Though she flirted with a fashion career, a practical side led to pre-law studies at Virginia Tech—but those classes put her to sleep. Gottlieb finally found her niche after meeting an interior design major who inspired her to change her major on the spot.
After earning her degree, Gottlieb landed at Gensler, working in the architecture firm’s DC and Seattle offices on commercial and hospitality projects in the U.S. and abroad. She later joined Capital One as an in-house design strategist. Then the pandemic hit.
“I re-evaluated where I wanted to be and was drawn to residential design,” she explains. In January 2021, she launched her own firm. “I’ve trained under phenomenal designers,” Gottlieb asserts. “Each step of my career has taught me something I use every day.”
She says “the thrill of helping people feel their home is who they are,” drives her work, which always includes an element of surprise. “I love a ‘delight’ moment,” she admits. “I push clients to embrace a sense of the unexpected and I keep reinventing and trying something new.”
Growing up in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, Brandi Wilkins remembers driving around, “oohing and aahing” at residences in her hometown with her mom, who loved decorating. “I knew I belonged in a creative field, but just didn’t know which one,” she muses.
Though she started out as a dance major, Wilkins earned a communications degree from Jacksonville University. She worked for a DC-area association for years before launching her firm, Three Luxe Nine, initially specializing in events. A light bulb moment struck in 2018 after she planned a retirement soirée. “My client was on cloud nine and loved how everything looked,” Wilkins recalls. “It hit me at that moment: People can feel that way about their homes as well—I could have a longer-lasting impact on their daily lives in interiors.”
She switched gears and began decorating full-time. Today, Wilkins is busy finishing up a large project in Potomac and has a part-time assistant on staff. “My goal is to have clients feel connected to their homes,” she reflects. “I spend a lot of time getting to know who they are and what they want and try to bring that to life the best way I can.”
Interior Design: Brandi Wilkins, Three Luxe Nine, Urbana, Maryland. Photography (Laytonsville project): Laura Metzler.
Wilkins imparted a natural, spa-like feel to the owners’ bath with an accent wall of Thassos marble tile in the shower, a wooden vanity and a porcelain floor that resembles slate.
Michael Stehlik unites dual baths into one calming oasis steeped in light and style
A dramatic Forest Hills retreat celebrates nature with refined materials—and killer views
A couple enjoys sea vistas in a Bethany Beach bath designed by Marnie Oursler
Playing up the vista of Rock Creek Park was high on the list when architects Patrick Cooke and Neal Thomson carved out the new primary bath in a Forest Hills home they were renovating for clients with two young daughters. In fact, they placed the Waterworks soaking tub in an alcove cantilevered so high above the greenery that window treatments were deemed unnecessary.
Designer Martha Vicas outfitted the refuge in crisp, modern style. A steam shower to the right of the tub is clad in statuary marble; the same stone repeats on the floors and the top of the vanity, situated on the tub’s left. Innovations wall covering made from recycled paper warms the material palette. “My clients, both men, wanted the space to be clubby, luxurious and masculine,” explains Vicas. “So we selected rift oak for the double vanity in a dark espresso color.” TV screens and outlets are hidden in the Robern medicine cabinets, she adds, “because they wanted nothing out on the countertops.”
Real espresso is also on hand, courtesy of a built-in Miele coffee machine tucked away in a handy bar opposite the vanity. “The idea,” says Vicas, “was that the owners can enjoy their espresso on the balcony off their bedroom, take a steam and a shower. Then, when their daughters wake up in the morning, they’ll be ready to begin their busy days.”
Architecture: Patrick Cooke, AIA; Neal Thomson, AIA, Thomson & Cooke Architects, Washington, DC. Interior Design: Martha Vicas, M.S. Vicas Interiors, Washington, DC. Contractor: ThinkMakeBuild, Washington, DC. Styling: Charlotte Safavi.
