Simply Sophisticated

Written by Sherry Moeller Photography by Timothy Bell

For someone who typically frets over home furnishing decisions, Harrison Rohr found selecting what fit into his new U Street loft to be a refreshing counterpoint. It helped that he was told to discard everything he owned.

“He said everything has to go,” says Rohr about his first encounter with Eric Kole, who, along with Jason Claire, owns Vastu. Introduced to Kole by his Realtor Jeff Lockard with Tutt, Taylor & Rankin Sotheby’s International Realty, Rohr instantly trusted Kole, who designed his living room, dining room, and bedroom in one afternoon. “It was easy, for someone who doesn’t find this sort of thing to be easy,” adds Rohr, a consultant in Meetings & Special Events with The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company.

It took less than 48 hours for the two to agree on the new decor for Rohr’s entire 1,600-square-foot home. “It was a frighteningly fast decision,” Kole says. “I asked the hard questions. They may not have been what he wanted to hear, but we didn’t waste time.”

Less Layers

To begin the design process, Kole visited Rohr’s former residence. “It was very heavily layered, filled beyond a breaking point,” Kole says. “I was concerned, because what Harrison said he wanted and what he had were so different.” But Rohr assured Kole he was ready for the drastic change from Southern glitter to modern DC.

Rohr donated the entire contents of his former home to charity. “It was very freeing,” he says. “I was letting go of 10 years of my life, of things I had collected for so long.”

Then the two visited Rohr’s new home, a loft in the Visio building built by Robertson Development, and reviewed photographs of what Rohr liked. Kole’s first challenge was to address the tall 22’ windows in the main living area. “I didn’t want the windows to be the only thing that catches your eye in the space,” Kole says. “I didn’t want them to overshadow the furnishings.”

Kole took an asymmetrical window wall and made it appear symmetrical by painting the background a rich chocolate brown and draping sheers from end to end and floor to ceiling. The effect is dramatic, but not overpowering.

More Comfort

The loft’s living area was large, but without defined spaces and logical areas to place furnishings. So Kole suggested cowhide rugs to create a living area and exotic woods to add interest to the dining room. “Each item can hold its own against the drama of the space itself,” Kole says. High quality materials and interesting finishes, such as the Macassar ebony along the dining room’s console, anchor each room. “The elements of the materials are interesting even if the pieces are simple,” Kole adds.

The main idea was to create a home that was comfortable for Rohr and several friends, as well as 30 to 40 guests who attend his bi-monthly cocktail parties. Kole concentrated on how Rohr was going to live in the space and how company would view the finished areas when visiting.

Rohr’s job requires interacting with sophisticated, high-powered individuals, so when he comes home he wants to relax. “I love staying home,” he says. Vastu’s design aesthetic is warm, comfortable, modern – the look achieved in this new home.

Besides furnishing the spaces, Kole replaced the loft’s original wire railings with glass panels that Rohr finds to be among his favorite elements. “There isn’t one space I spend more time in,” Rohr adds. “I’m comfortable everywhere.”