1. FRONTGATE'S CAPTAIN'S TABLE
Yacht Entertaining Collection sets a classic nautical tone. Its beverage tub ($399), ice bucket with lid ($299) and serving tray ($279) boast exterior wood panels and stainless-steel handles reminiscent of boat cleats. frontgate.com
2. TOUCH OF THE SEA
Sur La Table’s Seaside Starfish Servers ($9.95) conjure up a day on the sand. The melamine pieces are durable and dishwasher-proof, making them ideal for easy meals all season long. surlatable.com
3. MARINE SCENE
Pottery Barn’s Playa Sea Life napkins ($28 for a mixed set of four) celebrate denizens of the deep. Made of a cotton-linen blend, the 20-inch squares are the perfect complement to a seafood feast. potterybarn.com
4. LIGHT MY FIRE
The Starfish ($14.95) and Sea Urchin ($10.95) tea-light candleholders from Crate & Barrel create a romantic touch on any tabletop. Made of textured aluminum, they accommodate a standard votive or tea-light candle. crateandbarrel.com
5. BOWLED OVER
Jonathan Adler’s Large Fish Bowl ($198), made of high-fired stoneware, doubles as a playful serving piece or accessory. Other members of the school include its Small ($98) and Medium ($148) siblings. jonathanadler.com
Built in the 1770s in the heart of Annapolis’s historic district near the Naval Academy, The Annapolis Inn coddles guests in period style. Its three stately guest rooms are appointed with European linens, tapestries and antiques. They also boast luxurious bathrooms, including the bath in the Murray Suite featuring a whirlpool tub, vanity topped with Botticino marble and imported gilded mirrors. Three-course breakfasts served in the elegant dining room may include homemade scones with clotted cream, fresh fruit and entrées of your choice. 144 Prince George Street; 410- 295-5200. Rates from $259. annapolisinn.com
The owner of a new custom home on the Magothy River wanted a seamless transition between indoor and outdoor spaces—and the master bathroom was no exception. Architect Scarlett Breeding and the design team created a spa-like retreat where the stone and glass-tile shower opens directly to a matching outdoor shower and a hot tub with an expansive water view.
Inside the bath, two identical vanity areas are separated by a hall leading to facing master closets. In addition to the glass-enclosed shower, there is also a glass-enclosed water closet. Strategically placed glass panels and high windows provide light, air, and privacy. Fixtures by Holly Hunt add dimension.
Casework made by Premier Custom-Built is seamlessly integrated into the architecture—plinths of German raked-oak that soften planes of stone, glass, and steel employed throughout the home. Vanities in Macassar ebony cleverly eliminate clutter as do mirrored medicine cabinets that swivel open to reveal storage shelves.
ARCHITECTURE: Scarlett Breeding, AIA, Alt Breeding Schwarz Architects, Annapolis, Maryland. INTERIOR DESIGN: Helen Sullivan, Helen Sullivan Interiors, Washington, DC. BUILDER: Pyramid Builders, Annapolis, Maryland. CABINETS: Premier Custom-Built, New Holland, Pennsylvania. STONE: R. Bratti, Alexandria, Virginia. TILE: Sonoma Tilemakers. FIXTURES: Alape and Frattini.
During the refurbishment of their client’s 165-foot, Dutch-made Feadship yacht, architect Scarlett Breeding, and project manager Richard Anuszkiewicz were presented with a design challenge: to create a striking centerpiece in the main salon featuring a media center on one side and a refrigerated wine display and serving station on the other. At its core, the unit would need to house electronic and mechanical systems, including custom-designed marine refrigeration and media controls. If that weren’t challenging enough, the team also had to engineer a way to secure 150 bottles of wine in high seas.
The finished project packages technology with materials that complement the yacht’s elegant interiors. On the media side, the unit boasts a fumed eucalyptus chest trimmed in polished stainless steel. A screen can be raised for viewing TV and movies or lowered to expose an antiqued-glass mirror backdrop. On the dining side, bottles are secured on mirrored, floor-to-ceiling shelves. Drawers in the piece’s side panels stow away table settings, linens, and serving pieces.
CUSTOM CASEWORK: Scarlett Breeding, AIA, and Richard Anuszkiewicz, Alt Breeding Schwarz Architects, Annapolis, Maryland. INTERIOR DESIGN: Patrick Knowles, Patrick Knowles Designs, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. CABINETS: Premier Custom-Built, New Holland, Pennsylvania. TILE: Ann Sacks. PHOTOS: Billy Black.
Homeowners with an inefficient builder-grade kitchen hired designer Davida Rodriguez to renovate the space. The clients’ primary goals were to upgrade the cabinetry, create a clean-lined aesthetic that would still blend well with their home’s traditional interiors and add an area for wine storage.
