Rome is abuzz with the arrival of the new Palazzo Talìa Hotel. The 26-room escape occupies a restored, 16th-century gem. Studiolucaguadagnino, led by the film director of Queer and Call Me by Your Name, designed public spaces such as the reception hall, graced by a bespoke rug and museum-quality chandelier. The firm also outfitted the Terrace Suite, which features a fireplace and an al fresco perch. Rates from $740. palazzotalia.com

James Beard Award-winning chef Nancy Silverton and restaurateur Stephen Starr have opened Osteria Mozza in Georgetown. The offshoot of Silverton’s Italian hot spot in LA occupies an 1865 emporium most recently home to Dean & Deluca. New York-based Roman and Williams reimagined the 20,000-square-foot outpost. Guests can enjoy the plant-filled Solarium; a market showcasing Italian delicacies; a dining room graced by marble-topped tables, arched windows and exposed brick; and rustic fare with a focus on wood-fired entrées and handmade pastas. 3276 M Street, NW; 202-292-4800. osteriamozzadc.com

HOME MOVIES
Samsung has expanded its MICRO LED TV portfolio, unveiling the MS1B and MS1C. With screens ranging from 89 to 114 inches, the models deliver infinite depth, stunning picture quality and breathtaking brightness. An advanced AI processor depicts scenes in 4K resolution, while 3D Arena Sound also accentuates the viewer experience. From $109,999; samsung.com

CADILLAC’S NEW ELECTRIC RIDE
The 2024 CELESTIQ marks a new era in Cadillac history: Each model of the all-electric, ultra-luxury sedan is personally commissioned. The vehicle boasts a 111 kWh battery pack and a two-motor, all-wheel-drive propulsion system that packs an estimated 600 horsepower and a driving range of 300 miles on a
full charge. From hand-finished metalwork to a 42-speaker sound system, CELESTIQ offers amenities galore. From $340,000; cadillac.com

EVEN-HANDED GLOVES
Powered by a rechargeable battery, HeatTouch Hellfire Gloves by Seirus keep users toasty. Internal panels evenly warm hands and fingers from four to 12 hours, depending on heat setting. The gloves feature a waterproof insert and a premium leather shell. Find in men’s and women’s sizes. $499; seirus.com

Fringed by manicured beds of boxwood and hydrangea, the lawn of an Annapolis home slopes down to Mill Creek, where yachts gleam on nearby moorings. But the dated, 1980 home on the property did not make the most of this coveted view. The longtime owners, a business executive and his wife, a healthcare professional, had raised three kids in the four-bedroom residence. Now empty nesters, they were ready for a change.

Among the flaws to be addressed were the main level’s choppy layout, a cramped dining room and bulky millwork. Case in point: A double-height living room wall dominated by a trio of stacked mantels framing a fireplace, large TV and display shelf.

The couple called on designer Katalin Farnady, who had updated their primary bedroom and created a chic home office for the wife a few years earlier. “I wanted to introduce a modern vibe and make the rest of the home feel brighter and lighter,” says the wife. After Farnady invited architect Peter Miles into the fold, a close collaboration ensued.

“Everything felt very disconnected,” recalls Miles. “The living room was cut off by arches and there was no place to put a table in the dining room because of existing columns. Our goal was to make little changes so that all the pieces fit together and made sense.”

A plan took shape to scrap useless partitions; even out haphazard ceiling heights; replace columns supporting a second-floor walkway with hidden steel beams; and install two-story, floor-to-ceiling windows to play up views of the creek and lush landscape.

With remodeling in the hands of Bayview Builders, disarray gave way to open, airy spaces defined by a mélange of textures and finishes. The revamped layout revolves around easy entertaining. The foyer delivers guests into the open living/dining area and kitchen—which was treated to a game-changing facelift. The former, boxed-in dining room is now a glam music lounge. Miles and Farnady also retooled the laundry and mudroom, creating an abundance of storage.

The update introduced a sophisticated palette of architectural details, from the reimagined fireplace wall covered in Venetian plaster to a custom, wrought-iron railing that replaced heavy white pickets on the main stair and second-story walkway. “We created a light, earthy aesthetic that infused the house with new energy,” says Farnady.

