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.
While working for more than 10 years at California Closets—where he orchestrated organized spaces for a range of residential and commercial clients—DuVäl Reynolds discovered he had a knack for design. Encouraged by designer clients, he enrolled in Westwood College’s interior design program, attending night classes while working full-time. “I honed my skills in detail and precision at California Closets,” he reflects. “And when I got my degree, I found I had a greater passion for design than I’d expected.”
In 2017, Reynolds launched his own firm and hit the ground running. He recently completed a “West Coast vintage” project for a family in Vienna. “My objective is to give clients what they don’t know to ask for and what they’re too afraid to try,” he explains. “In the end, I want them to feel like their house reflects who they want to be, with no judgment.”
Reynolds married Sara Baglin last year and they recently bought a four-bedroom townhouse in Fairfax. First up: a kitchen makeover. Describing the home’s current state as “a hot mess,” the designer is now in planning mode. “Your own house,” he laments, “is the hardest thing to do!”
Interior Design: DuVäl Reynolds, DuVäl Design, Inc., Fairfax, Virginia. Builder (Vienna): Jefferson Homes, Oakton, Virginia.
After studying architecture at the University of Pennsylvania, Catherine Ebert “took a detour” when she discovered the field wasn’t for her. She eventually enrolled in the Corcoran’s design program while her husband was in law school in DC—and never looked back.
They moved to New York, where Ebert launched her own firm. In 2014, the couple returned to Washington—this time with one-year-old twins in tow. Though they chose DC for its kid-friendly lifestyle, most of Ebert’s work so far—from a 6,500-square-foot Manhattan duplex to a modern Connecticut retreat—has taken her back north.
The designer infuses projects with functionality and a dose of surprise. “I encourage people to push their boundaries with the unexpected,” she explains. “But I also want to design enough function into each space so every area gets used.”
Having completed a redo of her own home, Ebert looks forward to spreading her wings in DC. “I hope I can find people who have the excitement factor to try new things,” she says.
Interior Design: Catherine Ebert, Catherine Ebert Interiors, Washington, DC. Renovation Architecture: Mark Kaufman, AIA, RA, LEED AP, GTM Architects, Bethesda, Maryland. Renovation Contractor: Thorsen Construction, Alexandria, Virginia. Styling: Charlotte Safavi.
Little did Vesper Mei know she’d landed a diamond in the rough when she purchased a Capitol Hill row house in 2002. The 100-plus-year-old, wood-framed structure “was in terrible shape,” she admits. But its period charm, garage and proximity to Eastern Market outweighed its drawbacks. Besides, the price was right.
Over the years, the then-single attorney made minor improvements to the home’s dated kitchen and bathrooms. Later, she married attorney Mark Bellermann, who adopted one of the home’s three bedrooms as his office. By the time their daughter arrived, the 1,360-square-foot residence and its choppy rooms had begun to feel downright cramped.
At the recommendation of a contractor, the couple approached architect Stephen Lawlor and learned that the property was a good candidate for expansion. The lot’s generous, 25-foot width and its rear yard, which housed a ramshackle garage and worker’s shed, provided enough real estate for a significant makeover.
Lawlor envisioned an overhaul that would double the size of the house while respecting its history. To the left of the original structure, he devised a new entry hall and mudroom leading back to a two-story rear addition. The addition mirrors the gabled form of the original abode, housing an open kitchen and family room on the ground floor that spill out to a rear terrace. “They wanted a big, combined room where they can hang out and watch TV—a space they didn’t have in the old house,” says Lawlor.
A new staircase replaced one near the front door in the original plan; it’s located in an airy gallery that connects the front and rear volumes. The architect entirely reconfigured the second floor to include a master suite, the daughter’s bedroom, a home office, a guest room and a hall bath.
On the lower level, Lawlor carved out a new living area by excavating what was an earthen basement with six-foot ceilings. “It looked like a coal mine down there,” he recalls.
