JULY/AUGUST 2011
Marika Meyer launched her Bethesda firm, Marika Meyer Interiors, after earning a degree in fine arts, studying design at the Corcoran—and working at the Corporate Executive Board in DC. “Learning project management and business skills was crucial in enabling me to run a business successfully,” she says.
One early project that tested her mettle was the complete makeover of a Georgetown rowhouse for a client who was downsizing; it involved gutting and renovating the entire house. “I managed the project on my own,” Meyer recalls. “It gave me a lot of confidence. After that, my business just started growing, even in the downturn.”
In the narrow kitchen of that home, Meyer designed banquette seating with storage above and below as a “space-saving maneuver.” The designer prides herself on listening to clients and understanding their likes and dislikes. She recently helped a young, budget-conscious couple furnish their Logan Circle home using vintage furniture and created an elegant living room in Georgetown with built-in millwork for clients bent on displaying their books.
Meyer says that one of her design philosophies is that “there has to be a merging of form and function. The majority of our clients are families, so we make sure there is realistic, approachable space that they can live in.”
**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.
JULY/AUGUST 2011
After graduating from college and landing a job in PR, Lauren Liess got busy decorating her first apartment. So busy, in fact, that in office meetings she found herself doodling elevations and floor plans instead of paying attention. She took that as a sign that her future belonged to design and left her day job to take design classes and help friends decorate their homes. After a stint working for another designer, Liess debuted her own firm, Lauren Liess Interiors, in 2007 and started a design blog (purestylehome.blogspot.com) in 2008. It now has more than 70,000 readers and this year Liess launched her own line of furniture and fabrics.
Before embarking on a project, Liess gets to know her clients, honing in on an “emotional connection” that will give meaning to a space. The Herndon, Virginia-based designer recently converted a family’s formal living room into a functional space for homework, projects and playing music. She collected leaves on the property with her clients’ kids and had images of them blown up on canvas . A generous worktable stores books and accessories at one end. In the designer’s own home, personal mementoes adorn her ever-changing mantel.
“We like to focus on the feeling that someone is going to have when they’re at home,” she says. “For every mood, a room can still look a million different ways.”
**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.
JULY/AUGUST 2011
Shortly after launching his own firm, DC-based Renaissance Design, H. Alex Sanchez landed a spot on season five of the HGTV reality show “Design Star.” Though he’s not a fan of reality TV, Sanchez credits the show with giving him validation in the eyes of potential clients. “It opened so many doors,” he says. “Now I can flex my muscles and do the type of work I want to do.”
Ever since the show aired, Sanchez has been in demand, especially among the bachelor crowd. For a condo design, he selected a light palette and upholstery in a “suit-like material” for a crisp, masculine look. In a guest room, he stacked two tufted headboards on a wall and installed them with a custom wood surround; a smoky purple accent wall adds a bit of drama. And he chose low-slung furnishings and an earth tone color scheme in a sophisticated entertainment space.
A native of St. Croix with a degree in architectural design, Sanchez says that a Virgin Islands upbringing has influenced his work. “I think it has made me fearless in my approach to color,” he says. “I always bring in some sort of organic element, and I like things to be a little bit off-centered. Nothing is structured in the islands—everything is kind of free-flowing.”
**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.
JULY/AUGUST 2011
To say that play space takes on a whole new meaning in the Bethesda home of Larry and Warrenetta Baker would be an understatement—it practically takes over the entire house. After settling into the 1980s-era home for a few months, the Bakers decided that the vaulted room off the foyer felt too cold and impersonal for a living or dining room, so they took a leap and converted it into a play space complete with a climbing wall and regulation-height basketball hoop for the enjoyment of sons Henry, 12, and Calvin, 15. The action spills over into a sunroom housing ping-pong, pool and foosball tables. And in fair weather, a swimming pool, trampoline and tennis court retooled into a skateboarding course attract teenage visitors to the backyard like bees to honey.
Since moving in, the Bakers have renovated and enlarged their “unworkable" kitchen and fixed a number of structural problems. They also replaced worn wooden decking around the pool with a flagstone terrace. But with all the fun underway, little thought was given to décor.
