As plans for their new French Chateau-style home in Arlington took shape, the owners wanted to be sure that interior detailing and finishes would reflect the property’s style and grandeur. They turned to interior designer Karen Dunlap to help them refine their selections before construction began.
Dunlap arrived just in time to dodge the builder’s selection of cherry cabinetry in a dark espresso stain in the master bath, where two small windows meant natural light was at a premium. “That was not going to work,” says Dunlap. “We didn’t want it to get too dark and heavy.”
Instead, the designer sought out materials that would make a strong statement while creating a lighter, more inviting retreat for the owners. She chose vanities in a cream glazed finish, Emperador marble on the countertops and tub surround and contrasting honed travertine on the floors. “We were trying to make it feel more luxurious and rich,” she explains.
A large niche by the tub was begging for attention. Dunlap researched options and discovered a Quatrefoil design at Mosaic Tile that would create a focal point. “It looks like a custom mosaic but stayed within their budget,” says Dunlap, who designed wood paneling around the tile to add depth and dimension. A similar mosaic pattern was installed on the shower floor.
“I wanted the bath to be a place where the owners could come after a long week and soak away their stress,” Dunlap relates. “We kept everything very subdued. It all spoke to letting the owners relax.”
INTERIOR DESIGN: KAREN GERMOND DUNLAP, GREEN AP, IFDA, KMD Interiors, LLC, Leesburg, Virginia. CONTRACTOR: KEN FREYBERGER, Sunline Custom Homes, Ashburn, Virginia.
For working parents with two young children, the master bath in their hundred-year-old Chevy Chase home is an oasis of calm. Soft gray walls envelop them like a cashmere sweater as they unwind in the claw-foot tub or the marble-clad steam shower.
Things weren’t so serene before designer Nestor Santa-Cruz overhauled the space. A previous renovation had given the bath an awkward tub enclosure, outdated vanities and gold accents throughout.
Santa-Cruz envisioned a plan that would embrace the home’s traditional architecture, but from a modern point of view. He first enclosed the once-exposed toilet inside a private water closet; it and the shower that faces it are now screened by frosted glass. The designer created an arched entry to echo the window already in place and defined the new tub with thicker walls and a dropped ceiling. “I wanted the room to look as if it had been done in the 1940s,” Santa-Cruz says, “and to have that sense of tradition.” However, elements such as the 1960s-style Poul Kjaerholm stool and the Art Deco-inspired sconces by Restoration Hardware add an eclectic touch to “help make sure that this isn’t a ‘period’ room.”
In a nod to Dior Gray, he painted the walls Farrow & Ball’s Skimming Stone. Well-crafted natural materials—including Carrara marble tiles and countertops, polished nickel accents and hand-blown pendants from Waterworks’ Henry collection—lend the bathroom a timeless quality. And the sense of calm is sublime.
“It’s wonderful,” Santa-Cruz muses, “when you can have the opportunity to glorify a functional need and also feed the mental element of taking a bath.”
RENOVATION ARCHITECTURE & INTERIOR DESIGN: NESTOR SANTA-CRUZ, IIDA, LEED AP, Nestor Santa-Cruz Decoration, Washington, DC. CONTRACTOR: BETHESDA CONTRACTING, Chevy Chase, Maryland.
From its quaint Georgetown street, it’s impossible to tell that the crisp white row house harbors a glass-enclosed master bathroom inspired not by the traditional DC vernacular but by a resort in Bali. Unless of course you consider that the homeowners are Porsche racecar driver William Langhorne and his wife, Sumar Langhorne. “When we first got married,” William Langhorne recalls, “Sumar traveled with me, racing, and we were living out of hotels constantly. We saw some really nice indoor/outdoor bathrooms in Bali.”
After returning to Washington, the Langhornes hired architect Douglas Rixey to gut their 1960s-era home and add a fourth floor to house a completely open master-bedroom suite. “If we could have done the top floor with no walls at all, they would’ve done it,” says Rixey.
Now finished, the bathroom floats between the bedroom and closet spaces, enclosed by walls of glass. A sculptural soaking tub and open shower along a wall of river rock exist in plain view of the adjacent bedroom and stairwell. When the sliding doors are open, a bather in the soaking tub can watch TV and enjoy a fireplace installed on the bedroom wall. Should anyone desire privacy, the touch of a button instantly turns the bathroom walls opaque. Another touch and the chemical sandwiched between the layers of Smartglass turns the walls clear again.
