Kenneth Byrd knew he wanted to be an interior designer from the time he was a boy rearranging the furniture in his parents’ Virginia Beach home. He eventually settled in Richmond, where a background in visual merchandising and real estate led him to staging homes on the market. Then a developer hired him to oversee the renovation of a historic warehouse into luxury condos—a project that launched his design career.
He founded Kenneth Byrd Design in 2010 with a focus on both commercial and residential work. After a couple of years in Richmond’s historic Fan District, the firm moved to the “grittier” Shockoe Bottom area. Now the head of a five-person studio and a storefront (open by appointment), Byrd brings an unexpected, modern sensibility to the city’s traditional landscape. “We have an aesthetic that goes against the grain of traditional Richmond,” he says. “Our clients want that city edge.”
However, Byrd and his team approach historical projects with respect. “We don’t come in and strip down a 100-year-old home,” he explains. “We want to embrace the age of the home and celebrate its architectural features.
“Design is a collection of styles and flavors,” he continues. “I definitely like ‘old meets new.’ Space has more soul when things are collected, they come from different eras and everything has a story.”
Interior Design: Kenneth Byrd, Kenneth Byrd Design, Richmond, Virginia.
Nestled behind mature trees and a tall iron fence, Ryan Zimmerman’s home exudes tradition, with its stone-and-shingle exteriors and slate rooftop. Far removed from the action at Nationals Stadium yet only a 30-minute drive away, the Great Falls, Virginia, house appealed to Zimmerman and his wife, Heather, for its fine craftsmanship, move-in ready interiors and verdant, five-acre lot. “We both really liked the look of the home and also loved the location,” says the first baseman. “It’s tucked away at the end of the street and very quiet.”
The custom residence was designed by McLean architect Mark Sullenberger of Custom Design Concepts and built by The Galileo Group. When its original owner sold the property less than a year after its completion, the Zimmermans acquired it and moved in just before their two-year-old daughter, Mackenzie, was born. Their second daughter, Hayden Lynn, was born on June 2, 2016.
The couple turned to designer Alice Busch of Great Falls Distinctive Interiors for help furnishing the six-bedroom home. They wanted the décor to reflect the overall beauty of the residence, but practical considerations such as growing kids and their two dogs also came into play and they also wanted their home to be fully pet-proofed. For knowing what one needs to consider while pet-proofing his home, visit Bored Cesar.
Busch captured the comfortable, transitional look they were after with statement-making light fixtures, custom rugs and draperies and oversized, clean-lined furniture. “They wanted it to be functional first, not intimidating—and warm,” she explains. “They didn’t want anyone to feel it was so fancy they couldn’t sit, enjoy and put their feet up. Uncomplicated is who they are.”
The owners also had a home design game plan of their own to ramp up the home’s fun factor. The wish list included a man cave for Ryan featuring a wine cellar, gym, and home theater; a playroom; and an outdoor pool and pavilion. Busch and builder Matt Trunnell of Distinctive Building Group orchestrated the interior upgrades while Charles Owen of Fine Landscapes began the exterior makeover.
A chic entry foyer, which serves as a formal living room, greets guests on arrival. Along the rear of the home, a light-filled gallery leads to the dining room, kitchen and family room on one side and to Ryan’s study, the master suite and a nursery on the other.
The master suite opens to an outdoor terrace. From there, stepping stones lead to the infinity-edge pool and pavilion. “The materials of the pavilion take cues from the main house,” says Owen. “We used the same type of stone and slate roofing.” Decked out with a fireplace, distressed stainless-steel bar, grill, pizza oven and changing rooms, the pavilion makes a clutch party venue. Last year, the Zimmermans hosted a team dinner here to kick off the 2015 season and this summer is planning another cookout for players and their families at their home.
A Virginia Beach native, Zimmerman was an All-American third baseman at the University of Virginia. In 2005, he became the first draft pick in Nationals history and, along with Alex Ovechkin, is one of the longest-tenured athletes on DC’s four major-league sports teams.
Zimmerman represents the Washington community on and off the field. He recently supported a Nationals Dream Foundation initiative to build a turf field for Little League players in Southwest DC, and on April 9, threw the first pitch at Ryan Zimmerman Baseball Field with young players and Mayor Muriel Bowser in the stands.
A diehard sports fan, Ryan unwinds in his man cave—his “pride and joy,” says Heather—where he can watch the action on multiple TV screens at once. On display are signed mementos from his favorite pro athletes, including a collection of baseball bats hanging on a custom rack. Trunnell designed the rack and also built the fully equipped gym where Zimmerman works out with a trainer in the off-season.
Zimmerman is one of the few Nationals players to live in the DC vicinity year round. “Heather and I both love what this area has to offer,” he says. “Washington is a lot of fun, with everything you could want. At the same time, where we live you’d never know we’re only 15 miles from the city. And it’s so nice that Heather’s family lives in the area and my family is close by in Virginia Beach.”
Zimmerman’s mother Cheryl was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis when he was 11. To help combat the disease, he launched the nonprofit ziMS Foundation in 2006. Through its annual fundraisers, the group has raised more than $2 million for the cause. “I have the platform to help find a cure, not only for my mom but for the many people affected by this disease all over the world,” says Ryan.
