This breathtaking vista greeted architect Mark McInturff when he first visited, hired by owners who’d fallen in love with the view from their three-bedroom dwelling but were unhappy with its builder-grade finishes. “You’re already halfway there; this is what it’s all about,” the architect told them. 

The retired couple—he was a franchisee and she owned an art gallery—share a strong modernist aesthetic. “Our vision was for a minimalist, elegant and personal space,” says the wife, who retained an extensive contemporary art collection. “I wanted to feel we were floating, with lots of light and airiness. My thought was to bring in color with the art but let the architecture shine on its own terms.”

McInturff and project architect David Mogensen enlisted a team that included designer Sophie Prévost and contractor Justin Barrows of Added Dimensions for the job. There were two mandates: Bring in a higher level of materials and detailing; and create display space for art. The wife “knew exactly where each piece was going,” McInturff notes. “Most people start with millwork and construction, but we worked everything around the art. It was a fun place to start.”

Since the bones of the building were good, major structural changes were deemed unnecessary. The architects homed in on a drywall partition separating the glass-walled, open-plan dining/living areas from the kitchen. They replaced the plain white expanse with a wall of finely detailed millwork and built-in shelves and cabinets that extends the length of the room. Composed of white oak and blackened steel, the structure serves dual purposes: Shelves on the living/dining side create display and storage space while appliances and cupboards are integrated on the kitchen side. A pocket door connecting the dining area and kitchen was replaced with a white oak and blackened-steel version.

McInturff and Mogensen ultimately extended the built-ins even farther, wrapping them around the corner and into the foyer, where a pocket door of blackened steel keeps the kitchen separate—though round perforations in the door allow a whimsical glimpse inside. More millwork and a low-slung white oak shelf line a gallery wall in the living room showcasing large canvases against a blackened-steel backdrop. And white oak and blackened steel also crop up in the guest room and home office as built-in desks and shelving. “We actually were furniture designers on this project as well,” McInturff observes.

Hiding a boring soffit on the living/dining area’s concrete ceiling led to what he and Mogensen call “clouds”—dropped ceiling sections that gently follow the room’s curved lines and delineate furniture groupings. “The clouds allowed us to install recessed and cove lighting and add other fixtures where we wanted them,” Mogensen explains, noting the wife’s request for adjustable art lighting. 

Before beginning the interior design phase, Prévost visited the owners at their previous stand-alone home in DC. “They wanted the new space to be elegant and serene but a little playful with color,” she recounts. “I spent time looking at their artwork for ideas. I chose classic, modern furniture—not too much ego, just simple, clean shapes.” Low-profile pieces in neutral fabrics let both art and views take center stage—with the notable exception of a sculptural Poltrona Frau chair in the living area that pops in bold orange.

Working closely with the architects, Prévost also suggested enhancements such as the pivot door leading into the primary suite. In an inspired stroke, she sourced a woven-metal screen by French artisan Sophie Mallebranche in Paris. Framed in blackened steel, it slides over the television and doubles as mixed-media art with its undulating, dimensional surface. 

Later in the process, designer Susan Vallon, who’d previously worked with the owners, contributed by pulling together carpets, draperies, paint and some furniture to realize the project’s final outcome. “They are a warm and loving couple,” she says. “I wanted their surroundings to reflect some of the coziness of their relationship.” 

Just when the home was move-in-ready, a leak from the unoccupied unit above flooded the dwelling, destroying the floors and existing kitchen. Nine months later, the patient couple finally moved into their revamped home—now equipped with a new kitchen where Poggenpohl custom cabinetry is seamlessly integrated with McInturff’s white oak and blackened-steel cabinets. “The flood turned out to be fortuitous,” the wife confirms. “We were able to reimagine the kitchen as a much sleeker and more efficient space that continues the same feel as the other spaces—minimalist but welcoming.” 

Now happily ensconced, she and her husband are thrilled with their new digs. She enthuses, “I pinch myself every day as I settle into a favorite spot in the apartment and look out on our corner of the sky in Bethesda."

Encompassing the third floor of a century-old building, the home hadn’t been touched in years. Among its shortcomings: There was no sense of arrival when guests entered via the private elevator or stairs, both centrally located in the square-shaped home. An outdated kitchen was sequestered like an afterthought near an open living/dining space on the left side of the apartment while two cramped bedrooms, two baths and an office—all dark, drab and uninviting—occupied the right.

Principal Anthony Wilder, architect Sean Mullin and kitchen designer Shannon Kadwell collaborated closely with Johnston and the wife to take the property in a bold new direction. “We knew that converting this condo, which had previously been renovated, into their dream home would be a great challenge that we were ready to take on headfirst,”
Mullin recalls. Lofty goals included revamping the kitchen and two baths; adding gravitas with custom millwork and luxe finishes; and bringing in more light to accentuate the owners’ modern art. 

Clever shifts to the floor plan better apportioned the 1,695-square-foot residence for 21st-century living. A sleek kitchen took shape in the middle of the open living area, flanked by parlors featuring black-marble fireplaces. Replacing the former kitchen, a new dining room boasts a chic wet bar sporting SieMatic cabinetry. By combining the two bedrooms into one, the owners gained a spacious primary suite; the office now doubles as a guest room. A revamped stair arrives at a welcoming foyer where glass railings keep sightlines open. 

The team cast a wide net to land upon appointments, fixtures and finishes that would mesh with the wife’s vision. A trip to the Eggersmann showroom in New York led to the dramatic Arabescato marble-clad kitchen island, custom-made in the firm’s German factory. “Once we got direction that they were ready to change the floor plan, we knew that the island needed to be spectacular,” says Mullin. “That island, I think, is what drove the entire project. It was like dropping a Ferrari into the space.” A matching marble backsplash and a La Cornue range flanked by white-lacquered cabinets introduce further utility—and glamour.  

From the 14-carat-gold Lohja Tornio fixture floating above the island to the bedroom’s vintage chandelier, statement lighting also bejewels the home. In contrast, LEDs smaller than dimes, manufactured by Porsche for Apure, illuminate interiors and artwork but virtually disappear in the ceiling when turned off. 

Finely crafted details—think intricate millwork, bespoke fireplace surrounds and brass floor inlays—elevate every space. “All of the trim was reimagined. We created a layering effect to give you a sense that the ceilings are higher than they are,” notes Mullin. “The millwork has a very traditional feel, which I think balances really well with the contemporary island and fireplaces.” A flat-screen TV drops down from the ceiling near the fireplace in the less formal parlor.

Pale wooden floors and high-gloss lacquered door panels were employed to strategic effect. “We wanted as much light reflection as possible,” says Wilder. “Reflective surfaces make the rooms look much larger. Everything was about creating expansive views so the home wouldn’t feel crowded.”

Houston-based interior designer Benjamin Johnston worked with the owners to complement the architectural details with a sophisticated mix of contemporary and classic pieces, many from their previous home. “The family’s heirlooms and prized possessions were called upon to lend a dramatic, personalized touch to the mostly neutral furnishings,” he explains. “Pieces with mixed metals and finishes were chosen to accentuate the use of antiques throughout the home. The palette was kept classic and neutral to let the art provide color and drama.”

The entire project, from design through construction, was completed in 13 months—no small feat given challenges presented by the building’s infrastructure and the narrow streets of Georgetown (think road closures). Big-ticket items, from the La Cornue oven to giant slabs of stone, had to be craned in from the rooftop deck. 

