Home & Design

Delight in the Details


Peggy Fisher transformed her client’s lackluster basement into a cheerful
spot for gathering with family and friends. The new stair boasts Arts and
Crafts detail. The re-styled fireplace is set off by maple and cherry trim.
Hardwood floors replaced the wall-to-wall carpeting.

“What happens if we eliminate the formal rooms, design our everyday living spaces for both formal and informal purposes, and use the dollars we save to really personalize the spaces we live in every day?” —Sarah Susanka, FAIA, author and lecturer, “The Not So Big House” series

John and Nancy Trainer are enthusiastic proponents of the “not-so-big” philosophy. Before embarking upon the total basement renovation of their 1959 rambler, the couple did copious research to nail down what they wanted their home to become. “Many of today’s McMansions are missing a sense of proportion and grace,” says Nancy Trainer. “I read Sarah Susanka’s ‘Not So Big’ series, surfed her Web site and thought ‘Bingo, this speaks to me.’” Susanka’s Web site also led them to Peggy Fisher, design director of Fisher Group, LLC.

About the not-so-big concept, Fisher says, “The idea is not bigger, but better; to spend your money on the details and usable spaces within your home. Everybody wants to maximize the space they have. How is the house going to ‘live’? We wanted to help rethink the use of the space to make it work best for their lifestyle.”

Standing in John and Nancy Trainer’s vibrant new lower-level space, it’s difficult to imagine that these walls, with their brilliant colors tempered by crisp, white Craftsman details, once housed a gloomy, dated “cave” that the couple affectionately referred to as their “Silence of the Lambs” basement. “We knew there was nothing in the basement we wanted to save. We were looking for a master plan for the entire house that could occur over time. The basement would set the tone for what we wanted to see happen throughout the rest of the house,” says Nancy Trainer.

Fisher drew multiple permutations of the floor plan, consulting with the couple about how they would utilize the space. “We talked a lot about pathways, about how we move throughout the space,” says Nancy Trainer. “That was eye-opening to me.” The couple worked well with Fisher, and voiced strong opinions on what they liked and didn’t like.

When the Trainers brought in books and photos of elements they would like to see incorporated into the space, it became clear they were enamored with the Arts and Crafts style. “It was such an open-ended project at the beginning,” remarks Fisher. “Craftsman and Arts and Crafts styles can take so many directions because it was such a fertile time in design history. We did numerous drawings and kept coming back to a specific look.”

To evoke Craftsman style, Fisher incorporated tapered, architectural columns, crafted a new stair railing with carved newel posts and ran crisp white wainscoting throughout the lower level. “Since the wainscoting works as a running background, we could use whatever colors we wanted above that because they wouldn’t fill an entire wall. It also lends good architectural continuity throughout.”

The clients honed in on clear, strong colors. “Nancy was so excited by the color choices,” Fisher recalls. “The colors also help to define each space without having to close the rooms off from one another. The use of color is more like a mat around a picture.”

Fisher’s plan did not move the core rooms. Instead, the designer adjusted sizes, orientations and how the spaces would be utilized. “We were mindful of how to move things around that would maximize the budget,” she remarks. In keeping with “not-so-big” hallmarks, all of the rooms now serve multiple purposes and every nook and cranny is utilized in unique and interesting ways. “I drew the stairway from multiple directions because there are three niches [under it].” One former closet is now a focal point with a small table. One became a reading niche complete with comfy chair and lamp. On the playroom side of the staircase, a niche now highlights the family’s cherished edition of the Oxford English Dictionary, a gift to John Trainer’s grandmother, who was a vice president of Grollier Publishers.

One goal was to bring as much light as possible into the lower-level space. The solution was to excavate unused outdoor space below an addition the home’s previous owners completed 18 years ago. Where once there were simply piers, a bed of pea gravel and a dark haven for spiders, there now exists an airy playroom/gym and a bright new bathroom with a window seat. “Even though it’s in a bathroom, I like to curl up there, look out the window or read a book,” says Nancy Trainer.