When he retires, Zimmerman plans to host ziMS Foundation events at his home. But for now, this peaceful spot offers the Nats star a welcome break from 2016’s grueling, 162-game schedule. “Because Ryan is in the public eye all the time, we wanted a little vacation at home and that’s what we found,” says Heather.
“The season is a grind,” Zimmerman admits, “so to be able to escape and get away from that every now and then is huge. The work we’ve done both inside the house and to the property truly provides a place to ‘get away.’”
Photographer Geoffrey Hodgdon is based in Deale, Maryland.
INTERIOR DESIGN: ALICE BUSCH, Allied ASID, Great Falls Distinctive Interiors, Inc., Ashburn, Virginia. RENOVATION CONTRACTOR: Matt Trunnell, Distinctive Building Group, Ashburn, Virginia. LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE: CHARLES OWEN, principal, and DONALD SMITH, project manager, Fine Landscapes, Ltd., Sterling, Virginia.
RESOURCES
Throughout Landscape Maintenance: rossenlandscape.com. Pool: townandcountrypools.com. Home Automation: atlcontrol.com.
Living Room Sofas, Coffee Table & Small Table: lillianaugust.com. Custom Rug: gfdii.com through silkroadcarpetandrugs.com. Painting, Floor Lamp & Table Lamp: johnrichard.com.
Dining Room Table: artifactsinternational.com. Chandelier: curreycodealers.com. Chairs: Custom by gfdii.com. Mirror: theodorealexander.com. Sideboard: lillianaugust.com. Table Lamps: johnrichard.com. Custom Rug: gfdii.com through silkroadcarpetandrugs.com.
Kitchen Bar Stools: theodorealexander.com. Table, Benches & Armchairs: lillianaugust.com. Armchair & Window Treatment Fabric: romo.com. Custom Window Treatments & Host Chair: gfdii.com. Chandelier: curreycodealers.com. Ceramics: globalviews.com.
Master Master Bed, Night Stands & Corner Chest: lillianaugust.com. Custom Bedding, Drapery & Ottoman Fabric: kravet.com. Lamps: johnrichard.com. Rug: dixie-home.com. Draperies, Custom Chairs & Ottoman: gfdii.com. Chair Fabric: robertallendesign.com.
Master Bath Chandelier: curreycodealers.com. Wallcovering: yorkwall.com.
Nursery Crib: brattdecor.com. Rug: dixie-home.com. Floor Lamp: johnrichard.com. Custom Chair & Ottoman: gfdii.com. Chair & Ottoman Fabric: duralee.com.
Play Room Rug: helioscarpet.com. Custom Sectional & Cabinetry Design: gfdii.com. Sectional Fabric: kravet.com.
It took a life-changing event—the sudden loss of her mother—to make Stephanie Gamble rethink her own life. The then-27-year-old biologist realized that “life’s too short. I asked myself, ‘What is it that you really want to do?’”
A longtime design aficionado, she decided to launch her own interiors firm and furniture shop. “I sat down and wrote a business plan,” Gamble recalls. “A year later, I opened a showroom and took clients.”
That was 12 years ago. Since then, she has completed dozens of residential projects and in 2006, expanded her store, The House Downtown, to a larger location in Baltimore’s Belvedere Square.
Gamble says the shop’s array of furniture, lighting, and accessories are an extension of the design aesthetic she brings to clients’ homes. “We are always classic but with a bit of an edge,” she explains. “My clients want their homes to look beautiful but also want them to function. I use fabrics and luxury in ways that are practical.”
Gamble has definitely found her passion for design. “I love fabrics; I could roll around in them,” she quips. “And I get super excited when vendors show me something really spectacular.”
Creating a client’s dream home “exceeds everything I ever wanted,” she continues. “But the biggest compliment of all is when they call you back to work on another house.”
Interior Design: Stephanie Gamble, Stephanie Gamble Interiors, Baltimore, Maryland.
