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."

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 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.”

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.

In fact, their vision extended beyond lifestyle and deep into architecture-and-design territory. “We wanted to build an ultra-contemporary house, and we wanted a local architect we could spend time with, to make sure they understood us,” recounts one of the owners, a management consultant whose husband currently stays home with their two young kids. “We also wanted someone with distinction and their own style,” he continues, “to ensure what we’d be getting in terms of quality and design sense.”

Given the requirements, acclaimed modernist Robert Gurney turned out to be the perfect choice. He signed on for the job, which took about five years from conception to its completion in November 2020. He assembled a team that included colleague Nicole de Jong as project architect; Potomac Valley Builders; Vincent Sagart of Poliform | sagartstudio as kitchen designer; interior designer Therese Baron Gurney; and landscape architect Kevin Campion.

The lot is enviably positioned with lake views in two directions. Waterfront-lot regulations “allowed us to build within 50 feet of the water,” Gurney notes, “so I designed the house to literally wrap around the site following the 50-foot setback lines.”

At 7,000 square feet, the completed six-bedroom, six-bath dwelling is angled to capitalize on both vistas. It harmonizes expanses of steel, glass and wood in two three-story volumes that tuck into the steeply sloped site, concealing its mass. “While the slope was a challenge, it makes for a more interesting building,” Gurney comments. “But it meant you couldn’t enter on the living level, you’d have to walk down to it.”

Nearly every room faces the water and the lake is visible immediately from the entry. The front door opens into a second-floor foyer with a staircase to the third floor and a separate, floating stair of painted steel and white oak down to the main level. “We made sure the different levels communicate,” Gurney says. “There are sightlines pulled from different orientations.”

An open plan was a must. “We had an idea of how things should flow,” says the owner. “We wanted the living room connected to the dining room but distinguished from it. The central stair, which bisects the spaces, gives just enough separation.”

Along the back wall of the living area, a sleek kitchen complements the space, with a fully loaded prep kitchen around the corner. “The goal was to integrate the kitchen with the architecture,” explains designer Vincent Sagart. “It helps create the space—but it’s all about the views.”

The second floor does double duty as front entry—complete with mudroom and two-car garage (an engineering feat in its location over the kitchen)—and guest quarters. There are two spare bedrooms as well as an apartment with a full kitchen, also designed by Poliform | sagartstudio. The third level is for family: The kids’ bedrooms line a short hall, with the primary suite above the guest apartment and a family lounge that the owners call “the loft.” An ipe deck is accessed from the children’s rooms, hallway and loft, creating indoor-outdoor flow.

On the main level, the living area opens out to an expansive ipe deck with a wide stair bordered by Corten steel leading down to the backyard. Landscape architect Kevin Campion devised access from there to the water while thoughtfully balancing other objectives. “It was a sensitive slope with drainage issues, dead trees and restrictions that required preserving and restoring woodland,” he relates. “We took down the dead trees and planted dozens of natives. And we moved the water around the house, managing the drainage so it doesn’t dump into the lake.” Pervious lawn stairs create a picturesque path to 250 feet of lakefront, where the owners dock a pontoon boat for tooling around on the water. A layered plant palette along the slope provides year-round color and interest and prevents erosion.

With the living spaces all facing the water, Gurney tucked the prep kitchen, storage, and operating systems such as HVAC, geothermal and Lutron and A/V on the street side of the house. Spray-foam insulation, low-E glass and passive glazing contribute to energy efficiency. According to the homeowners, solar panels are imminent.

When it came to the interiors, the clients also knew exactly what they wanted. They purchased major furniture pieces themselves, then relied on interior designer Therese Baron Gurney, Robert’s wife and a frequent collaborator, “to pull it all together and give it that extra something,” explains the owner. Against a backdrop of glass, polished concrete floors and wall panels of mahogany and shou sugi ban, low-slung, modern furnishings in quiet, neutral colors keep the views center stage. Says the owner, “I feel like I’m at a resort when I get home at night. Washington is just 20 minutes away—and I get to come home to this.”

Architecture: Robert M. Gurney, FAIA, principal; Nicole de Jong, AIA, project architect, Robert M. Gurney, FAIA Architect, Washington, DC. Interior Design: Therese Baron Gurney, ASID, Baron Gurney Interiors, Washington, DC. Kitchen Design: Vincent Sagart, Poliform | sagartstudio, Washington, DC. Builder: Daryl Landis, Potomac Valley Builders, Bethesda, Maryland. Landscape Architect: Kevin Campion, ASLA, principal; Lindsey Tabor, PLA, associate, Campion Hruby Landscape Architects, Annapolis, Maryland. Landscape Installation: Evergro Landscaping, Glenn Dale, Maryland.

RESOURCES

GENERAL
Home Automation: gramophone.com. Windows: westernwindowsystems.com. Lighting: lutron.com. Outdoor Audio: coastalsource.com. Outdoor Lighting & Irrigation: nature-unlimited.com.

LIVING ROOM
Sofa: Rodolfo Dordoni through minotti.com. Chairs: patriciaurquiola.com through bebitalia.com. Coffee Table: Carlos Baladia through ethnicraft.com. Table: roomandboard.com. Rug: cavancarpets.com.

DINING ROOM
Dining Table: emmanuel-gallina.com through poliform.it. Chairs: Jean-Marie Massaud through poliform.it. Trolley: Hella Jongerius through artek.fi. Chandelier: Gabriel-scott.com.

KITCHEN
Faucets: dornbracht.com; kwc.ch/us; mountainplumbing.com. Lighting: Andreas Tosetto for lodes.com. Cooktop, Ovens, Coffee Machine & Warming Drawers: mieleusa.com. Refrigerator: subzero-wolf.com.

LOUNGE & MEDIA ROOM
Sofas: Philippe Bouix for roche-bobois.com. Armchair: Cedric Ragot for roche-bobois.com. Coffee Table, Stools & Side Table: bludot.com. Cushion: roneljordaan.com. Rug: cavancarpets.com.

PRIMARY BEDROOM
Bed: Rodolfo Dordoni for poliform.it. Night Table: Paolo Piva through poliform.it. Armchair & Side Table: Jean-Marie Massaud through poliform.it. Rug: bic-carpets.be. Floor Lamp: Lievore Altherr Molina for vibia.com. Closet: poliform.it.

LOWER DECK
Lounge Chairs: Rodolfo Dordoni for rodaonline.com. Side Table: gordon-guillaumier.com through rodaonline.com. Side Table: tihanydesign.com through rodaonline.com. Pouf, Sun Lounger & Side Table: Rodolfo Dordoni for rodaonline.com. Parasol: Barlow Tyrie through teak.com.

UPPER DECK
Coffee Table: Gordon-guillaumier.com through rodaonline.com. Chairs & Sun Lounger: newhemisphere.com.

BALCONIES
Armchairs: Patricia Urquiola for andreuworld.com. Tables: Llevore Altherr Molina for andreuworld.com.

LAWN
Chairs: cane-line.com.

PRIMARY BATHROOM
Faucets: Franco Sargiani for fantini.it. Bathtub: Lievore through noorth.it. Cabinets: michelemarcon.it through noorth.it. Toilets: Sfrea through catalano.it. Mirrors: noorth.it. Handles & Hinges: fsbna.com. Lighting: Philippe Starck for usa.flos.com.

Since the Maryland island harbors only about 190 residences, a dated 1980s abode perched above picturesque Otter Pond presented a real opportunity when it came on the market. The couple—he works in global development and she in education—quickly bought the house and tapped architect David Benton to overhaul its interiors. “David helped us realize what the house could be and how to make it work for our family,” the wife relates.While the owners initially sought a simple update, Benton recognized that to achieve their goals, a deeper dive was necessary. “They wanted to expand their livable space, so we needed to open the interiors up,” he recounts. “Their aesthetic leans toward modern so we embraced that—not sterile but with a lot of color and detail.”

Sited 30 feet above the pond on a steep bluff, the 2,900-square-foot home opens to a narrow rear yard via a lower level containing the kids’ bedrooms, a rec room and an in-law suite. Visitors enter the house on the main floor. The spacious living room is straight back, with the kitchen and dining room on one side and the owners’ suite on the other. The pond is visible through numerous windows on the main level, where rooms open out to a wraparound deck.

When Benton began, however, the layout was more compartmentalized. There was no dining room, and the closed-off kitchen and breakfast nook felt cramped. A two-season sunroom had one wall covered in exterior shingles while the other three took in views through “a hodgepodge of sliding doors and windows that didn’t line up,” recalls the architect. By removing the wall between the sunroom and kitchen, he created a vastly improved great room encompassing the kitchen and dining room. A row of clerestory windows remains, but lower doors and windows were replaced for a cohesive look; beadboard details the vaulted ceiling.

The revamped kitchen centers on an island with seating. The door connecting the kitchen and living room shifted to accommodate a new range wall; floor-to-ceiling cabinetry now lines the former breakfast nook, keeping the rest of the kitchen free of upper cabinets for a streamlined look. What Benton terms “a peekaboo window” overlooks the stair down to the kids’ rooms, maintaining a convenient connection to the lower level through which the owners can communicate with people downstairs and see who might be at the front door.

In the living room, extensive built-in shelving replaced a wall of outdated cabinetry. “The clients love reading so we created more of a library feel,” the architect says. “Shiplap shelf backs and picture lights above dress it up.” The fireplace surround—formerly a giant inset mirror—is now clad in variegated limestone veneer that picks up colors found in nature.

Additional updates include an overhaul of the primary suite and its spacious bath, a redo of the downstairs kids’ bathroom and the conversion of a storage area beneath the former sunroom into an ensuite guest room.

When it came to updating the aesthetic, Benton made a big impact by painting the orangey oak woodwork throughout the house white, including all the window frames. “Painting out those windows really brings the view in,” says the architect, who recently relocated to South Carolina. “That oak color was sort of in your face before; the crisp white allows you to see beyond the divisions in the window and makes the view the focal point.”

He also replaced a mishmash of tile and wood flooring with engineered white oak floors that streamline and unify the spaces. The owners selected furnishings and accessories in a palette of blue-gray and white inspired by fond memories of time spent living in the Pacific Northwest. Says the wife, “We wanted this house to be modern but warm, meant for family. And we aimed to honor the natural beauty outside our walls.”

