A Shot of Scotland on Maryland’s Eastern Shore
One of the country’s most valuable single-malt Scotch collections can be found not in the big city but in a new outpost in downtown Easton. The Stewart serves rarified whiskeys and vintage Champagnes in Baccarat crystal, along with caviar and other delicacies. Clubby interiors by Connecticut-based Shaun Jackson feature a 19th-century, walnut-and-brass trumeau chimney, tufted-leather seating and paintings by German master Peter Caulitz. 3 Federal Street; thestewart.com
Italian Delights from Morning to Night
Chef Nick Stefanelli (Masseria) made a splash at District Wharf last fall with the opening of Officina. This three-level emporium designed by Grupo 7 includes a café/bar serving pastries and casual meals; a marketplace stocked with Italian provisions; and a trattoria, where the nightly dinner menu may include braised veal ravioli. A salotto—aka the Amaro Library—serves a wide array of libations, which can be savored year-round on a rooftop terrazza warmed by fire pits. officinadc.com
Set on 600 pristine acres in Western Montana, Triple Creek Ranch serves up outdoor adventures along with gourmet dining and luxury R&R. At this adults-only Relais & Chateaux property, guests enjoy hiking, ice-fishing, cross-country skiing and year-round horseback riding, among other wintry pursuits. After a day in the wilderness, ranchers can warm up in a cozy cottage, soak in an outdoor hot tub and sample wines from a state-of-the-art cellar. From $1,050 per person nightly, including meals. triplecreekranch.com
Though photographed on a romp through Maryland’s Star Bright Farm, this winsome skirt by local couturier Ella Pritsker is intended for dressier affairs. The Italian silk chiffon garment is hand-beaded with Swarovski crystals for subtle sparkle; price upon request. ellapritsker.com
Photography & Styling: Helen Norman. Model: Callie, T.H.E. Artist Agency. Hair & Make-Up: Lori Pressman.
Baltimore residents knew they were onto something sublime when they built a weekend getaway on a bluff overlooking the Severn River near Annapolis more than 100 years ago. The simple cottage was perched high enough to enjoy dramatic views, yet situated only a stone’s throw down to the shore.
Over the years, multiple owners altered and expanded the home and its outbuildings; a stable evolved into a guest house and a brick carriage house into a garage.
When the current owners spotted the property for sale online, they also knew they’d found a gem. The retired Navy officer and his wife, then living in a San Diego high-rise, wanted to move back to their old stomping grounds near Annapolis. “I went to the Naval Academy and my wife went to Towson, so we’re both attracted to the area,” says the husband. “We wanted to be on the Severn and we wanted a family compound that would attract our three grown kids and grandkids for visits.”
After seeing the property in person, the couple purchased it and moved East to begin a new chapter in this pristine setting. “It’s the bluff that gets you,” says the homeowner. “You look out over a widening in the river—it’s almost like a private lake right there. That’s what won us over.”
Knowing their minimal apartment furniture would be lost in the three-bedroom main home, the owners hired designer Gina Fitzsimmons to furnish the interiors in a casual coastal style. “The first time I walked the property, I fell in love with it,” says Fitzsimmons. “It’s so charming; it has a Nantucket feeling.”
The designer set out to create a “cottagey” look, employing a neutral palette enlivened with waves of blue. She freshened up the kitchen, installing a new backsplash. And in the adjacent breakfast/sitting room, she replaced a Victorian fireplace with a new one surrounded by crisp paneling aligned with the windows above. Subtle cues, from driftwood sconces to a Sam Moore chair with a “porthole” back, pay homage to the shore. “I used a lot of bold, nautical-looking stripes without going overboard,” Fitzsimmons explains.
She created a tranquil refuge in the sunroom overlooking the river. Rattan chairs and sisal rugs lend an organic note. And Fitzsimmons expertly scaled the furniture to fit the more formal living and dining rooms. For example, a pair of petite loveseats in the living room leaves plenty of space for the couple’s baby grand piano.
