A couple who approached Amber Bullock to revitalize their existing master bath had some specific requests. They wanted a linen closet, better light and a sense of style. Bullock’s plan included a wall-hung, cherry-stained vanity, recessed uplift medicine cabinets, a freestanding Clarke Architectural tub and a layered lighting plan. Bullock established a serene aesthetic with an accent wall of three-dimensional tile framed by glossy, large-format porcelain tile. A mosaic niche over the tub and a natural-stone and glass-tile backsplash add subtle contrast. As Bullock explains, “These elements harmonize well to create an edited yet detailed space.”

Bath Design: Amber E. Bullock, AKBD, Allied ASID, AElise Designs LLC, Gaithersburg, Maryland. Co-Designer:  Marian Ostach, Bray & Scarff, Alexandria, Virginia. Contractor: All Seasons Construction, Parkville, Maryland. 

Details. . . CAD Consultant: Geoffrey Moore, Jr., Blue Room Studio & Design: 301-742-1857. Cabinets: omegacabinetry.com. Sinks: kohler.com. Faucets: brizo.com. Tub: clarkearchitectural.com. Plumbing Source: tsomerville.com. Pendants: jdg.com. Wall Tile Source: mosaictileco.com. Floor Tile: porcelanosa-usa.com. Calacatta Countertop: fernandosmarbleshop.com.

A mother of three tapped designer Maria Causey to transform her 107-square-foot master bath into a relaxing getaway at home. Replacing a dark and depressing predecessor, this light and airy space incorporates a freestanding Signature Hardware tub with a slim-profile Delta faucet, an enlarged shower, a new 36-inch double vanity that accommodates the husband’s height, and wall-mounted and recessed lighting. A navy blue vanity contrasts with the serene material palette. Hexagonal mosaic tiles pave the floor, while neutral Carrara marble and bold Fireclay Tile accents lend the shower color and style.

Bath Design: Maria Causey, Maria Causey Interior Design, Aldie, Virginia. Contractor: Beauchain Builders, Sterling, Virginia. 

Details. . . Cabinets: ntimedesignllc.com. Carrara Marble Wall Tile, Floor Tile & Kasbah Trellis Fire Clay Accent Tile: tileshop.com. Marble Countertop: glbtileandmarble.com. Tub, Tub Faucet & Kohler Showerhead: ferguson.com. Shades: graberblinds.com.

Part of the makeover of a 100-year-old farmhouse, this pantry/bar lures guests away from the main prep area while cooking is underway. On one side, a beverage center includes a wet bar, wine storage, under-counter icemaker and dishwasher, with plenty of bar storage above. On the other side, the owners store pantry essentials. Kitchen designer Sarah Kahn Turner detailed the space with Premier Custom Built cabinetry in fumed oak with leaded-glass doors and a new brick archway. The same brick doubles as a maintenance-free floor for dogs coming in and out of the nearby door.

Kitchen Design: Sarah Kahn Turner, Jennifer Gilmer Kitchen & Bath, Chevy Chase, Maryland. Architecture: Richard Williams, FAIA, Richard Williams Architects, Washington, DC. Contractor: Alliance Builders, Crofton, Maryland.

Details. . .Cabinets: premiercb.com. Brick: generalshale.com. Taj Mahal Quartz Countertop & Backsplash: avantimarblegranite.com.  Wine Cooler: subzero-wolf.com through fretz.com. Wall-Mount Faucet: newportbrass.com through ferguson.com.

Architect Charles Moore, interior designer Lauren Liess and kitchen designer Hannah Rasa designed a library to complement the Arts and Crafts style of the client’s home. It features custom millwork by CWP Cabinets blending open bookcases and closed components to store the owner’s treasures. The design team chose Shaker-style cabinet doors with quarter-round molding for extra detail. The wall of built-in storage lets the homeowners display—and organize—a range of books, decorative items and family photos. The cabinets are aligned with windows above, which provide views of the garden and plenty of natural light.

Cabinet Provider: Hannah Rasa, LEED AP, NCIDQ, HPR Designs, Rockville, Maryland. Architecture: Moore Architects, PC, Falls Church, Virginia. Interior Design: Lauren Liess, Lauren Liess & Co., Great Falls, Virginia. Builder: Ironstar Building Company, Arlington, Virginia.

Details. . . Cabinetry: cwpcabinetry.com. Paint: sherwin-williams.com.

In their renovation of an Annapolis kitchen, Scarlett Breeding and Richard T. Anuszkiewicz created a vision in white encompassing a dining area with a leather banquette, custom Lucite table and water view. The pagoda-inspired hood boasts polished stainless-steel accents, as do the high-lacquer Premier Custom Built cabinets. The backsplash and an existing fireplace are clad in Neolith marble. A freestanding range wall separates the main kitchen from a rear service kitchen with abundant storage that meets the needs of a large family. The final touch of drama: a white geometric motif hand-painted on the existing dark-wood floors.

