The dank and magical house where Colin McCahon lived

This blog post highlights a custom-built home located at 8522 Lewinsville Rd. in McLean, Virginia, offering a detailed look into its features and amenities. Situated on just over a half-acre, the property provides both convenience and a private setting. The house, constructed in 2008, spans 6,840 square feet across three levels and includes six bedrooms and five bathrooms. The interior design emphasizes luxury and attention to detail, evident from the moment one steps inside. The main level and all bedrooms are adorned with cherry hardwood floors, providing a cohesive and elegant aesthetic throughout. The formal dining room showcases intricate three-piece crown molding and detailed woodwork, adding a touch of classic sophistication. The kitchen is designed for both functionality and style, featuring dual sinks, stainless steel appliances, and granite countertops. It seamlessly opens into a family room, which is equipped with a gas fireplace, creating a warm and inviting space for gatherings. The family room also offers direct access to a den, providing additional versatile living space. The primary bedroom is a significant highlight, characterized by its tray ceilings and recessed lighting, which enhance the room's spaciousness and ambiance. This master suite further boasts two walk-in closets, offering ample storage and organizational solutions for personal belongings, making daily routines more streamlined. The en-suite bathroom complements the primary bedroom with a walk-in shower, providing a modern and accessible bathing option, alongside a bathtub for those who prefer a relaxing soak after a long day. Outdoor living is equally prioritized in this property. A flagstone patio extends from the house, presenting an ideal setting for outdoor dining and entertaining. The expansive half-acre backyard offers considerable space for various outdoor activities, gardening, or simply enjoying the natural surroundings. The lower level of the home has been recently updated with luxury vinyl plank flooring and includes an additional bedroom, along with significant storage areas, increasing the overall utility and liveability of the residence. For those interested in this property, additional photographs and contact information for Jack Wang at RLAH Properties are available online. This custom-built home represents a blend of refined interior design, practical living spaces, and a desirable location. #McLeanRealEstate #CustomBuiltHome #LuxuryLiving #NorthernVirginiaHomes #RealEstateMarket #HomeForSale #InteriorDesign #OutdoorLiving

This article details the design and functionality of the mudroom in the McGee home, highlighting its importance as a high-traffic entry point through the garage, especially given the family's move to Utah where practical storage for winter gear is essential. The design incorporates custom elements to maximize utility and aesthetic appeal. A key feature of the mudroom is its cabinetry, which includes tall lockers custom-built by Killowen Construction for each family member. These lockers are designed with vents to ensure breathability, a practical solution for shoes and other items. The cabinetry is finished in Benjamin Moore's 'Midnight' color, providing a rich, dark contrast to the lighter elements prevalent in the adjacent kitchen. Hardware from Armac Martin adds a cohesive touch, mirroring selections made in the kitchen to maintain a consistent design flow throughout the connected spaces. The walls and ceilings of the mudroom feature vertical shiplap by Metrie, which extends the aesthetic used in other areas of the house like the dining room, office, and master bedroom. This choice creates a unified look and adds textural interest. Large windows positioned above the sink allow ample natural light into the space and offer views of the backyard, serving a dual purpose by enabling the homeowner to monitor children playing outdoors while performing tasks like washing produce or arranging flowers. The paint used for the walls and ceilings is 'Swiss Coffee' by Benjamin Moore, diluted to 75% for a softer effect. Countertops are a focal point, featuring SoapStone from Bedrosians, chosen for its distinctive veining and texture that adds depth to the room. An industrial-sized stainless steel sink from Kohler, paired with a pull-down faucet with a magnetic clip, underscores the room's utilitarian nature. The high-arch and industrial spring design of the faucet are specifically selected for heavy-duty washing and scrubbing tasks. Lighting in the mudroom integrates silver and brass pendants from McGee & Co., chosen to blend with the varied finishes throughout the home and contribute to the overall design narrative. For flooring, cement tiles laid in a hexagon pattern from Avente Tile introduce an additional dimension and a robust, easy-to-maintain surface suitable for a mudroom environment. Special design details elevate the mudroom beyond mere functionality. A custom dutch door allows for natural ventilation and adds architectural character. Decorative elements include collected wicker bottles and an art piece, both sourced from McGee & Co.'s vintage collection, along with practical items like pots and a watering can. A bench from the Threshold collection with Target provides seating, while custom-built shelves offer additional storage. This multi-purpose design ensures the mudroom is not only beautiful but also highly efficient in managing daily family activities, from handling outdoor gear to engaging in gardening tasks. #HomeDesign #Mudroom #InteriorDesign #Cabinetry #Shiplap #SoapStoneCountertops #KohlerSink #ArmacMartinHardware #HexagonTile #CustomDutchDoor

