Inside a Roxboro Home with European Style and Flood Mitigation

Jill Elkins and her husband, Jerry, in Leesburg, decided to construct an in-law suite addition to their existing 6,513-square-foot home during the pandemic when Jerry's mother, Patsy Pfeifer, moved in with them. The goal was to provide Pfeifer with a private living area while ensuring she remained connected to the family. This addition, managed by Aaron McCleary of CaseCo Homes, transformed their "cookie-cutter Stanley Martin home" located in a golf course development. The 1,900-square-foot addition connects to the main residence through an outdoor, covered colonnade, which itself is a sophisticated entertaining space. McCleary emphasizes the high quality of this outdoor area, detailing its features including space heaters, ceiling heaters, a grand fireplace, and a gabled ceiling with stained tongue-and-groove paneling. The pool and patio utilize mosaic tile designed to resemble stone. Additionally, a large TV is installed above an outdoor fireplace, and retractable screens, which disappear into a beam, were custom-made, making it an ideal setting for outdoor entertaining. A full outdoor kitchen further enhances the functionality of this area. Inside the in-law suite, Sallie Lord of GreyHunt Interiors was tasked with designing a space that harmonized with the existing home's interior while catering to everyone's preferences, particularly Pfeifer's. Lord, known for her expertise in high-contrast schemes, opted for a softer approach in this project. She focused on integrating natural wood stains with creamy decor and finishes to create a warm and inviting atmosphere. The design aimed to establish a juxtaposition between off-whites and rich wood tones, employing various textures and grays to achieve a cohesive and cozy feel throughout the space, ensuring continuity between the new addition and the original home. The design process involved collaborative decision-making among the homeowners, Pfeifer, and Lord. Elkins acknowledged that reaching a middle ground could be challenging at times, but Lord's logical approach facilitated common decisions. Both Elkins and her husband expressed great satisfaction with the outdoor area, particularly enjoying the heated space and the pool. Pfeifer also shared her contentment, stating that the new space feels like home, offering the perfect balance of privacy and proximity to her family. The project was featured in the February issue of Northern Virginia Magazine. #HomeDesign #InLawSuite #OutdoorLiving #LeesburgRealEstate #CustomHome #InteriorDesign #ResidentialArchitecture #FamilyLiving

This article highlights the comprehensive renovation of a three-story Dupont Circle rowhouse, transformed into an “indestructible” yet sophisticated living space by designer Kerra Michele Huerta of Kerra Michele Interiors. The project aimed to create a home that could withstand the active lifestyle of a family with two hockey-playing sons and four rescue dogs, while also providing an elegant environment for entertaining. The renovation encompassed the entire first floor, including two entryways, a powder room, dining room, living room, and kitchen, in addition to the upstairs hallway, master bedroom, and one of the children's rooms. This extensive project, valued at approximately half a million dollars, addressed the challenge of designing a space that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing for a busy family. Key to the renovation was adapting the narrow footprint of the historic rowhouse to accommodate modern living. In the kitchen, Huerta strategically relocated the refrigerator to the opposite side of the room from the partition wall, which now features open shelving, creating an illusion of greater space. She also incorporated clever storage solutions, such as banquette benches in the dining nook with drawers for dog food containers. To enhance visual height, cabinets and tiles were extended all the way to the ceiling. The living room was designed with durability in mind; instead of a single coffee table that might be damaged by the children, two movable cocktail tables were introduced. The Room & Board sectional was upholstered in a resilient, stain-resistant fabric, and the rug comprised Flor tiles, allowing for individual removal and washing. One of the primary challenges was ensuring that all elements of the design were highly durable, capable of resisting the wear and tear from energetic boys and multiple dogs, while still maintaining a sophisticated appearance. Huerta's favorite aspect of the project was the custom kitchen backsplash, which featured a unique shade of light gray tile from Waterworks, specifically created for the project and named “Kerra gray.” The installation of the backsplash involved careful, piece-by-piece arrangement by Huerta and her junior designer to achieve a balanced, non-repeating pattern. Other thoughtful details included styling built-ins with the family's existing accessories and travel souvenirs, and incorporating a magnetic board in the kitchen for organizing school announcements and paperwork. The home also features specific design choices reflecting the family's interests and needs. A cheetah painting in the powder room inspired other feline-themed decor throughout the house, including cat-printed drapes in the master bedroom. For the upstairs hallway, washable Flor tiles were used to create a practical runner. One of the sons received a “big boy” bedroom redesign to suit his transition into middle school with a more mature aesthetic. The master bedroom also received a sophisticated update. The overall design demonstrates a successful integration of robust functionality with refined style, addressing the unique demands of a vibrant household. #HomeRenovation #InteriorDesign #FamilyFriendlyDesign #HistoricRowhouse #DurableDesign #KitchenDesign #LivingRoomDesign #CustomInteriors #SpaceUtilization

