At times, the best-laid plans are meant to be broken. A couple ready to downsize from the Maryland manse where they’d raised three kids had set their sights on a luxury apartment in Baltimore—then covid struck. “I couldn’t imagine living on the 22nd floor of a high-rise during the pandemic,” recalls the wife.

A right-sized but outdated home that had been languishing on the market near their former residence suddenly became desirable. In a quick pivot, she and her husband decided to acquire and remake the 1990s-era Tudor, nestled on scenic Caves Valley Golf Course, into their future home.

Designer Patrick Sutton was chosen to take on the challenge. As he recalls, “It had the potential to be a cute, Cotswold-style cottage but needed a nudge to get there. And the inside was kind of a ’90s Tuscan mishmash.” Working with architect Jay Brown and J Paul Builders, Sutton recast the dwelling as a serene oasis, playing up views of the greens and surrounding woodlands. A few deft moves would let in more light, fine-tune the floorplan and create a fitting backdrop for the owners’ extensive art collection. The redo also forged new al fresco living spaces, part of a sweeping outdoor overhaul by landscape architect Jeffrey Plusen.

“My clients’ former home was much more traditional. They wanted a fresh start and were looking for a calming, decluttered, simplified lifestyle,” Sutton explains. “Our plan was to make the interiors more open and modern with an edited, minimal palette and comfortable furnishings.”

Now complete, the 7,300-square-foot abode perfectly reflects the couple’s lifestyle, whether relaxing à deux, throwing a party or hosting their grown kids and grandchildren. A glassy entry door system and a bounty of expansive windows flood once-dim spaces in light. A six-foot bump-out lends the living room gravitas and accesses an expanded stone terrace. The first-floor primary suite, rejiggered to remedy a weirdly angled wall, embraces one-story living. Upstairs, three bedrooms and two baths are primed for guests while a revamped lower level harbors a family room, an apartment and a fully equipped gym.

As the interiors took shape, Sutton feathered the nest with sophisticated, tactile furnishings and finishes. He selected “modern but comfortable” seating, sculptural casework and dramatic lighting. Banks of new windows and doors—painted black to contrast with the pale walls and white oak floors—frame verdant views in the living and dining rooms and kitchen.

Texture, not color, steals the show. In the living room, Sutton notes, “The base silhouettes are all in a cream hue, but each fabric has a different texture. At first everything might look uniform, but as you get into the space, a richness evolves.”

This richness lets the art shine. Sutton strategically installed paintings and sculpture from the owners’ existing collection—giving the works renewed life in the brighter, open setting. “We look at each painting differently now,” reveals the wife. “Patrick created a whole new dialogue.”

Refined materials and tailored details elevate every room. Sutton created a beautiful walnut cap on the glass stair rail “so your hand has something friendly to grab onto.” A beveled marble surround trims the fireplace in the couple’s shared study, where a reshaped ceiling now echoes the arch of a nearby window. In the transformed kitchen, cabinets were handcrafted in cerused walnut—a rare finish that Sutton likens to butternut. A steel china cabinet fabricated by Baltimore’s Gutierrez Studios mimics the blackened window frames in a thread that, the designer says, “seamlessly weaves its way through the house.”

Serenity reigns in the primary suite. A moody sitting room enveloped in three-dimensional Arte wall covering plays yin to the airy, adjacent bedroom’s yang. In the spa-like primary bath, a Victoria & Albert soaking tub rests on Tundra Grey marble floors.

Just as much attention was lavished on the exterior. Staining the once-speckled stone façade a pale gray—no small feat—delivered a major lift. In front, landscape architect Jeffrey Plusen heightened the sense of arrival with a tumbled-bluestone entry path enveloped in sun-loving perennials, from salvia to Russian sage. In back, he recalls, “There weren’t really outdoor spaces where the owners could enjoy the incredible setting.” To remedy that, he eliminated a major slope behind the property, creating a flat lawn buttressed by a curving retaining wall.

In addition to a new terrace near the living room, the team collaborated on a pavilion off the kitchen that houses a resort-level outdoor dining and lounge area. Low perennial grasses, catmint and allium soften the hardscape and add color and texture through the seasons. “When the weather’s warm, we do most of our entertaining on the porch,” reports the wife.

She and her husband are grateful not only for their splendid landscape, but also for their reimagined abode—one of seven winsome properties chronicled in Tailored Interiors, Patrick Sutton’s 2025 design tome. “Patrick and the whole team turned a house that nobody wanted into the most beautiful, fabulous, comfortable, warm and inviting home you could ever imagine,” she enthuses.

Builder Steven Lichter sums up the process well: “When you have a really strong team and everyone is just beaming at the end, it doesn’t get any better than that.”

Nestled on 10 wooded acres in McLean, a modern dwelling designed by renowned DC modernist Hugh Newell Jacobsen caught the eye of a young couple, who at the time opted for city life in DC’s Kalorama district. Ten years, two sons and a daughter later, when ready for a roomier roost they discovered that the 1971 gem was still for sale.

“It was love at first sight,” recalls photographer Courtney Parrie. “We bought the property from the original owner. It had been on the market so long because he wanted to sell it to people who appreciated the architecture and the land and would keep it alive—not knock it down and subdivide it. I said, ‘We are those people.’”

The home strikes a low profile against a backdrop of majestic trees on a hillside sloping down to a stream. In signature Jacobsen style, the structure has a prominent double chimney and strings together pure-white, gabled pavilions that distill a rural vernacular. Rimming the perimeter, abundant windows and 19 glassed-in bays bathe the interiors in light and play up views of nature.

