ROAD WARRIOR
Inspired by the SLS AMG GT3 race car, Mercedes’s 2014 SLS AMG Black Series combines cutting-edge, lightweight design with extreme performance. Its 6.3-liter V8 engine generates 622 horsepower and reaches 60 mph in 3.5 seconds. Interiors with luxurious leather upholstery and a high-end Bang & Olufsen surround-sound system round out the package. $275,000; mbusa.com
TUNES ON THE GO
Modern-day minstrels may hit the road with the Blackbird Rider—a travel acoustic guitar that is lighter and more compact than its conventional wooden counterparts at only 2.7 pounds. Yet its one-piece carbon fiber construction delivers full-size sound and tone. $2,150; blackbirdguitar.com
IN THE DEPTHS
Water resistant to 200 meters, Fortis’s B-42 Marinemaster Chronograph caters to divers who appreciate its automatic Swiss movement, brushed stainless-steel case with sapphire crystal and luminous steel hands. $2,100; fortis-watches.com
PERFECT SOUND
Ferrari by Logic3, creators of Ferrari audio accessories, celebrates the brand’s style and performance with R300 noise-canceling headphones. They offer top-notch sound quality with 40mm drivers and ultra-soft ear pads for maximum comfort. Available in black and white; $349; ferrari-by-logic3.com
FLOWER POWER
Anne Fontaine’s Aurelia Flowers earrings create a summery look. Brass with a gold finish. In Tysons Galleria; $195. annefontaine.com
STEP INTO SPRING
Karen Millen’s Iris Print Peplum Top puts a flowery spin on your weekend wardrobe. Pair with white slacks or the matching skinny jeans. Top $170 and jeans $110 at Tysons Galleria. karenmillen.com
BAG IT
This compact crossbody bag by Rebecca Minkoff makes a carefree carry-all in leather with a 21-inch strap. Available in Mint, Natural, Black, Petal Pink and Jungle green. $225; bloomingdales.com
GO GLAM
The iconic Dior Ladylady 1 Black/Purple Sunglasses evoke an air of style and mystery. Their graded gray lenses offer 100 percent UV protection. $325; dior.com
INTO THE WILD
Chongwe River House, a riverfront safari lodge in Zambia that accommodates up to eight adults, is fresh from a redesign led by Gillie Lightfoot. Highlights include a chandelier fashioned from recycled glass in the dining room (above) and furnishings crafted by local artisans. Nightly rates from $650 include meals, transfers and game drives; chongweriverhouse.com
LONDON CALLING
The new 85-room Bulgari Hotel & Residences, London, designed by Antonio Citterio, Patricia Viel and Partners, pays homage to the luxury brand’s silversmith heritage with silver accents throughout the interiors. Suites are appointed with Italian upholstery and textiles that evoke jewelry designs while Il Ristorante boasts custom tables and chairs. Rates from $760; bulgarihotels.com
ON THE MEXICAN RIVIERA
Sybarites find a tropical escape amidst freshwater lagoons and mangroves at Banyan Tree Mayakoba. Located 40 minutes from Cancun International Airport, the resort features 132 one- and two-bedroom villas with private pools plus snorkeling, tennis, yoga and golf. Nightly rates from $445; banyantree.com
ART AND SOUL REBORN
Art and Soul has a whole new look and a revised menu too. Dawson Design Associates of Seattle updated the dining room with herringbone wood floors, sleek light fixtures and textured wall treatments. Chef Art Smith continues to explore his Southern roots with new family-style classics. 415 New Jersey Avenue, NW; 202-393-7777; artandsouldc.com
WHAT’S YOUR SIGN?
Quill, The Jefferson hotel’s elegant lounge, is now mixing Zodiac Zingers—cocktails that reflect the character of each monthly astrology sign. The mysterious Gemini—a gin, lime, mint and Scotch concoction—will be served May 21 through June 20, when Cancer rises.1200 16th Street, NW; 202-448-2300; jeffersondc.com
LOGAN CIRCLE DEBUT
Table is housed in a former auto repair shop in DC’s Logan Circle. The sparingly furnished space reflects the menu’s inventive approach. Chef Patrick Robinson prepares seared monkfish with bok choy and leek-sorrel sauce in Table’s open kitchen. 903 N Street, NW; 202-588-5200. tabledc.com
As one of the top players in the NBA, Caron Butler thrives on the male-dominated court. But at home it’s another story. The 33-year-old forward lives with four women—wife Andrea and three young daughters, ages one to nine—and “in the house,” says Andrea, “we rule.”
So it’s no surprise that when the couple decided to redecorate their Fairfax, Virginia, home, the goal was to trade its dark, heavy interiors for a lighter, more feminine touch. After friends introduced them to designer Dahlia Mahmood, the Butlers asked her to redo their family room. “It turned out wonderfully,” Andrea recalls. “Once Dahlia began giving me ideas, I got excited and it turned into a project for the entire house.”
That was in 2011—the year Butler began playing for the Los Angeles Clippers. Prior to heading West, he spent a year with the Dallas Mavericks, where he won an NBA championship, and five years with the Washington Wizards, where he became a two-time NBA All-Star. Though the family would now have to spend much of the year in California, they decided to keep their residence near DC and tasked Mahmood with re-designing it while they were away.
“Spending time with my family, both immediate and extended, is the most important aspect of my life,” says Caron Butler. “Having everyone feel welcome and comfortable when we are home and together is very important to me. That is what our Virginia house does.”
While the home’s exterior is traditional, Mahmood went for a glamorous and younger, more transitional look inside. She selected a light, buff palette dressed up with gold, bronze and silver accents. Metallic faux treatments, textured wall coverings and custom crystal applications add subtle sparkle and shine—effects that Andrea Butler adores.
