Home & Design

Amazing Grace  A 1936, red-brick colonial overlooking the Chesapeake Bay caught the eye of a DC-area couple seeking a vacation home. Perched on a point with panoramic water vistas, the faded gem proved too alluring to resist. So they acquired it knowing an overhaul would be required to transform its outdated interiors into the family getaway they’d envisioned.

Built just one room deep on two levels, the existing home had its drawbacks. The living spaces, including a shoddy 1980s-era addition, were inadequate for entertaining. None of the modest bedrooms were suitable for a comfortable master suite. And the kitchen, bathrooms and closets belonged in the 20th century.

The owners hired builder Guy Pilli and architect Cathy Purple Cherry to help them figure out how to morph their new purchase into a home where they could host family and friends in style.

Purple Cherry’s clever plan—which scrapped the addition—honored the home’s past while forging a bold path into the present. “I care very much about respecting a structure that is there and making sure the way I expand it looks like an evolution in time, a graceful change,” says the architect. Rather than adding more rooms onto the existing structure, which would have skewed its proportions and blocked views, she decided to extend it into an “L” shape. A new wing, designed to look as though it was added over time, would include an open kitchen, dining area and great room on the main level and a master suite, sitting room and bonus room for the couple’s grandchildren above.

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One of the architect’s challenges was to maintain scale between the existing abode—which housed a living room, office, sunroom and guest suite on the main floor and four bedrooms in a row upstairs—and the larger, deeper new wing. To connect the two volumes, she designed an octagonal element that balances the octagonal sunroom off the foyer in the original home. Housing a screened porch on the ground level and the master bedroom above, “this transitional piece help breaks down the mass,” she explains.

Purple Cherry added a sense of grandeur to the front façade with a new entry portico. “Creating that design element as though it had been there for 100 years was very exciting,” she says. New leaded-glass sidelites that flank the front door are repeated on the door to the sunroom, which greets visitors upon arrival.

Working hard to preserve the existing home’s historical assets, the design team salvaged floors, woodwork, plaster and doors where possible. Walls of exposed original brick mark the transition between the new and old structures. Says Purple Cherry, “I live in a 1740 house, so I love the exposure of old materials and the feeling they create in terms of saying ‘home.’”

Architectural details in the new wing, from classically styled moldings to coffered ceilings, reflect the property’s traditional heritage. A grand staircase that echoes the style of the stair in the original wing—as well as a gallery connecting the great room, kitchen and garage—fosters easy circulation. “The gallery looks like it was an exterior colonnade that got enclosed,” says Purple Cherry.

The renovation also addressed important, everyday practicalities. Between the kitchen and three-car garage, a large mudroom, family powder room and butler’s pantry efficiently cater to the in-and-out meanderings of an active family living on the water.

The homeowners envisioned classic interiors that would reflect the era of the original home yet convey a current vibe. “We wanted a more traditional and formal approach, rather than something beachy or contemporary,” explains the wife.

She and her husband turned to designer Stephanie Simmons of Karen Renée Interiors—the firm that designed their main residence—to help furnish the bay getaway. “The house had so much potential,” says Simmons. “I wanted to evoke its Eastern Shore setting without taking that too far.”

Simmons put a “fresh, updated” spin on classic style. She selected natural linens and grass cloths and a palette of pale gray and ivory accented with shades of coral and blush. And she sourced furniture with relaxed elegance and a focus on comfort.

Simmons’s scheme also accentuates the home’s architecture. In the sunroom, for example, window treatments hang on thin metal rods that she custom-designed to fit the octagonal shape of the room. “Side panels between the windows keep the views exposed,” she explains. “They create softness without taking away from the view.”

Beckoning through almost every window, water rims the property’s six-acre site on two sides. To transform what was mostly an empty lot into an outdoor oasis conducive to entertaining, the owners hired Stephen McHale of McHale Landscape Design. “We wanted to maintain the feeling of an old farm estate,” says McHale, “and complement the architecture with a landscape that works with the time frame of the original property.” McHale devised a new approach to the home with a circular arrival court. Gravel pathways evocative of a bygone era connect the front garden to the screened porch and pool in the backyard. “In the back where the pool is,” he explains, “we wanted to make everything as subtle as possible because the views are the reason the clients are there.”

