Washington National Cathedral, the neo-Gothic DC landmark conceived more than a century ago at soaring, monumental scale, withstood a major earthquake in 2011 that badly compromised its structural integrity. Plans already underway for improvements were postponed—among these, a reimagining of the cloistered garth garden first conceptualized by Richard Williams Architects in 2009 and finally completed in 2019.
Landscape architect Milton Meade Palmer designed the original garth garden in 1968, centering it around a bronze fountain by Japanese American sculptor George Tsutakawa. RWA and a team that included Michael Verguson Landscape Architects respected the garden’s intent while following an overarching mandate: to create an intimate area for the interment of cremated remains. The garden also hosts services including weddings and baptisms and is open as a retreat to the public.
The new design encompasses two curving site walls. One, a low granite wall, defines the existing courtyard terrace and reinforces the fountain as a focal point. The second, curving away from the first, is made of rubble stone; it comprises the All Souls Memorial Garden—the sacred burial mound where ashes are interred.
“We divided the garth into realms,” principal Richard Williams recounts. “The communal courtyard and the peaceful burial ground.” Names and dates of the interred are engraved on bronze bars designed by Gutierrez Studios that anchor to the granite wall.
Renovation Architecture: Richard Williams, FAIA, principal in charge; Justin Donovan, AIA, project architect, Richard Williams Architects, PLLC, Washington, DC. Landscape Architecture: Michael Vergason Landscape Architects, Ltd., Alexandria, Virginia. Renovation Contracting: AllenBuilt Inc., Bethesda, Maryland.
Homeowners in St. Michaels wished to take better advantage of their nine-acre waterfront property, which occupies a scenic peninsula bordering Solitude and Edge Creeks. They tapped a design team that included Purple Cherry Architects, Jennifer Connoley Landscape Design and ThinkMakeBuild to conceive a 5,365-square-foot area for entertaining around an existing pool and pool house that had become dilapidated over time.
Architect Cathy Purple Cherry overhauled the pool house, reorganizing it to include a kitchen, mudroom, half-bath and storage. She embellished the structure with cupolas, skylights and trim; columns flank wide steps up to a new porch and wraparound ipe deck. “The main house has a Maryland farmhouse/coastal home aesthetic,” Purple Cherry explains. “The pool house had to be respectful of that language.”
Meanwhile, Connoley revised the shape of the pool, significantly enlarging and updating the surrounding patio. “The owner likes classic design, so I came up with a scalloped configuration that accommodates the lounge chairs and tables they wanted,” she recalls. “I used ivory travertine in a herringbone pattern, as the more typical random pattern felt too contemporary.” Steppers in the turf add visual interest.
Connoley’s plan also included buffer management, drainage infrastructure, shoreline stabilization plantings and fresh sod. She landscaped not only the pool house area but also the main house and guest cottage, preserving existing trees and enhancing them with native shrubs such as boxwood and hydrangea. A lush cutting garden features peonies, salvia and phlox.
Renovation Architect: Cathy Purple Cherry, AIA, LEED AP, CAS, Purple Cherry Architects, Annapolis, Maryland. Landscape Design: Jennifer Connoley Landscape Design, Easton, Maryland. Renovation Contracting: ThinkMakeBuild, Easton, Maryland. Photography: Jennifer Connoley.
Adam Thomas Brockett, a post-doctoral fellow in neuroscience at University of Maryland, has always loved photography. “I picked up a camera as a way to get out of the lab and have been shooting ever since,” he explains. Brockett captured this image of the Sandy Point Shoal Lighthouse, just north of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, on a fall day trip with his dad. “We drove up in hopes of catching a warm sunrise, but the weather had other plans,” he recalls. “It began raining—but there was faint color in the sky and I liked how the golden beach grass was blowing in the wind, so I stopped and snapped this shot.” Photography by Adam Thomas Brockett
After 40 years, the owner of a row house in Northwest DC’s Foggy Bottom was ready to trade snow shoveling and roof repairs for the ease of apartment life. A retired civil servant with a penchant for opera, the active 85-year-old was very attached to his longtime neighborhood just a stone’s throw from The Kennedy Center. So when a condo unit came on the market in a mid-rise building around the corner, he jumped on it.
The two-bedroom, two-bath residence on the seventh floor had plenty to recommend it, with light-filled rooms, 1,800 square feet of living space and panoramic views—one of which captures the National Cathedral. However, the building dates back to 1975—and the unit in question looked like it hadn’t been touched since about that time. Before even putting his row house on the market, the owner reached out to designer Pamela Black, whom he had known for years, and her frequent collaborator, Don Love, to bring the abode up to speed.
