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.” 

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.

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. 

BY THE BOTTLE
A wine cellar crafted by Artisan Builders for a 2020 show house in McLean was elevated by a modern aesthetic and innovative storage design. “The bottles were stacked on metal spikes that gave the impression of wall art,” recalls Stephen Yeonas, a partner at Artisan. “It was a forward concept by designer Olvia Demetriou to illustrate both function and visual display.” Other common requests he hears from oenophile clients, he adds, are “proper conditioning and a bit of sizzle.” Architecture: Harrison Design. Interior Design: HapstakDemetriou+.

GLASS HOUSE
Most high-end custom homes today incorporate connected and covered outdoor spaces that can be enjoyed all year round, according to Chris Neumann of Bayview Builders. The company recently completed a modern, eco-friendly home on the Magothy River in Arnold, Maryland, enveloped in floor-to-ceiling glass. Pictured here, a five-panel, 10-foot-tall sliding-door system opens out from the kitchen to a screened porch. “Heaters,” says Neumann, “help extend livability into multiple seasons.” Architecture: Bohl Architects. Interior Design: Don Wooters.

TEE TIME
A golf simulator was just one sports amenity Pyramid Builders recently integrated on the lower level of a custom abode in Annapolis—along with a shuffleboard court and indoor resistance pool. “The client wanted the golf zone to be social, with a bar nearby for watching games,” relates Pyramid president Bret Anderson. “The home-fitness trend reflects a desire to incorporate true entertainment into the design and details of a home.” Architecture: Patrick D. Jarosinski & Associates. Interior Design: Christy Brown Interior Design.

SMALL WONDER
Horizon Builders delivered on character when constructing a potting shed as part of a comprehensive McLean project. Cedar shingles, a slate roof and charming window details reflect the main house—with a dose of playful color. “Outbuildings are no longer an afterthought but an extension of the main home and a way for clients to express themselves,” says Horizon vice president Brad Pryor. These satellite structures, he notes, are often devoted to offices, gyms, guest quarters and more. Architecture: Harrison Design. Landscape Architecture: Arentz Landscape Architects LLC.

The awards go to remodeling and custom-building projects in DC, Maryland and Virginia; this year, judges reviewed 109 submissions in 41 categories. Media sponsor Home & Design gave its Award of Excellence to a project by FineCraft Contractors, featured on page 115. All of the award-winning projects are listed on these pages and can be viewed on the chapter’s website, promidatlantic.org.

Home & Design Award of Excellence
FineCraft Contractors

Basement under $100,000
GRAND: Tabor Design Build
MERIT: HIVEX Basement Finishing Co.

Basement $100,000-$250,000
GRAND: Sun Design Remodeling Specialists
MERIT: Anthony Wilder Design/Build
FINALIST: Michael Nash Design, Build & Homes

Basement over $250,000
GRAND: MOSS Building & Design

Commercial Specialty
GRAND: Heltzelhaus

Creative Solutions $15,000 and over
GRAND: Sun Design Remodeling Specialists

Entire House under $350,000
GRAND: Blue Star
MERIT: Michael Nash Design, Build & Homes

Entire House $350,000-$550,000
GRAND: Michael Nash Design, Build & Homes
MERIT: Sun Design Remodeling Specialists

Entire House $550,001-$750,000
GRAND: Blue Star
MERIT: Coupard Architects & Builders
FINALIST: FineCraft Contractors

Entire House $750,001-$1,000,000
GRAND: Blue Star

Entire House over $1,000,000
GRAND: BOWA
MERIT: OPaL Design Build

New Custom Home under 3,000 square feet
GRAND: OPaL Design Build

New Custom Home 3,000-5,000 square feet
GRAND: Landis Architects/Builders

New Custom Home 7,001 square feet and over
GRAND: Michael Nash Design, Build & Homes

Residential Addition under $200,000
GRAND: Michael Nash Design, Build & Homes

Residential Addition $200,000-$350,000
GRAND: Coupard Architects & Builders
MERIT: Michael Nash Design, Build & Homes
FINALIST: Sun Design Remodeling Specialists

Residential Addition $350,001-$550,000
GRAND: Schroeder Design/Build
MERIT: TriVistaUSA Design + Build
FINALIST: Bowers Design Build

Residential Addition over $550,000
GRAND: FineCraft Contractors
MERIT: FineCraft Contractors
FINALIST: Landis Architects/Builders

Residential Bath under $25,000
GRAND: Marks-Woods Construction Services

Residential Bath $25,000-$50,000
GRAND: Spectrum Design Build
MERIT: Marks-Woods Construction Services

Residential Bath $50,001-$75,000
GRAND: Kingston Design Remodeling
MERIT: Merrick Design and Build
FINALIST: Michael Nash Design, Build & Homes

Residential Bath $75,001-$100,000
GRAND: Michael Nash Design, Build & Homes
MERIT: Sun Design Remodeling Specialists

Residential Bath over $100,000
GRAND: Sun Design Remodeling Specialists
MERIT: Landis Architects/Builders
FINALIST: Bowers Design Build

Residential Detached Structure
GRAND: Blue Star
MERIT: Blue Star
FINALIST: FineCraft Contractors

Residential Exterior $50,000-$100,000
GRAND: Merrick Design and Build
MERIT: Michael Nash Design, Build & Homes
FINALIST: Lofft Construction