The Designer Show House, a biennial event sponsored by the Village Improvement Association in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, showcases diverse interior and exterior design inspirations across its 6,000 square feet of space and nearly an acre of outdoor areas. This event serves as a platform for regional designers to present their expertise and offers visitors a wealth of ideas for their own homes. One featured space is a sunken living room, designed by Kate FitzGerald-Wilks of Timeless Design in Landenberg, Pennsylvania. This room embodies a West Indies aesthetic, characterized by bold lines, soft sandy hues, and rich textures. Key elements include vintage stick bamboo chairs painted black, adorned with Kuba cloth and Ralph Lauren zebra-stripe pillows on a slipcovered camel-backed sofa. A mid-century hutch is repurposed as a cocktail bar, complemented by sculptural metal and glass console tables flanking the fireplace. Wood mirrors with faux tortoise shell lean against textured wallpaper, while modern sculptures and art blend with antique books and global treasures. FitzGerald-Wilks also designed the dining room, aiming for a dramatic effect with a backdrop of 200 wine bottles and a striking Dolcetti chandelier crafted from shells and crystals, evoking sea glass. An 8-foot-long reclaimed wine rack sits atop a buffet. The room's color palette consists of soft creams and tans, punctuated by emerald green accents in the chandelier and wine bottles. Windows are framed with woven ikat print panels. An airy sunroom, conceived by Alfred Wolf Home (a new venture from Design Center of Rehoboth or DCOR), was designed to create a light-filled, contemporary transition between the house and garden. This involved removing existing French doors and window grills, painting the room in various shades of white and French gray-green, and incorporating textural elements of white canvas, iron, and marble. The family room, also by DCOR, maintained the warmth of its original paneling and fireplace stone, setting the foundation for a soft khaki and cream palette. The room is furnished with herringbone, tweed, and leather fabrics, offset by tortoise shell wood finishes and local tidal scene artwork. Mary Stewart of M. Stewart Interiors in Bear designed the upstairs hobby room, named "Just Us," intended as a shared family space for various pastimes like painting, photography, reading, chess, and Lego building. The room features updated cherished family heirlooms and is painted simply white to highlight paintings by Nadia Zychal. Nile Johnson of Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, designed the second-floor paneled library, drawing inspiration from Rehoboth's laid-back yet cosmopolitan atmosphere. This space offers an updated interpretation of a classic library, decorated in layers of sandy tans. Cyndi and Ron Oronzio and Cathie Sheetz of Dreamweaver Interiors of Rehoboth Beach decorated a bedroom and bath, inspired by vibrantly patterned fabrics. They utilized Robert Allen fabrics as wallpaper for an accent wall, building the room's design around this print. The team selected fabrics for their depth, crisp patterns, contrasting textures, and detailed embroidery, incorporating a bright coral pink accent color and rhinestone embellishments for a feminine touch. Brenda Carder of blcINTERIORS of Rehoboth Beach designed a small guest bedroom, combining natural cotton and linen fabrics with metal and reclaimed wood. Crown moldings add formality. To compensate for limited sunlight, the room was kept light and bright, with a deep navy blue accent wall and touches of bright yellow for warmth. The second floor features art by Libby Zando of Zando Designs and Art Affects in Milton, alongside works by award-winning regional artists. Boardwalk Builders of Rehoboth transformed a hallway into a gallery space by adding wainscot paneling, creating an updated cottage aesthetic that visually broadened the hallway. Mark A. Polo of The Urban Dweller in Boonton, New Jersey, designed the master suite, aiming for comfort with soft textural colors ranging from taupe to blue. The furniture is upholstered to enhance the room's softness, featuring taupe draperies of embroidered sheer linen and silk edged in leather and freshwater pearls. Blonde floors are softened by a long-fiber rug. Outdoors, Erin Walls and Justin Bartels of Bella Terra Landscaping in Lincoln repurposed existing flagstone patios and walkways, adding new stones to create a Celtic-inspired design. The layout divides the space into a grand area for social gatherings and secluded nooks for quiet retreats. Creative Concepts Furniture of Lewes and Ocean View furnished the patios as outdoor rooms with bright coastal colors, including a sectional, loveseat, dining area for six, and lounge chairs, inviting visitors to envision themselves in the setting. #DesignerShowHouse #InteriorDesign #HomeDecor #RehobothBeach #DelawareDesign #LuxuryInteriors #OutdoorLiving #DesignInspiration