When the Butlers returned to DC in summer 2011, Mahmood had everything in place down to the china, accessories and fresh flowers in every room. “I was in tears,” recalls Andrea of the first time she saw the finished rooms. “It looked like a completely different house.”
One challenge the designer faced was choosing furniture that would be comfortable for both six–foot, seven-inch Caron and five-foot-tall Andrea. In the living room, she found both proportion and style with Barbara Barry’s latest collection for Baker. Light plays off metallic striae on the walls, a silver leaf treatment on the ceiling and shimmery Donghia fabric on the sofas.
The dining room is equally opulent. An intricate crystal chandelier, walls stenciled to complement the Zimmer + Rohde drapery fabric and a Barbara Barry sideboard in a silver-leaf finish create an elegant look. Large Bill Sofield host chairs paired with Barbara Barry X-back chairs “play on the masculine and feminine,” Mahmood says.
Also on the main floor, Butler’s home office centers on a custom Baker desk. On display are prized photos, trophies and a framed copy of Theodore F. MacManus’s “The Penalty of Leadership,” which means a lot to Butler. “The text describes how you can’t let the negativity of a jealous individual affect your path to greatness,” he explains.
Born in Racine, Wisconsin, Caron Butler faced his share of challenges during a childhood troubled by drugs and arrests. While at a juvenile detention center, he discovered his love of basketball and worked hard to perfect his game. He later landed a scholarship to play for UConn—where he met Andrea—before entering the NBA draft.
Today while off the court, Butler leads the 3-D Foundation, which runs a basketball camp and league for students in his hometown. He has also partnered with the Salvation Army and Walmart to sponsor the Bike Brigade, a program that distributes new bikes and helmets to students in Racine and DC.
“Having been through a lot in my life, I feel blessed to be in the position I am in today where I can use my success as a platform to help people,” says the NBA All-Star. “As long as I am doing right by my family, my team and myself, I know that I will be able to lead by example.”
The Clippers have topped their division and are headed to the 2013 playoffs. After the season, Butler looks forward to relaxing in his Virginia home. The lower level was designed just for him with masculine pieces from Fendi Casa, including a bar, a massaging spa chair and a dazzling chandelier of Swarovski crystals above the pool table. Here Butler and his friends can watch sports on big-screen TVs, catch a movie in the theater appointed with motion seating and, of course, work out in the gym.
A restful vibe prevails in the master bedroom. Dahlia Design created a new headboard covered in iridescent faux leather from Hines. The walls feature a metallic glaze with a glass-beaded stencil. “It looks like wallpaper,” says Mahmood, “but it’s all done by hand.”
The designer found the project both challenging and rewarding. “The Butlers are not your typical basketball family,” she says. “There’s love in this house. Their giving me freedom and trust meant a lot. I wanted to exceed their expectations.”
Photographer Bob Narod is based in Herndon, Virginia.
INTERIOR DESIGN: DAHLIA MAHMOOD, Dahlia Design, Ashburn, Virginia.
"I don’t have a designer bone in my body,” states a Chevy Chase homeowner. “But I know what I like.” For example, she knew she didn’t like the exterior of her once-boxy, 1940s residence before its recent renovation. “The original architect designed the WTOP radio tower,” she explains, “and our house looked like that radio tower. We needed help.”
As luck would have it, the owner won a charity auction bid on a consultation with interior designer Lorna Gross-Bryant a few years ago. After an hour on the phone, the two had bonded. “Lorna is from Louisiana and my mother is from Louisiana,” the owner says. “I’m from Houston and Lorna has family there. When I started talking about types of homes and the look I wanted, we had an ‘aha’ moment.”
When the busy executive and her husband, a physician, eventually decided to overhaul their home, they knew Gross-Bryant was the one for the job. They hired architect Robert Nehrebecky to handle the structural side. It was clear that they did not envision a typical “Washington” look. They wanted the exterior to reflect the homes they admired in Houston, with stonework, porticoes and wrought iron details, while the interiors would evoke points even farther south: the islands of the Caribbean.
“The islands are our favorite getaway,” says the mother of two young boys. “There’s a relaxing, peaceful vibe that you get the minute you get off the plane. I wanted that serene feeling when I come home. It’s effortless beauty.”
According to Nehrebecky, “the challenge of the exterior was re-envisioning it to be something that met their desires.” He devised a plan that would add a portico to the entry and unify “disjointed” elements, including a flat-roofed addition built onto the garage by previous owners. “I designed a hip roof on top of that which matched the slope of the existing house and tied it into the entry,” he says. After its brick was painted, its new pathways paved with stone imported from Texas, and stucco quoins complete, the house finally took on the character and curb appeal its owners were after.
Nehrebecky’s other grand gesture was to bump out the kitchen and create a breakfast room to give the family more space to spread out. Above this addition, he created a gracious sitting room off the master bedroom. Throughout the house, doorways between rooms were widened, plaster repaired and new infrastructure and electrical systems put in place.
For the interiors, Gross-Bryant honed in on details that would set her clients’ home apart—starting with the wrought-iron scrollwork on the front gate and the imposing new front door with hardware of her own design. “The house needed something a little more grand,” says the designer.
The challenge was to celebrate her clients’ love of the Caribbean without being too literal. “Some influences are more subtle than others,” Gross-Bryant says, “but I brought the tropics into every room.” Walls the color of pearly sand and textures reminiscent of foliage create a neutral, organic backdrop. On the main level, she peppered the calm with splashes of red—her client’s favorite color—to suggest strong sun, while upstairs she employed turquoise accents in homage to the sea.
The foyer opens to the dining room, where an Emanuel Morez chandelier of intertwined acrylic leaves reflects light and appears to “meander” above the table, says Gross-Bryant, who discovered the piece with her client at the Washington Design Center. Wallpaper with a tone-on-tone bamboo motif creates texture on one wall. Gross-Bryant alternated wood-backed chairs with upholstered ones. “Mixing in the textiles softens the room and makes it more lush,” she explains.
