Outmoded materials and a late-1990s floorplan—think awkward angles, closed-off rooms and poor circulation—ruled a family’s Fairfax County roost. So the owners called on Bowers Design Build for a comprehensive architectural and design-build renovation. The project reconfigured main and upper levels with upgraded finishes and millwork, celebrating natural light and improving sightlines throughout.

At the heart of the home, the team reimagined the once-disjointed kitchen and sunroom. “The kitchen’s peninsula island restricted circulation and made entertaining difficult,” recalls lead designer Lori Shaffer. “And the original sunroom felt heavy and closed-in with low ceilings; limited insulation made it unusable year-round.”

The team implemented a new, rectangular kitchen plan complete with custom cabinetry, layered lighting and a generous island with a quartzite countertop. A marble-tile backsplash, 60-inch Wolf range and stainless-steel hood with polished straps complete the picture.

After a wall separating the kitchen and sunroom came down, the latter was treated to a vaulted white oak ceiling, a wall of windows and climate control. As Shaffer reflects, “The space has been transformed into a bright, year-round gathering area while maintaining the calm, timeless aesthetic carried throughout the project.”

Award: Kitchen over $150,000. Renovation Architecture & Construction: Jason Gagen, lead architect; Lori Shaffer, lead designer, Bob Braddock, vice president of architecture; Bowers Design Build. Photography: Monica Baranko.

In 2024, A Wider Circle launched Home Reimagined as part of the nonprofit’s mission to advance equity by fostering the exchange of goods, skills and connections from neighbor to neighbor in the greater DC area. When the event takes place on May 7th this year, about 50 architecture, interior design and staging teams will furnish 50 homes and apartments for families in need throughout the region.

Designer Andrea Maaseide of Casa Millie decided to participate to combat furniture waste and address “furniture poverty.” As she explains, “What makes this experience inspiring is not just the collaboration with a talented group of designers, but the shared purpose behind it. We’re helping transform empty spaces into homes that can truly change the trajectory of a family’s life.” awidercircle.org

At times, the best-laid plans are meant to be broken. A couple ready to downsize from the Maryland manse where they’d raised three kids had set their sights on a luxury apartment in Baltimore—then covid struck. “I couldn’t imagine living on the 22nd floor of a high-rise during the pandemic,” recalls the wife.

A right-sized but outdated home that had been languishing on the market near their former residence suddenly became desirable. In a quick pivot, she and her husband decided to acquire and remake the 1990s-era Tudor, nestled on scenic Caves Valley Golf Course, into their future home.

Designer Patrick Sutton was chosen to take on the challenge. As he recalls, “It had the potential to be a cute, Cotswold-style cottage but needed a nudge to get there. And the inside was kind of a ’90s Tuscan mishmash.” Working with architect Jay Brown and J Paul Builders, Sutton recast the dwelling as a serene oasis, playing up views of the greens and surrounding woodlands. A few deft moves would let in more light, fine-tune the floorplan and create a fitting backdrop for the owners’ extensive art collection. The redo also forged new al fresco living spaces, part of a sweeping outdoor overhaul by landscape architect Jeffrey Plusen.

“My clients’ former home was much more traditional. They wanted a fresh start and were looking for a calming, decluttered, simplified lifestyle,” Sutton explains. “Our plan was to make the interiors more open and modern with an edited, minimal palette and comfortable furnishings.”

Now complete, the 7,300-square-foot abode perfectly reflects the couple’s lifestyle, whether relaxing à deux, throwing a party or hosting their grown kids and grandchildren. A glassy entry door system and a bounty of expansive windows flood once-dim spaces in light. A six-foot bump-out lends the living room gravitas and accesses an expanded stone terrace. The first-floor primary suite, rejiggered to remedy a weirdly angled wall, embraces one-story living. Upstairs, three bedrooms and two baths are primed for guests while a revamped lower level harbors a family room, an apartment and a fully equipped gym.

As the interiors took shape, Sutton feathered the nest with sophisticated, tactile furnishings and finishes. He selected “modern but comfortable” seating, sculptural casework and dramatic lighting. Banks of new windows and doors—painted black to contrast with the pale walls and white oak floors—frame verdant views in the living and dining rooms and kitchen.