After careful study during pre-construction, he and his clients realized that the existing structure was barely salvageable. “The walls had termite damage and were not in a condition you could build on. And the whole house had to be realigned and adjusted,” Lawlor explains. “So everything was gutted and taken down to the studs.” Even the living and dining rooms, which retained their positions in the original structure, boast new walls and insulation.
The owners moved out for the eight-month construction phase. “During excavation,” Lawlor recalls, “the house was supported on four corners and there was a whole story missing below. Digging the basement out and underpinning the structure was fairly challenging, but once we got out of the ground and started moving up, things pretty much went as planned.” In the process, all new electrical, HVAC and data systems were installed, along with radiant-heat flooring and energy-efficient Weather Shield windows and doors.
Despite its modern amenities, period details preserve the home’s architectural legacy. On the exterior, Lawlor specified materials such as painted clapboard and standing-seam roofs that are “sympathetic” to the guidelines of the Capitol Hill Historic District. Inside, Shaker-style kitchen cabinetry and simple oak floors balance furniture that strikes a contemporary note.
Decorator Nicole Lanteri helped the owners feather their updated nest in a way that felt polished but not fussy or formal. “Each room mixes vintage details with modern accents,” she says. A Room & Board sofa in green tufted velvet imparts a classic touch to the living room, while deep-red Cole & Son wallpaper and an antique table lend the dining room gravitas—offset by a modern Marset chandelier. Gray walls warm the light-filled family room, which centers on an Ikea sofa and Room & Board chair.
Mei and Bellermann are delighted with their revamped residence—especially the family room and kitchen.
“Our old kitchen was sort of a box. There was not a lot of work space or cabinets and the counters were always cluttered,” says Mei. “Our new kitchen is twice as big and there’s room for everything. Now we spend all our time in the kitchen and family room.”
Looking back on her 2002 real estate purchase, Mei reflects, “I think it turned out to be the best investment I’ll ever make. We have the same house, but now it’s so much better.”
Renovation Architecture: Stephen Lawlor, AIA, principal; Roberto Ramirez, senior project architect, Lawlor Architects, Washington, DC. Interior Decoration: Nicole Lanteri, Nicole Lanteri Design, Arlington, Virginia. Renovation Contractor: Impact Remodeling and Construction, LLC, Washington, DC.
What are the benefits of gutting a renovation rather than remodeling piecemeal?
Stephen Lawlor: You can install modern amenities that an older house doesn’t have, such as insulation and new heating and cooling. Everything can be done to the current building codes, which foster less energy consumption.
Why should owners live in a home before remodeling it?
Living in a home first almost always yields a better project because the owners understand the light, the neighborhood and the vibe of the property.
What’s your advice on dealing with historic review boards?
There’s always a certain vocabulary that historic districts are willing to let you work within. When the massing and materials are compatible with their rules, they tend to be more understanding.
When does installing radiant-heat flooring make sense?
Since it involves installing pipes in floor-joist cavities and changing the boiler, radiant-heat flooring wouldn’t be appropriate on a smaller job. But if you’re doing a whole-house remodel, it’s a nice way to make your house comfortable—especially in the winter.
Designer Lauren Liess is having a moment. Her second book, Down to Earth: Laid-Back Interiors for Modern Living (Abrams; $40), came out on October 8. Then she was off to High Point to launch furniture collections for Taylor King and Woodbridge. But she is not resting on her mountain laurels: Between now and 2020 Liess is also introducing a tile line for Architectural Ceramics, sinks and plumbing fixtures for Atmosphyre, kitchen cabinetry for Unique Kitchens & Baths and assorted home fragrances—all imbued with her easygoing aesthetic that celebrates nature.
Liess segued into product design by necessity after realizing pieces she sought out for client projects simply didn’t exist. “I decided to make exactly what I wanted,” reports the designer, who will also unveil a knife company, Generations Cutlery, with her father next year.
