IN THE GARDEN
Dior’s Spring-Summer 2020 ready-to-wear line pays homage to Catherine Dior, Christian Dior’s sister who tended the family gardens. Floral motifs, embroidery and raffia accents celebrate nature. Price on request. dior.com
CHIC PURSE
Oscar de la Renta’s Tro Mini Napa Leather Crossbody Bag is a petite, five-by-six-inch purse in cowhide leather sporting an oversized flower applique. $1,790; neimanmarcus.com
OFF THE CUFF
Designed by Temple St. Clair, the Oasis cuff bracelet in 18-carat yellow gold is studded with 5.52 carats of tanzanite, ruby, tourmaline and spessartite garnet. $12,500; tinyjewelbox.com
Like forging the first brushstroke on a blank canvas, the act of building on an untouched plot of land can be a daunting endeavor. Especially if that plot of land is a 45-acre patchwork of pasture and woodland in rural Rappahannock County, surrounded by vistas of Virginia’s Blue Ridge. And as if that weren’t idyllic enough, a river runs through it.
Such was the challenge facing owners Barbara and Matthew Black and their architect, Richard Williams. Matthew, a retired economist, and Barbara decided to leave their long-time Capitol Hill home to live at a slower pace, in tune with nature. Having vacationed in a cabin they owned in the area for 15 years, they’d already fallen in love with the Rappahannock countryside. When their search for an existing property turned up nothing that “sang to us,” says Matthew, he and Barbara opted to buy land and build from scratch.
To kindle the process, Williams asked his clients to write vision statements on their future home. Both wished to tread lightly on the landscape. “Ours was probably the first house ever built on this land and we felt an almost steward-like responsibility to have it be harmonious with the site. We wanted something that would celebrate our presence, but sit gently,” reflects Matthew.
“Humility,” adds Barbara, “was a word we used a lot.”
After 35 years in a row house, the couple craved natural light, openness, views—and storage. Though the empty nesters would be sole occupants most of the time, they wanted room for the fundraisers and art gatherings they regularly host, as well as visits from their two married children and four grandkids. Also on their list: a pool; a guest house for Barbara’s sister, artist Darien Reece; and a freestanding barn/studio for making art and hosting gallery tours.
Deciding where to build on their property, the Blacks were drawn to a knoll with sweeping views of meadow, woods, river, mountains and sky. One night, they pitched a tent, experienced sunrise by the river and agreed they’d found their spot.
A spirited collaboration ensued as Williams, project architect Justin Donovan and the Blacks refined a design scheme that would express the owners’ desires while respecting and accentuating the site. The architects used GPS modeling to determine exactly how to orient the home, tweaking angles to capture the best views. The final plan positioned the house on an east-west axis aligned with mountain peaks at either end. On the main floor, the plan extends from a handy mudroom entry near the pool to the kitchen and screened porch, a great room and Matthew’s study, culminating at the master suite. Nestling the structure into the contours of the site enabled the architects to create an above-grade lower level housing two guest rooms and baths; an office for Barbara, a retired fundraiser and wellness educator; and storage/utility rooms.
This positioning also lends the home a low profile—and an air of mystery—in the front. From a winding gravel road, visitors initially glimpse just the flat roof and chimney of the main house before rounding a bend where the building comes into view.
On the southern, river side of the residence, both stories are revealed. “It was a goal for the house to be somewhat modest and restrained in front,” says Donovan. “Not until you see it from the downhill side do you realize it’s actually pretty big.”
Just as the architects masterfully blended the 4,900-square-foot abode into the site, they also articulated views from within. Understanding their clients’ routines—from morning meditation to reading by the fire—empowered them to create moments in architecture. Dramatic, floor-to-ceiling windows in the great room immerse residents in the meadow, while smaller surprises, such as a clerestory opening, reveal a mountaintop or a passing flock of geese. “In everyday comings and goings,” explains Williams, “we present the landscape to enrich their daily rituals.”
Architects and clients embarked on the plan without a preconceived style in mind. As ideas evolved, they leaned in a modern direction yet embraced organic materials and forms associated with Piedmont vernacular. “I was interested in going modern but having an old sensibility,” says Matthew.
Though applied in a pared-down manner, cedar, whitewashed brick, cleft bluestone, copper and steel-framed windows convey rustic familiarity. “There’s modern that can be incredibly soulful and allude to traditions even of vernacular building,” Williams observes. “We think of this as a Virginian modern house. The structure is very abstract and geometric, but the materials are nicely crafted and warm it up.”
Other gestures nod to bygone days. Thick, 30-inch walls harken back to old stone dwellings—but conceal built-in storage. And an elongated brick chimney evokes the ruins of an abandoned homestead where only a chimney remains.
Landscape architect Gregg Bleam joined the team “to knit the house into the site,” he says, “and make it look like it was always there.” Bleam dotted the front courtyard with crabapple trees to suggest the remnants of an old orchard and tapped J.W. Townsend Landscapes to plant the four-acre meadow with wildflowers.
“The meadow attracts so many birds, butterflies and insects,” says Barbara. “It’s a wonderful habitat.”
The Blacks also coexist with deer, foxes and possums, though Matthew admits to a “love-hate relationship” with beavers that have provisioned ironwood trees he planted along the river’s edge. When the grandkids visit, they have free rein outdoors and love to skip stones in the river, tend the vegetable garden and feed the neighbors’ horses grazing nearby.
