OFFICE SPACE
“Every room should have a purpose,” declares Christie Leu, founding principal of Christie Leu Interiors. “Always assign a purpose to a room or it will attract junk.” For the designer, these are words to live by—in her own house as well as those of her clients. Case in point: the stylish and efficient home office in Leu’s Chevy Chase abode, which until recently was a disused living room full of clutter.
“I live in a pre-Civil War house that was added onto over many years until it had three living rooms,” she recounts. Located in the oldest section of the residence, one of those unfrequented spaces seemed the perfect location for a home office. “It’s right next to the front door so clients don’t have to walk through the rest of the house to get there,” Leu explains.
First, she needed to tackle the room’s inherent architectural challenges. Seven-and-a-half-foot ceilings—typical for a home of such early vintage—felt oppressive, so she lacquered them in a lustrous, highly reflective blue that “makes the ceiling recede and look taller,” she says. An oversized fireplace—not original to the house—felt out of proportion, so she designed a new mantel for it that brought the scale down, modernizing it with a surround of Neolith sintered stone. Window moldings went black to make the room look current.
With this chic and welcoming backdrop, Leu was ready to get organized. “We needed enough space for at least three people to work,” she says. “I wanted room for samples, vendor catalogs, file drawers for paper, and electronics—including a scanner and a printer. And I wanted all cords hidden.”
Custom built-ins, made of painted and wood-look laminates for easy maintenance, were masterminded by the designer and fabricated by District Custom Woodworks to create workspace and storage. A wall of cubbies contains woven bins assigned to each client, and to the right of the fireplace, a series of colored dry erase boards lets Leu and her staff write down the most immediate task on hand for each project. In the center of the room, two desks pushed together to face each other offer loads of workspace.
BREAKFAST TIME
When redesigning a Kensington kitchen, Christie Leu put her home-organizing philosophy to work: There should be a place for everything. “I always max out storage in a kitchen,” she observes. If possible, “custom cabinetry is essential; you only have so many inches and you want to use all of them.”
In this project, that even meant taking advantage of the breakfast nook. A banquette hides storage under the seat while a shallow, floor-to-ceiling shelf tucks in beside it. “The client wanted extra shelving, but we were limited by the location of the back door,” Leu explains.
The kitchen itself is a study in efficient space usage. Gray-painted cabinetry by Weaver’s Custom Woodworking conceals coffee and baking stations. A cubby keeps the microwave off the counter. And deep lower-cabinet drawers provide easy access, as does pull-out shelving in the pantry and below the sink. “I love designing kitchens,” Leu enthuses. “They’re a big puzzle, putting it all together to see if it fits. Function is always first.”
STORAGE GALORE
While reimagining a Kensington home, Christie Leu carved out space for a versatile utility room. Working with Chung’s Home Improvement, she demolished a wall to enlarge the footprint and designed extensive built-ins. “The owner requested storage for her vacuum,” recalls Leu, who answered with a floor-to-ceiling cabinet by the back door. Below the sink, drawers hold laundry baskets for colors and whites. A washer and dryer are stacked beside a facing wall of cubbies and pegs. “Kids are more likely to hang items on an easy-to-reach peg than they are to tuck them in behind cabinet doors,” advises Leu, who prefers open storage in a mudroom. A ceramic-tile floor and gray-painted cabinetry impart a sophisticated vibe.
WASH & DRY
After pondering a problematic second-floor room in her own vintage Chevy Chase abode, Christie Leu came up with a solution. “At just 10-by-10 feet, the space was too small to be a bedroom,” she explains. “And I needed an upstairs laundry room. ”With visions of style, function and convenience in mind, Leu designed a wall of custom cabinetry (below), which she fitted around a washer and dryer. A Kohler Gilford laundry sink sits between the two appliances. An ironing board folds open from behind a panel on one wall (left) while rolling hampers make sorting light and dark loads easy. Beadboard cabinetry in a cheerful teal hue complements an encaustic cement-tile floor.