Given that in 2019 she was busy filming “Best House on the Block”—a DIY Network series she co-stars in with husband, David—it’s hard to fathom how the mother of five found time to pen a book. Writing Down to Earth, Liess reveals, helped her make a conscious choice to step back from the everyday and appreciate the wonders in and around her home. “I’m always trying to figure out how to make life more relaxed and functional,” she says. “The book ties that up using design as a means to contentment. It’s a decorating book, but it’s also a living philosophy.” laurenliess.com
Champagne flowed at Georgetown’s Calloway Fine Art during the October 2 launch party for the 2019 limited edition of MOOD By Christofle—an artful tabletop piece containing silver-plated flatware service for six. Following a 2018 design by Karl Lagerfeld, music icon Pharrell Williams and chef Jean Imbert were tapped to conjure the current release. Embracing the joy of friendship, the duo lacquered the steel exterior yellow and adorned it with a frieze depicting their family and friends. The smaller MOOD Coffee contains six espresso spoons, engraved with the word ”share,” written in Williams’ hand. At Christofle in CityCenterDC. $2,900 for 24-piece; $800 for six-piece. christofle.com
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THE BOYS CLUB In her show house space, designer Quintece Hill-Mattauszek set out to transform a lackluster bedroom into “The Boys Club,” a swanky mid-century-style lounge. Contending with a blank, windowless wall, she created a wow factor that would pull visitors into the space.
But first, she researched the period. “I started looking at parquet floors and figuring out how to modernize them,” Hill-Mattauszek explains. “I came up with a big, graphic pattern, then created the design with CAD to make sure it would work.”
She built the removable wall herself in four sections using plywood panels stained Summer Pecan, a hue that, she says, “screamed mid-century to me.” Narrow channel lights added drama to the final installation. Removing the bay window’s mullions left a cleaner backdrop for floor lamps from Century that conjure an old Hollywood film set and a custom modular sectional upholstered in Romo fabric. A Zhishu light fixture imparted a mod touch.
Show houses can inspire homeowners to rethink their own interiors. “Reimagining the architecture of a space really does change it—and you don’t necessarily have to remodel the whole room,” Hill-Mattauszek insists. “Take a step back and don’t design your space around what it is, but around what it can be.”
Interior Design: Quintece Hill-Mattauszek, Studio Q Designs, Alexandria, Virginia.
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THE FAMILY ROOM Designer Paula Henry overhauled the show house Family Room, where an underwhelming fireplace rimmed in terra cotta tile and a ramshackle built-in cabinet occupied one wall. “The scale of the fireplace was completely dwarfed,” recalls the designer, who set out to introduce style and functionality to the space.
“The fireplace is typically a focal point in a room,” she explains. “You want it to tell a story.” Henry played up this one by covering it in 12-by-24-inch porcelain tiles by Ceramica Sant‘Agostino, sourced at Hunt Valley Tile & Stone. “I chose this tile because it has so much texture; it reminds me of a herringbone pattern,” she says. “And installing it vertically brings your eye up.”
A floating mantel shelf—specified in walnut to match the floors—contains hidden storage via a “door” that opens at one end. “It’s the perfect place to put a TV remote or fireplace starter,” Henry explains, adding that this solution would also work in a foyer or hallway. Reconfiguring the adjacent built-in added display space.
Henry urges clients to consider the unthinkable—such as painting or covering an outdated brick fireplace surround. “By doing something relatively small,” she avers, “you can transform an entire room.”
Interior Design: Paula Henry, Simply Put Interiors, Inc., Reisterstown, Maryland. Millwork Fabrication: Summerhill Cabinets, Westminster, Maryland.