Once the main home was complete, the owners set their sights on upgrading the run-down guest house. For help, they called on local architect Scott Rand, who renovated the main house in 1996 for the previous owners. When Rand and builder Pat Mona inspected the former stable, they uncovered how rudimentary its construction was. “There was very little in the way of foundation and it was just not salvageable,” the homeowner recalls. “So we essentially tore it down and Scott designed a new guest house in the same footprint.”
Rand fashioned the two-bedroom, one-and-a-half-bath structure to mimic the lines of the main cottage. “I used the same windows and trim and the same roof pitches,” says the architect. “There’s a commonality.”
After the dust settled in the guest house, Fitzsimmons returned to work her magic on its interiors, creating inviting spaces that echo her work in the main home. “I tried to use similar elements, but introduced teal instead of blue to give it a different twist,” she recounts.
Winding brick-and-stone pathways swathed in greenery and hydrangea lead to a terrace overlooking the water. Rustic stairs made of concrete and oyster shells descend to the Severn, where the owners are building a new sea wall that will contain a sandy area for their grandchildren to play.
The entire property has become a true family refuge. “There is the waterfront to encourage kids to play sports, Annapolis is a great town and having Washington, DC, close by also makes it an attraction,” says the husband. “I have a motorboat, but to tell you the truth we mostly use it to go to restaurants.”
Whether they’re entertaining the troops or enjoying their aerie alone, the owners never tire of gazing at the Severn, with the boats streaming by. “You get to know the people who are using the river and what it does in certain kinds of wind,” the homeowner reflects. “The river has a personality.”
Renovation Architecture: Scott L. Rand, AIA, Annapolis, Maryland. Interior Design: Gina Fitzsimmons, ASID, Fitzsimmons Design Associates, Annapolis, Maryland. Landscape Design: Andrea Lockett, The Landscape Design Center, Edgewater, Maryland. Guest House Contractor: Patrick Mona, Mona Design Build, Annapolis, Maryland.
When William Waybourn, a photographer and owner of DC’s Long View Gallery, purchased a condo in DC, he realized that although it was brand new, the property would require a few tweaks. With windows rimming the space on three sides, displaying art proved a challenge. Since he planned to host work events such as corporate team building etc. It was also a priority to him. In the kitchen, a too-small-to-be-useful island did little more than block circulation. So Waybourn tapped architect Ernesto Santalla to remedy these flaws in his 700-square-foot abode.
After careful study, Santalla made dramatic improvements with a few bold strokes. He created a paneled wall that screens off the bedroom and houses a TV—which also freed up a spot for art on the original TV wall. He traded the ineffective island for a much larger one that marries a work surface with a table that can seat up to eight for dinner or serve as a buffet for a bigger crowd.
Struck by how the glassed-in apartment seemed to hover above the complex’s plaza below, Santalla decided to play up that impression. He outfitted the space with floating ceiling panels, suspended globe pendants, wall-mounted furniture and chairs with minimal legs—all subtle cues that reinforce a feeling of airiness.
“When you have a small home, it’s important to create a sense of expansiveness,” he reasons. “One of the things we focus on is living well in less space.”
Why does a small space demand big art?
If you put lots of small things in a small space, it starts to get busy. Large art creates a very strong focal point and ultimately gives you a sense of expansion. It’s a play on scale.
How did you downplay the open kitchen?
Previously, the kitchen was really prominent. I didn’t want people to arrive in the living area and have the sense that “here I am in a kitchen.” I wanted it to be a backdrop to everything else going on. In the new design, the island and colorful chairs became the prominent objects, which helped the kitchen take on the look of a white wall.
How does lighting come into play?
There is an impulse in construction, in general, to put up walls. In condo spaces, this means that many rooms end up being too dark, so both day-lighting and artificial lighting are always big priorities. In this project, the lighting didn’t work. Our client needed better lighting for artwork and more functional lighting as well.
How did you incorporate added storage?
We designed custom furniture in the bedroom to maximize the use of space. Below the bed are a bunch of drawers where the homeowner stores all of his photographic equipment.
What’s your theory on using color in tight quarters?
I use color selectively and always in the context of neutrals. In this space, for example, the bright colors are in the same range. The eye is drawn to the artwork and the chairs; you get a sense there’s a lot of color when in fact there isn’t all that much.
