The awards go to remodeling and custom-building projects in DC, Maryland and Virginia; this year, judges reviewed 119 entries in 35 categories. Media sponsor Home & Design gave its Award of Excellence to a project by Anthony Wilder Design/Build. All the award-winning projects are listed below and can be viewed on the chapter’s website, promidatlantic.org.

PRO Remodeler of the Year Awards

Home & Design Award of Excellence
Anthony Wilder Design/Build

Basement under $150,000
GRAND: Michael Nash Design, Build & Homes
MERIT: House to Home Solutions
FINALIST: HIVEX Basement Finishing Co.

Basement $150,000 and over
GRAND: Spectrum Design Build
MERIT: TriVistaUSA Design + Build
FINALIST: Moss Building & Design

Creative Solutions
GRAND: Mosss Building & Design

Entire House under $500,000
GRAND: Moss Building & Design
MERIT: Finesse Design Remodeling
FINALIST: Michael Nash Design, Build & Homes

Entire House $500,000 to $750,000
GRAND: Blue Star
MERIT: RessaBuilt
FINALIST: Marks-Woods Construction Services 

Entire House over $750,000
GRAND: Blue Star
MERIT: Landis Architects/Builders
MERIT: TriVistaUSA Design + Build
FINALIST: BOWA

Green—Entire House/Addition
GRAND: Michael Nash Design, Build & Homes

New Custom Home 4,500 square feet
GRAND: OPaL Design Build

New Custom Home 4,500 square feet and over
GRAND: WINN Design + Build

Residential Addition under $250,000
GRAND: Marks-Woods Construction Services
MERIT: Marks-Woods Construction Services
FINALIST: Grossmueller’s Design Consultants

Residential Addition $250,000 to $500,000
GRAND: Pristine Acres
MERIT: Marks-Woods Construction Services
FINALIST: Schroeder Design/Build

Residential Addition over $500,000
MERIT: Marks-Woods Construction Services
FINALIST: TriVistaUSA Design + Build

Residential Bath under $50,000
GRAND: Blue Star
MERIT: The Levine Group Architects + Builders
FINALIST: MW Burke

Residential Bath $50,000 to $100,000
GRAND: Kingston Design Remodeling
MERIT: Blue Star
FINALIST: Marks-Woods Construction Services

Residential Bath over $100,000
GRAND: Michael Nash Design, Build & Homes
MERIT: Case Architects & Remodelers
FINALIST: Hopkins & Porter Construction

Residential Detached Structure
GRAND: OPaL Design Build

Residential Exterior Element $30,000 and over
GRAND: Sun Design Remodeling Specialists

Residential Exterior Element under $30,000
GRAND: House to Home Solutions

Residential Exterior under $100,000
GRAND: Marks-Woods Construction Services
MERIT: Daniels Design & Remodeling
FINALIST: Lofft Construction 

Residential Exterior $100,000 to $200,000
GRAND: Bowers Design Build
MERIT: The Levine Group Architects + Builders
MERIT: House to Home Solutions

Residential Exterior over $200,000
GRAND: Bowers Design Build
MERIT: Michael Nash Design, Build & Homes
FINALIST: WINN Design + Build

Residential Historical Renovation/Restoration under $250,000
GRAND: Marks-Woods Construction Services
FINALIST: Gilday Renovations

Residential Historical Renovation/Restoration $250,000 and over
GRAND: Bowers Design Build
MERIT: Marks-Woods Construction Services
FINALIST: OPaL Design Build

Residential Interior Element under $30,000
GRAND: Blue Star
MERIT: Sun Design Remodeling Specialists
MERIT: Sun Design Remodeling Specialists
FINALIST: Marks-Woods Construction Services

Residential Interior under $250,000
GRAND: Sun Design Remodeling Specialists
MERIT: Marks-Woods Construction Services
FINALIST: Bowers Design Build
FINALIST: Finesse Design Remodeling

Residential Interior $250,000 to $500,000
GRAND: Bowers Design Build
MERIT: Sun Design Remodeling Specialists
FINALIST: Michael Nash Design, Build & Homes

Residential Interior over $500,000
GRAND: Anthony Wilder Design/Build
MERIT: Michael Nash Design, Build & Homes 

Residential Kitchen under $75,000
GRAND: Michael Nash Design, Build & Homes
MERIT: Marks-Woods Construction Services
FINALIST: Anchor Landscape and Property Services

Residential Kitchen $75,000 to $150,000
GRAND: Moss Building & Design
MERIT: Marks-Woods Construction Services
MERIT: Case Architects & Remodelers
FINALIST: Michael Nash Design, Build & Homes

Residential Kitchen over $150,000
GRAND: Anthony Wilder Design/Build
MERIT: Marks-Woods Construction Services
FINALIST: Michael Nash Design, Build & Homes
FINALIST: Case Architects & Remodelers

Residential Landscape Design/Outdoor Living Area under $100,000
GRAND: Blue Star

Residential Landscape Design/Outdoor Living Area $100,000 to $250,000
GRAND: Grossmueller’s Design Consultants
MERIT: House to Home Solutions
MERIT: Michael Nash Design, Build & Homes

Residential Landscape Design/Outdoor Living Area over $250,000
GRAND: Pristine Acres
MERIT: Pristine Acres
FINALIST: WINN Design + Build

Universal Design—Entire House/Addition
GRAND: Atlas Moran Construction
MERIT: Michael Nash Design, Build & Homes

Universal Design—Interiors
GRAND: House to Home Solutions

Custom Contemporary Home

• from 4,000-4,500 square feet
  GOLD—Elie Ben Architecture, LLC; Builder: Castlewood Builders
• from 6,000-6,999 square feet
  GOLD—Sandy Spring Builders, LLC; Architect: GTM Architects

Custom Traditional Home

• from 4,000-4,999 square feet
  GOLD—Claude C. Lapp Architects, LLC; Builder: AIP Builders, LLC
  GOLD—Studio Z Design Concepts, LLC; Builder: Lock 7 Development, LLC
• from 6,000-6,999 square feet
  GOLD—Castlewood Consulting, LLC; Architect: Raoul Lissabet Architect, AIA, LLC
• from 7,000-7,999 square feet
  GOLD—The Block Builders Group; Architect: GTM Architect
  SILVER—Castlewood Consulting, LLC
• from 8,000-8,999 square feet
  GOLD—Sandy Spring Builders, LLC; Architects: GTM Architects/ColePrevost
• from 9,000-9,999 square feet
  GOLD—Studio Z Design Concepts, LLC; Builder: Sandy Spring Builders
• greater than 10,000 square feet
  GOLD—Studio Z Design Concepts, LLC; Builder: PCS, Inc.

