.com
703-989-0521
Sarita Simpson and Jason Claire
Interior Matter
interiormatter.com
202-900-3818
Cathy Purple Cherry
Purple Cherry Architects
purplecherry.com
410-990-1700
