Founded by Scotsman John Barbour in 1894, this British heritage brand began as utilitarian wear for country life, but it became fashionable when a young Lady Diana Spencer popularized the iconic wax jacket, and the garment became a staple for Sloane Rangers and preppies alike. DC- based Tuckernuck has teamed up with the label for an 11-piece capsule collection of outerwear and accessories, including this quilted jacket, lined with one of T-nuck’s signature floral prints. $370. tuckernuck.com

Capturing the ambiance and flavors of southern France, Barbouzard, which means “secret agent” en français, is the latest offering from acclaimed chef Cedric Maupillier of Convivial fame. Drawing on his upbringing in Toulon, the menu pays homage to the coastal fare of his youth—think bouillabaisse and escargots —while also catering to the luxe set with caviar service. The restaurant’s design, conceived by Olvia Demetriou of HapstakDemetriou+, features bleached oak, lively patterned tile, jewel-toned seating and bubble chandeliers. To keep the party going, dinner is served till midnight most nights and to 1 am on Fridays and Saturdays. 1700 K Street, NW; 202-998-2009. barbouzard.com

Originally built as a palace in 1727 before becoming an equestrian academy under Emperor Franz Joseph I, the Imperial Riding School Hotel in Vienna blends heritage and charm for a one-of-a-kind stay. With 342 guest rooms, a wellness area with a pool and access to the city’s largest private garden, the hotel, which is part of the Autograph Collection, was redesigned with English interior design firm Goddard Littlefair and Vienna-based BWM Designers & Architects. Culinary offerings include Elstar, a restaurant named for an apple variety grown on site, serving fresh takes on traditional Austrian dishes, and the Farrier Bar. Rooms from $278. imperialridingschool.com

When a couple of empty nesters moved from the DC area to the Eastern Shore, they reached out to designer Laura Butler to complete the interiors of their Colonial-style new build in the Arcadia Shores neighborhood of Easton. “Because she trended more glamorous and he leaned more traditional, we tried to blend their styles to create calm, neutral spaces that respect the traditional architecture of the home,” shares Butler. Take the family room, shown here: With expansive views of the Miles River, the designer didn’t want to upstage the scenery, so she brought in a soothing, nature-inspired palette of gray-blues and taupes.

Custom millwork and paneling nods to architectural details found in the light and bright adjacent spaces, but to create a cozy contrast, she painted the walls Benjamin Moore’s Marina Gray.

With six different points of entry to the room, the furniture layout had to be methodically plotted. A perfectly scaled custom sectional by McKinley Leather, upholstered in dog-friendly fabric, anchors the room while ensuring plenty of space to circulate; nearby French doors fold open to provide seamless flow to the dining and grilling terrace. Featuring a fireplace surrounded by an Old World-inspired mantel from Francois & Co., the room offers a snug haven year-round with views that are hard to beat.

Interior Design: Laura K. Butler, Butler Interior Design, Kent Island, Maryland. Builder: Focus+ Construction, Easton, Maryland. 

Hoping to transform a neglected farmhand’s abode into a welcoming guest retreat for their Bozman, Maryland, property overlooking Broad Creek, a pair of avid gardeners and hosts contacted architect Michael Rouse. Maintaining its exact footprint, his plan organized the ailing 887-square-foot structure into two zones—an open, vaulted space for farm-to-table cooking and entertaining at one end, and a tranquil suite with a spa-inspired bath at the other. Reorienting the front door to the creek side made better sense of the layout and the placement of new windows prioritized waterfront views. Opening up the attic crawl space in the great room allowed for lofty cathedral ceilings with black metal ties, while replacing a screened porch with a sunroom created a light-filled sanctuary for reading and relaxing.

Style-wise, Rouse found inspiration in the building’s history. “We wanted to bring it back to its agrarian roots, which is why we did the seamed metal roof and the board-and-batten siding on the exterior, then we carried that theme to the interiors as well,” he explains. Farmhouse design elements include beadboard, nickel gap paneling and terracotta tiles that reference the region’s prevalent brick herringbone floors.

Summing up the project, Rouse says, “It was about taking something that was existing and not tearing it down but—in a very green way—giving it some TLC and creating something new.”

