Perched amid open green space, Frenchies Frozen Yogurt Lounge in Winchester, Virginia, has become a destination in itself. Once just the waiting room for a car wash, this vibrant spot has been transformed by KUBE Architects to fit the owners’ vision for a flexible space that entertains patrons while their cars are washed, inviting them to snack, play and relax in a fun, kid-friendly atmosphere. By shifting the locations of the bathrooms and kitchen behind the car wash, architect Richard Loosle-Ortega created a glass-walled lounge that takes advantage of outdoor views; the revamped space also includes a children’s play area, the re-sited kitchen and dining space, a self-serve yogurt bar and deck. Brightly colored ceiling panels in Acrylite (recycled acrylic) and colorful, changing LED lights draw attention with a playful vibe; Loosle and his team also incorporated recycled rubber flooring in the play area, porcelain tile and Viroc, a recycled cement-board surface. A NanaWall opens to the deck, where customers can enjoy frozen yogurt—whether or not they are waiting for a car to emerge.
RENOVATION ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN: RICHARD LOOSLE-ORTEGA, RA, principal-in-charge, ANDREW BALDWIN, design associate, KUBE Architecture, Washington, DC. CONTRACTOR: CASEY CAO, Northeast Construction Corp, Springfield, Virginia.
Owners of The Building Group, Mike and Mandy Mafi bring separate talents and years of experience to a thriving partnership. Mike, a structural engineer, and Mandy, an interior designer, formed their company 10 years ago—and while it hasn’t grown in size, it has definitely increased in scope. Today, The Building Group constructs lavish custom homes in Northern Virginia using the highest quality materials; the houses range from 6,000 to 30,000 square feet. “We are a boutique builder,” Mike Mafi says. “Every house is unique. We only build three or four houses a year because we want to keep the quality intact.”
Of the homes The Building Group produces, about half are built on speculation. The Mafis tap an architect for the design and work with subcontractors throughout. They have no employees on staff, so their overhead is low. “Spec homes are easier and take less time,” says Mandy, who designs the interiors for all their projects.
Typically, a project as elaborately customized as a home by The Building Group takes about two and a half years to complete; however, the company can complete a spec home in under a year. Says Mike, “Ninety percent of the selections are done before we break ground, which expedites the process.”
Sprawled on eight wooded acres in Great Falls, a recently completed home by The Building Group is about to go on the market for $6 million. Designed by James McDonald Associates Architects, this 14,500-square-foot home was conceived to blend into its naturally sloping lot. It boasts an infinity pool perfectly sited to take advantage of the surrounding bucolic views. “The house was designed around the pool concept,” Mafi explains. “We wanted to emphasize a natural look.”
The opulent interiors showcase an array of high-end materials, from walnut and travertine floors to elaborate mosaic-tile designs imported from China and Italy. Ceilings range from 12 to 24 feet and faux-painted walls abound. In the public rooms, walls and domed ceilings are embellished by decorative plaster moldings with designs inspired by visits to the Library of Congress and the mansions in Newport.
The home has eight bedrooms, 12 baths (“Nowhere in the house are visitors ever more than 30 feet from a bathroom,” Mafi says), five fireplaces and an elevator. The enormous front door, complete with transom and sidelites, is decorated with ornate ironwork; it opens to a spacious foyer where floors are clad in marble and a floating staircase curves up before a wall of windows. Two additional staircases make it easy to access the second floor from anywhere in the house.
The basement boasts a home theater, full bar with custom cabinetry, workout room and wine cellar, while the second floor houses the master suite, four bedrooms and staff quarters. Each bedroom has an en suite bath and a balcony.
Mafi works hard to facilitate all the moving parts in the intricately detailed projects helmed by his company. “I enjoy my job and work about six and a half days a week,” he says. He adds, “I don’t nickel and dime; I’m willing to pay more because it’s important to me that it gets done right.”
FACTS AND STATS
Mike Mafi is a structural engineer and acts as his own contractor. He is also a licensed real estate agent. Mandy Mafi is a licensed interior designer and a member of ASID.
SPECIALTIES
The Building Group offers three home designs: Premium, Premium Plus (the home pictured here) and Mansion. There is a two-year warranty with each sale.
