The Excellence in Landscape Awards, sponsored by the Landscape Contractors Association of Maryland, DC and Virginia, recognizes exceptional garden design throughout the region. This annual competition is judged by industry experts who vote in more than a dozen residential and commercial categories. All winners of the 2020 residential awards are listed below and four projects are covered in-depth:
TIMELESS RETREAT
Long-lived plantings lend depth and beauty to a Bethesda garden
read more
SAVVY SOLUTION
D.A. Dunlevy turns a challenging lot into an inviting, private retreat
read more
PLAY SCAPE
Surrounds, Inc., designs the ultimate retreat for fun and relaxation
read more
WORK OF ART
Shorb Landscaping maintains an elegant garden with an eye to ornamentation
read more
DECADE AWARDS
McHale Landscape Design, Inc.—Swinks Mill
Residence for Outdoor Living Area—Vienna Residence for Residential Maintenance—Bodkin Point Residence for Residential Maintenance—A Bethesda Residence for Residential Maintenance
HERITAGE AWARDS
D.A. Dunlevy—Historic Kensington Residence for
Outdoor Living Area/Design-Build
Pinehurst Landscape Company—Historic Guilford Renovation for Total Residential Contracting
GRAND AWARDS
Chapel Valley Landscape Company—Private
Residence in Fairfax, Virginia, for Outdoor Living Area
D.A. Dunlevy—Georgetown Secret Garden for Outdoor
Living Area/Design-Build
Lehnhoff’s Landscaping—Phoenix Residence
for Outdoor Living Area
McHale Landscape Design, Inc.—A Broomes Island Residence for Total Residential Contracting
Planted Earth Landscaping Incorporated—A McLean Residence for Residential Maintenance—A Baltimore County Residence for Total
Residential Contracting
Surrounds, Inc.—Munsun Place for Total
Residential Contracting/Design-Build
DISTINCTION AWARDS
Maxalea—Bass Residence for
Craftsmanship/Design-Build—Reitberger Residence for Total Residential
Contracting/Design-Build
McHale Landscape Design, Inc.—Alexandria Residence for Outdoor Living Area—Potomac Residence for Total Residential Contracting—Hunting Cross Residence for Residential Maintenance—Centreville Residence for Outdoor Living Area—Great Falls Residence for Front Residential Planting and Entranceway
—Crest Lane Residence for Total Residential Contracting—McLean Residence for Outdoor Living Area—Crest Lane Residence for Total Residential Contracting—A Bannockburn Residence for Residential Maintenance
Pinehurst Landscape Company—Lutherville
Backyard Sanctuary for Outdoor Living Area
River’s Edge Landscapes—Stavish Project for Total Residential Contracting/Design-Build
Rossen Landscape —Modern Marvel Outdoor Gallery
for Outdoor Living Area/Design-Build
Shorb Landscaping—A Residence in Bethesda
for Residential Maintenance
Surrounds, Inc.—Backyard Playground and Hangout for Outdoor Living Area/Design-Build
—Towlston for Total Residential
Contracting/Design-Build
Great American Landscapes—Turkey Run Estate for Residential Maintenance/Design-Build
Kane Landscapes—McVey Residence for Outdoor Living Area/Design-Build
Lehnhoff’s Landscaping—Fallston Property for Craftsmanship/Design-Build—Cockeysville Residence for Craftsmanship/Design-Build—Pocket Garden for Outdoor Living Area
Maxalea—Bass Residence for Outdoor
Living Area/Design-Build—Bass Residence for Total Residential
Contracting/Design-Build
McHale Landscape Design, Inc.—Edgewater Residence for Outdoor Living Area—Calvert County Residence for Front Residential Planting
and Entranceway—A Twin Shields Residence for Outdoor Living Area
Planted Earth Landscaping Incorporated—Spring Valley Residence for Total
Residential Contracting
Rossen Landscape—McLean Sophisticated Entertainment for Outdoor Living Area/Design-Build
River’s Edge Landscapes —Ornamental Production Garden for Outdoor Living Area/Design-Build
A Romanesque Revival residence in Kalorama just hit the market. Priced at
$8.9 million, the 7,500-square-foot, 1905 mansion has been updated but retains classic elements such as moldings, pocket doors and its original arched-front vestibule. Modern touches include a marble-slab fireplace in the family room and a marble-clad owners’ bath with a frameless-glass shower. The all-white kitchen features custom cabinetry. The six-bedroom, eight-bath home encompasses three levels, plus a finished basement housing a media room, gym, in-law suite and wine cellar. The terraced property boasts a fire pit, built-in grilling station, pergola and fountain.