Houses christened with formal names never fail to capture the imagination. Think of Daphne du Maurier’s Manderley in Rebecca or Jane Austen’s Pemberley from Pride and Prejudice. Set on the banks of the Tred Avon River in Easton, Avondale is that type of home—a grand pile where 250 years’ worth of history speaks with every creak of a floorboard.

When a preservation-minded couple with three school-age children purchased the 40-acre property as a weekend retreat—their primary home is in Rehoboth—the 10,000-square-foot manse and its outbuildings had been derelict for many years. With a vision of restoring the house to its once stately form, the new owners called upon architect Charles Goebel with the added goal of updating it to serve their active lifestyle. “Our approach has been to preserve what’s worth preserving and to undo past mistakes that are not compatible with the history of the house,” he notes. So masterful was his restoration that it earned him a John Russell Pope award this year from the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art.

Dating to 1770, the original Georgian three-bay portion of the house was built by Freeborn Banning, who came from a Chesapeake seafaring family, and it remained with his descendants for several generations. Significant additions were made during the 1920s, later followed by an insensitive full-scale remodel in the early 2000s which stalled, leaving the home vacant and neglected until 2018. “Additions had been put on additions over the decades and there was no real coherence or flow to it,” Goebel relays.

One only needed to look at the rambling exterior to see a roadmap of the many changes the house had undergone. For instance, each add-on incorporated different types of brick, most of which needed to be repointed or repaired. “It was kind of a museum of brick, if you will,” cracks the architect, who limewashed the blocks to lend cohesiveness and dressed up the façade with a Chippendale-style balustrade.

Inside, the home was a warren of dark, low-ceilinged spaces, starting with the entry hall which functioned as a reception room with a fireplace but no stairs. To create a more ceremonial welcome, Goebel conceived a striking circular staircase. At that time Jess Weeth, who had worked with the family on their primary residence, came on board to steer the interiors. “When I first saw the stair framing, it took my breath away to watch this sculptural component come to life with that amazing view behind it,” recalls the designer. “And what better way to capture that moment than with a more rustic finish like plaster.”

Layout-wise, the abode flows from that center hall, with living room and family room to the left side of the entry, and the dining room, kitchen, sunroom and other entertaining spaces to the right. The second floor plays host to the original library, the primary suite and the son’s and one of the daughter’s rooms, while the previously unfinished third-floor attic contains a lofty bedroom and bunk space for the eldest daughter.

For the interiors, Weeth’s goal was to create a generational family home that exuded comfort while honoring the period architecture and idyllic location. “Easton itself has so much history, right down to the millwork details in the old buildings in town,” she explains. “It was important to balance the design feeling fresh enough to fit a young family while simultaneously having that heritage component. It’s a very quiet place, and there’s something to how powerful and strong the setting is, so it was about complementing the scenery and matching the patina of the home without having the decoration steal the show.”

Main-level spaces toe the line between formal and fun. The living room, which looks out onto the reflecting pool, pairs polished furnishings with a Susan Harter mural that, notes Weeth, “blurs the lines between inside and out,” while the sunroom holds a long custom table for gloriously messy crab feasts. A tucked-in bar room reflects its waterfront scenery with baby-blue lacquer cabinetry and an antique mirror backsplash; there, reclaimed French marble floors from Francois & Co. harken to the past, conveying Old World style.

A sense of age is present upstairs, too, in the vaulted, timber-framed library, notable for its overhead beams which were rescued from a local church that burned down in the 1920s. “You can actually smell the character of the wood when you’re in that room,” says Weeth. Because the space was uninsulated, Goebel applied insulation to the roof’s exterior to maintain the soaring ceiling.

That dedication to preservation can also be seen in the restoration of the property’s gazebo, an architectural folly at the termination of the reflecting pool. After many decades of neglect, it was in sad shape with missing shingles and balustrades, but today it is the estate’s crown jewel.

“Whoever we’ve shown photos of this project to has been touched and charmed by what we’ve created,” reflects Goebel. “It strikes an emotion and really resonates. You get the feeling that this is just a romantic, wonderful place to be.”