Black and Love first addressed the apartment’s worn infrastructure. Out went warped, cherry-hued laminate flooring and popcorn ceilings in favor of wide-plank, medium-stained oak floors and smooth drywall overhead; the designers lowered the new ceiling enough to accommodate a system of recessed and accent lighting. “That was a big request,” recalls Black. “Our client wanted lots of light. And different levels of light, too.”
Replacing the unit’s hollow, builder-grade doors with solid, custom versions and changing out grilles and hardware also made an impact. “All the little upgrades really elevated the space,” Love observes. wwAmong the improvements: a custom, red-painted swinging door connecting the entry foyer and kitchen that features a quaint oval window harkening back, says Black, to “the Park Avenue apartments” of yore.
With a shortage of closet space, the designers tapped Pennsylvania-based Timeless Creations Furniture to fashion built-ins for nearly every room (the company also fabricated the new doors). The cabinetry not only added much-needed storage, it also imparted a high level of craftsmanship and character, embodied in elegant lines and whimsical detailing. For example, a wall of built-ins in the living room incorporates shelving, a graceful fold-out desk and a niche that frames a favorite sofa; a row of decorative balls near the ceiling adds a visual flourish. “They’re actually wooden dresser knobs painted to match the woodwork,” reveals Love. “They make it unique.”
When the time came to furnish and decorate the refurbished dwelling, the designers took cues from their client’s row house around the corner, which elegantly showcased his style—and a lifetime’s worth of collecting. “It helped us see how he lives, that he’s a bit formal. We made sure we kept to that level,” Love says.
“I’d say my taste is eclectic,” muses the owner. “I like to mix in some Asian influences—but I don’t go completely in any direction.”
Love adds: “We embraced a worldly theme, sort of ‘Chinoiserie meets African elephant.’ Our client has done extensive traveling and we wanted to reflect that.” Case in point: A wall-sized mural in the dining room depicts an Indian palace while elephants dance across grass-cloth wallpaper in the guest bedroom/library.
Throughout the apartment, Black and Love painstakingly layered fabrics and finishes, conjuring a rich, sumptuous vibe. Soft colors embellish the walls while stronger hues make a statement on the ceilings—including a dark eggplant shade on the library ceiling that the owner had his doubts about. “They had to talk me into the ceilings,” he laughs. “I thought ceilings were always white.”
About 15 percent of the existing furniture made the move to the condo, much of it reimagined with fresh upholstery. Plush new sofas and chairs joined the mix, ranging from a diminutive Billy Baldwin slipper chair to a luxurious custom sofa bedecked in delicately patterned linen and fringe. Other striking pieces include a commanding Chinoiserie console table in the living room and a coffee table faux-finished to resemble gesso that showcases a decorative grass-cloth panel topped with glass. Lamps are paired with custom shades and a blend of new and existing artwork adorns the walls.
Even the kitchen, which retained its original cabinetry and countertops, has been dressed up with vibrant, striped wallpaper and a new tile backsplash; the run-of-the-mill tile floor got a new lease on life via bold squares of faux-painted color.
Now complete, the apartment is a haven that its owner thoroughly enjoys. “It took me about two days to feel at home and forget about my other house,” he avers. “It feels elegant, but you can also plop down on a chair and be comfortable. It’s a wonderful mix of things I never would have been able to find on my own.”
Interior Design: Pamela Black and Don Love, Pamela Black Interiors, Washington, DC. Architectural Design: Robert C. Black, AIA, Robert Black 5 Design LLC, Silver Spring, Maryland.
RESOURCES
DINING ROOM
Table: Custom through timelesscreationsfurniture.com. Chairs: highlandhousefurniture.com through centuryfurniture.com. Chair Fabrics: virginiawhitecollection.com through evansandsheldon.com. Light Fixture: urbanelectric.com. Light Fixture Fabric: cowtan.com. Drapery Fabric: suzannetuckerhome.com. Drapery Fabrication: Potomac Draperies; 240-676-3642. Sconces: urbanelectric.com. Sconce Fabric: berminghamfabrics.com. Wallpaper: iksel.com for fschumacher.com. Wall Color: iksel.com through farrow-ball.com. Sideboard: Custom by timelesscreationsfurniture.com. Lamps on Sideboard: vaughandesigns.com. Lamp Fabric: namaysamay.com. Lamp Trim: samuelandsons.com. Lamp Fabrication: lampshadesbydesign.net.
