At Causa, a new hot spot in DC, chef Carlos Delgado treats guests to a six-course tasting menu from his native Peru. Diners can supplement a repast that may include ceviche, wagyu beef and other delights with a whole fish. Seafood is flown in daily and displayed market-style. Lima-based Exebio designed the interiors featuring furniture from Peru and a mural by Retrollage. Upstairs, Delgado runs Amazonia, a casual spot serving Peruvian small plates, and a rooftop bar. 920 Blagden Alley, NW; 202-629-3942. causadc.com

Every two years, Cosmo Couture challenges architects and designers to dream up apparel made out of materials used in built environments. Sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the International Interior Design Association, the 2022 fundraiser took place at DC’s Hamilton Hotel. The King’s Coronation—an ensemble of sheet metal, tile, cork, rubber and wall covering by Perkins Eastman and Spartan Surfaces—won a prize for creative use of materials. iidamac.org

After a two-year quest to find a waterfront escape less than an hour from their DC row house, interior designer Michael Stehlik and his partner struck gold on the way home from a New Year’s weekend on the Eastern Shore. As one drove, the other searched real estate apps for listings along the route. Suddenly, a rare 1970s gem popped up in the quiet hamlet of Hollywood in St. Mary’s County.

The couple detoured to find a vacant, four-story abode in a wooded cove on two acres fronting a Patuxent River tributary near the Chesapeake Bay. Shaped like a tall lantern, the modern home immediately struck a chord. “We fell in love and kept driving back on weekends to see it,” Stehlik recalls. “Eventually, we started bringing picnics and sitting on the deck.”

The duo decided to take the leap and, after their 2016 move-in, learned the 2,700-square-foot find was even more extraordinary than they’d imagined. It was designed as a personal weekend retreat by Lynford Snell, an architect who’d relocated from Seattle to DC for a government job. Like Frank Lloyd Wright, Snell’s program embraced organic materials and also carefully orchestrated views of nature. Word has it that Snell and his wife completed much of the construction themselves. Though the architect has passed away, she stayed in the home until the stairs became a burden and then put it on the market. “We are only the second owners,” marvels Stehlik.

Essentially, he and his partner had landed an unadulterated,  late-’70s time capsule complete with a sunken living room, two-sided stone hearth, Mexican Saltillo tile floors, bespoke cherry cabinetry and working light fixtures designed by the architect.

Aside from making a few repairs, replacing fixtures and appliances and revamping woefully outdated bathrooms, the new owners decided to preserve their escape’s retro vibe. “We really enjoy the vintage feel. It’s meant to be a casual space that gets us away from DC and everything being perfect,” explains Stehlik. “I have no desire for it to look like me or my work. I feel that my job is to maintain the architect’s vision and respond to it with enhancements and furnishings that befit the bones of the house.”

Ushering a guest into the compact foyer, the designer is quick to invoke Frank Lloyd Wright. “In my mind,” he says, “this feels like Wright’s philosophy, where he brings you into an enclosed entryway and then allows it to widen into the thing you want to enjoy most.”

The hall leads to an open living, kitchen and dining area where windows frame vistas of the river and woods in a carefully organized fashion. According to Stehlik, the symmetry was intentional. “I immediately picked up on how thoughtful Snell was,” he observes. “The house is set on a four-foot grid and it’s oriented exactly south. Deep overhangs on all the floors help in the summer with heat gain while in the winter we benefit from the sun.”

On the main level, friends can gather in the airy sunroom, the sunken living room or in a suspended wooden loft above it where the couple watches TV. “It’s a hang-out space that makes me think of Swiss Family Robinson,” says Stehlik. The second and third floors are devoted to the guest and owners’ suites, respectively; each boasts a renovated bathroom and balcony. A fourth-floor observatory is ringed by windows, affording a scenic, 360-degree panorama.

Stehlik furnished the home with new and vintage pieces that mesh with a mid-century oeuvre. A blue Room & Board sectional delivers a pop of color in the living area. “I wouldn’t ordinarily select a bright color for myself,” the designer explains, “but I felt like the house needed some energy.”

One change the owners recently made was staining the exterior cedar siding and decking black. “We were inspired by other modern homes clad in shou sugi ban wood,” says Stehlik, “and thought without great expense we could preserve the exteriors in a finish that allows the textured wood to show through.”

