MARCH/APRIL 2011
Tackling the kitchen and bath renovation of a historic Georgetown row house seemed straightforward enough to Daniel Steinkoler, president of Superior Home Services, Inc. Until demolition day, that is, when his team started pulling down walls and discovered extensive termite damage throughout the entire 1865 property. “The minute we put a hammer to something we saw daylight on the other side of the house,” he recalls.
Steinkoler had to break the news to his clients that, despite recently passed home and termite inspections, the second home they had just purchased needed more than a cosmetic fix. “It was a disaster,” he says. “The house was in danger of collapse. The whole thing was held together by flooring and trim.” His team immediately braced the house with temporary walls while his clients figured out a course of action.
With damage beyond repair, the owners decided to rebuild. But because of the home’s historic pedigree, this was far from simple. Any changes made to the exterior of a historic Georgetown home are subject to the scrutiny of three independent organizations. Regulations stipulate that original elements of the structure in good condition must be preserved and new construction must match the original down to the very last detail. Teardowns are simply not tolerated.
“The challenges of this property were enormous,” Steinkoler recalls. “You’re not allowed to tear it down because it’s historic. But you have to rebuild the entire house. So what do you do?”
First, the owners hired architect Thomas French to draw up plans that would replicate the home’s exterior style down to the siding, shutters and trim, using its neighboring “twin” house as a guideline. Project requirements dictated several presentations to the Advisory Neighborhood Commission and the Commission on Fine Arts, before they finally received a DC building permit.
Thus began a painstaking restoration. “Basically, it was a case of shoring and bracing as we moved to deconstruct and rebuild at the same time,” says Steinkoler. “There were no nails, screws, fasteners or joists in the original house. Everything was hand-cut with axes and knives and built with mortise-and-tenon joinery. It posed a lot of challenges because everything had to be slowly braced and taken apart.”
During the process, the crew had to salvage all remnants from the original structure that were still in good condition. As a result, some 30 to 40 pieces of hand-sawn North Carolina heart pine dating back to 1865 now float inside the new framing on the front and side of the house. Serving no structural purpose, they are hidden remnants of the building’s past. The original cornice and dentil trim at the home’s roofline, also in good condition, stayed in place during the entire two-year project. “Everything from the new roof to the new framing was replaced without taking it to ground level,” Steinkoler marvels.
When the team began work on a new bathroom on the basement level, they unearthed additional red flags. They discovered that the home’s concrete slab was badly cracked. “A little more exploration uncovered a brick foundation wall that was lacking footers,” Steinkoler says. “The house was sitting on a brick foundation on a dirt base. If you don’t have footers, you basically have no support for the kind of weight that would go onto those brick foundation walls. Structurally, we couldn’t rebuild the house unless we underpinned the existing foundation.” Another building permit was granted for this phase.
With such a major project underway, the owners decided they might as well excavate the basement to increase its existing ceiling height—which averaged only about six feet, five inches—to a more comfortable eight and a half feet. In the limited quarters of the narrow row house, this entailed digging up and removing tons of dirt by hand through an alley window.
During the process, crews discovered another surprise under the foundation: a three-inch-thick bed of oyster shells, probably used to prevent moisture from seeping into the foundation.
Now that construction is finally complete and the owners have settled in, plans call for one of these oyster shells to be affixed atop the newel post as a finishing touch to the new stair rail that connects all three stories of the home. Works of art themselves, the stair rail and banister are a testament to the level of craftsmanship found throughout the home, inside and out.
While its façade conforms to period style, the interiors lean toward modern, with a nod to the past. Interior designer Cyndy Alsaif carefully blended traditional elements such as moldings, trim and quarter-sawn oak floors, with modern lighting, kitchen cabinetry and millwork. On the main level, the fireplace (a converted coal-burning stove) now boasts a sleek cast-stone surround. The space opens into a dining area and the kitchen—complete with glossy cabinetry by Mouser, a stainless-steel, six-burner stove and a built-in microwave drawer. Whole-house lighting, sound and security systems deliver the latest 21st-century amenities.
A far cry from the cramped original, the basement level has morphed into a cozy living area with a floating wood-burning fireplace—which was at floor level prior to the excavation. A built-in bar with an Italian tile backslash and granite countertop houses dual wine refrigerators while an adjacent desk area serves as a study for the husband. A guest bedroom features a full period-style bath complete with a clawfoot tub. Basement floors are heated with a hydronic system that can be set to heat the whole level or each room individually.
Upstairs, the master bedroom houses an ethanol-burning fireplace flanked by touch-latch cabinetry concealing storage behind the walls—a smart space-saving strategy. French doors open to a second bedroom where the owners’ children may stay during visits. Beyond this room, an îpe deck overlooks a patio and parking pad accessed via automated gate.
Given its breadth and complexity, it’s no wonder that Superior Home Services won six 2010 Contractor of the Year awards for the project, including the Grand award for Historical Restoration. (The news came after the firm was named one of Remodeling Magazine’s “Big 50” nationwide.)
