To help spread the word, the Chesapeake Wine Trail was formed in 2009; it showcases wineries and vineyards in the state’s Atlantic Coastal Plain growing region.
“It’s one of several trails that run throughout Maryland,” says Judy Crow, owner of Crow Vineyard near Chestertown and president of the Maryland Wineries Association. Currently, the group includes 14 venues, from Dove Valley Winery near Elkton in the north to Bordeleau Winery near Salisbury in the south. Most hold tastings and special events year-round—and the fruits of their labor are getting noticed. Crow Vineyard, Chateau Bu-De and Dove Valley all won awards at the 2020 Maryland Governor’s Cup competition.
“They are in awe of the beauty and openness of the Eastern Shore,” she remarks. “To be able to stop and immerse themselves in these farm wineries is really important. And finding out that there are good wines here is icing on the cake.” maryland wine.com/wine-trails
A clever plan transforms a useless slope into a chic outdoor party space.
Inviting gardens embrace a renovated 1925 Arlington bungalow.
A natural pool and its lush surroundings celebrate the great outdoors.
The landscape architect pitched the idea of a natural pool. Unlike conventional pools that rely on chlorine to sterilize the water, natural pools harness the relationship between beneficial bacteria and underwater plants to filter out nutrients and impurities.
Once his clients decided to take the plunge, Barnard set out to design their eco-friendly habitat. He conceived a free-form pool with two zones separated by an underwater wall; a shallow regeneration zone is situated on one side with a deeper swimming area on the other.
The plan also included a library and an apothecary/clinic used by one of the owners, a registered herbalist and nutritionist who grows more than 50 species of native medicinal plants on-site. Clad in reclaimed barn siding, the outbuildings lend a rustic touch—as does the cedar hot tub near the pool’s edge.
Barnard also created a lush landscape teeming with native vegetation and stone outcroppings. He partnered with contractor Ben Herr, who built the pool and hardscape and installed every plant, stone and boulder to mimic Mother Nature. “On a project like this,” notes Barnard, “I draw as much of it as I can, then have to trust someone like Ben to put these natural materials together in a way that’s going to look right.”
The owners are delighted with their pond-like pool and its pristine environment. Herr sums up its appeal best with a question: “Who wouldn’t want to jump into their own fresh mountain lake?”
When landscape architect Scott Brinitzer was tapped to reimagine the gardens surrounding a 1925 Arlington bungalow, he jumped at the opportunity.
Challenges were many on the long, quarter-acre site. Its corner location meant factoring two street views into the design. Brinitzer had to connect the house and a new freestanding garage in the backyard and screen the home from its neighbor to the south. “I was drawn to the potential to preserve the character of the house and create a casual, comfortable landscape that wasn’t overly rigid,” he says.
Throughout the garden, he defined lines and then blurred them, imparting soft, unfettered appeal. The front walk of limestone has toothed edges, as does a rear terrace that dissolves into a gravel path. “Every edge, with the exception of the seat wall, breaks and opens and doesn’t wall you off,” he explains.
Side gardens present their own allure. On the street side, instead of a heavy evergreen wall that would dwarf the house, a fluid screen of Miami crape myrtle provides privacy year-round. On the opposite side, a natural gravel path traverses randomly placed Virginia cedar, Steeplechase arborvitae and abundant perennials.
The completed landscape not only lures the homeowners outside, but also attracts an array of pollinators. “Bumblebees are everywhere,” marvels Brinitzer.
Renovation: Winn Design + Build, Falls Church, Virginia. Landscape Architecture: Scott Brinitzer, PLA, ASLA, Scott Brinitzer Design Associates, Arlington, Virginia. Landscape Contractor: Dreamland Gardens Inc., Fairfax, Virginia. Masonry: JoPal Construction Inc., Rockville, Maryland. Lighting: Outdoor Illumination Inc., Bethesda, Maryland.
The issue: The terrain began its descent toward pristine woodland only a few feet from the home’s rear façade.
“There was no play space for their two young daughters,” recalls landscape architect Joseph Richardson, who was initially asked to build out a modest lawn. From there, he says, the owners’ plans mushroomed.
