Abode Blog Lovin’

Posted by Rebekah Lowe / Friday, May 11th, 2012

By Lynn Norusis

Inspiration comes in many forms: a magazine spread, a scene on the screen or a blog. We’re inspired on a daily basis by those who make interior design a lifestyle, and a hobby. Here are just a few of those who are inspiring us through their home and design work.

Lauren Liess of Pure Style Home

Pure Style Home

Lauren Liess at Pure Style Home brings followers on a journey of work for her clients and her own home. With a casual tone, Liess lets us know it is OK to decorate, then redecorate, then redecorate again, changing the interiors of our own home as often as our tastes and the trends change.

Not only does she give a rundown of the things that inspire her, but she also keeps us up to date on the happenings in her own life, making her feel more like a friend that just someone dishing design advice.

Her palate trends along the lines of traditional with a twist—her open-shelved kitchen with chalkboard-painted fridge was the lynchpin in our devoted following—and the casual breeze that her designs show make us want to vacation in any of her designs.

Chalkboard-Painted Fridge (Photo Courtesy of Helen Norman)

Lauren's Home (Photo Courtesy of Helen Norman)

Family Room (Photo Courtesy of Helen Norman)

Office (Photo Courtesy of Helen Norman)

Jennifer Wagner Schmidt of JWS Interiors

JWS Interiors

Jennifer Wagner Schmidt started her blog, JWS Interiors, in October 2011, and has consistently been inspiring homeowners with bold designs that can be incorporated into any design, and she does it in an affordable way.

Her showcase of client projects and celebrity abode peeks, give followers a sense that any whim can become a well-thought out design. Her latest post that had us making a renovate list was her musings on outdoor inspirations. The variety of bohemian backyard paradise to urban-cool hangout, with southern garden gathering in between is giving us some weekend projects to seriously think about.

Katie's Room (Photo Courtesy of JWS Interiors)

Kitchen Design (Photo Courtesy of JWS Interiors)

Rossiter Brigter Room (Photo Courtesy of JWS Interiors)

Stephanie's Living Room (Photo Courtesy of JWS Interiors)

Lauren Clement of Lauren Nicole Designs

Lauren Nicole Designs

“I Listen and Beautiful Happens” is Lauren Clement’s mantra, and boy does she deliver, not only in her one-on-one work with her clients but also through her blog.

What draws us to this site is Clement’s project snapshots—not only of her clients’ homes but her home as well—that show a space that is already set in stone and the ingenious ways of taking it to another level. Simple fixes include dramatically changing the feel of a vanilla hallway into a room of its own, and transforming a backyard full of green into a relaxing retreat.

Another plus, Clement takes readers through the steps not only of the designs, but the relationships that are part of the renovations as well—who hasn’t wanted to take over a husband’s “space” and make it their own?

Dining Room (Photo Courtesy of Lauren Nicole Designs)

Living Room (Photo Courtesy of Lauren Nicole Designs)

Office (Photo Courtesy of Lauren Nicole Designs)

Patio (Photo Courtesy of Lauren Nicole Designs)

Celebrating Spring, Valerianne to Host First-Ever Color Sale

Posted by Natalie Kaar / Thursday, March 22nd, 2012

Hello there, shoppers! 

With all that spring cleaning you’ve been doing, isn’t it about time for a reward? It seems at least one area store is thinking along those lines.

Vienna’s Valerianne is hosting its first-ever Color Sale March 24-April 1. What this means: You can save up to 40 percent off on all in-stock items for atop the bed (duvet covers, pillows, coverlets, shams) and save up to 20 percent on special-order bedtop beauties. 

To take advantage of the exclusive sale, all you have to do is “like” Valerianne on Facebook. 

It looks like we’re all in for some sweet dreams.

Happy shopping!

–Natalie Kaar

Your Home, Improved

Posted by Eunice / Thursday, March 22nd, 2012

Renovations allow professionals and homeowners to exhibit personal touches.

By Jennifer Shapira

Rogers' newly renovated kitchen (Courtesy of Foster Remodeling)

Imagine a kitchen where there is a place for everything, and everything IS in its place. Now imagine that’s your kitchen. While that sinks in, consider how one couple achieved that kitchen and, ultimately, a whole new house.

With a little hard work, elbow grease and some thoughtful discussions with a simpatico contractor, an Annandale pair put their stamp on a custom-built kitchen and brought new life throughout the rest of the house.

Some 30 years and a couple of grown kids later, they were all too familiar with their house’s limitations. Now empty-nesters, they knew it was time for a change. They just weren’t sure how—or where—to get started.

The kitchen was job one, says David Foster, president of Lorton-based Foster Remodeling. “They toyed with moving and knocking down the house and building something new, but really there were a lot of things they liked about it,” says Foster. “They had a two-acre lot, they really liked their property, and the house had a lot of memories with it. And they didn’t really want to start all over again.”

The open-and-shut case was made to get started updating, personalizing and making every inch of their 1950s-era home more livable.

Before and after shots of the fireplace (Courtesy of Foster Remodeling)

In Sink
Indoor renovations are on trend today for two main reasons: If smartly engineered, they improve a homeowner’s quality of life and increase resale value, when and if it becomes time to sell.

With an eye toward the future, homeowners can work toward a return on their investments. Even if you don’t plan to sell your home for decades, there can be small and large enhancements to consider.

Experts say that more homeowners are choosing to stay in their homes and add on to their current structures rather buy a new house. The most frequent improvements that people make are to kitchens and master baths, she says. However, over the last few years many homeowners feel that they shouldn’t move out of their existing homes. And that’s a direct effect of the state of economy, says McLean-based interior designer Shanon Munn.

“People want to do something, but they want to do something that improves their life immediately in the home that they’re in,” she says.

But even though “renovation” may seem like a big word, small changes can make all the difference in quality of life. They can be simple fixes like a new coat of paint to hanging some artful orbs above a new island, to something more daring and expensive like a whole-house remodel.

“The last couple kitchens that I’ve worked [on] have been kind of light renovations because people want to live in their house while they’re doing it,” says Munn. That means looking to upgrade to a new countertop, backsplash or hardware.

“You can completely change the look of your kitchen by putting in a new backsplash or adding new cabinet knobs or pulls,” she says. Consider a new sink. If you can update some of the elements and tolerate some of the others, those are small renovations that can still make a dramatic impact.

“Thinking about function and how you live in the space helps dictate the solution,” says Jerry Levine, president of the Levine Group and 2011 president of the Washington, D.C. chapter of National Association of Remodeling Institute (NARI).

“In the first half of the 20th century—even into the ‘70s—homes were much more compartmentalized,” says Levine. There were designated activities for designated spaces, and, depending on the activity, you moved from room to room. People don’t live like that anymore. “In the remodeling world, we’re trying to change older houses to fit the more modern lifestyle,” remarks Levine.

Investment Upgrades
When it comes to return on investment, there are a couple of things to factor in if you’re thinking about a remodel. It’s not just about garnering the best returns; it’s about taking a close look at what makes sense for you and your family.

Home improvements can be classified in one of two ways, though they have been known to comingle, says Levine. The first is the “have-to-do” project. That is: What does the house need right now? That’s the repair or upgrade you know you need to take on.

The second type of project is the “want-to-do” project, and those are of the ilk that involves some discussion among family members about how to improve life in the home. The key question there, says Levine, involves how long you and your family intend to stay in that home.

Kitchens, bathrooms and additional social spaces are the areas in a home that typically boast the biggest returns on investment. Homeowners want to be able to interact with friends and family while performing other tasks, he says. A kitchen suits that definition perfectly. Same with a finished basement.

Whole-House Remodel
Foster transformed the Rogers’ work-around kitchen into something significantly larger and much more workable. A well-placed arched window overlooks the wooded backyard, professional-grade appliances were installed, and a dishwasher and Sub-Zero refrigerator are integrated into the Shaker-style cherry cabinetry. A granite-topped island invites conversation and food preparation at family gatherings. A strategically placed pot filler sits above the burners and cooktop in a recessed tile backsplash. Foster added tall pantries perfect for storage, adding roll-out shelves for convenient ease of use.

Foster talked with the Rogers about their specific needs and, before long, Mrs. Rogers had a cabinet that housed her dining room table’s leaves. She now has easy access to those extensions. (No more toting around the house to carry them to and fro.) They were placed in their own cubbyhole, now close at hand and well-situated.

As Foster talked with the Rogers about their interests, he began to see their ideas take shape. It became apparent that they had a pretty substantial wish list that extended far beyond the kitchen. Foster guided them through an extensive whole-house remodel.

Beyond the house’s original footprint, he built an arts and crafts studio for the wife’s painting and stained glass projects reachable by a breezeway, built out their master suite and, for all-out comfort, the bathroom is toasty with heated tile floors and a post-shower body dryer that Foster located overseas. Foster even incorporated one of the wife’s stained glass pieces to serve as an accent window in the master bath. The living room and dining room were opened up for maximum flow, and hardwood floors were installed throughout.

Perhaps the most important whole-house convenience, as their neighbors can attest, is the addition of a generator. So even if they lose power, and they certainly have thanks to recent winter and summer storms, everything from the refrigerator to the media room remains powered up. Neighbors are welcome to charge their cell phones and tune into the news.

Most important, the home suits their needs as they grow older, says Foster, and it’s now maxed out for convenience. Window treatments are remote-controlled with the tap of a finger. The wife’s paintings are exhibited throughout the house, and better viewed thanks to the gallery feel of the newly installed track lighting. The old wood fireplace in its original red brick surround was replaced with a dramatic stone gas version; and themantle above, is a salvaged beam from the house’s demolition.

The newly built-out lower level includes the media room, tricked out with the requisite large-screen TV, a home office and a continuation of the kitchen’s cherry cabinetry. Foster translated their needs and wants into a design that maximizes their usable space.

The Stella Collection from Kichler Lighting, featuring polished chrome with satin-etched cased opal glass. (Courtesy of Kichler Lighting)

Add Some Sparkle
Don’t underestimate the impact that lighting can have in a renovation, says Susan Nottoli, showroom manager at Dulles Electric in Sterling. In kitchens and baths, people are still putting in recessed lights, she says, but she adds that today’s options are of higher quality.

Additionally, “there are wonderful finishes now like brushed nickel and bronzes,” she says, which allow designers and homeowners a welcome opportunity to add punch and personality to previously institutional-type fixtures. She says those rooms are also hotspots for suspending pendants of all shapes and sizes.

Choose from art glass for a little splash of color, or look to pick up the color theme in kitchen backsplashes or countertops, she suggests.

Nottoli has seen a surge of interest in LED lights over traditional incandescent bulbs because they produce less heat and energy but radiate the same amount of light. LED lights are more desirable today because they are dimmable and have less of a blue tinge, casting a much warmer glow than they did just a few years ago.

There are other ways to express architectural detail when it comes to lighting. Also in vogue are tray ceilings, where soft light bounces off the crown molding, or above or below the cabinetry. For a pretty nightlight effect, Nottoli says, consider illuminating glass-front cabinets, which offers the homeowner a chance to showcase favorite dishes or vase.

Small Spaces, Big Impact
Washington, D.C.-based interior designer Erica Riggio believes that everyone has the right to feel comfortable in his or her space, no matter its size, no matter its price level—whether rented or owned. To Riggio, everyone is entitled to reside in a state of comfort and high design.

From her work on beautifying a powder room to that of a rented two-bedroom bachelor pad in Chinatown, she says, without having to spend a lot of money, “there are lots of ways that you can feel good in your space.”

With permission to paint the walls in the Chinatown apartment, she created a hip-urban-retro look in chartreuse and gray tones. She rocked her own handmade wall art with 45s she scored at the Salvation Army that suited the roommates perfectly. For that project she shopped consignment and IKEA. And her mini-renovation was a success.

“We met their budget; we made it work,” Riggio says. “We went where we can find really great deals—some of it used, some of it not.”

It was a quick-and-dirty job, says Riggio, who completed that project in record time and with a low budget. But of the finished product, she says the bachelors “were really happy!”

