In architecture, as in life, context is everything. Nowhere is that more evident than in the relationship between a home and the landscape that surrounds it.

Whether a custom home sits along a coastal shoreline, overlooks a mountain ridge, nestles into rolling countryside, or occupies a quiet waterfront property, the experience of looking outward from within creates one of architecture’s most meaningful emotional connections. A thoughtfully framed view does more than showcase beautiful scenery—it strengthens our connection to place and reminds us why we chose to build there in the first place.

Experiencing a remarkable view enriches the way we live in a home. It shapes our daily routines, influences how natural light enters a space, and creates moments of reflection that often become some of our favorite memories. That is why, as architects, we approach the placement of windows with the same level of intention and care as we would the placement of a piece of artwork.

We devote so much attention to designing around views because they are inherently unique. No two properties offer exactly the same experience. The landscape, topography, sunlight, mature trees, water, and surrounding architecture all contribute to making every homesite distinct. Designing for those characteristics creates homes that feel deeply personal rather than interchangeable.

Describing architecture in these terms may sound wonderfully abstract—perhaps even like an architect’s daydream. In reality, designing around a view comes down to several thoughtful and highly practical considerations.

Orientation: Beginning With the Land

Every successful custom home begins with understanding the property itself.

How should the home position itself in relation to important views, natural features, landmarks, neighboring structures, prevailing breezes, and the movement of the sun throughout the day?

No matter the location, one of our very first conversations with homeowners is remarkably simple:

“Where are the best views, and which one matters most to you?”

Sometimes the answer is immediately obvious—a dramatic mountain gap, an expansive bay, a winding river, or an endless coastal horizon.

Other times, the most meaningful view is something deeply personal.

It may be an old oak tree that has stood on the property for generations. A favorite garden. A quiet meadow where children have always played. A dock where countless summer evenings have been spent.

Discovering those priorities allows architecture to become a reflection of the people who will ultimately call the house home.

Once those foundational decisions are made, the design begins to evolve.

Should the great room frame one extraordinary focal point, creating a dramatic destination at the end of the space? Or should it open toward multiple directions, allowing panoramic views and an immersive connection to the surrounding landscape?

Should the primary suite greet the morning sun? Should the home office overlook the water? Should the kitchen sink face the garden instead of the neighboring property?

These answers don’t come from a formula.

They come from listening carefully to our clients and thoughtfully responding through architecture, balancing aspirations with the opportunities and constraints presented by the site.

Alignment: Guiding the Eye

Once the home’s orientation has been established, attention shifts toward alignment.

How should individual rooms connect to one another in order to celebrate the landscape beyond?

The sequencing of spaces plays an important role in how we experience architecture. Carefully aligning walls, hallways, doors, and windows can create anticipation, reveal dramatic moments, and encourage movement toward natural destinations.

Some examples are timeless.

A front door that opens directly to a distant waterfront view immediately creates surprise, delight, and a memorable first impression.

A foyer with a clear visual connection through the home establishes openness and draws visitors naturally toward the landscape beyond.

A long hallway becomes less about the journey itself when a beautiful view provides a meaningful destination at its end.

Even everyday routines benefit from thoughtful alignment. Washing dishes while overlooking a garden, preparing breakfast with the sunrise in view, or reading beside a window that frames a wooded landscape transforms ordinary moments into experiences that quietly enrich daily life. These are often the architectural decisions homeowners appreciate long after construction has ended.

Individuality: Discovering What Makes Every Property Unique

Every property has its own story.

One of the most rewarding conversations during the early stages of residential architecture is discovering what makes a particular piece of land unlike any other.

Are there expansive long-distance views stretching toward the horizon?

Medium-range views overlooking valleys, forests, or farmland?

Shorter, more intimate views focused on mature trees, gardens, courtyards, sculptures, or historic structures?

Just as importantly, are there neighboring buildings, utility lines, roadways, or other distractions that should be minimized or screened?

Can slight adjustments in elevation create entirely new perspectives above the tree canopy?

Are there cherished family memories tied to a quiet pond, an old stone wall, or a favorite gathering place?

Understanding these details creates a shared vision that guides every design decision moving forward. Rather than imposing architecture onto a site, we allow the property itself to help shape the home.

This site-responsive approach is one of the defining characteristics of thoughtful residential architecture.

