Looking for a place to unwind, a pair of DC-area professionals considered buying a weekend retreat near the shore—but then changed tack. Their new approach: to build a sanctuary in Bethesda they could enjoy full-time. As the husband, a corporate communications executive, recalls, “We thought, ‘Let’s rent a house when we go to the beach and make our primary home a vacation home.’”
A vacation-house-in-the-city mindset informed decisions along the way, starting with the lot selection. When a one-acre, woodland parcel belying its close-in location became available in 2018, the couple grabbed it. “The integration between indoors and outdoors was key” to their vision for a permanent haven, says the wife, a political consultant. “This was pre-covid, so the idea was to be able to relax in a Zen-like space when we came home from work and to have guests feel calm, comfortable and relaxed too.”
With demolition slated for an existing 1950s house, they tapped architect Mark Kaufman to design airy new digs that would showcase the property’s natural splendor. “They wanted a contemporary home with a lot of glass on the back side and some sense of privacy in front,” recounts Kaufman, a principal at GTM Architects. “They also wanted to be able to walk in the front door and see through to the beautiful backyard.”
Kaufman forged an L-shaped plan that fit the bill. “We started taking in all these parts and pieces—what’s the best view on the lot, where are we getting the best daylighting, how do we want to organize the more public and private spaces—and the L shape started to make a lot of sense,” he explains. “We created two wings that are connected by a glass hyphen.”
Soaring windows and sliding doors, all framed in black, dominate the back without overexposing the occupants. “Because of the home’s shape, you feel protected,” observes Kaufman. “You don’t feel like you’re on display here, even though you’re surrounded by glass.” On the exterior, those gleaming expanses are interspersed with sapele siding and deep-blue-painted stucco.
Skillfully sited, the 7,800-square-foot dwelling takes full advantage of the sun. The L opens up to southern exposure, ushering in natural light. Additionally, 80 solar panels on the flat roof help the homeowners approach their goal of net-zero energy consumption. According to the husband, “For months in the spring and fall, the meter is running backwards.”
Visitors step first into the glass link, where floor-to-ceiling windows reveal the backyard vista. To the left, the dining room sits up front, saving the stellar views for the glass-lined kitchen/breakfast area/family room, which crescendos to a 20-plus-foot ceiling. A screened porch housing a double-grill outdoor kitchen extends off that space. The opposite wing holds the living room, floating stairs and library. On the second floor, a gathering spot situated in the hyphen separates the primary suite from three other bedrooms (the couple’s adult son and daughter each claim one). The walk-out basement comprises recreational areas, a gym and guest quarters.
Before ground broke, designer Annette Hannon joined the team, specifying everything from finishes to furnishings. She and Kaufman collaborated on the kitchen design, which was predicated on entertaining. A lengthy, marble-topped island with a waterfall edge offers plenty of prep and serving space; it’s also where the wife prefers to work from home.
Wood accents warm up the sparkling interiors. Sapele pocket doors on the family room’s fireplace/television wall conceal a bar and storage space; the same wood reappears on the breakfast-area banquette. Walnut built-ins wrap around the library, which doubles as the husband’s office.
Nature dictated the décor. “The driving force for the whole project was marrying the interior with the exterior,” asserts Hannon. Benjamin Moore’s Pale Oak, Hannon’s pick for most public-area walls, creates a neutral canvas for the “living artwork” outside. Comfortable seating selections sport durable fabrics in tranquil shades of blue and gray that complement the view.
The lighting choices, she adds, “respect the interior architecture’s contemporary aesthetic.” Case in point: a sleek, 19-light pendant from Koncept Lighting that drops from the family room ceiling.
That social space spills out to a tumbled-travertine terrace, complete with swimming pool and hot tub. A bocce ball court lies along the side yard, opposite a changing room and outdoor shower. Fritz & Gignoux, who masterminded the landscape plan, added a modern garden that further ties the built environment to its surroundings. “We made it so that the house feels merged with the natural landscape,” observes Leslie Gignoux, who founded the firm with husband Scott Fritz. “There’s a very thoughtful and peaceful presence to the place that is intentional.”
Hannon established zones for outdoor dining, relaxing and lounging with Brown Jordan furniture. The porch table can extend to accommodate a crowd. Two sofas join a streamlined Paloform fire pit on the terrace, creating a spot, she says, “to hang out and have cocktails.”
The completed property offers a halcyon respite for owners and friends alike. “When the weather is warm, we have people over almost every weekend,” reveals the wife. “There’s lots of eating, lots of getting wet in the pool, hot tub and outdoor shower. It’s just like a vacation home.”
Architecture: Mark Kaufman, AIA, LEED AP, GTM Architects, Bethesda, Maryland. Interior Design: Annette Hannon, Annette Hannon Interior Design, Burke, Virginia. Builder: Thorsen Construction, Alexandria, Virginia. Landscape Design: Leslie Gignoux and Scott Fritz, Fritz & Gignoux Landscape Architects, Washington, DC. Landscape Contractor: Joel Hafner, Fine Earth Landscape, Poolesville, Maryland.
RESOURCES
THROUGHOUT
Windows: thesanderscompany.com. Home Automation: htarchitects.com.
OUTDOOR
Pool Chaises, Dining Table & Dining Chairs: brownjordan.com through americaneyewdc.net. Sofa, Sectional & Chairs: brownjordan.com through americaneyewdc.net. Coffee Table & Pedestals: Clients’ collection. Grill: lynxgrills.com through ferguson.com. Hood: Custom by Mark Kaufman through gtmarchitects.com. Hood Fabrication: custommetalsofvirginia.com. Paving: fineearth.com. Outdoor Sconces: kuzcolighting.com. Fan: montecarlofans.com. Pool Contractor: crystalpoolsrs.com. Outdoor Shower Plumbing: signaturehardware.com through ferguson.com.
FAMILY ROOM
Sectional: vanguardfurniture.com. Sectional Fabric: kirbydesign.com through romo.com. Pillow Fabric: rosemaryhallgarten.com through hollandandsherry.com. Armchairs: vanguardfurniture.com. Armchair Fabric: kirbydesign.com through romo.com. Armchair Pillow: brentanofabrics.com through hollyhunt.com. Rug: galleriacarpets.com. Cocktail Table: rh.com. Chandelier: koncept.com. Side Table: rh.com. Millwork Fabrication: Maryland Custom Cabinets; 301-898-0357. Fireplace: davincifireplace.com. Paint: Pale Oak by benjaminmoore.com.
KITCHEN
Banquette Design: Mark Kaufman through gtmarchitects.com. Banquette Fabrication: Maryland Custom Cabinets; 301-898-0357. Banquette Fabric: designersguild.com through osbornandlittle.com. Table & Chairs: dwr.com. Cabinetry: Maryland Custom Cabinets; 301-898-0357. Hardware: omniaindustries.com through pushpullhardware.com. Range & Combination Steam Oven: mieleusa.com through ferguson.com. Refrigerator, Freezer & Wine Refrigerator: subzero-wolf.com through ferguson.com. Vent Hood: bluestarcooking.com through ferguson.com. Dishwasher: bosch-home.com through ferguson.com. Pendants: umage.us through lightology.com. Countertop & Backsplash: imaginesurfaces.com through unitedstatesmarbleandgranite.com. Plumbing Fixtures: kohler.com through ferguson.com. Stools: Clients’ collection. Paint: Pale Oak by benjaminmoore.com.
HALL (POOL VIEW)
Bench: hollyhunt.com. Bench Fabric: kirbydesign.com through romo.com. Art: Clients’ Collection. Flooring: wellbornwright.com. Paint: Pale Oak by benjaminmoore.com.
LIVING ROOM
Fireplace Surround: imaginesurfaces.com through unitedstatesmarbleandgranite.com. Ledge: unitedstatesmarbleandgranite.com. Sofa: aneesupholstery.com through hinescompany.com. Sofa Fabric (Interior): designersguild.com through osborneandlittle.com; Sofa Fabric (Exterior): kirbydesign.com through romo.com. Pillow Fabric: markalexander.com through romo.com. Armchairs & Armchair Fabric: rh.com. Rug: galleriacarpets.com. Cocktail Table: Clients’ collection. Round Table: mgbwhome.com. Wallpaper: S. Harris through fabricut.com.
LIBRARY
Millwork Fabrication: Maryland Custom Cabinets; 301-898-0357. Rug: carpetimpressions.com. Desk: Custom by annettehannon.com. Desk Leg: custommetalsofvirginia.com. Wood Desk: Maryland Custom Cabinets; 301-898-0357. Chair & Ottoman: Clients’ collection. Paint: Pale Oak by benjaminmoore.com.
When a newly renovated Cleveland Park home was first built in 1910, the neighborhood was a semi-rural outpost connected to downtown Washington by streetcar. Fast forward 63 years and the lauded architect Hugh Newell Jacobsen (who passed away in 2021) updated the home in his signature Modernist style.
Both eras came into play when new owners tapped architect Dale Overmyer to orchestrate a 21st-century makeover. “It’s a handsome farmhouse that had been completely reworked,” he relates. “The first iteration Jacobsen did in the ’70s went a long way towards opening it up. We wanted to take it even further and bridge the gap between mid-century and the historic house—and imbue it with personality.”
The clients, already Cleveland Park residents, had long admired the home. “We loved the space, the light and the yard,” says the wife. After acquiring it in 2019, she and her husband envisioned “modern yet comfortable interiors with gracious proportions.”
Though he retained the existing footprint, Overmyer seemingly injected volumes of space into the center-hall dwelling. He elevated the cramped entry and gutted the closed-off kitchen and family room to unveil an open, informal hub devoted to cooking, dining and gathering. And he efficiently tucked a new coat closet, powder room and walk-in pantry into the main-level plan.
On the second floor, the enlarged owners’ suite claimed adjacent bedrooms—one is now a wardrobe and another a luxurious bath. Two kids’ bedrooms are also on the second floor while the third level houses a pair of guest rooms and a loft finished as a teen hangout.
During construction, the owners hired Georgetown decorator Paige Shirk, who forged an instant connection with the home and its quarter-acre landscape. “I loved the floor-to-ceiling windows and the vibe of the outside coming in,” she observes. “My family had a farmhouse near Fallingwater and I recall how the furniture worked with the architecture. That was a big inspiration for me.”
As she collaborated with Overmyer and the wife, Shirk honed her vision for the interiors. “I wanted to combine old and new, modern and a bit more classic,” she remarks. “I didn’t dive into one aesthetic.”
Nature plays a starring role, beginning in the entry. New windows and a reimagined, open stair bathe the space in light and establish sight lines from the front door to the rear garden. With its randomly placed pickets, Overmyer likens the stair rail he designed to a bar code. “There’s an organic nature to what you’d expect to be more regimented,” he explains. “It’s an unabashedly contemporary move in the center of the house.”
