Valerie Plame Wilson and Mark Foley, stars of hot scandals this year, are exiting the stage. Both sold homes recently. Maybe they’re sick of the limelight, or maybe they’re just looking for a change of scenery after a tough year.

Wilson and her husband, retired diplomat Joseph Wilson—headliners in the Robert Novak-Scooter Libby leak case—sold this five-bedroom, five-bath Georgian Colonial in Foxhall for $1.8 million. The house has views of the Washington Monument, double decks, a library, and a two-car garage.

After resigning last fall—in the wake of a scandal involving sexually explicit instant-message conversations he had with teenage Hill staff—former Florida congressman Mark Foley also left town. He collected $899,000 for a two-bedroom, three-bath Federal-style rowhouse on Capitol Hill.

If these point to a new trend, we may see “for sale” signs in front of the homes of Libby or beleaguered former Smithsonian head Lawrence Small.

You’ve decided to update a room in your home. Now what? Ignore your first instinct to call an interior designer and try the bookstore or Internet.

The July issue of the magazine includes our annual Best & Worst poll, where readers weighed in on coffee shops, pizza, celebrities, spas, and more.

This year, we also invited a few of Washington’s top bloggers to tell us their summertime favorites.


We asked Ken Johnson, whose blog DCmud.blogspot.com tracks commercial and residential real-estate development, to pick a few of his favorite—and least favorite—Washington-area neighborhoods, condo buildings, and more. Johnson also runs DCRealestate.com, a sales and marketing company with an emphasis on urban neighborhoods.  Read below for an expanded version of Johnson’s picks.  

To see other local bloggers' bests—like Amanda McClements of Metrocurean.com, Melissa McCart of Counterintelligenceblog.com, and Washingtonian.com’s own Best Bites, After Hours, and Open House bloggers—check out the July issue, on newsstands now.

Gary Yacoubian, president of MyerEmco AudioVisual, a company that builds custom home theaters, has spent his career incorporating the latest video and audio components into media rooms for Washingtonians who are serious about watching movies and TV.  After 20 years in the business, he still gets excited about new technology hitting the market.

“One of the latest trends is wireless audio and video products that let you access music, photos, and video files from your computer in rooms throughout the house,” he says. “It’s just really cool.” 

What are the three must-have components for a home theater?
You need a big screen, high-definition TV; a home theater receiver and source components; and a sonically matched speaker system with subwoofer.

What is a common mistake people make designing a system?
Evidence shows that more than half of new HDTV owners don’t have their TVs connected properly to display an HD picture.  Half of those people actually think they’re watching high definition!  You need to be a student of connectivity and setup issues—or you need to hire one—to really enjoy these awesome new technologies.

What is the biggest TV screen you’ve installed in the area?
It was a 133-inch screen for a front-projection system.

Is there a theater you designed that ranks as your favorite?
Yes. It featured a 42-inch rear-projection HDTV in a custom cabinet for everyday viewing, then a hidden 92-inch screen that drops down for a front projector when viewing movies and special events.

How much did the most elaborate media room you’ve designed cost?
In excess of $250,000. It was a dedicated theater with full acoustical room treatments and seating. The design, layout, and quality of gear made it fabulous.

MyerEmco has ten area locations, including a custom installation department in Gaithersburg.

Diana Hart is a lifelong Washingtonian and 23-year veteran of selling and buying homes. She has spent the last ten years with Randall Hagner, where she’s been the top producer since 2002. Diana specializes in Northwest Washington and close-in Montgomery County, including neighborhoods such as Kalorama, Georgetown, Chevy Chase, Cleveland Park, Dupont Circle, Logan Circle, Adams Morgan, Woodley Park, Foxhall, Wesley Heights, American University Park, Bethesda, and Potomac.

How would you rank the strength of the area’s real-estate market?
Our metro area is one of the strongest in the country.  The people who aggregate and analyze market statistics all point to our unique and powerful demographics. Our regional economy is still growing, and today our formerly sleepy Southern town is relatively insulated from economic downturns.
The demand for entry-level or first-time-buyer homes is driven by young people and new households. Move-up buyers are plentiful, too, as incomes, family size, and aspirations evolve. Then there are the empty nesters, who are moving sideways across the housing demographic. Let’s not forget the international buyers, who are a powerful force in the market, as well as high-end buyers who are willing and able to pay top dollar for a property in our market. All these segments of the market are growing.
 