Barbara still pinches herself in disbelief that this home is really theirs. “It feels like an incredible privilege and surprise,” she declares. “And, after participating in and helping set the vision for it, also like an old glove.”
Architecture: Richard Williams, FAIA, principal in charge; Justin Donovan, AIA, project architect, Richard Williams Architects PLLC, Washington, DC. Builder: Dale Abrahamse, Abrahamse & Company Builders, Charlottesvillle, Virginia. Landscape Architecture: Gregg Bleam, FASLA, Gregg Bleam Landscape Architect, Charlottesville, Virginia.
RESOURCES
THROUGHOUT
Lighting Consultant: hinsondesign.com. Windows: hopeswindows.com; kolbewindows.com.
EXTERIOR
Landscape Contractor: townsendlandscape.com. Cedar Exterior Stain: benjaminmoore.com.
ENTRY:
Water Feature Installation: fountaincraftmfg.com.
LIVING/DINING ROOM
Cabinet Millwork Fabrication: lantzwoodworking.com. Paint: benjaminmoore.com. Sofa & Upholstered Chairs: rh.com. Leather Chairs: randomharvesthome.com. Painting: by Thomas Mullany through haleyfineart.com. Rug: timothypaulcarpets.com. Dining Table: cotejardinantiques.com. Dining Chairs: crateandbarrel.com. Paper Light: Akari light sculpture through shop.noguchi.org.
KITCHEN
Cabinet Millwork Fabrication: lantzwoodworking.com. Cabinet Paint: farrow-ball.com. Wall Paint: benjaminmoore.com. Carrarra Marble: cogswellstone.com. 19th-century Italian Stools: 19th c. Italian, Darien Reece Antiques. Pendants: handandeyestudio.co.uk. Painting near Porch Door: Judith Leighton through cynthiawiningsgallery.com. Ovens: subzero-wolf.com. Zinc Countertop: handcraftedmetal.com. Sinks And Faucets: blanco.com; grohe.com; duravit.com.
POOL
Pool Installation: alpinepool.com.
SCREENED PORCH
Table: roomandboard.com.
When Sharon Kleinman got to work on the interiors of a new Rehoboth Beach house, she had not one client—but 10. Architect Greg Hastings designed the contemporary nine-bedroom retreat; construction was underway when the designer came on board.
The owners, their two grown daughters with husbands and four grandchildren all had a say in the process. “You’d think with so many opinions involved that it might have been difficult, but we had a great time,” enthuses Kleinman. “We worked to incorporate everybody’s style and interests into their personal spaces.”
On the ground floor of the home, there are two guest rooms and a powder room. A great room and adjoining kitchen and dining room occupy the second level, along with a TV room, master suite and screened porch. The third floor houses six bedrooms: one each for the owners’ daughters and their husbands, plus one for each grandchild. Throughout the house, the designer instilled a chic, clean-lined aesthetic. “They preferred a more modern look—nothing too cottagey,” she explains. A case in point is the sleek workhorse of a kitchen. “Everybody can gather around the big island,” says Kleinman, “because there are multiple cooks.”
How would you describe the look you were after?
They wanted it to be casual and fun but not to look like everybody else’s beach house. There are lots of touches that are almost whimsical throughout.
What drove your furniture and fabric selections?
The fact that you’ve got three families using the home at any given time meant that everything had to be durable. Except for some of the accents, we selected soil- and stain-resistant fabrics or indoor-outdoor fabrics throughout. On the dining chair seats, we used wipeable faux leather. But for the chair backs, we chose a less durable fabric that is really fun.
Name a surprising takeaway from the project.
The flooring is a luxury vinyl plank by Karndean. We chose it because my clients didn’t want to worry about their dogs. Vinyl has come such a long way. It used to look almost like plastic, but is now very realistic. Not only does it offer great durability, but it also comes in really good colors. It would have been difficult to get the kind of weathered-gray look we wanted in a hardwood.
Why was shiplap applied on the great room ceilings?
Because of the home’s rooflines, there are all sorts of peaks and valleys in the ceiling. We decided to embrace them and call attention to them with the shiplap. Drywall would not have had the same personality or character. My clients liked it so much in the main area that we ended up applying it in the master bedroom too. It’s a nod to beachy style, but sophisticated.
Explain why the natural stone quartzite is having a moment.
The clients wanted a white kitchen with a marble-look surface. I don’t recommend marble in kitchens. It’s a great look but it’s just not practical—even for people who are very careful. Quartzite is much more durable but has the same look as marble.
How did you hone in on decorative lighting choices?
The objective was to let the sunlight come through the main living space and create a light and airy feeling; we didn’t want anything heavy. The chandelier in the dining area is big enough to be appropriate to the space but it’s also very open. And the pendants over the kitchen island are glass, so you see right through them. These pieces are almost like sculptures and add to the overall ambiance of the project.
Describe furniture options that helped maximize space.
The idea was to utilize every room in a compact way. For instance, we needed a really big dining table that would seat the whole family, but I didn’t want it to overpower the space. We went with a table in whitewashed wood and I talked them into an elliptical shape. It’s a very updated look and a lot less heavy than a conventional table. It’s a trestle style, so you can fit more people around it. And the dining chairs are wide enough to be comfortable but their backs are narrower so they’re not overwhelming.
What’s your secret to combining patterns successfully?
It’s all about scale. It’s nice to have one pattern that’s a larger scale and you work down from there to a medium scale and then a smaller scale. For me, the larger-scale patterns are usually on accents such as pillows, though we used a nice Osborne & Little pattern on the living room chairs that worked really well.
