Poolside on a Potomac property, a clean-lined pavilion forms a dramatic focal point. GTM Architects conceived the 1,100-square-foot structure to create an al fresco kitchen, dining area and lounge where residents can gather, watch TV and entertain. Reflecting the main home’s architecture, the design combines a flat, cantilevered roof, a Sapele mahogany trellis wall and a fireplace. The kitchen features a grill, pizza oven and outdoor appliances. A palette of metal, concrete, stone and wood blends modern and natural elements.
Architecture: Mark Kaufman, AIA, LEED-AP, GTM Architects. Builder: FWI Custom Homes LLC. Automation: Bethesda Systems.
An abandoned DC warehouse presented an ideal canvas for Patrick Brian Jones to conjure his own urban live-and-work space. The architect updated and expanded the ramshackle, single-story brick structure into an airy, industrial-style dwelling. Exposed ductwork, black-mullioned windows and concrete floors define the ground level, encompassing a studio, living/dining area and custom kitchen. A floating staircase ascends to a new second floor, which houses an office, guest quarters and the primary suite. A roof deck above surveys the city skyline.
Preserving the building’s shell and main-floor’s concrete ceiling reduced Jones’ carbon footprint. “It’s very rewarding to repurpose a building rather than demolishing it and sending materials to a landfill,” he notes. Solar panels offset the use of electricity in this 100-percent fossil fuel-free home.
Architecture & Interior Design: Patrick Brian Jones, AIA, Patrick Brian Jones PLLC. Builder: CMX Construction Group.
Bordered by a forest reserve, an eco-friendly getaway designed by architect Amy Gardner celebrates its waterfront Annapolis locale. The 8,500-square-foot home weaves together landscaping and the built environment in a sequence of interconnected spaces. The property is organized around a garden court, with a biopool on its southern boundary. From its terraces to its retractable walls, the home bonds with nature at every turn.
Architecture: Amy Gardner, FAIA, LEED AP; Brittany Williams, AIA, LEED AP, Gardner Architects. Interior Design: ColePrévost, Inc. Landscape Architecture: Campion Hruby Landscape Architects. Builder: Bayview Builders.
On a five-acre plot in Etlan, Virginia, a contemporary farmhouse stands out among the rolling pastures—not least for its bold red hue. Designed by architect Robert Gurney, the 1,700-square-foot home features three connected gabled volumes dressed in humble exterior materials, such as clapboard siding, asphalt shingles and corrugated metal. Inside, tall ceilings, large windows and quiet finishes conjure an air of monastic calm, allowing the exquisite scenery to be the main draw.
Architecture: Robert M. Gurney, FAIA, principal; Matt Stephens, project architect; Robert M. Gurney, FAIA Architect. Builder: Fajen & Brown. Landscape Architecture: Campion Hruby Landscape Architects.
A gatekeeper’s cottage with swooping gables and period details welcomes visitors to a 400-acre historic estate in Queen Anne County, Maryland. Architect Greg Wiedemann helmed the project, whose scope included the one-bedroom house and access gates which lead to a main residence designed by William Lawrence Bottomley nearly a century ago. “The overall goal was for this structure to be consistent with the period of 1930s English-inspired domestic architecture,” notes Weidemann of his desire for the cottage to blend with the existing buildings.
Thoughtfully conceived interiors nod to the Arts and Crafts movement with an emphasis on nature motifs and earthy colors. All in all, the 1,500-square-foot outpost serves as the perfect amuse bouche for what’s to come.
Architecture: Greg Wiedemann, FAIA, principal; Kathi Bogue, project architect; Wiedemann Architects, LLC. Interior Design: Shaun Jackson, Bluepoint Hospitality. Builder: Winchester.
A young family called upon architect Donald Lococo to reimagine a 1965 builder-grade home. Shifting the design language from American French Provincial to a fresh Belgian Modern look, he simplified and edited the exterior, replacing fenestration and skimming the original brick with a thin stucco-like finish. Inside, base trim was minimized and crown molding removed. Frequent design collaborator Darryl Carter handled the interiors and Jennifer Horn shaped the landscape.
Architecture: Donald Lococo, AIA, principal; David Moore, project architect, Donald Lococo Architects. Interior Design: Darryl Carter Inc. Builder: Horizon Builders. Landscape Design: Horn and Co.
A waterfront Annapolis escape immerses its residents in nature while meeting high standards of performance and design. Constructed by Bayview Builders with an eye on sustainability, the modern, 8,500-square-foot retreat is composed of three distinct volumes that capture sunlight and frame views of the lush forest canopy. In addition to two green roofs, the home features a chemical-free biopool filtered by aquatic plants and natural materials.
