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.
**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.
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010
A Modern Mix
When architect Robert M. Gurney gutted his clients’ 1876 Washington, DC, row house, his intent was to create a clean, minimalist aesthetic while respecting the property’s historic lineage. Its master bath is a case in point. From the bedroom, a crisply detailed bank of oak cabinetry leads into the space. The architect juxtaposed floors and walls in white Calcutta Gold marble—which plays to a historical context—with a long L-shaped stainless-steel sink. Transparent glass tiles echo the simple color scheme. “We wanted to keep the overall palette light,” says Gurney, “and the design timeless but modern.” The sculptural tub, stainless-steel sconces, contemporary faucets and fixtures and sandblasted glass tile in the toilet area—all from Waterworks in Georgetown—reinforce the architect’s vision. These amenities have transformed the once-outdated bath into a veritable home spa. “The shower is basically a water park,” says Gurney, “with a bench, a hand-held shower, two rain showers and a standard shower. You can spend a lot of time in there.”
ARCHITECTURE: ROBERT M. GURNEY, Robert M. Gurney Architect, Washington, DC. PHOTOGRAPHY: MAXWELL MACKENZIE.
A Soothing Escape
Overlooking rolling hills and pastures in Ashland, Virginia, this new master-bath addition brings luxury and style to a Southern country manor. Architect Doug Bowman and interior designer Jennifer Stoner created a new wing off the owners’ bedroom, converting the existing bath into his-and-hers wardrobes, each of which opens to angled hallways with separate vanities and water closets for the husband and wife. The hallways converge at an archway leading to dual showers and an octagonal room framed in windows. Here an oversized soaking tub and two chaises create a “light and airy spa-like retreat where the homeowner can come and soak at the end of the day,” says Stoner. The 17-foot-high space boasts a hand-troweled and domed ceiling with a dramatic Currey & Co. chandelier, a mosaic marble floor, granite countertops, a coffee station and heated floors. The owners can enjoy the views of their surrounding farm—or drop the automated shades for complete privacy
.
ARCHITECTURE: DOUG BOWMAN, Doug Bowman Designs, Inc., Midlothian, Virginia. INTERIOR DESIGN: JENNIFER STONER, Jennifer Stoner Interiors, Richmond, Virginia. CONTRACTOR: A. D. Whittaker, Ashland, Virginia. DECORATIVE PAINTING: CHRIS LOMBARD, Liquid Concepts, Richmond, Virginia. PHOTOGRAPHY: JOHN MAGOR.
Eco-Friendly Retreat
The concepts of green living and health and well-being often go hand in hand. Ernesto Santalla designed a modern bath retreat that embodied these ideals in last year’s CharityWorks GreenHouse—a sustainably built showhouse in McLean,
Virginia, that was sold to a family who toured it.
All of the materials, furnishings—and even the art—Santalla selected are sustainable. A centerpiece of the space is the shower wrapped in cedar with a wall of river-rock stones and a cascading waterfall (using re-circulated water) that introduces sounds of nature into the mix. Artwork includes a large abstract piece by Dan Steinhilber made with recycled plastic bags (over the day bed) and a delicate hanging sculpture made by Barbara Josephs Liotta from remnants of black granite hanging near the cedar shower enclosure.
Santalla’s creation illustrates how a spa can fit into any space in a home. “A bathroom doesn’t have to be fully enclosed,” he says. “You can expand the notion of a spa to include a living area with a relaxation space.”
ARCHITECTURE & INTERIOR DESIGN: ERNESTO M. SANTALLA, AIA, LEED AP, Studio Santalla, Inc., Washington, DC. PHOTOGRAPHY: GEOFFREY HODGDON.
Worldly Opulence
When a homeowner purchased a McLean, Virginia, residence, he put it on a fast track for renovation. The design team, including architect David Cooper and interior designer William Paley, found inspiration in the many luxe hotel bathrooms their client has visited, and combed the globe for materials of the highest quality that would create a completely unique sanctuary, according to Patricia Tetro, project leader for BOWA, the renovation contractor. Custom elements include lacquered doors from Hong Kong, mosaic tiles from Italy, a travertine tub from Mexico and shagreen vanities from France framed by verre élgomisé panels gilded in platinum-leaf Arabic letters.
From private dressing areas, a stone passage leads past twin vanities toward the tub—which is so large that it had to be lowered into the space by crane. To the left is an open shower with a rain shower and a waterfall shower. Here glass doors open to a soothing steam room with wood slats mounted to the wall and a sculptural bench made of reclaimed timber by Jerome Abel.
“It’s all very courant, but still very livable,” says Tetro. “It’s not just a showpiece. The clients use it every day.”
ARCHITECTURE: DAVID COOPER, ACG Architects, McLean, Virginia.
INTERIOR DESIGN: tonychi and associates, New York, New York.
RENOVATION CONTRACTOR: PATRICIA TETRO, project leader, BOWA, McLean, Virginia. PHOTOGRAPHY: JIM TETRO.
**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.
The Boffi showroom in Georgetown just reopened after its franchise owner shuttered the business in early 2010. The Italian kitchen-and-bath manufacturer decided to launch a direct-trade showroom in the Cady’s Alley space. “We really believe in the DC market and want to be represented here,” says store manager Julia Walter.