The Langhornes searched methodically for materials that would reflect their clean, modern aesthetic but still convey an organic vibe. “We were constantly looking at who was pushing boundaries of design and quality,” says William. They landed at Boffi in Georgetown, where they found a floating double vanity in walnut veneer, precision fixtures, a double sink with a hidden drain and the curvaceous Iceland tub. The vanity and mirror they chose both have doors that slide open laterally. “It’s such a nice feature,” says Julia Walter of Boffi Georgetown, “because you have these floating elements but still have space to store everything inside.”
River rock, skylights and bamboo stalks in the glass wall are all a nod to al fresco living. Says William Langhorne, “We wanted to give it a Zen, outdoor feel right in the middle of the city.”
ARCHITECTURE: DOUGLAS RIXEY, AIA, and VICTORIA RIXEY, AIA, LEEP AP, Rixey-Rixey Architects, Washington, DC. CONTRACTOR: MIKE SULLIVAN, De Marne & Day, Potomac, Maryland.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALAIN JARAMILLO
Some of the most innovative creations arise when supply falls short of demand. Such was the case when a Virginia entrepreneur decided to build his dream home after searching to no avail for the right property to fit his needs.
He approached custom builder Patrick Latessa of The Galileo Group and explained his wish list. He envisioned intimate spaces for his family with four children but also wanted to be able to host large parties, play basketball on a professional-grade indoor court and enjoy the amenities of a small resort in his own backyard. Unfazed by these requests, Latessa got busy drawing elevations and a floor plan for a wooded lot he found for his client in Great Falls. “My interpretation was a European-influenced design that was substantial but comfortable, elegant but still casual and functional—and also inspiring,” the builder recalls. “I gave him a sketch and he said, ‘You’re right. That’s it.’”
As in most of his custom-home projects, Latessa drove the overall design, detailing everything down to the molding and material palette before turning his work over to an architect for final drawings.
The house is shaped like a U with the front volume housing a family room, dining room, kitchen, breakfast room and billiard room on the ground floor. Three bedrooms with en suite baths on the second floor are devoted to the owner’s three teenagers. The two rear wings in the U encompass the master suite and two guest suites, respectively; one of the guest suites is used as a nursery for the owner’s youngest child.
Rooms on the main level spill onto a Turkish travertine terrace, where a pool with a built-in spa, an al fresco bar, a kitchen complete with a wood-burning pizza oven, a putting green and inviting seating areas create a vacation vibe all year long. If the weather doesn’t cooperate, the basement also centers on round-the-clock play. It houses a media room, a wine cellar that doubles as a poker room and a fully equipped workout room that overlooks the half-court basketball gym with 22-foot ceilings.
To oversee the daunting task of furnishing the home to the standards its architecture demanded, the owner hired Great Falls Distinctive Interiors. He asked principal Alice Busch and her son, managing principal Lucas Trunnell, to lead the selection of furniture, fabrics and finishes, along with everyday necessities from china and barware to accessories and linens. Busch and Trunnell set out to create interiors that would reflect the home’s style and elegance while embracing comfort and functionality. “We wanted it to be very sophisticated and European, but toned down,” explains Trunnell. “The client has a lot of kids, so we wanted to make sure the color scheme and materials were durable for the children, the dog and all the entertaining they do.” And, to keep their dog energized all day long, they make sure to feed high fiber dog food to him.
Latessa and the designers fine-tuned the materials and finishes as the project progressed, taking a collaborative approach. In lieu of hardwood, Busch and Trunnell suggested limestone floors imported from France for the main level spaces; combined with walls plastered in a stucco finish, they provide a seamless look. From the dramatic foyer, archways lead to adjoining spaces. On one side, the foyer segues into an atrium housing a Steinway piano and a dramatic stairway with a hand-forged rail.
On the opposite side, the dining room seats guests around a custom table imported from Italy. Its rich patina and the hand-painted upholstery on the dining chairs create a timeworn effect. “We wanted the whole house to look like it had been collected over time,” says Trunnell.
