Bowlus, a luxury RV brand, has unveiled the Terra Firma—a streamlined travel trailer marrying technology with creature comforts on the go. The sleek camper boasts an exterior of hand-welded aerospace aluminum and a lithium-powered battery system providing two weeks of “off-grid” living. At 3,200 pounds, it’s lightweight enough to be towed by a wide range of vehicles, including EVs. HEPA air filters, UVC lighting for disinfecting and a freshwater filtration system promote health and safety. The posh interior features skylights, custom décor, a heated floor and even built-in feeding bowls (inset) and beds for four-legged explorers. From $265,000. bowlus.com
Evening gowns by Milan-based Peter Langner defy the ordinary. Pictured above: an A-line creation in champagne-toned crinoline with an open back and high-low skirt, all embroidered with floral-printed organza and tulle tissues. The made-to-order gown is available through Francesca’s Atelier in Lutherville, Maryland. $7,400. peterlangner.com; francescasatelier.com
If a trip to Italy isn’t in the cards, L’Ardente may satisfy your cravings. Chef David Deshaies and restaurateur Eric Eden opened the new hot spot in DC’s Capitol Crossing last fall. Washington-based HapstakDemetriou+ designed its sleek interiors, featuring Murano glass chandeliers and, in the bar, a sculptural light installation by Graham Caldwell. The menu tempts guests with wood-fired pizza, an espresso martini and bucatini. 200 Massachusetts Avenue, NW; 202-448-0450. lardente.com
When a newly renovated Cleveland Park home was first built in 1910, the neighborhood was a semi-rural outpost connected to downtown Washington by streetcar. Fast forward 63 years and the lauded architect Hugh Newell Jacobsen (who passed away in 2021) updated the home in his signature Modernist style.
Both eras came into play when new owners tapped architect Dale Overmyer to orchestrate a 21st-century makeover. “It’s a handsome farmhouse that had been completely reworked,” he relates. “The first iteration Jacobsen did in the ’70s went a long way towards opening it up. We wanted to take it even further and bridge the gap between mid-century and the historic house—and imbue it with personality.”
The clients, already Cleveland Park residents, had long admired the home. “We loved the space, the light and the yard,” says the wife. After acquiring it in 2019, she and her husband envisioned “modern yet comfortable interiors with gracious proportions.”
Though he retained the existing footprint, Overmyer seemingly injected volumes of space into the center-hall dwelling. He elevated the cramped entry and gutted the closed-off kitchen and family room to unveil an open, informal hub devoted to cooking, dining and gathering. And he efficiently tucked a new coat closet, powder room and walk-in pantry into the main-level plan.
On the second floor, the enlarged owners’ suite claimed adjacent bedrooms—one is now a wardrobe and another a luxurious bath. Two kids’ bedrooms are also on the second floor while the third level houses a pair of guest rooms and a loft finished as a teen hangout.
During construction, the owners hired Georgetown decorator Paige Shirk, who forged an instant connection with the home and its quarter-acre landscape. “I loved the floor-to-ceiling windows and the vibe of the outside coming in,” she observes. “My family had a farmhouse near Fallingwater and I recall how the furniture worked with the architecture. That was a big inspiration for me.”
As she collaborated with Overmyer and the wife, Shirk honed her vision for the interiors. “I wanted to combine old and new, modern and a bit more classic,” she remarks. “I didn’t dive into one aesthetic.”
Nature plays a starring role, beginning in the entry. New windows and a reimagined, open stair bathe the space in light and establish sight lines from the front door to the rear garden. With its randomly placed pickets, Overmyer likens the stair rail he designed to a bar code. “There’s an organic nature to what you’d expect to be more regimented,” he explains. “It’s an unabashedly contemporary move in the center of the house.”
The center-hall plan aligns the living and dining rooms and library to the right of the foyer with the kitchen and family room on the left. The team preserved Jacobsen’s tall windows in the living room, but recast his mid-century brick fireplace wall in plaster—a fresh take on a classic material. Clean-lined seating surrounds a 1970s travertine coffee table Shirk found on 1stdibs; a burnt-orange velvet sofa adds a burst of color.
In the facing dining room, fields of green botanical wallpaper commune with foliage visible through a trio of tall windows. “I like bringing the outside in, as we did with that shade of green,” Shirk reveals. “My client really wanted color.” Indeed, the wife drove the palette in exuberant directions, from a pool-bathroom wall covering emblazoned with cobalt palm fronds to the primary bedroom painted a deep aubergine.
Shirk tempered these bold moves with neutral furnishings and subtle textures. “I love mixing wood and leather and velvet and nubby materials,” she asserts. Case in point is the spacious family room, where the decorator mingled a velvet lounge chair, a concrete cocktail table and pillows in an array of textiles atop the cozy window seat. An adjacent table provides a perch for reading or morning coffee.
Overmyer is most proud of this “informal heart of the home,” encompassing the family room, bright and airy kitchen and breakfast area. “It’s nice to subtract, open up a space and enjoy the drama of a really generous room,” he says.