Fisher figured out how to make use of every spot in the project, down to quarters of inches. She re-imagined the game/family room’s once massive wall-to-wall brick hearth, shortening it and cutting in a spot for wood storage. “It’s no longer dead space; now the chunky hearth makes sense, and the wood lends a new textural interest,” she explains.

Fisher updated the fireplace with a slate and mosaic tile surround and then warmed the space with maple paneling on the back wall. Maple built-ins for the television and bookcases in the game area complement the new look.   Fisher also incorporated numerous lighting solutions into the plan. “I think lighting design is one of Peggy’s strengths,” remarks Nancy Trainer. “She made sure we absolutely had enough light without it being obvious. I love the pendants over the game table. They look silver when off, and emit a purple glow when lit.”

Fisher literally warmed the formerly cold basement by first insulating the space, then installing radiant heating panels into the ceiling. “Heat rises anyway,” says Fisher, “so instead of trying to keep a cold space warm, we opted for heating the people within that space.”
For the floor, Fisher selected red oak. “Wood is a warmer material and with the radiant heat panels it really works,” she adds.

The new office/guest room features banks of large windows and a vibrant color palette. “I looked at Nancy’s existing artwork and was inspired by the blue,” says Fisher. “They wanted the office to be comfortably used as a guestroom. The sofa pulls out into a bed and there is room to use the office and have a friend stay over.”

After taking on this project, the Trainers feel they are on the way to getting the home of their dreams. “It’s inviting, comfortable, and filled with details that many newer homes just don’t have,” says Nancy. Fisher agrees, adding, “This is not just a construction project. This is a place where people live, a space that can grow. You want it to say ‘welcome,’ and I think it does.”

Writer John D. Adams is based in Alexandria, Virginia. Lydia Cutter is an Arlington, Virginia-based photographer.

 


White wainscoting in all the rooms balances the clients’ preferred
color palette.


Stained glass filters natural light into the game room while concealing
a window well under an exterior deck.


The expanded guestroom includes room for a home office with view
of the garden. The pullout sofa accommodates guests.


The guest room/office opens to a bright new bathroom with a built-in
window seat.


The new playroom/gym with plenty of built in storage cabinets was
created by excavating and enclosing space under a previous addition.


Fisher designed the laundry/mudroom to be a clearing area for basement
traffic.


A heavy-duty slate floor in the mudroom and adjacent hall entryway stands
up to wear and tear.

Tailored to Fit


In the new makeover, banks of windows along the rear
of the home open it up to garden views.

Joe and Nancy Garcia purchased their 1970s traditional home in the heart of Washington, DC, knowing they would need to adapt it to their own personal style. They realized that the spacious house with a beautiful garden in the back had potential, but couldn’t decide where to begin. Fortunately, Nancy bumped into fellow interior designer Kary Ewalt of Anthony Wilder Design/Build, at a local American Society of Interior Designers function. “Even though Nancy is an interior designer, she remarked that they had recently purchased a home and were at a loss as to how to make it comfortably their own,” recalls Ewalt. “I told her to come by and see us, that we could help them figure it all out.”

Several weeks later the couple met with owner Anthony Wilder to explore their ideas, thoughts and dreams, which marked the beginning of a fruitful collaboration. It was clear that the Garcias felt the home was too dark and closed in. They didn’t know how far they wanted to take a renovation, but they did know they wanted to begin with the kitchen. While the room had upgraded flooring, stainless-steel appliances and relatively new cabinetry, the Garcias only thought of the space as “small, dark and very brown.”

Ewalt came up with a plan to blow the space out. “I showed them how, if we removed the back wall [between the kitchen and the living room], we could run the kitchen the length of the home to a bank of windows that would bring in a tremendous amount of light and show off their garden,” she says. The Garcias enthusiastically embraced the idea. So much so that, before long, a whole house remodel was underway. Working closely with architect Maria Fanjul and Ewalt, the Garcias were soon approving plans to open up existing windows and add new ones, knock down walls, widen doorways and rip out supporting columns.

