Floor Decor

An outdoor rug that looks like jute, but even easier to maintain, is good thing. With textures that resemble natural fibers, this handwoven polyester piece is durable and UV-resistant. The Mischa indoor/outdoor rug comes in green, blue and neutral (shown) and six sizes. $68 to $998 at Anthropologie, 4801 Bethesda Ave., Bethesda; 240-345-9413; anthropologie.com

Stow It

These braided containers look like traditional coiled rope baskets and have a nautical vibe. The Courtyard bins are constructed of fade- and stain-resistant polypropylene, which won’t absorb moisture and can be hosed off to clean. Choose from white, taupe, charcoal or navy in three sizes. $59, $89 and $119 at Room & Board, 7236 Woodmont Ave., Bethesda; 866-407-6252; roomandboard.com

Garden Glow

Add some ambience to your next alfresco fete without having to search for an electrical outlet. These natural rattan solar LED floor lanterns charge in the sunshine so they can light up the night. They’re available in round and tapered shapes and can rest on the ground or hang on a hook. $39.99 (round) and $29.99 (tapered) at World Market, 12266 Rockville Pike, Rockville; 301-816-2480; worldmarket.com

Lotsa Pots

The Tula collection of textured planters adds rustic elegance to outdoor living spaces. Each pot is handmade of terra cotta with a smooth glazed finish and has an opening for drainage. The small (7¼ inches high), medium (10¼ inches high) and large vessels (12¼ inches high) are sold separately. $49.50, $179 and $269 at Pottery Barn, 4750 Bethesda Ave., Bethesda; 301-654-1598; potterybarn.com

Rock Steady

A sculptural coffee table that looks like a massive river rock is bound to be a conversation piece, as well as a place to perch your lemonade. Crafted of smooth rounded cement, it has mold impressions, water spots and pinholes for organic appeal. The Pebble concrete coffee table comes in white or charcoal and measures 59 inches wide. $1,099 at Crate & Barrel, 4820 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, D.C.; 202-364-6100; crateandbarrel.com

Artisanal Apps

Display small bites in style on this eye-catching petrified wood charcuterie board at your next outdoor party. Cut and polished by hand, each serving piece is distinctive, measuring approximately 13¾ inches by 10½ inches. $79.50 at West Elm, 951 Rose Ave. (Pike & Rose), North Bethesda; 301-230-7630; westelm.com

This story appears in the July/August edition of Bethesda Magazine.

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The town of Garrett Park is bounded by the MARC train tracks to the northeast, Rock Creek Park to the southeast, Kenilworth Avenue on the northwest side, and the Parkside Condominiums to the southwest. The ZIP code is 20896.

History

The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad built a station in Garrett Park in 1893, and the village was planned and developed around it as a suburb of Washington, D.C. It was named after John W. Garrett, who was a president of the B&O Railroad. Garrett Park was incorporated as a town in 1898 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.

Amenities

Garrett Park is surrounded by public transportation options. The Brunswick Line of the MARC train still stops in the neighborhood, buses run regularly on Strathmore Avenue, and the Grosvenor-Strathmore station on the Metro’s Red Line is close by. The heart of the town is Penn Place, a former general store in the historic district that now houses the post office, town offices and archives, an art gallery and the popular Black Market Bistro restaurant. Locals enjoy hiking and biking trails in Rock Creek Park, and arts and entertainment at The Music Center at Strathmore, which is within walking distance. There are two playgrounds in the community, as well as tennis/pickleball courts and a swim club. Young residents attend Garrett Park Elementary School, Tilden Middle School and Walter Johnson High School. 

Vibe

You know you’re in Garrett Park when you see the old-fashioned streetlamps on a stretch of Strathmore Avenue. Quiet streets weave past well-kept historic homes beneath a dense canopy of leaves. The vast variety of trees is so important here that the town was designated as an arboretum in 1977. There is no home mail delivery in the town, so residents connect at the post office where they fetch their mail. The neighborhood is very social, with semiannual progressive dinners, a July Fourth parade, Halloween festivities, and even a film society that screens movies several times a year at the town hall.

