A series of 16 new Forever stamps honors the National Marine Sanctuary System. They depict coral reefs, fish, otters, seabirds—and, memorably, the skeleton of a derelict ship. It rises out of Mallows Bay, across from Quantico on the Maryland side of the Potomac River. The haunting image was captured by local photographer/fisherman Peter Turcik (above, on Little Blackwater River). He learned about more than 100 such decaying vessels, scuttled during World War I, while on assignment for the Chesapeake Conservancy.

Eventually, the ships—dubbed the Ghost Fleet—evolved into artificial reefs that protect fish, birds, turtles and other species. And in 2019, the former ships’ graveyard was designated a national marine sanctuary.

When shooting his photo of Mallows Bay, “I laid down flat in my kayak to get close to the water,” Turcik recalls. “The angle made the ship look quite tall and proud.”

It all began with a spec house in Chevy Chase, Maryland. In 2007, a couple with two kids purchased the Craftsman-style abode while it was still under construction, tapping designer Skip Sroka to help them upgrade and customize the interiors.

Fast forward to 2017. The owners—he’s in healthcare finance and she’s a retired CPA—were ready for a change. “We wanted to modernize, to relieve some of that Craftsman heaviness,” the wife relates. They turned to Sroka again and he, along with colleague Liz Bausch, formulated a plan for contemporizing the home—both inside and out. The exterior now boasts a clean-lined farmhouse aesthetic while a light color palette, simplified millwork and sleek, sophisticated details and finishes prevail in the interiors.

“It’s an ‘urban sophisticate’ aesthetic,” says Sroka. “Glam chic, but understated.” On the following pages, the designer reveals the process behind the décor.

Q&A

What elements did you retain from the home’s previous iteration and why?
We bought much of the art during the first renovation and it has transcended both redos. It’s modern and goes with everything. In fact, we redesigned the fireplace in the living room to accommodate a canvas by Johnnie Winona Ross that the clients love.

How did minimizing millwork and moldings impact the interior spaces?
It really lightened them. The woodwork was extensive and heavy—in the living room, for example, there were nine ceiling coffers. Now, it’s a simple cove ceiling with concealed lighting that’s a nice surprise. We also altered the size of the moldings between rooms and eliminated some built-ins in favor of custom pieces.

How did the color scheme evolve?
We weren’t looking to make the house a definitive color. We just wanted a neutral background, which tends to be more modern anyway. We gravitated to soft, warm grays that would showcase the art. I had installed dark-stained, rift-cut oak floors the first time around, so we lightened them to a pale hue.

Overscaled lighting plays a big role here. How did you make your selections?
Because we had reduced all the moldings and taken things away, we now needed architectural focal points. I chose the lighting so you’d notice it, to give extra dimension to each room. For instance, the Visual Comfort fixtures in the hallway are meant to lead you to the living room.

Describe the kitchen alterations.
Working with Lobkovich, Inc., we remodeled the whole kitchen. We framed sections of the white cabinetry with cerused, ebonized mahogany to create focal points. In an all-white kitchen, this is a tool you can use to add interest. Oversized Tech Lighting island pendants also catch the eye.

Share your methods for enlivening a neutral space.
I lean into textures and finishes, such as the hair-on-hide rug and wood-look wallpaper by Elitis in the dining room, or the Phillip Jeffries wall covering in a herringbone pattern that I put up on the living room ceiling.

Explain your furniture-selection process.
I never think my job is to just install furniture. It’s about adding that extra level of creativity that elevates a space. For instance, I repeated the herringbone ceiling surface on the doors of two custom cabinets in the living room and trimmed them with satin-brass edging. You have to notice the details.

How do accessories elevate a space?
Accessories offer points of interest that keep a room from feeling staid. We bring in a lot of items and see what clients respond to.

What changed in the upstairs spaces?
Each bedroom got a makeover and its own bath. The owners’ bedroom, which used to have a lot of wasted space, has been reconfigured to allow for two closets. In the owners’ bath, we built a niche to fit a Waterworks soaking tub, with beautiful carved marble tile behind it. They enhance each other.

Current favored finish?
Brushed bronze. I apply it to table legs, edges, cabinetry—anywhere I want to add a soft sheen.

Rule of thumb for using textures and finishes?
I try not to do the expected thing, but I’m also careful not to overdo it. If I have a strong pattern that looks amazing on a sofa, I won’t put it on more than one piece. I also don’t want a room that looks uniform, like a furniture store.

What style is coming back?
I think the ’70s are making a comeback. I love ’70s style—it mixes well with mid-century, which is so popular, and there’s a little glam to it. I’m seeing recycled pieces made from plexiglass and metal on 1stDibs.

Design pet peeve?
People who follow trends too much. I see it with HGTV hosts all the time. They think something is the new rule and they apply it indiscriminately whether it fits a house or not. Farmhouse modern interiors are a good example.

