Park City’s acclaimed Stein Eriksen Lodge welcomes guests with renovated public spaces featuring wood-burning fireplaces, elegant new furniture and custom Axminster carpets. Located mid-mountain at Deer Valley Resort, the lodge offers ski-in/ski-out access to the trails. Après ski, visitors can enjoy heated outdoor pools and hot tubs, pampering spa treatments and horse-drawn sleigh rides. Rates from $879. steinlodge.com

Washington welcomed its first Giorgio Armani boutique in November. Designed by Armani himself along with in-house architects, the sleek, 3,000-square-foot shop is divided into a succession of rooms outfitted with marble-effect floors and silk wall covering. Armani-designed light fixtures hang from double-height ceilings. The shop presents both men’s and women’s collections, including ready-to-wear, accessories, beauty and a selection of Armani/Casa merchandise. 825 10th Street, NW; armani.com

After mastering her craft in Paris and New York, chocolatier Ashleigh Pearson opens Petite Soeur in time for Valentine’s Day

Inside her gleaming Georgetown shop, Ashleigh Pearson (right) arranges handmade bonbons in glass cases like fine jewelry. Petite Soeur’s debut marked a milestone in a 12-year career that started less than a mile away at chef Robert Wiedmaier’s acclaimed Marcel’s.

“I knocked on the door and said I wanted a job,” Pearson recalls. “I loved to bake but had never done it professionally. They laughed at me—but gave me a chance.” After working her way up to become the restaurant’s head pastry chef, the DC-area native eventually won a scholarship from the local Les Dames d’Escoffier chapter to study pastry at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris.

Two years later, Pearson was named head chocolatier at Thomas Keller’s Per Se in New York—and narrowed her focus. “When I realized I could hand-paint and create all these complex flavors in one bite,” she reflects, “I was hooked on chocolate.”

In 2019, she returned to Washington to forge her own path.
“I knew that it was time for me to start creating under my name,” she says. Pearson hopes to give customers “a Michelin-level chocolate experience,” with each flavor telling a personal story. Maple Black Walnut Crunch bonbons, for example, were inspired by her grandfather’s black-walnut cake, while Almond Butter and Jelly is a grownup take on the proprietor’s beloved childhood PB&Js. Petite Soeur also sells homemade butter sablé cookies, chocolate bars and wrapped confections. 1332 Wisconsin Avenue, NW; petite-soeur.com

The house of Dior forges connections between architecture, nature and textiles in its Autumn-Winter 2021-2022 Haute Couture collection. Strong geometric silhouettes and a plethora of textures set each look apart—including a micro-trench jacket with a hood in patchwork tweed, worn with micro-Bermuda shorts in brown bouclé tweed. Price on request. dior.com

Whether you’re a day-tripper or offshore cruiser, outfitting a motor yacht or sailboat with the right appliances is key to living well on the water. “Layout-planning is essential to maximizing space,” says AJ Madison appliance expert Jessica Petrino.

Among Petrino’s top sea-worthy picks are multi-functional speed ovens—such as Miele’s PureLine DirectSelect Series—which handle both baking and microwaving. She also spotlights Kenyon’s modular No Lid Electric Grill (pictured); made of marine-grade stainless steel, it creates a flat, usable surface when closed. And for the ultimate wet bar, Petrino recommends U-Line’s Marine/RV Series undercounter refrigerators and icemakers, featuring door latches for secure closure at sea. All are available at AJ Madison’s Tysons showroom or ajmadison.com.

The owners of a lot on Weems Creek in Annapolis tapped architect Marta Hansen and Matt Long of Gate One Builders to craft a dream home for their retirement years. Hansen conceived a Shingle-style abode with a modern-farmhouse vibe and a strong connection to its scenic lot. To further that connection, the design team also created a detached pavilion (right), which links to the main house via an extended ipe boardwalk and stone pathways that wind through hillside plantings and woodland paths.

The gabled, 400-square-foot pavilion “is sited on a point of land overlooking the creek and the small enclave of custom homes surrounding it—so it has 180-degree views,” Long explains. “It echoes the home’s architectural features, including a vaulted board-and-batten ceiling, columns and screened radius transoms.” The structure features an open area for al fresco dining. Full-color bluestone paves the space, which is made cozy by a wood-burning fireplace with a gas insert and rattan furniture that beckons into the cooler months.

Architecture: Marta Hansen, AIA, LEED AP, Hansen Architects, Annapolis, Maryland. Builder: Matt Long, Gate One Builders, Annapolis, Maryland. Photography: David Burroughs.