Residential Exterior $100,001-$200,000
GRAND: Pristine Acres
MERIT: Gilday Renovations
FINALIST: Landis Architects/Builders

Residential Exterior over $200,000
GRAND: Anthony Wilder Design/Build
MERIT: Michael Nash Design, Build & Homes

Residential Exterior Element under $30,000
GRAND: Pristine Acres

Residential Exterior Element $30,000 and over
GRAND: Tabor Design Build

Residential Historical Renovation/Restoration under $250,000
GRAND: MOSS Building & Design

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

Residential Interior under $100,000
GRAND: Marks-Woods Construction Services
MERIT: TriVistaUSA Design + Build
FINALIST: Sun Design Remodeling Specialists

Residential Interior $100,001-$250,000
GRAND: Bowers Design Build
MERIT: Bowers Design Build
FINALIST: Bowers Design Build

Residential Interior $250,001-$500,000
GRAND: Marks-Woods Construction Services
MERIT: Landis Architects/Builders
FINALIST: TriVistaUSA Design + Build

Residential Interior Element under $30,000
GRAND: Marks-Woods Construction Services
MERIT: Tabor Design Build

Residential Kitchen $50,000-$100,000
GRAND: Blue Star
MERIT: Michael Nash Design, Build & Homes
FINALIST: RessaBuilt

Residential Kitchen $100,001-$150,000
GRAND: FineCraft Contractors
MERIT: Marks-Woods Construction Services
FINALISTS: Daniels Design & Remodeling and Landis Architects/Builders

Residential Kitchen over $150,000
GRAND: Bowers Design Build
MERIT: BOWA
FINALIST: MOSS Building & Design

Residential Landscape Design/Outdoor Living $100,000-$250,000
GRAND: Tabor Design Build
MERIT: Coupard Architects & Builders

Residential Landscape Design/Outdoor Living over $250,000
GRAND: Pristine Acres
MERIT: Pristine Acres
FINALIST: Michael Nash Design, Build & Homes

Universal Design—Bath
GRAND: Sun Design Remodeling Specialists

BATHROOM REMODEL—WASHINGTON MARKET
Spectrum Design + Build, Albemarle Street, NW—Bathroom Remodel, Washington, DC

BATHROOM REMODEL—BALTIMORE MARKET
Owings Brothers Contracting, Skyline Bathroom Remodel, Ruxton, Maryland

CUSTOM HOME
Bayview Builders, Ulmstead Shores, Arnold, Maryland

GREEN HOME BUILDING
Bayview Builders, Lake Ogleton, Annapolis, Maryland

HISTORIC RESTORATION 1,000-2,000 SQUARE FEET
Owings Brothers Contracting, Industrial Style Condominium, Baltimore, Maryland

HISTORIC RESTORATION 100-999 SQUARE FEET
Spectrum Design + Build, W Street, NW—Historic Façade, Washington, DC

KITCHEN REMODEL/ADDITION 100-999 SQUARE FEET—WASHINGTON MARKET
Spectrum Design + Build, 14th Street, NW—Kitchen Remodel, Washington, DC

KITCHEN REMODEL/ADDITION 100-999 SQUARE FEET—BALTIMORE MARKET
Legacy Cabinetry & Design and Crosen Homes LLC, Argent Path, Ellicott City, Maryland

KITCHEN REMODEL/ADDITION 1,000-2,000 SQUARE FEET
Parker Design Build Remodel, Laurel, Laurel, Maryland

OTHER—CONDOMINIUM
Owings Brothers Contracting, Bank Street Condominium, Baltimore, Maryland

OTHER—55+ CONDOMINIUM
Owings Home Services, Retirement Condominium, Pikesville, Maryland

OUTDOOR LIVING
Spectrum Design + Build, Klingle Street, NW—Outdoor Living, Washington, DC

SPECIALTY AND/OR DETAILS—ENTRYWAY
Bayview Builders, Chartwell Branch Entryway, Severna Park, Maryland

SPECIALTY AND/OR DETAILS—STRUCTURAL
Owings Brothers Contracting, Davidsonville Specialty Project, Davidsonville, Maryland

Her husband, an investment banker, came around with a little coaxing. “My wife had this excellent argument,” he concedes. “As an immigrant, when she thinks of the United States, she thinks of progress, innovation. She wanted something that represents the New World, and a contemporary style is what we both agreed would do that best.”

The pair secured a leafy lot in an established McLean neighborhood, knowing they would soon replace the brick rambler inhabiting it. They then asked Cunningham | Quill Architects to synthesize myriad images and ideas they had gathered over time and conjure their new home. A collaborative process ensued. “These clients understood from the beginning that it was going to be a team approach,” says founding principal Ralph Cunningham. “They were very engaged.”

First and foremost, the couple envisioned an open-plan nucleus that would support frequent entertaining—ranging from intimate dinner parties to 100-person charity fundraisers—and daily family life (their 18-year-old son lives at home and 20-year-old daughter studies abroad). “It was a mix of trying to make sure we had an environment where lots of people could mingle easily without moving through a maze,” explains the husband, “while also keeping it to a livable size and preserving a sense of home, comfort and snugness.”

The layout evolved from there. “It was very important to them that the center of house be a three-part room—dining, living and den—and that it be a big, tall, welcoming space,” discloses architect Angie Yu. “Our job was to figure out how everything else fit around that.”

