Bel Pre Glassworks, Inc. Our Story Bel Pre Glassworks was launched in 1974 with the goal of providing customers with quality products and service at competitive prices. A family-run enterprise, it employs eight family members today. “We build on traditions in the way we work,” says August Gagliarducci. “We are truly a family business.”

Bel Pre Glassworks designs and fabricates frameless shower enclosures; custom, antique and framed mirrors; painted-glass backsplashes and countertops; glass tabletops; and glass cabinet-door fronts. Beveling, sandblasting and waterjet designs are its specialties.

Bel Pre Glassworks maintains a cutting edge by expanding its fabricating capabilities through the use of specialized on-site machinery. The company recently added a state-of-the-art waterjet-fabrication machine and a tempering oven that enables the fabrication of glass-enclosed shower doors in-house.

The team at Bel Pre collaborates with customers to create the applications that will best suit their needs while guiding them towards timeless designs they’ll be able to enjoy for years to come. “Ours is a service business,” observes Gagliarducci. “It brings us satisfaction to fill the needs of our customers.”

Contact:

1050 First Street, Rockville, Maryland 20850

301-948-6003 • [email protected] • belpreglass.com

Creative Classics Furniture Our Story Hailing originally from Cleveland, Scott and Rachel Hughey opened Creative Classics Furniture in Old Town Alexandria in 2000—and quickly discovered that “Ohio-sized” furniture does not fit in Metro DC houses. Today, the company sells American-made furniture for smaller spaces. Pieces are customizable and multi-functional, incorporating unique storage options and creatively maximizing space.

“We know that items must not only fit your room, they must be deliverable despite limited access due to narrow doors, tight staircases, etc. So we look for furniture with smaller measurements or removable components,” explains Scott Hughey.

Creative Classics feels that American-made furniture is better crafted and more environmentally friendly, made of solid North American hardwoods in a variety of finishes and wood species. The sales staff is salaried, so they’re never pushy. A licensed interior designer on staff makes home visits. “Our goal is to help make your home comfortable, functional and beautiful,” Hughey says.

Contact:

906 King Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314
703-518-4663 • [email protected] • creativeclassics.com

Annapolis Lighting Our Story For more than 50 years, Annapolis Lighting has continued to represent excellence in lighting and design. Colonial Electric Supply acquired the company in 2009 and has maintained and enhanced its lighting tradition. The company’s newest adventure: relocating from Rockville Pike to Gude Drive in Rockville. Thanks to a dedicated and talented staff, contractors and vendors, the move was a success! At the new location, a team of professionals and certified consultants is ready to impress customers with the latest trends in lighting and controls. Stop in and see the new, state-of-the-art light lab, talk with the knowledgeable staff about the newest advancements in decorative lighting and view a selection of accessories that will complement your home down to the smallest detail. While Annapolis Lighting has a new location, new displays, and new products, it still serves customers with the same personal touch. Thanks for supporting a family-owned and operated the local business.

Contact:

800 E. Gude Drive, Rockville, Maryland 20852 • 301-231-4994

71 Forest Plaza, Annapolis, Maryland 21401 • 410-224-2565

10362 Fairfax Boulevard, Fairfax, Virginia 22030 • 703-995-8300

[email protected] • annapolislighting.com

Remodeling Case Study Nestled into the eclectic Chevy Chase neighborhood of Somerset, a nondescript split-level house caught the eye of buyers who appreciated its bones despite its outdated condition. They consulted architect Lou Balodemas about a whole-house renovation that would bring in light, impart a modern, open feel and enliven the exterior.

The front door leads to a ground-level foyer, which Balodemas expanded out about four feet; he also updated the space with a dark, porcelain-tile floor. The existing staircase was retained; it leads up to the main level, which has been transformed from a series of separate rooms into an open-plan space encompassing living and dining areas and a kitchen.

One of the main goals of the project was to bring in as much light as possible. “Opening up the rooms helped,” Balodemas says. “We also removed false framing that created slanted ceilings in the living and dining rooms. Now, there’s a cathedral ceiling across both areas.” Skylights have been added above the dining area, in the kitchen, and in both baths, while the living room windows were enlarged. The kitchen and both baths were updated with a sleek, modern aesthetic, and an existing screened porch has been rebuilt.