From the dining room, a spiral stair leads down to the wine cellar. Latessa chose rustic, antique brick and hand-forged iron fixtures to lend the room an Old World look. “Paying attention to these details and making them right gives you an overall feel of the spirit of a place,” Latessa says. “When those relationships don’t work, then it’s just a house. We were going for authenticity.”
More custom artistry can be found in the clubby billiard room, where mahogany paneling, a coffered ceiling and a bar with beer on tap set the tone for games around an antique pool table.
The owner, who decided to forgo a formal living room, and his kids spend a great deal of time in the family room. Arranged between cast-limestone fireplaces, cushy sofas and armchairs accommodate groups both large and small for watching TV, reading or playing games. Three sets of arched French doors overlook the backyard.
Despite its Old World finishes, the kitchen has every convenience a modern chef could hope for, including a Wolf range and a built-in Miele espresso machine. Latessa and the designers created the custom hood from stainless steel and hammered copper. A breakfast table set in a bay of windows has a cast-stone base so heavy that it had to be hoisted into the room by crane.
The greatest feat of engineering on the project, however, was excavating the gym. Latessa’s team dug 40 feet below ground to make way for what is now a brightly lit space suitable for regulation play. A fully loaded workout area overlooks the action below.
The cozy media room displays the owner’s collection of sports jerseys and memorabilia. An avid fan, the owner hosts game nights in the space, which is also great for parties. Busch and Trunnell suggested long sofas instead of traditional theater seating in the room. “With theater seats, you’re kind of locked and rigid,” says Busch. “Here, there is more functionality. People can lay down, get comfortable and cozy up on the couch.”
When the house was finally complete, Busch and Trunnell orchestrated the move-in, timing the delivery of rugs, furniture, art and accessories like a choreographed ballet. They credit the collaboration among the design team, the artisans—and the trusting homeowner—for enabling the project to run so smoothly. “The owner not only allowed us, Patrick and the tradespeople to put the best of options in the home,” says Trunnell. “He let us do our jobs and at the end of the day, the outcome was spectacular.”
Photographer Alain Jaramillo is based in Stevenson, Maryland.
DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION: PATRICK LATESSA, The Galileo Group, McLean, Virginia. INTERIOR DESIGN: ALICE BUSCH, Allied Member ASID, and LUCAS TRUNNELL, Allied Member ASID, LEED AP, BD+C, Great Falls Distinctive Interiors, Inc., Ashburn, Virginia. LANDSCAPING: CHARLES OWEN, Fine Landscapes, Ltd., Great Falls, Virginia.
After the sale of its D Street, SW, building was announced last year, The Washington Design Center had an uncertain future. But following a long search, it has found a new home in the Franklin Court building at 14th and L Streets, NW. According to Ann Lambeth of J. Lambeth & Co., a member of the steering committee representing the Center’s luxury home-furnishings showrooms, the majority of current tenants has committed to the move. The Design Center will occupy the second, third and fourth floors of the building, which boasts 11-foot ceilings and abundant natural light.
