NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2010
ON A CLOUD
High-end Italian furniture manufacturer Poliform unveiled the Bug bed at the Milan Furniture Fair earlier this year. Designed by Paola Navone, it’s meant to conjure the feeling of sleeping on a cloud. The Bug bed is available with removable fabric or leather upholstery through Poliform | Sagart Studio in DC. poliform-dc.com
EXOTIC WOOD
British designer Andrew Muggleton bends and shapes exotic woods to create his contemporary furnishings, as evidenced by his recent Macassar Ebony collection with its distinctive wood grain of black and brown stripes. Here, pieces of Macassar ebony fit together without glue to form the Interlocking Console; stainless steel at one end supports a three-quarter-inch thick glass top. andrewmuggleton.com
ISLAMIC COOL
Taking his inspiration from North African Islamic cultures, Pascal Mourgue designed the Tazia chair for Ligne Roset of France. This contoured stool features a curved, natural or ebony-stained oak back. It’s available in a wide selection of fabrics and colors, along with a matching polyester ottoman. ligne-roset-usa.com
SOMETHING FISHY
Created in 2005 by Indian designer Satyendra Pakhalè, Cappellini’s whimsical Fish Chair has become such a popular item that the Italian company joined forces with Disney in 2010 to produce 99 limited edition Fish Chairs in kid-friendly patterns. Made of eco-friendly plastic, the chair is still available in other colors through Contemporaria in DC. cappellini.it; contemporaria.com
ANCIENT TREASURE
British artisan Adrian Swinstead uses ancient trees—some as old as 8,000 years—to create his furniture designs. Among other wood materials, he culls his pieces from bog oak, preserved underground for millennia in unique, low-oxygen conditions. Swinstead seasons his wood finds for up to four years before carving. Pictured here, a cabinet made with the African wood afrormosia, rippled sycamore and bog oak. adrianswinstead.com
SOFA STYLE
Made by The Leather Collection, the Veneto sofa is versatile, with a headrest and back that can be adjusted for comfort. Shown here in soft lavender leather, it’s available in 50 colors and grades at Contemporary Concepts Furniture in Rockville, Maryland. contemporaryconceptsfurniture.com
GAME TIME
The Fusiontable from Belgium-based Saluc is a slate-topped pool table that doubles as a sleek dining table on a steel frame with adjustable legs. Wood-veneer panels conceal game accoutrements. The nylon stretch pockets enlarge to hold the balls, then flatten out again when empty. Matching benches can be stashed under the table when not in use. Available through Posh!, Inc., in Vienna, Virginia. fusiontables.com
FASHION FORWARD
Fashion icon Jean Paul Gaultier has partnered with France’s Roche Bobois to commemorate the furniture company’s 50th anniversary. The result: Jean Paul Gaultier Pour Roche Bobois Paris, a home collection that reflects the designer’s edgy sensibility. Pictured here, the Paravent bed with an upholstered headboard and acrylic panels in anodized aluminum. roche-bobois.com
BUTTERFLY BEAUTY
Designed by the venerable English furniture company George Smith, the handcrafted Butterfly Chair offers a traditional silhouette with contemporary flair. Available in a choice of 37 fabrics, leathers and kilims at J. Lambeth & Company in DC. jlambeth.com
A TASTE OF INDIA
At home in a contemporary or classical environment, the Silver Coin Ram’s Head Chair by Sona Design is handcrafted in India. Twin ram’s heads on the chair back and intricate embossed floral detail lends this ornate chair an exotic flair. Available through Skynear & Company in DC. skynearonline.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
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
**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
**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.
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2010
A dramatic addition to the revitalized Southwest DC waterfront is Arena Stage, fresh from a major renovation. Renamed Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater, the structure is both imaginative and forceful with a boldly cantilevered roof, transparent glass walls and towering, mast-like wood columns. The 90-foot cantilever aligns with Maine Avenue, saluting the distant Washington Monument from its compass-point tip. Designed by Vancouver-based Bing Thom Architects and built by Clark Construction of Bethesda, Maryland, the 200,000-square-foot venue houses three state-of-the-art theaters linked by a lobby and staircase. Says architect Bing Thom: “The design creates the natural drama of a night at the theater.” —Julie Sanders
**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
Family history plays a strong role in the story of this Bethesda renovation. The sprawling brick house had been in the Straus family since its construction in the mid-1960s by Betty Brydges Straus; since then, the children had grown but always returned for those milestone events that draw families together. Meanwhile, the house—already a stylistic hodgepodge—became cluttered and outdated, gradually settling into disrepair.
It was son David Straus, along with his wife Courtney, who decided to come back to stay. However, while the Strauses loved the idea of moving back into David’s childhood home, the couple, investment managers with a grown child, knew the house was in dire shape. With its stunning location on three bucolic acres, it seemed ripe for a teardown. But the emotional connection for David was strong; ultimately, they decided to renovate the existing structure. “We needed to gut everything,” says Courtney Straus. “But we wanted to keep the bones in place.”
They contacted Mary Anne Antonides of Posh!, Inc., who in turn led them to builder Chip Gruver of Gruver Cooley and architect Bruce Hutchinson. With an enthusiastic, unified team in place, the Strauses felt comfortable surrendering the reins of the project. “We work full-time,” explains Courtney. “We didn’t have time for it, so they came in and took it over.”
