Cutting Edge

Metalwork by local artisans elevates the style quotient indoors and out

Text by JULIE SANDERS

▲ POINT OF INTEREST Steve Prudhomme of Metal Specialties, Inc. (540-967-4836), fabricated a sleek, hot-rolled-steel fireplace surround for an Alexandria penthouse during a renovation by Runningdog Architects. Conceived by interior designer Katie Otis, the fireplace anchors the long room, adding vertical interest to the

space. PHOTO: STYLISH PRODUCTIONS

s LIGHT SHOW Collaborating with Carib Daniel Martin Architecture + Design, Gutierrez Studios fabricated and installed a three-story, wood-andsteel staircase in a Wesley Heights home; an integrated screen wall channels light while also showcasing the owners’ ceramics collection on movable, cantilevered shelves. gutierrezstudios.com

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Whole House Audio • Media/Theater Room • Lighting Control d d /h h C Shade Solutions • Network Infrastructure • Security SEASIDE STYLE Pennsylvania-based Compass Ironworks was hired to design, fabricate and install a third-floor exterior stair on a Jersey Shore condo. The result was a sleek, high-grade aluminum spiral stair, powder-coated in an eco-friendly finish to withstand the harsh oceanfront environment.

compassironworks.com PHOTO: DONNA CHIARELLI

TOUCH OF GLAM Shazalynn Cavin-Winfrey of SCW Interiors tapped AK Metal Fabricators, Inc., to create a shelf system in a glamorous scullery she was designing for clients in Alexandria. A stainless-steel frame in a mirror finish supports tempered-glass shelves; the system complements a backsplash of antiqued-mirror panels. akmetalfab.com PHOTO: ANGIE SECKINGER

BACK TO NATURE During the overhaul of a wooded property in Great Falls, Cardine Studios was commissioned to design and fabricate a steel railing leading to the home’s side entrance. Its graceful leaves and branches reflect the setting; they were handcrafted using traditional forging techniques.

cardinestudios.com PHOTO: ISABELLA LASH

FAST STATS

IN TIME FOR SPRING Remodeling’s 2020 Cost vs. Value Report indicates that in our region, a wood deck addition will recoup 77 percent of its cost while a composite deck addition will recoup 66.6 percent.

PRO TIP “Older pool decks are often made of concrete or flagstone, which can absorb a lot of heat. Travertine doesn’t get so hot, while pavers also make good decking material because they don’t crack and heave like concrete.”

—BARRY SCHNEIDER, SURROUNDS, INC.

RISING COSTS Lumber prices have spiked more than 180 percent since April 2020, increasing the cost of an average new single-family home by more than $24,000, according to the National Association of Home Builders.

240-361-9331 • davidaskitchenandtiles.com 435 A&B East Diamond Avenue, Gaithersburg, MD 20877