Shingular sensation
Becker Morgan Group’s goal for this 6,000-square-foot shingle-style charmer was to create a stylish and functional family beach retreat. The three-story home consists of several bedroom suites for family and guests, orchestrated in an inverted floor plan. The main living level on the top floor provides beautiful views of the dunes, beach and ocean from northeast to southeast, and the street-facing balcony on the west side provides a special sunset experience. A nautical blue palette, framed in crisp white trim, speaks to the home’s location. Large picture windows with custom muntin designs, eyebrow windows, brackets and several French doors reinforce the shingle vernacular. A carefully detailed facade provides an interesting geometry that is articulated to reduce the scale and presence of a large home on a small site.
A suite site
Renovation of this home on the beach in Bethany, by Scott Edmonston Architecture Studio, included improving facades to create a better street presence and to ensure ocean views from the living spaces. Edmonston added two oceanfront master suites so the owners and their married children would each have private getaways. To make the home a net-zero energy-use building, the insulation, lighting and HVAC systems were upgraded, and a solar array was added to the existing roof. To further reduce the environmental impact, the original house was deconstructed and salvaged for reuse. (Contributors include interior designer Karen Shapiro and Ted Stephens of Morning Star Construction. Photo by Scott Nathan.)
Restful re-tweet
The Perch House by architect Ed Rahme is a single-family home on a quarter-acre site. Discussing their desires, the owners stated that they “wanted to wake up with the birds.” The design evolved around the story of a human perch in the branches of the trees with the bird’s perches as neighbors. Though the house is situated in a neighborhood of 50-foot wide lots, siting is such that, from the inside, the house feels isolated. Windows were positioned to minimize views to and from the neighboring houses. (Contributors include structural engineer Steve Goughenour. Photo by Judy Davis.)
Custom connections
This transitional custom home was built for the co-owner of Dewson Construction Company for his family. The home, consisting of three connected structures, was very carefully planned and designed. The U-shaped design, developed by Period Architecture, fits the family’s lifestyle perfectly, with three distinct living spaces: family living, family playing and family working. It is the culmination of the owner’s 40-plus years of experience as a homebuilder.
Casual cool
This twin home in The Highlands neighborhood of Wilmington was designed with the casual lifestyle of its young family in mind. They needed additional storage in every room and craved an open, airy feel that was achieved with a natural palette. Timeless Design by Kate FitzGerald-Wilks carved out an entryway in the living room and created a simple conversation area. Beyond the dining room is a family room with beautiful garden views, where FitzGerald-Wilks designed two areas that satisfy different needs in one space. On one side, a sectional and ottoman provide a comfortable space for watching a large television housed in custom built-in cabinets. On the other, a home office was created with a mirrored built-in that contains file drawers and bookcases. A floating table serves as a desk. The neutral walls and blue-green fabrics link the room to the rest of the house and encourages a view of the garden.
Open house
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When the clients were trying to decide if they would buy a dated ranch-style home near Wilmington, they invited architect Gardner Fox on a walk-through. The clients thought the home was small and dark, and it lacked the entertaining space they wanted, but they loved the 3-acre property. After the sale was complete, the architect had the home stripped to the basement, chimney and studs so the floor plan could be modified to accommodate 21st-century life. The new kitchen opens to a breakfast room and family room, while a formal living room opens to a grand foyer and dining room. To maximize natural light, the first floor incorporates an abundance of windows, 10-foot ceilings and French doors that open to a flagstone patio that spans the full length of the home. The addition of a second-floor includes four bedrooms with dedicated bathrooms. The master suite includes an office, two walk-in closets and a master bath. The home’s stone exterior complements the bucolic setting and architecture of surrounding homes.
