“We were transitioning to being less than full-time professionals,” says the wife, a technology executive and college professor (her husband is a lawyer). “Our focus was living on one level for aging in place while having enough space to be comfortable. We also wanted a walkable neighborhood with easy access to public transport.”

The 2,700-square-foot apartment in Woodley Park checked all the right boxes. But the unit had not been renovated since the late ’90s. Shortly after purchasing it in 2021, the wife began assembling her ideal design team for an overhaul. First on the list: architect Jeff Hains, who had already completed eight renovations in the complex. “I am very familiar with this building, its nuances and infrastructure,” he explains. “I also knew how to navigate the process with the board of directors.”

Next, interior designer Barbara Noguera came on board. She and Hains clicked—and their professional chemistry was very important to the owners. “Our synergy was dynamic, and we were able to collaborate on transforming this home into something very clean, fresh and modern,” the designer says. Builder Ted Peterson of Peterson and Collins also joined the team.

The mandate was to improve the overall footprint with an airy, more open plan, and to create a clean, modern sensibility in formerly dated spaces. Though the co-op—a corner unit with ample windows—had the potential for strong, natural light, it didn’t take advantage of its attributes. The kitchen was enclosed and a massive, built-in TV cabinet blocked off the family room. Nine-foot tray ceilings with deep bulkheads felt heavy.

The architect and designer devised a T-shaped layout where everything formal—foyer, dining and living rooms—runs along a main axis flanked by informal areas—breakfast and family rooms—that take advantage of natural light and views. The plan demolished the TV cabinet and opened up the kitchen. “New, shallow tray ceilings define spaces on the floor plan while allowing for six additional inches of height, and they have much narrower bulkheads,” Hains notes. The kitchen was renovated in sleek style with help from Jan Goldman of Kitchen Elements, LLC; it’s now separated from the dining area by a breakfast bar.

The design team reinforced the modern aesthetic by eliminating trim, which made for a lighter feel. “We replaced it with just a reveal in the plaster walls, creating a shadow line to imply a reference to baseboards and casings for doors and windows,” Hains relates. Outdated built-ins, including the family room bookcases, were reimagined as cantilevered, floating shelves and clean-lined cabinets. Floors went from light-maple planks to variable-width white oak, stained dark. A new lighting plan by DKT Lighting & Design includes LEDs in the bulkheads.

When the time came to furnish the unit, Noguera considered spatial planning as well as how the couple wished to live. The ability to entertain with ease was important—but they also specified intimate spots for everyday use. And they wanted to ditch the old furniture from their suburban home and start fresh.

Curated global furnishings such as molded Italian leather dining chairs define various zones in the open plan. “The dining room is the first thing you see when you enter the home, so we used it to set the tone for the décor with strong, sculptural furniture that is comfortable and inviting,” the designer says.

The wife, whose taste leans bold and eclectic, hoped the home would reflect her vibrant sensibility. “She wanted elements of surprise that spark curiosity and conversation,” Noguera recounts. “Often, designers have to convince clients to go big; here, part of my job was reining things in and creating overall cohesion.”

The homeowner’s love of primary colors (she jokes that the blue sofa in the family room is her take on beige) led to the selection of a playful Pierre Frey printed textile that upholsters the large sectional in the living room. Its palette, which includes blue, red, pink and chartreuse, became the springboard for the home’s overall scheme. The angular, modern sectional faces a curvy pair of French-style chairs upholstered in cut velvet. A lacquered waterfall cocktail table is centered between them.

Low furniture profiles keep sight lines clear, and special details add interest—from the eye-catching sectional to Christian Lacroix drapes festooned with colorful birds in the bedroom. Says Noguera, “Everything was deeply considered to ensure it would come together as varied yet whole.”

“It was so much fun taking a blank sheet and creating a space,” the wife enthuses. “We truly love our home. I believe the planning and collaboration made all the difference.”

Renovation Architecture: Jeffrey Hains, AIA, Hains Architects, Bethesda, Maryland. Interior Design: Barbara Noguera, principal; Karla Rivera, project manager, Barbara Noguera Interiors, Washington, DC. Kitchen Design: Jan Goldman, Kitchen Elements, LLC, Olney, Maryland. Renovation Contractor: Ted Peterson, Peterson and Collins, Inc., Bethesda, Maryland. Styling: Kristi Hunter.

RESOURCES

FOYER
Wallpaper: phillipjeffries.com. Bench: us.julianchichester.com. Bench Fabric: romo.com.

DINING ROOM
Art: huntslonem.com through merrittgallery.com. Table & Chairs: alfonsomarina.com. Server: jimeco.com. Chandelier: visualcomfort.com.

LIVING ROOM
Sofa Fabric: pierrefrey.com. Sectional: thayercoggin.com. Coffee Table: bakerfurniture.com. Chair Fabric: manuelcanovas.com. Art: merrittgallery.com. Rug: starkcarpet.com.

POWDER ROOM
Wallpaper: abnormalsanonymous.com. Sink: gramaco.com. Sink Fabrication: unitedstatesmarbleandgranite.com. Plumbing: brizo.com through fergusonshowrooms.com. Lighting: visualcomfort.com. Floor Tile: architessa.com.

