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
SPA GETAWAY The hilltop spa at Four Seasons Resort Seychelles (pictured) pampers guests with individual “Spa Journeys” that may include a rainforest facial, a detoxifying marine wrap, private yoga on the beach or a romantic massage for two under the stars. Between treatments, hiking trails, coral reefs and a horseshoe-shaped beach beckon. Villa accommodations from $1,192. fourseasons.com
NEW ORLEANS CHARM Set in a trio of restored 19th-century Creole townhouses, Soniat House is located in the heart of New Orleans’s French Quarter. Its 33 rooms are appointed in period style, with historic books, antiques, and art. Guests are treated to breakfast daily plus an honor bar open 24/7. Rates from $245. soniathouse.com
ITALIAN STYLE Opened last year, the Mandarin Oriental Milan offers 104 rooms and suites housed in four renovated 18th-century buildings. The property boasts stylish interiors (left) by Citterio-Viel & Partners; Seta restaurant, which offers al fresco dining in the hotel’s courtyard year-round (above); and a luxurious spa and fitness center. Rates from $645. mandarinoriental.com
SHAW DEBUT Chef and proprietor Cedric Maupillier have garnered rave reviews for Convivial, his new restaurant in Shaw. Designed by Peter Hapstak of HapstakDemetriou+, it features furniture by Pam Bothwell and lighting by Patrick Townsend Design. Medium-plate entrées such as beef pot-au-feu reflect “French heritage and American identity.” A garden patio will open in spring. 801 O Street, NW; 202-525-2870. convivialdc.com
SEA CHANGE DC’s BlackSalt Fish Market and Restaurant sports a fresh look courtesy of design fabricator Molly Allen of Atreus Works, who created new booths, banquettes, and light fixtures. To go with the makeover, BlackSalt has a new menu including mussels with chorizo, poblanos and red mole; and jumbo prawn and red miso stew with fresh shrimp dumplings. 4883 MacArthur Boulevard, NW; 202-342-9101. blacksaltrestaurant.com
ODE TO JAPAN Chefs Mike Isabella and Jonah Kim (formerly of Pabu) have opened Yona—a Japanese noodle bar and a small-plates spot in Arlington. Interiors by Natalie Park Design Studio focus on natural cedar millwork. This simple background allows the menu—which includes apples and radishes with roasted sesame miso butter and the Lucy cocktail—to take center stage. 4000 Wilson Boulevard; 703-465-1100. yonava.com
Artist Andrew Wyeth once said, “Pick a subject and go deep.” Washington-based photographer Maxwell MacKenzie has done just that with his images depicting abandoned barns and homesteads in his native Minnesota, created over a period of 35 years.
“Go Deep,” a current show at Cross MacKenzie Gallery in Georgetown, presents dozens of these photographs, including “Everts Township with Bird” (pictured), revealing the stark, faded beauty of these relics of the past amid swathes of empty fields and sweeping prairie. On view through March 30. 1675 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, DC. crossmackenzie.com
Tom Moser, the founder of Thos. Moser, Handmade American Furniture, will sign copies of his fifth book, Legacy in Wood (Down East Books, Lanham, Maryland; 2015), at the company’s Georgetown showroom on April 23 from 1 to 4 p.m.
Moser will also unveil his newest creation, the Auburn Chair, inspired by a simple cafeteria chair he spotted on a ferry from Maine to Nova Scotia. The Auburn—available in walnut or cherry and as a chair or stool—features a curved back that supports the lumbar in two directions. “It’s my most comfortable solid-wood chair yet,” says the designer. 1028 33rd Street, NW; thosmoser.com.
