Room & Board’s chic Crescent Collection of seating brings indoor comfort outside with fully upholstered, foam-filled seat and back cushions. Rounded edges convey a modern look while marine-grade wood and a powder-coated aluminum base weather the elements. roomandboard.com
A strong geometric design characterizes Spark Modern Fires’ clean-lined Cube fire element. Available in stainless steel or red lacquer, Cube is powered by natural gas or propane. A square top covers the burner when not in use. sparkfires.com
Evoking the look of worn wood planks, the Chaa Creek collection of porcelain flooring from Architectural Ceramics lends a timeless look to any indoor or outdoor space. The durable, easy-maintenance surface is available in four color variations. architecturalceramics.com
The Borealis collection by Techo-Bloc was first introduced as concrete flooring that brings the look of wood outdoors. Now, the same surface is available for walls and stairs. The collection comes in Sauvignon Oak, Hazelnut Brandy and dark Smoked Pine. techo-bloc.com
Winston Furniture’s graceful Southern Cay dining set is made of extruded aluminum with chair seats in a durable polyethylene oyster weave that conveys a naturally weathered look. Available in a range of sizes and finishes through Offenbacher’s eight area locations. offenbachers.com
Madbury Road’s Santorini collection beckons with a five-piece circular sectional, three ottomans and a coffee table with a tempered-glass top. Made of all-weather wicker; rectangular sectionals and a dining set are also available. madburyroad.com
Sold in DC through Hines & Company, Perennials high-performance outdoor fabrics are made with solution-dyed acrylic yarns. Seen here, two new Perennials patterns: Leaf Me to It, available in six colorways; and Perfect Setting (covering the pillow), available in 10. perennialsfabrics.com; hinescompany.com
Terracotta tiles dating back 200 years form the Reclaimed Terracotta Collection of indoor/outdoor flooring from Country Floors. The tiles have been salvaged from farmhouses and historic buildings in Central Europe, then painstakingly cleaned and refinished; available as rectangles, hexagons, squares and parquet. countryfloors.com
Sunbrella’s new Icon collection of vibrant outdoor upholstery fabrics is inspired by iconic patterns and colors from the 1960s and ‘70s. Pictured left to right, Volt Sequoia, Volt Spark, Volt Sulfur, Pioneer Sunrise, Traveler Lakeside, Mode Lakeside and Scout Clay. sunbrella.com
Designed by John Caldwell for Gloster, the all-weather Monterey Collection combines the appeal of vintage wicker with the allure of durability and low maintenance. Made from tear-resistant polyethylene, the collection includes modular units, tables and comfortable cushions. gloster.us
SwingMe—a new addition to the popular SwingRest collection designed by Daniel Pouzet for Dedon—is a single-seat swing made of aluminum in a basket-weave pattern with a wrap-around design. Available in a Chalk or Natural finish with an assortment of fabric options for the cushions. dedon.de
The Mistral Classic outdoor umbrella by TUUCI is durable yet elegant. Built out of long-grain, plantation-grown hardwood and corrosion-proof stainless steel, it comes with a square, octagonal or hexagonal top and in a colorful array of weather-resistant Sunbrella fabrics. tuuci.com
Casual Elegance In a Northwest DC home, casual but elegant interiors were at odds with a dated, 1980s kitchen. The owners hired Meghan Browne of Jennifer Gilmer Kitchen & Bath, Ltd., to design a stylish new kitchen within the same footprint.
A load-bearing wall and peninsula separated the kitchen from the breakfast nook in the original layout, creating a cramped, inconvenient U shape. Browne was able to remove the wall, substituting in its place a structural support column decoratively clad in oiled walnut. The peninsula became an island, allowing a more direct traffic pattern; Browne topped the island with the same oiled walnut to unify the space.
Clever cabinetry placement added function throughout. A 24-inch-deep cabinet between doorways conceals counter space that works as a desk area or charging station, with a wine bar beneath it. Open shelving in the breakfast nook was replaced with tall cabinets for extra storage, and a cabinet-to-ceiling glass-tile backsplash makes a strong visual statement.
DESIGN: Meghan Browne, Jennifer Gilmer Kitchen & Bath, Ltd., Chevy Chase, Maryland. CONTRACTOR: M.R. Thornton & Sons, Woodbine, Maryland. CABINETRY: Premier Custom-Built, New Holland, Pennsylvania. COUNTERTOPS: R. Bratti, Alexandria, Virginia. BACKSPLASH: Architectural Ceramics, Rockville, Maryland. APPLIANCES: Sub-Zero, Wolf, Miele.
