JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2010
It’s Monday, Bryan Voltaggio’s day off. But with a photo shoot taking over his living room, two-year-old son Thacher begging him to ride skateboards and live lobsters to pick up at Dulles, he can hardly kick back.
The Culinary Institute of America grad spent nine years developing his technique with chef Charlie Palmer at Palmer’s New York, Las Vegas and DC restaurants. Then he and his wife Jennifer, a graphic designer, returned to their hometown of Frederick, where Bryan opened Volt to critical acclaim in 2008.
In their Urbana, Maryland, townhouse, Jennifer designated the lower level as the “man cave,” which Bryan outfitted with a rear-projection TV, Wii, PlayStation and two dartboards, one for himself and one for Thacher. Jennifer, meanwhile, took the lead on the main level, furnishing the spaces in a clean, retro-chic style.
On the rare occasion that he is home in time to cook, Voltaggio keeps it simple, making pizza or pasta or grilling chicken or hanger steak. Eventually, he would like a larger kitchen with an induction cooktop (safer and more energy-efficient than gas), multiple dishwashers and open niches for easy storage. “As a chef,” he says, “I like to have everything at my fingertips.”
CAN’T COOK WITHOUT
Porsche knives, All-Clad pots, pull-out faucet.
ALWAYS IN FRIDGE
Milk, butter, eggs, cream, herbs, celery. Plus stocks and sauces frozen in ice-cube trays for late-night, flash in-the-pan meals.
SIGNATURE DISH
“Making the most of whatever is in season, trying new techniques while it’s here and fresh. Right now, it’s mushrooms. Next week it will be something else.”
FUTURE PLANS
At press time, there is talk of Bryan and his brother, “Top Chef” winner Michael Voltaggio, opening a restaurant together.
RECIPE
Spiced Hot Chocolate with Orange and Fennel Marshmallows
Serves 4
Hot Chocolate:
2 ½ cups 2-percent milk
7 oz. dark chocolate 72%, broken into pieces
2 teaspoons cocoa powder
1 ½ teaspoons grated orange zest
2 cinnamon sticks, cut in half
2 vanilla beans, scraped
Heat the milk to a simmer and stir in all ingredients except the dark chocolate. Let the flavors meld for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the chocolate by incorporating with a wooden spoon. Mix in the chocolate until totally combined. Strain the hot chocolate using a fine mesh strainer. Reserve hot until ready to serve.
Marshmallows:
1 cup sugar
3.5 ounces egg whites
½ cup water
20 gelatin sheets
¼ cup confectionary sugar
¼ cup cornstarch
1 teaspoon grated orange zest
½ teaspoon fennel pollen
Bring water and sugar to a simmer. Cook the sugar until it reaches 129 degrees Celsius on a candy thermometer. Meanwhile, whip the egg whites to soft peak in a mixer. Bloom the gelatin in ice water. Warm the gelatin after bloomed in a microwave until melted and warm. Add the gelatin to the finished sugar and continue to mix. Then add the sugar to the egg whites. Flavor as desired at this point. Once the marshmallow starts to cool enough to handle and soft peaks form, remove from the mixer. Using a pastry bag or plastic bag with corner tip cut, pipe the marshmallows into desired shapes. Dust with the cornstarch and powdered sugar mixture.
Goat Cheese Orzo Gratin
Yield: 2 quarts
Goat Cheese Cream:
5 ounces butter
1 tablespoon salt
2 teaspoons white pepper, ground
1/3 cup flour
2 cups heavy cream
32 ounces milk
6 ounces goat cheese
Make a roux with butter and flour. Add cream, milk, and seasonings. Bring to a simmer and whisk in goat cheese. Cool and reserve.
Orzo:
1 lb. orzo pasta, blanched in salted boiling water
½ cup grated aged goat cheese (if not available use Pecorino Romano)
Preheat oven to 375F. Warm the pasta in the goat cheese cream, divide into individual casserole dishes, top with the grated cheese. Bake until golden brown on top.
**Out of the array of interior design magazines, Home and Design magazine stands out as a primary idea source for luxury home designs and coverage of luxury living. Wonderful visuals of luxury getaways and dining options are combined with inspired decor to provide a fundamental reference point for bringing luxury to life in home interiors and beyond.
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2010
Cookies are baking in Carla Hall’s kitchen. The 5-foot-eleven accountant-turned-model-turned chef almost forgets them as she shows visitors her century-old home’s original fireplace and still-working pocket doors. Then, graceful as a dancer, she leaps back to the kitchen to pluck the chocolate-cherry gems from the oven just in the nick of time.
Between catering events, teaching and special appearances, Hall seldom has time to cook at home. “What I like for dinner is what my husband Matthew cooks,” she quips, praising his red curry with chickpeas and potatoes. For breakfast during the week, Hall usually downs a smoothie or oatmeal with fruit. But on weekends, she insists, “I’m in charge of the pancakes.”
