A large corner lot in Potomac hosts a historic house dating to 1900, though parts of it go back even further: The home’s den was once an original cabin constructed on the property in the early 19th century. Behind the house sat a barn, which at one time accommodated six horses. Over the years, the barn had been altered, suffered a fire and was rebuilt, while its function evolved from stable to studio to most recently a game room. The owners, empty nesters with sons who were graduating college, anticipated the need for an entertaining hub to host family and friends.

“Because it had barely functional plumbing and wasn’t heated or cooled, it wasn’t a good hangout place for gatherings,” relays architect Eric Carle, who was tapped to replace it with a new addition that would connect to the existing garage. On the now-complete exterior, white lap siding visually ties all of the buildings together, while board-and-batten paneling, barn doors and gas lanterns lend a farmhouse vibe. Inside, a soaring double-height space contains a bar, multiple seating areas and a billiards room with an exercise loft upstairs. Interior designer Stacey Saidy, a longtime friend of the family, evoked a traditional English Country aesthetic with rustic finishes and cozy furnishings. Says Saidy, “It’s an open, airy enclave that provides them the flexibility to scale the space for intimate gatherings and large-scale celebrations alike.”

Architecture: Eric Carle, Runningdog Architects, Chevy Chase, Maryland. Renovation Contracting: Gibson Homes, LLC, Bethesda, Maryland. Interior Design: Stacey Saidy, Bethesda, Maryland. Landscape Design: Caroline Ervin Landscape Design, Washington DC. Automation: A.B.E. Networks, Rockville, Maryland. Text: Michelle Brunner. Photography: Kaan Ozturk.