Project Spotlight

Re-Imagining a Deep Creek Retreat

A Blend of Rustic and Modern in Deep Creek

A Blend of Rustic and Modern in Deep Creek

While I consider my self a hands on partner to my decorating and real estate clients, the COVID-19 pandemic made the in-person aspects of my work much less common (for good reason). Especially as a decorator and design consultant, there really is no substitute for seeing a space in person — understanding the charming details and pain points, seeing how light plays in the space, etc.

I have worked with clients in New York and New Jersey remotely but this past year gave me the opportunity to take on my biggest design project to date — a 4,400 square-foot vacation home right on Deep Creek Lake in Swanton, Maryland (and to do it almost entirely remotely, save one site visit on a rainy September day). Earlier this month, I had a chance to finally see the fruits of our collective labors, the Ar’ya Relaxed Chalet, in person (in addition to inviting along the talented Beth Caldwell to capture it).

BEFORE: The pre-renovation kitchen blended in, was smaller and allowed less opportunity for family and friends to gather (Photo Courtesy of Taylor-Made Deep Creek Vacations & Rentals)

AFTER: The renovated kitchen offers more storage, seating and a modern twist with a funky tile and sleek quartz countertops; the stone was repurposed from the peninsula (Photo: Beth Caldwell)

AFTER: The renovated kitchen offers more storage, seating and a modern twist with a funky tile and sleek quartz countertops; the stone was repurposed from the peninsula (Photo: Beth Caldwell)

First off, this is a log house (we won’t call it a cabin, Dave). There is no changing that…not that anyone wanted to. The vision we crafted for the vacation home (which is also a rental/investment property) was to create cohesive spaces that infused modern sensibilities without being at odds with the rustic nature of the home. While my clients purchased the property pre-pandemic and Deep Creek has long drawn vacationers year-round from the region, we wanted to make a departure from the country quilts and appeal to new and return urban dwellers looking for an escape. So, what did this mean in terms of the approach?

  1. Striking a Balance: The logs and overall wood tone (which is warm and on the orange/red part of the spectrum) wasn’t going to change. We needed to balance it out with a complementary palette (lots of cream, blue and gray with flashes of green) and fixtures in matte black, for example, that feel simultaneously modern and rustic. We also kept in mind that pieces can be moved around between rooms and spaces and still “work” (as my clients reminded me that things often grow legs when guests arrive).

  2. Form AND Function: As with all my projects, we focused on both form and function. The final product had to be a showstopper but we had to make sure it could comfortably welcome 12 guests — so we needed enough sleeping, dining and sitting spaces for them (and we were able to do that without the previous bunk beds). We also wanted surfaces that were easy to keep clean and fresh looking, like quartz and darker grouts (contrasting or not).

  3. Mix High and Low: While a family vacation home, this is also a rental (scroll down to the end for a link to make your reservation!). As much as we may have wanted to splurge on furniture pieces and elevated design elements, we had to keep in mind the heavy use and eventual replacement. Most of our furniture pieces came from Ashley, Wayfair, HomeGoods, etc. (sourcing a new house of furniture during a time of supply chain issues when you had guests coming was a challenge). However, where it was warranted, bigger investments were made — like the custom concrete quartz dining table and quartz countertops throughout, beautiful KitchenAid gas range and custom cabinetry and the large vegan-leather sofas.

BEFORE: The largest bedroom featured built-in bunk beds… (Photo Courtesy of Taylor-Made Deep Creek Vacations & Rentals)

BEFORE: The largest bedroom featured built-in bunk beds… (Photo Courtesy of Taylor-Made Deep Creek Vacations & Rentals)

AFTER: The re-decorated bedroom uses black accents in the bed frames and other furniture pieces to create a fresh look when paired with cream linens, and soft rugs, pillows and cozy accent chairs (Photo: Beth Caldwell)

AFTER: The re-decorated bedroom uses black accents in the bed frames and other furniture pieces to create a fresh look when paired with cream linens, and soft rugs, pillows and cozy accent chairs (Photo: Beth Caldwell)

Rather than try to recount every detail, let’s look at a few pics of the project below with more detail in the captions. We ran out of time to capture every space (including the fun mudroom with a big pop of color and the primary bedroom — awaiting a final piece) but you get the gist! Special thanks to Beth Caldwell for visiting and capturing the stunning “afters”.