Renovation Architecture: David Benton, AIA, Benton architecture + interiors, Bluffton, South Carolina. Renovation Contractor: David Stevens and Brad Stevens, David B. Stevens, Glen Burnie, Maryland.

A vacation-house-in-the-city mindset informed decisions along the way, starting with the lot selection. When a one-acre, woodland parcel belying its close-in location became available in 2018, the couple grabbed it. “The integration between indoors and outdoors was key” to their vision for a permanent haven, says the wife, a political consultant. “This was pre-covid, so the idea was to be able to relax in a Zen-like space when we came home from work and to have guests feel calm, comfortable and relaxed too.”

With demolition slated for an existing 1950s house, they tapped architect Mark Kaufman to design airy new digs that would showcase the property’s natural splendor. “They wanted a contemporary home with a lot of glass on the back side and some sense of privacy in front,” recounts Kaufman, a principal at GTM Architects. “They also wanted to be able to walk in the front door and see through to the beautiful backyard.”

Kaufman forged an L-shaped plan that fit the bill. “We started taking in all these parts and pieces—what’s the best view on the lot, where are we getting the best daylighting, how do we want to organize the more public and private spaces—and the L shape started to make a lot of sense,” he explains. “We created two wings that are connected by a glass hyphen.”

Soaring windows and sliding doors, all framed in black, dominate the back without overexposing the occupants. “Because of the home’s shape, you feel protected,” observes Kaufman. “You don’t feel like you’re on display here, even though you’re surrounded by glass.” On the exterior, those gleaming expanses are interspersed with sapele siding and deep-blue-painted stucco.

Skillfully sited, the 7,800-square-foot dwelling takes full advantage of the sun. The L opens up to southern exposure, ushering in natural light. Additionally, 80 solar panels on the flat roof help the homeowners approach their goal of net-zero energy consumption. According to the husband, “For months in the spring and fall, the meter is running backwards.”

Visitors step first into the glass link, where floor-to-ceiling windows reveal the backyard vista. To the left, the dining room sits up front, saving the stellar views for the glass-lined kitchen/breakfast area/family room, which crescendos to a 20-plus-foot ceiling. A screened porch housing a double-grill outdoor kitchen extends off that space. The opposite wing holds the living room, floating stairs and library. On the second floor, a gathering spot situated in the hyphen separates the primary suite from three other bedrooms (the couple’s adult son and daughter each claim one). The walk-out basement comprises recreational areas, a gym and guest quarters.

Before ground broke, designer Annette Hannon joined the team, specifying everything from finishes to furnishings. She and Kaufman collaborated on the kitchen design, which was predicated on entertaining. A lengthy, marble-topped island with a waterfall edge offers plenty of prep and serving space; it’s also where the wife prefers to work from home.

Wood accents warm up the sparkling interiors. Sapele pocket doors on the family room’s fireplace/television wall conceal a bar and storage space; the same wood reappears on the breakfast-area banquette. Walnut built-ins wrap around the library, which doubles as the husband’s office.

Nature dictated the décor. “The driving force for the whole project was marrying the interior with the exterior,” asserts Hannon. Benjamin Moore’s Pale Oak, Hannon’s pick for most public-area walls, creates a neutral canvas for the “living artwork” outside. Comfortable seating selections sport durable fabrics in tranquil shades of blue and gray that complement the view.

The lighting choices, she adds, “respect the interior architecture’s contemporary aesthetic.” Case in point: a sleek, 19-light pendant from Koncept Lighting that drops from the family room ceiling.

That social space spills out to a tumbled-travertine terrace, complete with swimming pool and hot tub. A bocce ball court lies along the side yard, opposite a changing room and outdoor shower. Fritz & Gignoux, who masterminded the landscape plan, added a modern garden that further ties the built environment to its surroundings. “We made it so that the house feels merged with the natural landscape,” observes Leslie Gignoux, who founded the firm with husband Scott Fritz. “There’s a very thoughtful and peaceful presence to the place that is intentional.”

Hannon established zones for outdoor dining, relaxing and lounging with Brown Jordan furniture. The porch table can extend to accommodate a crowd. Two sofas join a streamlined Paloform fire pit on the terrace, creating a spot, she says, “to hang out and have cocktails.”

The completed property offers a halcyon respite for owners and friends alike. “When the weather is warm, we have people over almost every weekend,” reveals the wife. “There’s lots of eating, lots of getting wet in the pool, hot tub and outdoor shower. It’s just like a vacation home.”

Architecture: Mark Kaufman, AIA, LEED AP, GTM Architects, Bethesda, Maryland. Interior Design: Annette Hannon, Annette Hannon Interior Design, Burke, Virginia. Builder: Thorsen Construction, Alexandria, Virginia. Landscape Design: Leslie Gignoux and Scott Fritz, Fritz & Gignoux Landscape Architects, Washington, DC. Landscape Contractor: Joel Hafner, Fine Earth Landscape, Poolesville, Maryland.

RESOURCES

THROUGHOUT
Windows: thesanderscompany.com. Home Automation: htarchitects.com.

OUTDOOR
Pool Chaises, Dining Table & Dining Chairs: brownjordan.com through americaneyewdc.net. Sofa, Sectional & Chairs: brownjordan.com through americaneyewdc.net. Coffee Table & Pedestals: Clients’ collection. Grill: lynxgrills.com through ferguson.com. Hood: Custom by Mark Kaufman through gtmarchitects.com. Hood Fabrication: custommetalsofvirginia.com. Paving: fineearth.com. Outdoor Sconces: kuzcolighting.com. Fan: montecarlofans.com. Pool Contractor: crystalpoolsrs.com. Outdoor Shower Plumbing: signaturehardware.com through ferguson.com.

FAMILY ROOM
Sectional: vanguardfurniture.com. Sectional Fabric: kirbydesign.com through romo.com. Pillow Fabric: rosemaryhallgarten.com through hollandandsherry.com. Armchairs: vanguardfurniture.com. Armchair Fabric: kirbydesign.com through romo.com. Armchair Pillow: brentanofabrics.com through hollyhunt.com. Rug: galleriacarpets.com. Cocktail Table: rh.com. Chandelier: koncept.com. Side Table: rh.com. Millwork Fabrication: Maryland Custom Cabinets; 301-898-0357. Fireplace: davincifireplace.com. Paint: Pale Oak by benjaminmoore.com.

KITCHEN
Banquette Design: Mark Kaufman through gtmarchitects.com. Banquette Fabrication: Maryland Custom Cabinets; 301-898-0357. Banquette Fabric: designersguild.com through osbornandlittle.com. Table & Chairs: dwr.com. Cabinetry: Maryland Custom Cabinets; 301-898-0357. Hardware: omniaindustries.com through pushpullhardware.com. Range & Combination Steam Oven: mieleusa.com through ferguson.com. Refrigerator, Freezer & Wine Refrigerator: subzero-wolf.com through ferguson.com. Vent Hood: bluestarcooking.com through ferguson.com. Dishwasher: bosch-home.com through ferguson.com. Pendants: umage.us through lightology.com. Countertop & Backsplash: imaginesurfaces.com through unitedstatesmarbleandgranite.com. Plumbing Fixtures: kohler.com through ferguson.com. Stools: Clients’ collection. Paint: Pale Oak by benjaminmoore.com.

HALL (POOL VIEW)
Bench: hollyhunt.com. Bench Fabric: kirbydesign.com through romo.com. Art: Clients’ Collection. Flooring: wellbornwright.com. Paint: Pale Oak by benjaminmoore.com.

LIVING ROOM
Fireplace Surround: imaginesurfaces.com through unitedstatesmarbleandgranite.com. Ledge: unitedstatesmarbleandgranite.com. Sofa: aneesupholstery.com through hinescompany.com. Sofa Fabric (Interior): designersguild.com through osborneandlittle.com; Sofa Fabric (Exterior): kirbydesign.com through romo.com. Pillow Fabric: markalexander.com through romo.com. Armchairs & Armchair Fabric: rh.com. Rug: galleriacarpets.com. Cocktail Table: Clients’ collection. Round Table: mgbwhome.com. Wallpaper: S. Harris through fabricut.com.

LIBRARY
Millwork Fabrication: Maryland Custom Cabinets; 301-898-0357. Rug: carpetimpressions.com. Desk: Custom by annettehannon.com. Desk Leg: custommetalsofvirginia.com. Wood Desk: Maryland Custom Cabinets; 301-898-0357. Chair & Ottoman: Clients’ collection. Paint: Pale Oak by benjaminmoore.com.

“This is our ‘forever home,’” explains Colangelo, whose technology contracting firm is now headquartered above the garage. “We consciously designed and built for longevity and multi-generational support as well as for a sound investment.”

As for the armillary, which is set on axis with the imposing front entrance, Delgado, an obstetrician, adds, “We wanted something that was meaningful to us.”

The couples’ adventure began about five years ago. Already at home in Great Falls, they decided that a legacy of land would be a surer gift in 30 years than liquid assets. A real estate agent found them a property with two adjoining five-acre lots; one held a residence that was demolished while the other contained a paddock, which they retained.

The project was shepherded to completion 18 months ago by a team that included architect James McDonald, interior designer Martha Vicas and landscape architect Joseph Richardson. “It’s a Floridian-style villa on a gorgeous site,” enthuses McDonald, who heeded his clients’ mandate for single-level living—both for raising children now and aging in place later. As a result, the form is linear, encompassing about 6,000 square feet on the main level. Wide roof overhangs shelter generous northeast exposures through bifold and recessed glass doors. Dazzling gray-toned interior furnishings rise to any occasion under ceilings that are 24 feet high in the plush great room and 12 feet elsewhere.

The architect loves the way the massive front door pivots into a barrel-vaulted foyer with a view of the armillary. Left of the foyer is a teal-hued office for the doctor. From there, a cross hall ties the house together. Four en-suite bedrooms lie at the east end and two three-car garages off a breezeway connect to an enclosed pool on the west. In between, the hall opens to a flowing living space: great room, dining area, kitchen and loggia—all overlooking the rear landscape. Beyond a fringe of deer-proof boxwood and ornamental grasses, a lawn extends to woods through which the children can reach Delgado’s mother’s house, one of several adjoining properties since acquired.

