San Francisco designer Kevin Sawyers helps newcomers to DC create a bold, California aesthetic for their Dupont Circle home.
A vibrant California vibe permeates this Dupont Circle rowhouse, especially with primary colors and art from Blekle Rat
David Starbuck Smith and his wife, Dr. Teresa Williams, loved the work designer Kevin Sawyers did for them to complete a remodel of their San Francisco home. One problem: That was 2015, and the couple, a former tennis pro and scientist, uprooted and bought a new place 3,000 miles away in DC’s Dupont Circle neighborhood.
Geography and the pandemic could have been impediments too big to overcome for the couple to achieve the vibe they wanted for their historic (circa 1870) home. But the will to create something special from afar prevailed.
“It wasn’t a seamless task, but with the clients’ welcoming personalities, they were soon making all sorts of connections in DC that led to an unparalleled team of craftspeople and general contractors,” says Sawyers, principal at San Francisco-based Sawyers Design (sawyersdesign.com). “I felt as though we were bringing a bit of the California spirit to the East Coast.”
The kitchen showcases the designer’s vision of bringing California spirit to the East Coast.
Above all, the homeowners knew they wanted the rowhouse’s aesthetic to reflect Northern California chic, including a vibrant palette, while maintaining the integrity of structure. The project, directed remotely during the pandemic, included revamping the kitchen and adding custom furniture and rugs to fit the asymmetric, octagonal rooms of the four-level residence. It also included breathtaking art from luminaries like French graffiti innovator Blek le Rat (blekleratoriginal.com/en).
“Of course, the home has seen many changes and alterations over the years, and we did want to bring it up to date,” says Sawyers. “I never like to do away with beautiful detailing though, so we always leave as much as possible.”
With timely and steady assistance from general contractor Jim Gardiner, principal at Courthouse Design/Build (202.774.4596), the two-year project went smoothly. And, of course, Smith and Williams, after a change of scenery, now have a fully redesigned home base to explore their new city.
The bright primary suite
Photography by: ANSEL OLSON PHOTOGRAPHY