How did you pay homage to the beach without the obvious shell décor?
We used elements that are beachy, such as the driftwood console at the entry and photos of the grandchildren near the ocean, but we used them sparingly. Otherwise, we emphasized natural materials including the whitewashed wooden dining table and the fireplace tiles that are kind of concrete-looking. The blues, the grays and turquoises are also a nod to the shore.
What new product are you dying to try?
I’m getting ready to try Phillip Jeffries’ new seamless grass cloth on a ceiling. It adds great texture and I love that there are no seams.
Can you share a favorite low-end find?
Vinyl floor cloths. They’re practical for kitchens, laundry rooms and mudrooms and add a little punch through color and pattern.
What object in your home is most special to you?
My father was an architect-turned-artist. He gave me a painting of Lake Como for my 50th birthday. I love the piece, but it’s also special because he painted it.
Name a trend that’s over for you.
I’m tired of gray. Though I used it in my house, I mixed it with orange and soft blues. Everyone’s tolerance for color is different; I need color.
Where do you go to relax?
We have a lake house in Virginia. The minute I walk in the front door and look out at the lake, I feel calm. There’s something about a house being on the water.
Architecture: Greg Hastings, G.A. Hastings & Associates LLC, Ocean View, Delaware. Interior Design: Sharon Kleinman, Transitions by Sharon Kleinman, Potomac, Maryland. Builder: Timothy B. O’Hare Custom Builder, Inc., Ocean View, Delaware. Landscape Design: Mike O’Hare, Princess Garden Inc., Severna Park, Maryland.
With its 2018 debut, the Institute for Contemporary Art (ICA) at Virginia Commonwealth University brought Richmond its first institution dedicated to modern art. Steven Holl Architects masterminded the striking Markel Center, which houses the ICA, to welcome students and the public alike. “We designed the ICA to be a flexible, forward-looking instrument that will both illuminate and serve as a catalyst for the transformative possibilities of contemporary art,” says Holl, who also designed The Reach, a recent expansion at The Kennedy Center in Washington, DC.
The 41,000-square-foot ICA is clad in pre-weathered zinc in a satin finish; clear- and translucent-glass windows, walls and skylights bathe the interiors in natural light. Performance and exhibition spaces radiate from its soaring, central forum. The first floor features an airy gallery (above, right), café, shop and state-of-the-art auditorium. The second floor includes two galleries (one, above left, displayed Lee Mingwei’s “The Mending Project” in 2018) and a “learning lab;” another gallery beckons on the third floor.
The LEED Gold-certified building boasts a geothermal heating and cooling system and four green roofs to absorb storm water and offset carbon emissions. Near one of its entrances, a garden with a reflecting pool (top) is used for social gatherings and public programs. A purple-neon light installation by Tavares Strachan on an outdoor terrace perfectly encapsulates the ICA’s mission, spelling out the words “You belong here.”
Architecture: Steven Holl Architects, New York, New York. Associate Architects: BCWH Architects, Richmond, Virginia. Contractor: Gilbane, Inc., Richmond, Virginia. Photography: Iwan Baan (left and top); Terry Brown (right).
Roman Holiday
Ferrari has unveiled a prototype of its new Roma model—a mid-front-engine, 2+ coupé inspired by the carefree days of 1950s and ’60s Rome. Despite its timeless look, the Roma delivers cutting-edge performance and technology, with an eight-speed DCT gearbox and a turbo-charged V8 engine that reaches 620 cv at 7500 rpm. It’s expected to roll into showrooms this year with a price tag of $225,000. ferrari.com
On Track
Samsung’s Galaxy Watch Active2 not only keeps users connected, but also helps them reach health and fitness goals. The smartwatch tracks more than 39 workouts, makes calls and links to social media apps and Spotify. It’s available in 40mm and 44mm sizes and two styles: aluminum with a Fluoroelastomer band or stainless steel with a leather band. From $250; samsung.com
Ahead of the Curve
Designed as an alternative to clunky towers or boxy sound bars, Cleer Audio’s Crescent Smart Speaker sports a sculptural silhouette. It’s equipped with eight custom, 40mm full-range drivers and two 3.3-inch subwoofers and envelops listeners in three-dimensional, high-definition sound. The speaker supports hi-res digital audio formats as well as streaming. Available in August; $600. cleeraudio.com
Lore Group has transformed Penn Quarter’s landmark Riggs Bank building into the elegant Riggs Washington DC. Creative director Jacu Strauss preserved its historic architecture, including the barrel-vaulted lobby, in his sweeping redesign. The hotel’s 181 rooms and suites feature Baroque-inspired wall covering and headboards. Its brasserie-style Café Riggs boasts a bar anchored by the bank’s original columns and detailed stonework. Silver Lyan, a subterranean cocktail bar, also beckons. Starting rates from $329. 900 F Street, NW; 202-638-4600. riggsdc.com
Former White House chef Frank Ruta presides over Annabelle, a new hot spot recently opened in the former Restaurant Nora location. Martin Vahtra of Projects Design Associates conceived the interiors, which include the inviting Garden Room and a private dining room, where the work of local artists is on view. Annabelle focuses on modern American cuisine, serving Maine Lobster Americaine and pavlova with roasted pineapple compote. 2132 Florida Avenue, NW; 202-916-5675. annabelledc.com
On EcoDomo’s factory floor, free-form platforms in light-gray, hand-stitched recycled leather are spread out like giant puzzle pieces. Once complete, they’ll be installed as raised seating in a Watergate office designed by Gensler; 150 columns and a reception desk will be covered in the same material.
