In the kitchen of a house perched on a hillside, views of the treetops abound. These vistas provided Sharon Kleinman with a mandate for the kitchen, which she redesigned along with the rest of the house. Though their home is traditional, the owners wanted a contemporary sensibility. “Modern kitchens can feel cold,” Kleinman says. “The challenge was to make it warm, and I did that by bringing in natural materials to tie it in with the outdoors.”
Kleinman paired custom maple cabinetry from Montgomery Kitchen & Bath with a slate backsplash; distressed, reclaimed walnut floors; and leatherized granite counters. To incorporate the windows into the overall design, she framed them in panels, boxing those flanking the stove and adding glass shelves in front of them.
The new kitchen is a rectangle dominated by a massive center island. Since the owner is a serious cook, Kleinman devised four stainless-steel work stations to suit her specialized needs; they punctuate the expanse of wood cabinetry. A cooking station centers on a Thermador stove and warming drawers, a Viking grill and a custom Viking hood; a cleanup station includes a Franke sink and two ASKO dishwashers; a breakfast station houses a Jura coffee maker, two Sub-Zero refrigerator drawers and a Viking convection oven; and a storage station offers a Sub-Zero refrigerator and freezer drawers.
A pantry supplies additional storage and an extra refrigerator, as well as a cabinet on wheels that holds an industrial-sized Hobart mixer. It fits flush with the other cabinetry and can be moved as needed.
RENOVATION ARCHITECTURE: MARK KRAMER, AIA, Kramer Architects, Inc., Bethesda, Maryland. KITCHEN & INTERIOR DESIGN: SHARON KLEINMAN, Transitions by Sharon Kleinman, Potomac, Maryland.
See other Amazing Kitchens:
Open Plan
An airy, integrated design imbues a modern kitchen with a crisp, European look
Sustainable Style
Designer Sheryl Steinberg creates a "California coastal" aesthetic in her own kitchen renovation
Visual Balance
Biedermeier-style cabinetry lends distinction to a lavishly appointed kitchen by Jennifer Gilmer
Contemporary Classic
Sleek cabinetry and onyx walls lend a glamorous touch to a Kalorama kitchen
Bruce Bowers learned construction at the feet of his grandfather, who was a contractor, then put himself through the architecture program at the University of Maryland by working as a carpenter. These experiences, which showed him the building industry from all sides, inspired Bowers to combine his knowledge and experience into a design build firm.
His decision proved to be a good one: Bowers Design Build has been thriving ever since its inception in 1990. With a staff that includes five architects, an interior designer and a team of carpenters, the Northern Virginia-based company assigns each project a supervisor, lead carpenter and purchasing manager who keeps the timing on track from design through construction. A project estimator ensures that the work is being done within the client’s budget.
Bowers and his team emphasize the client’s needs, making it a priority that the building/remodeling process be a positive one for every client. “The client is key,” explains Wilma Bowers, who is Bruce’s wife, co-owner of the company and the vice president of business operations. “From the beginning, Bruce’s vision was a well-run design build business that would defy the expectation that you couldn’t have a good experience building or remodeling your home.”
Today, Bowers Design Build is mainly a remodeling firm, though they build a couple of custom homes a year. Most of the time, Bowers finds he can modify an existing space and that tearing it down is not necessary. Because they work largely in Northern Virginia, the company deals with a lot of older homes—traditional Colonials that need to be repurposed for today’s lifestyles. Major structural alterations, kitchen and bath renovations and the transformation of main-floor spaces are among the most common types of projects they work on—which is just what the owners prefer. “The inherent constraints in the remodeling process mean that it can be more challenging than a custom building job,” says Wilma Bowers. “Bruce is energized by challenges!”
Along with learning construction from his grandfather, Bruce Bowers also picked up a very specific work ethic. “I was taught that there’s a right way to do things and you don’t cut corners,” he says. “Our brand stands for doing the right thing for the client. I think that’s the reason we’ve weathered the economic storm so well—clients know that they can depend on us to do the right thing.”
Facts & Stats
Bowers Design Build builds and remodels homes with a high level of customization. The firm has 24 employees. At any given time, 30 percent of their projects are for former clients.
Specialties
About 95 percent of Bowers Design Build’s portfolio includes kitchen and master bath renovations. Whole-house structural alterations are also common.
Inquiries
Bruce Bowers, president, and Wilma Cairns Bowers, vice president of business operations, Bowers Design Build,
6715 Whittier Avenue, Suite 200, McLean, Virginia 22101.
703-506-0845; bowersdesignbuild.com; email: [email protected]
The owners of a ranch-style family house on a wooded Bethesda lot had just become empty nesters. With the idea of staying in the house long-term, they decided to integrate the kitchen with the living and dining rooms in one big open plan. They turned to Vincent Sagart of Poliform | Sagart Studio for help with the renovation. Their first move was to eliminate the interior wall that separated the kitchen from the other rooms. The resulting space offers both southeast and northwest exposures, providing, as Sagart describes it, “wonderful light all the time.”
The couple wanted a clean, contemporary look that would complement their Mid-Century Modern house. They also wanted the kitchen to be functional and easy to maintain. Sagart juxtaposed cabinetry by Poliform Varenna in a deep-grained spessart oak veneer with crisp, white Silestone countertops. “I wanted to work with a simplified selection of materials—wood, stone and steel,” he says.