How does this house reflect your design philosophy?
Interior design is much like making a painting when you might ask, “What is it I want to see? What do I want to feel?” My interiors tend to be warm, calm and inviting. I create the house you want to come home to, to recharge your batteries in. Imagine taking a bath in the tub upstairs! Perfect.

Renovation & Interior Design: Skip Sroka, ASID, NCIDQ, IDAA, principal; Elizabeth Bausch, project designer, Sroka Design, Inc., Washington, DC. Renovation Contractor: Alliance Builders, LLC, Annapolis, Maryland. Kitchen Design: Lobkovich, Inc., Tysons, Virginia. Home Automation: A.B.E. Networks, Rockville, Maryland.

OFFICE SPACE
While building a modern dwelling in McLean, Peterson and Collins builders answered a call for a second-floor home office—”a sanctuary,” says founding partner Ted Peterson. The team fabricated bookshelves that mimic the grid of the room’s expansive window wall. “We’re seeing home offices big enough for an L-shaped desk with a couple of monitors, or a statement desk in the middle of the room,” he observes. “It’s a social environment; everything is clean and uncluttered.” Architecture: Thomson & Cooke Architects. Interior Design: M.S. Vicas Interiors.

BY THE BOTTLE
A wine cellar crafted by Artisan Builders for a 2020 show house in McLean was elevated by a modern aesthetic and innovative storage design. “The bottles were stacked on metal spikes that gave the impression of wall art,” recalls Stephen Yeonas, a partner at Artisan. “It was a forward concept by designer Olvia Demetriou to illustrate both function and visual display.” Other common requests he hears from oenophile clients, he adds, are “proper conditioning and a bit of sizzle.” Architecture: Harrison Design. Interior Design: HapstakDemetriou+.

GLASS HOUSE
Most high-end custom homes today incorporate connected and covered outdoor spaces that can be enjoyed all year round, according to Chris Neumann of Bayview Builders. The company recently completed a modern, eco-friendly home on the Magothy River in Arnold, Maryland, enveloped in floor-to-ceiling glass. Pictured here, a five-panel, 10-foot-tall sliding-door system opens out from the kitchen to a screened porch. “Heaters,” says Neumann, “help extend livability into multiple seasons.” Architecture: Bohl Architects. Interior Design: Don Wooters.

TEE TIME
A golf simulator was just one sports amenity Pyramid Builders recently integrated on the lower level of a custom abode in Annapolis—along with a shuffleboard court and indoor resistance pool. “The client wanted the golf zone to be social, with a bar nearby for watching games,” relates Pyramid president Bret Anderson. “The home-fitness trend reflects a desire to incorporate true entertainment into the design and details of a home.” Architecture: Patrick D. Jarosinski & Associates. Interior Design: Christy Brown Interior Design.

SMALL WONDER
Horizon Builders delivered on character when constructing a potting shed as part of a comprehensive McLean project. Cedar shingles, a slate roof and charming window details reflect the main house—with a dose of playful color. “Outbuildings are no longer an afterthought but an extension of the main home and a way for clients to express themselves,” says Horizon vice president Brad Pryor. These satellite structures, he notes, are often devoted to offices, gyms, guest quarters and more. Architecture: Harrison Design. Landscape Architecture: Arentz Landscape Architects LLC.

A Chevy Chase couple with a charming, 1925 Sears kit house tapped BarnesVanze Architects and Alliance Builders for a whole-house remodel. Towards the end of the process, they enlisted designer Sarita Simpson of Interior Matter to work her magic on the interiors—which included what had been a screened porch. “It was finished out and turned into a year-round room,” Simpson relates. “The owners wanted a cozy space for reading and playing games with their kids.”

Simpson was tasked with outfitting the completed space. Working with Centerline Design Build, she added a built-in banquette and designed a combination of shelving and photo ledges around a brick chimney wall (the fireplace faces the adjacent living room). Atop a custom Missoni rug, Lee Industries armchairs, an Arhaus game table and RH chairs beckon. Hunter Douglas Roman shades provide privacy.

Renovation Architecture: BarnesVanze Architects, Washington, DC. Interior Design: Sarita Simpson, Interior Matter, Washington, DC. Renovation Contractor: Alliance Builders, Annapolis, Maryland.

Marriott’s international headquarters and adjacent flagship hotel are the latest additions to the changing Bethesda cityscape, anchoring—and energizing—the Woodmont Triangle neighborhood. Designed in sleek style by Gensler, the buildings are linked via a pedestrian plaza. “The vision was a modern, urban campus that communicates hospitality and openness to the community,” relates Jordan Goldstein, Gensler’s co-firm managing principal.