In the architects’ 7,000-square-foot plan, an assembly of interlocking boxes forms a U-shape around a rear courtyard. The main volume holds the social hub on the ground level and three en-suite bedrooms above; the lower level includes hangout spaces, a guest suite and a gym. An office for the wife, who volunteers with many charitable groups, and the owners’ suite are housed in separate cubes to the right; the kitchen occupies a back wing to the left. A service extension off the kitchen contains a back stair connecting to the garage. The main staircase sits in a tower at the front.

To execute their geometric design, the architects chose a material palette of stucco, ipe and steel. “We took it consistently around the house,” Yu points out. “The material palette is very simple and clean yet playful at the same time.”

Cunningham adds, “I would describe the style as ‘warm modern,’ and the wood helps with the warmth.”

Several characteristics reflect Frank Lloyd Wright’s legacy. “One thing that Wright did consistently was to build on the brow of a hill, and that concept went into this project,” offers Cunningham. To take advantage of a sloping site, the team, which included Potomac Valley Builders, tucked the base of the house into the grade. That move helped to de-emphasize the street-facing garage doors, as did placing them in shadow and painting them a charcoal hue. It also allowed for a dramatic, ascending approach to the residence. As Cunningham explains, “The house sort of floats up in the air on a very dark base.”

Vast stretches of shaded glass—another Wright signature—establish the strong indoor/outdoor relationship the owners requested. In the main living area, kitchen and primary bedroom, sliding doors open onto the courtyard, with a pool and garden beyond. Large windows and several skylights amplify natural light. Black-painted, aluminum-clad wood frames on the doors and windows contribute a modern edge.

The couple also sought to evoke an inviting spirit with their see-through home. As the husband reveals, “We wanted an open house, not just for being able to see outside, but also the idea that it would be a house where our friends would feel welcome and people could come and enjoy themselves.”

And they do. The wife, who grew up in Provence, often prepares French favorites, such as blanquette de veau, to share with guests. “We like a good meal and good wine,” she readily affirms. Despite its heavy use, the kitchen projects a pristine aesthetic thanks to sleek, white cabinets and countertops from Porcelanosa.

Natural materials figured prominently in the owners’ vision for their interiors. Anchoring each end of the public core is a fireplace boasting a floor-to-ceiling, slate surround. Horizontal panels of French oak flank both fireplaces, decoratively concealing storage cabinets and adding desired texture. Wide-plank, white oak floors span throughout.

Striving for what she terms “simple elegance,” the wife created a minimalist vibe with neutral, clean-lined furnishings sourced mainly through RH. Bold, original artwork introduces color and personal meaning. As she sums up, “We wanted our house to have soul.”

Architecture: Ralph Cunningham, FAIA, principal; Angela Yu, AIA, Cunningham | Quill Architects, Washington, DC. Builder: Potomac Valley Builders, Bethesda, Maryland. Landscape Contractor: Fine Earth Landscape, Poolesville, Maryland.

RESOURCES

THROUGHOUT
Paint: Kendall Charcoal, Distant Gray & Amherst Gray by benjaminmoore.com.

GENERAL
Light Fixtures Over Stair: moooi.com.

DINING ROOM
Table & Chandelier: rh.com.

KITCHEN
Cabinetry & Countertops: porcelanosa-usa.com. Ovens & Refrigerator: mieleusa.com through abwappliances.com. Barstools: ikea.com.

LIVING AREA
Sofas, Leather Chair & Coffee Table: rh.com. Artwork: original by Dan Badea.

DEN
Leather Sofa & Coffee Table: rh.com. Mirror: antique.

OFFICE
Desk & Chairs: rh.com.

COURTYARD
Dining Table: rh.com. Dining Chairs: cb2.com.

POOL AREA
Sofas: rh.com. Lounge Chairs: cb2.com. Pool: alpinepool.com.

DESIGN & ARCHITECTURE
Home of the Year—The Logan at Quarry Springs, Bethesda, MD. Wormald Homes
Custom Home of the Year—1437 Cedar Avenue, McLean, VA. Clear View Homes; WCRA
Community of the Year‑—Robinson Landing, Alexandria, VA. EYA LLC; JBG SMITH; Mitsui Fudosan America; KTGY Architecture + Planning; Shalom Baranes Associates
Innovative Land Planning—Robinson Landing, Alexandria, VA. EYA LLC; Shalom Baranes Associates; KTGY Architecture + Planning; Mitsui Fudosan America; JBG SMITH
FreeStanding Club House—Bayside Fenwick Island, Fenwick Island, DE.
Carl M. Freeman Companies; AdsIntelligence Marketing
Outstanding Living Space or Architectural Feature—Cabana at Cornwell Farm, Great Falls, VA.
James McDonald Associate Architects
Outstanding Implementation of Innovative Design Concepts Detached/Attached—Chateau De Riviere, Great Falls, VA. The Building Group; Grow Landscapes
Green Building—Mid-Century Modern, Arlington, Arlington, VA. Arlington Designer Homes Construction LLC

