Home & Design

A Simple Plan When Rui Ponte and wife Jean Assuncao bought the dilapidated 1940s Cape Cod house in Bethesda’s Edgemoor neighborhood in 1995, it didn’t even occur to them to tear it down and start over—even though they probably should have. “People just didn’t do that back then,” Ponte remarks. “It was a different era.”

Instead, they opted for a major overhaul, gutting the house and adding a 12-by-40-foot addition to accommodate a new kitchen and dining room. Ponte’s design opened up the interiors and introduced a more modern aesthetic, relocating the stairs to the center of the house and installing a skylight above to bring in natural light on both levels. First-floor bedrooms were moved to the second floor, which was completely rebuilt. A crawl space was dug out to create a full-size basement.

“The renovation was what was current at the time,” Ponte says. “We had a heavy fieldstone fireplace in the family room and an entertainment center with a big, wide TV where everything was exposed.” In the kitchen, blond cabinetry was paired with dark granite counters and stainless-steel appliances.

After the couple’s two kids left for college, they decided to update the kitchen and family room. “We were ready to simplify our lives,” says Assuncao. “Part of this was getting rid of the big, heavy stuff—the oversized couches, the big fireplace. We purged a lot and that was nice.”

The timing was also influenced by advances in technology. Ponte was waiting for Control4 home automation systems to be perfected, and when—in his view—they were, he explains, “it seemed like it was the right time to do it. We really wanted Internet-based, integrated technology. We were installing a lot of it in our clients’ homes so we saw how it was evolving.” Integrating whole-house technology would allow them to control all aspects of the lighting, heating and audio/video systems via one device. Ponte turned to Bobby Caras of Multi-Systems, Inc., in Vienna, Virginia, for the installation, then moved on to the renovation design.

Concealing the clutter and detritus of daily life had become a major priority for the couple, who found themselves attracted to a design with sparer lines. “Our aesthetic changed,” Assuncao observes. “It’s simpler now, more crisp and clean.” 

The bulky fieldstone fireplace has been replaced with a sleek one clad in a textural tile from Porcelanosa and panels of dark macassar wood; the existing copper chimney has been partially wrapped in macassar to unify the look. The wall that held the giant TV and a messy, inefficient cupboard now contains only a flat-screen TV and a streamlined macassar cabinet. Spare, contemporary sofas by Italian manufacturer Incanto keep the room airy, and mechanized Lutron shades control light and impart privacy.

The kitchen, which had begun to look dated, has been transformed. Custom cabinetry by Wood-Mode combines cherry lower cabinets in a dark walnut stain with white-lacquered upper cabinets. Countertops are Calacatta Venato marble, and the one topping the long, rectangular island has waterfall edges that emphasize the cool, gray cast of the marble. A backsplash of Porcelanosa tile is imprinted with a subtle linen pattern. Xenon and LED lighting replaced incandescent bulbs, and a dropped ceiling above the island holds lighting so pendants aren’t necessary.

“The idea was to hide everything,” Assuncao says. “The dishwasher, the refrigerator, the ovens. We concealed everything as much as possible and made it look like furniture.” She points to the water dispenser, which is tucked inside a slide-out cupboard with another one beside it for spare bottles, while Ponte reveals a cabinet inside a niche that houses a full bar. 

“It’s a very functional kitchen,” he says. “When we have people over it all flows easily with the family room.

“The house now is more about how we live,” he continues. “Before we started, we asked ourselves, ‘What are the rooms that are important to us?’ That’s what has been incorporated.”

The original Cape was brick with two dormers. Ponte’s 1995 design created a two-story structure with a whole new stucco exterior. The front façade has a subtle, modern edge reflected by a gently curving portico and unadorned windows. The look is still fresh almost 20 years later; the house stands out from the surrounding homes in its  neighborhood, yet still seems to belong.

“We didn’t want to do anything too far out—we wanted it to be contextual,” Ponte explains. The home has been a hit in the neighborhood: To date, Ponte Mellor has renovated or custom-designed six other homes on the block—and counting.

Photographer Kenneth M. Wyner is based in Takoma Park, Maryland.

RENOVATION ARCHITECTURE: RUI PONTE, AIA, LEED AP, Ponte Mellor Architects, Ltd., Bethesda, Maryland. CONTRACTOR: JEAN ASSUNCAO, Edgemoor Custom Builders, Bethesda, Maryland.

Preserving History The stately, neoclassical National Academy of Sciences building in DC has been revitalized. Designed in 1922 by Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue, it was added onto in 1965 and 1970 but had remained untouched since.

Tapped to renovate this landmark, Quinn Evans Architects restored its historic envelope, overhauled outdated mechanical systems and implemented sustainable technologies. “We reconfigured it to create more public spaces,” says project manager Thomas Jester. “We made courtyards into atriums and restored gallery space for the Academy’s art collection.”

In the great hall (left), decades of dirt and smoke  were removed from the dome, which was originally faux-painted and gilded in the 1920s by muralist Hildreth Meiere. LED lights now illuminate the space and wood surfaces have been rejuvenated.

The restoration received an award of excellence from the AIA’s Northern Virginia chapter and a 2013 District of Columbia award for Excellence in Historic Preservation. 

RENOVATION ARCHITECTURE: Larry Barr, AIA, principal in charge; Thomas Jester, AIA, FAPT, LEED AP, project manager, Quinn Evans Architects, Washington, DC. CONSERVATION: The Gilders' Studio, Inc., Olney, Maryland & F.C. Vogt Company, Richmond, Virginia. CONTRACTORS: Gilbane Inc., Washington, DC & The Christman Company, Reston, Virginia. PHOTOGRAPHY: Maxwell MacKenzie.

