Home & Design

Ask the Pros Landscape Design How do you protect a waterfront property from erosion and flooding?
There are three main methods we use to protect and control erosion and flooding: riprap, bulkheads and retaining walls, and vegetation. Vegetation is the most common. Vegetation absorbs rainwater that can cause surface erosion. Roots—especially the deep roots of trees and shrubs—bind the soil, strengthening and stabilizing sloped areas. Native plants also help the overall coastal ecosystem.

Bulkheads and retaining walls are also effective, preventing runoff by forcing the water to soak into the soil. Retaining walls can be made of wood, segmented wall stone or natural stone. If you have multiple walls, terracing can be created that will allow you to install lawn and/or plantings.

Riprap, which embeds stones into a slope or spreads them loosely on the surface, slows or diverts flowing water at the water’s edge. This is a high-cost alternative and creates an unnatural appearance, making it less popular than the other options. —Jeff Crandell, Scapes, Inc., Lothian, Maryland

Ask the Pros Architecture What factors do you consider when siting a house so that its natural surroundings are paramount?
Our approach to siting a house is always based on the particulars of that site. Our goal is for the home to feel rooted, inevitable, timeless. We search for aspects of the site that stimulate creativity, whether they be views, topography, landscape features or micro-climate factors like prominent winds, harsh sun, extreme temperatures or precipitation. Often, aspects of the site that might be considered limiting—a narrow lot or extreme slope, for example—become a point of departure for a beautiful architectural response.

Sustainability is critical. Pursuing passive strategies, such as the orientation of a house relative to the sun’s path, can save both first and life-cycle costs. Passive strategies can easily rival mechanical or electrical systems. —Alick Dearie, AIA, NCARB, LEED BD+C, Grid Architects PC, Annapolis, Maryland.

Builder: Joseph Braun, No Worries Carpentry, Great Cacapon, West Virginia. 

Ask the Pros Builder When building near the bay, what factors should homeowners consider to prevent delays or setbacks due to permitting issues?
When building on a waterfront lot, it is critical to consult with the proper professionals to ensure that the permitting process goes as seamlessly as possible. A civil engineer and architect should be engaged to determine allowable building area based on critical-area requirements and waterfront setbacks. Additionally, a soils engineer should be consulted to determine the elevation of the water table, as this may have a bearing on the type of foundation required for the structure and the ability to construct a lower level due to potential limitations regarding mechanical and electrical codes.

With professional help, unwanted surprises can be avoided and homeowners can maximize the allowable size of their house and ensure its optimum location. —Andrew Lehner, Pyramid Builders, Annapolis, Maryland

Architecture: Cathy Purple Cherry, AIA, LEED AP, Purple Cherry Architects, Annapolis, Maryland. Landscape Architecture: Kevin Campion, ASLA, Campion Hruby Landscape Architects, Annapolis, Maryland. 

Ask the Pros Interior Design How does designing the interiors of a waterfront home differ from the way you design spaces in other locales?
In my view, there is no real difference in designing a waterfront home versus other locales. I might incorporate more coastal accents, colors of the sea and lighter fabrics, but the same areas of importance always apply. I start by learning how the client will live in the space. Then I design the layout in AutoCAD, taking into account all focal points—including water views. I try to marry function and comfort in every design, regardless of location. Lastly, selections of fabrics, finishes, lighting, and artwork are made with an understanding of the client’s likes and dislikes.

Coastal style is popular because of its fresh, calming palette, but achieving that style is possible in any locale. The process is the same in all designs, regardless of a water view. —Wesley Thompson, Simply Wesley, Annapolis, Maryland   

Color Me Cool
Federal Brace’s Eco-Lucent LED lighting system offers energy efficiency via a color-changing light strip. Recessed under cabinets or toe kicks, it includes an IR remote with dimmer, a 24-volt power source and extra cables for multi-system connections. federalbrace.com

Scandinavian Style
Color authority Pantone has partnered with e3Light to launch a six-piece lighting collection inspired by Scandinavian design. Pictured above, the Castor pendant has a steel shade in a sanded-matte finish. Available in two sizes and three hues. lightcolorlive.com