The center-hall plan aligns the living and dining rooms and library to the right of the foyer with the kitchen and family room on the left. The team preserved Jacobsen’s tall windows in the living room, but recast his mid-century brick fireplace wall in plaster—a fresh take on a classic material. Clean-lined seating surrounds a 1970s travertine coffee table Shirk found on 1stdibs; a burnt-orange velvet sofa adds a burst of color.
In the facing dining room, fields of green botanical wallpaper commune with foliage visible through a trio of tall windows. “I like bringing the outside in, as we did with that shade of green,” Shirk reveals. “My client really wanted color.” Indeed, the wife drove the palette in exuberant directions, from a pool-bathroom wall covering emblazoned with cobalt palm fronds to the primary bedroom painted a deep aubergine.
Shirk tempered these bold moves with neutral furnishings and subtle textures. “I love mixing wood and leather and velvet and nubby materials,” she asserts. Case in point is the spacious family room, where the decorator mingled a velvet lounge chair, a concrete cocktail table and pillows in an array of textiles atop the cozy window seat. An adjacent table provides a perch for reading or morning coffee.
Overmyer is most proud of this “informal heart of the home,” encompassing the family room, bright and airy kitchen and breakfast area. “It’s nice to subtract, open up a space and enjoy the drama of a really generous room,” he says.
The architect played up the indoor-outdoor connection in the kitchen with large-format porcelain floor tile that reads as limestone; he repeated the material on the backsplash. “Around the island,” he points out, “we incorporated mosaic tile in the floor to suggest a sense of antiquity.” Poured-concrete countertops and custom cabinets in knotty pine reinforce the organic palette.
Avid cooks, the family members enjoy preparing and sharing meals in the convivial space. “We love to have friends over and it’s nice to be able to cook and socialize at the same time,” says the wife.
In the first-floor library, the owners and their design team preserved Hugh Newell Jacobsen’s egg-crate bookshelves, crafted during the late architect’s 1973 renovation. “They’re beautiful, with elegant lines, and very functional,” says the wife.
The stark white shelving was painted sage green—a shade “sympathetic to colors the original farmhouse would’ve had,” relates Overmyer. Ornate elements added over the years were removed and big picture windows installed. The architect notes, “We created more light, more space, more simplicity.”
It’s a mantra that relates to every room in this newly burnished home—one that celebrates its past with bravado.
Renovation Architecture: Dale Overmyer, AIA, Overmyer Architects, Washington, DC. Interior Design: Paige Shirk, Paige Shirk Design, Washington, DC. Renovation Contractor: Cecchi Homes, Arlington, Virginia.
SOURCES
DINING ROOM
Wallpaper: timorousbeasties.com. Paint Trim: Yearbridge Green by farrow-ball.com. Chandeliers: globallighting.com. Table: 1stdibs.com. Chairs: neuvolighting.com. Cabinet: fourhands.com. Stool: article.com.
LIVING ROOM
Light Fixture: apparatusstudio.com. Drapery Fabrication: theshadestore.com. Sofa: trnk-nyc.com. Rug: starkcarpet.com. Table: 1stdibs.com. Side Tables: vintage. Wall Paint: White Dove by benjaminmoore.com. Fireplace Treatment: hydeconcrete.com. Side Chairs: noirfurniturela.com. Console: vintage. Sculpture over Fireplace: Rana Begman.
KITCHEN
Stools: meadowblu.com. Paint: White Dove by benjaminmoore.com.
STAIRWAY
Rail Design: custom through overmyerarchitects.com. Rail Fabrication: northeastironworksinc.com.
KITCHEN
Cabinetry: custom. Cabinetry Fabrication: asticks.com. Countertops: hydeconcrete.com. Mosaic Tile: countryfloors.com. Faucets: calfaucets.com. Hood: ventahood.com. Hood Fabrication: custom by overmyerarchitects.com. Refrigerator & Microwave: subzero-wolf.com. Range: frenchranges.com.
FAMILY ROOM
Sofa & Sofa Fabric: muuto.com. Carved Table: timothypaulcarpets.com. Rug: starkcarpet.com. Cocktail Table: fourhands.com. Chair & Ottoman: bludot.com. Pillow Fabric: zakandfox.com. Window Seat Table: anthropologie.com. Window Seat & Window Seat Pillow Fabrics: Lee Jofa through kravet.com. Pillows: brookperdigontextiles.com. Window Seat Sconces: alliedmaker.com.
LIBRARY
Paint: Drop Cloth by farrow-ball.com. Light Fixture: beataheuman.com. Table: Owners’ collection. Leather Chairs: vintage. Desk Chair: noirfurniturela.com. Art: Owners’ collection.
BEDROOM
Paint: Pelt by farrow-ball.com. Shade Fabric: hinescompany.com. Shade Fabrication: rockvilleinteriors.com. Rug: annieselke.com. Ottoman: fourhands.com. Corner Chairs: Owners’ collection. Table Lamp: circalighting.com.
POWDER ROOM
Mirror: trnk-nyc.com. Sconces: alliedmaker.com. Wallpaper: pierrefrey.com.
Dreams for a custom home can take many shapes, as one local couple discovered when talks began in earnest. While the husband voiced his preference for traditional design, his French wife advocated a more modern approach. “I had this idea of what American architecture should look like,” she explains. “I wanted Frank Lloyd Wright.”
Her husband, an investment banker, came around with a little coaxing. “My wife had this excellent argument,” he concedes. “As an immigrant, when she thinks of the United States, she thinks of progress, innovation. She wanted something that represents the New World, and a contemporary style is what we both agreed would do that best.”
The pair secured a leafy lot in an established McLean neighborhood, knowing they would soon replace the brick rambler inhabiting it. They then asked Cunningham | Quill Architects to synthesize myriad images and ideas they had gathered over time and conjure their new home. A collaborative process ensued. “These clients understood from the beginning that it was going to be a team approach,” says founding principal Ralph Cunningham. “They were very engaged.”
First and foremost, the couple envisioned an open-plan nucleus that would support frequent entertaining—ranging from intimate dinner parties to 100-person charity fundraisers—and daily family life (their 18-year-old son lives at home and 20-year-old daughter studies abroad). “It was a mix of trying to make sure we had an environment where lots of people could mingle easily without moving through a maze,” explains the husband, “while also keeping it to a livable size and preserving a sense of home, comfort and snugness.”
The layout evolved from there. “It was very important to them that the center of house be a three-part room—dining, living and den—and that it be a big, tall, welcoming space,” discloses architect Angie Yu. “Our job was to figure out how everything else fit around that.”
In the architects’ 7,000-square-foot plan, an assembly of interlocking boxes forms a U-shape around a rear courtyard. The main volume holds the social hub on the ground level and three en-suite bedrooms above; the lower level includes hangout spaces, a guest suite and a gym. An office for the wife, who volunteers with many charitable groups, and the owners’ suite are housed in separate cubes to the right; the kitchen occupies a back wing to the left. A service extension off the kitchen contains a back stair connecting to the garage. The main staircase sits in a tower at the front.
To execute their geometric design, the architects chose a material palette of stucco, ipe and steel. “We took it consistently around the house,” Yu points out. “The material palette is very simple and clean yet playful at the same time.”
Cunningham adds, “I would describe the style as ‘warm modern,’ and the wood helps with the warmth.”
Several characteristics reflect Frank Lloyd Wright’s legacy. “One thing that Wright did consistently was to build on the brow of a hill, and that concept went into this project,” offers Cunningham. To take advantage of a sloping site, the team, which included Potomac Valley Builders, tucked the base of the house into the grade. That move helped to de-emphasize the street-facing garage doors, as did placing them in shadow and painting them a charcoal hue. It also allowed for a dramatic, ascending approach to the residence. As Cunningham explains, “The house sort of floats up in the air on a very dark base.”
Vast stretches of shaded glass—another Wright signature—establish the strong indoor/outdoor relationship the owners requested. In the main living area, kitchen and primary bedroom, sliding doors open onto the courtyard, with a pool and garden beyond. Large windows and several skylights amplify natural light. Black-painted, aluminum-clad wood frames on the doors and windows contribute a modern edge.
The couple also sought to evoke an inviting spirit with their see-through home. As the husband reveals, “We wanted an open house, not just for being able to see outside, but also the idea that it would be a house where our friends would feel welcome and people could come and enjoy themselves.”
And they do. The wife, who grew up in Provence, often prepares French favorites, such as blanquette de veau, to share with guests. “We like a good meal and good wine,” she readily affirms. Despite its heavy use, the kitchen projects a pristine aesthetic thanks to sleek, white cabinets and countertops from Porcelanosa.
Natural materials figured prominently in the owners’ vision for their interiors. Anchoring each end of the public core is a fireplace boasting a floor-to-ceiling, slate surround. Horizontal panels of French oak flank both fireplaces, decoratively concealing storage cabinets and adding desired texture. Wide-plank, white oak floors span throughout.
Striving for what she terms “simple elegance,” the wife created a minimalist vibe with neutral, clean-lined furnishings sourced mainly through RH. Bold, original artwork introduces color and personal meaning. As she sums up, “We wanted our house to have soul.”
Architecture: Ralph Cunningham, FAIA, principal; Angela Yu, AIA, Cunningham | Quill Architects, Washington, DC. Builder: Potomac Valley Builders, Bethesda, Maryland. Landscape Contractor: Fine Earth Landscape, Poolesville, Maryland.
RESOURCES
THROUGHOUT
Paint: Kendall Charcoal, Distant Gray & Amherst Gray by benjaminmoore.com.
GENERAL
Light Fixtures Over Stair: moooi.com.
DINING ROOM
Table & Chandelier: rh.com.
KITCHEN
Cabinetry & Countertops: porcelanosa-usa.com. Ovens & Refrigerator: mieleusa.com through abwappliances.com. Barstools: ikea.com.
LIVING AREA
Sofas, Leather Chair & Coffee Table: rh.com. Artwork: original by Dan Badea.
DEN
Leather Sofa & Coffee Table: rh.com. Mirror: antique.
OFFICE
Desk & Chairs: rh.com.
COURTYARD
Dining Table: rh.com. Dining Chairs: cb2.com.
POOL AREA
Sofas: rh.com. Lounge Chairs: cb2.com. Pool: alpinepool.com.
Oceanfront lots on the Delaware seashore are a hot commodity. So when a Washington-area couple discovered a pristine parcel flanked by the Atlantic on one side and Rehoboth’s shimmering Silver Lake on the other, they knew they’d struck gold. The duo acquired the land, then engaged architect Robert Gurney to design a modern getaway on-site. They envisioned interiors bathed in light and space to accommodate their children, parents and guests in comfort and style.
