When the owners of Punjab Grill decided to bring an authentic Indian experience to Washington, they took the concept quite literally. This new, 4,700-square-foot restaurant was outfitted entirely with carved-stone friezes, hand-finished fretwork, inlaid marble and custom furnishings—all crafted by artisans in India and expedited to DC in five shipping containers.
Jaipur-based Amit Krishn Gulati and Grupo7 Architecture + Interiors in DC collaborated on the design. “We built every element from scratch and it’s been humbling to watch it come to fruition over the past two years,” says Karan Singh, CEO of Punjab Grill US (the company also operates outposts in Singapore, Abu Dhabi and Bangkok).
Chef Jaspratap Bindra, who hails from Punjab, regales diners with regional classics and creations bearing a global twist: Tiny rounds of naan stand in for blinis in his caviar service and a riff on burrata pairs the Italian cheese with spiced eggplant and heirloom tomatoes. The journey is a feast for the palate—and the eyes. 427 11th Street, NW; 202-813-3004. punjabgrilldc.com
Designed by the Pritzker Prize-winning firm Herzog & de Meuron, the new 10-story, 360-room Conrad Washington, DC brings a new level of luxury to CityCenterDC; think rooftop bar and in-room espresso machines. Rottet Studio spearheaded the property’s minimalist interiors; Falling Flowers, a dramatic light installation by Preciosa, graces the second-floor gallery. Rates from $329. conradwashingtondc.com
A painting by Sibel Kocabasi makes a powerful first impression in the dining room of a grand Bethesda home. With a pattern that suggests ice floes reaching toward a distant horizon, the abstract work is a harbinger of what’s to come inside this one-of-a-kind residence.
The owners invited McLean-based designer Barbara Hawthorn to decorate the home in clean, contemporary style. She zeroed in on natural materials and motifs that resonated with her clients, both scientists. From mixed metals to exotic woods, luxurious textiles and semi-precious stones, Hawthorn wove organic accents throughout the interiors.
But first, she had to set the stage. The recently completed spec home’s gracious proportions, generous windows and mature, three-acre landscape won over the owners from the start. But its dark finishes, iron lanterns and ornate millwork had to go. They bought the five-bedroom, Tudor-style property while conceding that a makeover was a must.
“We basically had to strip out everything and start fresh,” Hawthorn recalls. “But I could see beyond the heavy-handed stuff. I loved the sense of light and seeing through, like Palladio’s enfilade, to beautiful views from north, south, east and west.”
She introduced clean, crisp crown molding and simplified the overdone ceiling details to create the right backdrop for contemporary furniture and art.
To help outfit the home in the style she and her clients envisioned, Hawthorn then tapped into a network of artists, artisans, gallery owners and tradesfolk. Her mission: to acquire original paintings and sculpture; custom furniture, rugs and window treatments; and state-of-the-art lighting and automation for every room in the house.
“Barbara collaborated with us on the redesign and everything else,” says the husband. “It went well beyond the normal furniture side of it.”
As the designer reveals, “My clients like things that are unique rather than stock or store-bought. Therefore, we created just about everything from our own imaginations.” She commissioned artist Barton Rubenstein’s “Let it Flow,” a stainless-steel sculpture with undulating forms, to set a dramatic tone in the foyer. The artist and Hawthorn collaborated on its base—made of semi-precious white quartz that they shattered on site to approximate floating ice.
Furniture maker Keith Fritz crafted numerous pieces for the home, including the dining room table. With a base of interlocking circles in a Santos rosewood veneer, it’s a sculpture in its own right. And in the adjacent gallery, abstract works by Campbell Maloney represent the words “Less” and “More” in niches typically reserved for more conventional fare.
Textiles add a sense of luxury. In the sunroom, for example, metallic threads shimmer in the Romo sofa fabric, the carpet and the mantel’s mosaic tile. “We were playing with light, iridescence and reflection,” Hawthorn notes.
In the library at the opposite end of the foyer, decorative painter Paula Checkosky transformed standard, builder-grade cabinets with fine grain and detailing. Massive windows celebrate the landscape.
The great room and kitchen overlook the backyard, complete with a pool for themselves & for their dog (to keep dog cool in hot weather ), pool house and manicured gardens. Stairs near the kitchen lead to a lower level and its spacious sitting room, home office and gym.
Hawthorn designed several pieces for the great room, including a game table, fabricated by Keith Fritz in burled ash. A second table of her design in the breakfast room echoes an octagonal dome in the ceiling above.
A dome on the upper-level landing evolved into a conversation piece. “Because they’re scientists and love the cosmos,” says Hawthorn, she proposed a light installation mimicking a night sky. Fabric for the dome was gilded and stretched and LED lights installed behind it to create an imaginary constellation based on images she researched on her laptop. “Everything had layers of meaning,” reflects Hawthorn, “to make the house personal, to tell a story.”
