JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2011
Top-quality bed linens are a costly investment. And while fine sheets, duvets, pillows and more can be had off the department store shelf, local bedding shops offer personalized service and exclusive products—often imported—that bring a higher profile to the boudoir. Below, we uncover five places where you can shop for a good night’s sleep.
Abrielle Fine Linens
Word has it that Washington’s “elite” purchases bedding from Abrielle. A mainstay for 25 years, the shop is located in an unassuming Northwest DC office building otherwise known for its sought-after medical specialists. While the assured foot traffic that results from this proximity is a plus, Abrielle does not rely on it for sustenance: A rarified repeat clientele is what makes the difference.
“People want personal attention,” observes owner Ann Sullivan. It isn’t uncommon for a customer to come in, spend a few hours with Sullivan and her knowledgeable staff, and leave with enough linens for an entire home—and a vacation house.
“A lot of what we offer is exclusivity,” says Sullivan, who is the sole Washington, DC, distributor for Hamburg House, an Italian manufacturer that custom embroiders bedding, towels and more. “It’s a challenge to find things that others don’t have.”
A wide-ranging selection of merchandise runs the gamut from pre-washed, pre-shrunk Portuguese matelasse bedspreads to opulent 1,000-thread count sheets with lace trim. “We sell beautiful necessities,” Sullivan says. “Our merchandise is made for gracious living.”
3301 New Mexico Avenue, NW, Suite 118, Washington, DC; 202-364-6118.
Valerianne
Tucked into the second floor of a quaint, clapboard building, Valerianne has been proffering luxurious linens for two years now. Owner Aimee Wedlake grew up amongst fine fabrics in her mother’s bedding store in Arizona; now she uses her expertise to educate customers in her own shop. “We make sure this is a tactile experience,” she says. “We take all the sheets out of their packaging so customers really understand what they’re getting.”
While Valerianne carries some familiar labels, Wedlake emphasizes that her store is not “brand-driven.” She helps customers make their choices based on questions of personal preference, such as how they sleep and how they like their sheets to drape across them. “Bedding is personal,” she explains.
Wedlake also brings home new products and lives with them so she can vouch for them in her store. “Bedding should be functional as well as beautiful,” she says, “so everything is washable and made with natural materials.”
Once a purchase has been made,Valerianne provides in-home services that include measuring, steaming the sheets, then showing the customer how to properly make the bed and care for their purchase. “Fine bedding is an investment,” Wedlake says. “It will last a long time.”
111 Church Street, NW, Suite 201, Vienna, VA; 703-242-1790. valerianne.com
Timothy Paul Bedding & Home
Three years ago, this store joined its partner, Timothy Paul Carpets, in the trendy 14th Street Corridor of DC and quickly became part of the downtown design scene. Owned and run by Timothy Paul Worrell and his wife, Mia Worrell, Timothy Paul Bedding & Home offers high-end linens amidst custom furniture finds.
Sferra, Lulu DK Matouk and John Robshaw are among the store’s best-known luxury bedding names, but Timothy Paul also tries to find small, up-and-coming vendors. The store offers samples and sample books from the manufacturers to give customers an idea of what they’re looking at. “We ask people how they live,” he says. “We don’t want them making a big investment that might not suit their lifestyle.”
In keeping with the community orientation of the store, there’s always a bedroom vignette on display created by a local designer, generally showcasing bed linens from the store. In the past, designers Joe Ireland, Lisa Vandenburgh and Lori Graham have created window displays, and a display by Darryl Carter is coming soon. As Worrell explains it, being part the community “is good for everyone.”
1529A 14th Street, NW, Washington, DC; 202-234-2020. timothy paulbedding.com
Yves Delorme
One of a series of high-end boutiques in Bethesda’s Wildwood Shopping Center, the venerable linen and bedding company Yves Delorme evokes the spirit of an opulent French mansion. Bedroom, dining room and living room vignettes reflect the company’s recent partnership with French interior decor company, Mis en Demeure, by combining Yves Delorme’s signature luxury textiles with lighting, furnishings and accessories. “We’re creating a home environment for shopping,” explains store manager Kathy Robertson.
Yves Delorme is headquartered in Lille—the heart of France’s textile industry—where it has been manufacturing luxurious bed, bath and table products since 1845. Today, the company’s textiles are all made from natural fibers, including its delicate Egyptian cotton bed linens, washable silks, colorful sateen sheets and Jacquard-woven designs. Bedding comes in “a wide selection of styles and sizes that can be customized,” says Robertson.
Yves Delorme carries hypoallergenic, organic cotton mattresses from Royal-Pedic, white European goose down duvets and pillows with natural fillers surrounded by Egyptian cotton ticking. The company also offers hypoallergenic comforters and pillows made with hollow, polyester-fiber fillers that are encased in cotton satin. According to Robertson, each item comes with customer care information. “When you’re dealing with better quality cottons,” she says, “they will last longer. But they need good care.”
10301A Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda, MD. Other area locations include Cady’s Alley in Georgetown, Baltimore, Richmond and Annapolis. 301-897-5009. yvesdelorme.com
Emissary Fine Linens
For Lynn Sladkin, it all started with a desire to buy and sell beautiful things. “I love linens,” she says of her choice to open Emissary Fine Linens, a boutique that sells luxury textiles for bed, bath, table and more. “And I really liked the location.” Tucked into the upscale Mazza Gallerie in DC’s Friendship Heights neighborhood, Emissary has been open for 12 years; after the first two years, Sladkin added a second store in Tysons Galleria.