A sweeping backyard vista lent a special dimension to the master bath in a Bethesda home surrounded by woods. When the owners tapped Anthony Wilder Design/Build to renovate the house, the firm’s interior designer Shannon Kadwell was tasked with improving the outmoded second-floor bath. The goal was to capitalize on the tree-level views while creating a luxurious spa retreat.
The first step was to replace a row of waist-high windows with dramatic floor-to-ceiling windows. Kadwell centered a soaking tub and a glamorous chandelier by Moooi in front of the windows; mechanized shades provide privacy when needed.
A glass-enclosed shower clad in Crema Marfil marble boasts a bench and body sprays. Behind the custom vanity—topped with Crema Marfil marble—a textured-tile backsplash from Walker Zanger creates a focal point. The commode is tucked behind a frosted-glass door, and niches to either side of the floor-to-ceiling mirror hold display shelves and cabinetry. Floors of wood grain-like porcelain tile provide visual contrast.
DESIGN: Shannon Kadwell, CKD, CBD, Allied Member ASID, Anthony Wilder Design/Build, Inc., Bethesda, Maryland. CONTRACTOR: Anthony Wilder Design/Build. CABINETRY: Elmwood Cabinetry through Jack Rosen Custom Kitchens, Rockville, Maryland. FIXTURES: Rohl. Sinks: Toto. TUB: Victoria & Albert. SHOWER WALLS & COUNTERTOPS: Marblex, Fairfax, Virginia. ACCENT TILE & FLOORING: Architectural Ceramics, Rockville, Maryland.
A Potomac, Maryland, couple with an outmoded master bath hired CARNEMARK to overhaul the problematic space. The goal was to create a new layout that would make it easier for the couple to be in the bathroom at the same time without “bumping elbows and fighting for storage,” says principal Jonas Carnemark. “They longed for a clean, contemporary bath where they could coexist in comfort.”
Carnemark’s design reconfigured the space for better function and flow. A Jacuzzi tub with a precarious stepped entry was replaced by one with an extra-deep ledge for safety. The path extends into a bench with storage under it and terminates in a glass-enclosed shower that boasts hand sprays and thermostatic controls.
The enclosed W.C. was moved closer to the bedroom for convenience. A sleek vanity from SieMatic is paired with Caesarstone counters, which also top the bench and tub ledge. Large-format ceramic-tile floors and walls are offset by decorative mosaic tile accents. The floor is heated for comfort.
DESIGN: Jonas Carnemark, CKD, CARNEMARK design + build, Bethesda, Maryland. CABINETRY: KONST SieMatic, Bethesda, Maryland. COUNTERTOPS: Caesarstone through EuroStoneCraft, Herndon, Virginia. MOSAIC, FLOOR & WALL TILES: Architectural Ceramics, Rockville, Maryland. FIXTURES: Hansgrohe, Kohler through Ferguson. SINK: Alape through KONST. MEDICINE CABINET: Robern through KONST.
Clients in Bethesda wished to better utilize their finished basement, which was dark and outdated. Their goal was to create a stylish, light-filled space for gathering and entertaining, as well as a guest room, workout area and casual play area for the kids.
They tapped Shannon Kadwell of Anthony Wilder Design/Build to devise a plan that would open the above-ground rear wall with expansive panes of glass and wide glass doors to admit as much natural light as possible.
Dated and inadequate, the existing wet bar was expanded to make more room for storage; behind it, a niche frames shelving against an illuminated onyx backdrop. The fireplace box was offset within a wall of textured porcelain tile, above which storage cabinets frame the TV. Media equipment is hidden and a décor of warm, neutral materials and textures, punctuated by metallics, keeps the whole space looking fresh, cheerful and sophisticated.
DESIGN: Shannon Kadwell, CKD, CBD, Allied Member ASID, Anthony Wilder Design/Build, Inc. CONTRACTOR: AWDB. CABINETRY: Elmwood Cabinetry through Jack Rosen Custom Kitchens, Rockville, Maryland. FIREPLACE SURROUND: Porcelanosa, Rockville, Maryland. ONYZ, GRANITE COUNTERTOP & HEARTH: Marblex, Fairfax, Virginia. FLOORING: Hallmark Floors Inc. through Universal Flooring. LIGHTS: Studio Italia Design USA through lumens.com.
The owners of a home in Havre de Grace, Maryland, wished to convert their messy hall closet into a powder room. They hired Blue Arnold of Kitchens by Request to design a small bath in the same footprint, with an emphasis on high-end finishes and luxurious style.
Arnold set the tone with walls of polished tile at either end of the tub, flanking a wall of water-jet cut glass. A glass-and-marble cut mosaic-tile accent mural behind the tub provides a focal point. Cross-cut travertine floor tiles complement the cream-hued tub and toilet, both by Kohler. The granite counter that tops the vanity extends over the toilet, lengthening the room’s sightline. A glass shower panel ensures that the decorative mural will be visible at all times, while a custom framed mirror holds sconces from Hammerton that echo the mural’s ornate, curved lines.