The living room to the left of the foyer receives guests with a West Indian embrace. Like a great room on a grand estate, it accommodates two conversation areas that Gross-Bryant envisioned as “guys’ and girls’” sides. “Near the fireplace is the Jamaican rum side,” she explains, pointing to the two oversized armchairs and Century coffee table. “The ladies’ side is a bit lighter and more delicate.” A Savonnerie-style rug ties the two spaces together.
A tropical mood prevails in the adjacent solarium where the boys hang out and watch TV with friends while the grown-ups socialize. Caribbean-inspired art and kid-friendly furniture and fabrics create a relaxed vibe.
The boys also enjoy time spent in the newly renovated kitchen and breakfast room. “I wanted a place where they can sit and do homework,” says the wife. “The kids can be in the pool and we can see them from here.” A glass door opens to the pool terrace, recently paved with limestone the owners imported from Texas.
While the floor plan on the main level remains unchanged, Nehrebecky reworked the second floor, eliminating one bedroom to give the master suite more space. Here, sand meets surf, with vibrant turquoise accenting muted, softly textured fabrics. A wrought-iron balcony and large windows overlook the pool below.
The homeowner credits Gross-Bryant with respecting her vision. “Lorna understood what I was looking for and made it so easy,” she says. “She let me channel my inner Texan.”
Now that the home is finished, the owners enjoy entertaining and have frequent “family play dates.” With its cohesive new style, the property is a real departure for their guests. “People feel like they’re someplace else—not Washington,” says the wife. “They come over and never leave.”
Photographer Angie Seckinger splits her time between Potomac, Maryland, and Spain.
RENOVATION ARCHITECTURE: ROBERT NEHREBECKY, AIA, Re:New Architecture, Bethesda, Maryland. INTERIOR DESIGN: LORNA GROSS-BRYANT, ASID, Savant Interior Design, Bethesda, Maryland. RENOVATION CONTRACTOR: JASON FRANKLIN, Franklin Renovations, Germantown, Maryland.
TWO-WHEEL PRECISION
Porsche has introduced two bicycle designs, both inspired by the fluid lines of its iconic 911 automobile. The Porsche Bike RS racer (above) is equipped with a carbon-fiber frame, Magura hydraulic disc brakes and a 20-speed Shimano gear system for road warriors who like to power their own way. $8,000; porsche-bike.com
SOUND MACHINE
Bang & Olufsen’s BeoPlay 8 (above, left) makes a striking statement whether it’s hung on the wall or placed in a room (sound can be optimized for both). It also makes your iPhone, iPad or iPad Mini playlist come alive, wirelessly or via a built-in dock. Speakers are available in a rainbow of colors to go with any décor. $1,149. bang-olufsen.com
CAPTURE THE THRILL
Skiers and snowboarders can record still and video images on the slopes hands-free with Liquid Image’s Apex HD+ Wi-Fi Snow Goggles, which contain an HD, Wi-Fi-enabled camera. The goggles’ rotating, 135-degree wide-angle lens captures all the action; images and videos with sound can be streamed live or downloaded. Available in black or white (above, left). $400; liquidimageco.com
GAME CHANGER
The age-old game gets even more intriguing with Alexandra Llewellyn’s handmade backgammon set (left). The zebrano wood board contains inlay hand-painted with peacock feathers and comes with antique weighted playing pieces. Available through Bespoke Global; $3,400. bespokeglobal.com
BEJEWELED
Henri Bendel’s Tough Girl Pearl Lariat (left) is a playful combination of Swarovski elements and glass pearls hung on a 16-inch, gold-plated brass chain. At Tysons Galleria; $178. henribendel.com
STONE ACCENTS
David Yurman’s Labyrinth Collection includes rings (left, below, top to bottom) in Citrine, Prasiolite and Amethyst surrounded by pave diamonds. Price on request at David Yurman in Tysons Galleria. davidyurman.com
GARDEN PARTY
Step into spring with Jean Paul Gaultier’s floral dress with ruching and a lace accent along the front (below, left). Made in Italy; $585. Online only; bloomingdales.com
BAG IT
Salvatore Ferragamo’s Mini Bag (below, left) delivers high style in a compact, seven-by-five-inch package. Made in Italy of Saffiano leather, it comes in Lava (above), Porcellana, Vanilla and Nero. $595; bloomingdales.com
BRIGHT LIGHTS, BIG CITY
The new Mandarin Oriental Guangzhou, the company’s first hotel in a mainland Chinese city, is perched atop TaiKoo Hui (left), an upscale shopping and office development. New York designer Tony Chi created its sleek, modern guest rooms (above, left); a spa and five restaurants round out the offerings. One- and two-night introductory packages start at about $337 through April 13. mandarinoriental.com
NEW LOOK IN BUENOS AIRES
Fresh from a $40 million makeover, Four Seasons Hotel Buenos Aires now sports a new lobby, guest rooms and restaurants—including Elena (left), a double-height venue designed by EDG. It features marble-tiled floors, locally sourced antiques and a two-story wine presentation handcrafted by local artisans using ironwork and antique gears. Rates from $525; fourseasons.com
A BOWL OF CHERRIES
The 2013 National Cherry Blossom Festival takes place March 20 to April 14. To celebrate, a number of DC restaurants are serving up cherry-laced dishes. Top picks (on left): Carmine’s cherry blossom punch; Ris’s grilled quail with kale and bourbon cherry sauce; and Elisir’s Cherry Blossom Surprise. nationalcherryblossomfestival.org
FREE RANGE
“Top Chef” veteran Bryan Voltaggio (below, left) of Volt fame has spread his wings with the opening of Range in Chevy Chase. This sleek, 14,000-square-foot dining room was designed by DC’s Collective Architecture. It boasts an open kitchen where guests can watch as charcuterie, rotisserie, raw bar and wood-fired dishes are prepared. 5335 Wisconsin Avenue, NW; 202-803-8020. voltrange.com
NEW CELLAR ON TAP
Now open in DC’s new Union Market, Cordial Fine Wine (below, left) offers 216 small-production artisanal wines and 35 craft beers from around the world. Owner and Cordon Bleu-trained chef Eric Rohleder aims to demystify the wine-buying process with free tastings on Thursdays from 5 to 7. 1309 5th Street, NE; 202-548-2450. cordialwine.com
Now in its sixth year, the DC Design House will showcase the work of 24 top local design teams in a new 14,000-square-foot home (above) designed by GTM Architects. The Foxhall Road residence features eight bedrooms, eight full baths and four half baths on five levels; an exercise room with sauna; a rec room with catering kitchen; and an infinity-edge pool. It is on the market for $14.9 million.