Venezuela-born chef Enrique Limardo opened DC’s Seven Reasons in April to rave reviews. The former chef at Baltimore’s Alma Cocina Latina has created a menu of small, medium and large plates—including octopus with black lentils and aji amarillo sauce. Miami designer Valentina Story furnished the brick-lined interiors with furniture from Turkey and lighting from Greece. The bar serves island-inspired libations such as the Tranquilo y Tropical. 2208 14th Street, NW; 202-290-2630. sevenreasonsdc.com
Housed in a 16th-century mansion that once belonged to the noble Borghese family, Hotel Vilòn opened its doors in 2018 after a dramatic makeover. (Still catering to nobility, the getaway reportedly hosted Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, in town for a wedding in September). Rome-based production designer Paolo Bonfini crafted the interiors, which include a glamorous bar and 18 guest rooms, their color schemes inspired by 18th-century English scientist Robert John Thornton’s botanical prints. Rates from $630; hotelvilon.com
A software executive seeking a new home knew he’d spotted a gem in DC’s coveted Foxhall neighborhood. Though its formal interiors were not his cup of tea, he saw potential in the Georgian-style home’s good bones, generous size and leafy backyard. He acquired the six-bedroom property, built in 2008, with an all-out renovation in mind.
Assembling a seasoned design team to take on the challenge was a no-brainer: Architect Scarlett Breeding, landscape architect Kevin Campion, interior designers Helen Sullivan and Nancy Twomey and builder Bret Anderson had completed five previous residences for him. With these pros on board, the project took off in early 2017 with the ambitious goal of finishing before the owner’s young son would start school that September.
The team set out to foster easy living, whether their client was hosting a grown-up soiree or a movie night for kids; to freshen up what he called “fussy” architecture while respecting the home’s classical roots; and to create custom finishes and built-in features to elevate form and function.
The main volume of the house squarely faces the street, with the dining room to the right of the foyer and the living room to the left. Set on an angle near the dining room, a separate wing contains the kitchen and family room on the ground floor and the master suite above.
“Part of our program was to work with the geometry of the house,” says Breeding. “We realigned the angled interior portions and instilled the home with the classical order it was crying for.” For example, in the master suite, tiny his-and-her bathrooms and closets made way for an expansive master bath and dressing room. The plan also removed walls dividing the original mudroom, kitchen, breakfast room and family room, creating one large space that embraces light and the outdoors.
Reapportioning spaces not only introduced symmetry to awkward rooms, but allowed the team to install an elevator, which was on the owner’s wish list. “Scarlett made so much sense of the existing real estate,” he says. Breeding and associate Richard Anuszkiewicz (who has since moved to Nashville) created a gourmet kitchen and butler’s pantry where streamlined built-ins eliminate clutter.
Sliding doors seamlessly open the family room to a rear terrace. In the backyard, landscape architect Kevin Campion traded a large play set dominating the far end of the existing pool for a fireplace and terrace that were “strategically located to create a dynamic view across the pool,” he says. “It’s a nice, warm place to sit on summer evenings and in the fall.” A row of Emerald Green arborvitae screens the scene from neighbors; hydrangea, Russian sage and coneflowers add seasonal color.
While the renovation plans took shape, the team orchestrated new interior finishes and furnishings, following the owner’s call for a transitional, unfussy aesthetic. Crisp millwork and bold, oversized light fixtures got the ball rolling. “We wanted to update the look without making it incongruent with the traditional bones of the house,” explains Twomey. She and Sullivan sourced sophisticated yet durable textiles to accommodate guests of all ages.
A serene palette of blues and grays carries through the home. In the dining room, a bold, modern seascape contrasts with the pale walls and glazed-linen upholstery; a bouclé brings texture to armchairs in the adjacent living room. “There’s a menswear quality to the fabrics, from wool plaids to cashmere, checks and stripes,” says Twomey. “It all came together like a nice suit.” The team also introduced a new vibe in the study off the living room, painting its faux-blond wood cabinets a rich taupe and removing Gothic-style trim.
Though the homeowner gave the designers a mandate to avoid precious materials, explaining, “I don’t want to freak out if my son or his friends spill something,” one-of-a-kind casework and architectural details certainly came into play. For example: the butler’s pantry where brass detailing and metallic Zoffany wallpaper dress up custom cabinetry. Or the spa-like master bath where hand-cut strips of marble and brass are inlaid into the vanity drawer fronts.