The couple trades Washington’s bustle for the serenity of the shore almost every weekend, often hosting guests. They kayak around the cove, while a 15-minute trip in their motor boat lands them at Solomons Island for dinner. They also enjoy an up-close connection with local flora and fauna, watching the osprey return to roost every spring and the chestnut oaks turn a brilliant yellow each fall. “It’s fun to recognize the rhythms of nature,” Stehlik reflects.

After a busy week, both partners begin to unwind on the trip to Hollywood. “We always bring a big bag of work that never gets opened,” Stehlik admits. “Once we’re here, we realize there’s value in that balance. It re-energizes us and makes us excited to get back to DC on Sunday night.”

Interior & Bathroom Design: Michael Stehlik, Stehlik Design, Washington, DC. Bathroom Renovation Contractor: DMV Kitchen & Bath, Inc., Gaithersburg, Maryland. 

Though most homeowners focus their landscape plans on spring and summer, experts contend that taking a year-round approach delivers rich rewards even in the coldest winter months. 

AU NATUREL
Landscape architects Kevin Campion and Meredith Beach designed an Annapolis project with year-round allure overlooking Cadle Creek. A stone wall separates the property into a manicured side close to the house and a naturalistic side brimming with grasses that blends into adjacent marshland. “Grasses have fall interest, especially when mixed with fall-blooming perennials,” says Campion, who urges clients not to cut back grasses prematurely. “Make sure that 20- to 30-percent of plants you select bloom into fall. The final months of the year can be the best time to enjoy your garden.” Landscape Architecture: Campion Hruby Landscape Architects. Landscape Installation: Walnut Hill Landscape Company. Architecture: Hammond Wilson. Builder: Pyramid Builders. 

SNOW DAY
Landscape architect Bob Hruby designed an award-winning project overlooking Accotink Creek in Virginia. One goal was to devise new gardens that would appear to be centuries old. In one of the eight-acre estate’s courtyards, antique stone church windows imported from England form a focal point near a reflecting pool lined by linden trees and boxwood.

Even in the bleakest weather, evergreens such as boxwood provide a welcome burst of color. Says Hruby’s colleague, Kevin Campion, “Always include evergreen plantings in your landscape; they provide structure in the winter. And a dusting of snow on a winter garden can be delightful.” Landscape Architecture: Bob Hruby, PLA, ASLA, Campion Hruby Landscape Architects. Landscape Design: Chapel Valley Landscape Company. Pools & Water Fountains: Lewis Aquatech.  

WINTER BOUQUET
The late landscape architects James van Sweden and Wolfgang Oehme first conceived a 16-acre project on the West River, overlooking Kent Island, in 2007. The firm they co-founded—now known as OvS—continues to nurture the Harwood, Maryland, garden to the present day.

The owners enjoy dramatic river vistas all year round. Snowy views illustrate what van Sweden called the “winter bouquet,” according to OvS principal Lili Herrera. “Today, we know the importance of letting spent material overwinter, providing habitat and refuge for insects that are a critical part of the food chain, as well as birds,” she says.

Herrera reminds clients to consider the structure plants retain beyond summer. “During the winter, grasses frame views out to the water and also provide privacy,” she says. “The foliage of grasses, perennials and their seed heads can be viewed as a complement to the winter garden—with or without snow.”

On such a spectacular site, wonders abound in every season. “The winter colors are more muted but equally beautiful,” Herrera reflects. “And the rustling of spent foliage creates a unique sensory experience. We love hearing the sound of grasses in the wind.” Landscape Architecture & Photography: OvS. 

A large farm on the banks of the Miles River in Maryland’s Talbot County traces its origins back to the 19th century. The current owners tapped architect Gregory Wiedemann to reconstruct and restore the main farmhouse and its numerous outbuildings, taking inspiration from historic vernacular. Near the shoreline, Wiedemann created a stone folly on the foundation of an abandoned farm structure. The 680-square-foot retreat houses a sitting room heated by a fireplace as well as a sheltered porch (pictured). “All materials were designed to withstand the risk of flooding, with exposed, locally sourced stone walls inside and out,” explains the architect. The flooring and even some of the seating are constructed of stone, while custom-designed wooden shutters and barn doors enclose the refuge when it’s not occupied.