INQUIRIES
The Building Group, 1024A Towlston Road, McLean, Virginia 22102; 571-437-7474; thebuildinggroupinc.com; email: [email protected]
WRAP IT UP
A built-in gift-wrapping station from EcoNize makes giving presents a little easier. This counter-height island is accessible from all sides and offers a tilt-out bin to keep paper protected and out of sight; adjustable rods to store crafts and rolls at arms’ reach; hooks for bags and supplies; and drawers for ribbons and tags. econizeclosets.com
COLOR ME COOL
The Farrow & Ball color palette is now available for use outdoors, with hard-wearing formulations designed to protect surfaces like brick, woodwork and metal from the elements. Finishes include exterior eggshell, exterior masonry and full gloss. Pictured here, Yellow Cake in eggshell brightens up an exterior door. farrow-ball.com
ENTRY WAYS
The Designer Textures Collection of entry sets from Rocky Mountain Hardware now includes seven solid-bronze motifs varying in style from faux-bois wood grain to a symmetrical tufted pattern to a delicate branch motif. Available in white bronze or medium patina. rockymountainhardware.com
PERSONAL TOUCH
Streamline Hoods is a distributor of European glass range hoods that add a modern sensibility to the kitchen—with a personal touch. The hoods, which come in nearly 200 colors, showcase custom imprints of everything from personal snapshots to decorative motifs. Pictured here, the I-435 hood is available in a choice of sizes. streamlinehoods.com
LOOK, NO HANDS
Kohler debuted the Sensate Touchless kitchen faucet at the 2013 Kitchen and Bath Industry Show. A hands-free fixture that eliminates the spread of germs, it works with the wave of a hand or object. A two-function spray head easily switches from stream to spray. us.kohler.com
EASY ACCESS
Gain access to hard-to-reach corner cabinets in the kitchen with hardware from the German company Kessenbohmer. When the cabinet door opens, a front shelf glides out on smooth bearings, swiveling aside so the rear trays can slide to the front. Available through Nouvel Kitchen and Bath in Tysons Corner. nouvelusa.com
A DELICATE SUBJECT
Conrad’s Asian Inspiration collection features six weaves ranging from delicate sheers to nubby textured textiles. Handwoven from sustainable natural fibers, the collection can be fabricated as a Roman, roll-up or motorized shade, and as drapery, sliding and fixed panels. Available in sizes up to 155 inches wide. conradshades.com
ON FIRE
Designed by architect John Dimopoulos, EcoSmart Fire’s Zeta fireplace combines leather, stainless steel and glass. Its body is made of high-heated aluminum molded into a crescent shape and upholstered in Roast, Onyx or Amaretto leather. It houses a ventless, stainless-steel firebox insert protected by a toughened glass screen. ecosmartfire.com
Makan
Interior and lighting designer Zach Sherif brings talent and a seasoned eye to the 2,000-square-foot DC showroom he just opened—a collaborative effort with long-time business partner and architect Victor Sobki. Makan (which means “the place” in Arabic) showcases custom lighting, furniture and textiles as well as antiques and art, and offers the architecture and design services of its owners. The showroom “aligns our design sensibilities and energy,” says Sherif. “It’s eclectic, sort of Mediterranean modern. There’s something here for everyone.” Both Egyptian by birth, Sherif and Sobki maintain a workshop in Cairo where artisans handcraft virtually all their merchandise. The full-service showroom caters to both residential and commercial clients. 411 New York Avenue, NE; 202-271-3836; makandc.com
Lauren Liess & Co.
When Lauren Liess was looking for studio space for her interior design firm, she came across a Great Falls location that could house a boutique as well. “I’d always loved the idea of a shop full of my favorite things,” Liess says. “A place where I would be free to play creatively and share my style.” Lauren Liess & Co. offers custom upholstery and curtains, textiles from Liess’s own fabric line, vintage and natural-fiber rugs, artwork, unique accessories and case goods, vintage furnishings, bedding and more. “There aren’t many shops where you can create exactly what you’re looking for,” Liess observes. “It’s the unexpected, one-of-a-kind pieces that make a home feel lived-in and personal.” 776-A Walker Road, Great Falls, Virginia; 571-926-7825; laurenliess.com/store
Regan & Meaghan
Tucked into the industrial side of Kensington amid art studios and furniture builders, the 2,400-square-foot Regan & Meaghan showroom fits right in. Owned by interior designer Regan Billingsley and furniture rehabber Meaghan McNamara—long-time friends who grew up together—the store is “part office, part boutique and part working studio,” says Billingsley. “We showcase our rehabbed furniture, as well as handmade and found objects that add fun and fresh character to the home.” In addition to furniture, the showroom carries pillows and blankets, lamps, children’s décor, rugs, storage accessories and a rotating collection of artwork. Coming soon: tabletop items plus craft and design classes to be held at the showroom beginning in May. 4216-B Howard Avenue, Kensington, Maryland; 301-512-0547; reganandmeaghan.com
Twenty-nine design firms will transform this year’s DC Design House, a nearly-8,000-square-foot estate built in 1929 in DC’s Forest Hills neighborhood. The stately stone home features six bedrooms and five full and two half-baths, along with such original architectural elements as crown moldings, trim, wood flooring and built-in cabinetry.
This year’s designers are Camille Saum, Marika Meyer, Nadia Subaran, Victoria Sanchez, Joanne Fitzgerald, Jeff Akseizer and Jamie Brown, Naseera Moore-Lawrence and Nicolette Powell, Katherine Vernot-Jonas, Tracy Morris, Nestor Santa-Cruz, Kelley Proxmire, Susan Donelson and Sharon Bubenhofer, Allie Mann, Dennese Guadeloupe-Rojas and Diane Taitt, Cindy McClure, Nancy Colbert, Deborah Broockerd, Chad Alan, Melissa McLay, TJ Monahan, Cheryl Lynn Doyle and Anne Wenzel, Beth Boggs of C2 Paint, Christopher Cahill and architects Jim Rill and David Benton. Landscape designers include Blake Dunlevy and Gina Benincasa and Stephen Wlodarczyk.
A barebones tour on March 1st allows visitors to see the house prior to its transformation. Public tours begin on April 13. Admission is $25 and proceeds benefit the Children’s National Medical Center; lower-level boutiques will donate a portion of their proceeds to the same cause. The home is located at 4600 Linnean Way, NW. dcdesignhouse.com
Once the offices for the Central African Republic, an 1890 row house in Kalorama Cool had fallen into major disrepair by the time a couple of empty nesters decided to purchase it. They tapped Muse Architects to redesign their new abode and Glass Construction to overhaul the space. The result—which won a Grand Contractor of the Year award for Entire House over $1 Million—is a clean-lined, light-filled home that deftly blends traditional and contemporary architectural features.
Because the house was a historic property, the owners had to preserve the original front façade—though it was clear to the design team from the start that the interiors would have to be gutted. Glass Construction revived the exterior by restoring the windows, front door and stairs, and stripping the painted brick down to its original warm red. Inside, “the house was severely neglected,” says principal Tom Glass. “The roof leaked and the interior finishes had deteriorated. Basically, we took it down to the four brick walls.”