Detached Home (lots under 7,000 square feet)
Under $300,000—Brooke in Evershire North, Waynesboro, VA. KTGY; Atlantic Builders
$600,001-$700,000—Atwood at Tapestry, Clarksburg, MD. KTGY; Miller and Smith
Over $850,000—Parkhurst at Willowcreek, Dayton, MD. Toll Brothers; Lessard Design, Inc.
DESIGN & ARCHITECTURE Detached Home (lots 7,000 square feet and over)
$1,000,001-$1,400,000—The Robey on Homesite 8 at Miller’s Reserve, Purcellville, VA. Evergreene Homes
Over $5,000,000—Chateau De Riviere, Great Falls, VA. The Building Group; James McDonald Associate Architects
Under $400,000—The Chesapeake at Orchard Hill, Spotsylvania, VA. Atlantic Builders
$400,001-$500,000—Tidewater Slab at Kindleton, Lewes, DE. KTGY; Lennar Corporation
$500,001-$600,000—Southport Basement at Kindleton, Lewes, DE. KTGY; Lennar Corporation
$850,001-$1,000,000—The Monroe at Meadows at Rose Hill, Alexandria, VA. The Christopher Companies; Moment Engineering + Design
Over $1,400,000—Palatine at the Windmill Collection, North Potomac, MD. KTGY; Toll Brothers

Attached Home
Over $850,000—The Logan at Quarry Springs, Bethesda, MD. Wormald Homes
$400,001-$500,000—Norwood at Watson’s Glen, Millersville, MD. KTGY; Tri Pointe Homes
$500,001-$600,000—Bluemont at Carter’s Mill by Del Webb, Haymarket, VA. PulteGroup
$600,001-$700,000—Sydney at Crown East, Gaithersburg, MD. PulteGroup
$700,001-$850,000—Willard at the Braddock, Chantilly, VA. KTGY; Toll Brothers

Multi-Family
New Construction—Robinson Landing, Alexandria, VA. EYA LLC; JBG SMITH ; Mitsui Fudosan America; KTGY Architecture + Planning; Shalom Baranes Associates
Mixed-Use—Juniper, Columbia, MD. CBG Building Company; The Howard Hughes Corporation; The Preston Partnership
Condominium or Apartment Unit—Walney at the Fairfax Collection, Chantilly, VA. KTGY; Toll Brothers

CUSTOM BUILDING
DESIGN & ARCHITECTURE Custom Home, Single Lot
3,000-5,000 square feet—Walker Road, Great Falls, VA. James McDonald Associate Architects
5,001-7,000 square feet—Arnon Chapel Road, Great Falls, VA. James McDonald Associate Architects
Over 7,000 square feet—Cornwell Farm, Great Falls, MD. James McDonald Associate Architects

DESIGN & ARCHITECTURE Custom or Customized Infill Home
5,001-7,000 square feet­—1437 Cedar Avenue, McLean, VA. Clear View Homes; WCRA Under 3,000 square feet—OPaL’s Tiny House, Washington, DC. OPaL, LLC
3,000-5,000 square feet—6525 32nd Street, Falls Church, VA. James McDonald Associate Architects
Over 7,000 square feet—1016 Langley Hill Drive, McLean, VA. Brush Arbor Home Construction; WCRA

DESIGN & ARCHITECTURE Renovations or Additions Over $1,000,000—
OPaL’s Historic Renovation in Cleveland Park, Washington, DC. OPaL, LLC

The gabled, 400-square-foot pavilion “is sited on a point of land overlooking the creek and the small enclave of custom homes surrounding it—so it has 180-degree views,” Long explains. “It echoes the home’s architectural features, including a vaulted board-and-batten ceiling, columns and screened radius transoms.” The structure features an open area for al fresco dining. Full-color bluestone paves the space, which is made cozy by a wood-burning fireplace with a gas insert and rattan furniture that beckons into the cooler months.

Architecture: Marta Hansen, AIA, LEED AP, Hansen Architects, Annapolis, Maryland. Builder: Matt Long, Gate One Builders, Annapolis, Maryland. Photography: David Burroughs.

The new three-bedroom, four-and-a-half bath abode he shares with wife 
Terri graces a private, seven-acre waterfront lot on the Wye River near Queenstown, Maryland. Completed in 2019, the 3,500-square-foot residence was a collaborative effort spearheaded by Pilli; Cathy Purple Cherry, founding principal of Purple Cherry Architects; and Kevin Campion, principal of Campion Hruby Landscape Architects—all long-time friends.

The trio started out by carefully surveying the site. “It was amazing to watch Guy and Cathy walk the property and find the perfect angle and view for every room in the house when there was nothing there,” recalls Terri Pilli, a nurse.

Inspired by Eastern Shore Shingle-style architecture, Cherry and associate Ashley Babaian designed the home with steeply pitched rooflines. Diamond-shaped window panes, an eyebrow dormer on the front and arched windows on the rear lend character. The front façade, which presents a more traditional look, is designed for privacy, while the back boasts wide expanses of glass to avoid chopping up water views.

“The house is purposely long to extend views along the shoreline,” Guy says. “The swooped roofline and dormer windows are Cathy’s signature elements; Terri and I love them.”

The home is sited on a peninsula 140 feet from the river’s edge. Purple Cherry’s plan created open sight lines from the foyer through the great room to the river. The dining room is in the front of the home while the kitchen, great room and first-floor owners’ suite line the back. The Pillis’ bedroom enjoys an expansive, 270-degree water vista. Upstairs, along with a loft sitting area and a playroom, two en-suite guest bedrooms host visiting children and grandchildren.

To maintain unobstructed water views, a screened porch was placed off the side of the kitchen rather than behind the home. “Typically, a porch is off the main living area to double your entertainment space,” explains Cherry. “Guy wanted a ‘destination porch’ like they had in their old house, which is separate from the other living areas.”