Housing Stock

Of the 375 houses in Garrett Park, the Victorians get a lot of attention, but there are home styles from every era since the town’s inception. Sears catalog bungalows, cottages, farmhouses, midcentury split levels and new contemporary homes all add to the eclectic charm of the neighborhood. 

This story appears in the May/June edition of Bethesda Magazine.

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Bethesda’s Cabin John neighborhood is defined by the Beltway to the north and west, the Cabin John Parkway connector to the east, and the Potomac River to the south. The ZIP code is 20818.

Amenities: This is a nature lover’s dream, with easy pedestrian access to the river and the C&O Canal towpath for hiking or biking. There are two public parks, Cabin John Local Park and Seven Locks Local Park, as well as the private Palisades Swim & Tennis Club. Montgomery County Recreation operates a community center, which has a preschool, summer camps and other activities. The shopping center is MacArthur Plaza with a post office, deli, salon, dry cleaner, restaurants and the Bethesda Co-Op. The Alpine Veterinary Hospital is nearby. An active citizens association publishes a monthly newsletter and advocates for residents on issues such as pedestrian safety, I-495 expansion, airplane noise reduction, and repairs to the C&O Canal. Public school students attend Bannockburn Elementary School, Thomas W. Pyle Middle School and Walt Whitman High School. 

Vibe: Cabin John doesn’t feel like a typical suburban Bethesda neighborhood. There’s a relaxed atmosphere in this close-knit village, with streets that wind through the woodsy hills above the Potomac. Neighbors enjoy casual get-togethers such as potlucks and trivia nights, as well as annual events, including a July 4th parade, turkey trot and community canoe trip. The chicken and crab feast has been a Cabin John tradition for decades. It began in a resident’s backyard and is now held outside at the community center to accommodate many residents and friends.  

Housing Stock: There are about 700 houses in the neighborhood, in architectural styles from every era in a wide range of sizes and prices. The eclectic mix includes historic farmhouses and bungalows, midcentury ranches and split levels, and new contemporary and colonial homes. Cabin John Gardens is a 100-house cooperative on the south side of MacArthur Boulevard. The modest dwellings were built by the federal government to house employees of the David Taylor Model Basin in the early years of World War II. In the 1950s, the residents formed a cooperative and purchased the 19 acres and the houses from the government for $400,000. It has operated as a co-op ever since, and most of the original homes have been remodeled and enlarged. 

This story appears in the March/April issue of Bethesda Magazine.

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Blue Light Special: A reactive blue glaze gives each Jordan ceramic table lamp depth, dimension and one-of-a-kind character. A white linen shade is included. $299 at Pottery Barn, 4750 Bethesda Ave.,Bethesda, 301-654-1598, potterybarn.com

Have a Seat: Stylish and sturdy, with clean Parsons-inspired lines formed by leather-wrapped steel and wood, the Folio top-grain leather dining chair is a standout in elegant deep blue. $419 each at Crate & Barrel, 4820 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, D.C., 202-364-6100, crateandbarrel.com 

Bench Warmer: Color and texture turn a simple bench into a statement piece. The Hughes backless bench has a solid mahogany frame and a seat woven from lampakanay, a strong rush-like plant. It’s 60 inches wide by 15 inches deep. $1,198 at Serena & Lily, 7121 Bethesda Lane, Bethesda, 240-531-1839, serenaandlily.com

Curtain Up: Filter the light and add color and softness to a room with European flax linen curtain panels, available in 84-, 96- and 108-inch lengths. $238 per pair at West Elm, 951 Rose Ave., Suite 104 (Pike & Rose), North Bethesda, 301-230-7630, westelm.com

Get Cooking: The size and shape of Le Creuset’s 7.5-quart Signature Chef’s Oven make it the perfect vessel for soups, braising and even baking. It’s made of durable enamel-coated cast iron and is available in 12 colors, including Sea Salt, shown. $461.95 at Sur La Table, 11874 Grand Park Ave. (Pike & Rose), North Bethesda, 301-230-1503, surlatable.com 

