The Move to Georgetown

During the spring of 2010 I decided to pack up and move my career from the McLean
suburbs to Washington, DC . It has been two busy years since I have posted, and I have much to share.

First, I am just thrilled to share that I am working for Barnes Vanze Architects,Inc. Be sure to visit our website to see the many wonderful projects.

Our office is conveniently located in Georgetown just walking distance to a variety of resourceful shops. To name just a few of my favorites:



Waterworks



Ann Sacks

W.T. Weaver & Sons

Now that I have filled you in on where I am working, I can get ready to share what I have been working on.

Zen, Cowboy, and Napa

I had the opportunity to work with a spectacular design team on this residence in Bethesda, and I hope to visit it soon for more pictures!  Team members included lead architect Joany Janicki of Custom Design Concepts, designer Colleen Brand who now currently resides in San Francisco, and Sandy Spring Builders.  My main focus was millwork and interior architecture- always a favorite of mine!

Are you wondering why Zen, Cowboy, and Napa are in the title of the post?  They are some key words the client and designer often referred too.

Here are just a few images snapped during move in!

A custom table at the end of the island

Look at the copper detailing on the prefab fireplace!

Soft curve drywall edges and caramel colored wood accents

Custom Library including uplighting.  This is His Office, but you should see her office ceiling details and her cowboy inspired chair thanks to Colleen Brand (hoping to take some pictures soon)

a glimpse of the Exterior- in the works.

and the Sport Court

credits:

all images compliments of MBK and Associates Photography

A Winter Cottage

All of this beutiful snow made me think about a nice winter cottage to escape to.  Someplace cozy and warm during these cold winter days.  Although this CDC project is a guest cottage in the rear of a Bethesda residence, it would be my pefect getaway. I believe this cottage was orignially a storage shed, but look how it transitioned into the perfect backyard retreat.

I love the simplicity of the landscape.

The colors of the interior are warm and inviting.

We added a new herringbone pattern floor and restained the orignal wood beams and ceiling.

Just enough space.

All photography by Kenneth Wyner

A Victorian Renovation

I am really excited to be working with Superior Home Services on the renovation of a Victorian Home located on Capitol Hill, Washington, DC.  The house was built in the 1800s and it does not have luxurious spacious bathrooms.  The client, who is an avid collector of Victorian antiques, has decided to convert a bedroom into two bathrooms.  Since this project is in design development, I would like to share some of the exciting concept ideas and also some of the very unique accessories the client would like to incorporate into the design.

Master Bath Vanity,  Urban Archaeology, Victorian Washstand

I love the simplicity and elegance.  It's going to look perfect in the room with polished nickel fixtures and Carrera marble. We are going to use a verde tile on the floor with accents of Carrera marble and a rose clored stone throughout.

The client loves floral and intricate boarder tiles, such as this one from Urban Archaelogy called Acanthus Scroll Border.

I can't wait to see the finished product which will include wall paper from Bradbury & Bradbury such as this Victorian style in Burgandy

Here is an image from the clients own collection.  The mirror will be placed over the bathroom vanity.

Be sure to check back and see the progress.

It's The New Year!

1.  Replace a single flush toilet with a new dual flush.  Here is one that I have had my eye on.

It is the Kohler Persuade, Two-Piece Elongated Toilet

2.  Update a room with a splash of color, replace older accent pillows with new patterns and colors.  Use no VOCs, and organic fabrics.
3.  Take an older used piece of furniture and give it a facelift- recycle, reuse.  I found two great tables on a street corner.  Stay tuned for my DIY project in the near future.
4.  Replace cleaning products with healthier and more natural versions. We added these great products to our Laundry Room at the CharityWorks Greenhouse.

Mrs. Meyers Clean Day

5.  Add dimers, keep them low, and replace bulbs with CFLs where ever possible.

These are just a couple of simple projects for the New Year that can help you create a healthier, green environment and also provide an updated look. When I participated on The ChairtyWorks Greenhouse, I learned how easy it is to live a more green lifestyle and I hope to take steps in the future to also educate my clients on how easy it can be.

Every Monday I will be featuring a post on modern architecture and design on 2modern's Design Blog.  Be sure to visit this weeks post for another great list for the New Year.

Updating A Chair

It is amazing how you can transform a piece of furniture. It just takes some creativity, time, and money... and the perfect piece!

Here are some images of furniture that were re-upholstered to give them an updated look.

before

after

Adding unique striped fabrics (about 6 different styles)

before

after, the chair is in the distance

before

after

Adding leather piping, and a fun geometric fabric gave this traditional style chair a hipper makeover.