Today, the owners love spending time with their children and grandchildren in the finished weekend home. “It’s fabulous when the sun comes up and you can see geese on the water,” marvels the wife.

“We had this beautiful old house that needed to be restored to its former glory,” she continues. “Cathy made it work and Guy built the perfect home. It’s beyond our wildest imagination.”

 

Architecture: Cathy Purple Cherry, AIA, LEED AP, CAS, Purple Cherry Architects, Annapolis, Maryland. Interior Design: Stephanie Simmons, Allied ASID, Karen Renée Interior Design, Severna Park, Maryland. Builder: Guy Pilli, Pilli Custom Homes, Millersville, Maryland. Landscape Design: Stephen McHale, McHale Landscape Design, Upper Marlboro, Maryland.

RESOURCES

THROUGHOUT
Lighting: jones-lighting.com.Windows: marvin.com. Exterior Stone: harwoodstone.com.Shutters: atlanticpremiumshutters.com. Plumbing and Bath Fixtures: ferguson.com. Hardware: walterworkshardware.com. Tile: cst-studio.com. Flooring: woodfloorcreations.com. Ceramic and Marble: atlastile.com.
SUN ROOM
Flooring: atlastile.com. Chairs, Chair Fabric & Trim: kravet.com.
Table: sherrillfurniture.com. Chandelier: visualcomfort.com. Drapery & Pillow Fabric: romo.com. Drapery Fabrication: interiorsbyjoannoc.com.
FOYER
Mirror: globalviews.com. Antique Console: Clients’ collection.
Wall Covering: brunschwig.com.
LIVING ROOM
Sofa: charlesstewartcompany.com. Sofa Fabric: kravet.com. Chairs: drexel-furniture.com. Chair Fabric: stroheim.com. Cocktail Table: sherrillfurniture.com. Drapery Fabric: Drapery Fabrication: interiorsbyjoannoc.com.Rug: maslandcarpets.com.
Lamp behind Sofa: Clients’ collection. Pillow Fabrics: janechurchill.com; fschumacher.com. Living Room Fireplace Stone: atlastile.com.
DINING AREA
Table: Custom. Bench: tcsfurniturerange.com. Bench Fabric: fschumacher.com. Host Chairs & Wooden Chairs: Clients’ collection. existing pieces which we reupholstered. Host Chair Fabric: stylelibrary.com/sanderson. Wooden Chair Fabric: osborneandlittle.com. Rug: maslandcarpets.com. Light Fixture: visualcomfort.com.
KITCHEN
Cabinetry: lyndonheathcabinetry.com. Countertop, Backsplash & Mosaic: atlastile.com. Faucets: ferguson.com. Lights over Island: visualcomfort.com. Appliances: theappliancesource.com.
FAMILY ROOM
Sofa, Armchair & Striped Chairs: charlesstewartcompany.com. Sofa & Ottoman Fabric: thibautdesign.com. Striped Chair Fabric: fschumacher.com. Ottoman: jonathan-wesley.com. Armchair Fabric: osborneandlittle.com. Drapery Fabrication: interiorsbyjoannoc.com. Rug: starkcarpets.com.
BUTLER’S PANTRY
Cabinetry: lyndonheathcabinetry.com. Countertop & Backsplash Tile: atlastile.com.
HALLWAY 
Drapery Fabric: fschumacher.com. Drapery Fabrication: interiorsbyjoannoc.com. Bench: tcsfurniturerange.com. Bench Fabric: fschumacher.com. Painting: baycountrypainters.com. Stair Runner: maslandcarpets.com.
REAR KITCHEN
Cabinetry: lyndonheathcabinetry.com. Rotisserie Oven: lacornueusa.com. Countertop: atlastile.com.
MASTER BATH
Cabinetry: lyndonheathcabinetry.com. Wall Covering: thibautdesign.com. Flooring & Shower Tile: cst-studio.com.
Countertop: atlastile.com.
MASTER BEDROOM
Bed & Chest: hickorywhite.com. Bedding: legacylinens.com.
Drapery & Accent pillow fabric: stroheim.com. Rug: maslandcarpets.com.
Chairs: Clients’ collection. Chair Fabric: larsenfabrics.com. Chandelier: visualcomfort.com. Fabric: stroheim.com. Drapery Fabrication: interiorsbyjoannoc.com.