THE DETAILS
Light Fixture: alliedmaker.com. Sconces: jonathanbrowninginc.com. Vanity: carolinaheartwoodcabinetry.com. Medicine Cabinets: robern.com. Marble Floor Tile & Countertop: marblesystems.com. Tub, Cabinet Hardware & Plumbing: waterworks.com. Wallpaper: innovationsusa.com.
“Hers was pink and his was green,” recalls designer Michael Stehlik, who was tapped for the makeover. “The baths felt clunky and though the property backs up to a wooded park, the only spot with a view was the tub.”
Inspired by spa-like baths they’d enjoyed on past vacations, the couple envisioned a peaceful escape with simple materials and dramatic views. “They found peace in open spaces that felt very minimal, so we tried to translate that,” Stehlik explains.
His plan opened up the baths into one large volume and positioned a soaking tub and steam shower on the outside wall to take advantage of the view. On the opposite side, an enclosed WC with frosted-glass doors mirrors the shower’s footprint. Other geometric forms instill a sense of symmetry, from a floating double vanity and tall storage cabinets to ceiling coffers that diffuse daylight through existing skylights. Hooks and towel bars in the WC keep clutter at bay.
White accents and charcoal-gray porcelain tile on the walls and heated floors create a quiet stage that lets scenes of nature play out through oversized windows. The owners can display artwork or light candles in a niche by the tub. “They wanted this to be their sanctuary,” says Stehlik.
Bath Design: Michael Stehlik, Stehlik Design, Washington, DC. Contractor: DMV Kitchen & Bath, Inc., Gaithersburg, Maryland.
THE DETAILS
All Tile: porcelanosa-usa.com. Tub Deck, Shower Bench & Vanity Top: silestoneusa.com. Tub: us.kohler.com. Tub & Sink Faucets & Shower Fixture: hansgrohe-usa.com. Sinks: duravit.us. Plumbing Source: build.com. Custom Shower Enclosure: dmvkitchenandbath.com. Shower Door Hardware: crlaurence.com. Vanity & Cabinetry: adelphikitchens.com. Vanity & Cabinetry Hardware: emtek.com. Pendants: sonnemanawayoflight.com. Art: edruscha.com.
A dedicated staircase leads to the private, fourth-floor lair, which boasts a bedroom, sitting room, sun deck and glass-enclosed luxury bath. “The rooms have the feel of a really nice hotel suite or penthouse,” says Oursler, who runs Bethany-based Marnie Custom Homes and hosts her own show, “Big Beach Builds” on the DIY Network.
She also designed the beach house interiors for her clients, whose primary home is in Jessup, Maryland. “In the bath, we tried to create a vibe that is very calm and relaxing,” she explains. Ocean views take center stage in the space, whether the owners are in the sculptural tub, the shower or the glass-enclosed WC. “You can even see the ocean reflected in the mirror,” she adds. Thick quartz countertops add a modern edge to the white double vanity. Automated shades drop from the ceiling for privacy.
Twenty-four-inch porcelain tiles resembling classic marble clad the bathroom floor, while single porcelain slabs add drama on the shower and window walls. In the shower, Oursler covered a steel support with the same material, creating a clever seating ledge.
“Getting the vein pattern right on the focal wall was a challenge,” she recalls. “Our goal was for the tile to serve as a work of art that makes a statement when you walk in.”
Bath Design & Contracting: Marnie Oursler, Marnie Custom Homes, Bethany Beach, Delaware. Styling: Kristi Hunter.
Floor Tile: gstile.com. Wall Tile: atlasplan.com through gramaco.com. Countertop: corian.com through gramaco.com. Vanity: decorcabinets.com. Tub & Sinks: mtibaths.com. Bath, Sink & Shower Faucets: us.kohler.com. Showerhead: deltafaucet.com. Sconce: rh.com.
Twenty-three designers from around the country were tapped to transform guest rooms in the 18th-century Cornell Inn in Lenox, Massachusetts. More than 30 sponsors, including Circa Lighting, Benjamin Moore and The Shade Store, supported the project; proceeds from ticket sales will go to scholarships for students of color interested in pursuing careers in art or design.