The renovated house comprises four full stories including the finished, above-ground basement. As architect Stephen Muse says, “the house was exceptionally dark. The owners wanted a new, contemporary design but even more, they wanted a lot more natural light.”
To answer all their wishes, he designed a modern plan that would flood the stairwell with light: Fixed-glass panels were installed in the roof and the heavy wood staircase was replaced with slender steel cable railings and open risers. In the upper hallways, the floors are inset with opaque glass panels. “Light pours down from the roof all the way to the basement level,” Muse says.
Surrounded by private lots with no yard to speak of, the house is virtually landlocked—so Glass and his team built a wood-and-steel rooftop terrace that allows the owners to enjoy the outdoors. Just off the kitchen, a narrow patio spans the width of the house. Originally set at ground level, it’s been raised eight feet to make it accessible from the main floor where it can be reached through French doors.
Muse retained a separate entry hall. The spacious living room is connected to the new kitchen and dining area through a short passageway with a barrel-vault ceiling. Built-in shelves line the living room, where a fireplace was removed to free up wall space. The shelves display books, sculpture and other memorabilia, while abstract art from the owners’ collection adorns the walls.
To create a higher ceiling in the kitchen/dining area, the architect placed the space a step down from the rest of the main level. It has a warm, modern vibe, with clean-lined, custom maple cabinetry and honed Absolute Black granite countertops and backsplash. Tumbled travertine floors are inset with slate accents. A wall of windows brings in yet more natural light.
The second floor houses the master suite, encompassing a bedroom, bath and small closet. Because of the lack of closet space, Muse designed extensive built-ins that line the master bedroom walls. They incorporate shelving, cabinetry, drawers and even the bedstead; clerestory windows along one wall admit light. Porcelain tile and a mosaic-pebble shower floor embellish the master bath. On the third floor, there are three bedrooms—one for each of the owners’ two grown daughters when they visit and a guest room—plus another full bath.
Muse called on interior designer Celia Welch to help choose a palette and furniture for the remodeled home. The owners sought a contemporary sensibility, but also wanted it to be fun and vibrant. “They love color,” Welch explains, “so though I chose light paint colors to highlight the architecture, there were punches of strong color in the art, rugs and other accessories.” She furnished the rooms with a mix of new and repurposed pieces; the owners’ abstract art collection shares space with two contemporary sofas from Vastu in the living room, a dining table from Design Within Reach and dining chairs by Furniture From Scandinavia.
Throughout the house, Muse incorporated contemporary and traditional elements. Coffered ceilings, moldings and trim co-exist with the minimalist staircase, unadorned built-ins and light oak floors and accents. “The owners didn’t want it to be full-out modern,” the architect says. “And we didn’t want to completely lose what the house historically was.”
Photographer Anice Hoachlander is based in Washington, DC.
RENOVATION ARCHITECTURE: STEPHEN MUSE, FAIA, principal in charge; WARREN SHORT, AIA, LEED AP, project architect, Muse Architects, Bethesda, Maryland. CONSTRUCTION: TOM GLASS, principal; TONY KOCHIS, project manager, Glass Construction, Washington, DC. INTERIOR DESIGN: CELIA WELCH, Celia Welch Interiors, Bethesda, Maryland.
A winding, tree-lined drive is the first hint that something special lies ahead. When the road opens up to reveal a stately white clapboard home, expectations are fulfilled. Nestled into a 10-acre waterfront property, the house is expansive—a harmonious, symmetrical structure beyond which the picturesque South River can be seen. Its solid, traditional style belies its newness—and that’s the point. “The whole idea was a house that didn’t look like it was just plopped here,” says the homeowner. “We wanted it to look like it belonged.”
She and her husband, a mechanical engineer, were living just a couple of miles away when the property came on the market. The couple, who built their previous house, wished to move with their three teenagers into a new custom home on the water. They jumped at the sizeable lot, which at the time encompassed three houses. Assembling a design team that included architect Catherine Purple Cherry and interior designer Lisa Publicover—with the husband acting as the general contractor—they first razed two of the structures, retaining and renovating the other as a small cottage on the property.
Then the team set to work realizing the homeowners’ vision for the main abode. The wife “was committed to an older look from the outside,” explains Purple Cherry. “So we chose the Georgian style, very balanced and symmetrical in the front. But we always try to open up the back—the goal in waterfront houses is to make sure the solid space is minimized in back in order to show the views.”
The finished house measures 10,000 square feet, with exteriors of clapboard-like HardiePlank siding and brick reclaimed from the Eastern Shore, which impart an authentic, older-house look. Inside, extensive millwork adds character and visually scales down the rooms, making them feel intimate despite their size.
Purple Cherry designed a spacious foyer with a wide, elegant staircase and clear sight lines to the water. To one side, the foyer opens to a formal dining room. Beyond the stairwell, a long corridor leads on one side to a small parlor and the husband’s study, paneled in knotty alderwood. At the other end, a private wing includes a mudroom, the wife’s office, a main-floor laundry room and a wine storage room. The floors in the private area are slate while wide planks of reclaimed oak sound an informal note throughout the rest of the house.
An open-plan kitchen/family room spans 52 feet. The classic, white kitchen (a collaboration between Lisa Publicover and kitchen designer Joni Zimmerman Manto) boasts custom cabinetry and extra-deep Carrara marble counters. A breakfast nook overlooks the river, and both kitchen and family room open out to a screened porch where cushioned seating beckons.
According to Purple Cherry, the construction process was seamless, due in part to the husband’s skill set. “His experience [as a mechanical engineer] made him logical and reasonable,” she observes. “He made the whole project easy.”
