A retired chef and his wife tapped Katie Carlin Interiors to update their Royal Oak, Maryland, residence with new furniture and paint. Built in 1965, the home overlooks Leeds Creek with open sight lines between rooms. “We needed to design the interiors cohesively since the spaces all connect, yet give each zone its own character,” principal Katie Carlin explains.

The owners wished to embrace a coastal vibe to reflect their waterfront locale, so the designer kept that thought uppermost while creating breezy interior spaces in a combination of mid-century and traditional styles that mirror her clients’ aesthetic. Situated at the back of the house, the breakfast room (above) occupies a central spot beside the bustling, revamped kitchen. Scenic views of the creek are visible through French doors, so Carlin conjured a crisp-white backdrop to accentuate the vista. A vintage-style pendant hangs above a glass-topped Villa & House pedestal table made of whitewashed rope wrapped in resin and surrounded by woven wicker chairs from Century.

Interior Design: Katie Carlin, Katie Carlin Interiors, Annapolis, Maryland. 

Collaborating with Bayview Builders on a sprawling, custom home on the Severn River in Annapolis, architect Cathy Purple Cherry embraced traditional style and a breezy, coastal vibe—complete with turquoise-hued shingles. “The goal was to create expansive yet connected spaces with light-filled views, overlooking a pool, terrace, deck and beautifully landscaped gardens,” recounts Bayview’s David Carlisle.

Keeping the scenic locale in mind, Purple Cherry tucked a small, screened porch (above) to one side off the main living area, beyond which a watery panorama unfolds. “It’s a destination room,” the architect notes. “The clients requested that it support seating, not dining, so it’s smaller in scale and has a cozy atmosphere.” A stacked-stone-look tile fireplace anchors the space, where trim details on columns and ceiling reflect the home’s aesthetic. Comfortable Kingsley Bate furniture sits atop an ipe floor and an all-weather rug. A set of stairs leads down to the pool terrace, creating easy indoor-outdoor connectivity.

Architecture & Interior Design: Cathy Purple Cherry, AIA, LEED AP, Purple Cherry Architects, Annapolis, Maryland. Builder: Bayview Builders, Annapolis, Maryland. Landscape Architecture: Campion Hruby Landscape Architects, Annapolis, Maryland.

The owners of a traditional Great Falls residence contacted Surrounds, Inc., to reimagine their two-plus-acre property with improved convenience in front and an oasis in back centered around a swimming pool. “The lot was bare but surrounded by woods,” recalls landscape architect Chad Talton, who spearheaded the project. “We created a landscape that’s somewhat clean-lined, but with cottage qualities that enhance its appeal.”

Previously, a dysfunctional traffic circle dominated the home’s approach. “The owners have a lot of cars and they wanted to be able to park them all and still get around,” Talton says. “The goal was to make the front more usable as well as more beautiful.” Replacing the circle with a paver courtyard solved the issue; a bluestone path leads to the front door while the side-facing garage anchors a spacious parking area. Stone columns and lights flank the driveway entrance. Strategically lit crape myrtles frame the house, scaling down the front façade to conjure that cottage feel.

Beside the garage, a cedar gate set within a stone wall leads to the backyard, which initially presented its own challenges. “There was a constant slope toward the house, and the septic field had to be moved to accommodate the pool,” Talton explains. Stone retaining walls now terrace the property above a rectangular pool surrounded by travertine and thermal bluestone. A cedar-and-stone pavilion with a standing-seam, aluminum roof houses a fireplace and lounge area, while an attached pergola shelters a built-in outdoor kitchen. An existing elevated deck has been upgraded with trim and a repositioned stair leads to the pool area. Water features—one delineated by vegetable and cutting gardens—are set apart to create destinations on the property.

Eagle Ridge building stone crops up throughout the landscape, mimicking the home’s stone accents. A simple planting palette features deer-resistant drift roses, nepeta and Lacecap hydrangea, as well as gingko and cedar trees and evergreen cryptomeria.

Landscape Architecture & Contracting: Chad Talton, PLA, Surrounds Landscape Architecture + Construction, Sterling, Virginia. 

It all started with an ailing privacy hedge. Homeowners initially called on Oehme, van Sweden to replace a row of aged Leyland cypress rimming their nine-acre McLean property—but plans for an at-home wedding soon expanded the project’s scope to a comprehensive redo. Landscape architect Eric Groft of OvS conceived a plan that ultimately spanned the original parcel as well as surrounding lots the owners had purchased over time. “Our goal was to create a strolling park that would act as a thread connecting the entire estate,” says Groft.