Blue Rock, a five-room inn and restaurant in Washington, Virginia, reopened in October following a nine-month renovation. The 80-acre property boasts stellar views of the Shenandoah. Interiors by Leah Frankl of Lumber & Light include the woodland-inspired Walden Room (right). Chef Bin Lu oversees the restaurant; a private dining room (top, right) adorned with Cole & Son wallpaper and custom millwork; and a tasting room serving assorted libations and casual fare. On tap at the latter: Samuel Smith Old Brewery oatmeal stout and an antipasti plate. Rates from $299 during the week and $489 on weekends. bluerockva.com  Photos: Jennifer Chase.

The act of Congress limiting the height of Washington buildings to a mere 130 feet not only protects the city’s skyline, but also enables residents to enjoy dramatic views of its iconic buildings. Such a vista presented itself when a DC dweller searching for a new home toured a two-level corner penthouse in Logan Circle a few years ago.

“What attracted me were the amazing views of the Washington Monument, as well as the wide-open spaces that are ideal for entertaining,” recalls the engineer/patent attorney. “The apartment has an amazing rooftop deck with a perfect view of the Fourth of July fireworks!”

She purchased the property, which 10 years earlier had been tricked out by the DC firm of Robert M. Gurney, FAIA Architect. Starting with a raw space boasting double-height windows, Gurney and his team accentuated views throughout open living spaces cleverly demarcated by millwork. Their plan created an upper level complete with a primary suite, a glass catwalk and access to two separate roof terraces.

Though the owner loved the modern lines and airy spaces perfect for entertaining, she wanted to recast the home’s masculine tones and overhaul its primary bath. So she enlisted DC designer Joe Ireland to help craft interiors that would reflect her penchant for color and sense of joie de vivre. “I’m an engineer, so design is not my forte,” she quips. “I gave Joe full rein.”

A quick study revealed that Ireland had inherited a gem. “We were excited that Robert Gurney had worked on the apartment before us. I tried to respect what was there,” he recalls. “He made such good use of the space and there was plenty of storage, so we kept the layout but just freshened it up. I wanted it to feel feminine without going overboard.”

Ireland set out to create a “happy, eclectic” vibe that, like his client, doesn’t take itself too seriously. To achieve the right look, he orchestrated a mix of custom, vintage and artisanal pieces—from hand-carved dining room chairs to a bespoke bed upholstered in soft velvet.

One challenge was accommodating his client’s two cats, along with others she occasionally fosters. Not only did Ireland ensure that furnishings and finishes could withstand pets, but he also designed a creative alternative to the carpeted cat “castles” he encountered on his first visit: a bank of geometric walnut cabinetry that greets guests when they enter the apartment. While some shelves in the unit are used to display collectibles, others harbor beds for the lucky felines, who can also play hide-and-seek in tunnels that traverse the millwork interior.

The kitchen and dining room await to the left of the foyer, with the living room, office and guest room located on the right. The designer employed colorful, oval-shaped rugs from Galleria Carpets to delineate areas in the open plan. “Because everything is at an angle in the apartment, I threw in some curves to give it balance,” Ireland explains. “The carpets make the spaces feel more organic.”

He reinforced the concept in the living area with a curvaceous sofa and ottoman of his own design. “I wanted furniture to float in the space and not feel constrained,” he adds.

Gurney’s oak floors were left intact. But in lieu of other wood finishes that dominated the existing apartment, Ireland softened the palette with creams and pastels. He painted the kitchen’s base and side cabinets in Benjamin Moore’s Alaskan Skies, while a whitewash muted upper cabinets in zebrawood.

A library Gurney created behind pivoting, steel-framed glass doors is used by the current owner as a gym and guest room, thanks to a Murphy bed. There’s also a home office tucked behind bookshelves housing a TV in the living room.

Strategically placed wall coverings animate the interiors. Case in point is a hand-painted Fromental floral motif that brings to mind a work of art near the living room’s suspended fireplace. And upstairs in the owner’s suite, a niche papered in a botanical mural conjures dreams of an exotic garden.

Ireland’s overhaul of the primary bath elevated the glam factor. He designed the vanity in bird’s eye maple, its rich wood tones offset by a Calacatta Retro marble countertop and a backsplash of marble tile inset with brass accents. Glass sconces by Waterworks add shimmer.

Now that the dust has settled, the owner is delighted with the apartment’s décor and custom accoutrements. Ireland affirms that its many bespoke furnishings solve issues of color and scale—but they also inject the project with meaning and lasting allure. “With every project we do,” the designer reflects, “we try not to repeat anything. And we try to make every single space a destination.”