What’s your secret to designing small homes?
Everything has to be well-designed and serve more than one function; otherwise, you start to hurt for space. Select materials that are going to stand up to daily use and are also beautiful.
Explain how you “find” more room in a condo.
Often, circulation areas take up a lot of usable space. In many condo remodels, we find ways to take back space given to circulation. Sometimes what happens is amazing. All of a sudden, a bathroom gets three times larger because circulation has been handled properly.
How has technology changed the game?
The big thing is connectivity. So much can be done working at home. That has changed the way we relate to our living spaces; we’re not creating dedicated spaces for home offices. People are working on their laptops in the living room, the bedroom or the backyard.
What advice do you give clients when downsizing?
You need to exercise a lot of restraint with what you have. Sometimes a client will bring something that’s not going to work and we have to face that. For example, you’re not going to have four sets of dishes.
How do you justify renovating a new property?
You have to have a good reason and a really good concept behind why you’re remodeling something that’s brand new. If a renovation gives clients what they already have, but just a little bit better, I think they’ve wasted their money. We’re always looking to transform a space and create a lifestyle that we can foresee for the next 20 years—not something that will soon be obsolete.
How does art elevate a home?
Art completes a space as the owner’s self-expression; it can take a room from excellent to outstanding.
What’s your secret to selecting pillows?
Pillows need to be the right scale and shape, and strike a balance between decorative and functional.
Design pet peeve?
Matchy-matchy.
What new product are you dying to try?
I’m always on a quest for new lighting. Right now, Artemide has introduced LED products on the forefront of lighting design that I am excited to use.
Name a favorite “low-end” find?
IKEA makes very attractive wardrobes that are fully customizable. The trick is to design around
IKEA’s size modules.
How do you warm up a modern room?
I do it primarily through color and texture.
Interior & Architectural Design: Ernesto Santalla, AIA, LEED AP, Ernesto Santalla PLLC, Washington, DC.
DEEP DIVE
The Orange Starfish Wallpaper Mural depicts an oversized specimen against a glinting turquoise sea. Available in three paper weights. From $3.25 per square foot. muralswallpaper.com
TOUCH OF GLASS
California artist Jeffrey M. Andrews created this signed, kiln-formed glass tray containing carved starfish in white gold leaf. 18 by eight inches; $276; 1stdibs.com
SALAD DAYS
Mariposa’s Starfish Salad Servers are fashioned out of recycled aluminum and decorated with sculptural, sandcast starfish designs. 12.5 inches long; $29. bloomingdales.com
DRIFT OFF
Coral-hued starfish dance across Nautica’s Ripple Cotton 3-Piece set. Choose between a comforter or duvet cover; shams are included. From $146; birchlane.com
SEA CATCH
Pottery Barn’s Starfish Napkin Rings marry resin “creatures” with rings wrapped in jute for a nautical touch. $5 each; potterybarn.com
NIGHT LIGHT
Pier 1’s Sea Point Metal Starfish Lantern, made of galvanized iron in a white finish, conjures summer’s eve by the shore. The lantern is 12.5 inches high; $59.95. pier1.com
Every two years, the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum spotlights emerging and mid-career makers deserving wider national recognition. “Disrupting Craft: Renwick Invitational 2018,” on view from November 9 through May 5, 2019, focuses on four artists who challenge conventional definitions of craft as well as social and cultural assumptions. As curator Abraham Thomas notes, “During such a drastic period of change for the craft field, an exhibition series like this can act as a friendly agitator.”
The 2018 jury selected Tanya Aguiñiga, whose fiber work reveals a personal narrative; Sharif Bey, whose ceramics range from utilitarian to sculptural; Dustin Farnsworth, whose creations in wood shed light on societal and economic decay; and Stephanie Syjuco, who questions typologies in her mixed-media installations. americanart.si.edu
The Washington area’s abundant arts scene got even richer with the October expansion of Glenstone Museum in Potomac. Five years and $200 million in the making, the addition of a boldly modern second building and 130 acres of pristine woodlands and meadows does more than double Glenstone’s original splendor. It also lands the venue firmly on the map as a world-class art institution.