CHARM CITY HOT SPOT Located in The Ivy Hotel, a restored 1889 residence in Baltimore’s Mount Vernon neighborhood, Magdalena dishes up a cross-cultural, ever-changing menu under the tutelage of chef Mark Levy. The restaurant’s five intimate dining areas—including the wine cellar—create a perfect backdrop for savoring dishes such as seared Ocean City scallops with local pork fritter and English peas in a truffle-honey-mustard sauce. 205 East Biddle Street; 410-514-0303. magdalenarestaurant.com
TURKISH DELIGHT With Istanbul-born chef Ilhan Erkek at the helm, DC’s new Ottoman Taverna has garnered rave reviews for its Turkish fare, from mezze and flat breads to traditional entrées. Atlanta-based Norris Design created the interiors, incorporating light wood distressed and stained to evoke sun-bleached homes on the Mediterranean. A mural featuring the Hagia Sophia church is a focal point in the dining room. 425 I Street, NW; 202-847-0389. ottomantaverna.com
LA DOLCE VITA Chef Jamie Leeds of Hank’s Oyster Bar fame celebrates Italy in her newest outpost, Hank’s Pasta Bar. The Old Town Alexandria restaurant serves homemade pastas (think fettuccini with white clam sauce, right), grilled meats and fish, and charcuterie. Designed by Maggie O’Neill and Warren Weixler of Swatchroom, the rustic interiors include a private dining room behind reclaimed barn doors. 600 Montgomery Street; 571-312-4117. hankspastabar.com
TROPICAL TREAT Guests at the Shigira Bayside Suite Allamanda resort on the Japanese island of Miyakojima enjoy heady ocean views from their suites—86 of which boast private pools. Travelers can loll on the beach, enjoy a round of golf or snorkel along nearby reefs. The resorts’ restaurants serve Japanese and Western fare. Rates from $444. nanseirakuen.com/en
MAGIC KINGDOM Since its 2014 debut, the Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World has brought a new level of luxury to Florida’s family-vacation mecca. Located just a few minutes away from Disney attractions, the resort features sumptuous guest accommodations, a spa, golf course and five-acre playground. From $479. fourseasons.com
BOHEMIAN GETAWAY Prague’s BoHo Hotel brings high style to a converted, early 20th-century post office building located near the city’s Old Town Square. Chic, modern décor in guest rooms and public spaces plays off the building’s vintage architecture. Perks include a restaurant, a state-of-the-art gym and a spa. Rates from $214. hotelbohoprague.com
Now in its ninth year, the DC Design House will take place this fall in a five-story, 11,242-square-foot abode on Foxhall Road that most recently housed the French Ambassador while his embassy digs were under renovation. The seven-bedroom property is currently on the market for $10.8 million; it was designed by GTM Architects and built in 2010 by Gibson Builders.
The following local participants will transform its empty, unfinished rooms and outdoor areas into refined spaces brimming with design ideas: Blake Dunlevy, Farrow & Ball, Jonathan Senner, Kelley Proxmire, Country Casual, Josh Hildreth, Victor Sanz, Pamela Harvey, Camille Saum, Betsy Stires, Nadia N. Subaran, Megan M. Padilla, Lena Kroupnik, Victoria Sanchez, Charles Almonte, Andrea Houck, Allie Mann, Rachel Dougan, Quintece Hill-Mattauszek, Melanie Hansen, Pooja Bhagia Mittra, Steven Corbeille, Barbara Brown and Stephen Wlodarczyk.
Proceeds from the DC Design House benefit Children’s National Health System. For details, visit dcdesignhouse.com.
Overlooking the Choptank River in Trappe, Maryland, a traditional home with contemporary interiors has a wide veranda where the owners frequently entertain. Designer Fiona Newell Weeks wanted to complement the indoor décor by selecting outdoor furnishings that are crisp, with classic modern lines. Weeks chose McKinnon & Harris chairs and thick cushions in hot-pink Sunbrella fabric that provides “a splash of color for fun.” A decorative trellis adds architectural interest without blocking the view. ”The wife,” says Weeks, “is a ship’s pilot who swims daily when it’s warm out.”
Design & Photography: Fiona Newell Weeks, Dwelling & Design, Easton, Maryland. Landscape Design: Lisa Hageman, Lisa C. Hageman, ASLA, Oxford, Maryland. End Panels: Mark Fleetwood, Hanlon Design Builders, Easton, Maryland.
Just one year after Marisa Ruiz of Madrid-based Lalzada put the finishing touches on a long-time client’s DC residence, a two-alarm fire ravaged the house. Thankfully, no one was hurt; the owners and their five children were on holiday in their native Spain when they learned that their Spring Valley home and its contents were in ruins.
“It looked like old Civil War pictures of Richmond after the flames. Only the outside walls were left standing,” recalls architect Dwight McNeill, who was hired to recreate the grandeur of the original European-style country house, built in 1996.
But the owners decided to make some dramatic improvements along the way. They wanted to create more bedrooms, as well as better circulation for entertaining. Ruiz’s goal was to combine the open, welcoming style of today’s American homes with an Old World respect for detail and craftsmanship. “In Europe, it’s typical to put doors everywhere,” she explains. “But in America, homes are wide open. When we revised the house, we tried to keep this kind of open, American style.”
She and her team—who designed the clients’ four other homes, all located in Spain—collaborated closely with McNeill and architect Dean Cretsinger throughout the design phase. The new plan added a third floor to the home, as well as an elevator, a secondary staircase and a butler’s pantry near the kitchen. Unlike the former, traditional kitchen, the new one would be open, sleek and modern—designed with the homeowners’ close friend, chef José Andrés. The lower level would see a new wine cellar and movie room, while an ambitious landscaping scheme would create more space for al fresco entertaining.
The owners hired M & M Builders and Contractors to build the project. “We took it down to the original foundation,” says M & M’s Ralph Mollet. “And by some miracle, we brought everything up and out of the ashes, so to speak, in eight and a half months.”
From Italian travertine tile in the foyer to Spanish oak floors and bespoke millwork, Ruiz and her team selected top-quality materials to achieve a refined, elegant look. Most of the furniture was designed by Lalzada and fabricated in Spain by artisans—including metal workers, upholsterers and woodworkers—who frequently collaborate with the firm.
“Custom-made furniture was adapted 100 percent to our likes and needs like a tailor-made suit,” says the homeowner, a businessman who works in the U.S. and Spain. Ruiz, who recently opened an office in Washington, sees the custom route as a true expression of her creativity. “I prefer to think about what I want to create and then do it,” she observes. “You have more control and each piece is unique to each client.”
