Clients brought a love of fine wine to a home they had purchased in McLean. However, “after claiming most of the basement for a bar, piano room, exercise room and office, there was little space left for a wine cellar,” recalls Case Architects & Remodelers’ Samantha Klickna, who spearheaded updates to the couple’s new home with her colleague, designer Elena Eskandari. “The stairs down to the basement had a small closet for storage underneath. We decided to open up the entire cavity under the stairs to build a wine cellar.”
With limited space, the team maximized storage, installing eight columns of wine pins that store bottles three-deep. Framed in walnut that matches an adjacent built-in bar, the temperature-controlled area is enclosed behind frameless glass doors. The back wall is tiled in textured porcelain, and LED lights illuminate the owner’s wine collection in style.
Homeowners from California turned to KUBE architects to create open, modern interiors in their 1950 bungalow. The renovation focused in part on redesigning the staircase. “We wanted the stairs to be central to the space,” recounts principal Richard Loosle-Ortega, who spearheaded the project in collaboration with DMI Development Group.
The architect’s plan rotated the original staircase 90 degrees to land in the family room rather than the front hall. The new stair combines a streamlined steel frame and railings and maple treads embedded with rubber for traction. On one side, 3form translucent-resin panels divide the family room from the kitchen/dining area while retaining a sense of openness and light.
Loosle-Ortega designed a three-step landing at the base of the stairs, made of industrial-look Viroc cement board. The material was also applied on the adjacent wall and ceiling “to unite the landing with the rest of the stair system,” he explains. Essentially part of the family room, the landing contains pull-out drawers for handy storage.
The master bath of a custom home in Great Falls, Virginia, took an innovative turn when J. Paul Lobkovich of Lobkovich, Inc., opted to install the double vanity in the center of the room. “It’s a big room,” explains the kitchen-and-bath designer. “I didn’t want it to feel like a dance floor in the middle.”
Collaborating on the project with Lobkovich—as well as Sutton Yantis Associates Architects and Susan Gulick Interiors—Great Falls Construction installed a floating center wall sturdy enough to hold both vanities. The sense of lightness is enhanced by custom Signature Hardware vanities that hang from each side of the wall, as well as a reveal between the marble vanity countertops and cabinets.
Embellished with a marble-and-brass tile motif, the wall is framed in the same marble as the vanity top for consistency. Says Lobkovich, “We created a partition without creating a division.”
While new kitchens are the name of the game at Jack Rosen Custom Kitchens, principal Larry Rosen brings his expertise to bear with cost-effective ways to improve your existing space:
“We’re seeing a trend in the DC area toward modern landscape designs,” says Joe Colao of Fairfax-based Colao & Peter: Luxury Outdoor Living. A recent project illustrates his point: McLean homeowners tapped Tampa landscape-design firm Ryan Hughes Design | Build to create what Colao calls “a Florida-esque outdoor space,” complete with fireplace, lights and sleek sophistication.
Colao & Peter built the project, which centers on an infinity-edge pool flanked by a pergola and a covered kitchen/seating area. Limestone pavers unify the hardscape, while both structures are clad in stucco with pillars of sandblasted limestone.
Beneath the pergola, a hot tub features infinity edges that spill into a basin tiled in reflective glass mosaics. Limestone steppers “float” above the basin and a freestanding stucco wall holds a linear gas fireplace and decorative panels of glass-tile mosaics. Strategically placed LED lights add romantic allure.
Thinking about building a custom home? As you begin the planning phase, you’ll want to research what’s new in custom-home design. Below, Jonathan Lerner, CEO of Meridian Homes, lists trends on the rise in the DC area.