The redesigned space displays a wider range of products, including a new line of lighting. 3320 M Street, NW. www.boffi.com
**Out of the array of interior design magazines, Home and Design magazine stands out as a primary idea source for luxury home designs. Wonderful visuals of inspired décor and lush landscapes are combined with expert advice to provide a fundamental reference point for bringing amazing home interior design ideas to life.
GET THEE TO A SPA IN TUSCANY
Adler Thermae Spa and Resort in Tuscany’s Orcia Valley is luring guests with a romantic spa break package this fall. Aside from access to the resort’s saunas and thermal pools (above), guests enjoy daily breakfasts and candlelight dinners, a bath in an underground salt grotto and a two-day vintage car rental. Rates for four nights are about $1,124 per person through October 30.
www.adler-thermae.com
GRANDE DAME OF STYLE
After three decades as a loyal guest, Diane von Furstenberg (left) has designed 20 rooms and suites in Claridge’s of London. Inspired by her travels around the world, von Furstenberg created her own fabrics, rugs and furniture, from vintage-style writing desks to glamorous dressing tables. The rooms, which will also display travel photos taken by the designer, start at about $1,050 per night. www.claridges.co.uk
BEDECKED IN COLOR
Etienne Perret, a Camden, Maine-based jewelry designer, has released a new collection of ceramic pieces set with precious gems and diamonds. Available in black, white, pink, blue, brown and grey, the ceramic material is durable yet lightweight and can be left matte or polished to a high gloss. On the left, a black ceramic ring and bangle bracelet with colored diamonds set in 18-karat white gold. Prices upon request. www.etienneperret.com
A TASTE OF SPAIN
Mark Kuller, owner of Proof in Penn Quarter, has opened a new hot spot in DC’s trendy 14th Street Corridor. Estadio serves up traditional Spanish tapas, small plates and entrées—and has garnered rave reviews for its frozen libations. The interiors sport wrought-iron panels, colorful tiles and an open kitchen. 1520 14th Street, NW, Washington, DC; 202-319-1404. www.estadio-dc.com
OUT WITH A BANG
Marc Jacobs recently unveiled Bang, his first men’s fragrance in more than a decade—and it entered the scene with just that. Its sleek, modern bottle and spicy masculine scent caused such a stir that the product disappeared from shelves in Marc Jacobs shops and Bloomingdale’s, where it was sold exclusively over the summer. It is now available at retail outlets worldwide. $55 for 1.7 ounces. www.marcjacobs.com
BOHO BAG
Angela Missoni, a third-generation member of the venerable Italian design clan, has entered the fray with her own accessories collection for fall 2010. Her Coco B bag, with its typical Missoni colors and trademark zigzag pattern, is available in a small pom-pom style (below, left) as well as in full handbag size. Price: $185 for pom-pom and $1,480 for handbag. www.missoni.com
HIP TUNES
Konnet Technology’s iCrado is a chic metallic charge and sync dock for iPhones and iPods that cradles these devices in style. The iCrado’s reflex design also enhances speaker quality and microphone reception while the device is in use. Best of all, it’s available in silver, magenta, violet, green, red, black, yellow, orange, cyan and pink. $29.99. www.konnetonline.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.
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010
A treat is in store for visitors to The Washington Design Center this fall: the Halls of Fame 2010 Design House, a collection of eight stylish rooms created by members of the Center’s Hall of Fame. Located in a newly completed space on the fifth floor of the building, it is blessed with natural light—as opposed to its former venue in the Center’s subterranean concourse level.
A few common threads unify the designers’ innovative spaces: creativity, a touch of the unexpected and a generous dose of glamour. Their vignettes, which showcase products offered in Design Center showrooms, are sure to enlighten design buffs of all persuasions.
Inspired by a Park Avenue home, Kelley Proxmire’s Foyer contrasts black-and-white motifs with bright turquoise accents. Michael Roberson imagined a Garden Room with furnishings covered in crisp whites and a montage of botanical photographs taken in her own backyard.
The Living Room by David Herchik and Richard Looman of JDS Designs mingles modern and retro pieces with edgy art and exotic textures. Victor Shargai’s elegant Dining Room was designed to evoke a 20th-century British mystery novel, while Frank Babb Randolph’s Portico mixes antiques and handcrafted pieces to create a classically styled gathering place.
French decorator Madeleine Castaing was a muse for Nestor Santa-Cruz, who honed in on her dazzling blue shades and combined them with art and accessories to make the Study a personalized space.
Olvia Demetriou’s Master Bedroom boasts sleek modern furnishings and a minimalist bath while the Family Room by Rita St. Clair represents a multi-functional space designed for a well-traveled client.
The Design House is open Monday through Saturday until December 4. Visit www.dcdesigncenter.com.
**Out of the array of interior design magazines, Home and Design magazine stands out as a primary idea source for luxury home designs. Wonderful visuals of inspired décor and lush landscapes are combined with expert advice to provide a fundamental reference point for bringing amazing home interior design ideas to life.
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010
Soon after first-round draft pick LaRon Landry joined the Washington Redskins in 2007, he began searching for a home in the area. The Louisiana native was drawn to a neighborhood of stately homes on the outskirts of Leesburg, Virginia—only about 10 miles from Redskins Park. He saw potential in a 13,000-square-foot residence with its spacious rooms and full lower level, where he envisioned a home gym, a theater and a billiards room. But its bright yellow color scheme and run-of-the-mill finishes left him cold. And the garage was too small to accommodate his luxury car collection.