“The thought behind the design was really to take advantage of multiple views and to maximize indoor-outdoor living opportunities,” McDonald says. “The architecture allows people to flow from indoor to outdoor spaces with ease.”

The couple’s wish list started with unified areas for cooking, dining and relaxing; an office for Delgado; and a pool. A partial lower level houses a second living room, theater, wine cellar, additional guest room and bath. The interiors had to be livable. “We’re not looking for ornate, we’re looking to be comfortable,” Colangelo says. “When we come home from a hard day’s work, or the kids from school, that’s important.”

Designer Martha Vicas provided sophistication and practicality, balancing Colangelo’s taste for contemporary and Delgado’s for traditional. Nap-ready sofas and chairs wear easy-to-clean fabrics in gray tones and subtle patterns. “We wanted timeless, classic design,” says Delgado. “Martha taught us we didn’t have to sacrifice comfort for style.”

Indeed, Vicas wove lavish elements throughout. In the great room, a fireplace wall combines swirling travertine and textured leather panels bracketed by reeded-oak slats that rise to the ceiling. “We wanted to celebrate the scale of that wall,” the designer explains. The elaborate leatherwork is echoed in the sculpted folds of a massive steel range hood in the chic kitchen by Lobkovich Kitchen Designs. Fixed on the wall opposite the fireplace, the hood becomes an art statement. Between those spaces, metallic cork wallpaper delineates the dining area, making it sparkle. The ceiling is faux-painted in a navy swirl. “It’s another pattern play,” Vicas says.

On a quieter note, the primary suite is a welcoming cocoon, embellished with wall panels of flame-grained walnut, linen and cream-colored cut suede. “We wanted a calm, serene environment,” Delgado remarks.

The family hangs out in the loggia, with its heated-tile floor, fireplace, grilling station and media screen. Retractable glass doors open to the armillary. “We try to include sculpture in every garden,” says landscape architect Joseph Richardson, noting that this one draws residents and guests outdoors.

When it came time to address the landscape, Richardson’s brief included the creation of a long drive through an allée of mature, ornamental pear trees ending in a circular arrival court. He added open expanses of lawn, meadows and a river birch grove, as well as an organic garden and greenhouse. A sunken meditation garden planted with colorful perennials promotes peaceful contemplation while enhancing the view from the owners’ bedroom. Woodland walking paths to Grandmother’s house may come next; Delgado envisions “an enchanted forest vibe.” Enjoying the long-term view, she says, “Each year, hopefully, it will evolve.”

Architecture: James McDonald, James McDonald Associate Architects, PC, Great Falls, Virginia. Interior Design: Martha Vicas, Allied ASID, M.S. Vicas Interiors, Washington, DC. Kitchen Design: Lobkovich Kitchen Designs, Tysons, Virginia. Builder: Artisan Builders, McLean, Virginia. Landscape Architecture: Joseph Richardson, PLA, ASLA, Joseph Richardson Landscape Architecture, Washington, DC. Landscape Contractor: Wheat’s Landscape Design + Construction, Vienna, Virginia. Styling: Kristi Hunter.

RESOURCES

OUTDOOR
Chaises: linkoutdoor.com. Front Door Sconces: illuminc.com.

LIVING ROOM
Fireplace Design & Art: studioart.it/en. Fireplace Stone: marblesystems.com. Fireplace Wall Paneling: artisanbuilds.com. Bench Fabric: Great Plains through hollyhunt.com. Sofa: Custom. Chaise: dmitriyco.com. Sofa Fabric: Great Plains through hollyhunt.com. Rug: Custom by juliedasherrugs.com. Chairs: aneesupholstery.com. Chair Fabric: Great Plains through hollyhunt.com. Wood Coffee Table: etsy.com. Rectangular Coffee Table: hollyhunt.com. Side Tables: charlestonforge.com. Drapery Fabric: kvadrat.dk/en/sahco. Drapery Fabrication: Leangs Interiors; 301-477-3065. Paint: Balboa Mist by benjaminmoore.com.

DINING ROOM
Table: Custom by harrisrubin.com. Chairs: bernhardt.com. Chair Fabric: weitznerlimited.com. Chandelier: bocci.com through illuminc.com. Rug: Custom by juliedasherrugs.com. Wall Cover: romo.com. Ceiling Treatment: artstarcustompaintworks.com.

KITCHEN
Cabinetry: lobkovich.com. Countertop & Backsplash: glbtileandmarble.com through marblesystems.com. Stove & Cooktop: subzero-wolf.com through ferguson.com. Plumbing: brizo.com through ferguson.com. Hood Design: msvicasinteriors.com; lobkovich.com. Hardware: topknobs.com.

LOGGIA
Sofa & Loveseats: linkoutdoor.com. Sofa & Loveseat Fabric: Great Outdoors through hollyhunt.com. Coffee & Side Tables: linkoutdoor.com. Rug: perennialsfabrics.com.

LOGGIA KITCHEN
Table & Chairs: linkoutdoor.com. Backsplash: waterworks.com. Cooktop: subzero-wolf.com through ferguson.com. Wall Material: waterworks.com.

INDOOR POOL
Lounge Chairs & Ottoman: linkoutdoor.com. Fabric: Mokum through jamesdunloptextiles.com. Sconces: urbanelectric.com. Dining Table & Chairs: linkoutdoor.com. Yellow Fabric: elitis.fr/en.

WINE ROOM
Wine Room Design: msvicasinteriors.com. Wine Room Fabrication: artisanbuilds.com. Glass: riverglassdesigns.com. Tile Flooring: annsacks.com. Cabinetry: lobkovich.com. Countertop: glbtileandmarble.com through marblesystems.com.

OWNERS’ BEDROOM
Bedding: sferra.com. Wall Upholstery: custom. Wall Paneling: artisanbuilds.com. Scones: brandvanegmond.com through illuminc.com. Side Tables & Bench: aneesupholstery.com. Bench Fabric: Great Plains through hollyhunt.com. Rug: Custom by juliedasherrugs.com. Drapery Fabric: Great Plains through hollyhunt.com. Drapery Fabrication: Leangs Interiors; 301-477-3065. Chaise: aneesupholstery.com. Chaise Fabric: Great Plains through hollyhunt.com. Dressing Room Drapery Fabrication: pierrefrey.com. Dressing Room Chest: bernhardt.com.

OWNERS’ BATH
Tub: kohler.com. Floor & Tub Tile: architessa.com. Wallcovering: phillipjeffries.com. Bathtub Fixture: kohler.com through ferguson.com. Vanity: lobkovich.com. Countertop: glbtileandmarble.com. Tile: architessa.com. Sink Fixture: kohler.com through ferguson.com. Sconces: urbanelectric.com. Mirror: rh.com.

Both eras came into play when new owners tapped architect Dale Overmyer to orchestrate a 21st-century makeover. “It’s a handsome farmhouse that had been completely reworked,” he relates. “The first iteration Jacobsen did in the ’70s went a long way towards opening it up. We wanted to take it even further and bridge the gap between mid-century and the historic house—and imbue it with personality.”

The clients, already Cleveland Park residents, had long admired the home. “We loved the space, the light and the yard,” says the wife. After acquiring it in 2019, she and her husband envisioned “modern yet comfortable interiors with gracious proportions.”

Though he retained the existing footprint, Overmyer seemingly injected volumes of space into the center-hall dwelling. He elevated the cramped entry and gutted the closed-off kitchen and family room to unveil an open, informal hub devoted to cooking, dining and gathering. And he efficiently tucked a new coat closet, powder room and walk-in pantry into the main-level plan.

On the second floor, the enlarged owners’ suite claimed adjacent bedrooms—one is now a wardrobe and another a luxurious bath. Two kids’ bedrooms are also on the second floor while the third level houses a pair of guest rooms and a loft finished as a teen hangout.

During construction, the owners hired Georgetown decorator Paige Shirk, who forged an instant connection with the home and its quarter-acre landscape. “I loved the floor-to-ceiling windows and the vibe of the outside coming in,” she observes. “My family had a farmhouse near Fallingwater and I recall how the furniture worked with the architecture. That was a big inspiration for me.”

As she collaborated with Overmyer and the wife, Shirk honed her vision for the interiors. “I wanted to combine old and new, modern and a bit more classic,” she remarks. “I didn’t dive into one aesthetic.”

Nature plays a starring role, beginning in the entry. New windows and a reimagined, open stair bathe the space in light and establish sight lines from the front door to the rear garden. With its randomly placed pickets, Overmyer likens the stair rail he designed to a bar code. “There’s an organic nature to what you’d expect to be more regimented,” he explains. “It’s an unabashedly contemporary move in the center of the house.”

The center-hall plan aligns the living and dining rooms and library to the right of the foyer with the kitchen and family room on the left. The team preserved Jacobsen’s tall windows in the living room, but recast his mid-century brick fireplace wall in plaster—a fresh take on a classic material. Clean-lined seating surrounds a 1970s travertine coffee table Shirk found on 1stdibs; a burnt-orange velvet sofa adds a burst of color.

In the facing dining room, fields of green botanical wallpaper commune with foliage visible through a trio of tall windows. “I like bringing the outside in, as we did with that shade of green,” Shirk reveals. “My client really wanted color.” Indeed, the wife drove the palette in exuberant directions, from a pool-bathroom wall covering emblazoned with cobalt palm fronds to the primary bedroom painted a deep aubergine.

Shirk tempered these bold moves with neutral furnishings and subtle textures. “I love mixing wood and leather and velvet and nubby materials,” she asserts. Case in point is the spacious family room, where the decorator mingled a velvet lounge chair, a concrete cocktail table and pillows in an array of textiles atop the cozy window seat. An adjacent table provides a perch for reading or morning coffee.

Overmyer is most proud of this “informal heart of the home,” encompassing the family room, bright and airy kitchen and breakfast area. “It’s nice to subtract, open up a space and enjoy the drama of a really generous room,” he says.

