“I think a lot of interior design seems inaccessible to people, as they associate it with extensive, expensive renovations and bespoke luxury items,” interior designer Becky Wetzler says. “We can do that. But we also love to show clients how we can put their personal stamp on their homes with elements like wallpaper, paint and furnishings and without having to remodel.” That was the case for this Bethesda, Maryland, family of six and the spec house it had recently moved into.
The house had lovely millwork, including coffered ceilings, wainscoting, crown moldings and tall baseboards. The kitchen and bathrooms were up to date and in good shape — remodeling them would have been a waste of money and materials. But the blank slate of a home lacked personality and style that reflected the family’s Southern roots and love of coastal settings. Wetzler and her team listened carefully to the homeowners’ wants and needs. Accordingly, they created a house made for quality family time with coastal-inspired style and hints of Southern preppy flair.
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This contemporary Portsmouth, Rhode Island, home sits atop helical piers, with a ground-level garage/indoor-outdoor living space and a first floor 12 feet above ground level. This elevation allows for sweeping views of Mount Hope Bay from the main living areas. But the purpose was, in fact, to keep the home safe from floods. When expecting a storm, the homeowners open the garage doors. If floodwater enters and applies pressure to the walls, they simply detach thanks to special fasteners.
Designed by architectural firm ZeroEnergy Design, the L-shaped home has its common areas in the gable-roofed horizontal section on the left and its kitchen, bedroom and office spaces in the vertical shed-roofed section on the right. Also on the right, behind a three-story glass wall, is an elevator wrapped by a staircase.
Airtight construction, continuous insulation and triple-pane windows create a tight envelope. Solar panels on the shed roof provide about the same amount of energy as the homeowners consume.
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