The success was even sweeter because of a personal connection Steinkoler has with the property. “When I started in this industry 21 years ago, the first project I ever did was the paint job on this house for previous owners,” he recalls. “I’d just graduated college and since then I’ve learned enough to restore this gorgeous, historic property. It was really a labor of love.”
Photographer Lydia Cutter is based in McLean, Virginia.
ARCHITECTURE: THOMAS FRENCH, AIA, Thomas French Architect PC, McLean, Virginia. INTERIOR DESIGN: CYNDY ALSAIF, Thomas French Architect. CONTRACTOR: DANIEL STEINKOLER, principal, MIKE MARTIN, senior project manager, Superior Home Services, Inc., 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 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.
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
For before photos click here
“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.”
This statement, made by Leonardo da Vinci, still rings true today. In fact, it perfectly embodies a newly completed loft in DC’s Adams Morgan, where simple forms and finishes convey a powerful sense of elegance and repose. This apparent simplicity, however, belies a number of challenges that faced its designers, Robert Cole and Sophie Prévost.
A busy Washington attorney, the homeowner initially hired the husband-and-wife principals of ColePrévost, Inc., to help furnish her new industrial-style abode. Little did they know, they were about to embark on an involved project that would drastically alter the space from a hip but generic shell into a custom-tailored cocoon that wholeheartedly embraces the owner’s aesthetic and lifestyle.
With its exposed ductwork and concrete ceilings, the property had a cool urban vibe. But as Cole and Prévost became better acquainted with the two-story, two-bedroom condominium, they uncovered a handful of trouble spots. A leaky roof was ruining the bamboo floors. The master bedroom suite, with its compartmentalized rooms, defeated the purpose of open loft living. And exposed metal transoms in the upper-level office, with clearance at just over six feet, rendered the space practically useless. Addressing these dilemmas ultimately led the owner to decide on a complete renovation that, in stages, would replace her existing roof, kitchen, bathrooms and floors; remove walls that were closing off the kitchen and bedroom spaces; create a usable office and gym on the upper level; and build out an expansive roof terrace complete with an herb garden and al fresco kitchen.
As the project evolved, Cole and Prévost took a holistic approach, considering not only the interior architecture but also the furniture, lighting and color schemes along the way. Because their client was open to new ideas and willing to experiment, they devised a number of highly customized features. The kitchen adjacent to the main entry, once blocked off by drywall partitions, became a showpiece in itself. Inspired by a kitchen the homeowner saw in Belgium, the designers installed a wall of hot-rolled stainless steel that can be opened when cooking is underway but otherwise conceals most of the kitchen’s inner workings. “In the composition, we thought it would be really nice if it wasn’t so obvious that it was a kitchen,” says Prévost. “We wanted it to look like a cool object.” The kitchen’s translucent ceiling houses LED lights that can be set to glow in white—or any color of the rainbow. Stainless steel, pre-scratched to create a ready-made patina, clads the maple cabinetry while the island countertop is a pre-cast concrete slab with a black walnut sideboard at one end.
This material palette, along with the same rigorous attention to detail, prevails throughout the loft. To keep the plan open and free of clutter, Cole and Prévost devised novel, built-in solutions for storage, seating and even watching TV. “There was a general understanding between us that minimal was good,” says Prévost. In the main sitting area, they designed two low walls made of black steel laminated onto a frame of black walnut. Along one of the walls, a low concrete bench provides additional seating and the fuel reservoir for a built-in fireplace. A flat-screen TV behind the fireplace is raised and lowered via hydraulic lift and is concealed when not in use.
Wide-plank black walnut floors are a warm, organic foil to the industrial steel and concrete. A cool silver and blue palette creates a soothing backdrop, from the walls and fabrics to the custom Odegard rug and gossamer dining room drapes. “Our client works very hard and needs to come home to a calm space,” says Prévost. “We played up the contrast with really beautiful materials like the wood and the fabrics, finding a balance between luxury and softness and the raw, industrial edge.”
A sense of serenity also dominates in the master suite, located on the other side of the kitchen. ColePrévost’s plan traded a series of enclosed spaces (bedroom, closet, bathroom) for a more open and airy layout. Opposite the bed, a floating partition displays a flat-screen TV on one side while the other side contains the owner’s spacious closet and dressing area. The luxurious bath boasts a honed limestone vanity and a wooden Agape tub. The designers also revamped a second bathroom on the main level near the guest room, with muted glass tiles and a custom vanity.
Up the stairs, which were re-built in the renovation, a dramatically different home office awaits. Gone are the metal trusses; a new roof and a ceiling structure created a vaulted space where the owner now enjoys a custom desk at one end and a workout area on the other. From here, she can view the lower level over a steel and walnut balustrade with acid-etched glass panels, and also access her newly completed roof garden.