Interior Design: Joe Ireland, JD Ireland Interior Architecture and Design, Washington, DC. Contractor: Winchester, Millersville, Maryland.

RESOURCES

DINING AREA
Table: Custom by robertgurneyarchitect; modified by jdireland.com. Chairs: 1stdibs.com; jonathanfield.co.uk. Rug: galleriacarpets.com. Chandelier: Owner’s collection. Wallpaper: phillipjeffries.com. Sconces: 1stdibs.com; jeanmarcfray.com. Art: paulabarragan.com. Millwork Fabrication: Refinished and painted by jdireland.com; winchesterinc.com. Fireplace: Refinished and painted by jdireland.com; winchesterinc.com. Paint: Alaskan Skies by benjaminmoore.com. Window Shades: owner’s collection.

KITCHEN
Countertop: stoneaction.net. Hood & Cooktop: Owner’s collection. Tile Backsplash: architessa.com. Cabinetry: Refinished and painted by jdireland.com; winchesterinc.com. Faucets: deltafaucet.com. Bar Stools: jakewhillans.com. Lights: circalighting.com. Paint: Alaskan Skies by benjaminmoore.com.

LIVING AREA
Floating Fireplace: Owner’s collection. Rugs: galleriacarpets.com. Ottoman: Custom through jdireland.com. Ottoman Fabric: jimthompsonfabrics.com. Curved Sofa: Custom through jdireland.com. Curved Sofa Fabrics: arabelfabrics.com. Pillow Fabrics: zakandfox.com; jimthompsonfabrics.com. Drink Table: michaelclearyllc.com. Leaf Art & Tapestry: fromental.co.uk; samuelandsons.com. Tapestry Installation:  installation by Michael DiGuiseppe; 202-731-2634.

WORKOUT ROOM
Glass Door Design: Color film added by jdireland.com.

ENTRY
Chest: 1stdibs.com; tomrobinsonmodern.com. Table Lamp: Jean Pierre Antiques; 202-337-1731. Mirror: krbnyc.com; corbincruise.com; marynelsonsinclair.com. Walls: winchesterinc.com. Art: otlpets.com.

ROOF TERRACE
Chairs, Tables & Chair Fabric: dedon.de.

BEDROOM
Bird Wall Covering: themuralsource.com. Bed: custom through jdireland.com. Headboard Fabric: jiunho.com; Great Plains through hollyhunt.com. Bedding: christopherfarrcloth.com. Lumbar Pillow Fabric: caryncramer.com. Chest: centuryfurniture.com. Lamp: artisanlamp.com. Rug: galleriacarpets.com. Bench: wayfair.com. Bench Fabric: misia-paris.com. Paint: Alaskan skies by benjaminmoore.com. Chair: mgbwhome.com. Side Table: michaelclearyllc.com.

OWNER'S BATH
Vanity: Custom through jdireland.com; fabricated by michaeljamesfurniture.com. Hardware: schoolhouse.com. Tile & Countertop: marblesystems.com; stoneaction.net. Sconces: waterworks.com. Mirror: cb2.com. Sink Faucet: waterworks.com.

Holidays revolve around home. As Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukah and Kwanzaa near, busy schedules wind down and our focus turns inward to occasions spent with near and dear ones. According to local designers Josh Hildreth and Pamela Harvey, there’s more to holiday décor than simply creating a festive mood. It is a way to bring meaning to the moments by remembering loved ones and cherishing family traditions.

In 2019, Hildreth transformed his parents’ 1931 Richmond cottage for the holidays. They moved out for two weeks so that he could update the interiors, painting the kitchen cabinets sage-green and reviving oak floors with a checkerboard pattern. Then, he layered every room with treasures from the attic, greenery and a Christmas tree adorned with 5,000 white lights. “Opening up the ornaments each year was a retelling of family memories through ornaments we made as children or bought on family trips, and remembrances of people who gave them to us,” Hildreth reflects. “Some were exquisite, others naively made—and a few, spectacularly tacky.”

Sadly, it was the last Christmas for Hildreth’s mother Maureen, who was battling cancer at the time. “When I began, it was about wanting to help my mother live longer by making her feel like the queen she was in my life,” says the designer. “We made sure that there was a party on the day my parents returned to see their refreshed home because, for Mom, the joy in beauty was in sharing it with others.”

