Snowy white textiles, collectible art and carefully curated antiques don?t usually mix with the patter of little feet, but in this Bethesda home the elegant setting doesn?t hinder playtime one bit. Quite the opposite: In the library, the smooth curves of a sculpture by Stephanie Bachiero have become an unexpected jungle gym for two youngsters-in-residence. ?No surface was so precious as to be off-limits,? says interior designer Darryl Carter. ?The children have full run of the house, so the predominant goal was to create an environment that was kid-friendly.?
The owners, two busy professionals, called on Carter and architect Donald Lococo when it was time to renovate their builder-grade abode. Years earlier, the design duo had remodeled the wife?s parents? house to much acclaim and the couple hoped to recreate that magic in their own home. They teamed with Horizon Builders, the firm that had collaborated on the previous remodel as well. ?They wanted to reassemble the dream team,? jokes Lococo. Frequent partners in design, Lococo and Carter are both renowned for their aesthetic restraint and their ability to synthesize classical architectural motifs and modern elements?an approach that proved useful for this project. Built in 1965, the 13,216-square-foot manse has a sprawling layout featuring a central hall entry flanked by the library and the dining room; the kitchen is on the opposite side of the dining area. Seven bedrooms are spread over three levels, with most situated ...