“With a toddler in tow and an infant on the way, the homeowners requested interiors that were sophisticated yet long-lasting and durable,” he explains. “Our clients envisioned a cozy, comfortable and playful environment for the children but also refined spaces where they could entertain.”
The builder, Madison Homes, had already customized interior finishes to the couple’s liking so no structural alterations were required. This freed Austin to focus on creating an eclectic, collected-over-time look throughout the four-bedroom home. He repurposed some of the owners’ existing furniture and designed a number of bespoke pieces, from seating to colorful rugs that were fabricated by a North Carolina workroom. Austin considered every detail—from the size and scale of furniture to trim and accessories—so his clients could relax and enjoy carefree interiors.
“My biggest joy is seeing photos of the family on social media actually using their home, playing on the rug in the living room, reading on the sofa,” he says. “Great design is about ease of use and peace of mind. We’re simply setting the stage for a life well-lived.”
Please share your inspiration for the project.
Classic American design is our starting point for most projects. The ’30s, ’40s and early ’50s—that era is timeless. I enjoy mixing genres so rooms feel collected over time. For example, in the living room, the red lacquered coffee table is Asian in style and mingles seamlessly with Mid-Century Modern lamps, Art Deco side tables and a David Hicks-inspired rug.
What’s your secret to bold fabric pairings?
Don’t overthink it. Style is about tapping into one’s innate sensibility for mixing texture, color and pattern. My mantra is, “Fabrics don’t have to match; they just need to go together.”
How do you weave in elements of surprise?
The most memorable rooms have a wow factor. We find that the happiest outcome is when clients are willing to take risks and step out of their comfort zone. For example, the red-lacquer coffee table is unexpected. Generally, you can use a pop of color in a space as long as it’s repeated three times. The red is echoed again in the trim on the club chair pillows and in the painting over the fireplace.
What’s your take on mixing metals in décor?
In the living room, there is brass on the floor lamp, the red lamp’s base and the sabots on the coffee table legs. We see iron on the end table base and plant stands and chrome on the legs of the club chairs. It’s far more interesting and dynamic to mix metals rather than match every piece; it feels less studied and more layered.
How do you protect interiors with little ones afoot?
We were mindful of using durable fabrics that are all protected. The homeowners preferred a dining room where the children can sit at the table without concern for stains on the upholstery, so we covered the dining room chairs in vegan leather. They can simply wipe them clean. In the kitchen, we used aluminum chairs from their previous home. The iconic Eames counter stools with molded plastic seats are low-maintenance and easy to care for.
What are the advantages of custom furniture?
Part of the value we bring as designers is creating one-of-a-kind spaces with furniture made just for you. Investing in custom furnishings on the front end means you won’t be replacing them a few years down the road. Bespoke items can be repurposed in other homes and will become the antiques of tomorrow.
Do you worry about wear and tear on furnishings?
I’m not one for “precious things” in a home. Good design should be easy to live with and unfussy. For instance, I love the unfinished-wood breakfast table that shows the living and loving that goes on
in this home.
When it comes to color, do you think less is more?
Yes. Instead of doing a whole room in your favorite hue, you will notice it more when the color is used as an accent while other finishes take a back seat.
How did the dining room palette evolve?
The homeowners originally wanted a beachy vibe, but that didn’t make sense for the home’s location. In the end, it was the colors they were drawn to, so I suggested that we implement a coastal palette rather than make the space overtly beachy. There are subtle nods to that idea, such as the organic Holland & Sherry grass-cloth wallpaper, the chandelier that resembles river stones, aqua-colored window treatments and the rug, which adds movement with the colors of sand, water and fallen leaves.
How does trim elevate drapery and upholstery?
Luxury is in the details. Like a custom-tailored suit, a few thoughtful details will create visual interest, as they are memorable and elevate interiors. Adding tape trim to the dining room draperies immediately makes them feel more high-end—and makes them one-of-a-kind.
How do you instill a collected-over-time feel in a home?
I think of a home as a 3-D installation that is experienced in real time. Great interiors are a mix of high and low, combining custom-made pieces, flea market finds and something bought off the showroom floor.