CUSTOM COOL
There’s a place for everything in the Laren closet system from The Container Store. Made of thermofused-laminate boards, units come in a range of sizes, eight finishes (Pure White is pictured) and three front styles, with solid- or tempered-glass doors. Features include integrated lighting; extendable racks for pants, belts and ties; pull-down rods and pull-out mirrors. Available at area locations. containerstore.com
OPEN PLAN
Ubik, an open-sided closet system by Poliform, conveys a light, elegant profile. Flexible storage components include trays, wood- or glass-fronted drawers, pull-out shoe racks and adjustable trouser and shirt racks. Wireless integrated LED lights can be repositioned. Finishes include wood-laminate panels, mirrors, glass, fabric or technoleather. Find at Poliform | sagartstudio in Georgetown. poliformdc.com
DOOR PRIZE
Resource Furniture’s Wardrobe and Closet Collection, part of its Italian-made line of modular, wall-mounted cabinet systems, is distinguished by three door options: Coplanar, Hinged and Sliding (pictured here with the Meg handle). Options include LED lighting, drawers for media components and display niches. Find at Resource Furniture in Cady’s Alley. resourcefurniture.com
BED TIME
The time-tested Murphy bed gets an update from California Closets, which has introduced the traditional vertical configuration as well as a side-tilt version ideal for small spaces. The beds incorporate storage and can be outfitted with integrated shelving and decorative molding and trim. Available at California Closets in Northwest DC. californiaclosets.com
IT’S A WRAP
The perfect addition to a craft room, StyleWell’s Craft Gift-Wrap Hutch keeps supplies organized and close at hand. Dowels accommodate most standard paper rolls; cubbies stow away scissors, tape, tags and more. The hutch sits atop the brand’s Craft Desk or Craft Storage Table. Available at The Home Depot Design Center; homedepot.com/c/designcenter
CLEAR THE CLUTTER
Storing seldom-used items off the garage floor makes space for cars and keeps surroundings safe and clutter-free. With a 600-pound load capacity and adjustable height, FlexiMounts’ four-by-eight-foot Overhead Garage Storage Rack does the trick. It can also come in handy in an attic, basement or storage room. fleximounts.com
Bird’s Eye View
On a November day in 2020, Annapolis photographer Jay Fleming hitched a ride on a small plane flying over Talbot County, timing his trip to capture peak fall foliage. “The meandering shoreline of Tilghman Creek, where it leads out to Eastern Bay, drew me to the scene,” he notes. “The Chesapeake Bay is incredibly dynamic. There is so much happening—I will never run out of new material to photograph.” Fleming documents the environment and communities on the Chesapeake’s last two inhabited offshore islands in Island Life, a 280-page book scheduled for a November 2021 release. Photo: Jay Fleming
A vintage waterman’s cottage got a new lease on life when the owners tapped Jamie Merida Interiors to overhaul its outdated spaces. The goal was to convert the two-story, 1,600-square-foot Cape Cod into a guest house. Overlooking Harris Creek off the Choptank River in Wittman, Maryland, the diminutive structure comprised two bedrooms and one bath, a living room, den and small kitchen. “The wife asked for a casual, welcoming aesthetic with a nod to nautical style,” explains designer Denise Perkins, who spearheaded the redo. ”She wanted the living room to accommodate maximum seating for their large family and friends, and stressed that it needed to be extremely functional and practical.”
Working with Cronshaw Carpentry, Perkins opened up the choppy main floor by replacing a wall between the den and living room with a steel support beam and columns. The bath was enhanced with fresh tile and a soaking tub. New millwork injected character and functionality while the staircase was refreshed with accent paneling and cable railings. A palette of crisp white and dark blue nods to the nautical theme while maintaining a streamlined, sophisticated vibe. The chic kitchenette features custom cabinetry and a mosaic backsplash from Architessa.
Renovation & Interior Design: Denise Perkins, Jamie Merida Interiors, Easton, Maryland. Renovation Contractor: Scott Cronshaw, Cronshaw Carpentry, Easton, Maryland. Styling: Charlotte Safavi.
Patterson Flynn channels coastal style with Beach House, a chic collection of rugs that offers the perfect adornment for your waterfront abode. Natural fibers like jute, abaca, cotton and wool conjure the outdoors while the restful palette of blues, creams and beiges echoes the hues of sand, sea and sky. Abstract geometric patterns hint at nautical themes such as ocean waves and sailing stripes. “Beach House evokes that warm feeling of contentment that being at the beach offers,” Patterson Flynn brand manager Samantha Roberts avers.
“If you aren’t already dreaming of designing a beach house, this collection will surely make you want to.” The line of 20 rugs comes in custom sizes and shapes. Pictured, clockwise from above: Variable Abaca in Sea Glass; Anchor Abaca; Newport Abaca; and Wavy Bold Stripe in wool, a collaboration with designer Miles Redd. Available at Patterson Flynn in the Washington Design Center; Suite 340. pattersonflynn.com
Over the past 30 years, the lighthouse, an icon of the American coastline, has received star treatment from the U.S. Postal Service. The late stamp designer and artist Howard Koslow conceived 30 commemorative stamps celebrating American lighthouses in waterfront locales ranging from the Atlantic and Pacific oceans to the Gulf of Mexico and the Great Lakes; each release showcases an acrylic lighthouse painting by Koslow. In August, the artist’s posthumous Mid-Atlantic Lighthouses series debuted. It features five Forever stamps—one depicting the Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse, a designated landmark on the Chesapeake Bay since 1999. Built in 1875, it’s the only cottage-style, screw-pile lighthouse in the country still operating in its original location. “We are honored to share our lighthouse with the world as a commemorative stamp,” said then-acting Annapolis mayor Sheila Finlayson while presiding over the dedication ceremony. Available while supplies last at post offices and usps.com.