“We appreciated the home’s beauty and bones, but it needed some love,” Parrie recalls. From a cramped kitchen to outdated infrastructure, a flurry of red flags vied for attention. Architect Wouter Boer, who’d revived the owners’ 1914 DC row house, joined forces with Alair Homes Arlington to update the structure while preserving its iconic design.

The home’s 1970s-era building techniques had taken a toll over time. Synthetic stucco applied onto the wooden exterior had trapped water and caused the framing to rot. Given to condensation, the existing, single-pane windows had to go. The main floor was out of level. And rust had overtaken the steel frames of the window bays, which were sinking.

“It would have been easier to tear the house down and start over,” admits Alair regional partner Chad Hackmann. “But despite tons of challenges, we went through the process of repairing and fixing it. Everyone involved was keen on keeping it as close to the original architectural intent as possible.”

This meant stripping everything down to the studs and rebuilding. While the home’s footprint remained the same, a few game-changing moves were made. Walls dividing the galley kitchen and dining room came down to create a large, unfettered space devoted to cooking, entertaining and family time. A small bedroom gave way to an airy primary bath. And barriers were removed or expanded, often exposing new outdoor vistas. “There were many more doors than were needed,” notes Alair partner Jason Chaney. “We created larger openings so the interiors would feel more fluid and flow nicely.”

A revamped glass entry ushers guests into a hall traversing the width of the home. The living room is straight ahead, while the kitchen, dining area and butler’s pantry occupy a pavilion on the right. To the left, the hall leads to a front pavilion containing three kids’ bedrooms, two baths and a laundry room, and a rear pavilion housing the primary suite and a library. The passage culminates at a pavilion added on by previous owners and now used as a playroom. A small basement space was converted into a darkroom for Parrie.

To reflect the home’s aura of calm and serenity, the team honed in on a minimalist aesthetic. From wide-plank white oak floors to walls sheathed in plaster, an organic material palette prevails. Slabs of Calacatta Monet marble and sleek, custom cabinetry define the kitchen and adjacent mudroom. “I didn’t want the interiors to take away from the beauty of our surroundings. So we chose a neutral palette and lots of natural textures to highlight that,” explains Parrie, who also curated furniture selection.

Spare surfaces play up the power of Jacobsen’s crisp geometry. As Chaney remarks, “The whole house is trim-less. There’s no baseboard, no window kicking and no door facing.” Instead of traditional grills, supply vents are thin, rectangular channels. And plaster-in recessed lights keep the ceilings pristine.
But no challenge received more attention than the window bays. “The bays really give the house character,” notes Boer. “It would destroy the feel if they were chunky or heavy.” So instead of settling for one of today’s bulkier solutions, the Alair team painstakingly salvaged and retrofitted the old, rusty frames to accommodate thicker, double-pane glass. “It was a ton of work,” declares the architect. “We’ve got to give the builders huge credit for working through all those details.”

In the end, client and team amplified what they all loved about the project. “We saw this as a careful renovation rather than putting our own stamp on it,” say Boer. “Hugh Jacobsen is a really important architect for DC. He created his own sort of language, which is, I think, still relevant today.”

Courtney Parrie concurs. The now-single mom fondly recalls settling into the completed home with her children. “The house itself is an art piece and the window bays are like little portals to the outside. You step into one and feel encompassed by what’s around you,” she marvels, “whether it’s deer or foxes running by, or my kids playing tag. There’s always a new little still life to admire.”

From the rose vines climbing its painted-brick façade to its hand-carved fireplace mantel, an updated 1931 Colonial in Chevy Chase, DC, utterly charmed its new owners. Yet bland, sanitized interiors left them cold and uninspired. So the couple with a young son called on Washington-based Byron Risdon, who was introduced by a mutual friend, to infuse the home with personality.

“Everything was stark white,” recalls the designer. Taking cues from photos and mood boards his clients shared, Risdon channeled the transitional look they were after. “They wanted to maintain the home’s character but warm it up and make it their own,” he says. “Other than a bed, dining table and sideboard, we started from scratch.” A Q&A tells the story.

How did you conjure a look that respects the integrity of the house?
My clients’ style is not really traditional, so it was a matter of finding a modern look without trying to force something that doesn’t belong. Midcentury-style pieces have cleaner lines but also feel a bit vintage, so that was a look we embraced.

What role does color play in the home?
We wanted to infuse it with color, but not make it a central theme. For instance, the living room is still painted white, but we chose Benjamin Moore Seapearl, a much warmer white than what was there before. Then we took some of the smaller spaces like the sunroom and really punched them up. I presented a wild Pindler pattern for the sectional, and they were in on it from the very beginning. It’s everyone’s favorite moment in the home.

Describe how you created a chic vibe in the dining room.
The owners are both native Washingtonians and I think have become the default hosts for holidays and family gatherings. So I wanted to create a slightly more glamorous space. It all started with Currey & Co.’s Braithwell chandelier, a gorgeous fixture rimmed in recycled-glass discs. Then we painted the ceiling, walls and trim in high-gloss Mount Saint Anne from Benjamin Moore. It was a chance to infuse some color and make the room feel special.

How did you keep everything kid- and pet-friendly?
Since the owners have a young child and a dog, we chose a lot of performance fabrics, which have come a long way over the years. For example, the James Dunlop textile on the dining chairs is completely wipeable but feels just like a velvet.

How do vintage pieces elevate interiors?
They tell a bigger, broader story and give a home more character. In this project, the dining room chairs, the blue glassware and a lot of the art are vintage finds that I acquired at auction.

