A couple with three grown children create a dream home—inspired by Italy’s Lake Como region—in Great Falls.
The profile of this Great Falls home, designed by James Macdonald, resembles a grand Italian villa.
THE PROJECT A perfect piece of property in Great Falls was ripe for a new home for a couple in their late 50s with three grown children. Enamored with the villas they’d experienced when traveling in northern Italy’s Lake Como region, the couple spent more than a year designing the space that would become their dream home.
THE TEAM The couple hired Great Falls-based architect James Macdonald (jamesmacdonaldarchitects.com) to execute the 16,000-square-foot home’s design. They also tapped Joy Design + Build (joycustom.com) for its custom construction. Arlene Critzos and the team from Annapolis-based Interior Concepts Inc. (interiorconceptsinc.com) were selected to bring the rooms to life with curated furnishings, textiles and finishes.
“We take the time to understand our clients’ vision for their new home and assemble incredible architecture, design talent and craftsmanship, bringing the vision to life and creating that wow factor,” says John Joy, principal at Joy Design + Build. “The owners pulled out the sketches and memories of their vision. We guide our clients through the design and build process by listening to them, anticipating their future needs and bringing together the very best in the business to make it happen. The best compliment we can receive from our clients is that we achieved their dreams. It’s an art to create something for a client from a very specific vision.”
For Interior Concepts’ part, Critzos says their guiding aesthetic is an updated European transitional style. “As with all clients, we determine criteria, living goals and lifestyle,” she says. “From there, we design space by space. For this project, the client wanted an updated transitional home suitable for family living and entertaining, which then guided us to our final design.”
While the home is 16,000 square feet, interior designer Arlene Critzos used materials and decor to create a more intimate feel.
THE CHALLENGES
“It was extremely challenging to construct this home during COVID, where coordinating the supply and demand in both materials and labor was a constant test of persistence,” says Joy. “Our relationship with our suppliers and vendors enabled us to work through extremely challenging times for the building industry, especially in sourcing materials from overseas and getting labor safely to our job sites.”
One of three custom limestone fireplaces from François & Co. graces the dining room
THE LIVING SPACES An enormous space often becomes a wrestling match between finding furniture both suitable for the scale and functionally appropriate. This was definitely the case with the great room, but Critzos says the room’s volume allowed her team to design intricate details into the ceiling and fireplace wall to build in depth and intrigue. They also used finishes and fabrics that were both striking and family-friendly. Standout pieces in the great room include a sofa from Taylor King (taylorking.com), a chandelier from Visual Comfort (visualcomfort.com) and a custom limestone fireplace from François & Co. (francoisandco.com).
The kitchen’s visual drama begins with a unique plaster ceiling relief from Ornamental Plaster Works (ornamentalplasterworks.com) that floats above the island, along with a massive hood fashioned in cold-pressed pewter. Elegant stone walls encase the refrigeration wall, and every feature in the space is complemented by neutral, elegant tile, including the mosaic tile backsplash from Waterworks (waterworks.com). “Our breakfast room tabletop was hand-painted with intricate Italian designs with clean, simple chairs surrounding it,” says Critzos.
“Our design approach began with strong deep-azul Venetian plaster walls,” she says. “The wall treatment created warmth and drama. When paired with rich traditional furniture selections, the plaster brings the elegance together.” As a cozy bonus, a full-height limestone fireplace adds to the grandeur of the space, as does the beautifully crafted built-in cabinetry with soft gold accents.
The owner’s suite
“For the owner’s suite, our clients’ criteria included a luxurious-feeling space with a soft , serene color scheme of whites, grays and sky blues,” says Critzos. “Th is room, based on its size, allowed for multiple seating areas as well as the sleeping area with its Eastern Accents bedding from Signoria (signoria.com). Likewise, the volume of this room allowed for ceiling details and strong window treatments, due to its soaring height. Luxe finishes and refined fabrics helped to achieve the overall feel of the room.”
THE OUTCOME
“As beautiful as the home is, it actually lives better than it looks,” says Joy. As for the overall vibe created by the materials and furnishings, Critzos reports that her team’s efforts have been a smash hit. “Our clients are thoroughly pleased with the combination of classical and transitional interiors joined as one,” she says. “They love the house, inside and out, and enjoy it thoroughly.”
Photography by: Robert Radifera; Styled by Charlotte Safavi
