Del Ray, Alexandria, 2019

Whimsical craft If you are familiar with Del Ray, you know the pride of place that governs. The dining room & master suite addition on the rear had to work with the existing aesthetic, to be sure, and not overwhelm the remaining rear yard of the small lot. I am a big proponent of treating […]

Columbia Heights, 2018

Urban Townhouse Full renovation of a 1910’s townhouse, with an eye to both open up the space while preserving the original details that make these classic DC homes worth preserving.  The staircase, which had been behind a wall dividing the living room from the dining room, became the focal point of the ground floor. 

Cherrydale, 2017

A turn of a century “I like quirky,” the client said. “I want a house to feel like it’s evolved over the years, with different styles and lots of weird little spaces.” A two-sided fireplace is shared by the master bedroom and master bathtub.  A secret passage between children’s bedrooms is accessed through a bookcase […]

Donaldson Run, Arlington 2014

Growing Up This ranch over basement was two small for three kids and three dogs, so we went up. Whenever we can avoid the cost of a new foundation, it is a good thing.  The alternate design was for a partial second floor, but ultimately the desire for space prevailed. 

Langley Ordinary, 2013

Out of the Ordinary The Langley Ordinary was built as a roadside tavern (an “ordinary”) in 1840, served as a Civil War hospital and then home to a retired general.  As a contributing structure to the Langley Historic District, changes to the building required approval from the Fairfax Historical Board of Preservation.  We discovered and […]

Cathedral Heights, Washington DC 2006

A Proper Bungalow My first solo house design.    This classic 1930s bungalow had been the victim of a cruel 1980s postmodern joke of a second floor, which looked like a cyclops from the street and was so poorly laid out that one had to go through the master bath to enter the bedroom!     […]