OFFICE SPACE
While building a modern dwelling in McLean, Peterson and Collins builders answered a call for a second-floor home office—”a sanctuary,” says founding partner Ted Peterson. The team fabricated bookshelves that mimic the grid of the room’s expansive window wall. “We’re seeing home offices big enough for an L-shaped desk with a couple of monitors, or a statement desk in the middle of the room,” he observes. “It’s a social environment; everything is clean and uncluttered.” Architecture: Thomson & Cooke Architects. Interior Design: M.S. Vicas Interiors.
BY THE BOTTLE
A wine cellar crafted by Artisan Builders for a 2020 show house in McLean was elevated by a modern aesthetic and innovative storage design. “The bottles were stacked on metal spikes that gave the impression of wall art,” recalls Stephen Yeonas, a partner at Artisan. “It was a forward concept by designer Olvia Demetriou to illustrate both function and visual display.” Other common requests he hears from oenophile clients, he adds, are “proper conditioning and a bit of sizzle.” Architecture: Harrison Design. Interior Design: HapstakDemetriou+.
GLASS HOUSE
Most high-end custom homes today incorporate connected and covered outdoor spaces that can be enjoyed all year round, according to Chris Neumann of Bayview Builders. The company recently completed a modern, eco-friendly home on the Magothy River in Arnold, Maryland, enveloped in floor-to-ceiling glass. Pictured here, a five-panel, 10-foot-tall sliding-door system opens out from the kitchen to a screened porch. “Heaters,” says Neumann, “help extend livability into multiple seasons.” Architecture: Bohl Architects. Interior Design: Don Wooters.
TEE TIME
A golf simulator was just one sports amenity Pyramid Builders recently integrated on the lower level of a custom abode in Annapolis—along with a shuffleboard court and indoor resistance pool. “The client wanted the golf zone to be social, with a bar nearby for watching games,” relates Pyramid president Bret Anderson. “The home-fitness trend reflects a desire to incorporate true entertainment into the design and details of a home.” Architecture: Patrick D. Jarosinski & Associates. Interior Design: Christy Brown Interior Design.
SMALL WONDER
Horizon Builders delivered on character when constructing a potting shed as part of a comprehensive McLean project. Cedar shingles, a slate roof and charming window details reflect the main house—with a dose of playful color. “Outbuildings are no longer an afterthought but an extension of the main home and a way for clients to express themselves,” says Horizon vice president Brad Pryor. These satellite structures, he notes, are often devoted to offices, gyms, guest quarters and more. Architecture: Harrison Design. Landscape Architecture: Arentz Landscape Architects LLC.