A restful, neutral palette is enlivened by polished-nickel fixtures in both bathtub and sink. A tasseled Roman shade completes the look.
DESIGN: Blue Arnold, CKD, CBD, Perry Christian and Joy Fleet Rogan, CKD, Kitchens By Request, Jarrettsville, Maryland. CABINETRY: Custom walnut through Robern. COUNTERTOPS: Granite through Kitchens By Request. FIXTURES: Samuel Heath through Kitchens By Request. TOILET, TUB & SINK: Kohler. STONEWORK: Through Kitchens by Request. FLOORING: Travertine. PHOTOS: Perry Christian.
Bethesda clients with a disjointed, U-shaped kitchen and far-flung appliances turned to Paul Bentham of Jennifer Gilmer Kitchen & Bath, Ltd., to give them a more functional space in a style that would better reflect their taste. “They requested a timeless look with a modern twist,” Bentham says.
In the convenient new L-shaped layout, the doorway to the walk-in pantry was repositioned to create wall space for the refrigerator. Along one wall, an oven tower stands beside countertop pantry cupboards that house small appliances to keep work surfaces clear.
Bentham designed a mirrored stainless-steel hood that reflects light from the nearby window. Painted Shaker-style cabinetry is topped with dark Caesarstone counters, while a long island that houses the cooktop is stained with an oiled-walnut finish and topped with White Fantasy granite; its legs are capped with mirrored stainless-steel “socks” to tie in with the hood. Gray veins in the granite complement the glazed, handmade subway-tile backsplash and the painted interiors of the glass-fronted cabinets.
DESIGN: Paul Bentham, Jennifer Gilmer Kitchen & Bath, Ltd., Chevy Chase, Maryland. CONTRACTOR: Marnic Contractors, Potomac, Maryland. CABINETRY: Quality Custom Cabinetry, Inc., New Holland, Pennsylvania. COUNTERTOPS: Stone & Tile World, Inc., Rockville, Maryland. APPLIANCES: Jenn-Air. BACKSPLASH: Architectural Ceramics, Rockville, Maryland.
On March 18, the Washington Design Center held the grand opening of its new light-filled, downtown location at the Franklin Court Building on 14th and L Streets, NW. Festivities abounded to honor the occasion—and they were widely attended. More than 500 area designers, industry luminaries, and celebrity speakers converged for a day of parties, lectures, book-signings and new-product introductions.
Sponsored by Hearst Design Group, the day’s activities included a talk by design maven Charlotte Moss, who afterward signed her latest book, Garden Inspirations, in the Century showroom. In a program called “Dare to Design,” held in J. Lambeth, New York designer Amanda Nisbet and Claire Niermann of Niermann Weeks discussed how they created their collaborative furniture line. And renowned New York designer Vicente Wolf drew a crowd for his presentation at Doris Leslie Blau. “Vicente Wolf is one of the ‘deans’ of American contemporary design,” enthused DC architect and designer Nestor Santa-Cruz. “It was a true honor to meet him and see his beautiful work.”
As late afternoon approached, showrooms opened their doors for cocktails and hors-d'oeuvres. Holly Hunt threw its own grand opening party in its light-filled, two-story showroom—the only one in the building that opens to the street—while Romo, Michael-Cleary, AmericanEye, and others also hosted visitors with drinks and appetizers. Live jazz filled the third-floor hallway.
Twenty-three showrooms now occupy the second, third and fourth floors of the Franklin Court Building, and all are thrilled with their new digs—which, unlike their windowless predecessors, are bright and airy. “It’s wonderful to see light everywhere and be in a vibrant neighborhood,” says Ann Lambeth of J. Lambeth. “And because we all got here at the same time, every showroom is new. It’s a fresh beginning.”
The DC chapter of the International Furnishings and Design Association (IFDA) is sponsoring its second annual “Take a Seat” fundraiser. During the event, designers, artists, and craftspeople will create one-of-a-kind chairs using found and reclaimed materials. Their creations will be displayed at Room & Board in DC from May 13 to May 28, when they will be auctioned off to the public during a gala evening. Funds benefit American veterans through the charity Your Grateful Nation. ifdadc.com
After a three-year absence, handcrafted-furniture manufacturer Thos. Moser opened its doors once again in Georgetown on January 4. While the 43-year-old, family-owned company is based in Maine, it does a booming online business nationwide, according to chief brand officer Susan Davis. The return to DC was driven by popular demand. “We were hearing from customers,” says Davis. “People wanted to touch and feel the beauty of the wood.”
