Saturday, December 21


Designer Erika Bonnell harmonizes disparate visions — and a nod to nature — on a rural property in Leesburg

Whereas looking for a small, historic house, empty nesters from Reston got here throughout the precise reverse — and had been smitten. The sprawling stone homestead on 100 rolling acres in Leesburg appeared prefer it had been there perpetually, nevertheless it was really inbuilt 1995. And the panorama was overgrown. “At first we mentioned no, however after zipping via weeds and grass as much as our waists, we sat out within the again and watched the solar set over the Catoctin Mountains,” the husband recollects. “Then we mentioned sure.”

Because the couple, homeowners of a world administration consultancy, quickly came upon, the property held some surprises. Amongst them: the invention that the unique proprietor had requested panorama architect Brian Katen, a professor at Virginia Tech, to design a 33-acre arboretum on the property—and that hundreds had been imported from everywhere in the nation. “We had no thought,” the lady marvels. “Once we got here to stay right here, you actually could not see via the beds. It was a matter of cleansing up and rediscovering the panorama.”

In the meantime, the home additionally had a narrative to inform. Impressed by the Arts & Crafts cottage-style estates of English architect and designer CFA Voysey (1857-1941), native architect Kevin Ruedisueli designed the 6,600-square-foot, five-bedroom, eight-bathroom construction atop a hill with panoramic views. of the mountains and Catoctin Creek. He embellished the inside with home equipment, elaborate millwork and 6 fireplaces; flooring of dark-stained, hand-scraped oak nonetheless unify the principle stage rooms.

Regardless of the massive bones, nonetheless, the residence was dated. “It was a bit frozen in time, with pink velvet wallpaper, heavy curtains and valances,” the lady says. “Our imaginative and prescient was to simplify the areas and let the outside in. Since we traveled rather a lot, we collected artwork and different gadgets that we wished to combine. And we additionally wished to acknowledge Voysey’s affect.”

However when it got here to implementing their concepts, the couple discovered the dimensions of the rooms and the dimensions of the home overwhelming. “It turned a jumble in a short time,” says the husband. “We wanted concord and cohesion between rooms which might be seen to one another. So we backed off and mentioned ‘okay, we want assist.’”

Enter designer Erika Bonnell, who was tasked with placing all of it collectively whereas guiding wayward purchasers apprehensive about cookie-cutter outcomes. “The venture occurred piecemeal as a result of they like to gather and curate and did not need to be taken out of that course of,” says Bonnell. “They each have sturdy particular person aesthetic kinds that lean in numerous methods. I needed to respect each.’

The homeowners’ eclectic preferences embody Victorian antiques, mid-century and Scandinavian furnishings and daring, trendy artwork. To combine such disparate components, Bonnell created a impartial backdrop all through that additionally achieved the objective of enhancing the views. “The outside is such an enormous a part of this house’s visible expertise, we wished to attach with it year-round — from grey winter to full summer time,” she says. Understated rugs, beige linen upholstered chairs, and pale plain curtains had been the bottom she wished.

Guests enter the grand lobby, which units an eclectic tone for the inside areas by combining vibrant Mexican artwork, a contemporary console and a pair of copy Voysey chairs impressed by originals on show on the Victoria & Albert Museum. To the best, the ethereal lounge is grounded by a impartial sectional and swivel chairs that carry out colourful work by Spanish artist Eduardo Arranz-Bravo. To the left, the eating room is an announcement maker, clad in teal Schumacher wallpaper. “Regardless that it is a busy sample, there’s not plenty of contrasting colour to compete with the summer time views,” notes Bonnell. The husband commissioned a craftsman at Newport Information to make a live-edged walnut desk to the designer’s specs; she paired it with Wishbone chairs and a dramatic Regina Andrew chandelier.

The open kitchen/household room extends throughout the again of the home and opens onto a screened porch and renovated brick patio. Just a few deft adjustments up to date the kitchen, the place darkish granite counter tops gave strategy to white quartz counter tops and a glazed ceramic tile backsplash. The bottom of the island was painted a recent blue-gray and a particular Hubbardton Forge fixture was put in overhead. “That outsized, sculptural chandelier made an enormous distinction,” notes Bonnell, who opted for dynamic, trendy lighting all through the inside.

A wing off the kitchen has a solarium and the proprietor’s suite on the bottom flooring, with a visitor condo above. 4 upstairs bedrooms are accessed by the principle staircase within the lobby, which showcases an elaborate gallery wall, conceived by Bonnell, of the homeowners’ artwork and artifacts.

In addition to enhancing the property, the couple have additionally revitalized the landscaping, improved the swimming pool and created English, perennial and vegetable gardens, in addition to an apiary and fruit orchard. The lady says: “We’re delighted to have the ability to carry this property again to life.”

Inside Design: Erika Bonnell. Erika Bonnell Interiors, Sterling, Virginia.

SOURCES

LOBBY
Console desk: madegoods.com. Voysey copy chairs: nrhillerdesign.com. Portray over console: Rufino Tamayo.

LIVING ROOM
Sofas and swivel chairs: kristindrohancollection.com. Rug: greenfront.com. Demi-lune Console: vintage. Paintings above console: Eduardo Arranz-Bravo. Wall paint: Elmira White from benjaminmoore.com. Ground lamp close to couch: circalighting.com. Double stools: vintage. Curtain material: fabricut.com. Console desk with skirt Material: Lee Jofa by way of kravet.com. Lamps on console desk with plinth: curreyandcompany.com. Chair with wood body and ottoman: thosmoser.com. Ground Lamp by Chair: Assortment of Homeowners. Cover carpet: trophyroomcollection.com.

KITCHEN
Island Base Coloration: Customized by way of byerswallpaper.com. Worksheets: silestoneusa.com by way of sky-marble.com. Backsplash: architessa.com. Over Island Lighting Fixture: hubbardtonforge.com.

DINING ROOM
Background: fschumacher.com. Dresser: lumens.com. Lamps on sideboard: classic. Mirror over dresser: madegoods.com. Wishbone Chairs: roveconcepts.com. Rug: greenfront.com. Chandelier: reginaandrew.com. Curtains: fabricut.com. Swan image body: framemasters.com.


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