He created several work areas, including a double island with a bar of spessart oak that floats above its Silestone-clad counterpart. The other island holds the Wolf cooktop, while peripheral cabinetry houses Miele dishwashers, Wolf convection ovens and a Sub-Zero refrigerator and freezer drawers.
In the corner by the bank of windows, a banquette and a steel table create a comfortable breakfast nook that takes advantage of the wooded views.
The Silestone backsplash is bisected by an open shelf made of oak. “The shelf allows things to be reachable without cluttering the countertop,” explains Sagart. Brown-hued roller shades further unify the space.
RENOVATION & KITCHEN DESIGN: VINCENT SAGART, Poliform | Sagart Studio, Washington, DC. PHOTOGRAPHY: POLIFORMDC.COM
See other Amazing Kitchens:
Inspired by Nature
Sharon Kleinman marries rustic accents and sophisticated style in a spacious Bethesda kitchen
Sustainable Style
Designer Sheryl Steinberg creates a "California coastal" aesthetic in her own kitchen renovation
Visual Balance
Biedermeier-style cabinetry lends distinction to a lavishly appointed kitchen by Jennifer Gilmer
Contemporary Classic
Sleek cabinetry and onyx walls lend a glamorous touch to a Kalorama kitchen
The original kitchen was cramped and dark. “We knew immediately that we were going to want to open up the kitchen,” she says. “We took down the wall between the kitchen and dining room to create an open, eco-friendly space with better flow.”
Now that the dining room is only separated from the kitchen by a peninsula, light bathes both areas. Steinberg installed two small windows high up along a wall that faces the busy street to admit light while still retaining privacy.
At the other end of the kitchen, a former walk-in pantry has been replaced with a wall of decorative cabinetry. Steinberg bumped one wall out three feet and borrowed space from the former dining room in order to accommodate a spacious island.
Sustainable materials abound. The cabinets, made from rift-cut oak by Holiday Kitchens, use pre-consumer recycled fibers and are finished without VOCs, PVCs or formaldehyde. They’re paired with Green Guard-certified Silestone countertops, no-VOC ceramic-tile floors and energy-efficient appliances. A backsplash of sculptural clay tile from Heath Ceramics in Sausalito completes the space.
KITCHEN & INTERIOR DESIGN: SHERYL STEINBERG, Allied ASID, Sheryl Steinberg Interior Design, Bethesda, Maryland. CONTRACTOR: BETHESDA CONTRACTING COMPANY, INC., Chevy Chase, Maryland. PHOTOGRAPHY: SANDY KAVALIER PHOTOGRAPHY.
See other Amazing Kitchens:
Inspired by Nature
Sharon Kleinman marries rustic accents and sophisticated style in a spacious Bethesda kitchen
Open Plan
An airy, integrated design imbues a modern kitchen with a crisp, European look
Visual Balance
Biedermeier-style cabinetry lends distinction to a lavishly appointed kitchen by Jennifer Gilmer
Contemporary Classic
Sleek cabinetry and onyx walls lend a glamorous touch to a Kalorama kitchen
A Pikesville, Maryland, couple looking to update their kitchen went shopping for appliances—and fell in love. The object of their attraction was a display of Biedermeier cabinetry by Premier Custom Cabinetry, and they knew right away that it was what they wanted. They decided that Jennifer Gilmer, who had worked with Biedermeier cabinetry before, was the designer for the job.
“Designing with Biedermeier is complicated,” Gilmer explains. “It has to be really balanced visually because of the black framing. Everywhere you have a door you also have a rectangle.” If you’re not careful, says Gilmer, the result can look disjointed, with a jumble of black frames in disparate sizes dotting your kitchen’s landscape.
The homeowners’ initial thought was to place a large island in the center of their spacious kitchen. However, this would block easy access to the periphery of the room, where all the appliances—including two traditional ovens and a microwave/speed oven by Miele and a Gaggenau steam oven—would be located. Gilmer suggested two islands instead of one, enabling the cook to pass easily between stations and to stand between islands for food prep. One island also has seating so the family can dine buffet-style, which is their preference.
The cabinetry is made of quartered, figured cherry and the black-and-white marble backsplash is cut into tile shapes. Absolute Black granite counters line the perimeter, while Caesarstone tops the islands. A built-in desk occupies one area.
KITCHEN DESIGN: JENNIFER GILMER, CKD, Jennifer Gilmer Kitchen & Bath, Chevy Chase, Maryland. INTERIOR DESIGN: EDWARD R. STOUGH, Edward R. Stough, Inc., Pikesville, Maryland. CONTRACTOR: ANDY SHAW, Shaw Contracting, Inc., Royal Oak, Maryland. PHOTOGRAPHY: BOB NAROD.
See other Amazing Kitchens:
Inspired by Nature
Sharon Kleinman marries rustic accents and sophisticated style in a spacious Bethesda kitchen
Open Plan
An airy, integrated design imbues a modern kitchen with a crisp, European look
Sustainable Style
Designer Sheryl Steinberg creates a "California coastal" aesthetic in her own kitchen renovation
Contemporary Classic
Sleek cabinetry and onyx walls lend a glamorous touch to a Kalorama kitchen
The owners of a Tudor-style, 1920s home in DC’s Kalorama neighborhood were looking to renovate their house—including its outdated kitchen. They tapped architect Caroline Boutté for the job, which would entail protecting the home’s existing architecture while introducing modern, unfussy interiors.
