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Below you will see the winning projects, determined by independent judges, of the biennial Annapolis Home Builder and Fine Design Awards. Read on and discover the exceptional design and custom building talent in the greater Annapolis area.
INTERIOR DESIGN, COMMERCIAL PROJECT
interiorconceptsinc.com
Organic High Style
The design aesthetic of Beachtree’s shared spaces matches the appeal of the modern amenities they provide—from the cozy pub to the Wi-Fi lounge. Best described as organic high style, the interior design presents a tasteful blend of minimalism (think clean lines) with warm, relaxing touches. The casual-contemporary look features textured wood finishes and a palette of soft greys, rich caramels, and subtle blues. The varying textural quality and color contrasts of the fabrics keep the design current and fresh. Overall, the welcoming, relaxing design perfectly suits this Southern Maryland community, known for a quality of life characterized by unsurpassed beauty and amenities.
Prince Frederick Apartments, LLC | BUILDER: Harkins Builders, Inc., harkinsbuilders.com | ARCHITECT: Henneman + Associates, hennemanarchitects.com | PHOTOGRAPHY: Geoffrey Hodgon
INTERIOR DESIGN
Project Manager: Katalin Farnady | farnadyinteriors.com
White on White
The owners took a bold and elegant design step when choosing to go with a single color scheme throughout their home: white. As the foundation of an interior, all white can be easy to design, appear fresh, and make a positive impression no matter what. But to make an all-white home warm and inviting often requires a combination of added textures. It worked well here, as the designer paid close attention to details, both architecturally and decoratively. Playing with various sizes, shapes, and textures and working with different materials and finishes gave each room a unique look. Ultimately, plenty of added interest made this all-white interior one-of-a-kind.
ARICHITECT: Canterbury Homes | BUILDER: Prestige Homes | HARDWARE: Walterworks Hardware, walterworkshardware.com | STONE: In Home Stone, inhomestone.com | LIGHTING: Niermann Weeks, niermannweeks.com | PHOTOGRAPHY: Jennifer Hughes
KITCHEN DESIGN
Project Manager: Mark T. White, CMKBD | kitchenencounters.biz
A Manor Classic
This kitchen is a dream come true for anyone who loves to cook and entertain. It starts with great architectural design. A simple-looking yet complex arrangement maximizes functionality. From luxury cabinetry to skilled carpentry, beautiful finishes complete the package.
The kitchen contains several standout features. There’s the custom metal hood over the pro-style range centered on the ceiling beams. The island contains a grey stain finish with an artistic yet weathered and worn effect. Two integrated dishwashers blend seamlessly with the cabinet fronts. A built-in microwave drawer is conveniently positioned on the end of the island across from the tall, integrated refrigerator. The back of the island features comfortable seating and extra cabinets below for seasonal storage. A beautiful extra thick marble top and apron front “Farm Sink” complete the centerpiece of this kitchen. And although the main kitchen has everything a seasoned chef would want, an additional prep and storage area is found just steps away from the main kitchen. The hardly-visible “back kitchen” features a “French door” oven, convection microwave, nine drawers (one of them a warming drawer), and more. From its awe-inspiring features to its tasteful and intricate details, this kitchen presents a feast for the senses.
ARCHITECT: Cathy Purple Cherry, AIA, LEED AP and Doug Kuchta, Purple Cherry Architects, purplecherry.com | INTERIOR DESIGN: Arlene Critzos and Joyce Pearl, Interior Concepts, Inc., interiorconceptsinc.com | PLUMBING: Ferguson, ferguson.com | HARDWARE: WalterWorks Hardware, walterworkshardware.com | APPLIANCES: ADU – Your Appliance Source, adu.com | STONE & TILE: In Home Stone, inhomestone.com
ARCHITECTURAL REMODEL
Project Manager: Devin Kimmel | kimmelstudio.com
Tudor Renovaton
Dating back to 1928, this Tudor-style home by architect Lawrence Hall Fowler is nestled on four and a half semi‐forested acres in Baltimore County, Maryland. In renovating the traditional home, the owners sought to add light, make it less formal, and create a closer connection to its lush gardens. In doing so, the kitchen—originally cut off from the main living area—became a bright, central space. Raising the ceiling in the master bedroom allowed for an extra window that now floods the room with light. Other adjustments to the floor plan have opened the house to the light-filled gardens in multiple ways. A new veranda on the garden side of the house invites family dining and entertaining. Where a former carriage house once existed, a new one now connects to the main house via a glass-and-stone hyphen, whose central feature is a large fireplace. Windows and iron French doors make up two of the hyphen’s walls. The windows afford panoramic views of the gardens; the French doors open to an inviting covered porch with reclaimed timber framing and bluestone floors.
CONTRACTOR: Horizon Builders, horizonbuilderinc.net | INTERIOR DESIGN: Mona Hajj Interiors, monahajj.com
ARCHITECTURAL REMODEL & CUSTOM HOME REMODEL
Project Managers: Janet Bloomberg, KUBE Architecture, kube-arch.com; Mark Smith, ThinkMakeBuild, thinkmakebuild.com
AUTO-Haus
By fully renovating a one-story garage located in a historic Washington, D.C. alley and adding an entirely new story to it, the clients gained both a living space and a showcase-worthy place to work on and display their car collection. Two facades were created for this house: The garage façade sits at the alley’s edge, and the house façade frames the living area and staircase. Light floods the two-story open living space, thanks to large skylights and a glass wall that creates a seamless indoor-outdoor connection between the garage and the living space. The kitchen opens to the living and dining areas. The basement, excavated as part of the renovation, provides storage for the house as well as the garage. The second-floor loft serves as a library and opens onto a rear outdoor deck. Special touches include heated floors and a lift-up access door that allows large car parts to be brought directly in and out of the garage. In a nod to preservation, the original steel I-beams that once supported the roof now support the second floor. Corten steel on the façade blends in with the industry alley environment.
