At 70, Ian Schrager of Studio 54 fame is not resting on his disco laurels. Schrager’s latest venture is Public, a hotel designed by Herzog & de Meuron on the Lower East Side. From its 367 rooms noted for “effortless, timeless, purist design” to The Roof (pictured), where indoor and outdoor porches deliver panoramic 360-degree views of Manhattan, the property was conceived to provide democratic “luxury for all.” Rates from $150. publichotels.com
FRESH START
A couple with young boys saw potential in the 1980s-era Arnold, Maryland, the home they’d recently purchased, though they knew it needed substantial work. They hired Owings Brothers Contracting of Eldersburg, Maryland, to complete a major overhaul, from modernizing the outdated kitchen and baths to opening up the interiors to views of the Severn River. They also traded a dark, clunky wooden staircase for lighter hickory wood stairs framed in glass—and incorporated an indoor slide that the boys now enjoy when heading down to their playroom on the newly finished lower level.
TRANQUIL RETREAT
Tasked with renovating a drab master bath in Great Falls, Virginia, AV Architects + Builders started by reconfiguring its dysfunctional layout. Shifting what had been a large walk-in closet to a disused side of the adjacent bedroom, they gained valuable space for an oversized tub; an open shower with rain, hand-held and regular shower heads; and a WC screened by frosted glass. Oversized porcelain tile from Marble Systems covers the walls and the floors, which are equipped with radiant heating; a new window bathes the room in light. Meanwhile, double vanities and a built-in bench beckon on the other side of this modern, spa-like space.
A young couple with three children under the age of seven fell in love with a new, six-bedroom house in McLean after targeting its specific neighborhood in their search for a larger home. “We liked that McLean has a little downtown area, but it’s still close to DC,” says the wife. “The schools are really good and there are a lot of families with young kids.”
They bought the home, but faced a common quandary: how to create chic, grown-up interiors that would withstand the rough-and-tumble lifestyle of active little ones?
Luckily, they hired designer Celia Welch, who captured her clients’ sense of style while keeping a practical eye on durability. “The house was an empty shell and didn’t say anything about who they are,” Welch recalls. “It was a matter of carefully working with existing architecture to bring in their personalities.”
Another priority was minimizing clutter. “Initially, toys were everywhere,” the designer continues. “We needed to integrate the children into space but hide their things so it wouldn’t feel like a kids’ space all the time.”
As Welch and her clients worked on a furniture plan, they blended retail finds with custom pieces—including an office credenza, a breakfast table and sideboard and a family-room storage unit, all designed by Welch and fabricated by a local woodworker. By sketching out the details and proportions and specifying the exact wood grain and finish for these pieces, she gave her clients lasting, one-of-a-kind furnishings that perfectly fit their needs.
Dark-stained floors and pale gray walls set the tone for rooms on the ground level, while blue accents add just the right measure of color. Artwork sourced at Kaller Fine Arts in DC also makes a bold statement, from the abstract piece that greets guests in the main entrance to the bright photographs printed on aluminum that hang in the wife’s home office. With paneled walls painted in glossy charcoal, this study is more sexy than sedate. Marble tops the desk and custom blue-velvet upholstery adds a touch of glam to a Restoration Hardware chair.
A serene vibe prevails in the living room, where pale blue Romo upholstery on the A. Rudin sofa and a painting called “Winter” add soft hints of blue.
The center hall leads to the facing dining and family rooms. In the former, blue Cowtan & Tout grass cloth provides texture above crisp white wainscoting; an Arteriors chandelier adds industrial flair. Tight-backed sofas, leather chairs and a leather-topped ottoman in the family room withstand marauding youngsters, who store their belongings in the corner unit that Welch carefully designed to hold every last little car and truck. “Keeping things in their place creates a sense of order,” says Welch. “Once people know there’s a space for everything, they’re more relaxed.”
The wife agrees, “The family room is sleek and clean, but it’s functional. The kids climb all over the place. When they go to bed, I put all their toys away and it looks really nice.”
The adjacent breakfast nook serves as another kid-friendly yet stylish hangout. A blue accent wall offsets family photos displayed on narrow metal shelves. Welch designed the wooden table and matching bench to be comfortable for all ages. To guarantee easy cleanup, she selected simple metal chairs from Design Within Reach. And the sideboard, also designed by Welch, neatly stores books and toys along with serving pieces.
