Designer Jamie Merida creates a contemporary pied-à-terre for a McLean CEO and uses a similar aesthetic when outfitting the executive’s corporate office.
The bright living space features grass cloth wallpaper from Thibaut, lighting from Visual Comfort and wall decor from Phillips Collection.
The CEO of Merlin Cyber (merlincyber.com), a Northern Virginia cybersecurity company, wanted a comfortable place close to the office—a space where he could recharge when he’s in town. He also desired a contemporary feel for his 60,000-square-foot office in McLean.
The busy executive chose Jamie Merida Interiors (jamiemerida.com) for both projects—Merida and his lead designer, Denise Perkins, first designed Merlin’s office and then tackled the owner’s 1,100-square-foot pied-à-terre. “We like to give clients the best version of what they like, whatever their personal style preferences may be,” says Merida. “We always bring a traditional-made-modern approach to our projects so that the finished space will feel fresh for years to come.”
The workspace boasts a residential feel, especially with furniture from Phillips Collection and Wesley Hall
For the executive’s condo, Merida and his team were given a blank slate; the space was fully built out, but it had zero design when the project commenced. The lineup of rooms to tackle included the primary suite and an open-concept living area that had to pull triple duty as a living room, dining room and small work area. “Our client simply wanted a hip, modern and comfortable place to lay his head when he’s in town,” says Merida. “It’s a small condo, so we developed a furniture plan that would address all of the functional needs without feeling crowded. We created an easy flow from the living space into the dining area.”
The ensuite bathroom
Working with limited square footage, the overarching plan included a comfortable seating arrangement that would allow small soirees. “We like to include plenty of surfaces in a seating area so that there’s always an easy place to rest your drink,” says Merida. “That can be tough to achieve in a small space without it feeling cluttered. We incorporated a gorgeous, live-edge coffee table from Phillips Collection (phillipscollection.com). We also used the small Drip Drop pedestal table from my collection for Chelsea House as an accent table with the chairs. These pieces have the right scale and aesthetic for the room.”
Merida’s team had a simple goal for the client’s office: Make it modern, energetic and inviting to team collaboration and fun.
Other standout pieces include a sofa from Hickory White (hickorywhite.com), lamps from Visual Comfort (visualcomfort.com) and grass cloth wallpaper from Thibaut (thibautdesign.com). Rounding out the decor scheme are wood mirrors and wall decor from Phillips Collection.
“The dining room needed to be just large enough to host an intimate gathering,” says Merida, who employed a glass-top table and light-hued chairs, both from Hickory White, to help the space feel open and bright. The team also added a mirror from Uttermost (uttermost.com).
For catching up on early morning or late-night work, Merida carved out a small workspace. “This condo isn’t intended to be a work-from-home environment, but our client needed a place where he could fire up the laptop if necessary,” says Merida, who set up a workstation against an angled wall near the balcony. “That area could easily have been thought of as dead space, but we were able to find a way to make it highly functional for our client.”
The Merida team found a writing desk and chair from Woodbridge Furniture (woodbridgefurniture.com) that fit perfectly into the work nook.
The primary suite’s bed is from Wesley Hall, with wallpaper from Phillip Jeffries
“We wanted to create a look that felt luxurious and sophisticated,” says Merida. “The deep colors create a cozy feel while still achieving an elegant aesthetic.” The bed is from Wesley Hall (wesleyhall.com), nightstands from Woodbridge, lamps from Visual Comfort, drapes from Kravet (kravet.com) and wallpaper from Phillip Jeffries (phillipjeffries.com). Capping off the room resplendently is Matouk (matouk.com) custom bedding.
Art throughout the office is from Wendover.
When the design team encountered the office for the first time, they saw another blank slate; walls and flooring were finished by a contractor, but the rest needed an elevated look. Merida notes that Merlin Cyber is home to lots of young, creative team members who work collaboratively on projects.
“We wanted the overall vibe of the space to feel energetic and modern,” he says. “An important goal was to create plenty of breakout spaces where employees could work together comfortably. We also created comfortable lounge areas where team members can take a break and recharge. We chose finishes that are durable and designed to hold up to commercial use—including pets, which are allowed in the office.”
Even though it’s a corporate space, Merida’s approach to decor feels infinitely more residential than industrial, with furniture selections from Phillips Collection, Leathercraft (leathercraft-furniture.com) and Wesley Hall. Accessories are from Global Views (globalviews.com), and most of the art is from Wendover Art Group (wendoverart.com).
“We love that the client appreciated the importance of art in an office space,” says Merida. “It really helps set the overall tone. We chose pieces with a modern aesthetic that evoke movement and energy. The pinball prints in the lounge area are particularly fun. We also used three-dimensional pieces to create depth and visual interest throughout the office.”
Not surprisingly, Merida’s client adores each forward-thinking space. “He loves the pied-à-terre,” says Merida. “The result was exactly the vibe he was looking for, and he loves having a home that feels like a true retreat so close to the office.”
Photography by: Robert Radifera