Although Terri “test drove” the excavator to make the first scoop during the ground-breaking, she left building decisions to the experienced team. “My favorite space is the great room,” she enthuses. “It looks like a house in Aspen with its vaulted wood ceiling and the huge stones on the fireplace.” The stones are reclaimed-granite curb cuts that the couple found at a local stone supplier.

Meanwhile, Guy deferred to Terri on most interior design choices. “Our house is a mix of rustic and feminine features,” she explains. At her clients’ request, Annie Kersey, an interior designer with Purple Cherry Architects who helped decorate the home, sought out simple, neutral furnishings over ornate or patterned pieces that might take away from the setting. Accents in blue, Terri’s favorite color, complement rather than compete with the scenery.

The Pillis frequently host friends in the great room, kitchen and dining room, which spills out onto a deck. The kitchen sink faces the river and the kitchen island, with its rough hickory base and granite top, is big enough so the couple can cook together.

Terri relishes the peace of sitting by the pool after a hard day at the hospital. Located across the back of the house, a deck, outdoor dining area, pool terrace and fire pit are intimate spaces that foster relaxation and entertaining.

When it came to landscaping, “Guy wanted his home to blend into its natural surroundings,” notes Kevin Campion. “We turned the front of the house into a wildflower meadow with native plants that are part of the Eastern Shore vernacular, require less water and only need trimming a couple of times a year.” Native grasses, coneflowers and black-eyed Susans were planted to form a natural buffer along the river.

Working together, these Eastern Shore experts created a comfortable and inviting haven. “We wanted an extremely private and functional house that’s both a peaceful retreat and an easy place to spend time together and with friends and family on the water,” Guy reflects. “It is definitely our forever house.”

Architecture & Interior Design: Cathy Purple Cherry, AIA, CAS, LEED AP, principal; Ashley Babaian, associate; Annie Kersey, interior designer, Purple Cherry Architects, Annapolis, Maryland. Kitchen Design: Joni Zimmerman, CKD, CBD, Design Solutions Inc., Annapolis, Maryland. Builder: Guy Pilli, Pilli Custom Homes, Millersville, Maryland. Landscape Architecture: Kevin Campion, ASLA, principal; Nick Ries, senior associate, Campion Hruby Landscape Architects, Annapolis, Maryland.

“It’s a stair tower,” says the Bethesda architect. Describing his take on a classic center-hall Colonial, he reaches all the way back to George Washington’s home on the Potomac to explain his inspiration. “If you do a center hall right—like at Mount Vernon—when you come in the front, you can see straight through to the back.”

And so, out went the rear wall. In came expanses of glass, an ocular skylight and the floating treads, suspended landings and sinuous steel railing clad in steam-bent oak that transformed a conventional stair hall into a brilliant shaft of light.

The corner property benefitted from a double lot that made it desirable for an active household with two young children. The owner, a businessman, had not envisioned a work of modern architecture; having recently moved from a co-op, his intention was simply to refresh the interior with help from James Loveless of JWL Woodworking, with whom he’d collaborated on his previous residence. Once walls began to come down, however, the need for a master plan became clear. Eager for a layout that wasn’t “all chopped up,” the owner turned to McInturff Architects with the directive, he says, that “it was also important for the house to fit into the neighborhood.”

McInturff quickly devised a plan that would accomplish both goals, working closely with Colleen Healey, then a principal at his firm. “We didn’t just blow the walls out, we connected the spaces,” says Healey, who has since launched her own practice in DC.
The three-story, 5,417-square-foot Georgian manse came with seven bedrooms and five baths. A porch with a retractable screen was added off the dining room. Back stairs were removed, enlarging a kitchen redesigned by McInturff. Upstairs, two bedrooms became an owners’ bath and dressing room. Two third-floor rooms were enlivened by white oak ceiling panels. A studio over the garage was equipped with a bath and a kitchenette and the lower level was excavated to create a recreation room, laundry and sauna.

Facing the street, the home retains tradition with Palladian detailing and cornice molding—but the spirit is modern. Red brick is now painted Bauhaus white. Windows are de-shuttered and outlined in charcoal. A columned portico has morphed into angular steel, framing a mahogany front door with an asymmetric sidelite. Roof shingles have given way to the industrial chic of standing-seam metal. “We try to be very well-mannered from the street,” says McInturff. “What we’re looking for is not a collision but a weaving of elements.”

The radical transformation emerges fully in the back garden, where the façade thrills with angles and curves in glass, metal, mahogany and a smidgen of Georgian brick. The goal is simple: “People live differently now,” the architect affirms. “They want to open their houses to the exterior. They’re going to have a different look.”

A recent tour began at the new portico. “I always start at the front door,” McInturff explains. “I want to see what we’re going to see.” Open sesame: The west-facing interior explodes with light. The back wall of the stair hall reveals a towering magnolia, cryptomeria and holly. The stairs are wrapped in curved, oak-paneled railings—a tour de force of craftsmanship. White oak sets the mood on the first floor with paneled walls. A two-sided fireplace clad in basalt opens up the living room. Curves are a theme: In the library, for example, an oak-paneled wall arcs in a literal embrace.

Details charm: Even in daylight, a ceiling fixture by Moooi in the living room sparkles like fireflies and an intricate porcelain light fixture dangles from the top of the three-story stair hall like a Calder mobile—or a flock of doves.