Tapped to reimagine a dated farmhouse on Grace Creek in St. Michaels, architect Dale Overmyer took the home down to its original footprint and started over. “The owners wanted to keep the silhouette and materials of a traditional farmhouse, but with modern detailing, especially in the interiors,” he explains. “We placed glazing strategically to enhance water views and provide daylighting. And we kept the palette very light and neutral.”
The airy primary bedroom (left) is located closest to the water. Overmyer took advantage of its position with sliding-glass doors that open onto a Juliet balcony bordered by a clear-glass railing. “The idea was to frame and focus the view with the least amount of architectural distraction,” Overmyer notes.
Designer Carrie Higginbotham, who outfitted the home’s interiors, conjured a spare, minimalist vibe in the bedroom with an ET2 LED Ring chandelier and white-leather chair and ottoman, offset by pops of color from the vibrant rug and bold art.
Renovation Architecture: Dale Overmyer, AIA, Overmyer Architects, Washington, DC. Interior Design: Carrie Higginbotham, Houselife, Inc., Reston, Virginia.
Linda Higgins had big ideas when she purchased a 12.5-acre parcel on secluded Caulk’s Cove, an inlet off Broad Creek near St. Michaels. She and her late husband built a sprawling residence and a guest house, then purchased the adjacent 13-acre parcel to protect their privacy. But what to do with the scenic new swath of land?
The answer came after some years of orchestrating family gatherings and fundraising events at home. “I decided to build a large gathering space where I could host 35 to 40 people without needing extra tables or tents, where our extended family could stay when they visit,” Higgins says. To realize her ideal, she turned to the trusted team with whom she had collaborated on her previous projects: architect Christine Dayton and interior designer Sherrie Petermann. Builder Jay Chance also joined the mix.
From the get-go, Higgins, a business consultant, knew what she wanted. She envisioned a year-round space that would convey the feeling “of being outside even though you’re inside,” she explains. “I didn’t want to lose the concept of being in a beautiful, open setting and seeing the water.”
Her vision extended to form as well as function. “Linda wanted a structure that would be reminiscent of a barn,” Dayton recounts. “She requested that it sit up on a knoll as barns often do, so we sited it on the highest part of the property with a view down to the creek.” The plan created an open line of sight from the front door—incorporated into a storefront window system by Solar Innovations—to the back of the house, where a corresponding window system reveals the cove beyond.
In keeping with the barn theme, a two-story silo dominates one end of the structure. Its construction required some finessing. “The silo cap was so heavy it had to be constructed on the ground and then craned into place,” recalls Dayton. Clad in hardy NuCedar PVC shingles and board-and-batten siding to match the main house, the barn is topped with a standing-seam metal roof. Slatted barn doors slide across the window walls to control the light and protect against heat and bad weather. A bluestone patio runs the length of the water-facing side; it offers room to congregate and a built-in outdoor kitchen complete with a sink, grill and wood-burning pizza oven. A screened porch, also facing the water, is a quiet spot for contemplation.
Visitors to the 2,800-square-foot party barn, as it was soon christened, enter an airy, open space with a 26-foot-tall vaulted ceiling and a spacious loft. Working with a structural engineer, Dayton conceived a series of black-painted steel trusses that support the massive roof and—paired with an oak-paneled ceiling—lend rustic beauty to the room.
An open kitchen at one end of the main level is delineated by a beamed, single-story ceiling. Opposite, a giant wood-burning fireplace clad in limestone-look porcelain tile is almost big enough to walk into. Flanking the fireplace, oak barn doors slide back to access a bedroom suite on one side and a bathroom and home office on the other. A short hall leads to the silo, which contains an architectural highlight of the project: a sleek spiral stair up to the loft that marries oak treads, a steel frame and a gracefully curved oak banister.
When it came time to furnish the interiors, Higgins opted to repurpose pieces from a previous abode. Fortunately, designer Sherrie Petermann had selected those furnishings—upholstered seating in luxe, classic style—so she and her client were on the same page.