She and husband Matthew Lyons, an FDA attorney, recently remodeled their kitchen, working with kitchen designer Shimon Garibi to create a space that marries her taste for traditional with Lyons’s contemporary style. “I like neutral colors but, just like in my food, there’s always a surprise,” says Hall, who trained at L’Academie de Cuisine in Gaithersburg. “I call it ‘oompah.’”
CAN’T COOK WITHOUT
A good stove; plenty of counter space, drawers and cabinets; a raised hood to accommodate her height; deep sink.
ALWAYS IN KITCHEN
Plugrá butter; eggs from the farmer’s market; olive oil.
SIGNATURE DISH
Sea bass en papillote with roasted tomatoes, capers and gremolata butter.
FUTURE PLANS
The launch of the made-to-order Cookie Collection from Alchemy Catering, available online.
STYLING: Ugo Arinzeh, Arinzeh Interiors, Washington, DC .KITCHEN DESIGN: Shimon Garibi, Elite Kitchens, Rockville, MD. CABINETS: Leicht. STOVE: KitchenAid. REFRIGERATOR: Fisher & Paykel. BACKSPLASH: Oceanside Glasstile through Architectural Ceramics. FLOORING: Porcelain tile through Architectural Ceramics. COUNTERTOPS: Silestone.
CARLA HALL'S FAVORITE RECIPES
Vegetable Tagine with Pistachio and Candied Orange Couscous and Cucumber Sour Cream
When preparing a recipe of a particular cuisine, it helps to know what spices are used in that cuisine. In this case, we're using a Moroccan profile (red pepper, cumin seed, coriander, mint, saffron, anise, cardamom, cinnamon). Now that you have the framework, let your imagination go wild.
4 tablespoons olive oil
2 cups chopped onions
2 tablespoons garlic, minced
1 tablespoon ginger, minced
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon ground anise seed
1/4 teaspoon cayenne
Salt and pepper to taste
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 cups diced tomatoes (roasted, if you find them)
2 cups vegetable broth
2 bay leaves
3 cups chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1 1/2 cups each (butternut squash, carrots, sweet potatoes, and parsnips), diced
1/2 cup diced kalamata olives
2 teaspoons lemon zest
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
1 tablespoon chopped cilantro
1. Heat two tablespoons olive oil in a large dutch oven or pot. Add the onions and cook until soft and golden, about 8 to 10 minutes. Add the garlic and ginger and sauté until aromatic, about one minute. Add the spices (cumin, coriander, anise, cayenne, salt, pepper and cinnamon.) Cook until the onions are coated and the spices are nicely toasted.
2. Add the tomatoes, vegetable stock, bay leaves and chickpeas; bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce to a simmer, uncovered, about 15 minutes.
3. While the base of the stew is cooking, heat a large skillet to sauté the vegetables. Toss each vegetable in olive oil and salt. In small batches, sauté the vegetables until they are nicely seared. Add them to the pot as they are finished. NOTE: Start with butternut squash, since it will take the longest to cook.
4. Continue to simmer until the vegetables are nearly tender, about 30 minutes. Add the lemon zest and continue to simmer an additional 15 minutes.
5. Sprinkle with parsley and cilantro, and serve over couscous.
Pistachio and Candied Orange Couscous
2 cups boiling stock (vegetable or chicken)
2 cups couscous
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons olive oil
1/2 cup toasted pistachios
1/2 cup candied orange peel
2 tablespoons mint, finely chopped
2 tablespoons parsley, finely chopped
1 tablespoon lemon zest
1. In a medium bowl, mix couscous, salt and olive oil. Pour boiling stock over couscous and mix well. Cover bowl with plastic wrap. Let sit for at least 5 minutes. Use a fork to break up couscous.
2. Stir in pistachios, orange peel, mint, parsley, and lemon zest. Adjust seasoning if necessary.
Cucumber Sour Cream
1/2 European cucumber, finely diced (not peeled)
8 ounces sour cream
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon lemon zest
Salt and pepper to taste
Combine all ingredients, then season to taste. Chill before serving.
Vadouvan Carrot Soup with Chili Oil
Serves 6 to 8
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 pounds carrots, peeled, sliced
1 rib celery
1 large onion, finely chopped
6 garlic cloves, peeled
4 cups vegetable broth
2 teaspoons Vadouvan spice mix (see below)
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Pinch of sugar
1/4 cup chilled whipping cream
1. Heat oil on medium-low heat in medium-sized pot. Add carrots, celery, onions, leeks and garlic. Sauté until onions are translucent. Season with salt and pepper.
2. Pour in stock and add Vadouvan spice blend. Add lemon juice and sugar. Simmer until carrots are tender, about 30 minutes
.
3. Remove pot from heat. In small batches, purée soup in a blender until silky smooth. Return soup to pot and finish with cream. Thin to desired consistency with additional broth, if necessary. Adjust seasoning.