Inspired by the wife’s love of nature and her favorite color—green—the designer wove verdant accents throughout the interiors, from foyer stools dressed in olive velvet to leafy Lee Jofa wallpaper in the adjacent powder room. No barriers block entry to the living/dining area, where a Montoro marble fireplace surround stands out against seating swathed in textural, tone-on-tone fabrics. To avoid clutter, the team crafted an arched niche that houses a Four Hands chest displaying ceramics collected on the owners’ travels.

Miles went the extra mile to be sure the mullions of the new, oversized Loewen windows and doors lined up horizontally. “We tried to stay away from high contrast between windows and trim, since we wanted to draw attention outside,” he explains.

Positioned between the seating area and kitchen, a dining table beneath a glassy Arteriors chandelier makes hosting a breeze. As does the adjacent music room, where velvet Kravet swivel chairs convey a clubby vibe. A wet bar sheathed in Patagonia quartzite is centered in a new wall of cabinetry; a hanging shelf keeps glassware at arm’s reach.

“Our clients love everything that is natural,” notes Farnady, who sought earthy materials and pared-down furniture with organic forms. “Woven textures and natural stone connect to the outdoors, bringing in a sense of calm. We have so much of nature’s beauty in the house that you really don’t need anything else.”

Cosmetic changes to the existing kitchen garnered dramatic results. Dark cabinets were treated to new hardware, doors and a gray-green finish; Taj Mahal quartzite replaced the dated backsplash and countertops; and a custom hood in a metallic-copper patina added gravitas. “It’s a brand-new kitchen now,” relates Farnady. “I’m a big believer that if cabinets work and are solid wood, there’s no need to replace them. I can give them a full life.”

Reflecting on the finished project, she continues, “Though I love a bit of glamour and the unexpected, it’s also about functionality. This house became much more organized and that gives me so much joy.”

The wife, who tends beehives and a vegetable garden on the property, says the redo has enhanced her sense of well-being. “Getting out in nature, gardening and meditation are a huge part of my self-care; our home now complements all those things,” she asserts. “It’s serene, beautiful and I feel tremendous gratitude that I get to wake up in such a special space.”

Renovation Architecture: Peter Miles, The Drawing Board, Washington, DC. Interior Design: Katalin Farnady, Farnady Interiors, Annapolis, Maryland. Renovation Contracting: Bayview Builders, Annapolis, Maryland.

ENTRY
Table: cb2.com. Chandelier: kellywearstler.com. Painting: olystudio.com. Paint: Aged White by sherwin-williams.com.

KITCHEN
Cabinet Refinishing: artstar.com. Countertop & Backsplash: inhomestone.com. Hardware: walterworkshardware.com. Paint: Aged White by Sherwin-williams.com. Bar Stools: gabby.com. Pendants: Thomas O’Brien for visualcomfort.com.

BREAKFAST AREA
Table: noirfurniturela.com. Chairs: bernhardt.com. Paint: Aged White by sherwin-williams.com.

DINING AREA
Table: gabby.com. Chair Fabric: interludehome.com. Chandelier: arteriorshome.com. Candlesticks: collectedbyschwung.design.

LIVING ROOM
Wall Treatment: artstar.com. Fireplace Surround: inhomestone.com. Sectional: bernhardt.com. Coffee Table: Custom. Side Chairs: Donghia for kravet.com. Side Chair Fabric: kravet.com. Chest: fourhands.com. Rug: fabricut.com. Windows: loewen.com.

MUSIC LOUNGE
Swivel Chairs & Fabric: kravet.com. Ottoman: Custom. Ottoman Fabric: kravet.com. Rug: fabricut.com. Wall Covering: Lee Jofa for kravet.com. Ceiling Fixture & Pedestal Tables: arteriorshome.com. Cabinets: custom. Bar Stone: inhomestone.com. Shelf: davefields.com.

HOME OFFICE
Wallpaper on Ceiling: christopherfarrcloth.com. Sofa: vanguardfurniture.com. Sofa Fabric: kravet.com. Coffee Tables & Desk: noirfurniturela.com. Side Chairs: Vintage. Chair Fabric: Stroheim through fabricut.com. Rug: jaipurliving.com. Table Lamp: kellywearstler.com. Side Table: customfurniturela.com. Desk Chair: vanguardfurniture.com. Art Above Sofa: bblafineart.com. Pillow Fabrics: romo.com.