Share lessons you’ve learned as an auction habitué.
Have a threshold and know in advance what you’re willing to spend. Remember that you’re going to have to pick up or ship furniture, so that’s an added cost. Then, buy what you love and don’t overthink it. If it resonates, then the piece is for you.

Talk about your pillow philosophy.
When it comes to pillows, I like to mix patterns and textures together. There’s a time and place for the perfect pair of pillows but I also like to layer and make things look less intentional.

What inspired the wallpapered ceiling in the primary bedroom?
The clients really liked Oyster, the Sarah Von Dreele pattern I showed them, but felt a little overwhelmed with the idea of putting it on all four walls. So I suggested that we paper the “fifth wall.” In general, I try not to overlook the ceiling in smaller, enclosed spaces, whether I’m painting it a contrasting color or adding wallpaper.

How do you feel about mixing textures, colors and provenance?
If I have one design philosophy, it’s that I am a big on mixing things. My goal is to make a room look layered, as if it has evolved over time. So I’ll pull from 15 different resources at a time. That doesn’t help me build a relationship with any one vendor, but in the end I get the results that I want.

Ask Byron

What’s the most treasured possession in your home?
A small painting by Romare Bearden. It was the first investment I made in a piece of art. Also, Bearden was from Charlotte, North Carolina, and I grew up in the area so it’s like a piece of home.

Name a new textile that has caught your eye.
I’m a little bit obsessed right now with Tablu by Sacho, a deep brown-and-black leopard print. I personally love (and wear) animal prints and would like to upholster my next bed in it.

Reveal your go-to auction houses.
For furniture, I really like Kamelot and Uniques and Antiques, both in the Philadelphia area. And I often find smaller items at Quinn’s in Falls Church, Virginia.

The recent renovation of a 1970s Crownsville abode completely transformed its disjointed kitchen. Once the team overcame the flaws—think drab millwork, a cut-off ceiling beam and an obtrusive air return—they fashioned a sleek, mid-century modern kitchen that celebrates the home’s vintage.

Kitchen designer Jennifer Gilmer’s functional, streamlined layout includes generous work space bordering a furniture-style island. This custom piece is built on metal legs—one of which conceals wiring for a speed oven. A column of quarter-figured white ash disguises the relocated refrigerator and the bulky air return. “It adds a nice geometrical element and connects to the original wood ceiling,” Gilmer notes. An electric, tilt-up door above the fridge reveals additional storage.

The home’s woodsy views of a lake inspired interior designer Vivian Braunohler’s palette. Slate-blue cabinet fronts, honed-basalt countertops and contrasting cabinets in white, back-painted glass strike a sophisticated note. Ultimately, says architect Robert Cox, “The challenge was editing what was there to get back to the original language.”

PROJECT TEAM
Architecture: Robert Cox, Josh Hildreth Interiors. Interior Design: Vivian Braunohler, Braunohler Design Associates, LLC. Kitchen Design: Jennifer Gilmer, CKD; Nancy McCarren, AIA, Jennifer Gilmer Kitchen & Bath. Contractor: Bayview Builders. 

KITCHEN DETAILS
Cabinets: premiercb.com. Stone Countertops: rbratti.com. Copper Counter: AJ Metal Fabricators. Range & Ovens: mieleusa.com. Refrigeration: subzero-wolf.com. Appliances: abwappliances.com. Plumbing Fixtures: houseofrohl.com.

The new owners of an 1890 brownstone in Dupont Circle were drawn to its period architecture, turret and all. But the updated kitchen—think glossy-white cabinetry and shiny chrome—was another story.

Imagining a classic vibe that would reflect the home’s provenance, they tapped Tanya Smith-Shiflett to take the 1990s-era kitchen back in time. “They wanted modern amenities in a space that feels vintage and collected,” recalls the designer, who took cues from their fondness for centuries-old British homes.
An original carved-wood mantel with its antique mirror still in place perfectly set the scene. Smith-Shiflett drafted an efficient plan focusing on bespoke cabinetry, from arched towers that recall china cabinets to an island with turned legs to accommodate seating.

Cupboards painted in Farrow & Ball’s fresh Treron green play off an espresso-hued stain on the island and banquette. A custom hood, reminiscent of an English chimney, is clad in plaster. Fittingly, the aged-brass hardware and plumbing fixtures hail from the UK.

The clients are thrilled with their “new old” kitchen. As Smith-Shiflett reflects, “It’s so timeless that in 10 years, I think they’ll still love the space.”

Project Team
Interior & Kitchen Design: Tanya Smith-Shiflett, Unique Kitchens and Baths. Contractor: CarrMichael Construction.

Kitchen Details
Cabinetry: uniquekitchensandbaths.com. Countertops & Backsplash: imaginesurfaces.com. Range: us.ilve.com. Appliances: adu.com. Light, Sink & Stools: devolkitchens.com. Faucets: houseofrohl.com. Hardware: armacmartin.com.