Richardson wound up overhauling the entire property, building up the backyard with massive retaining walls in a feat of engineering. The makeover forged a better connection between the front and back yards with a stairway swathed in Big Blue liriope. It also created a lawn for the kids and unfurled an expansive terrace that houses a dramatic, infinity-edge pool and a freestanding spa/water feature.
Now that the project is complete, reflects Richardson, “the pool offers a spectacular view of the natural area.” The terrace blends seamlessly into the landscape. “Full-range flagstone paving shows variations in color and texture,” he continues, “and helps soften the space.” As do native waxmyrtle, Annabell hydrangea and manicured boxwood hedges.
Along the property line, a wall of Western Maryland stone buttresses the spa, fed by water flowing through brass scuppers. A fire pit by Hart Concrete Design tempts guests to linger year-round. A staircase leads the owners past the pool’s waterfall edge and down the slope to a stream and a wooded trail—the perfect extension of their own natural idyll.
But a couple relocating from Connecticut also had to contend with woefully outdated interiors in their new Chevy Chase digs. So before moving south, the twosome hired designer Sandra Meyer to overhaul the entire residence and outfit it in fresh, modern style.
“It was a gut renovation,” recalls Meyer. “We took the apartment down to the studs and replaced all the floors, doors and trim.” The makeover focused on creating comfortable yet chic spaces that could play multiple roles. A game table and reading nook add functionality to the living area, while the TV room houses a sleep sofa to accommodate overflow guests.
The owners envisioned a streamlined departure from the traditional look of their former manse, so Meyer pushed the décor in a modern direction. “I’ve found that when downsizing, many of my clients drastically change their style,” she reports. “I did one huge presentation for these clients and they didn’t say no to a thing.”
When they finally moved into the finished home, the owners were thrilled with every space, from the living area that revolves around entertaining to the sunny kitchen complete with bespoke cabinetry. Recalls Meyer, “They were pretty blown away.”
What role does texture play in the living room?
I used a combination of velvets, linens and reflective fabrics throughout. The living room sofa is covered in Zimmer + Rohde velvet while accent pillows in a Great Plains viscose cotton add sheen. There’s a simplicity to the room because the colors are very even; if we hadn’t added so much texture, it wouldn’t look as sophisticated.
Why was this apartment renovation tricky?
In this project, the ceilings are cement so we couldn’t add recessed lights. I had to get creative.
Do you employ lighting to create drama?
Lighting is a central part of a room, especially when you’re going for a statement. I love the Moooi fixture we found at Illuminations for the dining room. Little LEDs come out of the bottom and reflect on the mesh above.
How did you visually expand the kitchen height?
The kitchen has low ceilings, so I chose white upper cabinets that don’t extend all the way to the top, which makes the space feel airier. And I didn’t use hardware on the upper cabinets so they’d look super-clean.
What drove your countertop and backsplash choices?
We selected white quartz, which is very versatile, for the countertops, and a marble backsplash to add a bit of movement and tie it all together.
What is key to a successful kitchen redo?
I look at kitchens as a whole in terms of style and function. I’m a stickler on making sure you know where everything is going to go and how you’re going to use it.
Explain your strategy on designing built-ins outside the kitchen?
I think about function first and then I determine whether I want a wood or a painted finish. This decision depends on whether you prefer a built-in to stand out like a piece of furniture or recede to showcase what’s on display.
Is it okay to mix woods?
In a palette on a board, we designers get concerned about things working together perfectly. But in reality, I think just about any woods can work together. After all, woods are together in nature.
How did you take the powder room in a glam direction?
Often, clients who come to me for a cleaner aesthetic want to go all out in their powder rooms. In this project, it was about making the powder room super moody. We selected Phillip Jeffries wallpaper, which is very reflective, and I painted the ceiling gray.
What drove your design of the owners’ bedroom?
They wanted something serene. My goal was to make sure the room wasn’t too cold, given all the windows. We draped them like crazy in a sheer Romo fabric with stripes that add a bit of interest. All of the fabrics have a ton of texture and the wall-to-wall carpet is tonal but has an abstract pattern.
Why was the owners’ bath a challenge?
When we ripped out an old Jacuzzi tub in the space, we realized the drain had been raised. Fortunately, we were able to drill down into the cement to get it out.