Interior Design: Dane Austin, Dane Austin Design, Washington, DC, and Boston, Massachusetts. Builder: Madison Homes, Inc., Tysons Corner, Virginia.
How has covid made a lasting impact on design?
I see a greater focus on health and wellness. As much hardship as the pandemic has caused, it’s been a necessary reset for how we use our built environments and how we spend time.
Name a design mistake to avoid.
Most people want to paint first, thinking it will get the dirty work done. But then you’re stuck selecting everything in your home based on one color.
What’s your litmus test for choosing furniture or materials?
I always ask: Is it special? Is it interesting? Is it unique?
Share your top source for vintage finds.
My favorite haunt is GoodWood, where I’ve shopped for years. I always find pieces there to work into my designs.
Design pet peeve?
I’m not one for superfluous accessories; everything has to have a reason.
Such an epiphany struck the owners of a center-hall Colonial in DC’s Foxhall neighborhood. “It was on Thanksgiving in 2018 that I realized for the first time there was nowhere comfortable for people to be,” the wife says, describing the home she and her husband and their two children had shared for six years. “Even though everything was ‘fine,’ the house wasn’t suiting our family dynamic. We decided to elevate it, to make the spaces warmer and more our style.”
Though endowed with high ceilings and generous proportions, the 1990s abode’s layout left much to be desired. Standard, builder-grade doors and closed walls separated the main-level living spaces, limiting circulation. And the finishes, fixtures and windows were outdated.
The owners invited architect David Benton to assess the situation. “The house was getting a bit tired and the flow was off,” Benton opines. “The living, dining and family rooms were all dead ends. It needed a contemporary refresh.”
He was hired to remedy these flaws on the main level and recast the staid interiors with what the wife refers to as “a modern take on classic style.” Benton forged stronger connections between the foyer and living and dining rooms in the front of the house and the kitchen, breakfast and family rooms that span the back. New double French doors replaced a single wooden one in the foyer, opening up sight lines to the breakfast room. Where there was once a solid wall of bookshelves, two glass pocket doors now link the living and family rooms. “Before, it almost felt like the back of the house was an addition because it was really cut off from the rest,” the architect explains. “Now, you can actually circle the whole first floor.”
Black muntins on the new interior doors and Andersen replacement windows installed throughout the four-bedroom home instill an industrial vibe. Existing hardwood floors, previously stained an inky black, were sanded and coated in a warm, natural finish, brightening the material palette. Another deft move took place in the transition from the living room to the family room. By extending the walls between the new pocket doors, Benton created a niche for floating shelves and a flat-screen TV. As he explains, “We made it look like it was part of the room, as opposed to a tacked-on built-in.”
Upgrades to the better-connected family room and adjacent kitchen and breakfast area created the relaxed gathering space the owners craved. Benton bumped up the kitchen’s style quotient in practical, family-friendly ways. He retained existing cabinet frames, updating them with new door and drawer fronts and hardware. He and his clients selected durable, stain-resistant Caesarstone countertops in two material looks—marble on the island and slate on the perimeter. The porcelain-tile backsplash also mimics marble. “It’s a cost-effective way to add luxury to a space,” says Benton. “They used to have a microwave-range hood, which was very apartment-looking. We put a stand-alone microwave into an existing pantry and installed a nice new hood over the range, making it a focal point from the family room.”
The architect replaced the old island with a larger one equipped with a second sink for food prep. It also serves as a wet bar for entertaining and a spot for easy family meals. Pendants and a chandelier in the kitchen and breakfast room, all from Circa Lighting, make bold statements. “It’s a joy to be in the kitchen now,” says the wife. “It’s so much more functional.”
She and Benton collaborated on refurnishing all main-floor interiors except the dining room. “She wanted a non-fussy, traditional look that leans toward contemporary,” the architect says. They landed on a mix of retail finds that blends warmth, texture and a natural palette to chic effect. “We don’t want our kids to think any room is off-limits,” the wife reflects. “David understood that we’re not a formal family, but we like a polished look. Working together, we went beyond the old-fashioned idea of spaces being too precious.”