Boutté envisioned a timeless look throughout the house that would bridge past and present. To evoke that classic aesthetic in the kitchen, she relied on symmetry of design, with a perfectly centered island and a bank of mirrors on one side of the room that mimics the windows directly across. With the classical lines in place, she then selected contemporary, streamlined Poggenpohl cabinetry. She worked with Poggenpohl designer Elizabeth Cosby to create an uncluttered space with clean lines and functional work areas that would feel both modern and timeless in their traditional home.
Because her clients appreciated beautiful materials and textures, Boutté proposed Honey onyx for the walls and backsplash, backlighting the stone surfaces to create a kind of halo effect near the ceiling. The designer even flew to Florida to select the particular onyx slabs that would afford the level of translucence she wanted.
Poggenpohl’s sustainable Teak collection of cabinetry blends harmoniously with the onyx surfaces, and Juparano Gold granite countertops meld almost seamlessly where they meet the onyx backsplash. Miele appliances are carefully concealed behind cabinetry to maintain a spare, uncluttered look.
RENOVATION ARCHITECTURE & INTERIOR DESIGN: CAROLINE BOUTTE, Graybanks Design Group, LLC, Easton, Maryland. KITCHEN DESIGN: ELIZABETH COSBY, Poggenpohl, Washington DC. PHOTOGRAPHY: JENNY YANG.
See other Amazing Kitchens:
Inspired by Nature
Sharon Kleinman marries rustic accents and sophisticated style in a spacious Bethesda kitchen
Open Plan
An airy, integrated design imbues a modern kitchen with a crisp, European look
Sustainable Style
Designer Sheryl Steinberg creates a "California coastal" aesthetic in her own kitchen renovation
Visual Balance
Biedermeier-style cabinetry lends distinction to a lavishly appointed kitchen by Jennifer Gilmer
In rural, picturesque Clifton, Virginia, a narrow road winds its way through woods punctuated here and there by houses, most of them traditional in style. But the road leads ultimately to something completely different. At first glance, it looks like two smallish, modern structures set atop a steep slope—but a closer look reveals that the two buildings are actually connected by a terrace. A walk around the back offers the big surprise: The two buildings are actually one, and the terrace is of the rooftop variety, topping the connective section of the house.
This ingenious design perfectly complements the home’s setting and style, and answers the wishes of owners Johan and Anna De Nysschen, who did not want their home to have a large footprint. The design is the brainchild of architect Richard Williams, who was tapped along with Lorna Gross of Savant Interior Design to renovate the quirky contemporary and make it functional and livable for the couple.
“We were drawn to the place by the setting. It was like a sanctuary,” recalls Johan, an automotive executive. “The dwelling itself did not meet our needs but the bones were good. We could see it had great potential. We called in Richard and it was magnificent from day one. He totally changed the layout, designed it for our needs and made it a low-maintenance house.”
Built in 1999 by Virginia architect Donald Reed Chandler for his own use, the two structures—a three-story tower and a two-car garage—were in the style of Frank Lloyd Wright, with overhanging eaves and shallow, sloping rooflines. “We liked the airiness and aspect of two pavilions with the extended eaves and soffits,” says Williams. “We didn’t want to change the look.” But the couple needed more space, so he devised a floor plan in which an addition would connect the two buildings.
Visitors enter the renovated house on the third level, home to a media room and office with a bar, kitchenette and bath. They then descend to the second level, where the addition encompasses an open-plan kitchen and living room, dining room and master suite. This level, where the couple spends most of their time, now spans the distance between the house and the garage; a back flight of stairs between the garage and kitchen makes bringing in groceries a breeze. The first floor includes two guest bedrooms and a rec room that could easily be converted to a fourth bedroom.
Williams bumped out the home’s top two floors about five feet on one side, cantilevering the extra space above the ground floor. The spacious terrace provides another link to the garage, which now abuts a cozy, cantilevered screened porch with a wood-burning stove, accessible from the terrace as well as the stairs.
One of Williams’s main goals was to ensure that the house would take full advantage of the gorgeous views surrounding it. The second-level addition boasts a solid wall of windows overlooking the backyard, while a slanted wall of windows above the kitchen brings in even more light. A skylight illuminates the back stairs leading up to the garage. “We were always trying to maximize natural light,” the architect comments.
Within the context of the home’s spare, streamlined architecture, designer Lorna Gross says that her challenge was “personalizing and warming up the space without interfering with the view.” Her well-traveled clients, who are South African, offered a fresh perspective and were open to international cultural influences. Casting about for an accent color to anchor the living room, Gross chose red to reflect the De Nysschens’s affinity for things Asian, and to complement the green of the outdoors. She defined spaces through rugs; a contemporary Ikat made with wool fibers delineates the living area while in the adjoining dining area the rug is made out of hemp. Iconic modern pieces like a Barcelona chair anchor the living room, mixed with pieces picked up by the owners over the years.