1823 Phelps Place, NW.
INQUIRIES: Michael Rankin, TTR Sotheby’s;
202-271-3344. michaelrankin.ttrsir.com Photos: Eric Angelus
Located in The Boro—a green and a walkable mixed-use development in Tysons—Verse condominiums comprises 140 one- and two-bedroom units. The 25-story building was designed by DC firm Shalom Baranes Associates Architects, with interior spaces by Canadian design firm Cecconi Simone. Sleek residences boast window walls; 10-foot living room ceilings; marble-look porcelain baths; and kitchens outfitted with Italian cabinetry, concealed appliances and waterfall engineered-stone countertops. Some units feature expansive balconies.
Residents enjoy a club room, gym and grand, wood-and-stone lobby with a fireplace. Private terraces are available for entertaining, with a central area offering gas grills, fire pits and a bar. Prices start at $500,000.
Dressed for Success - SOFT TOUCHA living room combines Luminette Sheers on the left and Silhouette Window Shades on the right. Luminette features rotating fabric vanes and sheer vertical panels; Silhouette offers adjustable vanes that appear to float between sheer panels. Both Hunter Douglas products are available at Rockville Interiors.
How do you determine what type of window treatment to use in a space?
Our designers ask key questions to whittle down all the options. Are clients interested in making the treatment motorized? Do they want the design to be subtle and disappear, or do they want it to be a focal point in the room? We then show photos and videos of the best options and bring out fabric samples of each.
The elements in a room will help dictate whether to use shades or drapes.
—Tom Fulop and Ilan Fulop, Rockville Interiors
French doors are dressed in roller shades sporting a playful geometric pattern, part of Jonathan Adler’s collection for The Shade Store.
What are the latest trends in shades and how do you successfully layer them with draperies?
We have seen increased interest in motorized and automated treatments, especially those that integrate with smart-home systems. Automation by Lutron is one of our most popular products. Motorized shades can be minimal and modern, soft and traditional or anywhere in between. Layering motorized shades with motorized drapery is a great way to bring added depth and warmth to windows, as well as functionality and ease of use.
Extending your window treatment above and beyond the window boundary adds height and drama.
—Adam Skalman, The Shade Store
Custom drapery panels and an outside-mount Roman shade frame tranquil views in an Oxford, Maryland, bedroom. Everett Design, Inc., crafted these treatments using fabrics by Marika Meyer Textiles. The shades are lined with several all-cotton layers, which create a supple, rich look. When the panels are drawn together, the leading edges of the fabric flow in a continuous pattern. Architecture: Purple Cherry Architects. Interior Design: Marika Meyer Interiors. Photo: Angie Seckinger.
What are the advantages of custom window treatments?
Custom window treatments are complementary additions that are tailored to the proportions of a space. We thoughtfully look at a fabric and its pattern and incorporate couture touches, such as deep hems and pattern matching, that off-the-rack solutions do not provide.
Custom window treatments provide softness and balance while offering functional solutions.
—Gretchen Everett, Everett Design, Inc.
In a traditional home, Shenandoah Shutters created custom plantation shutters to fit the bedroom’s porthole-style windows (left), painting them white to complement the coffered ceiling and trim. Shutters are a good option for specialty windows that may look awkward dressed in fabric. Interior Design: Heidi Brooks Interior Design. Photo: Darren Setlow Photography.
How do you help clients determine the shutter style that’s right for them?
Louvre size plays into the overall style of a plantation shutter. Two-and-a-half-inch louvres can provide a traditional, cottage feel. Larger, 3.5-inch louvres allow more of a view and an open feeling, while 4.5-inch louvres feel more modern and almost disappear. Unlike windows with blinds and shades, most homeowners feel no need to add a fabric treatment to their shutters.
Plantation shutters allow for privacy and sunlight at the same time.
—Marcia Biggers, Shenandoah Shutters
Sponsored by the Maryland Building Industry Association, the annual Custom Builder Awards honor architecture, construction and remodeling projects in the Greater Washington, DC, area. The following pages list the 2020 winners; a number of award-winning projects are pictured.
Custom Traditional Home
GOLD—Sandy Spring Builders, LLC
Architect: GTM Architects
Custom Contemporary Home
GOLD—Sandy Spring Builders, LLC
Architect: GTM Architects
SILVER—Castlewood Custom Builders
Architect: Carib Daniel Martin
Custom Home under 3,500 square feet
GOLD—JT Custom Builders
Architect: Gambino Laporta Architecture
Custom Home between 3,500-5,000 square feet
GOLD—GTM Architects
Builder: PKK Builders
Custom Home between 5,000-7,500 square feet
GOLD—Laurence Cafritz Builders
Architect: Studio Z Design Concepts
SILVER—Elie Ben Architecture
Builder: Carter Inc.