The two stores carry similar merchandise with slight differences that reflect the clientele in each area. The Mazza Gallerie tends to attract “a more local customer with older money and more understated style,” Sladkin says. By contrast, “Tysons customers are younger, more flamboyant and less locally based.”
Both stores offer bed linens by—among others—Sferra, Matouk and SDH. Emissary is the exclusive dealer in the DC area for Pratesi—a company whose sumptuous bedding collection includes sheets that were designed by Coco Chanel. Down for duvets, comforters and pillows is imported from Hungary and Siberia and made locally. Emissary has its own workroom in which monograms and embroidered designs are added to custom bedding orders.
While clientele differs between stores, Emissary’s goals are the same for each location: “Good service,” sums up Sladkin. “If the people who shop with us are happy, then I am happy."
Mazza Gallerie, 5300 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, and at Tysons Galleria. 202-363-1760. emissarylinens.com
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2011
Top-quality bed linens are a costly investment. And while fine sheets, duvets, pillows and more can be had off the department store shelf, local bedding shops offer personalized service and exclusive products—often imported—that bring a higher profile to the boudoir. Below, we uncover five places where you can shop for a good night’s sleep.
Abrielle Fine Linens
Word has it that Washington’s “elite” purchases bedding from Abrielle. A mainstay for 25 years, the shop is located in an unassuming Northwest DC office building otherwise known for its sought-after medical specialists. While the assured foot traffic that results from this proximity is a plus, Abrielle does not rely on it for sustenance: A rarified repeat clientele is what makes the difference.
“People want personal attention,” observes owner Ann Sullivan. It isn’t uncommon for a customer to come in, spend a few hours with Sullivan and her knowledgeable staff, and leave with enough linens for an entire home—and a vacation house.
“A lot of what we offer is exclusivity,” says Sullivan, who is the sole Washington, DC, distributor for Hamburg House, an Italian manufacturer that custom embroiders bedding, towels and more. “It’s a challenge to find things that others don’t have.”
A wide-ranging selection of merchandise runs the gamut from pre-washed, pre-shrunk Portuguese matelasse bedspreads to opulent 1,000-thread count sheets with lace trim. “We sell beautiful necessities,” Sullivan says. “Our merchandise is made for gracious living.”
3301 New Mexico Avenue, NW, Suite 118, Washington, DC; 202-364-6118.
Valerianne
Tucked into the second floor of a quaint, clapboard building, Valerianne has been proffering luxurious linens for two years now. Owner Aimee Wedlake grew up amongst fine fabrics in her mother’s bedding store in Arizona; now she uses her expertise to educate customers in her own shop. “We make sure this is a tactile experience,” she says. “We take all the sheets out of their packaging so customers really understand what they’re getting.”
While Valerianne carries some familiar labels, Wedlake emphasizes that her store is not “brand-driven.” She helps customers make their choices based on questions of personal preference, such as how they sleep and how they like their sheets to drape across them. “Bedding is personal,” she explains.
Wedlake also brings home new products and lives with them so she can vouch for them in her store. “Bedding should be functional as well as beautiful,” she says, “so everything is washable and made with natural materials.”
Once a purchase has been made,Valerianne provides in-home services that include measuring, steaming the sheets, then showing the customer how to properly make the bed and care for their purchase. “Fine bedding is an investment,” Wedlake says. “It will last a long time.”
111 Church Street, NW, Suite 201, Vienna, VA; 703-242-1790. valerianne.com
Timothy Paul Bedding & Home
Three years ago, this store joined its partner, Timothy Paul Carpets, in the trendy 14th Street Corridor of DC and quickly became part of the downtown design scene. Owned and run by Timothy Paul Worrell and his wife, Mia Worrell, Timothy Paul Bedding & Home offers high-end linens amidst custom furniture finds.
Sferra, Lulu DK Matouk and John Robshaw are among the store’s best-known luxury bedding names, but Timothy Paul also tries to find small, up-and-coming vendors. The store offers samples and sample books from the manufacturers to give customers an idea of what they’re looking at. “We ask people how they live,” he says. “We don’t want them making a big investment that might not suit their lifestyle.”
In keeping with the community orientation of the store, there’s always a bedroom vignette on display created by a local designer, generally showcasing bed linens from the store. In the past, designers Joe Ireland, Lisa Vandenburgh and Lori Graham have created window displays, and a display by Darryl Carter is coming soon. As Worrell explains it, being part the community “is good for everyone.”
1529A 14th Street, NW, Washington, DC; 202-234-2020. timothy paulbedding.com
Yves Delorme
One of a series of high-end boutiques in Bethesda’s Wildwood Shopping Center, the venerable linen and bedding company Yves Delorme evokes the spirit of an opulent French mansion. Bedroom, dining room and living room vignettes reflect the company’s recent partnership with French interior decor company, Mis en Demeure, by combining Yves Delorme’s signature luxury textiles with lighting, furnishings and accessories. “We’re creating a home environment for shopping,” explains store manager Kathy Robertson.
Yves Delorme is headquartered in Lille—the heart of France’s textile industry—where it has been manufacturing luxurious bed, bath and table products since 1845. Today, the company’s textiles are all made from natural fibers, including its delicate Egyptian cotton bed linens, washable silks, colorful sateen sheets and Jacquard-woven designs. Bedding comes in “a wide selection of styles and sizes that can be customized,” says Robertson.
