Sunlight falls softly on the Adams Morgan living room, giving the space the depth the owners envisioned as well as casting shadows that emphasize the black and white photographs of the owners above the sofa.
But the true vision of this penthouse condominium was that of Andreas Charalambous, principal of Forma Design Inc., who saw the brand-new, two-level home as a blank slate waiting to be personalized by its owners, Trent Heminger and Sean Younoszai.
For the owners, the condominium’s location and views sold them on the purchase. For Charalambous, it was an opportunity to present the buyers with options that would maximize the spaces’ true potential. But it was the owners’ decision just how far they wanted to go.
The Right Results
There’s no denying the beauty of the city at night, especially from both levels of Heminger and Younoszai’s condo that they purchased last year. In the distance, the crowns of the Capitol and National Cathedral as well as the Washington Monument come into view. From the front of the building, the second floor guest bedroom overlooks the Meridian International Center designed by John Russell Pope, who also designed the Jefferson Memorial.
“The views are one of the most impressive features of this space,” Younoszai says. Heminger, a real estate professional with McWilliams Ballard, knew the value in the location and was sold without even visiting the home. While grand city views bookend the condo, the space in between was an “underachiever,” Charalambous says.
With builder-grade finishes, the owners knew something was missing and called on Charalambous to start by creating an office out of a vacant upper-level hallway. “You have to have a vision of what it can be,” says Charalambous, who always starts with a master plan for the renovation of an entire home, but takes cues from the owners as to how much or how little they want to do.
He also notes that often buyers of new properties think since everything was just installed, they shouldn’t replace the items or redesign the spaces. But Charalambous, both architect and interior designer, says, “Why wait to enjoy the updates?” These owners agreed. By postponing their original move-in day, Heminger and Younoszai are now able to enjoy a space designed for them, personalized for their art and furnishings.
A Better New
When you start with a home with good architectural bones and homeowners with refined tastes and fine art, it’s easier to devise a master plan for the redesign, Charalambous says. He also listens to “what a building is telling us it needs.” In this case, “everything about the space was screaming to me to make a change. It hadn’t reached its potential,” Charalambous says.
For Younoszai, a psychiatrist who grew up in Minnesota, went to medical school in Los Angeles, and came to DC to do his residency at Georgetown University Hospital, the home needed to be artistic. He added enlarged photos of both of them in the bedroom, and in the living room incorporated pictures of him with his parents on his second birthday and of Heminger on the Ohio farm where he grew up.
For Heminger, the home had to have parking and storage – practical components. He says this is his seventh home in seven years, and it’s hard to find a condominium with as much space. And now, “you can’t find anything out there with this level of finishes,” he notes.
Composing Perfection
Reflective, almost ebony flooring contrasts with the white walls throughout the condo, including along the second floor hallway that started the entire transformation.
A simple office installation resulted in transoms added above doorways to let in more light, custom millwork designed by FORMA Design and built by RUMO Ltd. for storage in the office and living/dining area, and a kitchen restoration where the appliances that came with the new home were rearranged around new cabinetry and Silestone counters. The kitchen’s opening was adjusted to make it part of the entertaining area, not a hidden component.
“A major issue was the fact that the kitchen was trying to be part of the space, but not going all the way,” Charalambous says. “It needed to be part of the entertainment area, not the service area.”
“I knew the kitchen could be amazing,” Heminger says. “I loved it before, but now it’s more comfortable.”
Reflecting on Its Beauty
Lighting was a key element throughout the entire condo, especially in the owners’ suite. The lighting takes control of this space, the designer says. “It’s a major gesture.” He also played up the fact that the sleeping and sitting areas are clearly separated.
Charalambous says there’s no right or wrong approach to renovations or redesigns. You have to be open to explore opportunities and see spaces’ potential. For Heminger and Younoszai, there were no compromises. Once they saw the options, they went for them all. Now, the interior of the Adams Morgan condo commands the same “wow” factor as its location. The place resonates with the owners’ personal style.
“I wasn’t convinced we needed the redesign,” Younoszai says. “But now I couldn’t live without it. I’m enjoying this home more than any place I’ve ever lived.” ws