KITCHEN
Cabinetry: showplacecabinetry.com. Backsplash & Countertop: gramaco.com. Hardware: pushpullhardware.com. Hood: Custom through rangecraft.com. Appliances: fergusonshowrooms.com.

BREAKFAST ROOM
Server: Custom by icdwoodwork.com. Table & Chairs: tonincasausa.com. Pendant: visualcomfort.com.

FAMILY ROOM
Server: Custom by icdwoodwork.com. Sofa: leeindustries.com. Sofa Fabric: romo.com. Swivel Chairs: thayercoggin.com. Coffee Table: jimeco.com. Rug: starkcarpet.com. End Table & Desk Chairs: us.julianchichester.com.

PRIMARY BEDROOM
Wallpaper: phillipjeffries.com. Bed: bakerfurniture.com. Drapery: Christian Lacroix through designersguild.com. Carpet: starkcarpet.com. Sofa: Owners’ Collection. Sofa Fabric: designersguild.com.

David Williams, a business investor, had dreamed of owning such a place for decades. Securing a 150-acre point of land on the Eastern Shore’s Chester River provided a great start. David and wife Kathryn, who reside in nearby Annapolis, then enlisted architect Cathy Purple Cherry to conceive a grand yet welcoming getaway. “The vision was to create a generational compound that would consist of various functions to support their family and friends for years to come,” reveals the architect.

Under her site plan, the main house anchors nine thoughtfully positioned outbuildings—a gatehouse, guest house, garage, party barn, carriage house, pottery studio, sheep shed, pool house and boathouse. Additionally, there’s a bespoke playhouse for the couple’s eight-year-old daughter and a growing gaggle of grandchildren. (David has four adult children from a previous marriage.)

As the husband imagined it, the principal abode would sit on a gentle rise overlooking the river. One hitch: The terrain was flat. “First we had to create a knoll within the horseshoe of the shoreline,” recounts Purple Cherry. The team, which included builder GYC Group and Campion Hruby Landscape Architects, undertook a colossal grading effort to raise the construction site by five feet.

David Williams also had in mind a romantic design concept, focused on making the new house appear old. “He was committed to a traditional, Georgian-style home, with a center core and flanking pieces so it would look like it evolved over time and grew as a multi-century home,” Purple Cherry relates. “The massing is my response. It’s a symmetrical layering of structures.”

A mix of exterior building materials bolsters the Old World aesthetic while respecting rural vernacular. The core’s white-painted brick transitions to horizontal lap siding, which, in turn, segues to vertical board and batten. “As you come away from the formal house, siding on the appendages breaks down the mass,” explains the architect, who specified durable fiber-cement products from James Hardie. “We blended Georgian architecture with farmhouse style.”

At 24,000 square feet, the main dwelling indulges the owners’ every programmatic wish. A library lies to the right of the front center hall and the dining room sits opposite. Two seating areas in the rear center core constitute the social hub. A den, the husband’s office and a billiards room with a bar occupy the right appendage. The butler’s pantry, kitchen, casual-dining area and mudroom are situated on the left. Purple Cherry positioned a stair at each end.

And bedrooms abound. The second floor comprises the primary suite and five more ensuite roosts, while the third floor houses his-and-her bunk rooms along with two other guest quarters. The lower level’s pièce de résistance is a brick dining/wine room with a barrel-vaulted ceiling.

Oodles of glass usher in natural light and splendor. “This property has magnificent views, so we put glass in the right places to make those connections,” says Purple Cherry. Lining the main home’s core, transom-topped French doors also encourage al fresco living; they open onto a covered back veranda bookended by a pair of screened porches. Adds the architect, “There’s inside-outside engagement at all times.”

Campion Hruby developed a landscape plan to elevate that engagement while preserving much of the original tract, some of which is still farmed. “The idea was to ground the entire experience in the daily narrative of Eastern Shore living,” shares principal Kevin Campion, who collaborated with firm partner Meredith Beach on the project. “We created spaces where the agriculture and their lifestyle could exist in harmony. There are lots of places to gather, and that was really part and parcel to the overall theme of a family compound.”

Beach concurs, “Our goal was to connect the buildings through garden rooms and to create an experience as you move between those rooms. We wanted the garden to bleed out into the existing agricultural landscape.”

Linear brick pathways, lush lawn expanses and boxwood hedges provide structure to the waterfront’s formal upper garden. Other plantings, such as roses and Hameln fountain grass, soften the effect. The pool terrace rests a few steps below so as not to obstruct the scenic panorama.

Purple Cherry finished the interiors with cocooning architectural flourishes—from the living area’s coffered ceiling to the library’s built-in reading nooks. “Beautiful millwork and little delights were important to David,” she reveals. “We had this constant, symbiotic conversation that allowed us to create unique moments throughout. Layers of detail bring human scale and add texture to the big spaces.”

An exquisite level of customization also sets off the kitchen, with its handcrafted cabinetry that includes homeowner-requested double islands. A tailor-made pot rack with integrated pendant lights from Ann-Morris crowns one island. What’s more, a coffee station precisely frames a particular painting of a silver cup from the couple’s existing trove.

