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
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
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
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
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
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.
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
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.
MARCH/APRIL 2012
A Washington-based nurse recently built a residence in her native Switzerland, where eco-minded features such as geothermal heating and a green roof are not an option—they are a must.
So it should come as no surprise that she took a similar approach to renovating the Dupont Circle row house she and her husband, a DC attorney, have owned for 25 years. When the couple decided it was time to update and expand the early 20th-century property and its English basement apartment, they developed some bold plans with the architects at DC-based Division1. Not only did the owners task them with implementing solar power, geothermal and radiant-floor heating and the District’s very first residential gray-water system, but they also challenged them to break new ground from a design perspective, transforming the interior from a series of dark, fragmented rooms into a modern, flexible space flooded with natural light.
Like many homes on its block, the original front porch had been removed years ago. “The house didn’t look right without a porch,” says Division1 principal Ali Honarkar. “It needed to have its parts back.” In deciding to rebuild the porch, he disputes the notion that modern architects dismiss historic vernacular. “To us, good design is good design. The intention is to preserve anything that’s worth preserving or restoring. We wanted to respect that this is a historic district.” The new porch resembles others on the block except for skylights in its roof. “We wanted it to look clean,” Honarkar explains, “but not necessarily stand out as a modern house.”
Once inside, however, the nod to tradition gives way to a modern interplay of form, light and volume. At its center, an open living area soars to a two-story height. Above, skylights, catwalks and exposed stairs marry raw elements with a sense of refinement. Beyond the kitchen, panels of translucent glass screen off a room that can serve as a bedroom or home office, created in a 14-foot addition suspended from the back of the house.
Honarkar and colleagues Mustafa Ali Nouri and Jin Yong Kim conducted careful light studies and built 3D models to get every detail right. They reduced the color and material palette to a minimum, which helps the narrow residence feel open and airy. Playing with stark white and steely gray, they contrasted porcelain tile floors from Porcelanosa and white lacquered cabinetry from Snaidero DC with exposed steel beams and Viroc—a sustainable cement composite used on the interior stairs and bridges.
Every decision hinged on how to filter the most natural light into the home. Polycarbonate panels screen the white tile staircase to the second floor, where catwalks connect two sun-filled bedrooms, each with its own bath. From here, Viroc stairs lead to a third-floor room and roof deck. Added windows and the front porch skylights even pour light into the revamped basement apartment—which boasts a brand new IKEA kitchen.
Except for two rain barrels that capture water for use outdoors, there are no telltale signs revealing how eco-friendly the home is. “We wanted to design a house that’s green, but the green elements are not in your face,” says Honarkar. “It’s still all about the design.”
Solar panels power LED and low-voltage lighting and appliances. Spray-foam insulation and low-E windows by Pella and Fleetwood keep energy use to a minimum. “Gray” water from sinks and showers is re-used in toilets before leaving the house.
Division1’s first sustainable project, it involved copious research and countless visits to various permitting authorities. One of the greatest challenges was digging the 120-foot-deep holes for the geothermal system behind the home on an area the size of two parking spaces. Only one company in the area had a truck small enough to do the job.
The homeowner has no regrets about the extreme measures—and investment— she and her husband adopted to build green. “I’m convinced that in the future resources are going to be very precious. If we have the sun, why not use it to make your electricity?” she asks. “It’s just a little contribution toward the future.”
Ironically, the owners do not live in the row house—yet. The couple shares a larger home in Woodley Park and has rented out the Dupont house and its basement apartment for more than 20 years. Now that their youngest child has gone off to college, they are planning to move in themselves—or share it with their three daughters—someday. “We are not ready to downsize yet,” says the wife, “but it’s something we’ll do eventually. It just makes so much sense to use less space and have a trimmer footprint.”
Debi Fox is a Washington, DC-based commercial photographer.
RENOVATION ARCHITECTURE: ALI R. HONARKAR, AIA; MUSTAFA ALI NOURI; JIN YONG KIM, Division1 Architects, Washington, DC. RENOVATION CONTRACTOR: DON MALNATI, Renovations Unlimited, Washington, DC.
**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
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.
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
Hollin Hills, a residential neighborhood in Alexandria, Virginia, has received national attention for its Mid-Century Modern architecture. This spring, design buffs will be able to learn more about the enclave and visit many of its homes in person.
The Hollin Hills House & Garden Tour will take place from noon to 6 pm on April 28. It will showcase stunning examples of Mid-Century Modern architecture, furnishings and landscapes in a park-like setting. Designed by award-winning architect Charles Goodman between 1946 and 1961, Hollin Hills’ 500-plus homes are noted for their sleek lines, large expanses of glass and natural surroundings. Approximately 12 homes will open their doors to visitors for self-guided tours.