“When you get someone who knows your taste, it’s easy to work together,” Higgins comments.
Still, “it was a challenge to bridge the gap between rustic and sophisticated,” Petermann observes. In front of the fireplace, she juxtaposed plush sofas and an elegant carpet with a coffee table that sports a teak-root base and vintage ladders that double as display shelves to create a collected aesthetic that “feels authentic,” she notes.
“I tried to make the kitchen barn-like yet beautifully appointed,” says the designer, who selected a stone-look, porcelain-tile backsplash and a copper farmhouse sink. A 14-foot-long island dominates the space; it’s made of galvanized-steel piping and mahogany slabs and was designed by Petermann and Higgins, then fabricated by Jay Chance.
Throughout the building, small, custom details abound. Pounded-metal strips border the fireplace, handcrafted by E.R. Harvey Metalworking, which also crafted the giant fire screen and metal supports that adorn the mahogany-slab mantel. The generous dining table, fabricated by Chance, unites a leathered-granite top with a trestle base that mimics the ceiling trusses. White oak surfaces—from floors to barn doors to ceiling panels—are finished with a vinegar wash devised by Chance to impart an aged look.
Sadly, after the work was completed, Linda Higgins’s then-husband passed away. She has since remarried and, following a sleek commercial renovation masterminded by Dayton, she and her current husband, Glenn, opened the Chesapeake Seafood Market in St. Michaels. When they’re not working, the couple enjoys time off hunting, gardening—and, of course, gathering with family in the party barn.
Architecture: Christine M. Dayton, AIA; Joshua Startt, project manager, Christine M. Dayton Architect, P.A., Easton, Maryland. Interior Design: Sherrie Petermann, Allied Member ASID, Petermann Designs LLC, Vero Beach, Florida. Builder: Jay Chance, Chance And Associates, Inc., Easton, Maryland. Landscape Design: Dobson Lawn & Landscape, Inc., St. Michaels, Maryland.
RESOURCES
GENERAL
Steel Beam Fabrication: anchor-enterprises.com. Fireplace Metalwork: Custom through erharvey.com. Fireplace Tile: Ronnie’s Tile; 410-714-1501. Wood Mantel: Custom through chanceandassociates.com. Fireplace Masonry: Tri County Masonry; 410-819-8615. Flooring: harveymillwork.com. Barn Doors: Custom through chanceandassociates.com; erharvey.com. Stair: theironshop.com. Stair Fabrication: chanceandassociates.com. Cable Railings: feeneyinc.com. Windows: solarinnovations.com; marvin.com through twperry.com.
EXTERIOR
Roofing: metfabint.com through annapolisexteriors.com. Stone Foundation: Tri County Masonry; 410-819-8615; semcostone.com.
FIRST LEVEL
Light Fixture: sklo.com. Drapery: kravet.com. Ladders by Fireplace: petermanndesigns.com. Sofas, Side Tables, Armchairs, Side Chairs & Dining Chairs: hickorychair.com. Sofa Fabric: osborneandlittle.com. Rug: starkcarpet.com. Coffee Table: petermanndesigns.com. Lamps on Dining Table: janbarboglio.com. Chandelier: formationsusa.com. Dining Table: Custom through chanceandassociates.com; petermanndesigns.com.
KITCHEN
Sink: nativetrailshome.com. Chandelier: formationsusa.com. Cabinetry: Custom through Richwood Limited; 443-205-5297. Kitchen Island Design: petermanndesigns.com. Beams & Kitchen Island Fabrication: Custom through chanceandassociates.com.
SECOND LEVEL
Rug: michaelian.com. Red Leather Chairs: dennisandleen.com. Red Leather Chair Fabric: Lee Jofa through kravet.com. Side Table, Ottoman & Fabric, Gray Chairs & Console beneath TV: hickorychair.com. Trusses: Designed by Jeremy Walbert; fabricated by anchor-enterprises.com.
Brimming with cherished antiques, art and accessories, Liz Mearns’s 1924 abode in Arlington pays tribute to two late, beloved family members: her mother, who was a McLean interior designer; and her aunt, who owned a boutique in California selling European antiques.
The home is also a tribute to skill and determination. When Mearns and her husband Scott, an IT executive, purchased the property 16 years ago with two toddlers in tow, it was as long on problems as they were short on cash. “It was pretty much a gut job,” she recalls. “We remodeled the house ourselves over five years.”
Mearns, who launched her own design firm in 2005, brings an eye both honed and inherited to the four-bedroom, 4,400-square-foot abode, where heirlooms, quirky finds and her own abstract artwork create a mix that feels fresh. “I have so many treasures,” she observes. “Blending aesthetics is how I grew up.”