CASA DI LUSSO BY STEINER-HOUCK
Founded last July by design firm Steiner-Houck & Associates, this Annapolis atelier specializes in Italian kitchens, bars, dressing rooms and luxury furnishings. The 3,000-square-foot space showcases vignettes the owners have dreamed up, including this moody kitchen appointed with cabinets in dark, flamed-oak and bronze, high-gloss lacquered wood. A Silestone island countertop and a Monogram pizza oven complete the picture. 1750 Forest Drive, Suite 200, Annapolis; steinerhouck.com

GRAMOPHONE DESIGN BUILD
After transitioning from a kitchen-and-bath studio to a full-service, design-build firm, Gramophone unveiled its reimagined Hunt Valley, Maryland, showroom in September. The 4,200-square-foot space inspires homeowners with fully built kitchens, baths and custom living spaces. A selection center offers myriad samples and finishes to outfit any project—including the Calacatta Topaz slab and mosaic tile that grace the shower wall and floor of this sophisticated bath. 10534 York Road, Suite 200, Hunt Valley, Maryland; gramophonedesignbuild.com

TILEBAR
TileBar opened a Logan Circle location in October after Gensler gave the space—once home to Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams—a dramatic makeover. The airy, 8,000-square-foot emporium showcases natural materials from TileBar’s expansive collection of tile and stone, from Italian marble to terracotta, terrazzo and classic porcelain surfaces. Curated applications spark ideas while interactive displays and extensive libraries invite shoppers to touch and feel products, helping narrow down the endless options. 1526 14th Street, NW; tilebar.com

Sun streams through a round aperture in the vaulted ceiling. As the day deepens, a beam of light meanders along a curved upper wall, marking the passage of time, then vanishing.

Lofty enough to grace a museum or temple, this feat of engineering can be found in the heart of a new custom home in Bethesda. “It gives you a Pantheon effect,” observes architect David Mogensen of McInturff Architects. “And reminds you that we’re rotating.”

More surprises unfold beyond the 4,685-square-foot, modern dwelling’s restrained façade. It all started when the new owners asked Mark McInturff and Mogensen to assess the property and a dated Cape Cod once on site. The architects initially developed two schemes: one to renovate the existing structure and another to imagine a new one. “By the time we made the old house look right, it would have cost more than a new one,” says McInturff.

Starting with a clean slate, the team took a studied, creative approach. Their plan not only dovetails with the site but also with their clients’ vision and lifestyle. Both doctors, the owners were leaving behind a townhouse and dreamed of open, free-flowing spaces with large, unobstructed windows forging a strong connection to nature and the sky.

McInturff gauged that the lot could accommodate three generous spaces from side to side. Distilling the center-hall Colonial oeuvre, he situated two outer volumes with a void in between. “That axis became the entry and dining space,” he notes. The living room and an open staircase were placed to the left of the entry and the kitchen and a study to the right. The primary suite resides above the kitchen; two guest suites await across the divide. A lower level houses a gym, media room and mechanicals.

“We call it the Split House because everything supports the split, from front to back,” McInturff says. “The rear yard is like a private outdoor room, which allowed us to blow out the back.”

While the formal, symmetrical street side dressed in gray brick nods to buttoned-up Bethesda, the glassy rear elevation channels Palm Springs. Sliding doors along the kitchen, dining and living areas give way to an ipe terrace spanning the back of the home. “The back is more idiosyncratic,” remarks Mogensen. “Things kind of pop out of the volumes and it’s more open.” On one side, the primary suite protrudes above the main roofline while on the other, a guest suite hovers over the terrace.

The owners tapped landscape architects Lila Fendrick and Douglas Stookey to elevate the lackluster, quarter-acre property and its run-down pool. They remedied grading issues and bordered the garden with show-stopping foliage, from ‘Vanessa’ Persian Parrotia that softens the front façade to Green Giant Arborvitae rimming the back. “Our goal was to provide beautiful views of trees from all the windows,” says Fendrick. “We wanted to make the garden feel like a private green oasis.”

Crisp geometry and spare, simple lines define the airy interiors. In the double-height entry, a steel-and-white-oak bridge connects upper spaces sheathed in curved, white walls. “When you stand there and look outside, it’s magical, especially when it snows,” marvels the wife. Luceplan pendants made of laser-cut plywood hover like works of art above the dining area. Lower, 10-foot ceilings delineate the living room with its double-sided fireplace and the sleek kitchen and breakfast nook.

From “invisible” painted-steel closet pulls that mimic molding to electronics storage hidden in the fireplace wall, clever design moves abound. Take, for example, the floating, steel-and-white-oak staircase enclosed in glass. Illuminated by full-height windows, Mogensen’s meticulous creation exposes all of its parts, becoming a sculpture in its own right.

Then there is the dining room’s oculus. “We made a physical model, and then a 3D-computer model oriented to the sun, the time of the day and the month of the year,” details McInturff. “That was incredibly valuable to us and to the clients, in terms of planning and understanding the outcome.”

Throughout the design phase, the architects, builder Justin Barrows of Added Dimensions, landscape pros and the owners deliberated over every complexity to arrive at this airy refuge that, in the end, appears deceptively simple. Summing up the process, McInturff quotes Mario Campi, a Swiss architect he’s long admired: “Campi once said, ‘A good house is a simple plan—with exquisite detail.’”

Architecture: Mark McInturff, FAIA, McInturff Architects, Bethesda, Maryland. Kitchen Design: Amir Farazad, Poggenpohl, Chevy Chase, Maryland. Landscape Architecture: Lila Fendrick; Douglas Stookey, Lila Fendrick Landscape Architects, Chevy Chase, Maryland. Builder: Sam Morgan; Justin Barrows, Added Dimensions, Takoma Park, Maryland.

RESOURCES

THROUGHOUT
Windows: weathershield.com. Paint: Super White by benjaminmoore.com. Staircase Fabrication: Metal Specialties; 301-421-1832. Lighting Design: hinsondesign.com. Audio/Visual & Security: mediacraftav.com.
REAR EXTERIOR
Dining Table: troscandesign.com. Chandelier: luceplan.com. Fireplace: sparkfires.com.
LIVING AREA
Sofa: ligne-roset.com. Living Room Rug & White Chairs: mgbw.com. Ottoman: urbancountrydesigns.com. Coffee Table: persianogallery.com.
KITCHEN
Cabinets: poggenpohl.com. Countertops: caesarstoneus.com. Cooktop & Ovens: gaggenau.com through poggenpohl.com. Faucet: dornbracht.com through poggenpohl.com. Bar Stools: cb2.com.
BEDROOM
Bed & Rug: mgbw.com.