The headquarters measures 21 stories and 785,000 square feet. An organic material palette of white oak and stone creates warmth, while expanses of glass promote transparency. In the lobby (pictured), a 20-foot-tall, 64-foot-wide work of digital art wraps around the elevator bay, displaying ultra-high-resolution video imagery of far-flung destinations that is visible from the street. Over the front desk, a monumental light installation designed by Gensler plays off the idea of travel with a form inspired by topographic lines. A floating terrazzo staircase with integrated seating anchors a three-story atrium. Spaces for innovation include a test kitchen and beverage bar.

Next door, the hotel stands 12 stories, with 244 rooms, 8,000 square feet of meeting space and 13 model hotel rooms for testing new concepts and amenities. Within the two buildings, gathering spots include a rooftop hotel bar and a 7,600-square-foot outdoor garden on the headquarters’ 20th floor. Both buildings are LEED Gold certified.

Architecture: Jordan Goldstein, FAIA, FIIDA, LEED AP, principal in charge, Gensler, Washington, DC. Project Manager: JLL,
Washington DC. Architectural Contractor: Hensel Phelps, Tysons, Virginia. Interior Construction: Rand Construction, Alexandria, Virginia.

Strong lines and simple, graphic shapes characterize Hadiya Williams’ new fabric and wallpaper collection for Schumacher. Inspired by West African themes, her motifs utilize tools she honed over years designing stationery. “A lot of my Schumacher patterns were conceived using hand-cut paper,” she says.

Williams, a DC native, founded Black Pepper Paperie Co., in 2017. The mixed-media, art-and-design studio sells handcrafted ceramics, paper goods, jewelry and apparel. Pieces by Williams reflect “the history, memory, culture and ritual of the African diaspora,” she notes. They also illustrate her versatility as an artist who has moved with ease from graphic design to ceramics and now textiles. “I’ve gone to what draws me,” she muses. H&D caught up with Williams to discuss the new line.

What has most influenced your work?
I grew up during the Black Power movement in the ’70s, with heavy West African cultural influences like Black art, music and textiles at home; Hadiya is a Swahili name. The shapes and lines of Kuba cloth and mud cloth were influences even before I discovered that my lineage goes back to the Bamileke tribe in Cameroon. I think Black people feel a need to remember and connect; my artwork is how I do that.

How did the Schumacher collaboration evolve?
With the increased activism of 2020, there was a drive to support Black creatives and businesses. Schumacher reached out. I think they wanted a fresh perspective. I was the first Black woman collaborator they’d worked with. It was a great learning experience—I had never designed with fabric before. We had lots of back and forth, with me creating and then narrowing down.

What attracts you to home décor?
Black people in the U.S. have felt a need to find home from the beginning. The Great Migration was largely about looking for a safe place to live and be at peace. For me, creating is based on wayfinding—searching for grounding and making a place that feels like home.

What’s next for you?
I really want to learn to design tile. And I’d like to try designing rugs. But I’ll work with paper, paint—any medium in order to create.

Scenic Lake Barcroft, a manmade, two-and-a-half-square-mile body of water in Falls Church, anchors a community of about 1,000 homes. Unspoken-for properties on its coveted waterfront are few and far between—so when a couple with a yen for lakefront living came across a vacant, one-and-a-half-acre lot for sale along the shore, they grabbed it.

In fact, their vision extended beyond lifestyle and deep into architecture-and-design territory. “We wanted to build an ultra-contemporary house, and we wanted a local architect we could spend time with, to make sure they understood us,” recounts one of the owners, a management consultant whose husband currently stays home with their two young kids. “We also wanted someone with distinction and their own style,” he continues, “to ensure what we’d be getting in terms of quality and design sense.”

Given the requirements, acclaimed modernist Robert Gurney turned out to be the perfect choice. He signed on for the job, which took about five years from conception to its completion in November 2020. He assembled a team that included colleague Nicole de Jong as project architect; Potomac Valley Builders; Vincent Sagart of Poliform | sagartstudio as kitchen designer; interior designer Therese Baron Gurney; and landscape architect Kevin Campion.

The lot is enviably positioned with lake views in two directions. Waterfront-lot regulations “allowed us to build within 50 feet of the water,” Gurney notes, “so I designed the house to literally wrap around the site following the 50-foot setback lines.”

At 7,000 square feet, the completed six-bedroom, six-bath dwelling is angled to capitalize on both vistas. It harmonizes expanses of steel, glass and wood in two three-story volumes that tuck into the steeply sloped site, concealing its mass. “While the slope was a challenge, it makes for a more interesting building,” Gurney comments. “But it meant you couldn’t enter on the living level, you’d have to walk down to it.”

Nearly every room faces the water and the lake is visible immediately from the entry. The front door opens into a second-floor foyer with a staircase to the third floor and a separate, floating stair of painted steel and white oak down to the main level. “We made sure the different levels communicate,” Gurney says. “There are sightlines pulled from different orientations.”

An open plan was a must. “We had an idea of how things should flow,” says the owner. “We wanted the living room connected to the dining room but distinguished from it. The central stair, which bisects the spaces, gives just enough separation.”