Adding to the comfort level, designer Lisa Publicover and the homeowners had worked together on two previous projects. “I came in at the beginning,” Publicover says. “Everything was new and the biggest challenge was dealing with the sheer number of selections and details in a short time frame. I didn’t want to hold anyone up!” In keeping with the waterside locale, Publicover and her client chose a fresh palette of teal and cream against crisp white woodwork for the downstairs rooms. Comfortable easy chairs in a conversational enclave anchor the family room; sofas and chairs are grouped round a brick fireplace and a wall of windows brings the outdoors in.
The second-floor landing mimics the front door vestibule below with a bay window (directly over the front door) flanked by window seat niches. The sons’ rooms are down one hallway while the daughter’s room and another bedroom—currently outfitted as a gym—are opposite. Each bedroom has its own bath, and the kids share a cheerful sitting room complete with a large-screen TV.
Situated above the kitchen, the master suite encompasses a large walk-in closet designed by California Closets and a luxurious bath with a soaking tub that serves as a stunning focal point. White Thassos marble clads the floors and shower surround.
In the second-floor landing and sitting room, Publicover mixed teal and sunny yellow to create a sense of lightness and fun. Accessible through an extra door to the main hallway, the master bedroom is awash in pale blue and cream. “I try to ensure that there’s always an anteroom for privacy so the bathroom and closet are not just accessible through the bedroom,” Purple Cherry explains. “I strategize connections between spaces for quality of life.”
Outside, landscape architect Kevin Campion created a design that incorporated a pool, hot tub, sport court and pavilion with full outdoor kitchen, as well as a perennial garden, tidal lawn and parking court. “We located the drive and lined it with elm trees for scale,” he says. “Historically, older homes included terracing down to the water, so our terraced design conveys a sense of the house being older.”
While the home emphasizes traditional beauty and a connection to its stunning locale, it also puts a premium on functionality. Two sets of two-car garages flank the driveway; one accesses the house directly and one via a breezeway. An elevator was installed that will enable the homeowners to age in place. “Life is complicated,” says Purple Cherry. “It’s important to understand how we humans live.”
Photographer David Burroughs is based in Annapolis, Maryland.
ARCHITECTURE: CATHERINE PURPLE CHERRY, AIA, LEED AP, principal; BRIAN BASSINDALE, AIA, project manager; RICHARD MONTEIRO, project designer, Purple Cherry Architects, Annapolis, Maryland. INTERIOR DESIGN: LISA PUBLICOVER, LPID LLC, Annapolis, Maryland. LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE: KEVIN CAMPION, ASLA, Campion Hruby Landscape Architects, Annapolis, Maryland.
A penthouse apartment in Reston Town Center had seen its share of changes. Owned initially by former Washington Redskins defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, it was a chrome-and-leather playground awash in mirrors and TVs. When a single father of three purchased the property, it sorely needed an update that would reflect a more understated style. The technology executive wished to combine a sophisticated bachelor’s sensibility with a welcoming, family-oriented layout. He hired architect John Heltzel to overhaul the 21st-story abode.
The first task was to reconfigure Haynesworth’s two-bedroom layout to accommodate bedrooms for the owner and each of his kids—twin girls and a boy, all under 10 years old. However, “the project grew once we established a level of comfort and the client started to realize the potential of the space,” Heltzel says. “My client was going for family-friendly but cool—a kind of New York City loft-conversion look.”
A far cry from the original, the finished apartment is still contemporary but with a softer, subtler edge. Honey-colored engineered-wood floors have replaced glossy black tiles, while the overall aesthetic marries clean-lined modern with rustic elements for an industrial vibe. “It was really dark,” the owner recalls. “I wanted the space to feel warmer, brighter and happier.”
Prior to the renovation, the main floor encompassed a kitchen, living room, master suite and spare bedroom. An upper-level loft was used by Haynesworth for entertaining, with a full bar, pool table and powder room. With the owner’s kids in mind, Heltzel and his team removed the master suite from the main floor, gutting the space and dividing it into two small but comfortable girls’ bedrooms that share a roomy bath and walk-in closet. The son took over the spare bedroom, which also has an attached bath.
Upstairs, the loft now houses the master suite, complete with a catwalk that overlooks the living room below and leads to two separate, spacious balconies. While Heltzel maintained a sense of openness throughout the residence, he ended up enclosing the bedroom to give the homeowner more privacy. “He wanted to be able to have parties on those killer decks,” the architect recalls, “but he didn’t want them to be accessed through the bedroom. So we pushed the bedroom away from the deck entry.”
Heltzel and his team separated the bedroom from the rest of the loft with a set of barn wood doors made of oak that were ordered through Wellborn + Wright, a Richmond-based firm. The doors allowed privacy for the homeowner while also adding a rustic element to the space.
To make the smallish master bedroom feel more open, Heltzel and his team sought permission from the condo board to push through the flat ceiling to the sub-roof above. In doing so, they discovered attic space above the bedroom. “So we built a room where we were able to stuff all the mechanical systems—heating and cooling, humidifier and dehumidifier—and free up space for a large master bath,” he explains.
In the open, two-story living room, another set of barn doors and a fieldstone fireplace wall impart a sense of rustic style and warmth. Two wide doorways open into the clean-lined, spacious kitchen, which features custom cabinetry, Corian and Silestone countertops and Viking and Sub-Zero appliances. Heltzel gutted the original kitchen to create a space with a breakfast nook surrounded on three sides by windows with panoramic views. “Everything in the kitchen has been redone,” he says. “The breakfast nook was isolated from the rest of the kitchen. We opened it up and made it more family-oriented.”