“We had a lot of faith in our client and her eye and vice versa,” Wilder reflects. “And we were passionate about this opportunity. Everybody involved was a joy to work with.” ■

Renovation Design & Contracting: Anthony Wilder, principal; Sean Mullin, AIA; Shannon Kadwell, CMKBD, Allied ASID, Anthony Wilder Design/Build, Cabin John, Maryland. Interior Design: Benjamin Johnston, Benjamin Johnston Design, Houston, Texas. Anthony Wilder Design/Build won a 2023 PRO Remodeler of the Year award in the category of Residential Interior over $500,000 for the project, as well as Home & Design’s Award of Excellence.

Living Wild: How to Plant Style Your Home & Cultivate Happiness
Baltimore-based designer and plant guru Hilton Carter illuminates the creative process of styling your interiors with plants. His book revisits eight of his residential and commercial projects, delving into color schemes, textures and materials that best showcase greenery. He also presents his top picks for most impactful plants. CICO Books, March 2023.

Private Gardens of the Potomac & Chesapeake
Author Claudia Kousoulas tours 15 Mid-Atlantic landscapes completed by well-known designers. From tiny urban plots to sprawling estates, each includes a plan, a plant list and a description of goals and principles based on demands of site, climate and client needs. Full-color images enliven the text. Schiffer Publishing, Ltd., July 2023.

The awards go to remodeling and custom-building projects in DC, Maryland and Virginia; this year, judges reviewed 119 entries in 35 categories. Media sponsor Home & Design gave its Award of Excellence to a project by Anthony Wilder Design/Build. All the award-winning projects are listed below and can be viewed on the chapter’s website, promidatlantic.org.

PRO Remodeler of the Year Awards

Home & Design Award of Excellence
Anthony Wilder Design/Build

Basement under $150,000
GRAND: Michael Nash Design, Build & Homes
MERIT: House to Home Solutions
FINALIST: HIVEX Basement Finishing Co.

Basement $150,000 and over
GRAND: Spectrum Design Build
MERIT: TriVistaUSA Design + Build
FINALIST: Moss Building & Design

Creative Solutions
GRAND: Mosss Building & Design

Entire House under $500,000
GRAND: Moss Building & Design
MERIT: Finesse Design Remodeling
FINALIST: Michael Nash Design, Build & Homes

Entire House $500,000 to $750,000
GRAND: Blue Star
MERIT: RessaBuilt
FINALIST: Marks-Woods Construction Services 

Entire House over $750,000
GRAND: Blue Star
MERIT: Landis Architects/Builders
MERIT: TriVistaUSA Design + Build
FINALIST: BOWA

Green—Entire House/Addition
GRAND: Michael Nash Design, Build & Homes

New Custom Home 4,500 square feet
GRAND: OPaL Design Build

New Custom Home 4,500 square feet and over
GRAND: WINN Design + Build

Residential Addition under $250,000
GRAND: Marks-Woods Construction Services
MERIT: Marks-Woods Construction Services
FINALIST: Grossmueller’s Design Consultants

Residential Addition $250,000 to $500,000
GRAND: Pristine Acres
MERIT: Marks-Woods Construction Services
FINALIST: Schroeder Design/Build

Residential Addition over $500,000
MERIT: Marks-Woods Construction Services
FINALIST: TriVistaUSA Design + Build

Residential Bath under $50,000
GRAND: Blue Star
MERIT: The Levine Group Architects + Builders
FINALIST: MW Burke

Residential Bath $50,000 to $100,000
GRAND: Kingston Design Remodeling
MERIT: Blue Star
FINALIST: Marks-Woods Construction Services

Residential Bath over $100,000
GRAND: Michael Nash Design, Build & Homes
MERIT: Case Architects & Remodelers
FINALIST: Hopkins & Porter Construction

Residential Detached Structure
GRAND: OPaL Design Build

Residential Exterior Element $30,000 and over
GRAND: Sun Design Remodeling Specialists

Residential Exterior Element under $30,000
GRAND: House to Home Solutions

Residential Exterior under $100,000
GRAND: Marks-Woods Construction Services
MERIT: Daniels Design & Remodeling
FINALIST: Lofft Construction 

Residential Exterior $100,000 to $200,000
GRAND: Bowers Design Build
MERIT: The Levine Group Architects + Builders
MERIT: House to Home Solutions

Residential Exterior over $200,000
GRAND: Bowers Design Build
MERIT: Michael Nash Design, Build & Homes
FINALIST: WINN Design + Build

Residential Historical Renovation/Restoration under $250,000
GRAND: Marks-Woods Construction Services
FINALIST: Gilday Renovations

Residential Historical Renovation/Restoration $250,000 and over
GRAND: Bowers Design Build
MERIT: Marks-Woods Construction Services
FINALIST: OPaL Design Build

Residential Interior Element under $30,000
GRAND: Blue Star
MERIT: Sun Design Remodeling Specialists
MERIT: Sun Design Remodeling Specialists
FINALIST: Marks-Woods Construction Services

Residential Interior under $250,000
GRAND: Sun Design Remodeling Specialists
MERIT: Marks-Woods Construction Services
FINALIST: Bowers Design Build
FINALIST: Finesse Design Remodeling

Residential Interior $250,000 to $500,000
GRAND: Bowers Design Build
MERIT: Sun Design Remodeling Specialists
FINALIST: Michael Nash Design, Build & Homes

Residential Interior over $500,000
GRAND: Anthony Wilder Design/Build
MERIT: Michael Nash Design, Build & Homes 

Residential Kitchen under $75,000
GRAND: Michael Nash Design, Build & Homes
MERIT: Marks-Woods Construction Services
FINALIST: Anchor Landscape and Property Services

Residential Kitchen $75,000 to $150,000
GRAND: Moss Building & Design
MERIT: Marks-Woods Construction Services
MERIT: Case Architects & Remodelers
FINALIST: Michael Nash Design, Build & Homes

Residential Kitchen over $150,000
GRAND: Anthony Wilder Design/Build
MERIT: Marks-Woods Construction Services
FINALIST: Michael Nash Design, Build & Homes
FINALIST: Case Architects & Remodelers

Residential Landscape Design/Outdoor Living Area under $100,000
GRAND: Blue Star

Residential Landscape Design/Outdoor Living Area $100,000 to $250,000
GRAND: Grossmueller’s Design Consultants
MERIT: House to Home Solutions
MERIT: Michael Nash Design, Build & Homes

Residential Landscape Design/Outdoor Living Area over $250,000
GRAND: Pristine Acres
MERIT: Pristine Acres
FINALIST: WINN Design + Build

Universal Design—Entire House/Addition
GRAND: Atlas Moran Construction
MERIT: Michael Nash Design, Build & Homes

Universal Design—Interiors
GRAND: House to Home Solutions

The Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center studies songbirds, waterfowl and shorebirds native to North, Central and South Americas. “Raising awareness about the plight of migratory birds is key to their survival,” says National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute director Brandie Smith. “We want visitors to appreciate the awe-inspiring journeys these animals make every year and walk away with the knowledge to protect birds and their shrinking habitats.”

DC architecture firm Quinn Evans designed the renovation within the walls of the zoo’s historic 1928 bird house, preserving a mosaic arch depicting tropical species that adorned the original entrance. A new, modern entry now graces the building’s front façade. In the Flyway, aluminum bird silhouettes suspended from the ceiling create movement while oversized images of a wood thrush, a black-necked stilt, a sanderling, a canvasback and other native specimens hint at what’s to come. 