Custom Accessory Structure

• GOLD—Jeffco Development; Architect: GTM Architects

Other Category—Marriage of Styles

• GOLD—Castlewood Consulting, LLC

Renovation

• from 1,000-1,999 square feet
  GOLD—Castlewood Consulting, LLC
• from 3,000-3,999 square feet
  GOLD—Cabin John Builders; Architect: Colleen Healey Architecture
  SILVER—Elie Ben Architecture, LLC
• from 6,000-6,999 square feet
  GOLD—Sandy Spring Builders, LLC; Architect: GTM Architects
• from 9,000-9,999 square feet
  GOLD—Studio Z Design Concepts, LLC; Builder: O’Neill Development
• greater than 10,000 square feet
  GOLD—Francis Development

Speculative Home

• from 3,000-3,999 square feet
  GOLD—Francis Development
• from 5,000-5,999 square feet
  GOLD—Mid-Atlantic Custom Builders
• from 6,000-6,999 square feet
  GOLD—Laurence Cafritz Builders; Architect: Studio Z Design Concepts, LLC GOLD— Foxhall Homes; Architect: GTM Architects
• from 7,000-7,999 square feet
  GOLD—Claude C. Lapp Architects, LLC; Builder: Rollingwood Builders
  GOLD—Mid-Atlantic Custom Builders

Seven years ago, the widowed academic, now 87, gave the property to his son and daughter-in-law. They sought to preserve and expand the house, creating a compound where life seemed slower and gentler and the family—and visiting friends of all ages—could gather together or spend time alone.

They enlisted Stephen Muse, principal of Muse | Kirwan Architects, and project architect Kuk-Ja Kim—who both designed a starkly contemporized addition behind the couple’s Tudor-style Washington home—to rehab the two-story, 1890s abode and conceive several modernist outbuildings close by.

The architects kept the farmhouse remodel simple, adding 375 square feet to the existing structure. “I wanted to give them only the space they needed, nothing more,” recounts Muse. “There was already a living room addition on one side of the house. It would have been seductive to put a matching addition on the other side—but it’s a farmhouse, not a manor. It didn’t need symmetry.”

It did, however, need lots of work: foundation repair and a new roof; electrical, heating, plumbing and cooling systems; and new doors, windows, porches and paint. But first on the agenda: a three-bay garage where the family could store their possessions during the 10-month renovation. Muse and Kim also conceived a decidedly contemporary guest cottage close by, which spills out to a new pool.

Geoff Pitts of Ace Contracting in Charlottesville handled the project and recalls his “disgruntled” workers rooting for a farmhouse teardown so they wouldn’t have to contend with the deteriorating stone foundation, mud-floored cellar and tight crawl spaces. By project’s end, however, the Ace team proudly marveled at what they’d created. “The project was ideal,” Pitts says, “because we got to bring an ancient house back to life while also building a contemporary garage and guest cottage.”

Indeed, there was plenty to preserve. Original pine floors and stairs were refinished. The library to the left of the entrance, a favorite of the professor, got new custom cabinetry and bookshelves. The wood-burning fireplaces in both rooms were refurbished.

The biggest changes were to the rear of the house. A wall at the far end of the dining room was replaced by pocket doors that open the view from the front entry to the back porch and beyond. The kitchen was extended by 10 feet in the rear. The right wall bump-out, measuring 12 feet long and 30 inches wide, houses new cabinets below the stovetop, sink and dishwasher and ceiling-height windows above. A seating and storage island anchors the room, while the new L-shaped porch provides another alluring gathering space. Directly over the kitchen, the larger, updated primary suite features added windows and a sleek new bathroom. The kids, now teenagers, sleep down the hall in a pair of reconfigured en-suite bedrooms.

Interior designer Kim Caplan says her longtime clients, both lawyers, had a clear mandate: It’s a country home, and they wanted it to be relaxed. “I tried to incorporate the antiques they agreed on without making the house a museum,” she notes. The family room, a stone-floored addition dating back decades, was furnished for comfort. Pale, neutral walls play up the changing light and landscape.

Muse and Kim took inspiration from both the farmhouse and local vernacular materials in their conception of the property’s stained-cedar outbuildings, with their gabled metal roofs and clean interior and exterior lines. The wife calls the single-story guest cottage “fabulous,” explaining that “we wanted it all on one level for mobility reasons.”

The cottage would have been too big as part of the main house, says Muse, so it became a separate, two-volume structure, “one for the bedrooms and one for the living room—with a connecting hyphen that contains the kitchenette, laundry and storage.” Reducing the building’s overall scale, he adds, gave it “a better relationship with the adjacent pool pavilion,” a diminutive third structure just steps from the minimalist pool.

The garage now boasts stairs leading to a game loft for playing ping-pong and darts. And nearly hidden down a steep slope is the latest building, finished in 2020: a tractor shed and workshop where the husband likes to tinker.

The family spent many pandemic months in Virginia, working and learning remotely as well as hiking, biking, gardening, reading and watching movies. An outdoor fireplace with a tall chimney was constructed behind the shed and quickly became a favorite hangout.