Carley, Rojas and Underwood made several trips to the Berkshires for the event, which ran from May 16 to June 6. “I was thrilled to have been asked to participate,” says Carley, “and to show the community at large that we’re a talented group who need to be recognized equally.”
Unlike typical show houses that are dismantled after they close, the Cornell Inn is keeping the rooms intact so guests can check in and luxuriate in the designers’ creations first-hand. In her space, Carley put a fresh spin on classic British style. “I was taken by how much the Berkshires reminded me of the Lake District in the UK,” explains the designer, who dubbed her room the Bennet for her favorite literary heroine, Elizabeth Bennet of Pride and Prejudice. In lieu of chintz, Carley honed in on geometric motifs; large-scale plaid Phillip Jeffries wallpaper and a headboard and bed skirt in Cowtan & Tout checks convey a modern vibe.
Rojas was tasked with reimagining an entire apartment. “I wanted to create spaces that are calm and soothing,” says the designer, who named her unit the Doreen Suite after her late mother. Rojas played up a neutral palette with pops of color, such as an armchair in violet fabric.
Underwood packed a punch in a small suite that she called the Hudson—her maiden name and one that is significant to the region. “I utilized prints, color and scale to make it feel impactful but also cozy,” she reveals. Painted trim offsets floral wallpaper; a bright velvet headboard and pillow, she says, “bring richness and modern texture.”
“I hope the project sends a message that the industry is open to showcasing different perspectives,” she reflects. “It shows that there is opportunity and the design industry is starting to welcome it.” thekaleidoscopeproject.com; cornellbb.com
Margaux, a luxury shoe brand, and Schumacher partnered on a spring collection, released in May. Schumacher’s first foray into footwear, the collaboration features five classic silhouettes dressed up in playful florals and prints. Above, left to right: the Pointe in Cassis, the Mule in Campagne, the Flat Sandal in Exotic Butterfly, the Ballet Mule in Le Castellet and the Demi in Cabanon Stripe. From $198; margauxny.com
Graphic + Novel
The Etriviere shoulder MM dynamo bag by Hermès marries a technical mesh material and an adjustable cowhide strap. Made in France, the unisex piece is perfect for summer jaunts to the mountains or the sea. $2,650; hermes.com
These feminine cat-eye shades by Alaïa make a bold statement, with oversized lenses and an elaborate petal pattern engraved inside the temples. $455; available at Intermix in Georgetown or maison-alaia.com.
Meals are served at two restaurants, while the spa offers an array of treatments, from massages to salt-room sessions and cryotherapy.
A VIP table boasts a faux bois base and a zinc top, while Osborne & Little velvet in an updated kimono pattern lines a banquette. Sous chef Albani Caolo and executive chef Lucas Irwin put a spin on tradition with dishes such as vegetable sushi and smoked zuke tuna.
The new Mana 23 can travel at 12 knots for up to 30 nautical miles on a single charge of its lithium battery.
Such was the case when a father bound for the beach with his three kids stopped for lunch in Easton, Maryland. “I fell in love with the town,” he reflects. “It was always in the back of my mind.”
Little did he know that decades later this pristine Eastern Shore spot would lure him back. Now based in Florida, the businessman was searching for a site where he and his wife could build a vacation home and rendezvous with their grown kids, who live in New York. As he explains, “I love boating and wanted to have a place on the Chesapeake.”
When he and a real estate broker landed by boat on an abandoned two-acre property overlooking the Tred Avon River, the stars aligned. “It’s on a point so it has 180-degree visibility,” the buyer marvels. “And the water was deep enough for a dock.”
He acquired the land, then tapped his son, Daniel Grehl, and Erika Martins of Brooklyn-based Martins Grehl Architects to design his retreat. Though a home previously built on-site was destroyed by fire 15 years ago, the architects were able to salvage the driveway and some mature trees that dotted the property. They positioned the dwelling to optimize views of the river and an untamed parcel to the north. “Reaching out to the landscape and bringing the landscape in was a driving factor,” notes Grehl.
