In The Design of a Country Estate: Purple Cherry Architects & Interiors (Gibbs Smith, 2024; $50), principal Cathy Purple Cherry chronicles her experience masterminding a sumptuous Maryland mansion and its outbuildings. An evening author chat and book signing will take place at JANUS et Cie in Bethesda on February 11; to attend, email [email protected].
Molteni&C celebrates 90 years of innovation with Molteni Mondo: An Italian Design Story (Rizzoli, 2024; $95), edited by Spencer Bailey. Text and cinematic photography document the brand’s history and the work of celebrated designers who, with CEO Marco Piscitelli (above, in center), have created its iconic collections. Milan’s Molteni Museum is also featured.
Bethesda designer and style maven Lorna Gross sheds light on the art of party planning in Entertaining by Design (The Collective Book Studio, 2024; $35). Seventeen seasonal sections on gatherings, from a spring buffet to a holiday fête for 40, are accompanied by recipes and tips on menus, invitations, tablescapes—and how to minimize stress.
FLAT FEAT Farrow & Ball has debuted Dead Flat, an ultra-matte finish intended for woodwork, walls and metal. Washable, wipeable and scuff-resistant, it’s available in 293 Farrow & Ball hues. farrow-ball.com
HEALTHY CHOICE Alkemis Paint was designed with wellness in mind. Its 119 non-toxic, Cradle to Cradle-certified paints are made using sustainable raw materials and clear quartz with proprietary, artist-quality pigments and earthen minerals. alkemispaint.com
THE GREAT OUTDOORS The Woodluxe Collection from Benjamin Moore features all-weather exterior stains available in all of the brand’s 3,500+ colors. The oil- and water-based finishes range in opacity from translucent to solid. benjaminmoore.com
Swathed in Gothic Revival splendor, Washington National Cathedral is a familiar sight to most Washingtonians. Less well-known—but equally majestic—is the 27,000-square-foot College of Preachers, tucked behind the landmark. Conceived 20 years after the cathedral broke ground in 1907, the limestone-clad, neo-Gothic building was a school for religious studies until 2008, when changing economics closed its doors.
Ten years later, SmithGroup’s DC office was tapped by the church to turn the vacant building into the Virginia Mae Center, a hosting site for conferences and forums. The dilapidated chapel, library, lobby, refectory and cloisters were restored and reimagined as flexible meeting spaces. Dormitories were upgraded as guest rooms for residencies and retreats. Fifteen levels of rooms and hallways are now connected by elevators. The public spaces boast new technology systems. Updated landscaping allows for greater accessibility to the building while addressing stormwater-management issues. Historic flooring, light fixtures, stained glass and ornate wood ceilings have been restored or replicated.
“The design highlights a sense of discovery,” notes James Shepherd, the project’s lead architect and SmithGroup’s director of historic preservation. “It is rooted in interaction and collaboration, while encouraging appreciation of the craft behind the restored features.”
The Virginia Mae Center received a 2024 Award of Excellence for Historic Architecture from the AIA’s Northern Virginia chapter.
Renovation Architecture: SmithGroup, Washington, DC. Renovation Contracting: AllenBuilt/Eichberg Construction, Rockville, Maryland. Photography: Colin Winterbottom.
While traditional fireplaces are more intimate, designed for two to four, fire pits are great for entertaining parties of five to 10. A fire pit is typically a destination feature; it should be located away from other main project elements in a spot you’d naturally gravitate to—secluded but connected to the rest of the space.
Fuel source comes down to client preference and intended use. A woodburning fire feature will have a natural feel and authentic smell. A gas fire pit is more convenient, starting with the push of a button. Gas is more costly but adds a sleek, modern element.
—J.R. Peter, PLA, ASLA, Colao & Peter
Natural stone surfaces such as flagstone, limestone and travertine require less maintenance and cleaning than their engineered counterparts. Natural stone holds its color and integrity, while manmade products tend to fade over time. Flagstone is hot underfoot compared to travertine, limestone and pavers. Flagstone, limestone and brick will impart a traditional look while travertine and pavers look more contemporary. Flagstone and limestone are my go-to hardscape materials as they are timeless.
—Michael Prokopchak, ASLA, Walnut Hill Landscape Company
The best outdoor living spaces consider guest experience, connection, circulation and layout. An outdoor room adjoining the house should tie into its materials and aesthetic. Exposed wood beams, metal, glass and stone will provide a connection to nature, while planters, climbing vines and patio-scale plantings will maintain a connection to the architecture.
A shelter away from the house becomes an outdoor destination. It should be a hub for entertaining with features like an outdoor kitchen, fire element, fans and heaters. Pergolas and cloth shades shield the sun while a roofed structure, screens and glass panels provide three-season enjoyment.
