Glenstone

Most of the suburbs outside of the DC Beltway are so aesthetically numbing, one indistinguishable community after another, that you can forget how soul-less and unimaginative the architecture is. That is, until you happen upon Glenstone, a private residence and museum settled in the lush rolling hills of Potomac.

Glenstone is the lovingly curated collection of Mitchell Rales, a stunning combination of modern architecture, landscape design and art. The collection is accessible by appointment only.  It is without a doubt one of the most special places in DC.

Hot Days, Cool Floor

When the thermostat on my car read 108 degrees last week, I did what any self-respecting interior designer would do. I ripped out the carpets on the 3rd floor of my house and replaced them with wood flooring. This little job (under $5,000) completely transformed the interior of our home, making it feel bigger, cleaner, and brighter...all while adding value.

I managed to keep the expense in line by shopping extensively for the right material. From big box stores to independent flooring retailers, from solid wood to laminate, I looked at everything. In the end, I chose a pre-finished engineered floor--Impressions Salem 3" Red Oak Natural, and the total materials cost was just over $2,000 for 600 square feet.

The heat is still breaking records, but our floors are cool.

Empty Nesters Cocktail Lounge

This sophisticated living room belongs to one of my favorite clients. With 2 children heading toward college, this couple wanted to create a room for adult conversation and parties. Their house is a fixture on the local entertaining scene, and they have a great gift for hospitality.

The chairs are from Ethan Allen, covered in a mink-colored soft short-nap chenille. The rug was in place before we started, so we played off the deep red and blue with accessories and artwork. The round drum coffee table is one of my favorites from Crate & Barrel.

We found the architectural lamps at a Georgetown boutique, added the bamboo display platter to reinforce the subtle Asian feel of the console table, painted over the bright yellow walls with a Benjamin Moore taupe, installed recessed lighting, and the room was finished.

A quick and simple overhaul that sets the tone for a more modern interior.

From Humble Closet to Master Dressing Room

I think the clients would agree that this closet was begging for a re-do. Insufficient storage, unorganized and dreary--what a place to get dressed in the morning! The main problem was an antiquated pull-down ladder contraption installed years ago by the builder to access the attic. A good thought, but the ladder unfolded as it descended like a Cirque du Soleil acrobat, requiring a tremendous amount of air and floor space.


Since the clients rarely accessed the attic, we tore out the ladder, made the size of the attic access smaller, and re-gained the much-needed space to install wardrobe organizers. The rest was easy and relatively inexpensive: laminate "wood" flooring went in quickly and easily, IKEA provided the wardrobes and lighting, and a simple shag rug softens the modern edges. Accessories including a full-length mirror, artwork and a leather stool complete the look. 

A Living Room to Live In

Why do builders build living rooms? Is it just a space to balance the dining room across the hall? Before we started, this living room was a graveyard for mismatched furniture. Now it's a sophisticated room that serves 2 purposes: a game room for parents + 2 children to play Scrabble or work on a puzzle together; and an elegant lounge for adult cocktails after the little ones are tucked in for the night.