GIORGETTI’S DRIVE SOFA, designed by Carlo Colombo, pairs a streamlined seat with walnut canaletto feet; leather or cloth upholstery can be detailed in leather piping. Find at the new Salus Homes showroom in Bethesda. salus-homes.com

STICKLEY FURNITURE’S MARTINE COLLECTION recasts mid-century lines with soft curves and graceful arcs. The assemblage includes a bar cabinet/armoire, a solid-cherry vanity/desk and an upholstered accent chair. At Belfort Furniture. belfortfurniture.com

HOLLY HUNT’S EON DRAWER CABINET is part of the new HH40 line, which marks the brand’s 40th birthday. Made in the U.S. in an oak, walnut or lacquered (pictured) finish, the piece boasts four or six soft-close doors and solid-brass hardware. hollyhunt.com

ROCHE BOBOIS’ ACCOLADE ARMCHAIR, designed by Antoine Fritsch and Vivien Durisotti, delivers comfort in a sculptural silhouette. Upholstered seats and backs in bi-density polyurethane foam embrace users atop a metal base; available in four color pairings. roche-bobois.com

POLTRONA FRAU’S DUO CABINET reinterprets a classic 1950s sideboard. Spacers between the base and top lend a sleek, modern feel. Configured as a high chest or low credenza (pictured above), the solid-wood piece comes in ebony, natural walnut or inlaid walnut, with a contrasting maple interior. poltronafrau.com

LIGNE ROSET’S BISCOTTO PEDESTAL TABLES marry contrasting hues of cut and polished marble. A 16-inch-tall model combines white and beige stones while a 13-inch-tall version mixes gray and beige. Finished with a water-repellant treatment. ligne-roset.com

MERIDIANI’S PLINTO TABLE pays homage to the architectural plinth. Its monolithic base and light metal frame support a minimalist top. Find in an array of shapes, sizes and finishes—from marble (pictured above) to lacquer and wood—at the new Meridiani showroom in Glover Park. meridiani.it/en

GREEN FRONT NOVA in Manassas showcases Lane Venture furniture that revolves around entertaining indoors and out. Charlotte Dining Chairs, offered in multiple upholstery options, are pictured above with the faux-stone-topped Palisades Dining Table. greenfront.com

Casual looks in CH Carolina Herrera’s Spring 2024 collection lean into a palette of pearl and black. Pictured: The Oversize White Shirt ($525) in poplin offers a fresh take on a classic silhouette. Shown in python skin, the Doma Insignia Satchel ($2,235) comes in an array of leather hues. The CH Sparkling Bracelet ($240) adds a touch of glam. At CityCenterDC boutique. chcarolinaherrera.com

When an outpost of Pastis, New York’s lauded French bistro, landed in DC’s Union Market District in January, it imported more than steak frites and onion soup gratinée from its Manhattan sibling. Interiors by Ian McPheely of Paisley Design NYC feature the familiar red-leather banquettes, subway-tile walls and Parisian style that grace its predecessor. A full cocktail menu and wine list round out the action. 1323 4th Street, NE; 202- 471-1200. pastisdc.com

CREW UP The Ergatta elevates full-body rowing workouts with technology and a competitive edge. Handcrafted in the U.S. out of cherry or oak (depending on the model), the machine is equipped with a water-filled flywheel for resistance and offers users an interactive, game-based digital experience. From $1,699. ergatta.com

ADVENTURE MODE Samsung has introduced Odyssey Ark, the world’s first 55-inch, 1000R curved gaming screen, designed to deliver cinematic picture quality, immersive surround sound and a flexible interface to avid gamers. The Ark Dial, an exclusive controller, lets users quickly manipulate a variety of settings while four speakers and two central woofers produce rich, realistic sound. From $1,799; samsung.com

MOLTEN SOUND With a simple, organic form inspired by lava rock, Pantheone Audio’s Obsidian speaker combines high-end design and acoustic performance. The Alexa-ready device, handcrafted of resin, streams high-resolution audio thanks to its powerful internal woofer and two silk dome tweeters. Available in black and white. $1,399. pantheoneaudio.com