The family loves to cozy up on the screened porch, complete with a fireplace and flat-screen TV. Restoration Hardware furniture and a rug from Crate & Barrel make it a fun gathering spot well into fall.
Now that they’ve settled into their new home, the owners enjoy every space, whether they are reading with the children or throwing an elegant dinner party. “This project shows my core philosophy,” reflects Welch. “Things look beautiful and refined but are still very comfortable and easy. I truly believe that if there’s simplicity in the design, it creates an ease in the way you live.”
Interior Design: Celia Welch, Celia Welch Interiors, Bethesda, Maryland.
The home should be the treasure chest of living,” the modernist Le Corbusier once wrote.
This insightful nugget would likely have resonated with one couple preparing to design and build a new home in Bethesda. Both CEOs who frequently travel for work, they envisioned a holistic refuge for their family of four that would cosset their way of life.
“We wanted it to feel like a resort so we wouldn’t have to leave to get that feeling of a vacation,” says the wife. They also wanted space for entertaining large groups and, she adds, “enough storage to keep everything behind closed doors—clean lines and no clutter.”
The team assembled to design and build this Shangri La embraced their clients’ requests wholeheartedly. Architects George T. Myers and Mark Kaufman, designer Sophie Prévost, landscape designer Joel Hafner and builder Phil Leibovitz collaborated from start to finish, delivering such five-star amenities as a gym concealed behind frosted glass and a pool with a swim-up bar.
After the couple purchased a compact lot in a stately Bethesda neighborhood, they started by reviewing several of GTM’s existing floor plans. “We combined different elements from each into a new custom plan that met the clients’ goals,” says Kaufman.
Avowed modernists, the owners made modifications to the classic design for a more streamlined, pared-down whole. Instead of a stone exterior, they opted for gray stucco. Window mullions and a custom door with bands of mahogany and glass emphasize horizontal lines. “We removed some of the traditional visual cues and went with less decorative trim on the interior,” Kaufman notes.
The “distilled center-hall colonial,” as he calls it, ushers guests into a foyer flanked by living and dining rooms. It leads to an open kitchen and family room rimmed on the back by walls of glass. The lower level features a great room, an arts-and-crafts room, a gym and a bunkroom that sleeps the owners’ two young daughters plus four friends for overnights. Meanwhile, both executives can tend to business in his-and-her offices without leaving the house.
Prévost, who designed two previous homes for the couple, considered furniture plans and color schemes early on. “They wanted something bright, fresh and elegant—but not ostentatious,” she says. “They want to come home to a very Zen space, but one that doesn’t take itself too seriously.”
As the wife recalls, the palette arose during a discussion about the “beachy” resort concept. “One of my favorite colors is aqua,” she reflects. This sparked an overall scheme of tranquil blues, crisp white and subtle silver—along with glass accents—a palette that evokes glints of sunlight sparkling on azure shores. (One exception is the husband’s top-floor study—decked out in dark woods and clubby leather.)
Prévost blended streamlined, modern furniture with unique lighting and bold art in every space. “It’s important to mix materials and textures, especially when we stick to a theme of color,” she explains. In the dining room, a custom walnut table is an organic oasis in a sea of blue. The living room’s pale yellow palette offers the perfect counterweight. Christian Liaigre sofas upholstered in leather and linen speak more to comfort than a formality. Translucent sheers, she adds, “have a nice little shimmer.”
A playful, casual attitude prevails in the kitchen and family room. A Patricia Urquiola sofa upholstered in cozy wool, says Prévost, “is like an island” that harbors the entire family for TV viewing. Folding doors lead to a porch with retractable screens. When everything is open, guests can meander out to the pool as though they were at a resort in Bimini—not Bethesda. Designed by Kaufman and Hafner for carefree living, the entire space is paved in cast-stone pavers, with swaths of faux turf to add color and tickle bare feet.
No resort is complete without a spa—and this property’s awaits in the master bath, which features a double shower and cocoon-like tub. Simplicity also reigns in the owners’ bedroom, where oversized pendants and a Gene Davis painting enliven the tranquil mood.
