USA Houzz: Step Inside a Dual-Purpose Stable Conversion in Washington
With a bustling architecture firm on one level and a growing family on the next, this converted stable has evolved into a live-work showcase
Three years ago, architect Mark Lawrence and his wife, Cary, bought a 19th-century stable in the historic Shaw neighbourhood of Washington, D.C., on the way to realising his dream of opening a shopfront in the city for the studio he and Elizabeth Emerson run together. The two-storey brick building hadn’t housed horses for years, but it needed extensive renovations to make it suitable as a workplace – perfect for architects looking to showcase their work. E/L Studio has operated out of the first-floor space ever since, with Lawrence tackling projects around the building when time allows.
In August, Mark and Cary welcomed their first daughter, putting a rush on some second-floor projects. Because not only does Lawrence work here, but he also lives upstairs with his wife and newborn daughter. “The baby sparked completion of many outstanding projects,” says Lawrence, “like doors for the bedrooms.”
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Architect Mark Lawrence; his wife, Cary; and their baby daughter
Location: Shaw neighbourhood of Washington, D.C.
Size: 230 square metres (each floor is 115 square metres); (2 bedrooms, 1½ bathrooms)
In August, Mark and Cary welcomed their first daughter, putting a rush on some second-floor projects. Because not only does Lawrence work here, but he also lives upstairs with his wife and newborn daughter. “The baby sparked completion of many outstanding projects,” says Lawrence, “like doors for the bedrooms.”
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Architect Mark Lawrence; his wife, Cary; and their baby daughter
Location: Shaw neighbourhood of Washington, D.C.
Size: 230 square metres (each floor is 115 square metres); (2 bedrooms, 1½ bathrooms)
When Lawrence bought the Washington building, it had most recently been used as a print shop and upstairs residence. Before that it had served as a series of auto repair garages, and prior to that a horse stable. Though the upstairs had already been used as a living space, it was basically a raw brick shell. “There were four walls and a roof,” he says.
The work and residential spaces diverge before you walk through the front door. Enter through the sliding glass doors and you’ll be in the design studio; you turn left to get to the residence (shown above). When it’s warm outside, they open up the front and back of the building and enjoy the cooling cross breeze.
The work and residential spaces diverge before you walk through the front door. Enter through the sliding glass doors and you’ll be in the design studio; you turn left to get to the residence (shown above). When it’s warm outside, they open up the front and back of the building and enjoy the cooling cross breeze.
Inside, the colour and material palettes of the downstairs office are stark, with the existing structure and concrete floors preserved. A bright turquoise counter adds just a touch of colour.
Cabinets: Ikea; Diffrient World Office Chair: Humanscale; table: custom
Cabinets: Ikea; Diffrient World Office Chair: Humanscale; table: custom
The staircase to the second floor projects into the studio, but otherwise the spaces remain separate. “It’s great to be able to walk downstairs and talk to members in the studio and then go upstairs and make sure my daughter has a bottle,” Lawrence says.
Walk straight through the building and you’ll find an enclosed backyard that shares walls with an auto repair garage and district archives. When they were renovating the space, they found horseshoes in the backyard.
Inside, they discovered a series of original horse tethers during construction. Rather than remove them, they framed them.
The architecture studio occupies the first floor; a private hallway and staircase connect the front door to the upstairs residence. They left the building’s concrete floors but dramatically cantilevered the first white oak step to create a clear point of convergence between the home and the office.
The architects built the staircase through an existing opening between the floors that Lawrence guesses might have been the stables’ hayloft. The original floor structure for the second storey remains visible in the ceiling above the plasterboard.
The architects built the staircase through an existing opening between the floors that Lawrence guesses might have been the stables’ hayloft. The original floor structure for the second storey remains visible in the ceiling above the plasterboard.
The white oak treads continue upstairs, accompanied by a simple steel pipe railing that was fabricated onsite. Lawrence likens the railing to a thin, delicate ribbon floating through space, so he highlighted its presence by painting it a bright orange.
Lawrence says now he thinks the railing looks like orange neon, whooshing upstairs …
… whipping around corners …
… and leading to the second-storey residence.