Riva, Maryland, resident David Sites hasn’t missed a day out on the water since December 30, 2022. No matter what the weather brings, the amateur photographer takes off in one of his two boats for a daily outing on the South River, often reaching the Chesapeake Bay. Photos captured on his iPhone have earned him thousands of Facebook and Instagram (@motoxdms) followers—along with a number of magazine covers. Every morning, Sites takes a shot of the river (above) from a deck off his bedroom. This sunrise scene on March 1, 2024, reminded him that spring was on the way. “It was a beautiful morning,” he recalls. “I feel blessed to wake up to this view every day.” Photo: David Sites

HIRSHHORN MUSEUM
Revolutions: Art from the Hirshhorn Collection, 1860–1960
Through April 20, 2025
To mark its 50th anniversary, the Hirshhorn has mounted an ambitious exhibition documenting the evolution of modernism and the emergence of abstraction. Alongside 270 works by icons such as Francis Bacon, Georgia O’Keeffe and Pablo Picasso, pieces by 19 contemporary creators are on view. This juxtaposition demonstrates how many of the artistic ideas explored between the groundbreaking years of 1860 and 1960 remain relevant today.
hirshhorn.si.edu

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF ASIAN ART
Do Ho Suh: Public Figures
April 27 to April 29, 2029
To commemorate its 100th anniversary, the museum commissioned a sculpture by contemporary Korean artist Do Ho Suh that upends the conventional notion of a monument and its focus on heroic individualism. Installed on the Freer Plaza facing the National Mall, Suh’s piece consists of a massive plinth that, instead of supporting a vaunted subject, is held aloft from below by a multitude of individual figures. asia.si.edu

HILLWOOD ESTATE, MUSEUM & GARDENS
Fragile Beauty: Art of the Ocean
June 8 to January 5, 2025
Hillwood celebrates the sea in an exhibit displaying works in its permanent collection, from seascapes to pieces hewn from marine materials. Accompanying artworks by contemporary creators raise awareness about the dire state of the earth’s waters. hillwoodmuseum.org

THE PHILLIPS COLLECTION
Up Close with Paul Cézanne
April 18 to July 14
A special installation unveils a restored landscape and self-portrait by renowned post-Impressionist Paul Cézanne, along with five other works by the artist. Patrons will glimpse details that had been obscured over time and learn about the painter’s process. phillipscollection.org

NATIONAL BUILDING MUSEUM
Frank Lloyd Wright’s Southwestern Pennsylvania
Through March 1, 2025
This immersive exhibition aims to articulate Frank Lloyd Wright’s creative vision by presenting realized and unrealized residential, commercial and civic projects the architect designed for sites in Pennsylvania between the 1930s and the ’50s. A meticulously researched animated film takes visitors on a virtual tour of five unbuilt structures; models are also on display. nbm.org

SMITHSONIAN AMERICAN ART MUSEUM
Pattern and Paradox: The Quilts of Amish Women
Through September 2
The bold, graphic aesthetic of Amish quilts captured the eye of the 20th-century art world. Highlighting a number of these iconic textiles created between 1880 and 1950, this show explores how the women makers and their traditional communities reacted to such “worldly” attention. americanart.si.edu

Subversive, Skilled, Sublime: Fiber Art by Women
May 31 to January 5, 2025
Works from the SAAM’s permanent collection demonstrate how fiber art, an often-dismissed art form, can be as powerful, meaningful—and subversive—as other media. Thirty-four pieces on view at the museum’s Renwick Gallery range from quilts, tapestries and rugs to twisted and bound sculptures. americanart.si.edu

RESTON TOWN CENTER
Tephra ICA Arts Festival
May 18 to 19
The streets of Reston Town Center brim with handmade art and craft at this annual event, now in its 33rd year. More than 200 artists from 25 states will exhibit at the show, which also features food trucks and a concert. tephraica.org/festival

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF ASIAN ART
Striking Objects: Contemporary Japanese Metalwork
Through early 2026
In Japan, modern metalwork pays homage to age-old practices while forging innovations in materials and techniques. More than a dozen vases, vessels and sculptures in an array of metals illustrate this convergence of new and old. asia.si.edu