It’s true that home improvements can consist of large-scale additions, but there are also tiny, smart design moves that arise from a thoughtful contractor or designer who really understands your needs, and works to add just a little more comfort into your life, often in ways so tiny and unexpected, yet so welcomed, you have no idea how you lived without them.

And if you can get more bang for your buck, so much the better. In some cases, you may have no intention of selling, but that doesn’t mean you can’t live like it.

Q&A With Ted Rogers
Annandale homeowner of whole-house remodel by David Foster, Foster Remodeling:

Courtesy of Foster Remodeling

How long have you lived in your home?
“We purchased the home in 1983 and have lived there ever since; 28 years.”

At first you were only interested in a minor kitchen remodel. How did you go from that to a whole-house renovation?
“[We] wanted a nice kitchen, and the existing home did not provide the requisite layout. Additionally, the heating and cooling system was from the original design and needed to be upgraded to the modern more efficient units. We had looked at selling and purchasing a more modern home; however, of all the homes we viewed (and we looked at quite a number throughout the region) were poorly built and possessed the cheapest fixtures. That, and poor insulation in the existing house, made the whole-house renovation the logical choice.”

You did a media room, a new fireplace, master suite, new kitchen and an arts and crafts studio. What is your favorite new thing about the house?
“I am quite pleased with everything about the house, and it would be hard to select any one thing. Surprisingly, it is the little things that we enjoy: the filtered hot and cold water dispenser in the kitchen sink, the heated master bathroom floor and the wheelchair-accessible shower. On a larger scale, it is the great room that we created by removing all walls from the existing living room area.”

What are your wife’s favorite new features?
“She shares my thoughts; however, as an artist, she had track lighting mounted to highlight her many paintings that are hung throughout the home. Wanda had David install DC power available to the windows, which enabled her to have remote-controlled electric curtain window treatments.”

How do you like using the generator? More to the point, how do your neighbors feel about it?
“The generator is definitely a convenience; however, with the heating and cooling depending heavily on electricity, having a generator powered by natural gas was a nobrainer. On David’s recommendation we selected the largest air-cooled unit available at the time, and we are not sorry. A few months ago we lost power for two days. We welcomed the neighbors to charge their cell phones and watch the nightly news on TV. So I would say the neighbors are happy to have it available.”

Top Improvements for Home Renovations
If you’re interested in making renovations to your home, experts say these are the main areas to consider for best resale value:

Modern, Open (Bright) Kitchen: These days, it is important to have a functional yet modern kitchen (granite and composite stone countertops, adding islands). Kitchen redos include state-of-the-art, well-functioning, sometimes professional-grade stainless steel or custom integrated appliances. Lighting options have switched to elegant and artistic pendants, and essential task lighting. Hang a pendant with a splash of color that picks up your backsplash, says Susan Nottoli, showroom manager at Dulles Electric.

Finished Basement: From media rooms to rec rooms, the flexible use of a finished basement is essential to a home’s increase in value. That’s something people do to give themselves more living space, but add value to their home when the market does turn arond and they can sell,” says Amanda Welch, interior designer at McLean-based Ambi Design Studio.

In-law suites: Many homeowners would rather have their parents move in with them than into assisted living. Build-outs that combine a couple of bedrooms in a home to creating entire apartments for elderly family members is something David Foster has seen a lot of over the past few years. Doorways are widened, thresholds are rollover-able, grab rails are added, appliances are placed at comfort height; all of these changes are examples of the need to make the aging population more comfortable.

Powder rooms: Don’t underestimate the purpose this little room serves. Aside from the kitchen, it’s one of the most used and most frequented guest spaces in the home. The easiest and quickest fix is to punch it up with a new coat of paint, suggests Bob Bell, a specialist in contractor services at Home Depot in Reston. Hang a new mirror, dress it up with a new vanity, or put in a new light fixture. Showcase pieces of a favorite photo collection. Express yourself. This is a little room can reflect your personality. Change it as you see fit.

Artistic use of tiles: Shanon Munn, owner of Ambi Design Studio, says as the options continue to grow in ceramics and porcelains and decorative tiles, there’s a trend toward the extremes in size choices that she is placing in kitchens and baths. “People are either going with the mosaic or the really large 18 by 24 tiles,” she says. Homeowners are choosing cool recycled glass or patterned ceramics to achieve a custom look. And in the renovation of a master bath suite, warming tile floors are practically a must-have.

Strategies for finding excellent contractors

If you’re looking to remodel, or even just thinking about it, there are certain things to look for in prospective contractors. The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) offers some suggestions.

How long have you been in business? Or how many projects like mine have you completed?

Ask for references, but be cautious that there’s more to it than that. Find out who they’ve worked with, and what they thought of the results.

Believe it or not, good communication is the most important skill a contractor or a contractor group can have, says McLean-based interior designer Shanon Munn. Sure, their craftsmanship should be admirable, and it should fit your style and needs, but if the contractor has trouble returning calls or isn’t able to produce cost estimates in a timely manner, those are immediate red flags.

“No project goes from start to finish without some kind of hiccup,” says Jerry Levine, NARI’s 2011 D.C. chapter president. He advises asking contractors to describe a time when something went wrong.

Remodeling 411

Remodelers and contractors:
Blue Moon Construction
23421 Spice Bush Terrace, Ashburn; 888-209-8352

Bowers Design Build
6715 Whittier Ave., McLean; 703-506-0845

Case Design/Remodeling Inc.
701 Park Ave., Falls Church; 703-241-2980

Dee David & Company
7906 Sycamore Drive, Falls Church; 703-560-6601

Foster Remodeling
7211-H Telegraph Square Drive, Lorton; 703-550-1371

Michael Nash Design, Build & Home
8630-A Lee Highway, Fairfax; 703-641-9800

NVS Kitchen & Bath
8982 Hornbaker Road, Manassas; 703-378-2600
800 W. Broad St., Falls Church; 571-765-4450

Sagatov Associates
400 N. Washington St., Falls Church; 703-534-2500

Sun Design Remodeling Specialists Inc.
5795-B Burke Centre Parkway, Burke; 703-425-5588

The Levine Group Architects and Builders
2323-B Stewart Ave., Silver Spring; 703-525-4646

Tradition Homes, LLC
1497 Chain Bridge Road, Suite 100, McLean; 703-987-3444

TriVista USA
808 N. Danville St., Arlington; 888-814-8748

Interior Designers:
Kleppinger Design Group
2809-A Merrilee Drive, Fairfax; 703-208-2208

Lauren Leiss Interiors The Pure Style LLC
571-926-7825

Lee Design & Interiors
1020 King St., Alexandria; 703-683-7013

Rachel James Interiors
8300 Boone Blvd., Suite 500, Vienna; 703-848-9255

Shanon Munn, ASID, Principal
Amanda Welch, Allied ASID
Ambi Design Studio Inc., McLean; 703-597-8401

Stephanie Kelley
Redefined Design LLC; 703-851-2412

Susan Nelson Interiors
1104 Jonquil Circle, Great Falls; 703-244-1601

U Design for the Home
4735 Jefferson Davis Highway, Fredericksburg; 540-710-2390

Lighting:

Dominion Electric Supply Co.
14605 Lee-Jackson Highway, Chantilly; 703-631-8300
5053 Lee Highway, Arlington; 703-536-4400
33 Fairfax St. SE, Leesburg; 703-777-1555
7471 Mason King Court, Manassas; 571-921-1050

Dulles Electric
22570 Shaw Road, Suite 150, Sterling; 703-450-5700

Lamps Unlimited
1362 Chain Bridge Road, McLean; 703-827-0090

Thrift/Salvage:
Goodwill (Area Locations)
22405 Enterprise St., Sterling; 703-444-5186
2421-A Centreville Road, Herndon; 571-346-1046
9960 Main St., Fairfax; 703-349-1806
2936 Annandale Road, Falls Church; 703-663-2762

Habitat for Humanity of Northern Virginia
716 S. Glebe Road, Arlington; 703-521-9890
7770 Richmond Highway, Alexandria; 703-360-6700
4262 Entre Court, Chantilly; 703-953-3747

Red Barn Mercantile
113 S. Columbus St., Alexandria; 703-838-0355

Salvation Army (Area Locations)
2421-A6 Centreville Road, Herndon; 703-713-6691
10 C Cardinal Park Drive, Leesburg; 703-771-3371
4915 Ox Road, Fairfax; 703-385-8700
11201 Balls Ford Road, Manassas; 703-686-4607

The Cottage
105 S. King St., Leesburg; 703-443-0058

The Old Lucketts Store
42350 Lucketts Road, Leesburg; 703-779-0268

Accessories/Other:
Decorium
116 King St., Alexandria; 703-4662

European Country Living
1006 King St., Alexandria; 703-778-4172

Green Front Furniture
10154 Harry J. Parrish Blvd., Manassas; 703-396-8560

Le Village Marche
2800 S Randolph St., Suite 110-A, Arlington; 703-379-4444

Peacock Road
125 Mill St., Suite 4, Occoquan; 703-490-2244

Pear Tree Cottage
130 Maple Ave. E, Vienna; 703-938-1331

The Keeping Room
8405 Richmond Highway, Suite G, Alexandria; 703-360-6399

The Nest Egg
11940 Grand Commons Ave., Fairfax; 703-988-0944

Urban Retreat
11409 Sunset Hills Road, Reston; 703-689-3404

Valerianne
111 Church St. NW, Suite 201, Vienna; 703-242-1790

Willow Street Decor
203 Washington St., Occoquan; 703-497-2070

Tile/Flooring:
Architectural Ceramics
203 S. Union St., Alexandria; 703-299-6200
7505-P Leesburg Pike, Falls Church; 703-714-0161

Barrett Tile Co.
9203-I Enterprise Court, Manassas Park; 703-369-4114

Collins Tile and Stone
40405 Lenah Run Circle, Aldie; 703-965-2090

Design Tile
8455-B Tyco Road, Vienna; 703-734-8211

Enterprise Bath and Tile
4094 Majestic Lane, Suite 121, Fairfax; 703-961-1044

Fairfax Marble and Granite
13913 Willard Road, Chantilly; 703-378-1080
2720 Dorr Ave., Fairfax; 703-204-2222

Ideal Tile
929 W. Broad St., Falls Church; 703-237-8400

McLean Tile & Marble
6827 Tennyson Drive, McLean; 703-734-7040

Northern Virginia Tile Company
703-447-9380

(March 2012)

Give Your Home a Spring Makeover

Posted by Rebekah Lowe / Monday, May 9th, 2011

Color Trends

TUESDAY, MAY 10  *  RESTON LOCATION  *  11-12 pm

Find out what’s hot and what’s not. Hear from Patti Frasier, Liz Gouldin and Amelia Logan, some of Northern Virginia’s interior design experts, about what colors are working for spring and summer 2011. They will share before-and-after photos with examples and ideas to help make your home ‘in’ for 2011.

RSVP to reston@thedandelionpatch.com

11923 Market Street   |   Reston, VA 20190   |   703.689.2240

How Do I Work With a Decorator?  

TUESDAY, MAY 17  *  VIENNA LOCATION  *  11-12 pm

Are you looking to spruce up your home for summer guests? Maybe replace that sofa or the window treatments that haven’t changed in 10 years, or just add some accessories? Learn from award-winning decorators Rachel Bauer, Doni Kanka, and Jane Sams how to use their expertise to enhance your style.

RSVP to vienna@thedandelionpatch.com

111 Church Street NW, Suite 101   |   Vienna, VA 22180   |   703.319.9099

Window Decorations 

TUESDAY, MAY 31  *  GEORGETOWN LOCATION  *  11-12 pm

Similar to clothing, window treatments can be fashionable or completely out of date. Traditional, Contemporary, Modern, Eclectic… Learn from experts Jan Bertin, Lorin Jones, Amelia Logan, and Jackie Moyer about window fashions in the 21st century—what works today, what’s functional, and what’s not.