They even gave the home’s exterior a makeover. “We wanted the house to feel very open and contemporary, yet welcoming,” says Ewalt. They painted the dated brick exterior a decidedly more modern soft gray/green. “Nancy looked at houses all over town trying to find a color that she thought would suit the home,” says Ewalt.

“We replaced all of the window casings, making them much more of a feature,” adds Fanjul. “We added a portico to the front entry, creating a focal point. Before, the front door seemed like an afterthought.”

They also knocked down a small brick half wall, then widened and extended the sidewalk. “We created a courtyard feel that can be seen from the new picture window on the left of the entry,” says Ewalt. Beside the front door, Fanjul cut a unique oval window into the brick.

Behind the new doors and windows is a remarkable, reimagined home, tailored to fit the contemporary lives of its owners. What was once a warren of small, dark rooms is now a bright, uninterrupted space extending from the foyer to the living and dining areas. The old carpeting was replaced with new oak flooring throughout. Walls and ceilings were painted in closely matching, soft shades. And unlike many home renovations, crown moldings were actually removed instead of added. “It brings a greater sense of height to the rooms,” says Ewalt. “The barrier between wall and ceiling is removed from the sight line. It makes the home seem even more open.”

That’s not the only barrier that was removed. In the new library/dining room, Fanjul tore out retaining columns by running steel beams inside the ceiling to hold up the second story. A bank of windows was widened, and a dramatic floor-to-ceiling window was carved into a once unremarkable corner. “We wanted to create a special effect there,” says Fanjul.

The old traditional English wood fireplace was also given a facelift. Now a contemporary, burnished bronze surround makes a decidedly modern statement. Accompanying frosted glass sconces were added to lend balance and even more light. “I wanted to create a simple form so that everything else looks beautiful against it,” says Ewalt.

In the kitchen, the room that started it all, gone are the dark brown cabinets. The new space is a breathtaking change. Where there were formerly two small windows, Fanjul added a bank of nearly floor-to-ceiling glass. “The windows are full view with a grid only along the top to allow unobstructed views out the back,” she adds. Ewalt chose crisp white cabinetry combined with a backsplash of white subway tiles in a subtle crackle finish. Manufactured stone countertops in soft beige lend even more drama and balance. Towards the back, Ewalt brought in additional storage cabinetry and floated a thick glass shelf along the top. “The green in the glass now plays off the green from outdoors. It’s a wonderful effect,” she says. Behind this is a bright seating area ideal for taking in garden views or watching television.

The home’s once dark and dated bathrooms are now, like the rest of the home, bright, relaxing and airy. The little oval window that Fanjul added near the front door now brings plenty of light into the old powder room. The Japanese-style sycamore cabinet was custom designed for the space. Stainless-steel tube lights reinforce the contemporary style.

In the home’s guest and master bathrooms, a luxury spa-like atmosphere prevails. Both now feature opulent stone floors and shower walls—Durango marble for the guest bath and Travertine marble for the master. In each, they used larger slabs on the floor and mosaic tile in the showers. “This treatment lends consistency but adds textural interest,” says Ewalt. Bathtub decks and vanities were fashioned out of corresponding stone-slab materials. In the guest bath, maple cabinet features an under-counter shelf that accentuates the spa feel. In both spaces, the  showers and floors are uninterrupted thanks to some engineering by Fanjul that allows water to slope toward the center while keeping the adjacent floors dry. “It’s a really remarkable touch,” says Ewalt, “that lends itself to that contemporary, spa-like atmosphere.”

The only space that actually required building a wall was in the master bedroom. “It was just a huge room with a lot of wasted space,” says Ewalt. “We built a three-quarter wall that now makes the bed a feature, while behind it gives the owners an open dressing area. We didn’t want to lose the light from a corner window, so the wall doesn’t meet the ceiling and we did not include a door. I think it’s a wonderful look that now truly utilizes the space without sacrificing the light,” says Ewalt.

