Sited prohibitively close to the critical-area buffer, a Tolchester, Maryland, house on the Chesapeake Bay had its pool located in the front yard rather than by the waterfront behind the house. When the owners decided to add a garage beyond the pool area, they hired South Fork Studio Landscape Architecture to conceive a plan that would link the two structures yet keep the pool separate. “Other than a waterside deck, the usable space is between the house and garage,” principal D. Miles Barnard explains. “This created an interesting design puzzle.”
Barnard and his team landscaped the new garage area, which presents the first impression of the property. Pennsylvania bluestone pavers and a curved stone retaining wall guide visitors past a Lunaform fountain and through steel gates to the front yard, where the pool area is delineated from the path to the home’s front door by a lush bank of native plantings including False Indigo, Joe Pye Weed and Little Bluestem.
The existing pool has been renovated, with a Pennsylvania bluestone surround and a Western red cedar pergola at the end closest to the garage. Beyond the house, the expanse of the Chesapeake Bay is visible.
Landscape Architecture: D. Miles Barnard, ASLA, RLA, South Fork Studio Landscape Architecture, Chestertown, Maryland. Landscape Contractor: Ben Herr, Anthony’s Flowers & Landscaping, Chestertown, Maryland. Garage Contractor: Torr Howell, Blue Heron Contracting, Chestertown, Maryland. Photography: Allen Russ.
An Annapolis family with three young kids contacted Scapes, Inc., to turn their flat, blank-slate backyard into an expansive outdoor-living retreat, complete with pool, pavilion, built-in kitchen and bar. “The hardscape is extensive and connects to the house via an ipe deck with a stainless-steel cable railing,” explains principal Jeff Crandell, who designed the landscape. The deck leads down a few steps to a Pennsylvania bluestone patio that surrounds the pool.
Anchoring the far end of the pool, a 20-by-20-foot pavilion provides gathering room with a fireplace and TV; automatic screens protect the enclosure from insects and the fireplace makes it usable into the chillier months. To one side of the structure, an al fresco dining area is bordered by a built-in kitchen made of Aspen veneer stone and topped with honed granite; it houses a grill, sink, refrigerator and icemaker. An attached bar overlooks the pool, which features three copper spillways flowing from a raised stone beam along one side. Lighting has been incorporated on the deck steps and around the patio, while uplights along the perimeter of the property foster an intimate vibe at night.
Plantings include Bloodgood Japanese maples and blooming perennials such as hydrangea, viburnum, rhododendron and roses. Ornamental grasses soften the landscape.
Landscape Design & Installation: Jeff Crandell, Scapes, Inc., Annapolis, Maryland. Photography: Jeff Crandell
Walk in the front door of Mike and Mary Strittmatter’s Ocean City vacation home and all you see is water. Beyond the chic, comfortable living area, the Assawoman Bay extends for miles—all white-capped waves churning in the winter wind on the day this writer paid a visit.
“So many people say it feels like you’re out on a yacht when you first enter the house,” Mary enthuses. “Or an ocean liner.”
Indeed, the home’s location is magical, occupying a point that juts dramatically out into the bay to create water views on three sides. In fact, though the Strittmatters were ready to renovate their former vacation house in this bayside enclave, when this one came on the market they grabbed it. Mary, an interior designer, and Mike, who owns the excavation and construction company Strittmatter, Inc., envisioned reconfiguring the interiors to better accommodate those vistas, and adding bedrooms that would lure their grown sons, friends and other family members out on frequent visits.
The couple had already enlisted architect Warren Ralston for the previous house, so he simply shifted his focus to the new one—which definitely needed help. “It had amazing potential with that view, but it was very dark,” Ralston recalls. “It looked like someone took a house from the 1980s in Northern Virginia and plopped it on the water.” Working with John Rego of T&G Builders, he says, “We turned it into a beach house—inviting, less formal, fresh, clean and bright.”
The small lot limited the scope of the renovation to the home’s original footprint. “We gutted it and started over,” explains Rego. “First we incorporated the exterior work—removing existing brick and stucco and repairing sheathing damage from driving rains and winds typical of the location.” Gray-painted CertainTeed shakes, plus new dormers, trim, windows and doors, impart a beach-house sensibility.
Inside, a dated, two-story great room featured a fireplace on the waterfront wall that obstructed the view; catwalks above were supported by a number of intrusive columns. A small kitchen separated the great room from an unused formal living room.
“The first challenge was seeing past what was in front of you,” Ralston reflects. “We showed Mike and Mary how to imagine it without all the divisions and the blocked view. Almost every space was reimagined with the premise of amplifying light and views.”
In Ralston’s transformative design, the staircase was relocated and the ceiling was lowered to accommodate a second-floor bedroom and rec room where the kids gather. Structural steel beams eliminated the need for columns. A porch off the great room was rebuilt and the fireplace was relocated; now, a wall of sliding-glass panels by Western Doors folds back to merge indoor and outdoor spaces. Phantom screens on the porch come down for protection from insects and heaters keep the space comfortable into fall.
The kitchen moved to where the formal living room had been and the previous kitchen became the dining area. New floor-to-ceiling windows in the kitchen and dining area expanded views once blocked by cabinetry. Jamie Rollins of Cabinetry Unlimited worked with Mary on the new kitchen, which centers on a large island topped with quartz.