This year’s designers are Kelley Proxmire and Frank Babb Randolph, Camille Saum, Terri Easter, David Mitchell, Victoria Neale, Taylor Wells, Jessica Parker, Iantha Carley, Nestor Santa-Cruz, Andrea Houck, Charles Almonte, Claire Schwab, Michael Hampton, Susan Jamieson, Darlene Molnar, Nancy Twomey, Regan Billingsley, Jeff Akseizer and Jamie Brown, Katherine Vernot-Jonas, Allie Mann, Lorna Gross, Jen Chappell and Ken Berry and Scott Cooke. Amy Mills and Guy Williams will design the garden entry.
The home is located at 2507 Foxhall Road, NW. A Barebones Tour on February 23 allows visitors to see the house before design work begins. The house will open for tours from April 14 to May 12 (closed Mondays) and will also feature a variety of boutiques. Proceeds benefit Children’s National Medical Center; admission is $25. dcdesignhouse.com
Douglas Burton, co-owner of Apartment Zero, was “raised in museums and art galleries, visiting them every week of my childhood,” he muses. This passion led Burton to pursue a career in design and, eventually, to open Apartment Zero—a modern furniture store and hub for expositions, symposia and dialogs that revolved around consumers, designers and a growing cadre of embassy folk until its lease expired in 2010.
The absence of a brick-and-mortar venue has not stopped Burton from mounting what promises to be his largest event to date: The Washington, DC International Design Festival, which will take place February 21 to May 19 at Artisphere in Arlington (former site of the Newseum) with input from the embassies of Spain and Italy, local retailers and experts on design.
The cornerstone of the event will be “The Next Wave: Industrial Design Innovation in the 21st Century,” an exhibition of products designed over the past 13 years, with a focus on lighting, tabletop, furniture and textiles from more than 15 countries; the work of six local designers will also be on display. “The Next Wave,” says Burton, “will reveal a frozen-in-time snippet of what’s going on globally in industrial design.”
The Festival will also feature a series of public events, including a photo contest, a panel on the role of women in design, a pop-up store and more. apartmentzero.com.
Miles of tranquil waters mesmerize visitors to a light-filled Edgewater, Maryland, home—even in the middle of January. A forested road leads to the site, which forms a point where it meets the South River. A scalloped inlet pools on the south side, creating the impression that guests are pleasantly marooned on an island.
A few years ago, this scene captivated a couple seeking a waterfront property. They loved the five-acre site so much that they made an offer on it without setting foot inside the 1980s house built near the water’s edge.
The owners, semi-retired attorneys, turned to architect Ben Ames for help. They wanted their home to celebrate modern architecture, their growing art collection and, of course, the views. As the husband recalls, “I made Ben climb up to the roof of the existing house and I said, ‘This is the bedroom floor. I want this view.’”
The existing home posed too many structural problems to renovate, so the owners opted to tear it down and start from scratch. Ames quickly invited interior designer Catherine Hailey to the drawing board. These frequent collaborators began a dialog with their clients that would determine how their home would take shape. “They told us they wanted a work of art that they could live in,” recalls Hailey.
The husband envisioned the house as a portal, framing the water view. “That was probably the primary design concept,” says Ames, who designed a two-story great room with a mezzanine, where living, dining and entertaining would take place. Offices, guest and master suites and TV and exercise rooms were positioned around the perimeters of the glass volume.
Ames streamlined the home’s footprint; its 6,000 square feet of living space spans four levels, including a full basement and a master suite on the third floor. Nimble manipulation of rooflines helps make the upper aerie all but disappear from the front. “We worked to find that sweet spot between a grand space and it feeling too big,” Ames explains.
A clever mix of clear and opaque materials and the use of overhangs, louvers and solar shades create a vibrant interplay of light and also temper the sun’s effects on energy use. Despite the simplicity of the exterior palette—stucco, aluminum and steel—the design demanded what Ames terms “structural gymnastics.” A steel moment-frame protects the house from hurricanes and seismic events. Steel supports were a challenge to integrate outside the rear window walls.
The interiors are at the same time minimal and rich. Ames and Hailey made consistent use of dark-stained walnut and travertine throughout. Hailey sparingly added modern furniture with enough texture and color to establish presence—but not compete with the views or the artwork.
“I was trying to give them pops of color and interesting textures so that as much as the space was clean and contemporary, it was not so minimal that it felt cold,” Hailey says. She wove in natural materials, including a live-edge wooden coffee table that her clients discovered online and sculptural raffia chairs, to “play off the outdoor elements you see throughout the space.”
With so much openness, finding wall space to display artwork posed a challenge. Plans to make a painting by Kely Méndez Riestra the focal point in the living room led to the design of a laminated-glass “box” that would showcase the piece, as well as an ethanol-powered fireplace.