Gurney and project architects Claire Andreas and Brian Tuskey conceived a three-story structure where every room would overlook one, if not both, bodies of water. The plan would also afford residents every opportunity to engage their senses in the coastal environment. In the finished retreat, the family can grab cold drinks and snacks in the indoor-outdoor game room/kitchen just off the beach; watch breakers roll in from myriad decks and terraces; and soak in a hot tub under the stars.
Minimalist in spirit, the house still conforms to neighborhood requirements. A demand for traditional materials inspired the cedar-shake roof, dark-stained mahogany window frames, copper panels and bleached cedar-shingle siding. “The review board also mandated a gable-shaped roof, which picks up on the language of Shingle style,” explains Gurney, who had initially proposed a flat-roof scheme.
On the lake side, the 11-bedroom, 12,000-square-foot residence reads as four distinct pavilions connected by glass volumes, plus a garage. “We took a large house and broke down the massing so it wouldn’t seem quite so big,” he continues. In contrast, the beach façade bares all with glass walls celebrating ocean views on the top floors, which cantilever above the pool terrace.
The architects brought the outdoors in on every story. Sliding-glass walls expose the ground-floor game room to the pool and dunes beyond; guest quarters, a changing room, outdoor showers and storage for bikes and beach toys deliver resort-level ease.
On the second-floor screened porch, sliding-glass pocket doors make way for sea breezes to waft into the expansive living/dining area and kitchen. More glass on the east and west elevations opens to decks overlooking sea and lake. “You can see through the house to the lake and the ocean,” Gurney marvels. “How many places do you get that?”
Seating and playful Bocci lights above the dining table add splashes of color against pale oak floors, gray kitchen cabinets and white countertops. An Ann Sacks mosaic backsplash, selected by the wife, strikes an exuberant note. “We picked up on blues found in sea glass and greens in the ocean and accented them with sunshine colors of yellow and gold,” explains designer Therese Baron Gurney. Hired to furnish interiors with sophisticated pieces that can take a beating, she points out performance upholstery and a silk-look nylon rug that, she attests, “will wear like iron.”
Designed by Julia Walter of Boffi, the kitchen is organized around a central volume housing a pantry and appliances. While cooking is underway on the main island, guests can mingle around a secondary island or on nearby swivel chairs. “It’s a very social and open space,” says Walter. “Yet the center volume is clad in panels so you don’t see you’re walking into a kitchen when you come up the stairs.”
Hung above the floating staircase, Arturo Alvarez pendants conjure exotic sea creatures. Gurney glazed the stairwell’s outer wall with panes of translucent Kalwall. “It pulls a ton of natural light into the center of the house,” he explains, “but hides a direct view of the neighbors.”
The project’s landscape architects from OvS also mitigated side views with loblolly pines planted among fragrant sumac and Northern sea oats. And they reinforced the dunes with American beachgrass, native shrubs and perennials. “OvS did a nice job creating a landscape that fits the beach environment and doesn’t require a huge amount of maintenance,” says Robert Gurney.
From the third floor—which harbors family bedrooms, an office and a gym—a separate stair ascends to the roof deck. Buttressed by the home’s gables, this perch comes complete with a built-in TV should anyone tire of the lofty views.
This deck was just one of many challenges Horizon Builders faced during construction. “The building was designed to withstand hurricane-force winds. And there are some big cantilevers, so it needed an enormous amount of steel,” the architect remarks. “When all of Rehoboth is gone, this will be the last house standing.”
After the pandemic hit, the family wound up sheltering in their newly completed retreat for more than a year. “The wife told me how much they love the house and all the light and fresh air,” says Baron Gurney. Gazing at the beach from the living room deck, she sighs, “It is like heaven right here.”
Architecture: Robert M. Gurney, FAIA, principal; Claire Larsen Andreas and Brian Tuskey, AIA, project architects, Robert M. Gurney, FAIA Architect, Washington, DC. Interior Design, Therese Baron Gurney, ASID, Baron Gurney Interiors, Washington, DC. Kitchen Design: Julia Walter, Boffi, Washington, DC. Builder: Horizon Builders, Annapolis, Maryland. Landscape Architecture: Lisa Delplace, FASLA; Stacilyn Feldman and Beth L’Estrange, senior associates; Rachel Heslop, senior designer, OvS, Washington, DC.
RESOURCES
GENERAL
Home Automation: atlcontrol.com. Paint: benjaminmoore.com. Windows: tradewoodindustries.com.
POOL TERRACE
Dining Table, Chairs & Curved Bench: teak.com. Bench Fabric: sunbrella.com. Chaises: rausch-classics.com. Firepit: hardlifeproducts.com. Ceiling Fans: minkagroup.net.
GROUND-FLOOR GAME ROOM
Sectional, Coffee Table & Throw Pillow: teak.com. Sectional Fabric: sunbrella.com. Ceiling Fans: modernfan.com. Millwork: alleghenywoodworksllc.com.
DINING AREA
Table: liaigre.com. Dining Chairs: andreuworld.com. Dining Chair Upholstery: spradling.group; maharam.com. Chandelier: bocci.com through illuminc.com.
LIVING AREA
Rug: silkroadcarpetandrugs.com. Sofas: dwr.com. Sofa Fabric: maharam.com. Teak Coffee Table: Custom by andrejoyau.com. Side Table & Benches: ateliervierkant.com. Millwork Design: robertgurneyarchitect.com. Millwork Fabrication: alleghenywoodworksllc.com. Fireplace: flarefireplaces.com. Light Fixtures: folio.it. Recessed Lighting: Philips Lightolier Calculite through gsadc.com. Paint: Simply White by benjaminmoore.com. Fireplace Surround: Andy Fleishman through annsacks.com.
PORCH
Hanging Lounger: dedon.de. Throw Pillows: teak.com.
KITCHEN
Cabinetry: boffi.com. Chairs at Island, Swivel Chairs & Coffee Table: andreuworld.com. Island Chair Upholstery: spradling.group. Swivel Chair Upholstery: sunbrella.com. Backsplash Tile: annsacks.com. Hood: zephyronline.com. Island Faucets: waterstoneco.com. Fixtures: konstunion.com. Oven & Fridge: subzero-wolf.com through adu.com. Built-in Coffee Machine: mieleusa.com through adu.com.
STUDY
Swivel Chair: roomandboard.com. Swivel Chair Upholstery: sunbrella.com. Millwork Fabrication: alleghenywoodworksllc.com.
ROOF DECK
Sofa & Table: rausch-classics.com. Cushions: sunbrella.com. Dining Table & Chairs: teak.com. Side Table: shop.viteo.com. Television: seura.com.
YELLOW BEDROOM
Paint: Sunburst by benjaminmoore.com. Bedding & Throw: pbteen.com. Drapery Fabric: carnegiefabrics.com. Drapery Fabrication: rockvilleinteriors.com.
STAIRWAY
Lighting: Arturo Alvarez through illumco.com.
“I like to take credit for finding it,” quips Neada Onufrychuk, referring to the captivating parcel of former farmland she discovered on the outskirts of Vienna, Virginia. The lot’s now-owner vividly recalls the day she happened by a for-sale sign and followed a gravel road to the site of her future home. “The property was so magical. The way the light came through the trees,” she describes, “I could just see my kids running down to the creek and being free here.”
Neada and husband Brian, a wine and spirits distributor, were living in downtown Vienna with their two young children at the time and searching for a buildable plot. After purchasing the five acres in 2017, they assembled an expert team, which included architect Stephen Vanze and designer Lauren Liess. The brief: Conjure a timeless, built-to-last abode that supports casual living and social gatherings. Airy interiors that capitalize on the sylvan setting figured prominently in the couple’s vision.
With a demolition on the horizon, the pair not only gave short shrift to the tumbledown brick residence on the lot, they overlooked altogether an attached log cabin obscured by dense bushes. Vanze and his colleagues, however, spotted the 1800s-era edifice on their first visit and recommended a course correction. “Our initial instinct was that we had to save that log cabin,” Vanze recounts. “It’s an important part of the story of the site.”
The Onufrychuks quickly got on board. And the storied structure, which was lovingly restored and improved, was integrated into the residence’s three-volume plan. It now serves as a dinner-party venue/pool house at one end of the main residence, while a three-car garage, with an office above for Brian, forms an “L” at the other. Glass-lined hallways link the side volumes to the center. Says architect Melanie Giordano, “We wanted to make the log cabin feel like part of the composition.”
Landscape architect Jennifer Horn reinforced the home’s old-meets-new narrative with thoughtfully designed gardens and outdoor living areas. For example, she specified irregular pavers with planted joints for the cabin’s more informal “remnant garden” and clean-lined bluestone for the terrace and pool surround. “The idea was to create the feeling that everything around the cabin had been preserved and had existed for generations,” she reveals.
At the heart of the 11,000-square-foot plan, an expansive great room celebrates its scenic surroundings. Abundant windows drench the well-used hub with natural light. “The house is an expression of the way [the Onufrychuks] live,” asserts Vanze. “All the rooms, including the upstairs, are organized around that living space.”
The architectural style, which Vanze dubbed Modern English Country, borrows from homes that came out of England’s Arts & Crafts movement. In particular, the work of pioneer architect C.F.A. Voysey (who was active during the late 19th and early 20th centuries) inspired the home’s asymmetrical design, sloping roofs and white-stucco exterior, as well as the spare interior detailing. “We essentially did a modern version of a Voysey house,” says Vanze. “It’s cleaner, simplified a little bit.”
Natural materials play a starring role inside—from the great room’s ceiling beams to the library’s white-oak built-ins. The plainspoken architecture—and outdoor splendor—provided a perfect backdrop for Liess, who espouses a down-to-earth design philosophy.
As she pored over the wife’s archive of inspiration images, a project vocabulary emerged. “Soulful, quiet and romantic, with a little bit of edge—that’s how I saw it,” she states. Starting in the kitchen, the designer selected decorative finishes and paint colors in muted shades “that got spread throughout the house and then embellished with tonal, watercolory fabrics,” she says. “I didn’t want anything in the house to overpower what was going on outside the windows.”
White-washed walls showcase original artwork, passionately curated by Neada. Lighting selections sport dark finishes for added contrast. “Bringing in that little bit of black creates a tension that makes it interesting and not so one-note,” offers Liess.
For the laid-back furniture plans, the designer specified many pieces from her own upholstery and case-good collections. A smattering of found elements, she points out, introduces “a bit of patina and quirk.” A pair of antique mirrors, hanging in the entrance hall, sets the tone.
The resulting blend is just what Neada had envisioned. “I wanted a mix of some old, some new but I didn’t want it to feel too dusty,” reveals the homeowner. “This is a nice in-between and it feels authentic to me.”