The result of such capable teamwork—and flexible, open-minded clients—is a stately, stucco-clad structure embellished with Italianate elements that perfectly reflects the homeowners’ sensibility. All the double-hung windows have been replaced with larger, two-paned casements that bring in light and enhance the home’s new style. The original Spanish tile roof—which never matched the former brick façade—seamlessly complements the new stucco siding. Landscape architect Howard Cohen of Surrounds, Inc., refurbished the pool and added pavers and slate, an outdoor fireplace and kitchen. He also re-positioned the back steps.
Inside, the bones of the house remain, though walls and doorways have shifted. “Renovations encourage creativity of design,” says Chip Gruver, alluding to the dramatically refurbished main entry, which now sets the tone for a serene environment with elegant lines and rich finishes. In order to eliminate what Gruver describes as “a feeling of cavernousness,” the original vaulted ceilings were lowered. The squared-off staircase was replaced by one with a gently curved banister.
In the once narrow family room, the exterior wall was bumped out about eight feet to add more usable space—the only change to the home’s footprint. The wall separating the family room and kitchen was opened up to create better flow; since it was a major bearing wall, this was a challenge requiring “a steel beam that took 15 people to install,” says Gruver. Hutchinson designed decorative columns to add further support.
The kitchen and breakfast room changed positions so the family can enjoy the view outdoors during meals; the kitchen, once wallpapered in gingham with pink cabinets, is now a clean-lined, modern space with white cabinetry, marble countertops and an expansive island in the center. The breakfast room leads out to a large screened-in porch overlooking the backyard.
The ground-floor master bedroom suite also underwent a transformation. A series of smaller rooms was gutted to create a large bedroom with a sitting room nook that houses a breakfast bar. The bedroom opens onto an intimate covered loggia with a view of the woods. At the other end of the bedroom, a polished marble corridor lined with closets ends in a spacious bath with soaking tub.
The home’s interiors are harmonious and soothing—the perfect environment for relaxing after a hard day at work, says Courtney Straus. To convey a sense of calm and tranquility, Antonides selected a neutral palette for the interiors. Polished limestone floors and cream-colored faux finishes—executed by artists with Antonides’s design firm—on the living room and entry walls create a muted backdrop for crystal chandeliers, gold-leaf embellishments and richly textured fabrics. The living room boasts a limestone fireplace and silk carpets. Walnut-stained, hand-hewn oak floors in a herringbone pattern from Majestic Wood Floors in Frederick, Maryland, delineate the dining room. Custom-cast crown moldings and walls faux-painted with silver leaf add to the luxurious effect.
A bolder color scheme sets the family room apart as a more casual space. Upstairs, four bedrooms, each with an en suite bath, have been redecorated; a fifth was converted to a sitting room and a spacious room over the garage now houses a paneled library with a walnut fireplace Antonides ordered from England.
According to the owners, the team worked “hand-in-glove” to complete the home and they are more than satisfied with the results. “Our home is updated yet comfortable now,” says Courtney Straus. “It’s exactly our style.”
Photographer Mary Parker is based in Round Hill, Virginia.
CONTRACTOR: CHIP GRUVER and MIKE JULE, project superintendent, Gruver Cooley Corporation, Leesburg, Virginia. RENOVATION ARCHITECTURE: BRUCE HUTCHINSON, AIA, Hutchinson + Associates, Rockville, Maryland. INTERIOR DESIGN: MARY ANNE ANTONIDES, Posh!, Inc., Vienna, Virginia. LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE: HOWARD COHEN, Surrounds, 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 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
Like many renovations, it started with something small. After 23 years, homeowners Cathy Simon and David Kuney had tired of their master bath, which sported an ’80s-era skylight that, as Simon puts it, “made the room feel like a sauna.” The couple contacted architect David Jameson, whose vision of a sleek, modern bath soon spilled over to encompass the adjoining closet, home office and master bedroom. As the detritus of years of day-to-day living melted away behind carefully planned storage built-ins and a new streamlined environment, the owners were smitten. “When I came upstairs,” Simon recalls, “my blood pressure went down.” The couple, both attorneys, decided they wanted to establish that sense of calm and serenity throughout their home.
Five years later, the entire residence has been transformed into a spare, minimalist space full of subtle, deceptively simple, modern architectural elements that work together to form a cohesive whole. “The house is curated with just three or four materials,” Jameson says. He followed the design blueprint he established in the master suite, incorporating teak paneling on walls and ceilings, plate-bronze surfaces and expansive unfilled travertine fireplace surrounds into the rest of the house.
Jameson’s repetition of materials brings unity to the home, which at nearly 6,000 square feet felt disjointed prior to the renovation. “The project was about taking an existing home and repositioning the way the rooms are experienced,” the architect explains.
The number of rooms hasn’t changed—in fact, the footprint for the house remains exactly the same—but their configuration and orientation has. Jameson opened up some walls and closed off others, creating what he calls “a front-to-back relationship with rooms flowing together,” so sight lines are open from one end of the house to the other. He replaced rows of traditional windows with “window walls”—separate windows banked together without trim that reach from the floor up to the headers near the ceiling. The window banks are framed in teak to make each one look like a single, solid structure.