Finally tired of boring beige walls, the Bakers called upon interior designer Debbie Wiener to help them choose paint colors and new furniture. Wiener took her cues from the home's bright red front door, which the previous owners had salvaged from a barn. “Warrenetta told me that she loved the barn door but thought the rest of the house was ugly,” Wiener recalls. “I thought to myself, 'This is a really fun young couple,’ and started showing them brighter colors.” She proposed Benjamin Moore's Jalapeño Pepper green for the living room “because I knew that room was all about the outdoors and views to the pool;" Salsa Dancing red in the kitchen, sport court and game room to echo the red front door; and accents of Concorde Ivory as a soothing balm to the bolder shades.
Though her painter was “scared to death” of the combination, Warrenetta Baker instantly fell in love with the bright new look. “My office is battleship gray,” explains the corporate tax attorney. “I wanted to come home to something totally different. The architecture in the house really didn't make sense to us, but Debbie did a fantastic job. We never would have thought of painting the walls in different colors but now the architecture makes sense.”
Wiener took a practical approach in furnishing this home where two boys and two dogs have free reign, seeking low-maintenance, unbreakable items that would not be ruined by an errant football or impromptu wrestling match. "The number-one skill I find myself relying on,” she says, “is my common sense. Will it clean up? Will it hold up? Will it be comfortable? The challenge was to select nothing that was breakable, nothing that couldn't get knocked over—and no glass.”
The designer presented her clients with a number of stylish but sensible options, including pieces from her own line of furniture called Slobproof!, upholstered in “indestructible” fabric by Crypton that can be easily cleaned—even when "decorated” with permanent markers, olive oil and ketchup, as the Bakers can attest. For the open-plan main living space, the Bakers selected a durable sofa by American Leather. A pair of Slobproof! armchairs and chaises on casters in bright accent colors complete the mix. Wiener also designed a custom dining table to be located near the kitchen, and surrounded it with comfortable chairs, also from her furniture line.
Playful pillows add further pops of color. “Color is camouflage,” explains Wiener. “Anyone who would put beige in their homes with kids and pets—it just doesn't make sense. I'm always looking for well-priced items full of color.”
The kitchen was designed as command central for Larry Baker, a former Utah prosecutor who decided in 1999 that he would much rather be a full-time dad. “Our goal is that Larry can work in the kitchen and see the pool and have a view of everything. So the stove and the sink are all facing that way,” Warrenetta explains. An oversized island with bar stools on one side and two 30-inch stoves installed side by side creates an efficient spot for whipping up family meals or throwing a party.
Wiener also revamped the lower-level TV room. Her first order of business was removing the outdated white-painted brick mantel and mauve carpet. Then she created an accent wall of decorative stone. “The emphasis of the house is all outdoors," she says, “so I really wanted to bring the outdoors in there." The Bakers selected comfortable Ultrasuede and leather seating and Wiener created a playful round rug. The cozy space is now perfect for enjoying TV, xBox, Wii and movies on a seven-foot screen.
The Bakers have no regrets about losing a formal living room—or their traditional tennis court—to create play spaces for their sons. “The climbing wall room gets used more than any other space in the house,” says Warrenetta. “The kids get a lot of exercise in the wintertime, and I like that there's nothing breakable nearby so I don't have to stress. It's a bit of a kid party house, which makes it a lot of fun for us too.”
Greg Powers is a photographer based in Arlington, Virginia.
INTERIOR DESIGN: DEBBIE WIENER, Designing Solutions, Silver Spring, Maryland. KITCHEN RENOVATION: DON WRESCHE, Kitchen Engineering, Crownsville, Maryland.
