Some things take you completely by surprise. It was a typical afternoon more than two years ago when David Semerjian went to see a piece of land in Berwyn with his realtor wife, Lisa. The property was intended for one of Lisa’s clients, and she wanted David’s opinion before showing it. He shocked them both with his response: “I want this land to build our dream house.”
The Semerjians had no plans to move—let alone build a 12,000-square-foot estate. After rehabbing and selling several new-and-improved homes, the couple thought they’d be staying in their Devon farmhouse. “We loved that street and our neighbors,” says Lisa.
But David knew a spectacular piece of land when he saw it. A second-generation builder, he began constructing luxury custom homes 25 years ago with his father before branching out on his own more than 18 years ago. “I enjoy the challenge of building a different house for every client,” says David. “To build something from nothing and see it come to fruition—and to have a happy family behind the house—is really a wonderful feeling.”
Protected by the Brandywine Conservancy, the Semerjians’ coveted parcel was one of five subdivided from a 100-acre farm. As if its stunning views and vast acreage weren’t enough, the Semerjians were able to secure a second property 10 acres from theirs for close friends who’d been working with David on finding a site for their own dream house. “This was more than we could’ve ever imagined,” says Lisa. “And the fact that our close friends were going to be our neighbors made it even more special.”
David (pictured below) called upon Paoli-based architect Rene Hoffman to help articulate his vision for both homes. The objective: to make each appear as if it had been built years ago. “I didn’t want it to look like they were two new houses built in the middle of a field,” says David.
Though the exteriors of both homes incorporated stone and masonry, there are subtle architectural differences. “My house is more European country, and theirs is more French country,” David says.
To take advantage of the southern exposure, the Semerjians’ home is accessible from the side. A large arrival court welcomes visitors, and off to the right are two four-car garages with unfinished apartment spaces above each. “I wanted this home to be a gathering place for our family and friends,” says Lisa. “When you’re driving up to it, it may look grand. But once you’re inside, it emits warmth. That’s what we wanted—and my husband was able to achieve that.”
For resale reasons, the Semerjians had neutralized their own tastes in previous homes, so they wanted their personal styles to show through this time. “We plan on being here a long time,” says Lisa.
When it comes to interior design, the couple has always taken a team approach. “Every house we’ve redone we’ve worked on together,” Lisa says. “And we’ve never had one single argument about any of it. That’s really saying something.”
Their latest home strikes the perfect balance, with more traditional décor in the living room, dining room and home office, and eclectic touches in the kitchen (pictured above) and family room, where the couple and their two daughters spend the most time. One subtle constant throughout the rooms are the shells, coral and other sea-related accessories. “My husband and I both love the serenity of the beach,” says Lisa. “We like being able to bring that into our home.”
The kitchen was designed with both entertaining and everyday use in mind. The room’s grand scale allowed for a pair of sizable islands. The more utilitarian of the two has a sink and a vintage white base that matches the room’s cabinetry, along with a cherry-wood butcher-block top. Guests gather around the more formal island, with its furniture-style, deep cherry-wood base topped with granite colored in green, blue and gray. “I wanted to mix textures on the islands,” says Lisa. “I didn’t want wood on wood.”
A natural-colored limestone was chosen for the flooring, both for aesthetic reasons and the fact that it masks dirt and scratches. A glass tile backsplash in soft greens and blues brings a pop of color when set against the white cabinetry. The kitchen has all the latest conveniences, including warming and dishwasher drawers. But Lisa’s favorite appliance is a freestanding Sub-Zero refrigerator with a clear glass door, which brings an element of surprise to the room.
In the octagon-shaped breakfast room, the gorgeous view of the outdoor living space commands your attention—and there’s also a pleasant view above. David salvaged 150-year-old beams from a New York theater, knowing he wanted to use them in some way. So when plans came about for the breakfast room, he designed the ceiling with the dark beams (each with an original hand-painted design) extending from the base of the chandelier. “I like to incorporate some type of antique element in every house,” David says.
THE SEMERJIANS HAD high expectations for the family room (pictured above). “We wanted it to be unexpected in its look and design,” says Lisa. “We also knew we’d be spending a lot of time in here, so it had to be comfortable.”
Four magnificent oak trusses commissioned by David provide a key architectural feature, while helping to bring down the soaring 24-foot gable ceiling. Another focal point is the impressive walk-in fireplace constructed of mica and local cut stone. The trusses and the American walnut floors are among the more traditional elements amidst the contemporary décor.
Though the room’s large size allows for multiple seating areas, the Semerjians opted to keep it cozy with a large, custom-made sectional in silver-blue chenille and two pewter and leather chairs. An ordinary coffee table would’ve been dwarfed in the space, so a compromise was found: 12 glass-topped cubes combine to form a sizable, modern table. A white New Zealand rug with thick knots brings added texture to the space.
The soft blue color of the sectional paired with the sand-colored walls provide the natural look the couple is so fond of. Other highlights include a baby grand Steinway piano and a poster-size Italian advertisement that survived World War I.
Off the kitchen, a mudroom and a home office dubbed the “command center” complete the home’s more informal side. David designed the mudroom with all the conveniences a family could want: a walk-in closet with plenty of storage space, a dog shower, a second washer/dryer, and a potting area with a sink for arranging flowers. As for the office, “this is where most of the activity and paperwork for kids and school is organized,” says David.
The lower level features a home theater, an exercise room and a bar. The Semerjians confess that they have yet to fill the 2,000-bottle wine cellar behind the bar. The lower level also houses a geothermal HVAC system—a feature many of David’s clients request for their homes once they hear about its cost-saving benefits. The HVAC taps into the natural temperatures from the ground through a series of 400-foot-deep wells to provide heat in the winter and cool air in the summer.
“If a house is heated and cooled almost entirely with electric—which this house is—you have tremendous discounts from the electric company, saving close to 40 percent on utility bills,” says David. “It’s extremely efficient.”
As gorgeous as the interior is, David admits it’s not his favorite part of the house. “To us, the outside living space was as important as the inside,” he says. “We wanted to have spaces that were essentially rooms outside.”
When he saw the expanse of land he had to work with, David immediately envisioned various outdoor structures, along with a pool (pictured above). A covered porch attached to the house has a seating area with a fireplace perfect for fall evenings. The pool house also has a seating area with a fireplace, as well as a kitchen suitable for summer barbecues and double windows so snacks can be served from the preparation area. A full bath with a river-rock shower and a changing room keeps things convenient for guests.
Proud of what they’ve created, the Semerjians often invite David’s clients to tour their new home.
“A lot of ideas here have been mimicked on other houses we’ve built in one way, shape or form,” says David. “And a lot of ideas have blossomed from things we’ve done here and transformed to meet a client’s own tastes. When building a custom home, it’s very helpful for people to put into perspective their vision and be able to explain it.”
It’s been a little more than a year since the Semerjians settled into their new home, and David admits he has more plans for its future. “Eventually, I’d love to put in a barn and have farm animals,” he says. “Someday.”
RESOURCES
Builder: David Semerjian Builders, Berwyn, (610) 695-0444, davidsemerjianbuilders.com
Architect: Rene Hoffman, R.A. Hoffman Architects, Inc., 55 Plank Ave., Paoli; (610) 889-0660,
hoffman-architects.com