At Chancellors Rock Farm in Flint Hill, Virginia, it’s not unusual to spy a quartet of turkeys, plumage colors rich as the forest floor in autumn, shuffling about as if gossiping amongst themselves. Views of the mountain simply known as The Peak command attention, and grassy knolls ebb and flow like undulating waves. This scenic pocket of the Piedmont captured the imagination of architect Richard Williams not once, but twice—with projects more than 30 years apart. “One of the most beautiful assets in the world, in my opinion, is this part of Virginia,” he shares. “An opportunity to revisit early work like this doesn’t come around very often. I knew it was special and we wanted to fulfill all the potential the moment gave us.”
To understand the interlocking history of this now-700-acre farm, it’s necessary to go back to the early ’90s. At the time, the prior owners engaged Williams to renovate and build an addition to a log cabin sited at a low point on the property overlooking the Rappahannock River. Subsequent work included two guest houses and a barn, which formed a small “village” near the cabin. Finally, the same client commissioned him to design a pool complex upland that would also serve as a sort of gatehouse to the property. Crafted of rough fieldstone and brick, the neoclassical buildings took their inspiration from Villa Bremo, a Jeffersonian neo-Palladian manor south of Charlottesville. At once rustic and refined, the award-winning project graced the cover of Architectural Digest, giving Williams national recognition early in his career.
By 2018, the cabin had been unoccupied for six years and fallen into disrepair. Kathryn Everett, a former landscape designer, and her husband Tony had seen the real estate listing come up year after year and fantasized about the property. “When the price dropped, we thought let’s just check it out,” she remembers. “We had no intention of buying a farm per se, but we fell in love with it.”
After restoring and living in the cabin for about a year and a half, the couple decided they wanted to build a new main house, so they called Williams. As chance had it, he already had a spot in mind—a ridge that offered scenic vistas of the farmland and The Peak in the distance. He had reached the conceptual stage of planning a house for the former owners but the project was sidelined and never built. This time around, the programming was different.
Already in the process of turning the property into a working regenerative farm, the Everetts wanted a home that would accommodate visits from their grown children and stand as both an entertaining hub and the center of farm operations. They have an on-site market that sells meat raised on the land as well as honey and preserves, and they rent out the “village” cabins and the pool house.
“Being stewards of the land and its bounty was the owners’ driving passion,” explains project architect Olivia Calalo Kumar. “It was our goal for the home to be a functional aspect of that ecosystem, but also a place where they could rest and enjoy the splendor of the setting.”
Stylistically, Williams had to marry the original “village” structures and the pool complex with the new build. Inspired by Aldie Mill, a historic gristmill in the region, he chose humble brick, slathered in golden-hued mortar applied using the German schmear technique. “It’s like a kissing cousin to the other buildings,” he says. “You get this instant patina that feels very harmonious.”
Upon entering the gracious foyer, visitors are coaxed up a half-flight of stairs by views through the home’s expansive fenestration on the main level, where southwestern rear exposures bathe an open gallery in the most flattering amber glow. The gallery opens on the left to the living area with a cozy snug tucked behind a pocket door for more privacy. This wing also includes the dining room and kitchen with a mudroom just a few steps down. The right-hand wing off the gallery contains the primary suite, which steps out into a walled garden that leads to Kathryn’s office. Upstairs, three bedrooms accommodate visiting grown children and guests. A lower level holds a laundry area and utility room.
Painted-oak paneling and rift-sawn white oak floors set the scene for “a tailored version of English country style,” says Princeton-based interior designer Georgette Sturam, who is a frequent collaborator with the Everetts. She furthers that aesthetic through the use of Soane Britain pieces scored on a shopping trip to New York, as well as fabric-covered niches such as the curtained bunks in a coveted guest room. Of Sturam’s intuitive interiors, Kathryn adds, “We had a Vulcan mind-meld in terms of colors and textures, the emphasis on organic materials and the use of antiques.”
The result is an elegant but informal home that embraces all who enter—it helps that the welcome wagon includes house dogs Loki, a Lab mix, and a Corgi named Roscoe.
For Williams, it presented the rare chance to revise and realize a vision. “It was so fulfilling to be able to go back to this seminal project towards the tail end of my career,” he reflects. “They make great bookends. In that respect, it’s a fairy tale.”