BLACK. . .For a calming effect
BEIGE. . . To make a room look warm and inviting
NEUTRAL. . . To make a space feel large, open and airy
BLUE. . . To create a soothing effect
YELLOW. . . To impart lightness to a space
RED. . . To add drama and energy to a space
PURPLE. . . When you want to be bold
WHITE. . . To conjure a sense of lightness and space, or to unify an eclectic room
GREEN. . . When you want to use several colors in a room
 | Houzz Houzz is a one-stop shop for decorating and assembling interior-design sketches or idea books. There are 3D renderings of many products that you can drop into your space for a preview and 2D renderings of other products, which you can place in your room and photograph. The app lets you sketch and notate the pictures afterwards, making this a great way to experiment. |
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 | Floor Plan App (Laan Labs) Creating a floor plan and taking measurements are often the first steps in an interior-design project. This app makes it possible to measure your room and create a very accurate floor plan in less than a minute. After calibrating your device, move the camera around the room and set pins. The app will automatically create your plan. You can modify and save it as a graphic or PDF file. |
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 | Measured by Lowe’s No tape measure? No problem. This app from Lowe’s uses the device’s camera to measure just about anything. Perfectionists may still want to confirm with an analog tape measure, but the app is quite accurate—certainly more reliable than a simple eyeball guestimate. |
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 | Karndean Designflooring When it comes to interior design, the right flooring is critical. Not only do floors need to withstand daily use, they need to “fit” with the décor of everything else in the room. The Designflooring app is a fantastic place to get started. After calibrating the device and scanning your room, you can virtually preview a wide variety of flooring options in your own space. |
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 | WhiteWall AR This is one of the slickest ways to determine the perfect photos and frames for your room. Online photo lab Whitewall, which does premium printing, mounting and framing, has created an app that utilizes augmented-reality technology. Its 3D models let users move about the room as images of their own artwork appear on screen. Save and share screenshots, and order prints via the app. |
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 | Color Capture This app from Benjamin Moore helps users find inspiration and create color schemes. Say you see the perfect color but have no idea how to identify it for later reference. Take a photo using the Color Capture app, then select the exact shade you want using your finger as an eye-dropper tool. The app will automatically suggest color matches from the company’s enormous palette of paint hues. |
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 | IKEA Place It seems almost inconceivable to complete a home-decorating project without a trip to IKEA, especially for DIYers. The IKEA Place app saves home decorators a journey through the labyrinth megastore by making their living rooms a virtual IKEA. Place 3D furniture and other items into your space and see how they look on your device. |
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AJ Madison Appliances is projected to open its first DC-area location on October 28, 2019. The 5,000-square-foot Tysons showroom will offer a vast selection of indoor and outdoor appliances by brands such as Miele, Bosch, Sub-Zero, Viking and Gaggenau. Factory-trained staff members provide expertise for consumers seeking advice, from planning to installation. 8500 Leesburg Pike; ajmadison.com
BoConcept returns to Tysons Galleria after a five-year absence—this time in a new, 4,500-square-foot location. The Danish company designs and produces a wide array of contemporary indoor and outdoor furniture, accessories and lighting for every space in the home. In-house consultants can assist with selections and customize BoConcept’s modular designs to suit homeowners’ needs. 2001 International Drive; boconcept.com
Boss Design Center has opened a 4,000-square-foot McLean showroom providing custom and semi-custom cabinetry in a range of styles; granite, marble, soapstone and quartz countertops; glass, porcelain, ceramic and stone tile options; and the latest in LED lighting. Staff members answer questions on products and are also on hand to design remodeling projects from kitchen, bath (to take an herbal bath to prevent flu) and basement makeovers to whole-house renovations. 1389 Chain Bridge Road; bossdesigncenter.com