Finally, Purple Cherry and her design crew outfitted the spaces with an eye toward instilling refined comfort. Their schemes combine classic upholstered pieces and unfussy antiques. “The interiors are traditional blended with a little bit of coastal, mostly in the blues of the palette and some fun fabric patterns,” she notes. “To me, this is an incredibly approachable home.”

The architect documents the five-year journey to complete this peerless retreat in her forthcoming book, The Design of a Country Estate, to be released by Gibbs Smith in July 2024. Just as the owners envisioned, the compound often bustles with activity. Other times, it’s a soothing sanctuary. “David and Kathryn love being here,” reports Purple Cherry. “I’m so happy that the home embraces them in the way it does.”

Architecture & Interior Design: Cathy Purple Cherry, AIA, LEED AP, principal, Purple Cherry Architects, Annapolis, Maryland. Builder: GYC Group, Westminster, Maryland. Landscape Architecture: Kevin Campion, ASLA, principal; Meredith Beach, PLA, ASLA, principal, Campion Hruby Landscape Architects, Annapolis, Maryland. Landscape Contractor: Chester River Landscaping, Chestertown, Maryland; and Planted Earth Landscaping, Inc., Sykesville, Maryland.

The owners, two busy professionals, called on Carter and architect Donald Lococo when it was time to renovate their builder-grade abode. Years earlier, the design duo had remodeled the wife’s parents’ house to much acclaim and the couple hoped to recreate that magic in their own home. They teamed with Horizon Builders, the firm that had collaborated on the previous remodel as well. “They wanted to reassemble the dream team,” jokes Lococo.

Frequent partners in design, Lococo and Carter are both renowned for their aesthetic restraint and their ability to synthesize classical architectural motifs and modern elements—an approach that proved useful for this project. Built in 1965, the 13,216-square-foot manse has a sprawling layout featuring a central hall entry flanked by the library and the dining room; the kitchen is on the opposite side of the dining area. Seven bedrooms are spread over three levels, with most situated on the second floor.

An exaggerated French façade was exemplified by overly ornamental limestone details and an oeil-de-boeuf window. To refine the exterior, Lococo streamlined the limestone trim and swapped out the ovoid window for something more understated. He then skimmed the brick with a creamy, stucco-like finish that “allows the brick to ghost through so you see its texture but not its color,” he says. Steel-framed windows and doors replaced the old ones to give the home a more European flavor. “Darryl suggested the house skewed Belgian modern, and that spearheaded the direction of the details,” Lococo explains.

“What Donald did was return the house to a purer state,” Carter adds. “Doing away with some of the decorative elements lends it a more modern sensibility.”

A similar mindset prevailed inside, where Lococo and Carter embraced the existing segmental arch openings throughout the home but nixed many of the interior’s fussier flourishes. Out went elaborate fireplace mantels in favor of sleek stone surrounds, and overdone crown molding was replaced by inset ceiling trim that evokes artisanal plasterwork of yore, but rendered in a fresh way. Walls received a mottled finish that lends a sense of age but still feels contemporary. “The thought was to elevate the interior trim details by reducing them,” observes Lococo. “I think the success lay in making the interior architecture traditional but questioning those details that we see time and time again.”

One exception was the primary bedroom, where embellishments were added: Lococo raised the ceiling to create a barrel vault which subtly echoes the segmental arches that appear throughout the home. “That arc helps transition from the public spaces to the most private and brings cohesiveness,” he says.

To further unify the rooms, Carter finished the oak floors in a blond hue that established a quiet ground for layering furnishings and art. “We had a shared design language and sense of palette,” he says of himself and the clients. “I am prone to environments that are relatively neutral, but I always like to use a splash of color in the art.” Here, he chose a bold saffron painting that unfolds like origami over three walls of the dining room. Other notable pieces include artworks by Edward Finnegan and Purvis Young, as well as a wide range of heirloom furnishings. “When you bring antiques into a more modern setting, their patina alone makes the environment more tactile and approachable,” the designer notes.

Alongside such rarefied finds, Carter incorporated durable indoor-outdoor fabrics throughout the home to stand up to the kids’ wear and tear. And to ensure there would be places to stash toys, snacks and other necessities, Lococo hid storage in plain sight: The living room paneling conceals built-ins and the primary suite features a wall of stealth drawers. In the kitchen, cabinets were so cleverly concealed as paneling that the wife called Lococo after moving in, panicked that there wasn’t enough storage. The architect showed up and started pulling open hidden drawers.

More visual sleight of hand occurred outside in the form of a living sculptural element. Landscape architect Jennifer Horn created a courtyard terrace of reclaimed French limestone selected by Carter, then planted four mature hornbeam trees that appear to burst forth from the stone, which actually cantilevers above the soil. Horn also leveled out the sloped lot and relocated the swimming pool to improve its sight lines. At the property’s edge, she devised a wall cloaked by a row of arborvitae to frame the woods beyond the house. “We really wanted to distill the landscape down to its purest elements: water, grass, trees, stone,” says Horn. “I think that’s in accordance with what Donald and Darryl were doing with the house.”

With that kind of synchronicity among the design team, it’s no wonder the collaboration rendered such harmonious results. Lococo and Carter have often said they’re so in tune that they finish one another’s sentences. “When we work together it’s a very fluid process, like there’s one brain doing it,” avers Lococo.