The finished spaces are a perfect complement to the couple’s modern art collection—large abstract canvases that draw the eye throughout the house. The front entry, with a massive plate-bronze door and ceiling, opens into a spacious hallway that is empty of everything but artwork; bearing walls that couldn’t be moved have been widened to resemble art installations. The teak paneling, which includes quarter-inch reveals between panels, figures prominently on the walls and ceiling and flanks the stairwell at the end of the room.
To the left of the entry, David Kuney’s study offers a panoramic view of the front yard. The same warm, honey-colored teak paneling conceals shelves and cabinets. Also to the left, the living room showcases the first of five fireplaces in the home clad in unfilled travertine. The other side of the hallway opens into the dining room, with a square French walnut dining table and a matching sideboard that cantilevers out from the wall—both designed by Jameson.
An expansive family room/kitchen appears beyond the dining room. The kitchen’s layout hasn’t changed, but the cabinetry has been refaced with custom-designed teak and there is now one large-scale island where there used to be two. The counters are a honed gray schist called Pietro Cardoso, and the backsplash is acid-etched ceramic fritted glass, which includes a layer of enamel painted on the back for durability.
The skylight in their bathroom was not the only one the couple had grown to dislike over the years. They requested that Jameson get rid of the others—one in the kitchen and one in the family room above a casual eating area. The architect designed floating ceilings that hang below each skylight to block the sun and heat while still allowing indirect light to filter into the room.
Stair rails were replaced by tempered glass with delicate handrails of plate bronze. The upstairs master suite is entirely carpeted with custom-made felted wool from New Zealand, while Simon’s home office, the walk-in closet and the bedroom all boast teak cabinetry.
In the master bathroom where it all started, Jameson has created a haven of tranquility, with shallow custom limestone sink basins, a limestone soaking tub and plate-bronze countertops. The roomy shower stall has a five-foot-wide pivoting door and a floor made of Inca stone—one piece of which is cleverly raised to allow water to drain around it. The architect also added state-of-the-art elements, including a wall of windows made of ionized electronic glass that becomes frosted for privacy at the touch of a button; walls on each side of the room are made of opaque glass with light fixtures behind them that cast a softened glow on the room. Each includes a mirror as part of the glass expanse.
The home’s new streamlined approach perfectly reflects the couple’s aesthetic. “When we started this, David asked us how we live our days,” Cathy Simon recalls. “All of this evolved from his knowing that.” She pauses. “We love to be here. This house is us.”
Paul Warchol is a photographer based in New York City.
ARCHITECTURE: DAVID JAMESON, FAIA, David Jameson Architect, Alexandria, Virginia. CONTRACTOR: MIKE MADDEN; JOHN PAGE, project superintendent:, Madden Corporation, Rockville, Maryland.
**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.
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010
With its coveted spot on the corner of 15th and P Streets in trendy Logan Circle, the newly completed Metropole apartment building is perfectly located. So when Sid Stolz and David Hatfield were looking to move into a vibrant DC neighborhood, the building was the logical choice. However, as Stolz describes it, “We bought it off plans. The finishes and detailing were not what we expected.”
Enter architect Andreas Charalambous of Forma Design about four months after the couple had moved in. “They were still living out of boxes,” he says. “They were frustrated and didn’t know how to use the space.” Rooms had been designed with too many doors, there was not enough cabinetry in the kitchen and while the main living room had a soaring, two-story ceiling, it didn’t feel open to the rest of the apartment. “The bottom line,” Charalambous explains, “is that a building on this spot is unique. The apartment needed to be brought up to par.” The architect proposed a plan that would increase storage throughout the home, create more wall space to display the owners’ dramatic art collection and open up the second floor to bathe the interiors in natural light.
Charalambous began by making the living room more functional. By closing off two doors to the adjoining guest room, he created a new wall to accommodate shelving, cabinetry and a flat screen TV on a side of the room that had previously been dead space.
The kitchen also presented problems. As Charalambous explains, “It was full of incomplete ideas.” The cabinetry didn’t extend the full length of the main wall, which was dominated by a door to the pantry, and an empty niche to the left of the stove was basically useless. Charalambous balanced the space by installing additional cabinetry and concealing the pantry door behind a matching panel to create a streamlined look. For visual continuity, he used the same quarter-sawn oak cabinetry in the new entertainment area as well as in the office upstairs. A custom-designed wine rack now occupies the kitchen’s empty niche.
On the second floor, Charalambous combined the home’s master and second bedrooms to create a suite that encompasses a sleeping area and a home office. Though the first-floor atrium offers breathtaking views through two-story windows, a drywall balcony rail and bi-fold doors obstructed the view on the upper level. Charalambous removed the drywall and the doors, replacing them with cable railing that duplicates the apartment’s existing stair rail. Now, the second floor offers an uninterrupted panorama of the cityscape and a view of the whole apartment as well, imparting the sense of openness the space had lacked.
Stonework was added to create texture and interest while unifying the interiors. The striated and chiseled limestone appears by the entry, along the entertainment area wall, as a backsplash in the kitchen and upstairs. “The stone comes up two stories,” Charalambous explains, “to emphasize the open, two-story expanse.”
Because Stolz, a healthcare consultant, and Hatfield, an animal-rights activist, collect contemporary art, it was important that their new home would effectively showcase their collection, which includes a custom-made Graham Caldwell hand-blown glass sculpture that hangs in the two-story space between the office and one of the banks of atrium windows. “A lot of things were done so we could display our art,” says Stolz.
