After a three-year, $87 million renovation closed its doors, the Folger Shakespeare Library reopened to much fanfare on June 21. Designed by architect Paul Philippe Cret, the Neoclassical landmark first debuted on April 23 (the Bard’s birthday) in 1932. With its pristine, white marble façade, it has been an iconic sight on Capitol Hill ever since.

Over the years, however, its usefulness was hobbled by poor access; lack of research and exhibition space; and unsafe conditions for the rare books and manuscripts on view. “We needed a solution that opened the building and made it unambiguously welcoming,” says Folger director Michael Witmore. KieranTimberlake and OLIN—Philadelphia architecture and landscape firms, respectively—were tapped to mastermind an overhaul.

A 12,000-square-foot public wing inserted beneath the historic structure today houses installations, interactive experiences and exhibition halls where rare books, now properly preserved, are on display. Outdoor spaces were conceived as extensions of the new interior, with garden rooms heralding lower-level entry to the building at its east and west corners. Along the front façade (pictured), a raised terrace showcases famed bas-reliefs of Shakespearean scenes—as well as the Capitol dome beyond.

Renovation Architecture: KieranTimberlake, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Landscape Architecture: OLIN, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Construction: Gilbane, Arlington, Virginia. 

After growing up in Mississippi with an architect mother and contractor father, CASEY SANFORD decided to study business in college. However,
she soon pivoted to a degree in interior design, which felt like a natural fit. Sanford worked for several design studios before moving to Northern Virginia in 2014 with her husband, Houston. “I was with a small boutique firm less than a year when I decided it was time to go out on my own,” she recounts. “I started out in our one-bedroom apartment in Alexandria and the company just grew through word-of-mouth.” After a year, Houston joined the firm to handle business, marketing and communications.

Today, Casey Sanford Interior Design occupies a building the couple purchased on Main Street in Warrenton, Virginia; a junior designer and an operations manager also work in the firm’s 1,000-square-foot studio. Sanford, whose portfolio has grown to include renovation design and interior architecture, says current clients extend “from Santa Rosa to Nantucket.”

The designer calls her aesthetic “laid-back luxury,” explaining, “It’s a mix of rustic and classic elements that stand the test of time. There’s a warmth I like to bring to my designs.” She adds, “I want to create a sense of home.”

Interior & Kitchen Design: Casey Sanford, Casey Sanford Interior Design, Warrenton, Virginia. Photography: Stacy Zarin Goldberg (kitchen); Jennifer Hughes (living room).

Asked whether quitting her job in finance to launch a design firm was a scary decision, Julia Rose Schweyer responds promptly: “No, it felt scarier not to take the plunge. I was ready to do something on my own that made me happy—I felt drawn to a creative outlet.”

Schweyer counts herself among many in her field who spent their childhoods rearranging their bedrooms; she recalls a feeling of warmth and safety in that space. She moved to the DC area after college and launched Julia Rose Interiors in 2021.

The firm has quickly taken off. “I started out decorating but found I couldn’t implement the designs I wanted without changing things from a structural perspective,” observes the designer, who has since enrolled in homebuilding courses online. “I see my business expanding to be more full-service, including custom construction and renovations.”

Schweyer currently works solo out of a studio in Old Town Alexandria. “I’ve ended up somewhere between classic and maximalist, creating unique and luxurious interiors,” she relates. “I want my clients to have something original and sophisticated; I don’t want to do anything that reproduces what they’ve seen on Instagram. I want their homes to feel true to who they are.”

Interior Design: Julia Rose Schweyer, Julia Rose Interiors, Alexandria, Virginia. Contractor: Sanchez Remodeling LLC, Washington, DC. Styling: Kristi Hunter.

Jennifer Walter took a circuitous route to launching her firm, Folding Chair Design, by way of a career as a stylist, setting the scene for photo shoots, Anthropologie stores and weddings. “People who liked my wedding venues began to approach me about doing their homes,” she recalls. “I took a client and loved it. I enrolled in design classes but ended up learning on the job.”

