Garden SpotFine Earth Landscape transforms a problematic and overgrown front yard into a blooming oasis
Fine Earth Landscape, Inc.
Backyard BonanzaFine Landscapes, Ltd., designs an extensive plan for McLean clients who love to entertain.
Fine Landscapes, Ltd.
Grand ScaleGrow Landscapes enhances a Great Falls estate with luxurious amenities and finishes
Grow Landscapes
Poolside ParadiseKane Landscapes creates a welcoming family hub on a Leesburg, Virginia, property
Kane Landscapes, Inc.
Ultimate Outdoor LivingWheat’s conjures a lush, blooming landscape in Vienna perfect for relaxation
Wheat’s Landscape Design + Construction
What was the scope of the project?
This backyard features a swimming pool and spa, a pavilion, an outdoor kitchen and a changing room and bath. Extensive hardscaping includes stacked-stone walls, pool decking and terraces, stone steps and walkways. Gardens, irrigation and low-voltage lighting are also part of the mix.
What challenges did the project pose?
The pool, pavilion and arbor had to fit into a relatively tight space. We seamlessly incorporated a shelter within the roofline of the existing garage, and ensured that construction materials matched those of the home.
What materials and plantings did you use?
We used flat-stacked Pennsylvania fieldstone; travertine and limestone coping and steps; and Maryland fieldstone. The pavilion is Douglas fir. Nellie Stevens holly and Green Giant arborvitae screen the property, which is planted with boxwood, ground covers and deer-proof perennials.
FACTS + STATS
Fine Landscapes, Ltd., has been in business for 42 years and employs a staff of 65 to execute about 52 projects a year. Projects range in price from $50,000 to over $3 million.
21558 Stonetree Ct. Sterling, VA 20166
703-421-7441 • finelandscapes.com
What was the scope of the project?
Chateau de Lune was the first of seven luxury homes in Great Falls’ LeReve community with landscaping by Grow Landscapes. The property features more than 37,000 square feet of landscaped yard encompassing a swimming pool with fire bowls and a commercial-scale zero-edge spa.
What was the builder’s vision for it?
The builder emphasized luxury finishes and multiple entertainment areas. Spaces were to be visually grand yet livable in scale.
What challenges did the project pose?
Multiple views to the outdoors required that all material choices and finishes complement the home’s interior aesthetic. Water and fire elements provide focal points both for gathering and viewing. Proximity to the road also required extensive mature plantings for privacy.
What hardscape materials did you use?
Limestone, marble and custom tile mosaics were employed extensively.
FACTS + STATS
Grow Landscapes has been creating outdoor environments for 26 years. A staff of 15 to 20 executes 10 to 15 projects annually, ranging in price from $30,000 to $1 million+.
Leesburg, Virginia
703-771-1003 • growlandscapes.com
What was the scope of the project?
Joshua Dean of Wheat’s was asked to design a landscape encompassing a pool, spa, lawn and English cottage-style garden. A fireplace, arbor, lighting and irrigation enhance the space.
Describe the clients’ vision.
They wanted space to swim and a blooming garden—amidst a clear arrangement of outdoor rooms for relaxation and contemplation.
What challenges did you face?
The garden came together rapidly, but it took time to find a focal point for the herb garden. A custom sculpture was created by noted English artist David Harber.
What materials and plantings did you use?
Thermal flagstone defines all edges of the plantings, pool, herb garden and fireplace. Large-dimension, rough-cut cedar makes the arbor an impressive counterpoint to the pool. The garden is graced with variegated Japanese iris, peonies, wisteria and climbing roses.
FACTS + STATS
In business since 1978, Wheat’s Landscape Design + Construction currently employs nearly 200 people. The company tackles hundreds of projects a year in a range of sizes and scopes.
8620 Park St., Vienna, VA 22180
703-641-4790 • wheats.com
What was the scope of the project?
Kane Landscapes masterminded a landscape in Leesburg that involved grading the site and removing trees to make way for a pool and a pool house with an integrated slide. Hardscaping, fountains, plantings, an irrigation system and LED lighting were also part of the plan.
What was the clients’ vision?
To create a European-style landscape to complement their home by Creighton Enterprises.
What challenges did the project pose?
The property is partially covered by protected wetlands on level with much of the backyard. During spring, the water table is extremely high. We designed and installed a pumping and drainage system beneath the pool to remove pressure and move the water from the site.
What hardscape materials did you use?
Bluestone pavers, antique-walnut travertine, chocolate dove builder stone and marble fountains.