The client gave the architects a wide berth, making a few modest requests: a fireplace, a dining table that would seat a dozen and hardwood floors for warmth. “I wanted high ceilings but not giant, cavernous spaces,” he observes.
Though modern, his aesthetic leans more Frank Lloyd Wright than Frank Gehry, says Martins. “Daniel’s father was drawn to natural materials and the horizontality of Wright’s work so we tried to emphasize horizontal lines in our plan.”
The duo designed a 3,750-square-foot, L-shaped home consisting of intersecting rectangular forms. The main volume parallel to the river houses the living area, dining room and kitchen on the ground floor and the owners’ suite above. A perpendicular wing contains two en-suite guest rooms on the main floor and another upstairs. A primary axis travels along the entry path through the front door, revealing views of a greenery-filled courtyard and the river beyond.
Modern in spirit, the retreat pays homage to local vernacular with cedar siding, white oak floors and a gabled roof reminiscent of historic tobacco barns. “We gravitated toward contemporary design but with cues we picked up along the way,” remarks Grehl. “Researching the Eastern Shore, you come to understand the heritage and building archetypes.”
Accustomed to designing row houses and apartments in their New York City practice, the architects welcomed the chance to think outside the box in detailing this freestanding dwelling. A vertical element to the left of the front entry is swathed in off-white Nichiha fiber-cement panels; it anchors the main staircase inside. Weathered Corten steel panels that frame the front courtyard and entrance accentuate the passage of time. “We liked the poetics of that,” Grehl adds, “especially because it’s a multi-generational family’s house.”
Interior selections, from the RH living room and dining furniture to the Mod kitchen cabinets, echo the organic color palette of the exterior materials. “We wanted soft, neutral colors that would let the views be dominant,” says Martins. “We didn’t want to distract from nature.”
Early in the process, Annapolis landscape architect Jordan Loch Crabtree was hired to transform the overgrown property into one that embraces sustainability and laid-back living. “Our studio believes in creating intentional spaces for people to connect with one another and with nature,” says Crabtree. His plan included a great lawn, an arrival courtyard and a bluestone pool terrace complete with a fire pit and dining area. He also converted an acre of lawn into a meandering meadow, which now envelops the wedge-shaped site.
“The meadow provides a dynamic habitat that brings benefits on multiple fronts, from filtration and runoff to creating a habitat for pollinators,” Grehl asserts.
The meadow performed another special function in October 2019, shortly after the residence was completed. Erika Martins and Daniel Grehl, who are not only partners in business but also in life, got married on-site with the meadow, the Tred Avon and the house they designed together forming an idyllic backdrop.
Since then, Martins Grehl Architects and Loch Collective have won prestigious design awards for the project. And the owners and their family have made many more memories at the Maryland refuge, especially during the pandemic. Martins and Grehl enjoy relaxing in the pool and the indoor sauna (which they built themselves under the TV loft in the main wing) and on the home’s many terraces and decks.
His 29-foot motorboat is moored on-site and he enjoys surveying yachts as they sail by. “Somebody’s cooking, somebody’s playing with the dog and I think, ‘This is what we wanted,’” he reflects. “A place for the family to go for many years—hopefully a couple of generations.”
Architecture & Interior Design: Erika Martins, RA, and Daniel Grehl, RA, LEED AP, Martins Grehl Architects PLLC, Brooklyn, New York. Builder: Darren Kornas, ThinkMakeBuild, Easton, Maryland. Landscape Architecture: Jordan Loch Crabtree, ASLA, Loch Collective, Annapolis, Maryland. Landscape Contractor: Solidago Landscapes, LLC, Church Hill, Maryland. Planting: Rigo Lawn Care + Landscaping; 443-856-9218.
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.