Though she initially had planned to decorate the interiors herself, Mary prefers to work on a smaller scale and asked Christie Leu, a friend and former design-school classmate, to take on the job. “Christie was the perfect choice because I trusted her,” she observes. “I told her I wanted to have the feel of coastal luxury.”
Leu began by layering the great room with architectural flourishes for character and interest. She selected a limestone fireplace surround and a custom mantel and designed built-in bookshelves on either side. And she conceived a new ceiling with coffers that mirror the room’s seating arrangements. In the foyer, Leu added millwork details around the staircase to make it a feature element.
Embracing Ralston’s vision of a light-filled aerie, the designer used color throughout the house to tie the interiors to the water’s luminous hues. She started in the two-story foyer, where an accent wall stretches up 19 feet. “I thought, ‘What am I going to do with that?’” the designer recalls. She tapped Baltimore-based Lenehan Studios to faux paint “a textured gradation from dark blue to ivory, like the colors of the ocean,” Leu explains. “That’s where I got my color palette.”
Fabrics in warm blues and grays sound a soothing note on the main floor, while upstairs, the rec room is painted dark blue. Light wood tones dominate throughout the house—including the durable, engineered-wood floor. Leu and Mary selected art that would reflect the beach locale without being kitschy; Leu crafted some of it herself—delicate sea urchins and starfish against pretty matting, and framed sailing flags in bright colors.
The Strittmatters spend time year-round in their bayfront escape. And luring the kids worked: “Oh yes,” says Mary. “Like us, they’re out here every chance they get.”
Renovation Architecture: Warren C. Ralston, AIA, WCRA, Chantilly, Virginia. Interior Design: Christie Leu, Christie Leu Interiors, Chevy Chase, Maryland. Kitchen Design: Jamie Rollins, Cabinetry Unlimited, Selbyville, Delaware. Renovation Contractor: John Rego, T&G Builders, Berlin, Maryland. Landscape Design: Chesapeake Landscaping, Princess Anne, Maryland.
RESOURCES
PORCH
Bar Stools: wayfair.com. Coffee Table, Side Table, Lounge Chair: palecek.com. Hanging Bed: kwhome.net. Ottomans: designerinc.com.
FAMILY ROOM
Console, Swivel Chairs & Sofa: ambellahome.com. Sofa & Chair Fabric: kravet.com. Woven Coffee Table: fourhands.com. Wood-Framed Chairs & Stone-Topped Coffee Table: stanleyfurniture.com. Floor & Table Lamps: visualcomfortlightinglights.com. Throw Pillows: vanguardfurniture.com. Fireplace: heatnglo.com. Rug: coecarpetandrug.com.
KITCHEN
Dining Table: tritterfeefer.com. Host Chairs: designmasterfurniture.com. Kitchen Appliances: monogram.com. Fixtures over Island & Dining Table: curreyco.com. Cabinetry: Custom by cabinetryunlimited.com. Counter stools: interludefurniture.com
MASTER BEDROOM
Bedstead & Nightstands: Existing. Area Rug: coecarpetandrug.com. wallcovering: thibaut.com. Pillows on Window Seat: pindler.com, kravet.com.
FOYER
Area Rug: wayfair.com. Stair Runner: coecarpetandrug.com. Console: stanleyfurniture.com. Faux-Painted Feature Wall: lenehanstudios.com.
GUEST ROOM
Built-In Bunk Beds: Custom by tg-builders.com. Area Rug: coecarpetandrug.com. Library Ladder: Vintage. Bedside Lights: visualcomfortlightinglights.com.
REC ROOM
Brass Shelving & Corner Banquettes: Custom by tg-builders.com. Wall Covering: phillipjeffries.com. Bar Table: roomandboard.com. Sectionals: Existing. Area Rug: coecarpetandrug.com. Swivel Chair: braxtonculler.com. Game Table: ambellahome.com.
Upsizing from a DC condo to a spec house in Kensington, Maryland, a professional couple approached designer Kirsten Anthony Kaplan to give its bland, builder-grade rooms a shot of sophisticated style. “The wife is in government and he’s an educator,” recounts Kaplan. “She drove most of the process because her taste is really specific. In fact, she sent me 10 pages of her likes and preferences.”
Nestled on a block of similar homes with traditional exteriors, the residence becomes more modern inside, with an open passage from the foyer back to the kitchen and family room. On one side, a small formal living area and larger dining area are separated by columns and a wide, cased opening. Stairs by the front door lead up to the master suite, guest room, home office and sitting room. “My clients didn’t want the house to feel cookie-cutter,” Kaplan says. “They were willing to take some chances.”
Describe your client’s aesthetic.
The wife gravitates to an industrial-modern look with occasional touches of glam. She’s very exacting in her design viewpoint—modern, spare and clean-lined. It’s about the look for her: She loves the lines of things.
Given that this was a spec home, how did you impart individuality to the interiors?
I added wainscoting in the living and dining areas and in the mudroom, where I used a patterned encaustic floor tile. I covered the dining room’s walls and cove ceiling with Phillip Jeffries vinyl grass cloth that I also used on the family room’s coffered ceiling to create contrast and connect the spaces. And the clients are bibliophiles, which made it easy because books add interest.
How did you incorporate an industrial-modern sensibility?
The inspiration for the design was metal-and-wood industrial shelving that the clients already had. They hold the books in the family room and are used for displaying objects in the upstairs office. Much of the lighting is industrial in style, with some furnishings made with metal and wood. We layered the spaces with vintage objects such as the antique letter press on the family room coffee table.