The couple’s Mediterranean-inspired manse dictated a European aesthetic characterized by symmetry, formality and the use of stucco and limestone, which clad the house. In front, a scenic approach terminates in a new forecourt framed by 24-foot-tall Thuja nigra arborvitae that replaced the defunct cypress trees “for instant effect,” says Groft. A limestone veranda now enhances the front façade, where a series of French doors formerly opened out to nothing; piers support large bowls of colorful annuals.

A linear series of gardens follows axes emanating from the house. In back, a bluestone dining terrace lined with crape myrtle leads to an existing swimming pool that was revamped with a limestone surround; a fountain anchors the far end. To one side, Groft conceived a walled garden festooned in white perennials, with stepped walkways culminating in a limestone fountain imported from France. An adjacent roundel defined by cherry trees and limestone ingots surrounds a fire pit nestled in pea gravel. Further out, a woodland garden carpeted with purple phlox and native plants abuts a wide swath of lawn where the wedding took place.

Groft enlisted Walnut Hill Landscape Company to install and build out the project. They ultimately added 150 trees, 2,500 shrubs, 21,000 perennials and thousands of bulbs to the property. Says Walnut Hill principal Michael Prokopchak, “The planting combinations are beautiful. There’s something happening in this garden year-round.”

Landscape Architecture: Eric Groft, FASLA, Oehme, van Sweden | OvS, Washington, DC. Landscape Contracting: Michael Prokopchak, ASLA, Walnut Hill Landscape Company, Annapolis, Maryland.

The owners of a colonial-style residence in Alexandria enlisted Marks-Woods Construction Services to create a two-level addition while updating the existing spaces. “They’re a family of four and both husband and wife are architects,” recounts Marks-Woods owner Greg Marks, who enlisted in-house architect Lucy Adams, AIA, to collaborate with the homeowners on the design. Goals included bright and airy interiors; an open-concept kitchen and family room for entertaining; a study; loads of storage; and a larger kitchen. The reconfigured second floor would add a new primary suite to three existing bedrooms.

The 1,350-square-foot rear addition replaced a small one that had contained the family room. The new space accommodates the kitchen/family room, while existing spaces were repurposed to hold sitting and dining rooms, a study and an airy foyer. Upstairs, the addition houses the primary suite.

Elegant materials and finishes elevate the interiors and, per the owners’ request, reflect the home’s vintage provenance. The expanded kitchen is gracious, combining white custom cabinets by Braemar Cabinetry with book-matched Taj Mahal quartzite countertops and backsplash; facing the kitchen, a clean-lined marble fireplace anchors the family room. The study is distinguished by extensive wainscoting, while crown molding and casing details have been added throughout.

GRAND AWARD: Historic Renovation/Restoration $250,000 and over. Renovation Architecture & Contracting and Interior Design: Greg Marks, owner; Danielle Steele, lead designer, Marks-Woods Construction Services, Alexandria, Virginia. Kitchen Design & Cabinet Supply: Braemar Cabinetry, Alexandria,Virginia.  

A couple relocating from Texas hoped to recreate a breezy, Southwestern lifestyle on their new property in Aldie, Virginia. They hired Pristine Acres to reimagine the blank-slate backyard as a retreat with a range of options for gathering. “All the amenities are located for easy access to one another while still being clearly defined,” explains landscape architect Kevin Kurdziolek.

A rectangular pool and spa are anchored by a dark-wood custom pergola with an integrated tile fireplace. Travertine surrounds the pool, which boasts a sun shelf; Fiberon decking on the pergola floor and at the opposite end of the pool unify the poolscape.

A second-story deck and pavilion extend from the back of the house. The pavilion—complete with a marble-veneer fireplace and vaulted, stained-fir ceiling—offers indoor-outdoor connectivity via a folding window wall that opens to the family room. Below the deck, an outdoor kitchen and poolside dining space beckon. A workout room is tucked beneath the pavilion.

The owners specified clean, modern lines and an airy feel—and the meadow around the property lent itself to that vision. “We wanted to package that sense of space in our design,” Kurdziolek observes. “There is something very calming about watching the grasses sway.”

While working with Case Architects & Remodelers on a whole-house renovation in Bethesda, clients requested an overhaul of their outmoded primary suite. Along with other improvements, they envisioned a bathroom update that would “create an oasis,” recalls Case lead designer Allie Mann.