 

City ChicGood old-fashioned snail mail can still get the job done. When Christopher Schriever, owner of a boutique marketing company, and Edward Palmieri, a director at Facebook, were having trouble finding a property in DC’s trendy Shaw neighborhood, they staged a letter-writing campaign to the potential sellers of homes that caught their eye—and snagged the perfect house.

“We used to live in a Logan Circle condo,” says Schriever, “but we were expecting twins and needed a larger home. Proximity to downtown and Metro were important to us, as was lot size. This place had great potential.”

However, the existing circa-1900 row house was problematic for the couple, who anticipated the needs of their growing family. They enlisted architect Patrick Brian Jones, with whom they had worked before, to mastermind a renovation that would give them their dream home. On the wish list: better flow and functionality, improved storage and an airy, open floor plan with plenty of room for hosting friends and accommodating family. “We wanted spaces that were as naturally lit, expansive and family-friendly as could be achieved in a row house,” says Schriever.

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In order to gain square footage, Jones absorbed a dogleg at the back of the property—a typical row-house feature—into the floor plan. “I was able to square off the interior to go from property line to property line,” he explains. This alteration added 315 square feet to both stories of the house—including a bump-out that accommodates a mudroom on the first floor and a sitting area off what is now the twins’ bedroom above it. The renovated, 3,000-square-foot home comprises three bedrooms and three-and-a-half-baths.

When Schriever and Palmieri bought the house, the kitchen was closed off in the back and there was no family room. In his renovation plan, Jones removed the wall separating the kitchen, and installed a wall of fixed and operable Jeld-Wen windows at the back of the house to flood the interiors with light. “This created a strong visual connection from inside to out,” the architect notes.

A new glass-and-steel stair rail adds to the home’s open feel.The powder room was moved from its location under the stairs to make way for additional storage. “Having plenty of storage was key, especially with twins,” Schriever observes. “Our aesthetic is clutter-free and it’s important for us to be able to put toys away when needed.”

In the reworked layout, a new kitchen connects the living and dining areas, with a family room area located at the back of the house. The kitchen boasts Ikea cabinets in white laminate and walnut, a waterfall-edge island topped with quartz and stainless-steel GE Monogram appliances. A wall of freestanding cabinets separates the kitchen from a butler’s pantry featuring ample storage and a wet bar. The powder room, now tucked in beside the pantry, opens inconspicuously into a pass-through created by the wall of cabinetry.

“The butler’s pantry is great because it offers a place to stash dirty dishes when entertaining,” says Jones. “The kitchen is very functional, but it’s also in the center of the house. It’s the first thing you see when you walk in.”

In a custom touch, Jones clad the base of the island on the barstool side in hot-rolled steel—a durable and aesthetic choice. “I love hot-rolled steel,” he enthuses. “Though it’s a cold material, it has a lot of organic movement and warmth to it. I also used it as a privacy panel to screen the pantry from the dining room and as a fireplace mantel in the living room. And it wraps the banquette in the eat-in nook.”

French milled-oak floors in a rich honey color and plenty of exposed brick—revealed in select spots such as the fireplace and kitchen accent wall—add warmth to the cool, contemporary look and crisp, white palette. “Though we mostly wanted a calming, all-white house,” Schriever explains, “we also wanted to retain a hint of the historic row house.”

Jones, who also designed the interiors, completed the furniture layout during the schematic phase. “I like to ensure how a space will function with furniture from the start, taking into account what homeowners own and what they might need,” he explains. He and his clients selected pieces in a range of price points—and in a comfortable, chic and minimalist style inspired by the clean Mid-Century Modern vibe that Schriever and Palmieri favor.

“The kitchen and family room are our daily hangouts, so we chose durable, practical pieces, like the plastic Drop chairs in the eating area,” says Schriever. “The front of the house is more adult. There, we sourced interesting, sophisticated pieces like the Mayor sofa.”

The couple chose other iconic modern pieces as well, such as the whimsical Wegner cowhide chair by the fireplace and the acrylic Philippe Starck Ghost chairs in the dining area, which keep the views open to back of the house. The Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams ottoman/coffee table in the living room is upholstered in child-proof Perennials fabric.