The architect played up the indoor-outdoor connection in the kitchen with large-format porcelain floor tile that reads as limestone; he repeated the material on the backsplash. “Around the island,” he points out, “we incorporated mosaic tile in the floor to suggest a sense of antiquity.” Poured-concrete countertops and custom cabinets in knotty pine reinforce the organic palette.

Avid cooks, the family members enjoy preparing and sharing meals in the convivial space. “We love to have friends over and it’s nice to be able to cook and socialize at the same time,” says the wife.

In the first-floor library, the owners and their design team preserved Hugh Newell Jacobsen’s egg-crate bookshelves, crafted during the late architect’s 1973 renovation. “They’re beautiful, with elegant lines, and very functional,” says the wife.

The stark white shelving was painted sage green—a shade “sympathetic to colors the original farmhouse would’ve had,” relates Overmyer. Ornate elements added over the years were removed and big picture windows installed. The architect notes, “We created more light, more space, more simplicity.”
It’s a mantra that relates to every room in this newly burnished home—one that celebrates its past with bravado.

Renovation Architecture: Dale Overmyer, AIA, Overmyer Architects, Washington, DC. Interior Design: Paige Shirk, Paige Shirk Design, Washington, DC. Renovation Contractor: Cecchi Homes, Arlington, Virginia.

SOURCES

DINING ROOM
Wallpaper: timorousbeasties.com. Paint Trim: Yearbridge Green by farrow-ball.com. Chandeliers: globallighting.com. Table: 1stdibs.com. Chairs: neuvolighting.com. Cabinet: fourhands.com. Stool: article.com.

LIVING ROOM
Light Fixture: apparatusstudio.com. Drapery Fabrication: theshadestore.com. Sofa: trnk-nyc.com. Rug: starkcarpet.com. Table: 1stdibs.com. Side Tables: vintage. Wall Paint: White Dove by benjaminmoore.com. Fireplace Treatment: hydeconcrete.com. Side Chairs: noirfurniturela.com. Console: vintage. Sculpture over Fireplace: Rana Begman.

KITCHEN
Stools: meadowblu.com. Paint: White Dove by benjaminmoore.com.

STAIRWAY
Rail Design: custom through overmyerarchitects.com. Rail Fabrication: northeastironworksinc.com.

KITCHEN
Cabinetry: custom. Cabinetry Fabrication: asticks.com. Countertops: hydeconcrete.com. Mosaic Tile: countryfloors.com. Faucets: calfaucets.com. Hood: ventahood.com. Hood Fabrication: custom by overmyerarchitects.com. Refrigerator & Microwave: subzero-wolf.com. Range: frenchranges.com.

FAMILY ROOM
Sofa & Sofa Fabric: muuto.com. Carved Table: timothypaulcarpets.com. Rug: starkcarpet.com. Cocktail Table: fourhands.com. Chair & Ottoman: bludot.com. Pillow Fabric: zakandfox.com. Window Seat Table: anthropologie.com. Window Seat & Window Seat Pillow Fabrics: Lee Jofa through kravet.com. Pillows: brookperdigontextiles.com. Window Seat Sconces: alliedmaker.com.

LIBRARY
Paint: Drop Cloth by farrow-ball.com. Light Fixture: beataheuman.com. Table: Owners’ collection. Leather Chairs: vintage. Desk Chair: noirfurniturela.com. Art: Owners’ collection.

BEDROOM
Paint: Pelt by farrow-ball.com. Shade Fabric: hinescompany.com. Shade Fabrication: rockvilleinteriors.com. Rug: annieselke.com. Ottoman: fourhands.com. Corner Chairs: Owners’ collection. Table Lamp: circalighting.com.

POWDER ROOM
Mirror: trnk-nyc.com. Sconces: alliedmaker.com. Wallpaper: pierrefrey.com.

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.

“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.

Gurney and project architects Claire Andreas and Brian Tuskey conceived a three-story structure where every room would overlook one, if not both, bodies of water. The plan would also afford residents every opportunity to engage their senses in the coastal environment. In the finished retreat, the family can grab cold drinks and snacks in the indoor-outdoor game room/kitchen just off the beach; watch breakers roll in from myriad decks and terraces; and soak in a hot tub under the stars.
Minimalist in spirit, the house still conforms to neighborhood requirements. A demand for traditional materials inspired the cedar-shake roof, dark-stained mahogany window frames, copper panels and bleached cedar-shingle siding. “The review board also mandated a gable-shaped roof, which picks up on the language of Shingle style,” explains Gurney, who had initially proposed a flat-roof scheme.

On the lake side, the 11-bedroom, 12,000-square-foot residence reads as four distinct pavilions connected by glass volumes, plus a garage. “We took a large house and broke down the massing so it wouldn’t seem quite so big,” he continues. In contrast, the beach façade bares all with glass walls celebrating ocean views on the top floors, which cantilever above the pool terrace.
The architects brought the outdoors in on every story. Sliding-glass walls expose the ground-floor game room to the pool and dunes beyond; guest quarters, a changing room, outdoor showers and storage for bikes and beach toys deliver resort-level ease.

On the second-floor screened porch, sliding-glass pocket doors make way for sea breezes to waft into the expansive living/dining area and kitchen. More glass on the east and west elevations opens to decks overlooking sea and lake. “You can see through the house to the lake and the ocean,” Gurney marvels. “How many places do you get that?”

Seating and playful Bocci lights above the dining table add splashes of color against pale oak floors, gray kitchen cabinets and white countertops. An Ann Sacks mosaic backsplash, selected by the wife, strikes an exuberant note. “We picked up on blues found in sea glass and greens in the ocean and accented them with sunshine colors of yellow and gold,” explains designer Therese Baron Gurney. Hired to furnish interiors with sophisticated pieces that can take a beating, she points out performance upholstery and a silk-look nylon rug that, she attests, “will wear like iron.”

Designed by Julia Walter of Boffi, the kitchen is organized around a central volume housing a pantry and appliances. While cooking is underway on the main island, guests can mingle around a secondary island or on nearby swivel chairs. “It’s a very social and open space,” says Walter. “Yet the center volume is clad in panels so you don’t see you’re walking into a kitchen when you come up the stairs.”

Hung above the floating staircase, Arturo Alvarez pendants conjure exotic sea creatures. Gurney glazed the stairwell’s outer wall with panes of translucent Kalwall. “It pulls a ton of natural light into the center of the house,” he explains, “but hides a direct view of the neighbors.”

The project’s landscape architects from OvS also mitigated side views with loblolly pines planted among fragrant sumac and Northern sea oats. And they reinforced the dunes with American beachgrass, native shrubs and perennials. “OvS did a nice job creating a landscape that fits the beach environment and doesn’t require a huge amount of maintenance,” says Robert Gurney.
From the third floor—which harbors family bedrooms, an office and a gym—a separate stair ascends to the roof deck. Buttressed by the home’s gables, this perch comes complete with a built-in TV should anyone tire of the lofty views.

This deck was just one of many challenges Horizon Builders faced during construction. “The building was designed to withstand hurricane-force winds. And there are some big cantilevers, so it needed an enormous amount of steel,” the architect remarks. “When all of Rehoboth is gone, this will be the last house standing.”

After the pandemic hit, the family wound up sheltering in their newly completed retreat for more than a year. “The wife told me how much they love the house and all the light and fresh air,” says Baron Gurney. Gazing at the beach from the living room deck, she sighs, “It is like heaven right here.”

Architecture: Robert M. Gurney, FAIA, principal; Claire Larsen Andreas and Brian Tuskey, AIA, project architects, Robert M. Gurney, FAIA Architect, Washington, DC. Interior Design, Therese Baron Gurney, ASID, Baron Gurney Interiors, Washington, DC. Kitchen Design: Julia Walter, Boffi, Washington, DC. Builder: Horizon Builders, Annapolis, Maryland. Landscape Architecture: Lisa Delplace, FASLA; Stacilyn Feldman and Beth L’Estrange, senior associates; Rachel Heslop, senior designer, OvS, Washington, DC.

RESOURCES

GENERAL
Home Automation: atlcontrol.com. Paint: benjaminmoore.com. Windows: tradewoodindustries.com.

POOL TERRACE
Dining Table, Chairs & Curved Bench: teak.com. Bench Fabric: sunbrella.com. Chaises: rausch-classics.com. Firepit: hardlifeproducts.com. Ceiling Fans: minkagroup.net.

GROUND-FLOOR GAME ROOM
Sectional, Coffee Table & Throw Pillow: teak.com. Sectional Fabric: sunbrella.com. Ceiling Fans: modernfan.com. Millwork: alleghenywoodworksllc.com.

DINING AREA
Table: liaigre.com. Dining Chairs: andreuworld.com. Dining Chair Upholstery: spradling.group; maharam.com. Chandelier: bocci.com through illuminc.com.

LIVING AREA
Rug: silkroadcarpetandrugs.com. Sofas: dwr.com. Sofa Fabric: maharam.com. Teak Coffee Table: Custom by andrejoyau.com. Side Table & Benches: ateliervierkant.com. Millwork Design: robertgurneyarchitect.com. Millwork Fabrication: alleghenywoodworksllc.com. Fireplace: flarefireplaces.com. Light Fixtures: folio.it. Recessed Lighting: Philips Lightolier Calculite through gsadc.com. Paint: Simply White by benjaminmoore.com. Fireplace Surround: Andy Fleishman through annsacks.com.

PORCH
Hanging Lounger: dedon.de. Throw Pillows: teak.com.

KITCHEN
Cabinetry: boffi.com. Chairs at Island, Swivel Chairs & Coffee Table: andreuworld.com. Island Chair Upholstery: spradling.group. Swivel Chair Upholstery: sunbrella.com. Backsplash Tile: annsacks.com. Hood: zephyronline.com. Island Faucets: waterstoneco.com. Fixtures: konstunion.com. Oven & Fridge: subzero-wolf.com through adu.com. Built-in Coffee Machine: mieleusa.com through adu.com.

STUDY
Swivel Chair: roomandboard.com. Swivel Chair Upholstery: sunbrella.com. Millwork Fabrication: alleghenywoodworksllc.com.

ROOF DECK
Sofa & Table: rausch-classics.com. Cushions: sunbrella.com. Dining Table & Chairs: teak.com. Side Table: shop.viteo.com. Television: seura.com.