Yves Delorme carries hypoallergenic, organic cotton mattresses from Royal-Pedic, white European goose down duvets and pillows with natural fillers surrounded by Egyptian cotton ticking. The company also offers hypoallergenic comforters and pillows made with hollow, polyester-fiber fillers that are encased in cotton satin. According to Robertson, each item comes with customer care information. “When you’re dealing with better quality cottons,” she says, “they will last longer. But they need good care.”
10301A Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda, MD. Other area locations include Cady’s Alley in Georgetown, Baltimore, Richmond and Annapolis. 301-897-5009. yvesdelorme.com
Emissary Fine Linens
For Lynn Sladkin, it all started with a desire to buy and sell beautiful things. “I love linens,” she says of her choice to open Emissary Fine Linens, a boutique that sells luxury textiles for bed, bath, table and more. “And I really liked the location.” Tucked into the upscale Mazza Gallerie in DC’s Friendship Heights neighborhood, Emissary has been open for 12 years; after the first two years, Sladkin added a second store in Tysons Galleria.
The two stores carry similar merchandise with slight differences that reflect the clientele in each area. The Mazza Gallerie tends to attract “a more local customer with older money and more understated style,” Sladkin says. By contrast, “Tysons customers are younger, more flamboyant and less locally based.”
Both stores offer bed linens by—among others—Sferra, Matouk and SDH. Emissary is the exclusive dealer in the DC area for Pratesi—a company whose sumptuous bedding collection includes sheets that were designed by Coco Chanel. Down for duvets, comforters and pillows is imported from Hungary and Siberia and made locally. Emissary has its own workroom in which monograms and embroidered designs are added to custom bedding orders.
While clientele differs between stores, Emissary’s goals are the same for each location: “Good service,” sums up Sladkin. “If the people who shop with us are happy, then I am happy."
Mazza Gallerie, 5300 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, and at Tysons Galleria. 202-363-1760. emissarylinens.com
**Out of the array of interior design magazines, Home and Design magazine stands out as a primary idea source for luxury home designs and coverage of luxury living. Wonderful visuals of luxury getaways and dining options are combined with inspired decor to provide a fundamental reference point for bringing luxury to life in home interiors and beyond.
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2011
A New Angle
The ventilation hood from Jenn-Air is designed to hang on the wall like a picture frame. It features a high-gloss, angled-glass panel framed by stainless-steel trim. Two-inch-thick perimetric ventilation channels line the perimeter of the hood to pull smoky, steamy air out. jennair.com
Made in Italy
Designed by architect Antonio Citterio, Arclinea’s Lignum et Lapis includes a ceiling-mounted unit in stainless steel that incorporates a hood, lighting system, food warmer and miniature green house. The integrated sink and cooktop are surrounded by a Gra-Bla marble surface. Available at Arclinea in DC. arclinea.it
Strong & Silent
This food processor from Viking has a professional-grade induction motor for powerful and quiet processing. It boasts a 12-cup work bowl with a cast-metal handle and one-step assembly of work bowl to base. Rear wheels allow for easy maneuverability; also available in white, black and stainless gray. vikingrange.com
On Wheels
Italian wood manufacturing company Joko combines woodwork with creative design to produce this conveniently sized kitchen cart trolley. It contains a surface of solid, end-grain hornbeam, a hardwood found in Europe, and a structure of stainless steel. Also available with a stainless-steel top. joko.it
Blast From the Past
SieMatic’s latest kitchen collection was inspired by the company’s 6006 Series, which debuted in 1960. Back then, it was the world’s first handle-free kitchen cabinetry—and today’s version echoes the original streamlined look, with the signature strip handle now integrated and available in matte aluminum or black. Available through Konst SieMatic in Bethesda. siematic.com
Pure White
CaesarStone is adding Pure White to the array of shades in which its quartz surfaces are available. Like all CaesarStone surfaces, Pure White is non-porous and scratch-, heat-, stain- and crack-resistant. Available in glossy or honed finishes. caesarstoneus.com
Fabulous Fifties
Italian appliance manufacturer SMEG’s FAB28 Retro Style Refrigerator combines modern technology with the iconic style of another era. Storage within the energy-efficient interior includes a large fruit-and-vegetable container and a chrome wine rack; available in eight non-traditional, eye-catching colors. smegusa.com
Space Saver
The Le Mans Corner Pull-Out puts wasted corner space to use in the kitchen. Its two shelves move independently of each other and offer a non-slip surface finish to hold items in place. A working unit can be found in Kleppinger Design Group’s Fairfax, Virginia, showroom. kleppingerdesign.com
A Seamless Connection
The Bulthaup b3 kitchen design system is made from monoblocks— laminate shells that are converted into cabinetry. Bulthaup mono- blocks boast laser-welded surfaces that create seamless laminate fronts. Inside, walnut drawers and pull-outs make organization easy. bulthaup.com
Coffee, Anyone?
The Benvenuto free standing coffee machine from Bosch grinds the beans and brews the coffee at the touch of a button. It includes an AromaSwirl brewing system, digital display, drip tray, frother and 25 bars of pump pressure. Fully automated, it’s also self-cleaning. bosch.com
Spice It Up
Four new kitchen faucet collections from JADO combine functionality and a modern design that includes drip-free ceramic disc valve cartridges, eight-inch swivel spouts and either a pull-out nylon or pull-down metal hose. Available through American Standard in Basil, Cayenne, Saffron and Coriander (pictured here). americanstandard-us.com
Made to Order
Glass By Hand is an accent tile handmade of kiln-fired glass. During the firing process, color pigments and metallic minerals fuse together to create subtle variations. Tiles come in different colors, patterns, sizes and shapes. Designed to enhance the look of natural stone or slate (pictured here), they’re available through Design Tile, Inc., in Vienna, Virginia. design-tile.com
**Out of the array of interior design magazines, Home and Design magazine stands out as a primary idea source for luxury home design and building/remodeling features. Wonderful visuals of custom homes and eco-friendly resources are combined with expert advice to provide a fundamental reference point for bringing amazing home interior design and remodeling projects to life.