RSVP to georgetown@thedandelionpatch.com

3222 M Street NW, 2nd Floor   |   Washington, DC 20007   |   202.333.8803

All About Accents

TUESDAY, JUNE 7  *  LEESBURG LOCATION  *  11-12 pm

Does your home need a little extra sparkle? Come and learn how to add jewelry to your home to complete your decorating ensemble. Award winning interior decorator, Lauren Riddiough Clement will show you how accessories make all the difference in finishing a room.

RSVP to leesburg@thedandelionpatch.com 

1603 Village Market Blvd. SE, Suite #114   |   Leesburg, VA 20175   |   703.443.8810

Room for Retreat

Posted by The Editorial Desk / Monday, December 15th, 2008

From Fine Wines to Surround Sound

By Jennifer Shapira

Courtesy of Baltic Leisure Wine Storage

With a little effort and a lot of vision, potential-laden spaces can be transformed into individual home sanctuaries. In a promising abode, locally designed wine cellars and media centers make for the most relaxing of respites.

People love wine. It’s something that reminds them of their travels. It’s kind of hip. And then to have a wine cellar—there’s a little bit of a cachet to that,” said Joe Duffus, owner of Vintage Wine Rooms in Great Falls.
In higher-end homes throughout the area, there is almost an expectation that there will be a space devoted to wine storage, he said. But that “wow” factor is not restricted to large homes—condos and townhouses are putting them in, too.

When it comes to wine cellars, experts are quick to say, if you build it, the bottles will come. All it takes is a little bit of interest before inventory starts stacking up, bottle by bottle, case by case.
“In the first year that a person owns a wine cellar, their wine purchases go up 60 to 70 percent, because you have wine storage that needs to be filled,” Duffus said. So people join clubs and have bottles shipped back from wineries.

Courtesy of eSommelier

Cellar to Cellar
Doug Rosen, owner of the Arlington wine shop Arrowine, agrees. “What people need to bear in mind is, it’s not where you are now, it’s where you’ll be in 10 years.”

In a short time, Edwin Penick’s collecting changed. “You’d be surprised how much wine you could start buying,” said the principal of Silver Hammer Design Plus Construction LLC. “I started with wines that were good now. But I’ve gotten to the point where … I see why people hold on to these French Bordeaux for so long. They become incredibly good after 20 years.”

And in that respect, building a cellar is all about investing in the future. For Penick, what began as an interest in reds and whites spilled into tasting more on travels, on visits to wineries, at social gatherings. He read up, got to know his grapes. Fast-forward to today, and close to 300 bottles rest on their sides in his Arlington home’s half-basement. His advice? “Always make a cellar bigger than you need it—because you will start buying more.”

Duffus recalls one local client whose son was born in 2003. A serious collector, he bought case upon case from Bordeaux and beyond. When his son turns 21, he’ll present him with one heck of an aged collection.
Now a bona fide collector, Penick and his wife won’t uncork some of their purchases for years. “You buy it before it’s even available.” But he says that’s all part of the excitement.

Getting Wired
Years ago, when Peter Christensen and his wife had their home built, they had already begun to envision their wine cellar.

Courtesy of Vintage Wine Rooms

“We carved out a section of the basement which we had the builder build to wine-cellar specifications in that it’s got the vapor barriers and it’s all framed in,” he said. “They left us, essentially, with a room that was insulated.”

From there, Christensen installed a cooling and humidity system to keep the 8-by-11-foot subterranean space at precisely 55 F. He knew he wanted the cellar to be wired, but at the time wasn’t quite sure what he had in mind. So earlier this year when he hired owner of Sterling-based Home Network Solutions Lew Little to connect the rest of his Mount Vernon home, the oenophile was edging closer to having his laptop take up residence in what would become an 1,800-bottle showpiece.

After researching companies that sell modular wine racking, however, Christensen, a skilled woodworker, decided he could do it cheaper and made fast friends at the local lumber yard. He chose Honduran mahogany because it was attractive and durable and wouldn’t impart anything on the wine.

Keeping Track
Christensen inventories his domain using CellarTracker.com. Buying wine begets more wine, and the bottles can tally up faster than you can drink it. He started when he found some bottles whose prime drinking dates had passed. To make sure that didn’t happen again, he’s been using the Internet-based filing system ever since and now makes note of suggested drinking window dates so that his wine is always at its best.
That system, and others like it, link to wine-review sites like eRobertParker.com. Another option is eSommelier’s touch-screen that allows users to search their stashes by country, region, winery, drink date and beyond, eSommelier partner Joe Hageman said.

Some also have barcoding capabilities—Christensen’s next task. When he’s not inside making a selection, he’s content to peer through the window of his tightly sealed mahogany door. An angled display rack showcases some of his picks, and he can swap out those prime spots when it suits his mood. That way, he and his wife can enjoy the cellar without bundling up.

When it comes to cellar management, “Some are very fastidious about what’s in their cellar,” Rosen said. “Some are just plain disorganized. Others simply run out of room.”

Rosen believes that a basement is the best place to store varietals, but concedes that in older homes, that’s not always possible. And here, where the climate fluctuates rapidly, “It’s really about how fast the swing of the temperature is that’s really damaging. The cork can contract; oxygen can get into the wine.”
But with the right temperature and humidity, cellars can be built into almost any space. When Penick redoes basements, he advises his clients that if there’s any interest in proper wine storage, even a tiny cellar just might be a good idea.

“It doesn’t have to be anything extravagant, it’s a good selling point to your house, and it’s really what you need to take care of your wine.”

The location of cellars can get creative—the space beneath a staircase or unused closets can be transformed. “Lots of people just take unwanted space and convert it,” Penick said.

Getting It Right
Americans drink their reds too warm and their whites too cold, Rosen said. His is an echo of a common complaint among experts, who recommend 15 minutes in the fridge for red, 15 minutes out for whites before serving them.

Still, it’s all a matter of enjoyment, he said, and putting forth the effort to be sure that bottles are stored properly. These days, kitchens in new homes are equipped—at least—with an under-the-counter 48-bottle cooler, but that’s strictly for short-term storage. “You’re not going to be aging in one of those … You want wine at 55 degrees and at least 60-percent humidity. You’re not going to get that in the kitchen, where most people have ornamental racks,” Rosen said. “The kitchen is the worst place to store wine because it’s so hot.”

But even small coolers that hold six, 12 or 24 bottles are perfect for people who like to entertain, said Jennifer Keegan, spokesperson for California-based Vinotemp.

“The fact that wine coolers have become much more available and affordable, there’s no reason to not have one,” she said. It’s the perfect antidote for someone who likes to have wines at the ready.

For hardcore collectors, Vinotemp makes biometric locks, requiring a certain fingerprint to gain access into the cellar. Others may warrant an alarm system. In that case, if the temperature in the cellar rises above or drops below a certain degree, the owner will be alerted via multiple phone calls.

Boom Rooms
After you’ve uncorked that Burgundy, kick back for a favorite flick in the privacy of your own home theater. The recessed lighting dims to almost black, the surround sound transports you, and the front projector beams onto the high-performance 103-inch screen. There are no big hairdos to dodge, and reading the subtitles of that foreign film is no challenge. You just sit back in roomy leather seats, relax and prepare for a true cinematic experience.

People are spending more time at home, said Lisa Ladsen, architect and senior project manager at Lowe’s in Fairfax. And technology has become so much more accessible and sophisticated that it’s come to belong in the home. After all, in this day and age, kids are light-years ahead of their parents when it comes to programming remotes, Ladsen said. Fortunately, for the serious stuff, consultants abound to be sure you get just the right setup for your home theater.

Courtesy of MyerEmco

Putting It Together
Two things you’ll find in any high-end home theater are the perfect pair: a huge flat-screen and a ceiling-mounted projector. Next up, and just important, are the components stacked neatly into their cubbyhole spaces: the receiver, the DVD player, the DVR, the CD changer, maybe the PlayStation, the Wii, an old VHS recorder and at least a half-dozen speakers placed strategically throughout the room.

“Because we have a large-screen display, we have a multi-speaker sound system. You want to have sound coming at you from the front, left and right, from the center front and also from the sides and rear,” said Gary Yacoubian, president of MyerEmco AudioVideo.

Home theaters consist of two types: dedicated and non-dedicated. In a dedicated space, the family or household has identified a certain room as its home theater whose exclusive purpose it is to tune into the near-requisite 100-inch mini-movie-theater screen. The non-dedicated option is a multipurpose room where other activities might take place, and where there might be a bar, a pool table, a yoga studio. In a shared space, a pinhole is a creative lighting approach that allows for reading, Small Bernal, Inc.’s Adrian Small said. Here, a retractable flat-screen TV might best suit the room’s function, so as not to subtract from the living space.

Courtesy Integrated Media Systems

All About Aesthetics
A dedicated room maximizes the cinematic experience: “The touch of one button means the lights go very dim, the projector lowers into position, the screen lowers into position, the projector turns on,” Yacoubian said. “It’s really sexy. It’s fun.”

While the days of the big ugly boxes seem to have all but vanished, Yacoubian said prospective buyers are now considering the aesthetic of the TV when it’s powered off. That’s sometimes even more important than what it looks like when it’s on. “We are literally selling TVs because of the finish in some cases,” he said. His customers have been known to say, “I’m purchasing it because it’s got a really attractive high-gloss black finish … It will look good where my piano is.”

And then, of course, there’s the issue of remote. As universal remotes come down in price, they’re becoming a hotter item, Little said. “It’s addressing the issue of command and control. Everybody hates having four or five remote controls sitting on the coffee table. To me personally, one of the most important parts of any media room is to be able to pick up a single device and press a couple buttons and have it function. And then use that same device to change the channel, pause the DVD—just general day-in, day-out usage of it.”
A universal remote can be a “marriage-saver,” according to Little, who favors one manufactured by Logitech. People get “tired going out and having the babysitter call them and say, ‘I can’t turn the TV on,’ or, ‘I don’t have sound.’”

Although remotes can be a source of stress and clutter, Little says they are not hard to program. “If you know your system and how to operate a computer fairly well then you can program it yourself.” The end result? “You hit one button that says ‘Watch TV.’ And it turns on the TV and turns on the cable box. It turns on the surround sound … It’s a pretty cool setup.”

Such are the benefits of these “wow” factors. Still, at the end of the day, people just want to come home and unwind. Be it with a glass of red, or the remote. Maybe even both.

Tips for Designing a Great Home Theater
Gary Yacoubian, MyerEmco AudioVideo

If possible, the TV should be front and center of your viewing position and as close to eye level as possible. Corners are a no-no unless they simply can’t be avoided.

The larger the display, the better! You want to occupy your field of vision as much as possible to almost fool yourself into believing you are right there with the action.

If you hang your flat-panel TV on the wall, or if you hang a projector from the ceiling, you need to use a licensed electrician to run the AC power behind the wall to the TV. Some companies (like ours) have licensed electricians on staff and can do this as a part of the TV installation.

If you have a dedicated room, you want to control outdoor ambient light completely so you can darken the room to enjoy programming.

All HDTV is broadcast in Dolby Digital surround sound. At least half of the emotional impact of the theater experience comes from the sound. Even the best TVs do not come with good sound systems, so you want to make sure to dedicate part of your budget to a home theater that delivers sound to you from all directions, so you can really feel a part of the action!

Speakers no longer need to be boxy. If your home theater is in a living room, family room, den or bedroom, you can use speakers that install directly into your walls or ceiling so they disappear into the room.

If you are remodeling or building a new home, always run wires prior to when the drywall is installed. It is extremely affordable to run wires at this time. Even if you have no specific plans for the room right away, you will have great options down the road!

How to Properly Serve Wines
India Hynes, VINOTEMP

Storing wines at the proper temperature is important. To preserve them as long as possible, wine should be stored at approximately 55 F. However, the chart below suggests the optimal drinking temperature for the different styles of wine.