The 5,000-square-foot showroom at 33rd and M Streets carries all the iconic furniture designs conceived by founder Tom Moser and his sons, as well as newer modern pieces. The earlier pieces are mainly cherry, but staff designers such as Adam Rogers have introduced walnut, maple, ash and more. Each piece is created and signed by one artisan. “We’re about craft,” says Davis. The common denominator “is simplicity, joinery and beautiful wood.”
The new DC space also marks a fresh look for Thos. Moser showrooms. Present-day and vintage imagery about the company adorns the walls, creating a narrative about its history and operations. The plan is for other showrooms to follow suit over time. 1028 33rd Street, NW. 202-793-2606; thosmoser.com
Tucked into a tree-lined office park in Upper Georgetown, Sroka Design Incorporated occupies a two-story space previously belonging to designer Victor Shargai—for whom, coincidentally, Sroka worked in the 1980s. When Sroka began scouting a DC location for his firm in 2012, Shargai’s office was available; recalling the space, Sroka jumped at it.
Largely untouched, the office was ready for a major renovation. Sroka located the public spaces—reception area, conference room and kitchen—on the ground floor while he and his staff of eight situated their offices upstairs. “The hosting areas should be where people come in,” Sroka explains.
The first step was to open up the back of the office to a walled garden that lets in light. “You couldn’t see the garden at all before,” he recalls. “And the bathroom was right at the entrance. We moved it out of the way.”
Upstairs, light-filled offices border an efficient resource library/workroom housing scores of fabric and wallpaper samples, wood swatches and more. “What I like is that this gave us a chance to rethink how we do everything,” Sroka comments. “We’ve streamlined our organization.”
At the entry, a Caracole desk welcomes visitors and a custom banquette lines one wall. Suede upholstery clads the reception area walls and a frosted-glass barn door opens to the conference room. “I wanted it to feel friendly, like walking into a home,” Sroka says. Everyone is welcome—including canine friends. Sroka’s fearful dog, Lucky, occupies a basket under his desk. It is as stylish as his master’s office.
SLEEK STYLE
Designed by Andrea Lucatello for furniture maker Cattelan Italia, this sleek sideboard conveys a touch of glamour with its lacquered surface. It’s available in white, black, Moka, red or matte graphite, with a choice of two or three cabinet doors, through Theodore's in Upper Georgetown. theodores.com
SITTING PRETTY
Italian manufacturer Moroso has debuted its newest addition: My Beautiful Backside, a seating collection designed by Nipa Doshi and Jonathan Levien. Sofas and chairs boast cushioned backrests in various colors, shapes, and sizes; the bases are lacquered wood. Available through Apartment Zero. apartmentzero.com; moroso.it
COCKTAIL, ANYONE?
The Innes Four-Drawer Cocktail Table with Steel Base at Room & Board in DC is characterized by drawer fronts clad in layered pieces of solid walnut, maple or cherry wood that create a three-dimensional effect. Built by North Dakota woodworkers, it comes with either a dark or stainless-steel base and hardware. roomandboard.com
DESK SET
Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams combined acrylic side panels, ebony wood veneers and polished stainless-steel hardware to create the 56-inch-wide Avalon desk. Sleek and modern, it offers a “floating” letter-size file drawer and three top drawers, all with a slow-close feature. Available at DC and Tysons Galleria showrooms. mgbwhome.com
ANCIENT INSPIRATION
Inspired by the landscape of Peru and named for its 13th-century inhabitants, the Inca armchair by
Brabbu conjures the slope of the country’s sculpted mountains, while its velvet upholstery echoes the intense colors found in Peruvian textiles. The collection also includes a loveseat. brabbu.com
PURE GEOMETRY
Bernhardt Design’s gently curving Cinema Sofa by Noé Duchaufour-Lawrance is gracefully beveled at the base, with faceted angles that create a geometric effect. The cushions are loosely attached. Available as a chair or sofa, in a range of sizes, angles and colors. bernhardtdesign.com
GOOD AS GOLD
A hand-sculpted wood base with gold-leaf accents is the eye-catching focal point of Hellman-Chang’s Nola Round Table. The top tapers to a slim, low-profile edge. The piece comes in a black-lacquer or wood finish and in a range of sizes; available through Hines & Company in DC. hellman-chang.com
At a gala event on January 17, 2015, the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) Metro DC Chapter announced the 2014 Contractor of the Year (COTY) Awards, given to a wide range of remodeling and custom-building projects in DC, Maryland, and Virginia. An independent panel of judges reviewed 123 submissions over three days to select the 2014 winners in 30 categories. Links to four outstanding winners are shown below, along with a complete list of residential winners. All award-winning projects can be viewed at narimetrodc.org.
