A retired couple who visited St. Michaels for a vacation fell in love with the charming town and decided to make it their permanent residence. For this custom home, they assembled a team that included architect David E. Neumann, interior designer Tracy Morris, builder Michael Campbell and Walnut Hill Landscape Company to bring their dream abode to life. An emphasis on unfussy yet elegant interiors is exemplified in this sitting area, where Morris drew inspiration from the scene just beyond the windows, channeling the sense of calm the view of the Miles River provides. Because the space is situated between the kitchen and the living room and the owners have cats, practicality reigns: Chairs are covered in crisp, blue-striped Perennials fabric that is stain-resistant and durable. “We leaned into a palette of soft colors to create a backdrop that feels relaxed yet elevated,” Morris notes. “They love to entertain, so the seating is arranged for easy conversation while staying connected to the kitchen where so much of the action happens.”

The convivial set-up invites guests to gather for coffee or a cocktail. “It’s also a place to unwind, for reading, relaxing and enjoying the natural light that comes in throughout the day,” observes Morris. “The layout was designed to support warm, inviting spaces, where guests can gather comfortably and feel at ease.”

Architecture: David E. Neumann, FAIA, Neumann Lewis Buchanan Architects, Washington, DC, and Middleburg, Virginia. Interior Design: Tracy Morris, Tracy Morris Design, McLean, Virginia. Builder: Michael Campbell, Winchester, Millersville, Maryland. Landscape Design: Walnut Hill Landscape Company, Annapolis, Maryland.

The owners of a 1980s-era, 3,320-square-foot contemporary home in West Annapolis called on designer Erin Kelly to dress and accessorize the interiors following a renovation by builder Forked Creek Construction and interior designer Amanda McFall. Enclosing a sunroom that boasts tranquil views of Weems Creek just off the Severn River created an all-season playroom for the couple’s two young daughters. For the project, “the owners requested a coastal sensibility to reflect the waterfront setting,” says Kelly. The kid-friendly space would also need to do double duty as a place for the parents to enjoy as well, all the while fitting into the aesthetic fabric of the home. “Since it's open to the kitchen and dining room and visible from the main entry, it needed to feel elevated and cohesive with the rest of the house, while still being fully functional for the girls’ day-to-day use,” the designer notes.

Shades of indigo with pops of sunny yellow provide just the right amount of punch. “The goal was something cheerful enough for kids, but polished enough for guests given the coastal backdrop,” shares Kelly. Lounge chairs sporting deep-blue performance velvet coordinate with a custom, striped flatweave rug, while pint-sized craft tables from Etsy in a buttery hue offer a bright spot for the kids. The result is a fun, family space that feels fully integrated with its location.

Interior Design: Amanda McFall, Amanda McFall Design LLC, Annapolis, Maryland. Furnishings, Lighting & Decorative Selections: Erin Kelly, Erin Kelly Interiors, Aspen, Colorado. Builder: Forked Creek Construction, Annapolis, Maryland. Stylist: Kristi Hunter.

DREAM WEAVING Handcrafted from seagrass, rattan and metal, the Conrad Woven Lantern comes in three sizes. Resembling a fisherman’s basket, each can hold a pillar or votive for ambient illumination. potterybarn.com

SWIM WITH THE FISHES The Sardines Table Runner adds a dash of coastal élan to your tablescape. The 100-percent cotton print requires no ironing and serves as a playful reminder to just go with the flow when entertaining.  In 72- or 108-inch lengths. caskata.com

MAGNIFICENT MOLLUSK Bivalves get an artistic treatment on this ceramic oyster plate, perfect for serving on the half-shell with a mignonette or decoratively displaying  on a wall. coton-colors.com

FIN-TASTIC DISH Handmade from earthenware clay on the island of Malta, the Romina Oval Platter is named for the local artisan who hand-painted the winsome fish. villabolognapottery.com

TROPICAL FLAIR A whimsical tribute to the life aquatic, E. Braun and Co.’s latest collection features delightful, hand-embroidered designs such as this coral and angelfish motif on luxurious linen cocktail napkins. ebraunnewyork.com

BEACH COVER-UP Equally suited for an outdoor brunch or the kitchen counter, the Viola Domed Fruit Tray keeps food protected from summer pests. Its intricate design of wicker wefts and braided details is handcrafted in Italy and protected with a water-based finish. artemest.com

Richmond-based designer Susan Jamieson hopes to help homeowners and design enthusiasts better understand the power of a great palette with Bridget Beari Color Rules: A Guide to Choosing and Using Color at Home (BB Press, March 2026). The primer aims to provide instruction on how to employ hues that resonate on a deep level, resulting in truly personal spaces.