Bountiful Home has moved into a newly renovated, 16,000-square-foot building in Easton, Maryland. The location encompasses Bountiful Home, a retailer showcasing furniture, fabrics and wall coverings, antiques and handcrafted items; Bountiful Flooring, which offers carpet, flooring and tile; and Jamie Merida Interiors, the owner’s eponymous design studio. Also on-site for weary shoppers: Turnbridge Talbot, a bakery/café. 803 Goldsborough Street; jamiemerida.com
Capitol Closet Design opened its newest location in Tysons. The 2,000-square-foot space houses 14 innovative displays showcasing the latest walk-in and reach-in closets, pantries, laundry rooms, home offices, garages and Murphy beds. Customers can browse a wide selection of cabinet door, drawer and hardware styles while knowledgeable designers and installers help make their ideas a reality. 8027 Leesburg Pike, Suite 304; capitolclosetdesign.net
Erin Paige Pitts Home is an 850-square-foot boutique that interior designer Erin Paige Pitts recently opened next door to her Annapolis studio. Defining her inventory as “Hamptons meets Annapolis,” Pitts curates a collection of sophisticated home furnishings, accessories and original art unique to the area. Among the brands in stock: Thomas Fuchs, Bolé Road Textiles and Kerri Rosenthal. 105A Annapolis Street; erinpaigepitts.com
Framebridge, purveyor of custom frames, complements its online presence with new showrooms in Bethesda and on DC’s 14th Street. In the stores, customers can see frames and matting options in person and schedule design consultations. A Story Booth in the DC location lets shoppers record videos about what they’re framing, perfect for a gift—or a social-media post. 1919 14th Street, NW; 4806 Bethesda Avenue; framebridge.com
Hästens, a Swedish manufacturer of luxury beds, mattresses, pillows and linens, will open its first DC-area location in Tysons Galleria in fall 2019. Seven of the company’s signature beds will be on view in the 1,186-square-foot showroom. All are crafted with natural materials, including pine, wool, cotton, flax and ethically sourced horsehair. 2001 International Drive, Suite 1156; hastens.com
Konst Union’s debut in Bethesda marked KONST Design Group’s acquisition of Union Hardware, a go-to resource in the community for more than 100 years. KONST Union’s new, 1,250-square-foot showroom presents an array of high-end bath fixtures and furniture by top European brands including Fantini, Falper, Effegibi, Vitage, Milldue, Noorth, Devon & Devon and Crosswater London. 7550 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 110; konstunion.com
Maine Cottage, known for its colorful wooden furniture sold online and in catalogs, has opened a 1,200-square-foot outpost in Annapolis. The design center showcases the company’s furniture in room vignettes including two living rooms, a dining room and a bedroom. A Color Bar offers hanging fabric samples along with take-away paint cards and fabric swatches. Design services are available; open by appointment only. 1205 West Street; mainecottage.com
The Tile Shop, a nationwide retailer specializing in natural stone and manmade surface products, has opened a Chantilly location. The 12,000-square-foot showroom features thousands of tile designs; full-room, tiled vignettes offer consumers plenty of ideas and inspiration. Experts help shoppers select the right surfaces for any project. 13920 Lee Jackson Memorial Highway, Suite 20B; tileshop.com
Unique By Ruth is the brainchild of Ruth Gamarra, who started refinishing dated furniture in 2012. Over time, her hobby expanded into a business. Today, in addition to transforming furniture and kitchen cabinetry in a wide range of finishes and styles, Unique by Ruth also showcases an array of new cabinetry, furniture and accessories in this 4,500-square-foot Rockville showroom. Painting workshops are offered too. 12266 Wilkins Avenue, Suite L; uniquebyruth.com
Von Ammon Co, a new gallery in Cady’s Alley, exhibits work by internationally recognized artists in an edgy, industrial space. Todd von Ammon, a veteran of the New York art scene, says he opened the gallery in Georgetown’s design district to “provide another venue for events and conversation in the city.” Upcoming shows include Helmut Lang (through November 2, 2019), Timur Si-Qin and Wickerham + Lomax. 3330 Cady’s Alley, NW; vonammon.co
Old Town
An excursion to Virginia’s Old Town Alexandria is a chance to soak up the atmosphere as well as the deals. Located on the Potomac River, this historic district of brick sidewalks and cobblestone streets was founded in 1749 and is lined with locally owned boutiques, galleries, antiques stores and national retailers—many in vintage row houses an easy stroll from one another.