There are too many fixtures and finishes to list out (although I have noted some in the captions) but I will add that all the tile all is from Floor & Decor and the beautiful pool and shuffleboard tables are from West Penn Billiards in Pittsburgh. Finally, let me give a big shout out to my clients, Alpa & Dave, Tim Reed and his team at BILT Construction, UPS and FedEx for all the deliveries, and the namesake of the home, Arya, who kept every Zoom consultation interesting and personally re-set every stone on the front face of the island (as she’ll tell you)!

If you’re intrigued by this project, want to know more about a fixture or finish or are contemplating a renovation and/or redecoration of your own, reach out! And if you want to escape to this beautiful home…

Amber Harris is the owner of At Home DC, an interior decorator and a licensed real estate agent with Keller Williams Capital Properties working with clients in DC, Maryland and Virginia.

Project Spotlight: Renovating for Renters

One way many smart investors build incremental wealth is by becoming a landlord. Whether investing outright or converting a former primary residence to a rental, it’s important to strike the right balance in your finishes so that the home or unit appeals to as many potential renters as possible, while also remembering that the property is (or now is) an investment. While you may love luxury lighting fixtures or bold colors, you should instead focus on solid choices that will stand up to tenants for years to come but not break the bank.

Recently, after working with my client’s daughter and her husband, I had the opportunity to help her freshen up this Cathedral Heights co-op, which had been rented by the same tenant for many years and was ready for a facelift. The renovation increases the rate the unit can draw on the market and will ensure its appeal for the future (especially in a market where buyers and tenants are hyper-focused on “new”).

With approximately 500 square feet, the studio is in a 1960s northwest DC co-op building and had original features throughout — from brown Quaker Maid kitchen cabinets and an integrated toothbrush/cup holder to original parquet floors (under carpet). Most of our work focused on updating finishes, but we also made some additions and subtractions to enhance functionality, of note:

  • Adding a dishwasher to the kitchen (a modern must), as well as an an above-range microwave (freeing up counter space)

  • Removing a door from the closet to the bathroom to create one entrance vs. two, while converting that door to a sliding door — enhancing usable spaces in the walk-in closet and living area

  • Adding top down-bottom up blackout shades to ensure the dual-use living/sleeping space could function for both while not losing the top-floor views

  • Removing sliding glass doors on the shower for a cleaner, more open (and easy to clean) look

Take a look at the slideshow below for “after” pics (and scroll down further for info on the affordable finishes we selected). This unit also is currently for rent, so reach out if you’d like to know more!

Get the Look

Overall/Living Area

Kitchen

Bathroom

Amber Harris is the owner of At Home DC, an interior decorator and a licensed real estate agent with Keller Williams Capital Properties working with clients in DC, Maryland and Virginia. 

Project Spotlight: Setting the Scene for a Life of Adventure

While I have heard some speculate that we may see a baby boom in the next nine months thanks to household quarantines (if so, a joyful outcome after these challenging times), I wanted to take some time to look back at a nursery I had the privilege of helping neighbors and friends Alpa & Dave complete as they awaited the arrival of their precious daughter.

Nursery Wide Shot.JPG

As a multicultural family and travel aficionados, our conversations quickly turned to a travel-inspired theme but not in the sense of airplanes, cars and boats or a kid-like interpretation of it. Instead the final design captured all the excitement of exploring the world and cultures in a more bohemian and fluid form. By mixing textures and textiles and using a neutral background and pieces paired with pops of color, the resulting space is warm and welcoming but hardly cookie cutter…and it has room to evolve as Alpa & Dave’s daughter grows up and they travel together as a family.

Check out the slideshow below for a peak into this space (and some ideas you can pull from the project…if you need them now or in nine months)!

To learn more about some of the pieces you see featured, check out “Get the Look” below…and thanks, as always to the talented Beth Caldwell for capturing this special space!

Get the Look

No Longer Available

Amber Harris is the owner of At Home DC, an interior decorator and a licensed real estate agent with Keller Williams Capital Properties working with clients in DC, Maryland and Virginia. 

Project Spotlight: Elevating a Basement Bathroom

Ready for Guests…and the Homeowners (Photo Credit: Beth Caldwell)

Ready for Guests…and the Homeowners (Photo Credit: Beth Caldwell)

According to a range of surveys and accompanying articles (I’ll leave you to Google these), we spend around an hour a day in the bathroom. That statistic would seem reason enough to make sure the bathrooms we own are as lovely as the other spaces in our homes. And, while choosing vanities and toilet paper holders may not be as sexy as a new sectional or chandelier, taking a little extra time to make smart selections can greatly enhance the feel and function of these spaces we enjoy (privately).