Designed by ColePrévost, the terrace was finished and planted in late 2010. As this oasis matures, the owner will tend her herb and lettuce garden and entertain guests under an arbor of wisteria; the well-equipped outdoor kitchen includes a refrigerator, icemaker, professional-grade grill, sink and granite countertops. A row of planters filled with ornamental grasses offers a screen of privacy.
Reflecting on how the project evolved over time, Cole and Prévost recall the many hours spent discussing ideas with their design-savvy client and working with contractor Alan Kanner, lighting designer Wayne Hinson, A-V specialist Ivan Duran and metal worker Steve Prudhomme to make their shared vision a reality. The result is a clean-lined, minimal space that looks deceptively straightforward.
“It’s almost maniacal how much work you have to do to make it come out right,” says Cole. “The best part is if you’ve done it right, it just looks simple.”
Photographer Timothy Bell splits his time between Washington, DC, and New York.
ARCHITECTURE & INTERIOR DESIGN: ROBERT COLE, RIBA; SOPHIE PREVOST, ASID, ColePrévost, Inc., Washington, DC. CONTRACTOR: Alan Kanner, Added Dimensions, Takoma Park, MD.
**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.
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2011
Technology to Go Go
Protect your investment with Oscar de la Renta’s Degradé Python iPad Clutch (above). Lined with ultrasuede, the case snugly holds your iPad in style but opens with a snap. $390.
oscardelarenta.com
Bejeweled
Faceted Martellato, Roberto Coin’s stack of gold bangles and rings (left, top), pairs 18-carat yellow, white and rose gold with purple amethyst, blue topaz and diamonds for a playful array that is eye-catching and unique. Available exclusively in Neiman Marcus stores; phone Mazza Gallerie at 202-966-9700 or Tysons Galleria at 703-761-1600.
The Eyes Have It
Launched in Toulouse, France, 30 years ago, Anne et Valentin Eyeware puts a fresh twist on classic spectacle styles. These red frames (left) with tortoiseshell sides are called The Andrea. They also come in dark tortoise, light tortoise, green and blue. Anne et Valentin Eyeware is available at Wink Eyecare Boutique in Potomac, Maryland, and Georgetown Opticians and Insight in DC. anneetvalentin.com
Hot Haberdashery
Thomas Pink’s latest collection of men’s gloves (left, below) keeps winter warriors warm and stylish. All are $185 at Thomas Pink shops in DC’s Mayflower Hotel and Tysons Galleria. thomaspink.com
Time on Your Side
Celebrating its 100th anniversary, Swiss watch-maker Fortis is releasing a limited edition of its classic B-42 Stratoliner (left, bottom). Only 100 of the individually numbered timepieces will be available. The rose gold model features an 18-carat bezel and a 25-jewel movement. Water-resistant to 200 meters. $10,075. fortis-watches.com
For more Indugences click here.
**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.
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2011
ROAD TRIP IN STYLE
Bentley’s new 12-cylinder Continental GT four-seat coupe (above) boasts a sculptural exterior and a raised output of 567 horsepower. The handcrafted interior features a touch-screen “infotainment” system complete with state-of-the-art navigation and advanced speaker technology. $182,800. bentleycollection.com
CELL PHONE SYMPHONY
Painstakingly assembled by a single craftsman, Vertu’s new Signature
cell phone (left) features a sapphire crystal surface, platinum or gold trim and 4.75 carats of solid ruby bearings. The ringtones were written by an Academy Award-winning composer and performed by the London Symphony Orchestra. Priced from $12,600 to $39,000. vertu.com
For more Indugences click here.
**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.
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2011
After completing several renovations of their DC home, the owners decided it was time to address its lackluster kitchen. When they bought the house 16 years ago, they installed new cabinets in the cramped 1950s galley kitchen—and then tolerated its lack of work and storage space. “We do a lot of entertaining,” says the homeowner. “It was tough. We wanted a more functional space for cooking.” Another sore subject was the fact that the kitchen didn’t blend well with the inviting breakfast and family room area that had been added to the back of the home a few years ago.
So the couple turned to kitchen designer Jennifer Gilmer, who’d recently completed a neighbor’s kitchen, to update theirs in style. Gilmer worked with interior designer Jodi Macklin to develop a program that expressed their clients’ preferences for clean lines and modern finishes, but one that would also complement the home’s traditional heritage.
The proposed layout created a more efficient use of space. Gilmer suggested moving the refrigerator, located by the range, to the opposite wall for increased countertop area. To save space, she proposed a narrower, 27-inch model with separate freezer drawers stacked to its left, where a previous renovation had placed a poorly designed closet under an angled support wall. Above the freezers, she installed a Miele Speed Oven, which cooks in microwave or convection modes or a combination of the two. This hybrid augments the main oven under the range, eliminating the need to take up space with a stand-alone microwave. Clad in stainless steel, the oven and freezers become a sleek tower element.
On the opposite wall, a vertical support beam presented another challenge. Gilmer covered it in stainless steel to echo the tower and built in a narrow stainless-steel cabinet under it for continuity. Solid wenge shelves, hung from a support beam on the ceiling (another creative solution), keep everyday china and glassware in easy reach. “We took obstacles in the kitchen which would normally be eyesores,” Gilmer says, “and in finding a way to solve the issues, we came up with a more interesting design. They become aesthetic elements.”