The master suite is an oasis of calm, its white furnishings playing up a painting by abstract expressionist Paul Jenkins. The sitting room displays a work by Sam Gilliam while a large collage by that artist commands a rear stairwell. The owners gravitated to the work of Gilliam and other Washington Color School artists such as Leon Berkowitz and Paul Reed, all of whom are represented in the house.
“Barbara suggested a lot of things I never would have thought about,” attests the wife. “She helped us to see what’s possible—the sculptures, the artwork. We’re so pleased with everything and I cannot imagine the top of my back stairs without a Gilliam. It makes you sing every time you see it.”
Reflecting on the finished project, Hawthorn says, “It was a creative person’s dream. My clients inspired me because they gave me an opening that said, ‘We want you to be creative.’ If you have the right community of artisans,” she adds, “anything is possible.”
Interior Design: Barbara Hawthorn, Barbara Hawthorn Interiors, Ltd., McLean, Virginia. Renovation Contractor: Josh Cooper, Old Dominion Trim Specialists, Arlington, Virginia. Home Automation: Avi Benaim, A.B.E. Networks, Rockville, Maryland.
RESOURCES
DINING ROOM
Table: keithfritz.com. Chairs: niermannweeks.com. Chair Fabric: nancycorzine.com. Chandelier: allan-knight.com. Rug: maslandcarpets.com. Drapery Fabric: lelievreparis.com through starkcarpet.com. Drapery Fabrication: gretcheneverett.com. Painting: sibelkocabasi.com through bethesdafineart.com.
FOYER
Chandelier above Stair: hudsonfurnitureinc.com. Metal Scupture: rubensteinstudios.com. Sculpture Base Stone Supplier: gramaco.com. Consoles: keithfritz.com. Mirrors: niermannweeks.com. Glass Sculptures on Consoles: calebnichols.com. Large Painting: Leon Berkowitz through bethesdafineart.com. Rug: hollyhunt.com. Dome Gilding: splashbypaula.com.
SUN ROOM
Sofas: allan-knight.com. Sofa Fabric: romo.com. Pillow Fabric: donghia.com. Coffee Table: ebanista.com. Rug: therugcompany.com. Painting above Fireplace: johnmatthewmoore.com. Accent Tile on Mantel: bfceramics.com. Shade Fabric: fischbacher.com. Shade Fabrication: gretcheneverett.com.
LIBRARY
Sofa: donghia.com. Sofa Fabric: fabricut.com. Arm Chair: victoriahagan.com. Coffee Table & Arm Chair Fabric: hollyhunt.com. Faux Painting: splashbypaula.com. Acrylic Console & Dictionary Stand Designs: Custom by barbarahawthorninteriors.com. Acrylic Console Fabrication: allan-knight.com. Acrylic Dictionary Stand Fabrication: spectrumcollections.com. Rug: dorisleslieblau.com. Sofa Pillow Fabrics: dogwoodfabrics.com, osborneandlittle.com. Shade Fabric & Fabrication: hartmannforbes.com. “Striped” Painting: tombollesart.com through merrittgallery.com. Floor Lamp: portaromana.com.
GREAT ROOM
Sectional, TV Console, Coffee Table, Game Table & Bench Designs: Custom by barbarahawthorninteriors.com. Sectional Fabrication: aristocraftupholstery.com. Chair & Ottoman ferrell.mittman.com. Sectional, Chair & Ottoman Fabric: romo.com. Rug: hollyhunt.com. TV Console & Coffee Table Fabrication: atrium-interiors.com. Acrylic Console & Game Chairs: spectrumcollections.com. Shade Fabric & Fabrication: hartmannforbes.com. Shade Fabric Accent Band: sabinafaybraxton.com. Game Table Fabrication: keithfritz.com. Large Painting: barbaraj.info. Small Paintings by Benches: Dan Kuhne through bethesdafineart.com. Bench Stone: gramaco.com. Bench Fabrication: marblex.com. Bench Fabric: casamance.com.
BREAKFAST AREA
Table Design: barbarahawthorninteriors.com. Table Base Fabrication: ar2designstudios.com. Table Stone Fabrication: marblex.com. Chairs: liaigre.com. Chandelier: bbitalia.com. Shade Fabric & Fabrication: hartmannforbes.com. Shade Fabric Accent Band: sabinafaybraxton.com. Desk Chair: plexi-craft.com. Painting over Desk: tombollesart.com through merrittgallery.com.
UPPER LANDING
Diptych: paulreedart.com through bethesdafineart.com. Constellation Design: barbarahawthorninteriors.com. Constellation Installation: brilliantceilings.com. Painting in Hall: rdelatorre.com through merrittgallery.com.
MASTER SITTING ROOM
Chairs & Ottomans: niermannweeks.com. Chair & Ottoman Fabric: manualcanovas.com. Drapery Fabric: larsenfabrics.com. Drapery Fabrication: gretcheneverett.com. Table: nuevoliving.com. Rug: starkcarpet.com. Shelf Design: barbarahawthorninteriors.com. Shelf Fabrication: artisangroupservices.com. Painting by Shelf: Sam Gilliam through bethesdafineart.com.