No doubt, a holistic approach contributed to the project’s success. “We all started as a team from day one,” Prévost says. “It’s important for things to connect so that all the pieces are part of the same whole. There should be an aesthetic and a language that flow, inside and out.”
The ultimate test came when the family moved in, just one year after they signed the builder contract. “Every day when I walk through the door, there’s a beautiful sense of peace and joy,” says the wife. “It’s like a big sigh of relief. The home really is our refuge.”
ARCHITECTURE: George T. Myers, AIA, principal; Mark Kaufman, AIA, LEED AP, associate, GTM Architects, Bethesda, Maryland. INTERIOR DESIGN: Sophie Prévost, ASID, ColePrévost, Washington, DC. LANDSCAPE DESIGN: Joel Hafner, Fine Earth Landscape, Inc., Poolesville, Maryland. BUILDER: Sandy Spring Builders, LLC, Bethesda, Maryland.
RESOURCES
THROUGHOUT Windows: jeld-wen.com/en-us. Home Automation: htarchitects.com. Pool: crystalpools.com. Garage Doors: zieglerdoorsinc.com. Floral Arrangements: Suha Kaidbey through leprintemps.com.
DINING ROOM Dining Chairs & Chair Fabric: bebitalia.com. Table: Custom through bddw.com. Light Fixture: lindseyadelman.com. Carpet: starkcarpet.com. Sideboard: poltronafrau.com. Vase: georgjensen.com. Artwork Behind Host Chair: by Willem de Looper through hemphillfinearts.com. Paint Color: benjaminmoore.com.
LIVING ROOM Sofas: christian-liaigre.us. Sofa Fabric: christian-liaigre.us. Pillow Fabric: christian-liaigre.us. Glass Bowl: annatorfs.com through hollyhunt.com. Side Tables: mgbwhome.com. Table Lamps: Clara and Esha Bassa through donghia.com. Wooden Chairs: Hans Wegner through furniturefromscandinavia.com. Side Table by Window: hollyhunt.com. Rug: starkcarpet.com. Drapery Fabric: starkcarpet.com. Drapery Workroom: JK Drapery Inc via 703-941-3788. The artwork in Corner (right): by Thomas Hempel. The artwork in Corner (left): marenkloppmann.com. Paint Color: Falling Star through benjaminmoore.com.
KITCHEN Cabinetry: wood-mode.com. Countertop& Supplier: Island: rbratti.com. Perimeter: glbtileandmarble.com. Stools: hermanmiller.com through dwr.com. Chandelier: moooi.com through illuminationslightingonline.com. Kitchen Table: by Arne Jacobson through furniturefromscandinavia.com. Kitchen Chairs: hermanmiller.com through dwr.com. Drapery Fabric: chellatextiles.com. Backsplash Tile & Supplier: stonesource.com. Drapery Workroom: JK Drapery Inc via 703-941-3788. Paint Color: Horizon and Madison Avenue through benjaminmoore.com.
FAMILY ROOM Sectional: bebitalia.com. Sectional Fabric: bebitalia.com. Chair & Ottoman: bebitalia.com. Chair & Ottoman Fabric: bebitalia.com. Side Table: mgbwhome.com. Rug: pattersonflynnmartin.com. Poufs: arper.com through suiteny.com. Sideboards: Custom by coleprevost.net. Artwork: colbycaldwell.com through hemphillfinearts.com. Paint Color: Horizon and Madison Avenue through benjaminmoore.com. Fireplace: stonesource.com.
POOLSIDE Stonework: cstpavers.com. Chaise Lounges: by Richard Schultz through knoll.com. Side Tables: by Richard Schultz through knoll.com. Day Bed: bebitalia.com. Blue Pillows On Day Bed: chellatextiles.com. Umbrella: tuuci.com. Planters: oreintl.com. Grey Lounge Seating: bebitalia.com. Round Table: knoll.com. Patio Chairs: knoll.com.
PORCH Fan: bigassfans.com. Dining Table: teak.com. Chairs: by Richard Schultz through knoll.com. Sideboard: Custom by coleprevost.com.