City Chic Lori Graham’s 14th Street shop, Lori Graham Home, perfectly exemplifies the designer’s chic, eclectic sensibility. A trip to her home, therefore, comes as no surprise. It exudes the same hip, glamorous vibe, created by the deft juxtaposition of dynamic art, vintage finds and strong, warm colors. The two-bedroom row house was a recent purchase for Graham. After completing several major row-house projects close to downtown DC’s 14th Street Corridor, she had become a fan of the area’s surrounding residential streets. Newly single, she was looking for a fresh start for herself and her beloved Papillons, Camus and MiltonFriedman, when the bottom two floors of a late Victorian-era row house on Corcoran Street became available. Graham was thrilled—especially when she went inside. “I was attracted by the architecture,” she says. “I loved the fireplace, the open floor plan, the high ceilings and the exposed brick in the back.” 

The first floor, with its 11-and-a-half-foot ceilings, encompasses living and dining rooms, a powder room behind the stairs, a small but functional kitchen—already updated when Graham moved in—and a breakfast nook that she converted into a sitting room. Bay windows at both the front and back of the house bring in light, and oak floors were conveniently stained dark (one of Graham’s signatures) before she moved into the house. 

The lower level, which the designer describes as an English, or above-ground, basement, boasts plenty of light, with full-height windows and nine-foot ceilings. It houses a home office-cum-guest room and a master bedroom and bath. The lower level opens out to both front and back gardens.

Graham set to work first figuring out how to create more storage space. “I needed places for books, objects and serving ware,” she says. In the living room, she flanked the etched-stone fireplace with open shelving on one side and a built-in, ceiling-height mirror on the other that makes the room feel larger. In the dining room,  there were niches on either side of a blank wall (on the other side of which is the neighbors’ fireplace). “They cried out for built-ins,” says the designer, who particularly needed storage space in the dining room that would accommodate overflow from the small kitchen. 

To create the sophisticated, glam look she wanted, Graham decorated the house with reupholstered vintage furniture and pieces selected from her showroom. In the dining room, for example, the table came from her shop, while “the chairs are pieces I’ve had forever,” she says. Above the dining room table, a new chandelier by CL Sterling & Son conveys the look of an earlier era with its use of mercury glass. 

In the living room, with its soft gray palette, mid-century sofas share space with a glass-topped coffee table from the showroom; a high-backed chair by the window—a popular perch for the dogs—is a vintage piece that’s been reupholstered in Italian velvet by C&C Milano. An unusual beaded chandelier from Shine by S.H.O., a home furnishings line carried by Lori Graham Home, creates a focal point above a console table by the bay window.

The living and dining rooms are more formal, but “the house becomes more casual as you move back through it,” says Graham. The sitting room, painted a dark Benjamin Moore gray, boasts an antique red rug from Timothy Paul Carpet + Home, a sofa from Graham’s showroom, an eye-catching ram’s head coffee table and Greek key chairs. The sitting and dining rooms share a wall of exposed brick that warms both spaces.

New decorative wall moldings lend visual interest, while custom draperies—navy velvet in the living room and white denim by Powell & Bonnell trimmed with a lively Ikat pattern in the sitting room—accent the big bay windows and high ceilings. 

For Graham, her choice of art was very important. She turned to colleague and curator Mike Johnson for some pieces, selecting a mix of vintage Japanese lithographs, art photography and personal photographs for a collage of art in the living room. Above the mantel, an abstract canvas by Robert Mellor introduces a vivid shot of color to the room, while in the sitting room, photographs by Barbara Probst are striking against the dark-hued wall. On an easel behind the sofa, an oil painting by Teo González adds a punch of color. 

Downstairs, Graham enjoyed creating a thoroughly “girly” bedroom, complete with floor-to-ceiling pink draperies and soft, feminine bedding. “It was fun because I got to do it by myself,” she says.

Graham is a DC-area resident who has lived in the capital for a long time. “I used to be a lawyer before I made the switch to interior design,” she says. This year marks her tenth anniversary as a designer, and her second since the opening of her showroom, only a block and a half away.  Now, her new home heralds another beginning. “It’s a great location,” she says. “It’s the perfect size and the perfect fit.”  

Photographer Abby Greenawalt is based in Washington, DC.

INTERIOR DESIGN: Lori Graham, Lori Graham Design, Washington, DC.

 

Hot Talent: Lisa Puchalla After years of doling out decorating advice without pay, Lisa Puchalla, mother of three, decided it was time to turn her passion into a calling. She took courses at the Corcoran School of Design and hung her shingle in 2007. Her Chevy Chase firm, Lily Mae Design (named for her two daughters) has been thriving ever since. “I grew up here so I have a big network of people who know me,” she explains. “Most of my clients are referrals.”

Puchalla’s goal is to integrate her clients’ lifestyles and personalities into timeless spaces. “I can tell just by walking into a house what people are going to want to do,” she comments. “I bring all the parts together based on the information I get from talking to clients and observing them.” She tries to make the process fun and collaborative with a laid-back approach and “the understanding that these are people’s homes—not mine.

“I want the spaces to last,” she continues, “and for clients to be happy in them for the next 20 years.”

INTERIOR DESIGN: Lisa Puchalla, Lily Mae Design, Chevy Chase, Maryland.

 

 

 

 

Hot Talent: Shawna Underwood “I enjoy working with clients to make spaces feel like home,” says Shawna Underwood, principal of Shawna Underwood Interior Design. “I want to make their vision into reality.”

Underwood is well equipped for the task, with a master’s degree in interior design from George Washington University and a lifetime interest in decorating. She takes a thoughtful approach, relishing the process of unearthing new materials for projects and incorporating old and new architectural details. 

“I believe in blending old and new, incorporating high and low,” she says. “I advise buying quality pieces as investments, and inexpensive ones to keep spaces relaxed and comfortable.” For example, Underwood recently redesigned the living and dining rooms of a new house, integrating older, existing furnishings with fresh, modern items. “The client was thrilled,” Underwood recalls. “The reward was interpreting her vision into a new design.” 