YELLOW BEDROOM
Paint: Sunburst by benjaminmoore.com. Bedding & Throw: pbteen.com. Drapery Fabric: carnegiefabrics.com. Drapery Fabrication: rockvilleinteriors.com.

STAIRWAY
Lighting: Arturo Alvarez through illumco.com.

The house, designed by architect Gregory L. Palmer, a principal of Harrison Design, “fits like a glove” on its sloping five-acre site in a riparian wetland crossed by a rippling run. “The setting could easily be transplanted to France with a little change in vegetation,” says Palmer from his base in Naples, Florida. He came to the clients’ attention in 2005 as the architect of a Virginia show house; Angie and Guy Paolozzi, who is a land developer and small business owner, eventually invited him to design a French-accented dwelling to fit their site. The result, completed a few years ago, is an elegant but relaxed “country house” rooted in the timeless solidity of Normandy and Brittany, with touches of sunny Provence. Historical accuracy is honored in the details, but the spirit is spiced with 21st-century comforts required by an energetic family of five.

The impression is old, yet new. The exterior of Lueders limestone was craft-cut to expose natural veining. The steep slate roof was laid in staggered butts to suggest age-old handiwork. The front façade, with its parade of arched double doors and Provençal blue shutters, hints at the house’s mythical French origin.

The layout, encompassing 14,142 square feet on three floors, is all American. With two teenagers and a youngster in elementary school, the Paolozzis desired five bedrooms, six full bathrooms and three half-baths, a lower-level theater and game-room complex, plus a mudroom and back stairs near the car court.

A classicist known for Old World finesse, Palmer imagined 
an authentic French farmhouse expanded over generations. At 
its core, the dwelling is a rectangular prism with extensions “added” for dining, guest quarters, a study and a pair of two-car garages. Reclaimed timbers crisscross ceilings, but the pièce de résistance is a 52-foot-long, groin-vaulted gallery fronting the farmhouse core.

The home’s entry, located at the gallery’s midpoint, reveals a garden view across a 26-by-18-foot great room, where steel-framed glazing opens the back wall to the pool terrace. “If you look at the front of the house, it’s fairly traditional from a proportion standpoint,” Palmer explains. “As we roll to the back, we’ve opened it up with large metal doors. It’s still very classical, but you never would have had these doors in a traditional house.”

The Paolozzis opted out of a formal parlor in favor of this plush-casual nexus, which flows into a 40-foot-long kitchen and breakfast room and onto an adjacent 32-by-19-foot arched stone loggia. “One of the best times to be out on the loggia is in the pouring rain,” observes Angie Paolozzi. For the kitchen, her essential command post, Portfolio Kitchens of Vienna produced double farm sinks, a La Cornue range and an oversized island topped with a 65-by-85-inch slab of Calacatta marble.

McLean designer Maria Galiani attributes her clean, neutral interiors to a client with “great taste and a great sense of style.” The first floor is a seamless visual journey in buff and blue. Floors are laid with Beaumanière limestone or wide wood planks. Walls were treated to a custom mix of stucco and Venetian plaster for a look that Galiani calls “not rustic, but not too formal.”

Vintage lookalikes, such as mantels cast from antiques, blur the line between history and this new build by The Galileo Group. Only the dining room exudes formality, with pale painted molding and glass-fronted cabinets holding a collection of blue and white china.

Throughout the first floor, fireplaces harken back to an era before central heating. Chandeliers styled as candelabras recall a time before electricity. Palmer, who takes historical authenticity seriously, offers a caution: “I tell people, ‘Don’t look at houses done in the last 50 years in this style. Go back to the roots, to the original designs and build from that. Create your own.’”

But he is quick to add that historical style is only a beginning. “We wanted to be in this time and place,” Palmer reflects. “Certainly history is informing it, but we wanted this to be a modern house.”

Architecture: Gregory L. Palmer, AIA, NCARB, Harrison Design, Washington, DC, and other cities. Interior Design: Maria Galiani, Galiani Design Group, McLean, Virginia. Landscape Contractor: Chick Landscaping, Inc., Burtonsville, Maryland. Builder: Patrick Latessa, The Galileo Group. McLean, Virginia.

RESOURCES

GENERAL
Flooring: realhardwoodfloors.com. Beams: ivancdutterer.com. Wall Treatments: variancefinishes.com through Season Services; 571-432-7020. Interior & Exterior Stone: pimentastone.com. Windows: hopewindows.com. Paint: benjaminmoore.com.

THE ROTUNDA/STAIR
Limestone: architessa.com. Railing: ironmastersinc.net. Wall Sconces: reworkshome.com.

GREAT ROOM
Rug: tamarian.com. Chandelier: niermannweeks.com. Trim & Pillow Fabric: schumacher.com. Sofa: Owners’ collection. Sofa Upholstery: osborneandlittle.com. Fireplace: francoisandco.com. Coffee Table: ralphlauren.com. Swivel Chairs: leeindustries.com. Swivel Chair Fabric: Barry Dixon for Vervain through fabricut.com.

GREAT ROOM BAR
Chandeliers: aidangrayliving.com. Stone Floor: architessa.com. Cabinetry: Custom by Patrick Latessa through thegalileogroup.com. Sink: akmetalfab.com.

DINING ROOM
Built-Ins: Patrick Latessa through thegalileogroup.com. Trim: division12design.com. Fireplace: francoisandco.com. Table & Chairs: owners’ collection.

BREAKFAST ROOM
Chairs & Dining Table: owners’ collection. Chairs & Dining Table Fabric: osborneandlittle.com, clarke-clarke.sandersondesigngroup.com. Chandelier: davidiatesta.com. Flooring: Custom by Giacalone Floors; 240-388-1774. Beams: ivancdutterer.com. Fireplace: pimentastone.com.

KITCHEN
Countertops & Tile: glbtileandmarble.com. Backsplash: marblesystems.com. Cabinetry: Portfolio Kitchens; 703-242-0030, premiercb.com. Hardware: ashleynorton.com. Range: lacornueusa.com. Bar Stools: hickorychair.com. Bar Stool Fabric: osborneandlittle.com.

VERANDA
Furniture: rh.com. Pillows: kravet.com. Lighting: bevolo.com.

GALLERY:
Lanterns: aidangrayliving.com. Wall Treatments: variancefinishes.com through Season Services; 571-432-7020. Flooring: architessa.com. Drapery: osborneandlittle.com.

Sadly, the home’s location made it impossible; with three tween-age kids, the couple wanted to stay in the Maryland school system. Still, they met with Greer—and serendipitously discovered a teardown for sale in their Bethesda neighborhood at the same time. “The property was stunning,” recounts Julie Geyer, who has since hung out her shingle as an interior designer; Grant is a cybersecurity expert. “We asked Carmel to take a look and that was it.”

Greer conceived an L-shaped layout in which front-facing public rooms occupy one leg of the L while the other leg is dedicated “to family and practicality,” she explains. “It’s a nice way of organizing a home, to group the practical elements together. And it worked well aesthetically with the lot’s square configuration.” As a bonus, the L creates a courtyard in back that neatly accommodates an outdoor kitchen and a porch equipped with heaters and retractable screens. A recently installed swimming pool nestles into the lawn. The three-quarter-acre corner lot enabled the owners to tuck the three-car garage they desired around the side, away from the front façade.

With its subtly abstracted traditional forms, the stucco-clad, 7,839-square-foot dwelling fits happily into its neighborhood of sprawling, traditional homes. “It’s simple, clean and modern, but not loud or attention-grabbing,” says Greer. The interiors echo the same restrained-modern aesthetic—starting with the front entry hall, which showcases a sculptural staircase without railings that curves up to the third floor. “I told Carmel we wanted a grand foyer, and she hit it out of the park. The stair is our mini-Guggenheim,” marvels Julie Geyer, laughing.

“The house is really a series of simple masses, so I mimicked that idea with the stair,” Greer notes. “The simplicity of the stair lets other elements have their day.”

The foyer flows into a formal living room on one side; on the other, a long gallery leads past the dining room to the kitchen, which joins the legs of the L. The family room shares space with the kitchen; beyond it are the garage, mudroom and Julie’s home office. The back courtyard is accessible from both legs via glass doors that foster indoor-outdoor connectivity.

The second floor houses the owners’ suite and laundry as well as the kids’ bedrooms and hang-out space. A third story contains Grant Geyer’s home office, while the basement features a rec room, guest suite, gym and—the pièce de résistance—an elegant, climatized wine cellar embellished with oak that stores 3,000 bottles.

Greer and her clients easily found common ground when it came to the interiors. Against the backdrop of 11-foot ceilings, eight-foot-tall charcoal-gray doors, character-grade wide-plank oak flooring and steel-look window frames, chic lighting abounds and fixtures and finishes blend harmoniously. The Geyers collect art and antiquities, so Greer created spaces for display, including a climate-controlled case in the foyer that showcases an ancient Greek vessel. “I always dreamed of clean, all-white spaces that wouldn’t interfere but would be a canvas for everything,” Geyer comments.

However, she also wanted “moments of drama,” and specified a pure-black dining room with giant cove moldings and a bold, abstract painting. Another example is her home office, entirely enveloped in Benjamin Moore’s vibrant Mulberry—including the millwork. The main powder room, clad in Nero Marquina marble, offers its own touch of glam.

Geyer and Greer collaborated on the kitchen. Inspired by the one in Greer’s former home, it combines dark-gray cabinetry with expanses of swirling Calacatta Vagli marble on both countertops and backsplash. White-painted beams adorn the ceiling; they carry over into the family room where a vaulted ceiling conveys an airy feel. “The rooms needed to interact and the painted beams tie them together,” observes Greer.

Throughout the house, modern artwork, much of it by local artists, and beautiful, carefully chosen lighting add interest. Twin crystal chandeliers dominate the dining room, while an oversized chandelier in mid-century style perfectly fits the family room’s vaulted space. Cascading globes are a centerpiece above the stairs, suspended at eye level on the second floor.

During construction, Geyer enrolled in an interior design program at the New York Institute of Art & Design; since the home’s completion in 2018, her business has taken off. “I pinch myself constantly,” she says. “I think, ‘How did I get so lucky?’”