The architect played up the indoor-outdoor connection in the kitchen with large-format porcelain floor tile that reads as limestone; he repeated the material on the backsplash. “Around the island,” he points out, “we incorporated mosaic tile in the floor to suggest a sense of antiquity.” Poured-concrete countertops and custom cabinets in knotty pine reinforce the organic palette.
Avid cooks, the family members enjoy preparing and sharing meals in the convivial space. “We love to have friends over and it’s nice to be able to cook and socialize at the same time,” says the wife.
In the first-floor library, the owners and their design team preserved Hugh Newell Jacobsen’s egg-crate bookshelves, crafted during the late architect’s 1973 renovation. “They’re beautiful, with elegant lines, and very functional,” says the wife.
The stark white shelving was painted sage green—a shade “sympathetic to colors the original farmhouse would’ve had,” relates Overmyer. Ornate elements added over the years were removed and big picture windows installed. The architect notes, “We created more light, more space, more simplicity.”
It’s a mantra that relates to every room in this newly burnished home—one that celebrates its past with bravado.
Renovation Architecture: Dale Overmyer, AIA, Overmyer Architects, Washington, DC. Interior Design: Paige Shirk, Paige Shirk Design, Washington, DC. Renovation Contractor: Cecchi Homes, Arlington, Virginia.
SOURCES
DINING ROOM
Wallpaper: timorousbeasties.com. Paint Trim: Yearbridge Green by farrow-ball.com. Chandeliers: globallighting.com. Table: 1stdibs.com. Chairs: neuvolighting.com. Cabinet: fourhands.com. Stool: article.com.
LIVING ROOM
Light Fixture: apparatusstudio.com. Drapery Fabrication: theshadestore.com. Sofa: trnk-nyc.com. Rug: starkcarpet.com. Table: 1stdibs.com. Side Tables: vintage. Wall Paint: White Dove by benjaminmoore.com. Fireplace Treatment: hydeconcrete.com. Side Chairs: noirfurniturela.com. Console: vintage. Sculpture over Fireplace: Rana Begman.
KITCHEN
Stools: meadowblu.com. Paint: White Dove by benjaminmoore.com.
STAIRWAY
Rail Design: custom through overmyerarchitects.com. Rail Fabrication: northeastironworksinc.com.
KITCHEN
Cabinetry: custom. Cabinetry Fabrication: asticks.com. Countertops: hydeconcrete.com. Mosaic Tile: countryfloors.com. Faucets: calfaucets.com. Hood: ventahood.com. Hood Fabrication: custom by overmyerarchitects.com. Refrigerator & Microwave: subzero-wolf.com. Range: frenchranges.com.
FAMILY ROOM
Sofa & Sofa Fabric: muuto.com. Carved Table: timothypaulcarpets.com. Rug: starkcarpet.com. Cocktail Table: fourhands.com. Chair & Ottoman: bludot.com. Pillow Fabric: zakandfox.com. Window Seat Table: anthropologie.com. Window Seat & Window Seat Pillow Fabrics: Lee Jofa through kravet.com. Pillows: brookperdigontextiles.com. Window Seat Sconces: alliedmaker.com.
LIBRARY
Paint: Drop Cloth by farrow-ball.com. Light Fixture: beataheuman.com. Table: Owners’ collection. Leather Chairs: vintage. Desk Chair: noirfurniturela.com. Art: Owners’ collection.
BEDROOM
Paint: Pelt by farrow-ball.com. Shade Fabric: hinescompany.com. Shade Fabrication: rockvilleinteriors.com. Rug: annieselke.com. Ottoman: fourhands.com. Corner Chairs: Owners’ collection. Table Lamp: circalighting.com.
POWDER ROOM
Mirror: trnk-nyc.com. Sconces: alliedmaker.com. Wallpaper: pierrefrey.com.