MASTER BEDROOM Bed: hollyhunt.com. Headboard Upholstery: mooreandgiles.com. Bedding: matouk.com. Coverlet: matouk.com. Rug: pattersonflynnmartin.com. Hanging Pendants: nessenlighting.com. Nightstand: Custom by coleprevost.net. Chair & Ottoman: hayonstudio.com through furniturefromscandinavia.com. Cushions and Ottoman Fabric: kvadrat.dk. Side Table: mgbwhome.com. Bench: chrisian-liaigre.us. Art: by Gene Davis through hemphillfinearts.com. Paint Color: Timid Blue through sherwin-williams.com.
MASTER BATHROOM Floor Tiles & Source: jeffreycourt.com through architecturalceramics.com. Cabinetry: wood-mode.com and custom front panels through ivancdutterer.com. Countertop & Source: glbtileandmarble.com. Stool: rejuvenation.com. Bathtub & Source: mtibaths.com through ackerandsonsinc.com. Mirrors and Sconces: robern.com. Bath Fixture & Source: dxv.com through ackerandsonsinc.com.
FOYER Hanging Light Fixtures: terzani.com through illuminationslightingonline.com. Rug on Landing: Custom by claudiamills.com.
WIFE’S OFFICE Wraparound Desk: wood-mode.com. Hanging Cabinets: wood-mode.com. Desk: by Carlo Mollino through zanotta.it. Desk Chair: hermanmiller.com. Rug: starkcarpet.com. Paint Color: Baby’s Breath through benjaminmoore.com. Sofa: vitra.com through contemporaria.com. Sofa Fabric: vitra.com. Side Table: mgbwhome.com. Chair: by Poul Kjaerholm through furniturefromscandinavia.com. Coffee Table: hermanmiller.com through dwr.com. Art: fineartmenorca.com.
HUSBAND’S STUDY Millwork: Custom by coleprevost.net. Cabinetry: ivancdutterer.com. Sofas: dellarobbiausa.com. Pillows: colefax.com, rogersandgoffigon.com, janechurchill.com, and zoffany.com. Side Table: Custom by coleprevost.net.
Developers challenged architect Mark McInturff to transform three neighboring 1960s-era Rockville warehouses into a sustainably designed, state-of-the-art office building that will serve as a technology hub. McInturff and his team connected the stripped-down structures via a sleek, glass-enclosed atrium and green space (above) while embracing the edginess of their original materials. “We did what a lot of office buildings don’t,” the architect says. “We didn’t cover up the exposed concrete and steel, and we used a lot of glass and as little drywall as we could.” Now complete, the 103,482-square-foot Greencourt Innovation Center boasts offices and conference rooms, wifi-enabled courtyards, a green roof and optimized energy systems; LEED-Silver certification is pending.
Architecture: Mark McInturff, FAIA; Peter Noonan, AIA, LEED BD+C; David Mogensen, AIA, LEED AP, McInturff Architects, Bethesda, Maryland. Builder: Meridian Construction Corporation, Inc., Rockville, Maryland.
When called upon to overhaul a 12-foot-wide, 1870s-era house in DC, designer Kerra Michele Huerta summoned “every trick in the book” to make the finished interiors appear larger. She also opened up the choppy floor plan, reconfigured the kitchen and master bath and added a powder room on the main floor. “From there,” she recalls, “I added architectural detail because often when people blow out the walls in a historical home and make it super-modern, the character is lost.”
Her clients, government consultant Patrick Carberry and Elizabeth Carberry, founder of arts management agency ArtSee, were expecting their first child, so a nursery was also part of the plan. “I tried to mix the historical aspects of the home with the young, fun art-world couple living there,” Huerta explains.
The designer blended classic materials and practical furniture with playful accessories and art. Custom features abound, including a dining room mural of hexagons—a recurring motif in the home—and a shower door with an iron frame that conjures an industrial vibe.
Finished in time for the arrival of the couple’s son, Cannon, the redo was a resounding success. “Everything works for them functionally,” says Huerta. “They are just so happy.”
HOW DID YOU PAY TRIBUTE TO THE HOME’S PAST?
To respect the home’s history, I added architectural details like latticework
on the main wall that runs from the front to the back and up the stairs. I also exposed little pockets of original brick in the kitchen and dining room so the house wouldn’t feel like a blank, white modern box.