A New Jersey native, Walter had moved to Baltimore, her husband’s hometown, some years earlier. Today, Folding Chair Design has a studio downtown employing six people and completing about five large-scale projects a year featuring renovation and architectural design as well as interior décor. “We prefer bigger projects where we have more impact,” Walter says. “I tell clients we are looking for transformative results.”

Despite a personal preference for maximalism and vintage items from mid-century to Parisian, Walter frequently embraces a clean, classic aesthetic with clients. “We do a lot of traditional work in Baltimore’s Guilford area, which is full of older homes,” relates the designer. “I enjoy going in that direction because it’s a little outside my comfort zone. I like the challenge.”

Interior Design: Jennifer Walter, Folding Chair Design, Baltimore, Maryland. Contractor: TKT Home Improvements, Jarrettsville, Maryland. 

A  narrow peninsula in Queenstown, Maryland, is a magical spot for admiring the Eastern Shore’s estuary environment. Homes situated on this enviable spit of land are treated to panoramic vistas of both Eastern Bay and the Wye River—a double whammy that lured a couple to purchase a weekend getaway there. “The house looks at the bay and backs onto the river; we loved the beautiful water views in both directions,” says the wife. “The location was perfect, not too far from home, and the size was just right for our family.”

She and her husband—lawyers living in DC’s Logan Circle—bought the 5,000-square-foot, 1980s-era abode early in the pandemic, then scrambled to get it ready for sheltering in place with their two young teenagers. Designer Kate Ballou, who had worked with the couple before, updated stodgy, traditional interiors in a hurry, with her clients’ spare, mid-century sensibility in mind. “They love Danish furniture and are real collectors,” Ballou recounts. “We completed the job over an eight-week period, mainly with beautiful pieces that were in stock at Furniture from Scandinavia by Annette Rachlin in DC.”

Streamlined, mid-century Nordic furnishings such as a RadioHus sofa and &Tradition chairs in the living room quickly modernized and simplified the rooms—despite a backdrop of heavy trim and dark cherry wood floors and millwork. Subtly patterned and textured rugs from Matt Camron add softness and woven Roman shades by Woodnotes let in the light. Ballou elevated the dining room with grass-cloth wall covering in deep blue tones and hung beloved, modern artworks from the couple’s collection.

Within the year, the owners were ready to embark on a more thorough makeover that would upgrade finishes and impart contemporary character to the interiors. Remodeling the kitchen and bathrooms was also on the list. “We wanted the house to be comfortable and not overly formal, with clean lines and open spaces,” says the wife. Ballou introduced the couple to architect Colleen Healey, who shares her—and her clients’—affinity for Mid-Century Modern design.

As it turned out, Ballou’s original vision was instrumental to the project’s next phase. “They wanted what we did to relate to the beautiful furniture Kate had already selected,” Healey notes.

The front entrance facing Eastern Bay opens to a two-story foyer dominated by a graceful, open stair; straight ahead, glass rear doors capture the Wye River expanse. Living and dining rooms lie to the left of the front door, with the kitchen and the home’s utility areas—laundry, garage and back stairs—beyond. The foyer opens on the right to a wood-paneled library and, down a short hall, the main-floor primary suite. At the top of the stairs, a communal space with facing banks of windows takes in both views; it leads to the kids’ ensuite bedrooms.

The architect masterminded small alterations that retained the home’s structure and scale, yet made a dramatic impact. Simplifying trim and lightening the cherry floors in a matte finish created a modern shift. Bronze elements add interest—from inserts in the built-in living room shelving to integrated wardrobes with bronze frames in the primary bedroom closet. A coat of white paint freshened up the interiors of the floor-to-ceiling library bookcases.

On the airy foyer’s staircase, iron balusters mimicking sea grass made way for a glass railing anchored by curved iron pickets (the original railing was repurposed as a fence outside). A soffit over the doorway between the living and dining rooms was softened into an archway “that has its roots in modern architecture,” Healey says. She played up the living room’s fireplace in slabs of veneered stone and lined the hearth and firebox in bronze.

