VIRGINIA
ESTATE

RIVERFRONT ESTATE

BUILDER
Dale Schulz,
Schulz Homes Corporation,
Middleburg, VA

TEXT
Barbara Karth,
Chevy Chase, MD

PHOTOGRAPHY
Omar Salinas,
HiTech Photo,
Tysons Corner, VA

Custom homes are special, but they rise to another level when there is sensitivity to the site. When Dale Schulz of Schulz Homes Corporation built this spacious home on thirty-eight acres that fronted on the Potomac, he drew on the eccentric route of the river to define the configuration—the river doglegged, and so does the house. "The house is basically a one room deep home. It has a spine that runs through it following the same pattern as the river," Mr. Schulz explains. And therefore, few rooms are rectangular. All have a river view except the formal dining room and the bedroom above.

This country home was designed to resemble a European hunting lodge, a place for friends and family to gather for fun and games. There are putting greens, a pool table, an exercise room and a pool with bar stools set-in so you can sit in the pool, rest your drink on the stone apron and gaze at the rolling river. “It is designed to look like a swimming hole as opposed to a more formal pool. It has a waterfall and pumps 15,000 gallons of water an hour—quite something. And there is a spa area off the pool as well,” says Mr. Schulz.

Food and drink is never more than a few steps away. On the main level, the kitchen is open to the gathering room. It is fully appointed with GE appliances, cherry cabinetry and granite countertops that vary in height so that the owner may work with ease. Columns for storing spices and marinades flank the range for easy access. An adjacent pantry accommodates all the serving pieces and equipment necessary for entertaining small or large groups: vertical storage for large trays, space for tall coffee pots and steamers, drawers for linens and pull-out baskets for cooking and entertaining miscellany.

Sliding glass doors to the screened porch stack into a wall pocket as the porch and gathering room become one, giving easy access to the porch-side, built-in grill. Here, a bead board ceiling is but one of the many details that sets this home apart, proving that casual is far from simplistic. A bar off the living room is set up to serve both drinks and snacks.

Upstairs in the hallway, another bar is outfitted for serving coffee, juice and a light breakfast—or a nightcap. And on the lower level, there is yet another, this one is fully equipped with a dumb waiter to the upstairs kitchen, a full refrigerator, dishwasher, sink, wine cooler and microwave. It is a home that entertains many with ease. There is another serving area in the garden room next to the exercise room. And there are laundry rooms on both the main level and the lower level—plus an elevator to all three floors.

The spacious home was skillfully planned and sturdily built. Looking out a window, Mr. Schulz points to the depth of the walls, over a foot thick, stone, stucco and brick, like European dwellings of old. "It looks like the stucco wore off in areas and exposed the stone," he says. It's new, but reminiscent of the old. The copper flashing is aging to a verde gris, blending into the landscape.

Inside the front door, the gallery is flagstone; floors throughout the house are random width and random length plank, oak flooring, screwed and plugged. The deck is Brazilian mahogany. Quality materials are evident, arched stone fireplaces with mantles of hand-hewn wood. Hand-hewn beams, stone pillars and columns emphasize the solidity.

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This gathering room is large enough to accommodate many people doing different tasks: sit at the island and talk to the chef in this well equipped and custom appointed GE kitchen, walk around the corner to the desk and head for the web, or read a book by the fire.

It’s easy conversation while watching the waters of the Potomac roll by or catching a duffer miss a hole on one of the many putting greens. This large turret is part of the gathering room in this spacious country home designed and built for entertaining.

Stone arches open to the entry from this casual, yet formal, dining room. Adjustable cove lighting sets the mood and the oval table with comfortable Windsor-style chairs encourages good conversation.

Elegance is paired with rustic in this European hunting lodge cum manor house on the Potomac River. In the main floor powder room, trompe l’oeil walls and a French-style cabinet with an undermount hammered pewter bowl and antique nickel hardware evoke gracious country living. On the lower level, the rustic hunting lodge concept is given full rein with a powder room reminiscent of an outhouse—the toilet is built-in to resemble a one-holer with a catalog nearby. A bait bucket sits near a flagstone shower, harking to a bath au naturel under a waterfall—a playful touch in a fantastic home.

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There are seven garages but only three are visible. The other four are located beneath the guesthouse, avoiding the appearance of garages for a fleet.     

At night, the out-of-doors is always moonlit. “At night the house looks like there is a full moon shining on it. It’s very subtle lighting and gives the impression there is a full moon even when there is no moon,” says Mr. Schulz.

Rooms in this home range from European elegance to casual rustic, and all are comfortable. Every detail for living well has been considered. And the exterior is intriguing and inviting. This estate offers constant surprises as building innovations are combined with time-honored materials.