SHARED SPACE The owners of a stone-clad abode in Northwest DC purchased the lot next door and built a modern guest house/office on the property. They tapped Horn & Company to unify the landscapes. “We created a garden that bridged both spaces,” says principal Jennifer Horn. The overhaul preserved grade changes between lots with Pennsylvania boulder retaining walls. Native plantings soften a hardscape plan that features running-bond paths of irregular stone pavers traveling between patios and ipe decks. A powder-coated aluminum pergola now provides shade, privacy, sound and light beside the existing pool. A kitchen was installed on the patio by the main residence. Landscape Architecture: Jennifer Horn, PLA, Horn & Company. Landscape Contractor: Planted Earth Landscaping. Architecture (both homes): Carmel Greer, AIA, LEED AP, District Design. Photo: Allen Russ.

STEEP CURVE Steve Wlodarczyk of McHale Landscape Design was hired to make the most of a tight, steeply sloped lot in DC’s Woodley Park. He designed a gathering area complete with a pool and spa, limestone coping and a composite deck. A raised-beam structure and piers support the pool. Evergreens provide privacy as does faux boxwood, installed by the owners until plantings grow in. Landscape Architecture & Contracting: Stephen Wlodarczyk, PLA, McHale Landscape Design. Photo: Erin B. Bogan.

EASY APPROACH Bethesda clients asked Fine Earth Landscape to devise and implement a front-yard plan to complement their new contemporary home. “A bluestone pathway leads from the permeable-paver driveway to the front porch,” says designer Georgette King. Large boulders, ornamental grasses, prostrate plum yew and globe blue spruce convey a modern sensibility. Landscape Design & Contracting: Georgette King, Fine Earth Landscape, Inc. Architecture: GTM Architects. Photo: Brooke MacIntosh.

STYLISH SHELTER An empty Aldie, Virginia, backyard proved the perfect spot for an expansive entertainment zone. The owners tapped Kevin Kurdziolek of Pristine Acres to design and implement a 20-by-50-foot pool with a swim-up bar; an infinity spa; and a motorized-roof structure sheltering a kitchen and fire pit. Sleek porcelain surfaces are softened by lavender, liriope, laurel and gingko. Landscape Architecture & Contracting: Kevin Kurdziolek, PLA, ASLA, Pristine Acres. Photo: Kevin Kurdziolek.

BLANK SLATE An Arlington home completely lacked functional outdoor living space. Chad Talton of Surrounds, Inc., transformed its backyard with grading, drainage, hardscape, landscaping and lighting. New features include a swimming pool, grilling area and fire pit. “Evergreen and deciduous materials offer year-round foliage and color,” Talton notes, “with flowering plants for seasonal interest.” Landscape Architecture & Contracting: Chad Talton, PLA, Surrounds, Inc. Photo: Morgan Howarth.

FORMAL AFFAIR Arlington residents requested outdoor spaces to reflect their home’s traditional formality. Landscape architect Joseph Richardson conceived a plan with a pool and terrace in back. In front and on the side, beds of boxwood, roses, magnolia and hydrangea conjure a manicured feel. Landscape Architecture: Joseph Richardson, PLA, ASLA, Richardson & Associates Landscape Architecture. Landscape Contractor: Chick Landscaping. Architecture: GTM Architects. Photo: Stacy Zarin Goldberg.

FAMILY TIME Kane Landscapes was hired by Vienna clients to reimagine an empty lawn as a family-oriented gathering space. The team devised a plan centered on a rectangular pool surrounded by travertine decking. A pavilion houses a fireplace and kitchen while a pergola with a raised spa creates a spot for relaxing. Black-Eyed Susans, hosta and peonies add color, along with planters full of annuals. Landscape Design & Contracting: Josh Kane, Kane Landscapes. Photo: Morgan Howarth.