Faux-wood ceiling beams were removed to “allow the focus to be on the windows,” she explains. “Those small tweaks made a huge difference in the feel of the house.”

The kitchen underwent a major transformation though its layout didn’t change. Healey collaborated on the update with Julia Jensen of Boffi | DePadova in Georgetown. Dark cabinetry is lacquered in a soft, metallic finish; the bronze-clad island is topped with Corian while the peripheral countertops are made of thin, almost-black porcelain slabs. A textured-limestone backsplash anchors the BlueStar range and white Corian covers the sink wall.

Bathrooms were also revamped. The two ground-floor powder rooms now sport custom vanities and textural tile or wallpaper. And the primary bath was elevated with walnut vanities, a sculptural soaking tub and bronze-framed shower and water-closet enclosures.

Since buying the house, the owners have added a pool, a screened porch, a patio with a built-in grill and outdoor furniture groupings curated by Ballou. “The house is functional and beautiful at the same time,” enthuses the wife. “I love the details.”

Healey concurs. “The project was a study in how to change a space without destroying or modifying its utilities and structure,” she notes. “We kept those things yet completely transformed the home.”

After raising a family in his Davidsonville, Maryland, home, the owner—now single and retired—wanted to update the 1999 abode for his life’s next chapter. He enlisted designer Lisa Tullai, who had worked with him previously, to realize the vision. “He desired a home where he could enjoy sports, entertaining friends and hosting wine and bourbon tastings,” Tullai recalls.

She devised a plan that extensively reimagined the interiors within the existing footprint. Reconfiguring the kitchen and borrowing square footage from the garage to accommodate a mudroom/laundry added functionality. Razing a wall between the sunroom and undersized family room created an airy space for entertaining and watching sports. The existing, rarely used dining room became a tasting room. The basement was revamped as a sports pub with an Old World feel; it features a bar and pool table. Two upstairs bathrooms have been remodeled.

Embracing an updated, transitional aesthetic, Tullai swapped out doors, modified window and door headers and installed a new iron-and-oak stair railing. A coffered ceiling in the family room and board-and-batten siding in the entryway add dimension. The new kitchen, which flows into a casual dining area, embraces clean lines with Shaker-style cabinets and a glazed-subway tile backsplash. Against neutral beige and white walls, furnishings, fixtures and rugs bring in subtle pops of color and warmth.

Renovation & Interior Design: Lisa Bagbey Tullai, ASID, Annapolis Interiors, Annapolis, Maryland. Renovation Contractor: Aaron Drummond, TailorCraft Builders, Severna Park, Maryland. Kitchen Design: Joe Wilde, Kitchen Concepts, Annapolis, Maryland. 

Waterfront living typically means outdoor living—so having the right landscape is crucial to enjoying the view. The following pages offer expert tips on making the most of your shoreside property—and avoiding pitfalls that may arise when landscaping on the bay.

HIGH TIDE
A low-lying property on the Severn River in Crownsville, Maryland, faced challenges caused by the frequent influx of brackish water. While replacing and updating a pool and pool cabana, respectively—and installing decks, pergolas, gates and hardscape—McHale Landscape Design tackled the landscaping too. First on the agenda: Meeting critical area regulations, which required salt-tolerant native plants to withstand inundation from high tides. “We planted gardens on the entire one-and-a-quarter-acre lot,” says McHale’s Emily Pike, who oversees maintenance on the property. “They range from rain gardens that become submerged to finely manicured perennial beds.” Ornamental grasses, bayberry, juncus, carex, cypress trees and hibiscus are among the chosen plantings. A powder-coated aluminum fence around the pool keeps the deer out while black string lines along the bulkhead deter geese from coming ashore. Hardy ipe decking weathers the salty water. Tides, in fact, are among the most challenging considerations when it comes to maintaining landscapes on the bay. Notes Pike, “High tides bring up debris and on this property, shift the wood decking. Choosing the right materials and plantings to withstand them is key.”

Landscape Design & Installation: McHale Landscape Design. Landscape Maintenance: Emily Pike, McHale Landscape Design. 