Architecture: Richard Williams, FAIA, principal; Olivia Calalo Kumar, AlA, project architect, Richard Williams Architects, PLLC, Washington, DC. Interior Design: Georgette Sturam Interior Design & Decoration, Princeton, New Jersey. Builder: Alliance Builders, LLC, Crofton, Maryland.
RESOURCES
THROUGHOUT
Wood Flooring: wellbornwright.com.
GALLERY
Paint: Prentis Cream by benjaminmoore.com. Drapery: rogersandgoffigon.com. Drapery Fabrication: yisinterior.com. Wall Light: urbanelectric.com. Secretaire: antique through jeanmarcfray.com. Chaise: pinchdesign.com through thefutureperfect.com. Merrell Chaise: romo.com; markalexander.com; legacylinens.com. Chairs: brightchair.com. Chair Fabric: larsenfabrics.com. Console: Owner’s collection.
DINING ROOM
Pendant: soane.co.uk. Table: petersenantiques.com. Chairs: leeindustries.com. Chair Fabric: soane.co.uk.
KITCHEN
Paint: Hardwick White by farrow-ball.com. Hardware: armacmartin.com; devolkitchens.com. Range: frenchranges.com.
LAUNDRY
Paint: Dorset Cream by farrow-ball.com. Cabinet Curtain: ianmankin.co.uk through claremontfurnishing.com. Curtain Fabrication: yisinterior.com.
BONUS ROOM
Nook: chelseatextiles.com. Fabrication: yisinterior.com. Wall Light: urbanelectric.com. Pillows: lesindiennes.com. Table, Chairs & Wing Chair: Owner’s collection.
PINK BEDROOM
Area Rug: fleetwoodfox.com through pattersonflynn.com. Wallpaper: pennymorrison.com through claremontfurnishing.com. Drapery: hollandandsherry.com. Drapery Fabrication: yisinterior.com. Bed: laurincopenantiques.com. Nightstands: rtfacts.com.
MUDROOM
Limestone Flooring: architessa.com.
ENTRY Hall
Flooring: annsacks.com.
EXTERIOR TERRACE, LOGGIA & PORCH
Travertine: marmiro.com.
 | MATERIAL MIX Duravit has partnered with designer Patricia Urquiola for the Balcoon collection of vanities, sinks and tubs. Juxtaposing soft curves with square architectural shapes, the pieces combine wood elements and earthy mineral finishes. duravit.com |
 | SUPER SOAK The Solfege freestanding tub by Fleurco comes in three exterior colors, including matte rosemary (shown), as well as in petite (55.25-inch) and grande (63-inch) lengths. Bonus: Its high-gloss acrylic interior finish is engineered for easy clean-up. fleurco.com |
 | CUSTOMIZATION ON TAP A strong architectural silhouette defines Grohe’s Allure Gravity spa line, which offers interchangeable magnetic cover plates in premium materials such as glass, mirrored chrome and Caesarstone quartz. grohe.com |
 | SPLASHY DEBUT Tilebar joins forces with Kravet for a first-time collaboration interpreting some of the heritage fabric brand’s iconic prints into tile. Spanning six collections, the offerings include Ellsen, a floral-inspired take on a classic star-and-cross motif. tilebar.com |
 | SLIM PICK At 18 inches long and just one inch wide, Emser’s Paralline tiles sport an elongated silhouette, lending subtle shimmer and a sense of movement to the bath. Shades include sage (shown), denim, ochre, black, ash and white. emser.com |
Pink marble and custom finishes elevate a Georgetown bath.
When Zoë Feldman’s clients embarked on a renovation of a circa-1810, Federal-style row house in Georgetown, they were in a bit of a time crunch: The wife was pregnant with the couple’s second child and the project needed to be done by the baby’s arrival. The strict timeline prevented the design team, which included architect Dale Overmyer and Pyramid Builders, from making sweeping changes.
Take the wife’s primary bath, where the team kept the layout intact. A space-saving tub and steam shower combo unit now replace the existing tub. Elevated improvements include heated floors, custom built-ins and walls covered in Tadelakt plaster, an ancient Moroccan limewash that provides a water-resistant finish.