The front façade underwent a major facelift that adds visual interest and curbs appeal. “The garage doors really needed to be de-emphasized,” Balodemas says. “We replaced them with a single custom door of sapele mahogany.” A matching decorative panel was installed beside it, and a new front door, flanked by wide sidelines, is painted eye-catching, welcoming red.

Renovation Architecture: Lou Balodemas, AIA, Balodemas Architects, Washington, DC. Builder: Phil Mann, Highbury Construction, Washington, DC. Interior Design: Christie Leu, Christie Leu Interiors, Chevy Chase, Maryland. Photography: Anice Hoachlander.

Lou Balodemas’s Trade Secrets:

• Before you begin the renovation process, be sure to communicate as much information as you can to your architect about what you want.  This will streamline the process and make it easier for him/her to achieve a design that satisfies you and meets your needs.
• In terms of design, take what the existing house gives you. Don’t force unnecessary alterations in an effort to make the house something it’s not. You will be happier with the result.
• Make decisions as early as possible in the process and try to stick with them. This is the best way to avoid extra, unforeseen work and expense.
• Be prepared to pay what it takes to hire a proven and reliable contractor. It will be worth the investment.

Landscaping + Outdoor Living Case Study J. Landon Reeve owns 34 bucolic acres in Woodbine, Maryland. Home to both his residence and his firm, Chapel Valley Landscape Company, the property is heavily wooded, but near the house, woods give way to a pristine lawn and poolscape.

Reeve and his wife completed a major overhaul of this beautiful backyard in 2001, and the property earned a 2014 Decade Award from the Landscape Contractors Association. With mature vegetation and a timeless design, the property remains an inviting refuge. “The whole design was planned for entertaining,” says Reeve’s wife, Dallas. “We have grandkids nearby. Everything we did was with friends and family in mind.”

A flat expanse of lawn can hold a tent for big parties, while the adjacent pool area is framed by pergolas that allow for a longer swimming season by buffering against the elements. Slate paths lead conveniently to the house, tennis court, driveway and nursery.

The new design was challenging. “We had the septic system to work around,” says Landon. “And we had to get the grade right. There are a deep swale and water from the woods runs into it naturally. We sited the pool by it, but elevated it to avoid flooding.” A curved, 200-foot-long retaining wall separates the yard from the woods; a summer garden of lilies, iris, coneflowers and pink and white flox nestles on the slope where the woods begin. “It’s a tapestry of plants, so we have variations of color even when they’re not blooming,” says Reeve.

Wisteria drapes the pergolas and neat rows of boxwood delineate paths and beds. Pots of hibiscus and petunia add color to the pool deck.

Landscape Design: J. Landon Reeve IV, Chapel Valley Landscape Company, Woodbine, Maryland. Photography: Jeff Atkinson.

J. Landon Reeve’s Trade Secrets:

• Hire a good landscape architect who can help with the setting of the pool and make each element flow together. We wanted a garden with a pool in it; we didn’t want it to be all pool. Make sure your landscape is balanced.
• Nowadays, you see more hardscape and fewer plants. I prefer not to take away from the plantings with too much hardscape.
• Make sure your site plan accounts for drainage and location of the sun. Is the lighting good for what you want to do in your yard?
• Remember how your landscape is going to be used and don’t get carried away with frills. It should be beautiful, but not at the expense of making it uncomfortable.
• Get advice on plantings from nurseries and other experts.

Kitchen + Bath Case Study A run-of-the-mill kitchen in an eight-year-old home suffered from a poor layout and boring, builder-grade finishes. The owners contacted the team at Jordan Design-Build Group to redesign the space and impart greater functionality with a clean, classic sensibility.

In the original kitchen, a massive refrigerator was the unfortunate focal point. “It was the first thing you saw as you entered the room,” recalls principal David Jordan. First, the team shuffled appliances around, locating the range in an attractive niche in the refrigerator’s spot. Above it, a hood is concealed beneath custom paneling by Woodharbor. A Viking convection oven now sits to the right of the range and the fridge is tucked along another wall.

The new design left room for a beverage center, complete with drinks and wine refrigerators from GE Monogram. A built-in Miele coffeemaker is concealed behind cabinet doors.