DID YOU TURN ANY FLAWS INTO ASSETS?
When we opened up the living and dining rooms, there was one structural beam that had to stay, but it wasn’t pretty. I had it wrapped in wood, then added a few more so it looked like they were supposed to be there. This also eliminated having one solid ceiling surface from the front to the back of the house.
WHAT TRICKS MAKE THE LIVING ROOM APPEAR LARGER?
The latticework adds depth and movement to space. Since we didn’t have room for a sofa, I chose two swivel chairs from Room & Board and a chaise that’s open on one side. And the enormous mirror from Anthropologie makes you feel like there is more space than there actually is.
HOW DID YOU ACCESSORIZE THE BUILT-INS?
I painted the cabinets white and changed the fireplace tile to create depth. Then I sourced items from as many places as possible, including vintage and antique shops. I always pick a color palette first so everything feels cohesive, and layer in natural elements like metals, stone, and wood because using all manmade elements can feel flat.
HOW DID YOU INTEGRATE THE KITCHEN INTO THE OPEN PLAN?
I like kitchens to feel like an extension of the rest of the house. Because it’s a historic home, I picked classic white cabinetry. To punch things up, I added leather cabinet pulls and walnut trim around the upper cabinets to give them a little bit more detail.
WHAT’S YOUR SECRET TO MIXING FABRICS?
I take patterns that are otherwise completely unrelated but in the same color palette and pick the ones I like, along with a couple of solids. I call it “power-clashing.” DC tends to be obsessed with symmetry, but I prefer balance. A lot of my spaces will have an odd number of pillows to make things more interesting and a little quirkier.
HOW DO YOU MARRY MASCULINE AND FEMININE STYLES?
Patrick is into leather furniture and lodge-type items, while Elizabeth is very fashionista and into the modern art scene. In the bedroom, I went with a duvet set that is menswear-inspired—a lightweight flannel that feels like a dream—and layered it in pink, blue and metallic pillows.
HOW WILL THE NURSERY WORK POST-BABYHOOD?
I’m a believer that the permanent elements in a room should be neutral and sophisticated. I focus on accessories that are easier to change as a child gets older. In Cannon’s room, the wallpaper will be classic forever; we added elements like the sheep and vintage chest to make it feel whimsical.
DESIGN PET PEEVE?
TVs above fireplaces! If you can avoid it, do.
SECRET TO A WELL-DESIGNED SPACE?
Balance. I try to mix an equal number of organic and graphic patterns with natural and manmade elements to craft a warm, lived-in feeling.
WHY IS ART IMPORTANT?
Art is a reflection of the homeowners and personalizes a space. Without it, even a beautifully designed home can feel generic.
IS IT OKAY TO MIX METALS?
Mix with abandon! I feel the same way about metals as I do about color; decide from the get-go on what kind of look you want, then commit.
MISTAKE TO AVOID?
Using small furniture in small spaces. Rooms feel more spacious when you use fewer, larger pieces rather than lots of small ones.
RENOVATION & INTERIOR DESIGN: Kerra Michele Huerta, Kerra Michele Interiors, Washington, DC. PHOTOGRAPHY: Laura Metzler.
Mid-Century Modern fans might be surprised to learn that there are many examples of the vernacular in the DC area. In Montgomery Modern: Modern Architecture in Montgomery County, Maryland, 1930-1979, author and local architectural historian Clare Lise Kelly documents these enduring mid-century relics, from office towers and high rises to storefronts and tract homes, that reflect post-War optimism and materials of the Atomic Age. Published by the Montgomery County Planning Department, the 2015 book also chronicles the architects, landscape architects, planners and developers behind these designs.