All professional photography (after images) by

 Kenneth Wyner Photography

Product Spotlight: Made to Order

Have you ever had the opportunity to design a custom rug?  A few years ago a client asked that I assist in selecting a rug that was fitting for his unusually shaped dining room. It was the perfect opportunity to explore patterns and color. This rug had to be fitting to the Mediterranean Style of the residence and also appeal to the client.  We looked for architectural inspiration from the window and muntin patterns, iron accents, and the colors of the stucco and tile roof.

notice the pattern of the decorative windows

photography by Anice Hoachlander

View of the Exterior

photography by Anice Hoachlander

We first discussed the patterns, and then we selected each individual color for the rug pattern.  There are various shades of red, greens, yellows and tans in addition to both cut and loop textures. The colors will vary depending on the cut and loop texture.

This is a copy of the rendering as produced by the artist of
Stark Carpet in The Washington DC Design Center.

Look at the amazing attention to detail!

image provided by Stark Carpet

I love how the colors and pattern work so nicely together.  The diagram to the left of the rug layout represents the color range as represented in the rendering. Once approved,  the drawing, color selections, and a full size template for the room were sent off to production with a 6 month lead time.

This is an image of the final product.  This is a 100% wool pile, hand tufted, cut and loop textured rug,

Made to Order.

Well worth the time and effort

Turning Point

As a project architect, one of your responsibilities is to develop the construction drawings for a residence and assist the builder with any issues that may develop during the construction phase of the project.  I spent the earlier years of my career as a project architect who also detailed the architecture of the interiors.  I had the opportunity to develop the drawings for this residence designed by Mark Sullenberger, president of CDC, and also detail the interior millwork and built ins.  It was a ton of work, and after spending  time meeting with the client, developing the CDs, and also designing the architecture of the interiors I reallized that I had to focus my energy just on interior architecture. After all, it can take months to develop these drawings and months more to develop the interiors.


It was sort of a Turning Point in my career.  I set aside the large scale construction drawings and proceeded to expand the interiors department.  Although I often step back into the world of technical drawings and residential design, my main focus is interior architecture and design.

Here's to the Turning Point  and here are just a few samples of the project that led to the switch.
All photography by Apertures Inc.

Overlooking the golf course

The Main Entry

The fully paneled Library and custom desinged Mud Room

Magazines

It is often very helpful to share magazine images with clients in order to discuss styles that may appeal to them.  Unfortunately our magazine sources are slowly becoming obsolete.  Just a few of the magazines that have recently closed their doors are:

Southern Accents
Domino
Cottage Living
Western Interiors & Design has merged into Luxe Interiors + Design

and to my surprise....
Washington Spaces

I am a huge fan of Washington Spaces.  I read their magazine from cover to cover and read their blog weekly.  Plus, I often attend their events. It was so nice to have the opportunity to meet with other local designers and suppliers and join in on celebrations.

What is the future for Design Magazines?

Some of the former Domino employees have grouped together to create a new online magazine called
Lonny Magazine
Is this the wave of the future?  I enjoy the site, but find that I still enjoy browsing and physically holding a magazine.

The Washington Spaces Holiday Party and also 2009 Best of Kitchens Spaces celebration has been canceled.  I was looking forward to the event and also catching up with everyone.  These are just a few images of our winning entry.  To view more visit: Washington Spaces.

2009 Best of Kitchens, Oustanding

Credits:

Kitchen Design:  Amy Collins, Amy Collins, LLC

Builder:  Sandy Spring Builders

Photography:  Kenneth Wyner Photography

LongView

Designed by Custom Design Concepts and recently featured in Washington Spaces, is a residence worth seeing.  I was honored to be a member of the design team involved on this project and my main focus was Interior Millwork.  As you will see, there is much to enjoy!

Here are just a few images of the extensive details!
all photography by Kenneth Wyner Photography

The Main Entry

Mark Sullenberger, architect and president of CDC,

Project Architect Joan Janicki and Architect Richard Radcliffe were members of the design team

The Porte Cochere

Through out the Foyer and many of the other rooms

you will find elaborate paneling and wood accents

The Family Room has an intricate wood beamed ceiling and

paneled walls that encase the entertainment system

I love the herringbone patterned floor!

I worked closely with Joan Janicki to detail the structure of the iron grate floor and metal columns

detail of the Library bookcase and window seat

View to the Conservatory

Since many of the rooms are continuously paneled, I thought it would be nice to incorporate fabric into the panel of the Dining Room.  The ceiling has a soft plaster cove with some subtle uplighting.

One of my favorite rooms to detail- The Bowling Alley.

I just love how comfortable, warm and retro it is.

Be sure to visit Washington Spaces, An Enchanting Estate

Furniture Design- Go Custom!

Not only do I love interior architecture, but I also like to promote designing a special furniture piece for your home.  Something that is unique and also a conversational piece.  I often like to design these pieces while working on the millwork of a project, during the preliminary design phase, but you can also add select pieces to your home at a later date. 

Here are just a few of our special custom furniture pieces.

Computer Desk

Console Table and Art Ledge

Coffee table, with mosaic stone and glass inlay

This Custom Vanity includes repurposed iron.

I worked closley on this with Barry Remley of 
Salvations Architectural Furnishings

photography credits:

Images 1, 2, 3, Kenneth Wyner

Image 4, Joshua Curry

Image 5, Bob Narod