ƃƅ COUNTRYLIVING.COM / SEPTEMBER 2019
W
hen Christopher Vazquez and Rick Davis decided
to trade life on Capitol Hill for the Maryland
countryside, the old-house enthusiasts hoped
they’d be swapping their urban townhouse for a
100-year-old fixer-upper. But, after looking around,
the co-owners of D.C.-based Amaryllis Floral & Event Design
(amaryllisdesigns.com) were quickly discouraged. “Most of
them were money pits,” says Rick. “They came with a major list
of problems—rotting timbers, bad wiring, or they were caving
in. We were struggling with balancing the demands of our
business and taking on a lifetime of problems at home.” So, they
pivoted and teamed up with Rick’s brother, Wayne, who happens
to be a builder (waynedavisconstruction.com), and together they
crafted a good old-fashioned saltbox on 27 picturesque acres in
Hollywood, Maryland. “We kept the architecture simple because
we collect antique everything,” says Christopher. “We just didn’t
want the headaches that come with those old bones.”Home Remedies
Christopher and Rick talk
how to troubleshoot common
new-build complaints.PROBLEM: The yard has been
completely bulldozed.
SOLUTION: A cottage-style
garden featuring hosta leaves,
ferns, clematis vines, and more,
which help it feel more
“situated” than fresh-cut sod
PROBLEM: Top-to-bottom paint
in a stark, contractor white
SOLUTION: Period-perfect earth
hues. Here, a natural palette of
gray and green was inspired by
estate sale Audubon prints.
PROBLEM: So. Much. Drywall.
SOLUTION: Salvaged architec-
tural details like old columns,
beams, gates, and barn louvers
to add soul. In the entry, a
rustic beam—reclaimed from
an old log cabin (cochrans
lumber.com)—is now a shelf
showcasing vintage vessels.
PROBLEM: Nothing beats the
patina of old fl oors.
SOLUTION: Reclaimed fl ooring
in random widths (here, up to
17 inches) laid with old nails
(houseofantiquehardware.com)Sharkey Grey
Martha Stewart