Rodriguez reconfigured the layout, moving the cooktop from the center island onto an L-shaped wall also housing the sink, dishwasher, and cabinetry. The opposite wall features dual ovens, a large stainless-steel refrigerator, and a separate wine refrigerator, above which cabinets with glass doors store glasses in easy view. A new island with a Taj Mahal quartzite top is now dedicated to food prep.
Rodriguez created a focal point with a backsplash of Encore custom-blended mosaic tile in a fence pattern above the cooktop. The rest of the L-shaped wall is covered in smoky-hued handmade tile. The countertops and backsplash on the dry bar, clad in the same quartzite as the island, beautifully complete the kitchen’s new look.
KITCHEN DESIGN: Davida Rodriguez, Davida’s Kitchen & Tiles, Gaithersburg, Maryland. STONE FABRICATOR: The Paradise Stone, Elkridge, Maryland. TILE: Encore Ceramics, Rockville, Maryland. CABINETRY: Brookhaven. Appliances: Thermador. HOOD: Zephyr. WINE COOLER: Perlick.
On a visit to Davida’s Kitchen & Tiles, a homeowner and her interior designer, Mindy Tarzy, were drawn to a display juxtaposing two styles of cabinetry: Brookhaven cabinets in an off-white glaze and modern Wood-Mode cabinets in a charcoal finish. “The owner had requested a ‘California contemporary’ look,” recalls kitchen designer Davida Rodriguez. “I knew that the combination would give her exactly what she desired.”
Using the complementary shades and styles of cabinets as a starting point, Rodriguez and Tarzy selected porcelain floor tiles resembling travertine, Taj Mahal quartzite countertops and a subtle ceramic backsplash tile to complete the material palette.
The finished plan functions well for the owners’ large, busy family. Keeping clutter at bay was a priority, so full-height tambour doors conceal small appliances. On the free-form island with a waterfall edge, a raised bar top serves meals on the go. The island is also equipped with pop-up outlets for charging laptops and phones. Stainless-steel appliances add an industrial element to the mix.
KITCHEN DESIGN: Davida Rodriguez, Davida’s Kitchen & Tiles, Gaithersburg, Maryland. INTERIOR DESIGN: Mindy Tarzy, Donley’s Design, Rockville, Maryland. CABINETS: Brookhaven and Wood-Mode. TILES: Encore Ceramics. PENDANTS & APPLIANCES: Existing.
In the design of his modern home on the Magothy River near Annapolis, the owner envisioned a kitchen as clean-lined and precise in design as the rest of the house. Architect Scarlett Breeding heeded his request for a minimalist, European-style kitchen in which all of the appliances, millwork, and surfaces would be seamlessly integrated. Working closely with interior designer Helen Sullivan, Premier Custom-Built cabinet-makers and Pyramid Builders, Breeding succeeded in realizing the client’s vision. Along one side of the kitchen, appliances are built into a massive fireplace wall. On the other side, the Gaggenau cooktop virtually disappears as it’s built flush into stainless-steel counters. A thick slab of solid quartzite covers the center island and wine chills in an adjacent butler’s pantry.
The kitchen celebrates the waterfront scenery in many ways, from its easy access to the indoor-outdoor dining pavilion and patio to the window that swivels open as a pass-through
to an al fresco grill.
ARCHITECTURAL CASEWORK: Scarlett Breeding, AIA, Alt Breeding Schwarz Architects, Annapolis, Maryland. INTERIOR DESIGN: Helen Sullivan, Helen Sullivan Interiors, Washington, DC. BUILDER: Pyramid Builders, Annapolis, Maryland. CABINETS: Premier Custom-Built, New Holland, Pennsylvania. STONE: R. Bratti, Alexandria, Virginia. TILE: Walker Zanger. STOVE & OVENS: Gaggenau. REFRIGERATION: Sub-Zero. ESPRESSO MACHINE: Miele.