LIVING ROOM
Sofa in Niche: Custom through ohenryhouseltd.com. Sofa Fabric: guell-lamadrid.grupolamadrid.com through castelmaison.com. Sofa Trim: samuelandsons.com. Paint: Hague Blue by farrow-ball.com. Wallpaper inside Shelving: monicajames.com. Art in Niche: marstonluce.com. Desk Chair: chelseatextiles.com. Desk Chair & Pillow Fabric: shop.ninacampbell.com through osborneandlittle.com. Red Lumbar Pillow Fabric: sandrajordan.com. Paint on Built-Ins: Pigeon by farrow-ball.com. Slipper Chair: billybaldwinstudio.com. Slipper Chair Fabrics: elizabetheakins.com; sandrajordan.com. Slipper Chair Trim: hollandandsherry.com. Twin Ottomans: ferrellmittman.com. Twin Ottomans Fabric: suzannetuckerhome.com. Sisal Rug: starkcarpet.com. Rug atop Sisal: Custom through galleriacarpets.com. Red Sofa: Custom through ohenryhouseltd.com. Red Sofa Fabric: scalamandre.com. Pillow Fabrics: Lee Jofa for kravet.com; pennymorrison.com; pindler.com. Swivel Chair: Custom through ohenryhouseltd.com. Swivel Chair Fabric: raoultextiles.com. Pillow Fabric on Swivel Chair: chelseatextiles.com. Bamboo-Framed Chair: Lee Jofa for kravet.com. Bamboo-Framed Chair Fabrics: peterdunhamtextiles.com; sandrajordan.com. Coffee Table: Custom through timelesscreationsfurniture.com. Wallpaper beneath glass in Coffee Table: cowtanandtout.com. Faux Finish on Coffee Table: billetcollins.com. Foot Stool: scullyandscully.com. Stool Fabric: osborneandlittle.com. Round Occasional Table: Custom through timelesscreationsfurniture.com. Occasional Table Lamp: circalighting.com. Lampshade Fabric: decorsbarbares.com through lampshadesbydesign.net. Overhead Light Fixture: urbanelectric.com. Overhead Light Paint: Hague Blue by farrow-ball.com. Chinoiserie Table: johnrosselli.com. Twin Ottomans: jconnscott.com. Wood-Framed Chairs: bungalow5.com. Chair Seat Upholstery: peterdunhamtextiles.com. Art: chesapeakeframing.com. Wall & Ceiling Paint: Light Blue & Skylight by farrow-ball.com. Painted Wall Pedestals: Clients’ collection. China on Pedestals: dennisandleen.com.
KITCHEN
Faux Floor Paint: robsonworldwidegraining.com. Wallpaper: Jasper through michaelsmithinc.com. Pendants: circalighting.com. Island Stools: serenaandlily.com. Stool Cushion Fabric: rogersandgoffigon.com. Swinging Door Paint: Picture Gallery Red by farrow-ball.com. Backsplash: renaissancetileandbath.com.
LIBRARY
Sectional: Custom through ferrellmittman.com. Sectional Fabric & Trim: sanderson.sandersondesigngroup.com; Jasper by michaelsmithinc.com; hollandandsherry.com. Sofa Pillows: Jasper by michaelsmithinc.com. Sofa Pillows Trim: samuelandsons.com. Ottoman: Custom through hickorychair.com. Ottoman & Leather Fabric: Jasper by michaelsmithinc.com; hollyhunt.com. Art over Sofa: naturalcuriosities.com. Wallpaper: johnrobshaw.com. Sisal & Rug: starkcarpet.com. Tiered Side Table: vaughandesigns.com. Side Table Lamp: Clients’ collection. Side Table Lamp Shade Fabric & Trim: vaughandesigns.com; samuelandsons.com.
BEDROOM
Bed: Custom by pamelablackinteriors.com. Bed Fabric: peterfasano.com. Nightstands: Custom by timelesscreationsfurniture.com. Pillows: marstonluce.com; peterfasano.com; fermoie.com. Bedding: serenaandlily.com. Round Mirror above Bed: noirfurniturela.com through styleconnectionltd.com. Sofa & Armchair Fabric: sanderson.sandersondesigngroup.com. Coffee Table: Clients’ collection. Stools: wisteria.com. Rug: galleriacarpets.com. Draperies & Shades: fermoie.com; kerryjoyce.com; samuelandsons.com. Drapery & Shade Fabrication: Potomac Draperies; 240-676-3642. Bench: existing. Fabric: lewisandwood.co.uk
DANISH MODERN
Denmark-based Kristina Dam Studio brings minimalist lines to furniture, lighting and accessories. Pictured above: a collection of tables inspired by the incense boxes of Japan’s Edo era. Designed with removable tray tops that rest on square or rectangular bases, the oiled-oak pieces also double as storage or seating; fitted cushions are available. kristinadam.dk
SWIVEL SEAT
Inspired by mid-century Italian design, Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams’ Margaux swivel counter stool perches a comfy curved seat and back on wooden legs connected by a brushed stainless-metal stretcher.