SCENIC SETTING
A couple building a home on tranquil Old Woman’s Cove in Annapolis asked J&G Landscape Design to tame their three-and-a-half-acre parcel. They envisioned an outdoor living space with open views of the water and privacy from neighbors. “The work was within the critical waterfront area so there were requirements from the city,” recounts landscape architect Paul Jester. “They specified restoration plantings on the site—more plantings than the homeowners wanted. With creative placement and selection, we were able to make all parties happy.” Jester and his team designed and installed a Pennsylvania flagstone patio overlooking the creek; stone steps lead down the newly graded slope to a private dock. Strategically placed evergreens along the property lines provide privacy without obstructing the view, and flowering shrubs and perennials soften the home’s foundation and the patio while creating year-round interest. When landscaping on the water, avers Jester, it’s important to remember that “views are always a primary goal for the homeowner. Trying to meet the requirements of the city while also meeting that goal can be tricky, but clever solutions will typically present themselves.”

Landscape Design & Contracting: Paul Jester, PLA, ASLA; Jeff Potter, PLA, ASLA, J&G Landscape Design. 

FARM TO TABLE
Clients on the Eastern Shore initially contacted McHale Landscape Design to remedy a drainage issue in the front yard of their Chesapeake Bay property. The project eventually grew into an overhaul of their 27-acre site, encompassing the hardscaping, tennis court and swimming pool. Also on the wish list was a kitchen garden where the family could cultivate vegetables and herbs in summer. McHale landscape designer Ryan Davis regraded the problematic front yard with low berms, subsurface drainage and catch basins to redistribute standing water and minimize runoff into the bay. With water views as a backdrop, he devised a series of raised beds for a plethora of produce. The beds are contained by stone, obviating concerns about chemicals in pressure-treated wood leaching into the soil. Wood-and-wire fencing keeps feasting wildlife out. “Raised beds have become more important with the increasing frequency of higher tides, which raise sodium and magnesium levels in the soil and can prohibit plant growth,” Davis notes. “These raised beds were prepared with organic mushroom compost, which is the perfect medium for vegetables.” For those who want to garden in a salty, waterfront locale, he advises, “Raise your beds and invest in your soil.”

Landscape Design & Installation: Ryan Davis, McHale Landscape Design.

Architect Violeta Fiorino-Schwartz and her husband purchased a townhome in Baltimore’s Canton neighborhood, drawn by enviable views of sailboats streaming by in the harbor. However, interiors of the multi-level abode presented a problem: A large, central shaft bisected the north and south quadrants, interrupting openness and flow.

Fiorino-Schwartz quickly remedied the situation. “We took the shaft out to connect the spaces, which brought in airiness and views,” she recounts. On the third level, she reconfigured a small, south-facing bedroom and adjacent bath to create a bright, modern primary suite (above).

“I used a European-suite concept, with the sink and vanity as part of the bedroom,” explains the architect, who tucked the WC, shower and storage behind sliding glass where the shaft had been.

A spare, modern aesthetic ensures that views take center stage. Wide-plank, white oak floors support low-slung furnishings including an iconic Kartell nightstand; abstract coffee-and-oil-on-paper works by Fiorino-Schwartz—who is also a painter—adorn the wall behind the bed.

Renovation Architecture: Violeta Fiorino-Schwartz, AIA, VAS Architecture, Baltimore, Maryland. 

A retired chef and his wife tapped Katie Carlin Interiors to update their Royal Oak, Maryland, residence with new furniture and paint. Built in 1965, the home overlooks Leeds Creek with open sight lines between rooms. “We needed to design the interiors cohesively since the spaces all connect, yet give each zone its own character,” principal Katie Carlin explains.

The owners wished to embrace a coastal vibe to reflect their waterfront locale, so the designer kept that thought uppermost while creating breezy interior spaces in a combination of mid-century and traditional styles that mirror her clients’ aesthetic. Situated at the back of the house, the breakfast room (above) occupies a central spot beside the bustling, revamped kitchen. Scenic views of the creek are visible through French doors, so Carlin conjured a crisp-white backdrop to accentuate the vista. A vintage-style pendant hangs above a glass-topped Villa & House pedestal table made of whitewashed rope wrapped in resin and surrounded by woven wicker chairs from Century.