Texture, not color, steals the show. In the living room, Sutton notes, “The base silhouettes are all in a cream hue, but each fabric has a different texture. At first everything might look uniform, but as you get into the space, a richness evolves.”

This richness lets the art shine. Sutton strategically installed paintings and sculpture from the owners’ existing collection—giving the works renewed life in the brighter, open setting. “We look at each painting differently now,” reveals the wife. “Patrick created a whole new dialogue.”

Refined materials and tailored details elevate every room. Sutton created a beautiful walnut cap on the glass stair rail “so your hand has something friendly to grab onto.” A beveled marble surround trims the fireplace in the couple’s shared study, where a reshaped ceiling now echoes the arch of a nearby window. In the transformed kitchen, cabinets were handcrafted in cerused walnut—a rare finish that Sutton likens to butternut. A steel china cabinet fabricated by Baltimore’s Gutierrez Studios mimics the blackened window frames in a thread that, the designer says, “seamlessly weaves its way through the house.”

Serenity reigns in the primary suite. A moody sitting room enveloped in three-dimensional Arte wall covering plays yin to the airy, adjacent bedroom’s yang. In the spa-like primary bath, a Victoria & Albert soaking tub rests on Tundra Grey marble floors.

Just as much attention was lavished on the exterior. Staining the once-speckled stone façade a pale gray—no small feat—delivered a major lift. In front, landscape architect Jeffrey Plusen heightened the sense of arrival with a tumbled-bluestone entry path enveloped in sun-loving perennials, from salvia to Russian sage. In back, he recalls, “There weren’t really outdoor spaces where the owners could enjoy the incredible setting.” To remedy that, he eliminated a major slope behind the property, creating a flat lawn buttressed by a curving retaining wall.

In addition to a new terrace near the living room, the team collaborated on a pavilion off the kitchen that houses a resort-level outdoor dining and lounge area. Low perennial grasses, catmint and allium soften the hardscape and add color and texture through the seasons. “When the weather’s warm, we do most of our entertaining on the porch,” reports the wife.

She and her husband are grateful not only for their splendid landscape, but also for their reimagined abode—one of seven winsome properties chronicled in Tailored Interiors, Patrick Sutton’s 2025 design tome. “Patrick and the whole team turned a house that nobody wanted into the most beautiful, fabulous, comfortable, warm and inviting home you could ever imagine,” she enthuses.

Builder Steven Lichter sums up the process well: “When you have a really strong team and everyone is just beaming at the end, it doesn’t get any better than that.”

Residents of Washington’s Wesley Heights neighborhood were debating whether to move or stay put in their 1930s Craftsman-style abode. They wanted more living space and a stronger connection to the outdoors since the wife is an avid gardener.

The decision became a no-brainer once they saw a 3D model and plans for a bold addition dreamed up by architect George Bott of Anthony Wilder Design/Build. His clean-lined concept, which helps conceal an earlier add-on, created a screened porch on the ground floor and above it, a sitting area and deck that adjoin the owners’ second-floor bedroom.

Though its prominent gable echoes the original home’s roofline, the addition takes the rear of the property in a modern direction. Animating the top and sides of the new steel-framed exterior, aluminum brise-soleils provide privacy from nearby neighbors and shade from the sun. “The screens are a surprise,” says Bott. “Their offbeat syncopation is what makes the home a little jewel out back.” In the sitting room, a full wall of glass repeats the gabled shape and brings the outdoors in. The Anthony Wilder Design/Build team also updated the owners’ kitchen and primary bath.

The couple loves spending time in these new spaces—and their revived residence. A lesson learned for other homeowners considering a move: “It’s always a good idea to talk to a design pro before making a decision,” notes Bott. “Maybe they can help you think outside the box.”

Architecture: George Bott, AIA, LEED AP; Anthony Wilder Design/Build. Renovation Contractor. Anthony Wilder, Anthony Wilder Design/Build, Cabin John, Maryland. 

The Smithsonian Craft Show returns to the National Building Museum, filling its Great Hall with an array of collectibles from April 23rd to 26th. Now in its 44th year, the juried event spotlights more than 120 artisans representing varied disciplines, from basketry, ceramics and decorative fiber to furniture, glass, mixed-media and wearable art.

Ceramicist Wayne Higby will receive the Smithsonian Visionary Award at a reception on April 22nd, when a preview night will also take place.