On October 8, a Montgomery Modern bus tour will visit Potomac homes from this era, along with the mid-century Charles E. Smith campus in Rockville. And on October 16, the author will speak at George Washington University Museum. montgomeryplanning.org/planning/historic/montgomery-modern/
HANDCRAFTED Interwoven metal curves form the base of the Niermann Weeks Tissage Dining Table. Handcrafted in the company’s workshop near Annapolis, the sculptural creation is topped with a floating, bevel-edged glass top. Price on request. niermannweeks.com
LIGHT SHOW The polished-brass Jasmine pendant by Mitzi, an offshoot of Hudson Valley Lighting, sports an eye-catching, “open-cage” design. Available in two sizes; $198 and $248. hudsonvalleylighting.com
BOLD STATEMENT Part of Christian Lacroix Maison for Roche Bobois, the Maison Lacroix Chair makes a bold statement. The beech chair is upholstered in graphic Cabanon fabric, with legs finished in contrasting brass. $1,470. roche-bobois.com
CHIC CURVES At 60 inches wide, the Bacharach Settee by Jonathan Adler is ideal for small spaces. The curvaceous seat is upholstered in Rialto Ash velvet and paired with an architectural, brushed-brass base. $3,950; jonathanadler.com
After years of careful formulation, Benjamin Moore recently introduced Century paints. Conceived to bring a sophisticated palette to high-end interiors, the line’s 75 new shades were inspired by natural elements, from plants and herbs to gems and minerals. The paints are unique not only for their depth of color but also their matte finish, which the company likens to a soft leather glove. Pre-mixed gallons ($125) and four-ounce samples ($10) are available. experiencecentury.com
Smithsonian Craft2Wear showcases cutting-edge couture and one-of-a-kind jewelry from October 5 to 7.
More than 60 designers will display their clothing, jewelry and accessory collections—ranging from classic to avant-garde—at the Smithsonian Craft2Wear show. Exhibitor Janice Kissinger “builds” her own textiles and fashions by hand without sewing.
Held at the National Building Museum, the juried event begins Thursday, October 5, with an evening reception (admission: $50), then continues all day on the 6th and 7th (admission: $15). Proceeds benefit Smithsonian museums and programs. smithsoniancraft2wear.org
French Classic
James Beard Award-winning chef Frank Ruta’s latest hot spot, Mirabelle, is just two blocks away from his former kitchen at The White House. Georgia-based Norris Design Studio decked out the chic interiors, from the entry vestibule with tufted-leather walls to the chic dining room. The menu offers a fresh take on French classics. After dinner, a floating dessert cart tempts diners to sample the creations of pastry chef Aggie Chin. 900 16th Street, NW; 202-506-3833. mirabelledc.com
Rising Star
Ryan Ratino, the former executive chef at Ripple and a 2017 Rammy award-winner for rising star, is slated to open his own restaurant, Bresca, in fall 2017. It will celebrate the European movement of “bistronomy,” putting a less formal, “bistro” spin on traditional French gastronomy. Ratino says the menu—featuring cured ocean trout and sea urchin linguini —“will create new traditions that everyone can enjoy.” 1906 14th Street, NW; brescadc.com
Opened in 2016, Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto has won two prestigious awards for hospitality design. Set in a five-acre pond garden complete with a traditional tea house, the property features 123 guest rooms that accent modern style with traditional Japanese shoji panels and polished woods. The Brasserie serves classic bistro fare with a local twist. A spa welcomes guests to engage mind and body with a host of treatments. Rates from $675; fourseasons.com
To many, relaxing by the pool is almost as enjoyable as diving in on a summer day—particularly when screened from the sun’s hot rays. Increasingly, homeowners planning a pool project choose to incorporate a shelter into their overall plan. Options range from simple pergolas and pavilions to elaborate pool houses decked out with kitchens and bars, audio-video systems, baths and changing rooms.
Pros advise clients to consider everything from functionality and size to positioning and style when designing a poolside shelter. “More and more people are looking for shade as opposed to the full-on sun around swimming pools,” says Charles Owen of Fine Landscapes. He recommends sitting structures on the western side of the pool for maximum shade as the sun sets.
While pergolas with comfortable seating can serve as ideal social and dining areas for pools sited close to the house, says Mike Prokopchak of Walnut Hill Landscape Company, a pool house “provides amenities for a ‘destination’ pool located farther away.”
However, Owen cautions homeowners against trying to fit too many features into a pool structure. “Don’t bite off more than you need,” he advises. “Assess what the absolute need is beyond creating shelter from sun and rain. Having a little fridge is not a bad thing, but whether you need running water or a bathroom—those are secondary considerations.”