Interior Design: Katie Carlin, Katie Carlin Interiors, Annapolis, Maryland. 

Collaborating with Bayview Builders on a sprawling, custom home on the Severn River in Annapolis, architect Cathy Purple Cherry embraced traditional style and a breezy, coastal vibe—complete with turquoise-hued shingles. “The goal was to create expansive yet connected spaces with light-filled views, overlooking a pool, terrace, deck and beautifully landscaped gardens,” recounts Bayview’s David Carlisle.

Keeping the scenic locale in mind, Purple Cherry tucked a small, screened porch (above) to one side off the main living area, beyond which a watery panorama unfolds. “It’s a destination room,” the architect notes. “The clients requested that it support seating, not dining, so it’s smaller in scale and has a cozy atmosphere.” A stacked-stone-look tile fireplace anchors the space, where trim details on columns and ceiling reflect the home’s aesthetic. Comfortable Kingsley Bate furniture sits atop an ipe floor and an all-weather rug. A set of stairs leads down to the pool terrace, creating easy indoor-outdoor connectivity.

Architecture & Interior Design: Cathy Purple Cherry, AIA, LEED AP, Purple Cherry Architects, Annapolis, Maryland. Builder: Bayview Builders, Annapolis, Maryland. Landscape Architecture: Campion Hruby Landscape Architects, Annapolis, Maryland.

The owners of a traditional Great Falls residence contacted Surrounds, Inc., to reimagine their two-plus-acre property with improved convenience in front and an oasis in back centered around a swimming pool. “The lot was bare but surrounded by woods,” recalls landscape architect Chad Talton, who spearheaded the project. “We created a landscape that’s somewhat clean-lined, but with cottage qualities that enhance its appeal.”

Previously, a dysfunctional traffic circle dominated the home’s approach. “The owners have a lot of cars and they wanted to be able to park them all and still get around,” Talton says. “The goal was to make the front more usable as well as more beautiful.” Replacing the circle with a paver courtyard solved the issue; a bluestone path leads to the front door while the side-facing garage anchors a spacious parking area. Stone columns and lights flank the driveway entrance. Strategically lit crape myrtles frame the house, scaling down the front façade to conjure that cottage feel.

Beside the garage, a cedar gate set within a stone wall leads to the backyard, which initially presented its own challenges. “There was a constant slope toward the house, and the septic field had to be moved to accommodate the pool,” Talton explains. Stone retaining walls now terrace the property above a rectangular pool surrounded by travertine and thermal bluestone. A cedar-and-stone pavilion with a standing-seam, aluminum roof houses a fireplace and lounge area, while an attached pergola shelters a built-in outdoor kitchen. An existing elevated deck has been upgraded with trim and a repositioned stair leads to the pool area. Water features—one delineated by vegetable and cutting gardens—are set apart to create destinations on the property.

Eagle Ridge building stone crops up throughout the landscape, mimicking the home’s stone accents. A simple planting palette features deer-resistant drift roses, nepeta and Lacecap hydrangea, as well as gingko and cedar trees and evergreen cryptomeria.

Landscape Architecture & Contracting: Chad Talton, PLA, Surrounds Landscape Architecture + Construction, Sterling, Virginia. 

It all started with an ailing privacy hedge. Homeowners initially called on Oehme, van Sweden to replace a row of aged Leyland cypress rimming their nine-acre McLean property—but plans for an at-home wedding soon expanded the project’s scope to a comprehensive redo. Landscape architect Eric Groft of OvS conceived a plan that ultimately spanned the original parcel as well as surrounding lots the owners had purchased over time. “Our goal was to create a strolling park that would act as a thread connecting the entire estate,” says Groft.

