From House To Home

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When Peter and Dorris Whitford decided to sell their Colonial style in the heart of the nation’s capital and build on a piece of rural real estate, they captured a unique and picture-perfect home thanks to the spirit of adventure and a series of unfolding events.

Registered architect Mel Arbaugh has been designing homes for more than 40 years. He developed and sold a successful firm to “retire” to a comfortable home office and become very choosey about his projects. And when his name kept coming up, the Whitfords paid him a visit to discuss their ideas.

They remember exactly when they met. The night before, the dark winter skies had dumped piles of snow onto the Pennsylvania-Maryland border. They first shook hands dressed in heavy coats and winter boots at the foot of a long, long driveway, which led to Arbaugh’s rural home office in Westminster, Maryland. He had met them on foot to warn them against trying to navigate up the winding drive. Instead of postponing the initial visit, jumping back in the warm car, and heading for the Interstate, the threesome trekked slowly through the deep snow toward the home office where Arbaugh’s wife, Carol, just happened to have a big pot of hot soup to warm them.

They furnished their spaces with unique collectibles from across the globe and there is a story behind each one.

Months later, under much warmer conditions, sitting on the 5-and-a-half acre site where the home now stands, another singular event stands out. Peter, a native of Australia who is also an incredible green thumb had already begun “civilizing” the acreage by introducing a variety of plants, shrubs, trees, and flowers—both native and exotic—to measure weather conditions and also personalize their future homestead.

Peter and Dorris had been on site enough times to point Arbaugh toward their favorite views—each dramatic in its own right. They did not want to choose which to celebrate. Arbaugh, who has always been inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright and his ability to integrate a home into its landscape, sat down, looked around, and poured ideas onto his sketchpad. Instead of choosing between the views, he drew a unique alternative. On the spot, the octagon home emerged to celebrate the beauty and power of Mother Nature with scenic views, green efficiencies, and authentic, natural building materials.

On the spot, the octagon home emerged to celebrate the beauty and power of Mother Nature with scenic views, green efficiencies, and authentic, natural building materials.

Designed around a central “spoke” staircase, which climbs toward the “bird’s nest” style loft, the home features two levels of large, functional rooms as well as wrap-around outdoor decks, which provide shade from the hot summer sun and a place to stargaze on cool nights. Cold Northeastern winds are blocked, thanks to a strategically placed garage. Locally quarried stone, laid in an ashlar pattern, forms columns that support the decks and double as durable planters. A unique rain gutter that operates from roof-hung chain links directs runoff without exposed canals, and the home itself is a blend of both subtle and obvious building elements. 

The rooms are divided according to the dictates of the octagon, and Arbaugh describes the circulation as “pie shaped” with spokes extending from the center staircase. Specifying the shared living spaces and the master suite on the main level also incorporates principles of Universal Living that will serve the owners as time passes. And deep in the ground, a geothermal heating system was designed to be an efficient use of resources. Combined with the radiant heat flooring and walls, they help keep indoor temperatures comfortable. The lower level has three children’s rooms, two bathrooms, and a large workshop space for Peter.

Instead of choosing between the views, he drew a unique alternative.

Not surprisingly, the core group of six contractors, led by builder Ron Dorsey of Stuller Construction, Inc., was intrigued by the challenge and proud of their participation in such a distinctive building project. Dorris says they would sometimes bring their families out on weekends to visit the site and see its progress.

Arbaugh’s innovative design incorporates a sense of adventure that the Whitfords quickly capitalized on. They furnished their spaces with unique collectibles from across the globe and there is a story behind each one.

Maybe the octagon shape acts as a metaphor for the idea that leaving behind the bright lights and fast pace of the city to live along the rural winding roads with four-way stops and scenic intersections is something worth considering.