Michael Aram is known for his one-of-a-kind metal creations, from tableware to furniture. The American artist found his niche on a trip to India in the late 1980s and set up a workshop in New Delhi. Today he splits his time between New York and India, creating collections and limited-edition pieces sold in galleries and through retailers worldwide (michaelaram.com). Home & Design caught up with Aram in July when he made an appearance at Nordstrom in Tysons Corner.
What is your typical day like in New York vs. New Delhi?
New York is fantastic. I wake up at the crack of dawn, go on a walk in the park and then to work, where my studio is above my store in the West Village. It’s all very urban and lovely.
Delhi is just the opposite. It’s beautiful beyond belief. Our home is British Colonial with a garden, peacocks and monkeys—as crazy as that. My greatest pleasure is working in the workshop there, as close as I can to the process. There’s an immediacy to my work in India, which I really love. In New York, I can be pulled in a thousand different directions; in India, it’s very focused.
What makes your creations unique?
Our whole concept was based on combining the handmade craft traditions with a sensibility that was not “crunchy-crafty” and homegrown. To take my sensibilities and apply my perspective with decorative arts and marry them together was very exciting.
How do you hope that your work touches collectors?
It’s important to infuse whatever you do—even if it’s a nut dish—with as much design or artistic intent as you possibly can. I always talk about that moment of pause when people say, “Oh, what a lovely fork.” It starts a conversation or makes that person remember the meal differently.
Luca Missoni is the son of Ottavio and Rosita Missoni, who founded the Italian fashion house in 1953. He grew up playing in the factory and began designing his own motifs at an early age. Today, he helps run the company—which now includes home furnishings and hotels—and also directs the Missoni Archive.
Last May, Home & Design caught up with Luca at the Washington Design Center, where he spoke to a full house and revealed Missoni Home’s 2012 line, available in DC at Stark.
How are you inspired to create a new textile?
To create a surface that has depth and feels three-dimensional, you can use color or contrast or the texture itself. It all refers to organic, natural things like rocks, woods, stones, flowers. Between art and nature there’s plenty of inspiration.
What new materials are on the
forefront in textile design?
The history of textiles is so vast and already refined to a point that it’s difficult to find something new. There are some interesting developments in the arts and also in the practical design of objects made from things like plastic bottles or recycled cans. We are not much into those things, but it’s fun to see them as the new organic kind of material.
How much planning goes into the process?
Textiles are always interesting because you never know what you’re going to come up with. Experimenting is the most fun because you make unexpected discoveries. It’s about trying to get an idea with color or pattern to use maybe as a towel, or as a carpet, or as a coat. In the end, experimenting is the most important thing.
Escape in the Greek Isles
Nestled on Ayios Yiannis, one of Mykonos’s most stunning beaches, the Mykonos Grand Hotel & Resort is home to 107 guest rooms and suites, a luxurious spa and even a stone amphitheater where yoga sessions for everyone take place. Executive suites boast a private roof terrace with daybed. Rooms from $290. mykonosgrand.gr
Living History
Housed in a former monastery dating back to the 14th century, the Mandarin Oriental, Prague makes a perfect base from which to explore the Czech city’s rich history. The hotel’s tile-roofed buildings overlook the famous Prague Castle, while its Monastery Lounge is housed in a former cloister. Rates from $370. mandarinoriental.com
California Dreaming
Located in Yountville in the heart of the Napa Valley, Bardessono Hotel, Restaurant and Spa pampers guests with spa treatments indoors and out, local farm-fresh cuisine and eco-friendly guest rooms complete with private courtyards or balconies and en suite massage tables. The hotel has received LEED Platinum certification for its sustainable practices. Rates from $550; bardessono.com
Taste of Spain
The original Jaleo in Penn Quarter has undergone a dramatic makeover. Expect a visual feast of products from Spain that nearly rivals the restaurant’s tapas menu, from a custom mosaic-tile floor to beaded curtains hanging above banquette seating and cutting-edge furniture and art. 480 7th Street, NW; 202-628-7949. jaleo.com
West End Debut
Ashok Bajaj has opened a second Rasika in DC’s West End. Designed by Martin Vahtra of Projects Design Associates, it boasts a natural anigre ceiling to evoke India’s national Banyan tree, plus a glass-topped bar and plush seating. 1190 New Hampshire Ave, NW; 202-466-2500. rasikarestaurant.com
Top Toque
Chef Brian McPherson recently took the helm at Jackson 20 and The Grille at Morrison House, both Kimpton restaurants in Old Town Alexandria. At the latter, teatime brings an assortment of house-made scones and sandwiches and seasonally inspired petit fours. thegrillealexandria.com; jackson20.com
Battle of the Rosés
Proof invites guests to sample the summer’s top rosés, available for $35 per bottle on the restaurant’s patio and in the bar and lounge through Labor Day. The wines hail from Spain, Italy, France, Argentina and more. 775 G Street, NW, 202-737-7663. proofdc.com