The show is organized by the Smithsonian Women’s Committee; proceeds benefit the Smithsonian’s 28 museums and research centers as well as the National Zoo. smithsoniancraftshow.org

See What's Happening Around Town

Faena New York pushes all the buttons in the city that never sleeps. Art, design, theater and wellness converge in this new West Chelsea hotel overlooking The High Line. Top to bottom: Its 120 sleek, airy guest rooms and suites feature spa-like baths and heady views. Bjarke Ingels Group designed the iconic building, while Peter Mikic Studio and Faena’s own design team collaborated on dreamy, richly layered interior spaces. One of many showstoppers, the Living Room lounge is anchored by two Deco-style bars and glass murals that evoke the city’s architecture. Immersive art installations are open to the public; a theater and wellness sanctuary debut this year. Rooms from $1,395; faena.com/new-york

Known for their popular Toronto eateries, chef Lonie Murdock and her partner, restaurateur Darren Hinds, have made a splash in DC with a luxe new hot spot, Isla. Solid Design Creative tricked out the moody interiors, noted for high-gloss walnut paneling, velvet upholstery and a massive chandelier in blush pink (left). Murdock, whose mother is Jamaican, reinterprets island cuisines from around the world, with dishes such as snapper crudo with passionfruit ponzu, pumpkin gnocchi with jerk beef ragu and fire-roasted entrées. Guests can enjoy cocktails at the lacquered bar or in a rum room stocked with libations from far and wide. 1100 15th Street, NW; isladc.com

Double the Fun
Bote’s new LowRider Aero morphs from a standing paddleboard to a kayak equipped with removable seats. The inflatable, carbon/fiberglass hybrid comes in solo and tandem models with paddles that also transition between modes. From $699; boteboard.com

Easy Rider
BMW’s compact, high-performance 2026 M2 CS has garnered rave reviews for its power, agile dynamics and design. The sports car speeds from 0 to 60 miles per hour in a mere 3.7 seconds and boasts an inline six-cylinder engine with M TwinPower Turbo technology delivering 523 horsepower. From $98,600; bmw.com

Nestled on 10 wooded acres in McLean, a modern dwelling designed by renowned DC modernist Hugh Newell Jacobsen caught the eye of a young couple, who at the time opted for city life in DC’s Kalorama district. Ten years, two sons and a daughter later, when ready for a roomier roost they discovered that the 1971 gem was still for sale.

“It was love at first sight,” recalls photographer Courtney Parrie. “We bought the property from the original owner. It had been on the market so long because he wanted to sell it to people who appreciated the architecture and the land and would keep it alive—not knock it down and subdivide it. I said, ‘We are those people.’”

The home strikes a low profile against a backdrop of majestic trees on a hillside sloping down to a stream. In signature Jacobsen style, the structure has a prominent double chimney and strings together pure-white, gabled pavilions that distill a rural vernacular. Rimming the perimeter, abundant windows and 19 glassed-in bays bathe the interiors in light and play up views of nature.

“We appreciated the home’s beauty and bones, but it needed some love,” Parrie recalls. From a cramped kitchen to outdated infrastructure, a flurry of red flags vied for attention. Architect Wouter Boer, who’d revived the owners’ 1914 DC row house, joined forces with Alair Homes Arlington to update the structure while preserving its iconic design.

The home’s 1970s-era building techniques had taken a toll over time. Synthetic stucco applied onto the wooden exterior had trapped water and caused the framing to rot. Given to condensation, the existing, single-pane windows had to go. The main floor was out of level. And rust had overtaken the steel frames of the window bays, which were sinking.

“It would have been easier to tear the house down and start over,” admits Alair regional partner Chad Hackmann. “But despite tons of challenges, we went through the process of repairing and fixing it. Everyone involved was keen on keeping it as close to the original architectural intent as possible.”

This meant stripping everything down to the studs and rebuilding. While the home’s footprint remained the same, a few game-changing moves were made. Walls dividing the galley kitchen and dining room came down to create a large, unfettered space devoted to cooking, entertaining and family time. A small bedroom gave way to an airy primary bath. And barriers were removed or expanded, often exposing new outdoor vistas. “There were many more doors than were needed,” notes Alair partner Jason Chaney. “We created larger openings so the interiors would feel more fluid and flow nicely.”

