High-Performance Custom Home in McLean, VA

What does it look like when a home is truly designed for your life? The Ivy Hill project answers that question. This 7,000-square-foot high-performance home in McLean, VA, was built to support the way this family lives day to day, with spaces for work, gathering, and relaxation, all while delivering the comfort and efficiency of a high-performance home.

In this spotlight, you can expect to see:

Home Design for Modern Family Living
7,000-Square-Foot, 6-Bedroom Floor Plan
Design-Build Process That Adapts to Homeowner Needs
Basement Slab Modification
A Tight Building Envelope
Building a High-Performance Custom Home
Working With August Homes

Home Design for Modern Family Living

From the beginning, the homeowners wanted a home that felt personal rather than built from a standard plan. Every design decision was based on how they would use the space day-to-day. The result is a flexible home design for a growing family, with an open layout that supports both daily routines and entertaining.

The kitchen was designed as the home's nucleus, creating a central gathering space that connects effortlessly to the main living areas. Large windows bring in natural light and reinforce a strong connection between the interior and exterior.

A 7,000-Square-Foot, 6-Bedroom Floor Plan

This 7,000-square-foot custom home in McLean, VA, was designed to function across multiple levels with a focus on usability. The layout includes two dedicated home offices, supporting a work-from-home lifestyle without compromise.

The lower level expands the home's use, featuring a large basement for entertaining, a golf simulator room, a wine room, and a home gym with a sauna. These spaces are designed to be functional, durable, and aligned with how people actually live.

To accommodate the golf simulator room, we completed a basement slab modification to achieve the ceiling height required for the space to function properly. This adjustment reflects a design process driven by the homeowners' desired use of their home.

Design-Build Process That Adapts to Homeowner Needs

This project required flexibility during both design and construction. The home was already in a planned phase when the homeowners introduced new ideas, including the golf simulator and adjustments to key spaces.

Through a flexible design and build process, we adjusted plans during construction to incorporate these changes. This approach allowed us to align design decisions with both lifestyle needs and performance goals, resulting in a home that feels intentional and personal.

Basement Slab Modification

One of the most technical adjustments involved the golf simulator room. To make the space functional, we completed a basement slab modification to achieve the ceiling height required for the simulator to work properly. This required coordination across structural planning, foundation work, and layout adjustments.

These types of changes go beyond surface-level design. They directly impact how the home is built and require a construction process that can adapt without losing precision or performance.

A Tight Building Envelope

This home was built with a tight building envelope, allowing it to perform beyond typical code-built homes. This improves energy efficiency, indoor comfort, and long-term durability.

This high-performance custom home near Tysons Corner reflects the growing demand for energy-efficient homes in McLean, VA, and across the DC Metro area. The result is a home that maintains consistent temperatures, reduces energy demand, and delivers a more comfortable living environment year-round.

Building a High-Performance Custom Home

Building a custom home in McLean, VA, or anywhere else in the DMV, allows you to create a space that is tailored to how you actually live. There are numerous benefits to building a high-performance home, and investing in net-zero and energy-independent features can be part of the entire process.

With a build-on-your-lot approach, you have the flexibility to design a high-performance home that prioritizes energy efficiency, comfort, and long-term durability. From layout to construction, every decision is aligned with your lifestyle and your goals. When you're considering building a high-performance home, take a look at our list of questions to ask.

Working With August Homes

At August Homes, we build high-performance custom homes throughout the DC Metro area that reflect how our clients actually live. Whether you are building on your lot near Tysons Corner or elsewhere in the DMV, our approach combines design, performance, and execution.

We guide you through a process that allows for flexibility, homeowner-driven design changes, and a clear focus on quality. From initial planning through construction, every step is aligned with your goals, your lifestyle, and the long-term performance of your home. You can take a look at our cost guide to start planning your high-performance home.

Projects like this one and others in our portfolio show how strong collaboration and informed design decisions come together to create a home that truly works. If you are planning to build a high-performance custom home in McLean, VA, or anywhere in the DC Metro area, we are here to help you bring your vision to life.