Along the illustrious stretch of Pennsylvania Avenue between the U.S. Capitol and the White House, stately, classically styled buildings are the norm. Case in point: 1001 Penn, a fixture on this thoroughfare, was designed by Hartman-Cox Architects in 1987 to incorporate the façades of the Victorian-era buildings that previously stood on the site.

In 2022, the 14-story granite, brick and limestone structure underwent a major overhaul of its interior spaces. In a collaborative effort, FOX Architects,
Hickok Cole and HYL Architecture reimagined the outdated office building as a dynamic multi-use facility, breathing fresh life into its public spaces and offices while adding a two-story conference facility, an 8,000-square-foot fitness center and 41,000 square feet of ground-level retail.

Among the altered spaces is the 20,000-square-foot atrium lobby (right), which boasts a soaring, barrel-vaulted rotunda. “The central atrium is devoted entirely to circulation, light and vibrancy,” says JP Spickler, a FOX Architects principal. Marble floors and bronze accents complement walls clad in limestone and vertical wooden slats. Chic furniture groupings are illuminated by a cascading, 65-foot-tall Yellow Goat Design chandelier bearing 800 color-changing glass globes. A marble wine bar completes the space.

Interior Architecture & Design: FOX Architects, Washington, DC; Hickok Cole, Washington, DC. General Contractor: Rand Construction, Washington, DC. Photography: Garrett Rowland.

The owners of a vintage Colonial had big plans for their half-acre lot. They enlisted Rolling Acres Landscaping to mastermind a project encompassing a pool and hot tub with a limestone deck, a pool house and a pergola sheltering an outdoor kitchen. Brick walls and stairs match the house while existing plantings have been repurposed.

A steep slope behind the house bottomed out in parkland, so a 20-foot-tall retaining wall was constructed to support the pool and pool house. “The original concept included a one-story structure,” recounts Rolling Acres’ John Hyman. “But we had a ‘eureka’ moment when we determined there was enough clearance below the pool deck for a lower level.” At the owners’ request, this space became a bay centered on virtual golf.

Architect Mark Giarraputo designed the 1,223-square-foot structure with a kitchenette, lounge area, bath and changing rooms. Bi-fold doors open out to the pool and a stair leads down to the golf simulator. “Harmonious, traditional architecture complements the house,” he says. “We kept the height low to be in scale with the small yard.”

Inviting interior spaces were conceived by designer Kelly Holland, who created a casually classic vibe in the lounge area with built-in cabinetry, walls covered in raffia by Thibaut and slip-covered seating. Mural panels from Carlisle & Co. enliven the golf room.

Landscape Architecture & Contracting: John Hyman, Rolling Acres Landscaping, Brinklow, Maryland. Pool House Architecture: Mark Giarraputo, AIA, Studio Z Design Concepts, Bethesda, Maryland. Interior Design: Kelly Holland, KPH Studio, Arlington, Virginia. Builder: Jason Evans, Acadia Renovations, Bethesda, Maryland. 

COLOR STORY
Fireclay Tile’s vibrant ceramic, brick and glass offerings are now for sale at Room & Board on 14th Street in Northwest DC. The store-within-a-store collaboration reflects two brands that embrace sustainable, American-made products. roomandboard.com; fireclaytile.com

BOLD MOVE
In June, Poliform unveiled a new flagship location in DC’s Cady’s Alley—the luxe Italian brand’s fifth U.S. store. The 9,400-square-foot showroom juxtaposes a 19th-century building envelope with sleek, light-filled interiors spanning two floors. Modern furniture and accessories, closet systems, storage solutions, kitchens, lighting and more are showcased in a curated, cohesive style seamlessly integrated with the architecture. 3304 M Street, NW; poliform.it

BOUTIQUE MAGIC
Baltimore’s Fells Point is now home to Moderne, a boutique cabinet design and installation studio masterminded by interior designer Camille Beers and builder Michael Styer. “Our custom cabinetry is inspired by the latest European trends, so we offer sleek, modern selections,” Beers says. The 500-square-foot space opened its doors in March and carries cabinetry by Canadian brand Miralis along with Gaggenau appliances. 1706 Aliceanna Street; gomoderne.com