Landry met designer Janelle Marshall via mutual friend Sibel Halac. He toured a house Marshall had designed, liked its style and turned to her for help on his own interiors. (By coincidence, Marshall is the former wife of linebacker Wilber Marshall, who played for the Redskins and the Chicago Bears, among other teams, in the 1980s and ’90s.)
“I handled the gym and garage, but I wanted Janelle to help me make the house a home, someplace where my parents and family and ‘boyz’ would all feel comfortable and would want to spend time,” says Landry, 26, whose older brother, Dawan Landry, plays for the Baltimore Ravens.
Marshall toured the residence and discussed its problems—and potential—with her client. “Every single room had bright yellow walls,” she recalls. “It was very hodgepodge and didn’t give you peace of mind.” She immediately got to work creating an elegant yet masculine look, introducing gold and brown tones with splashes of color to soften the darker shades. She sought classic furniture scaled on the generous side to accommodate her six-foot-tall client and his NFL teammates. “LaRon left me to do whatever I wanted. He just gave me free reign to do my thing and didn’t say no to anything,” says Marshall. “He totally trusted my taste.”
Today, the grand foyer opens to the dining room, where a decorative tissue treatment by faux painter Laura Harris on the tray ceiling creates a dramatic effect. To the right of the foyer, a hall leads to an intimate living room and a much larger sunroom with a vaulted ceiling. Here Marshall paired sofas by RC Furniture upholstered in a solid gold Kravet fabric with John-Richard chairs in a stripe by Kashmir.
The foyer also leads directly into a great room and the adjacent kitchen, which boasts two large islands, a dining area and a casual seating space. Harris painted the once-bright yellow cabinets taupe with a fine vertical threading, giving the space instant sophistication. And Marshall selected furnishings to complement the room’s new look; pendants over the island replaced overly formal chandeliers.
“I love the open kitchen area because Gucci [Landry’s white-face capuchin monkey] and my dog Trauma are close to the action—and food,” says Landry.
But the football player’s favorite space in the house is the lower level, which he dubbed “Landry’s Lounge.” The ultimate man cave, it encompasses a home theater, a large entertainment area with a pool table, a smoking room and a well-equipped gym decked out in the purple and gold colors of Louisiana State University—Landry’s alma mater, where he became a football star.
Marshall transformed the entire lower level with new hardwood floors, custom arched doors and a faux leather treatment on the walls by Laura Harris. The state-of-the-art home theater, designed by Mike Sines of Homerun Communications, is a big draw for Landry’s teammates. “The theater gives me a chance to kick back and catch my brother play for the Ravens, as well as scout the opposition,” says Landry. “I also like to have the ’fellas in and we all just hang and watch a movie on the big screen.”
Despite rigorous workouts at Redskins Park, Landry uses his home gym every day. “I love to lift,” he says. “At home it’s two to three hours every day. I got my music, my LSU colors. It makes me feel young and strong.”
Just a few days before the start of training camp, Landry is upbeat about his newly completed house—and about the upcoming NFL season. “The house gives me a good vibe,” he says. “It now feels like a home. It’s comfortable, has everything I need and want and is close to Redskins Park. I’m very proud of what we have all done.”
Photographer Bob Narod is based in Sterling, Virginia.
INTERIOR DESIGN: JANELLE MARSHALL, Distinctive Designs by Janelle, Potomac Falls, Virginia.
**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 2010
Charlene Kennerknecht and Arch Williams have been design partners for 15 years, bringing their clients a unique East-West Coast perspective. Kennerknecht was working on a luxury townhouse project in Virginia when she was introduced to Los Angeles-based Williams, a consultant on the job. Soon after, she landed a major residential project and asked Williams to help. “The rest is history,” she says. Though their work has never been published, the duo has collaborated on dozens of homes all over the country.
“Our clients are hungry for a twist,” says Williams, “but they don’t know that. We try to get people out of their comfort zone by 10 to 15 percent.”
Such was the case on a project they recently completed in Great Falls. Their client, ready to furnish a guest suite located above his four-car garage, presented them with a challenge: He wanted a space that could accommodate both visiting business associates as well as relatives with kids—and he wanted it done in “Giorgio Armani” style.
Kennerknecht and Williams proposed an open plan with separate lounging and sleeping areas screened by a mesh fabric by Donghia. The result is a mix of modern, classic and custom furnishings with glamorous accents, chic enough to rival a luxury hotel room yet practical too, with a sleeper sofa, durable fabrics and a double chaise that can serve as two twin beds.
The homeowner and his wife now enjoy spending time in their guest suite. As Kennerknecht explains, “We try to create comfortable, elegant ‘destinations’ for our clients.”
INTERIOR DESIGN: Charlene Kennerknecht and Arch Williams, Monarch Interior Design Group, Vienna, Virginia and Los Angeles, California.