The couple’s Mediterranean-inspired manse dictated a European aesthetic characterized by symmetry, formality and the use of stucco and limestone, which clad the house. In front, a scenic approach terminates in a new forecourt framed by 24-foot-tall Thuja nigra arborvitae that replaced the defunct cypress trees “for instant effect,” says Groft. A limestone veranda now enhances the front façade, where a series of French doors formerly opened out to nothing; piers support large bowls of colorful annuals.

A linear series of gardens follows axes emanating from the house. In back, a bluestone dining terrace lined with crape myrtle leads to an existing swimming pool that was revamped with a limestone surround; a fountain anchors the far end. To one side, Groft conceived a walled garden festooned in white perennials, with stepped walkways culminating in a limestone fountain imported from France. An adjacent roundel defined by cherry trees and limestone ingots surrounds a fire pit nestled in pea gravel. Further out, a woodland garden carpeted with purple phlox and native plants abuts a wide swath of lawn where the wedding took place.

Groft enlisted Walnut Hill Landscape Company to install and build out the project. They ultimately added 150 trees, 2,500 shrubs, 21,000 perennials and thousands of bulbs to the property. Says Walnut Hill principal Michael Prokopchak, “The planting combinations are beautiful. There’s something happening in this garden year-round.”

Landscape Architecture: Eric Groft, FASLA, Oehme, van Sweden | OvS, Washington, DC. Landscape Contracting: Michael Prokopchak, ASLA, Walnut Hill Landscape Company, Annapolis, Maryland.

The owners of a colonial-style residence in Alexandria enlisted Marks-Woods Construction Services to create a two-level addition while updating the existing spaces. “They’re a family of four and both husband and wife are architects,” recounts Marks-Woods owner Greg Marks, who enlisted in-house architect Lucy Adams, AIA, to collaborate with the homeowners on the design. Goals included bright and airy interiors; an open-concept kitchen and family room for entertaining; a study; loads of storage; and a larger kitchen. The reconfigured second floor would add a new primary suite to three existing bedrooms.

The 1,350-square-foot rear addition replaced a small one that had contained the family room. The new space accommodates the kitchen/family room, while existing spaces were repurposed to hold sitting and dining rooms, a study and an airy foyer. Upstairs, the addition houses the primary suite.

Elegant materials and finishes elevate the interiors and, per the owners’ request, reflect the home’s vintage provenance. The expanded kitchen is gracious, combining white custom cabinets by Braemar Cabinetry with book-matched Taj Mahal quartzite countertops and backsplash; facing the kitchen, a clean-lined marble fireplace anchors the family room. The study is distinguished by extensive wainscoting, while crown molding and casing details have been added throughout.

GRAND AWARD: Historic Renovation/Restoration $250,000 and over. Renovation Architecture & Contracting and Interior Design: Greg Marks, owner; Danielle Steele, lead designer, Marks-Woods Construction Services, Alexandria, Virginia. Kitchen Design & Cabinet Supply: Braemar Cabinetry, Alexandria,Virginia.  

A couple relocating from Texas hoped to recreate a breezy, Southwestern lifestyle on their new property in Aldie, Virginia. They hired Pristine Acres to reimagine the blank-slate backyard as a retreat with a range of options for gathering. “All the amenities are located for easy access to one another while still being clearly defined,” explains landscape architect Kevin Kurdziolek.

A rectangular pool and spa are anchored by a dark-wood custom pergola with an integrated tile fireplace. Travertine surrounds the pool, which boasts a sun shelf; Fiberon decking on the pergola floor and at the opposite end of the pool unify the poolscape.

A second-story deck and pavilion extend from the back of the house. The pavilion—complete with a marble-veneer fireplace and vaulted, stained-fir ceiling—offers indoor-outdoor connectivity via a folding window wall that opens to the family room. Below the deck, an outdoor kitchen and poolside dining space beckon. A workout room is tucked beneath the pavilion.

The owners specified clean, modern lines and an airy feel—and the meadow around the property lent itself to that vision. “We wanted to package that sense of space in our design,” Kurdziolek observes. “There is something very calming about watching the grasses sway.”