SURFACE STYLE
Cambria, the popular manufacturer of
quartz surfaces, opened a second area outpost in Manassas last spring (the other is in Sterling). The new, 25,000-square-foot store will serve as a hub for the region, displaying more than 150 quartz slabs in an extensive range of styles and colors—including three of the company’s newest designs, which debuted in May. 11975 Lexington Valley Drive; cambriausa.com

PORCELAIN DOLL
LX Hausys America has debuted Teracanto, a porcelain surface that mimics white and gray marble and quartzite. Made in Italy, the slabs are waterproof, nonporous and resistant to scratches, heat, UV rays and acid. lxhausys.com

SURFACE STYLE
Cambria’s Annaleigh quartz series comes in a soft taupe colorway with ebony flecks and marbled veining in charcoal gray. Find in a matte or polished finish at Cambria’s Manassas and Sterling locations. cambriausa.com

WONDERFUL WOOD
Grothouse sources more than 60 wood species to fabricate its extensive line of surfaces, available in 40 stains. Countertops in solid wood and butcher block are sealed for protection against water damage and scratching. glumber.com

NIGHT SKY
Halley’s Comet inspired Planet, a recent addition to Quartzforms’ quartz surfaces. A deep black field is crisscrossed by lines of orange and white veining that reflect light; pictured on both countertop and backsplash. quartzforms.com

There’s neutral. And then there’s Kenneth Byrd neutral: a sophisticated aesthetic where organic silhouettes and natural textures in serene colors combine in altogether unexpected ways. Perhaps it’s the influence of multi-faceted design icon Kelly Wearstler, whom he credits as a major inspiration, or his own unique vision. As he explains, “I’ve always gravitated toward neutrals, and I like to take that palette and pump up the volume in patterns, textures and textiles.”

Byrd has been refining his design approach since his childhood in Virginia Beach. “I was always tinkering with things,” he recalls. “I’d rearrange the furniture in my bedroom, which then bled into rearranging the living room.” Over time, his interest in changing his surroundings grew into a hobby, and the hobby influenced his career choices. After jobs styling ads and store interiors followed by a brief stint in real estate, his lifelong passion bloomed. Byrd launched his namesake firm in Richmond in 2010, serving clients from Virginia Beach to Baltimore.

The designer bought his current home in the Wilton neighborhood of Richmond in 2022. A former resident of the city’s Historic Fan District, he was captivated by the 1925 Italianesque villa’s large-scale rooms and suburban country club views.

Before he could move in, however, he embarked on a five-month structural and cosmetic renovation that transformed its dark, Tuscan-style interior with a lighter, more open aesthetic. While preserving the home’s arched openings between rooms and other decorative vintage details, he added new furnishings to tell the all-natural color story.

Spread over three levels, the 4,400-square-foot space with five bedrooms and five baths may seem like a lot for one person, but as the ever-restless Byrd reasons, “It gives me what I need to play around with things, and to work and entertain.” The fruits of this creativity are evident as soon as you step into the foyer, which presents a total departure from the traditional villa vibe. Bare walls draw the eye up to a ceiling clad in an abstract mural by Photowall and down to the floor, where a rug mirrors the same motif. An intriguing sculptural stool—literally a “foot” stool—tucks beneath a black baby grand piano. A metallic chandelier conjuring grasses hangs overhead, its organic shape an unexpected addition to the room.

Accessed from the foyer, the living room is adorned with another eye-catching Photowall ceiling treatment. This time, its colorway plays out in the armchairs and curvaceous sofa, covered in creamy bouclé. A petite, teak-and-plaster-finished Kelly Wearstler occasional table (Byrd’s favorite piece) echoes the arches that connect the living and dining rooms to a newly added conservatory beyond. At the far end of the living room, a game table is surrounded by chairs upholstered in nubby textiles.

