Smooth Sailing
The 143-foot Wally Esence marries the sleek form of an America’s Cup contender with the comforts of a luxury yacht. The high-performance, Italian-built sloop boasts a teak deck, a one-person sail handling system—plus air-conditioned cabins and satellite TV. Visit wally.com
Figures like these are a wake-up call to a growing number of area builders and architects taking the initiative to build homes that are more energy efficient and eco-friendly. Meanwhile, consumers are learning that they can help drive the marketplace, whether they are building a new home, remodeling an existing one or simply adopting new earth-friendly practices.
The following pages spotlight the work of DC, Maryland and Virginia architects and builders who are on the cutting edge of sustainable design. This feature also offers advice on how you can be a more responsible steward of the environment by repurposing building supplies and planting greener gardens.
The grandson of Jacques Yves-Cousteau, this present-day explorer and environmentalist carries on the family business with 21st-century flair. At 29, he is the president and CEO of EarthEcho International, a Washington, DC-based nonprofit that he and his sister, Alexandra Cousteau, founded to encourage people to help restore and protect oceans and freshwater systems through the power of the media and personal experience. He has lectured on sustainability at Harvard and the United Nations and also runs Azure Worldwide, a strategic “green lifestyle” consulting firm. And then there’s his television career, which keeps Cousteau on the road (and out to sea) for weeks at a time.
On the rare occasion that he’s in town, he enjoys relaxing at home. “I love design,” says the tall, navy blue-eyed Cousteau, who has spent two years finding just the right mix of furnishings for his bachelor pad. Honing in on a “classic contemporary” look, he has selected clean-lined pieces that convey an Asian aesthetic. Red accents embolden the neutral color palette in the main living space. It opens to his home office, where he works from a sleek glass-topped desk. A world map dominates one wall, while black-and-white photographs of his grandfather adorn another. In his bedroom, a Lumeo bed by Ligne Roset evokes a Zen-like vibe.
Throughout his home, Cousteau displays a treasure trove of artifacts from around the globe. Many of these mementoes were collected by the father he never knew. Philippe Cousteau, Sr., traveled the world to direct, film and produce more than 30 films for “The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau.” Tragically, he died in a seaplane crash just seven months before his son was born.
Being home, Cousteau says, “kind of reminds me of where I come from and where I’m going. All the things from my father and the things I’ve collected over the years have a lot of significance. They connect me to those places and remind me of the importance of the work that we’re doing.”
Born in Los Angeles, Cousteau grew up in the U.S. but spent summers in the south of France. He earned a master’s degree in history at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland.
By the time Cousteau was old enough to go on expedition, his grandfather had traded active duty aboard the Calypso for the life of an “elder statesman,” says Cousteau. Though they never explored together, Cousteau remembers “everything from tasting wine with him—he was a wine connoisseur—to talking about the environment. It was a broad dialogue and that really influenced my sister and me in terms of how we have looked at our work.”
It was his father’s friends, explorers and scientists, who took Philippe, Jr., on his first expeditions. “I got my first exposure to travel exploration and filming,” recalls Cousteau. “And I loved it.”
Philippe and Alexandra Cousteau founded EarthEcho International in memory of their father, in order to take his work to the next level. “My grandfather really opened people’s eyes to images that we take for granted today,” says Cousteau. In turn, Philippe, Sr., studied man’s impact on ecosystems. “Now that we understand a lot of that interplay, how do we take action? That’s the third generation,” Philippe, Jr., says. “We’ve expanded our horizon not just from exploration and oceans, which are kind of the hook and which are sexy,” he continues, “but then how do you translate that into a dialogue with people about a new lifestyle ethic? We’d like people to change their behavior overnight, but that’s not going to happen. It’s really important to take baby steps.”
Cousteau does not own a car; he takes Metro. He buys organic, locally grown food whenever possible. His cleaning supplies are toxin-free. His sheets are organic cotton. And he vows that his next home will be a loft in a green building. All of these choices, he says, help make a difference.
Cousteau’s documentary career dovetails nicely with EarthEcho’s mission. In Animal Planet’s “Ocean’s Deadliest,” which Cousteau co-hosted with the late Steve Irwin, he made the claim that the deadliest creature in the oceans is humankind. In “Oceans,” he has witnessed the horrendous practice of shark-finning in Mozambique, investigated the invasive lionfish in the Bahamas and looked a sperm whale in the eye in the Sea of Cortez. June will find him in the Arctic—the last journey in a year of filming the eight-part, hi-def series. “Oceans” will air in the U.S. in late 2008 or early 2009. Until then, Cousteau faithfully shares adventures and insights from the field in his blog at EarthEcho.org.
One posting made last November upon arrival in Africa for the first time in his life reveals this explorer’s intense passion and purpose: “Trepidation, excitement, joy and wonder have all combined into a tight ball of energy in my stomach….This is going to be quite an adventure and as my father once said, ‘Adventure is where you lead a full life.’”