This article features Mountain Brook resident and California native, Amy Johnson, who discusses how she collaborated with Cross Building Company to transform her home into a reflection of her personal style and life. She highlights several key areas of her house, detailing the design choices and inspirations behind each space. Johnson begins by describing the master bathroom, emphasizing its connection to the outdoors. Firerock from the pool deck and patio was extended into the bathroom to create a unified indoor-outdoor feel. A nano wall that fully opens is a favorite feature, designed to blur the lines between the interior and exterior. The bathroom also incorporates a Mirror-tique distressed mirror with a diamond pattern and Calacatta Gold marble. The article then moves to the front of the house, where Johnson explains that the neighborhood's spacious lots and mature trees were a significant draw. To capitalize on the views and bring more of the outdoors in, the original front doors were replaced with iron and glass doors. This choice also introduces an industrial contrast to the home's traditional style. The doors were designed by Kate Hartman and fabricated by Iron Horse Metalworks, with installation by Cross Building Co. The foyer features a large distressed mirror from Mirror-tique, artwork by Emily Debuys, and a paneled screen passed down from her husband's parents. Next, Johnson discusses a hidden wet bar in the den. This feature, which was present when they purchased the house, appears as a closet when closed. Opening it reveals a lit space, including a discreet liquor cabinet. Recent additions include wallpaper and glass shelves to enhance the brightness, contrast, and visual interest of the area. The black and white powder room, completed by the previous owner, features Schumacher's Queen of Spain wallpaper. A framed vintage picture of Mick Jagger, left by the former owner, complements the wallpaper. Johnson has added her own collection of vintage Hollywood pictures, including one of the Chateau Marmont, holding sentimental value from her wedding night. For her four children, ranging from 3 to 10 years old, an attic space was converted into a playroom by adding a dormer. This shared space accommodates various activities, with a chalkboard wall and a pull-down projector screen being particular favorites. A unique Dutch door with a shelf was installed, painted in an accent color, allowing for supervision while containing children and pets, and also serving as a "storefront" for their imaginative play. Regarding the boys' bathroom, a leak prompted a full remodel. Given her husband's height and the likelihood of their sons growing tall, a bathtub was replaced with a floor-to-ceiling shower for more space. A linen closet was converted into flush-to-the-wall drawers for improved functionality and organization, and a double trough sink countertop was installed. Finally, Johnson addresses the dining room and her general approach to furniture. With four young children, she and her husband have prioritized the home's structure over extensive furniture investment, opting to use existing pieces. The dining room was painted a darker shade for coziness, and the original parquet floors were left bare to be showcased. #HomeDesign #InteriorStyle #IndoorOutdoorLiving #HomeRenovation #FamilyHome #CustomDesign #MasterBathroom #Playroom

This article highlights the extensive renovation of an E. B. Green-designed home in Buffalo's Delaware District, owned by Frank and Leah Ewing. The Renaissance-style house, built in 1920, blends historical grandeur with modern aesthetics, achieving a unique balance between classic charm and contemporary living. The Ewings, who stumbled upon the property through an online listing, recognized its potential and embarked on a comprehensive overhaul in collaboration with West End Interiors. The renovation began with a planned attic refresh but quickly expanded into a near-complete home transformation, lasting approximately 10 to 11 months. Raelynn Capozzi, principal designer and owner of West End Interiors, spearheaded the project, focusing on creating a cohesive and personalized living space. A key starting point for the attic's design was a whimsical Schumacher wallpaper, which dictated the color palette for the wainscoting and the selection of custom fabrics for pillows, establishing a fairytale-like atmosphere. The attic features exposed brick and vault ceilings in the guest bedrooms, harmonized with soft textures and thoughtful accents. Sun-drenched reading nooks, complemented by traditional wall sconces, add to the cozy yet elegant ambiance. A central goal of the renovation was to restore traditional features that had been lost over time while incorporating the Ewings' personal style. This involved replacing all interior doors with new red oak doors fitted with crystal knobs, mirroring the original study doors on the first floor. These small yet significant details were carefully chosen to maintain the historical integrity of the 6,575-square-foot house. The mudroom, located off the side entry, exemplifies this approach with its warm, inviting design, penny tile, and wainscoting that celebrate the home's history while ensuring functionality. Lighting played a crucial role in the design, with a unique array of fixtures chosen for each room, particularly in high-traffic areas like foyers and staircases, to create a sense of cohesion and specialness. A notable example is the luxe crystal ball chandelier in the eldest daughter's bedroom, meticulously installed by Raelynn and her associate designer, Ed. The home's furnishings were also carefully curated by West End Interiors, combining existing pieces acquired from the previous owners with new selections. The Ewings further personalized their home with an extensive art collection, featuring works by local artists such as Monica Angle, Sarah Myers, Erin Long, and Catherine Parker. One particular piece by Sarah Myers holds sentimental value, having been passed down from Leah's aunt. The Ewings expressed deep satisfaction with the outcome, noting that the house felt like home immediately. The renovation successfully honored the architectural legacy of E. B. Green while imbuing the residence with modern comfort and a distinctive character, reflecting the owners' personalities and cherished art collection. This collaborative effort transformed a grand historical property into a vibrant, personalized family home, where history and whimsy coexist in perfect harmony. #HomeRenovation #InteriorDesign #EBGreenArchitecture #HistoricalHomes #WestEndInteriors #LuxuryLiving #BuffaloHomes #ArtCollection #ArchitecturalPreservation