This time around the couple—she’s a real estate agent, he’s a venture capitalist—wanted a stylish, amenity-rich waterfront estate where they could host their four-generation clan, entertain friends and ultimately age in place. (Think interior elevator and a lower level, now occupied by Maria’s mother, that could someday become caregiver quarters). 

They jumped on a nearly-four-acre lot in Severna Park, Maryland, and hired architect Marta Hansen, who grew up sailing the Chesapeake with her parents and had already designed nearly 200 homes along the region’s scenic waterways. She says her practice evolved after architecture school, when family friends kept hiring her to create waterfront dream homes in many sizes and styles. 

In 2022, after a year of pandemic-era construction, the architect delivered the Kostkowskis’ 7,565-square-foot retreat, beautifully sited atop the tract with prime river frontage. “It’s a Shingle-style Tudor/Arts and Crafts” home, which, given its size, says Hansen, “is almost like a cottage on steroids.” Surrounded by majestic trees, the five-bedroom, four-and-a-half-bath residence evokes coastal New England style, but with easy-care cement-fiber shingles instead of high-upkeep cedar shakes. A trio of front gables, a large arched window and a smaller oval porthole add visual interest. 

Hansen designed the home with two main-floor focal points: The distant sweeping curves of the Severn snaking past lush woodland on both banks, and a wide, welcoming covered rear porch running the length of the 42-foot-long great room. Retractable electric screens that repel the region’s pesky warm-weather bugs vanish into the porch’s top beams for critter-free outdoor living the rest of the year.

The architectural drama inside begins just beyond the front porch, where a soaring two-story foyer leads into the great room. Quarter-sawn white oak flooring unifies the main level; coffered ceilings break up an otherwise flat expanse while hiding numerous lights and sprinklers. 

The center dining area is anchored by a long table and chairs, just steps from the chef’s kitchen on the left. A Wolf range and white upper and lower cabinets topped with white quartz line the kitchen’s perimeter. The large, deep-blue island was designed to accommodate sumptuous buffets. Since the Kostkowskis often host their children, two grandkids and extended family, the kitchen includes a wet bar and a walk-in pantry with extra ovens. Maria jokes that even washing dishes is now a pleasure because the window above the sink overlooks the river.

Doors in the kitchen and great room open to the rear porch, where furniture groupings and a tall fieldstone fireplace roughly parallel seating vignettes and the smaller, formal mantelpiece indoors. Hansen left space between the garage and the home directly under the second-floor breezeway to break up the long streetside structure and to catch the Severn breezes while grilling outdoors.

Décor throughout the home is simple and welcoming. “We didn’t want it beachy,” says Maria, who favors a subtle palette of blues, grays, whites and earth tones. Those hues dominate four large abstract paintings on the main level by the late Joe Niermann, co-founder of Niermann Weeks in nearby Millersville, which fabricated the home’s indoor and outdoor light fixtures.

Interior designer Linda Hartman of Severna Park, who specializes in sorority house décor, helped select durable furniture upholstered in soft indoor-outdoor performance fabrics. “Maria wanted clean, easy-going lines—nothing fussy,” she notes. “All the sofas can be cleaned with a sponge using water or a light bleach solution” to withstand the dog, children and crowds of revelers.

Most of the furnishings are from Lexington Home Brands in North Carolina, save for occasional antiques and favorite pieces the couple already owned. Window treatments were kept to a minimum to preserve the views.

Half of the second floor comprises an owners’ wing, which boasts a large bedroom and a long, sleek bathroom, both with jaw-dropping river vistas. The couple’s walk-in closet is off the interior hallway, which, along with the parallel exterior balcony, connects to a pair of additional bedrooms, a half-bath and a laundry room. An exercise room built over the garage could easily be converted into a fifth bedroom with a full ensuite bath. 

The home’s impressive panoramas are best observed from Ray Kostkowski’s airy third-floor office. “I own a building not far from here, and every day I say I’m going there to work,” he muses. But once at his desk, he can’t seem to tear himself away from this little corner of Severn heaven.

The parcel included a 4,000-square-foot, three-bedroom clapboard house built in 1952 that had been added onto over the years, leading the husband to describe it as a “Chesapeakeglomeration”—a hodgepodge of rooms with no particular architectural style. The captivating waterfront lot also featured a four-car garage, a pool and a pool house that was being used as a gym. 

The interiors were less than appealing. The small kitchen was designed for a couple, not a crowd, and a cramped layout made gathering spaces tight. The owners envisioned an open, welcoming floor plan that would offer room for family members to spread out, whether relaxing or in work mode. They also wanted to make the most of the panoramic river views. However, strict regulations on the narrow, rectangular lot ruled out a significant expansion. 

The couple turned to Speight Studio Architects and Mueller Homes to craft and execute a renovation that would stay largely within the home’s existing footprint. “It was generous, but the living space wasn’t what one would expect, given the size of the house,” recounts project architect Stephanie Cook. “What was needed was a new vision for the floor plan.”

The renovation happened in stages. First came a reimagining of the two-story garage, where the fourth car bay became a mudroom and gardening area. Unfinished space above it was redesigned to accommodate a two-bedroom apartment with a full kitchen. Next, the pool house was converted into a one-bedroom guest cottage, adding even more living space for guests.

The final stage was the main house. Critical area rules made adding onto the back impossible. So to create the generous proportions desired, the design team conceived a brick-clad addition of roughly 300 square feet at the front, facing the driveway. “It complements the existing structure without feeling heavy,” observes Mueller Homes’ Paul Mueller, Jr. “The brick gives it an Old World look that ups the curb appeal.”

The addition, which encompasses the relocated laundry room and pantry and a new powder room, required the removal of an interior wall—and gave the kitchen its much-needed expansion. Now, an open-plan kitchen/dining area spans the depth of the house from driveway to rear. A cedar-wrapped ceiling beam, crafted on site by the Mueller team, was added for support between spaces. “It’s a good accent and also differentiates between the kitchen and eating area,” Mueller says.

Designed by Kitchen Encounters, the enlarged kitchen features abundant cabinetry and plenty of workspace arranged around a seven-and-a-half-by-six-foot island. Designer Melissa McLay, who spearheaded the interiors, conceived its clean, crisp palette, which combines white custom cabinetry with pops of blue in a tile mosaic above the stovetop and on the island, painted in Benjamin Moore’s Van Deusen Blue. Just steps away, the pantry offers additional workspace, with ample storage and countertops and a wall of shallow shelves tailored specifically to spices and other cooking needs. In the updated laundry room, a new window provides symmetry to the home’s front façade.

The redo also called for replacing a 14-by-17-foot screened side porch with a water-facing family room boasting two walls of windows. “Most 20th-century homes built on the water weren’t really situated to take advantage of the view,” observes Cook. “They were oriented toward the street. Now we craft views to the water.” A 14-foot-tall cathedral ceiling built on site by Mueller Homes gives the space a sense of drama; it’s covered in shiplap and embellished with poplar beams in a decorative scissor-truss pattern.

When it came time to choose furniture and finishes, McLay followed her clients’ mandate to create a coastal cottage feel and complement the water views. She purchased new furnishings with clean, classic lines and selected neutral upholstery, with pops of color in the couple’s favored blue and green. “The home has a fresh, traditional look that feels relaxed,” she notes. 

