Home & Design

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.  

 

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  

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.

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. 

Custom Collaboration Thorsen Construction believes in collaboration. Launched in 1976 by Jim Thorsen and his son—current president Robert L. Thorsen—it’s now largely operated by the third generation, a team of Robert’s four grown children, who work together in a variety of roles from business development to project management. Vice president of development John Thorsen describes the company philosophy: “Thorsen Construction is all about building relationships. We are a high-end general contractor with a focus on architecturally driven projects. The goal on every project is to make clients so happy they want to refer us to everyone they know—and architects so happy they want to do the same.” 

To facilitate this goal, the company orchestrates “a seamless, elegant turnkey process from start to completion,” says John Thorsen. “We go above and beyond because that’s the only way a client will truly remember you after the project is complete.” In part, Thorsen Construction manages this by keeping subcontractors to a minimum, instead employing full-time, in-house electricians, plumbers, master carpenters and framing carpenters. These in-house capabilities allow better control of each project and its outcome, as well as the quality of the workmanship. “Architects tell us all the time how much they appreciate our approach and our relentless attention to quality,” John Thorsen says.  

Thorsen Construction originally began as a custom homebuilder in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, and in 1978, the firm relocated to Alexandria, Virginia, where it has remained ever since. Today, Thorsen works in Maryland, DC and Virginia. The scope of the company’s projects ranges from kitchen expansions in Georgetown to entire estates in Middleburg. 

This is the way Thorsen Construction likes it. “The diversity of projects offers different levels of reward,” John Thorsen comments. “Each project has its own unique challenges, but with each one there’s the satisfaction of working as a team to bring an architect’s plan to life.” He adds, “I get most excited when we get a referral. That is the ultimate compliment for us.”


FACTS & STATS
Thorsen Construction employs 40 people in its Alexandria office. A satellite office in Warrenton serves the northern Piedmont region.

SPECIALTIES
Each year, the company completes about 50 projects; they run the gamut from small renovations and additions to large-scale custom homes.

INQUIRIES
Thorsen Construction, 5700-A General Washington Drive, Alexandria, Virginia 22312; 9280 Harts Mill Road, Warrenton, Virginia 20186; 703-501-1506; thorsenconstruction.us

Timeless Line Celebrated local designer Barry Dixon has teamed with Charleston, South Carolina, furniture maker Avrett on a new collection of furniture and lighting. The line represents a blend of Old-World techniques and styles and modern concepts and settings—a sensibility that has distinguished the work of both Avrett and Dixon. “Our new collection is inspired by time and place,” Dixon says. “Time, via the timelessness of line and silhouette; and place, the warm, natural world.” In fact, the 14-piece collection is largely inspired by nature—including the Magnolia Pod cocktail table and the Moustique foyer table, which echoes the delicate leg of a mosquito. Pictured above, the Athena chair and Synapse chandelier.

Dixon and Avrett will expand the collection this fall. It’s currently available through J. Lambeth & Company in the Washington Design Center. jlambeth.com 

Vintage Style The  up-and-coming H Street Corridor in DC’s Atlas District has just welcomed a new addition. Transplanted from U Street, the home-design mecca Foundry is owned by designer Yvette Freeman, who conceived the store as a showcase for vintage furnishings and accessories. Though Foundry carries new items such as candles and linens, the merchandise is 90 percent vintage, with a range of pieces that Freeman finds and refurbishes herself. 

The new 4,000-square-foot showroom more than doubles the size of the previous store. “The move gives us space for my workroom, plus storage and a design studio under one roof for the first time,” Freeman says. In addition to upholstered furniture and casegoods, the showroom offers textiles, fabric,  rug samples and lighting. Freeman has also launched a vintage clothing division, Foundry Threads.

Foundry is tucked between H and I Streets in an alley called Atlas Court that was recently designated by the city as historic. The new store occupies a two-story space that began life as a carriage house in the 1930s —a vintage that makes it the perfect fit for Foundry. 819 11th Street Rear, NE; 571-277-5245. foundrybyfreeman.com 

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.

The company also publishes an annual H&D Sourcebook of ideas and resources for homeowners and professionals alike. H&D Chesapeake Views is published bi-annually and showcases fine home design and luxury living in and around the Chesapeake Bay.

The H&D Portfolio of 100 Top Designers spotlights the superior work of selected architects, interior designers and landscape architects in major regions of the US.

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