Author Archives: Niki

‘Do You Keep a Gun in Your Home?’

Starting the conversation felt awkward. After all, she didn’t want to offend another parent. It also felt necessary, because putting her 5-year-old son in harm’s way was not an option. After procrastinating, role-playing and even discussing it with a therapist, … Continue reading

Posted in Education | Comments Off on ‘Do You Keep a Gun in Your Home?’

Discussing the Election with Children

While Colleen K. Vesely has watched televised debates and political events with her children throughout this election season, an event during which the American Civil Rights movement was discussed stands out. It was a concept her 3-year-old daughter didn’t grasp, … Continue reading

Posted in Education | Comments Off on Discussing the Election with Children

Ending Bullying

When Carol Baker cried, no one heard her. She and a classmate were alone in the girls locker room, and as Baker, then an eighth grade student, tried to leave, her classmate grabbed her gym shirt and pushed her into … Continue reading

Posted in Education | Comments Off on Ending Bullying

Crafting Admissions Essays

Ginger Wilner spent almost every morning last month hovering over her MacBook Pro, at a window seat in Starbucks, scouring a series of essays. She was looking for fatal mistakes. Errors ranging from comma splices to illogical arguments could torpedo … Continue reading

Posted in Education | Comments Off on Crafting Admissions Essays

Childhood Hobbies: Finding the Right Fit

While many are still basking in the lazy days of summer, Anna Faust is planning her 5-year-old son’s after-school activity schedule for the fall. On his agenda: baseball, soccer, gymnastics and tennis lessons. “My plan is to expose him to … Continue reading

Posted in Education | Comments Off on Childhood Hobbies: Finding the Right Fit

Does Music Make Children Smarter?

Can playing the piano strengthen a child’s reading and math skills? Can joining a school band be a catalyst for building self-confidence? Does one develop strong analytical abilities by taking violin lessons? Some music experts say yes. “Every minute that … Continue reading

Posted in Education | Comments Off on Does Music Make Children Smarter?

Finding a Home for the Golden Years

When Jim Upp’s wife Jeannie died in 2006, the Fairfax senior citizen found himself surrounded by a lifetime of memories in the spacious home where the couple had raised three children. “We lived on a one-acre lot with plenty of … Continue reading

Posted in Health and Wellness | Comments Off on Finding a Home for the Golden Years

Journey, Interrupted

Donna couldn’t smile. Overwhelmed by the activities of her daily life, she couldn’t concentrate or experience happiness. “It felt like there was a thousand pounds on my shoulder and I couldn’t alleviate myself of it,” she said. “I didn’t want … Continue reading

Posted in Health and Wellness | Comments Off on Journey, Interrupted

2017 Color of the Year: Greenery

When interior designer Annie Elliott’s home office began to feel lackluster, she draped the windows with green Roman shades to infuse a burst of color into the muted space. And after McLean-based designer Joseph Van Goethem decided that the time-worn … Continue reading

Posted in Features | Comments Off on 2017 Color of the Year: Greenery

Beautiful, Bold, Soothing: Classic Blue

Dependable, stable and calming are the characteristics of the Color of the Year for 2020. For the past 21 years, Pantone Color Institute has announced a “Color of the Year,” which the self-proclaimed authority on color says will be on … Continue reading

Posted in General | Comments Off on Beautiful, Bold, Soothing: Classic Blue

2018 Color of the Year: Ultra Violet

It’s a moment that interior designers anticipate all year: the announcement of the Pantone Color of the Year. Ultra Violet is the selection for 2018, and local designers are giving it a mixed reception. “Interiors have gone so neutral, I … Continue reading

Posted in General | Comments Off on 2018 Color of the Year: Ultra Violet

Color of the Year

Two colors, Serenity (light blue) and Rose Quartz (pale pink), were recently named the Pantone Color of the Year selection for 2016. Pantone provides professional color standards for the design industries, and each year, the hues are credited with influencing … Continue reading

Posted in General | Comments Off on Color of the Year

Home Life Style: The Region’s Best Home Designs

From designing a kitchen with a concave glass tile backsplash to creating a backyard with a fireplace and pool, some local home remodelers were honored recently with the National Association of the Remodeling Industry’s (NARI) 2013 Regional Contractor of the … Continue reading

Posted in General | Comments Off on Home Life Style: The Region’s Best Home Designs

Home Life Style: Local Designer Honored

Old Town Alexandria-based interior designer Anna Kucera has a knack for helping her clients turn their fanciful ideas in to concrete realities. “Getting to know my clients and looking for areas where I can create solutions for them is the … Continue reading

Posted in General | Comments Off on Home Life Style: Local Designer Honored

The Power of Light

When architect James Rill of Rill Architects, PC designed a family home in Potomac, recently, he had to think light in more ways the one. “The clients wanted a house that had a presence, but not an ostentatious presence, more … Continue reading

Posted in General | Comments Off on The Power of Light

Getting That Linen Closet Organized

The autumn season brings falling temperatures and a need for bed linens with heft, but if digging out flannel sheet sets and wool blankets means rummaging through a stash that includes everything from shampoo to flashlights, it might be time … Continue reading

Posted in General | Comments Off on Getting That Linen Closet Organized

Last Chance to See the ASPIRE HOUSE in McLean

Designing a dream home can be likened to assembling a haute couture wardrobe. The right foundational pieces and accessories combine to create an aesthetic that is at once polished and nonchalant. This weekend offers the last opportunity for the public … Continue reading

Posted in General | Comments Off on Last Chance to See the ASPIRE HOUSE in McLean

Black Interior Designers on Industry’s Lack of Inclusion and Diversity

As recent racial injustice protests have brought issues of diversity and inclusion to the forefront of the nation’s consciousness, local interior designers of color are voicing concerns about equity and underrepresentation within the industry. Four tastemakers from around the region … Continue reading

Posted in General | Comments Off on Black Interior Designers on Industry’s Lack of Inclusion and Diversity

Time for School

When Ellen Feldman’s 5-year-old son started school for last fall, one of the biggest adjustments for the single mother of two was having to adhere to a schedule. “All of a sudden we went from being able to do things … Continue reading

Posted in General | Comments Off on Time for School

Efforts To Quit Smoking

“I highly recommend that you have tools in place before you quit.” — Deneice Valentine, former smoker Cushions flew about the living room as Deneice Valentine combed the cracks of her sofa, hoping that among the crumbs and lint she … Continue reading

Posted in Features | Comments Off on Efforts To Quit Smoking

Keeping up with Neal Gillen

The fog was thick in San Francisco as waves crashed against the rocks in the Pacific Ocean. It was a cold morning and 73-year-old Neal Gillen found himself fighting against the current, gulps of salt water burning his mouth. Far … Continue reading

Posted in Features | Comments Off on Keeping up with Neal Gillen

Island Vacation Inspires Kitchen Remodel

During a vacation to the Maldives, Lesli and Daniel Creedon found inspiration for the design concept behind their newly remodeled kitchen. The family, which includes two 15-year-old children, wanted to capture the aesthetic of the powder-white sand and glass-blue lagoons … Continue reading

Posted in General | Comments Off on Island Vacation Inspires Kitchen Remodel