“We couldn’t picture a more bucolic setting for a new home. It is nestled on a wooded hilltop lot off a private road, with a running stream on the lower property,” says interior designer Kirsten Kaplan of Haus Interior Design, who collaborated on this seven-bedroom, 11,953-square-foot house with her senior designers, Sarah Cummings and Becky Wetzler, and custom home builder Roger Ekbatani of CRT Builders.
The homeowners — a husband and wife with three children — had a vision for how and where they wanted to raise their family. Previously, they saw a speculative house by Ekbatani that they loved, but they wanted more privacy than that lot afforded. “We wanted enough space to accommodate our growing family on a large enough lot to ensure privacy,” says the husband.
In 2017, they found the right 5-acre lot and retained their “dream team” to design and build their “forever home.” On the wide lot, the builder constructed a European-style country home of painted brick and natural stone, with contrasting red-brick detailing around the mix of arched and linear windows, along with copper accents.
“The aesthetic direction was warm and welcoming, yet grand,” says Kaplan of the project. “We all wanted the house to feel like it had always been there and to be able to patina over time.”
From the foyer, with its groin-vaulted brick ceiling, to the natural stone wall that defines the rectilinear living room on the open floor plan, the house is full of textural surprises. These natural finishes repeat throughout the home for continuity, while contrasting beautifully with the traditional trim work that includes triple crown moldings. Architectural features such as arches recur as motifs, whether in French doors or in room openings.
“Even though the floor plan is open, the finishes and architectural details keep you in a given space. They allow you to live more intimately, without sacrificing square footage,” says Ekbatani.
Every room has its own character. For example, the dining room features a wall of custom cabinetry and a ceiling covered in a grasscloth, with metallic threads to bounce light. The reception room, off the foyer, showcases a custom banquette nested between built-in bookcases.
“The reception room is interesting. It’s a place for guests to linger upon entering the home but also doubles up for overflow dining from the dining room; the table is a flip top,” says Kaplan of the desk that can also be used for tutoring or at-home work as needed.
To find the appropriately scaled furnishings, Kaplan collaborated closely with the homeowners. The palette is warm-toned and mostly neutral, with beiges, tans, and ecrus, as well as touches of olive greens, rust oranges, and slate-to-powder blues.
“None of the interior finishes are bright white or gray, bucking trends. We wanted all of the rooms to feel a bit sun-drenched and very soft to complement the architecture — no crisp tones or hard edges,” says Kaplan.
The furnishings needed to withstand the use of three children and lots of houseguests. Hand-knotted wool carpets, stain-resistant upholstery on transitional sofas and armchairs, leather accents and nailhead trim, and wrought iron light fixtures meld to create a comfortable and inviting home.
“Our approach was grandeur without pretention, warmth and rusticity paired with elegance and refinement,” says Kaplan.
In the living room, which features double arched French doors and a stone wall, Kaplan created two seating arrangements. One faces the open kitchen, which was designed with Stephanie Fried of Jack Rosen Custom Kitchens, and the other faces the den.
“The two furniture groupings are conversational by design, but they also interact with either side (kitchen or den) of the open living room,” Kaplan says.
Upstairs, the main bedroom features a steel-and-wood four-poster bed set against another stone feature wall and timbered tray ceiling. Night chests make the large room cozy. The watercolor-patterned carpet, linen curtains, and custom pillows, including velvet ones with contrast piping, speak of understated luxury. This duality is featured throughout the house.
“It’s been a wonderful home for us,” says the husband. “We feel like it’s our own private cocoon. Our children cherish the space and its surrounding nature. They take their friends down to the stream and spend hours in the woods. That alone warms our hearts.”
Feature image by Robert Radifera for Stylish Productions
This story originally ran in our May issue. For more stories like this, subscribe to Northern Virginia Magazine.