—Matt Rhoderick, RLA, McHale Landscape Design
To get fall and winter interest from plantings, choose trees that will provide color, and shrubbery like boxwood that maintains its structure. Leave the browned-out blooms of flowering perennials such as hydrangea and astilbe intact. Caryx, small grasses and mazus between flagstone joints will remain all winter.
Permanent design elements also lend interest—a bench, sculpture or birdhouse, for instance; outdoor art should be illuminated, particularly in winter when the days are short.
—Jeff Crandell, Scapes
There was a time when many hot tubs were built into the pool scape with shared plumbing. This meant heating the pool as well as the hot tub in winter when you might only want to use the hot tub. I recommend separate systems to avoid heating both.
A freestanding hot tub should be built into a wall or recessed in a deck for visual appeal. If I’m integrating it with the pool, I’ll clad the spa wall in stone veneer with a real stone cap or coping to match the pool’s design and create a cohesive look.
—Jennifer Connoley, Jennifer Connoley Landscape Design
A ceiling structure provides the opportunity to heat from overhead while a wall allows heat from a vertical plane. Directional (radiant) heat is the best option; it warms objects rather than the air and can feel similar to how the sun warms our skin. When positioning heat output, consider the purpose of a space, its furniture layout and proximity to occupants. Radiant heat goes a long way in a space where a wall or plantings are in place to obstruct winter breezes.
Gas fire features are pleasant but do not heat efficiently as you move away from the source.
—Brian Hjemvik, PLA, ASLA, Kimmel Studio Architects
We think of a lighting plan holistically. Start simple; it’s easy to add more lighting as needed. We recommend creating zones so different areas can be controlled independently. A well-designed lighting plan is dynamic and will interact with the changing seasons. For example, uplighting a multi-stem tree may produce a soft, glowing canopy in summer while in winter, it will highlight the tree’s intricate branch structure and cast interesting shadows on nearby evergreens.
—Kevin Gaughan, RLA, ASLA, Form Garden Design
Shenandoah National Park unfurls before a property in Flint Hill, Virginia, like a perfect summer postcard. Wildflowers blanket the foreground, with the foothills draped in swaying grasses beyond. Mountain peaks paint the horizon.
This luminous vista enthralled a DC lawyer who, after years of visiting the region, decided to purchase property there. “My real estate agent took me up the driveway and I saw this,” she recalls from her screened porch, gesturing to the panorama. “I said yes immediately. There’s a lot of available land around here but a view like this is not common.”
The 65-acre parcel already had a house on it, but it was poorly situated and uninspiring. After some trepidation, the owner decided to tear it down and build a new home. She began by enlisting the right team for the project: architect Amy Gardner to mastermind a sustainable, modern home on the exact ridge where the owner first stood, and landscape architect Gregg Bleam to tame the surrounding terrain. “I didn’t want a ‘look at me’ modern house; I wanted it to seem like it’s supposed to be there, and to have seamless access to the outdoors,” she recounts. She also envisioned the property as a diverse native grassland that would evolve over time to support pollinators and other wildlife.
Gardner and Bleam conceived a master plan for a southwest-facing structure that truly embraces its location. “When siting a house, you are always looking for a way to make it fit the land,” Bleam observes. “Here, we had existing topography to tie into.”
Gardner adds, “The house is positioned along a ridge with interior and exterior spaces embracing views, sunlight, prevailing winds and natural features.”
Adhering to the owner’s modest vision for the home, the low-slung design “is right-sized for the client,” she says. “It borrows from local farm outbuildings, with utilitarian, open-sided rectangular forms and mono-pitched shed roofs. Connections between interior and exterior spaces allow easy movement and continuous engagement with the site.”
The 3,500-square-foot dwelling comprises two volumes with a glass connector between public and private wings that doubles as the front foyer, so that visitors see through to the mountains on entry. A single-story volume to the right houses a great room containing the kitchen and living/dining area, bordered on the back by a wall of glass sliding doors; a mudroom, pantry and powder room are tucked behind the great room on the opposite side. Angled to the left, a two-story volume contains a TV room and primary bedroom on the first floor with two more bedrooms above. A finished basement features a rec room.
With indoor-outdoor connectivity in mind, Gardner conceived a spacious screened porch off the kitchen that flows out to the side yard. Outside the slider wall, a deep-roofed overhang spans the length of the great room, providing shelter in summer while allowing the benefit of winter sun. Motorized shades are incorporated into the structure for additional protection and privacy.