Today, the 11,000-square-foot residence suits the lifestyle of a busy family with kids ranging from seven to 16. “The house is always full,” says Ruiz. The layout is ideal for large parties, with the expansive foyer leading into the living, dining and family rooms.
The kitchen is designed to perform on all cylinders. And from a cooking standpoint, it would be the envy of any home chef—even one with José Andrés on speed dial. White Poggenpohl cabinetry is organized around a large central island and a massive custom hood. With input from the chef, the owners selected cooking appliances that run the gamut from gas, teppanyaki, wok and induction burners to traditional and steam/microwave ovens.
The second floor houses the master suite and two guest suites, along with a casual family room for the kids. But the third floor is the younger set’s domain, where new bedrooms were designed with custom furniture and novel accents—from tufted panels that give the teenage daughters’ room a hip vibe to a “wall” of stretched bungee cords in the younger girls’ room. The middle son’s room is covered in wallpaper depicting vintage maps of the U.S.
The completed home “takes its place in the neighborhood just as it did before the fire,” says architect Dwight McNeill, who has since launched his own firm. “We wanted to be honest to what had been there without downgrading the finishes or making it less of a grand house than it was.”
The homeowner agrees, “The fire was awful, but now we’re so pleased in our new home. It’s even better than the previous one.”
Photographer Stacy Zarin Goldberg is based in Olney, Maryland.
ARCHITECTURE: DWIGHT McNEILL, AIA, McNeill Baker Design Associates, McLean, Virginia. INTERIOR DESIGN: MARISA RUIZ and CARLOS ALVAREZ LOPEZ, Lalzada, Madrid, Spain, and Washington, DC. BUILDER: RALPH MOLLET and RYAN MOLLET, M & M Builders and Contractors, Gaithersburg, Maryland.
RESOURCES
THROUGHOUT Wood Flooring: lignumelite.com
FAMILY ROOM Sofas, Leather Chair & Ottoman, Bench: Custom through lalzada.com/en. Sofa & Bench Fabric: linwoodfabric.com. Framed Maps, Coffee Tables & Lamp: rh.com. Foyer Tile: architecturalceramics.com. Millwork Fabrication: twperry.com.
OUTDOOR Sofas & Side Chairs, Outdoor Fabric, Square Tables & Umbrella: rh.com. Round Dining Table: Custom through lalzada.com/en. Dining Chairs: alexander-rose.co.uk.
KITCHEN Design Consultant: José Andrés; thinkfoodgroup.com. Cabinetry: poggenpohl.com. Countertop: silestoneusa.com. Stools: capdell.com. Refrigerator: subzero-wolf.com. Pendant Lights: usa.flos.com. Oven beside Fridge: mieleusa.com. Hood Fabrication: akmetalfab.com. Plumbing Fixtures: porcelanosa-usa.com.
BREAKFAST AREA Table: Custom through lalzada.com/en. Chairs: capdell.com. Light Fixture: eichholtz.com.
DINING ROOM Dining Chairs & Chandelier: guadarte.com. Dining Table & Sideboard: Custom through lalzada.com/en. Chair Fabric: g-lamadrid.com. Antique Mirror & Persian Rug: Clients’ collection. Table Lamps: rh.com. Wall Covering: omexco.com. Drapery Fabric: llonchysala.com.
LIVING ROOM Sofa & Coffee Table: Custom through lalzada.com/en. Sofa Fabric: warwick.co.uk. Drapery Fabric: Lizzo through kravet.com. Antique Persian Rug: Clients’ collection.
MASTER BEDROOM Bed, Bedside Tables & Bench: Custom through lalzada.com/en. Wallpaper: thibautdesign.com. Bench Fabric: en.kobe.eu. Rug: cripe.gr/en/. Bedside Lamps: rh.com.
MASTER BATH Wall Covering: lamaisonbarcelona.com. Mirrors & Vanities: Custom through lalzada.com/en. Flooring, Wall & Shower Tile: architecturalceramics.com. Countertop: silestone.com. Plumbing Fixtures: porcelanosa-usa.com.
PINK BEDROOM Custom Furniture: lalzada.com/en. Wall Fabric: romo.com. Pendant Lights: vibia.com. Desk Chair: dileoffice.com. Rug: cripe.gr/en/.
PINK & BLUE BEDROOM Custom Furniture: lalzada.com/en. Desk Chair: dileoffice.com.
It’s anyone’s guess who will take up residence in the White House come January. But one thing is certain: His or her china options will include hand-painted plates that Laura Bush commissioned from Anna Weatherley in 2008.
The name behind the china—often embellished with nature motifs and sold by Bloomingdales and other high-end retailers—belongs to an Arlington resident with a history of creating beautiful objects for the rich and powerful.
Decades ago, Anna Weatherley designed dresses and ran her own DC boutique. Worn by the likes of Elizabeth Taylor, Lady Bird Johnson, and Pamela Harriman, her frocks were hand-painted with floral designs inspired by 17th- and 18th-century botanical art.
So it wasn’t a stretch when Weatherley decided to trade fashion for decorative arts; she launched her porcelain company in 1990. “It’s my passion to create something based on nature and flowers,” says the designer. After researching a new motif, she travels to her native Budapest where she directs a team of master painters who make her design a reality.