The plan tackled an assortment of angled walls and soffits that made the existing bath dated and cramped. “We squared off door entries to the WC and the shower, which felt like a cave with minimal glass,” Mann recounts. The dark, angled shower gave way to a sleek, glassed-in version, both roomier and better situated. A sculptural soaking tub replaced a built-in tub with stair entry; this change removed unnecessary soffits, allowing the facing vanities—which flank the tub—to be extended for increased storage and surface area. The water closet’s footprint was expanded to accommodate a shallow linen closet at one end.

Mann and her team imparted a spa feel to the space with white cabinetry, white quartz vanity tops and brushed-gold fixtures and hardware. Large-format, marble-look porcelain tile lines the floor and shower enclosure, where teak-look floor tile provides contrast. Vanity backsplashes showcase a decorative-leaf marble mosaic that climbs to the ceiling.

BOATING LIFE Costiera, a line of lounge furniture by French designer Christophe Pillet for Ethimo, is meant for use on land or at sea. Yacht-centric materials, from striped textiles to natural teak, add nautical flair to chairs, sofas and coffee tables. ethimo.com

SWEET SEAT Ngala Trading has teamed with South Africa-based Douglas & Douglas on the Woven seating collection. A powder-coated, stainless-steel frame pairs with weatherproof fibrecane, a recyclable, wicker-like material sourced in South Africa. Counter stools are pictured. ngalatrading.com

BIG DEBUT Japanese- and mid-century-inspired silhouettes define the Delrio dining table and Chilton dining chairs, respectively. Part of Arteriors Outdoor—the brand’s inaugural outdoor line—the pieces marry teak with synthetic weaves of rope and rattan. arteriorshome.com

LOW PROFILE Minimalist lines meet generous proportions in Mattone, low-slung, modular seating from JANUS et Cie, which recently opened a Bethesda showroom. Pictured with the Kanji Cocktail Table, crafted from a lightweight, concrete-and-glass-fiber composite. janusetcie.com

TWO'S COMPANY Designed by Enzo Berti for Kreoo, the ingenious Vis-à-Vis chaise offers seating for two. Chrome tubes cantilever from both sides of a natural-stone block; the tubes support a woven lounge complete with headrest. kreoo.com

MEMORY LANE B&B Italia’s Softcage collection pays homage to a 1975 rattan design by Mario Bellini. The new line features a sofa in two sizes and an armchair, all utilizing a cage structure wrapped in rattan. Available at the Georgetown location; bebitalia.com

LIVING COLOR Pollack has unveiled Gemini, an assortment of indoor/outdoor fabrics showcasing textured, woven surfaces and graphic patterns. Dance Track (pictured) features a kaleidoscope of hues in a herringbone weave made from post-consumer recycled polyester. Find in six colorways. pollackassociates.com

FOUND IN NATURE Organic shapes inspired Royal Botania’s Organix lounge collection. Kidney-shaped sofas, chairs and ottomans come with movable backrests and cushions; a coffee table with a ceramic top is part of the mix. royalbotania.com

OUTSIDE THE BOX Riviera outdoor furnishings from Portuguese brand Mambo Unlimited Ideas embrace the unconventional. Case in point: A bench (above) features rounded, lacquered-stainless-steel bases in a choice of pastel hues. A foam cushion and a roll-top pillow further the surprising silhouette. mambounlimitedideas.com

TABLE SCAPE Italian furniture maker Gervasoni’s Brise table conjures an Art Nouveau motif on a stainless-steel base, with a portable top made of Millgres, a weatherproof ceramic material. Stackable, stainless-steel Brise chairs complement the tableau. Available in red (pictured), cream and blue. gervasoni1882.com

LIGHT’S OUT Naoto Fukasawa’s aluminum Half-Dome Outdoor Lamp for Kettal combines a round stand with a slender neck and a domed shade. Find in black or white, in a floor or cantilevered (pictured) version. kettal.com

The National Building Museum will host the 42nd annual Smithsonian Craft Show, May 1 through 5. The theme of this year’s event, Creating Joy, celebrates artisanal achievement throughout the U.S., showcasing the work of 120 jury-selected artists. All facets of contemporary craft and design will be on display—from basketry, ceramics, decorative fiber, furniture, glass and metal to jewelry, leather, mixed media, paper, wood and wearable art.

