They selected a geothermal heating and cooling system, sustainably harvested woods and a metal roof that would last a lifetime. “The relationship of the builder, designer and architect is so imperative,” says Sachs, who was on site daily throughout construction.Īlso important to the Sachses was keeping the project as eco-friendly as possible.
“Lauren’s style is so distinctly hers and she has a keen eye for interior millwork,” Ralston comments.Īrchitect and designer attribute the project’s success to their collaboration from day one. And step-banded panels of walnut wrap the dining room and family room in warmth and texture. Kitchen cabinet doors mimicking weathered driftwood lend a California vibe. Backlit screens in an Eastern motif are built into the stairwell’s limestone walls. In lieu of carpet in the entry floor, inlaid tile mosaics roll out a welcome. “We’ve traveled all over and I am drawn to Moorish and Moroccan design, but I don’t want it to overpower,” she explains. Subtle references to faraway destinations abound. “These were the foundation and I built on them.” “I’m big on details,” says Sachs, pointing out the frameless doors, recessed baseboards and light color palette she selected. Interior architecture leans in a spare direction as well. Says Ralston, “These subtle nuances allow the house to fit into the neighborhood and also distinctly set it apart.” Wood accents enrich the monochromatic planes. The home’s simple volumes are clad in light-gray porcelain tile and stucco, with a dark metal roof and dark window mullions adding crisp contrast. Elements from these images came into play as she honed in on exterior forms and materials. The lower level contains another guest room and a man cave where Lauren’s husband Gene, a real estate executive, and his friends often gather to watch sports and play the world’s best courses on a virtual golf simulator.įor design inspiration, Sachs referred to photos she’d collected over the years of homes in far-flung locales, from Anguilla to Italy.
On the second floor, there is a guest suite, Sachs’ light-filled office and chic bedrooms for the couple’s two college-age daughters. A spa-like bath is tucked behind the bedroom, which opens to the pool in true resort style. By allowing it to be built into the architecture, you have more spaces that engage with what’s happening outside.”īeyond the family room and porch, the main hall culminates at the ground-level master suite. “But right from the start, this dynamic outdoor-living zone was carved from the center of the house. “Normally, exterior living happens behind the home,” says Ralston. The porch is embraced by the house on three sides the fourth side spills onto a pool terrace stretching to the property’s rear lawn. Aligned with the family room is a covered porch featuring seating and dining areas. Together, they devised a layout to fit the shape of the lot.Ī wide entry hall creates an axis through the public areas in front, with the dining room, staircase and family room to the right and the kitchen on the left. For help translating her vision into buildable plans, Sachs partnered with architect Warren Ralston. Though narrow and long, the flat lot they purchased perfectly suited the couple’s desire for one-level, indoor/outdoor entertaining. “Once we stepped in the door, we wanted the feeling of transporting ourselves to another place,” she reflects. “We wanted a European feel with a California twist.”īuilding a home from scratch, even for a designer, is not for the faint of heart, so Sachs hoped that the end result would be transformative. “Aesthetically, we wanted a Mediterranean contemporary, something that would fuse in fairly well but not look like everything else in Bethesda,” says the designer. Inspired by years of travel-and holidays in memorable vacation homes-she and her husband channeled a vision for their future perch that was more Malibu than Maryland. Sachs had already assembled an arsenal of ideas when they found the perfect lot near all the action. “We wanted to create a more urban lifestyle,” she explains of their decision to build a home near downtown Bethesda so they could walk or bike to shops, restaurants, movies and the Metro. After 22 happy years spent raising two daughters in Potomac, interior designer Lauren Sachs and her husband were ready for a change.
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