To coincide with the event, the Interior Design department of the Corcoran Gallery of Art and Corcoran College of Art + Design will host a program on April 27 entitled “A Community of Vision: Hollin Hills, Modern Then and Now.” In addition, an informal lecture will be held prior to the tour, at 11 am at Hollin Meadows Elementary School in Alexandria. For tickets and more information, visit hollinhills.net.
**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
Ensconced in a neighborhood with its own wooded trail leading down to the C&O Canal towpath, Marc Loev, Toni Hawley and their three young boys adored their pristine surroundings. If only their 1980s Colonial home shared a similar reverence for Mother Nature. Its windows were too few and far between to appreciate the views. Outdated mechanical systems and poor insulation made the house drafty and inefficient. It also had an outdated kitchen and disjointed floor plan.
House-hunting forays to find something better led to a simple realization: No other lot in the Metro area could hold a candle to their Potomac gem. So they decided to stay put, and commissioned architect Tom Flach of KohlMark Group to design a renovation—which eventually evolved into the design of a brand new house. “We went through a whole process of designing renovations and additions to the existing home, trying to transform and connect it to the outdoor living space and views,” Flach recalls. “Finally, we made the decision to demolish the existing home and rebuild.”
Unencumbered by the constraints of the original structure, the architect and his clients were free to explore bold new options. They set their sights on a modern home with an open floor plan that would celebrate nature, accommodate parties of all sizes, and project sophisticated style without sacrificing comfort or durability.
Faced with a limited footprint on the two-acre lot, Flach nestled the home around the existing pool without disturbing the mature river birches in the front yard. “The neighborhood was fairly traditional so I worked with traditional forms, but took them to a modern level by removing ornamentation and working with very simple stucco and glass on a stone foundation,” says the architect.
The home’s southern orientation made solar power an easy option—happily for the owners, whose determination to tread lightly on the environment drove the entire building process. Before demolition, Second Chance, a Baltimore non-profit, deconstructed the original house—and was able to recycle two-thirds of its materials. The owners selected insulated low-E, argon-filled windows; spray-foam insulation; low-voltage and LED lighting and low-flow and dual-flush plumbing fixtures for maximum efficiency. The solar system fuels electricity and hot water.
But going sustainable did not mean settling for spartan over über-chic. In fact, many of the home’s features required daring feats of engineering, from walls of glass to a three-level cantilevered, helical staircase to an open “fire pit” hearth in the living room that appears to defy gravity.
During construction, Hawley and Loev hired Baltimore interior designer Michelle Miller to furnish the home in a style that would complement the architecture. Miller painted the walls white to allow the home’s organic materials—Brazilian cherry floors, stone and glass—and the views to take center stage. She designed many custom pieces of furniture using durable fabrics. “The clients wanted to use their home for entertaining, but they also have three boys. We kept it pared down and really simple,” she explains.
Like astute apprentices, Hawley and Loev, both physicians, constantly pitched ideas to Flach and Miller. “They were passionate and very knowledgeable,” says Flach. “Everything that I proposed to them that was pushing the limits, Toni and Marc embraced. At the same time, they also pushed me to take things beyond my comfort zone.”
Miller created a sense of warmth and intimacy in the voluminous rooms on the main level, above which a second-story “bridge” connects the bedrooms. In the dining room, a dark gray wall accentuates a nude by Craig Alan while crystal pendants by Schonbek create a glamorous vibe.
The living room is oriented toward the outside with a two-story wall of glass. A custom rug mimics the line of the ceiling above, and a series of wall sculptures by John Douglas makes a bold statement. The living room leads to a loggia, where a NanaWall opens completely to face the backyard.
Public and private “zones” cater to both family and social functions. A pocket door closes off the kitchen, family room and family powder room, and a back stairway and elevator lead upstairs so the kids can use these spaces during a party—sight and sound unseen.
Hawley, an expert cook, immersed herself in the kitchen design with help from kitchen designer Patty Whitman. Double ovens, sinks, microwaves and dishwashers make the space functional, while Bianco Antico granite countertops and a white back-painted glass backsplash offset dark cabinets and wood floors. In the adjacent family room, oversized windows flank a stucco-clad fireplace.
The master suite, positioned on one side of the bridge above the loggia with the boys’ rooms on the other, is a picture of serenity. Inspired by a hotel the couple visited in Mexico, the bathroom pampers them with smooth limestone and marble tiles and a soaking tub with views of the treetops. “The site lines make it feel like you’re in a private sanctuary,” says Loev.