INTERIOR DESIGN: Shawna Underwood, Shawna Underwood Interior Design, Washington, DC. PHOTOGRAPHY: Edward Underwood.

Fashion Statement Monte Durham greets visitors with what can only be described as Southern hospitality. The West Virginia native is recognized wherever he goes for his high-profile role on the pre-nuptial reality show, yet his feet stand firmly on the ground—as well as in the beloved Belle Haven home he’s shared with his longtime partner, Jakob Evans, for the last 20 years.

The 70-year-old house, a graceful, welcoming center-hall Colonial, perfectly reflects Durham’s personality and style. It’s traditional, brimming with 19th-century antiques yet punctuated by whimsical personal touches in the form of artwork and family heirlooms. It’s also a labor of love: Over the years, Durham has put in much of the work on it himself. In fact, it only recently underwent a professional renovation, of which Durham and Evans are justly proud.

Home & Design visited the couple while the remodel—which encompassed the kitchen, a new breakfast room and adjoining breezeway and a basement office—was still wrapping up. Durham is an avid collector of Jackie Kennedy memorabilia (an interest gleaned from his mother, whose fascination began during the glamorous Kennedy era), and a tour of the house features a room showcasing a gallery of photos and an exact replica of the First Lady’s wedding dress. He also collects antique china; sometimes these interests overlap, as in an array of stemware on display in the kitchen, originally ordered by Jackie Kennedy for the White House and scooped up from an online source by Durham. 

The living room, dining room and TV room—once a 1940s-era jalousie-windowed porch off the dining room—have undergone mainly cosmetic alterations at the hands of their owner, who particularly likes painting rooms himself. “Doing my own painting is the most inexpensive and quickest way to change a room,” he explains. “And I figure if I do it myself I can change it. It allows freedom without conversation—I don’t have to convince anyone of anything!” 

Durham recently painted the dining room a warm gray that provides the perfect background for a collection of blue-and-white Delftware. The space is furnished with antiques, including a grandfather clock bought in San Diego, sideboards and a china cabinet. Crate & Barrel draperies have been trimmed with fringe to give them a more formal air. “I tend to go very formal,” Durham observes. “I like damask and silk.” In the cheerful yellow parlor, formality and warmth unite with heavy silk drapes, stately camel-backed sofas and a grand piano. 

The renovated kitchen synthesizes the traditional aesthetic found in the rest of the house with a more modern, updated look, conveyed partly by a fresh lemon-grass hue on the walls and gray-painted cabinetry. A beveled subway-tile backsplash in Carrara marble matches the island countertop, creating a timeless look. 

The kitchen opens out to a breakfast room with a vaulted barn ceiling and a window seat that overlooks the backyard—now home to a breezeway and patio. To house outdoor plants, Durham spray-painted large planters from the grocery store. “We want to think about how much money we spend on certain things,” he comments. “A pot for outside, I’m going to think about. But for upholstery, I make the investment.”  

While Durham clearly has an affinity for interiors, fashion has always been his first love. He began his career as a personal shopper in DC, where he found that “women wanted someone who could tailor their clothes and do their hair,” he recalls. “I said, ‘I can’t sew but I bet I can do hair.’ So I got a hair degree in London, then came back and went to work as artistic director for Elizabeth Arden for 12 years.” 

After styling hair for a bridal show in Tysons Corner, he discovered his niche. “I got booked with 12 weddings immediately,” he says. “I was listed as most preferred for hair and makeup in Washingtonian in 2000. So I said, ‘I think I better run with this!’”

Durham met Lori Allen, his TV co-host, when he did hair and makeup for her daughter’s wedding, which was broadcast on WE TV. Allen, who owns a bridal shop in Atlanta, had been approached by The Learning Channel about hosting a spinoff of the New York-based reality show, “Say Yes to the Dress,” in Atlanta. She brought in Durham, and the rest is history.

These days, a diverse career keeps Durham very busy. In between trips to Atlanta for filming, he’s launched a haircare line, Monte Durham (available through salonstudio.com), and is considering designing his own line of tuxedos. He reports on fashion for CNN with Brooke Baldwin, and covered the Royal Wedding for TLC in 2011. He frequently visits his family in West Virginia, where he plans to open a hairdressing school outside Charleston in the fall.  

Durham and Evans, a retired government worker, married in October 2013 when the ban on same-sex unions was lifted in DC (their wedding festivities made the newspapers). The couple shares their home with Nellie Belle, a cossetted 12-year-old Welsh terrier who can be found asleep on any of their plush, overstuffed sofas. 

“We are lucky we all live in a time when we can do this,” Durham says, referring to their life together. “I’ve had a very interesting journey. I’ve been blessed.”

Photographer Bob Narod is based in Herndon, Virginia.  

 

Show House Dazzle Click here for a gallery of before and after photos.

The 2014 DC Design House transformed a classic but dated 8,000-square-foot, stone center-hall Colonial located in Northwest DC’s picturesque Forest Hills neighborhood. The house and grounds showcased the work of 27 area design teams whose innovative ideas and creative execution imparted 21st-century style to the traditional 1929 home. Sponsored in part by Home & Design and C2 Paint, the show house was open for tours from April 13 through May 11; in case you missed it, we highlight each room below. Now in its seventh year, the DC Design House benefits Children's National Health System.

A GLAMOROUS TOUCH
The era of the house dictated the living room’s style for Kelley Proxmire, who blended traditional architectural elements with a glamorous, sophisticated vibe. “The metallic Bergamo pillows were a springboard for the room,” she says. The walls were sprayed with a high-gloss gray lacquer and existing built-ins were painted white. Proxmire grouped a Pearson sofa and a David Iatesta coffee table below a colorful painting by March Avery from the Marin-Price Galleries. Design: Kelley Proxmire, Kelley Interior Design.

