The Roanoker Nov/Dec 2024 - 94

Homes
A
fter years of work-related
travel, one homeowner has the
perfect space for relaxation. Thanks
to Circle Design Studio, Gina Mar's
home in Hunting Hills is now Japandi
design, a blend of Scandinavian and
Japanese interior design rooted in minimalism. Mar's exuberance
for the home and the team that executed the renovation
is almost palpable, as the design updates perfectly suit
her lifestyle.
DEVELOPING DESIGN
PREFERENCE
When Mar joined the military as an army dentist, she
didn't know her experiences would influence a future home
renovation.
Mar explains, " I developed minimalism tendencies partly
because of the military. When you're moving all the time, you
have the opportunity to curate what you own. With each move,
I asked myself, 'Should I donate this, throw it away or keep
it?' I still keep that mindset even though I'm settled now. I
go through my closet every year and discard things I haven't
worn. I also have a rule that I discard something if I make a
new purchase. "
This tendency to curate her own possessions has served her
well, as being unencumbered by excess is the defining feature
of Japandi style. As a dentist who specializes in root canals,
she also needs a place to unwind after work and finds the style
" very calming. "
CHOOSING TO WORK
WITH CIRCLE
As Mar researched contractors, she discovered that Circle
Design Studio had renovated other homes with Japanese design
influences. This Asian design flair made her think they'd be a
good fit for her.
When John and Theresa Dorlini, the owners of Circle, visited
the home, they took time to ask questions about what Mar
liked and what she didn't. They were very clear about making
the house hers, not influencing Mar with their own preferences.
Mar initially wanted to redo the kitchen, fireplace and front
walkway. But through creativity and thinking outside the box,
Mar got more than she anticipated out of the renovation while
still staying under budget.
COST-SAVING INITIATIVES
During the renovation, Mar wanted to correct some DIY projects
from previous homeowners. One of these was a discrepancy
in the dining room door frame of about five inches. A fatherson
duo, George Vega Sr. and Jr., was able to help.
Replacing the door was beyond the budget, but George
Vega Sr. was able to instead add pieces of trim to make everything
flush. George Sr. wrestled with the trim for a while, but
the result is a seamless correction of the misalignment. Mar
beams, " Their commitment to quality and attention to detail
were outstanding. "
One of Mar's other pain points before the renovation was
the fireplace. Mar disliked the " dingy, brown stone that felt
very '70s, " but tearing out the fireplace would have been costly
and potentially decreased the home value.
Theresa consequently came up with the idea of whitewashing
the stone instead. George Jr. grabbed a paintbrush and
applied the paint, resulting in grayish stones and deemphasized
spacing between them. George Jr. then painted the metal of
the fireplace matte black for a crisp look.
Other aesthetic changes include replacing the original black
railing around the stairs with clear glass and installing ceiling
beams that look like wood (but are actually foam) in the
vaulted ceilings. These further aligned the look of the home
with Japandi design principles.
94 november/december 2024
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The Roanoker Nov/Dec 2024

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