Friends and family gather for game days in the great room and relaxed dinners by the cabin’s fireplace. Says Neada, “It makes me love my home even more when I feel like other people enjoy being here too.”
Architecture: Stephen Vanze, FAIA, LEED AP, founding principal; Melanie Giordano, AIA, principal; Sydney Davenport Katz, AIA, LEED AP, project manager; Nancy Rizk, project architect, BarnesVanze Architects, Washington, DC. Interior Design: Lauren Liess, Lauren Liess, Great Falls, Virginia. Builder: CarrMichael Construction, Oakton, Virginia. Landscape Design: Jennifer Horn, RLA, Jennifer Horn Landscape Architecture, Arlington, Virginia.
RESOURCES
GENERAL
Flooring: cochranslumber.com.
KITCHEN
Cabinetry & Countertops: caesarstoneus.com. Backsplash: cletile.com through annsacks.com. Range: thermador.com. Flooring: architessa.com. Sink Faucet: watermark-designs.com. Sconces: laurenliess.com. Paint: Greek Villa by Sherwin-williams.com.
BREAKFAST AREA
Lighting: laurenliess.com.
GREAT ROOM
Sofa & Arm Chairs: laurenliess.com through taylorking.com. Sofa & Arm Chair Fabrics: taylorking.com. Sofa Pillow Fabrics: Lee Jofa through kravet.com. ; arabelfabrics.com. ; laurenliess.com. ; rosetarlow.com. ; peterdunhamtextiles.com. ; legracieux.com. Coffee Table & Stone Table: laurenliess.com through woodbridgefurniture.com. Nesting Tables: vintage. Round Side Table: noirfurniturela.com. Pendants: laurenliess.com. Rug Underlayment: laurenliess.com. Layered Rug: frenchmarketcollection.com. Sofa Table: antique. Floor Lamp: vintage. Sitting Area Chairs: laurenliess.com through taylorking.com. Sitting Area Chair Fabric: taylorking.com. Sitting Area Coffee Table: arteriorshome.com. Sitting Area Stump Table: etsy.com. Additional Floor Lamps: curreyandcompany.com. ; visualcomfort.com. Paint: Greek Villa by sherwin-williams.com. Art: marylittle.com.
ENTRY HALL
Drapery Fabric: laurenliess.com. Drapery Fabrication: laurenliess.com. ; pauldavid.design. Window Shade: horizonshades.com. Runner: vintage. Lanterns: laurenliess.com. Mirror: antique. Demilune & Hanging Console: laurenliess.com through woodbridgefurniture.com. Paint: Greek Villa by sherwin-williams.com.
LIBRARY
Chair: frenchmarketcollection.com.
CABIN
Dining Table: sarreid.com. Chairs: industrywest.com. Chandelier: laurenliess.com.
LINK TO CABIN
Bench: arteriorshome.com. Ceiling Fixtures: laurenliess.com. Paint: Greek Villa by sherwin-williams.com.
OWNERS’ BEDROOM
Bed: tarashaw.com. Bed Fabric: suzannetuckerhome.com. Bedding & Pillows: peacockalley.com. Accent Pillow: vintage. Leather Benches: sarreid.com. Drapery Fabric: lesindiennes.com. Drapery Fabrication: laurenliess.com. ; pauldavid.design. Base Rug: fibreworks.com. Throw Rug: landryandarcari.com. Chair: laurenliess.com through taylorking.com. Chair Fabric: taylorking.com. Chair Pillow Fabric: walter-g.com. Floor & Table Lamps: laurenliess.com. Nightstand: noirfurniturela.com. Paint: Greek Villa by sherwin-williams.com.
When you can’t buy your favorite architect’s home, why not hire her to design one specially for you? Julie and Grant Geyer were on the lookout for a new house when they toured the chic, innovative interiors of architect Carmel Greer’s DC abode, then on the market. “The style was incredible,” enthuses Julie. “We were looking for modern but not uber-minimalist modern, and Carmel’s house had the perfect sensibility.”
Sadly, the home’s location made it impossible; with three tween-age kids, the couple wanted to stay in the Maryland school system. Still, they met with Greer—and serendipitously discovered a teardown for sale in their Bethesda neighborhood at the same time. “The property was stunning,” recounts Julie Geyer, who has since hung out her shingle as an interior designer; Grant is a cybersecurity expert. “We asked Carmel to take a look and that was it.”
Greer conceived an L-shaped layout in which front-facing public rooms occupy one leg of the L while the other leg is dedicated “to family and practicality,” she explains. “It’s a nice way of organizing a home, to group the practical elements together. And it worked well aesthetically with the lot’s square configuration.” As a bonus, the L creates a courtyard in back that neatly accommodates an outdoor kitchen and a porch equipped with heaters and retractable screens. A recently installed swimming pool nestles into the lawn. The three-quarter-acre corner lot enabled the owners to tuck the three-car garage they desired around the side, away from the front façade.
With its subtly abstracted traditional forms, the stucco-clad, 7,839-square-foot dwelling fits happily into its neighborhood of sprawling, traditional homes. “It’s simple, clean and modern, but not loud or attention-grabbing,” says Greer. The interiors echo the same restrained-modern aesthetic—starting with the front entry hall, which showcases a sculptural staircase without railings that curves up to the third floor. “I told Carmel we wanted a grand foyer, and she hit it out of the park. The stair is our mini-Guggenheim,” marvels Julie Geyer, laughing.
“The house is really a series of simple masses, so I mimicked that idea with the stair,” Greer notes. “The simplicity of the stair lets other elements have their day.”
The foyer flows into a formal living room on one side; on the other, a long gallery leads past the dining room to the kitchen, which joins the legs of the L. The family room shares space with the kitchen; beyond it are the garage, mudroom and Julie’s home office. The back courtyard is accessible from both legs via glass doors that foster indoor-outdoor connectivity.
The second floor houses the owners’ suite and laundry as well as the kids’ bedrooms and hang-out space. A third story contains Grant Geyer’s home office, while the basement features a rec room, guest suite, gym and—the pièce de résistance—an elegant, climatized wine cellar embellished with oak that stores 3,000 bottles.
Greer and her clients easily found common ground when it came to the interiors. Against the backdrop of 11-foot ceilings, eight-foot-tall charcoal-gray doors, character-grade wide-plank oak flooring and steel-look window frames, chic lighting abounds and fixtures and finishes blend harmoniously. The Geyers collect art and antiquities, so Greer created spaces for display, including a climate-controlled case in the foyer that showcases an ancient Greek vessel. “I always dreamed of clean, all-white spaces that wouldn’t interfere but would be a canvas for everything,” Geyer comments.
However, she also wanted “moments of drama,” and specified a pure-black dining room with giant cove moldings and a bold, abstract painting. Another example is her home office, entirely enveloped in Benjamin Moore’s vibrant Mulberry—including the millwork. The main powder room, clad in Nero Marquina marble, offers its own touch of glam.
Geyer and Greer collaborated on the kitchen. Inspired by the one in Greer’s former home, it combines dark-gray cabinetry with expanses of swirling Calacatta Vagli marble on both countertops and backsplash. White-painted beams adorn the ceiling; they carry over into the family room where a vaulted ceiling conveys an airy feel. “The rooms needed to interact and the painted beams tie them together,” observes Greer.
Throughout the house, modern artwork, much of it by local artists, and beautiful, carefully chosen lighting add interest. Twin crystal chandeliers dominate the dining room, while an oversized chandelier in mid-century style perfectly fits the family room’s vaulted space. Cascading globes are a centerpiece above the stairs, suspended at eye level on the second floor.
During construction, Geyer enrolled in an interior design program at the New York Institute of Art & Design; since the home’s completion in 2018, her business has taken off. “I pinch myself constantly,” she says. “I think, ‘How did I get so lucky?’”
Architecture: Carmel Greer, LEED AP, District Design, Washington, DC. Interior Design: Julie Geyer, Julie Geyer Studio, Bethesda, Maryland. Builder: GBI Corporation, Alexandria, Virginia. Landscape Design: Everett Conroy & Landis Garden Design, Chevy Chase, Maryland.
RESOURCES
GENERAL
Flooring: hursthardwoods.com.
FAMILY ROOM
Stools: Owners’ collection. Sectional: leeindustries.com. Sling Chairs: Lee Industries through brooktaylorinteriors.com. Painting over Mantel: kimknoll.com. Console behind Sectional: crateandbarrel.com. Chandelier: etsy.com
DINING ROOM
Table & Chairs: rh.com. Sideboard: noirfurniturela.com. Art above Sideboard: Agnes Rathonyi. Chandeliers: sunpan.com. Draperies: jamdesign.com. Wall Paint: sherwin-williams.com.
HOME OFFICE
Writing Desk: wisteria.com. Chandelier: arhaus.com. Acrylic Chair & Rug: Owners’ collection.
POWDER ROOM
Mirror: Owners’ collection. Sconces: circalighting.com. Sink & Plumbing Fixtures: kohler.com. Marble Vanity: marblesystems.com.
KITCHEN
Cabinetry: Custom through dkandt.com. Marble Backsplash & Countertops: marblesystems.com. Faucets: brizo.com. Range: dacor.com.
WINE CELLAR
Wine Pegs: vintageview.com. Table & Chairs: rh.com. Chandelier: Owners’ collection.
OWNERS’ BEDROOM
Bed & Bedding: Owners’ Collection. Throw: Owners’ Collection. Decorative Pillows: etsy.com. Chandelier: rh.com. Large Rug: greenfront.com. Small Rug: districtloom.com. Ottomans: cb2.com. Drapery Fabric: jam-design.com.
OWNERS’ BATH
Mirrors: Owners’ collection. Vanity Fabrication: dkandt.com. Scones: rh.com.
Grant Bermann and Ryan Velandria McCarthy fell in love with the Italianate brick façade of the 1889 Shaw row house when they purchased the property in 2015, but were less impressed with the interior. “The house had been renovated a few times in an incoherent way and its character had been stripped away during these piecemeal projects,” says McCarthy. “We had to use our imagination to visualize what it might be like.”
The couple, both attorneys, hired Josh Hill, a principal with Hill and Hurtt Architects, to realize their goals, which included introducing period-appropriate details and charm, increasing natural light and modernizing the layout with a more sensible placement of the bathrooms and kitchen.
“Ryan and Grant didn’t really nest in their new home because they knew they were going to remodel it,” Hill relates. “The interior was so disappointing compared to the exterior. The living and dining rooms had been combined into one big space, the moldings had been replaced with drywall and the fireplace tiles had been removed.”