Photographer Lydia Cutter is based in Arlington, Virginia.
Toto's Ethos Collection
Toto’s Ethos Collection pays tribute to great American cities. Celebrating New York’s Art Deco movement, the Design N II Pedestal Lavatory and Widespread Faucet shown here are sleek and simple but sophisticated enough to work in any style of bathroom. The faucet is polished chrome with contoured lever handles. Visit www.totousa.com.
Available in brushed nickel, the eight-inch Sunray showerhead plays to the whimsical side of shower lovers’ tastes. It features five adjustable shower spokes that radiate from the center spray hub; it mounts to any standard shower arm. Visit www.danze.com.
After introducing the square WaterTile shower spray last year, Kohler debuted the WaterTile Round Shower Spray in 2008. Both products were designed to eliminate the visual clutter of multiple showerheads. The round tile covers the same basic footprint as its square counterpart, comes in two spray intensities and can be adjusted up and down and in all directions. Visit www.kohler.com.
JACLO’s Rain Canopy is designed to transform the mundane shower into a luxurious day at the spa. Rain canopies are available in round, square, oval and rectangular models and in a range of sizes from 12 to 20 inches. Visit www.jaclo.com.
Los Angeles-based Alchemy Glass & Light recently introduced the Celestial Series of sinks, which are crafted from geometric shapes reminiscent of a meteor shower. The Mosaic sink shown here incorporates glass shards and pebbles in a brilliant spectrum of color. Visit www.alchemyglass.com.
Perfect for a powder room or compact bath, Stone Forest’s space-saving Slab Vanity marries a Carrara marble top with a sleek stainless-steel stand. The top is also available in honed basalt. Visit www.stoneforest.com.
Kohler’s new Revival wall-mount faucet creates a clutter-free countertop space that is easy to clean. This wall-mounted version is a new design of one of the company’s most popular faucet collections, perfect for both traditional and transitional settings. It is available in several finishes, including brushed nickel, gold, bronze and brass. Visit www.kohler.com.
THG’s latest line of faucetry is made of Bernardaud porcelain, emulating the finest French dinnerware. The Capucine Mauve motif shown here combines painted purple butterflies with a gold finish. Other styles are stamped with metallic accents or drizzled with garlands of black and gold bay leaves. Visit www.thgusa.com.
The Sirius faucet by Danze makes a sleek, sculptural statement in the bath with its ribbon-like spout. Available in brushed nickel and chrome, the Sirius collection includes a full line of accessories, including shelves. Visit www.danze.com.
Freshen up for spring with Waterworks’
newest line of bathroom accessories. The collection includes toothbrush holder, lidded containers, tank tray and wastebasket (not shown) in iceberg and crepe. Visit www.waterworks.com.
Ann Sacks’ new Mirror tiles bring a modern aesthetic to the bath. The product’s smooth surface and metallic effects—available in silver or copper—convey a minimalist vibe. Intense polishing imparts these porcelain tiles with their reflective surface. Visit www.annsacks.com.
Without a carefully thought-out lighting plan, says lighting designer Wayne Hinson of Washington, DC-based Hinson Design Group, you probably aren’t playing up the drama in your home to its fullest potential. “Lighting is very frequently overlooked,” Hinson says. “I work regularly with a lot of designers in the District because they recognize the need for a good lighting plan.”
A good lighting plan delivers multiple “layers” of light to a room, each individually controlled layer serving a different function. Layers might include overhead downlights, spotlights that highlight art, uplights that wash a wall with light and lamps that provide ambient light.
Hinson finds that many of his clients’ homes have only one layer of light in the form of recessed lights in the ceiling. “These lights really don’t function beyond putting light in the room,” he says. “To create interest in any space, you have to have contrast. When you light with one layer you’re basically doing the same thing as creating a cloudy or an overcast day because there is no shadow.”
Part set designer and part illusionist, Hinson can create a mood, accentuate art or architectural elements and even mask design flaws through the use of strategically placed lighting. Just as interior designers use color to lead the eye to a focal point such as an accent wall in a room, lighting can also perform a similar function. “If you add color to an accent wall and then wash it with light, even better. That wall will have much more interest,” he says.
“You can use lighting to create effects that alter your perception of a space,” Hinson adds. “For example, if you have a narrow hall you can make it seem wider by washing one of the walls with light.”
In a typical dining room project, Hinson might employ anywhere from three to six layers of light. One accent layer would highlight art on the wall or the texture of a fireplace. Another layer over the table would encompass two “pin” lights—1.5-inch spots in the ceiling that make flower centerpieces “pop” and add sparkle to crystal chandeliers. A third layer, two downlights equipped with flood distribution bulbs, would light the table surface so that guests can see what they’re eating, independent of the chandelier. The chandelier, Hinson says, should be lit dimly to simulate the soft, warm glow of candlelight. Barely discernible to the eye, these various layers interact to create an ideal mood in the room.