Cruise Control
Though the 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL550 (above) is two inches longer and wider than the previous model, its aluminum body is more than 200 pounds lighter. Top-down driving has never been easier: With the touch of a button, its fully retracting hardtop opens or closes in less than 20 seconds. A Harmon/Kardon audio system is standard. From $106,375; mbusa.com
Power Phone
Porsche and BlackBerry have partnered on the Porsche Design P’9981 smartphone from BlackBerry. The sleek device boasts a forged stainless-steel frame and leather back cover; a 1.2 GHz processor; HD video recording; a five-megapixel camera; and eight gigs of memory. $2,000; blackberry.com
Surf's Up
Noted fashion designer Paul Smith has teamed up with British surfboard maker Swami’s to create a line of clothing and complementary boards. Made to order in a limited quantity of 50, each board is signed by Sir Paul himself. From $3,440; swamis.com
Outdoor Entertainment
Toshinaer’s outdoor HDTVs are designed to resist the elements and their screens can adjust to changing light conditions. The company recently unveiled 42- and 52-inch LCDs and a 60-inch LED screen model. All three feature 1080p high-definition resolution and marine-grade speakers. From $4,600; toshinaer.com
Made to Fit
Dupont Circle’s Alton Lane makes classic bespoke apparel for men. The shop uses a state-of-the-art 3D body scanner to take accurate measurements, leaving the guesswork out of suiting up. 1506 19th Street, NW, third floor; 646-896-1212. altonlane.com
Off the Cuff
Paul Smith’s Half-stripe Cufflinks for Bloomingdale’s are the perfect complement to a summery suit and tie. $95; bloomingdales.com
Smooth Moves
The Art of Shaving’s Power Shave Collection includes a “smart” razor with built-in spotlight by Gillette, an automated brush and customizable stand. From $400; theartofshaving.com
Fresh Fragrance
Lacoste’s newest scent for men, Eau de Lacoste L.12.12 Rouge is a spicy blend of black pepper, ginger and cardamom—designed to energize. $62; lacoste.com
Darlene Molnar always wanted to be an interior designer. When she was growing up in New Jersey, she shared a room with her sister. “Her side was a typical kid’s room, but mine would be perfectly staged as if a photographer were coming in,” she recalls. Her first design decision was to pick out a pedestal sink from Home Depot for the family bathroom. “My parents were the first clients who trusted me,” she says.
Molnar has an adventurous streak that has taken her around the globe to study, work and travel. After earning a degree in communications in Honolulu (where she interned for a design firm), Molnar enrolled in the graduate interior design program at DC’s Corcoran College of Art + Design. She has studied contemporary design at Sotheby’s Institute of Art in London, took a furniture design course in Copenhagen and attended Parsons New School of Design in Paris. She also spent three months living in Kenya. “It’s always influential to get out of the city you’re in and see how people live. Travel has opened my mind up to a lot of different styles,” says Molnar. “It makes me more educated when I talk to my clients.”
Molnar is now an adjunct professor at the Corcoran. She launched her own design firm in Georgetown in 2011 and is currently working on a number of residential and commercial projects, including Quench, a new restaurant in Rockville.
Molnar’s mission is to avoid settling into one particular look. “I never want to get locked into one style or be a one-trick pony,” she says. “One of my best qualities is that of listener and observer. It allows clients to speak.”
INTERIOR DESIGN: DARLENE MOLNAR, ASID, LEED AP, Darlene Molnar, LLC, Washington, DC.
Other Hot Talent:
ELIZABETH REICH
Jenkins Baer Associates
Baltimore, Maryland
JUILE DASTVAN, ALLIED ASID
Dastvan Designs, LLC
Darnestown, Maryland
WILLIAM M. McGOVERN, ASID
McGovern Design Studio, LLC
Washington, DC
J. ALLEN
Perceptions Interiors, LLC
Washington, DC
Will McGovern, who grew up outside of Pittsburgh, loved to comb the city’s architectural relics with his parents. He studied the history of art and architecture at the University of Pittsburgh and eventually enrolled at the Savannah College of Art and Design, where he earned master’s degrees in both interior design and historic preservation. The combination could not have been more appropriate for this young designer, who is as much at home restoring centuries-old national treasures as he is designing cutting-edge contemporary lofts in DC’s hippest neighborhoods.
During a summer internship with The Hillier Group in DC, McGovern worked on the restoration of the Virginia Capitol, originally designed by Thomas Jefferson. After graduating he landed a job with Forrest Perkins, where he was named lead designer on the multi-million-dollar restoration and renovation of Washington’s venerable Jefferson Hotel. As such, he was responsible for all of the interior architecture and design facets of the project down to the tiniest detail.
When the Jefferson was complete, McGovern took the leap and opened his own firm in 2010. “I always knew I wanted to be on my own,” he explains, “and because of how involved I was in almost every aspect of the Jefferson’s restoration, it seemed like a natural breaking point for me to leave when it was done.”