What did the family patriarch think when he first visited? “I was impressed. I thought they did a marvelous job,” he says. As for his cherished library, “It’s pretty much unchanged except for a new look.”

Or as Kim observes, “you build buildings, and you build memories.”

DRAWING BOARD
Q&A with architect Stephen Muse

How do you meld different styles in an older home?
Because few homes are tied to aspecific style, we seldom focus on that when designing renovations. After analyzing every feature of the existing home, we extend and celebrate what is good, mitigate problems and maximize site potential so it looks as if it could have always been there.

What is a common remodeling mistake?
We often see designs focusing on the project’s new architecture rather than the entire home, which can result in a product that is not fully integrated. Additions should only be considered successful if the entire house is greatly improved.

What are the advantages of a multi-structure site?
A multi-structured compound allows more possibilities. A comprehensive site plan locates and organizes the main house and all outbuildings within a series of gardens and terraces. This approach yields a smaller, more energy-efficient main house, with secondary buildings for guest rooms, artist studios and home offices.

Renovation Architecture: Stephen Muse, FAIA, principal; Kuk-Ja Kim, AIA, LEED AP, project architect, Muse | Kirwan Architects, Bethesda, Maryland. Interior Design: Kim Caplan, KC Interior Design, Sarasota, Florida. Renovation Contractor: Geoff Pitts, Ace Contracting, Charlottesville, Virginia. Landscape Design: Anna Boeschenstein, PLA, ASLA, Grounded Landscape Architecture & Design, Charlottesville, Virginia.

Such was the case when a couple with a young child happened upon a 1970 brick dwelling on a Forest Hills street dotted with Cape Cods and Colonials. Beyond the stark, window-less façade, skylights bathed the simple, orderly interiors in light; in back, a deck overlooked a woodsy yard.

“We were looking for a no-frills, functional house where we could raise our kid,” explains the husband. “It was apparent from the beginning that this was absolutely workable—modest, responsible, restrained and exactly what we needed.”

They made an offer, planning to update the building down the line. But after an inspection revealed deteriorating asbestos in the ductwork, the duo decided to buy the property and renovate before moving in.

Most architects they interviewed were of the opinion that no matter how it was altered, the abode would always be “ugly.” One exception was Donald Lococo. “I fawned over this house, which I don’t usually do,” he recalls. “Its faceless façade referenced Brutalism, but it really spoke to me. Seventies architecture tends to be very rational and mathematical. This home, an almost perfect one-story square, communicated that.” Making the project more intriguing were outdoor sculptures left behind by the home’s original owner, whose parents are said to have run an art gallery in DC.

Once hired, Lococo sketched out a program to overhaul the house, meeting the family’s modern-day needs while respecting the mid-century aesthetic. “I didn’t want to turn it into something else,” he notes. George Papaheraklis, principal of FineCraft Contractors, Inc., later joined the team to make the plans a reality.

In the original layout, an entry hall ran straight through the structure. The garage and three small bedrooms were arranged on the left while on the right, closed-in spaces—an office, kitchen and dining room—progressed to a rear family room.

During the design phase, the owners decided to expand the 2,315-square-foot structure to create a guest room and library. Intent on preserving its horizontal, one-story profile, Lococo landed on a daring alternative to the typical pop-up. He conceived a freestanding volume evoking the iconic curved lines of a spaceship or an Airstream to be built atop the home, perpendicular to the street. “I wanted something complementary yet different. From the front, it’s a stucco curve that’s non-competitive,” the architect explains. “But from the side, it has its own voice.”

The streamlined add-on houses an upper foyer, a library, a guest room with a custom Murphy bed and a bath. Its wall of windows overlooks a rooftop sculpture garden. “The idea was that this would be just enough,” says Lococo. “It carved out spaces the owners needed versus filling a bigger box with more stuff.”

The makeover also transformed the main floor. Tall glass doors and windows brighten the foyer, where a floating staircase rises to the addition above; opening the foyer ceiling created a dramatic, double-height entryway. The kitchen and dining room traded places and the walls separating them from the hallway were discarded, giving the spaces room to breathe. Two small bedrooms made way for a generous owners’ suite and the home’s two-and-a-half baths were upgraded. The team also installed new HVAC, electrical and lighting systems.

Custom creations—driven by ’70s iconography and curvilinear forms—abound. Figured-walnut paneling in the dining room evokes the wood veneer on vintage station wagons. Surfboards inspired the elliptical kitchen island, which stands on legs reminiscent of those on an old-school stereo console. “Donald took 1970 and married it with 2030,” jokes Papaheraklis.

During the collaborative project, he, Lococo and the owners dreamed up new features on the fly. The builder (who’s also an architect) and his team went to extremes to solve challenges and deliver a high level of craftsmanship, from fabricating a full-size prototype of the stair rail onsite to integrating the library’s curved cabinets into curved drywall. “We all did our part to create a visual symphony,” says Papaheraklis. “Every detail was done—and sometimes redone—until the product became more and more aesthetic.”

Even the mid-century sculptures play a role. One of the works that conveyed with the home animates a garden off the kitchen; another holds court at the front door. And a new sculpture the architect found in Virginia Beach perches above the entry.

Lococo sees the completed project as a pure, more refined version of the home’s 1970 self. “Removing distracting plan elements, extraneous interior walls and even the front brick recess let the intention of the design shine through,” he says.

And the owners couldn’t be happier. The wife loves both working and relaxing in the light-filled addition. “It’s such a cool space to hang out in,” she says. “We listen to records while our child plays.”

Her husband concurs, “The house is intimate and warm—and everything that we wanted it to be.”

DRAWING BOARD

The design team at work.

How do you help clients determine whether to tear down or remodel?
Donald Lococo: It’s not necessarily a binary decision. Sometimes it’s a matter of keeping just a few things; once you begin to highlight certain notable characteristics of a home that are worth saving, you have the advantage of authenticity. Older homes have inherent mistakes and often, tragic flaws. You need to be honest and discerning; not everything in an existing home is sacred.