Long before the recent decades of war and destruction, Kabul’s Old City was a hub on the ancient Silk Road, blending artistic traditions from India, Persia and Central Asia. In 2006, Turquoise Mountain, a charity formed by Britain’s Prince Charles and then-Afghan president Hamid Karzai, rescued the historic arts district in Afghanistan’s capital from the brink of destruction. After restoring centuries-old buildings and rebuilding infrastructure, the group now provides vocational training in woodwork, calligraphy, ceramics, jewelry-making, and gem-cutting for a new generation of Afghan artisans. Crafts produced in the district are sold online and in partnerships with style icons such as Kate Spade and British jewelry designer Pippa Small.
From March 5 to January 29, 2017, DC-area residents can experience Kabul’s Old City vicariously through “Turquoise Mountain: Artists Transforming Afghanistan,” an exhibit at the Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery. The show is centered on a mock caravanserai—a courtyard-style gathering place for Silk Road travelers—built on site with more than three tons of hand-carved Himalayan cedar. In addition to interactive displays, visiting Afghan artisans will highlight the exhibit by leading demonstrations and family-focused workshops. Their wares will be sold in the gift shop.
The show “demonstrates the power of art and culture to tell the story of artistic creativity, resilience, and hope,” said gallery director Julian Raby. “This is a powerful moment meant to transcend the headlines of war and conflict.”
For information and an exhibit schedule, visit asia.si.edu. turquoisemountain.org
The 25 multi-family projects architect Suzane Reatig has designed in Shaw—until recently, one of DC’s most disenfranchised neighborhoods—affirm the notion that affordability and design excellence can go hand in hand. Reatig’s new monograph, A Clear View: How Glass Buildings in the Inner City Transformed a Neighborhood (available at reatig.com), documents her paradigm-shifting work. Here, Reatig reflects on the trail she has blazed.
How has your work influenced Shaw’s renaissance?
We started 25 years ago, when buildings were boarded up and had bars on the windows, giving a message: “This is a rough area; stay away.” By creating open and inviting buildings while also addressing safety and security, we took an active role in improving the neighborhood and presenting a new image to the community.
Regardless of budget, what common threads run through your work?
We design spaces we would want to live in ourselves, building from our experiences but constantly challenging the existing and testing the limits. Where possible, we explore the relationship between art, architecture and design. Our practice emphasizes the use of natural light and the blurring of lines between inside and outside to bring nature in. Quality of life and functionality are key, as are all aspects of sustainability.
What has been your greatest obstacle in Shaw?
Historic preservation is about preserving and respecting authenticity; it should be democratic and not restrict innovation and creativity in new construction. It has been a challenge to convey to the public and to municipal boards that a building revolves around how people want to live today—that it’s not just an architectural shape or style.
What excites you most about architectural changes underway in DC?
It’s exciting to see young, creative people and businesses moving to the city, contributing to its transformation as a global cultural center. While growth and change are important, social context, diversity and affordable housing must be considered to maintain Washington’s unique cultural history and identity. Designing for the future, to include both new and existing residents, will make DC one of the most desirable, energetic and creative hubs in the U.S.
Rooms With a View Ship-Shape Finish A 1950s cottage on the Severn River near Annapolis had undergone several renovations before its current owners tapped Hammond Wilson to orchestrate a complete makeover and better showcase the property’s dramatic views. Designed with kitchen designer Sandy Payne, the new kitchen does just that. Double islands are oriented toward a wall of windows overlooking the river. The design team painted Tedd Wood cabinetry in two custom colors; Caesarstone tops the working island while walnut on the island bar evokes the interior of a yacht.
Renovation Architecture: Leo Wilson, AIA, LEED AP, and Marshall Harris, project designer, Hammond Wilson, Annapolis, Maryland. Kitchen Design: Sandy Payne Design, Annapolis, Maryland. Renovation Contractor: Pyramid Builders, Annapolis, Maryland.
When it comes to art and design, there’s no underestimating the power of a strong image.
Designer Raji Radhakrishnan underscored this notion on several occasions while decorating a client’s new two-bedroom apartment in DC’s stately Kalorama neighborhood. A public health advisor for a non-profit agency who frequently travels to developing countries, the owner had a few simple goals in mind. She wanted a soothing retreat where she could recharge after months on the road. And she needed help combining the beloved paintings, sculptures, and photographs she’d collected all over the world.