Early on, the wife fell in love with Rosa Aurora marble for the counters, so Feldman ran with it, extending the stone from the backsplash to artfully frame the mirror and window. “We were trying to find more thoughtful ways for the marble to show up,” she shares. Under the blush-hued stone, walnut cabinetry features a scalloped profile executed by Cabriole Studio. Because there was only need for one sink, Feldman took the opportunity to create a seated vanity.
“Typically in design there’s so much compromise when you’re working with two people,” she says. “To be able to do a bath for just one person is really fun.”
Bath Design: Zoë Feldman Design, Washington, DC. Renovation Architecture: Overmyer Architects, Washington, DC. Renovation Builder: Pyramid Builders, Annapolis, Maryland. Text: Michelle Brunner. Photography: Stacy Zarin Goldberg.
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His-and-her bathrooms become one cohesive, functional space.
It's hard to imagine, but this chic, black-and-white primary bath in Herndon, Virginia, was once separate his-and-her spaces with different color palettes and a walk-in closet sandwiched between them. The owners called on interior designer Maurie Minichiello to reconfigure the baths. “I not only wanted to update the design elements, but also to create unity and cohesiveness in one combined area,” she explains.
For the freshly unified space, she created custom, fluted vanities with honed Calacatta Michelangelo countertops. In place of the old walk-in closet, a new window and arched recess bring in natural light and make the freestanding Signature Hardware tub a focal point. Meanwhile, hexagon-shaped porcelain tiles add a lively, graphic pattern to the floor. The hardware is unlacquered brass and the vanity mirrors are by Uttermost. Other features include a walnut dressing table and marble-wrapped shower. Says Minichiello of the finished product: “The arched backdrop and glimmering black tiles create a ‘wow’ moment; it feels like a spa retreat when you enter the bathroom.”
Bath Design: Maurie Minichiello Design Co., Fairfax, Virginia. Builder: West Homes, LLC, Arlington, Virginia. Cabinetry: Unique Kitchens & Baths, Great Falls, Virginia. Text & Styling: Charlotte Safavi. Photography: Stylish Productions.
SLEEK RIDE With its precision-crafted wooden frame and carbon fork, the lightweight, seven-speed eUrban bike by Esel delivers a smooth ride on both gravel and paved surfaces and is equally suited for hilly terrain. Combining aerodynamic design with seamlessly integrated e-power—the battery delivers 350 watts of power for one hour—the new bike earned a 2026 German Design Award. esel.com
HEAR HERE! Bang & Olufsen’s lightweight, wireless Beo Grace earbuds deliver high-fidelity sound and advanced noise cancellation while sitting comfortably just inside your ear. In Honey Tone (below) or Natural Aluminum finishes, the waterproof buds feature a sleek bar design that’s as stylish as it is functional. Leather case sold separately. bang-olufsen.com
ELEVATED EQUIPMENT For those who like an aesthetically pleasing workout experience, the Sand Stone collection by Technogym offers products for cardio, strength and functional training using materials inspired by nature to elevate your home fitness space. Designed to coordinate while encouraging a connection to the outdoors, the finishes include beech and ash woods, speckled stone, warm titanium and clay. technogym.com
The latest destination dining spot from Ten Five Hospitality brings Gilded Age glamour to Georgetown. Helmed by James Beard Award-winning executive chef and French Laundry alum Tim Hollingsworth, the Oak Room serves up seasonal American cuisine. The menu encompasses steakhouse fare, fine-dining classics such as Dover sole, and raw bar delicacies, including Hamachi and the seafood Grand Plateau. London- and LA-based design firm Fettle handled the interiors, bringing tufted leather banquettes and brass chandeliers to the brick-vaulted, oak-paneled room. Out back, a space dubbed The Garden offers al fresco seating, while upstairs supper club Bernadette’s is awash in red velvet and candlelight, taking its inspiration from Paris’ Hotel Costes. 1218 Wisconsin Avenue, NW. theoakroomdc.com
New York’s Hudson Valley has long been a destination for historic architecture, farm-to-table cuisine and wellness. All three merge in the recently opened Pocketbook Hudson, a 46-room boutique hotel housed in an 1883 textile factory that went on to produce ladies’ purses in the mid-20th century. Designed by New York architecture firm Charlap, Hyman & Herrero, both public spaces and guest rooms highlight exposed brick, custom furnishings, antique rugs and contemporary art. An Argentinian restaurant, Ambos, specializes in open-fire cooking. There’s on-site shopping, too, from vintage resale to high-end fashion and home goods, though the biggest draw lies across the hotel’s grassy courtyard. A soaring, 6,000-square-foot space contains The Baths (above), a dreamy spa for hotel guests and locals alike featuring a 100-degree pool enriched with Amagansett salt, a steam room, cold plunge and more. Rates start at $260 for a studio room with a queen bed. pocketbookhudson.com
On a quiet, winding street facing Rock Creek Park in Kalorama stands a 1953 house that appears every bit as conventional as its neighbors. However, step inside or wander around back and you’ll soon realize that the buttoned-up façade is literally just a front for something less orthodox and far more interesting. “The meme of what one envisions as a DC home, which is more traditional, was not particularly what I wanted,” confesses the wife, who works in tech. “It was important to me that this house have more of my energy and be a place for art.”
