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© Maxwell MacKenzie
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© Maxwell MacKenzie
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© Maxwell MacKenzie
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© Maxwell MacKenzie
George Gates and Lincoln Boykin knew precisely what they wanted when they selected Randall Kipp Architecture to design a house for them: a structure that would blend into the topography and disturb the natural terrain as little as possible.
Situated on a steep, wooded waterfront lot overlooking the Corrotoman River, the home that Kipp designed feels like a natural extension of its environment. Conceived as two individual buildings that straddle a meandering natural stream and are connected by a floating entryway bridge, the 2,600-square-foot house projects a warm and natural feel. Exterior materials of horizontally oriented Cumaru and bronze standing seam metal paneling allow the home to blend in harmoniously with the landscape. “When it was time to select the color of the siding and roofing material, the homeowners literally held samples against the trees,” Kipp says. “They then picked the one that matched best.”
One building houses a lower-level master bedroom suite and two upper-level ensuite guest bedrooms. The spacious master bathroom joins with nature through a large floor-to-ceiling window, along with an emphasis on natural materials and colors.
The great room, kitchen, laundry and powder room are situated in the other building. Through the use of horizontally grained walnut cabinets, wall panels and dining table—along with the absence of cabinet hardware—the custom kitchen suggests nothing so much as a paneled room.
In the great room, a two-story corner of glass windows allows for spectacular views of the Corrotoman. The handsome custom fireplace is clad in steel plates with the articulation of walnut cabinets defining the mantles and illuminating the shelves below. Waxed concrete floors for the lower level made it possible to run hydronic heating tubes throughout the slab, providing radiant heat throughout.
Like most of Kipp’s residential designs, massive windows are a signature feature. “The windows allow expansive views of the property and water and bring the homeowners closer to the trees and thoughtfully considered gardens,” explains Kipp. “The building nests with the property so completely that it’s difficult to distinguish inside from out.”
Randall Kipp: 804-438-6287
81 King Carter Drive, Irvington, Virginia 22480