While working with Case Architects & Remodelers on a whole-house renovation in Bethesda, clients requested an overhaul of their outmoded primary suite. Along with other improvements, they envisioned a bathroom update that would “create an oasis,” recalls Case lead designer Allie Mann.

The plan tackled an assortment of angled walls and soffits that made the existing bath dated and cramped. “We squared off door entries to the WC and the shower, which felt like a cave with minimal glass,” Mann recounts. The dark, angled shower gave way to a sleek, glassed-in version, both roomier and better situated. A sculptural soaking tub replaced a built-in tub with stair entry; this change removed unnecessary soffits, allowing the facing vanities—which flank the tub—to be extended for increased storage and surface area. The water closet’s footprint was expanded to accommodate a shallow linen closet at one end.

Mann and her team imparted a spa feel to the space with white cabinetry, white quartz vanity tops and brushed-gold fixtures and hardware. Large-format, marble-look porcelain tile lines the floor and shower enclosure, where teak-look floor tile provides contrast. Vanity backsplashes showcase a decorative-leaf marble mosaic that climbs to the ceiling.

BOATING LIFE Costiera, a line of lounge furniture by French designer Christophe Pillet for Ethimo, is meant for use on land or at sea. Yacht-centric materials, from striped textiles to natural teak, add nautical flair to chairs, sofas and coffee tables. ethimo.com

SWEET SEAT Ngala Trading has teamed with South Africa-based Douglas & Douglas on the Woven seating collection. A powder-coated, stainless-steel frame pairs with weatherproof fibrecane, a recyclable, wicker-like material sourced in South Africa. Counter stools are pictured. ngalatrading.com

BIG DEBUT Japanese- and mid-century-inspired silhouettes define the Delrio dining table and Chilton dining chairs, respectively. Part of Arteriors Outdoor—the brand’s inaugural outdoor line—the pieces marry teak with synthetic weaves of rope and rattan. arteriorshome.com

LOW PROFILE Minimalist lines meet generous proportions in Mattone, low-slung, modular seating from JANUS et Cie, which recently opened a Bethesda showroom. Pictured with the Kanji Cocktail Table, crafted from a lightweight, concrete-and-glass-fiber composite. janusetcie.com

TWO'S COMPANY Designed by Enzo Berti for Kreoo, the ingenious Vis-à-Vis chaise offers seating for two. Chrome tubes cantilever from both sides of a natural-stone block; the tubes support a woven lounge complete with headrest. kreoo.com

MEMORY LANE B&B Italia’s Softcage collection pays homage to a 1975 rattan design by Mario Bellini. The new line features a sofa in two sizes and an armchair, all utilizing a cage structure wrapped in rattan. Available at the Georgetown location; bebitalia.com

LIVING COLOR Pollack has unveiled Gemini, an assortment of indoor/outdoor fabrics showcasing textured, woven surfaces and graphic patterns. Dance Track (pictured) features a kaleidoscope of hues in a herringbone weave made from post-consumer recycled polyester. Find in six colorways. pollackassociates.com

FOUND IN NATURE Organic shapes inspired Royal Botania’s Organix lounge collection. Kidney-shaped sofas, chairs and ottomans come with movable backrests and cushions; a coffee table with a ceramic top is part of the mix. royalbotania.com

OUTSIDE THE BOX Riviera outdoor furnishings from Portuguese brand Mambo Unlimited Ideas embrace the unconventional. Case in point: A bench (above) features rounded, lacquered-stainless-steel bases in a choice of pastel hues. A foam cushion and a roll-top pillow further the surprising silhouette. mambounlimitedideas.com

TABLE SCAPE Italian furniture maker Gervasoni’s Brise table conjures an Art Nouveau motif on a stainless-steel base, with a portable top made of Millgres, a weatherproof ceramic material. Stackable, stainless-steel Brise chairs complement the tableau. Available in red (pictured), cream and blue. gervasoni1882.com

LIGHT’S OUT Naoto Fukasawa’s aluminum Half-Dome Outdoor Lamp for Kettal combines a round stand with a slender neck and a domed shade. Find in black or white, in a floor or cantilevered (pictured) version. kettal.com