1/ Natty Leash  Crafted from soft, weatherproof rope, this five-foot-long leash comes in standard and petite sizes, fitting pooches from eight to 100 pounds. Each sale helps feed a shelter dog. $62; thefoggydog.com

2/ Fancy Feast  Because pets should have pretty plates, too, Caskata created a series of porcelain bowls featuring marine motifs, including beach-towel stripes, a school of fish and an octopus named Lucy. $50 each; caskata.com

3/ Sleep Preserver This blue-and-white canvas bed takes the shape of an inflatable life ring with a cozy center for curling up. Sized for smaller pets, it measures 27.5 inches in diameter. $135; nauticalluxuries.com

4/ Cat’s Meow  Made from cotton and stuffed with pure catnip, these brightly colored, fish-shaped toys are designed to stimulate your feline’s natural hunting instincts. $14.99 for three; chewy.com

5/ Chew on this, Matey  This hand-tied rope toy, resembling a captain’s wheel, is made using non-toxic vegetable dyes. As your dog gnaws at it, the rope frays and acts like doggie dental floss. $16; jaxandbones.com

6/ Style Hound  In top-grain leather and navy rope with brass hardware, this collar is festooned with a charming anchor applique. In three sizes to fit neck measurements from 11 to 25 inches. $68; kieljamespatrick.com

7/ Tartan for Terriers  Your dog doesn’t have to be a Scottie to love this bone-shaped stocking in Stewart plaid. Stash it with treats and be the favorite pet parent. $24.50; potterybarn.com

A great design team is a little like a dating coach—architects and interior designers objectively assess the attributes and shortcomings of a house with the end goal of presenting the most charming version of it to the world. Fortunately, for a gracious 1925 Georgian Revival abode on a sleepy block in Chevy Chase, DC, there were a lot of positives to accentuate. The home had well-proportioned rooms and period details aplenty; all it needed was a thoughtful refresh.

The homeowners, both lawyers with two now-grown children, began an update six years ago but backburnered it: At the time the kids were juggling busy high school schedules, then covid happened. When the teens left for college, the couple decided the time was finally right. “We became empty nesters, so of course we decided we needed more space!” the wife jokes. Relying on the recommendations of their long-term contractor, WT Construction, led them to engage Hill & Hurtt Architects and J.D. Ireland Interior Architecture + Design for the renovation.

Originally, the residence boasted a traditional layout with a central stair hall flanked by a living room on one side, dining room on the other and a small-by-today’s-standards kitchen at the back. Building a new rear addition gave the family an enlarged jewel-box cookspace with a window-filled conservatory that serves as both breakfast nook and lounge.

Elsewhere, room designations shifted to suit the rhythm of their day-to-day life. “How they had been using the house came to define the design,” says architect Eric Hurtt. For instance, working from home through the pandemic made the couple realize they needed a dedicated office, so they converted the dining room to a study. Across the hall, the former living room became the dining room, and the living room moved to the original kitchen space. Removing a shallow coat closet better connected the entry hall to the living room, and opening up the walls surrounding the staircase exposed the bottom steps, allowing them to generously spill out into the hall. “The clients were interested in maintaining some of the original architectural elements, but the spaces felt separated from one another,” notes Hurtt. “It became a question of how to open it up while keeping some of the detailing that felt true to its era.”

New windows, flooring, trim and wall finishes replaced the old, but still honor the home’s century-old framework. In the entry hall, walls were made thicker to allow for the addition of pocket doors and a built-in niche to house hats, scarves, dog leashes and shoes. Such millwork upgrades met their match in artisan surface treatments thanks to designer Joe Ireland, who injected the first-floor rooms with a hefty dose of main-character energy.

Starting the moment guests walk in the front door, the mood is whimsical and welcoming. Osborne & Little’s Orchard, a nostalgic vine print, playfully winds up the walls. “It’s got a 1930s vibe with a little nod to Hollywood Regency, but in a very pared-down way,” says Ireland. The wallpaper establishes the palette for the entire project: “Every color in that paper you can find throughout the house.”

Shades of deep plum and turquoise echo in the dining room where the combination of Holly Hunt wall covering and a Trapezi hand-blown glass chandelier bring big-time drama. The atmosphere is heightened by the addition of new casement doors which lead to an old side porch now used as an exercise room. The arched openings feature opaque, sandblasted glass, so when the porch lights are on, the dining room takes on a romantic glow. The doors are just one example of the many collaborative efforts between architect and designer. “Having another party who understands what the design opportunities are really takes a project to the next level,” observes Hurtt.