The curves are repeated in spare furnishings chosen by Kate Ballou of Hendrick Interiors. Ballou adopted the palette of oak and neutrals in largely Scandinavian pieces such as a caramel leather bench by mid-century Danish saddler Erik Jorgensen that keeps company with an Eames Lounge Chair in the sunroom. Ivory wool upholstery from Kvadrat is naturally resistant to dirt, and oak tables have been treated with a sustainable soap finish. “It was really important that the home feel livable,” Ballou notes. “It’s very subtle yet still modern and fresh.”

There are almost no strong pops of color. By design, the hues that anchor the rooms are warm in tone. “It’s not a cold house, it’s a warm house,” the owner enthuses.

Mahogany frames floor-to-ceiling windows across the back and around the north side of the house, which gained floor-to-ceiling glass exposures. “I wanted to see outside,” the owner explains. “With every view, you’re looking at greenery.”

These garden vistas are courtesy of landscape architect Lila Fendrick, who planted evergreens to form a screen behind lush native shrubs and perennials. A strip of lawn is bound by a narrow pool of water running parallel to a simple bluestone terrace.

Discussing how the project evolved, McInturff avers that he and his team “don’t go in with preconceptions. Modernism is very broad—steel and glass to stone and wood. We just kind of feel our way into it.” In this home, wood became the defining character. “Wood talks back, it changes in the light and has multiple colors—it’s authentic,” the architect says. “It resonates with our humanity.”

Renovation Architecture: Mark McInturff, FAIA, principal in charge; Colleen Gove Healey, AIA, NCARB, project architect, McInturff Architects, Bethesda, Maryland. Interior Design: Kate Ballou, Allied ASID, Hendrick Interiors, Washington, DC. Renovation Contractor: James Loveless, JWL Woodworking, Ijamsville, Maryland. Landscape Architecture: Lila Fendrick, ASLA, Lila Fendrick Landscape Architects, Chevy Chase, Maryland. Landscape Contractor: Evergro Landscaping, Glenn Dale, Maryland.

RESOURCES

PATIO
White Table & Chairs: knoll.com; dwr.com.

DINING AREA
Table: Custom through danieldonnelly.com. Chairs: dwr.com. Chandelier: estiluz.com through illuminc.com.

LIVING AREA
Sofa: eggcollective.com through dwr.com. Sofa Fabric: dwr.com. Sofa Pillow Fabric: hollandandsherry.com. Rug: woodnotes.fi through ffsgallery.com. White Chairs: atlason.com through dwr.com. White Chair Fabric: dwr.com. Chair Pillow Fabric: roomandboard.com. Small Center Side Table: eggcollective.com. Cocktail Table: andtradition.com through ffsgallery.com. Orange Chairs & Stools: Owners’ collection. Clear Console: Owners’ collection. Chandelier: moooi.com through illuminc.com. Paint: Super White by benjaminmoore.com. Fireplace Surface: architessa.com.

SUNROOM
Bench: Erik Jorgensen through ffsgallery.com. Small Table: andtradition.com through ffsgallery.com. Chaise & Ottoman: hermanmiller.com through dwr.com. Rug: starkcarpet.com. Paint: Super White by benjaminmoore.com.

LIBRARY/MEDIA ROOM
Sofa: Custom through danieldonnelly.com. Sofa Fabric: kvadrat.dk. Pillow Fabrics: roomandboard.com. Swivel Chairs: hollyhunt.com. Swivel Chair Fabric: Great Plains through hollyhunt.com. Nesting & Side Tables: fredericia.com through ffsgallery.com. Light Fixture: foscarini.com through illuminc.com. Rug: bloomsburgcarpet.com. Millwork Fabrication: potomacwoodwork.com. Paint: Super White by benjaminmoore.com.

STAIRWELL
Light Fixture: bocci.com.

LOGGIA
Table & Chairs: knoll.com.

KITCHEN
Breakfast Table: knoll.com through dwr.com. Breakfast Chairs: Erik Jorgensen through ffsgallery.com. Lounge Chairs: atlason.com through dwr.com. Lounge Chair Fabric: dwr.com. Small Table: Erik Jorgensen through ffsgallery.com. Paint: Super White by benjaminmoore.com. Cabinetry Fabrication: potomacwoodwork.com. Countertops: caesarstoneus.com through usmarbleandgranite.com. Sink Fixtures: ferguson.com. Cooktop: mieleusa.com through ferguson.com. Fireplace: woodlanddirect.com.

The answer came after some years of orchestrating family gatherings and fundraising events at home. “I decided to build a large gathering space where I could host 35 to 40 people without needing extra tables or tents, where our extended family could stay when they visit,” Higgins says. To realize her ideal, she turned to the trusted team with whom she had collaborated on her previous projects: architect Christine Dayton and interior designer Sherrie Petermann. Builder Jay Chance also joined the mix.

From the get-go, Higgins, a business consultant, knew what she wanted. She envisioned a year-round space that would convey the feeling “of being outside even though you’re inside,” she explains. “I didn’t want to lose the concept of being in a beautiful, open setting and seeing the water.”

Her vision extended to form as well as function. “Linda wanted a structure that would be reminiscent of a barn,” Dayton recounts. “She requested that it sit up on a knoll as barns often do, so we sited it on the highest part of the property with a view down to the creek.” The plan created an open line of sight from the front door—incorporated into a storefront window system by Solar Innovations—to the back of the house, where a corresponding window system reveals the cove beyond.