The artists use tiny brushes to paint the unfinished porcelain Weatherley sources all over Europe. “Painting porcelain is a time-consuming art form,” she says, “and few painters can actually do the detailed hand-painting. It’s very tedious and takes days to create.” Her plates range in price from $90 to $350.
On finished pieces, intricate details, shading and faux imperfections mimic nature in all its splendor. “You cannot create designs like these in a mass-produced way,” the designer says.
Which is perhaps why the White House Historical Association has commissioned Weatherley to create several collections (shop.whitehousehistory.org), including one celebrating the flowers of the Rose Garden. She also created a cachepot given to Princess Diana on a visit to the U.S. as well as luncheon settings for Blair House.
On every piece, Weatherley includes an insect or two. “It’s my trademark,” says the designer, pointing out that these creatures are not anatomically correct. “I call them ‘couture’ bugs because if they looked real, nobody would want to eat from the plates.”
Poised on the banks of Harness Creek near Annapolis, a once-depleted property now harbors drifts of native grasses and perennials and a dazzling pool and pool house, surrounding a new custom home clad in stone. The three-acre landscape is living proof that man and nature can coexist in harmony. Runoff is filtered through rain gardens that protect the waterway, a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay. In turn, a planted dune protects the house against flooding when waters rise.
As landscape architect Kevin Campion explains, “It is a great collaboration of two separate ecologies for the mutual benefit of man and nature.”
The project also marked a successful collaboration of the human kind. Following the completion of their client’s new home in 2014 (search “Raw & Refined” on homeanddesign.com), Campion, architect Cathy Purple Cherry, Pyramid Builders and the homeowners turned their attention to the landscape and its exterior structures. The site encompasses four distinct zones: a rain garden and a meadow on the street side, a shoreline garden near the creek and a play garden housing the pool. During the design phase, the owners decided to locate the pool and pool house on the side of the residence. “This way,” explains Purple Cherry, “they’re not front and center in the view during the winter months.”
Her design of the pool house pairs a stone volume housing a bath and changing room with a glass-enclosed “cube” designed for meditative reflection. “We wanted to bring together the emotions of the water, land, sky and vegetation—connecting those things and creating an opportunity for tranquility,” says the architect.Emotions play a great role in the sport's life too so their are some tips to control our emotions in sports. Stone walls extending along the far side of the pool enclose a private outdoor shower, conceal pool equipment and screen the property from neighbors.
The pool house connects the upper meadow with the shoreline garden and also relates to the main house with its stone, glass and wood composition. Combining four types of stone, the masonry on the pool complex evokes a rustic, Southwestern sensibility. The random, rugged look was not easy to achieve, says Michael Prokopchak, whose firm, Walnut Hill Landscape Company, installed the stonework. “All four sides of every stone had to be cut and the sharp edges chiseled to give them a more natural look,” he says. “It was a challenge, but the end product is phenomenal.”
In addition, every piece of bluestone in the project—from the pool coping to the diving platforms—had to be carefully sized and custom-cut as no two pieces are the same.
Even greater detail was lavished on a stone focal wall that buttresses the terrace outside the owner’s office in the main residence. A motif on the wall combines Mexican beach-pebble accents around a slab of black granite that Campion and the client hand-picked at a quarry in Upstate New York. A spillway filters water over the walls in two tiers. “Our client is inspired by nature,” says Purple Cherry. “He wanted to open the windows and hear the sound of the water.”
Indeed, water is a thread that runs throughout this project on many levels, says Campion. “We brought water close to the house and created these sensory elements so that while you can see water in the distance, you can hear it in the foreground.”
From the pool, steps lead down the dune, awash in a sea of shrubs, perennials and grasses, to Harness Creek, where the owners dock their yacht. Campion and his team designed “pools of lawn” connected by large beds of native plants, creating a tidewater habitat that reduces water consumption. “There are interesting aesthetics that are low-maintenance and more beautiful than lawn,” he explains. “And we wanted there to be an inextricable connection, so that when you come around the house, the garden just pulls you down
to the water.”
Photographer David Burroughs is based in Annapolis.
ARCHITECTURE: CATHY PURPLE CHERRY, AIA, Purple Cherry Architects, Annapolis, Maryland. BUILDER: BRET ANDERSON, Pyramid Builders, Annapolis, Maryland. LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE: KEVIN CAMPION, ASLA, principal; KEVIN GAUGHAN, ASLA, project manager, Campion Hruby Landscape Architects, Annapolis, Maryland. MASONRY: MICHAEL PROKOPCHAK, Walnut Hill Landscape Company, Annapolis, Maryland. INTERIOR DESIGN: ARLENE CRITZOS and CATHY BELKOV, Interior Concepts Inc., Annapolis, Maryland.
RESOURCES
GENERAL Landscape Installation: exteriorimage.com. Irrigation & Outdoor Lighting: terranovadesign.net. Pool: sunsetgroupmd.com.
POOL TERRACE Chaises & Drum Tables: summerclassics.com. Sofas & Chairs: woodard-furniture.com. Coffee Table: phillipscollection.com.