Montana Retreat
After a major renovation, a lackluster vacation home better reflects its rugged habitat in Big Sky Country
Out of the Box
Bruce Wentworth brings natural light and an updated layout to a closed-off kitchen in Southwest DC
Backyard Oasis
Anthony Wilder Design/Build creates an inviting pool-house escape in Bethesda
A Sense of History
TriVistaUSA marries Victorian architecture with fresh, updated style in an Old Town Alexandria row house
HOME & DESIGN AWARD OF EXCELLENCE
Gilday Renovations.
RESIDENTIAL KITCHEN UNDER $40,000
GRAND: Capitol Area Construction; MERIT: Michael Nash Design, Build & Homes; FINALIST: Michael Nash Design, Build & Homes.
RESIDENTIAL KITCHEN $40,000 TO $80,000
GRAND: Wentworth, Inc.; MERIT: Michael Nash Design, Build & Homes; FINALIST: ART Design Build; FINALIST TEAM: Grossmueller’s Design Consultants, TW Perry.
RESIDENTIAL KITCHEN $80,000 TO $120,000
GRAND: TriVistaUSA; GRAND TEAM: Marblex Design International, Inc.; FINALIST: Bowers Design Build; FINALIST TEAM: EuroStoneCraft; MERIT: Kingston Design Remodeling; MERIT TEAM: Marblex Design International, Inc.; HONORABLE MENTION: Sun Design Remodeling, Inc.
RESIDENTIAL KITCHEN OVER $120,000
GRAND: Landis Construction; GRAND TEAM: TW Perry; MERIT: Sun Design Remodeling, Inc.; MERIT TEAM: EuroStoneCraft; FINALIST: Bowers Design Build.
RESIDENTIAL BATH UNDER $30,000
GRAND: Dietz Development; MERITS: Michael Nash Design, Build & Homes and Handy Mensch, LLC; FINALIST: Michael Nash Design, Build & Homes.
RESIDENTIAL BATH $30,000 TO $60,000
GRAND: Michael Nash Design, Build & Homes; MERIT: Superior Home Services, Inc.; FINALIST: Glickman Design Build.
RESIDENTIAL BATH OVER $60,000
GRAND: Gilday Renovations, Rosemarie Howe Interiors; MERIT: Landis Construction; MERIT TEAM: TW Perry; FINALIST: ART Design Build; FINALIST TEAM: Grossmueller’s Design Consultants, Mosaic Tile; HONORABLE MENTION: Daniels Design & Remodeling.
RESIDENTIAL INTERIOR UNDER $250,000
GRAND: De-Design; MERIT: Michael Nash Design, Build & Homes; FINALIST: TriVistaUSA; HONORABLE MENTIONS: Synergy Design & Construction and The Levine Group; HONORABLE MENTION TEAMS: Ferguson Enterprises, TW Perry, EuroStoneCraft, Grossmueller’s Design Consultants, Mosaic Tile.
RESIDENTIAL INTERIOR $250,000 TO $500,000
GRANDS: Wentworth, Inc., and Landis Construction; GRAND TEAM: TW Perry; MERIT: TriVistaUSA.
RESIDENTIAL INTERIOR ELEMENT
GRAND: Foster Remodeling Solutions, Inc.; MERIT: Michael Nash Design, Build & Homes.
RESIDENTIAL ADDITION UNDER $100,000
GRAND: Michael Nash Design, Build & Homes; MERIT: Michael Nash Design, Build & Homes.
RESIDENTIAL ADDITION $100,000 TO $250,000
GRAND: Michael Nash Design, Build & Homes; MERIT: Michael Nash Design, Build & Homes; FINALIST: Superior Home Services, Inc.; FINALIST TEAM: EuroStoneCraft.
RESIDENTIAL ADDITION $250,000 TO $500,000
GRAND: Alexander Group; MERIT: Landis Construction; MERIT TEAM: TW Perry.
RESIDENTIAL ADDITION OVER $500,000
GRAND: BOWA, Anne Decker Architects; MERIT: Superior Home Services, Inc.
RESIDENTIAL EXTERIOR UNDER $100,000
GRAND: Heltzelhaus, Inc.; MERIT: ART Design Build; MERIT TEAM: Grossmueller’s Design Consultants, TW Perry; FINALIST: Exterior Medics.
RESIDENTIAL EXTERIOR $100,000 AND OVER
GRAND: Sun Design Remodeling, Inc.; MERIT: Michael Nash Design, Build & Homes.
RESIDENTIAL EXTERIOR ELEMENT
GRAND: KohlMark Builders, Inc.; MERIT: TriVistaUSA.