Far from a line-up-at-the-turnstile attraction, Glenstone orchestrates a contemplative, immersive experience for guests, accentuating art, architecture and landscape design in equal measure. Visitors are greeted by guides at an arrival court, then dispatched on a gravel path meandering over a stream and through swaths of ferns and wildflowers. After they catch a glimpse of Jeff Koons’ mammoth “Split-Rocker” on the horizon, the Pavilions rises from the landscape.
Though it appears to be comprised of separate minimalist structures, visitors discover inside that the “pavilions” are actually connected via the airy Passage—a corridor rimmed with walls of glass that encircle a dream-like Water Court.
Designed by New York architect Thomas Phifer, the Pavilions houses 11 light-filled galleries, some with clerestory windows or floating walls, which display art from Glenstone’s collection. Billionaire industrialist Mitchell Rales and his wife, Glenstone director Emily Wei Rales, founded the museum to share their vast holdings with the public. While nine rooms in the Pavilions are devoted to a single artist, the largest houses an inaugural installation of 65 works by 52 artists, dating from 1943 to 1989.
Taking in the landscape is meant to be part of the experience, as viewers travel among the two museum buildings, 10 outdoor sculptures and two new cafés on site. “We considered the landscape as the inspiration,” explains Phifer. “From your first moments at Glenstone, the bustle of ordinary activities drops away and your mind and soul prepare for an intimate encounter with art.”
Glenstone Museum is open Thursday through Sunday; admission is free but reservations are required. glenstone.org
Pappe, which translates to “brother” in Punjabi, is an apt name for the new restaurant three friends opened together on 14th Street, NW. Vipul Kapila, chef Sanjay Mandhaiya and chef Shankar Puthran—who frequently met for dinner at Mandhaiya’s Saffron in Northern Virginia—realized their dream last spring. Melissa Funkey designed the interiors (above) using draped fabrics to evoke the street markets of Delhi and Jaipur. The menu, focusing on Northern Indian fare, includes such delicacies as paneer tikka Achari and lamb Vindaloo (left). 1317 14th Street, NW; 202-888-8220. pappedc.com
ELECTRIC ATTITUDE
In 2019, Porsche’s first all-electric sports car, the Taycan, will go into production. Previously dubbed the Mission E, the concept car features two permanently activated, synchronous motors generating an output of over 600 horsepower, and a lithium-ion battery that will enable it to drive for more than 300 miles on a single charge. porsche.com
SCREEN TIME
Bang & Olufsen has partnered with LG Electronics to create the BeoVision Eclipse, merging B&O’s renowned acoustic controls with LG’s OLED technology. A TV and music system in one, the Eclipse integrates Internet radio with music- and video-streaming services. A motorized floor stand even moves the TV around the room for optimal viewing. From $10,990. bang-olufsen.com
MAPS ON THE GO
Garmin’s new fenix 5 Plus series brings full GPS functionality to your wrist. The multi-sport watch helps bikers and runners map out routes and offers music storage, playback and a contactless payment system. Its fitness-tracking features include training stats and a Pulse Oximeter to gauge altitude acclimation. From $700. garmin.com
The National Museum of Women in the Arts celebrates the work of Rodarte from November 10 to February 10, 2019, in its first-ever fashion exhibit. Launched in 2005 by Los Angeles-based sisters Kate and Laura Mulleavy, Rodarte blurs the lines between art and fashion with its feminine, otherworldly creations. More than 100 complete looks will be on view. nmwa.org
Following a multi-million dollar renovation, Geneva’s 150-year-old Hotel de la Paix has reopened as The Ritz-Carlton Hotel de la Paix, Geneva. Located on the shore of Lake Geneva, the property sports an elegant lobby (right) and 74 guest rooms. The Grace Kelly Suite was named after the Princess of Monaco—once a regular guest at the hotel. It features Art Deco-style furnishings and gold-leaf gilding. In addition to two restaurants, a Philippe Pascoët chocolate shop is located on site. Rates from $455. ritzcarlton.com
The moment he set foot in the apartment— located in a recently completed building along DC’s U Street Corridor—a Washington resident in search of a new home knew it was right for him. Its high ceilings, abundant windows and spacious living/dining area cinched the deal for the association executive, who soon acquired it.