MASTER BEDROOM
Sofa, Chair, Ottoman, Bed & Nightstand Designs: barbarahawthorninteriors.com. Bed Fabrication: keithfritz.com. Headboard Fabric: romo.com. Bedding Fabrics: pierrefrey.com, osborneandlittle.com, romo.com, clarke-clarke.com. Bedding Fabrication: gretcheneverett.com. Sofa Fabrication: aristocraftupholstery.com. Drapery & Sofa Fabrics: larsenfabrics.com. Rug: starkcarpet.com. Drapery Fabrication: gretcheneverett.com. Chair & Ottoman Fabric: andrewmartin.co.uk. Acrylic Side Table: munizplastics.com. Large Painting: pauljenkins.net through bethesdafineart.com. Bedside Lamps: portaromana.com. Night Stand Fabrication: keithfritz.com. Floor Lamp: johnrichard.com.
DRESSING ROOM
Millwork Design: barbarahawthorninteriors.com, atriuminteriors.com. Millwork Fabrication: atriuminteriors.com. Countertop Stone: Crema Marfil marble. Countertop Fabrication: marblex.com. Rug: bellbridge.com. Wallpaper at back of Cabinets: phillipjeffries.com.
Just back from his restaurant, Tosca, on a Friday afternoon, Paolo Sacco has traded a Canali suit for jeans. He and his life partner, interior designer Martha Vicas, chat with guests in the sleek kitchen of Sacco’s new home.
The fading sun dapples pale white-oak floors and stone countertops with light. Interiors are crisp, full-bodied and culled from nature, just like the Rhone blend Sacco and Vicas are pouring. Surrounded by furnishings in soft, neutral shades, visitors can’t help but feel an urge to linger.
Perhaps it’s the wine? After all, a centerpiece of the home’s main level is a glass-enclosed, temperature-controlled wine room that displays bottles of red from floor to ceiling. “I didn’t want the wine to be in a dark cellar in the basement; I wanted it to be visible,” Sacco explains. “It inspires me and makes me smile every time I come home.”
The design team was initially skeptical about giving the wine tower such prominence. But Sacco won them over with his vision and attention to detail. Like Tosca, his venerable mecca for Washington power brokers, his home serves up hospitality and style con brio—with a vivacity that Italians somehow pull off without trying.
Sacco, who previously lived in a Kalorama condo, decided to build a new house because he couldn’t find what he liked on the market. “I wanted a stucco house because stucco brings me back to where I’m from,” he reveals, adding that in Italy, most people live in apartments or small houses and therefore he longed for open interiors where he and his 16-year-old son could entertain guests with ease.
After purchasing a property in the Palisades, he put together the team who would make his dream a reality. Architect Mark Giarraputo of Studio Z Design Concepts drew up the plans. Also onboard was builder Geoffrey Kuck of FWI Development. Kuck first introduced Sacco to Martha Vicas, who orchestrated the interiors.
“We came up with a casual, European country house,” says Giarraputo. From the foyer, the open layout leads past the dining room to a great room facing the kitchen and a casual breakfast area, which spills out to a loggia. “It all flows together and gives Paolo the ability to entertain year-round,” the architect notes.
Vicas helped Sacco articulate and achieve the interior look he was after. “Paolo wanted it to be homey, which first I interpreted as more traditional,” she recalls. “But soon it became clear that he’s a contemporary person at heart. Paolo is drawn to earth colors so we kept things toned down, adding bright accents here and there.”
Rich, elemental materials and refined textures convey an aura of calm and authenticity. Phillip Jeffries wall coverings, one featuring nail head-trim and the other in raw silk, bring subtle definition to the foyer and dining room, respectively. A custom fixture by Roll and Hill adds an industrial edge above the dining table. “All of the main-floor spaces encourage gathering and are certainly not formal,” says Vicas.
The lower level includes a guest room, media/game room and gym where, Sacco says, “I try to keep up with the food and wine.” The second floor houses another guest room, his son’s bedroom and the master suite. The latter features a luxurious bathroom, a sitting room and a dressing room designed by Vincent Sagart of Poliform | sagartstudio, who also collaborated on the kitchen.
“As a restaurateur,” Sagart observes, “Paolo understands how a beautiful environment can affect your mood.”
While planning the kitchen design, Sacco discovered Lacanche ranges. “I fell in love with their colors and vivacity, so I ordered one,” he relates. In the finished space, Italian-made Poliform cabinets in an oak finish and honed rhodonite countertops let the classic stove in pale blue-gray take center stage. “I wanted to keep the kitchen minimal,” Sacco notes. “The colors and joyful aspects were also important to me.”
In lieu of a typical breakfast nook, a high table next to the kitchen invites guests to gather while Sacco cooks. “On a nice day,” he says, “you can have a drink first, then move outside for dinner. I wanted the flow to be open.”
Sacco’s dinner parties are “almost an extension of Tosca,” he reveals. “I try to bring the same flavors home. I want people to relax, enjoy good food, good wine and good friendship.”