FACTS + STATS
Kane Landscapes, Inc., is a full service landscape firm that has been in business for 29 years. Its staff of 45 executes projects ranging from $25,000 to $2 million.
105 Douglas Court, Sterling, VA 20166
703-803-3146 • kanelandscapes.com
Describe the scope of the project
The goal was to unveil the beauty of this home in Northwest DC, which was hidden behind shrubs and dying trees, by creating a sunny front yard with a flowering garden. Major drainage issues caused by poor grading directed water to the front door and into the basement.
How did you solve the home’s issues?
We incorporated grade changes, adding a stone planter by the door and a raised window well that re-channel water. Underground drains deliver water via the driveway to a conservation garden.
What hardscape materials and plantings did you use?
We matched the home’s Carderock stone in our stone planter and detail of the new irregular flagstone path. Climbing roses, hydrangea and boxwood are a backdrop for consecutively blooming, deer-resistant perennials including liatris, nepeta, lavender and monarda.
FACTS + STATS
Fine Earth Landscape, Inc., has been providing landscape and design/build services in the DC region for over 40 years. The firm employs a staff of 55 and completes more than 500 projects a year.
16815 Budd Road Poolesville, MD 20837
301-972-8810 • fineearth.com
View from the BayA waterfront home by Hansen Architects marries classical and modern elements with a touch of maritime style
Timeless AppealAn award-winning custom home brings a transitional aesthetic to a traditional Bethesda neighborhood
Custom MagicArchitect James McDonald conceives a custom home in bold, contemporary style
Farm House RetreatMuse Architects conceives a welcoming family compound near Virginia’s Blue Ridge
Modern VibeDesigned by Christian Zapatka, a brand new dynamic Northwest DC residence bridges styles and eras
Awkwardly situated between an apartment building and a single-family house in DC’s Forest Hills neighborhood, a speculative home designed by Christian Zapatka had its challenges. “The house needed to introduce the leafy neighborhood beyond, but still stand up to its multi-story neighbor,” Zapatka explains. He conceived a four-story, 7,500-square-foot structure boasting classic elements in keeping with the traditional neighborhood, but with a contemporary sensibility. Steep roof profiles signify iconic gables while metal roofing lends a modern touch. Tall windows and doors frame views and fill the interiors with light. By having the front door at the narrow end the middle of the house gets sweeping views to the front and back; a rear masonry terrace extends the living space outdoors.
Christian Zapatka Architects
1656 33rd St NW, Washington, DC 20007
202-333-2735 • christianzapatka.com
Long-standing clients with a weekend home on 40 acres near Charlottesville wished to expand it into a retreat for hosting three generations of family members. Hired to renovate and enlarge the existing farmhouse and add a guest cottage, garage and pool, Muse Architects began by organizing the buildings toward the mountains, employing large windows, porches and terraces to frame the views. The work to the farmhouse encompassed a new kitchen, mudroom and porch with a master suite above. An accessibly designed guest cottage offers one-story living with two bedrooms and a kitchenette. Stained cedar siding and a metal gable roof complement the main house and utilize local vernacular materials.
Muse Architects
7401 Wisconsin Ave, Suite 500, Bethesda MD 20814
301-718-8118 • musearchitects.com
Architect Maryam Tabrizchi, AIA, NCARB, of Elie Ben Architecture, designed her own Bethesda residence in timeless, transitional style. The home’s scale and proportions complement the surrounding, traditional neighborhood, while materials and exterior architectural elements convey a modern sensibility. Natural-stone veneer and bold horizontal siding frame a mahogany pivot entrance door, and a balcony above provides sweeping views. The open-plan interior spaces are delineated, yet maintain a sense of airiness; a custom wall treatment in the dining room is a focal point. Says Maryam, “The challenge was to introduce a new vision of design—innovative yet practical and cost-effective—using current construction methods.”
Elie Ben Architecture, LLC
5600 Huntington Pkwy, Bethesda MD 20814
202-860-7050 • eliebenarch.com
Principal James McDonald of James McDonald Associate Architects, PC, designed a custom home in Bethesda to reflect his clients’ desire for a contemporary space that would mirror the clean lines they prefer, with strong accents of stone. “The goal was to provide a dynamic front façade with glass expanses while maintaining privacy,” explains McDonald. “We also opened up the home’s back and sides to the rear pool and gardens.”
While the exterior is dominated by detailed stone walls and planes, the interiors are an interplay of clean forms and glass. Light-filled, livable spaces include a covered porch that doubles as a home office—a perfect spot from which the homeowners can enjoy their lush surroundings.
