Well-built, beautifully-designed houses contribute incalculably to an individual’s or family’s overall well being. Functional spaces, low maintenance exteriors, energy-efficient and sustainable construction make being at home a pleasure and allow time for more important things like kids’ soccer games, dinner parties with neighborhood friends, or weekend getaways. Of course, the finest homes are a getaway in and of themselves. The top custom builders in the Maryland-National Capitol region understand that they are constructing more than houses, they are helping create a way of life, a place of respite, for each and every client. Each year, the Maryland-National Capital Building Industry Association (MNCBIA) and ChesapeakeHome recognize the best of their efforts. Once again, we are pleased to showcase the best of the best homes throughout the region. For full coverage of all the winners, please visit the awards gallery on ChesapeakeHome.com.
BELL BUILDERS
CUSTOM ADDITION OVER 2,000 SQ. FT., GOLD
Architect: Scott Spencer
Photography: Nadine Levin
To create an environment that evokes the iconic equestrian lifestyle of the American West but remains rooted in rural suburban Maryland, Bell Builders transformed the exterior of this Poolesville home adding new siding, cornice details, stone work, and a large custom porch constructed of hand-peeled, rough-hewn Montana timbers felled especially for the project. As the home’s most distinctive feature, it was important the porch be executed perfectly. In doing so, Bell Builders balanced sophisticated, cutting edge construction techniques with time-honored practices as old as the region’s earliest colonial cabins.
BROOKS RUN BUIILDERS
WHOLE HOUSE RENOVATION
(ADAPTIVE RE-USE), GOLD
Photography: Gerald Buckler
Adapted from a 1921 home in historic Leonardtown, the renovation of this funeral home maintains the structure’s residential feel while completely updating it for improved functionality, accessibility, safety, and energy efficiency. To accommodate the extensive interior renovations, an addition, existing landscaping, the garage, most of one side of the structure, and the entire roof needed to be removed. Green improvements to the property include a bio-retention filter that mitigates stormwater run-off, energy-efficient windows, foam insulation for interior and exterior walls as well as under the roof, an Energy Star approved roof, and high-efficiency heat pumps.
SANDY SPRING CLASSIC HOMES
CUSTOM HOME 7,500 TO 12,500 SQ. FT.,GOLD
Architect: Custom Design Concepts
Photography: Stuart Estler
The exterior of this house was inspired by upscale lodges in the Adirondacks and the American West, while inside modern and spa like interiors include a glass waterfall in the foyer, a country kitchen, a master suite with attached yoga studio, and a basement sports court. The three kids’ rooms are also unique: one daughter’s room includes a stage for theatrical performance, the other a doll filled-loft, and the son’s loft area is designed like a fort. Working in concert with their clients, the design and construction team created a contemporary lodge aesthetic, successfully balancing the contrasting stylistic needs of a Zen-rustic cowgirl and a modern city dweller for this new custom home.
ALLIANCE HOMES
CUSTOM HOME 5,000 TO 7,500 SQ. FT., GOLD
Architect: GTM Architects
Photography: Patricia Lake
Modern families need plenty of functional space to live in, and this home delivers. Based on a traditional American foursquare house plan this home blends well into its existing historic neighborhood, while offering an updated interior layout. Inside, an open floor plan includes a large working kitchen, breakfast area, and an expansive family room toward the back of the house, while the more traditional front of the home includes a grand foyer with a flanking dining and living room. Upstairs large bedrooms each with their own bathrooms and walk-in closets offer the homeowners modern conveniences despite the historic location of the house.
MERIDIAN HOMES
CUSTOM HOME OVER 12,500 SQ. FT., GOLD
Architect: Custom Design Concepts
Photography: Bob Narod
Located in the Maryland suburbs of DC, this custom home strikes a comfortable balance between leisure and luxury. The first floor and basement provide such functional and entertainment spaces as a formal dining and living room, a piano alcove, a wine room, an exercise room, a home theater, and more. The highly-crafted home, exhibits meticulous attention to detail—highlights include custom built-ins, crown moldings, cathedral ceilings, and exquisite stone and tile work. Upstairs, children’s private bedrooms link to a loft space via ladders, creating a perfect “tween” getaway. Mom and Dad enjoy a private sitting room with a fireplace and his and her steam showers. Even the family pets were considered—a tiled dog washing room offers the perfect space for clean-up after a romp outside.
CAMBERLEY HOMES
SPECULATIVE HOME OVER
7,500 SQ. FT., GOLD
Architect: Bassenian Lagoni
Photography: Bob Narod
With just over 6,000 square feet of living space, this speculative home balances French country architecture with flowing interior spaces and an eco-friendly, energy-efficient construction. Outside, a stone façade, stone front steps, and double entry doors as well as terraces, porches, and a fountain with waterfall deliver plenty of curb appeal. Inside two powder rooms downstairs, a first floor living area divided into private and entertaining spaces including a library, a solarium, formal dining room, a culinary kitchen, and more present endless possibilities. An elegant blend of old-world style and modern conveniences, this speculative home offers custom details but lets you skip the design process.