Further visual interest comes through varied patterns in window treatments and eye-catching accents; McLay incorporated textured fabrics, woven materials in wood tones and brass fixtures that complement new white oak floors. “All the walls and millwork are white, so I balanced that out and added warmth,” she says. “The entire space is fun, happy and welcoming.”

The homeowners are delighted with their finished abode. “We wanted to create a seamless integration of outdoors and indoors,” says the husband, “so that wherever you are in the house, you can see the river or gardens and trees.” Mission accomplished.

“The home is elevated about 30 feet above the river’s edge,” recalls principal architect Cathy Purple Cherry. “The bedroom’s large, ganged windows create an emotional connection to the water below.” 

A beamed, vaulted shiplap ceiling and walls clad in board and batten embellish the space. “I wanted as much light as possible,” Oursler relates. “The ceiling adds volume and an oval window draws the eye up.”

RH furniture and lighting lend coziness while a surfboard from K-Coast in Bethany Beach is a playful touch. Since completing the home, Oursler has converted the guest room into a nursery for her infant daughter. As she reflects, “I sit in a rocking chair with her while watching the boats go by. It really is peaceful.” 

“Our clients wished to complement their historic home while creating an addition with more relaxed spaces for guests and family gatherings,” explains project architect Amy Cooney, principal of Portland, Oregon-based Climate Architecture LLC.

In the great room (pictured), lounging and dining areas beckon beneath a vaulted and beamed bleached-poplar ceiling that brings warmth and intimacy to the expansive space—as do wide-plank French white oak floors. A wall of built-ins integrates storage and display space beside a comfortable sectional. Glass doors on the window wall open out to a wrap-around deck with cable railings that keep the view in focus.

The makeover reimagined the McLean home’s interiors and introduced a crisp, minimalist palette to showcase bold artwork collected around the globe. An airy new family room replaced an indoor pool that had seen better days.

“The pool was an integral part of our family,” recalls Buendia-Corrochano of the time when she, husband Gerardo Corrochano and their two young sons moved into the 5,700-square-foot home 20 years ago. “We used it all year round.”

With the boys now out of college and living in New York, the empty nesters decided during the 2018 renovation that the pool should go. But instead of sweeping it away without a trace, Buendia-Corrochano celebrated the beloved amenity with the ceiling sculpture. “The curves are an interpretation of the DNA of water. It’s not only a piece of art that I wanted to design for the house, but it is also about creating a reminiscence of what existed before,” she explains. 

The renovation remedied a number of design flaws. The owners love to entertain, but the floor plan cramped their style. The foyer opens on the left to a double-height living room with a piano room beyond. The dining room and kitchen were crammed in on the right, leading to a narrow, sunken family room—all small, inefficient spaces. Along the back of the home, the pool was the only spot that enjoyed prime views of their wooded property, which backs onto parkland and Pimmit Run, a tributary of the Potomac.

“We love the natural environment, but the existing house didn’t take advantage of it,” explains Buendia-Corrochano, a design principal at Gensler who also takes on residential projects through her own firm, estudio_MBC. “And the back of the home wasn’t connected to the front. We wanted to have free flow so we could use the whole house.”

Her redo added doorways and centered off-kilter openings, which set a clear axis from the dining room to the piano room. Glass panels replaced wooden spindles on the stairway and landing above. “As an architect and a designer, I’m very focused on trying to create internal vistas,” Buendia-Corrochano notes.

She expanded the dining room and kitchen from the front to the back of the house, taking over the sunken family room. Its floor was raised to make way for the new kitchen, now equipped with custom, white-lacquered cabinetry and a large island. 

In lieu of the pool, the designer created an open breakfast area and a new family room, where wide expanses of glass maximize views of the landscape. State-of-the-art lighting and audio systems now let the owners control sound and mood throughout the home.

Taking cues from nature, Buendia-Corrochano chose reclaimed white oak flooring stained gray. Black travertine embellishes fireplace surrounds and the kitchen backsplash. “I’m a total modernist. I love natural, earthy finishes and patterns,” she declares. “It’s a minimal use of materials but their impact is what matters. All the finishes, materials and textures work together harmoniously.”

No detail was too small for Buendia-Corrochano to articulate. “I’m very focused on the whole experience,” she says. “Everything is curated and thought through.” Panels of brushed stainless steel mark passageways. Cabinets sport precise, mitered edges. And in lieu of grout, open joints rim each travertine slab to make it look like the stone is floating.

The subdued palette, says the designer, “created a canvas for our collection of furniture and art.” She and Gerardo, a former World Bank director and now an executive at the Inter-American Development Bank, have been traveling and collecting treasures together since meeting in their native Peru four decades ago. Timeless, iconic furnishings acquired over the years fit perfectly into their updated spaces, where paintings, sculptures and artifacts from Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas are displayed gallery-style. “Art is such a special part of who we are,” reflects Buendia-Corrochano. “Our Latin and Peruvian heritage is also really important to us.”

Many pieces hail from Mexico, where Buendia-Corrochano opened an office for Gensler in 2014. When they returned to Washington after spending four years in Mexico City, the couple considered downsizing to an apartment. 

“It was just the two of us,” she recalls, “but we really love the house and its surroundings. We decided that an apartment wouldn’t foster the strong relationship and ties that we have with our kids and extended family. In order to lure our kids back when they have families in the future, we wanted the house to be the hub that it has always been.”

No apartment could have replaced the connection to nature that the couple enjoys on their woodsy property. “There’s nothing better than waking up early, getting a cup of coffee and looking out over the forest,” reflects the designer. “When it’s winter, I turn on the fireplace. Even when I’m working, it’s so soothing to be here.”

Though they initially bemoaned the pool’s demise, the owners’ sons gave the renovation a thumbs-up. “If you bring me grandkids,” their father told them, “I’ll build a pool outside.”

Sited on a hill overlooking vast plains, the 5,000-square-foot home was conceived in what the designer calls “California Spanish Modern” style—a distilled interpretation of Spanish architecture that embraces local vernacular with archways, stucco siding and a terracotta-tile roof. Walls of steel-framed glass create flow between airy interiors and outdoor spaces, which include sheltered gathering areas, a swimming pool and terraced gardens.

Boutlier clad the floors inside and out with limestone tile. He weighed in on room size and door placement and mocked up archways. Against crisp-white walls, he established a modern aesthetic with Italian furniture, abstract art and sculptural lighting. 

“The house is really meant for family to get together; the rooms are scaled well, so it feels intimate,” observes the designer. As a bonus, he adds, “On a clear day you can see all the way to the beaches of Del Mar—and to Tijuana.”

Architecture: Friehauf Architects, Solana Beach, California. Interior Design: Christopher Boutlier, Christopher Boutlier Interiors, Washington, DC. Kitchen Design: Anne Decker, AIA, Anne Decker Architects, Bethesda, Maryland. Builder: Mulvey Custom Builders, Del Mar, California. Landscape Architecture: TCLA Studio, Capistrano Beach, California. Styling: Anita Sarsidi.

Despite its outdated flow and finishes and lack of air conditioning, the circa-1980s abode had character. The couple, whose two children were in high school and college at the time, hired architect Sarah Armstrong of Studio 360 and BOWA builders to improve its functionality, bring in natural light and update it as a “modern Colonial with a hint of rustic farmhouse,” explains Vickie. Room locations follow the standard center-hall floor plan: From the foyer, the living room on the right runs front to back, the dining room is on the left and the kitchen straight ahead. The kitchen connects to a smaller, gambrel-roofed wing containing a den, Vickie’s home office and a laundry room.

