On The Boards - Windmill Point, Virginia

Thoughtfully designed as two distinct yet harmoniously connected pavilions, this 2,800-square-foot Chesapeake Bay home offers a refined blend of modern architecture, functionality, and serenity. Elevated on pilings to accommodate low-lying, clay-rich soils, the structure captures dramatic water views while floating gracefully above the site. A discreet skirt conceals the structural base, allowing the architecture to maintain a grounded, sculptural aesthetic.

Upon entry, visitors are greeted by a breathtaking axial view through the open central corridor, past the living space, and out to the Bay. To the right lies the public pavilion: an expansive great room combining living, dining, and kitchen areas beneath a canopy of exposed steel beams. A wall of glass opens to a deck framed in rich ipe hardwood, overlooking a pool and the water beyond. A custom-designed pergola provides solar shading and visual comfort, softening the southern exposure while maintaining an airy, open ambiance.

The great room also serves as a gallery space, purpose-built around a cherished piece of art that anchors the interior with personal meaning and scale. Large-format ceramic tiles (48"x48") stretch across the floors, adding visual continuity and refined texture to the living space.

To the left of the entry lies the stair tower, crowned with a dramatic vertical window that floods the corridor with light. Beyond this, the private wing—dubbed “the dormitory”—houses the bedrooms, including a standout custom-designed bunk room. Built to sleep six, the room features built-in platforms with under-bed drawers, a handcrafted ladder to the upper bunks, and privacy curtains, blending whimsy with thoughtful utility.

The materials palette combines durability and beauty: stucco wraps the great room, while the remaining façades feature a mix of Nichiha fiber cement siding and metal cladding, creating a textured, modern exterior that complements the natural surroundings.

The carport, formed by sleek steel columns, is seamlessly integrated into the architectural composition, pulling away from the dormitory to form a covered arrival experience that leads directly to the front door.

This home is a masterclass in proportion, materiality, and view-framing—a coastal retreat that is as intelligent in its design as it is inspiring in its presence.