The brand’s Bandanarama wallpaper is also pictured. At locations in DC and Tysons Galleria. mgbw.com
CLASSIC CHIC
A venerable British classic, the Chesterfield sofa is experiencing a renaissance—witness Universal Furniture’s chic Berkeley rendition, which sports the style’s distinctive high arms and tufted back. Shown in indigo velvet adorned with nail-head trim. Find at Belfort Furniture in Dulles, Virginia. belfortfurniture.com; universalfurniture.com
POSH PARTNERS
Keith Fritz Fine Furniture has partnered with Clare & Romy Studio, a ceramic arts maker, on Sculpted—
a line of customizable occasional tables showcasing hand-carved tiles framed in exotic woods. Choose from a selection of glazes and more than 100 wood finishes. keithfritz.com; romyandclare.com
ALL IN THE DETAILS
Atelier Cristina Jorge de Carvalho showcases the Portuguese designer’s CJC Furniture Collection in an elegant Lisbon showroom. Pictured: the wood-and-iron-framed All Day Bed chaise longue shares space with the Wood Apart Desk, crafted of lacquered wood, strand board and glass, and the Al Fresco Bookshelf, made of iron and leather. cjc-interiordesign.com
COLOR ME COOL
Japanese industrial designer Naoto Fukasawa reimagined his asymmetrical Awa table—a standby in white since its 2009 inception—in a choice of 18 satin and glossy hues for B&B Italia’s 2021 collection. The new Awa tables are made of hard polyurethane rather than the original’s stone-look CristalPlant. At B&B Italia in Georgetown. bebitalia.com
COMFORTABLE CURVES
Conceived by Sacha Lakic for Roche Bobois, the Astrea swivel armchair embraces comfort with soft, rounded curves on its foam-padded seat, back and sides.The pivoting, chrome-plated metal base features an automatic return system. Available in a variety of fabrics at Roche Bobois in Friendship Heights and Tysons. roche-bobois.com
SPARE + MODERN
Arper’s Loop modular sofa system by Spanish design trio Lievore Altherr Molina presents a spare, linear silhouette, extended by optional concave or convex corner units. A brushed-steel structure with steel or aluminum feet supports the sofa’s padded wooden frame; a wide range of upholstery selections is available. arper.com
HELLO AGAIN
Holly Hunt has revived four seating options from the Vladimir Kagan archive—all part of a line reintroducing the mid-century furniture icon’s use of Lucite. Pictured, the circa-1967-1970 Erica Lounge Chair ottoman, in which a single tufted cushion sits atop a Lucite base. Find at Holly Hunt in the Washington Design Center. hollyhunt.com
CLOSE QUARTERS
A mecca for small-space solutions, Resource Furniture introduces the Swing Sectional, a combination wall bed and sofa. When the queen-sized bed is closed, the sofa’s chaise can retract, making an L-shape or straight configuration possible. Swing features hidden under-seat storage and 10 linear feet of shelving. Available at Resource Furniture in Cady’s Alley. resourcefurniture.com
The goal of revitalizing a rundown East Baltimore neighborhood drove the restoration of the abandoned A. Hoen & Co. Lithograph building, once an anchor of the community. The 1900 property, originally a booming printing plant, had been vacant since 1981. It was purchased in 2016 by developer Cross Street Partners, which rebuilds under-resourced neighborhoods, with the idea of repurposing it for community outreach.
In 2018, the group tasked Ziger | Snead Architects with preserving the original fabric of the dilapidated complex of buildings—three historic structures and two warehouses totaling 86,000 square feet—while creating a state-of-the-art facility to house its Center for Neighborhood Innovation (CNI), among other initiatives. Architect Steve Ziger and his team retained the original structures’ open floor plans to expose heavy-timber and masonry construction. Obsolete systems, non-historic finishes and hazardous lead paint and asbestos were eliminated; brick was repointed; and original windows, fire doors and hardwood floors were salvaged. Exterior spaces create a courtyard for events and outdoor seating.
In addition to CNI, A. Hoen & Co. is now home to community-based nonprofits and social enterprises including Strong City Baltimore (pictured). Cross Street Partners and the contractor ABC Greater Baltimore have also moved in. The LEED Gold-certified building has earned historic preservation awards and an AIA Maryland Award of Excellence.