As the hardworking heart of the home, the kitchen received the most attention. Armstrong improved light and flow immensely by bumping out its exterior wall about eight feet, raising the ceiling height to match the rest of the first-floor rooms, removing part of the wall between the hall and the kitchen and installing pocket doors to the dining room. The kitchen’s new but salvaged heart pine flooring is sympathetic to the 100-year-old heart pine floors that had previously been installed elsewhere in the house. 

“We exposed the nail heads and, in some places, even fauxed them in to make them complementary,” Armstrong notes. “Yet you can see where the floor is new and different—we didn’t want to fake it. The house tells the story of what’s been added over time, but the changes coordinate really well.”

In another significant move, the architect made a clean sweep of the center hall by tucking a protruding powder room under the stairs and adding glass doors on the front and rear entrances. “Historically on these homes you have a straight shot through the house to the rear yard,” she notes. “This house didn’t have that. With the glass doors, you can see straight through the hallway and out the back.”

Upstairs, where the wood floors were sanded and refinished, updates included a new primary suite bath and closet, and a new hall bath that serves the two children’s bedrooms. The smaller wing—walled off from the rest of the second floor and with its own back stair—contains a new guest suite and Miguel’s study. To improve the larger volume’s exterior proportions, Armstrong also added front-facing dormers on the third floor, which is intended as a future lounge.

Realizing that country houses benefit from a strong connection to the landscape, Armstrong made deliberate decisions to remedy this one’s shortcomings. Windows were replaced, centered and enlarged. “The black window frames have a cleaner aesthetic with the new white board and batten on the larger volume and stonework on the smaller section, whose gambrel roof we preserved,” she explains. “The idea was to make it look like a house added to over time, like a farmhouse would have been.” 

New bands of stone around the porch foundation and on the two chimneys help tie the volumes together. Inspired by Middleburg’s historic National Sporting Library & Museum, the stonework is “over-grouted,” a distinctive Virginia technique whereby masons over-fill the joints and use a rough trowel to clean them up. “We did many samples—some were too messy, some were too clean—until we got it right,” Armstrong recalls. 

The enlarged front porch has an open gable with black metal tie rods, offering the gift of a grander entrance. The redo replaced a small rear terrace with a covered porch, where the owners enter from a detached garage; it’s a comfortable place to sit and survey the south lawn. In addition, asphalt roofs were traded for standing-seam metal befitting a farmhouse.

Finally, new insulation and zoned heating and cooling made the 4,000-square-foot residence fully ready for 21st-century living. “We touched every surface in the home but were able to preserve its humble character by reusing as much as we could,” says Armstrong. “It’s an appropriately sized house for this family and the property.”

The tower sculpture is viewed up close via a spiral staircase that winds around it and takes visitors to each floor of the four-story museum. Minneapolis-based Split Rock Studios, which conceived the monumental sculpture in 2011 for the Ford’s Theatre Society, had to be cognizant of weight- and load-bearing issues in its design and construction. Though it has not been updated since its 2012 debut, the work nevertheless remains a tribute to Lincoln’s lasting legacy. 511 10th Street, NW; fords.org 

Installation Design: Split Rock Studios, Minneapolis, Minnesota. 

DESIGN & ARCHITECTURE
Home of the Year—Regency at Belmont–Dylan; Toll Brothers.

Custom Home of the Year—Towlston; James McDonald Associate Architects.

Community of the Year—Amblebrook Gettysburg; Crown Community Development.

Innovative Land Planning—The Townhomes at Reston Station; EYA LLC | VIKA | Sutton Yantis Associates Architects | STUDIOS Architecture.

Green Building—On the Green at 20th; Arlington Designer Homes Construction.

FreeStanding Clubhouse
(under 6,000 square feet)—Westside at Shady Grove Metro Clubhouse; KTGY | EYA LLC.
(over 6,000 square feet)—Rock Creek Club at Amblebrook; Sutton Yantis Associates Architects.

Detached Home (lots under 7,000 square feet)
$700,000 to $849,999—The Sutton Model at Tapestry; Miller & Smith.
$850,000+—Rockingham II at N. Underwood Street; Evergreene Homes.

Detached Home (lots 7,000 square feet and over)
$700,000 to $849,999—Finley; KTGY | Atlantic Builders.
$1,000,000 to $1,399,999—Belmont II; Van Metre Homes.

Attached Home
$400,000 to $499,999—Sienna; Atlantic Builders | KTGY.
$600,000 to $699,999—Bluemont Model Home; Lennar | Mangan Group Architects.
$700,000 to $849,999—The Christopher; Drees Homes.
$850,000 to $999,999—The Lily; Drees Homes.
$1,000,000 to $1,399,999—The Townhomes at Reston Station–Baker Model; EYA LLC | Sutton Yantis Associates Architects | STUDIOS Architecture.
$1,400,000+—Naylor Court Manse; OPaL, LLC.

MULTI-FAMILY
New Construction, High-Rise—The Edge; CBG Building Company.
New Construction, Mixed-Use—Bryant Street (Coda and The Chase); MRP Realty | SK+I Architecture | CBG Building Company.
Renovation or Conversion, High-Rise—RiverPoint; CBG Building Company | Antunovich Associates | Orr Partners.

CUSTOM BUILDING
Design & Architecture—Custom Home, Single Lot
3,000 to 5,000 square feet—Spencer Road; James McDonald Associate Architects.
5,001 to 7,000 square feet—Altoona Custom; James McDonald Associate Architects.
Over 7,000 square feet—Towlston; James McDonald Associate Architects.

Design & Architecture, Renovations or Additions
Over $1,000,000—Naylor Court Manse; OPaL, LLC.

To realize their ideas, the new owners gathered a present-day dream team including interior designers Jose Solis Betancourt and Paul Sherrill, partners in Solis Betancourt & Sherrill, along with Ankie Barnes of BarnesVanze Architects. As Sherrill recalls, “The client respected the traditional architecture of the house and wanted to embrace and restore that.” 

At the same time, the family with children wanted “something a little bit more contemporary and comfortable,” adds Solis Betancourt. “They entertain, so they needed large rooms and lots of seating areas. Everyone was interested in balancing traditional and modern design.”

To achieve that balance, Barnes introduced more natural light through new bays and larger glass doors and windows along the back. These changes were matched by the designers’ monochromatic palette of very light colors, from faux limestone walls in the entry to celadon in the dining room and buttery strié in the owners’ bedroom. “We were trying to keep it very subtle and peaceful, maintaining as much lightness as possible,” notes Sherrill. A foundation of contemporary, upholstered furnishings sporting clean, classic forms mingles nimbly with gilded antique chairs, restored marble fireplaces and artwork from the owners’ collection. 

A hint of what’s to come welcomes the visitor. In the entrance vestibule, modern light sculptures in graceful swirls were commissioned by the interior designers to fit existing niches. The 30-foot-long entrance hall unfurls ahead—its promenade of spaces defined by paired columns and glistening marble floors detailed with dark borders. At its terminus, a small seating area nestles at the foot of a grand staircase.