POWDER ROOM
Mirror: Vintage. Sconces: julieneill.com. Wall Covering: Lee Jofa for kravet.com. Paint: Modern Grey by sherwin-williams.com.

Designer Joe Karlik of Locust Grove Studios knew he had a diamond in the rough when clients hired him to overhaul a dated 1980s home in Pasadena, Maryland. After stripping the structure down to its original concrete-and-glass core, he brought it into the 21st century with an “industrial light” aesthetic, combining a muted palette of amber and honey hues with dark-steel accents.

Karlik developed a common vocabulary in all the home’s serene, spa-like bathrooms. Glass walls and a custom steel grid enclose a spacious shower in the largest guest bath. Double vanities of Locust Grove’s design are topped with dark concrete slabs, and black tile clads walls where built-in niches are rimmed in bronze. The space opens to a balcony overlooking the Magothy River.

The equally opulent primary bath centers on a stone tub. Lutron shades can be lowered at the touch of a button. In both bathrooms, porcelain floors interspersed with marble mosaic “carpets” are warmed by radiant heat; drapes by Everett Design dress floor-to-ceiling windows. “I did everything from designing the bathrooms to buying the baskets and accessories,” Karlik notes. “We wanted to ensure owners and guests would feel like they are at a resort every time they use the baths.”

Bath Design: Joe Karlik, Locust Grove Studios. Contractor: Delbert Adams Construction Group Inc. 

THE DETAILS
FLOOR & MOSAIC TILE: tilemarketofde.com. CONCRETE COUNTERTOPS: mackinawcreations.com. PENDANTS: curreyand company.com. METAL SHOWER ENCLOSURE: blacksmithsawyer.com. DRAPES: gretcheneverett.com. PAINT: sherwin-williams.com. VANITY FABRICATION & HARDWARE: sunnyfields cabinetry.com. TUB, SINKS & FAUCETS: kohler.com. AUTOMATED SHADES: lutron.com.

From April 16 to 21, the 62nd annual Salone del Mobile.Milano presented the latest collections from 185 brands, in elaborate displays spanning almost two million square feet of total exhibition space. Along with furniture, lighting and accessories, the show also included EuroCucina, a hub for cutting-edge kitchen products; the International Bathroom Exhibition; and SaloneSatellite, a showcase for innovations dreamed up by 600 young designers and students from 22 design schools around the world.

Global in scope with exhibitors from 35 countries, Salone del Mobile.Milano was also hyper-local for this Home & Design reporter, who made a beeline to booths of the many brands with a presence in the Washington Metro area. Among the trends spotted were low-slung sofas and lounge chairs in curvy, organic forms, with deep seat dimensions to promote serious sprawl. Sculptural occasional tables in textural materials, from lava stone to concrete, were all the rage. Kitchen cabinetry, freestanding islands and countertops in dark, earthy palettes prevailed, with nary a white kitchen in sight. (For more kitchen trends, see the January/February 2025 issue of Home & Design.)

These following highlight stellar Salone finds, along with a new Stark-Missoni collaboration unveiled a few months after the show. All products shown are available at DC-area showrooms.

UNDERSTATED ELEGANCE B&B Italia unveiled Dambodue, a riff on its Dambo sofa; both were designed by Piero Lissoni. Noted for its richly upholstered contours, the model is available in a two- or three-seat version at the Georgetown showroom. bebitalia.com

PATTERN PLAY Stark debuted a collaboration with Missoni, the fashion house known for its vibrant motifs. The carpet and rug lines include a range of styles; Missoni Tropical is shown. Sold at the Washington Design Center. starkcarpet.com

LIGHT TOUCH The Elementi fixture by Elisa Ossino for DePadova clusters orbs of light along a slender brass rod. Myriad sizes and configurations are available; visit Boffi | DePadova in Cady’s Alley. boffidepadova.com

SET IN STONE The tops of Meridiani’s Fabien Open Air tables are treated to a layer of lava stone from Sicily’s Mount Etna, then glazed using glass from disused TVs and monitors. In four hues at the DC location. meridiani.it

AHEAD OF THE CURVE Carlo Colombo’s plush Hero chairs for Giorgetti rest on a curved aluminum base lined with Canaletto walnut slats. Find in fabric or leather at Salus Homes in Bethesda. salus-homes.com; giorgettimeda.com

