Listed by Stuart & MauryGreat Falls Estates is one of my favorite communities in Potomac. About a half mile from the village, this neighborhood is a mix of old and new. What all the homes have in common is large 2 acre lots and classic architecture.
I have been watching this home being built over the past year. It is beautiful from the outside, and I have been excited to see the interior. With stone exterior and wonderfully symmetric lines, from the outside this home is a stunner.
The home once you enter is unusual. It is a mix of designs that somehow falls flat. Exposed timber in the home was brought in from Utah. It is dark wood and lends a ski lodge feel to the property. High vaulted ceilings bring some drama to the space, but something is missing. There is no consistency to design. Mouldings are painted dark Williamsburg Colonial colors which seem out of place. It is confusing and confounding to see such high quality materials used in a bastardized design.
I asked a colleague how he would classify the style and they suggested rustic craftsman. So we have ski lodge, rustic and craftsman combined in one package. While I like them all individually, for me, they to not work together.
Although I am critical of what I feel is wrong with the design, I have to give equal time to what was done well. The stone work is beautiful. The exterior veneer, fireplaces and accents done with stone are stunning. My favorite feature in this home, and best I have seen anywhere in some time, is the basement entry. The builder created a very wide welled entrance from the exterior of the home to the basement level. Rather then use a narrow area way or stair, they dug out an extra wide welled area that has been finished in stone. This area is large enough for a table and chairs (Think small cocktail party!) and has decorative tile work on the walls. The builder transformed a boring basement entry into a fabulous hidden grotto. I love the idea. I think if other builders saw this space, it would become a standard feature in luxury homes
The master bath on the first floor is also beautiful. All glass shower area and windows on all sides the amount of light in the room is stunning. The pitfall is the bath is located on the front of the home. The windows would all have to be covered to maintain any privacy which defeats the beauty of this space. If only we could transport this space to the back of the home to allow the beauty of this open space be utilized.
The basement is set up for entertaining. Large fireplace, lots of open space, access to the above mentioned grotto, this would be a great spot for a party. You step up to a second tier of this floor with bar and bathrooms. There is also a lovely room for a home theatre tucked away in the corner of this level.
Upstairs houses the remaining bedrooms, baths and laundry room. Although the rooms were all large with plenty of storage, the space seemed awkward. A central hallway takes you from one side of the home to the other. Parts of the hall are open to below, but the space just seemed cut up.
Although I may be ripped apart for my opinion of value, I feel this home is grossly overpriced. I have no doubt this home cost a pretty penny to build, but the money spent may not be recouped upon sale. This design will appeal to a small percentage of potential buyers in this price range. This translates to very long marketing time unless the right buyer walks through the door, or the home is made more attractive by lowering the price. I tend to think the price will have to be lowered.
How long this stays on the market for sale will depend upon how quickly the price comes down. The neighborhood is blue chip. This home will get viewed because of the quality and location of the neighborhood. This one settles for at least $1mm less when it finally gets sold.
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