“For that space, we designed a narrow perching bench,” says Sherrill, likening its carved wood base to fluting on a column, its gilding influenced by Art Deco. Throughout the home, the designers subtly referenced classical revival elements of that period, which, Sherrill points out, “would have been high style when the house was built.” Enfolded by the staircase curve, a life-sized marble figure echoes ancient Rome while opposite, the designers choreographed twin images of ballerinas by artist Umberto Ciceri. As in a hologram, the dancers are set in motion when family or visitors walk by. 

Suffused with light, this area benefits from renovations made to the four-story, six-bedroom house by Barnes, collaborating with project manager Matthew Fiehn. On the staircase landing, enlarged glass doors, newly surrounded by sidelight and fanlight windows, lead out to a sweeping stone terrace. “The connection from the house to the garden on the back was not as strong as it could be,” Barnes explains. “And to my mind the principal rooms were not as well-connected and as generously lit as they should be.” The architect admires the home’s piano nobile plan, in which primary living spaces are placed one floor up. “It means you can organize public rooms in a very grand manner, not complicated by the need to enter,” he observes. “The house is wonderful in that regard—and many others.”

The central stair leads to the main floor’s commodious hall and formal dining room, its entrance framed by symmetrically arranged, sculptural console tables. Above, large paintings by Wolf Kahn bring luminous color to the gently modulated tones that flow through the hall, dining room and living room. Underpinning all three areas, glimmering carpets were custom-woven in tempered patterns to suit the expansive spaces, including the nearly 34-foot-long living room. An archival-design Vladimir Kagan sofa was recreated  for this room; its curves point the way toward a classical Crema Marfil marble fireplace.

Added onto the back of the living room, a new glass bay overlooks the verdant garden. This intimate seating area has become a favored spot for the owners to host small luncheons and teas. In addition to a thorough upgrade of the home’s infrastructure, architectural interventions ordered other spaces for modern living. One floor above, a similar glass bay extends the owners’ bedroom. Three additional bedrooms and a library-cum-family gathering space also grace that floor while on the fourth story, the architects created a sky-lit playroom. 

In the informal wing on the main floor, Barnes transformed darker spaces into a procession of lofty, light-filled rooms that extend from the back of the house to the front. Replacing service stairs behind the elevator with a more compact spiral stairway gained seven feet for the new family room, formerly a 12-foot-wide office. The home’s architectural formality extends into this wing, from the family room facing east to the kitchen and delightful breakfast area on the west-facing front.

Carrara marble, first viewed on the entrance-hall floor, reappears on kitchen countertops, backsplash and deep window wells. “It’s beautiful to have this continuity and uniformity of materials,” muses Sherrill, adding that in traditional European homes it was standard practice to use local stone, with variations, throughout. That refined restraint corresponds to ideas embraced by both the architect and owners, who, Sherrill maintains, “wanted a peaceful and harmonious experience.” 

Solis Betancourt concurs: “It was a real, true collaboration.”

RESOURCES
GENERAL
Window Treatments: gretcheneverett.com.

ENTRY HALL
Divan: ferrellmittman.com. Divan Fabric: zimmer-rohde.com. Chair by Divan: Owners’ collection. Chair Fabric: larsenfabrics.com. Photographs & Sculpture: Owners’ collection. Stair Runner: galleriacarpets.com. Sconces: bagues-paris.com. Chairs: Owners’ collection. Chair Fabric: larsenfabrics.com. Fire Screen: johnlyledesign.com. Art: Owners’ collection.

MAIN HALL
Console: kellywearstler.com. Art: wolfkahn.com; owners’ collection. Rug: galleriacarpets.com. Chair by Console: Owners’ collection. Chair Fabric: zimmer-rohde.com. Paint Color: lenorewinters.com.

LIVING ROOM
Drapery Fabric: coraggio.com. Drapery Trim: cowtan.com. Sheer Fabric: Carleton House; 301-330-6400. Window Treatment: gretcheneverett.com. Curved Sofa: vladimirkagan.com through hollyhunt.com. Curved Sofa Fabric: dedar.com. Art: Owners’ collection. Sconce: wired-designs.com. Round Coffee Table: 1stdibs.com. Paint: lenorewinters.com. Sofa: lonadesign.com through johnrosselli.com. Sofa Fabric: kirkbydesign.com. Pillow Fabric: bakerfurniture.com. Side Tables: Owners’ collection. Table Lamps: vetrilamp.it/en. Painting & White Armchair: Owners’ collection. Glass Pedestal: johnrichard.com. Nesting Tables: augousti.com. Chairs by Windows: dennisandleen.com. Chair Fabric: edelmanleather.com. Corner Bar Cart: Owners’ collection. Chairs: Owners’ collection. Chair Fabric: bakerfurniture.com.

DINING ROOM
Table Top: keithfritz.com. Table Base: bernhardt.com. Dining Chairs: Owners’ collection. Dining Chair Fabric: romo.com. Painting & Chair by Fireplace: Owners’ collection. Mirrors: michaelsmithinc.com. Sculptures: Owners’ collection. Drapery Fabric: Donghia through kravet.com. Drapery Fabrication: gretcheneverett.com. Rug: starkcarpet.com. Wall Covering: phillipjeffries.com.

KITCHEN
Cabinetry: themasterswoodshop.com; Maryland Custom Cabinets, 301-898-0357. Countertops & Backsplash: rbratti.com. Range: vikingrange.com through abwappliances.com. Hardware: baldwinhardware.com through weaverhardware.com; nanz.com. Hood Design & Fabrication: ventahood.com. Plumbing Fixtures: waterworks.com through weaverhardware.com; dornbracht.com. Bar Stools: R Jones. Bar Stool Fabric: ultrafabricsinc.com. Paint: lenorewinters.com.

BREAKFAST ROOM
Table Top: keithfritz.com. Table Base: centuryfurniture.com. Chairs: fendi.com. Chair Fabric: ultrafabricsinc.com. Chandelier: papillonlighting.eu/en through wired-designs.com. Sheers: Carleton House; 301-330-6400. Drapery Fabric: estout.com. Drapery Fabrication: gretcheneverett.com. Cabinet Design: solisbetancourt.com; barnesvanze.com. Cabinet Fabrication: themasterswoodshop.com. Rug: pattersonflynn.com. Sculpture: Owners’ collection. Paint: lenorewinters.com.

FAMILY ROOM
Sofas: hollyhunt.com. Sofa Fabric: pollackassociates.com; fretfabrics.com. Pillow Fabric: fschumacher.com. Coffee Table with Ottomans: James Duncan through profilesny.com. Ottoman Fabric: garrettleather.com. Rugs: starkcarpet.com. Sculpture: Owners’ collection. Table Lamp: visualcomfort.com. Prints: Owners’ collection. Paint: lenorewinters.com.

OWNERS’ BEDROOM
Rug: pattersonflynn.com. Bed: studioliaigre.com. Bed Fabric: zinctextile.com. Bedding: matouk.com. Sham Fabric: scalamandre.com. Pillow Fabric: hollandandsherry.com. Pillow Fabrication: gretcheneverett.com. Sunburst Mirror: Owners’ collection. Chandelier: vetrilamp.it/en. Paint: lenorewinters.com. Bedside Table: keithfritz.com. Table Lamp: Phoenix Gallery; 212-759-1153. Glass Tables: johnrichard.com. Divan: ferrellmittman.com. Divan Fabric: zinctextile.com. Divan Trim: samuelandsons.com. Chair: dennisandleen.com. Chair Fabric: hollandandsherry.com. Bench Fabric: edelmanleather.com.