What did the renovation entail?
We put in a rear addition housing the kitchen, family room and upstairs primary suite. We gained living room space by shifting the staircase back into the addition. We also moved the powder room, raised the main floor ceiling height and clad the living room fireplace in limestone floor tiles from the kitchen—a poor man’s lipstick, but I still like it even now.
How did the home’s look evolve?
The original house was clapboard. We had to replace the roof, so I thought while we were at it, I’d like French stucco siding. It’s still traditional but with a hint of Provençale. Inside, we added deep arches between rooms on the main floor that continue that theme—but not everywhere. I like the contrast of sometimes having a square threshold. Mix it up, it doesn’t all have to be one thing.
Describe your mother’s influence.
There is a lot of my mom here. We moved all over the world when I was growing up and at one time she was a shopper in Hong Kong, locating items for clients. Every room has at least two or three pieces that were hers. There are a lot of Asian influences. And a lot of pieces also came from my aunt’s store.
Is there a story behind your abstract artwork?
I created it because I didn’t have the money to buy what I really liked. I would see something and be inspired to copy it or make something similar. I have an abstract oil painting in the living room that evolved because I fell in love with the frame. I didn’t like the artwork inside it so I painted over it.
What are the kitchen’s design highlights?
While we were stuccoing the exterior, we decided to do a fireplace in the kitchen in the same material. I wanted it to blend visually but be different texturally, so we painted it the wall color. We built a big corner banquette when we designed the house. We still love it—the space feels cozy yet we can host six to eight people around the table.
How would you characterize your design process?
I am not overly formulaic, but I do room boards, renderings and custom upholstery. When it comes to accessories and layering, we can paint the picture but they have to evolve organically, and there has to be trust. A home won’t look done till those things are allowed to happen.
What is the secret to layering accessories?
When layering, create vignettes rather than lining things up. Don’t overdo it. I am cleaner in my design work than in my house, where I’ve layered a lot because I have so many treasures and am comfortable with how that feels. I mix in greens for softness. And I mix high and low, which my clients appreciate. I say don’t take it too seriously, have fun with it.
How do you make heirlooms and antiques feel fresh?
You have to mix to keep things fresh. Add something modern or a little funky, or with a sense of humor. I love cozy and inviting, so my furniture is deep and comfortable. I don’t want to feel stuffy.
What's your go-to local source?
Domicile in McLean. The owner is a designer who is brilliant, a great source. I also have good relationships with The Kellogg Collection and Random Harvest. I love to be able to text a vendor and tell them what I need.
What's a design mistake to avoid?
Scale is important; people tend to go too small. This is true not only for furniture but for rugs and lighting.
Advice on wood flooring?
Don’t make your hardwood floors too light or too dark. Too dark shows everything and is not very inviting; very light can look artificial if it’s not done right. A mid-tone floor is the most forgiving and easiest to design around.
Is there a design element you love?
My favorite element is wallpaper. I think it can make a space special. Wallpaper and tile are good things to be brave with. When we’re brave, we never regret it.
With your home chock-full at this point, are you still able to be creative in it?
Yes. I have to really love something to buy it, but I enjoy playing with stuff and moving things around. Like any designer, my home is my petri dish.
Interior Design: Liz Mearns, Imagine Design, Arlington, Virginia. Landscape Architecture: Fyffe Landscape Architecture, Arlington, Virginia. Styling: Charlotte Safavi.
Janie Molster’s take on living with color and joy
Residences by acclaimed Richmond designer Janie Molster marry vibrant color, chic sophistication and a touch of glam. In House Dressing: Interiors for Colorful Living, Molster taps into 25 years of experience, showcasing projects ranging from country cottages and a riverside retreat to her own urban farmhouse, which she calls her “personal design lab.” Brimming with 220 eye-catching photographs, the 240-page book reveals strategies behind each project while offering advice on how to create your own perfect space—from achieving the right mix of new pieces and antiques to selecting impactful paint treatments and working with color, pattern and texture in interiors that are both bold and serene. September 2021; The Monacelli Press. $50.
Lauren Liess on the art and soul of décor
Design guru Lauren Liess, who takes a simple, organic and down-to-earth approach to creating beautiful, functional spaces, explores our emotional connection to home in her latest book, Feels Like Home: Relaxed Interiors for a Meaningful Life. Embracing themes of comfort, calm, excitement, belonging, love and more, Liess shares case studies of a beach cottage, a farmhouse, a home in the woods, a Spanish Colonial and others. Each case study explores design elements such as proportion, color and scale while also honing in on the emotional link between a home and its owner. The 288-page book showcases 150 striking color photographs by Helen Norman. October 2021; Abrams Books. $40.