Describe your theory on color.
I always start with color; it tells a lot about what the metal finishes, lighting and fabrics are going to be. This client wanted a cool palette with a lot of gray-blues, so I had to think where the warmth was going to come from. I relied on the floor color (it has yellow/orange behind it), lighting and textures.
Did you try to persuade the client to add more color to her monochromatic palette?
No, I like the consistency. My designs tend to be more monochromatic, a little bit sleek. I never tire of creating this aesthetic because to me there’s plenty to look at in the variety of textures and the lines of things.
Explain your furniture choices.
The furnishings tend to be clean-lined and modern. In the breakfast area, Anziano chairs are paired with a McCreary Modern table base and a custom, beveled-glass top. And we designed sofas for the family room that have an unusual shape, with a tight back and a distinctive silhouette. The client likes that she has a sofa you’ll never see anywhere else. She often removes the pillows to keep the lines clean so you focus on the piece.
Is there a secret to determining furniture scale in a dining room?
For me, it always depends on how the table is being used. Since these clients host holiday meals and more formal occasions, comfortable, high-backed chairs made sense—and added visual interest against the tall wainscoting around them. The table and chairs were custom-made for the space by Lorts. I always warn clients about chair height; if chairs are very low, they’ll barely be able to see them above the table.
What are your thoughts on lighting?
Because of the scale of rooms and houses we do, there’s a danger the lighting will feel undersized—so we tend to oversize it. It’s such an important design element, you want it to make a statement. In this project, we mixed industrial fixtures, like the Currey & Company pendants over the kitchen island and the chandelier with Edison bulbs above the breakfast table. We chose crystal fixtures for a bit of glamour above the dining room table and in the family room.
How did you improve the builder-grade kitchen and powder room?
We replaced the original kitchen backsplash with marble tile and put in new, marble-look quartz countertops. The client wanted a farmhouse sink with an exposed faucet from Kohler that shows its workings; she likes to see the functionality of things. To enhance the powder room, we added millwork to the walls and a marble sink with exposed legs. The mirror was cut to fit the molding pattern.
What's your distinguishing design element?
Clean lines and high color contrast, with crisp whites and deeper hues.
What’s your take on accessorizing?
Often a room doesn’t pull together without the right accessory. I tell clients we’re not adding an element to fill a space, but because it has a job to do.
Design pet peeve?
The “pop of color.” It often looks like an afterthought, versus having colors thought-out from the beginning.
Trend that interests you?
We’re just at the beginning of LEDs. In 10 years, lights will not look remotely like they do now. LEDs will be as revolutionary as going from analog to digital.
Kitchen design words of wisdom?
Ask yourself, will this be relevant in 15 years? It’s a huge investment and most people don’t do it
more than once.
Interior Design: Kirsten Anthony Kaplan, Haus Interior Design, Rockville, Maryland. Contractor: D.G. Liu Contractor, Inc., Dickerson, Maryland. Photo Styling: Charlotte Safavi.
CHIC COLLABORATION
The Sunset collection of chaises/lounge chairs, a collaboration between Roche Bobois and The Rockwell Group, brings streamlined, modern style outdoors. Designed to easily convert from lounger to sofa with a detachable back frame, pieces in the collection boast a range of headrest positions and interchangeable cushions. Available in blue (pictured), bronze or white. roche-bobois.com
HIGHLAND INSPIRATION
Named for the eponymous Scottish garb, the Kilt chair was designed for Ethimo by Marcello Ziliani as a woven band of rope stretched over a teak frame. Available in natural or pickled teak, paired with sand-hued or gray rope; a coffee table is also on offer. ethimo.com
LIGHT SHOW
French outdoor-furniture company Sifas has introduced a new floor lamp made of woven polyester fiber-coated in water-resistant PVC. The 45-inch-tall lamp, which sits atop slender lacquered-aluminum legs, is available in blue, gray or brown. A rechargeable LED bulb is protected within a frosted-glass globe. sifas.com
PERFECT PATTERN
Sunbrella’s Dimension Collection features a mix of flat and jacquard weaves in nine distinctive patterns and a range of textures. Suitable for cushions and upholstery, the line is made with the brand’s signature durable, weather-resistant fabric. Pictured: Array in the Sangria and Calypso colorways. sunbrella.com
OUTDOOR VERSION
Arper’s chic Pix collection of ottomans is now available for outdoor use. A waterproof polyurethane membrane protects the foam interior; choose from a line of durable, fast-drying polyester fabric covers in an array of bold hues. The ottomans come in one-, two- and three-seat sizes; five-seaters can be ordered. arper.com
COLOR ME COOL
Designed by Kettal Studio, the Dots Collection indoor-outdoor lamp features an adjustable aluminum structure, an LED bulb and a waterproof switch. Available in 30 color options, as a floor lamp with a circular base or a planter lamp (pictured) that can be fastened to the ground. kettal.com
MISSING LINK
Based on a 1965 design by Michel Ducaroy, the modular Saparella is an indoor-outdoor collection of chairs with convex and concave profiles that can stand alone or be linked together to form a settee via a concealed, stainless-steel mechanism. Constructed with polyurethane Bultex foam covered in water-resistant fabric. ligneroset-dc.com
SURFACE STYLE