Today McGovern keeps busy with residential work and multi-family and hospitality projects that range in style from modern to traditional. “I like to switch gears and design styles to keep things fresh and exciting,” McGovern says. “A lot of my clients say, ‘You really have a diverse portfolio, but even your most traditional projects have a clean, modern eye.’”
INTERIOR DESIGN: WILLIAM M. MCGOVERN, ASID, McGovern Design Studio, LLC, Washington, DC.
Other Hot Talent:
ELIZABETH REICH
Jenkins Baer Associates
Baltimore, Maryland
JUILE DASTVAN, ALLIED ASID
Dastvan Designs, LLC
Darnestown, Maryland
DARLENE MOLNAR, ASID, LEED AP
Darlene Molnar LLC
Washington, DC
J. ALLEN
Perceptions Interiors, LLC
Washington, DC
Passing through the front door of designer Zach Sherif’s Victorian row house in DC’s Bloomingdale neighborhood virtually transports visitors to a decidedly different time zone. An eclectic blend of European antiques, Oriental rugs, Chinese furniture and Middle Eastern art creates a delectable departure from typical Washington fare. A lifetime of travel and a love of beauty and craftsmanship have inspired Sherif to collect all forms of decorative objects, from textiles to Buddhas to silver trays. His talent lies in the ability to display these finds with such aplomb—along with fantastic chandeliers of his own creation—throughout his renovated 1901 home.
“I think eclectic is probably one of the most challenging styles,” says Sherif, who shares the home with his husband, Paul Cerruti. “But if you follow your gut and pick things that move you, they will magically blend together.”
The Egyptian-born designer split his childhood between Cairo and New York, where his father was a director at the United Nations. He earned a degree in social sciences and art at Parsons, studying “how art, color and light affect the psyche.” Later, he worked as a men’s fashion editor and opened a restaurant in New York, then moved to Cairo where he became a top creative director for TV and music videos. When he needed three chandeliers for a set and couldn’t find the right look, Sherif crafted them himself out of hand-blown glass and later hung them in his apartment.
Soon, friends and acquaintances were requesting chandeliers of their own, and Sherif inadvertently launched his next career. He moved back to New York and opened a boutique selling his chandeliers—which now grace the homes of Sarah Jessica Parker, Whoopi Goldberg, Madonna and Alex Rodriguez.
Over the years, Sherif made frequent trips to DC to visit his mother, who lived in the Watergate. “A few years ago when she got ill, I came to take care of her,” Sherif recalls. “In the process, I discovered that Washington was an amazing town.” Shortly before she passed away in 2011, Sherif and Cerruti relocated to DC. “I consider it a gift from her,” Sherif says. “She re-directed my life.” Sherif now designs residential and commercial interiors and continues to create light fixtures. He plans to launch a new collection and open a DC showroom this fall.
Searching for their new home, Sherif and Cerruti fell in love with Bloomingdale—a burgeoning neighborhood north of Capitol Hill—for its architectural integrity. “Bloomingdale is young, vibrant and aesthetically pleasing, with one block after another of beautiful townhouses,” says Sherif. They bought the second home they saw despite its “rough” condition. “At one point, it was turned into a boarding house and divided into 10 apartments with lots of strange walls,” he notes, “but I could see the potential. You could see that the bones were good.”
Sherif, Cerruti and their contractors “delved into an eight-month marathon renovation, pretty much 24/7,” Sherif recalls. They gutted the home’s ceilings and half the walls and replaced electrical, plumbing, lighting and HVAC systems. However, Sherif insisted on preserving the home’s 1901 character. “I didn’t want a whitewashed renovation,” he says. “We kept all of the original doors, floors, trim and fireplaces. Why would you buy a 1901 house and make it look like a New York loft? My attitude is not to rip out all of the walls, but give a home an update by the way you furnish it.”
That is exactly what Sherif did, as guests discover in the foyer where a contemporary Egyptian painting plays off the home’s preserved staircase and original wood floors. Bright green walls pop in the living room amid a mix of antiques. “I wanted something unpredictable and at the same time wanted it to be a happy color,” Sherif explains.
The home’s 10-foot ceilings, grand staircase and original pocket doors play up its legacy, but the owners break with tradition in what was once a formal dining room. Sherif and Cerruti instead use it as a flexible space between the kitchen and living room, perfect for reading or sipping aperitifs under Sherif’s intoxicatingly beautiful “A Thousand and One Nights” chandelier, with its pierced metal cups casting reflections all over the room.
The renovated kitchen, with its Chinese slate floors and Carrara marble-topped island, makes the perfect backdrop for any meal. Sherif loves the “reflectiveness” of the kitchen. “It’s very Old World and reminds me of a French bakery,” he says. The kitchen opens to a rear courtyard the owners affectionately call “The South of France.” It’s an apt name for the garden alive with plants, a Moroccan mosaic-topped table and a pergola fragrant with wisteria.