Everything I read seems to tell people to stay away from the condo market right now.  Do you agree with that?  Or do you think condos are still a good investment?
All real estate is local. Without condos, most younger people would be renters for quite a few years, and while renting is okay for a while, there is clearly a human instinct to own your own nest. I think that condo living is very attractive to people, and condos offer terrific home-ownership opportunities.  

What advice would you give to home-buyers?
The most important step to take when beginning a new home search is to get pre-approved for a mortgage. After all, right after “location location location” is “budget.” Everyone can acquire champagne taste once they start looking at houses that are beyond their price range.  
There’s no question that having a dream is very important—yet knowing in advance what is realistically possible is going to ultimately lead people to their new front door. In the end, staying focused and committed to the task at hand simplifies the entire process. This is true for every price range.
Second, it’s important to be flexible. Obviously no home is perfect and being open-minded and willing to compromise are two qualities that are essential to finding—then actually obtaining—that new home.  

Based in Cabin John, Anthony Wilder Design Build does everything from whole house renovation to interior design. Admired by peers for his creativity, Wilder, who co-owns the firm with his wife, Elizabeth, calls his style “architecture with whimsy.”  

How many houses have you remodeled in the Washington area?
More than 1,000. I used to do a lot of smaller jobs (close to 300 per year), but now we turn out between 15 and 20 larger, more detailed, projects a year.

What are the biggest mistakes people make when renovating a home?
Working with an unrealistic timeline is a huge mistake. All too often clients rush through selections in an effort to complete the project for a special event, rather than developing the details and letting all the great ideas and opportunities unfold. My advice would be that it’s great if the project is completed in time for a special event, but don’t lose sight of the fact that you’ll be living with these decisions for the rest of your life or until you move. It’s one of the most important investments you will ever make.

What do people want in their homes?
People want open space, natural light, and seamless flow—these are enduring elements that so magically become a source of serenity. A home or a room must always reflect good feelings. Everyone feels healthy and calm in natural light.

Here is one of Wilder's favorite spaces in his own house.

What is your favorite room in a house to design?
Rooms with beautiful views…especially of gardens.
 
You’ve done so many residential projects—do you have a favorite?  One that stands out in your mind?
Projects that have anything to do with flowing water. I love using water as a reflection of the architecture.  
 
What’s your own house like?
It’s a traditional house with a contemporary flair. One of my favorite parts is the seamless walls of glass facing the garden.

A Jack Rosen Custom Kitchens design.

Rockville-based Jack Rosen Custom Kitchens has designed and installed thousands of kitchens in the Washington area. We sat down with the firm’s owner, Larry Rosen—whose father, Jack, founded the company in 1982—to ask some questions about kitchen design.


Why is kitchen renovation so popular?
The kitchen is the heart of the home. So much time is spent in the kitchen. With family members going in different directions, the kitchen is always a reliable gathering place.

What do people want in their kitchens?  What are the biggest trends?
Our clients seem to want the kitchen to present a theme. It can range from traditional to contemporary, but it often makes a statement and sets a tone for the rest of the house. High-end appliances are desired, including built-in refrigerators, commercial-style ranges, and quiet dishwashers. Two sinks and two dishwashers are desired when the space allows.

What are the biggest mistakes people make when renovating a kitchen?
The biggest mistake people make is rushing into the project. Preferences can change in the course of doing research. Also, time should be taken to find professionals that you feel comfortable working with. Don’t compromise on quality. If it means waiting a little longer to increase your budget, it is worth the wait.

Does someone remodeling a kitchen usually recoup most of the cost when selling the house?
I am always happy to read in consumer and investment magazines that kitchens and baths have the highest rate of return among remodeling projects. Also, kitchen remodeling can accelerate a sale.

What’s the most expensive kitchen you’ve done?
The price of the cabinets exceeded $180,000.

What advice would you give someone who is considering a kitchen renovation?
Do your research. Look through kitchen magazines to determine the styles, colors, and features you want. Get referrals from others who have done similar projects.

What’s your own kitchen like?
Okay, I admit—I am designing my kitchen now. After years of considering a move or an addition, we have decided that with the children away at college we are happy with the size of the existing space. Also, as I indicated earlier, we will not compromise on what is important to us. Our budget has also increased with the passing of time. I can’t wait. The kitchen will be contemporary. Its fun to be on this end of the project.