All of the layers Hinson creates are on dimmers, to allow homeowners to customize a room’s mood even further. Many of the new systems he installs are automated to allow users to select pre-programmed “scenes” in each room. He almost exclusively uses low-voltage lighting in all of his jobs. “They’re so efficient, you save a lot of energy and they provide a much higher quality of light,” he says. “They’re much better at accenting things and they render colors perfectly.”
new design gem
I. Gorman Jewelers recently relocated to a swank new showroom designed by Washington’s Hickok Cole Architects. The space has an inviting but unmistakably hip vibe with floating display cases and a white-resin beverage bar. It’s the perfect backdrop to spotlight I. Gorman’s well-edited collection, including a pendant and cufflinks by jewelry designer Todd Reed. 1133 20th Street, NW; www.igorman.com
made in the shade
Beach-bound sun worshippers are snapping up Jimmy Choo’s new sunglasses. The Marge Ring-Temple shades come in Dark Havana or Black Shiny frames. They’re $296 at Bloomingdale’s Chevy Chase, 5300 Western Avenue, Chevy Chase, MD; www.bloomingdales.com
bag alert
We love the Dior Gypsy hobo in soft red leather from the spring 2008 collection. Its curvy contours are embellished with perforated ruffles—too much fun to resist. Available in three sizes, the medium is $1,750 at Dior, 5471-E Wisconsin Avenue, Chevy Chase, MD, or the Dior handbag boutique in Saks Fifth Avenue in
Tysons Galleria; www.dior.com
Designers Danny Christmas and Shannon Woodward
helped them update the once-drab space using
sophisticated furnishings and a warm color palette.
At home for a short break from the campaign trail in January, ABC News senior political correspondent Jake Tapper plays with six-month-old daughter, Alice Paul, in his sun-filled great room. In two days, Tapper is scheduled to fly down to Fort Lauderdale to catch up with the Giuliani campaign and then to Simi Valley, California, to cover a Republican debate. Where he goes after that is anyone’s guess. “If I get to run home and see Alice during this busy time, I always take the opportunity,” he says as she nods off in his arms. “This makes the three-hour flight worth it.”
With election year in full swing, Tapper will be on the road for weeks on end. But fortunately, the family’s new home in a forested enclave bordering Rock Creek Park offers a peaceful refuge from the fray when Tapper just happens to be in DC. “There’s nothing like coming back here after an intense day of political melodrama and sitting on the porch,” he says. “It’s quiet and isolated. Even though it’s just a few blocks away from one of the busiest streets in DC, it feels like another world.”
A self-described “political dork” who grew up in Philadelphia, Jake Tapper, 38, has lived in Washington since the 1990s. He began his journalism career in print, covering politics for Washington City Paper and later Salon.com. After stints on the CNN talk show “Take Five” and a VH1 series on pop culture, he landed a job with ABC News. Tapper now contributes regularly to “Good Morning America,” “Nightline,” “World News with Charles Gibson” and “This Week with George Stephanopoulos.”
Tapper met Jennifer at the 2004Iowa presidential caucus. They made plans to go to dinner back home in DC the following night. “After that first dinner with him, I knew something was going to happen,” says Jennifer, who does advocacy work on women’s issues. The couple married in 2006 in Jennifer’s home state of Missouri. “We got married at President Truman’s old men’s club,” says Jennifer. “It felt very East Coast because of the history and the politics.”
After a few months in Jake’s Adams Morgan bachelor pad (black leather sofa, James Bond poster), the couple decided it was time to find a more permanent residence. When their agent showed them the four-story home on Rock Creek, they were instantly drawn to the property and its leafy surroundings. “There was so much natural light. I had a deep emotional connection to it on one level because it reminds me a lot of my grandparents’ house...from the bookshelves in the living room to the light to the trees,” says Jake. They made an offer within hours and the house was theirs.
The Tappers turned to mother-daughter design team Danny Christmas and Shannon Woodward for help with the interiors. “Every wall was white,” recalls Jennifer. “There were these thick curtains in the great room. It seemed kind of closed-in and dark. We wanted to make it feel more like a home, give it some warmth and make it a happy place to walk into.”
In close collaboration with Jennifer, Christmas and Woodward set out to create spaces that reflected the couple’s style. They selected a warm color palette of creams and golds and replaced the heavy cornices with dupioni silk drapes. They upholstered new furniture—including a pair of love seats and a sofa in the great room—with rich fabrics in gold, raspberry and toile. And in the dining room, they fashioned custom drapes in a vibrant silk plaid.
“We wanted it to be youthful,” says Woodward. “It’s their first home and Jennifer wanted to be able to entertain more and wanted it to be sophisticated but still fun.”
The Tappers couldn’t be happier with the outcome. “I think having this home be such a reflection of who I am and who Jake is makes me feel very comfortable,” says Jennifer. “Even when he’s not here, it doesn’t seem like he’s very far away.”