Designer Pamela Harvey also conjures memories when decorating for the holidays. She fills her Oakton, Virginia, residence with keepsakes collected by her three daughters, who are now grown. “I like decorations that are classic, fresh and color-coordinated to my home, paired with holiday ornaments from the girls’ childhoods,” she says.

Harvey likes to mix fresh greens—including branches of magnolia, boxwood and spruce—with berries or dried citrus for color. “Purchase some beautiful ribbon to combine with the greens; it works from Thanksgiving through the end-of-year holidays,” she suggests.

“Though the holidays happen at the darkest time of year,” Hildreth reflects, “they’re about getting together and celebrating the hope of light coming into the world. Think about decorations like candles that create light, as well as scents like living greens and flowers that add cheer to your home.”

EASY RIDER
Genesis recently unveiled the GV60—the Korean automaker’s first dedicated electric vehicle. Designed with a dynamic, athletic profile, the car travels from 0 to 60 mph in four seconds; the standard model’s range is 265 miles per charge. Facial and fingerprint recognition and a Bang & Olufsen sound system are a few of the GV60’s luxury features. U.S. delivery expected in 2022; price to be determined. genesis.com

FIND MY FIDO
Founded in 2019 by two seasoned tech entrepreneurs, Fi lets dog owners track pets’ whereabouts via an LTE-M GPS tracking collar and an accompanying smartphone app. The waterproof collar features a remote-controlled LED light so owners can see pups better at night. In July, Fi introduced sleep-tracking functionality to the device. $129 plus GPS plan. tryfi.com

GO WITH THE FLOW
It’s estimated that 75 percent of people are chronically dehydrated, a state that can lead to numerous health problems. The HidrateSpark Steel smart water bottle aims to remedy the issue by tracking users’ hydration levels based on their needs. Glowing LED lights at the base of the bottle—along with smartphone messages—emit reminders when it’s time to drink. Prices for 17- and 21-ounce bottles are $59.99 and $64.99 respectively. hidratespark.com​

Chef Enrique Limardo (of Seven Reasons) has opened Imperfecto, a new hot spot in DC’s West End neighborhood where cuisine—and décor—spotlight the Mediterranean. OOAK Architects outfitted the interiors with warm wood furnishings; Greek and Italian marble surfaces; and a palette of black, white and moody blues. In addition to à la carte offerings, Limardo orchestrates a 10-course tasting menu. 1124 23rd Street, NW; 202-964-1012; imperfectodc.com
Photos: Lee Moser

While studying architecture at Yale during the 1950s, a young Washingtonian named Avery Faulkner accepted a challenge from his father: to design a summer home on a wooded lot the senior Faulkner had purchased on Gibson Island, a private Chesapeake Bay enclave near Annapolis. Avery conceived a spare, Modernist retreat that paid homage to The Glass House—the iconic Connecticut masterpiece by Phillip Johnson, who was then one of Faulkner’s architecture professors. Local lore contends that Johnson even visited the site to survey the single-story, glass-enclosed creation, sited to enjoy views of the island’s Otter Pond.

The abode remained in the Faulkner family until the early 1990s. Subsequent owners remodeled the dwelling, adding on a second-floor primary suite 20 years before they put it on the market in 2018.

As fate would have it, the next buyer knew Gibson Island well. In the late 1990s, she and her husband had moved into a large residence next door to the Faulkner house, where they lived year-round until he passed away in 2017. Intending to downsize but remain on the island, the wife sold their home and acquired her neighbor’s smaller one.

A renovation was in the cards, given the dwelling’s outmoded infrastructure and dated improvements. The owner tasked Bethesda architect Jim Rill with revamping the property while respecting its mid-century lineage. “The home sat like a pretty little jewel that had been worked over,” Rill recalls. “It was like finding an old piece of art and when you chip off some paint, there’s a Rembrandt behind it. The original house was so pure and architectural, we wanted to strip it back to its bones and build on that.”

Lowered ceilings and obtrusive ductwork—introduced when air-conditioning was first installed—had to go. So did the terra-cotta tile floors, dated kitchen cabinetry and walls blocking sight lines to the pond. “The lowered ceilings encroached on the glass,” observes the architect. “Rooms were more closed-off and there wasn’t good flow.”

Removing these vestiges of former redos created an open, airy slate for dramatic, 21st-century updates. Though she sought a clean-lined, contemporary look in contrast to her previous traditional home, the owner resisted a full-on mid-century revival. “I wanted to stay true to what the house was, but make it livable for me,” she explains. “With good architecture, you can mix styles and it doesn’t have to be all one way.”