To the left of the foyer, the dining room also boasts a custom ceiling treatment. The furniture is super-sized, from a dining table that easily seats 10 and soft, upholstered chairs to the tall abstract prints that flank the windows. “Everything is a conversation piece in scale,” notes the designer. “Color, texture and shape talk to each other in every room and throughout the house.”

The kitchen, originally a cramped, L-shaped galley, was treated to an extensive refresh. Byrd took down walls, replaced the old flooring and added an island to create a more convivial entertaining space. A mix of natural materials—wood, stone and metal— imparts timeless appeal.

Upstairs, Byrd’s home office is a cozy jewel box overlooking the country club’s golf course. “It’s my happy place, where I do most of my design concepting,” he says. “It stimulates and inspires me.” The room is rendered in calm, creamy gray hues; both the walls and ceiling are papered in a repetitive pattern of squares and rectangles that conjures a cocoon-like feel. Clad in goatskin, a desk with waterfall sides is positioned to take in the view.

The primary suite is reminiscent of a luxury hotel—serene, welcoming and opulent. Envisioning his bedroom as a sanctuary, Byrd enveloped it in sound-reducing drapery and grass-cloth wall covering. A muted, gray-green rug evokes rippling water, in contrast to the carved-stone bench that makes a statement of solidity at the end of the bed. “Your bedroom should be a refuge from whatever kind of day you had,” Byrd says with a laugh. A nearby sitting room is rich in texture, layered textiles and shapes. Black accents anchor organically shaped objets d’art; geometric wall hangings add dimension and interest.

The designer notes that this renovation took longer than any other project he’s worked on. “For a client, I can come up with a concept and the creativity flows,” he observes. “But when putting my own spaces together, I tend to overthink things.”

Clearly, Byrd thrives on the energy of change and transformation. “The rooms in this house are constantly evolving,” he remarks. “The living room, for instance, has been redone many times. The rooms just get made over until they’re absolutely perfect.”

And now? He smiles. “I feel I’ve got the house—finally—exactly where I want it.”

Jennifer Walter took a circuitous route to launching her firm, Folding Chair Design, by way of a career as a stylist, setting the scene for photo shoots, Anthropologie stores and weddings. “People who liked my wedding venues began to approach me about doing their homes,” she recalls. “I took a client and loved it. I enrolled in design classes but ended up learning on the job.”

A New Jersey native, Walter had moved to Baltimore, her husband’s hometown, some years earlier. Today, Folding Chair Design has a studio downtown employing six people and completing about five large-scale projects a year featuring renovation and architectural design as well as interior décor. “We prefer bigger projects where we have more impact,” Walter says. “I tell clients we are looking for transformative results.”

Despite a personal preference for maximalism and vintage items from mid-century to Parisian, Walter frequently embraces a clean, classic aesthetic with clients. “We do a lot of traditional work in Baltimore’s Guilford area, which is full of older homes,” relates the designer. “I enjoy going in that direction because it’s a little outside my comfort zone. I like the challenge.”

Interior Design: Jennifer Walter, Folding Chair Design, Baltimore, Maryland. Contractor: TKT Home Improvements, Jarrettsville, Maryland. 

After growing up in Mississippi with an architect mother and contractor father, CASEY SANFORD decided to study business in college. However,
she soon pivoted to a degree in interior design, which felt like a natural fit. Sanford worked for several design studios before moving to Northern Virginia in 2014 with her husband, Houston. “I was with a small boutique firm less than a year when I decided it was time to go out on my own,” she recounts. “I started out in our one-bedroom apartment in Alexandria and the company just grew through word-of-mouth.” After a year, Houston joined the firm to handle business, marketing and communications.

Today, Casey Sanford Interior Design occupies a building the couple purchased on Main Street in Warrenton, Virginia; a junior designer and an operations manager also work in the firm’s 1,000-square-foot studio. Sanford, whose portfolio has grown to include renovation design and interior architecture, says current clients extend “from Santa Rosa to Nantucket.”