A throwback to a simpler time, the folly invites homeowners and their guests to enjoy the quietude of the river. As Wiedemann reflects, ”It’s a place of repose—a place to experience the water for a moment’s respite.”

Architecture: Gregory Wiedemann, FAIA, Wiedemann Architects LLC, Bethesda, Maryland.

After a long day at work, amateur photographer David Sites often takes off in his Tidewater powerboat for shooting expeditions on the Chesapeake Bay. The route from his South River home typically runs by Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse.

Just after sunset on a June outing, Sites watched as a great blue heron alighted on a rock near the historic beacon. “Clouds were so thick that the sky lit up yellow. I was sort of in the dark so the heron didn’t notice me,” he recalls. “It was an opportunity to get a picture of him.”

Sites loves capturing the beauty of the bay all year round. “I go out whenever I can,” he affirms. “It relaxes me.”

In the third iteration of its “One Life” series, the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery turns its lens on New York-based architect and sculptor Maya Lin. “One Life: Maya Lin” traces the trajectory of Lin’s career, which launched when she designed Washington’s Vietnam Memorial as a 21-year-old architecture student at Yale; the show is timed to coincide with the memorial’s 40th anniversary.

Sculptures, 3D models, sketchbooks and photographs chronicle the path that took Lin from her childhood to her present-day work focusing on history, human rights and the environment. “As a young child growing up in rural Ohio, Lin developed what she describes as ‘a strong love and respect for the land,’” says curator Dorothy Moss. “This focus on the natural world has translated into a profound body of work that is grounded in empathy.”

In a recorded interview with the museum, Lin explained her process. After a close study of the art, architecture and history related to a project, she explains, “I put it all away and find the poetry. The poetry is my voice. I’m trying to create a very private, one-on-one dialogue with the viewer.”

Integral to the show is an interactive installation designed by Lin as part of an ongoing, multimedia memorial to the environment. It invites attendees to share a species or experience threatened by climate change or habitat loss. The exhibit also sheds light on how humans can help reverse such declines. “The future is about macro-thinking,” says Lin. “I present the facts and let you come away with your own conclusion. Maybe as an artist, I can get you to think in a different way.”

The show is on view through April 16, 2023. npg.si.edu

If a ski vacation isn’t in the cards this winter, Bourbon Steak DC and the Four Seasons Washington, DC offer an alternative to the alpine lifestyle. Back for a second season, fully heated wooden chalets on the Georgetown restaurant’s terrace will treat parties of two to six to an après-ski experience from mid-November through February. Each of the four cabins is decorated like a different Four Seasons ski resort; special menu items include smoked s’mores and drinks by the fire pit. bourbonsteakdc.com/events

Retro Revival
To mark the 70th anniversary of the 356 America Roadster, Porsche is releasing a limited number of 2023 911 Carrera GTS Cabriolet America models. Featuring the same high-performance chassis and powertrain as the 911 Carrera GTS Cabriolet, the new iteration harnesses a twin-turbocharged, six-cylinder engine to generate 473 hp. $184,920; porsche.com

Sound Control
Bluesound has introduced the Powernode Edge—a single-zone, wireless music-streaming amplifier. Once connected to speakers, the device delivers audiophile-grade amplification and supports MQA playback. More than 20 integrated music services and thousands of Internet radio stations are accessible on the Powernode Edge, controlled via app. Available in black or white; $649. bluesound.com

Into the Fold
C SEED recently unveiled the M1—a foldable MicroLED TV. Its sculptural column, which conceals an integrated sound system, rises from the floor and unfolds a display framed in aviation-grade aluminum. When not in use, the TV seamlessly disappears back into the floor. Available in silver, gold, black and titanium. From $247,000 for a 103-inch model. cseed.tv

A black-and-cream Jasmine Dots print emboldens the Crepe Bomber Jacket ($730) and matching Straight Leg Pants ($535), part of CH Carolina Herrera’s Fall 2022 collection.The Charro Insignia Hobo ($1,915), handcrafted in Sequoia leather, completes the ensemble. Shown in red, the bag comes in six other colors and patterns. Find at the brand’s CityCenterDC boutique at 995 H Street, NW. chcarolinaherrera.com

GENTLE CURVE
During a recent Logan Circle redo, MV Architects designed a graceful new staircase and stair rail with painted-steel pickets that sit on a curved plaster skirt. Metal Specialties fabricated the steel handrail. Installation: Haigh DeCastro.