Chili Oil
8 ounces vegetable oil
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/2 red pepper, diced
2 dried chilies
Sauté red pepper in one tablespoon of oil. Add dried chilies and smoked paprika. Pour in remaining oil and simmer for five minutes. Remove from heat and let cool until lukewarm. Season with salt. Purée until smooth in blender. Strain through cheesecloth into medium bowl. Store in squeeze bottle.
Vadouvan Spice Mix
2 pounds onions, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 pound shallots, halved
12 garlic cloves, peeled
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon fenugreek seeds
1 tablespoon thinly sliced fresh curry leaves (optional)
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground cardamom
1 teaspoon brown mustard seeds
3/4 teaspoon turmeric
1/2 teaspoon grated nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon hot red-pepper flakes
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
salt and pepper
1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
2. Pulse onions in 3 batches in food processor until coarsely chopped. Transfer to a bowl. Repeat with shallots, then garlic.
3. Heat oil in a deep 12-inch heavy nonstick skillet over high heat until it shimmers, then sauté onions, shallots and garlic (stir often) until golden and browned in spots, 25 to 30 minutes.
4. Grind fenugreek seeds in grinder or with mortar and pestle. Add to onion mixture along with remaining ingredients, 1 tablespoon salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper and stir until combined.
5. Transfer to a parchment-paper lined sheet pan and spread as thinly and evenly as possible. Bake, stirring occasionally with a skewer to separate onion, until well browned and barely moist, about one hour to 75 minutes.
**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.
To most homeowners, the word “remodel” suggests a kitchen or bath renovation, a basement makeover or the addition of new rooms to a house. What can be the easiest—and least expensive—way to freshen up a home is often overlooked: an exterior facelift. Whether it’s part of a larger project or a job unto itself, an exterior remodel can transform an outdated or run-down property into a welcoming home with added curb appeal and increased value.
Many architects report that exterior renovations seem to be on the rise as homeowners postpone more elaborate re-dos. “Facelifts are one of the main requests we get,” says Anthony Wilder, principal of Anthony Wilder Design Build, Inc., in Cabin John, Maryland.
“It is really the least expensive way to have the biggest impact on the front of your house.” The options for exterior improvements vary widely in size, complexity and scope, from simple paint jobs and window replacements to major structural changes. To avoid costly mistakes, it’s important to consult a professional who can make sure the changes you have in mind are in keeping with the scale and style of your home and its surroundings, according to architect and designer Ernesto Santalla, AIA, of Studio Santalla in Washington, DC. “It’s a holistic process. It’s about understanding a building and what’s appropriate,” he says, cautioning that alterations to a home should be done for a reason and not on a whim.
To illustrate this concept, he describes a recent project in which he updated the exterior of a run-down contemporary in a woodsy neighborhood. “It had gray siding and white trim, which seemed at odds with the surroundings that are so beautiful,” he says. He replaced the siding with long-lasting îpe, applied vertically to follow the lines of the trees, and also added new windows, deck rails and a copper gutter system.
The results are dramatic. “The color and lines became contextual and allowed us to anchor the house visually to the site,” Santalla says.
While using a material such as îpe can be expensive, in the long run it pays to select products that are low in maintenance with a long shelf life. “Purchasing better quality is going to extend the useful life of the renovation,” says Santalla. “Instead of a 15-year renovation, the client bought himself another 30 years.”
Homeowners can often create a lot of impact with a small quantity of a premium product. Architect Rui Ponte, AIA, LEED-AP, of Ponte-Mellor Architects in Bethesda recently overhauled the exterior of a small Cape Cod. He added a covered front porch with a copper roof and introduced stone detail on the porch base, the new front steps and around the new front door. “The stone and the copper are not that expensive when done in such a small area,” says Ponte, “but they changed the whole character of the house.”
He adds that new front porches, in general, go a long way in creating a more welcoming façade. “If a house is not that great-looking, put a porch on it and it will always look better,” he says. “It makes the front side of your house another living area and gives it a more up-market feel.”
Often, changing simple architectural details such as old vinyl shutters and outdated windows can also make big difference, according to Ponte. “We see a lot of vinyl shutters that are falling apart. You can get some nice cedar shutters and paint them and they’ll look very authentic.”
Wilder often creates new front entries with porticos for his clients’ homes. Porticos, he says, change the whole personality of a home and also provide shelter to guests at the front door. “It’s a very welcoming gesture to have a roof over your head,” he says.
Architect Mark Coupard, AIA, of Coupard Architects & Builders in Falls Church, Virginia, recently renovated the exterior of a Colonial home, replacing the windows and siding and creating a more prominent front entry with a portico and new front door. He also added gabled roof elements to echo the portico and painted the existing brick for a more uniform look. Later, a landscape company added a stone walkway and widened the path to the front door to reinforce the new design.