Proceeds support Smithsonian museums, galleries and research facilities. For more information, visit smithsoniancraftshow.org.

BELLS & WHISTLES
DCS Appliances’ Series 9 Built-In 48-Inch Grill boasts an infrared rotisserie and a charcoal smoker tray. Pictured with 24-inch refrigerator drawers; a griddle powered by natural or LP gas; and stainless-steel cabinets. dcsappliances.com

PIE DAY
XO Appliance’s XOPIZZA2FS pizza oven serves up authentic, wood-fired pies. Made in Italy, the portable appliance has a refractory ceramic floor and dome-shaped interior that retain heat evenly. Available at ABW—Appliances A Better Way showrooms. xoappliance.com; abwappliances.com

ON THE GRIDDLE
The Evo Affinity 25G flat-top gas griddle measures 25 inches in diameter with two temperature zones; it can sauté, pan fry, roast and more. An electric version will debut later this year. Find at AjMadison in Tysons. evoamerica.com; ajmadison.com

CHILL OUT
The 24-inch refrigerators and freezers in True Residential’s 300 Series come as undercounter and drawer units. Multiple hardware options and a host of finishes are available; pictured below in matte white with pewter hardware. Find through Ferguson. true-residential.com; build.com

BOTH WORLDS
The Coyote 50” Hybrid Built-In Grill is powered by charcoal on one side and gas on the other. Two burners and 1,200 square inches of grilling surface are illuminated by LEDs. Find at Appliance Distributors Unlimited locations. adu.com; coyotegrill.com

SMOKIN’ HOT
The lightweight Caliber Pro Kamado combines a charcoal grill and smoker in an egg-shaped shell. The Japanese-style cooker can grill, smoke and bake, and offers a rotisserie system. Available at Town Appliance in Owings Mills. townappliance.com; caliberappliances.com

Beach Life  Northern Virginia-based designer Lauren Liess, a bestselling author, HGTV personality and product designer, takes her signature rustic-chic style to the seaside with Beach Life: Home, Heart & the Sea. While exploring the magical allure of coastal living, Liess showcases interiors she’s designed, from oceanfront manses to cozy beach cottages on sandy streets, in a 288-page book featuring 250 vivid color photographs. Design inspiration and advice on coastal décor are part of the mix, along with recipes and musings on wellness and family. Abrams, 2024. $45.

New Coastal With the goal of discovering “how people live by the sea,” Australian designer and photographer Ingrid Weir traveled the coastlines of Australia and the U.S. to write and photograph New Coastal: Inspiration for a Life by the Sea. The 256-page book captures oceanside dwellings in locales ranging from Big Sur to Australia’s Bay of Fires. Also featured: Q&As with acclaimed designers, stylists and architects, and 10 vignettes Weir created in her own home and elsewhere that evoke coastal life. Hardie Grant Books, 2024. $45

Surf Style at Home California surf culture is the theme of Surf Style at Home, written by Newport Beach interior designer Raili Clasen. Over 224 pages, the colorful, playful and eclectic aesthetic Clasen dubs “surf style” comes to life in homes she’s masterminded around the country, from quirky beach cottages and an Alabama lake house to sprawling new builds in Newport Beach and Montana. Chapters bearing names like Keep It Campy and Crank Up the Color highlight decorating tips and fabulous photos. Gibbs Smith, 2024. $40 —J.S.

CUT A RUG
Rugs in the Plein Sud Collection by Italian contemporary maker Warli are handwoven from recyclable polypropylene rope. The Mirasol carpet (above) is woven out of cord over a flatweave base to create a basketweave motif. Find in a choice of five colors. shop.warli.it

SOFT SELL
Updated stripes and plaids and muted, textured weaves distinguish Stark’s coastal-inspired Sea La Vie indoor-outdoor rugs. Above: Alary, a flatweave made in India out of the brand’s durable performance acrylic; shown in Azure. starkcarpet.com

COLOR CRAZY
Lisbon’s pastel-hued houses inspired Portuguese visual artist Joana Vasconcelos’ whimsical Bombom outdoor collection for Roche Bobois, which includes round and freeform rugs. Crafted of tufted bouclette in outdoor polyolefin with a shaved-velvet edge. roche-bobois.com

WOVEN WONDER
Radici Carpet has debuted an outdoor textile line featuring flatweaves and loop-pile rugs. Made of polypropylene, they come in three textural designs—Oasis, Eden and Iris—and in four neutral shades. radicicarpet.it