The designers chose a warm yet neutral color palette. White lacquer cabinets add shimmer and contrast when paired with oak rift veneer cabinets in a wenge stain—both by Sterling Custom Cabinetry of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Countertops made of two-inch-thick Valley Gold marble in an antique finish bring light and weight into the space. Macklin selected brown subway tiles, in matte and shiny finishes, for the kitchen backsplash.
“The whole kitchen is really warm, but it shines,” says Gilmer. “Even though this is not a modern house, the kitchen fits in nicely because of the warmth.”
Her client agrees, “I love the different colors and textures. It’s so simple in tone and earthy, but it’s got a lot of texture so it’s not boring.”
INTERIOR DESIGN: JODI MACKLIN, Jodi Macklin Interior Design, Chevy Chase, Maryland. KITCHEN DESIGN: JENNIFER GILMER, CKD, Jennifer Gilmer Kitchen & Bath Ltd., Chevy Chase, MD.
For more kitchens featured in this issue click here.
**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.
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2011
The ability to tackle a million details at once is one of the hallmarks of a good kitchen designer. And in a kitchen where the design is driven by a high level of decorative detail, the challenge is even greater. Such was the case in a Great Falls, Virginia, home where kitchen designer Lois Kennedy and interior designer Maria Galiani collaborated on a kitchen brimming with Old World style. Their client had toured a kitchen Kennedy designed years ago in a National Symphony Orchestra show house, and loved its Gothic elements—especially the chestnut range hood hand-carved with a griffin motif. She wanted to achieve a similar look in her home.
The designers got to work, first figuring out how to transform the lackluster kitchen into a larger, more functional space. Kennedy’s colleague Victoria Feldman drew up plans to bump out the odd, triangular room into the backyard to gain space. She also created a new breakfast room housed in a turret framed by windows.
As their design took shape, Galiani and Kennedy devised ways to marry today’s state-of-the-art amenities with the handcrafted, traditional look their client desired. Behind the custom finishes, the carefully planned layout revolves around the demands of a busy family with two active teenagers. A large L-shaped island features raised tables built into either end for casual dining on stools. The side of the island closest to the refrigerator and range houses an oversized copper prep sink with built-in cutting and drainage boards and a dishwasher—one of two in the kitchen—to make cooking and clean-up a breeze. Cabinets conceal 21st-century conveniences, from a full-size water cooler to a microwave, coffee maker and trash and recycling bins.
“We spent hours and hours mulling over the tiniest details,” says Galiani. Throughout the kitchen, travertine floors, iron, copper and distressed wood materials evoke a Baroque Mediterranean style, as do architectural details such as barley twists, moldings and medallions. The kitchen incorporates nine different doors styles, hardware from 11 different manufacturers and trim from eight sources.
Kennedy attributes the success of the project to “having a cabinetmaker who doesn’t say ‘no.’” Pennsylvania-based Premier Custom Built incorporated all of the trim and hardware the designers sent them, then began a seven-step finishing process to create the distressed, crackle finish on the light caramel maple cabinets and the deeper hue on the darker butternut accent pieces.
“There’s a mystical quality to the colors,” Kennedy says. “They’re very warm.”The kitchen is just what the homeowner wanted, thanks to the fruitful collaboration between Kennedy and Galiani. “Maria has been a real source of inspiration to develop this style, an Old World mixture of French, Italian and the Middle Ages,” Kennedy observes. “It’s been synergistic working with her.”
INTERIOR DESIGN: MARIA GALIANI, Galiani Design Group, McLean, Virginia. KITCHEN DESIGN: LOIS KENNEDY, CKD, principal, and VICTORIA FELDMAN, associate designer, Portfolio Kitchens, Vienna, Virginia.
For more kitchens featured in this issue click here.
**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.
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2011
It took a flood to inspire the owner of a DC home overlooking Rock Creek Park to renovate his kitchen. With help from interior designer Therese Baron Gurney, he had already decorated his Colonial home with decidedly modern furniture and art. But his kitchen lagged behind—until a pipe burst while he was out of town and left the home’s lower level beyond repair. It was time to renovate.
The owner had visited a modern kitchen designed by Therese’s husband, architect Robert M. Gurney, and liked the way the sleek space blended with the traditional language of its Craftsman-style home. So he asked Gurney to redesign his own kitchen in a distinctly modern style.
The architect proposed a plan that would combine the former kitchen’s compartmentalized rooms—the main kitchen, a walk-in pantry, a butler’s pantry and a breakfast room—into a single, open space. It would be clean-lined and devoid of the traditional moldings and trim found in other rooms of the house.
Gurney’s first task was to establish a clean slate, eliminating bulkheads and trim. “The challenge was to get past the structural stuff and make sure we could open the space up so that it didn’t have drop beams and bulkheads,” he explains. “I wanted a continuous ceiling. There’s some steel work up there to hold the masonry above.”