FIRST IMPRESSION
Architect David Benton and his team offset the home’s traditional front façade by “brightening it up and making it friendlier and more approachable,” he says. The French entry doors were painted vibrant Pond Shimmer blue, and new shutters now match the existing ones. A glass door in the vestibule admits light into the foyer while accessories, including planters and a bench, create an arrival space outside. Design: David A. Benton, AIA, LEED Green Associate, Rill Architects, PC.

FAMILY AFFAIR
Victoria Sanchez created a comfortable, welcoming seating area in the relatively narrow space abutting the kitchen, ensuring that it would complement both the kitchen and adjoining butler’s pantry. She took her cues from the palette of wood and cream in the kitchen, installing a sectional sofa that emphasized the L-shaped walls of windows to “wrap around the space” and bring the outdoors in. Stylish furnishings and accessories were sourced from the designer’s Old Town Alexandria boutique, Victoria at Home. Design: Victoria Sanchez, ASID, IFDA, Victoria at Home, LLC.

ART DECO SPLASH
A reclaimed shower door with a South Beach, Miami, motif provided the inspiration for the Art Deco loggia and pool bath/dressing room. Christopher Cahill and Kerry Ann Rodriguez framed and back-lit the door and hung it in the dressing room, borrowing its vibrant colors for the loggia. “We wanted it to feel retro,” Cahill explains. Hand-cut vinyl floor tiles arranged in a Deco pattern and fish tile from Italo Ceramica in the adjoining bath (inset) reinforced the look. Design: Christopher Cahill & Kerry Ann Rodriguez, Cahill Design Build.

MAKING AN ENTRANCE
According to Camille Saum, the foyer and stairwell were in need of “a bit of drama and timeless design.” She and her associate, Whitney Hansen, achieved this goal by extending glitzy, beaded wallpaper by Romo up to the third floor, and painting ceilings in high-gloss Viburnum from Barry Dixon’s The Naturals collection for C2 Paint. Plywood floors were painted in a large-scale checkerboard pattern and art from Merritt Gallery added bursts of color on every level. Design: Camille Saum, ASID, Camille Saum Interior Design, LLC.

A CHIC SOIREE
Marika Meyer created a formal yet family-oriented dining room. “I was looking for a balance of form and function,” she says. “I wanted it to be approachable.” Chair rails were replaced with wainscoting, while subtly patterned wallpaper complemented touches of blue-and-white Chinoiserie. A vintage 22-karat gold-leaf chandelier hung above a distressed walnut table that was elegant yet durable, and vintage dining chairs upholstered in indoor-outdoor fabric kept the space kid-friendly. Design: Marika Meyer, Marika Meyer Interiors, LLC.

LIFE OF THE PARTY
The butler’s pantry/wine room “was dedicated to entertaining,” says Nadia Subaran. An extension of the kitchen, it also connected to the dining room—thus requiring a more refined vibe. Subaran paired cabinetry from Wood-Mode in Vintage Navy with Carrara marble counters and floors. A distressed wood table, ready to serve as a buffet or prep area, occupied center stage. Thermador wine columns, glass-fronted cabinets displaying dishes and stemware and a Robert Abbey chandelier completed the space. Design: Nadia N. Subaran, Aidan Design.

NEW TRADITIONAL
The scope of the work was the biggest challenge Nadia Subaran faced during her kitchen redesign—which included the removal of a large masonry wall that separated it from the sitting room. She paired Wood-Mode burnished-cherry cabinetry with soapstone countertops and a seamless, marble-like porcelain-tile backsplash. Porcelain tile floors resembled fieldstone. “I call it a ‘new traditional’ look,” says Subaran. “It has texture and warmth with minimal detailing.” Design: Nadia N. Subaran, Aidan Design.

A MODERN TWIST
In his re-do of the library, Nestor Santa-Cruz was inspired by its 1970s paneling, which reminded him of rooms designed by Jean-Michel Frank in the late ’20s. With their look of cerused oak, the panels provided a backdrop for a space that blended classical and modern Scandinavian elements. “Modern design is not about a particular period,” Santa-Cruz says. Beneath an abstract painting from Susan Calloway Fine Arts, a Hans Wegner sofa shared space with antique Louis XVI chairs. Design: Nestor Santa-Cruz, IIDA, Nestor Santa-Cruz Decoration.

MARTINI, ANYONE?

Coordinating with the adjoining library, Tracy Morris conceived the diminutive library bar as “a throwback to an era” when enjoying cocktails in a private niche was in vogue. She left the room’s existing bar with its retro stainless-steel sink and countertop intact, but installed a limestone backsplash wall in a faux wood grain. An unlacquered brass Waterworks faucet, art from Susan Calloway Fine Arts and a mirror from Donghia completed the picture. Design: Tracy Morris, Tracy Morris Design, LLC.

LOUNGE AROUND

“Tone on Tone” was the theme for the family room, according to Jeff Akseizer and Jamie Brown. The designers achieved a soothing vibe using textured wallpaper from Thibaut that evoked bleached wood and subtle window treatments by Romo. A custom sofa and a coffee table by Berman Rosetti faced a media wall that included shelving, a TV and a linear gas fireplace. The room opens out to the pool area through French doors that admit plenty of light. Design: Jeff Akseizer & Jamie Brown, Akseizer Design Group, LLC.

MADE IN THE SHADE

Tapped to dress up the pool area, the designers decided to make it “an extension of the family room,” Naseera Moore-Lawrence says. “We chose teak furniture because it is really high quality.” They employed seating arrangements that included the Havana club chairs, sofa and ottoman; Fiori coffee tables; and the Seneca dining table. Chaises and director’s chairs flanked the pool, while vibrant cushions and umbrellas in durable Sunbrella fabrics added the finishing touch. Design: Naseera Moore-Lawrence & Nicolette Powell, Country Casual.