The great room of the home.
The Tappers moved into the house in May 2007, just a few months before Alice was born; most of the work was complete in time for her arrival. The nursery is done up in pink—Jennifer’s favorite color. Above the changing table is a painting that Jake created for their daughter in the months before her birth.
To spend as much time as possible with the family, Tapper has a soundproof study equipped so that he can feed audio from home. He also posts daily commentary on his ABC News blog, Political Punch.
In the world of round-the-clock news online and on TV, does this political junky have a hard time disconnecting from the never-ending stream of political drama and punditry? “With 24/7 [news] and Blackberries and email, it can be a challenge,” Tapper admits. “But if Alice is awake, it’s pretty easy to put the Blackberry away.”
Photographer Bob Narod is based in Sterling, Virginia
INTERIOR DESIGN: Danny Christmas, ASID, and Shannon Woodward, Interior Magic, Chevy Chase, Maryland
Part of the beauty—and the challenge—of renovating a home is preserving the spirit of the original structure while creating a new whole. This was the task facing Yuri Sagatov of Sagatov Associates, Inc., when he embarked on a plan to overhaul and expand the 1960s Arlington contemporary that he and his wife Michelle purchased in 2003.
Built on a quiet cul-de-sac, the home is perched on the edge of a wooded ravine. A meandering creek below flows into the Potomac River nearby. Wooded properties located a few minutes from Washington, DC, don’t get much better than this one.
Despite the home’s shortcomings, Sagatov envisioned the full potential of the residence, whose previous owner was the architect who designed it. Like most homes of its era, it contained a series of small rooms, including an outdated kitchen, and had little connection with the surrounding landscape. But its clean lines and dramatic positioning had strong appeal. “The idea was obviously to make the house a lot different,” says Sagatov. “The previous house had really no windows across the back. The goal was to open up the back of the property and leverage the view.”
Sagatov approached the design carefully, taking time to get to know the house and the lay of the land. He devised a plan that would double the size of the original 2,500-square-foot structure with a four-story addition. The finished project would include a spacious new kitchen and great room, an airy loft, two new bedrooms and two new baths plus a lower level complete with an office, a rec room with a home theater and a bar and an exercise room. Careful massing would create a “dialog with the landscape” and conceal much of the new volume from the front of the property, where the façade would in many aspects remain true to its original form.
“I worked on the plans for about two years before we actually started,” says Sagatov. “A lot changes over two years. What you think you want changes. One of the advantages to living in a house prior to renovating is that I got to go through the seasons and got very familiar and intimate with the lot. Having that time to let the plans kind of gestate in the long run allowed me to best leverage the views and the orientation.”
Sagatov cites one of his greatest challenges as “trying to integrate the house so it architecturally looked like one, as opposed to an addition.” He selected exterior materials that would help blend the original structure with the new. The addition is clad in cedar and HardiePanel siding, while the brick on the original façade was painted a complementary dark forest green. Inside and out, natural surfaces and finishes reinforce a well-honed modern aesthetic.
In the foyer, an ascending staircase was removed to make way for a new bedroom on the second floor. To create a smooth transition from the foyer into the new volume, Sagatov concealed a 20-foot steel support beam in the floor system above. “The general idea was to create kind of an acceleration when you walk in. You come through the door and into this view,” he says.
The entry leads through the original part of the home, where the living room and dining room are still located, into the dramatic new space beyond, housing a gleaming kitchen and a great room with 24-foot-high ceilings ascending to an airy loft. By skewing the great room seven and a half degrees from the main bias of the home, Sagatov diverted the view away from the neighboring property. Massive windows frame nature’s glory all year round.
Designed with entertaining in mind, the kitchen features a 48-inch professional range, two full-sized sinks and dishwashers, a built-in espresso machine and wine cooler, and a large U-shaped island with bar seating. The kitchen/great room opens to a large screened porch perched over the ravine.
Throughout the home, natural materials echo its surroundings. “The goal was to create an organic contemporary, to blend a lot of exterior materials and bring them inside the house,” says Sagatov. “We used a lot of slate, Carrera marble and dark woods to create a blending with the forest.”
With no formal training in design or architecture, the “self-taught” Sagatov, 31, learned his trade on the job, working for the family-owned company his father Lou Sagatov started in 1985. “I grew up in the family business,” Yuri says. His experience paid off when the firm was awarded a 2007 Contractor of the Year award for his home in the category of entire house over $1 million.
Ready for the next challenge, Sagatov put this award-winning property on the market late last year. Construction is almost complete on his family’s new home in Arlington, built to be environmentally friendly from the ground up. “It’s extremely green. It will be the first house in Arlington with a full green ‘living roof,’” he says. “We think it will be the greenest house built in Arlington from the systems involved to the insulation to the green roof. It’s going to be a pretty cool house.”
Stone Forest’s Farmhouse Sinks are hand-carved from
honed basalt, papiro cream marble and Carrara marble.