In this apartment, lighting also constitutes art, from the Foscarini Caboche Suspension pendant in the dining area to the huge 60-bulb FLOS Taraxacum ’88 Suspension in the living room that, according to Stolz, draws gazes from the street at night.
However dramatic, floor-to-ceiling windows can be problematic in warmer months, when sunlight can heat the apartment. Charalambous installed mechanized, two-story double shades throughout. Daytime shades counteract summer temperatures while still admitting natural light. Blackout shades provide privacy and darkness for sleeping.
Once all the structural changes were made, it was homeowner David Hatfield’s strong design sense that completed the job. “All the furniture came from Contemporaria,” in Georgetown, Hatfield says. They worked with designer Jessica Mowery, who worked for Contemporaria at the time and has since started her own firm, MOW design studio, in Silver Spring, Maryland. Mowery helped the homeowners choose the sprawling, Molteni & C Freestyle modular sofa that anchors the living room. Upholstered in hand-woven, black-and-white Italian fabrics, it creates a vibe that is both casual and chic. Punches of bright color add vibrancy; the coffee table and side tables are yellow, as is a sculptural Cappellini chair that stands out in one corner of the room. A pale calfskin rug covers the expansive dark-wood floor, the ceiling is painted a light taupe color and exposed HVAC and sprinkler pipes reinforce the urban look.
The homeowners couldn’t be happier with the results of their labors. “We feel like we live in a great location with a great view,” Stolz says. “We have everything we wanted. We just love it here.”
Photographer Geoffrey Hodgdon is based in Deale, Maryland.
RENOVATION ARCHITECTURE: Andreas Charalambous, AIA, IIDA, + Juan Gutierrez, Forma Design, Washington, DC. RENOVATION
CONTRACTOR: MCA Remodeling, Inc., Washington, DC.
With its coveted spot on the corner of 15th and P Streets in trendy Logan Circle, the newly completed Metropole apartment building is perfectly located. So when Sid Stolz and David Hatfield were looking to move into a vibrant DC neighborhood, the building was the logical choice. However, as Stolz describes it, “We bought it off plans. The finishes and detailing were not what we expected.”
Enter architect Andreas Charalambous of Forma Design about four months after the couple had moved in. “They were still living out of boxes,” he says. “They were frustrated and didn’t know how to use the space.” Rooms had been designed with too many doors, there was not enough cabinetry in the kitchen and while the main living room had a soaring, two-story ceiling, it didn’t feel open to the rest of the apartment. “The bottom line,” Charalambous explains, “is that a building on this spot is unique. The apartment needed to be brought up to par.” The architect proposed a plan that would increase storage throughout the home, create more wall space to display the owners’ dramatic art collection and open up the second floor to bathe the interiors in natural light.
Charalambous began by making the living room more functional. By closing off two doors to the adjoining guest room, he created a new wall to accommodate shelving, cabinetry and a flat screen TV on a side of the room that had previously been dead space.
The kitchen also presented problems. As Charalambous explains, “It was full of incomplete ideas.” The cabinetry didn’t extend the full length of the main wall, which was dominated by a door to the pantry, and an empty niche to the left of the stove was basically useless. Charalambous balanced the space by installing additional cabinetry and concealing the pantry door behind a matching panel to create a streamlined look. For visual continuity, he used the same quarter-sawn oak cabinetry in the new entertainment area as well as in the office upstairs. A custom-designed wine rack now occupies the kitchen’s empty niche.
On the second floor, Charalambous combined the home’s master and second bedrooms to create a suite that encompasses a sleeping area and a home office. Though the first-floor atrium offers breathtaking views through two-story windows, a drywall balcony rail and bi-fold doors obstructed the view on the upper level. Charalambous removed the drywall and the doors, replacing them with cable railing that duplicates the apartment’s existing stair rail. Now, the second floor offers an uninterrupted panorama of the cityscape and a view of the whole apartment as well, imparting the sense of openness the space had lacked.
Stonework was added to create texture and interest while unifying the interiors. The striated and chiseled limestone appears by the entry, along the entertainment area wall, as a backsplash in the kitchen and upstairs. “The stone comes up two stories,” Charalambous explains, “to emphasize the open, two-story expanse.”
Because Stolz, a healthcare consultant, and Hatfield, an animal-rights activist, collect contemporary art, it was important that their new home would effectively showcase their collection, which includes a custom-made Graham Caldwell hand-blown glass sculpture that hangs in the two-story space between the office and one of the banks of atrium windows. “A lot of things were done so we could display our art,” says Stolz.
In this apartment, lighting also constitutes art, from the Foscarini Caboche Suspension pendant in the dining area to the huge 60-bulb FLOS Taraxacum ’88 Suspension in the living room that, according to Stolz, draws gazes from the street at night.
However dramatic, floor-to-ceiling windows can be problematic in warmer months, when sunlight can heat the apartment. Charalambous installed mechanized, two-story double shades throughout. Daytime shades counteract summer temperatures while still admitting natural light. Blackout shades provide privacy and darkness for sleeping.