Kitchen Design: Scarlett Breeding, AIA, project manager; Richard T. Anuszkiewicz, casework and interior architecture design, Alt Breeding Associates Architecture, Annapolis, Maryland. Builder: Pyramid Builders, Annapolis, Maryland. 

Details. . . Cabinets & Hood: premiercb.com. Range: vikingrange.com. Chandelier: niermannweeks.com. Custom Lucite Table: spectrumcollection.com. Neolith Countertops & Backsplash: atlasstonefabricators.com. Banquette: edelmanleather.com. Plumbing: kallista.com. Floor Painting: artstarcustompaintworks.com

This renovation of an outdated 1970s ranch kitchen bumped out the dining area toward the backyard and installed new windows to filter in daylight. Jonas Carnemark designed the space to reflect the client’s preference for clean lines and a less-is-more mentality. Despite its minimalist profile, the kitchen delivers plenty of functionality and storage. An island in rich truffle brown veneer offsets the peripheral cabinets and hand-blown glass pendants hang overhead. Built-in shelving, a microwave drawer and a Miele Combi-Steam oven ensure a seamless cooking experience.

Design & Build: Jonas Carnemark, CARNEMARK design + build, Bethesda, Maryland.

Details. . . Cabinets: konstsiematic.com. Countertop: caesarstoneus.com. Hood: siriuscappe.com/usa. Ovens & Stovetop: mieleusa.com. Faucet: grohe.com.

Scrapping an outdated sunroom, Sun Design Remodeling orchestrated a new covered porch that connects the clients’ rec room and backyard pool. It features a double-sided fireplace, a Primo Oval ceramic grill that also bakes, roasts and smokes, a Wolf outdoor grill with side burner and a Sub-Zero refrigerator. Motorized retractable screens, controlled by wall-mounted or hand-held remotes, protect the owners and their guests from the elements (and pesky insects). And lighting, as well as an irrigation system, is integrated into the porch columns. All in all, it’s a perfect spot for casual family meals or large gatherings.

Design & Contracting: Bob Gallaher, John Benedetto, Morgan Hutchinson, Sun Design Remodeling, Burke and McLean, Virginia. 

Details. . . Framing: twperry.com. Plumbing & Electrical Fixtures: ferguson.com. Grill & Refrigerator: subzero-wolf.com. Smoker: primogrill.com. Granite Countertop: stoneandtileworld.com. Cabinetry: naturekast.com.

Tired of their outdated kitchen and lack of storage and counter space, a Sterling, Virginia, couple decided to renovate. Designer Zied Hammami, on a tight budget of under $40,000, was able to make dramatic improvements. Removing an old bulkhead created room for taller cabinets; a new furniture-style island with a built-in GE Café Series cooktop created better workspace. Shaker-style Wynnbrooke cabinets feature roll-out trays, glass inserts, pull-out shelves and wine storage. To keep costs down, Hammami refinished existing red-oak floors in a lighter shade. Recessed lights brightened the ambiance while Supreme White granite countertops and a gray, glass subway-tile backsplash cinched the polished new look.

Design: Zied Hammami, Abbey Design Center, Sterling, Virginia. 

Details. . . GE Café Series Cooktop: geappliances.com. Faucet: hansgrohe-usa.com. Cabinets: wynnbrooke.com. Countertops: Dulles Granite & Marble; 703-498-2728. Undercounter LED Lighting: kichler.com.

SOUTHEAST ASIA MEETS SOUTHWEST DC
Chef Cathal Armstrong and his wife, Meshelle Armstrong, are now celebrating the bold flavors of Thailand, Korea and Meshelle’s native Philippines at their new hot spot, Kaliwa, located in District Wharf. Meshelle  designed the restaurant interior in conjunction with Patrick's Design House.The dining room sports a riot of coco-shell chandeliers from the Philippines, while a photograph of a tattooed female figure dominates the bar. The cocktail menu tempts with libations such as the Frozen Mai Tai and the Phuket Sunburn, laced with Thai chilis. 751 Wharf Street, SW; 202-516-4739.