For Heltzel and his team, the greatest challenge was completing a large-scale renovation in a condo that was only accessible via a small passenger elevator. “There were a lot of logistical issues,” the architect remembers. “Everything had to be built, then broken down to get it upstairs. The 10-by-10-foot barn door, which was fabricated in Richmond, had to be dismantled with all parts labeled and put back together in the apartment.”
The owner is more than happy with the remodeled space, which won a Grand Contractor of the Year award in the category of Interior Space over $500,000. “It’s the perfect balance between modern and warm,” he notes. “I’m really pleased with how it’s worked out.”
Photographer Greg Hadley is based in Fairfax, Virginia.
RENOVATION ARCHITECTURE: JOHN HELTZEL, AIA, P.C.; CURT ZIESE, project manager, John F. Heltzel AIA, McLean, Virginia. CONSTRUCTION: Heltzelhaus, McLean, Virginia.
Each year, a panel of building industry professionals is selected to judge new homes and communities in the Mid-Atlantic region, and to choose their nominees for the Great American Living Awards. Sponsored by the Northern Virginia Building Industry Association, the Washington Metropolitan Sales and Marketing Council and the Maryland National Capital Building Industry Association, the venerable GALA Awards have honored excellence in new home architecture, interior design, sales and marketing in our region for the last 50 years. This year’s festivities were held at the Sheraton Premiere at Tysons Corner in McLean, Virginia, on October 3, 2013. Entries filled 43 categories; those pertaining to architecture and design included single- and multi-family homes; town homes and condominiums; custom home and remodeling projects; and land and site planning.
The Winners
Below are the award recipients for projects in one or more of the design and architecture categories.
Arlington Designer Homes, Inc.
Collins & Kronstadt Architecture Collaborative, Inc.
Creighton Enterprises Custom Homes
James McDonald Associate Architects
KTGY Group, Inc. Architecture + Planning
Soave Real Estate
The Arcadia Communities
Great American Living 2012 Awards
Imported Style
A sleek kitchen boasts cabinetry by Italian manufacturer Canti Cucine, pictured here in zebrawood with a matte finish and paired with hardware from German company Kesseböhmer, quartz countertops and wood-like porcelain-tile floors. All products are available through Nouvel Kitchen and Bath in Tysons Corner. nouvelusa.com
Space Saver
The GE Monogram 30-inch Fully Integrated Glass-Door Refrigerator with Convertible Drawer fits seamlessly into tight spaces, clad in stainless steel or custom-paneled to match the cabinetry. Independent temperature controls allow the bottom drawer to be used as either a fridge or freezer; LED lighting, adjustable shelves, a removable beverage rack, water filtration and a self-closing vegetable drawer complete the picture. geappliances.com
Look, No Hands
Kohler debuted the Sensate Touchless kitchen faucet at the 2013 Kitchen & Bath Industry Show. A hands-free fixture that minimizes germs, it works with the wave of a hand or object. A dual-function spray head easily switches from stream to spray. kohler.com
Streamlined Style
Simple lines and minimal trim characterize Wood-Mode’s Vanguard Plus cabinetry collection, notable for its rough-sawn oak veneer, contemporary doors and textured surfaces. Available in a range of matte finishes through Davida’s Kitchen & Tiles in Gaithersburg. davidaskitchenandtiles.com; wood-mode.com
A Clean, Well-Lighted Place
The Altamont pendant from Hudson Valley Lighting makes a clean, crisp addition to the kitchen. With a distinctive ring-and-rod chain and conical shape, the light is available in Distressed Bronze, Historic Nickel and Polished Nickel through Annapolis Lighting. It also comes with a paper shade for a softer look. annapolislighting.com
Chemical Reaction
To create Cosentino’s new surface, Dekton, the raw, inorganic elements found in glass, porcelain and natural quartz undergo an accelerated version of the metamorphosis that organic rock undergoes over time in nature. The elements are compacted into slabs and baked. The result: an attractive, durable surface that comes in a range of neutral hues. dekton.com/usa
A Separate Piece
The Signature Elements collection for St. Charles of New York features Autour, a furniture-like cabinet that extends counter space. Its wood surface conceals a drawer with a built-in knife block and the lower level offers shelving or storage. Available in a range of woods, paints or stains; pictured here in black walnut with an anigre veneer base. stcharlesofnewyork.com
Curve Appeal
Country Floors’ new waterjet-carved marble-and-glass Glamour Collection offers five distinctive design motifs, including Curvalicious (pictured), a fanciful pattern of curlicues in Allure Light and Snow White Polished marble. Despite its delicate appearance, the surface is durable for floors as well as walls and comes in a wide range of marble and glass options. countryfloors.com
Blown Glass
A decorative blown-glass container was the inspiration for this simple pendant from Kichler’s Everly collection. Clear, bowed glass is paired with a base finished in Chrome or Olde Bronze, and a distinctive Vintage Squirrel Cage Filament bulb finishes the look. Available through Dominion Electric Supply Co. Inc. kichler.com; dominionelectric.com
The Look of Fabric
Architectural Ceramics’ new collection of tiles echoes the look of decorative fabric. Ideal as an accent surface, these one-by-four-inch mosaic tiles are designed using waterjet technology and are available in Calacatta Gold and Bianco Venatino marble. Pictured here, Brocade is a herringbone pattern. The collection is exclusive to Architectural Ceramics. architecturalceramics.com
To step into Mike Johnson’s downtown DC abode is to breathe a sigh of contentment. The not-quite-gentrified neighborhood outside recedes, replaced by comfort, refinement and a sense of harmony. Johnson—a senior designer at Lori Graham Design + Home on 14th Street and the owner and curator of Sixteen Fifty Nine, a now-shuttered venue for Mid-Century Modern furniture and art—has showcased his own personal collection in a space that perfectly reflects his taste and style.