Super Nova: Color and texture turn a simple bench into a statement piece. The Hughes backless bench has a solid mahogany frame and a seat woven from lampakanay, a strong rush-like plant. It’s 60 inches wide by 15 inches deep. $1,198 at Serena & Lily, 7121 Bethesda Lane, Bethesda, 240-531-1839, serenaandlily.com

Blue Chip: Sherwin-Williams’ Upward (6239) paint is a calm blue with gray undertones. Try the dreamy neutral in a relaxing bedroom or a sophisticated dining space. $72.99 per gallon of Cashmere interior paint in Eg-shel at Sherwin-Williams, 856 Rockville Pike, Rockville, 301-251-7804, sherwin-williams.com 

This story appears in the January/February issue of Bethesda Magazine.

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Silver Spring’s Woodmoor neighborhood is bounded by the Beltway on the south, University Boulevard on the west, Colesville Road (Route 29) on the north, and the Northwest Branch of the Anacostia River on the east. The ZIP code is 20901.

Amenities

Commuting from Woodmoor is a breeze. Buses run frequently, making the 2-mile ride straight down Colesville Road to the Silver Spring Metro Station. The Woodmoor Shopping Center is easy for pedestrians to access without crossing any busy streets. It has a CVS, a Starbucks, a Chipotle, Santucci’s Deli, The Watch Pocket Jewelers and the beloved Woodmoor Pastry Shop. Across the street is The 4 Corners Pub, a casual restaurant and bar and the site of many post-soccer pizza parties and high school reunion happy hours. Two grocery stores, Safeway and Trader Joe’s, are nearby. The community abuts the Northwest Branch, which has miles of wooded hiking trails along a rolling stream. Young residents attend public school at Montgomery Knolls Elementary (pre-K through second grade) and Pine Crest Elementary (third through fifth grades), Eastern Middle School and Montgomery Blair High School.

Vibe

It’s a very family-friendly place, with kids everywhere. The Woodmoor/Pine Crest citizens association sponsors several annual events, including Oktoberfest, a holiday tree and menorah lighting, a competitive holiday decorations contest, a July 4th parade, a Pride parade and a music festival open to everyone called WOODMOORstock, where residents host local bands in their front yards. 

Housing Stock

Developed as a bedroom community for Washington, D.C., in the 1940s and ’50s, the houses are mostly Cape Cods and colonials, with a few ranches here and there. There are about 1,200 single-family homes in the neighborhood, many of which have been remodeled and expanded over the years to accommodate growing families. 

Landmarks

St. Bernadette Catholic Church, on University Boulevard East, has been a part of the Woodmoor community since the parish was established in the 1940s. St. B’s, as it’s known, also has a popular pre-K through eighth grade parochial school.

Home Sales Data

24: homes sold in the first ¾ of 2023

34: average days on market

$736,250: median sold price

This story appears in the January/February issue of Bethesda Magazine.

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Bethesda’s Wildwood and Lone Oak neighborhoods are bounded by Interstate 270 on the east and north, Old Georgetown Road on the west and Interstate 495 on the south. Grosvenor Lane divides the two areas. The ZIP code is 20814.

Amenities

Easy access to so many major roadways, including Route 355, makes these neighborhoods convenient for commuting downtown or up I-270, and the Grosvenor-Strathmore Metro station is close by, too. The Wildwood Manor swimming pool is another attraction. Nestled in a wooded site, it has a competitive swim team and an active social calendar, and will undergo a full pool renovation in the coming year. Westfield Montgomery mall, with more than 120 stores, is just up the street, and The Ratner Museum is located on the corner of Lone Oak Drive and Old Georgetown Road and showcases local artist Phillip Ratner’s sculpture, painting, graphic arts and etched glass work. The children in the neighborhoods attend public schools at nearby Ashburton Elementary School, North Bethesda Middle School and Walter Johnson High School.