Born in Caserta near Naples, Sacco worked at restaurants in Milan and London before venturing to New York in his 20s. He arrived in the capital after employers offered him a position at Bice in DC; in 1997, Sacco opened his own place, Terrazza, in Friendship Heights (both have since closed). He launched Tosca in 2001—and presidents and politicos have flocked there ever since for enduring hits such as radicchio, poached pear and Gorgonzola salad and braised short-rib ravioli.
Sacco attributes Tosca’s staying power to consistency and an understanding of boundaries. “We’ve probably had every member of Congress in the restaurant and they get treated like everybody else,” he observes. “We try to stay true to our mission to serve good, fresh food in a nice environment, with a great sense of hospitality.”
A self-described “history buff,” Sacco considers Bob Dole his most extraordinary patron. The former senator, who was wounded in action during the liberation of Italy, tells Sacco war stories whenever he dines at Tosca. “At 95, Dole fondly remembers the people, the towns and his experiences,” Sacco marvels. “It warms me because this is somebody who fought for my country and 74 years later I’m here, talking to him. I have a personal connection with him; he’s very special to me.”
Architecture: Mark Giarraputo, AIA, Studio Z Design Concepts, LLC, Bethesda, Maryland. Interior Design: Martha Vicas, M.S. Vicas Interiors, Washington, DC. Kitchen Design: Vincent Sagart, Poliform | sagartstudio, Washington, DC. Lighting Design: Illuminations, Washington, DC. Builder: Geoffrey Kuck, FWI Development LLC, Washington, DC. Styling: Charlotte Safavi.
On a cold January day, designer Lauren Liess’ dining room is awash in summer’s glory. Roses, tulips and proteas proliferate on the wooden table. But Liess isn’t on the clock. Rather, she’s hosting friends at a flower-arranging fête thrown by local start-up Bouquet Club.
The company was launched in November by interior designer Liz Levin and floral designer Tess Finnegan after they collaborated on a couple of classes for charity auctions and received rave reviews.
Bouquet Club parties combine a workshop experience with social time for improving social media shares and are customized to any occasion, from birthdays to bridal showers and corporate retreats. Vases, tools and premium flowers in a pre-selected palette are provided. “These are not grocery store flowers,” notes Finnegan, who has wholesale relationships as owner of DC’s Green Hydrangea Flowers.
“Tess shows you, stem by stem, how to build an arrangement, and you leave with the skills to replicate it at home,” says Levin, who brings insights on color theory and texture to the table.
The partners suggest that Bouquet Club guests also reap other rewards.“The phones are down and people are engaged and thinking in a different way,” says Finnegan, a former trial attorney.
Levin agrees, “In this touch-screen era, making something creative is pretty scarce. There’s a sense of being connected to other people—and feeling joyful.”
Bouquet Club parties are $100 per person for a minimum of 10 guests (refreshments not included). Coming soon: public “pop-ups” for individual attendees. bouquetclub.com.
Dior Men’s Summer 2019 ready-to-wear line draws inspiration from the life and work of Christian Dior. Modern twists on his oeuvre include a vintage-effect calfskin bike jacket ($4,200) with a pocket reminiscent of Dior’s signature saddle bag. Blue-striped pants in technical canvas (price on request) and beige nubuck boots ($1,200) set a light tone for the coming thaw. dior.com
Occupying a restored 19th-century French hospital, The Jaffa, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Tel Aviv opened last year in that city’s historic waterfront neighborhood. Architects Ramy Gill and John Pawson collaborated on the project, which marries antiquity and modern minimalism. The Chapel lounge is set in a 19th-century sanctuary and the sleek lobby reveals a 13th-century Crusader’s wall excavated under the site. Meanwhile, the hotel’s 120 rooms and suites feature custom furniture, smart technology and stellar views. Rates from $596. marriott.com
PENN QUARTER HOT SPOT
Restaurateur Ashok Bajaj’s latest venture, Olivia, recently debuted in DC’s Penn Quarter. Chef Matt Kuhn’s rustic Mediterranean menu is inspired by the flavors of Portugal, Spain, Morocco, Tunisia, Italy and Greece. Look for abundant vegetarian and seafood options—such as Mediterranean Stone Bass Crudo. Interiors by Martin Vahtra of Projects Design Associates evoke the region with hanging lanterns and Moorish motifs. Private dining rooms include The Stateroom and The Iberian Room. 800 F Street, NW; 202-347-4667. oliviawdc.com
SOUTH OF THE BORDER
Guapo’s, a local mexican mainstay, opened its ninth location on the georgetown waterfront last year, introducing a new brunch menu. Dc designer ernesto santalla animated the interiors with ceiling “clouds” That improve acoustics and a palette of raspberry red, orange and plum. 3050 K street, NW; 202-844-5777. guaposrestaurant.com
RUM DIARIES
Mixologist Todd Thrasher celebrates all things rum at his new distillery in District Wharf. The Potomac Distilling Company produces Thrasher’s Rum on site and offers rooftop dining and three bars—including a Polynesian-style tiki lounge. 1130 Maine Avenue, SW; 202-900-4786. tikitnt.com
In this age of gut renovations and teardowns, finding a home in mint, move-in condition requires a rare confluence of luck and timing. A couple in search of a new roost stumbled upon just such a gem in Bethesda.