Realizing furniture from his former Dupont Circle condo would look dated and out of place in the modern residence, he enlisted designer Sophie Prévost of ColePrévost to help him outfit the interiors from scratch. “It didn’t have much character,” recalls Prévost, who recommended a few deft moves right off the bat. Reddish floors were refinished in pale blond. New lighting improved upon builder-grade fixtures. And custom millwork—from a large, white-oak unit in the living room to floating shelves in the study—would provide storage while displaying the owner’s books and ceramics collection.
The design scheme evolved organically as Prévost helped her client hone in on his personal aesthetic. This process of discovery, he says, yielded a few surprises. “When we started off, I thought I liked big, bold colors, drama and a little bit of edginess. But,” he admits, “I came to realize that while I like those things in other people’s homes, in my own I like something more tranquil and quiet—but not boring.”
With this clear mandate, Prévost presented him with multiple options. Rather than furnishing the apartment with off-the-shelf finds in one fell swoop, they sought quality and singularity over convenience. Their selections encompassed clean-lined furniture—including many bespoke pieces of ColePrévost’s design—richly textured fabrics and rugs and carefully curated modern art. “My client was always drawn to the better options because he has a good eye,” says Prévost.
They reviewed drawings of custom pieces together, refining ideas along the way. “It’s nice to have something that’s unique but also fits in beautifully with the theme of tranquility and subtle interest,” the owner remarks. “The shapes, textures and materials speak to me.”
Textiles and a warm color palette soften the furniture’s contemporary edge. Inspired by a brass floor lamp—the only element culled from his former home—Prévost started with a gold tone and paired it with masculine gray. Throughout the apartment, she tapped into variations of these shades, even applying color to the ceilings in the living room and study. “I love playing with color on the ceiling because I think it’s hardly noticeable but makes a difference in how a space feels,” she explains. “If the living-room ceiling were white, it would be really cold. If it were gray, it would be dark and gloomy. The yellow just gives it a glow.”
With a plethora of bars and restaurants practically at his doorstep, the homeowner says, “This has become the hot neighborhood. If I want to go out to the busyness of U Street, everything is in walking distance.”
But he also loves coming home to his completed apartment. “It has a great sense of brightness and light,” he reflects. “The way Sophie has it set up gives me a lot of open space. I use all of it. I can’t choose one favorite room over the others; the whole place is my favorite.”
Interior Design: Sophie Prévost, ASID, ColePrévost, Inc., Washington, DC. Custom Millwork & Furniture Design: ColePrévost, Washington, DC. Custom Cabinet & Millwork Fabrication: East Coast Woodworks, Stevensville, Maryland. Lighting Design: Hinson Design Group, Washington, DC.
As a July morning simmers on Maryland’s Gibson Island, golfers crisscross its rolling greens, summer campers hone their backhands on the tennis courts and moms cart water toys to the pool with toddlers in tow. Buttressed from the
pressures of city life, this 1,000-acre private isle rimmed by the Chesapeake Bay and Magothy River goes about its day without a care in the world.
After visiting a few years ago, a DC couple found the enclave near Annapolis impossible to resist. “It’s a secret little piece of heaven,” remarks the wife. “We were attracted by the proximity to Washington without having to cross the Bay Bridge.”
Soon after, she and her husband purchased a vacation home on one of the island’s tree-lined lanes. “We wanted a nice place to spend time with our daughter, family and friends—as well as an oasis so we could get away from the busyness of our professional lives in DC,” adds the wife, a political fundraiser whose husband is an executive at an education non-profit.
Despite its desirable location, the 1990 timber-frame house left much to be desired. Its rooms were dark and dingy and its kitchen and bathrooms screamed for an update. With minimal windows and outdoor living spaces, the vinyl-clad dwelling lacked a meaningful connection to its coastal environment.