Moving to the District from Brooklyn, the couple, who now have one young son and another on the way, felt like they won the real estate lottery when they began exploring their neighborhood. “This area is a gem within the city,” she enthuses. “You’re just steps from Dupont Circle, but you feel like you can find peace at the end of the day here.”
Having admired the work of Fowlkes Studio, the new owners engaged the firm to boldly reimagine their outdated abode. “It had a lot of glass shelves, fluorescent lighting and brass light fixtures,” relays architect VW Fowlkes. “If you can imagine a movie from the ’80s with a senator in a blue blazer in a fancy house, this was that house. The owners are a younger, hip couple; they wanted to take it in a different direction.”
Fittingly, that new vision starts with the entrance: “We redesigned the front arched doorway with reeded glass and brought in optic cement tile for the floor,” describes architect Catherine Fowlkes. “Both are evocative of Miami, where the wife is from.”
Opening up a wall and incorporating the stairs to the lower level gave the foyer a sense of grandeur that it had been lacking. Knowing the space would serve as a gallery for the owners’ art collection, they enclosed those stairs with a glass railing allowing for unobstructed views of a striking monochromatic painting by Shai Yehezkelli.
The foyer’s original stairs leading to the second floor were given new life, too. Featuring a different wood species than the rest of the railing, the newel post was left unstained to celebrate its incongruity with the finished, glossy handrail. Elsewhere, the house presented a fairly blank slate. “We retained some of the bones, but there wasn’t a lot to restore or salvage,” says Catherine. “Our goal was to simplify circulation and bring a hierarchy to the spaces.”
The most notable alterations occurred at the rear of the residence. “We expanded the back of the house out into the garden—in some cases only by a few feet—to create a proper dining room and a larger living room that spill visually into the backyard,” explains VW. With a flat roof and boxy volumes, the exterior of the modern addition references the International Style while still maintaining a warm domesticity thanks to the use of cedar shingles. All-new fenestration introduces a more meaningful indoor-outdoor connection.
Interior changes to the main level include opening up the wall between the living and dining rooms for better flow, creating a single pass-through from the kitchen to the dining room lined with hinged walnut panels—they pivot to close off the cook space when entertaining—and reorienting the kitchen island. Upstairs, the addition captured more square footage for the primary suite and an office space that will become a second kid’s room.
Throughout, refined and raw design elements are balanced for maximum impact—the latter often giving an air of nonchalant imperfection that belies the effort in their execution. Take the wall between the living and dining rooms: Designed to look like concrete that had been excavated during construction, its Venetian plaster finish is the result of artfully blending four different colors in the skim coat. “The materials and the spaces on the inside start out more dignified and formal in the front and become a bit more industrial as you move to the back,” notes VW.
“The client pushed us to be more daring, more rock and roll; the result retains elegance, but is a little funkier for that reason,” adds Catherine.
While the house is a showcase for the owners’ top-notch art, the furnishings are anything but precious. With a toddler, a baby on the way, not to mention a beloved 100-pound chocolate lab named Calvin, everything had to be durable. In the living room, two intertwined loops appear to be a fiber-art sculpture but are meant to be climbed on by the kids and the dog. Both arch and practical, the piece is just one example of how playfulness and comfort permeate every inch of this family home. Sums up the wife, “There’s nowhere else I’d rather be when I wake up, and that’s a really nice feeling.”
