Creative inside & out

Comfortable furnishings and favorite art turned this wonderful glass house into a home.

Childhood fantasies are hard to part with. One of mine was to live in a glass house so I'd never really feel as if I were inside. Such places may be the stuff of fairy tales, but I found one house that comes close to realizing that fantasy. Welcome to the unique home of Millie and Sidney Caplan-a glass-filled 1950s contemporary style sitting on several lush acres in Greenspring Valley, a suburb of Baltimore. For the Caplans, the house is also a dream come true. "The minute we saw this house, we knew this was it," says Millie. "We fell in love with all the glass, which made it so open." But even the right house sometimes needs a little help. So the couple took their dream, added a dose of reality, and created a stylish setting for their American Arts and Crafts collection.

Restored and Improved

The Caplans recognize the home's historical significance. Designed by noted contemporary architect Alexander Cochran, the house is a rarity. Known as the dean of Baltimore architecture, Cochran did few residential projects. Millie and Sidney wanted to preserve the 1950s contemporary attitude, while making the house more comfortable. They enlisted architect Walter Schamu to work on the renovation.

An earlier master suite addition by Cochran's firm included a floating glass-enclosed breezeway leading to the bedroom. Taking his cue from that structure, Walter created the dining room addition, a cube placed on the opposite side of the house. "With all the open space in the house, the two additions are like bookends to the composition," he says. The dining room window looks out on the glass walkway instead of the front of the house. Other updates included replacing aluminum sliding glass doors with windows, creating a light-filled work area in the kitchen, adding white oak hardwood floors throughout, and refurbishing the lap pool.

Comfortable, Artful Interiors

When walking through, you are struck by a lack of doors and the abundance of windows. For a relatively small house (only two bedrooms), it feels surprisingly spacious. The flow and scale of the rooms contribute to that effect. You never feel closed in, and the outdoors are ever present, like additional living spaces within reach.

The decor invites relaxing and sinking into the comfortable upholstery. With so much natural light and openness, it's surprisingly cozy. "The house needed softening," says interior designer Richard Taylor. "I wanted to make it different than a stark 1950s home with modern furniture," adds Millie. This is achieved through the use of antiques, generous upholstery, colorful rugs, and art. For example, the study includes a French armoire to hold the television, a paisley wingback chair, an acrylic-plastic-and-glass coffee table, and a contemporary sofa. The mix suits the Caplans. "It's in keeping with their personalities; a slick look wouldn't be them," says Richard.

Although paintings and decorative items are all around, you never feel like you're in a gallery because the rooms are so approachable. The "do not touch" atmosphere is nowhere to be found. Instead you feel free to wander at will, to admire the unusual pieces the couple has collected.

Except for a slight departure in the kitchen, the walls throughout the house are neutral. "I didn't want a strong color to interfere with the outside," says Millie. "A white background doesn't take away from the artwork or the people."

The eclectic kitchen holds American Arts and Crafts pieces, including the painted wooden chairs used every day. These are paired with a pine bench and table with aluminum legs. At the end of the room, an abstract painting hangs on a Provencal yellow wall.

A wonderful backyard terrace, overlooking the lap pool, is another appealing feature. Its generous striped awning, white wicker furniture, and French-inspired print fabrics make you feel as if you're at a resort.

Richard had the floor of the glass-enclosed breezeway to the master suite faux-finished in a checkerboard pattern. In a twist, a broken china plate is a part of the painting. "It's to remind us that nothing is perfect," says Millie.

I may have to disagree. This home comes about as close to perfect as you can get. Especially if you've always dreamed of living in a glass house.

Pages 84-87: Architecture by Walter Schamu, FAIA, Schamu Machowski Greco Architects, Inc., Baltimore, (410) 685-3582; interior design by Richard Taylor, Baltimore, (410) 727-3333.

Copyright Southern Progress Corporation Jul 2003
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