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2011
The congressionally mandated United States Institute of Peace was created 26 years ago for the prevention and resolution of violent international conflict. Yet despite its worthy mission, USIP never had a home designed for its use—until March 2011, when the organization will move into its new, 150,000-square-foot headquarters on the National Mall. Designed by international architect Moshe Safdie, the $186 million structure with centers for work, research and education overlooks Washington’s war memorials—poignant reminders of why USIP is necessary. A public grand opening will take place in September.
ARCHITECTURE: MOSHE SAFDIE, FAIA, Safdie Architects, Somerville, Massachusetts. PROJECT MANAGEMENT: Stranix Associates, LLC, Vienna, Virginia.
**Out of the array of interior design magazines, Home and Design magazine stands out as a primary idea source for luxury home design and building/remodeling features. Wonderful visuals of custom homes and eco-friendly resources are combined with expert advice to provide a fundamental reference point for bringing amazing home interior design and remodeling projects to life.
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2011
With a practiced flourish, Roland Mesnier adds the finishing touch of fresh raspberries to a sumptuous concoction he’s just prepared in his kitchen. Dubbed the Floating Heart, this light-as-air white meringue heart nestled in a pool of raspberry sauce is the perfect Valentine’s Day dessert. Despite having appeared on a White House menu, it is simple to prepare—yet, watching the man who has created desserts for the world’s most famous dignitaries, his guests can’t help but applaud.
After 26 years in the White House (the longest tenure of any pastry chef in White House history), the French-born Mesnier is used to the spotlight. He has rubbed elbows with five Presidents (from Carter to Bush, Jr.), met the challenges and idiosyncracies of each First Lady—and enjoyed every minute of it. Now ostensibly retired, he remains constantly in motion; in fact, he’ll be in China this winter, publicizing his newest book, A Sweet World of White House Desserts. This coffee table volume, to be published in early 2011, describes the most memorable desserts Mesnier prepared for state dinners with lively anecdotes about each occasion. He has already written two cookbooks and a memoir, hosts replica state dinners, conducts speaking tours and classes—and this year created the prized gingerbread house for Mount Vernon’s Christmas celebration.
But even the high-energy Mesnier needs to recharge his batteries, which is what drew him and wife Martha to their five-acre spread in Fairfax Station, Virginia. The couple, who have a grown son, moved into their sprawling, mid-century house with its picturesque courtyard entry in 1993 after nearly a year-long search for just the right property. “We wanted to relocate, to find something in the country because of the pressure of the White House,” Mesnier explains. “I needed a retreat.” He adds, “This house has a very special look. And talk about lowering your blood pressure!”
Mesnier and his wife have filled their home with antiques, pictures and mementoes of life in the White House. Colorful stained-glass lamps punctuate the space, and a coffee table in the living room sports a marble surface that was once part of an exterior wall of the Kennedy Center. “We collect things that have meaning and that work well for us,” he says. “We buy what we love.”
Although Mesnier is no longer concocting his remarkable desserts at the White House, he still loves to entertain. “I call this the party house,” he says of their home, which offers spacious rooms and a sweeping lawn bordered by woods. “We used to do a huge Christmas party for the White House staff, 50 to 60 people. I still entertain like that. I love to spend time in the kitchen. My wife is a terrific cook and everything we do is from scratch. We don’t believe in caterers!”
It was Rosalynn Carter who first lured the pastry chef to the White House in 1976—though she had to ask several times before Mesnier, then happily ensconced at The Homestead resort in Hot Springs, Virginia, finally agreed. “I didn’t want the job but Rosalynn Carter was such a delightful person, she made me change my mind,” he recalls.
The White House position turned out to be the perfect fit for Mesnier, who brought to his work a formality and elegance well suited to the iconic setting. Over the years, he added separate pastry and chocolate kitchens, and worked closely with each First Lady. “Rarely did the Presidents get involved,” he says, “although they all were fascinated by the sugar decoration. President Clinton would bring guests in the middle of the night to the pastry kitchen to see the blown sugar desserts on display.”
According to Mesnier, working for Nancy Reagan presented the greatest challenge—but was also most fulfilling. She approved each dessert and more than once sent Mesnier and staff back to the drawing board. “Mrs. Reagan was a perfectionist to the core,” Mesnier says. “She gave me the challenges that made me what I am.”
While each first couple was different, initially they all professed to have no taste for sweets. “Then they started seeing and tasting what we produced and became very excited,” Mesnier says. “There was not a meal without dessert—that did not exist. And I was known for never making the same dessert twice.”
Mesnier found George Bush, Sr., “a pleasure to feed. He was one of the few Presidents who wanted to taste everything.” Hillary and Bill Clinton loved to entertain. “A thousand people for them was just nothing,” Mesnier recalls. Both Presidents Clinton and George W. Bush were straightforward, unadventurous eaters; Mesnier describes a dessert he made for George W. Bush called Tumbleweed, out of spun sugar and honey ice cream. “He just loved it,” the chef remembers.
The proceeds from Mesnier’s newest book will go to preserving and restoring the White House—as Mesnier explains it, “to say thank you to the American people for welcoming me into their country and to the White House for 26 wonderful years.” He adds, “I love the White House. To me, it is a sacred place.”
