THIS WHOLE-HOUSE RENOVATION is a prime example of how simple yet precise gestures can bring clarity to chaos. An oversized garage addition had left the house off-balance, but a new porch with French doors, new dormers on the gambrel roof, and a cladding of cedar shingles added both functional space and curb appeal. “It’s a classic small-town America front porch neighborhood,” says architect Anthony Barnes. “The porch and French doors give the living room more generosity, so the central mass has primacy over the wing.”
Inside, the architects removed walls to create a large gathering area, updated all the surfaces, and added built-ins, including sleek, maritime-style daybeds that transformed the attic into a magical play area for kids. In back, an expanded pool deck, covered porch, and pergola tie the exterior elements together. “There’s something romantic about pergolas and porches that go right up to the pool,” Barnes adds. “It says the good life is being lived around here.”
Category: Whole-house makeover or significant addition; Entrant/Architect: Barnes Vanze Architects, Washington; Builder: Hoenen and Mitchell, Lewes, Del.; Interior designer: Jodi B. Macklin Interior Design, Chevy Chase, Md.