The home’s pièce de résistance, the new kitchen/conservatory, is awash in Benjamin Moore’s Garden Stone, a shade of chartreuse pulled from the island’s marble slab. “We picked this wild stone that has arsenic green and raspberry running through it, and that became the springboard for the space,” enthuses Ireland. Wanting the island, which is painted a deep berry hue, to feel like a piece of furniture, he sourced and refinished vintage Eastlake dresser hardware from the 1890s. “We wanted it to feel like it had been there all along,” he adds.

The adjacent living room takes a quieter tack, with soft peachy walls and ivory furnishings. “With all the pattern going on throughout the house, we ended up doing a paint color instead of another wallpaper so it would read as calm, light and airy, yet still full of interest,” explains Ireland.

It’s no surprise that such lively interiors were the result of the client giving Ireland creative license. “This was one of those dream projects where they let us go crazy,” he confides.

“A lot of wallpaper and darker colors wouldn’t have been my natural inclination, but it turned out fantastic,” concludes the wife. “In the end, you just have to trust your design team.”

A large corner lot in Potomac hosts a historic house dating to 1900, though parts of it go back even further: The home’s den was once an original cabin constructed on the property in the early 19th century. Behind the house sat a barn, which at one time accommodated six horses. Over the years, the barn had been altered, suffered a fire and was rebuilt, while its function evolved from stable to studio to most recently a game room. The owners, empty nesters with sons who were graduating college, anticipated the need for an entertaining hub to host family and friends.

“Because it had barely functional plumbing and wasn’t heated or cooled, it wasn’t a good hangout place for gatherings,” relays architect Eric Carle, who was tapped to replace it with a new addition that would connect to the existing garage. On the now-complete exterior, white lap siding visually ties all of the buildings together, while board-and-batten paneling, barn doors and gas lanterns lend a farmhouse vibe. Inside, a soaring double-height space contains a bar, multiple seating areas and a billiards room with an exercise loft upstairs. Interior designer Stacey Saidy, a longtime friend of the family, evoked a traditional English Country aesthetic with rustic finishes and cozy furnishings. Says Saidy, “It’s an open, airy enclave that provides them the flexibility to scale the space for intimate gatherings and large-scale celebrations alike.”

Architecture: Eric Carle, Runningdog Architects, Chevy Chase, Maryland. Renovation Contracting: Gibson Homes, LLC, Bethesda, Maryland. Interior Design: Stacey Saidy, Bethesda, Maryland. Landscape Design: Caroline Ervin Landscape Design, Washington DC. Automation: A.B.E. Networks, Rockville, Maryland. Text: Michelle Brunner. Photography: Kaan Ozturk.

Every two years, the Washington Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art holds a design competition recognizing fine classical work in the region. The awards are named after John Russell Pope (1874-1937), a New York-based architect who designed significant classical buildings in Washington, DC, including the Jefferson Memorial and the National Gallery of Art.

Selected by a jury of architects, the 2025 award-winning projects were announced at a gala held on May 2 at The Sulgrave Club in Washington. This page showcases residential awardees and list non-residential winners. For more information, visit classicist-washington.org.

Residential, New Construction over 5,000 square feet Wouter Boer Architects Inc. St. Michaels Retreat, St. Michaels, Maryland. Working with a large property that overlooks San Domingo Creek, Boer drew on a traditional five-part composition with glass hyphens to allow for water views. Shiplap siding nods to the coastal setting and large divided light windows impart an underlying sense of proportion. Elongating the columns simplifies and modernizes the façade. Inside, trim is non-existent and rooms are painted white so the interior focus remains on the waterfront views. Builder: Horizon Builders. Structural Engineer: Ehlert Bryan. Landscape Architecture: Arentz Landscape Architects. Photo: Maxwell MacKenzie.

Residential, New Construction under 5,000 square feet Wiedemann Architects LLC. Gatekeeper’s Cottage at Skipton Heritage, Queen Anne, Maryland. Combining 1930s English architectural forms with brick and limestone details, the new one-bedroom gatekeeper’s cottage of the Skipton Heritage Estate expertly mirrors the property’s main residence, which once belonged to Charles W. Kellogg. Recreating historical details, such as arched doors and finials, bonds the 1,450-square-foot cottage to the main house. Drawing on Arts and Crafts motifs, the interiors feature a palette and finishes that are inspired by nature. Builder: Winchester. Photo: Anice Hoachlander.

