On a sylvan property in Sparks Glencoe, Maryland, bordering woods create a verdant cocoon, while a neighbor’s cattle graze off to one side. Amid such surroundings, it’s easy to forget that the city of Baltimore is only a stone’s throw away. And that was the whole idea when designer Stephanie Bradshaw and her partner, builder Brett Bernard, chose the one-and-a-half-acre parcel as the site for the custom hilltop home they now share with their eight-year-old son, Dallas.

“We were living in Baltimore but really wanted more space and quiet,” reveals Bradshaw. “We wanted a place where Dallas would feel safe, where we could create memories with friends and family, and where we’d be very connected with nature.”

Indeed, nature served as a muse every step of the way as the pair conjured their new nest, starting with the architectural style. “‘Modern Mountain’ was the look we were going for,” the designer explains. “We wanted the house to be part of the landscape and to feel very grounded.” Fiber-cement siding painted dark gray went a long way; warm cedar accents reinforce the alpine aesthetic. Bernard, who now operates his construction company from the basement of the property, oversaw the building process.

When it came to the home’s function and flow, the couple envisioned designated spaces rather than open ones. They asked architect Chester Bartels to synthesize their ideas and develop a blueprint. (Then a managing principal of a Missouri firm, he has since relocated and launched Steam Collaborative LLC, with offices in Annapolis and Alexandria.)

The 7,000-square-foot house consists of three volumes that form a horseshoe in the back. The main living core is flanked by the primary-suite wing on one end and the garage, with Bradshaw’s design studio above, on the other. On the first floor, a hallway with a series of parading arches stretches across the rear of the house, connecting the foyer to the kitchen/breakfast nook, dining room, great room and primary suite. Upstairs, Dallas’ bedroom and a guest room share a Jack-and-Jill bath. A playroom joins Bernard’s office/workshop on the lower level.

Sizable stretches of glass throughout capture the natural splendor outside. In the great room, a custom wall of windows follows the 25-foot pitch of the ceiling and lends a conservatory feel. It intentionally centers on existing oak and cherry trees. In fact, this desired view dictated the precise building location. “We positioned the house exactly in this spot so we would get the line of these trees coming this way through the window,” explains Bradshaw, replicating the graceful arc of the branches with her arm.

Along the way, the owners sought both to preserve and improve their scenic surroundings. They collaborated with landscape architect Kevin Gaughan to develop a master plan and create a four-season garden that would lean heavily on native perennials and grasses. “The site is gorgeous, so the key was to let nature be nature,” explains Gaughan. “We wanted the plantings to feel wild, but at the same time to be curated. There was a lot of discussion about forms, textures and colors that spoke to Stephanie’s aesthetic.”

Inside, the designer also stayed true to her style. She kept the architectural details spare, eschewing crown moldings and window casings for a cleaner look. “My vibe is a little more California than Maryland,” she acknowledges.

Nature, once again, came into play as Bradshaw selected finishes and furnishings. “Everything I chose—every surface, shape, fabric and piece of art—is meant to enhance, not fight with, what’s happening outside,” she affirms. For instance, she notes, the kitchen’s textured backsplash mimics tree bark.

In her thoughtful schemes, she mixed new with vintage, modern with organic. “I wanted the house to feel designed, elevated and sophisticated but also very approachable,” she reveals. A rattan chandelier hangs over the breakfast area’s mid-century-style, white-laminate table from IKEA. The dining room’s Wishbone chairs surround a vintage table that made the move from Bradshaw’s previous office. That space’s French doors open onto a covered porch that extends the entertaining area for the couple who host regular soirées.

The designer often channels a sophisticated-yet-not-stuffy spirit for client projects as well. Celebrating nature is a frequent through line. “A lot of our work is about bringing the outside in,” she discloses. “We design usable spaces for families, where the parents can be grown-ups and entertain, but there’s nothing too precious that the kids can’t jump on.”

Bradshaw started her namesake firm in 2008. She originally focused on wedding and event planning, while completing interior design projects on the side. In 2019, the entrepreneur decided to pivot to full-service interiors. Today, another side of her business provides brand development to commercial clients.

No doubt, Bradshaw and Bernard made an incomparable team as they crafted their new abode. Mulling over a suitable moniker for it, they ultimately landed on Wild Pines. The name nods to evergreens that line the property and encapsulates the duo’s dreams for Dallas’ childhood home—and their own adult roost. “It suggests a sense of adventure,” notes the designer, “but also feels strong and sturdy.”

The completed home and garden realize those dreams, providing the calm and contentment the couple was after. “None of it is lost on me,” says Bradshaw. “I’m so grateful for all of it.”