Explain your approach for clients who are downsizing.
As I did in this apartment, it’s important to make sure that every space has multiple uses.
Renovation & Interior Design: Sandra Meyer, Ella Scott Design, Bethesda, Maryland. Renovation Contractor: Ted Floros, FRP Contractors, Gaithersburg, Maryland. Millwork Fabrication: D. William Sapp, Definitive Resources, Brinklow, Maryland. Styling: Charlotte Safavi.
ASK SANDRA
PHOTO: STACY ZARIN GOLDBERG
What furniture possessions will you keep forever?
I’ll never part with my 1960s orange vellum-covered side tables from David Bell Antiques.
Share your favorite retails sources.
Crump & Kwash in Baltimore and Coil + Drift and Fair in New York. And CB2 for accessories and kids’ furniture.
How do you kick off a project?
I don’t have a rule. Sometimes I start brainstorming floorplans, then develop an idea for furniture. Or I’ll start with fabrics.
What's a bold move you want to try?
I’d like to use more colors—like burgundy, green or turquoise—in bathrooms I design.
Lighting is my favorite thing. There are certain elements you might not notice in a room, but a light is hard to miss. When considering where to spend, lighting is not where you should cheap out.
Until one night in 2019, when she opened her sketch pad. “In 10 minutes, I had 40-some pieces drawn,” recalls the Annapolis-based interior designer. “It was in me all along, but I never let it come to the surface.”
In March, Farnady Furniture was born. A collection of 25 table and chair prototypes—many handmade locally by Niermann Weeks—expresses the designer’s eclectic, modern aesthetic. They also offer a nod to the Art Deco and Art Nouveau influences of her native Budapest. Lighting, mirrors and sculptures are in production, while plans are underway to expand color and fabric options. And in June, Farnady will unveil her creations in EJ Victor at High Point Market. For details, call 443-822-3248 or visit farnadyinteriors.com.
Why did you decide to design furniture?
I try to incorporate one-of-a-kind pieces in my work, but they’re not always easy to find. And creating furniture gives me an opportunity to tell people who I am as a designer.
What went into your collection’s DNA?
I like forward-thinking, I like modern and I like the unexpected. But there’s always a base you have to touch upon. For me, that’s Art Deco and Art Nouveau. I can trace back many of my pieces to architectural details such as a window frame, gate or front door in Budapest.
Where do you find design inspiration?
I find inspiration in travel, art, fashion—pretty much everywhere. I am also drawn to geometric forms. For example, swim noodles drifting together in the pool led me to design the Rolled Up Dining Chair. I love the architecture of it.
Who are your console tables named after?
I wanted to do something that represents me as a mother as well as my three teenage daughters, Emma, Julia and Adele. The pieces capture their personalities.
When I first went to High Point 20 years ago, I was blown away by the products and people talking about their designs. Never did I imagine I’d be one of them.
Le StandUp, a paddleboard made in France, brings a whole new dimension to the sport—day and night. Its lightweight, carbon frame boasts transparent panels that give riders an up-close view of ocean life. Double rows of battery-powered LEDs on the bottom of the board illuminate the seabed after dark. Price on request. loeva.me
SEEING STARS
Stellina, a next-generation telescope made by the French company Vaonis, lets stargazers view planets and galaxies on a monitor and capture high-resolution images that can easily be shared via a companion mobile app. At 15 pounds and 19 inches tall, the battery-powered scope is compact enough to take on the road. $3,999. vaonis.com
An AI-enabled wine-management system, WineCab scans labels for easy tracking and secures bottles in temperature- and humidity-controlled display cases. Its high-speed robotic arm retrieves a selection in 15 seconds and loads up to 24 bottles in seven minutes. Customizable in an array of millwork and finish options, WineCab is available in six-, 11- and 15-foot models; the latter can house more than 600 bottles. winecab.com
General manager Danilo Simic and chef Colin McClimans wow guests with ever-changing brunch and dinner menus focused on seasonal ingredients sourced within 150 miles of DC. Recent standouts: Lemon & Thyme Roasted Pennsylvania Chicken and the Nina May Gin & Tonic, infused with rose water and orange essence.