Gaithersburg-based EcoDomo has long been a go-to source for commercial clients such as Marriott, Starbucks and Cartier; in fact, EcoDomo leather wraps bar fronts in 2,500 Starbucks worldwide. But DC-area designers and architects are just beginning to take notice of the company’s products—from flooring and wall and door panels with nail-head trim to countertops and headboards designed for hotels, restaurants, spas and private homes around the globe.
As Christian Nadeau, who founded EcoDomo in 2005, avers, “Whatever can be done with wood, we can do with leather.” The only challenge they’ve turned down so far? An all-leather bathtub.
EcoDomo’s raw material is an eco-friendly byproduct of the leather industry. Like wood veneer made from compressed paper, the product is composed of vegetable-tanned leather remnants that are pulverized and mixed with small amounts of tree bark and natural latex. A final layer of resin renders the product highly impervious to wear and tear.
Imported from Europe in roll or panel form, this recycled leather is first customized to order in EcoDomo’s Upstate New York plant. Here, employees emboss the material with textures including crocodile, shagreen, walrus and buffalo; dye it in an array of colors; and even print it with custom motifs. Then it’s sent to EcoDomo’s 12,000-square-foot Gaithersburg facility, where artisans fabricate all to-the-trade orders. The company also works with hide leather, but estimates that recycled leather costs 50 percent less.
“We’ve extended the appeal of leather to surfacing for interiors. Our product has the same elegance that leather brings to a purse, a car interior or a sofa,” says Christian. “But it has the performance of a laminate, and our floors have a softer and nicer feel underfoot. As a bonus, there’s the recycled aspect.”
EcoDomo also fashions decorative wall panels, headboards and floors from upcycled leather belts. First conceived as a wall panel for Nike, the application has become so popular, “we go through 1,000 belts a month,” says Bernice Nadeau, who runs the company with husband Christian.
Last year, the Nadeaus launched a new venture, Lord Fabrik, which produces stain- and water-repellent canvas suitable for wall covering, upholstery and area rugs; orders are already pouring in. “Its performance is comparable to vinyl, but it’s all natural and American-made,” explains Christian.
Available in multiple colors and textures, the all-cotton canvas collection carries on the Nadeaus’ commitment to environmental stewardship. “We are in business because we wanted to create something sustainable and authentic out of waste material,” Christian reflects. “We really care about that part of it.” ecodomo.com; lordfabrik.com
Traversing the streets of Georgetown, even harried passersby can’t help but pause to admire the neighborhood’s charming homes. Row houses steeped in period detail harken back centuries. But today, there’s no telling what awaits behind those quaint façades. While district regulations protect exteriors, many Georgetowners take their interiors in entirely new directions.
Consider, for example, the new owners of an historic 1820 row house. The couple with three grown children decided to leave their long-time residence in DC’s Wesley Heights in favor of Georgetown, where they could walk to restaurants, movies and the riverfront. Avid art collectors, they were drawn to the Federal-style home’s generous proportions. “The high ceilings and great wall expanses created space for larger-scale art that we never had before,” explains the husband, a real estate executive.
But the property also presented conundrums. The front living room segues back to the dining room and the kitchen at the rear. The two latter rooms—part of a previous addition tacked onto the original, four-story volume—felt dim and claustrophobic. What’s more, the kitchen was blocked by stairs to a second-story study that was otherwise cut off from the rest of the house.
The owners tapped architect Robert M. Gurney to remedy these drawbacks. “We wanted to honor the historic fabric of this 200-year-old home and make it compatible with our modern life and taste,” says the husband, who’d worked with Gurney on a commercial project. Also on board: landscape architect Kevin Campion and New York-based designer Sybille Schneider, who decorated the owners’ Cape Cod vacation retreat.
Gurney and project architect Kara McHone explored ways to improve circulation and connect the front and back of the 120-foot-deep main level both physically and visually. The architects turned a small, throwaway space between the living and dining rooms into an open stairway leading down to the basement and up to the office and master suite on the second floor. Above this dramatic steel-and-wood structure, new clerestory windows illuminate the center of the home. “We took the most awkward space and made it one of the better ones that ties the whole project together,” Gurney observes.
A bridge between the new stairway and the husband’s office meant the old office stairs could go, allowing extended sight lines from the living room to the kitchen and rear patio.
As the plan progressed, the designers focused on comprehensive upgrades, articulating a modern vocabulary into the home’s classic framework. “We did more than meets the eye,” Gurney reflects.
Two off-kilter fireplaces in the living room made furniture placement a challenge. So Gurney clad the fireboxes with elongated marble surrounds that lend symmetry to Schneider’s seating arrangements. “Since the living room is very large, we needed to interrupt it by making it two living rooms,” asserts the designer. A pair of mid-century Gio Ponti chandeliers purchased at auction in Paris defines the two sections, furnished with new and vintage finds. “I liked the idea of bringing back a little of the old, mixing a bit of antique with contemporary,” she says.
Large, pivoting interior doors screen off the kitchen during soirées; made of steel and fluted glass, they’re a nod to the industrial era. Similar custom doors enclose the entry vestibule and the wife’s office.
The owner’s art collection—which includes work by Yayoi Kusama, Sol LeWitt and Donald Judd—was also a driver. For example, Schneider explains, she kept rug choices “quiet and still because I wanted the art to be the most powerful part of the room.”