Residential Renovation Charles Paul Goebel, Architect, Ltd. Avondale, Easton, Maryland. Built in the 18th century, this estate saw substantial expansion in the 1920s, but suffered from a series of insensitive additions in later years, leaving the home vacant for a decade. This renovation sought to correct those misguided alterations, which stripped the interiors of their historic finishes. Upgrades include a new sweeping staircase and updated building systems. On the 20-acre property, a non-historic guest cottage, several outbuildings and a boat house were modified to match the character of the main house. Builder: Dewson Construction. Interior Design: Weeth Home. Landscape Architecture: Jordan Honeyman Landscape Architecture. Photo: Keyanna Bowen.

Interior Design, Residential Erica Burns Interiors. Bull Run, Middleburg, Virginia. Nestled into the Virginia countryside, this elegant manse boasts interiors that effortlessly fuse traditional and modern design. Plaster walls and stone flooring lend a sense of patina and evoke local history while providing a timeless backdrop for globally inspired furnishings. Jewel-toned accents, layers of varying textures and a range of natural materials work together to create a refined palette. The result is a sophisticated country house that welcomes at every turn. Architecture: Thomson & Cooke Architects. Builder: Thorsen Construction. Photo: Stacy Zarin Goldberg.

Landscape Kimmel Studio Architects. Cloverfields, Queenstown, Maryland. To honor the history of Cloverfields, a Colonial Maryland estate built in 1705, the Cloverfields Preservation Foundation undertook an extensive renovation of the site. Archaeological findings and even the use of ground-penetrating radar informed the restoration of the estate’s once-lost garden. Reflecting classical design principles, the project successfully recreates the estate’s garden at its peak in 1784 with nearly 700 boxwoods, over 6,000 perennials, 85,000 bulbs, topiary fruit trees and medicinal plants. Restoration Contractor: Lynbrook of Annapolis. Landscape Installation: McHale Landscape Design. Photo: Jennifer Hughes.

Landscape Arentz Landscape Architects. Woodside, White Post, Virginia. A 160-acre farm in Clarke County, Virginia, is comprised of an equal mix of cattle pasture and rolling woodlands with the Blue Ridge Mountains looming in the distance. To marry a contemporary stone home to this bucolic setting, a meandering drive winds through wooded lands before arriving at the entry; additional gardens were added by the pool and rear of the property. Scaled for entertaining, the outdoor spaces form a seamless connection between interior and exterior. Architecture: Carter + Burton Architecture, PLC. Builder: Horizon Builders. Photo: Roger Foley.

Non-Residential Winners

Artisanship

McCrery Architects; Baptismal Font at the Church of the Holy Spirit

Artisanship

Pellettieri Stone Carving; Decorative Stone Carvings on the Façade of St. Rita Catholic Church

Commercial

David M. Schwarz Architects; The Orion Amphitheater

Design & Craftsmanship

John Canning & Co., Ltd.; Mellon Auditorium Restoration

Ecclesiastical Richard Williams Architects. All Souls Memorial Garden at Washington National Cathedral For the All Souls Memorial Garden at the National Cathedral, Richard Williams Architects restored a cloistered garden to allow for the burial of cremated remains. The design honors landscape architect Meade Palmer’s 1968 Garth Fountain Courtyard centered on Japanese American sculptor George Tsutakawa’s abstract bronze fountain.

Follies

Steven W. Spandle Architect LLC; The White House Tennis Pavilion

Historic Preservation

3North; Warm Springs Pools

Interior Design, Commercial & Residential

Thomas Pheasant Interiors; The Benjamin Franklin State Dining Room Redecoration

Institutional

Perkins Eastman Architects; Garvey Hall

Urban Design

Michael Watkins Architect; West Weber

Urban Design Christian Zapatka Architect, PLLC. Georgetown Urban Design Project In Georgetown, architect Christian Zapatka transformed two empty lots, a derelict structure and an abandoned garage into three attached brick townhouses which seamlessly fit into the fabric of the streetscape.

Patrick Sutton’s Tailored Interiors (Simon & Schuster; November 2025) profiles seven different homes located in DC, Maryland, the Delaware shore (left) and Wyoming. Each one highlights the Baltimore interior designer’s skill as a visual storyteller, crafting personal abodes that reflect their location and showcase his deftness in a variety of styles. Told in the engaging words of author Vicky Lowry.