Carter concurs. “It’s great to work with an architect who shares a similar sensibility because it makes the collaboration a lot easier. It’s to the betterment of the project at large.”

Renovation Architecture: Donald Lococo, AIA, NCARB, Donald Lococo Architects, Washington, DC. Interior Design: Darryl Carter, Darryl Carter, Inc., Washington, DC. Renovation Contractor: Horizon Builders, Annapolis, Maryland. Landscape Architecture: Jennifer Horn, RLA, Horn & Co. Landscape Architecture, Arlington, Virginia. Home Automation: A.B.E. Networks, Rockville, Maryland.

RESOURCES

LIBRARY
Sofa & Fabric: hollyhunt.com. Wood-Framed Chairs: newel.com. Wood-Framed Chair Fabric: hollyhunt.com. Coffee Table: Custom through darrylcarter.com. Rug: starkcarpet.com. Sculpture: Stephanie Bachiero through peterblakegallery.com. Music Stand & Clawfoot Stool: 1stdibs.com.

ENTRY
Console: Custom by darrylcarter.com. Sculpture: Senufo through trocadero.com. Artwork: Edward Finnegan. Floor Runner: dorisleslieblau.com. Stair Runner: starkcarpet.com. Stair Railing: donaldlococoarchitects.com. Ceiling Fixtures: vaughandesigns.com.

DINING ROOM
Ceiling Fixture: illuminc.com. Table & Chairs: Custom through darrylcarter.com. Chair Fabric: brentanofabrics.com through hollyhunt.com. Drapery: metaphors.com. Artwork: Custom through darrylcarter.com.

KITCHEN
Cabinetry: donaldlococoarchitects.com. Backsplash, Countertop & Island: caesarstoneus.com. Faucet: jaclo.com. Island Lighting: illuminc.com.

BEDROOM
Bedstead & Bedding: Custom through darrylcarter.com. Table Lamps: shop.thedpages.com. Reading Lights on Wall: illuminc.com. Overhead Lighting: remains.com. Pedestal Table & Chest: 1stdibs.com. Art in Window: Purvis Young. Rug: starkcarpet.com.

BATHROOM
Clawfoot Tub: kohler.com. Ceiling Fixture, Mirror & Foot Stool: 1stdibs.com. Tub Filler: newportbrass.com.

EXTERIOR
Wall Lanterns: vintage. Yellow Sculpture: donaldlococoarchitects.com. Chaise Lounges: knoll.com.

Previously, a dysfunctional traffic circle dominated the home’s approach. “The owners have a lot of cars and they wanted to be able to park them all and still get around,” Talton says. “The goal was to make the front more usable as well as more beautiful.” Replacing the circle with a paver courtyard solved the issue; a bluestone path leads to the front door while the side-facing garage anchors a spacious parking area. Stone columns and lights flank the driveway entrance. Strategically lit crape myrtles frame the house, scaling down the front façade to conjure that cottage feel.

Beside the garage, a cedar gate set within a stone wall leads to the backyard, which initially presented its own challenges. “There was a constant slope toward the house, and the septic field had to be moved to accommodate the pool,” Talton explains. Stone retaining walls now terrace the property above a rectangular pool surrounded by travertine and thermal bluestone. A cedar-and-stone pavilion with a standing-seam, aluminum roof houses a fireplace and lounge area, while an attached pergola shelters a built-in outdoor kitchen. An existing elevated deck has been upgraded with trim and a repositioned stair leads to the pool area. Water features—one delineated by vegetable and cutting gardens—are set apart to create destinations on the property.

Eagle Ridge building stone crops up throughout the landscape, mimicking the home’s stone accents. A simple planting palette features deer-resistant drift roses, nepeta and Lacecap hydrangea, as well as gingko and cedar trees and evergreen cryptomeria.

Landscape Architecture & Contracting: Chad Talton, PLA, Surrounds Landscape Architecture + Construction, Sterling, Virginia. 

The couple’s Mediterranean-inspired manse dictated a European aesthetic characterized by symmetry, formality and the use of stucco and limestone, which clad the house. In front, a scenic approach terminates in a new forecourt framed by 24-foot-tall Thuja nigra arborvitae that replaced the defunct cypress trees “for instant effect,” says Groft. A limestone veranda now enhances the front façade, where a series of French doors formerly opened out to nothing; piers support large bowls of colorful annuals.

A linear series of gardens follows axes emanating from the house. In back, a bluestone dining terrace lined with crape myrtle leads to an existing swimming pool that was revamped with a limestone surround; a fountain anchors the far end. To one side, Groft conceived a walled garden festooned in white perennials, with stepped walkways culminating in a limestone fountain imported from France. An adjacent roundel defined by cherry trees and limestone ingots surrounds a fire pit nestled in pea gravel. Further out, a woodland garden carpeted with purple phlox and native plants abuts a wide swath of lawn where the wedding took place.

Groft enlisted Walnut Hill Landscape Company to install and build out the project. They ultimately added 150 trees, 2,500 shrubs, 21,000 perennials and thousands of bulbs to the property. Says Walnut Hill principal Michael Prokopchak, “The planting combinations are beautiful. There’s something happening in this garden year-round.”