POOL HOUSE INTERIOR Sofa: Custom by interiorconceptsinc.com. Coffee Table: bernhardt.com. Sling Chair: noirfurniturela.com.
BATH Cabinetry Design: purplecherry.com. Cabinetry Fabrication: pyramid-builders.com. Flooring, Shower Wall, Closet & Backsplash Tile: euro-spaces.com. Sink: kohler.com.
COMING UP ROSES Part of Dior’s spring 2016 ready-to-wear collection, this embroidered, off-white wool jacket is awash in billowing white cotton roses. Shown with black-patent calfskin slingbacks and the Diorama bag in silver lambskin. Prices on request. dior.com
ABOUT TIME A textured edge on its face gives Movado’s Edge Watch its name. Shown here in rose gold, the timepiece complements any spring wardrobe with its brushed, ion-plated, stainless-steel bracelet, also finished in rose gold. $995; bloomingdales.com
FRENCH FLAIR Launched in 1981 to much fanfare, Cartier’s first-ever fragrance, Must, has undeniable staying power. The perfume is noted for its fresh hint of galbanum. 1.6-ounce; $230; neimanmarcus.com
SHAW DEBUT James Beard Award-winning chef Eric Ziebold has opened Kinship in Washington’s Shaw neighborhood to rave reviews. Serene interiors by DC designer Darryl Carter—his first foray into restaurant design—set the perfect bespoke backdrop for a delightful repast, which may start with torchon of white mushroom with huckleberry gastrique and beet and mushroom salad. 1015 7th Street, NW; 202-737-7700. kinshipdc.com
VISUAL FEAST With plywood walls and concrete floors, Palette22 in Shirlington evokes a painter’s atelier, which is entirely appropriate since local artists regularly ply their crafts at dedicated work stations in the bar area. Their creations, displayed throughout the restaurant, are available for purchase. Meanwhile, the menu serves an around-the-world array of street foods, from Middle Eastern mezze to Cuban sliders. 4053 Campbell Avenue; 703-746-9007. palette22.com
CHOCOLATE FIX In 2013, Puja Satiani traded a career in law for something she found far more gratifying: chocolate. After studying pastry at L’Academie de Cuisine, training at L’Ecole du Grand Chocolat in France and learning about the cacao bean in Belize, Satiani now crafts her own artisanal chocolates, along with skincare products containing cacao. Puja Satiani confections are sold at select area retailers or online at pujasatiani.com.
Just 90 minutes away from his Bethesda home, architect Jordan Goldstein’s new weekend retreat might as well be a world apart. Nestled on 23 acres of pristine farmland in Virginia’s Rappahannock County, it’s far removed from city congestion without a neighbor in sight.
Isolation is exactly what Goldstein was after, in more ways than one.
“I’ve always wanted to do a modern house on a blank canvas for our family, a getaway that would allow us to be together and also connect to the land,” explains the architect, a managing director at Gensler.
After visiting friends in the area and falling in love with its natural beauty, he and his wife Laurie decided to find a spot for their vacation home there. Jordan took a daylong scouting trip with a real estate agent to get the lay of the land. The first three lots were ruled out for existing buildings, the lack of a view and the presence of a bear, respectively. But the fourth property on their tour—a sweeping parcel with views of the Blue Ridge Mountains—seemed like a good match.
When he brought Laurie, a public relations specialist, and their daughters Sari and Alexa to the site, Goldstein’s hunch was confirmed. As he recalls, “The freedom we immediately felt there was liberating.”
They acquired the land and the architect got busy designing their new getaway, hoping to foster the same sense of togetherness that he experienced on boyhood ski trips spent at his parents’ Pennsylvania vacation condo. But he also wanted to create a dialog between the home and its environment.
Another goal was to involve the whole family in the process. To that end, he designed three different homes and presented models to Laurie and the girls as though they were clients. “Our daughters were actively engaged and that was wonderful,” he says.
The scheme the family ultimately chose met Goldstein’s original criteria. In the heart of its simple and efficient layout lies an open great room where lounging, cooking and dining take place. It is flanked by the master suite on one side and bedrooms for each daughter on the other. The lower level includes a rec room, a guest room and a small home theater.
Making the home a reality on the “blank canvas” of its site posed more than a few challenges. There was no road, no power and no sewer or water lines. Builder Erwin Opitz helped drill a 290-foot well for water and install a septic field and propane tank. The Goldsteins extended power lines a mile from the closest source.
The finished home offers the family a cozy embrace while inviting them to contemplate far-reaching vistas through abundant windows. The west-facing great room showcases dramatic sunset views. “In this particular canvas,” Goldstein explains, “the rolling topography, the mountains, the vast blue sky all work into the space like art.”
Reflecting the home’s elemental nature is a simple exterior palette of stucco, mahogany and stone. In a nod to old barns in the area, the master suite is cantilevered over a stone retaining wall. “The idea of a stone base and a form above it is a modern interpretation of those old barns,” says the architect. “I wanted to echo that inside using old-barn cladding on some of the walls.”
In contrast to barn-wood walls in the master bedroom and rec room, the interior finishes reflect a modern aesthetic. Goldstein relied on Porcelanosa as a “one-stop shop” where he purchased everything from the slate-like porcelain flooring for the entryway to kitchen and bath cabinetry, tile, appliances and plumbing fixtures.