A revamped glass entry ushers guests into a hall traversing the width of the home. The living room is straight ahead, while the kitchen, dining area and butler’s pantry occupy a pavilion on the right. To the left, the hall leads to a front pavilion containing three kids’ bedrooms, two baths and a laundry room, and a rear pavilion housing the primary suite and a library. The passage culminates at a pavilion added on by previous owners and now used as a playroom. A small basement space was converted into a darkroom for Parrie.

To reflect the home’s aura of calm and serenity, the team honed in on a minimalist aesthetic. From wide-plank white oak floors to walls sheathed in plaster, an organic material palette prevails. Slabs of Calacatta Monet marble and sleek, custom cabinetry define the kitchen and adjacent mudroom. “I didn’t want the interiors to take away from the beauty of our surroundings. So we chose a neutral palette and lots of natural textures to highlight that,” explains Parrie, who also curated furniture selection.

Spare surfaces play up the power of Jacobsen’s crisp geometry. As Chaney remarks, “The whole house is trim-less. There’s no baseboard, no window kicking and no door facing.” Instead of traditional grills, supply vents are thin, rectangular channels. And plaster-in recessed lights keep the ceilings pristine.
But no challenge received more attention than the window bays. “The bays really give the house character,” notes Boer. “It would destroy the feel if they were chunky or heavy.” So instead of settling for one of today’s bulkier solutions, the Alair team painstakingly salvaged and retrofitted the old, rusty frames to accommodate thicker, double-pane glass. “It was a ton of work,” declares the architect. “We’ve got to give the builders huge credit for working through all those details.”

In the end, client and team amplified what they all loved about the project. “We saw this as a careful renovation rather than putting our own stamp on it,” say Boer. “Hugh Jacobsen is a really important architect for DC. He created his own sort of language, which is, I think, still relevant today.”

Courtney Parrie concurs. The now-single mom fondly recalls settling into the completed home with her children. “The house itself is an art piece and the window bays are like little portals to the outside. You step into one and feel encompassed by what’s around you,” she marvels, “whether it’s deer or foxes running by, or my kids playing tag. There’s always a new little still life to admire.”

From the rose vines climbing its painted-brick façade to its hand-carved fireplace mantel, an updated 1931 Colonial in Chevy Chase, DC, utterly charmed its new owners. Yet bland, sanitized interiors left them cold and uninspired. So the couple with a young son called on Washington-based Byron Risdon, who was introduced by a mutual friend, to infuse the home with personality.

“Everything was stark white,” recalls the designer. Taking cues from photos and mood boards his clients shared, Risdon channeled the transitional look they were after. “They wanted to maintain the home’s character but warm it up and make it their own,” he says. “Other than a bed, dining table and sideboard, we started from scratch.” A Q&A tells the story.

How did you conjure a look that respects the integrity of the house?
My clients’ style is not really traditional, so it was a matter of finding a modern look without trying to force something that doesn’t belong. Midcentury-style pieces have cleaner lines but also feel a bit vintage, so that was a look we embraced.

What role does color play in the home?
We wanted to infuse it with color, but not make it a central theme. For instance, the living room is still painted white, but we chose Benjamin Moore Seapearl, a much warmer white than what was there before. Then we took some of the smaller spaces like the sunroom and really punched them up. I presented a wild Pindler pattern for the sectional, and they were in on it from the very beginning. It’s everyone’s favorite moment in the home.

Describe how you created a chic vibe in the dining room.
The owners are both native Washingtonians and I think have become the default hosts for holidays and family gatherings. So I wanted to create a slightly more glamorous space. It all started with Currey & Co.’s Braithwell chandelier, a gorgeous fixture rimmed in recycled-glass discs. Then we painted the ceiling, walls and trim in high-gloss Mount Saint Anne from Benjamin Moore. It was a chance to infuse some color and make the room feel special.

How did you keep everything kid- and pet-friendly?
Since the owners have a young child and a dog, we chose a lot of performance fabrics, which have come a long way over the years. For example, the James Dunlop textile on the dining chairs is completely wipeable but feels just like a velvet.

How do vintage pieces elevate interiors?
They tell a bigger, broader story and give a home more character. In this project, the dining room chairs, the blue glassware and a lot of the art are vintage finds that I acquired at auction.