To help with the kitchen design, Johan and his wife turned to Deborah Kalkstein of Contemporaria, who paired custom wenge cabinetry by the Italian company Modulnova with granite countertops. To allow for those slanted windows, walls of pantry cupboards flank the kitchen, furnishing plenty of storage.
While the Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired outer shell of the house has been retained, pretty much everything else is new, including plumbing and electrical systems and heat and air. At the main entry, a marble floor now welcomes visitors and a floating wall houses the TV and acts as a room divider. Outside, the generously sized terrace beckons with its built-in barbeque and breathtaking views all around.
“Something drew us to it,” says Johan De Nysschen simply. “It’s a wonderful house to live in.”
Photographer Maxwell MacKenzie is based in Washington, DC.
RENOVATION ARCHITECTURE: RICHARD WILLIAMS, FAIA, principal; TIM ABRAMS, AIA, LEED AP, project architect, Richard Williams Architects, PLLC, Washington, DC. INTERIOR DESIGN: LORNA GROSS, ASID, Savant Interior Design, Bethesda, Maryland. KITCHEN DESIGN: DEBORAH KALKSTEIN, Contemporaria, Washington, DC. CONTRACTOR: Lofgren Construction Co., Laytonsville, Maryland.
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 (GALA) 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 September 20. 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. Though there were more than 100 award winners in total, the coverage on the following pages is limited to those in the architecture and design categories; the full, alphabetical list of winners in these categories can be seen below.
Flexible Design
Jens Juul conceived this flexible sofa with a moveable back for Danish furniture manufacturer Eilersen. This casual piece, which also comes in a sectional, has back cushions that are lined underneath with a non-slip material so they can be relocated to suit the sitter. Available through Theodores. theodores.com; eilersen.eu
Color Me Cool
Missoni Home’s trademark vibrant colors and patterns are fully on display in the Italian company’s 2012 fabric collection, Girandole. Pictured here, Girandole upholsters both the Nuh cube pouf and the Virgola lounge chair—with a colorful layer of Nabarniz rugs as a visual complement. missonihome.com
On the Amazon
The Amazonas tables from Swedish furniture company Offecct were designed by Eero Koivisto, who was inspired by aerial photographs of the Amazon rainforest, where trees create a dense ceiling. The tables are made of recyclable steel and are sold as a set of three in different shades of green. offect.se
An Unusual Effect
In the design of Clish Clash, a sofa created by Moroso and Diesel, a combination of disparate upholstery fabrics on back, arm and seat impart a distinctive look. Separate covers of linen, felt, flocked fabric and leather are tailored so that the seams bisect the cushions rather than trim their corners. Available in a choice of color combinations. moroso.it; diesel.com
Gold Standard
The Metropolis Console by Portuguese furniture company Boca do Lobo is handcrafted from gold-finished mahogany with a top that’s covered in a textured, high-gloss black lacquer. Four drawers are adorned with carved brass handles. Also available with a black-lacquered base. bocadolobo.com
Going Public
The late French designer Pierre Paulin first designed this rocking armchair in 1985 as a private commission for composer Pierre Boulez. This year, Ligne Roset used the designer’s drawings to produce the chair—christened Dérive 2 after a musical work by Boulez—for the public. Made of stained wood with a padded seat and back, its shape is reminiscent of a musical sphere or harp. ligne-roset-dc.com
High Society
Recently introduced at the 2012 Maison & Objet design show in Paris, Fendi Casa’s Astoria bedroom collection conjures a sophisticated sensibility. The bedstead is upholstered in velvet, silk and embroidered leather, while the nightstands and chest of drawers are finished in polished, lacquered wood with detailed, stainless-steel feet. Available in a variety of colors, leathers and fabrics. fendi.com
Fine Dining
Jonathan Charles’s French Round Dining Table features ornate detailing on hand-carved walnut legs. It’s pictured here with the Grey Painted Ladder Back Chair and the Hepplewhite Wheatsheaf Chair; the mix of furnishings creates a refined yet eclectic look. jonathancharles.com
Crystal Clear
Swarovski Crystals recently teamed with Napoleon Fireplaces & Grills to produce the LHD50 Limited Swarovski Edition fireplace, which is adorned with a bed of precision-cut Swarovski crystals. The crystals are lit from below to maximize the sparkling reflectivity of the gas-powered fireplace. The Swarovski edition is available in a one-sided or two-sided unit. napoleonfireplaces.com
Vinyl Goes Glam
Part of Architectural Systems, Inc.’s ASI Resilient collection, this vinyl flooring is made from woven vinyl raffia and heat pressed to a stabilizing back. The flooring comes in rolls or tiles and is divided into two groups: Natural, with a matte finish; and Metallic, with a gloss finish. Select patterns are suitable for outdoor use. archsystems.com
Quiet, Please
Crestron has just introduced a line of silent, motorized roller shades, Roman shades, skylight shades and drapery track systems utilizing the company’s trademarked Quiet Motor Technology. The shades can be adjusted using touch screens, keypads, remotes and smart devices; preset buttons recall a favorite light level or shade position. crestron.com
French Flair