Spa Day
Varnish Lane nail salon in Friendship Heights offers manis and pedis minus the foot baths. Dry treatments with all-natural creams and hot towels avoid possible infections from germs linked to traditional pedicure tubs. Light, airy interiors by local designer Lauren Liess create a serene atmosphere. 202-506-5308; varnishlane.com
FaceTime
Ferragamo’s special-edition buckle watch is embellished with four diamond markers and enclosed in a gold ion-plated steel case. The leather strap comes in fuchsia and orange ($1,395) or orange only ($995). bloomingdales.com
Stepping Out
Strike a bold pose in Valentino’s Rockstud sandal. These calfskin leather heels measure in at 3.5 inches high; platinum-finished studs add attitude. $1,045 at Hu’s Shoes in Georgetown. 3005 M Street, NW; 202-342-0202. husonline.com
Star Gazing
Paula Cademartori’s Fall/Winter collection of Italian leather goods captures the imagination with a playful mix of materials and whimsical motifs. The Kate bag is personalized with mosaics of laser-cut perforations and inlays of stars. $1,965; paulacademartori.com
English Country Style
Travelers exploring the Cotswolds will find luxury and plenty of charm at the Dormy House Hotel, where guest rooms and suites were designed by Todhunter Earle. The restored 17th-century farmhouse pampers guests in a Scandinavian-style spa with an open-air lounge, a fine-dining restaurant, and a pub. Guests can order a picnic hamper for a jaunt through the countryside, stroll into the nearby village of Broadway or take in a play in Stratford-on-Avon. Rates, including breakfast, from $375. slh.com/hotels/dormy-house-hotel
Holiday on the Sea
Perched on a cliff overlooking the Adriatic, Villa Dubrovnik offers breathtaking views of the Croatian port’s Old City, from its entrance to its 56 guest rooms and seven suites. The Romance Suite features its own terrace. Guests can enjoy the hotel’s private beach, indoor pool and fitness center, along with three restaurants on the premises. Rates from $350; villa-dubrovnik.hr
Miami Beach Revival
Ian Schrager of The Delano fame is back in Miami with the recent opening of the Miami Beach EDITION. Schrager touts this joint venture with Marriott as the “next-generation urban resort.” Designed by Yabu Pushelberg/I.S.C. Design Studio, the 3.5-acre enclave is a bold remake of the 1955 Seville Hotel. It boasts a lobby sheathed in white pearl Venetian plaster walls and Tropicale, a beachfront playground landscaped by Madison Cox. Accommodations are outfitted in a soothing beach-house vibe. Rates from $349. editionhotels.com/miami-beach
Cinema Experience
Bang & Olufsen’s new BeoVision Avant 85 delivers impressive video and surround-sound quality in the comfort of home. The company’s 85-inch flagship TV displays an “Ultra High-Definition” (4K) picture and a three-channel speaker system. A single remote seamlessly integrates the unit with consumers’ other systems, including game consoles and Apple TV. From $24,495; bang-olufsen.com
Speed + Style
Jaguar’s 2017 XE will be the company’s most aerodynamic model ever. Offering lightweight construction and streamlined style, the XE features an aluminum-intensive monocoque and an Ingenium diesel engine. It is capable of speeds from 0 to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds. The interior boasts a cockpit-like feel and an eight-inch touchscreen control. Coming to the U.S. in 2016. jaguar.com
Wireless sound
The world’s first in-ear Bluetooth headphones with motion-sensor technology, the new JBL Reflect Response headphones enable users to control audio with the wave of a hand. This feature is especially handy when listeners are driving or working out and trying to change music tracks or answer a call. Ergonomically designed for comfort, the headphones offer up to eight hours of wireless use at a time. Available in red, blue, green and black. $149; jbl.com
After a major renovation, the Waterworks showroom in Cady’s Alley opened its doors on March 26 to celebrate a new era. The company launched Waterworks Kitchen—a comprehensive collection crafted with the same quality and attention to detail as the bath lines for which Waterworks is known. “Creating a new kind of kitchen experience is a natural development,” said CEO Peter Sallick. “Our approach to the kitchen is the same as our approach to the bath: We provide a complete range of exceptional items that allow you to fully design and customize your space.”
Stunning kitchen vignettes show off American-made cabinetry, available in natural and richly painted finishes; an array of sinks in stainless steel, copper, stone and fireclay; iconic faucets and fittings; and myriad surfaces, from cement tile to stone, glass, wood, and terracotta. Fine linens, heirloom-quality pots and Lazy Susans crafted from reclaimed wine barrels are icing on the cake. 3314 M Street, NW; 202-333-7180. waterworks.com
Out of Asia
Mango Tree DC is serving contemporary Thai fare in CityCenterDC. Barcelona-based Lázaro Rosa-Violán Studio designed the interiors, which evoke Thailand with a European twist. Chef de cuisine Paul Kennedy focuses the menu on the country’s four main culinary regions; mango cheesecake makes a fitting finale. 929 H Street, NW; 202-408-8100. mangotreedc.com
California Dreaming
Summer House Santa Monica brings a sunny, Golden State vibe to North Bethesda’s Pike & Rose development. The second outpost of the eatery conceived by chef Jeff Mahin serves fresh, casual fare including Beach Bum Ceviche, sushi and steak frites. 11825 Grand Park Avenue; 301-881-2381. summerhousesm.com
Farm to Table
Owner Reese Gardner pays homage to his native Pennsylvania—the second state to ratify the Constitution—in his recently opened DC restaurant, Second State. Designed by Maggie O’Neill of SwatchRoom, the spot serves American fare and sources ingredients from local farmers with an emphasis on Pennsylvania. 1831 M Street, NW; 202-466-3010. secondstatedc.com
A biennial exhibit at the National Museum of Women in the Arts, “Organic Matters—Women to Watch 2015” examines the ways in which contemporary women artists view and treat nature in their work. Thirteen artists from the U.S., the U.K., Chile, France, and Italy were selected to exhibit in the show; their photographs, drawings, sculptures, and videos will be on view from June 5 to September 13.