Share lessons you’ve learned as an auction habitué.
Have a threshold and know in advance what you’re willing to spend. Remember that you’re going to have to pick up or ship furniture, so that’s an added cost. Then, buy what you love and don’t overthink it. If it resonates, then the piece is for you.

Talk about your pillow philosophy.
When it comes to pillows, I like to mix patterns and textures together. There’s a time and place for the perfect pair of pillows but I also like to layer and make things look less intentional.

What inspired the wallpapered ceiling in the primary bedroom?
The clients really liked Oyster, the Sarah Von Dreele pattern I showed them, but felt a little overwhelmed with the idea of putting it on all four walls. So I suggested that we paper the “fifth wall.” In general, I try not to overlook the ceiling in smaller, enclosed spaces, whether I’m painting it a contrasting color or adding wallpaper.

How do you feel about mixing textures, colors and provenance?
If I have one design philosophy, it’s that I am a big on mixing things. My goal is to make a room look layered, as if it has evolved over time. So I’ll pull from 15 different resources at a time. That doesn’t help me build a relationship with any one vendor, but in the end I get the results that I want.

Ask Byron

What’s the most treasured possession in your home?
A small painting by Romare Bearden. It was the first investment I made in a piece of art. Also, Bearden was from Charlotte, North Carolina, and I grew up in the area so it’s like a piece of home.

Name a new textile that has caught your eye.
I’m a little bit obsessed right now with Tablu by Sacho, a deep brown-and-black leopard print. I personally love (and wear) animal prints and would like to upholster my next bed in it.

Reveal your go-to auction houses.
For furniture, I really like Kamelot and Uniques and Antiques, both in the Philadelphia area. And I often find smaller items at Quinn’s in Falls Church, Virginia.

The recent renovation of a 1970s Crownsville abode completely transformed its disjointed kitchen. Once the team overcame the flaws—think drab millwork, a cut-off ceiling beam and an obtrusive air return—they fashioned a sleek, mid-century modern kitchen that celebrates the home’s vintage.

Kitchen designer Jennifer Gilmer’s functional, streamlined layout includes generous work space bordering a furniture-style island. This custom piece is built on metal legs—one of which conceals wiring for a speed oven. A column of quarter-figured white ash disguises the relocated refrigerator and the bulky air return. “It adds a nice geometrical element and connects to the original wood ceiling,” Gilmer notes. An electric, tilt-up door above the fridge reveals additional storage.

The home’s woodsy views of a lake inspired interior designer Vivian Braunohler’s palette. Slate-blue cabinet fronts, honed-basalt countertops and contrasting cabinets in white, back-painted glass strike a sophisticated note. Ultimately, says architect Robert Cox, “The challenge was editing what was there to get back to the original language.”

PROJECT TEAM
Architecture: Robert Cox, Josh Hildreth Interiors. Interior Design: Vivian Braunohler, Braunohler Design Associates, LLC. Kitchen Design: Jennifer Gilmer, CKD; Nancy McCarren, AIA, Jennifer Gilmer Kitchen & Bath. Contractor: Bayview Builders. 

KITCHEN DETAILS
Cabinets: premiercb.com. Stone Countertops: rbratti.com. Copper Counter: AJ Metal Fabricators. Range & Ovens: mieleusa.com. Refrigeration: subzero-wolf.com. Appliances: abwappliances.com. Plumbing Fixtures: houseofrohl.com.

The new owners of an 1890 brownstone in Dupont Circle were drawn to its period architecture, turret and all. But the updated kitchen—think glossy-white cabinetry and shiny chrome—was another story.

Imagining a classic vibe that would reflect the home’s provenance, they tapped Tanya Smith-Shiflett to take the 1990s-era kitchen back in time. “They wanted modern amenities in a space that feels vintage and collected,” recalls the designer, who took cues from their fondness for centuries-old British homes.
An original carved-wood mantel with its antique mirror still in place perfectly set the scene. Smith-Shiflett drafted an efficient plan focusing on bespoke cabinetry, from arched towers that recall china cabinets to an island with turned legs to accommodate seating.

Cupboards painted in Farrow & Ball’s fresh Treron green play off an espresso-hued stain on the island and banquette. A custom hood, reminiscent of an English chimney, is clad in plaster. Fittingly, the aged-brass hardware and plumbing fixtures hail from the UK.

The clients are thrilled with their “new old” kitchen. As Smith-Shiflett reflects, “It’s so timeless that in 10 years, I think they’ll still love the space.”