BRONZE—Castlewood Custom Builders
Architect: Castlewood Consulting
Custom Home between 7,500-12,500 square feet
GOLD—Sandy Spring Builders, LLC
Architect: Studio Z Design Concepts
SILVER—Castlewood Custom Builders
Architect: Castlewood Consulting
Speculative Traditional
GOLD—Mid-Atlantic Builders
Architect: Mid-Atlantic Builders
Speculative Home under 3,500 square feet
GOLD—Douglas Construction Group
Architect: Studio Z Design Concepts
Speculative Home between 3,500-5,000 square feet
GOLD—Claude C. Lapp Architects
Builder: Rollingwood Builders, LLC
SILVER—Douglas Construction Group
Architect: Claude C. Lapp Architects
BRONZE—Francis Development
Architect: Claude C. Lapp Architects
Speculative Home between 5,000-7,500 square feet
GOLD—Foxhall Homes
Architect: Architecture Collaborative
SILVER—Zuckerman Builders
Architect: GTM Architects
BRONZE—Carter Inc.
Architect: Studio Z Design Concepts
Home & Design marked the publication of its March/April 2020 issue on March 4 with a reception at Best Tile in Rockville. Guests mingled among stylish vignettes showcasing the company’s collections of high-end tile and stone surfaces.
The Seventh Annual IFDA Masquerade Ball took place on March 7 at DC’s Abigail nightclub. Masked revelers sipped, supped and bid in a silent auction; proceeds benefitted Rebuilding Together. Home & Design was a sponsor of the event.
Winchester lives by a longstanding philosophy—that fine building is an art. The company has specialized in high-end residential construction since its inception in 1980, demonstrating strong craftsmanship and durability on architect-driven projects spanning Washington, DC, Baltimore, Annapolis and the Eastern Shore. Rustic villas, weekend retreats and country estates are all part of Winchester’s extensive portfolio, which includes more than 500 projects. The company is equally comfortable working in traditional and contemporary styles.
“The goal is to build generational homes through quality and execution,” says director of business development TD Albright. “We want to remain involved for the life of each building—and we achieve this through teamwork and relationships.”
Winchester’s president, Mike Campbell, heads a team of 40 employees, many of them tenured, with multiple years of experience. The team collaborates with high-end area architects on new homes, renovations and additions. Carpentry, painting, concrete excavation and masonry services are all offered in-house. Dedicated site supervisors and project managers oversee each project from start to finish, while a residence management division supplies preventive maintenance, repairs and minor renovations after completion to keep each home looking and performing optimally.
Most of Winchester’s business comes via referrals from architects, designers and clients—many of whom have long-established working relationships with the company. As Albright explains, teamwork amongst staff and regular communication with homeowners, architects and designers ensures a cohesive, coordinated approach. “The best scenario is to get involved in a project as early as possible. This facilitates conversation and makes the process seamlessly efficient,” he says. “The hallmarks of a successful collaboration are shared commitment, mutual trust and open lines of communication.”
When it comes to the nuts and bolts of construction, Winchester favors natural building materials such as stone, wood, glass, metal, copper, tile and clay over manmade materials. “Natural materials are higher in quality and we trust them,” Albright says. “There are always new products hitting the market, but we are conservative, researching and testing everything before using it.”
A tight building envelope is also key, and the company puts a premium on energy efficiency and building a healthy home. “We are truly looking out for the client,” Albright notes. “We are passionate about all aspects of the process and are committed to achieving the vision of both the homeowner and the design team.”
Inquiries: 1114 Benfield Boulevard, Suite L, Millersville, Maryland 21108; 410-987-5905; winchesterinc.com
The Custom Residential Architects Network’s AIA-Capital chapter held its annual holiday party at Pella Mid-Atlantic in Tysons Corner on December 5, 2019. Guests mingled over cocktails and hors d’oeuvres.
Home & Design launched its Winter 2020 issue with a chic reception at Studio Snaidero DC Metro in Alexandria on January 16. Guests perused the showroom’s cutting-edge kitchen displays and mingled with designers featured in the new edition.
Home & Design partnered with the Washington Design Center on its fourth annual Holiday Fête, held December 12, 2019. During the evening, guests enjoyed tempting treats and perused tabletop displays created by more than 20 local designers, on view in the center’s showrooms. Proceeds benefited Children’s National Foundation.