THE KREEGER MUSEUM
Here, in this little Bay: Celebrating 30 Years at the Kreeger
June 1 to October 5, 2024
Named for a work by Victorian poet Coventry Patmore, this commemorative exhibit reflects on human interactions with the natural world. Notable Impressionist paintings in the museum’s permanent collection inspired this look at how working en plein air has evolved since the 19th century. Viewers will examine thought-provoking photographs, paintings and sculptures created by modern-day artists from around the world who now live in DC, Maryland and Virginia. kreegermuseum.org

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN INDIAN
Unbound: Narrative Art of the Plains
June 1 to January 20, 2026
Native American narrative art may document battle scenes on buffalo hide or record trade history on muslin cloth. This exhibit displays historic examples of the genre by 14 indigenous artists, along with more than 50 works by contemporary Native American artists, commissioned specifically for this show. americanindian.si.edu

When a couple built a dream home on former farmland, little did they know that a few years later they’d be tending crops and livestock of their own. BarnesVanze Architects designed their modern English Country residence—which incorporates an 1880s log cabin that remained on site. Now restored, it serves as a pool house overlooking the grounds.

Landscape architect Jennifer Horn balanced old and new in the team’s five-acre master plan. Phase one, a clean-lined pool and terrace, was completed just before the pandemic.

As they sheltered at home with young kids, the owners welcomed new dogs, then chickens. Eventually, Horn and landscape contractor Justin Spittal of Planted Earth were called back to outfit the backyard with a fenced-in garden complete with raised beds, a greenhouse and a stucco-clad pavilion designed by BarnesVanze. As the menagerie expanded, CarrMichael Construction built not only a chicken coop but also a reclaimed-wood barn to house alpacas, miniature sheep and cows.

Throughout the three-year project, recalls Spittal, “not a square inch was an afterthought; everything was coordinated with the entire team. The result is a magical place that’s a regular stop for garden tours and family holidays.”

The owners spend more time than ever outdoors, tending their garden and animals. “The project has given them an education in horticulture, botany and environmental awareness,” notes Horn. “It fostered a passion that will give the family joy for the rest of their lives.”

Award: Grand, Outdoor Living Area (Planted Earth). Landscape Architecture: Jennifer Horn, RLA, Horn & Co., Arlington, Virginia. Landscape Contractor: Justin Spittal, Planted Earth, Sykesville, Maryland. Architecture: BarnesVanze Architects, Washington, DC. Builder: CarrMichael Construction, Oakton, Virginia.

Following a major renovation, the owners of a 20-plus-acre parcel in Clarksville, Maryland, enlisted J&G Landscape Design to reimagine their lackluster front garden to better reflect the look of their elegant home. The team did such a fine job that, four years later, J&G principal Jeff Potter was called back to overhaul the dated backyard.

Existing conditions were less than optimal. “The 1980s, kidney-shaped pool, brick patio and circular spa were old and tired,” he recalls. “They didn’t fit the architecture of the home. And everything was boxed in by fencing, with no sight lines of the beautiful property.”

Potter and his team retrofitted and enlarged the existing pool into a clean-lined rectangle and equipped it with a shallow sun shelf complete with bubblers. An expansive travertine terrace grounds the pool area and joins a covered patio completed during the renovation. An outdoor kitchen with a built-in grill makes al fresco entertaining a breeze. 

Topiary and colorful beds brimming with boxwood and hydrangea—the wife’s favorite shrubs—soften the hardscape. “We kept the plant palette fairly simple because the space carries itself,” says Potter. 

Terrace seating overlooks a verdant lawn planted with Steeplechase arborvitae; a gentle slope extends to bucolic farmland. With the fence now gone, notes the designer, “you can appreciate and experience longer views of rolling hills opening up to a larger landscape.” 

Award: Heritage, Outdoor Living Area. Landscape Architecture & Contracting: Jeff Potter, PLA, ASLA, CPH; Matt Purdy, PLA, ASLA; Paul Jester, PLA, ASLA, LEED GA, J&G Landscape Design, Inc., Spencerville, Maryland. Pool: Keith Robbins, Pires Construction, Gaithersburg, Maryland. Masonry: J&G Landscape Design, Inc., and Matt Cocozzella, Stoneworks, Inc., Gaithersburg, Maryland.