The Baltimore couturier, who has dressed clients in custom ball gowns and power suits for more than 20 years, will soon launch Ella Sport, a resort collection that, she explains, embodies “the kind of golf clothes Coco Chanel would have worn if she played golf.”
She loved the mélange of furniture, art and mementoes he’d woven together, inspired by Givenchy’s chateau on the outskirts of Paris.
“When I walked into Josh’s room, it spoke to me,” she recalls. “My mother was an interior designer in Manhattan in the ’50s and she always took me to design houses. Josh’s space reminded me of her, from the color palette and combination of textures to an Asian screen resembling one she passed down to me.”
A couple of years later when the visitor and her then-fiancé, an attorney, bought a new Craftsman-style house in Arlington, there was no question who would outfit the interiors. “We needed a designer and I called Josh,” she says.
In the midst of planning their wedding (a second marriage for both), the couple wanted to create a warm and welcoming hub for their blended family, which includes two teenage girls and a daughter in college. Fans of the five-bedroom home’s open floor plan and abundance of windows, they were less than enamored with its white-and-gray palette and mundane finishes.
“The house was very much an upscale builder-grade special,” Hildreth observes. “It was cheerful, but didn’t have much personality.” He set out to remedy this fact by creating layered spaces reflecting his clients’ love of travel and a collected-over-time sensibility. Reviewing shelter magazine photos, Hildreth says, they were drawn to West Coast homes projecting “sun-filled, casual elegance,” mixing antiques and modern finds.
“I decided this house needed a touch of Bohemian,” he explains. “They have a yoga room and look for calm and peace in their lives—I wanted the house to be an extension of that.” Instead of a traditional living room to the right of the main entry, an informal gathering area took shape. And along the home’s center hall, the space intended to be a dining room serves as a music room for the owners, who gather for meals in the casual open kitchen and family room spanning the back of the residence.
Hildreth struck a worldly note throughout. In the front room, he combined a vintage Khotan rug, a sculptural rattan light fixture made in Britain and abstract fabric that he likens to African Kuba cloth. Bronze water buffalo figures from Cambodia and an 18th-century Chinese ancestor portrait complete the picture.
Rarities also appear in the wife’s study on the opposite side of the entrance. Shelves holding books, antique vases and the first painting the couple bought together lend an elegant, personal touch. Mid-century chairs face the desk—two of many heirlooms from the wife’s late mother that grace the home. Says Hildreth, “We both inherited a love of beautiful homes from our mothers.”
Where there once was white paint, custom finishes by Paul Robson—the son of Malcolm Robson, Bunny Mellon’s decorative painter—add an indelible patina. Robson animated the kitchen/family room ceiling in a faux wood plank, transformed a wooden fireplace surround with a rich limestone look and elevated the owners’ bedroom walls with a soft striae. “When everything is freshly painted, new construction can feel raw,” Hildreth explains. “I wanted to approach this house like a new pair of blue jeans, running it through the wash and softening it up a bit.”
Also softening the home are one-of-a-kind rugs that the designer and his clients selected for each room. A Moroccan-style carpet sets the tone in the family room, where vintage 1960s chairs, an antique French console and two marble-topped coffee tables by DC designer Darryl Carter for Milling Road mingle in eclectic fashion.
The family is delighted with Hildreth’s global mix of styles and provenances in the home. In this concoction he likens to a soup, where Mid-Century Modern meets antique and Asia meets Africa, nothing feels one-note.
Many subtle nods in the family room allude to the homeowners’ recent nuptials. “The coffee tables have a nice connectivity,” says Hildreth. A pair of bronze busts from Benin converse side by side on matching stands. And in the adjacent dining area, two magnetic birds alight on a Démiurge light fixture (it came with one bird but the owners requested a mate).
“Life isn’t always a perfect path to a finish line, and it’s a beautiful thing when two people can find love again,” attests Hildreth. “When I met this couple, they exuded being in love with each other. I wanted to create a house where they could be really comfortable together.”
RESOURCES
THROUGHOUT
Draper Fabric & Upholstery: gretcheneverett.com.