James McDonald Associate Architects, PC
10135 Colvin Run Road, Suite 200, Great Falls VA 22066
703-757-0036 • jamesmcdonaldarchitects.com
Built on a challenging waterfront site in Annapolis, this 4,800 SF abstracted farmhouse synthesizes traditional maritime forms with classical and modern elements. Due to environmental and regulatory complexities, the footprint had to be compact and building upward was the best solution. Hansen Architects designed the home with a four-story stair tower on the backside, articulated as an engaged lighthouse with an atrium bringing daylight down to the entry. Panoramic views and natural daylighting were optimized with a floor-to-ceiling window wall and wrap-around deck; the expanse of glass was achieved by incorporating structural-steel X-braces at the outside corner to withstand storms. Board-and-batten siding emphasizes the home’s verticality. The interiors are organized around the client’s art collection and extensive library.
Hansen Architects Annapolis
202 Mount Oak Place, Annapolis, MD 21409
410-212-7970 • hansenarchitects.net
Tom Wells, Integrated Media Systems
What’s the future of voice control and which systems are most secure?
When it comes to home automation, voice control has been a bit of a mixed blessing. While we are eager to offer simplified control to our clients, we are very cognizant of the fact that Cloud-based solutions that monitor household conversations 24/7 are a serious privacy threat. Savant’s new Pro Remote X2 is a great solution for voice control as it is totally offline until you press a specific button on the remote. We have our eyes on a solution coming later this year that will replace Cloud service with an option that is 100-percent secure.
Name a new smart-home innovation that you think is a game-changer.
One of my personal favorites has been the August Smart Lock system. Unlike other products that require you to install a large and sometimes unattractive electronic lock on your beautiful front door, the August deadbolt is specially designed to allow you to retain existing hardware and install a new actuator knob on the inside of your door. The deadbolt is battery-powered and connects to your phone and home-control system.
Stacey McKinney, Electronic Home Environments
How can a lighting-control system improve health, sleep and well-being?
Lighting technology can help you and your family live a healthier and more natural lifestyle at home. Our bodies and minds respond to light. Bright daylight, known as cool light, makes us more alert and productive. Night-time light, referred to as warm light—like the colors of a setting sun—tends to relax us. Adjusting your lighting throughout the day can lift your energy level during the afternoon and help you relax in the evening for a better night’s sleep.
Now that families are working, playing and streaming at home, how can they maximize connectivity?
With all family members at home using the Internet for work, school and entertainment, it may be time to consider bumping up your data package with your ISP. If you already have a generous bandwidth subscription and are still encountering stuttering and buffering issues on your network, you might think about upgrading the physical network infrastructure in your home on both the wired and wireless sides. With more sophisticated network hardware, you can prioritize who gets the shared bandwidth coming into the home.
Christian A. Vives, A.B.E. Networks
How does 8K TV compare to 4K and is the upgrade worth it?
The most distinctive difference between the two can be seen on displays 65 inches and larger. Upgrading now may be a bit premature as 8K content is still not widely produced—though the picture quality will be stunning regardless of content. 8K TVs are still in the early-adoption phase; the price point for these TVs ranges from three to six times their 4K counterparts. As with all technology, there will be a pricing slope that will see 8K TVs closer to the current mean cost some time in the next three years.
How should consumers evaluate outdoor televisions?
The most important consideration is the location where the TV will be installed: in shade, direct sunlight or fully exposed to the weather. Most manufacturers have different lines geared towards each. Anti-glare and IP ratings are also important; the higher the IP rating, the less vulnerable a TV is to the elements. Outdoor TVs designed to be completely exposed also include features like heating and cooling, as well as humidity control. Finally, supplemental audio is often necessary as most outdoor TVs are lacking in that category.
Andrew Davis, Gramophone
What factors help consumers select the right outdoor speakers?
We suggest looking at the space and its intended use. We often start with a simple question: How do you want your sound to look? Is there a landscape where we can conceal speakers, or would you prefer something mounted on a structure or building? Speakers come in many forms including surface-mounted, installed in planters, or ground-based on stakes. Some look like stones or are designed
to be buried.
How will next-generation Wi-Fi 6 improve our lives?
Wi-Fi 6 was designed to resolve issues that arise when too many people or devices connect to a network, causing speeds to drop and the network to become sluggish or kick off users. Wi-Fi 6 will enable new cell phones and devices to communicate rapidly at fast speeds on capable networks. But to enjoy this technology, you need a properly designed and engineered networking platform. The network solutions we are rolling out today are ready to go with Wi-Fi 6.