She and her family are thrilled with the results. “We pinch ourselves that we did this before covid,” she marvels. “The house has completely transformed our dynamic. We can be together without being in each other’s way.”
Renovation Architecture & Interior Design: David Benton, AIA, Benton Architecture & Interiors, Washington, DC. Renovation Contractor: Impact Construction, Washington, DC.
What guides your renovation-design process?
David Benton: It’s so easy to get distracted and fall for the next big trend. I tell clients to find a half-dozen inspiration images that they really love so we always have a clear vision of what they like.
How do you integrate color into a makeover?
I like the backdrop to be neutral, then integrate hints of color throughout a house. As long as the colors are something you’d see in nature, they definitely work in doses.
Are most homes worth renovating?
Most homes have potential. There are ways to improve a house without having to completely start over. It’s a matter of rethinking the interiors so they function better for today. How has covid affected clients’ priorities? Home is much more important to them now because it’s where they’re spending their time. Since people aren’t traveling, they have a little extra money and are focused on investing in their homes.
Skip Sroka designed a study for two in a new McLean residence. It houses a pair of built-in desks with generous drawers and shelves above that can be hidden behind doors when not in use.
When planning this home office, Sroka allowed for adequate storage and lighting—important factors in any home-office project. “Also, ensure you have chases for wires, a hardwire connection for CAT6, electrical outlets and grommets to run plugs through,” he advises.
Millwork in his McLean project, fabricated in sapele and rift-cut cherry, meets these requirements with style.
Architecture: Glenn Chen Fong, AIA. Interior & Millwork Design: Skip Sroka, CID, ASID, Sroka Design. Builder: Sandy Spring Builders. Photography: Geoffrey Hodgdon.
FASHION FORWARD
A homeowner with a keen fashion sense turned to Christine Philp to design her Chevy Chase abode. Philp took the dressing room in a bold direction with textured Duralee wallpaper animating the ceiling. Built-in wardrobes flank an island topped with marble while a Visual Comfort chandelier adds bling.
Philp recommends homeowners carefully consider their preferences when designing a closet. “Do you want to see everything or have it neatly hidden behind doors?” she queries. “Take the time to create the best environment you can.”
Architecture: Aggregate Architecture + Design. Interior Design: Christine M. Philp, Palindrome Design, LLC. Builder: Sandy Spring Builders. Photography: Jenn Verrier.
LAP OF LUXURY
Designing a dressing room “is an opportunity to carve out a special sanctuary,” says Barbara Hawthorn. In this luxurious Bethesda retreat, she designed custom mahogany built-ins featuring interior lighting, glass-enclosed shelving and adjustable space for hangers; a center island conceals charging stations and outlets.
“Good space-planning and circulation are essential," Hawthorn notes. “If possible, access to natural daylight is beneficial. And be sure to create a comfortable place to sit for dressing tasks that are easiest accomplished seated. This is especially important as you age.”
Interior & Millwork Design: Barbara Hawthorn, Barbara Hawthorn Interiors, Ltd. Millwork Design & Fabrication: Atrium Interiors. Photography: Kenneth M. Wyner.
KID-FRIENDLY RETREAT
Laura Fox was tapped to design a family’s Woodley Park home, which includes a room where their kids can study, practice music and relax. A custom cabinet stores books and toys; at one end, a flip-top table creates an instant desk.
“With virtual learning and technology taking over, it’s important for kids to have space to work and be creative,” says Fox. Whether or not it’s a dedicated kids’ room, she first considers how it will function and how to maximize every inch. “Making it pretty,” Fox insists, “is the easy part.”
Clodagh designed the expansive Penthouse Suite, which boasts a garden terrace complete with fire pit; a posh living room with bespoke furnishings; a writing desk; and a marble-clad bathroom with a heated floor. Doyle bar and The Pembroke restaurant lure locals and visitors alike. \
This Cindy Lou's is now offering to-go service with curb-side pickup.
Chef Cindy Wolf of Charleston and Cinghiale fame opened a new outpost in October. Cindy Lou’s Fish House puts a Southern spin on local fare, from Sweet Jesus Oysters to Lobster Po’ Boys and cocktails such as the Burns & Russel. Interiors conceived by BraytonHughes Design Studios offer panoramic views of Baltimore Harbor.