The designer calls her aesthetic “laid-back luxury,” explaining, “It’s a mix of rustic and classic elements that stand the test of time. There’s a warmth I like to bring to my designs.” She adds, “I want to create a sense of home.”

Interior & Kitchen Design: Casey Sanford, Casey Sanford Interior Design, Warrenton, Virginia. Photography: Stacy Zarin Goldberg (kitchen); Jennifer Hughes (living room).

Asked whether quitting her job in finance to launch a design firm was a scary decision, Julia Rose Schweyer responds promptly: “No, it felt scarier not to take the plunge. I was ready to do something on my own that made me happy—I felt drawn to a creative outlet.”

Schweyer counts herself among many in her field who spent their childhoods rearranging their bedrooms; she recalls a feeling of warmth and safety in that space. She moved to the DC area after college and launched Julia Rose Interiors in 2021.

The firm has quickly taken off. “I started out decorating but found I couldn’t implement the designs I wanted without changing things from a structural perspective,” observes the designer, who has since enrolled in homebuilding courses online. “I see my business expanding to be more full-service, including custom construction and renovations.”

Schweyer currently works solo out of a studio in Old Town Alexandria. “I’ve ended up somewhere between classic and maximalist, creating unique and luxurious interiors,” she relates. “I want my clients to have something original and sophisticated; I don’t want to do anything that reproduces what they’ve seen on Instagram. I want their homes to feel true to who they are.”

Interior Design: Julia Rose Schweyer, Julia Rose Interiors, Alexandria, Virginia. Contractor: Sanchez Remodeling LLC, Washington, DC. Styling: Kristi Hunter.

After a three-year, $87 million renovation closed its doors, the Folger Shakespeare Library reopened to much fanfare on June 21. Designed by architect Paul Philippe Cret, the Neoclassical landmark first debuted on April 23 (the Bard’s birthday) in 1932. With its pristine, white marble façade, it has been an iconic sight on Capitol Hill ever since.

Over the years, however, its usefulness was hobbled by poor access; lack of research and exhibition space; and unsafe conditions for the rare books and manuscripts on view. “We needed a solution that opened the building and made it unambiguously welcoming,” says Folger director Michael Witmore. KieranTimberlake and OLIN—Philadelphia architecture and landscape firms, respectively—were tapped to mastermind an overhaul.

A 12,000-square-foot public wing inserted beneath the historic structure today houses installations, interactive experiences and exhibition halls where rare books, now properly preserved, are on display. Outdoor spaces were conceived as extensions of the new interior, with garden rooms heralding lower-level entry to the building at its east and west corners. Along the front façade (pictured), a raised terrace showcases famed bas-reliefs of Shakespearean scenes—as well as the Capitol dome beyond.

Renovation Architecture: KieranTimberlake, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Landscape Architecture: OLIN, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Construction: Gilbane, Arlington, Virginia. 

MAGIC MOTIF  Best Tile’s Concello, a Spanish pressed-porcelain tile series in an eight-by-eight-inch-square format, encompasses five vibrant, encaustic-look geometric and floral motifs. Shown here in Negro. besttile.com 

ITALIAN STYLE  The cozy charm of traditional Italian terracotta meets modern durability in Tesuque, a porcelain stoneware collection from Architessa. Pieces come in an earthy palette and in a range of shapes and sizes. architessa.com  

BIG DEBUT  Pagoni, an extruded-porcelain tile line recently launched by Emser, offers four colorways, two patterns and three sizes. Pictured: Cirio, a rectangular selection, features an Art Deco-inspired peacock pattern. Mix with subway or fluted tiles for impact. emser.com 

Years after a partial remodel, Bethesda homeowners were ready to finish the job. They tapped designer Sally Steponkus, who had worked with them previously, to help realize their vision for bright, open spaces and a new kitchen. Steponkus teamed with architect Timothy Clites to accomplish the project’s goals.