Ready to update their early-1900s Tudor in Bethesda’s Edgemoor neighborhood, empty nesters engaged designer Todd Howard Ezrin to fashion a main-level makeover. “They wanted to take the interiors in a contemporary direction, with clean lines that don’t fight with the architecture,” he notes. “We envisioned a lighter, brighter aesthetic—except in the dining room, where we went for drama.”

Ezrin overhauled the disjointed lighting plan and elevated form and function with new and improved millwork. “In the living room,” he says, “we completely redid the mantel with a new tile surround, then added built-ins to give the space some weight.”

A kitchen redo replaced patched-in tile with wood flooring, and introduced new appliances, hardware and a large island perfect for baking. “I believe the cabinets are Wood-Mode and didn’t need replacing,” explains Ezrin. One bank was moved to the dining room, making way for a new coffee station/bar.

The owners, who often entertain, are thrilled with their reimagined retreat. A Q&A details the process.

What drove your color palette?
We interviewed the clients and landed on a color scheme that spoke to them: classic shades of cream and blue. In the living room, the bench’s charcoal-blue cut velvet reflects the color of the Arteriors table lamp. Though the dining room leans more green, we wove blue accents throughout the family room and the kitchen. But I wanted the study to be dark and moody, so it almost feels like a smoking lounge.

How did you play up dining room drama?
I wanted it to be a showstopper. We painted the cabinets that came from the kitchen in high-gloss Iron Ore by Sherwin-Williams and added panel molding to the ceiling to frame in the decorative wall covering. Then we selected a more textural paper for the walls and the beautiful Schonbek chandelier and companion sconces. Finally, we reupholstered the Caracole chair backs in a stunning Romo fabric.

Why did you forgo a rug in the dining room?
I didn’t specify a rug because the room is asymmetrical and we didn’t want to draw attention to that. I often shy away from dining room rugs because they can be a trip hazard and tend to get dirty.

Detail the most game-changing moves in the kitchen.
Our client’s mandate was to install a larger island and get rid of dark, dated finishes on some of the cabinets. Our faux painter refinished them and the new hood to match the lighter cabinets so the whole perimeter is now uniform. We installed new appliances and added a coffee station with a built-in Miele espresso machine.

Was durability a factor in fabric selection?
They have a large, older dog and a cat so we did think about durability. The family room sectional is upholstered in a Crypton fabric that is moisture-, stain- and odor-resistant. We know the dog likes to sleep on the study window seat, which we treated with Alta to be stain- and spill-repellent. Nothing is impervious, but we try to get close to it.

What inspired the statement lighting?
In the dining room, I was looking for a chandelier that’s a little more organic—not too rigid—to play off the floral pattern on the ceiling. I continued that organic feel in the kitchen with the John Richard pendants that are made of natural quartz crystals. All of the lighting is on separate dimmers so you can create a mood.

How did you reimagine the study’s existing millwork?
We painted it a sage green and added wall covering on the shelf-backs. On the desk side of the room, we wanted to hide a radiator below the shelves. So we designed slatted wooden doors in a metallic finish; they anchor the shelves and add a bit of architectural detail.

What factors went into furniture selection?
We were going for elegant simplicity. Some people think simple lines are boring but when a piece has the right proportions—such as the Decca Home desk in the study—it’s super-elegant. I also love furniture that has an architectural feel, such as the Uttermost console table in the dining room. It reminds me of the Coliseum in Rome.

What role does nature play throughout the home?
We balanced the architecture in the house with organic-feeling elements of nature, from the light fixtures in the dining room and kitchen to the wallpaper, window shade fabric and rounded hide rug in the study. And we wove nature into the powder room, with Kravet’s Peony & Blossom wall covering.

Ask Todd

Share a signature element on your holiday table.
I believe people should have fun and express their personalities with tabletop décor.
I happen to love Legos, which even topped our wedding cake. So in addition to elegant linens and candlesticks, little Lego ornaments are always part of my table display.

Is there a furniture debut you covet?
I am dying to feature Abner Henry’s Lauren credenza in a project. I adore its simple lines, paired with asymmetrical “feet.”

Name an architect or designer who inspired you.
I admire architect Hugh Newell Jacbosen’s modern take on classical architecture. He was a master at balancing scale and proportion.

Describe a possession in your home that is meaningful to you?
A Rosewood secretary that belonged to my grandparents, which I have turned into a bar.

1/ MIRROR, MIRROR  Robern’s Sculpt Hanging Lighted Mirror adds a dose of drama to the daily routine. Compatible with ceilings up to 11 feet, the suspended, softly lit looking glasses come in matte black, polished stainless steel and brass finishes. robern.com

2/ SERENE SOAK BainUltra’s Zenora 6030 tub cossets bathers with a reclining backrest on one side and an upright one opposite. Perfect for compact spaces, the vessel is available in satin white, glossy white and glossy black. bainultra.com 

3/ STEM SELL  California Faucets’ wall-mounted fixtures save precious counter space and overflow with style. Buyers can mix and match the solid-brass, one- and two-faucet designs, which range from cubist, modern Morro Bay to classic and industrial looks.  calfaucets.com

4/ TOUCH WOOD  Made in Italy, Jenga porcelain tile mimics the look of wood in Light Oak, Pure Oak and Intense Oak finishes. Sleek, two-by-12-inch planks offer myriad configuration options, creating a sleek, organic aesthetic on floors and walls. architessa.com

5/ LIGHT SHOW
Graff’s Riva Chandelier shower is composed of slender cylindrical showerheads in varied lengths emitting soft, mesmerizing LED light. Coordinated accessories in an array of styles and 26 finishes complement any bathroom scheme. graff-designs.com

The owners of a waterfront property on Virginia’s Northern Neck tapped Randall Kipp Architecture to mastermind a modern, primary residence that would celebrate its pristine environs. Principal Randall Kipp and team sited the structure on the long, narrow parcel to accentuate views of Dymer Creek.

