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Capturing natural light went into the design of the main living area--and the whole house, for that matter.
Windows, both large and small, were designed to be of the same scale, for a consistent look at the Lake Anna home's front entrance.
The rear of the home is designed to take in Lake Anna views at every level.
The screened-in porch is located at the end of the house so it doesn't block light or lake views.
The new home's kitchen welcomes an abundance of natural light. The floor and countertops have rustic hues.
The design provides a sight line from one end of the home to the other. |
BY RICHARD AMRHINE
When their older son left home in New Jersey for college at James Madison University, Joe Radinovic and Becky Hyde decided to do some exploring in Virginia with an eye toward relocation and retirement.
Like their son Bennett, who had fallen in love with JMU at first sight, the couple experienced the same feeling when they discovered Lake Anna.
Hyde explained that while loving the lake was easy, the process became a bit more challenging after that.
"We started looking, and if the lot was good, the house on it was old," she said, "and nothing we found really said 'lake.'"
They decided to look for a lot, and in Louisa County, down Kentucky Springs Road in Mill Run subdivision, they found the perfect spot. Mill Run is in the early stages of development so there were several lots to choose from.
Then they looked at house designs, but none really seemed to work. So they searched for an architect and found Bill Tucker, a Fredericksburg architect whose experience includes lakefront homes. They settled on a design and contracted with builder Terry Hale of N.E. Hale Contracting in Orange.
"It was all about the partnership between Bill and Terry," she said. "It was wonderfully painless."
Hyde said something she especially wanted was to be able to open the front door and look through the house to the lake. Her wish came true. Another cherished sight line runs the full width of the house, from the end of one wing to the other.
DOWN TO BUSINESS
Tucker said his challenge was to create a design that fit both the setting and the lot.
"We wanted to take advantage of the lot as much as we could," said Tucker. "They wanted a lakeside house, not a house that might have been plucked from suburbia and put next to a lake."
Tucker said the resulting design filled the bill in several ways. It's a two-story with a walkout basement that provides lake views at each level. Exaggerated overhangs help shade the house, and incorporate exposed "rafter tails" rather than typical vented soffits.
"In a setting like this you want to spread the house out to take full advantage," he said.
Setback requirements were met to the letter, and the house touches those boundaries at three points. But there is a nice backyard that serves as a buffer between the house and the lake, with riprap and bulkhead at the lake's edge.
Tucker said the couple also wanted the look of the house to fit its surroundings--somewhat rustic but not at all like a cabin. That's accomplished with a faux-stone base, brown siding, beige trim and a brown roof.
Tucker described it as a vernacular design--a traditional look that is built to reflect the setting in which it exists.
While the front is that of an attractive two-story home with wings to each side and nestled on its wooded lot, the rear, with three stories, porches and plenty of windows, has "lake house" written all over it.
Designed and built separately, but in harmony with the house, is a dock and boathouse with a pair of boat lifts at the lakefront. In a private location to the side of the house is an outdoor shower.
THE INSIDE STORY
The interior of the house was designed to make the most of natural light as well as its lake location. The main level features a large, two-story family room with clerestory windows near the ceiling. The clerestory dormers and other architectural touches lend visual interest to the vaulted ceiling. Large windows facing the lake provide panoramic views.
Separated from the family room but still part of the main living area is the handsome island kitchen. The stainless-steel appliances, custom-designed granite countertops and range hood combine traditional and contemporary looks. With a short backsplash and lake-view windows at the sinks, doing the dishes is destined to be a pleasant experience.
A porch extends across the back of the house at the main level, with a screened portion at a far end to avoid blocking light or lake views. The exterior wall within the porch uses a "board and batten" configuration that's more inviting than simply continuing the siding that's on the rest of the house.
Beyond the kitchen is a formal dining room and then a side entry area with a laundry room.
At the opposite end is a the master suite with his-and-hers closets and a heated ceramic tile bathroom floor. Just across the hall is a home office with its own bathroom that could be an extra bedroom.
A key part of the design is the comfortable in-law suite upstairs.
The lower level serves several purposes. There's a main recreation and media area with its own kitchenette, and a bedroom with its own bathroom in each wing. One of the wings also serves as the "wet area" with a tile floor that welcomes folks coming in from a day on the lake. On that hallway is also a workshop and a storage area.
The house uses a combination of wide-plank hardwood, tile and stained concrete floors that contribute to the casually rustic appearance.
Altogether, there are 4,800 square feet of finished space on the three levels. There's also an oversized two-car garage. The project took about 10 months to complete.
The couple is now in the process of furnishing and decorating their new home. They already have a sign over the family room mantel with a command that's sure to be followed. It says: "Go Jump in the Lake."
Richard Amrhine: 540/374-5406
Email: ramrhine@freelancestar.com