Renovation Architecture: Steve Ziger, FAIA; Jonathan Lessem, AIA, LEED AP, Ziger | Snead Architects, Baltimore, Maryland. Developer & Renovation Contractor: Cross Street Partners, Baltimore, Maryland.
When moving from Chicago to Washington, a single buyer saw potential in a dated, two-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath condo on the third floor of a Foggy Bottom mid-rise built in 1975. He purchased the unit and tapped interior designer Sally Steponkus and Nadia Subaran, co-owner of kitchen-and-bath design firm Aidan Design, to help him realize his vision for the space.
The overhaul began with structural changes that opened the kitchen to the adjacent dining and living rooms. “The client loves to cook and entertain and wanted a plan that would allow for better views, flow and connection,” recounts Subaran. “We created two large, framed openings—one to the dining room and one to the living area. A long peninsula with seating helped to define the working part of the kitchen while also transitioning to the more formal dining space.”
Subaran and her team collaborated with Steponkus on the finish selections for the kitchen, where Wood-Mode cabinets stained a warm gray hue are paired with Frosty Carrina countertops by Caesarstone and a marble mosaic backsplash. Built-ins in the dining room, masterminded by Aidan Design to support storage needs, match the kitchen cabinets and connect the spaces visually.
Steponkus addressed décor throughout the apartment. “The client wanted clean lines and a handsome aesthetic,” she recalls. Against a muted backdrop of Phillip Jeffries Grecian Squares wall covering that resembles a faux-painted grid, the designer achieved a tasteful, masculine aesthetic via a palette of grays, blue-greens and beiges, with a focus on texture and graphic patterns. Textiles and rugs boast menswear-inspired herringbone and plaid, from the custom living room seating, covered in fabrics by Larsen and Osborne & Little, to the Lee Industries ottoman clad in leather.
A geometric Carpet Impressions rug grounds the dining room, where counter stools designed by Steponkus harmonize with the existing furniture, including newly reupholstered chairs. Subtly patterned draperies fabricated by Pilchard Designs soften the space.
After completing the project in 2020, Aidan Design returned in 2021 to bring the outmoded owner’s bath (pictured) and powder room up to the level of the rest of the dwelling. “In the primary bath, we wanted to create a rich look, but without using gray hues,” says Subaran. She and her team retained the original layout but replaced fixtures and finishes, beginning with new beige limestone floor tile in a hexagonal shape that ensures a vibe that is “light and bright, but has depth,” she explains. This tile also appears on the shower enclosure floor, providing visual contrast to the white marble wall tile.
The owner preferred a furniture-style vanity, so the designers traded out a builder-grade cabinet with a double sink for a walnut version that resembles a credenza, topped with Dekton, an engineered material comprised of quartz, glass and porcelain. The new vanity offers loads of storage; a corner tub with a walnut surround blends in beautifully.
Interior Design: Sally Steponkus, Sally Steponkus Interiors, Washington, DC. Kitchen Design: Nadia N. Subaran, Aidan Design, Silver Spring, Maryland. Contractor: Impact Remodeling and Construction, LLC, Washington, DC.
Now in its 40th year, the Smithsonian Craft Show celebrates the best in contemporary American craft and design. The annual event is scheduled to take place at the National Building Museum from April 20 to 24—in person for the first time since 2019. The show will spotlight the work of 120 jury-selected artists from around the country; the theme, Future Focus, emphasizes new directions in materials, fabrication and design. Look for basketry, ceramics, fiber, furniture, glass, jewelry, leather, metal, mixed media, paper, wearable art and wood. Proceeds support Smithsonian research, education, outreach and conservation efforts. smithsoniancraftshow.org
Each winter, the Pantone Color Institute rocks the design world by announcing its Color of the Year. Says executive director Leatrice Eiseman, 2022’s Very Peri “displays a spritely, joyous attitude.” These like-hued products bring that spirit home.