THIN LINE
In Fowlkes Studio’s renovation of an Adams Morgan home, space was at a premium. Conventional railings can take up to six inches away from a staircase’s width, so the architects devised a streamlined alternative: a railing made of half-inch-thick steel plates with welded corners, fabricated by Metal Specialties.

IN THE ROUND
Saienni Stairs crafted a two-story, floating double staircase as part of a Georgetown renovation. Custom-turned wood balusters combine with a mahogany handrail and quarter-sawn pine treads to elegant and dramatic effect.

SAFE PASSAGE
While planning an Arlington renovation, EL Studio prototyped and fabricated a two-story, painted-plywood handrail using a 3D printer to meet ergonomic and safety requirements—namely to smooth out sharp turns and protect kids traveling at high speeds.

LIGHT RAIL
Chuck Cregger of Cregger Construction recently revamped a staircase in a Maryland home. The one-story installation combines an oak rail, side skirt and baseplates with powder-coated aluminum posts and stainless-steel cables and hardware, giving the interior a clean, modern update.

Following a 45-year stint in Washington, Suman Sorg set her sights on New York. After most of the assets of her eponymous, 45-person architecture firm were sold, she was about to launch a nonprofit and the big city seemed like fertile ground for growth. So she moved into an apartment on Central Park—and then the pandemic hit.

“I went downstairs, rented a car and came here automatically,” recalls Sorg from the light-filled living room of her summer home in Sherwood, Maryland, overlooking the shimmery Chesapeake Bay. “I thought I’d be here for two or three weeks, but spent 18 months here full-time.”

Little did she know, her instinctive decision to take shelter on the Eastern Shore would have ripple effects on her future.

Sorg had conceived the home near St. Michaels in the early 2000s as a spot where she, her then-husband and their daughter could enjoy quick getaways from DC. It was one of several adjacent properties she’d designed with the late landscape architect James van Sweden, co-founder of Washington-based OvS. In a barter deal the friends worked out, she designed his house and he designed her seven-acre parcel for free. “At first I thought that wasn’t an even trade, but then my garden cost as much as the house,” she laughs.

In 2002, the duo also collaborated on an HGTV Dream Home next to Sorg’s; it was given away in a raffle, then sold immediately to a savvy New York buyer for $1.3 million. “Theses three are the only super-modern houses in the area, and became quite a tourist attraction—especially after the HGTV house,” notes Sorg.

In the design of her own residence, the architect took inspiration from a nearby 17th-century farm, its manor house surrounded by agrarian outbuildings. Her compound consists of three structures shaped like abstract barns. The main, central hub contains the kitchen, a living and dining area with 22-foot-high ceilings and a loft where Sorg works when on site. Two identical offshoots house bedroom suites—one for the homeowner and another for guests. Decks and elevated wooden walkways connect the buildings—surrounded by lawn, meadow and billowing seagrasses. A round swimming pool, enveloped in greenery and a flagstone terrace, awaits on the arrival side of the home.

The layout proved ideal during covid, as city friends dropped in while Sorg sequestered on the bay. “People would visit and never have to enter the main house,” she explains. “I’d cook in the kitchen and serve on one of the decks.”

Those 18 months marked the first time Sorg experienced the property and its estuary environment year-round. “A friend of mine says nothing happens here during the winter. But lots happens,” she says. “You just have to notice it.

“The leaves change, the insects disappear,” she continues. “Different kinds of birds come through. The bay freezes up—it’s actually lovely. Then butterflies arrive in March.”

During that time, Sorg befriended neighbors, joined a local book club and discovered more community in the area than she’d ever imagined. “I was super-busy before covid and can’t say I used the house enough to make it worthwhile,” she recalls. “There came a time when I said, ‘it’s too much work—let’s tear it down.’ But I’m so glad I didn’t.”

Ultimately, the architect abandoned her move to New York. “It wasn’t meant to be,” she explains. “I’ve begun to think Washington is city enough.” She decided to establish her nonprofit in DC (where she has a primary home near Rock Creek Park) and now spends more time on the Eastern Shore. And instead of a demolition, her 2,800-square-foot bay escape was recently treated to a complete overhaul.

