With an eye to downsizing within the sophistication of Washington, D.C.’s Embassy Row, our clients set their sights on a 2400-square-foot condo set partially below ground level and requested a renovation that would evoke the grace of a Parisian or New York apartment. With no axial alignment of the spaces, including curious access to the primary suite through the library, dark plain walls, and wall-to-wall carpeting, the original articulation rendered the space heavy and haphazard. Our transformation began with a spatial reconfiguration to create clarity through a 140-foot defining axis across the whole apartment, punctuated by an enfilade plan featuring defined rooms. New doors, true panel walls, and flooring play a fundamental role. The new doorways demarcate each new zone, and classical-style paneling provides gracious elegance to each area. The marble paved foyer makes a statement upon entry, while the chevron-patterned oak floors give a nod to the parquet treatment of a Parisian urban abode. The axial alignment culminates in the revelation of two separate terraces that open off the living and dining rooms, taking intentional advantage of the apartment’s ground level position. Clean lines, including the Indiana limestone fireplace and the sleek Snaidero kitchen, contribute to the airy feel throughout the apartment. Collaboration with designer Frank Randolph in the selection of furniture, arts, and antiques complete this cosmopolitan metamorphosis.

Photography by Gordon Beall