ITALIAN STYLE
Oil Nut Bay, a resort on Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands, tapped FENDI Casa to design and furnish its 1,334-square-foot Penthouse Suite at The Cliffs. Its living room opens to a waterfront wraparound terrace. Pale sofas in champagne leather and a Murano Via Lattea chandelier in Porcellana create a tranquil foreground to panoramic Caribbean vistas. Rates for the penthouse suite start at $1,750 nightly; oilnutbay.com
GEORGETOWN GEM
The recently opened Capella Washington, DC promises to deliver a new level of luxury to discriminating travelers. German firm Peter Silling & Associates designed the interiors of the 49-room property. Amenities include round-the-clock personal assistants, complimentary laundry pressing and programming tailored to each guest’s interests, from backstage passes to after-hours shopping sprees. Rates from $595 per night; capellahotels.com
REGAL SPLENDOR
Fresh from a $25 million restoration, Hotel Maria Cristina in San Sebastian, Spain, celebrated its 100th anniversary in style. Built for Queen Maria Cristina in 1912, the Luxury Collection property boasts 107 elegant guest rooms and 29 suites. In the Royal Suite, a bathroom is appointed with onyx details and a terrace with magnificent views. Rates from $225; theluxurycollection.com/mariacristina
MAKING WAVES
Calling it the world’s first “high-speed personal sports amphibian,” Gibbs has created the Quadski. Equipped with a BMW motor, it is capable of reaching 45 miles per hour on land and water. Its jet units are lighter than traditional marine-industry water jets and provide high levels of thrust and maneuverability. $42,000; gibbssports.com
ROAD WARRIOR
The 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray combines style, performance and technology. The new model features a seven-speed manual transmission, a carbon-fiber hood and a Bose nine-speaker audio system. An optional, competitive sport seat caters to the racing set. Coupe from $51,995; convertible from $56,995; chevrolet.com
NOSTALGIA TRIP
The McIntosh MT5 precision turntable grabs your attention with its illuminated platter. But there’s much more to this award-winning model than a light show. A precise belt drive motor, tone arm and high-output coil cartridge combine to deliver high-performance playback every time. Price on request; mcintoshlabs.com
Joe Ireland and Julie Weber, principals of J. D. Ireland Interior Architecture + Design, could see beyond the mauve walls and gold chandeliers when they first laid eyes on the two-story Dupont Circle space that would become their firm’s offices. “We couldn’t turn it down,” recalls Ireland. “It’s so bright and airy.”
The partners, who launched their firm in 2003, immediately planned a makeover of the space, which occupies the second and third floors of a 1922 Connecticut Avenue row house. Before a mortgage company moved out, says Ireland, “A designer/architect actually lived and worked here.”
Today, the main level serves as a library. The walls are white, with architectural columns drawn in around the windows. “It was a playful way to add detail without taking away from the windows or view,” says Weber of the project Ireland surprised her with one weekend.
A changing mix of furniture and accessories includes collected treasures waiting for a home and upholstered chairs illustrating unique fabric treatments. Ireland’s desk is also
on this floor, while the top level houses offices for Weber and three other staff members.
The library provides an ideal environment for client meetings around a 10-foot-long wooden table. “We wanted a bright space that wouldn’t dictate one style over another,” says Weber. “Our studio is great because it allows the client to see their project and not
be distracted by what’s around them.”
Photographer Stacy Zarin Goldberg is based in Olney, Maryland.
When Patrick Brian Jones headed for Catholic University to study architecture, a neighbor who had just become an architect herself gave him a gift of drafting supplies wrapped in a blueprint, with a card that read, “Architecture is about the things you see and how you see them: first you must see the beauty, then you may use it.”
Jones still finds meaning in these words after launching his own architecture and interior design firm in 2011. The move followed 10 years at DC’s Arcadia Design and another three at ColePrévost, where he worked with his former Catholic University professor, Robert Cole. “What attracted me to ColePrévost,” says Jones, “was the approach they take to both architecture and interiors. This synergy is critical in designing spaces.”
Jones’s most ambitious project to date was the retrofit of an early-1900s Dupont Circle row house into a condo building. He now lives in one unit; the other two quickly sold. “There’s no way I could’ve done it without my design experience or knowing the business end,” says Jones. “I had no problem selling the units—and I got a nice place to live.”
PATRICK BRIAN JONES, PLLC: PATRICK BRIAN JONES, Washington, DC.