19 ºC (66 ºF) Armagnac, Brandy, Cognac
18 ºC (64.5 ºF) Full-Bodied Red Wines, Shiraz
17 ºC (62 ºF) Tawny Port
15 ºC (59 ºF) Medium-Bodied Red Wines
14 ºC (57 ºF) Amontillado Sherry
13 ºC (55.5 ºF) Light-Bodied Red Wines
12 ºC (53.5 ºF) Full-Bodied White Wines

7 ºC (44.5 ºF) Non-Vintage Sparkling
8 ºC (53.5 ºF) Fino Sherry
9 ºC (48 ºF) Vintage Sparkling
10 ºC (50 ºF) Rose, Light-Bodied White Wines
11 ºC (52 ºF) Medium-Bodied White Wines

(November 2008)

Building Reputations

Posted by The Editorial Desk / Monday, December 15th, 2008

Spotlight on Award-Winning Remodelers and Their Most Lauded Projects

By Cathy Cruise

Do you ever wish your home was more functional, or dream of roomier rooms? Long for light, ache for ambiance? You’re not alone. With fewer people buying new homes these days, more are considering remodeling.

“When there’s no easy sale or trade-up option, it makes sense to improve upon what you have,” says John Byrd, president of Home Fronts News Service. “There’s a sense today of people settling in and making a house into one that works for them.”

But how to choose a contractor? Take a look at their achievements—like these 10 area builders, most of which received the National Association of the Remodeling Industry’s (NARI) Contractor of the Year (CotY) awards (national and regional). Others took home the big-name Chrysalis and American Institute of Architects (AIA) awards.

Eagle Home Design, LLC
11738 Indian Ridge Road, Reston; 703-476-5550; www.eagleprojects.us
NARI 2008 Regional CotY Award, Residential Kitchen $60K to $100K, Region II
Home in Sterling

Courtesy of Eagle Home Design

This kitchen had very little counter space, and not enough room for entertaining friends and family. While the owners wanted a contemporary look, they wanted it to match the traditional decor found in the rest of the home.

By removing one wall section, Eagle Home Design nearly doubled the size of the kitchen, freeing up traffic flow in and around the area, and providing a space that can now comfortably fit up to 20 people. More counter space was supplied as well, with the use of black, natural stone countertops. All new cabinetry and appliances were installed. Bisazza tile and prefinished hardwoods were placed on the floors, giving the room a contemporary, upscale design that blends well with the adjoining rooms and decor.

“Today’s clients are more willing to take risks in their remodels,” says John W. Thompson, principal at Eagle. “That means they’re becoming open to more minimal contemporary design. They are also very interested in rooms that use space more efficiently than the original design allowed.”

Sun Design Remodeling Specialists, Inc.
5795 B Burke Centre Parkway, Burke; 703-425-5588; www.sundesigninc.com
NARI 2007 CotY Grand Contractor of the Year Award, Residential Addition Under $250K
Home in Fairfax

Courtesy of Greg Hadley/Sun Design Remodeling Specialists

This home was dark inside, with one small picture window to light up the living and family room areas. The owners also wanted better curb appeal—an attractive entryway and better access to upper and lower floors.
Sun Design opened up the front of the house by building a two-story addition with a split-level foyer, creating new entries to both levels of the structure. Contemporary vertical windows were installed, along with skylights in a truss roof and frosted glass ceilings, to flood the house with natural light.

The rich wood siding on the home was made from a mixture of cedar, redwood and brick with a stucco finish. New flooring was achieved with porcelain tile and oak hardwoods.

The result is a much brighter, more inviting area, inside and out. The spacious foyer now allows for direct access to the lower level and provides a much-improved flow of space.

Bob Gallagher, vice president of Sun Design, says innovative projects like this are becoming the norm. “We have been seeing more of a desire for a creative design,” he says, “that will result in strong value for what homeowners spend.”

Fisher Group, LLC
4119 Chatelain Road, Annandale; 703-750-1151; www.designbuildrenovate.com
NARI 2007 CotY Finalist Award, Residential Bath $30K to $60K, Metro DC Chapter
Home in Falls Church

Courtesy of Lydia Cutter/Fisher Group

This homeowner didn’t want a big bathroom, just “big enough to not bang my elbows,” she says. She desired not only more space, but a contemporary style with warm finishes—particularly wood, clean lines, lightness of scale and neutrals with jewel-toned accents. She requested a spacious grooming area, plenty of storage, a shower with a seat, more light and, since she’s a gardener, as much connection to the outdoors as possible.

In lieu of the usual mirrored wall over the vanity, Fisher Group placed vanity cabinets in front of the windows, allowing for a fresh and spacious look. For grooming needs, a mirrored medicine cabinet and lighted, standup makeup mirror were provided on the vanity. A frameless shower enclosure with a curbless entry was added to visually enlarge the space, and the toilet was partially hidden from view by a linen closet.
Large windows were installed to let in the garden view and as much light as possible, and a raised ceiling provided a sense of volume and a contemporary line to the space. Cabinetry was chosen to complement the new red-oak doors installed throughout the home, and natural reed shades were mounted to complete the indoor/outdoor theme.

The Gallick Corporation
111-C Carpenter Drive, Sterling; 703-787-0313; www.gallickcorp.com
NARI 2008 National CotY Award for Residential Exterior $100K and Over, Region II Southeast; NARI Region II Grand Award; NARI Chapter Merit Award
Home in Great Falls

Courtesy of The Gallick Corporation

This outdoor space wasn’t always so spectacular, with an original porch consisting of aging pressure-treated wood and a concrete slab. The homeowners wanted a more versatile, inviting area for their outdoor gatherings.

When it was discovered that the home’s existing well and septic fields were not located where the property plat indicated, the initial project scope had to change. The existing deck was demolished, and feasibility tests for relocation and reconstruction of new systems had to be conducted. Once this was done, The Gallick Corporation used weather-resilient materials such as synthetic stucco, composition decking and polymer sheet cabinets to build the new structure. Just off the home’s kitchen sitting room, a full outdoor kitchen was created, complete with stainless-steel appliances and granite countertops. On the upper left patio, steps away from the living room, stands a handsome new fireplace of faux cultured stone.

This versatile new deck is now accented with ceiling fans, coffered ceilings, recessed and spot lighting, and metal rails with gated spiral stairs. The space blends well with the upbeat character of the home, and serves as the ultimate spot for get-togethers and outdoor entertaining.

Little River Carpentry, LLC
14 Little River Road, Laurel, Md.; 301-775-4276; www.littlerivercarpentry.com
NARI 2008 Regional CotY Award for Residential Bath $30K to $60K, Region II
Home in Washington, DC

Courtesy of Randy Hill/R.B. Hill Photography, LLC / Little River Carpentry

A 1950s bathroom in this Embassy Row home was typical for its time—small, with black and white tile, pedestal sink and a small closet nearby. Since this cramped room had to serve as the main master bath for the owners and their children, Little River Carpentry set out to make a functional, yet kid-friendly space.
After removing the closet, they set the wall two feet into the bedroom to make one large master suite. They added a bathtub with a hand shower and fashioned a step for the children and for the parents to sit on at bath time. While they made the vanities 36 inches high, they also created pull-out rolling stools so the kids could reach the sink.

Since one child was potty training, heated floors were installed to help with late-night trips to the toilet. The wall between the bathroom and nursery was framed out in 2-by-6 instead of 2-by-4, allowing for deeper insulation and a sound-isolation panel.

“The owners knew they had a tall order,” says Little River owner, Andy Ault. “We asked them to make a wish list in order of priority. They said they’d be happy with 50 percent of it. We basically gave them every item on it.”

Anthony Wilder Design/Build, Inc.
7913 MacArthur Blvd., Cabin John, Md.; 301-907-0100; www.anthonywilder.com
NARI 2008 Regional CotY Award for Residential Exterior Specialty, Region II
Home in Great Falls

Courtesy of Paul Burk / Anthony Wilder Design/Build

After living with an unattractive deck that couldn’t hold much more than a grill and some chairs, the owners longed for a bigger space, as well as a hot tub and screened porch. “I told them, ‘Let’s make it a big courtyard,’” says Anthony Wilder, who envisioned an environment unto itself outside their door.

Using mostly maintenance-free synthetic decking for the rails, columns and groupings, the company built a dazzling, mutlilayered outdoor retreat. To keep the view from being disrupted, the screened porch was placed to one side, and a covered walkway was constructed to reach the bell-shaped, gazebo-style enclosure. The structure itself rests on top of an ivy-covered base with unique arched doorways. Vertical, transparent screens made of synthetic wire cloth were installed right into columns of the porch, which can be opened or closed as needed. A glass rail around the hot tub again keeps the view in plain sight.

“People want exposure to the outside,” Wilder says. “Anytime you build a structure like this, you should consider it your outdoor living space.”

Bowers Design Build, Inc.
6715 Whittier Ave., Suite 200, McLean; 703-506-0845; www.bowersdesignbuild.com
NARI 2007 Grand CotY Award for Historic Home Renovation, Metro DC Chapter
Home in Arlington

Courtesy of Anne Gummerson/Bowers Design Build

Designers call it a four-square farmhouse—one square each for the living room, dining room, kitchen and foyer. The owners of this 1920s-era home knew it could be improved, especially its limited space, but wanted to maintain its historic appeal.

Bowers Design Build added a fifth square—a three-story one—out back. This provided a basement with a guest room and full bath, a mid-level family room and mud room, and a third story master bath, closet and exercise room. Hardiplank siding helped maintain the original wood look of the exterior, and windows were made to copy the originals. Since the garage was nearly falling down, a new, almost identical one was built. The owners now love that the house is not only updated, fully functional and beautiful, but still looks authentic enough to belong in the neighborhood.

“People want the same things they’ve always wanted,” says Wilma Bowers, company co-owner. “They want open floor plans so they can have more of a great room effect. Master bedrooms and baths are big and have been for years. We ask people to think about how they can utilize existing space first. Not only is that cost effective, but it’s a green approach as well.”

Glass Construction, Inc.
3307 Connecticut Ave., N.W., Washington, DC; 202-362-6012; www.glassconstruction.biz
2007 Chrysalis Award, Regional Best Project, Whole House Remodel Over $500K
Home in Washington, DC

Courtesy of Hoachlander Davis Photography, LLC./Glass Construction

This 1891 residence, the oldest house on record in Cleveland Park, had been in general decline for years. The floors needed leveling, staircases had to be brought up to code, and framing needed to be made structurally sound. The owners also wanted an addition with an enlarged basement and an exterior renovation that would retain the home’s Victorian style.

Glass Construction began by installing a full-depth, 9-foot basement, requiring development of a shoring and stabilizing system throughout the existing structure. A 2,500-square-foot addition was then constructed, a procedure that required all the mechanicals to be rerouted and one side of the house to be raised 3 inches to level the floors. New staircases were built, the kitchen and bathrooms received high-end fixtures and appliances, and custom-milled casework, built-ins and trim were installed throughout. Air and plumbing systems were replaced, and the electrical system was upgraded to feature speaker and audio visual systems and modern security features. Exterior repairs replicated the old porch as much as possible to match the details of the original front.

Fifteen months later, this once-neglected home was transformed. It now retains its full historic charm while meeting the needs of its presentday family.

Michael Nash Custom Kitchens & Homes
8630-C Lee Highway, Suite B, Fairfax; 703-641-9800; www.michaelnashkitchens.com
NARI 2008 Regional CotY Award for Residential Kitchen $30,000 to $60,000, Region II
Home in Springfield

Courtesy of Michael Nash Custom Kitchens & Homes

This kitchen had a single door to the family room—a tight squeeze for normal traffic—and an alcove that took away valuable space. The homeowners wanted to widen the opening between the two rooms, but still be able to close it off when guests stayed in the family room. They envisioned a huge, sliding barn door to serve that purpose.

“This was a challenge we had never encountered before,” says Sonny Nazemian, president and CEO of Michael Nash. “But we researched it and decided it would work.”

