Y IDEA OF A down-to-earth
home is one that takes the
best from the past and incor-
porates the conveniences and
ease of modern living. This
historic American foursquare in Washington,
D.C., was originally built in 1918. It’s a truly
special place, with three floors of amazing
woodwork and arts-and-crafts details. The
owners loved those features, but are also
drawn to midcentury furniture and prefer
a contemporary vibe. They wanted a feeling
of openness and plenty of room for them-
selves and their four little boys.
I felt like I understood exactly what this
family was looking for. During the renova-
tion, I was pregnant with my fifth child, my
daughter Aurora, while my client was preg-
nant with her fourth son—and we had the
exact same due date. Like most turn-of-the-
century homes, this one didn’t have a family
room or a true master suite. So I worked with
Shawn Buehler of Bennett Frank McCarthy
Architects, in Silver Spring, Maryland; and
Impact Remodeling and Construction, in
Washington, D.C., to design a spacious two-
story addition that would give them both.
Then I set about creating interiors that would
combine arts-and-crafts and midcentury
sentiments, and be toddler-proof, all in
keeping with the family’s aesthetic.
Now that the work is done and the babies
have arrived (on their due date!), I get lots
of sweet photos of all the boys playing on
the furniture. Nothing makes me happier
than seeing them really live in and enjoy
the house, and make it their own noisy,
happy, loved space.
M
KEY INGREDIENTS
Above: To keep the new kitchen feeling original to the
old house, Liess paired quartersawn white-oak cabinets
(which echo the living-room mantel) with practical
soapstone countertops and an extra-deep angled apron-
front sink. The lighting is by Rejuvenation, and the
backsplash tile is from the Tile Shop. Left: Personal objects
that inspired Liess during the project included old keys,
a handmade carving, hellebores, an antique etching,
and a framed finger painting that her 4-year-old daughter,
Gisele, made when she was 11/2.
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