The palette is mostly neutral, with color coming from the couple’s extensive collection of contemporary art. Stylish, strategically placed light fixtures bring spatial definition to the open-plan space, with a linear LED fixture above the island and pendants defining both the dining and eat-in areas. Recessed LEDs throughout the house provide overall lighting when needed.

The couple are thrilled with the finished home. “It’s extremely livable and comfortable,” Schriever says. “We love how everything turned out."

Renovation & Interior Design: Patrick Brian Jones, AIA, Patrick Brian Jones PLLC, Washington, DC. Contractor: J. Allen Smith Design/Build, Ijamsville, Maryland.

 

RESOURCES

GENERAL
Contractor- jasdesign-build.com. Flooring- Wire-Brushed European French Oak. Stair Railing: ar2designstudios.com. Rolled Steel: metalspecialties.biz.
LIVING AREA
Ottoman/coffee table: mgbw.com. Risom Chair: knoll.com. Arne Jacobsen Mayor Sofa: andtradition.com. Leather Easy Chair & Hans Wegner Shell Chair: dwr.com. Rug: matthebasics.com. Floor Lamp with Acrylic Base: pablodesigns.com through dwr.com.: dwr.com. Side Table & Lamp: westelm.com. Mirror Wall Art: cb2.com. Console by Door: theodores.com. Tryptic over Console: mike-weber.com through longviewgallerydc.com. Art by Fireplace: lourdesanchez through searspeyton.com.
DINING AREA
Table: West Elm. Art by Dining Area: Christopher Schriever. Chest beneath Art: Hans Wegner through dwr.com. Bar Cart: Vintage from former General Motors Factory
KITCHEN
Cabinetry: ikea.com. Countertops & Backsplash: caesarstone-usa.com. Appliances: monogram.com through adu.com. Table in Breakfast Nook: lievorealtherrmolina.com. Arne Jacobsen Drop Chairs: dwr.com. Fixture above Table: rh.com
FAMILY ROOM
Sectional: westelm.com. Canvases behind Sectional: michellepetersonalbandoz.com through longviewgallerydc.com. George Nelson Coffee Tables: hermanmiller.com. Mudroom Chest: Giulio Lazzotti for dwr.com. Pillows on Sectional: westelm.com, crateandbarrel.com.
KIDS’ ROOM
Toddler beds: babyletto.com. Loveseat: mgbw.com. Light fixture: Herman Miller through dwr.com. Shelf: westelm.com
MASTER BEDROOM
Bedstead: Custom design by patrickbrianjones.com. Round Night Table: dwr.com. Square Night Stand: westelm.com. Eero Saarinen Womb Chair and Ottoman: knoll.com. Upholstered Chest: owners’ collection. Upholstery: knoll.comBrass beds of virginia. Art over Bed: Newton K. Malvessi.
MASTER BATH
Soaking Tub: signaturehardware.com. Floor Tile: daltile.com. Shower Enclosure: ar2designstudios.com.

Fresh Slate</spanIt played like a scene from a home-makeover TV show. As the renovation dust settled in their Bethesda abode last July, Scott and Jennifer Frederick left for a short vacation while a deft crew (and a warehouse full of furnishings) waited in the wings. The house was move-in ready by the time the owners returned—and the unveiling brought Jennifer to tears. “I was overwhelmed,” she admits. “Everything looked so beautiful and pristine. I thought to myself, ‘Is this our house?’”

The couple had purchased the home the summer before. The Champagne-popping reveal was the culmination of an 11-month collaboration between builder Jim Kennerknecht of Monarch Homes and his wife, interior designer Charlene Kennerknecht of Monarch Design DC. Charlene’s partner, West Coast-based designer Arch Williams, weighed in too.

A rare, double lot in the Edgemoor neighborhood—and numerous nearby restaurants—prompted the Fredericks’ move from DC.  They also liked the home’s L-shape, with an enclosed yard where their two daughters, ages 12 and 14, could kick a soccer ball. However, the house needed an intervention. “It had good bones, but there was way too much going on,” recalls Scott, a venture capitalist. “We wanted to open it up and de-quirk it. We wanted Zen home design livability.”

Built in 1995, the structure boasted elaborate details-—most noticeably a web of ribs and beams that covered the family-room ceiling. Simplifying the aesthetics was a given. Beyond that, the owners were open to ideas for improving function and flow and soon embarked on a top-to-bottom renovation (a lower-level remodel is in progress). “They allowed us to take them on a journey and use our collective talents to design a sophisticated, livable home,” says Jim.