Sponsored by the Maryland Building Industry Association, the annual Custom Builder Awards honor architecture, construction and remodeling projects in the Greater Washington, DC, area. Following is a list of all 2017 MBIA winners; Gold-Award winners are pictured here.
GOLD—Sandy Spring Builders, LLC. Architecture: GTM Architects. Photography: MBK Photography.
CUSTOM CONTEMPORARY HOME
GOLD—Studio Z Design Concepts, LLC. Builder: Menditch Homes, LLC. Photography: Stu Estler Photography.
CUSTOM TRANSITIONAL HOME
GOLD—Sandy Spring Builders, LLC. Architecture: GTM Architects. Photography: MBK Photography.
SILVER—Chuck Sullivan Homes. Architecture: Studio Z Design Concepts, LLC.
CUSTOM GREEN HOME
GOLD—Mid-Atlantic Custom Builders. Architecture: Custom Design Concepts. Photography: BTW Images.
SPECULATIVE TRANSITIONAL HOME
GOLD—Laurence Cafritz Builders. Architecture: Studio Z Design Concepts, LLC. Photography: Stu Estler Photography.
SILVER—Three Brothers Land Co. Architecture: Claude C. Lapp Architects.
BRONZE—R&R Custom Homes. Architecture: Studio Z Design Concepts, LLC.
SPECULATIVE GREEN HOME
GOLD—Mid-Atlantic Custom Builders. Architecture:
Mid-Atlantic Custom Builders. Photography: BTW Images.
SILVER—Mid-Atlantic Custom Builders. Architecture:
Mid-Atlantic Custom Builders.
CUSTOM HOME under 3,500 square feet
GOLD—Douglas Construction Group. Architecture: Studio Z Design Concepts, LLC. Photography: Doug Monsein.
CUSTOM HOME 3,500-5,000 square feet
GOLD—Mid-Atlantic Custom Builders. Architecture: Lessard Design, Inc. Photography: HomeVisit.
SILVER—Finecraft Contractors, Inc. Architecture: SevenFiveThree Development.
CUSTOM HOME 5,000-7,500 square feet
GOLD—Studio Z Design Concepts, LLC. Builder: Sandy Spring Builders, LLC. Photography: Stu Estler Photography.
SILVER—Washington Metropolitan Homes. Architecture: Claude C. Lapp Architects.
BRONZE—Mid-Atlantic Custom Builders. Architecture:
Custom Design Concepts.
CUSTOM HOME 7,500-12,500 square feet
GOLD—R&R Custom Homes. Architecture: Studio Z Design Concepts, LLC. Photography: Stu Estler Photography.
SILVER—Studio Z Design Concepts, LLC. Builder: Sandy Spring Builders, LLC.
SPECULATIVE HOME 3,500-5,000 square feet
GOLD—Foxhall Homes. Architecture: Architecture Collaborative. Photography: HouseLens, Inc.
SPECULATIVE HOME 5,000-7,500 square feet
GOLD—Washington Metropolitan Homes. Architecture: Claude C. Lapp Architects. Photography: Structure Photography.
SILVER—Douglas Construction Group. Architecture: Studio Z Design Concepts, LLC.
BRONZE—Chuck Sullivan Homes. Architecture: Studio Z Design Concepts, LLC.
SPECULATIVE HOME over 7,500 square feet
GOLD—Castlewood Consulting, LLC. Architecture: Castlewood Consulting, LLC. Photography: HomeVisit.
ADDITION over 2,000 square feet
GOLD—R&R Custom Homes. Architecture: Studio Z Design Concepts, LLC. Photography: Stu Estler Photography.
RENOVATION over 2,000 square feet
GOLD—Sandy Spring Builders, LLC. Architecture: Glenn Chen Fong, AIA, PLLC. Photography: MBK Photography.
When a May downpour dampened Jodi Macklin’s plans to host a pre-prom dinner for her son’s senior class in her Chevy Chase backyard, the designer quickly switched gears.
She whipped out placemats, set up a buffet in the dining room and invited the 200 guests into her gracious home. “It was fast and furious,” recalls the unflappable host. Two days later when she opened her doors to a magazine photography crew, the only clue that prom night had taken place was her son Cooper napping on the screened porch.