An open living-dining space occupies center stage of the airy, 3,600-square-foot, four-bedroom residence completed by Coastal Builders, Inc. Full-height Weather Shield windows rim the room; clerestory windows extend views above. “With a 19-foot ceiling and a loft overlooking the main living area, the great room achieves a sense of openness and vertical drama without losing warmth,” says Kipp. “The open stair railing allows light and views to flow freely, maintaining sight lines out toward the water.”

Rustic tables, slipper-style dining chairs and a streamlined sofa—all sourced at RH—lend gravitas and scale. Low-maintenance, luxury vinyl tile flooring by COREtec mimics natural wood. Above, Berlin glass chandeliers from Williams Sonoma animate the living and dining areas without obstructing the scenery.

“Corner windows in the great room were strategically placed to open up wider viewing angles and bring in more natural light,” adds Kipp, “creating a seamless connection between the interior spaces and the landscape.”

The kitchen of an early-1900s farm estate on the Corsica River in Centreville, Maryland, felt at odds with the property’s provenance. The cramped, dark space didn’t suit its current owners, who are devoted cooks, avid gardeners and generous hosts.

They turned to Bohl Architects, Bayview Builders and designers Joe Ireland and Claudia Sans Werner to orchestrate a new kitchen as part of a two-story addition. “The goal was to remove an old, dated kitchen wing and replace it with a two-story addition that includes a main kitchen, a back kitchen and an outdoor kitchen—all seamlessly integrated into the original home,” says Bayview’s Chris Neumann.

“The kitchen’s cabinet and hardware finishes were chosen for their lived-in patina, while stained-glass panels lend vintage character,” explains Sans Werner. Lyndon Heath Cabinetry fabricated the maple millwork; stainless-steel countertops create generous workspace.

A soft palette of greens, blues and creams echoes the outdoors. As Sans Werner notes, “Windows wrap around the kitchen, framing views of the river and drawing the landscape in through smaller, carefully placed openings.”

What was the inspiration behind your Purple Bloom staircase at the 2025 Kips Bay Decorator Show House New York?
I see it as a three-story journey of aspiration, resilience and joy—an ode to what blossoms from dedication, creativity and love. A custom ombré rug by Marc Phillip guides the eye up through layers of vibrant wall coverings by Romo and Phillip Jeffries; glass pendants by Hector Finch cast a warm glow.

Best seat in the house?
Cisco Home’s Cole Ottoman is perfect for cuddling with my dogs. I have two side by side in my Charlottesville home.

Favorite source for vintage finds?
The Mid-Atlantic Antique & Garden Festival in Poolesville is so much fun. They hold markets every June and October.
PRINT: TAYLOR CARLISLE GALLERIES

How do you support your community?
We provide assistance to local non-profits through our Purposeful Architecture studio. A particular passion of mine is impacting built environments for children and adults with special needs.

Favorite Eastern Shore staycation?
I adore the Inn at Perry Cabin in St. Michaels. A visit there feels like you’ve stepped into a graceful world of history, luxury and natural beauty.

BALTIMORE MUSEUM OF ART
Odes to Nature
Through February 8 and March 8, 2026
Two BMA exhibits reflect upon the natural world this season. “Engaging the Elements: Poetry in Nature” presents 25 photographs, prints, drawings and textiles conjuring the elements of air, water, earth and fire against broader themes of ecological awareness and preservation. And “The Way of Nature: Art from Japan, China, and Korea,” a longer-running show, displays more than 40 objects—from ink drawings to stoneware—depicting the sea and landscapes, wild and supernatural animals and plant life prevalent in East Asian imagery and symbolism. artbma.org

Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum
Eastern Shore Sea Glass & Coastal Arts Festival
November 22
St. Michaels celebrates sea glass and coastal arts at this fall event, perfectly timed for holiday shopping sprees. Sixty exhibitors will showcase jewelry, art, photography, home décor, ceramics, apparel and more. Mary T. McCarthy, author of Sea: A Beachcombing Treasure Hunt, will lecture on the history of the Maryland Glass Corporation. Established in 1907, this Baltimore factory made the glass vessels for Bromo-Seltzer, Vicks and Noxema that eventually formed most of the region’s popular blue sea glass. seaglassfestival.com

In Washington, I.M. Pei is most celebrated for designing the National Gallery of Art’s awe-inspiring East Wing. But the late Pritzker Prize-winning architect completed another impressive if less monumental masterpiece in the city. One of only three houses Pei designed in his entire career, the abode was commissioned in 1960 by friend and colleague William Slayton, an urban renewal administrator. With its triple-barrel, vaulted roof, the International Style dwelling piques the curiosity of passersby. Transparent elevations in front and back celebrate the landscape, while brick side walls obscure neighboring homes on the close-knit street.

Slayton and his wife lived in the modern gem for nearly 40 years. When William died, Pei delivered his eulogy on the split-level’s living room stairs.