The latest collaboration recasts Canada Goose’s classic MacMillan Parka in a water-resistant, windproof and reflective fabric that is gray in daylight but turns fully reflective after dark.
After expanding to seven locations in Germany and Austria, Ress and his partners decided to launch the concept across the pond—and homed in on Washington. The company’s initial stateside club—dubbed WineLAIR—uncorked its first bottle last fall in DC’s West End. “As a bustling capital city and international hub, we felt the fabric of Washington’s community reflected our love of wine, hospitality and travel,” says Ress.
JC Schaub of Virginia-based 5th Edition Design outfitted the 5,600-square-foot space in a palette of black and gold; bold lighting and contemporary furnishings set a sophisticated tone. A wine bar serves full bottles and pours by the glass. In addition, members are invited to store their own vintages in the club’s climate-controlled lockers. Tables and seating areas offer inviting spots for wine-tasting and dining; light snacks and meals from the neighboring bistro, RIS, are on the menu.
R. Murphy’s New Haven Shucker sports a stainless-steel blade, wooden handle and curved tip for leverage. $16.65; rmurphyknives.com
SHELL GAME
Oyster shells in resin form Made Goods’ Raina Table Lamp, which measures 29 inches tall. Price on request. madegoods.com
ON A ROLL
New Jersey textile artist Sarah Merenda’s Oysters wallpaper depicts the mollusks in a bold, hand-drawn motif. Digitally printed in five colorways, rolls can be custom-sized to order. From $260 per roll; merendawallpaper.com
SILVER LINING
Christofle’s Albi collection includes a silver-plated oyster fork with wide tines designed to detach briny bivalves with ease. $93; christofle.com
DEEP DIVE
Michael Aram’s 20-inch Ocean Reef Oyster Shell Bowl conjures the wonders of the sea. Made of nickel plate in gray, sand-washed enamel. $375; michaelaram.com
Antique oyster plates impart Old World elegance. This 19th-century French Faience Breton server sold by Majolicadream is one of many available on 1stdibs. $562; 1stdibs.com
This French-style steakhouse and cabaret opened on October 26, following covid safety guidelines. It is serving up prime dry-aged steaks, cheeses and French wines—along with a regular roster of comedians, poets, jazz bands and small theater performances.
Baltimore designer Patrick Sutton masterminded the 135-table restaurant’s décor, taking inspiration from classic French burlesque venues. “The idea,” he explains, “was to transport diners to Paris to make them feel as though they’re escaping for a couple of hours for dinner and a show.” Moody and mysterious interiors feature a reception area with a bleached-walnut desk of Sutton’s design; a cozy lounge where guests can enjoy drinks and view the stage from armchairs upholstered in moss-green leather or mohair; and a long, marble-topped bar illuminated by fanciful fixtures.
Executive chef Marc Hennessy’s menu focuses on raw-bar delicacies such as the Grand Plateau—a tower of Maine lobster, oysters, shrimp and Alaskan king crab; French mainstays including foie gras, escargot and onion soup; and an array of steaks and other tempting entrées.
Like set designers who magically bring a play’s milieu to life on stage, they channel a client’s aesthetic and preferences to create environments that sing.
Jose Solis Betancourt and Paul Sherrill, principals of Solis Betancourt & Sherrill, conjured such a vision when a retired couple tapped them to reimagine a 1970s-era townhouse they’d purchased in DC’s Kalorama neighborhood. The four-story property with a private courtyard attracted the empty-nesters with its proximity to restaurants and museums. But despite recent updates, stark, builder-grade interiors left the new owners cold. “The layout and finishes did not meet our needs,” rues the wife, who was leaving behind a large Maryland residence appointed in traditional style. Ready to turn over a new leaf in the city, she and her husband envisioned a home that was “uncluttered and modern, but inviting.”
Solis Betancourt and Sherrill’s plan proves that downsizing doesn’t have to mean downgrading. In their scheme to make the house more functional, the designers put a premium on comfort and luxury. “Our clients didn’t want to bring the Chippendale furniture, wainscot and traditional damask wall coverings that they were living with,” explains Sherrill. “The project was an opportunity to simplify, but not give away the richness.”