In keeping with the barn theme, a two-story silo dominates one end of the structure. Its construction required some finessing. “The silo cap was so heavy it had to be constructed on the ground and then craned into place,” recalls Dayton. Clad in hardy NuCedar PVC shingles and board-and-batten siding to match the main house, the barn is topped with a standing-seam metal roof. Slatted barn doors slide across the window walls to control the light and protect against heat and bad weather. A bluestone patio runs the length of the water-facing side; it offers room to congregate and a built-in outdoor kitchen complete with a sink, grill and wood-burning pizza oven. A screened porch, also facing the water, is a quiet spot for contemplation.

Visitors to the 2,800-square-foot party barn, as it was soon christened, enter an airy, open space with a 26-foot-tall vaulted ceiling and a spacious loft. Working with a structural engineer, Dayton conceived a series of black-painted steel trusses that support the massive roof and—paired with an oak-paneled ceiling—lend rustic beauty to the room.

An open kitchen at one end of the main level is delineated by a beamed, single-story ceiling. Opposite, a giant wood-burning fireplace clad in limestone-look porcelain tile is almost big enough to walk into. Flanking the fireplace, oak barn doors slide back to access a bedroom suite on one side and a bathroom and home office on the other. A short hall leads to the silo, which contains an architectural highlight of the project: a sleek spiral stair up to the loft that marries oak treads, a steel frame and a gracefully curved oak banister.

When it came time to furnish the interiors, Higgins opted to repurpose pieces from a previous abode. Fortunately, designer Sherrie Petermann had selected those furnishings—upholstered seating in luxe, classic style—so she and her client were on the same page.

“When you get someone who knows your taste, it’s easy to work together,” Higgins comments.

Still, “it was a challenge to bridge the gap between rustic and sophisticated,” Petermann observes. In front of the fireplace, she juxtaposed plush sofas and an elegant carpet with a coffee table that sports a teak-root base and vintage ladders that double as display shelves to create a collected aesthetic that “feels authentic,” she notes.

“I tried to make the kitchen barn-like yet beautifully appointed,” says the designer, who selected a stone-look, porcelain-tile backsplash and a copper farmhouse sink. A 14-foot-long island dominates the space; it’s made of galvanized-steel piping and mahogany slabs and was designed by Petermann and Higgins, then fabricated by Jay Chance.

Throughout the building, small, custom details abound. Pounded-metal strips border the fireplace, handcrafted by E.R. Harvey Metalworking, which also crafted the giant fire screen and metal supports that adorn the mahogany-slab mantel. The generous dining table, fabricated by Chance, unites a leathered-granite top with a trestle base that mimics the ceiling trusses. White oak surfaces—from floors to barn doors to ceiling panels—are finished with a vinegar wash devised by Chance to impart an aged look.

Sadly, after the work was completed, Linda Higgins’s then-husband passed away. She has since remarried and, following a sleek commercial renovation masterminded by Dayton, she and her current husband, Glenn, opened the Chesapeake Seafood Market in St. Michaels. When they’re not working, the couple enjoys time off hunting, gardening—and, of course, gathering with family in the party barn.

Architecture: Christine M. Dayton, AIA; Joshua Startt, project manager, Christine M. Dayton Architect, P.A., Easton, Maryland. Interior Design: Sherrie Petermann, Allied Member ASID, Petermann Designs LLC, Vero Beach, Florida. Builder: Jay Chance, Chance And Associates, Inc., Easton, Maryland. Landscape Design: Dobson Lawn & Landscape, Inc., St. Michaels, Maryland.

RESOURCES

GENERAL
Steel Beam Fabrication: anchor-enterprises.com. Fireplace Metalwork: Custom through erharvey.com. Fireplace Tile: Ronnie’s Tile; 410-714-1501. Wood Mantel: Custom through chanceandassociates.com. Fireplace Masonry: Tri County Masonry; 410-819-8615. Flooring: harveymillwork.com. Barn Doors: Custom through chanceandassociates.com; erharvey.com. Stair: theironshop.com. Stair Fabrication: chanceandassociates.com. Cable Railings: feeneyinc.com. Windows: solarinnovations.com; marvin.com through twperry.com.

EXTERIOR
Roofing: metfabint.com through annapolisexteriors.com. Stone Foundation: Tri County Masonry; 410-819-8615; semcostone.com.

FIRST LEVEL
Light Fixture: sklo.com. Drapery: kravet.com. Ladders by Fireplace: petermanndesigns.com. Sofas, Side Tables, Armchairs, Side Chairs & Dining Chairs: hickorychair.com. Sofa Fabric: osborneandlittle.com. Rug: starkcarpet.com. Coffee Table: petermanndesigns.com. Lamps on Dining Table: janbarboglio.com. Chandelier: formationsusa.com. Dining Table: Custom through chanceandassociates.com; petermanndesigns.com.

KITCHEN
Sink: nativetrailshome.com. Chandelier: formationsusa.com. Cabinetry: Custom through Richwood Limited; 443-205-5297. Kitchen Island Design: petermanndesigns.com. Beams & Kitchen Island Fabrication: Custom through chanceandassociates.com.

SECOND LEVEL
Rug: michaelian.com. Red Leather Chairs: dennisandleen.com. Red Leather Chair Fabric: Lee Jofa through kravet.com. Side Table, Ottoman & Fabric, Gray Chairs & Console beneath TV: hickorychair.com. Trusses: Designed by Jeremy Walbert; fabricated by anchor-enterprises.com.