FRESH STYLE

When Joanne Fitzgerald embarked on a redesign of the dull, cramped powder room, she wanted it to be “the antithesis of what it was.” To inject a sense of drama without overpowering the space, she balanced an accent wall covered in a rich, shimmery peacock-themed wallpaper by Cole & Sons against a backsplash wall of iridescent stone, glass and metal tiles. A narrow Kohler Saile commode fit the space while a floating acrylic sink top kept the room light. Design: Joanne Fitzgerald, Gatéga Interior Design, LLC.

BACK TO NATURE

To unify the jumbled backyard, Stephen Wlodarczyk designed a custom pergola that extends above the backyard patio. Steps curved up to the grassy lawn, while a gravel sitting area was anchored by glazed urns that echo the colors of the changing room inside. “To integrate the house with the yard,” Wlodarczyk coordinated with Christopher Cahill to build a centrally located door to the nearby pool dressing room. Design: Stephen Wlodarczyk, Botanical Decorators.

STATELY APPROACH

When designing the entry garden, Gina Benincasa took her cues from the style of the house. “Our vision was to create a stately, traditional threshold that would match the home’s stature,” she says. Stonework and mature, manicured plantings created a classic feel while adding color and interest. A number of the existing plants were retained and revitalized—in particular, a decades-old heirloom azalea of sentimental value to the owners. Design: Blake Dunlevy & Gina Benincasa, D & A Dunlevy Landscapers, Inc.

CHILD'S PLAY
Intent on creating “a fun playroom for kids to engage without technology,” Katherine Vernot-Jonas filled the space with options for indoor physical activity—including a climbing wall, climbing ropes and hanging rings. Built-ins lined one side of the room, with space for storage and display and a cushioned window seat. A bold palette of primary colors was intended to stimulate creativity, while brightly hued rugs and furniture ensured a playful atmosphere. Design: Katherine Vernot-Jonas, Katherine Vernot-Jonas Designs, LLC.

A STEP FORWARD

The design team combined bold paint colors with a panel of lively Thibaut fabric in shades of plum, lilac and spring green to lure visitors into taking the back stairs. “We wanted to use Radiant Orchid—Pantone’s Color of the Year,” says Teri Lohmann of the textured, paintable wallpaper they chose from York Wallcoverings to camouflage cracks in the home’s original plaster walls. A shelf was added and an existing light fixture repurposed for the space. Design: Teri Lohmann, Lynne Parmele & Beth Boggs, ASID, C2 Paint & Design Centers.

BATHING BEAUTY

Allie Mann created “a timeless, chic look” in the second-floor guest bath, where large-scale Calacatta marble tiles in a six-by-12-inch herringbone pattern covered the floor and custom, white-painted vanities were topped with marble. Mirrored cabinet fronts made the room feel larger; all fixtures were new except the tub, which was re-glazed in a crisp, white hue. An acoustic showerhead from Kohler and Fizz bubble sconces from Troy Lighting conveyed a modern sensibility. Design: Allie Mann, Case Design/Remodeling Inc.

PRETTY IN PINK
“The wallpaper was our inspiration,” says Susan Donelson of the delicate Thibaut floral pattern that covered the walls of the first guest room, located on the second floor. The designers chose streamlined furniture to “make it a little less girly.” They painted the radiator cover in a raspberry hue that picked up the color inside the closet. A moss-green rug from Jaipur and a spring-green graphic print on the custom headboard channeled a fresh, outdoor sensibility. Design: Susan Donelson & Sharon Bubenhofer, Cleveland Hall Design.

RESTFUL RETREAT
Nancy Colbert reconfigured the master bedroom, where a wall had been moved between the bedroom and bath to allow more bath and closet space. The designer chose a gray palette in this tranquil retreat, covering a blank wall that was “in need of detail” with silk draperies that grounded the four-poster bed from Hickory Chair. A hand-stenciled night table from Century, a whimsical garden stool from Made Goods and bedding from Emissary imparted interest and warmth. Design: Nancy M. Colbert, NCIDQ, ASID, CID, Design Partners, LLC.

A DAY AT THE SPA

To expand the master bath and bring in natural light, Cindy McClure first eliminated a wall between the small, existing bath and an unused dressing room, creating a large, airy space. She envisioned a restful, beach-themed bath in neutrals. A wall of textured tiles with a seashell motif from Mosaic Tile created a focal point between the freestanding soaking tub and open shower. Travertine floor and wall tiles reinforced the light, sensual feel. Design: Cindy Grossmueller McClure, ASID, MCR, CKD, GCP, Grossmueller’s Design Consultants, Inc.

A PLACE FOR EVERYTHING
“We took a fairly small space and made it efficient as well as pretty,” says Deborah Broockerd, who designed the master closets. With “a woman’s important wardrobe” in mind, she created a space with high capacity that didn’t feel crowded, selecting storage solutions including a double-decker jewelry drawer and a display cabinet for scarves and necklaces. The melamine built-ins had a textured, neutral finish that complemented the bedroom. Two reach-in closets accommodated wardrobe storage. Designer: Deborah Broockerd, ASID, Closet Factory.

REST & RELAXATION
In the upstairs sitting room, the designers used the movement and reflective color of water to convey a sense of relaxation. "We wanted to create a calm space where people could relax and Zen out,” says Dennese Guadeloupe Rojas. Faux-painted walls by Christine Barnette evoked water and sand, while a ceiling relief panel added interest. A Michael-Cleary sofa and armchairs from Urban Essentials surrounded a glass coffee table from J. Lambeth. Design: Dennese Guadeloupe Rojas, Interiors by Design, LLC, & Diane S. Taitt, ASID, Associate AIA, DE Space Designs, LLC.