Nancy Garcia selected a pale gray/blue hue for the walls and ceiling. “It’s now such a serene room. We added soft beige carpeting as well, which brings in even more softness,” she says.

Now complete, the Garcia’s home is virtually unrecognizable from when they began. “The Garcias are thrilled with the final result, and so are we,” says Ewalt. It’s now a functional, open, warm and very livable space, tailor-made for its owners.

John D. Adams is a freelance writer based in Alexandria, Virginia. Timothy Bell is a photographer with studios in New York and Washington, DC.


The designers built a portico onto the front entry widened
and extended the sidewalk.


Designers tore out support columns to create a more open feeling
in the living room.

A far cry from the original dark brown kitchen, the new kitchen
boasts white cabinetry, a crackled subway-tile backsplash and
a bank of windows.

A new wall built in the master bedroom is only three-quarter height
to keep the dressing space beyond open to natural light.

A new oval window becomes a design element in the powder
room.

A spa-like atmosphere prevails in the guest bathroom.

An Artful Spirit


Interior designer Susan Gulick's Northern Virginia home. 

Tucked away in a well-manicured, forested enclave in the Oak Hill region of Northern Virginia, interior designer Susan Gulick finds respite from her busy professional life. Her sun-filled house is located in a small development, built by her contractor husband, Peter Gulick, nearly 15 years ago. The area is green and welcoming, with a variety of beautifully maintained, large, yet understated houses, whose colors and styles blend ideally with the surrounding flora and fauna.

The interior of Gulick’s home is just as welcoming. The designer’s affinity for contemporary design, modern art and livable spaces has created a convivial, sophisticated atmosphere. Entering the home, one is immediately struck by her vast collection of art and objects, which straddles every period and style. “Holding a degree in Fine Arts, I learned to appreciate and love many styles and types of artwork,” she says. An avid collector, Gulick can gaze toward every wall, every nook in her home, and be reminded of a trip or occasion when a piece was acquired

Some of her favorite pieces hold special status in the soaring two-story living room. Four drawings in a series, Scribe #1, #4, #7, #15 by Robert Berguson, are hung on either side of the room’s fireplace. Atop one of the pair of antique-style chests, a blue Dale Chihuly glass vessel mingles with tiny enamel, wood and silver boxes and a trio of hand-blown glass candlesticks. Gulick touches the tiny boxes, opening several and reminiscing. “Some of these boxes are from travel, some are gifts. But they’re fun and they all remind me of places we’ve been and friends who have found a special little box and thought of us.”

Contemporary furnishings in muted fabrics create a subtle backdrop for Gulick’s art collection. Seating in the living room is set in a circular pattern. She explains, “I wanted a seating group that is intimate enough to hold conversations with friends.” A small Donghia couch covered in herb green linen velvet offsets two chairs covered in a silk blend of undulating blue and charcoal. Gulick adds whimsical details with tiny glass beads on pillows and fringe along the base of two slightly more formal seats covered in a cotton blend. “That is what design is all about,” she says. “It’s detailing in a way that makes things special and adds a touch of interest.” The centerpiece is a table from Salvations that incorporates an antique iron grate covered by glass. Gulick carries the palette onto the floor with a hand-knotted rug that incorporates tone on tone squares of blue/gray wool and silk.

The formal dining room also accentuates Gulick’s flair for mingling contemporary art and furnishings. Two walls are devoted to large paintings that are her personal favorites. One abstract oil on canvas, Waltzing Wutaishan by Washington artist William Willis, is a recent acquisition. The blue colorations and jagged forms remind Gulick of water and pine trees and her childhood in Michigan. On another wall, a painting titled The Forgiving by Deserau depicts whispering figures. Gulick says, “I like the theme of this painting. I feel like we go through life forgiving, whether it is other people or ourselves. I think that if you can do that, you can keep moving forward.”