Once all the structural changes were made, it was homeowner David Hatfield’s strong design sense that completed the job. “All the furniture came from Contemporaria,” in Georgetown, Hatfield says. They worked with designer Jessica Mowery, who worked for Contemporaria at the time and has since started her own firm, MOW design studio, in Silver Spring, Maryland. Mowery helped the homeowners choose the sprawling, Molteni & C Freestyle modular sofa that anchors the living room. Upholstered in hand-woven, black-and-white Italian fabrics, it creates a vibe that is both casual and chic. Punches of bright color add vibrancy; the coffee table and side tables are yellow, as is a sculptural Cappellini chair that stands out in one corner of the room. A pale calfskin rug covers the expansive dark-wood floor, the ceiling is painted a light taupe color and exposed HVAC and sprinkler pipes reinforce the urban look.
The homeowners couldn’t be happier with the results of their labors. “We feel like we live in a great location with a great view,” Stolz says. “We have everything we wanted. We just love it here.”
Photographer Geoffrey Hodgdon is based in Deale, Maryland.
RENOVATION ARCHITECTURE: Andreas Charalambous, AIA, IIDA, + Juan Gutierrez, Forma Design, Washington, DC. RENOVATION
CONTRACTOR: MCA Remodeling, Inc., Washington, DC.
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010
With its coveted spot on the corner of 15th and P Streets in trendy Logan Circle, the newly completed Metropole apartment building is perfectly located. So when Sid Stolz and David Hatfield were looking to move into a vibrant DC neighborhood, the building was the logical choice. However, as Stolz describes it, “We bought it off plans. The finishes and detailing were not what we expected.”
Enter architect Andreas Charalambous of Forma Design about four months after the couple had moved in. “They were still living out of boxes,” he says. “They were frustrated and didn’t know how to use the space.” Rooms had been designed with too many doors, there was not enough cabinetry in the kitchen and while the main living room had a soaring, two-story ceiling, it didn’t feel open to the rest of the apartment. “The bottom line,” Charalambous explains, “is that a building on this spot is unique. The apartment needed to be brought up to par.” The architect proposed a plan that would increase storage throughout the home, create more wall space to display the owners’ dramatic art collection and open up the second floor to bathe the interiors in natural light.
Charalambous began by making the living room more functional. By closing off two doors to the adjoining guest room, he created a new wall to accommodate shelving, cabinetry and a flat screen TV on a side of the room that had previously been dead space.
The kitchen also presented problems. As Charalambous explains, “It was full of incomplete ideas.” The cabinetry didn’t extend the full length of the main wall, which was dominated by a door to the pantry, and an empty niche to the left of the stove was basically useless. Charalambous balanced the space by installing additional cabinetry and concealing the pantry door behind a matching panel to create a streamlined look. For visual continuity, he used the same quarter-sawn oak cabinetry in the new entertainment area as well as in the office upstairs. A custom-designed wine rack now occupies the kitchen’s empty niche.
On the second floor, Charalambous combined the home’s master and second bedrooms to create a suite that encompasses a sleeping area and a home office. Though the first-floor atrium offers breathtaking views through two-story windows, a drywall balcony rail and bi-fold doors obstructed the view on the upper level. Charalambous removed the drywall and the doors, replacing them with cable railing that duplicates the apartment’s existing stair rail. Now, the second floor offers an uninterrupted panorama of the cityscape and a view of the whole apartment as well, imparting the sense of openness the space had lacked.
Stonework was added to create texture and interest while unifying the interiors. The striated and chiseled limestone appears by the entry, along the entertainment area wall, as a backsplash in the kitchen and upstairs. “The stone comes up two stories,” Charalambous explains, “to emphasize the open, two-story expanse.”
Because Stolz, a healthcare consultant, and Hatfield, an animal-rights activist, collect contemporary art, it was important that their new home would effectively showcase their collection, which includes a custom-made Graham Caldwell hand-blown glass sculpture that hangs in the two-story space between the office and one of the banks of atrium windows. “A lot of things were done so we could display our art,” says Stolz.
In this apartment, lighting also constitutes art, from the Foscarini Caboche Suspension pendant in the dining area to the huge 60-bulb FLOS Taraxacum ’88 Suspension in the living room that, according to Stolz, draws gazes from the street at night.
However dramatic, floor-to-ceiling windows can be problematic in warmer months, when sunlight can heat the apartment. Charalambous installed mechanized, two-story double shades throughout. Daytime shades counteract summer temperatures while still admitting natural light. Blackout shades provide privacy and darkness for sleeping.
Once all the structural changes were made, it was homeowner David Hatfield’s strong design sense that completed the job. “All the furniture came from Contemporaria,” in Georgetown, Hatfield says. They worked with designer Jessica Mowery, who worked for Contemporaria at the time and has since started her own firm, MOW design studio, in Silver Spring, Maryland. Mowery helped the homeowners choose the sprawling, Molteni & C Freestyle modular sofa that anchors the living room. Upholstered in hand-woven, black-and-white Italian fabrics, it creates a vibe that is both casual and chic. Punches of bright color add vibrancy; the coffee table and side tables are yellow, as is a sculptural Cappellini chair that stands out in one corner of the room. A pale calfskin rug covers the expansive dark-wood floor, the ceiling is painted a light taupe color and exposed HVAC and sprinkler pipes reinforce the urban look.
The homeowners couldn’t be happier with the results of their labors. “We feel like we live in a great location with a great view,” Stolz says. “We have everything we wanted. We just love it here.”
Photographer Geoffrey Hodgdon is based in Deale, Maryland.
RENOVATION ARCHITECTURE: Andreas Charalambous, AIA, IIDA, + Juan Gutierrez, Forma Design, Washington, DC. RENOVATION
CONTRACTOR: MCA Remodeling, Inc., Washington, DC.