“We enclosed a covered patio off the kitchen as the dining area and opened up walls to make the rooms as light and airy as possible,” Clites recounts. A vaulted ceiling turned the former dining room into a sunny family room. The backyard was also updated, with a pergola shading a built-in grill and space for gathering. 

Nadia Subaran and Kelly Emerson of Aidan Design worked with Steponkus to reimagine the dark kitchen with white cabinetry and a marble backsplash and countertops. “We made the hood a focal point over a 48-inch range,” Emerson says. The breakfast nook now boasts a bank of windows.

When it came to décor, Steponkus says, she homed in on the wife’s favorite design element: “Blue, blue and more blue. That was the through line—particularly what I’d call French blue.” Crisp-white millwork provided a backdrop for blue accents in wallpaper, upholstery, draperies and more. Says Steponkus, “It was a careful balance.”

Renovation Architecture: Timothy L. Clites, AIA, Clites Architects, PC, Middleburg, Virginia. Interior Design: Sally Steponkus, Sally Steponkus Interiors, Washington, DC. Kitchen Design: Nadia N. Subaran; Kelly Emerson, Aidan Design, Silver Spring, Maryland. Renovation Contractor: Impact Remodeling and Construction, Washington, DC. 

A  narrow peninsula in Queenstown, Maryland, is a magical spot for admiring the Eastern Shore’s estuary environment. Homes situated on this enviable spit of land are treated to panoramic vistas of both Eastern Bay and the Wye River—a double whammy that lured a couple to purchase a weekend getaway there. “The house looks at the bay and backs onto the river; we loved the beautiful water views in both directions,” says the wife. “The location was perfect, not too far from home, and the size was just right for our family.”

She and her husband—lawyers living in DC’s Logan Circle—bought the 5,000-square-foot, 1980s-era abode early in the pandemic, then scrambled to get it ready for sheltering in place with their two young teenagers. Designer Kate Ballou, who had worked with the couple before, updated stodgy, traditional interiors in a hurry, with her clients’ spare, mid-century sensibility in mind. “They love Danish furniture and are real collectors,” Ballou recounts. “We completed the job over an eight-week period, mainly with beautiful pieces that were in stock at Furniture from Scandinavia by Annette Rachlin in DC.”

Streamlined, mid-century Nordic furnishings such as a RadioHus sofa and &Tradition chairs in the living room quickly modernized and simplified the rooms—despite a backdrop of heavy trim and dark cherry wood floors and millwork. Subtly patterned and textured rugs from Matt Camron add softness and woven Roman shades by Woodnotes let in the light. Ballou elevated the dining room with grass-cloth wall covering in deep blue tones and hung beloved, modern artworks from the couple’s collection.

Within the year, the owners were ready to embark on a more thorough makeover that would upgrade finishes and impart contemporary character to the interiors. Remodeling the kitchen and bathrooms was also on the list. “We wanted the house to be comfortable and not overly formal, with clean lines and open spaces,” says the wife. Ballou introduced the couple to architect Colleen Healey, who shares her—and her clients’—affinity for Mid-Century Modern design.

As it turned out, Ballou’s original vision was instrumental to the project’s next phase. “They wanted what we did to relate to the beautiful furniture Kate had already selected,” Healey notes.

The front entrance facing Eastern Bay opens to a two-story foyer dominated by a graceful, open stair; straight ahead, glass rear doors capture the Wye River expanse. Living and dining rooms lie to the left of the front door, with the kitchen and the home’s utility areas—laundry, garage and back stairs—beyond. The foyer opens on the right to a wood-paneled library and, down a short hall, the main-floor primary suite. At the top of the stairs, a communal space with facing banks of windows takes in both views; it leads to the kids’ ensuite bedrooms.

The architect masterminded small alterations that retained the home’s structure and scale, yet made a dramatic impact. Simplifying trim and lightening the cherry floors in a matte finish created a modern shift. Bronze elements add interest—from inserts in the built-in living room shelving to integrated wardrobes with bronze frames in the primary bedroom closet. A coat of white paint freshened up the interiors of the floor-to-ceiling library bookcases.