The island has been extended to combine an eating area with prep space and storage. The Rohl farmhouse sink now occupies a corner by the window flanked by dual GE Profile dishwashers.

To achieve the classic look they were after, the owners selected white cabinetry by Merillat paired with oil-rubbed bronze hardware and Calacatta marble peripheral countertops. The island is topped with walnut and a beveled white porcelain subway-tile backsplash looks crisp and clean. Dark porcelain-tile floors with a leathered finish picking up the color of the walnut.

The lighting system and outlets are concealed to keep the space uncluttered. Pendants from Remains Lighting offer a distinctive touch.

Renovation Architecture: Tamara Beauchard, Hyattsville, Maryland. Builder: David A. Jordan; Interior Design: Shelley Vilov, IIDA, Jordan Design-Build Group, LLC, Fairfax, Virginia. Photography: Stacy Zarin Goldberg.

David Jordan’s Trade Secrets:

• Do a thorough kitchen inventory before you begin your renovation. Plan for where and how everything will be stored.
• Use a layered approach to lighting. Consider both natural and artificial light, and if possible, combine functional as well as decorative fixtures.
• Don’t be swayed by trends. It is more important to focus on creating a kitchen that will function for your lifestyle.
• Take advantage of high ceilings by using stacked cabinets. In this project, the ceilings are 10 feet and in the previous layout, there were 18 inches of unused space above the cabinets. We stacked the cabinetry to the ceiling, creating a more tailored look as well as additional storage.
• Don’t rush the design. Thoughtful planning up front will lead to a more successful renovation.

Interior Design Case Study Celia Welch subscribes to the notion that less is more when it comes to interior design. “My style is grounded in simplicity,” she explains. “Ultimately, I believe that simple home design leads to ease of living.”

This philosophy underlies all of her projects, and it’s what attracted a couple building a custom home in the Middleburg area. They brought Welch in at the start of the process, asking her to work closely with their builder, Visnic Homes, to create an elegant yet comfortable abode that capitalizes on its bucolic surroundings; the kitchen and adjacent family room exemplify the team’s success.

The house is located on a golf course, so retaining unimpeded views was a high priority. The two-story family room and adjacent kitchen are flanked by windows and French doors; solar shades can be tucked away and draperies frame the window and door openings.

To delineate the kitchen and sitting area, Welch designed a granite-topped, walnut display shelf. The kitchen boasts custom Shaker-style cabinetry and Carrara marble counters and backsplash. The kitchen opens to a breakfast nook where a rustic roundtable is artfully paired with bright red Windsor chairs from Maine Cottage. Welch designed a cabinet that beautifully displays the couple’s pottery collection along one wall.

Most of the furniture is new to the house. An existing Baker sofa was reupholstered for the sitting area and Welch selected a metal coffee table and wood-framed chairs, both from Four Hands in California, to create “simple, soft lines with a touch of modern,” she says. A restful landscape by John Brandon Sills adorns the mantel.

Builder: Ted Visnic, Visnic Homes, Rockville, Maryland. Interior Design: Celia Welch, Celia Welch Interiors, Bethesda, Maryland. Photography: Angie Seckinger.

Celia Welch’s Trade Secrets:

• Remember that keeping things simple, without too much clutter, allows the details to show. We used the same color metal for hardware, light fixtures, and drapery rods—and they are more noticeable because space is not cluttered.
• Stay close to your main concept.
• Look for different ways to add interest. Here, the interior doors are painted a different color from the trim and walls.
• With tall ceilings, there are tricks to imparting more human scale to space. Hanging sconces and low pendants bring the eye down. In this room, a raised hearth made the fireplace taller.
• Use one flooring material throughout the house to keep things flowing. It will open up space.
• Display shelves are a great way to introduce what is important to you.

Floors + Windows + Doors Case Study Repeat clients in Potomac contacted the design/build firm BOWA to add a great room and outdoor pool to their previously renovated property. But after some consideration, the owners and design team opted to combine the two. “They decided to build an indoor pool with adjacency to the new great room,” recalls principal Steve Kirstein. BOWA partnered with architect David Cooper of Anderson Cooper Group Architects on a design that connects the two spaces.