ENTIRE HOUSE UNDER $250,000
GRAND: Synergy Design & Construction. GRAND TEAM: Ferguson Enterprises, TW Perry, EuroStoneCraft.
ENTIRE HOUSE $250,000 TO $500,000
GRAND: Kingston Design Remodeling; GRAND TEAM: Marblex Design International, Inc.; MERIT: Gilday Renovations; FINALIST: Harry Braswell, Inc.; FINALIST TEAM: EuroStoneCraft, TW Perry.
ENTIRE HOUSE OVER $1,000,000
GRAND: Harry Braswell, Inc.; MERIT: Gilday Renovations.
HISTORIC RENOVATION
GRAND: Thomas Archer, LLC; MERIT: Capitol Area Construction.
RESIDENTIAL UNIVERSAL DESIGN
GRAND: Case Design/Remodeling; MERIT: Glickman Design Build.
CREATIVE SOLUTIONS UNDER $15,000
GRAND: Merrick Design and Build, Inc.; MERIT: Schroeder
Design/Build, Inc.; FINALIST: Michael Nash Design, Build & Homes.
RESIDENTIAL DETACHED STRUCTURE
GRAND: Anthony Wilder Design/Build, Inc.; MERIT: KohlMark Builders, Inc.
CREATIVE DESIGN
GRAND: KohlMark Builders, Inc.; MERIT: Schroeder Design/Build, Inc.; MERIT TEAM: MasterCraft Design, Inc., TW Perry; FINALIST: ART Design Build; FINALIST TEAM: Grossmueller’s Design Consultants, TW Perry.
BASEMENT INTERIOR
GRAND: Capitol Area Construction; MERIT: Gallick Corporation; MERIT TEAM: EuroStoneCraft; FINALIST: Superior Home Services, Inc.; FINALIST TEAM: EuroStoneCraft. HONORABLE MENTION: Sun Design Remodeling, Inc.
CUSTOM HOME UNDER $1,000,000
GRAND: De-Design; MERIT: Bowers Design Build.
CUSTOM HOME OVER $1,000,000
GRAND: KohlMark Builders, Inc.; GRAND TEAM: NVS Kitchen & Bath, Wittman Mechanical Contractors; MERIT: Superior Home Services, Inc.; MERIT TEAM: EuroStoneCraft.
GREEN REMODEL ENTIRE HOUSE
GRAND: Daniel Krienbuehl Contractors Inc.; MERIT: Landis Construction; MERIT TEAM: TW Perry.
Contractor of the Year 2013 Awards
For some, the allure of living in an older home outweighs the inconveniences—and the prospect of bringing a house into the 21st century while safeguarding its historic character is an exciting one.
This was the case for Kelly Childress and Parker Lange, who put a premium on the charm and a sense of history but definitely wanted a convenient, modern abode that fit their shared style and vision.
After several years in a Dupont Circle apartment, the couple was ready to buy a house. Their list of requirements was short but unshakable: It had to be old, with high ceilings and three bedrooms, including one for their toddler and one for baby number two, already on the way when they finally found the house they wanted.
“We looked for three years,” recalls Lange, a commercial real estate broker. “We really wanted to be in Old Town Alexandria but we’d started to think we might not find what we wanted until we saw this house.”
It was a 1902 brick row house on a quintessentially Old Town street of historic buildings, just a short walk from the area’s shops and restaurants. “I walked in and knew right away,” says Childress, a consultant. “It checked off all our requirements.”
That’s not to say it was in move-in condition. Although the ceilings were 10 feet tall on the ground floor and nine upstairs, the layout was choppy, with cramped rooms in a narrow footprint. A 1980s addition at the back contained a dark, dated kitchen and separate family room.
Because the previous owners’ taste veered towards ornate Victorian, the place was crammed with heavy furniture and gilt-framed art when the couple first saw it. Luckily, Childress had a clear vision of what she wanted. The house was barely theirs before she and Lange tapped Michael Sauri of the design/build firm TriVistaUSA for a job she describes as “taking the house apart and putting it back with all the original details intact.”
As Sauri recalls, “Kelly wanted to keep the old architectural elements in the house but with a clean, modern palette.” He and his team devised a new floor plan that would divide the downstairs into two open spaces: living/dining room at the front, and kitchen/family room at the back.
“We liked the idea of being able to see all the way from the front door to the backyard,” says Lange.
When they began removing walls to create the open plan, however, they soon uncovered problems that weren’t initially apparent. “They thought they’d bought a structurally sound house,” Sauri says. “This was not the case. We spent the first few months addressing structural failures before we could proceed.” Ultimately, the electrical and plumbing systems had to be replaced, and glaring issues such as broken or missing joists under the floorboards had to be remedied.
