Playing with form: A Nelson County house makes room for fun

Tom Davidson and Marilyn Mars love to laugh, and their house shows it. When they moved to Nelson County from Florida, they sought a modern dwelling, commissioning Marilyn’s brother Randall Mars, a McLean-based architect, to design it. Though clean lines attracted them, Marilyn says, this house—full of colorful, detailed art and objects—is anything but minimal. […]

Ground control: Prepping your garden for its spring awakening

Spring comes to us variously—covered in mud, blasted through on dry winds, smuggled beneath the skirts of late freezes. It has been known to rise gloriously from a burgeoning earth like the first day of Eden, which seems likely this year. Abundant moisture from rain and snow portend a spectacular flowering of classic favorites: dogwood, […]

Finishing touches: At home with Wendi Smith

Wendi Smith has been in the design business for more than 20 years, beginning with commercial design work in New York City—from the Chase Bank trading floor to a standardizing two floors for Citibank in the MetLife Building on Park Avenue. “I have done everything from a brand new, 17,000-square-foot space to just helping first-time […]

February ABODE: On stands now!

This month’s issue of Abode is available now. Here’s what you’ll find inside: Roots Natural Kitchen‘s clean remodel. Wood-look flooring to consider. A peek at Candace DeLoach’s inn loft. Jeff Dreyfus answers a few of our questions. An Ivy mansion wherein looks deceive. This month’s featured home: Brand new tradition As Robin and Craig Ellis […]

Wood you? New alternatives to hardwood are flooring some homeowners

Faux wood has, in the past, been a splinter in the discerning consumer’s eye. But new products and improvements on standbys are changing that, according to local floor purveyors and homebuilders. From wood-look tile to luxury vinyl, floor treatments are treating high-end homeowners to options that were never before possible. “If they love everything about […]

Love your veggies: A fresh design for a healthy nosh at Roots Natural Kitchen

Alvaro Anspach and Alberto Namnum are passionate about vegetables. Eat mostly fresh veggies and fruits, they believe, and you’ll soon feel more energetic and focused. How are they spreading the gospel? From the pulpit of their restaurant, Roots Natural Kitchen, where they serve salads and grain bowls packed with avocados, broccoli and other super-healthy ingredients. […]