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By\u00a0Susan Stiles Dowell<\/a>\u00a0| Photography by\u00a0Gordon Beall<\/a><\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Spectacular workmanship abounds in a venerable Dupont Circle townhouse. American walnut doors and cabinetry feature the species\u2019 pale heartwood, formerly the bane (and detritus) of a woodworker\u2019s studio. Decorative plaster applied in subtle layers brings an inner glow to every wall. And distinctive furnishings, woven like jewelry through the rooms, reflect the owners\u2019 regard for the hand of the artist at work.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The house was built in 1910 in the Romanesque Revival style characterized by the Smithsonian Castle on the National Mall. The 21st-century improvement plan for its three floors\u2014formerly chock-a-block with seven bedrooms on one level\u2014didn\u2019t start with a craft-oriented aesthetic. The owners bought the property for the building\u2019s age, authenticity and convenient location. They deliberated for nine months before deciding on a renovation scheme that would channel their taste and lifestyle.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The initial wish list included \u201crelocating electrical outlets, moving some old built-ins and taking out the back stairs to improve circulation,\u201d\u00a0says the wife, a photographer. She and her husband, an affordable-housing developer from a Maine lumber family, hired architect Michael Lee Beidler, who eventually devised a concept that would address those issues\u2014and more. The final plan expanded the house seven feet into an adjacent alley, then gutted the interiors and started from scratch.The first floor now features an entry foyer, study and great room encompassing sitting and dining areas as well as a generous kitchen. The second floor accommodates a billiard room, guest suite and the wife\u2019s office. The third floor is reserved for the master bedroom suite.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The renovation began with painstaking repairs to the exterior. Since the house is located in a historic district, Beidler employed traditional restoration methods\u2014for example, tasking craftsmen from R. Bratti with meticulously tooling red limestone replacement blocks for the front fa\u00e7ade. Inside, the clients replaced oak millwork and doors with walnut and built new walnut-paneled cabinets. Collaborating with woodworkers at Gaston & Wyatt in Charlottesville, Beidler issued a directive: \u201cDon\u2019t cut out the knots or the heartwood. They tell a story that honors the life of the tree.\u201d He also opted for walls made of plaster and lath rather than sheetrock. Pale hickory floors replaced oak flooringthroughout and the ceiling moldings were made from hand-cast plaster.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Beidler had created \u201ca cohesive canvas\u201d when designer Michael Hampton joined the team to finesse final finishes and furniture plans. To develop a clear vision for the interiors, Hampton says, \u201cI looked to the house for clues\u2014not to recreate a historical period but to be inspired by its level of handcrafted detail. I saw early how the owners appreciated historical integrity and craftsmanship and didn\u2019t take shortcuts,\u201d he explains. In turn, he set out to create a classic aesthetic with quality furnishings and elegant art against a neutral backdrop of beige hues.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Hampton experimented with paint washes and tints on the walls before he, Beidler and the clients found a more dynamic solution: a selection of Venetian plaster finishes applied by Lenore Winters Studio. Layers of limestone wash deliver a depth of light and movement that paint couldn\u2019t match. The rich finishes, in shades of beige, required 10 months to dry.Sconces by French designer Herv\u00e9 van der Straeten make a statement by the front door.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n In the study, a set of calligraphic paintings purchased on a trip to Japan is cleverly mounted on two folding frames set into the plaster walls, a feat of engineering that hides the TV. Hampton custom-designed the fireplace surrounds out of limestone and marble.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The wife, whose photographic work is printed on metal and displayed over the great-room fireplace, found the modern Holly Hunt chandelier that hangs above a dining table for 12. She credits Hampton\u2019s influence with her choice: \u201cMichael introduced me to a whole world of beautiful design,\u201d she reveals.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The four-year transformation of this Washington townhouse honors a level of workmanship that its collaborators cite with pride. Beidler ranks it \u201ca legacy house,\u201d while Hampton notes the new detailing as \u201cunique but true to its roots.\u201d\u00a0 As for the owners, they have found a home that they meticulously helped to create\u2014and that they will never leave.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Renovation Architecture: Michael Lee Beidler, Trout Design Studio, Washington, DC. Interior Design: Michael Hampton, Michael Hampton Design, Washington, DC.\u00a0 Renovation Contractor: ILEX, Washington, DC.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n