STEEL FABRICATOR: Metal Specialties, metalspecialties.biz
ARCHITECTURAL REMODEL
Project Manager: Greg Wiedemann | wiedemannarchitects.com
Mid-Century Modern
Located on a peninsula of land facing the Tred Avon River, this mid-century home was in severe disrepair and destined to be demolished. In choosing to salvage the home, the client’s goal was to create a home that met the needs of a 21st-century family, was more energy-efficient, and took full advantage of its site. At the same time, they were eager to preserve its architectural character, such as its iconic roof geometry, exposed timber beams, and large expanses of glass that address views of the low-lying landscape of the Eastern Shore.
The renovation restored the scale and open planning of the main living area as well as its intimate connection to the river. The kitchen was expanded, and the west end of the home converted to a private master suite, maintaining the exposed ceiling beams and clerestory windows and panels. Reconstruction of existing secondary bedroom built-ins maintained their original character. Exterior restoration included a new roof and glazing panels and reconstruction of the carport. By converting an attached storage room to a pool house, they made way for a new outdoor in-ground pool.
GENERAL CONTRACTOR: Steve Cahall, Blue Point Construction | STRUCTURAL ENGINEER: Structron Engineering | INTERIOR DESIGN: Shaun Jackson Inc., shaunjacksoninc.com | PHOTOGRAPHY: Anice Hoachlander, Hoachlander Davis Photography
ARCHITECTURE, OUTBUILDING
Project Manager: Greg Wiedemann | wiedemannarchitects.com
Kennel Barn
A brand-new barn on a 100-acre farm in St. Michaels is now home to six pampered dogs, including a “best of breed” winner at Westminster, a wooden boat, and a custom pool table. Ancillary spaces allow for the preparation of meals, a break room for staff, and a small office.
Resembling an Eastern Shore horse barn, the kennel was designed with six identical “stalls,” one for each dog. Each stall has a Dutch door leading to an exterior wash area and a fenced exercise area. The entire interior was crafted from natural finished fir, with a durable polished concrete floor. A central ridge skylight in the main space of the kennel barn floods the interior with natural light. The exterior features materials traditional to Maryland’s Eastern Shore: standing seam metal roof, tongue and groove siding, and a concrete block base. A large barn door allows for easy access to the kennel area. The barn’s stepped section accommodates the boat and pool table.
GENERAL CONTRACTOR: Steve Cahall, Blue Point Construction | STRUCTURAL ENGINEER: Structron Engineering | CIVIL ENGINEER: Lane Engineering, leinc.com | INTERIOR DESIGN: Shaun Jackson Inc., shaunjacksoninc.com | PHOTOGRAPHY: Alan Russ & Anice Hoachlander, Hoachlander Davis Photography
CUSTOM HOME BUILDING & CONTEMPORARY ARCHITECTURE
Project Managers: David Carlisle, Bayview Builders, bayviewbuildersmd.com; Marta Hansen, Hansen Architects, hansenarchitects.net
Spa Creek
Creativity and finesse made it possible for this 70s-era rancher to be transformed into a modern vernacular farmhouse. The home’s original level and foundation provided the base of the renovation; two new stories were added over a refurbished lower level that connected to an existing garage. In the interior, the renovation’s open floor plan—including a seamlessly blended kitchen, dining, and family area—create the home’s focal point. The home’s modern appeal comes not just from the layout but also from the details befitting its contemporary design, like the rift sawn white oak veneer cabinetry with matching stained ceiling paneling, Q-Stone countertops, modern appliances, and simple trim. The main living space opens to a screen porch with a gas fireplace that overlooks the creek, easily viewed from multiple decks.
INTERIOR DESIGN: Kerry Hoffman, Johker Design, johkerdesign.houzz.com | KITCHEN & BATH DESIGN: Kitchen Concepts Plus, kitchenconceptsplus.com | LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE: Heike Nolker, ASLA, Landscape Architect, heikenolker.com | LANDSCAPE INSTALLATION: Environmental Landcare, LLC, envland.com | PHOTOGRAPHY: David Burroughs
CUSTOM HOME BUILDING
Project Manager: David Attenberger | pyramid-builders.com
Green Spring Valley
Nestled on several wooded acres is a respite designed to welcome guests alongside a pavilion dedicated to health and wellness. An airy guesthouse serves as a light-filled getaway, and a gorgeous gym, spa, and pool are perfectly positioned to provide gathering places where guests can take in valley views. A serpentine stone staircase provides easy access leading from the terrace that surrounds the upper gym roof down to the edge of the pool below. A green roof constructed over the garage creates an elevated, walkable green space and serves to tie the multiple elevations of the property together.
The interior of the home boasts beautiful antique white oak timber elements and extensive millwork. Specialty finishes include faux limestone, Venetian plaster, and a lighted onyx accent wall in the massage room adjacent to a barber room. Thoroughly modern updates include a fully customized home automation and control system and professional home theater. This epicenter of health, wellness, and hospitality creates the perfect bucolic retreat.