Gulick chose the oval dining table to promote conversation. The walnut table was treated with a process called cerusing, whereby the wood’s pores are opened and white wax is poured in to accentuate the grain. The dining chairs are covered in green-gold mohair. Gulick had the backs raised slightly to define the arc of the back and the color without obscuring the view across the room. Along the side wall, Gulick custom designed a buffet in a dark wood, which allows for ample storage of glass and silverware. The doors are treated to resemble cream pebbled leather. The contemporary glass fixture is part of Artemide’s “Cloud” series. Underfoot, Gulick chose a tightly woven wool rug banded with chocolate brown leather.

“This is the room we spend the most time in,” Gulick says of the home’s open-plan family room and kitchen. Soft contemporary Donghia seating, in muted patterns and shades of gray from Pollack, are surrounded by a mélange of American folk art, more contemporary pieces and a few antiques. Because the room’s lighting plan was inadequate, Gulick ran a stainless steel cable system overhead. “It was a great solution for this space, and it lends that contemporary feel,” she says. She also bumped out one wall and installed custom cherry cabinetry to house electronics and create additional storage. The room’s fireplace was recently given a facelift with slate tiles, which give the room a textural, modern feel.

Over the fireplace, Gulick hung a mixed-media modern sculpture by Celeste Simon. Bridging a space between the family room and the breakfast nook, Gulick placed a large antique German armoire. “We found this years ago at an estate sale and it has traveled with us through each house we’ve lived in,” she says. Gulick uses the piece to store her voluminous collection of interior design publications.


Susan Gulick enjoys a spring morning on the deck.

In the open kitchen, cherry cabinetry and brown granite countertops serve to warm the space while lending balance with the home’s wood floors. The highlight of Gulick’s breakfast nook is the Ingo Maurer light fixture of winged light bulbs “flying” while tethered to thin cables. On the back wall, a piece of folk art entitled The Neighborhood exemplifies how Gulick personalizes her art pieces. “Look here,” she points to a figure of a man and woman. “The man is my husband the builder. He’s holding a hammer, and there’s me, Susan the designer, surrounded by color and holding a lamp. And around us is our neighborhood.”

Gulick extended the blue, green and gold palette upstairs in the guest bedroom. Two twin beds are covered in pale blue and chartreuse crinkled fabric. “The fabric lends movement and interest,” she says. The headboards are covered in a chocolate brown velveteen fabric. They subtly “sparkle” when one walks by, thanks to iridescent threading, and are reminiscent of a twinkling night sky. The bedding plays off the colors in framed paintings surrounding the room. These special works of art were done by Gulick’s grandfather, Hans Mahr, a lithographer by trade with a gift for painting in watercolor. The scenes depict the countryside of his native Germany and are a touching reminder of Gulick’s artistic and familial roots.

Outdoors, Gulick finds solace and relaxation on the large deck. Sculptural works, which she found on a shopping trip to Florida, are placed around the deck and mounted on the exterior wall of the house. “I love these pieces out here,” Gulick says. “It makes this outdoor area a living space as well.” The landscaped backyard is a rolling oasis of lush foliage, flowering plants, and soaring trees. A small pond and waterfall lend an entrancing focal point, where one can sit back and be absorbed by the sounds of nature. “I love to come out here and just sit and read a book. My professional life is so busy and can be very stressful. This outdoor space is the perfect antidote.”

Surrounded by the wonders of the natural world, and imbued with the rhythms of artisans from all corners of the globe, Susan Gulick has created an impeccably designed home that is ideally suited for this interior designer with the spirit of a true artist.


Contemporary furnishings in muted fabrics and a subtle wall finish create
a backdrop for Gulick's art collection in the living room.

“Holding a degree in Fine Arts, I learned to appreciate and love many styles and types of artwork,” Gulick says. An avid collector, she can gaze toward every wall, every nook in her home, and be reminded of a trip or occasion when a piece was acquired.