The kitchen faces the living area; a laminated-glass panel framing the cabinets echoes the fireplace surround. The rift-cut oak cabinets are stained dark walnut to blend in with the floors. With walls of windows on two sides, the dining area makes guests feel as though they’re outdoors in any season.
The mezzanine level houses an open lounge with a pool table. The northern side leads to a guest suite, while the southern side contains the owners’ offices. A trio of Campbell’s soup can paintings by Steve Kaufman, a former colleague of Andy Warhol’s, are visible from the living room below.
The open stairwell sheathed in highly insulated Kalwall leads to the master suite. In this third-floor refuge, custom millwork divides the sitting room and sleeping area. A Lichtenstein hangs above the bed, which enjoys water views on three sides.
Housed in a glass cube, the master bath, says Ames, “is. admittedly a little bit extroverted.” A large open shower with a river-rock floor overlooks the river. Built-in cabinets and a roomy closet keep clutter at bay.
Landscape architect Kevin Campion, who in the design stage worked at Graham Landscape Architecture, took his cues from the view in his approach. “The perspective down the river was the most meaningful part of the process,” he explains. “We wanted the garden to reflect that. It was about pulling people to the view.”
By adjusting the grade and “sinking” the garage, he and Ames created a flat plane leading to the house. Bands of travertine form a path to the threshold. Terraces include dining and grilling areas off the kitchen and an outdoor living space overlooking the lawn. Lush indigenous plantings, says Campion, who recently founded Campion Hruby Landscape Architects, “nest the house and fuse it with the natural ecology.”
The designers and their clients worked hard to develop and realize a clear and singular vision for the house—and the results are a rousing success. As Campion remarks, “I was struck by the clarity and purity of the owners’ appreciation for modern art and architecture. We tried hard not to complicate the project and keep the materials simple and modern. At every turn, they chose the modern gesture.”
Photographer Morgan Howarth is based in Gainesville, Virginia.
ARCHITECTURE: BENJAMIN AMES, AIA, Cunningham | Quill Architects, Washington, DC. INTERIOR DESIGN: CATHERINE HAILEY, ASID, Hailey Design, Alexandria, Virginia. LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE: KEVIN CAMPION, ASLA, Annapolis, MD. CONTRACTOR: ILEX CONSTRUCTION, Washington, DC.
Almost 20 years after purchasing their stately McLean, Virginia, home, former North Dakota Senator Byron Dorgan and his wife, Kimberly Olson Dorgan, had grown weary of its less than optimal spaces. The two-story family room was a case in point. “There was nothing warm and cozy about it,” Kim reflects. “It was cold and you felt like a little speck in this very tall room.”
The home’s spacious but poorly designed kitchen and run-of-the-mill finishes also left room for improvement. So after their two kids departed for college, the Dorgans decided it was time for an overall lift, and turned to Washington designer Andy Staszak for help.
“There was no flow to the house,” recalls Staszak, who came recommended by a friend of Kimberly’s. “It was just as the builder left it. They wanted to step it up.”
Taking cues from Kimberly, who, he says, has “fabulous personal style,” Staszak got busy defining a continuous color palette of sage, terracotta and warm yellows and conjuring a look that would give the interiors a “European edge.”
Now, ochre walls and new hardwood floors warm up the family room and an oversized chandelier “brings the focus down to the level in which you live,” says Staszak. He covered the windows in “matchstick” bamboo shades that act as a scrim, letting in natural light during the day and providing privacy at night. A painting by North Dakota artist Walter Piehl hangs above the sofa; it once graced Byron Dorgan’s Senate office, where he served his home state from 1992 to 2011. He is now a senior policy advisor at Arent Fox and founder of the Center for Native American Youth at the Aspen Institute.
The family room opens to the revamped kitchen, designed by Jennifer Gilmer of Jennifer Gilmer Kitchen & Bath with input from Staszak. During the transformation, the island was repositioned to provide more room for food prep and circulation during parties. “It’s so much more functional than what we had,” says Kim, senior executive vice president at the American Council of Life Insurers. Fabulous new finishes, from Costa Esmeralda granite countertops to a travertine backsplash, update the space with style.
In the living room, which opens to the study, Staszak mingled diverse furnishings and fabrics, creating a surprisingly harmonious effect. Asian elements (bamboo-legged stools and a Chinoiserie print) contrast with French bergères, a sisal rug and pillows in a formal brocade. “There is a slight tension in the juxtaposition,” he explains. “It’s kind of sophisticated. And even though there are about eight patterns in the room, there’s nothing hectic about it. I like the soft, serene look.”
Staszak repurposed the couple’s existing furniture when possible, suggesting they splurge on one-of-a-kind pieces while reupholstering some of their own classics. One of the new investments is a Habersham secretaire in the study, paired with Dorgan’s chair from the Senate floor. “We tried to use as much of what they already had as we could,” Staszak explains. “It was partly budgetary, but it’s also more personal.” The all-new rugs are from Carpet Impressions.
In the dining room, Staszak contrasted a highly polished Milling Road table with a breakfront by Zentique in a weathered finish. “I like the old rustic feel with the more refined Regency table,” he says.
Upstairs, Staszak redesigned the bedrooms in stages; the master bathroom was recently renovated by Carolyn Thomas of Jennifer Gilmer Kitchen & Bath. A soaking tub, marble floors and an oversized shower with a mosaic-tile wall create a pampering refuge.
The Dorgans love entertaining in their redesigned home. “As you feel more comfortable in how the rooms flow, it’s a lot more fun to entertain,” says Kim. “Byron and I are very casual, informal people. We wanted to warm up the house and I think Andy did a wonderful job.”