NEW TRADITIONAL Josh Hildreth of Josh Hildreth Interiors kept a traditional Bethesda dining room fresh with eclectic antiques and a decorative wall finish. “I often prefer decorative finishes to wallpaper because you can tweak them to specific lighting conditions ,” he says. Tawny beige walls complement a painting by Philip Morsberger and Penny Morrison drapes by Everett Design, Inc. Photo: Kip Dawkins
WINDOW SEAT Shannon Bieter of Interiors by Shannon Bieter made a statement in a Potomac breakfast nook with a banquette upholstered in Kravet fabric. She dressed up the space with a Chelsea House mirror. “I tend to go with bigger accessories and don’t over-decorate,” notes Bieter. Photo & Styling: Stylish Productions
WELCOME HOME Contractor Scott Taylor asked Christie Leu to update his Rockville home. The designer, principal of Christie Leu Interiors, selected a brighter palette, enlivening the entry door with Benjamin Moore’s Patriot Blue. “Painting a front door in a contrasting color takes relatively little time, money and effort for huge impact,” says Leu. Photo: Stacy Zarin Goldberg
KID-FRIENDLY FABRIC Sharon Kleinman of Transitions by Sharon Kleinman is a big fan of performance fabrics. “The industry has made great strides in producing luxurious yet durable velvets, wovens, faux leathers, linens and jacquards that are easy to maintain, stain- and sun-resistant and environmentally safe,” she says. Pictured: KravetArmor fabric; kravet.com.
SUITE DREAMS Mike Molesky, principal of Michael Molesky Interior Design, is smitten by Vanguard’s Dune Nightstand. “Its clean lines, angled edges and white-bronze feet make it a stand-out,” he says. “It comes with either an abaca-wrapped or white-bronze pull.” vanguardfurniture.com
SCULPTED SILHOUETTE The Charming Chair recently caught the eye of Jamie Merida, principal of Jamie Merida Interiors. “I love the exposed silhouette of this piece designed by Peter Jacobs for Wesley Hall,” he enthuses. “It’s elegant and traditional, yet fresh and current at the same time.” wesleyhall.com
“Ralph Lauren’s sophisticated Karlie Large Hanging Shade chandelier is on point with the current trend of brown leather and brass combinations. It’s timeless. ” —Cathy Purple Cherry, AIA, LEED, AP, CAS, Purple Cherry Architects
RIVER VIEW Jodi Macklin of Jodi Macklin Interior Design floated a low-slung Holly Hunt chaise near the windows of a Georgetown condo overlooking the Potomac. Ethereal sheers fabricated by Everett Design, Inc., don’t distract from the panoramic views. Says Macklin, “We love sheer drapery panels to add softness to vast amounts of glass.” Photo: Gordon Beall
ALL THE TRIMMINGS Navy-blue accents lend punch to a neutral Annapolis bedroom conceived by Gina Fitzsimmons of Fitzsimmons Design. She enhanced fabrics and drapes with playful trim, from Vern Yip navy banding on pillow shams to nail head by Fabricut. “Whether it’s embroidered banding, brushed fringe or cording,” Fitzsimmons avers, “it’s all in the details.” Photos: Gwin Hunt
DISAPPEARING ACT Bonnie Ammon, Allied ASID, of Bonnie Ammon Interiors, has fallen for Forbes & Lomax’s transparent light-switch plates featuring simple metal toggles. “They allow a room to shine without an ugly switch in the middle of the wall,” she notes. “They’re the final jewel that finishes a space.” forbesandlomax.com
HIDDEN GEM Charlene Kennerknecht of MONARCH got creative with a dark basement in Alexandria. “We used reverse psychology,” she recalls. “Instead of trying to lighten the space, we chose wood and stone to make it warm, hidden and wonderful.” Matching A. Rudin loveseats and sconces by Gregorius | Pineo flank the fireplace. Photo: Lydia Cutter
DRAMATIC EFFECT Designer Kori Keyser, ASID, of Keyser Interiors, Inc., reports that her current go-to wall-covering collection is Phillip Jeffries’ Metallic Ombre II. ”It adds drama and elegance to a space,” she says. “I just used the Pewter colorway in a powder room and it looks amazing.” Pictured: Metallic Ombre II Gold; phillipjeffries.com
ROOM TO BREATHE Designer Paul Corrie, who curates vintage finds such as the 1920s French side tables (above) through his own PCI Home Collection, advises clients to combine antiques judiciously. In a recent project brimming with family heirlooms (right), he says, “I focused on the scale of the furniture and what I call the ‘breathability factor’ to make the space feel fresh and open.” Left: Denis Largeron
MOODY BLUES Barbara Hawthorn of Barbara Hawthorn Interiors, Ltd., sounded vibrant blue notes in a chic Bethesda pool house, with antique glassware on a Plexi-Craft bar cart and a Blue Agate Caesarstone countertop. “Blue is always a favorite,” Hawthorn observes. “It has timeless appeal, evoking both sky and water.” Photos: Kenneth M. Wyner
Interior designers know where to shop.