**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.
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010
The 12th annual AIA | DC Architecture Week spotlights the melting pot of architectural styles represented by the foreign embassies and institutions in our nation’s capital. Sponsored by the Washington Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), it includes embassy tours, lecture programs, a student design competition, exhibits, films and more.
Highlights include the CANStruction Build-Out, in which teams of architects, engineers and contractors make giant structures out of canned goods in a six-hour session; SuperGreen, a lecture by German architect Christoph Ingenhoven on the future of green design; and the Swiss Design Award exhibition, which showcases avante-garde Swiss design. Presentations by Italian architect Mario Cucinella, French architect Rudy Riciotti and Japanese architect Yoshihiko Sano all cover contemporary design.
Architecture Week also offers kid-friendly activities, including the Egg Drop at the National Building Museum (in which participants build structures that allow eggs to remain unbroken even when dropped from a second-story balcony) and a tour of Georgetown’s signature buildings.
All events are open to the public. See www.aiadc.com for details and registration.
**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.
It was the spacious 28-foot terrace and breathtaking view that first attracted the owner to a fifth-floor, one-bedroom condo in Arlington, Virginia, back in 1994. And for a long time, the view sufficed. The rest of the apartment, which she describes as “builder-grade everything, all white,” remained untouched—until 12 years later, when it was time to install a new floor and ceiling fans.
At that point, the homeowner, a communications consultant, met with interior designer Andrea Houck and “it all kind of spiraled.” Houck envisioned a home that would better reflect her client’s personality, with a higher level of finishes, stylish furnishings and a cohesiveness that the current space lacked. Through a combination of structural and cosmetic changes, she was able to completely transform the apartment. “Everything is new,” the homeowner says happily. “Lights, floors, furniture—everything.”
The need for new ceiling fans resulted in the first structural change. Houck lowered the ceiling by two and a half inches to accommodate new wiring and, in the process, was able to cover an ugly popcorn ceiling. The kitchen area was enclosed by a wall that obstructed the view from the entryway to the living room and terrace; Houck removed the wall from counter-level up, concealing troublesome vent pipes in the process and flooding the kitchen with natural light. With the wall gone, the kitchen, living and dining areas became a single, integrated space.
One of Houck’s challenges was to help her client hone in on her personal style, since—as the homeowner readily admits—she herself couldn’t define it. “I used a designer the way you’re supposed to,” she says, explaining that Houck presented her with samples, plans and ideas and she responded to them, learning about herself and her own preferences in the process.
The designer used additional overhead lighting and a color scheme of olive greens and earth tones—the homeowner’s favorite palette—to impart coziness and warmth. Textures and materials lend sophistication and interest, including a gas fireplace with a surround made of pressed glass and a mantel of zebrawood. Grass-cloth wallpaper adorns the doors of two custom cabinets in the living room, both designed by Houck, and it also lines the bookshelves in the library to connect the rooms. “I tried to use surfaces more than once so the repetition would unify the space,” Houck explains.
The kitchen underwent a complete makeover, with custom Decora cherry cabinetry in an espresso finish, Black Galaxy granite (which is repeated in the guest bath) and an eye-catching backsplash of small, vertical granite and marble rectangular tiles in brown and olive tones. The floors are hand-picked, pink-hued slate with random black dots, which Houck also used in front of the door to the terrace in the library.
Both baths in the apartment have been renovated. The guest bath, in close proximity to the kitchen, picks up the same earth tones. The sink console is made from a piece of furniture, with a distinctive, round glass sink painted black with a crackle texture. The room has a geometric motif, with square-patterned wallpaper, three square-shaped decorative shelving units set into the wall and a square-tiled wall behind the sink; small, square sparkling glass tiles line the insides of the shelves and trim the sink area.
The master bath, which the homeowner characterizes in its original form as “the ugliest white bathroom you ever saw,” is now an inviting space that communicates a restful vibe. Its focal point is a bank of iridescent tiles on the bathtub walls; green-hued slate floors (hand-picked like those in the kitchen) complement the tiles while a granite-topped console with zebrawood doors houses the sink.
The master bedroom was the least altered by the renovation: Houck retained the original furniture, had the artwork reframed and purchased striated silk bedding; window cornices match the headboard. The bedroom artwork features a tropical motif, reflective of the homeowner’s interest in diving and frequent visits to the Caribbean islands of Turks and Caicos. These bright hues repeat themselves in the library, which houses colorful artwork, a vivid, flowered rug and brightly hued sofa pillows and upholstery.
Initially, the homeowner worried that window treatments in the living room would impede both the view and the light, but Houck persuaded her to rethink her position. Draperies from Donghia in a loose-knit fabric now soften the room’s lines while admitting plenty of light; sun-block shades cover windows that open toward the other residences. The floors, the original impetus for the whole redesign, are now a dark African hardwood—exactly what the homeowner wanted. “I never could have done this on my own,” she says. “The process was just wonderful.”
Photographer Lydia Cutter is based in McLean, Virginia.
INTERIOR DESIGN: Andrea Houck, A. Houck Designs, Arlington, Virginia. CONTRACTOR: FSI Renovations, 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.
