Last week, I toured a Reston family’s home to see their lovely Christmas decorations. You might remember their beautifully inviting outdoor living area near the front door. That space is a new renovation that they recently finished after several weeks of landscape remodeling. You are going to love their transformation. Here is how the front entrance of their house used to look:…

When I met with Leslie Combemale on Wednesday morning, she was cheerful and energetic even though she had been working all through the night. But if your job was to see an early release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens in the middle of the night, and then write a film review before coming to the art gallery that you…

It’s time for another holiday home tour!  If you enjoy seeing beautiful holiday decorations as much as I do, you’ll love Raquel’s charming home. She invited me to visit her house and see her sophisticated yet family-friendly holiday decorations. Raquel lives in North Reston with her husband, Dave, and their five-year-old son, Fletcher. She is the President of the Board of Directors…

The author of one of my son’s favorite books, Dozi the Alligator Finds a Family, lives right here in Northern Virginia. My son has excellent taste, too; the book is a gorgeously illustrated story with charming rhyme and humor. The whole premise is funny — the book stars a young alligator who secretly hitches a ride in a kid’s stroller at…

Trees are part of Reston’s unique identity — unlike many suburbs, this area has preserved several of its mature trees. When you live in a city nestled within a forest, every season is beautiful. Autumn, however, is almost magical here in Reston. As we rake the last of this year’s foliage, let’s look back on…

These days, there are a slew of specialized gyms and fitness studios to choose from. Some are familiar, like yoga and boxing, but some are shrouded in a veil of mystery and myths, like CrossFit. Last month we challenged ourselves at Pure Barre Reston. This month, I (Michelle) stepped out of my comfort zone and walked into…

Virginia is having a major brewery moment, but in the midst of all that something lighter and tarter (and gluten-free) has popped up in Middleburg, VA. Specializing in small-batch, craft hard ciders and spirits, Mt. Defiance Cidery & Distillery is in full-swing now that it’s apple season. Hard apple ciders can be hit or miss — too…

We have officially entered into Fall. Gone are the light ceviches and heirloom tomato salads that dotted menus across town. Chefs are busy revamping their offerings with autumnal flavors and slightly heavier dishes. We thought it would be fun to see how some of our favorite restaurants in and around Reston are incorporating Fall produce such as…

As I’ve mentioned before, home tours are some of my favorite types of articles to cover here at Modern Reston. Those articles are also some of our most popular with our readers, so it’s likely that you love them, too. As much fun as it is to browse interior design photos, though, it’s much better to be able to walk around inside those…