The great room measures a spacious 30 by 50 feet—and the pool area dwarfs it at 45 by 70 feet. The challenge was to create spaces that felt light and airy despite their size. BOWA constructed a dramatic vaulted ceiling over the pool using timber trusses. Two massive, custom skylight panels, each measuring 16 by 30 feet, were installed on either side of the pitched roof; each boasts 36 five-by-five-foot square mullions. Glass doors by LaCantina fold back into pockets to separate the spaces; when open, they allow for easy entertaining. The doors seal the pool off entirely from the great room “so there’s no pool smell,” explains Kirstein. The climate in the pool area is also controlled separately.

The pool area is contained by a combination of eight-foot-tall, floor-to-ceiling Windsor windows (with mullions that match the skylight panels) and more glass folding doors designed to bring in as much light as possible. Above the doors and windows are two-foot-high transoms, a number of which open electronically. The doors lead out to the surrounding patio; when they are folded and tucked away, the pool area becomes part of the outdoors. “The concept was to feel like you’re outside when you’re in the pool area,” Kirstein says.

Renovation Design/Build: Steve Kirstein, BOWA, McLean, Virginia. Interior Design: Sharon Kleinman, Transitions by Sharon Kleinman, Potomac, Maryland. Photography: Gwin Hunt.

Steve Kirstein’s Trade Secrets:

• When possible, use maintenance-free exteriors on doors and windows.
• Transoms paired with standard-size doors and windows reduce budget and add height.
• Consider door swings and “travel lanes” prior to ordering furniture.
• While maximizing glass size, allow for trim plus a bit extra so the details will work out.
• Consider the path of the sun and the resulting views before determining window and door locations.
• A high window or large skylight may be the best option on a tight project site. Provide windows at the end of passages and ensure multiple light sources.
• Many product lines offer a split finish, with the inside stained or painted to complement the interior finishes while the outside is pre-finished.

Fine Furnishings + Art Case Study A couple who tapped architect Cathy Purple Cherry to design their waterfront home had a very specific vision for their new abode. They wished it to embrace its surroundings through the use of organic materials, providing a strong connection to the outdoors as well as a backdrop to art they had collected over the years.

The finished house showcases giant stone slabs, Douglas fir woodwork, hand-rubbed walnut floors and a floating staircase of wood, steel, and glass. Purple Cherry and designer Arlene Critzos found ways to highlight artwork that runs the gamut from paintings and sculpture to fossils embedded in stone. Critzos designed furniture that quietly supports this aesthetic. “The mission was not to compete with the architecture,” she says.

In the husband’s office (pictured), the stone fireplace is a work of art in itself. A live-edge desk—fabricated from a walnut slab by Hudson Furniture—occupies center stage, while the low-slung slate coffee table is intentionally unobtrusive. The custom chandelier was fabricated by Bob Jones Lighting Specialists.

In the great room (pictured), the stone fireplace wall complements a painting by Ashley Collins; it conceals a TV. In a hallway, Purple Cherry created a niche for an ancient piece of fossilized stone (pictured). Gutierrez Studios fabricated the staircase, which on the lower level (pictured) frames wall sculptures of turtles and a bunch of petrified rainforest wood. A 27-foot, hand-blown glass light fixture, fabricated by Shakúff, adorns the stairwell. “We were blessed,” says Purple Cherry. “We had a client who appreciated creativity.”

Architecture: Cathy Purple Cherry, AIA, LEED AP, Purple Cherry Architects, Annapolis, Maryland. Interior Design: Arlene Critzos and Catherine Belkov, Interior Concepts, Annapolis, Maryland. Builder: Bret Anderson, Pyramid Builders, Annapolis, Maryland. Photography: David Burroughs.

Arlene Critzos’s Trade Secrets:

• I look at art two ways: Either it’s the main feature and the room pays homage to it, or it’s the opposite—the room speaks and the art fills in. The client should determine which is the right answer for them.
• Before you begin, ask yourself if there’s something special you want to showcase in your home. A designer can help you figure out the right balance.
• Blend your furniture and art by deciding which comes first. In this case, the architecture was first, the art was second and the furniture third.
• Art means different things to different people. It can be anything. I designed a room recently around framed floating scarves by Hermès.
• Architecture should rule; interior design should come second.

Our Story Area architects, designers, and landscape designers contributed company profiles, complete with project photos and descriptions. We hope their stories will provide a reliable resource for your next home project.