ARCHITECT: Ike Kligerman Barkley, ikekligermanbarkley.com | INTERIOR DESIGN: Patrick Sutton, patricksutton.com | STRUCTURAL ENGINEER: MCC 1200 Architectural Engineers, 1200ae.com | LIGHTING DESIGN: WALD Studio, wald-studio.com | IRON TRUSS ROOF, WALNUT FRIEZE PANELS, AND SOFFITS IN GYM: Gutierrez Studios, gutierrezstudios.com | VENETIAN PLASTER & SPECIALTY FINISHES: Kelly Walker, ArtStar Baltimore, artstarcustompaintworks.com | KITCHEN CABINETS & BUILT-INS: Gaston & Wyatt, gastonwyatt.com | HOME AUTOMATION CONTROLS, SECURITY, AND HOME THEATER: Electronic Home Environments, ehenvironments.com | PHOTOGRAPHY: Richard Powers
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
Project Manager: Bob Hruby | campionhruby.com
Battery Kemble Overlook
An overgrown lot overlooking Battery Kemble Park was once home to a crumbling 1970s contemporary house. In addition to constructing a new modern home, the architects’ thoughtful attention to landscape design sought to embrace the view of the wooded park below while maintaining privacy. A steep pre-existing slope covered in invasive species was redesigned with four levels of terracing, creating direct links to each floor of the house. New native plantings connect the gardens to the natural landscape of the park in the distance below. Slightly detached from the house, the pool overlooks the park. A masonry wall at the pool’s north end provides screening from the neighbors, hides pool equipment, and serves as a backdrop for an intimate sitting area with a fire pit.
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
Project Manager: Jordan Loch Crabtree | lochcollective.com
North Point
Jordan Loch is known for his minimalistic design of spaces set into carefully crafted natural landscapes. For this project—a 3,700 square foot single-family residence situated on a waterfront lot in Easton, Maryland—he and his team designed views to encourage contemplation, preservation, and wonder.
ARCHITECT: Martins Grehl Architects, martinsgrehl.com | CONTRACTOR: Solidago Landscapes | PHOTOGRAPHY: Mason Summers
DESIGN EXCELLENCE: Residential Architecture
Project Managers: Jay Schwarz & Scarlett Breeding | absarchitects.com
BROADWATER COTTAGE
The couple who owns this classic reinterpretation of a 1940s Chesapeake cottage on the Magothy River drew inspiration for the details of its design from their memories of summers on the water—right down to an outdoor shower, oyster shell/gravel driveway, and the big front porch. Boasting a blend of shingle and craftsman style with large bracketed overhangs, the 50’ by 50’ home has seven bedrooms, six baths, and—best of all—a screened-in back porch the depth of a living room. Interior glass pocket doors slide back to merge the waterfront porch and the great room. To encourage connections with nature all year round, the landscape architect repaired the existing pool and designed a hot tub, fire pit, and water feature with serene sounds. Creative routing of roof gutters diverts storm runoff into underground containment basins, and four geothermal wells positioned underneath the driveway make the cottage energy-efficient. Simple grasses, perennials, and native plantings wrap sinuously around the home and its true “cottage garden,” adjacent to the back porch and gravel drive.
CUSTOM BUILDER: Wood Visions Construction, wood-visions.com | CIVIL ENGINEER: Drum Loyka & Associates, LLC, drumloyka.com | LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT: Campion Hruby Landscape Architects, campionhruby.com | PHOTOGRAPHY: David Burroughs
Architect: GriD Architects | Builder: ThinkMakeBuild
DESIGN EXCELLENCE: Waterfront Architecture & EXCELLENCE IN CUSTOM BUILDING
Project Managers: Alick Dearie & Brian Grieb, GriD Architects, gridarchitects.com; Jack Wintz, ThinkMakeBuild, thinkmakebuild.com
Spa Creek House
Fronting Spa Creek in Annapolis, this house strikes the perfect balance between minimalist and cozy. Harmoniously bound to the natural world, it nevertheless stands out as a modernist gem on the Annapolis waterfront. Formally abstract, modestly scaled, and simply clad to resonate with the local maritime culture, this modern waterfront escape allows the owners to have access to their pier, enjoy water views both indoors and out, and maximize the usage of space in the modestly sized home. Two large banks of windows at the back of the house ensure that the outdoors can be welcomed in every season. Indoors, white walls and light wood floors make this home an airy escape. Soft furnishings and organic design elements—including plant accents and reclaimed wood—tether the modern design of the home to its waterfront locale.
CIVIL ENGINEER: Bay Engineering, bayengineering.com | STRUCTURAL ENGINEER: Tarrantino Engineering Consultants, tarrantinoec.com | LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT: Campion Hruby Landscape Architects, campionhruby.com
DESIGN EXCELLENCE: Traditional Architecture
Project Manager: Cathy Purple Cherry | purplecherry.com
Oxford Residence
Located on a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay, this classic Oxford, Maryland residence was designed to embrace spectacular 180-degree water views. Encompassing 8,000 square feet, it is just one room deep, curving around the land where it sits so that the living space on each of its two floors is rotated to the adjacent water’s edge—ensuring a view of the water.
The home’s extensive millwork adds a human scale to the incredible structure. The open kitchen layout and double islands create an inviting space for guests to gather. Soft blue and green color palettes enhance the coastal ambiance. Large windows and doors along the waterside provide abundant natural light and striking waterfront views. The waterside pool and terrace parallel the large porch and great room, creating a significant outdoor entertainment area on this magnificent site.