It all started when an architecture student landed a summer internship in a home-based firm overlooking scenic Lake Barcroft. Among the perks were lunchtime jaunts on the boss’s boat. Enthralled by the Falls Church community where eclectic houses rim the sprawling reservoir, the young architect vowed that he too would live there someday.

More than 30 years later, he and his wife, also an architect, decided the time had come to sell their Arlington Colonial and build a custom home on Lake Barcroft. When their two sons left for college, they asked a real estate agent to keep an eye on potential properties—and finally, a gem popped up.

The sloped, wooded parcel just shy of an acre enjoyed a dramatic vista of the lake and came with its own dock. The duo acquired it with plans to overhaul the outdated, 1960s-era ranch-style house on site. “Three additions made it look almost like an army barracks,” recalls the husband. Small, closed-in rooms and a kitchen that faced the street rather than the lake did little to endear them.

The new owners—he works in healthcare design and she in museums—selected MCDStudio to spearhead the redo. Principal architects Matthew McDonald and Jennifer Verbeke were excited to take on the challenge—especially for two fellow architects.

Their clients envisioned a modern, airy retreat with lake views from every possible room. Ensuite bedrooms for both sons, a guest room and a screened porch were also on the list, along with a ground-level bedroom planned so they could eventually age in place.

“When we first walked the site,” McDonald remembers, “we anticipated working with the existing house. But as we started going through the options, the scope grew organically.” Ultimately, the team decided to preserve the foundation and three of the walk-out basement’s walls, but otherwise start from scratch.

The generous site allowed them to expand the footprint in strategic spots. “The plan became more linear because we had the luxury to fan it out and create almost an amphitheater-like lookout toward the lake,” Verbeke notes.

A spirited dialogue began as she and McDonald collaborated with the architect-clients. “We had a lot of studies flying among the four of us,” says Verbeke. Ultimately, they landed on a two-story scheme that revolves around a double-height foyer. A sculptural staircase with a built-in bench lies to the left of the entry while an ensuite bedroom (currently occupied by the husband’s mother) is situated to the right.

The entry hall extends on axis to soaring windows overlooking the lake. In the glassy rear of the home, an open dining area and kitchen unfold, as well as a deck and screened porch. Added on at an angle along the left elevation, a garage and family room were positioned to minimize the home’s mass from the front and capture optimal lake views in the family room. A new butler’s pantry and mudroom provide extra utility and storage.

On the new second level, a bridge connects the sons’ ensuite quarters and the owners’ bedroom; all three enjoy water vistas. A guest room, media and game rooms and a second mudroom occupy the lower level, along with the wife’s studio. At 6,552 square feet including the garage, the project doubled the size of the original abode.

With clean lines and simple forms, the exterior takes cues from the original home’s mid-century roots. Low-maintenance Nichiha panels clad the façade; black-framed Weather Shield windows and doors add contrast.
Inside, Falls Church designer Karen Sasaki configured the kitchen and curated finishes, lighting and furniture. “I went for a clean, uncluttered look, influenced by the Mid-Century Modern aesthetic of the neighborhood,” she explains. In the family room, custom walnut built-ins detail a striking fireplace wall. And in the kitchen, a blue, hand-fired backsplash by Sonoma Tilemakers echoes the shimmery lake below.
Thrilled with their waterfront perch, the owners are enjoying a new connection to nature. “We see bald eagles, osprey, Canada geese and herons,” marvels the husband. “Every night, I go out on our bedroom balcony and just take a breath.”

DRAWING BOARD

Q&A with MCDStudio architects

How do you help clients decide whether to renovate or start anew?
Matt McDonald: The decision often comes down to a cost-benefit for the client. Unless owners are dead-set on a new house, we usually begin by planning to renovate. In some jurisdictions, renovation will allow you a larger project because if you start anew you can’t build as much on the lot.

What factors drive window and door selections on homes with lots of glass?
Jennifer Verbeke: Energy-efficient windows are a baseline for us; we’re not going to look at products that don’t get that right. In addition, we try to select manufacturers whose components look like they all came from the same place. We make sure, for example, that the widths and styles of the window and door frames are all related.