In the original layout, a narrow entry hall led from the front door back to the kitchen, with a staircase to the right and doors on the left opening to small public rooms. The TriVistaUSA team removed the load-bearing wall separating the hall from the other rooms, then took out the wall between the rooms, shoring up the ceiling with metal beams. Period design elements—including crown and baseboard moldings, a carved fireplace surround and the original, narrow staircase—were painstakingly preserved. They also retained the original oak floors, which were patched where necessary and stained dark.
The dated kitchen was lined with dark wood cabinets; visitors had to walk through it to get to the family room. Sauri removed the wall separating the two spaces, relocated the kitchen cabinetry to one side and installed a center island. A bonus: The removal of the cabinetry exposed an intact wall of brick; now painted white, it adds character to space.
The family room opens to the enclosed backyard. Once covered in ivy, it’s now a spare courtyard with a slate-tile floor where the kids can play.
Upstairs, the comfortable master suite was reconfigured to accommodate a 12-foot-long closet for Childress and a small but functional bath. The kids’ bedrooms received facelifts that reflect the home’s fresh new style.
Childress tapped Alexandria designer Stuart Nordin of Stuart Nordin Design for help sourcing furniture and lighting. The resulting aesthetic is clean-lined and crisp, with transitional furnishings that are both elegant and comfortable. A palette of whites and subtle hints of neutral color reflects the light. New oak floors in the renovated parts of the house are stained dark to match the original floors, creating a sense of continuity.
The completed house is just what the couple wanted. “We accept the limits a narrow house gives you,” observes Lange. “In fact, we embrace them. We expect to be here for a long time.”
Photographer Darko Zagar splits his time between Washington, DC, and Serbia.
RENOVATION DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION: MICHAEL SAURI, owner, and lead designer; NADIA JANJUA, project designer; JOHN WILSON, production manager; LORI FLEMING, selections coordinator, TriVistaUSA LLC, Arlington, Virginia.
After more than 10 years in her dark DC townhouse, Nina Olson was ready to let in the light. The main floor—which housed an open-plan living/dining room—was illuminated from the back by windows, but the south-facing front was problematic, as the one window at that end opened into the galley kitchen. “You walked in and the kitchen to the left was enclosed so that it blocked off all the light to the rest of the space,” Olson recounts. “I often found myself in the living room looking towards the kitchen and thinking ‘I have to knock down that wall.’”
Built in the 1960s, the townhouse was part of an urban renewal effort in Southwest DC. The kitchen hadn’t been redone since the original construction, so Olson turned to architect Bruce Wentworth for a major overhaul that would update it in clean-lined, modern style while bringing in as much light as possible.
Wentworth had previously remodeled three bathrooms for Olson and she felt he understood her style and sensibilities. A tax attorney by day, Olson is also an avid textile enthusiast who has served on the board of The Textile Museum and creates her own textiles in a dedicated sewing room on the lower level of her home. After gleaning her fascination with texture and pattern, Wentworth and his team shared three possible concepts for her kitchen, and she selected parts of each option for the final plan.
“The kitchen was like a box. The goal was to open it up for a more cohesive main-floor plan,” explains Wentworth. “Removing the kitchen’s interior walls would bring in light while creating an environment more conducive to socializing. Nina could prepare meals while her guests sat nearby. And it would satisfy the functional requirements of a modern kitchen.”
To the left of the front door, the hall closet was made smaller to accommodate the new kitchen space and the wall beside it was replaced by an island that holds the cooktop. The architect was able to enlarge the kitchen by extending the cabinetry along the outside wall into the adjacent dining area. “I loved the idea of cabinets on the side wall towards where the table is,” Olson comments. “It unites the spaces and everything flows.”
Wentworth added structural touches that give the kitchen area character and make it more functional. For example, a dropped ceiling over the island conceals ductwork and wiring while supporting the range hood and recessed lights. The gently curving shape, which is echoed in the porcelain floor tiles, delineates the kitchen from the rest of the room in a subtle, pleasing way. In front of the kitchen window, the ceiling height is angled up to let in as much light as possible, while wrap-around open shelving makes space feel larger.
For Olson, the materials and finishes were of paramount importance. “I felt the kitchen needed focal points,” she observes. She fell in love with a terracotta tile collection, Sitio, by Los Angeles-based Commune Design in a Modernist geometric pattern for the backsplash, and ordered it online from Exquisite Surfaces. She then opted for a beautiful Danby marble waterfall countertop—quarried in Vermont rather than imported—on the island. Wentworth selected clean-lined Black Creek cabinet faces, made of rift-sawn oak stained a gray hue that shows the texture of the wood, and offset the cost of the marble with less expensive gray-hued Silestone on the peripheral countertops.
