Time flies, as the saying goes. It’s hard to believe a year has passed since I shared a condo design plan at The Wharf on DC’s waterfront. I am happy to report that the condo makeover is not only completed but properly photographed! After months of frustrating supply-chain and shipping delays, it’s wonderful to be able to say, “Ta-Da!”
Sense of Place
In all fairness, the corner unit had a lot going for it from the start. The views are breath-taking! And the contemporary architecture and soaring, steel-framed windows are pretty spectacular, too. Together, they establish a sense of place — which we leaned into while designing the condo spaces. Take a look at the main social area today, as we reimagined it:
Our clients asked for help pulling together a clean, cohesive look befitting their new condo. They had a few pieces of furniture they wanted to keep; in the living area, we started with their existing sectional sofa and area rug.
We added new furnishings to breath new life into the existing pieces and to steer the overall interior design in a more contemporary direction. The sweeping arms on the Hickory Chair swivel chair and the round Sherrill Occasional coffee table balance the hard geometry of the window grid.
Entertainment Area, Before & After
Nothing conveys the power of good design quite like comparing the before and after. The entertainment zone of the living area was bland and needed more functional, appropriately scaled storage. To refresh your memory, this is what it looked like before:
We turned that builder-white wall into a feature by installing a textured Romo wallcovering in a watery hue that echoes the scene outside. Here’s the finished space:
Michael James Furniture executed our design for the sleek, custom entertainment console and floating shelves. Pretty and practical!
A Table with a View
Along the back wall of windows, we established a separate dining zone. Can you imagine dinners (or breakfasts or lunches, for that matter) looking out over this scene?
What a way to wow dinner guests before the first course is even served! The glamorous, glass-globe chandelier from AERIN for Visual Comfort plays nicely with the contemporary architecture, while again offering a much-needed counterpoint to all those straight lines.
Home Office Reboot
Covid has underscored the importance of having a high-functioning home office. Our condo makeover included converting a den into a study for our two academician clients. This is what we started with:
And here is the space now, after A. Houck Designs stepped in:
We repainted the niche’s back wall a deeper shade of blue that blends with the new wool area rug and the scenery out the window. Michael James Furniture built the custom, two-person workstation. A variable-pitch lounge chair from Hickory Chair (an updated version of your father’s recliner!) offers the perfect perch for taking phone calls or just contemplating the view.
Condo Makeover Magic
The DC waterfront provided a magical backdrop for this condo redesign. We combined a few of the clients existing furnishings with bespoke pieces that we designed specifically to fit the space and meet the owners’ needs. And then added a smattering of special design moments to really make the spaces sing — while being mindful not to detract from the stunning vistas. It’s a delicate balance, and we hope you agree that we got it right!
Sneak Peek at a Porch Addition in the Works