July/August 2010
Minneapolis-based Room & Board is now offering its classic-meets-modern furnishings in a recently renovated building at 14th and T Streets, NW, in the bustling 14th Street corridor. Its mid-June opening followed a painstaking renovation of the historic Taylor Motors Building, once a Ford Model T showroom, by Gensler architects and DC-based Eric Colbert & Associates. Room & Board claims that more than 85 percent of its furniture is manufactured in the U.S. www.roomandboard.com
**Out of the array of interior design magazines, Home and Design magazine stands out as a primary idea source for luxury home designs. Wonderful visuals of inspired décor and lush landscapes are combined with expert advice to provide a fundamental reference point for bringing amazing home interior design ideas to life.
July/August 2010
Bar Scene
Buddha-Bar DC already has a loyal following since its opening in May. The Pan-Asian restaurant designed by DWA of Paris and Washington-based Gensler features opulent interiors and tattoo murals by Tanuja Bora. Buddha-Bar serves a wide selection of sake and wine to complement dishes such as Wagyu tenderloin with truffle wasabi butter and Thai-style red curry shrimp. 455 Massachusetts Avenue, NW; 202-337-5555. www.buddhabardc.com
Tropical Escape
The Omphoy Ocean Resort is a new, 134-room boutique hotel in Palm Beach, Florida. Owner and interior designer Leslie Schlesinger infused the beachfront property with a tranquil vibe that centers on the movement of water and a modern Asian aesthetic. The property features a spa and an al fresco dining terrace (pictured), where guests enjoy the cuisine of award-winning chef Michelle Bernstein. Summer rates from $219. www.omphoy.com
Luxe Down Under
Melbourne’s Prince Hotel features cool, minimalist interiors, with sculptural designer seating and spa-like baths (left) in every one of its 40 guest rooms, along with MP3 compatibility and Bose Wave radios. The property wins high marks for its Circa restaurant; the chef cultivates his own herbs and vegetables on a rooftop terrace. After hours, guests flock to Mink, the hotel’s underground vodka bar. Rates from $212; www.luxehotels.com
Sweet Tooth
The cupcake craze has hit Chevy Chase with the recent opening of Frosting. Michelle Snow runs the shop with her mother, Ann, and husband, Todd. In addition to delectable cupcakes (above), Frosting features a morning menu with breakfast breads and other treats, plus freshly brewed Illy coffee and espresso. One Wisconsin Circle, Chevy Chase, MD; 301-539-9201.
www.frostingacupcakery.com
Top Flight Wine Bar
The Tasting Room in Chevy Chase (above) is a new outpost of John Kent Cooke’s Boxwood Winery (joining another Tasting Room in Reston). Designed by architect Hugh Newell Jacobsen, the wine bar spotlights Boxwood’s production along with select wines from Europe. Guests can sample and buy bottles of wine and enjoy cheese plates and charcuterie. The Tasting Room features live music on Wednesdays and Fridays.
5330A Western Avenue, Chevy Chase, MD; 301-664-9494;
www.thetastingroomwinebar.com
Friendly Skies
Celebrity chef Michel Richard of DC’s Citronelle (center) is partnering with all-business-class airline OpenSkies to launch its newest route, between Washington Dulles and Paris. Through the end of July, Richard’s lavish cuisine is on offer to passengers between those cities. www.flyopenskies.com
A Game-Changer
The Wrap 310 (above) from Vuzix Corporation has the look and feel of normal sunglasses—yet offers the latest in portable video eyewear technology. With twin high-resolution video displays, it simulates a 55-inch screen at 10 feet away. It’s compatible with portable DVD, Blu-Ray and media players, iPod and iPhone models, PCs and laptops, and offers composite video output and an optional VGA cable adaptor. The Wrap 310 retails for $249.95. www.vuzix.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 2010
Ugo Arinzeh wound up in the design field in a roundabout way. The MBA with a degree in finance was working in commercial real estate banking while renovating a rowhouse in Columbia Heights. After firing two contractors, she and a friend decided to finish the job themselves—and the seed was planted.
“My house was a full gut rehab,” she says. After making every decision, from tiles to paint colors, she started getting compliments, then requests for help. Since then, Arinzeh has designed residences, outfitted condo buildings and recently completed an office suite for DC Council Chairman and mayoral candidate Vincent Gray.
Arinzeh strives to help clients define their style through color, art and accessories. “Everybody can find a sofa that they love,” she explains. “What I like is pulling everything together in a cohesive way that expresses who they are.”
The interiors in her home boast vibrant colors, rich textures and a hint of the unexpected. “My wall colors are rich but still allow other things on top of them,” she says. “They’re not jarring.” In the dining room, Arinzeh commissioned artist Eric Nelson to create an iridescent diptych inspired by her luxurious Obsorne & Little drapery fabric. “The dining room is a great place to sparkle,” she says. She selected a more serene color scheme in the master bedroom, where Kravet fabrics on bedding and stools add a bit of punch.
Arinzeh stresses the importance of clients finding a look that resonates. “I like how this room feels,” she says of her living room. “People should have that in their homes, particularly since our lives now are so chaotic. To me, it’s a blessing when someone can come into their home and really enjoy it.”
INTERIOR DESIGN: Ugo Arinzeh, Arinzeh Interiors, 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.
JULY/AUGUST 2010
Charlene Kennerknecht and Arch Williams have been design partners for 15 years, bringing their clients a unique East-West Coast perspective. Kennerknecht was working on a luxury townhouse project in Virginia when she was introduced to Los Angeles-based Williams, a consultant on the job. Soon after, she landed a major residential project and asked Williams to help. “The rest is history,” she says. Though their work has never been published, the duo has collaborated on dozens of homes all over the country.
