ABODE
From tastemakers to landscapers, these are the folks that make your home your haven.
By Vanessa LaFaso Stolarski

Plumber
DANNY REDDICK
John Nugent & Sons; 1731 Barbee St., McLean; 703-356-7499; www.nugentsons.com

Six years in the business, Danny Reddick understands perfectly what clients expect from home-service experts. Genial and courteous even during an over-the-phone magazine interview, Reddick oozes respect. But what about his craft is superlative to the rest? “My specialty is water heaters.” A stroll down the plumbing aisle of any home goods store speaks volumes about the complexity of water heaters. And Reddick has to get to know each one, even when it means keeping up with technology, since newer models contain a lot of electronics. Having attended a four-year plumbing school, Reddick is currently taking classes in heating and air conditioning in an effort to keep up with the industry. “Anytime I can get into a class to learn about new products, I do.” And when it comes to those tricky techy heaters? Bring it on, he says. “The more complicated it is, the more I enjoy it.”

What or who would you put at the head of the class in Northern Virginia?
“I’m excited to see the new Metro go through Dulles. I’m done with traffic. I have to sit in it every day.”

Decorative
ROBINSON INTERIORS
Manassas; 703-335-0813; www.robinsoninteriors.net

Everything from floor coverings to artwork, their site touts a “stress-free” design process. And who couldn’t use a little window dressing de-stressing?

Home Theater Vendor/Installer
AUDIO BUYS
11252 Balls Ford Road, Manassas; 703-335-1125; www.audiobuysinc.com

“We are very competitive with all of our hardware, so customers can come into a specialty retail store like ours and know we are going to be competitive with Best Buy,” owner Barry Wittenberg says.

Landscaper
STATE OF THE ART LANDSCAPING
22611 Markey Ct # 104, Sterling; 703-421-3666; www.stateoftheartlandscape.com

Completely full-service as well as maintenance, State of the Art’s portfolio is consistent in elegant, innovative design for high-end residential projects.

Garden Center
MERRIFIELD
Multiple NoVA locations; 877-560-6222; www.merrifieldgardencenter.com

Merrifield’s Northern Virginia roots run deep. With free gardening seminars and a staff containing many certified horticulturists, Merrifield even hosts its own local cable show. At every turn, the company equips its customers with the proper tools for successful gardening.

Cabinetry
HOME EQUITY BUILDERS
1146-D Walker Road, Great Falls; 703-759-2530; www.hebinc.com

Home projects can be wrought with uncertainty. How long will it take? Will it suit my house? Home Equity Builders offers clients a clear window into what to expect, with a documentation package delineating “the good, bad and ugly of remodeling.” In business for 20 years, Home Equity has earned several awards, and Rainey is quick to draw attention to a third-party survey that yields a 92-percent repeat referral rate. “The national average is in the 60’s,” Rainey notes proudly.

Electrician
SEAN SUDOL
John Nugent & Sons; 1731 Barbee St., McLean; 703-356-7499; www.nugentsons.com

To the trained eye, wiring takes on an artistry all its own. Sean Sudol, master electrician for 12 years, works with contractors to deliver a high standard of electrical work. “I know the wires are going to get covered by the dry wall, but we still keep professional standards.” Sudol says the process is almost like producing art. “I did an electrical panel for an artist once. Everything was installed in 90-degree angles. She put a Plexiglas cover over it so she could display it as art work.”

Carpet Cleaning
PREMIER GOLD STAR SERVICES SERVICE PRO EXPRESS, INC. 
8534 Virginia Meadows Drive, Manassas; 703-330-6124

“I know that it’s possible to offer quality service at reasonable prices without being greedy and still make a comfortable living,” says owner Chris Langley.

Flooring
LOUDOUN VALLEY FLOORS
129-C N. Bailey Lane, Purcellville; 540-338-4300; www.loudounvalleyfloors.com

From shag to maple, Loudoun Valley Floors has it covered.

Remodeling Contractor
ENCOMPASS DESIGN BUILD
211 Mill St., N.E., Vienna; 703-242-9818; www.encompassdb.com

Coming from a project management background in construction and the high-tech industry, owners Adrienne and Troy Fenley know what their clients want. “Busy professionals expect the same efficiency and frequent communication that they’re used to using at work,” Adrienne Fenley says. “So we use a lot of online tools to manage our product.”

Custom Furniture
LUXE HOME INTERIORS
45591 Dulles Eastern Plaza, Dulles; 703-421-9742

Specializing in living rooms, Luxe Home Interiors sends their designers to conduct in-home interviews in an effort to get a lay of the land. Owner Brenda Wolfe says her staff works with clients’ existing pieces to best complement the custom design, which is detailed by the client. “If they can dream it we can do it,” Wolfe says.

Furniture
BELFORT FURNITURE
22250 Shaw Road, Dulles; 703-406-7600; www.belfortfurniture.com

Featuring over 500 room settings of name-brand furniture in over 100,000 square feet, all in one location, Belfort might very well be able to furnish all of Northern Virginia.

Closet organizer
JCL SERVICES
Alexandria; 703-403-5674; www.jclservicesltd.com