On the airy foyer’s staircase, iron balusters mimicking sea grass made way for a glass railing anchored by curved iron pickets (the original railing was repurposed as a fence outside). A soffit over the doorway between the living and dining rooms was softened into an archway “that has its roots in modern architecture,” Healey says. She played up the living room’s fireplace in slabs of veneered stone and lined the hearth and firebox in bronze.

Faux-wood ceiling beams were removed to “allow the focus to be on the windows,” she explains. “Those small tweaks made a huge difference in the feel of the house.”

The kitchen underwent a major transformation though its layout didn’t change. Healey collaborated on the update with Julia Jensen of Boffi | DePadova in Georgetown. Dark cabinetry is lacquered in a soft, metallic finish; the bronze-clad island is topped with Corian while the peripheral countertops are made of thin, almost-black porcelain slabs. A textured-limestone backsplash anchors the BlueStar range and white Corian covers the sink wall.

Bathrooms were also revamped. The two ground-floor powder rooms now sport custom vanities and textural tile or wallpaper. And the primary bath was elevated with walnut vanities, a sculptural soaking tub and bronze-framed shower and water-closet enclosures.

Since buying the house, the owners have added a pool, a screened porch, a patio with a built-in grill and outdoor furniture groupings curated by Ballou. “The house is functional and beautiful at the same time,” enthuses the wife. “I love the details.”

Healey concurs. “The project was a study in how to change a space without destroying or modifying its utilities and structure,” she notes. “We kept those things yet completely transformed the home.”

After raising a family in his Davidsonville, Maryland, home, the owner—now single and retired—wanted to update the 1999 abode for his life’s next chapter. He enlisted designer Lisa Tullai, who had worked with him previously, to realize the vision. “He desired a home where he could enjoy sports, entertaining friends and hosting wine and bourbon tastings,” Tullai recalls.

She devised a plan that extensively reimagined the interiors within the existing footprint. Reconfiguring the kitchen and borrowing square footage from the garage to accommodate a mudroom/laundry added functionality. Razing a wall between the sunroom and undersized family room created an airy space for entertaining and watching sports. The existing, rarely used dining room became a tasting room. The basement was revamped as a sports pub with an Old World feel; it features a bar and pool table. Two upstairs bathrooms have been remodeled.

Embracing an updated, transitional aesthetic, Tullai swapped out doors, modified window and door headers and installed a new iron-and-oak stair railing. A coffered ceiling in the family room and board-and-batten siding in the entryway add dimension. The new kitchen, which flows into a casual dining area, embraces clean lines with Shaker-style cabinets and a glazed-subway tile backsplash. Against neutral beige and white walls, furnishings, fixtures and rugs bring in subtle pops of color and warmth.

Renovation & Interior Design: Lisa Bagbey Tullai, ASID, Annapolis Interiors, Annapolis, Maryland. Renovation Contractor: Aaron Drummond, TailorCraft Builders, Severna Park, Maryland. Kitchen Design: Joe Wilde, Kitchen Concepts, Annapolis, Maryland. 

Waterfront living typically means outdoor living—so having the right landscape is crucial to enjoying the view. The following pages offer expert tips on making the most of your shoreside property—and avoiding pitfalls that may arise when landscaping on the bay.

HIGH TIDE
A low-lying property on the Severn River in Crownsville, Maryland, faced challenges caused by the frequent influx of brackish water. While replacing and updating a pool and pool cabana, respectively—and installing decks, pergolas, gates and hardscape—McHale Landscape Design tackled the landscaping too. First on the agenda: Meeting critical area regulations, which required salt-tolerant native plants to withstand inundation from high tides. “We planted gardens on the entire one-and-a-quarter-acre lot,” says McHale’s Emily Pike, who oversees maintenance on the property. “They range from rain gardens that become submerged to finely manicured perennial beds.” Ornamental grasses, bayberry, juncus, carex, cypress trees and hibiscus are among the chosen plantings. A powder-coated aluminum fence around the pool keeps the deer out while black string lines along the bulkhead deter geese from coming ashore. Hardy ipe decking weathers the salty water. Tides, in fact, are among the most challenging considerations when it comes to maintaining landscapes on the bay. Notes Pike, “High tides bring up debris and on this property, shift the wood decking. Choosing the right materials and plantings to withstand them is key.”