Gardner collaborated with her client on the interiors, which boast an understated palette intended to channel attention to the view. White oak floors in the hyphen and sleeping wing are complemented by rift-cut oak thresholds between rooms. In the great room, a pale-gray, porcelain-tile floor allows a white oak-paneled ceiling to pop. In the sleek kitchen orchestrated by Jennifer Gilmer Kitchen & Bath, white oak cabinetry is topped with Silestone counters. Many of the home’s clean-lined furnishings were repurposed from the owner’s previous residence.
Sustainability was a driving force for the project. “We made a very responsible house with low energy demand,” Gardner notes. The team implemented passive and active systems including natural and balanced mechanical ventilation; passive winter solar gain; a high-performance building envelope; a photovoltaic system channeling energy from the sun; and Dark Sky practices that eschew excessive outdoor lighting.
While plans for the house took shape, Bleam tackled the challenge of grading the property to accommodate the client’s exterior program, which centered on a lap pool, bocce court and gardens. “There were lots of slopes and not one stitch of flat ground when we started,” he remembers. “We needed to create a flat area that would look like it was part of the landscape.”
Just off the screened porch, concrete retaining walls support a patio of precast pavers separated by grass joints; this surface surrounds a gunite pool rimmed with precast-concrete coping. A bosk of London plane trees flanks the adjacent bocce court. In front of the house, a carport/garden shed serves as a gateway between the gravel parking court and the grassy front yard. A deer-fenced area beside the structure contains raised vegetable and flower beds. Native trees and shrubs such as black gum, oak and fothergilla dot the landscape.
Today, the client’s plan for conserving and restoring her property’s habitat is a work in progress. J.W. Townsend Landscapes eradicated invasive species from a four-acre swath of land that slopes down from the back of the house; it’s now a meadow planted with wildflowers. The slope bottoms out at a spring-fed pond that pumps water to irrigate the landscape. Future plans include converting the remaining open fields into native grasslands.
In the meantime, her home in the mountains has indeed put its owner in touch with nature as she learns to manage her acreage. “It’s a lot of work,” she says, “but it is magical.”
Architecture: Amy Gardner, FAIA, LEED AP; Brittany Williams, AIA, LEED AP, Gardner Architects, LLC, Silver Spring, Maryland. Kitchen Design: Jennifer Gilmer, CKD; Meghan Browne, Jennifer Gilmer Kitchen & Bath, Chevy Chase, Maryland. Builder: Willoughby Construction and Consulting, LLC, Hagerstown, Maryland. Landscape Architecture: Gregg Bleam, FASLA, Gregg Bleam Landscape Architect, PLC, Charlottesville, Virginia. Landscape Contractor: J.W. Townsend Landscapes, Charlottesville, Virginia.
RESOURCES
THROUGHOUT
Cabinetry: hesscustomkitchenandbath.com; mstymdws.com. Windows & Doors: loewen.com through thesanderscompany.com. Siding: jameshardie.com.
KITCHEN
Cabinetry: artcraftkitchens.com through gilmerkitchens.com. Countertops & Backsplash: cosentino.com. Range & Ovens: thermador.com. Refrigerator: subzero-wolf.com. Pendant Lighting: foscarini.com through illuminc.com. Tile: porcelanosa.com. Plumbing Fixtures: kohler.com; creategoodsinks.com; duravit.us; nameeks.com; houseofrohl.com.
As part of a primary-suite renovation in McLean, Emily Neifeld, a partner at Lobkovich, was tasked with reimagining the dated bathroom. She was able to retain its original layout while affecting a dramatic transformation.
“In the existing space, there were ornate, painted vanities and a crystal chandelier,” she recalls. Ship-lap siding on the walls and an abundance of doors made the room feel busy and disjointed. The homeowners envisioned a clean, modern aesthetic “with the feel of a high-end hotel,” Neifeld explains.
Fortunately, the existing room was large and well laid-out. The new plan removed a closet door and excised the shiplap surfaces, then focused on creating a fresh, updated look.
At one end of the room, a soaking tub with gold feet is flanked by open shelving that lets in the light through tall, narrow windows formerly obstructed by cabinets. Framing a clerestory window, a book-matched marble wall—the only holdover from the previous iteration—forms a focal point behind the tub. Sleek, custom vanities are encased in thick, marble waterfall countertops. Marble-look porcelain covers the floor. Opposite the tub, a roomy shower features a wet area, TV and Kohler digital valve system.
To capture an airy, spa-like sensibility, Neifeld clad much of the room in rift-cut, white oak veneer—including a dropped tray ceiling embellished with deep slats. A Currey & Company chandelier makes a sculptural statement. The walls are covered in vinyl grass cloth, and plumbing fixtures and hardware glow with a brushed-brass finish.
Bath Design: Emily Neifeld, Lobkovich. Contractor: RJS Construction, Inc.