Along the back wall of the living area, a sleek kitchen complements the space, with a fully loaded prep kitchen around the corner. “The goal was to integrate the kitchen with the architecture,” explains designer Vincent Sagart. “It helps create the space—but it’s all about the views.”

The second floor does double duty as front entry—complete with mudroom and two-car garage (an engineering feat in its location over the kitchen)—and guest quarters. There are two spare bedrooms as well as an apartment with a full kitchen, also designed by Poliform | sagartstudio. The third level is for family: The kids’ bedrooms line a short hall, with the primary suite above the guest apartment and a family lounge that the owners call “the loft.” An ipe deck is accessed from the children’s rooms, hallway and loft, creating indoor-outdoor flow.

On the main level, the living area opens out to an expansive ipe deck with a wide stair bordered by Corten steel leading down to the backyard. Landscape architect Kevin Campion devised access from there to the water while thoughtfully balancing other objectives. “It was a sensitive slope with drainage issues, dead trees and restrictions that required preserving and restoring woodland,” he relates. “We took down the dead trees and planted dozens of natives. And we moved the water around the house, managing the drainage so it doesn’t dump into the lake.” Pervious lawn stairs create a picturesque path to 250 feet of lakefront, where the owners dock a pontoon boat for tooling around on the water. A layered plant palette along the slope provides year-round color and interest and prevents erosion.

With the living spaces all facing the water, Gurney tucked the prep kitchen, storage, and operating systems such as HVAC, geothermal and Lutron and A/V on the street side of the house. Spray-foam insulation, low-E glass and passive glazing contribute to energy efficiency. According to the homeowners, solar panels are imminent.

When it came to the interiors, the clients also knew exactly what they wanted. They purchased major furniture pieces themselves, then relied on interior designer Therese Baron Gurney, Robert’s wife and a frequent collaborator, “to pull it all together and give it that extra something,” explains the owner. Against a backdrop of glass, polished concrete floors and wall panels of mahogany and shou sugi ban, low-slung, modern furnishings in quiet, neutral colors keep the views center stage. Says the owner, “I feel like I’m at a resort when I get home at night. Washington is just 20 minutes away—and I get to come home to this.”

Architecture: Robert M. Gurney, FAIA, principal; Nicole de Jong, AIA, project architect, Robert M. Gurney, FAIA Architect, Washington, DC. Interior Design: Therese Baron Gurney, ASID, Baron Gurney Interiors, Washington, DC. Kitchen Design: Vincent Sagart, Poliform | sagartstudio, Washington, DC. Builder: Daryl Landis, Potomac Valley Builders, Bethesda, Maryland. Landscape Architect: Kevin Campion, ASLA, principal; Lindsey Tabor, PLA, associate, Campion Hruby Landscape Architects, Annapolis, Maryland. Landscape Installation: Evergro Landscaping, Glenn Dale, Maryland.

RESOURCES

GENERAL
Home Automation: gramophone.com. Windows: westernwindowsystems.com. Lighting: lutron.com. Outdoor Audio: coastalsource.com. Outdoor Lighting & Irrigation: nature-unlimited.com.

LIVING ROOM
Sofa: Rodolfo Dordoni through minotti.com. Chairs: patriciaurquiola.com through bebitalia.com. Coffee Table: Carlos Baladia through ethnicraft.com. Table: roomandboard.com. Rug: cavancarpets.com.

DINING ROOM
Dining Table: emmanuel-gallina.com through poliform.it. Chairs: Jean-Marie Massaud through poliform.it. Trolley: Hella Jongerius through artek.fi. Chandelier: Gabriel-scott.com.

KITCHEN
Faucets: dornbracht.com; kwc.ch/us; mountainplumbing.com. Lighting: Andreas Tosetto for lodes.com. Cooktop, Ovens, Coffee Machine & Warming Drawers: mieleusa.com. Refrigerator: subzero-wolf.com.

LOUNGE & MEDIA ROOM
Sofas: Philippe Bouix for roche-bobois.com. Armchair: Cedric Ragot for roche-bobois.com. Coffee Table, Stools & Side Table: bludot.com. Cushion: roneljordaan.com. Rug: cavancarpets.com.

PRIMARY BEDROOM
Bed: Rodolfo Dordoni for poliform.it. Night Table: Paolo Piva through poliform.it. Armchair & Side Table: Jean-Marie Massaud through poliform.it. Rug: bic-carpets.be. Floor Lamp: Lievore Altherr Molina for vibia.com. Closet: poliform.it.

LOWER DECK
Lounge Chairs: Rodolfo Dordoni for rodaonline.com. Side Table: gordon-guillaumier.com through rodaonline.com. Side Table: tihanydesign.com through rodaonline.com. Pouf, Sun Lounger & Side Table: Rodolfo Dordoni for rodaonline.com. Parasol: Barlow Tyrie through teak.com.