Architecture & Interior Design: VW Fowlkes, AIA, principal; Catherine Fowlkes, AIA, principal; Evie Soileau, RA; Fowlkes Studio, Washington, DC. Builder: Added Dimensions, Silver Spring, Maryland.
RESOURCES
THROUGHOUT
Drapery: rockvilleinteriors.com. Windows: windsorwindows.com through thesanderscompany.com. Plaster Work: twindiamonds.com.
FOYER
Tile: pophamdesign.com.
LIVING ROOM
Fireplace Surround: petrastonegallery.com. Seating: linkandloop.com through rawcolor.nl.
DINING ROOM
Light Fixture: taiwan-lanter.com. Cabinetry: ferriscabinetry.com.
KITCHEN
Countertops: petrastonegallery.com. Cabinetry: ferriscabinetry.com.
NURSERY
Wallpaper: thelawnco.com.
When a Chevy Chase, Maryland, couple first reached out to architect Michelle Vassallo, they had two priorities: to relocate the garage from the rear to the side of their 3,800-square-foot residence so that they could reclaim driveway space for a garden, and to expand their elevated porch to accommodate large gatherings. But under the deteriorating screened porch was a dark, moss-covered void off the lower-level rec room, so the architect and clients brainstormed: “Work-life balance has become something people are more aware of,” notes Vassallo. “Everyone is striving to find ways to turn off the noise and be more present, so an outdoor space where one could relax came to mind.”
To that end, the former eyesore was transformed into a staycation hub starring a temperature-adjustable plunge pool with a waterfall feature. Plaster walls, oak ceilings, cove lighting and bluestone flooring, which ties into the hardscape outside, create a tranquil environment, while a fireplace, white oak built-ins and a mounted TV offer creature comforts. Custom lattice embedded with insect-proof screening provides privacy while letting light filter into the space.
Upstairs, the original framed wood porch was replaced to structurally support the spa below. The new screened-in great room serves as an extension of the kitchen and family room with ample seating as well as a large dining table. White oak trusses, a new fireplace and flagstone flooring create an unfussy environment for casual entertaining.
Now the couple have the additional space they desired for hosting friends and family, plus they get to experience a world of wellness right in their backyard—where any day can be a spa day.
Architecture: Michelle Murphy Vassallo, AIA, MV Architects, Washington, DC. Interior Design: Katy Anderson Interiors, Chevy Chase, Maryland. Builder: Zantzinger Inc., Washington, DC. Landscape Architecture: DCA Landscape Architects, Washington, DC.
| GREEK CHIC Founder Sophia Phoutrides tapped into her own Hellenic heritage to create Gaida Guild, a fabric studio based between Washington, DC, and Thessaloniki, Greece. Lively patterns, including delicate florals such as Cypria and Tokat (shown at left in different colorways), draw inspiration from historical textiles, Grecian motifs and folk art. All fabrics are hand-printed in France at a family-owned mill. gaidaguild.com |
 | MIAMI HEAT There’s a new furniture showroom bringing a dose of Latin American flair to Cady’s Alley. Headquartered in South Florida’s style capital, Adriana Hoyos is opening its first DC outpost in October, featuring an array of customizable luxury pieces. The 5,000-square-foot space will showcase iconic designs such as the Rumba swivel chair and the Origen Buffet (left), which blends hardwood, exotic leather and a stone top. adrianahoyos.com |
 | LIGHTING THE WAY Annapolis-based architecture firm Kimmel Studio has launched two inaugural lighting collections featuring nine distinct pieces under Kimmel Crafted, their new line of bespoke fixtures and furnishings. The Tidesmith Collection (Batten, far left) is a fresh and modern interpretation of maritime lanterns in solid brass and thick glass; Crestforge (Davy, left) draws on the tools of mountaineering and mining to introduce refined, yet industrial forms. kimmelcrafted.com |
 | FRESH VISION Sherrill Furniture has teamed up with the DMV’s own DuVäl Reynolds for House of DuVäl. With a design ethos rooted in the concept of New American Heritage, the furnishings, such as the Amari accent table (left), are defined by an air of timelessness and understated sophistication. The tailored lines and tactile textures of menswear inform the collection, which blends classic silhouettes with modern attitude. houseofduval.com |