Harrison Design, the nationally renowned firm with a studio in DC, presents Transcending Tradition: Homes for Modern Living (Rizzoli, September 2025), a survey of timeless residential architecture rooted in classical principles. An elegant reinvention of a McLean, Virginia, manse (pictured) is among the 10 exceptional projects featured. Written with Judith Nasatir.

La Tartane Saint-Tropez whisks guests to a tropical paradise

Imagine the decadence and glamour of the Roaring ’20s on the Côte d’Azur —think Fitzgerald and Picasso sipping drinks under the summer sun—and you’ve conjured the vibe of the newly renovated La Tartane Saint-Tropez. Tucked away by a seaside garden just minutes from town, the hotel, which was designed by Jordane Arrivetz, founder of the Notoire agency, resembles a Provençal village with a series of small houses that contain 27 rooms and suites. The charmingly decorated spaces are named after early 20th-century artists and creatives who reveled on the Riviera—for instance, Scott, Pablo, Ernest and Gabrielle. Other amenities include a heated swimming pool, citrus grove and an elegant open-air restaurant, Gaia, that serves Greek and Mediterranean fare. Rates start at $685; latartane-hotel.com

Austin's Uchi brings award-winning Japanese flavors to the District

A long-awaited spinoff of Uchi, the sushi-centric Austin restaurant founded by James Beard award-winning chef Tyson Cole, has arrived on the DC dining scene. Marrying traditional Japanese flavors with international ingredients, the menu helmed by chef de cuisine Rob Drennan stars (left to right) sashimi and Australian wagyu sliced and served on a sizzling hot rock, one of the restaurant’s specialties. The interior by Islyn Studio in collaboration with Hai Design Studio takes its cues from the nearby architecture of the ’60s-era National Geographic Society building by Edward Durell Stone, embracing sleek materials, cool geometric forms and saturated tones. 1700 M Street, NW. uchirestaurants.com

“Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today” is a saying often attributed to Ben Franklin to discourage procrastination—the idea being that the sooner a task is done the more time you’ll have to relish the fruits of your labor. A young family of five took that notion to heart after purchasing a Capitol Hill row house. “They’re in the weeds of their careers in lobbying and have young kids; they didn’t want to wait to do the entire house at once,” shares Richmond-based interior designer Elly Cooper, who steered the project. “They wanted to make the first floor inhabitable asap, so they could enjoy it and entertain friends and family.”

The circa-1890 brick abode was in mint condition and needed no major renovations, a lucky break for the couple. The only modifications were the conversion of the fireplaces back to wood-burning and the removal of some overly ornate mantel details that had been added over the years. However, the home’s dark interiors and Victorian spirit were at odds with the wife’s colorful Southern sensibility. “The question was, ‘How do we brighten it up while still maintaining the history of this older house?’” reflects Cooper.

A scenic wallpaper—one of the wife’s must-haves for the dining room—offered the necessary spark to alight the scheme. A garden view of blossoming trees against a pale cerulean background, “it gave us a launching point for the palette,” explains the designer. As the enfilade of rooms unfolds, a wash of blues and greens unfurls with dashes of pink and paprika in good measure. Cooper learned about color and continuity from the best: She trained under designers Ashley Whittaker and Meg Braff. “I always make sure there is a thread,” she notes. “You never want everything to match perfectly, but something has to pull your eyes through, while giving you a minute to exhale between rooms.”

Crossing over the threshold into the vestibule with its time-worn mosaic tiles feels like stepping back in time. An architecturally inspired wallpaper by Katie Ridder gooses the space with assertive color, providing a fun, modern foil to the original floor. “The wife said it was her favorite thing because it gives people a peek at what’s to come inside the house,” says Cooper. “That paper took the space from gloomy and sad to vibrant and fun!”

The cheerful mood continues in the adjacent front parlor where scale was key in order to fit the family grand piano. An abstract painting by Richmond artist Kiki Slaughter presides over traditional-leaning furnishings in shades of sage and sky. Trim, applied to pillows and skirted chairs, echoes the inlaid Greek key border of the original hardwood floors throughout the main level. “One of the fun challenges of working with a row house is that it forces you to make sure the rooms have a connection while still feeling like individual spaces,” says Cooper.