In renovations, how do you select materials that are current yet speak to the period of the home?
DL: I always make it a point to inherit a few emblematic elements from the existing home, surrounded by current yet quieter present-day materials. The trick is to calibrate this correctly. If you use too many materials, a renovation can feel overbearing. On the other hand,by not saving anything, it loses the character it once had.

What qualities should homeowners look for in a renovation contractor?
George Papaheraklis: A contractor has to be thoroughly grounded in the technical aspects of construction and have an ability to envision the ideas that the architect is trying to convey. A contractor should not only be able to duplicate an architect’s idea, but also to enhance it.

Renovation Architecture: Donald Lococo, AIA, Donald Lococo Architects, Washington, DC. Renovation Contractor: George Papaheraklis, FineCraft Contractors, Inc., Gaithersburg, Maryland. Landscape Architecture: Jennifer Horn, RLA, Jennifer Horn Landscape Architecture, Arlington, Virginia.

But the interiors tell another tale. The home’s four levels—main, lower and two upper—originally were accessed through multiple stairways, none connected. At the rear of the house, an addition was placed at yet another elevation, not quite level with either the main floor or the lower floor.

Now, after a collaborative effort, the home has a central stair that unifies the living spaces, and an expansion on the main and uppermost floors that took the home from 3,100 to nearly 5,000 square feet.

Then-prospective homeowners, Brian and Taylor (who withheld their last names for privacy) were ready to begin when they toured the house for the first time with their real estate agent and builder, Jordan Hutchins of Spruce Construction. “Taylor had a graph with options A, B and C,” Brian recalls.

After purchasing the home, they turned to architect Chuck Carbonaro of Island Architects to make their vision a reality. “Taylor and Brian were unique in how well they understood what they wanted,” Carbonaro says. “They knew from the get-go.”

The couple’s wish list included an updated kitchen and a modern owners’ suite, the architect relates, “plus large, open spaces connected to each other and the outdoors. They also wanted quiet, disconnected spots away from where they entertain. They have small children and understand that they will grow to be larger children who will want to entertain their own friends when they are older.”

After several design drafts, Carbonaro suggested two significant alterations: a single staircase to unify the interior and a two-story expansion that would accommodate a new family room and kitchen on the ground floor and primary bedroom, bathroom and his-and-her closets upstairs. Modifications on the lower level updated the spare bedroom and bathroom and added a wine cellar. Two bedrooms on the second floor stayed in place while the former primary bedroom was enlarged.

Taylor recalls thinking it would be “crazy” to go to the trouble of creating a new staircase, but trusted the architect’s vision. “It was something we had never considered, but once it was suggested, it blew our minds with what we saw,” she recounts. “It gave us the space to do it right.”

The new switchback staircase anchors the foyer beneath a ceiling that reaches 18 feet at its highest point; wainscoting adds character. “The foyer was a really nice opportunity,” agrees Carbonaro, noting that Taylor suggested raising the ceiling height. “When we moved the original ceiling, we discovered it wasn’t necessary to maintain support.”

Also on the main level, the front parlor was repurposed as a playroom with windowed pocket doors. The former sunroom is now a high-ceilinged office, clad in HardiePlank lap siding to match the dwelling’s exterior. Interior designer Jessica Williamson, principal of JTW Design, added a touch of glam in the dining room, wrapped in lustrous Phillip Jeffries Tailored Linens wall covering and velvet drapes.

The first floor also includes a generous mudroom and an open-plan kitchen that connects seamlessly to the family room. The kitchen sports a 10-foot island, illuminated by Rejuvenation fixtures, perfect for large gatherings. “We wanted it to be inviting, and a place everyone would be naturally drawn to,” Taylor says.

In nods to the home’s history, the addition features two arched doorways that echo an arch on the front façade. In the family room, an original brick exterior wall, painted white, anchors shelving and cupboards; a custom bar, backed by antique glass, was a special request by Brian. The fireplace surround was custom-made by Spruce Construction.

Except in the dining room, walls are painted in Benjamin Moore’s Chantilly Lace, a crisp, clean white. “Because we have so many levels and rooms to this house, one of the ways to pull it together was to create a unified, monochromatic view throughout,” Taylor says.

Williamson worked with the couple early in the process to create vision boards for the entire home, then returned to assist Taylor, who was pregnant with the couple’s second child during construction. “They had a strong original vision,” Williamson says. “We honed it for clarity and consistency.”

Natural accents of deep gray, camel and ochre are placed against a “soothing, neutral backdrop,” the designer notes, pointing to the couple’s growing art collection for pops of color. “We wanted to create character that would be in keeping with the traditional nature of the home.”

Hutchins agrees. “It was really hard to visualize what the house would become,” he says. “Now, if you walked in for the first time you wouldn’t know where the old house was. As I’ve joked with Chuck Carbonaro, it’s an example of how all houses have hope.”

Renovation Architecture: Chuck Carbonaro, RA, Island Architects. Richmond, Virginia. Interior Design: Jessica Williamson, JTW Design, Richmond, Virginia. Renovation Contractor: Jordan Hutchins, Spruce Construction, Richmond, Virginia.

DRAWING BOARD
What’s the secret to a successful renovation?
Chuck Carbonaro, architect: Keep a journal of what you like and dislike about your current space, friends’ homes, etc. Share that with your design professional and be prepared for a conversation about whether your home can meet your ideals and where you’re willing to compromise.

How do you arrive at a realistic budget?
Jordan Hutchins, builder: Renovations take many twists and turns. It’s good to be flexible with design and expect surprises. Set funds aside for contingency costs (usually five percent of the total budget) and expect that to be spent.

Explain how you instill a redo with personality. 
Jessica Williamson, interior designer: Making a home feel personal is about helping clients identify what matters most to them. Once we get past functional needs and the desired look, we infuse spaces with what makes clients smile. We think about everything from shelving for a beloved collection to making sure art they love is on display.