RETRO LOOK

Cindy McClure and her design team improved the cramped second-floor guest bath by borrowing space from an adjacent closet. In the reconfigured room, McClure took inspiration from the home’s 1920s origins to create “a fun, retro look” that would reflect its era. Black marble and tile selections in the tub area and on the floor offset crisp white fixtures and polished chrome accents. Dark purple walls conveyed a bold yet feminine vibe. Design: Cindy Grossmueller McClure, ASID, MCR, CKD, GCP, Grossmueller’s Design Consultants, Inc.

THINK TANK
Chad Alan describes his vision for the third-floor office as “structure meets sculpture.” Dormers formed a slanted ceiling that the designer had to work around. He installed a row of bookshelves at the base of the dormer wall that decreased the floor space in the room but created more options for furniture placement. He designed a desk to fit conveniently into the room, while an “inside out bookcase,” also of his own design, imparted a whimsical note. Design: Chad Alan, Chad Alan Designs, LLC.

BRIGHT SPOT
Anne Wenzel was constrained by the need to retain the existing fixtures and tile in the third-floor bath off the guest suite. “It all had to be original yet modernized and youthful,” she says. She covered the walls with a bold, eye-catching fabric called Dara by Manuel Canovas that de-emphasized the more antiquated aspects of the room. She embellished the bathroom closet with a low-key, complementary fabric by the same designer. Design: Anne Wenzel, Anne Walsh Design, LLC.

HOME SWEET HOME
Tucked away on the third floor, the guest suite was inspired by Cheryl Lynn Doyle’s grandmother, remembered as “a great hostess who believed in every amenity and made guests feel at home.” The room included a bed with a valance from GP & J Baker and—separated visually by a decorative screen from Cote Jardin Antiques—a sitting area with a loveseat. Doyle combined antique and contemporary pieces to create an unstuffy, welcoming vibe. Design: Cheryl Lynn Doyle, Doyle Interiors, LLC.

PLAYFUL PERCH
The third-floor guest bedroom was inspired by Victoria Larson’s bold, vibrant Peacock fabric, which Melissa McClay chose for the custom headboard and bed skirt. She used the same palette of red, brown, spring green and blue throughout the room, applying a band of red on the walls that highlighted the room’s quirky architectural lines. “It’s a fresh, happy, chic space,” McClay says. “It’s intended to be fun for a sophisticated teenager or an adult.” Design: Melissa McLay, Allied ASID, Melissa McClay Interiors.

STREAMLINED STYLE

The third-floor guest bath was designed through iBBY, a remodeling company owned by Case Design and launched by TJ Monahan that offers online bath remodeling tools. In this space, Monahan selected chocolate porcelain tiles, a white ceramic-tile accent wall and a visually unifying, dark-stained floating vanity. “It’s a modern space where everything is high quality,” says Monahan. Design: TJ Monahan, LEED AP, iBBY

Fab Furniture HOT SEAT
Designed by Gaetano Pesce for Cassina, the Feltri chair is covered entirely by thick wool felt. Thermosetting resin on the seat lends stiffness and resistance, while the softer back and arms adapt to the sitter for comfort. Available with a high or low back, it’s lined with quilted polyester padding and comes in a range of vibrant colors. cassina.com

CHIC CONTRAST
Portuguese designer Marco Sousa created the Contemporary sideboard, with its contrasting colors and wood grains, by combining light-hued ash drawers with a dark-stained walnut frame on a base of criss-crossed, black-lacquered iron. bymarcosousa.com

TABLE SCAPES
Designer Jonas Trampedach’s collection of diminutive side tables for Dutch furniture manufacturer Arco is called Tablets. They come in five sizes and shapes, in wood or epoxy finishes or a combination of the two. Each table is portable via a built-in leather loop on the top; cluster them together as a coffee table or scatter them throughout your home for extra surface space. Available through Apartment Zero. apartmentzero.com

SLEEK + SPARE
Cattelan Italia’s sleek, spare Giano Dining Table boasts a sculptural, lacquered-steel base embossed in hues of white (pictured), black or graphite. The top comes in matte white Carrara marble, Canaletto walnut or burnt oak. Available in a round or oval shape through Theodores in Upper Georgetown. theodores.com

FINISH LINE
M2L has teamed with Scandinavian furniture maker Inno to bring its modern collections to the U.S. Pictured here, the Aura sofa by Finnish designer Mikko Laakkonen—part of a line of seating that won a 2013 Red Dot Best of the Best Award for its innovative design. Available as an armchair and with different back heights. m2l.com

MINIMALIST MAGIC
Room & Board’s Cooper collection marries form, function and minimal design. The line, which comes in colors that pop, includes a media console, cocktail table and bench (pictured), all made of hand-welded aluminum with a durable, powder-coated finish. Benches are available in three sizes. roomandboard.com

OUT OF THE BOX
Furniture designer Nathan Anthony’s versatile Boxx Ottoman is a convenient square, measuring in at 18 by 18 inches. Pair it with other Boxx Ottomans and dress them in an array of covers: fabrics in vibrant colors and patterns, or leather, hide or ultrasuede with details by Swarovski Elements. Made in America. nafurniture.com

HIGH DENSITY
The popular Vik dining chair was designed by Thibault Desombre for Ligne Roset. Now, Desombre has updated his creation with the Vik 2, which has cushions made of more comfortable high-density foam. The back is felt and the front comes in wool or leather. The frame is natural, black- or gray-stained ash. ligneroset-dc.com

SIMPLE SILHOUETTE
Willem Smith’s Van Breck Occasional Table offers a clean, simple silhouette with tapered steel legs and an unadorned top that alters the look of the piece depending whether it comes in Kirei (shown), repurposed Douglas fir, stained concrete or glass. Measures 16 by 22 inches but can be custom sized. willemsmith.com 