CUSTOM BUILDER: Mike Butler, Choptank Builders | INTERIOR DESIGN: Marika Meyer Interiors, meyerinteriors.com | STRUCTURAL ENGINEER: Structura, structura-inc.com | CIVIL ENGINEER: Lane Engineering | KITCHEN & BATH DESIGN: Purple Cherry Architects; Lyndon Heath Cabinetry (supplier), lyndonheathcabinetry.com | LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT: Campion Hruby Landscape Architects, campionhruby.com | PHOTOGRAPHY: David Burroughs
DESIGN EXCELLENCE: Transitional Architecture
Project Manager: Devin Kimmel | kimmelstudio.com
Tidewater Modern
This mahogany and cedar-shingled house sits on a two-acre lot at the confluence of the Magothy River and the Chesapeake Bay. The modern Tidewater home’s simple lines, large windows, and metal roof speak the language of modernity, as does its 48-foot wall of glass that opens the back of this house to the Chesapeake Bay. The use of one dominant material and the massing of the gable ends give a nod to Chesapeake vernacular.
The indoor and outdoor spaces of this home are inextricably linked, providing the perfect venue for an Annapolis waterfront lifestyle. Ten interconnected rooms maximize the site and create a seamless transition between the street and the pier. You can drive through the lot, park, and then decide to walk either to the front door—with an uninterrupted view of the water—or to a path that leads directly to the end of the existing pier.
CUSTOM BUILDER: Lynbrook of Annapolis, lynbrookofannapolis.com | INTERIOR DESIGN: Catherine M. Lowe, ASID Interior Planning & Design, interiorpd.com | KITCHEN DESIGN: Kenwood Kitchens, kenwoodkitchens.com | TILE: Compass Stone and Tile Studio, cst-studio.com | Stone Fabricator: Atlas Stone Fabricators, atlasstonefabricators.com | LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT: Kimmel Studio Architects | LANDSCAPE INSTALLATION: American Turf, americanturfinc.com | PHOTOGRAPHY: Jennifer Hughes
DESIGN EXCELLENCE: Architectural Remodel
Principal in Charge: Jim Rill | Project Architect: Sunhee Kim | rillarchitects.com
Island Cottage
When a Washington, D.C. couple first discovered this 1990s timber-frame house in a gated family-friendly community that bordered the Chesapeake Bay and the Magothy River, they were pleased to find that they could reach it without having to cross the Bay Bridge. But the home itself left a lot to be desired. It was dark, dated, and lacked outdoor entertaining spaces. No longer.
New features promote shore life: a wraparound porch, a screened-in porch with built-in heaters, and an outdoor shower for indulging in the favorite summertime ritual of rinsing off, island style. Other additions make the outdoors more visually accessible: large windows in the kitchen, French doors in the living room, and sliding doors on each side of the dining room. Even the color scheme plays into the coastal feel of the place. A pale aqua blue coats interior beadboard ceilings and matches the wraparound porch’s ceiling and trim. New kitchen cabinets and an island also feature this calming hue. This once-dated timber-frame home now boasts a strong connection to the outdoors and a subtle but inviting coastal vibe.
CONTRACTOR: Thorsen Construction, thorsenconstruction.us | INTERIOR DESIGN: Nancy Harper, Studio Miel, studio-miel.com | PHOTOGRAPHy: Eric Taylor and Stacy Zarin Goldberg
EXCELLENCE IN CUSTOM BUILDING: Custom Home Remodel
Project Manager: Jon Fritts | pyramid-builders.com
Spring Valley
Empty nesters who desired to reimagine their home’s country French aesthetic after their children moved out sought to create a more streamlined, modern, sophisticated version of its former self. Extreme attention to detail ruled the redesign. Specialty wall finishes, including faux limestone and Venetian plaster, created intriguing textures. Stone elements sourced specifically for this project include Castille Grey Limestone floor tile from Romania, a floating vanity sink carved from a single block of Belgian Bluestone, Pyrolave Volcanic Lava island tops, and counters and trim elements of Statuary Marble. Decorative furnishings add appeal throughout the home, such as the antique mirrors specially handcrafted in England, positioned to create a dramatic backdrop at the breakfast room bar. Customized mud-in recess fixtures, lighted closet rods, integrated cabinet lighting, and custom art lights brighten the interior. Keeping this home’s beautiful bones intact while giving it a fresh feel allowed this classic beauty to realize its true potential.
INTERIOR DESIGN: Patrick Sutton, patricksutton.com | LIGHTING DESIGN: Renfro Design Group, renfrodesign.com | STONE: Marmi Stone, marmistone.com | VENETIAN PLASTER & SPECIALTY FINISHES: Kelly Walker, ArtStar Baltimore, artstarcustompaintworks.com | HOME’S ORIGINAL ARCHITECT: Harpole Architects, PC. | HOME AUTOMATION/CONTROLS/AV/SECURITY: Electronic Home Environments, ehenvironments.com | KITCHEN CABINETRY, BREAKFAST ROOM BAR AND OTHER FURNITURE ELEMENTS: Duncan Cabinetry, duncancabinetry.com | PHOTOGRAPHY: Richard Powers
EXCELLENCE IN CUSTOM BUILDING: Custom Home Remodel
Project Manager: Bryan Barton | gateonebuilders.com
Little Magothy
This renovation tells the story of a classic 1930s farmhouse, reimagined. The complete overhaul modernized and expanded the original home while enhancing the visibility of its stunning views of the Little Magothy River.