The upper level houses three bedrooms and two baths. One of the bedrooms has become the “Arabic room,” a TV lounge where casual seating is covered in textiles from Morocco, Turkey and Egypt. A traditional Middle Eastern stripe is painted on the walls, topped by a Moorish-style motif of Sherif’s own design. He made the chandelier from an antique tray that he pierced and hung with teardrops of multi-colored glass.
Sherif clearly considers his home a laboratory that shifts and evolves. “A home should never become stagnant,” he declares. “I don’t think you can furnish a house overnight; it’s a process. In six months, it will look completely different.”
Stacy Zarin Goldberg is a photographer in Olney, Maryland.
LIGHTING & INTERIOR DESIGN: Zach Sherif, Enlightened Design, Washington, DC.
Although Elizabeth Reich studied accounting in college, her first love was always design. After graduating and landing a job in sales, she recalls, “I spent all of my free time scouring design magazines. It was ridiculous. I was good at math, but realized that I wasn’t following my passion.” Reich enrolled in an interior design classes at night and found her calling.
After she earned a bachelor’s degree, Reich honed her skills at Patrick Sutton Associates, an architecture and interior design firm in Baltimore. “That was my best education. I learned a lot there because we had to develop certain technical skills such as creating millwork drawings,” she says. “It was about more than just making everything look pretty.”
In 2010, Reich joined the Baltimore firm Jenkins Baer Associates, where she caters to a broad group of new and repeat clients throughout the entire DC Metro area. Recent projects include the redesign of a family home in Lutherville, Maryland, and an Arlington residence where she created a his-and-hers home office for the owners.
Reich’s work embodies a fresh perspective, with an emphasis on comfortable, unfussy furnishings and a novel use of materials and finishes. “I want my clients to be happy with the end result,” she explains, “and feel that their home is a reflection of them that they didn’t even know existed until I presented it to them.”
While her accounting skills may come in handy, this busy designer has never looked back. “I’m so glad that I made a change when I did,” she reflects. “It changed my life. I don’t consider what I do work. And when I’m not working, I’m still looking at design magazines."
INTERIOR DESIGN: Elizabeth Reich, Jenkins Baer Associates, Baltimore, Maryland.
Other Hot Talent:
JUILE DASTVAN, ALLIED ASID
Dastvan Designs, LLC
Darnestown, Maryland
WILLIAM M. McGOVERN, ASID
McGovern Design Studio, LLC
Washington, DC
DARLENE MOLNAR, ASID, LEED AP
Darlene Molnar LLC
Washington, DC
J. ALLEN
Perceptions Interiors, LLC
Washington, DC
Home & Design shot its 2012 up-and-coming designers portrait in Ligne Roset's new showroom in Upper Georgetown. Above, Ligne Roset's David Zein (left) and Olivier Valette (center, standing) relax with designers (left to right) Elizabeth Reich, Darlene Molnar, Julie Dastvan, Will McGovern and J. Allen.
To view these designers' recent projects, follow the links below.
ELIZABETH REICH
Jenkins Baer Associates
Baltimore, Maryland
JUILE DASTVAN, ALLIED ASID
Dastvan Designs, LLC
Darnestown, Maryland
WILLIAM M. McGOVERN, ASID
McGovern Design Studio, LLC
Washington, DC
DARLENE MOLNAR, ASID, LEED AP
Darlene Molnar LLC
Washington, DC
J. ALLEN
Perceptions Interiors, LLC
Washington, DC
MAY/JUNE 2012
TOP TOQUE
The new chef at DC’s Poste Moderne Brasserie, Dennis Marron (above) recently unveiled a new menu that puts a modern spin on French
classics in true brasserie style. Look for pâtés, house-made charcuterie, hearty soups and raw bar offerings, from oysters and clams to seafood plateaus.
555 8th Street, NW; 202-783-6060. postebrasserie.com
**Out of the array of interior design magazines, Home and Design magazine stands out as a primary idea source for luxury home designs and coverage of luxury living. Wonderful visuals of luxury getaways and dining options are combined with inspired decor to provide a fundamental reference point for bringing luxury to life in home interiors and beyond.