**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.
JULY/AUGUST 2011
MODERN MAKEOVER
Thomas Pink in the Mayflower Hotel (above) has rolled out a new look that the British brand will adopt globally. Display areas are highlighted in contrasting paneling, and the polished black granite floor is rimmed in the company’s signature shade of pink. 1127 Connecticut Avenue, NW; 202-223-5390. thomaspink.com
RUNWAY STYLE
British designers Marcus Wainwright and David Neville breezed into town recently to open rag & bone. The first U.S. outpost of their boutique outside of New York, the Georgetown shop features finely tailored yet hip men’s and women’s collections, including the Pelham dress (left, top); $925. 3067 M Street, NW; 202-295-9072. rag-bone.com
BAG IT
Matthew Williamson’s hexagonal minaudière for Bulgari (left, center) delivers high style in a six-inch package. The compact purse comes in printed sapphire satin with ruthenium-plated hardware, one closed pocket, one open compartment and one flat open pocket. $2,200. bulgari.com
FLIGHT OF FANCY
SICIS, the Italian company known for its artful mosaic-tile creations, has entered the jewelry realm with a splash. The SICIS Jewelry collection includes “micro-mosaic” brooches and cuff links shaped like flowers, butterflies (left, bottom) and more, made with tiny gems set in gold. Plans are now underway to introduce the collection in the U.S. sicis.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.
JULY/AUGUST 2011
When architect Jeffery Broadhurst designed and built a spartan weekend retreat on his property in West Virginia, little did he know that the diminutive structure would land him design awards and press coverage. Soon, he began getting calls from homeowners worldwide interested in similar abodes to serve as everything from home offices to fishing cottages to cabins at a South Pacific eco-resort. “There’s a romantic notion to having a small structure that you can escape to,” says Broadhurst, principal of Broadhurst Architects in Rockville, Maryland.
He began plans for a DC client who wanted a sustainable, “shack-esque” shelter on his Chesapeake Bay property. Though the project never materialized, Broadhurst decided to build it as a prototype and bring his creation, called The Crib, to market in pre-fabricated form.
Just as this issue went to press, Silver Spring contractor Added Dimensions was completing the prototype on the grounds of the Music Center at Strathmore in North Bethesda. A model in sustainable construction, the structure employs recycled materials, state-of-the-art insulation, a rain-water collection system and energy-efficient lighting. Landscape architect Lila Fendrick designed the surrounding gardens, which were installed by Neal Cogswell of Solar Gardens, Inc.
The Crib will be open to the public for tours and will also house artists in residence at the Center. It will remain at Strathmore for a year or two—at which point it can be dismantled and moved to a buyer’s own site—the ultimate in recycling.
And if it doesn’t sell? “The worst case scenario,” says Broadhurst, “is we bring it up to our property in West Virginia and have an enhanced place to stay on weekends.” For more information, visit thecrib.info
**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.
July/August 2011
OUT OF AFRICA
Vamizi Island off the coast of Mozambique in the Indian Ocean lures jetsetters to its eco-friendly lodge and 16 private villas. By day, guests can ogle the area’s untouched reefs and after sunset, dine in the lodge’s restaurant or right on the beach (above). From $810 per person nightly, including meals, drinks and activities. vamizi.com
HIP CHECK-IN
W Taipei, the first W Hotel in Taiwan, is a 31-story masterpiece in radiant glass designed by architects G.A. Design International Ltd. of London. A giant chain symbolically anchors the hotel at the entrance (left), while a dramatic light show is just one of many visual treats awaiting guests inside. Rates from $276. whotel.com
SOHO OF THE SOUTH
Soho Beach House, a new oceanfront hotel in Miami’s Mid-Beach, is located on the site of the historic Art Deco Sovereign Hotel. The renovated and expanded property features 50 guest rooms with rain forest showers, a branch of the Venetian restaurant Cecconi’s and a pool bordered by communal lounge beds (bottom left). Rates from $325. sohobeachhouse.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.