Annapolis Lighting

B&F Ceramics Design Showroom, Inc.

Bel Pre Glassworks, Inc.

Creative Classics Furniture

Great American Landscapes, Inc.

McHale Landscape Design, Inc.

Royal Building Products

Custom Closets + Organized Spaces Case Study A Cleveland Park couple with one child and a baby on the way hired Bruce Wentworth to turn their partially finished basement into a fun, vibrant playroom complete with a small bath and plenty of storage.

Before the project began, a disused oil tank had to be removed. This opened up the east-facing wall, which includes three windows—two of which are installed within a square bay. Sloppy, intrusive duct-work was rerouted and narrowed to maximize the height of the seven-foot ceiling. Now, a bulkhead in the center of the room accommodates a structural beam; it’s bordered by coves fitted with rope lighting.

“Wherever possible, the highest ceiling areas were maintained to create the illusion of a taller space,” Wentworth says.

A custom storage-and-bookcase unit was designed around the windows within the bay, creating an attractive focal point in the room. In order to accommodate the 1926 home’s problematic sloped basement floor, the built-in units have a recessed, four-inch-high toe kick that makes them look like they’re floating, thus concealing the irregular surface. The lower-level drawers store board games and toys while the upper ones hold books. A second built-in unit incorporates cozy seating in a niche under the stairwell.

Wentworth and his team worked with decorator Nicole Lanteri to select colors and furnishings. Since the couple likes a Mid-Century Modern look, Lanteri chose bright pops of color inspired by that era for paint, upholstery, and pillows. “Clients often find they want to be bolder with playrooms,” Wentworth observes. “They want a different look from the rest of the house. It can be a refreshing change.”

Renovation Architecture: Bruce Wentworth, Aia; Michael Merschat, Aia, Wentworth, Inc., Chevy Chase, Maryland. Color & Furniture Selection: Nicole Lanteri, Nicole Lanteri Design, Arlington, Virginia. Photography: Geoffrey Hodgdon.

Bruce Wentworth’s Trade Secrets:

• When finishing a basement space, consider using porcelain tile on the floor if there are moisture issues.
• Remember that you can move or change the dimension of ductwork if it’s in the way. In this case, Wentworth moved it away from the window wall to raise the ceiling height and bring in more light.
• If the floor is very sloped, as in this house, a liquid leveler will even it. However, that is an expensive solution. In this home, built-ins were designed to look like they’re floating. This is a trick that hides irregularities.
• Be sure the basement design utilizes all extra space for storage.
• Have fun with a playroom space. Here, in addition to bright, playful colors, the design team implemented chalkboard and magnetic paint.

Audio/Video + Lighting Case Study The cavernous basement of an Annapolis home was being used to store jet skis and motorcycles before the owners decided to transform it into a space for entertaining. They wanted an open media room that would transition to areas where their kids and guests could relax, play games and socialize in style.

After visiting Gramophone’s showroom in Timonium, Maryland, and reviewing home-automation options, the couple hired the company to design and build their 1,800-square-foot play space and also take care of the lighting, home technology, and décor.

The finished project includes a billiards area with a stone fireplace, a game space with poker table and custom leather banquette, a kitchenette with a microwave and dishwasher to make parties a breeze and a media room with a custom leather sectional. A freestanding bar overlooking the theater area accommodates spill-over crowds on game day.

Simple-to-use controls enable the owners to automate A/V and lighting by iPad or remote—whether they want to change the colors of the LED lights installed in their cove or coffered ceilings or simultaneously view four to six different movies or shows on the 125-inch screen and four 55-inch Sony TVs installed throughout the space. Millwork and acoustic panels disguise A/V equipment while drapes on an automated track can block out sound and light from the theater.

The entire project was designed and completed in 12 weeks. “Because we controlled the build-out, things moved quickly,” says Andrew Davis, director, and COO of Gramophone. “The owner believed in our vision and allowed us to run with it.”

Contractor: Steve Malat; Interior Design: Bethany Johnson; Lighting: Jeff Nale; Audio/Video: Andrew Davis, Gramophone, Timonium, Maryland. Photography: Maryland Photography, Inc.