The designers developed a simple material palette that they applied throughout the project. Though existing floors on the second level were an uneven patchwork of heart pine and Douglas fir, they were retained for authenticity. “I like them because they look historical,” says Gurney. “We stained them dark and carried the idea to the main level, where new, quarter-sawn white-oak floors were stained dark to match.” The floors informed other choices, from the gray millwork in the master bedroom to the marble in the master bath.
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The question of whether to retain or relinquish period detail popped up often. “We decided to keep a lot of the molding because the proportions were good,” explains Gurney. “The difficult part was finding where to start and stop.”
A minimalist vibe prevails in the kitchen. Though timeless, materials such as leathered granite, marble and acacia wood define the central island, floors and cabinet wall in expansive, unadorned slabs. The hand-glazed, brick-tile backsplash plays off the home’s façade and brings the outdoors in—as do new steel-framed windows and doors.
Landscape architect Kevin Campion put a modern spin on an existing terrace and revamped the side garden, which is now visible from the main entry. “Our goal was to catch people’s eye at the front door and draw them back to the garden,” he says.
Working with builder Peterson + Collins, the design team infused the home with a high degree of form and function. The upgraded lower level now encompasses a gym, media room, all-new mechanicals and copious storage. The only spaces to receive just minor tweaks were the third- and fourth-floor bedrooms—one for each of the owners’ adult children—plus a TV lounge.
The family is pleased with their reimagined urban abode—as is Robert Gurney. “We wanted be sure, at the end of the day, that it was a really good synthesis of architecture, art and furniture,” he says. “I like the fact that the historical and modern can coexist.”
Architecture: Robert M. Gurney, FAIA, principal; Kara McHone, project architect, Robert M. Gurney, FAIA Architect, Washington, DC. Interior Design: Sybille Schneider, Leroy Street Studio Interiors, New York, New York. Landscape Architect: Kevin Campion, ASLA, principal; Nick Ries, project manager, Campion Hruby Landscape Architects, Annapolis, Maryland. Contractor: Ted Peterson, Peterson + Collins, Washington, DC.
RESOURCES
GENERAL
Audio/Visual: atlcontrol.com. Millwork: solidhardwooddoors.com and affinitywoodworking.com. Steel Windows & Doors: hopeswindows.com. Wood Windows & Doors: parrettwindows.com. Paints & Stains: benjaminmoore.com. New Flooring: Classic Floor Designs: classicfloordesigns.info. Steel & Glass Door Fabrication: akmetalfab.com.
FRONT LIVING ROOM
Living Room Fireplaces: abcworldwidestone.com. Rug: edwardfields.com. coraggio.com. Two Chairs: Dangles & Defrance, Vintage. Chair Fabric: pierrefrey.com. Divan: Custom. Divan Fabric: hollandandsherry.com.
REAR LIVING ROOM
Rug: edwardfields.com. Coffee Table: Vintage Ferando and Humberto Cambana. Gold Chairs: Vintage Melchiorre Bega. Gold Chair Fabric: pierrefrey.com. Blue Sofa: lemardeley.com. Blue Sofa Fabric: coraggio.com.
NEW STAIR
Stair Rail Fabrication: masterstairbuilders.com; metalspecialties.biz. Suspended Light Fixture: semeurdetoiles.fr/en.
DINING ROOM
Chandelier: Vintage Angelo Lelli. Tables: Custom. Chairs: Vintage Giuseppe Scapinelli. Rug: armadillo-co.com. Sconces: Vintage Gio Ponti. Drapery Fabric: hollandandsherry.com. Drapery Fabrication: ecrobinsonupholstery.com. Chest of Drawers: eggcollective.com.
KITCHEN
Flooring & Stone: abcworldwidestone.com. Hand-glazed Brick Tile: urbanarchaeology.com. Cabinets: boffi.com. Hanging Shelves: amuneal.com. Kitchen Faucets: waterstoneco.com. Kitchen Sinks: julien.ca. Pendants: ericschmitt.com. Backsplash Tile: cletile.com. Stools: thomashayesstudio.com.
MASTER BEDROOM
Cast Concrete Fireplace Surrounds: concreteworkseast.com. Chandelier: gabriel-scott.com. Rug: edwardfields.com. Chair: ritzhansen.com. Chair Fabric: hollyhunt.com. Drapery Fabric: osborneandlittle.com.
MASTER BATHROOM
Faucets: kallista.com. Master Bathtub: boffi.com. Sinks & Tub: lacava.com. Frameless Glass Doors: riverglassdesigns.com. Shower Stone: abcworldwidestone.com. Flooring & Field Stone Walls: stonesource.com. Countertop: concrete-collaborative.com. Stool: modernlivingsupplies.com.
STUDY
Chairs: Albini. Chair Fabric: hollandandsherry.com. Chandelier: lemardeley.com. Rug: altforliving.com.
EXTERIOR
Firepit: brownjordan.com. Urns: ore.design. Steel Panels Fabrication: KSI. Outdoor Lighting: nature-unlimited.com Ceiling Light: structura.com.
Set on four wooded acres bordering parkland, a 1927 stone house charmed Baltimore resident Lloyd Burdette, in the market for a new family home. As she recalls, she and husband Tim Burdette, a real estate investor, “were living in a house where everything belonged to our grandparents and didn’t reflect our style.” They decided this gem would give them a chance for dramatic change.