1/ PERFECT PAINT Sherwin-Williams’ Gentian, a whimsical shade of purple, enlivens a living room setting. sherwin-williams.com
2/ FINE FABRIC Two Schumacher textiles embrace the periwinkle trend. Left to right: San Cristobal Toile reproduces an 18th-century botanical illustration, while fanciful Thistle, by Neisha Crosland, is printed on a handmade silk-linen blend.fschumacher.com
3/ RETRO FLAIR The imposing, mid-century-style Marco armchair by Essential Home juxtaposes rounded, oversized arms with delicate polished-brass and glossy-black feet. Clad in Paloma, a textured velvet shown here in Very Peri, it’s also available as a sofa or dining chair. essentialhome.eu
4/ SPACE-SAVER The counter-depth Slim Fridge by Big Chill was designed for compact spaces. It combines the brand’s trademark vintage look with modern extras, from temperature management to an optional icemaker. Pictured in Blue Lilac, one of more than 200 custom color options. bigchill.com
5/ LET THERE BE LIGHT The Adrift Table Lamp by Couture Lamps renders Adrift, a watercolor by artist Beth Glover, in a fabric print that is hand-cast in resin and accentuated by gold leaf. couturelamps.com
6/ SET IN STONE Fabric-like textural surfaces distinguish Play by Nemo Tile + Stone. The porcelain-tile collection comes in a subway format and in squares combined as a mixed mosaic. Available in a wide range of colors; a herringbone pattern of white, mint, dark blue and purple is pictured. nemotile.com
NEW SPHERE
Cassina takes its popular Bollicosa light fixture outdoors with the Bollicosa Nautilus suspension lamp. It retains the indoor version’s delicate shape and bubbly, opaque surface—but polypropylene rope wraps the sphere and complements the brand’s woven outdoor furniture. Battery-operated LED bulbs power the fixture, which comes in a range of sizes and color options. Sold at Poltrona Frau in Georgetown. cassina.com; poltronafrau.com
WARM GLOW
The solar-powered Roam lantern by Les Jardins emits soft white light via an ASB (autonomous solar bulb) and solar panel or a USB rechargeable battery. The dimmable light lasts eight hours, turning on automatically at nightfall and off at sunrise. Available in natural or weathered teak. lesjardins.solar
HOT SEAT
The BEEM Infrared Double Pendant Heater does double-duty, serving as a heater and a light. Made by Belgian-based Heatsail exclusively for RH, the fixture is crafted in minimalist style out of weather-resistant, powder-coated aluminum. It incorporates high-radiance ceramic heating elements (with two heat settings) and eight dimmable halogen bulbs. Intended for sheltered outdoor use. rh.com
FULL SERVICE
Pavilion H, Kettal’s freestanding aluminum pergola, brings indoor comforts—including sophisticated lighting systems—outside. Operable from a switch on the structure, available LED fixtures
range from the Outdoor Ceiling Lamp to the Up and Down Spotlight. Recessed Mini Dots and track lights (both pictured above) are integrated into the pavilion’s framework. Available through Contemporaria in Potomac. kettal.com; contemporaria.com
SMOOTH TRANSITION
The Terraced Nested Lantern by Hammerton Studio was designed in transitional style to suit a range of architectural looks. The fixture boasts an interior hand-blown glass diffuser and comes in clear seeded or blown glass, in a choice of three durable, VOC-free outdoor finishes; Textured Black is pictured with clear seeded glass. hammerton.com
 | Bright SpotA fresh palette and an open plan animate a traditional kitchen |
 | First BlushSoft hues and symmetry imbue the kitchen of a Georgetown row house with timeless elegance |
 | Perfect FlowDrama meets efficiency in a chic Baltimore County kitchen |
 | French KissAn opulent kitchen combines high-end appointments with Provençale flair |
Located in Aldie, Virginia, the scenic community of Creighton Farms attracted a couple who purchased a custom home under construction by Novella Homes beside a Jack Nicklaus golf course. They enlisted architect Warren Ralston to collaborate on the job, which evolved into a grand yet welcoming, Provençale-style residence—with a spacious kitchen to match.
“Like most people, the owners considered the kitchen to be the heart of the home,” Ralston says. “They wanted it to be a casual gathering space for family, but also elegant.”
The first goal, he explains, was to amplify the natural light. Fourteen-foot ceilings and expansive windows overlooking the golf course achieved that goal, while light finishes and elements such as the wood floors and white oak ceiling beams brought warmth.
In the harmonious layout, the range is flanked by mirrored cabinets. Centered in front of that wall, the spacious island incorporates a breakfast nook in the form of a curved, built-in banquette embracing an Arhaus table. The symmetrical layout, which accentuates the range wall, imparts the elegant feel the owners wanted.
Novella Homes’ David Guaglianone and his team had already selected some of the kitchen’s finishes by the time the owners came on the scene—but in a nod to their preference for hunter green, Guaglianone added a green Lacanche range to the mix, then selected complementary Monte Bella quartzite countertops, which feature faint-green veining. A backsplash of greige subway tile in a herringbone pattern frames the custom brass hood by François & Co. Brown and black elements, from the Blanco Silgranite farmhouse sink and painted window frames to the dark-stained island base, create contrast and interest.