The first move: tailoring the house to the owners’ functional needs. The renovation transformed the original ground-floor kitchen into a catering kitchen and bar to foster indoor-outdoor soirées in the adjoining library, family room and courtyard. Replacing a living room on the second level, they created a new kitchen and dining area, media room and office. The third-floor was dedicated to an owners’ suite comprising a bedroom plus his-and-her baths and dressing rooms. Additionally, two new guest suites were installed on the fourth level to accommodate visitors—including the owners’ grown children and grandkids. The couple enlisted BOWA to complete the project.
“We took the opportunity to upgrade windows and doors and all the other systems,” says Sherrill, pointing out a new glass-rail staircase that replaced its spindly wooden predecessor. “They’re used to living in state-of-the-art homes, so a lot of technology was discreetly integrated into the program.” Even the existing elevator was retooled.
As the dust settled, the interiors took shape. Sherrill and Solis Betancourt layered a mix of comfortably contoured furniture, bespoke finds and richly textured soft goods in a calm, neutral palette. Bold modern art, shimmery brass accents and an unexpected modicum of 1970s glam are icing on the cake.
A few pieces from the owners’ former home made the trip to Kalorama. Namely, revered paintings, needlepoint-topped benches that stand watch in the foyer, the grand piano and antique books that occupy the facing library and gilded Federal-style sconces in the family room. “They had a huge library of rare, first-edition books,” says Solis Betancourt. “We edited everything and kept what is most important to them.”
Silk Romo wall covering the color of warm sand envelops the main-floor spaces. A mod graphic rug with gold thread running through it grounds the library; chunky bronze coffee tables made by Silas Seandel rest atop it like sculptures. Armchairs in the library and plush sofas and swivel chairs in the adjacent family room revolve around comfort and conversation. In the latter, a custom eucalyptus table by Keith Fritz and two shagreen drum tables from Made Goods—all with brass accents—lend drama. “We let the upholstery be rather neutral, keeping more interest in the art-made furniture,” explains Sherrill. Two abstract paintings from Merritt Gallery provide splashes of color.
During warmer months, the courtyard beckons through the family room’s sliding doors. Landscape architect Richard Arentz revived the oasis, paving it in wire-cut brick and covering the walls in ivy. A bronze sculpture by Bruno Romeda creates a focal point, which Arentz offset with vintage Japanese clay tiles framed in limestone.
Post-covid, dinner parties will resume on the second level. The owners entertain in the new open kitchen and dining area featuring custom cabinetry designed by Solis Betancourt & Sherrill and fabricated by Woods & Style. The kitchen features a large Wolf range and an island with bar seating; bronze panels support the Caesarstone countertop. The facing cabinet wall houses abundant storage and a fireplace on axis with the range; the marble surround mirrors the kitchen backsplash. A chandelier by Lindsey Adelman, with bronze armature and handblown globes, radiates mid-century style.
“When they have more formal guests, the space is spectacular,” says Solis Betancourt. “A curtain on the right divides the room from the stair hall area. Almost like a theater, they can turn the lights down and bring the focal point to the table.”
From its shag carpet to its velvet Klismos chair, the owners’ bedroom evokes the warmth of a cashmere sweater. A silver-gray palette, echoed in the nightstands, silk Phillip Jeffries wallpaper and Stout drapery fabric, instills a sense of calm.
The residents couldn’t be happier with their new city digs. “We love the feel of the décor and it was great working with Jose and Paul,” says the wife.
“It’s modern but there is richness and a timeless quality to it,” reflects Solis Betancourt on the finished project.
Sherrill agrees as he rejoins with a smile, “I could move in."
Interior Design: Jose Solis Betancourt and Paul Sherrill, Solis Betancourt & Sherrill, Washington, DC. Renovation Contractor: BOWA, McLean, Virginia. Landscape Architecture: Richard Arentz, ASLA, Arentz Landscape Architects LLC, Washington, DC. Home Automation: All Around Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland.