BALANCING ACT—Falmec’s Spazio hanging island hood integrates shelves to hold cooking equipment and an optional tray for plants. The Italian-made design is equipped with power outlets and USB ports; accessories include a tablet holder for easy recipe viewing. Available in two sizes at area ABW Appliances locations. falmec.ie; abwappliances.com
LA DOLCE VITA—Innately Italy, a new DC-based company, collaborates with high-end Italian manufacturers to provide custom kitchens, cabinets and furniture to U.S. homeowners and their designers at affordable price points. Owner Aurora Ferrari, who hails from Parma, outfitted her family’s Cleveland Park kitchen with a sculptural, dual-height island made of Fenix, a scratch- and fingerprint-resistant surface. Tall, white-lacquered cabinets conceal a full pantry, storage drawers, refrigerator and freezer. A De Majo chandelier and chair by Colico complete the polished look. innatelyitaly.com
OUT FRONT—Shaws’ new Gallery collection unveils timeless apron-front sinks emblazoned with eye-catching motifs, from natural flora to bold graphics. Designs are fired onto the brand’s Shaker and Lancaster fireclay vessels in a special kiln, then glazed to perfection. Pictured: a Lancaster sink in Gold Metallic. houseofrohl.com
SLEEK SILHOUETTE—Thermador’s Masterpiece Series Kitchen Suite features modern, clean-lined appliances that can be easily integrated into new or remodeled kitchens. The line includes the Triple Speed Oven, custom-paneled Wine Cooler and Refrigerator, Stainless-Steel Dishwasher, Freedom Induction Cooktop and Downdraft Ventilation hood. Available at The Home Depot Design Center. thermador.com; homedepot.com
VOICE CONTROL—Part of Monogram’s Minimalist Collection, the Smart Electric Convection Single Wall Oven boasts a streamlined, handle-free profile. It can be programmed to open, preheat and more in response to voice commands; the oven is also compatible with Alexa and Google Home. Find at AJ Madison. monogram.com; ajmadison.com
ON THE SURFACE—New Ravenna has introduced five natural-stone mosaics to its Studio Line collection. The tiles are handcrafted in the company’s Virginia workshop. Sporting calm, muted palettes. newravenna.com
TIMELESS LOOK—Many homeowners shy away from marble countertops because the stone easily stains and requires regular resealing. Caesarstone provides an alternative with its eight quartz surfaces—that mimic the look of marble but are low-maintenance and scratch-, stain- and mold-resistant. caesarstoneus.com
RIGHT ANGLE—California Faucets’ new Quad Spout upends the typical arc-shaped kitchen sink fixture with an industrial-style, squared-off form. Made of solid brass, it comes in more than 28 artisan finishes and is available with a standard pull-down spout or a squeeze-handle sprayer. californiafaucets.com
DISH DUTY—The GE Profile UltraFresh System Dishwasher is equipped with Microban antimicrobial technology that prevents the growth of bacteria, mold and mildew on its high-touch surfaces. The dishwasher also combats odors by freshening up its interior with air and water between cycles. At ADU Your Appliance Source. geappliances.com; adu.com
Vicente Wolf fled his native Havana for New York at the age of 15. Following stints in fashion, acting and modeling, he was drawn to interior design. After honing his game at several firms, he launched Vicente Wolf Associates in 1988. Despite a lack of formal training and a diagnosis of dyslexia, the celebrated designer has written four books and created stunning homes for A-list clients including Julianna Margulies and Bryan Cranston.
Last November, Wolf came to DC for the launch of a showroom he designed for the mattress brand Saatva. He envisioned the two-story space as “a surreal landscape in a dreamlike garden” where beds float amid pearl-gray topiary and Grecian-inspired urns. After a press unveiling, H&D caught up with Wolf at a reception in Barcelona Wine Bar.
How do you instill character and soul into a home?
I infuse depth and interest with textures as well as objects that have history. But it is up to the people who live there to bring warmth.
How does travel inform your work?
Travel expands my range of vision, making me more sympathetic to outside influences. I engage with people and cultures that have different frames of reference to life and the earth. The ceremonial and art objects they naturally produce have a different point of view that I either use or reference in interiors I design.
Tell us about your next book, coming out in 2023?
I’m at the point in my career where I’m sure of what works for each space I design, and I feel compelled to pass on how
I got here. The book will elaborate on things I’ve learned throughout my 45-plus years in the industry.
You’ve been invited to the White House three times. What do these moments mean to you?
Visits to America’s House have made me proud of my accomplishments, especially since I started out as a Cuban refugee. Only in America does something like that happen.
RUE IV
Rue IV opened in the Washington Design Center on November 1. The to-the-trade showroom inherited the location of J. Lambeth, a 40-year fixture on the DC design scene led by Jim Lambeth and his late wife Ann. Rue IV represents a range of manufacturers including Fabricut, Zimmer + Rohde, JAB, Porta Romana, Verellen and Travers (whose Style Moderne passementerie collection is pictured, left). Owner Janine Guerin, who runs Rue IV with husband Jay, looks forward to continuing the Lambeths’ legacy, affirming “We want to be true partners with designers.” 202-646-1774; ruefour.com
ROOM & BOARD
To complement its flagship store on 14th Street in DC, Room & Board unveiled a 3,900-square-foot outpost in Bethesda on November 12. The showroom carries the company’s timeless indoor and outdoor furnishings and office collections. More than 90 percent of Room & Board’s products are made by American craftspeople. Pieces in the company’s Urban Wood Project collection are created in partnership with nonprofits that hire residents with barriers to employment to reclaim lumber from abandoned buildings across the U.S. 7236 Woodmont Avenue; roomandboard.com
SANABRIA & CO., THE SHOP
Designer Melissa Sanabria opened a home-décor boutique in her Capitol Hill neighborhood on October 29. Offerings range from throw pillows and candles to one-of-a-kind vintage rugs. The designer—whose inventory represents small brands that embrace sustainability, charitable causes or ownership by women—looks forward to serving her community in person. “We’ve all been doing so much online shopping,” she explains. “I wanted to create a place where people can experience the merchandise, connect and get inspired.” Sanabria plans to host workshops and feature local makers and artists in the shop. 409 East Capitol Street, SE; sanabriaandco.com
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.”