Architecture: Warren Ralston, AIA, WCRA, Chantilly, Virginia. Design & Contracting: David Guaglianone, Novella Homes, Leesburg, Virginia. Styling: Charlotte Safavi.
THE DETAILS
CABINETRY: masterbrand.com. COUNTERTOPS: unitedgranitemd.com. BACKSPLASH: mosaictileco.com. FAUCETS: rubinet.com through fergusonshowrooms.com. APPLIANCES: lacanche.com through frenchranges.com; subzero-wolf.com, askona.com through fergusonshowrooms.com. HOOD: francoisandco.com. LIGHTING: visualcomfortlightinglights.com; arteriorshome.com; hvlgroup.com through fergusonshowrooms.com.
The owners of a 1992 Colonial in Pikesville, Maryland, tapped Baltimore designer Melissa Marcus to overhaul their main-floor spaces, including a dated kitchen that was hampered by a poor connection to the adjacent family room and an inconvenient traffic pattern.
Making the kitchen more functional was a top priority for the homeowners, who like to cook and entertain. “Visitors enter the house from the mudroom off the kitchen,” Marcus explains. “Prior to the renovation, the cooktop, ovens and refrigerator were right there when you walked in from the mudroom. Guests would hang out around the island, right in the working triangle.”
Collaborating with Richard Brodie of Creative Contractors, Marcus improved circulation through the kitchen, relocating appliances and eliminating two small openings between the kitchen and family room in favor of one larger one. “These changes created much better flow,” she explains. The design team also replaced a double window with two separate windows that now flank the range, creating symmetry and allowing for a dramatic Neolith sintered-stone backsplash.
When it came to style, “the clients have a fun, modern aesthetic and were not afraid to go bold,” Marcus avers. Custom onyx-stained walnut and natural rift-cut white oak cabinets offer striking contrast, accentuated by open oak shelving. A minimalist custom hood trimmed in oak forms is centered above the range, while cabinetry wraps around the corner into the breakfast nook to create a coffee station. The L-shaped island, topped by Caesarstone waterfall counters in two different grades of thickness, contribute to the sleek vibe. Noir Furniture counter stools add a touch of glam.
Kitchen & Interior Design: Melissa Marcus, Melissa Marcus Designs, Baltimore, Maryland. Kitchen Cabinetry Supplier: Travis Kedzior, National Lumber Co., Baltimore, Maryland. Contractor: Richard Brodie, Creative Contractors, Inc. Owings Mills, Maryland. Photography: Keyanna Bowen.
THE DETAILS
CABINETRY: plainfancycabinetry.com through nationallumber.biz. COUNTERTOPS: caesarstoneus.com through rocktopsfabrication.com. BACKSPLASH: neolith.com through rocktopsfabrication.com. APPLIANCES: monogram.com, bosch-home.com, subzero-wolf.com through adu.com. FAUCET & SINK: kohler.com through fergusonshowrooms.com.
Relocating from Texas, a couple with young children was drawn to the urban bustle of Georgetown and purchased a 1957 Federal-style row house there. Formerly home to design luminary Frank Babb Randolph, the house was light and airy—but it required some alterations to suit the needs of a growing family. Among the changes the new owners requested: transforming the closed-off galley kitchen into an open-plan space and introducing a powder room and a wet bar.
The couple turned to DC architect Christian Zapatka—who had collaborated with Randolph on a previous update of the home—to spearhead their changes; he in turn enlisted Sarah Kahn Turner of Jennifer Gilmer Kitchen & Bath to revamp the problematic kitchen. “We opened up the wall that separated it from the dining area and created an anteroom that would allow for a new powder room and wet bar on the main level,” Turner says. “Opening the wall also allowed for a large eat-in area with more natural light.”
Randolph and Zapatka had masterminded the interior spaces to reflect Randolph’s signature elegant yet casual style—and the current residents also gravitated toward that refined aesthetic. “The whole house is very Gustavian—whitewashed from the floors and walls to the furniture,” recounts Turner. “The owners wanted the kitchen to feel light, bright and ethereal.”
To achieve this goal, she selected a mix of complementary blues that convey “a soft blush of color,” she says. Clean-lined, transitional cabinetry is combined with slabs of white and soft gray
Caesarstone and a creamy-white, stone-tile backsplash. A sense of symmetry prevails as a tall pantry and paneled fridge flank the range, centered along the back wall as a focal point.
Kitchen Design: Sarah Kahn Turner, Jennifer Gilmer Kitchen& Bath, Chevy Chase, Maryland. Renovation Architecture: Christian Zapatka, AIA, FAAR, Christian Zapatka Architect, PLLC, Washington, DC. Contractors: Dunn-Right Contracting, Inc., Rockville, Maryland; OC Builders, McLean, Virginia.