THE DETAILS
VANITY COUNTERTOPS: marblesystems.com. FLOOR & SHOWER TILE: architessa.com. TUB: bainultra.com through tsc online.com. PLUMBING FIXTURES: rohl.com through build.com. CHANDELIER & SCONCES: visualcomfort.com. VANITY MIRRORS: custom through hutchison glass andmirror.com.
A couple planning a custom, Craftsman-style residence in Bethesda contacted Interior Matter to join the design team. In addition to orchestrating the interiors, principal Sarita Simpson was tapped to mastermind the finishes for a luxe primary bath. “The clients had a specific vision for his-and-her spaces connected by a two-person shower,” Simpson explains.
Architect Mark Giarraputo of Studio Z Design Concepts, who designed the home, conceived the bath as three separate areas: One with a vanity, makeup desk, soaking tub and WC for the wife; one with a vanity and WC for the husband; and a long shower, outfitted with two sets of fixtures, that bridges both spaces.
Embracing Japandi style—a melding of Japanese and Scandinavian aesthetics—Simpson created a serene vibe with organic materials, soft colors and clean, modern lines. Oak beams decorate the ceiling and frame the husband’s vanity. Slate-look porcelain tile covers the floor. The sculptural soaking tub, below a window overlooking the backyard, is a concrete-and-stone composite. The matching vanities designed and fabricated by Division12Design are made of white oak and topped with Calacatta Caldia marble; the wife’s makeup desk is painted a soft green.
Tempered-glass doors enclose the shower, where a textured version of the floor tile clads the walls. Oil-rubbed bronze fixtures and cabinet hardware throughout impart a cohesive look.
Architecture: Mark Giarraputo, AIA, Studio Z Design Concepts. Interior Design: Sarita Simpson, Interior Matter. Bath Design: Division 12Design. Builder: Sandy Spring Builders.
THE DETAILS
COUNTERTOPS: petra stonegallery.com. TUB: nativetrailshome.com through build.com. FLOOR, WALL & SHOWER FLOOR TILE: stone source.com. PLUMBING FIXTURES: samuel-heath.com. HARDWARE: rockymountainhardware.com through pushpullhardware.com. WINDOW SHADES: hartmann forbes.com, fabricated by gretcheneverett.com. PENDANT: jadamsandco.com.
Among DC’s plethora of vintage row houses, a Second Empire-era residence on Logan Circle stands out for such emblematic flourishes as its mansard roof and ornamental detailing. Enlisted to restore the abode after extensive fire and water damage, Balodemas Architects quickly returned the front façade to its former glory.
But the interiors were not so simple. “There was just too much damage,” recounts principal Lou Balodemas. “It was a gut job; we could only save the staircase and living room fireplace.”
The owners, ready for a change, had decided to go modern inside. Balodemas’ plan opened the rear to the backyard via walls of windows on three levels. An addition enlarged the second level and created a third-floor primary bedroom. A three-story rear structure comprising a deck and pergola provides privacy and space for al fresco time. A streamlined kitchen and bathrooms were outfitted by Porcelanosa.
David Zein of Ligne Roset worked with the owners to replace damaged furniture. “I completely re-selected the furniture according to the new layout of the house and their way of life,” he says. Modern Ligne Roset pieces such as the iconic Togo chair in the family room and a blue-velvet Prado sofa in the living room mix with French Art Deco and North African elements to convey an ethno-modern aesthetic. Bold, abstract artworks collected from around the world take center stage.
Renovation Architecture: Lou Balodemas, AIA, Balodemas Architects, Washington, DC. Interior Design: David Zein, Ligne Roset, Washington, DC. Kitchen & Bath Design: Porcelanosa, Washington, DC. Contractor: HEB-N-Co Construction, LLC, Boyds, Maryland.
Majestic Old City Hall commands an entire block in downtown Richmond. Completed in 1894, the ornate, Gothic Revival gem designed by Detroit architect Elijah E. Meyers functioned as the Virginia capital’s city hall until the late 1970s, when it was repurposed as an office building. It earned Historic Landmark designation in 1971.
In 2015, Washington-based Quinn Evans shouldered the task of reviving the structure’s dated interior, finally completing the renovation in 2023. “The goal was to restore its original design, bringing key features into alignment with its National Historic Landmark status,” says principal Tom Jester. “We also addressed upgrades to meet code and reduce energy consumption.”
Among the revamped spaces: the skylit atrium (pictured) with its grand, central staircase linking four stories of arcades. In its new iteration, off-white surfaces and warm oak millwork are historically accurate, yet feel fresh. The original laylight system, light fixtures and windows have been restored. Flourishes such as the stair rail’s trefoil motif and faux-wood graining on the column bases, cast-iron balustrades and stair have been meticulously brought back. “The restoration preserves the building’s historic fabric,” Jester notes. “We’re excited to see it renewed for next-generation needs.”