As luck would have it, the previous owner happened to be an architect who’d beautifully renovated the split-level dwelling, much to the couple’s delight. They envisioned cozy dinners and downtime with their three young children in the spacious kitchen and family room. The more tailored living and dining rooms fit their bill for entertaining parties large and small. Landscaped grounds complete with a pool and a pool house cinched the deal.
The new owners saw no reason to tinker with most of the design elements the architect had created—from cabinets and stair-rail details to moldings and millwork. Designer Marika Meyer, tapped to outfit the home’s interiors, wholeheartedly agreed.
“We were able to come in, without doing any heavy lifting on the architecture front, and decorate the home with all the treasures the previous owner had left behind,” Meyer remarks.
One of these treasures—William Morris botanical wallpaper in the foyer—would become a springboard for her overarching plan. A 19th-century British artist and designer who spearheaded the Arts and Crafts movement, Morris celebrated the natural world in his oeuvre. Likewise, Meyer played up organic themes as she marshaled the interiors in new directions to suit her clients’ aesthetic and functional desires. “We were focused on how we could make the personal, private spaces appropriate for kids while creating public rooms appropriate for how the owners wanted to entertain,” she explains.
The open family room and kitchen inhabit a new wing in the home, split by a secondary staircase leading to the upper-level bedrooms. An aqua ceramic-tile fireplace surround in the family room provides a vibrant background for furniture that “is a study in durability,” says Meyer, who selected indoor/outdoor fabrics to withstand the wear and tear of kids at play in this space and throughout the home. A skirted bench of her design became a spot coveted by the children for reading and watching TV.
Meyer’s clients retained the stepped railing on the back stair and the kitchen’s retro-style cabinetry, both of which convey a mid-century vibe. They also kept an antique stove that the previous owner had left in place for decorative purposes only. “The stove is a great focal point and adds character in the clean-lined kitchen,” says the designer, whose color scheme was inspired by the cabinets’ pale lime-green hue.
Color took a bold turn in the living room, where two Lee Industries armchairs are covered in a botanical Schumacher linen. The large-format print—which wouldn’t look out of place in a William Morris catalogue—creates drama against the neutral carpet and walls. “Going for that bold pattern, with its greens, aquas and other tones, was a real leap of faith,” Meyer admits, “but it opened up the color palette. And pairing the chairs with a beautiful Century sofa in red makes for a more dynamic space.” The sofa and Hickory Chair stools, also upholstered in red fabric, weave a common thread with fabrics in the adjacent dining room.
Here, Meyer contrasted a red-and-gold Giati chevron on the chair fronts with a strong GP & J Baker damask on the backs. “In the dining room, the colors are classic and timeless,” the designer contends. “With the muted walls and drapes, having the dialed-up color on the chair backs is not overwhelming.”
Meyer, who has her own eponymous textile collection, judiciously blended colors and fabrics throughout the home. “There’s a fair amount of color, but this house shows how you can integrate it,” she comments, noting the way creamy, neutral shades on the floors and walls subdue the mood. “It’s a matter of careful balance.”
One wall in the dining room displays the owners’ butterfly collection, organized in simple frames. The assemblage softens the room’s formality with a natural flourish. “There’s a classic element in the frames—they are not an exact match but very complementary,” says Meyer. “They create a collected feeling, which was our goal throughout.”
Upstairs, a blue-and-white floral motif sets a breezy tone in the serene master bedroom. The pared-down, upholstered bed and geometric night tables play off this classic embroidered textile. “The whole house has that story of traditional paired with modern,” says Meyer. “It was a joy to be able to step into this home and put our twist on it.”
Looking back now that the project is complete, Meyer returns to her Craftsman-era muse. “The William Morris wallpaper is a testament that classical design and traditional elements are timeless,” she says. “It is still fresh today.”
One can imagine that the visionary Morris would have been happy to pay it forward. In fact, he once wrote, “The past is not dead. It is living in us, and will be alive in the future, which we are now helping to make.”
INTERIOR DESIGN: Marika Meyer, Marika Meyer Interiors, LLC, Bethesda, Maryland.
RESOURCES
FAMILY ROOM
Sofa & Pillows: Custom through meyerinteriors.com. Pillow Fabric: fschumacher.com. Custom-Sized Bench: kravet.com. Bench Fabric: delanyandlong.com. Striped Ottomans: ballarddesigns.com. Ottoman Fabric: kravet.com. Coffee Table & Side Table: Owners’ collection. Rug: coecarpetandrug.com.
KITCHEN
Table, Chairs & Pendants: Owners’ collection.
