Completed in June 2024, this waterfront residence sits on a prominent peninsula in Stevensville, Maryland. Designed for tech entrepreneurs based in Washington, D.C., the home needed to function as a peaceful weekend retreat as well as a comfortable place for hosting family, friends, and professional guests. The design focuses on clarity, restraint, and a constant relationship with the surrounding water and horizon.
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Gold 🏆 Winner
International Interior Design Awards 2025
Waterfront Minimalist Retreat
Private Residential Interior Built
Firm
Kimmel Studio
Designer
Devin Kimmel
Design Team
Devin Kimmel, Dani Crawford
Location
Maryland, USA
Country
United States
Photographer/Copyright
Photographer: Jennifer Hughes
A simple parti and a neutral, minimalist palette guided each design decision. This clarity required exceptional precision. Detailing, coordination, and construction sequencing were tightly managed to preserve clean lines and uninterrupted surfaces. Pittcon reglet reveals replaced traditional trim at windows, doors, and transitions. Linear mechanical grilles from Advanced Architectural Grilleworks were used to integrate HVAC systems quietly into the architecture. These choices support a calm and disciplined interior language.
Connection to the bay defnes the experience of the home. Large window walls and generous decks on every level bring light deep into the plan and frame wide views of the water. The double-height Great Room serves as the central gathering space, marked by two-story Weathershield Vue window units that open the interior to the changing sky. Ten-foot pocketing doors expand the living areas outward during warm seasons. A three-story Viewrail FLIGHT stair rises through the center of the home and introduces a sculptural moment within an otherwise subtle composition.
The clients placed a high value on performance and automation. A geothermal HVAC system provides efcient temperature control throughout the year. Hydronic radiant foors add comfort and reduce energy demands. Lutron Ketra lighting in the primary living areas adjusts in response to natural daylight. Motorized shades, integrated audio and visual systems, and whole-home automation by Atlantic Control Technologies ensure intuitive operation for daily living and entertaining.
Life-safety and durability were considered with equal care. Concealed sprinklers maintain safety while protecting the minimalist aesthetic. A high-performance envelope built with closed-cell spray foam insulation and thermally broken windows provides excellent energy efciency, air sealing, and long-term resilience.
The fnished home ofers a quiet balance between technical sophistication and architectural restraint. Its crisp detailing, natural light, and muted palette create a peaceful environment. At the same time, its systems, layout, and fexibility support gatherings of many scales. The project shows how disciplined minimalism can create a home that is visually calm, highly functional, and deeply connected to its site.