LAURENCE CAFRITZ BUILDERS
SPECULATIVE TRANSITIONAL HOME, GOLD
Architect: Sutton Yantis Associates Architects
Photography: Lydia Cutter
Building a new speculative home on the site of an existing tear-down in a densely populated DC-metro area presents the design and construction team with numerous difficult challenges—lot size being foremost. To maximize the shallow corner lot, the design developed around the concept of an “empty nester” client that would not require extensive family spaces. To create as much functional space as possible, the landscape was regraded and the garage was located underground and linked to the first floor via stairs and an elevator. Removing the large garage footprint from the small lot, gave way to an optimal floor plan that prioritized open living spaces and allowed for plenty of natural light.
CHASE BUILDERS
SPECULATIVE HOME 3,500
TO 5,000 SQ. FT., GOLD
Architect: Studio Z Design Concepts, LLC
Photography: 3DR Communications
Built in consideration of today’s active family, this traditional stone and cedar house prioritizes exposure to the private back yard and flexible interior spaces that can evolve with the needs of the homeowners. The modern floor plan creates both “public” and “private” spaces with the more formal living and dining rooms toward the front, while the family room, kitchen and breakfast area open out to a screened porch and the back yard. The exterior of the home is visually well-balanced with a vertical stone tower, a wraparound porch, and a variety of construction materials that create texture and timeless appeal.
THREE BROTHERS LAND CO.
SPECULATIVE TRADITIONAL HOME, GOLD
Architect: Claude C. Lapp, AIA
Photography: Heather Bannister
Keeping up with current housing demands, this environmentally-friendly speculative home lives big in less space. To blend with the existing neighborhood where homeowners spend considerable time socializing in their front yards, this house features a sweeping front patio with plenty of room for outdoor seating. The home is not only eco-friendly it also features low-maintenance windows, copper gutters, and siding. Inside, such details as three-dimensional box molding, a coffered ceiling, lighted cove ceilings, and tiered kitchen cabinetry, granite counters, and a hand-cut slate backsplash in the kitchen, offer custom features in a speculative home.
PARAMOUNT CONSTRUCTION
TRANSITIONAL CUSTOM HOME, GOLD
Photography: Rob Maggin
Designed to fit organically into its natural surroundings, this custom home blends with its wooded setting and offers spectacular forest views from every room. Although the home is essentially planned for single level living, a second floor includes bedrooms and living spaces for guests and grandchildren. On the ground level, an elegant, open floor plan is delineated by such architectural details as built-in shelving and storage surrounding the fireplace. Upstairs bedrooms and a “kid’s family room” provide plenty of space for energetic playtime so that the adult spaces downstairs remain orderly and uncluttered.
ALLIANCE HOMES
PARTIAL HOUSE RENOVATION, GOLD
Photography: Patricia Lake
When an entire renovation project involves just 480 square feet, every inch counts. The existing colonial revival home consisted of many small rooms, and the homeowners were looking for better flow. To create a large, open family room and kitchen as well as a comfortable, casual dining area, Alliance Homes eliminated load-bearing walls and combined several small service rooms. Large, early 19th century barn beams support the structure in lieu of the bearing walls and visually divide the open space into distinct “areas.” Barn siding is used as wainscoting and for built-ins to blend with the rustic beams and combine to suggest that the space was built decades, if not a century, ago.
WARREN BROTHERS CONSTRUCTION
NEW OR REMODELED KITCHEN, GOLD
Architect: Tom Nyein, AIA
Photography: Rex Reed
Inspired by an antique French cabinet, the scheme of this French Country kitchen includes warm, honey-stained oak flooring, buttery yellow walls, creamy glazed cabinetry, beige and brown granite counters, tumbled stone tiles, oil-rubbed bronze hardware, and more. To increase functionality and create the additional needed space for entertaining in the kitchen, Warren Brothers constructed a 10 by 25 foot addition, raised the ceiling height, opened the space to adjoining rooms, and increased storage and counter surfaces. The newly renovated kitchen not only evokes French country style, it offers plenty of room for guests to gather while the homeowner cooks and entertains.
WASHINGTON METROPOLITAN HOMES
TRADITIONAL CUSTOM HOME, GOLD
Architect: Chris Lapp
Photography: Tiffany Albina
This Chevy Chase house is loaded with custom features inside and out. The exterior provides plenty of space for entertaining on a private flagstone patio complete with a built-in stone grill. Highlights of the detailed interior spaces include a walnut inlayed foyer floor, a double sided fireplace in the master suite, a temperature-controlled wine room, an exercise room and media room, custom cabinetry throughout, a secluded home office, a top-line kitchen, and more. To keep the bedrooms uncluttered and relaxing, a unique “brain room” provides computer stations and work storage for the whole family. Similarly a playroom for the kids keeps toys and games all in one spot.