Valentine’s Day Floating Hearts
Adapted from Dessert University by Roland Mesnier
8 egg whites, room temperature
1 cup plus 11/2 tbsp sugar
2 cups Raspberry Sauce (see below)
Whip egg whites on high until white and fluffy, then slowly pour in sugar, whipping until meringue holds stiff peaks. Cut out a round piece of parchment and grease with vegetable shortening. Simmer 3 to 4 inches of water in a large sauté pan. Fill a pastry bag with a #8 or #9 plain tip halfway with meringue. Form hearts by piping two 3-inch teardrops side by side on greased parchment. Place parchment on surface of water; the hearts should just slide off. Simmer, covered, for 45 seconds. Lift hearts from water with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Pour raspberry sauce onto a shallow platter. Use a slotted spatula to float meringues on sauce. Arrange strawberry slices around rim of platter and decorate with mint leaves. Makes 16 to 20 hearts.
Raspberry Sauce
1 1/2 pounds fresh raspberries or two 12-oz bags frozen raspberries, thawed
1/2 cup sugar
Blend raspberries and sugar until smooth. Push the mixture through a fine mesh strainer into a bowl.
Photographer Bob Narod is based in Herndon, Virginia.
**Out of the array of interior design magazines, Home and Design magazine stands out as a primary idea source for luxury home designs and coverage of luxury living. Wonderful visuals of luxury getaways and dining options are combined with inspired decor to provide a fundamental reference point for bringing luxury to life in home interiors and beyond.
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2011
Ronald and Mary Slimp had basic goals when they decided to overhaul the basement of their 1915 home in Northwest DC: more storage, better organization and a space for the kids to hang out. As it turns out, their vision was “a little pedestrian,” laughs Mary, standing in the radically transformed basement area. “I had no idea what we could do here.”
The couple tapped Cheverly, Maryland-based E/L Studio for the job, and principals Mark Lawrence and Elizabeth Emerson brought a lot more to the table than a basic basement design. In their hands, the basement area became streamlined and efficient, defined by innovative storage and design solutions within an envelope that both reflects the home’s traditional style and infuses it with contemporary flair.
Prior to the renovation, the space was chopped into a series of rooms, generally too small to be useful. In order to open it up, Lawrence and Emerson gutted it, then created what they term a “box” in the center of the basement into which they consolidated pipes, electrical wiring and other mechanical necessities. That central piece of construction divides the space into two parts: the kids’ play area, complete with TV, gas fireplace and room for books and toys; and the laundry room/home office.
The central box also houses a large amount of storage space. On the office side, it includes a built-in desk with cubbies and drawers and extensive closets for clothes. On the other side, an arts and crafts area with a pegboard, shelving and drawers shares space with a sink, mini-fridge and a glass-fronted unit that stores home entertainment equipment. A flat-screen TV hangs above the gas fireplace.
“We tried to accomplish a sense of open, continuous space,” Emerson says. “But we also wanted to be able to close things off” to reduce clutter. The solution was a sliding door system with seven panels on the laundry room side and five facing the kids’ area. The door panels slide all the way over to one end of the box, where they can be stacked one in front of the other so that they virtually disappear. The doors can be locked in place to secure the desk area.
The designers’ plan ensures that the space can evolve over time. For example, the wall that is now geared towards children will later be converted into a wine rack and wet bar.
Throughout the space, details provide extra functionality. The walls of the kids’ play area are lined with bead board banquettes and bookshelves for storage; these also insulate the foundation wall and conceal a liner that was necessary to protect the existing foundation. The original rickety basement stairway is now an open staircase that admits light from the back basement door; tucked beneath it, a wall of cubbies stores Mary Slimp’s party-planning supplies.
The floors were lowered a foot to accommodate Ron Slimp’s six-and-a-half-foot height, and the ceiling boards were left bare instead of being covered in dry wall, to give the impression that the ceiling is higher than it is. While the stairway is oak—stained dark to connect with the floors in the rest of the house—the basement floor is cork, which imparts a contemporary feel to the space. In fact, the basement “mixes styles and eras,” says Emerson. “A copper-tile fireplace, soapstone countertops and salvaged hardware reflect the period of the house, but clean lines make it all feel modern.”
Pepper Watkins is a Washington, DC-based photographer.
RENOVATION ARCHITECTURE: ELIZABETH EMERSON & MARK LAWRENCE, AIA, E/L Studio, Cheverly, Maryland. CONTRACTOR: ACADIA CONTRACTORS, Bethesda, Maryland. MILLWORK: CIGAR TREE, INC., Sterling, Virginia.
**Out of the array of interior design magazines, Home and Design magazine stands out as a primary idea source for luxury home designs and coverage of luxury living. Wonderful visuals of luxury getaways and dining options are combined with inspired decor to provide a fundamental reference point for bringing luxury to life in home interiors and beyond.
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2011
Jeff Carpenter spent 20 years working with big, impersonal construction companies before deciding to shift gears and hang his own shingle. “I’d been building hundreds of homes a year,” he recalls. “I wanted to do less running around supervising personnel and have closer involvement with homeowners.”
He founded Monticello Homes in 1990 and it quickly took off. Twenty years later, the Fairfax Station, Virginia-based company builds from two to five houses a year and tackles remodeling projects—which works just fine for Carpenter. “I love it,” he says. “I have a small staff and we emphasize personal relationships and quality.”
Most of Monticello Homes’ business is located in Northern Virginia. To keep the company small, Carpenter doesn’t invest in subdivisions; homeowners tend to approach him to build on a property they already own, or more often, to help them find a property to build on. Monticello Homes builds in all styles. “That’s the fun part,” Carpenter says. “There are a million styles between contemporary and traditional and we do them all.”