In this project and any other exterior renovation, landscaping can play a major role in the finished effect. “It’s important to have a landscape company understand what the architect thinks is a focal point. If they can enhance that, it will definitely help,” says Mark Coupard.
Anthony Wilder agrees. “Homeowners have to make sure that landscaping is scaled to the house,” he says. “Older houses are so often dwarfed by plants. Good walkways and landscaping are as important as the front façade.”
Even a new driveway can increase a home’s overall curb appeal. “We often improve driveways with pavers or create an aggregate look with concrete and pea gravel,” says Rui Ponte.
When a client embarks on an exterior renovation, Coupard recommends that they first determine the extent to which they want to make changes. “It’s a matter of levels,” he says, reflecting on the Colonial re-do. “This house would have been pulled together by just painting the brick or changing the front door. It really depends how far you want to take it.”
In Ernesto Santalla’s opinion, “You can change the whole look of a house by just replacing the windows or roof shingles. And then there’s always paint. Color goes a long way. However, each region has its color palette,” he adds, and channeling the hues of the Caribbean on a Georgetown façade may not be the best idea. “You might end up standing out for the wrong reason and it might be a costly mistake. That’s where a design pro is of the essence. We can see a paint chip and know how it’s going to work.”
With careful planning and an eye on context and scale, Santalla concludes, an exterior renovation will be a success. “There are changes that are ego-driven and others that are done because they make sense,” he says. “The latter are the most successful projects. Not every building needs to be a statement project. It’s fine to blend into the neighborhood.”
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2011
A Chef Returns
The Clifton Inn, a member of the prestigious Relais & Châteaux, welcomes Tucker Yoder (left) back to the property as executive chef. The former sous chef at the inn most recently ran the restaurant at The Red Hen in Lexington, Virginia. Now at the helm at Clifton, he plans to build upon relationships with local farmers and purveyors in the creation of his menu, which includes roasted snapper with grilled fennel, herb gnocchi and lobster bisque. The inn’s dining options include a private table in the wine cellar. thecliftoninn.com
Chocolate Fix
Co Co. Sala has spread its wings into cyberspace. After opening its chocolate boutique in September, the popular DC restaurant and chocolate lounge began selling its artisanal sweets (right) online. Of course, DC denizens may still find it more fun to shop—and sample the wares—in person. 929 F Street, NW; 202-347-4265. cocosala.com
For more Indugences click here.
**Out of the array of interior design magazines, Home and Design magazine stands out as a primary idea source for luxury home designs and coverage of luxury living. Wonderful visuals of luxury getaways and dining options are combined with inspired decor to provide a fundamental reference point for bringing luxury to life in home interiors and beyond.
Hidden away on a wooded cul-de-sac, this Tudor-style home leads a first-time visitor to believe that she’s been whisked away from the nearby Tysons Corner corridor and has landed somewhere in the mountains of West Virginia. On a Friday in late August, butterflies and hummingbirds flit in and out of the morning glories and butterfly bushes while the pool tempts guests to laze away an afternoon.
Until recently, the owners’ 1980s-era home barely reflected upon this glorious backdrop. With closed-in rooms and small, poorly placed windows, “the house was an introvert,” says interior designer Marlies Venute of Marlies Venute Interior Design, who just completed a renovation of the home. Without changing the footprint and by moving very few walls, she devised a plan that would expand the home’s interiors and its views of the outdoors. “The house looked inside, not outside. We put in big windows and openings so the light comes in,” she says.
With two grown sons, the couple was ready for a change but reluctant to sell the house, which backs up to land protected by the Chesapeake Bay watershed. “The house was built in 1982 and was very much a product of its time,” says the wife. “It had narrow passageways and a lot of cluttered spaces that didn’t make sense. We needed to modernize it and open it up.”
The homeowners had discussed doing a renovation for a year or two. “We had spoken to a kitchen designer and a contractor. But I told my husband we really needed a decorator because every room looks onto other rooms,” recalls the wife. “We needed help.”
Though they first approached Marlies Venute to remodel their kitchen, the project evolved as she presented additional possibilities for improvement in the foyer, family room and powder room on the main level and in the master suite upstairs. During a three-month design phase, Venute would present her ideas, turning favored concepts into detailed renderings to help her clients visualize the outcome. “When somebody hires me, I familiarize myself with the project, then any idea that comes to me I present informally. If I really think something is a good idea, I present it three times,” Venute explains. “If it’s shot down the third time, I give up.”
It was after the designer’s third presentation that the couple decided to embark on a whole-house renovation. The plan would improve upon the best of what the house had to offer while replacing the most out-of-date features, finishes and appliances. Venute’s goal was to create a sense of openness and light and improve the interior layout while keeping the tone transitional enough to complement the home’s original Tudor style.