Landscape Architecture: Eric Groft, FASLA, Oehme, van Sweden | OvS, Washington, DC. Landscape Contracting: Michael Prokopchak, ASLA, Walnut Hill Landscape Company, Annapolis, Maryland.

Two busy professionals with one teenager still at home, the owners often host gatherings for their grown children, extended family and friends. “We developed flexible furniture plans to accommodate frequent crowds,” notes Houck. The generous, 7,900-square-foot house designed by architect Warren Ralston includes a living and dining room and an open family room-kitchen on the main level, five bedrooms upstairs and a lower level with a bar, party spaces and a guest room.

Houck’s interior scheme celebrates the home’s woodland views. For example, wall coverings in natural fibers, from cork to linen and abaca, evoke an organic feel.

“My clients wanted inviting, low-key spaces for daily living with enough sophistication to support high-level entertaining,” she reflects. “Comfortable, transitional-style furniture upholstered in luxurious performance fabrics helped us strike the right balance.” The following Q&A details the designer’s approach.

What inspired the look you were after?
We showed the clients three design schemes and they picked one that we called “the natural world.” It was fitting because the house sits on a wooded lot, which is in large part why they were drawn to it. Once they landed on that design, it was easy to start the project. We chose organic elements such as the custom family room cocktail table and consoles, literally made from slices of a tree.

Trace the story behind the cocktail table design.
I dreamed up the table and matching console with help from brothers Shawn and Ryan McCuen at Michael James Furniture in St. Michaels, Maryland. I sent them a sketch, but the tricky part was finding the right piece of wood. We landed on a slab of spalted maple because it had so much character. I specified stainless-steel legs instead of wood since I wanted the table to have an edge; mixing materials is always more interesting when you can pull it off.

How did you nail the home’s color scheme?
I knew blue was a big hit with my client. We picked a family room rug at Galleria Carpets with beautiful blues, grays and a bit of periwinkle, then presented the blue Hickory Chair sectional. Some people wouldn’t have had the nerve to go for that color, but I think it works because it’s a big room and helps connect to the kitchen. Blue also appears on dining room chairs and in the breakfast room wall covering and upholstery.

Tell us how the living room came together.
I found the painting by Ning Lee on a trip to Charleston and the homeowners fell in love with it. The chairs came from their former house and I placed them on a new rug, also from Galleria Carpets. The moody paint colors had already been selected so there was definitely some serendipity there. The room has a smoky elegance; it’s a great spot to enjoy morning coffee or read because it’s a little cocoon.

Why is original art crucial to a successful interior plan?
Art gives you a window into the homeowner’s personality. When a client values art and includes it in their home, it makes the difference between an A and an A++ project. It’s the cherry on top.

How did you elevate the dining room?
We surrounded the new Chaddock Furniture table with existing chairs re-covered in fabrics by Romo. A white-on-white wallpaper by Innovations adds a layer of texture that I think is vital to any project, while the tray ceiling is covered in blue Romo grass cloth with a metallic thread running through it. The crystal chandelier gives the space a bit of bling.

Explain your philosophy on repurposing furniture.
I tell clients to invest in quality because high-end furniture can always be repurposed, especially with the help of a designer. I remember during a presentation by designer Alexa Hampton, she mentioned that her father re-covered a favorite sofa five times. If you start with good bones, you can re-cover anything.

In this Arlington home, we refinished the client’s former dining table and placed it in the foyer where it makes a perfect entry piece. When the owners entertain, they open up the leaves and it becomes a buffet.

Share some examples of spaces in the home that revolve around nature.
In the breakfast room, the matching Romo wall covering and drapery fabric echo the landscape outside. The pattern is very fluid, like a watercolor painting with a lot of texture in it. And the owners’ bath celebrates organic materials with the custom, wood-fronted vanities and accent wall of book-matched porcelain in a Calacatta motif. The architect and builder did an amazing job on that space.

What are the benefits of working with repeat clients?
There’s a comfort level that allows you to take more risks and push the envelope because you already know each other. And there’s a rapport, which speaks volumes.

How do you like to unearth surprising finds?
My favorite time to browse is when I travel. On a trip to Charleston, I discovered a giant basket that looks like a bird’s nest; it ended up in a client’s DC home.

Name a design pet peeve.
Many people say, “I want neutrals with pops of color,” but I’m not sure they know what that means. When done correctly, people can get in a lot more color, so I’d like to see that catchphrase go away.

Share some of your signature moves when hosting a party.
To me as a southerner, it’s not as much about the look as how it makes guests feel. I always buy fresh flowers and arrange them low on the dining table, and I like a mix of plates and flatware—I’m not matchy-matchy.

What hot product are you excited to try?
I’m in love with Aux Abris wall coverings. My favorite patterns are Batik, Floratique and Garden of Eden.

Architecture: Warren C. Ralston, AIA, Ralston Architects, Chantilly, Virginia. Interior Design: Andrea Houck, ASID, A. Houck Designs, Inc., Arlington, Virginia. Builder: Vine Custom Homes, Arlington, Virginia.

Achieving a client’s wish list requires a disciplined approach based on “a deep understanding of how they live their lives, engage with their space and what they want to see in their new home,” explains BOWA vice president and project leader Jim Harris. “Budgets and desires don’t always align so it’s important that even before the work begins, everyone shares the same goals and speaks the same design language.” 