Recently, I had the chance to partner with Dave and Molly as they planned a renovation of their basement, including the second full bathroom in their charming Takoma Park home. With limited space (like other clients), they had already been brainstorming ideas to modify the small footprint when we teamed up to take things to the next level (working with general contractor Jose Serrano and architect Maria Wright) — including modifying the approximately 3’ square glass-enclosed shower stall to a larger open shower and pushing back a wall a few inches to add critical space and function.

Tile selection was central to the finished product and, as I’ve said before, it’s worth it to splurge on something unique in small bathrooms (as the incremental cost won’t be much but the impact will be substantial). We started with a special tile I had seen on a previous trip to Architectural Ceramics, the Hexagon Deco Chronicle in Paper Bianco. The tile print is of pages of paper layered on top of each other, and you can actually make out Italian text on some of those pages (che meraviglia!). To contrast the cooler tones in the tile and pick up on the variation and contrast within it, we went with warmer wood accents in the vanity and custom shelving (which was stained to match the vanity).

To complement the floor tile, I chose a Kiln & Penny subway tile with a matte white finish paired with the Estonia mosaic tile, which has more organic striations that go well withe the hex floor tile. Utilizing two different tones of gray grout, we minimized the contrast between tiles on both floor surfaces, while adding it to the shower and bathroom walls. To round out the palette, I wanted to keep things neutral to maintain the focus on the floor tile and wood accents by using Conservative Gray from Sherwin Williams for the walls.

While matte black finishes would have made a nice complement, my clients loved adding a modern touch with polished chrome accents in the medicine cabinet/mirror, vanity sconce, fixtures and hardware. We mixed pieces from Restoration Hardware, Pottery Barn, Schoolhouse and Kohler by aligning the finishes and designs featuring curved elements (contrasting the geometric tile). In the end, we created a space that is welcoming to guests but that, word has it, has become the favored bathroom for my clients (the best compliment).

So, what nuggets can you take away from this project if you are looking to embark on your own bathroom reno? Here are a few:

  1. Build on a finish or feature you absolutely love and that makes the space feel special. In this case, we started with the floor tile and went from there.

  2. Plan and pay attention to details. With such an intricate tile, we had to ensure it was laid meticulously — from the direction of the tiles to how they met the shower edge (check out the photo above with the split hex tiles). We also ensured the vanity drawers would clear the door trim easily by modifying how the tile was laid by the vanity.

  3. Don’t be afraid to mix and match. From three different tile shapes and types to lighting, hardware and accessories from different vendors, the best finished spaces don’t look like you pulled them out of a page of a catalog.

Finally, thank you to Beth Caldwell for capturing this stunning “after”…and stay tuned for more project spotlights soon!

Finishes Guide

Amber Harris is the owner of At Home DC, an interior decorator and a licensed real estate agent with Keller Williams Capital Properties working with clients in DC, Maryland and Virginia. 

Project Spotlight: Small But Unboring Bathrooms

While we've previously covered a small bathroom makeover on this blog, today's post expands on it by digging into ways to inject personality into private spaces that are best known for function over form.

Earlier this year, I worked with my clients in Rockville to help them add new life to two of the bathrooms in their lovely home. While it would be easy to go with a standard 3x6 subway tile surround and standard pre-fab vanity, these homeowners were open to ideas and finishes that would add style to these smaller spaces. (You can see one of the before and afters below.)

While each homeowner and space is unique, I want to challenge you (whether you are working with a designer/decorator or not) to take these tips to heart before you start your own bathroom project:

1. Find At Least One Feature/Finish to Splurge On: As with any room, you want to have a focal point or feature that draws the eye initially and that is complemented by the rest of the design. In small bathrooms, one easy way to do this is through floor and accent tile. In both of these bathrooms, we chose conversation-worthy tiles — a black and white cement tile for the hall bathroom (LiLi's Marrakesh 1 from Architectural Ceramics in Chevy Chase) and a blue-toned marble chevron tile from TileDaily for the master bathroom.