CHIC SEAT Designer Vincent Van Duysen channels the work of architect Piero Portaluppi in his sleek, modular Augusto sofa for Molteni&C. On offer in an array of fabric and leather options at the maker’s Cady’s Alley showroom. molteni.it/en

PERFECT FIT Jean-Marie Massaud’s Ernest tables for Poliform can be used individually or fitted together like pieces of a puzzle. Material options include solid wood, lacquered fiberboard and marble or travertine. In Cady’s Alley; poliform.it

MODERN MYSTIQUE Encased in a triangular pole, sleek Emi floor and table lamps by Erwan Bouroullec for FLOS mysteriously emanate light above and below without revealing its source. Find in four colors at B&B Italia; flos.com

REST EASY Designed by Jean-Marie Massaud for Poltrona Frau, the Archibald Bed is covered in the company’s luxe Pelle Frau leather. Choose among a multitude of colors at the Georgetown showroom. poltronafrau.com

It all started when decorator Peggy Bourjaily unearthed a green-glass candleholder at an estate sale. “I have trouble finding beautiful objects like it, things with a history,” she remarks. “I used it like crazy in my dining room, kitchen and on a coffee table with books.”

In a light-bulb moment, Bourjaily decided to launch a collection that would replicate the vintage piece. But by the time she found a glassblower who could produce it, her vision had evolved. “I decided to come up with my own creations,” she relates.

After a nine-month design phase, Bourjaily launched the collection last December under her firm name, The Gathered Lyne. (Pronounced Line, Lyne is her middle name and dates back four generations.)

The designer notes that all the women in her family adore the decorative arts. “In my childhood home in Old Town Alexandria, every surface was an opportunity to tell a story,” she reflects. Today, Bourjaily’s hand-blown candleholders enliven her own DC digs among cherished mementos. Says the mother of two, “I was hoping to create modern heirlooms that bring joy and are used by the next generation.” For details, visit thegatheredlyne.com.

Loro Piana’s Fall/Winter 2024-2025 Collection celebrates the beauty of cashmere, vicuña and other natural fibers in silhouettes that embody understated elegance. Look for ensembles in herringbone and check patterns and colors from light camel to mossy brown and tawny bark. At the Italian brand’s boutique in CityCenterDC. loropiana.com

Just in time for autumn’s splendor, Primland, Auberge Resorts Collection in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains has completed a facelift spearheaded by Dallas designer Chad Dorsey. The retreat has also welcomed Leatherflower, a new farm-to-table restaurant serving seasonal cuisine.The updated Lodge boasts a welcoming entry and an observatory for stargazers. The reimagined Great Hall combines antique and custom furniture and handcrafted wooden mantels accenting massive fireplaces. One of two new Mountain Tree Top Houses, made of red cedar, expands the property’s suite offerings. Rates from $575 per night. aubergeresorts.com/primland

River Club bar and restaurant has debuted in Georgetown, serving Lebanese, Italian and Spanish fare in glamorous spaces designed by Beirut-based Marc Dibeh. Bold motifs animate the main dining room, with its custom seating, inlaid-stone flooring and glass ceiling panel fashioned by artisan Celine Hajj. Casa Lopez pendants illuminate the burlwood bar topped in Amazonico marble. Guests enjoy tableside bar service. Chef Nate Berry curates a menu of small plates, skewers and entrées, served mezze-style. 3000 K Street, NW; 202- 961-3777. riverclubdc.com

A National Aquarium exhibit in the heart of Baltimore’s bustling Inner Harbor transports visitors to a serene Chesapeake Bay oasis. Unveiled in August, Harbor Wetland encompasses a 10,000-square-foot floating ecosystem meant to mimic the bay’s salt marsh habitat of centuries ago. Landscape architects at Baltimore-based Ayers Saint Gross partnered with the Aquarium to design the $14 million project; admission is free.

The wetland harbors more than 32,000 native grasses and shrubs, sustained with special water aeration technology. Interpretive signage explains that, as plants grow, the wetland will attract native species and promote clean, healthy waters.