ROPED IN
Tidelli Outdoor Living adds to its customizable furnishings and accessories with Vimare, an assortment of knitware carpets woven together with nautical rope in a bold, checkerboard pattern. Find in 63 vibrant color pairings, including turquoise and white. tidelli.com

In Washington, abundant green space creates happy opportunities for city living surrounded by nature. Case in point: Rock Creek Park’s Soapstone Valley, a rolling swath of woods tucked into DC’s Forest Hills neighborhood. Among the sprinkling of modern homes clustered along its fringes, a dwelling masterminded in 1994 by Bethesda architect Stephen Muse takes full advantage of the scenery—one of many reasons a dad with kids aged nine and 13 purchased the house in 2020. “As soon as I walked in, I thought, ‘This is the one,’” recalls the owner, a partner in a venture capital firm. “The sense of serenity and space and connection to the outdoors—it’s like you’re in a forest while you’re in the city. I thought it could be our forever house.”

Set back from the road, the 5,200-square-foot, five-bedroom residence fits seamlessly into its lush landscape. While it reflects a streamlined take on cottage style in front, a wall of windows in back lets nature in. The entry door opens into an airy, two-story front gallery spanning the width of the main floor; wide openings lead into the spacious living/dining room straight ahead and the kitchen to the right. These rear-facing spaces access an expansive deck perfect for al fresco lounging and dining while taking in the sweeping vista. At one end of the gallery, a short, perpendicular wing comprises a home office, laundry, powder room, mudroom and passage to the garage. At the other end, a staircase enclosed in a rounded volume leads up to the primary suite and kids’ ensuite bedrooms.

After purchasing the house, the owner enlisted architect Christian Zapatka to finish the basement; an extensive redo created more livable space comprising a family room, kitchenette, game room, guest suite and luxe gym. Marvels the owner, “We added a wing to the house without having to touch the exterior or change its character.”

Designer Laura Hur of Lorla Studio was tapped to update the interiors with new furniture and finishes. However, the assignment soon snowballed to include structural changes, from bathroom renovations and millwork updates to interior door replacements and a kitchen facelift. Hur also spearheaded the basement finishes and furnishings. Throughout the house, her client “wanted a feeling of casual, sophisticated elegance, chic for entertaining but comfortable for family living,” she recounts. “We also wanted nature to take center stage.”

Together, they homed in on a warm, modern aesthetic. Against a palette of brown, black, gray, tan and cream, the design took shape—spare and modern with a subtly masculine vibe. The color scheme reflects the world outside those expansive windows, as do subdued materials, including custom travertine that replaced a polished, black-marble fireplace surround in the living room; it crops up again above a new, built-in dry bar in the same room. Maple closet doors gave way to walnut versions embellished by sculptural, integrated wood handles. Clay finishes by Portola Paints add richness to the walls of the deep-green home office, the nearly black first-floor bathroom, the primary bedroom and a deep-taupe basement game room. The owner’s bath is clad in custom, hand-applied clay lime plaster. White walls keep the living areas bright—and ensure all eyes are on the panorama outside.

Furnishing the main-floor rooms, Hur opted for selections that would prioritize the view. Low-slung, sculptural seating with curved profiles imparts softness to the home’s innately spare lines. Leather and textural fabrics such as velvet, bouclé and linen convey a luxe feel, paired with aged brass and warm wood frames. “These elements play an important role in keeping the interiors from becoming too modern or cold,” notes the designer.

A new lighting plan replaced clunky recessed lights with less intrusive versions. Apparatus Studio chandeliers introduce an industrial edge to the living/dining area, primary bedroom and lower-level game room. Large-scale abstract canvases throughout the house complement its simple palette.

The kitchen layout stayed the same, but light maple cabinetry was refaced with a richly grained walnut veneer. Integrated handles contribute to an uncluttered sensibility. Black granite countertops were replaced with honed quartz; a waterfall top was introduced on the island to update the look.

The bathrooms throughout the house underwent more thorough makeovers. Hur selected timeless hues of green and pink for the son’s and daughter’s baths, respectively, to ensure staying power. The primary bath showcases a sculptural tub against a wall of creamy zellige tile, conjuring a luxurious, spa-like feel.

The owner and his kids are thrilled with the results of the redo. “It’s a perfect expression of me and what I wanted,” he observes. “Laura created a family home for us. We jelled and she made it a real partnership.”