As it turns out, the construction was not what it should have been. By 2008, says the wife, “kitchen tiles started moving and loosening.” A consultant cited construction and installation issues; though they replaced the tile in 2012, it cracked again—indicating continued flaws.

As the years went by, the couple and their two teens faced a choice: Move to larger suburban digs or turn their starter house into a stylish forever home. They opted to stay put within walking distance of schools, favorite shops and restaurants and the Metro. In 2017, they engaged Eric Carle, co-principal of Runningdog Architects, to implement a whole-house redo that would enlarge and modernize their living space while remedying structural issues. In fact, tearing down and replacing the troubled house would have been easier, but would have required long waits for permitting and more time spent in temporary quarters.

“We tore down everything but the three original brick walls in front and on the sides, to respect Tenleytown’s modest 1940s homes,” Carle notes. “Inside and behind that brick exoskeleton, we built a new, 6,050 square-foot, four-level modernist residence.”

The architect teamed with contractor John Allen whose firm, AllenBuilt, Inc., overhauled the foundation and attached the surviving walls to new construction. “Metal rods were epoxied into the brick and then bolted to the wood framing,” Allen explains.

With its foundation correctly designed and executed, the home today is roughly the same 30-foot width as the original. The existing brick front has been subtly contemporized with minimalist, metal-framed Andersen windows and the same vertical, cement-board siding accenting the roofline. Meanwhile, its modern rear addition—clad in white stucco and vertical, steel-look cement-fiber-board slats—is intentionally concealed from the street of traditional dwellings. 

Inside, the front staircase—once a hindrance to sightlines and circulation—was relocated to an unobtrusive back corner within the original footprint. The new center hallway leads back unimpeded to the open family room and kitchen. A fireplace in the dining room was removed to create a wall for art.

The main level of the addition encompasses the open kitchen/family room. Carle collaborated with Sugarloaf Kitchen & Cabinet Works on the expansive, streamlined kitchen featuring Kountry Kraft cabinets topped by white quartz counters. In the adjacent gathering space, a gas fireplace and flat-screen TV tucked into a ceiling-height stucco surround front an L-shaped sectional—the perfect spot for cozy movie nights. Glass doors open onto an inviting porch, partly screened for bug-free dining and partly open for grilling and chilling. The backyard—reachable by a staircase of ipe wood planks and steel railings—was leveled to accommodate a sport court.

The expanded second floor boasts a large primary bedroom and sleek new bath, plus en-suite bedrooms for the kids; a laundry room; and a pair of hall closets for the couple. The new third level includes a guest room, full bath, the husband’s office/library and access to a deck offering drop-dead panoramas. “I can’t stop taking pictures of the amazing sunsets,” says the husband. The basement now includes a bedroom, bathroom, gym, mud room and laundry.

Following the renovation, the family finally moved back into the home in late 2020. Since a neighbor’s oak was toppled by a storm, their view expanded to take in acres of woodland, the winding Potomac and the Tysons skyline along with those gorgeous, ever-changing sunsets.

“The end result is fantastic,” says Carle. “It’s a lot of house built in a tight space. It’s unpretentious, with an open plan and great views. It’s made for a real family.”

DRAWING BOARD

How do you keep a big, modern project from clashing in a modest, older neighborhood?

Eric Carle: Contextualists take design cues from the style and scale of nearby homes, but sometimes the architect or owner wants something that will stand out. Since this is the clients’ home, we listen to their wishes first and turn them into architecture.

What is your go-to building material and why?

EC: We come from the world of commercial architecture, so we always look at glass. That material informs every design decision we make. We consider the impact of light and shadow in a space; how it affects the way one feels; and the ability to bring the outdoors in and vice versa.

As someone who does a lot of modern work, what is your approach to traditional commissions?

EC: Leaning modern relates to plan layouts, circulation and window arrangements. But we approach every project as a design opportunity, no matter the style.

AIA AWARDS NORTHERN VIRGINIA
Excellence
• Camp May: Reader & Swartz Architects, P.C.
Merit
• Riggs: Robert M. Gurney, FAIA Architect
• R | refuge: Page Southerland Page, Inc.
Jurors’ Citation
• Home Operations: KUBE Architecture
• Battery Kemble Park Residences: Wouter Boer Architects
• 3131 CBR: David Jameson Architect

AIA AWARDS MARYLAND
Honor, Single-Family
• ADU Crestwood: McInturff Architects
Merit, Single-Family
• House on Tilghman Creek: McInturff Architects
• Casa Blanco: KUBE Architecture
Citation, Interior
• Casa Venezuela: KUBE Architecture

AIA AWARDS BALTIMORE
Residential Design
• House in a Clearing: McInturff Architects
Residential Design, Honorable Mention
• Baltimore City View: Carballo Architecture

AIA AWARDS POTOMAC VALLEY
Merit
• Addition/Alteration Chevy Chase, Maryland: Balodemas Architects
• Red Maple House: Colleen Healey Architecture, LLC
Honor
• ADU Crestwood: McInturff Architects
Honor & Gold, Residential
• Twining Road Renovation: Robert M. Gurney, FAIA Architect

AIA AWARDS CHESAPEAKE BAY
Residential New Construction
HONOR
• Perkins Homes Redevelopment: Hord Coplan Macht
MERIT
• Ocean Sundial: Donald Lococo Architects
Residential Renovation/Addition
HONOR
• Bayberry Nursery Farmhouse: Hansen Architects
• Miller Residence: The Drawing Board, Inc.

That was the thinking behind Dede and Bobby Hunter’s plan to create an alluring gathering spot for their expanding family. With the couple’s three adult children now settled in Richmond and having kids of their own, the Hunters realized their primary residence nearly 300 miles away in Tazewell, Virginia, was not ideally situated for frequent meet-ups.

“We knew we wanted to be on the water and wanted a place our children could get to easily,” Dede says. “A place where we could all get together and enjoy being with one another.”

The Hunters now have that home in White Stone, Virginia, located at the end of a point with 270-degree views of Mosquito Creek, the Rappahannock River and the Chesapeake Bay. When their son found the property’s online listing, they moved quickly. “We loved the lot immediately,” Dede recalls. “Bobby wanted a wide-open view of the bay and this property has water on all three sides.”

The design of their new, nearly 8,000-square-foot structure belies its size, thanks to a modern approach envisioned by architect Randall Kipp, who was hired for the job. Abundant windows provide views of the water from every room while distinct gathering spaces flow together in a seamless whole.

Before construction began, however, the architect had to overcome the challenge presented by the low-lying site. “We agreed we couldn’t build a house only four to five feet above sea level,” Kipp says. To provide a safeguard against flooding and maximize views, he constructed a plinth that would  form a new, elevated foundation for the eventual home. Made of engineered fill soil and close to an acre in size, it rises nearly seven feet above the original grade and is held in place by a combination of riprap and indigenous plantings. “Now, rather than a pancake level of topography,” Kipp muses, “you have a lovely undulation and great views.”

Before the Hunters could build the house of their dreams, they removed an existing home on site that was more than a century old. “It had low ceilings and didn’t have the windows and space we wanted,” Dede recalls.

When the time came to design the new structure, the couple had clear goals in mind, but gave Kipp the freedom to envision something dramatic. “We’re not really ‘modern’ people, but we wanted lots of windows so we knew we probably needed a modern design,” Dede explains. “We wanted it to be comfortable for everybody and didn’t care about spaces being formal.”