July/August 2011
New Wave in NoMa
Todd Gray’s Watershed, a new restaurant from Todd Gray and Ellen Kassoff Gray of Equinox fame (top left) celebrates the bounty of the Eastern seaboard, from Maine to Florida. Think Baltimore seafood stew, Carolina shrimp-and-scallop burgers and sashimi from the raw bar. The cozy patio (above) features live music on Fridays. In the Hilton Garden Inn, 1225 First Street, NE; 202-534-1350. toddgrayswatershed.com
Parisian Patisserie
Paul, a 120-year-old French bakery and café with 500 stores in 25 countries, recently opened its first U.S. outpost in DC’s Penn Quarter. On tap are breads made from organic, locally sourced flour (left, center); an array of salads and sandwiches; and decadent desserts. 801 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW; 202-525-4500. paul-usa.com
Trabocchi’s Return
After a stint in New York, chef Fabio Trabocchi (formerly of Maestro) has returned to DC to open Fiola in Penn Quarter. The sleek, modern dining room (bottom left) seats guests in cozy banquettes and serves Italian specialties such as lobster ravioli and heavenly ricotta bomboloni. 601 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW; 202-628-2888. fioladc.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.
July/August 2011
ALMOST AIRBORNE
Spyker Cars has released an update of its C8 Aileron (above and top left). With an all-aluminum space frame, Audi 4.2-liter V8 engine and roomier interior, it recalls second-generation aircraft in homage to the Dutch company’s aviation roots. Each model is equipped with a Kharma sound system incorporating radio, Bluetooth, iPod interface and navigation. From $189,990. spykerworld.com
HOT SOUND
Urbanears’ colorful 2011 Spring/Summer collection of headphones includes a full spectrum of high-fidelity hues, from tomato and smoke to lavender and canary. The speakers from Stockholm come in a number of sizes and ergonomically correct styles, including the Plattan model (above) in navy; $60. urbanears.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 2011
WHEN IN ROME
The Portrait Suites envelops guests in style and romance in the heart of the Eternal City. Its swank interiors designed by Michele Bönan feature marble bathrooms, black-stained French oak millwork and views of Monte Mario and the Spanish Steps. From about $740. designhotels.com/portrait_suites
LONDON CALLING
The brand new Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane recently opened its doors near Hyde Park. It boasts a glass-walled rooftop spa with views of the city, plus 192 elegant rooms and suites and a restaurant, Amaranto, serving afternoon tea with Italian flair. From about $600. fourseasons.com
TROPICAL ESCAPE
The W Retreat & Spa Bali—Seminyak mixes cutting-edge design with local influences. Its luxurious villa retreats offer refreshing pools while its 24-7 AWAY Spa pampers guests in a pure oxygen-filled lounge before treatments. From $388 with breakfast through June 30. whotels.com/baliseminyak
LET THE SHOW BEGIN
Dining becomes theater—literally—at Sensorium,a pop-up restaurant housed in a 36-foot geodisc dome near National’s Park stadium. Artists choreograph performances in sync with the presentation of a 12-course repast created by chef Bryon Brown. Dazzling dishes may include an oyster medley or pork belly with sautéed asparagus and a potato ring. $150 per person through May 22. sensoriumdc.com
GOOD LIBATIONS
Bartender Brennan Adams has introduced fruit-laced cocktails at DC’s Masa 14 just in time for warmer weather. Choices include lychee lemonade, which pairs lychee purée and a splash of Bacardi Razz, and a cherry-margarita or a cherry-tequila smash, both containing tequila that’s been infused overnight with dried cherries. 1825 14th Street, NW; 202-328-1414. masa14.com
CAPITAL INFUSION
Manelle Martino, whose great-great-grandfather was a tea grower, is keeping the tradition alive with Capital Teas, a shop offering 120 loose teas from around the world plus teapots and accessories. After opening her first location in Annapolis in 2007, she is now expanding her empire with new outposts in National Harbor, Bethesda’s Wildwood Shopping Center and Georgetown, with Dupont Circle coming soon. capitalteas.com
SET SAIL FOR SUMMER
Designed by Bruce King in 1995, the Hinckley Sou’wester 70 is still turning heads in harbors around the globe. Its minimal, six-foot, six-inch draft enables the graceful 70-foot yacht to anchor almost anywhere. Below deck, Hinckley configures the cabins, salon, galley and dining areas according to captain’s orders. hinckleyyachts.com
COVER-UP INTRIGUE
Gottex’s Aquarelle Flower Cover-up brings high fashion to the sands with its deep caftan neckline, loose three-quarter sleeves and imported Italian silk. $398. It complements a matching strapless one-piece bathing suit, $178. neimanmarcus.com
RAISING CANE
Nothing conjures up the heyday of stylish travel like the proper handbag. Two Tiffany creations, the Eliza bucket tote, $695 and the Avery top handle bag, $895, combine classic caning, natural grain leather and palladium-plated solid brass hardware. Both made in Italy. tiffany.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 2011
Determined to push the limits of green building, architect Marcie Meditch decided to design a home that would generate as much energy as it consumes. The fact that there was no client on board didn’t stop her from going forward with the project as a spec home. Meditch approached Nash Construction, which has a proven track record in green practices, to build her zero-energy home on a lot in Bethesda that backs to a community center and park.