Available in single- or double-basin styles, the sinks measure
33 inches wide, 22 inches deep and 10 inches high.
Visit www.stoneforest.com.
Bronze and copper are popular finishes on the latest kitchen
products, from appliances to hardware. Brizo’s new Baliza
pull-out faucet (above) boasts a brushed bronze finish. It
features a four-function spray feature and a magnetic docking
system to prevent the faucet from dangling.
Visit www.brizo.com.
The new Bellefleur kitchen faucet by Danze was inspired by
the organic shape of a “beautiful flower.” A two-function pull-
down spray spout is fashioned into the flared end of the piece.
Available for kitchen or prep sink. Visit www.danze.com.
Kohler’s new Prologue stainless-steel kitchen sink was designed
to meet the needs of the serious home chef. It features a large
nine-inch-deep basin, a wet work surface, a wire colander that
nestles into the basin and a hardwood cutting board that slides
across the basin and over the colander. The cutting board and
colander can also be stored in an optional drawer system that
fits under the sink. Visit www.kohler.com.
Modern Marvels
High-tech hoods and modular solutions create a sleek look
Siemens's avangGarde multiMedia HoodMulti-tasking chefs
—and their guests—will enjoy hanging out in the kitchen
with Siemens’ avantGarde multiMedia Hood (right). A
high-resolution, 17-inch LCD is built into the 36-inch
chimney-style hood. The unit, which operates by remote,
also plays DVDs and audio CDs.
Visit www.siemens-home.com.
The new Sc61 (below), part of SieMatic’s Modern Classics
kitchen collection, marries form and function. The walnut
wall structure supports cabinets with smoked-glass doors
and open shelves for decorative display. The onWall Rail
features a lighting system and offers easy access to
cooking essentials (inset). Visit www.SieMatic.com.
Stone Forest’s Custom Kitchen Island boasts a top and
sink carved from a single block of a homeowner’s preferred
stone. Homeowners can also customize the material of the
cabinetry and the island’s size. Visit www.stoneforest.com.
Graham & Brown has introduced the CONTOUR wallpaper
collection as an alternative to kitchen tile. The splash-proof
and durable papers include the Mondrian-inspired Geo
five other designs ranging from florals to an Art Nouveau
motif. Visit www.grahambrown.com.
Cabinetry brings a rustic Craftsman look into the kitchen.
Composed of knotty alder, an abundant species in parts
of the Western U.S., the line has beveled edges and the
option of either arched or square tops.
Visit www.canackitchens.com.
Chefs, start your engines. Poggenpohl has partnered
with the Porsche Design Group to create the innovative
Kitchen P’7340, aimed at the growing number of men
who are passionate about cooking and place a premium
on good kitchen design. The modular system is based on
aluminum frames that can be configured any way the
homeowner wants as freestanding units or along a wall.
High-quality glass and textured wood surfaces juxtapose
high-tech styling with natural materials. The kitchen also
features built-in lighting and audio-video systems. All electric
appliances are supplied by Miele. The Porsche Design kitchen
hits U.S. shores in summer 2008. Visit www.poggenpohl-usa.com.
Gaggenau’s RW 414/464 Wine Storage Unit features two
separately adjustable temperature zones for storing white
and red wines, plus a separate storage area for decanters,
opened or over-sized bottles. An optional humidor can also
be placed in the unit, where regulated temperature and
humidity are optimal for cigar storage. The modular piece is
available in either 18- or 24-inch columns.
Visit www.gaggenau-usa.com.
MGS Design’s Vela, crafted from 100-percent stainless steel,
now comes in a new carbon finish to complement the hot
metallics showing up on some of today’s latest appliances.
It also looks great with contemporary black fixtures.
Visit www.mgsdesigns.com.
The Ariston Experience Coffee Center brings ease of use and
flexibility to in-home coffee making. Just 12 inches deep, the
machine can be built into cabinetry, suspended under an upper
cabinet or displayed on a countertop. Programmable controls
adjust the strength, flavor and size of every espresso,
cappuccino or latte. Visit www.aristonappliances.us.
Plan-It Granite & Marble’s new location in Sterling, Virginia,
is a one-stop idea center for kitchen and bath design. In
addition to a wide selection of stone and tile, the showroom
displays a variety of fully designed kitchens to help builders,
designers and consumers choose the features they want f
or top-to-bottom design and installation. It’s an ideal starting
point for remodeling. Call (703) 709-3551
or visit www.plan-itgranite.com.
Liebherr’s new SB-245 refrigerator combines food and wine
storage in a 48-inch, side-by-side solution. The model features
five separate temperature zones for optimum storage, including
a two-zone wine cabinet complete with a glass door. All of
German-manufacturer Leibherr’s refrigeration products are
Energy-Star rated. The company is also the first manufacturer
to comply with RoHS (Restriction of the use of certain Hazardous
Substances) standards worldwide. For more information,
visit the Web site www.liebherr-appliances.com.