Rosselli, which translates to “little rose” in Italian, is the latest from the Knightsbridge Restaurant Group of Rasika fame. Located in downtown Washington, the space has been transformed by Martin Vahtra of Project Design Associates, who channeled the sumptuous vibe of grand apartments in Milan and Rome for inspiration. Renaissance-style art mingles with modern abstract works to convey an eclectic, layered environment. Jewel tones and maximalist prints enliven the dining room and bar. Helmed by Michelin-starred executive chef Carlos Cardona, the kitchen focuses on classic Italian cuisine, running the gamut from pastas to seafood. 1100 New York Avenue, NW. rossellidc.com
Hotel Las Balsas, a destination wellness retreat in Patagonia, has expanded with 10 new modern villas designed by DC-based architecture firm Shinberg Levinas. Cantilevered over the hillside, each villa is spatially oriented toward the landscape with expanses of glass to take advantage of panoramic views overlooking Lake Nahuel Huapi. Inside, the open-plan spaces contain golden-timber cladding and contemporary furnishings, lending a feeling of rustic luxury. Nearby, the main lodge offers an alpine-style dining room featuring Argentine cuisine using local ingredients, and a spa with a heated infinity pool. Activities include sailing, horseback riding, kayaking and more. Rates at the Relais & Châteaux property start at $664. lasbalsas.com. Photos: Gabriel Rocca
There’s a strong case to be made for slow decorating—feathering your nest with things that have been acquired gradually or deciding on paint colors only after spending some time in a space. For interior designer Erica Burns, those carefully considered things include draperies in the perfect shade of chartreuse; walls drenched in chocolate brown lacquer; a collection of oil-painted landscapes collected over the course of many years; and family heirlooms, including framed vintage love letters.
Such thoughtful choices are the culmination of a journey that began 14 years ago. In 2012, the designer moved into the circa-1950s Bethesda Colonial that she shares with her husband and two daughters, now 14 and 12. They refinished the floors, painted and updated the existing kitchen, but were otherwise content for the time being with their vintage home. “The room proportions were cozy, and it had a classic footprint and timeless feel,” relays Burns. But as the years passed, the family felt the need for a dedicated mudroom, a larger kitchen and primary bath, and more office space for the designer, who was then working out of her home. So in 2020, they decided to expand with a three-story rear addition that architect R. Michael Cross helmed.
On the main level, the bump-out encompasses a new eat-in kitchen, a large family room and a butler’s pantry/bar area. Directly above that sits a reimagined primary suite, while the walk-out basement below gained additional square footage for a design studio, though Burns’ firm quickly outgrew the space which is now being used as a craft/ping-pong room for her daughters. Rearranging the layout of the rooms in the existing part of the house allowed for the creation of a foyer, mudroom and powder room in the space once occupied by the old kitchen and dining room; the dining room moved to a former TV room adjacent to the formal living room.
Now, the refreshed layout flows effortlessly from one space to the next. “One thing that was really important to me was for it to feel natural,” says Burns. “We didn’t want it to seem like we took this old Colonial and wedged in some huge great room with an open floor plan that felt disjointed from the rest of it.”
Cross concurs, “Erica’s priority was to maintain as much of the existing house as possible while ensuring the addition felt like part of the original layout.”
For continuity, Burns handled all the interior detailing herself, easing transitions from exterior walls to interior ones and “even replicating the thickness of walls so they matched and felt intentional,” she explains. “I didn’t want it to be obvious where the old house ended and the new part started.”
When it came to the furniture and finishes, Burns let the architecture be her guide, leaning into an updated take on traditional style that clicked with her own heritage. “I love color and I grew up in the South, where there’s a way of decorating that’s very inviting, but still understated, casual and fun,” she shares. “I wasn’t interested in making this house a showpiece; it was really about making it comfortable for my family.”
That vision began with shades of green, her favorite color, which thread their way throughout the scheme: A Lacanche range offers a deep emerald pop in the otherwise neutral kitchen; a veritable meadow of birds and flowers adorns the Schuyler Samperton wallpaper in the butler’s pantry, which inspired its forest-hued cabinetry; and the powder room gets its punch from a muted kiwi-colored Lewis & Wood wallcovering. Even the living room’s velvet settee, covered in a Rose Uniacke velvet named Pickle, has verdant undertones.