Geoluxe’s newly released Calacatta Gluxe is a marble-look engineered surface characterized by vivid gray veining and a pure-white background. Formulated for indoor-outdoor use, the product is scorch-, stain-, heat- and UV-resistant; the veins run throughout each slab, eliminating the need for mitering. geoluxe.com
DINING OUT
Part of Patricia Urquiola’s Anatra Collection for JANUS et Cie, the Anatra Dining Table Round 130 combines an aluminum frame with stainless-steel hardware and nylon glides. Available in Cadet and Oxford finishes and a Carrara marble or ceramic top. Pictured here: an Oxford base topped with marble. janusetcie.com
SITTING PRETTY
The clean-lined Flet outdoor-seating collection from Room & Board includes chairs and ottomans crafted of woven polypropylene rope that’s soft, durable and UV-resistant. Cushions are made of quick-drying foam and covered in Sunbrella fabric for easy maintenance. roomandboard.com
ROOM TO RELAX
Tuuci’s Eclipse Cabana conjures an airy outdoor living room. Its powder-coated aluminum frame supports roof and wall slats that come in a powder-coated or wood-look finish. A retractable Roman shade is made of a durable, UV-resistant mesh fabric and is available in six colors. tuuci.com
POP OF PROVENÇE
A common sight in 19th-century France, Bac a Oranger planters displayed citrus trees and topiary, often flanking grand entrances in stately style. Authentic Provence has recreated these planters out of wood-look aluminum. Available in four sizes and 12 colors, with French finials and optional brass rings. authenticprovence.com
LIMITED EDITION
Dedon has debuted two limited-edition color and material combinations for its popular MBrace seating collection, designed by Sebastian Herkner. Carrara and Marrone are woven out of handmade maritime rope from Italy and engineered fiber by Dedon to create a fresh look. dedon.com
ORGANIC STYLE
Vines, by Sonneman—A Way of Light, is characterized by its gracefully curved branch design. Hand-blown glass pods illuminate the fixture, which comes in varied configurations. Available in black, white or bronze, with white or amber glass, through Dulles Electric in Sterling, Virginia. dulleselectric.com; sonnemanawayoflight.com
GET THE BLUES
Park Harbor Lighting capitalizes on the current craze for all things blue with its Van Noord pendant, which features a curved frame in aged brass and a deep-blue velvet drum shade. The 26-inch-wide fixture includes five candelabra bulbs. Available locally at area Ferguson showrooms. fergusonshowrooms.com
MID-CENTURY
Globe-shaped glass diffusers rest on polished-nickel frames in the mid-century-inspired Everett collection from Kalco Lighting. The line includes chandeliers, pendants and sconces. Pictured: the Everett Medium Foyer 2+2+2 light, available at Annapolis Lighting in Rockville and Annapolis. annapolislighting.com; kalco.com
SPHERICAL GLOW
The Solaris chandelier from Crystorama is defined by a series of rings forming a sphere. Six globes illuminate the wrought-iron fixture, from which a single crystal ball hangs. Solaris comes in a range of sizes and in three finishes at Dominion Electric locations. dominionelectric.com; crystoramalightinglights.com
STATEMENT PIECE
Pelle’s Bubble Chandelier is a linear composition featuring five bulbs within a cascade of blown-glass globes. Pictured: The special-edition X-Tall Delft Palm Bubble Chandelier, measuring 60 inches, is hand-painted with illustrations of palm leaves by company founder Jean Pelle. pelledesigns.com
LUMINOUS LIGHT
The Cristol Small Double Sconce, designed by Aerin, updates a traditional look with a base of polished nickel or hand-rubbed antique brass (pictured) and luminous white-glass globes. The Cristol collection also includes pendants, flush-mounts and chandeliers. Available at Circa Lighting in Georgetown’s Cady’s Alley. circalighting.com
Michael Winn, principal of Winn Design+Build, had just completed a home for himself and his family in McLean. He tapped landscape architect Joseph Richardson for a scheme to complement the traditional abode, specifying spaces for lounging, dining and grilling, as well as a rear lawn where his kids could play. “We also wished to incorporate an Asian element into the design,” Winn explains, “to pay homage to part of our family’s cultural lineage.”
A steep grade change meant that high retaining walls would be necessary to create usable living spaces with room for the play area beyond. Richardson decreased the rear wall’s massing by angling it out, then softened it with plantings above.
Two patios are connected by a bluestone-paver path set in river stone. The lounging patio is anchored by a stacked-stone fireplace while the dining area contains a kitchen complete with a 42-inch grill, smoker and storage. The path is flanked by a Japanese garden featuring a Tamukeyama maple, ornamental grasses and perennials.
Award: Grand, Residential Landscape Design/Outdoor Living over $250,000. Landscape Design: Joseph Richardson Landscape Architecture, Arlington, Virginia. Construction: Winn Design+Build, Falls Church, Virginia.
Once home to the Libyan Embassy, a stately Flemish Revival-style town home had certainly seen better days. The 1908 residence, located in DC’s posh Embassy Row neighborhood, had sat vacant for 25 years; it had reached a state of structural collapse when new owners contacted Glass Construction with a mandate to transform it into a family home. The whole-house renovation included the painstaking restoration of the front façade, which went from drab and nondescript to vibrant and fresh—with its history intact.
The house was taking in storm water, and the roof, framing and masonry had deteriorated. Glass Construction’s herculean job entailed rebuilding the foundation, gables, dormers, front arches and much of the masonry. The roof frame was reconstructed and slate on the mansard and dormer roofs was replaced. New copper roofing was added, along with a basement-level garage.