The results are dramatic. A new vaulted entry greets guests at the front door, where they enter an airy foyer made more spacious by the removal of an awkwardly placed closet. A widened hallway opens to the kitchen where large windows reveal sweeping views of the backyard.
In the adjacent family room, where there was once a closed wall of shelving, a floor-to-ceiling window now overlooks a stand of old-growth trees. The absence of frames and window treatments creates a striking, modern effect. The existing brick fireplace was re-cast in limestone. A revamped powder room off the family room boasts another frameless window and a custom vanity of Venute’s design.
Major structural changes transformed what had been a cramped, boxy kitchen and separate butler’s pantry into a wide open, inviting space. The wall between the kitchen and living room was moved back 30 inches to provide enough room for a free-standing island in the kitchen. Venute positioned most of the cabinetry and a 42-inch refrigerator along this new wall so that the opposite wall of the kitchen could center on an oversized window where the owners now enjoy views of the pool and gardens.
From the butler’s pantry, a series of archways once led through a hallway and past a laundry room and closet into a sunroom, which was added onto the house in 1994. Venute eliminated the Tudor-style arches and closet and was able to widen the access to the light-filled sunroom—another vast improvement to the overall flow of the house, especially during parties. The wife didn’t want to give up the arches completely, so Venute’s carpenter painstakingly re-purposed some of the existing mahogany millwork to create a wood-framed archway leading into the sunroom.
The master suite also underwent a major overhaul. Previously, two small windows overlooked the backyard while the bed was positioned facing inward. Venute opened up the back wall to create a large window and designed a custom bed that looks out toward the scenery. To solve the dilemma of where to put the TV so it wouldn’t block the view, she devised a cabinet that conceals a flat-screen on a shelf that easily pulls out for viewing. In what was a small bathroom and a separate vanity area, the couple’s new master bath, with its enormous sky light, oversized shower and soaking tub, is a relaxing, spa-like retreat.
Throughout the process, Venute provided the owners with eco-friendly options. Replacement windows are energy- efficient models surrounded by improved insulation. Halogen lights replaced conventional bulbs and dimmers were installed to save energy as well.
The owners also hired American Automation to install an audio-visual system operated by touch panels in every room. “I think one of the things that’s really important is that a house has staying power,” says Venute. “You should install the latest technology you can afford. Whether you have a house that’s traditional or very contemporary, as far as looks are concerned, the technology should be behind the skin.”The owners are now enjoying their home and its peaceful surroundings more than ever. “Everywhere you look, there’s beauty,” says the wife. “We see the change of seasons; we can really observe them. It is a unique property and the house now embraces that.”
Photographer Bob Narod is based in Herndon, Virginia.
DESIGN: Marlies Venute, IFDA, and Amy Chester, design assistant, Marlies Venute Interior Design, McLean, Virginia. CONTRACTOR: Frank Vitiella, JSV, LLC, Stafford, Virginia.
A New York-based couple approached Robert Cole and Sophie Prévost of ColePrévost Incorporated with a time-sensitive proposition. They had just purchased a new penthouse apartment in DC, where the husband frequently commuted for work, and they needed help with its interiors. The catch? With a second child on the way, they wanted this second home completed and fully furnished before the birth a few months away.
“We had to find things that were in stock,” says Prévost. “That was a challenge. But it went really smoothly. The client was wonderful to work with and she knew what she liked.”
With a few bold strokes, Cole and Prévost, a husband-and-wife architecture and design team, transformed the bare, two-bedroom apartment with a study and loft into a warm and inviting home that reflects their clients’ modern aesthetic. The designers established clean lines and a stronger sense of proportion by replacing the standard trim throughout the home with taller, flat-paneled base and crown molding. They departed from the typical layout in the main, L-shaped living space, shifting the dining area away from the kitchen to create a casual spot for lounging and TV—a practical arrangement with little ones afoot. This family room area opens to more formal living and dining areas rimmed by walls of windows on three sides.
The homeowners, who have lived in Hong Kong and Beijing and collect Asian antiques, wanted their home to reflect an Eastern sensibility. In the living room, they selected comfortable furniture with simple lines and calm, neutral colors. For contrast, Prévost sought fabrics and rugs that are “sophisticated and elegant but quiet, without large patterns. It’s all about the texture,” she says. A coffee table by Moroso has two separate, overlapping forms that are moveable, so the owners can morph its overall size and shape. “I just love what it does to a space as opposed to having one big square or rectangular table and everything becomes very stiff,” says Prévost. “It’s much more organic.”
Prévost designed a few custom pieces for her clients, including the sleek round walnut dining table that expands to seat eight guests and the narrow tables flanking the family room sofa, which are made of walnut and hot-rolled steel.
A wall of custom walnut cabinetry provides display and storage space—and lends the dining area a more finished look. Cole created sliding panels painted a bold pumpkin color to conceal the glass doors leading into the home office. “It’s not so great to be staring into an office from the dining room, so we created this really nice backdrop,” says Prévost, “which makes it a cozy, warm, yet more formal space.”