Dining Out

kaliwadc.com

MIDDLE EASTERN MEZZE
Restaurateur Ashok Bajaj (Rasika, Bibiana) has opened an Israeli eatery, Sababa, in the Cleveland Park location of the former Ardeo+Bardeo. Sababa, which means “cool and carefree” in Hebrew, is headed by chef Ryan Moore; the cuisine focuses on salads, hummus, mezze, kebabs and a wide array of vegetarian options. Martin Vahtra of Projects Design Associates dreamed up the interiors, which include a bar clad in antique tile. 3311 Connecticut Avenue, NW; 202-244-6750. sababauptown.com

Housed in an 18th-century building between the Louvre and the Paris Opera, the Grand Hôtel du Palais Royal pampers guests in 68 rooms and suites—some with their own balcony (pictured above).Paris Escape The Romance in Paris package includes flowers upon arrival, Champagne and breakfast for two from $590; grandhoteldupalaisroyal.com

Clean SlateA couple with grown kids decided to trade their large DC home for a condo in the Watergate. They were enticed by the landmark building’s enviable location and its dramatic Potomac River views. But the heavy, gilded décor in their 11th-story unit? Not so much.

They approached BOWA, a design/build firm that had already completed a handful of updates in the complex, to bring their interiors into the 21st century with modern finishes and an improved, open floor plan that would accentuate vistas of the Georgetown waterfront.

Though a previous renovation had combined two apartments into the one they purchased, the result was far from desirable. “It was a very disjointed, half-hearted effort,” says BOWA principal Steve Kirstein. “Our clients knew immediately that it had to be a clean slate. We gutted all the walls, the piping, the electrical. Everything was redone, soup to nuts.”

The husband also knew exactly what he wanted, describing a precise vision he had developed for the reworked layout at initial design meetings with Kirstein and architect David Shove-Brown of //3877. “David and I took the owner’s concept and turned it into a buildable plan,” Kirstein recalls. “But it was a very complicated project.”

The makeover would give the kitchen, which was crammed into one end of the existing condo, a prominent presence in the center of the home, open to a spacious living and dining area. A new guest room and bathroom would occupy the space that had previously been the kitchen, while the master bathroom would also move to make way for a large dressing room in a luxurious master suite. The efficient plan also called for a library, a home office and a guest sitting room with a Murphy bed—all of which would enjoy views of the river.

“The owners wanted to live toward the exterior, near the glass walls of the residence. That meant we had to get working plumbing into the far reaches of the project where none had existed before, and we had to make it work in conjunction with the building and code,” Kirstein explains. “We achieved that through some pretty creative uses of the millwork.”

A  careful study of previous renovations revealed an old plumbing stack. BOWA got permission to rebuild it, which helped bring plumbing to the new kitchen.

Running a construction site on the 11th story of a luxury building full of residents presented another challenge. “You need to be very organized because you’re shutting down whole tiers of plumbing, electrical and phone within the building, impacting everyone who lives above and below,” Kirstein remarks. During the process, fixtures, appliances, and building materials were salvaged and either recycled or donated to The ReBuild Warehouse in Springfield, Virginia.

Throughout the completed residence, pale rift-maple flooring and crisp, custom cabinetry, also in maple, set a light and airy tone. In lieu of a series of walled-in rooms, open spaces delineated by millwork partitions that don’t block the residence’s curving wall of windows improve circulation and create dramatic sight lines indoors and out. A HomeWorks lighting system and automated Lutron window shades enable the owners to adjust light levels with ease. All exterior glass was replaced with new windows, boosting energy efficiency.

Admitting that he had never before worked with a client who had such a clear vision for a remodel, Steve Kirstein reflects, “When I first met him, I thought, ‘There’s no way we’re going to be able to pull this thing off.’ But we kept at it and, sure enough, by the time we had everything figured out, we got it all to work.”

The owners are thrilled with their new home and never tire of the scene unfolding below. “The Watergate has unparalleled views,” marvels Kirstein. “When you’re up there and all of a sudden a helicopter comes down the river below you, it’s just wild.”

Renovation Architecture: David Shove-Brown, //3877, Washington, DC. Design/Build: Steve Kirstein, principal; John Murray, production manager, Craig Manning, project manager, BOWA, McLean, Virginia. Custom Millwork Fabrication: Woods and Style, Gaithersburg, Maryland.

Game Changer Attending the 2008 Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) was an eye-opening experience for Richard Anuszkiewicz, then a sophomore design student at Virginia Tech. Not only did he decide then and there to focus his career on kitchen design, but he also set another lofty goal. “I vowed someday to design my own kitchen at KBIS to inspire others,” he recalls.

Ten years later, the Annapolis-based designer accomplished just that when German manufacturer Liebherr asked him to create a kitchen showcasing its new state-of-the-art refrigerator line at KBIS 2018, held last January in Orlando.

No stranger to the limelight, Anuszkiewicz was one of KBIS’s inaugural “30 Under 30” designers at the 2013 show and frequently speaks nationally about one of his favorite subjects, “fashion-forward” design. He readily accepted Liebherr’s challenge and got to work designing a luxury kitchen that would reflect the caliber of the company’s new product.