And like the blossoms referenced in the film Steel Magnolias, sometimes things that appear pretty and delicate on the surface are surprisingly hardy. Take the furnishings and finishes, which exude Southern gentility yet are durable enough for the couple’s three young children. The Bunny Williams dining table and many of the upholstered pieces were designed to take a beating. One of Cooper’s tricks? “If we need to pick practical fabrics, let’s give it a bit of an edge. I always use contrast cords, tapes and gimps to add a little polish,” she says.

Summing up her process, she adds: “My clients are going to such great lengths to work with a designer, so I want every piece of furniture in a house to feel like it was made exactly for them.” It’s all those little details that add up to a home that feels like a deeply personal reflection of its inhabitants.

After renovating a small home in DC, a couple with three young boys wanted their new build in Falls Church, Virginia, to be a better (read: more fun) reflection of them. “They felt the choices they made in the last house were too safe and boring,” says interior designer Ann Gottlieb, who was tasked with pushing them out of their comfort zone.

“They both work in creative marketing and are interesting people with great style.” The only hitch? The husband and wife weren’t always on the same page aesthetically. A Q&A details how Gottlieb found common ground in their preferences to create a home that’s a harmonious blend of both their styles.

How did your design bridge the couple’s different aesthetic leanings?
He loves the color green and the mid-century modern period and she loves dusty pink and is more of a maximalist. So they had to practice the art of compromise and meet in the middle. For instance, in their bedroom we went with a blush pink, but there are no frills in there. The design is very clean. But she got to pick a crazy wallpaper for her office bathroom. The front living room is a shade of his favorite hue, but then we went bolder by picking a lively fireplace stone and light fixture. It was a combination of balancing things they both liked with bringing out the elements each one of them preferred individually.

The masculine/feminine blend really sings in the kitchen—how did it take shape?
They wanted it to feel very Scandinavian with white oak, flat-panel cabinets, which were a nod to his fondness for minimalism. Again, she likes pink so when I brought over tile samples, she immediately fell in love with that
backsplash tile. She wanted a fun wallpaper, so we ended up with that Kristy Stafford floral.

How do you encourage clients who want to experiment with color?
I get excited when anyone wants any color outside of white or blue, which is what everyone seems to request these days. When someone says they like pink or green, I want them to lean into that. I try to push them to not be afraid and to do something more saturated—even if it’s a grayer version of that color—and use it in as many places as possible.

What inspired the lighting choices?
The husband doesn’t like lights where you can see the light source, so we didn’t want anything with exposed bulbs or a lot of metal details. That’s how we landed on those glowing orbs over the kitchen island. That theme continues with the Graypants custom chandelier in the stairwell and the Foscarini pendants over the dining table.

Name some ways you made this home family-friendly.
The rugs are all wool and stain-treated, and for upholstery we used Crypton fabric or leathers that could be cleaned. We opted for motorized window treatments so the kids couldn’t pull on the chains to open and close them. The dining table has a heavy-duty durable finish. The countertops are stain-resistant quartz. For the breakfast area and powder room we chose Kristy Stafford wallpaper in vinyl because we wanted them to be able to easily wipe down the walls.

What role did art play in these interiors?
The couple used to live in Chicago where a lot of their friends were artists, so they had a big collection. I helped them place pieces in the rooms where I thought they looked best, or we let the art lead the design. For instance, they knew they wanted to put the whale painting in the dining room, so we designed that space around it by bringing out some of those blue/green colors in the bar cabinetry. They had planned for the art in the green living room. I made a collage of their art for the family room gallery wall. The portrait on the stair landing wasn’t planned. That one went up after the fact, but it looked great with the wallpaper.

How would you sum up this project?
I think it’s a perfect example of when you’re faced with a wonderful couple that doesn’t have the same design taste. The challenge is how to successfully marry their styles together. In the end, they were super-happy with how it turned out—they even called me back
to do more work!

Ask ANN

You’re having people over—what’s playing?
My Spotify playlist is full of Chappell Roan and Amy Winehouse.

What are you serving?
I’m really into making elaborately designed charcuterie boards and I love mixing up Manhattans.

Where do you jet to for design inspo?
If I want maximalist pieces, I head to Paris Design Week, but if I’m looking to be inspired by minimalism then I go to Copenhagen. And Milan is great for up-and-coming plumbing fixtures.

