JanMar Glass House is a Contemporary Interpretation of Classic Midcentury Modern
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People who live in glass houses… are pretty darned lucky if their glass house is anything like this stunner at 7259 South Janmar Court. This is a wonderful $3.25 million contemporary interpretation of midcentury modern style. It has all the iconic MCM attributes, including split-level construction, clean lines, a wide open floor plan, and expansive walls of glass that marry the interior to the exterior, offering dramatic views of the natural setting. And we all know that JanMar is one of the best natural settings in town.
Howard Okon designed and built this 6,847-square-foot, five-bedroom, five-full-and-one-half-bathroom home in 2012. He positioned it precisely in the middle of heavily treed grounds, building in harmony with the land, in the manner Frank Lloyd Wright established. There is a definite sense that you’ve entered the most luxurious tree house on the planet when you walk in the front door. It was built for family members, and if you remember what we have said about builders who construct homes for themselves — or their families — you know over achievement perfection is the watchword.
A classic midcentury modern signature is the blurring of lines between indoors and out. Giant glass sliding panels do the job nicely.
This house is as much about what you don’t see as what you do see. It’s tricked out with sophisticated state-of-the-art features like a water detection system.
“If any of the water alarms detect moisture, the entire water system of the house is shut off at the source until the leak can be diagnosed,” listing agent Kyle Rovinsky, with Virginia Cook Realtors, said. “You’ve heard horror stories about a water heater bursting while a family is away in Europe. When they come home, they are greeted with a three-foot tidal wave at the front door. That will never happen in this house. The water gets shut off and a text message is sent to the owner. The owner has to respond before the water is re-engaged.”
Light flows into the house from every conceivable angle, including the roof. The kitchen has all the commercial-grade appliances you can dream of, plus dual dishwashers, a total necessity today. The island is a masterful blend of streamlined style and functionality with appliances built in and vast amounts of concealed storage.
Giant glass doors open onto a private balcony overlooking the treetops.
The master bedroom is at the top of the split level configuration with a view of the tree tops. One of our favorite features is the inclusion of a coffee bar. It makes total sense and the logical features are as important as the stylish. Who wants to traipse all the way to the kitchen at the crack of dawn for a cup of Joe? You can enjoy a fresh brew in front of the fireplace before you ever get dressed. (Maybe a sweet spouse will even bring that cup to your bedside!) When you prepare to face the world on a nippy day, one where you would rather stay under the covers, stepping onto heated floors in the master bathroom is quite the cozy the way to start your day. You may have a hard time leaving this bath, however: more of a private spa than a bathroom.
Children’s bedrooms are spacious and light filled, with the same great views as the main living areas.
The seamless flow to the exterior is aided by giant sliding doors that lead out to a wonderful series of patios. “There is a louvered roof system over the breakfast patio,” Rovinsky said. “The louvers rotate independently. When they are closed in a clockwise rotation, they create a completely watertight profile, allowing for year-round use.
How functional! The exterior is as well-thought-out as the interior, with a sports court, a salt water swimming pool, and a fire pit with heated benches. There is even a mulched dog run – so no muddy paw prints in the house, ever.
This house is setting the pace for intelligently designed contemporary luxury homes with form following function in a natural setting.
We think Frank Lloyd Wright would not only approve, he’d be smiling.
