When designing an 8,000-square-foot home tucked away in a quiet enclave of Vienna, Sergio and Cecilia Hazou, owners of LUKA Design & Build, allowed their creativity to run wild.
But, as the project came together, the future homeowners stood nearby and closely watched. With the home’s massive scale, they weren’t sure exactly what to expect. It would take seeing the modern new build in its final iteration before they felt confident making their move.
“The clients followed the evolution of the design [and] loved the fusion of materials and ideas we were creating, but they weren’t completely ready to commit early on. They needed to see the full vision realized. They needed to see the home come to life from start to finish,” says Cecilia, the head of design.
Indoor and Outdoor Flow
Inspired by the natural light, Cecilia and Sergio’s top priority was creating a strong indoor-outdoor connection to infuse a sense of life into the home’s spaces. They used large openings, framed sightlines, and abundant windows as focal points to channel the flow of light, balanced with warm-toned, natural wood.
“Our goal was to create an earthy, calming palette with a signature LUKA touch — soft, natural, and connected to the environment outside,” says Cecilia.
The custom home spans six bedrooms, six full bathrooms, and two half baths on three window-filled levels, with each living space designed to flow organically to the next. In a house that’s intentionally open and soaring, it can be difficult to create a human scale and make a space feel approachable. But LUKA did by channeling a natural, organic look that is instantly comforting. Warm wood and layered lighting were essential components.
“The palette plays a huge role here,” says Cecilia. “We used earthy tones — mainly creamy whites with darker accents — so the transition from outdoors to indoors feels smooth and natural. Nothing feels stark or disconnected.”
In the kitchen, they created a chef’s dream with Sub-Zero and Wolf appliances, two islands (one for utility and one for hosting), dramatic lighting, and a sense of unity with the outdoors. The coffered ceiling and wood cabinetry are integrated in an open layout with both the living room and the dining room, while an unexpected peek-through gas fireplace gives the living room definition.
“We wanted a double-sided fireplace that could serve as a visual divider between the family room and the game area. It creates a virtual limit without closing the spaces off,” says Sergio, head of construction.
Adding Architectural Moments
Giving the dining room a statement-making moment was also a priority. The couple added stone behind the built-ins to introduce texture and a grounded element. “To enhance that effect, we left the back of the shelving untouched and installed the shelves only on the sides. This allowed us to add LED lighting behind them, softly illuminating the stone and highlighting its texture,” says Sergio.
In the primary bedroom, the couple added a dropped ceiling in the center to create intimacy. A chandelier and soothing tones add to the tranquil feeling within the bedroom, and a luxurious attached bathroom features a similar color palette and dropped ceiling.
The staircase connects the entire house, but it does so in contrast to the architecture. “Because the home has so many clean, straight architectural lines, we introduced gentle curves into the staircase to soften the space and add movement,” explains Sergio.
A Light Touch
Throughout each room, light is a key factor. “Lighting is one of the most powerful tools in design, and for us, it’s the final touch that completes an amazing project,” says Cecilia, who focused on sculptural fixtures and architectural lighting to highlight the home’s features, including the textures of wood and stone.
“At night, the home transforms. The lighting is both functional and emotional, giving the home its warmth and personality,” adds Sergio.
That warm, inspiring lighting was all part of the final package that charmed the owners. “Once the home was completed and they walked the finished spaces, everything clicked. The warmth, the architecture, the balance of modern and earthy details — it all resonated with them immediately,” says Cecilia. “This was exactly what they had been waiting for.”
Feature image courtesy Peak Visuals
This story originally ran in our January issue. For more stories like this, subscribe to Northern Virginia Magazine.