Architecture: Carmel Greer, LEED AP, District Design, Washington, DC. Interior Design: Julie Geyer, Julie Geyer Studio, Bethesda, Maryland. Builder: GBI Corporation, Alexandria, Virginia. Landscape Design: Everett Conroy & Landis Garden Design, Chevy Chase, Maryland.

RESOURCES

GENERAL
Flooring: hursthardwoods.com.

FAMILY ROOM
Stools: Owners’ collection. Sectional: leeindustries.com. Sling Chairs: Lee Industries through brooktaylorinteriors.com. Painting over Mantel: kimknoll.com. Console behind Sectional: crateandbarrel.com. Chandelier: etsy.com

DINING ROOM
Table & Chairs: rh.com. Sideboard: noirfurniturela.com. Art above Sideboard: Agnes Rathonyi. Chandeliers: sunpan.com. Draperies: jamdesign.com. Wall Paint: sherwin-williams.com.

HOME OFFICE
Writing Desk: wisteria.com. Chandelier: arhaus.com. Acrylic Chair & Rug: Owners’ collection.

POWDER ROOM
Mirror: Owners’ collection. Sconces: circalighting.com. Sink & Plumbing Fixtures: kohler.com. Marble Vanity: marblesystems.com.

KITCHEN
Cabinetry: Custom through dkandt.com. Marble Backsplash & Countertops: marblesystems.com. Faucets: brizo.com. Range: dacor.com.

WINE CELLAR
Wine Pegs: vintageview.com. Table & Chairs: rh.com. Chandelier: Owners’ collection.

OWNERS’ BEDROOM
Bed & Bedding: Owners’ Collection. Throw: Owners’ Collection. Decorative Pillows: etsy.com. Chandelier: rh.com. Large Rug: greenfront.com. Small Rug: districtloom.com. Ottomans: cb2.com. Drapery Fabric: jam-design.com.

OWNERS’ BATH
Mirrors: Owners’ collection. Vanity Fabrication: dkandt.com. Scones: rh.com.

However, they found the house-hunting process frustrating.

“We quickly realized that we were never going to find everything on our wish list,” recounts Otis. “Most importantly, we were looking for something modern and unique.”

Otis—principal of Katie Otis Design and also the creative director of Sagatov Design+Build—has a high bar when it comes to residential architecture. In the end, she and her husband, deputy CFO at FEMA, purchased a 768-square-foot, 1920s cottage in Arlington with a major renovation and expansion in mind.

Working with Sagatov, Otis began the overhaul in 2014. “It was a two-bedroom, one-story bungalow,” the designer recalls. “The project was essentially a tear-down; we kept a few exterior walls per county regulations in order to call it a reno.”

Today, the 3,568-square-foot, three-story home with five bedrooms and a finished basement is a dramatic, modern presence in a traditional neighborhood, melding disparate architectural influences into a coherent and unusual whole. “I selected maintenance-free charred wood for the exterior construction and roof,” says Otis, referring to the Japanese technique of shou sugi ban that harnesses burnt wood for its resistance to the elements.

However, the blackened finish continues onto the steeply pitched roof in a look that speaks to a Scandinavian soul. “While I used a traditional Japanese technique, I adapted it to a Scandinavian context,” Otis notes. “Extending the cladding to the roof was another design detail in keeping with Scandinavian-inspired architecture.” The façade is anchored on one side by a white-paneled stair tower containing the staircase and front entry, and on the other side by a screened porch.

Inside, Scandinavian references set the tone, with clean lines and organic materials such as wood and stone reflecting what Otis calls “an overall sense of minimalism.” Wide-plank, white oak flooring adds warmth to the spare geometry of the airy and open interiors. Tall, plate-glass windows bathe the home in light from three sides. “Ample light is a defining characteristic of Scandinavian design,” Otis observes. “Many Nordic homes lack sunlight in winter, so it’s important for natural light to flow easily through a room.”

Two skylights illuminate the stair tower, which leads from the main floor to the rooftop. “At night,” she says, “the vertical windows draw the eye in, helping connect the indoors to the outdoors.”

Among the home’s most striking features is the kitchen island, which Otis designed as a focal point within the home’s minimalist composition. “Strong but simple gestures work best,” she avers. The unconventional island is monolithic yet faceted, its angles a departure from the straight lines that otherwise dominate the interiors. The same marble surface crops up again on the asymmetrical fireplace wall and floating bench in the living room.

A dropped drywall ceiling behind the island mirrors the kitchen’s L-shaped footprint. Contrasting cabinetry echoes the dark and light hues of the home’s exterior. Except for the BlueStar range, which was custom colored to match the surrounding base cabinets, all the appliances are integrated. Even the range hood is fronted by cabinetry. “Integrated hoods are a big trend right now,” Otis says. “Hoods can be discreet or focal; we chose discreet to let the other finishes shine and complement the adjacent areas.”

White walls and ceilings amplify the natural light and provide a neutral base for furnishings. The couple’s love of Mid-Century Modern design is clear in their furniture selections. Over time, these have grown to include molded-plastic Fritz Hansen dining chairs, which are child-friendly for the couple’s two small kids, and an enveloping Arne Jacobsen Egg Chair in the living room, reupholstered in cozy green mohair. “It’s no small feat to be able to exercise restraint in your décor choices while still aiming for comfort,” Otis comments. “The living room speaks to both our tidy tendencies and our desire to live in an inviting setting.”

A passion for curated artisanship, coupled with architectural detail, is always front and center. For example, those Drop chairs surround a dining table crafted by master woodworker Caleb Woodard; above the table, a cluster of frosted-glass globes is suspended from slender wires in an elegant Apparatus Lighting chandelier. An accent wall of black-stained birch paneling in the couple’s bedroom imparts warmth and offers a nod to the dark siding that clads the exterior.

“This home really has been a labor of love from start to finish,” Otis muses. “It was designed to be a modern renovation, with warmth and character to ensure it is timeless.”

Architectural & Kitchen Design: Katie Otis, Sagatov Design+Build, Falls Church, Virginia. Interior Design: Katie Otis, Katie Otis Design, Arlington, Virginia. Builder: Sagatov Design+Build, Falls Church, Virginia. Styling: Charlotte Safavi.

RESOURCES Nordic Soul

GENERAL
Flooring: White oak through countryplank.com. Exterior Cladding Paint: Swiss Coffee by benjaminmoore.com. Siding & Roof: montanatimberproducts.com. Windows: pella.com.

DINING ROOM
Table: calebwoodardfurniture.com. Chairs: Arne Jacobsen through furniturefromscandinavia.com. Chair Upholstery: maharam.com. Chandelier: apparatusstudio.com.

KITCHEN
Island Fabrication: glbtileandmarble.com. Photos on Wall: Brian Merriam through tappancollective.com. Counter Stool:materusa.com. Island Light fixtures: apparatusstudio.com. Cabinetry: adelphikitchens.com. Cabinetry Paint: farrow-ball.com.

LIVING ROOM
Egg Chair: furniturefromscandinavia.com. Woven Chair: Poul Kjærholm through fritzhansen.com. Coffee Table: Jamie Hayon through andtradition.com. Sofa: andtradition.com. Sofa Upholstery: Raf Simons. Floor Lamp: Owners’ collection. Light Blue Canvases over Sofa: blake-aaseby.com. Rug: starkcarpet.com. Woven Wall Hanging: hirotakeda.com. Throw: lenarewell.com. Ceramics: andrewmolleur.com.

STAIRWELL
Bench: carlhanse.com. Pouf: Cecile Manz through fritzhansen.com. Art on Wall: mattstewart.com.

NURSERY
Crib: nurseryworks.net. Wallpaper: anewall.com. Chair & Ottoman: Owners’ collection. Vintage Rug: timothypaulcarpets.com.

UPPER HALL

Console: bludot.com. Mirror over Console: crumpandkwash.com. Stools: Hans Sandgren Jakobsen through fredericia.com.

BEDROOM
Bed: roomandboard.com. Bedding & Blanket: areahome.com. Bedsheets: stgeneve.com. Pillows & Vintage Rug: timothypaulcarpets.com. Nightstand: lawsonfenning.com. Leather Chair & Occasional Table: Poul Kjaerholm through fritzhansen.com.

Such was the case when a father bound for the beach with his three kids stopped for lunch in Easton, Maryland. “I fell in love with the town,” he reflects. “It was always in the back of my mind.”

Little did he know that decades later this pristine Eastern Shore spot would lure him back. Now based in Florida, the businessman was searching for a site where he and his wife could build a vacation home and rendezvous with their grown kids, who live in New York. As he explains, “I love boating and wanted to have a place on the Chesapeake.”

When he and a real estate broker landed by boat on an abandoned two-acre property overlooking the Tred Avon River, the stars aligned. “It’s on a point so it has 180-degree visibility,” the buyer marvels. “And the water was deep enough for a dock.”

He acquired the land, then tapped his son, Daniel Grehl, and Erika Martins of Brooklyn-based Martins Grehl Architects to design his retreat. Though a home previously built on-site was destroyed by fire 15 years ago, the architects were able to salvage the driveway and some mature trees that dotted the property. They positioned the dwelling to optimize views of the river and an untamed parcel to the north. “Reaching out to the landscape and bringing the landscape in was a driving factor,” notes Grehl.

The client gave the architects a wide berth, making a few modest requests: a fireplace, a dining table that would seat a dozen and hardwood floors for warmth. “I wanted high ceilings but not giant, cavernous spaces,” he observes.

Though modern, his aesthetic leans more Frank Lloyd Wright than Frank Gehry, says Martins. “Daniel’s father was drawn to natural materials and the horizontality of Wright’s work so we tried to emphasize horizontal lines in our plan.”

The duo designed a 3,750-square-foot, L-shaped home consisting of intersecting rectangular forms. The main volume parallel to the river houses the living area, dining room and kitchen on the ground floor and the owners’ suite above. A perpendicular wing contains two en-suite guest rooms on the main floor and another upstairs. A primary axis travels along the entry path through the front door, revealing views of a greenery-filled courtyard and the river beyond.

Modern in spirit, the retreat pays homage to local vernacular with cedar siding, white oak floors and a gabled roof reminiscent of historic tobacco barns. “We gravitated toward contemporary design but with cues we picked up along the way,” remarks Grehl. “Researching the Eastern Shore, you come to understand the heritage and building archetypes.”

