Robert Gurney’s Winning Design at the Wyoming

The world of DC design is so small. When I was writing a story on a Hugh Jacobsen house in McLean last year, I met Raed Alawadhi of Apartment Zero, who helped with the house’s redesign. Fast forward many months, and I hear that Raed now lives in Miami, while his partner, attorney David Smith, stays back to sell their apartment.

And what an apartment — it’s won no fewer than five architecture awards.

The elliptical ceiling is not only cool, but the dropped ceiling on its border hides all the essential ductwork.

This unit, in the Wyoming Building in Kalorama Triangle, was a “dump” when he bought it, David says. He hired architect Robert Gurney to gut it and completely revamp the design in this traditional Beaux-Arts building.

“I turned it over to him,” David says of the architect, giving him a blank slate to work his modern hand.

The kitchen includes ash wood panels dyed red and blue. It also includes mahogany cabinets, Brazilian cherry floor, and granite counters.

Stainless cabinets match the appliances.

Gurney told me he enjoyed finding creative ways around the building’s non-negotiable infrastructure, such as creating the dropped periphery around the living room ceiling. “It shouldn’t inhibit, but spur creative design,” he says.

The master bedroom has a wall of textured stainless steel -- and the built-in TV conveys.

I love the Metro map in this master bath.

teases the guest into the house instead of showing you the drama the minute you open the door,” David says. “]

You can see the foyer through a small opening in this cabinetry. "like how [Gurney

The apartment is listed through Sotheby’s, right here, for $869,000.