Local spot to score mid-century finds?
Daniel Donnelly Modern Design in Alexandria. He’s obsessed with collecting mid-century pieces and reupholsters the classics. I can’t go in there without buying something!

French Flair Inspired by the elegance of Parisian salons, the new Société Collection from Duchateau features 9.5-inch-wide planks of European oak finished in six tones. With its weathered patina and striking chevron pattern, Dahr (shown, above) evokes subtle movement. duchateau.com

Check, Mate Tile Club’s latest collection, Boldara mimics the look of timeless Italian marble in low-maintenance porcelain. The square tiles, which come in 12- and 24-inch formats, are available in rich tones like Rosso and Verde (pictured), bold Nero and lighter, more neutral shades such as Bianco, Oro and Blue. tileclub.com

Euro Star Conjure the charm of an Old World manor house with Carre Bardiglio Imperial Cross and Star porcelain tiles. Approximating the look of a variety of marbles and limestones in multiple sizes, Carre allows you to create unique geometric patterns. architessa.com

Gray Matter Showcasing a natural cleft surface, this Brazilian black slate tile has a matte look and deep charcoal color, which suits both classic and contemporary design. Sturdy and low-maintenance, it comes in 12-by-24 and 24-inch-square formats. tilebar.com

When Pristine Acres first met with the owners of this McLean, Virginia, property to discuss the clients’ vision, they encountered a steep, undulating hillside dotted with craters and stumps where massive trees once grew. The homeowners hoped to take the unusable yard and turn it into the outdoor entertaining area of their dreams, culling inspiration from their own Chilean heritage. “We knew there had to be a boldness to the design while remaining warm and inviting with an underlying sense of being natural,” relays landscape architect Kevin Kurdziolek.

The master plan included the addition of a large infinity pool overlooking the forested environs. Pretty and practical, the design utilized white marble coping for the border of the pool that provides contrast in the design but also stays cool to the touch during those hot summer days. An oversized pavilion and expanded deck that can hold up to 180 people round out the plan. Open and airy, the modern pavilion features a unique cantilevered roofline, giving the appearance of almost floating over an entertaining hub that includes a kitchen, bar, sitting area with a television and a gas fire feature. Says Kurdziolek, “We knew from the beginning that the structure needed to be a very special anchor in the design for the space to work as a whole.”

Award: Residential Landscape Design over $250,000. Landscape Architecture & Construction: Kevin Kurdziolek, PLA, ASLA; Rambod Mirbaha, Pristine Acres. Automation: Trizone Automation.

HUES FLASH! Saturated berry tones take center stage in Caracole’s latest furniture collection. Designed by Claudio Bellini, the pieces shun neutrality in favor of rich shades of azure, saffron and rouge, the latter seen here in the Tobie table and the Archie dining chair. caracole.com

CINEMATIC SEAT Roche Bobois’ reissue of the Lounge sofa is part of a collaboration with acclaimed director Pedro Almodóvar. It comes in two versions, one of which has a limited run of 50 pieces signed by the Spanish auteur. roche-bobois.com

ARTFUL PRINT Poltrona Frau has teamed up with artist and activist Shepard Fairey to produce 200 numbered interpretations of the Italian brand’s iconic Archibald armchair using some of Fairey’s most recognizable motifs. poltronafrau.com

BUREAU OF WHIMSY A new collection by Easton designer Jamie Merida for Chelsea House celebrates artistry and storytelling as seen in the Chinoiserie-inspired Willow Garden Chest, which features bespoke touches such as a painted-bird detail hidden inside a drawer. chelseahouseinc.com

NATURAL SLUMBER Sixpenny describes the Florette bed’s moody floral upholstery as “an impressionistic memory of a day spent in nature,” for a sleep experience that offers lush foliage views without fear of rain or mosquitoes. sixpenny.com

STATEMENT FLOWERS Designed to feel like the equivalent of a soft embrace, Moroso’s cloudlike Me Time sofa is a seat you want to melt into for movie night. Festooned with branches in bloom, its tactile fabric resembles the coziest fleece. moroso.it

Fromental has long been an arbiter of artisanal works for the interiors world, so it should come as no surprise that they’ve paired with British-American fashion designer Harris Reed for a couture-inspired decorative arts collection. They’ve translated 14 dramatic looks from Reed’s SS26 runway show into signature hand-painted and -embroidered wallcoverings, alongside cushions, bolsters and throws. The collaboration unites the worlds of fashion and interior design for eight sumptuous, maximalist-leaning designs that will bring an air of romance and opulence to any space. Starting at $789 for cushions. fromental.com