Merging East and West sensibilities, Tashiding is a 100-acre property west of Baltimore, owned by Douglas Hamilton, Jr., former chairman of The Walters Museum, and his wife, Tsognie Wangmo, who is Himalayan royalty. Hamilton (far left) and photographer Norman Barker (left) collaborated on Tashiding: Beyond Earth and Sky (Oro Editions; September 2025), a delightful tour of the impressive grounds the couple has cultivated for more than a decade.

Hot Hybrid Mercedes’ latest hybrid model, the 2025 AMG E 53 combines exceptional performance with efficiency. The enhanced 3.0-liter, six-cylinder turbocharged engine and synchronous electric motor provide a combined output of 577 horsepower. Design packages let you customize both the exterior and interior for the ultimate personalized experience. From $88,000. mercedes.com

Bespoke Bike Weighing just under 22 pounds, Ponomarets Bikes’ new Eidolon model is the world’s lightest custom eBike with an electric-assist range of 60 miles. Handcrafted in Germany and made to order with a locally manufactured carbon-fiber frame, the two-wheeler embodies quality and craftsmanship. $14,660; ponomarets.com

Cutting a striking silhouette on the Denver skyline, the new Populus hotel creates a mindful hospitality experience through biophilic design and sustainability. AD100 architecture firm Studio Gang conceived the sculptural exterior, inspired by the towering white trunks of local Aspen trees. The hotel’s 265 guest rooms, brought to life by Wildman Chalmers Design in partnership with Fowler Architecture & Design, honor the Rocky Mountain landscape with warm colors, organic materials and undulating forms. Restaurants under executive chef Ian Wortham include Pasque, serving elevated seasonal cuisine, and Stellar Jay, where flame-kissed cooking sizzles in a rooftop setting. Rooms from $299. populusdenver.com

A melting pot of modern American cooking and Black culinary traditions, Marcus DC is the latest from chef/restaurateur Marcus Samuelsson. Global dishes reflect his journey from Ethiopia to Sweden as well as a lifetime of curiosity and travel. Cross-cultural creations include mambo-sauced roast chicken and cured salmon with goldenberry broth, fennel and a teff crisp. Executive chef Anthony Jones, a Maryland-native, brings local flavor to the mix with a dish inspired by his favorite Calvert County crab shack. Interiors by Kamille Glenn of dsgnrswrksp employ tactile materials, bold patterns and vibrant hues. An abstract collage by Baltimore-born artist Derrick Adams commands the dining room. 222 M Street, NE; 202-280-2288. marcusdc.com

For Dior’s Fall/Winter ready-to-wear collection, creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri drew on the brand’s longstanding heritage as well as iconic pieces from the annals of fashion history, though her primary inspiration came from the androgenous title character of Virginia Woolf’s novel Orlando. Take the embroidered dress seen here, which features a modern version of an Elizabethan ruff collar. With runway looks sporting wearable layers in velvet and brocade, such Gothic-leaning styles are perfect for the darker days of fall that lie ahead. Price upon request. At CityCenterDC. dior.com

Anyone who’s ever strolled through Somerset, Maryland, has undoubtedly been seduced by its small-town feel and eclectic mix of architectural styles—two reasons why “For Sale” signs are a rare sight in the neighborhood which borders Washington, DC. When interior designer Marika Meyer learned of a 1949 center-hall Colonial coming to market from a friend of her mother’s, it felt like a gift from the real estate gods. But the elderly owner didn’t have email, so Marika put pen to paper explaining that her family was outgrowing their Bethesda digs and that she and her husband Michael were looking for a forever home where they could usher their sons, Grayson and Colin, through the teen years into adulthood. It struck a chord with the owner who herself raised two boys in the house, so she invited the family over. “I couldn’t believe the letter in the mailbox worked!” laughs Meyer. “The house was perfect—it had plenty of space, it just needed some love.” 

Among the abode’s selling points were good flow and even better bones, but past renovations needed to be peeled back and rethought. In the early 1990s, the owners had blown out the rear of the house for an ill-conceived addition that contained an enlarged kitchen and great room, and later that decade a three-story L-shaped annex was put on to make room for an expanded basement, a main-level family room and a primary suite upstairs. After 30-plus years, those updates felt tired, so upon closing the deal, Meyer brought on architect Peter Miles of The Drawing Board, Inc., to address some of the more problematic areas and finesse the rest. 