The couple called on designer Katherine Crosby to help them update their new home while respecting its classic roots. Though the footprint remained the same, Crosby orchestrated a total cosmetic overhaul, introducing a neutral palette and a furniture plan that mingled new finds with an edited selection of family antiques.
The owners and their two teenage kids are delighted with the results. Says Lloyd, a former marketing professional,“It brings us joy that we use every inch of this house.”
How did you respect the original architecture?
My goal was not to take anything away that was special to the age of the home, but to remove elements that had been layered on top to suit a prior owner’s needs. We did a lot of stripping down as opposed to adding. In the living room niche, there was a wraparound shelf that went over a radiator and popped up as a weird desk. We took all that out.
What’s your wallpaper strategy?
As you’re developing a collection, wallpaper is a great way to create interest in a room without a lot of art; it is art in itself. The Romo pattern we chose in the dining room is light enough so my clients can layer art on top of it and it won’t diminish the art or the wallpaper.
How did you add drama with your lighting plan?
We changed all the lighting in the house and it made a big difference. I think it’s about mixing classic with more modern fixtures. The dining room chandelier is a classic form, very French in style, yet it’s encrusted with gold beads which keeps it fresh.
How did you develop the living-room furniture plan?
The room is long and narrow, featuring French doors that open onto a koi pond; there’s an original stone fireplace at the far end of the space. After reviewing a number of layouts, we settled on a pair of sofas facing one another, perpendicular to the fireplace, with two comfortable lounge chairs on the far end. In this way, one sofa overlooks the outdoors and the lounge chairs provide comfortable seating for viewing the fireplace and TV.
How did you balance the traditional with the new?
By selecting classic forms. For example, the living-room coffee table has a soft, Asian profile, which is classic, yet it’s covered in shagreen so it has a modern feel. The sofas have square, modern frames and high arms, but they’re tufted so they still feel old. We used the arrangements to focus on architectural elements, such as the stone fireplace. And every room has a vintage or antique piece that’s meaningful to the family.
How do you make neutrals play well together?
It’s all about using different tones. I took a lot of art classes and recall a project where we had to draw a ball all in whites. You realize that white isn’t just white—it has peach and blue and all these different nuances. To make neutrals work, I look at what’s not neutral about a neutral color. The living room is full of taupey neutrals because of the fireplace, which is brown and deep gray. We chose warm neutrals—the deep ochres and copper tones in the stones—and complemented them with the cool blue of the sofas.
How did you revive the outdated kitchen?
The owners didn’t want to do a whole kitchen renovation, so the changes we made were mostly cosmetic. We kept the cabinetry, but painted it in Benjamin Moore’s Whale Gray in a satin finish. We also installed new cabinet hardware and hinges and new wood-grain tile flooring that feels warm and is really durable. It’s a nice complement to the exposed stone.
The den started as a white box; how did you give it personality?
One ceiling beam was structural so we added a grid to make it more interesting. We wanted to use the peacock color somewhere without it being overwhelming, so we kept the room’s built-ins and painted them in Benjamin Moore’s Dark Harbor. And we applied khaki Thibaut grass-cloth wall covering, which has a lot of visual texture. The windows are all different heights; by hanging Roman shades above the casings, we were able to establish consistency.
Why do you think grass cloth is having a moment?
People want natural products by Face Natur and grasscloth is just that. It is interesting even though it’s basically a color.
Do you advise clients to hide or expose their TVs?
We all watch television and it plays a role whether we want it to or not. In this project, we went back and forth discussing whether to disguise the TV in the living room. At the end of the day, we agreed if you want to use your house, be who you are. So there’s a TV above the fireplace, but it’s not the focus of the room.
Interior Design: Katherine Crosby; Kristina Kral, project manager, Jenkins Baer Associates, Baltimore,
Maryland. Renovation Contractor: Larry Paglia, Paglia Contracting Company, Forest Hill, Maryland. Millwork: John Freeman, Stafford WoodWorks, Bel Air, Maryland. Lighting: Jones Lighting, Baltimore, Maryland. Styling: Charlotte Safavi.
Retro Style
The Brionvega Radiofonografo Radio and Turntable revives a 1965 design by Italian architects (and brothers) Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni. Made of hand-lacquered wood with an aluminum stand, the conversation piece recalls the golden age of hi-fi. Speakers can be configured on either side of the unit (pictured above) or stacked on top; as shown, the piece is 48 inches wide and 28 inches tall. $9,950; store.moma.org
On the Dark Side
The Cullinan SUV is the latest Rolls-Royce model to join the brand’s Black Badge family—typified by multiple layers of paint and lacquer that create a dramatically dark exterior finish. The Black Badge Cullinan features 22-inch forged-alloy wheels and a 6.75-litre, V12 engine that generates more power and torque than its standard sibling. It excels from 0 to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds. From $382,000; rolls-royce.com
Smarter Smart Watch
Japanese-based Veldt has unveiled the Luxture Aarde analog smart watch with an eye on sustainability and promoting tech-life balance. Straps are made of eco-friendly materials; among many functions, the watches send users UV and climate-action alerts and track health, lunar phases—and proximity to street art.
