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Rustic New Lakeside Cabin in the West Virginia Woods
An architect designs an energy-efficient country home for a retired couple and their extended family
Economist Ev Ehrlich and scientist, engineer and educator Nancy Ehrlich had decided they were going to spend their retirement years in their home just outside Washington, D.C. Thinking of the ideal country house they’d imagined for years, they hired architect Seth Ballard to design a system of screened-in porches for them, including one for entertaining and a sleeping porch off their bedroom.
But soon after Ballard had put pencil to paper, the couple came across an idyllic piece of property way beyond the Beltway: 11 wooded acres on a lake in West Virginia. It was the perfect spot for a life they’d dreamed about for so long. Ballard was soon working on a completely different project for a completely different lifestyle (though multiple porches still play an important role in the couple’s new full-time home). Their priorities were creating a place where three generations of family could relax and enjoy one another’s company, building it as sustainably as possible and making sure it fit in with the rustic surroundings.
But soon after Ballard had put pencil to paper, the couple came across an idyllic piece of property way beyond the Beltway: 11 wooded acres on a lake in West Virginia. It was the perfect spot for a life they’d dreamed about for so long. Ballard was soon working on a completely different project for a completely different lifestyle (though multiple porches still play an important role in the couple’s new full-time home). Their priorities were creating a place where three generations of family could relax and enjoy one another’s company, building it as sustainably as possible and making sure it fit in with the rustic surroundings.
The front of the house is simple and rustic. “Ev and Nancy were very interested in craft,” Ballard says. In addition to local inspiration, the architect was inspired by the way Japanese architecture blends with nature.
The Ehrlichs are very energy-conscious and were concerned about sustainability. “This house would meet Passive House standards if it was tested,” Ballard says. It has a geothermal heating system, a superior insulated block wall system, triple-paned windows that are operable and arranged for maximizing cross breezes, and an energy-recovery ventilator. The architect used sustainably harvested and recycled materials as well as low-energy fixtures. And he built the home to last. “Building a durable home is also an important aspect of sustainability,” Ballard says. “The proper structure, wiring and plumbing were all done very well, so they will take less energy to maintain.”
The Ehrlichs are very energy-conscious and were concerned about sustainability. “This house would meet Passive House standards if it was tested,” Ballard says. It has a geothermal heating system, a superior insulated block wall system, triple-paned windows that are operable and arranged for maximizing cross breezes, and an energy-recovery ventilator. The architect used sustainably harvested and recycled materials as well as low-energy fixtures. And he built the home to last. “Building a durable home is also an important aspect of sustainability,” Ballard says. “The proper structure, wiring and plumbing were all done very well, so they will take less energy to maintain.”
On the facade, Ballard kept elements such as lighting, windows and the door simple. The stone is a multicolored cleft Pennsylvania flagstone and the siding is sustainably harvested Western red cedar.
“I like little color pops,” Ballard says. Red accents around some of the windows and a red metal standing-seam shed roof over the porch nod to the red barns in the area.
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“I like little color pops,” Ballard says. Red accents around some of the windows and a red metal standing-seam shed roof over the porch nod to the red barns in the area.
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From the facade’s low profile, the rest of the house expands back and down a slope. A Pennsylvania flagstone staircase capped in bluestone leads to an entrance to the lower level, then down to the dock and lake. The main level contains bedrooms, and the main public spaces and an additional bedroom are on the lower level.
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A system of terraces makes the property easy to navigate. The windows on the lower level are in the great room and provide expansive views of the lake. To the left, a hot tub also enjoys the water view. The chimney has two fireplaces, one in the family room and one for the deck above it.
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The other side has two screened-in porches, much like the ones the Ehrlichs were planning for their D.C.-area home when they first met Ballard. The upper porch is a sleeping porch off the master bedroom. The lower one is nicknamed “The Hendrick’s Porch” after the gin and tonics the Ehrlichs like to mix and enjoy there. It’s easy to carry them from there down to the dock.
The entrance from the front porch entry leads to bedrooms and bathrooms on the main level and down a staircase to the living spaces on the lower level. Inside the home, Ballard suggested his clients use historic paint colors from Benjamin Moore. “Historically people used to use berries and natural dyes to make these colors. So they all look like they’ve come from nature,” he says.
The Ehrlichs had a keen interest in woodworking, particularly in Arts and Crafts and Quaker styles. “We like utilitarian yet attractive,” Ev says. “Chrome-and-glass doesn’t interest us.”
Ballard reflected the couple’s interest in the carpentry seen throughout the house. “We blended a lot of different things,” he says. For example, the railings are a mix of cherry and walnut. And Japanese Arts and Crafts style inspired the railing design. The floors are cherry.
