​AR Custom Builders

As you look through our portfolio, you may have noticed that our work tend to have an urban tilt. That is for a good reason: our comparative advantage over other builders is in superior problem solving, preservation, and reconstruction. In the dense urban environment with row houses standing side-by-side or houses are in close proximity, wholesale change is not desirable. In the less dense near-urban Chevy Chase, this house from 1930s had unfortunately completed its economic life. So despite our natural inclanation to rehabilitate, we ended up having to do a complete teardown and rebuild.

 

Chevy Chase is one of the most preservation minded cities in the country. Its code and permitting process is one of the toughest. Add to this the challenging terrain, going down more than 100 feet from the curb to the creek that runs through the property, we had our work cut out for us.

 

The final product was a state of art single family house, with three fully finished levels, more than 6,000 square feet of living space, double decks opening up to a completely graded and re-landscaped backyard. There was not a single aspect of the construction that was not customized, given the engineering challenges.

 

We pivoted kitchen and bathroom designs around the Calacatta marble, and loads of it, imported directly from Italy. It gave us a gleaming light feeling, but with subtle creamy veins softening the feel of the custom-made white Shaker style in-laid cabinetry, double dishwasher and state of art of appliances. Combined family room, with its large deck overlooking the huge backyard, fireplace will be the heart of this house.

 

All levels feature custom stained, wide-plank hardwood floors, lots of builtins for maximum comfort, and trim and woodwork in formal areas to combine elegance, luxury and convenience under one roof.