Phase one of the renovation started with a reconfiguration of the first floor. “The kitchen had an awkward layout with a powder room in the middle so when you opened the oven door it banged into the powder room door,” recalls Bermann. “Josh moved the powder room and demolished a back staircase to increase the size of the kitchen without needing to build out and lose any garden space.”
The back elevation had been neglected in the home’s previous iterations, so Hill designed a new rear façade with a second layer of brick, stone steps and floor-to-ceiling glass doors that re-center the kitchen and connect it to the garden. “We don’t want the back and front of the house to match,” he explains, “but we do want both entrances to feel important.”
To add charm to the open dining and living rooms, each of which has a fireplace, Hill installed Victorian-era fireplace surrounds and mantels. He layered in crown moldings, ceiling beams and pilasters to define the spaces. “The fireplaces, built-in bookcases and cabinets are the focal point for this level, and we were even able to find a mantel with a pair of lion’s paws at the base,” he notes.
In the kitchen, the goal was to marry modern style with the home’s Victorian details. Hill accomplished this by extending white oak flooring throughout the main level, adding simplified moldings that echo those in the living and dining rooms and choosing simple, white-painted, flat-panel cabinets and a white quartz waterfall island.
Few original architectural elements remain in the interiors other than an elaborate newel post. “The vestibule and staircase were completely redone and opened to the rest of the floor plan,” says McCarthy. “The staircase had a partially exposed brick wall, and we were able to completely expose the brick and paint it white.”
A large skylight above the staircase on the third floor bathes the stairwell in natural light. While the front windows couldn’t be altered because of historic preservation requirements, new larger windows across the back of the house are double-hung to relate to the originals.
The plan reconfigured the second floor, where the two bedrooms that once shared a bath were allotted their own en-suite, marble-clad bathrooms. “The primary bedroom had a large 1980s Jacuzzi in the corner that we took out,” Bermann observes. “The rooms are more rationally proportioned now, with the primary bedroom centered around the fireplace.”
A new staircase boasting visibility to the first level leads to the third floor, replacing what McCarthy calls a “tunnel-like” stair. “My favorite room is the third-floor lounge, which has a slanted ceiling that reaches about 15 feet tall at the highest point,” says Bermann. “The first floor is where we entertain, but the top floor is where we enjoy day-to-day life, especially with the balcony overlooking the street.” The third floor also houses closets and a full bath.
The couple’s happiest memory in the house is their wedding day in 2018, when only the first floor had been renovated. “We were married under the chandelier in front of the fireplace by Jim Obergefell, a dear friend who was the lead plaintiff in the Supreme Court case that allowed same-sex marriages,” says McCarthy. “It was understated but beautiful, with a small reception in the new kitchen and dining area.”
Architecture: Joshua O. Hill, AIA, LEED AP, NCARB, Hill and Hurtt Architects, Washington, DC. Contractor: Cem Sevim, Buffalo Company LLC, Washington, DC.
DRAWING BOARD: Q&A with architect Joshua Hill
How do you reconcile modern tastes with historical vernacular?
It’s always a challenge to recall an earlier era while not wholly replicating it. No one wants an 1890s kitchen, and everyone wants more natural light and flow. Reconfiguring the floor plan while keeping or adding details can provide the right results.
How do you decide what to restore and what to replace in an older home?
It can be hard to take away something such as a beautiful oak staircase that’s in the wrong spot, but we have confidence that what we put back will be better. We try to preserve as much as we can in every home. In this house, most of the original details were taken away in earlier renovations.
What are common renovation mistakes to avoid?
Renovating can be an emotional ride, so you need to work with people you trust and like. It’s important to hire the right builder and design professionals who will work as a team. The other mistake people often make is being unrealistic about their budget and then needing to cut corners. You need to understand the costs from the beginning to make the right choices.
The complexity of a whole-house renovation was increased exponentially in a townhouse reinvention near Washington’s Logan Circle. That’s because the owners, Sharon H. Russ and David Rubin, had just expanded their domestic real estate holdings by one adjoining historic row house. With an active family and professional responsibilities—she is a consultant, he is a managing director at Deloitte—they had longed for more space. When the opportunity arose to purchase the property next door, the couple jumped on it.
But as Russ points out, they knew they might move out one day. The task they presented to architect Salo Levinas: Join the two dwellings for now, but preserve future resale value.
“The houses were joined, but with the possibility of separating them,” explains Levinas, principal of Shinberg.Levinas, a multi-disciplinary Washington practice. “The challenge was to create one large unit that you could close tomorrow and have separate units that would work perfectly well.”
Preservation requirements dictated that the historic façades remain unchanged, including the two front doors; the owners use the door to their original end unit. Inside, the architect envisioned a modernized, four-level home encompassing 4,200 square feet and including five bedrooms, four full baths, a study and a family room. Two lower-level rental units were also renovated.
On the main floor, Levinas established an expanded envelope for entertaining. By taking down party walls and moving one staircase, he created wide open spaces defined by off-white gallery walls. Calibrated shafts of daylight from repositioned skylights and existing clerestory windows bounce off polished European white oak flooring. Behind those walls, double the wiring and plumbing was installed, in case the units need to be walled off again and another kitchen is required.
The floor plan and architectural features subtly respect the former division between spaces. The doubled living room now boasts two handcrafted steel fireplaces—one for each downsized unit. It took even more finesse to accommodate two complete staircases. Levinas gave each its own strong sense of individuality; one, newly fashioned in the owners’ original row house, winds up from the kitchen in a coil of steel. The architect calls this his “statement” staircase; its counterpart in the acquired home was demolished in favor of a straight flight with open risers, separated from the adjacent dining area by a suspended partition. Levinas found room for a nifty “wine wall” beneath the stairs.
For furnishings, Russ turned to Sandy Despres Stevens, a New York-based French designer then working under the name Decopostale. “Our goal was to bring a contemporary but warm feeling to the home,” says Despres Stevens, now CEO of the New York office of Jean-Philippe Nuel, a Paris designer of hospitality and residential interiors. “As it is a narrow space with a lot of circulation, we needed to find the right balance in furniture proportions and materials to achieve a clean design that is comfortable and livable.”
Deborah Kalkstein of Contemporaria designed the sparkling kitchen, where Italian Cesar cabinetry hides every possible appliance. “The kitchen is open to the entrance so it becomes a very important part of the two houses,” she remarks.
The upper floors are enlivened by floor-to-ceiling windows across the backs of both houses, where there are no preservation requirements. The boys sleep on the second floor, encompassing two rooms and a bath on either side of the former party wall. The third floor houses a sleek owners’ suite on one side and an office, guest room and bath on the other; natural wood paneling lines the walls, closets and hallway, which culminates in a glamorous owners’ bath. The ceiling was lifted to 13 feet by borrowing space from the attic.
The family moved out during construction. When the dust settled just before the pandemic, Russ, Rubin and their two teenage boys returned to a transformed home. On the serene main floor, walls provide space for displaying bold art. In the dining room, for example, a slanted wall creates a niche that frames a Renée Rendine sculpture made of crocheted fishing line. Says Levinas, “We don’t treat these rooms like boxes, but as sculpture.”
You gutted one townhouse and retrofitted another. How tricky is that?
Salo Levinas: In remodeling an old house, you don’t know what is hidden; the floors are not straight, the bricks are not completely aligned. With craftsmanship, you are able to do it. The partnership is crucial. Fortunately, we chose a contractor with craftsmen who know our expectations and were able to meet them. This kind of job requires people who have pride in the construction.
How important is budgeting?
As a design firm, we are very conscious of budgets. The architect has the responsibility to manage the budget, not to communicate false expectations to the client. If they spend so much money on planning, you can’t build. You have to start with an honest relationship.
Is designing a home a bonding experience?
Everything is designed by our firm. We treat the house as a whole. To go into detail, to engage with the client in a tight, tight relationship—that I really enjoy.
Renovation Architecture: Salo Levinas, AIA, principal, and Paola Lugli, project architect, Shinberg.Levinas, Washington, DC. Interior Design: Sandy Despres Stevens, Decopostale, New York, New York. Kitchen Design: Deborah Kalkstein, Contemporaria, Potomac, Maryland. Contractor: Czecher Construction, Woodbridge, Virginia.
Throughout his decades-long career as a commercial architect, most recently as a principal at Perkins&Will, Jeffrey Davenport has masterminded structures around the world that meet his clients’ every last wish. Yet he never had the opportunity to do the same for himself until a fateful day in 2015 when his Northern Virginia neighbors brought him to see a two-and-a-half-acre waterfront lot on Virginia’s Lake Anna.
“Being an architect, my goal was always to design the house of my dreams,” he explains. “But I wasn’t sure if this property was right or even if it was the right time.” After a few months of consideration, however, they put in an offer. “I figured now is as good a time as any,” Davenport says.
Given the opportunity to conceive a getaway from the ground up, the architect envisioned a home unlike the couple’s primary residence, a traditional center-hall Colonial in Northern Virginia with rooms that go unused much of the year. For this new abode, he leaned into his penchant for modernism, devising a striking, single-story, 4,700-square-foot dwelling with large, open spaces for gathering. He envisioned room for frequent visits from his grown children and grandchildren, but a feeling of coziness when it’s just the couple. “I wanted someplace where the family could get away and reconnect,” he says. “This house and site allow for that.”
To realize his vision, Davenport organized the six-bedroom, six-and-a-half-bath home along what he describes as a spine, which maximizes every square inch of the lot’s narrow buildable area. The great room is located at one end, while the owners’ suite is situated at the opposite corner. The garage and media room extend off the spine from the south side of the home. The entire structure is covered in a white- and gray-colored glass cladding system by Sto that mirrors surrounding trees and nearly 270-degree water views. “The reflective properties of the glass take on a different quality and appearance throughout the day and during each season,” Davenport notes.
The site’s rural Louisa County location proved challenging for Davenport in the hunt for a builder to carry out his vision, which included complex configurations like large cantilevers specially positioned to block direct sunlight in the summer while still helping to heat the interior in cooler seasons. “Finding a contractor in the area who was willing to take on the challenge of a home like this wasn’t easy,” explains Davenport, who eventually enlisted Ken Stanley of Stanley Custom Homes in Orange, Virginia. “Once he understood how particular I was, Ken actually exceeded my expectations.”
Taking full advantage of the home’s natural surroundings was top of mind for the architect, who opted for large expanses of floor-to-ceiling windows to help blur the lines between interior and exterior. Even the entry door is constructed from a nine-foot-tall piece of glass. “The idea was that you come up to the house and get a visual inside and then out to the lake,” says Davenport. He also considered the view for frequent passersby, devising a feature wall with sculptural cutouts separating the foyer and main living area, which is illuminated at night and visible from the water.