La Cornue has added sinks to its repertoire of artisanal ranges and rotisseries with a collection of eight handmade fireclay models. The latest addition to the company’s Culinary Architecture collection, each sink is made of clay from Bordeaux and is available in white or biscuit. Pictured here, the Vasque farmhouse sink, which comes as a single or double bowl. lacornueusa.com
Car Talk
Designed by Sylvain Willenz, the Torch Light from Established and Sons echoes a flashlight or headlight. It’s made of a PVC-dipped polymer, with a polycarbonate diffuser like the textured glass on a car’s headlight. Available in black or red (below) as a table light, suspension light or grouped suspension light through Apartment Zero. apartmentzero.com; establishedandsons.com
A Place for Everything
bulthaup’s b3 interior organization system introduces prism-shaped receptacles that can be fitted in different configurations into a drawer or pullout. Dividers fit into the prisms, allowing you to configure sizes. Accessories such as utensil inserts, boxes, knife blocks, trays and jars also fit the structure. An ergonomic design ensures easy access. bulthaup.com
Out of Egypt
Flooring America’s new Cairo collection of porcelain tiles echoes the rich color variations and textures found in the real stones of sun-baked, ancient Egypt—without the care and maintenance, since porcelain is 30 percent harder than granite and easy to clean. The latest digital printing technology imbues these tiles with the look of real stone. mannington.com; flooringamerica.com
A Delicate Process
The Charleston Collection of tiles by StoneImpressions showcases a leaf and floral pattern on Carrara marble. It was created using an exclusive process of hand-printing designs on natural stone. Tiles are available through Davida’s Kitchen & Tiles in a range of sizes, and in Celadon (pictured), Sand, Pewter and Sky. stoneimpressions.com; davidaskitchenandtiles.com
Marble Magic
Stone Forest’s latest addition is the Renaissance Console, a traditionally styled basin carved from a single block of honed Carrara or Calacatta marble. It tops curved console legs in aged brass or polished nickel; shown here with a four-legged brass base. stoneforest.com
HIGH PERFORMANCE
BMW’s third-generation M6 Convertible (above) and Coupe have hit showrooms after a two-year hiatus. Each retains its sleek, iconic look while sporting a more powerful V8 engine that sprints from 0 to 60 mph in 4.2 and 4.1 seconds, respectively. Twin turbo chargers allow for a more compact engine that provides an efficient balance between high performance and fuel consumption. Priced at $113,995 (convertible) and $106,995 (coupe). bmw.com
WATER RESISTANT
Singing in the shower reaches new heights with the water-resistant iShower speaker, compatible with any Bluetooth-enabled, audio-streaming phone, tablet or computer. It can pair with up to five devices, which you can keep safe and dry up to 200 feet away from the water. $99; ishowerinc.com
FREE OF CHARGE
LaunchPort has introduced its new AP.3 Sleeve for the iPad and iPad 2. This inductive charger fits snugly onto the device, magnetically mounting it onto an accessible base station or wall system for wireless charging. $149; launchport.com
IN CONCERT
Designed by Philippe Starck, Zik by Parrot Wireless Headphones offer concert hall-caliber sound; touch-sensitive controls; Bluetooth audio streaming; hands-free calling capability; and a free app to control sound wirelessly. $400; bloomingdales.com
A DAZZLING DISPLAY
The Ippolita Lambrusco Wonderland Necklace is sure to make a statement with its sterling silver chain strung with Chianti doublets, smoky quartz, pyrite and rutilated quartz. $1,795, exclusively at Bloomingdale’s; bloomingdales.com
MEMORY LANE
Inspired by the nostalgic style and glamour of singer Lana Del Rey, the Mulberry Del Rey handbag comes in the Large Metallic Snake Print or the Ink Blue Sparkle Croc Print with a lock in the shape of a turtle. Available at Mulberry in Tysons Galleria; $2,400; mulberry.com
FASHION STATEMENT
Now open at Tysons Galleria, Intermix brings fashionistas the latest designer looks. Pictured here, Mason Leather Sleeve Coat ($678); Helmut Lang Flare Neck Dress ($425); Sergio Rossi Milady Piper Pumps ($650); and Kotur Breen Miniaudiere Clutch ($650). intermixonline.com
For many years, architects Hugh Newell Jacobsen and his son Simon Jacobsen of DC’s award-winning Jacobsen Architecture have been creating dynamic, innovative structures, complemented by their own custom furnishings. Now, they’re bringing their signature designs to the public with help from Archer, a modern furniture showroom in Cady’s Alley. “Archer has a historical, thoughtful approach to how people live with beautiful objects,” Simon Jacobsen explains.
The Jacobsen Collection will be locally handcrafted and sold exclusively through Archer. It will encompass 50 pieces originally designed for such clients as Jackie Onassis, Meryl Streep and Jordan’s King Hussein and Queen Noor. “Every one of our buildings has our customized furniture,” Jacobsen says. “This collection represents the best and the brightest.” 1027 33rd Street, NW; 202-640-2823; archermodern.com.
Concealed behind a stone privacy wall that flanks a narrow, picturesque street on the edge of Georgetown, historic Evermay is like a portal to a serene and peaceful past. Visible from its perch atop a rolling hillside, views of downtown DC remind visitors how close they are to the hubbub of city life, even while Evermay’s pristine environs keep the chaos at arm’s length.
This Federal-style brick mansion was built in 1801 by Scottish merchant Samuel Davidson. Since then it’s changed hands more than once, weathering alterations—some appropriate, some not so much—along the way. Today, the house and its outbuildings nestle on three and a half acres of immaculately terraced grounds enhanced by fountains, statuary and rose gardens.