BATHROOM REMODEL—WASHINGTON MARKET
Spectrum Design + Build, Albemarle Street, NW—Bathroom Remodel, Washington, DC

BATHROOM REMODEL—BALTIMORE MARKET
Owings Brothers Contracting, Skyline Bathroom Remodel, Ruxton, Maryland

CUSTOM HOME
Bayview Builders, Ulmstead Shores, Arnold, Maryland

GREEN HOME BUILDING
Bayview Builders, Lake Ogleton, Annapolis, Maryland

HISTORIC RESTORATION 1,000-2,000 SQUARE FEET
Owings Brothers Contracting, Industrial Style Condominium, Baltimore, Maryland

HISTORIC RESTORATION 100-999 SQUARE FEET
Spectrum Design + Build, W Street, NW—Historic Façade, Washington, DC

KITCHEN REMODEL/ADDITION 100-999 SQUARE FEET—WASHINGTON MARKET
Spectrum Design + Build, 14th Street, NW—Kitchen Remodel, Washington, DC

KITCHEN REMODEL/ADDITION 100-999 SQUARE FEET—BALTIMORE MARKET
Legacy Cabinetry & Design and Crosen Homes LLC, Argent Path, Ellicott City, Maryland

KITCHEN REMODEL/ADDITION 1,000-2,000 SQUARE FEET
Parker Design Build Remodel, Laurel, Laurel, Maryland

OTHER—CONDOMINIUM
Owings Brothers Contracting, Bank Street Condominium, Baltimore, Maryland

OTHER—55+ CONDOMINIUM
Owings Home Services, Retirement Condominium, Pikesville, Maryland

OUTDOOR LIVING
Spectrum Design + Build, Klingle Street, NW—Outdoor Living, Washington, DC

SPECIALTY AND/OR DETAILS—ENTRYWAY
Bayview Builders, Chartwell Branch Entryway, Severna Park, Maryland

SPECIALTY AND/OR DETAILS—STRUCTURAL
Owings Brothers Contracting, Davidsonville Specialty Project, Davidsonville, Maryland

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.

DESIGN & ARCHITECTURE
Home of the Year—The Logan at Quarry Springs, Bethesda, MD. Wormald Homes
Custom Home of the Year—1437 Cedar Avenue, McLean, VA. Clear View Homes; WCRA
Community of the Year‑—Robinson Landing, Alexandria, VA. EYA LLC; JBG SMITH; Mitsui Fudosan America; KTGY Architecture + Planning; Shalom Baranes Associates
Innovative Land Planning—Robinson Landing, Alexandria, VA. EYA LLC; Shalom Baranes Associates; KTGY Architecture + Planning; Mitsui Fudosan America; JBG SMITH
FreeStanding Club House—Bayside Fenwick Island, Fenwick Island, DE.
Carl M. Freeman Companies; AdsIntelligence Marketing
Outstanding Living Space or Architectural Feature—Cabana at Cornwell Farm, Great Falls, VA.
James McDonald Associate Architects
Outstanding Implementation of Innovative Design Concepts Detached/Attached—Chateau De Riviere, Great Falls, VA. The Building Group; Grow Landscapes
Green Building—Mid-Century Modern, Arlington, Arlington, VA. Arlington Designer Homes Construction LLC

Detached Home (lots under 7,000 square feet)
Under $300,000—Brooke in Evershire North, Waynesboro, VA. KTGY; Atlantic Builders
$600,001-$700,000—Atwood at Tapestry, Clarksburg, MD. KTGY; Miller and Smith
Over $850,000—Parkhurst at Willowcreek, Dayton, MD. Toll Brothers; Lessard Design, Inc.
DESIGN & ARCHITECTURE Detached Home (lots 7,000 square feet and over)
$1,000,001-$1,400,000—The Robey on Homesite 8 at Miller’s Reserve, Purcellville, VA. Evergreene Homes
Over $5,000,000—Chateau De Riviere, Great Falls, VA. The Building Group; James McDonald Associate Architects
Under $400,000—The Chesapeake at Orchard Hill, Spotsylvania, VA. Atlantic Builders
$400,001-$500,000—Tidewater Slab at Kindleton, Lewes, DE. KTGY; Lennar Corporation
$500,001-$600,000—Southport Basement at Kindleton, Lewes, DE. KTGY; Lennar Corporation
$850,001-$1,000,000—The Monroe at Meadows at Rose Hill, Alexandria, VA. The Christopher Companies; Moment Engineering + Design
Over $1,400,000—Palatine at the Windmill Collection, North Potomac, MD. KTGY; Toll Brothers

Attached Home
Over $850,000—The Logan at Quarry Springs, Bethesda, MD. Wormald Homes
$400,001-$500,000—Norwood at Watson’s Glen, Millersville, MD. KTGY; Tri Pointe Homes
$500,001-$600,000—Bluemont at Carter’s Mill by Del Webb, Haymarket, VA. PulteGroup
$600,001-$700,000—Sydney at Crown East, Gaithersburg, MD. PulteGroup
$700,001-$850,000—Willard at the Braddock, Chantilly, VA. KTGY; Toll Brothers

Multi-Family
New Construction—Robinson Landing, Alexandria, VA. EYA LLC; JBG SMITH ; Mitsui Fudosan America; KTGY Architecture + Planning; Shalom Baranes Associates
Mixed-Use—Juniper, Columbia, MD. CBG Building Company; The Howard Hughes Corporation; The Preston Partnership
Condominium or Apartment Unit—Walney at the Fairfax Collection, Chantilly, VA. KTGY; Toll Brothers

CUSTOM BUILDING
DESIGN & ARCHITECTURE Custom Home, Single Lot
3,000-5,000 square feet—Walker Road, Great Falls, VA. James McDonald Associate Architects
5,001-7,000 square feet—Arnon Chapel Road, Great Falls, VA. James McDonald Associate Architects
Over 7,000 square feet—Cornwell Farm, Great Falls, MD. James McDonald Associate Architects

