Text by Charlotte Safavi
Designer Kelcey Huff recently revamped the Kensington, Maryland, home she shares with her husband, Joe Sliman, a retired naval surgeon, and their teenage sons. For the renovation, Kelcey collaborated with family-owned businesses, partnering with Michael Thiede of Bethesda Contracting and Leon Smucker of Legacy Cabinetry & Design. And, of course, she also welcomed input from her sister, Tracy Schlegel, who co-owns their design firm, Waterlily Interiors.
The house had originally been remodeled in 2005 as a spec property and felt like a dated builder-grade home in desperate need of a face-lift. “I just wanted to elevate all the finishes without starting from scratch,” says Kelcey. “We started with paint, eliminating the peanut butter-colored walls and brightening the palette throughout with lighter contemporary tones.”
As the palette went from blah and muddy to happy and bright with soft grays, crisp whites, and nautical blues, Kelcey chose to replace the majority of the light fixtures. “We added dramatic chandeliers in antique brass finishes where we could. It’s funny because I’m not a gold person, but I became intrigued by how gold warms up gray,” she notes.
But it’s the kitchen—which once had a poor layout and dated finishes—that’s now the home’s showstopper. “We sealed a random columned archway to allow for more cabinetry and a gas range—the former cooktop was in the old island,” says Michael, whose team tackled the construction prep for the space. “We also replaced a small single window above the sink with a large double one for better natural light and garden views.”
The new L-shaped kitchen features clean-lined inset cabinets, a brass-strapped range hood, a bigger island, and walls tiled in a striking geometric pattern. “Once I designed the layout, I brought in a specialist; we worked on tweaking everything to maximize storage and increase functionality,” says Kelcey.
The thoughtful approach and the attention to every detail transformed the kitchen into a customized model of form and function. “What sets the project apart is the intentional storage,” Leon says. “Kelcey wanted a lot of custom drawer inserts, like a two-tiered caddy drawer with the top holding K-Cup and Nespresso pods, and the bottom having dividers for tea bags.”
In the adjacent family room, Kelcey kept the firebox but refaced the entire fireplace in quartzite ledger stone with a custom wood mantel. “I did want to dial up the transitional look for the décor. I tend to be a little blingy—think Hollywood Regency style—but I also like classic furniture,” she says.
Alongside new items sourced for the project, the abode was furnished with existing family pieces, contributing comfort and familiarity to the fresh space. After years of moving to accommodate her husband’s military service, Kelcey is now happy to call this house her forever home.