This is the surprising refuge in the cradle of the busy city that first intrigued Ryuji Ueno and Sachiko Kuno, a Japanese couple who recently purchased the estate for $22 million in one of the most expensive real estate transactions in DC history. Dr. Ueno and Dr. Kuno are scientists who founded Bethesda-based Sucampo Pharmaceuticals, a producer of breakthrough drugs for such age-related ailments as digestive dysfunction and glaucoma. On the heels of their success, the husband-and-wife team has added to their real estate holdings: They now own some half a dozen houses between DC, the Eastern Shore and Potomac, where their primary residence is located. Since buying Evermay, they’ve also purchased Halcyon House, another historic Georgetown estate, for $11 million.
Their success also enabled Drs. Ueno and Kuno to establish the S & R Foundation, which raises money to support talent in art and science. They were looking for a location for their foundation when their realtor first took them to see Evermay. “We had never heard of it before,” says Dr. Kuno. “But we knew right away we wanted this historic place. We looked at the terraces and grounds and we fell in love.” She adds, “We made the decision to buy it in less than five minutes.”
The idea was to create a temporary home for the foundation that would also house visiting scientists and musicians. The couple envisioned the estate as a haven for the arts, with the ballroom and grounds open to guests for concerts, art exhibitions and other similar events.
To achieve their goal, they immediately enlisted the help of the design team that had worked with them on other houses: architect Jim Rill and interior designer Jodi Macklin. “We wanted to preserve the home’s history,” says Dr. Kuno. “But the house needed to be refreshed and repaired.” She adds, “We were lucky because we had worked with Jodi and Jim before and we trusted them as a team.”
With spring of 2012 as a deadline for completion, Rill and Macklin got started, enlisting a team that included electricians, plumbers, wood-floor specialists, antique-lock restorers, faux painters and more. In the space of about seven months, they restored four floors and two outbuildings: One now houses the offices of the foundation while the other is a three-bedroom gatehouse with ancillary conference rooms.
“We refinished floors, replaced wall panels and installed a new heating and cooling system,” Rill says. To accommodate numerous guests, the sprawling mansion needed major upgrades to the plumbing, wiring and hardware. “A lot of people needed to be able to shower at the same time,” Rill explains. “And each door needed a working key.”
Macklin undertook the Herculean task of furnishing 12 bedrooms, conference rooms, a grand living room, dining room and ballroom. She knew the aesthetic Kuno and her husband preferred. “Elegant yet cozy,” she says. “We maintained the integrity of the house but refreshed it so it wouldn’t be too traditional.” Clean-lined, comfortable furniture in a transitional style enhances a backdrop of neutral colors and strong textures. Throughout the house, the couple’s carefully chosen collection of modern art provides a striking contrast to the antique wall paneling imported from England by previous owners. Luxurious yet understated bedrooms—each named for an indigenous tree—offer fireplaces with their original marble surrounds intact.
Rill and his team extensively updated the kitchen to accommodate Evermay’s chef, Makoto Hamamura, formerly sous-chef at CityZen. Now, custom walnut cabinetry and Caesarstone counters create a transitional look while a glazed brick backsplash echoes the home’s brick exterior. They also refurbished the existing butler’s pantry, which offers plenty of space for caterers to perform their magic under Hamamura’s supervision during large events.
Landscape architect Jay Graham was hired to take care of the grounds, which boast fountains, a gazebo and picturesquely crumbling brick walkways, as well as extensive gardens.
Since the work was completed in May, the S & R Foundation has already hosted a sold-out summer concert series; a holiday concert series begins in November. The concerts are performed in the ballroom and guests mingle on the grounds. During these events, when artists are in residence, the owners like to stay at Everymay and take part in the festivities. “We’re present for all the series,” Dr. Kuno says. “We enjoy entertaining, eating together and sharing time with the young musicians.”
Gordon Beall is a Bethesda, Maryland-based photographer.
RENOVATION ARCHITECTURE: JIM RILL, AIA, principal; RICHARD ROSSI, project manager, Rill Architects, Bethesda, Maryland. INTERIOR DESIGN: JODI MACKLIN, principal; LAUREN SPARBER, designer, Jodi Macklin Interior Design, Chevy Chase, Maryland. CONTRACTOR: BOB LAWRENCE, BL Construction & Remodeling Systems, Inc., Kensington, Maryland. LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE: JAY GRAHAM, Graham Landscape Architecture, Annapolis, Maryland.
There are times when location is everything. In the case of a 1980s contemporary, its setting on a winding, rural road in Great Falls, Virginia, overlooking a picturesque pond was a major selling point. The owners, a couple who operate a non-profit from home for families in crisis, loved their quiet, bucolic surroundings. Their outdated house, however, needed help. It did not reflect their taste, and more important, did not take advantage of the natural beauty around it. After purchasing the home in 2003, they began refurbishing bathrooms and making minor changes with the help of interior designer Mary Galloway. But the real transformation occurred in 2009 when the time came for a structural renovation.
It all started with the old cedar siding. The vertical panels cladding the house had fallen victim to the weather and required a lot of maintenance. “We thought about replacing them but decided to do something different,” the wife recalls. One exterior change soon snowballed into others. The owners had also decided to renovate the kitchen into a more functional space with their own spare, modern aesthetic.