Fluted Glass
Vintage perfume bottles inspired the Riviera pendant collection by Kichler. The fluted-glass fixtures can hang singly or in clusters, and are available locally at Ferguson with hardware in Brushed Nickel or Olde Bronze. kichler.com; fergusonshowrooms.com

Arms Akimbo
The Akimbo Linear Suspension fixture from Tech Lighting conjures leafless winter branches with its jagged lines and asymmetrical shape. Edison-style bulbs add an industrial vibe. Available in a black or antique-bronze finish. techlighting.com

Light of Day
Ketra has created a line of LEDs that mimic natural light—bright during the day, soft at night. The integrated system operates via an app. Above, S38 lamps in recessed cans illuminate a bath with a natural glow. Available through Integrated Media Systems. ketra.com; imsva.com

Minimalist Look
With its clean-lined, sloped profile, the Neutrino outdoor sconce from LBL Lights conveys a minimalist look while directing light up or down. The dimmable aluminum fixture comes in Graphite or Bronze and measures six by four and a half inches. lbllights.com.

Husband-and-wife team Francisca Villarroel Alonso and Antonio Alonso met while studying architecture at Catholic University and have lived in Northern Virginia for more than 30 years. Taking their cue from Francisca’s father, architect Melvin Villarroel Roldán—a designer of luxury hotels and resorts in Europe and around the world—they launched AV Architects in 2001 with the idea of bringing resort-style living to the DC area. “We wanted to give our clients the feeling of being on vacation every day of the year,” Francisca says.

The couple added a building component to their business model in 2003. Today, the firm employs seven staff members, more than half of them trained architects. “Our focus is architecture and design,” Francisca says. “Even when they are doing project management and working on site, our staff still brings an architect’s perspective to the job.”

She adds, “The build part is a bonus so that our clients don’t have to go through the stress of finding a builder.”

AV Architects + Builders concentrated on renovations for its first eight years, then evolved into designing and building custom homes. Today, the firm develops properties as well. AV Architects + Builders works with the same team of subcontractors on all its projects. “Some of them have been with us since the start,” Francisca says. “We are very loyal to them and consider them part of our team.”

According to Francisca, her firm’s business philosophy sets it apart. “In the design phase, we create the vision for the house, select the materials and nail down the cost of the project to the last penny,” she explains. “So when we move to the build stage, there are no allowances and change orders. We communicate with our subcontractors during the design phase to make this possible.”

AV Architects razed a small rambler on a quarter acre to accommodate the Falls Church house showcased on these pages. The owner specified something classic yet fresh and modern, so “we decided to do a spin on an Italian villa,” Francisca says.

The home’s exterior is clad in brick veneer with a pastel coating that resembles stucco and trimmed with brick accents. The shingle-and-metal roof is gently pitched in Mediterranean style. Practical, low-maintenance features include aluminum-clad windows, PVC trim and oversized gutters that channel rainwater runoff into a bio garden located at the lowest point in the property.

Inside, the house encompasses an open-plan kitchen/dining area/great room and a master suite on the main floor; two upstairs bedrooms with en-suite baths; and a finished lower level. Conveniences such as a Control4 whole-house automation system ensure the resort-style ease of living that AV Architects + Builders prioritizes in its work.

COMPANY FACTS & STATS

AV Architects + Builders complete four to six major renovations and about two custom homes a year. Renovations start at around $300,000, while custom homes begin at $900,000. The firm is a Class A general contractor and works with a team of 40 subcontractors.

Inquiries: AV Architects + Builders; 9903 Georgetown Pike, Suite 201; Great Falls, Virginia 22066
703-865-5065 • avarchitectsbuild.com • [email protected]

Architecture, Construction & Interior Design: Francisca Alonso and Antonio Alonso, AV Architects + Builders, Great Falls, Virginia. Landscape Design: Rossen Landscape, Sterling, Virginia. Art Consultation: Broadway Gallery—Fine Art & Custom Framing, Alexandria and Great Falls, Virginia. Styling: Charlotte Safavi.

HOME&DESIGN, published bi-monthly by Homestyles Media Inc., is the premier magazine of architecture and fine interiors for the Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia region.

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The H&D Portfolio of 100 Top Designers spotlights the superior work of selected architects, interior designers and landscape architects in major regions of the US.

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