For these homeowners—Ann, a vegan chef, and Tim, a senior-level executive—the vision was clear: an aesthetic and functional floor plan that would open up the closed-off rooms and reconfigure the interiors with space enough for them to entertain, work from home and relax in a luxurious private suite. They also wanted an elevator to connect the lower level to their bedroom on the third floor as well as a separate recreation zone with a game room, gym and office.

Although the design team was determined to surpass the owners’ expectations, “there were a few challenges involved,” Harris admits. “The dysfunctional set-up of the original floor plan paired with outdated finishes, gaudy stacked moldings and columns off the entry were our main pain points.” 

Nevertheless, notes Britten, “We were able to transform the dated house into a bright and welcoming home that gave our clients the ability to live, work and entertain in a way that perfectly fits their lifestyle.” 

The completed, four-story dwelling measures 4,650 square feet with three bedrooms and two-and-a-half baths. Off the main entryway, an intimate living room serves as a liminal space and sets the stylistic tone for the rest of the interior. It is partially enclosed by an angled wall that’s cleverly designed to hide existing structural posts. A serene, gray-and-white palette with hints of blue and furnishings in warm wood and brass extend from room to room.

Whiter shades of pale on walls and picture-frame molding set a sophisticated yet casual mood in the dining room, where a dynamic, sculptural light fixture provides an intriguing contrast to the more substantial, guest-friendly trestle table and chairs. 

Inviting and sleek, the kitchen features a butler’s pantry with two wine fridges and extra space for guests to sit and sample the owners’ latest vintage. Behind the backsplash, an appliance garage houses the chef’s tools of the trade, keeping clutter out of sight. 

The white, blue and gray color story continues into the family room. Custom-built shelving and cabinetry frame a contemporary electric fireplace that is set in a gray, ceramic-tile accent wall reminiscent of the home’s stone exterior.

Upstairs, the elevator opens into the primary suite where everything, Britten marvels, “is at your fingertips.” Clean lines—from the re-styled tray ceiling to the streamlined mantel around the gas fireplace—enhance the bedroom’s calm and restful ambiance. Gray velvet chairs bring a touch of luxurious comfort. A small adjacent bedroom has been transformed into a walk-in closet that conveniently accesses a laundry room. Beyond, a spa-like bathroom indulges all the senses with a huge steam shower, statement soaking tub and double-sink wooden vanity.

Upstairs on the fourth floor, BOWA turned a previously underutilized and empty space into an elegant guest suite, adding two more bedrooms, a large closet and a Jack-and-Jill bath.

A sense of fun pervades the lower level, where an integrated space with separate zones encourages work or working out, game and cocktail nights with friends or simply decompressing. Rooms include
an office area, family room and his-and-her home gyms.                       

The design-function balance seen upstairs is also reflected in the basement makeover, which features wood flooring and a custom, wood-slat wall covering for textural interest. Fittingly, it also conceals the door to the moody, speakeasy-themed game room/cocktail lounge, complete with a bar and beverage cooler. 

The owners, who also have a home in Florida, were gone for most of the reno. But they had total trust in the design and production teams and kept in touch during the nearly eight-month process. Was it worth it? “When they arrived at the house for the big reveal, they were thrilled,” Harris recounts. “And as Tim opened the door to the speakeasy, his smile lit up the room. That’s what makes me love what I do.” ⎯

Renovation Architecture, Interior Design & Contracting: Jim Harris, project leader; Lindsey Britten, senior designer; Colin Sonnenday, production, BOWA, McLean, Virginia and Middleburg, Virginia. 

Q&A with BOWA pro

What should homeowners know about the renovation process?

Jim Harris: There are thousands of details to consider. Make sure you find a company with a single point of
contact and accountability so you never have to worry about details
falling through the cracks. 

We hear a lot about renos that go on forever. What’s your process?

Jim Harris: We typically devote 16 to 20 weeks to design and another 13 or 14 weeks to production. Everything is done and approved up front before work begins. 

What was your biggest challenge on this project and your greatest joy?

Lindsey Britten: The kitchen was challenging because the wife is a chef and I knew this room was most important to her. I watched her cook in her old home so I could understand how she worked and used the space. My greatest joy? The primary suite. It’s beautiful yet functional.

The Arcade will welcome the world’s top DJs to spin sets on a state-of-the-art DAS Audio sound system. The drinks-only menu focuses on high-end bottle service with an expansive list of Champagnes and premium spirits.

Interior Design: Noriyoshi Muramatsu, Studio Glitt, Tokyo, Japan. Text: Sharon Jaffe Dan. Photography: Rey Lopez.

The sculpture is made of chain-link fencing that has been customized: Its diamond pattern is smaller than usual, and its vinyl coating an intense spring green. “Venice Gourd will act as a monitor to the site,” says Ruppert, noting how the piece initially will blend into the landscape. Later, when summer turns to fall and nature’s vivid colors fade, its brilliant hue will become dominant.