In the kitchen, the designers traded the original Shaker-style cherry cabinet fronts for walnut doors and a darker, more uniform look. They also re-built what was a bulky island, creating a curved granite top that now serves as a breakfast bar for casual meals.
Upstairs, the loft doubles as a guest room with a sleep sofa and a play space for the kids. A vinyl rug from France inspired the cheery blue and green color scheme. ColePrévost widened the stairway leading to a spacious roof deck, where the owners can entertain guests. “We wanted the space to be great for the kids but still be a grown-up place,” says Prévost. “You can have a party up here and it wouldn’t look like you were in the kids’ play room.”
Cole and Prévost also upgraded the condo’s two bathrooms with new doors on the existing cabinets, new limestone countertops and sinks and nature-inspired backsplashes.
Without major construction, ColePrévost was able to elevate the home’s standard fixtures and finishes to a new level. “Changing the framework and adding some accents, like re-doing the bathrooms, makes a big difference,” concludes Prévost. “It really changed it from a developer’s model to a well-designed place.”
Photographer Angie Seckinger splits her time between Potomac, Maryland, and Spain.
INTERIOR DESIGN: Robert Cole, RIBA, and Sophie Prévost, ASID, ColePrévost Incorporated, Washington, DC.
Potenza, a rustic Italian eatery, has opened in DC’s historic Woodward Building. Taking inspiration from this 1911 landmark, CORE Architecture/Design preserved the character of its historic hallway (left), which overlooks Potenza’s antipasto bar and curing room. It is one of several unique dining spaces where guests enjoy a delicious mix of wood-fired pizzas, homey pastas and local charcuterie. 1430 H Street, NW; 202-638-4444. www.potenzadc.com
New York restaurateurs Stefan and Victoria Trummer have opened Trummer’s on Main in a revamped 1869 hotel in historic Clifton, Virginia. With executive chef Clayton Miller (whose resume includes The French Laundry) at the helm and a former sommelier from The Inn at Little Washington, Trummer’s promises to be a culinary destination worth a visit. 7134 Main Street, Clifton; 703-266-1623; www.trummersonmain.com
Many Washingtonians clamor to throw their last outdoor parties of the season as the days of summer dwindle. Slightly cooler and less humid than prior months, September still serves up blooming gardens, a bounty of fresh produce and the irrepressible music of crickets after dark.
For interior designer Skip Sroka, principal of Bethesda, Maryland-based Sroka Design, the impromptu dinner party he held last September at his Washington home was especially bittersweet. Not only was summer drawing to a close, but he and his partner, John Kammeier, had just finalized plans for a new custom home in DC and construction would soon be underway. This would be the final al fresco party they would host in their home of 10 years.
But when it comes to entertaining, Sroka has never been one to fuss—for reasons sentimental or otherwise. This casual garden party was meant to be as relaxed and carefree as a worn pair of Topsiders. Seven friends would come over for drinks and a simple dinner on the terrace; later in the evening, Kammeier, an apparel industry executive, would arrive on a flight home from Italy and join the festivities.
No matter how large or small a gathering, Sroka swears by preparing all of the elements—from flowers and place settings to appetizers and main courses—in advance. “If you’re going to have friends over, you can’t spend all of your time in the kitchen because then you’re not with your friends,” he says. In this case, he purchased lilies, peonies and roses a few days ahead of the party and created simple arrangements in his service kitchen that morning. “Buy your flowers tightly budded because they’ll last longer,” he recommends. “You get to enjoy them longer....buy them two or three days before you’re doing an event.”
Sroka pulled out dinnerware a few hours before guests would arrive. The outdoor table was set, the napkins folded and the salad plates placed on trays on the island awaiting last-minute assembly. He also lined up dozens of votive candles on the tables and terrace walls. “Candles are one of the most inexpensive ways to create that festive mood,” he says.
Minutes before the first arrivals, Sroka put a few prepared spreads and crackers on trays. He lit a low fire under the pot of homemade pasta sauce that he had prepared the day before. Then he greeted guests, poured libations and chatted on the terrace until it was time to cook the pasta.
While Sroka makes entertaining look like a breeze, a lot of careful planning and innovation went into designing this home where traffic easily flows in and out through seven pairs of French doors. In 2001, Sroka and Kammeier gutted and completely rebuilt their 1942 residence—once home to legendary broadcaster Edward R. Murrow. Following the interior renovation, they set their sights on improving the outdoor spaces. “About four years ago we decided to expand the terraces and create a few more outdoor rooms,” Sroka says. “The living room had a cocktail terrace, but then we created the sun terrace behind it. And we pushed the area around the kitchen forward with a retaining wall to create a really nice outdoor space.”