In the early 2000s, architect Hugh Newell Jacobsen renovated the home for its second owner. This redo upgraded finishes, added a pool and removed a bedroom in the center vault to create an open study, expanding sightlines from front to back. Soon after, Slayton House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

A few minor improvements were made when the current owners acquired the residence in 2009. Then, more than a decade later, they decided the time had come for a sweeping change. Committed to preserving Pei’s serene zeitgeist, they needed to bring the home’s dated infrastructure into the 21st century. They also wanted to expand its 3,030-square-foot profile with a new guest room, a second office, a media room and a garage—spaces the existing scheme sorely lacked.

They entrusted the project to DC architect Robert M. Gurney. “I’ve been aware of this house since I was in architecture school,” he admits. “The opportunity to work on it was a huge honor. I just didn’t want to screw it up.”

Gurney and project architect Matt Stephens hatched a plan to strip the structure down to its brick walls, wood frame and concrete roof vaults—then recreate it, inch by inch. All new flooring, HVAC, plumbing and electrical systems were installed. The kitchen, baths and overall millwork were designed to embrace a clean, minimalist aesthetic. “The goal was to restore the home, but make it look like we did nothing,” reveals Gurney. “That was kind of the mantra for the whole project.”

As the program took shape, I.M. Pei’s original floor plans, passed down from owner to owner, were at the team’s disposal. “Even though the windows, doors and other elements are brand new, they’re exactly per Pei’s detail,” the architect notes.

From stone and white-lacquered surfaces to walnut and glass, materials were curated with Pei’s intentions in mind and applied with painstaking precision by the builder, Peterson + Collins. Take, for example, the Navona travertine flooring. The client hand-selected the slabs at a quarry near Rome, where they were dry-laid to ensure consistent patterns. “The veining runs from the end of the pool outside through the house onto the back terrace,” marvels Gurney. “It was that kind of cosmic level of detail.”

Designer Therese Baron Gurney, Robert’s wife and frequent collaborator, masterminded the interior refresh. “I balanced respect for the architect and the architecture with making the house comfortable and functional for the clients,” she says. Guided by their appreciation for mid-century modernism, the interiors blend refinished family heirlooms with a curated mix of classic, vintage and new furnishings. “We chose a soft, neutral palette for comfort and durability, supporting the needs of modern life with quiet elegance,” she adds.

To make space for additional rooms the owners desired, the architects went underground. Taking advantage of the sloping lot, a 14-foot-deep excavation below the dining room and rear terrace created space for a light-filled guest suite and a cozy media room. And behind the home, they designed a two-story structure housing an office and bath on the terrace level and a garage below.

The owners enlisted landscape architects Kevin Campion and Steve Makrinos to link the structures and elevate the exteriors. “We created a simple plant palette with subtle Japanese influences,” explains Makrinos. “The goal was to evoke calm and restraint with a limited number of species.”

Brick walls carefully matched to the main home screen the property while concrete and travertine pathways transport visitors from the front courtyard to the rear terrace and down stairs to a lower garden. “We inherited the essence of the Pei garden and tried not to veer from it too much,” Campion reflects. “But I think we sharpened it.”

The owners are elated with their reimagined home and its renewed sense of serenity. Robert Gurney attributes the project’s success to a dream team—and incredible clients. As he notes, “They understand that they’re stewards and caretakers of an iconic piece of architecture that we restored back to museum quality.”

After designer Sara Swabb furnished a couple’s Nantucket getaway, she was called back to tackle their Colonial Revival-style home in Chevy Chase, Maryland. At 8,000 square feet, the newly built, six-bedroom residence conceived by Studio Z Design Concepts boasted gracious proportions and a modern take on traditional style.

Knowing the owners and their two children well, Swabb enhanced the interior architecture to accommodate the family’s lifestyle. “When a client trusts you,” she notes, “it gets the ball rolling very quickly.”

Her plan layered in design elements—from bespoke cabinetry and millwork to furnishings and textiles—in a relaxed, transitional aesthetic that reflects the owners’ fondness for New England style. Awash in soft neutrals and rich blues and greens, interiors feature a mélange of textures that add dimension and personality. “We made sure everything was comfortable, but still really pulled-together,” says Swabb.

The following Q&A sheds light on the project.

Explain the overarching goals of your plan.
My goal for every home is complete cohesion, so you never feel surprised by anything as you walk from one space to another. But there were some fun things that we played with, from unique tile to trim detail.

How did you adapt the kitchen to meet your clients’ needs?
Like many new builds, the plans called for a massive kitchen that didn’t make sense for the way the family lives. Both parents have demanding jobs and their kids have crazy sports schedules. I was afraid that the big, open kitchen would look messy and wanted to give them a place to cook, then close the door. We carved out a catering kitchen and a hidden scullery so when they entertain, the main kitchen looks nice and tidy.

Describe how the custom details you designed lend the home its unique character.
It was exciting for me to bring in elements such as the transoms over the kitchen’s pocket doors. We also created a beautiful alcove enclosing the range, which makes the room feel more sophisticated and collected. In other spaces, we jumped into a lot of crown molding and big, chunky base trim. Trim color can make a space more interesting without impacting budget. For example, we painted the powder room’s base trim in Benjamin Moore’s Sharkskin for an exciting effect.

Explain how textural layers make the home feel timeless and lived-in.
We leaned into woven materials and selected a number of vintage rugs, which instantly add age. Sisals, which are less expensive, create additional texture. And we splurged on café curtains in the breakfast room; without them, the space would fall flat.

What inspired the kids’ office?
The owners want their home to be in a state where they don’t have to clean up and can welcome guests any time. We created a dedicated space for the kids to do homework and take music lessons, outside of the kitchen.