Under the new plan, the living and dining rooms retained their positions to the right of the entrance hall, along the L’s horizontal axis. All similarities end there. The previously compartmentalized spaces now connect to one another through oversized twin openings—one set between the hall and dining room and one between the dining and living rooms. “That region just didn’t feel good before,” explains Jim, who passed his conceptual plans to an architect on staff to execute the final drawings. “Now it’s a very visible, approachable zone.”

The house was already blessed with an open-concept great room along the L’s vertical axis, but Jim’s plan maximized functionality. He borrowed a few feet from the kitchen for a mudroom and removed an obtrusive fireplace to create an expanse of wall along the back for a big-screen television.

As Scott explains it, the couple envisioned “a parallel family room outside that flows seamlessly” from the indoor living quarters. The inviting new outdoor space features various zones for dining, entertaining and relaxing.

Cedar lap siding and a natural-stone veneer along the sightline perimeter elevate the exterior’s look. “Now the home feels appropriate for Edgemoor and like it was part of the original neighborhood [which dates to the early 1900s],” says Jim. “We tried to bring a level of sophistication throughout.”

Upstairs, the revamped master-bedroom suite certainly hits the mark. It’s a far cry from the original narrow bedroom that Scott Frederick likened to “a bowling alley.” Removing a back deck freed up space for a 280-square-foot addition. The three other second-level bedrooms only needed fresh paint, while on the top floor another deck area was enclosed to create space for a gym and a hangout room.

With the renovation underway, Charlene Kennerknecht and Arch Williams selected details, finishes, and materials in keeping with the clean aesthetic. “With the architectural changes, the house looks like one you might find in the Hamptons,” notes Charlene. “We respected that direction.”

Limestone replaced black marble on the living-room fireplace surround. A custom gray-brown stain now covers the red-oak floors. “My background is in architectural history, so I work a lot on fireplaces, trims, and those elements,” reveals Williams.

The house-in-the-Hamptons movie set for Something’s Gotta Give provided inspiration for the airy palette. “We knew the colors had to be quiet,” says Charlene. The living-room rug, in shades of blue, served as the scheme’s springboard. “That rug became the foundation for the whole plan,” the designer adds. “There are threads of blue going all through the house.”

The Hamptons influence aside, most of the new furnishings—from the family-room sofa to the bed in the master suite—hail from California. The designers visited showrooms in Los Angeles and San Francisco with their clients, selecting pieces that balance comfort, durability and casual elegance. “We put together spaces that fit their vision and made the house livable for a young, active family,” explains Williams.

Stain-resistant, indoor-outdoor fabric covers both main-floor sofas. The designers “were very cognizant of the kids and dog,” says Jennifer. “As we own a hyperactive dog who keeps on chasing his own tail which has made us wonder why do dogs chase their tails so we didn’t want to be walking on eggshells in our own home”, If you want to calm an over-excited dog then you should explore Bored Cesar.

Indeed, the team honored the owners’ request for a relaxing home environment. “They pulled it off,” Scott confirms. “And it takes a fair amount to get me to relax.”

Architecture & Renovation Contractor: Jim Kennerknecht and Mark Jurgielewicz, AIA, Monarch Homes, Vienna, Virginia. Interior Design: Charlene Kennerknecht and Arch Williams, Monarch Design DC, Vienna, Virginia. Landscape Design: Jim Kennerknecht, Monarch Homes; and Howard Robinson, Forever Green Plantscapes, Manassas, Virginia.

 