As the owners also wanted the kitchen enlarged, a load-bearing wall was moved 18 inches deeper into the family room. To hang the heavy barn door, the wall was reinforced and made into one straight line. The door was suspended by wheels that moved across a solid-iron bar above the doorway.

To create the French-country kitchen the homeowners wanted, beadboard was installed on the center island, along with dark granite countertops, decorative backsplash tiles, wood floors and angled lower cabinets. The kitchen is now eye-catching and efficient, and prominently features a distinctive door that not only functions well, but serves as an interesting conversation piece.

“People today want more open kitchens,” Nazemian says. “Lighter, airier and accessible from all corners of the house.”

David Jameson Architect Inc.
113 South Patrick St., Alexandria; 703-703-3840; www.davidjamesonarchitect.com
2006 Virginia Society AIA Design Award; 2007 Northern Virginia Chapter AIA Design Award; 2008 Washingtonian Magazine/Washington, DC Chapter AIA Design Award
Home in Arlington

Courtesy of David Jameson Architect Inc.

The owners of this 1970s home wanted a more open, unified space that would appear firmly connected to its outdoor surroundings. With its labyrinth of tiny spaces beneath a mass of unrelated roofs, the original footprint was functional, but needed to be spatially reordered. Additionally, the exterior required updates and simplification.

Using Spanish-cedar siding, heavy stucco walls and glass, David Jameson Architect, along with its contractor, Added Dimensions (Takoma Park, Md.), created a much more spatially elegant, ultramodern home that flawlessly draws in elements of nature. Incisions were made in the floor plates to create open, multi-story areas that weave the surrounding forest backdrop into the living spaces. The contemporary, rectangular exterior, carved into a steep site, uses an L-shaped base of stucco to root the house into the sloped area. A wood-and-glass tent-like structure tops out the garage and offers a unique outdoor terrace with a hot tub and skylight.

The result is a striking, innovative dwelling that has a true connection to its environment. “More and more clients come to us asking for lots of natural light,” says Ron Southwick, project architect. “They want open spaces and want their homes to have a true connection with the landscape.”

Tips on Hiring a Contractor
Although you’ll want to check out any potential builder with the Better Business Bureau and do some research on the Internet, here are some basics to ask before you sign on. For more tips, visit www.nari.org.

How long have you been in business?
How many projects like mine have you completed in the last year?
Can I obtain references from these homeowners?
Who will work on my project—employees or subcontractors? Who will supervise it?
When can you start/finish?
What is your work schedule like? (What time do they begin and end each day?)
Lastly, ask yourself: Do I feel comfortable with this company? Do they respond promptly to inquiries? Am I being heard?

What If You Don’t Have a Lot to Spend?
Remodeling doesn’t have to blow your budget. For custom-built results at modest prices, consider these tips from J. Michael Belle, managing member at New Century Homes in Fairfax, and Andrew Moore, president of Arlington Designer Homes.

Should you consider first?
Begin by shopping smart, Belle says. “Minimize and narrow your focus. Go to a vendor’s showroom, and get the builder’s sales reps involved early on.” And note that, when comparing bids, “the lowest bidder is not always the lowest priced. Compare apples to apples. Sometimes the true value is in the service.”
Moore says to consider upgrading unused space before adding on, and to try recycling from a source like Habitat for Humanity’s Re-Store, which offers donated household items. Or check out manufacturers’ ‘remainders’—such as kitchen cabinets originally designed for another house. “It takes some flexibility,” Moore says, “but the value can be worth it.”

You can only afford one upgrade, what should it be?
“Kitchen and master bath,” Belle says. “You get almost a full return, a ‘wow’ factor in resale and the pleasure of use until you sell.”
Moore agrees that kitchens, baths and master bedrooms are generally the way to go, but says “if something sticks out like a sore thumb, consider addressing that. Or if most people see your house from the outside, maybe you should paint, buy shutters or landscape.”

Can you cut corners—and where should you not?
Belle says it’s OK to curtail finish work, “like interior finishes, trim sizes or door sizes,” but not in the kitchen or outside. “Never cut back in brick or exterior finish, exterior detail or landscaping. Always finish the exterior to make it water-tight.”

“Don’t cut back where safety or high-traffic areas are involved,” Moore says. “If you use your family room a lot, don’t get cheap carpet there, because it will need to be replaced in a year or two. Don’t save on plumbing fixtures, either. It costs a lot to have a plumber fix a leaky faucet.”

About DIY painting, wallpapering, etc.?
“If you’re good, you can finish up,” Belle says. “But I think that is risky and would not recommend it.”
“If you can apply wallpaper,” Moore says, “and not make it look like a second-grader did it, there’s no need to pay someone else. But is it worth a weekend of work for you to save $200? If so, have at it.”

(October 2008)

Garage Mahals

Posted by The Editorial Desk / Monday, December 15th, 2008

Zoom Rooms Race Into the New Frontier

By Jennifer Shapira

Courtesy Maytag

On a sparkling spring day, the businessman’s home was transformed into a showcase for two dozen Ferraris. Positioned artfully around his circular driveway and situated in just the right positions on his stamped concrete motor court, the exhibition was one of sheer horsepower.

It was the Ferrari Club’s annual get-together. As if in hushed museum corridors, the owners walked amongst their works of art, discussing their super cars at the best local garage outside NASCAR, the appropriately nicknamed Garage Mahal (a reference to the late Dale Earnhardt’s space extraordinaire).
What places this garage amongst the region’s top? The host, Peter, owns 11 cars and more than 3,000 square feet of personal play space. A self-proclaimed hobbyist since youth, it had always been his dream to have a room to restore cars—presently, he’s working on a ‘65 Mustang—as well as a place to park his vintage beauties.

There are the exotics—the Porsche, the Ferrari, the luxe Bentley and the Rolls-Royce—as well as the antiques—a 1966 mini Woody wagon and a rare 1957 BMW Isetta Microcar.
“My taste in cars is eclectic,” Peter said. “There’s no rhyme or reason.”

And, like an exhibition’s retrospective, a walk among them is a journey through time. It was during his years overseas in the service that Peter fell in love with the tiny, one-door Isetta. He and his now-grown daughter once raced Porsches at Watkins Glen in upstate New York. Today, while he still loves convertibles—he owns five—he drives sedans around town for their unbeatable practicality.

Courtesy of Maytag

The concept of his luxury garage, equal parts museum and auto body shop, was a dream that materialized over a number of years. Peter and his wife bought their sprawling lot in 1989 and began building their house, whose original, built-in, two-car garage served its purpose briefly. The two both had cars, but the first extra set of wheels called for the build outwards. As the collection grew, the attached space became an office; an extension served as a new three-car garage.

Today, an adjacent English-style motor court leads admirers to the piece de resistance: 3,100 square feet of garage perfection.

It took assistance from friends, some very specific visionaries, discussions with local architects and the exacting guidance of a team of contractors to make these digs what they are today. On one side, there’s another three-car garage, but thanks to two lifts, two more cars can be elevated overhead, essentially transforming the space into a six-car garage with a 12-foot ceiling. Framed keepsakes adorn a tiled hallway that leads to a full bathroom, complete with shower and urinal—“my wife wouldn’t let me put one in the house, so I put one in here.” One area of the garage is for storage exclusively, for “everything that makes noise and smells bad.”

Finally, everything is meticulously labeled, and tools are always returned to their correct spot in the workshop-lounge, which hosts the blue hydraulic car lift, the beams of which bolts and screws are magnetically attached for easy access. The lift rises some 6 feet, so it’s possible to stand while working beneath a car. The concrete floor is heated, so it’s also comfortable to work flat on your back.

The lift rises some 6 feet, so it’s possible to stand while working beneath a car. The concrete floor is heated, so it’s also comfortable to work flat on your back. Courtesy Premier Garage

Here, the floor slopes slightly, so when the cars are washed, water drains into the built-in trench. Peter also installed a double sink with foot pedals in the workspace to keep hands from greasing up the faucet; a motion-activated soap dispenser and automatic paper towel machine also hover close at hand. The ample cabinetry is that of Home Depot, and the mirror sports a Ferrari logo.

At the far end of the room sits a wooden bar, complete with functioning tap and several stools salvaged from a local pub. The lengthy countertops are two halves of a bowling lane, donated by a friend. Coffee table books on automotives are strewn along the counter, along with a mix of DVDs of the BBC’s fan favorite “Top Gear.” A stereo system pipes in tunes from the radio.

Couches situated in front of the big-screen LCD TV invite evening gatherings of sports, beers and cigars. Birghtly colored, round, metal posters line the perimeter above, advertising obscure British makes and classic American hot rods. Bookshelves are chockfull of guides and manuals; tomes are displayed artfully across magazine racks. MSRP window stickers hang, matted and framed for quick and easy specs-checking purposes.

Truly, this is a grown-up playground for the most passionate of car lovers.

Coutesy of Michael Rhodig/GarageMahals

High Art
That’s the idea, said Michael Rhodig. Founder of the Arizona-based Garage Mahals, Rhodig has made a career out of building extravagant, multicar garages. He made over his own garage-studio-office to showcase his black Harley, and the space now serves as the idea factory for projects all over North America.
Homeowners have been redoing kitchens and bathrooms for years, Rhodig said. Until now, though, garages have been largely ignored. “The garage is the final frontier of home improvement … It’s a showroom for your automobiles. It’s a gathering place for your friends; it’s a party room for yourself or your kids. It can even double as a home theater or a lounge area.”

Rhodig is currently at work on a three-level, 18,000-square-foot garage for a home in Canada. The job, which is likely to total $3.1 million when complete, is a family affair, according to collector Jacqueline Laniuk. Each car purchase she, her husband and two teenage sons make is a collective decision, including her husband’s series-one editions, Lamborghini and others.

Project specs include a freight elevator and a glass-enclosed shop “that looks and functions more like a hospital operating room,” according to Rhodig. The main level is slated to feature the car collection, which includes the family’s “toys” (snowmobiles and ATVs), as well as an entertainment lounge complete with full bar for cocktail parties.

Vrooms With a View
Kurt Mickelwait, Porsche owner and facilities manager at HBL of Tysons Corner, knows a thing or two about showrooms, professionally and recreationally. Of his own garage, he said, “I’ve done a lot of unique things with it. I’ve got painted floors, nice lighting, a 60-inch TV and a working shop.”

But when it comes to specialized spaces, he calls to mind that of a friend. All done in black lacquer, the garage is so slick that it’s reminiscent of an art gallery. “The cars look like they’re perfectly angled in his living room.”

Local collector, enthusiast and Porsche racer Gary Church can relate. “Car people love cars. They love to work on them, fool around and fix them.”

Church and his wife, who also races, converted their garage from a two- to a three-car space when they added a lift and raised half the ceiling. Fully heated and air-conditioned, the 25-by-25-foot area is tricked out with a workbench, cabinets from Gladiator Garageworks and a flat-screen computer monitor that doubles as a satellite TV, perfect for tuning into the Speed Channel while at work on the cars. And should Church have a specific question, all his manuals are stored on the computer, so he can easily look up the answer. “It’s a nice little space,” said Church of his home-based hobby shop and showroom. “So if my wife ever kicks me out, I’ll have a place to live.”

Tim Wallace, an Arlington-based architect and homeowner, is a self-described “car buff.” Higher ceilings and the installation of a car lift gave him more space for his ’35 Ford Slantback, a ‘38 Chevrolet Sedan and his 2003 Harley-Davidson Fat Boy. Task lighting allows him to tinker at night; black-and-gray checkerboard tiling is anti-skid and easy to clean. Though he admitted his space is unusual for Arlington, Wallace’s firm focuses on the construction of major home additions, leaving the specific outfitting tasks to garage specialty companies.

Getting Organized
And that’s where PremierGarage fits in, said Scott Ditto, owner and operator of the Sterling franchise. Upon request, a team of his consultants will visit your garage, write up a proposal and suggest fixes, from sturdy shelving to high-gloss or textured, slip-proof flooring. Storage solutions are creative, such as warehousing such seasonal items as Christmas ornaments on the ceiling, or putting in lifts to hoist bicycles up and out of the way, Ditto said.