Andrew Davis’s Trade secrets:

• Too often, A/V and lighting are thought about once a project is underway so you have to retrofit. When a whole team sees a vision through from the get-go, the end result is much better.
• Talk to a specialist and interview past clients to ensure a vendor’s work ethic and expertise.
• Visit a showroom that can show off different technologies to make sure you’re not missing out on anything. Touch, see and play with a system to be sure it’s something you’re going to enjoy. What you see on a website can be different than what you actually get so you need to work on it & do proper website maintenance for best results.
• Thinking through a lighting plan is really important to make a designer’s vision come to life. Lighting completely sets the mood, makes space look larger and enhances certain features.

Architecture + Custom Building Case Study Hired to design a new home for a family of five in Maryland’s Brookmont neighborhood, architects Maria Casarella and Angela Yu of Cunningham | Quill faced a unique challenge: strike a balance between giving the owners the large house they desired and respecting the fabric of the surrounding 1930s-era bungalows. The landscape—described by Casarella as “a huge, soggy mess”—posed challenges of its own.

The architects developed a plan that would organize the home around a central staircase that brings light from the top floor to the basement. An informal layout, with no traditional dining room, includes an open living area and kitchen on the main level and four bedrooms upstairs.

A palette of stucco and stone with mahogany trim both indoors and out reflects the home’s natural setting. So as not to block the views, the garage was sheathed in mahogany slats, creating a light-filled space that doubles as a porch for casual gatherings.

With sustainability in mind, the architects positioned the house, its windows, and its low eaves to minimize solar heat gain and maximize daylight effects. Other eco-friendly features include geothermal heating and cooling and an LED lighting system. A series of vegetated swales resolved storm-water issues.

Bridging modern and Craftsman design, the completed house appropriately fits the neighborhood—and the owners are thrilled with the results. “With these good ingredients,” concludes Casarella, “it’s hard to mess up.”

Architecture: Maria Casarella, AIA, senior associate; Angela Yu, AIA, project architect, Cunningham | Quill Architects, Washington, DC. Furniture: Sarah Purdy, SPI Design, Alexandria, Virginia. Builder: Potomac Valley Builders, Bethesda, Maryland. Kitchen Cabinetry: Karen Hourigan, Kitchen and Bath Studios, Chevy Chase, Maryland. Landscape Architecture: Robert Hruby, ASLA, Campion Hruby Landscape Architects, Annapolis, Maryland. Photography: Anice Hoachlander.

Maria Casarella’s Trade secrets:

• Trust the experience of the professionals you hire. You want an architect who has gone through the process with a high level of excellence in mind.
• Have a house that’s easy to maintain. The basic stuff—insulation, windows that work properly, making sure that stormwater is managed correctly—goes a long way toward energy conservation.
• The least revealing factor about a builder is the price. It doesn’t tell you anything about what it’s like to work with them or their ability to manage a project.
• It’s misleading to look at images [of homes] and not realize how much thought is behind them. Architecture is not instantaneous. We are trained as generalized thinkers who put people together to make something. You want someone who really has that expertise.

Remodeling: Drawing Board The kitchen of a Potomac home on a golf course was closed off and dark. The owners hired Sonny Nazemian of Michael Nash Design Build & Homes to open up the outdated space, adding abundant light and views of the outdoors.

Renovation Construction & Kitchen Design: Sonny Nazemian, Cid, Cr, Ckbr, Michael Nash Design Build & Homes, Fairfax, Virginia. Photography: Greg Hadley.

Landscaping + Outdoor Living: Drawing Board A couple with two daughters tapped landscape architect Daniel Robey to create a “vacation home in Potomac” by adding outdoor living spaces, a pool, water features and a pool house to their under-utilized backyard.

Landscape Architecture & Contracting: Daniel Robey, McHale Landscape Design, Upper Marlboro, Maryland. Pool: Town & Country Pools, Springfield, Virginia. Photography: John Spaulding.

Kitchen + Bath: Drawing Board An Ashburn, Virginia, couple was looking to modernize their large but dark and poorly laid-out master bath. They hired Paula Grace Halewski, who was already redesigning their house, to imbue the space with better flow and a lighter, more sophisticated sensibility.

Interior Design: Paula Grace Halewski; Paula Grace Designs, Inc., Ashburn, Virginia. Builder: CarrMichael Construction, Fairfax, Virginia. Photography: Bob Narod.