Straight away, the owners created a clean slate by painting its mustard-yellow interior walls, wooden floors and pine beams a crisp white. Knowing a thorough overhaul would require professional help, they hired architect Jim Rill to upgrade what they found to be flimsy construction and instill the getaway with character and style.
Rill was confined to the home’s existing footprint by the community’s setback regulations. He cleverly created a bedroom for the owners’ six-year-old daughter by enclosing the two-story vaulted ceiling above the dining room. He designed a new wraparound porch—not only adding outdoor living space, but also bumping up curb appeal. A new screened porch complete with built-in heaters provides a year-round gathering spot.
“The outdoors is just as important as the indoors,” says Rill. “A room always feels bigger when you put a porch on it; the room flows outside and the outside comes in.”
During construction, Rill discovered that the home’s walls lacked structural support. “The original house appeared to be modular with walls just glued over the timber structure. None of the panels had framing—just foam and two pieces of drywall,” recalls the architect, who specified new framing during the renovation. “We also replaced all systems, windows, doors and hardware, so there’s not much left in this house that’s original.”
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As the plans crystalized, the owners tapped interior designer Nancy Harper to advise them on everything from material selection to furniture and art. The friendly architect-designer collaboration that ensued took the house in a decidedly “beachy” direction without going overboard.
Pale aqua accents on the exterior door frames, beadboard ceilings and even the new kitchen cabinets offer subtle reminders that the shimmering Chesapeake beckons nearby. “We wanted the vibe to be more soothing than bold,” says Harper.
The open kitchen was designed for easy entertaining. Cabinetry topped with no-fuss Caesarstone surrounds a large island with bar seating on one side and a pull-out work table on the other.
New French doors flood the adjacent dining area with light. Along with added windows in the kitchen, they forge a connection to the outdoors. Efficient circulation between the interiors and porches was part of the plan, as the homeowners host a steady stream of guests who settle into two extra bedrooms with en suite baths, one on the ground floor and another upstairs. “That was the biggest driver for our decision-making as we’d consider, ‘How does this work for guests?’” reports Harper.
Working with the owners’ existing furniture (some acquired with help from a previous designer), Harper tied it all together via a judicious selection of fabrics, accessories and art. “Though both clients come from traditional backgrounds, she is drawn towards the modern,” says Harper. “It was a matter of threading the needle on being sleek and sophisticated but still comfortable and kid-friendly.”
Approachable and not stuffy, the home now makes a perfect base for the owners, who live there full-time between May and September. Both parents work at home and commute to DC as needed. This leaves plenty of time for sailing, fishing, canoeing, paddle boarding and swimming in the island’s freshwater lake—followed by a rinse in their new outdoor shower tucked behind the carport where the family stores their golf carts (the preferred mode of transport among Gibson Islanders).
For the owners of this utterly chic retreat, arriving on Gibson Island—a world away from their DC neighborhood—is an instant balm. “It is calm and quiet. We can ride our bikes wherever we want,” says the wife. “Our daughter can be a kid there and run around and be safe. It’s a breath of fresh air.”
Renovation Architecture: James Rill, AIA, Rill Architects, Bethesda, Maryland. Interior Design: Nancy Harper, Studio Miel, Washington, DC. Landscape Design: Christopher J. Dow, Gibson Island Corporation, Gibson Island, Maryland. Renovation Contractor: Thorsen Construction, Alexandria, Virginia.
RESOURCES
PORCH
Sofa & Chairs: southernhomeinc.com. Swing: ballarddesigns.com. Sofa, Swing & Chair Fabric: sunbrella.com. Stools: palecek.com. Throw Pillows: nomiinc.com, onekingslane.com. Bar Cart: serenaandLily.com. Fan: minkagroup.com. Planter: shopterrain.com. Flooring: fiberondecking.com.
LIVING ROOM
Sofa & Skirted Chair: leeindustries.com. Console, Rug, Wooden Armchair, Ottoman, Side Tables & Lamps: Owners’ collection. Ottoman: oomphhome.com.Chair Fabric: archivenewyork.com. Throw Pillows: Victoria-larson.com, Victoria Larson, marikameyertextiles.com, lakeaugust.com. Ceiling Paint: benjaminmoore.com. Chandelier: shadesoflight.com. Painting: jamiekirklandart.com through gallery-orange.com. Drapery Fabric: pindler.com. Fabrication: Leslie Pease
ENTRYWAY
Hallway Mirror & Pink Console: Owners’ collection. Rug: georgetowncarpet.com. Carpet Design: mcnamara-design.com. Pillow: archivenewyork.com.