In a town that boasts plenty of temples to carnivorism, a newcomer hopes to stand out with a dash of Iberian flair. Bully Spanish Steakhouse arrives at the Eurostars St Gregory Dupont Circle Georgetown Hotel, blending traditional fare with flame-kissed Continental flavors and starring premium cuts and humble ingredients alike. Dishes such as pudín de pan and pasta a la plancha are bolstered by an ambitious cocktail program. Herringbone wood floors, emerald walls and ebony-beamed ceilings evoke the vibe of a sexy gentleman’s club, appropriate for both business lunches and intimate dinners. 2033 M Street, NW; bullywdc.com

Built in 1918 as the Seattle Engineering School for students of automaker Henry Ford, the MarQueen Hotel has been reimagined with interiors that nod to its industrial past while capturing the elegance and joie de vivre of the Jazz Age. An extensive renovation by Cusack & Co. Design preserved architectural details and historic wood floors while drawing on the hues of the 1966 Ford Motor Company automobile palette for its public spaces and 59 guest rooms. Baths were modernized while celebrating vintage-inspired fixtures. An onsite speakeasy, christened the Tin Lizzie Lounge for Ford’s Model T nickname, offers Prohibition-era cocktails and light bites. Rates start at $225; marqueen.com

Tudor-style houses often get a bad rap for being drab and fusty affairs. Not so for this English-inspired manor in Northwest DC. “A lot of them are sited in such a way that they’re surrounded by trees and are dark inside, but this house is on a hill so it gets a ton of light,” shares Wayne Adams of BarnesVanze Architects. Still, the house required a freshening up for its new inhabitants, a young family of five relocating from the West Coast who sought to bring a bit of that sunnier sensibility east. “Basically, we de-Tudorized it,” says Adams, who led the renovation. “Getting rid of some of the stained wood, simplifying the trim work and reducing some of the heavy beams recast it in a new light.”

With its limewashed stone exterior, quarried from granite in nearby Rock Creek Park, the house has a long, storied past. Built in 1927 by architect George N. Ray, the manse has played host to dignitaries and Hollywood royalty—Elizabeth Taylor and Vincent Price dined there—and notable former inhabitants include an ambassador and a senator. This marks the third time in 30 years that BVA has worked on the abode; the last renovation in 2012 included the addition of a back stair tower and was documented in this magazine.

This time around the 10,350-square-foot main house saw only minor modifications: The kitchen and bathrooms were reconfigured and the primary suite was reimagined to better suit the needs of the couple; she’s a tech executive and he works in finance. The attic was also transformed into a guest suite with a kitchenette and a media room for their three children.

To dress the rooms, the clients called on Lillian Byers of Jackson Platt Interiors, based in North Carolina. Byers, who worked on their San Francisco home, had recently moved east. Because the family barely had time to enjoy those furnishings before uprooting to DC, they wanted to repurpose many of the selections. From the dining room’s striking floral wallpaper to the kids’ bedroom furniture and finishes, most of the spaces are near-exact facsimiles of what was in their former abode. “As a mom, she wanted the kids to feel immediately at home; repeating those schemes gave them a sense of familiarity so they would have an easier transition,” relays Byers.

Bringing their Cali style to the Washington residence didn’t just create continuity, it also brightened the mood. “The house is about 100 years old; there was a lot of brown and it had an older generation vibe,” observes Byers. “The wife has a colorful, whimsical style which she brought to the project. Together, we enlivened nearly every surface.” Take the family room’s wood paneling, which got a coat of Benjamin Moore’s Knoxville Gray. “Originally, the architects thought, ‘You’re going to paint this beautiful stained molding?’ But in the end, it became one of their favorite things we did to the house,” shares Byers. “Painting it created this whole new room, but the beauty of the wood shines through because you still see the carved details.”

A similarly thoughtful approach was carried outdoors where the family desired a new swimming pool and carriage house. At nearly an acre, the property combines three lots with extremely hilly topography. Needing a space that could do triple duty on a challenging plot of land, BVA designed a 2,028-square-foot, three-story structure that contains an entertaining space with pool accessibility via large bifold doors on the lower level, a two-car garage on the second and a guest suite/studio on the top.