LIVING ROOM
Rug: altforliving.com. Ottoman: cfmodern.com. Brunschwig & Fils Ottoman Fabric: kravet.com. Chairs: harbingerla.com. Welting: samuelandsons.com. Drapery Fabric: studiobfabrics.com. Fixture: soane.co.uk. Wall Color: Slipper Satin through farrow-ball.com. Decorative Painting on Ceiling: robsonworldwidegraining.com.
FOYER
Rug: dorisleslieblau.com. Wallpaper: quadrillefabrics.com. Decorative Painting: robsonworldwidegraining.com.
STUDY
Rugs: Abaca Rug: hollandandsherry.com. Antique Rug: elikorugs.com. Chairs: Owners’ Collection. Chair Fabric: pierrefrey.com. Drapery Fabric: pennymorrison.com. Desk: dessinfournir.com. Drum Table: bakerfurniture.com. Floor Lamp: Mid-20th century French. Desk Lamp: Antique Satsuma Japanese Vase Lamp. Decorative Painting: robsonworldwidegraining.com.
KITCHEN
Stools: bakerfurniture.com. Pendants: ironwareinternational.com. Wall Color: Neutral Ground through sherwin-williams.com. Decorative Painting on Ceiling: robsonworldwidegraining.com.
FAMILY ROOM
Rug: dorisleslieblau.com. Sofa: Owners’ Collection. Sofa & Chair Fabric: hollandandsherry.com. Pillow Fabric: klstextiles.com; fschumacher.com; zakandfox.com; iansanderson.co.uk. Pillow Trim: samuelandsons.com. Vintage Chairs: Mid-century, walnut framed chairs in the style of Kofod-Larsen. Philip and Kelvin LaVerne Table between Chairs: 1stdibs.com. Vintage French Cabinet: rtfacts.com. Floor Lamp: nydc.com/antiques. Stool: verellen.biz. Wall Color: Neutral Ground through sherwin-williams.com. Coffee Tables: Darryl Carter for bakerfurniture.com. Roman Shade Fabric: legracieux.com. Painting: Merton Simpson. Photographs: jackspencer.com. Decorative Painting on Ceiling & Fireplace Surround: robsonworldwidegraining.com.
DINING AREA
Table: Owners’ Collection. Chairs: leeindustries.com. Leather on Chairs: mooreandgiles.com. Rug: elikorugs.com. Chandelier: demiurgenewyork.com. Wall Color: Neutral Ground through sherwin-williams.com. Roman Shade Fabric: legracieux.com.
MUSIC ROOM
Furniture, Screen, Rug & Lamps: Owners’ Collection. Wallpaper: phillipjeffries.com. Sofa Fabric: fschumacher.com. Drapery Fabric: vervain.com. Pillow Fabric: anticosetificiofiorentino.com
POWDER ROOM
Wallpaper: Kit Kemp through hollandandsherry.com. Mirror: 1stdibs.com. Paint on Vanity: Hathaway Gold through benjaminmoore.com. Hardware: pushpullhardware.com. Window Grille: Custom through joshhildrethinteriors.com. Sconces: soane.co.uk. Hardware: calfaucets.com. Countertop: rbratti.com.
LANDING/ STAIR
Wall Color: Slipper Satin through farrow-ball.com. Bench: hollyhunt.com. Rug: Owners’ Collection. Paintings: Elizabeth Marin.
OWNERS’ BEDROOM
Bed: quintushome.com. Rug: elikorugs.com. Night Tables: 1stdibs.com. Lamps: Vintage Balinese Carved Figural Lamps. Bedding: matouk.com; talinihome.com. Decorative Painting: robsonworldwidegraining.com. Slipper Chairs: ferrellmittman.com. Slipper Chair Fabric: clarencehouse.com. Chinese Root Table: Vintage. Shelving: dessinfournir.com. Mirror: verellen.biz.
OWNERS’ BATH
Decorative Painting: robsonworldwidegraining.com. Mirror & Sconce: rejuvenation.com. Christian Astuguevieille Chair: hollyhunt.com. Altar Table & Buddha: knightsbridgecharleston.com.
Flanked by wetlands and a stand of hardwood trees beside the National Museum of the American Indian, the site honors the service and sacrifice of Native American, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian veterans, who have participated in every major U.S. military conflict since the Revolutionary War.