KITCHEN
Countertops: graniteworksmd.com. Cabinets: crown-point.com. Stools: bungalow5.com. Macaroon Painting: Stella Leblanc through gallery-orange.com. Flooring: trinitytile.com. Hood: subzero-wolf.com. Paint Colors: benjaminmoore.com.
DINING ROOM
Table: zgallerie.com. Chairs: bungalow5.com. Chair Fabric: sisterparishdesign. Cushion Fabric: nomiinc.com. Pillow Fabric: sisterparishdesign.com, radishmoon.com. Lighting: pelledesigns.com.
OUTDOOR SHOWER
Tile: missionstoneandtile.com. Shower Head: outdoorshowerco.com.
MAIN-LEVEL GUEST BEDROOM
Bed: leeindustries.com. Headboard Fabric: pindler.com. Bedding: leontinelinens.com. Side Tables: onekingslane.com. Bedside Lamps: janabekdesigns.
GIRL’S BEDROOM
Beds: crateandbarrel.com. Bedding: potterybarn.com. Throws: vintage. Throw Pillows: johnrobshaw.com. Sconces: schoolhouse.com. Drapery: sisterparishdesigns.com, samuelandsons.com. Fabrication: Leslie Pease. Bench Fabric: serenaandlily.com. Poufs: Owners’ collection. Rug: mohawkflooring.net. Installation: rickscarpetandflooring.com.
MASTER BEDROOM
Bed & Side Tables: Owners’ collection. Side Table Decoration: mcnamara-design.com. Bedding: leontinelinens.com. Throw Pillows: johnrobshaw.com, quadrillefabrics.com. Throw: jonathanadler.com. Sconces & Floor Lamp: circalighting.com. Armchair: bungalow5.com. Drapery Fabric: quadrillefabric.com. Drapery Fabrication: Leslie Pease.
MASTER BATHROOM
Countertop: caesarstoneus.com. Vanity: crown-point.com. Lighting: rh.com. Shower Tile: annsacks.com. Shower-Floor Tile: architecturalceramics.com.
Purchased for weekend getaways, a tiny 1970s-era cottage near Deep Creek Lake in Western Maryland was starting to feel cramped and awkward to its DC-area owners and their two kids. So they turned to architect Greg Uekman for help. Assuming a teardown would be in order, he recalls, “When I visited the site, I realized they had bonded with the house and wanted to work around what was there.”
Taking inspiration from rural homesteads augmented over time with additions and outbuildings, Uekman developed a plan that would double the original home’s 800 square feet. A new roof mimics the lines of the original, now covering an enlarged master bedroom on the second floor. While the footprint of the main building remains the same, a new guest room is housed in a separate structure connected via a glass bridge. Red-cedar siding recalling a barn exterior, a new wraparound deck and an outdoor ski closet near the front entry clad in standing-seam metal put a modern spin on the “homestead” vernacular.
The owners love sharing their improved retreat with friends and family. “When I think of what the house is all about,” Uekman concludes, “it’s joy.”
Renovation Architecture: Gregory Uekman, AIA, Uekman Architects, LLC, Bethesda, Maryland. Contractor: Stan Eggleston, Eggleston Construction, Oakland, Maryland.
From the outside, it’s easy to assume that the Foursquare-style house built in 1919 has a storied American past. After all, its first resident, Daniel Calhoun Roper, was FDR’s Secretary of Commerce.
But this brick manse is actually a bastion of Finland, having housed 14 Finnish ambassadors to Washington since that nation acquired it in 1946. Once visitors cross its porticoed threshold today, they find interiors that celebrate all things Finnish, from iconic mid-century furnishings and art to a poolside sauna—home to occasional meetings of the Diplomatic Finnish Sauna Society (more on that later).