Olson was ready to replace her rectangular black-glass dining table with a round one when she came across what became her favorite focal point: the Skygarden Pendant, designed by Marcel Wanders for FLOS, which boasts an elaborate floral design in plaster on the inside. When the fixture was installed over the table, she recalls, “I discovered the inside reflects in the glass surface and I thought, ‘I am definitely keeping the table!’”
Olson is thrilled with her new kitchen, as well as her experience with Wentworth, Inc. “The kitchen is exactly what I wanted,” she says. “It was a very good project all around. If I had it to do over, I wouldn’t do a single thing differently. And that’s saying something!”
Photographer Geoffrey Hodgdon is based in Deale, Maryland.
RENOVATION ARCHITECTURE, CONSTRUCTION & KITCHEN DESIGN: BRUCE WENTWORTH, AIA, principal; STEVEN BARNARD, production manager; MIKE HARRIS, lead carpenter, Wentworth, Inc., Chevy Chase, Maryland.
Situated on a peninsula that juts into the Tred Avon River’s picturesque Peach Blossom Creek, a 19th-century center-hall Colonial in Easton, Maryland, commands the attention of visitors, who traverse a stately, tree-lined drive to reach its gracious entry. The house is beautiful, but until recently, it was missing one key ingredient: a connection to its stunning waterfront surroundings.
After purchasing the house as a weekend getaway, the owners hired architect Jim Rill and interior designer Jodi Macklin—who as a team had renovated previous houses for the couple—to update the interiors while imparting a better sense of the home’s eye-catching locale. “The house was worn. It didn’t have that close-to-the-water feel,” says Rill. “But we were able to make huge changes through simple modifications.”
One such alteration occurred in the wide front hallway, where Rill and his team repositioned a closet and replaced a solid single door at the back with glass double doors that frame a water vista and dock—visible from the front door. French doors in the dining and living rooms also open out to the back.
Throughout the house, wainscoting, paneled walls and ceilings and built-ins now lend character and interest. Panels on the base of the stairwell impart a sculptural feel. An oversized powder room has been divided into a smaller one, adjoining an anteroom clad in wainscoting. And an enclosed side porch off the living room now boasts a full bar embellished with a copper countertop.
A 1990s addition to the residence houses the kitchen and family room, which have been “refreshed,” as Rill describes it. What was a vaulted ceiling of drywall has been paneled in beadboard? Dark-stained support beams have been painted white and panels below the gabled windows add visual interest. The breakfast nook, also paneled, centers on a built-in banquette. A new stone fireplace surround and clean-lined mantel create a focal point at the far end of the room. A wormy chestnut countertop on one leg of the L-shaped island adds warmth, while the remaining counters and backsplash are marble.
After collaborating on numerous projects, Rill, Macklin and their clients have developed a working shorthand that made the process seamless for everyone. “Jodi looked over my shoulder on the bathrooms and kitchen,” Rill comments, “and I looked over hers for the interior design.” The design team would present options to the owners, who made their selections and, essentially, got out of the way.
As she has done before, Macklin’s task was to express the couple’s elegantly clean-lined, transitional style throughout the interiors—but this time with a strong nod to the waterfront environment. After discussing her likes and dislikes during an initial meeting, the owner, says Macklin, “let me run with it.” Against a background of crisp white millwork and trim, the designer “went neutral, with earth tones infused with blues and greens for the setting and a more relaxed feel.
“When I’m doing waterfront houses,” Macklin continues, ”I’m more sensitive to the environment and work to bring the exterior in. There’s a sense of calm and peacefulness to these homes.”
Upstairs, the master suite beautifully conveys the vibe she was after, with elegant yet comfortable furniture and a soft, neutral color scheme that makes the views pop. The master bath is timeless, with marble and Blue Lagos limestone floors, a sleek shower room and custom vanities designed by Rill.
Entertaining guests was a priority, so Rill and Macklin made sure the guestrooms would be comfortable and afford plenty of privacy. On the second floor, there’s a bedroom and sitting room/library complete with a beverage center, while the finished third floor beckons with two pretty bedrooms and a marble-clad bath.
Thanks to the home’s peninsula setting, nearly every room in the house boasts river views. “It’s a special house,” observes Macklin. “The owners just love it.”
Photographer Kip Dawkins is based in Richmond, Virginia.
RENOVATION ARCHITECTURE: JAMES F. RILL, AIA, principal; LINDA GALLEGOS, project manager, Rill Architects PC, Bethesda, Maryland. INTERIOR DESIGN: JODI MACKLIN, principal; LAUREN SPARBER, designer, Jodi Macklin Interior Design, Chevy Chase, Maryland. CONTRACTOR: R.J. COOPER, ILEX Construction, Easton, Maryland.