They also asked for high ceilings, easy circulation, plenty of fireplaces and “a private area for us,” Bobby adds.

Kipp set out to make their dreams a reality. “We worked really hard at composing this group of buildings, all connected, where each one has its own purpose,” the architect says, noting the influence of an old Tidewater aesthetic that embodies “a firm, stout hold on the earth,” with clean lines and spare details.

“We twisted and turned and bent [the design] to get the proper alignment of views,” he adds. “There are as few walls as we could muster. The goal was to create spaces, not rooms.”

The heart of the home contains the kitchen and an adjacent dining area that leads to a vaulted-ceiling great room with a television and a fireplace. A screened porch—with its own two-sided fireplace, sitting and eating areas and an outdoor kitchen—is accessed via a 60-foot-long wall of La Cantina sliding doors. A second 40-foot-long wall of sliding doors leads to the pool and deck.

Ensuite bedrooms are thoughtfully placed throughout the home’s three connected pavilions, as Kipp calls them, designed at various levels to create visual interest and signal hierarchy. Three bedrooms are located above the kitchen, reached via an open staircase in the foyer. The primary suite occupies the first level, separate from the hustle and bustle of river life, and has its own study and private porch. “The primary suite is the one space in the house that is quiet and private,” Kipp says.

Adjacent to the great room, the bunkhouse pavilion boasts a caregiver suite on the main level while upstairs, a children’s zone comes complete with six built-in beds, two trundles, sitting and play areas, a mini-kitchen and a full bath. (When the design process began in 2018, there were two grandchildren; now there are six.)

The home’s modern design is softened by deliberate touches. Steel interior beams are wrapped in white cedar for warmth. Outside the many windows, native grasses and plantings around the exterior perimeter sound an organic note.

Reflecting on the completed home’s 21st-century take on local vernacular, Kipp remarks, “Modern architecture is alive and well in rural America. I think people are genuinely tired of living in boring, nondescript, center-hall Colonials. This is a very livable house.”

The Hunters describe their new escape as “heaven on earth,” noting that the transitional interiors and comfortable furniture, envisioned by Kipp Architecture in-house designer Lauren Davenport, are just what they requested.

Meanwhile, the house is such a hit that the couple has an occupancy schedule for their adult children, who each visit one weekend per month. Of course, the elder Hunters have visiting rights whenever they like. Their favorite time? That’s easy, says Dede Hunter. “In the winter, we can sit in our study, have the fireplace going and look both ways at the water. It’s our happy place.”

Architecture & Landscape Architecture: Randall Kipp, AIA, NCARB; Interior Design: Lauren Davenport, Randall Kipp Architecture, Inc., Irvington, Virginia. Landscape Contractor: Green Planters Landscape & Garden Center, Hayes, Virginia. Builder: The Allen Group, Inc., Urbanna, Virginia.  

Coming back to Maryland allowed Noah to fulfill the dream of owning a waterfront property where he could keep his own sailboat. When a lot on the Severn River came up for auction, the couple acted quickly, bidding on it sight unseen. Although the old-fashioned cottage on the one-third-acre parcel was not their style, the views were exceptional. The wooded street side reminded Elina of the Swedish forests of her childhood while the water vista takes in a horizon where the Severn empties into the Chesapeake, with the Bay Bridge in the distance.

The Donaldsons decided to tear down the cottage and build their dream home. They envisioned a modern, open retreat that would maximize views and screen out nearby neighbors. When Noah saw a home designed by Annapolis architect Chip Bohl, he knew they’d found the right match. “Capturing the view is something I’ve worked on my entire career,” says Bohl, who was hired for the job. “It’s a core of our practice.”

The lot is narrow but Bohl turned that into an advantage, designing a tall structure that fits perfectly on the site; its verticality acts as a counterbalance to the wide panorama of the bay and the horizon. While the front façade is more closed-off and private, the water side is transparent and dynamic with generous walls of glass.

“Rather than a sheer, flat wall, we sculpted the volumes facing the bay to create complexity,” Bohl explains. “The house has volumetric depth, so each room has a different orientation to the horizon, giving the interiors a rich relationship to the view.”

Completed in 2018, the 4,000-square-foot residence boasts four bedrooms and four and a half baths over three floors. Organized around an airy central staircase, the first floor contains a large, open living space that reflects the family’s social lifestyle, encompassing the living and dining rooms and kitchen. There’s a dedicated “kid space” with sliding doors that enable the parents to shut away clutter when needed.

The second story houses bedrooms for the couple’s two children, now eight and 10, on one side and the owners’ suite on the other; an office and a family room await on the third floor.

Bohl is proud of a cantilevered, glass-enclosed “cube room” that sits at the mezzanine level between the first and second floors. “It’s completely floating,” says the architect, noting that the perch he describes as a crow’s nest required “quite a bit of structural gymnastics as it has no apparent means of support. The design allows for dynamic, anti-gravity verticality that is so important to the success of this house.”

Embodying Scandinavian style, the home blurs the line between interior and exterior, with walls of windows allowing uninterrupted connections to its surroundings. The design balances cool, practical materials like polished-concrete floors with warm woods. As a result, the interiors are beautiful in their effortless minimalism.

Though Elina’s background is in engineering, she has often helped friends with interiors projects and during the pandemic decided to launch her own design firm, Simplicity by Elina. Putting her skills to work in her own home, she searched for furnishings that met her exacting principles with a focus on three criteria: beauty, function and craftsmanship.

In the living room, she opted for a large sectional in blue to give the space a pop of color. The fireplace was inspired by traditional Swedish Kakelugn stoves, updated with modern, textured tile.

In fact, texture was essential to her approach—so wool rugs, sheepskin and cowhide throws and blankets appear throughout the home. And while Elina selected sleek, fully integrated Leicht kitchen cabinetry in a dark, rich gray, the oak backsplash and bronze-toned bar stools offer a warm counterpoint to the cool cabinets and white quartz countertops.

Many of her favorite pieces are treasures she found in Scandinavia, such as the dining table designed by Johannes Andersen and Boomerang chairs by Alfred Christensen—these pieces by Danish furniture makers were purchased at auction in Stockholm. Others came directly from nature, like the tree stump in the living room that washed up on their neighbor’s beach; Elina meticulously dried and shaped it into a functional side table.

The active, outdoorsy family enjoys their new waterfront digs, where they can jump in a kayak or on a paddleboard—or set sail on their 31-foot trimaran, Frequent Flyer, right from their own beach or dock. “But the most important thing to me,” reflects Elina, ”is the feeling inside the house—the light and the connection to nature. I feel a house should be a reflection of its owners and this house reflects us as a family.”

Architecture: Chip Bohl, AIA, principal; Jessica Giovachino; Ted Sheils, AIA, LEED AP, Bohl Architects, Annapolis, Maryland. Interior Design: Elina Donaldson, Simplicity by Elina, Annapolis, Maryland. Builder: Riley Custom Homes & Renovations, Annapolis, Maryland. Landscape Architecture: Heike Nolker, ALSA, Landscape Architect, Annapolis, Maryland. 

A throwback to a simpler time, the folly invites homeowners and their guests to enjoy the quietude of the river. As Wiedemann reflects, ”It’s a place of repose—a place to experience the water for a moment’s respite.”

Architecture: Gregory Wiedemann, FAIA, Wiedemann Architects LLC, Bethesda, Maryland.