The undertaking was enormous. The home’s original interior was completely gutted, its mechanical systems replaced to reduce energy demands, and the aging structure stabilized. A 3,000-square foot addition provides copious, modernized space. Many of the renovations were thoughtfully planned to allow for enhanced enjoyment of the bucolic surroundings. The first-floor rooms open to an expansive deck with unobstructed views looking north to Gibson Island and the Chesapeake Bay. The bedroom suites share the waterfront view and an eastern exposure to surrounding cornfields that are still farmed yearly. The garage-turned-poolhouse was renovated to add a home office, guest rooms with full bathroom, a laundry room, a changing room for pool guests, and a three-car garage. Atop the garage sits an additional guest room and home gym. A large gathering space in the pool house features 24 ft. ceilings, a kitchen, and a stone fireplace. A loft area, accessible only by a custom teak ladder, offers three built-in bunks. The expansive renovations render the property ripe for memory making.
ARCHITECT: Hammond Wilson Architects, hammondwilson.com | LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT: McHale Landscape Design, mchalelandscape.com
EXCELLENCE IN CUSTOM BUILDING: Eastern Shore Residential Remodel
Project Manager: Brad Lundberg | lundbergbuilders.com
Woodsy Retreat
This affordable seven-acre “eagles’ nest” property overlooking the Corsica River was brimming with potential. But with its outdated materials, poor circulation, low ceilings, and no window views, the rickety cabin built on the property circa 1973 required a full remodel to become a waterfront dream home. Here’s how it happened.
Even though the complete renovation expanded the footprint by only a couple hundred square feet, it utilized the space in infinitely better ways, transforming the original dark, cramped home into a sunlit, expansive, open contemporary residence with maximum exposure to the Corsica River at the back of the property.
One of the renovation’s “wow” focal points includes the living room’s custom-made, nearly floor-to-ceiling windows (courtesy of a 16-foot ceiling) that facilitate observatory-like viewing. A wood and glass floating stair “tower” is yet another show-stopping element of the home’s redesign.
The use of natural elements complements the home’s woodsy locale. Rift and quarter sawn white oak floors and a granite stone fireplace mix rugged and smooth textures to reflect the “outside-in” concept. The naturalistic theme also dominates the exterior, with granite stone as well as board and batten vertical siding, allowing the home to blend seamlessly into the landscape.
RESIDENTIAL DESIGN: Bob Moreland, Residential Design & Drafting, LLC | WINDOWS: Loewen Windows of Annapolis, loewenwindowsofmidatlantic.com | PHOTOGRAPHY: Geoffrey Hodgdon
DESIGN EXCELLENCE: Interior Design, Master Bedroom and Bath Suite Remodel
Project Designer: Gina Fitzsimmons, ASID | fitzsimmonsdesign.com
Intersection: Lifestyle & Design
A family that spends their days wearing shorts and boat shoes wanted their casual, coastal lifestyle to be reflected in every room of their house, including the master bedroom and bathroom. So a renovation was in order.
Originally, the master bathroom was octagonal and soared two stories high to a pointed turret. Gold leaf ribs with a metallic faux finish and a formal crystal chandelier graced the ceiling. The renovation involved dropping the center ceiling by eight feet and painting it an uplifting sky blue. Cherry cabinetry was replaced with bleached white oak cabinetry in a grey wash finish. Marble tile was swapped for tile planking and used to repeat the ceiling’s octagonal shape on the floor. A new soaking tub with a bench situated half inside and half outside the shower created the perfect way to enjoy the newly remodeled bathroom.
In the master bedroom, Doric columns and diamond trellis moldings were exchanged for a vertical shiplap, squared columns, and beams around the fan in the ceiling. These new furnishings and a reconfigured fireplace completed the look and feel of a more relaxed coastal master suite.
CONTRACTOR: Rich Nelson, Bohan Contracting, bohancontracting.com | PHOTOGRAPHY: Pete Albert
DESIGN EXCELLENCE: Residential Interior
Project Designer: Catherine Belkov | interiorconceptsinc.com
Classic Contemporary
The interior of this home was designed to be both sophisticated and functional. The exterior’s strong, striking color scheme and finishes in white and black are repeated throughout the interior of the home. In the family room, white walls are punctuated with charcoal stone as seen in the fireplace fascia, along with interior paneled doors and ceiling beams painted in black. Accent colors of blues range from cerulean Venetian plaster dining room walls to cobalt and Prussian blues in the large custom rug in the family room. The main floor was designed with open space and easy flow between rooms in mind, particularly those that serve as the hub of a busy family: the family room and kitchen.
ARCHITECT: James McDonald Associate Architects, jamesmcdonaldarchitects.com | CUSTOM BUILDER: Joy Design + Build, joycustom.com | PHOTOGRAPHy: Greg Hadley
DESIGN EXCELLENCE: Interior Design, Whole House
Project Designer: Erin Paige Pitts | erinpaigepittsinteriors.com
Miles River Home
The owners of this contemporary coastal home in St. Michaels sought a relaxing retirement retreat where they could comfortably welcome guests. They
selected a site that allowed them to enjoy sweeping views of the Miles River and then decorated their home in a calm, neutral fashion so as not to distract from the views.
