Steve Clipp remodeled a 1991 cottage into a contemporary stunner in Governors Club
By Morgan Cartier Weston | Photography by John Michael Simpson
Steve Clipp has amassed a repertoire of accolades during his more than 40 years as a custom-home architect, including the “North Carolina Home Book” award for the best design of a home less than 5,000 square feet. He and his wife, Duke University researcher and educator Jody Clipp, raised their three children in a prairie-style abode in The Oaks neighborhood in Chapel Hill, which Steve says was in a perpetual state of renovation and expansion. These ongoing transformations culminated in the creation of a serene owner’s suite – a much-needed sanctuary from the chaos of dual careers and adolescent tumult. “That was a fun time,” Steve says. Now adults, Steve’s son, Stephen Clipp, is an architect in Los Angeles, and daughter Celeste Clipp Lofqvist lives in Mill Valley, California. Daughter Liz Clipp Martin lives in Apex with her husband, Jon Martin, and their children, twins Camille Martin and Benjamin Martin, 5, and Caroline Martin, 3.
Architects are sought out for tasks big and small, from full house designs to permit drawings for small additions. They also possess the flexibility and knowledge to make decisions throughout a remodel that will improve their clients’ enjoyment of their homes, save them time and money, and improve a home’s functionality. But what happens when they turn a creative lens to their own space?
A few years after Jody’s untimely passing in 2007, Steve began to seek solace in a fresh start. Enlisted by clients to assess prospective properties for remodel, he stumbled upon a diamond in the rough: one of the first homes ever built in Governors Club. The 1991 contemporary cottage was modest in size but boasted a prime location and solid infrastructure. While his clients passed on the house, Steve still saw plenty of potential in its good bones and beautiful wooded lot. “I had worked on many house transformations in this neighborhood, but I never considered living here,” Steve says.
He closed on the home in February 2015 and set to work. The metamorphosis took about a year from initial designs to material selections and build-out. In a neighborhood known for sprawling floor plans, Steve challenged himself to create the feeling of a spacious haven in a smaller home. Retaining only the foundation, roof and garage from the original 2,300-squarefoot footprint, Steve infused the space with his vision: a minimalist modern retreat tempered with warmth and authenticity.
The imposing 8-foot glass double front doors, adorned with half-inch sculpted steel plates, make a bold statement that sets the tone for what lies beyond. Inside, guests are treated to 60 feet of uninterrupted sightlines from the foyer to the solid soapstone fireplace at the back wall. The towering monolith anchors the expansive great room and is flanked by large windows that Steve says allow the eye to “release.”
Seamless transitions define the space, punctuated by pockets of coziness in a deliberate contrast of openness and intimacy. Subtle angles introduced in the entry lead to the main living area, where the hallways, ceiling and even the kitchen countertops amplify the viewer’s perception of space and connectivity among rooms. “This is all intentional,” Steve says. “It is designed to draw the eye and propel the body through the house.” Around the corner, a snug informal living space encourages lounging in the company of a favorite book or TV show.
“There are several key tenets of architecture,” Steve says. “I normally work with the principles of rhythm and movement at the forefront, but in this house, I felt more drawn to creating a feeling of symmetry.” The kitchen is a perfect example, with pristine white cabinets set against stainless steel kitchen appliances and a dramatic dark tile backsplash bisecting the room.
Steve’s penchant for juxtaposition extends to his furnishing selections in the great room: A folk art-inspired metal sculpture stands sentry over a pair of Steinway pianos; Oriental rugs adorn quarter-sawn oak floors; a cast limestone coffee table is flanked by postmodern Italian sofas. “They are from the 1980s, and it took me a while to find them,” Steve says. The result is a harmonious clashing of eras and textures.
That thoughtful balance extends to the outdoor areas, which are minimally furnished to allow the natural beauty of the landscape to shine. The trees themselves are an outstanding feature of the owner’s suite, where a cathedral ceiling and calm white walls treat the picture window as a work of art. Ornate furnishings, including a pair of Victorian wood armchairs and a circa-1800s brass bed, warm up the space. “I threw all the tricks I know at this house,” Steve says. “Every space in a home, I’m going to make it the best it can be; keeping that front of mind made it easy to follow the vision here.”
When he isn’t busy crafting his clients’ dream homes or refining his own visionary designs, you’ll find Steve traversing rugged trails as an avid hiker or journeying across the globe in search of inspiration.