First, the outdated house on the property had to come down; neighbors were invited to salvage building materials during demolition. “People took windows, flooring, plantings and sliding glass doors,” Meditch recalls, “so we were able to recycle the house back to the neighborhood.”
Another lucky turn came a few months after construction had commenced. Ann Luskey, an ocean conservationist, heard about the project and decided to buy the home before it was finished. “Ann was very committed to the idea and was a perfect buyer as far as I was concerned,” says Meditch. Also an interior designer, Luskey got to work with Meditch selecting surfaces, finishes and materials that were not only stylish and modern, but eco-friendly.
A year later, the completed five-bedroom, 3,500-square-foot house embraces all of the tenets of green building. It is designed to keep energy needs—and consumption—as low as possible with its ultra-insulated skin and high-performance windows. Solar panels fuel most of the electricity and hot water—and cycle surplus energy back into the power grid. A geothermal system efficiently keeps the house warm in winter and cool in summer, while zoned heating and cooling can shut down in certain rooms when not in use. Energy Star-rated appliances and lighting help reduce energy needs.
Landscaping also plays an integral role in the plan. A green roof and rain garden help minimize storm water runoff while strategically planted trees as well as solar window shades and a large trellis screen out the summer sun.
The home’s LEED certification is pending and hopes are high that it will receive the highest rating, Platinum. But what makes Meditch most proud is the fact that there are no clues—aside from solar panels on the roof—that distinguish the zero-energy house from any other stylish new home in the area. “Most people were surprised that it is as inviting and comfortable as it is,” she says. “There’s a lot of behind-the-wall things that we did, but it looks just like a regular house. There’s no reason why any house can’t be this way with a little bit of thoughtfulness up front.”
ARCHITECTURE: MARCIE MEDITCH, AIA, and JOHN MURPHEY, AIA,
Meditch Murphey Architects, Inc., Chevy Chase, Maryland.
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTuRE: JOAN HONEYMAN, Jordan Honeyman Landscape Architecture, LLC, Washington, DC. CONSTRUCTION: Nash Construction, Marshall, Virginia. STRUCTURAL ENGINEER: ROBERT SILLMAN & ASSOCIATES, Washington, DC. Photography: ANICE HOACHLANDER, Hoachlander Davis Photography, 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.
May/June 2011
The white shingle-style model home on Bradley Boulevard in Bethesda has generated considerable buzz since its debut last fall. Designed by architect George Myers of GTM Architects, the spacious five-bedroom residence boasts a welcoming front portico, an oversized gourmet kitchen and luxurious bathrooms. But there’s more beneath the stylish amenities and architectural detail than meets the eye.
Dubbed the Bradley Green Home, it is a modular house constructed in half the time it would take to build a typical custom home. It takes advantage of practical green-building methods such as geothermal heating and cooling, solar-powered hot water and a rainwater-collection and -irrigation system. Designed with a tight building envelope using high-efficiency windows and insulation, it is expected to be 40 percent more energy efficient than a traditionally built home (its LEED certification is pending).
New Classics by Sandy Spring Builders—an affiliate of Sandy Spring Builders, which has a 30-year-track record of building upscale homes in the region—developed the model. “The house shows that you can take a beautifully designed, architecturally detailed, well-constructed home that is along the lines of what many people are looking for in a new home,” says Mimi Brodsky Kress, one of New Classics’ principals, “and incorporate sensible, practical green features.”
