Text: Alice Welsh Doyle
Photography: Anice Hoachlander
A renovation in a historic neighborhood in Chevy Chase, Maryland, could embrace the moniker of “a tale of two houses.” The rather unusual façade speaks to the circa 1790s original being tinkered with over the years, while the back of the home is all about convenience and modern family living at its best.
“The rear was a total mess, and the most reasonable approach was to take it down and totally rework it,” says architect Anthony “Ankie” Barnes of Washington, D.C.–based BarnesVanze Architects. The updated version captures the southern-facing light, and a clever four-story back stairwell connects the attic to the multipurpose basement, with easy access to the new kitchen, mudroom, powder bath, and built-in bar on the first floor.
The original footprint remained intact, as this special neighborhood has very restrictive codes when it comes to renovations. “We had inches to work with to realize this staircase design and make it come together,” says Barnes. And to make it even more livable, part of the original cellar was dug out to create higher ceilings so the space would be enjoyable to experience rather than feeling like an afterthought.
“While the rear addition of the house is new, the idea of the back staircase is rooted in historic classical architecture,” explains Barnes. “The driveway is on the right side of the house, and our clients can pull around and park in the updated detached garage. Then they have convenient access to the main living spaces through a screened porch that we added.”
The clients liked the elegance of the original part of the house, but it was in dire need of some updates. “The home is not a traditional center hall Colonial with a dining room on one side and a living room on the other, and we all embraced the interesting architecture,” explains interior designer Amy Zantzinger.
“The center core has three fireplaces—one in the entry, one in the library, and one in the dining room—and that created an unusual set of spaces to work with, but the team enjoyed making it more compelling and updated.” The library especially needed attention, and Zantzinger turned it into a decidedly glamourous destination with a special Chippendale-inspired ceiling treatment based on a pattern she had seen, but the designer enlarged it for a more dramatic statement. The space also features a contemporary pendant light with radiating quills that give the impression of shooting stars glowing against the silver metallic paint on the ceiling.
With the reworked architecture, it was time for Zantzinger to make the interiors as meaningful and usable as possible. “My client really wanted the house to feel very livable and for all the rooms to be used,” says the designer. “In that regard, we added a more informal dining room table, perfect for intimate family meals and entertaining guests yet also a place to sit down and do homework.” Another space’s reinvention was a bit surprising but met her client’s goals.
The original living room includes a curved sofa and a television, not typically associated with a traditional usage of that space, in order to host family movie nights. In the newly redone lower level, her client also wanted to create an atmosphere that encouraged her teenagers and their friends to hang out, and it includes a pool table, durable choices like a leather ottoman and rope armchairs, and a darker color scheme with navy as a focus—everything can stand up to mishaps.
When it came to the palette, her client wanted a sea of change from her former residence, which used more coral and yellow tones. Zantzinger introduced fresh shades of blues, grays, greens, and browns. “She did not want a stuffy, traditional Chevy Chase home; she wanted the exact opposite. She wanted it to feel fresh and definitely inviting, and this palette suited her desires,” says the designer.
Zantzinger was laser-focused on the details throughout the rooms to give them a lively attitude that, while a departure from what might be expected in a 1790s home, still felt respectful; nothing is too modern or stark. This approach played out in the finishes, such as wide plank white oak flooring throughout, lacquered cabinetry in the primary bath, interesting mosaic floor and wall tiles in other bathrooms, a mix of hardware in the kitchen and built-in bar, wallpaper on the ceiling in the wife’s office, and compelling light fixtures.
“Shopping for lighting is one of my particular passions,” says Zantzinger. “I like to find more unusual pieces that make a home unique and that engage the eye.” The entire house, from the architecture to the décor, is a tour de force of thoughtfulness and intention. It seems to call out “welcome home” for the family and “come on in” for guests, which is just what their clients envisioned.