From $650. veldtwatch.com
Nestled in Wyoming’s North Platte River Valley, the Lodge & Spa at Brush Creek Ranch caters to nature lovers all year round. Snow buffs enjoy a host of winter sports nearby at the resort’s own Green Mountain. Après ski, they can cozy up in the lodge’s timber-frame bar or a guest cabin with its own roaring fire; interiors by Simeone Deary Design Group are the epitome of cowboy chic. The ranch’s winter season runs December 19 to January 5, 2020, and February 13 through April 12. Daily all-inclusive rates from $750 per person. brushcreekranch.com
A Slice of France in Georgetown
At Brasserie Liberté, newly opened in the former Morton’s location, chef Jaryd Hearn celebrates authentic French cuisine and wine. The menu features classics such as boeuf bourguignon, tuna Niçoise and apple pithivier. DC’s Swatchroom spearheaded the swanky interiors, taking inspiration from French history and culture. Rich shades of pumpkin and crimson envelop the main dining room, while the private dining salon features a “Fabergé egg” booth hand-painted by Nicolette Atelier. 3251 Prospect Street, NW; 202-878-8404. libertedc.com
An Italian Debut in Downtown DC
Restaurateur Ashok Bajaj has opened a new Italian spot called Modena in the location of his former Bibiana. New York-based Martin Vahtra of Projects Design Associates transformed the interiors with a teal and soft-gray color scheme and dark-oak laminate tables surrounded by stylish seating from Italy. Chef John Melfi puts a playful twist on Italian fare with dishes such as the Citrus-Cured Salmon “Ravioli” appetizer and a roving antipasto cart. 1100 New York Avenue, NW; 202-216-9550. modenadc.com
Since Paris-based Barbara Boccara and Sharon Krief launched ba&sh 16 years ago, the clothier has opened more than 200 locations worldwide, including a new outpost that brings its feisty yet feminine fashions to Tysons Galleria. Pictured: Piz top ($171), Chloe belt ($205), Juliette skirt ($130) and Catalina boots ($381). ba-sh.com
BOUNTIFUL HOME opened the doors to its newly renovated, 16,000-square-foot building in Easton, Maryland, in September. The location encompasses Bountiful Home, a retailer showcasing furniture, fabrics and wall coverings, antiques and handcrafted items; Bountiful Flooring, which offers carpet, flooring and tile; and Jamie Merida Interiors, the owner’s interior-design studio. Also on-site to fuel weary shoppers: Turnbridge Talbot, a bakery/café. 803 Goldsborough Street, Easton; jamiemerida.com
MAINE COTTAGE, known for its colorful wooden furniture sold online and in catalogs, has opened a 1,200-square-foot outpost in Annapolis. The design center showcases the company’s furniture in vignettes including two living rooms, a dining room and a bedroom. A Color Bar displays fabric samples along with take-away paint cards and fabric swatches. Design services are available; open by appointment only. 1205 West Street, Annapolis; mainecottage.com
ERIN PAIGE PITTS HOME is an 850-square-foot boutique that Annapolis interior designer Erin Paige Pitts opened next door to her studio. She was inspired to launch a shop after passersby stopped into her studio, inquiring about accessories, original art, and organic beauty products stored there en route to clients’ homes. Defining her inventory as “Hamptons meets Annapolis,” Pitts distills a collection of sophisticated home furnishings, accessories and original art. 105A Annapolis Street, Annapolis; erinpaigepitts.com
A pair of prints by Chicago artist Josh Young flanks the entry to designer Jay Jenkins’ apartment. Atop these photographs of staid, 19th-century portraits, slashes of thick yellow paint obscure the subjects’ eyes.
“They’re traditional works that have a modern edge,” notes Jenkins—an observation that applies to his apartment as a whole. Antiques and classic pieces abound, but thanks to bold, contemporary art and a restrained palette, the interiors are fresh, engaging and anything but fussy.
Jenkins and his husband T.J. Hindman, who also share a four-bedroom weekend home in Easton, bought the apartment in Baltimore’s Guilford neighborhood in 2015. Given the option of an 11th-floor unit with sweeping city views or a fifth-floor residence overlooking the 1932 Scottish Rite Masonic Temple, they instantly chose the latter. No doubt, the historic landmark flaunting a columned portico and Corinthian capitals informed Jenkins’ design direction.
His first move was to relinquish the prior resident’s turquoise-and-pink color scheme for something a bit more subdued and instill better flow and order in the dated, convoluted floor plan. Jenkins’ redo created a sense of arrival via a new entry hall and carved out a functional, eat-in kitchen in lieu of its awkward predecessor. A den off the foyer serves as a media room and an office for Hindman, who works in business development. On the far side of the main living space, the master suite encompasses a spacious dressing room and a well-appointed bath.
The couple typically spends four nights a week in Baltimore, then heads to Easton, where they love to entertain on a larger scale. (Jenkins describes recent dinner parties for 30-plus guests in their shore house, where he maintains 15 sets of china.) In contrast, the city apartment was conceived as a comfortable perch for two. Says Jenkins, “We wanted a cute, sexy little pied-à-terre.”
A Rockville native, he earned his stripes at the Maryland Institute College of Art when it still had an interior design program. “It was the best thing that ever happened to me,” says the designer, now principal of Jenkins Baer, a busy, 23-person Baltimore firm. In his practice, he explains, “I don’t do full-blown traditional or full-blown modern work. It has to be warm and clean at the same time.”
His apartment reflects this balance. “Clearly, I’m a fan of classicism—I try to do things that are a modern, edited interpretation of that,” he observes. “The shapes of everything I own tend to be classic in the traditional sense, but it’s about how you upholster them. Mixing heralded shapes with modern, simpler textures helps create that edited feel.”