“Our clients are hungry for a twist,” says Williams, “but they don’t know that. We try to get people out of their comfort zone by 10 to 15 percent.”
Such was the case on a project they recently completed in Great Falls. Their client, ready to furnish a guest suite located above his four-car garage, presented them with a challenge: He wanted a space that could accommodate both visiting business associates as well as relatives with kids—and he wanted it done in “Giorgio Armani” style.
Kennerknecht and Williams proposed an open plan with separate lounging and sleeping areas screened by a mesh fabric by Donghia. The result is a mix of modern, classic and custom furnishings with glamorous accents, chic enough to rival a luxury hotel room yet practical too, with a sleeper sofa, durable fabrics and a double chaise that can serve as two twin beds.
The homeowner and his wife now enjoy spending time in their guest suite. As Kennerknecht explains, “We try to create comfortable, elegant ‘destinations’ for our clients.”
INTERIOR DESIGN: Charlene Kennerknecht and Arch Williams, Monarch Interior Design Group, Vienna, Virginia and Los Angeles, California.
**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 2010
When designer Susan Beimler and her husband were relocated to Washington from Rochester for his banking job in 1995, their real estate agent assumed they’d end up in the suburbs of McLean or Potomac. But the couple gravitated to Georgetown instead, where he could walk to his office and Susan could work in close proximity to some of the city’s top antiques shops and galleries. “I decided if you’re in a city, you should be right in the city. Our youngest was in college,” says the designer. “I thought, ‘It’s a new chapter of life, so why wouldn’t we have a new experience?’”
The couple chose a three-story 1938 row house for its integrity and authenticity. “It’s an exact copy of a townhome in London,” says Beimler. “Even the hardware, the railings and the ceiling medallions were shipped over from England. And the bricks came from a Maryland manor house that was 225 years old when it was dismantled in 1938.”
Beimler set out to furnish the well-preserved home in an “updated classic” style, starting with the collection of art and antiques she brought down from New York. “I believe in relaxed elegance,” she says. “Comfort and chic can co-exist.”
Beimler soon discovered that buying opportunities abounded in the blocks surrounding her new home. “In Upstate New York, antiques are mostly American. The access to really wonderful European antiques is here,” she says. Her dining room, for example, combines an 18th-century French sideboard in pear wood with a table made in Lyon and very old French chairs she discovered in New Orleans.
“Antiques make a more interesting environment because they add history,” she says. “They show an evolution of life and a patina. Life should constantly be evolving.”
Beimler speaks from experience. She transitioned from teaching French to designing homes for clientele across the country—without a day of formal training. As she describes it, some force compelled her to walk into one of Rochester’s top design firms and apply for a job when she was in her late 30s.
“I had no portfolio, no coursework, no exposure,” she recalls. “The woman who had the studio took a chance on me.” A longtime painter, Beimler had a feel for color, scale and proportion. In one year, she outsold her partner and has never looked back.
An expert at blending paint colors and creating subtle yet confident interiors, Beimler believes a home should reflect the owner’s personality—and not the designer’s. “My goal is to expose clients to things and put them together in a way that makes them feel like they’re in their own skin, not mine,” she explains.
Beimler has also mastered the art of hospitality. She loves to create a warm, welcoming ambiance—whether she’s hosting out-of-town guests or opening her doors for the Georgetown House Tour (which she has done twice). Her formal dinner parties gather in the second-story living room and dining room, while smaller, more intimate groups cozy up in the first-floor family room, where Beimler has converted one of the home’s two fireplaces to gas for instant warmth on crisp nights.
Upstairs, the master bedroom is a tranquil retreat with soft, neutral wallpaper and a four-poster bed Beimler commissioned in New York. A former second-floor bedroom now serves as her office where shelves are stacked neatly with fabric swatches and sample books.
This is where Beimler creates design schemes. But she still loves to paint—a pastime she saves for her second home in Vero Beach, Florida. The couple’s condominium on a barrier island is the aesthetic opposite of their Georgetown home. “It has endless breathing room. The whole focus is water and sky and sand,” Beimler says. There, she paints watercolors. “It’s really a relaxing escape for me. It’s another way for my creative energy to come out.”
Photographer Angie Seckinger splits her time between Potomac, Maryland, and Spain.
INTERIOR DESIGN: SUSAN BEIMLER, Susan Beimler Interior Design, 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.
MAY/JUNE 2010
When M. Robert Guggenheim purchased a stately mansion overlooking Rock Creek Park in 1942, he named the residence after his mother, Florence. Ironically, the name could not have been more appropriate when, 34 years later, the Italian government acquired “Villa Firenze” as an embassy residence in Washington. Set on 22 secluded acres near Cleveland Park, the magnificent home has witnessed a steady stream of cultural, diplomatic and political activity over the years. But recently, Villa Firenze has been infused with a fresh and glamorous new look—as well as the laughter of bambini—since Italy’s new ambassador, Giulio Maria Terzi di Sant’Agata, Antonella Cinque and their two-year-old twins moved into the home last fall.
While the architecture is Tudor in style, the interiors are decidedly Italian. "The house is really a meeting point of two traditions and two cultures,” says Ambassador Terzi on a recent tour. Cinque agrees, “When Americans come to the house, they love it, and so do Italians.”