Photographer Bob Narod is based in Herndon, Virginia.
INTERIOR DESIGN: ANDY STASZAK, Andy Staszak Interior Design, Washington, DC. KITCHEN DESIGN: JENNIFER GILMER, CKD, Jennifer Gilmer Kitchen & Bath, Chevy Chase, Maryland.
When Daniel Steinkoler, principal of Superior Home Services, purchased an 1886 Georgetown town house with the intention of renovating and selling it, he thought he’d struck treasure in more ways than one. The white brick home boasts an enclosed garden and an attached garage—rarities in the coveted neighborhood. And if that weren’t enough, his team unearthed vast quantities of a substance resembling gold while excavating the basement.
“The project manager called me down to the basement and shined his flashlight on a floor covered in what looked like gold dust,” Steinkoler recalls. “I thought we struck it rich.”
Though it turned out to be mica, the builder did luck out when his now-completed gem garnered a total of three 2012 Contractor of the Year awards from the local NARI chapter. The dramatic transformation totally gutted and reconfigured the worn, outdated structure into a custom home featuring high-caliber finishes and 21st-century amenities. Working with architect Natalie McCorkle, Steinkoler devised a floor plan that would improve traffic flow within the house, establish an open feel despite the home’s small footprint and excavate the barely functional basement (where the ceiling height averaged just over six feet) to provide for additional living space.
Today, the home encompasses three bedrooms and two full baths upstairs; a living/dining room, powder room and spacious kitchen on the ground level; and a full-height basement complete with an open area for entertaining, a study and a full bath. The renovation also included new electrical, plumbing, HVAC, lighting and home entertainment systems.
One of the greatest challenges centered on producing a functional layout on the ground level. The team decided to relocate the kitchen so that it could open to the side garden. Steinkoler hoped to create enough space for an island with countertop seating, but the room’s existing wood-burning fireplace, built into a supporting wall, posed a dilemma. According to code, the island seating would be too close to the fireplace. So Steinkoler came up with a solution that became one of the home’s most striking design elements: He converted the fireplace to gas, installed a floating Sparks linear fire element in the hearth and surrounded it with black Sriata tile. The sleek wall, now visible from the front entry, makes a strong focal point. “Any time you can see water or fire,” Steinkoler says, “you enhance the feel of a house.”
A dramatic upgrade from the tired original, the new kitchen boasts a six-burner Wolf stove, a Sub-Zero refrigerator, a microwave drawer and Calacatta Gold countertops and backsplash tile. French doors now bathe the space in natural light.
The same level of attention to detail and craftsmanship was devoted to the rest of the house. Custom-designed crown molding evokes the period of the home and provides a cohesive look throughout. Top-of-the-line granite and marble tile, European fixtures and radiant-heat floors outfit its master and lower-level baths in luxury. New white oak floors with an ebony stain replaced the deteriorating originals, which Steinkoler donated to a salvage yard.
The basement posed the greatest challenge during construction. When building crews began the excavation that would add two to three feet to the ceiling height in the new rooms, they immediately struck rock. “To get the basement in was tough,” Steinkoler recalls. “The original house was built on granite slabs. We basically had to dig through the rock by hand because we couldn’t get big equipment down there. If we could’ve used dynamite, it would have been lickety-split, but you’re not allowed to blast in Georgetown.”
The hard work paid off. In addition to its stable of prizes, this revived Georgetown property quickly sold to a Washington attorney enamored with its amenities and style. “In Georgetown,” marvels Steinkoler, “with parking, an outdoor living space and high-end finishes, you can’t go wrong.”
Photographer Marlon Crutchfield is based in Woodbridge, Virginia.
RENOVATION ARCHITECTURE: NATALIE McCORKLE, AIA, Washington, DC. RENOVATION CONSTRUCTION: DANIEL STEINKOLER, Superior Home Services, Inc., Washington, DC.
LUXURY ON WHEELS
Innovative aluminum construction, new all-wheel-drive and eight-speed automatic transmission set Jaguar’s 2013 XJ sedan (above; $77,500) apart from the pack. As if that weren’t enough, a limited-production Ultimate model (only 30 sold in the U.S.) with a rear cabin appointed like a private jet goes for $155,000. jaguar.com
CHILL OUT
UGG Australia’s Fontanne Tech Earmuffs keep you toasty with a shearling lining—and connected via a removable headphone wire and in-line microphone. Available in an array of colors; $85. bloomingdales.com
POETRY IN MOTION
Mont Blanc’s latest collection of men’s chronographs combines style, technology and precision. The Nicolas Rieussec (left) has a 40-jewel movement while the TimeWalker TwinFly Chronograph (right) is water resistant to 30 meters. Both have second time zone displays. $15,500 and $15,320, respectively, in Tysons Galleria. montblanc.com
SILK CHIC
This one-shoulder wonder by Basler will steal the show whether you’re on the Inaugural circuit or out for a night on the town. The long silk gown features a waist of beaded Swarovski crystals. $2,950 at Basler in Tysons Galleria. 703-388-2438; basler-fashion.com
THE PERFECT FIT
New York custom clothier Michael Andrews Bespoke, which recently opened a studio in DC, is known for fashioning smartly cut suits, shirts, trousers—and tuxedos. Pictured, the Dormeuil black tux; $1,995. 1604 17th Street, NW; 202-350-9001. michaelandrewsbespoke.com
FLOWER POWER
The Viv Petite Flower Clutch, in leather with a glittery blossom attached, carries necessities in style. $198 at Tysons Galleria’s new Hendri Bendel boutique. henribendel.com
ECO-RESORT IN THE ALPS
Nestled in Italy’s Dolomites, Seiser Alm Urthaler is a 54-room resort built entirely from sustainable, untreated timber. After skiing or snowboarding, guests pamper themselves in the spa or relax in rooms featuring organic cotton sheets and handmade rugs. From $250 per night. seiseralm.com
TROPICAL GETAWAY
Located on a blue lagoon, Vahine Island in French Polynesia invites guests to kayak, windsurf and snorkel—and to enjoy views of Bora Bora from their own private deck. Accommodations include beach bungalows, over-water bungalows and deluxe beach suites. From $535. vahine-island.com.