What are best practices when designing a screened porch?
Matt McDonald: Choose a spot that’s easily accessible from the main house. Incorporating ceiling fans and/or heaters will extend the amount of time you can use a porch in the DC area. Also, be sure to install a screen under the structure to prevent mosquitoes from flying up through the deck boards.

French connection:  On a recent Côte d’Azur holiday, Annapolis artist VICTORIA LARSON says she found so much inspiration in the architecture, gardens and seascapes that "a collection naturally spilled out.” Her Cap Ferrat wallpapers include, from left, Zephyr, Beatrice and Vista. victoria-larson.com

Bright lights:  Washington interior designer ZOE FELDMAN has fashioned a 26-piece lighting collection for Mitzi, an online retailer. The line encompasses lamps, sconces, pendants, flush mounts and chandeliers—all of which embody Feldman’s aesthetic of modern classicism. mitzi.com

Sculptural perch:  Virginia artist Jomo Tariku’s Meedo Chair distills two strong African symbols—the Afro comb and the ceremonial seat. It’s shown in ash-black with orange trim; Tariku unveiled a bronze version at Design Miami in December. jomofurniture.com; wexlergallery.com

Winsome menagerie:  DC-based Laura Cheung Wolf of Lala Curio introduced Oriental Fantasy at Paris Déco Off 2024. The line of bespoke wall coverings features Giraffa (pictured), a joyous safari motif hand-embroidered with wooden beads and sequins. lalacurio.com; ruefour.com

Magic carpet ride:  Madeleine Mitchell, a veteran of Doris Leslie Blau, has launched an eponymous atelier selling new and antique rugs—and designs of her own. Above: a custom wool carpet in a geometric motif, handwoven in Morocco. Interior Design: Vivian Braunohler. madeleinemitchelldesigns.com

DC-based architect and interior designer Ernesto Santalla has followed a lifelong passion into a new career: fashion design. After completing a four-year degree at Marymount University, he launched his own eponymous label in January. “My fashions are very architectural,” says Santalla. “I look at shape, form and texture as they relate to the body.” This fluid, silk-faille gown of his creation is embellished with 300 handmade and hand-applied flowers; a flourish in ombré silk chiffon completes the look. Now developing a line of gender-affirming basics, he notes, “I’m not giving up architecture or interior design—I’ve just expanded the realm of what I’m working on.” Contact [email protected].

MODEL: Mikayla Monjaras; PHOTO: Richard Francisco Howard/Marymount University

Limani, meaning “seaport” in Greek, has made a splash at The Wharf. The new, three-story restaurant with a large terrace serves up 270-degree river views. Architect of record Sam Forman and Whitlock Design Group collaborated on the interiors, which sport capiz-shell chandeliers and custom-made booths; hand-blown glass plates on display evoke crystal-clear seas. The menu features Greek specialties with an emphasis on seafood such as red snapper. Guests can take home cold-pressed, extra-virgin olive oil imported from Greece.
670 Wharf Street, SW; 202-804-8000. limani.com/washington

Past, present—and panache—reign at The Fifth Avenue Hotel in Manhattan. The 153-room property marries The Mansion, a historic landmark built in 1906 on the site of Gilded Age socialite Charlotte Goodridge’s abode, and a modern, 24-story, brick-and-glass tower. The architecture firm Perkins Eastman meticulously restored The Mansion and designed the tower in collaboration with PBDW Architects. Martin Brudnizki Design Studio spearheaded boho-chic interiors—from the maximalist Café Carmellini to a suite boasting a whimsical color palette, a plush Duxiana bed and a chandelier of Murano glass. Rates from $895. thefifthavenuehotel.com

While century-old Cape Cods and bungalows proliferate in the greater Washington area, well-preserved Bauhaus structures from the period are few and far between. So when architect Richard Williams first laid eyes on a 1936 Bauhaus home with potential buyers, he was stoked. “Coming across a home in this style that’s still intact, though it had been added onto, was a real find,” he recalls.

The couple with two young kids was also smitten with the property, located on a wooded, two-and-a-half-acre site overlooking a lake in suburban Maryland. After Williams made a quick study to see if renovating the dated gem was feasible for their budget, they cinched the deal. Originally designed by New York architects Robert Hutchins and William Huntington, the residence embraced the Bauhaus style of its day with a flat roof, strong horizontal lines and minimal exterior detail. Updates in the 1980s and ’90s created a second-level primary suite and, on the western side of the home, added on new living space, a pool cabana and a garage.