LIVING ROOM
Sofa: centuryfurniture.com. Chairs: leeindustries.com through americaneyewdc.net. Chair Fabric: fschumacher.com. Coffee Table: salvationsaf.com through americaneyewdc.net. Floor Lamps: arteriorshome.com. Stools by Fireplace: hickorychair.com. Blue Chairs: vanguardfurniture.com. Rug: coecarpetandrug.com. Art: Owners’ collection.
DINING ROOM
Table: centuryfurniture.com. Chairs: woodbridgefurniture.com. Chair Fabric (front and seat): giati.com through jlambeth.com. Chair Fabric (back): gpjbaker.com through kravet.com. Sideboard: lexington.com. Chandelier: curreyandcompany.com. Rug: coecarpetandrug.com. Drapery Fabric: fabricut.com through jlambeth.com.
MASTER BEDROOM
Bed: Custom by meyerinteriors.com. Throw Pillow, Roman Shade & Drapery Fabric: kravet.com. Nightstand: centuryfurniture.com. Chair: leeindustries.com through americaneyewdc.net. Chair Fabric: jimthompsonfabrics.com through americaneyewdc.net. Rug: starkcarpet.com.
After a month-long stint in Marnie at New York’s Metropolitan Opera, Denyce Graves can be found far from the limelight, hiking around her family’s farm with golden retrievers in tow. The mezzo-soprano and husband Robert Montgomery frequently decamp from their Manhattan apartment to this second home to relax and spend time with their children.
“We both have very hectic lives and it’s important to know we can come to this sanctuary and leave our professions behind,” says Graves in a voice both gentle and resonant. “When we arrive here, I feel like we can exhale.”
Graves grew up in Southwest Washington, singing in school and church choirs. The daughter of a single mom who worked three jobs, she discovered opera as a 14-year old at DC’s Duke Ellington School of the Arts.
After studying music at Oberlin College and the New England Conservatory, Graves hit the world stage in 1995 when she landed the lead in Carmen at The Met. She has dazzled audiences around the globe ever since with her awe-inspiring vocals and commanding stage presence. In Washington, Graves regularly lends her voice to events of national importance—from commemorations of the 9/11 attacks at the National Cathedral to the 2018 Kennedy Center Honors.
Offstage, however, Graves defies the stereotype of a prima donna. “My profession is glamorous, but that’s not necessarily who I am,” she admits. By 10 a.m. on a November morning, she’s walk the dog & teach dog new commands and started a 72-hour turkey recipe that daughter Ella requested for Thanksgiving—all while quietly crooning a medley of arias.
Graves met Montgomery—a pioneer in transplant surgery—on a flight to Paris. After a long-distance courtship, they wed in 2009. Uniting her daughter Ella with Montgomery’s three children, they became a family of six.
They settled into a Bethesda home but later traded it for the farm to be closer to Johns Hopkins, where Montgomery worked. Set on 74 pastoral acres, the family’s current farmhouse replaced their original, 19th-century home on the property, which was destroyed by fire in 2012.
Maryland architect Timothy Sanders designed the new retreat in the spirit of a traditional Southern estate, with wraparound porches and prime views of the landscape, where the family raises alpacas. Despite the home’s classic exterior, the owners envisioned an open and airy layout. “I wanted the house to be like a large studio where there weren’t separations or walls, so we could all be together,” explains Graves. On her wish list: a spacious kitchen with a bead-board ceiling, a music room and a closet large enough to store the collection of 75-plus gowns she’s donned on stage over the years.
After Montgomery left Hopkins to head NYU’s transplant institute, the couple acquired an apartment on the Upper West Side. “In New York, we hired a decorator and our home is very fancy,” says Graves. “But here, we didn’t officially decorate or buy anything new.” She did select “rustic” elements, such as barn doors outside the kitchen and iron gates salvaged from a French castle enclosing the music room. Treasured possessions include a bust of the late Julius Rudel in the foyer. He was the Kennedy Center’s first music director and one of the singer’s trusted mentors. She muses, “He’s still with me, saying, ‘Keep it together, Graves.’”
Just as many teachers coached Graves before she reached opera’s highest echelons, the award-winning diva now imparts their wisdom—and her own—to voice students as a distinguished faculty artist at Baltimore’s Peabody Institute. She also volunteers her time helping young people discover the power of music and learning. “If you look at everything that’s going on in the world today,” she reflects, “the most important issue is education.”
Even during long weekends at the farm, Graves rehearses three hours a day. Her 2019 calendar includes two New York concerts in January, appearances with the Annapolis Opera and Richmond Symphony in May and later performances with the Washington National Opera and The Metropolitan Opera in New York.
When asked how it feels to move an audience to tears, she deflects the praise. “These composers were trying to convey an emotion through music. My job as a singer is to get out of the way and be a vessel for this music to speak through. We’re servants to it.
“It does come through my experience, though,” she continues. “It’s not just sound, but it passes through my intellect and my heart. The stage is a magnifying glass and everybody knows if you’re lying.”