Project Team
Interior & Kitchen Design: Tanya Smith-Shiflett, Unique Kitchens and Baths. Contractor: CarrMichael Construction.

Kitchen Details
Cabinetry: uniquekitchensandbaths.com. Countertops & Backsplash: imaginesurfaces.com. Range: us.ilve.com. Appliances: adu.com. Light, Sink & Stools: devolkitchens.com. Faucets: houseofrohl.com. Hardware: armacmartin.com.

CASA DI LUSSO BY STEINER-HOUCK
Founded last July by design firm Steiner-Houck & Associates, this Annapolis atelier specializes in Italian kitchens, bars, dressing rooms and luxury furnishings. The 3,000-square-foot space showcases vignettes the owners have dreamed up, including this moody kitchen appointed with cabinets in dark, flamed-oak and bronze, high-gloss lacquered wood. A Silestone island countertop and a Monogram pizza oven complete the picture. 1750 Forest Drive, Suite 200, Annapolis; steinerhouck.com

GRAMOPHONE DESIGN BUILD
After transitioning from a kitchen-and-bath studio to a full-service, design-build firm, Gramophone unveiled its reimagined Hunt Valley, Maryland, showroom in September. The 4,200-square-foot space inspires homeowners with fully built kitchens, baths and custom living spaces. A selection center offers myriad samples and finishes to outfit any project—including the Calacatta Topaz slab and mosaic tile that grace the shower wall and floor of this sophisticated bath. 10534 York Road, Suite 200, Hunt Valley, Maryland; gramophonedesignbuild.com

TILEBAR
TileBar opened a Logan Circle location in October after Gensler gave the space—once home to Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams—a dramatic makeover. The airy, 8,000-square-foot emporium showcases natural materials from TileBar’s expansive collection of tile and stone, from Italian marble to terracotta, terrazzo and classic porcelain surfaces. Curated applications spark ideas while interactive displays and extensive libraries invite shoppers to touch and feel products, helping narrow down the endless options. 1526 14th Street, NW; tilebar.com

Sun streams through a round aperture in the vaulted ceiling. As the day deepens, a beam of light meanders along a curved upper wall, marking the passage of time, then vanishing.

Lofty enough to grace a museum or temple, this feat of engineering can be found in the heart of a new custom home in Bethesda. “It gives you a Pantheon effect,” observes architect David Mogensen of McInturff Architects. “And reminds you that we’re rotating.”

More surprises unfold beyond the 4,685-square-foot, modern dwelling’s restrained façade. It all started when the new owners asked Mark McInturff and Mogensen to assess the property and a dated Cape Cod once on site. The architects initially developed two schemes: one to renovate the existing structure and another to imagine a new one. “By the time we made the old house look right, it would have cost more than a new one,” says McInturff.

Starting with a clean slate, the team took a studied, creative approach. Their plan not only dovetails with the site but also with their clients’ vision and lifestyle. Both doctors, the owners were leaving behind a townhouse and dreamed of open, free-flowing spaces with large, unobstructed windows forging a strong connection to nature and the sky.

McInturff gauged that the lot could accommodate three generous spaces from side to side. Distilling the center-hall Colonial oeuvre, he situated two outer volumes with a void in between. “That axis became the entry and dining space,” he notes. The living room and an open staircase were placed to the left of the entry and the kitchen and a study to the right. The primary suite resides above the kitchen; two guest suites await across the divide. A lower level houses a gym, media room and mechanicals.

“We call it the Split House because everything supports the split, from front to back,” McInturff says. “The rear yard is like a private outdoor room, which allowed us to blow out the back.”

While the formal, symmetrical street side dressed in gray brick nods to buttoned-up Bethesda, the glassy rear elevation channels Palm Springs. Sliding doors along the kitchen, dining and living areas give way to an ipe terrace spanning the back of the home. “The back is more idiosyncratic,” remarks Mogensen. “Things kind of pop out of the volumes and it’s more open.” On one side, the primary suite protrudes above the main roofline while on the other, a guest suite hovers over the terrace.