A DIFFERENT STRIPE
Furniture manufacturer Jessica Charles has adorned the Jenna Bench in a playful animal print, part of a collection of seating that can be upholstered in leather or fabric, with a wood frame that comes in a range of finishes. Pictured here, the zebra-striped fabric is enhanced with nail-head trim. Available through Baker. jessicacharles.com; bakerfurniture.com

BACK TO NATURE
The London Loft collection of live-edge tables conveys an organic, back-to-nature vibe with its free-form Acacia top and hand-forged metal base. The collection includes a dining table, coffee table and console; pictured here is the dining table, which runs 80, 94 or 106 inches in length. Available through Belfort Furniture. belfortfurniture.com

RUSTIC STYLE
Bare Woods and Home Furnishings is offering a rustic, hand-painted storage cabinet/console from a collection of hand-crafted pine furniture that also includes living, dining, bedroom, accent and occasional pieces. barewoods.com

Foot Loose SUSTAINABLE SURFACE
EcoDomo’s hardy, eco-friendly Cork Design Collection offers myriad choices, with a range of styles, sizes and hand-assembled surface designs. Available in floating planks, glue-down tiles and sheets and panels laminated to MDF (engineered fiberboard) slabs. Pictured here, floating cork planks in a dark Rum finish. ecodomo.com 

PURELY PORCELAIN
Parker Wood Porcelain tiles from Porcelanosa look like wood but offer the benefits of tile in terms of function, maintenance and durability. The tiles come in different sizes, textures and finishes—including an anti-slip finish that makes them suitable for bathroom or even outdoor installations.
porcelanosa-usa.com

THE WAYS OF WOOL
Part of a collection designed by Kelly Wearstler for The Rug Company, the Array Light rug is made of soft, hand-knotted Tibetan wool. Inspired by the look of mismatched stones, it’s available in natural shades that subtly showcase the design, as well as in a darker-hued version. 
therugcompany.com

SET IN STONE
The Maxima collection by Italo Ceramica imitates natural stone surfaces. Pictured here, the look of Rainbow Teak sandstone—which has a precise veining pattern in gray, yellow and pink—is duplicated, but with impervious porcelain tile instead of porous sandstone, which is more difficult to maintain. Available at Italo Ceramica.
italoceramica.com

MODERN HISTORY
The new Timothy Corrigan custom rug collection for Patterson, Flynn & Martin showcases a warm palette of creams, lavenders, reds and blues in patterns grounded in historical reference but modernized by the designer’s own sensibility. Pictured here, Rue Lafayette in a sandstone colorway.
pattersonflynnmartin.com

GREEN MYSTIQUE
Terra Legno’s chocolate-hued Mystique line of hardwood flooring showcases the distinctive grain of European white oak. FSC-certified, this wood surface is engineered using sustainable methods and is both durable and fade-resistant.
terralegno.com

THE LOOK OF WOOD
The Estonia collection from Architectural Ceramics is a line of porcelain tiles that seamlessly duplicates four wood types from around the world, including Gray Ash (pictured). The series will expand to include replicas of species from other geographical locations.
architecturalceramics.com 

VERY VERSATILE
Boasting a range of color combinations and sizes, this durable, stain-resistant indoor/outdoor rug by Capel is made of the synthetic fiber olefin and imported from Belgium. Pictured here in ivory and taupe; available through Classic Interiors in Ellicott City.
classicinteriorsonline.com  

A Strong Partnership Francisca Villarroel Alonso and Antonio Alonso both hail from Spain—but they met while studying architecture at Catholic University. After graduating, they married and pursued separate careers, then ended up pooling their talent in 2001 when they founded AV Architects, pllc. Within a couple of years, however, they realized they wanted more control over their designs in the construction phase of each project. At that point, they launched AV Architects + Builders—a full-scale renovation and custom-home construction company with architects and builders under one roof. “There are a lot of design/build companies,” Francisca points out, “but very few are headed by architects rather than builders. We have created an unusual niche.”

The Alonsos see many benefits to the way their firm does business. Among them is the sense that having an architect in the field during the building phase adds another level of value for the client. “We control costs during design and protect the design during construction,” Francisca explains. Adds Tony, “No one understands the design better than the designer. We’re the ones who can make necessary changes during construction without compromising the design’s intent.”

Over the years, AV Architects + Builders has developed a style of its own, rooted in the traditional European vernacular each partner experienced while growing up in Spain. “It’s a hybrid of traditional and modern. We use traditional materials like wood and stone that are warm and appealing, but add a modern touch in terms of design,” Francisca explains. “We offer modern floor plans that are in alignment with the lifestyles of our clients.” Open layouts, clean lines and lots of glass characterize the interiors of projects by AV Architects. 

An example of this aesthetic is currently represented by a soon-to-be-completed spec home in McLean, Virginia, the couple has dubbed the “360 Home.” The idea was hatched after the Alonsos had completed numerous renovations in which they had to “solve the problems of traditional homes.” These included layouts in which there was unused space in the house, poor flow, an under-utilized yard and more. “Francisca had a list of the top 20 issues we needed to solve,” says Tony. “So we created a design that would address them.”

Measuring more than 10,000 square feet, with 2,000 square feet of pre-designed outdoor space, the 360 Home boasts an open-plan layout. Staircases are located at the ends of the house instead of in the middle to eliminate dead space, and only three doors—two to the bathrooms and one to the library—separate the ground-floor spaces from one another. The airy design emphasizes easy living, both for family and entertaining purposes; a functional, casual vibe; a seamless flow to a host of outdoor spaces that include balconies, patios, a grotto and a pool; natural materials like stone, wood, metal and glass; a low-voltage LED lighting system; and Control 4 home automation.