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010
When the time came to construct a new embassy in Northwest DC, China turned to the sons of renowned architect I.M. Pei to design a building that would combine traditional philosophies of Chinese architecture with a modern sensibility. Chien Chung Pei and Li Chung Pei of Pei Partnership Architects created a sleek, geometric limestone structure surrounded by tranquil Chinese-style gardens. Opened last year, the new embassy replaces a series of much smaller buildings; it was built entirely by construction workers from China who traveled to DC for the project.
**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.
JULY/AUGUST 2010
Spanish Style
Showcased recently at the 2010 International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF), the GEA pendant by Spanish lighting designer Arturo Álvarez is made of silicone and comes in white (pictured), black, orange or blue. The suspending cable wire may be either black or transparent; the design also exists as a floor lamp. Available through Illuminations in DC. www.arturo-alvarez.com
Circular Motion
Corbett Lighting’s Vertigo fixture is comprised of circular, handcrafted iron rings, variously sized and fused together around a cylindrical light. Comes in a bronze or gold leaf finish with a caramel ice diffuser (pictured here), or in silver with a citrine ice diffuser. Available through Dominion Electric Supply as a pendant or wall sconce. www.corbettlighting.com
Custom Lit
Glass artist Tracy Glover creates custom, mouth-blown glass lamps that can be purchased in striped and solid color combinations as well as in a white lace pattern. Shades are available in four different silk colors and in Belgian linen; customers may also select the metal for the hardware. Available through Urban Country in Bethesda, Maryland; Valerianne in Vienna, Virginia; and A Mano in DC. www.tracygloverstudio.com
Team Work
The design company Successful Living from Diesel has teamed up with Foscarini to create Cage, a contemporary-style pendant inspired by the old carriage lanterns of the past. Designed by Diesel and produced by Foscarini, the fixture is a glass light surrounded by a metallic grille; the light is available in a variety of colors and the fixture itself also comes in floor and table versions. http://diesel.foscarini.com
By Candlelight
The Candelier ceiling fan from Casablanca combines 48 wax candles in varying heights and hues, each with its own bulb that mimics the flickering glow of a real flame. Its oil-rubbed bronze ring houses a sleek, three-blade ceiling fan; a six-speed wall control is included. On a separate circuit, eight halogen down lights are integrated into the design to light up a bedroom or tabletop. Available through Annapolis Lighting. www.casablancafanco.com
A Natural Bent
Working with a Scottish foundry, Marsia Holzer of The Marsia Holzer Studio creates lamps with cast-bronze bases and organic materials such as crystal and mica. Her Bronze Mica Table Lamp incorporates a silicone bronze base with a “white mica” shade to create a simple, timeless design. www.marsiaholzer.com
Going for Baroque
Italian porcelain company Villari’s sumptuous Amber chandelier was designed in the Italian Baroque style.The fixture boasts amber-colored Swarovski crystal beads, a brass-plated nickel column and base covered in 24-carat gold leaf, and silk shades. Available through Lights of Venice in Rockville. www.lightsofvenice.com
Crystal Clear
High-end crystal and jewelry manufacturer Swarovski offers the Verve In-Wall Luminaire, part of its Crystal Glance lighting line. The fixture can be mounted vertically or horizontally and comes as a pendant as well. Available through Dulles Electric & Supply Corporation.
www.architecture.swarovski.com
A Warm Glow
A handcrafted artisan-glass light fixture gives the contemporary Milan ceiling fan a warm glow. The natural contours of the three blades, powered by an efficient, high-performance motor, provide powerful airflow. Available at any of the 45 locations of Dan’s Fan City, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. www.dansfancity.com
A Modern Look
While recessed lighting tends to be unobtrusive by design, Italian designer Fabio Ligresti’s thick, hand-blown, square and round collars of glass protrude from the ceiling, calling attention to their minimalist lines. Three fixtures—Campy, Cambio and Twin—are sold through Studio Italia Design. www.sid-usa.com
Butterfly Wings
Mariposa means butterfly in Spanish. In his inspired design for La Murrina, Marco Piva strung together flat Venetian-glass beads to create the Mariposa pendant, suspending them from a base so they seem to flutter like wings. Also available in black and white. www.lamurrina.com
Made in the Shade
Designed by Agnes & Hoss, Stonegate Designs’ Roots Sconce is a single-arm fixture made of walnut (pictured), maple or polished nickel. The shade is available in a variety of patterns and colors. The Roots line includes floor and table lamps, a chandelier and a double-arm sconce. www.stonegatedesigns.com
Industrial Design
At this year’s ICFF, Spanish industrial design company Santa & Cole showcased their Moaré lamp. Designed by Antoni Arola back in 2003, this innovative fixture superimposes shades to create an asymmetrical effect. This year, Santa & Cole elaborated on the original design by introducing new sizes, colors and formats. www.santacole.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.
JULY/AUGUST 2010
Italian kitchen manufacturer Arclinea has found a home in Georgetown, adjacent to Poltrona Frau’s contemporary furniture showroom. According to the owner of both showrooms, Ezio Mattiace, the separate enterprises complement one another in terms of style and sensibility.
Arclinea’s designs are characterized by clean lines, modern surfaces and state-of-the-art technology. The company recycles production-waste wood as fuel and incorporates recyclable materials into its products. “My idea,” says Mattiace, “was to bring Washington the best of Italy in terms of furniture and design.”
1010 Wisconsin Avenue, NW; 202-333-4161;
www.arclineawashington.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.