New Classics partnered with Haven Homes, a Baltimore-based company that creates energy-efficient, air-tight modular homes, to build the Bradley Green Home using George Myers’s design. It was completed in less than 16 weeks from foundation—half the time associated with typical construction techniques. Since finished modules were transported to the site in a single day, the builders avoided the material waste and transportation costs involved in conventional building. The shorter construction time also reduced prolonged disruptions and noise pollution in the neighborhood. The Bethesda Green Home is now serving as a model for similar homes to be built throughout the region.
In the backyard, a small, freestanding guesthouse with French doors flanked by columns is also open for tours. The home was designed by architect Russell Versaci for Retreats, LLC, a venture he launched last year with Sandy Spring Builders. The company has introduced a line of systems-built cottages that range from 475 to 1,100 square feet in size. Delivered to home sites in just 45 days, they can serve myriad purposes, from offices and studios to guesthouses and in-law suites. Also based on modular construction, Retreats are energy-efficient and minimize waste as well as construction time.
The Bradley Green Home and its Retreat have struck a chord among consumers and sales of similar models are on the rise. Kress attributes their success to an educated public who can differentiate between “feel-good green” and “practical green.”
“Practical green is something like the geothermal heating and cooling,” she explains, adding that while these alternative methods cost more than traditional systems, the payback and tax credits are worth the investment. “With rain harvesting, you’re saving on your water usage but you’re also recycling nature’s rainfall. You’re helping the environment and you’re saving money in utility bills and in consumption.
“As we did our research and looked into things,” Kress concludes, “it made a lot of sense.”
MAIN HOUSE ARCHITECTURE: GEORGE MYERS, AIA, GTM Architects, Bethesda, Maryland. RETREAT ARCHITECTURE: RUSSELL VERSACI, Russell Versaci Architecture, Middleburg, Virginia. CONTRACTOR: NEW CLASSICS BY SANDY SPRING BUILDERS, Bethesda, Maryland. INTERIOR DESIGN: URBAN COUNTRY, Bethesda, Maryland. LIVING RETAINING WALL: FINE EARTH LANDSCAPE, INC., Poolesville, Maryland. LANDSCAPING: CLEARWATER LANDSCAPE, Ijamsville, Maryland.
**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 2011
Yoga takes on deeper meaning when practiced in a sustainably designed guesthouse overlooking Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. This idyll in the woods with an arced wall of glass was built by the owners of a DC yoga studio as an offshoot of their vacation home on the same five-acre property.
Architect Jim Burton built the main house as an “early try at sustainable design” 17 years ago. When its current owners approached him about adding another bedroom onto the home, they discovered that zoning laws would not permit an addition, but building a separate, freestanding structure was okay. So they asked Burton to design a guesthouse where they could accommodate friends and family and enjoy yoga sessions with views of the surrounding wilderness.
With the project confined by regulations to a mere 600 square feet, the architect had to make the most of every inch. Compact in form yet graceful in line, the completed structure embraces nature in its design as well as its modest carbon footprint. In fact, the yoga studio became the first LEED for Homes Gold Certified House in the southeastern U.S.
The clients requested that Burton and interior designer Michelle Timberlake get inventive with their use of materials—and they happily complied. The studio’s exterior walls and roof are constructed of curved, prefabricated SIPs (structural insulated panels). Its base is clad in TX Active pollution abatement cement, a product that actually cleans the air, in its first-ever usage in the U.S. In lieu of drywall and paint, interior walls are sheathed in stretched canvas and coated with a beeswax and resin finish.
The curved window wall takes advantage of passive solar energy and also creates wider volume in the main living space, while Burton “pinched” the ends of the structure to conserve precious square footage in secondary spaces such as the doorways, mudroom and bath. “Not only is the arc tracking the passive solar quality of the sun moving across the sky,” says Burton, “but it also reveals panoramic views towards the valley and the rock ledge and the trees. It all works in harmony.”
Panels in the reclaimed poplar floor open to reveal three built-in beds in the main living space. Moveable furnishings have organic lines that mimic the curves of the architecture. Wool upholstery adds punches of color, but there is otherwise no superfluous ornamentation.