Landscape Design & Installation: McHale Landscape Design. Landscape Maintenance: Emily Pike, McHale Landscape Design. 

SCENIC SETTING
A couple building a home on tranquil Old Woman’s Cove in Annapolis asked J&G Landscape Design to tame their three-and-a-half-acre parcel. They envisioned an outdoor living space with open views of the water and privacy from neighbors. “The work was within the critical waterfront area so there were requirements from the city,” recounts landscape architect Paul Jester. “They specified restoration plantings on the site—more plantings than the homeowners wanted. With creative placement and selection, we were able to make all parties happy.” Jester and his team designed and installed a Pennsylvania flagstone patio overlooking the creek; stone steps lead down the newly graded slope to a private dock. Strategically placed evergreens along the property lines provide privacy without obstructing the view, and flowering shrubs and perennials soften the home’s foundation and the patio while creating year-round interest. When landscaping on the water, avers Jester, it’s important to remember that “views are always a primary goal for the homeowner. Trying to meet the requirements of the city while also meeting that goal can be tricky, but clever solutions will typically present themselves.”

Landscape Design & Contracting: Paul Jester, PLA, ASLA; Jeff Potter, PLA, ASLA, J&G Landscape Design. 

FARM TO TABLE
Clients on the Eastern Shore initially contacted McHale Landscape Design to remedy a drainage issue in the front yard of their Chesapeake Bay property. The project eventually grew into an overhaul of their 27-acre site, encompassing the hardscaping, tennis court and swimming pool. Also on the wish list was a kitchen garden where the family could cultivate vegetables and herbs in summer. McHale landscape designer Ryan Davis regraded the problematic front yard with low berms, subsurface drainage and catch basins to redistribute standing water and minimize runoff into the bay. With water views as a backdrop, he devised a series of raised beds for a plethora of produce. The beds are contained by stone, obviating concerns about chemicals in pressure-treated wood leaching into the soil. Wood-and-wire fencing keeps feasting wildlife out. “Raised beds have become more important with the increasing frequency of higher tides, which raise sodium and magnesium levels in the soil and can prohibit plant growth,” Davis notes. “These raised beds were prepared with organic mushroom compost, which is the perfect medium for vegetables.” For those who want to garden in a salty, waterfront locale, he advises, “Raise your beds and invest in your soil.”

Landscape Design & Installation: Ryan Davis, McHale Landscape Design.

Architect Violeta Fiorino-Schwartz and her husband purchased a townhome in Baltimore’s Canton neighborhood, drawn by enviable views of sailboats streaming by in the harbor. However, interiors of the multi-level abode presented a problem: A large, central shaft bisected the north and south quadrants, interrupting openness and flow.

Fiorino-Schwartz quickly remedied the situation. “We took the shaft out to connect the spaces, which brought in airiness and views,” she recounts. On the third level, she reconfigured a small, south-facing bedroom and adjacent bath to create a bright, modern primary suite (above).

“I used a European-suite concept, with the sink and vanity as part of the bedroom,” explains the architect, who tucked the WC, shower and storage behind sliding glass where the shaft had been.

A spare, modern aesthetic ensures that views take center stage. Wide-plank, white oak floors support low-slung furnishings including an iconic Kartell nightstand; abstract coffee-and-oil-on-paper works by Fiorino-Schwartz—who is also a painter—adorn the wall behind the bed.

Renovation Architecture: Violeta Fiorino-Schwartz, AIA, VAS Architecture, Baltimore, Maryland.