A new home rises in Bethesda, and, with the help of designer Sandra Meyer, it becomes a showpiece of modern comfort.
A sofa from Lee Industries (leeindustries.com) and chairs from Bolier (deccahome.com), adorned in Schumacher (fschumacher.com) fabric, grace the living room of this new Bethesda custom home. PHOTOGRAPHED BY ROBERT RADIFERA
THE PROJECT
A couple with four children, ranging in age from middle school to college, moved into a newly built, 5,500-square-foot home in Bethesda.
The master bedroom showcases a black frame poster bed. PHOTOGRAPHED BY ROBERT RADIFERA
THE TEAM
The new homeowners chose Sandra Meyer, principal at Ella Scott Design (ellascottdesign.com), and her team for the project. “People often categorize me as creating interiors that lean toward modern,” says Meyer. “However, I think many of my interiors are a reflection of the feedback I get from my clients. What I bring to all of my projects is my love of contrasts and clean lines.”
The owner’s suite bathroom features a soaking tub tucked away in an alcove. PHOTOGRAPHED BY ROBERT RADIFERA
THE GOALS
The couple’s overarching goal was fairly simple: a home that offered abundant functionality at every turn, but one that had style and comfort in its design DNA. “Every project is different. Therefore, my approach isn’t always the same,” says Meyer. “Clients play different roles in the design process, and we adjust based on their involvement. We spend a lot of time understanding the overall project and their vision. Many of our clients have children, and we work to make sure they have a beautiful yet functional family-friendly environment.”
With natural light sources on two sides, the dining room is bright and fully functional for family gatherings. PHOTOGRAPHED BY ROBERT RADIFERA
THE LIVING SPACES
For this family in a bustling house, the kitchen represents the epicenter of daily activity. Meyer says her clients initially wanted a classic kitchen, but during the planning process, they made the aesthetic switch to a space with a modern feel with clean lines. Toward that end, Meyer’s team chose furnishings that matched this contemporary mindset, with counter stools from Industry West (industrywest.com), kitchen island lighting and a table from RH (rh.com), and chairs from Safavieh (safavieh.com). The stunning hardware is from Buster + Punch (busterandpunch.com).
A tucked-away bar represents Meyer’s love of contrasting colors and clean lines. PHOTOGRAPHED BY ROBERT RADIFERA
In the living room, a family-friendly vibe, combined with chic furnishings, creates an eminently livable area graced with chairs from Bolier (deccahome.com) with Schumacher (fschumacher.com) fabric, a sofa from Lee Industries (leeindustries.com), a coffee table from Square Feathers (squarefeathers.com) and a console from Oly (olystudio.com).
A bright bathroom showcases gorgeous black pendants that match the countertop. PHOTOGRAPHED BY ROBERT RADIFERA
THE OUTCOME
Of course, great home design doesn’t materialize from the ether—it comes from weeks of mapping every room and layering the details to create a beautiful, compelling family story. And it helps if the client and designer are simpatico, which was definitely the case with this project. “There were few challenges, as the clients were wonderful and easy to work with,” says Meyer. “They had a clear vision and communication was seamless.”
The couple opted for a contemporary kitchen, which features counter stools from Industry West (industrywest.com), lighting from RH (rh.com) and hardware from Buster Punch (busterandpunch.com). PHOTOGRAPHED BY ROBERT RADIFERA
Photography by: Robert Rafidera