Throughout, Burns balances antiques, including classic brown furniture, with newer pieces and less traditional lighting choices for contrast. Take the dining room, where a reflective, rose-colored Urban Electric orb floats over an antique table surrounded by vintage Swedish chairs. “I love how that light doesn’t take itself too seriously, and pink always looks great with brown,” she observes. While it may seem counterintuitive, she opted for a high-gloss cocoa wallcovering in the light-challenged room. “Instead of trying to make it feel brighter, I wanted to lean into the fact that it’s a dark space and go for more drama,” she explains. Faced with a big empty wall, she embraced an Old World solution to display art: European-style brass rails eliminate the need to drill into the plaster while allowing art to be interchanged with ease. Her current gallery wall includes her collection of landscape oil paintings and framed love letters from World War II written by her grandfather to her grandmother. The resulting space has a patina that belies its relatively short existence.
“We started work on the house in 2020, and we just finished the dining room last year,” marvels Burns. “There’s that joke that the shoemaker’s children have no shoes—it’s like that sometimes with designers. This definitely wasn’t a typical install where everything is done all at once.” All in all, it’s a fine argument for taking one’s time.
Architecture: R. Michael Cross, R. Michael Cross Design Group, Washington, DC. Interior & Kitchen Design: Erica Burns, Erica Burns Interiors, Washington, DC. Renovation Contractor: Superior Built LLC, Annapolis, Maryland.
RESOURCES
LIVING ROOM
Game Table: woodbridgefurniture.com. Game Chairs: coleyhome.com. Rug: mattcamron.com. Lounge Chairs: highlandhousefurniture.com. Coffee Table: antique. Settee: vintage. Settee Fabric: roseuniacke.com. Sconces: visualcomfort.com. Sconce Lighting Shades: us.pooky.com. Art: maryelizabethmarvin.com through lizapruitt.com. Drapery: imogenheath.com.
DINING ROOM
Light Fixture: urbanelectric.com. Wall Covering: schumacher.com. Drapery Fabric: zakandfox.com. Rug: mattcamron.com. Table, Chairs, Wall Sconces, & Host Chairs: Antique. Host Chair Fabric: pierrefrey.com; samuelandsons.com.
KITCHEN
Pendants: lostine.com. Counter Stools: centuryfurniture.com. Cabinetry: Custom through MKM Custom Millwork; 301-490-1541. Cabinetry Paint: Drop Cloth by farrow-ball.com.
BREAKFAST ROOM
Lantern: urbanelectric.com. Banquette Fabric: kravet.com. Table: custom. Chairs: Lexington.com.
BUTLER’S PANTRY
Wallpaper: schuylersampertontextiles.com. Sconces: arteriorshome.com.
FAMILY ROOM
Rug: mattcamron.com. Sofas: custom. Sofa Fabric: arabelfabrics.com. Lamp: visualcomfort.com. Chandelier: jamieyoung.com. Art: karensmidth.com. Coffee Table: custom.
POWDER ROOM
Wallpaper: lewisandwood.co.uk. Sconces: urbanelectric.com. Sconce Shades: fermoie.com. Faucet: waterworks.com. Mirror: arteriorshome.com.
Caroline Kofol’s road to interior design didn’t follow a straight line, but it makes perfect sense in retrospect. A native of Westchester County, New York, the designer “grew up in a 1906 Victorian house in a town that doesn’t allow any new builds, so that’s what spurred my love of old homes,” she shares. After earning a degree in psychology, she went on to work for a public relations firm that specialized in luxury travel. Only when tasked with finding an interior designer for a hotel rebranding did she realize that the field might be a better fit. Reaching out to designer Katie Rosenfeld led to a job in Boston. Eight years later, she moved to Washington, DC, and launched her own firm.
Inspired by the work of her mentor Rosenfeld along with that of Ashley Whittaker and Lucy Doswell, Kofol’s aesthetic is color-rich and pattern-happy. Working from a studio in Bethesda with one assistant, she begins her design process by finding the lead fabric for which she draws on her psych major background. “When I go to the design center, I like to get into the headspace of a client,” she says. “There is a psychological aspect to it. Knowing who your client is and trying to understand them and their personality goes a long way in this business.”