Visitors are ushered into a large foyer that opens to a grand, three-story hall complete with enormous arched windows and elaborate timber beams. A large Flemish tapestry hangs above the dramatic staircase. The hall opens on one side to a formal salon with teak parquet floors and on the other to a large dining room. European antiques, 17th- and 18th-century Italian art and custom Murano glass chandeliers adorn these public rooms.
Ambassador Terzi arrived in Washington after serving as Italy’s permanent representative to the United Nations in New York; he was previously director general for political affairs at the Foreign Ministry in Rome and, from 2002 to 2004, Italy’s ambassador to Israel. While in New York, he and Cinque, the former chairman of the board of the Italian Drug Administration, lived in an official residence on Manhattan’s Upper East Side that was once home to Calvin Klein. A far cry from this urban New York brownstone, Villa Firenze, with its picturesque grounds, makes visitors feel as though they’re somewhere in the countryside rather than in the heart of the nation’s capital.
"The house is so strong emotionally, with its story and tradition,” says Cinque. “I loved it immediately.”
Upon their arrival, the couple decided to make some improvements that would restore and rejuvenate Villa Firenze to its original splendor. “We have tried to enrich and to contribute to the embellishments and the importance of this residence, creating an environment that is very much reminiscent of the 17th- and 18th-centuries in Italy,” says Terzi, “giving new value to the things which have been here a long time. We have been trying to work intensely toward their restoration, to make Villa Firenze really vibrant again.” Italian antiques experts from New York have painstakingly restored many pieces of furniture and art in the home, including the marble-topped 17th-century Florentine table in the foyer and ornate mirrors that hang in the salon. They have also replaced the home’s previously dark upholstery and carpets with fresher, more vibrant silk fabrics and luminous Persian rugs.
"All of the colors you see are new,” says Cinque, walking through the salon. “Light is very important in this home. It is about the garden, the park, the flowers. Dark colors are not the right image for this house.”
She points out the study, located off the foyer, where the paneling replicates the library of Sir Christopher Wren’s 17th-century home in Oxford, England. And in the dining room, she reveals the newly restored table that can seat 34 for formal dinners. “It’s an important Luigi XVI,” she says.
Since arriving in Washington, Ambassador Terzi has hosted a wide array of dignitaries at Villa Firenze: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, her Italian counterpart President Gianfranco Fini, Italian government ministers and members of Parliament, members of Congress, Supreme Court justices Antonin Scalia and Samuel Alito and business leaders including CEOs from Fiat-Chrysler Group, Eni, Enel and Finmeccanica. Plus, journalists such as Thomas Friedman and Arnaud de Borchgrave.
"Villa Firenze is not only a symbol of our countries and a meeting of cultures, but it is also an extremely useful and appreciated facility,” says Terzi. “We are asked by many important cultural, scientific and humanitarian organizations to give use of this place and we are very keen on making it available.”
When Villa Firenze is not on official duty, the Ambassador and his family enjoy meals in the intimate sunroom off of the dining room, with its expansive view of the gardens. In their private apartments on the second and third floors, photos of family members—rather than famous faces—dominate the tabletops, along with a wooden chess set that Cinque has had since her childhood in Rome. She and Terzi enjoy games together on quiet evenings after twins Giulio and Nina go to bed. Cinque decorated the nursery and its adjacent playroom in bright green colors with animal motifs to echo the home’s verdant surroundings.
The twins enjoy daily jaunts through the grounds of Villa Firenze and will soon be playing on the estate’s very first swing set. Ambassador Terzi also plans to upgrade the home’s outdoor areas. “We want to make better use of the verandas that we have on the north and south sides, which we use for smaller parties, business luncheons and so on,” he says.
"In the program of restoration, we bring things back to life.”
Photographer Lydia Cutter is based in McLean, Virginia.
MAY/JUNE 2010
After a two-year overhaul of their waterfront home, a friend walked onto its deck and reminded the owners why they poured so much effort into the project. “I think my blood pressure just fell 20 points,” he said.
The allure of this 11,000-square-foot perch on the Severn River was so great that the couple with three young kids committed to a scenario that would cause most people’s heart rates to skyrocket. The husband, an executive with an international consulting firm, had accepted a temporary position in Australia. He and his wife decided to purchase the Annapolis home just before their departure and entrusted interior designer Beth Kittrell to orchestrate everything from design to construction during their 18-month absence.
“It was a very unique situation because we hadn’t really worked together yet,” recalls Kittrell. “We had a one- or two-hour meeting at the house. I presented as much as I possibly could in one fell swoop and they were gone. They actually did the settlement from Australia and I got handed the keys.”
The changes the owners had in mind were structural and complex. As it stood, the house did little to show off its phenomenal river views. Its small, closed-in rooms and overall lack of detail begged for what Kittrell calls a “gut job.” So she and her clients launched into design discussions that spanned continents and time zones, communicating via email and the occasional FedEx package.
In conjunction with architect Mark J. Bandy, Kittrell reworked every inch of the interiors. Her goals were to improve flow, define rooms with architectural detail and maximize water views with more open spaces and larger windows and doors. During the process, major upgrades or replacements would be made to the plumbing, HVAC, electrical systems, decks and landscaping, though the footprint of the home did not change.