Once the divisions were gone in the newly enlarged space, Gurney accentuated its spare lines to create a sense of drama. He placed cabinets, countertops and appliances along the two long walls of the kitchen and a 20-foot-long island that cuts through the room on an axis with a new wall of windows, drawing the eye toward a dining area with a dazzling view of Rock Creek Park.
He and Therese selected a palette of simple, timeless materials that would complement the home’s traditional vernacular. Limestone floors, Calcutta Gold marble on the island and quarter-sawn white oak cabinets by Bulthaup are paired with aluminum wall panels, also by Bulthaup, that add a quiet sheen.
The minimalist space maximizes functionality and precision. A stainless-steel countertop along one wall with twin sinks is a convenient workspace. The island does double duty as a cook center and hub for serving. Guests can watch the chef at work from a built-in, raised oak bar with stools.
Gurney went to extremes to establish a sense of lightness: All of the cabinetry and appliances appear to hover in the space. Even the twin Gaggenau ovens are virtually suspended on one wall. “Everything sort of floats off the floor, even the refrigerators,” says the architect. “We just felt that it would be a lot more open and spacious, and we wanted to do something a bit unexpected.”
ARCHITECTURE: ROBERT M. GURNEY, FAIA, Robert M. Gurney Architect, Washington, DC. INTERIOR DESIGN: THERESE BARON GURNEY, ASID, Baron Gurney Interiors, Washington, DC.
For more kitchens featured in this issue click here.
**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.
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2011
Tropical Getaway
Tucked away on Belize’s Ambergris Caye, Matachica beach resort is fresh from a multi-million dollar expansion. Improvements include luxurious new casitas and an infinity pool (above). Guests can enjoy white-sand beaches, easy access to the world’s second-longest living barrier reef and a spa offering an array of services—including banana and papaya body wraps. Rates from $250. matachica.com
Winter Wonderland
Four Seasons Resort Vail debuted in December, bringing to the slopes such luxuries as a ski concierge and a spa focusing on high-altitude therapies. Guests at the 121-room property can also take après-ski soaks in the heated outdoor saltwater pool (left, top)—the perfect elixir for muscle fatigue. Rates from $475. fourseasons.com
On the Fringe
Part of Bottega Veneta’s Cruise 2010 collection, the Sfrangiato Shiny Calf Knot (left, bottom) boasts double-sided fringe (sfrangiato in Italian) that lends the woven leather clutch a unique texture. It’s available in a colorful spectrum: Magma, Assenzio, Empire, Lagoon and Matita. $1,980. bottegaveneta.com
For more Indugences click here.
**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.
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2011
Nothing illustrates the full potential of architecture like a skyscraper—a daring creation that seems to defy the laws of physics and gravity. An exhibit currently at the National Building Museum celebrates some of the world’s most famous skyscrapers on a human scale using a medium that is familiar to audiences of all ages: the LEGO brick.
“LEGO Architecture: Towering Ambition” features 15 large-scale models of iconic structures assembled by Adam Reed Tucker, an architect/artist who has been fascinated with LEGO bricks since the age of six. His creations illustrate the sheer grace and complexity of such landmarks as the Empire State Building, the World Trade Center and the St. Louis Gateway Arch. Tucker created his models without the use of blueprints, computer modeling or even pencil and paper. He built and re-built sections five or six times until he felt they were right. “I do not view my models as literal replicas but rather artistic interpretations that capture the essence of their sculptural form,” says the artist. One of 11 LEGO Certified Professionals worldwide, Tucker has created a series of Architecture sets that allow enthusiasts to build LEGO models of iconic structures. (The kits can be purchased on his company’s Web site, brickstructures.com.)
Tucker’s museum exhibit includes an interactive area where visitors construct their own projects with some 300,000 LEGO bricks at their disposal. One work in progress—Tucker’s rendition of the White House, begun last summer—illustrates his artistic process; he will return in the spring of 2011 to complete the piece. The exhibit remains open through September 5th. nbm.org
**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.
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2011
The demands of work and life often prolong the process of feathering one’s nest. Such was the case for Sandra Braunstein and her husband, Samuel Powell, after they moved into their custom home in Fort Washington, Maryland. “For five years, we lived in the house with the original builder’s beige colors and ugly window shades,” Braunstein recalls. “We hadn’t even put anything on the walls.”
Then a friend invited Braunstein and Powell to a party at his house, recently decorated by interior designer Ricardo Ramos. The couple was impressed; stirred into action, they called on Ramos for help with their own residence. They explained preferences for warm earth tones, along with their desire for modern furniture to replace the outdated pieces they’d lived with for years. “We wanted the house to look good but still wanted it to feel comfortable. We didn’t want to be afraid to sit on anything or touch anything,” says Braunstein, who is director of consumer and community affairs at the Federal Reserve Board.