This magical, one-bedroom apartment was not so easy to come by. In 2010 when Johnson was looking, there was very little inventory in DC and virtually everything he saw was a disappointment. When a new high-rise came on the market in Shaw, Johnson investigated, discovering a more vibrant area than he had remembered from his last glimpse years before. And when he saw the sleek, modern building, he knew right away. “It was exactly what I was looking for,” he says. “I wanted something a little more modern, open but not too industrial, with a lot of light.”
Johnson promptly purchased the 750-square-foot, eighth-floor residence, which encompasses an open kitchen/living area, a bedroom with an adjoining alcove, a walk-in closet and a bath. The living area and bedroom afford expansive views of the urban scene below through large, industrial-style windows, while a narrow balcony extends the living room space. The clean-lined, convenient kitchen, with dark-stained wood cabinetry, thick Silestone countertops and GE Profile appliances, occupies one end of the room. Ceilings of raw, exposed concrete are juxtaposed with smooth, light-stained bamboo floors.
The designer made a few changes prior to moving in. He delineated the entry by embellishing the walls in a woven wool fabric from Rose Tarlow. He installed a glass-tile backsplash in the kitchen and replaced the light fixture over the square island with a globe-shaped fixture by Y Lighting. He added track and recessed lighting throughout the apartment. And he painted and re-carpeted the bedroom and expanded and heightened the doorway to the closet area to create an alcove papered in grasscloth by Phillip Jeffries.
Johnson moved into his new home bearing an array of art and vintage furniture from the 1920s through the 1960s. “Most of what I had was from my previous house, collected over years,” he says. “When I was buying for Sixteen Fifty Nine, every now and then I’d come across something I just couldn’t part with, so I would keep it.” To showcase his collection—which also includes 20 years’ worth of first edition modern novels by authors ranging from John Steinbeck to John Irving—he installed built-in bookshelves along one wall. The plan was to place them between two existing posts in the wall, but he ended up adding a third post that differentiates the kitchen from the rest of the room while supplying space for valuable extra shelving. “I had all these books and no place to put them,” he laments.
The shelving also beautifully accommodates Johnson’s growing collection of industrial, black-and-white etchings from the ’20s, ’30s and ’40s. “One of the things that happened when I moved here was I had a lot of very colorful art on the shelves but didn’t really love how it looked,” he explains. “I’ve begun collecting a lot of [Depression-era] WPA etchings, little by little replacing what was there.
“When I buy for myself I don’t look at price as much as I do when I buy for the store,” he continues. “Buying for myself, I look more at what I love.”
Johnson cleverly mixes vintage furnishings with attractive, practical pieces such as a sectional sofa from the now-defunct Storehouse Furniture and a bar cart from Crate & Barrel. Baker ottomans coexist with 1920s dining chairs from an Adams Morgan antiques store, while black-shaded table lamps by Hinson sit atop original marble occasional tables by Eero Saarinen. Circa-1940s club chairs have been reupholstered, one for the living room and one for the bedroom. Behind the sofa, a wrought-iron-and-glass console—a knock-off of a piece by Jean-Michel Frank—from Pottery Barn holds a vintage marble sculpture Johnson picked up at the Georgetown Flea Market, while a shelf above it is the perfect perch for an abstract composite resin sculpture made in 1969.
Surrounded by his very personal treasures in a light and comfortable home, Johnson is happy with his choice. “I love the space,” he says. “When I first looked at this place, I knew exactly how it would be to live here.”
Photographer Geoffrey Hodgdon is based in Deale, Maryland.
INTERIOR DESIGN: MIKE JOHNSON, lead designer and showroom director, Lori Graham Design + Home, Washington, DC.
When a family with two teenage daughters followed the husband’s new job as a college professor from Minnesota to the DC area, they had to make a quick decision: Should they buy a house and renovate it themselves, or buy someone else’s renovation? The couple, with a preference for older homes, opted to purchase a center hall Colonial in Chevy Chase that needed work—and a lot of it.
“I had no idea what we were getting ourselves into,” recalls the wife, a child psychiatrist. “The house was built in 1936 and had never been touched. The windows were small and ceilings were very low. There was no molding anywhere, no charm.” Feeling overwhelmed, the owners contacted Muse Architects for help.
“It was a typical postwar revival style without the right spaces for modern living,” says William Kirwan, an architect at the firm. “They needed added living space and a new kitchen, baths, a master suite and a finished basement.” Also on the list of improvements: better traffic flow; a reconfigured stairwell bathed in natural light; a back hall and mudroom; a screened porch; and architectural detailing.
For Kirwan and his team, the lot presented a challenge. “The house was tucked into a hill,” the architect explains. “We had to dig into the hill and add a retaining wall to accommodate the addition, which was narrow and ran across the whole back of the house.” Landscape architect Lila Fendrick designed a patio bound by a six-foot-high retaining wall, above which a terraced band of land gives the family dog space to roam but they always make sure to keep the dog safe outside.
Once the remodel was complete, the owners faced the challenge of making the home a reflection of their personal style. After months of choosing everything from lighting to hardware, the task seemed daunting. “I couldn’t handle any more details,” says the wife. “I had most of my furniture and art from my last house and the question was, ‘How do I use it here?’”
It was a meeting of the minds when the couple turned to Nestor Santa-Cruz for help. “Nestor’s architectural view is like mine,” the wife says. “It’s spare but not modern. He took all my old things and pulled everything together.”