“Harbor Wetland is the culmination of 12 years of research, innovation and determination,” says National Aquarium president and CEO John Racanelli. “We’re so excited to welcome visitors out onto the water for a close-up view of the vibrant, living habitat taking root here in the Inner Harbor.” aqua.org

On a clear November morning, Steve Buchanan packed his gear and set out on a photo expedition to the Wye Island Natural Resources Management Area in Queen Anne’s County, Maryland. The Eastern Shore photographer trained his Sony camera, equipped with a 15mm Voigtländer lens, on Granary Creek as day broke and reflections of billowing clouds danced on the surface of the water. The protected waterfowl habitat, notes Buchanan, is not only a flight path for migratory ducks and geese, but also “one of my family’s regular hiking spots,” he explains. “I know this creek well and could tell it would be spectacular at sunrise.”

Architect Robert Gurney and builder Darren Kornas have seen their fair share of unusual requests, but this was a first: A client asked for a regulation-sized volleyball court in his new custom home. “A volleyball court requires an immense amount of height,” relates Kornas. “I wondered how it would look.”

The client had invited them to tour a site he and his wife had acquired in a Virginia suburb. The three-and-a-half-acre parcel descends gently to mature woods and a sizable pond. While visiting, Gurney had a lightbulb moment. “I had to find ways to minimize the size of the court,” he recalls. “This lot would work because we could bury half the court into grade and visually reduce its volume.”

All agreed that the abandoned 1970s-era house on the property had to go, so the architect began designing a new home in its place. Embracing wellness and sustainability, the couple sought a secluded, modern abode with a strong connection to nature, a layout conducive to easy entertaining, and eco-friendly systems that would minimize their carbon footprint.

Gurney conjured the residence along an axis, in four distinct, interconnected volumes strung like a necklace of vertical and horizontal gems. On the far left side, the 35-foot-high volleyball court nestles in the hillside—as does a nearby 60-foot-long indoor-outdoor pool. A three-story, perpendicular mass houses a garage at ground level, two ensuite guest rooms above and a gym below. Further west, the main entryway and a screened porch support an upper structure containing the primary suite and terrace. The kitchen, living/dining area and wife’s office unfold on the ground level of a fourth volume. The husband’s office occupies its upper floor while downstairs, a party-ready game room awaits.

“I separated spaces and organized them in a logical and functional way,” the architect says. “The idea was to give the owners an environment where they didn’t feel like they were living in a giant house. This also created an interesting sort of architectural piece.”

Interesting, to say the least. At 18,595 square feet (4,152 of which are volleyball court), the home presents a bold interplay of forms and materials, from mahogany details to blackened Shou Sugi Ban panels, Corten steel walls and spans of fiber cement. “It’s a big house with lots of exterior surfaces so I chose materials that wouldn’t require a lot of maintenance,” Gurney explains, adding that they “also felt right in this woodsy environment.”

In the project’s early days, interior designer Therese Baron Gurney and landscape architects Kevin Campion and Steve Makrinos joined forces with Kornas, Gurney and project architect Nicole de Jong. Together, the team seamlessly integrated indoor and outdoor areas and celebrated connections to nature at every turn.

Windows frame views of the ever-changing landscape in living areas and long passageways that connect all volumes on two levels. Outside, stone paths and stairways link the front and back yards, from the volleyball court to the pool and screened porch. Orchestrating “the way you go through a series of outdoor terraces created challenges, but also opportunities,” observes Gurney. “Moving from one space to another creates dynamic and interesting moments.”

There are also moments of wonder—such as the kitchen volume that cantilevers 14 feet over the side lawn. And the primary suite terrace, enveloped in mahogany and perched high in the treetops. And the stream that the landscape architects devised to manage runoff and keep the pond clean.

Today, the home’s flourishing gardens are a far cry from the conditions that Campion and Makrinos initially encountered: Invasive Japanese stiltgrass had overtaken the site and the pond was a brown mess. “Our strategy,” Campion explains, “was to replace the invasive species and develop a manageable plan that connects the home’s modern forms with a modern, environmentally smart landscape.” The hillside harbors drifts of billowing grasses in muted colors that change throughout the seasons.

“It’s a very simple regimen,” Makrinos explains. “You let the grasses grow, then cut them back once a year.”

Except for a side plot reserved for outdoor volleyball, lawn areas were kept to a minimum. Corten steel retaining walls enclose sloping berms that play off the planes of the house and lead guests into the rear yard. A bridge over the stream—created by pumping water from the pond—leads to a half-mile loop through the woods.