Ramos started by taking stock of the artwork, furniture and contemporary light fixtures that the owners wanted to keep. Then he created a plan to bring the décor to a new level. “The house needed order, color and a sense of home,” he explains. “It had a beautiful architectural layout but wasn’t being used to its fullest.”
First he studied the way light moves through the house, honing in on a palette of Benjamin Moore earth tones that would work together in the open-plan layout. “Everything has to coordinate and flow, but it doesn’t need to be ‘matchy-matchy,’” says Ramos. “It’s important to have an open mind when choosing colors.”
Ramos took Braunstein and Powell through The Washington Design Center, selecting furniture with a modern sensibility. “They wanted contemporary pieces but nothing too stark,” says the designer. In the living room, he proposed a sofa with soft lines, a leather ottoman that doubles as a coffee table and toffee-colored drapery panels. Durable upholstery fabrics introduce texture and warmth. Ramos also commissioned a glass sculpture by Massachusetts artist Caleb Nichols to fill a niche above the fireplace.
The living room opens directly to the kitchen and sunroom. Ramos freshened up existing furniture in these spaces. He replaced black suede on the breakfast chairs with a lighter metallic material and added accent pillows and a whimsical rug in the sunroom.
Working with existing pieces and selecting carpets and furnishings resourcefully helped keep the project on budget, says Ramos. For example, new rugs by Davis & Davis in the living room and dining room emulate silk but are made in the U.S. of wool and synthetic fibers. The owners “wanted it to be modern and comfortable but didn’t want to put the entire bank account into it,” Ramos explains. “It helps to have a budget. I gave them a high and low estimate and stayed somewhere in the middle.”
In the dining room, the couple retained their existing furniture. Ramos dressed up the space with sea foam draperies, reupholstered chairs and a trio of prints by John Matthew Moore.
Sandra Braunstein, who frequently works at home, located her study on the opposite side of the entry foyer from the dining room. She turned to Ramos for help creating an efficient workspace that would accommodate a large book collection and provide adequate document storage. A new custom desk designed by Ramos perfectly fits the space; it contains plenty of cabinets with smoky glass doors to organize Braunstein’s paperwork out of sight.
The large master bedroom posed a unique challenge, with the bed positioned between windows facing a vast, empty expanse. “It was kind of like an airplane hangar,” recalls Braunstein. To create a more functional and inviting space, Ramos designed a divider wall lined with shelves on the entry side of the room and added a reading nook nearby. The opposite side of the wall anchors the bed, which now faces a luxurious new seating arrangement.
Now that it’s complete, Powell and Braunstein are delighted with their home’s new look. “Ricardo was very meticulous,” says Powell. “He went from square one to square 2,000.”
Photographer Stacy Zarin Goldberg is based in Olney, Maryland.
INTERIOR DESIGN: RICARDO RAMOS, IIDA, Allied Member ASID, Studio Ramos, Washington, DC.
**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.
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2011
Evelyn Avery knows a thing or two about displaying art. For almost 20 years, the proprietor of Avery Studios has been a go-to source for top designers seeking European period paintings and one-of-a-kind custom frames for their clients. Until recently, Avery would travel to DC from her home base in Atlanta and settle into a suite at The Willard or The Jefferson, where she would show designers her latest artwork and frames, then take special orders back to her factory. But last August Avery made a bold change: This Southern doyenne of gold leaf and gesso shuttered her Atlanta studio and relocated her workshop to Alexandria, Virginia. She moved into a permanent residence in DC’s tony West End that doubles as a gallery where she welcomes clients by appointment almost every day of the week.
Since Washington has accounted for more than 90 percent of her sales in recent years, it made sense to head North when Avery Studios’ lease expired last summer. “I took a great big gulp and moved myself and the studio in six weeks,” Avery says. “It’s been the most monumental task of my life.” The move entailed shipping equipment and 50,000 feet of linear molding, building out a new 5,000-square-foot workshop and furnishing her modern new penthouse, which offers fabulous vistas of Georgetown, Rock Creek Park and the National Cathedral.
With glass walls on three sides, the residence is hardly the typical backdrop one would expect for an 18th-, 19th- and 20th-century European art collection. But just as she embraces the challenge of creating a unique frame, Avery tackled head-on the dilemma of how to display classic art in such a hip, modern setting. Luckily, she also had some help from friend and longtime client, interior designer Barry Dixon, whom she first met in the mid-1990s when they collaborated on a show house.
In drawing up plans for Avery’s pied-à-terre, Dixon addressed the fact that its main open living area left precious little space for hanging art. He suggested dividing the main room with screens made of woven bamboo panels. “We created a gallery on one side of the screen and a working/dining space with a big table where Evelyn can spread art out on the other,” Dixon explains. “On each end of the large rectangle, you have living spaces, one more intimate and casual and one a little bit more formal as a reception area for clients.” The screens provide a sense of intimacy without blocking light.