MAY/JUNE 2012
THAI RETREAT
The Banyan Tree Phuket resort and spa is located on a lagoon on Bang Tao Bay (above). Guests enjoy Thai-style villas, each with open-air sunken bath and private garden. An early bird special offers 25 percent off rates through October 31. From $1,100 nightly including breakfast and a 90-minute massage. banyantree.com
ISLAND STYLE
Jumby Bay—an island resort off the coast of Antigua—offers private villas for the ultimate in Caribbean luxury. Residents of the six-bedroom Kairos enjoy full access to the resort and its Veranda Bar. Kairos starts at $8,000 per day, with meals, through October 31. rosewoodhotels.com
WINDY CITY ESCAPE
The Peninsula Chicago delivers five-star accommodations along the famous Magnificent Mile. The property boasts 256 rooms and 83 suites, a luxurious spa and three highly lauded restaurants—including Shanghai Terrace with its al fresco deck. This spring and summer, guests can enjoy a Chicago Retreat package offering complimentary meals for up to three kids 12 and under, 25 percent off most spa treatments and free overnight parking. From $450 nightly through September 3. peninsula.com
SEXY SANDAL
Salvatore Ferragamo’s strappy sandal pairs up splendidly with your summer brights. It comes in two color combinations: Dark violet/clementine and deep magenta/violet. $595 at Salvatore Ferragamo in Tysons Galleria. ferragamo.com
DRESS UP
The Belted Sydie Dress by Milly celebrates spring with its floral pattern and scooped front and back. $385 at Saks in Tysons Galleria. saks.com
FRESH SCENT
L’Occitane’s new Eaux de Cologne collection was inspired by summers in Provence. Eau Captivante mingles notes of bergamot, lime and basil. From $27; loccitane.com
EYE CANDY
Stephen Webster’s silver and blue cat’s eye pendant combines a polished sterling silver setting with white mother of pearl under blue cat’s eye and a clear quartz overlay. $795 at Tiny Jewel Box in DC. tinyjewelbox.com
**Out of the array of interior design magazines, Home and Design magazine stands out as a primary idea source for luxury home designs and coverage of luxury living. Wonderful visuals of luxury getaways and dining options are combined with inspired decor to provide a fundamental reference point for bringing luxury to life in home interiors and beyond.
MAY/JUNE 2012
A day before this issue went to press, the 2012 DC Design House opened its doors for a media preview. Participating designers, working around the clock, put the finishing touches on their rooms just in time for the big day.
The all-nighters paid off, as visitors will discover when they tour the 10,000-square-foot house in Spring Valley, full of dazzling vignettes, custom innovations and novel solutions to dilemmas that many homeowners face.
“We are so very pleased with how the rooms pulled together,” says event co-founder Skip Singleton, who encourages visitors to look at the “before” shots on display to gain a full appreciation of each room’s transformation. “Consumers can get a lot of great ideas because many of the ‘before’ issues exist in their own houses.”
The DC Design House is open Tuesday through Sunday until May 13. Admission is $20; proceeds benefit the Children’s National Medical Center. The property is located at 4951 Rockwood Parkway, NW, Washington, DC. For more information, visit dcdesignhouse.com.
**Out of the array of interior design magazines, Home and Design magazine stands out as a primary idea source for luxury home designs. Wonderful visuals of inspired décor and lush landscapes are combined with expert advice to provide a fundamental reference point for bringing amazing home interior design ideas to life.
MAY/JUNE 2012
As the agent for some of the world’s most famous athletes, David Falk is on call virtually 24/7. Whether a client phones him for advice on a trade, a deal or a girlfriend, this trusted mentor picks up.
Since launching his career in 1974 at DC-based ProServ, Falk has broken new ground negotiating record-setting, multi-million-dollar contracts and endorsements for the likes of Michael Jordan, Alonzo Mourning, Patrick Ewing—and the list goes on. In 1992, Falk launched his own firm, Falk Associates Management Enterprises (FAME), later acquired by SFX. As chairman of SFX Sports Group, Falk grew its client base from 40 to 1,100. “David is as competitive in business as any athlete I’ve played against on the basketball court,” wrote Michael Jordan in the introduction of Falk’s 2009 memoir, The Bald Truth: Secrets of Success from the Locker Room to the Boardroom.
In 2007, Falk left SFX to relaunch FAME as a boutique firm, where he now represents only a handful of athletes at a time. “I wanted a chance to smell the roses,” says the self-described “Type A+” personality. He wanted more time to play golf, travel and enjoy the vacation home on Kiawah Island, South Carolina, that he shares with his wife, Rhonda.
The Rockville, Maryland-based couple decided to build the oceanfront residence when the eldest of their two daughters was about to leave for college. “We wanted a place for the girls to come home to,” says Falk, who grew up near the beach on Long Island. “My parents had very limited funds,” he recalls. “I only went on three vacations before high school. The beach had a psychically soothing significance to me. I always dreamed of having a beach home.”
The Falks purchased two adjacent oceanfront lots on Kiawah and entrusted Washington, DC, architect Jerry Harpole to design their residence. Harpole, who had designed a home for Falk’s former partner, Curtis Polk, developed a plan that would fit in with the neighboring homes, yet realize his clients’ vision. A strict architectural review board scrutinized his every move.
“A lot of the houses in Kiawah are in the Northeast Coast Shingle style,” Harpole says. “I’m from the South and that didn’t make sense to me. I thought it should be much more Southern in character. I tried to achieve more of that Low Country, almost Victorian, style with big wide overhangs and brackets.”