This tableau inspired Baron Gurney’s interiors. “We selected furniture appropriate to the scale of the home and also sought comfort and ease of entertaining,” says the designer, a frequent collaborator who happens to be Robert Gurney’s wife. “The owners love color; we also paid respect to natural colors and forms.” Examples of her approach: game room seating upholstered in saturated shades of orange, and the great room’s Enzo Berti side tables pairing “pebble” bases in marble with rounded wooden tops.

Sustainability also drove the designer’s selections. “We chose materials that don’t give off PFAS and VOCs, which was really important to the owners,” she recounts.

From solar panels on the volleyball court roof that fuel a Tesla Powerwall to a geothermal energy system and radiant-heat flooring, the project was conceived to be eco-friendly—including the landscape. “We inherited a property that was almost a monoculture and have probably introduced 30 or 40 pollinator plants and a few thousand grasses and perennials,” Campion reports. “That makes a significant impact on biodiversity.”

Whether working out in the pool or gym, hosting a volleyball match or tending to vegetables and fruit trees they’ve planted, the couple is immersed in health and nature. Even contemplative vistas, says Makrinos, promote a sense of well-being. “On the first floor, you’re met with a 360-degree view of trees, and the owners’ suite looks down on a stream,” he marvels. “Seeing green everywhere you look has a huge meditative quality.”

RESOURCES

THROUGHOUT
Home Automation: casaplex.com. Windows: westernwindowsystems.com.

HALL TO KITCHEN
Flooring: krukowskistone.com. Light Fixtures: 8lighting.com.

DINING AREA
Table: andrejoyau.com. Table Base: tuohyfurniture.com. Leather Chairs: cassina.com. Light Fixture: camerondesignhouse.com through illuminc.com.

LIVING AREA
Sofas: bensen.com through m2l.com. Throw Pillows: maharam.com. Sofa Fabric: carnegiefabrics.com. Lounge Chairs: walterknoll.de/en through m2l.com. Chair Fabric: kvadrat.dk/en. Occasional Table: kreoo.com/en. Rug: silkroadruginc.com. Paint: Pure White by sherwin-williams.com.

KITCHEN
Cabinetry: Custom through lieberknechtdesign.com. Stools: kff.de/en through m2l.com. Sink Fixtures: dornbracht.com. Cooktop, Hood & Ovens: gaggenau.com. Wine Refrigerator: subzero-wolf.com through abwappliances.com.

PRIMARY BEDROOM + TERRACE
Bed: poltronafrau.com. Wall Covering: weitznerlimited.com. Custom Area Rug: silkroadruginc.com. Outdoor Lounge & Ottoman: en.egoparis.com. Cushions: sunbrella.com.

OWNERS’ BATH
Vanity: poliform.it/en-us. Mirror Cabinets: robern.com. Tub: noorth.it/en; fantini.it/en-us through konstunion.com. Glass Panel: riverglassdesigns.com.

GAME ROOM
Modular Sofa, Swivel Chairs & Poufs: bensen.com through m2l.com. Sofa Fabric: carnegiefabrics.com. Swivel Chair & Pouf Fabric: gabrielfabrics.com. Throw Pillows: maharam.com. Coffee Table: andrejoyau.com. Custom Area Rug: silkroadruginc.com. Stools: kff.de/en through m2l.com. Billiards Table: elevatecustoms.com. Pendant Lights: sklo.com through illuminc.com. Basement Bar Countertop: Golden Eagle through marblesystems.com. Flooring: krukowskistone.com. Paint: Pure White by sherwin-williams.com.

POOL
Chaises: royalbotania.com. Pool Deck Flooring: krukowskistone.com.

Restoring an historic 1880s row house in Old Town for a couple with two boys was tricky enough; toss in the fact that the property was a mere 19 feet wide and the stakes became even higher.

Architect Patrick Camus and designer Anne Marie Hauer were hired to take on the challenge. The sweeping overhaul traded choppy, outdated interiors for a more open plan that enlarged the kitchen and created a nearby breakfast/sitting room. Hauer, who joined the project at the get-go, designed loads of built-in storage on all three levels to keep clutter at bay.

But the most drastic change happened in the basement—originally a partial crawl space with a dirt floor. An excavation that spans the full footprint of the house carved out a new lower level with nine-foot ceilings; it encompasses a great room, a guest room and bath, plus a mudroom with access to the rear yard. Today, the 3,000-square-foot home includes five bedrooms and three-and-a-half baths.