Furnishings are a mix of antique and new pieces—many designed by Dixon. They complement the art in the modern space because of the designer’s fresh take on scale and proportion. Shades, rather than draperies, control light while curvaceous elements, from a large ottoman at the dining table to a round rug in the casual seating area, add a sense of play to the apartment’s clean lines. “I needed to throw in a curve or two, literally,” Dixon explains.
Avery displays her collection according to theme, with pieces carefully hung throughout the home. A visit can take hours because, like a well-curated museum, the apartment is full of works that capture the eye and the imagination—from timeless engravings to landscapes and portraiture. The formal gallery is devoted to 19th-century art while the kitchen houses still lifes. In the dining area, miniature mirrors showcase the many period frame styles that Avery Studios can create. A print room brims with works on paper, while the bedroom is reserved for tranquil seascapes.
Ironically, Avery, who has no formal training, found herself in the art business almost by accident 20 years ago. She began selling prints to help care for her ailing mother. “I didn’t have a clue what I was doing,” she recalls. The petite blonde with a keen eye, boundless energy and a knack for salesmanship soon began collecting finer pieces, focusing on 18th- to 20th-century European art. A buying trip to London fueled Avery’s passion for restored and original frames. “To me, the frame is kind of the completion of the art,” she explains. “I decided I wanted to make frames and opened Avery Studios.” The company focused on restoring antique frames (and, later, furniture and lamps) as well as creating reproduction and modern frames using Old World materials and techniques.
Along the way, hard work, an entrepreneurial spirit and a series of fortunate breaks sealed Avery’s destiny. A few years ago, she was commissioned to procure and frame 1,000 pieces of art during The Jefferson Hotel’s multi-million-dollar historical restoration. And in 2010, her artists created a line of mirrors for Barry Dixon and Fortuny that are on display in the company’s New York and Venice showrooms, both recently designed by Dixon.
Barry Dixon envisioned an artist’s atelier while creating Avery’s apartment. “You’re visiting a home but also an art dealer. You used to see a lot of places like this in the ’20s and ’30s in Paris and New York,” he explains. “Though it has no street presence, there is a hidden gallery of possibilities in this penthouse. It’s as quixotic and varied as the artwork Evelyn might have for sale.”
Avery couldn’t be happier in her new DC home. “It’s been really nice to see the modern come together with the art,” she says, attributing the project’s success to Dixon. “Anything I’ve ever done with Barry over the years, whether it’s working on a show house or designing this apartment, has taught me. I’ve learned so much from him.”
Photographer Michael Ventura is based in Silver Spring, Maryland.
INTERIOR DESIGN: BARRY DIXON, Barry Dixon, Inc., Warrenton, Virginia. ART & CUSTOM FRAMING: EVELYN AVERY, Avery Studios, Alexandria, Virginia.
For a tour of Avery Studios click here.
**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.
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2010
When Dan and Beth Concannon moved into their 1970s Colonial on two acres in Potomac a few years ago, they hired architect Jim Rill to design a renovation even before all the boxes were unpacked. Complete with all the trappings of its era—closed-in rooms, a cramped kitchen and dysfunctional closets—the house lacked connectivity. “Outside, it was so symmetrical and cold. And inside, it had a segmented, boxed-off kind of feel,” Beth Concannon recalls. “We needed to open it up.”
Jim Rill designed a plan to make the property more inviting, both inside and out. On the exterior, cosmetic and structural changes would bring the home architectural integrity and scale. A generous addition of windows would pour more light into the interiors, where Rill proposed changes that would vastly improve flow and create a connection to the outdoors.
To establish a welcoming first impression, he designed a front portico, which helps balance the new bay windows that expanded the breakfast room on one side and the dining room on the other. A freshly painted brick exterior and dark trim impart an English Country flair.
Since the Concannons entertain often, they decided to turn the formal living room to the right of the entry foyer into a large dining room. In turn, the existing dining room became a sun-filled breakfast room that opens directly to the kitchen now that the wall separating the two spaces has been removed. “Opening up the views was a big part of this addition.” says Rill. “It celebrates the outside.”
Kitchen designer Robin Lynch updated the once-cramped kitchen in a style that would complement the casual yet well-crafted feel of the home. New cabinets and appliances and marble countertops rim the perimeter walls, while an expanded island topped with teak serves as a prep space and homework station for the Concannons’ two sons. Just off the kitchen and breakfast room, a small addition to the existing garage now houses a home office, a powder room, a mudroom and pantry.
At the rear of the house, a two-story extension of the family room on the main level and the master bedroom above centers around a stone chimney. Large bay windows now flank the new fireplace in the family room. Interior designer Deborah Kernan helped the family select durable furnishings and a color scheme of rich neutrals here and throughout the home.
Upstairs, a sitting area in the reconfigured master bedroom also features a fireplace along with doors leading to twin balconies overlooking the pool. The renovation also provided the owners with a luxurious new master bath and copious closet space.
Envisioning the back as a courtyard, Rill designed inviting elements on all four sides of the pool, including a trellised pergola with a fireplace and a stone grotto with a hot tub built into what was an empty slope of grass. He also revamped the freestanding pool house with detailing to reflect the style of the main house.