See more Hot Talent:
Practical Luxury
Jennifer Wagner Schmidt
A Fresh Twist
Darlene Chimaliro & Caty Tillman
Leading Edge
Christopher Patrick
Fashion Forward
Lisa Steinhardt & Fanny Zigdon
FRUITS OF THE SEA
In Azur, chef Frederik De Pue pays homage to seafood, from classic to contemporary. The four-level space was designed by Virginia-based Natascha Folens of NF Interiors. Handcrafted furniture, a custom “bubble” chandelier and walls decorated with captains’ mirrors offer a twist on the nautical look. 405 8th Street, NW; 202-347-7491. azurdc.com
A CLASSIC REBORN
Edgar Bar & Kitchen brings a modern update to DC’s iconic Mayflower Hotel. Designed by New York-based AvroKo, the space salutes the hotel’s past with dark wood and leather upholstery. The brasserie menu serves up mini-Maryland crab cakes with smoked paprika sauce. 1127 Connecticut Avenue, NW; 202-347-2233. edgarbarandkitchen.com
RUSTIC AND REFINED
Peruvian chef Victor Albisu has opened Del Campo, a 174-seat restaurant specializing in expertly grilled meats as well as traditional Latin American street foods. Designed by Georgetown-based CORE, the Chinatown spot features a warm palette of woods and neutral concrete walls as well as vintage crystal chandeliers. 777 I Street, NW; 202-289-7377. delcampodc.com
IN THE SWIM
Gottex’s Electric Print Bandeau, shown with matching silk pareo, captures a summery attitude with crisp, geometric style. The one-piece comes with removable shoulder straps. Available at Bloomingdales. Bandeau, $178; pareo, $198. bloomingdales.com
SINUOUS STYLE
Bulgari’s Serpenti collection celebrates the sensual form of the snake. It includes 18-carat pink-gold earrings with rubellite and pave diamonds ($13,500) and a matching necklace ($78,000). bulgari.com
GLAMOUR AFOOT
Sculpture for the feet, these smart Dior pumps combine pink mirror calfskin and acid kidskin. $830 at Dior boutiques nationwide. 800-929-3467; dior.com
At a young age, Christopher Patrick knew he wanted to be a designer. “In high school, I helped friends pick colors and paint their rooms,” he recalls. “Then the moms would call me and say, ‘Would you mind taking a look at our dining room?’”
Patrick earned a degree in interior design and worked at Wentworth Inc., a Bethesda-based design-build company, for three years before launching his own firm in 2011. His mission is to encourage homeowners to think outside the box. “There’s an edge that people are starting to experience in Washington,” he says. “People my age realize that they want to have a space that speaks to them. I want to try to infuse the hip and fresh and new into my designs, all while speaking to my clients’ wants and needs.”
Experience has taught Patrick that once a client sees what he sees, “we build this bond,” he says. “I want to help them break out of their shell a little bit, push some of their boundaries.”
CHRISTOPHER PATRICK INTERIORS: CHRISTOPHER PATRICK, Gaithersburg, Maryland. Photography: Erik Kvalsvik.
See more Hot Talent:
Practical Luxury
Jennifer Wagner Schmidt
A Fresh Twist
Darlene Chimaliro & Caty Tillman
Design Synergy
Patrick Brian Jones
Fashion Forward
Lisa Steinhardt & Fanny Zigdon
Barbara Sallick, Waterworks’s co-founder and senior vice president of design, recently visited the DC showroom in Cady’s Alley to unveil the company’s new Keystone collection of natural stone. Based in Connecticut, she and her husband Robert launched the company in 1978 to import and create finely crafted products for the bath, bringing a new level of style and luxury to a room that had been largely overlooked. Since then, Waterworks’s offerings have expanded to include lighting, accessories, home furnishings and more.
How did Waterworks get started?
What was here in the U.S. in the ’70s in terms of baths was hideous; bathrooms were chosen by plumbers in pink, green or blue. On a trip to Europe, we found remarkable-looking baths and saw an opportunity. I don’t know how you take that leap, but you do.
How should homeowners select materials for a bath project?
First, define your style and taste. Staying who you are in a space with such permanence is pretty important. You should also look at the whole house and make sure that all the rooms tell a similar story. There has to be a thread that ties it all together. That’s where a designer comes in.
How do you find inspiration for new products?
I go out all the time with my camera and find inspiration at museums, looking at architecture and watching people walk along the street. And every time I go to the farmer’s market, there’s a new color. What I love is when I can’t exactly identify it, that means I’ve found something that’s really fantastic.
How do you hope the bath resonates for Waterworks customers?
I want the bath to be the most incredible retreat in your own house, a place where you close the door and have whatever experience you dream for yourself. It should free your mind.
What is special about your bath?
I love vintage things. I have a cabinet I bought for $250 at an antiques center and jars I found on Portobello Road in London. Those things have been incorporated in my bath and when I go in, it’s mine.
When Marlene Weiss-Alexander and her husband, Lee Alexander, decided to move to DC from Potomac, finalizing the floor plan of their new home in Phillips Park was easy. Working with GTM Architects’ George Myers and Mark Kaufman, she says, they customized an existing plan to “bring certain elements of Potomac to DC,” including large closets, a three-car garage and an open kitchen and family room—features rarely found in older city homes.