Hauer embraced light, bright furnishings with a nod to what she calls classic British design. A Q&A with the designer details the process.

What most excited you about transforming this 1880s gem?
I love old homes and the quirky details that come with them. Considering that the project was so small and contained, it was a challenge to come up with interesting solutions for functionality and storage.

Why did you lean into British design?
My clients wanted things to feel elevated but not super-traditional. I see classic British design as a look with patina and history. Think handmade, quality pieces with a bit of color and whimsy and interesting shapes. It’s décor that will always be in style. In the 1800s, many people were coming over from England and living in Old Town Alexandria. So it makes a lot of sense, right?

Was the large-scale pattern on the living room sofa a hard sell?
Many homeowners are hesitant about doing a big pattern on a big piece of furniture because they may get sick of it. These clients were open to some pattern play. Even though the living room sofa fabric is quiet and tonal, it makes a statement.

What do heirloom pieces accomplish?
I love to incorporate heirloom pieces because they bring depth to a home. We find ways to incorporate them with modern elements to ensure that a space doesn’t feel too dated. In this project, the dining table was passed down by family members.

Discuss the benefits of engaging an interior designer early in the process.
The biggest benefit is budget—ensuring that expectations are set from the beginning. Often clients don’t realize they need help until they’re well into a project, but here we were able to design the space in its entirety before construction even began, thinking through all the details from lighting to storage. We also were able to order furnishings with long lead times.

Describe the role hardware and other metal accents played in this makeover.
All the hardware comes from Armac Martin, a British company that offers multiple finish options. The dining room and kitchen hardware is unlacquered brass. For those rooms, we also selected sconces and pendants in aged brass; and the breakfast room’s tabletop is hammered brass. These finishes will patina over time to reflect the age of the home.

Share the reason for wallpapering the dining room ceiling.
The homeowners wanted to avoid window treatments, which would make the interiors feel too closed-in. But that left us with the view of a fence outside. To draw the eye away from walls and windows, we added Sanderson wallpaper on the ceiling.

What sets the custom dining room cabinetry apart?
My client wanted to store and display china and but also needed a place for serving. We designed cabinets with small trays that pull out to provide an extra serving area. The cabinets are painted taupe for a little bit of warmth; they coordinate with the wallpaper we chose for the ceiling.

Why was salvaging the original pine floors a priority?
The flooring consists of wide, varying planks in a lovely golden color. They’re rustic and dip a bit, revealing how old the home is. But they don’t feel rickety, which I attribute to the contractor and architect creating major reinforcements in the basement below. So you get these incredible, worn floors that still feel secure and safe.

How do modern elements keep the interiors feeling current?
Even though it’s an older home, the owners wanted a few clean-lined, modern pieces. In the breakfast room, the pendant by Workstead mirrors the black fireplace surround and black-metal accordion doors leading out to the patio. This fixture and some of the pieces by Urban Electric have an old feel but also look fresh and current.

In what ways does the newly excavated basement nod to the home’s past?
There was an original built-in cabinet in the kitchen with beautiful, leaded-glass doors. The builder had it sanded, painted and re-installed in the basement. There was also a low, brick arch in the basement. We dropped the floor by four or five feet and turned the arch into a bookshelf to pick up on the history.

ASK ANNE MARIE

The most successful homes marry form and function, reflect today’s lifestyles and embrace the environment. In the following Q&A, local architects share best practices for designing your dream retreat.

Discuss the importance of integrating indoor and outdoor spaces. Many homes are built with small windows that limit views and natural light that could otherwise penetrate interiors. A typical home only offers outdoor access through a single door that’s either solid or partially glass. If we live indoors but at the same time cherish our time outdoors, it makes sense that these two environments should be connected. The outdoors may be seen as another room, an extension of the interior. Sunlight, fresh air, blue skies, storm clouds, rain, vegetation and bird song are all elements that have proven to be beneficial to mental health and well-being. —Richard Loosle-Ortega, RA, KUBE Architecture

How does the selection of natural materials elevate a home? We believe the use of natural materials inside and outside imparts authenticity, familiar warmth and wearability. These spaces often improve with age and tie our homes—and ourselves—to the past. For example, a recent kitchen in a custom Arlington home we designed boasts bespoke, painted-wood cabinets with glass fronts. Sunlight dances off the handmade-tile backsplash. We selected floors and a center island in oak, which adds natural warmth and ages well over time. —Mark Hughes, AIA, Harrison Design