“For starters, if you are a lover of symmetry, the kitchen addition was awful,” avers Miles. “The cooktop was in the island, which was centered under the opening to the addition, so half the cooktop was in the old house and half was in the new space, and the ceiling height changed partway through.” 

The awkwardly stitched-together “Frankenkitchen” had another problem: Because its shed-style ceiling sloped dramatically downward, the view outside was compressed to a sliver that didn’t do the scenery justice: Lush and private, the verdant rear yard borders the town’s tennis courts. “Peter understood right away that the whole back needed to be windows,” says Meyer.  

“We needed to make it feel like you’re stepping out into the garden,” adds Miles.

Now a conservatory-inspired kitchen with a raised ceiling connects seamlessly to the outdoors. Enlarging the cook space also meant rethinking the layout. Meyer’s husband, a serious cook, wanted space for guests to congregate while he prepares meals. The new arrangement is an entertainer’s dream with an ample island and a cozy banquette for everyday dining. 

Smaller changes throughout the home also yielded a big impact: Passageways were reoriented and enlarged; what was once the original tiny mid-century kitchen became a butler’s pantry; and utilitarian spaces such as a new powder room and coat closet were carved out of the main-level floor plan. White oak hardwood was installed to match the existing floors, which were restained. Future, longer-term projects currently on deck include updates to the library, upstairs bedrooms and baths. 

With the first-floor renovations mostly complete, it was time for Meyer to dress the spaces in her signature style. If many of the furnishings look familiar, it’s because they’ve migrated from her previous house, which was profiled in this magazine in 2022. Beloved treasures, such as a T.H. Robsjohn Gibbings palm frond coffee table, chinoiserie mirror, elephant garden stool and dining chairs backed with Schumacher’s Imperial Trellis fabric, reappear in the mix. “I love vintage pieces for many reasons, but for these houses that were built in the 1940s, it has a lot to do with scale.” Her affinity for timeless furnishings with a bit of patina runs in the family. “I was mostly inspired by my maternal grandmother, who was a decorator in Washington, and who was also named Marika,” she shares. “Her personal style was heavy on the classics. For this house, I loved the idea of a return to tradition, but in a way that felt fresh, light and updated.”  

Of course, there’s always room for brand-new traditions to take hold, too. After surveying the living room post-renovation, Meyer wondered, “What can I do to make this room compelling?” The answer: Farrow & Ball’s Lotus wallpaper. A long-time favorite of the designer’s, the art nouveau-inspired paper wrapped the dining room walls in the old house. “It was exactly what this living room needed,” she observes. “I think that pattern has become our family’s love language. As soon as it went up, one of the boys walked in, smiled and said, ‘Now it really feels like home.’”

RESOURCES

DINING ROOM

Wallpaper: schumacher.com. Trim Color: Mizzel by farrow-ball.com. Dining Table: vintage. Side Chairs: vintage. Side Chair Seat Fabric: perennialsfabrics.com. Side Chair Back Panel Fabric: schumacher.com. Green Host Chairs: vintage. Chandelier: visualcomfort.com. Chandelier Fabric: marikameyer.com. Window Treatment Fabricator: JK Drapery; 703-941-3788. Window Panel Fabric: schumacher.com. Window Panel Tape Trim: fabricut.com.

LIVING ROOM

Wallpaper: Lotus by farrow-ball.com. Sofa: vintage. Sofa & Accent Pillow Fabric: schumacher.com. Chairs: vintage. Chair Fabric: cowtan.com. Existing Coffee Table: vintage Robjohns-Gibbons. Table: Custom by marikameyer.com. X-Bench: Vintage Dorothy Draper. Lamp: vintage. Lamp Shade: ballarddesigns.com. Portrait: vintage.

BUTLER’S PANTRY

Mirrored Cabinetry: Kevin Smith. Fabric Roman over Sink: pennymorrison.com.

KITCHEN

Ceiling Paint: Iceberg by benjaminmoore.com. Pendant Light: urbanelectric.com. Cabinet Maker: stuartkitchens.com. Range: bluestarcooking.com.

BREAKFAST ROOM

Banquette: livenupdesign.com. Grasscloth: thibautdesign.com. Tulip Table: allmodern.com. Chairs: vintage. Chair Fabric & Artwork: marikameyer.com.

POWDER ROOM

Wallpaper: Lee Jofa by kravet.com.