“My client has a lot of great pieces but was never able to display them,” the designer explains. “She had them packed in the same boxes she bought them in years ago.”
In her approach to the décor, Radhakrishnan bridged styles, centuries and continents, creating interiors that respect the past in boldly modern ways. Though the condo has an open plan that combines living, dining and kitchen areas in one space, its sleek new building is surrounded by Federal-style and Beaux Arts architecture. “I wanted to bridge the gap between the historical district and the fact that it’s a contemporary space,” the designer says.
The designer also studied her client’s art collection, which ranges from ancient to modern. “She’s got sculptures from India, Cambodia, Africa, Indonesia and many other places,” Radhakrishnan notes. “To complete the story, what was missing was Europe—and that’s how the mural came into the picture.”
Poring over hundreds of photographs she’s taken on her own global journeys, Radhakrishnan zeroed in on one of an 18th-century painting by French artist Louis-Léopold Boilly entitled “Young Woman Ironing.” The image would become what Radhakrishnan describes as her “linchpin to Europe,” as she and her client decided to make it a focal point in the living room.
But rather than displaying the work in a classical way, Radhakrishnan applied her own techniques: enlarging, cropping and color-correcting the photograph to achieve a fresh, timeless look. Later printed in a lab and hung like wallpaper, the mural is now the first thing guests see when they enter the residence. Says Radhakrishnan, “We needed something like that to draw you in and soften the contemporary side a bit.”
Throughout the apartment, she combined new, old and vintage pieces while emphasizing the property’s simple, modern architecture to avoid clutter. “I wanted the shell to be quiet, which allows you to do whatever you want on top of it,” she explains. Pale cream walls and drapery, greige floors and a carpet from Radhakrishnan’s newly launched rug collection provide the simple backdrop needed to set the stage for a carefully edited selection of furniture and art.
Vintage sofas from Spain cohabitate with a sculptural Hans Wegner chair in the living room. “All of these pieces were very thoughtfully picked out,” says the designer. “Brass tables soften other contemporary pieces with a golden glow.” An oblong dining table of Radhakrishnan’s design is large enough to accommodate family gatherings.
She selected artwork sparingly, suggesting that her client rotate pieces rather than showcase too much at a time. “I had to set the pieces apart in a way that gives them space to breathe,” she explains as she points out a bronze replica of a 16th-century sculpture of the Indian goddess Uma, mounted on a modern pedestal beside the living room mural. “There’s just enough negative space between them so that they actually can have a good conversation.”
In the master bedroom, comfort was first and foremost. “I wanted her to sleep in a bed that feels like a cloud,” says Radhakrishnan, who suggested luxurious, all-white bedding offset by a calm gray palette.
Tapping into the travel theme again to find a statement piece for the room, she honed in on an etching of fountains at Versailles in one of her many art books. The designer enlarged and colored the bookplate image to create a large mural with a silver gelatin effect. A third mural depicting ancient cave drawings in India adorns the powder room.
Such powerful images helped designer and client weave together past and present and East and West. Peaceful and alluring, the now-completed residence pays homage to modern and classical beauty.
As she reflects on how it all played out, Radhakrishnan concludes, “The vision was quite simple to me: It’s a travel story. If you can find the heart of that story, the vision comes automatically.”
Photographer Rikki Snyder is based in New York City.
INTERIOR DESIGN: RAJI RADHAKRISHNAN, Raji RM & Associates, Washington, DC, and New York, New York.
RESOURCES
LIVING AREA—Sofas: Client’s collection. Rug: rajirm.com/rugs (coming in January 2016). Jean Prouvé Chair: vitra.com through yliving.com. Hans Wegner Chair: 1stdibs.com. Drapery Fabric: robertallendesign.com. Brass Tables: controlbrand.com. Floor Lamps: sergemouilleusa.com. Mural: rajirm.com.