The renovation realized major changes with only minor alterations to the home’s original footprint. “We found that we could fix the flow without adding much square footage,” says Rill. “We created rooms that are utilized instead of just adding space. And there are now great vistas in every room of the house.”
Lydia Cutter is a photographer in McLean, Virginia.
ARCHITECTURE: Jim Rill, AIA, lead architect; KAI KIM, project architect, Rill Architects, Bethesda, Maryland. RENOVATION CONTRACTOR: W.C. HOMES, Potomac, Maryland. INTERIOR DESIGN & STYLING: DEBORAH KERNAN, Distinctive Designs, Potomac, Maryland. LANDSCAPING: FINE EARTH LANDSCAPE, INC., Poolesville, Maryland.
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2010
ALMOST HEAVEN IN THE FRENCH ALPS
The five-star Hôtel de Charm Les Airelles—nestled in the slopes of Courchevel ski resort—features all the accoutrements of a proper winter escape, from a luxurious spa to a horse-drawn carriage designed by Hermès. Now, the hotel has outdone itself with the refurbishment of a new 5,900-square-foot private apartment complete with four bedrooms, fireplace, home theater and private Jacuzzi overlooking the mountains. Hotel rooms from $1,300 a night; the private apartment starts at $48,500 a night. airelles.fr
NEW EDITION IN HAWAII
The Waikiki EDITION is the first in a new luxury hotel brand combining the creative direction of Ian Schrager (Studio 54, Grammercy Park Hotel) and the management of Marriott International. Interior designers George Yabu and Glenn Pushelberg of Yabu Pushelberg and landscape designer Deborah Nevins collaborated on the palm-studded resort near Waikiki Beach, where the rooms exude a sense of organic luxury. Rates from $375. editionhotels.com
SWIFT AND SVELTE
Porsche’s 2011 Boxster Spyder has dropped 176 pounds—and gained 10 horsepower—over the Boxster S, making it the lightest Porsche on the market today. Travel in style in this sexy new 3.4-liter, six-cylinder model . It boasts 320 horsepower and hits 60 mph in 4.9 seconds, making it the perfect play toy for your inner speed demon. $61,200. porsche.com
TROPICAL GETAWAY
At St. Lucia’s Anse Chastanet, owner/architect Nick Troubetzkoy designed the rooms with louvered windows and doors to catch the prevailing trade winds. Many of the accommodations overlook the island’s twin volcanic peaks, Les Pitons. The resort offers guided kayak tours, among many other nature-oriented activities. And its Kai Belte Spa features a range of massages and special treatments, including a loofah and sea salt body scrub. Rates from $350 per night. ansechastanet.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.
COMFORT FOOD, ITALIAN STYLE
BLT Restaurant Group has gone Italian with the recent opening
of Casa Nonna in Dupont Circle. Executive chef Amy Brandwein channels the quintessential fare of a nonna (Italian for grandmother) with a menu of fresh pasta, wood-fired pizzas and homey meat entrees. New York-based Guerin Glass Architects designed the space, which features leather pincushion banquettes, large-scale artwork and a marble-topped pizza bar. 1250 Connecticut Avenue, NW; 202-629-2505. casanonna.com
CAJUN EATS
James Beard nominee David Guas opens the doors to his long-awaited Bayou Bakery, Coffee Bar & Eatery in Arlington on November 1 and we can already smell the beignets. The Louisiana native will serve his signature sweets along with savories that celebrate the Big Easy. 1515 N. Courthouse Road; 703-243-2410. bayoubakeryva.com
SEASONAL SPARKLE
Top area sommeliers reveal sparkling wines they’ll uncork for the holidays
Francesco Amodeo, Bibiana
Murgo Rosé 2008, Emanuele Scammacca, Sicily, Italy
This sparkling wine is made of the native Nerello Mascalese grape, a national treasure grown in the volcanic soil of Mount Etna. It has an antique pink color, an intense aroma of cherry and fruit and a long, mineral finish.
Julian Mayor, Bourbon Steak
Vilmart Cuvée Rubis, Champagne, France
This rosé Champagne (approximately 90 percent Pinot Noir) changes all preconceived notions of rosé. It is full-flavored, extremely rich and dry. Powerful and elegant, it pairs well with duck, lamb or braised pork belly.
Matthew Carroll, 2941
Thibaut-Janisson Blanc de Chardonnay, Virginia
A joint effort between Claude Thibaut and Manuel Janisson, this sparkler is a Virginian homage to Janisson’s native Champagne. It has a beautiful texture complemented by aromas of crisp pear and green apple.
THE ULTIMATE BAR TOY
Los Angeles designer Alexander Purcell juxtaposed two disparate images—a blowfish and a World War II sea mine—when he dreamed up the whimsical Sake Bomb. The ceramic vessel holds eight ounces of hot or cold sake; four small cups perch on its spines when not in use. The bomb is available in white, black orange and blue. $98. sakebombstore.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.