“The major systems were not working well,” she says. “The bay is a pretty punishing environment, weather-wise.” Insulated metal cladding replaced rotting plywood siding on all three buildings. Sorg reappointed the kitchen and baths and installed a new roof, a new A/C system and energy-efficient Marvin windows and doors.

Respect for the environment has always guided Sorg’s approach, from the many multi-use, government and multi-family projects Sorg Architects has completed around the world to her intimate bay habitat. “This house has a small footprint, but it’s enough,” she asserts. “I didn’t want to heat and cool something unnecessarily. And because there are three buildings, I can live in one and shut the others down completely.”

The interiors remained the same. Finishes riff on materials prevalent in local farm buildings, juxtaposed with iconic modern furnishings. Refined panels of veneer-finished marine plywood flank the living room’s working cinderblock chimney. Concrete floors painted a pale gray reflect daylight and help keep the interiors cool. The architect designed platform beds and cabinetry for the sleeping suites, also using marine-grade plywood—a natural foil that doesn’t distract from ever-changing views out the windows.

Sorg spent the entire past summer in the bay house with her grown daughter, son-in-law and five-year-old grandson, who were on holiday from Scotland. Her lofty office, she reports, is an inspiring spot to work on her nonprofit. Called A Complete Unknown, the startup now employs 21 design pros around the globe dedicated to developing innovative solutions to empower underserved populations—people and animals alike.

Sorg’s humble Maryland abode has played a surprisingly oversized role as her next chapter unfolds. Reflecting on recent years, she says,“The renovation project in these strange times not only saved the house, but opened my heart to the real architecture of our lives, the nature around us and all the creatures that live in it, including us humans.”

A  couple with a bustling orthodontics practice was in the midst of planning a new custom home north of Baltimore when they called designer Stephanie Gamble for help. The parents of three young boys—she is the lead doctor and he manages the business side—needed someone to shepherd them through myriad decisions as their six-bedroom, 5,000-square-foot project took shape.

Gamble joined the team just as builder Danleigh Homes was putting the finishing touches on the modern farmhouse-style plan. She not only guided them through myriad selections—from windows to lighting and tile—but also designed built-ins, millwork and fireplace surrounds.

“My clients were looking for classic comfort—nothing too precious. And with three boys, we knew durability would be key,” Gamble explains. “But having kids doesn’t mean you have to skimp on quality. You can have nice things; you just need to make smart decisions.”

On the following pages, a Q&A with Gamble sheds light on the process.

Why hire a designer in the early stages of a custom build?
We catch things that builders don’t. Designers consider factors like where the king-size bed will go and if the island is big enough for the whole family. Whether it’s a small change like flipping a toilet and a vanity or making sure every space is going to accommodate a family’s needs, we come in with a different perspective.

How did you elevate the foyer?
Adding board and batten to the walls made the foyer much more interesting architecturally. And I love the Noir chest we chose. The wood tones are very “farmhouse,” but the style of the piece is modern. And the Visual Comfort chandelier is in keeping with the warm, modern-but-classic feeling we extended throughout the house.

What choices enabled you to marry elegance and durability in the kitchen?
We selected quartz countertops because my client didn’t want to worry about stains. We incorporated durable materials but made sure they have a really lovely appearance. For example, the kitchen stool-backs look like a natural woven fiber, but they’re made of synthetic cord and can be easily wiped down, as can the chairs in the dining room.

How did you warm up the white kitchen?
Beadboard on the ceiling and brushed-brass and gold accents help. We also brought in warmth with the darker stain on the island.

Explain your theory on blending textures.
A mistake people sometimes make when they go with neutrals is not realizing that you need texture. It helps layer a space. In the dining room, the first thing we selected was the chandelier by Made Goods, made of coco beads. The drapery is a modern linen damask by Fabricut. The Dash & Albert rug is wool and the Four Hands chairs have all-weather wicker seats. Adding these varied elements together created a great, welcoming environment.

Why was achieving proper scale in the great room a challenge?
The ceilings in that space are almost 25 feet high. So getting the size of the built-ins right was key. When we first had them drawn out, the clients insisted they were too big. I rarely use the phrase “trust me,” but I knew the room would be off if the built-ins were not tall enough. Once the framing was done, the owners emailed me and said, “You were right; the scale is perfect and it looks great.”