Old City Hall received a commercial Palladio award from Traditional Building in 2024.
Renovation Architecture & Interior Design: Thomas Jester, FAIA, FAPT, LEED AP, Quinn Evans, Washington, DC. Renovation Contracting: Grunley Construction Company, Inc., Rockville, Maryland.
BATHING BEAUTY The Newton, a recent addition to Drummonds’ line of enameled, cast-iron tubs, nods to Scandinavian style with a simple yet curvaceous body, rolled rim and oversized bun feet. drummonds-uk.com
VINTAGE VIBE Bleu Provence’s Tru Colors ceramic basins celebrate retro style in a choice of 30 colors (Tortora is pictured above). Find in a wall-hung or stand version and in a matte or glossy finish. bleuprovence.it/en
TIMELESS MODERN Part of the Tulle 03 collection, Afrodite is a streamlined washbasin by Archeda Bathrooms. Made of a Calacatta Oro composite by Okite, it boasts a marble-look column and basin. archeda.eu
TILE TIME Architessa has introduced Davenport, a series of porcelain mosaics that come in a wide range of colors, shapes and patterns, with a glazed or unglazed surface. Pictured in a chain motif. architessa.com
DECO VIBE Inspired by curvilinear, Art Deco forms, Kallista’s One Armory collection includes shower and sink fixtures sporting decorative handles that are textured or inset with stone. Find in five finishes; chrome is shown with matte-black stone. kallista.com
ALL THE ANGLES The Tecturis collection of sleek, minimalist faucets by Hansgrohe comes in an angular or softly rounded design. Both are available in a single-hole or wide-spread version, in a choice of finishes. hansgrohe-usa.com
Each December, more than 20 local design teams partner with Washington Design Center showrooms to celebrate the holidays with éclat. The popular event showcases seasonal vignettes and tablescapes composed using furniture, fabrics and finery sourced at the center.
The Fête will kick off this year with a public reception on December 5th; attendees can browse showroom displays, meet the designers and enjoy holiday fare. The décor will remain on view through December 6. At press time, the following firms were slated to participate: Amoda Décor, Chad Alan Designs, Daniel Gossard, Barbara Noguera Interiors, CAD, ZAK+FOX, Griffith Blythe Interiors, JD Ireland Interior Architecture & Design, David Mitchell Interior Design, Design & Installation Group. Donna Wheeler Drapery Designs, LBW Studio, Nicholas Beck Interiors, Hanover Avenue, grOH!, Samantha Friedman Interior Designs and Samara Interiors.
Home & Design sponsors the event; proceeds benefit Childrens National Hospital. For more in-formation and a complete list of participants when available, visit designcenterdc.com.
Searching for a waterfront lot on which to build their dream home, Tina and John Galdieri came upon three-plus acres at the tip of a peninsula west of St. Michaels with 300-degree vistas. “We were already living on the water, but wanted better views and access,” relates Tina, who is director of cheerleading for the Baltimore Ravens. “When we pulled up and saw the view here, we were sold.”
Situated on Broad Creek with easy access to the Chesapeake Bay, the undeveloped property offered a clean slate for building. After buying the land, the couple, who have a teenage daughter, enlisted architect Jonathan Rivera to design their home; Mueller Homes came on board as builder and interior designer Wesley Pehlke also joined the team. “We wanted a sanctuary that would be a serene retreat from our demanding jobs,” says Tina, whose husband, a pilot, owns an aircraft management company. “The biggest goal was to have windows everywhere, so as to create as many water views as possible.”
They soon discovered that critical area guidelines limited the project’s architectural possibilities. Not only were there wetlands, but three water-facing sides of the site had 100-foot buffer zones. “I let the lot inform the design,” observes Rivera, who sited the structure carefully “so that the main areas got the best views.”
The completed dwelling clocks in at 8,300 square feet, with five bedrooms and seven-and-a-half baths. Built in coastal Shingle style and clad in HardiePlank and stone, it’s distinguished by such architectural flourishes as towers and a working cupola that admits natural light to the second-floor hall. One tower, lined with clerestory windows, contains the floating wood staircase, while another houses a gym on the main floor with the primary bedroom above. Banks of clerestory and floor-to-ceiling windows by Andersen frame views at every turn.
“The goal was to create a home that would stand the test of time, in a style that would not necessitate frequent changes,” notes Mueller Homes president PJ Mueller. At the owners’ request, he and his team implemented a variety of interior finishes, including board and batten and shiplap siding for nautical flair.