A pared-down interior palette ensures that the spectacular vistas remain the star of the show. In the open kitchen, for example, minimalist white-lacquer cabinetry from Snaidero is a seamless match to the room’s white walls, while walnut accents add a striking contrast. “Everything we did was to blend in with the architecture, instead of designing a kitchen that says ‘notice me,’” recounts Shawna Dillon of Snaidero DC Metro, who worked closely with Davenport to realize the space. “Our design philosophy is always about integrating into someone’s home.”
In keeping with his modern vision, Davenport selected classic mid-century furnishings like Eames dining and lounge chairs, Bertoia bar stools and Saarinen Womb chairs. But never does the less-is-more approach restrict his family from the relaxed enjoyment of the abode. Case in point: A sleek MDF Italia dining table clad in French oak veneer is a frequent gathering spot for games.
And even the 100-foot-long central corridor provides ample fun. “My grandsons love to have me chase them down that hallway,” says Davenport with a laugh. “It’s a wonderful home for a large family—and we’re not a quiet group.”
Architecture & Interior Design: Jeffrey Davenport, Perkins&Will, Washington, DC. Kitchen & Bath Design: Shawna Dillon, ASID, NCIDQ, Snaidero DC Metro, Alexandria, Virginia. Builder: Ken Stanley, Stanley Custom Homes, Orange, Virginia.
THROUGHOUT
Wood Flooring: wideplankflooring.com. Windows: fleetwoodusa.com. Home Automation: lutron.com through arcanetech.com. Window Treatment: mechoshade.com through Total Shading Solutions (301-948-9520).
OUTDOOR
Eames Outdoor Table & Chairs: hermanmiller.com.
KITCHEN/DINING ROOM
Cabinetry: snaiderodcmetro.com. Countertops & Backsplash: caesarstoneus.com. Ovens, Range & Hood: mieleusa.com through snaiderodcmetro.com. Faucet: grohe.com. Bertoia Bar Stools: knoll.com. Dining Table: mdfitalia.com. Eames Dining Chairs: hermanmiller.com.
LIVING ROOM
Saarinen Womb Chair & Saarinen Tulip Side Table: knoll.com. Sofa, Swivel Chairs & Ottomans: hermanmiller.com. Rug: safavieh.com. LC4 Chaise Longue: dwr.com.
LAUNDRY
Cabinets: snaiderodcmetro.com. Countertops: caesarstoneus.com. Backsplash: daltile.com. Washer & Dryer: electroluxappliances.com. Appliance Source: Build.com
BATH
Cabinets: snaiderodcmetro.com. Flooring: daltile.com. Shower Enclosure: richmondshowerdoorsandmore.com. Plumbing Fixtures: grohe.com. Vanity Chair: dwr.com. Wall Covering: besttile.com.
POWDER ROOM
Vanity: snaiderodcmetro.com. Mirror: ibmirror.com. Plumbing Fixture: grohe.com. Wall Covering: daltile.com.
Bay Beauty - Bucolic farmland and a panoramic stretch of waterfront beckoned a couple looking for a vacation home on the Chesapeake.
The 15-acre parcel overlooking Eastern Bay on Kent Island was already home to an abandoned, circa-1980s abode set amid cornfields. The couple saw an opportunity in the rundown house, which was in foreclosure. “We are water people and had looked forever for the right property,” the wife recalls. “This one checked every box.”
The husband, who owns a mechanical contracting company, and wife, a stay-at-home mom, envisioned a sprawling weekend getaway that would become their full-time residence once their three teenage daughters go to college. They tasked architect Christopher Pattey, who had designed their beach cottage in Bethany, with reimagining—and greatly enlarging—the 3,000-square-foot structure. Early in the process, Pattey brought in designer Erin Paige Pitts to orchestrate interiors that would harmonize with the architecture, and builder John Coursey to implement their vision.
“They specified a coastal-traditional vernacular, reminiscent of grand summer homes in The Hamptons, with cedar shingles and lots of indoor-outdoor flow,” Pattey says. “It’s really an estate. We increased the square footage to 8,100—not counting pavilions, verandas and a cabana that add several thousand more.”
Constrained by critical-area rules, Pattey retained the existing foundation, which forms the home’s central volume. This section encompasses a foyer and stair hall; an open-plan dining room, kitchen and two-story great room; a library; and a sunroom. Support spaces include a back hall, butler’s pantry, mudroom areas and laundry. The second floor was overhauled to accommodate en-suite bedrooms for the three kids, while a new 2,500-square-foot owners’ wing on the main floor features a separate circular, columned entry “to establish a sense of arrival,” Pattey says. Past a sitting room dubbed the “owners’ retreat,” a wide corridor leads to the bedroom, bath and closets.
On the opposite side of the house, an existing two-car garage now boasts a spacious second-floor guest suite complete with a chic kitchenette. A colonnade connects this structure to a new three-car garage, above which an unfinished rec room awaits the next phase of construction.
The owners’ program celebrated both farmland and waterfront, so Pattey conceived a linear design in which every room enjoys one of these vistas. “I didn’t want the linearity to be monotonous, so I created an octagonal tower above the main entry,” he notes. “It’s a vertical element that draws the eye. And the owners get the bonus of an observatory with panoramic views,” accessible from a spiral stair on the second floor. Pavilions with hipped roofs, cupolas, gables and porthole windows embellish the exterior. Says Pattey, “There’s not a specific rhyme or reason for everything; it’s about the proportions and what is pleasing to the eye.” Inside, he created a sense of coziness by delineating spaces in the open-plan central volume and owners’ wing with columns and ceiling-height changes.
When conceiving the interiors, Pitts turned to the home’s estuary environment for inspiration. “They have the most magnificent waterfront I’ve seen,” she observes. “There’s an enormous front yard that’s planted with corn in the summer and a creek with wetland grasses. I tried to mix the colors of the bay and sky with the textures of the property.” A crisp-white kitchen with backsplash tiles in blues ranging from subtle to bold provided a jumping-off point for the home’s overall palette of creams and whites punctuated by blue accents. In the butler’s pantry, vibrant blue cabinetry pairs with a mirrored-tile backsplash for a touch of glam.
Pitts furnished the house from scratch, honing in on light-stained woods, woven pieces and upholstery that convey both comfort and sophistication. She enhanced the sense of intimacy through warmth of materials and furniture groupings, selecting low-slung silhouettes that allow the views to take center stage. Her challenges included designing the home’s seven bathrooms in a range of styles and materials; the marble-clad, hexagonal owners’ bath situated at the end of a wide corridor is a standout.
To meet the clients’ desire for easy indoor-outdoor living, Pattey created an abundance of al fresco spaces. A water-facing veranda stretches the length of the main volume, spilling out to a patio with a fire pit. A screened pavilion and cabana—complete with powder room and outdoor shower—flank a pergola-covered walkway to another pavilion. The existing swimming pool has been refurbished, while an outdoor kitchen, dining area and owners’ wing patio give the family plenty of outdoor options. A landscape plan by Terra Nova Design softens the extensive hardscape.
The finished house boasts a seamless connection between architecture and interior design, thanks to a design team that was sympatico from the start. “When you team up early, there’s great synergy,” comments Pattey. Both he and Pitts contend that the trust the clients vested in the team enhanced the results.
The owners are thrilled with their newly completed abode, where they unexpectedly sheltered full-time for two months during the pandemic. “The process was long, about three years from design to the end,” says the wife. “But we made it exactly the way we want it.”
Renovation Architecture: Christopher L. Pattey, Associate AIA, Becker Morgan Group, Salisbury, Maryland. Interior Design: Erin Paige Pitts, Erin Paige Pitts Interiors, Annapolis, Maryland. Renovation Contractor: John W. Coursey and Son, LLC, Centreville, Maryland. Landscape Installation: Terra Nova Design, Crofton, Maryland.
RESOURCES
GENERAL
Flooring: kentisland.abbeycarpet.com.
GREAT ROOM
Sectional & Fabric: ferrellmittman.com. Wood-Framed Chairs: mcguirefurniture.com. Coffee Table: Custom by erinpaigepittsinteriors.com. Fabrication: mitchellyanosky.com. Chandelier: arteriors.com. Drapery Fabric: fschumacher.com. White Urns on Console: Clients’ collection. Throw Pillows on Sectional: romo.com, quadrillefabrics.com.
FOYER:
Wood-Framed Bench & Fabric: furnitureclassics.com. Art above Bench: suzanneyurdin.com.
SCREENED PAVILION
Furniture: potterybarn.com.
DINING ROOM
Table: centuryfurniture.com. Chairs: hookerfurniture.com. Chair Fabric: romo.com, osborneandlittle.com. Rug: Custom. Drapery Design: erinpaigepittsinteriors.com. Drapery Fabric: osborneandlittle.com, fschumacher.com. Drapery Trim: samuelandsons.com. Chandelier: urbanelectric.com. Barn Door Covering: phillipjeffries.com.
BUTLER’S PANTRY
Backsplash Tile: annsacks.com. Countertop: cambria-quartz.com. Shades: Custom by erinpaigepittsinteriors.com.
KITCHEN
Walnut Countertop & Wood Panel on Fridge: Custom by erinpaigepittsinteriors.com. Fabrication: warrenswoodworks.com. Stone Countertop: atlastile.com. Backsplash Tiles: walkerzanger.com. Round Table by Window Seat: tritterfeefer.com. Woven Chairs: palecek.com. Counter Stools: serenaandlily.com. Island Pendants: urbanelectric.com. Range Hood: ventahood.com.
SUNROOM
Banquette: Custom by erinpaigepittsinteriors.com. Fabrication: mitchellyanosky.com. Table: tritterfeefer.com. Chairs: sikadesignusa.com. Light Fixture: paulferrante.com. Bird Pictures: Victoria-larson.com.
OWNERS’ WING
Bed, Inlaid Chest, Nightstand & Bench: bernhardtfurniture.com. Bench Fabric: fschumacher.com. Chairs & Ottoman by Window: caracole.com. Bedside Lamps: mrbrownhome.com. Drapes: Custom by erinpaigepittsinteriors.com. Drapery Fabric: janechurchill.com. Drapery Trim: fschumacher.com. Hall Settee & Fabric: vanguardfurniture.com. Picture over Settee: patricedrago.com. Console/Desk, Chandelier & Mirror: madegoods.com. Chair: hickorychair.com. Rug: Custom by erinpaigepittsinteriors.com.
One storybook setting there entranced a pair of retired attorneys looking to return to the district after raising their children in Bethesda. “We saw the yard and said, ‘This is it,’” recounts the husband. “For being in the middle of the city, it’s very special.”
A 1930s Tudor-style abode occupied the parcel. Though charming, it lacked the entertaining space and modern amenities—a kitchen with elbow room being one—that the couple desired. Initially gearing up for a renovation, they enlisted architect Chris Snowber and builder Richard Zantzinger. The team explored the makeover option at length but ultimately recommended starting afresh.