The second floor also features rooms with en suite baths for each son, a well-appointed guest suite and a kids’ gallery where the parents and boys gather to read and unwind before bedtime. A large third-story playroom prevents toys from straying into other areas of the house.
On the lower level, Loev and Hawley have created a sophisticated “club room.” Unlike their previously dark basement, the new space is bathed in light thanks to the open staircase and bridge near the fireplace. An indoor-outdoor bar, a modular sofa and an etched stainless-steel wall sculpture make this space perfect for large gatherings. A whole-house Lutron lighting system and wireless sound system by SONOS enable the owners to set moods with ease. “We wanted it to be a little sexy down there,” says Miller. The lower level also features an exercise room and a bathroom with a steam shower.
When the project was completed, Loev and Hawley felt “a sense of loss” because their fruitful collaboration had come to a close. “We were very involved,” recalls Loev. “Every element was a collaboration—much to our designer’s and architect’s chagrin,” he adds with a laugh.
“They were the perfect clients,” Flach responds. “There was such a great push from each of us to stretch the limits. That’s what makes great architecture.”
Photographer Greg Hadley is based in Fairfax, Virginia.
ARCHITECTURE: THOMAS FLACH, AIA, vice president, KohlMark Group - Architects and Builders, Burke, Virginia. CONSTRUCTION: THOMAS FLACH and WADE GREENE, project manager, KohlMark Group - Architects and Builders. INTERIOR DESIGN: MICHELLE MILLER, Michelle Miller Interiors, Baltimore, Maryland. LANDSCAPE DESIGN: Through the Garden, Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia.
**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.
ALPINE OASIS
Perched atop Deer Valley Resort in Park City, Utah, the recently opened Montage Deer Valley offers five-star luxury in a picturesque mid-mountain setting. Guests choose from 174 rooms and suites and 81 private residences, with restaurant and in-room dining options. Enjoy ski-in, ski-out access, sleigh riding, ice-skating and a spa. Winter rates start at $845 a night. montagedeervalley.com
LONDON CALLING
Minutes from Buckingham Palace, 51 Buckingham Gate Hotel recently unveiled the posh Jaguar Suite. Its two bedrooms, dining space, kitchen and study pay homage to the legendary auto maker with Italian leather, high-gloss metal finishes and Jaguar wallpaper. Guests enjoy a chauffeur-driven Jaguar and butler service. Rates are $8,500 a night. 51-buckinghamgate.com
LUXURY AFLOAT
The antidote to post-holiday blues, the Sunshine to Skyscrapers cruise aboard the Crystal Symphony, from February 7 to 26, explores the wonders of Southeast Asia with stops at—among other ports—Sydney, Melbourne and Perth in Australia, Singapore and Bali. Aboard-ship luxuries abound, from gourmet cuisine to entertainment and a spa. From $11,910 per person. crystalcruises.com
LUCKY SEVEN
The seventh-generation Porsche 911 Carrera S Cabriolet features the world’s first optional seven-speed manual transmission in a passenger car. The convertible reaches 60 mph in 4.1 seconds and has a top speed of 187 mph. Its intelligent, lightweight design translates to high fuel efficiency. On sale in the U.S. in spring 2012; $108,000. porsche.com
COOL TOUCH
The Grandoe Bentley leather gloves for men have a special sensor-touch technology that enables wearers to interact with an iPhone screen—a must for texting in cold weather. They also boast a cashmere lining. In Bloomingdale’s stores; $115.
NOSTALSIA TRIP
The Victoria Nostalgic Internet Radio delivers modern-day music options in vintage style. Inside the 1940s-era walnut exterior, it’s an Internet radio that interfaces with Pandora, SiriusXM and more than 50,000 radio stations and on-demand content providers. It also streams music from your PC or Mac. $230; gracedigitalaudio.com
DINING OUTPOST
DC’s sustainably minded Founding Farmers has opened a location in Potomac, Maryland. CORE architecture + design masterminded the eco-friendly space, which features silo-styled booths and reclaimed and recycled materials. 12505 Park Potomac Avenue; 301-340-8783. foundingfarmers.com
IT'S A WRAP
Celebrate Chinese New Year at The Source with (top to bottom) irresistible lobster-shrimp spring roll, chive dumpling, scallop sui mai, pork belly potsticker and chicken dumpling. 575 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW; 202-637-6100. wolfgangpuck.com
EDIBLE ART
Culinary Institute of America-trained Tim Gearhart creates small batches of chocolates by hand using premium Venezuelan cacao and quality fruits, nuts and liquors. His Charlottesville, Virginia, company offers boxed collections (right)—perfect for your Valentine. gearhartschocolates.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.