Accustomed to designing row houses and apartments in their New York City practice, the architects welcomed the chance to think outside the box in detailing this freestanding dwelling. A vertical element to the left of the front entry is swathed in off-white Nichiha fiber-cement panels; it anchors the main staircase inside. Weathered Corten steel panels that frame the front courtyard and entrance accentuate the passage of time. “We liked the poetics of that,” Grehl adds, “especially because it’s a multi-generational family’s house.”

Interior selections, from the RH living room and dining furniture to the Mod kitchen cabinets, echo the organic color palette of the exterior materials. “We wanted soft, neutral colors that would let the views be dominant,” says Martins. “We didn’t want to distract from nature.”

Early in the process, Annapolis landscape architect Jordan Loch Crabtree was hired to transform the overgrown property into one that embraces sustainability and laid-back living. “Our studio believes in creating intentional spaces for people to connect with one another and with nature,” says Crabtree. His plan included a great lawn, an arrival courtyard and a bluestone pool terrace complete with a fire pit and dining area. He also converted an acre of lawn into a meandering meadow, which now envelops the wedge-shaped site.

“The meadow provides a dynamic habitat that brings benefits on multiple fronts, from filtration and runoff to creating a habitat for pollinators,” Grehl asserts.

The meadow performed another special function in October 2019, shortly after the residence was completed. Erika Martins and Daniel Grehl, who are not only partners in business but also in life, got married on-site with the meadow, the Tred Avon and the house they designed together forming an idyllic backdrop.

Since then, Martins Grehl Architects and Loch Collective have won prestigious design awards for the project. And the owners and their family have made many more memories at the Maryland refuge, especially during the pandemic. Martins and Grehl enjoy relaxing in the pool and the indoor sauna (which they built themselves under the TV loft in the main wing) and on the home’s many terraces and decks.

Tranquil Oasis - As for Daniel’s father, he reports, “I love taking a glass of wine to the tip of the dock and watching the sun go down.”

His 29-foot motorboat is moored on-site and he enjoys surveying yachts as they sail by. “Somebody’s cooking, somebody’s playing with the dog and I think, ‘This is what we wanted,’” he reflects. “A place for the family to go for many years—hopefully a couple of generations.”

Architecture & Interior Design: Erika Martins, RA, and Daniel Grehl, RA, LEED AP, Martins Grehl Architects PLLC, Brooklyn, New York. Builder: Darren Kornas, ThinkMakeBuild, Easton, Maryland. Landscape Architecture: Jordan Loch Crabtree, ASLA, Loch Collective, Annapolis, Maryland. Landscape Contractor: Solidago Landscapes, LLC, Church Hill, Maryland. Planting: Rigo Lawn Care + Landscaping; 443-856-9218.

Embracing this notion, an Arlington couple with twin boys decided to purchase a waterfront abode on the Chesapeake with other family members. “We wanted to buy a house with my mother and stepfather for extensive family gatherings,” recounts the wife, a stay-at-home mom whose husband is in furniture manufacturing. “And we wanted space for my sister and her family and my husband’s parents to visit.” They also planned to list the property as a vacation rental.

A circa-1992 house near St. Michaels fit the bill. At 5,100 square feet and with five bedrooms and five baths, there was room for a crowd. And nestled on six-and-a-half acres overlooking Grace Creek, the picturesque property was already beautifully landscaped with a pool, pool house and pavilion.

However, the interiors needed work. More bedrooms, bathrooms and gathering spaces would be necessary to meet the family’s requirements (the final count is six en-suite bedrooms and three powder rooms). The kitchen and existing baths were dated and the home’s orientation didn’t take advantage of the water views. The owners tapped architect Christine Dayton and designer Zoë Feldman to overhaul the abode in style.

“The clients didn’t want to enlarge the house, but they wanted two owners’ suites,” notes Dayton. “A garage addition had a large office over it which we converted into a suite for the younger couple. We kept the first-floor owners’ suite for the parents.”

The plan shifted walls on the main floor to create a more open layout, with the kitchen, dining and living areas occupying one big waterfront-facing room, spilling into a sunroom previously separated by an obtrusive kitchen peninsula. The former dining room, with no water view, became a study. Between the kitchen and garage, Dayton carved out space for a mudroom, pantry, powder room and laundry; a short hall leads out to a screened porch and a guest suite is tucked behind the garage. Upstairs, a game room with a wet bar opens out to a glass-railed balcony while four en-suite bedrooms offer plenty of additional sleeping space.

Once the new floor plans were complete, Dayton and Feldman teamed up with the owners to develop the home’s aesthetic. “It’s a post-and-beam structure, but not rustic,” explains Dayton, who wrapped the exposed woodwork in crisp white oak to match new wide-plank, white oak floors throughout.

Coastal Flair - Feldman conceived a clean-lined, organic palette of black-and-white tones accented by wood and brass.

Shiplap and board-and-batten paneling add coastal flair.  “The setting is beautiful and it was the star,” the designer observes. “So we created neutral interiors that would complement the outdoors and allow the views to shine.”

Feldman collaborated with Lobkovich Kitchen Designs on the kitchen, selecting finishes while principal J. Paul Lobkovich configured the layout. Though the owners initially wanted everything white, recalls the wife, “Zoë pushed me out of my comfort zone on that, and I’m so glad she did.” Cabinets are painted a deep blue-black, offset by extensive white subway tile on the walls; copious pantry space made it possible to eschew upper cabinets in favor of open, white oak shelving. The wet bar upstairs is painted the same blue-black hue for continuity.

When it came time to decorate the home’s six en-suite bathrooms and three powder rooms, the wife suggested one look for all. “I was overwhelmed,” she recalls, “but Zoë felt that the baths are their own separate spaces and should all be different. Now, I love that each room has its own feel.” For instance, the main-level owners’ bath boasts a white porcelain-tile floor, a weathered-oak double vanity and a shower enclosure clad in blue-black subway tile, while the upstairs one features honed-slate floor tile and twin marble washstands atop iron bases.

Though Feldman selected decorative lighting, rugs and accessories, much of the furniture was acquired through the husband’s business, with the designer weighing in on choices that lean toward neutral, relaxed and a bit eclectic. The results are just what the owners wanted. “This was a labor of love,” enthuses the wife. “We couldn’t be happier with how it all turned out.”

Renovation Architecture: Christine M. Dayton, Christine M. Dayton Architect, P.A., Easton, Maryland. Interior Design: Zoë Feldman, Zoë Feldman Design, Washington, DC. Contracting: Jay Chance, Chance And Associates, Easton, Maryland. Kitchen Design: J. Paul Lobkovich, Lobkovich Kitchen Designs, Tysons, Virginia. Home Automation: Steve Adams, Strategic Home Media, Stevensville, Maryland.

Serene Dream - It was hardly love at first sight for Davenport and his wife, who needed time to mull over the idea.

“Being an architect, my goal was always to design the house of my dreams,” he explains. “But I wasn’t sure if this property was right or even if it was the right time.” After a few months of consideration, however, they put in an offer. “I figured now is as good a time as any,” Davenport says.

Given the opportunity to conceive a getaway from the ground up, the architect envisioned a home unlike the couple’s primary residence, a traditional center-hall Colonial in Northern Virginia with rooms that go unused much of the year. For this new abode, he leaned into his penchant for modernism, devising a striking, single-story, 4,700-square-foot dwelling with large, open spaces for gathering. He envisioned room for frequent visits from his grown children and grandchildren, but a feeling of coziness when it’s just the couple. “I wanted someplace where the family could get away and reconnect,” he says. “This house and site allow for that.”

To realize his vision, Davenport organized the six-bedroom, six-and-a-half-bath home along what he describes as a spine, which maximizes every square inch of the lot’s narrow buildable area. The great room is located at one end, while the owners’ suite is situated at the opposite corner. The garage and media room extend off the spine from the south side of the home. The entire structure is covered in a white- and gray-colored glass cladding system by Sto that mirrors surrounding trees and nearly 270-degree water views. “The reflective properties of the glass take on a different quality and appearance throughout the day and during each season,” Davenport notes.

The site’s rural Louisa County location proved challenging for Davenport in the hunt for a builder to carry out his vision, which included complex configurations like large cantilevers specially positioned to block direct sunlight in the summer while still helping to heat the interior in cooler seasons. “Finding a contractor in the area who was willing to take on the challenge of a home like this wasn’t easy,” explains Davenport, who eventually enlisted Ken Stanley of Stanley Custom Homes in Orange, Virginia. “Once he understood how particular I was, Ken actually exceeded my expectations.”

Taking full advantage of the home’s natural surroundings was top of mind for the architect, who opted for large expanses of floor-to-ceiling windows to help blur the lines between interior and exterior. Even the entry door is constructed from a nine-foot-tall piece of glass. “The idea was that you come up to the house and get a visual inside and then out to the lake,” says Davenport. He also considered the view for frequent passersby, devising a feature wall with sculptural cutouts separating the foyer and main living area, which is illuminated at night and visible from the water.

A pared-down interior palette ensures that the spectacular vistas remain the star of the show. In the open kitchen, for example, minimalist white-lacquer cabinetry from Snaidero is a seamless match to the room’s white walls, while walnut accents add a striking contrast. “Everything we did was to blend in with the architecture, instead of designing a kitchen that says ‘notice me,’” recounts Shawna Dillon of Snaidero DC Metro, who worked closely with Davenport to realize the space. “Our design philosophy is always about integrating into someone’s home.”

In keeping with his modern vision, Davenport selected classic mid-century furnishings like Eames dining and lounge chairs, Bertoia bar stools and Saarinen Womb chairs. But never does the less-is-more approach restrict his family from the relaxed enjoyment of the abode. Case in point: A sleek MDF Italia dining table clad in French oak veneer is a frequent gathering spot for games.

And even the 100-foot-long central corridor provides ample fun. “My grandsons love to have me chase them down that hallway,” says Davenport with a laugh. “It’s a wonderful home for a large family—and we’re not a quiet group.”