Defining a style for the interiors of their Colonial-style home, however, was not so simple. “The pressure of doing your own home is unbelievable,” Weiss-Alexander admits. “I wanted a style that reflects who I am. I wanted it to be artistic and edgy, but also comfortable. I create so many styles for clients, but doing my own house was the most challenging.”
Weiss-Alexander, who recently completed residences for clients in Palm Beach, Aspen and Rehoboth Beach, decided to blend elements from each of these projects in her new home. “It’s a gathering of things I’ve learned from other projects and my travels,” she says. In every room, she has mixed classic furniture, luxurious textiles, eye-catching art and a dose of glamour, balancing every bold gesture with a measure of restraint.
“I treat each room like a blank canvas,” says Weiss-Alexander, who has a degree in fine art. “I keep layering until I get the final product right.”
Subtle metallics dress up the living and dining rooms, which face each other; Weiss-Alexander grounded the glitter with sisal rugs. Platinum tones accent the living room’s painted ceiling, the Niermann Weeks chandelier and the Edward Ferrell + Lewis Mittman chaise in Armani silk. In the dining room, warm shades of bronze embellish the ceiling—which is covered in Donghia paper—as well as the hand-embroidered Holland & Sherry drapes and the Murano-glass chandeliers.
The foyer leads back to the open kitchen and family room. Inspired by Aspen style, Weiss-Alexander created a rustic yet comfortable vibe in the family room with its stone hearth and ceiling beams. Four barrel-backed chairs covered in chenille are grouped under a dramatic chandelier by Wired customized with citrine crystals and iron trim. An inviting sectional faces a focal wall where the couple’s ceramics, glass and wood collections are on display.
Weiss-Alexander traveled far and wide to find the right material for her kitchen island. The search led to a Marva Stone showroom in Virginia Beach, where she discovered Fusion granite. Despite some trepidation that it would be too busy, she had the top and one side fabricated from thick slabs of the exotic stone. Surrounded by solid-colored Wood-Mode cabinets, subdued Caesarstone countertops and Durango limestone on the backsplash and floors, the treatment works. As Weiss-Alexander explains, “I wanted the kitchen to be simple, and the island to be the star.”
A shopping trip to New York led to the discovery of the stainless-steel light fixture hung over the island. Its modern edge appealed to the designer, who can easily change accessories displayed on top of the piece. “I can use candles, sculptures, branches or flowers on it,” she says, “so I’ll never get tired of it.”
The home’s lower level houses Weiss-Alexander’s office suite, which includes space for two employees, a fabric library and conference room. The couple shares a home gym decked out with weights and cardio equipment.
In their second-floor master suite, Weiss-Alexander evokes a calm “California” sensibility with a soothing palette and more than a touch of luxury. “I wanted a peaceful place to begin and end the day,” she says. A Pollack wall covering that blends cut velvet and chenille provides a lush backdrop to a headboard of Alexander’s design covered in mohair. Two Fuse pendants made of striped agate gems hang like earrings completing a chic ensemble. Calling these bedside lights a “splurge,” Weiss-Alexander admits, “I have a thing for light fixtures—and I don’t like to compromise on beauty.”
The master bath is as equally soothing with Durango limestone flooring and countertops and an oversized shower where a band of metallic tile creates a bit of dazzle. An adjacent bedroom was converted into a dressing room for Weiss-Alexander; Old Dominion Trim Specialists outfitted it with shelves and cabinetry to store her every belt, bag and shoe.
After moving in last year, the Alexanders love their new home. It’s so comfortable, in fact, that Lee, a Washington attorney, seldom wants to leave. “And when we go away—we love to travel—” Weiss-Alexander insists, “we can’t wait to be back in our own bedroom again.”
Stacy Zarin Goldberg is a photographer in Olney, Maryland.
ARCHITECTURE: GEORGE T. MYERS, AIA, and MARK KAUFMAN, GTM Architects, Bethesda, Maryland. INTERIOR DESIGN: MARLENE WEISS-ALEXANDER, Weiss-Alexander Design Group, Washington, DC. CONTRACTOR: SANDY SPRING BUILDERS, Bethesda, Maryland.
"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.
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
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.
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