On Galloway’s recommendation, they called on Wnuk Spurlock Architects for help, as principal Steven Spurlock expresses it, “transforming the existing structure to be more engaging and responsive to the site and the clients’ needs.” Ultimately, the project would encompass re-siding the house with geometric panels of low-maintenance fiber-cement to modernize the home’s look; adding a sheltering structure at the front entrance; opening the rear elevation to the backyard and its views; creating an outdoor living space where the owners could enjoy their surroundings; and designing a functional new kitchen.
“The house is composed of three elements,” Spurlock explains. “It’s a center volume that hyphenates two flanking volumes.” The living room occupies the hyphen, one volume houses the bedrooms and the other houses the kitchen and dining room. A lower-level rec room also accesses the backyard.
Galloway collaborated with Spurlock on a plan to open the kitchen up to the back. “I knew the clients loved the outdoors and I wanted to give them more of a connection between indoor and outdoor spaces,” she recalls. “The concept was that the kitchen would have this exterior deck that was a continuation of it, that just seemed to flow.”
Because the house is situated on a slope, the main level is elevated at the back while the front is at ground level. Prior to the renovation, the kitchen opened to a small deck made of pressure-treated wood. Spurlock rebuilt it out of îpe, expanding it to border the living room as well as the kitchen. A wall of floor-to-ceiling glass doors and panels, all framed in stainless steel, now flanks the kitchen and living room; the doors lead out to the deck. Spurlock also added a door to the deck from the ground-level master bedroom, and inserted three structural glass panels into the floor of the deck to admit light below.
Playing off the idea of connecting the structure to nature, the architect and his team designed what he describes as “a freestanding, tree-like canopy above the front entry,” made of galvanized structural steel and frosted acrylic glass. On the deck, they used clear glass railings with “tree-like” painted-steel supports. The glass railings, which replaced a solid stair partition, allow an uninterrupted view of the pond. To unite the home’s interior and exterior elements, the same glass and steel railing now lines the stairway to the basement rec room.
While Spurlock was creating an outdoor living space for his clients, Galloway was designing a kitchen that would embrace it. She replaced two small windows facing the back—and a wall that held the refrigerator—with a wide, ceiling-height sliding window, then extended the same counter outside the window to create a bar where, when the windows are open, visitors can sit outside and still be connected to the kitchen.
When it came to the décor, Galloway went in an entirely different direction, moving decisively from natural to man-made. She and the owners had originally met at a club for Porsche enthusiasts. Taking cues from her clients’ beloved collection of four Porsches, Galloway chose high-gloss custom cabinetry to mimic the sheen of an automobile, and installed a textured stainless-steel backsplash that echoes the Porsche’s lines. Even the Zephyr hood opens like a racing car door. “It was sort of tongue-in-cheek,” Galloway says. “I wanted to keep it sleek.”
Quartzite counters top the peripheral cabinets and deck bar. The island counter of poured concrete combines embedded, recycled glass and ammonites in some parts with plain, tinted concrete in others. Curved lines between the expanses of concrete pick up curves in the lines of the plantation-grown hardwood floor. These lines extend to the deck and pull all the elements together.
According to the husband, the success of the project came from a real meeting of the minds. Spurlock and his team “were good at listening to what we wanted,” he observes. “Then they’d bring back ideas. All we had to do was tweak them and we were there.”
Photographer Steven Paul Whitsitt is based Durham, North Carolina.
RENOVATION ARCHITECTURE: STEVEN L. SPURLOCK, FAIA, LEED AP; MARCY GIANNUNZIO, AIA, LEED AP, Wnuk Spurlock Architecture, Washington, DC. CONTRACTOR: CARRMICHAEL CONSTRUCTION, Fairfax, Virginia. KITCHEN & INTERIOR DESIGN: MARY M. GALLOWAY, ASID, NCIDQ, Onesta Design LLC, Alexandria, Virginia.
It was the perfect location: a half hour from Reagan National, a quick jump over the bridge to Georgetown, and minutes to downtown DC. When a couple—both frequent air travelers—purchased their Arlington home in late fall of 2001, this convenient locale sold them—along with the happy bonus of being nestled on a pretty, quiet street.
The problem was, the house was a mess. A contemporary clad in Western Maryland stone, it was built in 1971 and had been neglected in its perch on a small, terraced lot that slopes steeply to the street. “It hadn’t been lived in for a long time,” says the homeowner. “It was tired and needed an interior facelift.”
Within a few months, the couple had engaged designer Skip Sroka to help them whip the place into shape. “When I saw the house for the first time, I thought it was an interesting kind of California contemporary—fresh and original,” the designer recalls. “But when I walked in, it just fell apart.”
As the enormity of the three-bedroom home’s flaws became clear, the couple, a public affairs specialist and a consultant, realized structural changes would have to be made. With Sroka’s guidance, they embarked on a two-year renovation. “When we were done, nothing old or original was left inside,” Sroka says. “They moved into a shell.” Interior walls had been reconfigured, flooring ripped out and replaced, bathrooms relocated and ceiling heights changed. The kitchen and dining room traded places and the original entry shifted to accommodate a powder room. The relocated front door and surrounding windows represent the only exterior change; the outside of the house remains untouched.