MOROCCAN STYLE
Six miles south of Marrakech, the Fellah Hotel is a tranquil, 14-acre oasis with stylish rooms situated in 10 villas. Suites feature Deco-style furniture and views of the Atlas Mountains. A spa offers yoga and Tai Chi. From $196 per night. fellah-hotel.com
URBAN GLADE
Fresh from a renovation by DC-based Grizform Design Architects, Dupont Circle’s Firefly evokes the woods at twilight with a tree and hanging lanterns. Chef Daniel Bortnick and chef de cuisine Todd Wiss prepare comfort food with a modern twist. 1310 New Hampshire Avenue, NW; 202-861-1310. firefly-dc.com
SWEET TREAT
Treat your Valentine to Praline’s Raspberry Mousse Cake—a fetching combination of berries, cream and chocolate cake enrobed in squares of white chocolate. $35. 4600 Sangamore Road, Bethesda; 301-229-8180. praline-bakery.com
LOVE NEST
Even more romantic than a meal in the main dining room of Plume at the Jefferson Hotel, DC (right) is a tête-à-tête at its Bird’s Nest table, under the light of a century-old chandelier. Following a tasting menu, each guest receives a white chocolate egg filled with Chantilly cream, tiny meringues, sorbets and berries—all nestled on a bed of spun sugar. 1200 16th Street, NW; 202-448-2300; plumedc.com
From the street, the nondescript Penn Quarter office building offers no clue that a trip to the sixth floor will land you in the nerve center of José Andres’s ThinkFoodGroup. This growing restaurant empire encompasses Jaleo, Zaytinya, Oyamel and the newly renovated Minibar in the DC area, plus eateries in Miami, L.A., Las Vegas and Puerto Rico. Additionally, Andrés keeps his plate full with cooking shows in the U.S. and his native Spain, a foundation to combat hunger, a teaching stint at George Washington University and a consulting gig on NBC’s new thriller, Hannibal.
With so much activity, it’s no wonder that he and his team need a “central command” environment so they can manage operations. After outgrowing their former office, they turned to DC architect Eric Gronning to help them create a collaborative, decidedly un-corporate culture in their corporate headquarters. “They needed a space that changes as their needs do,” says Gronning, who recently redesigned the DC Jaleo. “They frequently change menus around the world and things need to be done on the fly.”
First, they found the perfect site for the new office in a building near three of ThinkFoodGroup’s busiest restaurants. Gronning gutted the interiors of what was previously a two-story architecture studio, retaining only the skylights in his new design. The main floor encompasses a test kitchen, open workspaces and glass-enclosed conference rooms. The only conventional walls house human resources and accounting offices on the upper floor, where a living wall of plants and herbs, installed by Rolling Greens, flourishes.
In the completed plan, Andrés, CEO Rob Wilder and 16 staff members work on laptops around a horseshoe of communal desks, scribble menu concepts on floor-to-ceiling sliding white boards and review PowerPoint presentations on a large flat-screen monitor. Meanwhile, a team of chefs perfects recipes in the test kitchen. This sleek, efficient space celebrates Spanish design and industry with Fagor appliances, Silestone countertops and Porcelanosa floors. At their own freestanding islands, “cocktail innovator” Juan Coronado invents drinks for Mi Casa at Puerto Rico’s Dorado Beach—a Ritz-Carlton Reserve—and wine director Lucas Paya pours samples of new Spanish wines.
The open approach, says Andrés, is working. “Before, I would go days if not weeks without seeing some people because they were behind doors or walls. Now I have eye contact with everybody.
“The other good thing about it,” he continues, “is if I take out the tables, put a soccer game on TV and invite my friends over, we are the happiest people in the world.”
Photographer Michael Ventura is based in Silver Spring, Maryland.
ARCHITECTURE: ERIC GRONNING, Gronning Architects, Washington, DC. INTERIOR DESIGN: VIOLETA FIORINO SCHWARTZ, Silver Spring, Maryland. CONTRACTOR: MAIZEL CONSTRUCTION, Bladensburg, Maryland.
Jaleo’s Gambas al Ajillo (Sautéed shrimp with Garlic and Guindilla Pepper)
5 Servings
Sautéed Shrimp:
1 lb. Shrimp, peeled and deveined, 31/35 or your preferred size
¼ cup Spanish Extra Virgin Olive Oil
4 cloves garlic, peeled
5 Arbol chiles
5 Tablespoons brandy
5 Tablespoons lemon Juice
½ cup Brava sauce (Recipe Below)
Kosher salt to taste
Thinly slice garlic cloves with a knife, mandolin or slicer and set aside. In a large skillet heat the oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook until it begins to fry. Add the Arbol chile and cook for 1 minute. Turn the heat up to high and add the shrimp. When the shrimp starts to change color, add the brandy, lemon juice and Brava sauce and stir to combine. Remove from the heat, season with salt and serve.
Brava Sauce:
2 tablespoons Vegetable Oil
1 ounce garlic, peeled and sliced
2 Arbol chiles
2 Tablespoons sugar
2 Tablespoons Spanish sherry vinegar
1 Tablespoon tomato paste
2 pounds whole canned tomatoes (Puréed)
1 tablespoon Spanish sweet pimenton
Kosher salt to taste
In a medium-size pot over medium heat add the oil, garlic and Arbol chile and sauté slowly until they start to brown. Add the sugar and stir until it melts. Add the vinegar and tomato paste and cook for a few minutes. Pour in the tomato purée and simmer until almost dry. Add the pimenton and adjust seasoning with salt if necessary. Strain through a sieve and reserve for later use.