Facts & Stats
Monticello Homes emphasizes energy management and conservation.
SPECIALTIES
Founder of the Custom Builders Council and
partner and founder of the CB/USA, a national builder buying group.
INQUIRIES
Monticello Homes, Inc.,
7829 Manor House Drive
Fairfax Station,
Virginia 22039
703-425-0001
monticello-homes.com
email: info@monticello homes.com
ARCHITECTURE: Robert Wilkoff, AIA, Archeon Architects, Cabin John, Maryland. INTERIOR DESIGN: Barbara Hawthorn, Barbara Hawthorn Interiors, McLean, Virginia.
**Out of the array of interior design magazines, Home and Design magazine stands out as a primary idea source for luxury home design and building/remodeling features. Wonderful visuals of custom homes and eco-friendly resources are combined with expert advice to provide a fundamental reference point for bringing amazing home interior design and remodeling projects to life.
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2011
As far as Barbara Franceski is concerned, good design is in the details. So when the designer was house hunting and came across a 15-year-old townhouse boasting such architectural elements as picture moldings, a coffered kitchen ceiling and doorframes sporting Victorian rosettes, she naturally jumped. “They were a big part of what drew me to the space,” she recalls.
Three years later, Franceski has added to those innate good lines to create a home that thoroughly reflects her design sensibility. She’s accomplished her goals using classically styled furniture and accessories enhanced by a sense of whimsy, an element of surprise or a contemporary flair—all punctuated by eye-catching artwork. “Spaces shouldn’t be too stuffy or take themselves too seriously,” says the designer.
But before the transformative décor took shape, Franceski’s first, dramatic step was to bleach the floors. “They were dark-stained, builder-grade oak,” she explains, “and made the house feel enclosed. White floors made it light.” They also complemented the neutral palette of creams and beiges that Franceski chose as a backdrop for what she calls “pops of color from the artwork.”
Located within a community of townhouses near Old Town Alexandria, Franceski’s home has a traditional exterior that fits its surroundings. The interior is designed like a center hall Colonial, with the living room to the right as you enter and the dining room to the left. Franceski points out the unusual rug that covers the living room floor; with its sunburst pattern, it radiates movement—which is what the designer liked about it—with punctuations of red that pick up the vintage red Marimekko textile piece on the wall. The room’s eclectic embellishments also include a framed, antique Mexican family tree, a large-scale abstract oil painting over the mantel and a vintage dress form.
The living room deftly blends traditional architectural elements and transitional furnishings with modern lighting, artwork and accessories; Franceski carries the same look into the dining room. William Morris wall coverings emphasize the rectilinear shapes of the picture moldings. To counteract their straight lines, Franceski chose a dish cupboard with circular motifs on the doors. She adorned the neutrally hued walls with rectangles of wallpaper punctuated by round French upholstery tacks. A fanciful round mirror occupies one wall. An oversized, wood-bead chandelier with a copper frame hangs above a table for six.
The dining room provides access to the galley kitchen via an adjoining room that Franceski uses as a butler’s pantry. The direct entrance to the sleek, gray-and-white granite kitchen—which Franceski has not altered—is back beyond the stairwell, straight ahead as you enter the house.
Upstairs, the master suite illustrates the designer’s willingness to play with size, scale and form. She placed her elegant, Niermann Weeks four-poster bed in the center of the room (with three and a half feet between its head and the wall because, as she explains, “I wanted to be able to walk around the bed”), and juxtaposed a piece of folk art beside it for contrast. A pale pink ceiling, coral-hued satin draperies and soft bedding in blue and pink convey a sense of delicate femininity.
On the other end of the second floor, a guest room includes a canopied day bed and a palette of blues and greens. The third floor is home to the designer’s office, a sunlit space that she has chosen to paint white, feeling that “it’s best to make choices involving color for clients against a neutral background.” A zebra skin on the floor draws the eye, and added crown moldings create visual interest in the space.
Throughout the house, Franceski has repeated specific furnishings, colors and textiles in order to subtly tie rooms together—so the color on the entry hall wall (Farrow & Ball’s String No. 8) crops up again on the dining room ceiling, and a chair from the living room has a double in the master bedroom. “My rooms reveal themselves over time,” Franceski says. “It’s about finding your sense of self. You don’t want your house to look like your neighbors’. I like to help clients find their sense of self.”
Photographer Angie Seckinger splits her time between Potomac, Maryland, and Spain.
INTERIOR DESIGN: BARBARA FRANCESKI, Barbara Franceski LLC, Alexandria, Virginia.
**Out of the array of interior design magazines, Home and Design magazine stands out as a primary idea source for luxury home designs. Wonderful visuals of inspired décor and lush landscapes are combined with expert advice to provide a fundamental reference point for bringing amazing home interior design ideas to life.
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2011
The Sliding Door Company recently added to its roster of showrooms with an airy, 1,200-square-foot space on Union Row in DC’s hip 14th Street Corridor. Against a backdrop of exposed beams and white walls accented with bright colors, room vignettes showcase clean-lined doors and moveable walls with a contemporary edge; products include room dividers, closets, wall-slide doors, swing doors and the company’s newest application: suspended doors. Door panels are available in clear, frosted, laminated or linen glass, while frames come in a variety of designs and wood finishes, from walnut to wenge. 2127 14th Street, NW; 202-588-8840; dcslidingdoor.com
**Out of the array of interior design magazines, Home and Design magazine stands out as a primary idea source for luxury home design and building/remodeling features. Wonderful visuals of custom homes and eco-friendly resources are combined with expert advice to provide a fundamental reference point for bringing amazing home interior design and remodeling projects to life.