The brick façade—formerly painted two dingy shades of cream—was stripped and repointed, creating a seamless look softened by attractive plantings.
Award: Grand, Residential Historical Renovation/Restoration $250,000 and over. Renovation Design & Construction: Glass Construction, Inc., Washington, DC.
A Bethesda couple was drawn to a rundown 1970s home by its tree-lined lot and abundant natural light. However, the house needed work; they hired Gilday Renovations for an update that would reflect their modern aesthetic and create more functional living space. On the wish list was an open floor plan; lower-level his-and-her offices; and a first-floor master suite. They also wanted to impart curb appeal to the dingy front façade.
Gilday’s team streamlined the home’s exterior by removing two decorative balconies and adding clean-lined definition with Corten steel panels framing the windows. An overhang at the front entry was extended and a ramshackle carport became a garage
Inside, the team removed the dining room and kitchen walls to create an open floor plan, installing a banquette beneath an existing skylight for a bright breakfast nook. The new kitchen, with its sleek, textured-melamine cabinetry and Caesarstone countertops, flows into a cheerful family room. Pale oak floors unify the airy main level.
Award: Finalist, Entire House $750,001 to $1 million. Renovation Design & Construction: Gilday Renovations, Silver Spring, Maryland.
The art of origami inspired Oru Kayak’s lightweight, folding kayaks, which combine high performance and handling with easy storage, transport and assembly. Five models unfold from compact boxes into streamlined vessels ranging in length from 10 feet for the easy-going Inlet to 16 feet for the ocean-ready Coast XT and the Haven, a tandem vessel that converts to a single. The 12-foot-long Beach LT (center) and Bay ST (top and bottom) are built for day trips and casual beach and fishing excursions. Oru Kayak’s boats weigh from 20 to 40 pounds, depending on the model. Prices start at $899 for the Inlet and top out at $2,199 for the Coast XT, which carries up to 400 pounds; paddles priced separately. orukayak.com
TIGER STRIPE
A trend toward nature-inspired décor animates today’s fashionable homes. Stark’s playful Tigress rug grounds an eclectic den designed by Holly Hollingsworth Phillips of The English Room in Charlotte, North Carolina. starkcarpet.com
WALL ART
Kravet Couture’s Artist Series by Paperscape showcases the work of seven artists in varying wallpaper motifs. For Telescopic, Michele Oka Doner conjured the beach, depicting seaweeds, algae, coral and shells; pictured in the Nautics colorway. kravet.com
LIGHT SHOW
The hand-blown-glass “blossoms” that distinguish Hammerton Studio’s Blossom Modern Branch linear suspension light convey a soft, organic feel, illuminated by LED bulbs. Available in two lengths and eight finishes. hammertonstudio.com
SOFT SEAT
Part of a comfy collection of faux fur and shearling seating, the Starlet Bench from Jessica Charles pairs acrylic legs with a seat upholstered in a heavy, dark knit that mimics shearling. jessicacharles.com
SCULPTURAL STYLE
Sustainably sourced from reclaimed-teak roots, the solid-looking Tremont Side Table by Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams is actually hollow, allowing light to filter through it. Part of a collection of tables and sculptures. mgbwhome.com
CRATER EFFECT
Soft peaks of lava inspired Jonathan Adler’s modernist Vesuvius Bowl. Each piece is hand-sculpted in clay, then produced in stoneware with a glaze that bubbles when fired to create a cratered surface. jonathanadler.com
ENCHANTED FOREST
Natural colors, textures and light animate Lelièvre’s Nature Précieuse collection for Scalamandré. Pictured above: Merlin, a cotton fabric depicting an enchanted forest in bold yet muted tones. scalamandre.com
Tucked into Northeast DC’s rapidly gentrifying H Street Corridor, The Apollo is an eight-story, mixed-use apartment building that sprawls over a city block. Taking advantage of this large footprint, developer Insight Property Group tapped DC-based Landscape Architecture Bureau (LAB) to create a diverse array of outdoor spaces that would complement a dynamic, modern design by SK+I Architecture. “Insight envisioned marketing the project on the basis of its exterior spaces,” explains LAB principal Jon Fitch, who spearheaded the landscape plan.
LAB conceived eight outdoor terraces, including two expansive rooftop patios and six others located on lower levels of the building. “It was important that they all be differentiated from each other,” Fitch notes, “and that they be sort of hidden, so you’d stumble on them while going through the building.”
The lower-level courtyards provide gathering opportunities for small groups: a shady area softened by lush ferns; an orderly parterre garden; a series of intimate patios connected by a winding path; and a community garden with streetscape views. Extensive green roofs on several levels are part of the mix.
The rooftop expanse crowns the design. The west terrace, oriented toward unobstructed views of the Capitol and monuments, boasts built-in, engineered-wood seating, tiered to accommodate numbers of people wishing to take in the cityscape—and the fireworks on the Fourth of July. A pool beckons, with seating beneath a pergola at one end. The lush eastern terrace (pictured) features a screen facing a lawn for informal gatherings and summer movie nights; four outdoor grilling stations with dining areas; and space for walking and washing your dog. Durable porcelain tile clads the surfaces while grasses, Black-eyed Susans and lavender fill cast-concrete containers.
Landscape Architecture: Landscape Architecture Bureau, LLC, Washington, DC. Architecture: SK+I Architecture, Bethesda, Maryland. Developer: Insight Property Group, Arlington, Virginia. Photography: Prakash Patel.
