Our clients had been eying property on Lake Barcroft in Northern Virginia for some time. When a lake-side lot finally came available they jumped at the chance and purchased a house with the intent to renovate and add on to the house. While both were Architects, neither worked in the residential field and hired us to help create a modern lakeside dream home for them.

Using the existing house as a starting point, we conceived a renovation and addition to expand and modernize the existing house. The goal was to have as many rooms as possible with lake views. The original house had the kitchen at the “front” facing the street, with a large masonry chimney in the center of the house effectively cutting the space in half. The shape of the additions to the home was designed to allow each of the major living spaces on the first floor a view of the lake. The large chimney was removed, and the kitchen was relocated to the back of the house to allow for a lake view through a large folding door opening onto a deck. The dining room, adjacent to the kitchen, opens onto a lakeside screened porch. The new family room was added and angled to focus on the lake as well, with a modern, linear fireplace on the interior wall against the garage.

Guests enter the house at the front door through a two story foyer that provides a direct lake view upon entry. This slot allows for both a visual and a physical separation between the primary suite and the rest of the second floor, with only a bridge across the foyer to connect these spaces. Each of the second floor bedrooms have a lake view, with the Primary Bedroom opening onto a walk-out balcony above the screen porch.

The exterior of the house is clad with Nichiha siding using a combination of both wood look and gray panel siding for ease of maintenance and a modern appeal. The large amount of wood looks siding also blends nicely with the natural surroundings and trees on both this owners’ and neighboring properties. The roofs are a hipped style, reminiscent of prairie style architecture with deep overhangs.

The interior fixtures and furnishings were selected by the Owners, and integrate perfectly with the Architecture.

Photography: Anice Hoachlander

Scroll down for two photos of the pre-renovation house.