The residence has seen numerous renovations and expansions over the years. In 1959, a wooden porch was enclosed and a backyard pond was converted into a swimming pool—later joined by a log-covered sauna.
A 2006 makeover extended the dining room, created a sun-filled wing called the Winter Garden and built a patio with stone walkways descending to the pool terrace, where a modern sauna building replaced the original.
Throughout the decades, traditional interiors reflected the home’s vintage. But Finland’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs eventually decided that the residence was due for an update. In 2013, the Ministry and Finland-based interiors firm Protest Design Oy launched a makeover aimed at capturing the spirit and breadth of Finnish design and art today. They focused on elements crafted from organic, renewable materials to reflect the Finns’ love of nature.
“We felt the original architecture stood fine on its own—only the lighting needed a little update,” says interior architect Marko Nenonen of Protest Design Oy. “But the residence was furnished with classic art and furniture, which we thought was a little pompous and didn’t say much about today’s Finland. We wanted to create a vibrant and layered interior by mixing art and design pieces from different eras, as if someone had collected these items over a long period.”
The project was completed before Ambassador Kirsti Kauppi arrived in DC in 2015. “I really love the house,” she says. “My favorite room is the Winter Garden. It’s so peaceful and you can see how nature changes all the time. Of course, there are the gray seasons but they’re not very long here in Washington.”
On a tour of the residence, Kauppi remarks, “We’re a small nation but we really have the whole range of creative talent. I like to say that everything in here—furniture, textiles, design, art—is Finnish. The only thing that is not is this carpet—and it’s Swedish,” she quips, pointing out the foyer rug in a nod to her Nordic neighbor.
Small meetings often take place in the front sitting room, furnished with mid-century classics by Alvar Aalto. “Aalto is the most famous architect in terms of functionalism,” the ambassador says. “He’s a good example of an architect who designed furniture, lamps, vases and more.”
Like the residence itself, she explains, much of the furniture and art on display represents a bridge between Finland and the U.S. For example, a table and chairs by Finnish architect Eliel Saarinen grace the Winter Garden while Womb Chairs by his son, Eero Saarinen, dot the living room. A boy when his family immigrated to the U.S., the younger architect would later design Washington Dulles International Airport.
“The other thing I love is that we have a lot of works of art and design by women,” Kauppi continues, “not only contemporary but from the 19th and 20th centuries—really avant-garde women artists in their time.”
Kauppi hosts more than 100 events a year at the residence, welcoming heads of state, diplomats, politicians, journalists, expats, artists and musicians. The house, she says, helps facilitate diplomatic connections. “It’s about exchanging views and learning about each other, but it’s also very much about telling the story of Finland through the building, through the interior decoration, even through the food.” The ambassador welcomed a new chef in August after his predecessor was tapped as official chef of Finland’s president, Sauli Niinistö, who has visited the Washington residence four times during Kauppi’s tenure.
Recently, Kauppi held a luncheon for female ambassadors to welcome new colleagues from Germany and Moldova. “We are good friends,” she said of the loose-knit group of about 20. “The beauty of our sisterhood is that we know that, no matter where we are, we can rely on each other. It’s a great source of strength.”
One of the most coveted invitations, though, is a meeting of the Diplomatic Finnish Sauna Society. An embassy press officer launched the group in 2008 to celebrate the Finns’ reverence for turning up the heat together: In a country of five million people, there are an estimated three million saunas.
The Society hosts casual evenings at the ambassador’s residence and at the nearby embassy, which boasts a sauna of its own. “We always have some kind of program, then you go to the sauna and then you eat,” says Kauppi. “It’s a platform for connecting in an informal setting.
“We love nature and we love authenticity,” she continues. “Saunas are a place where you relax and pause. It’s very much about people being genuine. You cannot pretend anything if you are naked in a sauna. That’s the beauty of it.”
Whether a visitor comes for a steam, a concert or an official tête-à-tête, Kauppi welcomes them with warm hospitality and lack of pretense. “Every time I host a simple event or corporate event here,” she vows, “I say that in this house the tradition is that you can talk openly, frankly—and in a good atmosphere.”