UPPER DECK
Coffee Table: Gordon-guillaumier.com through rodaonline.com. Chairs & Sun Lounger: newhemisphere.com.

BALCONIES
Armchairs: Patricia Urquiola for andreuworld.com. Tables: Llevore Altherr Molina for andreuworld.com.

LAWN
Chairs: cane-line.com.

PRIMARY BATHROOM
Faucets: Franco Sargiani for fantini.it. Bathtub: Lievore through noorth.it. Cabinets: michelemarcon.it through noorth.it. Toilets: Sfrea through catalano.it. Mirrors: noorth.it. Handles & Hinges: fsbna.com. Lighting: Philippe Starck for usa.flos.com.

Though the Canal Street Malt House is no more, the 1866 building in Baltimore’s Little Italy has gone the way of so many historic landmarks: It’s now part of an enclave of industrial-chic condo lofts. A couple attracted to loft living purchased a one-bedroom unit in the complex that needed work. “They wanted a larger kitchen, a second bedroom and a clean, bright backdrop for their art collection,” relates designer Laura Hodges, who orchestrated an overhaul.

Integrating an obtrusive column into custom cabinetry allowed her to enlarge the kitchen. She devised a steel-and-glass wall that now separates an adjacent sitting area from the open-plan main floor. Featuring sliding-glass doors and darkened-bronze transom windows, the partition was fabricated by Gutierrez Studios—which also replaced the builder-grade staircase with one of oak, glass and white-painted steel. A built-in bookcase with grass cloth shelf-backs tucks into a niche on one wall.

White oak floors replaced stained concrete. Hodges left the ductwork on the ceiling exposed but painted it crisp white, explaining, “We wanted to maintain the industrial elements but make them less intrusive.”

Architectural & Interior Design: Laura Hodges, Laura Hodges Studio, Catonsville, Maryland. Renovation Contractor: Owings Brothers Contracting, Sykesville, Maryland.

HOME THERAPY
A custom abode in McLean reflects the growing demand for personal-wellness amenities at home. “Over the last several years, we’ve seen gyms augmented by pools, halotherapy and chromotherapy spas and more,” observes architect Greg Palmer, AIA, of Harrison Design, who collaborated with colleague Bulent Baydar, AIA, on this 32-foot-long indoor pool that features adjacent massage, bath and changing rooms. A vaulted, beamed ceiling and oversized doors and windows impart an airy feel to the space. Builder: Artisan Builders. Interior Design: Tracy Morris Design. 

COZY SPOT
While revamping a Georgetown manse, Overmyer Architects and Tracy Morris tucked a cozy nook into a capacious lower-level entertaining space—answering a frequent request for intimate nests in large, open homes. Here, a game table occupies a niche beside the fireplace. “The owners enjoy board games with friends,” recounts project architect Laura Rowland, “but it’s also a space away from the bustle of the party.” Navy Phillip Jeffries Studs & Stripes grass cloth creates a moody vibe. Renovation Contractor: Goldsborough Design/Build. Interior Design: Tracy Morris Design. 

DOUBLE DUTY
Answering what he says is a prevalent call for flexible work spaces, architect Charles Warren, AIA, of Teass \ Warren Architects integrated a client’s Chevy Chase home office with a mudroom/pantry to create a command center. “It’s a multifunctional room that connects with the other living areas,” he explains. “Pocket doors close it off if needed.” Blue-painted cabinetry fabricated by Abernethy Sticks incorporates a desk with a white oak surface opposite a wall containing pantry storage. A mid-century vibe prevails. Renovation Contractor: The Block Builders Group. 

OUTSIDE THE DOGHOUSE
Accommodating furry friends is a high priority in today’s homes—as architect Mark Kaufman, AIA, of GTM Architects can attest. Among the animal-friendly features he’s been asked to install: showers, ramps, sleeping nooks, electronic doors and pull-out litter boxes. He recently outfitted a Bethesda mudroom with a dog shower, complete with temperature control and a low curb for easy access. “Clients understand that pets are part of the family,” he says. Builder: Sandy Spring Builders. Interior Design: Annette Hannon Interior Design. 

GOING GREEN
While designing a sprawling, modern dwelling overlooking DC’s Battery Kemble Park, architect Wouter Boer, AIA, and colleague Philip McGee of Wouter Boer Architects relied on green roof systems to prevent runoff and meet National Park Service stormwater-management requirements. “The green roof creates the illusion that the park extends all the way to the upper floors,” notes Boer, who took advantage of the spectacular site with his elegantly proportioned structures.
Builder: Zantzinger. Landscape Architecture: Campion Hruby Landscape Architects. Green Roof Consultant: Furbish. 