The homeowners contacted Sroka again in 2006 for the next phase of the project: decorating the interiors. They were starting largely from scratch, looking for the right furniture, accessories and artwork. In the designer’s capable hands, the house became a bright, elegant, modern space full of interesting textures, furniture and art.
Today, entering through the front door means climbing a winding set of stairs from the driveway to a large terrace located above the garage; on this small, hilly property, it serves as both garden and gathering space. Along one wall is the entry, which opens into a foyer that used to contain an ostentatiously grand, circular staircase. Sroka and his clients dialed it back to manageable proportions, creating a simple rectangular stairway bordered by modern glass-and-steel railings. Opposite the front door, Sroka clad a wide, central wall in floor-to-ceiling, woven raffia panels that beautifully showcase a custom walnut sideboard of his design and a large-scale, antique circular mirror. The floor—which, says Sroka, was actually covered in pink and black tile (“everything was pink,” the homeowner observes in amazement), is now creamy beige Cascade marble.
In fact, the circular mirror is part of a design motif that developed spontaneously. Throughout the house, circular design elements recur—the most conspicuous being the dining room table, which measures 96 inches in diameter and is a stunning piece custom-made of rosewood, satinwood and ebony by Keith Fritz. Circles also crop up in the powder room, where a semi-circular wall mimics a round pedestal, basin and mirror.
The living room is irregularly shaped, with a ceiling soaring 20 feet at the highest and a stone fireplace that Sroka cleverly modernized with a sleek Botticino marble hearth and plaster surround faux painted to match. Two stories of windows flank the semi-circular room; the designer trimmed them with wide architectural moldings that lend greater presence to the space. Groupings of clean-lined, white-upholstered furniture are punctuated by pops of color in artwork, pillows and honey-toned wood occasional pieces, such as a round, glass-topped coffee table by Dakota Jackson.
The dining room is similarly irregular in shape, with built-in cabinets of rift-cut oak. Linen-covered walls provide a backdrop for works by New York artist David Shapiro; two custom sideboards by Eric Brand are made of rosewood topped with slabs of Jerusalem Gold marble. The remarkable circular rug is a custom piece inspired by a trip Sroka and his clients made to a museum where they saw paintings by Jackson Pollock. “I had a rug made that would look like paint splatters,” Sroka says. “The bonus is that it turns out to really hide spills!”
For the kitchen remodel, designer J. Paul Lobkovich combined anigre custom cabinetry by German manufacturer Studio Becker with granite countertops. In the breakfast area, a collection of colorful, whimsical dog paintings found in a gallery in Provincetown hangs above a curved wall of windows. Sroka designed the oblong table and paired it with chairs from Directions Upholstery and a banquette from Hickory White. He recently had a kitchen island constructed out of stainless steel and concrete. It’s on wheels, allowing the owners to adapt it to any occasion or use.
Upstairs, the original master bedroom suite was comprised of choppy, smaller spaces: a bedroom, two separate closets and a bath with a sunken hot tub. The suite was gutted to create a large bedroom with a sitting area. Sroka designed a built-in TV cabinet for the sitting area out of woven raffia and rift-cut oak. A spacious master bath is clad in Cascade marble and glass tile while an elaborate dressing room, designed by Vincent Sagart of Poliform | Sagart Studio, boasts built-in dark Italian walnut closet components.
Nearly 10 years after the renovation began, the house is finally complete. It was a long journey, but as Sroka says, the inside has finally caught up with the outside. “It’s a total transformation,” he observes. “The house is what it was meant to be but never was. The interior and exterior breathe together as one.”
Photographer Timothy Bell splits his time between Washington, DC, and New York.
INTERIOR DESIGN: SKIP SROKA, ASID, CID, Sroka Design, Inc., Washington, DC. KITCHEN DESIGN: J. PAUL LOBKOVICH, Lobkovich Kitchen Designs, Tysons Corner, Virginia. CONTRACTOR: CHRIS CORCORAN, Corcoran Builders, Inc., Olney, Maryland.
As of September 1, a trip to the Smithsonian National Zoo in DC is no longer complete without a stop at the state-of-the-art Seal and Sea Lion Exhibit. Designed by Quinn Evans Architects and built by Forrester Construction Company, the exhibit is part of the zoo’s American Trail. The habitat mimics the North Pacific Coast shoreline with simulated tide pools, wave machines and faux rock work that was created using cutting-edge techniques for forming and placing concrete. Spread over two acres, the $31 million Seal and Sea Lion Exhibit is big enough to accommodate both species with separate pools for each. An adjoining four-story structure houses a complex marine life support system that treats local water, adding minerals and salt to replicate sea water. It’s also home to the habitat’s care-taking and maintenance operations. Visitors can choose above- or below-water vantage points from which to observe the exhibit’s four California sea lions and two harbor and four gray seals in action. An amphitheater provides a venue for demonstrations.
ARCHITECTURE: Quinn Evans Architects, Washington, DC. GENERAL CONTRACTOR: IAN McDONALD, senior project manager; TOM PHELPS, lead superintendent, Forrester Construction Company, Rockville, Maryland. PHOTOGRAPHY: FREDDE LIEBERMAN.