How did you create a luxurious vibe in the primary bedroom?
The owners wanted it to be their sanctuary, a refuge for peace and quiet and a bit of luxury. It also has very high ceilings, so we knew it could easily handle the canopy bed by Vanguard. We chose a rug with a mix of light blues and creams, awesome chairs by Lee Industries and a pouf for them to put their feet on while reading. The cashmere throw and lovely linen drapes were the room’s final touches.

What strategies protect interiors from adventurous little ones?
Focus on performance fabrics such as Crypton that clean well, and pay attention to rub counts. Counts of 50,000 and above are great while 100,000 is pretty much commercial-grade. In homes like this one, we stay away from 100-percent cotton or linen except for the drapes because we wouldn’t expect anyone to dirty them.

What drove your window selection?
We went with black windows from Marvin’s Elevate collection. They’re simple and don’t have too many grids.

Why splurge on lighting?
I always tell clients, especially if they have children, to go all out on lighting. It’s very rare that a child is going to ruin a light fixture—you don’t have to worry about little fingerprints on them. There’s really nothing holding you back.

Discuss why trust is so crucial to a project’s success?
The owners and I were a hundred percent in sync on this project. They listened to advice and understood that when you hire a professional, you should let them do their job. And they wanted to be pushed a little. When there’s such a great, synergistic relationship between client and designer, 75 percent of the work is done.

ASK STEPHANIE

NAME YOUR GO-TO SOURCE FOR ACCESSORIES.
Great Finds & Design in Timonium, Maryland, is my favorite spot for unexpected objects like trays, planters and huge baskets. You may discover pieces from the 1940s, the ’70s or something super-current.

SHARE A TREND YOU’VE SPOTTED.
I see a resurgence of dark, moody paint colors. We’re finishing a kitchen in deep hunter green and another client is doing a room in all black. It’s going to be spectacular.

DO YOU HAVE A DESIGN PET PEEVE?
Word-based wall art. I much prefer a gorgeous, abstract piece that brings interest and color into a space.

PRODUCT YOU CAN’T WAIT TO TRY?
I’m intrigued by induction cooking, especially products by Wolf. They seem to offer several advantages along with a clean, sleek look.

WHAT’S A PIECE IN YOUR HOME THAT YOU CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT?
An original floral painting by the late artist Alice Pritchard. I cherish the work for its large scale and striking use of color—it will go wherever I do!

Interior Design: Stephanie Gamble, Stephanie Gamble Interiors, Towson, Maryland. Builder: Danleigh Homes, Kingsville, Maryland.

Relaxation outdoors is a balm for weary souls. “Time in gardens and exposure to the non-rhythmic movement of water, clouds and grasses decreases stress, improves cognitive ability, restores attention—and generally makes us healthier and happier humans,” contends landscape architect Ryan Moody of Moody Graham. He and other landscape architects and designers are working hard to meet rising client demand for outdoor upgrades.

Below, we cover 10 great ideas for inspiration.

DINING UNDER THE STARS
Reserving space for a generous table makes hosting outdoor soirées a breeze. The courtyard of a new Arlington home is defined by a cedar-slat fence and a poured-concrete wall. Lush shrubs and perennials soften the hardscape. Architecture: Resolution: 4 Architecture. Landscape Architecture: Ryan Moody, Moody Graham. Landscape Contractor: Oldetowne Landscape Architects. Builder: MK Development. 

IN FULL SWING
A swing arbor creates a serene spot for unwinding on a one-acre McLean property overhauled by Anthony Cusat, PLA, of McHale Landscape Design. As he asserts, “There are many therapeutic benefits to using a swing. Slow, rocking motion can reduce stress, calm one’s breathing and bring the heart rate down.”

SHOWER POWER
Outdoor showers let bathers forge a strong connection with nature. Architect Mark Kaufman, AIA, of GTM Architects integrated an outdoor shower into his design of a modern Bethesda pool house. Stone walls and sapele mahogany panels reinforce the organic vibe. Builder: JEFFCO Development. Landscape Contractor: Landscape Projects. 

