Filtering by Category: Contemporary

Modern Shepherdstown weekend home

October 19, 2015 / Tracy Moller

The Shepherdstown weekend home of a DC couple, burned down one weekend two winters ago. Fortunately nobody was hurt. The owners decided to rebuild a modern home on a different portion of the lot, which would provide a nicer view. A family friend came up with a basic floor plan but had little knowledge of building codes or construction techniques. I was given her conceptual drawings by the builder, Steve Harris, and had to figure out how to actually design the building to get the interior spaces, and the outdoor aesthetic, that the homeowners wanted.

Many of the design decisions here (such as the multiple columns inside, the window and door sizes and locations, the kitchen layout, and the window in the chimney), were made by the family friend. Sometimes my role in the project process is more practical, less creative -- in this job I was the person who came up with solutions to design problems that didn't meet building codes. Ultimately if the homeowners are happy then I did my job correctly. And these homeowners are very happy with the final product. They spend lots of time on the upper deck which overlooks the slope toward the tennis courts and the Potomac River beyond.

categories / One Story, Contemporary
tags / weekend house, cedar, cathedral ceiling, deck

Mission Ridge cliffside home with tower

March 26, 2014 / Tracy Moller

Every time these clients sent me new photos of their custom home under construction on the Shenandoah I gave myself a mental high-five. I designed this home based on two pictures of timber-framed homes they liked, plus a very conceptual floor plan sketch they'd done just to figure out which rooms were adjacent to each other. It's come together beautifully and I will be adding more "after" photos after I see it for myself, all furnished and decorated. Rustic elegance.

"During" photos, spanning a year of construction

(Click on any photo to begin a full-sized slideshow)

The view from Mission Ridge Drive as one approaches the house.

To enjoy the river view, the rear of the home will feature lots of glass at the Great Room; a large deck (not yet shown); French doors at the walkout basement; rear facing bay windows in the basement guest room, dining banquette, and master bedroom; and a balcony at the third floor tower.

Check out these timber brackets, assembled by the builder in his shop per structural engineer Alicia McCormick's specifications to me. Detailed drawings of these brackets and their connections to the wall were critical.

The view from the catwalk, which looks down into the Great Room on one side and into the Foyer and open staircase (all the way to the basement) on the other.

The garage has been added and the framers are nearly finished setting the attic trusses. An in-law suite is tucked within them.

Timber-framed homes are expensive, but these clients wanted to duplicate this look on a budget. I designed these timber accents for a few of the house gables. Michael Taylor built them in his shop, along with those load-bearing brackets you saw on the tower, for the balcony. Here are their halves, ready for hanging.

Notice how you will be able to see the view beyond even as you're entering the front door.

The fiber-cement siding is being hung. Note: this is only a primed material, and will be painted later.

Waiting on the garage doors to make the building lockable.

Check out the exposed wood ceiling of the front porch.

Timber-framed side porch is on! This will be screened, with a door leading out to the rear deck.

Panoramic photo taken from the catwalk. You can see decorative niches framed into the solid wall to your left, and curved windows in the wall to your right. The niches are mirror images of the windows opposite.

Now it's getting exciting! Standing seam metal has been installed, siding is being painted, and stone is being laid.

The recessed niches will be finished with salvaged wood.

Faux timber trusses installed against the sloped ceiling, and centered on the fireplace.

Gas fireplace in the corner of the master bedroom.

A few "after" photos (more to come)

Featured

categories / Two-Story, Contemporary
tags / Cathedral Ceiling, In-law suite, Tower, Timber framing, Hardiplank, Pergola, Scissors trusses, Mission Ridge

Prairie style contemporary

August 31, 2013 / Tracy Moller

Arts and Crafts is my favorite architectural style. Same goes for these clients. They found a photo in a magazine of a home very similar to this one and asked me to use it as a basis for the design. Their finish material selections were perfect, and whenever I drive down Route 67 south of Boonsboro I always look over at their home, on a ridge to my right, and smile.

categories / Two-Story, Contemporary
tags / Prairie, Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired, Two-story, Cedar, Prow, Prairie style contemporary

Cacapon River Two-Story

August 26, 2013 / Tracy Moller

A custom home in the woods overlooking the Cacapon River, designed for an outdoorsy couple and their dog, carefully located to take advantage of the natural grade for the basement level garage. In addition, it was oriented on the site for maximum enjoyment of the river views from the living area, the master bed, and even the master bathroom's tub.

categories / Two-Story, Contemporary
tags / Waterfront, Cathedral ceiling, Cacapon River two story