RESOURCES
THROUGHOUT
Flooring: classicfloordesigns.info. Window Treatment Fabrication: gretcheneverett.com and Potomac Draperies.
ENTRY
Entry Table: Design by solisbetancourt.com and fabricated by rbratti.com.
LIBRARY
Rug: therugcompany.com/us. Sofa: jrobertscott.com. Sofa Fabric & Sheer Fabric: pollackassociates.com. Toss Pillow Fabric: jimthompsonfabrics.com. Coffee Table: silasseandel.com. Side tables at Sofa: johnlyledesign.com through hollyhunt.com. Round Table & Lamps on Side Sofa Tables: donghia.com. Mirror & Stools: Clients’ collection. Club Chairs: profilesny.com. Club Chair Fabric: calvinfabrics.com. Lamp on Round Table: visualcomfortlightinglights.com. Drapery Fabric: cowtan.com/brand/larsen. Wallcovering: romo.com. Paint: Tapestry Beige by benjaminmoore.com.
FAMILY ROOM
Rug: galleriacarpets.com. Center Table: keithfritz.com. Chairs: saladinostyle.com. Chair Fabric: gpjbaker.com/brands/mulberry-home. Sofas: jrobertscott.com. Sofa Fabric: pindler.com. Pillow Fabric: scalamandre.com. Ottoman/Table: ironies.com through hollyhunt.com. Ottoman Leather: edelmanleather.com. Coffee Tables: madegoods.com. Wallcovering: romo.com Drapery Fabric: pollackassociates.com. Art: merrittgallery.com. Four Side Tables: noirfurniturela.com. Four Brass Lamps: visualcomfortlightinglights.com. Sconces: Clients’ collection.
PATIO
Chairs: minotti.com/en/rodolfo-dordoni through ddcnyc.com. Table: hollyhunt.com. Sculpture: Bruno Romeda. Antique Terracotta Tiles: 1stdibs.com.
DINING ROOM/KITCHEN
Cabinet Design: solisbetancourt.com. Cabinet Fabrication: woodsandstyle.com. Portiere & Sheer Fabric: creationbaumann.com. Fireplace Mantel, Host Chairs & Counter Stools: dessinfournir.com. Side Chairs: hollyhunt.com. Chair Fabric: scalamandre.com. Counter Stool Fabric: fabricinnovations.com. Drinks Tables: arteriorshome.com. Chandelier: lindseyadelman.com. Table: keithfritz.com. Area Rug: starkcarpet.com. Hardware: rockymountainhardware.com. Hardware Source: doorhardwareusa.com. Countertop: caesarstoneus.com. Marble Source: opustone.com and rbratti.com. Sheer Fabric: Creation Baumann.
Bed: liaigre.com. Bed Fabric: romo.com. Nightstands: jrobertscott.com. Chair and Ottoman: hollyhunt.com. Chair and Ottoman Fabric: kirkbydesign.com. Chair and Ottoman Trim: samuelandsons.com. Floor Lamp: visualcomfortlightinglights.com. Side Table: Clients’ collection. Wallcovering: phillipjeffries.com. Drapery Fabric: estout.com. Sheer Fabric: carletonhousefabrics.com. Rug: kanecarpet.com.
In 1999, Ken Crerar and his husband Peter Garrett lucked into finding their forever home in DC's Wesley Heights area. The renovated and expanded 1927 dwelling “was warm and inviting,” Crerar reflects. Years went by and the couple welcomed two sons into the home, but they never got around to giving it their own update—until the whole place went up in flames.
They received the call while on vacation in January 2017. “The fire was pretty intense,” recalls Crerar, CEO of a trade association. Though they were able to salvage and restore most of their furniture and art and ceramics collections, the damage was severe.
Architect Carib Daniel Martin and project designer Gabriela Leniz were invited to tour the site and survey the aftermath. After discussing possible approaches, the owners hired the husband-and-wife team to orchestrate the next iteration of their beloved home. “Ken and Peter wanted to do some things that would take the house in a new direction,” explains Martin. “But they also wanted to maintain the spirit of the original—not fully abandon it.”