The Ehrlichs had a keen interest in woodworking, particularly in Arts and Crafts and Quaker styles. “We like utilitarian yet attractive,” Ev says. “Chrome-and-glass doesn’t interest us.”
Ballard reflected the couple’s interest in the carpentry seen throughout the house. “We blended a lot of different things,” he says. For example, the railings are a mix of cherry and walnut. And Japanese Arts and Crafts style inspired the railing design. The floors are cherry.
The Ehrlichs regarded the woods as an important part of the house. “We wanted it to be very porous between inside and out,” Ev says. On the lower level, walls of windows and glass doors provide views of the lake. There isn’t a TV in the main family room and dining space. The entertainment here comes from watching nature, playing games, reading books and having conversations.
The space includes a large stone fireplace. The double doors to the right lead to the stone staircase and hot tub.
The space includes a large stone fireplace. The double doors to the right lead to the stone staircase and hot tub.
The kitchen is open to the family room. Earthy colors appear in the slate backsplash and sage green cabinetry, and rustic counter stools and wood accents also add to the cabin feel. The area with the slate floor behind the kitchen is a laundry room; through the paneled door beyond it is a home gym.
This floor plan of the lower level — the view of the lake is off the top — illustrates the relationship between the kitchen and family room. At the bottom left corner is a bedroom.
Up on the main level, the master bedroom has a wood stove and a screened-in porch. Also worth noting are the beautiful five-paneled wood doors with transoms.
The decor in the master bathroom complements the wood doors and trim. The flooring is a hexagonal marble mosaic, while the white subway tile keeps things simple.
This is the sleeping porch off the master bedroom.
The porch has direct access to a large deck with lake views.
The chimney is crafted of local stone and Ballard topped it off with another touch of red. The railings on the deck echo the rhythm of the interior railings, but out here they’re a mix of metal and wood.
Two bedrooms on the main floor, shown here, enjoy lake views and direct access to the deck or sleeping porch. The Ehrlichs keep a telescope in the area marked “Gallery” in the top center of this plan. The night sky in the remote location is free of light pollution, which makes for remarkable stargazing.
The carriage house is a two-car garage with an apartment above.
The upper level of the carriage house mostly serves as Ev’s office, but with its kitchen and full bathroom, it can also be used by overnight guests. Operable skylights from Velux let in light and fresh air. And Ev notes that he uses his small balcony to interact with people out in the driveway. “I can see where Nancy is going and say hi to the FedEx guy. Out here he’s practically become family,” he says.
The Ehrlichs have fully settled into life away from the city, which they can reach in about 90 minutes for doctor’s appointments or a baseball game. But Ev says they prefer the dark black sky and quiet of this spot at night. “We can listen to games on the radio while looking at the stars on the deck,” he says. “We also make a game of spotting the satellites.”
Carpentry: Gerald Stanley Builders
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The Ehrlichs have fully settled into life away from the city, which they can reach in about 90 minutes for doctor’s appointments or a baseball game. But Ev says they prefer the dark black sky and quiet of this spot at night. “We can listen to games on the radio while looking at the stars on the deck,” he says. “We also make a game of spotting the satellites.”
Carpentry: Gerald Stanley Builders
More on Houzz
Read more stories about cabins
Browse photos of cabins
Hire a local design pro
Shop for your home
House at a Glance
Who lives here: Ev and Nancy Ehrlich, who are visited often by their three adult children and grandchildren
Location: Outside Charles Town, West Virginia
Size: 5,500 square feet (511 square meters); five bedrooms, 3½ bathrooms
Architect: Seth Ballard of Ballard + Mensua Architecture
“We had kept a file for 20 years about how we imagined a retirement home,” Ev says. The couple had quibbled over the Berkshires versus somewhere more local, but when they came upon the lovely wooded acreage on a lake in eastern West Virginia, they were in full agreement. “We both wanted four seasons. We are pro-winter and enjoy watching the wonderful cycle of life,” Ev says. All of a sudden, Ballard had a cabin and carriage house to design for them.
The Ehrlichs wanted a cabin that would look at home in the woods. “I had hiked a lot in West Virginia, gone tubing nearby and stayed in simple cabins there,” Ballard says. “So I had a good knowledge of the local vernacular. We all liked the idea of a humble side on the front and a not-so-humble side on the back. It was a good blend of Nancy and Ev’s personalities.” This initial sketch he whipped up had everyone on board.
The property is composed of three lots from a development that had gone belly-up. There’s a carriage house with additional office and guest space above it. The Ehrlichs have three adult children and their family is growing. “We think of ourselves as being ancestors as opposed to being descendants,” Ev says. “We wanted to build a place for our family to enjoy over time.” They designed a home they imagined future generations of the family enjoying.
They also added an orchard and a 1,400-square-foot garden. “I garden with all the passion a kid who was raised in an apartment in Queens has,” Ev says.
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