Vibe

The family-friendly suburban location has sidewalks for safe stroller and dog walking. Fleming Local Park has a playground, tennis and basketball courts, a ball field and a pavilion with picnic tables—and it’s on the Bethesda Trolley Trail, a hiker and biker path that connects Rockville to downtown Bethesda. 

Housing Stock

The houses in Wildwood Manor are primarily midcentury brick ramblers and split-levels, with a newer enclave, Wildwood Estates, built on the north side of the neighborhood in the late 1990s. There is more new construction in Lone Oak, as many of the older Cape Cods and small colonials are being razed to make way for larger and modern farmhouse-style homes. Grosvenor Heights is a luxury townhome community built in the last decade. 

Landmarks

The most popular spot in the neighborhoods is The Shops at Wildwood on Old Georgetown Road. It’s the upscale home to Balducci’s gourmet market, Sarah’s Handmade Ice Cream & Treats, several casual restaurants—such as Fish Taco and Flower Child—with outdoor seating, and boutiques including Red Orchard and Indigo Octopus, as well as banks, a barber shop, a dry cleaner and Starbucks, of course. 

Coming Soon

The Mercury at Wildwood, a new mixed-use development adjacent to The Shops at Wildwood, will feature 60 apartments above retail, restaurants and parking. It is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2024. 

This story appears in the November/December issue of Bethesda Magazine.

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Living lodge: For cozy evenings by the patio firepit, wrap yourself in the 54-inch-by-70-inch Wallace Lake sherpa fleece and flannel blanket. It’s machine washable and comes in four colors, including birch plaid red currant (pictured). $89.95 at REI, 910 Rose Ave. (Pike & Rose), North Bethesda, 301-770-1751, rei.com 

Check It Out: A clean, modern take on traditional design, this organic plaid holiday pillow measures 23 inches square and comes in luminous red and spruce green. $39.95 (cover only), $65.95 (with insert) at Crate & Barrel, 4820 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, D.C., 202-364-6100, crateandbarrel.com  

Cute Cover-Up: Keep your holiday outfit clean and look good, too, with this Snowy Village plaid vintage-inspired apron. $39.95 at Sur La Table, 11874 Grand Park Ave. (Pike & Rose), North Bethesda, 301-230-1503, surlatable.com  

Timeless Tartan: Mix and match tartan plates with solids or other prints for a festive tablescape. The Stewart tartan ceramic stoneware from Juliska is oven-, microwave- and dishwasher-safe. $42 each at Bloomingdale’s, 5300 Western Ave., Chevy Chase, 240-744-3700, bloomingdales.com  

Keep It Clean: You can’t have too many dish towels, especially during the holidays. Refresh your stock with a happy plaid version that’s durable and stylish. Set of three for $24 at Tabletop, 6927 Laurel Ave., Takoma Park, 240-467-3982, tabletopdc.com

Seasonal Switch: Spread holiday cheer all over the house with a 100% cotton duvet in a classic Stewart tartan print for the bedroom. Choose from ivory, red or green. $169 to $199 at Pottery Barn, 4750 Bethesda Ave., Bethesda, 301-654-1598, potterybarn.com

This story appears in the November/December issue of Bethesda Magazine.

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Geometric Gem

With a three-dimensional cubist design, the Ezra natural rye wood bar cabinet is a functional piece of art. $2,299 at Crate & Barrel, 4820 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, D.C.; 202-364-6100; crateandbarrel.com

Blanket Statement

Snuggle up on a chilly fall evening with this handwoven corded throw. $60 to $65 at West Elm, 951 Rose Ave. (Pike & Rose), North Bethesda; 301-230-7630; westelm.com

Bowled Over

Handcrafted and hand glazed, the ceramic Frasier bowl adds an organic element to a coffee table, nightstand or side table. $129 at Pottery Barn, 4750 Bethesda Ave., Bethesda; 301-654-1598; potterybarn.com

Copper Top

Handmade metal pieces add unique texture and patina to a room. This dome pendant is made from recycled metals and crafted by Mexican artisans. $518 at Arhaus in Westfield Montgomery mall, 7101 Democracy Blvd., Bethesda; 301-230-2973; arhaus.com