Though she’s performed for presidents and prime ministers in the world’s most prestigious venues, Graves is most touched by experiences of another kind. During a stint in St. Louis, for example, she was asked to sing at a prison. Initially reluctant, once she accepted the invitation she decided to give it her all. “These hard faces lightened up and people started smiling and laughing,” she recalls. “And I thought, ‘Denyce, now you’ve done something.’”
Graves also reflects on the night her mother chartered a bus to transport friends and family members to her Met debut in New York. “They didn’t know a thing about opera. But they knew what it took to get from here to there,” Graves remembers, her eyes bright. “They were there because ‘our girl’ made it to this pinnacle.”
Architecture: Timothy Sanders, Sanders Designs Architects, Cockeysville, Maryland. Kitchen Design: Carefree Kitchens, Baltimore, Maryland. Builder: Bob Krieger, RHK Builders, Monkton, Maryland.
During the renovation of a 19th-century row house on Capitol Hill, one of the owners stopped into Snaidero DC Metro to see a La Cornue range on display. He purchased the celebrated French oven in matte black and, despite his home’s classic style, also fell in love with sleek Snaidero cabinetry. “The owner liked the dichotomy between classic architecture and modern elements, which you see all over Europe,” reflects showroom principal and designer Shawna Dillon. As the project progressed, Dillon joined architect Christian Zapatka in designing the kitchen, bridging past and present while taking inspiration from all things French.
Located off a gallery connecting the entry to a rear salon and garden, the kitchen features a U-shaped configuration of cabinetry and appliances. On one wall, high-gloss lacquered cabinets—containing refrigeration and bar storage—play off base cabinets in a wood finish and glass-fronted cabinets on the other two elevations. These walls house more storage, along with the sink, dishwasher and range and a custom hood in cold-rolled steel. Caesarstone countertops in Linen and a creamy, glazed-tile backsplash lighten the moody palette. New herringbone floors evoke the home’s original vintage, as does a custom table that interior designer Romain Baty fashioned from the bronze base of a circa-1900 bank counter.
“As soon as you enter the home,” says Dillon, “you feel like you’re in Paris.”
Architect: Christian Zapatka, AIA, Christian Zapatka Architect, PLLC, Washington, DC. Kitchen Design: Shawna Dillon, ASID, NCIDQ, Snaidero DC Metro, Alexandria, Virginia. Contractor: LR Mailloux Construction, Inc., Washington, DC.
Resources
Countertops: caesarstoneus.com through rbratti.com. Backsplash: waterworks.com. Cabinets & Hardware: snaiderodcmetro.com. Sink & Faucet: franke.com. Range: lacornueusa.com. Refrigerator & Wine Cooler: thermador.com. Hood Design: Shawna Dillon. Hood Fabrication: akmetalfab.com. Windows: westernwindowsystems.com.
For McLean homeowners who love to cook and entertain, coping with a 1980s-era kitchen was cramping their style. When they’d finally had enough of outdated appliances, run-of-the-mill cabinets and an inefficient layout, they called on designer Jonas Carnemark for an overhaul.
“The main goal was to design a chef’s kitchen,” explains Carnemark, whose plan bumped out the original kitchen by 12 feet, creating a voluminous addition with 11-foot-high ceilings.
Instead of one massive island, they decided on two parallel ones to keep circulation open. One island contains a sink for food prep while the other anchors the cooktop and a wooden table with room for seating on both sides “so people can sit across from each other and have a conversation,” says the designer.
Storage cabinets, a pull-out pantry, a refrigerator and freezer drawers, a dishwasher and dual ovens are organized along one main wall. On one end, a wine refrigerator is set in a dedicated bar area; on the other end, false cabinet doors open to reveal a nine-foot-long walk-in pantry.
A paradigm of minimalist restraint, the project combines SieMatic cabinetry in a sterling-silver finish, gray Caesarstone countertops, a backsplash of white, back-painted glass and easy-on-the-feet CoreTec flooring made of cork-backed vinyl but resembling weathered wood. Two cozy seating areas—one with a new fireplace—invite guests to settle in and socialize.
Kitchen & Interior Design: Jonas Carnemark, CKD, CLIPP, KONST, Bethesda, Maryland. Contractor: CARNEMARK design + build, Bethesda, Maryland.
Resources
Countertops: caesarstoneus.com. Backsplash: dwglassmarkerboards.com. Raised Table Material: spekva.com. Cabinets & Hardware: konstsiematic.com. Sinks: blanco-germany.com. Faucets: grohe.us. Appliances: mieleusa.com through konstsiematic.com. Flooring: coretecfloors.com. Windows & Doors: pella.com.
Confined to the cramped footprint of the obsolete kitchen in her clients’ Tudor-style home in DC, designer Nadia Subaran faced a few challenges when she was hired for a makeover. A consummate cook and entertainer, the wife asked for more functional workspace, an open layout—and a 40-inch professional Thermador range. “I had to figure out how to achieve the look my client wanted while getting her all the function she needed,” explains Subaran.
