City Gem
Traversing the streets of Georgetown, even harried passersby can’t help but pause to admire the neighborhood’s charming homes. Row houses steeped in period detail…
Modern Aerie
The concept of home-as-sanctuary was important to Old Town Alexandria residents Jerry Penso and Andrew Heinle, whose soaring, 3,140-square-foot penthouse comprises two conjoined condominiums….
Old + New
The interiors of the ’40s-era Arlington home shared by husbands John Palmer and Ray Taylor were showing their age. A tight layout within the…
Vintage Spin
For Liz Mearns, decorating homes in the Arlington community of Aurora Hills is a regular part of her business. “I have worked on about…
Learning Curve
The Beaux Arts Flagg Building, which once housed Washington’s beloved Corcoran Gallery of Art and its art school, just got a new lease on…
Mudroom Magic
CHECKMATE When designer Tracey Morris of Gillis Interiors and her family bought their house in Potomac, it had been a rental property for 12…
And the Winner Is…
Each year, a panel of building-industry professionals chooses nominees for the Great American Living Awards. Sponsored by the Northern Virginia Building Industry Association, the…
Cottage Charm
Robin Hood may be AWOL, but the Annapolis community of Sherwood Forest has been quietly prospering since it was first founded as a summer…
Sitting Pretty
When Sean and Lisa Creamer purchased a 1914 farmhouse on a sublime stretch of Oak Creek near the Miles River on Maryland’s Eastern Shore,…
Tower Vista
“The house was a rambler that had rambled a little too far,” says architect Mark McInturff, who was called in to remedy the shortcomings…
Tidewater Casual
A pristine spot on Maryland’s Bohemia River lured a family looking to build a relaxed waterfront retreat. The husband, a contractor, collaborated with architects at…
Ask the Pros: Custom Building
How do homebuyers ensure they are purchasing a house that’s built to withstand a waterfront climate? When looking to purchase an existing waterfront property,…
Vintage Charm
Little did Vesper Mei know she’d landed a diamond in the rough when she purchased a Capitol Hill row house in 2002. The 100-plus-year-old,…
Layered Effect
FIRST PLACE: MEDIUM KITCHEN While renovating a Logan Circle condo, architect Richard Loosle-Ortega of KUBE architecture was tasked with integrating the kitchen with the…
In Living Color
FIRST PLACE: LARGE BATH When designing a bedroom-and-bath addition to her mid-century home in Silver Spring, architect Janet Bloomberg of KUBE architecture envisioned a…
Performance Art
A long-awaited expansion of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts rolled out amid much fanfare in September. The imposing original building—an icon on…
Before and After
THE BOYS CLUB In her show house space, designer Quintece Hill-Mattauszek set out to transform a lackluster bedroom into “The Boys Club,” a swanky…
Ask the Pros: Architecture
How do you define Tidewater style and how did it evolve? What architectural elements are part of this vernacular? Tidewater-style homes typically include wrap-around…
Building Blocks
SLEEK SURFACE Ariostea, an Italian manufacturer of porcelain tile, just debuted CON.CREA., a surface that mimics the contemporary look of concrete. Available in five…
Smooth Transition
With two young children, the owners of a vintage abode on a cramped Chevy Chase lot were looking to spread their wings. After a…