DESIGN & ARCHITECTURE Custom or Customized Infill Home
5,001-7,000 square feet­—1437 Cedar Avenue, McLean, VA. Clear View Homes; WCRA Under 3,000 square feet—OPaL’s Tiny House, Washington, DC. OPaL, LLC
3,000-5,000 square feet—6525 32nd Street, Falls Church, VA. James McDonald Associate Architects
Over 7,000 square feet—1016 Langley Hill Drive, McLean, VA. Brush Arbor Home Construction; WCRA

DESIGN & ARCHITECTURE Renovations or Additions Over $1,000,000—
OPaL’s Historic Renovation in Cleveland Park, Washington, DC. OPaL, LLC

Do

• Use a company with strong pre-construction/planning, even if little or no design is involved. A well-run construction project takes many hours to plan. If the design is not finalized with materials selected and ordered before construction begins, expect delays and stoppages.
• Check online and print forums for reviews. If multiple negative reviews exist, chances are there is a good reason.
• Interview at least three companies before settling on one.

Don’t

• Hire the lowest bidder. As with anything else in life, you usually get what you pay for. Many companies will secure a contract by low-balling an estimate, then assess premeditated change orders once construction begins.
• Choose a “yes man.” You need someone who will tell you the truth even if it is not what you want to hear.
• Hire anyone who pushes their own agenda. Your remodeling partner should be receptive to your input.

What to Ask

• How much of your business is repeat- or referral-based?
• Do you have examples of projects like mine that you have completed recently?
• Are you licensed, bonded and insured in my area?
• Do you have a fixed-price contract, and what is your policy on change orders?
• Will you pull the necessary permits?
• What work do you subcontract out, and how are your relationships with your trade partners?
• Who will be in charge of the work once it begins?
• What is your timeframe for completion, and will you work every day?
• Are you LEED-certified by the EPA?
• How will you ensure that my home stays clean and safe?

Pro Tips

“Solid oak is our go-to for hardwood flooring. Unlike vinyl or engineered wood, hardwoods like oak can be countlessly refinished, making them the most timeless selection.” —Fritz Eisenbrandt, Eisenbrandt Companies

“Everyone wants control via a smart device—often voice-activated—from HVAC, lighting and entertainment systems to exterior and low-voltage landscape lights.” —George Papaheraklis, FineCraft Building Contractors, Inc.

Working with construction company Added Dimensions, the team replaced load-bearing walls with a structure of steel columns and beams that allows free flow between spaces. The traditional center-hall staircase made way for a bold, modern version that lets in the light. “We wanted the new stair and the steel structure around it to work together as one design element,” Jeffrey McInturff explains.

The stair leads up to the second floor and down to the lower level. Fabricated off-site by Majer Metal Works, it was disassembled and then reassembled on-site. White oak treads and glass-and-steel railings complement the surrounding white oak floor and steel structural supports to sleek, harmonious effect.

Renovation Architecture: McInturff Architects, Bethesda, Maryland. Renovation Contractor: Added Dimensions, Takoma Park, Maryland.

Renovation Architecture: Paul Gaiser, AIA, Paul Gaiser Architects, Bethesda, Maryland. Contractor: Precision Capital General Work LLC, Takoma Park, Maryland. Landscape Design: Susy S. Altmann, CPH, Susy Altmann Studio, Rockville, Maryland. Photography: Pak Cheung.

Anderson collaborated with architect Christopher Snowber on the renovation, which was a challenge when it came to the exterior because of the home’s historic designation. “As with many homes that have a strong historic character and engaging details, the trick was to echo the character of the existing house without being slavishly redundant,” Snowber notes. The design team enclosed the open porch on the driveway side of the house to create a mudroom; it matches a porch on the other side that was previously converted into Anderson’s home office. Both spaces boast restored architectural details and glass expanses over the openings between columns.

A roomy screened porch replaced a small deck and slate patio off the back. It extends along the side of the house to connect with her office. With its comfortable all-weather furniture and rug, the new structure “feels like another room,” Anderson says. A wood-burning fireplace provides a focal point and curtains frame the screens. Painted-wood floors paired with walls clad in their original stucco convey a vintage look, while reclaimed-wood ceilings unify all the porch spaces.

Renovation Architecture: Christopher R. Snowber, AIA, Hamilton Snowber Architects, Washington, DC. Interior Design: Katy Anderson, Katy Anderson Interiors, Chevy Chase, Maryland. Builder: Zantzinger, Inc., Washington, DC. 

Renovation Architecture: Robert M. Gurney, FAIA, Robert M. Gurney, FAIA Architect, Washington, DC. Renovation Contractor: Added Dimensions, Inc., Takoma Park, Maryland. Landscape Architecture: Campion Hruby Landscape Architects, Annapolis, Maryland.

Raised in the DC area by parents who owned a graphic design company, Rice embraced her affinity for interior design after the loss of a close friend 10 years ago. “She was a person who was always chasing her dreams,” Rice recalls. “I always loved design, but until then, hadn’t thought I could do it as a profession.”

Leaving a job at Lululemon, Rice enrolled in the master’s program at the Corcoran School of the Arts & Design. She subsequently worked for the Alexandria firm Ivy Lane Living, then took time off to have her son before going out on her own in 2016. “With my parents as mentors, I’ve always wanted the freedom of working for myself,” she observes.

Growing up in the DC area has made forging connections and getting referrals “an organic process,” notes Rice, who hopes to take on an assistant this year. In fact, the home pictured on these pages belongs to the daughter of Rice’s fourth-grade Spanish teacher. “I really value relationships,” the designer says. “The joy for me is in creating spaces for people—they care so much about them and I love that.”

Interior Design: Mikell Rice, Mikell Rice Interiors, Bethesda, Maryland. Architecture: Manion + Associates Architects, Cabin John, Maryland. Builder: Omenitsch Brothers, Inc., Frederick, Maryland.