SPA RETREAT
“Clients are using their bathrooms to escape and relax,” observes architect James Rill, AIA, of Rill Architects. “We’re seeing soaking tubs with a book and a beverage.” When Bethesda clients requested a spa-like bath, he and Cara Medeiros, a designer on his staff, delivered with a sumptuous soaking tub, a glass-enclosed shower and walls clad in swirling marble. The retreat boasts elements Rill predicts more luxe baths will offer in the future: abundant natural light, indoor-outdoor connection and one-of-a-kind style. Builder: Woodhaven Contractors. 

MOMENT OF ZEN
Meditative spaces are trending as a post-pandemic focus on health and wellbeing blooms. When McLean clients tapped Anthony Wilder Design/Build to redo their bedroom suite, architectural designers Anthony Wilder and Maria Fanjul proposed an indoor-outdoor refuge. They connected the reimagined bath to a serene deck via a window wall; scattered stones inside and out conjure a Zen vibe. “The owners use the spaces to relax and escape the stresses of the day,” says Wilder.

Before construction began on the Jamie L. Roberts Stadium in 2016, St. Mary’s College of Maryland embarked on an excavation of the site—and uncovered evidence of slave quarters that predated the college. “Even though I knew there was that history in Southern Maryland, it gave me pause,” reflects St. Mary’s president Tuajuanda C. Jordan, the first Black woman to serve in that role. “It put us on this path to understand our history and lend voices to people who were here before.” With help from CODAworx, a network that promotes public art by connecting artists and designers with creative opportunities, St. Mary’s College commissioned a commemorative for the site. In 2020, Absence to Presence, Commemorating Contributions of Enslaved Peoples was born.

The brainchild of Houston design firm RE:Site, this immersive art installation stands beside the now-completed stadium, compelling passersby to stop and experience it. The structure rises from a spot where slave quarters once stood—a reimagined slave house clad in a staggered pattern of ipe clapboard and highly reflective stainless steel. Erasure poetry, which recasts existing written materials by removing selected words, utilizes 243 runaway-slave advertisements that have been etched into the steel panels; composed by poet Quenton Baker, the words impose powerful new meaning on their hateful source.

“We envisioned this private space—the only one in the lives of enslaved peoples—as a symbol of resilience, determination and persistence,” says Norman Lee, who collaborated on the project with RE:Site cofounder Shane Albritton. Visit smcm.edu/commemorative

Craftsmanship, creativity and sustainability meet in The Wilson, a recent high-rise addition to Bethesda’s cityscape. Designed by Shalom Baranes Associates, the 23-story office building at 7272 Wisconsin Avenue showcases a 32-by-51-foot, steel-and-wood wall installation in its lobby—a thought-provoking focal point that adds artistic dimension to the space.

The firm enlisted Gutierrez Studios to bring its concept to life. “We envisioned a giant library of raw materials assembled from various wood species remnants,” says Claudia Bancalari, an architect on the project. Gutierrez project manager Kevin Weston and his team devised a floating steel cleat system that supports 264 wooden fins, or volumes, ranging from four to 12 feet in height. The fins move independently within the structure so the wood can breathe, expand and contract seasonally.

Sustainability was a main driver of the project—so to craft its wood components, Gutierrez turned to Baltimore Fallen Lumber, which salvages timber instead of harvesting it. “We utilize downed timbers (termed Carbon Smart Wood), process them locally and plant trees in the community with the profits,” notes BFL’s Paul Timmons. He and his team relied on glued-together scrap and fallen-timber pieces in making the fins.

The finished installation comprises maple, sycamore, oak, elm, walnut, sapele and more. As Weston avers, “It’s a beautiful canvas of wood species.”

Architecture: Shalom Baranes Associates, Washington DC. Contractor: Clark Construction, Baltimore, Maryland. Feature Wall Fabrication & Installation: Gutierrez Studios, Baltimore, Maryland; Baltimore Fallen Lumber, Arbutus, Maryland.

Visitors to the Smithsonian Craft2Wear show will be able to peruse—and purchase—one-of-a-kind creations from a curated collection of contemporary wearable craft and design. Seventy booths will occupy the National Building Museum, proffering works by a host of American makers; wares run the gamut from jewelry and leather to clothing, accessories and decorative fiber.

The 2022 show—the first since 2019—takes place October 21 and 22, with a preview benefit the evening of October 20 when guests can shop, meet the artists and enjoy drinks and hors d’oeuvres. This year’s event honors Judy Lynn Prince, the philanthropist and past president of the Smithsonian Women’s Committee who founded Craft2Wear in 2005 and passed away in 2021.