LET’S EAT
The ALFA 5 Minuti wood-fired pizza oven reaches operating temperature in five minutes and bakes two pizzas at a time within its brick-floored, ceramic-fiber-insulated interior. Stainless-steel domed construction enables high temperatures with minimal wood consumption. The compact appliance fits small spaces; purchase it on wheels, with a base or in a tabletop version (pictured above). alfaforni.com
MODERN VIBE
Made-to-order stainless-steel cabinets by Danver Stainless Outdoor Kitchens, Brown Jordan Outdoor Kitchens and Trex Outdoor Kitchens include 11 door styles in a range of sizes and configurations. Venice, the latest addition, conveys modern styling via flat-front doors in a powder-coated finish or in bold color combinations with stainless trim. danver.com; trex.com; brownjordanoutdoorkitchens.com
TV TIME
Furrion brings entertainment outside with its Aurora line of weatherproof outdoor televisions, which tailor brightness to the changing levels of sun or shade to which your screen is exposed. Aurora Partial Sun and Full Shade 4K UHD LED Outdoor TVs offer 5V USB ports; vivid contrast via High Dynamic Range (HDR); and built-in speakers. furrion.com
UNDER FIRE
A new collection of outdoor fire pits and fire tables by EcoSmart Fire conceals technology behind minimalist designs that create a sleek, uncluttered look. The fire elements incorporate Fluid Concrete, a trademarked material that is lightweight, strong and stain- and UV-resistant; clean-burning bioethanol makes a chimney, flue or utility connection unnecessary. Pictured above: Wharf 65. ecosmartfire.com
WHIMSICAL VISION
Tradition meets whimsy in the Filigrana Light design series by British brand Established & Sons. Created using time-honored Venetian glass-blowing techniques, the candy cane-inspired fixtures come in six shapes and five color variations, singly and in clusters. Pictured: The Filigrana Light Cloud groups assorted shapes for a billowy, balloon-like effect. establishedandsons.com
AT PLAY
British product designer George Sowden adds lighting to his portfolio of creations with Shades, a playful collection of floor, table and suspension lamps. Fashioned out of washable, wear-resistant soft silicone, which diffuses light with an attractive glow, the fixtures come in four sizes, 18 shapes and 20 bold colors. sowdenlight.com
SLENDER SILHOUETTE
As part of its collection for Mantra Lighting, Spanish design studio Santiago Sevillano recently debuted the minimalist Olimpia LED12W Floor Lamp, which pairs a slender silhouette in steel and aluminum with an opal-white silicone diffuser. Available in Matte Gold or Gloss Chrome, in a table or floor lamp, pendant or chandelier. santiagosevillano.com
SCULPTURAL PROFILE
Inspired by Modernist sculpture, the chic Almette Medium Table Lamp, part of the Aerin collection for Visual Comfort, features a sturdy base in a Plaster White, Gild or Burnished Silver Leaf finish. A rectangular linen shade completes the look. Available at Circa Lighting in Georgetown. circalighting.com; visualcomfortlightinglights.com
NIGHT SKY
Star-gazing is the theme of Hammerton Studio’s Stella lighting collection. In these minimalist fixtures, geometric LED diffusers seem to twinkle inside artisan-cast glass on a steel stem. The Stella line includes a sconce, pendant, three-light multiport (pictured), ring or linear suspension light, all available in a choice of eight finishes. hammerton.com
MOTHER NATURE
Layers of jute distinguish the Seychelles line from Kalco—part of a 2021 collection highlighting natural materials. Available in two round pendant sizes, a round flush-mount fixture and a linear, eight-bulb island light. kalco.com
FASHION FORWARD
Illustrious New York designer Bunny Williams conceived the Bebe Chandelier for Currey & Company with a touch of glam, conjuring the formal salon culture of a bygone era. The tulip-shaped, wrought-iron frame is finished in gold leaf and strung with clear-glass beads that create a soft glow. A gold-leaf chain is included. curreyandcompany.com
CUTTING EDGE
Arteriors’ Baja chandelier marries two hot design trends: gold metal and organic materials. The three-light fixture comprises concentric, antique-brass frames from which strings of coco and wood beads and coconut-shell talons are suspended. Also available in a dark-gray wash. Find it at Dominion Lighting in Arlington. dominionlighting.com; arteriorshome.com
INDUSTRIAL CHIC
The Exhaust pendant spotlight from Buster & Punch conveys an industrial-chic vibe with powder-coated metal and solid-steel detailing. A linear-knurl baffle diffuses light with a delicate metallic glow while a honeycomb filter directs it. Available in steel, burnt steel or brass, with Stone or Graphite powder-coating; pictured in Graphite. busterandpunch.com
RETRO LOOK
Ligne Roset harkened back to the ’70s with the Asola floor lamp, designed by Evangelos Vasileiou in a stylized mushroom shape. Perforated-steel cylinders form the base and the shade, which is topped with an anti-glare dome in hammered steel; the lamp is finished in epoxy white lacquer. Find at Ligne Roset in Upper Georgetown. ligneroset-dc.com
Located a stone’s throw from the White House, Metropolitan Square appears as a stately Beaux Arts structure, a visual complement to its illustrious neighbor. Yet behind the venerable façade lies a modern, 12-story office building constructed in 1982—an outside-the-box solution to placate the historic preservation community.