They knew the galley kitchen was cramped, the bathrooms were outdated and the tiny windows all but concealed the spectacular views outside. In their minds, the location made up for the home’s lack of character. “It was one of the ugliest houses in the neighborhood,” recalls Karen Grissen. “But Dave was very attracted to the lot being set back here…because of the freedom in the back, not seeing other homes and being able to walk down to the [C & O] Canal.” They bought the 1960s-era center-hall colonial realizing the potential for expansion on its secluded lot.
During their home search, the couple was also drawn to the work of architect Jim Rill, who was designing several unique Craftsman-style homes in the Potomac community of Merry-Go-Round Farm. As soon as they moved in, they set up a meeting with Rill to discuss a renovation.
Little did they know, that initial conference marked the beginning of a decade-long collaboration that would encompass not one, but two, major additions to their home. The Grissens first approached Rill to create a larger, more open kitchen with a breakfast area, a three-car garage and a family room where they could gather with their two young sons. The homeowners envisioned a typical remodeler’s bump-out from the rear, but Jim Rill had other ideas.
“One of the things we really responded to was the site,” Rill recalls. “The house had no connection to the yard, either physically or visually. The kitchen ran across the whole back [of the house] but had a little tiny window. So when you walked in, you saw nothing.” Behind the house was a spartan kidney-shaped pool surrounded by a concrete deck.
Rill proposed building a new wing on the north side of the house set at an angle so that it would not overwhelm the original structure. It would encompass a new garage on the lower level and a light-filled, vaulted family room above it. The home’s former family room would become a spacious kitchen opening to the new family room. What was once the galley kitchen would become a butler’s pantry connecting the new kitchen to the dining room.
Rill’s plan, completed in 2001, also opened up the interior to improve traffic flow throughout the house—and take advantage of the woodsy views outside. Now, there’s an instant visual connection to the outdoors through French doors in the dining room and plenty of windows in the kitchen and family room. A major overhaul of the existing pool by Rowan Landscape Company—including the addition of a waterfall flowing into a hot tub—greatly enhanced the back-yard setting. “By angling the addition a little bit, we were able to give it some drama,” says Rill.
To lend the home character and architectural detail, he honed in on Karen and Dave Grissen’s fondness of Craftsman and shingle-style design. “We call it Colorado rustic Arts and Craft,” says Karen Grissen. “I’m from California, Dave’s from Michigan. We spend a lot of time in Colorado. We just love the architecture out there.”
Rill enhanced the home’s façade with a new front porch and a breezeway with a dormer above that connects the main house to the new wing. A change of materials helped transform the typical colonial into something more eclectic without sending shockwaves through the established neighborhood. “We went with shingles on the second floor and we changed to copper roofs for the breezeway connection,” explains Rill. “We put the balustrade around the front of the house to give it some formality.” Crafstman-style elements also distinguish the interiors, from the custom trusses and the dry-stacked fieldstone fireplace in the family room to the slate floors in the kitchen.
“The second addition kept that inspiration going,” says Rill, describing the most recent phase of the program, which he designed with colleague Kay Kim. An executive in the hospitality industry, Dave Grissen hosts frequent business events at home and liked the idea of creating a large space for entertaining. In addition, the Grissens had grown tired of their small master bedroom and bath in the original part of the home. The idea of building a new wing on the southwestern side of the house was born.
Rill and Kim designed a three-story addition, to be connected to the side of the home by a three-story breezeway. The new master suite, located on the main level, boasts a bedroom with coffered ceiling; a luxurious bath overlooking the woods; a spacious closet with custom-designed cabinetry; and a splendid screened-in porch overlooking the pool. A stairway leads from the suite to Dave Grissen’s third-floor private office, where he can truly focus on work away from the activity of the household.
A curved gallery from the original home’s living room (now used as a den) leads to the master suite and Rill and Kim’s pièce de résistance: an open, freestanding curved mahogany-and-steel stair leading down to the wing’s ground-level entertainment room. “This curve is like a signature by Jim Rill,” says Karen Grissen. “To me, it is like a piece of art.”
The lower level is home to billiards and shuffleboard tables, a seating area surrounding a stone fireplace and flat-screen TV, a full granite-topped bar equipped with another TV and beer on tap, a home gym and a spa bathroom complete with changing room, sauna and steam shower.
On the outside, the architects and builder extended the patio surrounding the pool and paved it with flagstone. They also created a large outdoor fireplace—a last-minute request from the Grissens that got plenty of use during several recent dinner parties.
Rill can hardly contain his enthusiasm when describing how much fun is packed into the entertainment space. “It’s a cabana, it’s a tavern, it’s a terrace, it’s a deck, it’s a family room, a living room, a game room. It’s all those things tied into one. Containing it so that it actually feels like it’s not busy was probably the biggest achievement here,” he says.