Hur adds, “Though the house was very much still in the ’90s when we began, it had strong bones and a great layout. It was fun to reimagine it for today.”

Over many decades, an historic manse grew to encompass a verdant landscape that suited its stately style. “The property dates back to the early 1800s and we’ve maintained it for 20 years,” relates McHale Landscape Design’s design/build president Phil Kelly. Measuring in at one acre, “it’s one of the largest residential properties in Georgetown,” he notes. 

Originally conceived by Connecticut-based landscape architecture firm James Doyle Design Associates, the grounds today are luxuriant yet structured. In front, a distinctive checkerboard surface of brown and beige precast tile forms an entry path flanked by azalea and boxwood. The wide side yard, protected by a tall privacy hedge, beckons with a row of fountains framed in low boxwood and festooned first by yellow tulips and then feathery astilbe. A bench is posed for contemplation on a gravel path surrounding the feature. The other side of the house connects the front and rear yards via a flagstone walk trimmed with manicured shrubbery and grass; another bench heralds the transition to the backyard.

Complete with a built-in grill and shaded by pleached catalpa trees, a flagstone terrace in back is spacious enough for dining and lounging. In 2021, McHale and James Doyle Design Associates collaborated on a swimming pool, installed beyond the terrace (shown on previous pages). The pool is accessed via rough-hewn granite steppers; manicured lawn frames the pool’s narrow, thermal-finish Pennsylvania flagstone coping. Says Kelly, “Green is the clients’ favorite color and the landscape’s many shades create a sense of relaxation and peace.”

Award: Distinction, Residential Maintenance (McHale). Landscape Design: James Doyle Design Associates, Greenwich, Connecticut. Landscape Installation & Maintenance: Phil Kelly, McHale Landscape Design, Upper Marlboro, Maryland. Photography: Erin Bogan. 

Colao & Peter reimagined a blank-slate, one-and-a-half-acre expanse as a year-round oasis. The project encompassed a swimming pool with an integrated spa and water feature; a separate zone centered on a fire pit; and a spacious porch off the main residence. “Our clients envisioned a luxurious, resort-style setting,” recounts landscape architect and partner J.R. Peter. “They wanted a design that blends clean lines with unique details, a timeless feel.”

At the clients’ request, the design team homed in on a modern sensibility reflected in crisp hardscape, strong angles and structured plantings. The large, rectangular pool is bordered on one side by a three-scupper water feature built into a limestone retaining wall; the feature faces the house, providing an appealing focal point and peaceful sound. The same stone envelops the spa, which boasts a granite spill on one side that empties water into the shallow end of the pool. A sun shelf provides easy pool access.

Imported Jerusalem limestone was used liberally as a connecting element to achieve a unified aesthetic. It clads the pool deck and forms stair treads and pavers in neat geometric patterns that navigate the property. A border of river rock delineates planting beds from hardscape. Hydrangea, Green Giant arborvitae and ornamental grasses soften the tableau.
The 450-square-foot porch “was designed to feel like an extension of the home,” Peter says. Double roller screens with mesh and vinyl, as well as ceiling fans and heaters, ensure comfort and use all year round.

Award: Distinction, Craftsmanship (Design/Build). Landscape Design & Contracting: J.R. Peter, partner; Dave D’Amato, landscape architect; William Woodburn, project manager, Colao & Peter—Luxury Outdoor Living, Sterling, Virginia. Photography: Jimi Smith.

A retired couple purchased a diminutive getaway with big ideas for its future. Situated a block from the ocean in Bethany Beach, Delaware, the 1,500-square-foot, circa-1960s cottage had become outmoded and dysfunctional over time—so the owners embarked on an overhaul with help from architect Jonathon Selway and Jamie Merida Interiors. The goals were to create a getaway where they could easily accommodate their two grown kids and families; foster indoor-outdoor connectivity; and impart contemporary style via clean lines and loads of color.

The plan maintained the original layout, with four bedrooms and an exercise room on the ground floor and public spaces above. A primary suite and deck were added at the front of the house. A new, second-level screened porch on the rear overlooks a recently installed plunge pool beside a shed that contains changing rooms.

Denise Perkins of Jamie Merida Interiors spearheaded the interiors. Working in tandem with principal Jamie Merida, she conjured a fresh, modern take on beach cottage style. “It was a gut job,” notes Perkins. “We were able to turn a dated house into a little jewel box.” A Q&A with the designers about the process follows.