Architecture Should Strengthen Our Connection to Nature

We believe great architecture is always connected to its surroundings.

Rather than competing with the landscape, a well-designed home should quietly frame it, celebrate it, and encourage us to experience it more fully. This philosophy shares much with the principles of biophilic design, which recognizes that meaningful connections to nature contribute to our comfort, well-being, and overall quality of life.

Natural light, carefully framed views, outdoor living spaces, and seamless transitions between indoors and outdoors all strengthen that relationship, allowing architecture and landscape to work together rather than independently.

The result is more than simply a beautiful house.

It is a home that belongs exactly where it sits.

By discussing views early and often throughout the design process, we transform a house on a lot into a home that offers meaningful experiences every day. The architecture becomes inseparable from the landscape around it, creating lasting memories for those who live there—and quietly enriching the experience of everyone fortunate enough to pass by.

About the Author

Carmine Cafiero, Associate, AIA, NCARB, WELL AP

Carmine Cafiero believes exceptional residential architecture begins with listening. Every successful custom home is the result of thoughtful collaboration, careful observation, and a deep understanding of how clients want to experience both their home and the land on which it sits.

Drawing on his education from the University of Virginia School of Architecture and Virginia Tech School of Architecture + Design, Carmine combines traditional architectural principles with expertise in hand sketching, virtual reality visualization, and Building Information Modeling (BIM). His collaborative, site-responsive approach transforms each client’s vision into timeless architecture that is both beautiful and deeply connected to its surroundings.

The post Room with a View? Yes, Please: Designing Homes That Celebrate Their Surroundings appeared first on Purple Cherry.

By Alex Epstein, Director of Interior Design

Every home tells a different story, which is why there is never a one-size-fits-all approach to interior design. From selecting the right finishes to choosing fabrics, wallpaper, lighting, and furnishings, the sheer number of available products can feel overwhelming.

Our interior designers spend every day helping clients make thoughtful decisions that reflect both their personal style and the way they live. To make the process a little easier, we asked our Instagram community to submit their biggest interior design questions.

Here are some of our favorites—and our answers.

Q: Is wallpaper out of style? It seems like a big commitment.

Absolutely not.

Wallpaper continues to be one of our favorite ways to introduce personality, texture, and visual interest into a home. Today’s wallcoverings extend far beyond traditional floral prints and busy patterns. We are specifying everything from sophisticated linens and grasscloths to subtle textures, bold patterns, murals, and even embossed leathers.

Wallpaper is particularly effective in homes with taller ceilings, where expansive wall surfaces benefit from added depth and dimension. It creates warmth while adding another layer to the overall interior design.

Don’t be afraid to think beyond four walls. We love incorporating wallpaper inside built-in bookcases, behind open shelving, on ceilings, or within niches to create unexpected moments throughout a home.

Still nervous about committing?

Start with a powder room.

These smaller spaces are perfect for experimenting with color, texture, or pattern without overwhelming the home. One of our recent projects featured a beautifully understated Zoffany wallcovering that delivered exactly the amount of visual impact our client wanted while remaining timeless and neutral.

Q: What paint colors do you recommend for exterior stucco?

The best exterior paint color is rarely selected in isolation.

When designing a home’s exterior, we always begin by looking at the architecture as a whole. Stucco should work harmoniously with roofing materials, stone, brick, siding, windows, trim, and the surrounding landscape to create a cohesive exterior color palette.

If your home incorporates natural stone or stone veneer, those materials often become the foundation for selecting paint colors that feel authentic and timeless.

Many of our favorite exterior paint colors come from Benjamin Moore’s OC Collection, which has become a trusted resource for soft whites and sophisticated neutral tones.

Two colors we frequently return to are Benjamin Moore Simply White and Benjamin Moore White Dove, both of which complement a wide range of architectural styles.

And one final piece of advice…

Always sample your paint.

Large exterior surfaces reflect light differently than small paint chips. Colors almost always appear brighter and more expansive once applied to the home, making sample boards one of the most valuable steps in the exterior design process.

Q: Do all of the metal finishes in a kitchen or bathroom need to match?

The short answer?

Yes…and no.

Rather than thinking about individual fixtures, we approach every room as one complete composition.