The front entry boasts sightlines straight through to the water in back. To the right, the open-plan kitchen flows into a double-height great room with a vaulted ceiling clad in shiplap and a massive stone fireplace. Off the breakfast area, glass pocket doors access a patio where a swimming pool and outdoor kitchen beckon. The home features three main-floor porches grounded by bluestone flooring. An enclosed breezeway leads to a four-car garage with a one-bedroom apartment over it.
Occupying the whole right side of the second story, the primary suite with its sleeping and sitting areas “is truly a sanctuary,” Tina says. It spills out to a tiled deck large enough for entertaining; an exterior spiral stair leads down to the pool terrace.
Tina’s ground-floor office is also a stand-out: Accordion doors open it to a screened porch with eastern exposure that admits morning light. A west-facing glass interior wall is positioned to let in afternoon and evening light.
“With the number of must-haves on the Galdieris’ list, I was concerned that the house would feel too big,” Rivera comments. “But we were able to spread it out so that individual areas feel separate and have a sense of coziness.”
Designer Wesley Pehlke had a clear vision of what her client wanted, having designed her prior home. “I worked off what I did before, which she loved,” Pehlke recounts. “Tina has an unfussy style. She said she wanted to feel is if she’s always on vacation. I persuaded her to use a clean, coastal color palette and textures like oyster shell and rattan to achieve a nautical aesthetic that wasn’t too overt.”
White oak floors extend through much of the house. Shades of blue and sandy beige contrast with crisp-white walls. Black accents pop via hardware and accessories. A combination of new and repurposed furniture is transitional in style; creative finishes in tile and wallpaper add interest.
The kitchen exemplifies the coastal sensibility that Pehlke and her client embraced. “Tina had just completed the kitchen in her other house, and she literally wanted to recreate it here,” the designer reveals. Columbia-based Engrained Design Works devised the custom cabinetry—and all other built-ins throughout the house—while Pehlke selected details including cabinet style, quartz countertops and a decorative backsplash. She finished the shiplap walls to match the sand-toned island base and hung airy Visual Comfort light fixtures above the island and breakfast table.
While Rivera specified hardscape materials and design, the pool and travertine surround were installed by Absolute Landscape & Turf Services. Tina, who loves to garden, masterminded the landscape plan for the front yard, then tapped Wayne Dederick Landscaping to carry out her vision.
Throughout the project, the Galdieris thought long-term about their dream home. When they decided their bedroom suite should be on the second floor to take better advantage of the views, they installed an elevator with future needs in mind. “What I love is that our home feels functional as well as beautiful,” Tina says. “We hope to stay for a long time.”
Architecture: Jonathan Rivera, AIA, NCARB, Jonathan Rivera Architecture, Glenwood, Maryland. Interior Design: Wesley Pehlke, Simply Wesley, Annapolis, Maryland. Builder: Paul Mueller, Jr., Mueller Homes, Annapolis and Sykesville, Maryland.
The tenant of a high-rise apartment building overlooking Baltimore’s Inner Harbor found himself in the right place at the right time when the building’s penthouse unit became available. He jumped at the chance to inhabit the top-floor abode, where panoramic views extend from Camden Yards and M&T Bank Stadium to the Maryland Science Center and National Aquarium. He tapped designer Christie Bell to orchestrate a fast transformation of the two-bedroom, three-and-a-half-bath aerie.
Bell embraced the clean, black-and-white palette mandated by her client, who leaned contemporary in sensibility. She warmed the look with organic materials and textures, from travertine and marble surfaces to alabaster lamps. Completing the project in the short time specified was a challenge; in the living room (above), a large-scale rug and elegant seating are from Ben Soleimani, whose quick-ship program met the turn-around time. An acrylic-and-wood coffee table from Caracole creates an airy silhouette.
Notes Bell, “My furniture plan allows you to walk fully around the furniture to the windows to see the view.”
Interior Design: Christie Bell, Curated Home Designs, Baltimore, Maryland,
“Most clients who’ve bought land to build near the water are looking for transparency,” notes architect Randall Kipp. “They want a design that will break down the barrier between inside and out.” Kipp, whose specialty is bold, modern, waterfront homes, conceived just such a dwelling on Mill Creek in Callao, Virginia. Crafted of steel, stone, wood and concrete, the dynamic structure takes in water vistas through walls of glass, embracing spare, minimalist interiors that draw the eye outward.
The staircase, which cantilevers off the wall via a steel C channel, exemplifies a further Kipp signature: “I try to design with drama, like a stage set,” he explains. “Stairs are an opportunity for a sculptural statement.” Steps made of reclaimed-pine timbers found in an old tobacco warehouse are illuminated by recessed pin lights that “wash the features of the treads,” says the architect. Lights from a seven-foot-tall pendant suspended above are reflected off the polished-concrete floor. Outside the window, further drama—the perfect water view—awaits.