The floor plan allows the couple to live entirely on the first floor when they are the only ones in the house. The master suite is located on the first floor and includes an office/sitting room mere steps away from an amazing waterside screened porch, pool, and outdoor kitchen for entertaining. The second floor was designed with visiting family in mind. Each bedroom is large and has its own bathroom. A large multi-function space allows for working out or watching TV and includes two trundle beds. The home’s pièce de résistance is the “Round Room”—shaped like a semi-circle with floor-to-ceiling windows, four cozy swivel chairs, and a fireplace for taking in the expansive view.
ARCHITECT: Charles Paul Goebel, cpgoebel.com | CUSTOM BUILDER: Paquin Design Build, paquindesignbuild.com
DESIGN EXCELLENCE: Landscape Architecture
Project Managers: Bob Hruby & Steve Makrinos | campionhruby.com
Skywater
The landscape of this summer weekend retreat—perched on a bluff overlooking a river—was designed as a wild, unruly counterpoint to the stark, angled volumes of the house’s architecture. This tension is visible, with sharp angles and clean lines of walls and lawn steps blurring into lawn, pool, and sky.
The landscape architect influenced house position and rotation to take advantage of waterfront views, minimize grading, and preserve the mature trees along the waterfront that provide afternoon shade during the hot summer months. The varied angles of the cabin volumes, along with sloping site topography, allowed the landscape architects to create a series of garden spaces around the house. Lawn steps and low stucco walls are used extensively in these spaces to navigate grade and create flat, usable space. In the gardens, a simple palette of thermal bluestone steps and random irregular bluestone paving contrast with the white cedar shingles and dark gray stucco of the house.
ARCHITECT: Hutker Architects, hutkerarchitects.com
DESIGN EXCELLENCE: Landscape Architecture
Project Manager: Eric Croft | ovsla.com
Casa Luna
The landscape design surrounding Casa Luna, a guesthouse residence on the Tred Avon River, thoughtfully illuminates and melds with the beauty of its natural surroundings. It starts with a variety of plant species that seamlessly integrate into the existing ecology. The result? Four seasons of interest, each infusing the landscape with a mix of color, texture, fragrance, and movement.
Layered masses of shrubs, forbs, and grasses give the property an intimate feel while concealing a series of surprises. Footpaths wander through a meadow, capitalizing on vistas over the water and dissolving into hidden destinations. A concrete pad, long a part of the landscape, serves as the foundation for a Ben Forgey driftwood sculpture and a secluded café table. A pool, tucked into the rear of the property as an extension of one of the home’s multiple terraces, is screened by a low wall, from which a sheet of water cascades onto bathers below.
ARCHITECT: Alfredo Brillembourg, Urban-Think Tank, u-tt.com | SCULPTOR: Ben Forgey
DESIGN EXCELLENCE: Landscape Architecture
Project Managers: Kevin Campion & Lacreisha Phillips | campionhruby.com
Chesterfield Garden
Perched on a hillside, The Chesterfield garden unfolds as a series of modern garden “rooms” incrementally descending thirty feet to Broad Branch Creek.
The entry garden provides a modern gateway into the property. A wall of long, linear bluestone planks levels the yard, while wide slabs of bluestone provide a path to the front door. A row of fastigiated hornbeams sets a modern tone in the garden and creates privacy. A simple panel of lawn surrounded by groundcover sets a tone of order and calm. One level below, a wine terrace offers an escape for tastings and small gatherings.
Through a modern gate, a set of stairs leads to the rear garden where a dynamic pool, pool house, and hillside garden deliver a setting for modern outdoor living. The pool—which includes a lap pool, hot tub, shallow plunge for children’s play, and a cold tub—extends the width of the garden and draws the eye out to the forest. A vanishing edge creates the pleasant sound of falling water. Tucked into the lower hillside, a forest garden transitions the active garden above to the natural landscape of Rock Creek Park below. Stairs lead to a deck perched over a park.
ARCHITECT: Thomson & Cooke Architects, thomsoncooke.com | CUSTOM BUILDER: ThinkMakeBuild, thinkmakebuild.com | INTERIOR DESIGN: Martha Vicas, M.S. Vicas Interiors, msvicasinteriors.com
DESIGN EXCELLENCE MERIT: Transitional Architecture
Project Manager: Marta Hansen | hansenarchitects.net
Weems Creek
On a rare buildable waterfront lot in the City of Annapolis, the homeowners spent a decade finding, designing, and building their ideal retirement home. The vision? A multi-generational family residence that would combine traditional architectural details with environmental sustainability. The result: a picturesque modern farmhouse in the heart of Annapolis, with a LEED Gold certification.
The home is divided into public and private wings and a detached garden pavilion. The living room, dining room, and kitchen are unified by a beamed ceiling and open onto a trellised deck. The deck is linked to the waterfront by an extended boardwalk that leads to a vaulted outdoor pavilion. Architectural details include copper-chained downspouts, natural gas-fired lanterns, terrazzo floors in the basement, barn siding in the garden room, built-in bunk beds for grandchildren, a covered front porch, and a cedar-planked outdoor shower.
CUSTOM BUILDER: Gate One Builders, gateonebuilders.com | INTERIOR DESIGN: Melissa McLay Interiors, melissamclayinteriors.com | LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT: Jay Graham, Moody Graham, moodygraham.com | MILLWORK, LUMBER, AND ENGINEERED PRODUCTS: 84 Lumber, 84lumber.com | PHOTOGRAPHER: David Burroughs
DESIGN EXCELLENCE MERIT: Architecture, Garage or Outbuilding
Project Managers: Alick Dearie & Brian Grieb | gridarchitects.com
Rocky Knob Sauna
On a remote mountain farm in West Virginia, a series of rudimentary saunas was once constructed and utilized by the inhabitants in the late 1970s. After it burned down, the site lay dormant, setting the stage for another generation to reimagine the sauna.