Over a 40-plus-year career, Ruppert has mastered the art of working with different materials, primarily metals. Inside his vast studio—an 1895 brick building that once housed part of Baltimore’s trolley-car system—massive and smaller works reside. Nestled under a soaring roof, the main gallery presents a spectrum of completed sculptures along with photographs representing different periods of his work. Elegant, iconic metal sculptures and rock formations—elemental and mysterious—all derive from nature. Despite the urban setting, a feeling of calm prevails.

Among the assembled sculptures, four slender pieces reach skyward. Reproducing the rugged vestiges of trees struck by lightning, the works are cast in iron, aluminum and stainless steel. Original wood models for these “strikes,” as the sculptor calls them, are lined up nearby, extending 35 feet high. “These shards contain the energy of how the trees were blown apart,” says Ruppert. “They bring attention to extreme storms that have become more violent, and our relationship to the solar system and how fragile our earth is.”

The sculptor recalls the locations where each fragment fell. In fact, their GPS coordinates are memorialized in subtitles of completed pieces. One describes a work-in-progress hanging from a mammoth gantry—twin strikes cast from the same shard in stainless steel. Having pulled from different places to orient the nearly 12-foot-tall diptych, Ruppert refers to the setup as “this crazy network of ropes, like a marionette. I’ve worked them into the position I want. Now I’m trying to figure out how to pin them down.” Asked if he ever seeks engineering help, the sculptor laughs heartily. “My dad was a mechanical engineer. Maybe it’s in my genes,” adding, “I just figure it out. I kind of overbuild it.”

The gantry system used for his strikes also lifts heavy sand molds that are cast in the studio. Molds form a precise negative of any object. When metals are heated in a furnace off-site, the molten material is poured into a mold that has been buried in a sand-filled trough. Once the metal solidifies, its piece mold is removed. Ruppert may highlight seams by polishing edges where the mold came apart—“a vein of energy,” he says, “expressing the hand of the artist, and a metaphor for rivers and waterfalls that accent the landscape.” Pouring molten metal may happen at University of Maryland, where the sculptor established a foundry and served as art-department chair for 13 years.

Ruppert displays his rock sculptures in pairs—an actual rock facing its copy. That relationship raises an existential question: Which one is real? Underscoring the confusion, he approaches two oversized rocks, one an iron casting. “You can see that this is real,” he begins, indicating the real rock. “But when it’s next to the manufactured one, you think, ‘Well, this one has more presence. Maybe it’s real?’”

A similar puzzle arises from his latest work—small, 3D-printed “rocks” of resin. After a rock is scanned, the file is reversed; its printout becomes a mirror reflection of the original. Unlike his cast-rock arrangements, the rock sits atop its resin counterpart, “like a rock sitting in water and its reflection,” the artist explains.

Throughout his work, Ruppert considers the effects of light—“how it shapes materials, or how materials shape light.” Like Venice Gourd, his sculptures respond to changing light throughout the day and seasons. Since 1992, when the sculptor found a roll of chain link left at his studio, his galvanized-steel sculptures alone have been exhibited from Ladew Topiary Gardens in Maryland to venues in Memphis and Shanghai.

“Chain link is perceived as this really tough material,” the sculptor says. “The way I work with it, it’s very malleable and actually fragile.” Pausing to consider this contradiction and viewers’ perspectives as they confront these sublimely simple, perplexing forms from near and far, he observes, “That’s one of the things I’m interested in: how the sculpture works back and forth with your perception.”

Contemplating the enigmas of nature and his art, Ruppert encourages “slowing down and looking closer at details and subtleties.”

John Ruppert’s art is represented by C. Grimaldis Gallery. cgrimaldisgallery.com; johnruppert.com

The 1,350-square-foot rear addition replaced a small one that had contained the family room. The new space accommodates the kitchen/family room, while existing spaces were repurposed to hold sitting and dining rooms, a study and an airy foyer. Upstairs, the addition houses the primary suite.

Elegant materials and finishes elevate the interiors and, per the owners’ request, reflect the home’s vintage provenance. The expanded kitchen is gracious, combining white custom cabinets by Braemar Cabinetry with book-matched Taj Mahal quartzite countertops and backsplash; facing the kitchen, a clean-lined marble fireplace anchors the family room. The study is distinguished by extensive wainscoting, while crown molding and casing details have been added throughout.

GRAND AWARD: Historic Renovation/Restoration $250,000 and over. Renovation Architecture & Contracting and Interior Design: Greg Marks, owner; Danielle Steele, lead designer, Marks-Woods Construction Services, Alexandria, Virginia. Kitchen Design & Cabinet Supply: Braemar Cabinetry, Alexandria,Virginia.  

A rectangular pool and spa are anchored by a dark-wood custom pergola with an integrated tile fireplace. Travertine surrounds the pool, which boasts a sun shelf; Fiberon decking on the pergola floor and at the opposite end of the pool unify the poolscape.

A second-story deck and pavilion extend from the back of the house. The pavilion—complete with a marble-veneer fireplace and vaulted, stained-fir ceiling—offers indoor-outdoor connectivity via a folding window wall that opens to the family room. Below the deck, an outdoor kitchen and poolside dining space beckon. A workout room is tucked beneath the pavilion.

The owners specified clean, modern lines and an airy feel—and the meadow around the property lent itself to that vision. “We wanted to package that sense of space in our design,” Kurdziolek observes. “There is something very calming about watching the grasses sway.”