The team designed, reviewed and executed every detail in close collaboration. Challenges included tight site access, complex geothermal and hydronic heating systems and an intricate, commercial-grade lighting plan. “The final result,” says Bayview’s David Carlisle, “is a peaceful forest sanctuary that reflects the homeowner’s lifestyle, values—and deep connection to the land.”
Architecture: Gardner Architects LLC. Interior Design: ColePrévost, Inc. Kitchen Design: Jennifer Gilmer Kitchen & Bath. Landscape Architecture: Campion Hruby Landscape Architects. Builder: David Carlisle; Neil Thompson, Bayview Builders.
The owners of this Silver Spring home, a couple with three sons, envisioned a stylish sanctuary. Situated on a compact lot, the modest-scale dwelling built by Classic Homes of Maryland employs contemporary lines, which lend the structure a modern sensibility, while a mixed material palette complements the surrounding houses on the street.
The main level features an open-concept kitchen and family room, as well as a private office alcove. The upper level promotes quiet restful spaces, emphasizing finish details and careful window placement. Oversized fenestration bathes the interiors in natural light. Outside, a grassy backyard with a professional-grade basketball court offers a relaxing retreat from urban life.
Architecture & Interior Design: Carib Daniel Martin | architecture + design. Kitchen & Bath Design: Division 12 Design. Builder: Howard Saslow, Classic Homes of Maryland.
A couple tapped Teass \ Warren Architects and The Block Builders Group to orchestrate a classically modern home in North Chevy Chase, Maryland, where they can comfortably age in place. Designed and built on a relatively modest budget, the home can adapt as the owners’ needs change.
A second side entry, built near grade, can easily be equipped with a ramp. Spacious, airy interiors feature generous circulation areas, wide doors and appropriate framing to accommodate a future elevator. The primary suite is situated on the ground floor, while the second level houses two additional bedrooms and two offices. In all, the finished project met and exceeded the owners’ wish for a “forever home.”
Architecture: Teass \ Warren Architects. Builder: Tony Paulos, The Block Builders Group.
It just so happens that this modern 1960 DC home—one of only three residences that I.M. Pei designed—occupies a spot on the National Register of Historic Places. So when the owners enlisted architect Robert Gurney to restore and expand it, he paid homage to Pei’s iconic design. The redo stripped the structure down to its brick walls, wood frame and triple-barrel-vaulted roof. Then it was rebuilt to include updated HVAC and electrical systems as well as the streamlined kitchen and minimalist millwork. An excavation made way for a new guest suite and media room. And an office and garage were introduced in a new two-story outbuilding that conveys its own architectural language, leaving Pei’s original to live on, better than ever.
Architecture: Robert M. Gurney, FAIA, principal; Matt Stephens, project architect, Robert M. Gurney, FAIA Architect. Interior Design: Baron Gurney Interiors, LLC. Builder: Peterson + Collins. Landscape Architecture: Campion Hruby Landscape Architects.
Ship’s Point, a 13-acre estate in Easton, Maryland, is home to a 1920s-era Colonial Revival manse that had fallen into disrepair. During a renovation led by architect Greg Wiedemann, most of the interior was gutted, while original woodwork was restored. All trim, casement windows, the slate roof and south-facing portico were replaced. Modern technology, including a new geothermal system, ensures the home will last for future generations.
Architecture: Greg Wiedemann, FAIA, principal; Barbara Sweeney, AIA, project architect, Wiedemann Architects, LLC. Interior Design: Shaun Jackson, Bluepoint Hospitality. Contractor: Winchester.
THEN | NOW |
| Originally conceived as both a laundry and mudroom, the space had a side-by-side washer and dryer and no storage at all; it was often cluttered with the family’s outerwear. | Stacking the washer and dryer creates more floor space and installing a wall of cabinetry—painted a jaunty pistachio hue—allows the residents to stash everything from laundry supplies to jackets behind closed doors. |
| With a single freestanding sink and zero countertop space, there was no place to fold clothes or pre-treat stains. | The new cabinetry configuration integrates the sink. Expanded countertops on each side allow for laundry prep and folding. A suspended bar over the sink provides a spot to let delicates air-dry. |
| A classic black-and-white-checkerboard floor conveyed vintage charm but had seen better days. Walls were painted a dark hue that made the space feel dreary. | Farnady hand-selected square, two-by-two-inch marble tiles in an array of colors to create a custom mosaic floor. Feather-patterned wallpaper enlivens the walls, while a speckled print adds interest to the ceiling. |
Renovation Architecture: The Drawing Board, Inc., Washington, DC. Interior Design: Katalin Farnady, Farnady Interiors, Annapolis, Maryland. Contractor: Bayview Builders, Annapolis, Maryland.