In 2017, owner Boston Properties tapped Gensler’s Washington office to mastermind $60 million in improvements intended to lure new tenants to the 670,000-square-foot property (also home to DC mainstay Old Ebbitt Grill). “It’s a dynamic reimagining of shared amenity spaces that brings new life to this timeless location,” explains architect Jeff Barber, who led the project. He and his team revamped the atrium; renovated the roof deck; and added conference rooms, a tenant lounge and a fitness center on the second floor.
The most dramatic change took place in the atrium (pictured above). Formerly a bland pass-through, it’s now a bright, airy destination, connecting to the second floor via a broad stadium stair. White oak accents unify its expanse and delineate areas for congregating. Fresh wall finishes and glazing reflect light from the existing patterned-glass ceiling down to the new Saint Clair marble floor, while metal extrusions painted gold frame the office windows above. Updated building entrances marry the atrium’s new character with the historic façade.
Metropolitan Square received a 2021 AIA Northern Virginia Award of Merit.
Renovation Architecture: Jeff Barber, AIA, LEED AP, Gensler, Washington, DC. Renovation Contractor: Davis Construction, Rockville, Maryland. Photography: Jessica Marcotte.
Hired to renovate a dated Arlington kitchen, designer Melissa Broffman ended up starting from scratch. “The kitchen hadn’t had any attention since the 1990s,” she says. “It was dominated by an oversized U-shaped island that only one person at a time could use. It invaded the breakfast area, limiting seating to a round table for four.”
Collaborating with Judy Bracht of Stuart Kitchens, which supplied the cabinetry, Broffman created a layout centered around an island with room for three stools and enough workspace for more than one person to do food prep. The new plan meant the breakfast area could accommodate an extendable farmhouse table that seats eight to 12, along with a cozy banquette.
Clean lines and a fresh, transitional palette animate the remodeled space. White-painted Greenfield cabinetry is paired with a stone-and-porcelain mosaic-tile backsplash and countertops in eye-catching, white-veined Jolie Gray marble that’s “the crowning jewel,” Broffman enthuses. Hudson Valley Lighting pendants illuminate the island and Atlas hardware in a warm brass-and-honey finish completes the look.
Kitchen & Interior Design: Melissa Broffman, Melissa Broffman Interior Design, Arlington, Virginia. Kitchen Design & Cabinetry: Judy Bracht, CKD, Stuart Kitchens, McLean, Virginia. Contractor: K. Quality Services, LLC, Vienna, Virginia. Styling: Pursuing Vintage.
After contending with the cramped kitchen in their vintage Northwest DC row house for a while, a couple with four young kids contacted Case Design & Remodeling for an overhaul. They requested a more livable and accessible kitchen with a modern-eclectic vibe.
“The original kitchen was actually tucked under the stair to one side of the back door,” recounts designer Carolyn Elleman, who spearheaded the project. She and her team shifted the kitchen’s location to the other side of the door and replaced the solid-wood door with a French door and sidelites that let in natural light.
An airy, L-shaped layout took shape with a peninsula separating the workspace from the breakfast area. Flat-panel Crystal cabinetry in white and textured-pine melamine is paired to sleek effect with white MSI Q Quartz countertops and a glass-tile backsplash. Eclectic accents include industrial-chic Rejuvenation pendants and a Grohe faucet with an orange hose that matches cookware and small appliances in the same hue. Chalkboard paint on the peninsula wall fosters kid-size creativity.
Kitchen Design: Carolyn Elleman, CKBR, UDCP, Case Design & Remodeling, Inc. Contracting: Case Design & Remodeling, Inc., Bethesda, Maryland.