Throughout the basement space, materials achieve a rustic but sophisticated look, from the flagstone floors to the mahogany-paneled coffered ceiling and vintage wooden beams. “We wanted the floor to be flagstone so the pool material came right into the house to make it feel like it’s a part of the outside,” explains Rill. “By painting the ceiling coffers green, we also tie into the natural surroundings.”
Despite the clubby feel, the room is full of natural light with windows and French doors wrapping two sides of the space. “Having this much glass in the basement was a real feat too,” continues Rill. “We didn’t want it to look like an addition sitting on a glass block, so we worked on that with columns and brackets and porches. You always get a sense of light from all parts of the house and strong connections to the beautiful views.”
Rill credits his clients for their receptiveness to the playful design elements that make their home complete. “We had a lot of freedom to play with and create fun, eclectic stuff and work with different materials,” he says. “And the builder made it very possible.”
“The new wing has allowed us to entertain more,” says Karen Grissen. “We had 85 people here recently, and it didn’t seem crowded at all. We probably could’ve had another hundred.”
When they first bought the original house, the Grissens never would have imagined what the typical colonial would become. Reflecting on the latest phase of the project, completed one year ago, Karen Grissen says, “When I wake up in the morning, I see a great view from the house and the porch, and the [sound of the] waterfall carries when we open up those French doors. I’m enjoying being home more.”
Photographer Lydia Cutter is based in Arlington, Virginia.
The curved mahogany-and-steel staircase was an engineering
challenge for the architects and builder.
The curved staircase leads to the lower level of the new wing
—an entertainment center complete with a granite-topped bar,
a stone fireplace and seating area, and pool and shuffleboard
tables. Rill suggested painting the ceiling coffers green to tie in
with the outdoors. Flagstone floors, mahogany ceiling panels
and rough-hewn vintage beams create a rustic feel.
The newly expanded pool terrace complete with outdoor hearth
is a great spot for parties all year round. A far cry from the
original home with its tiny windows, the new three-story
wing incorporates the entertainment room on the ground
level, the master-bedroom suite on the main level and an
office space and additional bedroom on the third floor.
Large windows, French doors, porches and catwalks
establish a strong connection to the outdoors.
The Fairfax County home that Richard and Jane Braun purchased in late 2004 came with its own slice of history: a pre-Revolutionary War log cabin that, legend has it, was part of an estate owned by the family of one of Martha Washington’s daughters.
Previous owners of the five-acre property painstakingly restored the cabin, and used it as a guesthouse. So when the Brauns moved into the main house (which is around 20 years old) and started a major kitchen renovation, they took inspiration from the log cabin. The idea was to design a rustic country kitchen using details in synch with those found in an 18th-century home. They turned to Lois Kennedy not only to help them plan a functional kitchen, but to create an ambiance evocative of their property’s historic past.
The overall plan enlarged the kitchen, bumping it out toward the backyard and the log cabin. The new space accommodates a large bi-level island, a professional-grade stove with dual ovens, a separate third oven, two sinks plus a wet bar. The layout works well whether the homeowners are having a quick breakfast, a family meal or a party for 50. The new kitchen also opens to the spacious family room, an ideal setup for entertaining.
From floor to ceiling, the finishes Kennedy and her clients selected exude a worn, rustic patina. Ceramic floor tiles resemble aged terra cotta. Reclaimed solid wood beams line the beadboard ceiling.
Kennedy used antique brick around the stove to suggest an old-fashioned hearth with chimney. Reclaimed barn wood on a cabinet above the stove conceals a television. The same wood fronts the cabinetry beneath the hammered copper sink.
A variety of cabinet and countertop finishes creates visual interest. On the central island, distressed concrete tops rustic barn wood shelves, while the adjacent cabinetry is topped with honed granite. Around the main kitchen sink, a deeper, olive green granite was used.
There are also three types of cabinetry in the space: Cherry that Kennedy had distressed and crackled, antiqued golden cabinets and knotty butternut wood cabinets with leaded glass doors in the bar area.
Jane Braun’s home office just off the kitchen is her “control central,” says Kennedy. “She wanted a little desk area that was out of sight but just off the kitchen.” A cupboard with beadboard doors in Williamsburg green carries the country feel into her space, which leads to a full pantry.
The Brauns are thrilled with the results of their renovation. “It’s wonderful when you have people who aren’t afraid of having some personality and want to give a signature character to a space,” says Kennedy.
KITCHEN DESIGNER: Lois Kennedy, CKD, Portfolio Kitchens, Vienna, Virginia. PHOTOGRAPHER: Lydia Cutter
A true kosher kitchen, with separate areas for milk, meat and “pareve” food preparation, demands a generous amount of space. The Wolasky family, whose Baltimore kitchen was too small to accommodate these three separate zones, approached the designers at Baltimore’s Studio One to update their home and create a complete kosher kitchen.