As a complement to the stone house, the architects tapped into a charming English vernacular, dressing the auxiliary structure in a stucco finish, slate roof and thin-profile casement windows to mimic the fenestration of the main building. “We wanted to play up this idea of an old Tudor estate, where the carriage houses were often a different, less grand material,” explains Adams.

Landscape architect Richard Arentz shaped the grounds, restructuring the stone steps leading to the pool area. By paring back overgrowth, reinvigorating existing plantings and adding Pennisetum to the central slope, he created more of a visual connection between the upper terrace and the lower lawn. Multiple play areas were carved out for the kids, including a climbing wall, a half-basketball court and an in-ground trampoline. “We wanted to make this a place where children could have plenty of opportunities to play, but that would still be an elegant, mature garden for adults,” says Arentz. Reflecting on the project, he adds, “In the end, we took something that had many lives over the years and resuscitated it for this young family.”

Adams concurs: “Everyone brought their best ideas about how to enhance this already magnificent property, plus the clients were lovely. Sometimes you just get lucky.”

When the owner of this Alexandria townhouse contacted interior designer Paul Corrie for an update, he had one stipulation—that it not look like a typical Alexandria townhouse with white walls and a traditional vibe. The client was the entertainment director for a luxury cruise line and had something a little less conventional in mind. In addition, the 1977 brick abode “looked like it was last updated in the 1980s,” shares Corrie. “Because a full gut renovation wasn’t in the cards, we focused on modernizing and elevating the overall look and feel of the space—it was a total cosmetic overhaul.”

While the bathrooms were reconfigured, smaller changes yielded impactful results throughout the rest of the home: Fresh paint brightened the kitchen’s mahogany cabinets, wallpaper enlivened walls and a moody palette with menswear-inspired fabrics gave the home a sophisticated, masculine feel. A Q&A chronicles the transformation.

Describe the details that make this home unique.
Starting at the front door, the cubic flooring from Ann Sacks was a modern flourish that we used to update the space and set it apart. The geometric wallpaper in the kitchen, the dining room mural and the lighting choices throughout the house, which feel like unexpected jewelry, all seem atypical for the neighborhood.

How did the client’s personal style inspire the palette?
Sometimes if you look at a person’s wardrobe or what appears to be a color story within their lifestyle you can translate that in terms of interior design. This client has a very tailored, consistent aesthetic, yet his work environment was incredibly colorful. We brought in a lot of charcoal gray paired with some beiges and camels, then layered in some fun pops of color to reflect that.

What was the key to creating continuity throughout this home?
We always tell potential clients that a great designer is able to weave elements from room to room so that when you look at a project in its entirety, all of the pieces of the puzzle fit together. In this particular home, we were very mindful of either carrying particular color stories forward, or finding a nice balance where we interject something modern and then pair it with some traditional patterns so it feels like a collected, cohesive story as you move through the space.

How did you build drama in the dining room?
The existing space was quite challenging. We were constrained by the fact that it awkwardly overlooks the living room and has a traditional railing and chair rail. We wanted to pump up the overall visual so we brought in the Iksel decorative mural from Schumacher, which we were able to scale perfectly to the wall dimensions. The table and chairs were existing, but the chairs had a dated mid-century fabric so we reupholstered them in a plaid.

What role did antiques and vintage pieces play in this project?
Antiques are one of the best ways to add character and patina to any room. They tell an unusual story that can’t really be replicated with store-bought mainstream furnishings from places like Restoration Hardware, which sometimes are too oversized for a project like this. Antiques are reminiscent of a time when there was more of an appreciation for scale. Also, this was a collaborative process with a client who has exceptional taste, so searching for these particular items and having him appreciate them was truly wonderful.

Finally, talk to me about the elephant, er, giant bust in the room.
I love interjecting things into interiors that are whimsical or that stoke conversation. I want to create comfortable environments that reflect the client; a space should never feel fussy or unrelatable. This particular piece resonated with the owner. It came from a local antiques dealer, and reminded my client of his travels. We felt like it made a statement and added a level of unexpectedness and fun to the living room.

Ask PAUL

Spring is upon us! Where do you like to travel?
I’m always partial to Provincetown, where I have a home. I’m inspired by its coastal vibe and artistic environment.

Tell us about your most treasured heirloom.
Anything from my grandmother, whether it be dishes or sterling silver. She included little notes with stories about their provenance. It’s really special seeing her handwriting and knowing that she took the time to document these things for me.

What’s your favorite local place to score unique accents?
Federal & Black in Middleburg has elegant home accessories and one-of-a-kind pieces.