LiLi's Marrakesh 1 Tile in Bathroom Niche (Also Used on Floor)

LiLi's Marrakesh 1 Tile in Bathroom Niche (Also Used on Floor)

Chevron Mix Blue Marble Mosaic Tile from TileDaily

Chevron Mix Blue Marble Mosaic Tile from TileDaily

2. Make Small Changes That Feel Custom: You may not have the budget for custom cabinetry but consider swapping the hardware or adding a custom countertop to a pre-built unit. In the master bathroom, we swapped out the silver hardware for a square-shaped brushed gold finishes to match the other hardware and paired it with a quartz top (Emerstone Quartz Carrara White from Architectural Stones in Rockville) that matched the in-shower bench added during the renovation. Other ways to add a custom feel without spending too much include using tiles in different shapes (we used 3x9 in the hall bathroom and 3x12 in the master bathroom) or with a contrasting grout (as we did in the hall bath to complement the cement tile floor).

Strasser Woodenworks Vanity (from Wayfair) with Updated Hardware

Strasser Woodenworks Vanity (from Wayfair) with Updated Hardware

Custom Quartz Countertop Added to Pre-Fab Vanity

Custom Quartz Countertop Added to Pre-Fab Vanity

3. Include Contrasting Elements to Add Interest: As in other spaces in the home, don't hesitate to play with tone and texture to add personality. In the hall bathroom, we paired a more modern natural wood vanity with the starker black and white tile work. My client chose to go with brushed silver hardware but another option is to add matte black/iron finishes to tie together the modern vanity and the vintage-feeling tile. Contrast can also come in the form of color, like the Behr Vintage Mauve paint in the aforementioned bathroom or the blue towels in the master bath (bringing out the blue tones in the chevron tile and contrasting with the Behr Sandstorm paint).

LiLi Cement Tile from Architectural Ceramics Contrasts with Fresca Milano Vanity (from Wayfair)

LiLi Cement Tile from Architectural Ceramics Contrasts with Fresca Milano Vanity (from Wayfair)

Behr Vintage Mauve Contrasts with 3x9 Goose Down Matte Tile from Sonoma Tilemakers via Architectural Ceramics

Behr Vintage Mauve Contrasts with 3x9 Goose Down Matte Tile from Sonoma Tilemakers via Architectural Ceramics

Project Spotlight: Focusing on Function & Family in Southeast DC

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While interior design is thought to primarily be concerned with aesthetics, some of the biggest transformations when working with a designer or decorator are measured by the function of the space for the person(s) that call it home.

That is exactly the case with the family I had the pleasure of working with in southeast DC recently. While they loved their DC rowhome, with two rambunctious kids, the space (and more importantly the furniture) they had did not match their style or need for flexibility. At the heart of this challenge was a beautiful, traditional six-seat dining room table that rarely was used partially for fear of it falling prey to adorable but potentially destructive young hands. This piece was creating a physical and emotional block that was preventing the space from meeting their needs. 

Other challenges that came up through our consultation included:

  • Frantic feel when you entered the house and a need for organization;
  • Limited space for kids to play (especially important with all the rainy days we've had lately);
  • Multiple dining spaces but none of which met all their needs; and
  • Untapped space in the kitchen that housed a mostly unused desk turned drop area.

To tackle these problems, we identified a few keys tasks and pieces that would transform the design and function of the home:

  • Consolidate dining spaces from three to two, including adding a cost-effective dining nook and new, kid-friendly drop-leaf dining room table (allowing the dining room to become a larger playroom, when needed);
  • Bring more modern lines and finishes to the space, playing into existing wrought iron elements and adding more casual/weathered wood elements;
  • Modernize the color palette, while working with the existing wall color (Benjamin Moore's Spanish Olive);
  • Incorporate flexible pieces that can work in multiple spaces and be moved easily, as well storage options (primarily for toys); and
  • Add sophistication by juxtaposing patterns and textures.

And here's where we are now (photos by Beth Caldwell):

While there is still room for some more touches (new/updated upholstered cornices above the windows, removing baseboards in dining nook for a more custom look with the benches, adding a console in the dining room for extra serving space, etc.), the transformation has helped my clients enjoy their home even more...which is always priority number one from the outset.

Goods Guide

Living Room

Dining Room

Dining Nook

Amber Harris is the owner of At Home DC, an interior decorator and a licensed real estate agent with Keller Williams Capital Properties working with clients in DC, Maryland and Virginia.