“We talked about the idea of not having any artwork in the project so that there are no metaphysical distractions in the space,” says Burton. “It’s all about the nature, the light, the material, the detailing of the building and the people.”
ARCHITECTURE: JIM BURTON, AIA, Carter + Burton Architecture & Interior Design, Berryville, Virginia. INTERIOR DESIGN: MICHELLE TIMBERLAKE, ASID, IIDA, Carter + Burton Architecture & Interior Design. CONTRACTOR: CHARLES SNEAD, Boyce, Virginia. Photography: DANIEL AFZAL, Alexandria, 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.
MAY/JUNE 2011
Perched on a bluff overlooking the Chesapeake Bay, a home with stone and stucco walls and red clay roof tiles appears to have been plucked from the foothills of Tuscany. Which is exactly what its owners envisioned when they approached architect Wayne Good to transform the outdated circa-1900 home they had recently purchased. Itinerant travelers, the couple had long dreamt of buying a villa overlooking Italy’s Lake Como. But with children and grandchildren firmly planted on the East Coast, they passed up the Alps and instead decided to settle into a vacation property on U.S. soil.
The owners saw potential in the home that was built “upside down” as Wayne Good describes it, with the bedrooms on the lower level and the grand living room elevated to take advantage of the water views. The brick structure had two side wings added on in the 1950s, one of which contained “the most convoluted kitchen” Good had ever seen. They decided the narrow, poorly built additions would have to go, but the original house would be left intact as they planned an elaborate renovation and expansion according to the couple’s shared vision. “The clients are in love with Italy,” says Good, “so we set out to reflect an Italian sensibility in the design. It’s a collage of many different Italian influences. The stone reflects a Tuscan farmhouse but the form and symmetrical formality were inspired by Palladio’s Villa Barbaro [in Veneto].”
The architect wanted to establish a sense that the villa was built over time with a variety of materials. Fieldstone on the front façade gives way to stucco and limestone detailing on the sides.
Good’s plan enveloped the original home with new construction. On the eastern side, a library and private guest suite were added on the main level, with a circular stair tower leading down to the master bedroom suite below. In the western wing, a new family room and kitchen occupy the main level with a garage and staff quarters below. A loggia on the rear of the property connects the two new wings. Its walls are painted with Tuscan scenes and its French doors spill out to a renovated pool with water views. On the front façade, a new central pavilion plays upon Villa Barbaro with a basilica-like entry flanked by a pair of gabled forms (an exact reverse of Palladio’s design). A stained-glass window with a floral motif installed above the massive front door is a reference to the name the owners gave the home: Villa dei Fiori.
The entry leads to a conservatory displaying a collection of sculpture. Arched doors open to the grand hall where visitors get their first panoramic glimpse of the bay beyond. “In waterfront homes,” says Good, “I like to have the house unfold and choreograph how you ultimately get the view.”
When construction began, the owners hired designer Erin Paige Pitts to help execute their vision throughout the interiors. Acting as the liaison between the constantly traveling couple and the builder, Winchester Construction, she also managed the entire three-year project. During monthly client meetings, Pitts discussed finishes and furniture, lavishing attention on every detail down to register returns and hardware.
The designer remained true to the owners’ well-articulated vision. “Since they had traveled so extensively, our clients would take pictures of details, particularly in ruins and old historic structures. It was through this type of imagery that we established most of what we did,” says Pitts. “I loved the opportunity to work in a specific vernacular.”
No expense was spared on authenticity; composites, veneers and other shortcuts were not an option. From the floors to the mantels and the window casings to the columns, all of the stone is real and carved by hand. Teams of faux painters were enlisted to perfect the finishes, from the hand-stenciling on the restored trusses in the grand hall to the rich Venetian plaster in what Pitts calls the “voluptuous” powder room that combines silk Fortuny drapes, a custom marble vanity and antique mosaic flooring.
The couple requested a shared study where a terracotta relief by British sculptor Paul Day would take center stage above the fireplace.Wayne Good painstakingly designed the mahogany millwork to offset the art. “Trying to work the study was an intricate piece of sculpture in itself,” he recalls. “It was quite a feat to get the sculpture insulated from potential heat from the fireplace and lighted from above.”