Macklin’s house rolls with the punches—and has aged gracefully since she and her husband overhauled the tiny 1930s Colonial Revival they acquired in the coveted Somerset neighborhood 16 years ago. Though four times the size of the original, the house doesn’t overwhelm its shady lot. Inside, a clever layout with generous proportions gives it staying power. When you factor in Macklin’s design smarts, it’s no accident that the home continues to evolve.
Macklin began her career in marketing at Estée Lauder in New York. But when she moved back to her hometown of DC with husband Rodd, now CFO of a private equity firm, just before their first son was born in 1991, she had an epiphany. “I didn’t want to be at work from 9 to 7 every day,” she recalls. “I decided I was going to do what I’d always had a passion for.” She enrolled in Mount Vernon College’s interior design program, earned a degree, then landed an internship with “a great mentor,” designer David Mitchell.
By the time she and Rodd bought the Somerset property, Jodi had launched her own design firm and their fourth and final child was on the way. The couple tapped architect David Jones to design a larger residence for their growing family. Since the home was deemed historic, his plan had to build upon the original. “The question was how to make this very small housework as though it had grown over time,” Jones recalls. A large new wing containing the living and family rooms solved the dilemma by suggesting that the smaller, original wing housing the dining room and kitchen came later. Called “a Colonial Revival with finesse” by the architect, the new home boasts a slate roof and hand-troweled stucco walls that reinforce his built-over-time narrative.
From the entry, guests see straight through the foyer and rear stair hall to the garden. Stairs to the upper-level run parallel to the rear wall of French doors so that, explains Jones, “the family is always looking at the beautiful backyard when going up and down the stairs.”
The interior architecture creates a perfect backdrop for Macklin’s artistry. “David nailed the proportions,” she says of the 10-foot ceilings and generous openings between rooms. “He made the house feel bigger than it is.”
Her original goal—to design a “livable, kid-friendly house”—still holds true today. “It should not feel too precious, yet it should be pretty and feel like a home,” the designer reflects.
A relaxed, understated elegance prevails in spaces where Macklin mixes classic appointments with modern furniture and art. “Traditional pieces bring a warmer feeling,” she explains. “It’s fun to have ‘found’ things that have meaning and history, mixed in with newer, more contemporary ones.
“I’m looking for beautiful lines—and I love to mix textures,” Macklin continues, pointing to her family room’s shagreen table, wooden chairs and tufted-leather ottoman. She offsets a neutral palette with pops of color in accessories, pillows, and art—such as the Ellsworth Kelly painting in the living room.
Macklin likes to host intimate dinners in her “timeless” blue-and-white kitchen, originally designed by kitchen designer Jennifer Gilmer. “I wasn’t a cook,” she says, “but then my kids grew up and over the years I learned how.” She recently tapped Gilmer’s associate Meghan Browne to update the space. Browne created more storage and workspace in the form of a large, new island made of hot-rolled steel.
On holidays, when the guest list typically tops 40, Macklin sets up a buffet in the dining room, graced by a glamorous Porta Romana chandelier and geometric hide rug. “I’m really into tabletop,” she says. Macklin favors Kim Sybert linens that “go from very casual to very dressy.”
With their two oldest sons and a daughter off to college or beyond, the Macklins still have one son, Luke, at home. On an early May evening, he and his dad play catch in the yard while Macklin relaxes on the screened porch. “This is my happy space. Once everything’s green,” she says, motioning to the springtime landscape, “I feel like I’m in France.”
Meanwhile, her home is always a work in progress. A few years after they moved in, David Jones designed a free-standing office for Macklin’s growing firm, adding on a conference room later. And in the main house, she is now transforming an empty room next to the master bedroom into a luxurious bath suite and closet.
“As a designer,” Macklin says, “there’s a lot that you see that you love. You’re constantly evolving.”
Photographer Geoffrey Hodgdon is based in Deale, Maryland.
Architecture: DAVID JONES, AIA, Jones & Boer Architects, Washington, DC. Interior Design, JODI MACKLIN, Jodi Macklin Interior Design, Chevy Chase, Maryland. Builder: RICHARD ZANTZINGER, Mauck Zantzinger & Associates, Washington, DC.