Architecture & Interior Design: Jeffrey Davenport, Perkins&Will, Washington, DC. Kitchen & Bath Design: Shawna Dillon, ASID, NCIDQ, Snaidero DC Metro, Alexandria, Virginia. Builder: Ken Stanley, Stanley Custom Homes, Orange, Virginia.

Serene Dream - RESOURCES

THROUGHOUT
Wood Flooring: wideplankflooring.com. Windows: fleetwoodusa.com. Home Automation: lutron.com through arcanetech.com. Window Treatment: mechoshade.com through Total Shading Solutions (301-948-9520).

OUTDOOR
Eames Outdoor Table & Chairs: hermanmiller.com.

KITCHEN/DINING ROOM
Cabinetry: snaiderodcmetro.com. Countertops & Backsplash: caesarstoneus.com. Ovens, Range & Hood: mieleusa.com through snaiderodcmetro.com. Faucet: grohe.com. Bertoia Bar Stools: knoll.com. Dining Table: mdfitalia.com. Eames Dining Chairs: hermanmiller.com.

LIVING ROOM
Saarinen Womb Chair & Saarinen Tulip Side Table: knoll.com. Sofa, Swivel Chairs & Ottomans: hermanmiller.com. Rug: safavieh.com. LC4 Chaise Longue: dwr.com.

LAUNDRY
Cabinets: snaiderodcmetro.com. Countertops: caesarstoneus.com. Backsplash: daltile.com. Washer & Dryer: electroluxappliances.com. Appliance Source: Build.com

BATH
Cabinets: snaiderodcmetro.com. Flooring: daltile.com. Shower Enclosure: richmondshowerdoorsandmore.com. Plumbing Fixtures: grohe.com. Vanity Chair: dwr.com. Wall Covering: besttile.com.

POWDER ROOM
Vanity: snaiderodcmetro.com. Mirror: ibmirror.com. Plumbing Fixture: grohe.com. Wall Covering: daltile.com.

One storybook setting there entranced a pair of retired attorneys looking to return to the district after raising their children in Bethesda. “We saw the yard and said, ‘This is it,’” recounts the husband. “For being in the middle of the city, it’s very special.”

A 1930s Tudor-style abode occupied the parcel. Though charming, it lacked the entertaining space and modern amenities—a kitchen with elbow room being one—that the couple desired. Initially gearing up for a renovation, they enlisted architect Chris Snowber and builder Richard Zantzinger. The team explored the makeover option at length but ultimately recommended starting afresh.

Snowber planned the new home around a scenic, albeit somewhat restricting, stream running through the rear yard. As he reveals, the feature “was a constraint but totally drove and enriched the design.” To maximize the footprint, the back of the house progressively steps out to follow the path of the water. “Our plan grew out this way because we wanted to get as close to the stream as possible,” the architect adds. “The stream diverts towards the rear of the property; the plan does that as well. Much of the design was about orienting the house to its remarkable site and connecting it visually and physically.”

With stretches of glass opening to backyard views, the living room sits at the main level’s narrowest end, followed by the family room and eat-in kitchen. The owners’ suite enjoys a second-floor vantage point above the kitchen in the widest section. Lower-level spaces spill directly outdoors.

Following its predecessor’s lead, the 6,500-square-foot dwelling expresses a Tudoresque quality. The exterior’s mix of stucco, stone, timbers and brick speaks to the Old World aesthetic. “It felt like a natural fit to continue in the Tudor style since it had a connection on the site,” states Snowber. “We weren’t looking to make a Tudor house, which can sometimes feel sort of dark and heavy. The challenge was finding the balance between capturing the spirit and making the house feel open and bright.”

Interior designer Skip Sroka came on board early, bringing his interpretative lens to everything from architectural details to decorative touches. “We took a few design liberties,” he admits freely. “We wanted to create a ‘new old’ house, with the wonderful quality and bones of an older home but one that has been updated to be part of this century.”

Wrapped in hand-painted wallcovering, the elegant foyer serves as a harbinger of what’s to come. “The Chinoiserie wallpaper, with its glowing gold background, sets the tone,” Sroka explains. “This home is a joyful balance of past and present with an easy dollop of glam.”

Fresh approaches throughout energize the residence’s traditional bones. The designer dialed up the drama in the library, coating its millwork in a deep-green lacquer. Across the hall, celadon-hued faux finishes enliven the dining room’s paneled ceiling and walls.

Sroka’s attention to detail is evident at every turn. The library’s teal hue reappears on the sofa trim and chair upholstery in the adjacent living room, establishing visual flow. The kitchen cabinets sport back-painted glass doors, while the pantry near the breakfast area showcases antiqued-mirror doors. The velvet-upholstered headboard on the owners’ four-poster bed extends to the sloped ceiling.

The furnishings constitute a mix of new and old finds, repurposed pieces from the owners’ collection and bespoke creations of Sroka’s design. A livable yet elevated look prevails. “It’s a beautiful, happy house that has some sophistication, but it’s not off-putting,” asserts Sroka. “Balancing what you need to have for comfort with what you want to have for delight is very important in a home.”

Before covid struck, the empty-nesters threw their daughter’s wedding in the garden and held a fundraiser for the DC-based Latin American Youth Center. “We built the house because we like to entertain and hopefully we can again someday soon,” says the wife. “This is a great house for hosting events. There’s lots of space for people to roam around.”

Indeed, guests can stroll outdoors, where four gathering areas await. Campion Hruby Landscape Architects refreshed and augmented the surrounding scenery. For improved access, the team added stepping-stone paths and a bridge to a respectfully restored terrace across the stream. “There were relics of a past garden,” recalls Kevin Campion. “It was clearly meant to be a garden of exploration. [The owners] wanted to follow through with that idea and to be able to move through their garden in a graceful way.”

The couple credits the project’s success—inside and out—to a close collaboration. “The team worked together so beautifully,” marvels the wife.

Her husband concurs: “The ensemble was just great.”

Architecture: Christopher R. Snowber, AIA, principal; Michael P. Rouse, AIA, NCARB, project architect, Hamilton Snowber Architects, Washington, DC. Interior Design: Skip Sroka, ASID, NCIDQ, ICAA, principal, Sroka Design, Washington, DC. Builder: Richard Zantzinger, Zantzinger, Inc., Washington, DC. Landscape Design: Kevin Campion, ASLA, principal; Lindsey Tabor, project manager, Campion Hruby Landscape Architects, Annapolis, Maryland.

RESOURCES

GENERAL
Flooring: Rift-cut oak through twperry.com. Cabinetry & Millwork Fabrication Throughout: zantzingerbuilt.com. Drapery Fabrication: fabriccreationsstudio.com. Upholstery Fabrication: designerworkroom.com.

FOYER & HALLWAY
Wallpaper: paulmontgomery.com. Console by Door: williamyeoward.com through jonathancharlesfurniture.com. Rug: designsurfaces.com. Gilt Demi-Lune & Mirror: antique. Settee: Custom by srokadesign.com. Fabric: architex-ljh.com.

FAMILY ROOM
Sofa, Coffee Table, Art over Fireplace & Rug: Clients’ collection. Sofa Fabric: kravet.com. Trim: houles.com. Blue Chair & Ottoman by Fireplace: kravet.com Kravet Furniture. Chair & Ottoman Fabric: Lee Jofa through kravet.com. Trim: fschumacher.com. Skirted Armchair: leeindustries.com through americaneyewdc.net. Fabric for chair & Throw Pillows: Duralee through robertallen.com. Wall Treatment: robsonworldwidegraining.com.

LIVING ROOM
Sofa: highlandhousefurniture.com. Fabric: norbarfabrics.com. Trim: fschumacher.com. Coffee Table: Custom by srokadesign.com. Faux Leather: pindler.com. Rug: cavancarpets.com. Fabrication: jrsflooringpa.com. Club Chairs: centuryfurniture.com. Club Chair Fabric: kravet.com. Cording: jlambeth.com.  Console by Fireplace: modernhistoryhome.com. Shade Fabric: Fabric: jab.de. Tape Trim: scalamandre.com. Floor Lamp: reginaandrew.com.

LIBRARY
Sofa & Fabric: highlandhousefurniture.com. Chairs: Clients’ collection. Chair Fabric: jimthompsonfabrics.com through hinescompany.com. Trim: Lee Jofa through kravet.com. Coffee Table & Rug: Custom by srokadesign.com. Rug Fabrication: juliedasherrugs.com. Shade Fabric: jab.de. Trim: Lee Jofa through kravet.com. Chandelier: visualcomfortlightinglights.com. Bookshelves: Custom by srokadesign.com. Bookshelf Paint: Mallard Green by benjaminmoore.com

DINING ROOM
Table: Clients’ collection. Side Chairs: charlesstewartcompany.com. Side Chair Fabric: jimthompsonfabrics.com through hinescompany.com. Host Chairs: hickorychair.com. Host Chair Fabric: architex-ljh.com, scalamandre.com. Chandelier: visualcomfortlightinglights.com. Sunburst Mirror: wildwoodmirrorco.com. Rug: crystalcarpets.net. Rug Fabrication: jrsflooringpa.com. Drapery Fabric: scalamandre.com. Console: modernhistoryhome.com. Abstract Art above Console: Morris Schulman. Iron Door to Ceramics Collection: williamyeoward.com through jonathancharlesfurniture.com.

KITCHEN
Cabinetry: Custom by srokadesign.com. Countertops & Backsplash: Quartzite through rbratti.com. Pendants: visualcomfortlightinglights.com. Counter Stools: woodbridgefurniture.com. Breakfast Table: bernhardtfurniture.com. Chairs: janusetcie.com. Hall Settee: highlandhousefurniture.com.

OWNERS’ BEDROOM
Bed: hickorychair.com. Upholstery on Headboard: Lee Jofa through kravet.com. Bedding: sferra.com. Window Treatment Fabric: rubelli.com, clarke-clarke.com, robertallen.com. Rug: maslandcarpets.com: Rug Fabrication: jrsflooringpa.com. Chairs by Fireplace: highlandhousefurniture.com. Fabric: scalamandre.com.  Ottoman by Fireplace: Clients’ collection. Ottoman Fabric: jab-de, Tape Trim: cowtan.com.

Joyful Mix - Overhead Light: crystoramalights.com.