In his design of the kitchen millwork, Good echoed the proportions of the adjacent grand hall. Pitts helped design the travertine hood, which was hand-carved by artisans from Monte Regalo, and adapted the iron chandelier, which was original to the house, with blown glass leaves.
A circular stairway with a decorative iron rail in a floral motif descends to the lower level. A picture of serenity, the master bedroom combines a silver-leaf tray ceiling, a blown-glass chandelier and luxurious silk draperies. “When I design any bedroom, I feel like it should be a tranquil, restful place where your heartbeat slows down,” Pitts explains. “The owners’ goal is for their entire family to use this house. At the same time, it’s nice to have a place to retreat to.”
A series of French doors in the nearby loggia opens to the gardens. Landscape architect Jay Graham restored and updated the pool flanked by two pergolas that provide dreamy waterfront views. The grounds include a vegetable garden, often tended by the owners and their grandchildren.
Indeed, Villa dei Fiori meticulously brings to life its owners’ dreams and expectations—for the enjoyment of all who go there.
Photographer Geoffrey Hodgdon is based in Deale, Maryland.
ARCHITECTURE: WAYNE GOOD, FAIA, Good Architecture, Annapolis, Maryland. INTERIOR DESIGN: ERIN PAIGE PITTS, Erin Paige Pitts Interiors, Gibson Island, Maryland. CONTRACTOR: Winchester Construction, Millersville, Maryland. LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT: JAY GRAHAM, FASLA, Graham Landscape Architecture, Annapolis, Maryland. LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE: Walnut Hill Landscape Company, Annapolis, Maryland.
**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 2011
THE GILDED AGE
In its first collaboration with a fashion designer, the Italian jewelry and accessories house Bulgari recently unveiled a collection of handbags by Britain’s Matthew Williamson. The Matthew Williamson medium clutch is made of gold, hexagon-printed water buffalo with antique gold-plated hardware. $1,950. us.bulgari.com
GO FOR THE GOLD
Tadashi Shoji’s Gold Woven Dress is a modern expression of glam; it features studs and beaded embellishments around the neckline and shoulders. Also available in Natural color. $328. bloomingdales.com
WHEN IN ROME
Italian designer Giuseppe Zanotti channels the Roman Empire with his sexy new Embellished High-Heel Sandal. It's T-strap is encrusted with multi-cut coral stones while golden beads and tan crystal insets adorn the ankle strap. $1,150; neimanmarcus.com
DESIGNER JEWELS
Diane von Furstenberg has collaborated with H.Stern on the Sutras collection of gold bracelets, pendants, earrings and rings. Rock crystals set in each piece have been cut using a new technique that produces a mirror-like effect. On the pendant’s back, mantras by the designer such as “Freedom” and “Harmony” are engraved in her handwriting with a darkened finish. $12,500 at H.Stern Boutiques and Neiman Marcus Tysons Galleria. hstern.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 2011
HOT EATS IN SIN CITY
Chef José Andrés of Minibar and Jaleo fame has taken his game to Vegas with China Poblano, located in the Strip’s newest luxury resort, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. The eatery serves a fusion of Mexican and Chinese flavors, including noodles, tacos, ceviche and kao lao lao noodles (above). Designed by New York-based Seed Design, the interior features red concrete, bleacher-style seating and a ceiling made of 100 bicycle wheels interspersed with red glass lanterns. chinapoblano.com
A BOWL OF CHERRIES
The Cherry Blossom Festival kicks off March 26 with Family Day and an opening ceremony at the National Building Museum. The festival will feature fireworks on the Southwest Waterfront, a Japanese street fair and of course, the parade on April 9th. Area restaurants will celebrate the season with cherry-laden dishes and cocktails. Pastry chef Chris Kujala of RIS restaurant in DC’s West End puts a sweet spin on the fruit with a decadent black forest cake with chocolate cherry sauce. risdc.com; nationalcherryblossomfestival.org
**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.