Over the years, he and Kammeier used the terraces constantly, whether enjoying a quiet breakfast over the newspaper or hosting a large party. “For as much as people complain about Washington,” says Sroka, “there are actually a lot of nice days that you get to be out.”
Once dinner was finally served (delayed ever so slightly by a photo shoot underway), Sroka’s friends were chatting up a storm. He was the life of the party—only leaving his friends to stir the sauce or open a wine bottle. He also enlisted help from his guests, who were happy to plate the salads or fill the water glasses. “It was a great success,” says the designer.
As he readied for his July move, Sroka reflected on leaving the home where he has celebrated so many happy occasions. “There will surely be a couple of points where it will be very sad. There are no two ways about it. But I’m sure that by the time I arrive at the new house I’ll be back into the present.” And, no doubt, ready to throw another garden party come September.
Timothy Bell is a photographer with studios in Washington, DC, and New York City.
Here Comes the Sun
A village of 20 one-of-a-kind houses will spring up on the National Mall from October 8 to 18. These compact, modular abodes will bring the latest solar technologies to the forefront as teams from 20 colleges and universities compete to design, build and operate the most attractive energy-efficient solar-powered homes.
The fourth occurrence of this event since its inception in 2002, the 2009 Solar Decathlon will host teams from the U.S., Canada, Germany and Spain. Each home in the competition must produce enough electricity and hot water from solar panels to perform all the normal functions of a home—from powering the lights to cooking, washing clothes and dishes and maintaining a comfortable temperature. Homes will be open to the public for tours from October 9 to 13 and October 15 to 18.
"As part of the building competition, the next generation of green engineers, architects, designers and professionals gains valuable experience that will help them to lead America toward a clean energy future,” says Steven Chu, secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy, which sponsors the Solar Decathlon. For more information, visit www.solardecathlon.org.
Nestled on four wooded acres, Judy and Stuart Sebring’s new custom home evokes a lodge out West with its stone walls, hand-forged ironwork and rough-hewn beams. Though it would appear right at home in Colorado, this property was built in an established neighborhood in Potomac, Maryland, carefully crafted inside and out with natural and eco-friendly materials. Warm and welcoming, the home suits the Sebrings’ relaxed aesthetic and lifestyle, whether they are sharing dinner for two or hosting a charity event for 200. Despite the home’s rustic shell, chic upscale furnishings and personalized amenities abound, from the dedicated “dog room” with a walk-in shower for their five pets to an indoor spa with a glass wall that can be opened wide to the pool terrace in warm weather.
Photographer Gwin Hunt is based in Annapolis, Maryland.ARCHITECTURE: Neal Hodgson, AIA, Neal Hodgson Architect, Washington, DC. INTERIOR DESIGN: Sharon Kleinman, Transitions, Potomac, Maryland.
On a quiet Kalorama street lined with embassies, a modern building stands out amid the stately façades. Given the neighborhood, it’s only fitting that one of its four spacious condominium apartments harbors a veritable United Nations of design. Its homeowner has amassed a collection of European furniture, lighting, rugs and accessories with help from designer Douglas Burton, a principal at DC’s Apartment Zero. It is a serene refuge that is cutting-edge modern and at the same time warm and inviting.
Yves Delorme has opened a concept store in Bethesda’s Wildwood Shopping Center that marries its signature textiles and linens with furniture, lighting and decorative objects by French manufacturer Mis en Demeure. Designed to evoke the interiors of a splendid mansion, with dining, salon and bedroom settings, the showroom inspires shoppers to create their own stylish vignettes at home.
The Mis en Demeure collection is classic in line, but dressed with up modern touches and a “negligee” attitude, according to Mis en Demeure project manager Aude de Jaham, She points out a Louis XV-style sofa upholstered in a mix of contemporary fabrics and a framed mirror that’s so oversized that it expresses a new “point of view.”
Yves Delorme’s new location is 10301A Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda, Maryland. Phone 301-897-5009 or visit www.yvesdelorme.com. —Sharon Jaffe Dan
PHOTOGRAPHY: Michael Moran.
Eco-luxury in Portland
Located in the heart of Portland, Oregon, the Nines hotel has debuted in a 1908 building that once housed a famed department store. Today, the 331-room Starwood property is fresh from a major renovation that preserved its architectural heritage while introducing a number of eco-conscious initiatives; Silver LEED certification is pending. The seven-story atrium lobby is bathed in natural light. Rates from $249. www.thenines.com.
Old Town Escape
Kimpton Hotels recently unveiled the chic new Lorien Hotel & Spa in Old Town Alexandria. Noted interior designer Vicente Wolf has created modern interiors that respect the city’s historic charm. Bathrooms juxtapose contemporary vanities in gray stone with elegant claw-foot tubs. The Lorien is also home to the restaurant BRABO by Robert Wiedmaier. Rates from $269, with weekend specials available. www.lorienhotelandspa.com.