THEN | NOW |
| A formal, open-plan sitting room on the front of the house served no purpose for a busy family who seldom set foot in it. The owners requested a space that could function as a home office, lounge and media room. | Enclosing the space with steel-framed glass-paneled doors from Rustica creates a sense of separation from the entry, so the clients can work or watch TV while still feeling connected to the rest of the house. |
| By painting the wainscot and walls a dark color and leaving the trim and ceiling white, the room appeared choppy and cut-off. | Drenching the walls and ceiling in Benjamin Moore’s Dark Olive lends the space continuity, making it feel simultaneously larger and cozy. Bringing in bouclé chairs and natural finishes, such as petrified wood, keeps the vibe soft and organic. |
| The space lacked storage solutions so the existing furniture became a drop zone for the family’s belongings the moment they came in the front door. | Built-ins by Alvarado Custom Carpentry along the back wall give the room purpose and function; a desk and cabinets hide files and home office supplies, while a mini-bar and media center let the space do double-duty as a lounge. |
Interior Design: Anabel Hering, Black Salt Home Design, Kensington, Maryland. Contractor: Alvarado Custom Carpentry, Manassas, Virginia. Styling: Kristen Alcorta.
THEN | NOW |
| The original bath faced the backyard, while the primary bedroom sat on the front of the house. The bath’s awkward layout featured a cramped stall shower and a large corner tub that ate up most of the room. | Flopping the primary bedroom and bath locations required a full plumbing overhaul, but doing so allowed the design team to rejigger the layout to incorporate an oversized shower and freestanding soaker. |
| His-and-her vanities resided on each side of the corner tub, feeling disconnected. They also lacked enough storage for the couple’s things. | Waterlily Interiors worked with BOWA to create a long vanity with dual sinks and storage towers. A free-standing wood cabinet from Four Hands acts as a cache for extra toiletries and linens. |
| Builder-grade finishes, including ho-hum lighting choices and lackluster tile, left the original bath feeling bland and uninspired. | A dramatic Regina Andrew bubble chandelier and Visual Comfort sconces complement the light palette and luxe finishes, which include bookmatched porcelain slabs behind the tub and Marble Systems custom mosaic tile on the floor. |
Interior Design: Tracy Schlegel, Waterlily Interiors, Bethesda, Maryland. Renovation Architecture & Contracting: BOWA, McLean, Virginia.
THEN | NOW |
| After a large-scale house renovation, plant material had been dug up and set aside, affecting grading and drainage. What was left of the 1.5-acre landscape no longer matched the architecture of the home. | McHale identified the plantings that were worth keeping and replaced what wasn’t, blending the existing environment with the newer plant material. The unified landscape complements the home’s freshened-up look. |
| An existing pergola by the pool was overwhelmed by wisteria vines; a fairy garden with statuary and eclectic plantings—a relic from a former owner—took up a valuable, shady spot on the property. | Drastically cutting back the pergola’s overgrowth creates a more inviting gathering space with a firepit. The fairy garden is transformed into a lush, three-hole putting green complete with a hammock for lounging. |
| Along the property’s edge, several evergreens were weak or failing, creating a spotty screen and compromising the client’s privacy. | Green Giant arborvitae and hollies fill in the gaps along the border and form a backdrop for a year-round profusion of color that includes native dogwood, redbud, viburnum, hydrangea and crape myrtle. |
Landscape Architecture & Contracting: Phil Kelly, McHale Landscape Design, Upper Marlboro, Maryland.
THEN | NOW |
| An oddly angular kitchen and family room addition was put on the back of a modest, 19th-century Italianate farmhouse in the 1970s. The tacked-on structure was rotting from years of water damage. | Wanting to preserve the contrast of old and new, Blue Star tore down the dated addition; they rebuilt it with a similar footprint and clean, modern lines to contain an all-new kitchen and family room. |
| Plexiglass windows and skylights leaked. The existing windows didn’t bring nearly enough light into the addition, and the awkward angles made the ceilings feel cramped and low. | Squaring off the new addition allowed for lofty 15-foot ceilings. Oversized windows and sliding doors create a back wall of glass, flooding the rooms with natural daylight and better connecting the new interior to the exterior deck. |
| Inside, the original kitchen and family room were in need of a stylistic facelift. Outdated cabinets and a country-kitchen backsplash depicting animals and fruit were well past their date stamp. | Expanding the addition by a modest two feet allows the kitchen layout to fit an island. Inset cabinetry, open shelving, a new luxury range and a light palette lend timeless appeal. |
Renovation Architecture, Interior Design & Contracting: Eric Goetz, Blue Star Design Build, Washington, DC.
PHOTOS: TRISH HAMILTON