The family returned from Australia in time to see the drywall go up. “All of the major skeletal work was done, but we were able to participate in a lot of the decisions that made the house just what we wanted,” says the husband. The family moved in during the summer of 2008 and has received a steady stream of overnight guests ever since.
In contrast to the walled-in foyer that once greeted visitors, arrivals are now dazzled by the view right at the threshold. The entry opens to a family room where a row of rocking chairs in front of oversized arched windows overlooks the river. In the foyer, a new floating staircase leads to a second-floor gallery that displays photography and art collected during the family’s stint in Australia and a previous one in Japan. Asian art and mementos also figure prominently in the formal living and dining rooms, which flank the foyer.
In the reconfigured kitchen, a multi-level eat-up island makes casual meals a breeze. New doors lead from the kitchen to the sunroom—a rustic dining area with slate floors, reclaimed beams and breathtaking river views.
Kittrell designed coffered ceilings in the kitchen as well as in the family room, study and sunroom, working with carpenters on site to “hammer out the details.” This attention to detail was also lavished on custom moldings, trim and intricate tile work throughout the home. “I was given a lot of artistic freedom,” says Kittrell. “It was a responsibility that I embraced.”
The second floor boasts a new master suite adjoining the husband’s study, children’s bedrooms and a laundry room. The third floor houses another guest room and bath plus a fabulous playroom with a view—perfect for crafts, games and homework.
The lower level revolves around the home’s many outdoor amenities, including a pool with stairs leading down to a private dock and the family boat. A comfortable seating area with a custom river-rock bar opens onto a large outdoor room complete with a fireplace. There is also a media room, a changing room with sauna and a gym. Linking all of the levels is an elevator with a three-story mural painted by the wife’s mother depicting scenes of Annapolis, the house and the owners’ three kids at play on the water.
Despite its size, guests marvel that the home feels intimate and warm. And the owners are thrilled with the outcome. “I wake up in the morning and think, ‘I can’t believe I live here,’” says the wife.
Kittrell attributes the project’s success to her clients. “They are interesting people, they’ve led interesting lives and they have interesting objects,” she says. “It makes my job easy if I’m inspired by my clients. From a style standpoint, it was all about them.”
Photographer Bob Narod is based in Herndon, Virginia.
INTERIOR DESIGN: Beth Kittrell, Kittrell Interiors, Fulton, Maryland. ARCHITECTURE: Mark J. Bandy, Mark J. Bandy, Inc., Ellicott City, Maryland. RENOVATION CONTRACTOR: KPK Construction, Columbia, Maryland.
To see before & after photos 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.
MAY/JUNE 2010
After a two-year overhaul of their waterfront home, a friend walked onto its deck and reminded the owners why they poured so much effort into the project. “I think my blood pressure just fell 20 points,” he said.
The allure of this 11,000-square-foot perch on the Severn River was so great that the couple with three young kids committed to a scenario that would cause most people’s heart rates to skyrocket. The husband, an executive with an international consulting firm, had accepted a temporary position in Australia. He and his wife decided to purchase the Annapolis home just before their departure and entrusted interior designer Beth Kittrell to orchestrate everything from design to construction during their 18-month absence.
“It was a very unique situation because we hadn’t really worked together yet,” recalls Kittrell. “We had a one- or two-hour meeting at the house. I presented as much as I possibly could in one fell swoop and they were gone. They actually did the settlement from Australia and I got handed the keys.”
The changes the owners had in mind were structural and complex. As it stood, the house did little to show off its phenomenal river views. Its small, closed-in rooms and overall lack of detail begged for what Kittrell calls a “gut job.” So she and her clients launched into design discussions that spanned continents and time zones, communicating via email and the occasional FedEx package.
In conjunction with architect Mark J. Bandy, Kittrell reworked every inch of the interiors. Her goals were to improve flow, define rooms with architectural detail and maximize water views with more open spaces and larger windows and doors. During the process, major upgrades or replacements would be made to the plumbing, HVAC, electrical systems, decks and landscaping, though the footprint of the home did not change.
The family returned from Australia in time to see the drywall go up. “All of the major skeletal work was done, but we were able to participate in a lot of the decisions that made the house just what we wanted,” says the husband. The family moved in during the summer of 2008 and has received a steady stream of overnight guests ever since.
In contrast to the walled-in foyer that once greeted visitors, arrivals are now dazzled by the view right at the threshold. The entry opens to a family room where a row of rocking chairs in front of oversized arched windows overlooks the river. In the foyer, a new floating staircase leads to a second-floor gallery that displays photography and art collected during the family’s stint in Australia and a previous one in Japan. Asian art and mementos also figure prominently in the formal living and dining rooms, which flank the foyer.
In the reconfigured kitchen, a multi-level eat-up island makes casual meals a breeze. New doors lead from the kitchen to the sunroom—a rustic dining area with slate floors, reclaimed beams and breathtaking river views.
Kittrell designed coffered ceilings in the kitchen as well as in the family room, study and sunroom, working with carpenters on site to “hammer out the details.” This attention to detail was also lavished on custom moldings, trim and intricate tile work throughout the home. “I was given a lot of artistic freedom,” says Kittrell. “It was a responsibility that I embraced.”
The second floor boasts a new master suite adjoining the husband’s study, children’s bedrooms and a laundry room. The third floor houses another guest room and bath plus a fabulous playroom with a view—perfect for crafts, games and homework.