LIGHT A FIRE
“Gathering around a fire provides the chance to disconnect from the world with those who care about you,” says landscape architect Jordan Loch Crabtree, ASLA, of LOCH Collective. On the grounds of a custom waterfront property he designed near Easton, Maryland, Loch installed a fire pit on a bluestone pool terrace enveloped in native grasses. Architecture: Martins Grehl Architects. Builder: ThinkMakeBuild. 

TAKE A DIVE
Today’s home-fitness craze has fueled a demand for lap pools. McLean clients tapped Kevin Kurdziolek, PLA, ASLA, and Steve Waldron of Pristine Acres to integrate a 73-foot-long, three-sided infinity-edge pool into a slope in their backyard. Their design includes a lounge deck, multiple retaining walls and lush garden areas. Architecture: WCRA. Builder: Brush Arbor Homes.

MOVIE NIGHT
An outdoor screen is front and center in the covered, stone-and-ipe structure that landscape architect Chad Talton, PLA, of Surrounds, Inc., designed in a client’s compact DC yard. “Almost every space we build contains an outdoor TV because people love to gather and watch with friends,” he reports.

REAP A HARVEST
Tending a vegetable garden not only supplies healthy ingredients, but also “a great sense of accomplishment in growing your own food from seed to table,” says Kate Mitchell of Love & Carrots. The DC company, which helps residential and business clients nurture their own crops, maintains a Vienna garden where tomatoes, eggplant, beans, peas and carrots thrive.

FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH
“Seeing or hearing the soothing sound of water induces relaxation,” says Don Gwiz of Lewis Aquatech, who updated a client’s Potomac property with a stone water feature that overflows into a pool. A profusion of flowers and greenery adds color and texture.

UP ON THE ROOF
Roof gardens take advantage of surplus outdoor space—often with a view. A DC homeowner created a private aerie complete with teak decking; planters full of  seagrass conceal speakers for music. It’s the perfect haven for yoga, meditation and entertaining. Builder: Gibson Homes, LLC. 

COOK OUT
Bringing a kitchen with all the bells and whistles outside is the ultimate backyard luxury (aside from hiring a caterer). In a Vienna home, Michael Winn and Jimmy Finn, AIA, of Winn Design + Build created a screened-porch kitchen that boasts a grill and hood, two refrigerators, an icemaker and stainless-steel Danver cabinetry.

Sprouting up all over DC, murals project bold color and meaningful messages. Many are sponsored by groups promoting the arts or timely causes. The new creations covered here are a few of many murals around town worth a visit in person.

ZEROING IN ON HUNGER
Lula Goce’s mural portrays a female farmer harvesting her crop. As the artist wrote on Instagram, “It is an ode to women fighting every day to provide quality food for their communities.” Goce’s work is one of six murals to be completed across the U.S. this year as part of the Zero Hunger project. Sponsored by World Food Program USA, Street Art for Mankind and Kellogg, the program raises awareness about rising food insecurity and injustice.

MENTORING CITY YOUTH
MuralsDC engages young artists, teaching them the right techniques to create murals and replace unsightly graffiti. In the past 15 years, the program has fostered 150 new murals throughout the District. One of these, "The Wailin’ Mailman," is a nine-story portrait of the late Buck Hill, a renowned saxophonist who moonlighted as a mail carrier. Artist Joe Pagac painted the tribute, located at 1925 14th Street, NW.

WOMEN EMPOWERED
In June, Mayor Muriel Bowser attended the dedication of two new murals celebrating women at Seventh Street and Rhode Island Avenue, NW, in DC’s Shaw neighborhood. One of these, "She Got We," is by Cita Sadeli, better known as MISS CHELOVE; it portrays strong, multi-ethnic, multi-generational women. Sadeli also completed a four-story mural on view until recently at the National Museum of Women in the Arts that addressed the role of women in ecological activism.

Chic apparel and accessories appear to float in the sleek interiors of Akris’ first Washington boutique.. Milan-based architect David Chipperfield aimed to “reflect the integrity” of the Swiss brand in his design, outfitting the shop with white-painted maple paneling and see-through, stainless-steel mesh partitions suspended from the ceiling. Highlights of the Fall 2022 collection: the Drei Teile Intarsia Print knit dress ($2,990) and a messenger bag ($2,690)—both inspired by the work of German artist Reinhard Voigt—and a camelhair parka with quilted insert ($5,990). 965 I Street, NW; 202-601-4212. us.akris.com