River Retreat

Arrangements of the classic, the fanciful and the sophisticated define a designer's style.

Darryl Savage's English bulldog T.C. stands guard in the sailcloth-draped entryway. Savage, owner of DHS Designs in Queenstown, Md., has crafted a whimsical refuge from a house his parents once owned.

Alexa Yablonski

Savage says the living room's papier-mache hippo once belonged to irreverent publisher Bill Regardie. The living room also boasts four 18th-century statues from a French chateau, an ethereal 19th-century Murano glass chandelier and a gargantuan pair of three-foot-high Russian iron urns set atop fluted column pedestals.

Timothy Bell

The interior is dressed in black and white and filled with museum-quality curios. Though the drama quotient is high, this show house is also a home. "I didn't want it to feel too austere, like you're sitting on a concrete bench in an art gallery somewhere," Savage says.

Alexa Yablonski

The living room mixes classics and comfort: 18th-century statues from a French chateau stand next to cotton slipcovered sofas.

Alexa Yablonski

"I'm not a big color person," says Savage, who is dedicated to white but not married to any one hue. Small amounts of black add drama "just to create some contrast and give it punch but not overwhelmingly," he explains.

Alexa Yablonski

The crisp black-and-white decor is offset by the azure view. Here, a trio of Triconfort chaises beckon welcomingly on the 100-foot deck overlooking the Severn River.

Alexa Yablonski

The serene porch gets some kick from a geometric black-white-and-gray inlaid marble floor.

Alexa Yablonski

The foyer displays a 1960s starburst above an alabaster sculpture by Savage's sister, Diane Cary-Thomson.

Alexa Yablonski

Chrome Parsons tables, Philippe Starck chairs and an elaborately carved antique Italian Grotto chair make the kitchen comfortable for entertaining.

Alexa Yablonski

"My neighbors roll their eyes at me," acknowledges Savage, an interior designer and antiques dealer. "They watch everything, wondering what bizarre thing I am going to do next."

Alexa Yablonski

A Noguchi lantern, antique antler chair and silk shag rug contribute to the eclectic master bedroom.

Alexa Yablonski

Gallery Credits:
Photo Editor, Producer Troy Witcher Text Editor Amanda McGrath

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This Story River Retreat Article \| A winding drive through the verdant hills above the Severn River just outside Annapolis reveals 1920s bungalows, mid-century ramblers and '70s contemporaries. Yet, in this eclectic enclave of houses, one mod cottage -- with centuries-old Chinese stone sculptures standing sentry out front -- comes as... River Retreat Washington Post Magazine 2009 Spring Home & Design Issue		TOOLBOX E-Mail This Save/Share + Digg Facebook Reddit Twitter myspace del.icio.us NewsTrust Stumble It! COMMENT 0 Comments Your browser's settings may be preventing you from commenting on and viewing comments about this item. See instructions for fixing the problem. Discussion Policy CLOSE Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content that you post. Who's Blogging » Links to this gallery		Related A Green Makeover Photos \| A post-war rambler becomes an eye-popping, eco-friendly dream home. Rooms to Roam Photos \| A bright, two-story addition modernizes how a family lives in a 1940s colonial.
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This Story River Retreat Article \| A winding drive through the verdant hills above the Severn River just outside Annapolis reveals 1920s bungalows, mid-century ramblers and '70s contemporaries. Yet, in this eclectic enclave of houses, one mod cottage -- with centuries-old Chinese stone sculptures standing sentry out front -- comes as... River Retreat Washington Post Magazine 2009 Spring Home & Design Issue		TOOLBOX E-Mail This Save/Share + Digg Facebook Reddit Twitter myspace del.icio.us NewsTrust Stumble It! COMMENT 0 Comments Your browser's settings may be preventing you from commenting on and viewing comments about this item. See instructions for fixing the problem. Discussion Policy CLOSE Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content that you post. Who's Blogging » Links to this gallery		Related A Green Makeover Photos \| A post-war rambler becomes an eye-popping, eco-friendly dream home. Rooms to Roam Photos \| A bright, two-story addition modernizes how a family lives in a 1940s colonial.
» This Story:Read +\|Watch +\| Comments