Inspired by homes they’d visited on trips to Portugal and Italy, Crerar and Garrett gravitated to Mediterranean style. They wanted to recreate their home’s stucco exterior and salvage its massive limestone fireplace, built during the 1980s by stonemasons renovating the National Cathedral. “And we loved the grandness of the two-story living room,” says Crerar.
A careful study determined that two-thirds of the structure would have to be taken down to its foundation. And, Martin reports, “The entire house had to be stripped to the studs from smoke, fire and water damage.”
Given the project’s magnitude, the owners decided to take the opportunity to reimagine a brighter, more open plan centered on efficiency, functionality and style. While zoning regulations limited reconstruction to the existing footprint, they opted to expand by adding on a third floor.
The first-floor redo left the 1980s front living room gable, porch and fireplace intact. In their biggest move, the architects shifted the home’s staircase from the center to the side of the main volume, opening up once-choppy, compartmentalized rooms. An airy den now occupies the center volume leading to a free-flowing kitchen and dining area in the rear. A three-story window wall on the side and abundant glass on the back of the home bathe the interiors in light.
The large kitchen/dining area is equipped with a wood-burning pizza oven, an island with a custom zinc countertop and the owners’ existing, commercial Wolf range, which was sent to New York for restoration following the fire. “The kitchen now has amazing work and entertaining space,” Crerar enthuses. “Especially in this time of covid, we’ve been able to open up the back and entertain while social-distancing.”
The space segues to a dining terrace and the existing pool through a collapsible NanaWall. “We dropped the kitchen section, which was built on crawl space in a previous addition, down to grade,” explains Leniz. “This allowed us to tie the kitchen into the terrace.” She and Martin aligned the kitchen’s large-format limestone-tile flooring with exterior flagstone slabs for a seamless indoor-outdoor look.
The second floor, which once harbored three bedrooms, now contains an ensuite room for the couple’s 15-year-old son, a laundry room and an owners’ suite complete with sitting room, luxurious bath and balcony. And on the new third level, their 20-year-old son occupies one of two new bedrooms, which share a bath.
Connecting all three floors is the project’s pièce de résistance: a custom, open-riser steel stairway and adjacent screen wall. Martin and Leniz developed the concept and collaborated on its design with Baltimore-based Gutierrez Studios, which fabricated both elements. Made of rift-cut oak and steel, the grid-like screen imparts privacy while filtering light and casting ever-changing shadows into the home. Its system of movable, cantilevered shelves lets the owners display their ceramics collection with ease.
The window wall and floating staircase animate a side elevation of the home that once presented a mishmash of oddly placed windows. Says Leniz, “When you experience the house from the street, it’s almost like it has a second façade.”
Architectural details riff on Mediterranean style—from the home’s authentic ochre stucco to the Turkish mosaic backsplash tile that enlivens the kitchen. Garrett and Crerar even reapplied the same Donald Kaufman paint colors that adorned their pre-fire walls: an earthy yellow in the public spaces and soft sage green upstairs. Now full of their eclectic artwork and furnishings, says Leniz, the newly rebuilt home gives visitors the impression that the owners have lived in it for years.
“There’s a consistency throughout the house that was missing before,” attests Crerar.
For further continuity, the architects clad the existing pool house and backyard masonry walls in the same stucco as the main house. They installed a kitchenette and Murphy bed in the pool house, replaced the surrounding stonework and converted a hot tub into a giant planter.
Now that it’s complete, the owners take pride in using every inch of their efficient, 4,500-square-foot abode. When the pandemic arrived, Crerar and Garrett even created a gym in the basement. “We’ve had the benefit of living here through a very intense period—and we love it,” reflects Crerar. “Carib and Gaby did a really nice job translating who we are into a house.”
Renovation Architecture & Landscape Design: Carib Daniel Martin, principal; M. Gabriela Leniz, project designer, Carib Daniel Martin Architecture + Design, Kensington, Maryland. Renovation Contractor: Design/Build, Inc., Silver Spring, Maryland. Landscape Contractor: Rowan Landscape & Pools, Mt. Airy, Maryland.
How do you glean a client’s aesthetic?
Martin: We ask clients to pull together images of homes they like. They don’t have to find the exact home they want, just things they’re attracted to. When we stand back and look at the photos, themes pop up.
