Designing a custom home is an exciting process where creativity meets practicality. In this case study, we take you through the design of a contemporary new home on an 8,500 square foot teardown lot in Bethesda, Maryland.
This home blends modern architecture with thoughtful design, meeting both the client’s unique requirements and the needs of future buyers, ensuring a smart, long-term investment.
This post will break down the design session from start to finish, explaining how we approach custom home projects and how we work with clients to create homes that are beautiful, functional, and market-ready.
Before we dive into the technical aspects of the design, it’s important to understand the client’s vision. For this project, the homeowner wanted a contemporary-style home with a clean, modern aesthetic.
They were also focused on practical needs, such as a first-floor bedroom for added convenience. Additionally, the open floor plan was a must-have, creating a sense of spaciousness and flow throughout the home.
The challenge in this design was not only to meet these specific needs but also to ensure that the home would appeal to the broader Bethesda market.
The goal was to create a home that not only suited the current owner’s lifestyle but also maximized resale potential, ensuring a great return on investment.
This home was designed to fit perfectly on an 8,500 square foot teardown lot in Bethesda. Working with the limitations of the lot size while maximizing space is one of the most important aspects of designing in urban and suburban areas like Bethesda.
The compact lot required careful planning to ensure that we could provide ample indoor and outdoor space without sacrificing the overall layout or functionality of the home.
In Bethesda, where every square foot of land is valuable, designing a home that fits the lot while still providing an expansive feel inside is key.
We balanced the home’s footprint with outdoor features such as a patio and garden space, ensuring that the house felt open and connected to the outdoors.
Contemporary architecture is all about clean lines, open spaces, and simplicity in form. For this home, we focused on creating a design that felt modern yet timeless.
One of the hallmarks of contemporary design is the use of large windows that allow natural light to flood the interior, creating a bright and inviting atmosphere.
The exterior of the home features sharp lines and a minimalist aesthetic, with a mix of materials such as stone, glass, and wood. These materials not only contribute to the contemporary feel but also ensure the home blends harmoniously with its surroundings.
The open floor plan is a defining feature of contemporary homes. It eliminates the barriers between rooms, allowing for a seamless transition from one space to another.
In this home, the kitchen, dining room, and living room all flow together, making the space feel larger and more connected.
An open floor plan also makes the home more versatile. Whether it’s hosting a family gathering or an intimate dinner party, the space is flexible enough to adapt to different needs. This sense of openness is not only visually appealing but also practical for modern living.
One of the client’s key requirements was a first-floor bedroom. This feature provides flexibility for various stages of life, making the home accessible for guests or family members who may have difficulty navigating stairs.
It also adds a layer of convenience for day-to-day living, especially as multigenerational households become more common.
The placement of the first-floor bedroom is both functional and aesthetically pleasing. We designed it to have easy access to the common areas of the house, while still maintaining privacy.
It’s located near the entrance, making it ideal for guests or family members who want to avoid climbing stairs but still be part of the home’s central activities.
In addition to its practical benefits, a first-floor bedroom can be a major selling point if the owners ever decide to sell.
Homes that cater to a wide range of lifestyles—such as those that accommodate aging in place—are highly desirable in the real estate market.
While this home was designed to meet the owner’s specific needs, we also paid close attention to market trends and buyer preferences.
In areas like Bethesda, where the housing market is competitive, it’s essential to strike a balance between personalization and mass appeal.
The contemporary design, combined with the open floor plan and the first-floor bedroom, makes this home attractive to a broad range of potential buyers.
We also made sure to include features that are in high demand, such as energy-efficient appliances, modern finishes, and outdoor living spaces.
Even if the current owner doesn’t plan on selling right away, it’s important to consider how the home will perform on the market in the future.
A well-designed contemporary home with flexible spaces and high-end finishes is likely to appreciate in value, especially in a sought-after neighborhood like Bethesda.
By designing with both the present and future in mind, we ensure that the home remains a solid investment. Whether the owner chooses to stay for years or sell down the road, the home’s thoughtful design will help it stand out in the market.
Designing a custom home is always a collaborative process. Throughout the design session, we worked closely with the client to ensure that every aspect of the home met their needs.
From the layout of the rooms to the materials used in construction, each decision was made with the client’s input in mind.
One of the key elements of this design was the positioning of the staircase. We initially considered placing it in the center of the home, but after discussing the flow of the space with the client, we decided to shift it to the front.
This small change had a big impact on how the home felt, creating a more open and spacious entryway.
We also worked to ensure that the study could double as an additional bedroom if needed. This level of flexibility is important in a custom home, as it allows the space to evolve with the homeowner’s changing needs.
Another key feature of this design is the integration of indoor and outdoor spaces. Contemporary homes often blur the lines between the inside and outside, and this home is no exception.
Large sliding glass doors lead from the living room to a spacious patio, perfect for outdoor dining and relaxation.
Even though the lot is 8,500 square feet, we wanted to make sure that the homeowners had plenty of usable outdoor space.
By carefully positioning the home on the lot, we were able to create a private backyard that feels expansive despite the lot size. The patio, combined with thoughtful landscaping, ensures that the homeowners can enjoy outdoor living without compromising on indoor space.
This custom home design in Bethesda is the perfect example of how to balance modern style with practical living. The open floor plan, first-floor bedroom, and flexible spaces meet the client’s current needs while also ensuring that the home will have strong market appeal in the future.
By focusing on both customization and resale value, we’ve created a home that is not only beautiful but also a smart investment.
In this case study, we explored the design process of a contemporary new home for an 8,500 square foot teardown lot in Bethesda. With a first-floor bedroom, open floor plan, and thoughtful customization, the home is perfect for both current living and future resale.
This project showcases how we work with clients to create homes that are modern, functional, and market-ready. Watch the video to see how this custom home design came together and how it could inspire your own dream home.