Reources
DINING ROOM
Table & Chairs: formationsusa.com. Chair Fabric: rosemaryhallgarten.com. Chandelier: studiobelvetro.com. Console:  gregoriuspineo.com.
LIVING ROOM
Armchairs, Skirted Stools under Console, Ottomans & Round Side Table: formationsusa.com. Stool Fabric: sandrajordan.com. Drapery Fabric: rosemaryhallgarten.com. Drapery Fabrication: monarchdesigndc.com. Ottoman Fabric:  mimilondon.com. Sofa & Fabric: arudin.com. Side Chair garrettleather.com. Rug: jhminassian.com. Console: ironies.com. Lamps: tuellreynolds.com.
HALL
Painting: kevinbarryfineart.com. Stair Runner: starkcarpet.com.
POWDER ROOM
Countertop: marblesystems.com. Styling: Charlotte Safavi. Mirror: avrett.com. Light Fixture: objetinsolite.com. Washstand: waterworks.com.
FAMILY ROOM
Sectional, Armchairs & Fabric: arudin.com. Coffee Table: paulferrante.com. Rug: houseoftaiping.com. Desk: formationsusa.com. Desk Chairs: ef-lm.com. Lamps: circalighting.com.
KITCHEN
Quartzite Countertops: marblesystems.com. Sink: kohler.com.
BREAKFAST AREA
Styling: Charlotte Safavi. Table: marcalidesigns.com. Chairs: ef-lm.com through hinesandcompany.com. Chair Fabric: romo.com. Chair Leather: arudin.com. Bench & Fabric: heleneaumont.com.
MASTER BEDROOM
Bed & Nightstands: marcalidesigns.com. Drapery Fabrication, Custom Chairs & Ottoman: monarchdesigndc.com. Chair Fabric: rosemaryhallgarten.com. Lamps: allan-knight.com. Armchair by Fireplace: formationsusa.com. Painting: kevinbarryfineart.com. Rug: jhminassian.com. Shades & Fabric: hartmannforbes.com. Drapery Fabric: decordeparis.com.
MASTER BATH
Marble Floor & Countertop: marblesystems.com. Vanity: thomasville.com. Ottoman Design: monarchdesigndc.com. Ottoman Fabric: chrisbarrettdesign.com.
OUTDOOR LIVING AREAS
Styling: Charlotte Safavi. Custom Firepit: monarchhomesinc.com. Firepit Chairs: davidsutherlandshowroom.com. Firepit Chair Fabric: dedon.de. Other Chairs & Fabric: formationsusa.com.

 

 

 

 

Perfect Harmony A narrow lane hugs the western shore of a Chesapeake Bay tributary in Virginia’s picturesque Northern Neck, revealing an eclectic mix of waterfront homes. Tucked between traditional houses, a one-story, glass-enclosed aerie stands out. Its owners, who hold 460 acres in this peaceful domain, lived in a stately, Civil War-era home on the property for many years. When they decided to build a new residence next door, they opted for a radical change in style.

Local architect Randall Kipp, who specializes in modern design, spearheaded the project. The couple requested a home with “a lot of transparency,” he says. “They really wanted the house to flow, inside and out.”

Kipp devised a plan for a single-story abode with a rear façade entirely open to breathtaking river views via floor-to-ceiling expanses of glass. The front door is set into a wall of windows that allows an unimpeded line of sight from the front yard through the house and out to the water beyond.

Inside, an airy central gallery with a 20-foot ceiling facilitates this visual connection. It also “acts as a bridge between the personal and public spaces,” Kipp explains. On one side, a volume houses a master suite, den and home office, plus workout and meditation rooms. The opposite volume contains the dining area and kitchen, which opens to a screened porch and a guest suite; a short hallway leads to the powder room, mudroom and garage.

The property lies only seven feet above sea level, so Kipp sited the house on a slightly raised base to prevent flooding and afford a better view of the water. The owners tapped landscape architect Shinichiro Abe, principal of the design-build firm ZEN Associates, Inc., to design a plan for what was a flat, empty expanse around the house. Taking his cues from the home’s spare, minimalist architecture, Abe conceived an Asian-inspired courtyard garden leading to the front entry. “I wanted to convey a sense of arrival, an invitation,” he explains. The garden sets the tone for the house, communicating both serenity and drama through its use of stone and water. Abe had boulders transported from New England and carefully positioned within the landscape. “The boulders are the main composition,” he says. “They invite you towards the house.”

Pea gravel, Mexican beach pebbles and flame-finished granite slabs, punctuated by irregular areas of large-format porcelain tile, comprise the walkway to the front door. Abe points out the asymmetrical path they take—around boulders, beside a lily pond and past a sculptural ceramic basin that doubles as a water feature. “A Japanese garden is asymmetrical,” he says. “The path is almost like a painting.”

As Kipp explains it, “Shin defined the property in relation to the house and the water. The garden spaces provide the transition from the undeveloped area to the house.”