The staircase leading to the lower level is clad in walnut millwork; its builder-grade handrail was replaced with brass and its balusters wrapped in leather. The former basement now features a custom wine cellar, state-of-the-art media room and gym. “The rest of the house is so light and airy, I wanted the lower level to be an homage to an old yacht club in New York or San Francisco where it’s okay to ‘live dark,’” says the owner. “We wanted a little history; that’s really, in some ways, what we were striving for all over the house.”
Despite this high level of craftsmanship, the renovation was completed on time. “We did 12 to 14 months of work in about six and a half months,” says Pyramid’s Bret Anderson. “It’s one thing to do that in a house with baseline finishes. But this project, with its sophisticated cabinetry and integration of materials and details, was far from that. We had to order parts that were in fabrication before we even completed demolition.”
Reflecting on the finished home, the owner is glad his team took it that extra mile. “In a house so new, we wanted to ground it with some gravitas. It needed to feel its foundation and place,” he remarks. “Good design and quality construction hold up—they’re not just frosting.”
Architecture: Scarlett Breeding, AIA, pricipal in charge; Richard T. Anuszkiewicz, casework and interior architecture design, Alt Breeding Schwarz Architects, Annapolis, Maryland. Interior Design: Nancy Twomey, Finnian Interiors + Finnian’s Moon, Alexandria, Virginia; and Helen Sullivan, Helen Sullivan Design, Washington, DC. Builder: Bret Anderson, Pyramid Builders, Annapolis, Maryland. Landscape Architecture: Kevin Campion, ASLA, Campion Hruby Landscape Architecture, Annapolis, Maryland.
RESOURCES
OUTDOOR
Landscape installation: fineearth.com. Outdoor Lighting: outdoorillumination.com. Lounge Seating & Fabric: janusetcie.com.
KITCHEN/BUTLER’S PANTRY
Cabinetry: premiercb.com. Range: lacornue.com. Appliances: subzero-wolf.com; mieleusa.com. Backsplash & Counters: neolith.com. Backsplash & Counter Installation: rbratti.com. Island Countertop: caesarstoneus.com. Cabinetry: premiercb.com. Plumbing & Hardware: waterworks.com. Custom Bar Stool Design: finnianinteriors.com. Bar Stool Upholstery: hollyhunt.com. Paint Color: benjaminmoore.com. Butler’s Pantry Wall Covering: stylelibrary.com/zoffany. Butler’s Pantry Lighting: bakerfurniture.com. Sink: officinegullo.com/us.
GREAT ROOM
Window Wall: marvin.com. Sofa: Custom through Helen Sullivan Design. Sofa Fabric: jimthompsonfabrics.com. Gray Chairs: finnianinteriors.com. Gray Chair Fabric: robertallendesign.com. Blue Chairs & Fabric: hollyhunt.com. Coffee Table: Vintage through through finnianinteriors.com. Drapery Fabric: jab.de/us/en. Rug: galleriacarpets.com. Gray Throw Pillows: fabricut.com/stroheim. White Throw Pillows: zimmer-rohde.com. Paint: benjaminmoore.com. Fireplace Stone: waterworks.com. Fireplace Installation: rbratti.com.
BREAKFAST NOOK
Chairs: Custom through finnianinteriors.com. Bench & Chair Upholstery: hollyhunt.com. Blue Armchair: hickorywhite.com. Blue Armchair fabric: hollyhunt.com. Table: Custom through finnianinteriors.com. Paint: benjaminmoore.com.
DINING ROOM
Rug: galleriacarpets.com. Dining Table: Custom through Helen Sullivan Design. Dining Chairs: hollyhunt.com. Dining Chair Fabric: rogersandgoffigon.com. Light Fixture: hudsonfurnitureinc.com. Drapery Fabric: cowtan.com. Wall Covering: zimmer-rohde.com.