Snowber planned the new home around a scenic, albeit somewhat restricting, stream running through the rear yard. As he reveals, the feature “was a constraint but totally drove and enriched the design.” To maximize the footprint, the back of the house progressively steps out to follow the path of the water. “Our plan grew out this way because we wanted to get as close to the stream as possible,” the architect adds. “The stream diverts towards the rear of the property; the plan does that as well. Much of the design was about orienting the house to its remarkable site and connecting it visually and physically.”
With stretches of glass opening to backyard views, the living room sits at the main level’s narrowest end, followed by the family room and eat-in kitchen. The owners’ suite enjoys a second-floor vantage point above the kitchen in the widest section. Lower-level spaces spill directly outdoors.
Following its predecessor’s lead, the 6,500-square-foot dwelling expresses a Tudoresque quality. The exterior’s mix of stucco, stone, timbers and brick speaks to the Old World aesthetic. “It felt like a natural fit to continue in the Tudor style since it had a connection on the site,” states Snowber. “We weren’t looking to make a Tudor house, which can sometimes feel sort of dark and heavy. The challenge was finding the balance between capturing the spirit and making the house feel open and bright.”
Interior designer Skip Sroka came on board early, bringing his interpretative lens to everything from architectural details to decorative touches. “We took a few design liberties,” he admits freely. “We wanted to create a ‘new old’ house, with the wonderful quality and bones of an older home but one that has been updated to be part of this century.”
Wrapped in hand-painted wallcovering, the elegant foyer serves as a harbinger of what’s to come. “The Chinoiserie wallpaper, with its glowing gold background, sets the tone,” Sroka explains. “This home is a joyful balance of past and present with an easy dollop of glam.”
Fresh approaches throughout energize the residence’s traditional bones. The designer dialed up the drama in the library, coating its millwork in a deep-green lacquer. Across the hall, celadon-hued faux finishes enliven the dining room’s paneled ceiling and walls.
Sroka’s attention to detail is evident at every turn. The library’s teal hue reappears on the sofa trim and chair upholstery in the adjacent living room, establishing visual flow. The kitchen cabinets sport back-painted glass doors, while the pantry near the breakfast area showcases antiqued-mirror doors. The velvet-upholstered headboard on the owners’ four-poster bed extends to the sloped ceiling.
The furnishings constitute a mix of new and old finds, repurposed pieces from the owners’ collection and bespoke creations of Sroka’s design. A livable yet elevated look prevails. “It’s a beautiful, happy house that has some sophistication, but it’s not off-putting,” asserts Sroka. “Balancing what you need to have for comfort with what you want to have for delight is very important in a home.”
Before covid struck, the empty-nesters threw their daughter’s wedding in the garden and held a fundraiser for the DC-based Latin American Youth Center. “We built the house because we like to entertain and hopefully we can again someday soon,” says the wife. “This is a great house for hosting events. There’s lots of space for people to roam around.”
Indeed, guests can stroll outdoors, where four gathering areas await. Campion Hruby Landscape Architects refreshed and augmented the surrounding scenery. For improved access, the team added stepping-stone paths and a bridge to a respectfully restored terrace across the stream. “There were relics of a past garden,” recalls Kevin Campion. “It was clearly meant to be a garden of exploration. [The owners] wanted to follow through with that idea and to be able to move through their garden in a graceful way.”
The couple credits the project’s success—inside and out—to a close collaboration. “The team worked together so beautifully,” marvels the wife.
Her husband concurs: “The ensemble was just great.”
Architecture: Christopher R. Snowber, AIA, principal; Michael P. Rouse, AIA, NCARB, project architect, Hamilton Snowber Architects, Washington, DC. Interior Design: Skip Sroka, ASID, NCIDQ, ICAA, principal, Sroka Design, Washington, DC. Builder: Richard Zantzinger, Zantzinger, Inc., Washington, DC. Landscape Design: Kevin Campion, ASLA, principal; Lindsey Tabor, project manager, Campion Hruby Landscape Architects, Annapolis, Maryland.
RESOURCES
GENERAL
Flooring: Rift-cut oak through twperry.com. Cabinetry & Millwork Fabrication Throughout: zantzingerbuilt.com. Drapery Fabrication: fabriccreationsstudio.com. Upholstery Fabrication: designerworkroom.com.
FOYER & HALLWAY
Wallpaper: paulmontgomery.com. Console by Door: williamyeoward.com through jonathancharlesfurniture.com. Rug: designsurfaces.com. Gilt Demi-Lune & Mirror: antique. Settee: Custom by srokadesign.com. Fabric: architex-ljh.com.
FAMILY ROOM
Sofa, Coffee Table, Art over Fireplace & Rug: Clients’ collection. Sofa Fabric: kravet.com. Trim: houles.com. Blue Chair & Ottoman by Fireplace: kravet.com Kravet Furniture. Chair & Ottoman Fabric: Lee Jofa through kravet.com. Trim: fschumacher.com. Skirted Armchair: leeindustries.com through americaneyewdc.net. Fabric for chair & Throw Pillows: Duralee through robertallen.com. Wall Treatment: robsonworldwidegraining.com.
LIVING ROOM
Sofa: highlandhousefurniture.com. Fabric: norbarfabrics.com. Trim: fschumacher.com. Coffee Table: Custom by srokadesign.com. Faux Leather: pindler.com. Rug: cavancarpets.com. Fabrication: jrsflooringpa.com. Club Chairs: centuryfurniture.com. Club Chair Fabric: kravet.com. Cording: jlambeth.com. Console by Fireplace: modernhistoryhome.com. Shade Fabric: Fabric: jab.de. Tape Trim: scalamandre.com. Floor Lamp: reginaandrew.com.
LIBRARY
Sofa & Fabric: highlandhousefurniture.com. Chairs: Clients’ collection. Chair Fabric: jimthompsonfabrics.com through hinescompany.com. Trim: Lee Jofa through kravet.com. Coffee Table & Rug: Custom by srokadesign.com. Rug Fabrication: juliedasherrugs.com. Shade Fabric: jab.de. Trim: Lee Jofa through kravet.com. Chandelier: visualcomfortlightinglights.com. Bookshelves: Custom by srokadesign.com. Bookshelf Paint: Mallard Green by benjaminmoore.com
DINING ROOM
Table: Clients’ collection. Side Chairs: charlesstewartcompany.com. Side Chair Fabric: jimthompsonfabrics.com through hinescompany.com. Host Chairs: hickorychair.com. Host Chair Fabric: architex-ljh.com, scalamandre.com. Chandelier: visualcomfortlightinglights.com. Sunburst Mirror: wildwoodmirrorco.com. Rug: crystalcarpets.net. Rug Fabrication: jrsflooringpa.com. Drapery Fabric: scalamandre.com. Console: modernhistoryhome.com. Abstract Art above Console: Morris Schulman. Iron Door to Ceramics Collection: williamyeoward.com through jonathancharlesfurniture.com.
KITCHEN
Cabinetry: Custom by srokadesign.com. Countertops & Backsplash: Quartzite through rbratti.com. Pendants: visualcomfortlightinglights.com. Counter Stools: woodbridgefurniture.com. Breakfast Table: bernhardtfurniture.com. Chairs: janusetcie.com. Hall Settee: highlandhousefurniture.com.
OWNERS’ BEDROOM
Bed: hickorychair.com. Upholstery on Headboard: Lee Jofa through kravet.com. Bedding: sferra.com. Window Treatment Fabric: rubelli.com, clarke-clarke.com, robertallen.com. Rug: maslandcarpets.com: Rug Fabrication: jrsflooringpa.com. Chairs by Fireplace: highlandhousefurniture.com. Fabric: scalamandre.com. Ottoman by Fireplace: Clients’ collection. Ottoman Fabric: jab-de, Tape Trim: cowtan.com.
Half a lifetime ago, Ajaipal “Jay” Virdy anticipated the serene home that he and his wife, Shalu, now enjoy. Back then, Virdy’s fledgling tech company occupied space next to a builder whose work he admired.
Two decades later, the dream came true. With two grown children and an enviable career complete, Virdy and Shalu were moving from Leesburg to a classic, two-story abode in McLean. The property was endowed with an ideal setting and recently added guest quarters perfect for Virdy’s aging mother. But the 9,422-square-foot house, built in 2001, came with awkward and dated interiors.
Virdy called on his former neighbor, design-build company BOWA, which in turn enlisted architect Sarah Armstrong of Studio 360 and Betsy Delisi of Lotus Interior Design. The team quickly sized up the home’s quirks: The owners’ suite was an unwieldy labyrinth, the kitchen lacked warmth—and something about the entry hall didn’t work. What followed was a two-year, top-to-bottom reimagining that converted the home’s nine bedrooms to five with three sitting rooms, and revamped the rest of the existing spaces.
“It’s heaven,” says Shalu Virdy. “It’s our forever house.”
Armstrong imparted drama and functionality without expanding the footprint. “We started with the architecture, creating a really great space,” she notes. Walls were moved, ceilings raised, windows expanded, paneling gutted, the attic reclaimed, the owners’ suite redesigned, the kitchen enhanced, and the lower level personalized with a golf simulator and sufficient room for musical equipment to sustain multi-generational family gatherings. (Jay plays guitar while Shalu sings.)
First came the entry—a low, narrow space where any sense of arrival had been cut short by a blank wall straight ahead. That barrier hid a sun-filled family room at the back of the house. By raising the ceiling, widening the space and replacing the wall with black-framed, sliding-glass doors, Armstrong established a fresh dynamic and compelling vista from the front door. “My goal was to have a straight shot through to the garden view,” she explains.
Next, partial walls and classically styled columns between the family and breakfast rooms were removed, effectively adding 11 feet of living space. The outside wall of the breakfast area was replaced with matching black-framed sliders opening to the patio. The expanse of glass marries the interior to a 1.16-acre landscape, where a pool and putting green blend in amid flowering trees. Says designer Delisi, “The house didn’t present as interesting until Sarah got hold of it.”
To establish a uniform envelope, Delisi had the walls and ceilings throughout painted Benjamin Moore’s China White. Furnishings were added in soft blues and greige. The interior scheme honors Armstrong’s black-framed doors by treating the existing window frames to a thin outline of gray paint; draperies soften windows only in the dining room and owners’ bedroom. With 10-foot ceilings, Delisi chose dramatic lighting for size and presence.
The move to a new house enabled the owners to shift to a more contemporary style. That choice led to the decommissioning of a collection of Indian carpets and richly carved wood furniture. “We sold almost everything,” declares Shalu Virdy, adding, “I have no regrets.”