Organization is one of the most important things to consider when it comes to the garage, said Lou Ann Schafer, marketing manager at Whirlpool’s Gladiator GarageWorks. The Michigan-based company, whose products are distributed and installed on the East Coast by Potomac Garage Solutions, offers these suggestions for a redo: Rent storage space if you have to, but get your stuff out and sort through it decide to what to keep and what to toss.

“We know that 40 percent of Americans don’t park their car in the garage,” Schafer said. “Some of that is because they’re cluttered, and some it is because they use their garage for other things like a workshop or a living space.”

Gopal Ahluwalia, vice president of research at the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), in Washington, D.C., said that, in 1993, 78 percent of homes nationwide had a garage or a carport. In 2006, 91 percent had garages, and the trend now is that they’re getting bigger. As SUVs grow, so too do garages. The average size of a two-car garage is 20 feet by 20 feet. But the NAHB estimates that by 2015, the average will become 22 by 22.

And when it comes to high-end garages, people are spending more money on building new spaces, Ahluwalia said. Whether it’s geared toward renovations or add-ons, Americans are currently spending approximately $2 billion a year for garage upgrades.

Garage envy can be grounded in as simple an appeal as the notion that everything has a place. It may be the ease with which your neighbor pulls his SUV into his multi-vehicle room, or a certain snazzy floor, LCD TV or workspace. Maybe it’s the overall ambience of a sleek showroom. It might even be the Ferrari.

For the budget-less, a Garage Mahal might be a personal reality. But for those with limited funds, spaces can still be elevated to high art—you’ll just have to admire the masterpieces from a distance.

What Made You Decide to Do the Work?
Northern Virginian Doug Strait details his revamp

What made you decide to make over your garage?
We’d been in our house for 38 years. We and our guests have used the garage as a primary entrance and exit port for our house due to the convenience of its location. We had changed the garage door, hung some of our old kitchen cabinets when we remodeled our kitchen to hide some of the junk that accumulated over the years, added insulation over the ceiling to keep the garage warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer, and replaced all the windows on the house. 

What was the process like?
The cracks that we had in our garage floor had grown from minor fissures when we moved in to much larger cracks that continued to expand, and when (Scott Ditto of Sterling-based PremierGarage) told us he wouldn’t put his finish on the floor because the floor had active cracks, I feared the gap under the garage floor could be even larger than the gap under the basement slab. I envisioned coming out to get in my car one morning and finding it in a 2-foot hole.

Did it go the way you thought it would?
Our garage was not a pretty site and certainly not the place you were proud to use as an entrance to your home. It would not be a stretch to say that we had, by far, the ugliest garage in our community.

Our original intent was to clean out the garage, throw at least half the junk away, have the floor coated with an attractive coating, patch the walls and give them a coat of paint, and replace the old kitchen cabinets with an attractive set of garage cabinets.

How did you get started?
We rented a POD and, with my son’s assistance, we put what was worth keeping in the POD while the renovation was taking place. We hauled truckloads of junk to the local landfill, hired a concrete contractor to tear out the old floor and replace it, hired a contractor to redo the walls, ceiling and paint the garage door, hired PremierGarage to coat the floor and hang garage cabinets.

Are you pleased with the outcome?
My wife jokes that she has never had to mop a garage floor before, and we tease our guests that they need to take their shoes off before they enter the garage.

I had wanted to remodel the garage for many years but the kitchen, family room, living room, foyer, dining room, roof, siding, new windows and basement remodeling were far higher on my wife’s list, so it never got done. Now we are both thrilled that we can bring our guests through the garage without apologizing for the neglect we heaped on it for those 38 years.

(August 2008)

The Green Living Room

Posted by The Editorial Desk / Friday, December 12th, 2008

Eye-catching Curb Appeal

By Jennifer Shapira

Outwardly expanding spaces encourage relaxation by weather-proofing pieces traditionally found indoors. Courtesy of Charles Luck Stone Center

Experts say there’s a developing trend in outwardly expanding living space. The comforts of home now extend to both front and backyards, in an effort to maximize and enjoy surroundings.

Northern Virginians are embracing lush landscapes, in part because outdoor living encourages togetherness and relaxation and appeals to those seeking to spend quality time with their families and friends.

The home’s exterior is now viewed as a popular space for entertaining, said Abby Buford, spokesperson at Lowe’s Home Improvement. “We’re seeing more furnished courtyards and decks instead of bare or neglected decks. And backyards that are gardens, instead of wide, open spaces.”

Outdoor living has become much more elaborate, said Lisa Ladson, project designer at EXPO Design Center in Fairfax. “With Virginia being fairly temperate, you can extend the time you spend outdoors,” she said. “When we go about designing these spaces, it’s typically based on the family’s lifestyle.”

A broad rainbow of hues can be incorporated into stonework to personalize a yard’s appearance. Courtesy of Larry Ruggeri/Petro

The pace of life today is generally a busy one, Alexandria interior designer Karen Luria said. Even when people take vacations they want to relax. And they often want to recreate that feeling at home, inside and out, with plush furnishings and eye-catching landscapes.

Front yards in particular are enjoying a renaissance, said Luria, who’s happy to report the revisit. There’s a sense of return to the community in chatting with neighbors and taking the time to breathe in fresh air. In the 1950s, she noted, “people used to take walks after dinner or have a drink on their front porches.” After all, a morning coffee or evening cocktail becomes infinitely more interesting on a hand-crafted stone or wooden bench.

Chalk it up to curb appeal, but there’s no doubt homeowners are now investing more in such features as manicured entryways, paved stepping stones and artistic brick walkways. The result? More spaces, small and large, to feel at home.

Mitch Picciano and Karen Sandburg of Oakton know a thing or two about decor. The two have always prided themselves on the interior of their 1970s contemporary home. But Sandburg always hated the drab exterior. On a trip to Venice, she was inspired to send an email to the eponymous home makeover show on HGTV.
“The good news is, they picked our house,” Sandburg said. “The bad news is, they picked our house because it was so ugly!”

Decks, which can place parameters on space, are being replaced with open eating and seating areas. Courtesy of Merrifield Garden Center

Because of her interest in mosaics, Sandburg commissioned an artist friend to cover the home’s lamppost and front steps with pieces of the hand-painted tiles. To keep the theme going, they chose durable flagstone and flecked the walkway, as well. Her neighborhood’s integrity in mind, Sandburg wanted something new and different that could also be seen from the street. “They are just little jewels! It looks so cool!” she said.

Sandburg exhibits the enthusiasm feeding the current surge in outdoors interest, said Kathleen Litchfield, president of Petro Design/Build. “Curb appeal (makes) people want to get out of their cars and into the front yard.”

When it comes to a home’s entryway, it’s not just about the traditional tall evergreens greeting you at the front door, she said. “You know them; they look like soldiers,” she observed of the trees, pointing to their branches as breeding grounds for her biggest pet peeve: spider webs. Overgrown or uncared-for shrubs can be equally burdensome, as well as dangerous. They’re an obvious hiding spot for people and bugs alike, and can automatically drop a home’s resale value. “Checking the energy and the flow into the front door, it has to be exciting. It’s not just about shade or privacy.”

Litchfield recalled one home where the client requested a patio but already had a walkway that was 50 feet long. A patio can be a front-door hub, she said, but an attractive portico can serve as a guide, offering protection from rain and other outside elements. She also recently completed the transformation of a non-functional driveway into a useable one. And Alexandria resident Omar Abdul-Baki had no idea his home’s surroundings were so rich in annuals and other mature plants and trees before Litchfield hauled 50 azaleas out of the ground, swaddled them in burlap and watered them as needed throughout the eight-week job. They were transplanted and now thrive in their new landscape.

Courtesy of Merrifield Garden Center

Patio Push
People are moving away from decks, and there is a shift now toward patios and walkways, said Steve Rosko, project sales manager at EXPO Design. “We’re seeing that decks confine space. People want to open up their whole backyard with an eating area, a sitting area,” he said, adding that patios are now spilling naturally into walkways and flower beds.

Mark Whitfield, senior product manager at Richmond-based Luck Stone Corp., said when it comes to foundations, there are loads of new colors and new finishes. He pointed to a limestone product called Scabos that is “practical and unique in its color.”

The spectrum, which used to focus on traditional browns, tans and golds, has further expanded to include charcoal gray, brick red and vibrant gold. Such bold colors provide the perfect transition from outdoors to in, serving as a few seamless steps from the patio to the sunroom.

In addition, cobblestones can create a nice effect as a patio border or an accent surrounding the landscape, Whitfield said. For do-it-yourselfers, there’s patterned flagstone. Cut on five sides, it offers the look of solid stone, but makes for an easy installation.

Slip resistance is often the finishing touch to the perfect patio built of stone or material that is durable and not likely to chip. Rubberized mulch is another alternative, said Doug Brock, manager of Betty’s Azalea Ranch in Fairfax. Made from recycled tires, it’s a good play surface for children.

Gone are the days of rigid plastic passing as patio furniture; today’s outdoor furnishings are bringing cushions and an emphasis on comfort. Courtesy of EXPO Design Center

Take A Seat
Accent benches have found their way into front yards. For a formal look, try bluestone, sandstone or limestone, Whitfield said. In the market for something more natural in appearance? Select weathered fieldstone for its patina, covered in moss or lichen. Or go one step further and choose boulder from a quarry. Stone slabs can serve as garden features that are just as eye-catching as some of summer’s brightest blooms.

But if plush seating is your fancy, you’re in luck. “Outdoor furniture now has the look of indoor furniture, but with weatherproof materials,” Buford said.

Outdoor living spaces are being finished with couches, chairs, coffee tables, dining sets and outdoor rugs. In keeping with comfy interior couches and pillows, the pieces often include details like piping, cording and fringe trim. Loveseats and sofas puffed up 4 inches thick can entice just about anyone to slink off to a garden hideaway.

From stainless steel to wrought iron or classic wicker, outdoor furnishings now exist to create any look and feel homeowners seek. According to Doug Peppler, furniture company Agio’s vice president of sales, “Five, 10, 15 years ago people bought five- or seven-piece dining sets, stuck in an umbrella, and that was it. Before that, there were $10 white resin chairs. That sufficed as patio furniture.”

From the concept of outdoor chat areas have emerged spaces of “bold, deep seating,” and “wonderfully comfortable cushions,” Peppler said. But you don’t have to break the bank to create such settings. Even today’s mass market tables and chairs consist of better materials, he said.

Thought, time and consideration are also being put into small-space pieces by the design industry. Condos with micro-balconies have different needs than mansions with several acres of estate. “We make these enormous seats with deep seating,” Peppler said, but settees and small dining sets are also important.

Designer trends are now seeing both patios and walkways spilling into and amongst flower beds and garden arrangements. Courtesy of Merrifield Garden Center

How Does Your Garden Grow?
Everyone wants four-season appeal when it comes to plants, said Robert Woodman, landscape designer at Merrifield Garden Center. While the effect can’t be achieved with one plant, the possibilities are endless with mixed planting. “I often use evergreens like supporting actors,” Woodman said. “Their job is not to be front-liners, but rather to show off their companions.

“One expression I have heard is a ‘living calendar,’ where you get excited because in the middle of February your witch hazel is getting ready to flower.”

Popular tree choices in Northern Virginia include crisp white or magenta crape myrtles for their summer flowering, bark coloration and overall shape. Virginia’s state tree, the dogwood, is a favorite for its shape, hues of soft pink and white and resistance to disease.

Experts agree that landscapes have to be low-maintenance. Even if you love plants and love to garden, it’s not realistic to put in plantings that require a team of round-the-clock workers.

And even low-maintenance greenery takes work, Brock warned. The first year for any plant, tree, shrub or lawn requires constant maintenance until it’s established, he said. There’s no way to tell if a plant is drought-tolerant until it’s experienced its first year and its first full weather cycle. Constant care is required: “People want to go on vacation and leave their plants,” Brock said, but for that first year, “it’s just like going on vacation and leaving the kid at home.”