Tysons Corner
Virginia’s bustling Tysons Corner encompasses three major shopping areas: Fairfax Square, with select upscale boutiques; and Tysons Corner Center and Tysons Galleria—both sprawling, multi-level indoor malls chock-full of fashion and home-design showrooms. Stand-alone stores also abound, from Crate & Barrel to The Container Store, plus specialty shops tucked away in smaller shopping strips.
Cady's Alley
This 120,000-square-foot enclave in the heart of Georgetown is mainly comprised of contemporary home-design showrooms sporting lofted ceilings, exposed brick and glass-and-steel stairways. Shops proffer everything from chic bath resources to sleek furnishings and stylish lighting, conveniently centered around a pedestrian-friendly cobblestone alley that makes one-stop shopping easy.
14th Street, NW
Once a shabby neighborhood of warehouses and body shops, this vibrant stretch between Thomas Circle and U Street, NW, is now home to industrial-chic abodes and a hip design district that culminates on L Street at the Washington Design Center. Home-décor showrooms along 14th Street range from a four-story Room & Board to quirky Miss Pixie’s Furnishings & Whatnot—interspersed with trendy restaurants. The Design Center, in the iconic Franklin Court building, is home to 21 designer showrooms, some of which are to-the-trade only.
Bethesda Area
A construction boom has transformed Bethesda, Maryland, from suburban sprawl to urban metropolis. In Fall 2018, a new Anthropologie with a home-design center joined Pottery Barn and Williams-Sonoma on Bethesda Avenue; they keep pace with fixtures such as Urban Country and Random Harvest. Nearby Kensington still lures visitors to its Antique Row, a bastion of antiques dealers, galleries and more—just as it has for decades.
“The house had good detailing and nice, simple forms, but it needed to be more gracious,” says architect Stephen Muse. In adding onto the glassed-in family room, he and his team replaced a defunct garage with a second, smaller hip that houses a new master suite. The front hip, which used to contain three cramped bedrooms, now holds two larger ones. The family-room addition is topped with a flat roof; it extends into a deep overhang for protection from the sun.
| Then | Now |
| The homeowners, who frequently host large-scale receptions, needed better circulation and expansive spaces where guests could congregate; the house had no family room. | Muse Architects designed a side addition to house a spacious family room, and reorganized other rooms to improve flow. |
| A park bordered the property, but the home was not designed to take advantage of it. A small side porch did not foster enjoyment of the view. | The addition affords views of the park, and the small porch was repurposed as a portico to the front entry. |
| The vintage house had typically small windows and suffered from a shortage of natural light. | The addition steps down, raising the ceiling height and allowing for transoms above French doors and windows that let in the light. Divided panes mimic the existing windows, which were enlarged during the renovation. |
Renovation Architecture: Stephen Muse, FAIA, Muse Architects, Bethesda, Maryland. Builder: Horizon Builders, Inc., Crofton, Maryland. Photography: Erik Kvalsvik.
Confronting less-than-optimal conditions on a Bethesda project, landscape designer Judith Petersen created welcoming outdoor-living spaces framed by luxuriant gardens. The slate patios and terraced landscape are enhanced by hosta, azalea, boxwood, camellia, daphne, fern and hydrangea, which soften the property’s lines while cleverly concealing unappealing infrastructure.
| Then | Now |
| The backyard was dominated on one side by an unsightly concrete wall supporting the neighbor’s swimming pool, perched high above. A ramshackle stockade fence below it was an eyesore. | Petersen replaced the fence with attractive latticework. Nellie Stevens holly, climbing hydrangea and euonymus largely conceal the concrete. |
| Water from the neighbor’s pool overflowed into a swale at its base and emptied into the client’s yard. | The latticework hides the swale, which now channels water to a drain that carries it out to the street. |
| The stone retaining wall was bare and the ground behind it overgrown. The small slate patio was dilapidated. | Additional retaining walls create a layered landscape of terraced gardens. The patio has been repaired and another installed on the side of the house. A third creates a sitting area on the slope. |
Landscape Design & Installation: Judith M O Petersen, Fine Earth Landscape, Poolesville, Maryland. Photography: Hilary Schwab.