How does the reimagined front entrance set the tone?
Jamie: It’s an amazing space, a solid glass volume that’s like a lighthouse at night. It contains an open staircase that replaced the original enclosed one, which was in a different spot in the house. When you arrive, all you see is glass and stair.

Share the story behind the white neon sign over the staircase.
Jamie: During the project, we were looking for quotes to reflect the philosophy of the house. That one kept coming up, so we had it custom-made in neon for the space.

Discuss how the main level evolved.
Denise: The vaulted shiplap ceiling is just about the only thing we kept from the original cottage. There was already an open plan on the main floor, but the space is used completely differently now. We relocated the kitchen because it was cramped and faced the street. We added built-ins along the fireplace wall and on one wall of the game room, where we incorporated a desk and shelving. The floor is a driftwood-look luxury vinyl tile that disguises any sand that gets tracked in.

What inspired the color scheme, which is such a defining element?
Denise: The owners like clean, crisp and contemporary. They requested all-white interiors with pops of bold, saturated color. We chose a Marmoleum floor for the entry in bright orange, turquoise, yellow and green. We added red to that palette and then ran with it on fabrics, decorative objects and art.

What role does art play in the décor?
Jamie: The colors in this house are like a Mondrian painting: clear, strong, saturated and true. We looked for art to reflect that palette and had fun with it. Denise found a light fixture for the entrance hall that looks like a Calder mobile. And there’s a fabulous piece on the landing made of crunched, recycled paint cans. In the eating area, there’s a kind of totem pole piece that reminds me of the London Underground signs.

Talk about the evolution of the two-tone countertop.
Denise: The kitchen is mainly white with black accents. The island’s countertop is both black and white. The owner didn’t want a seam in it but the size of the island would have required one. So we leaned into it with slabs of quartz in contrasting colors.

How did you achieve a connection to the outdoors?
Jamie: The screened porch in back is comfortably located under the trees so you always feel a breeze. It holds a big dining table that seats eight—custom-made in white quartz with a black stripe to echo the island countertop—and outdoor furniture for lounging.

How did you differentiate each of the tiny bedrooms?
Denise: I used bold colors and patterns in the three guest rooms. I do that to make rooms look bigger. I designed custom headboards for each bedroom; they're attached to the walls and bedframes to save space. There are two guest baths that play off the bedrooms in terms of color. The primary bedroom is black and white with a strong tree-motif wallpaper on an accent wall behind the bed and matching drapery; the ensuite bath is white and gold with black accents.

What was the secret to fitting four bedrooms into the original footprint?
Denise: They’re like staterooms, with not an inch of wasted space. The owners wanted king-sized beds in all but the bunkroom, mainly because their families like their dogs to sleep with them. We put in California king beds; you can hardly turn sideways, but we made it work! No room for dressers so we outfitted the closets with built-ins for storage.

What is special about the new pool and its surroundings?
Jamie: It’s a plunge pool—very small. It’s located at the back of the house where an existing shed was repurposed and now contains outdoor showers and changing rooms. They’re protected by an overhang. A live roof was planted over the shed, so you see that beautiful expanse of green instead of just an ugly rooftop when you look out from the porch above. It’s a really nice touch.

Renovation Architecture: Jonathon Selway, AIA, Jona- thon Selway Architects, Selbyville, Delaware. Interior Design: Jamie Merida, principal; Denise Perkins, lead designer, Jamie Merida Interiors, Easton, Maryland. Renovation Contractor: Boardwalk Builders, Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. Landscape Architecture: Topio Landscape Architecture, Selbyville, Delaware. Styling: Charlotte Safavi.

ASK JAMIE + DENISE

How do you make a coastal look feel fresh?
Jamie: It’s tricky. We’ve been trying to get away from typical navy and white with colors like sea glass. And this house is like a beach ball with all its colors, which is a fresh take in itself.

Share tips on integrating lots of color.
Denise: A base of white helps ensure a space doesn’t end up looking like a carnival. Here, I stuck to four or five colors in the same hue and intensity and repeated them.

Name a trend you’ve had enough of?
Jamie: I hope I’ll never see another gray kitchen with a blue island.

What beloved possession would you never part with?
Denise: My dad was an artist; I would never give up his paintings.
Jamie: I would sell just about anything! But I do have a baby grand piano that I love because my under-graduate degree is in piano.