A companion exhibit on the same dates, “Super Natural” showcases the ways in which artists past and present engage with the natural world. Including 50 works and installations by 25 artists, the show will juxtapose early work with bold, modern creations. For example, viewers can study the stark contrast between 17th-century Dutch artist Rachel Ruysch’s floral still life and large-scale collaged images in Maggie Foskett’s Rain Forest (1996).
Both exhibits promise an adventurous trek through the wild—free of mosquitoes and humidity. 1250 New York Avenue, NW; 202-783-5000. nmwa.org.
Sometimes unraveling challenges reap unexpected rewards. Such was the case when homeowners planning a new residence on Aberdeen Creek decided they wanted to live on the property during construction. They moved into the existing house on the lot while their new home was being built nearby; the original was then torn down and a new guesthouse built in its place. It was at this point that architect Scarlett Breeding’s plan cleverly connected the two structures with a bridge housing a home office with panoramic water views.
Not only does the bridge lend a unique signature to the Shingle-style home, it also beckons residents and guests to explore what lies beyond 4.4 acres of sweeping gardens that encompass both large spaces for entertaining and secret niches enveloped in greenery. “We designed a garden under the bridge to pull you in and draw you into this water view,” says landscape architect Kevin Campion. “It’s pretty dramatic.”
Throughout the property, the team created an outdoor aesthetic that reflects the architecture of the house. “The owners wanted a welcoming house,” says Breeding. “The gardens follow that—they’re much more informal.”
Campion agrees, “There’s a strong armature that runs along the back of the house. But then it’s adorned with naturalistic plantings.” The garden includes a pool, kitchen and dining area on the main terrace, rambling “rivers” of lawn that meander down to the creek and a sports court for the couple’s two kids.
From the house, a path of boulders leads to a secluded hot tub. Walnut Hill Landscape Company, which installed and maintains the landscape, “did a great job creating stairs that look like an outcrop—very informal and organic,” says Campion.
But nothing feels more organic than the sweeping Lord Baltimore hibiscus, switchgrass and Black-Eyed Susans that sway in the breeze along the banks of Aberdeen Creek.
Photographer Jay Stearns is based in Annapolis.
ARCHITECT: SCARLETT BREEDING, AIA, Alt Breeding Schwarz Architects, Annapolis, Maryland. LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE: KEVIN CAMPION and BOB HRUBY, principals; MEREDITH BEACH, project manager, Campion Hruby Landscape Architects, Annapolis, Maryland. LANDSCAPE CONTRACTOR: MIKE PROKOPCHAK, Walnut Hill Landscape Company, Annapolis, Maryland. BUILDER: BRET ANDERSON, Pyramid Builders, Annapolis, Maryland.
Speed Demon
Jaguar recently unveiled its 2016 F-TYPE R Coupe at the 2014 Los Angeles Auto Show. It boasts new all-wheel drive technology as well as convertible and manual transmission options. Both the coupe and convertible can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds. Available in spring 2015; pricing to be determined. jaguar.com
Crystal-Clear Sound
Craftsmanship meets the latest in technology with the Sennheiser HD 800 Headphones. Hand-assembled in Germany of precision stainless steel, they offer the largest transducer of any headphone on the market, creating a natural, dynamic listening experience. $1,500; sennheiser.com
Sweet Dreams
The compact Sound Oasis Bluetooth Sleep Sound Therapy System streams built-in therapeutic soundtracks for up to eight hours; 10 nature soundtracks are built in and others can be downloaded. It is 2.5 inches tall and has a USB-rechargeable battery. $60; soundoasis.com
Fresh Start
Mornings sound better with iShower2 by iDevices. This waterproof speaker can connect via Bluetooth with a mobile device or tablet up to 200 feet away, bringing music, phone calls, podcasts and more directly into the shower. $100; idevicesinc.com
After Dark
Kay Unger’s metallic lace-yoke cocktail dress combines a boat-illusion neckline with a V-back and an embellished sheath silhouette. $550; neimanmarcus.com
Perennial Pearls
Dior’s latest Mise en Dior necklace collection is sure to make a statement. This piece combines pearls in palladium, gold and pink-gold finishes on a ribbon chain. dior.com
Belle of the Ball
Kate Spade’s Evening Belles Feather Mimi clutch adds a touch of fun to any evening ensemble. Made of silk satin with 14-karat light gold-plated hardware, it includes a hidden chain strap. $398; katespade.com