More: On the Way Up: Stairs That Elevate to a New Level
More: On the Way Up: Stairs That Elevate to a New Level
They lofted an existing skylight to brighten the staircase, located in the centre of the building. Natural light streams in from above, though the staircase is far from any other windows.
Lawrence enclosed the staircase with semi-transparent resin panels. The staircase projects into the first-floor office, allowing both groups using the building to catch a glimpse of each other. These small, subtle intersections of adjoining spaces continue throughout the project.
Lawrence enclosed the staircase with semi-transparent resin panels. The staircase projects into the first-floor office, allowing both groups using the building to catch a glimpse of each other. These small, subtle intersections of adjoining spaces continue throughout the project.
The living, dining and kitchen area open up just off the staircase, illuminated by the existing skylight and wall of windows at the building’s front. Original brick and thick wood beams span the building. The white oak floors aren’t original to the house, having been reclaimed from a Shriners event centre, but were there when Lawrence and his wife moved in.
During the renovation, the team discovered evidence that the building had suffered a fire at some point, so they structurally reinforced the ceiling with laminated wood joists. The light coves in the ceiling extend between the joists to expose the new joists and cover the old joists, creating an unusual but interesting pattern that also helps muffle sound. Lawrence says he likes how the coves help articulate the living space by stopping at the kitchen. The team hasn’t added lights yet but plans to.
Frame Coffee Table: Crate & Barrel; sofa: custom
During the renovation, the team discovered evidence that the building had suffered a fire at some point, so they structurally reinforced the ceiling with laminated wood joists. The light coves in the ceiling extend between the joists to expose the new joists and cover the old joists, creating an unusual but interesting pattern that also helps muffle sound. Lawrence says he likes how the coves help articulate the living space by stopping at the kitchen. The team hasn’t added lights yet but plans to.
Frame Coffee Table: Crate & Barrel; sofa: custom
Turquoise, plum and red break up the otherwise white living area. “My wife likes bright colours,” says Lawrence. So when they decided to buy Eero Saarinen’s iconic Womb Chair, they bought a bright purple one.
Dining table: custom
Dining table: custom
Lawrence kept the kitchen simple, accenting it with a turquoise tile splashback and red-framed bar stools that tie in with the custom dining table. The clean white benchtops are Silestone, and the cabinets are from Ikea.
The small cutout in the corner of the white walls connects to a half bathroom.
Collins Bar Stool: Room & Board; splashback tile: Dal Tile
The small cutout in the corner of the white walls connects to a half bathroom.
Collins Bar Stool: Room & Board; splashback tile: Dal Tile
Here we see the other side of the cutout, which gives the otherwise windowless powder room more natural light. The glazed interior window connects with the master bathroom. A maroon wall provides the all-white bathroom with its one source of colour.
On the interior window’s other side, the all-white master bathroom connects directly to the master bedroom at the building’s rear.
Sink: Lacava
Sink: Lacava
Ceiling fans, central air conditioning and high ceilings help keep the upstairs rooms cool. The roof is insulated with spray-foam insulation to help regulate the extreme temperature swings of Washington’s summers and winters.
A turquoise wall accents the otherwise neutral master bedroom.
Reve Bed: Design Within Reach
A turquoise wall accents the otherwise neutral master bedroom.
Reve Bed: Design Within Reach
The turquoise accent wall continues into the adjacent nursery. Lawrence added extra insulation to the room’s floor and walls to keep it as quiet as possible.
Crib: giggle Signature Crib
Crib: giggle Signature Crib
Lawrence says it’s been great to see the neighbourhood develop as their office grows. At lunch he can walk around the corner to get sandwiches, and increased foot traffic along the alley in front of the building has led to walk-in clients. “Historically, the live-work thing has existed here for a long time,” says Lawrence, and it seemed like a good model to follow.
Lawrence had worked out of his home before, but never with a floor separating the residential and office spaces. Before he and his wife moved here, Lawrence ran the Washington branch of E/L Studio out of their home in a Maryland suburb. “One day my wife came home to find an intern building models at our kitchen table,” he says. Lawrence’s desire for a live-work experience pre-dates his professional career. “I always liked the idea of living and working in the same place,” he says. He spent his childhood summers in North Wildwood, New Jersey, where he and his family lived in the motel that his parents owned and operated for the season. “It was always kind of fun,” he recalls.