Proceeds of the event support education, research and conservation grants to the Smithsonian’s research centers, museums and the National Zoo.
smithsoniancraft2wear.org

JEWEL TONES
Modern Matter’s Jaipur Collection combines polished brass and semi-precious stones. Handcrafted in Jaipur, India, the line showcases tiger’s eye, lapis, pink jade and more. Pictured here: prehnite, a pale-green stone flecked with black and brown. Find at Push Pull Decorative Hardware in North Bethesda. modern-matter.com; pushpullhardware.com

GARDEN STATE
The Morris Collection from Top Knobs honors—New Jersey. Five suites of knobs, pulls and appliance hardware in a range of styles, sizes and finishes are named for historic towns in the Garden State, where the company is headquartered. The Florham series is pictured. topknobs.com

FINE PATINA
Solid bronze knobs and pulls from Hardware Renaissance’s Artistic Patinas collection are animated by textured, hand-patinaed layers of color, veining and highlights. Available in six finishes, including Cascade Green, Navajo Silver, Red Autumn Leaves, Old Copper and Tuscan Bronze. hardwarerenaissance.com

READ ME
The whimsical Message collection from Maison Vervloet features knobs, levers and pulls resembling either a sculpted wad of paper (an unsent message) or a gently folded sheet (a sent message). The solid-brass hardware is finished in satin brass or nickel; a “sent” pull is pictured with playful instructions. vervloet.com

TEXTURED FINISH
Baldwin’s line of coined and knurled knobs and levers is made of solid brass with 15 hand-applied finish options. The Knurled Collection is characterized by a textured diamond pattern on the handle; a lever is pictured. baldwinhardware.com

SMOOTH TRANSITION
Tailored forms and beveled edges give Atlas Homewares’ Sweetbriar Lane collection a refined, transitional look. The versatile line encompasses 60 knobs, pulls and appliance pulls and comes in six finishes and a range of sizes. Pictured in Matte Black. atlashomewares.com

MODERN SPIN
Ashley Norton’s Burnished Brass finish conjures a weathered, Old World vibe via hand-brushed texturing while staying fresh and current with a luxe gold tone. The finish is available on all the brand’s solid brass hardware. ashleynorton.com

While shopping for a small, historic home, empty nesters hailing from Reston came upon the exact opposite—and were smitten. The sprawling stone dwelling on 100 rolling acres in Leesburg looked like it had always been there, but was actually built in 1995. And the landscape was overgrown. “At first we said no—but after tromping through weeds and grass up to our waists, we sat outside in back and watched the sun set over the Catoctin Mountains,” recalls the husband. “Then we said yes.”

As the couple, owners of an international management consulting firm, soon gleaned, the property held some surprises. Among them: the discovery that the original owner had tapped landscape architect Brian Katen, a professor at Virginia Tech, to design a 33-acre arboretum on the grounds—and that it showcased thousands of specimen trees imported from all over the country. “We had no idea,” marvels the wife. “When we moved in, you literally couldn’t see through the beds. It was a matter of cleaning them out and rediscovering the landscape.”

Meanwhile, the house also had a story to tell. Taking inspiration from the cottage-style Arts & Crafts estates of English architect and designer C.F.A. Voysey (1857-1941), local architect Kevin Ruedisueli devised the 6,600-square-foot, five-bedroom, eight-bath structure atop a hill with panoramic views of the mountains and Catoctin Creek. He embellished the interiors with built-ins, extensive millwork and six fireplaces; floors of dark-stained, hand-scraped oak still unify the main-level rooms.

Despite its great bones, however, the residence had become dated. “It was kind of frozen in time, with red-velvet wallpaper, heavy drapes and valances,” relates the wife. “Our vision was to simplify the spaces and let the outdoors in. Because we’ve traveled a lot, we’ve collected art and other items that we wanted to incorporate. And we also wanted to acknowledge Voysey’s influence.”

When it came to implementing their ideas, though, the couple found the scale of the rooms and size of the house overwhelming. “It became a hodgepodge very quickly,” the husband says. “We needed harmony and cohesiveness across rooms that have visibility to each other. So, we backed up and said ‘okay, we need an assist.’”

Enter designer Erika Bonnell, who was tasked with pulling it all together while guiding opinionated clients who worried about cookie-cutter results. “The project happened in a piecemeal way because they enjoy collecting and curating and didn’t want to be removed from that process,” Bonnell says. “They both have strong individual aesthetic styles that lean different ways. I needed to stay respectful of both.”

The owners’ eclectic preferences include Victorian antiques, mid-century and Scandinavian furniture and bold, modern art. To integrate such disparate elements, Bonnell established a neutral backdrop throughout that also achieved the goal of enhancing the views. “The outdoors is such a big part of the visual experience of this house, we wanted to connect with it at all times of year—from gray winter to full-blown summer,” she says. Understated rugs, upholstered seating in beige linen and pale, solid-hued draperies created the foundation she wanted.

Visitors enter the large foyer, which sets an eclectic tone for the interior spaces by combining vibrant Mexican art, a modern console and a pair of reproduction Voysey chairs inspired by originals on display at the Victoria & Albert Museum. To the right, the airy living room is grounded by a neutral sectional and swivel chairs that bring colorful paintings by Spanish artist Eduardo Arranz-Bravo to the fore. To the left, the dining room is a statement-maker, clad in teal Schumacher wallpaper. “Even though it’s a busy pattern, there’s not a lot of contrasting color in it to compete with the summer views,” Bonnell notes. The husband commissioned an artisan in Newport News to craft a live-edge walnut table to the designer’s specifications; she paired it with Wishbone chairs and a dramatic Regina Andrew chandelier.