Embracing this notion, an Arlington couple with twin boys decided to purchase a waterfront abode on the Chesapeake with other family members. “We wanted to buy a house with my mother and stepfather for extensive family gatherings,” recounts the wife, a stay-at-home mom whose husband is in furniture manufacturing. “And we wanted space for my sister and her family and my husband’s parents to visit.” They also planned to list the property as a vacation rental.

A circa-1992 house near St. Michaels fit the bill. At 5,100 square feet and with five bedrooms and five baths, there was room for a crowd. And nestled on six-and-a-half acres overlooking Grace Creek, the picturesque property was already beautifully landscaped with a pool, pool house and pavilion.

However, the interiors needed work. More bedrooms, bathrooms and gathering spaces would be necessary to meet the family’s requirements (the final count is six en-suite bedrooms and three powder rooms). The kitchen and existing baths were dated and the home’s orientation didn’t take advantage of the water views. The owners tapped architect Christine Dayton and designer Zoë Feldman to overhaul the abode in style.

“The clients didn’t want to enlarge the house, but they wanted two owners’ suites,” notes Dayton. “A garage addition had a large office over it which we converted into a suite for the younger couple. We kept the first-floor owners’ suite for the parents.”

The plan shifted walls on the main floor to create a more open layout, with the kitchen, dining and living areas occupying one big waterfront-facing room, spilling into a sunroom previously separated by an obtrusive kitchen peninsula. The former dining room, with no water view, became a study. Between the kitchen and garage, Dayton carved out space for a mudroom, pantry, powder room and laundry; a short hall leads out to a screened porch and a guest suite is tucked behind the garage. Upstairs, a game room with a wet bar opens out to a glass-railed balcony while four en-suite bedrooms offer plenty of additional sleeping space.

Once the new floor plans were complete, Dayton and Feldman teamed up with the owners to develop the home’s aesthetic. “It’s a post-and-beam structure, but not rustic,” explains Dayton, who wrapped the exposed woodwork in crisp white oak to match new wide-plank, white oak floors throughout.

Coastal Flair - Feldman conceived a clean-lined, organic palette of black-and-white tones accented by wood and brass.

Shiplap and board-and-batten paneling add coastal flair.  “The setting is beautiful and it was the star,” the designer observes. “So we created neutral interiors that would complement the outdoors and allow the views to shine.”

Feldman collaborated with Lobkovich Kitchen Designs on the kitchen, selecting finishes while principal J. Paul Lobkovich configured the layout. Though the owners initially wanted everything white, recalls the wife, “Zoë pushed me out of my comfort zone on that, and I’m so glad she did.” Cabinets are painted a deep blue-black, offset by extensive white subway tile on the walls; copious pantry space made it possible to eschew upper cabinets in favor of open, white oak shelving. The wet bar upstairs is painted the same blue-black hue for continuity.

When it came time to decorate the home’s six en-suite bathrooms and three powder rooms, the wife suggested one look for all. “I was overwhelmed,” she recalls, “but Zoë felt that the baths are their own separate spaces and should all be different. Now, I love that each room has its own feel.” For instance, the main-level owners’ bath boasts a white porcelain-tile floor, a weathered-oak double vanity and a shower enclosure clad in blue-black subway tile, while the upstairs one features honed-slate floor tile and twin marble washstands atop iron bases.

Though Feldman selected decorative lighting, rugs and accessories, much of the furniture was acquired through the husband’s business, with the designer weighing in on choices that lean toward neutral, relaxed and a bit eclectic. The results are just what the owners wanted. “This was a labor of love,” enthuses the wife. “We couldn’t be happier with how it all turned out.”

Renovation Architecture: Christine M. Dayton, Christine M. Dayton Architect, P.A., Easton, Maryland. Interior Design: Zoë Feldman, Zoë Feldman Design, Washington, DC. Contracting: Jay Chance, Chance And Associates, Easton, Maryland. Kitchen Design: J. Paul Lobkovich, Lobkovich Kitchen Designs, Tysons, Virginia. Home Automation: Steve Adams, Strategic Home Media, Stevensville, Maryland.

Chill Out - With its pitched roof, the adjoining pool house echoes the home’s aesthetic.

Open on three sides via Western Windows bi-fold doors, the structure is crowned by a vaulted mahogany-plank ceiling. Silver travertine clads both the pool-house floor and pool deck, and a stucco fireplace occupies one wall.

The pool house is tucked to one side of the home so as not to impede water views, and acts as a buffer from the neighboring property. Native plantings frame the view. Visible past the pool and gardens, an existing structure was repurposed for the homeowners as a crab shack—in keeping with its Chesapeake Bay locale.

Chill Out - Architecture & Landscape Architecture: Devin Kimmel, AIA, ASLA, Kimmel Studio Architects, Annapolis, Maryland. Interior Design: Catherine M. Lowe, ASID, Interior Planning & Design, Annapolis, Maryland. Builder: Raymond Gauthier, Lynbrook of Annapolis, Annapolis, Maryland.

In most cases, that means razing the original and building brand new. But Eric and Joseph Bernstein, Potomac natives who head a small development company founded by their father Brad, see value in preserving what they can. That was the case when Joseph, a real estate agent, wrote to his then-neighbors in Friendship Heights, asking if any of them might be willing to sell.

When the owners of a 1940s-era Colonial said yes, the brothers acquired the home with a plan to transform and resell it. “We loved the neighborhood—it’s got great walkability—and we knew the house and lot had potential,” says Eric, who heads design and building for BradBern Construction.

First, he called on DC architect Jonathan Kuhn to orchestrate a gut renovation and expansion that would celebrate the home’s original architecture while modernizing it for future owners. Kuhn was impressed with the Bernsteins’ willingness to allow him nearly free rein over the design. “They gave us poetic license to have fun with it,” he reflects. Kuhn’s plan preserved the original home’s footprint on the front and sides and replaced the existing porch, which had jalousie windows, with a new screened version; its wood slats cleverly reference their glass predecessors.