After three years, however, the family grew tired of the dated abode that didn’t fit their needs or style. “We always wanted our house to be a gathering space,” says the wife, “but it didn’t accommodate large groups well. Everyone was on top of each other versus being able to spread out.” Another downside: The pool was inconveniently sited off the basement, thereby relegating swimmers to enter and exit via the unwelcoming and isolated lower level. As the wife explains, “We wanted everything to be centrally located around the pool and kitchen. That’s where everyone spends their time.”

To assess the situation, the couple enlisted builder Raymond Gauthier of Lynbrook of Annapolis, who then introduced them to Kimmel Studio Architects, an Annapolis firm with expertise in deftly integrating dwellings into surrounding landscapes. “The homeowners asked us to come up with different concepts to change the style of the house,” explains Kimmel Studio architect David Mallon. “We looked at how to change the chopped-up living areas and make the inside and outside spaces relate to one another and blur that boundary.”

Ultimately, the team determined that renovations weren’t the answer and the owners decided to build anew. As the expansive manse was dismantled, building materials ranging from timber and studs to cabinets and flooring were donated to a local salvage organization.

With a blank slate before him, Mallon dreamed up a sprawling, 14,000-square-foot abode and detached guest barn that marry Eastern Shore farmhouse vernacular with the wife’s desire for a pared-down palette and “clarity of design.”

The new eight-bedroom home is intended to read as a dwelling constructed over time. The main structure, sheathed in Dutch lap siding, acts as the original “farmhouse” with a collection of smaller buildings, clad in board and batten, attached via glass corridors on either side. Mallon organized the floor plan on a cross-axis that separates public and private wings. “We knew the clients wanted the house to be a place for their entire family,” says Mallon. “We needed to give them large communal spaces where they can gather and enjoy crabs, as well as private areas they can retreat to.”

From the entry and corridors to the living spaces, what Mallon describes as “collections of little vignettes” provide breathtaking views of the shoreline. Expansive windows and NanaWall folding doors abound, creating a feeling of transparency that allows the natural landscape to remain center stage. “The views out of every part of the house are just perfect,” says the wife. “They nailed it.”

Moreover, Mallon carried exterior building materials indoors to further blur the inside and outside environments. Clean-lined millwork and minimalist finishes put a modern spin on a structure that pulls from bygone eras. Bare walls and a muted color palette absent of pattern wash the interiors in a sense of calm. “I’m one of those people who needs simplicity,” explains the wife. “Clean lines, nothing ornate and not a lot of little details.”

Despite the woodland home’s gentle presence, it holds more than a few surprises. Case in point: An aqua-blue, painted-wood floor makes a striking statement in the dining room, while an Italian Scabetti chandelier featuring a bone-china school of fish cascades down from the soaring ceiling.

Yet Mallon never lost sight of how the home needed to function with his clients’ active lifestyle, opting for clean and modern indoor/outdoor furnishings and no extraneous decorations. Through a doorway, what the architect calls “dual kitchens” are separated by an informal sitting area. Outfitted with identical features on both sides—including matching ranges, refrigerators, polished-lacquer cabinets and custom concrete countertops—the expansive spaces encourage family cooking competitions and enable guests to prepare meals without getting in anyone’s way.

Around a corner, a glass-enclosed indoor plunge pool allows kids and adults alike to enjoy year-round swimming without missing out on the beauty outdoors or fun in nearby rooms, ultimately fulfilling the wife’s wish to keep everyone together. “We’ve hosted a lot of family events here—even big reunions where we have connected with extended family whom we had never met,” she reflects. “We have really been able to use the house to bring people together. Everyone just loves being here.”

Architecture, Interior, Kitchen & Landscape Design: David Mallon, Kimmel Studio Architects, Annapolis, Maryland. Builder: Raymond Gauthier, president; John Gaver, supervisor, Lynbrook of Annapolis, Annapolis, Maryland.

A selection of winning projects is pictured on these pages; for more information, visit classicist-washington.org.

Custom Contemporary Home over 6,000 square feet
GOLD—Sandy Spring Builders, LLC

Custom Contemporary Home under 6,000 square feet
GOLD—Douglas Construction Group

Custom Traditional Home
between 4,000-4,999 square feet
GOLD—Mid-Atlantic Custom Builders

Custom Traditional Home
between 5,000-5,999 square feet
GOLD—Bethel Regency Homes

Custom Traditional Home between 6,000-6,999 square feet
GOLD—Sandy Spring Builders, LLC
BRONZE—Mid-Atlantic Custom Builders

Custom Traditional Home
between 7,000-7,999 square feet
GOLD—Mid-Atlantic Custom Builders

Custom Traditional Home under 4,000 square feet
GOLD—Leveille HIC, Leveille Custom Cabinets

Renovation
GOLD—Sandy Spring Builders, LLC

Speculative Renovation
GOLD—Francis Development

Speculative Home between 3,000-3,999 square feet
GOLD—Foxhall Homes
BRONZE—Foxhall Homes

Speculative Home between 4,000-4,999 square feet
GOLD—Mid-Atlantic Builders LLC

Speculative Home between 5,000-5,999 square feet
GOLD—Laurence Cafritz Builders

Speculative Home between 6,000-6,999 square feet
GOLD—Claude C. Lapp Architects, LLC
BRONZE—Mid-Atlantic Custom Builders

Speculative Home under 3,000 square feet
GOLD—Douglas Construction Group