A Falls Church family embarked on a comprehensive gut remodel between 2022 and 2023, converting their 1950s-era, 1,522-square-foot, three-bedroom rambler into a 3,052-square-foot, five-bedroom, two-story residence. The motivation for this extensive renovation was the need for expanded living space and increased storage to accommodate their growing children, coupled with their strong attachment to their existing neighborhood. Batu Homes + Remodeling, a design-build firm, was responsible for the architectural planning, while Juli Brocato, founder and principal designer of Brocato Design + Co., oversaw the interior design aspects, including material and finish selections, custom feature designs, and ultimately, the furnishing of the home. The homeowner's primary objective was a cohesive and functional living space for the entire family, characterized by a unique style and personality. The remodel included replacing the original single bathroom with multiple en suite bathrooms. The rear of the house was reconfigured to prioritize a large kitchen, pantry, and mudroom, with the dining and family rooms designed to be open to the kitchen, fulfilling the family's desire for an expansive kitchen and pantry area suitable for communal cooking and ample storage. The design incorporated a quiet autumnal color palette, featuring greens and warm wood tones, with a specific midcentury-modern aesthetic in mind. In the kitchen, the design team opted for clean-lined inset cabinetry in green, complemented by a contrasting black-and-white tiled wall. A custom white oak island, providing significant storage, was paired with white oak herringbone flooring. The island's textured granite countertop contrasts with the quartzite used for the peripheral countertops. To soften the rectilinear nature of the kitchen, Brocato incorporated curved plush counter stools and repeated arched motifs in the backsplash tiles. This arch motif is consistently applied throughout the home, appearing in four custom-designed bookcases in the adjacent family room and in other furnishings. Wallpaper is utilized extensively, with a watercolor-style covering on the upper landing and a moody botanical pattern adorning the ceiling of the wife's home office, adding a feminine touch that balances the more masculine lines of the midcentury-modern furniture. Each space was tailored to the family's specific needs, exemplified by the mudroom's individualized cabinets and baskets for each family member, including their dog, alongside a command center for organization. The family room's custom bookcases include lower storage for games, crafts, and puzzles, and a durable concrete dining table was chosen for its suitability for children's projects, reflecting a preference for practical, unfussy elements. Most furniture pieces are low-profile and clean-lined, upholstered in performance fabrics such as boucle and plush velvets. Tan leather, seen in the dining room chairs and a family room ottoman, also features prominently. A custom-designed fireplace wall and hearth, with a gas fireplace and a chunky white oak mantle, anchors the family room. Area rugs and light fixtures are strategically used to define distinct zones within the open floor plan. The color scheme leans into shades of green, with metallic accents like brassy gold and wrought iron, and varying wood tones contributing to the overall aesthetic. The front staircase wall showcases slatted wood, adding texture and warmth while ingeniously concealing a shoe storage drawer, highlighting the blend of function and design. This slatted wood motif extends to the main bedroom's tray ceiling and even appears in the bathroom, where a faux tile mimics a wooden look within the shower and on the vanity wall. A variegated tile wall behind the floating bathtub incorporates the favored green hues, and polished brass fittings enhance the home's restrained luxurious feel. The homeowner expressed satisfaction with the house's stylish yet functional design, crediting the builder for the floor plan optimization and the designer for injecting the midcentury-modern flair into the fixtures, furnishings, and décor. This transformation effectively met the family's evolving needs while maintaining a desired aesthetic. #HomeRemodel #FallsChurchHome #MidcenturyModern #InteriorDesign #FamilyHome #CustomCabinetry #KitchenDesign #FunctionalDesign #ArchitecturalRenovation