The imposing, Tudor-style home in bucolic Pikesville, Maryland, holds a lifetime of memories. Owner Kim Hammond grew up in this stately, stone residence, built in 1920 by famed Baltimore architect Laurence Hall Fowler as the guest house for a nearby estate. A veterinarian with a prominent Baltimore practice, Hammond had always dreamed of living in the family manse; after his mother’s death in 2014 at 94, he and his wife, Carol Elerding Hammond, decided to move in—with daughter Stella, now 12, and their three beloved dogs in tow.
However, the home had suffered wear and tear over the years, and before the move could happen, it needed updates that would accommodate the family’s modern, relaxed lifestyle. Kim had worked with Baltimore designer Mona Hajj on this and other houses in the past, so he and Carol turned to her for help.
“I loved the house; I was excited to move into it, but it’s pretty formal,” says Carol. “I wanted to make it my own. I like traditional with a twist—old and traveled, but with a hint of contemporary too.”
This aesthetic was a perfect fit for Hajj, who is known for sumptuous interiors that artfully blend cultures, eras and finishes. She enlisted the help of architect Devin Kimmel to address structural alterations, and the two collaborated on plans that respected the home’s history “while putting my stamp on it,” Carol explains.
At the heart of the project was a dramatic kitchen transformation and an addition that comprises a family room, mudroom and three-car garage with a rec room over it. The kitchen overhaul gutted the circa-1970s space, into which were crammed two pantry closets and a back staircase. “We were able to incorporate lost storage with a much larger kitchen,” Kimmel notes. “It’s almost like two kitchens—one by the range and central island and one by the window facing the front of the house.”
The adjacent addition now holds the staircase—embellished by a custom, handmade iron banister. The space replaced a useless concrete courtyard and a breezeway to the previous, dated garage—now an attractive, white-oak volume stained to complement the stone house. “The garage was originally a wood structure,” Kimmel explains. “We stayed with wood because we liked the change from stone and felt it told the story of the house.”
A small backyard patio was expanded into a wide veranda; accessible from the family room, dining room and library, it creates a connection with the outdoors that the clients wanted. The two-story, glass-walled family room features a loft with the same iron railing as the back stairs; it links the original house to the staircase and rec room. “The family room is where we spend our time, and we can relax with the dogs because it’s less formal,” Carol observes.
Throughout the interiors, Hajj married Kim’s Old World style with elements of rustic flair that convey a more casual vibe. In the new kitchen, marble-topped custom cabinetry is enhanced with a reclaimed white-oak ceiling and accents, as well as glazed tile and eclectic antiques. The family room boasts a wall of steel windows, an original exterior stone wall and a massive fireplace made of stone salvaged from the renovation.
Upstairs, two of the home’s five bedrooms were repurposed—one as a laundry room and the other as a luxurious master bath. Kimmel removed the master bedroom’s eight-foot ceiling, borrowing from the attic to create an airy, vaulted space and incorporating an attic window into the bedroom in the process.
Changes to the rest of the house were mainly cosmetic. On the main floor, Hajj updated fireplace mantels in the dining and living rooms and cleaned up millwork and trim—particularly in the front hall, which is clad in dark-stained oak paneling. “I convinced Carol to preserve it because it was original,” the designer recalls. “She wanted something lighter and more modern.” She adds, “In renovations, I try not to change things if I can preserve them instead.”
When it came to upholstered furnishings, Hajj often selected plain cotton and linen blends for simplicity, then enhanced them with lavish textiles and vintage or antique pieces. “I always start with a rug to ground a space,” she says, pointing to the living room’s giant 17th-century Oushak, which was the first purchase she and Carol made. “The clients both liked it because it’s Old World but also geometric, not so traditional.”
In fact, the living room exemplifies Hajj’s aesthetic, combining linen-covered sofas with Art Deco chairs in an opulent, textured Osborne & Little fabric. An ottoman is draped with a 19th-century European silk textile. Accessories have a collected feel, with an emphasis on Islamic pieces that are simple in shape. Antiques throughout the house impart richness and a sense of history. “For a home to feel comfortable is all that matters,” Hajj says. “If it feels good and looks good, it works.”
Renovation Architecture: Devin S. Kimmel, AIA, ASLA, Kimmel Studio Architects, Annapolis, Maryland. Interior Design: Mona Hajj, Mona Hajj Interiors, Baltimore, Maryland. Builder: Horizon Builders, Annapolis, Maryland.
RESOURCES
KITCHEN
Cabinetry: Custom. Countertops: Marble through Boatman & Magnani; 301-336-7700. Tile behind Range: prattandlarson.com. Pendants over Island and Table: Vintage. Island Stools: frag.it. Reclaimed-Wood Ceiling Fabrication: usvintagewood.com. Antique Table: 17th-Century Dutch. Dhurrie Runner: Early 20th-Century Lebanese.
FAMILY ROOM
Sectional Sofa: gammarr.com. Rug: Turkish Oushak. Console Table behind Sofa – 19th-century American. Wood Rhino Sculptures: Clients’ collection. Art on Wall above Sofa: elgeresser.com. Club Chair & Ottoman in Corner: rosetarlow.com. Fabric: coraggio.com. Small Writing Table: 19th-century Rosewood. Chair by Writing Table: Early-19th-century Continental. Decorative Objects over Writing Table: Late-19th-century giltwood mirror, 1900s’ glazed Portuguese pottery.