Santa-Cruz describes his mission: “She had seen my work and wanted me to bring a personality that was missing to the interior design. She was stuck, wanting to reuse what she had but not really knowing how to do it.”
Throughout the house, the designer repurposed furniture and accessories, reupholstering and rearranging pieces and shifting art from room to room. He took cues from the renovation; for example, the owners wanted Spanish-style arches to separate the kitchen and dining room, so Santa-Cruz used that ethnic sensibility in other parts of the house. He set a casually elegant and eclectic tone that reflects his clients’ aesthetic within a traditional vernacular. He also selected a small number of new furnishings and accessories that he purchased through Casamidy, an artisanal furniture company based in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. “I spread them around the house so the language would connect from room to room,” the designer says.
In the large foyer, which formerly housed a cramped dining room and kitchen, a velvet-covered settée and a wrought iron mirror from Casamidy are grounded by a rug from Timothy Paul. An adjoining alcove leads to a powder room embellished with an accent wall of textural wallpaper, personal to the wife because it came from her mother. The foyer leads to the living room, where Santa-Cruz moved the pale blue Oriental rug to the master bedroom, replacing it with a more casual one of woven hemp from Restoration Hardware.
Straight back past the broad stairwell, the 2,000-square-foot addition encompasses the kitchen, dining room, mudroom and screened porch. The wife hired Minneapolis kitchen designer Tricia Bayer to implement a classic Beaux Arts kitchen design, to which Santa-Cruz added finishing touches including sconces and stools. He also updated the dining room table by staining the top black for a “Country Biedermeier” effect, and selected a screen from Casamidy to enliven the space.
With its luminous blue rug and reupholstered furniture, the master bedroom is both restful and elegant. “On this project, it was interesting to not be the one selecting everything,” observes Santa-Cruz. “It was my job to finalize the house correctly, to find the solutions. I took the house to the next level.”
Photographer Angie Seckinger splits her time between Potomac, Maryland, and Spain.
RENOVATION ARCHITECTURE: STEPHEN MUSE, FAIA; WILLIAM KIRWAN, AIA, LEED AP, project architect, Muse Architects, Bethesda, Maryland. INTERIOR DESIGN: NESTOR SANTA-CRUZ, NCIDQ, IIDA, LEED AP, Nestor Santa-Cruz Decoration, Washington, DC. KITCHEN DESIGN: TRICIA BAYER, BelleDesignBuild, Minneapolis, Minnesota. CONTRACTOR: McNamara Brothers, Silver Spring, Maryland.
It all started with a simple kitchen remodel. Scott Kicker had just purchased a diminutive stone cottage in Alexandria on a 14,000-square-foot lot and contacted DC-based architect Reena Racki to accomplish this small-scale job. Racki embarked on the design—but stopped when Kicker was promoted in his job at AES, a Fortune 200 global power company, and decided to expand his plans. This would happen twice more over the next two years: Each time the homeowner received a promotion, the design agenda changed. A kitchen renovation became a whole new kitchen and family room, then a further addition was designed to house a master suite and additional bedrooms, then finally a two-car garage. “It was a meteoric rise,” recounts Racki, laughing about her client’s career path. “The most challenging aspect of the project was actually finishing the design phase!”
As Kicker’s wish list broadened, Racki conceived her own vision for the project: To blend the existing, circa-1930s structure seamlessly with its new, contemporary counterparts as well as the surrounding neighborhood of older homes. The client, who also married and had a child during the two-year design phase, wanted an open, airy home with natural light and ventilation. “He liked the fusion of the old building and new architecture,” Racki says, adding, “I was not going to just copy the old part of the house.”
The finished residence houses vaulted, light-filled spaces detailed in a thoroughly modern vocabulary within a framework that reflects its architectural past. It is comprised of six volumes, including four living spaces and two glass-walled galleries that connect the structures. Racki created visual harmony throughout the home with her choice of materials. “There’s a general theme of stone extruded all across the front façade,” she explains. Stonework bookends the house, framing expanses of stucco and glass as well as a massive Carderock stone chimney. The original volume and the adjacent one are topped with standing-seam terne metal roofs, both of which Racki pitched at the same angle to further unify the volumes.
Inside, the original side-door Colonial structure was gutted and its front door centered to create a welcoming main entry to the house. To the left, a new guest suite with a sitting room opens to an existing screened porch, now modified with contemporary architectural touches. Two bedrooms and a bath occupy the second floor of the original volume.
To the right of the entry, a glass-walled gallery opens to a spacious, open-plan kitchen/family room. The pitched ceiling tapers off above the kitchen to define the cooking area. Twelve-foot window walls flank the stone-clad, wood-burning fireplace. A spiral staircase leads to a loft above the sitting area.
The kitchen showcases custom oak cabinetry and shelving that echo the reclaimed quarter-sawn oak floors used throughout the house. A glass backsplash, Caesarstone and stainless-steel countertops and stainless-steel appliances finish the crisp, modern look. The kitchen opens through nine-foot doors to a patio where Kicker and his family can enjoy al fresco meals.
Beyond the kitchen/family room, the volume containing the bedrooms is accessible through another glass-walled gallery. Down a short set of stairs, the ground-floor master suite is complete with a bedroom that opens to a small back patio; a sleek, spacious bath; and a closet by Poliform | Sagart Studio. Two bedrooms and an en suite bath are located upstairs; each bath repeats the Caesarstone-and-oak combination found in the kitchen. Downstairs from the master suite, a finished basement houses a media room and a separate, soundproof studio for Kicker, who enjoys playing and recording music.
The interiors are furnished with iconic, modern pieces such as chairs by Hans Wegner and an Odin leather sofa centered around a Noguchi coffee table. Kicker frequently travels to Asia for work and has picked up art along the way; the gallery spaces showcase his collection.