DINING AREA—Custom Table: rajirm.com. Vintage Chairs: andreuworld.com. Console: Client’s collection.
KITCHEN—Cabinetry: Custom. Corian Countertops: dupont.com. Backsplash: Carrara marble. Refrigerator: subzero-wolf.com. Hood: bosch-home.com/us.
MASTER BEDROOM—Bedding: scandiahome.com; sferra.com. Mural: rajirm.com. Credenza & Rug: Client’s collection. Drapery Fabric: robertallendesign.com. Vintage Chair: 1stdibs.com. Table Lamps: controlbrand.com.
Tired of their traditional builder-grade kitchen, a Chevy Chase couple approached interior designer Craig Embrey for help. They wanted additional storage and counter space and a sleek, modern look.
Working with kitchen designer Larry Rosen, whose firm supplied the cabinetry, Embrey devised a plan that would transform the space from bland to bold.
A new palette offsets dark espresso cabinetry with white Caesarstone countertops. Embrey bleached the original maple floors to blend with the new look. A large island provides plenty of workspace and room for informal meals. “I didn’t want to line the seats up like a diner,” says Rosen, so he created seating space on both sides of the island.
Streamlined cabinetry, extending from floor to ceiling, conceals storage and pantry space. “My client wanted to clean up the clutter,” says Embrey. “They have a clever cabinet with all their small appliances in it.”
A large Thermador hood creates a focal point. Equipped with an external box mounted on the side of the house, it barely makes a sound. Low-voltage recessed lighting illuminates the finished space.
The designers removed a knee wall separating the kitchen and an adjacent breakfast room (not pictured), which opens to a rear terrace through new glass doors. “I opened it up and made it all glass,” says Embrey. “In the morning, it’s gorgeous.”
INTERIOR DESIGN: CRAIG EMBREY, Joseph Craig Embrey Design, Chevy Chase, Maryland. KITCHEN DESIGN: LARRY ROSEN, Jack Rosen Custom Kitchens, Chevy Chase, Maryland. Contractor: ACD Remodeling, Rockville, Maryland.
All the Details
Cabinetry: Elmwood. Countertops: Caesarstone. Appliances: Thermador through Ferguson. Stools: Crate & Barrel. Faucet & Hardware: Union Hardware.
Washington-based interior designer Vivian Braunohler has collaborated with kitchen designer Jennifer Gilmer so frequently over the years that there was no question the two would team up to create the kitchen in Braunohler’s vacation house on Nantucket. Though she loves her new home’s sleek, clean-lined interiors, Braunohler says, “I wanted the kitchen finishes to be warmer.”
The airy kitchen visually connects to the adjacent breakfast room, family room, and living room through large openings that emphasize the main level’s 18-foot cathedral ceilings. A functional layout places cabinetry and appliances in a U shape surrounding a large island clad in dark gray, hot-rolled steel. “It adds a soft, industrial look,” Gilmer explains, “and ties in with the oil-rubbed bronze sconces and cabinet hardware.”
White cabinets on the perimeter “keep it open and bright,” says Gilmer, who offset the cooktop cabinetry in wood so it resembles a piece of furniture. Under the cooktop, sliding doors open to pot-and-pan storage without blocking the passageway.
The designers integrated the hood into the design by covering it in drywall and commissioning a Nantucket artisan to coat it in a pale gray, waxed finish created using lime and pigments. A backsplash made of glazed tile from Morocco adds a touch of shimmer.
ARCHITECTURE: ANDREW KITCHEN, Workshop/apd, New York, New York. INTERIOR DESIGN: VIVIAN C. BRAUNOHLER, ASID, Braunohler Design Associates, LLC, Washington, DC. KITCHEN DESIGN: JENNIFER GILMER, CKD, Jennifer Gilmer Kitchen & Bath, Chevy Chase, Maryland.