The original structure was shaped like an off-center plus sign. The volume parallel to the pond housed living and dining areas, a kitchen and a garage. Both legs of the perpendicular wing contained two small bedrooms with shared baths.

While the new floor plan didn’t stray much, Rill made some strategic additions. A new, glassed-in foyer extends the original front entry into the landscape, creating a warmer welcome. And in back, a spacious screened porch was built atop part of an existing terrace, where a new pool also awaits. Bedrooms on the water side were repurposed as a dining room and an office for the owner, an attorney; the front bedrooms are reserved for guests.

Clever improvements elevate day-to-day living in what is now the 3,150-square-foot residence. New Marvin windows maximize views and energy efficiency. A tidy mudroom off the garage delivers style and utility. And near the kitchen, a laundry room and a pantry housing an extra fridge are neatly tucked away.
A new floating stair leads to the primary suite. Rill reworked the oversized bedroom, carving out an expansive closet and luxurious bath featuring a new double vanity; a walk-in shower replaced its “space-age” predecessor.

Throughout the home, an organic material palette—from wood paneling to stone-like Porcelanosa flooring—allows prevailing views of the landscape to steal the show. With interior design help from New York-based Patricia Bonis and Chevy Chase, Maryland, designer Basha White, the owner selected bold light fixtures and modern furniture with feminine lines to create a relaxed but sophisticated tone.

In the open plan, the foyer leads directly to a casual seating area anchored by a floating fireplace wall that was original to the home; the living room lies on the opposite side. The open kitchen, with its sleek custom cabinetry and quartz countertops, fosters entertaining with easy access to the adjacent dining room and screened porch.

“The home acts as a gateway to the pond and nature,” affirms Rill, “so you’re always experiencing the outdoors.”

Whether she’s working in the office or relaxing on the porch, the owner revels in her estuary habitat. “The house has really nice indoor-outdoor flow,” she says. “I see foxes and deer every day. And around dusk, the osprey go fishing. It’s great to sit outside with a cocktail or cold drink and watch them dive-bombing.”

While a short walk takes her to the Chesapeake Bay, this Gibson Island resident prefers life on Otter Pond, where she can go kayaking, paddle boarding or swimming right from her dock. “My husband used to say, ‘The bay is drama, but the pond is poetry,’” she recalls.

Neighbors who’ve watched what’s known as the “see-through house” evolve over the years have told the owner that her home looks great—but they can’t pinpoint exactly what has changed. “That’s the highest compliment,” she reflects. “Jim made it shine like it was supposed to.”

Renovation Architecture: James Rill, AIA, Rill Architects, Bethesda, Maryland. Landscape Design: Gibson Island Corporation,
Gibson Island, Maryland. Renovation Contractor: Darren Kornas, ThinkMakeBuild, Annapolis, Maryland.

Oceanfront lots on the Delaware seashore are a hot commodity. So when a Washington-area couple discovered a pristine parcel flanked by the Atlantic on one side and Rehoboth’s shimmering Silver Lake on the other, they knew they’d struck gold. The duo acquired the land, then engaged architect Robert Gurney to design a modern getaway on-site. They envisioned interiors bathed in light and space to accommodate their children, parents and guests in comfort and style.

Gurney and project architects Claire Andreas and Brian Tuskey conceived a three-story structure where every room would overlook one, if not both, bodies of water. The plan would also afford residents every opportunity to engage their senses in the coastal environment. In the finished retreat, the family can grab cold drinks and snacks in the indoor-outdoor game room/kitchen just off the beach; watch breakers roll in from myriad decks and terraces; and soak in a hot tub under the stars.
Minimalist in spirit, the house still conforms to neighborhood requirements. A demand for traditional materials inspired the cedar-shake roof, dark-stained mahogany window frames, copper panels and bleached cedar-shingle siding. “The review board also mandated a gable-shaped roof, which picks up on the language of Shingle style,” explains Gurney, who had initially proposed a flat-roof scheme.

On the lake side, the 11-bedroom, 12,000-square-foot residence reads as four distinct pavilions connected by glass volumes, plus a garage. “We took a large house and broke down the massing so it wouldn’t seem quite so big,” he continues. In contrast, the beach façade bares all with glass walls celebrating ocean views on the top floors, which cantilever above the pool terrace.
The architects brought the outdoors in on every story. Sliding-glass walls expose the ground-floor game room to the pool and dunes beyond; guest quarters, a changing room, outdoor showers and storage for bikes and beach toys deliver resort-level ease.