Sallie Middleton Parker reminisces about her childhood summers at 'The Cove,' the whimsical Chunns Cove retreat built by her grand-uncle, architect Douglas Ellington. This home, described as both a fairytale cottage and an arts-and-crafts dream, was a hub of sparkling conversation and creativity, often hosting notable figures of twentieth-century Asheville. Its distinctive features include brick and field-stone chimneys, a central tower, hand-split wood shingles on a hip roof, Roycroft-red casement windows, and a rounded front door. The cottage's aesthetic is one of magic, with ivy climbing its walls giving it a hobbit-like appearance. Douglas Ellington, renowned for designing iconic Asheville buildings like City Hall, First Baptist Church, and Asheville High, conceived 'The Cove' as a more intimate and imaginative expression of his architectural ideals. He and his brother, Kenneth, settled in Asheville after Ellington’s success in the city’s booming years. The property, purchased by Kenneth, included a 19th-century log cabin that Douglas preserved and expanded upon. The interior features unique elements such as a living room resembling a ship's bow with hidden details, and an exterior adorned with medieval-inspired figures and a stained-glass door quoting Shakespeare. Local artists, many of whom worked on Ellington’s larger projects, contributed intricate wrought-iron hardware, chandeliers, and sconces to the home. Ellington was known for his hands-on approach and commitment to specific vision, often joining his construction crews. Ellington also embraced recycling, incorporating materials from demolished downtown structures, such as marble from City Hall, tiles from the S&W; cafeteria, and bricks from a pharmacy, into the mosaic of the living room floor. Stone from local fields and chestnut wood from the cove were also integral to the four-year construction. 'The Cove' was more than just an architectural marvel; it was a vibrant social and intellectual gathering place. Asheville’s artists and intelligentsia, including Thomas Wolfe, were frequent guests. The interior design fostered a bohemian elegance with local artisan furniture and a warm, inviting atmosphere. The home was a nurturing environment for learning, creativity, and imagination. Middleton Parker recounts tales of a 'witch’s rock,' a 'red fairy' leaving leaves on pillows, and 'fairy trees' showering children with toys, alongside Kenneth’s fantastical bedtime stories. Children often put on puppet shows, with Wolfe occasionally in attendance. The tradition of fresh flowers in the house continues to this day. Sallie Ellington Middleton, Kenneth's daughter and Middleton Parker's mother, found inspiration for her career as a watercolor artist and illustrator in the home and its natural surroundings. Her intimate knowledge of Chunns Cove's woods is reflected in her detailed renderings of local flora and fauna, published in 'The Magical Realm of Sallie Middleton.' Despite Douglas Ellington’s short time in Asheville before the Depression necessitated his move to Maryland, 'The Cove' has remained a cherished family gathering place. It has hosted various events, from Preservation Society meetings to family celebrations. Recently, the home has been selectively opened to the public for weddings and events, with a strong emphasis on sustainability. The caretaker’s cottage has been converted into lodging, featuring Ellington Middleton’s art and Ellington’s signature Art Deco feather motif. The house is regarded by many, including the Preservation Society of Asheville and Buncombe County, as truly magical, seamlessly blending into its landscape with timeless charm. The article concludes by highlighting Douglas Ellington's significant impact on Asheville's architectural landscape during its boomtown era. His distinctive Art Deco designs, beginning with the First Baptist Church commission, rapidly shaped the city’s skyline. A list of his notable works in Asheville, including the Merrimon Avenue Fire Station, Lewis Memorial Park Office, Asheville City Building, Asheville High School, Historic S & W Building, Biltmore Hospital Extension, and his own house, is provided for those wishing to experience his enduring legacy firsthand. #FairytaleCottage #DouglasEllington #AshevilleArchitecture #ChunnsCove #ArtDecoDesign #HistoricHome #ArchitecturalLegacy #ArtsAndCrafts #HomeDesign