Presidential Style
The historic Carolina hotel at North Carolina’s Pinehurst Resort has just put the finishing touches on a new presidential suite. Designed by Gary Inman of Glavé & Holmes Associates in Richmond to reflect the hotel’s provenance, the 1,700-square-foot retreat boasts a bedroom that opens to an octagonal study. Rates from $1,200, including breakfast and dinner. www.pinehurst.com.
Building green should no longer be the exception but the rule, according to Yuri Sagatov of Sagatov Homes. “It is simply fundamental building science,” he says. “It’s not a fleeting new product with an unproven history or even something that is visible in the finished project. It’s more about maximizing the efficiency of the building and minimizing its building-waste stream.”
A case in point is the new custom home Sagatov recently designed and built for Carolyn Miller and Jim Allenchey on an infill lot in Arlington, Virginia. With an open floor plan and clean-lined, vaulted spaces, the property appears to pay homage to good modern design rather than green building. But from the moment the previous house on the lot was demolished, Sagatov embraced the latest energy-efficient technologies, air quality standards and eco-friendly construction practices in building the new home, which ultimately earned it a Five Star-plus Energy Star rating—the EPA’s highest rank.
Miller and Allenchey first met Sagatov on a tour of the builder’s own home. They were drawn to its clean, modern aesthetic as well as its eco-friendly footprint. “It probably never occurred to us not to build green,” says Miller, a principal at Marshfield Associates, a DC-based investment advisory firm. “It’s the responsible, right thing to do and we try to do it in other aspects of our lives so why not do that here?”
After his clients decided on a lot in Arlington, Sagatov embarked on a design program based on their request for an open floor plan with lots of natural light and views of the surrounding woods. “They basically gave me an idea of what they wanted, but free rein on how to design it,” he says.
Sagatov created a home with two large, rectangular masses connected by a center section that houses the foyer and a floating staircase. On the main level, one mass encompasses the living and dining rooms while the other houses a home office and a professional-grade kitchen for Allenchey, a chef and the owner of Dominion Deli in Falls Church. Voluminous windows blur the lines between indoors and out.
Every step of the way, Sagatov incorporated green features that are largely hidden behind the home’s sleek façade. “Most of the things we do for green aren’t really sexy,” he says. “They have to do with building science, trying to build as tight an energy efficient house as possible.”
Even before construction, Sagatov minimized the waste stream. During the demolition of the lot’s previous home, his team sorted and recycled 75 percent of the materials, including metals, concrete, bricks, windows and kitchen equipment. By using pre-fabricated wall panels for framing, they saved 20 percent in scrap material, he says.
Sagatov carefully sited the new house to take advantage of passive solar gain, positioning the living and dining rooms so that they receive maximum exposure throughout the day.
A comprehensive insulation program combines dense-packed cellulose throughout the structure with an air-sealing package focusing on key areas of energy loss. All windows and doors are low-emission, argon filled to eliminate air loss and energy exchange. Even the HVAC ducts are sealed with mastic, a gum-like substance, to prevent minute leaks in the system.
Clean air quality was a high priority for the homeowners, who have three dogs and two cats. The home’s dual HVAC systems employ top-of-the-line air filters and energy-recovery ventilators, which are needed to bring fresh air into homes that are so tightly sealed. Every three hours, they exchange all the air in the house.
Bathed in light with views of the surrounding canopy of trees, the living room enjoys a strong connection to nature. A high-efficiency, wood-burning stove with a custom concrete surround provides warmth on chilly nights. Oversized shaded pendants make a bold statement. Like all lighting in the house, they are on dimmers, which greatly reduce energy requirements.
In lieu of walls, only variations in ceiling height delineate the open living room, adjoining dining room and the kitchen on the other side of the floating staircase. Working closely with Allenchey, Sagatov designed the kitchen for serious cooking, with a professional Thermador cooktop and hood, a large granite-topped island and stainless-steel countertops. The kitchen opens to a large screened porch, where the homeowners enjoy morning coffee with their menagerie.
Upstairs, there are three bedrooms with their own baths, as well as a laundry room. Large, round windows in each of the vaulted bedrooms dapple the walls with sunlight. The master bathroom features a custom cherry vanity and a heated marble floor.
The lower level of the 5,000-square-foot home features a mud room, a guest room that doubles as a yoga studio, an 8,000-bottle wine cellar and what Miller calls her husband’s “man room” complete with a pool table.
Natural landscaping surrounding the house places an emphasis on minimizing runoff. Permeable paving materials were used on the driveway, walkways and patio.
Whether you’re indoors or out, this is a home that revolves around enjoying—and protecting—its environment. Intelligent design and sustainable building practices aside, it’s simply a serene, relaxing place to be. Says Miller, “We love the way our home invites nature into our daily lives. At the end of the day when we walk into our house, the world goes away.”
DESIGN/BUILD: Yuri Sagatov, CR, Sagatov Homes, Falls Church, Virginia.