The designer rose to the occasion. First, she removed a peninsula that bisected the kitchen. Then she opened up an adjacent hallway, trading a closet for a butler’s pantry. Next to new base and glass-fronted upper cabinetry, she installed a freezer and made it “disappear” behind paneling that matches the white cabinets.
This left space for a dedicated, 30-inch refrigerator in the kitchen. A classic farmhouse sink and Calacatta Belgia marble countertops and backsplash from Gramaco reflect the home’s vintage. Satin-brass hardware and a freestanding pantry unit in a Baltic Sea finish warm the white palette. A custom table with a mixed-metal base mirroring the room’s brass and stainless-steel finishes makes a bold centerpiece.
Two custom lights, sourced through interior designer Lori Graham, lend a modern touch. A brass-accented fixture illuminates the kitchen while one with a darker motif plays off the original slate floor in the butler’s pantry.
Kitchen Design: Nadia Subaran, Aidan Design, Silver Spring, Maryland. Contractor: Horizon Builders, Crofton, Maryland.
Resources
Countertops & Backsplash: gramaco.com. Cabinets: wood-mode.com. Hardware: lewisdolin.com. Sink & Faucet: rohlhome.com through abwappliances.com. Stove & Refrigeration: thermador.com through abwappliances.com. Hood & Table Design: aidandesign.com. Table Fabrication: kmetalfab.com. Light Fixtures: Through lorigraham.com. Stools: cb2.com.
WILD & WOOLLY
Missoni Home’s Winter Flame collection includes the all-wool knit Pereira rug—as soft as a well-worn fisherman’s sweater; sculptural Virgola chairs shown covered in Vitim, a 3D chevron jacquard; and cozy knit cushions in assorted colorways. missonihome.com
SNUGGLE UP
Designed by Giorgio Soressi, Roche Bobois’ Avant Premiere four-seat sofa is pictured in luxurious Sensori velvet—the perfect backdrop for a night of snuggling or movie-watching. roche-bobois.com
DESIGNER TAKE
ZigZagZurich’s Artist Wool Blankets collection presents a host of bold patterns created by a global roster of designers. The 55-by-79-inch throws cocoon loungers in 100-percent New Zealand wool. zigzagzurich.com
MANMADE
Playfully dubbed Furry Tiles, this hand-stitched carpet by Doris Leslie Blau is made of wool that mimics natural cowhide. The rustic, toe-tickling rug can be customized in any shape or size. dorisleslieblau.com
FAUX FUR
Moroso’s Pipe armchair, designed by Sebastian Herkner, offers a warm, faux-fur embrace. Available through Apartment Zero. apartmentzero.com; moroso.it
PILLOW TALK
Rex Pleated Pillows by Adri Collection feature ruched rabbit-fur fronts and silk-velvet backs. Available locally in six sizes and colorways—including Snow, Bark and Coal—at Holly Hunt. hollyhunt.com
As founding editor of Residential Architect magazine, Boyce Thompson has plenty to say about what constitutes a great house. So much, in fact, that he has assembled his thoughts into a book, Anatomy of a Great Home: What America’s Most Celebrated Houses Tell Us about the Way We Want to Live (Schiffer Publishing; 2018).
To illustrate his ideas, Bethesda-based Thompson sought out not sprawling, ornate manses but “smaller, attainable” abodes. In short, he says, “houses that you could imagine living in, with family-friendly floor plans.”
Out of the 50-plus homes spotlighted in the insightful volume, nine are in the Washington, DC, region. The four local architects who designed them, Robert Gurney, Mark McInturff, Stephen Muse and Richard Williams, joined Thompson for a panel discussion at DC’s Politics and Prose bookstore in November.
The speakers all agreed that today’s architects strive to celebrate a site, blur lines between interior and exterior spaces and create open, light-filled rooms. They also stressed the importance of building with sustainable materials. “Maybe 15 years ago there was an excuse not to do it, but today, information is available and the price is pretty neutral,” Thompson asserted.
The author championed architects who conserve resources by designing simple forms, then splurge on “killer details” such as custom fireplaces and window walls. “Why not spend your money where you can enjoy it most?” he asked.
Another hot topic was longevity. Thompson questioned the conventional assumption that consumers must have a different home for every stage of their lives. “Why can’t you have one house where all of that is thought of in advance?” he reflected. “A great house needs to work for your family both today and in the future.”
Made to Order
Colorado-based Wagner Custom crafts bespoke skis based on clients’ abilities and preferences. Combining customer data with computer diagnostics, ski builders determine the right shape, materials and “flex,” then apply custom graphics to each creation. A design by artist Dawn Gerety on a finished pair was inspired by a day of ski touring in Alaska. From $1,750. wagnerskis.com
Out of the Glare
Oakley’s Line Miner XM Goggles feature Prizm lenses that maximize contrast and visibility. Shaped to optimize peripheral vision, the goggles are also compatible with most helmets and come in an array of sizes and color options. From $150. oakley.com
