It all started when an architecture student landed a summer internship in a home-based firm overlooking scenic Lake Barcroft. Among the perks were lunchtime jaunts on the boss’s boat. Enthralled by the Falls Church community where eclectic houses rim the sprawling reservoir, the young architect vowed that he too would live there someday.

More than 30 years later, he and his wife, also an architect, decided the time had come to sell their Arlington Colonial and build a custom home on Lake Barcroft. When their two sons left for college, they asked a real estate agent to keep an eye on potential properties—and finally, a gem popped up.

The sloped, wooded parcel just shy of an acre enjoyed a dramatic vista of the lake and came with its own dock. The duo acquired it with plans to overhaul the outdated, 1960s-era ranch-style house on site. “Three additions made it look almost like an army barracks,” recalls the husband. Small, closed-in rooms and a kitchen that faced the street rather than the lake did little to endear them.

The new owners—he works in healthcare design and she in museums—selected MCDStudio to spearhead the redo. Principal architects Matthew McDonald and Jennifer Verbeke were excited to take on the challenge—especially for two fellow architects.

Their clients envisioned a modern, airy retreat with lake views from every possible room. Ensuite bedrooms for both sons, a guest room and a screened porch were also on the list, along with a ground-level bedroom planned so they could eventually age in place.

“When we first walked the site,” McDonald remembers, “we anticipated working with the existing house. But as we started going through the options, the scope grew organically.” Ultimately, the team decided to preserve the foundation and three of the walk-out basement’s walls, but otherwise start from scratch.

The generous site allowed them to expand the footprint in strategic spots. “The plan became more linear because we had the luxury to fan it out and create almost an amphitheater-like lookout toward the lake,” Verbeke notes.

A spirited dialogue began as she and McDonald collaborated with the architect-clients. “We had a lot of studies flying among the four of us,” says Verbeke. Ultimately, they landed on a two-story scheme that revolves around a double-height foyer. A sculptural staircase with a built-in bench lies to the left of the entry while an ensuite bedroom (currently occupied by the husband’s mother) is situated to the right.

The entry hall extends on axis to soaring windows overlooking the lake. In the glassy rear of the home, an open dining area and kitchen unfold, as well as a deck and screened porch. Added on at an angle along the left elevation, a garage and family room were positioned to minimize the home’s mass from the front and capture optimal lake views in the family room. A new butler’s pantry and mudroom provide extra utility and storage.

On the new second level, a bridge connects the sons’ ensuite quarters and the owners’ bedroom; all three enjoy water vistas. A guest room, media and game rooms and a second mudroom occupy the lower level, along with the wife’s studio. At 6,552 square feet including the garage, the project doubled the size of the original abode.

With clean lines and simple forms, the exterior takes cues from the original home’s mid-century roots. Low-maintenance Nichiha panels clad the façade; black-framed Weather Shield windows and doors add contrast.
Inside, Falls Church designer Karen Sasaki configured the kitchen and curated finishes, lighting and furniture. “I went for a clean, uncluttered look, influenced by the Mid-Century Modern aesthetic of the neighborhood,” she explains. In the family room, custom walnut built-ins detail a striking fireplace wall. And in the kitchen, a blue, hand-fired backsplash by Sonoma Tilemakers echoes the shimmery lake below.
Thrilled with their waterfront perch, the owners are enjoying a new connection to nature. “We see bald eagles, osprey, Canada geese and herons,” marvels the husband. “Every night, I go out on our bedroom balcony and just take a breath.”

DRAWING BOARD

Q&A with MCDStudio architects

How do you help clients decide whether to renovate or start anew?
Matt McDonald: The decision often comes down to a cost-benefit for the client. Unless owners are dead-set on a new house, we usually begin by planning to renovate. In some jurisdictions, renovation will allow you a larger project because if you start anew you can’t build as much on the lot.

What factors drive window and door selections on homes with lots of glass?
Jennifer Verbeke: Energy-efficient windows are a baseline for us; we’re not going to look at products that don’t get that right. In addition, we try to select manufacturers whose components look like they all came from the same place. We make sure, for example, that the widths and styles of the window and door frames are all related.

What are best practices when designing a screened porch?
Matt McDonald: Choose a spot that’s easily accessible from the main house. Incorporating ceiling fans and/or heaters will extend the amount of time you can use a porch in the DC area. Also, be sure to install a screen under the structure to prevent mosquitoes from flying up through the deck boards.