As Racki describes it, the house “becomes more modern as you move away from the old part.” It also becomes more private; bedroom windows have been strategically positioned for privacy as well as light. Landscape architect Joan Honeyman designed a front yard that partially obscures the window walls with evergreens while providing color throughout the seasons.
Building sustainably was important, so there is an emphasis on passive solar gain. The window walls are screened with trellises that are angled to block the light in summer and admit it in winter. The house is heavily insulated and the light-hued terne roofing and stucco walls reflect the heat.
Racki was at pains to preserve the existing site. She retained all the mature trees on the lot, and rather than digging into the site’s natural incline, “We stepped the house down and fitted it into the landscape,” she says. “We tried to be empathetic with the site. The neighbors love it.”
Photographer Alan Karchmer is based in Washington, DC.
RENOVATION ARCHITECTURE: REENA RACKI, AIA, Reena Racki Associates, Washington, DC. RENOVATION CONSTRUCTION: PAUL JEFFS, Acadia Construction, Bethesda, Maryland. LANDSCAPE DESIGN: JOAN HONEYMAN, ASLA, Jordan Honeyman Landscape Architecture, LLC, Washington, DC. STYLING: Sandra Benedum.
Boffi
Designed for Boffi by Piero a Lissoni and CRS Boffi, the sleek Saint Germain wardrobe boasts sliding doors and a host of interior storage options from pull-out shelves to pull-down hanging rails and trouser holders. Made of thermo-treated larch wood or melamine panels; finishes include matte lacquer, polished white acrylic or wood veneer. LED lights illuminate the interiors. boffi.com
Simple Connection
The UBIK closet system by Poliform | sagartstudio organizes storage without the need for vertical divisions. Drawers, shelves and cubbies are cantilevered from panelled walls that provide support. Available with a range of accessories as well as an integrated LED lighting system. poliform-dc.com
Precious Cargo
The Nested Jewelry Drawer from Tailored Living accommodates two tiers of storage in a four-inch-deep drawer. A low drawer back and extension glides allow full access to both tiers, while gems and trinkets alike are stored in scratch-resistant, velvet-lined compartments. tailoredliving.com
Off the Wall
Closet Factory’s built-in wall beds free up floor space while creating a streamlined, uncluttered look. Beds range from child-size to king-size and can be incorporated into cabinet systems that include dressers, closets, desks and nightstands. Available in finishes ranging from melamine to stained wood. closetfactory.com/washington
Office Space
In a custom home office by Econize Closets, a range of storage options makes multi-tasking easy and pleasant. Cabinets and drawers rein in files, references and work tools. Wire trays eliminate cord and cable clutter to keep the desktop clear. Available in a range of design and finish options. eco-nize.com
Custom Cubbies
Custom cabinetmaker Bare Woods & Home Furnishings has created the Sit and Store Hutch—a modular unit of cubbies and cabinets that’s built to order in maple or oak. Available in a range of sizes, finishes and styles, it can be converted to a bookcase as well. Mounting strips fasten each section to the wall. barewoodsfurniture.com
The National Cancer Institute’s bold new Advanced Technology Research Facility (ATRF) resides on the Riverside Research Park campus in Frederick, Maryland. Designed by HDR Architecture, Inc., the contemporary, 380,000-square-foot complex comprises five state-of-the-art, Green Globe-certified buildings where employees implement advanced technologies and support research, development and testing initiatives.
The mission was to create a space conducive to communication and collaboration. Building E (pictured here), with interiors fitted out by HDR, illustrates the openness theme with a central atrium and circulation spine that leads to other structures. The atrium houses a data center and supports the research needs of 1,200 scientists; it also contains administrative offices, conference and seminar space, an auditorium, a fitness center, staff dining areas and more. A wall of windows emphasizes daylighting and a connection to the outdoors. “We were asked to come up with a design that would represent where they are headed,” says HDR’s regional director, Stephen Blair. “We created a building that would be the new face of the National Cancer Institute.”
ARCHITECTURE: STEPHEN J. BLAIR, PE, LEED AP, project director; CHRISTINE MAHER, AIA; SUSANA KYRGOS, Associate AIA, HDR Architecture, Bethesda, Maryland. CONTRACTOR: John C. Grimberg Company, Inc., Rockville, Maryland. PHOTOGRAPHY: PAUL BURK.
After years in an office suite, principals Erin Olexia and Kim Mohr of Dream House Studios were ready to move to a larger, more visible space. They were thrilled to find what they were looking for in Annapolis’s Design District: a 4,200-square-foot warehouse that would accommodate a retail showroom, an interior design studio and a design trade library.
“We want to be a resource for designers, to create a mini design center for local people,” explains Mohr. Some 2,500 square feet of the space is fitted out for consumers and houses the retail storefront and design studio as well as the library, which represents about 50 different vendors of furniture, fabrics, wallpaper, accessories and more. The rest of the facility is a warehouse with its own loading dock.
“The space combines a residential and industrial feel,” says Olexia. “We wanted a casual environment. It’s important to us that designers like coming here and feel comfortable bringing their clients.”
Industrial lighting and painted concrete floors throughout create a neutral backdrop that enables Olexia and Mohr to change the look seasonally with ease. Tall tables invite designers and clients to spread out and stay a while. Special pricing is available to the trade and Dream House Studios puts together monthly industry events.
“It can be an all-day trip to get to DC,” Olexia observes. “We want to ensure that local designers have another option. We’re excited to help bring people to the Design District in Annapolis.” 1811 McGuckian Street; 410-224-7588. dreamhousestudios.net
