It’s the eternal conundrum: What comes first—form or function? Both and neither, according to Christian Zapatka and Romain Baty, the architect and interior designer respectively behind the transformation of a modest, circa-1900 row house on Capitol Hill into a sophisticated, European-inspired urban villa. “Structure and design are connected,” Baty contends. “They’re engaged in a dialogue where every piece and architectural element complements the other and tells a story about the residents’ values, tastes and lives.” Zapatka agrees, explaining that he “creates classic, timeless structures that ..read more

A retired couple purchased a diminutive getaway with big ideas for its future. Situated a block from the ocean in Bethany Beach, Delaware, the 1,500-square-foot, circa-1960s cottage had become outmoded and dysfunctional over time—so the owners embarked on an overhaul with help from architect Jonathon Selway and Jamie Merida Interiors. The goals were to create a getaway where they could easily accommodate their two grown kids and families; foster indoor-outdoor connectivity; and impart contemporary style via clean lines and loads of color. The plan maintained the original layout, with four bedr ..read more

A  certain magic happens when you enter Seabrook Island, a gated residential community near Charleston, South Carolina. Live oaks draped in Spanish moss, palm trees and golden marshland are just a hint of what’s to come. “It’s an island that’s been preserved and is full of nature,” says a resident with a 3,800-square-foot getaway in this idyllic locale. “Secluded beaches, tidal creeks and saltwater marshes host shore birds, sea turtles and pods of dolphins.” She and her husband (a mortgage broker and retiree, respectively) hail from Vienna, Virginia. They enlisted Charleston-based Great Southe ..read more

A retired couple purchased a diminutive getaway with big ideas for its future. Situated a block from the ocean in Bethany Beach, Delaware, the 1,500-square-foot, circa-1960s cottage had become outmoded and dysfunctional over time—so the owners embarked on an overhaul with help from architect Jonathon Selway and Jamie Merida Interiors. The goals were to create a getaway where they could easily accommodate their two grown kids and families; foster indoor-outdoor connectivity; and impart contemporary style via clean lines and loads of color. The plan maintained the original layout, with four bedr ..read more

It’s the eternal conundrum: What comes first—form or function? Both and neither, according to Christian Zapatka and Romain Baty, the architect and interior designer respectively behind the transformation of a modest, circa-1900 row house on Capitol Hill into a sophisticated, European-inspired urban villa. “Structure and design are connected,” Baty contends. “They’re engaged in a dialogue where every piece and architectural element complements the other and tells a story about the residents’ values, tastes and lives.” Zapatka agrees, explaining that he “creates classic, timeless structures that ..read more

In Washington, abundant green space creates happy opportunities for city living surrounded by nature. Case in point: Rock Creek Park’s Soapstone Valley, a rolling swath of woods tucked into DC’s Forest Hills neighborhood. Among the sprinkling of modern homes clustered along its fringes, a dwelling masterminded in 1994 by Bethesda architect Stephen Muse takes full advantage of the scenery—one of many reasons a dad with kids aged nine and 13 purchased the house in 2020. “As soon as I walked in, I thought, ‘This is the one,’” recalls the owner, a partner in a venture capital firm. “The sense of s ..read more

A  certain magic happens when you enter Seabrook Island, a gated residential community near Charleston, South Carolina. Live oaks draped in Spanish moss, palm trees and golden marshland are just a hint of what’s to come. “It’s an island that’s been preserved and is full of nature,” says a resident with a 3,800-square-foot getaway in this idyllic locale. “Secluded beaches, tidal creeks and saltwater marshes host shore birds, sea turtles and pods of dolphins.” She and her husband (a mortgage broker and retiree, respectively) hail from Vienna, Virginia. They enlisted Charleston-based Great Southe ..read more

Pascale de Fouchier’s design philosophy is Cartesian in its simplicity: “I listen, I craft, I organize.” This is an approach the French-American designer beautifully translated for a couple with two teenage sons who wanted a vacation home where they could enjoy their favorite outdoor activities, host family members and just relax—now and for generations to come. They decided to build a getaway on Deep Creek Lake in Western Maryland. “We bought an off-the-shelf design online; we were that eager to get started,” recounts T.J., a former ER doctor whose husband, Will, is a corporate attorney. They ..read more

A house should evolve and not stay stagnant,” maintains designer Joe Ireland, who has helped one like-minded couple put that belief into practice for the past 15 years. From an initial renovation to a recent refresh—and several artful acquisitions in between—he has guided the stylish progression of his clients’ McLean manse. The now-empty-nest owners bought their ’80s-era, center-hall Colonial in 2000, when the wife’s two daughters were still at home. Years later, they were ready to address the functional gaps, character deficiency and decades-old décor that had become sore points. The duo sta ..read more

A young couple who’d recently purchased a Dupont Circle row house turned to DC designer Nick Beck to outfit its interiors. Built in 1888, the 2,300-square-foot residence was renovated in 2015 by New York architect Olson Kundig. “He redid the crown molding and created beautiful fireplace surrounds,” Beck reports. “Those details sold my clients on the house.” Beck’s interior plan—which included two bathroom rehabs—respected the four-bedroom home’s provenance while weaving in a sense of fun. “Sometimes young people’s homes read very youthful to me. I like to take a more sophisticated route and th ..read more