Stuck with compartmentalized rooms, lackluster finishes and a convoluted layout, the six-bedroom residence was ripe for improvement. “It was an amazing place that had been abused and misunderstood,” relates Williams, who was hired for the redo. “We needed to get it back to its roots and bring a 21st-century sensibility to this very cool house.” The architect and his team envisioned a makeover that would streamline the floor plan, modernize the interiors and forge stronger connections to the picture-perfect site.

The existing foyer contained a walled-in stairway and two doors, one leading back to the dining room and the other to the main living room on the right. The ’90s-era kitchen and family room awaited on the left, while on the far right, additions contained another family room/library and office.

“It was a bit weird,” observes Williams. “The kitchen was located on the east side and, in our opinion, imbalanced the entire life of the house because on the west side there was a swimming pool, garage and terraces. There were also two living spaces back-to-back,” he adds, “so you couldn’t justify how one was different from the other. It seemed redundant and wasteful.”

Order was restored by shifting the kitchen to the opposite side of the house. Replacing the extra family room and office in the west wing, Williams designed a large new kitchen and family room overlooking the terrace and a side yard where the kids play. His plan also orchestrated a new mudroom, forging a clear path from the kitchen to the garage and pool. “This rebalancing created a whole new center of life,” the architect reports. “In the absence of the former kitchen, we created a new study-hall zone with a media room, library and meeting area.”

Though the home’s 7,600-square-foot footprint remained unchanged, a comprehensive renovation completed with builder Bruce Ottati replaced everything from HVAC systems, roofing and insulation to flooring, bathrooms and fenestration. A minimal material palette, including rift-and-quartered white oak floors, white walls and enlarged windows, simplified the aesthetic and let the views take center stage. Says Williams, “We introduced a new attitude, but one that I think is really in keeping with the original 1936 project.”

Today, guests arrive in a reimagined foyer that opens to the dining room with views of the lake beyond. In lieu of confining walls and doors, a slatted scrim of Douglas fir delineates living and dining areas. Though the original stairway remains intact, Williams traded the drywall side rail for a panel of weathered steel that elevates the entry, along with a ceiling painted in deep, metallic gold. “I thought that the weathered steel, also repeated on the kitchen island, would shake up the restrained nature of the interiors,” explains the architect.

Scaled as a generous hub for family and social life, the kitchen maximizes prime views of the landscape. Custom cabinets in walnut and deep blue echo hues of woods and sky. Threads of blue are woven throughout the interiors, outfitted by interior designer Dieter Thelen with clean-lined furniture and bold, modern art.

The overhaul also revamped the lower level as well as five second-floor bedrooms and all of the baths. The rehabbed primary bathroom, clad in marble tile, now offers some of the best views in the house through one of several porthole windows likely added in the 1980s redo.

In its latest iteration, the residence has come full circle. “By opening the house up, you get a sense of limitless movement, and that’s a pretty great feeling,” Williams reflects. “I suspect the original house was that way too. In general, we tried to make it live up to its potential.”

A young couple who’d recently purchased a Dupont Circle row house turned to DC designer Nick Beck to outfit its interiors. Built in 1888, the 2,300-square-foot residence was renovated in 2015 by New York architect Olson Kundig. “He redid the crown molding and created beautiful fireplace surrounds,” Beck reports. “Those details sold my clients on the house.”
Beck’s interior plan—which included two bathroom rehabs—respected the four-bedroom home’s provenance while weaving in a sense of fun. “Sometimes young people’s homes read very youthful to me. I like to take a more sophisticated route and that’s what we did here,” he says. “The clients love design and were really supportive of the vision.” The following Q&A details the process.

Describe the overall aesthetic you were after.
We leaned into the stateliness of the house, but also kept it fresh and cool by mixing traditional pieces with contemporary furniture and art. I replaced dingy-looking checkerboard tile in the entry and added a Barbara Barry chest to create an elevated, Park Avenue sort of vibe. And in the living room, we offset a gilded Dennis & Leen chair with a modern coffee table and painting.
I like to throw in something unexpected whenever I can. For example,
the living room sheers are a funky material, but they’re trimmed in velvet for a bit of elegance.