POWDER ROOM
Wallpaper: Kravet.com. Rug: Clients’ collection. Vanity: 18th-century American chest. Basin: 18th-century Turkish. Mirror over Chest: Vintage Moroccan. Floor Tile: Bluestone.
VERANDA
Center Sofa: walterswicker.com. Coffee Table: Custom with Indian mirrored glass and tile. Dining Table: Clients’ collection. Chairs: palecek.com. Console Table: 1860’s French. Matching Table Lamps: Syrian. Decorative Round Tray over Console: Moroccan Brass.
LOFT
Sofa: Mid-Century Modern Cooper Sofa. Sofa Fabric: coraggio.com. Wood-Framed Chairs: Gold leaf and faux bamboo. Coffee Table: 1920s Syrian. Rug: Late-19th-century. Side Tables flanking Sofa: 1890 Syrian. Pictures on Stone Wall: Color-printed plates.
LIBRARY
Sofa & Fabric: kerryjoyce.com. Leather Armchairs: Vintage. Rug: 1800 Persian. Coffee Table: dessinfournir.com. Wall Finish: Venetian Plaster through wallcraft.works. Animal Photography: By homeowner.
FOYER
Green Sofa: George III. Sofa Fabric: pierrefrey.com. Rug 1900 Caucasus. Marble-Topped Consoles: Anglo-Indian. Three-Tier Occasional Table: Mid-19th-century English.
LIVING ROOM
Rug: Early-17th-century Oushak. Chairs Flanking Fireplace: Vintage, Art Deco. Chair Fabric: osborneandlittle.com. Fabric Covering Ottoman: 1880 European Silk Textile. Fireplace: Antique limestone. Drapery Fabric: rogersandgoffigon.com.
DINING ROOM
Table: 19th-century Regency. Host Chairs & Chairs flanking Sideboard: rosetarlow.com. Side Chairs: artisticframe.com. Chair Fabric: yoma.com. Faux Finish on Walls: wallcraft.works. Chandelier: Vintage Murano glass. Sideboard & Mirror: George III. Modern Art: donaldsultanstudio.com. Lamp on Sideboard: Mid-1800s Japanese water jug. Rug: Persian. Draperies: Early-20th-century. Armchair in Window Niche: Late-19th-century French Napoleon III.
MASTER BEDROOM
Bedstead: Antique. Bench at Foot of Bed: rosetarlow.com. Bench Fabric: christopherfarr.com. Chaise by Window: Late-19th-century Napoleon III. Chaise Fabric: silkworkstextiles.com through janusetcie.com. Console Table by Chaise: Late-1700s Northern European. High-Backed Armchair by Fireplace: Adrian Pearsall. Armchair Fabric: dessinfournir.com. Art over Mantel: Clients’ collection. Carved Chest to Right of Fireplace: Late-17th-century. Mirror over Chest: Early-20th-century Middle Eastern. Rug: cavancarpets.com. Drapes: coraggio.com.
MASTER BATH
Vanity & Roman Shade: Custom. Flooring, Tub Surround, Vanity Top: Marble through Boatman & Magnani; 301-336-7700. Wood-Framed Chair & Stool: dessinfournir.com.
With its serene Beaux Arts symmetry, the Belgian Embassy residence on Foxhall Road conjures the elegance and refinement of a Parisian mansion—set amid 10 acres of rolling landscape.
This is intentional. Commissioned in 1930 by Anna Dodge Dillman, the widow of auto tycoon Horace Dodge, it is the precise replica of a 1704 palace still standing in Paris today. Dillman tapped French decorators to fill the home with Louis XIV and Louis XV Revival furnishings and decorative objects, then gifted it all to her newly married daughter—who departed when her husband died soon after the marriage.
Even more interesting than these personal details are those of the house itself. For many years, the impeccably designed mansion was said to have been built by Horace Trumbauer, a popular Gilded Age architect. Yet it was actually designed by Julian Abele, an accomplished architect on his staff whose work remained uncredited throughout his life because he was African American. In fact, the contributions of Abele—who also designed much of Duke University (though he never saw the campus in person due to Jim Crow laws) and other illustrious American landmarks—have only been acknowledged since his death.
With such a colorful history, it’s not surprising that the current Belgian ambassador, Dirk Wouters, and his wife, Katrin Van Bragt, both refer to “the soul” of the residence when describing the magical experience of living there. “It’s such a blessing for Belgium to have this house,” Van Bragt says simply. “It’s a warm place for all of Washington to come to.”
The Dodge family sold the mansion to the Belgian government in 1946. Today, its interiors are remarkably preserved, from the sumptuous architectural ornamentation on its walls to many of its original, ornate furnishings. A restoration begun in 2006 by DC-based Quinn Evans Architects updated the building’s infrastructure, replacing antiquated electrical wiring and installing new heating, cooling and humidifying systems. The job also entailed repainting, double-glazing windows, cleaning sculptural elements and more.
The ambassador and his wife arrived in Washington in September 2016 and will complete their stint in the fall of 2020. As they see it, the stately house has provided the perfect backdrop for diplomacy. “A country the size of Belgium needs assets to mark its identity on the power scene,” observes Wouters. “The first is a prestigious embassy. If you also have a beautiful residence at your disposal, then you have everything you need as a diplomat. It is a perfect asset to promote the capital of Europe in Washington, DC.”