How did the powder room come together?
I fell in love with the vintage sconces with milk-glass rods. The marble sink with its fluted edge plays nicely with them. And I had been eyeing the wallpaper—Scrolling Fern by Soane—for a while. It looks like kelp or seaweed and feels very coastal.

What drove your furniture selections?
We wanted the home to feel super-classic with clean lines. And I think that was accomplished by making sure everything was tailored—down to the slip covers in the living room.

What ingredients make a house feel like home?
Knowing your client’s priorities and understanding how they want to live and feel in their home are key. Asking the right questions is really important. Our initial process sets the foundation for a project to go in the right direction.

Ask Sara

What treasure in your home is most special to you?
An oil lamp that was my grandmother’s. My parents had it electrified and installed in their dining room. Now it’s a fixture in my foyer.

Share a favorite local haunt for vintage finds.
Daphna Peled at Pillar & Post in Georgetown is a great curator. She’s always going on trips to the UK and mostly sources pieces in England, which is lovely.

Reveal a wallpaper that you’re excited to try.
I’m obsessed with Wallflower wallpaper in Woad Blue by Morris & Co. It’s got great, modern movement to it. I’m probably going to hang it in my house.

Name a designer from any period whom you’d like to meet.
Josef Frank, the Austrian-born architect. I love his lighting designs; he really mastered the art of making functional lighting beautiful.

1/ BRING PAVING TO LIFE
Surrounding stepping stones with plant material cleverly blends a hardscape into the natural environment. In his plans for a two-acre Great Falls property, landscape architect Anthony Cusat of McHale Landscape Design installed slabs of weathered fieldstone on individual concrete pads with soil-filled joints, then planted a mix of Mazus, creeping Jenny and creeping thyme. “These low-growing, flowering ground covers weave a floral tapestry through the stonework,” he notes.
Cusat recommends selecting species that can handle moderate foot traffic and withstand radiant heat from stone in full sun. “Make joints wide enough to allow for plant growth, but comfortable for most stride lengths,” he adds. Proper drainage and irrigation are key to long-term plant health.

2/ LIGHT THE NIGHT
Subtle, ambient lighting enhances the beauty of a Vienna, Virginia, landscape. Ed Ball Designs implemented the three-acre project’s low-voltage system in collaboration with Lighthouse Outdoor Lighting and Audio. Uplights enhance mature trees and surrounding woods, while path and accent lights provide elegant wayfinding through beds and hardscape areas. “Outdoor lighting increases usability and safety, but also frames views, highlights textures and introduces depth,” says landscape architect Ed Ball. He recommends soft, layered lighting rather than overly harsh illumination. “Choose warm color temperatures for a natural glow,” he notes, “and keep fixtures discreet. The goal is to showcase the landscape—not the light fixtures themselves.”

3/ RUN A RIVER THROUGH IT
Great Falls residents tapped Pristine Acres to jettison a dated swimming pool in exchange for a custom water feature that would create a tranquil oasis on their five-acre property. Making the most of an existing slope, president Steve Waldron and landscape architect Kevin Kurdziolek conceived a tiered system of waterfalls that flows into a creek-like channel near a bed of river rocks. “Under the rocks,” details Waldron, “there is a reservoir with a pump that filters and recirculates water back to the top.”
To create a successful waterfall feature, they agree that understanding site topography is essential, as is having proper pumps and plumbing in place. Sourcing plenty of small boulders and plants imparts a natural feel—and even attracts wildlife, from dragonflies to frogs.

4/ FORGE NEW PATHWAYS
Splendid parterre gardens grace a 200-acre, Lutherville, Maryland, property designed by Fine Earth Landscape, Inc. Pea-gravel pathways traversing the beds serve as passages to a pavilion, pool and side lawn, as well as mini-destinations for contemplating a profusion of perennials, from late-spring peony and allium to Shasta daisy, hibiscus and coneflower come summer.
“The garden was designed to have certain color schemes throughout the seasons,” remarks president Joel Hafner. When choosing perennials, he says it’s crucial to consider plant height. “Taller plants should be centered, with lower plants surrounding them. Select species that provide long bloom seasons, thrive in our climate, are drought-tolerant and come back year after year.”

5/ REIMAGINE THE DETAILS
In their completion of a small Bethesda property, D. Blake Dunlevy and Tracy Meekins of D. A. Dunlevy conceived and crafted a custom cedar fence with a Moroccan motif. The homeowner, a belly dancing instructor, wanted to establish a private, tranquil space where she could gather with her family and practice dancing with friends. “Fences are generally regarded as necessary for security, privacy or safety,” says Dunlevy. “But in this case, we treated the fence like a wall in a home and adorned it with beauty.” When customizing millwork, he advises, “Know the style and aesthetic you’re going for and don’t overdo it. Provide the right amount of embellishment for the scale and prominence of the feature you’re creating.”

6/ PLAY WITH FIRE
A gas firepit clad in hand-cut Carderock veneer and mitered-granite slabs creates a modern focal point on the terrace of a McLean property designed by J. R. Peter of Colao & Peter. A fire feature, he explains, should harmonize with surrounding materials and be positioned 12 to 24 inches above the floor for a clear sightline. “We use durable, high-end materials that are heat- and weather-resistant,” Peter says.
It’s also important to consider wind direction and include space for fuel or wood storage. Finally, he advises, “Make sure to hire a plumber who specializes in natural gas and propane to guarantee proper installation and code compliance.
“Beyond standard firepits and fireplaces,” he continues, “sculptural fire bowls and fire lanterns can create a resort-like ambiance.”