In preparation for the build, the team researched sauna traditions throughout the world. After reclaiming some rough-cut oak from an adjacent renovated cabin, they hand-torched the wood siding as shou sugi ban for the sauna’s exterior cladding, and hand-sanded additional pieces for the interior finish and benches.
Because the site sits along a relatively inaccessible ridge, challenges included delivering materials and physically working at the site. Major components of the design required a high level of technical expertise, much of which was strategically supplemented by local craftsmen or the team learned on-site. The aesthetics and performance of the sauna stretched the team to achieve something remarkable.
ONSITE WELDING: Alt Welding | WELDING: Bill’s Portable Welding | METAL ETCHING: Miller Metal Fabrication, millermetal.com | WOOD BURNING STOVE: MF Fire, mffire.com | CUSTOM METAL WORK: Elemental Metalworks, elementalwork.com
DESIGN EXCELLENCE MERIT: Contemporary Architecture
Project Manager: Richard Loosle-Ortega | kube-arch.com
Duvall Court
Duvall Court is a redevelopment of a previously “unbuildable” set of alley lots in Washington D.C., and thus a re-establishment of a thriving “alley neighborhood.”
The potential for alley lots has become evident: they are smaller scale than streets, often walkable to public transit, and pedestrian-friendly. In 2016, changes in zoning codes made it possible for these alley lots to be developed, and Duvall Court was born. Seven new rowhouses now occupy this site, with walkable green roofs, parking on each lot, and abundant natural light.
Although derived from a prototype with common components, each building offers its own variation of the “kit of parts.” Efficient use of space, overlapping functions, flexibility, and simplicity of construction are common themes. Natural light makes the spaces feel larger, and bright colors on the exterior distinguish them contextually. This development serves as a model for future alley neighborhoods evolving in Washington, D.C.
BUILDER: OPaL Custom Homes and Renovations, LLC, opaldc.com
DESIGN EXCELLENCE MERIT: Eastern Shore Architectural Remodel
Project Manager: Christopher Pattey | beckermorgan.com
Eastern Bay Escape
This spectacular waterfront setting affords plenty of family fun with a private beach, pool, and dock for accessing the Chesapeake Bay. Its 7,500-square-foot home, reminiscent of summer estates in the Hamptons, contains living and dining spaces designed to foster togetherness, while the office and library facilitate personal time. In total, the home consists of five bedroom suites. Outside, verandas on the east and west facades, a covered screened pavilion, flanking pool cabana, outdoor showers, terraces, and a fire pit all exude the idyllic Chesapeake Bay summer lifestyle experience.
INTERIOR DESIGN: Erin Paige Pitts Interiors, erinpaigepittsinteriors.com | PHOTGRAPHY: Geoffrey Hodgdon
DESIGN EXCELLENCE MERIT: Contemporary Architecture
Project Manager: Donald Lococo | donaldlococoarchitects.com
INDUSTRIAL REVIVAL
The purchase of a once-struggling aluminum plant along a Potomac tributary provided an opportunity to creatively approach a house plan while incorporating elements of industrial architecture. At first, the site was used for a variety of activities: cooking, swimming, congregating, and sleeping. Before long, the activities inspired the creation of a series of rooms.
In the main space, three-quarter walls parenthesize areas such as the family room and mudroom. The working office hovers over the kitchen, and a second-story bedroom area provides a view onto the open grid. Glass spans the grid, encapsulating the interior. Elevated walkways bridge to separate sleeping buildings and lofts. Below, vehicle-scaled drives extend through stepping plains to recreation spaces that include the pool and stone terraces. Exterior hardscaping is scaled to platforms and staging areas, which creates separate spaces for myriad outdoor activities.
CONTRACTOR: Tony Paulos, The Block Builders Group, LLC, theblockbuildersgroup.com | LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT: Campion Hruby Landscape Architects, campionhruby.com | INTERIOR DESIGN: Ella Scott Design, ellascottdesign.com | STRUCTURAL ENGINEER: Linton Engineering, lintonengineering.com | PHOTOGRAPHY: Maxwell MacKenzie
DESIGN EXCELLENCE MERIT: Residential Architecture in a Planned Community
Project Manager: Sarah Hayes | sarahhayesdesign.com
Sherwood Cottage
Located in historic Sherwood Forest, this 3,300-square-foot family home began with a series of fun problems to solve: how to feel like a cottage with a focus on family gathering spaces and indoor-outdoor living while negotiating contextual cognizance and restrictions on footprint and massing.
The dark green exterior blends into the surrounding wooded environment. The first floor contains four zones: a front porch, utility/circulation, a large open living zone, and a back porch. The front entrance hall yields to a powder room and ample storage for activities common in the neighborhood: golf, tennis, beach, and boating.
The upper floor of the home emphasizes retreat and calm. The vaulted ceiling, pale blue palette, and the treetops outside offer a breath of fresh air. The lower level is the kids’ domain: a playroom, a bunk room sleeping six, and a twin bedroom with a Jack-and-Jill bath that cleverly opens to the hangout room.