All the Details
Cabinets: Premier Custom Built. Backsplash Tile: Renaissance Tile. Limestone Countertops: Stone Source. Ovens, Cooktop: Dacor. Pendants: Holly Hunt. Sconces: Palmer Hargrave. Custom Trough Sink: AK Metal. Custom Table: Balsamo Antiques. Chairs: Contemporary. Faucets: Waterworks.
The distinctive X motif adorning the bespoke kitchen is just one example of the many custom details lavished on the renovation of an Alexandria home. Designer Chris Cahill orchestrated its kitchen/family room addition to provide the owners with plenty of room for entertaining and “an immense amount of storage.”
A strong sense of symmetry drove Cahill’s kitchen plan. A cook wall centers on a 48-inch Wolf range, flanked by cabinets and an integrated refrigerator and freezer on either end.
On the opposite wall, five doors replicate the design of the refrigerator/freezer panels. Four conceal pantry storage for everything from dishes and appliances to dry goods. Meanwhile, the center door opens to a butler’s pantry where the doors on antiqued-mirror china cabinets repeat the X motif. “Antiqued mirrors,” observes Cahill, “give brightness to space without showing everything that’s in a cabinet.”
In the center of the kitchen, the owners enjoy plenty of workspace on a long island with quartzite countertops. The custom cabinet color, Saturday Putty, was originally conceived by Cahill for the husband’s home office; the owners decided to carry the subtle, earthy shade into the kitchen as well.
A backsplash made of glazed tile installed in a herringbone pattern adds a final grace note. Says Cahill, the tile “lends sparkle and makes the kitchen come alive.”
KITCHEN DESIGN/BUILD & CABINETRY: CHRIS CAHILL, Cahill Design Build, Olney, Maryland. INTERIOR DESIGN: MARIKA MEYER, Marika Meyer Interiors, Bethesda, Maryland.
All the Details
Countertops: R. Bratti. Pendant Lights: Urban Electric. Chandelier: Avrett Lighting. Flooring: Select Floors. Tile: Renaissance Tile. Stools: Woodbridge Furniture. Dining
Chairs: Century Furniture.
An Annapolis couple embarked on a kitchen makeover as part of a renovation by interior designer Katalin Farnady. “Their mission was to have a house that could easily be placed in Miami,” Farnady explains. They also requested an oversized island for casual meals and lounge seating.
By gutting and bumping out the kitchen, which overlooks the South River, Farnady and kitchen designer Tracy McGuinness started with a large, blank slate. “The flexibility was a luxury, but also a challenge,” McGuinness recalls. They devised a T-shaped island that combines workspace with a custom dining table. Along with a sculptural light fixture, the island delineates cooking, dining and seating zones without blocking views.
High-gloss white cabinetry and marble floors convey a Miami vibe, while dark wood cabinets anchored by a wine tower on one side and a refrigerator on the other provide contrast. The cabinetry wraps around to a pantry in a passageway to the dining room.
“The charcoal, taupe and white are reminiscent of the colors you see out the window on a cloudy day,” says McGuinness. “And they’re a neutral foil to the owner’s modern art.”
Farnady warmed the space with textural backsplash tile and crushed velvet-covered chairs in the seating area. Thrilled with the new look, the owners recently threw a party in the kitchen to celebrate its debut. The theme, of course, was “Miami white.”
INTERIOR DESIGN: KATALIN FARNADY, Allied ASID, Farnady Interiors, Annapolis, Maryland. KITCHEN DESIGN: TRACY MCGUINNESS, AKBD, Kitchen Encounters, Annapolis, Maryland. CONTRACTOR: CitySpace Solutions, Annapolis, Maryland.
All the Details
Cabinetry: Elmwood Fine Custom Cabinetry. Corian & Cambria Countertops: In-Home Stone. Wolf Cooktop, Z-Line Hood, Miele Ovens, Thermador Wine Tower: The Appliance Source. Sofa & Lounge Chairs: Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams. Flooring: Porcelanosa. Backsplash: Daltile.