While the Falks initially hoped for something more contemporary, they embraced Harpole’s nod to the Charleston vernacular. A traditional double wedding staircase leads to the front entry tower. Three tower volumes on the back of the home are designed so that virtually every room enjoys breathtaking ocean views.
The transitional exterior gives way to open, modern interiors. The heart of the home is a double-story ellipse banded, like a luxury vessel, in stainless steel. The vaulted space houses a large common living area flanked on one side by the kitchen and dining room volume. A curved wall screens off the two-story master bedroom suite housed in the other tower. In the central octagonal tower, a cozy sitting area occupies the ground level while above it, David Falk’s glass-enclosed office juts into the landscape with 180-degree views of the shore. “It’s all about the view,” says Harpole, who also helped his clients decorate the interiors.
From custom “wave” stair rails to aquamarine mosaics, bubble-glass tabletops, hand-cast shell accents and a green and turquoise color scheme, sophisticated allusions to the sea abound. “Jerry did a great job interpreting something I could never have drawn,” says Falk, “though I had a notion of what we wanted it to look like.”
Rhonda Falk agrees, “Our builder said he’d never seen an architect who had such an eye for finishes and quality as Jerry.”
The second story of the home contains three guest suites, while the top floor is devoted to apartments for the couple’s grown daughters, Daina and Jocelyn. Below, a stunning lap pool spills into a sculptural waterfall clad in blue Waterworks tile. A spa and an outdoor fireplace occupy pavilions at either end of the pool.
Throughout the design phase, both Falks worked closely with Harpole. “We met many, many times,” says the designer. “David is a very passionate person about whatever he’s involved in and looked at every fabric and material. He was like a kid with a new toy.”
Now that—in theory—David Falk has more free time, he is “spreading his wings” and trying new pursuits—from opening restaurants to producing movies. He currently has a documentary in the works on his “hero” and one-time client John Thompson, the former Georgetown University basketball coach.
Falk credits his mother, Pearl Falk—a teacher and interpreter—with his perfectionism and passion for learning. He studied economics at Syracuse University, where he met Rhonda. Two years later, she followed him to DC, where he earned a law degree at George Washington University. They were married in 1974.
Rhonda recently threw David a 60th-birthday golf tournament and roast at Woodmont Country Club in Rockville, Maryland, and all of his former clients—from Dikembe Mutombo to Jeff Green—attended. “It was like a Hall of Fame,” David Falk muses.
Last year, the Falks committed $15 million to Syracuse, establishing the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics. “It’s a gift to be in a position to do this kind of thing,” says David Falk, who hopes the program will bring about an intersection between academia and experiential learning. “If all you’re going to do is the same thing that everyone else is doing, why will someone hire you?” he asks intensely. “Really successful people have an affinity for seeing the road ahead.”
Richard Leo Johnson is a photographer based in Savannah, Georgia.
ARCHITECTURE & INTERIOR DESIGN: JERRY HARPOLE, AIA, Harpole Architects, P.C., Washington, DC. BUILDER: RUSS COOPER, Russ Cooper Associates, Inc., Charleston, South Carolina.
**Out of the array of interior design magazines, Home and Design magazine stands out as a primary idea source for luxury home design and building/remodeling features. Wonderful visuals of custom homes and eco-friendly resources are combined with expert advice to provide a fundamental reference point for bringing amazing home interior design and remodeling projects to life.
MAY/JUNE 2012
Life in the picturesque village of Rasteau, located in the foothills of the French Alps, revolves around winemaking. Most of the town’s 700 residents tend the vineyards that produce the region’s famous Côtes du Rhône wines.
The search for a vacation home in Provence led American Holly Glass and her Dutch husband, Jan Grent, to this sleepy outpost. Grent, who had recently retired, and Glass, a public relations consultant who works from home, were hoping to split their time between their Virginia residence and a home in France. Grent recalls the day a real estate agent invited them to tour a centuries-old house that had been built into Rasteau’s original fortification walls. “We went to the top floor and out on the terrace and saw the views. I pinched Holly and she pinched me. We said, ‘This is it,’ and we bought it."
With the patchwork of terracotta rooftops and vineyards unfolding below, it was easy to overlook the minor fact that the house was more or less unlivable. The previous owner, a 92-year-old woman, utilized only one of the home’s five levels, where a bathroom doubled as a kitchenette. Not only was the layout convoluted, but the roof leaked and the infrastructure was a shambles.
Immediately, the couple flew in Washington-based architect Ernesto Santalla to give the home a once-over. “Initially, they asked me to spend a couple of days with them and design a ‘quickie renovation,’” recalls Santalla, who had completed two DC-area projects for the couple. “Famous last words.”
After touring the home with Santalla and local contractor Patrice Blanc, the couple came to realize that the house—parts of which date back to the 12th century—needed a full restoration. “Everything had to be redone,” says Glass, “from the plumbing and electricity to the heating, the walls, the fireplace and the floors.”