On the second-floor screened porch, sliding-glass pocket doors make way for sea breezes to waft into the expansive living/dining area and kitchen. More glass on the east and west elevations opens to decks overlooking sea and lake. “You can see through the house to the lake and the ocean,” Gurney marvels. “How many places do you get that?”

Seating and playful Bocci lights above the dining table add splashes of color against pale oak floors, gray kitchen cabinets and white countertops. An Ann Sacks mosaic backsplash, selected by the wife, strikes an exuberant note. “We picked up on blues found in sea glass and greens in the ocean and accented them with sunshine colors of yellow and gold,” explains designer Therese Baron Gurney. Hired to furnish interiors with sophisticated pieces that can take a beating, she points out performance upholstery and a silk-look nylon rug that, she attests, “will wear like iron.”

Designed by Julia Walter of Boffi, the kitchen is organized around a central volume housing a pantry and appliances. While cooking is underway on the main island, guests can mingle around a secondary island or on nearby swivel chairs. “It’s a very social and open space,” says Walter. “Yet the center volume is clad in panels so you don’t see you’re walking into a kitchen when you come up the stairs.”

Hung above the floating staircase, Arturo Alvarez pendants conjure exotic sea creatures. Gurney glazed the stairwell’s outer wall with panes of translucent Kalwall. “It pulls a ton of natural light into the center of the house,” he explains, “but hides a direct view of the neighbors.”

The project’s landscape architects from OvS also mitigated side views with loblolly pines planted among fragrant sumac and Northern sea oats. And they reinforced the dunes with American beachgrass, native shrubs and perennials. “OvS did a nice job creating a landscape that fits the beach environment and doesn’t require a huge amount of maintenance,” says Robert Gurney.
From the third floor—which harbors family bedrooms, an office and a gym—a separate stair ascends to the roof deck. Buttressed by the home’s gables, this perch comes complete with a built-in TV should anyone tire of the lofty views.

This deck was just one of many challenges Horizon Builders faced during construction. “The building was designed to withstand hurricane-force winds. And there are some big cantilevers, so it needed an enormous amount of steel,” the architect remarks. “When all of Rehoboth is gone, this will be the last house standing.”

After the pandemic hit, the family wound up sheltering in their newly completed retreat for more than a year. “The wife told me how much they love the house and all the light and fresh air,” says Baron Gurney. Gazing at the beach from the living room deck, she sighs, “It is like heaven right here.”

Architecture: Robert M. Gurney, FAIA, principal; Claire Larsen Andreas and Brian Tuskey, AIA, project architects, Robert M. Gurney, FAIA Architect, Washington, DC. Interior Design, Therese Baron Gurney, ASID, Baron Gurney Interiors, Washington, DC. Kitchen Design: Julia Walter, Boffi, Washington, DC. Builder: Horizon Builders, Annapolis, Maryland. Landscape Architecture: Lisa Delplace, FASLA; Stacilyn Feldman and Beth L’Estrange, senior associates; Rachel Heslop, senior designer, OvS, Washington, DC.

RESOURCES

GENERAL
Home Automation: atlcontrol.com. Paint: benjaminmoore.com. Windows: tradewoodindustries.com.

POOL TERRACE
Dining Table, Chairs & Curved Bench: teak.com. Bench Fabric: sunbrella.com. Chaises: rausch-classics.com. Firepit: hardlifeproducts.com. Ceiling Fans: minkagroup.net.

GROUND-FLOOR GAME ROOM
Sectional, Coffee Table & Throw Pillow: teak.com. Sectional Fabric: sunbrella.com. Ceiling Fans: modernfan.com. Millwork: alleghenywoodworksllc.com.

DINING AREA
Table: liaigre.com. Dining Chairs: andreuworld.com. Dining Chair Upholstery: spradling.group; maharam.com. Chandelier: bocci.com through illuminc.com.

LIVING AREA
Rug: silkroadcarpetandrugs.com. Sofas: dwr.com. Sofa Fabric: maharam.com. Teak Coffee Table: Custom by andrejoyau.com. Side Table & Benches: ateliervierkant.com. Millwork Design: robertgurneyarchitect.com. Millwork Fabrication: alleghenywoodworksllc.com. Fireplace: flarefireplaces.com. Light Fixtures: folio.it. Recessed Lighting: Philips Lightolier Calculite through gsadc.com. Paint: Simply White by benjaminmoore.com. Fireplace Surround: Andy Fleishman through annsacks.com.

PORCH
Hanging Lounger: dedon.de. Throw Pillows: teak.com.

