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0MJI¸W E 7YVTVMWI Jim and Mai Abdo combined their construction and design talents to turn a former ambassador’s residence into a family-friendly house. BY LAURA WAINMAN PHOTOS BY JOSEPH ALLEN
HOME LIFE | INSIDE HOMES
im Abdo has already experienced a lifetime of surprises from his wife Mai. On the night he proposed, she shocked him by running out the door five minutes after saying “yes” and not returning until the next day. Turns out she had just gone to tell her parents because she was so thrilled. When he first took her to see their current family home, she did a cartwheel across the front lawn and promptly twisted her ankle. Six days after they moved in, she gave birth to their first child, Sophie, who is now 12. To be fair, Jim was typically the instigator of each surprise. For example, on the night he proposed, Mai thought she would just be hanging out at his Dupont Circle bachelor pad in sweats, a T-shirt and no makeup — not exactly expecting one of the most romantic nights of her life. As for that visit to their future home, Jim initially said he wanted to take her out on a date and instead drove her to the Massachusetts Avenue Heights neighborhood to show her the house he had already purchased for them, unbeknowst to his bride. Thirteen years later it would seem that they would have a much more difficult time surprising one another. They are so comfortable together that they finish each other’s sentences and anticipate mutual needs. Being on the same page helped greatly when it came to decorating their 1930s Federal-style house because they are both self-described “minimalists.” “Jim and I are neat-nicks and don’t really like a lot of clutter,” Mai says. “We subscribe to the ‘less is more’ theory, and often have discussions about how much is too much.
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PREVIOUS PAGE (clockwise from top left): The foyer sets the tone for the rest of the house with antiques such as as a Chinese prayer chair recovered in suede and a table base found at Random Harvest re-outfitted with honed marble; Mai doesn’t want rooms in her house to look like they came straight from one show room or store and prefers to mix and match with found items that she can restore; The Abdos have both agreed to outfit their house in a minimal fashion, so practical items such as these local birch logs and ceramics serve both decorative and useful purposes; Family dog Buddy enjoys sitting on this antique chair, sourced by designer Daryl Carter and recovered in a Hines silk-wool fabric, when the family is not looking; Mai likes to decorate with items that have meaning to her family, such as this antique Chinese roof ornament purchased in Beijing and antlers found at their Virginia country house. THIS PAGE (clockwise from top left): The David Ietesta custom parsons dining table can seat up to 20 guests for formal entertaining; Family meals are a critical component of the Abdos lifestyle and Mai says Jim is very conscious of always making it home for dinner; The kitchen was converted from a working kitchen with concrete floors from its Ambassadorial days.
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Typically, our rule is that if I bring in something new, I have to take out something else.” Mai relies instead on fresh flowers or live plants to accessorize the house, with these small touches adorning most tables and corners. Art is clearly appreciated, but isn’t overwhelming. Both Abdos say they are not collectors and have no background in art history, but they prefer it that way as it allows them to respond to what they like and what catches their eye. Their jobs play a large role in the way they delegate roles when it comes to home renovation and décor. As the CEO and president of Abdo Development, Jim is much more macro — he sees the big picture. As an interior designer for her husband’s company, Mai is more involved with the micro. When Jim first saw his future house, for example, it was in the middle of a torrential downpour, and when he stepped inside he saw water cascading down the walls with plaster dripping off.Yet, he saw the big picture as his construction background immediately alerted him to the fact that the house didn’t have a wooden joist in it and was instead made of concrete, steel and terra cotta. “I knew water wouldn’t hurt the bones of this house,” Jim says. “The moment I walked in I knew it had such potential as a home for my future wife and children and I had to have it.” The former residence of the Ghanaian ambassador was in a state of disrepair when the Abdos purchased it in 2001, but elegance abounded nonetheless. The scale of the rooms was large to accommodate embassy entertaining without being cavernously overwhelming for a private home. Underneath the six layers of wallpaper they tore off the walls, the Abdos found beautiful crown mouldings. But the primary renovation needs were working with the flow of the house, which was not conducive to family living, openness and lighting. “We ended up gutting just about everything and designed it to be two houses in one,” Jim says. “The formal areas in the front of the house allow for our hosting needs, while the three rooms we live in most, the kitchen, small
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dining area and family room, are now connected and more open.” More outdoor access was added. A panel of French doors along the back wall of the living room were opened to the backyard and pool; previously shuttered windows were reopened as well. Mai loves having natural light in all her rooms and being able to look outside and see herself surrounded by trees. Though she describes her husband as “rescuing her from the suburbs” of Virginia, she loves her current home for its suburban feel but easy access to the city’s many amenities. “On Halloween, we crossed over Mass Ave. and were at Dumbarton Oaks in Georgetown in five minutes without having to drive and park our car to take the kids trick-ortreating,” Mai says. “We can be at our favorite restaurants in Dupont Circle in two minutes yet deer run through our backyard regularly. It’s really the best of both worlds.”
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