An addition stretches out in back, but the home’s original brick rear wall remains exposed in the new kitchen and family room. “The brick back wall lends to the story,” the architect explains. “You have a little bit of the history of the house on the interior.”

The real story, however, is about reimagining the house for future owners. “My vision called for a contemporary, treehouse-like feel,” Eric recalls. “Jonathan came up with a really good design pretty much on the first try.”

Kuhn sought to “stitch” the old and new together by cladding the third-floor addition in wood siding that comes down over the original brick façade, straddling the second-floor windows. Wood softens the new, modern look, relates Kuhn, pointing out that repeating brick on the third floor would have looked “relentless, and would [make the house] seem even taller than it is.”

In the back, he broke up massing to avoid a single, three-story “box” by designing two separate volumes: One is three stories high while the other is two levels topped with a roof deck. The addition contains the kitchen, family room and dining area on the main level, two new bedrooms (for a total of three) on the second floor, and the new third-floor owner’s suite.

Inside, Kuhn avoided the modernist default to large, open spaces. On the main level, he preserved the original front living room but created a widened foyer and stair hall, followed by a transitional area—a horizontal corridor housing storage closets, a powder room and a mud room with a side entry—leading to the family room and kitchen.

This area steps down from the original house, allowing for 11-foot ceilings. “We played with geometries to create different shapes and spaces,” says Kuhn. Eric Bernstein chose kitchen finishes that echo the home’s light and dark exterior.

Two separate staircases connect the levels—a move, says Kuhn, that fosters circulation and creates “a visual, physical and psychological break.” He upgraded the existing stair to the second floor, which now arrives at a large landing framed by a wall of glass. A new stairway around the corner leads to the owner’s suite.

Upstairs, Bernstein wanted to make a statement in the owner’s bathroom, envisioning “a big open concept, with a shower large enough so you don’t need a door.” It took four men to (carefully) haul the shower’s enormous glass partition up the stairs to set it in place.

Soon after the project was completed in 2019, Scott Nash, owner of Mom’s Organic Market grocery stores, purchased the home. “The layout was amazing and the windows are spectacular,” he enthuses. He was also taken with the roof deck, which is accessible from the owner’s suite, and the home’s industrial accents. The three bedrooms on the second floor perfectly accommodate his three children, ages 15 to 20, who have had space to spread out during the shutdown. Says Nash, “It’s just been a delight to live here.”

Renovation Architecture: Jonathan Kuhn, AIA, LEED AP, Jonathan Kuhn Architect, Washington, DC. Contractor: Eric and Brad Bernstein, BradBern Construction, Rockville, Maryland. Landscape Design: Carlos Uman, Green Fields Landscaping, Sterling, Virginia.

DRAWING BOARD
How do you soften a modern look?
JK: Incorporating materials such as wood makes a home more inviting. It’s associated with warmth and nature, and people respond in kind.

What do you think about open-plan living?
It’s intended to make a space feel larger, but in fact has the opposite effect. Defining spaces—not with small, dark rooms but with clues both built and implied—makes for a functional, livable home.

How can you modernize a Colonial?
It’s about transforming the bones without losing the “home.” First, visualize the new layout—floor plans, flow and function. Then, bring the outside in with windows and outdoor spaces—both enclosed and open.

Poetic License - Why not tear down and start fresh?

We enjoy the challenge of re-using an existing home and weaving it into the new. It may seem limiting on the surface, but it pushes you to look at things differently, to make something new out of something old.

According to the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), indoor air is five times more polluted than the air outside, making a whole-house ventilation system critical. The following insights from experts at Aprilaire, a maker of humidifiers and purifiers, and Sterling, Virginia-based Falcon Heating & Air Conditioning will help you create a safe living environment.

• A healthy air system has three components: fresh-air ventilation, air filtration and humidity control. Ventilation is most important; if you are ventilating your home properly, you are making it healthier.
• New homes have tighter building envelopes, with less ventilation through cracks in windows and under doors than older homes. Owners of new homes should consider a whole-house ventilation system that brings in filtered air, evenly dispersing it via the HVAC system.
• To improve air quality, attach a filter with a MERV (minimum efficiency reporting value) 16 rating to your HVAC system; it will trap particulates, allergens and other contaminants before they enter.
• Every home in our region should have a humidifier and a dehumidifier; humidification in the winter is most important because drier air exacerbates respiratory disease.

Your Healthy Home - Relative humidity levels between 20 and 60 percent year-round are optimal.

MoistureShield’s latest contribution to decking is Meridian, a capped, wood-plastic composite material that applies the company’s patented Solid Core moisture protection to a surface that looks and feels like wood. Deck panels come in a range of sizes and three color options: Citadel, Shoreside (pictured above) and Mariner. moistureshield.com

ON DECK
Composite decking by Fiberon is a durable, high-performance surface designed not to splinter, crack or decay. Good Life, one of the company’s five lines of decking, features the Escapes Collection—a perfect complement to your backyard, characterized by strong wood-grain patterns and fade-resistant, multi-tonal colors that resemble exotic hardwoods. Pictured above: Bungalow. fiberondecking.com

GOING GREEN
EP Henry has debuted Solidia, an eco-friendly technology that produces cement with lower CO2 emissions. Part of the Permeable Paver Collection, the Solidia ECO line of interlocking concrete pavers reduces runoff by allowing rainwater to filter down and re-enter the ground. Pictured above: Eco Bristol Stone in the Tucson colorway. ephenry.com

Fresh Look - SET IN STONE

The rugged look of hand-laid, dry-stack stone is duplicated in Eldorado Stone’s Stacked Stone veneers, part of the Modern Collection. Comprising small stones in an easy-to-install panel system, Stacked Stone is available in a range of sizes and hues (Silver Lining is pictured above). Appropriate for indoor and outdoor use. eldoradostone.com