Interior Design: Caroline Kofol, Caroline Kofol Interiors, Bethesda, Maryland. Styling: Anthony Santelli Creative (sitting room, nursery); Frances Bailey (living room).
Originally built in 1851, this two-story structure south of Deale, Maryland, was a ticket office for the Fairhaven stop on the Weems Steamboat Line, which once plied the Chesapeake Bay. A tea room was added to its south side in the 1930s; later, a two-story extension was tacked onto the north side and a screened porch along its west façade. By the time the current owners bought it in 2022, the house was in need of a comprehensive renovation. They called Charles Almonte to modernize it and capitalize on the bay-facing vistas.
“We wanted each space to have a view of the water from every angle,” notes the architect/interior designer.
To start, he preserved the original structure’s pine flooring and the main level’s ceiling beams. Redesigning the kitchen maximized storage; increasing the opening between the kitchen and living area created better flow. The once-screened porch is now enclosed with energy-efficient windows for year-round enjoyment. The former tea room has become an office and gallery space for the homeowners’ art collection. The second floor was reconfigured for a primary suite and two guest bedrooms. New and vintage furnishings lend a contemporary vibe while an interior palette of white and warm wood with pops of blue reflects the waterfront setting. A wallpaper featuring exotic monkeys in Victorian finery enlivens the powder room off the foyer, offering a whimsical welcome to all who enter.
Architecture, Interior & Kitchen Design: Charles C. Almonte, AIA, ASID, Charles C. Almonte Architecture/Interior Design, Silver Spring, Maryland. Builder: Accent General Contracting, Gaithersburg, Maryland.
During childhood visits with his grandparents in Upstate New York, Baltimore-born Matthew Quill learned the power of a well-designed abode. His grandfather was a woodworker with a cabinetry business and his grandmother had an eye for antiques, so the couple opened a shop together. “Every time I went there, I was inspired by how beautiful they made their life and home, and I felt safe and comfortable,” shares Quill. “I just knew I wanted to create spaces like that for myself and others.”
After briefly attending community college, Quill took an interior design class which yielded a design internship. At the time, he was gut-renovating his own home in Baltimore. Taking professional photos of his work on that house led to a job in DC with interior designer Christopher Boutlier, where he spent four years before going solo. He now works out of his Georgetown home/studio, and lists Boutlier, Darryl Carter and Molly Kidd Studio as influences. His recipe for good design includes a monochromatic palette, organic materials and antiques—but the most crucial ingredients are determination and kindness. “You have to have drive; you can’t be afraid of falling on your face,” he says. “Also, be nice. Clients want to work with someone who they connect with.”
Interior Design: Matthew Quill, Matthew Quill Interiors, Washington, DC.
The expansion of a 1965 rancher offered the perfect opportunity for a retired couple who’d previously owned a hotel on the Eastern Shore to craft an abode that better suited its prime location. Set on a plot of land overlooking Leeds Creek just off the Miles River in Easton, the house was blessed with tranquil vistas. A renovation by builder Scott Cronshaw of Cronshaw Carpentry raised the roof in both the dining and living areas, while new windows capture the river views. Katie Carlin Interiors designed a graceful, vaulted ceiling treatment with exposed rafters, then dressed the dining room in clean-lined furnishings with a Danish Modern air. “A sheer, sculptural pendant and minimalist table, both from DWR, were intentional selections to enhance the home’s natural light,” she explains. “By anchoring the lofty volume with a deeply saturated Solo rug, we brought the essence of the waterfront inward.” The result is a room “rooted in New Traditionalism” that’s coastal-leaning in its blue-and-white palette, but not too literal.
Carlin incorporated some of the owners' existing pieces and artwork to ensure the space would feel storied and personal. “We wanted the home to be as warm and inviting as the clients themselves,” she shares. “They have lived such vibrant lives, and we wanted the design to be a reflection of those experiences.”
Interior Architecture + Design: Katie Carlin, Katie Carlin Interiors, Annapolis, Maryland. Builder: Scott Cronshaw, Cronshaw Carpentry, Easton, Maryland.