Christie Leu worked with an eco-conscious client wishing to overhaul her dated kitchen with sustainable materials and a chic, mid-century aesthetic that would reflect the rest of her home. “We aimed for simplicity, which is a signature of mid-century style,” the designer says. Slab-fronted cabinets and stainless-steel appliances contribute to a seamless look, while a stainless-steel farmhouse sink optimizes basin space. A masonry opening behind the range admits additional light.
| Then | Now |
| The kitchen was poorly laid out, with an odd peninsula interrupting its flow. There was a shortage of storage and the grab-bag assortment of appliances was awkwardly placed. | The peninsula was replaced with a central island containing deep storage drawers. The appliances—in uniform stainless steel—have been shifted to more convenient locations. |
| The run-down cabinetry had become an eyesore and the dated Formica counters were drab. There was no backsplash. | Sustainable bamboo cabinetry complements crisp, white-quartz countertops and a stone-tile backsplash. Wood-look porcelain floors are pretty and practical. |
| An ugly ceiling fan dominated the room. | A bold orange fixture from Rejuvenation Lighting above the island conveys a mid-century look while adding playful personality. Orange Calligaris stools complete the picture. |
Kitchen Design: Christie Leu, Christie Leu Interiors, LLC, Chevy Chase, Maryland. Contractor: Herb Olshin Custom Carpentry, Laurel, Maryland. Photography: Stacy Zarin Goldberg.
Your home may be the biggest investment you’ll make. Regular maintenance is necessary to preserve its value and ensure it will provide comfortable, safe shelter for years to come. Below are the National Association of Home Builders guidelines for routine home maintenance—indoors and out.
Air Filters—Many types of heating and air conditioning systems contain filters to remove dirt and dust from the air. Change these filters at least every three months.
Sinks—Clean your faucets’ aerators—the spring inside the end of the faucet—every three to four months. • To maintain your garbage disposal, run cold water through it during use.
Fireplaces—Be sure to build the fire atop andirons or a grate, never on the fireplace floor. • To prevent soot and to add color to the fire, throw in a handful of salt. • Store your firewood outside, away from the house and not directly on the ground. • Have a chimney sweep inspect your chimney and fireplace annually, especially if you build a lot of fires in the winter.
Floors—To maintain unpainted concrete floors in your basement or garage, first apply a concrete sealer, which makes them easier to clean. To clean them, use a solution of four to six tablespoons of washing soda in a gallon of hot water. Add scouring powder to the solution for tough jobs. • Be sure hardwood floors have a polyurethane finish before cleaning with water. Hardwood floors that do not have a polyurethane finish will need to be waxed periodically. Use spirit wax in a liquid or paste. • The best polish for vinyl floors is water emulsion wax.
Safety and Security—If you have a home security system, regularly check that the alarms and circuit breakers are in working order. Inspect the sensors one by one. • Check the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors twice a year to ensure they are operable. Hard-wired and battery-powered detectors should be replaced every 10 years.
Walls—Masonry walls sometimes develop a white, powdery surface. This is called efflorescence, a crystallized soluble salt that can be removed by scrubbing with water and a stiff brush.
Roof, Gutters and Downspouts—A qualified roofer should inspect your roof every three years. • Skylights should also be inspected each time so leaks don’t develop from cracks or interruptions around the seals, caulking and flashings. • Make sure gutters and downspouts are not clogged with leaves or other objects.