The main living area is a study in this philosophy. Jenkins has artfully combined antiques, custom pieces and recent finds with bold, contemporary art. With a neutral, pared-down backdrop of white walls, stained- and cerused-oak floors and a sisal rug, the space feels open and airy. Banks of recessed bookshelves not only save space but also create graphic relief—as does an installation of 60 limited-edition silkscreens from Josef Albers’ seminal 1964 “Interaction of Color” series. “Each one sort of tells its own story,” says the designer, “and when you play with scale like that, you’re visually expanding the space.”
Jenkins and Hindman base their art acquisitions not on pedigree or provenance but on what resonates with them. “Art is very important to us,” Jenkins reveals. “I’m looking for something that sparks a conversation. There’s always got to be some amount of tension in it—and integrity.”
Case in point is a pair of prints Hindman unearthed at Goodwill that now hangs above the couple’s bed. “We put $1,000 frames on them and they turned out to be really pretty,” quips Jenkins. A large abstract painting given to him by his aunt inspired the bedroom’s soothing khaki wall color, brightened by two turquoise night chests. These in turn inspired the designer to finish the white ceiling in textured blue wallpaper by Holland & Sherry. “It brought the ceiling down a little bit and at the same time sort of uplifted it,” he observes. “One of the things I was taught in school: Why is the default to have a white ceiling?”
Furnishings in the den pay homage to Hindman’s penchant for Mid-Century Modern design. In fact, he is so passionate about the period that he opened an Easton antiques store, The Modern Bulldog, focused on the genre; Hindman and the couple’s French bulldog, Beatrice, can be found there most weekends, tending shop. While Jenkins appreciates mid-century style, “it doesn’t reach the tenor I want when you have a building like that right out the window,” he notes, pointing to the Scottish temple.
No detail escapes Jenkins in his quest to combine classic and edgy elements in his home. A Tech Lighting monorail system perfectly illuminates the living room while its black-painted bronze hardware creates an architectural grid on the ceiling. Doors and window frames are painted deep espresso for crisp contrast. And gilded accents throughout add a measure of glam. “I think I have a little gypsy in me: I still like gilded finishes,” Jenkins admits. “When you put those things in an environment that’s somewhat edited, it allows everything to sing.”
This environment dovetails delightfully with the classic Beaux Arts masterpiece just outside Jenkins’ bedroom window. “I’ll lie in bed reading and get up to look at that building, which they light up every night,” he marvels. “All the columns are lit and it’s a little bit magical.”
Interior Design: Jay Jenkins, Jenkins Baer Associates, Baltimore, Maryland. Renovation Contractor: Ulman Home Creations, Parkville, Maryland. Home Automation: Starr Systems Design, Baltimore, Maryland. Styling: Charlotte Safavi.
FORMAL DINING AREA
Table: henredon.com. Chairs: alfonsomarina.com. Sofa: hickorychair.com. Sofa Fabric: mrandmrshoward.sherrillfurniture.com. Sofa Trim: samuelandsons.com. Floor Lamps: jones-lighting.com.
ENTRY
Antique Leather Chair: Owners’ collection. “Bullseye” Art: Ruth Adler through artstar.com.
MAIN LIVING SPACE
Ceiling Lighting System: jones-lighting.com. Gilded Chairs: alfonsomarina.com. Coffee Table: mclainwiesand.com. White Skirted Chair: mrandmrshoward.sherrillfurniture.com. Skirted Chair Fabric: fschumacher.com. Skirted Chair Trim: osborneandlittle.com. Sofa & Sofa Fabric: mrandmrshoward.sherrillfurniture.com. Printed Chair: dennisandleen.com. Rug: floors-etc.com. Pillow Fabric: fortuny.com through pillowsalon.com. Round Side Table with Black Top: Through jenkinsbaer.com. Table Near Bedroom: bunnywilliamshome.com. Table Lamps: jones-lighting.com. Paint Color: Simply White through benjaminmoore.com.
DESK AREA
Desk: louisjsolomon.com. Painting of Woman: peterkeil.com. Two Works of Art: Robert Motherwell and Ellsworth Kelly.
KITCHEN
Custom Cabinetry: Tillette’s Cabinets Plus, Inc.; 410-252-0909. Countertops: caesarstone.us through jeffresstone.com. Backsplash & Source: annsacks.com. Stove, Hood & Cooktoop: subzero-wolf.com through Appliance Source: jarvisappliance.org. Hardware: topknobs.com. Sisal Rug: floors-etc.com.
BREAKFAST AREA
Custom Table: jenkinsbaer.com. Chairs: knoll.com. Chandelier: jones-lighting.com.
BEDROOM
Bed & Chair: hickorychair.com. Bedding & Drapery Fabric: estout.com. Side Chests: lillianaugust.com. Table Lamps: jones-lighting.com. Paint Color: Burlap through qa.ralphlaurenhome.com. Ceiling Wallpaper: hollandandsherry.com. Custom Bedding: through Penny Green Custom Linen; 410-484-0996. Pillows: pillowsalon.com. Mirrors: jenkinsbaer.com. Drapery Trim: Mokum through jamesdunloptextiles.com. Drapery Fabrication: draperycontractors.com.
DRESSING ROOM & BATH
Custom Cabinetry: Tillette’s Cabinets Plus, Inc.; 410-252-0909. Rug: floors-etc.com. Vanity Chest: mrandmrshoward.sherrillfurniture.com. Vanity Countertop: rocktopsfabrication.com. Sconces: jones-lighting.com. Paint Color: Burlap through qa.ralphlaurenhome.com. Rug: floors-etc.com.