Luckily, Blanc was well-versed in the region’s building methods. “Patrice could immediately identify what was original and what was not Provençal detailing,” says Santalla. “He could see through all the layers and point out what was not authentic.”
Once the property was measured and blueprints drawn, Santalla returned to the States and formulated a plan that would upgrade the home and rework its layout while carefully preserving its historic legacy. He devised a logical floor plan that would give purpose to every level of the home. “The plan was recreated in a way that made it much more feasible to live in the house the way we live now,” Santalla explains.
The main level is accessible from the front door and now houses the master suite, a library and a cozy living room. The relocated kitchen and dining room on the top floor spill out onto the rebuilt terrace, where the couple enjoys meals during the warmer months. Descending from the main level, visitors reach a floor housing three guest rooms and a central kitchenette, which leads out to the new pool behind the house. Below the guest level is a media room and wine cellar and below that a party room where Grent, a musician, often plays the piano.
Since he would be orchestrating the project remotely, Santalla kept the design simple. “In a way, it was about stripping back many layers to get to a point where there was this common denominator that we could build from,” the architect explains. “I had to minimize the amount of details the contractor needed to produce because I wasn’t there. I had to have an approach that would work everywhere.”
Keeping the material palette as minimalistic as possible plays up the home’s architectural treasures—including centuries-old wooden beams, terracotta roof tiles and a weathered stone exterior. “We really worked hard to preserve what was considered original and took away everything that we knew was additive,” Santalla says. “I wanted to emphasize all the really magnificent timbers that are almost magically holding up the structure.”
Santalla selected large-format terracotta floor tiles, cable lighting and dark-stained steel railings to create the clean, modern look his clients favored. They also decided to order furniture exclusively from BoConcept since products they could test in the store’s DC showroom are also available in France.
Construction began in September 2007. What Glass and Grent expected would be a seven-month process ultimately took twice as long. “Things move slowly in France,” Grent admits.
Glass did not share her husband’s relaxed view when she visited in January 2008 and found the house still open to the elements, without floors or walls in place. “I stood on the terrace and cried,” she recalls. “I was overwhelmed and was having difficulty seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.”
The couple also had to contend with the village mayor, who oversees architectural changes. He eventually granted permission for the pool—but not without protest from residents whose families have lived in Rasteau for generations. “It was a very unusual concept to build a pool in the middle of a medieval village,” says Glass. “It had to be exactly in spec because we didn’t want to infringe on our neighbors.”
Though Grent and Glass were able to live in the home by the summer of 2008, it wasn’t officially completed until 2010. Now settled into the rhythm of Rasteau, they couldn’t be happier. “Ernesto kept it simple—but still the old spirit is there,” Grent says. “He is extremely talented in that regard, mixing the ancient with the modern. He created a very thorough and thoughtful design.”
The couple enjoys daily bike rides through Provence and visits to wineries with their frequent houseguests. A self-taught artist, Grent has taken up watercolor painting and drawing with India ink.
“When I’m here,” says Glass, “I can’t wait to get out of bed in the morning and look out the window. It’s that kind of magic that Ernesto and Jan and I tried to envision in the very beginning. We finally have it.”
Geoffrey Hodgdon is a photographer in Deale, Maryland.
RENOVATION AND INTERIOR DESIGN: ERNESTO SANTALLA, AIA, LEED AP, Studio Santalla Inc., Washington, DC. RENOVATION CONTRACTOR: PATRICE BLANC, Roussillon, France.
**Out of the array of interior design magazines, Home and Design magazine stands out as a primary idea source for luxury home design and building/remodeling features. Wonderful visuals of custom homes and eco-friendly resources are combined with expert advice to provide a fundamental reference point for bringing amazing home interior design and remodeling projects to life.