Kitchen and bathroom design includes dozens of metal finishes—from plumbing fixtures and decorative lighting to cabinet hardware, door hardware, mirrors, and accessories. The goal isn’t necessarily for every finish to match perfectly, but for them to feel intentionally coordinated.

Some of our favorite finishes include polished nickel, polished chrome, unlacquered or antique brass, and oil-rubbed bronze.

Today’s brass finishes are dramatically different from those many homeowners remember from years ago. Softer antique brass and warm unlacquered brass have become timeless choices that pair beautifully with cooler metals like polished nickel or chrome.

Mixing metal finishes successfully is all about balance. Combining warm and cool finishes thoughtfully creates depth and character without feeling random.

That said, if you prefer every finish to match, that’s perfectly beautiful too. Great interior design is ultimately about creating a home that reflects your personal style.

Q: I found a fabric I love, but how do I know if it’s durable enough for upholstery?

Beauty should always be balanced with performance.

When selecting upholstery fabrics, we consider fiber content, fabric weight, durability, and how the furniture will actually be used.

Lightweight decorative fabrics often aren’t appropriate for upholstery because they may shift over cushions or pill over time. Depending on the application, we may recommend adding knit backing to strengthen the fabric and improve long-term performance.

Many of our clients prioritize durability—and understandably so.

Homes today are filled with children, pets, entertaining, and everyday life. The goal isn’t to create rooms that feel too precious to enjoy.

Performance fabrics have transformed residential interior design over the past several years. Brands offering technologies like Crypton® and Nanotex® provide stain-resistant fabrics that maintain their beauty while standing up to daily living.

Manufacturers including Thibaut, Kravet, and many others now offer beautiful performance collections that combine luxury with practicality.

Q: Should artwork match the room?

Not exactly.

Rather than selecting artwork simply because it matches a sofa or paint color, we encourage clients to choose pieces that have personal meaning and create an emotional connection.

Artwork should feel authentic to the people living in the home.

One simple way to create cohesion is to repeat one of the room’s accent colors—a rich teal, warm coral, soft green, or muted blue—within the artwork itself.

This subtle relationship allows the artwork to feel connected to the overall interior without becoming overly coordinated.

Some of the most memorable homes feature artwork that tells a story rather than simply filling a wall.

Q: Is subway tile still in style?

Absolutely.

Subway tile has been around for more than a century, making it one of the most enduring materials in residential interior design.

If you look back at Parisian apartments from the early 1900s, you’ll find subway tile used throughout kitchens and bathrooms. Its clean proportions and timeless simplicity continue to make it an excellent choice for backsplashes, showers, and accent walls.

The beauty of subway tile is its versatility.

Changing the size, color, finish, texture, grout color, or installation pattern can completely transform its appearance while preserving its timeless appeal.

One of our favorite resources is Winchester Tile Company, available through Chesapeake Tile in Baltimore, whose handcrafted collections offer beautiful variations on this enduring classic.

Q: What rug do you recommend for a family room?

Family rooms truly are the heart of the home.

They’re where families gather to watch movies, entertain friends, play games, work remotely, and simply spend time together.

Because these rooms receive so much daily use, durability is just as important as aesthetics.

For natural fibers, wool remains one of our favorite choices. It offers exceptional durability, natural stain resistance, warmth underfoot, and long-lasting beauty.

For families seeking even greater performance, polypropylene rugs have become an outstanding option. Originally developed for outdoor living spaces, today’s indoor-outdoor rugs are remarkably soft while offering incredible durability.

Perennials, long recognized for their luxury performance fabrics, has also developed an exceptional rug collection. Their polypropylene rugs can be customized in a wide variety of colors and patterns and are durable enough to be cleaned with a garden hose—making them ideal for busy households with children, pets, and frequent entertaining.

Designing Homes That Reflect the People Who Live There

At Purple Cherry Architecture & Interiors, every design decision begins with one question:

How do our clients want to live?

Whether we’re selecting wallpaper, mixing metal finishes, designing a custom kitchen, or choosing the perfect rug, our goal is always the same—to create homes that are beautiful, functional, timeless, and thoughtfully tailored to each family’s lifestyle.

We hope these answers help simplify your own design decisions, and we’d like to thank our Instagram community for inspiring this conversation. Some of our favorite discussions begin with the simplest questions.

The post Q&A with the Interior Design Team: Your Most Common Interior Design Questions, Answered appeared first on Purple Cherry.