Since its late-2014 completion, the Goldsteins have enjoyed their rural retreat in all seasons. Although the house is equipped with the latest in smart-home technology, being there is more about unplugging from busy schedules. “I find it very hard to let go and relax in my Bethesda home,” Jordan Goldstein admits. “Yet when we’re in Virginia and there’s that separation, it is therapeutic.”
After sunset, they often gather around the pool or their new fire pit. “It’s dead quiet and when you’re under the stars with no light pollution,” he marvels, “it’s unbelievable.”
ARCHITECTURE: JORDAN GOLDSTEIN, AIA, Gensler, Washington, DC. BUILDER: ERWIN OPITZ, Opitz Construction, Flint Hill, Virginia.
With its green pastures, horse farms and picturesque towns, rural Virginia reminds many travelers of the English countryside. That was the impression British hotelier Simon Lowe and his wife Tanya had when they visited the area in search of a vacation property a few years ago. Intent on building a home where they could spend time near their two grown daughters who live in Bethesda and Brooklyn, the Lowes found the ideal setting in the gated community of Creighton Farms near Leesburg. “We didn’t want to live in suburbia or in the city, so we looked farther out,” Tanya explains. “This was the perfect combination of the country and being near enough to our children.”
They purchased a double lot (six-plus acres) overlooking Creighton’s Jack Nicklaus golf course. “The idea,” says Simon, “was that we’d be here for spring, fall and Christmas.” The couple splits the rest of the year between their residence in Surrey, England, and their villa on the Caribbean isle of Nevis.
Though he’s had no formal training, Lowe has been designing his own restaurants, hotels—and homes—for decades. The couple’s former residences, including a 14th-century estate in Sussex, have been featured in British shelter magazines. Simon even helped close friend Susie Westmacott redecorate the principal guest suite in the British Embassy residence during the recent tenure of Sir Peter Westmacott as ambassador in Washington. So there was no question that Lowe would design the new Virginia abode.
Lowe’s country house, however, would not be a “Downton Abbey” throwback. “I didn’t want anything to do with homes in England,” he says. “I think houses have to fit in with their natural topography. Whereas some Americans want to have English Tudor houses or French chateaux, I thought ‘We’re in Virginia,’ so we looked around at Virginia farmhouses.”
Lowe drew up plans for a light and airy retreat that would take inspiration from its pastoral setting. Then he gave the drawings to his builder, Patrick Latessa of The Galileo Group, who hired a local architect to execute final drawings. During the ten months of construction that followed, marvels Tanya, “Simon visited only three times, and 95 percent of everything was perfect.”
No doubt, lessons learned from hotel and restaurant development came into play. “From the point of view of building smoothly, you have to decide what you want, stick to it and let them get on with it,” Lowe advises.
Though its stone, painted-brick and clapboard exterior resembles a typical farmhouse, visitors discover vaulted, open-plan interiors that embrace a 21st-century sensibility. “Because of the way we live here, we wanted it all open and casual,” explains Simon. The large entry foyer, flanked by Tanya’s study and the dining room, leads into a great room surrounded by Simon’s study, a terrace and the breakfast room and kitchen. Unfettered by curtains, French doors and windows overlooking the rolling landscape.
The kitchen would be the envy of any home chef. Pale gray Wood-Mode cabinetry provides plenty of storage, while generous marble countertops offer space for food prep and serving. To keep dirty plates out of sight, Lowe installed two dishwashers. “It’s all about making it look nice but at the same time being utilitarian,” he says.
After much de-cluttering when they relinquished their estate in Sussex, the Lowes decided to decorate their Virginia getaway more sparingly. “We’re not minimalist,” Simon explains, “but at the same time we took a more modern approach to achieve light, space and yet a coziness.” He mixed antiques with new transitional pieces large enough in scale to stand up to the lofty interiors. Furnishings and artwork collected on their global travels—Turkish pottery, Peruvian silver and inlaid furniture from India—lend character and beauty.
A neutral palette of beiges and grays is enlivened with subtle purple and celadon accents. Though some precious antiques were left in their original finishes, Simon had others painted dark gray to complement the look. “Brown furniture is sort of out,” he admits. “You can’t sell these things for a tuppence. So I had them painted and they look great.”
Bespoke finishes add touches of shimmer and glam. A dining room mural by St. Kitts-based artist Rosey Cameron Smith pays homage to Washington’s cherry blossoms—and a happy memory. “When Tanya and I were first going out, she took me to see the cherry blossoms downtown,” recalls Simon. “That’s when I fell in love with her.” In the main-level master suite, an upholstered partition stylishly separates the sitting and sleeping areas and a cove ceiling is finished in metallic silver for a Deco effect.
With four guest bedrooms on the second floor and one on the lower level, the home is a hub for visiting family—including the
Lowes’ two grandchildren. Another mural by Smith depicting the four seasons adorns the indoor pool, where Simon swims daily.
In addition to Grayshott, the spa hotel he owns in Surrey (noted for its 2015 book, Gut Gastronomy), Lowe is currently developing Aman Nevis. The high-end resort designed by architect Jean-Michel Gathy is scheduled to break ground later this year. Lowe has already designed the villa he and Tanya will share on the property.