The owners tapped landscape architects Lila Fendrick and Douglas Stookey to elevate the lackluster, quarter-acre property and its run-down pool. They remedied grading issues and bordered the garden with show-stopping foliage, from ‘Vanessa’ Persian Parrotia that softens the front façade to Green Giant Arborvitae rimming the back. “Our goal was to provide beautiful views of trees from all the windows,” says Fendrick. “We wanted to make the garden feel like a private green oasis.”

Crisp geometry and spare, simple lines define the airy interiors. In the double-height entry, a steel-and-white-oak bridge connects upper spaces sheathed in curved, white walls. “When you stand there and look outside, it’s magical, especially when it snows,” marvels the wife. Luceplan pendants made of laser-cut plywood hover like works of art above the dining area. Lower, 10-foot ceilings delineate the living room with its double-sided fireplace and the sleek kitchen and breakfast nook.

From “invisible” painted-steel closet pulls that mimic molding to electronics storage hidden in the fireplace wall, clever design moves abound. Take, for example, the floating, steel-and-white-oak staircase enclosed in glass. Illuminated by full-height windows, Mogensen’s meticulous creation exposes all of its parts, becoming a sculpture in its own right.

Then there is the dining room’s oculus. “We made a physical model, and then a 3D-computer model oriented to the sun, the time of the day and the month of the year,” details McInturff. “That was incredibly valuable to us and to the clients, in terms of planning and understanding the outcome.”

Throughout the design phase, the architects, builder Justin Barrows of Added Dimensions, landscape pros and the owners deliberated over every complexity to arrive at this airy refuge that, in the end, appears deceptively simple. Summing up the process, McInturff quotes Mario Campi, a Swiss architect he’s long admired: “Campi once said, ‘A good house is a simple plan—with exquisite detail.’”

Architecture: Mark McInturff, FAIA, McInturff Architects, Bethesda, Maryland. Kitchen Design: Amir Farazad, Poggenpohl, Chevy Chase, Maryland. Landscape Architecture: Lila Fendrick; Douglas Stookey, Lila Fendrick Landscape Architects, Chevy Chase, Maryland. Builder: Sam Morgan; Justin Barrows, Added Dimensions, Takoma Park, Maryland.

RESOURCES

THROUGHOUT
Windows: weathershield.com. Paint: Super White by benjaminmoore.com. Staircase Fabrication: Metal Specialties; 301-421-1832. Lighting Design: hinsondesign.com. Audio/Visual & Security: mediacraftav.com.
REAR EXTERIOR
Dining Table: troscandesign.com. Chandelier: luceplan.com. Fireplace: sparkfires.com.
LIVING AREA
Sofa: ligne-roset.com. Living Room Rug & White Chairs: mgbw.com. Ottoman: urbancountrydesigns.com. Coffee Table: persianogallery.com.
KITCHEN
Cabinets: poggenpohl.com. Countertops: caesarstoneus.com. Cooktop & Ovens: gaggenau.com through poggenpohl.com. Faucet: dornbracht.com through poggenpohl.com. Bar Stools: cb2.com.
BEDROOM
Bed & Rug: mgbw.com.

Ready to update their early-1900s Tudor in Bethesda’s Edgemoor neighborhood, empty nesters engaged designer Todd Howard Ezrin to fashion a main-level makeover. “They wanted to take the interiors in a contemporary direction, with clean lines that don’t fight with the architecture,” he notes. “We envisioned a lighter, brighter aesthetic—except in the dining room, where we went for drama.”

Ezrin overhauled the disjointed lighting plan and elevated form and function with new and improved millwork. “In the living room,” he says, “we completely redid the mantel with a new tile surround, then added built-ins to give the space some weight.”

A kitchen redo replaced patched-in tile with wood flooring, and introduced new appliances, hardware and a large island perfect for baking. “I believe the cabinets are Wood-Mode and didn’t need replacing,” explains Ezrin. One bank was moved to the dining room, making way for a new coffee station/bar.

The owners, who often entertain, are thrilled with their reimagined retreat. A Q&A details the process.

What drove your color palette?
We interviewed the clients and landed on a color scheme that spoke to them: classic shades of cream and blue. In the living room, the bench’s charcoal-blue cut velvet reflects the color of the Arteriors table lamp. Though the dining room leans more green, we wove blue accents throughout the family room and the kitchen. But I wanted the study to be dark and moody, so it almost feels like a smoking lounge.