THE DETAILS
CABINETRY: qcci.com. COUNTERTOPS: caesarstoneus.com through stoneandtileworld.com. BACKSPLASH: artistictile.com through architessa.com. APPLIANCES: thermador.com through abwappliances.com; subzero-wolf.com. FAUCETS: houseofrohl.com through fergusonshowrooms.com. SINKS: houseofrohl.com. PENDANTS: juliska.com.
A dark and dated kitchen with a cramped, poorly conceived layout was a frustration for Ashburn, Virginia, owners who enjoy cooking together and entertaining. The couple turned to interior designer Alison Giese and kitchen designer Tanya Smith-Shiflett for a total transformation. They envisioned a new, open plan and a traditional aesthetic that would complement their 1990s, Colonial-style dwelling yet feel fresh and current.
The design team began by extensively reorganizing the space. “We removed a pony wall separating the eat-in kitchen from the family room,” recalls Giese. “We shifted appliances around, created work zones, provided for tons of storage and workspace, and changed the layout to create a focal point with the range and hood centered on the back wall.”
The new kitchen flows seamlessly into the rest of the home. “It’s now open, with a space for eating and a large, workhorse island,” explains Shiflett, whose company, Unique Kitchens & Baths, provided custom cabinetry. “It brought the family together for both food prep and mealtimes.”
To create that “fresh version of traditional,” says Giese, she and Shiflett opted for dark base cabinets and creamy uppers in a harmonious and symmetrical layout. “We referred to this as ‘a warm tuxedo look,’” comments Giese. “The clients liked the idea of a light and bright kitchen but wanted that warmth, not an all-white space.” Crisp-white quartz countertops and a ceiling-height white ceramic-tile backsplash add to the classic vibe, while vintage-look gold and wood accents—from island pendants to cabinet hardware and counter stools—inject character. A new engineered-wood floor in honey hues unites the main living areas.
Kitchen & Interior Design: Alison Giese, Alison Giese Interiors, San Antonio, Texas. Kitchen Design: Tanya Smith-Shiflett, CKBD, Unique Kitchens & Baths, Great Falls, Virginia & Baltimore, Maryland. Contractor: George Asher Homes, LLC, Ashburn, Virginia.
THE DETAILS
CABINETRY & BREAKFAST TABLE: uniquekitchensandbaths.net. COUNTERTOPS: msisurfaces.com through uniquekitchensandbaths.net. BACKSPLASH: tileshop.com. FAUCET: miseno.com through build.com. SINK: kraususa.com through build.com. PENDANTS: hinkleylightinglights.com. FLOORING: prosourcewholesale.com. STOOLS: Clients’ collection. BREAKFAST CHAIRS: wayfair.com.
Tasked with designing the Park Kennedy in Hill East near RFK Stadium, GTM Architects’ Rosana Torres and Susan Mentus looked to neighboring Capitol Hill’s charming historic row houses for inspiration. “It was important to fit the new structure into the context of the neighborhood, to add to the streetscape,” explains Mentus. So, while the finished project comprises one 286,476-square-foot building containing 262 apartments and 16,000 square feet of retail space, it presents as attached row houses from the outside. Seventeen façades above aluminum storefronts are clad in combinations of brick, cast stone, fiber-cement panels and ornamental railings.
Other ideas drove the design of the interior spaces—among them the striking, industrial-style atrium (pictured), which opens up dramatically beyond the sleek lobby. “We wanted the experience of walking through the building to be unexpected,” Torres observes.
The atrium fulfills that goal. Recalling cavernous, glass-ceilinged 19th-century train stations found in Europe, the airy space is topped with opaque resin panels within a metal suspension system. Though daylight appears to filter through the panels, they actually hide the building’s infrastructure, with floors of apartments above. As Torres explains, “Everything behind the ceiling is painted white and lights shine through the panels.”
Steel-look concrete columns support the ceiling, which is embellished with detailed wood-and-metal trusses. A marble floor and exposed brick walls complete the effect. A window wall overlooking the courtyard incorporates black-painted aluminum doors. The Park Kennedy has earned LEED Silver certification.
Architecture: Colline Hernandez-Ayala; Rosana Torres, AIA; Susan Mentus, AIA, LEED AP, GTM Architects, Bethesda, Maryland. Interior Design: GTM Architects and Cuhpoe Design Studio, Washington, DC. Contractor: McCullough Construction, LLC, Washington, DC. Landscape Architecture: ParkerRodriguez, Alexandria, Virginia.