The lower level revolves around the home’s many outdoor amenities, including a pool with stairs leading down to a private dock and the family boat. A comfortable seating area with a custom river-rock bar opens onto a large outdoor room complete with a fireplace. There is also a media room, a changing room with sauna and a gym. Linking all of the levels is an elevator with a three-story mural painted by the wife’s mother depicting scenes of Annapolis, the house and the owners’ three kids at play on the water.
Despite its size, guests marvel that the home feels intimate and warm. And the owners are thrilled with the outcome. “I wake up in the morning and think, ‘I can’t believe I live here,’” says the wife.
Kittrell attributes the project’s success to her clients. “They are interesting people, they’ve led interesting lives and they have interesting objects,” she says. “It makes my job easy if I’m inspired by my clients. From a style standpoint, it was all about them.”
Photographer Bob Narod is based in Herndon, Virginia.
INTERIOR DESIGN: Beth Kittrell, Kittrell Interiors, Fulton, Maryland. ARCHITECTURE: Mark J. Bandy, Mark J. Bandy, Inc., Ellicott City, Maryland. RENOVATION CONTRACTOR: KPK Construction, Columbia, Maryland.
To see before & after photos 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.
MAY/JUNE 2010
After a two-year overhaul of their waterfront home, a friend walked onto its deck and reminded the owners why they poured so much effort into the project. “I think my blood pressure just fell 20 points,” he said.
The allure of this 11,000-square-foot perch on the Severn River was so great that the couple with three young kids committed to a scenario that would cause most people’s heart rates to skyrocket. The husband, an executive with an international consulting firm, had accepted a temporary position in Australia. He and his wife decided to purchase the Annapolis home just before their departure and entrusted interior designer Beth Kittrell to orchestrate everything from design to construction during their 18-month absence.
“It was a very unique situation because we hadn’t really worked together yet,” recalls Kittrell. “We had a one- or two-hour meeting at the house. I presented as much as I possibly could in one fell swoop and they were gone. They actually did the settlement from Australia and I got handed the keys.”
The changes the owners had in mind were structural and complex. As it stood, the house did little to show off its phenomenal river views. Its small, closed-in rooms and overall lack of detail begged for what Kittrell calls a “gut job.” So she and her clients launched into design discussions that spanned continents and time zones, communicating via email and the occasional FedEx package.
In conjunction with architect Mark J. Bandy, Kittrell reworked every inch of the interiors. Her goals were to improve flow, define rooms with architectural detail and maximize water views with more open spaces and larger windows and doors. During the process, major upgrades or replacements would be made to the plumbing, HVAC, electrical systems, decks and landscaping, though the footprint of the home did not change.
The family returned from Australia in time to see the drywall go up. “All of the major skeletal work was done, but we were able to participate in a lot of the decisions that made the house just what we wanted,” says the husband. The family moved in during the summer of 2008 and has received a steady stream of overnight guests ever since.
In contrast to the walled-in foyer that once greeted visitors, arrivals are now dazzled by the view right at the threshold. The entry opens to a family room where a row of rocking chairs in front of oversized arched windows overlooks the river. In the foyer, a new floating staircase leads to a second-floor gallery that displays photography and art collected during the family’s stint in Australia and a previous one in Japan. Asian art and mementos also figure prominently in the formal living and dining rooms, which flank the foyer.
In the reconfigured kitchen, a multi-level eat-up island makes casual meals a breeze. New doors lead from the kitchen to the sunroom—a rustic dining area with slate floors, reclaimed beams and breathtaking river views.
Kittrell designed coffered ceilings in the kitchen as well as in the family room, study and sunroom, working with carpenters on site to “hammer out the details.” This attention to detail was also lavished on custom moldings, trim and intricate tile work throughout the home. “I was given a lot of artistic freedom,” says Kittrell. “It was a responsibility that I embraced.”
The second floor boasts a new master suite adjoining the husband’s study, children’s bedrooms and a laundry room. The third floor houses another guest room and bath plus a fabulous playroom with a view—perfect for crafts, games and homework.
The lower level revolves around the home’s many outdoor amenities, including a pool with stairs leading down to a private dock and the family boat. A comfortable seating area with a custom river-rock bar opens onto a large outdoor room complete with a fireplace. There is also a media room, a changing room with sauna and a gym. Linking all of the levels is an elevator with a three-story mural painted by the wife’s mother depicting scenes of Annapolis, the house and the owners’ three kids at play on the water.
Despite its size, guests marvel that the home feels intimate and warm. And the owners are thrilled with the outcome. “I wake up in the morning and think, ‘I can’t believe I live here,’” says the wife.
Kittrell attributes the project’s success to her clients. “They are interesting people, they’ve led interesting lives and they have interesting objects,” she says. “It makes my job easy if I’m inspired by my clients. From a style standpoint, it was all about them.”
Photographer Bob Narod is based in Herndon, Virginia.
INTERIOR DESIGN: Beth Kittrell, Kittrell Interiors, Fulton, Maryland. ARCHITECTURE: Mark J. Bandy, Mark J. Bandy, Inc., Ellicott City, Maryland. RENOVATION CONTRACTOR: KPK Construction, Columbia, Maryland.
To see before & after photos 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.
