You Know What's Between Black and White?

Between Black and White there are Several Shades of Blue and Gray

I finally got Jill and Shawn to sit still long enough to select the interior paint colors for OPaL's new model home / office....and my new home.

McCormick interior colors:: (top to bottom) Clear to See, Blazing Sky, Zephyr and Shadow Dance.  All trim and panelling will be Cream Pie White.
Above fabrics:: on the left is the new window treatment for the great room, the previous selection has been discontinued.  On the right is the window treatment for the stair-tower.  

Okay, Found the Second Coolest Architect Ever....

A few weeks ago a good friend of mine, knowing my life long connection to horses and more recently, architecture, sent me a link to an article in The Post about a super talented architect. John Blackburn, has made a name for himself by designing uber lavish equestrian barns for actual horses.  And now I just stumbled across a post on my second favorite DC real estate blog, DCMud, about the very same gentleman.  However this time he has designed a super sexy barn for actual people.  Go Figure! 

Read about Mr. Blackburn from DCMud

Read about Mr. Blackburn from The Washington Post

Learn More About Blackburn Architects, P.C.

The super sexy barn for people (above)

Just one of many uber lavish barns Mr. Blackburn had designed for horses (above) Growing up on a small horse farm, I can tell you, our horses had it nice, but not this nice.

Logan Circle Holiday House Tour 2012

Check out our advertisement for the Logan Circle Holiday House Tour brochure......

Buy your Holiday House Tour tickets here.

Learn more about Naylor Court Stables

Nate Berkus:: The Things That Matter

I just finished Nate Berkus's new book, The Things That Matter.  What a terrific read! I highly recommend if you love design and ever wondered how to include your most meaningful possessions into your home design, this is a must read.  

Nate's mantra:: 
"I BELIEVE YOUR HOME SHOULD TELL YOUR STORY, WHAT YOU LOVE, COLLECTED AND ASSEMBLED IN ONE SPACE."

PS:: If you have never read a book on your iPad, it takes reading to a whole new level.  You can highlight names and places you don't recognize or want to learn more about and search the web while you are reading.  Its gotta be the best reading experience ever!

A Rolling Stone Gathers No Moss.....in Chevy Chase

Our Martha's Vineyard model in Chevy Chase is busting-a-move towards completion this month. Check out the work completed this week alone::

Stone facade on stair-tower almost completed.

Barefoot Contessa Kitchen. How easy was that? As Ina Garten would say.

OPaL's signature stair tower (above and below pics).

Plus the cutest address plaques were delivered to the office today.

  And you know we love cute.

MacArthur Blvd Has Never Seen a Bedroom Like This

OPaL's new Model Home & Office::

Now that's a master bedroom ceiling!  When complete the ceiling and walls in this master bedroom will be covered in beveled 1"x8" paneling and painted white.  Think vacation of your favorite home on the bay in Annapolis......

Love is in the Details

How great is the retro tile being installed in Chevy Chase, Cabin John and The Stables?

Chevy Chase master bath from this weekend (below)

Plus, check out the sunroom of our new office / model home on MacArthur Blvd. (below)

Looks a tad sloppy while under construction this weekend, but you can see it taking shape.

How 'bout that cupola / clear story on its roofs.....

Cone of Silence! This is Just Between You and Me.

TWO YEARS IN A ROW, OPaL WINS NATIONAL ARCHITECTURE AWARD

Seriously trying to wrap my head around winning the Silver BALA Award again in 2012.  We were notified recently that our MacArthur will be following in the footsteps of our Clara Barton from Cabin John Crossing with a NATIONAL award for architecture. This is following the MacArthur winning the DC 2012 Home of the Year just last month.  

Our team is overwhelmed with the response we have received from our industry piers as well as the public at-large.  It's beginning to sink in what a bright future OPaL will have in the National Capitol Region; beginning this winter with the historic Stables in DC and super modern homes in Kensington later in 2013 plus our new office and model home under construction right now on MacArthur Blvd.  Yeah Team!