“The original kitchen was very small and difficult to maneuver as a kosher kitchen. There was not enough space for each task,” says Marie Schwartz, who proposed a plan with colleague Rebeka Gurfinchel that would add more space to the kitchen in the front of the house. This addition would be balanced by a new loggia on the opposite side of the property.
The new front space became a large, light-filled dining area, where decorative painting on the walls reinforces a garden feel.
A breakfast bar connects this area to the main kitchen space, where there are three separate sinks and dishwashers. “The breakfast bar is for ease of dining without having to travel to the main body of the kitchen, as it is now very long,” says Schwartz. “We are partial to breakfast bars of varying sorts—we love the ‘bed and breakfast’ feel.”
Hearth-style cabinetry surrounds the main cooktop, with pull-out spice storage keeping essentials close at hand. A hand-painted tile backsplash creates an Old World look—as do the porcelain floor tiles from Italy.
The kitchen not only meets the family’s dietary requirements, but it’s also an elegant new spot for entertaining.
KITCHEN DESIGN: Rebeka Gurfinchel and Marie Schwartz, Studio One, Baltimore, Maryland. PHOTOGRAPHY: Anne Gummerson, Baltimore, Maryland.
When the time came to update their 28-year-old kitchen, Potomac residents Kelly and Steve Schorer turned to interior designer Linda Steimke and kitchen designer Lois Kennedy to design a highly functional space using the latest appliances and technology. Yet the look they envisioned was Old World, rustic and homey.
The designers gutted the original kitchen and devised a new floor plan that would include plenty of cabinet and counter space, a large center island, a breakfast bar and a separate desk area for Kelly Schorer.
The island is equipped with two refrigerated drawers and two dishwasher drawers on either side of the prep sink. Kelly has found this is the ideal set-up for making lunches for her two teenagers, while the adjacent round table with stools is the perfect spot for a quick breakfast before school.
Kennedy was instrumental in detailed cabinet design throughout the kitchen. She carved out a dedicated space for small appliances on the main countertop and concealed pull-out spice racks in the columns that flank either side of the range. The carved hood incorporating griffins and other mythical creatures is a replica of a similar one Kennedy designed for an NSO show house; the Schorers saw photos of it and requested one of their own.
Kennedy and Steimke worked together to select finishes and colors in the kitchen. “It’s Old World elegance with ease,” says Steimke. “It’s not stuffy or formal.” They honed in on rustic materials that would suggest this kitchen had withstood the test of time, such as the wide-plank, hand-scraped floors and the custom copper farmhouse sink that will develop a rich patina over the years. The designers varied the cabinet colors to avoid monotony. “I enjoy working with different colors,” says Kennedy. “It’s a way to create rhythm and movement and keep it from being too boring.”
KITCHEN DESIGN: Lois Kennedy, CKD, Portfolio Kitchens, Vienna, Virginia. INTERIOR DESIGN: Linda Steimke, Steimke & Associates, North Potomac, Maryland. PHOTOGRAPHY: Lydia Cutter, Arlington, Virginia.
Dan Mesches had a kitchen that hardly reflected his profession as a restaurateur and the chief executive of Star Restaurant Group (Zola, Indigo Landing and formerly Red Sage). Its outdated cabinets, baseline appliances, Formica countertops and linoleum floors had to go. “It was a dark and unwelcoming space,” he recalls.
The Mesches family turned to interior designer Melissa Broffman to renovate the kitchen, breakfast and family rooms; add a mudroom and butler’s pantry; and relate these spaces to the dining room and living room. “The goals were to unify the space of the four main rooms both physically…and aesthetically, to more clearly articulate the Arts and Craft movement reflected in the rest of the house,” says Mesches.
Broffman set out to design a 21st-century kitchen steeped in period charm. She was able to gain space in the layout by combining the former kitchen and breakfast room, once divided by a long bar/countertop, into one large room. Contractors were able to remove a large ceiling soffit that also had divided the space. Broffman integrated a layered lighting plan that includes period pendants, recessed cans, task directionals, under-cabinet pucks and tabletop and floor lamps, all of which are on dimmers. “We do not like harsh, artificial light and the combination of xenon and dimmers allows us to mimic daylight while still providing important wattage for kitchen tasks that require it,” says Mesches.
Broffman emphasized the Arts and Craft aesthetic, utilizing fabric and wallcoverings in William Morris designs that she discovered at J. Lambeth in Washington, DC. Oil-rubbed bronze and nickel faucets, a hammered copper sink and a custom 3.5-inch-thick maple butcher block with a distressed finish by Brad Mizell complete the au naturel look. “There are layers of texture and detail,” says Broffman. “Plenty for the eye to see.”
INTERIOR DESIGN: Melissa Broffman, Allied Member ASID, Melissa Broffman Interior Design, Arlington, Virginia. CABINETRY: Judy Bracht, Stuart Kitchens, McLean, Virginia. CONSTRUCTION: Merrill Contracting, Arlington, Virginia. PHOTOGRAPHY: Lydia Cutter, Arlington, Virginia