LIVING ROOM
Sofa, Sofa Fabric, Shell Chairs & Slipper Chairs: Donghia, Washington, DC. Shell Chair Fabric: Pollack, Washington, DC. Slipper Chair Fabric: Jim Thompson, Washington, DC. Sofa Toss Pillow Bead Trim: Osborne & Little, Washington, DC. Coffee Table: Salvations Architectural Furnishings, Silver Spring, MD. Chests: New Classics, Washington, DC. Custom Silk/Wool Area Rug: Costikyan, New York, NY. Walls: Studio West, Washington, DC. Art: Wade Hoefer, Hemphill Fine Arts, Washington, DC.

DINING ROOM
Dining Table: Berman Rosetti, California. Dining Chairs: Holly Hunt, Washington, DC. Dining Chair Fabric: Pollack, Washington, DC. Chandelier: Artemide, New York. Walls: Studio West, Washington, DC. Art: William Willis, Washington, DC. Tea Cups: Laney Oxman, Hillsboro, VA. Window Coverings: Conrad, San Francisco, CA. Custom Credenza & Custom Wool Area Rug with Leather Binding: Susan Gulick Interiors.

FAMILY ROOM
Sofa, High-Back Club Chair & Club Chair (Foreground): Donghia, Washington, DC. Sofa Fabric: Pollack, Washington, DC. High-Back Club Chair Fabric: Rudolph, Washington, DC. Club Chair Fabric: Jim Thompson, Washington, DC. Coffee Table: Les Prismatiques, New York, NY. Occasional Table: Knoll, Washington, DC. Custom Wool/Silk Area Rug: Rugs by Vicki Simon, Hartford, CT.

GUEST BEDROOM
Upholstered Headboard Fabric: Gretchen Bellinger, Washington, DC. Bedding Fabrication: Carol’s Studios, Inc., Fairfax, VA. Coverlet & Sham Fabric: Pindler & Pindler, Washington, DC. Toss Pillow Fabric: Henry Calvin, Washington, DC. Bedside Table: Splinter Furniture Design, San Fransisco, CA.

Writer John D. Adams is based in Alexandria, Virginia. Photographer Timothy Bell has studios in New York City and Washington, DC.

Interior Design: Susan Gulick, CID, ASID, IFDA, Susan Gulick Interiors, Reston, Virginia Builder: Gulick Group, Reston, Virginia Landscape Design: Petro Design/Build, Mitchellville, Maryland Landscape Implementation: Area Landscaping, Fairfax, Virginia


Gulick's living room.

Gulick was drawn to the abstract oil painting by William Willis for its
blue colorations and jagged forms, which recall her native Michigan.

In the dining room, Gulick designed a buffet in dark wood with doors
that resemble pebbled leather.

Seating by Donghia upholstered in fabrics by Pollack, a melange of
folk art and cable lighting create a contemporary flair in Gulick's family
room, which is open to the kitchen and breakfast nook.

In the guest room, Gulick displays three watercolors by her grandfather,
Hans Mahr.

In the long entry hall, sepia-toned photos depict New York while four-foot-square mirrors reflect the apartment’s stunning views of the city.

Two years ago, award-winning interior designer Skip Sroka and his partner of 13 years, John Kammeier, were in the middle of renovating their roomy Washington, DC, home when Kammeier was offered a job he simply couldn’t refuse as vice president of merchandising for the fashion conglomerate Randa Corporation. The catch? The job would force Kammeier to relocate to New York City. With Sroka’s highly respected design firm based in the DC area, it was impossible for the two to simply uproot and begin again. Therefore, the couple decided to continue their Washington renovation but give first priority to scouting for a small, comfortable home for Kammeier in New York.

They found what they were looking for in a one-bedroom condominium with impressive views of the United Nations building and the East River. “This had to be a warm, cozy yet sophisticated home for John,” says Sroka. The condo is more of a pied-à-terre for Skip, while for Kammeier, their commodious Washington, DC, house has become his getaway.