Up Against The Wall

Textured wallpaper—and natural grass cloth-inspired designs in particular—have made a big comeback in recent years. York Wallcoverings’ Line Stripe, from the New Origins collection, features a metallic thread in a horizontal design. $130 per double roll through Sherwin-Williams, 4809 Auburn Ave., Bethesda; 301-654-7955; sherwinwilliams.com

Soft Slumber

Cozy velvet bedding is a fantastic seasonal switch for fall. Rich in texture and color, the Delwood quilt is made from washed cotton velvet with channel quilting and features a lightweight linen backing. $348 to $448 at Serena & Lily, 7121 Bethesda Ave., Bethesda; 240-531-1839; serenaandlily.com

This story appears in the September/October issue of Bethesda Magazine.

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Gaithersburg’s Kentlands neighborhood is a 352-acre planned community that is bounded on the northeast by Great Seneca Highway, on the southwest by Darnestown Road, on the northwest by Quince Orchard Road, and on the southeast by Inspiration Lane. The ZIP code is 20878.

History

Kentlands is significant, as it was the first non-resort community in the country built in what would become a wave of late-20th-century American developments designed with neo-traditional town planning practices—also called New Urbanism. In 1988, local developer Joseph Alfandre Jr. purchased a large portion of the Otis Beall Kent farm. To create an alternative to the county’s typical postwar suburban enclaves, Alfandre enlisted the team of architects and planners responsible for the famed Seaside, Florida, community. New Urbanist design principles emphasize walkable, high-density mixed-used towns with sidewalks, narrow streets, garages in alleys behind the houses, and a commercial center that’s easy to get to on foot or bike. 

Amenities

Thirty-five years later, the neighborhood is thriving, with people shopping and enjoying recreation close to home. There are no big backyards, but plenty of communal places to enjoy the outdoors. The busy community center has a large outdoor pool, sports courts and playgrounds. Kentlands Market Square contains national chain stores and restaurants interspersed with small local businesses and office spaces. A day care center and Rachel Carson Elementary School are located within the community, and Lakelands Park Middle School and Quince Orchard High School are nearby. 

Vibe

The atmosphere is small-town America, with white picket fences, mature trees and plenty of public spaces for residents to gather. There is a regular farmers market at the Main Street Pavilion, live music, and yoga classes and “Yappy Hours” (for dogs and their owners) on the town green.

Housing Stock

There is a purposeful mix of housing types, sizes and prices within the community’s approximately 2,100 homes in the various districts. The residential units include large single-family homes, smaller single-family houses called urban cottages, townhouses, condominiums, rental apartments and senior living apartments. 

Landmarks

The Kentlands Mansion, completed in 1900 by Frederick Tschiffely Jr. and sold to Otis Beall Kent in 1942, now belongs to the city of Gaithersburg and is used as an events venue. Adjacent to it is the Gaithersburg Arts Barn, a renovated and restored horse stable that’s now home to a gallery and theater space. 

This story appears in the September/October issue of Bethesda Magazine.

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In the Round

$1,399 at Pottery Barn, 4750 Bethesda Ave., Bethesda; 301-654-1598; potterybarn.com

Pillow Talk

$49.50 at West Elm, 951 Rose Ave. (Pike & Rose), North Bethesda; 301-230-7630; westelm.com

Under Cover

$279.99 at World Market, 12266 Rockville Pike, Rockville; 301-816-2480; worldmarket.com

Glow Places

$750 at Strosniders Hardware, 10504 Connecticut Ave., Kensington; 301-933-2207; acehardware.com

Bamboo-yah!

$42 for four at Tabletop, 6927 Laurel Ave., Takoma Park; 240-467-3982; tabletopdc.com

On a Roll

$999 at Crate & Barrel, 4820 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, D.C.; 202-364-6100; crateandbarrel.com

Modern Adirondack

$599 at Room & Board, 7236 Woodmont Ave., Bethesda; 866-407-6252; roomandboard.com

This story appears in the July/August issue of Bethesda Magazine.

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