Family room design

Family room design

Located in the traditional way home, stands as a cement structure a home invite around yet retain its authenticity. The house tells the story of the designer desire to connect with roots in West Texas and New Mexico, and its direct inspiration: a trip to Napa Valley, which gave him a sense of architectural interest.

But before the trip to Napa, before the vision of the house, Cavin-Winfrey and her husband bought a house with the purpose of renovating and flipping light. A "rambler go bad" as he describes it, the house is a mishmash of design and period. According to Cavin-Winfrey, they bought to light. "We are from outside the West and the light is really important to us. You just do not get the same light in the structure here. This house has 11 skylights!"

The skylights are fixed, but they're probably the only remnants of the previous incarnation of the house. At the time the couple moved with their two children, the real estate market was drunk and they realize that they "were there for the long term." They made some minor upgrades and then began to fall in love with the environment and property. Six years later, they started renovations that will transform the 3500 square foot house into a dream home Cavin-Winfrey always wanted.

Today, the entrance leads into the spacious living room-only as an unfinished home. Foyer initially led directly back to the kitchen, but the Cavin-Winfrey closed the opening to create privacy for the rear of the house.

The foyer is also open to research. "This is a poorly designed kit room with glass ceiling and glass walls overlooking the front yard," Cavin-Winfrey recalled. "We never used it." They replaced the glass with concrete ceilings and walls framed windows, adding an open shelf between the study and living room to admit light. A special table to accommodate an abundance of elm when entertaining couples, but also a place where designers are working and studying their children. "It's a multi-functional space," he said. "I preach to my clients about 100 percent utilization is not a big house but every square inch is used .." For example, pocket doors have been installed throughout to get a space that can be used.

A spacious master suite on the ground floor offers a couples retreat, quiet neutral. Cavin-Winfrey designed under-sink cabinets from reclaimed wood rough for bathing, juxtaposed with traditional cabinets and marble countertops and floors Moonstone. This space is "a mixture of sleek and organic characteristics of who we are," he said. "Our simple roots coupled with our urban setting."

Family room with vaulted ceiling and near floor to ceiling windows overlooking the backyard which will soon house a swimming pool and terrace. A palette of soft, neutral to make the space inviting while grasscloth on the walls and ceiling adds texture.

Previously a chef with a degree from the Culinary Institute of America, Cavin-Winfrey have strong opinions on the design of her kitchen, to the use of separate refrigerators for milk, which is "soluble flavors from other foods," he explained. The kitchen was repeated from the kitchen kitchenette and powder room, it balances modern and traditional elements with clean-lined closets, Wood-Mode gray finish striae and Umber glaze that makes the gray of gloomy feelings. Countertops and integrated sinks shine granite Mrs. Pearl complete the look. An adjacent pantry servants including wardrobe, beverage refrigerator and full bath. Mudroom entry from the garage now contains an organized drawer and wall cabinets for storing wrapping paper and craft.

Staircase separates the kitchen from the dining room (formerly the fifth bedroom house), where three tables custom side window glass is coated with a bench, a restaurant-style; Cavin-Winfrey pushing them together to entertain. Oak wood floors throughout keep things light but elegant.

Upstairs, the couple's children, nine and 11, enjoy running the place, with pleasant bedrooms and meeting rooms with TV. Two small bathrooms have been converted into one large one, with slate walls organic and Corian counters destroyed.

Guests compact is another highlight, beds boast a built-in foot to foot along one wall with storage drawers underneath. Vibrant, colorful fabrics in a strange pattern by Cowtan & Tout on both walls and windows lend his single room, a comfortable aspect.

"This house is sort of synonymous with the structure in Napa," said Cavin-Winfrey. "Even to my parapet wall designed to add visual appeal at the front of the [façade]." He added, "It's been a long road but I finally fell in love with my house."

Lydia Cutter is a photographer McLean, Virginia-based.

ARCHITECTURAL RENOVATION: Christine LEONARD, AIA, Architecture Made LLC, Alexandria, Virginia. INTERIOR DESIGN: SHAZALYNN Cavin-Winfrey, SCW Interiors, Alexandria, Virginia. RENOVATION CONTRACTOR: GREG BUTENHOFF, Butenhoff Construction, Inc., Springfield, Virginia.