However, the couple has not abandoned natural wood or fine craftsmanship. The breakfast table showcases a live-edge slab of Claro walnut 15 feet long, which Delisi sourced in Oregon and had finished in Wisconsin. The remodeled kitchen, a collaboration with kitchen designer Eric Lieberknecht, boasts a paneled ceiling, striaed-veneer cabinet fronts and a hand-rubbed, stainless-steel range hood. A white oak display cabinet provides a focal point from the stair hall. “Wood is back,” Delisi avers.
Upstairs, Armstrong reconfigured the owners’ suite. The bedroom awaits a Maya Romanoff wall covering, but the master bath is ready for its star turn. The couple asked to replace his-and-her spaces with a single bath, centered on an extravagant porcelain-and-glass shower and floating tub. At Jay Virdy’s suggestion, a spiral stair was added in the owners’ closet; it accesses a storage loft, carved from unfinished space in the attic, where a glass-fronted cabinet showcases Shalu Virdy’s colorful collection of Indian saris.
Today, sunlight streams through the bare, crisply painted windows in the living room, where plush seating designed by Betsy Delisi and fabricated by Stewart Furniture accompanies the family’s baby grand piano, one of the few keepsakes that transitioned to McLean. Throughout the house, Delisi commissioned wall panels, carpets and lighting with subtle musical motifs as well as a keyboard painting above the mantel to reflect her clients’ love of music. She also incorporated contemporary patterning suggestive of their Indian heritage; in the foyer, for instance, a mosaic niche spotlights a precious sitar.
The lower level came last—but not for lack of importance. A nifty wall of acoustical white oak slats forms the backdrop for a wet bar with a backlit onyx countertop. A hidden door in the slats reveals a movie theater. Essential music equipment occupies half a wall. Nearby, a door leads to a golf simulator enlivened with an image of the course at Pebble Beach. A delighted Jay Virdy says, “I live in the golf room.”
On cue, Shalu responds, “And I have the rest of the house.”
Renovation Architecture: Sarah Armstrong, AIA, Studio 360, Clifton, Virginia. Interior Design: Betsy Delisi, Lotus Interior Design, LLC, Ashburn, Virginia. Kitchen & Bath Design: Eric Lieberknecht, Eric Lieberknecht Design, Washington, DC. Contractor: BOWA, McLean, Virginia.
RESOURCES
LIVING ROOM
Rug: tamarian.com through galleriacarpets.com. Chandelier: visualcomfortlightinglights.com through dominionlighting.com. Sofas: stewartfurniture.com through americaneyewdc.net. Sofa & Pillow Fabric: kravet.com. Painting over Fireplace: through kevin.mcpherrin.com. Console Table: hollyhunt.com. Paint Color: benjaminmoore.com.
OFFICE
Desk: blackwolfdesign.com. Chair: David Edward through Kimball.com. Rug: kravet.com. Chandelier: visualcomfortlightinglights.com. Paint Color: Mega Greige through benjaminmoore.com. Cabinetry: custom by lieberknechtdesign.com.
DINING ROOM
Rug: tamarian.com through galleriacarpets.com. Chandelier: corbettlighting.hvlgroup.com through dominionlighting.com. Sideboard: lorts.com. Mirror: uttermost.com. Drapery Fabric: kravet.com. Table: bermanrosetti.com. Chairs: stewartfurniture.com through americaneyewdc.net. Chair Fabric (Front): romo.com. Chair Fabric (Back): arc-com.com. Wallpaper: mayaromanoff.com through kravet.com.
KITCHEN
Cabinetry: custom by lieberknechtdesign.com. Countertops: silestoneusa.com through cosentino.com. Backsplash Tile: marblesystems.com. Hood: Custom by akmetalfab.com. Range: viking.com. Refrigerator: subzero-wolf.com. Fixtures: waterstoneco.com through fergusonshowrooms.com. Stools: swaim-inc.com. Pendants: visualcomfortlightinglights.com.
FAMILY ROOM
Sconces near Door: visualcomfortlightinglights.com. Rug: tamarian.com through galleriacarpets.com. Sectional & Aqua Stools: stewartfurniture.com through americaneyewdc.net. Sectional Fabric & Pillow Fabric: kravet.com. Chair: americanleather.com through americaneyewdc.net. Chair Fabric: romo.com. Lamps & Coffee Table: americaneyewdc.net. Sofa Table: lorts.com.
BREAKFAST ROOM
Light Fixtures: visualcomfortlightinglights.com. Table: Custom by blackwolfdesign.com. Chairs: RJones & Associates, Inc., through chairish.com. Chair Fabrics: arc-com.com
Vanity: Custom by lieberknechtdesign.com. Countertop: glbtileandmarble.com. Tub/Source: bainultra.com through tsomerville.com. Shower Enclosure: riverglassdesigns.com. Shower Stone: Fabbrica Marmi e Granniti porcelain slabs through marblesystems.com. Shower Stone Fabrication: glbtileandmarble.com. Floor & Wall Tile: Linea Porcelain through marblesystems.com. Plumbing Fixtures: fortisfaucet.com through fergusonshowrooms.com. Sinks: mtibaths.com.
CLOSET
Cabinetry & Closet Fabrication: tailoredliving.com. Chandeliers: techlighting.com, hudsonvalleylighting.hvlgroup.com through dominionlighting.com.
The owners, formerly in the tech industry, purchased the 7,200-square-foot, 1990s Colonial-style abode for its five-acre site, which boasts vistas of both adjacent vineyards and distant mountain peaks. But after 15 years in residence, they were eager to update the exterior, expand the interior spaces to maximize the views and open the home to the surrounding landscape.
“The house was designed so that the view from the kitchen was blocked by a mudroom in back,” recounts architect Thomas Flach. “The basement wasn’t finished, and the house didn’t connect to the yard.” Flach designed the remodel with Mark Kohler, founder of KohlMark Group, which encompasses both an architecture firm and a building company; they collaborated with colleague Wade Greene on the construction process.
The architects reinvigorated the dated house with a two-story rear addition that extends existing spaces on the first and second floors, optimizes the views and creates multiple points of access to new outdoor living areas. The offending mudroom was relocated to the addition and enlarged to accommodate a special shower for the owners’ beloved German shepherds. The dining area was expanded with a window-lined bay; glass doors nearby open to a large deck complete with a built-in grill. In the adjoining great room, the architects traded out traditional, small-paned windows that partially obscured mountain views for oversized panes with slim, black frames that better capture the scenery. The kitchen and owners’ bath have been updated and the basement finished in style.
On the second floor, the owners’ suite was revamped and enlarged; in addition to a luxe walk-in closet and bath, it now boasts an airy private sunroom with three walls of windows embracing panoramic views. “The sunroom is a spectacular space to watch the sun set and have a glass of wine,” Flach comments. “It’s an oasis that was one of the best surprises of the project.”
The finished lower level beckons, with a home office, billiards area, media room, sauna and wet bar. Glass doors open to a covered patio where a two-sided fireplace also serves the lower-level interior spaces.
To achieve the farmhouse look the owners envisioned, the design team reclad the house in wide board-and-batten siding, replaced traditional windows and shutters with black-framed Windsor windows and broadened the stone foundation walls. In lieu of traditional garage doors, black-painted barn doors add charm to the side façade. A small front portico was replaced with a wrap-around porch protected by a standing-seam metal roof that creates space to welcome guests.
While the open site provides the home’s spectacular prospect, it also exposes it to harsh wind and weather, which had taken a toll over the years. As part of the reconfiguration, the great room walls were reinforced with steel and insulation and mechanical systems were upgraded. The renovation eventually touched every room in the house.
The farmhouse feel carries through the interior with the use of wide-plank white oak flooring, dark and rustic wood accents and natural materials such as river stone in the bathrooms. NVS Kitchen & Bath’s Rich Perkins rejuvenated the existing kitchen with black accents in cabinetry, lighting and a statement-making range that play off the black architectural windows.
The team worked closely with James R. Peter of Colao & Peter Luxury Outdoor Living, who designed an award-winning landscape with terraced stone walkways leading to an elegant pool, spa and pergola. “The client was changing a very traditional house into a modern farmhouse,” notes Peter, who composed the outdoor elements to complement the renovation’s clean lines. “We wanted to reflect the design change in the landscape—to stay true to ‘less is more’ by matching materials and keeping material choices simple.”
The landscape plan provided the owners with a private getaway among the vineyards. The first-floor deck and patio lead out to thick travertine walkways and steps down to the spa, pool and pergola. The pool area is faced with travertine, while the same Western Maryland stone that clads the home’s foundation also forms the retaining walls. Dark-granite accents pick up the dark hue on the window frames.
The outdoor entertainment areas were sited on an axis with the main back gable of the house. “We wanted to create unique spaces that the family can use at different times of the year,” Peter explains. The spa was set close in for easy access, with the pool sited at a lower elevation so as not to detract from the view when not in use.
The extensive renovation was completed just months before the pandemic shut down most daily activities, forcing people to stay close to home. The owners “couldn’t have planned it more perfectly, not knowing what was coming,” Mark Kohler observes. “It’s the perfect retreat. They have it all in one spot.”
What are factors to consider when planning a home remodel?
Tom Flach: Needs change as families enter different stages of life. A playroom for toddlers will quickly become obsolete if a long-term plan is not incorporated. Aging in place and accommodating mobility issues should also be considered.
How have renovations changed during the pandemic?
Tom Flach: With parents and their children working and going to school in their homes, the open-concept floor plan has presented a challenge. A lot of projects these days involve creative solutions to provide flexible private spaces.
Mark Kohler: Many subcontractors do not want to work inside with other subs, which has slowed the process. And we’re finding that inflation is significantly raising job costs.
What unknown issues often arise during a renovation?
Wade Greene: Wood rot and termite damage are probably the most common issues, along with lack of insulation or insulation that was poorly installed. Improving energy efficiency is a challenge and is not always cost-effective.
Renovation Architecture: Thomas Flach, AIA, KohlMark Flach Architects; Mark A. Kohler, AIA; KohlMark Group Architects + Builders, Burke, Virginia. Renovation Contractor: Wade Greene, KohlMark Builders, Burke, Virginia. Kitchen Design: Rich Perkins, NVS Kitchen & Bath, Manassas, Virginia. Landscape Architect: James R. Peter, RLA, ASLA, Colao & Peter Luxury Outdoor Living, Sterling, Virginia.
General manager Danilo Simic and chef Colin McClimans wow guests with ever-changing brunch and dinner menus focused on seasonal ingredients sourced within 150 miles of DC. Recent standouts: Lemon & Thyme Roasted Pennsylvania Chicken and the Nina May Gin & Tonic, infused with rose water and orange essence.