JULY/AUGUST 2010
The Beauty of Wood
Armstrong Hardwood fashions hand-sculpted wood planks into flooring to create an authentically aged look. The flooring comes in a variety of hardwoods, including walnut. A softly textured surface and subtly pillowed edges characterize this hand-stained flooring. www.armstrong.com
Terrazzo Tile
FritzTile is the go-to flooring product for interior designer Kirsten Kaplan of Haus Interior Design. Thin, flexible marble terrazzo tile “is one of the most unique flooring materials I’ve seen,” Kaplan says. “It’s gorgeous, and my client used it in a master bath for a very contemporary look. Soft underfoot, eco-friendly, and no bothersome grout to clean!” Available through Classic Floor Designs in DC. www.classicfloordesigns.info
Making Marble
The Marmol Carrara Blanco tile series offers rectified porcelain tiles (cut after firing for consistency of size), pictured here in 23-inch squares. These tiles replicate the tones of highly prized marble while maintaining the ease of care of floor tile. Available at Porcelanosa in Rockville in both wall and floor tiles and in multiple sizes. www.porcelanosa.com
Broadloom Bonanza
Karastan’s 2010 Broadloom collection includes 20 designs; some are new while others are updates of previous lines. Pictured here, Agave Reflections is a classic Karastan pattern: a sisal wool carpet that recreates the characteristics of a natural sisal weave. With an understated herringbone pattern, it’s at home in a traditional or contemporary environment. www.karastan.com
Colorful Kilims
Designer Sandra Figuerola’s reversible wool kilims impart vibrant colors and contemporary patterns to an age-old textile form. These kilims are available in three lively patterns—Catania, Palermo and Siracusa—and a range of sizes. Designed for Gan Rugs, part of Spanish home-design company Gandia Blasco, Inc. www.gan-rugs.com
Bella Italia
Antolini Luigi’s new Signature Stone Collection includes 12 unique varieties of granite and quartzite from quarries around the world. The stones in the collection are versatile, dramatic and provocative—and perfect for any flooring application. Pictured here, a bedroom in Capolavoro granite. Available through Marva Marble & Granite, Inc., in Beltsville, Maryland, and NSI LLC, in Glen Burnie, Maryland. www.antoliniusa.com
Designer's Pick
On a recent condo project, designer Barbara Hawthorn used a pre-finished, engineered hardwood floor, M Series by Model, from Model Hardwood Inc. “I found that it suited many different applications and design styles,” she says. The floor pictured here is Akoya in a maple finish. Available through Carpet Impressions, McLean, Virginia. www.pgmodel.com
The Durability Factor
Parqcolor Gold is a laminate from Abet Laminati that combines the warmth of wood with extreme wearability. Available in more than 50 various wood species, it makes a no-maintenance, high-resistance flooring option; planks are seven and a half inches wide. www.abetlaminati.com
Beautifully Braided
The Hampton area rug from Capel Rugs offers a crisp, basket-weave look. Part of the Hampton Collection, it’s woven by hand with sturdy wool-blend yarns and crafted with a low pile for maximum comfort and durability. The color palette ranges from tonal neutrals to primary brights, making it easy to coordinate these collections with any décor. www.capelrugs.com/hampton
**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.
JULY/AUGUST 2010
Take a Seat
Norwegian furniture company Variér specializes in stylish, ultra-contemporary seating. Designed by Olav Eldøy, Date is a dining chair with a tilting mechanism hidden beneath the upholstery that makes it both comfortable and ergonomic. A zipper runs down the back for easy cleaning. www.varierfurniture.com
Open Space
The Open Space collection by Cédric Ragot for Roche Bobois is framed in molded plywood to create a light, airy design. Available in matte or lacquer finish in four colors. Pictured here, the Open Space console. www.rochebobois.com
Mosaic Madness
Ercole is a New York City company that specializes in the creation of made-to-order mosaic furniture. Pictured here, the Milano Bar Cabinet is built from oak with a steel base; finishes include bleached ivory, chocolate, wenge and walnut. Its doors are covered in glass mosaic tile. Available through Michael Cleary. www.ercolehome.com
Minimalist Mode
Designer Patricia Urquiola’s Lowland modular sofa was created for Italian furniture company Moroso. Its arms, seat and back have been molded into minimalist shapes that can be reconfigured to suit the individual. Available in a variety of fabric colors; the shapes can also be configured into a bed. www.moroso.it
A Quilted Effect
The centerpiece of Ligne Roset’s 2010 collection is Ruché, a line of seating designed by Inga Sempé. The bench pictured here has a simply structured base with a quilted seat that lends it a soft, welcoming sensibility. Ruché also includes a sofa; the legs can be made with dark- or light-stained wood. www.ligne-roset-usa.com
The Art of Asymmetry
The gracefully asymmetrical bench from Eurotrend’s Elizabetha collection has double oval backs in different sizes that can be upholstered or left hollow. The collection, which also includes a side chair, armchair, lounge chair and barstool, is available in 24 wood finishes and custom upholstery. www.eurotrendusa.com
A Sinuous Shape
Vague, a curvaceous armchair from Flou, comes in both an indoor and an outdoor version. For indoor use, a soft, glossy, lacquered thermoplastic surface in red or white makes it a comfortable perch for reclining; for outdoors, recycled polyethylene gives the chair durability in a range of bright colors. www.flou.it
**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.