How did you play up dining room drama?
I wanted it to be a showstopper. We painted the cabinets that came from the kitchen in high-gloss Iron Ore by Sherwin-Williams and added panel molding to the ceiling to frame in the decorative wall covering. Then we selected a more textural paper for the walls and the beautiful Schonbek chandelier and companion sconces. Finally, we reupholstered the Caracole chair backs in a stunning Romo fabric.

Why did you forgo a rug in the dining room?
I didn’t specify a rug because the room is asymmetrical and we didn’t want to draw attention to that. I often shy away from dining room rugs because they can be a trip hazard and tend to get dirty.

Detail the most game-changing moves in the kitchen.
Our client’s mandate was to install a larger island and get rid of dark, dated finishes on some of the cabinets. Our faux painter refinished them and the new hood to match the lighter cabinets so the whole perimeter is now uniform. We installed new appliances and added a coffee station with a built-in Miele espresso machine.

Was durability a factor in fabric selection?
They have a large, older dog and a cat so we did think about durability. The family room sectional is upholstered in a Crypton fabric that is moisture-, stain- and odor-resistant. We know the dog likes to sleep on the study window seat, which we treated with Alta to be stain- and spill-repellent. Nothing is impervious, but we try to get close to it.

What inspired the statement lighting?
In the dining room, I was looking for a chandelier that’s a little more organic—not too rigid—to play off the floral pattern on the ceiling. I continued that organic feel in the kitchen with the John Richard pendants that are made of natural quartz crystals. All of the lighting is on separate dimmers so you can create a mood.

How did you reimagine the study’s existing millwork?
We painted it a sage green and added wall covering on the shelf-backs. On the desk side of the room, we wanted to hide a radiator below the shelves. So we designed slatted wooden doors in a metallic finish; they anchor the shelves and add a bit of architectural detail.

What factors went into furniture selection?
We were going for elegant simplicity. Some people think simple lines are boring but when a piece has the right proportions—such as the Decca Home desk in the study—it’s super-elegant. I also love furniture that has an architectural feel, such as the Uttermost console table in the dining room. It reminds me of the Coliseum in Rome.

What role does nature play throughout the home?
We balanced the architecture in the house with organic-feeling elements of nature, from the light fixtures in the dining room and kitchen to the wallpaper, window shade fabric and rounded hide rug in the study. And we wove nature into the powder room, with Kravet’s Peony & Blossom wall covering.

Ask Todd

Share a signature element on your holiday table.
I believe people should have fun and express their personalities with tabletop décor.
I happen to love Legos, which even topped our wedding cake. So in addition to elegant linens and candlesticks, little Lego ornaments are always part of my table display.

Is there a furniture debut you covet?
I am dying to feature Abner Henry’s Lauren credenza in a project. I adore its simple lines, paired with asymmetrical “feet.”

Name an architect or designer who inspired you.
I admire architect Hugh Newell Jacbosen’s modern take on classical architecture. He was a master at balancing scale and proportion.

Describe a possession in your home that is meaningful to you?
A Rosewood secretary that belonged to my grandparents, which I have turned into a bar.

1/ MIRROR, MIRROR  Robern’s Sculpt Hanging Lighted Mirror adds a dose of drama to the daily routine. Compatible with ceilings up to 11 feet, the suspended, softly lit looking glasses come in matte black, polished stainless steel and brass finishes. robern.com

2/ SERENE SOAK BainUltra’s Zenora 6030 tub cossets bathers with a reclining backrest on one side and an upright one opposite. Perfect for compact spaces, the vessel is available in satin white, glossy white and glossy black. bainultra.com 

3/ STEM SELL  California Faucets’ wall-mounted fixtures save precious counter space and overflow with style. Buyers can mix and match the solid-brass, one- and two-faucet designs, which range from cubist, modern Morro Bay to classic and industrial looks.  calfaucets.com

4/ TOUCH WOOD  Made in Italy, Jenga porcelain tile mimics the look of wood in Light Oak, Pure Oak and Intense Oak finishes. Sleek, two-by-12-inch planks offer myriad configuration options, creating a sleek, organic aesthetic on floors and walls. architessa.com

5/ LIGHT SHOW
Graff’s Riva Chandelier shower is composed of slender cylindrical showerheads in varied lengths emitting soft, mesmerizing LED light. Coordinated accessories in an array of styles and 26 finishes complement any bathroom scheme. graff-designs.com