To Serve:
2 Tablespoons chopped Parsley. Stack the shrimp into 5 shallow bowls, garnish with the parsley and serve.
Chefs Jeff and Barbara Black, owners of the Black Restaurant Group, had plans in place to build their dream home on a two-acre lot they’d purchased in Bethesda. The only problem was that their restaurant openings kept getting in the way. First, it was Black Market Bistro. Then BlackSalt. Then Pearl Dive Oyster Palace. The new house was relegated to the back burner for so long, the couple eventually concluded that they didn’t need another construction project in their busy lives.
So they sold the land, plans and all. Soon after, they happened upon a gracious new home in Chevy Chase built by Sandy Spring Builders. They loved its light-filled interiors, generous floor plan and thoughtfully designed kitchen. It was soon a done deal.
The Blacks and their sons, Oliver and Simon, now 12 and 14, easily settled into the new residence three years ago. It offered some obvious improvements over their former home—a charming 1853 Victorian in Kensington with a cramped, outdated kitchen and one bathroom (the new house has eight). “We loved our old house, but if you put a golf ball on the floor,” Barbara recalls, “it rolled.” And two chefs at work in its galley kitchen was a recipe for disaster.
“The first time we cooked in the new house,” Jeff marvels, “we didn’t even argue. It physically works very well.”
Architect George Myers of GTM Architects designed the center-hall Colonial-style home to blend into the fabric of its historic neighborhood. While the exterior clapboard and front porch harken back to earlier times, the interiors suit a 21st-century lifestyle.
Working with Myers and the builder, kitchen designer Amy Collins created the kitchen’s functional layout with two distinct work zones: a clean-up and storage area along the exterior wall and a prep and cooking area near the six-burner Wolf range. Her “quiet design” combines Wood-Mode cabinets in a vintage white finish and a darker Brookhaven island for contrast.
Barbara furnished the interiors of the home with a mix of antiques and transitional finds. Like the couple’s restaurants (which also include Black’s Bar & Kitchen), the décor is classic, with a collected style and respect for natural materials. “One of the things we try to achieve in the restaurants also ties into the house,” says Jeff. “A home needs to feel like a home and the restaurants need to feel like a place where you can come and feel comfortable too.”
With a portfolio of five popular restaurants and a couple of new concepts in the wings, this energetic couple—who met as students at New York’s Culinary Institute of America—manages the 24-7 demands of the business with aplomb. Jeff oversees the savory menus and day-to-day operations of the restaurants, each of which has its own executive chef and manager. Barbara runs back-office operations and leads the pastry program—and most often cooks for the boys if they are not dining out at one of their own hot spots. (Pearl Dive’s Fried Catfish BLT, which is topped with a fried egg, is a current favorite.)
After Simon was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes, the couple formed the Black’s Family Foundation to support the needs of children. They recently raised $200,000 to build a kitchen in the new diabetes complex at Children’s Hospital, projected to open in 2013.
“We try to support local communities,” says Jeff. “Local is not just going to the farmers’ market to buy produce—local is everything. It’s the banks, the dry cleaners, the contractors. When you keep community strong, everybody prospers.”
BlackSalt’s Nantucket Bay Scallops
8 oz. Nantucket Bay Scallops, side muscle removed
5 garlic cloves, profile sliced
1 shallot, julienne
1/4 cup Piquillo Peppers, roasted, skinned, seeded and chopped julienne
12 pistachios, roasted and chopped
1 Tablespoon thyme leaves
Parsley, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup chicken stock
2 oz. unsalted butter
1/2 lemon, juice and zest
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Kosher salt and fresh cracked black pepper, to taste
In a very hot cast iron pan, add 2 tbsp. Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Add scallops and season. When they are caramelized, push them aside. Add garlic and shallots, sweat until they shallots are translucent without color. Deglaze pan with chicken stock. Add peppers, lemon juice, thyme and butter.Taste sauce and adjust seasoning, if necessary. Finish with the parsley and pistachios. Enjoy.
ARCHITECTURE: GEORGE T. MYERS, AIA, GTM Architects, Bethesda, Maryland. KITCHEN DESIGN: AMY COLLINS, Amy Collins LLC, Potomac, Maryland. CONTRACTOR: SANDY SPRING BUILDERS, Bethesda, Maryland.
To celebrate the first dedicated Calligaris store in Washington, company president Alessandro Calligaris flew in from Italy for the grand opening of the new Friendship Heights showroom (5252 Wisconsin Avenue, NW; washingtondc.calligaris.us). Home & Design caught up with the third-generation Calligaris to lead the family-run brand to discuss the latest trends in furniture design. Launched by his grandfather in 1923, the company designs and produces a wide range of modern home furnishings and accessories distributed in 90 countries worldwide.
What is the Calligaris design philosophy?
Good design means making a product that is interesting to the consumer. It has to be sophisticated and adaptable. It’s a combination of material, finish, quality and, of course, cost. We’re not at the bottom fighting with price and we’re not at the top. It’s a democratic product because we’re in the middle of the market.
What are some of the most innovative pieces in the latest Calligaris collection?
The Traslo dining table is one of our hallmarks. It expands and contracts and comes in matte glass or ceramic.
Is it possible to blend modern and traditional furniture?
People like to try their own combinations. They move furniture around and mix different styles. This is why our company is so broad with its products, because people like to play with their houses. We try to let them do that.
What is your own favorite piece of furniture?
The piece I love most in my house is not by Calligaris. It’s a long chest designed by a Danish architect and for its age it is extremely modern.
