By Michael McCarthy By Michael McCarthy | July 15, 2020 | Home & Real Estate,
The great room features sofas from Wesley Hall and coffee and end tables designed by Jamie Merida.
Jamie Merida was thrilled when his McLean, Va., client showed up at his new 2,400-square- foot penthouse without a single stick of furniture. The client, a successful real estate developer, had used Merida’s design talent on multiple projects over the years. He gave the Eastern Shore-based designer carte blanche. “He basically said, ‘You know I don’t know what looks good, but you do—just make it amazing!’” says Merida, who runs Jamie Merida Interiors (jamiemerida.com), including Bountiful Home & Flooring and the Jamie Merida Collection for Chelsea House (chelseahouseinc.com).
Despite earning complete trust from his McLean client, who’s a bachelor, Merida says he always wants to fully understand how a space for a client will be used. “Design choices really are just as much about function as they are about aesthetics,” says Merida, who describes his design aesthetic as traditional made modern. “I come from a fine arts and antique background and love honoring those shapes and forms in a contemporary way. I also love mixing modernism and classical elements.”
Vibrant bar stools from Wesley Hall accent the kitchen.
For the bachelor pad, Merida knew his client leans toward minimalism; he’s neat, precise and doesn’t like layers of clutter. “We wanted to create sophisticated and elegant interiors that are clean, chic and echo classical forms and shapes,” says Merida. “We designed custom pieces for many of the spaces. These items helped to keep the rooms uncluttered and crisp.”
The great room, boasting a circular rotunda 30 feet in diameter with gorgeous views from every oriel window in the dome, features two seating areas, plus dining and work spaces. Merida employed neutral wall colors—which are used throughout the home— and filled the area with finely crafted furniture, including a dining table from Hickory White and dining chairs from Wesley Hall. Merida wisely chose some of his signature creations for the space, most notably a sideboard, a coffee table and end tables.
Kitchens can be tricky alongside massive square footage like the great room, so Merida adhered to simplicity and created clean cabinetry lines and a waterfall edge for the island. “We also added three- dimensional sculptures cascading over the breakfast table,” says Merida. “The breakfast table is counter height and silver leafed to work with the cabinetry hardware.”
Designer Jamie Merida custom designed the bed and cabinetry in the master bedroom, which features wood from Duchateau (duchateau.com)
Merida notes the master bedroom is all about the bed, which he designed. “The headboard is a walnut herringbone pattern that runs to the ceiling,” he says. “It’s flanked by a pair of chest-bookcases with marble tops that we designed.” The designer kept minimalism in mind: With the exception of a bench, it’s the only piece of furniture in the room. The client’s office proves that functionality can be beautiful, with a desk and wall unit custom designed by Merida and a zebra rug providing ample whimsy.
The client, naturally, was thrilled with the results, as the home combines comfort, livability and abundant beauty. “We achieved the vibe he was going for, and the home is well organized and uncluttered,” says Merida. “It’s always particularly exciting to use products I design myself in my interior projects.”
DESIGN DETAILS
LOCATION
The Signet McLean, Va., signetmclean.com
INTERIOR DESIGN
Jamie Merida Interiors, jamiemerida.com
RESOURCES
Wesley Hall, Pair of sofas, great room, wesleyhall.com
Jamie Merida Collection, Coffee and end tables, great room, chelseahouseinc.com
Annie Selke, Bedding, master bedroom, annieselke.com
Visual Comfort, Bedside sconces, master bedroom, visualcomfort.com
Wesley Hall, Bar stools, kitchen, wesleyhall.com
Jamie Merida Interiors, Custom desk and wall unit, office, jamiemerida.com
Chelsea House, Desk accessories, office, chelseahouseinc.com
Photography by: Robert Radifera; Styled by Charlotte Safavi