Creating an area of seclusion with plants can be difficult, but is often what’s desired in this population-dense region. Renatta Holt, a second Merrifield Garden Center landscape designer, said if homeowners don’t have the property to screen out neighbors with plantings, they should put in something pleasant-looking. The human eye will see what it wants to, and stop there.

It’s another good argument for mixed planting. Should a storm fell a tree or a disease take its toll, it’s easy to plant something else in that spot. And from a general design point of view, Woodman said, one should think of the landscape like scribbles on a heart monitor. “In the medical world a flat line isn’t good … It’s the same in planting design.”

Recessed, low-voltage watts serve as a practical improvement to appearance when illuminating a walkway. Courtesy of Larry Ruggeri/Petro

Outdoors Aglow
Nightfall can be the best time to highlight a landscape. Spotlighting a front stoop’s container garden of culinary herbs, or illuminating a koi pond from below lets homeowners show off their favorite outdoor features. At once a gorgeous addition and conversation piece, a soothing, backlit water fountain can cast a radiant glow onto guests mingling at a cocktail party.

“Dramatic outdoor lighting can create magic when specimen plants or architectural features of the home are accented,” said McLean interior designer Barbara Hawthorn. And then there are the added benefits of safety and security.

Consider going green with solar-powered, low-voltage lights and motion sensors. Light the stone walkway to the front door, the backyard garden path, or dine under an umbrella’s solar bulbs. More playful touches that are party-perfect include tiki torches, candles and decorative strings of lights.

Lighting is aesthetically essential, Buford said. “It not only offers functionality and improves the safety of the home at night, but it can add depth and beauty to the landscape.”

Overall, the best advice experts are able to offer is to retain the home’s original environment. The style and the materials should complement the home, not contrast. If you live in woodlands, respect their integrity and consider embellishing with stones and boulders. Think about your home’s inner and outer workings. Creating an outdoor life and design is important, and the feel has to be right for you, Litchfield said. After all, it’s home.

What Made You Decide to Do the Work?
Oakton homeowner Karen Sandburg describes the process

What made you do the job?
The trees we started out with 13 years ago were not thriving. We had a front walk of pavers, and the ants had burrowed into the sand. The roots of the trees had come through, so the front walk was dangerous. We knew we had to do that.

What was your overall vision, drive and reasoning behind the project?
I wanted to have a front yard that invited me to go into the house, and I wanted to incorporate mosaics into the whole project.

Why and how did you want to take part in the process?
I’m a hands-on person. We took out all the old landscaping, and my daughter and her friends created the mosaic inserts on the walkway. We used the techniques that Bonnie Fitzgerald (of Maverick Mosaics) taught us. I’ve never seen a custom lamppost that’s been mosaic-ed!

How do you feel about the finished product?
Merrifield’s Robert Woodman listened continuously. I told him I wanted year-round color and low maintenance. I wanted plants that seemed very natural to the woodland setting, as well as having some pizzazz. We couldn’t be happier with the end result.

What suggestions do you have for others?
The design landscape doesn’t just have to be about plants. When people redo their front yard, they put in a bench, or a pot. Instead of that, we actually incorporated artwork into the landscaping. It’s another way of creating interest and distinctiveness.

Resources

Lowe’s Home Improvement www.lowes.com

EXPO Design 703-691-2433; www.expo.com

Merrifield Garden Center
Merrifield 703-560-6222; Fair Oaks 703-968-9600; Gainesville 703-368-1919; www.merrifieldgardencenter.com

Betty’s Azalea Ranch 703-830-8687; www.bettysazalearanch.com

Petro Design/Build 301-249-9000; www.petrodesignbuild.com

Luck Stone 1-800-898-LUCK; www.luckstone.com; www.charlesluck.com

Barbara Hawthorn 703-241-5588; www.barbarahawthorninteriors.com

Karen Luria Interior Identity Inc. 703-329-6262; www.interioridentity.com

Bonnie Fitzgerald Maverick Mosaics www.maverickmosaics.com

(May 2008)

What’s Cooking?

Posted by The Editorial Desk / Friday, December 12th, 2008

Recipe for a Tasteful Custom Kitchen

By Ashley Nichols

Granite countertops, strategic lighting and hardwood floors are three popular components to today’s most contemporary, yet still comforting, kitchens. Courtesy of Andrew Clements

Even the best home chefs can get a little heated when it comes to the layout of their kitchens. Oftentimes, the ingredients and appliances needed to create a meal are worlds apart. And a lack of counter space can limit one’s efficiency when trying to feed a large family. Why couldn’t the builder or previous owner of your home have designed the space where you spend hours slaving over a hot stove in a way that works for you? The answer, of course, just may be bringing in an expert to help you customize your kitchen. While it’s a pricey investment, the kitchen is one of the smartest rooms in a house to renovate. Before the recent drop in the housing market, most kitchen remodels were bringing in 125 percent returns.

We’ve sought out some local kitchen installation firms and spoken with their designers to find out which ingredients combine well to create a great custom kitchen. Read on to find out what aesthetically appealing elements can help you cut down on your prep time.

Integrating appliances to look like cabinetry is one approach homeowners are taking to create a streamlined space. Courtesy of Maytag

One Set Custom Cabinets
Are you the type who haphazardly piles pots and pan in the cabinet, twisting them until the handles no longer block the door? Chances are glass-front cabinetry is not for you. And that’s not really an issue, since most of today’s clients lean towards traditional over contemporary. Karen Barnette, of Harvey’s Kitchens and Baths in Sterling, says most Northern Virginians want a French country look and notes that clients looking for a modern approach are mostly from the Reston area.

There are many options in cabinetry today, with wood with raised paneling as the most popular choice. Two important things to keep in mind when making selections are to opt for something you’ll be happy to look at on a daily basis (nothing too dramatic or flashy) and to devote consideration to where you want extra tall and deep shelving. A professional can help you determine where everything should go so your design is built for your inventory of products—a welcome change from resigning yourself to a space that doesn’t work with what you’ve got.

Bob Clements, of Bath and Kitchen Creations, also in Sterling, says that at the core, what his clients are looking to do is create more storage. He says that on occasion, this means giving up storage elsewhere. In a recent project, the homeowners were set on adding an island, but their floor plan didn’t allow for one. Clement’s team ended up knocking out two pantries and a coat closet to give them what they wanted.

Barnette says one of the trends she’s seen growing in popularity is the idea of totally integrating appliances to look like cabinetry. “It could be a trash compactor or a dishwasher. You really don’t know what’s underneath,” she explains. Hiding everything can create a seamless look and appeals to the traditionalist who likes a cohesive feel.

While selecting cabinetry and hardware can be fun, it can also be daunting. A plethora of choices awaits you, and once you’ve picked a wood you’ll have to pick a finish. It may be tempting to remain indecisive until you feel like you’ve seen everything, but a good designer will recommend a handful of options that fit your taste. Choosing one of them will save you the time of exploring all of the options. It’s a little like picking out a wedding dress: You should stop when you really like one.

A variety of shading in finishes wards off the threat of monotony in one of the home’s most-used rooms.

A Few Slices of Stone Countertop
Unless you’ve been in hiding, you’re probably aware that granite countertops are the hot topic right now in kitchen remodeling. Clements says that about 80 percent of the 20 to 25 kitchens his firm completes each year use granite. “We do very little these days with solid surfaces. It’s turned completely into natural stone or quartz,” he says.

Like cabinetry, the choices in stone countertops may sometimes seem limitless. And clients are eager to select something that has a little wow factor, says Barnette. “They want the more exotic granites. They’re looking for something that’s different and not like their neighbors’,” she says. Barnette recently renovated her own kitchen and used a dark granite for her countertops. Working in the industry, she knew when she saw something unique. “I used honed granite to create a soft look on the perimeter and a breathtaking, textured granite countertop on the island,” she says.

Clement says that, whereas in years past countertop color has been about using off-whites, creams and other light tones, today’s kitchens bring in rich, dark colors. Stone allows you to choose something that occurs naturally, rather than the more forced color schemes in Corian. Swirls of dark blacks and browns can create an intense and custom look.

A Heaping Serving of Fine Flooring
Say goodbye to linoleum if you want your kitchen to look updated and contemporary. Though a bit pricier, clients are opting for real tile (try heated tile for those chilly winter mornings) or hardwood flooring. Both up the ante in creating a luxurious look for a space that has always been part utilitarian and part personally comforting. Be sure when you make selections to ask about finishes that keep what’s underfoot from staining. A good firm will keep you realistic and guide you to choices that work well in a kitchen that sees lots of traffic and the spills that come with it.

Warming drawer / Courtesy of Maytag

A Delivery Truck-Full of Modern Appliances
Unless you’ve got a cool, retro oven that really works, you’ll want to order a new set of appliances that coordinate well and serve your cooking needs. “You can tell if they cook by the type of range they get,” Barnette says. The cook top area is a new topic of focus these days. “Before it was the sink area,” Barnette says. “Now it’s a cook top with a nice backsplash.” She notes that detailed hoods are one of the main ways to personalize a kitchen.

In terms of ovens, Clements says he typically uses Jenn-Air and sometimes Sub-Zero/Wolf, and both Clements and Barnette recommend KitchenAid. Barnette personally uses a refrigerator with a pull-out freezer drawer at the bottom. She says it makes sense in terms of using space.

Today’s appliances come in a standard variety of finishes, but stainless steel is the most popular. “It’s really hot here,” Barnette says. “And they’re expanding on that idea. Now they’re using it everywhere throughout the house.”

Courtesy of Maytag

In addition, cooks who want a customized space may opt for refrigerated vegetable drawers in their islands or heating drawers for their bread. When it comes to placement of these smaller, specialty appliances, as well as larger ones, make sure you do many walk-throughs with your designer to create a space that will function well for you. Think about where you’ll have your bowls and silverware in relation to your refrigerator to see if preparing a bowl of cereal is going to be a relay around the kitchen or a more stationary event. Do the same with your spice cabinet, the countertop space where you’ll prepare your food, your pots and pans, and your cook top and range. Try different combinations until it feels like it fits your style.

Add Accessories to Taste
When you think about what you want your kitchen to look like, you probably imagine some of the larger details (previously mentioned ingredients) and not as much about the smaller ones. But for a really custom look, it’s all about the details. Try envisioning a backsplash that will evoke a calming mood, like aqua glass tile. Is this something you’d prefer over painted Italian tiles? And which grout color will you be able to keep clean and look at years later and appreciate?

Take the time to consider your family’s needs. Will children need a space to do their homework at a counter on the island? If so, maybe it should be a height they can reach on a short bar stool instead of a taller one. Is there a space that’s easy to hide a coffee maker so that it’s not continually on the countertop but always easily accessible for that morning cup of joe?

Courtesy of Andrew Clements

Envisioning these types of scenarios can help you achieve what you really want: a truly custom kitchen where you are happy to spend time. Maybe you already have artwork that you want on the walls. If so, be sure to leave adequate space and to paint the walls in a color that will complement your pieces. Write yourself a checklist of all the things you really want to have, then work with your designer to see how they can be done. And don’t be surprised if your designer comes up with some stellar ideas that rival your own. It’s totally OK to change your mind. Otherwise, why did you hire someone in the first place?

Prep and Cook Time
Depending on how available the products you select for your own kitchen are, a remodel with a local design firm will typically take two to three months. You’ll first meet with a designer who will generate plans and have you sign a contract. A few weeks will be spent ordering the cabinetry, floors, countertops and other major elements. You’ll make a few trips to a firm’s showroom to make selections and decide on all of the details. From there, it will take a few weeks for pieces to arrive to the company.