What inspired you to turn the empty landing into a cozy hangout?
It’s the first thing you see as you walk up the stairs and I wanted to make it really pretty. I laid it out with two Lee Industries chairs, thinking it could function as a space to read or have a cup of coffee. My client asked if we could do yellow drapes, and this Fadini Borghi fabric was the perfect shade. We had fun with the ottoman, covering it in a Vervain print with Houlès fringe to keep it playful.

Why are window treatments important to you?
To me, window treatments are the most transformative thing in a room. I love layering drapes and shades. Some clients worry about drapes blocking the view but I think they actually enhance it. Nicely done custom drapes in a beautiful fabric elevate any space.

How do you create drama with lighting?
Light fixtures have become such a focal point. They create an opportunity to add something cool and oftentimes sculptural to a space. Given the opportunity, I love to introduce sconces like we did on the landing. Whether you choose something like the Circa Lighting chandelier that picks up brass accents in the kitchen or the Currey & Co. lamp with a textural woven shade in the owners’ bedroom, light fixtures are like pieces of jewelry.

What drove the primary bedroom décor?
We kept it simple but luxurious. I mixed a variety of interesting textures, from the bed upholstered in silky Nobilis fabric to Made Goods nightstands clad in leather. I designed the shams and the ikat is an antique pillow. Phillip Jeffries faux-suede wall covering gives the room a luscious softness.

Tell the story behind the glass-enclosed fourth-floor bath.
It was a claustrophobic little space with no windows. We added French doors to open it up and mimic doors off the landing below.
I wanted to do something dramatic for the back wall so I covered it in hand-painted Pratt + Larson tile. I love how the wall tile blends with the patterned marble floor. People have said the vibe feels kind of Moroccan.
I enclosed the bathroom in glass so it would look like a lightbox—something very unexpected. The glass also saved us six inches (the depth of a wall), making the space that much larger.

Share your philosophy on original art.
I find art to be incredibly important. It can elevate and enhance décor, but unfortunately it can also bring down the look and feel if it’s not well-curated. In most of my work, I am involved in art selection. On this project, it was a very collaborative process with quite a bit of back-and-forth before we landed on the majority of pieces you see.

How did the primary bath evolve?
After the upper bath was done, the owners decided to redo their bathroom and wanted something fabulous. I had an idea of vines coming down from the ceiling and worked with New Ravenna to design a mosaic for the main wall. It makes a huge statement when you walk in.
A rectangular vanity would have felt too heavy, so I designed a curved one with Lacava and they built it for us; it’s topped with white Dolomite marble that has a beautifully detailed edge.

Why is it important to support artisanal makers?
Mosaics have been around for thousands of years and I’ve always loved them. New Ravenna, one of the world’s premiere workshops, is located right on Virginia's Eastern Shore. If designers aren’t showing this kind of craft to our clients and incorporating it into our work, it will go away. And that would be a shame because these beautiful creations stand the test of time.

ASK NICK

Name a design pet peeve.
I see a lot of super-minimal, modern bathrooms, even in really stately homes that have been beautifully renovated. To me, it seems like a missed opportunity to do something a lot more interesting, specific and fun.

What products are you excited to try?
I’m dying to use one of Lala Curio’s incredible hand-painted, -beaded and -embroidered wall coverings, available at Rue IV. I’m also in love with the cool and unique wallpaper by UK-based Timorous Beasties, now at Hines & Co.

What’s your most cherished piece of furniture?
An 18th-century Italian cabinet that’s stunning and beautifully inlaid. I keep all my treasures in it and will probably be buried with it.

What color do you predict will be big in 2024?
Cornflower blue is definitely having a moment. It works in many spaces and gives you color but is still kind of subdued. I’m doing a guest room in it right now.

Conjuring Dior’s Fall-Winter haute couture collection, Maria Grazia Chiuri took inspiration from sacred iconography and reimagined archetypical forms such as tunics, peplums and capes. Part of the line, a double-long dress (pictured) is composed of gimped lace and tulle edged with gold floral motifs. Price on request. dior.com