To unify the residence and landscape even further, the design team repeated materials used in the front garden inside as well as  in the backyard. The porcelain tile from outside clads the floor of the gallery, dining area and kitchen and the patio in back, where it is bordered by Mexican beach pebbles and flame-finished granite. The same tile is laid in irregular patches on the lawn below to create a visual path to the water. In another bold move, a boulder was split so that one half nestles amid Mexican beach pebbles in the gallery while the other rests on the patio, just outside the window. “It marries the outside and the inside,” Kipp observes.

Inside, stone and glass surfaces are warmed by extensive woodwork. Black-walnut panels wrap the walls on either end of the gallery; at one end, they deftly conceal a coat closet and beverage bar. Deep-set window frames are made of alder, and teak built-ins in the den house the television and books. Ipe panels cover the screened porch walls, while floors in the guest suite and private wing are made of wide-plank, light-stained maple.

But it’s the massive front door that takes center stage. Designed by Kipp on a pivot, it measures seven feet wide and 11 feet tall and is covered in teak on the outside and walnut on the inside. “It took seven guys to install it,” recalls the architect ruefully.

Interior designer Rina Okawa of ZEN Associates decorated the interiors, which reflect a spare, Asian-inspired aesthetic. The owners “like sleek, clean lines but also texture and warmth,” Okawa says.

Throughout the house, contemporary furnishings are grouped atop hand-knotted rugs sourced at Fort Street Studio in New York. Recessed LEDs from Tech Lighting keep the views open—except for a Davide Groppi pendant in the gallery and a PH Artichoke fixture by Louis Poulsen, selected by the owner to hang over the dining room table.

Okawa collaborated with Bulthaup on the kitchen, which combines Miele appliances with cabinetry in horizontal-grain elm and vertical-grain walnut. A walnut slab was integrated into the island to create space for eating on Bonaldo stools. A backsplash of white-painted glass by Bulthaup works seamlessly with crisp, white quartz countertops. A Hellman-Chang Z Round Table and Cassina 684 chairs provide a spot by the kitchen window for casual meals.

Measuring 3,800 square feet with just two bedrooms, the house boasts an outdoor kitchen on the patio, paneled in ipe and sunken four feet into the ground so as not to interrupt the view. Another highlight is the meditation room, a peaceful, glass-walled space that opens out to the serene lily pond and courtyard. Like the rest of the house, it seems meant for contemplation.

 

Architecture: Randall J. Kipp, AIA, NCARB, Randall Kipp Architecture, Irvington, Virginia. Interior Design: Rina Okawa, LEED AP; Landscape Architecture: Shinichiro Abe, ZEN Associates, Inc., Woburn, Massachusetts and Silver Spring, Maryland. Builder: Joe Heyman, The Allen Group, Inc., Urbanna, Virginia.

 

RESOURCES

GENERAL
Porcelain-Tile Floors: stonesource.com. Walnut Paneling: conkit.com. Recessed Lighting: techlighting.com.
OUTDOORS
Water Basin & Fire Bowl: concretecreationsla.com. Outdoor Table Base: varaschin.it. Outdoor Table Top: Plexiglass by 3-form.com. Outdoor Chairs: minotti.com.
GALLERY
Sofa & Grouping of Four Chairs & Coffee Table: minotti.com. Slipper Chairs: hollyhunt.com. Console Table: liaigre.com. Pendant over Chairs: davidegroppi.com. Rugs: fortstreetstudio.com
DINING AREA
Dining Table & Bench: Custom by hudsonfurnitureinc.com. Dining Chairs: giorgettimeda.com. Light Fixture: louispoulsen.com. Rug: fortstreetstudio.com.
KITCHEN
Cabinetry & White-Glass Backsplash: bulthaup.com. Countertops: quartz through bulthaup.com. Counter Stools: bonaldo.it. Appliances: mieleusa.com. Round Table: hellman-chang.com. Chairs: cassina.com.
DEN
Fabricator of Built-Ins: woodworkingcabinetshop.com.
MASTER SUITE
Fabricator of Bedstead & Shelving: woodworkingcabinetshop.com. Mosaic Bath Tile: annsacks.com

 

 

 

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.

The company also publishes an annual H&D Sourcebook of ideas and resources for homeowners and professionals alike. H&D Chesapeake Views is published bi-annually and showcases fine home design and luxury living in and around the Chesapeake Bay.

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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