Co-owned by the sister duo Robyn Segal and Allyson Bronner, Peltrie Place is a design-focused real estate development company that specializes in restoring homes in both the Washington D.C. area and Westchester County, New York. This particular property, just outside of D.C. in Bethesda, Maryland, highlights their approach beautifully.
“This project was a special family home, gut-renovated and designed by Peltrie Place,” Robyn tells us. “It was important that the home felt authentic to the neighborhood and practical for living, but also felt warm, serene and playful. With a black lab and toddler, nothing could be too precious, but everything needed to feel calm, airy and functional.”
The original home had undergone multiple additions; as a result, much of the structure had to be demolished so the team could reimagine and rebuild a truly functional layout. “In doing so, it was very important that the home was constructed to look and feel authentic to the neighborhood, and significant thought went into creating an exterior and landscaping plan that felt like it was always there,” Allyson shares. “The goal truly was for it to blend in, rather than compete, even though it was effectively a completely new house.”
The pair meticulously redesigned every inch with an emphasis on practicality, warmth, and family-friendly living. “We worked with Chris Lapp Architects on this restoration, and Peltrie Place re-built and designed the home,” Robyn says. “The question we kept asking ourselves during the planning stage was, ‘is this flow practical and can this be done?’ From there we had fun designing the spaces.”
When it came to the build, the home’s original foundation was structurally sound, so it was preserved; however, the interior flow required a complete reworking. “A majority of the walls of the home were demoed to accomplish this, and we also added to the footprint,” Robyn recalls. “For example, originally, the steps to access the basement were outside, and some rooms hardly had windows, so the re-built home had a new floor plan. We also raised ceiling heights to over 9 feet, added bedrooms, a garage, mudroom, and laundry space, along with a third floor to the home which now contains a loft and additional room.”
The overarching goal was to create a thoughtful, airy, and serene space. “Each room was designed for functionality, comfort, and practicality, and we selected storage, lighting, furniture and art accordingly,” Robyn notes. “For example, in the family room we designed custom built-ins for special items, in the kitchen there are bookshelves for cookbooks, kids’ art, and objects from travels, and throughout the home there is hidden toy storage.”
“We even designed mini chairs so the coffee table could double as a toddler play table,” Allyson adds. “All materials selected were soft and comfortable but durable enough to withstand a black lab and toddlers. At the core, we are two moms who design and restore homes, so we make sure all our spaces are family friendly and functional without sacrificing style.”
Take a tour in the slideshow.


