Artist Harvey Pratt (of the Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma) designed the memorial to reflect Native American symbols, traditions and ceremonies. Within a circular gathering space, a steel circle rises from a carved-stone drum where a water feature flows. On special occasions, a fire can be lit in the circle. “When you come into this circle, you come into harmony with all the elements—water, earth, air and fire,” explained Pratt, a Marine Corps Vietnam veteran, during the memorial’s virtual dedication.
An in-person dedication and veterans procession will take place when it’s safe to congregate. Though temporarily closed, the museum has launched “Why We Serve,” an online companion exhibit chronicling 250 years of Native American military service (americanindian.si.edu).
Memorial Design: Harvey Pratt, Guthrie, Oklahoma. Architecture: Butzer Architects and Urbanism, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Architect of Record: Quinn Evans Architects, Washington, DC. Landscape Architecture: RHI, Alexandria, Virginia. Contractor: HSU Development, Gaithersburg, Maryland.
Betty Sullivan knows a thing or two about tile. Since she joined Architectural Ceramics, the company founded by her husband Larry in 1985, she has expanded its presence from one to six showrooms and its offerings to more than 100,000 types of tile in every imaginable shape and color.
Though she originally hoped to study art, nurturing the business and raising seven kids—including two adopted daughters from Mexico—got in the way. But creativity fuels this entrepreneur, whether designing a tile collection or pursuing her latest passion: screenwriting with a focus on social justice and being a voice for women.
This year, the CEO rebranded the company, now woman-majority-owned, and christened it Architessa. H&D recently caught up with Sullivan to talk tile and more.
I spot things early. In the early ’90s when everyone was still using eight-by-eight-inch tile, I bought subway tiles and tried to talk builders into using them. They called me crazy. It took five years before subway tile finally took off.
Why did you start designing your own tile?
As kitchen and bath renovations became popular, there was very little tile I found acceptable. I had to fill a void and bring clients quality tile that said something. Right now, I’m working on a line of cement tile.
What inspires your designs?
When people travel, they want to bring their vacation home—especially in the bath. Our Batik tile, for example, evokes Indonesia.
Why was it important to involve your kids in the business? Our kids designed spaces, went to job sites and computerized us back in the day. When they went off to college, we had a common thing to talk about; they were invested. Our son David Benson is now president, running operations so I can spend time on vision, innovation and creating new products.
“Archit” pays homage to architecture and “tessa” comes from tessera, which means a piece of mosaic tile in Italian. It’s also a nod to contessas, because 80 percent of people who pick out tile are women.
BMW’s 2021 M4 Coupe combines state-of-the-art engineering with sexy style. Its 3.0-liter, six-cylinder, TwinPower Turbo S58 motor produces up to 473 horsepower, while an optional six-speed manual transmission elevates the driving experience. An aerodynamic carbon-fiber roof lowers the coupe’s weight and center of gravity. Shown here in Sao Paulo Yellow, the model turns heads with its sleek silhouette. From $71,800; bmwusa.com
Sound Check
Bose Frames equip UVA/UVB-blocking sunglasses with the functionality of wireless headphones. A miniscule, wafer-thin acoustic package is embedded in each arm’s interior while a microphone and multi-function button on the right temple enable controls of music-streaming, phone access and more. Priced from $199.95; bose.com
Harley-Davidson introduced its first all-electric motorcycle, the LiveWire, in 2019. Its powertrain takes the bike from 0 to 60 mph in three seconds. With no clutch or gear-shifting required, riders control speed with a twist of the throttle. A 60-minute charge produces a range of 146 miles. The model features a lightweight, cast-aluminum frame and Michelin tires designed to enhance handling performance. $29,799. harley-davidson.com
Last fall, the former “Top Chef” star shuttered 12-year-old Volt, transforming its 19th-century brownstone location into Thacher & Rye. Focusing on Mid-Atlantic cuisine made with local ingredients, the menu tempts diners with Chesapeake oysters, house-made pastas—including ravioli with goat cheese and delicata squash—and comfort foods with a spin. Think chicken and dumplings with gnudi and hedgehog mushrooms.
A fresh, pale-blue ensemble includes the Tropical Wool Flared Shirt ($1,250), Blue Cotton Twill Carrot Pants and Calya Mules ($990). Pants and bag prices on request.