Architecture: Randall Kipp, AIA; Interior Design: Lauren Davenport, Randall Kipp Architecture, Irvington, Virginia. Builder: Coastal Builders, Irvington, Virginia.
A woefully outmoded house with sweeping views of Irish Creek enticed a couple looking for a waterfront getaway. They hatched a plan to remodel the 5,200-square-foot abode in stages: A largely cosmetic, whole-house makeover would be followed by a thorough overhaul of the kitchen and primary bath.
Carol Wheeler of Jamie Merida Interiors spearheaded the project. “It was a top-to-bottom transformation,” she recounts. “What was there was just plain vanilla. We tried to complement the water view without taking away from it.”
For a cohesive look, a mishmash of flooring materials was replaced throughout with Provenza engineered-oak planks. The living room fireplace was bumped out and embellished with horizontal shiplap and granite. Furniture and lighting, plus upgrades to existing bathrooms, created an aesthetic that Wheeler calls “coastal with nautical accents—but without going overboard.” More shiplap accents and a palette of blues and beiges make a perfect backdrop for artwork that conjures bayfront culture.
Talbot Builders & Sons was enlisted to tackle the second phase, making structural changes to improve the kitchen and primary bath. The former traded a boxed-in layout and small island for an open plan, centered on a large, furniture-style island, that flows into the dining area/family room. The bathroom now sports a soaking tub, floral wallpaper and a luxe feel.
Interior & Kitchen Design: Jamie Merida Interiors, Easton, Maryland. Renovation Contracting: Talbot Builders & Sons LLC, Sherwood, Maryland.
Dark-wood paddocks crisscross gently rolling pastureland on Fenian Farms—home to a motley assortment of farm animals rescued from perilous fates. Adding to the tableau, a 7,000-square-foot, 300-year-old barn-cum-residence perches atop a slope, inviting visitors in to discover its colorful history.
The picturesque scene represents a childhood dream for owner Sheila Heinze. The soon-to-be empty nester had recently retired from a career in government contracting and was ready for a new chapter. She already had a horse and wanted space for more animals—so she was thrilled to find this bucolic, 37-acre parcel in Hamilton, Virginia. Luckily, she was undeterred by the property’s dilapidated main structure. A former dairy barn, it had been built in the 1780s, expanded in the 1840s and converted into a residence in the 1970s. By the time Heinze bought the property, its condition was rough, to say the least.
“Holes and hay were everywhere and insulation hung from the ceiling,” Heinze recalls. “But I could see the bones of it; I knew a good team could make the house be anything. And I wanted the land.” She made an offer the same day, then tapped Sadie Johnson of Emerald Hill Interiors, who’d helped her design previous residences in Leesburg and Lake Anna, to assemble the right people for the project. Architect Jim Rill soon came on board, along with contractor Gene Davis of Arise Builds.
A collective understanding of Heinze’s vision soon crystallized. She was fascinated by the building’s history and wished to preserve it while creating a stylish, comfortable home for today. And she insisted on a strong connection with the outdoors. “I wanted to feel like I was part of the farm,” she explains. “I wanted balconies and windows so I can look down and see the animals.”
Today, the aged barn is a six-bedroom, eight-bath abode. Its once-crumbling exterior is clad in crisp-white board-and-batten with a standing seam-metal roof; a silo that dominates the front façade was cleared of crazily tangled vines and painted. A glass link between the two volumes forms the front entry.
The open main level—including living and dining areas—has been reimagined with 21st-century functionality in mind. Rill’s airy plan relocated the kitchen; created a foyer delineated by reclaimed-wood hanging shelves; installed expansive windows scaled to fit the soaring, vaulted ceiling; and added a rear deck to take in views of an existing horse stable and paddocks. “There’s always a vista,” the architect notes. “The house has so much texture, we just built on it and used the windows as art.”
A bedroom wing, complete with a workout zone and Heinze’s home office, was carved out from a couple of hay lofts; balconies off the primary bedroom and office directly overlook the paddocks, as does a lower-level porch. The silo contains the mudroom; a stair now winds up to the top, where skylights and windows present bird’s eye views.
A broad, new staircase in the great room leads to the basement, once a milking room with troughs bisecting a rough concrete floor—where the homeowner and design team vividly recall finding snakes coiled atop the beams. The finished lower level now houses a rec room, an Irish-style pub, two ensuite guest rooms and—beneath the silo—a cozy wine-tasting room.
The painstaking transformation from barn to abode was a marvel. “The structure is quirky; there’s not a straight wall or floor in the whole place,” observes Rill. “We embraced that, stripping everything down to showcase and enhance the original architecture.” Now pristine, the 18th-century stone foundation walls convey a rustic-chic vibe. Circa-1800s, wide-plank oak flooring was revived over two weeks by a meticulous hand-scraping process. Original ceiling beams, doors and trim were preserved; when necessary, reclaimed wood found on the property was used to match those elements. The construction team even took chains to columns and beams to make them look old. When new doors had to be sourced, they were clad in reclaimed wood. History occasionally reared its head, as when a Civil War-era cannonball was found lodged in a scorched wall; it’s now displayed in a glass case.
