This home was designed for a retired couple in Shepherdstown and their two sweet dogs. The husband is a chef, so there are pocket doors between the formal and informal zones, practical for dinner parties. Main living space is all on the first floor, while guest bedrooms and baths are in the daylight basement. Plentiful sheltered outdoor living space combined with long lines of sight make this home feel much larger than it actually is.
One of my long-time contractor clients bought a piece of canalfront property in Chincoteague and asked me to design a weekend beach house for his family. Although the home is modest, the open floor plan creates a big house feel. We positioned the patio doors and windows to take advantage of the prevailing breezes, and the air conditioning is only needed on the hottest days of mid-summer. The home is constructed on piers due to its proximity to water. A sleeping loft over the right half of the home is furnished dormitory-style, to accommodate visiting relatives. We have stayed in this home for the weekend and wish it were our own!