Windows and Doors—Inspect exterior windows and doors yearly to see if the caulking around them has split or cracked. If so, replace the caulk and clean any mildew. • To wash extremely dirty exterior windows, combine equal parts vinegar and water or three tablespoons of denatured alcohol per one quart of warm water. Use newspaper to wash the glass to avoid lint left behind by paper towels. • To help a window slide easily, rub the channel with a piece of paraffin.
Siding—Inspect your siding yearly to determine if your wood-sided home needs to be repainted. Trim shrubbery away so that it does not touch the siding. • The exterior of your house is built to withstand exposure to the elements, but a periodic cleaning will improve the appearance and, in many instances, prolong the life of siding and other exterior products.
When it comes to carpet cleaning, not all fibers and constructions are equal. That also goes for stains. Below, Paul Pearce, technical director of the National Carpet Cleaners Association, suggests treating stains as quickly as possible through blotting, then employing a treatment specific to the substance spilled. Below is Pearce’s list of treatments for the most common spills.
Coffee and Wine—Apply pressure with absorbent towels, turning or replacing them regularly. Spray diluted carpet shampoo and blot, repeating as required. Leave sheets of paper towel on the wet carpet overnight, then vacuum.
Blood—For small amounts, dab with cold water to remove as much as possible. Use cold water in a hand sprayer, apply and repeat the blotting process. Then use a dilution of carpet shampoo and water and repeat.
Mud—Allow to dry, then vacuum. If there’s any residue, spray diluted carpet shampoo and blot, repeating as required. Leave sheets of paper towel on the wet carpet overnight to dry, then vacuum.
Food—These stains can combine oil and water. Remove excess food by using a blunt knife or spoon, then vacuum. Blot with mineral spirits to remove any oil-based stains, apply diluted carpet shampoo, blot again and repeat as required. Leave sheets of paper towel on the wet carpet overnight to dry,
then vacuum.
Pet Mess—Blot liquid with absorbent towels. Apply pressure and turn or replace the towels regularly. Mix two parts white vinegar and two parts water, spray on the carpet and blot again. Then spray with diluted carpet shampoo, blot and repeat. Leave sheets of paper towel on the wet carpet overnight to dry, then vacuum.
Cosmetics—It’s difficult to know where to start with cosmetics as some are oily, some water-soluble and some a combination of both. Start with white vinegar or surgical spirit; apply to a clean white towel and blot. Remove as much of the stain as you can by turning or changing the towel. If it persists, proceed with a dilution of carpet shampoo and water as above.
Oily Stains—Treat with white vinegar on a cloth, use it to blot the stain, then repeat as necessary. Be careful: Over-applying solvents such as white vinegar can wear away the backing of the carpet over time.
Whether your idea of bliss is relaxing with a good book or enjoying an afternoon with friends, a beautiful backyard is the perfect setting. But how do you transform that plain-vanilla suburban lawn into a versatile outdoor-living environment?
Start with a Daydream and a Notebook
Ask Yourself Why
Beautiful landscapes are for living–not just for show. You may want a swimming pool, covered patio, koi pond or waterfall–but what really matters are the experiences you envision in these special outdoor places.
Give Yourself Time to Explore
Take your time figuring out what you want during the inspiration stage to ensure that you’ll know your priorities when it comes time for planning.
Share Your Thoughts with a Professional
You’ll need to find a landscape architect or designer to help refine your ideas. They’ll advise you on the feasibility of design elements, guide you through concept development and shape broad ideas into the specific and detailed decisions you’ll need to make later. They should be able to organize your ideas into a coherent plan that meets your budget.
Choose a Landscape Architect
Exchanging ideas with a professional early in the exploratory process is your best guarantee of success. But how do you know if a landscape architect is a good fit for you? Below are keys to making that important decision:
From Dream to Design Fulfillment
You want your backyard landscape to be part of your daily lifestyle. To get there, take your time and get inspired. Choose a professional who can weave your creative impulses into a practical plan. It will become the outdoor environment you’ve been dreaming of.
Barry Schneider is a partner at Surrounds, Inc.