The 360 Home is a prototype; buyers can choose from other, similar designs. The house is currently on the market for $3.5 million.

Facts & Stats
In addition to its founders, AV Architects + Builders employs six staff members, including designers and administrators. The Alonsos personally oversee each project.

SPECIALTIES
The firm completes four to six projects per year. Twenty percent of them are custom homes and the rest are renovations. Most are located in Northern Virginia.

INQUIRIES
Francisca Villarroel Alonso, CEO, and Antonio Alonso, AIA, AV Architects + Builders, 1650 Tysons Boulevard, #1580, McLean, Virginia 22102; 703-865-5065; avarchitectsbuild.com

 

Outdoor Oasis Owners of a weekend home perched on the banks of the Miles River near Easton enlisted McHale Landscape Design to improve the views of the water from their backyard. Landscape architect Steve McHale shifted the angle of the outdoor seating areas so the homeowners can now enjoy vistas framed with daylily, limelight hydrangea and native grasses extending all the way down to their dock.

Landscape Architecture: Steve McHale, McHale Landscape Design, Inc., Upper Marlboro, Maryland.

Bold Panorama The renovation of a Georgian home in St. Michaels, Maryland, included a new, half-circular conservatory with panoramic Miles River vistas. To accommodate the room’s shape, designer Gerald Smith created a circular furniture arrangement. He painted the walls pale yellow so the views—as seen from Holly Hunt swivel chairs—could take center stage.

Renovation Architecture: Bruce Hutchinson, AIA, Hutchinson + Associates, LLC, Rockville, Maryland. Interior Design: Gerald L. Smith, G. L. Smith Associates, Inc., Washington, DC. Builder: Ted Visnic, Visnic Homes, Rockville, Maryland. Photography: Anne Gummerson.

Scenic Lookout The renovation of a circa-1900 house on the Severn River in Centreville, Maryland, encompassed an update of the screened porch by Joe Ireland. The designer created seating arrangements that emphasize the views; in keeping with the era of the home, he chose vintage furniture—including rattan chairs with cushions in Perennials fabric, to complement the existing brick floor.

Renovation Architecture: Chip Bohl, Bohl Architects, Annapolis, Maryland. Interior Design: Joe Ireland, J.D. Ireland Interior Architecture + Design, Washington, DC.

Watershack Reborn Clients hired architect Todd Ray to overhaul what he calls “a ramshackle, moldy ’50s rambler” in Leonardtown, Maryland, overlooking the Potomac River at its confluence with the Chesapeake Bay. Too far gone to salvage, the structure was demolished so a new weekend retreat could take shape. With its two-story wall of windows, the finished great room acts as a portal to views of the watery scene outside.

Architecture: Todd Ray, FAIA, LEED AP, Studio TwentySeven Architecture, Washington, DC. Contractor: Tobin Construction, Bowie, Maryland.

Setting Sail  The Wayfarer textile collection makes a nautical statement with its graphic Boats and complementary Wayfarer Crayon striped fabrics. ZigZag C, Slubby Linen and Slubby Basket solids in red and yellow complete the set. Available at Calico Corners; calicocorners.com

Sea Worthy  With their soft neutrals and unobtrusive designs, Pottery Barn’s Sequin Coastal Starfish Embroidered Pillow Covers ($59 each) conjure seaside images. Hand-stitched with zari threads and sequins, each cover is 20 inches square and made of 100 percent cotton. potterybarn.com

A Different Stripe  Schumacher’s crisp, tailored Sea Island | Stripes fabrics are made of natural linen and cotton yarns in a variety of motifs. Patterns include classic-ticking woven stripes, soft-hued awning stripes and multi-colored stripes in textured twill weaves. fschumacher.com

Making Waves  Classic blue and white are the order of the day in Shore Thing, a wallpaper and fabric pattern that evokes the movement of the waves. Part of Thibaut’s Resort Collection, it also covers the bamboo-styled Darien dining chair from Thibaut’s furnishings collection (pictured). Available in six colorways. thibautdesign.com

Gone Fishing  A delicate sensibility embodies Santorini, an Italian-made indoor/outdoor fabric by Donghia that uses a soft, sophisticated pattern to convey a sense of the seashore. Made from durable polyester, it’s available in five colorways including navy blue and tropical green, both pictured here. donghia.com

Medical Marvel PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALAIN JARAMILLO

Ten NIH institutes come together under one roof in the John Edward Porter Neuroscience Research Center (PNRC). The Bethesda facility—which promotes research through collaboration—was conceived in two phases. The first was finished in 2004 and the second, designed by Perkins+Will, is now complete, doubling the size of the facility to 600,000 square feet.

Both sleek, glass-and-metal structures maximize daylighting and offer views of the NIH campus. To connect the old and new buildings, the architects designed a skylit, interactive atrium (pictured here) that architect Jeffrey Welter describes as “a hinge that promotes interdisciplinary initiatives.” Conference rooms, embellished with bright colors, cantilever into the space, which houses a monumental stair connecting the ground floor to the first level. The atrium includes a café, auditorium, seminar rooms and modern seating by Knoll. Equipped with LED lighting, a chilled beam system for heating and cooling and green roof overhangs, Phase II is expected to receive LEED Gold Certification from the U. S. Green Building Council.

ARCHITECTURE: JEFFREY W. WELTER, Associate AIA, LEED AP, BD+C, PMP, managing principal; DAN WATCH, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP, managing principal; MANUEL CADRECHA, AIA, LEED AP, BD+C, design director; BRUCE McEVOY, AIA, LEED AP, BD+C, senior project designer, Perkins+Will, Washington, DC. CONSTRUCTION: WHITING-TURNER, Baltimore, Maryland. 

HOME&DESIGN, published bi-monthly by Homestyles Media Inc., is the premier magazine of architecture and fine interiors for the Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia region.

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