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2010
ON THE FOREFRONT
The golf room by Virtual Golf Girl brings home some of the world’s top courses, from Pebble Beach to Pinehurst. Using 3D modeling technology, the simulator showcases the scenery of world famous championship courses. Designed by Lynni Megginson, the space doubles as a media room with projection TV and a family gaming center. virtualgolfgirl.com
MEMORY LANE
Nostalgia meets cutting-edge technology in the Digital iPod Jukebox from Frontgate. Boasting a classic fifties-era exterior, the jukebox holds a built-in hard drive that stores and catalogs 1,500 hours of music and video content—accessible through a touch-screen interface—and a four-speaker audio system. frontgate.com
UNDER THE SURFACE
Savant’s new remote control boasts a touch-screen display portion that is actually the latest model iPod Touch encased in the device’s hardware. It controls lighting, home theater equipment, networked cameras and home security. Available through Bethesda Systems in Bethesda, Maryland. savantav.com; bethesdasystems.com
GREEN LIGHT
SIM2’s Grand Cinema MICO series is an eco-friendly home theater projector that uses lamp-free PureLED light source technology. It provides wider and more consistent color reproduction and razor-sharp images, with the long lifespan of an LED. It’s also equipped with a technologically advanced liquid-cooling system that reduces operating noise. sim2.com
QUICK FIX
Before replacing scratched CDs and DVDs, try the automatic Motorized CD/DVD Repair System from Brookstone, which contains a resurfacing fluid that effortlessly fixes those scratched surfaces. Just insert the disk; the battery-powered repair system will do the rest. brookstone.com
A GIFT FROM ABOVE
The Drop Down TV Lift from Firgelli Automations allows customers to conceal their televisions in the ceiling using an adjustable drywall bracket that ensures a flush fit within the ceiling. The lift mechanism is easy to install and is operated via a remote control that works through the ceiling. firgelliauto.com
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2010
ZEBRA STRIPE
Tavola Zebrano floor tile from Porcelanosa recreates the look of an exotic hardwood with a zebra-striped pattern. Made from porcelain with a matte finish, the tiles come in a wide variety of sizes from typical square tiles to larger formats that approximate the look of floor planks. porcelanosa-usa.com
A METALLIC SHEEN
The Bionic porcelain collection from Nemo Tile combines metallic shine and subtle surface texture. Integral through-body color ensures longevity in high-traffic areas, while a micro-sealed finish enhances cleanliness. Pictured here, the Parallel tile has a glossy linear pattern. nemotile.com
VERY VERSATILE
With the Multimax ceiling fan from Fanimation, consumers choose among a variety of options including their preferred lighting and blade configuration; their choice of cherry or mahogany finish on the reversible blades; and whether they prefer a close-to-ceiling mount. A touch-screen remote controls fan speeds and directions as well as lighting. fanimation.com
WATERY WELCOME
H2O Walls, Inc. designs and installs indoor and outdoor water features. Each is controlled by a touch-screen computer program, which handles everything from water flow to lighting. Pictured here, a custom free-falling water spillover system on a deck that feeds into a 38-foot stainless steel bottom basin lined with river rocks. h2Owalls.com
A SOLID CHOICE
Made from solid birch, these off-the-shelf kitchen cabinets from Norfolk, Virginia-based Cabinets to Go include dovetailed joints, pillow-top doorframes, detailed center panels, mitered frames and soft-close drawer glides. Shown here in dark chocolate brown; a hand-rubbed finish with a UV-coating provides scratch-resistance and color retention. cabinetstogo.com
BOARD & BATTEN
Made from western red cedar, these board-and-batten-style exterior shutters have a curved top and are mounted with operable hinges and “S” holdbacks. The hardware is stainless steel that’s been powder-coated in black for durability. Also available in maintenance-free fiberglass, the shutters are manufactured and installed by Perfect Fit Shutters in Gaithersburg. perfectfitshutters.com
BLACKSMITH'S TOUCH
Sonoma Forge’s CIXX Collection for the bath is characterized by its heavily distressed surface texture, complete with the blacksmiths’ hammer marks from the forging process. The faucet set pictured here is made of solid brass and stainless steel; the collection includes tub fillers, showerheads and accessories. sonomaforge.com
Back in 2001, U.S. Naval Academy graduate Matt Long went to work for real estate developer John Pilli—an Academy graduate himself 22 years earlier. Long became a project manager for Pilli’s firm, Pilli Development. As it turned out, the two had more in common than their alma mater: They shared core business values, as well as a vision for the company. When Long became Pilli’s partner and the supervisor of the construction arm of the business, it quickly blossomed into its own entity. In 2005, Gate One Builders was born.
Today, Long supervises day-to-day operations for Gate One, now a sister company to Pilli Development. The company works almost entirely as a renovation contractor—and given its location in historic downtown Annapolis, it’s not surprising that much of the business involves historic renovations. Both Long and Pilli are proud of the niche they fill. “We like the challenge of reinventing historic homes to fit modern needs,” Long says.
Meeting those needs often involves completely gutting a historic home’s interior because, as Long explains, running into structural issues is typical in older homes and starting from scratch is often the best solution. “We modify floor plans for kitchens, baths and closets most often because those spaces were originally designed for much smaller living habits than people have today,” he says. “People want more open homes now, so we end up removing or altering walls to make rooms more open.”