MARCH/APRIL 2012
DROP INTO SPRING
The multi-color earrings by Oscar de la Renta (above) accentuate today’s hottest shades. Almost four inches long, the clip-ons feature resin cabochons in chartreuse, yellow, tangerine, pink and cobalt blue. $450 at Neiman Marcus in Tysons Galleria and Mazza Gallerie. neimanmarcus.com
SURF’S UP
The Surf Dress by Rag & Bone updates the classic sheath with architectural lines and color-blocked panels of leather and jersey. Available at Saks Fifth Avenue in Tysons Galleria. $995; saks.com
HERE COMES THE SUN
The Rocco Satchel in yellow leather by Alexander Wang (left) stands out in the crowd. It measures 13 inches long and nine inches high. $875 at Neiman Marcus in Tysons Galleria. neimanmarcus.com
OFF THE CUFF
Inspired by nature, these cuff links by French designer Anne Fontaine are the ultimate fashion statement for spring. The Jenni enamel butterfly (left) is set in 100 percent brass. $195 a pair at Anne Fontaine in Tysons Galleria. annefontaine.com
MELLOW IN YELLOW
Model the Royal Juicy Print Dress (below left) in tunic style with leggings or solo with a pair of sexy heels. In easy-to-wear rayon at Juicy Couture in Tysons Galleria and Georgetown. $198; juicycouture.com
BRILLIANT STYLE
The Roberto Coin Diamond Collection (below left) features groupings of stones in bezeled 18-karat white gold settings. The drop necklace ($1,540), bezel pendant ($1,020), earrings ($1,900) and ring ($2,580) are available exclusively at Bloomingdale’s. bloomingdales.com
PUMP IT UP
Shoes don’t get more glam than Brian Atwood’s Fontanne Suede Colorblock Platform Pumps (below left). Made in Italy, the suede platforms are $350 at Saks Fifth Avenue in Tysons Galleria. saks.com
TICKLED PINK
The Shock Fire Washed Cervo Bag (left, bottom) has a 14-inch-wide rectangular shape but a slouchy silhouette due to a “washing” process that gives the leather a softer feel. It features a braided handle and contrasting trim. $2,800 at Bottega Veneta in Tysons Galleria. bottegaveneta.com
**Out of the array of interior design magazines, Home and Design magazine stands out as a primary idea source for luxury home designs and coverage of luxury living. Wonderful visuals of luxury getaways and dining options are combined with inspired decor to provide a fundamental reference point for bringing luxury to life in home interiors and beyond.
<MARCH/APRIL 2012
GONE TO MARKET
The latest venture of Cathal and Meshelle Armstrong, Society Fair (above) brings a bakery, café, butcher shop, wine bar and prepared-food market to Old Town Alexandria—all under one roof. There is also a 10-seat demo kitchen where guests can enjoy three-course fixed-priced dinners from Tuesday through Saturday. 277 S. Washington Street, Alexandria. 703-683-3247; societyfair.net
CHERRY JUBILEE
The Cherry Blossom Festival celebrates its centennial March 20 to April 27 with an expanded line-up of events, including art exhibits, concerts and special menus at restaurants around DC. Don’t miss the Honey Ginger Glazed Muscovy Duck at Ris. risdc.com; nationalcherryblossomfestival.org
COOKING CLASS
On March 24, the Park Hyatt Washington hosts a Master of Food & Wine Culinary Evening focused on seasonal local cuisine. Chef Sebastien Archambault, the new top toque at the hotel’s Blue Duck Tavern, will prepare a spring lamb dinner while pastry chef Peter Brett will teach a cooking class on cherry blossom-inspired sweets. Phone 202-419-6768.
DESIGNER DIGS
Taking inspiration from Dior ateliers in Paris, the St. Regis New York recently unveiled the Dior Suite (left), complete with a subdued color palette, luxurious furniture and haute couture-inspired upholstery. From $8,500 nightly; stregis.com
TENNIS, ANYONE?
Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo recently introduced its own regulation grass tennis court—the first at any Four Seasons property worldwide. After a match, guests can relax in luxurious rooms or a one-bedroom canopy suite (pictured here) and watch monkeys and parrots cavort in the treetops. From $1,295; fourseasons.com
SPANISH ESCAPE
The Mandarin Oriental Barcelona boasts contemporary guest rooms and suites by Spanish designer Patricia Urquiola. The penthouse suite features two bedrooms, a dining room for eight and two terraces overlooking the city. From $10,500 nightly; mandarinoriental.com
RETRO STYLE
Airstream recently unveiled the Sterling Concept Trailer designed by architect Christopher Deam. The prototype introduces anodized aluminum surfaces and an aircraft-like aesthetic to the modern interiors (left, below), along with Mid Century-style upholstery and Merimekko textiles. airstream.com
TIME MANAGEMENT
The Fortis Limited Edition F-43 (left, below) is the world’s first mechanical watch to combine GMT, alarm and chronometer capabilities with two separate power reserves. The Swiss-made timepiece is water resistant to 165 feet and fitted with a padded strap in blue crocodile leather. $20,850. Available in the U.S. through gevrilgroup.com.
GAME ON
The iCade Mobile (below) brings classic controller configurations to games played on the iPhone and iPod touch. The cradle locks devices in either a portrait or landscape position and features a four-way directional pad, four action buttons and four shoulder buttons. $80; ionaudio.com
HOT WHEELS
The new Bentley Continental GTC V8 (bottom) features a 4.0-liter, twin-turbo V8 engine; eight-speed transmission; and all wheel-drive. It also boasts a 40 percent improvement in fuel efficiency and emissions over its predecessor, traveling 500 miles on a single tank of gas. $192,000; bentleymotors.com
**Out of the array of interior design magazines, Home and Design magazine stands out as a primary idea source for luxury home designs and coverage of luxury living. Wonderful visuals of luxury getaways and dining options are combined with inspired decor to provide a fundamental reference point for bringing luxury to life in home interiors and beyond.