We asked for favorite off-the-radar sources where they discover furnishings and accessories beyond the ordinary.
“EVOLUTION HOME in Alexandria is off the beaten path, but has an enormous amount of inventory to select from in all types of design styles and looks. You’ll even find pieces worth your while to refurbish.” —Lynda Griffin, IDDP, IDS, ASID, Creative Interior Designs
“I love the selection of European antiques, hard-to-find traditional accessories and beautiful artwork at THE SHAGGY RAM in Middleburg. I treated myself to a set of antique, hand-painted French dessert plates recently.” —Andrea Houck, ASID, IFDA, A. Houck Designs, Inc.
“My favorite DC source for antiques is FRANK MILWEE in Georgetown. Whenever I go shopping for a client there, I get a history lesson, which makes me appreciate each piece so much more—and in turn makes each piece special to my clients.” —Elizabeth Gill, Elizabeth Gill Interiors
“DOMAIN BY LAURA HODGES STUDIO in Catonsville, Maryland, carries an array of unique pieces that will brighten up anyone’s home, no matter the style. It is a treasure trove of good finds!” —Dennese Guadeloupe Rojas, Interiors by Design, LLC
On October 23, members of the design community converged at ADU—Your Appliance Source in Gaithersburg to celebrate Home & Design’s Late Fall 2019 Designer issue. Guests mingled and perused the showroom’s array of high-end kitchen appliances.
On October 17, the National Kitchen & Bath Association Baltimore-Washington Chapter held its annual Design Awards gala at the Miele Tysons Corner Experience Center. Home & Design sponsored the event. View the award-winning projects in the Late Fall 2019 issue or at homeanddesign.com.
Members of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) Washington Metro Chapter gathered in the rooftop garden of Haworth Inc., in Washington, DC, on September 18 for their annual awards gala. Judges from ASID chapters in Virginia, Pennsylvania and North and South Carolina reviewed the entries for this year’s competition, entitled “2019 Design Transforms Lives.” Photos of the winning projects are shown above.
PERSONAL/PRIVATE LIVING
Snaidero DC Metro, Shawna J. Dillon, ASID. Project: Industrial Chic.
CONCEPTUAL DESIGN (PROJECTS NOT BUILT)
Perkins & Will, Ken Wilson, ASID. Design Team: Thomas Gregory, David Cordell, Haley Nelson, Brittany McNairy, Carissa Loehr. Project: Morrison & Foerster LLP, Washington, DC, Office.
WORK
DCS Design, Brittany Brown, ASID. Design Team: Lena Scott, Jay Choi, Rodrigo Udaeta. Project: IFPRI Headquarters.
ENTERTAIN
HVS Design, Christine Shanahan, ASID. Design Team: Michelle West, Allie Corneal. Project: Porch Kitchen & Bar.
HEALTH & WELLNESS
Chambers, Megan Koets Hochman, ASID. Design Team: Bob Hickman, Charlie Turner, Lee Hyden, John Snellinger, Lindsay Jones, Colin Smith, Patricia Sampson, Prachee Bihani, Marishka Bachman, Lauren Gordon. Project: Oxford Athletic Club.
OUT OF THE BOX (PROJECT NOT BUILT)
Perkins & Will, Ken Wilson, ASID. Design Team: Carl Knutson, Rod Letonja, Armando Nazario, Keegan Wilson. Project: Revolution, Changing the Urban Paradigm.
PUBLIC LIVING
HVS Design, Christine Shanahan, ASID. Design Team: Susan Yu, Federico Pelayo. Project: The Blake Hotel.
Home & Design partnered with Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams to host a cocktail party celebrating the furniture retailer’s 30th anniversary on September 12. During the event at their 14th Street showroom in DC, co-founders Mitchell Gold and Bob Williams reflected on their company’s staying power in a panel discussion moderated by editor in chief Sharon Jaffe Dan.
On September 24, Home & Design celebrated the launch of its 2020 Idea Book with a reception at Theodores, a fixture on DC’s modern-furniture scene. A highlight of the evening was the announcement of the annual Designers’ Choice Awards, published in the Idea Book and at homeanddesign.com.
Photos by Bob Narod Photography and Steven Phillips.