Sadie Johnson had the job of marrying new items with furnishings, lighting and artwork from Heinze’s previous homes. “Sheila likes variety but wanted it all to flow and not compete with the house,” the designer recounts. “We brought in textures like caning and woven wicker and kept the color scheme simple.” A classic, black-and-white kitchen boasts industrial touches while the bathrooms feature black, white and gray tile motifs and clean-lined vanities.
Heinze recently registered Fenian Farms as a nonprofit animal rescue. Now enlarged, the stable is home to eight horses, a pony and a miniature donkey. Goats, pigs, chickens and a turkey occupy neighboring paddocks. Newly added, a caretaker’s cottage, garage and swimming pool are all positioned so as not to obstruct Heinze’s view of her flock. “Everything is the way I want it,” she says, smiling. “I might add another linen closet—but that’s about it.”
Renovation Architecture: James F. Rill, AIA, Rill Architects, Bethesda, Maryland. Interior Design: Sadie Johnson, Emerald Hill Interiors, Hunt Valley, Maryland. Renovation Contractor: Gene Davis, Arise Builds LLC, Round Hill, Virginia. Landscape Contractor: Wildwood Landscape, Round Hill, Virginia.
RESOURCES
THROUGHOUT
Art Installation: kramerinstallation.com. Appliances: adu.com. Plumbing Fixtures: ferguson.com. Paint: Salt by farrow-ball.com. Windows: windsorwindows.com. Doors: ironlionentries.com.
KITCHEN
Cabinetry: Danish Builders. Cabinetry Paint: Salt and Off Black by farrow-ball.com. Hardware: rejuvenation.com. Stools: fourhands.com. Countertop: eurostonecraft.com. Backsplash: chesapeaketileandmarble.com. Island Pendants: shadesoflight.com. Sconces: barnlight.com. Hood: rawurth.com. Refrigerator & Range: subzero-wolf.com through adu.com.
FOYER
Lamp on Console: visualcomfort.com. Antique Rug: Aliloo and Son Rug Gallery; 540-687-3048. Chandeliers: rh.com. Black Chandelier: visualcomfort.com.
DINING AREA
Chandelier: hvlgroup.com. Table: anythingwoodandmetal.com. Host Chairs: vanguardfurniture.com. Host Chair Fabric: schumacher.com. Side Chairs: Owners’ Collection. Side Chair Cushions: wdiworks.com. Side Chair Cushion Fabric: maxwellfabrics.com. Leather-Covered Bench: fourhands.com. China Cabinet: Owners’ Collection.
LIVING AREA
Sofa & Sofa Fabric: Custom through kravet.com. Chairs: lazarind.com. Chair Fabric: schumacher.com. Rug: loloirugs.com. Console: Owners’ Collection. Coffee Table: emeraldhillinteriors.com. Game Table: butlerspecialty.net. Chairs: rejuvenation.com. Pendant Over Game Table: 27-south.com. Linear Fireplace: flarefireplaces.com.
IRISH PUB
Countertop: eurostonecraft.com. Cabinetry: Danish Builders. Cabinetry Paint: Off Black by farrow-ball.com. Stools: thosmoser.com. Banquette & Table: arisebuildsllc.com; Loudoun Home Improvements; 571-258-7645. Banquette Upholstery Fabrication: ibelloupholstery.com. Banquette Fabric: designersguild.com. Chairs: furnitureclassics.com. Pendants Over Bar: emeraldhillinteriors.com.
BEDROOM
Chair: arudin.com. Chair Upholstery: wdiworks.com. Chair Fabric: pollackassociates.com. Throw Pillow: wdiworks.com. Throw Pillow Fabric: pkaufman.com; schumacher.com. Bedding: moniquelhuillier.com. Drapes: wdiworks.com. Drapery Fabric: pindler.com; schumacher.com. Nightstand: Owners’ Collection.
CLOSET
Pink Velvet Chair: tovfurniture.com. Vanity: homary.com. Runner: anthropologie.com.
BATHROOM
Wall & Floor Tile: chesapeaketileandmarble.com. Glass Enclosure: sterlingglass.net.
WINE ROOMFloor Tile: chesapeaketileandmarble.com. Area Rug: jaipurliving.com. Chairs: emeraldhillinteriors.com. Pillows: adamsbroequestrian.com. Ottoman: allmodern.com. Mirror: anthropologie.com.