However dramatic the interior alterations may be, the firm works to preserve the exteriors of historic homes they renovate. “We create a completely different interior but the outside remains the same because that’s what the Annapolis Historic Preservation Committee (HPC) wants to see,” Long explains. “We give homeowners everything they need in an existing shell.”
In fact, a major component of the historic renovation process is dealing with the HPC—a challenge Gate One has become adept at meeting over the years. “We have lots of experience. We understand procedures,” Long says simply.
One of Gate One’s recent historic renovation projects is the Southgate Avenue residence pictured on the previous pages. A sprawling, waterfront Victorian, this historic home dates back to 1908. The homeowners contacted Gate One to renovate the existing space and to create an addition; working with Annapolis-based Fourth Street Design Studio, Gate One gutted the house, reframed the floors to level them and built a three-story addition onto the back, ensuring that the front façade remain unchanged.
While historic renovations account for half of Gate One’s business, the other half covers ordinary renovation projects, which provide their own challenges—particularly when they involve inner-city or riverfront locations, as they often do in Annapolis. “All jobs involve dealing with unknowns, creating solutions for interior spaces,” Long says. “We enjoy coming up with unique solutions.”
Facts & Stats
Gate One completes two to three whole-house projects a year, in addition to smaller-scale jobs.
SPECIALTIES
Gate One handles all aspects of the process of gaining historic approvals from the Historic Preservation Committee.
INQUIRIES
Gate One Builders, LLC, 510 Third Street,
Annapolis, Virginia 21403
410-268-0778
gateonebuilders.com
Email: [email protected]
**Out of the array of interior design magazines, Home and Design magazine stands out as a primary idea source for luxury home design and building/remodeling features. Wonderful visuals of custom homes and eco-friendly resources are combined with expert advice to provide a fundamental reference point for bringing amazing home interior design and remodeling projects to life.
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2010
From November 6 to 13, FotoWeek DC will decorate the city with exciting, innovative photography and new media. Only in its third year, this annual festival has already grown into a significant international event, with thousands of visitors flocking to view an ever-widening range of visual art.
This year, FotoWeek’s partner is the Corcoran Gallery of Art, which will host many of the festival events and showcase the winners of its international awards competition, which attracted a record 6,500 entries. Other FotoWeek events include NightGallery—photo displays projected onto the façades of DC landmarks.
For more information, visit photoweekdc.org.
**Out of the array of interior design magazines, Home and Design magazine stands out as a primary idea source for luxury home designs. Wonderful visuals of inspired décor and lush landscapes are combined with expert advice to provide a fundamental reference point for bringing amazing home interior design ideas to life.
Poliform | Sagart Studio is moving up—from its 1,300-square-foot concourse-level location in The Washington Design Center to a 3,300-square-foot showroom on the fifth floor. The move includes an innovative new layout. “We wanted to create a showroom that would reflect lifestyles, not just products,” says principal Vincent Sagart. The new space encompasses two model residences—one upscale and transitional in style, the other more budget-minded and contemporary. Each contains a living/dining area and kitchen; there’s also a spacious, walk-in closet and a bedroom with built-ins. Made in Italy, all Poliform products and finishes are eco-friendly. 202-554-8658; poliform-dc.com
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2010
William Yeoward, the venerated British designer known for his crystal creations, is expanding his 25-year-old English empire. For the first time, his furniture and fabrics are available in showrooms in New York, Atlanta and DC—where they are carried exclusively in Edward Ferrell + Lewis Mittman’s showroom in The Washington Design Center.
Yeoward launched his products at a party in the showroom this fall. His furnishings are characterized by innovative shapes and striking fabric combinations. Yeoward’s luxuriant linens and velvets add texture to his upholstered pieces; the fabrics are available as wallcoverings through Designers’ Guild. 202-646-0282;
ef-lm.com
**Out of the array of interior design magazines, Home and Design magazine stands out as a primary idea source for luxury home designs. Wonderful visuals of inspired décor and lush landscapes are combined with expert advice to provide a fundamental reference point for bringing amazing home interior design ideas to life.
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2010
While Kristin Peake of Kristin Peake Interiors in Rockville, Maryland, was working on a project, the homeowner—who had just moved to McLean, Virginia—pleaded with the designer to dress her home for the holidays. With no time to spare, Peake began scouring the DC area for enough fresh greens to transform every inch of the 6,000-square-foot home into a winter wonderland.
She erected an 18-foot tree in the great room, festooned with over-sized blown-glass ornaments in russet, citrus and orange hues. Three more full-sized trees graced other rooms in the house, while miniature trees decorated the rooms of the owners’ three children. Christmas lights were placed on remotes and timers throughout.
Fresh greens, says Peake, are the most important element in holiday décor. She used boxwood and salal leaves adorned with kumquats for the front door wreath (one of 18 outdoor and four indoor wreaths), and Noble and Fraser fir branches to drape the mantel in the living room. Stephen Chambers of Field & Chambers Floral Events created fragrant arrangements of boxwood, grape vines, twigs and fresh fruit; he also added clusters of boxwood, calla lily and moss in the dining room.
Peake freshened the greens throughout the season—a chore she actually enjoyed. “I love decorating for Christmas,” she says. “So many people just don’t know what to do, it’s nice to be able to create that vibe for them.”
**Out of the array of interior design magazines, Home and Design magazine stands out as a primary idea source for luxury home designs. Wonderful visuals of inspired décor and lush landscapes are combined with expert advice to provide a fundamental reference point for bringing amazing home interior design ideas to life.