Whether he’s creating a home or a five-star hotel, Lowe has worked out a formula for success. “The whole thing about a hotel, a home or any space is how comfortable you feel in it. It doesn’t need to be expensive or glamorous. It needs to have a sense of warmth,” he observes.
“Whereas I used to be more of a conformist,” he continues, “I’ve come to appreciate that in America, you can start with a clean palette and design, quite simply, the home of your dreams.”
Photographer Angie Seckinger splits her time between Potomac, Maryland, and Spain.
DESIGN: SIMON LOWE, Surrey, England. BUILDER: PATRICK LATESSA, The Galileo Group, McLean, Virginia.
RESOURCES
FOYER—page 130: Painting, French Empire Chest & George III Chair: Owners’ collection. Table Lamps: rh.com. Rug: crateandbarrel.com.
GREAT ROOM—pages 132, 133: Sofas: andrewmartin.co.uk. Armchairs: williamyeoward.com. Sofa & Armchair Fabric: kravet.com. Bench: colefax.com. Bench Fabric: designersguild.com. Coffee Table: Owners’ collection. Celadon Velour on Bench & Pillows: osborneandlittle.com. Corner Chest: donghia.com.
STUDY—pages 133: Desk, Lamp & Chair: rh.com. Upholstered George III Chair: Owners’ collection. George III Chair Fabric: ninacampbellinteriors.com. Rug: crateandbarrel.com.
KITCHEN—pages 134, 135: Cabinets: wood-mode.com. Countertops & Tile: glbtileandmarble.com. Pendant Lights: rh.com. Bar Stools: potterybarn.com. Philippe Starck Louis Ghost Chair: dwr.com.
SUN ROOM—page 136: Coffee Table, Armoire, Apothecary Chest & Upholstered Chairs: Owners’ collection. Sofa: harrods.com. Sofa Fabric: designersguild.com.
BREAKFAST ROOM—page 137: George III Buffet & Custom Table: Owners’ collection. Chandelier & Chairs: rh.com.
DINING ROOM—pages 138, 139: Buffet: Owners’ collection. Dining Table: okadirect.com. Dining Chairs & Drapery Fabric: rh.com. Chandelier: vaughandesigns.com. Mirror: grahamandgreen.co.uk. Mural: roseycameronsmith.com.
MASTER BEDROOM—pages 140, 141: Chaise Longue: ikea.com. Fabric on Ottoman & Room Divider: johnlewis.com. Inlaid Chest from India & Antique Mirror: Owners’ collection. Hammered Drum Tables: crateandbarrel.com. Nightstand: anthropologie.com. Bedside Lamps & Chairs by Fireplace: rh.com. Painting: robertbissell.com.
MASTER BEDROOM—pages 142: Dressing Table & Mirrored Stand: graham
andgreen.co.uk. Lamps on Table: rh.com. Indian Chair, Peruvian Silver Mirror, English Antique Settée: Owners’ collection. Settée Fabric: johnlewis.com. Mural: roseycameronsmith.com.
MASTER BATH—pages 142, 143: Cabinetry: wood-mode.com. Flooring, Countertops & Tub: Through thegalileogroup.com.
HOT RIDE McClaren has unveiled the first model in its new Sports Series—the 570S Coupé. Lightweight and aerodynamically designed, it boasts a carbon-fiber chassis, a 3.8-litre twin turbo V8 engine and a highly customizable interior. Seventeen exterior colors are available, including Blade Silver (pictured). From $206,000; cars.mclaren.com
POWER GLOVE The world’s first digital golf glove with wearable sensor technology, SensoGlove helps players of all levels achieve a smooth, accurate and powerful swing. The leather glove gauges grip pressure and provides real-time audio and visual feedback without an app or smartphone. $89; sensoglove.com
SKINNY SCREEN The thinnest television of its size ever made, the 75-inch Sony X910C 4K Ultra HD TV is virtually frameless and mounts flush to a wall. With an X1 processor engine, the model features maximized contrast, color and clarity. It’s powered by Android TV, which delivers content, games and streaming apps as well as a voice search feature. $5,499; sony.com
Indulgences Fashion The CH Carolina Herrera boutique in CityCenterDC heralds the season with a silk-blend, off-the-shoulder top ($315) and cropped trousers with waist-tie detailing ($355). carolinaherrera.com
SPRING IN YOUR STEP Kate Spade’s Lovely Satin Bow Pumps in ivory sport a four-inch heel and a glitter-mesh bow. Made in Italy, they’re $350 at Neiman Marcus. neimanmarcus.com
WEARABLE ART Fourth-generation Brisbane jewelry designer Margot McKinney puts a modern spin on her high-end creations while maintaining the elegance of the past. Her 18-karat yellow-gold South Sea pearl earrings feature yellow beryl pendant drops surrounded by white and brown diamonds and green sapphires. Available at Neiman Marcus for $57,900. margotmckinney.com
CLASSIC CARRYALL The Peyton Mini Leather & Suede Tote by Maiyet holds essentials in its shapely form. The Italian-made bag boasts a removable shoulder strap and magnetic closure. Available in dark coral (pictured) and navy, it’s $1,395 at Saks Fifth Avenue. saks.com