The open-plan kitchen/family room spans the back of the house, flowing out to a screened porch and a renovated stone patio. A few deft changes updated the kitchen, where dark granite countertops made way for white quartz slabs and a glazed, ceramic-tile backsplash. The island base was painted a fresh blue-gray and an eye-catching Hubbardton Forge fixture was installed overhead. “That oversized, sculptural chandelier made a big difference,” observes Bonnell, who selected dynamic, modern lighting throughout the interiors.

A wing off the kitchen features a solarium and the owners’ suite on the ground floor, with a guest apartment above. Four upstairs bedrooms are accessed via the main stair in the foyer, which showcases an extensive gallery wall, masterminded by Bonnell, of the owners’ art and artifacts.

While improving the residence, the couple also revived the landscape, upgrading the pool and implementing English, perennial and vegetable gardens as well as an apiary and a fruit orchard. Says the wife, “We have been thrilled to be able to bring this property back to life.”

Interior Design: Erika Bonnell. Erika Bonnell Interiors, Sterling, Virginia.

RESOURCES

FOYER
Console Table: madegoods.com. Voysey Reproduction Chairs: nrhillerdesign.com. Painting over Console: Rufino Tamayo.

LIVING ROOM
Sofa & Swivel Chairs: kristindrohancollection.com. Rug: greenfront.com. Demi-lune Console: antique. Artwork above Console: Eduardo Arranz-Bravo. Wall Paint: Elmira White by benjaminmoore.com. Floor Lamp by Sofa: circalighting.com. Twin Stools: antique. Drapery Fabric: fabricut.com. Skirted Console Table Fabric: Lee Jofa through kravet.com. Lamps on Skirted Console Table: curreyandcompany.com. Wood-Framed Chair & Ottoman: thosmoser.com. Floor Lamp by Chair: owners’ collection. Hide Rug: trophyroomcollection.com.

KITCHEN
Island Base Color: custom through byerswallpaper.com. Countertops: silestoneusa.com through sky-marble.com. Backsplash: architessa.com. Light Fixture Above Island: hubbardtonforge.com.

DINING ROOM
Wallpaper: fschumacher.com. Sideboard: lumens.com. Lamps on Sideboard: vintage. Mirror Over Sideboard: madegoods.com. Wishbone Chairs: roveconcepts.com. Rug: greenfront.com. Chandelier: reginaandrew.com. Drapes: fabricut.com. Swan Picture Frame: framemasters.com.

Before finding his passion in design, Christian Daw flipped condos, finished law school and embarked on a law career. He’d always designed his own interiors and helped friends with their homes—but it wasn’t until he started an Instagram page to share what inspired him that a new path emerged.

“I realized that people appreciated my aesthetic and felt my taste was similar to theirs,” he says. “My first clients came from Instagram—they were patrons who invested in me.” These included a friend who offered to match his lawyer salary so Daw could decorate his home. Daw refused the offer—but by then, he and his husband (who currently reside in Bloomingdale with their one-year-old daughter) had moved from Southern California to DC. He was ready to take the leap—”though I knew I had school debt and no discernible pedigree in design,” he laughs.

His confidence was well-founded. Formed in 2017, his firm now employs six designers and part-time support staff. Thanks to the lure of his Instagram feed, which counts more than 400,000 followers, Daw has projects underway nationwide as well as in the DC area. “We have a lot of repeat clients,” he affirms. “We are happy to do everything.”

Interior Design: Christian Daw, Christian Daw Design, Washington, DC. 

Michelle Tremont Boyd brings a wealth of experience to her growing design firm, launched in 2020. She followed a degree in architecture from Syracuse University with six years at Studio Sofield, a prestigious New York architectural design firm where she worked on luxury residential and retail projects. “It was a formative period for me,” she recalls. She subsequently spent four years as VP of store design and construction at now-shuttered Barneys New York.

During a recent three-year hiatus to have kids—now aged two and four—Tremont Boyd moved with her husband to Alexandria. Once there, the designer became restless.
“I wanted to get back to a creative space and missed the rigor and challenges of design work,” she observes. “Just as covid was at its height, I started networking—and I have found it to be a nice way to learn the community in DC.”

Tremont Boyd, who currently works solo and has five projects on her docket, favors a holistic approach. “I do interior architecture and design with a heavy renovation and construction component,” she explains. “I love to be part of the A to Z of a project—large scale and then zooming in to complete the details.”

Interior Design: Michelle Tremont Boyd, Michelle Tremont Boyd Interiors, Alexandria, Virginia.