Once enough elements have arrived so that the remodel can begin, a crew will start the installation. Prepare for noisy workers. Walls don’t just knock down themselves. You’ll need to ask about how long you’ll be without use of some of your appliances, but never fear—when it’s all over and done with, chances are you won’t be eating fast food very often. You’ll see a team of carpenters, electricians and the like for a few weeks or even a month or two, depending on how much it takes to make your dream kitchen a reality. Be patient. It’s worth the wait. And your designer should be able to estimate a timeframe for you that’s pretty close to accurate so you’re not in the dark, waiting for the new chandelier to turn on. This recipe might call for simmering, but a tasty space is in your future.

Serve & Enjoy
When your kitchen is complete, you’ll be elated. Plan on preparing a favorite recipe the first night you are able to get in there and use it. Invite a few people over for a kitchen warming party to celebrate. You’ll be an even better hostess than before now that everything’s exactly as you want it.

(April 2008)

Spring Style Source

Posted by The Editorial Desk / Friday, December 12th, 2008

These days, it doesn’t matter if you lean toward shabby chic or city sleek—or both. Satisfy all your decor dispositions without looking overdone. Fuse your fashion tastes without squandering your savings. Why hold back? Spring forward!

Fusion, Fabric, Flair and Frill

By Ashley Nichols / Portrait Photography by Hana Jung

What if we told you that you don’t have to choose between your passion for Guatemalan prints and French fabrics? What if you discovered a place for both your Antony Todd coffee table AND your Victorian chandelier? In this fabulous age of daring decor, it’s true … you really can have it all.

Fusion Design Combines the Best of Both Worlds
Most homeowners find themselves intimidated when they hear the expression “fusion design.” Maybe the word “fusion” conjures memories of junior high science lessons. Or maybe it’s a fear of not knowing how to balance anything outside of traditional decor. Combining decorative pieces pulled from different parts of the globe is a delicate art form, but the outcome can be absolutely spectacular. We turned to local designers who know their stuff when it comes to using fusion in design to see what tips they have to offer. Read on to see how they achieve great looks, and learn how you too can transform a drab space into an eclectic convergence. It’s not as difficult as it seems. And we promise—no protons. Once you let go of your fears, you just might be in for a cultural awakening.

Maureen McGough

Southwestern Contemporary
Maureen McGough of Maureen McGough Interior Design recently completed her vacation home in Scottsdale, Ariz. She couldn’t resist incorporating some subtle southwestern and American Indian details into her contemporary two-bedroom, two-bath house. McGough selected most of the furniture from Kravet’s contemporary collection, created with clean lines and soothing hues. In contrast, she incorporated pops of rust, turquoise and gold in pillows and other accent pieces. On her sectional sofa, she used pillows with Navajo-type beading and leather fringe, as well as rust-colored pillows with silver studs. In addition, she brought in a coffee table from French company Art Concept Design. The table is metal and has etchings of arrows and curvy lines that remind her of cave drawings.

The breakfast area also combines contemporary and southwestern styles by pairing a pedestal table and rustic chairs with a Navajo rug. McGough carefully selected her pieces to create a space that has southwestern inspirations but could just as easily be found in Northern Virginia. As advice to those wishing to use fusion in their design, she says to “let your environment be your inspiration, and always try to do something different.”

Carolin Schebish of Design Exchange Inc.

Asian American
Perhaps the most recognizable and popular fusion design today is found in rooms that include Chinese- and Japanese-inspired pieces. “Influence from the Orient is everywhere these days,” says Carolin Schebish of Design Exchange Inc. in Fairfax. She credits the trend to the serenity Asian design invokes. “Rooms also become less cluttered when we infuse this type of design.” People want to come home from their hectic days at work to more calming environments.

For one client, Schebish helped incorporate an obi (Japanese sash worn with a kimono) into a contemporary American room by having it stitched so that it hung evenly (and safely) over a rustic wooden rod above the fireplace. The walls of this family room were painted a Chinese red with a gold over-layer. These accents were grounded with contemporary furniture by Baker with soft, comfortable upholstery. A custom area rug with a minimal pattern and a black and gold table with curvy legs also proved to pair well; a Buddha statue served to complete the look.

For Schebish, fusing an American look with Oriental accents requires a fine balance. One of her favorite looks is a table with just two unevenly shaped planks that join together to make a Japanese-style table.

Smart Travel
How to Purchase Souvenirs with Design Savvy

By Cathy Cruise / Photography by Jonathan Timmes

McLean native Vern Yip of HGTV fame suggests making these considerations when fusing multi-cultural influences in the home: stature, passion and color scheme.

Planning an exotic summer trip? If you’re like most people, you’ll lug home an assortment of beloved souvenirs. Like that Chilean mask gazing down on the Grecian urn resting on the Guatemalan tapestry…

Hmm. Perhaps a few photos would suffice?

Don’t sweat it. It’s not hard to merge eclectic elements into stylish presentations. Designer Vern Yip of Trading Spaces fame (now on HGTV’s “Deserving Design” and “Design Star”) says successful fusion decor begins with preplanning.

When traveling, “keep basic color cues in mind,” Yip recommends. “The more disparate the elements in your room, the more you have to find a common thread, like color, pattern, sheen. I love finding things in white or neutral that will work with my color palette.”

And, he urges, think big. “People buy small items because they don’t want to carry large ones home. But little things never make a statement, and end up being just a bunch of things on your table.” Instead, the former McLean resident advised, purchase one larger, meaningful piece, and have it shipped.

Buying things designed for the tourist industry is another mistake to avoid. “Too many people shop at the airport,” he says. “Buy something that showcases the artisans of a region—silver work or embroidery, wood carvings, whatever. You may not make that journey again, so buy something great.”

Most importantly, choose with passion. “Only bring home things you absolutely love. There should be a story behind any memento.”

Rebecca Hubler of Designed Interiors

Euro Eclectic
For Rebecca Hubler of Designed Interiors in Annandale, a client’s taste is the most important element in the process. Most of her designs are what she considers eclectic and incorporate items that are significant to her clients. Whether that means a particular piece of furniture or a child’s craft project, she finds a way to create a room where the client’s favorite finds are at home.

Many European designs on the market are statement pieces. A white plaster bust of an Italian artist or a handheld Spanish fan can find its way into the mix and bring in European appeal when paired with a contemporary American look. As long as you follow the basic rules of design—a substantial piece here to balance out a lighter look there and a good room flow—the actual style or medium (antique wood, glass, brass) doesn’t matter in an eclectic room, Hubler says. What matters is how much you like each piece. And if you’re inspired by the new wave of European designs, there’s no harm adding them to the mix.

Turkish Hungarian
Last summer, Janet Browne of Janet Brown Interiors in Richmond traveled to Budapest and fell in love (with their designs, of course). She toured palaces where she saw gorgeous turquoise tile work. What took her breath away was the intensity of the tone. She had always thought of turquoise as an accent color, but in this case it worked as the primary color, with red as an accent.

The combination has been a hit in the design market. Ann Sacks completed a collection of tiles for Kohler based on it. Called Iznik after the Turkish town where they originated in the 16th century, they are hand-painted in rich colors and create a dramatic backsplash or bathroom wall when laid.

For a Hungarian fusion, these colors alone can inspire a room. Balance their richness with more neutral pieces of furniture, then add in accent pieces that repeat the turquoise and red, such as pretty pillows with intricate beading or Hungarian artwork.

June Shea of Shea Studio

African Western
When Springfield designer June Shea of Shea Studio Interiors worked with a gentleman client from Mongolia, the two strove to bring elements of his heritage into his new western abode. For his fireplace, they painted images of traditional African tools, utensils and musical instruments onto the surrounding tiles. In his kitchen, they did the same for his backsplash with an image of a cooking vessel. For his powder room, which would be seen by several of his international business guests when he entertained, they combined a traditional wallpaper and border with a cheetah print ceiling, a wrought iron sink base resembling a tree, and locally bought African-inspired artifacts. “I try to use an eclectic mix in everything,” Shea says. “In this case, fusion was about including things that were personal to my client.”

Shea also works for clients who travel frequently and come home with objects of inspiration. In both types of cases, she aims to balance homeowners’ interests and create a signature look. For Shea, fusion is a way to make design personal for a client. Setting something striking against traditional decor allows the conversation element, say a cheetah ceiling, to stand out.

Be Smart About Art
Investing in art can be a daunting experience. Will you still like it in 10 years? How should it be framed? Before you dip into your savings, keep a few of these tidbits from designer Carolin Schebish in mind.

It isn’t always art that’s pricey. Sometimes framing can run a pretty penny. Never buy a cheap piece of art just to make it look better with an expensive frame.

Try seeking out local art. Look for originals or limited editions.

Don’t buy inexpensive reproductions of famous paintings. Everyone knows they’re not originals.

At the end of the day, it really comes down to whether you love something. Don’t buy it if you can’t say that you absolutely do. If you really love it now, then you’ll still love it when you’ve had it for 20 years.

Another good idea is to shop around on www.etsy.com. Several new artists and craftsters sell their wares through stores on the sites, and some offer very unique pieces for fair prices.

Invest in one good piece that you really like, then hang other accessories to complement it. Try Oriental screens or antique plates that add character to the wall without breaking the bank.

Defining Decor
Understanding a New Era of Design

Just what does “modern fusion” mean anyway? What, exactly, qualifies a room as “contemporary”? Before you call the interior design help line, improve your vogue vocab with our nifty glossary.

Modern
Think modern and contemporary are synonymous? Think again. Modern is for those who like bare, striking decor, like stark white walls with industrial ceilings and minimalist furniture. Peggy Golden of Golden Interiors in Fairfax Station says polished, stainless steel furniture made of unexpected materials like Lucite is common in modern decor, and recommends it for commercial over residential spaces. Modern design is often found in New York, whereas Northern Virginians tend to soften it by mixing hues of softer white with ivory throws, or using tone-on-tone fabrics.

Traditional
Susan Ashley Donelson of Cleveland Hall Design in Alexandria says her clients want “elegant but not stuffy.” They continue to use Oriental rugs and wood-framed furniture with detailed legs, antique casegoods and reproductions, but with more functional updates. Furniture is slightly distressed, not “antiqued,” a quality that is more forgiving to scratches. Upholstery fabrics like chenille and ultrasuede are more resistant to spills. Floors are protected with custom sisal or seagrass rugs and carpeting. The lines are soft, but the feel is not old-English stiff.

Contemporary
As builders construct larger and larger homes, a need for designs that look good in oversize rooms is rising. Golden notes that a contemporary look offers clean lines and comfortable seating. Technological advancements like flat-screen plasma televisions call for sectionals and sofas with low arms that allow for relaxed reclining. In the kitchen, granite countertops and stainless steel rule the roost. On walls, contemporary designs lean toward faux finishes.

Art Deco-Inspired
Art deco, which has origins in France, often uses clean, architectural lines and repeat geometric shapes in fabric. Characteristically, the look calls for accents like sunbursts and dramatic use of glass. Kathy Alexander of Alexander Interiors in McLean says the look is now done with a more limited palette. Very popular today are mirrored pieces of furniture, which work best with blacks and neutrals. Alexander advises clients not to overdo it. “Oftentimes people will just keep buying more stuff to try to achieve a look,” she says. “I go in and have to remove almost 50 percent of the accessories.”

Get That Look
Dabble in Design with a Few DIY Tips
Don’t let the thought of redecorating send you weeping into your faded drapes. Consider a few pro tips for do-it-yourself tricks.

Modernize
Whether you want to go a little more modern in your design, or you just love white, be sure to pick a shade that will be pleasing, not harsh, to the eye. One trick Peggy Golden preaches is trying to aim for a peachy-pink white. People tend to look good against it, and you want to feel like you look good in your own home.

Customize
For a cohesive feel in a large contemporary home with hardwood floors, have custom area rugs made. Repeating the same medium, like seagrass or sisal, with a thick border can give your home a styled appeal and create a flow from one room to the next.

Downsize
Take the size of your room into consideration, and never shop without a measuring tape. Kathy Alexander says that she often sees clients who have fallen in love with a sofa that is simply too large for their living room. Likewise, for a house with high ceilings and large windows, have curtains made to completely cover the frames.