“In many ways, John became my client,” recalls Sroka. Workers were immediately called in to scrape the “popcorn” ceilings, replaster the walls and paint so Kammeier could move into a fresh space within one week. Because he would be traveling so much on business, the place also needed to be virtually maintenance free yet still retain the quality and comfort of a small home. It’s not a large apartment but it offers everything Sroka and Kammeier require. The “intimate size” of the home also created intriguing design challenges for Sroka. “I’m used to working with much more space,” he begins. “For our New York home, I had to be very aware of space, therefore everything we picked is for maximum comfort and utility.”

To give Kammeier a warm, relaxing retreat from his high-pressure job, Sroka began by painting the entryway and living room walls a pale camel color. “I love the long entry hall,” says Sroka. “In so many small New York apartments you walk directly into the living room.” Indeed, the hall allowed Sroka to set the stage for the rest of the residence. Framed sepia-toned photographs of New York are accentuated in the opposite wall’s substantial four-by-four-foot mirrors, which also reflect the living room’s stunning views.

Sroka selected furniture with a clean, contemporary look that is softened considerably with rounded lines and earthen colors. “To put traditional furniture in this contemporary apartment just wouldn’t have been appropriate,” maintains Sroka. The stunning David Shapiro painting was a housewarming gift to themselves. It’s a special piece that combines compelling color, design and great depth, ideal for viewing in the small living room. The vibrant tans, oranges, reds and golds of the piece are accentuated throughout the room. Neutral, upholstered furnishings are punched with vibrant and textural pillows, giving multiple layers of interest to the room. Twin gold, high-backed chairs are highly stylish but more importantly, very comfortable; they are upholstered in commercial chenille that offers a soft hand but “wears like iron,” says Sroka. Between the chairs, an Art Deco style lamp rests upon a round mahogany table. Beside the camel-colored couch, a glass-topped end table is adorned with family photos and antique 1920s iron souvenirs of the Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty.

Underfoot, Sroka chose a round, neutrally colored area rug to bring in additional texture, warmth and soundproofing. “The liberal use of fabrics, from the draperies to large area rugs, was necessary to developing that warmer feel, but also to help muffle the noise of the city,” says Sroka.

For the small dining area, Sroka chose a round mahogany table that seats four and a painting by Alice Mostoff, a noted Alexandria, Virginia, artist. “Believe it or not we do entertain quite a bit here,” says Sroka. The two regularly host cocktail parties for up to 18 guests quite comfortably.

In the bedroom, the walls are painted in a slightly darker version of the living room. “I wanted this room to feel like a warm cocoon,” he says. Sroka also designed the six-foot brushed cotton headboard to help envelop the space. The brilliant bedding boasts a mélange of color and texture in reds and sapphires. The walls are adorned with photos from Tuscany, one of the couple’s favorite vacation spots.

Every inch of the small bedroom is utilized. Of the room’s desk, Sroka says, “We joke that in Washington we have a library, in New York we have a desk."

The project was an unexpected challenge that the two met head on. “John deserved to have a warm retreat that still offers style and substance,” says Sroka. For his part, Sroka learned a lot along the way. “With an intimate space, you become much more aware of every square inch. You outfit every closet to maximize its utility. You select only the most comfortable furnishings that may also serve double duty. And most importantly for John, you work to achieve a truly care- and maintenance-free space that is a warm and inviting home to relax and unwind in after the workday.”

John D. Adams is a freelance writer based in Virginia. Photographer Timothy Bell lives and works in New York City.


In the living room, a painting by David Shapiro adds depth and dimension.

 


Sroka selected contemporary furnishings softened by round lines and earthen colors. Liberal use of fabrics and textiles not only warms the space, but also muffles the sounds of the city below.

A large painting by Alexandria artist Alice Mostoff anchors the round mahogany dining table surrounded by four David Edward chairs.
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