KITCHEN
Cabinetry: boffi.com. Chairs at Island, Swivel Chairs & Coffee Table: andreuworld.com. Island Chair Upholstery: spradling.group. Swivel Chair Upholstery: sunbrella.com. Backsplash Tile: annsacks.com. Hood: zephyronline.com. Island Faucets: waterstoneco.com. Fixtures: konstunion.com. Oven & Fridge: subzero-wolf.com through adu.com. Built-in Coffee Machine: mieleusa.com through adu.com.

STUDY
Swivel Chair: roomandboard.com. Swivel Chair Upholstery: sunbrella.com. Millwork Fabrication: alleghenywoodworksllc.com.

ROOF DECK
Sofa & Table: rausch-classics.com. Cushions: sunbrella.com. Dining Table & Chairs: teak.com. Side Table: shop.viteo.com. Television: seura.com.

YELLOW BEDROOM
Paint: Sunburst by benjaminmoore.com. Bedding & Throw: pbteen.com. Drapery Fabric: carnegiefabrics.com. Drapery Fabrication: rockvilleinteriors.com.

STAIRWAY
Lighting: Arturo Alvarez through illumco.com.

Soon after updating a small home for clients with two young kids, designer Kelly Holland discovered the owners had shifted gears and put in a contract for a new five-bedroom, five-and-a-half bath home in Arlington. Though they’d worked with builder BCN Homes to specify tile and built-ins, the couple tapped Holland to spearhead the interiors of the 5,855-square foot abode.

Her furniture plan reflects its modern farmhouse style yet embraces the owners’ penchant for mid-century furnishings. One challenge: The wife wanted everything neutral while her husband was hungry for color. Ultimately, “both ended up being very happy,” says the designer. “The house is not one single look, but it’s so them.”

When did your clients realize they needed help from an interior designer?
BCN has a great team and they spent a lot of time getting to know the couple. But the owners were overwhelmed with their choices and that’s when they brought us in. We worked with BCN to complete sourcing and design furniture plans.

How did you resolve the couple’s love/hate relationship with color?
We kept the larger furniture pieces quiet and let them speak through texture. Then we brought in color through pillows in the great room and on the porch and through elements like paintings and area rugs. A tiny bit of color goes a long way.

What drove the dining chair selection?
By nature, there are a lot of rectangular shapes and straight lines in the kitchen; the ceiling beams are also strong and geometric. We needed something to loosen things up a little so we chose the sculptural host chairs and dining chairs with the circular backs for contrast.

Explain the benefits of the quartzite island countertop.
Quartzite is a natural stone that has the beautiful veining of marble and is as hard and durable as granite.
.
What are smart ways to ensure durability?
We’re using as much indoor/outdoor performance fabric inside as we are outside. Fabrics in the Great Outdoors collection through Holly Hunt, for example, have the most gorgeous hand to them. In this project, the great room sofa is covered in a Pindler performance fabric that feels like suede. If something gets on it, a damp washcloth takes it off. We also selected wool carpets because they’re easy to clean. And the dining chairs are leather-wrapped and easy to wipe down after use.

Share the most serendipitous furniture find you made during the planning stage.
My colleague and I were antiquing in Culpeper and each spotted a Mid-Century Modern end table at Country Shoppes. When we saw there were two, we had to buy them. They were unfinished but great structurally. We hired artist Martha Leone to give them a new life. She painted the frames black and left the drawers natural wood. For a family-friendly vibe, we topped them with marble remnants; the stone finish is indestructible.

Explain how you created flexibility in the lower-level living area.
We placed little C tables so that the owners have a place for a drink or a laptop. We didn’t want a giant cocktail table that would lock them in. The leather ottoman and wood coffee table are also easy to move around so if they have a movie night, they can scoot the tables out of the way and put pillows on the floor for the kids.

How did you repurpose the clients’ existing furniture?
We help clients re-use what they have if it’s right and if it’s smart. In this project, we had our furniture finisher put a coat of marine-grade varnish on their original walnut dining table for use on the screened porch. And their previous dining room chandelier and Room & Board buffet ground the area at the bottom of the stairs on the lower level.

What makes the owners’ bedroom feel so tranquil?
Our local upholsterer created wall panels in a gorgeous smoky-gray fabric with a little bit of lavender in it. The Roman shade is motorized and there’s a sun shade behind it. We like to do a rug in a bedroom that’s room-size to soften up the space. And we selected crisp, white bedding in organic cotton. At the end of the day, it’s quiet and clean—and not fussy.

Interior Design: Kelly Holland, KPH Studio, Arlington, Virginia. Kitchen Design: Amanda Smith, BCN Homes, Arlington, Virginia. Builder: BCN Homes.