LIVING ROOM
Sofa & Coffee Table: Custom through Helen Sullivan Design. Sofa & Throw Pillow Fabric: markalexander.com. Armchairs, Ottomans, Rug & Throw Pillows: Custom through finnianinteriors.com. Floor & Table Lamps: curreyandcompany.com. Armchair Fabric: romo.com. Drapery Fabric: rogersandgoffigon.com. Fireplace Surround: chesneys.com. Consoles: madegoods.com. Ottoman Fabric: duralee.com. Paint: benjaminmoore.com.
MASTER BEDROOM
Drapery Fabric: robertallan.com. Paint Color: benjaminmoore.com.
STUDY
Armchairs & Ottoman: through finnianinteriors.com. Armchair Fabric: ralphlaurenhome.com. Drapery Fabric: fabricut.com/stroheim. Vintage Rug: galleriacarpets.com. Paint: benjaminmoore.com.
WINE TASTING ROOM
Brass, Leather & Lacquered Cabinetry: premiercb.com. Hardware: waterworks.com. Pendants: robinsonlightingandbath.com.
WINE CELLAR
Flooring: waterworks.com. Light Fixture: visualcomfort.com. Millwork Design: absarchitects.com.
MASTER BATH
Vanity & Cabinet Design: absarchitects.com. Marble on Floor & Walls: waterworks.com. Cabinetry Fabrication: premiercb.com. Stone Installation & Marble Inlay on Vanities: rbratti.com.
Designers go au naturel, transforming the following five dated bathrooms with organic materials and sleek style.
Modern LuxeJennifer Wagner Schmidt revives a dated bath with a sleek, minimalist vibe.
Organic PaletteA design team pays homage to nature in a spa-like master bath.
Bold StatementCase Design overhauls a dull bath with vibrant colors and textures.
Double FantasyJonas Carnemark creates his-and-her baths in a Palisades bungalow.
Asian FlairIn their remake of a DC bath, designers tap into Japanese tradition.
Homeowners whose master bath was stuck in the 1980s were ready for a redo. Tired of its rarely used corner whirlpool tub and uninspiring beige tile, the Ashburn, Virginia, couple tapped designer Jennifer Wagner Schmidt to mastermind an overhaul. “They wanted to make it modern and functional,” recalls the designer, whose first strategy was to optimize real estate in the narrow, 11-foot-wide space.
A debate ensued over whether to include a tub in the new plan or to go solely with an oversized shower. When the tub won, Schmidt proposed a novel idea: create an open-concept, shower-and-bath area enclosed by a simple panel of glass on one side in lieu of a standard shower door. A niche for bath & skincare products is centered between dual matte-black rain-shower heads. A tiny dip in the floor contains water in the shower, where it disappears into a linear drain along the back wall.
A black-and-white palette reinforces the minimalist ideal. Applying the same large-format marble tile on the floor and walls created a uniform aesthetic; Schmidt installed it in a brick pattern on the walls and a chevron pattern on the floors for subtle contrast.
A floating vanity with a black wooden base and thick porcelain top provides plenty of storage; Schmidt selected the floating piece to preserve a sense of airiness. The new plan also tucked in a separate toilet room near the entry.
The owners love their luxe, modern bathroom. “They took the risk and it paid off,” says Schmidt. “It’s the kind of bathroom you’d see in a penthouse or high-end hotel.”
GET THE LOOK:
Floor & Wall Tile: tileshop.com. Tub: badeloftusa.com. Linen Roman Shade: rh.com. Matte-Black Plumbing Fixtures: brizo.com. Vanity: MOB through houzz.com. Medicine Cabinets: robern.com. Glass Fabricator: dullesglass.com. Stool: potterybarn.com.
Interior Design: Jennifer Wagner Schmidt, JWS Interiors, Ashburn, Virginia.