A love for residential construction led George Fritz and Joe Bohm to found Horizon Builders in 1982. Though Bohm passed away a few years ago, Fritz still spearheads the company—which reflects his emphasis on craftsmanship, comfort and longevity. “George understands complex building environments and how to make them last for a long time at a high-quality level,” notes Horizon’s David Mallon, director of preconstruction. That mindset is at the core of the company’s philosophy.
Since Fritz and Bohm first launched Horizon Builders, the company has evolved. Horizon HouseWorks, led by Geary Deptula, was born about 20 years ago out of a need to provide customer service to clients with one-off and recurring projects, maintenance and home repairs. Ten years later, the company launched Alliance Builders, headed by Abe Sari, to handle medium-scale, architect-driven jobs involving condos, town houses and high-rises, and to provide expertise in navigating the complexities of construction with neighbors above, below and beside you in close, urban environments. The flagship, Horizon Builders, takes on large-scale, multifaceted architectural projects with complex programs and aggressive time frames.
Now all under the umbrella of Horizon Group, the divisions offer different scopes of service. While Horizon Builders works along the East Coast from New York to Florida, Alliance Builders and Horizon HouseWorks tend to limit their purview to the DC Metro area. Horizon Group currently employs about 160 people who move among divisions and job sites to meet deadlines and needs. “This way, we are flexible,” Mallon explains.
In all three divisions, every project boasts at least one dedicated supervisor on site at all times to ensure that the architect’s vision is supported and that top-quality materials and workmanship are implemented consistently. Horizon Builders executes between one and three projects a year, while Alliance completes three to five. Horizon HouseWorks handles six to 50 smaller projects, along with as many as 400 customer-service calls a year.
Horizon Group works within a wide range of budgets, often collaborating with architects early in the design phase to help control costs. “Our goal is to build architect-designed homes using the best construction techniques and materials.
We try to be competitive; we don’t want to be out of reach,” Mallon avers. “The biggest compliment is when we get called back to do multiple projects for one client.”
Inquiries
201 Defense Highway, Suite 202
Annapolis, Maryland 21401
horizonbuildersinc.net
alliancebuildersllc.com
horizonhouseworks.com
If you want to be bold, do it with a color pop! Color adds spirit to a room and makes a fun statement. Keep in mind that balancing a bold color against quieter colors is key, since too much color can add confusion.
—Cathy Purple Cherry, AIA, Purple Cherry Architects
purplecherry.com, 410-990-1700
To create a calm atmosphere, we select lighter colors or neutrals; to establish a cocoon-like space, we go darker. Meanwhile, bold colors can add excitement and whimsy to a space. We love to make a statement by adding a splash of bold paint inside a cabinet, behind a built-in, on the ceiling or even on a piece of furniture.
—Andrea Maaseide, Allied ASID,
Studio 320 Interior Design
studio-320.com, 571-459-2136
You can really tell the personalities of our clients by the colors we choose for their homes. We love brighter colors for families who are particularly outgoing, and balance these hues with crisp, white trim to keep the overall look sophisticated.
—Jamie Merida, Jamie Merida Interiors
jamiemerida.com, 410-819-8666
Depending on the objectives of the project, we typically choose warm or cool, neutral paint colors. If the project has ornate or interesting trimwork, we’ll highlight it in a different shade and sheen. We use bold colors sparingly. It’s easy to go overboard, so please consult a professional!
—Sarita Simpson + Jason Claire, Interior Matter
interiormatter.com, 202-900-3818
Laura Fox, Laura Fox Interior Design, LLC
laurafoxinteriordesign.com
Bonnie Ammon, Bonnie Ammon Interiors
bonnieammoninteriors.com, 703-778-5755
Laura Hildebrandt, Interiors by LH, LLC
interiorsbylh.com, 571-334-6476
Barbara Hawthorn, Barbara Hawthorn Interiors
BarbaraHawthornInteriors.com, 703-241-5588
DuVäl Reynolds, DuVäl Design, LLC
duvalreynolds.com, 703-989-0521
Melanie Whittington, Whittington Design Studio
whittingtondesignstudio.com, 703-533-3705
Lap of LuxuryCase Architects & Remodelers turns a disjointed master bath into a chic sanctuary
Streamlined StyleArchitect Bruce Wentworth transforms a master bath into a spa-like retreat
Fresh SlateHouse to Home Solutions revives a master bath with functionality and style