ASK KELLY

Do you have a designer good luck charm?
In my wallet, I keep a plastic cockroach that Mario Buatta gifted to me at a dinner in DC. It makes me smile and is a solid reminder to keep things light and fun.

What trend has run its course?
I want to break out in hives if I see another Chair and a Half.

What’s a new style you embrace?
I love that tight-backed upholstered pieces are more common now so we don’t have to fluff the back cushions on sofas and chairs any more.

Name a piece of furniture you treasure most?
My late mother-in-law showed up one Easter holding a primitive farm bench painted my favorite color, Kelly green. She picked it up at a consignment shop in Reston—and she nailed it. “This is your Easter basket,” she said. It was a coffee table in our prior home and now serves as a console. That super-simple piece means so much to me.

SPRING TO LIFE
Saatva was the first online brand to offer premium innerspring mattresses direct to consumers when it launched in 2010. The company manufactures mattresses at 19 factories across the U.S. and delivers them locally to minimize carbon footprint; buyers are offered a 180-night trial period. Its best seller, the Classic Innerspring Mattress  features a base containing 416 stainless-steel coils to prevent sagging, a second layer of 884 individually pocketed coils to cradle the body, a layer of high-density memory foam for back support and an optional three-inch pillow top covered in organic cotton. The mattress is available in three levels of firmness and two height options. Adult-size mattresses range from $1,000 to $4,500; frames are sold separately. A two-story Logan Circle showroom is coming to 1714 14th Street, NW, with a targeted November debut. saatva.com

TAILOR MADE
A family-owned Swedish company founded in 1926, Duxiana handcrafts beds with multiple layers of interlocking, continuous-coil springs that ergonomically adjust to the weight and contours of a sleeper’s body. A king-size model contains more than a mile of high-tensile steel wire with up to 4,180 interconnected bed springs. The Dux 6006  features dual bottom layers that provide deep suspension and a middle layer for lumbar support. An upper layer zips open to reveal six “cassettes” that can be positioned to customize support for legs, hips and shoulders. And a tufted, removable pad tops off the bed with a final layer of cushioning. All models boast an integrated base made of slow-growth Swedish pine; legs come in a variety of styles and sizes. Duxiana beds range from $4,100 to $21,950. The company’s Georgetown showroom is open by appointment only. duxiana.com

DOWN TO EARTH
Sound environmental stewardship drives the manufacturing process from “farm to mattress” for direct-to-consumer brand Avocado. Its carbon-neutral factory in Los Angeles turns out products made with non-toxic, eco-friendly materials. The new Organic Luxury Plus mattress features 3,136 individually pocketed, recycled-steel coils arranged in five zones for support and motion isolation, along with 21 layers combining certified-organic latex from Avocado’s own rubber farms, organic wool, mohair, natural alpaca, natural silk, organic flax fiber and organic cotton. Choose a power-adjusted base or platform bed, sold separately by Avocado, or use a frame of your choice. Avocado mattresses range in price from $999 to $5,599. The company offers buyers a one-year trial and donates 90 percent of returns to charity. avocadogreenmattress.com

CLASSIC CHECK
Hästens has been making bespoke luxury beds since 1852. The family-owned Swedish company still carries on the tradition it started six generations ago of using horsehair in its beds for the natural, pliable support it imparts and for its inherent breathability and anti-bacterial properties. During the manufacturing process, ethically sourced horsehair is washed in boiling water, rinsed, spun, disinfected and then heated to 284 degrees Fahrenheit to ensure that it’s clean, pristine and allergen-free. In addition to horsehair, the Vividus mattress contains layers of cotton and wool atop two layers of springs customized to suit the end users’ needs and preferences. The classic check fabric, available in multiple colorways, helps craftsmen confirm the alignment of their work; the frame is made of redwood from northern Sweden. Beds range in price from $9,895 to $879,900 at the Hästens showroom in Tysons Galleria. hastens.com

Lore Group, the hospitality company behind DC’s Riggs hotel, has opened a second property in the capital. Lyle Washington DC is a 196-room hotel housed in a revamped 1940s-era Art Deco apartment building in Dupont Circle. Creative director Jacu Strauss designed calm, serene accommodations with an emphasis on natural materials, from bespoke furnishings to burlwood headboards. Herman Miller pendants illuminate Lyle’s restaurant and bar, where chef Nicholas Sharpe (a veteran of Fiamma in New York) turns out contemporary American fare. Rates from $149. lyledc.com