“We incorporated some stunning finishes and a few design details that frankly have never been done before,” he says. Built around a multi-tiered island with an integrated banquette, the kitchen featured refrigeration “armoires” in aged bronze and exotic eucalyptus and a custom dining table with brass accents. Likening the space to a concept vehicle that “pushes boundaries,” Anuszkiewicz explains, “I wanted to change consumers’ perceptions of what a kitchen should or could be.”

What sparked your creative concept?
Liebherr’s new refrigerator is called Monolith, which means “carved from one piece.” I used that definition as inspiration for my room. It’s very rectilinear and has a simple overall geometry. For example, the island’s multi-tiered surfaces look like they’re carved from one piece.

What kind of statement did you want to make?
I’m very inspired by vehicle design. In my mind, I relate this kitchen to the idea of a concept car in which I would showcase exotic materials and execute them in interesting ways. I wanted to evoke a masculine quality with finishes that are dark and moody, but there was also a hint of glamour and an overall provocative nature.

Describe a game-changing element in the space.
For quite a while, I’ve wanted to do a bronze refrigerator. But what makes it special is that it’s actually a 30-inch refrigerator and a 24-inch freezer that read as two completely symmetrical units. A lot of clients need more refrigerator than freezer space, so on the 30-inch door, I ran a “reveal” line that reads as a door edge. This refrigerator, with the leather-stitched handles, was one of the most talked-about elements of the kitchen.

What makes a successful kitchen design?
While the kitchen of yesterday was strictly a utilitarian space, the kitchen of today is so much more—it’s where people congregate, gather and entertain. So I approach a kitchen very much as I would approach the interior design of a room. It’s too literal to think you have to use one finish throughout the space. A sophisticated kitchen has to be well-curated and collected.

How do you ensure that materials play well together?
I’m passionate about materials and mindful about layering a palette with beautiful textures. To me, a successful space should have a harmonious effect and everything should feel balanced. Nothing should hit you in the face.

I also love to mix metals. In this kitchen, I saw stainless steel as a neutral and used the bronze hue for warmer pops of color.

What trends are on your radar?
I love white marble and I think it’s forever classic, but conceptually, we’ve seen it before. I wanted to show people at KBIS that you can do a dark counter as well, and it can look just as phenomenal.

As much as brass has come full circle, I feel that way about bleached and cerused woods. We’re using them a lot in our work. We’re also seeing a lot of textured and geometric tiles.

What are your favorite sources of inspiration?
I push myself to rely on outside inspiration because I want my work to be as original as possible. I can’t say that there’s one source I always go to because it’s so random for me.

I find inspiration in music. And Instagram is a resource where I look at different fashion houses—my top three are Balmain, Tom Ford, and Gucci. Tom Ford is my hero in artistry; I would love to be the Tom Ford of kitchens someday.

Ultimately, it’s a matter of being open to the world around you and realizing that you could be walking down the street and it could be the color of a flower in nature or the way a song strikes a certain mood. You can truly find inspiration in all things.

Kitchen Design: Richard T. Anuszkiewicz, Alt Breeding Schwarz Architects, Annapolis, Maryland. Cabinet Design: Premier Custom Built Cabinetry, New Holland, Pennsylvania.

Pretty in Pink New York designer Ulla Johnson’s fresh Spring/Summer 2018 collection presents flowing frocks and footwear with attitude. Pictured above, front: the Piper Poncho ($575); the Polline Dress ($565); and Yasmina Booties ($625). ullajohnson.com

VINTAGE DEBUT
District Winery in The Yards will uncork the first-ever wine commercially produced from start to finish in DC—a dry rosé made from Californian Old Vine Grenache grapes. The 17,000-square-foot venue, designed by HapstakDemetriou+ houses Ana Restaurant overlooking the Anacostia, serving Golden Beet Muhammara; and barrel rooms. It also includes a state-of-the-art production facility and private-event spaces. 385 Water Street, SE; 202-484-9210; districtwinery.com

FOOD WITHOUT BORDERS
Rose Previte of DC’s Compass Rose has cultivated a new hit with Maydan. After a food tour of Lebanon, Morocco, Tunisia, Turkey and Georgia, she and chefs Gerald Addison and Chris Morgan have crafted a menu blending these countries’ cuisines. Interiors by architect Michelle Bove and designer Martina Crivella center on an open hearth equipped with a towering copper hood
and a Georgian-style oven. 1346 Florida Avenue, NW; 202-370-3696. maydandc.com

A luxurious summer camp for all ages, Taylor River Lodge near Crested Butte, Colorado, accommodates up to 32 guests in eight rustic-chic cabins designed by Blake Pike of No. 12 Interiors. After days spent hiking, fly fishing or mountain biking, enjoy a soak in the salt-water Bath House pool or a libation at the dining-hall bar. Open from June to December; nightly all-inclusive rates are $1,720 per cabin. elevenexperience.com