The residence hosts 4,000 to 5,000 visitors a year for events ranging from working breakfasts and lunches to dinners for 27 in the elegant, Louis XV Rococo-style dining room and buffets for up to 75 in the Grand Salon. A reception each November 15th attracts 350 guests for King’s Day, a celebration honoring King Leopold I, Belgium’s first monarch following its independence from the Netherlands in 1830.
Along with the storied setting, adds Wouters, “We use gastronomy as a tool for diplomacy. Belgian cuisine is recognized; it stands for refinement. We like to make every guest feel at home, to give them a retreat from work life and a touch of Europe in the U.S. The cuisine allows us to host people in a way they will remember.”
Hired last fall, chef Timon Michiels serves up the classic fare of his native Belgium, influenced by local produce and lightened by nouvelle elements. Among Michiels’ recent offerings: a savory waffle paired with salmon (not locally fished around Belgium) and ice cream flavored with Belgian beer.
Diverse events held at the residence not only introduce Belgian culture to the U.S. but also forge connections. Presentations by experts of note—from Nobel Prize winners to authors, politicians and economists—are popular; these “Belgian salon” evenings include up to 80 guests and are followed by dinner for a select group. Concerts with the Washington Bach Consort, Washington National Opera and Embassy Series are held in the Grand Salon.
Among the ambassador’s favorite moments have been those honoring American veterans who fought in World War II. “People 90 to 100 years old come to the residence from all over the United States for a yearly reception,” he explains. “Last December, I brought several of them to Europe to commemorate the last battle of the war in Belgium. It was emotional and powerful.”
This final year of Wouters’ tenure in DC has already seen the relaunch of a direct flight from Dulles to Brussels on Brussels Airlines. And in late March, the residence will welcome Her Royal Highness Queen Mathilde of Belgium for a two-day visit, during which she will accept a leadership award, speak on poverty and sustainable development and dine with guests at the residence.
For Van Bragt, the draw of the Embassy residence and its rich architectural legacy is powerful, whether or not visitors are experiencing it for the first time. “Some people know more about the house than I do,” she explains. “Maybe they were here 40, 50 years ago. It’s part of their memories and creates a bond.”
Ambassador Wouters agrees, “The house connects you to the people who visit. This feeling of connection adds to the great experience and honor of living and serving here.”
FOCAL POINT
A gas fire feature designed by Zen Associates, Inc., for a Brookline, Massachusetts, residence occupies a prominent location—further enhanced by LED strips that highlight the structure and steps leading up to it. The fire pit, made of Ashlar slate and ledgestone capped with bluestone, features multiple seating options and surfaces, including a powder-coated, stainless-steel floating bench.
SPA TIME
Clients in Bethesda requested a cozy spot where they could gather after time spent in the pool and spa. Fine Earth Landscape designed a fire pit to match the walls and caps of the pool area and suit the home’s exterior. Its natural-stone walls are capped with specially cut limestone. The interior of the wood-burning fire pit is lined with firebrick.
LOCAL STONE
Live Green Landscape Associates created an outdoor fireplace in Baltimore County that fits the style and scale of the home. Constructed of Butler stone—quarried just a few miles north in Butler, Maryland—the structure sits low to the ground with a wide footprint, and complements the quartzite-flagstone patio. The fireplace is operated via a remote-control gas burner.
MODERN MAGIC
Homeowners asked State of the Art Landscape for a low-profile fire feature that wouldn’t detract from the sweeping views they enjoyed from their Great Falls property. They opted for a modern, minimalist look, which was achieved with Sterling Rustic fieldstone walls, thermal bluestone capping and a firebrick interior. The surrounding terrace is made of silver travertine. The wood-burning fire pit has a gas starter.
GATHERING SPOT
To create a focal point on a McLean property, Joshua Dean of Wheat’s Landscape installed a pergola over a fire pit where people can gather. The West Virginia stone fire-pit veneer is accented by a radial-cut, thermal bluestone cap; attractive, light-gray, kiln-dried river stone covers the burner. The pergola structure, fashioned with custom, curved-wood beams in a mahogany finish, imparts the feel of an outdoor room.
A French Country look dominated a Bethesda home when it was purchased by owners who fell in love with the house—but definitely leaned toward a more modern sensibility. They hired Arlington Home Interiors for a cosmetic redo that included the Provençal kitchen, which featured cows tripping along the backsplash. “The previous owner had customized everything, so the kitchen was high quality,” recounts principal Suzanne Manlove, who worked within the existing space to transform its look. “Our clients preferred to keep it intact.”
First on the agenda: a thorough paint job. Manlove selected shades of pale gray from Benjamin Moore to cover the peripheral, cherry-hued cabinets and yellow walls. Faux paint company Artifice, Inc., concealed the cows, replicating the existing white-and-taupe ceramic tile.
Trusses accented the vaulted ceiling; Manlove removed their fussy corbels to create a cleaner profile, then painted them black to match the island and cabinets flanking the range. A wall of cabinetry got a new lease on life when its chicken-wire doors were replaced by glass fronts framed in a geometric motif.
Existing countertops of soapstone and marble remain; they feel more modern juxtaposed with a sleek Roman shade, streamlined Emtek hardware and Visual Comfort pendants.
Interior & Kitchen Design: Suzanne Manlove, Arlington Home Interiors, Arlington, Virginia. Contractor: The Ransom Company, Alexandria, Virginia. Styling: Charlotte Safavi.