CUSTOM BUILDER: Greg Lauer Custom Builders, LLC, greglauercustombuilders.com | CIVIL ENGINEER: Bay Engineering, bayengineering.com | STRUCTURAL ENGINEER: David Wallace of Annapolis | CABINETRY: Creative Kitchens of Annapolis
DESIGN EXCELLENCE MERIT: Kitchen Design
Project Manager: Jeffrey Holloway | stuartkitchens.com
Dogs Eye View
The Dogs Eye View’s kitchen renovation commenced when the owners found two slabs of Classic Explosion Blue Brazilian Quartzite and decided that the intent of the kitchen renovation was to feature the quartzite slabs. The design had to provide the entire family with spacious work aisles and easy access to multiple appliances.
Set atop an expansive two-level quarter sawn white oak island, the slabs serve as a tabletop for coffee, laptops and papers, family meals, and guests who perch to enjoy an unobstructed view of the water. The design includes a fixed piece of furniture that doubles as an area to prepare coffee and cocktails and as home to a collection of hand-blown glass and a whale sculpture that complements the owner’s sense of style.
INTERIOR DESIGN: Annapolis Interiors, annapolisinteriors.com | TILE: Atlas Marble & Tile, atlastile.com | CABINETRY: Greenfield Cabinetry, greenfieldcabinetry.com
EXCELLENCE IN CUSTOM BUILDING MERIT
muellerhomes.com
Pine Brook Farm
This Mid-Atlantic home on a 64-acre site, complete with a running stream overlooking a breathtaking forest, was designed with rustic charm to complement its natural surroundings. Incredible attention to detail throughout this 4,800-square-foot home helped achieve this effect.
Some of the unique highlights in the home include one-of-a-kind stair rails, interior trim with a furniture-grade finish pocket screwed and biscuited for the longevity of the joints, exposed beams constructed from reclaimed circle sawn white oak, custom cabinetry, and built-ins throughout the home, hand-made to fit each space with a seamless line design, and more.
ARCHITECT: Kathryn Alexander, Alexander Design Group, alexanderdesigngroup.com | INTERIOR DESIGN: Stacia Smith, Homewood Interiors, homewoodinteriors.com | LANDSCAPE ARCITECT: Intreegue Design, intreeguedesigns.com | PHOTOGRAPHY: Curtis Martin
EXCELLENCE IN CUSTOM BUILDING MERIT
Project Manager: Steve Podlich | lynbrookofannapolis.com
Masterpiece on the Magothy
The purpose of this project, “Masterpiece on the Magothy,” was to create an addition that reflected the grandeur of the existing structure, which dated back to the early 1900s. Hours of research went into emulating the vernacular and shapes from the existing structure so the new addition could flow flawlessly into the property. That was just the beginning.
Distressing the white oak ceiling beams and sand-blasting the white oak for the floors created a “reclaimed” and “weathered” look that insinuates aging in the wood. Developing several brick and stucco samples helped achieve the correct color palette and finish to match that of the original structure. Arranging for the roof of the addition to match the roof of the original house involved sorting through many reclaimed slate tiles in search of the three colors used in the original roof. These and other laborious techniques resulted in this brand-new addition that looks 100 years old.
ARCHITECT: Jonathan Rivera Architecture, jonathanrivera.com | INTERIOR DESIGN: Elizabeth Reich, Jenkins Baer Associates, jenkinsbaer.com | KITCHEN INSTALLATION: Scotland Kitchens & Bath Design, Inc., scotlandkbd.com | WINDOWS: Marvin Windows, supplied by American Cedar & Millwork, millwork1.com | PHOTOGRAPHY: Jennifer Hughes
DESIGN EXCELLENCE MERIT: Interior Design, Whole House
Project Designer: Wesley Pehlke | simplywesley.com
Site Unseen
The name “Site Unseen” is a play on words. But it perfectly describes the purpose and key challenges of this project. The owner’s interior design firm was hired to create a stunning, “bring-only-your-toothbrush” home for clients who did not see the finished product until completion. You name it, the homeowners designed and selected every single detail down to the monogrammed bath towels and acrylic tic-tac-toe board on the living room cocktail table. Imagine their excitement when one year later, they were greeted at the door of their new home with champagne for the big reveal!
BUILDER: Bozzuto Homes, bozzuto.com | WOODWORK: Woodworking by Design | ARTWORK SUPPLIER: Level Art Services & Installations, levelartinstallations.com | WALLPAPER & LIGHTING INSTALLATION: Bill Armiger | PHOTOGRAPHY: Maureen Porto
Overmyer Architects was established in 1996 with a focus on custom residential design. The award-winning firm has designed projects for clients in Washington, D.C., Virginia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, New Hampshire and Florida. After earning a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Texas in 1986, Dale moved to Georgetown. Dale received his license to practice architecture in 1990. He is a registered architect in New York, Virginia, Maryland, Florida and the District of Columbia. Overmyer and his family reside in Georgetown yet enjoy spending weekends at their 1893 cottage in Bay Ridge, gardening and fishing.
Jennifer Horn has been practicing landscape architecture since 1999, and founded her own firm in 2010. Jennifer’s firm was awarded a Designers’ Choice Award for 2021 and in 2020, Jennifer received the Gold Award from the Association of Professional Landscape Designers. JH-LA’s work straddles classical and contemporary style, while always utilizing fine detailing and imaginative plant selections.
Patrick J. Baglino, Jr., ASID is Principal of his namesake interior design firm in Washington, DC. He graduated from New York University and has been practicing interior design for over 22 years. He has been featured on HGTV, published in numerous shelter magazines and was named one of America’s Top Young Designers by House Beautiful Magazine. Patrick currently serves on the Board of Directors of the ASID Washington Metro Chapter as Finance Director.