What building material is a game-changer?
Martin: We love TruExterior trim and siding. It’s made with recycled fly-ash, a byproduct from coal power plants. It’s thicker than HardiePlank and, unlike PVC, can be painted any color.
How do you combine new and existing materials?
Martin: We either utilize existing materials or remove old finishes and extend the new so the house looks like a cohesive whole.
DC Revival - What remodeling mistakes should owners avoid?
Leniz: Don’t build for future buyers because by the time those future buyers appear 10 years from now, they’re going to want other things. Build a house for what you want now and enjoy it.
They contacted TriVistaUSA for the job, which initially encompassed building a gym, remodeling the bathroom and creating a crafts room for their young daughter. However, flooding in the main area of the basement during construction caused a change of plans. “They decided on a total remodel at that point,” explains TriVistaUSA principal Michael Sauri. “It was the impetus to do it right.”
Working within the existing footprint, Sauri and his team converted one room into a gym—decked out in the colors of the husband’s alma mater, LSU—with mirrored walls and a punching bag. Another space became a crafts room. And in the open-plan main area that was once relegated for storage, they integrated a full bar styled with shiplap siding and cabinetry painted Benjamin Moore’s Hale Navy. A Sub-Zero fridge and wine column are clad in walnut, and poplar crops up as a ceiling accent and wraps a support column. Walnut flanks the linear gas fireplace. A durable, wood-look vinyl floor unifies the space.
Perhaps it was kismet that two icons of style—Dior and Vespa—were both founded in 1946. To commemorate their legacies, the brands collaborated on the June 2020 launch of the Vespa 946 Christian Dior scooter. Designed by Dior’s Maria Grazia Chiuri, the limited-edition cycle is made in Italy. A matching helmet and top case complete the ensemble, naturellement. Available at Dior boutiques in 2021. Price to be announced. dior.com
On the Greens
Garmin’s Approach S60 GPS golf watch lets users review and analyze every shot they play. It also enables them to compete in weekly leaderboards on any golf course via the Garmin Golf app. Even if travel isn’t possible, users can plot their next golf getaway by virtually exploring the watch’s preloaded maps of 40,000 courses around the world. From $399. garmin.com
Cleaning in the age of covid calls for back-up. Ecovacs’ new Deebot Ozmo T8 AIVI brings harried users a robot that vacuums, mops and even monitors the home. Employing laser mapping and navigation technology, it automatically detects carpets, putting the mop function on hold; a live video stream lets owners keep an eye on the homefront while they’re away. A lithium ion battery provides three-plus hours of use. $799. ecovacs.com
Opened in February, it now offers indoor dining and takeout. Chef Michael Rafidi pays homage to his Middle Eastern heritage, incorporating local produce and meats in his cuisine. The enticing menu offers an array of hummus plates, mezze and grilled entrées. Grupo7 designed the modern interior with distressed-wood paneling, richly colored tilework and an open kitchen with live fire and a wood-fired pita oven.
On a whim, he replied, “the White House Rose Garden.”
As fate would have it, in 2019 the DC-based firm actually landed a commission to revive the storied garden designed by Bunny Mellon during the Kennedy administration. “The garden had not been touched since it was put in,” says Groft. “It had no bones, and paths were going this way and that.”
The design phase launched in-depth historical research and extensive dialog among multiple stakeholders. The final plan created structure with a new limestone border and also improved the garden’s accessibility, drainage and audiovisual infrastructure.
New York-based Perry Guillot, Inc., collaborated on the design while Walnut Hill Landscape Company of Annapolis completed the installation of the garden, formally unveiled in August. “The renovation restored many aspects of Bunny Mellon’s plan for JFK that had been lost over the years,” says Walnut Hill’s Michael Prokopchak.
“We’re very proud of the end result,” Groft reflects.
The Kensington, Maryland, designer created a video in which a 3-D avatar models her flowing, size-inclusive apparel. Mvuemba’s sleight of hand captivated influencers from Vogue to Beyoncé; since then, her Hanifa label has launched the Resort collection, with shapewear coming soon.