The plan tackled an assortment of angled walls and soffits that made the existing bath dated and cramped. “We squared off door entries to the WC and the shower, which felt like a cave with minimal glass,” Mann recounts. The dark, angled shower gave way to a sleek, glassed-in version, both roomier and better situated. A sculptural soaking tub replaced a built-in tub with stair entry; this change removed unnecessary soffits, allowing the facing vanities—which flank the tub—to be extended for increased storage and surface area. The water closet’s footprint was expanded to accommodate a shallow linen closet at one end.

Mann and her team imparted a spa feel to the space with white cabinetry, white quartz vanity tops and brushed-gold fixtures and hardware. Large-format, marble-look porcelain tile lines the floor and shower enclosure, where teak-look floor tile provides contrast. Vanity backsplashes showcase a decorative-leaf marble mosaic that climbs to the ceiling.

SWEET SEAT Ngala Trading has teamed with South Africa-based Douglas & Douglas on the Woven seating collection. A powder-coated, stainless-steel frame pairs with weatherproof fibrecane, a recyclable, wicker-like material sourced in South Africa. Counter stools are pictured. ngalatrading.com

BIG DEBUT Japanese- and mid-century-inspired silhouettes define the Delrio dining table and Chilton dining chairs, respectively. Part of Arteriors Outdoor—the brand’s inaugural outdoor line—the pieces marry teak with synthetic weaves of rope and rattan. arteriorshome.com

LOW PROFILE Minimalist lines meet generous proportions in Mattone, low-slung, modular seating from JANUS et Cie, which recently opened a Bethesda showroom. Pictured with the Kanji Cocktail Table, crafted from a lightweight, concrete-and-glass-fiber composite. janusetcie.com

TWO'S COMPANY Designed by Enzo Berti for Kreoo, the ingenious Vis-à-Vis chaise offers seating for two. Chrome tubes cantilever from both sides of a natural-stone block; the tubes support a woven lounge complete with headrest. kreoo.com

MEMORY LANE B&B Italia’s Softcage collection pays homage to a 1975 rattan design by Mario Bellini. The new line features a sofa in two sizes and an armchair, all utilizing a cage structure wrapped in rattan. Available at the Georgetown location; bebitalia.com

LIVING COLOR Pollack has unveiled Gemini, an assortment of indoor/outdoor fabrics showcasing textured, woven surfaces and graphic patterns. Dance Track (pictured) features a kaleidoscope of hues in a herringbone weave made from post-consumer recycled polyester. Find in six colorways. pollackassociates.com

FOUND IN NATURE Organic shapes inspired Royal Botania’s Organix lounge collection. Kidney-shaped sofas, chairs and ottomans come with movable backrests and cushions; a coffee table with a ceramic top is part of the mix. royalbotania.com

OUTSIDE THE BOX Riviera outdoor furnishings from Portuguese brand Mambo Unlimited Ideas embrace the unconventional. Case in point: A bench (above) features rounded, lacquered-stainless-steel bases in a choice of pastel hues. A foam cushion and a roll-top pillow further the surprising silhouette. mambounlimitedideas.com

TABLE SCAPE Italian furniture maker Gervasoni’s Brise table conjures an Art Nouveau motif on a stainless-steel base, with a portable top made of Millgres, a weatherproof ceramic material. Stackable, stainless-steel Brise chairs complement the tableau. Available in red (pictured), cream and blue. gervasoni1882.com

LIGHT’S OUT Naoto Fukasawa’s aluminum Half-Dome Outdoor Lamp for Kettal combines a round stand with a slender neck and a domed shade. Find in black or white, in a floor or cantilevered (pictured) version. kettal.com

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Proceeds support Smithsonian museums, galleries and research facilities. For more information, visit smithsoniancraftshow.org.

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

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

PIE DAY
XO Appliance’s XOPIZZA2FS pizza oven serves up authentic, wood-fired pies. Made in Italy, the portable appliance has a refractory ceramic floor and dome-shaped interior that retain heat evenly. Available at ABW—Appliances A Better Way showrooms. xoappliance.com; abwappliances.com

ON THE GRIDDLE
The Evo Affinity 25G flat-top gas griddle measures 25 inches in diameter with two temperature zones; it can sauté, pan fry, roast and more. An electric version will debut later this year. Find at AjMadison in Tysons. evoamerica.com; ajmadison.com

CHILL OUT
The 24-inch refrigerators and freezers in True Residential’s 300 Series come as undercounter and drawer units. Multiple hardware options and a host of finishes are available; pictured below in matte white with pewter hardware. Find through Ferguson. true-residential.com; build.com

BOTH WORLDS
The Coyote 50” Hybrid Built-In Grill is powered by charcoal on one side and gas on the other. Two burners and 1,200 square inches of grilling surface are illuminated by LEDs. Find at Appliance Distributors Unlimited locations. adu.com; coyotegrill.com

SMOKIN’ HOT
The lightweight Caliber Pro Kamado combines a charcoal grill and smoker in an egg-shaped shell. The Japanese-style cooker can grill, smoke and bake, and offers a rotisserie system. Available at Town Appliance in Owings Mills. townappliance.com; caliberappliances.com