What elements do you employ to suggest a sense of timelessness without getting stodgy? Classical architecture is all about proportion and scale, both in relation to individual design elements and the hierarchy of rooms. Once we’ve decided on the importance of a space, we design accordingly in terms of size and complexity of molding profiles and details. From there, I like to identify a compelling focal point and accentuate it with a unique design detail. We accomplished this in a new bathroom by recessing a drop-in tub within an elliptical cased opening. When utilizing traditional forms and details, a little bit can go a long way. —Luke Olson, GTM Architects

Explain how you create architecture that reads traditional, but in a fresh, modern way. A lot of it involves distilling things a bit and playing games with some of the building parts. For instance, we established a light and airy, modern feel in a Georgian-style home we recently completed in McLean with interior designer Darryl Carter. We “dipped” the whole house in white to make it feel more abstract and clean-lined so it is about the details, proportion and play of sunlight. Rather than a typical staircase attached to a wall with a heavy handrail, we designed a freestanding, twisting stair that interjects energy to the foyer. —Anne Decker, AIA, Anne Decker Architects

What drives your exterior material selections? The approach we use in all our projects is simple. Rather than relying on favorite materials, we draw from a list of options to reinforce our design and work with the local environment. Case in point: a new home in an established Rehoboth Beach neighborhood. The property has distinct orientations, one facing a public street and the other, a canal and parkland. We divided the residence into separate wings. The rear one maximizes water views, leading to a more modern aesthetic, while the front one recalls the smaller scale of older, traditional homes in the neighborhood. —Stephen Muse, FAIA, Muse | Kirwan Architects

How do you instill interior architecture with functionality and aesthetic appeal? I see millwork as both functional—it can contain things—and spatial—it can define things. Good millwork always does both. In a recently renovated Georgetown row house overlooking the Potomac River, we orchestrated painted-wood bookshelves installed parallel to the stairway. So climbing the staircase is to climb the shelves through all three levels of the home. The architecture of the shelving is integrated into the bridge structure and the window patterns. In short, millwork can refine and extend the story of a house. —Mark McInturff, FAIA, McInturff Architects

When designing a modern residence, how do traditional influences come into play? Our firm’s work is always influenced by classical architecture. While an Annapolis home we recently completed presents a clean, modern vernacular, its design is rooted in the classic gable form. The V-shaped, sloping roof always conjures traditional homes and agrarian structures. The clustering of pods further reflects the tight grouping of buildings from the way past. The vertical elongation of the center entry gable was intentional so as to be prominent in the overall massing; the glass following the center form re-emphasizes this stretched gable. —Cathy Purple Cherry, AIA, LEED AP, Purple Cherry Architects

Shed light on how a utilitarian space can transcend the everyday. Secondary spaces are very important in reinforcing the intentions and aesthetics that exist in more prominent rooms. A primary dressing room in a home we renovated on the Eastern Shore (left) illustrates this. Warm, natural materials and textures reflect a sense of serenity that prevails in the residence. Linen-covered doors and wool carpeting lower acoustic noise; overhead lighting and a single wall sconce bathe the room in soft light. The simple cabinetry frames an existing window to allow for an aura of quiet and calm. —Colleen Healey, AIA, Colleen Healey Architecture

Though best known for its Neoclassical and Federal monuments in marble, Washington also harbors many examples of Brutalist architecture. Designed and constructed as part of urban-renewal initiatives in the mid-20th century, these cost-effective buildings are noted for exposed structural elements and expanses of concrete, steel and glass.

“Capital Brutalism,” an exhibit at the National Building Museum, explores the architectural history and cultural significance of these projects—many of which displaced thousands of the city’s businesses and residents when they were constructed. The show presents archival documents, drawings, construction images, architectural models and contemporary photos to document DC’s iconic Metro system as well as seven of the city’s most notable Brutalist buildings. One of these, the FBI Building, has been called “the ugliest in the world.” But the style seems to have as many devotees as detractors.

As the structures age—and face costly updates or even the wrecking ball—the museum tapped notable architecture firms to conjure speculative new lives for these imposing landmarks. The architects’ imaginative solutions are on view in the exhibit, open through February 17, 2025. nbm.org