Mike and Melinda Winn first purchased a 1,500-square-foot Cape on a picturesque street in McLean with a future renovation and addition in mind. Eight years and two kids later, they were ready to take the plunge—but their program changed when they discovered serious structural problems in the residence, which was built in 1958. “The basement was continually flooding and the foundation was heaving because a large hill in back was causing hydronic pressure,” says Mike Winn. “We had lead, we had asbestos—the list went on.”
As the founding principal of Winn Design + Build, he knew when it was time to go into tear-down mode. Collaborating with DC-based Harrison Design, Winn and his staff conceived a significantly larger dwelling—6,000 square feet including a finished basement—that would better accommodate the family’s needs while also matching the scale and resale value of the neighboring houses. “When the kids go to college and we’re ready to start the next chapter, we probably won’t stay here,” Winn observes. “We have an eye towards that.”
The design team set the new, five-bedroom, five-and-a-half-bath home as close to the street as possible to maximize the backyard and leave space for terracing on two levels, which addresses flooding issues by relieving hydronic pressure on the foundation. The garage is street-facing, enhanced by attractive carriage doors and obscured by an offset drive and stand of tall shrubbery. The harmonious front façade features a steel double front door flanked by squared window bays clad in nickel-groove siding.
The home channels a French Provincial vibe, to which Mike and Melinda, a homemaker, found themselves drawn while collecting images and inspiration during the project’s early stages. “The style of the house is fairly traditional. We didn’t want it to look new,” Winn relates. To this end, he asked the masons to lay brick “kind of sloppily,” he says. “Normally, they would make the mortar flush with the brick, but we had them leave it.” ReCote, a thick finish containing a sand aggregate, creates a light, stucco-like coating over the brick. It’s custom-colored to contrast with the trim, which is painted a battleship-gray hue. Adding to the Provençale-influenced, older-home appearance are cedar roof shingles with copper gutters and downspouts intended to weather over time.
The front door opens to a wide, airy hallway with the dining room on one side and a music room and study on the other. At the back of the house, the family room/kitchen flows into a light-filled breakfast nook and leads to a mudroom as well as a spacious screened porch; the open-plan space connects to the dining room via a butler’s pantry. The owners’ suite, kids’ en-suite bedrooms, laundry room and Mike Winn’s home office are upstairs while the finished basement encompasses a rec room outfitted for entertaining with a well-appointed marble-topped bar and mirrored-tile backsplash, a pool table and an area for TV watching. A kids’ playroom and guest suite are also on the lower level.
The interiors nod to the older-home sensibility with wide-plank, light-stained white oak floors; steel stair railings in a living finish that will become patinaed over time; and oak beams from Wellborn + Wright in the family room and owners’ suite. The kitchen is a standout, with a Lacanche range continuing the French theme; it’s topped by a custom hood clad in plaster that also covers the kitchen ceiling. Transitional, gray-painted Rutt cabinetry is complemented by white-quartz counters and a highly glazed, square-tile backsplash “that changes with the light,” notes Winn. The Miele fridge and freezer towers are paneled while smaller appliances are concealed within cabinetry for a clean, uncluttered look.
When it came to furnishings, “it took a village,” comments Winn, whose firm doesn’t specify furniture and who admits to feeling overwhelmed by the choices. He and his wife turned to Great Falls- and Belgium-based designer Natascha Folens for help with selections in the kitchen and family room and chose some fixtures and finishes themselves. Still ahead two years after the project’s completion: selecting furniture and artwork for the less trafficked spaces—and converting the music room, which became a classroom during the pandemic, back to its original use. Explains Winn, “Some places in the house were less of a priority. We decided to take our time and do it right.”
Architectural Design & Contracting: Michael Winn, Winn Design + Build, Falls Church, Virginia. Consulting Architect: Harrison Design, Washington, DC. Landscape Architecture: Joseph Richardson, PLA, ASLA, Joseph Richardson Landscape Architecture, Washington, DC.
How do you know when to renovate and when to tear down?
It depends on where you’re putting your money. If it’s going into things that aren’t going to give you a return—like a new roof, which is not going to increase your property value—it’s probably not a good place for your dollars.
Do you design spaces with existing furniture in mind?
We do that early in a design program. Furniture-planning in the early stages of schematic design is very important.
What’s the future of “farmhouse modern?”
I think it might be on its way out. We’ve been trying to subtly steer people away from it. I feel like it’s such a trendy look.
How do you make a small bathroom feel larger?
This was an issue in our house, especially in the case of our daughter’s bath, which is tucked into a small space. We gave both kids’ bathrooms curb-less showers and floating vanities. They would feel smaller without those elements.
